On Disk Monthly's Issue #79 * * * M A I L B A G * * * ASK ODM ------- Thanks for your continued fine programs and service. After 75 issues, I guess it is about time I had some type of problem. I am trying to run issue #76 on my 286 Magnavox, which has Windows installed. I escape from Windows and proceed with ODM disks. Jacket will not print out. Message says printer not detected, but when I do press F5, the printer gets the signal and at the same time displays the message "printer not detected." My printer works OK with other programs. Freeform Database 2.0 just will not run at all. Have you heard from other subscribers and already solved these problems? Charles W. Tolman Scarborough, ME RESPONSE: We have corrected printing problems for both Jacket II and Freeform Database 2.0 on issue #76. Please call 1-800-831-2694 for a "re-mastered" issue. What happened? We "improved" the level of error detection for our printing routines. Unfortunately, a few printers didn't like our "improvements." Note: some of you may have read about this in Editor's Corner on issue #78 and have already called for the re-mastered issue. Finally, if you mean that Freeform Database won't boot at all, please ask to speak to Tech Support when you call for your re-mastered disk so we can figure out why. It runs fine on all our Quality Assurance lab computers. * * * As a novice--I mean a real novice, self-taught PC user--your ODM is great for me. Since I don't have a hard drive, I have a problem finding programs I like. My major problem now is a label maker/printer program. I really enjoyed the game Relix, although I'm not good at it--yet. My daughter talks about a game she once played that allows you to plan your life and tells you why your choices won't work, including how you wanted to be born--natural or C-section. Have you any idea what this is? M. Robinson Wilmington, NC RESPONSE: I'm afraid no one here is familiar with the program you've described. Readers, any suggestions? I have a couple on other topics. You might like Label Meister (issue #73), and you might try slowing the lasso down in Relix until you get the hang of it (see the program's help text about slowing/speeding up the lasso). * * * There's a bug in Memo Writer 2.0. You load one template, then you try to load another (different) template and the load program does not display the DIR listing of template choices. You have to exit the program and restart each time you load a different template. R. L. Mason Chapel Hill, NC RESPONSE: The "Load" function in Memo Writer 2.0 only loads a previously saved file and the template used to create it, not "blank" templates for writing a new memo. Select the "Write" function (F2) to write a new memo and you'll get a list of Memo Writer 2.0 templates from which to choose. You do not have to restart the program each time. Note: your templates MUST be in the same directory as the program (MEMOWRTR.EXE) in order for the program to "find" them. The "Load" and "Write" functions are described in the program's help text. Also, the last step in "How to Write a Memo" section explains WRITE vs. LOAD. * * * I have been a subscriber since #62. I enjoy the various programs ODM offers. In issue #76, regarding the statement in the Mailbag text about why there were only five programs on ODM versus Loadstar, the answer was "do a DIR on our recent issues and you'll see they don't have a 'K' to spare." Well, I did and there was 108,544 bytes (remaining) on #76.... Did I read this wrong? Is there any way that this space can be used for other programs or games? Thomas McClelland Pennsylvania RESPONSE: You didn't read it wrong. I just momentarily forgot that some of you receive 5.25" HIGH DENSITY disks, instead of a 720K 3.5" or two 5.25" 360K disks. Everyone gets the same exact issue, no matter what the format. This means that you'll have "extra" space on your issue, while those receiving two 360K disks may not be able even to create and/or save a new file on one or both disks due to a lack of disk space. * * * I have been a subscriber since issue #40. I enjoy the new "touch and feel" of your software. The mixture of applications is terrific. Keep up the good work. I know that your staff puts in long and hard hours. As a subscriber, I appreciate your work. I have no problem with the resolution (even though I have a super VGA monitor and am running the programs through Windows). Can you please respond to the following requests? 1. Do you know what format the New Print Shop files are in? I would like to import them into FrameMaker. 2. How can the New Print Shop images be used in the Print Shop Deluxe program? 3. Is there a way to put all of my ODM disks in one directory? I would like to review all of them. 4. How can I print the cartoons? Dale Burrows Houston, TX RESPONSE: To answer your first question, I haven't used FrameMaker, and am therefore not very familiar with it, but I strongly suspect you can't use New Print Shop images in it. Why? New Print Shop format images can be used in our own Print Shop Utilities 5.0, or New Print Shop, New Print Shop Companion and Print Shop Deluxe--all by Broderbund. I am not aware of any other retail programs that support New Print Shop images, although there may be some shareware programs that do. Second, you may load your New Print Shop images into Print Shop Deluxe. Choose a project (stationery, greeting card, etc.) Select the "Add New Elements" command, then choose "New Print Shop Graphics" in the menu that pops-up. Next, select the size you want to add--small, medium or large. Note: New Print Shop images come in three sizes, but you may only add one size at a time to Print Shop Deluxe. Place the graphic on your document (greeting card, stationery, etc.) If "no graphic" appears on your screen because your New Print Shop images are in another directory, choose "Other Libraries" and direct the program to the proper directory or drive. A list of files will appear. Hint: you might want to copy your New Print Shop images into your PSDeluxe directory before you select "Add New Elements." Third, you may not copy all issues into the same directory, but you could, for example, have an "ODM" directory containing subdirectories for each issue. Why not? The ODM menu is composed of several parts--GO.EXE, MENU.EXE, SHOWTOON.EXE, etc. These executable filenames are the same on each issue, though the information connected to them is not--new menu copy, a new cartoon, etc. Therefore, if you copied a second issue into a directory that already contained an issue, you'd copy over or replace those files with the same filename, instead of having two copies of the menu. You might be wondering why you can't just change the filenames (for example, MENU.EXE to MENU79.EXE). Answer: because these programs reference each other throughout the computer code. If you change the name of them, the menu won't run. We don't give each set of menu files unique names because it would result in a lot more work, create a higher chance for error during issue assembly and be a version numbering nightmare. Finally, you cannot print the cartoon from our menu, though we're investigating a way to allow you to generate a .PCX or .LBM file containing the cartoon. If you do a DIR on the issue, you'll only find the SHOWTOON.EXE file--no separate cartoon. Why? The cartoon is compressed as a hexidecimal file and is compiled into the program itself. We're looking at the possibility of giving you a way to decompress it and save it for use in your paint program. * * * LETTERS ------- I would like to commend you on a great program, Jacket II, from issue #76 of On Disk Monthly. At first I thought I would never have use for such a program and then realized that all those original 3.5" disks were just laying in the original boxes without any type of dust protection. So I began using Jacket II and now have all my disks protected. Keep up the good work. Darrel W. Jones * * * As you can see, I'm using your Memo Writer 2.0 from issue #76 (to write this note). Before, when I was writing I was using Word Perfect. I liked it very much. When I started using Memo Writer 2.0, I knew right away the features were a lot better. My only complaint: Memo Writer 2.0 doesn't have a spell checker or a thesaurus. You know us users are not perfect spellers. If you ever plan on updating Memo Writer 2.0, please include a spell checker and/or thesaurus. Frank Torres Aurora, IL RESPONSE: It's a good idea, but one that isn't likely to happen. Why? Compiling a good dictionary or thesaurus would take a long time and a lot of effort. One "worth its salt" would have to contain at least 200,000 words and would be between 200K and 500K in size (uncompressed). I've read about a shareware program, called ShareSpell, that you might want to download from your local BBS. It has a 112,000+ word dictionary that allows you to add words, and it works with ASCII files so you'd be able to spell check Memo Writer 2.0 files saved as text files. A hard drive is recommended. If you try it and like it, remember to pay your shareware fee! * * * I am a new subscriber, and in reading your Mailbag, I must add my comment: don't change a thing. I also am writing in regards to a letter in ODM #76 from a Juliet Brice of Miami, FL. I also have a Panasonic KX-P2123 printer with the color option. For some time I was suffering the same frustration described in her letter. The KX-P2123 can emulate the IBM Proprinter or the Epson LQ series printer. I discovered that once I started emulating the Epson, which is the factory default mode, I was able to get the color I was hoping for when I bought my printer. I use it with several programs and am very happy with the results. Roger Loudon Escondido, CA * * * Last month I wrote you about two programs available from the "Print Shop Users Club." Since then I have ordered them and am sending you the page (from the PS Users Club newsletter) that describes the programs (The PS Editor Package and The PS Converter Package) better than I did. In the Mailbag there was a person looking for a screen saver program. The one I used to use was a shareware program called VGA Graphics. If ODM subscribers want to send me their name and address, I'll be glad to send them a copy of the original disk, as long as they tell me what type of disk they use. Also, there was a complaint about Word-Up. I hope you keep it the way it is. These programs have helped me to improve my vocabulary and understand more people when I talk with them or listen to them. I am using Memo Writer 2.0 for this. A great program, it will be used a lot. Cliff Franklin 20486 Dersch Rd. Anderson, CA 96007-8462 RESPONSE: Thanks for being so enthusiastic and for being willing to share your knowledge. Though we don't usually publish complete addresses, Mr. Franklin's is above. Also, you may write for more information about the PSUC at P.O. Box 150, Renton, WA 98057. Finally, since Memo Writer was so popular, we came up with additional templates on ODM #78. And since there was room on the issue, we included the program so brand new subscribers would be able to use them without having to purchase a back issue. * * * I don't normally get excited about games, let alone spend the time to send something in writing, but I read the Mailbag and this time I had to say something after reading the input from Thomas Marino. I have been a member since issue #45. I have seen some really sad attempts at gaming software. Now, when you have finally come up with some real quality, people start complaining. First, there was Word-Up. While not exciting in its gaming techniques, it is: professional, pleasing to look at, easy for kids to follow, expandable and it teaches something. Then there was Catacomb Abyss (Sampler). It is the first time I have seen a well done mouse-driven game. I can appreciate the game more since I finally made it out (of the Catacombs). The game has enough depth that I didn't do everything there was to do, so I am sure I will play the game many times and get better and better. This issue (#74) gives us Finagle and Exclusion. Finagle is good looking, fairly complex, fast moving. Exclusion has an excellent mouse driver, diverse formats and a real mind exercise. As games go, these are great games and well done. I, for one, hope you continue to keep them coming. On the other side are programs. They are good, too. Utilities and performance programs are always good to have. But please, let's stay in the real world. I do not expect ODM to give me CorelDraw or WordPerfect. I bought DbaseIV when I needed a database. We cannot expect ODM to provide serious programs. For instance, the Net Worth 2.0 program is a professional, good looking and seems to work well, but I don't think a database is required to calculate MY net worth. And if I did need one, I would have an accountant who would probably already have one. ODM programs are interesting and fun and I don't want you to exclude them for games. I would like to see more utility programs and computer performance programs, but for computer sake, don't listen to these purists and stop producing those super games. Ray Crum APO AE, NY * * * I have been a subscriber since issue #18. For the first two years, I thoroughly enjoyed each issue and anticipated its arrival. For the past year, the usefulness, menu system, unnecessary graphics, slow access speed, and yes, even quality has diminished. My main problem with the current batch of your programs is that I can do almost all of them faster and easier on my own programs. These mini-programs you are sending us are fine if we have no other full-service programs, but most of us have programs similar to mine (MS Word, Quattro Pro, Xtree Gold, etc.). I would like to see you develop more programs that enhance the ones most of us already use. Print Shop graphics are fine, but enough is enough. Templates for spreadsheets similar to the previous ones you sent, additional fonts, more solitaire games (would be good). Most of all, eliminate all the fancy openings and menus and use the space for usable programs. Another problem I have is that some of your programs will only run if I load them from DOS 5.0 Shell. Why? Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinions. Art Henoch Dillwyn, VA RESPONSE: You should be able to run any of our programs from the DOS prompt, which is how they are designed to run. Please call our technical support staff for help in resolving your problem. ODM programs have always been "mini programs" as you call them. You won't find programs equivalent to Quattro Pro or MS Word on ODM. Why? Many of those programs were developed over at least a year of time. We must develop five or six programs monthly. It's also difficult to impossible to produce programs that are compatible with retail products since software companies don't exactly freely share their product's "secrets" with their competitors. ODM's niche is entertaining and useful task-specific software, as well as programs/utilities that allow you to customize and maximize your computer system. I know that I could use any one of several powerful, retail databases to reproduce some of the database-type programs that we've published on ODM. There are several problems with this approach, to wit: TIME--how much do we have to spend learning to use the program and setting up the database? KNOWLEDGE--a database is only as good as its design and a good design often hinges on a person's knowledge of or research into the topic at hand. AVAILIBILITY--we either have to publish "templates" which require our subscribers to own the full-blown version of the database, or we have to create self-running "programs" which are usually ENORMOUS, reducing the space we have for our other offerings. LEGALITY--not all database programs allow full commercial distribution of their code, without paying them a fee or royalty, of course. TECHNICAL SUPPORT--if we don't have full access to all of the database's code we would not be able to correct some of the problems that always seem to crop up in these "commercial-quality" database programs at the last minute. Our stand-alone programs solve these and other problems. * * * Letters used in the ODM Mailbag section may be edited for length and clarity. Send your letters to: ODM Mailbag Softdisk Publishing, PO Box 30008, Shreveport, LA 71130-0008 ---END---