The Original Shareware 1.1/The Original Shareware (WeMake CDs)(Volume 1.1)(CDs, Inc)(1993).iso/32/ok203.zip/WHATS.NEW

Text File | 1987-09-22 | 20KB | 327 lines

                                   WHATS NEW?
                Being a continuing update on the system of OPTIKS

        RELEASE 2.03, September 23, 1987
        NEW:
        Fixed OKI Routine (of course, no way to check it). Made similar
        fix to Centronix routine. Added EMS memory paging. I am testing
        under an EMS emulator which pages to disk and it is slowwwwww.
        Last pages of display are EMS pages. Added JLASER Copy function.
        Those who have both an IX-12 scanner + laser printer, now
        have a very expensive low quality Xerox machine.
        Fixed a very squirrely bug in bload routines. It was only
        evident in bloads with interlaced screens. On writes it
        could lock the machine, on reads it would cut the screen in
        half. I am doing what is called a "Perfect Shuffle", but I
        am having trouble reading my own code and I hope I have solved
        the problem. It works for me, but I don't know why. I am trying
        to support new JLASER code, I have added screen widths of up to
        8192 pels wide. I have set the EMS memory up to 4 megs and
        tested this in a Truvel scanner when I was in LA. I read a
        PCX file into OK that was 12 inches by 18 inches at 300 DPI.
        I am not sure, but no other product can do that. The EMS moved
        smooth as silk. I have had questions about converting very
        large files. If you have EMS memory you can do things like
        convert WIPS to PCX, but the odds are PC-PAINTBRUSH will
        not be able to handle the big file. Crop or shrink the file.
        Fixed a bug in copies going to upper left. It caused a line
        garbage to appear at top of copied image. Fixed flip which
        could flip wrong lines. Fixed an EMS allocation bug that could
        trash LEMS ram disks. I think it may have been my problem, but
        I am still concerned that LEMS has a bug.
        IX-12 scanner is reported working at last, but I made some
        code changes to scan routines which may impact it.
        Found bug in JLASER code, but received new JLASER specs from
        Henderson so I had to rewrite most of it in order to support
        600x300 and other new JLASER specs. I am not using the new
        JLASER specs yet as I have not had time. If you want to scan
        set all options using IX-12 or Princeton and then scan. The
        only difference between IX-12 and Princeton is that the Canon
        Driver seems to have been updated. Added automatic detection
        and utilization of MicroSoft Mouse drivers. You have to use
        mouse.com or mouse.sys before using OPTIKS. I have only
        tested this with my Logitech mouse, not with a real MicroSoft
        mouse. I have frozen on entering OK a couple of times. It
        may be the mouse detection routine or a false mouse reading.
        The feel of the mouse is not so bad as the Mouse Systems
        mouse driver I wrote for OPTIKS. It runs a little smoother.
        (The left button is Return, Right is Esc).
        COMPAQ model III's can use the AT&T type screens. I turned off
        verification for selecting COMPAQ screens. There is no
        automatic detection for COMPAQ because despite promises from
        the guys in Texas they never sent me the specs on how to
        detect the COMPAQ ROM signature for machines with the screen.
        I don't like it when I am lied to like that and I was not
        going to support them (just leave the "OPTIKS is an Evolv.."
        message to annoy COMPAQ people), but it turns out some power
        OK users have the machine.
        Made changes to ART files on reports of strange things
        randomly happening. (By the way, First Publisher has a
        bug and screws up the ART files it is reading, even ones
        it created itself!, OPTIKS can create ART files too big
        for first publisher and FP says they are not valid files.)
        Added fill patterns for line drawing, some are weird. Lines
        can be up to 8 dots wide. I will be using these for all dot
        and line routines. I need suggestions as to what patterns I
        can put in the 16 wide x 8 high fill grid. I have 18 patterns
        now, but could use another 30 or so.
        Alt-I (for index) puts the finger location on the upper right
        hand corner. This only works when the finger is on the screen.
        Added IBM Proprinter support (I think). Added Fat bits. They
        are alot of fun (try zoom, under the image menu.) Use Alt-Z
        from a display screen and never, ever use Alt-F.


        Known and Unknown bugs:
        I used to have problems with the image functions in EMS
        memory. After the last fix, they seemed to go away, but the
        interaction between real memory, Jlaser EMS and other EMS
        is complex and I am not sure I have gotten rid of all possible
        conflicts. I have no way of directly testing so I hope all
        of you Guinea pigs are ready to reach for the red switch.
        There are reports that Star printer support does not work.
        Without specifics I cannot be sure what is happening. Star
        printers are cheap, but I would hate to buy one just to test
        OPTIKS. As you can imagine from the size of OPTIKS and the
        kinds of problems I am having that the complexity is getting
        to be a problem. Each change is beginning to impact the
        entire system, especially things at the root of the program
        like memory paging. It may take a few releases to even
        find out about some subtle bugs. Please be patient with me.
        OPTIKS is not tested under DOS 2.xx this time.
        I would like reports on freezing up on entering OK. Is it the
        mouse driver or is it my code?

        Coming soon:
        In November I will begin advertising in small magazines
        a version of OPTIKS. It will be the private version without
        any of the coming features or flacky routines. I will be
        cutting out all the printers which I cannot verify (which is
        most of them) and any of the file routines which I cannot
        verify with the actual product. (Degas, for instance).
        I will charge $90 for a one time sale with Docs on the disk,
        no graphics or other goodies. Subscribers will still get
        the "interesting" version, and there will still be a public
        version for the BBS's. I will only be getting a few dollars
        a sale as there will be someone else's name on the ad and
        they will have phone support and MC/VISA and will do all
        the diskcopy and headache stuff. I can code without worry.
        Lots of stuff is supposedly in the mail to me, including
        TIFF, FAX and ISF specs, new GIF specs and CCITT code for
        use in TIFF and ISF. (CCITT is what caused the two month
        delay last summer in the first shipments of OPTIKS.)
        I have been promised a JLASER board (talk about check in the
        mail. I'll never see this one). I have my clone back and I
        spent 2 days rebuilding the graphics library the graphics lib
        is about 3 months out of date, but the database will be updated
        with all the new macs on PC-Rockland and I will ship it out
        very soon. I still have an old Data-Copy scanner (200dpi)
        on loan and will try and get some good graphics, now that
        Zarkov (my clone) is back in action.
        Scewing will have to wait until I go back to the image
        routines. (I have to re-learn the code.)

        ****************************************************************
        Everything below here is left for historic purposes only.


        RELEASE 2.02, August 15, 1987
        Change in policy:
        With the August 18, 1987 2.02 issue I am beginning
        a new policy towards support. I will continue to support
        those who paid, but I am a programmer, not a disk copier or
        mail order service. I know I can't handle the business
        aspect of OPTIKS so I will hold off asking for support in
        terms of money until after it is done. I will continue to
        mail out the subscriptions that I owe, but I am going to
        concentrate on writing this and everyone will be happier.
        In the mean time the Public version is free to circulate and
        I will keep the private version to myself and the existing
        base of subscribers. Sysops, please remove the order form
        from any 2.01 or 2.00 releases that you come across.
        Thanks.

        New:
        By my count there are just under 300 menu selections to
        choose from. This is mind boggling. 90% work, many are
        intermediate choices. The actual number of executable
        routines is a little over a hundred. Something for everyone!
        Under 20 are subscriber version only.
        Added all image manipulation except Scewing (TILT). Have
        a tentative line drawing and box drawing algorithm, but
        no color support or patterns, which I would like to add.
        LOTUS .PIC files. I left off the labels and titles as
        OPTIKS does such a poor job with the Fonts. Until I can
        do major rework of fonts it will remain that way. Had Post
        script going, sort of, but heard about encapsulated post
        script so I'll leave it disabled. Fixed (again) the bug
        in wide graphic loads, which should help the scanning
        problem. Added PFS First Publisher .ART files, mainly
        because I like first publisher so much. Fixed a bug in
        PC Paintbrush+ file reading. Alt-C clears screen. Alt-L
        does line drawing. Added various screen massagers to clean
        up images or add special effects. EDGE is my favorite.
        Repeated use of EDGE gives great results. Added a file
        header check routine. Added an option to read MAC files
        even if they may not be MAC files. (SuperPaint uses a
        file format which OPTIKS chokes on.) Made a change to
        to EscK printers which I hope will help and not hurt.
        I had major blockage and almost became a monk after trying
        without any success to finish ISF and TIFF files. This is
        the main reason I was so late. I find by ignoring these
        files I can work now, but they are still there, ready to
        turn my life into a living hell if I cross them again.
        I do not have a complete description of IFF files and can't
        seem to find one. The new compuserve graphics file specs are
        incomplete. I have PGA file code in place, but no place to
        put it in menu. I have (finally) all Mouse Systems Paint
        formats and will attack those soon. I added a centronix
        line printer that my company bought, but have not been
        able to test it. Either they let me test my program or
        I burn the printer manual.
        Coming soon:
        I will finish TILT next and look at file formats again. I
        will finish TEXT. I would like to have some reformatting
        options like a publishing package, but I think this might
        a little overkill. I would like OPTIKS to be as good as
        Ventura or even first publisher, but it is a bit graphics
        program and I have no provision for text other than converting
        it via fonts to graphics. I have a new ellipse algorithm that
        (beleive it or not) came to me in a dream. I can't get it to
        work in a basic prototype program - yet. Your own algorithms
        may be nasty and slow, but they are yours and you love them.
        The old PCRGB ellipse algorythm was fast, but it was too
        ragged for polite company. The only thing it had going was
        that it was 100% mine. No Bresenham or cheat quick code,
        it was all mine and and no multiplies, all shifts and adds.
        I will hold off on EMS memory, but will add the JLASER. They
        are not comptible conceptually. I have no clear notion as to
        how to use memory for a picture and also use it for the JLASER
        printer and scanner interfaces. OPTIKS uses 32k segments for
        holding pictures. It looks like LIM memory uses a 16k page.
        I will be paging my segments into 2 16k LIM pages. Has
        anyone come across a way to do this kind of stuff neatly?
        It seems I will be maintaining page tables and doing much
        very slow swapping of pages. It would be nice if these problems
        were solved. The JLASER code I have grabs all of the memory
        for formatting a picture (or reading from the scanner). I
        would hate to use that code and then have to take it out
        so I can use virtual picture pages later. I need some help
        for this one.

        RELEASE 2.01, July 10, 1987. (Over a month late)
        New:
        Added 5 context sensitive help screens. Added hooks for
        comprehensive help. Fixed bug in GEM write. Fixed Menu
        descriptions in print. Fixed Print File bug. Added Function
        key support for range. Added typeing and font support.
        Fixed bug in file load. Added ISF (disabled until it works.)
        Added several new file formats. Added a GRID. Fixed many
        typos in menu trees. Added JLASER, (disabled for this
        release until I find out if I can used JLASER's code).
        Added configuration display option. Documented Font
        converter program and included 22 fonts with program.
        Completed four easiest IMAGE functions.

        RELEASE 2.00, May 24, 1987. 3-1/2 weeks late.

        New:
        Everything. This is the first public release of OPTIKS since I
        froze PCRGB at the end of April. I am about half way through
        implementing the features of PCRGB in OPTIKS. It may appear that
        there is little difference between PCRGB and OPTIKS. If you use
        it for a few minutes you will realize that much has changed.
        First: OPTIKS now has a name, a Logo and sound. Many of the old
        PCRGB function keys don't work the same way. Esc, F10 and the
        cursor keys are always active. The work space is now fixed so
        that you cannot cross borders. I thought I would miss this
        feature, but I don't. There is a little pattern at the bottom of
        the workspace which is put there by the erase procedure to let
        you know when you reach the bottom of the workspace. The
        workspace is configurable to 1024, 2048 or 4096 pels wide. The
        default is 1024 which allows you to view long thin pictures
        (READMACS).
        Going from left to right on the menu:
        FILE allows you to get files (RETREIV) save pictures to disk
        (SAVE) combine files by adding them to a workspace (MERGE) and
        it allows you to list out files (LIST) as though you were
        issuing a DIR/W. You can change the default drive and/or
        directory (DEFAULT) or scan directly into the workspace (IX-12).
        There are 24 kinds of files that OPTIKS will support (most are
        implemented now, the rest in a release or two). You will have to
        work your way down through the menu to get to each one. Use the
        cursor controls and the enter key.
        WORK allows you to change the characteristics of the workspace
        and the program defaults. CONFIG is the option to change
        configuration information such as the virtual worksheet, the
        talker (check it out at least once) the default screen type (if
        you have more than 1) and the printer options. You can KEEP the
        information so that OPTIKS will start up with the default set
        for you.
        BREAK allows you to set INT 3 break points for use with DEBUG.
        If you are nosey, you can use debug to check out how I do
        things. Have fun, just don't release any hacked versions of the
        program.
        SCREEN allows you switch the screen modes.
        MACROS allow you to enter keyboard macros to simplify tasks.
        After entering a macro you can use ALT-1 to ALT-9 to start up
        the macro. The macros are kept in the config file so you don't
        have to reenter them. I have yet to write a DOC on Macros, they
        are easy to use and will get easier. I need suggestions as to
        what macros would be good for and what features I should add.
        ERASE erases.
        Back up to the main menu, PRINT lets you print things either to
        a printer or to a file. If you print to a file, you can later
        shoot the file out to the printer. Before you can print anything
        you must enter a range. If you don't have an IBM compatible
        printer you must change the configuration data. If you are not
        using LPT1 you must set the proper printer port. The GO item
        prints out the file. The PAGE item issues a page eject to the
        printer and the LINEF issues a line feed.
        With this issue, IMAGE, DRAW and TYPE are not yet implemented.
        (I am working left to right).
        COMING SOON:
        By July 4th weekend I hope to have all of IMAGE done and most of
        DRAW and TYPE. I will have completed TIFF and IFF files and had
        feedback on the system, hopefully fixing any reported bugs.
        Whenever draw and type are done I will implement Lotus PIC
        files. I have this feature working in prototype, but it needs
        the line drawing feature. I will have a test version which may
        (or may not depending on the stars) write postscript files and
        read some of them. I will release several minor issues before
        then, but OPTIKS 2.10 will be seen in early July.
        KNOWN BUGS: All unknowns, but I doubt if printing is trouble
        free. It went in much too smoothly, and I can't test anything
        except the Canon laserbeam printer which never was a problem. I
        hacked a few GEM files and got what I think is the format. I can
        read GEM files (at least all those that I have) and I can write
        a file that I can read, but have no confidence in them. I can
        only test things like PCX and MSP files by reading what I write.
        I don't have most of these products and only sketchy outlines of
        the format. I think I have done as complete a job as possible,
        but I am counting on my users to identify problems for me. I
        can't figure out what I was doing wrong with the AMDEK 1280 in
        PCRGB and I am afraid that I have replicated the errors in
        OPTIKS. If anyone has the IX-12 scanner, let me know if it works
        with OPTIKS. I am thinking of buying one.
        ABOUT SUPPORT: I have received a great deal of support form Dave
        Wells at Canon. He is very knowledgeable about graphics and is
        interested in making sure that the Canon line is used and
        useful. If you have Canon stuff, give the Lake Success office a
        call and see if you can get through to him. He might even give
        you the number of the Canon BBS. The people at Paradise have the
        best tech support staff I have ever heard of. The card is great,
        but the support is far better than anything I have ever
        experienced. I would recommend the Paradise line without
        hesitating to anyone who is looking to buy an EGA. STB put me on
        hold for an eternity on a long distance call to Texas and never
        got back to me with the information I requested. Tseng Labs sent
        me some nice tech docs on their stuff, they offered me a board,
        but I could not afford another monitor so I turned it down.
        Tseng actually talked me out of supporting their Zoom option,
        but are looking forward to the release of VGA-like cards. Many
        nameless people at big board manufacturers treated me like they
        don't need me so I will not be supporting princeton or vega or
        genoa or video-7 or ATI or AST or quadram. Let them eat Aldus!