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<C> 1994 by GEnie ========================================================================== This file is brought to you by The Commodore 64/128 RoundTable on GEnie This file may be published or excerpted in User Group newsletters providing credit is given in this manner: "Copyright 1994 by GEnie From the Commodore 64/128 RoundTable File#:#####" This file maybe be distributed, if distributed whole and unaltered, on <RETURN>, <S>croll, <Q>uit ? non-profit BBSs or non-profit networks. For more information on GEnie call by modem: 1-800-638-8369 (8-N-1 300/1200/2400) Enter: HHH Then reply: xtx99018,commrt Then enter: Commodore And enjoy! ========================================================================== This transcript is of a July 19th. conference in the Commodore RTC that featured Dave Ferguson as guest speaker. Dave talked about how he got into using Commodore computers, as well as how he broke into programming. He goes on to describe his various programs, and tells where to get them. Dave's programs are quite innovative, and they add to what a graphic artist can do in the geoPaint medium. Dave also wrote games, an educational Geography type program, as well as a Diary program. The serious GEOS user owes himself the privilege of seeing how these programs can help improve the capabilities of his GEOS system. Conference Staff: Hosting and minor editing - GEOS-TIM (Timothy R. Hewelt) Capture and main transcript editing - THE.OUTLAW (Cam Stewart) Greeting and audience communications - C128.QT.PIE (Sherry Freedline) ========================================================================== <GEOS-TIM> Okay....conference time Welcome to the Dave Ferguson Conference!!! We will be going into a listen only mode. Type /rai (raise hand) if you have a question and I will get to you in the order I recieve it. I will be asking some questions first then I will be opening the floor to questions Welcome Dave to the Commodore RT <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Thanks Tim. Pleasure to finnaly be here. <GEOS-TIM> Yes, I have been trying to get you on for a while....glad we finally got a time that we could visit Dave, you have been quite prolific in the GEOS programming area. I have quite an impressive list of programs. How did you ever get started in computing in general? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Well, Tim, I started in the early days of the Vic-20. I was fortunate enough to be living in the heart of the Silicon Valley at the time that home computing was just starting out. IN those days, Commodore had its own retail stores, so it was really quite exciting. I started programming in ML on the Vic-20. In fact, one of my favorite programs, "GeoWords" started out on the Vic-20, and has been written for every computer I have owned since then. <GEOS-TIM> GeoWords....why is that one of your favorite programs? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Because it was one of my greatest programming acheivments. Humility aside, LOL Seriously, I really like the way that the computer becomes a better player the more that the human plays against it. <GEOS-TIM> That is on your DweezilDisk 3....I will be asking you more about it toward the end of my questions. <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> :) <GEOS-TIM> Now....after buying all your programs..I have really gotten quite impressed with your creativity in your programs....What got you started in the programming game and how long have you been at it? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Well, as I said Tim, I started on the Vic-20. I can't quite remember when that was. When did the Vic come out. 1982? <GEOS-TIM> How did you progress into the 64 area? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Well, I was always a late comer in computing. About 2 months after I bought my Vic-20, the C-64 came out. So I waited until the 128 came out, and I bought a 64. Then when everyone was moving to pcs, I finally bought a 128. LOL Anyway, as soon as I got my 64, I began ML programming in it. My first programs were non-Geos programs, like the word game. Then GEOS came out. I bought one of the first 1581s and one of the first 1764s just because of GEOS. <GEOS-TIM> You said that geoWords was one of you favorite programs. What is your favorite program? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Oh, that's a tough one. I like NewTools and NT2 because they were the ones which everyone else liked the most. However, aside from the word game, it is a tossup between GeoStamp/BIGSTAMP and the GeoGlobe programs. <GEOS-TIM> Ah, those are both fun programs. GeoStamp is a natural for making borders and GeoGlobe has to be one of the most interesting programs. I use it a lot with the students at school (I teach). <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> I think it is one of the most "fun" things I have done. GeoStamp that is. GeoGlobe was a programming challenge. <GEOS-TIM> How is that? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> It was impossible to do until Rob Knop did his RPN calculator and uploaded the source code needed to access the special kernal math routines for doing great circle calculations. <GEOS-TIM> RPN? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Oh, I think it stands for Reverse Polish Notation. Math wizzes understand. <GEOS-TIM> OIC Of all the programs you have written, which ones have you actually used the most <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Quincy Softworks, 9479 E. Whitmore Ave. Hughson, CA 95326-9745 The geoPublish Compendium, $4.00 Topdesk, $19.95; DweezilDisk 3.5, $20.95 Bigstamp, $18.95; DweezilDisk 2, $15.95 DweezilDisk 1 (featuring NewTools 2), $17.95 US dollars, CA residents at sales tax. Ooops, how did that happen? <GEOS-TIM> Gosh, a plug...many plugs... Dave, of all the programs you have written which programs have you actually used the most? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Oh without a doubt, the label prgograms, the most recent of which is DweeziLabel28. I used that for keeping track of my customers. And doing my mailing labels. I also used it quite a bit for job-hunting, which I do alot of. LOL! And also for disk labels. <GEOS-TIM> I use that program a lot too <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> It is very popular, Tim. <GEOS-TIM> I like how I can use any GEOS font with it, and any printer driver I also used it to make post cards <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Yes, so did I. <GEOS-TIM> Dave, getting away for a minute from programs you wrote.....could we talk about a program you are distributing? TopDEsk This is a German GEOS desktop. Could you tell us a little about it? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> TopDesk is a very interesting Desktop alternative. It allows access of up to four drives, displaying the file icons in up to four windows on the desktop. You can also organize files into "folders" within any disk, and view those contents in windows. One of the nicest things about TopDesk is the easy way it is to move or copy files. View up to 16 files in each window. Supports 95% of DeskTop functions. <GEOS-TIM> TopDesk has gotten quite a few good reviews. <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> yes, they did a fine job on it. <GEOS-TIM> Has the reception to TopDesk been pretty good? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Oh yes. In fact, about 75% of my sales now are for TopDesk. <GEOS-TIM> Excellent.....I have talked to many users who use it exclusively <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> I would never be able to go back to using the other desktop after using topdesk. <GEOS-TIM> Any person who buys your disks, gets an explaination about Dweezil Dweezil is your dog.....Is he really your dog? And where did you get the name? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> No, but SHE is. <GEOS-TIM> Ah...IC <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Well, I was given Dweezil unexpectedly. IN fact, I was told she was a HE and didn't check too closely. I thought of the name as I was driving to get a dog house and heard something about Dweezil Zappa on the radio. So the name stuck. Even though he turned out to be a she. <GEOS-TIM> You have written many programs, as I have said before, you have them on several disk packages. <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Well, DweezilDisk 1 is the one that started it all. On DD1 are New Tools 2. This is the most popular of my programs. It allows you to do some various manipulations to GeoPaint objects. Make them into arrow shapes, slant or skew them. Rotate objects, arch them. Double or triple the hieght and width. Susan Lamb did some really cool things with NT2, and so have many others. Then there are some smaller prograsms on DD1. A measuring tool that lets you make "tic" marks. And some pattern creating tools. <GEOS-TIM> And GeoSTamp is on a disk by itself...right? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Yes, that is right. However, there is actually an update called BIGSTAMP. <GEOS-TIM> Could you tell us about the Stamp programs? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> These programs act like an electronic stamp pad set for GeoPaint. You can create the images in sizes up to 96 pixels wide by 64 high (slightly larger than Print Shop Graphics) and then and then you can "stamp" out the images all over the screen. Great for making borders. Fun for kids. I really had a ball tetsing it when I was writing it. <GEOS-TIM> I know I have had a lot of fun with GeoStamp.....I guess you can tell I'm a fan of your programs. <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Really? Gosh! <GEOS-TIM> On Dweezil Disk 2 you have a couple programs. If I'm right you have UltiPatt and geoGLOBE. We have talked a little about them. Could you tell us about them? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> I thought DD2 was my best bargain. Also my biggest disappointment. <GEOS-TIM> Really? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Ultipatt is a very involved pattern editor for GEOS. Allows you to modify the fill patern sets in about a zillion different ways. It includes 1600 built in patterns to choose from. Then there is GeoGlobe. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> Wow! <GEOS-TIM> Ah, one of my favorites <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> GeoGlobe allows you to find the time and distance away of just about anyplace on the planet. There are two different versions for each of 64 and 128. Only program I wrote that had to have different versions. The application versions have maps on them which have blinking dots showing your approximate location in the world and that of the location you are measuring your distance from. This is one program that you have to see, or at least see the flyer, to appreciate. (Unless, of course, you have seen a similart program on a MAC) <GEOS-TIM> You can also put your own locations in by putting in the longitude and latitude in. I have my students do it....they really get a kick out of the program <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Yes, it comes with 140 locations entered in. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> That sounds like a unique program, Dave <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> I am not sure what the limit of locations you can enter. <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Thanks Sherry. I really liked doing it. <GEOS-TIM> The kids get a kick out of seeing the dots light up for the locations.... Sherry has a question <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> The blinking lights were pretty tricky. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> How did you get the idea for this program? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Oh good. Oh, well, I am glad you asked that. I stole it from one I saw on the MAC. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> giggle <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Honest. <THE.OUTLAW> <g> software pirate! <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> Well regardless, I've never seen or heard of any comparable program for the Commodore <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> But I don't think anyone expected to see it on a 64/128. I programmed it myself. Only the idea did I borrow. <THE.OUTLAW> glad you qualified that Dave.. now I don't have to edit that out :> <GEOS-TIM> Don has a question. Go ahead Don <[Don] D.WADLEIGH> How can I order DweeziLabel128, and does it let you adjust the space between labels when printing? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> I will give some ordering info later. The answer to your question is that you can do vertical heights from 1/2" high to something like 11" high. The 11" thing was so that people could label reports, etc. And you can make labels as wide as 8 inches. You can also do up to 3 columns of labels, with custom spacing. <GEOS-TIM> It is an excellent label program......as you can see I'm impartial here.:D <[Don] D.WADLEIGH> I want to try it with a canon BJ200e inkjet printer. <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> It takes a bit of work to get used to, but I love it. <GEOS-TIM> Will it work with the inkjet, Dave? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> I assume it should work fine with the inkjet printer, although when I wrote it I don't think anyone owned an inkjet printer. LOL I sure would like to know. Someone want to send me an inkjet? Well, let's talk about DD 3 and 3.5. <GEOS-TIM> Okay...DweezilDisk 3. DweezilLabel is on it <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Actually, they are the same except that 3.5 is the current version. It has the upgraded version of DweeziLabel on it. Also on this disk is the GeoWORds game, which is like Boggle. and MYgeoDIARY, which is a daily diary program for GEOS. <GEOS-TIM> And this geoWords actually gets better as you use it? I mean it improves with use. <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Well, each time you play, the computer learns the words that it did not know before. There is a point at which it becomes nearly impossible to beat the computer. It can search thru 3000 words in about 3 seconds. The only thing we haven't touched upon is the GeoPublish Compendium. <GEOS-TIM> Yes..for the laser owner <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> This is my little pamphlet on using geoPublish with a laser printer. At $4 it is a bargain, and tells you how to do it even if you don;t own a laser printer, buyt know someone who does. <GEOS-TIM> It is an informative booklet well worth the $4 if you are going to be doing laser work <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Thanks. <GEOS-TIM> Well, this has been informative...now Dave if someone wanted to buy these where, how when and how much? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Quincy Softworks, 9479 E. Whitmore Ave. Hughson, CA 95326-9745 The geoPublish Compendium, $4.00 Topdesk, $19.95; DweezilDisk 3.5, $20.95 Bigstamp, $18.95; DweezilDisk 2, $15.95 DweezilDisk 1 (featuring NewTools 2), $17.95 US dollars, CA residents at sales tax. The geoPublish Compendium, $4.00 Topdesk, $19.95; DweezilDisk 3.5, $20.95 Bigstamp, $18.95; DweezilDisk 2, $15.95 You can also get a disk from CMD called "Dweezil's Greatest Hits". It includes NewTools2, DweeziLabel, and (I think) BIGSTAMP. <GEOS-TIM> That is a nice package. Well, Dave, I really appreciate you coming. I think we have covered a lot of information. <[Don] D.WADLEIGH> Dave.. You really have some nice stuff. Gotta order that DD 3.5! <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Well I sure have enjoyued this also. Anyone else have any questions. I like 3.5 also Don. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> Dave, what is new to the update of DweeziLabel? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> The 3.5 version? Let's see. It is called DweeziLabel28. It does 80 columns in 128 mode. Desk accessories slected from a file select box instead of a menu. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> Verion 3 is for the 64 then? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Uh, no, but it just worked in 40 columns on the 128. IN 128 mode, but no 80 colummns. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> I see <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> DL28 creates merge files for use with geomerge Loads text scraps allows adjustabel left margins for printing and adjustable spacing between columns of labels. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> the merge is a nice feature <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> I guess that is most of the new things. <GEOS-TIM> It works with GeoStamp <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> Do you have any new programs in the works? <GEOS-TIM> It works with NewTools2 <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> No Sherry. I am afraid that I have chosen to move on to other platforms for programming although I am not doing much in any format right now. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> such as? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> PC GEOS. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> ah <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> At least, I hope to program for it some day. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> would that be with C? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> I have the software, but not the CD rom hardware needed. Yes, C <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> aha, interesting :) I'm currently studying C. <GEOS-TIM> what do you see as the difference in programing between PC and 64/128? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> I am still a C novice myself. Actually, not that much Tim. <GEOS-TIM> Really? <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> programming for CBM GEOS, meant learning to program in a very modular format and C is a very modular programming language,. so the transistion was easy. Thanks to everyone that came tonight. <[Sherry] C128-QT.PIE> Dave, thank you! <GEOS-TIM> Well, thank you Dave....... <THE.OUTLAW> Thanks Dave :> <[Dave Ferguso] CBM-PRESS> Anyway, I had a lot of fun. Maybe we ought ot do this again? 
