INFO-MAC-REQUEST@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA.UUCP (05/21/86)
INFO-MAC Digest Wednesday, 21 May 1986 Volume 4 : Issue 73
Today's Topics:
Cauzin query and Lightspeed "fix"
LS bugs/patches
LightspeedC lossage
Interrupt switch problems on the MacPlus
Mailing list software
Re: mailing lists
Re: Word Tools
Re: Word Tools
EDIT & HFS
How does one make PICT resources?
Textile design/MacWeave query
UTILITY-SETFILE.HQX.1
Usenet Mac Digest V2 #39
Delphi Mac Digest V2 #19
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Date: Mon, 19 May 86 16:19:01 EDT
From: Mark Nodine <mnodine@BBN-LABS-B.ARPA>
Subject: Cauzin query and Lightspeed "fix"
I've seen a number of intriguing ads for the Cauzin Sofstrip system, and I
was wondering if anybody had bought one and could share their experiences
with it.
Also, there have been a number of comments lately about a bug in LightspeedC
with floating point constants; the problem only occurs when a fixed point
constant is being used in a floating point context. For example, the
fahrenheit program on p. 11 of K&R fails if typed as is, but if the 32 is
changed to 32. (with decimal point), it works just fine. So the "fix" is to
include the decimal points with any constants which will be used in floating
point computations (a carryover from the old FORTRAN days, I suppose).
--Mark
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 May 86 12:24:47 EDT
From: Meredith Lesly <mlesly@BBN-LABS-B.ARPA>
Subject: LS bugs/patches
Well, I seem to have been the first to be able to crash LightspeedC. Michael
Kahl has re-emerged from a long, well-deserved vacation and now has a
presence on Compuserve. He posted a note containing patches there which
I include below.
> Sb: LightspeedC bug
> Fm: Michael Kahl 75236,3146
> To: 70406,1256 (X)
>
> Thank you for the crasher! I have worked out a patch to correct it.
>
> Change: 7001 1B40 F47F
> to: 3B7C 0101 F47E
>
> (I assume you have FEdit or something similar.)
>
> While I'm at it, here are two other patches I've come up with. The
> first one fixes a bug that causes incorrect code to be generated when
> a pointer to an object of size >=128 is auto-incremented or auto-
> decremented.
>
> Change: 197C 0004 0001 296D
> to: 197C 0004 FFE5 296D
>
> The second one fixes a bug that causes incorrect code to be generated
> for certain long bitfields. If such a bitfield is initialized, this
> one can crash the compiler too.
>
> Change: 122E FFF3 4881 9240 5341 E841
> to: 721F 9240 E841 D241 4E71 4E71
>
> Michael Kahl 75236,3146
> THINK Technologies, Inc.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 May 86 17:38:35 EDT
From: Meredith Lesly <mlesly@BBN-LABS-B.ARPA>
Subject: LightspeedC lossage
I have been tormented for weeks by mysterious occasional lossages of changes
to files. I *knew* that I wasn't crazy, and they numbered in the dozens,
not just once or twice. THis is the worst kind of bug to track down, since
one doesn't know it's happened until it's too late and who knows what
variables are affecting it.
Well, to make a long story short, I finally found it. If you are
"running" a project with two or more open, changed files and get a
link error, fix the error, and run it again, the second window will not get
saved. That is, the window behind the front window, if it's not the project
window.
THis is easy to demonstrate. Make a project containing two source files
MacTraps and stdio. The first file can be as simple as:
main() { foo(); }
And the second one can be
foo() { printf("Hi there!");}
If you change "printf" to "qrintf" temporarilly, so as to get a link
error, then change it back MAKING SURE THAT THE PROJECT WINDOW IS IN
BACK, the second file won't be saved.
There's no work-around, so be careful! I'm reporting it to Michael Kahl
tonight on Compuserve, and I'll post any responses I get here.
"Actually, my company's *happy* I have access to arpanet, so there!"
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 18 May 86 13:42:17 EDT
From: mazur@harvard.HARVARD.EDU (Eric Mazur)
Subject: Interrupt switch problems on the MacPlus
I recently posted a message on Usenet regarding problems I had with the
interrupt switch on a Mac+. I received two replies and thought the info-
mac community might like to hear this.
The problem: Sometimes (the question was when and why) the interrupt switch
on my MacPlus would not work properly, i.e. all that would happen was that
the mouse would freeze - no mini-debugger, no exit_to_shell. The most amazing
thing was that the problem was not reproducible from day to day.
Two people replied to my request for help. They had both encountered similar
problems and traced it back to their Apple modems. One had a Modem 1200, the
other the newer Personal Modem. I tried the interrupt switch with my
Apple Modem 1200 on and off (leaving all cables in place), and I can now
confirm that the mini-debugger does not work when the modem is powered on.
The problem goes away if you turn the modem off, but if the mouse is "frozen",
it will remain so until you reset... So if you need to use the interrupt
switch, make sure the modem is turned off!
Questions: 1) Are people having similar problems with other modems? 2) What
could be causing this problem?
Eric Mazur
ARPA-NET: mazur@harvard.harvard.EDU
BITNET: mazur@harvunxh.bitnet
UUCP: /----- mazur
/ /--- dasy!mazur
{seismo,harpo,ihnp4,linus,allegra,ut-sally}!harvard! ------
\ \___ lasex!mazur
\_____ molphy!mazur
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 18 May 86 12:41:37 PDT
From: chuq%plaid@SUN.COM (Chuq Von Rospach)
Subject: Mailing list software
I use the Microsoft File/Word combo, and it seems to do reasonably well.
file lets you store your data and select/sort on just about any setup you
want and print labels, or the data can be moved to Word for mass mailings
if you prefer. I've used them for both on rather small applications, and
they do the job pretty well. Previously, I attempted to use Ensemble,
which sucked. I know there are a couple of dedicated mailing list or
mass mailer programs out there, but I decided that File did the work well
enough without limiting its functionality to a single application.
chuq
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 18 May 86 14:06:57 EDT
From: mazur@harvard.HARVARD.EDU (Eric Mazur)
Subject: Re: mailing lists
I use Overvue for mailing lists (and much more) and am very satisfied. It
is a great database - very fast, flexible. The only negative point is that
it does not follow the "traditional" Macintosh interface in some details.
There are e.g. some problems with desk accessories and with programs like the
Switcher. The company had removed the copy protection and registered users
may request a non-protected version (2.0d).
It will print labels although you might end up spending quite some time
figuring out how to make the print out fit on your labels. A new program
from Silicon Beach Software, called Silicon Press (a must for mailing lists,
I would say) solves this problem. It is compatible with Overvue - reads your
Overvue files directly - and will let you easily print on whatever type of
labels you want. You may even include graphics, print on the LaserWriter, or
print in color on the ImageWriter II. If you select only a particular
group of people in Overvue, Silicon Press will only print labels for that
group, etc.: the possibilities are unlimited. Overvue by the way will also
work in conjunction with Microsoft Word. You can create a mail-merge file
with one simple menu choice (I have to warn here, however, that there are
some problems with databases that have a large record lenght), and read in
the mail-merge file directly in MS Word.
Eric Mazur
ARPA-NET: mazur@harvard.harvard.EDU
BITNET: mazur@harvunxh.bitnet
UUCP: /----- mazur
/ /--- dasy!mazur
{seismo,harpo,ihnp4,linus,allegra,ut-sally}!harvard! ------
\ \___ lasex!mazur
\_____ molphy!mazur
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 18 May 86 13:55:04 EDT
From: mazur@harvard.HARVARD.EDU (Eric Mazur)
Subject: Re: Word Tools
I was equally interested in "Word Tools" after reading the ad in MacUser. I
called the company right away, ready to buy it (no matter what). I was told
however that the program "was not out yet". No release date could be given.
It was not possible to give any more details on how the program worked.
And they were not willing to sell any pre-release versions.
From the description in the advertisement it looked to me like this program
would do on the Mac what "style", "diction", "explain" and "punc" do on Unix
systems. A program like Word Tools would save me the trouble of having to
upload a text-only version of my text files to a Unix machine, run each of
these programs separately, printing out the reports and correct errors
manually. Let's hope we soon hear more. If anyone on the net has any more
information, please let me know.
Eric Mazur
ARPA-NET: mazur@harvard.harvard.EDU
BITNET: mazur@harvunxh.bitnet
UUCP: /----- mazur
/ /--- dasy!mazur
{seismo,harpo,ihnp4,linus,allegra,ut-sally}!harvard! ------
\ \___ lasex!mazur
\_____ molphy!mazur
------------------------------
Date: Fri 16 May 86 18:13:52-CDT
From: Werner Uhrig <CMP.WERNER@R20.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Word Tools
[ I tried to reply by mail, but was unsuccessful (as follows):
MM>h
137) 15-May "Robert E. Yell Word Tools (454 chars)
MM>rep
Send reply for message # 137 to: SENDER
No such host as "ARDC.ARPA", address ignored
[ I hope my posting this log here gets someone to include this site into
the HOSTS-table - or whatever else is needed to correct the problem.
Sorry to bore the rest of you.
Anyway, here is what I wanted to tell Robert, for all to read: ]
Robert,
try to get a copy of the MacUnderground "Notes" of February Week 2,
which reports on a meeting with Doug Clapp, the author of WordTools.
it sounds interesting. I assume you know about the MacUnderground-BBS system,
if not you may want to call (515)472-9613.
Here is an excerpt (I have no affiliation with MacUnderground, so this is NOT
a paid-for commercial ...(-:)
WordTools[TM]: Meanwhile, Doug's about to release his first software product:
Doug Clapp's WordTools. Aegis (the Mac Challenger people) approached him with
the idea. The code is being cut by someone else, but the design is all Doug.
WordTools is for writers. Not just professional writers, but anyone who needs
to write words that others will read. It's a standalone Mac application that
works with Switcher. It'll read any word processed document from MacWrite,
JAZZ or Microsoft WORD (it doesn't have to be text only), and alert the writer
when he's being too wordy, using cliches, abusing punctuation, being pompous or
redundant, and writing over or under the heads of his audience. (Whoa, I get
self-conscious just describing it!)
Doug says it works like a spelling checking. If you've ever used one, you know
that it goes through a text document and highlights words that are either
misspelled or unrecorded in the program's dictionary. WordTools does the same,
only it highlights phrases from an exhaustive "suspect" list. The suspect list
contains oft-spewn verbal garbage, like: "null and void" (redundant!), "a great
deal of" (wordy!), "life and times" (cliche!) or "accentuate" (pompous!)--and
offers the writer alternatives: "void", "many", "history" or "stress". The
idea is to guide the writer to producing cleaner, less affected and more
readable prose.
"So this program isn't recommended for use on legal documents?" I asked,
half-kidding. Doug said that the program could also work backwards and MAKE
the prose wordy and pompous, if you like it that way.
The WordTools suspect list was gleaned from as many examples of bad writing as
Doug could get his hands on (sorry about that preposition, Doug!). Recently he
added a whole slew of new ones, thanks to Pat. She was editing a school
yearbook and had a sheaf of articles written by teachers to edit. She came
home quite distraught one day, because the stories were so bad--only to find an
exuberant Doug, whooping about how many new suspects he'd found in those same
stories.
The whole idea of the suspect list and Doug's near-fanatic zest for lean
writing can be traced back, in part, to the old writer's bible,The Elements of
Style, by William Strunk, with additions by his student, E.B. White. Both the
idea and the formula for ascertaining (pompous!) reading level came from
Rudolph Flesch's The Art of Readable Writing.
Flesch's book contains a method for taking the number of syllables, average
word-length, and other word elements of a piece and analyzing the data for
reading comprehesion level. Thus, a businessman can see if his letters are up
to college-level, a children's librarian can judge if a story is within the
grasp of a first grade audience--and TV commercial writers can rest assured
they're stuff is safely aimed at twelve-year olds.
Sounds like a dung-kicker of a program. Since I haven't received our beta copy
yet, there may be some inaccuracies in this report. I talked to Doug at length
about the program today, but he ran some of it by me so fast, I'm not sure I
got it down right.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 May 86 19:34:20 EDT
From: ADMIC34%VTVM1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU
Subject: EDIT & HFS
I am currently using version 1.0 of Bill Duval's Edit program which does not
work with HFS. Is there an updated version that will interface correctly
with HFS, and if so, what is it archived under on MACSERVE@BITNIC?
Thanks,
Jonathan Leblang
------------------------------
Date: 19 MAY 86 09:47-EDT
From: BELSLEY%BCVAX3.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU
Subject: How does one make PICT resources?
How does one make a PICT resource file from a MacDraw document? I know Mac-
Draw allows one to save as PICT, but this is not a resource file. I also know
one can use ResEdit to create a new PICT resource, but I haven't figured out
how to copy the MacDraw information into it. Thus, the issue is, given a
MacDraw document, how can one copy the relevant material into the PICT resource
file. What part of the MacDraw document is relevant to the Quickdraw ops, and
how are the other parameters (size and Rect) set?
thanks to all who reply,
david a. belsley
boston college belsley@bcvax3.bitnetet
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 May 86 17:49:58 edt
From: kevin@gvax.cs.cornell.edu (Kevin Karplus)
Subject: Textile design/MacWeave query
Someone requested info about textile design with a Mac. I have not used
it, but I've seen ads for MacWeave by AVL Looms. They advertise in Threads
and in Handwoven. I've also seen ads (in Handwoven) for a company that is
selling a review of the 50 or so weaving programs on the market (mainly for
PCs and Apple II's).
If anyone has used macWeave, I'd be interested in a review--I've been
thinking about getting it. (I'm getting tired of filling in the little
squares with MacPaint.)
Kevin Karplus
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 May 86 16:24:22 EDT
From: gingold%h-sc4@harvard.HARVARD.EDU
Subject: UTILITY-SETFILE.HQX.1
The file UTILITY-SETFILE.HQX is version 2.0 of the Desk Accessory and is not
the stand-alone utility.
[ I will rename the file to be [SUMEX-AIM]<INFO-MAC>DA-SETFILE-20.HQX.
Thanks for letting us know about it. - Lance
]
------------------------------
Date: 18 May 86 10:49:30 EDT
From: Jeffrey Shulman <SHULMAN@RED.RUTGERS.EDU>
Subject: Usenet Mac Digest V2 #39
Usenet Mac Digest Sunday, 18 May 1986 Volume 2 : Issue 39
Today's Topics:
Sequencer problems
HW documentation on mac+ wanted
Re: Ten Challenges
Re: Problem with System 3.X (actually bad apple dealers)
Mac Plus carrying cases
re: challenge no.5 (DA copying)
Re: printer problem
Re: A question concerning the memory maneger .
Finder tip
Re: Problem with System 3.X
cyrillic fonts
Megamax Development System on MacPlusses
right to left word processing
Re: Copying 400K Copy Protected Files to 800K Mac+ ???
Re: Current volume under SFGetFile ?
MacWrite question
Re: ICONS in buttons (HELP)?
Re: Megamax Development System on MacPlusses
Interrupt switch on Mac+
Re: Megamax Development System on MacPlusses
Source code for fractals?
Music typesetting; Mac/MIDI/Casio CZ-101; Mac/Music SIG?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[ Archived as [SUMEX-AIM]<INFO-MAC>UsenetV2-39.ARC
- Lance
]
------------------------------
Date: 18 May 86 13:55:38 EDT
From: Jeffrey Shulman <SHULMAN@RED.RUTGERS.EDU>
Subject: Delphi Mac Digest V2 #19
Delphi Mac Digest Sunday, 18 May 1986 Volume 2 : Issue 19
Today's Topics:
RE: Mac tote
BIG mac
Acta
DA limit
bug in lightspeed
OpenResFile doc bug
ZZZZZaaaaaaapppppp!
MacPascal 2.0 PSHELL
_DIZero problems...
RE: _DIZero problems... (Re: Msg 8088)
RE: Excalibur from Assimilation (Re: Msg 8115)
RE: 64K ROM Versions (Re: Msg 7568)
Mac+ Sound Problems
scrapbook bug
RE: scrapbook bug (Re: Msg 8199)
RE: Mac+ Sound Problems (Re: Msg 8183)
MacDraw 1.9 patches
Assimilation down the tube
Cortland???
getting screen dumps with menus
RE: getting screen dumps with menus (Re: Msg 8243)
Re: DA Number limit
beware of PMSP if you access files
Appletalk Question
RE: Appletalk Question (Re: Msg 8278)
RE: Appletalk Question (Re: Msg 8279)
DeskTop Disasters
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[ Archived as [SUMEX-AIM]<INFO-MAC>DelphiV2-19.ARC
- Lance
]
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End of INFO-MAC Digest
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