On Disk Monthly's * * * M A I L B A G * * * LETTERS ------- Have you ever considered a separate version for Windows users? I for one would use your programs much more if they were in a Windows format. Drew Westcott Sparta, MI RESPONSE: We have considered it. We need some statistics. How many current subscribers would be interested in subscribing to a Windows only product? Write if you're interested. * * * I'm writing because of a letter in Mailbag from Sharene Matsumoto. Her question was about the 3's, 2's and D's in Family Tree 3.0 reports. I had the same thing happen to me. I didn't go to my printer manual to correct it. While in the print mode, I answered NO to the question about IBM graphics and good-bye to those characters. The report looked great. I really like the Family Tree 3.0 program. Klondike2 Solitaire (ODM #72) is a great game, but I find that the play area is very small. Is there a way to enlarge the area like you can do in Windows and GeoWorks? In the upper right corner there is a box to click to enlarge the area of play. I enjoy playing all the Klondike card games very much. This is the best so far. I like the new look of the menu and they way you can use the mouse to move about. I think you all should take a bow for your hard work in keeping updated. Thanks for a wonderful product. Ivan M. Eye Machesney Park, IL RESPONSE: Sharene and I thank you for the Family Tree 3.0 tip. And, thanks for your kind words about Klondike2 and our graphic menu. I'm sorry to say that you can't "enlarge" the Klondike2 play area. The Windows and GeoWorks environments make that possible. Our "environment" is DOS and the ability to resize a "window" on the fly isn't a DOS feature. * * * I believe I have the answer to Sharene Matsumoto's question about .PCX files and GeoWorks. I shared her trouble with importing the clip art, while the entire file would import nicely. My solution was to experiment by saving the same "clip" in different video modes (using PCX 'Ranger from issue #70). I then entered GeoDraw and "viewed" each clip until I found one that wasn't garbage. The magic resolution for me was 320 x 200 x 16. Also, I would like to take a moment to say I appreciate your disk greatly. I have to concur with others who say they have found a single program that was worth the subscription price. Finally, here are my "to die fors." I noticed you are asking about sound card type in the Report Card. I have seen one program so far, Poker Squares, that utilizes that information. I own an Adlib sound card and look forward to seeing more support. I would also like to see a musical keyboard (like Soundmaster 64 for Commodore 64). I don't really care for the specialized databases you have been publishing. I would find a generic, all-purpose database (like PFS:File) to be much more useful. Ken Jarrett Sand Springs, OK RESPONSE: More help for Sharene! I'm sure she appreciates it. Counting "Morphose" on this issue and "Circuitry" on issue #72, there have now been three games with sound support. Enjoy! Being somewhat musically inclined, I also would enjoy some music programs. However, since our survey and Report Card results tell us that a small percentage of our subscribers have sound cards, we haven't yet developed any of these types of programs. We do hope to publish a good, "general" database, but we will continue to publish task- specific databases for those subscribers who prefer to use them over the time-consuming task of designing their own. * * * I own and use a Leading Edge Word Processing program (v. 1.3) and have been exceedingly happy with the product. Recently I purchased a new printer to use with the LEWP program. The new printer, A Citizen GSX-130 is a 24-wire dot matrix unit. Currently, when a document is placed into memory followed by a request to print the document, the result is a double-spaced document with longer printed lines than requested (a disregard for the right margin setting). When the LEWP program was installed on my hard disk, the user's guide provided code words to be used in the print program to set the printer. The printer that I replaced was a Star Micronics NP-10, which had been modified to use IBM graphics and uses the printer code word EPSONFX. I have tried to write Leading Edge to request product assistance and was informed that my letter was undeliverable. The result is my computer is full of documents that I am unable to print using my new printer. I need either an update for my program or simply need the code word for my system. Walter E. Paulsen Fremont, CA RESPONSE: It just so happens that I use a GSX-130 every day, so I am familiar with your new printer. I am not familiar with your word processor, however, I know that Leading Edge is no longer in business. If you know how to change the printer code word, you might try substituting EPSONLQ (which the GSX emulates) for EPSONFX, but I suspect the LQ series was developed AFTER your word processor. My other suggestion is that you contact Citizen (Santa Monica, CA) about your problem. * * * I was pleased to read the description of Print Shop Utilities and find that it could convert Apple and Commodore Print Shop files to IBM files. Following the instructions in the Help file, I couldn't get it to work. The program has worked fine for converting "old" Print Shop to New Print Shop files, etc. After I put the disk that contains the Commodore files in drive B, it apparently reads the disk, but the files are not displayed on the screen. When asked to select, it states there are no files to select. Can you help me with this? I also found that when playing Klondike2, the mouse arrow will wrap around and the mouse will act dead. You can use the keyboard to continue or unwrap the mouse prompt. Is this normal? I have one other question. Do you have or will you have a program like "Print Shop Utilities 5.0" that would print .PCX images in a sheet of 40-50 images so I could catalog my PCX disks. Victor Sacks Lakewood, CO RESPONSE: I'm afraid that the Apple and Commodore conversion was not explained in nearly enough detail. My fault. The program WILL read those Print Shop files, but it will only read them from an IBM formatted disk. Therefore, the problem is how to get the graphics onto IBM disks. I understand that a commercial program called "Big Blue Reader" does this for the Commodore (will format an IBM disk in a Commodore 1571 or 1581 disk drive). "Big Blue Reader" is available from Sogwap Software of Decatur, IN, for around $30. The best way to get Apple files onto an IBM disk, according to our Apple experts, is to upload them from an Apple to a BBS, then download them to an IBM. You aren't the only subscriber who has had mouse problems while running Klondike2. You should be able to solve this problem by installing the latest version of their mouse driver. If you aren't sure how or where to find the latest version (usually on a local BBS), you can call our technical support office for advice. * * * There's been a slip up somewhere, Ronda. I put the WORDUP.EXE from ODM #71 on a floppy along with the files from issues 71, 69 and 66, intending to hold it in filebox until the grandkids came to visit. While they play games on Grampa's 286 machine, the adults can visit. My youngest grandson is not yet 3, but he knows how to type "GO." Anyway, Word Up on #71 doesn't recognize any word file but the one on #71. I think you kids can do better. Oh, yeah! I'm going to have to order another 5.25" floppy file cabinet; I can't stuff any more in the one marked BBD that I'll have to rename ODM. What happened? Big Blue bluster at you? Walt Stevenson Pittsburg, KS RESPONSE: Walt, you're absolutely right. There HAS been a slip up. Namely, we haven't gotten around to redoing Word Up into the program it should be--one that will read files from any issue and give you hours of enjoyment. Here's the scoop. Word Up was conceived as being a regular, one-time-through quiz not unlike those you'll find in many magazines. After all, I was a magazine editor for over five years. We certainly didn't have any idea that Word Up would reach its current level of popularity. Some folks say they simply must have regular Word Up "fixes." Look for an updated version on a future issue--complete with a mousable interface. Oh, yeah. You were also right about the "bluster" factor. * * * Your "HouseHold" inventory program was a great help in filing an insurance claim for appliances damaged in August when lightning struck a tree in my yard. I was fortunate that my home computer was not affected. I was able to quickly enter data from other records and compile an itemized listing to help support my insurance claim. Thanks for a simple, easily understood, and useful program. In using the program, an idea for an improvement came to mind and an apparent print-out problem came up. Can the program be made to call up an existing "record" and save it as a NEW "record" without loss of the first one? This capability would certainly be a time saver in entering data. Also, in attempting to print out either a single "record" or a page of multiple "records," the description field would not print correctly for the first or only record. By adding what I call a "null record entry" in such a manner that it can always be made the first "record" in any search or sort listing, I found I could still get useful print outs with minimal waste. (His first record is "AAAAAA.") Did I do something wrong or is this a glitch which others have also encountered? Lew Aston Goose Creek, SC RESPONSE: I'm glad that "HouseHold" has been so useful. Your suggestion for a "duplicate record" function has been noted. The program does not have that ability at present. The print out problem you found has been reported by other subscribers, but you're the first one (to my knowledge) to come up with such a simple and clever "solution." We DID fix the printing "bug" on our Special Intro issue version of HouseHold. A copy is on its way to you. * * * This past year I ordered back issue #23. I was interested in the "Video Pro Titler." This program delights my wife and I no end. My problem is this: I have not been able to find, through any of the computer suppliers, the "video display adaptor with the composite video output jack" described in the program's "read it" file. Hoping you can help. Robert V. Hamer Sr. Mission, TX RESPONSE: If you have an EGA or better monitor, this program will not work for you because your monitor does not have "output" capabilities. If you have an older CGA monitor that has an "output jack" in the back or on the side, all you need is an RCA cable (probably available at your local appliance store) to connect your monitor directly to your TV/VCR. * * * Last May I found a pretty good deal at Tandy. I bought a 20MB hard drive for $145.00. I installed it myself and to my surprise it worked. I have enjoyed it very much. There is one problem I have had. As I copy, move and delete files on my hard disk, it becomes fragmented. This slows up the hard disk a lot. The only answer I have come up with is to format the hard drive. Of course, all of my files must be backed up on floppy disks. I hear there is a defragmentation program, but the one I got from shareware has a 55-page manual that must be printed. It is very hard to understand. I know that Norton Utilities has one, but it is too costly for me. Do you have any ideas? Jack P. Pruitt Ocala, FL RESPONSE: I chatted with the ODM staff for ideas. Basically, we feel that the only defragmentation programs that we would recommend are of the more expensive, commercial type. Why? Because your hard disk, like ours, is too important to place at the mercy of some potentially buggy defragmentation program produced by "Joe Hacker." In addition to Norton, you might look at the defragmentation programs offered by Parsons Technology and PC Tools. * * * I wish to express my comments concerning several of your recent program releases. When I first received your monthly disks, I felt a few of the programs had merit (GeoTutor, Slide Glide) and I could find some use for them in the future. The majority, I felt, were of no use to me. My opinion at the time was to discontinue receiving your monthly disks. Then I received issues that contained "Loan Accelerator" and "Home Refinancer." I was very pleased to find that imputing our history of home mortgage payments into Loan Accelerator (some containing excess prepayment amounts) resulted in a matching principal balance between your program and my bank! I expected to be close but not to the penny! I must also say thanks for including "Nucleon" on one of your monthly disks. It's a neat game and a few folks have become "addicted" to playing it all the time. Of course, I'm immune, but I had to load it onto my hard drive so others could play it with ease. Ronald C. Griffith Peoria, AZ RESPONSE: Glad to hear we're giving you some useful and fun software! * * * I am sorry, but at this time, I do not plan to renew my subscription. I have several reasons. Since you have changed "Big Blue," it has changed way too much to say it is still the same "publication." The new menu is VERY slow and too time-consuming to pull up. I have a 386 machine--it's pretty fast and I still have to wait until the entire menu scrolls down to make a choice. The old simple way of typing the documentation is not available as it used to be. Some times there are no docs to type, just on-screen help, and I did appreciate the hard copy to refer to while in the middle of a program. I have a VGA monitor, but others I know say that in mnay instances, the CGA is the same choice as MONO and the graphics are not very good for them. On ODM #70, I imported a .PCX file I already had. I got a double image, both on the screen and on the printer. How, then will this be a handy program? If just with YOUR .PCX, that will not be of much help to me. I use New Print Shop all the time. I got some great graphics from ODM in the past. Haven't seen many lately. Janice A. Hutton Siloam Springs, AR RESPONSE: Whew! Where to begin? Let's tackle your comments in order. Our graphic menu IS slower than it used to be when it was text mode only. One text screen occupies about 4K. One CGA graphic screen requires 16K and one EGA screen 64K. Obviously, a faster machine will load any of those screens a little faster than a slower one. However, the main thing that makes our menu seem "too time consuming" is your floppy drive. Hard drives access and display data or graphics up to 40% faster than most floppy drives. I urge you to copy just one issue of ODM to your hard drive, then compare the time it takes to load our menu or any program against the time it takes from your floppy drive. Practically all our programs now have printable documentation. There are two cases where this may not be true. First, a program may be extremely simple in concept and will only contain a screen or two of non-printable help. If you've just got to have documentation, use "Print Screen" or use DOS's "Graphic" command to capture the screen(s). Second, a program may not have print capabilities and we may not be able to add them. This is particularly true in the case of game "engines" or software that was not developed in house. Sometimes the CGA and monochrome graphics ARE the same, but only because we have been forced to use hi-res, two-color (B&W) CGA graphics in order to do CGA versions of programs. We don't develop separate CGA and EGA versions of our programs. Each graphics program has one set of "guts" and two sets of graphic screens (EGA and CGA). Our built-in system detection routines determine which set is displayed. You may "override" those routines using the command line parameters found in the Help text of our programs. Why don't we use more four-color CGA graphics? The difference between medium EGA resolution (640 x 200) and CGA four-color resolution (320 x 200) is often too great--everything won't fit on a four-color CGA screen. This resolution problem, not to mention subscriber requests for higher resolution graphics (VGA and even SVGA), is one of the reasons why you'll find a survey in the Editor's Corner department. We are considering making On Disk Monthly an EGA/VGA product, which means that we would no longer actively support CGA when developing graphics programs. Please take time to fill out and return the survey. Your response will help determine ODM's future format. Finally, while developing PCX 'Rangler we discovered that all PCX files are not created equal. Why? Different draw and paint programs often save files differently. The effect you described is caused when 'Rangler incorrectly interprets a file. We have made a few corrections to 'Rangler since it was first published, including one that may correct your problem. If you'd like a copy, just call our toll free number. * * * On the "Brain Teaser" quiz on disk #68, I don't understand the answer to question #10. In your answer you say "D" (diagonal left). It starts with a horizontal, then two diagonals, then a vertical. In my opinion, if either diagonal left or diagonal right is correct, then we do not see enough of the series to form a pattern. Please help me, I'm confused. Larry King Naples, FL RESPONSE: The correct answer is "D." The first block shows an object resting at a 90-degree position (horizontal). If you think of that position as a starting point, the two following blocks show a 45-degree rotation to the left, then a 45-degree rotation to the right. The fourth block is a new 90-degree "starting" position (vertical). If you imagine rotating it 45-degrees to the left, you get answer "D." * * * Your issue #56 of Big Blue Disk had a program titled "Abstract Art II." This is one of the nicest programs you have distributed--in my opinion. I have listed it on my menu and, with just four or five strokes, I get a display which is a screen saver. The color and graphics are amazing. The user has great control in varying the display. Has there been an update to his program? One desirable improvement would be the ability to save settings that would hold after exiting the program. The addition of sound would be wonderful--especially if the user had as much control as he has with the color and graphics. Joseph M. Bistowish Nashville, TN REPONSE: Thanks for the compliment. We haven't updated this program and I honestly can't promise that we will. I can promise that we'll keep your ideas in mind! * * * 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 are edited for clarity and length. * * * T H E E N D * * *