On Disk Monthly's * * * M A I L B A G * * * LETTERS ------- It shows that you are truly working hard to continue to improve ODM. I have enjoyed each issue more and more. You do seem to be listening to your customers, myself included. I especially enjoyed issue #69's Super Crossword. It's GREAT...please continue that feature. I recently saw an advertisement for a shareware program which claimed to be able to convert graphics compatibility. For example, .PCX graphics could be converted to .TIFF, and so forth. I did not purchase the program, but thought I'd suggest that kind of program for the future. Keep up the good work. --James A. Gillman, Pensacola, FL PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Thanks for your kind words. Other subscribers also enjoyed Super Crossword and would like to see more of it. You will, see more of it but probably not on every issue. The question of regular features was raised on a recent Report Card. Some people would like to see certain programs, such as Word-Up, on every issue. Others want and expect all-new and unique programs on every issue. We'll continue to give you the best of both worlds. Also, your graphics converter idea is a good one. We will add it to our subscriber "wish list." * * * RECENT REPORT CARD REMARKS: ------ ------ ---- -------- I enrolled in ODM because I could use it with a 512K RAM and CGA monitor [computer]. What happened? I cannot run everything. --James Kennedy, Jonestown, PA PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: You don't say how long ago you became a subscriber, but since issue #61, our minimum system requirements have been as follows: an IBM or 100% compatible PC, 640K RAM, CGA or better graphics (this includes your monitor and graphics card), a disk drive (any size), and MS-DOS 3.0 or higher recommended. When DOS 5.0 became the "norm," our DOS requirement changed to MS-DS 3.0 or higher REQUIRED (around issue #67). While you should be able to run most of the programs on each issue, you won't be able to run some that have a lot of graphics, i.e., require a full 640K of memory. You state that you have a 286 computer. You should be able to upgrade your RAM to 1MB for about $40. If you want to go even further (save those pennies!), you can buy a VGA graphics card for around $100 and a VGA monitor for around $250. I also recommend that you upgrade to DOS 5.0 if you haven't already. You'll save in RAM and can load any TSRs in high memory. Start saving (and shopping for the best buys) now. * * * Why is it that when I leave a program, I have to return to the logo and restart? --Robert G. Chaplick, Wheaton, MD PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: I hope you don't mean the Softdisk Publishing animation when you say "logo." If so, call our toll-free technical support line and let's find out what's wrong. If you refer to the ON DISK MONTHLY logo, it is a part of the ON DISK MONTHLY main menu. From there you may run or copy any program on the issue. If you run our programs from the menu, you'll return to it each time you exit a program, not to the DOS prompt. * * * Explain how to use .PCX and Print Shop. --Charles Eastman, Rochester, NY PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: While our Print Shop Utilities program will allow you to view and print Print Shop images, you must own either Print Shop or the New Print Shop (both are commercial software) in order to fully use the Print Shop images you'll find on many issues. Those programs will allow you to place the images in correspondence, on labels, etcetera. Likewise, to do more than view, clip and print .PCX files by using PCX 'Rangler on this issue, you must own a program--word processor, page layout and drawing programs are the most common--that will import .PCX graphics. If you have such a program, run the program and import the image(s) into it. 'Rangler cannot export the images into another program for you. If you don't know whether you own software that will allow you to use Print Shop or .PCX, check your software manuals. * * * What's the difference between Family Tree 3.0 and Enhanced Family Tree? [Also, the] "save" feature on Super Crossword wouldn't work. I kept getting "Error Saving Rome.SXP." --Robert A. Jensen, Colorado Springs, CO PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Besides giving Enhanced Family Tree a "facelift," Family Tree 3.0 is much more powerful, includes more features and solved a few problems that have surfaced since Enhanced was published. You may not have reached that point yet, but Enhanced has a limit on the number of entries. 3.0 is limited only by your disk space. The update also imports and exports GEDCOM files, which makes it compatible with other geneology programs. In short, it may look a lot like last year's model, but only until you look under the hood. I believe your Super Crossword error resulted from saving to a full or almost full floppy. Call us for a replacement disk if you have more problems. * * * DTP uses .PCX graphics. If you could separate the graphics, I could use them. ...Every ad says there will be demos. I haven't seen one since issue #44. --Boyd Thomison, Guymon, OK PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Separate or clip those .PCX images with the PCX 'Rangler program on this issue. Then look in our back issue catalog at all the other great .PCX graphics we've published. As I only came on board with issue #66, I can't comment on demos before that. We haven't, of course, included any with the last few issues. We'd love to send out more demos, but keep in mind that other companies generally pay us to send out a demos of their products as a form of advertisement. On an upcoming issue, however, you will receive a scaled-down version of a game developed for our Gamer's Edge subscription disk. It's sort of a fully- functional "demo" (for EGA or higher graphics systems). * * * More Print Shop graphics...games like Nucleon--very addictive. [My] high score, so far (after having it 24 hours), is 17,450. --Cliff Franklin, Redding, CA PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Like you, I'm addicted to Nucleon. It requires me to think. One wrong choice and the game's over. It requires me to act. If the clock runs out and I've left 10 or more "blocks" on the screen, the game's over. It causes me to keep playing because I'm sure I'll be able to score more when I play the next game. Three hours later I "awaken" and feel drained of energy.... My husband and I argue over who gets to play it first. It's a keeper. * * * [I'd like to see a] food shopping guide where we could program what aisle an item is in and print out our food shopping list by aisle number. --Michael T. Call, Seabrook, NH PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: You are really a lucky guy. That's one of the many features of Grocery Kart...a program on this issue of ON DISK MONTHLY. * * * The ODM menu is fairly good. Could you get away from the mouse leaving the screen when returning to the main menu? It is somewhat aggravating to [have to] click to get the mouse to return. --Lawrence DeFilippi, Andalusia, AL PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: What's really happening when you "return" is that a graphic ad (we call it a Marketplace billboard ad) has been superimposed over the menu. You'll see a new billboard ad every time you exit a program until all the ads (usually around 5 ads) have cycled through once. The mouse isn't on the screen because you really aren't "in" the menu; you're "viewing" the ad. When you click the mouse or press a key, you're "exiting" the ad and going to the menu. As documented in the User Guide, there is a way to turn these ads off. And when you do, you'll have a mouse pointer every time you return--without clicking. To do this, simply start the issue from the DOS prompt by typing the following: GO /NOAD (instead of just typing GO), and then press return. * * * I would like to put Family Tree 3.0 on my hard disk, but cannot find the right menu command. --L.H. Gilbertson, Overland Park, KS PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: The best way to copy Family Tree is to boot up our disk and use the copy feature of the ON DISK MONTHLY menu. Once the menu is on the screen, select the Copy/Info button (on the bottom left corner of the screen). Select the Copy Single Program button that will appear on the right side of the screen. Family Tree 3.0 should now be highlighted (on the left side of the screen). If you're not sure that it's highlighted, scroll with the arrows until you're certain that it has been selected. Press Enter. You'll be prompted to type the path (i.e., disk and directory) to which it will be copied. A default path of "C:\ODM" will already be in place. If you do not change it, ODM will create that directory on your hard drive when it copies the program. You may delete the default and type in your own path, if you prefer. Press Enter again and the program will copy to that directory. Exit ODM until you are at the DOS prompt, then run Family Tree 3.0 from your hard drive. You may also copy Family Tree by using the DOS copy command. Read your DOS manual if you are not familiar with this DOS feature. * * * Another poor issue [#69]. Hate the crude graphics. Very few programs received in the last year that I could use. Way too much fluff--too many games. How about some meaty business, management, personal productivity software. The kind of programs we've been getting from you are available elsewhere for way less money. Your service used to be very helpful, especially PC Businessdisk, but anymore there is nothing of value to me. Every issue is a bigger disappointment. Even on my 486 your software is very slow! PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: I'm quite proud of the fact that our highest graphics, EGA, are quite good. However, I do plan to include VGA graphics in future programs when possible. But compare the amount of disk space (uncompressed) that a full-screen SVGA or VGA graphic requires to CGA or EGA (highest resolutions only): CGA full-screen graphic.....16K EGA full-screen graphic....112K VGA full-screen graphic....154K SVGA full-screen graphic...394K Obviously, the number of programs per issue would have to drop in order to put VGA screens on every program. I don't know how our other subscribers might feel about that. If you think ODM is slow now (I assume you mean floppy access speed here), wait until you start loading VGA graphics--especially if they have to be decompressed--from a floppy. Subscribers, if you have a hard drive, I once again suggest that you copy the entire issue onto it and run it from there--at least until you decide which programs you want to keep on your hard drive and which you'll archive on floppy disks. It is a fact that hard drives are 30-40 times faster (access/load time) than floppy drives. In response to your comments on our content, I urge you to send me specific program ideas for new programs or a list previously-published programs that you'd like us to update. I am open to ALL ideas. There are only three restrictions: program size (one program obviously can't fill an entire disk), necessary development time (we must develop most programs on a four-week or eight-week schedule) and balance (a mix of program types is ODM's current and successful niche). PC Businessdisk did have a useful, business-oriented content. Unfortunately, its narrow focus never attracted enough subscribers to make it a truly viable subscription disk and it was canceled after only eight issues. Letter may be shortened or edited for clarity. Mail your letters to: ODM Mailbag, 606 Common St., Shreveport, LA 71101 * * * T H E E N D * * *