NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #18/NN_1992_18.iso/spool/comp/sys/ibm/pc/digest/151

Internet Message Format | 1992-08-13 | 22.1 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!olivea!sgigate!odin!mips!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!BRL.MIL!Info-IBMPC
From: [e-mail] (Info-IBMPC Digest)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest
Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V92 #129
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 8 Aug 92 15:30:15 GMT
Sender: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 602
Approved: [e-mail]

Info-IBMPC Digest           Sat,  8 Aug 92       Volume 92 : Issue 129

Today's Editor:
         Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <[e-mail]>

Today's Topics:
                  Accessing SIMTEL20 files without FTP
                    Easter Eggs in Windows software
                      Getting ASCII files (2 msgs)
                    Common Lisp or Xlisp (V92 #115)
                  Downloading from SIMTEL20 via Modem
              C Btree and ISAM routines wanted (V92 #117)
                 re: drdos 6.0 and msdos 3.2 (V92 #117)
                            Irwin_tape_units
                              Mail Reader
                 Needing informations about PostScript
                       response to V92 Number 117
          SIMTEL20 mirror site in Switzerland now operational
                   Summary:  Computers by Mail Order
                 Upgrading Compaq SLT to Cy486SLC chip
                               uuencoder
                         Wanted: Diet Programs

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <[e-mail]>

Send requests of an administrative nature (addition to, deletion from
the distribution list, et al) to: <[e-mail]>

Addition and Deletion requests for UK readers should be sent to:
<[e-mail]>

Archives of past issues of the Info-IBMPC Digest are available by FTP
ONLY from WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL in directory PD2:<ARCHIVES.IBMPC>.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 12:45:22 CDT
From: Phantom Tryke <"guinan::kummer"@kirk.msoe.edu>
Subject: Accessing SIMTEL20 files without FTP

I'm new to Internet, and would like to know if anyone could give me
step-by-step instructions for getting SIMTEL20 files via e-mail
(uuencoded, I assume).

I've been experimenting a bit with FTPMAIL but I still am having some
trouble.  One thing that would help alot is knowing _where_  or _what_
SIMTEL20 is.

Thanks for your anticipated help!

Phantom Tryke
Student, Milwaukee School of Engineering
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 17 Jul 92 15:40:00 EDT
From: "DRCV06::OPER1" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Easter Eggs in Windows software.

    Does anyone know of any Easter eggs in Windows software.  I know of
one for Windows 3.1.  If you hold down the Crtl & Shift keys and bring
up About Program manager and click on one of the panes in the MS logo.
If you repeat this a few times a flag will start flying and if you do
it again a little slide show will begin.  I have heard of one in
MicroSoft Word for windows.  It has something to do with a macro called
spiff, a paragraph marker, deleting something and the About window.

Glenn.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 15:04:08 SST
From: HC Eng <[e-mail]>
Subject: Getting ASCII files..

Regarding the question from Turgut Kalfaoglu concerning the dowloading
of an ASCII file from a VM host to a PC emulating VT100, I know of two
ways to do it properly:

1.   Use TPRINT instead of TYPE.  Go:  TPRINT xxx yyy (IBMPC and the
file will scroll non stop on the screen, much better than having to
press the clear key on each screen full and having to put up with the
control codes.

2.   If you have a true VT100 terminal emulator, go: TPRINT xxx yyy
(VT100 and the file will be downloaded to the file you specified for
printer output at your local emulator.

What I would like to know is:  Is there a way to transfer non-ASCII
files from a VM host to a VT100 terminal?

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 10:55:03 +0100
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Getting ASCII files..

>Hi. I have a weird problem: I sometimes call our VM from home, and
>access it in the VT100 mode, and want to get a short text file. Since
>no other protocol is available, I just download it by telling procomm
>'receive ascii' and using TYPE command on the mainframe. It works, BUT!
>I get stuck with LOTS of ANSI sequences in the file, which need to be
>manually weeded out. (ANSI sequences at the end of each line, plus when
>it clears the page..)
>
>Is there any telecomm program that could help with these ASCII
>transfers?

Before using the TYPE, try setting your terminal type to TTY.  eg:

    set term=tty

Your VM would then think u have a TTY terminal and won't send all those
ANSI sequence.

cheers
Weemeng

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 18 Jul 92 14:35:15 CST
From: Kevin Coulson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Common Lisp or Xlisp (V92 #115)

Regarding the need for a common LISP or XLISP language interpreter.  I
got mine via a local BBS.  Many BBSii in college towns should have a
copy.  Just remember "LISP is a pain in the ASSP" (Copywrited K.
Coulson, public non-commercial use granted).

Cordially,
Kevin Coulson ;-{)>

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 10:04:52 PDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Downloading from SIMTEL20 via Modem

I hope you can help.  I`d like to know how to download from SIMTEL20
via modem.  I have been able to connect to a number in Detroit (I
believe) which I got from one of the issues of Info-IBMPC Digest.  I
can go through all the menu`s and look up files, etc,  but when I try
to download something I get the message "disk empty" or something to
that effect.  Any ideas ?

Regards,
Juan //

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 7:53:35 CDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: C Btree and ISAM routines wanted (V92 #117)

In reference to the B Tree and ISAM routines for C wanted:

  There is a very good database manager for C that is inexpensive.
It's name is C/Database Toolchest from:

Mix Software
1132 Commerce Drive
Richardson, TX  75081

I have been using this tool over a year and it will do everything you
specified and more.  I think I paid $29.00 for it last year and the
source code is available for $10.

It will handle very large databases very well. I had a database over a
meg that it handle nicely.  The documentation claims it can handle over
2 billion reocords in a single database.  Other features include:

- true variable length keys
- multi-field keys
- variable length records
- true record deletion with reuse of deleted space
- multiple indexes stored in one index file
- and more...

Thirston Phillips
Computer Programmer/Analyst
[e-mail]
AV 788-8200   Com. [phone]

Commander
US Army Missile Command
Attn: AMSMI-IM-AD-IA-PA  Thirston Phillips
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5172

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 10:24:20 EDT
From: "A. Kaniss" <[e-mail]>
Subject: re: drdos 6.0 and msdos 3.2 (V92 #117)

I am interested in putting drdos 6.0 or later version in my next
computer.  I now use msdos 3.2 and will not be using windows because of
their gui interface since speech synthesizers and gui's don't get along
at all.

With the possible exception of a Canadian speech synthesizer package
and software the American stuff doesn't get the job done unless you
want to go with big blue's ps/2 computers.

I don't know of any good justification for the invention of ps/2 or
os/2 let alone windows since other than allowing people who have a
mouse fettish to have fun they don't seem to offer that much more and
in fact the graphics slow operation down.  If I want to slow operation
down I just use my speech synthesizer and it takes 40% off the speed
and 20% of my ram.  I am always interested in real enhancements to
operating systems that can give more power to command line oriented
people so would like to know any information on the differences.  I
have been told that drdos 6.0 and speech synthesizers will work
together no problem.

jude <[e-mail]>

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 13:00:30 +0200
From: Maarten Hondelink 053-879161 <[e-mail]>
Subject: Irwin_tape_units

Hello,

A few months ago I bought a tape unit for a cheap price on a computer
exchange.

The tape unit was unused (wrapped in plastic) so I had a rather
positive attitude towards the idea that the machine should work. It was
an Irwin Modelnr: 245, Serialnr: 0050519, Confignr: BH-06.

The tape-unit was accompanied with 2 manuals. One for the Irwin 110&125
serie and one for the Irwin 400 serie.  As you will understand, no
manual for my tape unit as far as I am able to understand something
about modelnumbers and serie numbers. There was also no software
included!

Can anyone help me with with the following questions?

1.How should I attach this tape unit to my computer?  Do I need a
special card for it? The unit contains a plug which is the same as on
my floppy disks. Can I attach it the same way as a floppy disk?

2.What is the capacity of this tape unit?

3.Which tapes should I use for it?

4.Is there a possibility of getting software for this machine.

5.Are there still manuals available for this thing and where can I get
them?

I'd appreciate any information. Thanks in advance.

------------------------------

Date: 21 Jul 92 13:07:15 EDT
From: Dan Spitzer <[e-mail]>
Subject: Mail Reader

Greg, do you know of a program to read mail in the IBMPC-L digest
format?  Our central computer is a PRIME something or other.

Dan Spitzer                           Voice: 703-828-2501 x522 (o) or
Department of Business Administration        703-433-6181 (h)
Bridgewater College                     FAX: [phone] (o) or
Bridgewater, VA  22812                       703-433-3234 (h)
               INTERNET: [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 12:15:58 +0000
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Needing informations about PostScript

Fernando

PostScript is a device independent language and therefore lines you
draw using PostScript commands will be drawn at the resolution of the
output device, If your output device has a resolution of 300 DPI then
that is the resolution that lines, arcs, curves, etc. that you describe
in a PostScript program will be drawn at.

The default resolution you mention of 72 DPI is not as you assume the
resolution of the image. It is merely PostScript's default unit of
measure.  As PostScript was conceived as a page description language
targeted at the printing industry it naturally adopted the most widely
used unit of measure in that industry namely the point. As 1 point is
roughly 1/72 Inch Adobe made a 72nd of an inch the default unit of
measure for PostScript programs.

If you wish to change this unit of measure for convenience in your
application this is simply achieved by use of the PostScript 'scale'
operator.

If you intend to do much work using PostScript (rather than a program
that generates PostScript for you) it is worth investing in the
"PostScript Language Reference Manual" published by Addison Wesley
(ISBN 0-201-18127-4). This is the standard Adobe reference guide for
PostScript programmers and contains all the information that you will
require to make use of the Language.

Hope this answer is of some use to you

Regards
SG Callow (Simon Callow)

Bitnet/NSFNET etc [e-mail]
Janet(UK)         [e-mail]


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 92 19:16 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: response to V92 Number 117

In INFO-IBMPC Voluume 92 Number 117, Michael Purcell asks three
questions:

1. Can he use a High Density diskette drive in an XT system.

   A. The high density drives require a 16 bit bus, which is not
present in an XT chassis.  Unless someone has come up with some sort of
an adaptor of some kind, you are out of luck.

2. Can he mix an RLL and MFM hard drive in the system.

   A. Both drives use different encoding mechanisms for storing data on
the physical drive.  To the best of my knowledge, they are not
compatible.

3. What will the effect of dropping prices on 486 chips have?

   A.  As with all such examples to date, the prices will go down on
systems made with this chip, as well as others made with lesser chips.
Wait till the 586 (P5) chip comes out!

Marc Schwartz
Director, Clinical Services
Summit Medical Systems, Inc.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
e-mail:  SchwartzM at dockmaster.ncsc.mil

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 14:02:54 -0400
From: Marcel Wiget <[e-mail]>
Subject: SIMTEL20 mirror site in Switzerland now operational

A new SIMTEL20 msdos mirror site in Switzerland on is now operational.

nic.switch.ch (130.59.1.40):/mirror/msdos

Updated every 12 hours.

Marcel
- -
Internet: [e-mail] \ Swiss Academic and Research Network
Phone   : [phone]  \ SWITCH, Marcel Wiget
AX.25   : HB9RWM @ HB9PD    \ Limmatquai 138, CH-8001 Zurich

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 11:18 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Summary:  Computers by Mail Order

>From: [e-mail]

>I am getting ready to purchase a 486-33 system and am thinking about
>going through a mail order company using Computer Shopper as my guide.
>Can anyone with experience in this area send me some information on how
>to make sure I get a quality system that won't blow up as soon as the
>warranty runs out?  I am particularly concerned about the quality of
>the motherboard.  Do most mail-order companies make their own
>motherboards or is there a certain manufacturer I should look for?  Are
>there any mail-order companies I should steer clear of?

The following is a summary of responses I received to the above
request:

The three companies receiving the best reviews are Gateway 2000,
CompuAdd, and Dell.  Gateway was definitely the most popular brand -
those who responded that they were very satisfied with their Gateway
machines also mentioned that they knew several other people who were
satisfied Gateway customers.  Dell got the vote for highest quality out
of this group, but they also have the highest prices.  CompuAdd was
mentioned as competing on the same price level as Gateway and all those
who advocated CompuAdd made note of their excellent customer service -
they had all had problems with a CompuAdd machine and had been very
pleased with the way those problems were handled (I'm sure this doesn't
mean that all CompuAdd machines have problems).

Other mail order companies that I received favorable responses about
were Treasure  Chest Computers, HiQ, and Comtrade.  These companies
regulary advertise in _Computer_Shopper_.

I only received two negative responses.  The first was about a company
named FastMicro and it contained complaints about their shipping
practices and their customer service department.  The second was about
a computer purchased in December 1990 from an unnamed source that
contained a DTK motherboard.  This motherboard was incompatible with
Windows 3.1 and the only solution offered to the responder was to buy a
new motherboard.

On a final note, the original request I made for information on
computers by mail order was posted to PCTECH-L on June 1.

I only received two responses to that post - both for Gateway.
Somehow, the request then found its way to INFO-IBMPC and I have
received a ton of mail since then.  Unfortunately, I went ahead and
bought my new system at the end of June.

There were a series of Gateway-bashing notes on WIN3-L at the time
which was enough to scare me away from them, so I went with a local
company here in Cary, NC, named One Step Computers.   It cost me a few
hundred dollars extra, but they provide a one year parts and lifetime
labor warranty and 24-hour turn around on repairs. Plus, I had done
business with them before and I knew I was getting a quality product.

By the way, the notes on WIN3-L about Gateway were to the effect that
Gateway's popularity had caught them by surprise and they were so
overloaded with orders that their quality and customer service had
suffered a little.  Specific complaints were about backlogged orders of
software packages that are included with Gateway systems and backlogged
orders of modems, as well as one government employee who indicated that
he had purchased seven Gateway systems for his lab and only two of them
were working they arrived.

Hope this helps,

Kevin Patrick
[e-mail]
Opinions expressed above are mine and mine only.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 92 13:58:17 CET
From: Winkler Karl <[e-mail]>
Subject: Upgrading Compaq SLT to Cy486SLC chip

I found an article in one of the computer magazines, which described
the upgrade of a Thoshiba laptop by changing the existing 386SX-20 CPU
with a Cyrix 486SLC CPU. The result was close to a 486 system.

I own a Compaq SLT 386s/20 laptop. This machine works fine, except it
gets slow when I am using Windows and/or OS/2. That's why I'm looking
for a cheep way to upgrade the system for more speed.

Now I wonder, if there is somebody out, who has experience with
upgrading a 386s/20's CPU with this Cyrix 486SLC CPU. Can it be done at
all? What do I need or do I just change the CPU? What CPU do I need?
Or should this be done by a qulified Compaq technican?

Any comments, help or suggestions??

Karl Winkler    :
Programer       :
DOT, USAREUR    :
Grafenwoehr-GER \----e-MAIL--->   [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 21 Jul 1992 12:55:49 -0400 (EDT)
From: Kevin Cordell <[e-mail]>
Subject: uuencoder

Can somebody tell me where I can get a uuencoder in BASIC?  I have a
decoder that some one mailed to me awhile back, but I would like to be
able to encode binary files that someon could recieve and decode

Thanks in advance for you help

Kevin J. Cordell                        Internet:[e-mail]
Information Systems Manager             Voice: 513 542-5555
EG&G Frequency Products, Inc.
Cincinnati, Ohio  45232

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 11:55:45 SST +0800
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Wanted: Diet Programs

Are there any shareware around that tells you the calories, carbo,
fats, protein, vitamines, minerals etc of all those common food?  I've
have seen Nutri321 but it seems that some of its data are incorrect.

kh

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 09:03:39 GMT
From: JOHN BERKIN <[e-mail]>

Sorry to be an absolute pain, but I'm still receiving two copies of the
digest ( headers enclosed below)

John

**********************************************************************




From:    PSI%SJOSU1::BRL.MIL::Info-IBMPC "Info-IBMPC Digest" 20-JUL-1992 22:02:36.17
To:    Info-IBMPC Distribution:;@Relay.Prime.COM
CC:
Subj:    Info-IBMPC Digest V92 #118

Info-IBMPC Digest           Thu, 16 Jul 92       Volume 92 : Issue 118

Today's Editor:
         Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <[e-mail]>

Today's Topics:
                 286/16 Mhz VS 386sx/16 Mhz (2 msgs)
              Accessing time and date from DOS bat file
                   Anyone know of a good VGA card?
                           ATT 435 Plotter
                     Comms Package under Desqview
                        Doubts on PC data bus
                           DV multitasking
                         ISA AT Buss Timings
                 ISAM and B+Tree routines are needed
                            Laplink cable
              News submission for comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest
                  Problems with EMM386, Quattro Pro
            Problem with GSZ using Keith Peterson's script
                         Recyling of computer
               room scheduling software found! (2 msgs)
          Searching for missing issues of INFO-IBMPC Digest
               tape backup hardware/software for IBM-PC
                Where to find the port address of LPT1

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <[e-mail]>

Send requests of an administrative nature (addition to, deletion from
the distribution list, et al) to: <[e-mail]>

Addition and Deletion requests for UK readers should be sent to:
<[e-mail]>

Archives of past issues of the Info-IBMPC Digest are available by FTP
ONLY from WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL in directory PD2:<ARCHIVES.IBMPC>.

----------------------------------------------------------------------



**********************************************************************


From:    PSI%SJOSU1::BRL.MIL::Info-IBMPC "Info-IBMPC Digest" 20-JUL-1992 20:17:18.86
To:    Multiple recipients of list $$INFOPC <$$[e-mail]>
CC:
Subj:         Info-IBMPC Digest V92 #118

Info-IBMPC Digest           Thu, 16 Jul 92       Volume 92 : Issue 118

Today's Editor:
         Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <[e-mail]>

Today's Topics:
                 286/16 Mhz VS 386sx/16 Mhz (2 msgs)
              Accessing time and date from DOS bat file
                   Anyone know of a good VGA card?
                           ATT 435 Plotter
                     Comms Package under Desqview
                        Doubts on PC data bus
                           DV multitasking
                         ISA AT Buss Timings
                 ISAM and B+Tree routines are needed
                            Laplink cable
              News submission for comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest
                  Problems with EMM386, Quattro Pro
            Problem with GSZ using Keith Peterson's script
                         Recyling of computer
               room scheduling software found! (2 msgs)
          Searching for missing issues of INFO-IBMPC Digest
               tape backup hardware/software for IBM-PC
                Where to find the port address of LPT1

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <[e-mail]>

Send requests of an administrative nature (addition to, deletion from
the distribution list, et al) to: <[e-mail]>

Addition and Deletion requests for UK readers should be sent to:
<[e-mail]>

Archives of past issues of the Info-IBMPC Digest are available by FTP
ONLY from WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL in directory PD2:<ARCHIVES.IBMPC>.


------------------------------

End of Info-IBMPC Digest V92 #129
*********************************
-------