Hey, readers, you too can appear in Softdisk G╤S. Are you having fun? Do you have any comments or questions? Any requests? Write in and you too could have your letter published. The following list of people all sent in letters with program ideas, wishes, etc. I certainly appreciate your input.
Why does the clip art appear in lots of colors in your display mode, yet when I get into AWGS, the colors are different (i.e. sometimes all shades of blues or all shades of orange instead of multi-color)? Please keep the answer simple; preferably 25 words or less. I tried to change the palette colors in AWGS, but that didn╒t give me multi-colors, just different shades of the main color.
Keep up your excellent work╤╤can╒t wait for those AWGS templates and I like all the graphics╤╤clip art and PS. Tell Spencer I live for his work each month. He╒s inspired me to try my hand at designing; however, my ╥works of art╙ are still a far cry from being remotely Spencer quality.
Lesa Farmer
Kansas City, KS
P.S. Funny story for you: I bought a magazine the other day about that ╥other computer╙ Apple makes. In the Letters column, all those Mac users are complaining about the fact that Apple doesn╒t provide them any support (at this point I had to check the cover to make sure WHICH magazine I was reading╤╤it all sounded so deja vu). Since Apple has crossed the II off its list and the Mac people say Apple isn╒t supporting them, just what exactly is Apple doing out there in their fantasyland? Are they too busy counting all their money? Do they even live there anymore? Has anyone actually seen an Apple employee? Just wondering.
Dear Lesa,
Your graphics question will, hopefully, be answered by the illustrious Spencer (no pun intended) next month.
I heard Apple is creating an Appleland for Northern California. Admission prices will be expensive, there will be long lines at all the rides, very few workers to pester for directions, and, when you come back next summer to visit your favorite ride, they╒ll try to talk you into riding the new and improved ╥whatever╙ (for a small fee, of course).
In all seriousness, there are REAL Apple employees. Some of them actually working on Apple II stuff. We╒ll keep you posted!
I have one 3.5-inch drive and two 5.25-inch drives. If I load an article or anything text, and I have the wrong disk in, the screen clears and a dialog box appears alerting me to insert the correct disk. The problem is in order in which these events occur. I can╒t actually see the dialog box, even though I know it╒s there because the screen is blank. It would make me feel better if I could see the dialog box.
Your graphics are outstanding, especially for Storm Ruins and the Dark Designs opening screens. The IBM can impress me, but the IIGS can take my breath away!
I look forward to the new WordWorks. I still use AppleWorks 3.0 for papers and stuff because I don╒t have a full-fledged desktop publisher that works right.
I like the articles, and the more technical the better.
I ╥grew up╙ with Copy II+. It gave me a feeling of power. I don╒t like the Installer. Why do we have to use that to copy files? Does it have something to do with the new GS/OS?
Puzzle-type games like Moku or Lift-A-Gon are cool, but they get old kinda quick. I╒d rather have an application or utility than that type of game.
Storm Ruin╒s keys (for doors, not for pressing) work only on the level you found them on. The program forgets to clear the key box after completion of the level, but I╒m more than willing to forgive, since I love the game.
Issue #36╒s, Canasta, won╒t let you take back cards you╒ve put on a stack╤╤you have to start the whole round over again. Blah! But otherwise, it╒s a cool game.
I╒ve gotten some good Softdisks lately. One MAJOR gripe I have about this issue (#42) is that I am almost positive that, for some reason, it is impossible to run Rescue Rover with 1.25 MB and a Zip chip. I called Tech Support a time or two and they advised me to disable the Zip chip. The problem is, you need a CDA to disable it. So I booted it up with DAs and inits off, ran DA Runner, and disabled the chip. Then I tried running Rescue Rover with the Zip CDA both in memory and removed, and with and without using Memory Manager to purge memory. My cache should only be 8K for the Zip chip, so I don╒t know why I keep falling 30 or 40K short of 800K every time. I even opened my GS and flipped the DIP switch to disable the Zip chip and it still didn╒t work. Well, I╒m probably getting a 4 MB upgrade soon, so I╒ll be able to run it. Otherwise, it LOOKS like a great game.
I, like you folks, see no need to be hostile to Jay or Spencer in regard to their written content. I don╒t imagine eliminating any of their material would free up more than 1K of disk space anyway! (╥Wow, since we dumped Jay, we╒ve had room enough for another whole application!╙)
Analyst 1.2 is great, but it╒s also hell to load unless you have two drives or a RAM disk. Zak, what do you do, access the system once for every single Tool set? I almost shot myself because I thought the disk swapping would never end.
Another thing, when I put WordWorks on a RAM disk with Finder, I couldn╒t print these report cards out. First, when I loaded this one, it said right away that the file╒s layout had been altered and that I should check Page Setup. I couldn╒t check Page Setup OR Print It because when I selected either, the screen said make sure you have selected the correct printer and driver. This did not happen when I just ran it from your SDGS System 6. I╒m assuming that it╒s because this program requires the DC Printer thing in the Control Panel DA.
On the same subject, when I load these report cards, the window is bigger than the screen, so I can never see the last line or two of my letter or resize the window unless I mess around with Stack Windows for a while.
And a little question... What do you guys use to program? I fell in love with Merlin 16+╒s streamlined interface, but then I got busy and forgot half the stuff I╒ve ever learned about programming.
Well, that╒s the long and short of it! Keep up the good work!
Joel Buursma
Lynwood, IL
Dear Joel,
re: inserting disks with blanked screens
This is a known bug in our shell and will be fixed (it╒s been mentioned a few times in Tech Support Notes...)
Do NOT use Copy II+ on your GS for anything other than bit copies. It WILL corrupt most GS/OS files. Period. End of story.
Copy II+ is a ProDOS-8 program that doesn╒t know about GS/OS files, and furthermore doesn╒t care: it treats them no differently than ProDOS 8 files. Thus they can be corrupted.
The Installer offers a consistent and simple method of installation. By using the Installer we can write Installer Scripts that ensure that all the correct files are copied and whatnot.
(by the way: GS/OS is hardly new, it first appeared in 1988!)
Doesn╒t Undo work in Canasta? It should╤╤it does for me. <grin>
Rescue Rover requires at least 1.5MB of memory, and quite likely more. But, it is compatible with the Zip GS╤╤we have a few of them here.
Yeah, I took a look at The Analyst and found out a way to cut down most of the disk swaps. Unfortunately, I didn╒t do this until after v1.3 mastered so it won╒t show up until after that. Sorry though!
Hmm, I╒ll have to look into your DC Printer/WordWorks Pro issue. I bet I know what╒s wrong╤╤it╒ll be fixed in WWPro 2.1 (on issue #50).
The window being too big is a known bug╤╤you can fix it just by clicking the zoom box.
We use MPW IIGS for our development: Assembly, C and Pascal.
I have recently received Softdisk G-S 42 and, as usual, have found it to be well done and very useful. My Don╒t Forget! NDA is going to be indispensable╤╤the months of May and June are already filled! Thanks for a great little utility. I have often toyed with the idea of exchanging this machine for a Macintosh, but every month and issue of Softdisk G-S that go by give me more reasons not to.
I would also like to respond to Rhoda Rodger╒s question (issue #42) about adding columns in the GS database and determining a balance. This is, of course, quite easily done in the Spreadsheet. One method of getting the balance she is looking for would be to copy the data from a database to the Clipboard and pasting it onto a Spreadsheet. Refer to the manuals for more details on doing this.
Secondly, if she must use a Database to manipulate her data, then she should first create a third field for each and every record. Then she should set a field formula for the new (3rd) column. This is done by selecting the column, then the Edit-Field formula function from the menu and entering the formula: [Field 2]-[Field 1]. Next use the Report utility for the database in question. Under the Report Menu, first choose Format and enable the Sum function for the fields in question, especially the third one that represents the difference between Fields 2 and 1. She should then Create a Report. This will give her the totals for the columns in question and, in effect, the sum of Field 3 (i.e. of the differences between Fields 2 and 1) is the balance she is looking for. This is crude and may require some formatting but it is the only way I have ever been able to do the same thing within the Database.
I don╒t know if this is a weakness of the GS database, but I╒ve always found some way of manipulating the data in the manner I want. Necessity is, however, still the mother of invention! Good luck and happy computing.
I run address labels all the time with Address Manager, and no problem. But I don╒t believe there╒s any provision for anything but standard 3 1/2 x 15/16 (4 x 1) labels. I would guess that R. Barnard of Glen Head, NY will have to live with that, or try Label It.
Y. Cook of W. Pittsburgh, CA has trouble with sticky labels. Is it possible she isn╒t allowing for extra paper thickness in her ImageWriter II? There is a little black lever inside the printer, at the right end of the carriage. She needs to depress that one click╤╤or whatever works.
Does anyone have any good, simple, inexpensive programs on Genealogy for the GS?
Overall, Softdisk G-S is excellent!!! The coming attractions look neat, especially the icon editor! Here are comments about some specific programs:
Storm Ruins: The best adventure game I have ever played! Is it possible to obtain maps of the different levels of Storm Ruins? I have mastered this one╤╤I figured out all the levels, but I don╒t know where the shields are. a new man is mentioned in the description of level 6, but I haven╒t found it.
Quick Forms: I don╒t use it that much, but it is very good.
Safety Net: One of Bryan Pietrzak╒s well-done programs. I don╒t use it that much though; I like more control over my computer.
Dr. Joystick Bros.: I only tinker with this one, as I don╒t have a joystick. But the buttons work. I just substitute the Apple and Option keys for the buttons. I figured out the button mix-up before I saw it on issue #41.
Spencer╒s Corner and Clip Art: I like the 640 mode clip art. Spencer is such a good artist! P.S. stuff would be OK, as the paint program I will get in June can load PS and PSGS files. NO AWGS TEMPLATES! I can╒t figure out why people can╒t make their own templates╤╤otherwise, why would they buy AppleWorks GS?
WordWorks Pro 2.0: Very good! This may be Bryan╒s best yet! However, I would like to see multiple rulers; a Lines dialog for each ruler is even more important. I understand this may require abandoning the Teach file format and/or the TextEdit tool set, but I like to mix centered and left justified text in a document. How about an automatic centering feature (instead of placing the portion in center justification, just add an appropriate tab to the ruler and insert a tab character in the document)╤╤this would be less troublesome than rewriting the entire program.
Minstrel: Very good! It could use a little less disk swapping, but I like it anyway! I can even play my own creations, as long as I used SynthLAB.
System 6.0 Sounds: Laugh and Funky╤╤Laugh and Funky are great! The laugh is very well designed╤╤just the right touch! Funky really shows off the GS╤╤it really talks! Boogie!
Miss Vikki Font: A super cursive font. This is my first cursive font,and I like it! (a lot)
Gem Grid: SUPER-COLOSSAL!!! I love to play it! Linoleum Software (funny name, isn╒t it?) did a super job!!!
The Analyst 1.2: The only bad one I have received. The Analyst 1.2 requires too much disk swapping. It does not print right!!! At least it didn╒t crash! I prefer the Version Reporter and the keypress startup (press a key before the Welcome to the IIGS screen appears) to the Analyst anyway, so don╒t waste any effort.
Attach Version: It fails to work on some files. It gives me the error ╥Position out of range.╙
The Brauns
Charlottesville, VA
Dear Brauns,
Good ideas for WWPro╤╤I╒ll take a look at the idea of auto-centering!
Read my response up above in regards to The Analyst╤╤I was doing some dumb things and this will be fixed in future update.
Attach Version reports position out of range? Really? That╒s really strange. What kinds of files? Are you running System 6.0 or 6.0.1? Could you possibly send us one of the files it fails on?
Softdisk is the best of its kind. None can come close for content and usefulness. I need advice on best partitioning of hard disk for ease of use and best management of programs and data.
Geo. Masterson
Beloit, WI
Dear Geo.,
Yikes! I could write a book on this subject, and in fact Jerry Kindall at Quality Computers did. It costs $7. Contact Quality Computers for ordering information.
I don╒t mind the waiting a little longer for my subscription to arrive for quality programs like WordWorks Pro 2.0 and have less bugs to contend with. I have only one complaint and that is WordWorks Pro 2.0 still cannot print justified text; other than that it appears to be perfect.
Can╒t wait to see the spell checker you are working on. Will you be offering a way for the readers to get the larger dictionaries you talked about in an earlier issue? How about a Canadian Dictionary, we do spell some words different in Canada (i.e. center/centre, and color/colour, as you can see in Canada we use the British spelling of words).
Don Lindhorst
Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada
Dear Don,
Recently on the online services we╒ve gone through some hoops trying to determine just what the deal is with WWPro and printing full-justified. Here is what is happening: WWPro sends data to TextEdit, TextEdit sends the data to the printer driver and the printer driver sends it to the printer. One of these steps is failing.
I think the problem is the TextEdit-Printer Driver stage. Some users have found that they could print full justified, just not at the highest resolution. I╒m still trying to work out just what is happening and I really want to get this one fixed (I thought it was though...).
Most likely we╒ll be offering other dictionaries through the 800 number. As for foreign dictionaries, I╒m not sure. At the very least, you can add the words to the user dictionary.
Other than being nice to view, what purpose does clip art and Spencer╒s art have? I don╒t own AWGS and have no intention of purchasing it. Suggested uses would be in order. Which leads me to another question, what is the definition of clip art, apple preferred, etc.
John Thomas
Papillion, NE
Dear John,
How does one use art? Well, seeing as I╒m a programmer, I have no idea! Readers, write and tell us how you use our clip art and Spencer╒s!
Clip art is simply a graphic image that contains smaller images that you can ╥clip╙ out and paste into other ╥things╙ (newsletters, stacks, etc). Apple Preferred Format is a method of storing graphic images. It involves compression and is a bit complicated, but is the industry standard.
I╒m really impressed so far, even though World Tour won╒t run while I╒m operating from my hard drive. As you can see the font works and the other stuff included in #41 is fine. What I would really like to see is a finance program that will calculate and print out amortization schedules. Of course, payment, earned interest, and those types of calculations would fall in with the same program.
I╒m glad I have been introduced to Softdisk G-S, thanks for the trial subscription. Is there any way I can get the back copies of World Tour? It does run if I bypass the hard drive.
Ben Carter
Bethel, AK
Dear Ben,
World Tour should run just fine from your hard drive--you might want to call Customer Service and ask them to help you out (1-800-831-2694).
Back issues can be ordered via Customer Service--be sure to call and ask for a copy of our Back Issue Catalog--it╒s quite nice!
I find Diskovery interesting and amusing. I think your subscriber Bob is full of it, I would like to know more about the hard drive with the replaceable cartridges.
Dr. William D. Harris
Beavertown, OR
Dear Dr. Harris,
Removable hard drives are also known as SyQuest drives. They╒re a bit more expensive, but since you can buy as many cartridges as you need, you basically have unlimited storage. Check out the article on issue #44. Titled ╥Removable Mass Storage Devices,╙ it should answer all of your questions.
I had a few things to say, and have finally gotten around to writing it all, so here goes:
First of all, I wanted to compliment all of you guys for a job well done. After all the useless shareware I╒ve poured through, your magazette impressed me... I originally expected more of the same shareware, but found a LOT of nice ╥toys╙ to play with, in particular I enjoyed:
WordWorks Pro 2.0 (not a bad job...easily replaces AWGS in terms of usability)
Nucleon: good distraction for hectic days.
Analyst 1.2: helpful, helpful, not to mention the sounds, pics, etc.
It╒s good to see that there are a few groups out there that still support the Apple II line... I am a LONG time user... went from an Apple II to an Apple II+, to an Apple IIc to finally an Apple IIGS. I, as well as many Apple II series users, am very disappointed with Apple╒s lack of support for the II series. Groups like you are a blessing and one of the reasons why I haven╒t given up on these incredible machines.
However, I would also like to say that I was rather annoyed by an article in one of the Reader╒s Write columns. In the response, the recently defunct group FTA was attacked. This annoyed me, because I have much of their work, and that was their style. They pioneered many incredible special effects for the GS, such as writing to the border area of the screen, their loaders, etc.
On another note, many people have mentioned a need for TrueType¬ fonts. Those users with Internet access might try some of the many sites around the country that have TrueType fonts, as well as softs. I can provide a short listing of sites if anyone is interested.
Two more things: Can you recommend a good Communications program (System 6.0 compatible, with ANSi (color if possible), scrollback, protocols, etc.)? I use ProTERM 3.0 usually, but I would love some color if possible, and GS/OS usability too. I understand you have a BBS. Is there an Internet access node for it by any chance? Would make my life so much simpler.
Thanks again,
Henry R. Fiedorczyk
Dear Henry,
It was me that attacked the FTA. My attack was based on the simple question of ╥What have they done for the GS community? Name one game that they actually finished?╙ What good is drawing in the border? Why waste time rewriting the loader when GS/OS loads files just fine? No, my beef with FTA is quite simple: they could have done far more good by simply completing a program that actually did something. By the way, you are not alone in your disagreement with me. I hope you don╒t let my opinion affect what you think of Softdisk G-S or the programs I write, but I╒m not going to lie to you regardless.
We╒re going to be doing a comparative review of all the major communications programs just as soon as Spectrum is released, so I╒ll hold off on answering about the comm programs until then!
You can reach us on the internet at ╥softdisk.inc@genie.geis.com╙.
Tell Spencer not to be so hard on himself. Summer╒s Dream looks fine and is a welcome relief after the Blizzard of ╒93. I╒m glad we╒ll be getting full panel graphics on issue #42. Since Text Wizard is now obsolete, I╒m glad I didn╒t waste the disk space on it. As for converters for WordPerfect and GraphicWriter, they were only suggestions, which you keep asking for. If you can╒t do it, it╒s really no big deal.
Just a few disjointed comments about the Apple IIGS. The Apple IIGS kind of reminds me of the VW Beetle. Even though VW stopped the production of the Beetle in the mid 70s, there sure are a lot of them running about some 20 years after they ceased to be produced. There still are after-market companies producing parts and what not for the Beetle.
So what is the worry about the Apple IIGS? If we keep driving our Apple IIGS╒s there will be companies out there to make hardware and software for them. Ok, so there won╒t be new models coming out but we can still customize them just like people do with cars. I have owned my IIGS for three years now and still have not hit the wall where I would have to say I need a bigger faster computer with more whistles and bells. This machine does more than I am capable of using it for even after three years. I think the capabilities of the IIGS have been greatly underrated and virtually ignored except by those that own them and see what they are capable of doing.
I have subscriptions to Softdisk IIGS and few IIGS-specific magazines, plus two shareware clubs and I find I have more than enough to keep up with all that information. Well that is about all I have to say about that.
I plan to keep using the IIGS until I can╒t find software or hardware to keep it running. But like the old VW Beetle sitting outside, I think it will be a very long time before this computer will bite the dust.
Keep up the good work and bringing us some interesting and varied software for the IIGS.
I was most embarrassed when my poorly written and vague comments showed up on SDGS #40 under the Professor╒s column! Yes, my comments were vague and not well-defined. Had I known I was going to be published in front of several thousand subscribers, I would have taken the time to use complete sentences.
Otherwise, how are things with Softdisk G-S? Improving by the issue. I╒ve had some system/init conflicts between some of inits: Safety Net and Quickie 3.5. My guess is that both inits (Quickie and some your stuff) are trying to do the same thing at the same time.
I╒ve had no problems with System 6.0 and most of the commented problems, such as Express 2.0 or Pointless. I╒m looking forward to System 6.0.1. My only complaint here is that Pointless, Graphic Writer III, and all are forcing me to consider yet another 40 MB hard drive.
Jeff Cummings
Corydon, IN
Dear Jeff,
I╒ve heard of many problems with the Quickie software. My suggestion would be to contact Vitesse and let them know that you are having problems with it. (Let me know what they say!)
You might want to think about something bigger than 40MB╤╤a 120MB drive is not that much more expensive!
I personally enjoy comment by ALL the staff at Softdisk and Softdisk G-S! Just because one person doesn╒t like Jay╒s comments, that doesn╒t mean he does not have a right to input important things on the Apple IIGS world from his (Jay╒s) desk.
After all the caterwauling about no input from people about the Apple IIs, this man wants to silence someone who helps make my Apple IIGS more effective, entertaining and useful?! We all appreciate everyone╒s input, including this dissenter╒s.
I would be personally interested if Softdisk, Inc., would come up with a payment program for the billing of subscriptions for those of us who don╒t have a Visa or MasterCard, etc.
We use our Apple IIGS for teaching computer skills to seniors. They like games, but need typing tutors, practice on creating files, etc. They would like an address both that doesn╒t have so many steps and will work without hard card.
Concerning WordWorks, how can I get it to print smaller print? I can╒t seem to figure it out. HELP!!!
Judy Morey
Odgensburg, WI
Dear Judy,
You can change size of the font you are using by selecting text and then selecting a size from the Size menu. Also, when printing, make sure you have the ╥Vertical Condense╙ option set in the Page Setup, otherwise text will appear too tall.
Skyfox is an old game that works on II series, Apple IIe, etc. I would like to see a game like it with better graphics, if possible. I know you only have a small amount of room for programs, though.
I really like WordWorks Pro 2.0, but I already use AppleWorks GS. It is a great word processor! I have also come to the conclusion that is is a hard choice to decide between clip art and clipped sounds. How about some R&B MIDI songs? Or Pop. At least your MIDI song, Lines, is jammin!
I╒d like to take the time to tell you that I think Softdisk G-S is great, and I╒ll keep my subscription to it as long as I can afford it. Also, I╒ll try to finish the programs I╒m writing right now. You might be interested in publishing some of them. (Of course, finishing them could take a while...and probably will since I have very little free time during the school year.)
I╒m very happy with my subscription to Softdisk G-S! You are doing most everything right! I plan on keeping my subscription active for as long as Softdisk remains at this level of quality.
Hey Softdisk, I╒m back! I wrote to you a few issues back, and I decided to write to you, once again for voicing ideas and complaints.
1. I loved Canasta (Issue #36)! I quickly caught on, as it is like a card game that my family plays. It is called Hand and Foot, and it is a little known game. Keep up the great card games.
2. I complained, in my last letter, about not liking Minstrel as I liked Jukebox. Well, that opinion has changed. I have Minstrel running right now. I use it whenever I work on a novel ( I hope to be published), and the music is often inspiring! Is there a way to load Jukebox songs into Minstrel?
3. I really enjoy Rescue Rover (Issue #42)! I still can╒t get past Robot Room 7, but I love a good challenge, and Rescue Rover is right up my alley. Keep up the good work on games like this.
4. I recently decided to use the Miss Vikki font. How realistic! My dad explained how you use a formula for figuring the point and all that, and I am impressed! I use it whenever I am typing letters now, and it gives it that realistic look.
5. Don╒t forget, the NDA, is really helpful for me! For example, I had to send a birthday card, and I had forgotten about it, and then the little dialogue screen popped up to remind me. I instantly remembered it. Thanks!
Nothing more from here in Rhineland. Keep up the good work, and about six issues down the road I will have to sit down and write another letter! Thanks again for all the great work that you do.
Jason Witte
Dear Jason,
I╒m going to look into adding support for Jukebox songs to Minstrel. It╒s not a simple thing though, but I hope to get it in there!
I was glad to receive your SDGS System 6.0 disk. However, when I made a copy and then attempted to verify the disk and the files using Copy II Plus version 9.1 the process reported back many errors. Mainly these were I/O Errors such as ╥START I/O Error Block 0251╙, ╥DIRECT CONNECT I/O Error Block 0630╙, ╥INSTALLED I/O Error Block 02F3.╙
I had the same message for GENERAL, KEYBOARD, and SOUND but all with different block numbers. On the other hand, when I performed a verification using Finder no errors were reported. I have an Apple expansion card with 1 MB and a C.V. Technologies expansion card with 4 MB. When I run Softdisk G-S programs using my backup copy of your disk, they seem to run fine. Do you have any idea what is going on and should I be concerned?
The Analyst is a good idea and may be helpful when calling anyone for technical assistance. This does bring up another question. Is there any benefit to upgrading to ROM 03 from ROM 01?
Any chance for a program that unpacks files, both graphic and text? I would also be interested in a program that can read stored files and tell you the format they are stored in especially for graphics. I would love to have it tell the kind of graphic 640, 320, 640 dithered, Low-Res, Hi-Res, Double Hi-Res, etc.
Guy G. Hawkins
Berwyn, IL
Dear Guy,
Do NOT use Copy II+ on your GS for anything other than bit copies. It WILL corrupt most GS/OS files. Period. End of story.
Copy II+ is a ProDOS-8 program that doesn╒t know about GS/OS files, and furthermore doesn╒t care: it treats them no differently than ProDOS 8 files. Thus they can be corrupted.
Now, call Softdisk Customer Service (1-800-831-2694) and ask for a replacement disk for your startup disk.
Unfortunately, you can╒t upgrade to a ROM 03 from a ROM 01╤╤Apple never offered an upgrade path.
Firstly, I want to say, ╥Thanks!╙ to Lee Golden. I had written a letter to Professor KIA concerning a problem I was having with a program from one of your sister publications, On Disk Monthly. Lee intercepted the letter, and to save time, actually called me to let me know that the disk in question was defective and that a replacement was in the mail. Thanks, Lee. (Your call almost made me regret some of the things I said in another letter I mailed in a couple of months ago!)
Secondly (and maybe even thirdly and fourthly), I want to share a couple of thoughts that have been kicking around in my head of late. One of them concerns the program Option.Save from issue #23. Those who have upgraded to System 6 (you have upgraded by now, haven╒t you?) may want to rename this program Control.Save. Under System 5, the Option key forced the Finder to do the opposite of the Preferences settings, but System 6 uses the Control key for this purpose. The name change will help you remember which key you need to be holding down while running this program.
Speaking of programs, one of the possible programs I╒ve read about recently is a multi-tasking shell for the IIGS. However, in one sense, the IIGS already has this capability built-in with NDAs. With a combination of the clip board, the enhanced abilities of System 6 and a series of well-planned NDAs, you could achieve very nearly the productivity of a single integrated package. Of course, the advantage of a multi-tasking environment is that you can pick and choose exactly which programs you want in memory, while NDAs are loaded at boot time and take up memory whether you need them or not. Not to worry! You can always keep your NDAs to a minimum and use Instant.DA to load in the ones you need. But what if you want to free up some memory? Maybe you could publish an NDA UNloader (is that possible?) In order for this to work, the NDAs would have to be bigger and more feature-packed than most of them usually are, which means you would have to have a considerable amount of RAM. I╒m not a programmer, but if my understanding is correct, virtually any program can be implemented as an NDA. But I don╒t know what that means in terms of RAM: does an NDA take up more memory than a regular program of similar size and complexity? As regards what kinds of NDAs we╒re talking about, you name it╤╤word processing, spreadsheet, data base, games, whatever. Basically, I╒d like to be able to load in 3 or 4 NDAs and use them in any combination without leaving Finder. That way, I can always format a disk, delete or rename or copy files, switch from one program to another, and do it all much faster than I can do it now (quitting back to Finder and running another program is a real pain, especially if I want to return to the original program, which means quitting back to Finder, etc.)
On the down side, SeeHear on issue #35 is a really neat idea, but while I can See, the program won╒t let me Hear. Is this a bug, or is it related to the fact that I have the System 6 Sounds Control Panel installed? And on the up side, the same issue also had Nucleon. As I mentioned above, I also get (or did get) On Disk Monthly for PCs, and Nucleon debuted there. Your version is slightly different, so it took me a few games to get used to it, but I enjoy it just as much.
Overall, I╒m enjoying my subscription to SDGS. Maybe we should amend the slogan to read ╥Apple II & SDGS Forever!╙
George A. Clark
Reynoldsburg, OH
Dear George,
There is a known bug in SeeHear and it will be fixed in an upcoming revision╤╤sorry!
It is a pleasure to write to you while listening to my new Minstrel. The very first issue that I received, #40 has more than impressed me.
My question, however, is of a more technical nature. I would like to be able to drive a StyleWriter II from my GS, and although Vitesse has a StyleWriter driver under development, they have as of yet not begun a StyleWriter II driver.
If anyone out there has a source, or have successfully managed to get a StyleWriter II working from a GS, I would dearly like to hear about it. Apple, of course, in their infinite wisdom, has no plans to develop a driver, as they intend the StyleWriter II to be only a Macintosh product. More is the pits for them, when even Apple no longer supports its OWN products!
