Big Blue Disk 29/bbd29.zip/BLUENOTE.TXT

Text File | 1988-12-27 | 9KB | 161 lines

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Dear BBD,

   In a previous issue, a man from Hawaii wrote with a problem: he was wanting
to know how to convert a binary file to ASCII.  He was not quite right in the
way he asked the question.  He was wanting to know how to convert a BASIC
program saved in compressed format to ASCII.  I have always used the SAVE
command. For example, ^1SAVE "drive path filename.ext",A^0 -- which, when I save a
program, will look this way: ^1SAVE "c:\basic\myprogram.ext",A^0.  I feel that this
man did save in ASCII but saved it to a different drive or subdirectory.

   What do you mean you can't go from one batch file to another one?  I do it
all the time.  I have a batch file set up to delete all BBD's programs from my
hard disk, copy over the new ones, run BBD's GO batch file, and then exit the
batch file.  While I am running BBD, I copy the files I want to keep to a
permanent subdirectory.  Sometimes I add commands to the top, before the GO
command (and sometimes after the GO command). I have had no problems with it so
far.  But, please remember, the amount of memory you have will be the deciding
factor if you can run it this way or not.

   I ran into a weird thing the other day.  Maybe you can tell me what happened.
I saved a BASIC program, did some more work on it and then saved it again using
the A option.  I went to DOS to load the ASCII file into a word processor to do
some more work on it.  I couldn't load it into the word processor as it was in
compressed (or binary) format.  I then exited the word processor and did a
directory of the drive.  Lo and behold, I had two directory entries for that
BASIC program.  I then went to BASIC, loaded the file back in, used the SHELL
command, deleted the program once, did a directory and the file was gone.
Everything went fine from that point on.  I am using a IBM XT compatible with a
20-meg. Miniscribe hard drive.

   Please don't tell me I was seeing things, as this has happened to me more
than once. I can always delete both files with one command without using
wildcards.

   Everyone tells me I can't do some of the things I do.  To them I say "Bull."
I do it!!  I tell them about this small problem and they tell me it doesn't
happen, that I was seeing things.  Has this happened to anyone else?  I would
like some input from your readers as to whether this has happened to them.
Maybe a bunch of us can figure out what is happening.  I can live with it but it
sure has me stumped. When it happens it just means some more work on my part to
get around it.

^RJerry Scherer
^RWichita, KS

^1>  You can chain from one batch file to another, but when the second batch
^1file exits, it will go back to DOS and not to the original batch file that
^1called it, since DOS doesn't keep a "stack" of prior batch files to return to.
^1   (Note:  Mr. Scherer later called and explained how he chained from one
^1batch file to another:  He used the line:   COMMAND BATCH2   to start up a new
^1COMMAND.COM (the DOS command interpreter) and run the second batch file; when
^1that is done, the second COMMAND.COM terminates and returns control to the
^1original batch file.  That's one way of doing it, though it uses up some extra
^1memory to store two COMMAND.COM's at once.)
^1   As for your problem with two BASIC files of the same name, perhaps you
^1unwittingly inserted a space or control character into the filename of one.
^1Otherwise, you must have hit a bug in DOS or BASIC.
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Dear Computer Friends:

   I enjoy the programs received on BIG BLUE DISK.

   The disks I receive from you, by subscription each month, are two each 5 1/4
inch.  I tried copying them to one 3 1/2 inch, but had trouble.  Could not
access some files!

   Is there a relatively easy way to put the contents of the two 5 1/4 inch
drives on one each 3 1/2 inch, so that all files are accessible from that one
disk?  I can follow fairly intricate instructions.

   My computer is a TANDY Model 1000 TX.

   It has an added 5 1/4 inch Disk Drive, and a TANDY 20 Meg Hard Card.  The
disk drive provided with the computer is a 3 1/2 inch, of course.

^RArthur B. Davenport
^RMelbourne, FL

^1>  For issues #17 and up, just copy all files from both 5 1/4" disks onto one
^13 1/2" disk, and the issue will run fine.  Earlier issues require the added
^1procedure of editing the file STATUS.DAT (using an ASCII-based text editor, such
^1as our own BlueLine) so that the "1" or "2" on the line below the month and year
^1becomes a zero ("0").  (Alternatively, copy the files PASRUN.COM and PRESENT.CHN
^1from a later issue onto your destination disk.)
^1   Three-disk issues like this are a bit more involved.  You'll have to copy
^1the contents of disk 1 onto one 3 1/2" disk, and the contents of disks 2 and 3
^1onto a second 3 1/2" disk.  (This is a slightly different arrangement from our
^1own 3 1/2" version of the issue, but it's the easiest way for you to do it
^1without worrying about what files to copy where, and without having to change
^1the menu file to handle disk swaps correctly.)
^1   Copying a two- or three-disk issue to a hard disk is easy, too; just copy the
^1contents of all disks into a single subdirectory.  Don't copy more than one
^1issue to a directory, but copy all disks within an issue into the same
^1directory.  For issues before #17, do the added STATUS.DAT editing step as
^1described above.
^1   Incidentally, subscriptions are available at the same price in either disk
^1format; just state your preference when you enter or renew, or call us and ask
^1to switch an existing subscription.  Bear in mind, though, that there's no easy
^1way to copy an issue from a 3 1/2" disk to two 5 1/4" disks, since some files
^1must go on disk 1, others on disk 2, and still others on both.  So, if you need
^1both formats, get the 5 1/4" version and copy it manually to 3 1/2" disks.
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Dear Big Blue Disk,

   Last year, I switched from a Commodore 64 to an IBM-AT-compatible machine.  I
am not a programmer; the computer is just a tool for me.  Your BBD is helping me
to find the right stuff.

   Some of BIG BLUE DISK's programs need improvement, like CHECK KING or SIMPLE
BUDGET.  Otherwise, I like BBD and my machine.  One thing I am missing.  A
program "ENVELOPE MAKER" like one that was published in RUN magazine for the
Commodore; I can make an envelope with a label program, but making the whole
envelope, return address, and address in big letters is more fun.  I would like
to see an ENVELOPE MAKER program in one of your next BBD issues.

^RKarl-Heinz Riedel
^RNorth Lauderdale, FL

^1>  Thanks for the suggestion; we'll consider doing such a program for a future
^1issue.  Do any other readers have programs they'd particularly like to see?
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Dear Blue Line Editor:

   Just received BBD #26 and am very excited about the Taxmaster.  It seems to
be very timely.  I will try it out to project the rest of 1988 for tax
considerations.

   In conjunction with teaching Accounting at the University of Southern Maine,
I find the Grade Book from BBD 23 valuable.  However, the instructions are a bit
sketchy in places.  It was necessary to enter my class list several times
because every time I exited the program information was lost.

   I finally figured out that, when the screen asked for Class and Term, it was
necessary to type a digit for the class and then type the digit for the term
without entering the first digit.  As you know, when the first digit is typed
and then entered, a beep sounds and nothing happens.  Well, persistence paid off
and now all seems to be well.

   I'm happy to read that Enhanced Family Tree has been published.  I hope it
solves some of the few problems of the original Family Tree such as making the
numbering system conform to normal genealogical tradition.

^RCharles W. Tolman
^RScarborough, ME

^1>  Actually, I'm the "Managing Editor"; the "BlueLine Editor" is the program
^1which can be used to enter feedback comments.  But as long as you keep your
^1subscription checks coming, you can call me anything you like.
^1   When I wrote the original Family Tree I knew little about standard
^1genealogical practice, but I've gradually been learning more about this
^1fascinating subject.  We hope ultimately to release an even-better genealogical
^1system for commercial sale, in which we will add many more improvements,
^1including greater conformity to genealogical standards and traditions.