SHULMAN@RED.RUTGERS.EDU (Jeffrey Shulman) (12/01/86)
Delphi Mac Digest Sunday, 30 November 1986 Volume 2 : Issue 63
Today's Topics:
RE: STICKy folders! (2 messages)
RE: Comparisons:PASCAL (3 messages)
RSG 3 Opinion (3 messages)
PRINTSHOP/HARD DRIVE (4 messages)
XP20 (2 messages)
RE: MPW observations (3 messages)
old prog problem
RE: programming help
LSP and DA's (7 messages)
Network
DF20 problem (2 messages)
RE: boot problem
RE: Terminal programs not dropping DTR when they terminate.
System Heap Size (3 messages)
Ghost windows
Serial i/o
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From: EEE
Subject: RE: STICKy folders! (Re: Msg 15035)
Date: 27-NOV 11:39 Bugs & Features
I had the same problem with my DataFrame 20. Wherever I had the
"Reminders" file from Smart Alarms, the cursor would freeze when I
double-clicked to open that folder. If I had it in the root, the
cursor would freeze when I double-clicked to open the DataFrame icon.
The poblem seemed to disappear when I installed the latest DataFrame
software.
------------------------------
From: EEE
Subject: RE: STICKy folders! (Re: Msg 15046)
Date: 27-NOV 11:42 Bugs & Features
I found that you can use ResEdit to make the "Reminders" file invisible. This
will stop the freezing, and Smart Alarms will continue to function.
------------------------------
From: HALL
Subject: RE: Comparisons:PASCAL (Re: Msg 15211)
Date: 27-NOV 15:25 Programming
It isn't quite MacPascal. Sure, the debugging is similar, but otherwise it's
completely different. I wouldn't touch MacPascal again. Ever. No amount of
force could make me. LightSpeed Pascal, on the other hand, is great. It's
definitely the way to go. Forget TML Pascal.
Brian
------------------------------
From: JIMH
Subject: RE: Comparisons:PASCAL (Re: Msg 15276)
Date: 28-NOV 19:33 Programming
Brian, i use both LS and TML quite a bit and while i like LS i am not yet ready
to give up on TML! For one i will be *(*# if i will put an add for Think in my
program (they recinded this for LSC, but i havent heard anything about LSP).
Also LSP does not produce very good code. TML isnt great but its a lot better
than LS. There are also some problems with desk accessories with LSP that crop
up from time to time. I use LSP to prototype then compile final application
using TML. Also, i find it really har d to debug with TMON using LSP as they
put so much crap in your code to make their debugging work! If you cant debug
it with their debugger you might just as well go to TML as you are not going to
make much sense out of the object code produced by LSP! j im
------------------------------
From: HSTARR
Subject: RE: Comparisons:PASCAL (Re: Msg 15290)
Date: 29-NOV 00:10 Programming
Re LsP and TMON -- if you must go this route, turn off all the options on the
modules you are interested in, before running. It will be almost Vanilla code.
------------------------------
From: BILLIAM
Subject: RSG 3 Opinion
Date: 27-NOV 18:23 Bugs & Features
My impressions of READY SET GO 3.0
I've been using RSG 3.0 for about 2 weeks now and, contrary to what I've been
reading, I'm DISAPPOINTED. It has all the features one wants but the attention
to details seems lacking. Some problems include:
1> There is no UNDO (except on text editing). If you move a block by
mistake ( and it's EASY to do, as I'll mention next) you have to
manually move it back. If you resize a block wrong you have to get it
back yourself.
2> A border is not really transparent. This is the most annoying. Trying to
choose a text block that sits "inside" a border block doesn't always work. If
the border block is on top you have to send it to the back by choosing SEND
BEHIND and then choosing t he text block (NOW on top). If you touch the back
(border) block by mistake you have to start over. In Pagemaker, in order to
select a border you have to actually touch the border, the inside of the border
doesn't exist to the cursor.
3> Clicking the Zoom box to full screen keeps you from choosing
another icon from the tool palette. You can move the tool palette
(Hold down Shift while dragging the top of the palette) but it can't
sit on top of the document. As soon as you touch anywhere on the
document the palette vanishes behind. You can only get it back by
manually shrinking the document window. In Pagemaker you can hit CMD W
to bring the tool selection window into view.
4> The rulers are simply from the edge of the paper and cannot be made to start
at the printable margins. Having to remember to subtract 1/2 inch from your
measurements is a pain.
5> BUGS!! In 2 weeks I have already found 2 bugs. The worst is when
changing a whole block of text that contains some boldfaced words from
Geneva to Helvetica it will LOSE all but the first letter of
everything boldfaced. And because there is no UNDO you h ave to retype
those lost words.
Don't get me wrong. There are many great things about the new version.
The best is being able to drop a picture (or graph or text block) onto
an existing text block and the words will automatically wrap around
the block. Resize the picture and the text rew raps. Another nice
feature is being able to choose any pattern to act as the border
pattern. But the small things like not being able to get to the tool
palette with a CMD key is CONSTANTLY getting in the way of using these
features easily.
I like RSG 3, I just wish Manhattan Graphics would fix the details that, to me
at least, seem so obviously ill thought out to anyone who actually uses the
product for more than a week.
Billiam Coronel
------------------------------
From: RODPAINE
Subject: RE: RSG 3 Opinion (Re: Msg 15277)
Date: 28-NOV 20:41 Bugs & Features
Have you noticed that converting RSG 2.0 or 2.1 Doc's to 3.0, does something to
the Bundle bit setting of RSG 3.0? It does away with it and RSG 3.0 takes on a
generic icon, as do the doc's. Darned if I can reset it, in spite of ResEdit
and Fedits use. Replacing RSG 3.0 is the only way I've found to correct the
bundle bit problem.
Also, I've noticed random occurances of "garbage characters" filling
up the text entry block on "Save As..." choices. Shades of the old
1st.BASE program, when HFS came along. As you said, I like RSG also,
but I find it hard to beleive their shipping 3.0 with these short
comings and bugs . . . . some body had to see these.
-Rod
------------------------------
From: LAMG
Subject: RE: RSG 3 Opinion (Re: Msg 15277)
Date: 29-NOV 00:17 Bugs & Features
I have to agree... I've been using RSG 3.0 for a week, too, and I'm both
impressed and disappointed. To add to the list of bugs: the view 200% option
has a bug in it that causes lines to slant upwards to the right.
Perhaps the most annoying feature of the program I've found is the way in which
tabs are handled. For each tab set, you have to set an indent (the actual
position of the tab from the left edge of the block) and a mesaure of the width
of the tab column. This second value can be a real pain to figure out. (I
gather it's there to allow you to control when tabbed text moves to the next
line, but it makes dealing with tabs very difficult).
I also wish that they'd come out with a real manual for the program instead of
the magazine they sent. It doesn't go into enough detail about how certain
features (tabs, for instance) work.
On the whole, though, RSG 3.0 is a major improvement over 2.1... it just needs
some attention to detail to make it truly first rate. I hope that Manhattan
Graphics realize this and release an update very soon, and send it free of
charge to all registered users (along with a real manual!).
-Franklin Tessler
------------------------------
From: CR
Subject: PRINTSHOP/HARD DRIVE
Date: 27-NOV 19:37 Business Mac
HELP!!!!!!!! AS A NEW MAC USER (ie mine is a new mac+ -- cuz the wife and kids
swiped the 512e).. I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE SOME CONTACT WITH A
TECHIE GENIUS TYPE WHO COULD HELP IN MY DILEMMA. HERE'S THRE PROBLEM.......
I JUST PURCHASED A 30mb RELAX HARD DRIVE AFTER THE RESENT COMDEX IN
VEGAS. OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO I'VE BEEN PLACING APPLICATIONS AND
DATA FILES ON THE ** ONE OF THE APPLICATIONS PLACED ON THE DRIVE WAS
PRINT SHOP BY BRODERBUND. THE OTHER NIGHT WE USED THAT APPLICATION TO
CREATE SOME ART WORK, FINISHED AND TURNED THE SYSTEM OFF. AFTER A
SHORT NAP I WENT IN TO USE THE MACHINE - TURNED IT ON AND NO BOOT! --
SO I BOOTED FROM A FLOPPY AND WHEN THE HARD DRIVE ADDED IT SAID --->
0K - 31549K FREE ----- OH NO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DATA!! AFTER
COLLECTING MYSELF I LOADED THE FEDIT UTILITY I HAVE AND SINGLE STEPED
THRU THE DRIVE. NOW NOT KNOWING MUCH ABOUT HOW THE DRIVE IS LAYED OUT,
BUT FROM PAST 5 1/4" DAYS ON OTHER MACHINES PLUS JOB EXPERIENCE CAME
TO THE CONCLUSION THAT SOMEHOW PRINTSHOP HAD CHANGED THE NAME OF THE
DRIVE TO PsRAMDisk AND BLOWN THE DIRECTORY ALLOCATION TABLE AND
DIRECTORY ENTRIES AWAY!! MY DRIVE MANUFACTURER SAYS THE SYSTEM GOT
BLOWN AWAY - AND TO REFORMAT THE DRIVE..... I SAY THE FORMAT IS FINE
IF I CAN LOOK AT THE DRIVE AND CAN SEE ALL OF THE DATA AND
APPLICATIONS!.
BRODERBUND TECH SUPPORT SAYS IT'S A KNOWN BUG ON THE EARLY RELEASES OF THE
PRODUCT AND THAT YOU MUST HAVE VER 1.02 OF BETTER, AND DON'T USE PRODUCTS PRIOR
TO THIS RELEASE ON A HARD DRIVE!!!!
CAN YOU DRIECT THIS BUG INFO TO ALL USERS - BRODERBUND WILL PROVIDE
FRE UPGRADES ACCORDING TO TECH SUPPORT FOR THIS BUG
ALSO CAN YOU HELP DIRECT ME TO A PERSON OR PERSONS WHO COULD POSSIBLY HELP MY
RECONSTRUCT THE DIRECTORY TO POSSIBLY MAKE DRIVE ALIVE AND WELL AGAIN??
THANKS FOR ANY HELP. CALVIN R SWAIN (CR)
------------------------------
From: EEE
Subject: RE: PRINTSHOP/HARD DRIVE (Re: Msg 15278)
Date: 27-NOV 23:58 Business Mac
I don't know how to help you regain the data on your HD, but I do know
that Broderbund has posted a patch (Installer) on Compuserve that
upgrades Print Shop to the newest version. I don't know if it is
available here or not.
Good luck trying to recover your data.
------------------------------
From: PEABO
Subject: RE: PRINTSHOP/HARD DRIVE (Re: Msg 15278)
Date: 28-NOV 00:38 Business Mac
I;m sorry, but I don't know how to do it either. There is a program
called Disk First Aid from Apple, but Apple has not released it yet
for electronic distribution. If you go to your Apple dealer, you
might be able to get a copy. It is part of the HD-20SC support
suftware, but runs on any HFS disk.
One problem with Disk First Aid is that it does things pretty much by magic and
without explanation. However, if your only alternative is to kiss your data
goodbye, it is definitely worth a shot.
peter
------------------------------
From: LOGICHACK
Subject: RE: PRINTSHOP/HARD DRIVE (Re: Msg 15283)
Date: 30-NOV 03:05 Business Mac
Yo Peter, try pressing Command-S (or was it D?) after you select a volume in
Disk First Aid. You will see the familiar scavenger info.
Paul :)
------------------------------
From: MACSPARKY
Subject: XP20
Date: 27-NOV 22:35 Hardware & Peripherals
I was wondering: Does the soon to be released Dataframe XP20 SCSI drive contain
a faster drive in addition to the enhanced controller chip? Faster than the
current Seagate or Microscience in the DF20?
------------------------------
From: DWB
Subject: RE: XP20 (Re: Msg 15280)
Date: 28-NOV 07:05 Hardware & Peripherals
If the fact that you can upgrade an DataFrame 20 to an XP is any
indication, no. They may have changed drives but the drive itself
isn't significantly faster.
David
------------------------------
From: JOSEF
Subject: RE: MPW observations (Re: Msg 1024)
Date: 27-NOV 20:27 Programming Techniques
I may be coming around on MPW after all: some of the shell tools came
in very handy for me yesterday. I still think that it's overkill on
this machine. But who knows, maybe when I get my 25 MHz 68020-based
Mac with a 19-inch 1 Megapixel display and an Ethernet connection i'll
reconsider...
Joe
------------------------------
From: BRECHER
Subject: RE: MPW observations (Re: Msg 1032)
Date: 29-NOV 09:52 Programming Techniques
Hating MPW for the first two weeks or so, then loving it, seems to be
a repeated pattern.
------------------------------
From: LOGICHACK
Subject: RE: MPW observations (Re: Msg 1025)
Date: 30-NOV 02:49 Programming Techniques
So why don't you write a menu based help system? Should be a peice of cake.
Paul :)
------------------------------
From: KENWINOGRAD
Subject: old prog problem
Date: 28-NOV 18:50 Programming Techniques
Sorry guys....it was just another stupid problem. I fclosed instead of closed
(oops, I mean the other way around) the datafork of the file and that was why I
had trouble opening up the same application twice.
Ken
------------------------------
From: BRECHER
Subject: RE: programming help (Re: Msg 1026)
Date: 29-NOV 09:52 Programming Techniques
Launch does a CloseResFile on the previous application.
------------------------------
From: JIMH
Subject: LSP and DA's
Date: 29-NOV 02:29 Programming
Lofty, i belive you are working with LSP and DA's so i address this
question to you (thought i will take help from almost anyone *grin*).
I have put togeather a plain vanilla DA shell which runs under LSP DA
Shell enviornment. however when i try to use bu ild and save as to put
togeather a standa lone DA LSP crashes and burns with a memory manager
error! I am a bit put out about the number of strange crashes i am
having with LSP this weekend. Do you have any words of wisdom on how
to build a standalone DA ? thanks jim
------------------------------
From: LOFTUSBECKER
Subject: RE: LSP and DA's (Re: Msg 15299)
Date: 29-NOV 08:09 Programming
Jim,
I've had a similar problem, I think, regularly. My solution: make a
new separate project. I.e., when you're done debugging, open a New
project, add the DA library you're going to use and the main files.
For some reason if you try just deleting the DA Shell and the main
library file the bomb you describe tends to come up on build/save.
Lofty
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From: JIMH
Subject: RE: LSP and DA's (Re: Msg 15307)
Date: 29-NOV 18:44 Programming
Lofty, this occured before i tried to use dashell. however, i will try creating
a new project and see what happens. thanks for the help jim
------------------------------
From: JIMH
Subject: RE: LSP and DA's (Re: Msg 15311)
Date: 29-NOV 23:26 Programming
Lofty, i tried building a new project and this seems to have solved my problem.
thanks for the hint. I find compilers which crash repeatedly very annoying! i
like LSP for its speed, but i really hate how often i look at the bomb icon!
anyway your help is appreciated. jim
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From: FRIED
Subject: RE: LSP and DA's (Re: Msg 15325)
Date: 30-NOV 01:39 Programming
Think how much worse it would be if it took longer to get to the bomb icon!
:-)
Bob
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From: LOFTUSBECKER
Subject: RE: LSP and DA's (Re: Msg 15325)
Date: 30-NOV 12:52 Programming
Me, too. The perfect Pascal compiler still awaits us. In fact the Awfully Good
Pascal Compiler hasn't yet appeared. Maybe LSP 1.x will be that..
Lofty
------------------------------
From: JIMH
Subject: RE: LSP and DA's (Re: Msg 15339)
Date: 30-NOV 13:31 Programming
Lofty, I hope they are more aggressive in fixing the problems with LSP
than they were with macpascal! jim
------------------------------
From: MACSPARKY
Subject: Network
Date: 29-NOV 20:39 Hardware & Peripherals
My friend Elaine has spearheaded a corporate Mac Plus buy for her office. She
has the ok for 7 Mac Pluses, 1 Laserwriter Plus, and 3 HD20SCSI. She wants to
know what any of you Appletalk or otherwise experienced folks would recommend
her to purchase regarding groups of two or three Pluses sharing a HD20SC and a
Laserprinter. Any ideas? What would be the best?
------------------------------
From: JOSEF
Subject: DF20 problem
Date: 29-NOV 21:52 Hardware & Peripherals
HELP!! I just reformatted by DataFrame 20 for the first time, restored all the
files successfully with HFS Backup 1.1, but it no longer autoboots. What did I
forget to do?
Joe
------------------------------
From: DWB
Subject: RE: DF20 problem (Re: Msg 15318)
Date: 30-NOV 06:12 Hardware & Peripherals
HFS Backup doesn't save and restoer the boot blocks on the disk. This
means that you now need to replace them. You can do this one of two
(actually more, but this is all I'm gonna tell you about :-)
1. Use FEdit and Open Volume and Write Boot Block menu items in it.
2. Copy a system file from a bootable disk onto the dataframe and the use HFS
Restore to restore the correct one. You could also do this before you restore
the whole thing.
Good Luck
David
------------------------------
From: SYNTHONY
Subject: RE: boot problem (Re: Msg 15321)
Date: 30-NOV 02:04 Bugs & Features
Just wanted to say thanks to all who helped me out with my boot problem (size
12d). I tried the FEDIT+ program and it worked for every disk!! (YEAH!!). I
used edit block and chose update, saved to disk and poof! Instant boot up. I
still can't figure out why I couldn't just drag over a new finder & system...
but then again, I'm not versed on the Mac inner sanctum. THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!
BILL
------------------------------
From: DSACHS
Subject: RE: Terminal programs not dropping DTR when they terminate.
Date: 29-NOV 22:58 Network Digests
Re: Terminal programs not dropping DTR when they terminate. Control Data's
MacConnect deliberately does not drop DTR "so the connection may be maintained".
------------------------------
From: DWB
Subject: System Heap Size
Date: 30-NOV 09:19 Programming
OK. I know I've seen this before but I can't find the information
now. How do I go about changing the size of the system heap. I've
tried changing the system heap size values in the boot blocks with no
luck. I read somewhere the version number had to be changed so I
tried changing it from 12 to both 11 and 13. Nothing so far seems to
have had much success. Any more ideas?
David
------------------------------
From: LOFTUSBECKER
Subject: RE: System Heap Size (Re: Msg 15333)
Date: 30-NOV 12:55 Programming
I think the version number in the Boot Blocks has to be $15 or greater (21 if
you're into decimal) for the change to take effect.
Lofty
------------------------------
From: PDNNOG
Subject: RE: System Heap Size (Re: Msg 15333)
Date: 30-NOV 14:49 Programming
Yah, you have the right idea, but try changing the version number to
21. The new roms look at the version and if it isn't 21 or so, it uses
the default boot system heap.
------------------------------
From: JIMH
Subject: Ghost windows
Date: 29-NOV 23:32 Programming Techniques
Does anyone have any experiance with ghost windows? I am working on a
DA for a local Rehab engineer to let you type using a head mouse and i
need the "keyboard" to always be the top window as well as the
application window that is being typed into. so for instance macwrite
window and my DA window should both be in front. Ghost windows are
breifly mentioned in IM but it is lacking in details. jim PS i know
that personics sells a DA like this but they want $100 for it and it
is really layed out badly.
------------------------------
From: TEEPEE
Subject: Serial i/o
Date: 30-NOV 14:05 Developers' Corner
I need help!!! Im trying to access modem port from Pascal(lightspeed)
but canott seem to access (read/write) the appropriate bufIm using
FSRead/FSWritedevice man. calls everything works fine except nothing
is being passed to the buffers any suggestions(leg al and physicvally
possible ) would be welcome!!
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End of Delphi Mac Digest
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