OS/2 Shareware BBS: 32 Periodic/32-Periodic.zip/mn1093.zip/MN1093.INF

OS/2 Help File | 1993-10-25 | 51KB | 785 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Volume 1, Number 7 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

                                                              Volume 1, Number 7


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. From the Prez ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

                                                                Marcus Krumpholz

We had an excellent turnout for last month's meeting, where Dennis Ware from
IBM discussed what is in the future for OS/2.  I hope you enjoyed his
presentation.

The OS/2 Day at Egghead software was also a success. We appreciated all the
voluntary support, in matter of fact, we had more individuals volunteer than
needed!  Thank you for all the support! We are looking to do another one of
these events sometime in the future.

Are you interested in receiving a three month trial subscription to OS/2
Professional? All you need to do is fill out our membership registration form,
authorize us to release the information to them by signing anywhere, and fax
the completed form to our voice/fax information line (1-612-869-7956).  Note:
This offer is completely at OS/2 Professional's discretion!

Due to some hardware problems, we will honor all the new MNOS2 members next
month. Thank you for your patience and continued support.

Marcus Krumpholz is President  of the Minnesota OS/2 User Group and a member of
TeamOS/2


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. BocaSoft System Sounds ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

                                                                   David Elliott

Looking for an inexpensive way to impress your friends, annoy your cat, and
generally have your computer make a lot of unexpected noises?  BocaSoft's new
program, "System Sounds", may be just what you're looking for.

What BocaSoft has done is to create a program which hooks into the Presentation
Manager message queue and examines the passing messages. Every time a certain
type of message gets passed (for example, "Mouse Button 1 Pressed" or "Window
Redraw"), System Sounds makes a noise that you've selected. It's very effective
at maintaining a certain level of loudness; there are 49 different events to
which you can attach a sound.  And, of course, it comes with a whole bunch of
different noises--55 of them, to be precise.

The installation is very easy.  In fact, BocaSoft has used the IBM-supplied
"MINSTALL" program that comes with MMPM/2.  This is doubly convenient in that
it's a good, straightforward installation program, and it ensures right off the
bat that you have MMPM/2 installed, since System Sounds requires MMPM/2 in
order to work.

Once installed, operation is also quite simple.  When you fire up the program,
the first thing it does is say "Welcome."  You are then presented with a list
box containing the 45 possible events, an entry box, and a few buttons. All the
events come with a sound preassigned, and if you just keep the defaults you'll
have a pretty lively system.  Of course, assigning your own noises is as easy
as clicking on the "Open" button and selecting a .WAV file.

A very useful feature is the 'Disable Event' checkbox, which allows you to
select on an individual basis whether or not an event will cause a noise (start
by disabling the "Mouse Move" event, if you value your sanity).

Another interesting capability that the program has is its ability to examine
Key-Press messages, if you so desire.  You can assign a sound to every key you
press, although keys with a special meaning to PM (such as F1, F10, Alt-F4,
etc.) take special effort to assign.  Unfortunately the program is by no means
fast enough to keep up with any but the most abysmal of typists.  By default,
if you enable the keys, pressing each key causes it to be named. Every key on
the keyboard can be defined this way, although, perhaps mercifully, System
Sounds can only catch keystrokes entered from within Presentation Manager;
full-screen sessions are exempt from its keystroke noisemaking. (However, it
can still sound off when you start or end a program in a full-screen session.)
In the Setup dialog box, you can configure the program for either Performance
mode or Compatibility mode.  What this means is that the program can either hog
the sound card, keeping it ready at a microsecond's notice, or it can open and
close the sound card every time it wants to say something. Compatibility mode
allows the program to surrender the sound device to Windows Multimedia
programs, which would be unable to sound off if Performance mode were enabled.

You can also control the volume, whether or not Keystrokes and/or events are
completely disabled, and how large a sound file System Sounds will attempt to
cache (if you've assigned a 300K .WAV file to some event, you may want to save
yourself the cost of keeping it in memory all the time). And you can have the
program start minimized, if you like.

Also, like its sister product WipeOut, System Sounds comes with a small
development kit.  You can add code into your programs to determine whether
System Sounds is currently executing, and if so, to send it noisemaking
instructions.  System Sounds also opens up a named pipe, "\PIPE\BS_SSND", to
which you can write a number; in response, System Sounds will play the noise
associated with that number.  (Its events are numbered 1 through 49.)  Even DOS
programs can use this named pipe interface.

I've had only two problems with System Sounds.  First, it has knocked itself
out a couple of times, claiming a device conflict of some sort, although it was
the only noisemaker running at the time.  I've seen it reported on CompuServe
that the program will often not make it through an 8 hour day without killing
itself at least once.  Second, it locked up my system once, when I had keys and
events enabled, 300K cache specified, and was about to see if the Keys would
make noise in a DOS windowed session; the system went into an infinite loop,
shouting "JUB!" at me, and wouldn't shut up until I did a hard reset.

Another thing you may find either annoying or amusing, depending on your
predilections, is that quite a few of the events are somewhat unpredictable.
For instance, the "List Box Select" noise is sounded every time you hit the
vertical-scroll button on a list box, not just when you actually make a
selection.  But this really doesn't matter too much--after all, it's supposed
to be making noise anyway.

Overall, I found much to enjoy in this little program.  If you've got a
multimedia system and a hankering for noise, System Sounds is the way to go.

BocaSoft System Sounds

BocaSoft Incorporated
117 NW 43rd St.
Boca Raton, FL 33431
1-407-392-7743


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. OS/2 2.1 Selective Fixes ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The following "selective fixes" from IBM can be applied to an OS/2 2.1
installation to fix known bugs.  The "APAR" numbers referred to are IBM's
documentation numbers for confirmed bugs.  These fix packages are available on
the MNOS2 BBS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. 21WPSF.ZIP (150k) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This package fixes the following Workplace Shell bugs:

o When installing 2.1 over an earlier version of OS/2 without formatting, the
  system may reboot to a white screen and fail to bring up the desktop
  (PJ08808).

o The final "shutdown complete" message is displayed underneath the "shutdown
  please wait" message on some systems (PJ08727).

o Mass duplication of template objects after creating a shadow (PJ08606).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. 21DISK.ZIP (70k) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This package contains fixes for the following disk related bugs:

o Data corruption problem: OS2DASD.DMD not allowing access to all sectors of
  the disk when the disk is 1 HPFS partition, CHKDSK may yield SYS0551 errors
  (PJ09189).

o Remarking out the IBM2FLPY.ADD in the CONFIG.SYS will give a SYS0038 error
  when redirecting the output of a command to a file (PJ09606).

o Trap 0003 at 0530 : 00001167 CSLIM 000027D0 (PJ09275)

o FTADMIN loses 4 GB drive and its mirror (PJ08218)

This fix will only be supported until the release of the Service Pack for OS/2
2.1 which contains it.  At that time, to receive continued support you should
obtain that Service Pack.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. News Bites ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. OS/2 2.1 Free Upgrade Coupon for ValuePoint Customers ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The OS/2 2.1 free upgrade coupons for ValuePoint customers will remain valid
until Nov 30, 1993.  The coupons were originally printed with the expiration
date of September 30, 1993.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. OS/2 Mitsumi CD-ROM Driver ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The IBM beta driver for Mitsumi CD-ROMs is now available!  it can be found in
the PSPBETA forum on CompuServe, library 7, filename MITFX.ZIP (about 15K).  It
will allow you to install OS/2 from a Mitsumi CD-ROM.  Following is the
overview from the readme file.

The device driver supports the new FX series of Mitsumi drives: the single
speed CRMC-FX001 and the double-speed CRMC-FX001D.  The device driver also
supports the older Mitsumi CRMC-LU005.  This device driver does not support the
older Mitsumi CRMC-LU002 CD-ROM drive (also known as the Tandy CDR-1000 or
BSR-6800).

The OS/2 Mitsumi CD-ROM device driver (MITFX001.ADD) supports the following
features:

o Reads data from CD-ROM discs conforming to the High Sierra/ISO-9660 file
  formats.
o Plays audio from standard audio CDs or mixed mode CD-ROM discs containing
  both data and audio
o Multisession photo CD
o Reads data from Mode 2 Form 1 or Mode 2 Form 2 sector formats
o MMPM/2 Software Motion Video
o MMPM/2 CD Audio Player
o Software lock, unlock and eject (Models FX001 and FX001D only)
o Data transfer via software polling or interrupts


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. Beta SoundBlaster fixes for OS/2 2.1 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Beta SoundBlaster drivers (version 1.0) contained in the SNDBLST package
(106k) on the OS2BBS fix the following problems:

o Trap when rapidly moving the volume slider in MIDI songs.

o Line in being reset in OS/2 apps.

o OPL chips not properly being reset after finishing Dos apps.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. The Net Rat ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When in doubt about software, check the net. The big complaint about OS/2 these
days isn't OS/2 at all, but the software that is supposed to run on it. If
memory serves, last year around this time you were considered lucky if you had
an ET4000 graphics adapter, because even though they were outdated, the rumor
was that they would be the first to get 256 color drivers! Forget about that
CD-ROM drive, tape backup, sound card, and anything else that wasn't genuine
IBM hardware. IBM compatible only works when you have drivers for your OS, and
we were hurtin'. The place to find out what was working was the Internet.

As an aside, it's amazing to me that you can sit in your home and eavesdrop on
people who are shaping the virtual world. So I do. I always thought that I'd
start jumping in once I got comfortable with the system, but the longer I read
net mail, the less I feel like I could actually add to the forum. I'd just be
'noise' (messages that don't really DO anything).

Anyway, news about anything related to OS/2 is usually in my mail packet before
it's on the newsstand. And now that most of the bugs in OS/2 are old news, the
new news is applications. Want to know if Word Perfect 5.2 is performing up to
hype? Old news. Ami Pro should be out 'real soon now', but there's already
debate about how Lotus should change it's marketing. A nice little backup
utility, Back In A Flash (made in Minneapolis!), made a splash when it was a
$29 limited time offer, but now at $49 it's competing with Backmaster's $49
limited time offer. The dam is starting to leak, and the little dutch boy (Bill
Gates) just doesn't seem to be holding off the flood with promises of the next
killer OS after the two years of  'just wait until NT is released'. Now the cry
from  the Windows Family is "wait for Chicago" (whatever happened to that
consistent interface?), but the word on the net is that it's just an OS/2 Work
Place Shell knockoff and Novell is a better place to look for an extra light
operating system.

Another aside. Last year at this time I tried to get a friend who
builds/repairs PC clones at a reputable company to just try OS/2. I'll load it,
set it up and you can call me anytime you want for help. Nope, he says. I'll
wait for NT. It's gonna be out in a month and Microsoft is a company you can
count on. (HUH!?) Last time I talked to him he joked that they didn't have the
parts to build a machine that could run NT. tee hee.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. Amazing Discoveries ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

I walked into the Ridgedale Egghead a few weeks ago, feeling like browsing,
just browsing. Whenever I walk into any software palace, I ask the first
salesperson who grabs me about OS/2. Most places have the upgrades these days
(instead of those $199 full versions), so I ask about sales, returns, whatever.
It's just to let them know that we exist, and we DO shop retail.  So this guy
comes up -- 'Hi! Can I help you find something?'. I ask about OS/2. "Oh yeah.
Are you looking for 3╨╗ or 5╨╝?". I'm shocked. Trying to recover, I smile and say
"What, no CDs?", thinking that that will get him looking up stock and allow me
to be a software potato, just absorbing titles and soaking up that ambiance.
But not this time. "Lets go take a look", he says and that's when I look up at
the video that's running up in the far corner of the store.

It's David Barnes, with a big HAL banner up behind him. This is weird. David
Barnes selling OS/2 in an Egghead. The sales guy asks if I've seen this video.
He tells me it's a shootout in front of a huge audience between OS/2 and NT. He
says the Microsoft part is pure dull, but this new OS/2 is really amazing! I
hope IBM pays Mr. Barnes well, because he's worth plenty to OS/2.

Then we turn the corner and there it is - the first all OS/2 rack I've ever
seen. Not just a portion of a rack with a Windows Software plaque on top, but
an all OS/2 rack with all OS/2 applications on it. Yes, I've seen or heard of
all of them, but NEVER this many in the same place. Maybe half a dozen
different titles, but the guy apologizes, saying that they're trying to get
more.

I tell the guy that I'm a user. "REALLY? Do you know if my Diamond Viper has
drivers yet? How do you like it? Is it hard to set up? Is it as fast as
Windows?". A ten minute barrage as feel like I've become the salesman. I try to
explain why single task benchmarks don't tell you much in a multitasking world
(I wish PC Magazine and their drag race bar graphs would fall off the edge of
the Earth). He says he did a keyword search on a CD in Windows the other day
that took ten minutes, and the other 99% of his computer just sat and waited...

Borg strikes again.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Tips and Technicals ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1. SVGA High Resolution Support ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The initial OS/2 2.1 installation of SVGA does not install full SVGA support,
but only installs VGA support at a resolution of 640x480x16.

This is because there is no MVDM DOS support during the initial installation
phase, and this is needed to run the DOS SVGA query program which establishes
the capabilities of the display adapter and monitor.

To install full SVGA support, including the higher SVGA resolutions, the SVGA
display drivers must be installed following the completion of the initial OS/2
2.1 installation. This can be done using either Selective Install or DSPINSTL.

Changing the SVGA resolution involves reinstallation of SVGA display drivers,
since there is a different SVGA display driver set for each display resolution.

The high-resolution fonts are automatically installed, except for ISO fonts.

If you select a resolution not supported by your SVGA adapter/display
combination, then your screen may be blank when OS/2 2.1 is rebooted.  It is
worth checking that the resolution is supported by the SVGA adapter/display
combination before configuring it.

The SVGA.EXE program creates a file called SVGADATA.PMI, which contains
information on the capabilities of the SVGA adapter. This program is now run
automatically by the installation programs, and there is no need to explicitly
run SVGA ON in OS/2 2.1.

Do not use the SVGA OFF command as this will erase the SVGADATA.PMI file, which
is needed by the SVGA display driver support.  Erasing this file will result in
a blank screen appearing when the system is restarted.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.2. HPFS and Fragmentation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Posted on Usenet by David Wright

Keeping a file in contiguous disk space is not as important as you might think.
A file confined to a small number of fragments on nearby tracks can usually be
accessed faster than a contiguous file at the opposite end of the disk.  It
might take 20 milliseconds to move the heads across the disk, while track to
track times may be only 3 or 4 milliseconds.  HPFS doesn't eliminate
fragmentation, instead it attempts to minimize access times through better free
space management.

HPFS reserves an area near the seek center of the disk for all directories.
This has two benefits, first, when updating directories, the heads never have
to travel more than halfway across the disk from the file to the directory.
Second, it makes it easy for HPFS to cache the directory area.  A single long
read caches all directories.  This comes in very handy when searching for a
file.

Under HPFS all directories are sorted according to their uppercase ASCII value.
When a directory outgrows it's initial 2K cluster, it is split into two or more
directory clusters in a B+ tree structure.  This makes file searches very
efficient.  Each directory entry points to an fnode.  Each fnode points either
to a file or another directory.  A file's fnode contains all the allocation
information for the file.  The file begins immediately after the fnode,
eliminating an extra seek to find it's beginning.  A directory's fnode points
back to a directory structure within the reserved directory area.  By caching
the directories, HPFS eliminates the need to send the heads back to the
reserved area.  HPFS was designed to reduce the number of head seeks (and the
length of any seek) to the absolute minimum.

HPFS keeps track of disk space through the use of bands and free space bitmaps.
A band is a contiguous, 8 MB run of sectors.  For each band, the system
maintains a 2 KB bitmap.  Each of the 16384 bits represents one sector in the
band.  The bitmaps are located either at the head or the tail of the band, and
arranged such that just under 16 MB of contiguous space lies between.  To
reduce head travel during directory updates, a separate bitmap is maintained
for the directory area.

HPFS further reduces head travel by locating files in the same band as their
directory's fnode.  When looking for a file, HPFS must first find the directory
fnode, at which point the heads will likely be within a few cylinders of the
target file.  For the most part, fragmentation is not an issue with HPFS.  If
contiguous space is not available for a file, HPFS will locate blocks of
sectors close to each other and to the directory fnode.

Where fragmentation does become an issue is when the file exceeds 8 extents. At
this point, the fnode needs to be extended.  Another form of fnode is used that
points to an fnode extension.  This is another sector that has to be read
before the file can be accessed.  For large files that are continuously being
updated and extended, this sector could end up far away. The file system will
normally start a file immediately after the fnode, but under these
circumstances, it can't be sure how many sectors after the fnode belong to the
file until it reads the extension.

This situation requires two extra seeks before the file can be read and likely
several more to pick up all the pieces.  Fortunately, the type of files that
are most susceptible to this degree of fragmentation are usually accessed
randomly, and seeks would be encountered on most reads regardless of
fragmentation.  There are of course many exceptions to this premise, and for
these files a defragger should be employed.

I am offering a defragger for HPFS for $20Cdn in Canada ($20US in the US, and
$30Cdn elsewhere).  There's a few other utilities here that will come with it,
but the defragger seems to be the one people are interested in most.  To find
out how badly fragmented your HPFS drives are, pick up SHOWFRAG.LZH at The Idle
Task, FidoNet 1:153/905. For the defragger, send a cheque to:

David Wright
219 - 810 West Broadway
Vancouver B.C.  V5Z 4C9
CANADA


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Contributing to Threads ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If you have comments or suggestions regarding Threads, or if you would like to
help with writing or production, you can call Mat Kramer at 649-0765, fax
649-0237 or email [e-mail].

We need articles!  Much of Threads is pulled together from product
announcements or postings on the net.  I would like to see more articles or
columns from  members of MNOS2.  If you have ideas for articles or columns and
would like to see your name in lights, please contact me, or better yet, go
ahead and write it!  Thank you to the members who have helped out  up to this
point (you know who you are)!

The deadline for contributions and information for publication in Threads is
the first Monday of every month.  You must contact me with the material -- I
won't contact you.  Articles should be submitted as email messages or attached
files on the BBS or CompuServe.  ASCII or any popular word processor format are
good, DeScribe is the preferred format.  For small announcements (less than 50
words), you can call or fax.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Special Interest Groups ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The following MNOS2 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have been formed.  We are
also working on forming several other SIGs, including Introduction to OS/2,
Netware, and Programing. If you are interested in sponsoring a SIG, please
contact us.  If you would like to participate in one of these SIGs, contact
one of the SIG leaders or MNOS2.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.1. Lan Server SIG ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

SIG Leaders: Todd Emanual 223-4062, Rick Schmitz 545-2100.

This special interest group is dedicated for Lan Server administrators to share
problems, solutions and ideas. Periodically there will be voluntary
presentations, tours and other informational materials.  This SIG meets from
2:30 to 4:00 PM on the same Thursday as the general meetings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.2. Rochester MNOS2 SIG ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

SIG Leaders: Mark Rongstad 1-507-286-4987, Marcus Krumpholz 869-7956.

If you happen to be in the Rochester, MN area this OS/2 SIG is now forming.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.3. BBS SIG ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

SIG Leaders: Marcus Krumpholz 869-7956, John Bald 888-1301, Lee Holm  535-9212.

MNOS2 supports an active electronic bulletin board system (BBS).  If you are
new to BBSing or are just interested in tips & techniques, then this SIG is for
you.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Corporate Sponsors ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

We are thankful to the following sponsors and contributors to MNOS2:

IBM Corporation

Skamp Computer Services, Inc.

ITT Hartford

IDS Financial Services

Carlson Companies

Minnesota Mutual

Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek's Hobbes OS/2 CD-ROM is filled with over 2500 OS/2 files from the
largest FTP archive of OS/2 material, FTP-OS2.CDROM.COM, quaintly known as
Hobbes. With over 700 users accessing this archive daily, the archive serves as
the major distribution site of OS/2 freeware, shareware, device drivers,
program updates and information.  Walnut Creek brings this entire archive to
you in a well organized, indexed, and virus-scanned CD-ROM.  Thanks to Walnut
Creek, The contents of the CD-ROM are available on the MNOS2 BBS.  Contact
Walnut Creek at 1-800-786-9907, fax [phone], or email [e-mail].

DeScribe, Inc.

DeScribe is the first and only native, 32-bit multitasking and multithreading
OS/2 word processor on the market. DeScribe exploits the full power of OS/2.
Thanks to DeScribe, their word processor is used to produce Threads.  Contact
DeScribe at 1-800-448-1586, fax [phone], or email
[e-mail].


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Comments?  Questions? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If you have comments or questions about MNOS2, you can call or fax the MNOS2
voice/fax information line at 1-612-869-7956.  If you have questions about
OS/2, post a message on the BBS.  If you don't have access to the BBS, call or
fax the voice/fax line and we will post the message for you.  The section
titled "How to Contact MNOS2" lists all of the user group contact points.  For
the printed version of Threads, see the back page.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. MNOS2 Executive Committee ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

President

Marcus Krumpholz, 866-1618 (h, if urgent)

Past President

Bert Moshier

IBM Liaison

Dennis Ware, 397-5294 (w)

Newsletter Editor

Mat Kramer, 649-0765 (h)

Membership Coordinator

John Bald, 888-1301 (h), 525-6202 (w)

BBS

Lee Holm, 535-9212 (h)

Treasurer

Bruce Schroeder, 429-9199 (h), 627-2043 (w)

Officers

Larry DeRosier, 754-0252 (h)
David Elliott, 943-9255 (w)
Lou Miranda, 225-9178 (h)
Dale Neilan, 425-4034 (w)


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. MNOS2 Meetings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13.1. When and Where ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

MNOS2 meets on the last Thursday of every month.  On holidays, we meet on the
previous Thursday.  Meetings are held at the IBM building (First Bank Place,
650 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis) on the 6th floor in room 626.  The
meetings are open to the public, and there is no charge for attending.  Call
IBM at 397-6444 to ask for directions.  Please Note: only two entrances are
open - Sixth Street and the Skyway.

The afternoon and evening general meetings cover similar material, and both
will have product demonstrations, when scheduled.  For an informal dinner with
members of the executive committee, join them after the afternoon session.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13.2. October Meeting (Thursday, October 28) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

LAN Server SIG (2:30 - 4 PM)

o LAN Printing: Mark Tristani from IBM will lead this round-table discussion to
  address LAN printing issues.

o Network Door/2 (NetDoor/2):  IBM will present information on their new
  LAN-environment product.  The NetDoor functions are used to create, manage,
  expand and use an integrated LAN environment.

General Meeting (4-6 PM and 7-9 PM)

o Software demonstrations including KWQMail/2 off-line mail reader and
  DeskMan/2 desktop manager.

o General discussion and Q&A.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13.3. Upcoming Topics & Demonstrations ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

November 18* Skamp will talk about software development for OS/2

December 16* Christmas Party
*earlier due to holidays

Do you have a topic which you would like to present to the user group?  If so,
please call the MNOS2 voice/fax message line at 1-612-869-7956.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. VisPro/REXX ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

                                                                   H. E. Summers

                                                    Mid-Missouri OS/2 User Group

VisPro/Rexx (aka VP/Rexx and VPRx) by Hockware is a program that allows you to
create REXX programs using the WPS interface and compile them to EXE code. The
program has a number of shortcomings, but is a worthwhile purchase at $299
(Introductory Price).

In VP/Rexx you can create programs easily using a  combination of drag & drop
icons and filling in the gaps the old fashion way: by writing code. While
VP/Rexx's built-in editor conforms to CUA91 specs and has a number of
timesaving options, it sorely lacks a number of standard  features, including
search & replace, multiple open files, and changeable fonts. There are 3
different programming views: Form for GUI form design, Event for writing, and
List View for quick overviews. Unfortunately, only one view can be open at a
time.

Creating a program is quick and easy. All standard CUA tools like push buttons,
check boxes, and list boxes are included.

You simply drag and drop, position, and use the event view to program the
action taken on each event (like a check box being checked).  The built-in
debugger is a bit primitive, but extremely easy to use.  You can test a form at
any time simply by choosing the menu option which brings up the debugger and
your form as it will work when compiled.  Once it passes your debug tests,
compiling is a matter of simply choosing the compile option to generation a EXE
file.  No runtime files are needed.  Performance of compiled programs is quite
acceptable.

VP/Rexx lacks many programming features such as font metrics which cause
serious problems when a program is developed at 640x480 and displayed at
1024x768. Documentation is detailed, but overlooks a few obvious points that
should have been included, such as the company phone number (which is in the
readme file). Technical support is friendly and helpful.

VP/Rexx won't make Rexx programming any easier, but it makes your Rexx programs
much easier to use.  It also keeps people from monkeying with your code.
Unlike Watcom's Rexx compiler, VP/Rexx does not require a runtime module or any
additional program to run.

Hockware can be reached at 1-919-387-7391.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15. How to Contact MNOS2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Voice/Fax Messages

612-869-7956

CompuServe

76420,2752

Internet

[e-mail]

BBS

612-379-8272, 1200-16800 bps, N, 8, 1

Mail

7300 12th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN  55423


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 16. MNOS2 BBS ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The MNOS2 BBS message forums include local exchanges, Usenet (Internet),
FidoNet , and other international network messages.

The file libraries include many OS/2 programs, utilities, information files,
graphics, and fixes.  Most packages are compressed into a ZIP format, and you
will need a utility capable of unzipping these packages. PKZ204.EXE and
UNZ50X32.EXE are two such programs.  The file ALLOS2.ZIP contains a complete
list of all files on the BBS.

Members can access the board for ninety minutes a day with no download
restrictions.  Guest users can access the board for fifteen minutes a day with
a download/upload ratio restriction.

The BBS's phone number is 612-379-8272, and can be reached with a 1200 bps or
faster modem (up to 16800 currently). Set your communications software for N81
(no stop bit, 8 data bits, 1 parity bit).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17. Registration Form ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

MNOS2 Membership Registration Form

Minnesota OS/2 User Group
7300 12th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN  55423

Bulletin Board System: 612-379-8272
Voice/Fax Information Line: 612-869-7956
Internet: [e-mail]

Electronic registrations via BBS are preferred (Questionnaire #05). You may
also Fax or send this form.  If you have any questions, please call/fax our
Voice/Fax Information line!

Unless otherwise specified, this information will be considered public
information.  Public ___  Private ___

Name:

Company:

Mail Stop:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip :

Country:

Home Phone:

Work Phone:

Fax Number:

Fax Type:  Full Time ___  Part Time___

Email Address:

Please check one of the following types of memberships:

ΓöîΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö¼ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö¼ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö¼ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÉ
Γöé      Γöé$???.??  life    ΓöéPatron Member     ΓöéMNOS2 Patron / $15 yearly for registered BBS Γöé
Γöé      Γöé                 Γöé                  Γöéaccess                                       Γöé
Γö£ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöñ
Γöé      Γöé$100.00 yearly   ΓöéCorporate Member  ΓöéMNOS2 Corporate Sponsor / $15 additional for Γöé
Γöé      Γöé                 Γöé                  Γöéeach member which would like registered      Γöé
Γöé      Γöé                 Γöé                  Γöéaccess to BBS.                               Γöé
Γö£ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöñ
Γöé      Γöé$  30.00 yearly  ΓöéIndividual (+BBS) ΓöéMNOS2  membership / registered BBS access    Γöé
Γö£ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöñ
Γöé      Γöé$  20.00 yearly  ΓöéIndividual/No BBS ΓöéMNOS2  membership / Guest BBS access         Γöé
Γö£ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöñ
Γöé      Γöé$  15.00 yearly  ΓöéBBS Only          ΓöéNo MNOS2  membership / registered BBS access Γöé
Γö£ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöñ
Γöé      Γöé No Charge       ΓöéGuest             ΓöéMNOS2  Guest / Guest BBS access              Γöé
ΓööΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö┤ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö┤ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö┤ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÿ

OS/2 related interests?

Are you a member of our BBS?

Are you interested in contributing to the user group? If yes, how?

How did you find out about the user group?

Please make checks payable to: MN OS/2 User Group.

ΓöîΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö¼ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö¼ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö¼ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö¼ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÉ
ΓöéFor MN OS/2 User  Γöé                  Γöé                  Γöé                  Γöé                  Γöé
ΓöéGroup Only        Γöé                  Γöé                  Γöé                  Γöé                  Γöé
Γö£ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöñ
ΓöéReceive Date      ΓöéPaymt type        ΓöéChk Name          ΓöéChk Num           ΓöéChk Date          Γöé
Γö£ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö╝ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöñ
ΓöéBBS Name          ΓöéBBS Expire        ΓöéBBS Paid          ΓöéMisc              Γöé                  Γöé
ΓööΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö┤ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö┤ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö┤ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓö┤ΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÇΓöÿ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 18. Notices ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Threads is a copyright (c) 1993 publication of the Minnesota OS/2 User Group
(MNOS2).  Individual articles are copyright of the respective author.  Articles
may be reprinted, unless otherwise noted, provided that credit is given to the
author, and that the original publication and notice of use is sent to the
author in care of MNOS2.

Subscriptions are included in the cost of membership.

OS/2 is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation.  All other products
referenced herein are trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies.

All opinions herein are those of the individual authors only, and do not
necessarily represent those of MNOS2, its executive committee, or IBM.  MNOS2
is not affiliated with IBM. MNOS2 assumes no liability for damages arising out
of the publication or omission of any article or information in this
newsletter.

Threads is produced by: