Acorn User

FAQ
(frequently asked questions)

We're always happy to receive your comments over the past Acorn User cover CDs and several which crop up time and again are:

  1. Why don't we have everything archived and unarchived?
  2. Why can't I get the HTML front-end (and Web sites) to work?
  3. Why does the layout seem illogical?

Here are the answers.

  1. Why don't we have everything archived and unarchived?
    One of the things I've always found annoying with cover CDs is the way I always need to dearchive software prior to running. If I want to run an app I don't want to be hanging around trying to get the package to dearchive.
    It is (to my mind at least) a small problem that the filenames are all uppercase (this is not strictly true, if you are using Warm Silence Software's excellent !CDROMFS, all the filenames are in the correct case, it is really just a limitation on the RISC OS CDFS which means everything is uppercase).
    Mindful though of comments, I've added an extra directory called "Archived". Here you will find all the programs neatly wrapped up.
    As an added point, CDs have an 8-level directory depth as a maximum which can cause problems with de-archived material, so there may some things which appear archived but not unarchived (or archived in the unarchived section). That's life.
  2. Why can't I get the HTML front-end (and Web sites) to work?
    If you have an up-to-date Boot structure (i.e. the one supplied with RISC OS 3.6 and above or the one on the AU CD 8), the read-only version of Fresco works fine. Prior to that, you will be missing the Internet bits and pieces.
    If you go to the Internet directory, you will find a Boot application. Merge this with your current one and all should be well.
    DO NOT MERGE THIS WITH YOUR CURRENT BOOT IF YOU ALREADY USE THE INTERNET OR THE READ-ONLY FRESCO ALREADY WORKS OTHERWISE IT WILL RUIN YOUR SYSTEM.
  3. Why does the layout seem illogical?
    "Logic, my dear Zoe, is merely the ability to be wrong with authority" (Dr Who, The Invasion) I've looked back at all the past AU CDs and cannot see any problem. Games are in the Games directory, software updates in the Updates directory and company/individual websites are in the Websites directory.
    It's just a matter of personal taste, I'm sorry if yours is different to mine

If you have any comments, or would like to submit to the next AU CD (July 2001), please contact Acorn User at the usual address (Tau Press, 26 Stockport Village, Hooper Street, Stockport SK1 1DQ) or e-mail the CD editor at: aucd@acornuser.com

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These notes were composed by Paul F Johnson and updated by Steve Turnbull.

This CD and its design is Copyright © 2001 Tau Press Limited. It may not be copied or distributed without the prior consent of Tau Press. Failure to abide by this may result in prosecution. (That doesn't mean the contents are our copyright, just the linking pages that we created and the CD itself.)