ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/ABANDON/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, The abandonware conundrum
The abandonware conundrum
Paul Brett muses on a RISC OS problem.
You may recall that in last issue's PD column I was hopeful that a number of previously abandoned RISC OS applications would once again become available. So far there isn't really much news on this initiative, which is not greatly surprising. There are a number of issues involved in this process. Firstly you might think that the author of an application would hold the copyright. This is the normal state of affairs, in the United Kingdom if you write something then you own it. However once must realise that if an author takes an application to a publisher then the publisher may require the rights to that application as part of the deal.
Imagine this scenario. In the early 1990's an author writes an application. They take it to a publisher who agrees to pay them an upfront fee (for the rights) and a royalty payment based on sales. In addition the publisher also agrees to pay a fee for future improvements made by the author. The publisher carries on selling the application for a few years. Eventually sales tail off. In the meantime the publisher has diversified into Windows software. This proves to be a more lucrative business so eventually the RISC OS software stops being sold. Then a couple of years later the publisher is bought out by a larger rival. The original staff from the Acorn days have now long since gone. The buyer of the original publisher caries on trading in Windows programs.
Now the original author would like to get the rights to their application back. The rights rest with the buyer of the original publisher. However nobody in the buyer's company knows anything about RISC OS. Not only that but what's their motivation for granting the rights back to the author? Is there any money in it?
The authors dilemma
Here the author faces a dilemma. They could just decide the "take" the application back and "freeware" it themselves. They might be able to argue that the current owner of the rights is in breach of contract by not selling and/or promoting the application, but that could involve a trip to court. The author would also be acting illegally in doing so, although the chance of getting sued is absolutely miniscule. The other approach is to try to find someone in the new company who is prepared to do the work involved in releasing the application back to the author. Sometimes it is worth the author offering to make a small payment to assist things along and to cover some the legal costs that could be involved. This of course assumes that the people who hold the publishing rights can actually be found.
In many cases it's almost impossible to find the owners of the publishing rights. A large number of software publishers that operated in the early 1990's are no longer trading. They may have simply shut up shop and ceased trading. In this instance it might be possible to find the owners and ask them politely for the rights back. Often the owners of the publishing rights have no further interest in the application and will be happy to oblige.
The publisher went bust
This is perhaps the worst case example. The company that purchased the rights went bust. This can be very difficult. If the author is lucky then the contract they signed might say that should the publisher cease trading the rights will automatically revert, but in some examples this is simply not the case. The rights to publish the application would be an asset. If the author was aware of the company's collapse at the time and the author was owed unpaid royalties then they might have been able to claim the rights back in lieu of payment. Assuming they did not or were not able to then the situation can be rather complex.
The rights to the application (and hence the right to earn money from it) would be an asset. This may well have passed to one of the company's creditors. This could even be a bank. It's quite possible that a number of high street banks own the rights to RISC OS applications without even being aware of the fact. In the case of a limited company a liquidator will have been appointed. They will have been given a list of assets. Although in at least one example that I am aware of the list of assets did not include the rights to the application concerned. Instead the paperwork had strangely disappeared. In this example the author would be very unlikely to be sued by the rights owner if the made the application available.
So where do we go
It's a difficult problem. If the rights owner still exists then it might be possible to get the rights back, especially if the rights owner has made no effort to market the application for some time. If the rights owner can't be found then things are much more difficult. The author could just say "damn it" and release the application themselves, but they could be liable. Luckily the United Kingdom does not have the concept of "Punitive Damages", so the publisher wouldn't get much by suing, but they might suddenly pop out of the woodwork.
There is one final thing worth noting. The publisher will have the rights to a program called "X". Any author worth their salt will have their own code libraries that will have been used in application "X" and in other programs. So it might be quite easy to argue that the publisher retains the rights to "X", but that the author can release a similar application called "Y". The recent "Insignia" vs "TextEffx" scenario might ring a bell here. Although Cerilica owned the rights to the name "Insignia" the author was able to get right rights back provided the application was made available under a different name, in this case it's original name of TextEffx.
Getting the rights to software back can be very difficult. Given that the author will probably be giving it away for free they would be very unlikely to want to spend a great deal of time and money on the matter. There is one final thing that's worth remembering. Contracts relating to rights are a civil matter. The owner of the rights will need to take action to "protect" those rights and it might not be worth their while either. Lets face it if they haven't earned any money from the application for ten years they might not even know they have the rights anymore. It's not as though the RISC OS market is so large that anyone outside it is likely to take much notice.
Let us hope that more authors are able to get their currently abandoned applications once again available for the benefit of RISC OS.
Paul Brett
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/ARTWORKS/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, ArtWorks Made Easy
This book was originally published in 1993 and so is based on Computer Concepts' ArtWorks, that is, versions of ArtWorks up to 1.7. Later versions of ArtWorks produced by Martin Wuerthner (ArtWorks 2) have many extra tools and some dialogue boxes may have additional buttons and icons. These are described in the documentation supplied with these versions. However, ArtWorks' main drawing tools are the same and so this book still provides a very good basic guide for anyone new to ArtWorks.
Some minor changes have been made to the book to bring it slightly more up to date, but some sections, particularly Chapter 2 Installing ArtWorks, which refers to the "dongle" used in early versions, do not apply to later versions but have been retained for completeness.
Contents
14: Preparation for Print
Monochrome Photocopying
If You Don't Have a Printer
Colour Photocopying
Litho Printing
Preparing for PostScript
Colour Separations
15: Hints and Tips
Save Selection
Multiple Copy
Drawing Town Plans
Tracing Sprites
Rulers and Grids
Problems
Printing Graduated fills and Blends
RISCWorld
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/AUDWORKS/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, AudioWorks
AudioWorks
The complete manual...
All rights reserved. No part of this publication or software may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission of APDL/ProAction. Such written permission must be obtained before any part of this publication is stored in any form in a retrieval system of any nature.
APDL/ProAction have no direct control over the use to which this product is put and therefore offer no warranty, implied or otherwise, relating to its use for any purpose other than that for which it is intended.
The product described in this manual is the subject of continual development and, while all efforts are taken to ensure that the information given is correct, APDL/ProAction cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage resulting from the use or misuse of this product.
APDL
39 Knighton Park Road
Sydenham
London SE26 5RN
Phone: 020 8778 2659
www.apdl.co.uk
Introduction
Digital Sound Samples
Volume
Frequency
Digital Sound and Sampling
Sample formats
Bits per sample
Sample data format
Mono and Stereo
Terms used in AudioWorks
Sample Frequency/play speed/sampling rate
Samples
The Current Sound Sample
Tutorial
The Tool Icons
Positioning the cursor
Selecting part of a Sound Sample
The Level Marker
The Keyboard window
The Sample Menu
Loading and Importing samples
Loading stereo samples
Loading sound-samples from (S)Tracker files
Loading other sound-samples
Creating and Recording samples
Creating sound samples
Recording a sample
5. The Icon-Bar Menu
Info
Preferences...
Alter...
Advanced use:
Keyboard...
Spectrum...
Oscilloscope...
New sample
Close All
Quit
Preference options
Device preferences
Playback volume
Stereo separation
Playback device
Recording device
Display preferences
Colour preferences
Miscellaneous preferences
Multitasking timeslice
Country/Language
Stereo samples
The Sample Menu
File
Info
Save sample
Edit
Clear
Cut/Copy/Paste/Delete
Crop
Overwrite options
Wipe clipboard
Show clipboard
Select all
Select header
Display
Scale View
Zoom in
Effects
Amplify
Centre
Echo
Envelope
Extend
Filter
Ramp
Resample
Reverse
Silence
Utilities
Alter
Make Repeat
Select Repeat
Clear Repeat
Link channels
Make mono
Make stereo
AudioCtrl
The Icon Bar Menu
Info
Show play status
Show preferences
Playing samples
Setting system parameters
General
Events
Appendix A: Mouse & Keyboard quick-reference
Mouse effects
Selection
Keyboard short cuts
Control-keys
Function keys
Other short cuts
This product uses parts of the freeware DeskLib C library.
AudioWorks, Eagle and Impression are trademarks of Computer Concepts Ltd.
Lark is a trademark of Wild Vision Ltd.
Acorn and Archimedes are trademarks of Acorn Computers Ltd.
Armadeus is a trademark of Clares Micro Supplies
Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation
Sun is a trademark of Sun Microsystems Inc.
Amiga is a trademark of Commodore Business Machines Inc.
A Glossary of DTP, Printing and Typographical Term
RISCWorld
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/DISC/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, DiscWorld
DiscWorld
Aaron Timbrell rounds up the software directory
This issue we are giving away a free copy of AudioWorks. This was originally released by Computer Concepts and was then taken over by APDL Normally a copy of Audioworks would set you back almost £15, but for RISCWorld subscribers, it's free.
AudioWorks
The audio capabilities of the Acorn computer have seldom been exploited, but all Acorn 32-bit computers have the ability to play back high-quality stereo samples. AudioWorks provides a complete suite of sound editing functions in one easy to use, low cost application.
AudioWorks is compatible with a whole range of sound files, including Amiga IFF, Armadeus, DataVox, Microsoft Wav, Creative Voice File, Acorn Replay Movies, Digital Symphony, EMR Sound Synth and many more. In addition to playing back from the standard computer speaker, the software can sample from and playback to more advanced audio boards, such as the Eagle MultiMedia card and Lark Sound card.
This screenshot shows an example waveform and playback buttons.
AudioWorks supports 8-bit, 12-bit, 16-bit, linear signed, linear unsigned, VIDC logarithmic, m-law logarithmic, mono and stereo samples.
AudioWorks is supplied with the AudioCtrl utility, which allows you to attach your own sound sample to many different desktop events, such as opening or closing a window or saving a file. You could add a scream when you start your least favourite application and a cheer when you quit. Working with a computer will never be the same again.
AudioWorks features
Features of the software include:
Accurate waveform display with instantaneous zoom
Cut, copy and paste of any selected part of the sound sample
A utility for playing back from hard disc in the background
Effects such as echo, reverse echo, amplify, wave form centering, ramp, pitch and amplitude bending, high and low pass filtering, re-sampling etc
On screen real-time spectrum analyser and oscilloscope displays
Import and export of Microsoft .WAV, Armadeus, DataVox, SoundTracker and RawData format
Full background operation
Repeat loops
Multiple channel and multiple sample operations.
Reviews
"Taking over as the standard for Archimedes sound sampling packages."
Acorn User
"...brilliant! If you are interested in any aspect of sound processing on the Archimedes, AudioWorks is the package for you.
Risc User
The complete DiscWorld line up
As per usual we have our collections of the latest RISC OS games and applications, as well as support files for this issues articles:
AudoWorks
A free full unrestricted version for your listening pleasure.
Games
All the games from this issues games world column.
HTMLink
Dave Holden's HTML linking application.
Letters
Applications related to the letters page.
SDL
A complete copy of !GCC and example files from Neil White's SDL article.
PD
All the latest PD, shareware and freeware releases from the PD column.
ToolBox
This contains two sets of Toolbox Modules. The Castle archive contains the latest 26/32 bit neutral system components, required if you want to run a lot of new software releases on 26bit machines. The RISCOS Ltd archive contains later and improved versions of a number of modules and is suitable for all versions of RISC OS from 3.1 onwards. We have also included copies of SharedUnixLib and UnixHome as these are needed by some programs.
Do you know what one of the main problems facing RISC OS is these days? I do, it's people saying "sod this for a lark I'm going to run Linux." So why are people doing this? Well there are a number of reasons, some we can't do anything about, some we most certainly could. Firstly one of the complaints is slow pace of development on RISC OS. Certainly Castle have just released RISC OS 5.13 for the Iyonix, but that seems to have had 30 minutes worth of quick bug fixes applied. Indeed there haven't been any new features in RISC OS 5 for years. So what about RISCOS Ltd? Well they have got one release out recently, the RISC OS 6 Preview, but it was a preview and it didn't print, or run Impression. Oh dear.
Now I know a full version of RISC OS 6/Select 4 is imminent, mainly because most of this issue of RISCWorld has been written on it. However it's still not quite ready because sterling efforts are being made to deal with any problems that were reported by people using the preview release. Ideally this should be done quicker, but it can't. So why doesn't RISCOS Ltd tell people what's going on? Well that's a double edged sword. If you say anything you get pushed by some in the market and get accused of pre-announcing things. That's a fair comment, the RISC OS market has had lots of things that have been pre-announced but never arrived. People get sick of waiting, then they go away never to return. So it's better to wait till it's ready, which I know will be very soon although this issue of RISCWorld will be out before the full Select release. On the other hand people take silence to mean inaction, especially if prompted to by some rather vocal critics. Here's a thought, it they are so critical of everything related to RISC OS why are they still here?
Which brings me to my next point. I don't know about you but I am on the verge of giving up with the RISC OS newsgroups. Once of the only reasons I remain is to try and catch and correct any nonsense I see from certain RISC OS "experts". I have corrected a few things in the last few months, whilst trying to avoid (with great difficulty and limited success) the firefights that are going on. Most annoyingly you could remove five people from the groups, one of whom has announced that he's "taking a break" anyway and a lot of the antagonism and negativity would be removed at a stroke. The level of nastiness and vindictiveness is reaching ridiculous levels. So look guys, take a deep breath, pause for ten seconds, exhale then leave the keyboard alone for a half hour or so. I know that I am one of partially guilty ones, because I get wound up by some people's attitude. I try not to, but a couple of those on the newsgroups could do with having their heads nailed to a table. Sorry, I'll calm down.....breath in....
Here are the facts. The RISC OS market is a small one. Developers are doing their best with limited budgets. Instead if fighting why not try co-operating? Accept that things won't go as quickly as they like, accept that other people may have a different view and above all try to have an open mind. Give others some slack, try to be polite. If the negativity and the pointless infighting stops then perhaps people will stop leaving. Wouldn't that be good for everyone?
The following is about the vehicular faith, not specifically about computing.
I've been so busy with RISC OS things in the last few months that I haven't had any time for much motoring nonsense. The VW Camper is still slowly turning into ferrous oxide and the Talbot Samba has started joining it. We had decided that the Talbot needed an MOT. Either we were going to start using it, or we were going to sell it. So whatever we did an MOT would be essential. A brief check round revealed that one of the rear tyres had gone past it from standing (the sidewalls had cracked). However with a bit of persuasion the car was started. Then it was promptly stopped again whilst I fixed the fuel leak from the carb. This is annoying as I changed the fuel pump just after the car came off the road and must have dislodged the inlet pipe to the carb whilst doing so. Having sorted this out I did the usual check of the electrical system and after remembering how to get the lights to work they all seemed ok.
Having checked the electrics I then carefully examined the bodywork using the correct Ministry of Transport approved tool (hammer). Within a few seconds I had put a hole through the driver's sill. Never mind, soon after I made a matching hole on the passenger side. I dug out the welder and it didn't take ten minutes to make some repair plates. Indeed not ten minutes, it actually took two and a half hours - still at least the sills were now serviceable. I then checked the front wings, which had started to bubble. They had now stooped bubbling and were fermenting at a surprising rate. Not only that but the flitch plates (where the wings bolt on) had also been attacked by the rust flies. I debated removing the wings but couldn't find a suitably large dustpan. Perhaps some new ones would be in order.
Now you can't just pop into Talbots-Are-Us and pick up some new wings and a quarter of spark plugs. So I consulted eBay. Believe it or not someone was selling two used but rust free front wings. Ah, pretty beauties you are mine. And after clicking on "Buy-it-Now" they were. The seller wanted some extra money for the carriage (fair enough) so we sorted this out and then I waited. Then I waited some more. Having got waiting down to a fine art I continued waiting for the rest of the week. By the next week I was out of patience. I contacted the seller. I got a quick response, "My husband is away on business and won't be back till the middle of next week." Bugger, and lots of other words ending in "er". So I waited some more. The wings still didn't turn up. Perhaps they had flown away?
Eventually I got a message from the seller saying he would chase them up. He then came back later that day and said that Interlink had "lost" them. Apparently a van got stolen and 250 parcels had gone missing. I must say that I am a little unconvinced but I got my money back, but that doesn't help. So if by any chance you happen to have a pair of front wings for a Talbot Samba please do get in touch as I am desperate (and he wants the wings - HJ).
(As an aside whilst checking this I had a blind spot over the word "ferrous". So I typed it into Google. One of the sponsored links was an offer to "Buy Ferrous Oxide on eBay". That's how I found the Talbot Samba in the first place).
Printing RISC World
The new look of RISC World means that you will no longer get the yellow background when printing articles from RISCWorld. However you will still get the blue border on the left unless you turn off the printing of background images. The example below shows the print dialogue box from Fresco.
As you can see the option "No Background" is ticked. If you want to print out any of the RISCWorld pages and don't want to waste ink on a blue border then make sure you have clicked a similar option in your browser.
Aaron Timbrell
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/GAMES/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, Games World
Games World
Paul Brett with the latest gaming news.
Before I start this issue column I fell that I should say that this will be the last regular GamesWorld column in RISCWorld. This isn't due to a lack of interest on my part, but is a reflection of the lack of new gaming releases to actually write about. There have been a number of interesting projects started in the last few months and I will of course return with the GamesWorld column to cover them one they have reached a proper release. It's been getting more and more difficult of late to find enough to fill a column, even if it is every other month and as far as I am aware RISCWorld is the last RISC OS magazine to feature gaming news every issue.
Still that's the bad news over with, now lets move on to the good news for RISC OS gamers this time round.
The Mirror of Khoronz - Derek Haslam
Derek originally wrote a couple of text based adventure games for Acorn BBC computers, one of which was published under the AcornSoft brand name. The published adventure was called Gateway to Karos. Encouraged by the response to the first game Derek then wrote a second one, The Mirror of Khronoz. However in the mean time the world had moved on and text adventure games were seen as so "last year". The fad at the time was for graphical adventure games. So the game was quietly left to one side.
Fast forward a few years and Derek obtained an Acorn A3000. This gave new life to the project and work was started on a proper 26bit version suitable for the more modern Acorn machines. However as often happens over time the project got stalled due to other commitments. However now we can fast forward a few years and Derek has dusted off the old project and completed it. So now we can all enjoy a game that hasn't been seen before.
Being a traditional text adventure game you type in instructions to control your character. However since we are all using RISC OS computers Derek has taken the time to add a mouse based input system. So you can move using a compass control and well as also use left, right, forward and back commands. You can also save your game at any point using the normal RISC OS interface.
I recommend consulting the supplied HTML instructions for more details on what is an excellent adventure game.
Bloody Battlegrounds - Blasts of the Xtreme
Blasts of the Xtreme have now released their second commercial map pack for Heroes of Might and Magic 2. This new pack was released just in time for the SouthWest Show. The pack contains 25 brand new maps, providing a variety of different styles of play but all linked by a shared storyline that continues throughout.
Bloody Battlegrounds should also work on Heroes of Might and Magic 2 running on other operating systems, but Blasts of the Xtreme haven't so far tested this.
In the story you play the role of a loyal knight for King John and must follow his orders, defeat his enemies.
Bloody Battlegrounds costs ten pounds including postage and packing. Payment can be made by PayPal or by cheque. You can get more details from the Blasts of the Xtreme website although I should warn you that the site features some rather distracting and unwelcome popup adverts that aren't connected with RISC OS. However it's worth putting up with these popups as the site also features a number of other resources for RISC OS gamers, including extra levels for a number of well known titles.
SuperDoku - Sine Nomine Software
SuperDoku Version 1.09 extends the existing range of puzzles offered by this comprehensive Sodoku application to include "comparison" puzzles, where you are given a blank grid with arrows to indicate which of two neighbouring values is the smaller. Another new feature is a "notepad" window where users can mark possibilities for squares themselves.
SuperDoku can generate, give hints on, as well as solve:
Normal Sudoku puzzles (4x4, 6x6, 9x9, 16x16, 25x25 and Samurai grids
Killer puzzles (4x4, 6x6, 9x9 and Samurai grids
Hidden word puzzles (4x4, 6x6, 9x9 and Samurai grids
Comparison puzzles (4x4, 6x6 and 9x9 grids
Samurai puzzles contain 5 overlapping 9x9 grids in the shape of an X. They are solved just like standard 9x9 puzzles but with the added twist that 36 squares appear in more than one puzzle and have to satisfy the rules for each. Killer puzzles are Sudoku grids with areas drawn out in which no value may be repeated and where the values in each area must add up to the total shown, as well as obeying the normal Sudoku rules. Hidden word puzzles are just like ordinary Sudoku puzzles but with letters instead of numbers, and when the puzzle is finished a word will be found reading across a row or down a column.
Users can save and load puzzles, print them out to solve in your tea-break or export them as Draw files for inclusion in other documents.
A demo version of SuperDoku which offers 800 different puzzles (10 of each sort at different difficulty levels) is in the games section of the software directory. It costs £5 to register and get the full version, you should consult the supplied documentation for more details.
This started as a simple program to insert the <img.... etc. tagline for a Sprite, JPEG or GIF into an HTML file. It then grew to enable the image to be a link to another file, or image, or a remote URL, or to just insert a text link to another file or URL. Basically, it inserts images or image or text links to local or remote files.
The iconbar menu has two main items, Image and Link.
Image will insert links to images, or links from images (ie. click on the image to link to another file). It is therefore used to create both links and to simply insert a passive image into the page.
Link just creates a textual link.
Clicking SELECT on the iconbar icon is equivalent to selecting Image and clicking ADJUST is equivalent to selecting Link.
Inserting a Text link
This is the simplest, so I'll deal with it first.
Click ADJUST on the iconbar icon or select Link from the menu and the Link window will open.
The top item, labelled Source is the source file you're inserting the link into. Drag this file to the icon and it's full pathname will appear.
The second item, labelled Link to, is the file you want to link to. This can be another HTML file, a text file, or some sort of archive. It can also be a remote URL (see later). Assuming it's a local file drag the file or image you want to link to into the second icon icon labelled Link to and its name will appear.
Before you can create the link you will need some text in the third icon, Link text. This is the text the reader will see highlighted in their browser window and which they click on to make the link.
Now you need to load the HTML file where you want the link to appear into an editor. This can be Zap, StrongEd, Edit, or whatever you use to write or edit your HTML. Place the caret/cursor exactly where you want the link to appear and click on Insert. The link will then appear in your editor.
Remote Text links
Linking to a remote URL, that is, a www address, is similar. Obviously you can't drag the file to the Link to icon, so click on the www link button and the Link to icon will be cleared and www. will be placed in it ready for you to enter the address you want to link to. Enter the link (for example, to link to the APDL web site you would just enter 'apdl.co.uk' after the 'www.') and click on Insert and the text will appear in your editor just as before.
If www.link is selected when you drag a local file to the Link to icon then it will be de-selected automatically and Local link selected.
Opening a link in a new window
If you select New window before clicking on Insert then the program will force the browser to open the link in a new window.
Inserting an Image link
This is similar to inserting a textual link but it's a bit more complicated as there are more options to consider.
Click SELECT on the iconbar icon or select Image from the menu and the Image window will open.
Drag the HTML file you want the link to be inserted into to the top icon, labelled Source and the filename will appear.
The top icons in the Image and Link widows are cross-linked so that a file dragged to one will also appear in the other. This saves you having to repeatedly drag a source file to the windows if you are inserting both types of link into the same file. (See the section 'Relative links' later for more about this).
Now drag the the image you want to insert the tag for to the second icon, labelled Image where it's name will appear. The width and height will be read and show in their icons. You could edit these if you want to expand or contract the image (and if you know what you're doing!).
Sometimes a JPEG's size may not be correctly interpreted. This won't happen with a straightforward image that has been 'passed through' a RISC OS program such as ChangeFSI but there could be problems if it has been created in a program on a Mac or PC. If the program isn't sure of the dimensions it will put a '?' after them. If the numbers look about right (and they usually will) they almost certainly are.
Image alignment
An image can be left, right or center aligned, although some browsers don't support the left and right tags so they might not work as expected.
If either of the Left, Center or Right buttons are selected then the image link will be enclosed in a 'paragraph' structure, in the form -
<P ALIGN="xxx"> ></P>
where 'xxx' is one of LEFT, CENTER or RIGHT.
This will leave a blank space above the picture, which is fine when placing a large image on the page with text above and below it.
Center image is an alternative to the Center alignment button. This will wrap the image link in <CENTER> . . . </CENTER> tags. There be no gap above the image if you use this option.
<BR> after image places an end of line tag after the image to ensure that following text (or image) starts on a new line below the image.
New window will, where the image links to another file, force the file to open in a new window instead of replacing the file currently being viewed.
Insert LF before and Insert LF after simply insert a linefeed character (ASCII 10) before or after the text respectively to aid readability.
Some of these options are mutually exclusive or one may make another redundant. Therefore if any of the Left, Center or Right alignment options is selected Center image and <BR> after are ignored. If Center image is selected then <BR> after is ignored.
Text alignment
The Align text options at the bottom left hand corner of the window are used to define the position of text following the image. In theory Top should see the text continuing from the top of the image, so if the image was left-aligned the text would appear to 'flow around' it on the right hand side. Many browsers don't implement this, so it's best not to use it, except for a short caption. Middle and Bottom mean that the following text should continue from either the vertical centre or level with the bottom edge of the picture. This is normally used to place a small caption to the right of the picture. None is the default, which means that the text will continue level with the bottom edge of the picture.
ALT text
If you want to have any alternative text for your image then enter it into the icon labelled Alt text. This is text which will appear in a browser if the image can't be found or in a text only browser or if images are turned off. Most browsers will also show this text while waiting for the image to be downloaded.
When you have set all the options as you want place the caret in your source file where you want the image to appear and click on Insert.
Linking to another file or image
If you want the image to be a link to another file (or image) then proceed exactly as above but also drag the file you want to link to to the third Link to icon. Its filename will appear there and the appropriate information will be included in the tag inserted into your file.
As with text links you can use an image to link to a remote URL. Click on www.link and 'www.' will appear in the Link to icon ready for you to type the www address you want to link to.
Forcing a new window
If you select New window then any HTML page or image linked to will open in a new window automatically without the user needing to specifically force this action.
Image borders
If you want your image to have a border the width of this in pixels can be entered into the Border width writable icon.
Where an image is not used to link to another file it will not have a border unless one is specified. However, if it is used as a link then, even where no border is specified, most browsers will place a 1 pixel wide border around the image. This won't matter for a 'solid' image, but if the image outline is irregular with a mask it might not be what you want. In so in this case it is necessary to specify a '0' width border, which is why the default width in this icon is '0'.
Vspace and Hspace are used to place an 'invisible border' around an image. This will ensure that text or other images above and below or to the left and right of an image leave a gap.
Clear
This will clear the contents of the window to save you having to blank each field manually.
Image types supported
The program supports the use of GIF, JPEG, PNG or Acorn Sprites as images to be used as links.
Normally the different types are detected by their filetype, and this is the only way that Sprites can be detected, but the program will also accept files types as Data or DOS if their names end with /GIF, JPG, /JPEG or /PNG, equating to the file extensions for these types.
Relative links
The reason the Source File has to be dragged to the top icons is so the program will know where it is and so can work out the relative positions of the Image file and/or links. The program can cope with links to files which aren't in the same directory, whether they're in a sub-directory or a higher level directory. It will try to trace the two paths back to a convergent point to create a relative link.
In fact, once you've established the path to the source file by dragging it to the window if you want to insert links into a different HTML file which is in the same directory as the first file you don't need to drag the second file. It's the position of the HTML file that matters, not the name of the file itself.
Remember that the link will be inserted wherever you have placed the caret when you click on Insert. This has nothing to do with the filename in the Source icon, that is just used as the 'anchor point' for relative links.
Saving Choices
You may wish te have the various option in the main window set to your own preferences when the program starts up. If you click on Save in the main window then the settings of all the option buttons and the Vspace, Hspace and Border icons will be saved in a Choices file and this will be loaded the next time you run the program.
If you click on Reset then the settings in the window will be set to th same values used when the program was started or Save was clicked.
Use with !Edit
During the final testing of this program a problem arose when using it with !Edit. This is something which I had discovered a long while ago, but as I haven't used !Edit for years, I had completely forgotten about it. If characters appear too fast then when its buffer is full !Edit 'loses' characters, typically about every 20'th one. The same thing can happen with some other programs (eg. Pipedream), but !Edit is the only one you're likely to be using to writer HTML.
To avoid this problem the program can be set to send the characters slowly enough so that !Edit can cope. If you look in the !Run file of !HTM_Link you will see a line;
Set Link_Edit_Compatible "On"
If you are using an editor like !Zap or !StrongEd then you can change the "On" to "Off". This won't make any difference to the operation of the program but the characters will appear almost instantaneously instead of the line unravelling slowly.
Dave Holden
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/HUGHJ/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, The Hugh Jampton Experience
The Hugh Jampton Experience
Agado, do do, push pineapple, shake the tree...what fell out? Why it's Hugh Jampton...
Last time I got told off for starting my column with a "welcome to the first column of 2007" comment. Then got heavily edited because everyone else had started their columns in the same way. So this time I will start with something different.
Welcome to the last Hugh Jampton column (whey! - ED) of this volume (oh... - ED). As usual this column has been written by specially trained robot squirrels that select words at random from a waterbut. Sorry, that should have been list. Anyway since we all know the format of the column and that nobody bothers reading it, let's carry on as normal.
The caption competition
As all our keen eagle footed readers will no doubt remember the idea of the caption competition is that I publish a picture and then ask you to send in a funny/amusing/any caption. Last issue I presented you with this:
We had a typically lax response, indeed all that I actually received was:
"No, I was wrong, I'm just not tall enough to lift the wheel off the ground. We'll have to use a jack."
Vince Hudd
"Yep, there's no problem with rust under here, it's all purrrrfect."
Vince Hudd
"Headline news! Vince manages to read an entire issue and enter the caption contest on time!" (Which of course has nothing to do with the caption)."
Vince Hudd
Strangely followed by...
"A general-purpose solution to these problems is under discussion and you should contact Acorn for a copy of the relevant application note." - the RISC OS Style Guide."
Vince Hudd
(For heavens sake that's his sig, you are getting desperate - Aaron).
Well at least we have a clear winner, a man of linguistic ability, Vince Hudd....come on down the price is ridiculous. As a special prize we are giving Vince a luxury DIY brain surgery kit, complete with hammer, chisel and the complete works of Enid Blyton.
Lets now trip gaily towards this issue's competition. Can anyone come up with a caption for this?
As always send anything, even spam for Viagra would be nice, to hughj@riscworld.co.uk.
Now in a break with lack of tradition we will have some funny pictures.
Hugh's picture gallery
Can you spot the problem with this?
Now a sign that really does mean something.
Don't drink and make signs would be more like it.
Shame bears can't read.
Although I doubt drunk people can either.
Luckily spys can.
Now we have a new section for the Hugh Jampton column...
Hugh's comedy links
Since this is a new feature we only have one link for you to follow this time....
So that's what Castle have been working on all this time! Ta ta.
Matt Thompson with the latest news for Iyonix owners.
RISC OS 5.13
This is the main event for this month, an update to the Iyonix operating system. RISC OS 5 is now at version 5.13, which is a free download to anyone running RISC OS 5.12. If you have not upgraded to RISC OS 5.12 then the 5.13 update will not work on your machine.
This release seems to be mainly a bug fixing exercise rather than adding any new features to RISC OS 5. As such the only thing you will probably notice being different is the date and version number on the Task Manager.
Hopefully more visible updates and new features will come later with the open sourcing of RISC OS 5. For a full list of changes in RISC OS 5.13 see the Iyonix website at
You will need to log in with your username and password to download the upgrade, this will have been given to you with the purchase of RISC OS 5.12.
Unfortunately at the time of writing the ROOL open source project has not gone live, hopefully this will happen in the not too distant future, for more information on this see
USB Missle launcher
This new release is something of a novelty. Dave Higton, the man who wrote a program to allow a USB radio work to work with the Iyonix, has now written a program which allows you to connect a USB missile launcher to your Iyonix and then use it to control and fire the missiles!
The USB missile launchers can be bought from various places but I bought mine for £24.99 from
Once you have your USB missile launcher you will now need to obtain the software, this can be found on Daves website at
Whilst this release is not something that was at the top of most Iyonix owners wishlists it is an interesting development and is something else that can be added to the list of things the Iyonix can do. It's a bit of entertainment if nothing else, and I look forward to seeing what other gadgets can be made to work with the Iyonix via the USB ports.
CDVDBurn
This is very good news to see a new release of CDVDburn the CD/DVD creation software, it has been a while since the last update so it is good to see that development is continuing.
The main new feature of Version 2.02b is that support for DVD-RAM discs is now available. This format is better for backing up computer data as it is more reliable. This new version also fixes a bug which occurred during multisession writing.
This new release is can be downloaded from Steffen Hubers website at
Hopefully this is the beginning of a new development cycle for CDVDBurn and I for one would very much like to see the ability to burn MP3s to CD directly rather than having to convert them to WAV format. (Can't you just burn the MP3s as data files with the correct extension - ED). I would also (if possible) like be able to add CD text to CDs as this is a feature I find very useful particularly when I find stray blank CD-Rs with no label. Doing this would make it very easy to find out what is on the CD. Whether it is a payable or free update I don't mind at all.
Thunderbird demo
A slightly surprising release this, given that RISC OS is well catered for already with email programs, but it is always interesting to see a port of a program from another platform up and running on RISC OS to see how it performs.
This release of Thunderbird is not a full release and is released as a demonstration program nothing else, so it is not fully functional.
For those who don't know Thunderbird is Mozilla's email program for other platforms, and Peter Naulls, following on from his Firefox port has released Thunderbird to go with it
I don't know how well it works as I couldn't get it to work at all. The program notes do mention it may not work at all on some machines, so don't be surprised if it doesn't work on yours. If you are interested in having a look at Thunderbird on RISC OS then you can download it from
MiscSetup
This probably should go in the Public Domain column but as this program is aimed at the Iyonix but will work on other machines, I thought I would mention it here. MiscSetup has been around for a while now but has been updated recently and is currently now at V1.09.
Miscsetup adds a number of configurable options to the desktop such as font size, nextslot size and the ability to change the standard Iyonix logo for the Task Manager back to the good old Acorn one. When you install MiscSetup it will appear in the boot configuration options as shown below:
As you can see a new icon has now appeared, by clicking on the MiscSetup icon you can now select and change various options which will then become the default option for the machine until it is changed again.
Miscsetup is certainly worth a look and can be found at
Grapevine
There was a recent update for Grapevine in January, this was a free upgrade, taking the popular program to V2.12. This update fixes some problems that were being encountered by users due to a number of changes with MSN and ICQ protocols. Also a timeout problem with MSN has also been fixed. This upgrade to Grapevine was sent out automatically to registered users.
NetFetch
As I was typing this article an update to the excellent Netfetch arrived in my Inbox. This is now up to version 3.01, and as with Grapevine this was a free update sent out to all registered users.
This new version features a number of fixes which include updated spam rules, spam actions (which can now be set per individual mailbox) and to the handling of RSS updates. Also included is a textfile with a list of rude words - not to be viewed if likely to offended by such words - but this is certainly worth adding to the banned words list to help keep out spam, instructions are supplied on how to add this list to your current list.
For more details on all the R Comp products see their website at www.rcomp.co.uk - the ongoing developments on their internet based products, Grapvine, MessengerPRO, and Netfetch/Hermes is to be applauded as these programs get better and better with each release.
It is a shame their web browser WebsterXL has not had the same level of development as the other mentioned programs, as if it had then I doubt we would have a browser issue anymore.
That's about it for this month in the world of the Iyonix, as ever any comments, suggestions, product plugging or anything related to the Iyonix can be sent to
Back due to a lack of popular demand, it's the RISCWorld letters page...
Welcome back to the RISCWorld letters page. The place in the magazine where, normally, you can find a bit of peace and quiet. But wait, what words from yonder keyboard break...
Dear Aaron,
Attached (zipped), please find the latest version 8.72 of my BBC Basic to Acorn ANSI C Translator. Also my HTML Manual, which may need some considerable editing if you intended to release it (e.g. Melotech no longer exists). I have been working on this translator for over 14 years, since redundancy, and, in that time the world moved on to C++ and Java:-
The latest innovation is that BBC BASIC functions and procedures make their local variables available to sub functions and procedures, unlike the C Compiler with its functions being water-tight compartments. I have now identified such variables and supplied them as arguments in the C code to C sub functions.
The file 'TechNote' both inside !BBC_C32 and in the directory 'Notes' gives more information on the work !BBC_C32 does, and what it cannot translate.
Not really commercial, because it cannot, by definition, always do a perfect job, and it can take some debugging to get the compiled version to work properly. You need to know a bit about C. Sometimes !BBC_C32 falls over completely and produces a blank output file, but it warns you when this is happening.
Well, at least, it has been a kind of hobby and occupation for all this time
Good Night
Martin Carrudus
Thanks for this. I have included a copy of the BBC BASIC to C translator in the Letters directory in the software section of this issue. It's an interesting project, especially given the different natures of the two languages. BBC BASIC is an interpreted language where each line is read in turn and decoded each time it is used. C, of course, is a compiled language where the source code is turned into an executable that can then be run on the target machine. Interpreted languages have no executable as such, only the source that's tuned into chunks by the BASIC interpreter as it goes.
Given the huge difference in the way the languages work it says a great deal for the translator that it is able to produce anything even remotely useable, so I think that congratulations are in order.
Hi,
The subject gives it away. Find attached a zipped Ovation Pro file of two more CD inlays.
Matt
Thanks for these. The two inlays (in one OvationPro file) are in the software directory on this CD. These two inlays, for Volume 7 issues 3 and 4 bring us almost up to date.
Now lets move on to our regular health and beauty section, with "Dr" Vince Hudd, consultant attached to the RISCWorld letters page...
Ullo,
Having given the matter a lot of thought, I've come to the conclusion that either Mr F. Ictional is a time travelling reader, or you made him and his letter up.
Given that I'm a self confessed/self appointed world leading expert on time travel (because I'm half way through not being able to find the time to write a book that covers the subject) I can safely say that Mr F. Ictional is almost certainly NOT a time traveller, which according to Occam means you probably made him up.
I have therefore seen through your little ruse.
Cheers
Vince Hudd
I would like to deal with this letter in two parts, firstly by the power of thought......
....nd (shoudn't this be 'and' - DH) (no it shouldn't, now leave...leave...bad proprietor - ED) secondly using the power of words. Firstly since I have never met Mr Ictional I don't know if he is a time traveller or not. However since I have not knowingly ever met any time travellers I don't have a reference for comparison. Given an infinite universe it's quite probably time for lunch somewhere, and that somewhere is here so I'll be back in a minute, can I get you anything?. You'll have to think louder...never mind.
Right that's better. I wasn't aware that you are a world expert on time travel, by the same token I am a world expert on the lesser spotted arctic wildebeest (of course it's lesser spotted, it's too damn cold for wildebeest in the arctic - boom boom). I'm sorry about this there seems to be a fault with my keyboard. I definately wrote a carefully worded response citing a number of references but what came up on the screen was a load of old rubbish.
I have also never met this "Mr" Occam who you mention. Although I am familiar with a Mr Murphy and a Charles Sod, are they in any way related? Finally I feel that I should also say that my Ruse is always covered up at this time of year, due to the danger of a late frost, and I feel that it's every unlikely that you have seen it, or even worse seen though it.
Moving on I had another letter from Martin Carrudus.
Dear Aaron,
Another improvement to !BBC_C. It was falling over with large BBC Basic programs due to a memory allocation problem. I now have !BBC_C32 Version 8.73, which should be 32-bit compatible, and also be more conservative with the memory (when I finalise it!). I discovered a major way in which !BBC_C was clogging up the memory. Now shouldn't run out of memory with large programs. But if you want that version you will have to apply to me at the address I supply with all my software. Snail Mail, I'm afraid:-( Please say if you want it on CD ROM or floppy disc.
I should like to take this opportunity to thank Andrew Rawnsley, and, more particularly, Andrew Pullan at RComp for their interest, suggestions and valuable technical support. Both were willing to supply me with info, sometimes late at night and out of office hours:-> David Pilling always replied to my emails and, at times, was extremely helpful, despite the volume of correspondence he must receive. As for the others, some were extremely short, rude, nit-picking and unhelpful to me, but I'm not naming names! They don't seem to realise that everyone is a potential customer, and your reputation will go on before you. It all greases the wheels.
Enough of that!
Regards,
Martin
Thanks for the update. I would suggest that anyone who is interested applies to you directly, however please remember to include a blank formatted disc and a couple of pounds worth of stamps to cover Martin's costs. The RISC OS community does tend to work together very well but it's worth remembering, when asking for help from someone, that they might be very busy so expect a delay. Regretfully there are some in the RISC OS community who are very rude, you only have to look at the newsgroups to see examples.
Anyway that's all from the letters page. So, if you would like to contact us don't forget to use the normal editorial
It hardly seems twelve months since the end of the last volume of RISCWorld, but it rather obviously is, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this article.
For the last four years we have kept subscription prices the same. However try as as we can we can't do this for the next volume. So there is going to be a small increase of £3.00 per year. This is because of increased production costs. The cost of the CDs we use has gone up by over 30% in the last 12 months. In addition the changes to the postal rates made last August has increased the costs of sending out each issue.
Standard CD subscription £24.90 UK (£27.50 overseas)
A years collection of six RISCWorld CDs for £24.90 in the UK and £27.50 overseas.
Six RISCWorld CDs delivered every other month over the year
Complete CD subscription £26.90 UK (£29.50 overseas)
A years collection of six RISCWorld CDs for £26.90 in the UK and £29.50 overseas, plus an updated copy of the "Just the Words" CD.
The Complete RISCWorld CD
Six RISCWorld CDs delivered every other month over the year
A copy of the updated "Just the Words" CD, containing almost 1000 articles. A complete record of everything we've published since issue 1
Searchable index allowing you to quickly find any article from the CD
DVD subscription offer £34.90 UK (£37.50 overseas) - save £14.90!
A years collection of six RISCWorld CDs for £34.90 in the UK and £37.50 overseas, plus the latest version of the RISCWorld DVD.
The Complete RISCWorld DVD
Six RISCWorld CDs delivered every other month over the year
A copy of the updated RISCWorld DVD, containing almost 1000 articles. A complete record of everything we've published since issue 1
Searchable index allowing you to quickly find any article from the DVD
A complete set of all the PD and freeware software and games that have been on the RISCWorld CDs
Every single full commercial application we have included, it would costs £1000's to buy all these titles on their own
Note that in order to use the RISCWorld DVD you will need a RiscPC or VirtualRiscPC with RISC OS 4.39 (or later) or an Iyonix with a DVD ROM drive. All the articles can also be read on any computer with a web browser and a DVD drive, this includes PCs and Macs.
Our plans for the next 12 months
We are still working on the next year of RISCWorld, but we can tell you some of the things we have planned:
An exclusive serialisation of Graphics on the ARM, which hasn't been available before
More RISCWorld subscriber exclusive full free applications
Updated versions of our own RISCWorld applications including our HTML tools
More RISC OS specific coverage than other magazines
Lots of applications available directly from the CD every issue
Coverage aimed specifically for Iyonix owners
All your favourite columns every issue
It's going to be an another exciting year for RISCWorld.
Subscriber discounts
Finally don't forget that all RISCWorld subscribers can claim a 10% discount off all APDL, APDL-ProAction, Topologika and iSV Products software titles when ordering directly from APDL. Remember to ask for your discount at the time of ordering.
Renewing your Subscription
To renew your subscription by cheque credit card or debit card contact APDL. Don;t forget to say which of the subscription offers you would like.
By Post
RISC World Subscriptions, c/o APDL, 39 Knighton Park Road, Sydenham, London SE26 5RN, United Kingdom.
By phone
You can ring APDL on 0208 778 2659 (+44 208 778 2659 outside the UK).
By fax
0208 488 0487 (+44 208 488 0487 outside the UK).
By e-mail
By e-mail to subscriptions@riscworld.co.uk.
At a Show
APDL will be exhibiting at all the major UK shows this year, including Wakefield 2007 in May.
Aaron
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/PD/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, PD World
PD World
Paul Brett with the latest freeware and PD releases for RISC OS.
Here we are again at our regular roundup of the latest freely available software releases for RISC OS users. We have a number of updates to perennial RISC OS favourites this issue a well as some interesting new releases. So without further introduction let us see what has been released in the last couple of months.
CashBook V0.99 - Steve Fryatt
We have covered this very nice banking application previously. Steve has said that this is the final beta version and hopes that version 1.00 will be the first version that he considers to be a proper full release. CashBook is a very capable home accounts package. It can track money through an unlimited number of accounts. These can include Banks, Building Societies and even credit cards.
CashBook
CashBook also includes a reporting section that can be used to analyse both income and expenditure. The user can ensure that transactions are reconciled against printed back statements. The application supports standing orders and direct debits as well as regular income payments, such as wages. There have been a number of improvements since the last release, these include:
The ability to sort the contents of the transaction window, statement views and standing order lists on any of the visible columns.
Highlighting of overdrawn accounts or over/under budget analysis headings in the account and heading list window
In statement views, overdrawn account balances can be highlighted and out-of-budget-period analysis heading entries can be shaded
Full support for entering negative values throughout the package
Anyone who is using the previous version would be well advised to switch to this new improved version and to feed any problems back to Steve so they can be rolled into the next release.
Dr Wimp V4.70 - Ray Favre
This is a new release of the popular WIMP development package. Dr Wimp provides a set of libraries and tools that allow developers to quickly and easily develop multi-tasking applications that run in the RISC OS desktop. You can see a range of sample applications that give you some idea of what can be created inside the Examples archive in the software directory on this RISCWorld CD.
DrWimp example programs
Dr Wimp needs a computer running RO 3.60 or higher, users need to be reasonably familiar with BBC BASIC.
Version 4.70 of Dr Wimp mainly concentrates on extending the facilities for the management of menus & sub-menus. Extra parameters have been added to the three main 'user-functions' concerned with menus/sub-menus, giving the programmer a wider range of management options. In addition, the existing 'wimp-functions' used for displaying and printing drawfiles have been extended to allow negative scale values to be accepted - thus allowing back-to-front and upside-down images. Also included is a new manual covering the improvements and how to take advantage of them.
RiscSearch - Patrick Mortara
RiscSearch is the only meta-search engine available for RISC OS. It queries up to 18 different search-engines for a certain keyword and then presents the result in a browser window. The user can then directly jump to the pages found. RiscSearch eliminates duplicate matches and sorts them depending on the amount of engines, which have found the page. At the moment !RiscSearch understands Altavista, Northernlight, Lycos, Yahoo, Acornsearch AllTheWeb, Excite, WebCrawler, Google and Metager pages.
RiscSearch
To use RiscSearch, there has to be some kind of active internet connection on the machine. Using RiscSearch is very simple. Just click Select on the iconbar icon and the query window will be opened. There you can select what kind of stuff you're searching for (Websites, Files, ....) and which engines should be used for your query. RiscSearch tries to be intelligent by automatically choosing all engines which are suitable for your query.
Themes - Little Yellow Moon
Themes is a proposed framework for a theme manager for RISC OS. It comes in two parts. The first part is the !Themes application. This needs to be put into !Boot.Resources. It stores the separate RISC OS themes so that the main theme manager can find them.
Themes
The second part of the suit is the main theme manager, called ThemeMan. This opens a window with a drop down menu listing all the Themes installed on the system. You cam now select the theme you would like to use from the dropdown menu. Once a Theme has been selected, !ThemeMan will add a small file with the name of the selected Theme to the current user's Choices directory (Choices$Write.Themes.Choices). Next time the computer boots-up, !Themes will check to see if there's a chosen Theme, and if so will automatically update the desktop to reflect your selection. If you wish to select a different Theme, or stop using Themes and go back to the RISC OS defaults, use !ThemeMan again to alter your choice.
I shall return with the PD column for Volume 8 Issue 1.
Paul Brett
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/REGDOM/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, Register a domain name with Verio
Register a domain name with Verio
You have an idea - does your business have a name?
Any business venture worth its salt has to be built up around an identity, so that customers can immediately relate to what you’re selling.
One important aspect of that is your corporate image, built up through a logo and the name of the business itself. Thanks to the power of the World Wide Web, it’s now relatively easy to buy an online identity, known as a domain name, which can then be used to front your business when it appears on the Web.
Signing up is actually a quick and simple process, although deciding and indeed getting the actual domain name of your choice isn’t always the doddle that it may first appear to be. After all the Web has been around for a while now, so it’s reasonable to expect that some of the best domain names have been snapped up. However all is not lost. There are a few tricks you can employ to get the name you want and, thanks to an ever-expanding naming process, there is also a wider selection of domain name variations available. For example, once you could only get ‘www.joebloggs.com’ or ‘www.joebloggs.co.uk’. However these days there are all sorts of domain name extensions, such as ‘.tv’, ‘.biz’ or ‘.org’, that can be used to ensure you secure the name you’re after.
It’s also possible to play around with various spelling incarnations of the word you’re after. This obviously won’t work if you already have an established brand name that has already been bought, though. In that respect, you could try approaching the owner to see if they might be willing to sell it, but it’s also an idea to keep an eye on your favourite names to see if the ownership of the domain has lapsed.
Visit a domain name service such as www.verio.com and follow the procedure as outlined in the following steps. Bear in mind that while eBay sellers can actually use their own dedicated URLs, there's nothing to stop you forwarding a registered URL to your own eBay shop; making the experience that little bit more 'business card' friendly.
There are many examples of this on the internet.
Step 1: Check out your options
There is a whole host of options when it comes to finding a place to buy a domain name. Verio (www.verio.com) has all the tools you’ll need in order to search and locate the name of your choice and then ensure that it remains in your possession for the foreseeable future. It's also one of the biggest companies out there.
Step 2: Read the small print
If you'd prefer to pay in pounds sterling, be sure to click the 'Worldwide Sites' link at the top of the Verio window. You can then select the UK site to be redirected to a site with prices in pounds sterling. Given the nature of the Internet, it's sometimes cheaper to buy .com domains in dollars.
Step 3: Search for the domain name
Enter the domain name you’ve chosen into this text field and then select the extension you would ideally like to have, such as ‘.com’, ‘.biz’ and so on. Click on the ‘Check Availability’ button to the right of that in order to see if your chosen selection is available.
Step 4: Decide on a package
If the exact domain name you’re after is not available then you will have to go back and enter a different one, or a variation on the original. Click on ‘Check Availability’ again to get to the next step. You should then select a period of ownership from the drop-down. Verio allows you to retain a domain for up to ten years.
Step 5: Check the boxes
Make your way through the last few options to secure your domain name. Be sure to select a package that meets the needs of your business, over such a term as to ensure that you never lose your identity. If you're selling a popular product, be wary of those who may register names similar to your own for selling inferior product.
Step 6: Finishing up
Once you’ve decided on the name and picked the package, the Verio signup process takes you through the last few windows. This includes a page to which you can add your domain contact details - address, billing and technical contacts. Make your payment by credit card and you're all set.
David Bradforth
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/SDL/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, SDL for RISC OS
SDL for RISC OS
Neil White
Please note that before trying to compile any examples you will need the Castle 32bit SharedCLibrary installed on your computer.
I think I just about covered all I can with regard to SDL related libraries in previous issues, so this time I have chosen to give a introduction to the "joy" that is porting SDL apps. As you can see the word "joy" is in quotes because while a lot of developers will claim their program will be cross compatible in most cases they will have stuck in some Windows specific functions or use a library that isn't available under RISC OS. That said most programs originally written for Linux can be coped with because of the excellent Unix Lib, which allows developers to use most common functions found in Linux and Unix code. So with a little bit of luck a Linux SDL app can be ported with a few minor tweaks to the source code.
The example I have chosen to port is a simple ballfield demo. This contains two c files and a h file (header file).
Porting the Ballfield demo
The first job is to separate the garbage from the code. A large number of Linux apps will come with Linux autoconfigure related files that detect what Linux system you use and where all your files are. These don't relate to us in RISC OS land, so the first job is to delete everything except the c, h and any copyright or readme files that may be necessary.
The second step is to make the files RISC OS GCC friendly. To do this they need to be separated into directorys c and h removing any trailing .c's ( /c's in RISC OS ). As you probably know under RISC OS C code is stored in directories called "c" and "h". Under most other operating systems the files are stored in one directory with extensions on the end of each file to tell the compiler what they are. These two pictures might make it clearer.
This is the directory containing the original Linux source code.
This is the same code tidied up for RISC OS.
As you can see every file that had a "/c" on the end has gone in the "c" directory. Everything that had a "/h" on the end has gone in the "h" directory. Having tidied up the files we are just about ready to go.
The next job is to get a makefile to compile the code for us. Usually I just drag another one across from an existing SDL app and add the file names which we want GCC to compile. If you look in the makefile you will see all the files to be compiled, remembering that to RISC OS GCC main.c is actually $.c.main. As I have said in previous articles, I honestly believe no-one on the planet actually knows everything makefiles are capable of. Basically we need to tell the compiler to compile the separate source files and tell it what other files they need. Then they are all whisked together to a binary executable with some kinda GCC magic. (read the disclaimer from my first article).
Compiling
Now the files have been added to the makefile the nest step is to go head and try to compile.
On the first attempt you can expect to get a pile of SDL functions that haven't been found. This is because the "#include SDL.h" in the original source is not correct. It needs to be "#include <SDL/SDL.h>".
So once all the references to the source files have been changed the program should compile. We now have a potentially working binary. However all may not yet be well. The code can't find the graphics files unless the current directory in RISC OS is set to the working directory.
So you need to delve back into the code and alter each line where it loads a file "balls.png" to "<rwsdlex5$dir>/balls.png".
The path "<rwsldex5$dir>" is set in the !Run file. I appreciate that some might consider this to be a slightly slack way of doing it, but it works. Looking at my previous examples, they use a makefile definition of a 'DATA_PREFIX' which then, in the code, uses anything defined as 'DATA_PREFIX' to prefix the data files required. This ensures that they are being loaded from the correct directory on the users system, keeping the code more cross compatible.
If you were to try to compile the modified source on a Linux box the Linux filer would complain. This is because it would not know what on earth <rwsdlex5$dir> meant. However if there was a 'DATA_PREFIX' this could be set to the Linux users home directory allowing the code to be compiled under both RISC OS and Linux.
Now the !RunImage file knows where to find all the graphics files and is ready to be put into an application structure and used as a self contained program, So after firstly moving files around and secondly bodging the source about a bit, I have successfully ported an SDL program to RISC OS. It might be a slightly pointless one, but it works and the time taken was under and hour. Given that it would probably take a couple of days to write this demo from scratch you can see the advantage of porting existing programs to RISC OS.
Neil White
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/TRUELIFE/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, eBay True Life Stories
eBay True Life Story: Robert Pugh
Bored with the fast-paced life of a business executive, Robert Pugh decided to take a change in direction and to earn his money through eBay. He then wrote a book all about it...
When most of us reach 40, our mid-life crisis makes us do silly things. Whether it's buy a car, go bungie jumping or quit a job with a six figure salary the aim at the end of the day is to get more pleasure out of life.
Having worked for the same company for 24 years, Robert reached his 40th birthday and resigned. Tired of life being so hectic all of the time, he was after a new life. One where it could be taken more relaxed, and where stress has lost all of its meaning. While he'd used eBay briefly before, it now became a potential means to earn an income; hence he adapted his activities to support his new life.
He wrote a book, The eBay Business Handbook, which explains in detail how to build a business on eBay. From selecting stock through to completing that first sale; and ways to promote your listings too. Is Robert regretting his decision to leave work for eBay? Not at all. Life in the fast lane is somewhat lacking when you can't enjoy it.
What first prompted you to get involved with eBay?
It was my former boss who first introduced me to eBay back in January 2003, well he was actually my General Manager. I was a Senior Account Manager with BT and we were at a Corporate lunch at the top of the BT Tower. When your General Manager tells you how lucrative eBay can be, you have to take notice. That evening I logged onto eBay and was hooked. In April 2005 things got a little more serious when I resigned from my job of 24 years to sell on eBay full time, although I was a little nervous.
What was the first item you bought, and were you pleased with it?
I know most people start by buying and then progress to selling, for me it was selling from day one. The first thing I actually bought was a collection of Lego sets, they were all mixed up, but I assembled each set, resold them and made a tidy profit. In my house there are defined roles, my wife buys things and I sell them.
First item sold?
We are going back a few years now to when songs were recorded on large black vinyl discs, it was my collection of Black Sabbath and Hawkwind LPs. My listings were terrible, no picture, poor description and I even misjudged the postage - those were truly happy days.
What was your best eBay experience?
Every time I watch an auction end with the price rising into the final seconds, the rush is still as exhilarating as the first time. Perhaps the most memorable experiences are of the high profit sales; the box of train accessories bought at a car boot sale for £20 and sold for £1,400 and a collection of Napoleonic figures bought from the local paper small ads for £220 and sold for £1,700.
And your worst?
When my computer goes slow in the final seconds of bidding and a screen refresh shows that my bid was just too late!
In almost 10,000 trades I have had three negatives, the first one felt like a personal attack, I sulked for days. My other bad experience comes with non-payers, 1% don't pay and it is a real pain with admin fees to be re-claimed and items re-listed.
What advice would you give new users, when it comes to scams?
When buying, check the seller's details, their feedback and track record of sales. Ask yourself why would somebody offer to sell you an item at a fraction of it's price. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Never deal outside of eBay as you will lose seller protection and make payment through Paypal or by personal cheque where possible.
Remember that by paying through Paypal you are offered a degree of protection should the item not be delivered. In many cases you can make a claim through Paypal and they will refund the money direct to your account.
When selling, only post to a confirmed address and never to Nigeria! Obtain payment before you send the item, sell only within the eBay system.
How would you recommend a new user gets prepared for eBay?
Put on a big pot of coffee, kick back and do some homework. Check out the site, click on as much information as possible and make notes as you go. When buying, compare similar items for price, condition and postage charges. Check out the seller and ask questions if you need to.
When selling for the first time, think small. Size does matter, sell something that is easy to pack and post, learn how the system works, refine your own processes and then expand.
Whether buying or selling, learn how the advanced search engines function, they are very impressive and are invaluable for every eBay user.
What precautions would you recommend?
Whenever money changes hands there will be the opportunity for fraud. However, this is not as widespread as the media would have you believe. Be aware that nobody will sell you a genuine X-Box 360 for £50 and if somebody offers you £300 for your two year old mobile phone if you post it to Romania, alarm bells should ring.
Read the community notice boards and NEVER enter personal details via a link sent to you in an e-mail.
You can find Robert's book at amazon.co.uk or in your local bookstore. Why not take a look at eBay, and search for The eBay Business Handbook. You may find it cheaper than anywhere else.
David Bradforth
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/VA/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, VirtualAcorn Tech Support
VirtualAcorn Tech Support
More from Aaron's tech support notebook
We've been making some changes to the way we handle technical support here at VirtualAcorn Villas. The VirtualAcorn website has a had a technical support section since the year dot, but it's not been well maintained. OK, let's be honest it was a complete shambles. Although it was possible to find things it wasn't obvious where to look. To make things even more silly we had different sections for each VirtualAcorn product, but the text inside each section was almost the same. To pile on the nonsense solutions to problems were not arranged by symptom, but by cause. I know how the support section had got in this state, it had been altered and adapted over time but had never had a proper reorganisation.
Here is an example. Suppose your VirtualAcorn froze with a black screen. You, the user, would need to know that this was a networking issue (the Windows firewall) and look in the networking document. This was plainly daft and something needed to be done.
The VirtualAcorn Knowledge Base
Over the years I have worked on a number of articles about VirtualAcorn. Some have been published in RISCWorld, some have appeared on the VirtualAcorn website and some have been in other magazines. I decided that the first job should be to sort out all the technical articles and to put them all in one place. This proved to be a much larger job than I had first realised. The first step was to collate articles by type. So I started sorting through the text that was already written and assembling it into sensible sections. These fairly soon turned into
Technical descriptions of config files et
Discs and drive
Keyboard and mous
Windows issue
Printin
Some miscellaneous section
Whilst reading through the restructured files it also became apparent that lots of things I knew were not documented. This is the classic "geek" mistake. Because I know it, hence it's "obvious", I didn't need to write it down anywhere. This was a basic mistake. The result was that when I was asked a question via e-mail about something that wasn't documented I would have to write the answer. The next time I was asked I would have to write the answer again. This wasn't a good use of anyone's time. If the answer was available the user wouldn't have to waste time waiting for a response and I wouldn't have to waste time writing the same thing again and again.
So I spent most of my spare time in January and February re-writing the documents. Once I was happy that the structure made sense I then took the useful sections from old RISCWorld articles and included these. Examples would include printing from single tasking BASIC, faxing from VirtualAcorn and date and time problems on copies of VirtualAcorn used outside the UK.
Now I had a large collection of articles covering a lot of topics. However if you are going to do a job you might as well do it properly. So I went to my tech support notebook and also included all the problems and solutions that were included in the rather thumb stained scribbled pages. Now I had a technical support section that was actually useful. The whole lot was uploaded to the VirtualAcorn website in mid February for testing.
If you would like to take a look at the resources (and they are still growing I added new sections only last week) take a look at:
I was now feeling quite happy with a job well done, but one thing was still worrying me...
The VirtualAcorn Technical Support Assistant
A user would still need to have some idea what the problem they were having was. Was there some way of producing a "problem finder" that could narrow down problems and then point the user to the correct article for them? In my notebook I had a section, written some time ago, showing a potential flow diagram for such a thing. It would ask a series of questions with either a yes or no answer and flow down to a solution. This looked like the way to go. I started again with a large sheet of paper and worked through the most common problems, then the less common ones, so that in the end I had around 30 question boxes. These covered over 80% of the tech support issues that show up by phone and e-mail. But how to make it work on a website?
I started looking at PHP as a scripting system to write the "problem finder", now re-named as the grandly sounding "VirtualAcorn Technical Support Assistant" or TSA for short. I spent four days working on a php version which didn't really work very well. So I had a re-think. I really needed to prototype the system first and then reproduce it properly.
Since all the answers would either be yes or no it would be quite easy to make a prototype in plain old HTML. For example suppose a user was on page 1. Then also suppose that they answered yes to a question. You could then have a link to take them to page 2. If they answered no then they would be sent to page 10. I got the prototype running in a couple if hours, then I was able to mess around and get the structure and the text looking right. After another day or to the whole thing was working, now it was time to break out the PHP reference guide.
Then I had a thought. Since the graphics would all be the same on each page (a logo and a couple of buttons) the HTML would be very simple and load quickly. So was it actually worth using a script? I tried it, no it wasn't worth using a script, the plain boring old HTML would do the job just as well. So it got spell checked and fully link checked and then had the graphics added to each question page.
The resulting Technical Support Assistant is now available on the VirtualAcorn website here:
It might not be clever, but it does seem to work.
Was it worth it
Well here is a funny thing. Since the updates to the website went live on the 22nd of February I have noticed something odd. The number of tech support e-mails and phone calls has more than halved! This wasn't the original aim. The aim was to improve the standard of service offered so that users wouldn't have to wait for replies and could get solutions to problems easily and quickly. Given the number of hits on the new pages they are getting used quite a bit, actually given the fact that I am doing less one to one technical support they are definitely getting used. It's a shame I didn't do all the work ages ago.
Aaron
ÿÿÿÿISSUE6/WAKE/INDEX.HTM Issue 6, Wakefield 2007
Wakefield 2007
All the latest show news...
There was a bit of concern expressed recently over the Wakefield show. Some RISC OS users were wondering if it was going to happen this year. Luckily the Wakefield RISC OS Computer Club have put everyone's mind at rest and have recently announced the full details for the show.
The venue
This year the show has moved from it's traditional home at Thorne's Park and instead will be at The Mill House and Frobisher Suite, Stanley Ferry Marina, Ferry lane, Stanley, Wakefield, WF3 4LT. The date has been set as Saturday the 19th of May.
The Mill house is easy to reach by road, as you can see from this map.
Tickets and times
As well as a new venue there have been some other changes for this years show.
Firstly tickets, costing £4.00 for adults with children under six getting in free, will no longer be available by post but can only be purchased on the door. The show will now open at 10:30 which is half an hour later than usual. As an exhibitor I am rather pleased as that extra half an hour can makes things a good deal less rushed in the morning.
Sponsors
The show has the same sponsors as last year. These are
Exhibitors
As every day goes by more and more exhibitors are booking. As we went to press the current list of exhibitors is:
Advantage 6
APDL
Archive Magazine
The ARM Club
Icon Technology
Iyonix Ltd / Castle Technology
MW Software
Qercus
RISCOS Ltd
ST Developments
Virtual Acorn / 3QD
As usual you can expect to see the latest developments and product releases from all the companies that will be attending.
The show website
You can always get the latest show information from the very nicely designed
