[net.micro.mac] Delphi Mac Digest V2 #31

shulman@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU (Jeff Shulman) (07/26/86)

Delphi Mac Digest          Saturday, 26 July 1986      Volume 2 : Issue 31

Today's Topics:
     RE: GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT (Re: Msg 7924)
     RE: LODOWN BACKUP (Re: Msg 10624)
     RE: LODOWN BACKUP (Re: Msg 10708)
     RE: Alter Ego (male) (Re: Msg 10704)
     RE: Alter Ego (male) (Re: Msg 10711)
     RE: Alter Ego (male) (Re: Msg 10744)
     RE: Alter Ego (male) (Re: Msg 10744)
     Finder point size
     RE: Finder point size (Re: Msg 10729)
     RE: LODOWN BACKUP (Re: Msg 10712)
     RE: LODOWN BACKUP (Re: Msg 10731)
     RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10734)
     RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10690)
     RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10738)
     RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10775)
     RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10785)
     RE: astrology (Re: Msg 10421)
     Modification to Apple License Agreement
     RE: Modification to Apple License Agreem (Re: Msg 10755)
     RE: Modification to Apple License Agreem (Re: Msg 376)
     RE: Modification to Apple License Agreem (Re: Msg 378)
     RE: Modification to Apple License Agreem (Re: Msg 376)
     Cooling fan
     RE: Cooling fan (Re: Msg 10757)
     RE: Cooling fan (Re: Msg 10757)
     HD-20 Missing Space?
     RE: HD-20 Missing Space? (Re: Msg 10760)
     RE:  SCSI conversions (Re: Msg 10736)
     RE:  SCSI conversions (Re: Msg 10790)
     RE:  SCSI conversions (Re: Msg 10817)
     MaxPlus from MacMemory Inc.
     RE: MaxPlus from MacMemory Inc. (Re: Msg 10795)
     Power supplies
     How do I recover lost disk space?
     RE: How do I recover lost disk space? (Re: Msg 10804)
     RE: How do I recover lost disk space? (Re: Msg 10809)
     LaserJet
     Lightspeed C Editor
     RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 365)
     RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 365)
     RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 370)
     RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 374)
     RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 365)
     File menu and DA's
     RE: File menu and DA's (Re: Msg 366)
     RE: saving window coords (Re: Msg 351)
     new hard disk
     Modems with Mac+'s
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 

From: NICKDREXEL (10700)
Subject: RE: GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT (Re: Msg 7924)
Date: 22-JUL 23:35 Games and Entertainment
 
You are right, I think that I should write a letter or call them up soon.1n  I
am hoping that some of the programmer of Activision are the Delphi member.  But
direct approach is sure much better.
 
Moreover, I have to correct some information the Alter Ego program are
consisted of :

-  Protection program   5.5 kbytes
-  Graphics & Icon      20  kbytes
-  Real program (invisible)   44  kbytes.
 
Although this game is not "hot" concerning the way it treats my computer and
hardware, I still like it.  Oh! what a grown up boy..
 
Talk to you later               Nick
 
------------------------------

From: FRACTAL (10708)
Subject: RE: LODOWN BACKUP (Re: Msg 10624)
Date: 23-JUL 02:48 Hardware & Peripherals
 
LoDOWN has been having trouble shipping units as fast as the orders have been
coming in. I've heard about 30% to 40% increase in the last month. No, there're
not going under, it's just hard to find one of their drives because they are in
great demand right now!
 
------------------------------

From: DDUNHAM (10712)
Subject: RE: LODOWN BACKUP (Re: Msg 10708)
Date: 23-JUL 04:37 Hardware & Peripherals
 
I guess that's good news...  I'm quite happy with mine, doubt I'll
have the luxury of using your software (no tape).
 
------------------------------

From: DWB (10711)
Subject: RE: Alter Ego (male) (Re: Msg 10704)
Date: 23-JUL 04:22 Bugs & Features
 
One possible solution to the problem of games exiting and rebooting
the system is to boot another disk and look at the game disk.  Throw
away whatever it has on it called "Finder", especially if it's real
small. There are several (don't remember which ones, but I think
Wizardry is one) which just exit to the finder, which has been
replaced with a rebooting program.  They work fine once it's gotten
rid of.  One more suggestion, probably superfluous, DO THIS ON A
BACKUP, some tacky bas---- may have put checks for it in the game
itself...
 
David
 
------------------------------

From: BMUG (10744)
Subject: RE: Alter Ego (male) (Re: Msg 10711)
Date: 24-JUL 02:26 Bugs & Features
 
I'll give ten points for the person who comes up with the patch that stops the
program from rebooting on exit....It's more less the same on all of those types
of programs......
 
Steve Costa/BMUG
 
------------------------------

From: LOFTUSBECKER (10746)
Subject: RE: Alter Ego (male) (Re: Msg 10744)
Date: 24-JUL 02:43 Bugs & Features
 
        What about just looking for a JMP (any address over 400000), which
is what the ones I've seen do for a reboot. Replace that with _ExitToShell
(if there can be a Finder on the disk).
 
------------------------------

From: NICKDREXEL (10747)
Subject: RE: Alter Ego (male) (Re: Msg 10744)
Date: 24-JUL 02:45 Bugs & Features
 
Sorry, but this method will not work with Alter Ego.  As far as I
know, the Alter Ego Main Program (Clickable program about 5.5 Kbytes
is a protection program. It does call the second program P1 (invisible
46 Kbytes) to run and show interfaces of game.  Thus you can not throw
away the first start up program and I am stuck with this catch.
 
Thanks anyway, i will keep try several other methods. (If there is any?)
 
Nick...
 
------------------------------

From: RABBIT (10729)
Subject: Finder point size
Date: 23-JUL 23:41 Programming
 
Does anyone know (offhand), what point size the finder uses to draw the name of
the trashcan "trash" and logged disk/volumes.  It looks like 9 or 10 but am not
positivly sure.
THanks...
Scott
 
------------------------------

From: LOFTUSBECKER (10730)
Subject: RE: Finder point size (Re: Msg 10729)
Date: 24-JUL 00:11 Programming
 
Nine point.
 
------------------------------

From: OPPENHEIM (10731)
Subject: RE: LODOWN BACKUP (Re: Msg 10712)
Date: 24-JUL 00:12 Hardware & Peripherals
 
MacServe works fine with the LoDown 20.  If they waffle around about
delivery dates threaten to cancel your order. I did, and they shipped
it the next day.  Another user here (CUNY) had his drive die -- it
just locked up while in use and later refused to talk to the Mac at
all, growling ominously.  He returned it friday via UPS next day (of
course it croaked in the middle of a project) but UPS doesn't delivery
next day to Scotts Valley where LD's repair shop is.  The diagnosis
(post mortem) was a bad motor and incorrect eprom, the motor being the
cause of death.  They shipped out a replacement yesterday.  LoDown is
a small operation as far as we can tell, but they were reasonably
responsive in this case...
 
------------------------------

From: NICKDREXEL (10743)
Subject: RE: LODOWN BACKUP (Re: Msg 10731)
Date: 24-JUL 02:23 Hardware & Peripherals
 
Thank for info about MacServe, but I would like to know about TOPS
first because of price and ability to use multiple drive in the
network.  I hope that it will be as good as MacServe.  Sometimes in
the future I might have to connect my mac to the big blue compatibles
(IBM).
 
You know that it is difficult to get drive(s) from LoDown.  Moreover, the drive
in the LD-20, 10, and 40 are not the same.  As far as I know, 20MB caomes from
LaPine, 10MB from some Japanese maker, and 40MB from SeaGAte.
 
So, if I want the different size of drive for my next computer, I will
not be able to anticipate the quality of dif. size drive with my
LD-20.  (I Planned to get 30 or 40 Mb for my next mac.)  And I do not
know how good is the 40MB SeaGate drive in terms of reliability and
performance.  Things are still in dark for end users as usual.
 
I will drop you some new info later     NICK
 
------------------------------

From: MOUSEKETEER (10735)
Subject: RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10734)
Date: 24-JUL 01:12 Business Mac
 
As mentioned in Forum, I too would suggest looking over MS File.  It
isn't the fastest (can be slow in screen scrolling), most powerful
(Helix and Omnis 3), etc. but is fairly easy to learn, flexible, and
has some nice features for use on a mailing list.  I've switched to
Helix for most of my DB work, but still keep a newsletter mailing list
on File (too lazy so far to move it), and a much longer customer
mailing list on, ready?, DB Master/Mac.  DB Master is probably the
fastest program for adding listings I've used, though I don't even
know for sure if it's still being sold.  It was one of the first Mac
database programs, and it's managed to run fine on every Mac
configuration I've tossed at it.
 
Alf
 
------------------------------

From: BMUG (10738)
Subject: RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10690)
Date: 24-JUL 02:05 Business Mac
 
M. S. Works isn't going to be for 4000 people mailing lists. maybe 500 or
so......It doesn't do anything really well. The word processor is the best of
the lot...
 
Steve Costa/BMUG
 
------------------------------

From: MACINTOUCH (10775)
Subject: RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10738)
Date: 25-JUL 00:29 Business Mac
 
Steve,
I think it's OK if Works doesn't do a lot real well, as long as it's easy
to use and the _data_ can be imported to more powerful applications.  The
thing that is bugging me is the lack of a way to open _formatted_ Works
documents in Word!  Any ideas on how this is going to be solved (I trust
it _will_ be addressed)?
 
Ric
 
------------------------------

From: LOFTUSBECKER (10785)
Subject: RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10775)
Date: 25-JUL 01:43 Business Mac
 
Do you mean Word 2.0 won't open formatted Works documents?
 
------------------------------

From: MACINTOUCH (10796)
Subject: RE: DATABASES (Re: Msg 10785)
Date: 25-JUL 14:48 Business Mac
 
That's what I'm trying to find out!
 
Ric
 
------------------------------

From: RAMARREN (10748)
Subject: RE: astrology (Re: Msg 10421)
Date: 24-JUL 03:13 Programming
 
Sorry it took so long to respond.  I and a friend are beginning a
collaboration to do a nice Mac program for this: he is doing the
astrology algorithms and I am defining an interface package.
 
It would be useful to us to know what sorts of features you would like
to see in such a package: charting options, querying, etc.  So if you
have any input, be sure to send it along.
 
I'll be away for a week or so, so don't be too surprised if it takes a while to
get an answer from me.
 
gdg
 
------------------------------

From: PEABO (10755)
Subject: Modification to Apple License Agreement
Date: 24-JUL 14:47 Business Mac
 
As a result of complaints about the wording of the Apple License Agreement,
Apple Licensing has modified the paragraph stating what you are not allowed to
do with the software.  I have posted the updated agreement in the database, and
here is the exact wording of the change:
 
--------------------------------
 
Filename:  End User Orig (text), first file.
 
 TRANSFER OF ANY COPY OF THE SOFTWARE MAY SUBJECT YOU TO A LAWSUIT FOR DAMAGES,
 INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, AND ATTORNEY'S FEES.
 
Filename:  End User New (text), second file.
 
 TRANSFER OF ANY COPY OF THE SOFTWARE MAY SUBJECT YOU TO A LAWSUIT FOR DAMAGES,
 INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, AND ATTORNEY'S FEES.  YOU MAY HOWEVER, CONFIGURE THIS
 SOFTWARE FOR YOUR OWN USE BY ADDING OR REMOVING FONTS, DESK ACCESSORIES,
 AND/OR DEVICE DRIVERS.
 
--------------------------------
 
peter
 
------------------------------

From: MARSHG (10803)
Subject: RE: Modification to Apple License Agreem (Re: Msg 10755)
Date: 25-JUL 18:28 Business Mac
 
Scully says the nasty wording is for protection of intellectual
property rights.  I really can't blame him (or his lawyers) for that.
He also is talking about distributing the new versions of the
system/finder via user groups although the software won't be allowd on
"PD" disks.
 
Marsh
 
------------------------------

From: FRIED (377)
Subject: RE: Modification to Apple License Agreem (Re: Msg 376)
Date:  25-JUL 02:01 Software Supplement
 
Lofty,
 
I guess I fail to see how that change has improved my life.
 
In any case, I really wasn't questioning motive.  I know that change
was written by a wonderful person.  That's too bad, because now people
are laughing at him.  They probably do often, and he wonders if he
perhaps shouldn't have gone into another line of work.  He should
have.
 
But his good intentions make Apple look stupid.  Can you imagine a
real computer company letting their junior attorneys litter the
landscape like that?
 
I love my Mac.  Garbage like that hurts Apple, and that jeopardizes my
investment in the Macintosh.  Despite the good intentions.
 
What's the next step? An addendum that says:
 
"OH YEAH, INITS TOO, OF COURSE."
 
Sorry, Lofty, nothing is clearer now.  Eventually, that text MIGHT be read in
court, and a few MORE people will get their chuckle for the day, and the court
will base its decision on something else, ignoring Mr. Gneiss.
 
What Apple means to say is "All Rights Reserved." That expresses the intention,
I'm sure.
 
------------------------------

From: RANDOM (382)
Subject: RE: Modification to Apple License Agreem (Re: Msg 378)
Date:  26-JUL 00:16 Software Supplement
 
Well, they may not be reserving all rights, but I'm not sure I DIDN'T
have the right to install fonts, etc., before they issued that
clarification. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that there is no
way Apple could have sued me even if they hadn't issued that
clarification (of course, in no one's wildest imagination would they
attempt to do that). What people tend to forget is that buisnesses try
to protect all of the rights they have under the law by writing up
these complicated contracts, but they aren't necessarily legally
binding in all of their ramifications. Just to give you an rather
ridiculous example, if the agreement reads "If you use this software,
you agree to go out into your back yard tomorrow night and cut your
throat", you can use the software and you have no legal obligation to
go out into your back yard and cut your throat (after all, what if you
don't have a back yard?). To give another example, there are certain
software packages that contain "shrink wrap" agreements...if you
remove this shrink wrap, your agree not to give out copies of this
software, not to use it for immoral purposes, to give us your first
born male child, etc. Just because someone thought up this novel idea
of agreeing to a contract doesn't make it legal. Of course, a couple
of states have passed laws to the effect that this type of contract is
legal, which I think proves my point-they had to pass a law to make it
valid. Similarly, it is not clear that we are obligated to pay any
attention to the Apple License Agreement (whoops) that was posted
here. I'm sure this is the reason that Apple's laywers were reluctant
to do this sort of thing (I'm sure this is why system software hasn't
been distributed this way in the past). They obviously aren't worried
about people modifiying their software for use on their own machine,
or about distribution of the software to other Macintosh users (even
though the software agreement forbids that). They don't REALLY care
about that stuff. What they are really worried about is that someone
is going to clone the Macintosh or modify the system to run on and
Atari 520ST or something like that, and they are afraid they won't be
able to sue them because they can say "Well, they made the stuff
available on public bulletin board systems, so if it's already in the
public domain, why can't we distribute it." That's the sort of thing
they are trying to avoid. I thought that was obvious, but the way some
people are complaining about the License agreement, maybe it's not
that obvious. Let's use some common sense here, rather than dumping on
the law profession (as much fun as that is - lawyer jokes, anyone?).
Any reasonable use of this software is O.K., no matter what the
license agreement says. But real abuses will result in Apple avoiding
this style of distribution in the future, and we will have to rely on
our local dealers again for software updates (my dealer is probably
still handing out Finder 1.1g - and I'm in the LA area!)
 
-Dennis D.
 
------------------------------

From: MACLAIRD (387)
Subject: RE: Modification to Apple License Agreem (Re: Msg 376)
Date:  26-JUL 05:51 Software Supplement
 
The literature which law _students_ are "allowed" to peruse pertaining
to the contracts regarding the purchase and use of data processing
equipment look like a cookbook sometimes.  Maybe in the case of this
licensing "agreement" whoever drafted the agreement flipped to the
wrong page, and unfortunately was not conversant enough with the use
and requirements for developing software for the Macintosh to realize
that an agreement IBM could impose on the purchaser of a large
mainframe system was unsuitable for the purchaser of a small
microcomputer because no user in his right mind could regard it as
reasonable.
 
(taking breath)
 
This is the big problem:  sometimes folks read contractural terms and interpret
them literally.  We have to take the intent behind those terms and imply the
agreement from that.  Unfortunately, there's a problem:  the end user could not
conceivably have agreed to the terms, and whoever drafted them did not show the
requisite degree of intent either!
 
(hoping it wasn't _you_, Lofty...)
 
_Laird
 
------------------------------

From: JEFFS (10757)
Subject: Cooling fan
Date: 24-JUL 18:34 Hardware & Peripherals
 
Can anyone recommend one of those cooling fans out for the Mac?  I don't need
any built in surge suppression since my Mac is plugged into a UPS that takes
care of that.  If you don't have any recommendations, how about fans to stay
away from?
 
                                               Jeff
 
------------------------------

From: MACINTOUCH (10783)
Subject: RE: Cooling fan (Re: Msg 10757)
Date: 25-JUL 00:53 Hardware & Peripherals
 
I found the MaxChill from MacMemory to be virtually silent.  I don't think it's
much different from Levco's (a piezo fan). Haven't done any temperature
measurements, but I think careful placement should help remove hot spots.
 
Ric
 
------------------------------

From: LAMG (10826)
Subject: RE: Cooling fan (Re: Msg 10757)
Date: 26-JUL 03:31 Hardware & Peripherals
 
I can recommend one of the piezoelectric fans that go inside the Mac (I can't
remember the name of the one I've got).  They're quiet and the Mac really does
run cooler, even though these types of fan don't move much air.  -Franklin
 
------------------------------

From: KMWAGNER (10760)
Subject: HD-20 Missing Space?
Date: 24-JUL 20:06 Hardware & Peripherals
 
I have some questions for anyone with an Apple HD-20 Hard Dirve. The
HD-20 Manual saysa there are 39040 blocks on a formatted HD-20. Each
Block has 532 bytes (512 user and 20 system).  To me, this means there
should be 512 X 39040 (or 19,988,480 bytes or 19520K).  When I format
my HD-20, it shows 32K used and 19139K free.  What happned to the
other 349K of storage space?? If anyone understands this "new math" i
would appreciate a short course in it! Leave Email for Wagner Thanks
 
------------------------------

From: PEABO (10764)
Subject: RE: HD-20 Missing Space? (Re: Msg 10760)
Date: 24-JUL 22:16 Hardware & Peripherals
 
The 20 bytes devoted to the system are called the file tags ... floppy disks
have those too, but you cannot put any useful information in them.  They are
using by FEdit to recover files in the event of damage to a disk, and I am
hoping that a future version of Fedit+ will be able to do that on the HD-20 as
well (Fedit+ does not fully support HFS yet).
 
As far as the arithmetic is concerned, the FInder uses K=1024 nowadays.  This
also accounts for why floppy disks have 391K in them now instead of 400K. Even
after doing this arithmetic you will find yourself about 350K short:  the
missing bytes are taken up by two hidden HFS files called the directory Btree
and the extents Btree.  They can get larger if you have lots of files.
 
peter
 
------------------------------

From: FRACTAL (10787)
Subject: RE:  SCSI conversions (Re: Msg 10736)
Date: 25-JUL 06:17 Network Digests
 
I've got SCSI driver software coming out of my *ss... (I've been working on an
Adaptec driver for days and it's been getting to me). Seriously I have been
developing SCSI drivers for several months now and have finally mastered it in
all flavors (kludges for 64K ROM's, disk drivers, hardware adaptors). I have
been suppling a universal SCSI driver/initializer to those who buy the Fractal
-LoDOWN SCSI adaptor for a 512K (actually non_mac Plus) Mac. I don't want to
give it away, but I will sell it to interested hackers for a fairly cheap price
(subject to some haggling...).
Tom Hedges
 
------------------------------

From: MACINTOUCH (10797)
Subject: RE:  SCSI conversions (Re: Msg 10790)
Date: 25-JUL 14:50 Network Digests
 
You mean you'll sell us a controller and software so we can go get the rest of
the parts for a do-it-yourself SCSI system?  How much?!
 
Ric
 
------------------------------

From: FRACTAL (10829)
Subject: RE:  SCSI conversions (Re: Msg 10817)
Date: 26-JUL 04:01 Network Digests
 
I hope to clean up my code and offer a formatter/driver that supports
most ST506 disks and several readily available controllers including
the previously mentioned Shugart 1610-3 (which looks like a Xebec
1410A subset) and the SMS/OMTI 3100 and the Adaptec 4000. Probablky
will sell a diskette that includes MacWrite document (brief I'm better
at programming than writing English), formatter, and kludge code for
old ROM for about $40.  Tom Hedges
 
------------------------------

From: UJL0012 (10795)
Subject: MaxPlus from MacMemory Inc.
Date: 25-JUL 13:40 Hardware & Peripherals
 
I am contemplating the purchase of the MaxPlus by MacMemory Inc. Since
I frequently use the Mac Plus as a Japanese word processor, I need to
have a larger memory as soon as possible in order to load the numerous
fonts necessary in Japanese.  Since I will be visiting the United
States this September, I am thinking that this might be a good
occasion for me to buy the Maxplus. I have been looking around for
dealers, users and other sources of information concerning it.
However, I have not come across any of the above in Japan.  So, I
would be very grateful if you would send me any information concerning
the MaxPlus.
 
Junichiro
 
------------------------------

From: MACINTOUCH (10799)
Subject: RE: MaxPlus from MacMemory Inc. (Re: Msg 10795)
Date: 25-JUL 14:52 Hardware & Peripherals
 
ComputerWare in Palo Alto (California) is selling the MaxPlus at a substantial
discount ($350 instead of $500).  We are still trying to determine the
reliability of the unit.
 
Ric Ford
 
------------------------------

From: MACINTOUCH (10800)
Subject: Power supplies
Date: 25-JUL 14:55 Hardware & Peripherals
 
OK, I can buy 4 1MB SIMMs from MacMemory (assuming I want to spend the
$$), but it will probably croak my power supply.  But how 'bout if I
just buy a better power supply for the Mac?  Someone mentioned that
they knew of a better one, and I've just been looking at a spec/price
sheet from Power General.With a good fan and plenty of power, could we
have some solid 4MB Macs going, without waiting years for 1Mbit
chips???
 
Ric
 
------------------------------

From: BRUSSES (10804)
Subject: How do I recover lost disk space?
Date: 25-JUL 18:39 Programming
 
[I'm new here!  Hopefully, this will get posted into the forum correctly!]
 
This afternoon, an application I've been hacking on "ran away" on me.
Unfortunately, the application  wrote a lot of data to my HD20 (several Mb) and
finally  crashed.  Right now, I'm currently unable to recover this  space.  I
think that the bit-table which  keeps track of  allocated  disk  blocks  has
this  space marked as "in use", but there  seems to  be no file  which "owns"
the space.  (If it helps any, under  Tops-20, this problem would be referred to
as "lost disk pages".)
 
Is there any way I can (painlessly) recover this lost space?
 
Thanks!
 
Bob
 
------------------------------

From: JIMH (10809)
Subject: RE: How do I recover lost disk space? (Re: Msg 10804)
Date: 25-JUL 20:48 Programming
 
Bob, back up the disk, init the disk, restore your data.  how much simpler can
it be (grin)?  oh you want painless, i dont think so!  jim
 
------------------------------

From: PEABO (10821)
Subject: RE: How do I recover lost disk space? (Re: Msg 10809)
Date: 26-JUL 01:30 Programming
 
Happens to me all the time (but usually in small enough chucks I don't notice).
 
I got HFS Backup from PCPC so I could do backups and restores easily, and I'm
quite happy with it.
 
peter
 
------------------------------

From: HALL (10810)
Subject: LaserJet
Date: 25-JUL 20:58 Hardware & Peripherals
 
Is anybody using a LaserJet on the Mac?  How does it compare to the LW? What's
the best driver for the LaserJet?
 
  Thanks,
      Brian
 
------------------------------

From: VINDICATOR (365)
Subject: Lightspeed C Editor
Date:  23-JUL 20:22 Tools for Developers
 
I just started using Lightspeed C, and am very pleased with it. I do have some
gripes about the built-in editor, however, that I thought some people might be
interested in. If these were changed, I think Lightspeed would be perfect.
 
1) Lightspeed allows multiple open windows at one time, which is
great. However, unlike many editors it does not support tiling, which
I personally find very useful. On the same thought (and to me the
biggest flaw in the editor), I was working with 5 documents at once,
and had arranged them just how I wanted them.  When I quit and
returned later, the windows were no lomger the same size, position
etc., which means I had to arrange them all over again. It would be
really nice if Lightspeed had something like the Resume Excel feature
where when you startesd work again all the windows would be where you
had left them before.
 
2) The editor doesn't provide for the now almost mandatory "Microsoft double-
clickable title bars", which would have been nice. I don't have a Plus (yet) so
I don't know if it supports the new window definition.
 
3) The editor doesn't check for balanced (,{, etc while you type. This would
prevent lots of mistakes.
 
4) The editor doesn't support UNDO! Oy!
 
5) One great thing about the editor is its multi-file grep facility.
When you invoke it, it shows all the files on the disk for you to
choose from. It would be nice if you could press a button that said
"Search all the files I've already got open", instead of having to
search for them in the dialog box.
 
These are of course things that I think would add o an already great
developmeny system. Any other thouhgt on Lightspeed?
 
------------------------------

From: PEABO (367)
Subject: RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 365)
Date:  23-JUL 21:04 Tools for Developers
 
Yeah, no UNDO is a killer ... but then, MDS Edit doesn't have it either.
 
When I make a mistake I can't easily recover from, I swear at THINK
for a few moments, then SAVE AS... something else, go reopen the
original to get back what I lost and play cut and paste (carefully).
It is not quite as nice as MDS Edit where you can open a read-only
copy of the original while having the damaged copy open.  LightspeedC
edit does not allow you to open the same file twice!!
 
peter
 
------------------------------

From: ASMCOR (370)
Subject: RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 365)
Date:  23-JUL 21:13 Tools for Developers
 
Vin -
No, it doesn't suppor the zoom box window on the mac+, and you are right about
Undo. It's a workable editor, but not a great one.
Jan
 
------------------------------

From: VINDICATOR (374)
Subject: RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 370)
Date:  24-JUL 19:42 Tools for Developers
 
This is something that I just noticed about the linker. If you get a
link error, it gives you a list of the variables that aren't Kosher,
but doesn't tell you where they are. When you have broken up a program
into several files (which Lightspeed certainly encourages), this can
be a nuisance. It would be nice if the list would give the name of the
file (and maybe even the function the variable was called from) along
with the variable, ie File1:main():variable.
 
------------------------------

From: PEABO (379)
Subject: RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 374)
Date:  25-JUL 16:54 Tools for Developers
 
True, but the multi-file search is very fast ...
 
I found that most of my problems with link errors occurred while converting a
program from a different C environment to LightspeedC.  Once the conversion is
done, I rarely get more than one or two link errors at a time.  This may be
partly due to the fact that it is so easy to recompile, so that you aren't
tempted to put huge amounts of new code in all over the place between compiles.
 
peter
 
------------------------------

From: DDUNHAM (385)
Subject: RE: Lightspeed C Editor (Re: Msg 365)
Date:  26-JUL 01:50 Tools for Developers
 
re no double-clickable title bars:  GOOD!  This is _not_ a good user interface
on the Mac because not all windows can behave like this.  Specifically desk
accessories.  The zoom box is the way to go; DAs can use it, and in a
multi-program environment it indicates which windows can zoom and which can't.
 
Your editor complaints are basically why I haven't bought LsC yet. I can't see
giving up QUED for something that doesn't have inline assembly, which some desk
accessories need.
 
------------------------------

From: ASMCOR (366)
Subject: File menu and DA's
Date:  23-JUL 21:00 Programming Techniques
 
Dave - and anyone else who has comments on this...

Many DA's which use menus share a common semi-problem. The user tends
to go for the File menu to save documents, instead of the DA menu.
I've been tempted to dim the File menu when a DA is active (i.e. the
front window) but I haven't done it just because I'm afraid it might
cause problems I haven't thought of. It *seems* like it might be ok.
Does anyone have any good reasons NOT to do it?  Jan
 
------------------------------

From: DDUNHAM (383)
Subject: RE: File menu and DA's (Re: Msg 366)
Date:  26-JUL 01:50 Programming Techniques
 
How about because other stuff is under the File menu?  I'm in QUED
running miniWRITER, and all the choices are usable except Close (for
some reason).  Most importantly, Quit.
 
Also, you might have trouble identifying the file menu.  For one
thing, it might not be spelled "File" in other countries.
 
------------------------------

From: ASMCOR (369)
Subject: RE: saving window coords (Re: Msg 351)
Date:  23-JUL 21:07 Current Discussions
 
Say Dave...
As long as you're talking about Undo, how about a short discussion of the
problems you've encountered along the way while implementing it? I enjoyed your
comments on DA writing in MacTutor, I'd like to hear what you've got to say
about Undo.
Jan
 
------------------------------

From: JOSEF (10820)
Subject: new hard disk
Date: 26-JUL 01:06 Hardware & Peripherals
 
Now that i finally have a hard disk (a Dataframe 20), a lot of questions keep
popping up for me.  Three of the biggies are:
 
1.) Is there any way to link the same physical copy of a file into
multiple directories, similar to the 'ln' command in UNIX?
 
2.) Is there a way to make both TMON and WAYSTATION be the
startup applicaton?
 
3.) I have managed to get working copies of all my software successfully
installed on the hard disk with one exception: SARGON III.  Even
COPY II MAC, Version 5.2 wouldn't do the trick. It's really very
frustrating.  I own a legitimate copy, and would appreciate it if
anyone knows how to get around the problem.
 
Joe
 
------------------------------

From: JEFFS (10835)
Subject: Modems with Mac+'s
Date: 26-JUL 08:50 Hardware & Peripherals
 
I just had my 512+ upgraded to full Mac+ status.  Now I notice a small
problem that I didn't have before: When I exit MacTerminal it drops
carrier on the modem!  This did NOT happen with the 512+ so its in the
new board and not the 128K ROM.  I tried setting the modem switch to
keep DTR on ALL the time but it still drops the line.  Now, this may
seem minor, but I often exit MacT to go to PackIt or binhex and I
still want the connection to be there when I return.  Any ideas?
(besides use Switcher, the disk space is pretty tight.)
 
                                               Jeff
 

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End of Delphi Mac Digest
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