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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! ========================================================================== <GEOS-TIM> Welcome to the Software Spotlight night!!! Tonight we look at geoFAX with program writer, Maurice Randall. We have several topics tonight: What is geoFAX? What hardware do you need? Why a GEOS application? Incoming Fax- Outgoing faxes. What does it cost? Why should someone spend the money on this program? What are the benefits? And at the end we will see what the status is for some upcoming programs Welcome Maurice Randall....we are glad to have you on tonight. <Maurice> Hello everybody... Gee, it looks like Tim is going to keep me busy tonight. <GEOS-TIM> I will try <Maurice> Yes, this is true, GeoFax is a reality. <GEOS-TIM> Maurice, the Commodore world is a buzz with your program GeoFAX. <Maurice> This is a program that works on both the 64 and 128... From within GEOS. On the 128, it is for 40 columns only. Later on, there will be an 80 column version. The requirements of GeoFax are quite simple. Naturally, you need a fax modem. And in order to get the speed needed from the modem, a SwiftLink is required. Users that only have one drive won't be left out.. It will work on any system that you can configure for GEOS. I've been keeping this program under wraps for a little while now... But it is close enough to being finished, that I am willing to talk about with everyone now. Go ahead with your first question Tim. <GEOS-TIM> Wow, Maurice...you covered several questions.LOL You said a fax modem...what requirements , or what recommendations do you have as far as size, features, etc. <Maurice> The program is not quite finished. But it looks like the finished size is going to be only about 20K. This will allow it to be completely loaded into memory, but that may change before it is released. <GEOS-TIM> No, I meant size or speed of the modem <Maurice> Oh... <GEOS-TIM> What features should the user look for in a modem for this program <Maurice> The modem can be anything from a 2400 to 9600 baud modem with fax capabilities. <GEOS-TIM> Will a 14,400 work? <Maurice> It must be able to use Group 3, class 2 faxes. If you already have a fax modem, you can determine it's capabilities with the following command from any terminal: AT+FCLASS=? The modem should respond with: ERROR if not supported. 0,1 if not supported... 0,1,2 or 0,2 if supported. A 14.4 modem will work but GeoFax will still use it at 9600 baud. <GEOS-TIM> I know you already program in GEOS. What are the benefits of having this program work from the GEOS environment? <Maurice> Well for one thing, most of us use GeoPaint. GeoFax will let you compose a document in GeoPaint and send it to another fax machine. When it sends it, it goes out as a fax document instead of a GeoPaint document. Incoming faxes are saved as GeoPaint documents. This allows you to then edit the document with GeoPaint of course. Another method that GeoFax allows you to use is, you can have the faxes coming in and saved as GeoFax documents. They can also be converted later to GeoPaints. As a GeoFax document, it retains all the resolution of the original. GeoFax comes with printer drivers that allow you to print at this full resolution. <GEOS-TIM> Wes W has a question. <Wes W.> What about geowrite and does it allow cover pages? <Maurice> I've thought about that and decided that if you want to send a cover page, you will send two GeoPaints. But that might change. As it stands right now, you will have to convert GeoWrite files to GeoPaint. But I am thinking about incorporating GeoWrite capabilities into the program. It is hard to determine how everybody would want to do their cover pages. So I am leaving it up to the user how to do it. In other words you could send without a cover page if you choose to. <GEOS-TIM> Snogpitch has a question. <Snogpitch> What is the size difference between a GeoFax document and the converted Geopaint fax? Receiving a multi-page fax could run out of disk space. <Maurice> Yes, disk space might end up being a problem for some people. CMD has solutions for this one. :) But a GeoPaint file will in many cases be smaller than a GeoFax file. So, it will be up to you to do the best way that works for you. You can also choose to not save to disk and instead send to printer without using the disk drive at all. <Snogpitch> So, if space could be a problem, a direct convert to geoPaint is a must. <Maurice> Yes, but keep in mind that a real detailed fax document could lose some resolution when converting to GeoPaint. <GEOS-TIM> Wes has another question <Wes W.> Attachment of write/paint files would cover the cover page issue.. for multiple page outgoing faxes <Maurice> Yes, and I am seriously considering it. But it will be a last minute thing. Multiple pages are already supported. Here's how it works: geoFax looks at the filename of the GeoPaint file... It might be something like this.. filename01 Then it looks for filename02 If it finds it, it will send that next, and so on until the sequence ends. So, you can choose how you wish to send your pages that way. <GEOS-TIM> Tim has a question. <Tim Phelps> Do you have a tentative release date for GeoFax? <Maurice> Yes, the end of January. So far I am on schedule with the work in progress. I know what comes next. The price. GeoFax will sell for $39.95 plus $4.00 shipping. <Tim Phelps> You said GeoFax will support only Group 3 class 2 fax, right? What's the difference between class one and two and why does geoFax only support class two? <Maurice> I've checked around and many fax programs only support Class 2. So, for this first release, I am doing it the same way. When I get enough feedback, such as people buying old modems cheap and wishing it worked with GeoFax, then I will probably add the capability. Class 1 requires a great deal more work on the computer's part. Remember, this is a lowly little 64 we are working with here. But it is going to look good sending a document to your neighbor's 486. Or your brother across the country. <GEOS-TIM> Wes W has a question. <Wes W.> When is the 80 col 128 version due for release? <Maurice> The 80 column version and the 40 column upgrade will incorporate all of the ideas and feedback from the first version. I plan to have it out by summer. The 128 version will support many more features. It will handle a higher resolution for one thing. <Wes W.> will it be integrated with Finally? <Maurice> I'm not sure how I will work the two together yet, but there will be some sort of support there. But I think there is a possible need for a fax document editor here. <GEOS-TIM> Maurice, You were talking about the higher resolution for a fax document. What is the resolution of a fax document? <Maurice> A GeoFax document has a resolution of 216x98 dpi. While a GeoPaint uses 80x72 dpi. The 128 version will support both the normal 216x98 plus 216x196 dpi. <GEOS-TIM> Let's go through the procedure a user would go through to take in an incoming fax. What are his options, etc. <Maurice> Incoming faxes can be handled two ways... Let's say you answer the phone and it sounds like a fax modem on the other end. GeoFAx has a group of buttons you can click on. One of them is labeled START. Just click on START and when the little LED above the button lights up, hang up the phone. The LED will go off when the transmission is complete. There is another button labeled AUTO. Click on this one to put GeoFax into auto-answer mode. And just walk away. <GEOS-TIM> And you have choices to either save it as geoPaint, Fax document, or print it out with your printer? Could you do all three? <Maurice> Yes, you would select the mode to save as prior to taking the fax in. In order to save time, I am only allowing one form of save. Of course you can always convert to the other form later. Keep in mind about how fast your printer is too. If your printer is slow, that will affect the speed of the fax transmission as it is being received. GeoFax will still work, you will just have to put up with your printer. It might not bother you, but keep the person at the other end in mind. <GEOS-TIM> With the higher resolution, it is probably advantageous to save as fax doc? <Maurice> Yes, saving as a fax doc allows you to retain all the data of the original. And then convert to GeoPaint later. Or maybe you don't even want to use it with GeoPaint. Just print them when you are ready. <GEOS-TIM> Okay, let's go to what a user would do if he was sending a fax. Could you outline the procedure for us? <Maurice> For sending, it is just as simple. First click on the SEND button. Choose the file type, GeoPaint or GeoFAx. Then a file requester comes up and you select the file you want. Then you are prompted for a phone number or dial string. Or you can select it from a preprogrammed phone directory. When done, click on OK. Now the START button is used next. As soon as you click on it GeoFax will tell the modem to begin. And your document will be sent. If it was a GeoPaint, the conversion to fax is automatic. The person at the other end if he is using a 486 or MAC, he can import the fax into his own paint program. <GEOS-TIM> Sounds easy enough. It obvously has involved a lot of thought on your part. Doug has a question. <Maurice> Yes, and the program is very easy to use. OK Doug, pin me down. <CMDoug> Will the save function allow you to save to a far partition? i.e., not the current one... <Maurice> OK, now you want me to add partition switching. I can do that you know! And I can add a path capability too. <CMDoug> Heh, well, save it for the upgrade. :) <Maurice> There is really no end to it, but I am shooting for a deadline. That stuff and more is coming, but I better wait to add all the high tech stuff. Meanwhile it is very powerful and useful. <CMDoug> I think we'd all rather have a basic version sooner than wait for all the features. :) <Maurice> Good, Thanks Doug. <GEOS-TIM> You mentioned earlier, Maurice that the price for this new program will be $39.95 plus $4 handling. Plus some folks will need to buy fax modems, swiftlinks, and possibily GEOS to use it. What reasons would a person want to go through this expense? What are the advantages to this program....over lets say a regular fax machine? <Maurice> The prices are right and they are not limited to just your Commodore. A regular fax machine only has printing capabilities. But GeoFax being allowed to work with GeoPaints gives us some unique abilities. You can look around and find a very cheap used 'real' fax machine and connect it directly to your fax modem. Then with GeoFax, use your fax machine as a full page scanner into GeoPaint. In a sense, this makes the HandyScanner obsolete. <GEOS-TIM> That sounds pretty good. I always wanted a scanner <Maurice> Yes, instead of scanning a section at a time, just do a whole page all at once. You can use GeoFax with a fax machine in a direct mode without the phone company. And I would be willing to bet that many people are buying new fax machines and selling their used ones cheap. <GEOS-TIM> Would you have to get any particular Fax machine to use it in such a way? <Maurice> Any fax machine would work in this manner. Unless it is a real old one. But as long as it is within about 8 or so years old, it should work. It in effect would allow your old fax machine to use GEOS for it's own output. <GEOS-TIM> Are there specs that we should look for? <Maurice> No, just make sure it is a Group 3 fax machine. Keep in mind that this is not required to use GeoFax. It only adds to it's usefullness. <GEOS-TIM> Howie has a question. <Howie> What about text? Will this come thru geoFax okay too? <Maurice> Only some of the very new fax protocols support pure text. In this first release, only the standard fax documents are supported. Most all fax transmissions that anyone will encounter will be in this mode. Only two computers and not fax machines are likely to use pure text or binary files. <Howie> I meant as far as legibilty of lets say 12 pitch text? <Maurice> Oh, then that does not matter. The document at our end will look just as good as the other end. Remember, that the resolution is what counts here. If you save as a GeoPaint, you will lose resolution. And with some documents you will lose some detail. But let's say that your mother sends you a fax... All it says is 'Happy Birthday' Love Mom. And it is done with a felt pen. This will look just fine as a GeoPaint. A finely detailed text file with small fonts, won't look good as a GeoPaint. You will have to choose what to do. <GEOS-TIM> Tim Phelps has a question. <Tim Phelps> I forgot to ask this question during topic one but you said GeoFax supports all versions of the GEOS operating system (e.g., 1.5, 2.0), right? <Maurice> So far, I am saying that 2.0 is required... But as it stands, I haven't done anything that will keep it from working on 1.3, So that they can keep using GEOS and not have to upgrade to a different machine. It is really easy to use and understand also. And besides we all like GEOS. <Tim Phelps> For this topic I would like to ask why would someone would want to buy your program and transmit faxes? <Maurice> That is up to you... <Tim Phelps> Could you give me some general reasons? <Maurice> You might find many uses that you never before imagined. Let's say that someone has a 486. Most of them now have built in fax modems. You can exchange letters with that person. Many businesses will accept orders via fax. CMD does. <Tim Phelps> You can also send important documents such as resumes too, right? <Maurice> Sure, there are many uses that I am sure people will think of. Faxes will become more and more used. It is a way of communicating without having to speak or be there in person. Sending a whole page is an advantage. Some people have trouble sending letter with regular mail. I do. But I think I could send faxes as long as someone could receive it. And it is right now. <GEOS-TIM> Sauvin has some comments about Fax use. <Sauvin> Thanks.. I thought I'd add my $0.019999 worth.. <Maurice> I like that! <Sauvin> .. since I work at home a lot, as an engineering consultant, I have to fax stuff that I generate on my home computer. Printing it out, and then marching it over to a fax machine isn't necessarily very convenient, and it makes for a cumulative loss of image quality, whereas the resolutions supported by many of the applications I use are such that if I bash it out on computer, and then feed it to a faxmodem AS IS, it comes out the other end much sharper. Another benefit is scanning, as I believe was mentioned sometime earlier in this discussion - you could fax YOURSELF an image if you had a regular fax machine, and then edit it. Fast, simple, ease and very sneaky. <Maurice> Yes, with GeoFax the dots are exactly where you want them. Instead of having to go to a fax machine and send a fax that way. The scanning might lose something. <Sauvin> Bingo. Mostly, though, it's just the sheer convenience of being to send something by fax, and have it received IMMEDIATELY, even it if's at 3 AM. <Maurice> Going straight from GeoFax out to another machine would be perfect every time. <Sauvin> First time, every time.. and there'll be nothing to "get lost in the mail". <GEOS-TIM> Thank you for your observations, Sauvin. Where will we get geoFAX, Maurice? <Maurice> The program comes with a nice manual too. It is all written. There are about a dozen chapters or so. I will be selling it direct and CMD will also be selling it. <GEOS-TIM> Address? And when can a interested party send it? <Maurice> I will accept orders at any time now, but remember that shipping won't start until about the end of January. The address is: Maurice Randall P.O. Box 606 Charlotte MI 48813 PH: 517-543-5202 <GEOS-TIM> Are there any more questions concerning GeoFAX ? Just type /rai It looks like we covered the topic pretty well. Maurice, having talked to you, I know that you are always working on new projects. What new projects can you tell us about, and what are thier status now? <Maurice> Well, in addition to GeoFax, I am still working on Finally! and will proceed with it in February. Dashboard128 is still in the works. And wouldn't really take much to finish. I've got several new geoSHELL commands going. One of them converts GeoWrite to ASCII or PETASCII like WrongIsWrite. I am working on an IBM driver for GEOS. This will allow us to use IBM formatted disk right within GEOS. This should be very handy to use with Finally. <GEOS-TIM> FINALLY, of course, is your new desktop publishing program for the 128 <Maurice> It all depends on how you do your printing, if you own the printer, or someone else does. Yes, it will operate in 80 column mode. It is a little on the fancy side, but that is ok, it looks nice. It is in full color. <GEOS-TIM> Dashboard is sort of a graphical geoShell, isn'T it? <Maurice> Yes and no. Dashboard is an icon based interface like the Desktop... But is written to work with all the CMD devices like it should. Some of the stuff it is capable of can't be done with the other ones. And it is not limited on directory size. <GEOS-TIM> Sounds like the Commodore user has a lot to look forward to I was just reading an article in the local users group magazine called Double Click <Maurice> Yes, us Commodore users are long from dying. <GEOS-TIM> The newsletter that you edit by the way. The article was about modifyiing Post Script files and what kind of things could be accomplished with it. And the program that enabled him (the writer to do this) was the geoShell program <Maurice> Yes, it is possible that we could have an interface that would allow a user to edit a PostScript file to do some neat things. <GEOS-TIM> He was quite impressed with how it removed file limits etc. <Maurice> geoSHELL has a command that you can use to send a PostScript file to the printer. As far as I know it is the only way to do it in GEOS. <GEOS-TIM> With the advent of cheaper lasers with postscript this could be the wave of the future for 64 users <Maurice> Yes, many people think that 300 dpi is getting to be old technology. But 600 can also be used by us. <GEOS-TIM> Wes. W has a question <Wes W.> are any/all geoshell commands going to be incorporated into Dashboard128? <Maurice> No the geoSHELL commands will only work with geoSHELL. But some of the features that the commands offer are supported in other ways in DashBoard. But it still won't be as useful as geoSHELL. geoSHELL is really hard to beat. <GEOS-TIM> geoShell does seem to be the power users choice of a desktop <Maurice> I hate to brag up my own program, but I am comparing it to one of my other programs anyway. <GEOS-TIM> Especially for doing new and more complicated things with the little 8 bits <Wes W.> I'm looking forward to using all of your new prgs.... <GEOS-TIM> Well, I would like to thank you, Maurice for coming and telling us about your new program. I am already gearing up for it. I see great possibilities for it. <Wes W.> Will you be posting here on Genie when the different programs become available? <Maurice> Yes, in fact... I have a GeoFax demo just about ready to go. I will upload before Christmas so everybody can see it. <GEOS-TIM> We will probably have another software spotlight for them as they come available if Maurice is willing. Sauvin has a question <Sauvin> Will the GeoFax program allow for scheduled faxes, and bunches of faxes to different destinations with separate cover pages? <Maurice> The first release won't support it, but I plan it for a future upgrade. It will keep a log of your incoming faxes. I might also point out how it will name the incoming faxes. Let's say a fax comes in at 10:05 PM tomorrow night. The filename given to it will be: 1221941005p01 You can see the date and time in the filename and the page number at the end. Of course, you can then go to the Desktop and rename it to whatever you like. <Sauvin> Thank you :) <GEOS-TIM> Snogpitch has a question. <Snogpitch> Will the software control the message lamp on fax modems? <Maurice> The lights on the modem is controlled by the modem itself. They will work as expected. We are running Dashboard on the 128 in here by the way. <GEOS-TIM> Wes has a question <Wes W.> are you running dashboard right now??? <Maurice> Yes, I had it on the screen next to me. Now Finally! is on the screen. <Maurice> Someone from our user group is here tonight and I am showing him some of this stuff while we speak. <Wes W.> I'd love to see em,that demo of dashboard 128 is the greatest GUI I've seen on the 128... <GEOS-TIM> I will be going out of listen only mode shortly <Maurice> In between I have the SX-64 running GEOS with a built-in CMD hard drive. That makes a nice little GEOS machine. <GEOS-TIM> Yes, Maurice has a lot of innovative projects. <Maurice> This Commodore computer is quite fun and enjoyable. <Wes W.> Maurice,is there a plan release date for Dashboard128? <Maurice> Yes, Dashboard is supposed to be released about a year ago. :) <GEOS-TIM> LOL, A year ago! Well, I'm glad you develped geoFAX first <Wes W.> All set for Geofax,already got a US rob. worldport 9696fax modemm :) <GEOS-TIM> Well, this certainly has been an informative night <Maurice> I have had fun. <Tim Phelps> Now I'm not sure if the counterpart of my modem has class 2. In the manual, it just mentions class 1. That means GeoFax won't work with that Fax modem, right? <Maurice> If I get enough input prior to the release Tim, I might go ahead and work on the Class 1 . <GEOS-TIM> Wes, thanks for all your great questions. <Maurice> Did you see the Class 1 in your manual or with a command sent to the modem, Tim. <Tim Phelps> I couldn't find anywhere that mentions class 2. <Maurice> Send it the AT+FCLASS=? command string. <Tim Phelps> (Just to clarify, the manual was written for both modems with and with out the fax, the latter I have.) Well it mentioned something about if you type "at+fclass=1" then you will put your modem in fax mode. <GEOS-TIM> I am real excited about this fax program, because of all the things I will be able to do with it. Just the scanning type things alone make it worth it for me <Maurice> Yes, but AT+FCLASS=? will tell you all of it's capabilities. It should return 0,1,2 The 2 means Class 2. <Tim Phelps> Oh. I guess what I'm asking is how do you know if the fax modem has class 2 capabilities without typing a command? <Maurice> That is how you find out. Just send the command from a terminal program. <Tim Phelps> I mean does it say class one and two on the box/in the manual? (I have to admit this question might be better suited to the company that made my modem.) <Greg> I do believe you want class 3 capiblities,class 2 didn't really have a set standare between the different modem manufacturs class 1 does,class 3 does <Maurice> The manual doesn't always tell you everything.. For instance, my modems manual says nothing about any of the fax commands. It does say Class 2 in it though. <Tim Phelps> Hm. OK. <Greg> you might have problems talking to other fax modesms,the fax class does affect its normal modem uses. at least according to my understanding <Maurice> The communication from one modem to another should be ok. When there are problems it is usually the software at one end or the other. Hopefully, there won't be a software problem at our end. :) GeoFax is not doing anything out of the ordinary. It is using the main features of the modem without going overboard. It should work without any strange problems with most modems. When someone reports to me that it doesn't work, then I will fix it specially for them. You can't get that kind of support everywhere else. <Wes W.> Wow,hows zat fer support!! :) <GEOS-TIM> That's for sure! Has anyone ever heard of Reveal Computer products? Ya, My wife bought me a fax modem, and that is the brand.....seems to have everything in it. <Eddie> Maurice, any plans to do a good terminal program w/ ANSI and 14.4k support? <Wes W.> One can get good deals on portable 9600 fax/data modems nowadays that 14.4 is the norm.. <Maurice> A GEOS terminal is in the plans. But no plans as for when. With the fax program, this gives me ideas for other programs naturally. <Greg> Maurice, with swiftlink do you think you could do 2400 baud or better geoterm type program? <GEOS-TIM> A geos term...cool <Maurice> The terminal would have two modes. One mode would be a command mode and the other a terminal mode. <GEOS-TIM> No chat? <Maurice> Chat of course. The termnal mode would switch to a text screen for speed. This can be done within GEOS. The command mode would go back to a screen with menus and icons. Downloading can be done from this mode. I can do a 9600 baud GEOS terminal But the terminal program is down the road a ways. It is just an idea at this point. But I have thought about it somewhat. I would like to have a good terminal program from within GEOS myself. Well, everyone, I hope you have enjoyed tonight. I have a demo to finish up. <GEOS-TIM> Yes, I enjoyed it.....Thanks for coming <Eddie> Thanks Maurice <Tim Phelps> Well goodnight everyone and thanks again for a great conference!