Archive Magazine 1996/ARCHIVE_96.iso/text/magazine/volume_09/issue_04

Text File | 1996-01-13 | 310KB | 6,590 lines

Products Available
9.4
Alone In The Dark Ö (Alex Card says) This is a fine conversion of a
classic graphical adventure game, the first part of the now finished
trilogy from the PC scene. It has superb 3D polygon graphics and
brilliant atmospheric sound effects. Alone in the Dark costs ú34.99 from
Krisalis or ú33 through Archive.
9.4
Anglia Multimedia now have 20 educational CD-ROMs in their collection.
Two of their more recent titles are Vikings and Seashore Life.
9.4
Vikings takes the user back a thousand years to the sights and sounds of
Viking village life, as recreated by the York Archaeological Trustæs
Jorvik Centre. Characters in the Viking village all speak to explain
their lives and surroundings. Warfare and day-to-day life, craft skills
and husbandry are all brought to life through audio, still photography,
animations and video. The saga of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer illustrates
how the Viking people recorded their own history, and a multiplicity of
maps show Viking origins and their settlement in the British Isles.
Toáassist teachers understand the benefits of CD¡ROM in the classroom,
the disc contains a range of information sheets and worksheets, with
ideas for pupils to follow through.
9.4
Seashore Life, aimed at children in the 7Ö11 range, is the follow-up to
Garden Wildlife, and shows children the range of animals and plants to
be found around the British coastline. All the principal text is
included as sound files and there are video clips from Angliaæs Survival
programmes. For classroom use, Seashore Life is supported with a range
of fifteen activity sheets which help children gain the maximum benefit
from the disc. Making the lighthouse your base, you can choose to learn
about animal classification, or watch videos and animations on TV.
9.4
Both discs are available for Acorn machines, but they work also on Macs
and PCs. They cost ú40 +VAT or ú45 through Archive.
9.4
Anagram Genius is a program to create your own anagrams. It produces
multi-word anagrams and tries to make them relevant to the subject. Each
anagram is individually scored to select, say, the best five hundred.
Searching is very quick, allowing long names, or even short phrases, to
be processed in a very short time Ö short or medium length texts can be
searched in just a few seconds. Options within the program allow the
user to choose between male, female or inanimate phrases; satire,
flattery or normal; with subject matter being political, business or
computer-related. There is a function to allow vulgar words or dropped
ÉHæs to be used. Include with Anagram Genius is a Features application
which allows the user to disable certain functions on the master disc,
making it more suitable for younger children. Anagram Genius costs
ú19.95 from the 4tháDimension or ú19 through Archive.
9.4
Ancestry II is the long awaited follow-up to Ancestry, the RISC OS
genealogy program from Minerva. The software is essentially a database
of individual personsæ records, some linked by partnership of birth
records, to build up the genealogical information. The program has been
redesigned to take full advantage of the RISC OS desktop with
flexibility and ease of use very much to the fore. Files may include any
number of variable length fields which may contain simple text, dates,
sprites, drawfiles, scanned images or almost anything the user wishes to
record. Data can be viewed and printed in a wide variety of ways, or
exported to other applications. Among its features are: unlimited file
and record size; DTP-style control over record layout; tiled output of
large reports; export in Draw and text files; import and export in
GEDCOM format; full colour output; WYSIWYG for all reports and
printouts; a wide range of tree displays including descendants and
ancestors. Ancestry II comes supplied with a data file containing
information on 19ágenerations of the British Royal Family, and costs
ú99.95 inc VAT or ú95 through Archive.
9.4
Ant Internet Suite Ö This suite including email, Web browser, Usenet,
ftp and a terminal emulator (as used by the Archive Editor!!) is now
available from NCS for ú115 inclusive. (ú99 +VAT from Ant Ltd.)
9.4
Archive price rise Ö With the rising cost of paper, etc, we have
decided, reluctantly, to raise the price of a yearæs Archive
subscription from ú22 (UK) to ú25. The overseas rates also rise by ú3
each. This rise will take effect from 31st January 1996, so you have a
month or so to renew at the old rate if you wish.
9.4
ArcTerm7 Ö This well-established terminal software package (originally
from The Serial Port) is now available from Atomwide at ú78 +VAT or ú87
inclusive through Archive.
9.4
Arm Club CD-ROM Ö The Arm Club have put together their best PD and
Shareware collection onto a single CD-ROM disc. Itæs available from them
for ú19.50 fully inclusive.
9.4
CD-Seven CD-ROM drives Ö We have found a source of CD drives that will
take seven CDs at a time. The CDs are fed in one at a time and they can
be selectively ejected one at a time. These are external SCSI 2 devices,
and there are two speeds available, dual and quad. (Nothing surprising
so far, but the staggering thing is the price...) The dual speed seven-
CD drive is only ú350 (including SCSI 2 cable, case, Eesox SCSI driver,
delivery and VAT) and the quad speed is only ú435. If you compare this
with the Eesox speed single CD drives (dual ú205, quad ú250), you can
see that a seven-CD drive costs less than the price of two single CD
drives!
9.4
The technical specs for the two drives are: data transfer rate 300/
600Kb/s (sustained) and 1500/2800Kb/s (burst), buffer memory 64/128Kb,
access time 380/350ms, and both drives are fully PhotoCD compatible.
9.4
CD Tracker Ö This CD player/database was reviewed last month (page 77).
Unfortunately, the pricing was given as ú12.72 but it did not say that
this does not include VAT. The full price is therefore ú14.95 (+ú1 p&p).
However, because the review was so favourable, Werewolf software have
agreed to offer a special price to Archive subscribers of ú12.72 (+ú1
p&p) inclusive for two weeks following this issue, i.e. until 31st
December 1995 (Christmas post permitting!).
9.4
Command Ship Ö Due to diminishing supplies of natural resources, the
Stellar Mining Corporation despatch the deep space mining ship
Andromeda, Time is short and new mining fields must be established and
old ones brought back on-line. öA superb mix of arcade action, logic
puzzles and top quality graphicsò, say TBA Software. Command Ship costs
ú24.99 from TBA or ú24 through Archive.
9.4
Cumana products (NOT now available) Ö During November, Cumana Ltd went
into administrative receivership, hoping to find a buyer to rescue the
company. Sadly, this was not possible and so they have had to close
down. We are selling off all our Cumana hardware cheaply and will do
what we can to help should anyone with Cumana hardware have problems
within the warranty period.
9.4
For CD-ROM drives, Eesox provide us with excellent drives and service
and for SCSI 2 cards, there is Alsystemsæ Powertec card. Cumanaæs
ProTeus drives have been very popular and, fortunately, we have managed
to find a second source of these drives. See below under PD drives.
9.4
Cyber Ape Ö An ape is taken from the jungle and sent to a research lab
for experimentation. The experiments endow him with human-like abilities
such as walking upright. He also gains greater intelligence, which may
or may not be a human-like ability! He escapes and is determined to make
his way home. Cyber Ape is a platform game costing ú19.99 from TBA
Software or ú19 through Archive.
9.4
Darkwood Ö Eclipse have produced öa spooky new 3D graphical adventure
gameò. Talk to the other inhabitants of Darkwood and solve the puzzles
along the quest. The six-disc set needs 2Mb or more and RISCáOS 3.1 or
higher and costs úú24.99 or ú23 through Archive.
9.4
Dazzle is a drawing and painting package from SEMERC, designed for use
in the classroom on all Acorn computers. It can be easily tailored to
suit the individual requirements of Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 learners and is
also suitable for use by children with special needs. Dazzle provides a
palette of 10 to 16 million colours and has a wide range of drawing and
painting features, including: pencil, paint brushes, and fixed objects
like stars, triangles, circles, polygons etc. The line thickness of
fixed objects can be defined separately. Special effects can be created
using the diffuser brush, the tint brush and the water brush. Dazzle
allows the user to create pictures from scratch or use images already
created using a video digitiser, scanner or from Photo CD. A Choices
features allows teachers to restrict or alter the availability of tools,
colours and the size of tool icons. Dazzle costs ú40á+áVAT for a single
user and ú80 + VAT for a site licence.
9.4
Empire Soccer Ö This is Empire Interactiveæs challenger to Sensible
Soccer. Thirty-two national teams, battle it out on the soccer pitch and
youære their only hope! Our reviewer, Andrew Clover, says that it excels
in its graphics and wins over Sensible Soccer by a whisker. The controls
allow you to kick, pass, apply aftertouch, head the ball, tackle, heel
and use overhead kicks easily. Empire Soccer is available from Magnetic
Image at ú25.99 inclusive or ú25 through Archive.
9.4
ESP Software Midi synthesizer Ö This is a software only Midi synthesizer
developed by ESP and comes with a full General Midi set of instruments
providing 128 melodic and 50 percussion instruments. An application is
provided to allow you to select the instruments that are loaded and re-
map them onto Midi program numbers if required. You can balance the
quality of sounds against the number of notes it can play simultaneously
and configure the amount of memory to use for cacheing samples after
which instruments are loaded from disc as and when they are needed. The
synthesizer is designed to work on any RISC OS machine although best
results will be achieved if you have 16-bit sound capability. It will
work alongside applications such as Sibelius to give full playback
without the need for a Midi keyboard or other expensive hardware. For
those people with PC cards in their Risc PCs, this is important, as the
latest version of the PCx86 software supports SoundBlaster sound sample
playback and passes on any Midi files to your Midi card or software Midi
synthesizer! So this product completes the jigsaw to give full
SoundBlaster support. It costs ú39.95 +VAT from ESP or ú45 through
Archive.
9.4
Fist Lore Ö Is, as the name implies, a straight-forward beat æem up Ö
hand-to-hand fighting with seven mighty warriors. The program was
developed in Norwich by Mystery Software and is being marketed by ICS.
The graphics and animation are quite staggering (good choice of words
there!), the sound effects are excellent and the machine code
programming involved is very impressive. (Thereæs a demo on this monthæs
Acorn User disc if you want to see just how good the graphics and
animation really are.) Fist Lore costs ú29.99 inc VAT from ICS.
9.4
Font Emporium from Zenta Multimedia is a CD-ROM of over 550 different
outline fonts. The CD is supplied with a comprehensive and easy-to-use
font selection application which displays full character previews for
all fonts on demand. Also included on the disc are a variety of DTP
files in Draw and Artworks format to make printing out sample sheets
easy. Fonts can easily be loaded into existing font folders, or new ones
can be created from within the font selection application. The Font
Emporium costs ú29.95 inclusive from Zenta or ú29 through Archive.
9.4
Font Directory II is the long-awaited upgrade to the font management
system from Look Systems. Information should soon be on its way to
registered users about how they can upgrade to version 2. The rest of us
will have to wait until the end of January for the full version. In the
meantime, we can tell you that the beta version weæve been using in the
office is very impressive. Itæs extremely fast and comes with a whole
host of really useful features to make font management easy. Font names
can be viewed in a number of formats, including full WYSIWYG. Speed has
been a major consideration in this latest version, so loading fonts
happens extremely quickly. The whole user interface has been simplified
to make using the program much easier. Bundled with Font Directory is a
utility called FontView which gives the user the ability to view
complete blocks of text in multiple windows, at various sizes. Each new
window can work independently of the others and contain a different
font, so it makes comparing fonts very easy. Text can be written
straight to a window or imported as a text file.
9.4
The full version of Font Directory will cost ú45 inclusive. A Lite
version will also be available, for ú25, upgradable to the full version.
Upgrades are available for existing users. Coming later will be a
network version made up of the full version plus the Lite version, and
extra manuals, costing ú150 +VAT.
9.4
FotoFUN is a photographic-quality dye sublimation printer from
Spacetech, which produces high-gloss postcard size photographs from your
digital artwork in under 3 minutes. The quality is as good as
traditional film, producing bright, sharp, clear prints. Using photo
retouching/artwork software with a colour scanner, video digitiser,
Photo-CD, or other input device, images can be retouched and then
printed to look better than the original. In addition to the normal
refill kit, there is also a FotoMUG kit which lets you transfer your
favourite photos onto coffee mugs. The FotoFUN printer costs ú349;
FotoFUN printer with the Spacetech Acorn Driver ú379; Colour consumables
ú39; Postcard refill kit (36 cards) ú43; FotoMUG starter kit (4 mugs,
clamp and instructions) ú39. Spacetech have an introductory offer of
FotoFUN + Acorn driver + colour refill pack + Photodesk at ú499. Add VAT
to all prices.
9.4
Global Effect is a simulation game where, quite simply, you control the
world... or try to do so! As you try to build cities and keep them
running, you will find that there are others who donæt want your
expansionist plans to succeed. Global Effect costs ú34.99 from Eclipse
or ú33 through Archive.
9.4
High speed serial port cards Ö Atomwide have some high speed serial port
cards available with one, two or three serial ports on each card. Each
port can run at up to 460,800 bps and has a 16-byte buffer to improve
its performance and enable it to be used even on slower Acorn computers,
down to the A310. Software support is provided to enable them to be used
with ANT Internet Suite, ArcTerm7, ArcBBS, ArcFax, Hearsay and Termite.
At the moment, these cards cannot be used to provide extra serial ports
for PC cards, but it is only a matter of writing the appropriate
software, which Atomwide intend to do in due course. The single, double
and triple cards cost ú79, ú89 and ú99 +VAT respectively or ú92, ú104
and ú116 inclusive through Archive.
9.4
Icon Technology have released two new versions of TechWriter, the
combined word processor and equation editor, and EasiWriter, the word/
document processor.
9.4
EasiWriter Professional has all the features of the original, but
includes a number of very useful additions such as: index and contents
generation; bookmarks; improved searching; automatic numbering of lists;
crop marks; improved German hyphenation; more flexible white space; save
as PostScript; OLE support; Thesaurus support. Future enhancements,
which registered users will receive automatically as free upgrades, are:
auto numbered chapters and sections; fancy borders; RTF import and
export; and pamphlet printing.
9.4
The changes to TechWriter Professional include many of the above plus
save as TEX. Future enhancements are: improved Text saving; auto-
numbered chapters and sections; auto-numbered equations; fancy borders;
RTF import and export; pamphlet printing and background colours.
9.4
The prices (exclusive of VAT and ú3 p&p) are as follows (with the
inclusive Archive prices in brackets): EasiWriter 3.16 single user ú89
(ú102), site licence ú356 (ú400); EasiWriter Professional single user
ú119 (ú136), site licence ú476 (ú535); TechWriter single user ú149
(ú169), site licence ú596 (ú669); TechWriter Professional single user
ú199 (ú225), site licence ú796 (ú892).
9.4
ImageFS 2 is the latest version of the acclaimed image conversion
software from Alternative Publishing. New features in version 2 include
the ability to export files straight out of RISC OS applications and
convert them directly into foreign graphic files. Also included is a new
Pop-up Preview feature which allows users to rapidly create previews of
graphics files before committing themselves to loading them. Also
included is a fully functional Lite version of a brand new package
called Universal Image, which is designed to assist the user in managing
graphics files. Support is provided for TIFF, Windows BMP, Apple PICT,
PCX, Clear files, Targa, PBM, MacPaint, Atari/GEM, GIF, and ColoRIX Ö
support is also provided for professional 32-bit CMYK TIFFs.
9.4
Those interested in converting Vector graphics, might like to know that
Alternative Publishing are working on vector conversion software.
Although they have a working version of an EPS converter, the
programming is still in its early stages Ö watch out next year for more
news! In the meantime, ImageFS 2 costs ú39.95 +VAT (ú45 through
Archive). Education site licences are available from Alternative at
ú99.95 +VAT. Upgrades to registered users are ú20 +VAT Ö you need to
return your original disc to Alternative.
9.4
Impact2 Ö an easy to use, fully relational database suitable for any
application where data must be stored or retrieved quickly and easily.
The philosophy behind Impact is that it should be as easy to use as
possible. Itæs been produced by Circle Software, who say that a simple
database can be created within a few minutes of installation, and so it
is ideally suited to simple tasks where more complex database packages
would not be appropriate, or would take too long to set up. On the other
hand, if you do require something more complex, Impact2 has the
facilities to provide a more sophisticated database. Itæs aimed at home,
office and school and costs ú99 +VAT for a single machine licence.
Further licences can be obtained on a sliding scale of fees, ranging
from ú135 +VAT for two machines, up to ú495 +VAT for 50.
9.4
Irlam Instruments have developed an Acorn RISC OS version of the Primax
ColourMobile Direct scanner, a low-cost handheld scanner. The
ColourMobile is a full 24-bit colour device that moves automatically
across the selected text or graphic, thus avoiding the problems usually
associated with handheld scanners. No expansion card is necessary as the
interface connects directly to the bi-directional parallel port.
ColourMobile costs ú199 +VAT + ú5 p&p or ú228 through Archive.
9.4
iSV Fonts Ö iSV Products have completely revised all of their font
packs. All fonts now have better hinting as well as an easier to use
automatic font installer. All fonts contain full kerning and are full
latin 1 character sets. The price remains the same at ú26.50 for
FontPack 277 or 298. The special summer price has been continued, so
both packs can be purchased together for ú36.50. Upgrades for existing
customers are priced at ú10 or ú15 for the pair. Version 2 of their
Blackletter FontPack now contains over 200 Gothic and Medieval style
fonts and costs ú21.50. All prices are inclusive.
9.4
MusicMaker1 is a new package from Resource, aimed at pre-school and Key
Stage 1. It introduces the ideas of pitch and composition through both
games and open-ended activities. It encourages children to explore the
world of pitch by presenting them with on-screen instruments, to play
and record with, a pre-notation method of writing their own music, and
games that help develop listening and sequencing skills.
9.4
There are five activities for children to follow. Up the Stairs shows
different instruments placed on a stairway and it will produce notes of
higher pitch the higher up the stairs they are. Tunes can be recorded
and played back, or the computer can play a tune for the user to
recreate. Jolly Keyboard presents a similar activity but displaying a
conventional keyboard instead of stairs. Other activities include
Trombone, Making Tunes and Name that Tune in which children match visual
patch patterns to short tunes which they hear. MusicMaker2 (not out yet)
will deal in a similar way with the concept of rhythm. System
requirements are RISC OS 3 or above and 2Mb of RAM. It will run from
both floppy and hard disc. MusicMakeræs launch price is ú30 +VAT, rising
to ú35 +VAT from January 1st 1996.
9.4
Panasonic PD combination drives (aka ProTeus) Ö The Panasonic PD
combination drives (quad speed CD + 650Mb magneto-optical) are the same
as were used by Cumana for their ProTeus drives. The internal version
for the RiscáPC is the same price as the Cumana version, i.e. ú635, but
the external version is quite a bit better priced at ú735, instead of
ú805.
9.4
Photodesk Ö According to Spacetech, this has undergone an öentire re-
write taking into account all the positive customer feedback and the
needs of professional usersò. The end result of a yearæs programming, is
that Photodesk 2 is nearly available. The main emphasis in the
development of Photodesk 2 has been in improving the overall quality of
the tools, effects and filters. Slickness of operation, ease of use and
quality of output have all been high on the list of objectives for the
new version. According to Spacetech, the way in which it operates and
handles input and output will make the application more familiar to
users of existing industry standard solutions. Photodesk 1 will continue
to be developed as an economical alternative for users who do not
require all the advanced features of version 2.
9.4
Weæll have to wait for a full review to see what the new package looks
like but, in the meantime, here are a few of the changes youæll find in
Photodesk 2: improved use of virtual memory, using MEMC to re¡map pages;
complete multi-channel capability with as many alpha channels as the
user requires; new filters, improved outline tracing and de-focus;
channels can be defined as masks, images or maps; gamma controls for
each ink; new soft edge paint brush; improved airbrush and anti-
aliasing; complete Twain compatibility; improved cut and paste
operations.
9.4
When available, Photodesk 2 will cost ú269.50 (ú255áthrough Archive);
upgrades from version 1 will cost ú69.81 inclusive from Spacetech.
9.4
Risc Disc Volume 2 Ö The disc contains completely new material from
Volume One with a much enlarged PD/Shareware and Resources section. One
major feature of the disc is over 100Mb of selected Web pages which may
be browsed using the PD Web browsers, ArcWeb and Webster, both of which
are supplied on the CD. Interestingly, the disc also contains a built-in
treasure hunt with the prize of a Risc PC to the first person to find
all the clues hidden on the disc. The clues are hidden throughout the
disc as Sprites, Archives, Drawfiles, Text Files, Soundtracks, in fact
just about any filetype. Each clue links to the next by suggesting the
type of file to look for and the area on the CD where it may be found.
The CD also features a section of material of special interest to Acorn
Clan members. The RISC CD Volume 2 costs ú25 inclusive or ú23 for Clan
members (same prices from Uniqueway or through Archive).
9.4
Shares 5 Ö This package from Apricote Studios has been refined over its
lifetime in response to users and provides a means of handling
portfolios both for home users and also of professional users. It allows
you to store, manipulate and analyse all your share information in
portfolios of up to 60 companies each. It features such things as direct
updating from teletext, capital gains computation, rights issues, graphs
of share price including historic low, delay averages and interest
rates, etc, etc. Shares 5 costs ú49.95 inclusive from Apricote or ú47
through Archive.
9.4
Speaking Starspell CD-ROM is an expanded version of the well-known
Starspell spelling system, from Fisher-Marriott, already used in over
10,000 schools. Speaking Starspell contains over 300 word lists, giving
unique order to English spelling, and providing a graded progression for
the learner. All of the 2500-plus words are spoken and many of them are
illustrated. The idea behind Speaking Starspell is that attention is
drawn to how words are built, allowing the learner to apply that
knowledge to his or her writing. It checks the spelling and even has a
friendly way of putting things right. It costs ú42.50 +VAT for a single
user. For a network licence, add ú42.50 +VAT.
9.4
Stereoworld Ö Stereograms are those things you see in magazines and
books where you have to discover the hidden picture in amongst a
cacophony of other images. You move your head backwards and forwards,
squint, and contort your face until the image becomes clear Ö or not.
Stereoworld is a much more sophisticated computer version of that much
loved pastime. As well as the variety of images included in the program,
there are games that can be played within the stereogram, and there is
the ability to create your own stereograms. In Stereosaw (cfáÉjigsawæ),
you have to reconstruct stereograms that have been split into tiny
fragments, and in Lunar Landing, you have to gently land a spacecraft
onto the moonæs surface, then progress to other worlds where the terrain
and gravity make your task increasingly difficult. In Escape, you have
to demolish bricks in order to escape; as the game goes on, the pace
hots up and things become more complex. Stereoworld comes on six discs,
taking up 10Mb of hard disc space, needs 4Mb RAM and costs ú29.95 inc
VAT from the 4th Dimension or ú28 through Archive.
9.4
Symphony Masterpieces is a collection of over 3,000 music tracks from
Zenta Multimedia, compiled in association with Oregan Software
Developments, and using the SymphPlay application from Digital Symphony.
The collection comes on CD-ROM with tracks including: Classical, Piano,
Rave, Pop and Mood music, as well as sampled vocals. The cost is ú29.95
inclusive from Zenta or ú29 through Archive.
9.4
Teletext+ Ö Octopus Systems have launched advanced teletext software for
teletext adaptors from Morley, Computer Concepts, Ground Control, Design
IT, Irlam and Octopus Systems. Teletext+ provides sophisticated page
cacheing and keyword searching to make teletext quicker, easier and more
usable. It can log share prices in a CSV file or in a special format for
the Apricote Studiosæ Shares program and it provides a set of standard
SWI calls for use by other programs.
9.4
The page cacheing facility means that frequently-used pages and sub-
pages can be accessed without any delay, while the advanced keyword
searching can search hundreds of pages for items of interest which might
otherwise be missed. Matches are displayed in a separate window, which
effectively gives a personalised magazine of interesting news, events
and programmes.
9.4
Pages can be saved as Viewdata, sprite or text files, either manually or
under the control of a script file, and there is an option to allow all
sub-pages to be saved in a single text file. Teletext+ is available for
ú39 inclusive as a software upgrade for existing teletext adaptors, or
with an external teletext adaptor for ú169 inclusive, while stocks last.
The adaptor connects to a podule expansion socket via a lead and podule
plug, so you should specify whether you require a full size or a mini
podule connector when ordering. A television aerial feed is also
required.
9.4
Termite Internet Ö This package from Doggysoft is a powerful new set of
tools for accessing the Internet. It includes: !Termite, supporting WWW,
telnet, and access to bulletin boards using ANSI, VT100 (and other)
standards. There are powerful mail and news facilities provided by the
!Offlite and !Mailbox applications. For example, if your service
provider gives you an IP address, you can create email addresses for
family members, employees, etc. !TermiteIP is the configuration
application that stores your account details, and gives control over
newsgroup details; telnet, finger and ftp hotlists, and selecting
dµmons. The manual is a comprehensive, ring-bound affair that makes you
feel confident you wonæt need to phone Doggysoft for help too often! The
package costs ú79.95 +VAT from Doggysoft.
9.4
The Cobalt Seed Ö The Cobalt Seed is along the lines of Starwing and
Starfighter 3000 Ö shoot everything you can and dodge things you canæt.
This is definitely one for priming those reflexes. The Cobalt Seed costs
ú24.99 from TBA Software or ú24 through Archive.
9.4
The Patience Addict from Creative Curriculum Software is a compilation
of twenty of öthe best and most enjoyable games of Patience which open
up the world of Patience to the newcomer and addict alikeò. It includes
both one-pack and two-pack games; games that usually work out, and games
that take lots of attempts; games that have a few simple rules, and a
few very complex ones. It costs ú12.73 +VAT and p&p, or ú15 through
Archive.
9.4
Voyager Ö Argonet bundle the Voyager software with a monthæs free access
to the Internet, for ú59 inc VAT. Because they are the ones who give you
the account details, they supply the software ready configured to use
with your account. The software is a collection of shareware
applications with many modifications, including a very easy-to-use front
end. Argonet can also bundle a US Robotics Sportster 14,400 or 28,800
modem including cable. They can also supply a high speed serial port to
owners of pre-A5000 Acorns, which were fitted with Éslowæ serial ports.
Because Argonet deal exclusively with Acorn machines and provide a
ready-configured solution, this is probably the easiest way to get
connected to Internet. Telephone support is included, through an 0500
(free) number.
9.4
Review software received...
9.4
We have received review copies of the following: ÅAncestry II (d),
ÅGeordian Lock (u), ÅImpact2 (d), ÅMovieFS (m), ÅMusic Maker 1 (e,m),
ÅMusic Studio 32 (e,m), ÅPhysics Tutor (e), ÅRISC Disc 2, ÅSeashoreáLife
CD (e), ÅStereoworld (g), ÅSymphonyáMasterpieces (m), ÅTrellis (u),
ÅVikings CD (e), ÅXenakis 16 (m),
9.4
d=Database, e=Education, g=Game, h=Hardware, m=music, u=Utility.
9.4
If you would like to review any of these products, please contact the
Archive office. Potential reviewers will need to show that they would
use the product in a professional capacity or that they have some
knowledge of the particular field.áuá
9.4
4Mation   14 Castle Park Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32
8PA. (01271¡25353) [01271¡22974]
9.4
4th Dimension   1 Percy Street, Sheffield, S3 8AU. (0114¡276¡9950)
[0114¡278¡1091]
9.4
Abacus Training  29 Okus Grove, Upper Stratton, Swindon, Wilts, SN2 6QA.
(01793¡723347) [01793¡723347]
9.4
Acorn Computers Ltd  Acorn House, Vision Park, Histon, Cambridge, CB4
4AE. (01223¡254254) [01223¡254262]
9.4
Acorn Direct  FREEPOST, 13 Dennington Road, Wellingborough, Northants,
NN8 2BR. (01933¡279300)
9.4
Aleph One Ltd  The Old Courthouse, Bottisham, Cambridge, CB5 9BA.
(01223¡811679) [01223¡812713]
9.4
Alsystems  47 Winchester Road, Four Marks, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 5HG.
(01420¡561111)
9.4
Alternative Publishing  Suite 91, 9A Pentagon House, 36 Washington
Street, Glasgow, G3 8AZ. (0141¡248¡2322) [0141¡248¡3638]
9.4
Anglia Multimedia  Anglia House, Norwich, NR1 3JG. (01603¡615151)
[01603¡631032]
9.4
ANT Ltd  P.O.Box 300, Cambridge, CB1 2EG. (01223¡567808) [01223¡567801]
9.4
APDL  39 Knighton Park Road, Sydenham, London, SE26 5RN.
9.4
Apricote Studios  2 Purls Bridge Farm, Manea, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0ND.
(01354¡680432)
9.4
Argonet  Unit 1, The Shopwhyke Centre, Shopwhyke Road, Chichester, PO20
6GD. (01243¡531194) [01243¡531196] <[e-mail]>
9.4
ARMed Forces  38 Main Road, Littleton, Winchester, SO22 6QQ.
(01962¡880591)
9.4
ARM Club  Freepost ND6573, London, N12 0BR. (0171¡624¡9918)
[0181¡446¡3020]
9.4
Aspex Software  Heather House, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 9AG.
(01822¡611060) [01822¡611061]
9.4
Atomwide Ltd  7 The Metro Centre, Bridge Road, Orpington, Kent, BR5 2BE.
(01689¡814500) [01689¡814501]
9.4
Audio Dynamics  10 Durnford Close, Norden, Rochdale OL12 7RX.
(01706¡868803) [01706¡868803]
9.4
Avie Electronics (p17)  7 Overbury Road, Norwich. (01603¡416863)
[01603¡788640]
9.4
Beebug Ltd  117 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4JS. (01727¡840303)
[01727¡860263]
9.4
Cambridgeshire Software House  8 Bramley Road, St Ives, PE17 4WS.
(01480¡467945) [01480¡496442]
9.4
Circle Software  33 Restrop View, Purton, Swindon, Wilts, SN5 9DG.
(01793¡770021)
9.4
Clares Micro Supplies  98 Middlewich Road, Rudheath, Northwich,
Cheshire, CW9 7DA. (01606¡48511) [01606¡48512]
9.4
Colton Software  2 Signet Court, Swanns Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LA.
(01223¡311881) [01223¡312010]
9.4
Creative Curriculum Software  5 Clover Hill Road, Savile Park, Halifax,
HX1 2YG. (01422¡340524) [01422¡346388]
9.4
Dabhand Computing   30 Wingates Ind. Est., Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5
3XU. (01942¡794000) [01942¡797979]
9.4
Doggysoft  Furzefield House, Furzefield Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks, HP9
1PQ. (01494-673222) [01494¡675878] <[e-mail]>
9.4
Eclipse   Unit 1, The Shopwhyke Centre, Shopwhyke Road, Chichester, PO20
6GD. (01243¡531194) [01243¡531196]
9.4
ESP  21 Beech Lane, West Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 6GP.
(0115¡929¡5019) [0115¡929¡5019]
9.4
Fisher¡Marriott Software  3 Grove Road, Ansty, Warwickshire, CV7 9JD.
(01203¡616325 or 366748)
9.4
Hitmen Software   1 Langley Hill Close, Kings Langley, Herts, WD4 9HB.
9.4
Icon Technology  9 Jarrom Street, Leicester, LE2 7DH. (0116¡254¡6225)
9.4
ICS  1 Kington Road, West Kirby, Wirral, L48 5ET. (0151¡625¡1006)
[0151¡625¡1007]
9.4
Irlam Instruments  133 London Road, Staines, Middlesex TW18 4HN.
(01895¡811401)
9.4
iSV Products  86, Turnberry, Home Farm, Bracknell, Berks, RG12 8ZH.
(01344¡55769)
9.4
Krisalis Software  Teque House, Masonæs Yard, Downs Row, Moorgate,
Rotherham, S60 2HD. (01709¡372290) [01709¡368403]
9.4
Longman Logotron  124 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4
4ZS. (01223¡425558) [01223¡425349]
9.4
LOOKsystems  Unit 1, The Gables Yard, Pulham Market, Diss, IP21 4SY.
(01379¡608585) [01379¡608575]
9.4
Magnetic Image  3 Larkspur Close, Witham, Essex, CM8 2YQ. (01376¡500590)
[01376¡340567]
9.4
Minerva Systems  Minerva House, Baring Crescent, Exeter, EX1 1TL.
(01392¡437756) [01392¡421762]
9.4
Mystery Software  421 Sprowston Road, Norwich, NR3 4EH. (01603¡400477)
9.4
Oak Solutions  Dial House, 12 Chapel Street, Halton, Leeds, LS15 7RN
(0113¡232¡6992) [0113¡232¡6993] <[e-mail]>
9.4
Octopus Systems  9 Randwell Close, Ipswich, IP4 5ES. (01473¡728943)
[01473¡270643] <[e-mail]>
9.4
Psycore  PO Box 3837, London NW3 1JF.
9.4
Repair Zone  421 Sprowston Road, Norwich, NR3 4EH. (01603¡400477)
9.4
Resource  51 High Street, Kegworth, Derbyshire, DE74 2DA. (01509¡672222)
[01509¡672267]
9.4
SEMERC  1 Broadbent Road, Watersheddings, Oldham, OL1 4LB.
(0161¡627¡4469)
9.4
Sherston Software  Angel House, Sherston, Malmesbury, Wilts. SN16 0LH.
(01666¡840433) [01666¡840048]
9.4
Sibelius Software  75 Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1 1DJ.
(01223¡302765) [01223¡351947]
9.4
Simtec Electronics  Avondale Drive, Tarleton, Preston, PR4 6AX.
(01772¡812863) [01772¡816426]
9.4
Solloway Software  23 Portland Drive, Willen, Milton Keynes, MK15 9HD.
9.4
Spacetech  21 West Wools, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EA. (01305¡822753)
[01305¡860483]
9.4
TBA Software  Mead Farm, North Road, Timsbury, Bath Avon, BA3 1JH.
(01970¡626785)
9.4
The Really Good Software Company  39 Carisbrooke Road, Harpenden,
Herts., AL5 5QS.
9.4
Topologika  Islington Wharf, Church Hill, Penryn, Falmouth, Cornwall,
TR10 8AT. (01326¡377771) [01326¡377771]
9.4
Uniqueway  42 Crwys Road, Cardiff, CF2 4NN.  (01222¡644611)
[01222¡644622]
9.4
Werewolf Software  23 The Spinneys, Bromley, Kent, BR1 2NT.
(0181¡467¡1138) [0181¡464¡7510]
9.4
Yellowstone Educational  Solutions  Welbeck House, Welbeck Road, Luton,
Beds. LU2 0HD.
9.4
Zenta Multimedia  10 Ravenhurst Drive, Birmingham, B43 7RS.
(0121¡358¡3054) [0121¡358¡5969]
9.4
Archive Monthly Disc
9.4
u Ant program from John Temple Ö page 38.
9.4
u Arcscan data files Ö Updates for volume 8 and part of 9.
9.4
u Beginneræs Column files from John Temple Ö page 67.
9.4
u C++ sample program from Tony Houghton Ö page 49.
9.4
u Files from Gerald Fittonæs ColumnáÖápage 33.
9.4
u Programming Workshop Ö Colin Singleton Ö page 19.
9.4
u Starting Basic programs from Ray Favre Ö page 53.
9.4
u Module for Taxan 770 Ö see Cain Huntæs ViVID review on page 63.
9.4
u Utility programs fron Chris Whitworth.
9.4
(I have loads of review articles that I am desperately trying to find
space for in Archive, so as there is some space free on the disc this
month, Iæll put some on there in case you want to print them out and
read them before they are officially published. They are in Impression
format, but I will try to fit text files as well.)
9.4
Fact-File
9.4
Key: (phone)áá[fax]áá<email>
9.4
Government Health Warning Ö Reading this could seriously effect your
spiritual health
9.4
A comment made recently by one of our subscribers hit me very forcibly.
öOh, Iæm not good enough to be a Christianò he said, öbut Iábelieve in
God, and I do the best I can.ò To me, that just shows what a complete
mess Christians, in past years, have made of getting across what Jesusæ
real message is.
9.4
Sadly, even some people who call themselves Christians still think itæs
all about being good enough to get to heaven. Absolute rubbish! Jesus
never, ever said such a thing. He did not come just to give us an
ethical or moral code to live by. And he certainly didnæt come to give
us a set of religious rituals to perform.
9.4
No, Jesusæ teaching is far, far more radical than any of that Ö if you
donæt believe me, get hold of a bible and read it for yourself. No, itæs
this radically different approach that people all over Britain are re-
discovering. Research undertaken in the past few months shows that there
are six new churches formed every week in Britain. (Who says that the
church is on the decline?!) No other body can claim a membership of 6.5
million, and there are 1,400 people a week joining British churches.
9.4
What is happening? Why this change and this growth? Thankfully, people
of all ages are discovering that Jesus represents a radical alternative
Ö he has an answer for that feeling that öThere must be more to life
than this.ò
9.4
What about you? Where do you stand? Well, if you think youære basically
a nice person, and you always try to be kind and helpful, then forget
it! Youære not ready to face the radical alternative. However, if you
are honest enough to realise that you donæt live up to your own
standards, let alone Godæs, youære halfway there.
9.4
Please donæt miss the opportunity. Check it out. I would say öGo along
to your local church and find outò but, sadly, there are many churches
where the most radical thing you will see is that Mrs Jones is sitting
in a different pew this week. See if you can find a church that is
growing, perhaps adding new buildings, or find someone who calls
themself a Christian and really is different from the crowd and ask them
some questions.
9.4
The other way to find out, which I have mentioned several times before,
is to find an Alpha course. Ring the Alpha Coordinator on 0171-581-8255
and ask if there is an Alpha course near you. (For more details, see the
God-slot in Archive 8.5.) Many courses start in January, so give them a
ring today. Letæs face it, youæve got nothing to lose and absolutely
everything to gain.
9.4
P.B.
9.4
Paul Beverley
9.4
I have to say that I am really very excited at the moment about the
future of Acorn and of Archive. There is a real buzz around Ö all sorts
of exciting things in prospect. So even with the demise of Greyhound and
Eurobase and now Cumana (see Products Available), I am still very
optimistic for both Acorn and Archive.
9.4
Internet and the future of Archive
9.4
I believe that the speed and ease of information transfer through the
Internet is going to make quite a difference to Archive. We have always
tried to be a Écentre for (Acorn) information interchangeæ and this is
being enhanced by the fact that machine-readable data flashes around the
Net at a rate of knots.
9.4
Imagine the scenario... You sit in front of your computer, reading
Archive and think, öAh, I could give an answer to that problem in a
couple of sentences!ò so you type it out and Éclickæ, itæs on its way to
NCS. Would you have typed out that text, printed it out, stuck it in an
envelope, written out the NCS address, added a stamp, and gone to the
postbox with it? Possibly, but I think you can see my point.
9.4
The future of Acorn
9.4
I donæt have anything specific that I can mention yet, but I believe
that there are quite a number of things Ébubbling underæ that are going
to make a huge difference to Acornæs future. There are one or two hints
in this magazine, but all I can say for now is, öWatch this space!ò
9.4
Happy reading!
9.4
Norwich Computer Services    96a Vauxhall Street, Norwich, NR2 2SD.
(01603-766592) [764011]
9.4
email: [e-mail]  OR  [e-mail]  OR sales.
[e-mail]
9.4
RiscáPC Special Deals
9.4
As an alternative to the 20-month interest-free offer, Clan Acorn
members can get up to...
9.4
11.5% discount
9.4
Buy a RiscáPC 700 or A7000, as a member of Clan Acorn*, and Acorn will
give you EITHER...
9.4
Programmeræs Pack worth almost ú400 (See Clan Column, Archive 9.2 p7)
9.4
OR...
9.4
ú150 cash-back if you buy an ACB70/ACB75
9.4
ú125 cash-back if you buy an ACB60
9.4
ú100 cash-back if you buy an A7000
9.4
This offer applies even if you buy a computer WITHOUT a monitor.
9.4
(If you want to buy a RiscáPC without a monitor or with a higher spec
monitor, you will need to fill in a ÉRiscáPC Specialist Purchaseæ form.
If you give us a ring on 01603-766592, weæll send you one.)
9.4
20/20 Ö 20 months interest free credit
9.4
This offer now applies even if you buy a computer WITHOUT a monitor.
9.4
(Both offers are only available until 31st December 1995.)
9.4
*For Life Membership of Clan Acorn, ring 01933-279300 and have your
credit/debit card ready Ö it will cost you ú15 (or ú20 if you want a
sweatshirt).
9.4
Computer & Electronics Holiday for Young People !!
9.4
Scripture Union runs a Computer & Electronics Holiday for 13 to 16 year
olds (boys and girls) at an attractive school in the Hertfordshire
countryside.
9.4
The dates? July 29th to August 6th, 1995.
9.4
The price? ú119.
9.4
For details, write to Jim Maddox, S.U. Holidays, 69 Claverdale Road,
TubeáHill, London SW2 2DH or phone [phone].
9.4
Help!!!!
9.4
The fact that there are not many help pleas (or H&T or Comments, for
that matter) reflects the fact that November was a bad month for NCS in
terms of illness and staff absence. Sorry if anyone had bad service as a
result Ö we were Éup to our eyeballsæ! At one stage, we were down to one
single member of staff for a day and a half!
9.4
Omar Sharif Bridge (again) Ö We have another customer wanting this
unobtainable program. Does someone else have one they could donate for
charity, please? Weæll get Dick to make a charity donation for it.
9.4
Ed. for Dick Alstein <[e-mail]>
9.4
Basingstoke Acorn Club Ö Is there one? Or anything in this general area?
I would like to meet up with fellow Acorn users.
9.4
Nick Chalk, 21 Rosehip Way, Lychpit, Basingstoke, RG24 8SW.áuá
9.4
Comment Column
9.4
Acorn World gloom? Ö I was rather surprised to read the somewhat unhappy
reports from Acorn World in the December issue. For my part, I came away
quite happy about Acornæs future, largely due to Peter Bondaræs talk to
Clan members. With promises of ARM810 and StrongARM cards for the Risc
PC in the middle of next year, hardware development is looking good.
Acorn are also near the front of the field with the Simtec multi-
processor card, and Taos development Ö they could be the first öPersonal
Computerò manufacturer to introduce true multi-processing. Currently,
about three American PC manufacturers are offering dual¡Pentium and
dual¡P6 machines, for around ú4,000. These machines come with Windows NT
although, to my knowledge, this has no support for multi-processing!
Beyond that lies the world of Unix workstations, some of which can use
multiple processors, but at a cost of ú10,000 to ú100,000.
9.4
Further into the future (end of æ96, according to Peter Bondar), there
will be a mark 3 Risc PC, conforming to the Common Hardware Reference
Platform (CHRP). My information on this is a little sketchy, but I do
know that it is an agreed standard between Apple and IBM for PowerPC-
based machines. The idea is that both manufactureræs machines will be
able to run the same software. If Acorn join this, they will have access
to all applications developed for the other two manufacturers! The basic
requirements of the CHRP are a PowerPC processor, and a PCI expansion
bus. Peter Bondar admitted that the new Risc PC would have a PCI bus,
but he didnæt mention the processor Ö could ART be developing a PowerPC
processor card? Imagine the power of a Risc PC with five StrongARM, a
PowerPC, and a PCI bus, running Taos! Yes please!
9.4
Another interesting feature of the Acorn stand was the RPC700 running
Windows 95 on a Cyrix M1 processor card. The M1 is the successor to the
5x86, mentioned in the December issue, and should deliver performance
equal to the Intel P6. ART are obviously still busy developing PC-
compatible processor cards, another good sign for the future. It seems
that they have beaten their competitors to it, as well Ö apparently, the
M1 inside that Risc PC was the only example of its kind in Europe!
9.4
Nick Chalk, Basingstoke.
9.4
Baud/bps Ö In the latest Archive 9.3, Torben Steeg claims that baud is
the same as bits/s (bps). If he is talking about this in connection with
modems, this is not correct. A 2400 bps modem that adheres to the
V.22bis standard is transmitting data at 600 baud and 2400 bps with what
is called phase shift keying (PSK).
9.4
Also in the same issue, Chris Claydon fell into the same trap by saying
that ömodems at 36,000 baud and faster are just becoming available ...ò.
I suspect that he really means 36,000 bps and faster.
9.4
I am not sure what the limit of baud is on the PSTN (Public Switched
Telephone Network, Énormal telephoneæ), but I think the theoretical
limit is around 4,800 baud. Modems that go beyond 600 bps are using
sophisticated technologies to squeeze the bps rate higher than the baud
rate.
9.4
On the other hand, on a standard RS-232 (V.24) serial link, the baud
rate is the same as the bps rate, and this seems to be the reason for
the confusion. The modem technology came into being much later than the
earliest RS-232 standards and, by that time, the term Ébaud rateæ had,
unfortunately, established itself as de facto, meaning the same as bps
rate. However, with the advent of faster modems, the two terms were no
longer synonyms, as these modems have a higher bps rate than modem rate.
9.4
I believe that a 14400 bps modem is transmitting at 2400 baud with a PSK
scheme with 6 different phases: 0░, 60░, 120░, 180░, 240░ and 300░. This
means that, for each baud, you can have 6 different phases and you can
therefore increase the bit rate to 2400 ╫ 6 bps. I am not an expert in
this area, but what this means is that, in addition to using different
frequencies for 0 and 1, you are also using the phase of these tones to
transmit information. This has two consequences for the transmitting
medium (modem and PSTN): 1) The complexities of the modulating hardware
(modem) increase. 2) The quality of the physical connection means a lot,
i.e. you will need to retransmit more packets if you have a bad
Ételephone lineæ.
9.4
Kjetil Thomassen, Norway. <[e-mail]>
9.4
Internet credit card fraud (9.3, p58) Ö Mike Williams reports a very
important question, though whether you are more vulnerable quoting your
credit card number on the Net rather than over the phone to a mail order
company, I am not sure. The solution, surely, lies in a good Public Key
Encryption system. Come back George Foot Ö this is your subject!
9.4
Colin Singleton, Sheffield.
9.4
Multi-file searching Ö I read in Archive 9.3 that someone is looking for
a way to search multiple text files for information. There is one
excellent way of doing this, and one that I use regularly. The program
is called StrongED and it has all the search and replace facilities you
can think of. There is only one thing that may be a problem, and that is
the amount of physical memory. However, if this is a problem, you have
the command line utilities called grep and less.
9.4
I should say one more thing about StrongED. It is commercial software
that has been released as shareware. I am one of the few licensed users
and would like to say to all of the unregistered users of shareware
(whether it is StrongED or not): please register today! There are at
least two good reasons for this: (1) You get support and the latest
version(s). (2)áYou support the making of good software, and the
authors.
9.4
Kjetil Thomassen <[e-mail]-prakla. slb.com>
9.4
Psion 3a Programmeræs Guide Ö It stated last month that the Psion 3a
Programmeræs Guide was available by sending öa cheque for ú6 (made out
to Psion UK Ltd) to Customer Services, Psion UK Ltd, 85 Frampton Street,
NW8 8NQ or ring them on 0171-262-5580ò. I tried, but they sent my cheque
back and asked for ú9.95! Still, itæs better than Acornæs price of
ú12.99!!
9.4
Peter Young, Cheltenham.áuá
9.4
Archive Announces...
9.4
Christmas Opening
9.4
Because the RiscáPC special offers run until 31st December we feel that
we need to be open during the last week of December Ö even though Acorn
is not open that week! Therefore, we will be open Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday (27, 28, 29 & 30th December) from 9.30 am to 12.30
pm. To take advantage of either the 20/20 scheme or the Clan cashback
scheme, the order must be placed and paid for (i.e. the deposit in the
case of 20/20) before 12.30 pm on Saturday 30th December 1995.
9.4
Email Ordering
9.4
We have given some thought to the subject of placing orders by email.
There is some fear that sending credit card numbers by email is NOT a
good idea. To avoid the problem altogether, we suggest the following
procedure:
9.4
1) Ring up the NCS office (or drop us a line) and give us your credit
card details: number, expiry date and, for Switch cards, the issue
number. We will store these in a database, separate from our main
address database, along with your Archive subscription number and no
other data. (You need only do this once.)
9.4
2) When you want to place an order, send an email to
[e-mail] and quote (a) your subscription number (b) the
last four digits of the card number and (c) the expiry date.
9.4
3) We will then acknowledge the order by email, so that you know it has
arrived.
9.4
N.B. For security purposes, we will only send the goods to the address
associated with the subscription number. If you want the goods to go to
a different address, e.g. a work address, you will have to make separate
arrangements with us.
9.4
That should be enough information for us to identify you (the subs
number) and hence get your address and, from our listing, we can get
your full credit card, checking against the last four digits that weæve
got the right one. If the last four digits donæt tie up, we will email
you back and ask if you have changed your card, or whatever.
9.4
I hope this sounds OK. If you have any ideas how we might improve this
service, do let us know. Thanks.
9.4
Conversion Bonus Scheme
9.4
If Acorn is to prosper, we need to convert more people to using RISCáOS.
One of the best ways, we believe, of convincing people that it is worth
being different is to actually show them what the Acorn computers can
do. No-one believes adverts but, time and again, people have been
Éconvertedæ by actually seeing the systems in action. (Sibelius users
are at an advantage here! I reckon that more systems have been bought
just to use Sibelius than any other single package.)
9.4
This is where you can help, especially if you have a RiscáPC. Show them
your computer, give them a brochure (copies available from NCS) and see
if you can convince them to buy Acorn.
9.4
As an incentive, if you can convince someone who has never owned a
RISCáOS computer to purchase an A7000 or a RiscáPC (from NCS, of
course!) we will extend your subscription by a further twelve months,
free of charge, and weæll also give your friend a free subscription to
Volume 9, i.e. ending September 1996. What is more, if the system they
buy includes a CD drive, weæll give them a free copy of the Archive CD.
9.4
Special offer Ö Bankrupt stock...
9.4
Acorn A3020 HD (brand new, full warranty, etc) with 80Mb hard drive with
AKF53 monitor ú690.
9.4
Cumana 300ia dual speed CD-ROM drives for RiscáPC 600 including sound
mixer board and headphones(!). Was ú205, yours for only ú90 (no
warranty!).
9.4
Cumana SCSI 2 cards were ú200, yours for ú120 (no warranty!).
9.4
Here is a sample email order:
9.4
Hi, Archive!
9.4
Please could you supply one copy of ArcFax (33.00) and one copy of the
Internet Glossary Disc (5.00)?
9.4
Please debit 38.00 from my Switch card number 6752, issue 2, exp 9/96.
9.4
Thanks very much,
9.4
Fred Bloggs (DH3795J)
9.4
Christmas Crackers
9.4
by Silicon Based Grid Worm*
9.4
If you still havenæt decided what to buy me, or someone else, for
Christmas, here are two really useful items that are worth considering.
9.4
The first of my stocking-fillers has no serious application whatsoever,
but it will really get Christmas afternoon off to a raving start Ö then
when you go back to work in the New Year, you can impress your friends
with your linguistic dexterity.
9.4
If someone wanted to re-name this piece of software, it could easily be
called ÉAn Amusing Rageæ or perhaps ÉIæm a Nuns Garageæ Ö on the other
hand, it could be an ÉArguing Seaman!æ. In fact, itæs none of these. But
all these names do have something in common Ö they are all anagrams of
the actual name of this deceptively simple and ingenious piece of
software. Anagram Genius, as itæs called, is an extraordinarily clever
piece of software, which produces multi-word anagrams from whatever you
type in. Each anagram is individually scored so that you can select the
best ones, and words are chosen which are most relevant to the subject.
9.4
Options within the program allow the user to state the gender of the
text, e.g. between male or female names, or inanimate objects, like
organisations. You can change the kind of emphasis you want from the
anagrams by telling the computer to lean in a particular way e.g. by
looking for satirical or flattering words. The subject matter of the
search can also be indicated by choosing from one of three options,
Political, Business or Computer. There is a function to allow for vulgar
words and/or dropped ÉHæs to be used. If, however, you want to turn off
the vulgar aspect of the program, there is a Features application which
allows the user to disable certain functions on the master disc, making
it more suitable for younger children!
9.4
Searching is very quick, allowing long names, or even short phrases, to
be processed in a matter of minutes Ö short or medium length texts can
be searched in just a few seconds. It will even run in the background,
so you can write reviews while it processes another member of the family
completely unnoticed.
9.4
Once the search is complete, you can scroll through the best five
hundred, or however many the user decides, and pick out the most
appropriate anagrams. At this stage, individual phrases can easily be
swopped around to make new phrases, or so that existing ones make more
sense. Finally, once youæve finished choosing, all of the anagrams, or
the best one, can be saved to a text file and printed out for further
study.
9.4
It is truly a clever program Ö but does it work? Well, to help promote
the software, they include some anagrams they prepared earlier. Did you
know, for example, that Michael Portillo is (allegedly) A cool limp
Hitler? Or that Virginia Bottomley is quoted as saying öIæm an evil Tory
bigotò. Eastenders ÉNeeds a restæ; Bruce Forsythæs Generation Game is
the ÉEmbarrassing ego of the Century!æ Even Camilla Parker Bowles, and
Eric Cantona come in for some stick Ö but youæll have to buy the program
to find out why!
9.4
When I tried it at home with my family, we all had a great time with the
program. Even my wife (she is a restored army crown) found it very
amusing Ö normally she hates computers! It also becomes addictive, so
you find yourself typing in all your friendsæ names to see how they come
out. Thoroughly recommended for a good laugh. Anagram Genius costs
ú19.99 from 4th Dimension or ú19 through Archive.
9.4
(Anagram Genius is also extremely useful for us, more serious, computer
users, who create and solve crossword puzzles! Ed.)
9.4
Fonts galore!
9.4
The next item in my stocking is a very useful collection of over 550
outline fonts on CD-ROM, from Zenta Multimedia. The collection costs
ú29.95 inclusive! (Thatæs 6p a font Ö PC and Mac users, eat your heart
out! Ed.)
9.4
When you click on the CD icon, you find that it contains a filer with
four Directories; two of them are help files (one of these explains
about accessing the fonts), one is a file of examples and the other is
an application called Emporium. Itæs this last application which is at
the heart of the collection, and which makes viewing and loading the
fonts so easy. Once Emporium has been loaded, you simply click on its
icon to get a list of the fonts. Initially, the font families are split
into fifteen groups to help you find the sort of font youære looking
for, quickly and easily. Click on one of these groups and Emporium
displays a selector window listing all the fonts in that group. Once in
the window, you can view the fonts and select which ones you want copied
to your disc drive. The fonts themselves are copied in either a new
!Fonts folder, created within Emporium, a directory of fonts, or raw
directories. Once you have made your choice, you drag the directory to
your hard disc, and load the fonts in the usual manner.
9.4
In the Examples directory, youæll find a selection of Draw and Artworks
files. These are made up of examples of each font. One set shows an
example of the font using its name only, the other sets show the font
alphabet. Thereæs no need to have the fonts loaded in the system to view
them because all the examples have all been Éconverted to pathsæ. Not
only is this a good way of viewing the fonts, but it also makes it easy
to print them out and have hard copies of the fonts for future
reference.
9.4
So, are they any good? Well, as the price suggests, this is a budget
collection, so you wonæt find the same kind of sophisticated work that
goes into the font conversions of, say, The Font Company. Neither do you
get the full character set Ö mostly you get characters 33 to 126. But,
that notæs to say theyære no good. The kind of fonts supplied are
generally not meant for body text, or for intricate work; theyære what
you might call Éfun fontsæ Ö for jazzing up a drab-looking page, or
adding a touch of informality to a diagram. They could be extremely
useful for designing worksheets, or for adding Éwrittenæ comments in the
margins of other documents, or creating an instant Éfeelæ to a heading.
Recently, I was commissioned to design a youth resource manual; as part
of this manual, I had to design fifty worksheets for 11Ö13 year olds.
Each one had to be different, with different graphics and different type
faces. At times like this, it can be a life-saver having a large
selection of fonts.
9.4
At ú29.95, you canæt really go far wrong. Certainly, from my point of
view, the money would be worth it even if I only used two or three of
the fonts Ö recommended!
9.4
The fifteen groups cover the following: 3D (all fonts are 3D or
shadowed); Open (fonts which are hollow or are edged); Assortment
(miscellaneous fonts, many could be classed as wacky); Heavy Assortment
(more miscellaneous fonts which are fairly bold); Script; Swirly Script;
Handwriting; Medieval and Gothic; Themed; (famous fonts e.g. Home and
Away or Dinosaur); Object Letters (letters which are objects e.g.
skylines or wood); Technology (futuristic fonts, hard edged and
striking); Sans Serif Fonts; Serif Fonts; Deformed (these fonts are
designed to be faulty!); Symbol and Language.
9.4
Style warning
9.4
As ever, Éall things in moderationæ is a good adage when you have this
many fonts to play with. Itæs important to be selective with the types
of fonts you use and the number you apply to a page. The temptation is
to throw everything at the page in a vain attempt to attract attention.
Unfortunately, youæll attract attention for the wrong reasons. So, if I
were to recommend a third stocking filler, it would be the Non-
Designeræs Design Book. At ú13, it could save a lot of embarrassment and
wasted time.áuá
9.4
The Patience Addict
9.4
To add to Gabrielæs selection, I would like to suggest The Patience
Addict which, at only ú15 for twenty patience games, seems another
excellent stocking-filler. Christmas is the time of year when many of us
get a chance to relax, but outdoor pursuits donæt seem too appropriate!
So, if blasting aliens is not your thing, maybe patience would be.
9.4
I have to admit that this recommendation is not my own but is based on a
review which someone sent to me. (I am deliberately not publishing it
yet because Iáhave lost the name of the author Ö sorry! Ö and I donæt
like to publish articles without due credit. Who are you, please?)
However, he or she says, in conclusion, öI cannot praise highly enough
the game concept or its playability.ò
9.4
The Patience Addict is ú14.95 plus p&p from Creative Curriculum Software
or ú15 inclusive through Archive.  Ed.áuá
9.4
Internet Column
9.4
Dave Pantling
9.4
Unfortunately, Adrian Bool has had to move on to better things, so Iæll
be taking over. Iæll do my best to be interesting and informative. Help
get things rolling by posting your mail to [e-mail] and you
might see your comments in print next month!
9.4
In the Beginning...
9.4
Weæve all read the articles, we all know we need a modem, software and a
service provider. Most of us, however, sit back and wait. We know itæs
going to cost money, and wouldnæt that 8Mb SIMM be a better purchase? Or
a new printer? I thought like that Ö at one time.
9.4
One day I used the Internet and, from that moment, Iáwas committed.
There was just so much out there Ö more information than I could
possibly use, more people than I could possibly talk to, more answers
than I had questions! It was incredible.
9.4
One modem, service bill and a steep learning curve later, I was there.
From the comfort of my living room, I could talk to people all over the
world for the price of a local call. I could chat with people in
America, Thailand and Basingstoke, simultaneously, for 60p an hour
(weekend rate).
9.4
Itæs all pretty amazing, and Iæm very enthusiastic, but why state the
obvious? The answer is that the Internet is as inevitable as the
telephone. Soon, youæll be able to email your microwave from work,
telling it to delay dinner Ö the Internet is going to become a part of
everyday life.
9.4
Service providers
9.4
There are many service providers, some good, some bad. What should you
be looking out for? Service Providers (SPs) can be divided into roughly
two groups: those who provide Internet access, and those who provide
Internet access plus their own services. The second category generally
means higher charges. Companies like Compuserve, Microsoft Network and
Delphi give you a few hours of free access per month, but then they
start charging Ö anything from ú1.85 to ú4 an hour on top of your
standing charges.
9.4
The SPæs that only provide Internet service tend to only levy the
standing charge, usually ú10 to ú15 per month. You can access the Net
for as long as you like without incurring any extra charges.
9.4
This being a PC-oriented world, most SPæs will be unable to help you
with software, but there is one notable exception. Argonet, a division
of VTI, supply Internet services exclusively to Acorn users. They
commissioned software to provide a simple user interface to the
Internet, and came up with Voyager. As they supply the complete access
package, they can set up the software for you, so it already knows your
nearest POP (point of presence, or local phone number!) and account
details. You install the software, plug in the modem, which they can
also supply, and surf to your heartæs content. Whatever your SP offers,
make sure they have a POP that is within local calling distance. If your
local POP is even a regional call, your Internet access costs have just
tripled!
9.4
IP or not IP?
9.4
Some SPæs give you an email address like É[e-mail]æ. Others
will give you an ÉIP addressæ, and you can allocate your own email
Énamesæ, thus: É[e-mail]æ. If you have a choice between
two SPæs, choose the one that will give you your own IP address, all
other things being equal. That way you could, for example, give email
addresses to each family member, or business department. For example,
[e-mail], [e-mail], kids@home... and so on.
Ifáyou are unsure about this, please email me (catch 22) and Iæll send
you more information.
9.4
Next month, I will be reviewing Doggysoftæs Termite Internet, ANTæs
Internet Suite and Argonetæs Voyager. Meanwhile, Iæll be writing a FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions) list, which will be added to the Internet
Glossary disc in due course. Ifáyou have any comments on your
experiences with any of these programs, or have a question/answer for
the FAQ, please pass them to me...
9.4
Get in touch!
9.4
Please feel free to contact me with any queries or ideas for developing
the column. You can email me, [e-mail], or write to 31,
Cornwall Grove, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 7HX. Please enclose a
stamp, as I get quite a few letters!áuá
9.4
Internet Ö Edæs first thoughts
9.4
As I said in the inside front cover, I am excited by the prospects
represented by the Internet Ö not least in improving the quality of
information provided by Archive magazine. Currently, I send and receive
around 6Ö10 emails a day Ö and that is set to increase as more and more
people get email access.
9.4
I canæt say that it was easy getting started Ö there were certain
teething problems, to say the least! However, now that I have finally
managed to get things sorted out, using the Ant Suite and a Pipex
reseller in Norwich, Paston Chase Ltd, it is just so easy and intuitive
to send and receive emails. I have a young friend spending a year in
China and it has been such a help to him and his family in Norwich to
get messages in and out so rapidly. Similarly with a couple who went to
Kurdestan for two months and my missionary friends in Cameroon and Papua
New Guinea.
9.4
I simply havenæt had time to wander around the Web, but where I have had
to access it, in order to get updates of the Ant Suite, it has been just
so easy and so impressive Ö just click on the bit you want and wait for
it to download. Thinking back to all the efforts needed to coax a BBS to
give me a particular download, I can see why the Web is going to have
such a popular appeal. To me, the Web is to bulletin boards what the
Acorn desktop is to the command line. (Mind you, I see that Chris
Claydon is addressing this with his RSDFS, bringing the desktop to
bulletin boards Ö see the review on page 75.)
9.4
Do let Dave know what your experiences are, especially if you have
difficulties and then find a way round them. Also, please keep sending
in jargon words that you come across that arenæt on our Internet
glossary. (It is now over 8,000 words long compared with only 11,500
words that cover the whole of the rest of Acorn-related jargon!) Again,
as Iásaid in the inside front cover, you would send an email that said
simply, öWhat the heck is a Ésproggetæ?ò whereas you probably wouldnæt
bother writing a letter to that effect.
9.4
Ordering by email?
9.4
I have given details (see page12) of how I suggest you use email for
ordering things from NCS, if you are concerned about people picking up
your credit card number.  Ed.áuá
9.4
Hints and Tips
9.4
Basic programs Ö When writing a basic program, one is encouraged to keep
each procedure down to a manageable size. In real life, I suspect that
most of us often end up with procedures covering several screenfulls.
9.4
It can then be very difficult to keep track of what is going on in
multiple-nested loops, even when you have written the Éexitæ from the
loop before going back a line and writing whatever has to be
accomplished within that loop.
9.4
It is much easier to follow the logic if each entry and exit is REMmed
with a reference to the corresponding exit and entry. As an example:
9.4
IF variable% > 100 THEN
9.4
ááREM Start of loop testing variable%
9.4
áá(Lines of program)
9.4
ááFOR loop% = 1 TO 100 : REM Start of
9.4
 xyz
9.4
áááá(Lines of program)
9.4
ááááCASE variable2% OF
9.4
ááááááREM Start of testing variable2%
9.4
 loop
9.4
áááááá(Lines of program)
9.4
ááááENDCASE : REM End of testing
9.4
 variable2% loop
9.4
áááá(Lines of program)
9.4
ááNEXT loop% : REM End of xyz
9.4
áá(Lines of program)
9.4
ENDIF : REM End of loop testing variable%
9.4
(Lines of program)
9.4
It is easy enough to follow the logic in this simple example, but not so
when the (Lines of program) start to mount up! The REMs make debugging
much easier and can always be deleted when youære sure it all hangs
together.
9.4
Note that you need to put the REM at the start of an ÉIF Ö THENæ loop on
a line after the statement; the ÉTHENæ MUST be the last item on the
line.
9.4
Roger Williams <[e-mail]>
9.4
Drawing ellipses (9.3 p20) Ö Here is a quicker method of producing an
Éisometric circleæ. The required ellipse can be drawn accurately,
without having to adjust it Éuntil it looks OKæ, and it can be drawn as
one object which can then be colour-filled if required.
9.4
Using the isometric grid in Draw, draw the Éisometric squareæ, which is
actually two equilateral triangles joined at the bases. Then draw an
ellipse centred at the centre of the Ésquareæ and with the control point
as shown in the diagram (below left). This ellipse is the right shape,
but the wrong size and orientation.
9.4
Rotate the ellipse through 30░, and magnify it by 0.8165, which is ┌2î3.
The ellipse now needs to be dragged to the correct position Ö if the
Ésquareæ and the control points were locked to the grid, <ctrl-s> will
finally make the ellipse snap to the correct position.
9.4
Colin Singleton, Sheffield
9.4
Faster PC cards Ö With regard to the recent article in Archive about the
upgrading of issue 1 PC cards with new processors, I would like to say
that I have got Windows running at nearly twice the speed it was, simply
by upgrading from !PC486 version 1.87 to !PCx86 version 1.91. Like
Jochen Konietzko, I havenæt run any speed tests but it is definitely
much faster.
9.4
I would suggest that anyone wanting more speed from the IBM side of a
Risc PC should certainly try out the latest PC Card software before
paying for a processor upgrade! (!PCx86 cost ú10 through Archive,
including printed documentation, but it is also available on Acornæs ftp
site for the cost of the phone call.)
9.4
Paul Hobbs. <[e-mail]>
9.4
RiscáPC replacement keyboard Ö The keyboard of the RiscáPC is a standard
PC keyboard with a standard 6¡pin mini-din plug on the end instead of a
5¡pin din plug. If you want to connect an IBM PC(AT) compatible keyboard
to the RiscáPC, here is a wiring diagram for an adaptor (although these
adaptors can be bought from PC suppliers for about ú5).
9.4
Robert Burnell, Bristol.áuá
9.4
Avie Electronics
9.4
New artwork coming
9.4
(Phone 416863 if not!)
9.4
Programming Workshop
9.4
Colin Singleton
9.4
Subscribers to the monthly disc may have been confused by an unexplained
program on Archive Disc 9.3, apparently related to my Puzzle Column. It
was, in fact, submitted by Andrew Campbell, and it calculates the
location of a point, given the magnetic bearings from it to two
landmarks whose grid references are known. The program is far from
complete, and Andrew requests help on various aspects of programming.
9.4
(Sorry about that but, in my defence, it came on the same disc as the
Puzzle Corner which, if you remember, contained a question about grid
references. I thought this was one readeræs submission to that puzzle!
Ed.)
9.4
Wimp programming Ö Help!
9.4
Is there a better way of clearing and redrawing icons?, Andrew asks,
since he feels his present program is rather sluggish. I regret that I
have never made the effort to master Wimp programming, and I
congratulate Andrew on having got so far. Any comments from Wimp experts
who have seen the program on Archive Disc 9.3 would be very welcome.
9.4
File handling
9.4
This subject would require a Workshop column, or more, on its own Ö I
will have to think about this for a future issue. The simplest approach,
if the number of records is modest and they are not frequently changed,
is to read the whole file into memory when the program is loaded, and
save it in full whenever you change the contents. You can process the
Éfileæ as a list in memory, and almost forget about disc file handling.
9.4
Andrew needs to hold three essential data items for each location on his
file Ö Name, Easting and Northing. Since the program is written in
Basic, these could be held in three lists, for example
9.4
DIM Name$(1000), East%(1000), North%(1000)
9.4
Reading the whole file is then simple
9.4
File%=OPENIN(öFileNameò)
9.4
Count%=0
9.4
WHILE NOT EOF#File%
9.4
  Count%=Count%+1
9.4
  INPUT#File%,Name$(Count%),
9.4
 East%(Count%),North%(Count%)
9.4
ENDWHILE
9.4
This coding assumes that the records have been written using
9.4
PRINT#File%,Name$(Count%),
9.4
East%(Count%),North%(Count%)
9.4
The variable Count% will contain the number of records, which will be
stored with subscripts starting at 1. If you wish to be able to rewrite
the file after modification, you must use OPENUP instead of OPENIN.
9.4
Andrew has decided to hold his data in a block of memory accessed by
indirection operators. In this case, the whole data block can be read
from disc with
9.4
SYSöOS_Fileò,16,Filename$,Memory-Address%,0 TO ,,,,FileLength%
9.4
and written with
9.4
SYSöOS_Fileò,10,Filename$,&FFD,,
9.4
 MemoryAddress%,MemoryAddress%+
9.4
FileLength%
9.4
These, and similar operations, are described in the Programmeræs
Reference Manual, in the section on Filing Systems. The constant &FFD,
incidentally, sets the filetype as data.
9.4
The Quicksort revisited
9.4
Andrew is perhaps not alone in wanting to know just how the Quicksort,
described in this column in Issue 8.11, actually works. Please note the
corrected coding in 8.12 p21, and refer to it as you read the following
simple example. Assume the list (L$() in the published coding) initially
contains the numbers 0 to 9 in random order, thus Ö 5á6á8á0á1á3á7á9á2á4.
9.4
The coding before the first REPEAT extracts an item from the middle of
the list (the number 3 in this example) into Z$. The nested REPEAT/WHILE
loops then compare the other values with this one. Those which are less
than Z$ are moved to the beginning of the list, and those which are
greater are moved to the end. Try it on paper. When you drop through the
UNTIL, and obey the next instruction, you should have
2á1á0á3á8á4á7á9á6á5. The number 3 is now in its correct position in the
required sorted list Ö all numbers <3 are to its left and all numbers >3
are to its right.
9.4
The coding is recursive. Having fixed the number 3, the entire process
is repeated on the list of numbers <3, and on the list of numbers >3.
Try it. You should get 0á1á2á3á6á4á5á7á9á8. The numbers 1 and 7 are now
fixed in their correct positions. Since there is now only one number <1,
and one number between the fixed numbers 1 and 3, these require no
further sorting. The recursive process is repeated on the groups 6á4á5
and 9á8. In this example, this will produce the sorted list, but the
program will not recognise that the numbers 5 and 6 are correctly sorted
until it has performed the recursive process once more on this group of
two values.
9.4
You can use similar coding to sort a list of records in a block of
memory using indirect addressing, instead of in a Basic array. In this
case, L% and H% will be offsets from the base memory address, and will
increase/decrease by the length of the record, not by one. Yet another
(perhaps faster) alternative requires you first to build a list of
pointers to the records in memory, then sort the list of pointers,
rather than the records themselves. Remember that the comparisons must
compare the data records addressed by the pointers, not the values of
the pointers themselves!
9.4
Searching Ö the Binary Chop
9.4
Having sorted your list of records in memory, you will no doubt wish to
look up individual items in the sorted list. This can be done using the
Binary Chop. First compare the key you want with the one in the middle
of the sorted list, to decide which half of the list contains your item.
Then compare the required key with that in the middle of the half, then
the quarter, etc. Assume that List$(1) ... List$(Num%) contain a sorted
list of records and Key$ contains the one you wish to find.
9.4
Low%=0
9.4
High%=Num%+1
9.4
REPEAT
9.4
  Test%=(Low%+High%)DIV2
9.4
  IF Key$>List$(Test%) THEN Low%=Test%
9.4
 ELSE High%=Test%
9.4
UNTIL High%=Low%+1
9.4
Then List(High%) is equal to the required key, or if the required key is
not in the list, it should be inserted between the adjacent locations
List(Low%) and List(High%). This process is very much quicker than
searching the whole list Ö if there are 1000 items in the list, it only
requires about ten cycles to find the one you want. The list must, of
course, be sorted first.
9.4
Footnotes
9.4
For readers who remember last monthæs trailer to this column, the
Barnsley Chop was introduced by Brooklands Restaurant, at Dodworth,
(near Barnsley!) some years ago. It comprises two or three (or even
more) double lamb chops, cooked in one piece. If you are only offered
two cutlets, you have been cheated! While you are enjoying your meal,
you can try to satisfy yourself mentally that the Binary Chop coding
always works.
9.4
The only comment I have received concerning the League Tables (9.3 p28)
was favourable, and came from one of the Top Ten contestants. When (I am
always optimistic) the response to the puzzles picks up again, I will
take another look at the League Table.
9.4
My thanks to Andrew Campbell for the inspiration for this column. Please
send any further comments or suggestions to me at 41 St Quentin Drive,
Sheffield, S17 4PN.áuá
9.4
Data Storage Ö SCSI versus IDE
9.4
Nick Chalk
9.4
(There are several references in this article to products from Cumana
Ltd who have just ceased trading. As this happened close to publishing
time, we have not had time to re-edit the article, so please read it
with the knowledge that, unless someone buys up the Cumana products,
they will no longer be available and have been removed from the NCS
price list. Ed.)
9.4
Down to your last free megabyte? Want to join the multimedia revolution?
Tired of feeding floppies to a backup program? Itæs time to buy a new
drive. But which one? And which interface?
9.4
This article cannot answer these questions directly, but it aims to make
the choice a little clearer. It will look at the two major interfaces
available for Acorn computers, IDE and SCSI, and their latest
incarnations. I shall describe the strengths and weaknesses of each,
make comparisons between them, and try to predict where they are going
in the future. I shall also be looking beyond the Acorn market, as the
topic of storage systems is common across many platforms.
9.4
Definitions
9.4
First of all, let me give a few definitions that should make it easier
for you to understand the explanations in the main part of this article.
9.4
Drive Ö A general term, which I shall use to describe any storage
device; for example: Hard discs, CD-ROMs, tape streamers, magneto-
optical discs, etc.
9.4
Interface Ö The circuitry that sits between the computeræs processor and
the drive, handling the communication between them. It translates the
computeræs requests into a form the drive understands, and vice versa.
9.4
Megabyte (Mb) Ö Unit of memory or disc space. There are two alternative
definitions, 1,048,576 bytes (220) or 1,000,000 bytes. The former
describes 1áMb of memory, whilst the latter is more commonly used when
referring to storage devices. I use shall use this second definition
throughout.
9.4
Gigabyte (Gb) Ö Unit of memory or disc space. Again, there are two
alternative definitions, (wait for it...) 1,073,741,824 bytes (230) or
1,000,000,000 bytes. Once again, I shall use the latter definition, as
it is the most common amongst drive manufacturers.
9.4
Data transfer rate Ö The speed at which an interface or a drive can
handle data; usually measured in kilobytes per second (Kb/s) or
megabytes per second (Mb/s).
9.4
Asynchronous Ö A method of transferring data between two devices,
involving Éhandshakingæ signals. When the sender wants to transfer a
data word, it signals that it is ready to the receiver. The receiver
then returns a signal to say that it can accept the data, and the word
is transferred. This process is repeated for each data word to be
transferred.
9.4
Synchronous Ö A method of transferring data between two devices, using a
clock signal to synchronise the two. The receiver expects the sender to
transmit one data word for every clock interval.
9.4
Processor input / output (PIO) Ö Data transfer from the interface or
drive to memory under control of the processor. The processor reads a
data word from the interface, then writes it to memory; this process
repeats until all data has been transferred. Writing data to the
interface takes place in a similar fashion.
9.4
Direct memory access (DMA) Ö A method of improving the data transfer
speed between an interface and the computer. In the case of a read, a
block of data is written by the drive interface directly into memory,
without the processor being involved. During a write, data is taken
directly from memory in a similar manner.
9.4
IDE
9.4
The IDE interface is probably the most commonly used drive system in the
desktop computer world. It is used on Acornæs A5000/4000/3020 machines
and on the Risc PC, as well as almost all PC-compatibles. Why is it so
popular?
9.4
IDE was designed as an interface for the desktop computer market. It
achieves a balance between performance and price, delivering reasonably
good speeds without high costs. The system was made straightforward, so
that it would be easy to add to a computeræs motherboard as the standard
hard disc interface. Introduced first by Western Digital, the IDE
Interface was later made a controlled ANSI Standard. Ideally, this
should have made any drive usable with any computeræs interfaceáÖ in
practice, too many parts of the standard were made optional, giving the
system a reputation for incompatibilities.
9.4
The IDE standard sets out a simple interface, in essence an extension of
the computeræs data bus. The name is an acronym for ÉIntegrated Drive
Electronicsæ, describing the main feature of the design. The majority of
the complex electronics is integrated into the drive itself, so that the
host computer only requires a simple interface. This has many advantages
in the price-conscious market; individual computer designers need only
design and build a small circuit, whilst the drive manufacturers handle
the complicated work. This results in relatively low prices, since the
likes of Seagate, Conner and Quantum make drives in very large numbers.
9.4
To compare the available interfaces, some measure of performance is
required. Below are listed the basic attributes of IDE, in terms of what
types and sizes of drive are supported, what speed it can achieve, and
any other restrictions on the system. I shall go on to describe these
figures in more detail later.
9.4
Each IDE interface can handle two drives, of up to 528áMb capacity. Data
transfer between interface and drive can be either 8 or 16-bit,
depending on the capabilities of the drive, and there are a range of
Data Transfer Rates defined to accommodate fast and slow systems. The
range of drives available for IDE is somewhat limited: its main
application is hard discs, although CD-ROM and Tape Drives can be
obtained. The final restriction is a limit on the length of the cable
connecting the interface to the drives; the total cable length must not
be more than 18 inches (46 cm), with not more than 6 inches (15 cm)
between the two drives, if a second is fitted.
9.4
Today, the main limitation of IDE is the maximum drive size. Under
versions of RISC OS prior to 3.6, the limit is 528áMb, or 512áMb by
Acornæs definition. This restriction is the result of a combination of
the interface itself, and the operating systemæs drivers. When the
system was launched in 1986, this was considered to be a massive size!
Now, however, it is something of a restriction, especially considering
the storage capacity of a CD-ROM at 650Mb. A very common work-around for
this problem has been to partition a large hard disc, so that it appears
as two smaller drives. The solution for CD-ROM is more complicated, and
has led to a new addressing system being devised, known as ATAPI.
Iáshall be discussing this in more detail later.
9.4
The performance of IDE varies greatly between different designs. Many
parts of the Standard are optional or have multiple choices, so that a
design may be tailored for a particular market. For example, DMA data
transfers are one option for higher performance, as is the choice
between 8 and 16 bits. Acornæs designs are typical: they only employ the
basic types of transfer, but do support 16¡bit communications. The
speeds at which disc accesses occur depends on the machine Ö a Risc PC
demands far higher performance from a drive than an A3010. As an
example, the A5000 Technical Reference Manual quotes a speed of 2.4Mb/s
when transferring one sector. This is using an old 25MHz machine with
the original 40Mb drive. The Standard defines a number of data transfer
ÉModesæ, setting the time taken to transfer one Word. Using Processor I/
O (PIO), cycle times of between 600ns and 240ns are available and,
theoretically, this leads to a maximum data rate of 4Mb/s for 8¡bit and
8Mb/s for 16¡bit transfers. This is, in practice, unachievable Ö the
above figures assume that the processor spends all its time transferring
data, and that the drive can always deliver data on time. A more
realistic maximum figure is approximately 3Mb/s.
9.4
It is worthwhile describing here a couple of terms used to express the
speed of hard discs. I have already used the term Data Transfer Rate
(DTR) above, in a loose fashion. When discussing drives in particular,
there are two separate definitions: Sustained DTR and Burst DTR. The
latter defines the performance of the drive when reading or writing a
single sector which, as mentioned above, involves the use of some memory
in the drive known as the Ésector bufferæ. This value is the fastest
possible transfer that the drive can achieve, and produces nice large
figures for advertising. The Sustained measurement is, perhaps, the more
useful. It describes the rate at which a large block of data can be
written or read, requiring more than one access to the disc surface.
Naturally, this is a lower number, but bears more relation to real disc
accesses. Burst DTR, for modern drives, can reach between 10Mb/s and
20Mb/s, whilst the maximum Sustained DTR rarely exceeds 4Mb/s. Returning
to the figure quoted above for an A5000, 2.4Mb/s is the Burst DTR,
whilst the Sustained DTR is approximately 500 to 700Kb/s.
9.4
Determining data transfer rates is a difficult process. In any storage
system, the DTR is limited by the slowest component, invariably the
drive itself. There are, essentially, three components to data transfer
in IDE. Take, for example, a read from the disc. Firstly, the sector
required must be found on the disc, then read into a sector buffer in
the drive. This buffer is then gradually read by the processor, through
the interface. Finally, the processor must store the data in main
memory. This last stage is always the fastest, so it is the other stages
which limit the speed.
9.4
Transfer from drive to processor takes place over three busses: the IDE
cable, the I/O bus, and lastly the data bus. Here, the limiting factor
lies in either the IDE or I/O busses. Acornæs IDE implementation has a
significant advantage in that there is no I/O bus connection Ö data
flows straight from the IDE cable onto the data bus. Try comparing the
performance of a hard disc connected to an AT-bus PC with the same
device connected to an Acorn; the performance difference is quite
significant! Of all the components, however, it is usually the hard disc
which is the slowest element.
9.4
There have been many changes in the computer market since IDE was first
proposed in 1986, and recently there have been some changes in the
standard to accommodate them. These new developments are known by the
acronyms ATAPI and E-IDE. The former, the ÉAT Attachment Packet
Interfaceæ, is a new system for addressing CD¡ROM drives. It does not
replace IDE, but rather adds a new set of commands which allow the
computer to address the 650Mb of data on a CD¡ROM, and to handle the
various data formats for audio and video. ÉEnhanced IDEæ, the second new
development, is an update of the original IDE system, increasing its
flexibility and performance. They are both significant advances for the
Acorn market: RISC OS 3.6 supports ATAPI, and an E-IDE controller has
just been launched by Yellowstone Educational Solutions.
9.4
Enhanced IDE is a major new system in the drive market, and is worth a
closer look. It attempts to address some of the limitations of the
original interface, which have become apparent with the inevitable rise
in program and data sizes. E-IDE boasts two separate cables, the Primary
and Secondary Interfaces. Each of these can support two devices, for a
total of four, allowing any mix of the supported devices.
9.4
This selection has been widened, through the use of ATAPI. CD-ROMs are
fully supported, and a standard for tape drives is being discussed. The
528Mb limit has been increased to 8.3áGb, which should keep the most
disc-space hungry users happy for a little while. Finally, the data
transfers have been speeded up to a current maximum of 16.6áMb for PIO
and DMA. The E-IDE draft does, however, allow the Secondary Interface to
run slower than the Primary (this is for expansion-slot starved PC
users). Drives for E-IDE are freely availableáÖ the PC market has had
the interface for a little while nowáÖ plus it is compatible with IDE,
so an old IDE drive can be connected to an E-IDE interface, along with
newer, ÉEnhancedæ drives.
9.4
SCSI
9.4
The Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) is a slightly older system
than IDE. The first designs were started in 1979, with devices appearing
on the market between 1983 and 1984. From the beginning, SCSI was
intended to be a standard, a solution to the too¡wide variety of
interfaces available at the time. Today, SCSI exists as two ANSI
standards, with a third under construction Ö although this does not rule
out incompatibilities, as Jim Nottinghamæs column (ÉSCSI Compatibilityæ,
Archive 9.2, p22) proves.
9.4
SCSI currently has two forms, SCSIá1 and SCSIá2. The latter interface is
just becoming available on the Acorn market Ö there are now three
products available Ö but SCSIá1 devices have been around for a long
time. It is often viewed as the preserve of those who require large
drives or high speed, and are prepared to pay for it. With the emergence
of E-IDE, the differences in performance are no longer so large,
although SCSI is usually slightly more expensive. What you pay for is
greater flexibility.
9.4
The performance statistics for SCSI may be summarised in a similar way
to IDE. Up to eight devices can be connected to the bus, one of which is
the computeræs host adaptor. The maximum drive size is 16Gb, and the
selection of compatible devices is very wide: hard discs, CD-ROMs, tape
drives, scanners, optical discs, printers, and even other computers! The
data width used on the bus varies between 8 and 32 bits, depending on
the type of SCSI device Ö this is covered in more detail below. Finally,
the maximum cable length is six metres.
9.4
The words in italic above are a selection from the terminology that is
peculiar to SCSI Ö the terms are actually part of the standard itself.
The bus is defined as the cable connecting the drives to the computeræs
interface, the host adaptor. This latter term is used to differentiate
it from the controllers which connect the individual devices to the bus.
9.4
The differences between the two SCSI versions are many, but most are not
obvious to the user. SCSIá1 defines a system with an 8¡bit wide bus that
can transfer data either synchronously or asynchronously. Asynchronous
transfer normally achieves 1.5Mb/s, although modern devices can usually
manage 3 to 4Mb/s. Synchronous transfer is more efficient, at a constant
5Mb/s. This is the minimum specification for a SCSI system.
9.4
SCSIá2 defines two new terms: Fast and Wide. In performance terms, basic
SCSIá2 is no better than SCSIá1 Ö a point to watch out for when reading
manufacturersæ advertisements. Fast SCSIá2 defines a new synchronous
transfer mode, capable of 10Mb/s. Wide SCSIá2 increases the width of the
bus to 16 or 32 bits. This is where it gets confusing! Any SCSIá2 device
can be Fast, Wide 16, Wide 32, Fast and Wide 16 or, finally, Fast and
Wide 32 (or none of these!). The data transfer of these options range
from 10Mb/s for the first, to 40Mb/s for the last. In reality, the
situation is simpler Ö Wide 32 is rarely used, and Wide 16 or Fast and
Wide 16 is usually only seen on 2Gb or larger hard discs intended for
network servers or Unix workstations. That leaves Fast, which is the
system employed by the Cumana, Alsystems Power-tec, and MCS Connect 32
interfaces. The majority of SCSIá2 drives on the market are Fast, too.
9.4
That covers the performance differences; what else has changed? A major
improvement is the precise definition of how each type of device (hard
disc, tape, scanner, etc) should be connected to the bus, and the
commands that it should accept. SCSIá1 left many parts optional or
ÉVendor Specificæ (much like IDE), creating many of the incompatibility
problems referred to above. Hopefully, the advent of SCSIá2 to Acorn
machines will improve the situation.
9.4
The SCSIá2 standard was published in 1994, but development has not
stopped there. The standards committee is currently working on SCSIá3,
which will contain a number of enhancements. One of the most interesting
is the addition of protocols for transferring data serially through
optical fibre; this promises further increases in data transfer rate,
for those who need it. As was the case with version 2, there are already
systems on the market which follow parts of the draft SCSIá3 standard.
9.4
I have also just discovered another SCSI variant. Called variously
ÉUltra SCSIæ or ÉFast-20æ, it is not actually part of the SCSIá2
standard, but may appear in SCSIá3. As the second name suggests, it is a
faster version of ÉFastæ, allowing 20Mb/s transfers over an 8¡bit bus,
or 40áMb/s over a 16¡bit. At least one chip-set is in existence for this
system, but it will probably be a while before it reaches the Acorn
market.
9.4
Comparison
9.4
The earlier sections of this article have described the two systems and
their performance. Now it is down to the hard questions: how do they
compare, and which is the best one to choose?
9.4
Up to now, I have looked at the wider data storage market, but here I
shall examine what is available to Acorn users, starting with the
products on the market now. Please note that the following information
has been gathered from the manufacturers themselves. I cannot vouch for
its accuracy, as I have not tested any of the products. I recommend that
any potential purchaser seeks the latest information from the relevant
manufacturer, and, if possible, reads an independent review.
9.4
For standard IDE, there are several products that have been on the
market for some time. These are available from companies such as HCCS,
Cumana, and Castle Technology. For Enhanced IDE, there is only one
interface available, Yellowstone Educational Solutionsæ ÉRapIDE 32æ.
From the specifications I have received, this seems to fulfil all the
requirements of E-IDE. There appears to be no speed penalty on the
Secondary Interface, and the interface supports ATAPI devices. It is
capable of PIO modes 3 and 4, and the maximum data rate is claimed to be
8áMb/s. Unfortunately, it is compatible with the Risc PC only.
9.4
SCSI cards are also in plentiful supply. SCSIá1 devices are manufactured
by several companies, for example Cumana, Morley and Castle Technology.
For SCSIá2, there are three possibilities: Cumana, Alsystemsæ Power-tec,
and a new entrant, ÉConnect 32æ from MCS, a German company. Cumanaæs
offering has already been discussed in Archive (8.4,áp8 and 9.1, p27-8),
and commented upon in subsequent editions. Alsystemsæ card has only been
recently released Ö a review of both is eagerly awaited. The MCS card
was announced very quietly at the Acorn World show Ö Iájust happened to
notice a leaflet describing it on the Clares stand! It seems that Clares
are acting as distributors in the UK. Iábelieve that all three cards are
Fast SCSIá2; both Cumana and MCS claim this, but Alsystems do not
mention it in their brochures, nor were they able to tell me at the
show! The Alsystems and MCS cards can be fitted to both Risc PC and
older machines, although the full benefit of SCSIá2 will not be apparent
on the latter; the Cumana card is Risc PC only.
9.4
That covers the interfaces available to Acorn owners, but still leaves
the question öShould I choose IDE or SCSI?ò. The key to answering this
is to examine your existing set-up. In the following paragraphs, I shall
describe some possible system configurations, and the preferred upgrade
options for them. These are, of course, only guidelines Ö the final
choice is yours, and depends on your exact requirements.
9.4
Å IDE interface with one drive: The cheapest option here is to buy a
second IDE drive, to add to the interface already present. If you are
looking for a CD-ROM, and do not own a Risc PC, you have the choice
between a drive adapted for IDE, or a SCSI card and compatible drive.
For Risc PC owners, the choice is wider. E-IDE or SCSIá2 are
possibilities, if you are interested in performance. The advantage of E-
IDE here is that you would be able to move your old hard disc onto the
E¡IDE interface, with a possible performance improvement. If, however,
you are thinking of adding several devices to your machine, SCSI may be
more flexible. If you have RISC OS 3.5, you will have to wait for the
3.6 upgrade before being able to use an ATAPI CD¡ROM on the standard IDE
interface; an E-IDE interface will allow that now.
9.4
Å IDE interface with two devices attached: Your IDE interface is full,
so purchasing another is a necessity. For owners of pre-Risc PC
machines, the choice is between another IDE, SCSIá1 or SCSIá2. The SCSI
option is the more expensive, especially the SCSIá2, but it does allow
greater flexibility. It may be wise to consider your future computer
upgrade plans if choosing SCSI Ö although a SCSIá2 interface would bring
few immediate benefits, it could be transferred to a Risc PC at a later
date. For Risc PC owners, it is a matter of balancing cost against
flexibility. An E-IDE controller would allow you to transfer your
existing drives to the new interface, bringing a possible speed
increase.
9.4
Å SCSI interface: If you have an existing SCSIá1 interface, you have the
choice of buying a new drive for it, or upgrading, depending on the
importance to you of performance. If you are considering upgrading, it
may be worth checking if your existing SCSI drives are compatible with
any of the SCSIá2 cards. Ifáthey are, one of these devices would
probably be the favoured option; if not, then for Risc PC owners, it is
a free choice between E-IDE and SCSIá2, as a new drive will have to be
purchased for both.
9.4
Caveat Emptor
9.4
Here are a few tricky points to watch out for in the world of interfaces
and drives.
9.4
Beware of the term É32¡bitæ, as applied to interfaces. This describes
the expansion-bus link between the card and the processor, not the
connection to the drive. In the Risc PC, the expansion bus is 32¡bit,
whilst in older machines it is 16¡bit. In effect, a É32¡bitæ card is
being advertised as designed for the Risc PC. The bus width of the link
between interface and drive is set by the standard: 16¡bit in IDE and E-
IDE, 8¡bit in SCSIá1, and 8, 16 or 32¡bit in SCSIá2. However, remember
that 16 and 32¡bit SCSIá2 is very rare, even in the PC world; a quick
way to check for Wide SCSI is to count the number of data cables linking
the host adaptor to the drive Ö if there is only one, then it cannot be
Wide SCSI!
9.4
A major difficulty that all users should be aware of is the
compatibility issue. SCSI compatibility is being handled by Jim
Nottingham (see Archive 9.2, p22). IDE compatibility is more difficult.
It is always worth checking that the drive you are buying is compatible
with your interface, and asking whether you can return the device if it
does not work. The problem with IDE is that although it is a Éstandardæ,
the terms of that Éstandardæ are not very well defined. Of the forty
pins on the IDE connector, one is defined as being Éoptionalæ. In the
command set, which RISC OS uses to control the drives, there are 35
commands. Of these, only 10 are Émandatoryæ Ö the other 25 are
Éoptionalæ. With this level of standardisation, it is a wonder that any
two IDE devices are compatible! Some drives donæt even meet the
standard.
9.4
One further problem with IDE devices Ö and I suspect that E-IDE will
inherit it Ö is convincing two drives to work together as master and
slave. When two IDE drives are connected to the same interface, one must
be configured as master, the other as slave, by means of small
connectors on the drives. These Éjumpersæ set more than just this, and
the method employed differs from drive to drive. If both your drives are
from the same manufacturer, and if they come with good instructions, it
might tell you which ones need to be altered. However, if they are
different makes, you are on your own, and trial and error is often the
only way. I can provide a few hints, largely from my own (limited)
experience of setting up IDE drives. There are often markings on the
circuit board next to the jumpers, which can sometimes give a clue to
the correct settings.
9.4
The Master / Slave setting is often controlled by a ÉSlaveæ jumper,
marked variously SLV, SL, or just S. If you want the drive to be a
master, this should be disabled, and vice versa. The next problem is,
which state is disabled? Examine the text by the jumper. If it has a bar
over the letters (e.g. SLV), then fit the jumper to make that drive the
Master; if there is no bar (e.g. SLV), then remove the jumper to make it
the Master.
9.4
If there is one marked CS or CSEL, then this controls the ÉCable Selectæ
pin on the interface. Currently, none of Acornæs interfaces use this
signal, so it should be disabled. Try removing the jumper (if there is
one) to start with, and see if RISC OS recognises that a drive is
present. A second signal that is not supported by Acornæs drivers is
ÉSpindle Syncæ, so if thereæs an option for this (SS perhaps?) disable
it.
9.4
When you have the configuration right, RISC OS should automatically
detect the presence of the new drive, and display it on the iconbar. If
you are installing a hard disc, run !HForm Ö this will attempt to access
the new drive, and is a good second indication that everything is right.
As a quick aside, when you run !HForm on an IDE disc, do not ask for a
full format; IDE discs need only be ÉInitialisedæ.
9.4
Conclusions
9.4
I hope that this article has shed some light on the two most common
interfaces in the Acorn world. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to
the upgrade question; too much depends on individual requirements. There
is no easy answer to the incompatibility issue either; IDE and SCSI are
highly complex systems, and so there are many things to go wrong.
9.4
I had hoped to be able to provide some insight into the two IDE
problems: the master / slave relationship, and the incompatibility.
However, this required the cooperation of both the drive and interface
manufacturers, which I did not receive. I did obtain the required
information from Acorn, but without the corresponding data on the
drives, I can give you no magic formula for testing incompatibility.
9.4
The coming year may well be a very interesting time for the Acorn
market. The emergence of a Common Hardware Reference Platform Risc PC at
the end of 1996 should widen the interface market, allowing Acorn users
a far wider variety of choice. Suddenly, the likes of SCSIá3, FireWire,
Serial Storage Architecture and Fibre Channel become possibilities. But
that is for the future...
9.4
If you have any comments or queries, I would be happy to hear them.
Please send them to me, either via Archive or to 22, Rosehip Way,
Lychpit, Basingstoke, Hants, RG23 0SW.áuá
9.4
Maximum Data Transfer Rate indicates the speed of the interface, not any
device connected to it. The rate of data transfer will generally be
dictated by the speed of the drive.
9.4
The EÖIDE mode numbers and data rates shown are for Processor   I/O
(PIO) transfers over the Primary connection. The EÖIDE standard also
defines three DMA modes, 0, 1 and 2, for multiple word transfers at
4.16áMb/s, 13.3áMb/s and 16.6áMb/s respectively. Data transfer over the
secondary connection will normally be slower, although this is not
defined in the standard. EÖIDE Mode 5 is a proposed standard, and had
not been ratified as of March, 1995. There is some doubt as to whether
it will be a PIO mode, or become DMA Mode 3 instead.
9.4
The data rates shown for SCSIá1 and SCSIá2 are for Synchronous
transfers. Asynchronous transfers are, in general, slower and dependent
on other factors such as the speed of the drive and the length of the
cable.
9.4
Small Ads
9.4
(Small ads for Acorn 32-bit computers and related products are free for
subscribers but we reserve the right to publish all, part or none of the
material you send, as we think fit. i.e. some people donæt know what
Ésmallæ means and there are certain things, as you can imagine, that we
would not be prepared to advertise as a matter of principle. Sending
small ads (especially long ones!) on disc is helpful but not essential.
Ed.)
9.4
A310, 4Mb, ARM3, RISC OS 3.1, 40Mb HD, AKF17 monitor, PC Emulator 1.6,
leads, manuals, discs/shareware, buyer to collect, ú300 o.n.o. Phone
01275-393203.
9.4
A4, 4Mb, 60Mb HD, exc cond. ú600 o.n.o. Phone [phone] after 6.
9.4
A410/1, 4Mb, RISC OS 3.1, 40Mb internal HD, external floppy interface
with Cumana 5╝ö drive, Taxan 770+ multisync, Amstrad SM2400 modem,
Voltmace joystick + mouse eliminator, BBC serial link, manuals (inc. OS2
Prog. Ref.), software (inc. PC Emulator 1.81, Disctree 2.30, Software
Developeræs Toolbox, Twin, ArcComm, ArcDFS, ten games) ú450. Phone
01342-844673.
9.4
A410/1, 4Mb, RISC OS 3.1, ARM3, two 200Mb SCSI HDs, Oak 16-bit SCSI
card, 4-slot backplane, Aleph One 486PC podule v.22 with 4Mb RAM, VIDC
enhancer, Taxan 770+ multisync, 5╝ö disc controller, mouse, manuals,
some software, ú800. Phone Ian on [phone] after 10pm. (Thatæs
Japan, by the way! Ed.)
9.4
A420/1, 4Mb, RISC OS 3.1, ARM3, 120Mb IDE, AKF12 colour monitor, lots of
software inc. LC, PC Emulator 1.8, ú475 o.n.o. Phone [phone].
9.4
A3000, 4Mb, 40Mb HD, Acorn monitor, manuals, ú300. Phone [phone].
9.4
A3000, 4Mb, ARM3, RISC OS 3.11, AKF17, dual disc drive, 30Mb IDE HD,
little use, lots of software and games. Phone Darren on 01692-402668.
9.4
A3000, 4Mb, ARM3, 85Mb internal HD, RISC OS 3.1, serial upgrade, monitor
stand, ú350. Philips monochrome monitor ú20. Citizen Swift 24 colour dot
matrix with spare ribbons ú90. Complete system ú450. Phone James, work
0181-941-7899, home 0181-977-7367.
9.4
A5000, ARM3, RISC OS 3.1, 4Mb RAM, 120Mb HD, 14ö multisync, PC Emulator
v1.8, Panasonic KX-P1180 printer, lots of software v.g.c, ú800. Phone
Chris on 01603-868707.
9.4
A5000, 4Mb, 210Mb HD, AKF50 monitor, joysticks, Impression Junior,
Diggers, James Pond, Zool, Lemmings, software and clipart, ú775 o.n.o.
Phone [phone].
9.4
A5000LC, 4Mb, 290Mb HD, AKF18, lots of software, ú650. Calligraph
1200dpi laser printer, ú700. CC scanner and digitiser, ú100. Impression
Publisher v4.05, ú70. Everything for ú1400. Phone [phone].
9.4
Aleph One 386PC podule, 4Mb, fast PAL, !PC v1.59f, Windows driver, ú150.
Conner 210Mb IDE hard disc, ú50. PC Emulator v1.81, MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS
5.0, ú20. Phone [phone], eves.
9.4
Bitfolio Cartoon Graphics, More Cartoons and Xmas Collection. All in
original packaging, as new, ú25. Phone [phone].
9.4
EasiWriter Professional, v3.16 with manuals, ú100. Phone [phone].
9.4
LC24-10 printer ú50, Phillips 8833 stereo monitor ú70, ST506 40Mb HD
ú30, Oak SCSI card ú60, US Robotics Sportster 14k4 fax modem ú70, ANSI C
rel.4 manuals ú10, many BBC B books free. Phone [phone].
9.4
Pacmania ú5, Bug Hunter in Space ú6, Haunted House ú12, Trivial Pursuit
ú5, Compression ú18, Fireworkz v1.07 ú69, Genesis Plus ú19, RISC OS 2
PRMs ú35 (excl. delivery), Rhapsody v1.04 ú22, ArcTerm7 ú49, Break 147/
SuperPool ú18. Phone Rob on 01242-231540 eves.
9.4
PC Emulator v1.8 ú15, GammaPlot v2 ú15, System Delta+ v2 ú25, Genesis v2
ú20, Investigating Local Industry ú20, Chocks Away ú3, Sporting
Triangles ú5, The Art Machine 1 and 2 ú20, Word Up Word Down ú3, MS-DOS
Quick Reference (book) ú5. Phone [phone] eves.
9.4
Prophet v1 upgradable ú39, ArcFS v2.5 new unregistered ú15, HelixBasic
ú20, EasyFont 3 ú15, PC Emulator with DR DOS ú15, Hero Quest ú5,
Voltmace Delta Joystick ú10. Phone [phone].
9.4
ScanLight 256 upgraded for Risc PC ú80, ProArtisan 2CD with ProArt24
voucher + Photo CD ú40, Revelation 2CD with CDFS 2.21Y ú40, PinPoint
2.01d ú40, Eureka 3.01 ú50. Offers for multiple purchases. Phone David
on 01752-840027 after 6.
9.4
ScanLight Video 256, mono hand-scanner and digitiser, podule version,
ú150 o.n.o. Phone [phone].
9.4
Wanted Ö Atomwide parallel port SCSI interface without printer bypass
(old type). Will pay reasonable price. Phone [phone], fax 01223-
512304.
9.4
Wanted Ö 33MHz A5000 without monitor. Phone Charlie on 0116-2660123.
9.4
Z88 with 128K RAM and 32K EPROM, mains adaptor, carry case, manual,
EPROM eraser, printer lead, ú95 +p&p. 4Mb 72-pin SIMM for Risc PC, ú90.
Phone [phone].áuá
9.4
Acorn World æ95
9.4
Alex Card
9.4
Paulæs a hard man Ö such a short time scale to write a show report is
pushing it, especially when there was so much to see at this yearæs
event. I have decided to stick with the new hardware and software
releases plus a bit of general gossip, rather than trying to cover
everything.
9.4
It has to be said that the last few months have been pretty awful on the
Acorn scene: debts, departures, dealers unhappy about dramatic changes,
job losses and the continued onslaught of Écheapæ PCs, hardly paint a
rosy picture, but the overriding feeling I got from the show was of new-
found optimism from dealers and users alike. The dust is beginning to
settle from these recent events and people seem to know what they have
to do to survive, and hopefully prosper, in the new climate.
9.4
The three divisions of Acorn have taken a firm shape; Acorn Education,
ART (Applied Risc Technologies) and Online Media all have targets to aim
at and appear to have made the transition seamlessly. Nice new ART logo
too !
9.4
The number of visitors appeared to be down this year but business itself
was brisk. Iota reported selling more in the first two days than they
had in the whole of the æ94 show. I attended on Sunday (the last day)
and quickly discovered that many of the products Iæd hoped to buy had
long since sold out so Iæm sure Iota werenæt the exception.
9.4
New Products Ö Art & Design
9.4
Competition is hotting up in the graphical stakes with new versions and
updates of old favourites abounding and the odd pretender to the throne
also creeping in. Photodesk and Studio 24 both became ÉProæ with
completely rewritten versions that looked really good, with all the
original features plus many more to boot. The packages started at
different ends of the market, with Studio 24 being more of a creative
drawing tool and Photodesk the ideal photo-retoucher and manipulator,
but there is now more of an overlap and itæll be interesting to follow
developments.
9.4
Clares released updates for Composition and Pro Artisan 24, and
Virtualise which is a virtual memory manager to complement the use of
these updates, but which will also work with other applications.
9.4
New kid on the block was Longman Logotronæs ÉThe Big Pictureæ, an
impressive and aggressively priced package which, at ú69 inclusive,
should do well for those on a more modest budget. It has its roots
firmly in the Revelation camp and has many of the facilities of its
competitors, even virtual memory and graphic tablet support, so it is
well worth checking out.
9.4
The 4th Dimensionæs ÉStereoworldæ is something completely different,
enabling those with the knack of seeing stereograms, or hidden 3D
images, to create the things and even print them out.
9.4
Aspex Software were selling Spex+ and a 24-bit version of Architech
which looks extremely impressive and easily coped with smooth, rapid
rotations of three shaded and fairly detailed helicopters. There was
also ImageFS 2 from Alternative Software which offers access to an even
wider range of graphic file formats than its predecessor.
9.4
Games
9.4
A slightly worrying aspect of the show was the lack of new games, not
just on the day but for many months now things have been very quiet.
Games have been cited as pushing forward the spread of Pentium systems
in the PC market and itæs not an area that Acorn machines can afford to
dismiss. Top game for me had to be ÉAlone In The Darkæ; a fine
conversion of a classic game, this is the first part of the now finished
trilogy from the PC scene. OK itæs a little late, but it has superb 3D
polygon graphics and brilliant atmospheric sound effects.
9.4
ÉRick Dangerousæ is the other side of the coin. Again, itæs a conversion
of an old game but left me asking ÉWhy bother ?æ Ö itæs typical platform
fodder. The Hitmen crew have done a good job on the actual conversion
and the good news is that they have other, and hopefully more inspiring,
conversions in the pipeline, so ögood luck guys!ò
9.4
TBA Software released two new games; ÉThe Cobalt Seedæ and ÉCommand
Shipæ. The former is along the lines of ÉStarwingæ and ÉStarfighter
3000æ; shoot everything you can and dodge things you canæt Ö definitely
one for priming those reflexes. ÉCommand Shipæ is similar to asteroids
but didnæt have the same appeal as ÉSpheres Of Chaosæ. More titles are
in the pipeline and thereæs also a possible release of their 3D engine
for creating your own games, but this is likely to be in the region of
ú200. Eclipse had ÉDarkwoodæ and ÉGlobal Effectæ on show. Darkwood is a
cute 3D adventure in which you play the role of a wizard on a mission.
It was obviously very popular as I couldnæt get a go on it all day.
Global Effect will appeal to sim fans Ö save the planet and balance
civilisation with ecology.
9.4
My award for Éthe best original gameæ goes to Psycore for the
deceptively simple ÉRevolveræ. Tip a 3D spherical maze left and right
and slice up pods. Donæt ask me why Ö thereæs sure to be a scenario in
there somewhere, but itæs best just to enjoy the game.
9.4
For all us old romantics, Warm Silence had something to warm the cockles
in the form of two emulators, one Beeb, the other Speccy. Shake the
cobwebs off those classics in the loft; Exile, Revs, Castle Quest,
Citadel ... it brought a tear to my eye to see Zalaga again up and
running on a Risc PC. Thereæs also a tape interface to copy programs to
Archimedes discs. I can also confirm that itæs possible to copy files
via a serial link if youæve still got a Beeb. Random Access Memories
like the corners of my mind .... (sing up !)
9.4
Music
9.4
Sibelius continues to go from strength to strength. Version 3 includes
real-time Midi input; play in a tune and it appears as a musical score
instantly. This is not all though; it will also Écorrectæ any errors in
tempo based on how good a keyboard player you are .... a truly awesome
program. Longman Logotron released Music Studio 32, although I must
confess to not having seen, or more importantly, heard it in action.
Audio Dynamics were showing off their Powerwave podule as can be heard
on the Archimedes World cover CD.
9.4
Hardware Innovations
9.4
The Simtec multi-processor socket could be seen, not in action but in a
glass case. A number of prototypes have already gone out to developers
and it should be available next spring for around ú150. There are now
plenty of PC processor options from 486SX to Pentiums from Aleph One and
Acorn so it would be nice to see other processor cards developed too.
Atomwideæs ISA Adaptor attracted plenty of attention. It enables PC
expansion cards to be connected to most Acorn machines Ö itæs not even
essential to have a PC card or podule attached in order to use add-ons.
I watched as a 3DO Blaster unit was attached. Things seemed to be going
according to plan as the usual PC port errors occurred; maybe someone
could let us know if they actually managed to get the 3DO Blaster
running? Online Media were demonstrating information on demand with
their very sleek model 2 set-top box and explaining how the Cambridge
trial on the system is coming along Ö very nicely is the answer but it
could be two years before itæs widely available.
9.4
The Internet
9.4
I have to confess that this is an area I know very little about so it
was handy that it was the major theme of the show. ArgoNet launched
itself with complete packages available, consisting of a choice of U.S.
Robotics 14.4k or 28.8k modems, Voyager software, registration and free
access for a month. I managed to crash out three times although other
users seemed to be having much more success so I ended up peering over
small childrenæs shoulders for tips. Other dealers had alternative
software on offer, with Termite from Doggysoft and The ANT Internet
Suite from (not surprisingly) ANT Ltd. All three packages had lots of
facilities, but I must confess that ANTæs suite made me feel most at
home in an unfamiliar world. (And its facilities are growing by the week
with updates freely available on the Web. It will be interesting to see
Dave Pantlingæs views next month. Ed.)
9.4
The juicy gossip
9.4
Speculation abounds about StrongARM and it all sounds staggeringly good.
A plug-in card should appear next summer for approximately ú200 which
could result in a six-fold increase in performance from a standard Risc
PC, 150 to 200 MIPS. The 2nd generation Risc PCs are also in the
pipeline, which will apparently use CHRP (Common Hardware Reference
Platform); not sure what the implications are, but be assured, itæs
definitely a good thing! The current models will not be upgradable as it
will involve a major redesign. New models could be running at 300 to 400
MIPS; eat your heart out Intel. The ARM 8 will still be released and
will be cheaper than the StrongARM but, as itæll be out around the same
time, whoæs going to buy it?
9.4
There should be a new Acorn colour portable (soon) (I think not Ö maybe
a case of Acorn employees not having seen Acorn press releases! Ed.) and
this could mean the same sort of drastic price cuts that have already
occurred with the A3010. Beebug again perchance? Speaking of the A3010,
there was some speculation that it might be possible to replace the ARM
2500 with an ARM 7500; for this I firmly point the finger at Archimedes
World. Simtec say that, although it would be possible, it is highly
unlikely to ever come to pass due to severe reliability problems etc Ö
maybe someone will try.
9.4
Conclusion
9.4
So thatæs a rapid run through of events. Stories of Acornæs demise now
seem very premature and we could all be heading for a new ÉGolden Ageæ.
Apologies for anything Iæve missed out and errors that have crept in.
Hopefully, at next yearæs show, the speculation will have become a
reality.áuá
9.4
Archiveæs Centenary
9.4
Paul Beverley
9.4
For one hundred months in succession, I have edited and produced Archive
magazine, so I think I deserve a bit of space for reminiscences.
9.4
Introduction to the Archimedes
9.4
My first meeting with Archimedes (the name used for the first Acorn 32-
bit computer) was at a developersæ meeting in 1987. I was then running
NCS as a hardware interfacing consultancy (which had died away almost to
nothing by that stage) and was making a good living selling programs and
books Iáhad written about Wordwise Plus on the BBC Micro. I knew that
the BBC Micro business could not last for ever and was looking for
something else when the invitation arrived to go to Cambridge and see
Acornæs latest development.
9.4
I was staggered by the graphics and the speed of the system and realised
I would have to do something for this new machine, but what? A
conversation with Mike Bibby (then editor of BBC Micro User, as it used
to be called) gave me the idea of doing a magazine and, as I already
owned an Apple DTP setup, this was it and Archive was born.
9.4
The name? Well, we first thought of ÉEurekaæ but found out that there
was an expensive technical designersæ magazine of the same name. Then we
decided we wanted something beginning with ÉArcæ to tie it in with
Archimedes. We thought of daft things like Archdeacon and Arch-enemy
before coming to Archive which is a store of information, so that seemed
appropriate.
9.4
Archive is born
9.4
If memory serves me correctly, we launched Archive at a Micro User Show
in London and printed a thousand copies of the first issue. The first
subscription number was 100, so if your subscription number is between
100 and 200, and you are still a subscriber, you are very special to us!
In fact, I think Iáshall give a prize to the longest surviving member.
Iáknow we have a J M Smith who is number 126 but is there anyone, still
a member, who is before that? Do let us know.
9.4
The equipment
9.4
I still actually own the original Mac Plus with its 9ö (ifáyouære lucky)
screen, and I can hardly believe that I managed to produce a 50-page
magazine on it every month with the prehistoric software I was then
using: MacAuthor for preparing the articles and PageMaker (version 1, I
think) for doing the layout. The printout was done at 300 dpi on a
Laserwriter Plus (which is still in everyday use in our church office,
along with the Mac II that succeeded the Mac Plus).
9.4
The contributors
9.4
We have had hundreds of contributors over the years Ö some whose names
are still well known. In the first issue, for example, we had an article
about ÉArchimedes Ö the Music Computeræ by one Mike Beecher, and the
Éreviewæ of Archimedes Toolkit Module from Clares Micros was, in fact
(confession time), written by none other than Dave Clare!
9.4
There have been many people who have contributed generously, over the
years, in terms of articles and it is dangerous to name names, lest
anyone feels that their contributions were not appreciated. I have said
repeatedly that all your contributions are very much appreciated and
Archive would not be Archive without them, but one name I must mention,
and that is Gerald Fitton.
9.4
Gerald Fitton
9.4
I have only found six issues of Archive to which Gerald has not
contributed an article. He started in issues 2, 3, 4 and 5 with a short
series on ÉPrinter dumpsæ (how to print out a picture of the screen on
your dot matrix printer), and it is a mark of the humility of the man
that it wasnæt until the beginning of his second series in issue 7 that
he told me that his name wasnæt ÉGerraldæ, as I had spelt it in each of
his first four articles!
9.4
Gerald wrote a range of occasional articles, reviews and short series
until the idea came for the PipeDream column, ÉPipeLineæ, at the end of
Volume 2. That continued monthly for just over five years, broadening
during Volume 6 to incorporate all of Coltonæs products, when it became
ÉPipeLineZæ. At the beginning of Volume 8, we acknowledged the fact that
Geraldæs articles were more widely appreciated than just by Coltonites
and it became ÉDocLineæ, covering anything under the general heading of
Édocument productionæ. We soon realised that, again, we were being too
narrow and gave Gerald his head completely, allowing him to range far
and wide over any topics that his correspondents wanted to raise with
him.
9.4
Over the 8+ years, Gerald must have written hundreds of letters to
people Ö probably thousands Ö giving them help and support with their
computer problems. I think we would all want to say a special thank you
to him for all his hard work.
9.4
Miscellaneous memories
9.4
I had fun while I was away for a few days last week. Iátook Volume 1
with me and read through bits of it. Some of it was a bit embarrassing
as it seemed very amateurish, but that was eight years ago, and the
equipment available for Archiveæs production has improved somewhat!
Anyway, here are a few random reminiscences, or miscellaneous
memories...
9.4
The A305/A310 was launched with OS 0.2 (with the so-called ÉArthuræ OS),
it had 0.5 or 1Mb of RAM, no hard disc and ran at 4 or 8MHz depending on
whether it was accessing ROM or RAM.
9.4
Intelligent Interfaces sold an 6.6MHz ARM second processor for the Beeb
for just ú999 +VAT.
9.4
A company called Computerware advertised a 20Mb (ST506) hard drive, with
podule, for the A300 Ö a snip at just ú399.95 inclusive.
9.4
Archive started the Eureka Bulletin Board which could be accessed at
1200/75 baud (i.e. it spoke to you at 1200 baud and you could reply at
75 baud) or at 300/300 baud.
9.4
(This is an interesting one...) Archive then cost ú14.50 for 12 issues
and had roughly 50 pages, i.e. 2.4 pence per page. At current rates (ú22
and 80 pages) itæs only 2.3p/page and even at the new rate of ú25, itæs
only 2.6p/page. So, allowing for eight years inflation, I think that
represents a good deal!
9.4
The future?
9.4
Where will we be in another eight years time when we produce issue
number 200? I shudder to think, but I hope you have enjoyed contributing
to, and reading, the first hundred issues of Archive as much as I have
enjoyed editing them . Thanks again for your support.áuá
9.4
Wot, no God Slot?!
9.4
Donæt worry, I havenæt forgotten the God Slot Ö I just thought I would
continue my practice of keeping it separate so that you could skip over
it! It started just as a simple acknowledgement of Godæs help (as I had
put in all my previously self-published books) but then people started
to make negative comments about it, so I made the occasional comment
justifying why Iáthought it was quite reasonable to say such things.
9.4
Finally, I made the concession of keeping any Christian comment separate
from the main comments on the inside front cover and added a Éspiritual
health warningæ so that people knew what was coming and could ignore it
if they wished. Over the eight years, I know of only a small handful of
people who have cancelled their Archive subscription as a result of it
and I have had many interesting discussions with Éobjectorsæ. We usually
agree to differ at the end of it, but Iæm sure it is healthy to discuss
such things, and I have made some very good friends as a result.
9.4
If my monthly ramblings have helped just one person get to know God a
little bit better, I consider it worth the effort Ö after all, if God
exists, what could be more important?!áuá
9.4
Geraldæs Column
9.4
Gerald Fitton
9.4
Although Archive 9.3 has been out only a few days, Iáhave already
received many letters about my comments under the sub-heading Marketing.
I expect many more. I shall try to summarise the gist of those that Iæve
received up to now, before moving on to my theme for this month, the
impending demise of the electronic calculator and its replacement!
9.4
(I hope Gerald wonæt think I am being patronising, but Iáactually think
this is a very important subject and would urge readers not to give up
when they hit the mathematical bit in the middle of the article. Do read
it right through to the end!! Ed.)
9.4
Upgrades to Impression
9.4
It seems that those of you who originally bought Impression or
Impression Junior were more than happy to pay for the upgrade to Style
or Publisher. You upgraded very quickly and, because the initial upgrade
price was set deliberately low, you feel that youæve done well. Even
those of you who didnæt upgrade at the original low price but waited and
then upgraded at the higher price later donæt feel that you were cheated
because you were warned of the deadline and you made your choice. As I
said last month, it seems to me that Computer Concepts marketed the
upgrade in an exemplary manner, precisely because it didnæt follow the
text book method of creaming off the enthusiasts at a high initial
price! They have no problems with Éoldæ Impression usersæ complaints ù
Éoldæ Impression users have either upgraded or they accept that they had
the chance to upgrade and didnæt!
9.4
I have been told that there is a more recent version of Publisher
available than the one I have but that, if I want to upgrade, I have to
pay ú15. Undoubtedly, that means that if I upgrade and then upgrade
again it will cost me ú15 a time. My inclination is to wait for two or
three upgrades until either my version isnæt doing what I want it to do
or until I need the features of the new version. I hope that leap-
frogging in this way will save me money.
9.4
As a general rule, it would seem that you do not mind paying for
upgrades which add functionality, particularly if you can use those new
features. What you object to is paying for an Éupgradeæ which is nothing
more than a bug fix intended to bring a package up to the specification
which you were led to believe youæd bought. I am sure that, in future,
paying for upgrades will become the rule rather than the exception.
9.4
FireworkzáPro
9.4
There is a new version of FireworkzáPro, Version 1.23. If you already
have FireworkzáPro, the upgrade is free and I recommend it to you. It
does fix a lot of the problems you have reported.
9.4
Some of you will have Fireworkz (nonáPro) Version 1.07 and be wondering
what to do. I have been told that all registered users of Wordz,
Resultz, Recordz and Fireworkz will soon receive a mail shot ù but what
it will contain is not yet finalised, so Iæll make a guess.
9.4
I guess that youæll be able to upgrade to Version 1.23 of all the
subsidiary packages of FireworkzáPro ù but at a price. For example, if
you have Fireworkz (nonáPro) Version 1.07, youæll be able to upgrade it
to Fireworkz (nonáPro) Version 1.23 by paying for the upgrade. The price
of the upgrade is not yet fixed but I expect that Colton Software will
bear in mind that Computer Concepts are charging ú15 for their upgrade
to Publisher. I expect that youæll be offered an upgrade from what you
have (e.g. Wordz) to FireworkzáPro but not the possibility of upgrading
from, say, Wordz to Fireworkz (nonáPro).
9.4
I have no doubt that it would be to Colton Softwareæs benefit if most of
the people with subsidiary packages of FireworkzáPro (e.g. Wordz)
upgraded to Pro so that they could concentrate their development effort
on Pro rather than on the subsidiary packages. Iáwould hope that the
prices offered for an upgrade to Pro would reflect some of that saving.
From your letters to me, it seems that if the upgrade price were
reasonable, many of you would upgrade to Pro even if you donæt expect to
use all the features of Pro.
9.4
There is another aspect to consider. It seems to me that if Colton
Software are to continue to offer good value to FireworkzáPro users, it
will be difficult for them to continue to support the subsidiary
packages with the same vigour as FireworkzáPro. The first sign of this
difficulty is that the upgrade to version 1.23 is available for Pro
right now but, as I write, it is not yet available for the subsidiary
packages!
9.4
What you might find is that you are faced with a four-pronged strategy
designed to persuade you to upgrade to Pro now, namely: (a) an upgrade
from the subsidiary packages to Pro roughly at the discount prices
offered at the recent Wembley Show (b) that this offer will be for a
well-defined initial period (say six months) after which the cost of
upgrading to Pro will be substantially increased (c) that after the same
initial period there would be no further upgrades to those subsidiary
packages and (d) in the meantime upgrades to the subsidiary packages
would be charged at a rates which are a substantial proportion of the
cost of upgrading to FireworkzáPro!
9.4
I may be wrong but thatæs the way I see things going. Perhaps by writing
to Colton Software, you may be able to help them decide how to market
this product! If you donæt get your mail shot soon, then write to them
anyway.
9.4
I remember the slide rule
9.4
Slide rules in one form or another have been around for over 300 years.
I once had a beautifully crafted wooden slide rule; when it broke I
replaced it with a cheap plastic clone.
9.4
When I was at school, slide rules were banned ù we had to use four
figure log tables as an aid to multiplication, division and for taking
roots and powers! The alternative to using log tables for the School
Certificate Exam (the forerunner of ÉOæ Levels) was the tedious and
error-prone method of long multiplication and long division.
9.4
After gaining a degree in Applied Mathematics at Imperial College, my
first job was to help design fighter airplanes for Vickers. Although
they were much less accurate than log tables, my colleagues and I all
bought and used a slide rule. When greater accuracy was required, we
used a mechanical calculator. To multiply, you turn the handle clockwise
ù to divide, turn anticlockwise.
9.4
The first Archimedes?
9.4
This photo was sent to Archive some years ago by a subscriber. Itáshows
the kind of mechanical calculator that Gerald mentions. Itæsáan
ÉArchimedes Muldivoæ made in Brussels in the 1930æs.
9.4
I remember the electronic calculator
9.4
After the introduction of the electronic calculator, the 300 year life
of the slide rule came to an end within two to three years. I believe
that, over the next two or three years, we shall see a similar decline
in the use of the calculator. So you donæt believe me! Read on!
9.4
In the mid 1970s, I bought one of the first electronic calculators for
around ú200. The display was not the more modern liquid crystal but red
LEDs. It was faster and more accurate than my trusty slide rule. Indeed,
it was more accurate than four figure log tables and it had the
advantage that I could use it for addition and subtraction (not possible
with a slide rule).
9.4
The price of calculators fell, the LED display was replaced by the less
power-hungry liquid crystal display, the Éreverse polish logicæ was
discarded in favour of the more conventional brackets. Today every child
at school is taught to use a calculator and (I speak from bitter
experience as a lecturer) as a result, many pupils never learn
multiplication tables, many never learn long division or multiplication,
many never learn to convert fractions to decimals and far too many
cannot divide by 100 without their trusty calculator!
9.4
My old friends, log tables and slide rules, are obsolete. Only my mature
(older) students have heard of them. My 16 year old students know of no
other way of doing sums except with a calculator ù and when I first see
them, only a few have heard of spreadsheets.
9.4
I remember the spreadsheet
9.4
Something called a spreadsheet existed centuries before computers. They
were constructed on paper in rows and columns just like their electronic
counterpart; formulae were usually written in shorthand at the top of
each column. Paper spreadsheets of this type have been used by
scientists, engineers and accountants for centuries. As an aeronautical
engineer, I remember using them at Vickers (in the late 1950s) in
conjunction with a slide rule, log tables and a mechanical calculator!
Along came computers; the software engineers who created the early
spreadsheet packages (in the 1970s), to their everlasting credit, took
into account the centuries of expertise hard won by their predecessors.
The reason it is so difficult to find improvements to the basic concept
of an electronic spreadsheet is precisely because it was built on the
foundation of centuries of experience.
9.4
I know, I still own an electronic calculator. Itæs somewhere in my
Écomputer roomæ ù but I donæt seem to use it anymore! Nowadays, when I
need to do some sums, I find it much easier to use a spreadsheet. I use
PipeDream, I use Fireworkz or, if I have my IBM clone running (and when
Iæm at college), I use Excel, Lotus or even AsEasyAs (a Lotus clone).
9.4
The big single disadvantage of the calculator is that it is a one-line
display. Before you write to me in protest, I do know that you can get
calculators which display more than one line, but the display is still
limited to just a few lines ù and theyære not interdependent like a
spreadsheet but more like a printed record.
9.4
Whilst calculators display only one line, spreadsheets, even the paper
ones, display the whole of a calculation or a set of similar
calculations on the page. The electronic spreadsheet has a further
advantage and that is the speed with which a öWhat if?ò calculation can
be executed. Simply change one pivotal value in a spreadsheet, and all
the dependent formulae are recalculated and the results ripple through
the clearly visible slots of the spreadsheet. öWhat if?ò has many uses;
accountants use the öWhat if?ò feature of spreadsheets for fine tuning
their budgets; scientists and engineers use it for solving intractable
equations with a Étry it and seeæ method of iteration. Iteration as a
general method of solving equations is included in GNVQ Application of
Number Levelá5.
9.4
What will replace the calculator?
9.4
The biggest single disadvantage of most current spreadsheets is that
they run on personal computers. Personal computers are boxes with hard
discs, printers, VDU screens, plug-in keyboards and GUI interfaces which
need a mouse or tracker ball. Most personal computers need to be plugged
into the mains and theyære not very portable.
9.4
I suppose that the lap top computer is a step in the direction of
portability but you usually have to pay a high price both in money and
missing features. Acornæs A4 is similar to an A5000 but the screen is
monochrome and itæs more expensive. Acorn are on record as saying that
they have no plans for marketing a successor to the A4 at present; their
rationale is that the market wants a lap top with a colour screen and a
long battery life at a much lower price than that at which they can
build such a machine!
9.4
No product lasts for ever. The five classic stages in the life cycle of
a product are Introduction, Development, Maturity, Saturation and
Decline. The Introduction of the calculator in the 1970s caused the
Decline of the slide rule. I believe that the calculator has now passed
the Maturity and Saturation stages of its life cycle and that, within a
year, it will be in Decline! So what will replace it? What do I think
will push it into Decline? Certainly not the lap top which, even on
Acornæs reckoning, is too expensive.
9.4
When Acorn launched its version of the Psion Pocket book, some of the
Psion standard software was removed to make space for, guess what, a
spreadsheet called Abacus! There has been much criticism of Acornæs
ability to market their products but, in my view, this was an idea which
reflects their brilliance. Yes! I believe that the palm top computer
with spreadsheet will replace the calculator during the next two or
three years.
9.4
Oh! I have just found my calculator. I see that itæs a scientific
calculator with hyperbolic functions and built in conversion of polar to
rectangular coordinates, both of which I use in many of my college
spreadsheets for engineers ù but I donæt take a calculator to work now!
What I and many others want is a portable spreadsheet instead of a
calculator. If they could afford it, many people would throw away their
calculator and buy a lap top (some of my more wealthy mature students
bring their lap tops into class ù and I encourage it) but what they
would prefer is a palm top with a good (better than Abacus) spreadsheet.
9.4
I am sure that, once equipped with a spreadsheet package with the
features of, say, PipeDreamá4, the palm top will replace its cheaper
rival (the calculator) because of its greater functionality. There will
be a steep Development phase in its life cycle because people know how
to use spreadsheets ù they will have learned how to use them at work or
at school or at college on a bulky and non-portable personal computer.
9.4
I wonder if Acorn are considering putting their RISC chips into a new
palm top rather than further developing the A4? Even if it only had a
monochrome screen, with only a system font and no printer, I would want
one. Many engineers and scientists would buy one and, if the price were
right, many students would buy one. Schools would teach their use as, at
the moment, they teach the use of calculators. Perhaps some of you know
of a school where palm tops are handed out to pupils at the beginning of
lessons as once we handed out calculators.
9.4
(We already have some very strong rumours that the next Psion computer
will be using an ARM processor Ö the plot thickens! Ed.)
9.4
Iteration ù Root 2
9.4
Those of you teaching Levelá5 Application of Number will know of the
Performance Criterion which (in abbreviated form) reads öFind the
solution to equations using iterative methodsò. Spreadsheets (and not
calculators) are ideal for this.
9.4
After giving my students some general chat about the intractability of
the more interesting mathematical problems to analytical methods, I
usually start by getting my students to find the square root of 2 by a
Étry it and seeæ method. Rather than get into any fancy linear or non-
linear interpolation (which would converge more rapidly), I get my
students to choose, for their next guess, a value half way between two
previous guesses. In PipeDream format, the spreadsheet looks like this:
9.4
This file, [Root2], is on the Archive monthly disc in PipeDream format.
If you have Fireworkz, you can drag the PipeDream file directly into
Fireworkz, and the PipeDream loader will automatically convert the
PipeDream file into a Fireworkz file.
9.4
The slots B7 and D7 contain 1 and 2 respectively; these are two initial
guesses at root 2, one too high and one too low. The formula in C7 is
(B7á+áD7)/2 and the formula in E7 is C7á^á2; the result, 1.5á^á2á=á2.25,
is larger than the 2 stored in D2, so we know that our guess of 1.5, in
C7, is too large.
9.4
The key to automating the iterative process is the formulae in B8 and
D8. The formula in B8 is if(E7>D$2,B7,C7) and the formula in D8 is
if(E7>D$2,C7,D7). The first of these two formulae selects either the
previous Low or Guess values as the new Low, and the second formula
selects either the previous Guess or High as the new High value. Note
the use of the $ character which fixes the D2 so that the 2 does not
change as the formula is replicated down the spreadsheet. Row 8 can be
copied down as far as necessary to find root 2 to as many decimal places
as required.
9.4
Yes! I know that in PipeDream and Fireworkz, Iácould use a custom
function with the necessary iterative loop built into it. I know that
would be more elegant, but I donæt want to be elegant Ö I want to be
understood! And, as a by-the-way (and to avoid you writing to me), when
I was at school, I was taught how to öextract rootsò using a method not
unlike long division based on the formula
9.4
  (xá+áy)á^á2á=áx^2á+á2xyá+áy^2.
9.4
Maybe some of you remember it too.
9.4
Iteration ù Optimisation
9.4
As a second exercise, I get the students to design an open-topped box of
a given volume and a square base. The objective is to design the box so
that it uses the minimum amount of material, i.e. the minimum surface
area. Those of you who are familiar with differential calculus will have
no difficulty setting up the equations, differentiating and finding the
shape of the box having the minimum surface area. The students to whom I
set this task as a problem to be solved by iteration, donæt know
differential calculus ù and I donæt tell them that secret method! Itæs
not in Level 5.
9.4
I give each student a separate individual volume between ╝ cubic metre
and 8 cubic metres and get them to set up a spreadsheet which, given the
side of the base, will calculate the surface area using one row of the
spreadsheet.
9.4
This simple spreadsheet, on the Archive monthly disc, uses row 7 as the
row for the first calculation. The base area in B7 is A7^2. The Height,
in C7, is Volume/Base area for which the formula is C$2/B7. Once again,
the $ character in C$2 ensures that the volume from C2 is fixed and
hence copied correctly as the formula is replicated down the
spreadsheet. The four sides are identical so that the area of the four
sides, in D7, is 4*A7*C7. The total area, in E7, is B7+D7.
9.4
Slot A8 contains A7+C$3 so that row 8 performs the same calculations
with a small increase in the base length. The formula from B7E7 are
replicated into B8E8. By copying Row 8 down the spreadsheet, the Total
area of material used for the box can be found easily as a function of
the Base length. For a Volume of 7 cubic metres, the minimum Total area
of about 17.42 square metres of material occurs at about 2.4 metres Base
length.
9.4
I get the students to change the Increment and First Guess (in C3 and C4
respectively) until they home in on the base length, which gives the
minimum Total area for their (unique to them) Volume to about four
significant figures.
9.4
The students to whom I teach iteration in this way, are not in the top
20% (if they were, theyæd know about differential calculus), many are
not in the top 30% but (nearly) all of them see this as a practical
example of the power of the iterative method. Of course, I have a secret
which I donæt tell them which allows me to check very easily whether
they have the right answer. When the Total area is minimised, the Height
is half the Base length. I persuade the faster students to repeat the
exercise with what I call the öHeinz Beans Can Problemò, an open-topped
and then a closed-top circular cylinder. You might like to see what
ratio of height to diameter gives the minimum amount of metal in a Heinz
Beans Can. Finally, I emphasise that Étry and seeæ is a very powerful
method of finding the numerical solution to many mathematical problems,
particularly when there is no analytical solution.
9.4
Back to the portable spreadsheet
9.4
Whilst it is unlikely that you will need to optimise the shape of a can
of beans for Heinz, I would like you to give some thought to the above
and agree with me that spreadsheets represent a much more powerful
mathematical tool than the calculator. I remember receiving, from one of
my correspondents, a currency exchange spreadsheet and, from another, a
spreadsheet listing their purchases from the local supermarket. Both of
these applications would have much more utility if they were on a palm
top rather than on a large bulky machine. What would you use a palm top
spreadsheet for?
9.4
I look forward to the day when all my students will carry with them a
palm top spreadsheet, instead of a calculator, so that weæll be able to
do these sums in an ordinary classroom instead of in one fitted out with
our expensive (networked) computers.
9.4
I see that Dixons offer two, a Sharp and the Psion (with 2Mb of RAM)
both at ú399.99. In Paulæs latest price list, youæll find the 1Mb Pocket
BookáII at ú335. Is there a 2Mb Acorn version yet? I still havenæt been
able to afford a RiscáPC, but Iæll see if I can persuade Father
Christmas (or Jill, my wife) to afford me a palm top!
9.4
I shall remember the personal computer
9.4
Recently, I read an article which, tongue only lightly in cheek,
suggested that the days of the personal computer may be numbered! If so,
what was to be the replacement? The suggestion was that it would be
simple terminals used to access data such as that contained in an
encyclopaedia or a Mills and Boon novel or for email communication. If
this happens, I foresee palm top machines not only for personal instant
use but, perhaps, as the terminal connected, via a portable digital
phone, to a worldwide network!
9.4
Finally
9.4
Please write to me at the Abacus Training address which youæll find at
the back of Archive. I shall be most grateful for return postage and a
self addressed label. If you have a problem or anything other than the
simplest comment, it would be most helpful if you would send it to me on
a disc. I canæt read HD format, so please format your disc to 800Kb.áuá
9.4
Life with the Ants
9.4
John Temple
9.4
I was delighted to learn, in the September edition of Archive, that the
Life program is still alive and thriving and even making money for
charity. A few weeks ago, my son-in-law showed me an article which had
appeared last year in Computer Shopper, entitled ÉAnty Mattersæ (Mike
James, Computer Shopper, October 1994, ppá575-578). If you liked the
Life program, you will certainly enjoy Ants. Mike Jamesæ program was in
QBasic and I have rewritten and extended it in BBC Basic. There are two
versions. The shorter one is for people who like to play around with a
program to explore different aspects. The longer one is for those who
prefer to explore, without programming.
9.4
A listing for the shorter one appears at the end of this article, but
both versions are on the monthly disc.
9.4
Just as in ÉLifeæ, the action takes place on a grid of squares or cells,
but instead of cells surviving, dying or being born, an ant (or more
than one ant) moves about its universe in accordance with certain rules
which are simpler than the ÉLifeæ rules.
9.4
1)  The ant moves one cell each Égenerationæ and cannot move diagonally.
9.4
2)  If the ant lands on a white cell it turns left; if it lands on a
black cell it turns right.
9.4
3)  When the ant lands on a cell, it flips its colour from black to
white or vice versa.
9.4
The resulting behaviour will either mesmerise you or turn you cold. I am
in the former category and I just had to write the program for myself so
that I could play around with it.
9.4
The diagram below shows the appearance of the screen after an ant has
taken the indicated number of steps. It is fairly easy to work out how
the patterns are formed for 2, 3, 6 and even 10 steps but after that it
becomes increasingly more difficult. These static pictures are a little
misleading because they do not show the feverish, scurrying appearance
of the antæs behaviour. Youæve really got to run the program to see
that.
9.4
After a little more than 10,000 steps the seemingly random behaviour
suddenly becomes orderly and the ant busily starts to create a track,
diagonally across the screen.
9.4
When it gets to the edge of its universe (a line on the screen), the
track wraps round and continues on its way on the opposite side.
(Reflection would change the regularity of the track; it could disappear
off the edge of the screen but that would be a pity.) Random behaviour
resumes when, after several wraps, the track reaches the random pattern
created in its first 10,200 steps.
9.4
There can be more than one ant in the universe. In my version of the
program, each one has a different colour. Four starting on the same cell
but pointing in different directions (the four points of the compass),
generate an ever-expanding diamond shape.
9.4
The four colours chase each other round and round the diamond which gets
bigger and bigger until one corner wraps to the opposite side and meets
the approaching opposite corner. The ensuing pattern is not what one
might have expected but it is not chaotic.
9.4
Eight ants starting on the same spot produce a surprise not mentioned by
Mike James. Two behave either in the same way as four or in the same way
as eight, depending upon which way they are facing when they begin.
9.4
With certain ant numbers, the change from chaos to track building
happens quite quickly. With other numbers it takes ages. More than one
ant may start track building at any time. If the tracks cross, chaotic
behaviour returns.
9.4
Sometimes, one ant will eat up the track laid by another ant. Or one
will race up a track faster than the one laying it, and when it reaches
the top it will send the other ant back down, repairing the track as it
goes; then it might itself retrace the repaired track, consuming it on
the way.
9.4
There are several different ways in which an ant can use a track put
down by another. And there are other fascinating things that can occur,
but I will leave them for you to discover yourself.
9.4
How the programs work should be clear from the REM statements in them. I
chose MODEá22 (in RISC OS 3) because it has sixteen colours and the
resolution is about right on a standard monitor. But having done all the
work, I found out that in earlier versions of the operating system, MODE
22 is different! Sorry about that. Youæll just have to upgrade. (I did
and itæs been well worthwhile.)
9.4
The speed at which things happen is amazing, especially considering the
programs run in Basic. The properties of the ants are stored in arrays
and the program has only to look at each ant, rather than each cell and
all its neighbours as in the Life program. Of course, the more ants
there are, the longer it takes to process all of them and the steps
begin to take longer.
9.4
Originally, I meant to use all sixteen colours but I abandoned the
flashing ones as I found them an irritation. So I ended up with seven
(colour number eight is black). That seems all right.
9.4
The universe size is variable. Smaller universes have their limitations
but events occurring after wrap around happen sooner. Well, thatæs it
folks. Have fun. But take care not to become addicted.
9.4
REM Ants
9.4
REM John Temple; September 1995
9.4
ON ERROR PROCerror:END
9.4
REM Define values and screen size and number of ants
9.4
gen%=0:black%=0
9.4
xsize%=600:ysize%=440:  REM  Or try
9.4
 smaller size screen
9.4
num% = 1:  REM  Try other numbers;
9.4
  e.g. 2, 4 or 8
9.4
REM Define arrays. xdir%() and ydir%() are x,y vectors for directions
N,E,S,W (0,1,2,3)
9.4
DIM xdir%(3),ydir%(3),xpos%(num%),
9.4
ypos%(num%),antdir%(num%)
9.4
FOR count=0 TO 3:   REM   N,E,S,W
9.4
  READ xdir%(count),ydir%(count)
9.4
NEXT count
9.4
REM The data gives the values of x
9.4
 and y for the vectors  (N,E,S,W)
9.4
DATA 0,2,2,0,0,Ö2,Ö2,0:   REM You have
9.4
 to use even numbers only
9.4
REM Set up position and direction of
9.4
 ants
9.4
FOR ant%=1 TO num%
9.4
  xpos%(ant%) = (xsize% DIV 4)*2
9.4
    REM  Or try: xpos%(ant%) =
9.4
 (ant%+xsize% DIV 4)*2
9.4
  ypos%(ant%) = (ysize% DIV 4)*2
9.4
    REM  You could vary ypos%()
9.4
 instead of or as well as xpos%()
9.4
  antdir%(ant%) = (ant%Ö1)MOD4
9.4
    REM  antdir%() can only be  0, 1,
9.4
 2 or 3  (ie N,E,S or W)
9.4
    REM  Try: antdir%(ant%) = 0; or 1; or ant%Ö1; or 1+2*(ant% MOD 2)
9.4
    REM  or: IF ant%<1+num%DIV2 THEN
9.4
 antdir%(ant%)=1 ELSE
9.4
antdir%(ant%)=3
9.4
NEXT ant%
9.4
MODE 22: REM works in RISC OS 3:
9.4
 Earlier OS may need a different MODE
9.4
ORIGIN 48,48:REM   Defines new
9.4
 graphics origin
9.4
REM   Print headings
9.4
PRINT TAB(36,3)öColony ofö;num%;ò Antö;
9.4
IF num%>1 THEN PRINTösò
9.4
PRINT TAB(80,3);öGenerationò
9.4
REM   Draw box around screen area
9.4
GCOL3
9.4
LINE Ö2,Ö2,Ö2,ysize%
9.4
DRAW xsize%,ysize%
9.4
DRAW xsize%,Ö2
9.4
DRAW Ö2,Ö2
9.4
REM   This is the main program loop
9.4
REPEAT
9.4
 REPEAT
9.4
  FOR ant%=1 TO num%
9.4
    xpos%(ant%) = (xpos%(ant%) +
9.4
 xdir%(antdir%(ant%))
9.4
+xsize%)MODxsize%
9.4
    ypos%(ant%) = (ypos%(ant%) +
9.4
 ydir%(antdir%(ant%))
9.4
+ysize%)MODysize%
9.4
    IF POINT(xpos%(ant%),ypos%(ant%))
9.4
 = black% THEN
9.4
      antdir%(ant%) = (antdir%(ant%)
9.4
+1) MOD 4:REM Turn right
9.4
      GCOL (ant%Ö1)MOD7+1: REM The
9.4
 antæs own colour
9.4
    ELSE
9.4
      antdir%(ant%) = (antdir%(ant%)
9.4
Ö1+4) MOD 4: REM Turn left
9.4
      GCOL black%
9.4
    ENDIF
9.4
    REM   Flip the colour to black or the antæs own colour
9.4
    POINT xpos%(ant%),ypos%(ant%)
9.4
  NEXT ant%
9.4
  gen% += 1
9.4
  PRINT TAB(84,5+(gen%DIV1000000)
9.4
MOD25);gen%MOD1000000
9.4
 UNTIL INKEY(0)=115:  REM Touch <s> to
9.4
 stop the program
9.4
UNTIL GET <> 114:   REM Touch <r> to
9.4
 resume
9.4
END
9.4
DEF PROCerror
9.4
:::  REMOVE ÉREMæ from next line to save screen on pressing <Escape>
:::
9.4
REM IF ERR=17 THEN *screensave öAntieò
9.4
REPORT:PRINT ö at ò;ERL
9.4
ENDPROCáuá
9.4
I thought John was joking about not being addicted Ö but heæs not. While
trying to edit this article, I was tempted to have a play with the
program and have sat here for the last fifteen minutes chortling over
the antics of these little fellows. I MUST get back to work! Ed.
9.4
Creating a Genesis CD-ROM
9.4
Christopher Jarman
9.4
Iæd like to share with you my first time experience of creating a
Genesis application for distribution on CD-ROM.
9.4
This is one of those activities which, had I known what it entailed, I
certainly would never have dreamed of starting it! The project began in
early 1994 when I became interested in the possibilities of making small
multimedia applications using Optima and then Genesis Project. I sent
one or two to Paul Hooper for his Swap Shop and got back some very
different and quite stimulating programs in return.
9.4
I have been using HCCSæs 24 Vision Digitiser for a while and found it
quite satisfactory for making sprites of paintings and drawings. I have
also found that if you video a 7╫5 inch colour print and digitise it, it
gives better definition than if you work from a direct video still. This
may have more to do with using a tripod and working in close-up than any
technical reason. I played about with digitising 35mm slides too. By
putting Blu-tak on the outer ring of the video camera lens hood, and
using the macro facility, I was able to stick cardboard-mounted slides
on the end of the lens, point at the light from the window, and capture
some quite passable pictures.
9.4
First, Genesis Project
9.4
Genesis Project is very good value for money because it is possible to
do most of the things you might wish to do in school, with no need to
learn a script language. You just drag and drop and click on menus for
everything. I do wish Oak Solutions would provide an exciting manual for
it though. Something like The Complete Animator manual from Iota would
be fine!
9.4
Using my newly-bought A4000, experimentation meant that I now had the
facilities to create sprites from photos and drawings and slides to drop
into Genesis Project pages. I have, like many people, a lifetimeæs
collection of colour slides, many of which Iáused as helps for my
primary classes and for in¡service art courses. I put together a small
application for my own amusement, based on using these photographs to
teach art and craft skills. The trouble was that almost all the colour
sprites were too big in memory terms and, when dropped into a Genesis
frame, would freeze up the program. Paul Hooper came to my rescue again
and reminded me of that invaluable utility !ChangeFSI. He also told me,
which I have never read anywhere, that the maximum amount of memory
suitable for a Genesis page is 210Kb. I would now recommend reducing any
major illustrative sprites for a Genesis page to less than 150Kb if
possible.
9.4
By much experimenting, it is easy to reduce sprites a lot in memory
size. In fact I have found it quite possible to fill up to six frames of
colour sprites on one page in this way. (The trick then is to take a
screen shot of the page, turn it back into a single sprite, and then
reduce it again using !ChangeFSI, but I am getting ahead of myself here
and not recounting my discoveries in order!)
9.4
A publisher friend happened to drop by to have a chat and, on seeing the
small ten-page art lesson with its one or two ideas, asked if it could
be expanded into something bigger. I said that it ought to be on a CD-
ROM although, at that stage, I had never even seen one.
9.4
We left it at that, as I had no notion nor intention of putting together
a project which seemed altogether too ambitious.
9.4
When my Risc PC arrived in late 1994, complete with Cumana CD-ROM drive,
I paid all the extra money to everyone to upgrade everything,
Turbodriver, digitiser, GameOn, etc Ö you know the sinking feeling. I
then could not afford to buy any CD-ROMs to try out. However, I was lent
Anglia TVæs ÉCastlesæ by a friend, and was very impressed with it. It is
authoritative and aimed directly at the top primary age and contains
video clips, animations and lots of lovely buttons to press. I found it
quite inspiring and was determined to have a go at something similar but
on a much more modest scale, using Genesis.
9.4
I took 100 or so of my precious colour slides to Boots and asked them to
put them onto a CD-ROM. Some of the slides, although of good quality,
had become very dirty. I asked a professional photographer how much it
would cost to have them professionally cleaned first. He told me that
all they did was to put them under the cold water tap and rub gently
with a finger! This I did myself, and it was very successful. It all
turned out to be just as easy as taking ordinary films to be developed
and, within ten days, I had a PhotoCD which worked first go. The cost
was some ú65, and I was prepared to pay this as an investment in the
possibility of writing my own CD-ROM.
9.4
The pictures were visible in the sort of detail I had never experienced
when projecting them, and could now be saved out as sprites. The quality
was superb and much better than the video and Blu-tak method!
Incidentally, any that still looked dirty or had spots on were easily
retouched in !Paint using a zoom of 5:1 and the Select Colour facility
under the Paint menu.
9.4
I phoned my publisher and said that I was willing to have a go at
writing an ÉArtLessonæ for Primary age children if he was interested. He
said fine, he was interested, and to send him an outline on paper with
some costs! I phoned Paul Middleton at Uniqueway in Cardiff, as he had
kindly put some of my artwork on his Risc Disc CD. I knew that he must
have some of the answers to costs and techniques. He answered all my
questions straightaway in that generous manner of all professionals in
the Acorn world. I sent off my outline and got a contract by return.
9.4
I immediately upgraded to Genesis Professional!
9.4
Genesis Professional
9.4
With Genesis Professional, you get a lot more resources and a more
comprehensive manual than with Project, but it is still pretty hard to
follow. Iástarted phoning Tony Holdstock at Oak Solutions for
translations of some of the instructions. He not only dealt with me with
as much patience as Uniqueway but sent me various applications that he
had written, as examples for me to take to pieces and see how they
worked. I am also most indebted to a very experienced infants teacher
from Hampshire, Maureen Goodring, who showed me some of the tricks of
the trade using Genesis.
9.4
In this manner, bit by bit, I managed to find out how to make it
possible to drag an object around a page and leave it in another
position. I learned how to make films work when a page opened and, most
important of all, how to conserve memory. When Iábegan designing the CD,
I thought that having up to 500Mb to play with meant that I could use
huge sprites and enormous sound samples on every page! Later, when
trying out samples of my efforts on my old A4000 with less than 4Mb of
RAM, I found that such large pages would not work at all. If people,
especially in Primary Schools, with older, smaller computers than the
one I was working on, wanted to play the CD, it would have to use up as
little RAM as possible per page.
9.4
There is a space inside every Genesis application which is accessed by
clicking <menu> on the iconbar icon. It is called Resources. If you put
sprites or sound samples etc in here, they can be used by any page in
the application as many times as required; for example the Épreviousæ
and Énextæ button sprites which are needed on almost every page. With
283 pages, this saves an incredible amount of memory. Also, if you can
make a frame into a Éwordæ frame instead of a Étextæ frame, it uses much
less memory onáa page. You can do this if your text will all go on one
line.
9.4
The rest of what I have to offer is probably best put in the form of
question and answer.
9.4
These are the answers I found as the project developed. Unfortunately,
at the time, I had no idea what questions needed asking! Thanks to Tony
Holdstock of Oak Solutions for checking this list. Iáhope it will be
included in future packs of the Software Developeræs Kit.
9.4
Q. What legal requirements are necessary for me to make and sell a CD-
ROM application made in Genesis Professional?
9.4
A. You need to purchase the Genesis SDK (Software Developeræs Kit) from
Oak Solutions, which includes Genesis Professional, Genesis for Windows
and a licence to sell your applications commercially. This costs ú680
plus VAT if you are upgrading from Professional.
9.4
Alternatively, you may opt for a licence to sell, but you then have to
pay a 10% royalty on all sales to Oak Solutions. These entitle you to
author and sell Genesis applications yourself, or through any publisher
in the UK and worldwide.
9.4
Q. Should I worry about the copyright of material that I use?
9.4
A. Yes, very much so, but it is not a big problem. Try to design
everything that appears on the CD-ROM yourself, including the buttons,
backdrops and all illustrations. You are allowed to use the sprites that
come with Genesis, but it is surely better to design your own. Of
course, every written word will be written by you. If you quote from
other sources, you are allowed to quote a sentence or two, providing
that you acknowledge the source. Check that any digitised or scanned
illustration is free of copyright (very few are) or write to its source
and ask for permission to use it. This is seldom refused, providing you
give an acknowledgement somewhere. Boots or most local photographers
will put your own colour slides onto PhotoCD and then you have top
quality copyright-free images to use directly or to manipulate.
9.4
As regard music samples, it is difficult avoid infringing copyright, so
it is always best to use an Oak Recorder, or similar equipment, and make
your own music and voice samples. Armadeus samples are fine in Genesis,
but they take up a lot of memory. It is best to keep them below 6-8
seconds in length. If you place them in the central resources, you may
use the same one as many times as you wish without increasing the memory
load.
9.4
Q. Is Genesis powerful enough to put together a modern multimedia CD
with branching pages, high quality sprites, sound and animations etc?
9.4
A. Yes, but you need to be as economic on using memory as you would
working from a floppy disc application, as people using computers with 4
Mb of RAM or less may want to run your CD. This means there are limits
on the size of sound samples, movies and graphics that you can use. You
should always make it clear on the packaging, and/or the manual, what
the minimum RAM requirement is for the machine on which it is to be
used.
9.4
Also, if you want to include Replay movies with sound made using Iotaæs
Complete Animator, you will have to obtain the ARM Movie upgrade module,
Decomp 500, from Iota Software and distribute it with your application
for the movies to play.
9.4
Ace movies, Tween or Rephorm, which are all silent, are fine.
9.4
Animations are most easily done using Iotaæs Complete Animator and
saving them out as Ace movies. If you want sound, you can save them out
as Replay movies with the proviso made earlier. But always keep
animations as small as possible to be on the safe side. If you wish to
use Genesis for Windows, remember that it cannot cope with 24 bit
sprites.
9.4
Q. Which applications and files exactly will I need to put on my CD in
order for it to run on as many Acorn computers as possible?
9.4
A. Only RISC OS 3 machines will run CD-ROM drives anyway. You need to
include the Genesis application, !Browser and !GenLib (with the modules
directory full, but not necessarily including the Resources directory).
You will also need to include !System from the Genesis package, and the
ABCLib module.
9.4
Genesis requires three System modules to run. Colours and FPEmulator
(⌐Acorn Computers) are provided in any RISC OS 3 !System. The ABCLib
module, ⌐Oak Solutions, (which comes with Genesis inside the !System
directory) needs to be shipped with the CD. The best way of doing this
is to shift/double click on Browser to open it up. Inside Browser,
create a new directory called RMStore. Copy ABCLib into it. Now shift/
double click on !Run to load it into Edit and find the line :
9.4
IF ABCLib = 0 THEN RMEnsure ABClibrary 4.02 RMLoad System:modules.ABClib
9.4
Change this to read:
9.4
IF ABCLib = 0 THEN RMEnsure ABClibrary 4.02 RMLoad
<Genesis$Dir>.RMStore.ABClib
9.4
(N.B. This is all one line in the file but wonæt fit on one line here.)
9.4
The advantage of doing this is that you will not need to ship !System,
which would require a licence from Acorn.
9.4
You should also write and include a comprehensive Helpfile as a textfile
and, if you can, a Helpline telephone number. My advice is to set this
between certain fixed times when you are prepared to be available.
9.4
Q. Do I need permission from my employer to include work done as a
teacher/lecturer/ salesperson etc in a commercial CD?
9.4
A. This depends on your particular terms of employment. It is always
worth playing safe and asking and obtaining written permission if there
is any doubt. This is especially necessary for using pupilsæ work or
work done as part of your employment or in working hours. For pupils it
would also be wise to ask the parentsæ permission to use their
childrenæs work too. Most authorities, employers and parents are only
too pleased to give permission, provided they are acknowledged
somewhere, just as in a printed book.
9.4
Q. Who owns the copyright to my CD when it is finished? To whom do I
have to apply?
9.4
A. You, the author, automatically possess the full copyright and you do
not have to apply to anyone! Itáis only necessary to claim it by writing
on an early page in the application the standard text: ⌐Authoræs Name
1995.
9.4
You may also like to make a more forceful statement such as:-
9.4
öThe right of Christopher Jarman to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1989.ò
9.4
You may, of course, sell the copyright to someone else, but I do not
recommend this, as many people live to regret doing so.
9.4
Q. Can I stop other people from changing or interfering with the pages
of my program?
9.4
A. Not entirely. You should lock all frames and pages when you have
finished by selecting Élockæ on the menu and then saving the page.
9.4
A better way might be to put the line
9.4
ON MENU BEGIN END
9.4
in the backdrop definition for each page. This will apply to frames as
well as the background, unless you specify an ON MENU action for a
particular frame.
9.4
N.B. It will also disable the resource saving from !Browser.
9.4
The Browser will allow users to take sprites graphics and text off the
application but not to change anything. Neither can the CD-ROM be
written onto, of course.
9.4
Nevertheless, if the application is copied from the CD onto a disc and
run using Genesis Professional, all your locking can be undone and your
scripts edited. Not many people would want to do this and you can
include a direct warning against it if you wish, threatening legal
action if you feel strongly. There is ultimately no way of protecting
your script from anyone who wants to get into it.
9.4
Q. How do I get an application which is too big even for an HD disc into
the post to send to the CD compiler?
9.4
A. There are several ways to do this.
9.4
1. Make a backup copy of your application Ö You can now Émoveæ the
application, not Écopyæ, onto a series of floppy discs. You should
always have at least two copies of such large and important works
anyway. Shift/select and drag to the empty floppy. When the disc is
full, click Éskipæ until no more transfers. Take out the first disc and
put in the second without touching anything. Select/shift to move the
next part of the application onto disc two and continue until the whole
application has gone onto as many discs as it takes.
9.4
Send the discs, well protected, to your CD compiler, who will be able to
copy them one at a time onto his hard disc, thereby recreating your
masterpiece.
9.4
2. Copy your application onto a removable hard disc and post off.
9.4
3. Borrow a SCSI and an external hard disc from your CD compiler and
copy your completed application onto it, then return. I recommend this
last method as the cheapest and safest!
9.4
Q. Which companies have successful experiences of making CDs from
Genesis?
9.4
A. Uniqueway, 42 Crwys Rd, Cardiff, CF2 4NN (01222-644611) for a start,
but there must be others.
9.4
Q. Do I have to name my resources and files in any particular way in
preparation for making a CD-ROM?
9.4
A. Yes, you do. All filenames must be PC Élegalæ, that is, using only
the capital letters of the alphabet and the numbers, plus the lower bar_
for dashes only.
9.4
i.e. Field-3 must be changed to FIELD_3. DO NOT use the / character in
filenames.
9.4
The ! character from application names should be replaced by the _
character, e.g. !castles becomes _CASTLES.
9.4
Filenames must not be longer than PC limits, i.e. a maximum of 8
characters (or 7 plus the _ for application names).
9.4
Make sure you do not have any text files of length 0 bytes or frame
definitions including the line TEXTáöò. This is allowable on Acorn, but
will crash the PC and therefore might well do so on a CD (Iæm not sure
about that one, but it seems worth avoiding the problem. WORD öò is not
a problem).
9.4
Hints & tips
9.4
Finally, here are some special tips and reminders.
9.4
1. Give every new page created its true number and a name which tells
you what is on the page. When dealing with over 200 pages in an
application, this is invaluable.
9.4
2. At the present time, do not use more than 256 colours.
9.4
3. Try not to use !GenLib for storing resources.
9.4
4. Put your resources into the main Resources window.
9.4
5. Using ÉOptionsæ, turn off both ÉSearch GenLib æ and ÉKeep all
resourcesæ. This will save you memory.
9.4
6. Use ChangeFSI to bring your largest sprites down to less than 150Kb
if you can. If you want graphics above 200Kb, make sure that you turn
off Compress in the Options menu.
9.4
7. Make sure you click on Save Options if you alter any of them which
you wish to be permanent.
9.4
8. Use word frames rather than text frames whenever possible.
9.4
9. Keep sound samples to below six seconds if you can.
9.4
10. The Complete Animator is excellent for making animations. Use it in
mode 28 and 256 colours only. Make your animations as small as you can
to keep the memory down.
9.4
Finally
9.4
Because a CD-ROM cannot be altered once it is made, be absolutely
thorough (if not ruthless!) in checking that everything is as you want
it. Find someone with a real talent for crashing programs and get them
to give it a workout. It is vital to get at least one person who has
never seen the application before to try and drive it without help or
instructions Ö it is very difficult to anticipate all the ways in which
your own work can be misunderstood and misused.
9.4
I know this sounds very draconian and off-putting, so the final word
should be ödo have a goò Ö it does work, it can be done and CD-ROM looks
like being the way of the immediate future.áuá
9.4
Communications Column
9.4
Chris Claydon
9.4
This month the column will begin to cover news, views, current issues
and reviews of BBSæs, web sites and comms software, plus anything else
you would like me to include. Please write or email and let me know if
you want me to cover a particular topic or if you have some feedback on
how the column is going and how you would like it to go.
9.4
What will it cost to go online?
9.4
Edward Naish writes to say that he is interested in getting into comms,
but is worried about the cost, especially the phone bill. I think this
must be a worry for many new users, so as he suggests, I will include an
analysis of the costs involved. He also asks about the policy many
boards have of forcing you to upload in order to download files Ö he
doesnæt write software himself, and is worried that he will run out of
downloads and have nothing to upload. Firstly, the ratio of downloads to
uploads required is around 80:1 on most boards Ö on my board there is no
limit. You donæt have to write the software yourself, you can upload
anything which the BBS doesnæt have already, for example, PD clipart,
programs, text files; anything you want! It will take the average comms
user months to download 80 files, and Iæm sure that, in that time, you
would find a file that the BBS didnæt already have, perhaps on a
different BBS.
9.4
Back to the subject of call costs, most people have an Acorn BBS within
local call distance, (unfortunately, Edward is not one of them Ö the
only Acorn BBS in Wales, Chaos Info BBS, recently closed down). Demon
Internet Services will shortly provide local call access to the Internet
covering the whole country; they already cover most areas. Of course, on
top of this there is the ú12 per month fee. Also, due to the way it
works, it usually takes longer to transfer information via an Internet
provider than a BBS. Local calls at the weekend cost 1p a minute, or
just over 3p for a national call. Typically, there will be around 80Kb
per day of Acorn-related mail in the FidoNet echoes, and around 400Kb a
day in the Acorn newsgroups on the Internet. A basic 14400 bps modem
will transfer this at around 2Kb per second, and a faster 28800 modem at
4Kb per second.
9.4
Of course, very few people will read all this mail; you can pick and
choose the conferences you are interested in, so an average user
probably reads no more than 50Kb of mail a day Ö it takes too long to
read more! On any speed modem, at any call rate, even peak rate, this
would only incur the minimum call charge of 5p. If you were to collect
your mail once a week, at the weekend, it would still cost only 5p for a
local call, or 10p for a national call.
9.4
The only costly exercises are multi-user chats, which depend on how long
you want to spend on them, and transferring files. You can do as much or
as little of this as you want and, to give you a general guide, at
14400, a local weekend call would transfer 1.2 Mb of data for 10p Ö
cheap! On the continent, or by cable phone, it would be much cheaper. If
you intend to do a lot of comms and you have cable TV, it might be worth
getting a cable phone line, as it will save you a lot of money.
9.4
How good is the Web anyway?
9.4
Several people have written to me about my comments on the inadequacy of
the World Wide Web. One even thought all the hype under-did it! Everyone
has their views on this, but I think there are several problems with the
Web. Itæs not a multimedia interface, only hypermedia, which means the
designers of pages have little control over how they get displayed on
the useræs computer, and the things you can do with page design are
quite limited. The Internet was never designed to provide information,
it was designed for people to communicate via messages. The Web is a
crude front end for displaying information, although it is a great
improvement over the old Unix command-based systems which are still used
for most features of the Internet.
9.4
The biggest problem, as I have said before, is finding what you want.
For example, the only way you could find the ARMed Forces Software Web
pages is by being told the address. This is why I list it at the end of
the column Ö there is no way of looking it up. There are ways of finding
information on a particular subject on the Internet but, in my
experience, they donæt generally work Ö you get a list of hundreds or
thousands of sites which might have the information you want, but
probably donæt. Visiting them all would be impossible and many sites
which did have the information you want could be missed from the list.
9.4
BABT approval
9.4
In last monthæs column, I made some comments about modem pricing, and
Paul added his own comment about BABT approval. I would like to clarify
this subject a little. Modems without BABT approval can cost up to ú50
less than approved modems. These modems have usually passed American
standards, and are often better than approved modems! Although
officially it isnæt legal to use them on a BT line, the vast majority of
modems are not approved.
9.4
I believe that only one person has ever been prosecuted for connecting a
non-BABT device to a phone line, and this was a cable with a phone plug
on one end and a power plug on the other, not a modem!!! Aánon-approved
14400 modem can be had for under ú50, plus the cost of a cable. An
approved modem can cost ú80 or more. I freely admit to using a non-
approved American-made SupraFaxModem, and itæs very good Ö I recommend
it. Itæs approved under both the Canadian and American standards, so I
have no qualms about connecting it to my phone line.
9.4
(I would like to remind readers that the views expressed by contributors
are not necessarily those of Norwich Computer Services, of Archive
magazine or of its Editor. It is NOT our recommendation that readers
should use illegal equipment on the BT network. Ed.)
9.4
News
9.4
A new Acorn BBS called ÉRocket Goldæ near Salisbury, in Wiltshire was
launched recently by James Sears. I have taken a look around, and itæs a
very well presented board. The BBS has a character all of its own Ö he
has obviously spent some time designing the menus. He carries a good
range of message areas and, amongst other things, has a large library of
clipart available for download. The BBS runs 24 hours on 01722-712422.
9.4
You can contact me in the following way (please note the change in my
email address):
9.4
Voice phone: [phone]
9.4
ARMed Forces Multimedia BBS: 01962 880003
9.4
Internet Email: [e-mail]
9.4
Web: http://www.icafe.co.za/mirage/ARMedForces/
9.4
FidoNet Netmail: 2:252/501  RiscNet Netmail: 7:44/212.
9.4
Post: Chris Claydon, 38 Main Road, Littleton, Winchester, Hampshire,
SO22 6QQ.áuá
9.4
BBS Name  Location  Phone Number
9.4
Archiboard Central  Norwich  01603 744231
9.4
ArchiNet BBS  Ashford, Kent  01233 665918
9.4
Skyline Online  London  01812 556912
9.4
The Graphics Column
9.4
David Thornton
9.4
This month, I want to look briefly at The Big Picture (TBP) by Longman
Logotron although Malcolm Banthorpe is doing a more in-depth review that
I hope will appear next month.
9.4
This is the replacement for the entire Revelation family of bitmap
graphics software. Prior to the RiscáPC, ImagePro and ProArtisan 2 were
noted as the two premier bitmap applications for RISC OS. The Risc PC
changed all that with the subsequent launch of Photodesk, Studio24 and
ProArt24, while ImagePro was rapidly left behind. To be fair to Longman,
they did release an updated version of ImagePro, but the new features
were not really significant and the program didnæt feel new anymore.
Exactly a year after the last version of ImagePro (4.01), Longman
released TBP, which has been in development for well over a year.
9.4
Installation
9.4
To use TBP you need a computer fitted with RISC OS 3.10 or later and,
preferably, 4Mb RAM. It will function on 1 or 2Mb machines but you will
be very limited in what you can create. You can run the application from
a floppy disc but you will be unable to use virtual memory and some of
the other features that require large, temporary files. It really needs
to be run from hard disc for best effect.
9.4
Once you have installed and loaded TBP, you can choose either to create
a new bitmap or to load an existing one. It can load many different
bitmap formats including sprite, JPEG, PCX, PBMPlus, Sun Raster, Clear,
Targa, TIFF, GIF and PICT2. It can also save pictures in any of these
formats.
9.4
If you choose to create a new bitmap, you then have to select your
preferred page dimensions and choose either Écreate pageæ or Écreate
virtual pageæ, i.e. use virtual memory.
9.4
In use
9.4
When a bitmap is loaded, a toolbar will appear alongside the editing
window. This can be Éswitchedæ to display three variations for the
painting, colour and motif tools.
9.4
The Painting tools are similar to those present in ImagePro. Two new
tools exist, namely the mask and the user-defined tool menu.
9.4
The crayon is used to apply the current paint (aácolour or a motif) as a
continuous line of variable thickness and density. The line thickness
can easily be adjusted using a dialogue box, as can the density.
9.4
The brush tool applies the current paint as a succession of individual
blocks. A brush can be aliased around the edges giving a blur effect or
centred giving an air-brush effect. The softness of both of these
settings can be defined. The mark produced by the brush can also be
orientated according to the initial direction of the movement of the
pointer. This is useful for producing italic effects.
9.4
The tracking option is impressive Ö the brush mark rotates in accordance
with the direction of movement so that painting a curve will rotate the
mark giving a Émore painterly brushstrokeæ according to the manual.
9.4
The spray tool can be configured to act like a can of spray-paint and
allows the current paint or motif to be randomly applied to the canvas.
This tool can also act as an air-brush and repeats some of the features
available from the brush tool. The brush and spray tools could possibly
have been combined under one tool, although the use of two tools makes
selection easier and more logical.
9.4
The crayon, brush and spray tools can be customised to give different
artistic effects. Brush tips can be defined, and the way a tool applies
paint can also be determined. Once you have created a tool definition,
you can save it for later use. TBP comes complete with a generous
selection of pre-defined tool configurations for use with either the
crayon, brush or spray tools. These can easily be selected from the
tools menu, accessed from the toolbar.
9.4
The mask tool allows an area of the bitmap to be protected from any
editing that may occur on the bitmap. The mask can also be set to
ÉAffectæ, so only the selected area can be edited. The mask is only 1-
bit so it can either be on or off. (If the mask were 8-bit, as in
Photodesk, it would be possible to change its opacity allowing some
paint to pass through where opacity was of a low value.)
9.4
One of the most useful features from ImagePro (and not available on many
other applications) is the measurement tool which allows you to measure
accurately distances and angles on a bitmap. This can be useful for
adding dimensions or to draw a line at a specific angle. I am surprised
that no other bitmap application has implemented this feature.
9.4
Colour
9.4
It is possible to choose your preferred colour using either the standard
RISC OS colour picker or by using a smaller colour picker which forms
one of the three main toolbars. The colour toolbar contains the 16-
default colours used by the desktop as well as a colour circle (in 32k
and 16m colour modes only) from where colours can be chosen. The colour
circle is compact but it is difficult to accurately specify a precise
colour with it Ö you need to use the RISC OS colour picker to do this. A
mixing palette can be opened at the bottom of the colour toolbar where
colour swatches (small samples of colour) can be stored. Storing colours
on the mixing palette is vital if you need to select the same colour
again in the future. The mixing palette cannot be saved with the bitmap
and must be saved separately. Transparency can be defined using a dial
at the top of the toolbar, and colour gradients, for the fill tool, can
also be defined between two colours. Colour transparency values range
from 0ù100% and the tool functions in a similar way to the wash tool in
ImagePro.
9.4
Motif
9.4
The motif toolbar allows a motif to be added to the canvas using most of
the tools available. Text is classed as a motif and it can easily be
created using a dialogue box. Unfortunately, text is not anti-aliased,
although this can be added afterwards using the blur tool which gives
acceptable results. Motif patterns can also be generated from this
toolbar and a directory of default motifs can be opened. Any bitmap can
be used as a motif, so dragging a sprite onto the motif panel
automatically converts it to one. A register option exists to define
where you want the motif to begin once you start painting. This is also
used for cloning because no separate cloning tool exists.
9.4
Adjust colour
9.4
Users of ImagePro will be familiar with the colour shift tool Ö about
the best tool available for RISC OS for converting one colour to another
and applying colour related effects such as contrast. The tool can be
set to affect, or protect, all, a range or a set of colours. The colour
shift tool can apply colour tints as well as RGB, CMYK and HSV colour
separation and adjustment in real time. It is possible to select any of
these colour models and to adjust the percentage of each colour on the
canvas. This is previewed on the canvas instantaneously and can be
applied globally or with a tool. The colour shift/adjust tool is a very
powerful feature. Combined with the adjust greys tool, which can convert
a bitmap into 256 shades of grey and can apply limitless grey maps to
the canvas to alter its appearance, some may feel that these two
features alone justify the cost of the application.
9.4
Other features
9.4
TBP can import and export many different bitmaps formats extremely
quickly. It does this using none other than ImageFS2 (a separate product
from Alternative Publishing). TBP has a special version of ImageFS2
(ImageFSLite) built in which allows it to import and export many bitmap
formats. Those of you who read my review of ImageFS2 some issues ago
will know that holding down <Alt> while dragging the sprite icon to a
directory displays a window allowing you to select your preferred
format. The version of ImageFS2 built into TBP will not function on its
own, but you can get a discount on the full version of ImageFS2.
9.4
Conclusion
9.4
Apart from a new user interface, some new tools and more options to
customise the program, TBP is not noticeably different from Revelation
ImagePro although many of the features have been extended.
9.4
The inclusion of ImageFSLite and support for the Eesox PenPad graphics
tablet drivers are important additions. TBP can import ArtWorks files,
but they are not rendered in anti-aliased form which, I feel, defeats
the point of the option. TBP can also import drawfiles and, like
ImagePro, includes special code so that Iotaæs Image Animator can
capture any active page as an animation frame.
9.4
The program should be suited to an educational establishment for the
majority of students, although very advanced students might demand a
more powerful application. For ú69 + VAT (ú77 through Archive) or ú37
+VAT for an upgrade from ImagePro, it is very fairly priced. For users
wanting excellent colour separation in real-time, at ú69, this is an
offer not to be missed.
9.4
The only other bitmap editor in the same price bracket is PhotoTouch,
from Oregan Developments, which I have found it to be a capable product
with some great effects and an excellent user interface which is very
RISC OS-compliant. It lacks virtual memory, but it has a number of
features not included in TBP.
9.4
TBP is an excellent image processing and general purpose bitmap editor.
I had hoped for more in the way of new features but I suggest that
potential customers, including those considering upgrading from
ImagePro, obtain a demonstration copy of the application from Longman.
TBP may be lacking in certain places, but it will be purchased by users
wanting an easy-to-use solution at an affordable price.
9.4
If you have already purchased TBP, I would be very interested to read
your comments about it. What made you choose it? What do you think if
it? Please send any letters to the address below and I will respond
accordingly. Postage for replies would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
9.4
David Thornton, 1 Castle Court, Lower Burraton, Saltash, Cornwall. PL12
4SE. u
9.4
C++ Column
9.4
Tony Houghton
9.4
This monthæs subject is templates. Not to be confused with the files of
window definitions used by the Wimp, templates in C++ are a way of
defining families of classes and functions. All the classes or functions
created from one template have the same functionality, but use different
types.
9.4
Templates are a fairly new addition to C++ and, unfortunately, Acorn C++
in particular has a few difficulties with them. You may experience the
compiler crashing or Éthrowbackingæ strange error messages which do not
match the compileræs textualáoutput (the latter can usually be relied on
in this case).
9.4
Function templates
9.4
At their simplest, function templates can be thought of as macros
(#define) with the advantage of being Éproperæ functions with type
checking. Where in C you might have used:
9.4
#define WORDALIGN(a) \
9.4
  (((a)+3) & ~3)
9.4
in C++ you can use:
9.4
template<class T> T word_align(T &a)
9.4
{& ~3); }
9.4
This is like any ordinary function definition, but preceding it with the
template declarator, template<class T>, indicates that it is a template
taking a single type argument (calling it T is something of a
tradition). As you will see, there can be more than one template
argument, and they need not be types. Using the keyword class does not
necessarily mean that T must be a class Ö it can be any type, such as
int; the keyword is just a signal to the compiler that T is a type.
Immediately following the template declarator, T is a type name that can
be used like any other until the end of the scope of word_align.
9.4
If the function is to be inline, the inline keyword belongs between the
template declarator and the return type, i.e. the above would be:
template<class T> inline T ...
9.4
To declare a function template before defining it, the syntax is the
same as for the definition above, but the body of the function is
replaced by a semi-colon, like any ordinary function.
9.4
To build and call a function generated from a template, you just call it
as for a plain function:
9.4
void f(int a, void *p, struct tm &t)
9.4
// tm from <time.h>
9.4
{a=word_align(a) ;
9.4
  p=word_align(p);
9.4
  p=word_align(a);  // type mismatch
9.4
  t=word_align(t);
9.4
    // error: body of word_align()
9.4
    // canæt convert tm to int
9.4
    // and back
9.4
}
9.4
The compiler will examine the parameter(s) passed to the function and
work out which word_align() to generate/call. This means that all the
template arguments (those in the angle brackets of the template
declarator) must always be present in the traditional function arguments
to be distinguishable; the return type alone is insufficient.
Furthermore, it is impossible to provide default arguments for function
templates. It is possible to overload function templates with the above
restrictions.
9.4
A function generated from a function template is called a template
function. I hope you donæt have too much trouble distinguishing between
the two terms!
9.4
Class templates
9.4
A useful application for templates is to contain objects of any type.
Consider a further development of the Array class from issues 8.12 and
9.2 into a class template to allow it to hold objects of any type:
9.4
template<class T> class Array {size ;
9.4
  T *array;
9.4
public:
9.4
  ~Array();
9.4
  Array(int);
9.4
  Array(Array<T> &);
9.4
  Array &operator=(Array<T> &);
9.4
  T &operator[](int subscript) {array[subscript] ;
9.4
    // Should really include
9.4
    // range check
9.4
  }
9.4
  int get_size() {size ; }
9.4
};
9.4
As for the function template, preceding the definition with
template<class T> indicates that it is a template. From immediately
after the template declarator to the end of the scope of Array, T is a
type name.
9.4
As you can see, there is no problem overloading methods of class
templates.
9.4
To create and use an object from a class template, you must indicate
what type you wish to use it with as an argument to the template:
9.4
void f(Array<int> &array_of_ints)
9.4
{something 9.4
}
9.4
int main()
9.4
{ten_ints(10) ;
9.4
  f(ten_ints);
9.4
}
9.4
Array<int> is now a class (template class) in its own right that can be
used as if the angled brackets were not there, and all occurrences of T
become int. Any type could have been used, even one from a derived class
template, e.g.
9.4
template<class T> class DerivedArray
9.4
: public Array<T> {... };
9.4
Any invocations of the DerivedArray template will cause the necessary
Array classes to be built.
9.4
Defining template methods
9.4
Like ordinary classes, class templates with methods that are not inline
must have these methods defined somewhere. The syntax is (for the
operator= in the example):
9.4
template<class T>
9.4
T &Array<T>::operator=(Array<T> &a)
9.4
{a to this array, deleting
9.4
  // any previous contents
9.4
}
9.4
After the template<class T>, the type name T is in scope until the end
of the function definition. This is simply applying the new syntax for
templates to the familiar syntax for class member function definition.
The <T> between the class name and :: might seem surplus, but it
improves consistency.
9.4
Static members
9.4
Static members will be generated for each class built from a template,
even if the type of the static member does not depend on the template
argument:
9.4
template<class T> class Temp {a ;
9.4
  static int b;
9.4
};
9.4
// Definition syntax for static
9.4
// members is similar to methods
9.4
template<class T> T Temp::a;
9.4
template<class T> int Temp::b;
9.4
Temp<int> temp_int;
9.4
Temp<float> temp_float;
9.4
This will cause generation of the members:
9.4
int Temp<int>::a;
9.4
int Temp<int>::b;
9.4
float Temp<float>::a;
9.4
int Temp<float>::b;
9.4
Implementation: a problem
9.4
It is important to understand that a template is implemented by
generating actual function code or an object for each and every
different template argument. Acornæs compiler and linker are not
equipped to deal with this when the template definitions are in a
different source file from the functions that call them, but it can be
overcome (see below). This problem probably also affects Easy C++ and
the freeware GNU C++ (GCC), because they use linkers compatible with
Acornæs.
9.4
Friends
9.4
A friend of a class template can either be a single class or function,
or a template:
9.4
template<class T> class Array {class Sort;    // OK
9.4
  friend class Sort<T>;
9.4
    // OK if Sort is a class template
9.4
  friend void sort();   // OK
9.4
  friend void sort<T>(Array<T> &);
9.4
    // OK if sort is a function
9.4
    // template
9.4
  friend void sort(Array &);
9.4
    // error: Array is not a type
9.4
  friend void sort(Array<T> &);
9.4
    // error: canæt assume non-
9.4
    // template sort functions will
9.4
    // exist for all T
9.4
};
9.4
Special definitions for specific types
9.4
You can also define methods and functions of a template for specific
types; these versions will then be used in preference to the ones
automatically created by the compiler.
9.4
As an example, you might like to ensure that all pointers to double are
aligned on a 64-bit boundary (although not required by the hardware) by
providing a special word_align() function for double:
9.4
double word_align(double d)
9.4
{d-d%8 ; }
9.4
This is now not a template at all, but will be used in preference to the
template when a call of word_align(double) is needed.
9.4
This should also work for template methods. You could provide a special
version of operator= above for char:
9.4
char &Array<char>::
9.4
  operator=(Array<char> &str)
9.4
{str , making special use of
9.4
  // its string properties
9.4
}
9.4
However, attempting to do this with Acorn C++ gives rise to one of those
errors that it doesnæt throwback properly. The textual output from the
compiler complains that you are attempting two definitions of the
method. It doesnæt give an error with GCC, but I could not test it
really thoroughly because I canæt get GCC to produce an executable file.
9.4
Not only is it possible to predefine single methods this way, but it can
be done with the whole class:
9.4
class Array<char> {... };
9.4
Unfortunately, this also seems to crash Acorn C++, although GCC seems to
be able to cope (albeit still without producing an executable file),
even if the specific class has different methods from those of the
template.
9.4
Other template arguments
9.4
Templates can take more than one argument in the angle brackets,
separated by commas. The arguments do not even have to be type names Ö
they can also be constant expressions, including pointers to permanent
objects and functions.
9.4
An alternative to specifying the size of an Array as an argument to its
constructor would be to include it as a template argument:
9.4
template<class T, int S>
9.4
class Array {v[s] ;
9.4
public:
9.4
  Array();
9.4
  Array(Array<T> &);
9.4
  // etc
9.4
};
9.4
This case would be rather impractical and inefficient, because new code
would be generated for every different size of array.
9.4
You probably wonæt use non-type template arguments often. There are only
two possible uses I can think of for non-type arguments to function
templates which obey the rule that a template function must be
identifiable by its function arguments. One is to use it as a template
argument of a class template which is a function argument of the
function template (youæll have to read that bit slowly!):
9.4
template<class T, int i>
9.4
void sort(Array<T, i> &a);
9.4
The second possibility is as any but the last dimension of an array
argument:
9.4
template<int i>
9.4
void sort_strings(char[i][] &a);
9.4
A practical example
9.4
Practical examples have been all too rare in this series, but I have
been experimenting more than usual this month, and there is a very good
example of sophisticated templates which is useful to Wimp programmers,
particularly using Acornæs latest library, but also adaptable to
DeskLib. I must thank Daniel Ellis for the idea of callbacks, but my
implementation is completely different.
9.4
Many Wimp and Toolbox events are associated with C++ objects, so we
often find ourselves writing event handlers which cast their handle or
reference argument to a pointer to an object and then call a method. We
can use a class template to implement a general purpose callback class
for passing events to specific methods of specific classes. I will use
Toolbox events as an example, because these are where callbacks are most
appreciated due to the need to cast the general struct ToolboxEvent
pointer to something more useful.
9.4
(The example is in the file Écallbackæ on the monthly disc Ö there is
not enough space to print it here.)
9.4
Even if you do not have Acorn C++, you should be able to follow this. As
an exercise, try writing a version for ordinary Wimp events, and perhaps
messages, or do the same for DeskLib. You might like to use inheritance,
because of the commonality of the different callbacks. However, you will
probably find this only serves to complicate the code.
9.4
The bug referred to is that Acorn C++ seems to be incapable of
implementing a pointer to member function if the class the pointer is
bound to is a template argument.
9.4
Solving the linkage problem
9.4
As I mentioned above, if you have your template definitions in one
source file and the code that uses them in one or more others, it is not
possible for Acorn C++ to generate a template function or method for
each type of template argument. This is reported by the linker saying it
canæt find the relevant functions. Fortunately, they are reported as
their fully qualified C++ names, not in the cryptic form they are given
when translated to C.
9.4
The simplest approach is to make all template functions and methods
inline and include them in the headers. If the compiler needs to
generate a real function from an inline (as in the example when its
address is taken) it will do so. The disadvantage is that each
translation unit will have its own unnecessary copies of each template
function. Also, Acorn C++ cannot compile certain inline functions.
9.4
The second approach is to put all the function definitions in their own
c++/c/cc/cpp (depending on which compiler you use) source file as usual.
Then you, the programmer, must work out all the different types of each
template needed throughout other source files of the same program and
signal to the compiler that each type must be generated by referring to
them in the same file as their definitions. So if you defined the
methods for the Array example in their own file, Éarray.c++æ (or
whatever), and wanted to use arrays of int, char and float in various
other source files, following the Array method definitions in
Éarray.c++æ, you could write:
9.4
static inline void generate()
9.4
{a ;
9.4
  Array<char> b;
9.4
  Array<float> c;
9.4
}
9.4
By making the function inline, it should never actually be generated. If
you are not sure of what types you need, you can start off with none and
read which are needed from the linker errors.
9.4
There is a small catch. If you mix the two approaches, and some of the
templateæs inline methods have to be created as proper methods (various
implementation details can cause this to happen for no apparent reason),
you will end up with a few unused static functions. Fortunately, these
will generally be small, and you can always redefine them non-inline. u
9.4
Starting Basic 5 Ö Menu Selection
9.4
Ray Favre
9.4
Many programs need to let the user select items from a list or menu and,
in non-Wimp programs, one of the simplest ways to do this is by using
the following four keywords in combination:
9.4
REPEAT ... UNTIL
9.4
INSTR
9.4
CHR$
9.4
GET (or GET$)
9.4
Keywords REPEAT and UNTIL
9.4
BBC Basic permits different types of Écontrol loopsæ to be constructed,
i.e. the program performs a sequence of instructions repeatedly until
(or unless) some predetermined condition is encountered. The three main
types of control loops are:
9.4
REPEAT ... UNTIL
9.4
FOR ... NEXT
9.4
WHILE ... ENDWHILE
9.4
and this session will concentrate on the first of these.
9.4
The general form of a REPEAT ... UNTIL loop is:
9.4
Enter loop at REPEAT
9.4
Carry out some instructions
9.4
Check if predetermined end condition exists. If it does, then exit loop,
otherwise go back to start of loop and repeat
9.4
For example, the routine:
9.4
count% = 0
9.4
REPEAT
9.4
  Count% += 1 :REM** Increments count% by 1 **
9.4
  PRINT Count%
9.4
UNTIL Count% = 6
9.4
will print the digits 1 to 6 and then exit. The UNTIL line evaluates the
exit condition(s) you have set Ö in this case, Count%=6 Ö to check
whether it is TRUE or FALSE and only exits the loop when TRUE occurs.
There can therefore be multiple conditions for exit, but they must all
be linked by AND/OR/EOR/NOT etc. For example:
9.4
UNTIL Moon% = Blue% OR Pig$ = Fly$
9.4
which will exit if either of the conditions is met, or:
9.4
UNTIL Moon% = Blue% AND Pig$ = Fly$
9.4
which will exit only when both conditions are met, or:
9.4
UNTIL NOT Repeat%
9.4
which will exit only when Repeat%=FALSE  (i.e. NOT TRUE)
9.4
REPEAT and UNTIL do not need to start on a new line and they can be part
of multi-statement lines. However, it is strongly recommended that you
use one line each for REPEAT and UNTIL Ö and that you use indenting for
the lines in between. The PRINT Count% routine above shows both of these
features, which make the beginning and end of each loop immediately
clear in a listing, and therefore much reduces the chances of problems
(particularly when using Énested loopsæ Ö see below).
9.4
On exiting a REPEAT ... UNTIL loop, the program continues at the line
immediately after the UNTIL line.
9.4
As the exit condition is in the last line of the loop, the program has
to carry out the loop instructions at least once, which is not always
convenient. (This is why the WHILE ... ENDWHILE loop was added to the
arsenal Ö more on this another time.)
9.4
All loops can be Énestedæ i.e. loops (of any of the types) can be placed
within other loops (of any of the types) Ö but they must be totally
nested, not Écrossedæ. For example:
9.4
REPEAT(entry main loop)
9.4
ááREPEAT(entry first nested loop)
9.4
ááááREPEAT(entry second nested loop)
9.4
ááááUNTIL(exit conditions for second
9.4
 nested loop)
9.4
ááUNTIL(exit conditions for first
9.4
 nested loop)
9.4
UNTIL(exit conditions for main loop)
9.4
would be OK, because the second Énestæ is completely surrounded by the
first Énestæ and the latter by the main loop. (Note how indenting helps
to identify the three loops clearly.) However, the following sequence:
9.4
REPEAT(entry main loop)
9.4
ááREPEAT(entry first nested loop)
9.4
UNTIL(exit conditions for main loop)
9.4
ááUNTIL(exit conditions for first nested loop)
9.4
would be a disaster, because the processor would assume the first UNTIL
applied to the nested loop and the second to the main loop.
9.4
There is a limit to the number of Énestsæ but youæll be hard-pushed to
reach it. It is more likely to be met as a result of an error in
constructing the loops.
9.4
The great merit of REPEAT ... UNTIL loops is their simplicity, which is
why they are used very frequently Ö and is also why we need say no more
about them in explanation.
9.4
Keyword INSTR
9.4
This is one of the keywords provided for Éstring manipulationæ. INSTR
acts as a function and generally takes the form,
Position%=INSTR(SearchString$,
9.4
SubString$)
9.4
where SubString$ needs to be shorter than SearchString$.
9.4
INSTR looks for the presence of Substring$ within SearchString$ and, if
found, it Éreturnsæ the position within SearchString$ where it found it.
(INSTR=öIn stringò geddit?!) Itæs easier to show some examples:
9.4
Position% = INSTR(öarchimedesò,öarcò)
9.4
Position% = INSTR(öArchimedesò,öarcò)
9.4
Position% = INSTR(öArchimedesò,öeò)
9.4
would result in Position% being assigned values of 1, 0 and 7
respectively. In the first case, öarcò matches the first three
characters of öarchimedesò Ö so it returns a value 1, signifying the
match starts at the first character (from the left) of the search
string. In the second case, no match is found Ö because weæve changed
the first letter to a capital Ö and the value returned for Éno match
foundæ is 0. In the third case, the value is 7 because the function only
considers the first occurrence of a match. If SubString$ is longer than
SearchString$ then 0 is returned.
9.4
You can force the search to start from a position other than the first
character by adding a third parameter, giving the start position. So:
9.4
Position% = INSTR(öArchimedesò,öeò,8)
9.4
will produce a value of 9 Ö i.e. a match with the second öeò at position
9.
9.4
Again, this is a simple, but powerful, keyword.
9.4
Keywords CHR$ and ASC
9.4
These are best introduced together, although we will only be using CHR$
at the moment. As computers, at heart, only recognise numbers, every
character and symbol shown on the screen, or printed, is represented
within the computer by an integer number in the range 0-255 and there is
an international standard covering most of these. For historical
reasons, most people use the phrase Éthe ASCII Codeæ when referring to
this. Hence, the keyword ASC, which is a function returning the ASCII
code of a letter e.g.
9.4
Ascii% = ASC(öAò)
9.4
will result in Ascii% being assigned the value 65 Ö the ASCII code for
ÉAæ. In fact, ASC returns the ASCII code of the first character of any
string, so we would have got the same result from:
9.4
Ascii% = ASC(öArchimedesò)
9.4
The keyword CHR$ does the reverse translation. So:
9.4
PRINT CHR$(65)
9.4
will put the letter ÉAæ on the screen.
9.4
Extract from A4 chart on disc. Character at box centre; ASCII code in
corners (hex top right, decimal bottom left)
9.4
Any programmer needs a table of at least the ASCII codes 0-127. This
used to be a standard feature of any computer manual, but not today!
This issueæs program disc comes to the rescue with a Basic program to
print an A4 chart showing the printable characters with their ASCII
codes in both decimal and hex form. (Youæll need to delete the REM in
Line 140 for a hard copy Ö and afterwards, draw the vertical lines
manually.)  Also included is a smarter, completed document in Impression
Publisher format.
9.4
Keywords GET$ and GET
9.4
These are two keywords which should not be used in Wimp programs, but
are very common in non-Wimp programs. GET$ is a function returning a
one-character string from the keyboard. Thus:
9.4
Char$ = GET$
9.4
will assign to char$ the character of the key you next press Ö and will
pause until you press one. GET works the same way but returns the ASCII
code value of the key pressed. GET$ is best regarded as returning
CHR$(GET), but note that if the character is not a printable one, GET$
will return a null string. Their response is instant, and there is no
need to press <return>. Indeed, <return> is a valid keypress in its own
right Ö it will return 13 with GET but a null string with GET$.
9.4
It is best to adopt a habit of always assigning the result of GET$
directly to a variable, as above. The reason is that, because of the way
it is written, it is very easy to forget that GET$ is a function, not a
variable itself.
9.4
Back to the task in hand...
9.4
Picking items from a list
9.4
We now have all we need to take the next step with our ÉLoanæ project.
If you run ÉLoan_4Bæ (from Part 4), you will see that the initial menu
asks us to choose from four items which are (conveniently!) labelled
with the letters öLNPRò. So, if we were to include the routine:
9.4
KeyPress$ = CHR$(GET)
9.4
Position% = INSTR(öLNPRò,KeyPress$)
9.4
after showing the menu on the screen, the program would wait for us to
press a key. If we press L or N or P or R, the integer variable
Position% will end up with a value of 1, 2, 3 or 4 respectively Ö and
the string variable KeyPress$ with the letter we had pressed. We can
then use either, or both, to direct our program further. (Yes, I know we
could use GET$ directly in the above, but wait a few lines to see the
Émethod in my madnessæ!)
9.4
There are a couple of problems though. What happens if we press a
different letter, or if we press the lower case versions l, n, p or r?
We need a way to stop the program continuing until weæve pressed one of
the required letters and we need to consider its Éuser friendlinessæ if
a lower case version is chosen.
9.4
Waiting for a valid keypress
9.4
Firstly, have a look at the following routine, which brings in the
remaining keywords introduced in this article:
9.4
REPEAT
9.4
ááKeyPress$ = CHR$(GET)
9.4
ááPosition% = INSTR(öLNPRò,KeyPress$)
9.4
UNTIL Position% > 0
9.4
This will enter the loop and wait for a keypress, which will result in
Position% being assigned a value of 0 (if the keypress doesnæt match one
of the search string letters) or otherwise a value in the range 1-4. No
other result is possible with a search string four characters long. So,
we tell the program, in the UNTIL line, that we are not interested
unless a number in the range 1-4 is produced Ö and it will keep
repeating the loop until we press one of those four letters.
9.4
ÉMaskingæ to upper case
9.4
There is more than one way of overcoming the lower-case problem. The
easiest is to change the routine to:
9.4
REPEAT
9.4
ááKeyPress$ = CHR$(GET)
9.4
ááPosition% = INSTR(öLlNnPpRrò,
9.4
 KeyPress$)
9.4
UNTIL Position% > 0
9.4
which allows either case of letter and returns a Position% value in the
range 1-8.  However, a neater way for our current needs is to take
advantage of the logic of the ASCII codes (see chart on disc). This
allows us to run the ASCII code of a keypress through a Ésieveæ or
Émaskæ which passes upper case letters unaltered and converts lower case
letters to upper case. It sounds complex but we only need to change the
second line above to:
9.4
KeyPress$ = CHR$(GET AND 223)
9.4
If you look at the binary equivalent of 223 (it is 11011111), youæll see
what is happening. Numbers in the range 32-63 and 96-127 all have a 1 in
the same bit position as 223 has its only zero. As 1áAND 0á=á0, ÉANDingæ
these numbers with 223 effectively reduces them by 32, by changing that
bit to zero. Other numbers in the range 0-127 stay the same. As all
lower case letters are in the range 97-122 and all upper case in the
range 65-90, this is just what we need. (In case you ever need it,
GETáORá32 forces letters to lower case.)
9.4
Program changes
9.4
ÉLoan_5Aæ on the disc updates ÉLoan_4Bæ by including the above routine
within FNmenuChoice. The FN returns the chosen letter in upper case to
the variable Unknown$.
9.4
Several other minor changes are needed now that the listing has a better
structure. The main one is moving the menu printing offset variables to
PROCinit, as we will probably need them in several PROCs. Some minor
printing instructions have also been moved. Finally, to leave our
project in a better state for starting next time, the initial example
calculations have been deleted.
9.4
Next time
9.4
Now that the user can choose the unknown parameter, he/she needs to be
able to enter values for the three known parameters. To do this, weæll
use the  IF ... THEN ... ELSE ... ENDIF construction and the keyword
INPUT.
9.4
Donæt forget the feedback, queries etc (and the A4 SAE if you want this
issueæs printed listings) to:  26áWest Drayton Park Avenue, West
Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7QA.áuá
9.4
Puzzle Corner
9.4
Colin Singleton
9.4
My apologies for the incorrect numbering of last monthæs Quickies. The
correct numbers are listed below. Apologies also for setting the wrong
type of puzzle. I thought Where on Earth was a fascinating problem Ö but
I was almost alone! I will return to less arduous, but hopefully no less
interesting, puzzles.
9.4
Now Ö the latest winners ...
9.4
(38) Where on Earth?
9.4
The only entry to this puzzle came two weeks after the deadline, but
Laurence Howe, of Romford, Essex, assures me that he derived his answer
without reference to mine. With all the world to choose from, it is
intriguing that his four towns are barely stoneæs throws from mine, in
Yukon, New South Wales, Somalia and central Argentina. Laurie found
Tagish (60░18ÉN, 134░16æW), Bellata (29░55ÉS, 149░50æE), Boorama
(9░56ÉN, 43░13æE). and Rio Cuarto (33░8ÉS, 64░20æW). The standard
deviation of the six distances is 23 miles Ö a significant improvement
on my 31. It is also interesting that the eight co-ordinates given in my
atlas for these four towns are all different, by a few minutes, from
those in Laurieæs atlas!
9.4
(39Ö41) House Number Ö Birthdays Ö Backtracking
9.4
No all-correct entry, because no-one solved the Birthdays problem. This
is obviously not as well known as I thought. Jeremy Morris of Norwood,
London, wins the prize.
9.4
... and last monthæs solutions ...
9.4
(42) !Draw a Rectangle
9.4
The rectangle is 10╫5 cm. This can be established using co-ordinate
geometry to calculate the position, after the transformation of a
general starting point (x,y) in a general X╫Y rectangle, and then using
simultaneous equations to find the one point which does not move.
Alternatively, you can draw a few construction lines, as in the diagram.
A study of the various similar triangles reveals that the fixed point
does lie at the intersection shown. Given that the small rectangle in
the bottom left is 2╫1, you can deduce that the linear dimensions of
that rectangle, the rotated rectangle, and the large one are in the
ratio 1:┌5:5. Did I put you off with the message ÉDo not assume that the
diagram is accurateæ? It was accurate!
9.4
(43) Cubes
9.4
The largest number which is less than the sum of the cubes of its digits
is 1999. All solutions to this puzzle must be less than this. A simple
program will find 1 153 370 371 and 407.
9.4
(44) Plus or Minus
9.4
The solutions with the minimum numbers of symbols are
123áùá45áùá67á+á89á=á100 and 98áùá76á+á54á+á3á+á21á=á100.
9.4
(45) Triple Duel
9.4
If Harry kills Tom or Dick with his first shot, the other will then aim
at Harry, probably with fatal results. Harry should fire into the air,
leaving Tom and Dick to resolve their own duel Ö they will each ignore
their less accurate opponent. Harry then gets first shot at the
survivor, and has the best overall chance of survival! The chances of
survival for Tom, Dick and Harry are 10%, 25% and 65% respectively.
9.4
... this monthæs prize puzzle ...
9.4
(46) Prime Square
9.4
My thanks to E T Emms of Kenley, Surrey, who has contributed this
puzzle. Take the first n terms of the prime number series 2, 3, 5, 7,
11, 13, 17, 19 ... and arrange them into four sets, each set having the
same total. If the numbers represent the lengths of hinged straight
rods, these would form a square.
9.4
(For more ambitious readers, I would add the challenge of forming a
magic square of prime numbers, consecutive or otherwise. This is not
part of the prize puzzle.)
9.4
... and this monthæs prize quickies ...
9.4
(47) First
9.4
What interesting Éfirstæ is held by the number 1729 ?
9.4
(48) Second
9.4
What are the next three letters in this sequence: AáEáA P A U U U E ...
?
9.4
(49) Third
9.4
X is one third of Y. The numbers X and Y between them contain all ten
digits, once each. Find X and Y.
9.4
Feedback
9.4
E T Emms, who contributed this monthæs puzzle, asks whether I had
considered emulating Hubert Phillips, Martin Gardner and A K Dewdney by
writing a puzzle book. These authors, and several others (ranging
chronologically from Lewis Carroll to Ian Stewart) grace my bookshelves.
Gardner and Dewdney also appear frequently in my personal correspondence
files. Enough of the name-dropping Ö the answer is Yes. I wrote the
first three chapters some months ago, but there it has stagnated! I
greatly admire Martin Gardner, the only person, I think, who has made a
living from Recreational Mathematics.
9.4
Jeremy Morris, the October winner, asks for clarification on (36) Monkey
Puzzle. Martin Gardner says ÉThe correct answer is that regardless of
how the monkey climbs Ö fast, slow, or by jumps Ö monkey and weight
remain opposite. The monkey cannot get above or below the weight, even
by letting go of the rope, dropping, and grabbing the rope again.æ This,
of course, assumes that the weight and the monkey start on the same
level. If they do not, it makes little difference. They start in
equilibrium, and return to equilibrium whenever the monkey is holding
the rope but not pulling it, and the vertical distance between them
never changes. The only forces acting on the weight and the monkey are
gravity and the equal-and-opposite forces through the rope Ö because we
conveniently ignored all others! Since the rope hangs over the pulley,
these forces act vertically, equally in parallel.
9.4
Comments and solutions
9.4
The response is already picking up for the December puzzles. OK Ö I get
the message! Please send your comments, contributions and solutions to
me at 41áStáQuentin Drive, Sheffield, S17 4PN. Solutions by Friday 12th
January, 1996, please.áuá
9.4
Pocket Book Column
9.4
Audrey Laski
9.4
PocketFS blues
9.4
Steve Hutchinson, of Gloucester, in a long, interesting letter raises so
many issues that I shall spread them over two months. He records a new
problem: clicking on the Psion icon to open the conversion window
produced a complaint of ÉOut of Memoryæ with no apparent reason. He was
able to transfer files via ÉOpen $æ and the Filer, Ébut the conversion
window doesnæt want to knowæ. He cured the problem by resetting the
Acorn, but it would be good if someone could explain why it occurred in
the first place.
9.4
Dealing with data
9.4
Steve uses his Psion, as most of us do our Pocket Books, to build an
address book, and then, in order to be able to use it for making lists
and labels, transfers it to a database, Powerbase, on his A440, using
Edit to supply the requisite field header. What annoys him is that he
has to Éload the whole file into an empty version of the database each
time. What I really need is a system that just updates the Powerbase
database each quarter.æ I wonder if this would be dealt with by his
keeping two files on the Psion; one his old address book for reference,
and the other a file purely of new contacts. Wouldnæt Powerbase accept
this as an addition to the old file? The Advance database I use seems
happy to take on additional entries in this way, but I donæt know
Powerbase.
9.4
This leads neatly to another issue raised by Steve. He would like to see
a useræs comparison of the various databases available now for Psions
and Pocket Books, like Data View and Data Deluxe. Iæm still a beginner
with Cards on the Pocket Book, so I canæt help.
9.4
Abacus transfers
9.4
Ted Pottage, of Reigate, reports a problem transferring Abacus files. He
was trying to back up from Pocket Book to disc via a Risc PC, and
crashed with the hourglass stuck at 13%. The cure was to delete all the
formulae which gave ERR on the Pocket Book. Perhaps other users know of
another way out of the difficulty and could report.
9.4
The Pocket Book and dyslexia
9.4
Ted is Chairman of the Computer Committee of the British Dyslexia
Association and has been writing a chapter for the Book of the 1996
Computers & Dyslexia Conference on the value of the palmtop computer as
a resource for dyslexics. I imagine he would be glad to receive
information of usersæ experiences if he has not finished the work by the
time this column appears.
9.4
Password Éunobtainableæ
9.4
Mike Clarkson complains of an annoying difference between the Pocket
Book and the Psion, namely the disappearance, apparently because it was
thought unsuitable for the classroom, of the password facility. He
suggests an alternative way to protect files, by Éhighlighting a file on
the desktop (but not opening it), and using the File attribute option
off the File menu (or Acorn-T). Set hidden to Yes and it will not be
shown on the desktop.æ It is still listed in the file menu produced by
Tab, and may occasionally appear and need an update to the lists to make
it disappear. Also, it will need resetting to Éhiddenæ after editing and
resaving. However, he is not really satisfied with this and would prefer
a proper password system. Perhaps it may be restored for Pocket Book 3,
if ....
9.4
Pocket Book books
9.4
Well, Psion books really, but for so many purposes this amounts to the
same thing. I recently found a publication, coming out every couple of
months, called The Complete Computer Book Listing. The July/August
edition I picked up listed thirteen books about what it calls the Psion
Organiser, ranging from absolute beginner titles like ÉIntroduction to
Using Psion 3æ to ÉSerious Programming on the Psion Series 3Aæ. Most are
published by Kuma, a couple by Capall Bann and one by Dabs Press. It
would be interesting to know if Archive readers with palmtop computers
are finding any of these books useful.
9.4
Communications
9.4
More than one of the contributors above sent their material to Paul at
Archive because they didnæt have an address for me. Itæs clear that this
needs to go into the column every six months or so. Iæm afraid weære not
yet on the Net, so itæs snailmail: 18 Ebury Street, London, SW1W OLU.
9.4
I also have a grouse for one contributor, by the way. His interesting
note came to me on disc in a wordprocessor format I donæt use, and was
so full of odd codes that it was very nearly unreadable. As I also
didnæt have a hard copy of his text, I had a hard time clearing out the
interference. Getting contributions on disc is certainly helpful, as I
can then transfer my quotations from them into the column very easily,
but they do need to be in plain text format; and Iæd rather, on the
whole, have hard copy without a disc file than a disc file without hard
copy.
9.4
Endnote
9.4
As the January edition must come out during December, I donæt think itæs
out of place warmly to wish all readers of the Pocket Book Column the
compliments of the season.áuá
9.4
Finance Manager
9.4
Tim Nicholson
9.4
The first accounts program I ever used on an Acorn, was one published by
Beebug many years ago. As I recall, it enabled a month by month
breakdown of balances in a number of accounts, without retaining any
individual transaction details. Then came Contex Computingæs ÉBank
Manageræ, which was a vast improvement, with individual transaction
records, standing orders, inter-account transfers and analysis codes,
etc. With the arrival of the Acorn 32-bit machines, it was extended and
improved, and I found it extremely useful. The only real drawback was
that it ran in mode 7, and was not multitasking.
9.4
It was some time later that Apricote produced their ÉPersonal Accountsæ
package, which made full use of the RISC OS multitasking environment,
and which was generally well received (see Archive 8.8 p61). However, I
found myself struggling with it, not because of any intrinsic fault of
the package, but because it required me to work in a different way. For
all its multitasking functionality, it also lacked one or two features
of the Contex package that I had come to find invaluable.
9.4
It was therefore with great interest that I looked at Finance Manager
from Solloway Software. It appeared to offer the flexibility of a true
multitasking program, with a design philosophy which matched the way I
wanted to work.
9.4
Cabbages and kings
9.4
Finance Manager has been written by a non-accountant/book-keeper, for
non-accountants/book-keepers. It was written because the author could
not find anything already existing, which did just what he wanted, so he
sat down and wrote it himself. This, for me, is one of the best
motivations for writing software and has led to much very good software
for Acorn machines, mostly in the öSharewareò category which, as David
Holden has pointed out, in no way denigrates the quality of what is on
offer.
9.4
Nuts and bolts
9.4
The package is supplied on a single, unprotected, floppy disc, pre-
registered with the useræs name, together with a 60-page manual, both
being cased in one of those VHS style library boxes. Installation is
simply a case of dragging the application to a working directory,
preferably on a hard disc. The package will only run under RISC OS 3 or
later and occupies around 470Kb of disc space, plus whatever is required
for the data, so working from a floppy is perfectly possible, although
the amount of disc activity will slow things down in this mode.
9.4
In use, the program initially grabbed 960Kb out of my free space, a
figure which then grew to over 1Mb, depending upon the current
operation. This makes it a bit of a squeeze on a 2Mb machine but,
provided you are careful not to load too many extra bits and bobs in
your boot sequence, it is perfectly possible.
9.4
The manual is written throughout in a tutorial style designed to lead
the first time user through the myriad of features. Indeed, the first
page recommends reading the manual whilst running the software and then
goes on to give the telephone number of the free telephone support line,
to be used öas a last resort after reading the manual thoroughlyò. This
is not a instant response helpline, but the author does return calls as
soon as he can.
9.4
View from
9.4
The program is organised around a number of viewers, of which the
central one is the Accounts viewer. Here, accounts are created, or
selected for working upon. When creating an account, you need to specify
whether the account is real, or a Écategoryæ account used for analysis
of spending.
9.4
Having selected an account to work on, you can then choose to view
cleared and uncleared transactions, automatic payments and Égroupedæ
transactions. These viewers are organised as a scrolling window within a
window, (see above), the outer window containing a prΘcis of information
on entries selected in the inner window.
9.4
Transactional analysis
9.4
Transactions are entered via a window opened from the uncleared
transactions viewer for the selected account, (see below). To facilitate
multiple entries, this viewer will stay open if an entry is entered
using the adjust button or the return key. Amounts are entered in pence,
with entry of the decimal point optional. This means, for example, that
a figure of ú1.00 is entered as É100æ; entering É1.æ is not good enough.
I found this a minor annoyance, but very few entries are in round pound
amounts, so the situation arises only rarely.
9.4
If the window is kept open, the writable fields retain their last
settings. Again, to save on the amount of information to be entered each
time, an overwriting shortcut means that it is not necessary to clear a
field before entering completely different information. Although the
amount field is cleared for a new entry, the sign of the previous entry
is retained (but not indicated until a new figure is entered). Again
this is all designed to make multiple entering via the keyboard as
straightforward as possible, and is typical of the thought which has
gone into the structure of the program. Not closing the window when
<return> is pressed may contravene the style guide, but it is certainly
common sense for the way the data is likely to be entered.
9.4
Complex entries can be further eased by use of the function keys, which
may be defined to enter all or part of an entry, and automatically
increment a reference, if, for example, it is a cheque number. In fact,
48 different keys may be set up by use of combinations of the shift and
control keys, and since the use of the keys is context-sensitive, the
number of definitions is even greater. The only real problem with this
is remembering which key does what and under what circumstances!
9.4
A modified version of the transaction window is available from the
Automatic Payments viewer Ö this window has further fields for
frequency, number of payments, dates due, etc. Otherwise, it behaves
much as the ordinary entry window.
9.4
Transfer list
9.4
If required, an entry may be automatically made to be an inter account
transfer, whereby a debit from one account automatically results in a
matching credit in another. In fact, a debit from one account may be
automatically credited to more than one other account, provided that
only one of them is real and the others category accounts. This provides
for very powerful and flexible analysis of data entered, since an amount
may be categorised in more than one way for later inspection. As far as
I am aware, this is the only accounts package which allows for this. In
order to prevent book-keeping nonsenses, the program will warn if an
attempt is made to transfer between multiple real accounts, and will
abort the operation.
9.4
One Éconventionæ I found hard to get to grips with is that of whether
you indicate debits or credits with a minus sign. I was bought up with
the book-keeping tradition that you enter drawings on an account. Thus
outgoings (such as cheque payment) are indicated as plus amounts, and
payments into the account (such as wages) are indicated as minus figures
(a negative drawing). Finance Manager uses the reverse convention, with
all outgoings minus, and all incomings plus. This takes getting used to
if you have had many years of working the other way around, but is
perfectly logical from a lay perspective.
9.4
Once transactions are entered, they can be searched for, reconciled
against bank statements and transferred to the Écleared transactionsæ
viewer, copied, edited, deleted, grouped together, printed out, exported
and otherwise generally manipulated in ways only limited by the
imagination. A useful preferences window allows setting of a system
password, warnings, default account etc.
9.4
One handy option is that of using a single column for debit/credit
amounts as per a credit card account, or separate columns for credit/
debit as per a bank statement. The only problem I encountered with this
was that of the plus/minus convention Ö my credit card statements used
the convention I was used to, and Finance Manager the reverse.
9.4
Export may be in either text or CSV format. The latter allows for
loading into a charting package or spreadsheet for those who wish to go
to town with analysing their money matters.
9.4
Comparisons
9.4
Comparisons with Apricoteæs Personal Accounts are almost inevitable. The
packages take fundamentally different approaches to handling the same
information. PA uses a single window for all entries, each of which
occupies a single line, with details of individual accounts being
extracted by means of reports. FM works on an account by account basis
with automatic double entry style book-keeping.
9.4
PA has separate accounts and analysis codes, but does not allow you to
apply an analysis code to an inter-account transfer, or use more than
one on any transaction. FMæs free form flexibility allows you to apply
multiple analysis codes to a transaction so you could have say, one for
petrol, and another for all car expenses. By putting all petrol
expenditure in both, you have the choice of how you analyse the data
later.
9.4
PA works on data in the computer memory which you save to disc at the
end of a session. FM stores all transactions to disc as they are
entered, making the data more secure against Ébrown outsæ, and giving
the advantage of requiring less machine memory, although entries are not
quite as instant as PA. All files are kept in a directory internal to
the package, although provision is made for saving a backup to some
other suitable media, and restoring if required.
9.4
Neither package supports individual forward postings (except as
automatic payments) which Contex BM has had for years. PAæs look-ahead
is fairly basic, providing forecasted totals for each account. BM
provides itemised look-ahead as a menu option whilst FM provides
flexible, itemised look-ahead by means of importing a backup copy of
data with FMæs date clock set to whatever you require. Also, if looking
at old data, it is possible to import and suppress automatic payments,
thus allowing a printout of last yearæs figures if required. PA has an
inbuilt notepad and calculator, neither of which FM supports.
9.4
Conclusion
9.4
Finance Manager has been designed as an easy-to-use flexible accounting
package Ö a brief which it fulfils in a manner which is straightforward
and logical. It is advertised as being suitable for öpersonal, home or
club accountingò, for which I think it is well suited. During the course
of writing this review, and in response to feedback from myself and
other users, Iáhave received upgrades (currently at 1.16), incorporating
new facilities and features, which have dealt with reservations I had
about some aspects of early versions of the package.
9.4
I would now recommend it as worthy of consideration for someone wishing
to keep their finances under control. A demo version is available either
from Solloway Software, or downloadable from a number of Acorn bulletin
boards, so you can try before you buy, to see if it suits your way of
working.
9.4
I have found it allows me to handle my accounts in the way I want, and
at ú29.99 inclusive, it is very reasonably priced. All that remains is
to finish transferring this yearæs figures across and I will be well
satisfied.áuá
9.4
Empire Soccer
9.4
Andrew Clover
9.4
Empire Interactive have come up with another footy simulation, the
imaginatively-titled Empire Soccer. Up until now, the best of an
admittedly small bunch of Acorn football games has been Sensible Soccer
Ö a tough act to follow, and the benchmark for comparing any new game.
9.4
Both Empire and Sensible are, of course, conversions from other
platforms, but Empire has arrived remarkably quickly in comparison. It
was released for other platforms in late æ94, and has recently been
converted in a blaze of no publicity. Sadly, the original title, Empire
Soccer æ94, dates it somewhat, so all references to 1994 have been
removed from this conversionæs screens. Just not from the large, glossy
sleeve which contains the box that contains the bag that contains the
single 800Kb disc that contains the !EmpSocr94 application.
9.4
öAt the end of the ninety minutes, itæll be the team that scores the
most goals thatæll win the game.ò
9.4
Double-clicking on the application launches you into a nicely-presented
title screen and a collection of menus, accompanied by some pleasant
music. There are lots of options to play with and different types of
game to play, but thereæs a conspicuous lack of the team collections and
editable teams that Sensible had. Instead, there are thirty-two national
teams, and ₧ve simple graded teams to practice against. Naturally, this
doesnæt affect the gameplay, which is the most important factor of any
game.
9.4
Footballæs a funny old game Ö eleven men against eleven men. This is the
nub of the problem, really: unless you have a lot of people and an
excessively large keyboard, having twenty-two players around one
computer is impractical. Empire goes for the tried and tested method of
giving control to the footballer nearest the ball. The way control is
achieved is highly configurable, with a choice of joystick or keys with
one, two or six ₧re buttons. The two-button arrangement is probably the
best: with one key for all moves itæs difficult to achieve what you
want, and unless youære on a joypad, having to use six buttons is a
nightmare.
9.4
The controls Ö at least in two-button mode Ö seem fairly well designed,
allowing you to kick, pass, apply aftertouch, head the ball, tackle,
heel and use overhead kicks easily. (Though my version had a bug that
made aftertouch work somewhat erratically.) Apart from these, there are
also special moves which can be used every so often in the game, from
extra-curly banana shots to extra speed. Finally, the control can be
configured between two settings: Novice, which makes the ball stick to
the footballersæ feet; and Pro, where the ball has to be controlled more
carefully. The former option makes Empire play like the ancient Arcade
Soccer, whilst the latter feels very Sensible, although perhaps not to
such an extreme. In general, the feel of the game is pretty good.
9.4
öAnother one goes in! But with forty-₧ve minutes left to play, the game
could still go either way...ò
9.4
Empire Soccer excels, though, in its graphics. What you notice
immediately is how much larger they are than Sensibleæs, and indeed
those of most other football games. This means thereæs more scope for
detail, and the players do indeed look rather good. It also means that
the pitch is a lot larger than the screen, even though the pitch is very
much smaller than one would expect from the relative size of the people.
Thus, you canæt see who youære passing to if you kick the ball a long
way.
9.4
Us Acorn users do have things better than most, though: the PC has a
large bar over the bottom of the screen (making it much harder to see
who youære kicking the ball to), and the Amiga version is limited to
one-button control only! Still, itæs not perfect. The version I tested
had the tendency to freeze the machine at apparently random times in
some games, and the menus tend to flicker a lot if the sound quality is
high. Whatæs worst about the Acorn version, though, is that the speed of
the game is tied to the frame rate of the monitor that the computeræs
attached to, so things run faster on a VGA monitor than on a TV. This is
partly corrected by a slow-down facility that can halve the speed or go
even slower; even so, it is impossible to get exactly the same speed out
of many different set-ups.
9.4
In conclusion, this is a top-notch footy game. Better than Sensible?
Itæs a close call. Sensible wonæt run on the Risc PC or A7000, so if
youære lucky enough to own such a machine, Empire Socceræs your only
choice. The öNoviceò mode makes Empire easier to get into, and its
special moves are fun too. On the other hand, I think Sensibleæs
controls have the edge. If the problems with aftertouch and crashing are
sorted out, I think Empire may win over Sensible by a whisker, and
thatæs no mean feat.
9.4
Empire Soccer costs ú25.99 inclusive from Magnetic Image or ú25 through
Archive.áuá
9.4
ViVID20 Ö ÉVirtual VIDCæ
9.4
Cain Hunt
9.4
This utility from iSV (ú11.50 inc. VAT & carriage) looked too good to be
true when I saw it in Augustæs Archive Products Available: ö...work
areas of up to 2048╫1234 in 16 colours, up to 1472╫1070 in 256
colours...ò How could my trusty old A410 possibly produce 1.5 million
pixels at one byte per pixel? Well it canæt! The ultra high resolution
virtual screen modes are produced by squashing the image by a factor of
two in both axes so the number of pixels is a quarter of that suggested
by the work area.
9.4
Whatæs on offer?
9.4
There are seven real screen modes which offer a variety of compromises
between resolution, number of colours and flicker. Some of these modes
also have counterparts with Extended Emulated Resolutions providing
larger work areas.
9.4
So does it work?
9.4
Sadly, with my system, it didnæt! (A410, 4Mb, Watford 25MHz ARM3,
Watford MkII Multiscan VIDC enhancer, Taxan 770 Plus). I was a bit
surprised because I had spoken to someone at iSV who had assured me that
ViVID20 was compatible with my system.
9.4
The problem seems to be that ViVID20 canæt change the frequency of the
Watford VIDC enhancer. Iáfound that if I loaded my Watford VIDC software
and selected a similar Watford mode prior to using a ViVID20 one, it
cured the problem. For example: Mode 21 (640╫512, 256 col) before the
736╫535, 256 col. This fix isnæt really acceptable since, if you forget
to select the Watford mode first, the screen display generated by
ViVID20 is completely unusable.
9.4
In use
9.4
If you use software that lets you view documents at any scale (e.g.
Impression or Artworks), you donæt need a large work area to see the
whole of your document. Older spreadsheets like PipeDream3 benefit
because you can display four times the data. However, the loss of
detail, when using the compressed modes, makes them hard to use,
especially when using the system font (see examples overleaf).
9.4
True 800╫600 Ö Homerton.Medium
9.4
Virtual 1600╫1200 Ö Homerton.Medium
9.4
Virtual 1600╫1200áÖ System font
9.4
The following full screenshots indicate the increase in total workspace:
9.4
True 800╫600 (Mode 31)
9.4
Virtual 1600╫12000
9.4
How to get the same effects without using ViVID20
9.4
When I found that ViVID20 didnæt work properly with my Watford Enhancer,
I tried creating the high resolution real modes using the Watford mode
designer. To my delight, all the modes worked perfectly! In fact, I was
able to achieve less flicker at a given resolution. Setting Eigen Values
in the Define New Mode window to 2, for both X and Y directions,
produces an öemulated high resolutionò display just like the ViVID20
öemulated high resolutionò modes.
9.4
ViVID20 does also offer a Risc PC style mode picker with some
interesting palettes and the ability to dither 4 colour grey scales into
16 colour equivalents. Since RISCáOS 3.1 dithers 2 colour modes (e.g.
Mode 0) to produce 8 shades, it may also be possible to program RISCáOS
to dither 4 colour grey scales too.
9.4
On the Archive magazine disc there is the screen definition module for
my Taxan 770 plus. This includes the definitions for the modes below.
Atomwideæs !VIDCplus also allows you to set the Eigen Values, so I
expect it can produce similar modes.
9.4
I have not defined the modes which have a flicker rate below 49Hz as I
find they give me headaches. The mode numbers are chosen so they
correspond to ViVID20 mode numbers.
9.4
Conclusion
9.4
If all you need is the enlarged work areas, I would suggest trying to
produce the modes yourself using your own VIDC software. ViVID20 also
offers a convenient mode selector and an interesting selection of 16
colour palettes which include one to emulate Process colours. Whether
this is worth ú11.50, is up to you to decide.áuá
9.4
VideoTrak
9.4
Andy Watson
9.4
VideoTrak from The Really Good Software Company is a öpowerful and
flexible database that keeps track of video recordings by title, actor,
director, category, etc.ò It comes on a single disc with an 18 page A5
manual and costs ú15.
9.4
I was looking forward to reviewing this program as Iáhad just started
sorting out my video tapes so that Iácould catalogue them properly. I
have over a hundred tapes and have only outline details stored on a
word-processed list. I have very few commercial tapes, so most tapes
contain a variety of items taped from television. A typical tape will
probably contain a couple of films, some episodes from a TV comedy
series and the odd documentary that I want to keep. Everything is
recorded on double play, so there is at least six hours of material on
each tape.
9.4
As the number of tapes increases, it is becoming increasingly difficult
to remember what I have already. Also, as Iæve sorted through the tapes,
Iæve found that there are some films that I forgot to note Ö it was
great to rediscover öSome Like it Hotò!
9.4
I had thought of using my database to store details of the tapes but the
arrival of VideoTrak seemed to offer an easier alternative.
9.4
VideoTrak is an application written using the S-Base system from Longman
Logotron. S-Base is a sophisticated database which allows you to create
your own stand-alone applications. Using S-Base and his own routines,
the programmer has created a ready-made database which allows easy
storage, sorting and access to information without the user requiring
knowledge of any database commands.
9.4
VideoTrak allows you to input information on tape name, tape length,
item on tape (all called Éfilmsæ in VideoTrak), film length, actors,
director, rating, category Ö and you can add free text to give further
information about actors and directors.
9.4
This covered everything I wanted to include except the date of the item.
Steve Turnbull, the programmer, expects to add this and other options to
the program in the near future.
9.4
I spent odd moments over a couple of weeks going through tapes, checking
what was on them, the dates of films, the duration, etc, so that I would
have all the necessary information ready to go straight into the
program.
9.4
Getting started
9.4
The first problem I had with VideoTrak was the manual. I should be used
to poor manuals by now but they still annoy me. So often, the manual for
an application seems to have been written by the programmer without any
consultation with someone unfamiliar with the program. The VideoTrak
manual is good at explaining how to use the program but says nothing
about how to get started. There is no sample file supplied with
VideoTrak so you have to enter your own information before you can begin
to make sense of the manual. The likely user of a program like this is
someone with little or no knowledge of how a database operates, so a
sample file and tutorial section would have been welcome additions.
Having said that, the program is fairly easy to use and it did not take
long to get started.
9.4
Entering information
9.4
You do not enter information into VideoTrak in the same way as you would
on a conventional database. Aáconventional database would have a screen
into which you entered all the details of a film. This would be repeated
for every film you wanted to enter. Videotrak works as a series of lists
which are interconnected. There is a list of films, a list of actors, a
list of tape titles, a list of categories, etc and you make links
between them.
9.4
You start by entering the name of the tape. Then you can list the films
on the tape. Double-clicking on a film name takes you to another screen
which allows you to enter the rating, length, actors, director and
categories. Each of these has its own screen and you can either add a
new item to the list or simply double-click on an existing item to link
it to the film. This should save time, particularly with actors with
long or complicated names which donæt have to be retyped every time you
want to include them. Unfortunately, moving from list to list takes time
and some disc activity, so entering information on VideoTrak takes
longer than it would on most conventional databases.
9.4
I found that the delays moving from screen to screen, even though
slight, were annoying, but I persevered and entered all the information
on my first twenty tapes.
9.4
As I entered information, I received a Éfree memory running lowæ
message. I have a 4Mb A310, so I donæt often have memory shortages. I
found that Videotrak, with the information from sixteen tapes, required
up to 1152Kb of memory, depending on what action it was performing at
the time. By contrast, my usual database, Impact Pro, used a third of
the memory after entering three times the information. It would appear
that the program is quite memory hungry.
9.4
Getting a printout
9.4
Having entered the information, what I wanted now was to list the tapes
in various ways. I wanted a list of each tape showing all the details Ö
what films were on it, the duration of each item, the actors, etc, and
also an alphabetical list of all the films so that I could find them
easily.
9.4
VideoTrak provides two ways of printing out lists. You can list to
screen and then save a CSV file which could be printed out from
Impression or Edit. There is also a Report function which allows you to
list information in various ways and print the results.
9.4
Unfortunately, neither of these options is very flexible and, although I
could print various lists, I could not print out a list which showed all
the information on each tape. The saving of information as a CSV file is
not the best way to provide output if there is little flexibility about
the contents and format of the file. Iáalso found that printing the CSV
file resulted in some strange results. For example, a file which should
have contained an alphabetical list of films with the number of the tape
on which they appeared, looked like this:
9.4
öColor Purple, Theò,25924792
9.4
öComedy of Terrorsò,30890409
9.4
öCurse of the Werewolfò,24572513
9.4
öCyrano de Bergeracò,24572513
9.4
Whatever the numbers at the end are, they are certainly not the tape
numbers which I assigned.
9.4
The Report option allowed two lists to be connected, such as film and
tape number, and offered no flexibility in the format in which the list
was printed.
9.4
This is a major failing. What I want from a database is the facility to
input information any way I choose and get the information out in any
way I want. Because it is a ready-designed application, you canæt expect
flexibility in the way you want to input information; you have to hope
that the programmer chooses the same kind of fields that you would
choose. However, if the database is to be of any practical use, it
should be possible to get the information out in the way you want. There
is no point in having all the information available on the computer Ö I
want to have a printout which can sit beside the video tape collection
for easy reference. Iáhave no desire to have to go to my computer just
to check whether I have already recorded a program which is about to
come on TV. The ability to produce hard copy in a flexible manner is
essential for any database application.
9.4
Conclusion
9.4
Would I use VideoTrak? The answer is no. I gave up using VideoTrak and
set up a database on Impact Pro. I am halfway through entering the data
and I can export any combination of information I want to Impression and
format the output in any way I want.
9.4
In conclusion, if you donæt have any experience of setting up a simple
database and want to keep track of your videos, this program will do the
job as long as you can live with the restricted output options.
9.4
At ú15, this is reasonable value for money. If the options for output
are extended, the usability of the program will be greatly improved.áuá
9.4
Beginnersæ Corner
9.4
John Temple
9.4
Here are the answers to last monthæs problems. We were using the file
OneTo50 on the monthly disc to explore the use of magic characters in
Edit.
9.4
(1) Why are there 19 occurrences of t\*o and not more than 19?
9.4
The easiest way to answer this is to replace the string, including its
magic character, \*, with something else. If you use *** this is what
you get:
9.4
One, ***, ***ur, five, six, seven, eigh***ur***ne, ***, ***ur, ***ne,
***, ***ur, ***r***r***ne, for***, for***r***ur, for***r***r***r***rty
nine, fifty.
9.4
The first string replaced is two. The next, surprisingly perhaps, is
three, fo and then we get a long one, t, nine, ten, eleven, twelve,
thirteen, fo. Within that long replaced string, there are four other
possibilities, but the Find (and Replace) operation passes them by. So
there are only nineteen occurrences found overall. Count them in the
resulting text above.
9.4
(2) How many new line characters are there?
9.4
The answer is eight, because there are two at the end of each decade up
to forty but none after fifty. (That is if you used the file on the
disc. If you typed your own, you may have put in some more, at the end
for example.) It makes no difference how large or small the window is. A
new line character appears only where it has been typed in. A Élineæ may
occupy more than one line inside the window.
9.4
If you followed the last two articles and successfully carried out the
exercises, you will now have a better understanding of Edit than many
people. There is more, but you should be in a good position now to
explore and learn. One last thing before we move on. We have been
working with a text file. If you have RISC OS 3 or later, you can also
create Obey files, Command files and Basic programs. The differences
between these are subtle but try creating and then running all four file
types with the following text:
9.4
PRINT öHello, Worldò
9.4
To create a file, click <menu> over the Edit icon on the iconbar and
CreateÿText (or one of the other filetypes). If you are too lazy to type
those three words four times, one for each filetype, you can get the
files from the monthly disc. (See footnote.)
9.4
Double-clicking on them produces a different effect in each case. Try it
now and remember what happens for the time when you are no longer a
beginner.
9.4
Enough on Edit. Letæs move on...
9.4
Draw and Paint
9.4
The Archimedes suite of applications contains two artápackages, called
Draw and Paint. I will briefly describe and compare them and then go on
to examine each in more detail.
9.4
Of the two, Draw is the easier to use. Both have a set of Étoolsæ and
ample variety of colours, although Paint is more difficult to set up, at
least initially. The main difference between them is that Draw is
object-orientated while Paint is pixel-orientated.
9.4
Whatever does that mean?! Well, itæs not too difficult. Pictures are
made up of thousands of tiny dots called pixels. (The word is derived
from picture elements.) Letæs imagine we have drawn a shape and filled
it with a particular colour. Draw and Paint have different ways of
remembering it. Paint keeps a note of the colour of all the pixels in
the whole drawing. A Paint drawing is called a sprite and it can be
saved as a spritefile. Draw remembers the characteristics of the object
such as the position of the corners, the thickness and colour of the
lines and the fill colour. You can change individual objects without
affecting the other objects. The information can be saved as a drawfile.
9.4
For a simple object, Draw uses very little memory. A sprite needs much
more. But if objects are added to a drawfile, more and more memory is
needed, whereas the memory needed for a sprite does not change. There
comes a point when a drawfile becomes larger than an equivalent sprite.
9.4
I needed a complex drawing a few days ago and I created it using Draw.
By the time I had finished, the file took up 126Kb of memory. I
converted it into a sprite and it needed only 48Kb. (I was quite
surprised!) I donæt think I can ask Paul to include these two very large
files on the monthly disc, just to illustrate that point. The whole disc
only has 800Kb. However, I am offering some smaller files, which you
might like to examine and count.
9.4
They are in a directory called DrawPaint in the Beginners directory of
the monthly disc. DrawTree is the first. Seasonal, I hope, if not
exactly artistic, it is a drawfile, as you can see from its icon. I made
it into a sprite file, PntTree, and then I elaborated on the original
object and made two new files, DrawTrees and PntTrees.
9.4
To look at them, simply double click on their icons with the mouse using
<select>. To count them, click twice again, first with <select> and then
with <menu> and choose Count. That should help you to understand what I
have been driving at.
9.4
You may be wondering how I made the sprites from the drawfiles. I will
tell you in a moment but first let me explain how to get Draw running.
(Skip this paragraph if you already know.) If you have RISC OS 3.10 or
later, Draw is in ROM. (See my article in 9.2 p51.) Using the mouse,
select the Apps icon on the iconbar and then double click on the Draw
icon in the window which appears. That installs Draw on the iconbar and
clicking on it brings up an untitled window for you to draw in. If your
version of RISC OS is earlier, you must get Draw from Applications Disc
1. Put the disc in the drive, click on the floppy disc icon and double-
click on the Draw icon in the window which appears. Finally, select Draw
from the iconbar as before.
9.4
Down the left hand side of the Draw window there is a bar containing
several tools. They enable you to create objects containing straight
lines, curves, moves, ellipses and circles, rectangles and text. The
bottom tool on the bar is used to select an object once it has been
created.
9.4
Open straight lines
9.4
Closed straight lines
9.4
Open Curves
9.4
Closed Curves
9.4
Moves
9.4
Ellipses and circles
9.4
Rectangles
9.4
Text
9.4
Select Pointer
9.4
To create an object with straight lines, select the top or second tool
and then click wherever you want the first corner to be. Click again for
the next corner, and so on. To finish, double click when you make the
last point, being careful not to move the mouse in the middle of the
double click. If you find that difficult, or if you prefer, click
<adjust> on the last point, followed by <select>.
9.4
If you selected the öopenò tool (the one at the top), the last point
will be the end of the line. If you selected the öclosedò tool (the
second one), a final line will be drawn from your last point to your
first.
9.4
You can mix straight lines and curves in an object and you can also
include moves. To do that, you simply select a new tool whilst you are
in the middle of constructing the object. In a move, no line is drawn
but the object is not divided and the tool reverts to the previously
selected tool, once you have defined the move.
9.4
The drawfile, DrawTree, contains three objects, the green part of the
tree, the trunk and the pot. Look carefully at the green part. You can
see that it contains straight lines, a curve and a move. Or maybe two
moves? It depends where you think I started. (Itáwas the point of the
middle branch on the left and I went clockwise, obviously. Well, maybe
itæs not obvious but you should be able to work it out.)
9.4
(Actually, I tried to put in several moves but it had a peculiar effect
on the fill colour. It left bits out. Is there anybody out there who can
offer an explanation of this? Is it a bug or just the nut on the
keyboard?)
9.4
The multiple trees were created by copying and then using the
Interpolate sub menu. To copy, you must first choose the selection tool
(the arrow pointer) from the toolbar and then click on what you want to
select, in this case, the green part of the tree. Press <menu> and
SelectÿCopy.
9.4
Move the copiedáobject to its final position by picking it up with the
mouse.
9.4
The last part is the most fun. Get the menu up again and SelectÿGroup
followed by SelectÿInterpolateÿ8 or 17 (or 32, or what you will). If you
click with <adjust> instead of <select>, the menu stays on the screen
which is quite useful.
9.4
Interpolate is well worth playing around with. Now that Iæve shown you
how, why not have a go? Have a look in the manual if you want some
ideas. Oh, by the way, itæs not available on RISC OS earlier than 3.1.
Sorry!
9.4
I promised Iæd tell you how I made the sprites. Simple. I used the
Ésnapshotæ option in Paint.
9.4
Get Paint loaded onto the iconbar. You ought to know how to do this by
now. Arrange the screen so that what you want to öphotographò is
displayed as you want it. You will also need to be able to see part of
the directory into which you want to save the photo. Click <menu> and
Snapshotÿ[OK]. That gives you a little camera with an arrow next to it.
Move the arrow to the top left hand corner of the area you wish to snap
and drag a rectangle to the bottom right. When you let go you will get a
Save as window, from which you can drag the sprite icon into the
directory, first changing its name if you wish.
9.4
I used one other little trick. Before I saved the sprites, I drew a box
around the drawing of the tree to define the area of the sprite. I did
this with the grid visible and the grid lock switched on, so as to make
it exact. (GridÿShow and GridÿLock) Then I turned the grid off again.
When I took the photograph, I was careful to put the camera arrow just
inside the box, which was therefore not included in the sprite file
which Iásaved. I deleted the box before saving the drawfile so it had
the same contents as the sprite. Iádid the same with the multiple tree
drawing.
9.4
Next month, I will give you a summary of all the menus and submenus in
Draw. I am not going to try to improve on the descriptions in any of the
manuals. They are brilliant.
9.4
Finally, a question: Are these articles any use? Doáthey help? Are they
too easy or too difficult? Remember, they are aimed at beginners.
Replies via Paul, please, because he needs to know too.áuá
9.4
Beginnersæ Guide to Buying Discs
9.4
Robert Chrismas
9.4
How much should you pay for a floppy disc? Are discs which cost ú2 in
high street shops better than those you can buy in a street market for
20p? Which is better, Édouble densityæ or Éhigh densityæ? Is it worth
buying pre-formatted discs?
9.4
Faced with these choices, many new computer users choose either the
cheapest discs they can find (Éwhy pay more?æ), or the dearest (Éyou get
what you pay foræ). The first strategy increases the risk of loss of
data, the second, loss of money.
9.4
There is no way to remove risks altogether, but it is better to make an
informed choice.
9.4
Formatting
9.4
Before a computer can use a disc, it first has to write markers which
divide up the disc surface. Writing these markers is called formatting
the disc.
9.4
Different computer manufacturers choose to organise data on the disc in
different ways, so each make of computer formats discs in its own way.
Manufacturers have introduced improved disc formats, but they make sure
their machines can still read their old formats, so most makes of
computer can use several different formats.
9.4
Single, double and high density
9.4
Back in the æ80s, floppy discs really were floppy. They measured 5╝ö
square and you could store 100Kb (about 40 pages of normal typing) on
one side of a disc. Using both sides of the disc and increasing the
number of tracks from 40 to 80 made it possible to store about 400Kb on
a disc. Looking back, we describe these discs as ösingle densityò (SD).
9.4
5╝ö disc
9.4
To increase the disc capacity to 800Kb, disc drives were designed which
could write twice as much data on each track. They were called ödouble
densityò (DD) drives. The first Archimedes, 310s, 440s, 3000s etc. had
double density drives.
9.4
3╜ö disc
9.4
The next step was to make a disc drive which could write twice as much
data again in the same space. These drives are called öquad densityò
(QD) or, confusingly, öhigh densityò (HD) drives. Recent Acorn
computers, A3010/3020/4000/5000s, A4s and Risc PCs all have high density
drives.
9.4
This does not mean that these newer computers cannot use DD discs. The
format option on the disc menu allows the user to select 1.6M (HD) or
800Kb (DD). When a disc is read, the Acorn computer detects the format
and uses whichever format the disc has. It can recognise all the recent
Acorn, IBM and Atari formats.
9.4
DD and HD Disc
9.4
Disc manufacturers make their discs for either DD or HD format. DD discs
have a magnetic coating which is designed to work best at double
density, HD discs have a coating to suit high density. To distinguish
between them, the HD discs have an extra hole opposite the write protect
hole.
9.4
Some makes of computer detect the HD hole and automatically use HD
format, but if they do not detect the hole, they use DD. Acorn computers
ignore the HD hole. The user chooses HD or DD format when the disc is
formatted.
9.4
Unbranded discs
9.4
Disc manufacturers need to keep their reputation for selling good
quality discs. They make their discs in large batches and check each
batch for quality. If a batch of discs passes the quality checks, the
manufacturer puts a brand name on them and sells them normally. In a
batch which fails some quality checks, most of the discs are probably
still usable, so the manufacturer still sells them, but without any
brand markings. Unbranded discs are much cheaper than branded discs.
9.4
Retailers
9.4
Most computer shops sell discs. If you are buying other goods and you
just need ten discs quickly then this is a convenient way to buy.
However, you will find that if you buy discs in bulk from specialist
mail order disc dealers, you can save a lot of money. They advertise in
the Acorn press, but you will find more choice in IBM magazines, where
there are lots of such advertisements. As a rough guide, look for prices
of about ú20 for 100 unbranded DD discs and ú30 for unbranded HD discs.
Be careful about labels Ö you may have to buy them separately. Branded
discs will cost at least two or three times as much, depending on the
brand.
9.4
I have bought discs much cheaper than this from market stalls. My best
bargain was a batch of fifty cover discs from an Atari magazine for
ú4.50. Unfortunately, about half of them had disc errors when I
reformatted them. However, fortunately, I was just about to run a course
which included dealing with disc faults, so they were just what I
needed(!)
9.4
From a market stall, I have also bought 100 discs for ú15, branded,
error free, IBM formatted discs which looked as though they had been
used once for some kind of massive backup operation. It is an
interesting but unreliable way to buy discs.
9.4
What to buy?
9.4
If cost is of no concern, just use branded HD discs.
9.4
The cheapest solution is to buy unbranded DD discs then format them as
HD. However this is a high risk strategy. I do not recommend it. You
must be prepared for discs to fail quite often.
9.4
It makes no sense to buy HD discs and format them as DD. They cost more
and may well be less reliable than DD discs.
9.4
For large quantities of data, HD discs are more cost effective, provided
your computer can use HD. HD discs are only cost effective if you use
their full capacity. If you just want to keep a copy of an unpacked
application from a magazine disc, it will probably fit on a cheaper DD
disc.
9.4
If data is vital, keep it on branded discs and make backups on branded
discs. Using unbranded discs for Émission criticalæ data is taking an
unnecessary risk. However, if you are using branded discs, the cost of
the discs may make you reluctant to back up data. It is more of a risk
to have a single copy of a file on a branded disc than two copies of the
file on unbranded discs, and the two unbranded discs will still be
cheaper than one branded one.
9.4
Most discs contain data which could be replaced with a little
inconvenience Ö from master discs, etc. Ö so for this sort of data,
cheaper unbranded discs are a sensible choice.
9.4
In practice, most people end up with a mixture of types of disc.
9.4
Pre-formatted
9.4
Pre-formatted discs will be IBM format, unless otherwise stated. You do
save time by buying Acorn pre-formatted discs, but the cost is about 10%
more.
9.4
Acorn formats
9.4
There is only one HD format Ö ADFS 1.6M. For DD discs, use the ADFS
800Kb (E) format.
9.4
The D format stores the same quantity of data but, when files are
deleted, the space is not reclaimed effectively, so the disc will
sometimes need to be Écompactedæ. One advantage of the D format is that,
if the disc becomes corrupted, it is a bit easier to recover files Ö but
then, if you are into recovering files from corrupted discs, you
probably donæt need to read this article!
9.4
The L format gives compatibility with the old BBC Masters, and there is
no advantage in using this format for new discs.
9.4
IBMs
9.4
IBM computers cannot read or write Acorn formats. To format a disc which
can be read on an IBM, either do it on an IBM or, on an Acorn, choose
the Éother formatsæ option on the ADFS menu. DD discs should be
formatted ÉDOS 720Kæ, and HD discs ÉDOS 1.44Mæ. Discs with an HD hole
must be HD format, and discs without a HD hole must be DD, or the IBM
will not be able to read them.
9.4
Avoid using IBM-formatted discs for Acorn applications. Among other
problems, you will find that ten character file names are truncated to
nine characters.
9.4
Final warning
9.4
Even the best quality discs will not last forever. All discs fail in the
end. Back up any data you would be unhappy to lose.áuá
9.4
More Talking Stories (A)
9.4
Denise Bates
9.4
More Talking Stories (A) is part of the Oxford Reading Tree Scheme which
is being developed for the Acorn platform by Sherston Software and is
applicable to Key Stage One. The version under review is 1.22 and the
review was carried out on an A5000 (RISC OS 3.1) and an A3000 (RISC OS
2).
9.4
Manual
9.4
The program comes with a comprehensive manual which gives full and clear
instructions for installing and running the software, and also gives
detailed guidance about how to use the software in the classroom.
9.4
Installation
9.4
Six discs are provided, one per story. Each story requires 1Mb of memory
and can be run from floppy disc. Because of the large volume of data to
be processed, this is slow, particularly with RISC OS 2. Alternatively,
the stories can be installed on a hard disc but, for protection, the
original floppy must be inserted in the drive to start the program. No
problems were encountered using either method. For anyone with a hard
drive, the need to use the original disc for starting up each story is
an irritant. I fully appreciate the need to protect software against
unauthorised copying but feel strongly that a protection system should
not prevent any user who has bought a piece of software from taking full
advantage of the capabilities of his computer.
9.4
The stories
9.4
Six stories have been animated. Each one has sixteen pages. At the
bottom of each page are icons to denote forward or backward, one to
speak the text and one to animate the picture. Each story can be set at
different levels to complement the reading level the pupil has attained.
The levels range from the computer reading the story, highlighting each
word as it is spoken, through to the computer remaining silent unless a
word is clicked on by the child. The software is sufficiently intuitive
in operation for a young child to be able to use it independently, and
there is the possibility of creating a hidden log which can subsequently
be printed out. This shows any words where the child asked the computer
for help, thus enabling the teacher to be aware of how a child managed.
9.4
In the classroom
9.4
Although the speech worked perfectly well on my computer at home, the
sound level was inadequate in a classroom situation. If the program was
to be used to its full potential, either the speech would need boosting
by a small amplifier, or the computer would have to be placed in a quiet
area. I was also a little dubious as to how the software could be used
by a school which does not use the Oxford Reading Tree scheme. Working
with a class of 5-6 year olds, some were capable of reading the
copyright protection notice, whilst slow readers struggled more to read
from the screen than they would have done from a book. In terms of
working with these slower readers, Iáwould have much preferred to spend
the time reading from a book and felt that more would have been achieved
for them.
9.4
Information technology
9.4
Iæm not a fan of drill and practice educational software and, for me,
Talking Stories came into its own when used as a means of introducing
information technology. Apart from giving practice in mouse control by
using icons and pointer to turn the pages, I used the programs
successfully with several children on an individual basis to clear one
story from the screen and load another. I was also able to introduce the
menu button on the mouse and show how to go straight to a particular
page by accessing the screen menu instead of wading through several
pages. A useful exercise in anticipation, involved ignoring the
animation icon and getting the children to guess which part of the
screen would animate, and then clicking on that part of the screen to
check.
9.4
Conclusion
9.4
I tested this program in a school which hasnæt updated its software
since it acquired its first Archimedes. My young testers really enjoyed
the multimedia effects and all insisted on trying them several times.
Teachers, and those pupils who havenæt seen more sophisticated software
in other situations, were surprised by the advances made by modern
programs. Iæm sure that schools which already have earlier software in
the Talking Stories series will find these new stories a welcome
addition to the range, and other schools would be able to integrate them
into information technology lessons.
9.4
Cost
9.4
More Talking Stories costs ú40 +VAT (or ú45 inclusive from Archive) for
a single pack of six story discs.áu
9.4
Talking Clocks
9.4
Denise Bates
9.4
Talking Clocks by Topologika is a program for telling the time. It can
be used throughout primary school and possibly into the early years of
secondary school for slow learners.
9.4
Installation
9.4
The software is supplied on a 1.6Mb disc. It installed to hard disc
without problems. It would run on a 1Mb machine but would require all
other applications to be quitted to enable it to start up. The version
supplied is for RISC OS 3 only but a version for RISC OS 2 is available
by contacting Topologika.
9.4
Manual
9.4
The manual is clear, comprehensive and well-written. I learned a great
deal about the program simply by reading the manual. A number of
photocopiable worksheets are also provided which tie in with the
exercises in the software.
9.4
Four activities
9.4
The software provides four separate exercises in telling the time which
increase in complexity. Set the Clock involves setting the hands of a
clock to the time displayed at the bottom of the screen (for non-readers
the time can be spoken). Say the Time involves clicking on word and
number icons to register the time shown on the clock. Match the Clocks
means setting one clock to the time shown on another (using an analogue
and a digital clock). How Much time? requires pupils to calculate the
time difference between two displayed times.
9.4
Apart from these activities, Talking Clocks can also be used as a
science resource to explore the actual mechanics of how a clock works.
9.4
Using the software
9.4
The software has a very intuitive feel and can be used successfully by a
child who can read and who has the ability to control a mouse. Clicking
on certain icons provides help for children who are not fluent readers.
For example, clicking on the clockæs mouth speaks the time displayed on
the clock. Clicking on the mouth icon at the side of the question speaks
the time the pupil is aiming for. Clicking on the eye icon says whether
the answer is right.
9.4
Work involving digital clocks will require an understanding of number
bonds up to sixty and is most likely to be appropriate with year 3 and
above.
9.4
Configuration
9.4
The key to using Talking Clocks successfully lies in sensibly
configuring the many options in order to produce meaningful exercises.
For example, in real life, we rarely say Étwenty four minutes to fiveæ
when using an analogue clock, and to use the Éany minuteæ option may be
pedantic. Best use of the software will be achieved by a parent or
teacher who takes time to study the three pages of configuration options
available and selects those which match the childæs abilities or
weaknesses. For a young child, it is possible to set the clock just to
the Éoæclockæ and to advance the time sequentially. For a child who has
a particular problem with, say, Étoæ or Épastæ, the clock can be set to
provide intensive practice in the problem area, whilst for someone who
tells the time well, the software can be used for speed practice.
9.4
Timer
9.4
The program has a timer option which can be a useful way of ensuring
that the whole class gets a turn or that pupils who have problems are
detected. The option does need to be used very circumspectly. How Much
Time?, in particular, produced complex questions which a group of adults
found difficulty in calculating and recording in less than twenty
seconds. I also found that using the timer with children on simple
exercises, in some cases, led to increased carelessness or frustration
at having a correct answer marked wrong because they were out of time.
9.4
Printing
9.4
A childæs work can be printed if required. I had no problems when using
the Acorn printer driver, but the print option would not work properly
with Turbo Driver. Topologika are working on the problem.
9.4
Criticisms
9.4
I donæt have many criticisms of the program and the few I have are not
serious. In Say the Time, I found it a little disturbing that when the
pointer is over a number, that number vanished from the screen. Iáwould
have expected highlighting to be achieved by a different method, as a
disappearing number can leave a young child unsure of the figure
selected. Iáwas also surprised that, with the digital clock, 7.55 has to
be described as five minutes to eight, rather than as seven fifty five
which is, in many circumstances, an accepted usage.
9.4
Conclusion
9.4
My young testers at school enjoyed using this program and the sound and
graphics proved a definite hit with them. At home, my own children put
it thoroughly through its paces and my six year old has gained markedly
in confidence in telling the time.
9.4
Overall, Talking Clocks is a very well thought out, well written program
worth its place in any primary school software library. Parents would
find it a good buy if they have a growing family, because telling the
time, in a world which uses both analogue and digital clocks, each with
their own conventions, is one of the more difficult skills a child has
to master.
9.4
Talking Clocks costs ú35 +VAT, or ú39 through Archive, and there are
primary and secondary school site licences for ú60 and ú75 + VAT,
respectively, available direct from Topologika.áuá
9.4
RSDFS Ö Serial Communications
9.4
Neil Blake
9.4
Working in an Isle of Wight high school and having to make peak rate,
long distance calls to contact any Acorn BBS, I was pleased to find
ARMed Forces BBS (01962-880003) operating from Winchester. Using
ArcTerm7, I logged on expecting to be greeted with the usual ANSI
terminal screen. Following the online instructions, I selected the
option to download some slave software. Having un-archived the programs,
I loaded !RSDFS_S and, using !SerMacro, part of the package, dialled
ARMed Forces again. Having completed the New User panel, I was amazed to
be presented with WIMP windows and familiar icons which responded to
mouse clicks.
9.4
Each piece of software in this communications package is listed below.
9.4
The table shows which machine the program is for and its cost.
9.4
!RSDFStemp  both  free
9.4
!RSDFS_M  master  ú38
9.4
!RSDFS_S  slave  free (full version ú15)
9.4
!MediaMan  master  ú28
9.4
!Mediator  slave  shareware (ú5?)
9.4
!SerMacros  slave  free
9.4
!RSDFSprint  both  free
9.4
serial link cable    ú5 + ú1 per metre
9.4
!SerialDev  both  PD
9.4
!RSDFstemp
9.4
This program acts like !Scrap and must be run first on both master and
slave machines. It contains icons used in the programs and logs Error
and User text files.
9.4
!RSDFS_M
9.4
!RSDFS_M, the master/server application, loads on the left of the
iconbar with a neat harddisc icon bearing a small phone symbol. Its
label changes from ÉRSDFSMæ, when there is no activity, to ÉIn Useæ as
appropriate. Only <menu> is operative over the icon and opens a menu
with six items:
9.4
Infoë: Usual ÉAbout this Programæ.
9.4
Choicesë: with five sub options to configure the master application.
9.4
1. Ports Ö Enables the appropriate blockdriver (similar to printer
drivers) for the type of serial port/s being used to be installed. (The
blockdrivers are loaded from !SerialDev, which the filer needs to have
seen.) Clicking on the arrow icons displays menus from which a suitable
selection can be made. However, an incorrect selection crashed the
program. The port number and baud speed are also selectable. If two dual
port cards are fitted, it is possible to have five active ports on the
master.
9.4
It is possible to select a BBS driver so that RSDFS can be an option
from ArcBBS, etc.
9.4
2. Access Ö Allows the configuration of up to seven directories on the
master computer that will be accessible to the slave computer. The names
and icons of these directories are definable and the icons supplied are
easily understood.
9.4
The access to directories and files is further restricted by the
standard RISC OS Filer Access settings, Public/Private etc. An option
for users to enter a password is not yet implemented.
9.4
3. Users Ö This provides options to set logging of users in a text file
log within !RSDFStemp directory. The remaining options are for BBS
server use only and provide private user areas and up/download ratios.
9.4
In any of the above three windows, having set the configurations, if you
then decide to use the Restore saved choices button, it not only
restores the previously saved choices for that particular option, e.g.
Access, but all three areas are reset, i.e. Ports, Access and Users.
9.4
4. Save Choices Ö Saves configurations as default.
9.4
5. Restore Ö Resets ALL configurations to default (last saved) choices.
9.4
Messages... opens a window showing any Errors. This is so that the
master machine will keep running rather than waiting for the OK or
Cancel buttons to be pressed as in the normal RISC OS Error window. The
message window also appears when the master machine is paged or sent a
message by a slave user. Aátext file, ErrorLog, is updated in the
!RSDFStemp directory.
9.4
Spy... allows an overall view of the usage of all active ports. The Rx/
Tx syntax is not easily understood but, fortunately, the right hand side
of the window clarifies whatæs going on!
9.4
Notify... Specific, or all, users can be sent a typed message. Also, it
offers an option to send an automatic reply when paged by a user.
9.4
Quit Ö quit!
9.4
!RSDFS_S
9.4
The slave/client application is !RSDFS_S. When run, it loads on the left
of the iconbar with a neat icon depicting a phone linked to a terminal
window. The icon changes to a phone/WIMP window when it is in RSDFS
Filer mode. The label changes from RSDFS to FileXfer, Scanning and Icons
x/y as different operations are undertaken. Clicking <select> opens a
standard ANSI terminal window for restricted use with ANSI comms. File
transfer is not supported in this mode. <Menu> provides six options:
9.4
Info ë Ö usual details.
9.4
Choices Ö provides far easier configuration than the master software.
The serial blockdriver, port number and port/baud speed are selected
but, if wrong, a crash occurs.
9.4
Notify Ö for sending messages to Sysop/master or other online users.
9.4
ANSI mode ë Ö disconnects RSDFS and enters ANSI terminal mode.
9.4
Filer mode Ö will attempt to link with RSDFSM, a file transfer window
opening, counting the bytes transferred.
9.4
Quit Ö quit!
9.4
!MediaMan
9.4
Having made contact with ARMed Forces via RSDFS, you will encounter the
vector graphics and sound samples that are possible with !Mediaman. (Try
out the Last 20 Users to hear ÉAll the Peopleæ by Blur.) There is a
!Help file for the program explaining how the links between a button
press and media being shown are made. However, the author acknowledges
that using the link script language is not easy and that an editor may
need to be written. It is possible to Éhackæ some of the existing
drawfiles and sound samples though!
9.4
Current forms of media available are:
9.4
RISCáOS filer windows
9.4
Normal RISCáOS windows
9.4
RISCáOS menus
9.4
Drawfiles (including sprites)
9.4
ANSI colour text files
9.4
Hiper Hyper-text files (Door by Andrew Hunter)
9.4
Sound samples (Code by David Radford)
9.4
Interactive text I/O (Unfinished)
9.4
Full motion video is under serious consideration.
9.4
!Mediator
9.4
Once loaded on the slave machine to enable multimedia transfer,
!Mediator simply sits on the iconbar and provides just a few ÉAbout this
Programæ panels Ö six in fact! The !Help file inside it only contains
the shareware details.
9.4
!SerMacros
9.4
A useful part of the package, it automates many of the usual comms
commands. In fact, it was through the Dial list that I discovered
another Acorn BBS, Equinox. Based at Southsea, this one is even in the
local rate band Ö for me that is.
9.4
!RSDFSprint
9.4
I tried to follow the instructions in the !Help file within the program,
but I was not able to print from one machine to another.
9.4
In use
9.4
The attraction of this software is its similarity to the WIMP filing
system. If the user can operate a RISCáOS computer, they can use RSDFS.
Uploading and downloading of files from client to server is as easy as
dragging files from one window to another. There is not an X, Y or Z-
modem protocol to be seen anywhere! Interactive help is well documented
and may be useful when setting up the configurations. Aáproblem for some
users is not knowing what icons need single or double clicks. RSDFS has
the added problem of time delay due to the link, either by cable or,
more so, by phone line. Files can be counted for length before
downloading.
9.4
Apart from the main filer window, ÉAvailable RSDFS drivesæ, which
remains on screen, other RSDFS windows close as another is opened (like
using <adjust> to close windows). Applications cannot be run across the
link but uncompressed remote files can be dragged directly to an
application on the slave without having to download first.
9.4
Being able to run both Master and Slave on the same machine helps to
check that the configurations are correct. It is also quite fascinating
watching the two programs Étalkæ between themselves!
9.4
I attempted to trial the software across the school internal phone
system. Using two Pace modems, one 14,200 and the other 9,600, I used
!SerMacros > AT commands option to set the master modem to auto answer.
From the ANSI terminal screen on the slave, I entered the internal phone
number, prefixed with the code ATM. Once connection was made, it
confirmed connection speed (9,600). Having entered RSDFS, the file
transfers were expectedly slow and the system did crash more than once.
9.4
And finally...
9.4
Hopefully, Chris Claydon will be able to continue developing RSDFS. With
the inevitable increase in telecommunications, software that a novice
can use will certainly be helpful. But with the extra, more complex,
multimedia software, there is enough to occupy the most experienced
sysop. I want to establish a school BBS using RSDFS and provide other
schools on the Isle of Wight with the slave program to connect to it.
Even primary school children should be able to make file transfers. The
package is currently let down by the template errors and several
documentation DTP mistakes.
9.4
Get logged onto ARMed Forces and set up something in your area!áuá
9.4
The World of Robert Burns CD
9.4
David Hawkins
9.4
One of the best CD ROM titles I have ever come across is Frontier 2000
from Cambridgeshire Software House. Their new CD ROM, The World of
Robert Burns, is even better.
9.4
Robert Burns was born in a small clay biggin in Alloway, Ayrshire,
Scotland, (of course), on 25th January 1759, and died in Dumfries on
21st July 1796. However, the wealth of music and poetry, as well as the
great many letters that he wrote during his relatively short life, have
inspired and entertained many different people from all over the world.
9.4
Robert Burns was indeed a lover of life, as well as his fellow man (and
woman!), but he was also a man who had a great respect for the world
around him and, as such, is a man about whom we should know more.
9.4
Contents
9.4
The Robert Burns CD comes in a colourful video style case, with a
registration card and a 24-page manual. All of the required software is
on the CD, and there is a good deal of material within it. The CD
contains 390Mb of data, much of which is resource material such as
textfiles, drawfiles, JPEG files, Replay files, sound samples and
spritefiles. Access to the data is primarily through a front end
multimedia application called !Robert.
9.4
As you might expect, considering the software was developed with the
assistance of Dumfries and Galloway Education Authority, the package is
primarily aimed at school use, (age 9 and over). However, this does not
mean just Scottish schools, because the lessons that can be learned
about life, poetry, music and history, would be useful to most school
children.
9.4
There is, in fact, over two years of detailed research encompassed in
this CD, as the wide range of source material strongly implies; and the
release of the PC version, due early next year, will happily coincide
with Robert Burnæs bicentenary.
9.4
The software
9.4
The application which fronts the CDæs resources, handles the viewing and
examination of these resources by the use of Étrailsæ. These trails are
basically ASCII text files which govern the useræs access to the
information, by providing sequential clues to destinations, and then
answers to predefined questions. After finishing a trail, the user
should know a good deal about the topic of the trail.
9.4
Sixteen predefined trails are supplied to get the pupils started,
although these are really quite short. However, if you know about Robert
Burns, or have been able to study the CD quite closely, it wonæt be much
of a problem to create further, more extensive trails for people to use.
9.4
The trail is activated by dropping the textfile onto the !Robert icon on
the iconbar, and a window opens displaying a map of the area concerned.
Near the top left hand side there are a pair of icons: ÉCæ and É?æ,
which stand for ÉCluesæ and ÉQuestionæ.
9.4
Click once on the Clues icon to be given a suggestion of where to go
and, once you get there, click on the Question icon to get the question
you have to answer.
9.4
There are several icons in a Toolbox located on the far left hand side
of the map window. These icons allow you to look at related sprites,
letters, poetry, songs, view a Replay file, and finally, get some
general information, all in connection with the point on the map you are
Évisitingæ.
9.4
By searching through the various pictures and related text, as well as
the information available on over 300 individuals, each question can be
answered in turn. Aácorrect answer gains you some points, plus a new
clue, and once youæve moved on to the next correct location, a new
question to answer. When you have answered all of the questions in a
trail, you will be presented with a drawfile based ÉCertificateæ, which
you can print out, stating that you have completed the trail.
9.4
Going through this process, you will come across a good deal of
information about Robert Burns, his life, his friends and especially his
family. You will, whoever you are, learn a little bit more about the man
and, hopefully, be entertained and positively affected by his work.
9.4
Presentation
9.4
The works of Robert Burns can be presented in several ways and even
taken into other applications. Songs can be exported in !Maestro format,
(a few musical poems are available in Rhapsody and Notate formats), and
all text can be exported as Edit files.
9.4
Sound samples, in Armadeus format, of certain songs and poems are very
well recorded, and some are quite long. Replay files abound, with some
being highly entertaining visually, öneæer mind the sangs!ò
9.4
The quality of some of the images supplied is quite excellent,
especially many of the JPEG files. Scenes from the countryside and of
the gardens and streets around Alloway are particularly good.
9.4
Timeline
9.4
Another way to search for information is to use the 30,000 word
ÉTimelineæ. This facility allows you to set a date range, and/or a
subject selection, plus a text string to search for.áááFor example, you
may want information on ÉAlexander Graham Bellæ, between 1852 and 1924.
In that case just call up the Timeline, set the details and click OK.
From this selection, you will find the following:
9.4
1876: March 9th. Alexander Graham Bell filed his patent for the first
telephone Ö only three hours ahead of a similar one by Elisha Gray.
9.4
March 10th. Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the first coherent
telephone message from 5 Exeter Place, Boston, Massachusetts to his
assistant, Thomas Watson, consisting of the words ÉCome here, Watson, I
want youæ.
9.4
1922: August 2nd. Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-born inventor of the
telephone in 1876, died at his home near Beddeck, Nova Scotia, aged 75.
9.4
Obviously there are no family or friendship ties between Alexander
Graham Bell and Robert Burns; but they are both Scotsmen from the same
general area.
9.4
There is a great deal of ancillary information in the package, and
although it makes no real attempt to be a fully-fledged historical
encyclopedia, The World of Robert Burns does contain more than a
sufficient amount of useful historical material on subjects other than
Robert Burns.
9.4
However, it is in the area of Robert Burnæs life and loves that this
package excels.
9.4
Conclusions
9.4
The World of Robert Burns CD is a delight to use and is just as much of
a delight to show to others. It is well presented, instructive and
entertaining, with much attention to fine detail. For example, for those
not acquainted with the language of the period, a useful glossary
feature is built into the map window.
9.4
As a further example, for those interested in altering their desktop
while using the software, a few tartan backgrounds are supplied.
Drawfiles of ÉBurns styleæ notepaper are also included for pupils to use
for their own work.
9.4
As for the software, it is very reliable Ö in fact, I only have ever
suffered one, rather non-intrusive, error when using it. If I select a
topic for the timeline and there are no related items on the CD, an
error box appears stating so. When the error box has gone, the current
outline font on the Risc PC is replaced by the system font. However, a
quick mode change returns the outline font to the screen.
9.4
I have little idea why this happens, but it does seem to occur regularly
when in screen resolutions of 1280╫1024╫256 and above. It doesnæt really
bother me at all as I can very easily avoid it. The software has not
caused me any other problems.
9.4
This is certainly a package that I would recommend to anyone with even
the slightest interest in life, poetry or just a general interest in the
history of Scotland. I would also recommend it as an insight into a very
special man, of whom Scotland should be much more aware. Iæm sad to say
that many in Scotland are totally unaware of who Robert Burns was, and
what he means to many around the world. The World of Robert Burns costs
ú79.95 +p&p +VAT from Cambridgeshire Software House (or ú95 through
Archive), and is worth every penny.áu
9.4
SnapHappy
9.4
Kristy Clarke
9.4
Whilst wandering amidst the hustle and bustle of the latest Acorn User
show, my Dad happened to discover a program called SnapHappy which, at
the time, seemed fairly boring. It was only when Iáreturned home and
started playing about with it that I realised how easy to use and
effective it was. You can make film animations from only two frames, the
result looking a lot more complicated than it really was. Before you
lose interest and think, öI donæt need anything like thatò, I ought to
tell that the results are impressive.
9.4
Uses
9.4
It can be put to uses that you wouldnæt think of at first. For example,
I had to produce an I.S. project, which I based on a school play. One of
the things Iáchose to do was a user guide (for the system I designed for
selling tickets). As it would have been rather uninteresting just to
have paper copy, I decided to use SnapHappy to make an animated user
guide, which the users could follow through as they sold the tickets.
9.4
Results
9.4
The first version was only four frames long, yet served the purpose I
required. It was only later that I realised I had omitted a factor and
found it impossible to add the extra frame once I had stopped recording
Ö I had to remake the film.
9.4
Reactions
9.4
The people I showed the animations to, were impressed and thought they
were a lot harder to produce than they were; they were also different
from any similar other displays they had seen.
9.4
How it works
9.4
Basically, SnapHappy takes a picture of the desktop and links it
together in a film. This means that you can make films using any
application which works in the desktop. It is perfect for providing
demos of how to use a certain feature and show the results, or to create
a brief instructional guide.
9.4
Basic Éfeaturesæ
9.4
Before you start recording, you have to save the film Ö be warned in
case it gets too big. Then a pointer with a camera attachment appears
and you have to use <select> to outline the area you want to use for the
animation. Itæs useful to have the program window(s) there first, as it
automatically takes a picture. You then change the objects in the
window, and take a picture by clicking on the SnapHappy icon. (It makes
a camera sound effect to inform you that it has just taken a picture Ö
although this can be switched off.) All this seems simple, until you
accidentally move the frame and canæt get in the right place again Ö in
which case, itæs handy to know that if you press <Shift> and <Alt> at
the same time, SnapHappyæs guide frame appears.
9.4
The disc
9.4
The program comes on a standard 800Kb disc, and along with SnapHappy,
you get the PD version of !Projector Ö this is the format SnapHappy uses
to save the films. You also get some examples which show you what sort
of results you can get.
9.4
Presentation
9.4
This leaves something to be desired but, as they say, never judge a
program by its box. My version was in a plastic bag with an A4 folded
manual Ö fine, except that, when youære paying approximately ú20, you
tend to expect, at the very least, a fancy box.
9.4
Conclusion
9.4
SnapHappy is the sort of program thatæs always useful to have, but
whether itæs worth buying just in case is a different matter. You can
certainly have fun playing around with it making instructions and films
and, if you use it in conjunction with SmArt, you can produce some
hilarious results.
9.4
SnapHappy costs ú20 +VAT (single user) or ú80 +VAT for a site licence
from Dial Solutions.áuá
9.4
*a.k.a. Gabriel (Dominic) Swords
9.4