On Disk Monthly's Issue #74 * * * M A I L B A G * * * LETTERS ------- Thanks so much--issue #72 was superb! The Print Shop Utilities (5.0) and graphics, which included fishing lures, butterflies and states of our nation, were a real surprise. I will get lots of use from them. I took advantage of your two-year subscription extension offer back in September because of your attention to both .PCX and Print Shop graphics. Thanks for the opportunity! Will you be getting involved in some higher resolution Print Shop graphics? I love Mailbag. I learn several new details each time I read this column. Each month I immediately print it out, read it, then highlight your best suggestions and corrections! I would like to suggest that you please put the ODM issue number back with the Mailbag title. If I upgrade my XT with CGA to something bigger and better, like a 386 with VGA, do I need to let you know? Sheree McKee Clarkston, MI RESPONSE: Glad you enjoyed issue #72. Since so many subscribers are into graphics, we'll continue to publish "old" Print Shop and .PCX on alternating issues. We have no plans to add high resolution Print Shop images for Print Shop Deluxe at this time, though we will keep a close eye on it. How many subscribers have bought this program? As you probably know, New Print Shop will convert "old" or original Print Shop images to "new" format (so will our Print Shop Utilities 5.0 published on issue #71). And Print Shop Deluxe will "import" New Print Shop images, so there is a way...albeit roundabout. Sheree, I put the issue number BACK on Mailbag just for you. Finally, unless your new system means that you need a different disk size, you don't need to let us know. * * * I thought that I would send you a short note just to let you know that I still am enjoying your subscription. I sat one day and figured out how to play the solitaire game (it helps to read the instructions). That is an excellent game. I really enjoy it. I was also playing with Grocery Kart, which is an excellent program. I noticed you stopped the ball from exploding on the last issue (you know the ball that explodes and Softdisk appears). I was reading some of the complaints about the menu. Personally, I think it looks great and I don't see any need to change except to improve it, if it can be improved. Being Canadian, one program that I would love to see is a metric conversion table. Something to think about! That's about it for now. Lance Compton Duncan, B.C., Canada RESPONSE: Thanks for the kudos. Yeah, the "ball" animation is neat, but we'll pull it off an issue when we run out of space before we pull a program. That's why it's missing from #72. I like your metric idea enough to explore it further. * * * I gave DOS Manager (#70) top rating on the Report Card, but as I've continued to use it I've grown to appreciate it even more. I depend more and more on DOS Manager to view [downloaded compressed files] and tell me what they contain--especially when I'm seeking a particular file I want to upload elsewhere. This is much easier than going to specific directories to view them with their native archiving utility. So far, DOS Manager has proven perfectly compatible with DR DOS 6.0 and SuperStor compressed files on my hard drive, as well as uncompressed and archived files on my floppy drive. Keep up the good work. John R. Dye Olympia, WA RESPONSE: DOS Manager is on all our hard drives here. * * * I have a few comments and suggestions: 1) I would like to see "first letter" highlighted hot-keys for launching menu items, such as in Departments. I am one of those who prefer to do most things from the keyboard, and using arrow keys and Enter just involves more keystrokes. 2) After reading a Mailbag letter on issue #72, I wondered: why don't you publish a separate product or version for those with 512K, monochrome, XT's and the like? Admittedly, I probably don't fully realize the complexities involved, but you might retain or gain a few customers! Those with "older" systems should be willing to accept less-than- spectacular representations of your offerings, since they probably aren't used to color VGA-style graphics anyway. Although I'm sure many of the more advanced games, etc., wouldn't run at all on such systems, perhaps these people could at least access 80%-90% of each disk's contents. Would something like this literally involve writing two completely different versions (CGA and EGA/VGA) of each feature? 3) I would love to see a "Questions and Answers" column. I myself would probably write in asking about the differences in graphic modes. 4) Yes, all of the screens that continually assault you as you maneuver through On Disk ARE annoying, especially when it requires a key press to get rid of them. If they must exist, have them appear for a second or two and then disappear. Oh, my God! Is it possible? Subliminal messages from On Disk Monthly? Devin Kuhl Minneapolis, MN RESPONSE: I'll keep your "first letter" idea in mind. At present the menu isn't set up to accept that type of input. We've had so many complaints from "mousers," however, that we're making every effort to allow you to click your way through everything, only using the keyboard when necessary for entering data. Maybe you'll become a mouser? A separate product is always an option. That's one of the questions that we'll have a better handle on when you've all mailed in your Graphic Surveys (Editor's Corner on #73). Currently every program (except the Catacomb Abyss Sampler on #72) has CGA and EGA support, which means separate graphics for graphic programs. Unless our minimum graphics requirement increases (it's currently CGA), we feel we have to publish programs that CGA customers can use (no matter how "ugly" some of them may be because we were forced to use 640 x 200 two-color, hi-res CGA to "match" 640 x 200 16-color EGA screens). And yes, we would have to develop separate versions of practically every graphics program were we to attempt to do them in both 4-color CGA 320 x 200 AND 640 x 200 or 640 x 350 EGA. These resolutions just don't mix and match. Send in your questions! They'll be answered right here in the "Mailbag" column. I'm reluctant to add yet another department button to an already crowded screen, but there's no reason why I can't split "Mailbag" up into "Letters" and "Ask ODM." Bring 'em on! I hear what you're saying about the "screens." If you're referring to the "ads," well, you can turn those off by pressing F5 when the first one appears (or by running the issue with "GO /NOAD" from the DOS prompt). However, each program will continue to have a two-screen title sequence (if that's what you mean). We do this for several reasons: 1) each program is now developed as a stand-alone, so that when it's copied away from the menu or sold as a separate product it will be ready to go; 2) we have to make sure you see, or at least have the opportunity to see, all that "not shareware," warranty and liability stuff to keep our lawyers and corporate types "happy"; and 3) our programs continue to be uploaded to bulletin boards and conscientious BBS managers continue to remove them when they spot the "not shareware" message. * * * I requested and received a Back Issue catalog from you. After looking through it, I realize I still have a problem finding what I need. I publish a newsletter for a tennis club and am looking for appropriate clip art. Is there anyway you can tell me which issues contain tennis clip art? Jane Hess Redwood City, CA RESPONSE: I checked with Steve Maines, the head of the Softdisk Art Department, and learned that we have never published any tennis-specific clip art. However, your letter did give us an idea for the next installment of .PCX (slated for issue #76). * * * I am writing you to express that after three months of my subscription I am still hoping to receive a more useful product and to share my program ideas with you. First of all, each issue of On Disk Monthly does have a mix of programs--productivity, financial, graphics, utilities and games. But please change the program mix! Do publish more programs that utilize the beautiful graphics your art staff creates. I am a computer artist and would love to see a draw and paint program. I also do computer animation. I have Windows 3.0 and would like programs which can be incorporated into the Windows environment, and I would like to not see any more games. I am not a games person and I feel that the space could be better utilized with the suggestions that I have made. Some of my ideas for programs that would utilize your graphics are: a utility for capturing any graphic screen and saving it as a .PCX file, a draw program that would allow me to modify existing .PCX images, a program that would allow me to turn .PCX images into Print Shop images, a greeting card creator that would import .PCX images, and an update to your previously published "Certificate Creator" that would also import .PCX images. I would like it if you responded to my letter because I don't see that you are using my suggestions or responses to the report cards that I have filled out. However, I will look forward to seeing one of my ideas on a future disk. Thomas A. Marino Providence, RI RESPONSE: Most of the program ideas you mentioned ARE already planned, but you won't see them all on one issue because we must develop them one at a time so we create the basic building blocks for each of the others. Be sure to read Editor's Corner since I talk about this. The one idea that we aren't sure about is one that will allow you to turn .PCX images into Print Shop. The two formats are so dissimilar that I'm not sure if or when you'll see this one on ODM. If you find a shareware utility that does this, download it and pay the author. All Print Shop images are the same size (88 x 52 pixels), while .PCX images can be any width by any height. It might be possible to do a one to one pixel capture, but that might mean you'd "capture" such a small section that it would be unrecognizable. You might be able to reduce the .PCX image to the proper pixel width or height, but in many cases it would lose so much detail or be so out of proportion that you might as well start from scratch. We'll investigate this one further. I can't promise that our program mix will change any time soon. ODM has always had the same basic mix. It's what the majority of our subscribers signed up for and now expect. Some subscribers might agree that the mix should change-- they just might prefer games or utilities over graphics. Any major program mix or format change might also mean a major change in our subscribership. We ARE investigating other programming avenues, such as Windows. However, the difference between DOS and Windows is so great that each platform really needs its own development team. Look for the paint program that's been in development for a couple of months in a couple more (issue #76 or #77). Programs like those you suggested can't be developed in a 30-day development cycle. * * * I have been a subscriber since BBD #52. I have seen great improvements in programs and graphics since then. I especially find the "Mailbag" interesting. Keep up the good work! I do have one problem with ODM issue #70. When I load PCX 'Rangler, my mouse stops working. The mouse works on the other programs fine. Please help. Ronald J. Magga St. Clair Shores, MI RESPONSE: You mouse will work fine on PCX 'Rangler if you run it from DOS (not from the menu). This has been corrected on a re-mastered issue (#70). You may call 1-800-831-2694 to request a re-mastered copy. * * * Over two years ago I received "The Best of Big Blue Disk," vol. 2, as a bonus for re-subscribing to PC Magazine. Among the software it contains is a program called "Label Printer," by George Leritte. I tried it and find it very useful. It has one draw back. It does not sort alphabetically as it is supposed to. It sorts the majority of the names OK, but then it zaps in a name out of alphabetical order. I thought that maybe, if I could contact Mr. Leritte, he might have a later version that will sort 100%. Lawrence E. Roberts Steinhatchee, FL RESPONSE: George is a staff programmer here at ODM. He hasn't updated "Label Printer" and is scratching his head over why it isn't working properly for you. He suggests deleting any entries that don't sort properly and re-entering them, making sure they don't contain any spaces or non-standard characters. You might also want to check out Label Meister on issue #73. * * * I have enjoyed my subscription to ODM since I started at issue #34, and the service (such as when one issue was stolen) has been marvelous. I have only one request: could you include a mergable file with each issue so that the INDEXER (from issue #64) can be updated without having to type it all in? Keep up the good work and the CGA support! Bruce M. Strong Jr. Massachusetts (by fax) RESPONSE: We stated that we'd do a quarterly update to ODM Indexer (also published as ODM Librarian). We have--we were just a month off on the last update (ODM #73). We'll continue with the quarterly update as planned. * * * This issue (#73) was pretty good, but I couldn't see the Dilbert cartoon. My computer constantly read the drive. The disk light just stayed on, but no cartoon. Disappointing. Another thing wrong with this issue was Label Meister. When I got my subscription, I received a Bonus Disk. There was a label program on it, too. There was a form program on it, too, but I must say that Form Fill has its advantages and disadvantages compared to Form King on that disk. A few issues ago, I think I read something in departments about a disk jacket-making program being on its way. Well, what issue will it be in, or did I imagine the whole thing? The utilities were great; they always are. I must say Simple Format 2.0 is a god-send. I have been on some type of computer most of my life, but I never remember format commands. Thanks for that one. In Mailbag in issue #73, there were references to problems with .PCX 'Rangler. I have not encountered any problems, but how often do you guys find glitches in programs and then update them? Just curious. Greg T. Robertson Fountain Inn, SC RESPONSE: I'm not sure why you couldn't see Dilbert. It IS on the disk--I just looked at it. One way you may be able to see it is to run "SHOWTOON.EXE" from the ODM #73 floppy disk. Any key or mouse press will take you back to the DOS prompt. Your computer, however, will remain in that graphics mode (320 x 200) when you exit. You can reboot or use one of your own utilies to return to your usual mode. I'm sorry that you feel we've "duplicated" programs. We haven't. Like Label It, Label Meister does make labels. It also is an upgrade to a program that many long-time subscribers are still using (Mail Master), and it works great as a simple "address book." Form Fill and Form King are two different concepts with similar names. Form King allows you to create "graphic" forms using text, boxes, lines, etc., that were to be printed, photocopied and filled out by hand. It's more like a page layout or draw program. Form Fill allows you to create text documents in a word processor that can be filled out at the keyboard (or printed and filled out by hand). Some great applications for Form Fill include fill-in-the-blank quizzes, simple invoices, form letters, legal forms, etc. You didn't imagine reading that a disk jacket-making program will appear on an upcoming issue. That hasn't changed. It just hasn't yet been planned for a specific issue or assigned to a programmer. I often have to write Editor's Corner long before the content for the next issue is settled. That's why I use the phrase "upcoming issue." While I'm thinking about it...how many of you would like the jacket -making program to make jackets for both 5.25" and 3.25" disks? Let me know. We DO re-master an issue when we "fix" one of the programs on it. Issue #70 (PCX 'Rangler) was a good example. How do we decide that a fix a is necessary? Well, a "no" answer to any of the following questions typically means a fix. Does the program run? Does function "x" work? Can you still use the program if function "x" doesn't work? Can you win the game or play until you've reached the limits of your ability? Can you load, save or print your data? A fix can be handled in two ways: 1) a re-master shortly after the original publication date (for severe problems), or 2) a program upgrade on a future issue (for minor problems that may be annoying but don't keep you from utilizing a program). Finally, please remember that we can't correct a problem until we've figured out what's causing it, and that may not be a quick process. * * * This letter is mainly about Klondike2. I have played many klondike card games on computer and this one is probably the best on the PC, but I do have several complaints and suggestions. The instructions are excellent and are included with the game and not as a separate file. The game plays well. It is almost easier to use the arrow keys for moving the cards than the mouse. I played a game and the score was 78, which I was allowed to enter on the score board. A few games later I scored 128 and again entered the score. The next few games were no good, and then I ran the deck, scoring 500+ and put my score on the board. Then I ran into trouble! A little while later I scored 176, but the program skipped the score board. I had another copy of the .EXE and played again. Once a score was on the board, I was not given a chance to enter a score unless it was higher than the highest score shown. Unless this was deliberate, there is a bug in the game...and if it was deliberate, it makes for a poor game. The other minor complaint is that there is no way to reset the score. The ?.HI file is not written in ASCII and cannot be edited with EDLIN, etc. I hope to see a note of this in a future Mailbag. Stan Kendall Barrington, IL RESPONSE: We plan to re-master ODM #71 around the first of December--because of Klondike2. We'll check into the scoring problem you experienced and make sure the re-master reflects that, too. Subscribers experienced two main problems with Klondike2: 1) it wouldn't run properly on a PS2/25 (because of MCGA graphics), and 2) the mouse won't react properly if it isn't "driven" by a fairly up-to-date mouse driver. We've solved the first one, but subscribers will still need a recent version of their mouse driver in order for Klondike2 to work properly. Why? Because older mouse drivers were written BEFORE 320 x 200 VGA (256-color) mode was available, so they don't "recognize" it. Klondike2 utilizes this mode (as well as CGA and EGA). Finally, you can't "edit" the scores file, but you CAN "clear" it by simply deleting the ".HI" file (as documented in the Help text). Klondike2 will automatically create a new one the next time you run it. The same is true of most of our recent games, but read the Help text to confirm this before deleting the scores. * * * Mail your letters to: ODM Mailbag, PO BOX 30008, Shreveport, LA 71130-0008 or fax them to: 318-424-0174 NOTE: Letters used in Mailbag may be edited for clarity and length. Due to the volume of mail received, every letter cannot be published. We try to include at least one letter on each different topic as disk space permits.