tcamp@ecsvax.UUCP (Ted A. Campbell) (10/05/87)
I've recently begun using the DRI GEM user interface. I have two queries for those who have been using this package: (1) Are there any public-domain or shareware GEM applications or systems utilities available for GEM on the PC (I'm using Hercules Graphics)? What Bulletin Boards might carry such software? (2) The GEM Development package seems quite high priced directly from DRI. Does anyone carry this at a more reasonable price? -- Ted A. Campbell | Duke Divinity School | Durham, NC 27706 | email: tcamp@ecsvax |
tomr@drilex.UUCP (Tom Revay) (10/07/87)
In article <3975@ecsvax.UUCP> tcamp@ecsvax.UUCP (Ted A. Campbell) writes: > >(1) Are there any public-domain or shareware GEM applications or >systems utilities available for GEM on the PC (I'm using Hercules >Graphics)? What Bulletin Boards might carry such software? Not when the toolkit costs $500! GEM on the Atari ST has some hacked up stuff by PD programmers, but I'd be surprised to see much on the PC. >(2) The GEM Development package seems quite high priced directly >from DRI. Does anyone carry this at a more reasonable price? > I'd recommend you check with Programmers Connection of Hartville, OH, at (800) 336-1166 in the US, (800) 225-1166 in Canada, and collect from Ohio or Alaska at (216) 877-3781. I've bought a fair amount of stuff from them, and they've been very good. They're prices are always better than average. Now for a little additional advice .... I started using GEM for a business graphics module for a larger program about two years ago. I found it somewhat buggy, and the documentation was rather obscure. Since I didn't need the fancy windowed interface, I switched to the Computer Graphics Interface software from GSS of Beaverton, OR ((503) 641-2200). It's not much cheaper, but it seems more reliable, the tech support is better, and the docs are better. Also, GEM is descended from the GSS*VDI, as is CGI, so if you have code written for GEM, it can pretty much slip right into CGI. I also recommend reading Szezepanowski & Gunther's "Atari ST GEM Programmer's Reference." This will get you started in GEM a lot better than the GEM docs (unless they've been vastly improved in the past year or so since I've seen the latest). WARNING: It's not a great book, and you'll still have to read the DR stuff, but between the two you'll probably figure things out faster than I did. It's published by Abacus. +--Tom Revay---------------------+----------------------------------+ | "And you can believe me, | ll-xn -------\ | | because I never lie, | harvard!axiom =-!drilex!tomr | | and I'm always right!" | necntc-------/ | | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ | | Fido: Net 101/Node 107, (617) 595-5626 & 595-5627 | | US Snail: Data Resources, 24 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 02130 | | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ | | Disclaimer: "I didn't do it! Honest!" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
jpdres13@usl-pc.UUCP (John Joubert) (10/14/87)
------------------- A better word of advice, instead of the "Atari ST Programmers Reference" Use instead "The Programmer's Guide to Gem" from Sybex. I just went to my local bookstore and had them order it for me, only $20. The reason that it would be better for you is that the book concerns itself mainly with pc, and also the Atari ST. I found it a better reference book ( even for my ST ) because it has arranged itself around themes of use. For instance, windows are in one section, dialog boxes in another, mouse handling in another, etc,etc. The book contains much more info also. One more thing, I have both books and the opinion here is just from my own experience. I use them both heavily, but then again, I have an ST, and one of the books is for the ST. With PC use in mind, I think that you would be happier with the aforementioned book suggestion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Joubert | /\ | /\ | _ jpdres13@usl-pc.USL | \|<>|>|> \|<>|>|><`|`| or ... |-----/|-------/|----------------------- ut-sally!usl-pc!jpdres13 | \/ \/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------