Archive Magazine CD 1995/Archive Magazine CD 1995.iso/text/magazine/volume_08/issue_07

Text File | 1995-06-25 | 273.2 KB | 5,601 lines

Helping Acorn
8.7
There’s been tremendous support for my suggestions last month about a
user-campaign on behalf of Acorn − trying to open the eyes of the blind
to the particular strengths of Acorn’s computers. (Archive 8.6 p15.)
8.7
Many thanks to all those who have sent in articles they have written or
have read in various publications. I am building up a portfolio. Thanks
too for those who have suggested publications where we might get
articles printed. Keep them coming. If people keep hearing the name
“Acorn”, they may well take a bit of notice and start to say, “Well, it
wouldn’t harm to at least get a demo and see what they really can do.”
8.7
StrongARM Stuff
8.7
Anyone fancy a 400MHz Risc PC? Well, that’s not just fantasising − it’s
a real possibility within 18 months or so − read my article on page 31
for more details.
8.7
Making Archive Better − Part 16!
8.7
(OK, I’m exaggerating!) We have plenty of regular columns and reviews
but are getting rather short of technical articles again. If you fancy
having a go at something, let me know. If you want some ideas for what
to write about, please re-read the article in Archive 8.1 p51. Two
articles I would particularly like are reviews of Eagle M2 and Sibelius.
The former can be as technical as you like, but the latter ought to be
from a user’s point of view − although it could, of course, end up very
musically technical.
8.7
That’s it from me. Happy reading!
8.7
Products Available
8.7
•  Acorn C/C++ − Acorn are planning to release their new C/C++
development environment in mid-March. In fact, the package allows
programming in C, Assembler, and C++ as well as having a number of
supporting tools. C++ support is provided by CFront version 3.0. Also
included is the Toolbox replacement to RISCOS_Lib, which allows simple
design and implementation of your application’s user interface. This can
be tested without needing to write any code. The cost is £249.95 inc VAT
or £230 through Archive. Owners of Desktop C or Desktop Assembler can
buy C/C++ for £205 including carriage from NCS. Send your original
Desktop C or Desktop Assembler discs with your order, please.
8.7
•  Acorn Risc PC Sound Card − The 16-bit Sound Card is designed to
exploit the digital audio capabilities of VIDC20. It enables the Risc PC
to generate near CD-quality sound output via the headphone socket.
Previous VIDC1a sound formats are supported in order to provide
backwards compatibility with existing RISC OS software, and there is
support for the new 16-bit linear and compressed ADPCM formats. The pack
includes: a stand alone sample player is provided to play back digital
samples; extensions to Replay are included to extend the capabilities of
the Replay system to include 16-bit linear ADPCM; a range of quality
samples designed to demonstrate the new audio system. The Sound Card
costs £59.95 +VAT or £68 through Archive.
8.7
•  Big Bang − From Psycore, the creators of Top Banana, comes this new
adventure into “the strange and beautiful”. The complete game comes on
either a single 1.6Mb disc or two 800Kb discs for £14.95 (inclusive).
Please state which type of disc you require and make cheques payable to
Psycore when ordering.
8.7
• Calligraph direct drive lasers − Calligraph have brought the price of
an A3 1200 dpi direct drive laser printers down to under £3,000 inc VAT.
They now do a cut-down version of the TQ-1200 called the A3-1200 which
only costs £2450 +VAT (£2,800 through Archive). The only things that the
TQ-1200 has extra to the A3-1200 are a paperfeed unit that takes odd
sizes of paper, a high temperature controller that enables the printer
to cope with plate-making and the PostScript RIP software (see below).
These printers do 8 pages/minute at A4 size and 4 ppm at A3.
8.7
• Calligraph PostScript RIP − In conjunction with Rapport Ltd,
Calligraph have produced a Level 2 PostScript compatible interpreter
which will allow any of their direct drive lasers to preview and print
PostScript files. If you have a Calligraph Qume or Taxan printer, you
can get a version of the software limited to 300 dpi and a new interface
card which has various extra features over your old one (which
presumably you just throw away). These new cards are also Risc PC
compatible. This costs £250 +VAT from Calligraph or £285 through
Archive.
8.7
The other Calligraph printers already use the more up-to-date card, so
all you need is the RIP software. This, however, has enhanced features
appropriate to these more versatile printers and is the same price as
the other version − £250 +VAT from Calligraph or £285 through Archive.
8.7
Technically, the software offers full implementation of RT halftone
screening and TLA screening, giving any combination of screen angle,
frequency and spot shape; any resolution supported by your printer
including non-square; preview in Draw format (256 grey & 24-bit RGB) and
sprite format (16 grey levels up to 150dpi); selectable paper sizes;
colour spaces − grey, RGB, CMYK and CIE based; font types 0 (composite),
1 (hinted) and 3 (user definable); JPEG, LZW and CCITTFAX image
compression filters and full support for PostScript Resource Management.
8.7
•  CDFast − Eesox have updated their CDFast and NetCDFast packages which
give performance increases on CD-ROM drives, stand-alone, and over a
network respectively. It has two modes of operation, minimum memory
requiring 8Kb to work for an 18-40% performance increase, or enhanced
mode requiring 36Kb for a 30-55% increase. The cost is £25 +£2 p&p +VAT
(£30 through Archive) for the stand-alone version, and £130 + £2 p&p
+VAT (£148 through Archive) for the network/site licence version.
8.7
•  Celtic Clipart Disc 3 − The third disc in Glyn Howells’ Clipart
collection is now available. The discs are £10.99 each, £18.99 for two,
or £24.99 for all three (cheques payable to Glyn Howells). All files are
in draw format and discs 1 and 3 also contain hints files.
8.7
•  Clips Round the Year − This is the name for the service offered by
our own Christopher Jarman who seeks to provide “high quality realistic
art, drawn by an artist who uses the computer, not just a computer buff
who does some art!” Christopher can do first-rate illustrations to
order, or any kind of DTP design back-up you want. If you want a new
magazine cover or a set of invoices with your own logo, give him your
requirements. He will also do outline fonts designed to order. Prices
are by negotiation, but he will often exchange for software. Send £5
(inc. p&p) for a sample disc containing 18 original Artworks files, plus
A/W viewer. Cheques payable to “C. Jarman”.
8.7
•  Colour Dye-sublimation − Spacetech have announced a new colour
printing system which has continuous tone output at 200dpi. This is not
as low as it might sound, especially when you consider that an 800 dpi
ink jet printer would only achieve 100dpi at 64 levels of greyscale. In
fact, the package, which uses Photodesk as a printer enhancer, gives a
virtual resolution of 800 dpi by anti-aliasing, which is only possible
on continuous tone printers. The package is currently reduced to £995
+VAT and includes a Primera printer, refill kit, Photodesk and the
printer drivers. After the Acorn User Spring show, the price will rise
to the normal £1215 +VAT. You can print from other packages, such as
Artworks, but you need to have Photodesk since it features as part of
the printer driver mechanism.
8.7
•  Ethernet Design and Installation Guide − This book is now available
from Acorn, it aims to assist with setting up an Ethernet network. The
price is £20 inclusive from Acorn or NCS.
8.7
•  Expandable SIMMs − It is now possible to buy two sizes of SIMM memory
cards (4Mb and 16Mb) which are upgradable to twice the size by adding
extra chips. The Archive prices are: 4Mb £155 (cf non-upgradable 4Mb at
£145), 4-8Mb upgrade pack £155, 16Mb £535 (cf non-upgradable 16Mb at
£490), 16-32Mb upgrade pack £535. There is no upgradable 8Mb SIMM, I
fear, and the standard 8Mb SIMM has gone up in price to £295.
8.7
(When the Risc PC first came out, we talked about the possibility of
taking SIMMs in part-exchange when people wanted to upgrade. We have
looked into this and regret that we don’t feel able to offer this
service. We are suggesting that people use our Small Ads column to sell
their smaller SIMMs.)
8.7
• Exploring Nature − (as recommended by Andrew Flowerdew in this month’s
CD-ROM Column) This CD contains many drawings of flora and fauna,
natural life processes, animal behaviour and key natural habitats. An
activity-based exploration which will help children towards a greater
understanding and appreciation of the plants and animals around them.
This is a classroom and library resource for all primary and middle
schools. The RRP was £125 +VAT but this has recently been reduced and it
is now available through Archive for £88.
8.7
•  Fireworkz Pro − Colton have now added Recordz, the database, to their
Fireworkz suite and have also added some improvements to the other parts
of the package. This is now called Fireworkz Pro. The package integrates
the Wordz wordprocessor, Resultz spreadsheet and Recordz, and allows
documents to contain ‘live’ spreadsheets and charts, which automatically
update when you change the data. The package requires RISC OS 3.1 or
later and at least 2Mb of RAM. As Fireworkz Pro and Recordz use Iota
Software’s DataPower engine, they can access DataPower files and use the
DataPower server on a network. Fireworkz (i.e. without Recordz) is still
available at £99 +£5 carriage +VAT from Colton (£110 through Archive)
and Fireworkz Pro costs £149 +£5 carriage +VAT from Colton (£165 through
Archive).
8.7
Upgradez: You can upgrade to Fireworkz Pro through Colton from: Wordz −
£89, Resultz − £69 PipeDream4 − £99 or PipeDream3 − £124, all plus £5
carriage +VAT.
8.7
•  Fly the Atlantic − This is the first activity pack designed to be
used with Topologika’s Navigator software and is written by a real
airline pilot. Children must follow the flight plan and instructions
from Air Traffic Control. The pack is accompanied by a comprehensive
booklet with details of bearings, distances and locations of points on
the route. There is a special introductory price of £15 +VAT +£2.50 p&p
(£19 through Archive), which includes a free site licence.
8.7
• Heavy mouse balls – Just to make it clear, these heavy-weight mouse
balls only fit Logitech mice. The Digitec mice used on A310/440 and some
of the A400/1 machines have slightly smaller balls, so check that you
have got a Logitech mouse before ordering your heavy ball. (The mice
that NCS sell at £22 are Logitech/big ball mice!) These mouseballs are
available from Oak Consultants for £3 including postage, packing and
VAT.
8.7
•  Hermes − Base5 Technical Graphics describe this as “a Desktop
Messenger & Interpreter”. It has facilities for text transfer & file
interpretation, graphic file loading, activity recorder, window capture,
desktop monitor, flexible event timer, automatic paragraph numbering,
and features over 300 commands. It is available direct from Base5 for
£25 (no VAT).
8.7
•  Impressive − Quantum Software have provided an enhanced button bar
for use with Computer Concepts Impression range. It is capable of doing
several actions from one mouse click, so that, for example, switching of
the text repel feature of a frame can be done with ease. If you are
learning to use Impression, you can make Impressive show you how it is
creating the desired effect. Example features include Fit to Frame, move
frame by any amount, rotate graphic, colour frame, border colour, colour
text and so on. The price is £9.95 inclusive from Quantum software or
£10 through Archive.
8.7
•  i-TV − This package from Irlam Instruments is a television tuner,
teletext decoder and NICAM stereo sound, all on a single width expansion
card. It features a crystal controlled, full band tuner, with channel
and teletext selection on the desktop. Composite video out is provided
for connecting to video digitisers, VCR’s etc. to allow single frames or
movies from the television signal. External video and stereo audio can
be fed in and switched (using software) to the output. Package of
hardware and software costs £199 +£3.50 p&p +VAT or £230 through
Archive.
8.7
•  Laser printers − We still don’t have any direct drive lasers for the
Acorn machines other than the Calligraph ones. However, we have added
the HP Laserjet 4L to our price list. It is a 300 dpi printer running at
4 pages a minute, has 1Mb RAM and costs £670 inclusive through Archive.
We recommend the use of an HP Turbo Driver at £53 to improve speed and
flexibility of the printout.
8.7
•  Maths Odyssey − Computer Tutorial Services Ltd have produced an
educational adventure which allows children to relate to the historical
roots of some of the theorems and ideas they have to learn within the
National Curriculum. Maths Odyssey costs £42 +VAT from Computer Tutorial
Services.
8.7
•  Mentor − This is a new educational package from Appian Way, and is
designed to bring a number of historical resources to the classroom,
including documents, photos, maps, cartoons and diagrams. Each title
includes more than 100 sources, both text and picture, with
comprehensive indexing facilities. Technical terms can be looked up in
the glossary, and each source’s background comments can be viewed.
Teachers and pupils can add their own sources and notes to personalise
the system, adding local sources, for example. The Mentor Edit program
can change and re-index existing resources, or create a completely new
one. Currently available resources are “The Third Reich”, “1914-18: The
Western Front” and “Medieval Realms” Each topic disc costs £39.50 +VAT
+p&p, and can be upgraded to a site licence for an additional £10 +VAT.
Until the end of March, the price is £35 +VAT +p&p. Mentor Edit costs
£49.50 for a single user and the site licence is an additional £35 +VAT.
8.7
•  OPL Manual for Pocket Book II − From February, the OPL programming
manual for the Pocket Book II will be available through Acorn Direct.
Send a cheque for £12.95 (including post and packaging) to Acorn Direct.
8.7
•  PD-CD 2 − The Datafile have produced a second CD of PD material for
RISC OS machines (including Risc PC). This costs £30 inclusive from The
Datafile or £29 through Archive.
8.7
•  Repair services − If you have Acorn equipment that needs repairing,
we have two companies here in Norwich that we can recommend. Avie
Electronics has been advertising fixed-price Acorn repairs for the last
few months. So, for example, if you have a dead A3000 then, whatever the
fault is, Avie will fix it for you for £39 inc VAT. (Return carriage is
£9.99 inc VAT.) See their advert on page 11 for details of the different
prices on offer. Avie do not repair printers. Repair Zone (alias Ray
Maidstone) will repair a wide range of computer and peripheral equipment
including “other” computers (I can’t bring myself to mention Amigas,
Ataris and such-like). They will give a quotation, if required, or work
on the basis of “we’ll give you a ring if it’s going to cost more than
(say) thirty quid to fix.”
8.7
•  Risc PC Extended Warranty − Acorn have released details of the
extended warranty scheme. For an extra 6% of the purchase price of your
machine you can extend the on-site warranty to 3 years. The warranty
only covers (and you only pay for) the Acorn segments of the system −
the base unit, Acorn monitor, mouse and keyboard. Any expansion cards,
printers, or non-Acorn monitor is not covered.
8.7
•  Scrabble price − On the last price list, Scrabble was priced at £33.
This was a mistake − the correct price was £27 as mentioned in the
magazine. If anyone purchased it at £33, please let us know − humble
apologies for that!
8.7
•  Special Needs Organiser − This is a PC package which has been ported
to the Acorn platform and enables the user to manage the special needs
in your school. You can keep track of pupils, provide updates and
reminders for staff, and keep your LEA up to date. The price is £64.95
+p&p +VAT for a primary licence, and £80 +p&p +VAT for a secondary
licence from PC Business Solutions Ltd.
8.7
•  Special Needs Trackerball − Northwest SEMERC have revised their
trackerballs and are adding versions for the PC and Apple Macintosh.
Acorn versions are now £89 +VAT, or £109 +VAT if you want the version
with a key guard.
8.7
•  Text To Braille − The Dorton IT Support Centre has released version 3
of its text to braille translation program. The program will accept any
ASCII text file (including those imported from CD-ROM and the PC) and
will output a fully contracted Grade 2 Braille file which can be
subsequently sent to a suitable braille embosser. The braille output can
be customised for grade changes for example, and French, German and
Spanish braille codes are also supported. The price is £30, and an
upgrade from version 2 costs £5.
8.7
•  Turbo Driver and Laser Direct Spoolers − This new package from
Computer Concepts allows network printing to take advantage of the Turbo
Driver or Laser Direct systems, and is compatible with any AUN network
including Econet. The package includes a printer cable, spooler
software, and a site licence for the printer driver software which may
be copied onto as many machines on the network as required. The system
works on all RISC OS 3.1 or later computers, although they need at least
2Mb of RAM (4Mb for 600 dpi laser direct printing). The price is £149
+VAT.
8.7
Review software received...
8.7
We have received review copies of the following: •Cannon Fodder (g),
•CDFast (u), •Hermes (u), •Talking Stories 2 (e).
8.7
e=Education, g=Game, u=Utility.
8.7
If you would like to review any of these products, please contact the
Archive office. Potential reviewers will need to show that they would
use the product in a professional capacity or that they have some
knowledge of the particular field.
8.7
Government Health Warning − Reading this could seriously affect your
spiritual health.
8.7
In last month’s God-slot, I spoke about some of the difficulties I had
been through and the way (so I believed) that God had given me a verse
from the bible to reassure me that things would work out OK! One of my
regular God-slot correspondents (whom I shall call Howard) wrote,
“...you attribute what happens to God, and I attribute it to natural
causes − in this case, Acorn announcing the Risc PC. But would you have
been happy to attribute the opposite to God − i.e. no action, and your
business going slowly down the pan as a result?”
8.7
Well, Howard, that’s not an easy one to answer. I know the theoretical
answer − that God is in control and he allows things to happen − both
good and bad. God does not bring evil on people but he transforms evil
and brings good out of it − like a beautiful flower growing in a dung
heap!
8.7
But you asked whether I would be happy to attribute the opposite to God.
Well, I don’t know how I would have reacted, because he did rescue the
business and he did rescue me from depression. I can’t answer that
hypothetical question but I know a young lady who can...
8.7
I have a very good friend called Sue who asked us to pray for her last
autumn because she had lost the sight in one of her eyes and the other
one was going too. (I told Howard about Sue and that we were praying for
her healing. I hoped that, when God healed her, he would have to sit up
and take notice of God!)
8.7
Unfortunately, God has not yet healed Sue although, thankfully, her
sight is not getting any worse. Also, she has been diagnosed as having
multiple sclerosis and it is possible that the sight-loss may be stress-
related, as she is going through a divorce at the moment. All-in-all, I
think you will agree that Sue is a good person to test with Howard’s
question.
8.7
She agreed that it was a difficult question to answer because she is not
a theologian but she said to the effect that “I have my up moments and
my down moments but through it all, I know that God loves me.”
8.7
P.B.
8.7
Fact-File
8.7
(The numbers in italic are fax numbers)
8.7
4Mation   14 Castle Park Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32
8PA. (01271-25353) (01271-22974)
8.7
Abacus Training    29 Okus Grove, Upper Stratton, Swindon, Wilts, SN2
6QA.
8.7
ABC Art   Tideways, South Road, Brean, Somerset, TA8 2SE. (01278-751317)
8.7
Acorn Direct   13 Dennington Road, Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 2BR.
(01933-279300)
8.7
Acorn Computers Ltd    Acorn House, Vision Park, Histon, Cambridge, CB4
4AE. (01223-254254)
8.7
  (01223-254262)
8.7
Anglia Television   Media Development, Anglia House, Norwich, NR1 3JG.
(01603-615151) (01603-631032)
8.7
APDL    39 Knighton Park Road, Sydenham, London, SE26 5RN.
8.7
Appian Way Software Ltd   Old Co-operative Buildings, Langley Park,
Durham, DH7 9XE. (0191-373-1389)
8.7
  (0191-373-0731)
8.7
Apricote Studios (p4)  2 Purls Bridge Farm, Manea, Cambridgeshire, PE15
0ND. (01354-680432)
8.7
Avie Electronics (p11)  7 Overbury Road, Norwich. (01603-416863) (01603-
788640)
8.7
Base5 Technical Graphics   P.O. Box 378, Woking, Surre, GU21 4DF (01483-
761197)
8.7
Beebug Ltd   117 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4JS. (01727-
840303) (01727-860263)
8.7
Calligraph Ltd   53 Panton Street, Cambridge CB2 1HL. (01223-566642)
(01223-566643)
8.7
Clips Round the Year   (C. Jarman) Wyke Hill House, Cheriton Close,
Winchester,  SO22  5HN.  (01962-862227) (01962-862227)
8.7
Colton Software   2 Signet Court, Swanns Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LA.
(01223-311881) (01223-312010)
8.7
Computer Concepts (pp27/28)   Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, Herts,
HP2 6EX. (01442-63933) (01442-231632)
8.7
Computer Tutorial Services   4 Mill Hill Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight,
PO31 7EA.
8.7
Creative Curriculum Software   5 Clover Hill Road, Savile Park, Halifax,
HX1 2YG. (01422-340524) (01422-346388)
8.7
Crick Computing   123 The Drive, Northampton, NN1 4SW. (01604-713686)
(01604-713686)
8.7
Cumana Ltd   Pines Trading Estate, Broad Street, Guildford, GU3 3BH.
(01483-503121)
8.7
(01483-503326)
8.7
Datafile   71 Anson Road, Locking, Weston-super-Mare, Avon, BS24 7DQ.
(01934-823005)
8.7
Design Concept   30 South Oswald Road, Edinburgh, EH9 2HG. (0131-668-
2000)
8.7
Digital Services   9 Wayte Street, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3BS. (01705-
210600) (01705-210709)
8.7
Dixon & Dixon   35 Rokeby Drive, Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 4JY.
(0191-285-3042)
8.7
Dorton IT Centre   Dorton House, Seal, Kent, TN15 0ED. (01732-761477
Ext223)
8.7
EESOX   5 Hillfield Road, Comberton, Cambridge, CB3 7DB. (01223-264242)
8.7
GamesWare   Unit 26, The Bartletts, Hamble, Hants., SO35 5RP.
(01703−456523) (or 0243-531194) (01703−456523)
8.7
Glen Howells   Sicar Uchaf, Brongest, Castell Newydd Emlyn, Dyfed, SA38
9ET
8.7
Hodge Electronic Services    16 Mold Road, Mynydd Isa, Clwyd, CH7 6TD.
(01244-550803)
8.7
HS Software   56 Hendrefolian Avenue, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 7NB. (01792-
204519) (01792-298283)
8.7
Iota Software Ltd   Iota House, Wellington Court, Cambridge, CB1 1HZ.
(01223-566789) (01223-566788)
8.7
Irlam Instruments   133 London Road, Staines, Middlesex TW18 4HN.
(01895-811401)
8.7
Kudlian Soft  8 Barrow Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1EH. (01926-
851147)
8.7
Levens   FREEPOST (LE6511), PO Box 438, Leicester, LE4 9BR.  (Freephone
0500-121241) (Freefax 0500-131288)
8.7
Longman Logotron   124 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge
CB4 4ZS. (01223-425558) (01223-425349)
8.7
LOOKsystems   47 Goodhale Road, Bowthorpe, Norwich, NR5 9AY. (01603-
748253) (01603-740203)
8.7
Minerva Systems   Minerva House, Baring Crescent, Exeter, EX1 1TL.
(01392-437756) (01392-421762)
8.7
Newman Software   c/o Computer Centre, Newman College, Genners Lane,
Bartley Green, Birmingham, B32 3NT.
8.7
Northwest SEMERC   1 Broadbent Road, Watersheddings, Oldham, OL1 4LB.
(0161-627-4469)
8.7
Oak Solutions (p16)   Dial House, 12 Chapel Street, Halton, Leeds, LS15
7RN (0113-232-6992)
8.7
  (0113-232-6993)
8.7
Oak Consultants   Sun Cottage, High Street, Hatfield Broad Oak, Bishops
Stortford, CM22 7HE.
8.7
  (01279-718596) (01279-718767)
8.7
Octopus Systems   9 Randwell Close, Ipswich, IP4 5ES. (01473-728943)
(01473-270643)
8.7
Oregan Developments   36 Grosvenor Avenue, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield,
B74 3PE. (0121-353-6044)
8.7
PC Business Solutions Ltd  PO Box 941, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 6JF 01273-
881215 (01962-877978)
8.7
Psycore   PO Box 3837, London NW3 1JF.
8.7
Quantum Software   35 Pinewood Park, Deans, Livingston, EH54 8NN.
(01506-411162 after 6)
8.7
Repair Zone (p9)   421 Sprowston Road, Norwich, NR3 4EH. (01603-400477)
(01603-417447)
8.7
Safesell Exhibitions (p15)  Market House, Cross Road, Tadworth, Surrey
KT20 5SR.
8.7
Sherston Software   Angel House, Sherston, Malmesbury, Wilts. SN16 0LH.
(01666-840433) (01666-840048)
8.7
Silicon Vision Ltd   Signal House, Lyon Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1
2AG. (0181-422-3556)
8.7
  (0181-248-3589)
8.7
Spacetech   21 West Wools, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EA. (01305-822753)
(01305-860483)
8.7
TBA Software   24 Eastgate, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, SY23 2AR. (01970-626785)
8.7
Topologika   Islington Wharf, Church Hill, Penryn, Falmouth, Cornwall,
TR10 8AT. (01326-377771) (01326-377771)
8.7
Uniqueway   42 Crwys Road, Cardiff, CF2 4NN.  (01222-644611) (01222-
644622)
8.7
VTI (Vertical Twist)   Unit 1, The Shopwhyke Centre, Shopwhyke Road,
Chichester, PO20 6GD.
8.7
  (01243-531194) (01243-531196)
8.7
Archive Monthly Program Disc Contents
8.7
•  Files from Gerald Fitton’s Column − page 39.
8.7
•  Sample animations from Christopher Jarman’s animator review − page
45.
8.7
•  Files from Alisdair Jorgensen’s Keystroke Column − page 26.
8.7
•  Files from Keith Hodge’s Risc PC Column − page 19.
8.7
•  Black Hole 2 PD program reviewed by Jochen Konoietzko − page 57.
8.7
•  Two PhoneDay-ready STD applications from Jim Nottingham − page 17.
8.7
N.B. The Perpetual Calendar from Colin Singleton’s Puzzle Corner was
just squeezed onto last month’s disc.
8.7
Paul Beverley
8.7
Archive Special Offers
8.7
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8.7
TouchType
8.7
We have arranged a special limited offer on TouchType, Iota’s typing
tutor. It came out very well in a comparative review in Archive done by
a Evelyn Grant, herself a professional (human!) typing tutor. The full
price is £49.35 but for one month, it is on special offer at £35 through
Archive.
8.7
“The lessons are well organised, paying special attention to common key
combinations, and also giving equal weight to less common keys such as
‘q’, ‘z’ and ‘x’, giving the learner the opportunity to achieve maximum
dexterity.
8.7
“The keyboard on the screen highlights each letter, indicating ‘right’
and ‘wrong’ key depressions, and a ‘Hands’ window shows which finger you
should use.
8.7
“There is a clear display showing your rate of progress and the
characters which you need to practice more to achieve a high rate of
accuracy.
8.7
“The concept of ‘dragging’ the exercises from the directory may be
difficult for learners who have little experience of the desktop but,
once mastered, presents few problems.
8.7
“I found Touch Type to be very satisfactory as a teaching program,
enabling users to progress at their own rate, yet still achieving full
potential on the keyboard.”
8.7
Norwich Computer Services     96a Vauxhall Street, Norwich, NR2 2SD.
(01603-766592) (764011) email: [e-mail]
8.7
Personal Accounts
8.7
We mentioned last month that we had found a few copies of the special
offer pack of Personal Accounts and asked if anyone wanted them. They
were gone by lunchtime on the day the magazine started to drop on
people’s doorsteps! We had a word with Apricote Studios and they agreed
to repeat the original offer for two more months.
8.7
The full price of Personal Accounts is £49.95 and the special price (for
Archive subscribers only) is £35. The only difference with this special
version is that, to save costs, it will not come in a presentation case.
The offer lasts for two months, i.e. until the June issue of Archive is
sent out from NCS (mid May). To take advantage of this offer, just send
in your order for Personal Accounts to NCS in the normal way but simply
do so at £35 instead of £49.95.
8.7
In Mick Burrell’s review of Personal Accounts (7.11 p65) he said, “This
is a program which has ‘developed’ through use into an excellent bank
account control system. If you tried to find a home or club banking
program which was either more capable or easier to use, I doubt you
would succeed on either count.”
8.7
Apricote
8.7
From 8.1 page 19
8.7
Help!!!!
8.7
•  BBC & Archimedes  computers for sale − It seems as if we are onto
something useful that Archive can do here! Following my comments last
month, I have had offers of 20+ BBC computers of various types and ages
with various add-ons including printers, monitors, modems, etc. What we
have decided to do, therefore, is run a BBC recycling plant! What we
will do is take delivery of the (donated) computers, get Ray Maidstone
to refurbish them (or just check them out if they don’t need any work
doing on them) and “sell” them to charities and schools. The prices
charged for the computers and other equipment will basically just be the
cost of a 6-month warranty which Ray will offer.
8.7
If anyone is prepared to give us old Archimedes computers (working or
not) then we’ll take those too for charitable bodies/schools, etc.
8.7
However, this will only work if schools and charities actually want
these computers. So here is a suggested “price list”. If you would like
to take advantage of these offers, write, ring, fax or email to let us
know how many of what sort of equipment you would like.
8.7
If you have computers and other equipment, please don’t send it to us
yet! Let us know exactly what you are offering and we will ask you to
send it as and when we have suitable homes for them to go to. Even if
the computers aren’t actually in full working order, we are still
interested − Ray is a “Mr Fixit” par excellence! But please say when you
offer us equipment whether or not it actually works. Thanks.  Ed.
8.7
BBC B or B+ + disc drive + colour monitor − £30
8.7
Master/Compact + disc drive + colour monitor − £35
8.7
Acorn 32bit computer + colour monitor − £50
8.7
Printer − £15
8.7
These prices do not include carriage and VAT is not applicable because
they are going through Repair Zone which is not VAT registered.
8.7
•  EMU problems! − On my A3000, I have a compatibility problem with
Cumana’s EMU card with SCSI interface (fitted internally) and a
Scanlight Junior (fitted to the external slot, with an external 12v
supply).  When they are both fitted, the computer locks up on switch on,
but fitted on their own they work perfectly. They both work together
under RISC OS 2.  Does anyone know of a solution as neither CC nor
Cumana can help, and currently I have to remove the EMU card every time
I want to scan anything.  Brian Cocksedge, West Sussex.
8.7
•  Epson paper − Has anyone discovered an alternative paper for use in
the Epson Stylus Color printer for use at 720 dpi?  Barry Thompson on
01332-701969.
8.7
•  Merlin Scribe − Does anyone know anything about this excellent, if
rather quirky, wordprocessor for the BBC B? The manufacturer/distributor
was a company called Bucon Ltd, based in Wales. The company seems to be
defunct, so does anyone know:
8.7
1. If the company still exists in any form?
8.7
2. The author of the software? (I have read the software ROM, but it
merely says Bucon Ltd.)
8.7
I would like to know if the author now writes software for the current
32-bit machines as I feel a wordprocessor/DTP package written by him for
a Risc PC would be most interesting. Please phone me on 01702-335760
(day) or 01268-792285 (eves).  Donald Scott, South Benfleet.
8.7
•  Object Basic − Levens Ltd have released a document with information
of what might be included in this package − which is planned to provide
a Visual Basic type environment. They would also like feedback on what
potential customers would like included. More details can be found out
directly from Levens.
8.7
•  PC schools database to Acorn conversion − I help my local secondary
school by taking PRN files from their PC school admin database and
printing laser-labels, etc on Acorn systems. If anyone could benefit
from using my dummy files, do contact me.  David Membry (address below).
8.7
•  ‘Rites of Passage’ − Does anyone know of any clipart, CDs, etc
suitable for RE in secondary school, e.g. for ‘rites of passage’? (I
know what that means − baptisms, weddings and funerals − my Tim’s doing
RE at GCSE, so I get quizzed at home! Ed.)  David Membry (address
below).
8.7
•  Statistics with Fireworkz − I have done some work on a voluntary
basis for the local secondary school on a way of using Fireworkz for
calculating statistics used in Psychology. Would this be of interest to
anyone? I am no statistician but I have found some work-arounds for
problems which arose. I would also be keen for someone to check the
details of what I have done. I will send a disc if anyone is
interested. I can be contacted at Frittiscombe Lodge, Chillington,
Kingsbridge, S. Devon, TQ7 2JQ (01548-580393). David Membry.
8.7
•  STD finder − Referring to the plea by Richard Hesketh of Lampeter
(Archive 8.6 p24), I have just completed updating a similar program
called !STDFinder, which is also PD.
8.7
!STDFinder was written by Julyan Bristow of the West Midlands area about
two years ago. He made provision for upgrading to the new STD codes by
providing a file called newcodes, but when I started to use it, I found
that some of the data was inaccurate. I tried to get in touch with him,
without success, so I have upgraded  the application myself.
8.7
Regarding the program !Exchange mentioned by Richard Hesketh, I have a
copy, “version 1.08 − 12 June 1993 by Julian Samphire”! Are there two
versions by different authors or has M.S.Bright changed his name?  Ted
Lacey, Southampton.  A
8.7
Repair Zone
8.7
New artwork
8.7
Lots More Fun & Games
8.7
Richard Rymarz
8.7
Lots More Fun & Games is from HS Software, a well-established company
who have specialised in arcade-style, sometimes wacky, presentation of
basic skills associated with the National Curriculum. In my school, we
use most of their programs. Even our aged BBC B’s can often be seen with
a group of children ‘playing’ one of HS’s earlier offerings such as
‘Read − Right − Away’ or ‘Adventurous English’. With the advent of the
Archimedes, the company continued a successful policy of using enhanced
graphics, digitised pictures and sampled sound to provide a mix of the
same thing. So how does their latest offering compare?
8.7
The package
8.7
Packed in a slim wallet come three discs, each containing one game. They
cover a mixture of English and Maths Attainment Targets (English 1, 2, 4
− Maths 2, 4, 5 − pre-Dearing) and each game will just about fit on a
1Mb machine. Brief notes in the pack explain how to maximise memory in
tight situations. The games, which are controlled completely by the
mouse, feature 256-colour mode 15 graphics, animations digitised from
video, and clear sampled speech.
8.7
The programs
8.7
Dataday − This aims to teach the children the days of the week and
months of the year in sequence. Clicking on !HS results in a full screen
with the game buttons arranged across the top, twelve pictures depicting
the months of the year, seven pictures representing the days of the week
along the bottom, and a centre section where all the action happens.
There is also a sliding bar showing the time allowed for the game. There
are six game variations each having nine skill levels. Sound can be
decreased and the speech can be switched off.
8.7
The game is easy to understand with a time traveller asking the children
to carry out certain tasks involving language based on days and months.
An example of a simple task would be, “Find Tuesday”. Later, more
complex instructions such as, “Find the day before Tuesday”, or “What is
the fifth day of the week?”, are asked. Success is shown by the
traveller running up and down juggling.
8.7
Spot the Blot − The aim here is to help children with reversals, visual
perception and discrimination skills. The now familiar game buttons are
displayed across the top of the screen. Two large pictures of either a
beach or parkland are displayed and objects are transposed onto them.
Objects are missing or reversed on one of them and the children have to
match the pictures. A nice touch is the animated picture of the
questioner talking to a gorilla. Success is rewarded with flying ducks
and suitably lively music. There is a sliding bar showing the time, and
two boxes highlighting the area of the screen near the mouse, making it
easier for the children to see.
8.7
Gwyn’s World − The aim of this game is to find 2D and 3D shapes that
hide themselves around Gwyn’s house. There is also the option to work
out simple fractions and percentages when the shapes have been found.
The usual game buttons are found across the bottom of the screen and a
cut-away section of Gwyn’s house takes up most of the screen. Gwyn is
upstairs, electric guitar in hand. There are four common 2D shapes, four
common 3D shapes and a colour option. Eight levels of skill give plenty
of scope for customising the program for individual children.
Instructions are given via the television screen (a nice touch) and the
shapes hide themselves around the house − at the harder levels this
happens quite quickly. Success is rewarded with Gwyn springing into life
and playing on his guitar.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
I must say that I and my children liked these programs. They are lively,
noisy (if desired) and hold the interest for long periods. Aimed at Key
Stage 1 and lower Key Stage 2 (5 − 9 yr olds), the programs could
equally be used at home as well as school.
8.7
For the sum of £22.95, or £22 through Archive, the purchaser receives
three games that generally fulfil and reinforce the appropriate National
Curriculum targets. Good value for money and, as Gwyn says, “Go for it”,
but be prepared to turn down the sound levels.  A
8.7
Avie Electronics
8.7
New artwork
8.7
Hints and Tips
8.7
•  Desktop Font − If you find you are losing information on RISC OS 3.5
because your desktop font means that characters are truncated in icons
designed to take the System font, remember that you can select the
system font, until software producers catch up. Alternatively you can
edit the offending templates using FormEd, or similar. Peter Prewett,
South Australia.
8.7
•  “Gang screen” in RISC OS 3.5 − In RISC OS 3.10 there is a hidden
“gang screen”, showing the names of the people who worked on the
version; does anyone know if such a thing also exists in version 3.5? Or
can it be that the developers have, this time, only put that picture
into the “50-99” directory of !SlideShow images?  Jochen Konietzko,
Köln, Germany.
8.7
If you open the RISC OS 3.5 info window (press <menu> over the iconbar
acorn) and use the menu button to click out the word “team” on the
letters of “Acorn Computers”, it will initiate a list of names for you.
Matthew Hunter, NCS.
8.7
•  !KeyStroke’s KeysLib − If you use KeyStroke, you should take a close
look at the small Basic programs inside the KeysLib library − some of
them are very useful!
8.7
My personal favourites are forceAback and forceAfront which give you
quick access to parts of the Pinboard hidden by a window. ForceAback
puts all windows behind the Pinboard (you can see that they aren’t
simply closed if one of them extends down onto the iconbar) and
forceAfront reverses the process. To hide the windows, you define a
keystroke for a *Command:
8.7
Text: *Run <Keystroke$Lib>.forceAback
8.7
The equivalent text for forceAfront will make the windows reappear. Of
course, you must make sure that the filer has ‘seen’ KeysLib for this to
work.  Jochen Konietzko, Köln.
8.7
•  Long file names in RISC OS 3.5 − In Archive 8.6 p.68, Keith Hodge
made a little wish list for future versions of RISC OS; one of those
wishes was ‘long file names’. The manual for the German RISC OS 3.50D
does indeed state that a name must be between one and ten characters
long but this does not seem to be the whole truth. I have grown
accustomed to using the Cropping option in RISC OS 3.10, which meant
that I did not have to count if the intended name had exactly ten or
maybe more letters but on my Risc PC those slightly too long names are
not cropped!
8.7
As the picture shows, it is possible to type in up to 30 characters
before there is an error message “Name too long”. This seems to work
only in MemFS − surely there should be a way to implement it
everywhere?  Jochen Konietzko, Köln.
8.7
(This doesn’t seem to work on the UK version of RISC OS 3.5. Ed.)
8.7
•  Saving Wolfenstein games − Have you, too, noticed that sometimes,
when you save a game in Wolfenstein 3D, the name disappears, giving an
‘empty’ slot in the Save window?
8.7
If you have, you probably use CC’s !Compression. I have found that on my
RISC PC, as long as the !CFS.!Run file is open, the save option of
Wolfenstein 3D does not work properly (If you don’t know how to find out
which files are open, there’s a little PD utility called !FileMan which
lists all open files and allows you to close them one by one.)  Jochen
Konietzko, Köln.
8.7
•  Talking !Alarm − I have always wanted to have alarms which spoke to
me but I could not find a way to do this. When I dropped sound files
onto the Alarm Set window, all I got was a silent graph from Audioworks
or Soundlab. However, there is a way, thanks to an idea given to me by
David Pratt who used to run GemPD. I have used this on the Risc PC, but
I see no reason why it shouldn’t work on any other machine. There is
probably a clever ‘programmers type’ way to do this, but I am a simple
‘drag and drop’ person with no programming skills at all. You just need
two small Utilities obtainable from PD. They are !Compress and !Player
both by David Radford and obtainable from Datafile.
8.7
Using the Oak Recorder and !Soundlab, make Armadeus files of anything
you want Alarm to tell you. My first recording was of my wife saying
“It’s midnight − time to come to bed!” I also recorded snippets like
“Coffee time” and, I have to confess, “Time to watch Neighbours”.
8.7
Using !Compress, make compressed versions of these files. You must not
keep the uncompressed files in the computer or !Player seems to get
confused and an unholy row erupts!
8.7
Now load !Player into your Risc PC Bootfile in Choices.Boot.Tasks. When
you drop one of the compressed sound files into the Alarm Set window,
choose Task alarm and set the time and day, !Player in the boot file
activates the sound exactly on time.
8.7
“Are there any drawbacks?” I hear you cry. Well, I found that having
done their job, the compressed sound files seem to remain open, so that
when the computer boots up each morning it goes happily through each
recording again playing them until finished. But a small price to pay
for having a talking chum who tells you what to do each moment of the
day. No doubt there will be someone who can tell us how to stop this
little problem.  Christopher Jarman, Winchester.
8.7
•  Turbo Drivers and Printers 1.28 − the current versions of the Turbo
Drivers complain that they need a later version of !Printers when you
try to install them into the latest version of !Printers, currently
being shipped with new Risc PCs. This can be circumvented by copying the
install program to your hard disc, and editing the copy by removing line
91 of the !RunImage file (that is the 91st line of the program, not
Basic line 91). The Turbo Drivers should then install correctly. If you
do not wish to attempt this then get in contact with Computer Concepts.
CC Technical Support.  A
8.7
Puzzle Corner
8.7
Colin Singleton
8.7
Suggested answers to my lottery puzzle (What is the smallest number of
entries you can make in the National Lottery and be certain of a £10
prize?) have come down from millions of entries to hundreds, but we are
still a long way from a definite answer. This problem is more difficult
than I thought.
8.7
Gerald Fitton has included a couple of programs for the rounding problem
on recent monthly discs, but no-one has yet submitted one for a table of
values. See my column (8.5 p30) and Gerald’s (8.4 p31).
8.7
Perhaps I can offer another unofficial puzzle inspired by an Archive
feature? What is the shortest meaningful pangram sentence (containing
all 26 letters of the alphabet) that you can devise? (See Christopher
Jarman’s column, Archive 8.6 p77, and the 8.6 monthly disc).
8.7
Here are this month’s two puzzles ...
8.7
(11) Prime Square
8.7
In the grid opposite, the four rows, four columns and two diagonals,
each of which can be read both ways, show twenty different four-digit
numbers. And they are all prime numbers.
8.7
Hang on a minute, I’ve got it wrong − 9373 and 9131 aren’t prime.
Bother!!
8.7
Well, can you construct a four­by­four grid in which the twenty four-
digit numbers are different and all prime?
8.7
(12) Anagram Dictionary
8.7
(I saw this puzzle in a computer magazine about 20 years ago, long
before we had on-line dictionaries. Hopefully, not many readers will
remember it!)
8.7
In an anagram dictionary, the letters of each word are sorted into
alphabetical order and the resulting letter combinations are then listed
in alphabetical order. Thus if you start with the word TRIANGLE you must
look up the entry AEGILNRT. You will find that the entry reads AEGILNRT
ALERTING ALTERING INTEGRAL RELATING TRIANGLE, because five anagrams can
be formed from these eight letters.
8.7
The question is quite simple − what are the first three entries in the
dictionary, and the last three? Current English words only please, no
abbreviations or proper names. Chambers’ dictionary − the old-fashioned
printed paper version − is recommended (as it is for most word games and
puzzles).
8.7
... and last month’s two solutions ...
8.7
(9) Egyptian Fractions
8.7
The simplest technique is known as The Greedy Algorithm. First take the
largest possible reciprocal (i.e. the smallest denominator) which does
not exceed the required fraction. Then the largest possible from what is
left, and so on... . This is guaranteed to produce a result, but the
expression in last month’s column indicates what type of result!
8.7
I only know of one other general technique (rather more complex) which
does not involve trial and error − I devised it myself. It always
produces ‘reasonable’ results but, in general, does not find the
smallest number of reciprocals nor the smallest possible value for the
last (largest) denominator.
8.7
This puzzle is easier (?) than most because the denominator 89 is prime.
Logical reasoning − or inspiration − leads to a solution with four
reciprocals.
8.7
50/89  =  50×18/89×18  =  900/89×18  =  89×10 + 10/89×18 =
89×9 + 89 + 9 + 1/89×18  =  1/2 + 1/18 + 1/89×2 +            1/89×18  =
1/2 + 1/18 + 1/178 + 1/1602
8.7
It can be proved that four is the minimum number of reciprocals in this
case, 1602 being the smallest possible largest denominator in such a
solution. There might be a solution with more than four reciprocals with
the largest denominator less than 1602, but I suspect not.
8.7
(10) Magic Hexagon
8.7
Ignoring rotations and reflections, there is only one solution. It can
be found by trial and error, but we can narrow the search somewhat with
some initial reasoning. The Magic Total must be 38 (one fifth of the
total of the numbers 1−19). If the number in the centre is C, we can
show that the total of the six numbers around the centre is 38 − 2C
(which means these numbers must all be small), the total of the six
corners must be 76 − C, and the total of the other six is 76 + 2C (so
they must all be large numbers). The centre number, therefore, cannot be
greater than eight.
8.7
... and congratulations to the previous month’s two winners ...
8.7
(7) Friday the Thirteenth − Winner: Robert Newmark of Sunderland
8.7
My perpetual calendar, held in two drawfiles ready for printing, was
included on last month’s program disc (8.6). Don’t be impatient − it
does take a long time to load!
8.7
(8) Marbles − Winner: John Greening of Edinburgh.
8.7
John’s answer of 588 marbles was the equal-best submitted, although not
the best possible. The fact that the box was quoted as 15×12×3 does not
imply that you must start with a 15×12 face as the base.
8.7
Comments and solutions
8.7
John Greening is our first twice-winner in this series of puzzles. Come
on, the rest of you − if you don’t enter you can’t win! I have received
quite a number of expressions of goodwill, which is very gratifying, but
not too many entries. Please send comments, contributions and solutions
to me at 41 St Quentin Drive, Sheffield, S17 4PN. Solutions by Friday
7th April, please.  A
8.7
Safesell
8.7
New artwork
8.7
Oak
8.7
From 8.6 page 21
8.7
Phone Day − Updating STD code utilities
8.7
Jim Nottingham
8.7
In Archive 8.6 p24, Richard Hesketh mentioned the excellence of the
!Exchange phone locator. There’s a range of similar utilities in the
public domain, all of which are valuable, particularly following BT’s
introduction of the Call Return system last November (simply dial 1471
and, for free, a nice lady tells you the code and number of your last
caller).
8.7
Unfortunately, being PD, the utilities have tended to lag behind local
code changes and, to answer Richard’s question about whether they will
support the new STD codes after Phone Day, I think it is unlikely.
However, it is a simple task to modify the databases ourselves to make
them compatible with the new codes. Here’s how to do it, using Edit’s
Find/Replace function. The procedures are similar to those discussed in
the recent Text Import articles so, if you get stuck, reading Archive
8.4 pp 44-45 should help to familiarise you with using this function.
8.7
There will be minor variations between STD locator utilities, so I’ll
cover a couple of examples to introduce the different techniques.
Firstly, let’s have a look at Julyan Bristow’s !STDFinder.
8.7
!STDFinder
8.7
As always, before you even think about massaging an existing file, make
a back-up!!! Now load Edit onto your iconbar. The database of STD codes
and place names is found in a text file within the application, so open
up its directory viewer by pressing <shift> and double-clicking on
!STDFinder. Then step through ‘Directorys’ until we come to the text
file called STDfinder. Double-click on it to load the file into Edit.
8.7
In !STDFinder, the data is in comma-separated value format (CSV), i.e.
the place name is followed by a comma, followed by the ‘old’ STD code:
8.7
Apart from the five towns allocated entirely new STD codes (discussed
later), all we need to do is to add a ‘1’ after the leading ‘0’,
throughout the file. The problem is that, if we do this globally using
Find/Replace, we shall add unwanted 1’s after every zero so, for
example, Abbotsbury’s number 0305 would become 013015 which is
incorrect. So we need to ensure only the leading zero is massaged and,
to do this, we need to make it unique.
8.7
In !STDFinder, we can do this by preceding the Find string with the CSV
comma. Press <home> (which will ensure the caret goes to the top of the
Edit file) and then press <f4> which will open Edit’s Find text dialogue
box. In the “Find” box, type <,0> to define all the zeros immediately
following the CSV commas and then press <return>. In the “Replace with”
box, add the ‘1’ by typing <,01> and again press <return>.
8.7
The Text found box will open up and clicking on “End of file replace”
will cause the 1’s to be added throughout the file, but only following
the leading zeros. This will take quite a few seconds as there are
literally thousands of codes to update! Click on “Stop” (or press
<return>) and the windows will close.
8.7
This leaves us with the five completely new numbers to install for
Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield. Actually, there are
far more than five because, in addition to the main towns, there are
also their many districts as well, so again we can use Edit to perform a
global Find/Replace. To cover the numbers for Bristol and its environs,
for example, the procedure will be:
8.7
  Press <home> followed by <f4>
8.7
  “Find:” Type in <01272><return>*
8.7
  “Replace with”: Type in <0117 9><return>
8.7
  Click on “End of file replace”
8.7
  Click on “Stop” (or press <return>)
8.7
(*Note: The old numbers will have had the spurious figure 1 added, so we
need to include this in the “Find” string).
8.7
Repeat this process for the other 4 groups, the numbers being:
8.7
  Bristol 01272 becomes 0117 9
8.7
  Leeds 01532 becomes 0113 2
8.7
  Leicester 01533 becomes 0116 2
8.7
  Nottingham 01602 becomes 0115 9
8.7
  Sheffield 01742 becomes 0114 2
8.7
Have a look through the Edit file to double-check everything seems OK
and then save the file. As a final check, load !STDFinder and run
through a few examples, including the five new town numbers, just to
make sure everything is working.
8.7
!Exchange
8.7
The utility which Richard mentioned, !Exchange v0.82, contains its STD
data in a text file called Telephone in the Resources sub-directory of
the application, so we can get at it as described above. Before doing
anything else, make a back-up copy! In this case, the data consists of
the STD code, followed by a hexadecimal code [00], followed by the place
name.
8.7
Don’t worry about the hex codes but, in this case, we don’t have the CSV
commas, so we need another method of uniquely differentiating between
the leading zeros and any others appearing in the codes. Looking at the
Edit file, the answer is there − although it is invisible!
8.7
The clue is that, with the exception of the first line, subsequent codes
must have immediately been preceded by an (invisible) linefeed,
otherwise they would simply range across the full width of the Edit
window. We can use this to help Edit distinguish between the leading
zeros and the others. This time, we shall need to enter a linefeed
(‘newline’) character into the “Find” box and, for this to work, we
first need to click on the Magic characters radio button which will open
up the additional options.
8.7
This time, having pressed <home><f4> to open the Find text box, we type
a Newline code in the “Find” box, followed by the zero − <\n0> − and
press <return>. In the “Replace with” box, we type in the same but
adding the figure 1 before pressing <return>.
8.7
Clicking on “End of file replace” once again adds all the 1’s but note
that, in this case, this doesn’t happen for the first code (0200
Clitheroe). This is because the code was not preceded by the linefeed
character so Edit didn’t find it. So click on “Stop” (or press <return>)
to close the box and add the 1 manually in the first line.
8.7
Finally, go through the procedure detailed above to amend the five towns
and their environs to incorporate their new numbers. Once you are happy,
save the file and test the utility, as before.
8.7
Other changes
8.7
STD codes for any one area do tend to change, often following
installation of a digital exchange, and it is perfectly feasible to
update the database within your utility accordingly.
8.7
Unfortunately, in the majority of cases, I don’t think there is any
quick alternative to making the changes manually. However, even if your
database is out of date, searching for an occurrence of the first 4-5
digits will often give you a clue as to the whereabouts of the number
so, very often, the value of the utility is not compromised.
8.7
Other STD-locators
8.7
I’m hoping the variations discussed above will give you sufficient
familiarity with the general procedures to enable you to update the
database of any other utilities you prefer to use. However, if you get
stuck, do please send me a copy on a disc, with a return label and
postage, and I’ll try to sort out a solution for you. Jim Nottingham, 16
Westfield Close, Pocklington, York, YO4 2EY.  A
8.7
Risc PC Column
8.7
Keith Hodge
8.7
Floppy disc drives
8.7
Are there floppy drives larger than 1.6Mb? Or do I have to go to the
270Mb 3½“ drives? I am finding it more and more difficult to pass files
(especially images) from one machine to another. Is this also a problem
for other readers? If so, have any ingenious solutions been invented?
The only solution I have found to transferring files larger than one
floppy disc is to compress the file using SparkFS, then split the
resultant archive using a Packet Radio program called 7Plus into a
number of parts, save these on a DOS 1.44Mb disc, and copy to the other
machine’s hard disc. 7Plus is also available for the IBM PC as is PK
Unzip, so it is then a simple matter to recombine the file parts using
7Plus and unzip the resultant archive. Just a bit long-winded!
8.7
One thing that Acorn or another software house could really do here, is
to produce an equivalent for the Risc PC of the file interchange/remote
operation software (InterSvr) supplied with DOS 6. This allows the
parallel ports of two machines to be interconnected, and the hard drive
in the second machine then becomes part of the first machine, allowing
files to be sent up and down between machines. If the software were
transparent as far as DOS/ADFS was concerned it would allow a Risc PC to
be connected to a 486 IBM PC and files to be simply interchanged. (A
sudden thought... will the 486 PC CARD with DOS 6 allow the Risc PC
parallel port to do this?) (Well, it ought to do so. Ed.)
8.7
Software information
8.7
David Evershed has found that Eesox Ltd now have a driver available to
allow the Pioneer DR-U104X CD-ROM to be used on the Risc PC. (David does
not mention if the driver was for SCSI, IDE or both.)
8.7
The technical support person at Aleph One (aka ‘Wookey’), has written to
say that David Webb’s problems with his Aleph One 386 PC card could have
been quickly overcome if he had consulted them. It seems that early
versions of the software (< v1.59), only knew about SCSI CD-ROMs. The
latest version of the software now supports SCSI, IDE and parallel port
connected CD-ROMs. Upgrades are available from Aleph One. I have FAXed
them asking if they would like to supply details of their Risc PC
products as they become available and I will then inform you all.
8.7
Software compatibility
8.7
Well not so much compatibility, more an extension of Brian Cowan’s
comments about changing requirements as time passes and the need to
think ahead when buying equipment. When I purchased my top of the range
Risc PC, I arranged with Paul for it to have 8Mb of main memory (DRAM)
and 2Mb of screen memory (VRAM), thinking (in my ignorance) that this
would cover every eventuality.
8.7
I am now finding it hard to believe that as soon as I can afford it, I
will have to purchase another 16Mb of DRAM. Why? Simply because I had
not asked enough questions of my suppliers. I find I need to scan A4
colour printed pictures in very high resolutions (600dpi) and then
reduce them to 90dpi resolution for printing using ChangeFSI. This has
to be done, because, if you scan at 90dpi, the printed dot structure in
the original artwork interacts with the sensor dot pitch in the scanner
to produce the most amazing Moire patterns, which render the resulting
image unusable! This is shown (hopefully!) in the two images opposite.
(I’ve no idea how they will come out in the printing process, but the
Moire patterns are clear enough on screen. Ed.) I have also placed the
images on the monthly disc.
8.7
90 dpi Scan
8.7
90 dpi from 600 dpi Scan
8.7
Hardware and software news
8.7
I am in the process of computerising my family history using ‘Family’ by
Denis Howe. This is a most useful program and is PD into the bargain! I
have enclosed the current version (v2.11 30 Jan 1995) on the monthly
disc. Are there any family history aficionado’s out there who can write
and tell me how to go about tracing people?
8.7
Packet radio
8.7
I have still had no luck in finding a good text about this subject, but
I will try to describe the basic operation of the system as I understand
it. (As with a lot of every day things, I just use it!)
8.7
The system consists of a network of nodes, rather like the Internet.
Each of the nodes is called a Bulletin Board Server (BBS for short). The
simplest possible BBS consists of a computer and appropriate BBS
software, a 144 MHz radio receiver and transmitter (Transceiver). For
those of you with a scanning radio, a commonly used frequency is 144.650
MHz. The transmissions are frequency modulated (FM) and sound like a
series of tones with a 1200 baud data rate. To allow for more stations
and increased speed of operation, BBSs are also starting to use 432 MHz
with 9600 baud data rates.
8.7
The BBS is able to serve a large number of amateur radio stations
simultaneously by sending header strings in its transmissions which
identify the station for which the transmission is destined (GW4NEI in
my case). To allow other stations to break in and obtain access, the
data is sent in small bursts (packets), hence the term Packet Radio.
8.7
Each receiving station has a 144 or 432 MHz transceiver, and a data
separator known as a Terminal Node Controller (TNC), a sort of modem,
which receives audio from the transceiver and converts it to serial data
which passes to the serial port on your computer. Likewise, it performs
the reverse operation when data is sent from the computer to the
transceiver.
8.7
Users of the BBS log on and are then able to list all, or a selection by
type, of the files on the board. If a desired file is found, it is
possible to send commands to receive the file. The BBS will also inform
you, when you log on, if there are any messages specifically addressed
to you, waiting to be downloaded.  A typical listing received, is shown
below.
8.7
The software I use, which is called Comlink, has the useful feature of
highlighting references to my callsign and any other which I specify.
Each type is in a colour I specify − most useful.
8.7
This is the BBS operating as a Bulletin Board, where files are sent to
“ALL” for general information, or “ARCHIM” for files concerning
Archimedes and Risc PC users.
8.7
Some BBSs also contain a file area, which exists in the form of a pseudo
DOS filing system. As you can probably imagine, there are an almost
unlimited number of file areas, dedicated to almost any computer type,
or topic, you can imagine. These can be downloaded as required, often
overnight, by using a script language to control your computer.
8.7
The BBS can also operate as a personal message server, and here, the
seemingly meaningless information which I place at the end of the column
each month, comes into its own.
8.7
The descriptor, “GW4NEI@GB7OAR.#16.GBR .EU” when sent to a BBS as a
header, breaks down to mean:
8.7
Send the file which follows to... GW4NEI (My callsign which is used as a
mailbox ID), at GB7OAR (My BBS on the Wirral), at #16 (The specific
network area address), which is located in Great Britain (GBR) in EU
(Europe).
8.7
This allows me to communicate with friends all over the UK and indeed,
the world, for nothing. The service is run by a dedicated group of
people (Radio Amateurs) who run the system under the guidance of the
Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).
8.7
This is, of course, a very simplified description. There are, in fact,
many transmitters and receivers at each BBS working at higher baud rates
and using ultra high frequency transmissions (Microwave). These form the
inter-BBS network which runs over the whole of the UK and allows me to
send messages to people almost anywhere.
8.7
Finally, if you fancy having a go at packet radio, then get in touch
with your local technical college, or the RSGB. The exam for a class B
Amateur Radio licence, which is all that is required, is quite
straightforward, and most colleges run a winter evening class.
8.7
Wish list for the next Risc PC / New issues of Basic
8.7
Provision for 4Mb of screen RAM (VRAM) and a faster VIDC20 for really
high resolution screens without flicker. (I have a 24“ 64kHz line scan
rate, ultra high resolution, monochrome monitor that I would dearly love
to be able to use for engineering drafting!)
8.7
Gripe of the month
8.7
As of today (12.2.1995) there is still no news about my 486 PC
card...!?@&$!.....
8.7
Questions of the month
8.7
(1) Does anyone know of a software package which will allow three
dimensional data from building plans to be input and the resultant 3D
image to be viewed and printed from any desired angle? I do have a
registered copy of Euclid (v2.05 12 Jul 89) but this no longer displays
the tool pane correctly and is very prone to memory exceptions under
RISC OS 3.5. Also, I have no idea where, or if, it can be upgraded.
8.7
(2) From Colin Davies: “Has anybody managed to get a Philips CM207 CD-
ROM working and, if so, where was the driver obtained from?” (How about
giving Eesox a ring? See above.)
8.7
Tailpiece
8.7
A number of people have had to ring two or three times before finding me
at home. If you have a query and have access to a fax then just ring to
arrange for the fax to be put on line and send your query. I will then
reply when I get home. (Business is getting very busy so I am often out
during the early evening. Also, my son and I have decided to construct
our own “Pietenpol AirCamper” light aircraft, so we both need a 32 hour
day!)
8.7
As usual, I can be contacted by letter at the HES address on the back
page, by telephone after 7p.m. or by Packet Radio from anywhere in the
world, as GW4NEI@GB7OAR.#16.GBR.EU.  A
8.7
Comment Column
8.7
• Cumana SCSI II Interface − In Archive 8.5 p39, Jim Nottingham reported
information he had received that the Cumana SCSI II interface was
compatible with any pre-Risc PC computer which would accept a standard
podule. Cumana have advised that this applies only to the ‘fast-RAM’
machines; namely, A540 and A5000. The Cumana SCSI II interface is not
compatible with earlier models.  Jim Nottingham / Chris Manning.
8.7
•  Internet names − I may be able to help your unknown correspondent
commenting on Internet (8.5 p25) and asking about decoding of names to
Internet numbers. I think that this can be done at two levels. One is
within the ftp/email server where there is a Look-Up facility which
decodes a name. Most IBM / Apple programs make use of this so that you
can use names directly. I have been told that this is possible in the
Acorn TCP/IP suite but have not found any reference to it. I had help
from someone from Acorn in setting up, but he has been unable to find
out more. If this is the problem, I would like to know the solution too!
8.7
However, it is possible that your correspondent does not know about the
second method. There is a file called “Hosts” in the !Internet.files
directory. Here you can list numbers and with associated names, so that
you have the convenience of using this set of names in all operations.
The structure of the file is:
8.7
137.222.50.231       dlewis.pys.bris.ac.uk
8.7
1.0.0.1              test
8.7
# Domain name servers.
8.7
137.222.10.36        information
8.7
137.222.10.40        mail
8.7
......       etc
8.7
The first line is my own number and name. I am not sure if the second is
necessary but keep it for luck. The fourth and subsequent lines are
Internet numbers that I have had to look-up using the server facility.
Clearly, this is not very convenient initially, but soon pays back the
time spent.
8.7
This seems to be the level of facility that Acorn must get right if they
are not going to succumb to the big two in education beyond school
level. We are well supplied with the common major applications, but a
wide range of more specialised programs seems important for further
progress. Do Acorn commission firms to write specific software of this
secondary level of importance? It seems that if a firm knew that they
had a head start in a definite market niche, they are more likely to
take on some development than in an open competition.  Don Lewis,
[e-mail].
8.7
•  More prejudice − The Guardian is not the only publication that we
should complain about...
8.7
‘If you just want to play games or write the odd letter...’. Review of
computers in ‘Which’ magazine referring to Acorn (that cost them a
subscription).
8.7
‘When you popped up a menu, there was disc activity as the bitmap of the
screen behind was stored to disc. This made the mouse pointer very slow
and hesitant’. Personal Computer Magazine reviewing ‘the fastest 486 we
have ever tested’.
8.7
‘A brilliant innovation is the ability to switch resolutions on the
fly... without a restart’. PCM reviewing the PowerPC. ‘Innovation’? − I
ask you!
8.7
‘The NEC Superscript 610 is the first personal laser printer in the
world to be driven by your PC’s processor rather than its own’. PCM
advert July ’94.
8.7
‘The principal reason for buying a computer was to help the children in
their schoolwork. Since I also wished to use it for some serious
wordprocessing I opted for a PC’. From an article in ‘Fun Learning on
the Computer’ issue 1.  Edward Naish, Gwynedd.
8.7
•  NewLook/Alarm bug − Acorn have stated that the bug which causes the
!NewLook/RISC OS 3.5 window tools to work incorrectly when !Alarm is
running will be fixed in “the next iteration of RISC OS”. Apparently, it
is caused by attempts to redraw the tools while !Alarm is trying to
update the iconbar clock. M Churchill, High Wycombe.
8.7
•  Softcrete review − As an alternative to Softcrete, there is the
Shareware “Lockit” program which can use either unique I.D. CMOS
password, transitory password, Timestamps, configure stamps, etc. It
does not yet work on Basic !Runimage files without first converting them
to absolute using !MAKEpps (which is supplied with it). It is available
from APDL and elsewhere, I suspect.  Tim Nicholson, Albury, Surrey.
8.7
•  Software for Archaeology and History − I am preparing a booklet for
the Council for British Archaeology listing all known computer software
for teaching Archaeology and History at any level, including History in
the National Curriculum for schools. The booklet will show all the usual
catalogue information, formats, prices and availability, and then will
follow notes, or a brief review, of each item with particular attention
to its teaching value. We intend it to become a standard work on the
subjects and to be continuously revised. The first edition should be
published in the first half of 1995, preferably for the Harrogate Show.
8.7
The booklet will include multimedia presentations, text resources,
clipart, antique fonts, work sheets and any other items discovered. We
are interested in material on any computer platform and on any medium –
floppy disc, CD-ROM, LaserVision, CD-i, or whatever. So far, material
for the Acorn Archimedes is much in the majority (surprise!), with PCs
becoming better represented in very recent material and with Apple way,
way behind.
8.7
I am interested in receiving direct from teachers – and from students
and pupils – news and reviews of any relevant software that they are
using. I am also interested in comments about what they would like to
see in the booklet or about other relevant matters, such as software
that they would like to see produced or ways of approach that they think
should be considered by authors.
8.7
I should welcome from authors and publishers, review copies of any
material that they have not already sent me and copies of any published
reviews. Also, I should like to have information about forthcoming
material, stating its present progress and planned date of release and
what information should be published at this stage.  Michael Binns, 15
Redewater Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9UD (0191-274-4451).  A
8.7
Small Ads
8.7
(Small ads for Acorn 32-bit computers and related products are free for
subscribers but we reserve the right to publish all, part or none of the
material you send, as we think fit. i.e. some people don’t know what
‘small’ means and there are certain things, as you can imagine, that we
would not be prepared to advertise as a matter of principle. Sending
small ads (especially long ones!) on disc is helpful but not essential.
Ed)
8.7
•  2nd Floppy Kit for A300 or early A400 £30 complete.  Acorn 2-slot
backplane & fan £15, 30Mb MFM drive £30, PipeDream3 £15, DOS 5 for PC
Emulator new £15.  All include postage.  Phone Dave on 01992-462072.
8.7
•  A3000 − 4Mb, RISC OS 3.1, 20Mb IDE drive, Ovation, PC Emulator, Taxan
Multivision Monitor £650. Phone [phone].
8.7
•  A3000 − 4Mb, ARM3, RISC OS 3.1, serial upgrade, 8bit Turbo Serial
Port SCSI card 105Mb SCSI HD, Monitor Plinth, AKF12 Stereo Monitor, PC
Emulator 1.8 £500 ono + postage.  Phone  01222­615517.
8.7
•  A3010 − specially upgraded by NCS 18 months ago! Internal 20Mb Hard
Drive, 4Mb RAM, RISC OS 3.1, Eizo 9060S colour monitor, unregistered
Impression II + Borders, No 62 Honeypot Lane. All original software
including unopened PC Emulator, Easiword, etc. Total bundle £750, but
will split out Eizo for separate sale if required. Phone [phone]
and talk to Alistair or Ali.
8.7
•  A310 − 2Mb RISC OS 3.1, disc buffer, serial link, AKF11 monitor,
manuals, discs £250. PipeDream 3 £20. AlphaBase (0.52) £10. Fascia for
second floppy drive & leads £10. Phone [phone] eves.
8.7
•  A410/1 − 2Mb RAM 40Mb HD Eizo 9060S-M 14“ multiscan. Excellent
condition £400 o.n.o. Phone [phone].
8.7
•  A410/1 − 4Mb RAM, 33MHz ARM3, 50Mb HD, NewLook desktop, I/O Podule,
Midi, Sound sampler, keyboard extension cable and postage £525 o.n.o.
RISC OS Style Guide with disc £10. Phone Mark after 6 on 0905-754277.
8.7
•  A410/1 − one of the last ones made, 2Mb RAM RISC OS 3.1, 20Mb
internal HD, 5¼“ disc interface, Joystick interface, Epson MX82 printer,
software £495. Phone [phone].
8.7
•  A410/1 − RISC OS 3.1, 4Mb RAM, ARM 3, Atomwide VIDC enhancer, Oak 16-
bit SCSI board, 47Mb internal hard disc, 105Mb SCSI hard disc, Eizo
9060S multisync monitor, all boxed with manuals, some software. £700.
Phone [phone] after 6.
8.7
•  A5000 − 4Mb 40Mb HD, PC Emulator, PD software £695 o.n.o.  Phone Mike
on 0181­994-7683.
8.7
•  A5000 − 8Mb RAM, FPA Chip, 203Mb HD, RISC OS 3.11, Colour Card Gold
£850, A5000, 4Mb RAM, 80Mb HD, RISC OS 3.11, Colour Card Gold £675, 20“
Sony Monitor £900, HP500 Printer £175, Cumana CD-ROM Drive £175 with
Image Warehouse CD-ROM, 632Mb HD £200, CC Scanlight A4 £225. All vgc.
Phone Russell 0131-658-1225 after 6, or w/e.
8.7
•  A540 − 8Mb RAM, RISC OS 3.10, 120Mb SCSI drive, Acorn SCSI board,
some software, Eizo 9060S multisync monitor £890. Insite 21Mb Floptical
SCSI drive + 10 discs £200. Cumana 5¼“ floppy drive plus interface
podule £30. Phone [phone].
8.7
•  AKF60 − 14“ SVGA Multiscan ES monitor. Brand new, boxed and
unregistered, £240. Phone Steve on 0924-828037.
8.7
•  Aleph One 486PC − 4Mb/50MHz + Floating point co-processor, !PC
Software 1.23 + Windows drivers VGA & SVGA, £450 o.n.o. Phone Mike 081-
399-8320.
8.7
•  Canon BJ200, with auto sheet feeder £180. Phone [phone].
8.7
•  Citizen Swift 24 boxed as new, offers. Iota Touch Type Tutor £25,
Saloon Cars £8, DeskEdit £10, 25w to 50w SCSI lead £8, Econet Bridge
offers, NEC CD-ROM drivers £15, Design Concept Italic £5, David Pilling
Trace £3, Four player joystick interface £18, Book − Archimedes Assembly
Language, perfect order £8. Phone Chris on 01247-466686 6−9pm.
8.7
•  Hard Drive 20Mb ST506 £50, ST506 podule £40, ST506 podule in case
with uncased psu £50. Phone [phone].
8.7
•  Hot numbers − Use the power of your Acorn computer to select the
hottest lottery numbers from up to 1,000,000 draws. Multitasking
application with graphical displays. Send £1.50 to Ben Ollivère, 6 Truro
Close, East Leake, LE12 6HB.
8.7
•  Impression Style boxed with packaged programs, WordWorks, Equasor,
TableMate 2 (version 2.00m-1) and manuals + extra borders by Fabis £85.
Phone [phone].
8.7
•  Irlam 24i16 brand new video/sound card (Feb 1995) 1Mb VRAM full frame
version £370. Colour Card Gold £160, Scanlight Video 256 £150. Phone
Iain 01463-751251 or fax 751240.
8.7
•  PipeDream v.4.13 £40, Acorn PCEm 1.8 & DR-DOS 5 £20, DeskEdit 3 £8,
Genesis Plus £5, E-Type £5, used 800Kb discs £3 per 10. Phone Ernie
Cobbold on 01493-740557.
8.7
•  Printer Epson wide carriage dot matrix LQ1050+ £65. Phone 01332-
701969.
8.7
•  Scanlight 256 £100, Acorn I/O podule £30. Phone Dave on 0121-745-
2423.
8.7
•  Sinclair Z88 expanded 128Kb internal memory + two 128Kb external
Rampacks + manuals £45, Phone Mike 081-399-8320.
8.7
•  Turbo Driver − (RISC OS 3) for HP Deskjets & Laserjets + special
printer cable + original packaging/manual £20, Hi-Fi Sound upgrade for
A5000, A3000, A400/1 and all other earlier computers £10. Phone Mike
081-399-8320.
8.7
•  Wanted − PCB CAD software e.g. ArcPCB or similar. Phone Chris on
01247-466686 6−9pm.
8.7
•  Wanted − Unregistered Font Directory. Will give unregistered Pro-
Artisan 2 CD in exchange. Phone Frode 305-861-2931 (USA − anytime).
8.7
Charity Sales
8.7
The following items are available for sale in aid of charity. PLEASE do
not just send money − ring us on 01603-766592 to check if the items are
still available. Thank you.
8.7
N.B. These items are sold AS SEEN (even though you can’t see them!),
i.e. we are not able to give refunds if the items are not suitable for
your computer or whatever. All the money paid goes straight to charity
therefore NCS cannot be involved in correspondence etc over these items.
If it turns out to be no good for you but might do for someone else,
please send it back with a note and we will sell it again with the
proviso you state, e.g. “It doesn’t work on a Risc PC.”
8.7
Software: Five assorted old games £4, ArcWriter £3, Archway £8,
Datavision database £5, Multistore £20, Chess £2, Wimp Game £4, Iron
Lord £4, Photopia £8, First Word Plus2 £4.
8.7
Hardware: 5¼“ drive interface £5, Serial Port Joystick interface £5,
Paper Feeder for CC A4 handheld scanner £15, PCATS Graphics enhancer
£15, Floppy discs £12 per 50, Acorn Econet interfaces (5 off) £15 each,
Green ink refill for HP cartridge £6, Cyan ink refill for Canon BC01
cartridge £6, Yellow ink refill for Canon BC01 cartridge £6.
8.7
(If you have unwanted software or hardware for Archimedes computers that
you could donate in aid of charity, please send it to the Archive
office. If you have larger items where post would be expensive, just
send us details of the item(s) and how the purchaser can get hold of
them.)  A
8.7
The Engineer Speaks
8.7
Ray Maidstone
8.7
A3000 RAM expansion pins
8.7
For those with aging A3000s that have more than 1Mb, it is important to
know that the expansion pins on which the memory board is connected
often cause problems because they can be affected by contamination in
the atmosphere and surroundings. Pins can be cleaned or, better still,
replaced − or even done away with altogether! Owners of 4Mb upgrades may
like to have them permanently soldered to the motherboard. This
increases reliability and removes the contact resistance introduced by
plugs and sockets.
8.7
The fault can be made to show up (if it is developing) by switching on
the machine with the desktop and giving the board a slight twist. If you
get an address exception, switch off straight away. This means your
machine may start to become unreliable. If this problem occurs during
normal use and you do not switch off, there is a possibility that the
RAM chips may be damaged.
8.7
A3000 power supplies
8.7
By now the power supplies in A3000s are beginning to get long in the
tooth, and they can sometimes go pop! Capacitors in the power supply can
dry out and zener diodes can deteriorate and make it run at the wrong
voltage. Sometimes power supplies are not repairable if they explode, so
get the machine checked out if you can, as an overhaul is usually
cheaper than a replacement.
8.7
A4 battery usage
8.7
Some users may have noticed that the batteries in these powerful
portables do not last very long. In accordance with NiCad manufacturers’
statements, they need to be charged and discharged correctly to give
maximum performance − as any radio control car/plane/boat owner will
know! People often use their A4 with a mains supply, trying to keep
topping up the battery while they work and then draining it a little bit
by using it from battery and so on. It is better for the battery if you
remove it from the A4 while you use a mains power supply, and also that
you run it down as much as possible when you work from the battery.
Ideally you need two batteries, one to use and one to be charging after
full use and discharge. To fully discharge, put a 12v 10-12w car bulb
across the two outer contacts of the four on the end of the battery.
Leave it connected until the bulb fades and goes out. Disconnect the
bulb and then charge the battery at the normal rate (typically 8 hours
at 300mA).
8.7
Next month, we’ll discuss some more servicing problems and some more
examples where prevention is better than cure.  A
8.7
Keystroke Column
8.7
Alisdair Jorgensen
8.7
Alisdair, who is the author of Keystroke, has agreed to do a column for
us, so send in your requests for help either to the NCS office or direct
to Alisdair at the address below. Ed.
8.7
Welcome to the first instalment of the Keystroke Column. In this column,
I hope to answer questions about some of the mysteries of Keystroke and
what it can do, as well as offering hints and tips on how to use it.
Keystroke has evolved into a very versatile piece of software and I’m
always finding new things it can do that I never thought possible.
8.7
This column was done in a bit of a hurry, in between getting my computer
repaired, so it’s likely to be a bit shorter than I would have liked. It
will be longer in future, as more people write in with questions/
comments/ideas/etc.
8.7
Repeating keystrokes
8.7
I would like to explain how keystrokes can be set up to repeat
themselves, a function that I find very useful for block processing,
such as converting a directory full of GIFs to JPEGs to cut down on hard
drive usage.
8.7
Some time ago, we received a letter from a user who had work to do on a
spreadsheet, and for each column he needed to do a series of operations.
He was most pleased when Keystroke allowed him to simply point at each
one and press a key combination. I realised later that it was possible
to point at the first, get Keystroke to move automatically to the next
and continue, so he only needed to touch the keyboard once!
8.7
To achieve this sort of repetition, all you need to do is, at the end of
your keystroke, define a sequence that moves it to the next file, or
record, or whatever and, to finish, do a *command, ‘Set Keystroke$Do0
<keystroke name>’ and it’ll call itself and go again! If you need to
move to the next file in a directory, there are the library functions to
get a list of directory entries or, failing that, you can have your
keystroke positioning a filer window and relatively scrolling it each
time. For things like spreadsheets, all you need to do is a text insert,
moving the cursor to the next row or column.
8.7
Coping with delays
8.7
Another problem some users have come across is when Keystroke would have
to wait half way through a sequence for something to happen before
continuing. This is a little more difficult. You have to split the
keystroke into three parts, putting each part on a separate key
combination. The first part should include the start of the sequence,
finishing with the one before it would have to wait. The second part is
just the single keystroke after that, and the third part is the rest of
the keystroke.
8.7
At the end of the first part, call the second part using ‘Set
Keystroke$Do0 <part 2>’. In front of part 2, put a *command, ‘Set
KS$Check Fail’ and, after it, put a *command, ‘Set KS$Check Succeed’ and
link them. The result of this is that the variable KS$Check gets set to
Fail and, only when it succeeds, it gets set to ‘Succeed’, i.e. KS$Check
contains either ‘Succeed’ or ‘Fail’, depending on whether or not it’s
ready. Then, at the end of this combination, you do a ‘If “<KS$Check>” =
“Fail” Then Set Keystroke$Do0 <part 2> Else Set Keystroke$Do0 <part 3>’.
If it isn’t ready, the keystroke will fail and it will try again. If it
is ready, it will go onto the rest of the keystroke.
8.7
I hope this is of some help to people. Next time, I’ll explain how a
keystroke combination can be created to adjust the size of a RAM drive
even when it isn’t empty.
8.7
Alisdair Jorgensen Easter Cottage, Canalside, Winchburgh, Scotland, EH52
6PU. (email: [e-mail])  A
8.7
Stuart Halliday (also of Quantum Software fame) has very kindly sent in
a description of how to set Keystroke to perform a routine for stripping
out carriage returns from preformatted text as requested by Stuart Bell
in Archive 8.4 p49. This is included on the monthly program disc rather
than being put in print because it is three pages long. Ed.
8.7
CC
8.7
From 8.6 page 14
8.7
CC
8.7
From 8.6 page 8
8.7
Sleuth 2 OCR Upgrade
8.7
Peter Jennings
8.7
When software is given a new version number, rather than just
incrementing the figures after the decimal point, you expect some
significant changes for the better. Sleuth 2, the latest upgrade to
Beebug’s optical character recognition program, lives up to expectations
with new features and a measurably improved performance. There is a new
23-page manual and a new, higher, price at £99 +VAT, or £110 inclusive
from Archive. Upgrades from earlier versions are available from Beebug
at £49 +VAT. (Sorry if anyone was misled by an incorrect price which was
added at the end of my review of an earlier version in January’s
Archive.)
8.7
Having previously used Sleuth 1.01 and 1.51 (see reviews in Archive 7.1
p53 and 8.4 p73) I loaded up version 2.02 and plunged straight in with
only a cursory glance at the manual. My first test was to drag in the
sprite of the Archive paragraph scanned for the original review and used
again for the subsequent upgrade. Version 1.01 had produced 10 errors to
give an error rate for that paragraph of 2.7%. The 1.51 upgrade improved
to four errors, or 1.2%. The output from Sleuth 2.02 appeared to be
completely correct and it took a very close scrutiny to spot that a dash
had been interpreted as a hyphen and a badly printed figure 1 as a
letter l. (Apart from anyone working to the most exacting standards,
such as publishing, how many users would have noticed or been pernickety
enough to have cared about either?)
8.7
Words not recognised by the spelling checker are highlighted in the
output window, for editing if necessary, although most of them are
correct.
8.7
Areas of complicated layouts can be marked as zones to be ignore by
Sleuth. It will identify the columns itself.
8.7
One hundred fonts
8.7
Sleuth now recognises the following characters in almost 100 fonts,
although still only from 9pt to 24pt in size:
8.7
!?£$&“‘%+=_/\*#()[]<>,-
.:;0123456789ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz‘’“”fifl
•−
8.7
There is now a built-in spelling checker and this highlighted seven
words which it did not recognise in my test. Ironically, the first of
these was “OCR”. The others were all prefixed with “£”, “+” or “p” (for
a page number). This spelling checker is a major enhancement.
Unrecognised strings are highlighted in yellow, as if with a marker pen,
so immediately drawing attention to doubtful words as each block of text
appears on the screen. As before, corrections can be made while the
program is still outputting and pressing <F1> will position the caret on
the first highlighted word and subsequently move it onto the next. If
you are to make use of this facility, it is necessary to edit the output
before saving, because all the highlights disappear when the text is
saved. Progress does have its drawbacks and the output now appears in
its window after each paragraph has been completed, instead of line by
line, for reasons which will be explained later.
8.7
I repeated some other tests which I had attempted with earlier versions
but which had not been published because they included badly printed
text (not a fair test) or italic, which the earlier versions had not
been trained to recognise. Both now showed considerable improvement and
the italic, which had predictably produced rubbish before, was now
readable. Bold and italic text can now be seen as such in the output
window and Trinity and Homerton fonts are used there to represent serif
and sans serif typefaces in the original. The text can be saved as a
plain ASCII file, as before, or complete with styles as a Rich Text
Format (RTF) file for import into packages, such as Impression Style or
Publisher which accept it.
8.7
Choice of speed
8.7
Another new feature of this upgrade is a choice of speed/accuracy at
three levels: careful, medium or quick, with medium being the
recommended default. The careful setting is slower and generally more
accurate although a couple of the tests I made had a character or two
worse! The timings for my original test paragraph were: quick 17
seconds, medium 19 seconds and careful 35 seconds and all produced
identical results. These should be taken only as comparison figures as
actual timings can vary significantly depending on what other programs
are running. I have found in previously reported tests that stripping
the iconbar can make a big difference.
8.7
Page layouts with multiple columns and illustrations are now recognised
and dealt with automatically although zones can still be created by
dragging with <select>, as in previous versions, if the layout is
particularly complex. Any number of zones can be created and linked in
any order for processing. Zones can also be set to mark areas to be
ignored. There is a “save zones” option which can be very useful if a
particular page layout is used more than once.
8.7
Sleuth originally accepted only mode 18 sprites, which most scanners
will produce, but it can now deal with modes 4, 18, 23, 25 and 29.
8.7
Real life
8.7
It is always interesting to hear the views of people using new software
for a real life purpose. Jim Nottingham, of York, has written about his
experiences with Sleuth 2:
8.7
“I had a task to incorporate about 120 A4 pages of 12pt text, from a
sub-contractor in the States, into a document required very urgently in
Malaysia ... with an impossible timescale (no time to post discs etc)
and the only thing I could think of was to get the pages sent by fax and
type the stuff in manually. However, the Sleuth 2 upgrade arrived the
same morning − only 3 days after being ordered. Almost in desperation, I
tried scanning a couple of pages and pushing them through Sleuth 2. To
cut a short story even shorter, the OCR results were extremely
respectable and we finished up by faxing, scanning and successfully
Sleuth-ing all 120 pages. The end result was that the finished documents
were shipped to Malaysia a day before the deadline.”
8.7
Jim had very few problems with this job. The main one was that Sleuth
failed to recognise separate paragraphs when there was less than double
spacing between them. This meant that each page was treated by Sleuth as
a single paragraph and no text was output for correcting until the whole
page had been processed. He asked Beebug if the text could be output a
line at a time, as in earlier versions, and if an end-of-paragraph
character could be inserted during editing. Beebug replied:
8.7
“It is not possible for the package to output text any quicker than it
does because of the constraint of determining a style for the paragraph.
The program needs as much information about a paragraph as it can get
before determining its style. This situation is likely to get worse
rather than better as the program gets more complex (and more accurate).
8.7
The final goal is to reverse engineer a page of text so that the output
from Sleuth is identical to the input. It may be possible to modify this
process so that the user can be informed if the output is rubbish or not
to stop the situation where you wait five minutes for an A4 page to
convert to find that there is no recognisable text. A method of
inserting and removing paragraph breaks was in the original
specification for Sleuth as were many other features. We had to trim the
feature list to bring the program out in 1994 which was our main aim. It
is likely that these features will be present in Sleuth 2.5.”
8.7

8.7
Accuracy
8.7
Beebug have always been very frank about Sleuth’s limitations but its
steady improvements, including the wide range of fonts it is now trained
to recognise and the new spelling checker, have brought it to the stage
where it can achieve 100 per cent accuracy if all other conditions are
right. This rarely happens but it no longer seems appropriate to report
the percentage of errors in tests when these can now be more a measure
of the quality of the printing and scanning of the original.
8.7
Sleuth 2 costs almost twice the price of the original version but this
seems a fair reflection of its improved performance and users of the
earlier versions should find it well worth upgrading. More developments
are promised in future issues and Beebug’s commitment to the program is
apparent in their encouragement of users’ comments and their willingness
to send a detailed personal reply.  A
8.7
Hardware News
8.7
Paul Beverley
8.7
Those of you with Risc PC 600s will be wondering when you can make them
into Risc PC 700’s! “Unofficial sources at Acorn” say that the ARM710
should be available around the end of 2nd quarter 1995 and the ARM810 in
1996. In the meantime, we have some very exciting news for power-hungry
Risc PC users...
8.7
Enter the StrongARM
8.7
The following announcement from Acorn describes a link-up with DEC to
produce extremely high-power ARM chips.
8.7
“Digital Equipment Corp’s semiconductor business − now trading as
Digital Semiconductor − has decided that the Alpha RISC design is
inappropriate for emerging low-end embedded applications, and it has
joined the growing band of licensees of the ARM Ltd RISC technology. A
new high-performance family of StrongARM RISCs, fully software-
compatible with ARM 6, 7 and 8 and retaining their low power consumption
is to be developed. The first product is currently being designed at
DEC’s Palo Alto and Austin research centres and at ARM’s Cambridge, UK
base. They are expected to be among the first products to be
manufactured at DEC’s new FAB 6 plant in Hudson, Massachusetts.
8.7
“Apple’s Newton engineering team has been working with DEC and ARM Ltd
on definition of the StrongARM family and plans to use it in future
iterations of the Newton. As well as Personal Digital Assistants, other
target applications include television set-top decoders, video games
systems − the present 3DO Multiplayers all use the ARM RISC, and digital
imaging applications, including image capture, scanning and printing.
Acorn Computer Group Plc also plans to use the StrongARM in its future
personal computers, and its Online Media spin-off also plans to use the
chips in future television set-top boxes. Processors and processor cores
will be available for licensing to the other ARM semiconductor partners,
which include VLSI Technology Inc, GEC Plessey Semiconductors Ltd, Sharp
Corp, Samsung Electronics Co, Cirrus Logic Inc and Texas Instruments
Inc.”
8.7
As you can imagine, everyone at Acorn is very excited by this new
partnership. A tiny player (in world terms) has licensed its technology
to a major world chip manufacturer and these new chips are being
designed and built by the most advanced silicon fabrication facility in
the world. DEC’s plant uses 0.35µ fabrication (cf Acorn’s present 0.8µ
chips) and so it looks likely that we could be talking about 200MHz or
400MHz StrongARM chips being available in 1996.
8.7
I would guess that these new chips would have large primary caches,
probably using Harvard-style caching techniques. The cost of the chips
is unlikely to be significantly different from current ARM-chip prices
but to use them with the sort of RAM that you find in the Risc PC, you
would need a board with some high speed (10/15ns) RAM as a secondary
cache. This RAM is expensive and so a StrongARM processor card would
probably end up costing £200 or £300 − but I would pay that for a 200MHz
Risc PC, wouldn’t you?! Actually, there could be problems with some
applications, depending on how they are written, with the processor
being too fast and causing the application to lose track of itself!  A
8.7
Bitfolio Graphics
8.7
Dave Wilcox
8.7
Bitfolio More Cartoon Graphics and the Christmas Collection are the
latest offerings from LOOKsystems with original work by Management
Graphics Ltd, consisting as the titles suggest of more cartoon type
drawings, covering general and Christmas themes, all having been
converted from the PC environment. The original package, called ‘Cartoon
Graphics’, was reviewed in the Archive 7.7 p7.
8.7
The package
8.7
Each package consists of three discs presented in a plastic foldover
case. Disc one of each set contains !Sparkplug, the PD read-only version
of the archiver by David Pilling, all three discs contain one ‘sparked’
archive directory containing assorted pictures. When decompressed, these
archived files in both packages expand to give you 100 drawfiles, and a
total of some 4Mb of data per set.
8.7
The drawings
8.7
The More Cartoons collection of drawings are based on office, sports and
pastimes, pets, transport and food − very much a continuation of the
first set as the name would suggest. The Christmas selection covers the
usual food, holly, bells and ribbons type pictures, frames and borders,
reindeer and penguins in various winter sport scenes, an assortment of
party scenes and a group of different Santa Claus characters. All of the
drawings are fully coloured and are in draw format, not scanned sprites.
The quality is therefore very good, with all of the drawings without
exception sharing the same high standard.
8.7
Some examples showing the quality and clarity can be seen below.
8.7
Conclusion
8.7
My only minor complaint with the previous package was that some of the
pictures, when loaded, were zoomed 4:1, but all the pictures in these
two packages are in a 1:1 zoom and usually fit full screen, with a
couple of exceptions. I would have liked to see a few more nativity type
pictures on the Christmas collection, but perhaps that may come on a
later release. As I stated before, for clipart of this standard, I think
you receive good value for money. If you have a need for good quality
cartoon-type drawings, these packages are for you.
8.7
These two collections are available direct from LOOKsystems for £20
inclusive or through Archive for the same price.  A
8.7
PD Column
8.7
David Holden
8.7
Recent correspondence reveals to me that many readers are unsure of the
meaning of the terms Public Domain and Shareware. In fact, it appears
that some seem to be unaware that they are completely different things.
When I first began writing this (often irregular) column, one of the
first things I did was explain these and associated terms. I was
surprised to discover that this was over three years ago, and as there
are now many readers who will not have seen that article, I don’t think
it will hurt to deal with it again.
8.7
There are many names used to define the various categories of software
that fall within this remit. The most important are:
8.7
  Public Domain
8.7
  Freeware
8.7
  Shareware
8.7
  Demos
8.7
  Crippleware
8.7
  Careware
8.7
  Licenseware
8.7
These are not in any particular order and there are others but these are
the most important and the most common.
8.7
Public Domain
8.7
The term ‘PD’ is often mistakenly used as a catch-all phrase to describe
any software which can be freely copied, but this is not its correct
meaning. The term originates in USA, where it has a specific legal
meaning. Americans believe that computer software written by a
government department or institution, and therefore paid for from the
public purse, is the property of the people and, unless national
security or similar considerations are paramount, is therefore in the
public domain. Scientific programs frequently originate in colleges and
universities, and as these are publicly funded institutions, such
programs can often be freely used by anyone, and are often ported to
other platforms. The widely used Kermit and Spice are examples of this
type.
8.7
In the UK, the term Public Domain, as it relates to computer software,
has no precise legal definition. Most of what is loosely described as PD
is actually Freeware. There is very little true PD, although the
distinction is unimportant for most purposes. Because there is no legal
definition of the term, it can mean whatever the user wants it to mean.
The most commonly accepted definition is a program to which the author
has given up all rights. Once this has been done, it is truly in the
public domain and can be used, distributed, altered, or even sold, by
anyone.
8.7
To achieve this, the author must state ‘This program is Public Domain’
and nothing more. There can be no conditions. If there are any at all,
even something as banal as saying that the author’s name must not be
removed, then such a statement reinforces the author’s copyright. This
is, in fact, perfectly logical, for if a program is truly Public Domain,
no-one has any rights over it, including the author.
8.7
Freeware
8.7
This means a program which the author permits to be freely used and
copied, but to which he/she retains copyright. There may be conditions
attached, often requiring that the author’s name is not removed, that
no-one must claim any part of it for their own and that it must not be
sold. Where such conditions exist, they constitute a licence and,
provided you respect the conditions, you are licensed to use the program
without any payment. On this definition, almost all so-called PD
actually falls into this category.
8.7
Shareware
8.7
This is another often misunderstood term. Most PC users will know
exactly what Shareware is, but many Archimedes owners don’t. At least, I
will be charitable and assume that they are ignorant because the
alternative is that they are deliberately using stolen software.
8.7
Shareware is not a type of software, it is a way of distributing and
marketing commercial programs. By its nature, all Shareware is
copyright, commercial software. Shareware is just a try-before-you-buy
marketing method. The idea is that you can acquire a copy of a program
at nominal cost from a library, try it at your leisure on your own
computer and, if it does what you want and you are satisfied with it,
you send a registration fee to the author. Until you have sent this fee,
you have not paid for the software, only a distribution fee to the
library. Quite often, registration will get you an improved version, one
with certain restrictions removed, or various other advantages, but the
most important thing is that you will then have the right to use the
program. Until you register, you only have the right to try the program
to see if it is suitable. Often there is a time limit upon this,
normally 30 days, although there may be other restrictions as well.
8.7
Using a Shareware program outside this period, or using it other than
for evaluation purposes, is software piracy, and the penalties are
exactly the same as those for any other software theft. Although legally
the same, it is, in my view, morally worse than copying conventional
commercial software. Although there are many large companies who
distribute their wares as Shareware, by far the majority are private
individuals. By not sending a registration fee, you are not ‘merely’
failing to pay a large company a few pounds, but directly depriving an
individual of payment for his labours. Not only that, but this
individual has done something that the conventional software
distributors have not done − he has given you his trust.
8.7
With ‘conventional’ software, there is no trust on the part of the
supplier. In fact, the trust is all the other way. You pay your money
and ‘trust’ that the program actually works. Anyone who has then found a
program unsuitable or that doesn’t operate ‘as advertised’ will know how
difficult it can be to get this money refunded. With Shareware, the
author has given you a working copy of the program and then trusted you
to pay if you find it suitable. I believe that failure to honour this
trust is unforgivable.
8.7
There is a tendency to make the excuse that you ‘hardly ever use it’ or
that you ‘forgot’ to register. I would ask anyone who has ever made use
of a Shareware program not to fool themselves. There is only one honest
answer to the question whether you should register. Quite simply, if you
use a program, you should pay for it. We have all purchased software at
one time or another and then regretted it later, but I don’t think I
have ever heard someone say that they regretted paying the registration
fee for a Shareware package.
8.7
Demo and Crippleware
8.7
These two categories are very similar. Both are demonstration versions
of commercial software. (There is another type of Demo where the word is
used to mean an animated graphics display, normally noisy and extremely
gaudy and often accompanied by an ungrammatical and badly spelt
scrolltext, but I shall ignore that definition for the purposes of this
article.)
8.7
There is a certain amount of overlap between Crippleware and Shareware.
The difference is that Shareware is (with minor restrictions) fully
functional and comes with comprehensive documentation. Crippleware has
one or more important functions disabled (hence the name) and may have
very brief or no instructions. Despite the fact that it often
masquerades as Shareware, this separates it from the real thing.
8.7
Demos are cut down versions of commercial software with important
functions missing. For example, a wordprocessor or spreadsheet may not
Print or Save. Games may have only one or two levels instead of the many
with the full version.
8.7
This is a good method of ‘previewing’ a program before you part with
your cash. Enlightened companies such as Colton Software and Clare’s
have always produced demo versions of their programs and allowed them to
be distributed by the cheapest possible means, that is, the PD
libraries.
8.7
If you are considering buying any expensive program, I would urge you
first to look for, and try, the ones that have demo discs. You are far
less likely to be disappointed. If you can’t get a demo from a PD
library, don’t be prepared to pay more than the cost of a disc and
postage, although owing to the high overheads of many companies, this
could be round about £5.
8.7
Sometimes, you may be asked as much as £15 for a crippled, demo,
version. Think very hard before you pay this, even if you are told that
it will be refunded when(!) you purchase the full program. Ask why you
are expected to commit yourself to this expenditure merely to try the
software. Remember that demo programs are really just a sophisticated
form of advertising. If you were buying a new car would you have
confidence in a dealer who wanted to charge you a couple of hundred
pounds for a test drive?
8.7
Careware
8.7
This is a ‘catch all’ term now used to mean almost any software where a
large proportion of the proceeds are donated to charity or other worthy
cause. An example is the Archive Careware discs (now only distributed by
APDL − thanks, Dave! Ed.), most of which contain material obtainable
from any PD library, but where £4 of the £5 price goes to charity.
Sometimes, it is a variation on the Shareware theme where the
registration fee is sent to a charity instead of to the author, or the
author may donate part or all of the fee.
8.7
Licenseware
8.7
This is not really part of the PD/Shareware scene, except that such
programs are frequently sold through PD libraries because of their low
overheads. Licenseware is low cost commercial software, minus the fancy
packaging and advertising which makes up a large part of the cost of
most programs. A proportion of the price paid to the library is then
passed on to the author.
8.7
Special Offer
8.7
As I haven’t discussed any particular programs this month, I shall
repeat last month’s special disc. This contained the latest version of
the Zap text editor, TemplEd, BLib and some others. This was very
popular, and past experience shows that many readers complain later that
they ‘forgot’ to send for a copy, so here is your last chance to get
these essential programs at a bargain price. Just send £1 or four first
class stamps to the APDL address and please ask either for 1.6Mb or
800Kb discs.  A
8.7
CD-ROM Column
8.7
Andrew Flowerdew
8.7
Welcome to the CD-ROM column. I hope that this column will become an
important part of Archive as I am sure that CD-ROM technology will be
increasingly important for all Acorn users as time goes on.
8.7
When I offered to help with the CD-ROM column the first thing Paul asked
was about my experience with the technology. Well, I run the IT
Department at Dulwich College Preparatory School, Cranbrook, which has
over 500 pupils in three different parts of the school. We use a wide
range of Acorn computers, from ageing A310s to brand new Risc Pcs many
of which have access to CD-ROMs across our network. I like to think that
we are moving steadily towards a system of what I call ‘Martini
Multimedia’ (anytime, any place, anywhere), where pupils and staff have
access to powerful multimedia software wherever and whenever they want
it. Several members of the staff have offered to lend a hand with the
background work needed for this column and, along with one or two other
Archive members who have also offered their assistance to Paul, we hope
that we will be able to cater for the needs of schools and the
individual user.
8.7
I’m not really sure what format you would like this column to take but,
to get the ball rolling, I thought I would try to include the following
features:
8.7
− a general introduction to CD-ROM technology
8.7
− a section about new developments
8.7
− a section on the technology involved, including reviews of CD-ROM
drives
8.7
− a section about CD-ROM discs
8.7
− a section answering readers’ questions
8.7
New developments
8.7
There are several hot new developments on the CD-ROM networking front.
Acorn, Cumana, Eesox and Digital Services are all touting CD-ROM serving
solutions and they all look potentially very good. I recently had
Digital Services over to talk about supplying the IT requirements for a
new teaching block and while they were here, they demonstrated an early
beta version of their CD Server.
8.7
I will not go into the technical details of CD Server now, as it is
still unfinished, however it was very impressive. (Sad to say, it may
never be finished as Digital Services have recently gone into
receivership. Ed.) We run a mixture of networks at DCPS and the chaps
from Digital showed me five machines running the same !Replay file from
a single CD-ROM without any problem at all on our computer room Ethernet
segment. Even more importantly for me, the CD server also worked down
our fibre link to our Lower School, through a gateway machine and across
the Lower School Econet. This is important where schools may be
extending their networks gradually and may still have segments of Econet
lying around. True, you can’t run !Replay over the Econet but there are
plenty of CD-ROMs which can, including CD-ROMs with collections of
clipart.
8.7
Digital’s CD-ROM Server was not available then and so I have been using
Net CDFast from Eesox which allows you to set up a cache on your server
machine so that any frequently asked for files do not have to be
constantly read from the CD-ROM over and over again. With NetCDFast
speeding up the CD, and Acorn’s Application Accelerator sending the data
down my Ethernet, I manage to get acceptable speeds for most of my CD-
ROM applications. I have not done any tests yet but I will try to during
the last week of term in order to give you some idea of how efficient it
is.
8.7
More recently, I have been testing Acorn’s forthcoming Access CD Server
which is very easy to set up, works very quickly across the net and is
very stable. I aim to do some comparative tests of the Acorn and Eesox
systems for the next column.
8.7
CD-ROM drives
8.7
I use two Toshiba drives, the 4401 and the 3401, with the driver
software from Morley. The 4401 has a motorised tray and does not need a
caddy, while the 3401 is faster but uses a caddy system. Both work
faultlessly with a combination of CDFS 2.21, the Morley driver and Net
CDFast (and now Acorn Access CDS). I mention the combination of software
because, in the past, some software did not always work with
combinations of other software.
8.7
CD-ROM of the month (possibly the year!) − Exploring Nature CD-ROM
8.7
The interactive CD-ROM which has really pointed the way for others to
follow must be “Exploring Nature”. It allows pupils to explore many
different types of habitat and learn about the methods which can be used
to study those habitats.
8.7
The application is very easy to use, even for the complete novice and
younger user. It allows you to move around a series of pictures showing
different habitats and you can search for things to study by moving the
mouse pointer around the scene. When the mouse pointer changes shape you
click <select> and another, close up, picture pops up, showing a
particular feature of the habitat.
8.7
You can make several different measurements within a habitat using the
Toolbox which pops up when you press <menu>. All the main tools which I
use when doing nature study in science lessons are there − thermometer,
pH meter, sunshine meter, rain gauge, compass, etc.
8.7
The graphics are stunning, the content is superb and the use of the
mouse to move around and access various tools is excellent. Even better,
you can copy the application across to a hard disc and run it from a
faster device − I have a copy on my Risc PC at home so that I can plan
my lessons. My only gripe is the cost − at one hundred and twenty-five
pounds, it is a very expensive buy for most schools and individuals.
However, when it can be served across a network, its cost per computer
comes down to a more reasonable figure.
8.7
(Good news! Exploring Nature CD-ROM is available through Archive for
£88! No, we haven’t worked a discount − they have brought the price
down! Ed)
8.7
Readers’ questions
8.7
Obviously there aren’t any this month so I’d like to pose a question for
you. What do you want from this column? Send your replies to me, Andrew
Flowerdew, CD-ROM Column, c/o DCPS, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3NP or via e-
mail on abf@dcpscran. demon.co.uk.
8.7
Anyway, that’s all for this month. Next month, I’ll have a longer look
at the anatomy of a CD-ROM drive and another CD-ROM to watch out for.
8.7
PS. This first column was drafted some time ago but I found myself with
several large projects. Worse, I had made contact with several people
who had offered to help with the column and had recorded their names and
phone numbers on a small electronic organiser. Disaster struck and I
lost the organiser along with all the names and addresses. So if you
offered help, please write to me via snail mail or e-mail. And the moral
of the story is...  either use a paper diary along with your tiny
organiser or buy a Pocketbook II and back up your data.  A
8.7
Spreadsheet Column
8.7
Chris Johnson
8.7
Eureka
8.7
I’ve had a few letters and e-mail comments with feedback about Eureka,
but not as many as I thought. Does this mean that users are not
upgrading, or that they have no comments? Some comments still repeat
familiar themes. Print preview (or lack of it) raises hackles. I had a
brief note from Richard Readings, who wrote an article about Eureka in
Archive 8.5. He reminds me about the existence of the PD application
RiScript, which is a PostScript viewer. To make use of this utility, it
is necessary to print a PostScript file to disc, and then preview it
using RiScript. It works but it shouldn’t need to be that difficult to
find where page breaks come.
8.7
Two of the other recurrent themes are lack of speed and lack of
‘standard’ RISC OS behaviour, e.g. the way the adjust mouse button
operates (or doesn’t). Eureka does seem slow compared to other RISC OS
applications. I have found that redraw becomes very slow when using lots
of cell borders to improve the presentation aspects. It would be useful
if cell borders (as opposed to the grid lines) could be toggled on and
off, so that, for general use, the redraw was speeded up, but they could
be switched back on for printing.
8.7
File import and export using foreign formats such as Excel and Lotus 123
appear to work reasonably well, although tinkering with the files is
sometimes needed. For example, import and export of Lotus 123 files
works well. One correspondent found that exporting the data as an Excel
file and then importing it into Lotus for Windows version 5, resulted in
the colour assignments being changed. Not too important you might think,
but black text on a black background is not too user-friendly! Is it
asking too much to expect that three different applications would agree
the exact file format? The same correspondent would like to be able to
justify text across more than one column. Excel and 123 can do this, as
can Resultz and Schema, but not Eureka.
8.7
One of the postgraduate students in my own department has been
converting all his three years’ accumulation of Eureka sheets to Excel
because he has bought himself a PC for use at home. (He did not think an
Acorn system would be much use once he graduated − the usual problem of
industry standards − I try to brainwash the students but without a lot
of success.) He has had little trouble in general, but ran into some
problems with sheets that had macros attached. Excel seems to spit out
some of the Eureka macro constructs, and some minor changes were
required before the transfer was completely successful.
8.7
While I was playing with a few PC files, I found one which was a simple
TAB-separated file. I could find no way of persuading Eureka to import
it. This seems remarkable, since TSV files still seem to be widely used
in the PC world, particularly by database type applications. The only
solution I found was to load the file into Deskedit, replace the TABs
with commas, change the file type to CSV and then load it into Eureka.
8.7
On the other hand, I used Eureka as an intermediate file manipulator,
when converting some Beebug Masterfile files to incorporate the data
into an existing Datapower file of rather different format. It was the
first time I had used Eureka as a string manipulator, and I was quite
impressed. On previous occasions, when faced with similar conversions, I
have resorted to a bit of Basic programming.
8.7
After enthusing about OLE, it appears that this does not work with
TechWriter, which also supports OLE. Do we have multi-standards for OLE
now?
8.7
Eureka does not appear to be WYSIWYG all the time. David Wight reports
that one of his spreadsheets had characters in a column cropped on
printing, although they were all displayed on the screen. This happened
to me on one occasion, so it is not an isolated occurrence. I dug out a
copy of my own sheet, one of last year’s laboratory classes, and tried
it with Eureka 3. Sure enough, the cropping still occurred.
8.7
It’s not simply minor rounding errors between screen and printer. On
screen, there are definitely a couple of pixels between the end of the
text and the cell border but, on printing, almost the whole of the last
character (an upper case one at that) is truncated. Casting my mind back
to the early stages of this column, around the time Eureka 2 was
released, Paul passing me a note on this same topic from something one
of his customers had written. At the time, I had never observed the
phenomenon and could not make any sensible comment.
8.7
The odd thing about my sheet was that it was all right when first set
up. Since it was in use daily for about twelve weeks, and was printed
only occasionally, it was difficult to be sure when the problem arose.
However, I think it might have occurred after I had made some changes to
the normal style in the sheet. I would be very interested to hear of any
similar occurrences, since this would appear to be a bug that has
persisted through quite a bit of development.
8.7
How to contact me
8.7
My postal address is Chris Johnson, 7, Lovedale Grove, Balerno,
Edinburgh, EH14 7DR; I can also be contacted by e-mail as
[e-mail].
8.7
I am happy to receive anything in connection with spreadsheets, hints or
tips, macros, problems, solutions to problems or just requests for help.
What would be of interest are examples of unusual uses of
spreadsheets.  A
8.7
MouseTrap
8.7
Richard Rymarz
8.7
MouseTrap is described by its authors, Design Concept, as “a mouse
filter for twitchy fingers”. It comes on one disc containing the program
!Mouse Trap, !Sysmerge and a !System folder.
8.7
MouseTrap has already been reviewed by Dave Walsh (Archive 7.10 p66) but
Design Concept wanted a second opinion on the latest version.
8.7
Aims
8.7
MouseTrap is designed to give the user complete control over the use of
mouse/trackerball or any other input device that may be connected to the
Acorn range. It is primarily aimed at schools where children have
difficulty pressing the correct button on the mouse, or who have trouble
holding down a button while dragging a window or application across the
screen. It also provides for left-handed users by switching the <select>
and <adjust> keys.
8.7
Installation
8.7
Clicking on !MouseTrap results in an appropriate icon appearing on the
right hand side of the icon bar. Clicking <select> opens a simple window
that is easy to understand. All options are simple to effect. There is
even an opportunity to switch off all the mouse buttons. However, the
mouse pointer is still effective within the MouseTrap window − no
possibility of disabling the machine. There is also the option of
holding down the Alt key which temporarily makes the buttons behave
normally.
8.7
Latching
8.7
A final feature for the non-technical user is the latching option. When
switched on, any <select> or <adjust> operation is picked up by
MouseTrap and continues that operation for the user. A beep from the
computer indicates when the latching begins − another beep indicates
when it has ended. The beep is useful (and answers one of Dave Walsh’s
suggestions) although the time delay is still not user-definable
(another of Dave’s points). However, in use, the latter is not a major
problem.
8.7
In use
8.7
MouseTrap works. I’ve introduced it into my school and the children
don’t even realise that it is running. Young children particularly
benefit, as do harassed teachers, since disabling some mouse operations
can stop the endless number of menus that often confuse. Many of the
programs that children use now are icon driven and require less use of
<menu> or <adjust> buttons. Latching is also very convenient, allowing
novice, poorly coordinated and less confident users time to learn normal
mouse operations.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
There is a place for this utility in all schools not only for its
targeted audience, but beyond − I have even used it with my elderly in-
laws who had never touched a computer before and enjoyed playing the
game of patience included on the Acorn Apps disc. It is not necessary
for most children who quickly pick up how to use the mouse.
8.7
The manual is short, well written and easy to understand and, for the
more technical, there is the option to install a relocatable module
which automatically loads MouseTrap. This is fully configurable.
8.7
The program is robust and always allowed me to control normal desktop
operations. However, it does take up 128Kb and quitting stops all
trapping operations. This may result in memory problems on 1 or 2Mb
machines. (In other words, memory cannot be reclaimed by quitting the
application as, for instance, can be done with !Printers.)
8.7
MouseTrap works on any RISC OS computer, including the Risc PC, on which
this review was written. It costs £10 inclusive (+£2 p&p) from Design
Concept.
8.7
Recommended, but teachers should think carefully about its use as a
substitute for employing the full functions of the mouse. Finally,
perhaps further versions could include a latching time delay which can
be user-defined and memory that can be reclaimed.  A
8.7
Gerald’s Column
8.7
Gerald Fitton
8.7
I suppose the biggest news on the Fireworkz front at the moment is that
Fireworkz Pro is now available, so that must be my major topic for this
month. Before tackling Fireworkz Pro, I must cover the single topic from
my bulky correspondence which has overshadowed all others.
8.7
Acorn’s standards
8.7
I was going to head this section ‘dongles, etc’ but it occurred to me
that if I did so, many of you would either skip this section or even
skip ‘Gerald’s Column’ altogether − as if you would!
8.7
I’ve had a few more positive letters referring to use of dongles and
other non-standard hardware (e.g. the printer lead which comes with
Turbo Drivers) as simple cost-effective methods of keeping piracy at bay
and hence reducing the cost to genuine purchasers. Usually, these people
make a point of the fact that they’ve had no problems (and I believe
them). I’ve had even more letters (some at second hand sent to other
Archive authors) who complain at length and in detail, particularly
about dongles. The quantity of mail on this subject has overwhelmed my
‘system’, so let me apologise if I haven’t sent you a reply yet. (Let me
add that all who sent me a stamp have had a reply!)
8.7
Now that you’ve had your say, here is a summary of my advice to you;
let’s see if we can make it the last words on this topic. It concerns
standard and non-standard hardware and software rather than anything
specific like dongles.
8.7
Many pieces of hardware and software on the Acorn market follow Acorn’s
guidelines either completely or closely. If you buy just those items,
you’ll find that, as you gradually develop your system by making new
purchases or upgrading ‘old’ hardware and software, everything continues
to ‘work’ nearly all the time. Even when they don’t work, the problems
are usually sorted out promptly and with a minimum of fuss. An example
of such a problem with Fireworkz on the Risc PC arose when Acorn
upgraded its sprite specification to include 24-bit sprites. This was
sorted out quickly by Colton Software issuing a new TaskX module for
Risc PC users. Fireworkz Pro checks what version of the Operating System
you have and loads the appropriate TaskX module automatically.
8.7
On the other hand, if you buy something which is non-standard and there
is a general upgrade, (a) you may find that the non-standard item you’ve
purchased still works and works well but (b) some other piece of
(standard) software or hardware ceases to function (or worse, generates
an intermittent fault)! An example is that Turbo Drivers have caused
many crashes in both Fireworkz and PipeDream (but Style and Artisan work
perfectly). When that happens, you will find that the supplier of the
item built according to Acorn’s standard (e.g. Fireworkz) will be
mystified. Sometimes they’ll blame Acorn but generally it will be only
after some time has elapsed that the real culprit (and a solution) is
found.
8.7
Hence my advice is to look at the benefits you will gain from using a
non-standard item and decide whether these benefits outweigh the future
problems which may be created. On this basis, I have rejected Turbo
Drivers but accepted Style which I believe is the definitive desktop
publisher and which I prefer to Ovation. I have Publisher as well as
Style but, only because of the dongle, I have relegated it to my A440
(RISC OS 2) machine. I use Publisher occasionally when I have need of a
feature (e.g. guide frames) which it has and which Style doesn’t have.
8.7
Before you write to me saying that Style doesn’t use a dongle and ask
“What are you talking about when you imply that there is something non-
standard about Style?”, let me ask you to look in your !System
directory. There you will find that Computer Concepts have inserted
their own !CCShared directory. The recommended method of including any
modules specific to an application, utility or package is to place those
modules within the specific application directory (e.g. in !Style) and
not in !System. I do not know what potential problems this creates but
I’ll bet we haven’t heard the last of the unwanted effects of
!CCShared’s contents! However, Style is so good that I’ve decided to
take the risk and hope that I won’t regret it.
8.7
Fireworkz Pro
8.7
The version of Fireworkz Pro which I have is 1.20. Fireworkz is still at
version 1.07 and an upgrade to this version is not yet available.
8.7
The press release from Colton Software gives the price as £149 +VAT but,
if you don’t have any of Colton Software’s products and want
Fireworkz Pro, you will find it is available at a lower price from NCS
(£165). If you have Fireworkz and want to upgrade to Fireworkz Pro then
you can do so for £49 but only directly from Colton Software. If you
only have Wordz, the upgrade is £89; from Resultz it is £69; from
PipeDream 4 it is £99; and from PipeDream 3, £124. To these prices you
must add VAT and £5 postage. Further details about these products are
available from Colton Software on telephone number 01223-311881 or on
fax number 01223-312010.
8.7
Recordz is available as a stand-alone database for £99 + VAT, but
cheaper from NCS (£110). Recordz and Fireworkz Pro use a database
‘engine’ called DataPower. DataPower was given a mini review by Simon
Coulthurst in Archive 8.6 p45. In that article, you’ll find that
DataPower is compared favourably with other databases. I don’t wish to
repeat details given in that article so I’ll skip that by quoting one
line: “My final choice is DataPower”. My ‘final choice’ would be Recordz
(or Fireworkz Pro) because it has practically all the functionality of
DataPower but without the software protection method about which Simon
comments unfavourably.
8.7
What I shall concentrate on in this article is the way in which
Fireworkz Pro integrates features from the DataPower database engine
into the Fireworkz suite. Using two sets of examples, I’ll try to show
you how these database features integrate with Wordz, Resultz and
Fireworkz (non-Pro).
8.7
When do you use a database?
8.7
As an over-simplified general rule, most of the things which you want to
do with a database you can do with a spreadsheet such as Resultz! If you
use a spreadsheet as a database, the usual way of doing so is to use one
row per record and one column per field. In the screenshot below, you
will see a four-line database in what I shall call Resultz format. It is
part of the file Ex1.Addr2F from this month’s Archive disc. The first
row contains the column (field) headings. I have a total of 21 columns
which run from column a to column u. The rows 2, 3 and 4 are space for
three separate records. I have completed only the fourth record. You can
add similar records into the second and third rows or add records after
my fourth one.
8.7
When you have your records in Resultz format, you can sort them by any
field (column). In the same document or, more often, in a dependent
document, you can select fields from any record. A typical application
might be to pull from your database, the address to which you want to
send a letter when you are given only a name. To do this, you use the
lookup(,,) function of Recordz.
8.7
So when do you use a database rather than a spreadsheet? The over-
simplified version of my rule book (the beginner’s version) contains “If
you have only a few fields per record and what is important to you is
that you want to scan the same field in many records (i.e. compare
fields), you should use the spreadsheet format.” In this context, by
spreadsheet format, I mean the Resultz spreadsheet format and not the
Recordz spreadsheet format. The second part of this rule reads “If you
have many fields for each record and what is important to you is that
you are able to look at and compare many fields of the same record, you
need a database card format.”
8.7
Let me give an example where a card layout is more easily read than a
sheet layout. The first is a set of student records. You might wish to
look at all the fields for a single student to see how their work,
attendance, etc, compares from subject to subject. If you wanted to
compare one student with another, but only for one subject, the sheet
layout would be easier to read.
8.7
To summarise: Recordz database facilities will be most useful to you if
you have many fields (rather than few) and if you want to see all (or
most) fields, but for only one record (or a few) at a time. If you have
few fields and want to compare one record with another, you should
consider the Resultz format (which is the same as the spreadsheet of the
non-Pro version of Fireworkz).
8.7
File conversion
8.7
Let’s start with an obvious one which may be of use to only a few of
you. If you have the DataPower database, you can transfer files between
DataPower and Fireworkz Pro or Recordz.
8.7
Many more of you will have databases in either PipeDream or Resultz
format. If you have Resultz, what you might expect is that data held in
Resultz format would be automatically accepted by Recordz. This is not
so; you need to go through the intermediate stage of using the CSV
format.
8.7
In the following paragraph, I refer to files in the Ex1 directory of the
Archive monthly disc. Even if you do not have that disc, you should be
able to follow the descriptions of the package given in this article.
8.7
The method of transferring files to Recordz (or to the database of
Fireworkz Pro) is to load the PipeDream (e.g. Addr1P) or the Resultz
(e.g. Addr2F) format file into PipeDream or Resultz and then save the
file in CSV format. The CSV format file Addr3C has been created in this
way. Drag the CSV file to the Pro icon on the iconbar and select the
db_sheet template (see the screenshot overleaf).
8.7
If you do this with a copy of the CSV format file Addr3C, (don’t use the
original and don’t try to do it by loading the file from your Archive
disc) you will find that a database format file called Addr3C_f_d will
be saved automatically to the same directory as that from which you
loaded the CSV file. The screen will display a Recordz format file
called Addr3C_f. You don’t need Addr3C_f, so discard it!
8.7
What I did next was to rename the Addr3C_f_d database file as AddrD;
you’ll find it in the same directory as the CSV file. Then I dragged
AddrD to the Pro icon and selected the template db_sheet. I changed the
name of the displayed file to AddrPro_S and saved it.
8.7
The combination of the two files AddrD and AddrPro_S is the Recordz
format sheet combination which replaces the Resultz format sheet file
Addr2F. The Recordz format might look similar to the Resultz format but
if you look at the two files side by side, you’ll see that the button
bars are quite different. For example, there is no formula line in the
Recordz format display.
8.7
The sheet layout
8.7
Click <menu> on the displayed AddrPro_S document and select the
Database – Layout menu. Within the Layout menu, you’ll find a Rows Auto
radio button. Deselect it and change the number of Rows to 1. When you
click on the OK box, you’ll find that the screen display changes to a
single line. You can move through the database using the left and right
arrows of the database button bar. Of course, you can display as many or
as few rows as you wish by using the Database – Layout menu.
8.7
The card layout
8.7
You can use the Layout menu to change the display to a card layout. I
suggest that you investigate what happens when you change the number of
rows and columns for the layout.
8.7
Starting from AddrPro_S, I changed the layout to a single card layout
and then saved the displayed file as AddrPro_C1. The file AddrPro_4C is
a four-card version. Both of these card displays will look different
from the one which you have created. This is because I have moved the
fields and field names around on the card so that I can see more at
once. You move fields and field names by double clicking on the field
and then dragging it as you would an object in a drawfile. I find the
tools available for doing this a bit rudimentary compared with tools
available in DrawPlus. Before you ask me, I can’t find a way of using
DrawPlus to create card layouts.
8.7

8.7
Recordz cards into Resultz format sheets
8.7
Load the file AddrSheet, and you’ll see that I have a single card
display in cell b3. Unless something has gone wrong, you should find
that the cell b3 is selected. Perhaps the best way of thinking about
this combination is to think of AddrSheet as a conventional Resultz
sheet but with the Recordz database file AddrD loaded into, and
contained within, a single cell (b3), of AddrSheet.
8.7
If you click on any cell except b3, you will find that the button bar is
what I shall call the Resultz button bar. Yes! I know it looks different
from the ‘old’ Resultz button bar but I expect that, when the next
version of Resultz (or Fireworkz non-Pro) comes out, the button bar will
be like that of Fireworkz Pro. If you click on cell b3, you’ll find that
the button bar changes to what I shall call a Recordz type with the
database buttons.
8.7
When you are ‘in’ a database cell, all the database functions can be
used. When you are in a Resultz cell, the database functions cannot be
used! I’ve tried inserting two different databases into different cells
of the same Resultz sheet with reasonable success.
8.7
What inevitably causes a complete crash is trying to change the Layout
(using the layout menu) of a database within a Resultz sheet. However,
you can change the position of fields and field names and then save the
new card.
8.7
I was disappointed to find that AddrSheet did not save the record number
which was being displayed at the time of saving. For me, that would be a
useful additional facility to include in the next version.
8.7
Recordz sheets into Resultz format sheets
8.7
The files to which I refer below are from the Ex2 directory of the
Archive disc.
8.7
The screenshot below shows a Resultz format database consisting of four
lines. The fourth line contains a single record. I have saved this
Resultz-type database as a CSV file and then dragged the CSV file into a
Fireworkz Pro db_sheet template. I reduced the db_sheet to one row and
saved the result as DiscsPro_S. I loaded this database file into a
Resultz-type sheet to create the file DiscsSheet.
8.7
In DiscsSheet, I have a single record displayed in row 3. In the same
way as the previous section, you might think of this combination as the
whole of the database file DiscsD loaded into, and contained within, the
block b3f3 of the DiscsSheet display.
8.7
It is the database file DiscsD which is loaded into DiscsSheet and not
the file DiscsPro_S. If you want only DiscsSheet (containing the
database), you can safely delete the file DiscsPro_S, but you must not
delete DiscsD.
8.7
You will find that, as in the previous section, when you are ‘in’ a
database cell, the button bar displays database buttons and when you’re
‘in’ a Resultz cell, the button bar shows Resultz type buttons.
8.7
I had hoped that somewhere else in DiscsSheet, such as in slot b6, I
could enter a slot reference to a database slot which would change
‘automatically’ to follow the changing field in the database. When I
tried this, all seemed to be well right up to and including saving the
file. However, when I reloaded the file DiscsSheet, it was always
corrupted. Have a go, and you’ll see what I mean. This is a ‘bug’ which
will be fixed in a later release of Recordz and Pro.
8.7
In a similar way to the previous section, the record number is not saved
by DiscsSheet. I would like to see the record number saved with
DiscsSheet.
8.7
Non-database features of Fireworkz Pro
8.7
In this section, I shall briefly describe changes from Fireworkz which
have nothing to do with the database. It seems likely to me that these
features will become part of the next version of Fireworkz (non-Pro).
8.7
There is a new button bar. The icons are smaller and the status line is
now in Homerton rather than System font. If you don’t have a multisync
monitor, you may find this change more difficult to read. I’ve had
correspondence to that effect. On the plus side, the smaller icons don’t
use up so much of the screen.
8.7
You can now edit within a cell rather than at the formula line. I find
this a mixed blessing because I sometimes lose Styles (and Effects)
applied to that cell and I have to reapply them. Cell types (i.e. text
or numbers including formulae) are recognised automatically.
8.7
Something so many of you have asked for is now included – negative
numbers in red. This is achieved by allowing you to specify two
different Styles for positive and negative numbers.
8.7
The dialogue boxes for Names have been extended to include a description
of the Name.
8.7
There are also features which will help file transfer from RISC OS to
Windows, such as an XLS (Excel) format loader.
8.7
Fireworkz Pro − Summary
8.7
Recordz is a database package which looks and works very much in the
same way as the DataPower database, recommended by Simon Coulthurst, but
without the software protection which he disliked and regarded as its
only major ‘fault’. Recordz is cheaper than DataPower and is my “best
choice” for a database.
8.7
Recordz integrates with Wordz and Resultz (and Fireworkz non-Pro) to
form Fireworkz Pro.
8.7
There are still a few ‘bugs’ in Recordz and Pro. Most of these seem to
me to be related to the integration of Recordz within Fireworkz. Even
now, you can hold databases in card or sheet format within a Resultz-
type sheet. Later, you will be able to make it ‘pull’ references from
the database into a Resultz-type sheet.
8.7
So far as use is concerned, I can see that the addition of Recordz
database facilities to Fireworkz (to make the integrated package
Fireworkz Pro) will be useful for those databases which contain too many
fields to fit into Resultz-type sheet layout. However, I would still
stick to the Resultz type of sheet for those databases of mine having
few enough fields to fit them across a screen.
8.7
I would very much welcome your views and experiences of Fireworkz Pro.
In the meantime, if you find any ‘bugs’ or differences from Fireworkz
which you consider a ‘downgrade’, please send an example on disc to
Colton Software direct and, if it’s not too much trouble, let me know
the response from Colton Software, and the outcome.
8.7
Finally
8.7
My address is that of Abacus Training, which you will find on the inside
back cover of Archive. I prefer letters on disc, together with a short
written note describing the nature of the contents; please do not try to
describe a problem or feature without an example file on disc, since it
is far too easy for me to misunderstand what you mean. All discs will be
returned, but it will happen more quickly if you include a self-
addressed label and (if you live in the UK) a stamp for return
postage.  A
8.7
Three Animation Programs
8.7
Christopher Jarman
8.7
This review looks at three animation programs: EMConvert from Uniqueway,
PrimeMover from Minerva and The Complete Animator from Iota Software.
8.7
EMConvert
8.7
I have been interested in making films since the day I bought an 8mm
movie camera in Aden, 40 years ago. Since then, it has been the
camcorder, and now my amateur enthusiasm turns to Acorn Replay and Ace
films.
8.7
Many readers will, by now, have seen demonstrated the rafts and the
underwater scenes of the Risc PC Acorn Replay demo. Coupled with the CD
quality sound, they are very impressive. I have longed to make one of my
own and to drop it into a multimedia program like Genesis to surprise
the viewers. Well, for £29 including VAT, you won’t achieve quite those
heights but you can certainly amuse yourself with a little animation!
8.7
An exciting start
8.7
According to my wife and most of my friends, I am well past my sell-by
date in most areas. Nevertheless, when I heard about !EMConvert and
ordered it, I became as excited as a teenager on his first date, waiting
for the post to arrive. I’m sure you recognise that feeling! Will the
goods be as “good” as the adverts claim? I had rung Paul Middleton of
Uniqueway to ask if it really was true that you could make a tiny
animated film with just this utility. Did I need an expensive card from
Computer Concepts or Wild Vision to work it? No. Did I need a special
camera? No. Did I need any other peripherals or programs? No. But
surely, I asked, I must need something else... No, just the ARPlayer
which is pre-installed on my Risc PC anyway. So no extra expense there.
8.7
When !EMConvert arrived, I loaded it in and had a look. There is the
usual Helpfile and a single sheet of green A4 paper for documentation.
To tell the truth, I was disappointed at this point, because I am the
kind of operator who needs a complete step-by-step, total Noddy
introduction to any new utility. Clever programmers never seem to
realise how strong this need is. I believe that many excellent utilities
still lie unused because the buyer cannot understand how to get it
started, and is too busy or frustrated, and finally too embarrassed, to
ask.
8.7
Just drop in some Artworks files?
8.7
Anyway, it seemed from what I read that one needed a stash of sprites to
feed into this thing before it could be seen to work. I am most at ease
with Artworks for making pictures, so I drew a background of a house and
moved one or two objects about in front of it, stopping to save the
images as drawfiles each time, until I had about twelve pictures. It
said that the film speed would be at a default setting of 12.5 frames/
sec, so I sussed that one second’s worth of film would not be long
enough. Therefore I went back and copied each drawfile to double the
number. It was easier than drawing more new ones.
8.7
This was my first mistake − EMConvert doesn’t accept drawfiles and will
only take sprites! Fortunately, Paul Mason’s PD utility !DrawGrab came
to my rescue. It converts drawfiles to sprites. Also, it is quite easy
to use the snapshot facility in !Paint to create sprites.
8.7
Just drop in the sprites?
8.7
Having achieved this, it was simple to drop the newly minted sprites
into !EMConvert but still no result. A closer reading of the helpfile at
this point revealed that it desired me to drop a directory full of
sprites into it and not the individual sprites. I cannot remember being
able to do this with any other program, so naturally it had not
instinctively occurred to me. This is another reason why better and
rather more ‘Keystage 1-type’ instructions are vital.
8.7
Drop in a directory of sprites!
8.7
When I finally dropped this directory full of sprites onto the icon,
things happened. I had only to select Convert in the dialogue box and
away it went. After a short time, an Acorn Replay icon popped up with
the name of my directory on it as the film title. This was saved, and
with some trepidation, I double-clicked on it to see if I had made a
tiny film. It was absolutely true − I had!
8.7
A film at last!
8.7
Admittedly, “Gone With The Wind” was longer, and Meryl Streep was not my
star, but it was definitely a tiny movie. It was perhaps best described
as TitchyScope but it was original and it was my own. I would have let
you all see it... but I accidentally deleted it!
8.7
!EMConvert is a superb product and surely one of the best value programs
of its kind on the market. My request to Uniqueway is for a better step-
by-step instruction manual with suggestions for ways to use various art
programs and camcorders and some handy tips.
8.7
Films galore
8.7
I have now made several small films of between four and six seconds in
duration, using digitiser grabbed shots from a camcorder, and using
images painted in Studio24, as well as Artworks. It is also quite easy
to combine all three methods. It is a long process making your
animations, because you need 50 or 60 sprites. My tips are (1) always
number them with three figure numbers starting with 001, otherwise,
after 9, you get into trouble with the order. Secondly, you can easily
stretch the number of sprites out by copying them once or twice − a
great time saver. In which case, you can then number the copies as 001a,
002a and so on.
8.7
Titles and endings lend themselves particularly well to animations. But
all these little films are very memory hungry. You probably need the
Risc PC to make use of this without becoming rather frustrated. You need
to think in terms of almost 2Mb per film. This means that it can be hard
to get one onto an HD disc but they do compress successfully in ArcFS.
8.7
I shall be getting out the plasticine tomorrow to make some of those
little people animations. And I am told that the advert on the telly for
the Post Office was done with the same technique using watercolour
paintings.
8.7
EMConvert is available from Uniqueway Ltd. and costs £25 +VAT.
8.7
PrimeMover
8.7
An entirely different approach to animation is taken with this package.
It comes with a nicely ring-bound 90-page manual. Having asked for a
manual, I now found I had one with a vengeance!
8.7
It is not too difficult to get this program up and running quite
smoothly, showing the demo animation provided on the screen. There is a
tutorial section from pages 19 to 35 in the manual which you are advised
to follow first. This is intended to help you dissect the Minerva
animation and to see the way in which it is made up.
8.7
Then the problems started
8.7
However, after that it is downhill all the way. Call me ‘cybernetically
challenged’ or call me just plain thick, but after a month I am no
nearer producing my own animation with this package than when I started.
Well, actually, I have managed to get one flickering sprite to crawl
painfully across another sprite in the background.
8.7
The manual states that ‘PrimeMover is a very easy-to-use and flexible
program’. In my view, it is not. It is extremely complicated. Not only
are there many new concepts introduced, such as animates and motions,
current time markers and current time indicators, time rulers etc, but
the choice of menu systems and windows is extensive and complex. On
phoning the company for some guidance, I found little response to my
request.
8.7
An intuitive package?
8.7
The package itself is far from being intuitive. I suppose a majority of
enthusiasts work out most new programs by trial and error. With
PrimeMover it may well be possible, but not by this reviewer. So, faced
with an incomprehensibly difficult and long-winded manual, and my
inability to make a film intuitively, I have had to put this program on
hold.
8.7
I must say that this state of affairs is not helped by the title and
design of the demo film which is called “Depressed”! The artistic
quality of the sprites is well below average, and the theme simply begs
for the whole thing to be shoved in a drawer for another day.
8.7
Surely, a demo film, from any sales psychological point of view, must
give an impression of hope, interest and fun? If Minerva want to both
inspire and instruct, they need urgently to re-make the demo and re-
write the manual. I have tried hard to be fair and have had all three
animation programs on my hard disc for well over six weeks now,
alternating between them, but I have found myself getting up in the
mornings and trying to avoid yet again taxing my brain with this
particular product. I don’t enjoy being so critical about work which
someone has clearly slaved at for many months. I am the first to admit
that I could not write any programs at all. But I am a user, and I want
more and more user-friendly programs and manuals before spending my
money.
8.7
PrimeMover, from Minerva Software, costs £69.95 inc VAT or £66 through
Archive.
8.7
Complete Animator
8.7
This program is utterly different in concept from both the previous
programs. It comes in a glamorous box with an instructional VHS video
and a thirty-page User Guide. I took advantage of Iota’s Christmas offer
which saved money but it meant that the user guide was still a draft
version. Iota were very responsive to some suggestions over the phone
about the guide and I have every hope that it will be even better soon.
8.7
The working arrangement is in the form of a small screen (which is re-
sizeable) with a toolbox on the left and controls along the bottom − not
too many tools, and extremely intuitive to anyone familiar with the
usual Acorn system. It is possible to draw anything you want directly
onto the screen and to select and fill colours just like a simple paint
program. However, I soon found that creating “stamps” of objects in
other programs, such as Paint or Artworks, was by far the easiest way of
getting good quality images to play with. The program is completely
Artworks-compatible by the way, a great advantage these days.
8.7
Getting started
8.7
It was quick to get started and, using the animations and sounds
provided, to get your first film up and running. The video was a help in
giving ideas and general familiarity with the controls. I have to admit
that I react badly to cartoons both in clipart and animations but,
nevertheless, by following the first five pages of the guide, it was
easy to use the little drawings provided.
8.7
Getting to grips with adding sound effects was hard at first, and the
guide was a little vague in this area. But once mastered, the sound
facility is so excellent that it transforms even small lengths of
animation. There are only a few sound samples given you but, because the
sound effects editor is so good, you can make an enormous number of
variations from them just by altering the pitch and time, etc. Creating
stereo accompaniments to follow the motion across the screen is
fascinating. It is also easy to drop your own Armadeus sound samples
into the system. You can either make them yourself with the Oak Recorder
or similar equipment, or use some of the many samples now available on
PDCDs.
8.7
Documentation
8.7
There is some real help in the video and the guide on the principles of
cartoon animation. The author, Stuart Payne, is clearly not just a
programmer but someone who is enthusiastic about animation generally.
This comes through strongly in the whole package. However, in my view,
the guide needs to give more explanation and guidance about the ways to
work the program and on the meanings of some of the technical terms
used, and to avoid assuming that the reader knows as much as the
programmer.
8.7
For example, there is a very useful facility for dropping a background
sprite in for the whole film − but it does not explain that this can
only be done after the film is completed! This is rather an important
omission which was impossible to find out without a phone call to Iota.
Also, I have still not puzzled out how to change the background paper
colour in the frame, although I have done it by accident several times.
Like a number of facilities in this program, they are described but not
explained − there is a difference.
8.7
A multi-faceted package
8.7
The number of features is high and they are very good ones. It is even
possible to print out your animations as flick-books! There are various
fade options to end films. Films can be saved in Iota format with sound
or Acorn Replay or as Ace films, if silent. In addition, if you possess
the Screen Saver called MellowOut (which was on the November ’94 Acorn
User cover disc) you can even drop your Iota films directly onto it and
Hey Presto!, you have made your own instant screen saver. I can
wholeheartedly recommend this program for making top quality animations
of your own, with good sound at a very reasonable cost. It will have a
particular appeal to artists, and I have already had an enormous amount
of fun with it. When the Guide is improved, with more detailed idiot-
proof instructions, it will be very hard to beat. The latest news is
that Oak Solutions are so interested in this product that they intend to
alter Genesis to accept the Iota sound films.
8.7
Overall
8.7
The Complete Animator is very good. It is easy to use with a clear
(improving) manual and a video. It accepts Acorn sprites, DrawFiles and
Artworks sprites and it has the immense benefit of including sound
effects with sound editing too. It is by far the best product of the
three that I tried.
8.7
The Complete Animator from Iota Software, costs £99 inclusive, or £95
through Archive.  A
8.7
A Mouse in Holland
8.7
Christopher Jarman
8.7
Imagine you are a small child on your own in Holland. You can safely
explore the countryside, a windmill, a canal in Amsterdam, go to an
artist’s studio and to an art gallery etc, etc. In the form of a mouse,
you seem to have the power to do all these things. In addition, each
time you touch an item around you, however small and apparently
insignificant, something weird and funny happens, usually accompanied by
very amusing sound effects.
8.7
4Mation’s newest interactive fiction program provides all these
experiences and more. It comes on three 800Kb discs and seems to contain
almost as much information and events as a CD might be expected to have.
It will run on any Acorn 32-bit computer with 2Mb of RAM. It is designed
to introduce users to Holland in a very informal way and intended to
appeal to all ages. It certainly appealed to this old reviewer and it
clearly appeals to children in schools because 4,000 copies were ordered
even before the program was released!
8.7
The program is the result of co-operation between Mike Matson and Hans
Rijnen, a Dutch designer. It installs simply, and you are told when to
change discs during the story, as necessary. It will install easily onto
a hard disc which is, of course, more convenient. I like the fact that
it is possible to select whatever font you wish from your own font
store. This is important, as there are 3000 words of text to read. Many
schools have strong views about which forms of the alphabet they wish
their pupils to use, so this is a useful facility. However, I do not
wish to give the impression that this program is all about ploughing
through text − quite the reverse in fact. The text is there and is
appropriate and comes in short bursts. It would be quite possible to
enjoy the program entirely as a non-reader. However, I suspect that
children would be strongly motivated to read the text because of the
amusing things happening in the frames!
8.7
The first thing that strikes you as you load up is the super music,
arranged by Pete Saunders, which is a medley of two traditional Dutch
tunes. It has a real Dutch sound and reminds you of the old hurdy
gurdies which used to play in the streets of Amsterdam.
8.7
As well as simply exploring the country in your own time, there is a
challenge to find five moles, five fruits and ten round Dutch cheeses
hidden in the various frames. It is possible to save the program at the
stage you have reached, so you can come back and find the rest another
time.
8.7
I found the surprises such as birds appearing suddenly, a canal emptying
down the plughole and so on, very imaginative and always unexpected. It
would spoil it to mention too many of them! I think that the adult’s
reference book which comes with it is also a very good idea. Teachers
cannot always spend the time to master a new program and yet they do
need to know what it is about and what it contains. This quick reference
booklet should prove invaluable and ought to become a standard item with
all educational applications.
8.7
A Mouse in Holland is priced at £29.50 +VAT (or £33 through Archive)
with an enhanced version with twice the resolution for an extra £4.99
upgrade price. I ran the standard version on a Risc PC and was quite
happy with it. Whether this sort of excellent program is good value for
money is something which schools will have to decide for themselves. As
a printed book, it would probably cost around £8−£10, so you have to
decide whether the interactive effects and animations are three times
better than a book. Perhaps a school would have to buy four or five
copies of the book as well, which then would make it worthwhile.  A
8.7
Arctic − Terminal to CompuServe
8.7
John Woodthorpe
8.7
A modem is both a way of bringing more interest and more frustration
into your life. The interest comes from all the extra information and
software that you can access, and the frustration lies in trying to set
it up to work with your computer, software, cable and the service that
you want to access. Any software that simplifies this is worth looking
at, and if it also reduces your phone bill and on-line charges, then so
much the better. Arctic is a program for automating access to CompuServe
by Acorn computers (ARChimedes Terminal Interface to CompuServe), and
claims to be able to help you make more effective use of on-line time.
8.7
CompuServe services
8.7
CompuServe claims to be the largest on-line computerised information
service. It offers electronic mail facilities, special interest forums
(mini bulletin boards devoted to specific topics), downloadable
software, reference information and areas where you can ask questions of
hardware and software suppliers. It also provides limited, but gradually
expanding, Internet access.
8.7

8.7
There are around 2.4 million Compuserve members worldwide and they have
access to nearly 2,000 products and services. A lot of the services are
computer-based dealing with particular products, graphics,
communications, etc, but many of them are of much wider interest. You
can ‘visit’ the shopping mall, including its UK equivalent, play multi-
user games, check out company profiles, worldwide news and weather.
There are leisure sections on hobbies such as aquaria, model-making,
health & fitness, photography, music, theatre, films, books and TV
(including UK). Professional interest areas deal with topics such as
medicine, aviation, law, safety and journalism, and the reference
library allows you to search for information on almost anything. You can
discuss astronomy, the assassination of JFK, dinosaurs, religion, and
anything else you care to book airline flights, find a good restaurant,
camping site, golf course or day out in just about any country.
8.7
Electronic mail
8.7
Email is one of those things that you don’t realize how useful it is
until you’ve tried it. Sending three typical messages will take less
than a minute of on-line time, and will be delivered within minutes −
even to Australia (although there are sometimes delays in getting
through to Internet addresses). Sending large text files, JPEG pictures
etc. is easy (although Internet will only take ASCII, so other files
have to be converted by UUENCODE, and decoded at the receiving end). You
won’t get one of those simple IDs like [e-mail] .uk
though. Rather it will be harder to remember like my 100436,3351, or the
Internet version of 100436 [e-mail] (note the comma changing
to a full stop).
8.7
Unfortunately, there are some disadvantages, especially for users of
Acorn machines. The main one is that the majority of the members and
services are American, which means there is a strong PC and Mac bias.
Secondly, you pay for just about everything, to the point where its
detractors have labelled it ‘CompuSpend’. Services are split into
‘Basic’, ‘Extended’, and ‘Premium’ and charged depending on the time of
day and speed of modem:
8.7

8.7
Modem  Service  8am−7pm  Eves & w/e
8.7
300-2400  Basic  $7.70/hr  Free
8.7
  Extended  $12.50/hr  $4.80/hr
8.7
9600-14400  Basic  $7.70/hr  Free
8.7
  Extended  $17.30/hr  $9.60/hr
8.7
Premium services (mostly financial and business-related) carry an extra
surcharge, and if you access via DialPlus, Mercury, or any other way
than CompuServe’s own network, you pay a further surcharge even after
7pm. Oh, and there’s a monthly subscription of $8.95, which includes
sending and receiving about 60 Internet messages (up to three pages
long) a month. Receiving mail from other members is free, but messages
from Internet addresses (above the allowance) cost $0.15 each − more if
they are long. Complicated isn’t it!
8.7
Basic services include email, some news and sports, the AA Days Out
guide and so on. All the computer stuff (Internet included) is
‘Extended’, but there’s an excellent Psion conference and software
section, and a series of UK computing forums that are well worth a look.
These contain an active Acorn group, which includes Richard Proctor, the
author of !Arctic. He got fed-up with spending vast amounts of time (and
money) on-line, and started to automate his access and now provides user
support in the Acorn area.
8.7
The program
8.7
The author doesn’t promise to reduce your bills, but !Arctic will allow
your connect time to be more productive. An example of this is the mail
section, where it obviously makes sense to compose your messages off-
line and connect to the service only for as long as necessary to up-load
them and down-load any waiting mail for reading off-line. !Arctic can do
the same for Forum messages and software, allowing a session to be
planned beforehand and then run automatically. It is Shareware, and can
be downloaded from the Acorn software library in the UK Computing Forum,
or earlier versions can be found on Arcade. Registration costs £15,
which will disable the nagging message that tries to make you feel
guilty enough to send off a cheque. It can also be registered on-line,
when the cost is added to the monthly bill.
8.7
The documentation is a photocopied A5 booklet of some 113 pages, which
you only get if you pay another £5 when registering. Comprehensive is
the best word for it, although a decent index would help in finding what
you want.
8.7
In use
8.7
My main problem was related to one of my normal uses of CompuServe. As
well as a PC at work, I use my Psion Series 3a to deal with email whilst
out of the office. When !Arctic is first run, it asks for your name,
CompuServe ID and password (it’s encrypted so that other people cannot
read it). The first time on-line, it goes through the terminal menus,
setting its own series of defaults, some of which clash with those
needed by ReadCIS (the Series 3a software) and !TaskANSI, which I
sometimes use on my Risc PC, to the point where only gibberish is
displayed! Apart from that, and one problem when it got stuck in the
startup, operation was straightforward. I reported these to Richard
Proctor (by email, courtesy of !Arctic, of course), and he promised to
investigate them and ensure that the program did not set permanent
defaults. It took me a short while to feel confident in using it, and I
think there are a few things that could be improved, such as the mail
editor. Effectively this is !Edit, with a few modifications (it only
allows the system font, presumably to keep a fixed pitch to format the
text). Writing and replying to mail is very simple and intuitive, but if
you save a message intending to edit it later, things don’t behave in
the same way (this is currently being worked on, and will be greatly
improved in a future version). The help text is not compatible with
Acorn’s !Help, using its own reader instead, but it is very
comprehensive (if badly spelt in places!) − in fact, it is so
comprehensive that you could happily manage without the manual 99% of
the time.
8.7
Going on-line properly, the program downloaded the five messages waiting
for me and logged off in less than a minute of on-line time. This
allowed me to read them in a leisurely manner, compose my replies and
write fresh messages. Another minute on-line saw them up-loaded cleanly
and for the minimum of cost. An address book is maintained (with the
author’s address already loaded), and you can enter your own contacts
manually or from messages received. Navigating forums is done in a
similar way so that you can download the software catalogue and forum
messages for browsing later. After composing your replies and deciding
on any downloads desired, !Arctic will go back on-line and carry out
your instructions.
8.7
Internet access is not yet fully implemented in CompuServe, but !Arctic
will be updated to take advantage of these changes. Currently, it can
access USENET news groups, but is not yet able to cope with File
Transfer Protocol (FTP), which has only just appeared on the system.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
The more I use !Arctic, the more impressed I am with it and with Richard
Proctor’s customer support. We’ve corresponded by email a fair amount in
my preparation of this review, and I find him (like most CompuServe
members) helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.
8.7
I realise that this a piece of software with limited appeal, in that it
is of no use unless you have a CompuServe subscription. If you do, then
you should get a copy and register − it will save you a fortune in on-
line charges and phone bills. If you are interested in email, a first-
rate information service, a small but growing Acorn community, and
Internet access, then it’s worth investigating CompuServe. You can get
some of these things in other places, but this is the only one I know of
that gives you them all at once. It isn’t the cheapest service
available, but it is very professional, has plenty of capacity to avoid
access problems (I hear some of the Internet providers are currently a
bit overloaded), and has a friendly atmosphere. It is very easy to get
to know people, just start off gently by observing what goes on in the
forums, read the messages, download some software, and then try posting
a message, asking for an answer to a problem, or suggesting a way round
someone else’s difficulties. No-one will mind if you make a few
mistakes, as long as you behave sensibly, and you’ll be amazed at how
friendly and helpful people can be. CompuServe will give you one month
free access to basic services, and can be contacted on 0800 289 458.
Richard Proctor will provide a start-up pack with a Compuserve ID and
on-line credit in return for an SAE and, of course, he can supply a copy
of !Arctic too. He is at: Waveney Games, 28 Diprose Road, Corfe Mullen,
Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3QY.  A
8.7
Duck Loses His Quack
8.7
Stuart Bell
8.7
This must be the most surreal title of all those which have headed my
writing for Archive in the past five years. The software is a ‘talking
book’ program by Sherston Software, the stars are Rosie and Jim of
children’s TV fame, and the story-line is simply that Duck has lost his
quack!
8.7
Flying in the face of the idea that reviews should be made by those
expert in that particular field, I offer this as someone totally new to
pre-school software, and hence without too many preconceptions and
expectations. Lucy, aged 3¼, motivated the purchase and acted as co-
tester.
8.7
Installation
8.7
First impressions of Duck loses his Quack (hereinafter called ‘DlhQ’)
were not that good. The manual clearly described a package coming on one
disc, but there were two in the box. Copying the first disc to a hard
disc is straightforward, but there were no instructions about how to
copy the contents of the second disc into a directory copied from the
first disc.  I had no problems, but what about the computer-phobic
parent? The startup disc must always be loaded, to implement copy-
protection, but most of the usual criticisms of that technique hardly
apply to an application like DlhQ.
8.7
Starting up DlhQ gives a copyright screen telling us that Rosie and Jim
are ©1994 Central Independant (sic) Television PLC – and this in an
education application! There is a further hiatus if you start up the
application in a less-than-ideal screen mode. DlhQ offers to pick an
alternative mode – great – but then chooses mode 15 – less than great
with VGA monitors and all those which display mode 15 in a letter-box
form. There may be a clash with my VIDC enhancer, but I don’t think so.
It should be possible for it to choose mode 21 or mode 28 according to
the mode in which it finds itself.
8.7
Duck finds his Quack!
8.7
Rosie and Jim are two ‘ragdoll’ characters. They have a duck who says
‘woof’ or ‘twit-twoo’, but not ‘quack’. The player is led through a
series of talking pages which relate the story of how Duck managed to
quack again. For each page, there is a clearly displayed narrative,
which is spoken as each word is highlighted. Large icons can be selected
to turn pages, to cause action to take place – e.g. Rosie and Jim
kissing – and to have the narrative repeated. Selecting individual words
causes them to be ‘spoken’ and clicking on various animals within the
picture causes their noises to be heard.
8.7
Other options allow the production of a log-file of words selected by
the user and also the selection of single-tasking on ARM2-equipped
machines. However, even when I turned the cache off on my ARM3 so as to
simulate an ARM2, the single-user option – intended to maximise the
speed of ‘DlhQ’ on ARM2 machines – was still greyed-out and not
available. More worryingly, the application became very sluggish in 256-
colour modes, and the voices became very slow and noisy. I can quite
believe that ‘DlhQ’ will be fine on ARM 250-equipped machines like the
A30x0 range, but the evidence suggests that owners of A310, A400 and
A3000 computers without ARM3 upgrades should proceed with caution.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
All this will be ‘old hat’ to infant school teachers, but may be of
increasing interest to those with pre-school children. The Sherston
Talking Books series provide an easy-to-use introduction to simple
reading skills which is based on sound teaching techniques. (Lucy’s
godmother, who is a primary deputy-head, approves.) And Lucy certainly
approves! She mastered the mouse and the use of the ‘select’ button (the
keyboard isn’t needed at all) within a few minutes. Notwithstanding the
installation quibbles, and bearing in mind the issue of usability on an
ARM2, at about £10, “Duck loses his Quack” is an excellent introduction
to computer-assisted learning for the pre-school child. Now we know
who’ll want the Archimedes when Dad eventually saves up for his Risc
PC!  A
8.7
Dune 2 − The Battle for Arrakis
8.7
Andrew Rawnsley
8.7
Dune 2 on the PC-compatible is over two years old, and yet recent re-
reviews gave it an average of over 85%. When you consider that this is
comparing the game in the light of the recent so-called ‘advances’ in
computer game technology, you can see why Dune 2’s appearance on the
Acorn platform is great news.
8.7
Developed by Eclipse, the team that produced Simon the Sorcerer for
GamesWare, this title is being marketed by VTI. It maintains the fine
attention to detail seen in the original version and, like Simon the
Sorcerer, comes on eight floppies − thank goodness it can be installed
onto a hard disc!
8.7
Background
8.7
The storyline behind Dune 2 is long and complex and, whilst the manual
gives you a brief insight, I recommend familiarising yourself with the
works of Frank Herbert (the Dune series) if you are to fully comprehend
the background plots. Although much is not directly relevant,
familiarity with the books gives the game an added glow and interest.
8.7
That being said, there are set sequences in the game that explain the
events associated with the planet Arrakis (aka Dune). Basically, the
planet is the only known source in the universe for a very valuable
resource − Spice. This Spice is a vital commodity, as it is used to give
knowledge to those who consume it but, more importantly, it allows the
folding of the space-time continuum (I hate that phrase!) allowing
travel across huge distances of time and space without so much as the
blink of an eye.
8.7
Naturally, the Family (House) that controls Arrakis, and hence the Spice
flow, has enormous influence, enough to take on the universal Emperor
himself. This is where you come in. You must build up your House’s lands
on the planet, using troops and vehicles (amongst other things) to
conquer the opposing Houses.
8.7
Of course, at the same time you must harvest Spice which brings in the
much needed cash to fund your campaign, and build structures to help you
in your quest.
8.7
Neither must you forget about Dune’s most fearsome natural inhabitants −
the Giant Sandworms...
8.7
Playing the game
8.7
You can choose to play one of three Houses, which effectively gives the
game three skill levels. Two of the Houses appear in the original Dune
book − the heroic Atreides and the vicious Harkonnen, but the third
House, Ordos, was new to me. Each house has a standard set of artillery
available plus certain House-specific weapons which become available as
you progress.
8.7
The game is divided into missions, each with a specific objective, and
set in a different territory. In order to achieve your objective, you
will need to build power centres, Spice refineries, storage towers,
radar installations and various troop training and vehicle construction
centres. From there, you must defend your harvesting operation, whilst
attempting to defeat the opposing troops.
8.7
However, just as you can build structures on the planet, so can the
enemy, so don’t be surprised if you come across huge installations in
later missions.
8.7
Game interface
8.7
Dune 2 supports three different video modes: CGA − for users of lower
resolution monitors; VGA − for a higher resolution display (perhaps the
best for 17“+ screens); and Enhanced VGA − which gives much more solid
colour areas by utilising the high res, but can look blocky on large
monitors.
8.7
Whichever you choose to use, the screen is divided into four distinct
regions. These are the main playing map, a scaled down overview of the
entire battle zone, a statistics panel for the selected object and,
across the top of the screen, a bar containing your current cash level
with buttons to access your Mentat (strategy advisor) and game Options.
8.7
Fortunately for such a vast, in-depth game, you can save your current
position to disc, and restore it as many times as you like. This means
that you need not play the relatively simple early levels every time.
8.7
All the game’s sprites are beautifully drawn and the illustrations of
each of the available structures are particularly impressive. Add to
this digitized speech and realistic stereo sound effects (which can warn
you of events off screen), and you’ll see why Dune 2 is a treat for the
senses.
8.7
Control of your units is achieved very simply. You click on the required
object on the game map, and the status window gives you a selection of
buttons allowing you to move, attack, retreat or guard. Once you’ve
clicked on the button, you may need to specify some form of target, and
then the unit dutifully follows orders. Although there may be specific
buttons for certain units, this should give you an idea of how the
engine works.
8.7
The disadvantage of this method is that, after selecting the attack
option and sending lots of troops into a small battle area, you can
sometimes accidentally click on one of your own units rather than one of
the enemy’s. Your unit will then merrily shoot its colleagues until one
or other is destroyed. It is easy to be unaware of this in the heat of
battle. Only when the enemy is dead do you realise that two or more of
your own units are fighting amongst themselves, wasting valuable armour.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
Despite this small criticism of the control system (which I believe to
be a fault in the original, not just the conversion), Dune 2 is a
strategy game extraordinaire. It moves away from the typical ‘anorak’
image full of complex movement rules and heavy-handed combat, and
provides something that’s enjoyable to play for both the uninitiated and
the expert. The combat blends into the development and harvesting side
perfectly, without taking precedence over the rest of the game. For this
reason, I find it hard to recommend the game to those who only enjoy
arcade games. Never-the-less Dune 2 is very exciting, not least due to
the intriguing storylines which provide heightened atmosphere. For the
rest of us, Dune 2 should be an essential purchase, with just the right
balance of excitement and cerebral challenge. Dune 2 costs £34.99 from
VTI or £33 through Archive.  A
8.7
Goldilocks
8.7
Joe Gallagher
8.7
Goldilocks is a Genesis application jointly developed by the EdIT centre
in Leeds and Oak Solutions. It is based on the familiar nursery tale of
Goldilocks and the Three Bears and comes in the form of two discs (one
for the application itself and one for support materials), a pack of
photocopiable resource materials and an audio CD disc. The use of the CD
disc is rather novel in that it provides both the narration of the story
and commentary on the program as it is used. This is controlled by mouse
from within the program. If you play the CD on an ordinary CD player,
you also get half an hour’s worth of French conversation as an added
bonus at the end of the Goldilocks section.
8.7
The program didn’t initially work on the Risc PC, but Oak very promptly
supplied an updated version which didn’t crash. However, I still wasn’t
able to get beyond the sequence where Goldilocks goes up the stairs to
the bears’ bedroom. I am pleased to report that it does work happily on
earlier machines with a CD drive attached. Please note that you actually
need a CD drive in order to run the program, the audio CD is not an
optional extra but is integral to the program.
8.7
The competition
8.7
Although the program is not designed as a talking book, this aspect is
obviously an important feature. When compared to similar offerings such
as Sherston’s Naughty Stories series (costing one quarter of the price)
the quality of the graphics do seem to be rather bland and begins to
look very amateurish both in terms of graphics and animation when
compared with interactive books on other platforms − such as the
excellent Just Grandma and Me or Arthur’s Teacher Troubles on the PC and
Mac. This is a crying shame as Acorn machines provide such an excellent
platform for multimedia applications. Developers do need to realise
that, in this area, presentation is just as important as clever
programming or original ideas.
8.7
I had rather mixed feelings about the help feature. On the one hand
there is an information page which would be of little use to an average
five year old and, on the other hand, there is a very sensible feature
which uses the audio CD. This simply tells the child to go an ask for
help from an adult.
8.7
Activities
8.7
The program provides young children with several activities which  are
directed by the story-teller (who has a very soothing and reassuring
voice). This is actually a very good way of getting young children to
interact with the computer. The activities themselves are fairly basic
ones encompassing matching and counting and are well supported by the
accompanying notes on the CD sleeve.
8.7
There are also opportunities and kindly prompts to write up your
observations in a notepad. Unfortunately, the only way to print these is
by dumping out the window’s contents to the printer complete with thick
dark borders. Not only did this make considerable inroads into my
bubblejet’s ink supply but it also tied the computer up for quite a long
time. It would have been preferable to have an option to save the notes
for later processing in a suitable text editor.
8.7
Conclusion
8.7
Overall, with the exception of the contribution made by the audio CD,
the application didn’t strike me as offering radically more than can be
found on Acorn’s own Horizon CD (and it must be remembered that these
applications were produced by children and their teachers). I would have
expected more from Goldilocks, certainly for the asking price of £44
(through NCS).
8.7
Many “edutainment” titles available for the PC are often quite
superficial, if glossy, and are invariably American in origin, so this
is an area in which Acorn machines could establish a considerable
presence given their more than ample foothold in education already.
However, to build on this, it does require quality applications and,
sadly, Goldilocks doesn’t quite come up to this level.  A
8.7
BasicAOF
8.7
John Laski
8.7
This package from George K. Saliaris, a programmer in Greece, marketed
by Oregan Software, would be of enormous help to a certain kind of
programmer. I don’t know how many of these there are; they may be only
few, but I am sure that a substantial proportion of these do not realise
that the facilities the package provides would be of use to them. A
large part of this review will therefore be devoted to explaining why
there is a need for what the package provides.
8.7
An aside
8.7
There are half a dozen programming examples illustrating well-chosen
aspects of programming enabled by BasicAOF. They are packaged up as
small applications and, unusually, these are also worthwhile diversions
and utilities with very well-designed icons.
8.7
The problem context
8.7
Acorn provide two disjoint programming environments: Basic with embedded
assembler and DDE with extensive tools for program development.
8.7
Basic provides an ‘interpretive environment’ in which the source program
is lightly translated into a form that is then immediately interpreted
by a crafty software program. This is simple and straightforward and has
the advantage that you can have a very fast development cycle consisting
of the two phases: edit the source text; run it (and see where it
fails).
8.7
The disadvantages of the Basic environment are twofold. The program may
run more slowly than if it were fully in machine code and you can’t save
your assembler program to be used elsewhere. More importantly, this
means that you cannot put together chunks of code you have developed
separately, other than by physically putting together all the separate
source code chunks in a single source program.
8.7
Conversely, the Desktop Development Environment provides a language,
Acorn Object Format, very close to machine code, and a linker which will
take in a group of AOF files, plus whatever parts are needed of Acorn
Library Format Files to produce machine code that can then be executed
directly by the hardware. Thus, given compilers and assemblers that
produce AOF, and providing all these can produce code that satisfies
APCS (the Acorn Procedure Call Standard), you can mix and match AOF
files from any source language to produce, after linking, a single
executable program.
8.7
The disadvantage of this DDE environment is the complexity of the edit-
translate-link-run development cycle compared to the Basic cycle,
particularly if you are developing a comparatively small chunk of
program. The Make application, provided in DDE, alleviates this problem
to some degree, particularly if you have to keep track of many separate
sources.
8.7
The advantage of this environment is the possibility of developing a
program by cutting the source up into manageable chunks. Also, Acorn
provides a Desktop Debugging Tool which can be very helpful to the
programmer.
8.7
What would be desirable would be to combine the advantages of the two
environments, so that the programmer could move from one environment to
the other according to what stage he had reached in his program
development.
8.7
Acorn’s part solution is to provide a special assembler that skips the
AOF and linker stage. This can help but it fails to provide an
equivalent of the surrounding high-level code given by the Basic
environment, which you would want to use to write a ‘testing harness’
for your assembly code program.
8.7
BasicAOF’s solution
8.7
BasicAOF offers another, better, solution. It consists of a module that
provides seven additional SWIs for you to put in your Basic assembly
code. One of these, BasicAOF_Save, put at the end of the assembler text,
will, given suitable parameters, save an AOF version of your code in a
suitable directory. Thus, having started in the Basic environment, you
can move your code over to the Desktop Development Environment for
special debugging or to link with program chunks written in other
languages.
8.7
The other six SWIs enable you to tell the linker the various things it
needs to know: your program’s entry point, identifiers to export to
other chunks, identifiers expected to be imported from other chunks,
identifiers to be known to DDT, and where DDT should be switched on.
Some Basic functions simplify access to some of the SWIs and there are a
couple of macros for remote loads and saves of identifiers in other
chunks.
8.7
I presume that, in the absence of the BasicAOF module, executing a Basic
program with BasicAOF SWIs in it will lead to complaint and, in its
presence, they will effectively be no-ops. However, this is not
documented.
8.7
Among the examples provided are !Unsqueeze and the utility DsasMBAOF
which is very useful for those who want to go from target to source
code.
8.7
AOF’s module only needs about 19Kb, including working space, and the
code needs the Shared CLibrary version 3.75.
8.7
Installation
8.7
The End User Licence is for one user on one machine. If you copy it
immediately to your hard disc, it complains that it can only be run from
a floppy. From the floppy, when you run for the first time, it asks you
for your name and address. You can then copy it to your hard disc and it
will now run freely from there. This setup is undocumented and, until I
made a few experiments, I wrongly thought I should need to keep the
floppy in the machine whenever I wanted to use !BasicAOF.
8.7
Documentation
8.7
A 28-page ring-bound A5 booklet contains very clear and well-organised
information. Indeed I think I understood it thoroughly on the third
reading. As well as the missing information mentioned above, and I
should also have liked some discussion as to which directories on the
hard disc I should have used for the various files and directories.
8.7
DDE needs
8.7
To use this package, you need to have, at least in part, Acorn’s DDE.
Specifically, you need Linker, probably Debugger and possibly Make/AMU.
This presents some problems, since Acorn only supplies all the desktop
tools bundled with their C compiler, or their own assembler. Perhaps
this package will encourage Acorn to behave more helpfully and make DDE
more easily available.  A
8.7
(There is a freeware AOF/ALF linker called DRLink supplied with the GNU
C/C++ compiler, but it should be available separately from PD libraries.
The DDE is currently being replaced by C release 5 which includes C, C++
and Assembler.
8.7
MH@NCS.)ssembler.)
8.7
Super Dustbin − Black Hole 2
8.7
Jochen Konietzko
8.7
There are a large number of dustbin programs in the public domain but
the most powerful one that I have found is BlackHole2, version 3.05 (02-
Oct-94), written by Mark Greenwood. (Actually, it’s a bit of what we, in
Germany, call an “egg-laying woolly milk sow”.) The program should be
available through most PD sources. Black Hole needs RISC OS 3.10 or
later and works best on a Risc PC.
8.7
Getting started
8.7
A double-click puts the usual icon on the iconbar − except that this one
is animated. The program can then be configured to your exact taste. (In
a 1152×864 screen mode, the Config window is about 1½ screens high!)
8.7
The help system
8.7
Every aspect of the program is described in the help system. Mark has a
rather quaint sense of humour which is visible all through the
documentation inside the application directory. (Just take a look at his
Random Ramblings at the end of the Miscellaneous section of his Help
application.)
8.7
The very detailed help is accessed through the Info window off the
iconbar and, as the screenshot above shows, help is given in several
levels of complexity.
8.7
The dustbin
8.7
All dustbin programs allow files to be stored in a directory and then
wiped them later. BlackHole2 stores the files in a different
subdirectory for every day, files can automatically be squashed and a
time delay (in days) can be configured before the files are
automatically deleted.
8.7
The ‘singularity trap’
8.7
For people like me (“haste makes waste!”) who tend to delete files
accidentally, this feature alone justifies incorporating BlackHole2 in
your boot sequence. If you have the singularity trap option switched on,
whenever you click on ‘Delete’ in the relevant Filer submenu, BlackHole2
intercepts the call and stores the file in its bin directory instead.
8.7
The module killer
8.7
In one of the recent issues of Archive (8.3 p14), we were advised not to
delete modules once they have been loaded but I do believe that there
are situations when deleting a module can make perfect sense. An extreme
example was that, having browsed through the Sillies directory on one of
the RISC OS PDCDs, I found my RMA clogged with several dozen modules
that those programs had left behind. BlackHole2 makes it easy to get rid
of the little nuisances. You can simply click on the items in a module
list.
8.7
What is more, if you often load programs which leave behind lots of
debris, you can put all the module names for each of those programs into
a text file and they can then be deleted in one go without having to
click your way through the Names list.
8.7
Other goodies
8.7
BlackHole2 offers a Search window, but there’s not much to say about
this feature − I think the Find option in RISC OS 3 is nearly as good.
8.7
Then there is a variation called, for some quirky reason, Ukulele, which
allows you to group program names, so it will dig out, say, all the text
editors on your hard disc.
8.7
There is an Auto Saver, which helps when you want to save a new file for
the first time and only then realise you haven’t opened a filer window.
Auto Saver allows you to define default save paths for various
filetypes.
8.7
A screen-saver offers all the usual settings, from the Windows-type star
field to the melting desktop. (Although it can be configured very
widely, prefer the fish tank from Out to Lunch.)
8.7
Tiny Dirs can be added without having to run !TinyDirs, and there is a
menu listing all of the files on the Run$Path. All you have to do is to
click on them and it will run them for you.
8.7
Problems
8.7
So far, I have found only one bit of real trouble. When I load SmartCD+
(the commercial version) with the singularity trap is switched on, the
system is halted completely. However, once SmartCD+ is running, there is
no further conflict between the two programs.
8.7
One minor complaint concerns the window with the list of module names to
be killed. If you delete a module way down the list, the vertical scroll
bar always jumps to the topmost position and so, for the next module,
you have to drag it down again.
8.7
A very strange effect occurred once when I moved the application to a
different directory and tried to run it from its new location. There was
an error message, and when I had acknowledged it, the program vanished
completely from the hard disc! I have not been able to duplicate this
but still, it might be wiser to delete the Options file before you run
the program from a new directory.
8.7
Conclusion
8.7
This program is a must for any serious Acorn computer user!  A
8.7
(I have put it on this month’s program disc. Ed.)
8.7
Heavy Mouse Balls
8.7
Gabriel Swords
8.7
What happens when your mouse loses its grip on life and slides around
the mat like a jelly?
8.7
Well, you could wrap the ball in course sandpaper and hope that that
will improve its friction. Or you could hold the mouse in one hand and
use a finger from your other hand to move the ball around. Or you could
try and squeeze an old squash ball into the mouse hole. Or you could go
all the way and buy a completely new mouse. (£22 through Archive!)
8.7
On the other hand, you could do what I did, and replace your tired and
worn out mouse ball with a new, heavy duty one from Oak Consultants.
Apparently, they’re four times heavier than standard mouse balls, which
might make you think you’d need to do some weight training to cope with
them. But I can assure you there’s no need for aerobic dancing or keep
fit classes. Just slot the ball into your old mouse and watch it whiz
around the mat like a mouse on fire.
8.7
I can’t say I’ve done any of those impressive bench tests we read about
− so I can’t say that the heavy mouse ball works 1.7% faster than other
mouse balls I could mention. But I really like mine, and at only £3,
it’s a lot cheaper than having to buy a completely new mouse.  A
8.7
Logix − Electronics Simulator
8.7
Andy Watson
8.7
Logix is a suite of four programs from Silicon Vision which allows you
to design and simulate logic circuits. It is fully RISC OS compliant and
runs comfortably on a 1Mb machine as each application only needs to be
loaded from disc as required and is only 64Kb in length.
8.7
All testing was done with version L1.10 on a A310 with 4Mb, RISC OS 3.1
and a hard disc. It was also briefly tested on an A4000 and Risc PC and
no problems were encountered.
8.7
The program comes in a standard video box with an applications disc,
library disc and 68 page A5 manual. Installing the programs on hard disc
is easy, and configuring the programs is straightforward.
8.7
!Logix, the main program, provides a ‘drawing board’ and components for
you to design circuits. !Pinout allows you to design casings for
circuits when you are making custom chips. !Integrate integrates a
circuit and its casing into a single component. !LIPLib is a library of
ready made components.
8.7
This is not a program which will teach you about digital electronics. A
knowledge of the field is required before you can make any use of Logix.
The manual assumes that you understand the function of the various
digital components and the basic principles of circuit design.
8.7
Circuits are designed using ready-made or custom-designed components
including logic gates, complex chips, clocks, inputs and outputs. When
the design has been completed, logic flow can be checked by examining
the state of any input and output devices as well as oscilloscope
readings from probes which can be placed in the circuit.
8.7
Logix is an educational tool which allows you to design and test quite
complex circuits but which does not allow direct PCB design from the
program. Remember, too, that only the logic of the circuit is simulated,
not the physical characteristics. Most real circuits would also require
analogue components such as capacitors to make them work.
8.7
!LIPLib
8.7
If a program like this is to be useful, there must be a reasonable range
of ready made objects. While the facility to create one’s own circuits
is essential, the student should have the more commonly used chips
available ‘off the shelf’.
8.7
The library contains about eighty items, including various 7400 series
chips, gates, flip flops, displays, keypads and switches. Items are not
accessed directly from the library disc but must first be taken into the
!Logix program. However, the program can be configured to start up with
whichever library items you use most frequently. The library can, of
course, be extended by amending existing components or creating new ones
using !Pinout and !Integrate. Given the huge number of components in
common use, it would be worthwhile if Silicon Vision were to provide
further libraries of ready-made components. Those supplied, however, do
provide a useful selection of common components.
8.7
The logic symbols used follow the British standard and not the ANSI
symbols with which most students are likely to be familiar. While this
is not a major problem, it could cause difficulties for students trying
to replicate circuits they see in textbooks.
8.7
!Logix
8.7
This is the main program in the suite which is used to put together
circuits from the available components. Objects from the library are
placed on the design window and can be moved around easily. Groups of
objects can be formed which move about together.
8.7
Wiring up the objects is achieved by clicking on one output and a
straight line is drawn to the next clicked position. In any design, few
of the connections between objects will be simple straight lines, so up
to twelve intermediate connection points can be made. These intermediate
nodes not only let you change the direction of the wire but provide
points to which other wires can be connected. Moving an object will move
any connecting wires, and the wiring patterns can be altered at any
time. The paths can be re-routed by altering the positions of
intermediate points or creating new connection points. A zoom facility
makes complex wiring tasks easier.
8.7
One feature of the wiring process which is meant to be helpful is, in
fact, very irritating. As the cursor moves about the design window, it
jumps to the closest connector. It detaches itself if you move on
without pressing <select> but it is most disconcerting watching the
cursor attach itself to every connector it passes. The standard method
of making the connection after a double-click would have been more
intuitive.
8.7
While there is no direct printing option, circuits, oscilloscope output
and the circuitry of chips can be saved as drawfiles and so can easily
be incorporated into other programs for printing. The representation of
the circuit, both on screen and in print, is very good and would not
look out of place in a professional environment.
8.7
Simulation
8.7
When your design is complete, it can be tested. Various types of output
device can be used to display the results as well as oscilloscope
readings from logic probes. The status of all input and output lines are
also shown with colour. It is possible to change from the normal multi-
tasking mode of operation to a single task mode which speeds up
operation. The simulation options are quite flexible, allowing you to
choose what is continually updated and what is shown on the oscilloscope
display.
8.7
!Pinout
8.7
!Pinout lets you design the chip casing to take a circuit. Using a wide
range of drawing tools, you can design a new case from scratch or, more
commonly, alter an existing casing to suit your needs. Casings can be
saved to the library.
8.7
!Integrate
8.7
!Integrate allows you to take a logic circuit (stripped of switches,
displays, etc) and place it into your casing. The program sizes the
casing to fit the circuit. When the two have been integrated, you can
wire up the connections to the appropriate pins. The chip can then be
named and stored in the library for future use. A complete circuit can
be used as part of another circuit, allowing quite complex chips to be
created.
8.7
The competition
8.7
The only other program of this type that I know is OakLogic. This
program is not as sophisticated as Logix but I do find it more intuitive
to use. While the manual is half the length of the Logix manual, it does
have a short tutorial section. Also in its favour are its use of ANSI
symbols and its price, which is about £30 cheaper than Logix.
8.7
Overall
8.7
This program provides all the facilities required for simulating logic
designs. However, for most teaching purposes at school level, a program
of this sophistication would not be necessary. Also, because any real
designs which will be constructed will contain both digital and analogue
components, this type of program is of limited use to schools.
8.7
The user interface could be tidied up. While there are nice touches like
the tear off tool boxes which follow their associated windows around the
desktop, some operations, particularly those involving wiring, are not
very intuitive.
8.7
My most serious concern is the quality of the manual in a package
designed for educational use.
8.7
The manual covers all the options which are available and generally
explains them well enough. However, there is no tutorial section and
most of the manual is devoted to explaining the various menu options.
Having recently spent time working through the tutorial sections of the
excellent Schema2 manual, I was disappointed that there were no worked
examples in the Logix manual to illustrate how to put the program to
best use.
8.7
One complex circuit is provided as an example which can be examined.
While this shows off what can be done with Logix, a series of simpler
circuits might have been more instructive, particularly if they were
linked to a tutorial.
8.7
In conclusion, although many potential users will not require the level
of sophistication of this program and despite some annoying features of
the user interface, Logix does provide all the facilities a user might
want to design and test digital circuits.
8.7
Logix is available from Silicon Vision for £99.95 +VAT or £109 through
Archive. A site licence costs £300 +VAT from Silicon Vision.  A
8.7
Formula Two Thousand
8.7
Andrew Rawnsley
8.7
Skidding round a tight bend, the speedometer reading over two hundred
mph, and with a slight nudge from the inside car, your championship
dreams go spinning off into the void.
8.7
OK, so Murray Walker could have said it better, but since we’re several
years hence, he’s been replaced by viewer-friendly commentators Bob and
Ted!
8.7
FTT from TBA Software is a racing game with an interesting twist − it’s
set in Space with zero gravity. The track has a circular cross-section,
and snakes its way through the stars with little thought for those
trying to navigate it. The only forces working on your car are
centrifugal and, believe me, on most bends you’ll need them.
8.7
Installation
8.7
FTT comes on two discs which can be installed onto a hard disc although
you’ll need disc one to bypass the copy protection. However, the game
can be run from floppies with the minimum of effort because once the
game has loaded, you’ll only need disc 2.
8.7
Running the game installs it on the iconbar. Clicking on this icon
allows you to enter your name and a password to jump to later courses.
Once these details have been entered, a further icon installs itself on
the iconbar and represents the main game. As many of these sub-icons as
required can be installed, allowing the game to be played by multiple
players, but it feels a little crude.
8.7
Introduction
8.7
From the minute the title screen springs into view, you can tell that
FTT is going to show off the Acorn’s ability to display 3D polygon-style
graphics. Anyone who’s played Archimedes Elite, Stunt Racer 2000 or Star
Fighter 3000 will know what I mean if I say that this is one thing at
which Acorn machines have consistently shown themselves to be excellent.
8.7
The engine behind FTT, TAG (another acronym!), handles 3D polygons
beautifully and if we can believe what TBA say, then this is only a
fraction of what the engine is capable of achieving. Suffice it to say
that FTT is fast and smooth even on an ARM 2, although faster processors
bring better frame rates and more polygons.
8.7
Much of the introduction attempts to show off the TAG engine before
you’re totally absorbed in a race, when you actually notice very little.
8.7
Gameplay
8.7
An FTT race is divided into two halves, the qualifying session and the
actual race. In order to qualify, all you need to do is complete the
course − not an easy task if you opt for one of the harder of the ten
cars available. However, simply finishing a track won’t give you a good
grid position − you’ll need to master apexing the corners correctly at
high speed and gently applying the turbo at the right time.
8.7
Whilst this may sound easy, the game runs very fast, and the sense of
motion is unbelievable. You’ll find yourself leaning over to get on the
inside of a trick bend, and leaning back to see more of the track as you
shoot up a vertical loop!
8.7
Once you’ve qualified, the game goes from being mildly challenging to
being downright difficult, so don’t expect to complete a track straight
off. This is a feat that requires winning the race, which in turn will
require you to master one of the hard cars, since these are the ones
having the speed and acceleration you need. Oh, and they also have
proportionally less grip and cornering ability, making staying on the
track almost impossible!?!
8.7
Graphics & sound
8.7
Sound and music are used liberally but when you’re whizzing round the
track, you haven’t got time to listen as well!
8.7
Graphically, the game wouldn’t stand up on other platforms, where you
don’t get a look in unless every object is fully texture-mapped.
However, I feel this attitude is wrong, and FTT’s speed and smoothness
justifies my belief. You’d need a very high-end PC indeed to run a
texture-mapped version of FTT with the degree of fluidity that is
obtained even on a run-of-the-mill Acorn machine. Well done TBA!
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
FTT is hard and requires much practice before rewards are reaped, but
the sense of achievement when you do win a race is immense. The game is
very exciting and is wickedly addictive. What’s more, it’s fun − a rare
quality amongst modern games!
8.7
FTT costs £24.95 from TBA or £24 through Archive. At that price, it
represents great value for money.  A
8.7
Picture Builder
8.7
Maureen Hobson
8.7
Picture Builder is not RISC OS compliant and was written for the Nimbus
machine, and the manual reflects this, as does the way the software
works. So the program is not as sophisticated as many Acorn ones and has
an old fashioned look to it.
8.7
However, having said this, I found it easy to use, as did my 6 year old
daughter. And there is a place for it in the infant classroom as it is a
rare piece of specific Maths software.
8.7
It specifically looks at Shape and encourages the manipulation of shapes
to build pictures, teaching shape recognition and associated vocabulary.
This is particularly appropriate for Shape at Keystage 1. It is also
good for teaching symmetry, as the shapes can be reflected horizontally
and vertically.
8.7
After loading the disc, there is a screen with a toolbox across the top
depicting shapes. Clicking on the icon will put the chosen shape on the
screen. Then a new toolbox appears at the top of the screen which
enables the shape to be manipulated by clicking on the appropriate icon
and, while this is awkward compared to selecting and dragging for Acorn
users, you soon get the hang of it. And this is the good part, you can
make your shape bigger or smaller, rotate it, make it longer or taller
and flip the image too. The shapes can be moved about again by clicking
on a select/move icon. A line can be drawn in a similar way but you end
the line by pressing <escape>!
8.7
Colouring should be the last operation, as you cannot manipulate the
shape any more without starting again! By pressing <f1> you get another
toolbox for saving, printing, palette (background colour, etc) and quit.
And this is when the fun started. We couldn’t save any work on an A4000
− it crashed − but we could print it! It did save and print on A3000
RISC OS 2 and sometimes worked on RISC OS 3!
8.7
Finally, the children enjoyed using the program, especially those who
were not particularly confident with computers. They were encouraged by
this software to do more − so a proper conversion to RISC OS would be
welcome.
8.7
Picture Builder costs £20 +VAT from Newman Software Ltd and this
includes full site and network licence.  A
8.7
Sally & Wally
8.7
Andrew Rawnsley
8.7
It’s rare that you find a computer game designed specifically for
younger (under 10) players that doesn’t contain cute TV characters, or
subliminal messages to improve users’ algebra! However, Sally and Wally,
from Oregan Software Developments, is just such a game, and quite nice
it is too. And no, I won’t comment on the name!
8.7
OK − it’s got a suitably naff plot, and some soppy graphics, as the
illustrations show. The difference is that it all seems to be in
character with the product, rather than just being tacked on to boost
appeal.
8.7
The storyline
8.7
Rather than carefully bypassing the plot, I feel that a short account is
essential to this type of game. Apparently, Sally and Wally are two
lovebirds (I warned you...) who have returned from their honeymoon to
find their dream home − a palm tree − overrun by all kinds of insects.
Whether the two characters are actually married is never made clear, but
as this is a politically correct game, I guess they are!
8.7
Needless to say, Sally is heartbroken, leaving Wally to comfort her and
heroically go in and save the day. Who said the age of chivalry was
over?
8.7
Installation
8.7
Sally and Wally comes on one floppy and can be played from floppy or
hard drive. The latter just speeds up loading, as the original disc is
required for copy protection purposes.
8.7
When loaded, the game installs on the iconbar, allowing the options to
be set up from the safety of the desktop, before Wally begins his
perilous quest.
8.7
Clicking on the icon causes the game to take over the whole screen, and
you can choose your start level via passwords or by selecting a branch
of the palm tree. This means that you can start on the harder levels
without completing all the previous levels and without the need for a
password. If you do have a password, you can jump into a level part way
through a branch. All in all, a well thought out system, particularly as
the first couple of branches are very easy indeed. The branch system
avoids the tedium which can easily set in if the game is found to be too
boring. Each branch represents 20 levels.
8.7
Gameplay
8.7
Gameplay is simple − shoot the insects whilst leaping around the
platforms of the level, and when you hit them, walk into them to get the
points and a possible bonus. If you shoot in the right place, you can
sometimes reveal hidden platforms and gates to bonus levels.
8.7
Perhaps the best aspect of the game is that it can be played by two
players, with the second player taking the role of Sally who can come in
and help her partner.
8.7
Each level is the size of a single screen, so there is no need for
scrolling, and this means that the two player game can take place on one
screen, (not a split one), increasing the enjoyment of the two player
game.
8.7
Graphics and sound
8.7
Graphically, Sally and Wally is nothing special compared with products
on other platforms, but native Acorn games tend to look grotty, so Sally
and Wally fares well in comparison with these. Certainly, the graphics
are attractive and cute, but retain detail, which is surely all that is
required?
8.7
Likewise with the sound and music. It’s not ground-breaking, but then it
doesn’t need to be. The sound fits in well with the game’s feel, and
adds another dimension to the product. The music isn’t too annoying,
which is another plus.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
I cannot really recommend Sally and Wally to people outside the
recommended age range (except for parents, of course), but then that’s
hardly surprising. For younger players, the game is ideal − the only
flaw being that some parents might object to a game which involves
shooting mutant plants and insects.
8.7
There is a problem with the sound and music on Risc PCs with the Minnie
16-bit soundcard fitted, but the audio can easily be turned off.
8.7
All in all, Sally and Wally comes highly recommended for kids (and
parents!) in the under 10 age range. Sally and Wally costs £24.95 from
Oregan Software Developments or £24 through Archive.  A
8.7
Ice, a rainbow and plenty of mutant plants. All in a day’s work for
Wally.
8.7
Playdays
8.7
Bob and Lisa Ames
8.7
Playdays is a suite of small programs or individual games which are
designed to stimulate children with counting, spelling, shape
recognition, reasoning and so on. Characters from the BBC TV programme
Playdays are used to give visual interest; cheerful tunes and animations
reward success.
8.7
The sections are all based on a choice from the alphabet. A number of
games are then played (from a total of ten games), unless the letter X
is chosen and then 3 special “X” games are offered.
8.7
These ten games are: Matching, Snap, Counting, What’s Gone, Spelling,
Moving Window, Dot to Dot, Sliding Block Puzzle, and Rhyme. The special
X games are: Noughts and crosses, Treasure Island, Shapes and Colours.
8.7
There seems to be no way to choose which particular games are played;
the games are offered at random. At the end of a round of games, a
performance table is offered, with scores so far this session. It also
seems strange that a session’s scores cannot be stored. The child has to
set the play level each time the program is run.
8.7
Letters are entered by use of the mouse, not the keyboard. It is here
that I find the first problem. I firmly believe that the keyboard should
be used at all times. It is not going to go away, or be changed, so the
sooner the child learns to use a “qwerty” keyboard, the better.
8.7
In fact, this was the only area Lisa found difficult. As an experiment I
gave her the disc and suggested that she first use the program with
minimal input from me. She achieved everything properly, that is except
the entering of letters. No screen instructions appear to tell the child
to use the mouse. (However, I must say that she has been using the
Archimedes from age 2 and seems, to a proud Dad, to be quite computer
literate.)
8.7
There were times when Lisa wanted to speed through the music or truncate
the cartoon of the “reward characters” and this is achieved by pressing
<Select>. This jumps forward to the next activity and shortens the
pause, music break, etc.
8.7
According to the mini manual, Playdays is simple enough for children to
play by themselves. I would agree. Lisa seemed to romp through the
program at first sight with ease. I asked her to use level one to start
with (the age range is 3-8 and she is now 7) and the program adjusted
the level of difficulty automatically when it found that she got things
right most of the time. I feel this is a very valuable feature.
8.7
Less valuable, however, is the need to have the master disc in the
machine the first time the program is run in a session. This is because
of copy protection but it causes no end of headaches. I like to give
Lisa free run of “her” programs, she has her own directory on the hard
disc, but Playdays will not run directly from hard disc alone. I wish
software writers would get this copy protection right! A proper and
complete hard disc installation must be provided because key discs will
eventually get lost or damaged by small people. A friend who has two
small children has removed the integral floppy disc drive from the
children’s machine (to avoid importation of unknown software) but he
couldn’t use this type of copy-protected software.
8.7
We have had the program three months now (Sorry Paul!!) and although
Lisa has played it from end to end in one mammoth sitting (choosing all
letters and progressing through all difficulty levels) she returns to it
quite frequently. I would say this is quite indicative of the scope,
flexibility and appeal of the program. Having 13 games available
compares very favourably with other educational games we have reviewed −
such as the Fun School packages that each have six.
8.7
Conclusion: well worth the asking price, despite the niggles − £25.99
from Skillsware/Gamesware or £25 through Archive.  A
8.7
Lenses and Light
8.7
Charles Hill
8.7
This package is produced by Anglia Television and it contains files to
be used with KeyPlus and KeyCalc which need to be purchased separately.
It costs £22 +VAT but it can be freely copied and used within the
purchasing establishment.
8.7
The package includes two 800Kb discs with eight KeyPlus datafiles and 23
KeyCalc spreadsheets. In addition, there is a 24 page A4 booklet with
general information, photocopiable pupil fact sheets and investigations
and teachers’ notes. The investigations are designed to accompany other
theoretical and practical work away from the computer so it is not
necessary for all pupils to have access to a computer at the same time.
It seems sensible to review the package topic by topic.
8.7
Snapshot
8.7
This set of KeyCalc files and a KeyPlus datafile examines the
relationship between shutter speed and aperture and aperture and depth
of field and the effects they have on the photograph taken. The ability
of KeyCalc to store sprites is used effectively although a 256 colour
screen mode needs to be used to do justice to the photographs. The
photographs show the results of correct or incorrect camera settings,
e.g. over and under exposed, and lack of depth of field. The datafile
supplements the spreadsheet on aperture and depth of field. The
photographs can be saved as sprite files and/or printed if required.
There is also a datafile giving data on various camera lenses
8.7
Eyetest
8.7
This set of spreadsheets examines the effects of short and long
sightedness and their correction with appropriate lenses. There are four
spreadsheets for fictitious customers and the investigator is in the
role of an optician trying to find the correct prescription of lenses to
correct blurred vision for either near view or far view. Again the
KeyCalc facility to store and view pictures is utilised.
8.7
Shadows
8.7
This is a spreadsheet which examines the relationship between the height
of an object, the angle at which it is illuminated and the length of the
resultant shadow. The application of this effect to theatrical
situations is encouraged and reference to the Scientific Eye TV
programme, ‘Seeing the Light’, is also made.
8.7
Polarise
8.7
This is a spreadsheet comparing the effect of material and angle of
rotation on the percentage transmission of polarised light by polarising
filters.
8.7
Reflection
8.7
This is a series of four spreadsheets which look at reflection in a
plane mirror (angles of incidence and reflection); multiple reflections
in two plane mirrors at a variable angle to each other; reflections at a
curved surface, the curvature of which can be changed, and the effects
of the object distance on image distance, type and magnification; and
the effects of refractive index and angle of incidence on total internal
reflection, the ideas are extended further by a fifth spreadsheet on
prisms. A KeyPlus datafile gives further information on different sorts
of mirrors and the images they produce.
8.7
Refraction
8.7
Some aspects of refraction are covered in total internal reflection
above, but there are also these spreadsheet files which examine
refraction at an air/substance interface and also at the interface
between two other different substances. Another file looks at the
horizontal and vertical image shift produced by refraction, e.g. the
false impression of depth in water. The spreadsheet files are supported
by a datafile giving refractive index and other properties of various
substances.
8.7
Lenses
8.7
Spreadsheet files enable investigations into the relationships between
focal length, object distance, image distance, size and type of image to
be made for both concave and convex lenses. These files are supported by
two datafiles giving information about the images produced and the power
of a selection of lenses. There are further spreadsheet files which
investigate the lens systems in microscopes and telescopes and also a
magnifying lens.
8.7
Additional datafiles
8.7
There are two additional datafiles which are only briefly referred to in
the guide. The first, !Lamp provides information on different types of
lamp (tungsten, fluorescent, etc) and their efficiency, colour etc. The
second, !Spectrum contains information about the sources, frequency and
uses of different radiation types within the electromagnetic spectrum
and sound waves.
8.7
Comments
8.7
First a warning. It is intended that these files should be used by
altering data in cells and examining the effect on other cells. It would
be very easy to overwrite the original files and, before exploring the
spreadsheets, I ensured they were locked. This is important in a school
situation where some form of write protection on the original files
would be essential.
8.7
The accompanying booklet claims that the files are suitable for Science
Key Stage 3 and above. With the outcomes of the Dearing review not yet
finalised, I can only refer to the draft proposals, and much of the
material on these discs is very much marginal to the proposals on light
and waves, although electromagnetic spectrum and total internal
reflection are present in KS 4. In fact, some of the numerical treatment
given in the spreadsheets has now even disappeared from some A level
syllabuses!
8.7
The material does encourage practical-based activity away from the
computer and also everyday applications of the topic under investigation
and, as such, they provide a more motivating approach to this aspect of
physics. Some of the material might also be of use to students who are
following photography courses. The datafiles are, justifiably, quite
small and are often better accessed in tabular display mode. They do
seem a bit trivial when viewed against the power of KeyPlus and I was
disappointed that as the frequency field was given as a range in the
!Spectrum file − an opportunity for graphical display may have been
lost. The pupil instructions were, on the whole, clear and easy to
follow although there was an error in the polarise spreadsheet (the
wrong letter was given in a slot reference). I felt that the teacher
instructions might have been more detailed in places − it is expected
that the teacher will run through the files beforehand but some exemplar
material might have been included to make this task a little easier.
Less experienced computer users would perhaps welcome a reference to
selecting the correct screen mode before viewing the photographs.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
I feel that the strength of the package lies in its imaginative use of
KeyCalc files and although the material is very reasonably priced, the
additional cost of KeyCalc to run the files may discourage the use of
these files if teachers feel that the material is marginal to what the
National Curriculum requires them to cover. The KeyPlus files are
intended to offer additional support to the KeyCalc files and would
hardly justify purchasing the package for these datafiles alone. As a
science teacher, I do welcome the attempt to introduce some relevant
spreadsheet work into science.  A
8.7
Photobase − Landscapes
8.7
Paul Hooper
8.7
This is the first of a series of CDs from Longman using the Photobase
program as a way of indexing a large number of photos. It comes in the
normal jewel case along with a little booklet to explain the system. It
was tested on an A5000 with a Cumana CD drive.
8.7
Getting started
8.7
The root directory gives you not only Photobase but also Resource15 and
Resource28. The last two are different mode dependent versions of the
2200 photographs on the disc. Clicking on Resource 28 brings up the
Resource menu, shown below.
8.7
The five buttons along the top operate on the current selection. View
produces a window with ten thumbnail photos which you can save out as a
sprite by double-clicking on the thumbnail. You can browse through your
selection using the scroll bar if you have selected more than ten
photos. Menu over this window allows you to select all the photos or to
clear the selection and also create a ‘film’ strip of photos. Clicking
on ‘film’ brings up a film strip below the main view window. It is then
a simple matter to drag the photos that you want into the film strip
window. Once you have created your film strip, you then need to click on
‘Display’.
8.7
The Display button shows your film strip along the top, and from here
you can select how long the photo will be displayed and how the film
strip is run. You have the alternatives of running from start to finish
or in a continuous loop or a yo-yo effect. You can save the film either
as a full film with all the images for use on another machine or as a
mini-film which only saves the thumbnails and then uses them to access
the CD to run the film. When you play the film, it takes over the screen
but you can click <select> which will return you to the desktop. While
your film is running you can get a description by clicking <menu>.
8.7
Search and Index
8.7
Index brings up an individual thumbnail image from the current
selection. This has a small descriptive text and is indexed via a
keyword system. So a picture of a sunset over Addis Ababa has the
following keywords: Urban Environment, Africa, Ethiopia, Dawn/Sunset and
Light/Shade. On the CD-ROM, of course, you cannot alter this but if you
take a copy of these images to hard disc, all the keywords plus the
description can be altered.
8.7
The most powerful feature of Photobase is the ability to search through
2200 photos using either the keyword system or a particular search
string or word in the descriptive text. The search menu is shown below
and is a model of clarity. Clicking on the keywords on the right will
select the photos that have been indexed with that particular keyword.
The rest of the menu is fairly self-explanatory and selecting keyword
searches produces almost instant results.
8.7
The photos
8.7
If I describe this as ‘Coffee Table’ software, I think you will get some
idea of the quality of the photos. The photos themselves are first
class, just like those you would expect in a coffee table book, yet just
like that style of book. I would question how useful the images are on
this disc. Of what possible educational use is ‘Sunset over Addis
Ababa’? The manual suggests that these images can be used in DTP work,
but unless you have a first class printer, I should forget it.
8.7
If you are doing a topic on a particular subject, you could search
through the images and use Photobase to set up a scrolling display, or
even import them into a multimedia application on the subject, but quite
how else a teacher would use these images is beyond me.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
The Photobase application is good, but the CD is let down by the
pictures. If a much more narrow subject had been chosen, such as a
single country or a single curriculum subject and we were then presented
with 2,000 images, it would be much more worthwhile. As it is, it would
be extremely hard to justify the £54 price tag, but many primary schools
have been given this CD as part of the NCET Primary Initiative and I
would like to know how they will use this program. Any suggestions would
be welcome. I have a feeling that it will be hardly used.
8.7
Landscapes costs £49 +VAT from Longman Logotron or £55 through
Archive.  A
8.7
CD-Circle
8.7
Paul Hooper
8.7
CD bonanza?
8.7
The last few months have seen a large increase in the number of CD
titles on the Acorn range, and the advent of the internal CD drive on
the Risc PC has set the final seal of approval on this storage medium.
Yet the number of CDs on the Acorn range is still very low when you
compare it with the huge range that is available for the PC or Mac. In a
small catalogue given away with a PC magazine last week I saw over 700
different CDs listed. So what we need is some way of accessing this huge
range of material. Yes I know there are PC cards and the Risc PC will be
able to run most of them when the new chip appears, but the cost...
8.7
CD-Circle
8.7
Desktop Laminations have set up a user group called CD-Circle with the
aim of bringing you all the information and a catalogue of the latest
CDs that are available for the Acorn range. There is a series of
subscription plans which are too complex to explain here, so I suggest
you ring them for details but the base catalogue is £12.50 for six bi-
monthly floppy discs.
8.7
The first floppy catalogue has just appeared and lists over 180 CD’s
that will run on Acorn machines. Now many of these CDs are listed at the
manufacturer’s retail price. These vary from as low as £30 up to £150,
but the great advantage is that many of the CDs are discounted to
members of the CD-Circle. To give you some idea, I have just ordered 10
of the Corel Draw CDs and two others and my total bill was £92.50, which
works out at just under £8 per CD − cheaper than some floppy-based
programs.
8.7
As well as providing this service, Desktop Laminations are also
marketing two software fixes which will enable you to read PC CDs and,
at a later date, they aim to add Mac CDs. This requires neither PC card
nor even an emulator and will run native on any Acorn machine fitted
with a CD drive. The fixes are provided free with the PC CDs that you
order but they are specific to the CD so you will not be able to run
other PC CDs with the software.
8.7
Darkroom
8.7
The first software fix is Darkroom, which enables you to read foreign
picture formats and batch file them with thumbnails. The review copy was
supplied with a CD called ClipMaster Pro, which contains 5001 monochrome
TIFF images suitable for DTP. With over a thousand borders on this one
disc, you can find a border for every occasion. The manual is the sort I
like, it is one page of A5 covered in plastic. Also supplied is the PC
manual which has all 5001 images printed out in thumbnail form.
8.7
Darkroom is easy to use − just load as normal, click on the icon and a
thumbnail window appears. Open up the CD directory and click on the TIFF
file and it will load a thumbnail into the window. Once you have got the
images you want to look at, you can set up a slide show of the images or
just save out the batch of thumbnails. If you decide just to examine one
or two, a double click on the thumbnail will bring up the full-size
picture and <menu> then gives you the opportunity to save the picture as
a sprite.
8.7
Just to give you some idea of the quality of the images, I have taken
four at random from the disc and scaled them down using ChangeFSI to a
quarter of their original size and I hope that Paul can either include
them in the text or on the monthly disc.
8.7
Multimedia Viewer
8.7
The second application is designed as a front end for PC CDs. The review
copy was supplied with the Wizard CD which contains a whole number of
16m colour photos and WAV samples. These can be set up as a scrolling
display in the corner of a Risc PC window or even played on an older
machine. I have yet to make it crash and it certainly does provide a
good display. As you buy more CDs, the viewers can be merged with each
other so that you have one viewer for all your PC CDs.
8.7
Conclusion
8.7
This is certainly an interesting development and the phrase ‘watch this
space’ springs to mind. The trouble is that when the 486 card is ready
for the Risc PC, will this software fix be necessary? For those with
pre-Risc PC machines, the limit of 256 colours doesn’t show off the
graphics as they would appear on a PC. The idea of a catalogue of purely
CD material is a good idea, as it is becoming very difficult to keep up
with the amount of material available.  A
8.7
Flyprint 2.50
8.7
Dave Wilcox
8.7
Flyprint 2.50 is a utility from Dixon & Dixon, designed for the easy
production of tickets, memos, adverts and the like, and is aimed at the
small business, school or club user. The application is provided on one
double density floppy disc which contains the application, System,
Sysmerge, Scrap, Examples folder and a couple of read me intro files.
Also included in this package is a 20-page A5 manual, which is concise
and well thought out.
8.7
For those with a hard disc, installation is a simple matter of dragging
to your desired destination directory, and updating your system
directory if necessary using Sysmerge.
8.7
The program
8.7
A double click on the application installs it onto the iconbar. A click
on the icon runs the application, greeting you with the main menu.
8.7
The first requirement is to use the preferences option to configure the
program for your use.
8.7

8.7
The first option is for your printer type − the software is designed for
use with Epson compatible printers and, at present, there are three
inbuilt printer definition files, HP LaserJet, Acorn JP150 and Epson
LQ850.
8.7
Alongside this are test print icons which allow you to run a test print
of one ticket or a page of tickets to confirm the settings are correct.
This should therefore preferably be performed at the conclusion of the
configuration exercise.
8.7
As well as ‘Standard pages’, i.e. normal A4 cut sheet or fanfold paper,
you can use ‘Flyprint pages’ which are special fanfold sheets with
perforations along one side, for the production of ‘return half ticket’
type flyers. (This paper is available from Dixon & Dixon.) You can
design your own page if the installed ones are not to your
specification.
8.7
There are two merge facilities written into this software, the first of
which allows the use of a phrase book (very much like a clipboard in
other applications). Frequently used comments or phrases are kept in
this note book and simply dragged into the editing window as required.
The second is a mailmerge facility which imports CSV data (Comma
Separated Variables). The main part of this section is the ability to
set a serial number for your flyers which will increment by one for each
copy printed. Once set, preferences can be saved or just used for the
current session.
8.7
Loading and saving are done as in most RISC OS applications except that
there is a load option which displays a ‘Save’ type window which
requires you to enter the full pathname of the file to be loaded −
strange!
8.7
The Print option is self explanatory, and can be configured for as many
copies as required. However, having said that the program is designed
for output to Epson compatibles, the printer driver descriptions are
saved within the program as CSV files and are fairly easy to edit to
match your own printer with the aid of the printer manuals.
8.7
The edit window consists of the main editable ‘paper’ and a toolbar. The
paper shows the position of perforations, if applicable, as a thin black
vertical line. The top row of the toolbar is for choice of text style −
the printer’s inbuilt styles, i.e. italics, bold, underline, sub-script
and super-script. The bottom row has icons controlling justification and
text colour − for those with colour printers. With the tools described,
it only remains to place the cursor and enter your text in the colour
and style required.
8.7
Conclusion
8.7
Dixon & Dixon market a piece of software called ‘Milkman’, which is a
computerised Dairy Management system. The first versions of Flyprint
were designed to be used by owners of ‘Milkman’ for their easy output of
data and circulars and, as such, I feel it probably did a good job.
8.7
Dixon & Dixon have now aimed at a larger market, but I feel that the
facilities of this package are too restrictive for present day use;
mainly due to it not using the full advantage and versatility of the
Acorn computer. There are now thousands of fonts and gigabytes of
graphics available but none of these can be used by this package.
8.7
Gripes aside, I have to admit that I have used this package to produce a
run of raffle tickets, solely due to the fact that the serial numbers
can be put in by the program − an ideal application for this program. It
must also be said that the programming is good, as I had no crashes, and
all output printed out without error.
8.7
All-in-all, the idea is excellent but the application a little lacking
and the price (£34 +VAT from Dixon & Dixon) is a bit steep, all things
considered.  A
8.7
Network Acorn
8.7
Fred Grieve
8.7
As its title suggests, this new publication focuses on the trials and
tribulations of networking Acorn computers. It covers all current models
as well as older models no longer in production such as the A300 and
A400 series and the ubiquitous A3000. Network Acorn is an A4-sized soft
cover book running to some 150 pages and is supplied with an 800Kb disc
of utilities.
8.7
Geoff Preston is a teacher with years of experience of running and
managing Acorn networks and has written this book for anyone who is
considering networking Acorn computers. Undoubtedly, this book is
targeted at mainly education users although Acorn computers and their
associated networks are also found outside the education sector.
8.7
The author imparts his knowledge in a style which is neither
condescending nor assumes too much from the reader. The result is a text
which I found most informative and very easy to read.
8.7
A lot of ground is covered in this book: everything from designing and
planning a network layout, different network topologies, DIY
installation, setting up network software, using a network, managing the
network and hints and tips for network managers.
8.7
Although still used in lots of establishments, Econet is not covered as
it is no longer a viable networking solution to the demands of 32-bit
technology. However, it is mentioned and there are frequent references
to software packages which are Econet compatible. The book concentrates
on Ethernet networks. Peer to peer networking in the form of Acorn’s
Access is covered as well as fileserver/client systems.
8.7
Hardware
8.7
The author provides lots of essential information such as how many
client stations can be installed along a length of network cable and how
much hard disc storage space will be needed on the fileserver. He covers
everything from the relatively simple task of installing network
expansion cards in machines to the slightly more demanding installation
of networking cables. He wisely points out that, if the network design
is large, the job is better left to the professionals. This is not a
cop-out but a piece of good advice: installing a network is not beyond
the abilities of most computer users who have any DIY ability, but very
few have the specialised equipment necessary to test the installation
should it not function correctly!
8.7
The mysteries of repeaters, hubs, gateways and bridges are revealed and
alternatives to copper conductors such as fibre-optics, infra-red and
microwaves are also mentioned.
8.7
Network backing storage is covered very fully, with alternatives to the
more traditional Winchester hard drive such as Syquest drives, magneto-
optical drives, DAT and CD-ROM all mentioned. Backing up data is an
important part of the network manager’s job and this too is covered very
fully.
8.7
Software
8.7
As a network manager for the past 7 years, this section immediately
caught my eye. There are two broad categories of network software:
applications which are designed for client use and utilities to
facilitate network management.
8.7
In the former category, most software companies will supply the stand-
alone version of the software with the site licence. However, there are
special versions of some applications which are “network aware” and two
such applications come in for special mention.
8.7
There are quite a few network manager utility programs around and it is
nice to see these mentioned along with a short description of what each
offers.
8.7
I was delighted to see two things which have a unique place on networked
systems, Teletext and Email, also covered in some detail.
8.7
Software from the Public Domain is considered for network use and some
advice is offered on software to avoid!
8.7
The accompanying disc contains suggested exports directory structures
for Acorn’s Level 4 server software and the AUN application accelerator
as well as several useful utilities.
8.7
The book finishes with an excellent glossary of terminology and an
appendix of useful names and addresses.
8.7
Conclusion
8.7
Although the book is directed towards those who will actually network
Acorn computers or manage them, I am sure that students of
communications systems and networks will also find it extremely useful.
8.7
Geoff Preston has done a terrific job in drawing together lots of
information on the current state of play with regard to Acorn networks.
He backs this up with his own experiences to provide a very worthwhile
and readable book. Ironically, the only drawback with Network Acorn
comes about because of the comprehensive coverage of network software
provided therein. Obviously this is a constantly-changing area which
will therefore tend to make the book out-of-date quite quickly unless
Northwest SEMERC intend to reprint it frequently.
8.7
My only negative comment about Network Acorn concerns its production in
that the black and white illustrations, some of which are screen shots,
are far too dark and look no better than photocopies.
8.7
Network Acorn (ISBN 1-899008-04-7) by Geoff Preston costs £12 from
Northwest Semerc. A
8.7
Langdale − A Geographical Resource
8.7
Nick Harris
8.7
The Langdale Suite from Creative Curriculum Software is a set of
resources designed to cover both IT Capability and various Geographical
Attainment Targets at Key Stage 2 and 3. Some of the resources can be
accessed using multi-disc sets − “The River Project” and “Stickle Tarn”
or the complete suite can be accessed using the CD-ROM, “Langdale”. All
of these multimedia applications were created using Genup Lite and
explore Langdale and the surrounding area in the Lake District. The CD-
ROM also has a comprehensive set of worksheets and printed instructions
which are also held in ‘Draw’ format on a single floppy included in the
package.
8.7
The disc-based resources need to be registered before running and
ideally need to be installed on a hard disc using the !Install program,
although it could be run from the Master and the four other floppies.
!Install also keeps a count of copies made by a multi user or for use on
a Network and has provision for deinstalling, all of which is explained
clearly in the documentation. These resources are identical with those
on the CD-ROM but do not come with work sheets or additional data except
that the disc-based resources are designed for mode 15 only whereas the
CD-ROM will also display in mode 28. Purchasers of the disc-based
resources can upgrade to the CD-ROM less the costs already incurred
8.7
I am running the CD on a RISC OS 3.1 A310 with 4Mb RAM, a Taxan 770+ and
a SCSI-interfaced Cumana CD drive. I have spent some time trying to get
the best from the setup but, although in mode 28 the pictorial data
fills the screen, the full screen does not greatly enhance the
resolution of the photographs etc, and working in mode 15 gives a better
picture for Visual analysis. On the above setup, in mode 28, the screen
flashes on and off whilst disc activity takes place. A similar comment
can be made with respect to the Risc PC − the disc-based application
gives you the choice of whether you wish to work in mode 15 or to
continue in the present mode. On the Risc PC, mode 15 is a letter box
mode − perhaps the application could be made to check for a Risc PC as
well as other modes?
8.7
The CD has “Windows” capability and installed quite happily on our
School Library’s Multimedia PC. However, it did not run in full colour
at the first time of asking and this still requires investigation though
it is more likely to be a problem with the Colour Card than with the CD.
8.7
On the Archimedes, opening the $ directory gives you an Acorn directory
inside which you are presented with several options including the text
file, FirstOfAll, which explains how to get started and gives the
following overview of the various sections that the CD contains, plus
some additional information.
8.7
The applications: These are in the directory called ‘Apps’. Each of the
applications is in its own directory. Open this directory and run the
application as usual by double clicking on it.
8.7
You can get a full description of the contents of the whole package by
running the application ‘!Langdale’ which serves as a general
introduction. Go through every section carefully.
8.7
The resources: These are in the directory called ‘Resources’ and you can
get an overview of the resources by running the application ‘!Guide’
from the applications directory. The resources themselves can be seen by
loading them. All the materials used in the applications are also in the
resources. But there is a great deal more besides.
8.7
Copyright: Due to copyright issues, purchasers must follow the
restrictions below. You are NOT allowed to copy or print the
applications. You are NOT allowed to copy or print the scanned Ordnance
Survey maps, except under the following limited circumstances. It is
often the case that departments of Local Authorities purchase rights to
use Ordnance Survey maps for other purposes, such as town planning. This
purchase generally covers some uses of these scanned maps as well. Local
Education Authority schools should check. All the other resources can be
copied.
8.7
Devising programmes of work for students: You will see that the
resources are very extensive. No attempt has been made to exploit all of
them to the full. However, some useful activities and investigations are
available to get students started and indicate ways in which the package
can be used to support programmes of work.
8.7
The actual directories in Apps are: !Langdale, which explains how to use
the package and gives additional contextual information. !Guide, a
summary of the resources available on the CD, some of which are not used
in the applications. !River, which covers the whole valley down to
Eltwater and can be used to investigate both river profiles and flood
risks. !Geology, general information about the rocks in the valley and
their formation. !Land use, covers the whole valley and can be used to
investigate how man has used the valley up the present day. !Blisco, a
walk from the Old Dungeon Gill car park to the summit of Pike o’ Blisco.
!Bowfell, a walk from the New Dungeon Gill car park to the summit of
Bowfell. !Stickle, a walk from the New Dungeon Gill car park to the
Stickle Tarn. These “walks” complement the material used in the other
Applications. There is also a directory containing the software for
running a Concept Keyboard which can be used for the applications.
8.7
The following suggestions are those given by C C Software on the CD.
8.7
The worksheets for most of the activities and investigations are
provided on paper and as files for direct use or printing out.
8.7
Scene setting: Some activities which would allow students to familiarise
themselves with the content and structure of the package would be
appropriate. It is suggested that as a minimum this would include − work
through the applications ‘!Langdale’ and ‘!Guide’ − look up the area in
whatever atlases and other maps were available − ideally, having access
to either the OS Pathfinder maps or the OS Landranger map of the valley
and surrounding area − locate and look at the aerial photographs in the
resources and the maps in the resources and identify some of the
features − either draw a simple sketch map of the area or print the
sketch map provided − write a brief general description of the valley.
8.7
Map work: Three sets of activities relating to map work are provided in
the directory ‘Mapwork’; four activities on contours, one on grid
references and one on map symbols. They are intended to be done on
computers but could be modified to be completed on paper.
8.7
The Langdale Explorer: This activity, using the three simulated walks,
should be done as a preliminary to the four main investigations. The
answers are in this directory in the file ‘Explorans’. The following
investigations are not specific about how students should present their
results. It should be made clear that effective use of the resources, by
using printed selections, or DTP packages, or even multimedia, will add
value to assessment.
8.7
River profile: This is investigation 1. Students should make appropriate
use of the application !River as well as referring back to the simulated
walks.
8.7
Flood risk: This is investigation 2. Students should make appropriate
use of the application !River as well as referring back to the simulated
walks.
8.7
Land forms: This is investigation 3. Students should be encouraged to
start to make use of the photographs in the resources. One way to do
this is for the student to identify a grid reference and direction which
might help illustrate a land form, and search through the photos for a
suitable photograph.
8.7
Land use: This is investigation 4. Students should make appropriate use
of the application !Landuse as well as any other applications. The
worksheet ‘Timeshare’ provides an alternative approach to this topic
through a detailed study of an aspect of land use.
8.7
Mickleden: This investigation provides a further approach to land use.
The additional requirement is that students must also identify and use
appropriate photographic evidence from the resources.
8.7
Further use of the resources; general activities: While use of the
resources has been an additional part of the investigations above, there
are many opportunities for work centred only on the resources
themselves. In particular, the resources provide opportunity for work
which develops IT capability, such as: a multimedia or desk top
published report of a survey, over time, of a particular location. The
New Dungeon Gill car park, for example, would be worth investigation. A
range of numerical studies using the CSV data in conjunction with both
databases and spreadsheets. Details of possible approaches are given
with the data.
8.7
Some Questions from a Worksheet.
8.7
7.  Two points for the word which describes the shape of the boulders in
the stream bed on photo B16.
8.7
8.  Two points for the grid reference of the old sheepfold.
8.7
9.  Which direction are you walking on map 2? One point.
8.7
15. Two points for finding the name given to material deposited by a
glacier.
8.7
16. Identify the two types of slope on Pavey Ark.  Four points.
8.7
17. Ten points for finding out the name given to the glacial landform
now occupied by Stickle Tarn.
8.7
!Langdale presents an overall picture of the entire suite clearly and
explains how the Genup Lite applications can be used including the
iconbars (see illustration) and search/supersearch. The other
applications use maps and “hotspots” to take the user along a route
using photographs, (see illustration) and by using buttons which reveal
additional information, textual data, overlays/labels, closeups, sound
(only on a few samples) and data which could be in the form of
transects, rainfall data, reports, or cross sections, etc.
8.7
The basic ideas behind this CD-ROM are very sound; to provide a resource
to allow students the opportunity to handle IT whilst studying a
glaciated upland river and its surrounding catchment area and, as such,
it contains a wealth of pictorial and factual data which will provide a
real contrast for pupils across the country where field studies would be
restricted to lowland rivers like those found near us in Norfolk.
8.7
However, I find that there are several points about the package which
disappoint me. The CD-ROM should really have exploited its capabilities
more thoroughly with, say, some Replay clips of the becks and rivers in
flow to give a more rounded experience and not just the few desultory
sound clips that it has at present.
8.7
I have read a previous review of this package in Archimedes World where
the Genup authouring system was criticized for its idiosyncrasies and I
tend to agree. Although there is a reverse mouse button function so that
old windows are closed automatically when clicking <adjust> and reopened
again on <select>, it is quite possible to find that you have shut all
the windows and you have to start from the beginning again. The
confusing element is that in order to keep photographs open whilst you
are reading text, you have to use the opposite button to that which you
started with and then you forget which you used. It would be more
helpful to have customised buttons which open windows without closing
source pages in those circumstances where the text or data windows
directly relate to a specific photograph or page in the way most of the
applications in “Langdale” do.
8.7
There are inconsistencies in the user interface as there appear to be
small differences between each application which have appeared as they
have been developed and which could be improved. For example in !River
there are no compass guides on the maps as in other applications.
8.7
Another small problem which I hope will be sorted out on later editions
of the CD is that, in some of the applications, some of the photographs
do not correspond with the given information i.e. the bearings and/or
location of the hotspot on the map do not match with the photograph,
which can be confusing. In Land Use, the location list for photographs
have no bearings, which differs from the “walks” applications. It is
also disappointing to note that there are many photographs which are in
portrait orientation when a panoramic “landscape” view would have been
far more appropriate to recording the Landscape. Although the
application actually allows you to look more closely at sections of the
views, those sections are no more than enlargements of the original with
all the problems of low resolution, poor colour and general degradation
attendant on that technique, and not an entirely new photograph taken
with a telephoto lens or taken from much closer to the area of special
interest. Sometimes, the choice and/or presentation of a close up does
little to really add to the user’s understanding.
8.7
One significant comment passed by the Geography department was
surprising! They felt that the textual information was too easily
available and too detailed! With the result that the pupils would not
need to use their own knowledge plus their observational and analytical
powers to understand how and why an upland river will differ from those
in their own locality. In fact, there is no need to work out the answers
to questions as the answers have already been provided!
8.7
This a CD-ROM that has real potential but I feel that it still needs
work to make the expense more justifiable to a Geography department. It
requires a more consistent and perhaps more intuitive interface for
presenting hot spots, bearings and Photographs. The quality of the
Photographs should be considered more carefully, especially in respect
of the closeups where both quality and subject detail are very
important. (The resolution of the photographs on the CD could have been
better, they are not photo CD quality but just plain sprites.) There
might be some form of control or customisation that denies or at least
reduces the ease of access to the text areas containing answers. As a
river is a dynamic feature, it would be extremely useful to have more
sound clips and, more importantly, Replay clips showing the river from,
say, full spate to drought conditions at various locations for water in
a river. I appreciate that the disc-based resources might become too
unwieldy with too many !Replay clips but sound samples would be
possible. I look forward to an upgraded/improved edition.  A
8.7
Look! Hear! Talking Topics for Infants
8.7
Richard Rymarz
8.7
A couple of years ago, Sherston Software developed the idea of ‘Talking
Books’ for children. Simply, this involved developing software,
particularly for younger children, that included clear speech, animation
and the ability for the child to interact with the on-screen
presentation. There are now two volumes of ‘Naughty Stories’ which have
been very successful and have made the transition to CD-ROM. Then came
the ‘Oxford Reading Tree’ series which is still being developed. Now a
third set of ‘Talking Books’ has been released. Written by Simon and
Adam Hosler, they are very simple information books based around topics
that frequently crop up at Key Stage 1 (5 − 7 year olds) in most
schools.
8.7
The ‘Talking Book’
8.7
For those who have not seen any of Sherston’s previous offerings,
Talking Books allow children to see on screen images, animate them, read
and/or listen to the appropriate text or listen to it if they cannot
read it themselves and, finally, highlight and hear certain words they
may not understand.
8.7
Look! Hear! Talking Topics
8.7
This suite of programs is an attempt at a new approach to Key Stage 1
reference books by making the information accessible through the
computer. Volume 1 consists of six topics often and widely used by most
schools: The Body, Land Transport, Dinosaurs, Pets, Homes and The
Seashore. Each topic comes on two discs, all of which can be transferred
to hard disc. However, they can easily be run from floppy disc − the
program even tells the children when to change to disc 2.
8.7
Each topic follows the same format. Disc 1 contains !Fonts, !System and
two Edit files, one consisting of release notes and the other providing
information for RISC OS 2 users. Clicking on !TheBody, for example,
installs the program on the iconbar. An options menu is available where
the volume can be adjusted and whether highlighting of text is required.
8.7
Running the program produces a title page with two icons at the bottom
right hand corner: one an ear and the other an arrow. Clicking on the
ear results in the title being spoken. Clicking on the arrow beings up
an index. This is attractively laid out and easy to understand with the
particular part of the body named and pictured. Floppy disc users will
notice that disc 2 chapters are greyed out. The ear icon is on the left
of each chapter, and there is an arrow on the right. Click on the ear
and the chapter heading is read out. Clicking on the arrow results in a
new page with a large picture of, for instance, an eye. The ear icon is
again present and the text can be listened to. Clicking another icon
below the ear results in some animation. Clicking on the arrow calls
another page where more information is available. An open book icon
returns the child to the index page. This is all very easy and children
will have no difficulty finding their way around.
8.7
Each topic contains between eight and ten chapters, each two pages long.
This may not seem much but compares favourably with many early learning
books. The language is simple and appropriate, the pictures attractive
and the animations add an extra dimension − in fact, children love them.
The topics have been chosen carefully and must be used at some time
during the first three years in school.
8.7
Documentation
8.7
A comprehensive user guide is included which is up to the high standard
we have come to expect from Sherston. Also included is a set of double-
sided work cards which are designed to help the teacher/ parent make the
most of the topics.
8.7
Home use
8.7
Whilst I have stressed the use of Talking Topics at school, they could
equally be used at home. However, to get the best from them, parents
should be warned that listening and talking to their children is vital
if the best is to be gleaned from these programs.
8.7
The complete Volume One of the Look! Hear! Talking Topics is available
from Sherston for £59.75 +VAT (£67 through Archive) or £11.95 +VAT for
individual topics from Sherston. When it comes to parting with money,
the parent/teacher has to judge between the value of information books
and computer versions. My view is that there is a definite place for
both with the added use of sound and animation providing enough
substance to make the purchase of these type of programs worthwhile.
Sherston must be on to a winner − recommended.  A
8.7
Clicker
8.7
Hutch Curry
8.7
Clicker is designed to be a very flexible utility program providing an
alternative mouse-operated input to co-operating RISC OS applications.
As such, it is aimed primarily at the very young child and at those
individuals with special educational needs. There is also a special
version of Clicker called Switch Clicker designed to work with switches
for those with physical handicap. It would be interesting to try it,
particularly with some of my brain-injured clients.
8.7
Clicker works as a multi-level on-screen overlay keyboard in a manner
not too dissimilar to external overlay keyboards such as the Concept
Keyboard. Each overlay − which is called a ‘grid’ in Clicker − consists
of a number of cells. Each cell can contain either a text string such as
a letter, a word or phrase, an editing or function key action command
(keypress) or a link to another grid. Clicking on a cell then either
outputs the text or command string to an application that owns the caret
(typically a text editor or word processor) or requests Clicker to close
the current grid and open another one. The contents of any cell and a
number of properties of each grid can be easily altered to suit the
individual’s needs. The programmer has clearly intended that teachers or
individual users should be easily able to design systems tailored for
specific purposes and/or specific students.
8.7
One of the other features of Clicker is the ability to link software
speech (or sampled sounds) to any of the cells. The software speech is
generated by Superior Software’s ‘Speech!’ system. If software speech is
being used, the computer attempts to speak the word as best it can. If
sampled sounds are being used, any sample can be linked to the cell.
8.7
Clicker is priced at £35.00 plus VAT which includes a 5-machine site
licence. For your money, you get an attractive plastic wallet containing
the A5 manual and two discs − one containing the program and the other
containing examples.
8.7
In use
8.7
For the review, I ran Clicker on both a 12Mb A540 and a 4Mb A5000. Both
machines were fitted with multisync monitors, hard drives and RISC OS
3.1. Neither machine had any trouble with Clicker.
8.7
Installation of Clicker was simple and straightforward − involving only
the copying of the supplied discs to other floppies or to a hard disc.
The software ran fine from the hard disc with no requirement for a key
disc. The manual supplied with Clicker is very good in both content and
layout.
8.7
To get to grips with Clicker, I read the manual and then tried all the
supplied examples with Edit, StrongEd and Publisher to get a feel for
the way it worked. In general, the operation of Clicker was easy and
intuitive (see below for some areas of improvement) as long as the
receiving application had the text caret. If, in the middle of text
entry, you go off and do something else on the computer that grabs the
caret, when you go back to Clicker, you might find your text going to
another application or just going nowhere.
8.7
After playing about for a bit, I started to customise the grids and this
worked exactly as the manual described and was easy and fun to do. With
one of my grids, I went and got my 4-year old son to have a go at
entering some words to make a sentence. This is something he is now
doing at school with words on pieces of card. The figures illustrate the
results of his efforts. He thought Clicker was great and much more fun
than using the cards. He now asks if we can go on the computer to make
some sentences, so I have constructed a number of grids for him using
the same words as he has been given by the teacher. I think that perhaps
this is the best testament to the value of the program. Interestingly,
he wasn’t too impressed with the computer speech and wanted it switched
off.
8.7
Niggles and complaints
8.7
Although my son was totally enthusiastic, I have a number of minor
criticisms and suggestions. First of all, there is a dictionary supplied
that works off a ‘letters’ grid that allows you to open another grid
containing an assortment of words beginning with the letter you clicked
on. This should have been one of the more useful and impressive features
but was somewhat disappointing in the shortage of supplied words and the
apparent inability of Clicker to deal with having more than one grid
open at a time. I found it extremely annoying that the ‘letters’ grid
was automatically closed when you clicked on one of the letters. This
was followed by an appreciable delay while the selected word grid
opened. To go back to the selection of words beginning with a different
letter, you have to click on the ‘letters’ cell. This closed the ‘word’
grid and there was another delay before the ‘letters’ grid reappeared.
8.7
Another niggle was that cells which were not defined produced an output
of unwanted spaces into the text. I discovered that the reason for this
is that there is a flag that the user can set for automatically putting
a space after any cell content. This is a local flag affecting only one
cell and it was therefore quite tedious to edit all the blank cells to
ensure that the flag was not set. I am sure it would have been better if
blank cells actually did nothing.
8.7
In trying to add my own words to the dictionary from a file − which
should have somewhat nullified my complaint about the few words supplied
− I ran across a couple of problems. The first was that RAM transfer −
the ability to save from one application to another directly − was not
implemented and I had to save my selection of words to a disc file and
then load the disc file. I then found that upon dragging the file to the
grid, I was given the choice of loading into all of the cells or only
into the blank ones. When I chose to load only into the blank cells, the
program nonetheless wrote over some of the existing cell contents.
8.7
And a few more... The file length seems to be fixed at 29Kb regardless
of the file contents. You can’t open a grid by dragging it onto the
iconbar icon, although you can open one by dragging it onto an already
open grid. The computer generated speech is acceptable − but only just.
The sampled sounds can obviously be of a much higher quality, depending
on the sample. However, these samples are loaded only when the cell is
activated, so there is a perceptible delay between action and sound. I
presume that the programmer implemented the samples in this fashion to
minimise memory requirements. The samples are also required to be in the
same directory as the grids for reasons that seemingly have to do with
making the programmer’s life easier.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
I was quite impressed with Clicker despite the long list of small
niggles. I would obviously be more impressed if a future version
addressed these issues. The price of £35 (plus VAT) seems very
reasonable − particularly for a 5 machine site licence. I have to say
again how pleased I was to see how Clicker motivated my young boy to
spend literally hours making sentences. This must be one of the best
yardsticks to judge the value of educational software.  A
8.7
Clicker is produced by Crick Computing who have actually now done a
Clicker Plus. As soon as we get hold of a copy for review, we’ll pass it
on to Hutch. Ed.
8.7
VTI Printer Port Sampler
8.7
Andrew Rawnsley
8.7
VTI (aka Vertical Twist) have produced a variety of audio products over
the years, from Tracker and the Econet Port Midi Sampler pack in the
earlier days, to the latest VTX2000 Midi music. The Printer Port Sampler
falls midway between the two periods and has recently undergone a major
overhaul, bringing it into the limelight.
8.7
Compatibility
8.7
Before I go on, I should say something about the rather non-standard
input method for the sampler. I was more than a little dubious about the
merits of plugging a sampler into my printer port − after all, I had an
Impression dongle installed and a printer lead. Splitting the port into
two provided no difficulty − splitter boxes are relatively cheap these
days. However, would I have problems with my notorious Impression
dongle? Surprisingly, everything worked fine and I’m typing this into
Publisher, with the splitter controlling connection to the printer or
sampler.
8.7
A little history
8.7
In the past, samplers have generally been designed to sample from one of
two sources: an external sound source via a LINE socket; or a
microphone. The hardware was designed as a compromise for these two very
different types of input. This often resulted in poor quality samples,
and complicated processing was needed to obtain anything useful.
8.7
However, the VTI sampler is different. Its dongle-like interface has two
inputs − one for each of the above sources. Also, the package comes
complete with a substantial microphone to get you started immediately.
8.7
Technicalities
8.7
When looking at a sampler, it is hard to escape from the technical
details of the product. After all, the quality of the results is
dependent on the specifications of the hardware. The sampler is only 8-
bit and supports sampling rates of up to 35kHz, so don’t expect 16-bit
CD quality. However for the most part, this is not an inconvenience −
all standard machines are only capable of playing 8-bit samples anyway!
8.7
Software support − Sonor
8.7
Perhaps the backbone of any sampling system is the software. This will
determine how easy it is to get input into the machine and how far you
can go when touching up your creation.
8.7
The standard for sample manipulation software was originally set by
Computer Concepts’ AudioWorks package, but you won’t need to splash out
on that for use with this sampler. Apart from its rather too colourful
appearance, it’s hard to criticise the bundled software − !Sonor.
8.7
By selecting an appropriate driver for the Printer Port Sampler in the
choices dialogue box, the package will handle all your sampling,
processing and sample conversion needs. When producing a sample with
which to work, you can either load an old sample, or create a new one
via the sampler. Multiple samples can be open at once, allowing merging,
averaging and comparison of the samples.
8.7
By choosing an area with which to work, you can apply any of the
following effects: Amplify, Shift, Reverse, Fade, Echo, Silence and
Filter.
8.7
Re-sampling and adding of frequencies is also possible. Most of the
effects leads to a dialogue box allowing adjustment of the level of the
effect required.
8.7
Of particular note is the Filter effect, which allows you to build a
filter envelope to apply to the sample. You can also use one of the
built in ones. Silence, for example, is also very useful, as it can be
employed for reducing background noise which might be noticeable between
the words of a sentence. You can also zoom in on your sample, and adjust
the amplitude of sections to give a little more colour.
8.7
The import and export options of the software are also worthy of note.
You can load or save as Logarithmic (Tracker), Armadeus, Module, MS .wav
(16 or 8-bit) or AudioWorks samples. This makes Sonor ideal for people
requiring cross-platform compatibility.
8.7
Finally, once you’re happy with your sample, you can play it back at any
frequency via a keyboard window.
8.7
Software support − Talking Pages Junior
8.7
This is the latest addition to the pack. Talking Pages is a simple
multimedia package, allowing the linking of pages of sound and graphics.
Sprites can be loaded onto the page and, by defining areas on the image,
samples can be linked to mouse click on certain areas.
8.7
Initially, the educational impact of supplying such a package with the
sampler hit me, perhaps because of my own experience working in the
Special Needs market. However, having played with the system myself, I
think that VTI have hit upon a truly useful idea, making the package
ideal for all kinds of presentation work.
8.7
Although the full version of Talking Pages is not yet available, the
software supplied for review worked well and, if used properly, can
yield good results.
8.7
Conclusions
8.7
Whilst not being a professional sampler, the Printer Port Sampler
performs very well, particularly when you consider that the whole system
retails at £44 +VAT! Indeed, Sonor and Talking Pages are worth a good
proportion of that, and when you include the sampler and the
microphone...
8.7
Whilst the sampler could fit easily into almost any environment, what
struck me most were its possibilities in the educational and leisure
fields. The system appears very stable, making it ideal for use in the
classroom, whilst the range of output options makes it ideal for
producing samples for games and project work.
8.7
If you’re looking for a high end 16-bit, 44+ kHz sampler, this isn’t it,
but for everyone else, the package is sensibly priced, and superb value
for money. Well done VTI!  A
8.7