Big Blue Disk 15/bbd15.zip/BLUENOTE.TXT

Text File | 1987-10-19 | 13KB | 267 lines

|D╔════════════╗══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
|D║ |5Diskussion |D║══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
|D╚════════════╝══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

^C^1Blue Notes

Dear BBD:

   To comment on your magazine's performance, it is outstanding. Even though I
am still relatively new at computers, I enjoy BBD very much.

   Keep up the good work, I am always looking forward for my next issue.


^REric Blankenship
^RGardner, KS

^1> Thanks for your compliments.  We're glad you like BIG BLUE DISK, and we hope
^1> you continue to enjoy it.
|5▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Dear Sirs:

   I want to tell you how much I enjoy my subscription to BBD.  I had never had
my hands on a keyboard, let alone understand such things as DOS A> or PASRUN,
until a year ago, and there are still many things I don't understand.

   I read each issue from "Cover to Cover," so to speak, and though I don't
understand everything, I sure have learned a lot.  In issue 12, a reader
suggested two technical features, one for Beginners such as myself, and one for
the more advanced "Computer Person."  I think that this would be a great idea.

   I would be very remiss if I did not offer my sincere thanks and appreciation
to "Terrific George" from your staff.  I'm sure that I pester him with more dumb
questions than any other subscriber.  George always, patiently and very
courteously, helps me out, answers my questions, and never fails to remind me if
I have any further difficulties, not to hesitate to call back.  Thanks a
million, George.

Sincerely,
^RBarb Seager
^REndicott, NY

^1> George says "You're very welcome."
|5▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Dear BBD editor:

   I just got issue 12 of your magazine and loved it.  I especially liked the
vocabulary builder and the ExpressCalc disk.  My ten year old loved Calc-Man.
How about writing a program that I could use with my pre-schooler, say an
alphabet or number game.  He was quite taken with Alfredo and wanted to see him
over and over.

   I am currently attending a technical college in the word processing
specialist program.  Also, I have just recently gotten my own personal computer,
a Tandy 1000 EX with 256K RAM, and am only just beginning to discover all the
things it can do.

   Your article "Print Control" was very helpful in getting my printer, which
did not come with the system and is a different brand, to do what I wanted.

   Keep up the good work.  I plan to subscribe to your magazine.

Sincerely,

^RAnne Brenner
^RAuburndale, WI
|5▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Dear BBD:

   One of the more useful features of your magazine, for me anyway, has been the
Demo programs of various commercial products.  This has given a chance to try
out some before buyiug.  Would it be possible to include more of these?  It
would seem to be to a software publisher's benefit to make them available.

   In the current issue #12 you asked for suggestions as to themes for future
issues.  One theme that I would like to see handled is DESKTOP PUBLISHING. There
is such a variety of products that it would be helpful to have sort of a
"Consumer's Report" comparing them and their features.   Also it would help to
have an explanation of the terms used and which work well with dot matrix
printers.

   I have tried a few of the less expensive Desktop Publishers such as Newsroom
and NewsMaster for my church newsletters and bulletins.  Newsroom was crude and
of limited use.  NewsMaster has some of the nicer features of the better
publishers.  It compared well with a Demo copy of Aldus PageMaker that I tried,
though of course, it was far less flexible.  Best of all it could be learned in
under 2 hours!

   Finally, a tip for any of your readers who may use their computers for
churches.  There are not many religious graphics available for Print Shop or
NewsMaster.  One source is BCI Software of Ringwood, NJ.  They have a "Printer's
Angel" disk for $9.95 that has a good variety for all denominations.  It even
has a conversion program that allows the graphics to be used on other programs.
We use it for our church publications.

^RRev. Dick Lonsdale
^RPortland, ME

^1> There is a review of a desktop laser printer in this issue; such printers are
^1> highly desirable for desktop publishing applications.  As for software demos,
^1> we hope to do more in future issues.
|5▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Dear Big Blue;

    First, let me say I have a complete set of Big Blues and have enjoyed them--
except number six which was a total waste.  I see lots of people have written
asking you to include source code on your disk.  Please add my name to the list
of people who want source code.  It is very hard to write general programs that
fit most people's needs.  I have been looking for a good family tree program, so
was happy to see one in your last issue.  But it is only almost a good program,
and since it is compiled I can not change it and it is worthless!  I like the
colors and looks of the input screens and the way it relates to the family
members.  BUT, when you enter the sex of a person you have male, female and
neither.  I can assure you that no one in my family is a neither, and if they
were I wouldn't admit it.  The comment section is way too small and jumbles the
small amount you can put in.  The printout is what makes "family tree" useless.
I entered about thirty names, but when I printed out a family tree the names
were so disorganized with no labels that I couldn't tell who was married to
whom.  It was just a mess of names.  In entering thirty names my computer locked
up four times.  The only way to unlock it was to turn it off and back on.  Had
the program included the source code, I could have modified it and had exactly
what I wanted.  In the compiled form, I cannot use it.

    It's time for "Alfredo" to go.  If I wanted to be a mindless spectator I
would watch T.V.  Now if you were teaching us how Alfredo was programmed would
be a different story, but you're not.

^RCecil H. Wise Sr.
^RSpringfield, MO

^1> We're sorry you weren't satisfied with Family Tree, although many other users
^1> have found it a very useful program.  Disk space constraints prevent us
^1> from including source code on our issues.
|5▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Dear Editor,

I have installed the automenu program which was contained in the August issue of
Big Blue Disk magazine on my IBM PC XT. To the best of my knowledge I followed
the instructions exactly.

My hard disk is controlled using Fixed Disk Organizer, so I created a sub-
directory called \automenu and copied the Automenu files there. Using the Fixed
Disk Organizer, I added Automenu to one of my menus and all went well until I
created my first MDF file. I will list one section to illustrate the problem.

            MDF
        Function                     MDF Information

        Comment     .       Automenu software section
        Title       %       Automenu
        Selection   *       Big Blue Disk magazine August 1987
        Batch-nres  +       cd\bbd10
        Batch-nres  +       go
        Batch-nres  +       cd\automenu
        Batch-nres  +       automenu blue.mdf

BLUE.MDF is the name of my MDF file and it ends with #-end of MDF. My problem is
that I end up at the C> when making a selection and not returning to my BLUE.MDF
menu.  Any help or suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

I must add that I have now purchased two volumes of your magazine and I find it
excellent with just the right editorial balance for me.

^RRobert Rauch
^RTracy, Quebec
^RCanada

^1> The problem is that our GO file is itself a batch file, so that when it is
^1> invoked, the system forgets about the original AUTOMENU batch file that it had
^1> run.  Hence, on exiting from BIG BLUE DISK, it returns to DOS instead of the
^1> menu system.  You might try using a different mode besides "batch"; the
^1> other modes, where AUTOMENU stays in memory, might work if you have sufficient
^1> memory.
|5▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Dear BBD,

   I'm impressed!  Sent my 12 month subscription order on 9/11 (also ordered #4
and #7).  Received them Sept. 19.  Spent the next 2 days in my computer room
chuckling at Alfredo, swearing at Streets & Alleys, and figuring out Cribbage.
Scanned through the technical stuff, but keyed back to the games.  Read the
letters; keyed back to the games.  Had a go at Madlibs, where I did not watch my
language!  Got hysterical, and fell off my chair!

   Calc-Man has captured my computer heart, and the cursor keys get a real
workout.

  I bought #11 at a local News/Mag. store (Bob's News & Books), Prospect Road,
Fort Lauderdale.  The BBD's were among the computer magazines, which I check out
every month.  Alfredo jumped out and said, "Please take me home," which I did
and subsequently ordered a subscription.  Have been to two Waldenbooks.  They do
not keep BBD's with the mags.  They are buried among the computer books. This
does not make sense to me!

   Overall I find a splendid balance of technical info & games, and I look at
everything.  But what I like most is your sense of humor, and so far BBD runs
fine on my clone.

^RPat Manning
^RNorth Lauderdale, FL

^1> All the Waldenbooks outlets I've seen carry BIG BLUE DISK in the magazine
^1> section, but I guess it varies depending on the local manager.  BBD can be
^1> looked at as either a "book" or a "magazine" depending on your perspective;
^1> we've obtained both International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN's) and
^1> International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSN's) for it, allowing it to be
^1> marketed in either way.  We prefer to think of it as a software collection
^1> that appears monthly; this is not quite the same as a magazine, a book, or
^1> a software package, but has elements of all of these.
|5▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Dear Editor,

   We first encountered  Big Blue Disk at a bookstore.  My husband purchased #7
and then we waited about 3 months before we could run it due to the fact that
our PCjr only had 128K... we sent in a subscription for a 6 month trial
period, and ordered back issues 1-6.  Our subscription began with #10, and we
will be ordering issues #8 and #9 soon.

   Issue #12 arrived today, and I was in the process of looking at "Introduction
to Spreadsheets" and was instructed to "Insert DOS....", I did so, and was
instructed to "Insert disk with batch file....", I did so, and found myself
looking at the system prompt - A> - I then typed GO and pressed Enter. The
following message appeared

         status data file has been corrupted

I was again instructed to "insert DOS... " and then the "batch file.." at which
point the following meassage appeared-

         fatal error encountered. Program terminated.

We cannot get back into the disk.... could you explain what happened and why?
Is this a problem with the disk or did I do something I shouldn't have??

   We thoroughly enjoy Big Blue Disk.  My husband likes Alfredo's adventures.
and I enjoy games, and have "played around with" PC-FILE, and a little with
PC-WRITE.  I really like "Streets and Alleys"... and look forward to more
solitaire card games....-hint, hint-

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
^RPatricia Nichols
^RBurtonsville, MD

^1> The STATUS.DAT file on your disk somehow got messed up.  Return it to us, and
^1> we'll replace it.
^1>
^1> Another solitaire card game is coming up next issue (#16), and more are in
^1> the works for later issues.  We hope you like them.
|5▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Gentlemen:

   I believe your subscribers would be interested in learning of a unique
charity called "Mail for Tots."  If you send a stamped, self-addressed
envelope to them at PO Box 8699, Boston, Mass. 02114, they will send you a
list of both children and adults who would really appreciate receiving mail.
This is a great excuse for using "Print Shop," and it only costs a few stamps.

^RAnne M. Bohl
^RAlbany, NY