I couldn't figure out Family Record Keeper. If I start with me, there is no place for my spouse. If I start with my wife and I as parents, it lists our parents as our grandparents.
Please create a vacation database program that will print out all items chosen for prompted items -- i.e., binoculars, towels, bathing suits, toothbrushes, etc. This would be similar to a grocery list program, which you could do also.
Say hi to James, the evening phone representative. Have enjoyed talking with him over the years.
Keep up the good work!
John W. Koch
Brewster NY
{Daniel Tobias responds:
Your parents are your children's grandparents, and this is the viewpoint the program takes, starting with the "nuclear family" of mom, dad, and the kids, and going upward on the tree from there. If you don't yet have kids, just think of your parents as prospective grandparents of your children-to-come. If you want to keep track of a greater deal of family complexity, you need a full-function genealogy program, such as the Family Tree program we published on issue 69.
List Meister, last issue (#96), will handle the sorts of lists you want. We have also published more specific listing programs in earlier issues, like Trail Guide (#92) for camping trips, and Grocery Kart (#70) for shopping lists.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
DOS Manager 3.1 [on issue 94] does not allow viewing of GIF files, nor most BMP files, all of which the previous version could do. I use both versions now until you correct the current program. I like DOSMAN.EXE. I use DOS and SDPCWindows.
Fred Lunde
Livonia MI
{Daniel Tobias responds:
I didn't change anything regarding GIF and SDPCBMP file viewing in version 3.1 of DOS Manager, and have tested these features with no apparent problem. If version 3.1 fails to work for you, it could be some system-specific problem. One thing to look at is how much free memory you have. If you've got lots of memory-resident software, there might not be enough free memory to run the graphic viewer (which uses some temporary buffers to store the image being loaded). DOS Manager 3.1 is slightly larger than the earlier versions due to added features, so it requires more memory. You can try booting from a "clean" floppy disk, or renaming your AUTOEXEC.BAT and SDPCCONFIG.SYS files temporarily and booting your hard disk, in order to start up your system with nothing extra loaded to see if you can then access all features in DOS Manager.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
I have enjoyed all issues since my subscription started with issue #14.
Continue issuing "thinking" type games rather than "reaction" type, since at age 62 my reactions "Ain't What They Useta Was".
James R. Gibbs
Depew NY
{Daniel Tobias responds:
I've always had more skill at "thinking" games than "reaction" games myself. However, we do have some users who like the other sort of game, so we must continue to be balanced and publish a mixture of both.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
To Whom This May Concern:
I am fifteen years old and I am the son of the president at the MONY buildings in downtown Syracuse. When I received the ninety-fourth issue I became severely disappointed in it. Out of the ten programs on the disk I found only one which I was somewhat interested in.
The Family Record Keeper was outrageously confusing and was not worth my time even looking at it. Then the Monthly Mystery was even worse. I couldn't even understand the instructions which were included. Next on the list was DOS Manager 3.1. It was so stupid and had no logic behind the making of it. It virtually had no purpose. Yet the Look & Listen was probably the worst program on the issue. It really had no meaning behind it. Place Ball was the next thing I tried, and I found it tedious and SDPCboring. Criss Cross was probably one of the better programs. It was somewhat fun and SDPCalso somewhat challenging. Yet that got boring after five minutes or so. Probably the best program was the EC Script TrueType Font. It was the only thing that my computer and I had any use for on the entire disk. The WAV sounds were very childish. Most people don't sit around their computers listening to music. If you listen to music, why don't you turn on your radio? Then the PCX graphics have no value at all. How many people would actually use graphics like that in their lifetimes unless they were really desperate to send someone they hate a birthday card? Finally, the TechToon was so lame that I can't even explain how dumb and SDPCboring it was.
Overall, I thought that issue 94 was a complete blowout. Usually most people don't settle for second best, but very few people settle for worse than second best, and by all means this issue was worse than second best.
And to the creators of #94, I'd like to say that I think you can do better than this. But even though you made a mistake I always believe in giving second chances.
Joe Shaun Lewis
N. Syracuse NY
{Daniel Tobias responds:
DOS Manager does, too, have a purpose; you could have used it to delete the rest of the files from your copy of the issue!
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
One major flaw with Windows, as far as I can see, is that when you remove an application it does not clean up the WIN.INI file. Is there a way of doing this and be sure you're not editing out something important? Otherwise, this file just grows and grows. I'm still not fond of Windows.
Bill Phillips
Joliet IL
{Daniel Tobias responds:
It is indeed a flaw that the on-disk installed application files themselves are independent of other things like the icons and groups in the Program Manager and configuration changes in WIN.INI. Removing an application from one place doesn't change its setup items elsewhere; for instance, deleting an application's icon in the Program Manager doesn't take the application off your hard disk, and conversely deleting it from your hard disk doesn't remove the icon. You've got to do both, plus cleaning up any initialization setup lines that may have been added to your configuration.
This is one aspect of Windows that's rumored to be improved in the upcoming "Chicago" version, which may treat applications in a more "object-oriented" way, with all of their aspects tied together and removable as a group. But we'll have to see what actually emerges when this version is released.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
I hated the Comedy Corner (on #93)! It wasn't funny at all!
I thought there was more than one rebus in Rebus Match. Why is there only one? I was pretty disappointed.
Since I don't have a sound card, please don't send programs that require them, like Minstrel.
Sean McLaughlin
Scotia NY
{Daniel Tobias responds:
There's one Rebus Match data file, but it has several rebuses in it. Keep playing it, and you'll have different rebuses come up.
Minstrel does not require a sound card, though it sounds better if you have one. It will play sound files on a normal PC speaker.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
Golf (on #94) should not have given the secret word on only a one-hole choice. First try, I got the word. The 9-hole course is much more difficult.
About Dos Manager 3.1 -- I don't understand all of it, but it appears to be helpful if I would learn to use it. Information seemed to be clear -- not too technical -- to me. My problem is I need more hard disk space to add such programs.
Art Jones
Seymour IN
{Daniel Tobias responds:
We have often received complaints about some of the secret words being too hard to find; yours is the first I've seen complaining about one of them being too easy! We try to strike a reasonable balance between "too easy" and SDPC"too hard," but obviously, individual skill levels and program difficulties will vary.
One of the useful things you can do with DOS Manager is to clean out your hard disk. There may be many things on your drive that you no longer need, and DOS Manager lets you browse through the drive, viewing files to see what's in them, and deleting the files you no longer want, or moving them off to floppy disks if you want to archive them. If you do this, you may be able to free up enough space to install DOS Manager for future use.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
[re: Bible icon in Family Record Keeper, on issue #94] I am not a Christian or religious, and do not like a secular publication offering religion in any way.
C. R. Parker
St. Petersburg FL
{Daniel Tobias responds:
The "bible" icon in question was not designed to promote religion, but merely to recall the old custom, in many families, of keeping the family history in the inside covers and SDPCflyleaves of the family Bible.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
SDPC is turning into a gossip and SDPCgame show. I don't mind some games, but this is beginning to get ridiculous.
Daniel Hudson
Kirkwood MO
{Daniel Tobias responds:
A number of people have objected to the number of games we have published, and we are attempting to publish more productivity-oriented programs now.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
To Whom It May Concern,
I want to zero in on one of the programs on issue 91 called Wize Guy, by Nolan Martin. These are the kind of programs I enjoy.
I was very intrigued by question 17. You said if I got this I should give myself a pat in the back. Well, I did, but I won't. No, I won't give myself a pat in the back since I didn't solve it according to your formula. But it took only 5 minutes to solve as I did it through the "difference of the difference."
Let's put the numbers down and in the second column put the difference between the first and second, second and third numbers, etc. And then in the third column the difference of the numbers in the second column the same way:
2
15 13
44 29 16
95 51 22
174 79 28
287 113 34
We could do another difference in the third column but with our eyes we can see there is a difference of 6 between the numbers. Following that _pattern_ we can see that the next number in the third column would be 40. So add 40 to 113 to get our next number in column two which would be 153, and add 153 to 287 and SDPCwe get the answer of 440.
I can make the same difference-of-difference pattern by starting at 44:
44
57 13
86 29 16
137 51 22
216 79 28
329 113 34
482 153 40
Yes, same _pattern_. But here your formula does not work. There must be a formula for the difference of the difference, but I don't know what it is.
In my first letter to you I sent a disk on some of my work on the writings of the legendary W. D. Gann, the famous stock and SDPCcommodity man of the first part of this century. I explained that I was not a mathematician (I can hardly spell that word). I used observational arithmetic (looking for _patterns_).
What really intrigued me about your numbers was that there was a cycle of six chart in Gann's work. After solving your question I decided to check that chart and the difference in the numbers (second column) ran down a line on a 60-degree angle, which I knew it would without looking at the chart since it is based on a difference of 6, etc.
Had lots of fun with your program, solved all the tiger and lady questions. Had a little trouble with knights and knaves because I didn't figure them on paper like I did the tiger and lady questions. I plan on going back and SDPCgiving those another look.
Granville Cooley
Paris TN
{Daniel Tobias responds:
Computing differences, difference-of-difference, etc., is often a useful technique in figuring out number sequences. A linear formula like "y = 2x" will produce a constant difference. A quadratic formula like "y = x~^2" (x squared) produces a constant difference-of-the-difference. If higher powers like cubes are used, you need to do more levels of differences to get them to come out to a constant. The technique of difference calculation is part of "discrete mathematics," which deals with sequences of integer quantities rather than continuous curves; its equivalent in continuous mathematics is the derivative, an important tool of calculus. The first derivative is the slope of a curve, while the second derivative is the rate at which the curve's slope is changing, and third and subsequent derivatives in turn measure the change in the preceding derivative. In physics, this is how the distinction is made between position, velocity, and acceleration. Quite a number of formulas have been devised by mathematicians for dealing with differences and derivatives in both discrete and SDPCcontinuous mathematics; you might look for introductory textbooks on calculus and SDPCdiscrete mathematics at a library or bookstore. Used book stores will often have lots of slightly-out-of-date textbooks they'll sell you cheaply if you want to do some self-education on these subjects.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
I have had a subscription since issue 18. I have enjoyed it, although there have been few programs I have used on a long term basis. I like the new look. When there was a lot of discussion about more Windows programs or a Windows edition, I opted to take a two-year subscription. I was a 286 user with 640K RAM and SDPCa CGA monitor when I realized I had to move on if I wanted to use any recent programs. I love Windows now that I've tried it, and prefer to use it although I'm perfectly capable of using DOS. I never buy DOS programs or use them except for ODM [Softdisk PC].
Programs that I have used long-term: All graphics, Family Tree, PC-MD, Grocery Kart, Print Shop Utilities 5, PCX 'Rangler.
Give us some real Windows programs.
Barbara Gray
Mentone AL
{Daniel Tobias responds:
We are launching a Windows edition now, and you can switch your subscription to it so that you get nothing but Windows items. We will be sending you a flyer soon giving more details on this -- maybe even with this very issue. (This sort of marketing stuff is never entirely certain until it actually goes in the mail.) You don't have to wait for the flyer, however; you can call 1-800-831-2694 right now for more information or to switch your subscription.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Folks,
I enjoyed the disk (#93) immensely, especially the Paragon game, and I'm enjoying it even more now that I figured out how to use the save feature and not have to start at the beginning when I ran out of balls at the 7th level -- which I still haven't mastered. Seven seems to be my nemesis with your games, since I also can't get past the 7th level of Pony Express Pete. Help, help. How do I get the bear to shoot the Indian... or do I have that backwards? Must have been drinking the moonshine.
But I digress... The only fault that I find is with the Yellowstone Info program. Shame, shame on you. If you are going to do a travel info brochure type thing, at least don't make it look like a third grade book report that was copied from the inside book jacket at the 11th hour. Why didn't you mention the Norris Geyser Basin, just full of active geysers, where the tourist can get an almost hands-on view of the activity; or the Mammoth Hot Springs at Park Headquarters where one sees antelope on the hill above the hotel in the evening; the Hayden Valley where moose and SDPCan occasional grizzly are seen early almost every morning. Also, are the trains still running to West Yellowstone and what about horseback riding in the Park? They used to have wranglers at both Tower Junction and SDPCnear Old Faithful. Besides the trumpeter swans there is also a large pelican, yes I said pelican, population on the Yellowstone Lake in the Park. You can even go snowcatting in the Park during the winter season. Please do your homework next time. You see, I worked in the Reservation Department at Park Headquarters during college summers and SDPClike most of the college workers, became quite familiar with the Park and SDPCalong with them, hold fond memories of my experiences there.
Thanks for letting me spout off... no pun intended.
Capi Pike
Lincolnwood IL
{Daniel Tobias responds:
The Travel installment on Colorado (on issue #95) has more in-depth information. We hope you liked it better. Our research is limited to the reference materials we can find and the personal recollections of those of our staff who have traveled or lived in the area being researched; we lack the budget to send our people out there to check the facts personally.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Editor,
Have enjoyed my subscription very much, and the reason for not renewing is because I will be leaving for a six month period without any mail forwarding. My computer will be packed and stored, so no way to use it for a while. When I return, I'll inform you and renew at that time.
Have enjoyed the games, solitaires (after I catch on how to play), sleuth, icons, quiz, and best of all, screen savers. Love Gossamer. Will be anxious to see what you have when I return. Keep up the good work. I live right outside of Yellowstone Park so made a printout from your Travel Yellowstone for my daughter who came to visit. Helped her to decide which part to see.
Virginia Hellweg
Cody WY
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
You have a great mix of programs that I would never go out and buy. I always enjoy the surprise of each month's contents. I think you do a great job of keeping everybody happy. What about some Print Shop Deluxe graphics (in colour)?
Richard Webb
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
{Daniel Tobias responds:
Since this publication originates in the USA, you'll have to take your color graphics without the "u". I know of no conversion program to change the graphics to Canadian-style "colours."
But, seriously, we have had a number of requests for Print Shop Deluxe graphics, and may look into it, but our artists don't presently have the tools needed to work in this format.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
How do your files know to transfer as a group when I copy a program to my hard drive? I have put games on a disk and SDPCthey work as all files needed are on the disk, but it's nearly impossible to find all files for one program. It must be how you write the files, that they stay together.
Larry Welch
Tucson AZ
{Daniel Tobias responds:
Our shell (issue menu) program has a list of which files pertain to which program, and it uses this when copying them. The files themselves don't "know" what program they are part of, so when you copy a bunch of them together onto your own disk you can't always see which belong together. We try to use file names that show their relationships, like using the same extension for all data files for a particular program.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
Your disk programs (on #94) are interesting and useful once again. Last two issues show marked improvement.
I like to write and SDPCuse batch files. These help me avoid long paths and multiple paths to load programs. I never get tired of MS-DOS tips and tricks!
DOS Manager is exceptionally well written and fills my needs.
Charles R. Robb, Jr.
Springfield MO
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
An error in the Bible quiz (#93):
Isaac had 2 sons. Jacob had 12. The quiz should have said "Jacob" where it had "Isaac."
Bob Jensen
Colorado Springs CO
{Daniel Tobias responds:
Thanks for the correction. Obviously, we failed to adequately proofread that quiz file. Such errors do creep in from time to time despite our best efforts.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
Check your programming for "Travel: Yellowstone". The online "help" text continues beyond the apparent end of the text with many pages of what appear to be "programming" symbols. It's garbage to us non-programmers.
Lewis E. Aston
(no city given)
{Daniel Tobias responds:
Actually, it's garbage to us programmers, too. That program had a bug that caused it to fail to realize the text was over, and then it proceeded to list random sections of memory. This doesn't harm anything in your PC, but it sure looks funny. We've fixed it in later installments of Travel.
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
I have sent in results (secret words) each month and have not seen my name on the list. What happened? I was told I could fax the results.
Mary Rembowski
Miami FL
{Daniel Tobias responds:
Your name appears in the Hall of Fame column in issues #95, #96, and the current issue. Maybe your earlier responses came in too late for our issue deadlines, or got lost in the mail; or maybe it just ended up in the wrong department here, as there was a bit of confusion as to the processing sequence for report cards before I was placed in charge of getting the secret words, captions, and printable letters from them. (I have also received a letter from Boyd Thomison, Guymon OK, asking why his Hall Of Fame entry and cartoon caption weren't used; it turns out his response to #91 came in too late, but he is in the Hall of Fame this month for his response to #94.)
--Dan}
^C{----------}
Dear Softdisk,
In Criss Cross (#94), when you select Horizontal you get Vertical, and vice versa, so words don't go in the right places.
Granville Cooley
Paris TN
{Daniel Tobias responds:
Actually, the directions are correct. You probably misunderstand the on-screen prompts. When you're in Horizontal mode, the Vertical button is visible as a means of switching modes, while the Horizontal button is grayed-out because you're already in Horizontal mode. It's the reverse when you're in Vertical mode. Thus, the mode that you see written in bold letters on the screen is the opposite of the current mode you're in. Once you understand this, it's easy to see what mode you're in, which is also indicated by the highlighted spaces on the grid which go horizontally or vertically depending on which mode you're in.
(.txt)