On Disk Monthly's * * * M A I L B A G * * * LETTERS ------- How about a print option for "Program Information"? I have a hard copy file of past issues that includes a listing of the necessary files and program information that I use along with ODM Indexer. When I am looking for a program, I am able to read about it and, if it is something I wish to use, I can copy all the files to my hard drive. ODM Indexer gives a brief program description, but does not list the files needed to run a program. Maybe you should consider including "Files Needed" in this index. G. Jerry Fadness Beaver Dam, WI PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: There are two ways to determine which files go with which program. First, the Copy/Info option in the On Disk Monthly shell will list all necessary files as you scroll through the list of programs. At present this information is not printable. Perhaps you will be able to print it in a future issue. Second, if you do a "dir" on the issue from DOS, you'll see that empty files separate each .exe (plus its external files) from each other. Also, your idea of adding a place for this info to ODM Indexer is a good one. It's going in my program update ideas file. * * * What I am specifically looking for is the means to import/incorporate the hundreds of hours of data from Software Indexer (BBD #23) into the terrific new ODM Indexer. Thinking "ODM wouldn't do this to me," I reread all documentation, tried to use the ODM Indexer merge function, tried renaming my original Software Indexer "Software.dat" file to a "Software.bid" file, and otherwise successfully wasted my time to no avail. Please help. Mike Donovan Brookfield, WI PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Unfortunately, these programs are not compatible and weren't "related" to each other (ODM Indexer isn't an "update" to Software Indexer). Also, neither program has the ability to import/export other file formats. Merge functions generally only merge files that the program created. * * * This is just to ask and/or suggest more Kroz games. They are my favorites. I will renew my subscription if you are going to have more adventures of the Kroz programs. Helen Cox Russellville, AR PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Unfortunately, we won't be able to publish any more Kroz games due to the fact that the the Kroz author/programmer, Scott Miller, now heads a major shareware game distribution company and is no longer a Softdisk submitter. Stick around. We'll be publishing other games that you'll enjoy! * * * On Big Blue Disk #52 you offered Print Shop Utility IV. I really like the program and it makes my return labels, for instance, look really distinctive. My suggestion is to update the printer support for this program. I believe the utility would be better if there were selections for not only a 9-pin printer, but a 24-pin printer and color capabilities as well. I have had Big Blue Disk (former name of On Disk Monthly) since 1987 and I do love the programs. I find it astonishing that when I have a computer task to do, and I look for the proper utility and/or program, I most often find a suitable one in an issue. Keep up the good work. Sandra L. Duiker Charles Town, WV PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Print Shop Utilities 5.0 will prompt you to answer "yes" or "no" to the following question: does your printer stretch the images? Answer "yes" if you've printed and the image was stretched. This sometimes happens when one printer is emulating another. This problem, which was first discovered in Print Shop Utilities IV published on issue #52, was corrected and the utility was republished on issue #56 as Version 4 1.41. You also mention color. This feature is not available in any published versions of Softdisk's Print Shop Utilities, including 5.0. * * * I will not be renewing my subscription to On Disk Monthly. Please don't think I do not like what you do. The quality of your programs is top-notch. They just don't quite meet my needs. I am one of the growing number who have recently retired from IBM. At this point, any program has to help make some money or be useful in family projects. Another reason is that most of your programs are written for CGA/EGA and straight DOS. Even my current system is VGA and I am in the process of buying a 486 with bells, whistles and (ugh) Windows. A word about the On Disk Monthly programs. You do a fantastic job in function, interface and audience targeting. The planning and quality are obvious. I can say this because I was one of a very small group who developed what is now software usability testing in IBM. Some of the design approaches you use were being tested before IBM announced the first PC. Please remember that a brief test by a couple of people in your target profile can verify new design approaches in function, interfaces, and even wording. Listen to your users and you will surely enjoy continued success. Ramon Autrey Marietta, GA * * * RECENT REPORT CARD REMARKS & QUESTIONS ------ ------ ---- ------- - --------- This is the second program in my subscription which will not display properly on my monitor. After selecting the icon, I get a screen with only a dark blue stripe about 1" wide along the top. --Mark Benson, Alton, MA PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: There are several simple things that you and other subscribers can try when a program does not seem to work properly. First, some programs need access to practically all of the 640K of RAM that ODM requires its subscribers to have. An easy way to disable TSRs, etc., and free up more memory is to rename your autoexec.bat file (I always use autoexec.old or autoexec.sav). Reboot your computer and try the program again. Second, our detection routines may be "misreading" your system. This happens most often when a subscriber has a graphics card that is higher than his monitor (for example, an EGA card and a CGA monitor) and is trying to run a graphics program. ODM tries to display all programs in the best display mode your computer will handle. In these cases, try running the issue from DOS with the applicable command line parameter. To force CGA mode, type "GO /C" at the DOS prompt; for EGA "GO /E"; and for monochrome "GO /M". Note: MCGA subscribers must use CGA mode. Finally, try using the same command line parameters after the program .exe from DOS. For example, type "KLON2 /C" to run Klondike2 in CGA mode, etc. * * * Is there a way to print out just the table of contents? I don't need the User Guide every month and I'd like to save two pages of paper! --Patrice S. Warren, Menlo Park, CA Would it be possible to put the Contents & User Guide first? I usually print every thing out and "take it to bed" and read all the info, too busy to just sit at the computor and play most of the time. I do not "understand" the graphics. I copy it to Geoworks and can't get just one picture--all of them show up at one time. They will not come up in my Print Shop. Also, is there any way to get rid of the 3's, 2's and D's and make lines in the Family Tree reports? --Sharene Matsumoto, Pepeekeo, HI PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: We'll work on allowing you to print only the Contents, and we'll consider moving that option to the top. Next, "graphics" can be difficult to understand. We offer graphics of two different formats on ODM: Print Shop, and .PCX. They are not compatible. Only Print Shop images can be used with Print Shop or New Print Shop (there are some Print Shop images on this disk). Many draw and desktop publishing programs will import .PCX images--check your program manuals. Not intimately familiar with Geoworks, I have been told it uses .GEM format graphics. Since you say you could see the "page" of .PCX graphics, Geoworks may automatically convert from .PCX to .GEM format. Use .PCX Rangler on issue #70 to "clip" each image off the "page" of .PCX graphics (each will be saved with its own file name). Then try importing one of the "clipped" .PCX graphics into Geoworks. If this doesn't work, don't worry. We plan to publish programs that utilize .PCX graphics in future issues. Finally, you can easily solve the 3's, 2's and D's problem (just like I did), by consulting your printer's manual and following its instructions on how to change the character set that it uses when printing to the standard IBM character set. Restart and you'll be in "line" heaven. * * * Do you have a BBS? --Graham Gristwood, Calgary, Canada PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: I'm sorry to report that we don't have a public BBS that subscribers can use. However, we do have a way for submitters to upload their programs. By the way,if any of you have written programs that you think are good enough for publication, send them in for evaluation. * * * How do you protect from viruses in the disks we receive? --Madeline Perry, Orange Park, FL PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: We keep the very latest virus scan programs on every computer in the building. Only brand new disks are used for making "master" copies of the issue, which are qualified in our Quality Assurance department, then checked for viruses yet again just prior to mass duplication. It is highly unlikely that a virus might be on one of our disks. The one catch, of course, could be an "as yet undiscovered virus" that the latest virus programs (ours as well as yours) would not recognize. And even that is highly unlikely. Do keep in mind that if YOUR computer is infected and you run On Disk Monthly without its write protect tab, you will infect it. Also, some subscribers have reported problems running our issues while a virus protector is active--particularly PC Tools 7.1 V-Defend program. We're addressing the problem, but aren't sure of the outcome. The problem apparently results from the fact that most .exe files simply "run" something else. Our menu and several of our programs, contain .exe files that actually open themselves and read graphics or data. A few virus programs don't seem to accurately detect and then ignore what's happening. * * * Why not allow [the Report Card] to be filled out by keyboard entry [on screen]--then print? --Jim Knapp, Ventura, CA PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Even a bare-bones text editor is about 40K in size. We have not wanted to divert that much space away from each issue's contents, and we haven't had it to spare on some recent issues. Do a "DIR" on issue #70 for an example. However, we're willing to add it to each issue if enough of you want it. Tell us what you think. * * * Poker Square locks up my computer when Windows is loaded. --R. Frantz, Portsmouth, OH PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Though some of our programs will run properly when booted from Windows or with Windows running in the background, many won't. This is especially true for games since they basically must take control of your machine (and Windows doesn't "like" it). Also, some graphics programs may need more memory than your computer might have available when Windows is running. We don't bill our programs as being Windows "compatible." * * * PCX 'Rangler. At last, now I can use your .PCX clip art. But my mouse doesn't work with it. --Boyd Thomison, Guymon, OK PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Your mouse will work just fine when you run 'Rangler from outside our shell. We goofed! One of our standard command line options is "/NOMOUSE." This is necessary for those people who have computers with built in mouse drivers but no mouse. If you have this configuration, our programs detect a mouse when there really isn't one, so the programs don't run properly. Suffice it to say that PCX 'Rangler and the ODM Interface aren't communicating properly and 'Rangler thinks you typed "GO /NOMOUSE" when you really didn't. 'Rangler is a real joy to use with a mouse. * * * PRODUCT MANAGER P.S.: Cliff Franklin, who reported a high score of 17,450 on Nucleon in issue #70's Mailbag, now reports a "nucleonic" high score of 38,990. Congratulations, Cliff! ...Uh, has anybody topped him? * * * Mail your letters to: Attn: Ronda Faries ODM Mailbag, 606 Common St., Shreveport, LA 71101 Or fax them to: 1-318-424-0174 NOTE: Letters and Report Cards used in On Disk Monthly's Mailbag may be edited for clarity and length. * * * T H E E N D * * *