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1993-08-30
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Path: menudo.uh.edu!usenet
From: akiy@netcom.com (Jun Akiyama)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.reviews
Subject: REVIEW: GPFax
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.datacomm
Date: 25 Aug 1993 13:56:53 GMT
Organization: The Amiga Online Review Column - ed. Daniel Barrett
Lines: 325
Sender: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu (comp.sys.amiga.reviews moderator)
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <25fr35$i54@menudo.uh.edu>
Reply-To: akiy@netcom.com (Jun Akiyama)
NNTP-Posting-Host: karazm.math.uh.edu
Keywords: fax, printing, commercial
PRODUCT NAME
GPFax version 2.342, GENERIC version
[MODERATOR'S NOTE: This review was updated on August 30, 1993.
Search for the text "[UPDATE" to find updated information.
-Dan]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Send/Receive faxes with a faxmodem.
AUTHOR/COMPANY INFORMATION
Company Name: GPSoftware
Authors: Dr. Greg Perry, Richard Carde
Address: 21 Aloomba Road
Ashgrove, Brisbane
QLD 4060
Australia
Telephone: +61 7 366 1402
FAX: +61 7 366 1402
E-mail: gregp@gpsoft.adsp.sub.org
rc@splat.aarnet.edu.au
LIST PRICE
GPFax version 2.01 had a list price of $120 (US), but I was unable to
find the list price of any of the current versions.
I paid $74.99 for my copy, although I know some mail order companies
will be lower. You can sometimes obtain this software more cheaply when it
is bundled with a faxmodem.
SPECIAL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
HARDWARE
This version of the software requires a Group 3, Class
2 TIA TR29.2 supporting faxmodem.
At least 1 MB of RAM is required, but the manual says:
"HIGHLY RECOMMEND a minimum of 1 MB of CHIP memory and
at least 0.5 MB of FAST memory."
A hard drive is not required, but the manual once
again recommends a hard drive "for most efficient
performance." The program and supporting files on my
hard drive take up about 230,000 bytes including its
own font and printer driver.
The program can be run on a 68000 CPU, but faster
processors are recommended, especially for higher
characters per second throughput on Workbench 1.3.
SOFTWARE
Workbench 1.3 or above is required. It works fine
even under Workbench 3.0.
COPY PROTECTION
None. Hard drive installable.
MACHINE USED FOR TESTING
Amiga 4000/040
2 MB Chip RAM, 4 MB Fast RAM
Workbench 39.29, Kickstart 39.106
SupraFaxModem v32.bis 14,400 baud
REVIEW
There are two versions of the GPFax software: one for the Supra
modems, and another "generic" version for others. Although I have a Supra
modem, I was able to purchase only the generic version, as my retailer
carried only that copy. However, Dr. Perry has told me that for an
additional $25, one can cross-grade from the generic version to the Supra
version. So, to save money, buy the correct version. (The generic version
works fine on my SupraFaxModem; so until I get a large shipment of money in
sometime, I think I'll stick with it. Supposedly, the Supra code is more
optimized for the Supra modem. I'll followup if I cross-grade.)
The first thing to check when you boot up your program the first
time is its version. GP has released several versions in a relatively short
period of time, ranging from 2.01a, 2.01b, 2.30, 2.341, and 2.342. I had
2.01a (2/5/92). Don't fear; the patches are available on the Aminet ftp
sites, although one may have to apply more than one patch to get to the
current version (2.342).
However, because of this upgrading fiasco, the included manual does
not list all of the features of the software. For example, in order to use
the program on the Workbench, you need to enter "SCREEN=WORKBENCH" as a
tooltype in the GPFax icon. Such information is included in some of the
updates but may be missing in others. I basically downloaded all of the
patches and then read all of the documentation files to make sure I didn't
miss anything. A more current, complete manual would be very welcome.
[UPDATE: GPFax is now shipping with a completely
rewritten manual with all of the upgrades included.]
Installation onto a hard drive is relatively simple; just double
click on the Install-GPFax icon on the included floppy, and Commodore's
Installer program will guide you through the process. (Note: some of the
upgrades include "new" fonts and printer driver, which you may need to
install manually. I do not know if these fonts and driver are actually any
different than the ones included with 2.01, but for safety's sake, I
installed them.)
The drawer created will have the GPFax program, a ViewFax
program to view faxes without actually having to enter GPFax, a FAX_IN
drawer and FAX_OUT drawer (where Faxes are stored when they come in
and before they are sent out, respectively), a directory with some
ARexx examples, some configuration files, and some documentation
files.
Once booted, the GPFax screen (or window, if you set that tooltype)
is shown. The first thing you may notice is the lack of menus. Everything
in GPFax is button/keyboard driven. I suppose this is used as a
simplification device, but I found it slightly annoying in the beginning,
though I have since grown accustomed to it.
The first time you run the program, you will need to set some
environment variables. These variables include your company name,
your fax number, and your phone number, all of which will be printed
onto an optional cover sheet for each fax. Also, you can set which
device you wish to use, how many rings before Auto Answer picks up the
phone, and the default font used for the Convert function (described
below).
In addition to the above "Environment" section, there is an
"Options" section in which you can set other preferences such as Quiet Modem
(which deactivates your modem speaker), Make Icons for faxes, create a
Workbench Appicon (for drop-in faxing capabilities), and Use Security (which
allows you to screen faxes by their incoming ID number).
There is, of course, a phonebook in which you can store your most
often dialed fax numbers. Here, you can enter a Name, Number, a Comment,
and a Group field as well as cover page details for each entry. The number
field can be marked with a "Man!" before the number itself if the fax
receiver must be notified to place their fax machine into receive mode
before sending the fax. The Group field can group certain names into the
likes as "Customers" and "Vendors" to facilitate faxing a group of people.
The cover page details include your company name, the name of the person
sending the fax, your fax number, your voice number, the name of the company
to which the fax is addressed, the name of the person to whom the fax is
sent, a "header" IFF to place at the top of the cover page, and a
"signature" IFF to place at the bottom.
In creating a fax, you have two choices: create an ASCII text or
2-color IFF picture which is fed into the Convert program, or use a word
processing program or a desktop publishing whose output will be sent to the
faxing driver rather than the normal printer driver. The former will use
the aforementioned font that was set in the Environment section to create a
fax of the text in that font, or just plainly use the two-color IFF
pixel-by-pixel. This, of course, will not produce a very professional
looking fax. The latter option, to use the fax printer driver, is much
better, producing a fax output of up to 210 dpi by 196 dpi. This is much
simpler too, as all you need to do is create a document (for example, in
Pagestream), set the printer configuration to send to the preferences
printer, and print. GPFax will intercept the file and send it to its
Fax_Out drawer, converting it into a FAX format on the fly.
Before sending the fax, you can view it on the screen using
the Display command. You can set the resolution of this screen within
the Options sections; I use a Super72 Super Hires Laced screen. Here,
you can specify if you wish to view at a 1:1, 1:2, or 1:4 ratio. (The
1:1 shows about 10% of the page, 1:2 shows about 60%, and 1:4 shows
the entire page for me.) You also have the option of printing the fax
if you wish for a hard copy before sending it.
In order actually to send a fax, all you have to do is select which
fax pages you wish t