Info-Mac-Request@SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU (The Moderators) (03/24/90)
Info-Mac Digest Fri, 23 Mar 90 Volume 8 : Issue 63
Today's Topics:
200Mbyte Conners not sighted
_Launch v2.5
Collapse
Computer Output for the Blind: TeX to Braille
DeskJet Plus <> Macintosh
Eject Disk XCMDs
Found: lost hard disk memory
How to change the default clipboard window size in
Information Sought
LaserFix.init
Matrix-based language for the Mac?
More America Online hassles
NCSA Telnet
Stop
Unusual 'problem' with Moire
Weird Printing Requirement
Why are Quantum Pro Drives so cheap now? What's the catch??
Your Info-Mac Moderators are Bill Lipa, Lance Nakata, and Jon Pugh.
The Info-Mac archives are available (by using FTP, account anonymous,
any password) in the info-mac directory on sumex-aim.stanford.edu
[36.44.0.6]. Help files are in /info-mac/help. Indicies are in
/info-mac/help/recent-files.txt and /info-mac/help/all-files.txt.
Please send articles and binaries to info-mac@sumex-aim.stanford.edu.
Send administrative mail to info-mac-request@sumex-aim.stanford.edu.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 09:10:45 GMT
From: elroy!grian!alex@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Alex Pournelle)
Subject: 200Mbyte Conners not sighted
Speaking as someone who puts a few drives in PCs and Macs I can say with
good authority that the Conner CP-3200 just ain't available in quantity
greater than samples. Place orders carefully.
Great drive when you can get it. Quite a technical marvel, too--16
heads in a case about 2" tall!
Alex
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 90 16:36:19 -0500 (EST)
From: "Michael A. Libes" <ml10+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: _Launch v2.5
_Launch v2.5 is the latest version of a Multifinder utility which provides the
Macintosh equivalent to an icon dock. It is similar to the NeXT application
dock, but runs as a separate Multifinder program.
Applications, DA's, and files can all be installed as individual icons. Any
application can be launched with a double-click, no matter where it actually
exists on your disk drive.
Version 2.5 fixes the bugs found in v2.0. The Finder can be installed in the
dock without hanging the system. Changing icons no longer causes system
crashes.
_Launch 2.5 also provides a great speedup in updating. There is no longer a
ten second delay when the _Launch window is uncovered.
There is an interum fix called v2.1, but this version created some new bugs.
_Launch is Shareware, but it's cheap. Try it out, give it to all your friends,
and if you find it useful, it only costs $10.
Enjoy...
- Lunarmobiscuit
[Archived as /info-mac/util/launch-25.hqx; 52K]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 90 12:09:26 +0100
From: freek@fwi.uva.nl ()
Subject: Collapse
This FKEY is called 'Collapse', and is a clone (in fact I invented it
independently) of Windowshade in the form of an FKEY. It will collapse
a window to its title bar. If you hold the control key, all windows
will collapse.
Freek "the Pistol Major" Wiedijk Path: uunet!fwi.uva.nl!freek
#P:+/ = #+/P?*+/ = i<<*+/P?*+/ = +/i<<**P?*+/ = +/(i<<*P?)*+/ = +/+/(i<<*P?)**
[Archived as /info-mac/fkey/collapse.hqx; 6K]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 90 21:09:06 PST
From: siegman@sierra.stanford.edu (Anthony E. Siegman)
Subject: Computer Output for the Blind: TeX to Braille
Some weeks ago I posted a request for information on interfaces
between TeX and Braille, or any other output devices for the blind.
The following is a summary of all the messages I received.
I'm sorry -- I can't serve as a contact point for any further
messages. Please post to the Info-Mac Digest or comp.text.tex, as
seems appropriate.
--A. E. Siegman (siegman@sierra.stanford.edu)
%---------------------------------------------------------------
>From: Gerhard Weber <weber%informatik.uni-stuttgart.de@RELAY.CS.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 90 09:05:34 +0100
To: siegman@SIERRA.STANFORD.EDU
Subject: Using tex for braille output
Cc: weber%informatik.uni-stuttgart.de@RELAY.CS.NET
Dear Anthony:
Our blind students of the department of computer science are using
tex. Your question is not clear to me:
1) Do you think of a braille font that is printed (e.g. laser printer,
howtek tactile graph master) and then made tactile (e.g. with swell
paper)?
2) Do you think of "unstripping" the tex file (this is done here by
the students)
3) Do you think of accessing the preview screen in an interactive
manner by the blind user (we are using a (selfmade) hardcopy program
and braille printers as well as our pin-matrix device)?
I am forwarding your message to Prof. Jurgensen at London, Ontario who
gives tex his blind students also (helmut@uwovax.bitnet)
Gerhard
Gerhard Weber weber@ifi.informatik.uni-stuttgart.dbp.de
Universitaet Stuttgart
Institut fuer Informatik Tel.: +49 (711) 121-1404
Azenbergstr. 12 Fax: +49 (711) 121-1346
D-7000 Stuttgart 1S
%---------------------------------------------------------------
>From: Tony Siegman <siegman@>
To: Gerhard Weber <weber%informatik.uni-stuttgart.de@RELAY.CS.NET>
Subject: Re: Using tex for braille output
In-Reply-To: Your message of Thu, 8 Mar 90 09:05:34 +0100
Dear Prof. Weber:
The question arose because I will (for the first time) have a blind
student in an undergraduate electromagnetic theory course next
semester who will need to have materials converted into braille.
I have done a large book and many other things in TeX and routinely
use it for class notes and the like, and in discussing this with him
the question arose whether TeX could be printed in braille.
>From my conversation with him, I think he/we would be very interested
in information on all three of the output modes you mentioned: raised
paper "braille printing", TeX source stripping (I assume you mean
taking out all the \ commands), and tactile device output (which is
familiar to us because of Professor John Linvill's "Opticon" device).
Any references or information you can send will be much appreciated.
--Prof. A. E. Siegman (siegman@sierra.stanford.edu)
%---------------------------------------------------------------
>From: Helmut Jurgensen <helmut@csd.uwo.ca>
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 90 08:59:41 EST
To: helmut@csd.uwo.ca (CC for H. Jurgensen), siegman@sierra.stanford.edu,
weber%ifistg@unido.bitnet
Subject: Braille from TeX
It is very difficult (see Arrabito and Jurgensen, J. Electronic Publ.
1, 1988, 117--131). If it just concerns text (without mathematics) a
standard translator will do if you strip out the control sequences.
But with fancy stuff like mathematics, tables, etc. there is no
universal solution so far. The paper discusses the difficulties and
also gives a few references to simliar attempts.
I don't know what shape our "prototype" is in right now (it has never
been stable and completely functional) but it is worth checking with
Robert Arrabito (robbie@csd.uwo.ca). However, I am afraid we may not
be of much help immediately.
Yours sincerely, Helmut Jurgensen
Helmut Jurgensen
Professor
Department of Computer Science
The University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B7
phone: (519)661-3560
FAX: (519)661-3292
TELEX: TEL LDN 064 7134
helmut@julian.uucp
helmut@uwo.ca
helmut@uwovax.bitnet
%---------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 90 15:52:08 -0800
>From: jsmith@janus.Berkeley.EDU (J. Steve Smith)
Message-Id: <9003122352.AA00409@janus.Berkeley.EDU>
To: siegman@sierra.stanford.edu
Subject: Braille output of mathmatics
I noticed your request for info about converting tex files to Braille.
I am fairly well connected into the blind community ( being the author
of Flipper, a screen reading program for IBM PC's ) and I am
reasonably sure that such a conversion program does not exist. I
would certainly like to hear of any such programs.
Raised Dot Computing sells some much more basic facilities for
outputting Neimith (SP?) code (math code standard for Braille.) but
they are very limited compared to a translator such as you describe.
I have several friends who are blind mathematicians, and they
generally use greatly modified personal codes for their own notes.
Have you considered giving the blind student the raw TeX input in
computer format? He could then use the computer for access, or he
could Braille the raw TeX file into computer Braille which might be as
readable as any other encoding. You should also ask the student if he
knows of methods he could use to access the material. He may prefer
to use a reader for the mathmatical portions.
John Stephen Smith
P. S. I am an assistant professor at UC Berkeley in quantum
electronics, and I am familiar with your book. I haven't actually had
a blind student in one of my classes, however!
%---------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 90 11:53:21 CST
>From: delliott@cec2.wustl.edu (Dave Elliott)
Message-Id: <9003141753.AA27972@cec2.wustl.edu>
To: siegman@sierra.stanford.edu
Subject: Re: Braille Output from TeX?
Subject: Re: Braille Output from TeX?
Newsgroups: comp.text.tex
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Your project deserves a response! This is all I know:
IBM Atlanta has a computers-for-handicapped project, and some years
ago IBM made a braille printer... worth a try.
The US General Services Administration in Washington, DC has an
office for such services also.
The National Science Foundation has a program called FAH
(Facilitation Awards for Handicapped Scientists and Engineers) whose
purpose is to reduce barriers to participation by disabled faculty,
staff, and student research assistants -- it applies to work on almost
any NSF project, as a supplement to an existing grant or a component
of a new proposal. Call Lola Rogers at NSF.
There might be a possibility of getting funding to develop software
for this purpose, also... from SEE or CISE directorates.
Come to think of it, there was an item (in BYTE?) about a new
printer (laser?) which produces raised characters and lines on a
special plastic "paper"-- certainly producing Braille dot characters
>From TeX makes sense.
Please let me know what happens... and I'll pass it on to my
University's coordinater for such services.
David L. Elliott
Dept. of SSM, Washington University
St. Louis, MO 63130. (314)-889-6092
FAX (314)-726-4434 delliott@CEC1.WUSTL.EDU
%---------------------------------------------------------------
cc of the above emailed to:
weber%informatik.uni-stuttgart.de@RELAY.CS.NET, helmut@csd.uwo.ca,
weber%ifistg@unido.bitnet ,helmut@csd.uwo.ca,
jsmith@janus.Berkeley.EDU, delliott@CEC1.WUSTL.EDU
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 16:19:40 EST
From: jmurphy@helix.nih.gov (Joseph A. Murphy)
Subject: DeskJet Plus <> Macintosh
Question: What is the functional difference between
connecting an HP Deskjet Plus and a HP Deskwriter to
a Macintosh (The Deskjet is the PC version, the Deskwriter
is the Mac version).
I have a DeskJet Plus I would like to hook to a Mac, what do
I need to do this (cable, software?).
Thanks in advance!!!
Joe Murphy /=======\
National Institutes of Health | |
Division of Computer Research and Technology | |
Personal Computing Branch |=======|
Building 12 Room 3029, Bethesda MD, 20892 |@ ===|
|=======|
Nets: Hal%NIHDCRT.BITNET@CU.NIH.GOV |=======|
jmurphy@HELIX.NIH.GOV
Applelink: G0166
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 11:13 CDT
From: DMONEY@ducvax.auburn.edu
Subject: Eject Disk XCMDs
Does anyone know of an XCMD that handles
disk ejection in HyperCard?
Dean Money
Academic Computing Specialist
dmoney@auducvax
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 13:17:25 CST
From: jgsmith@bcm.tmc.edu (James G. Smith)
Subject: Found: lost hard disk memory
Thanks to all those who responded to my plight. My hard disk thought I was
using 30 meg when I was only really using about 15. It was explained to
me that this sort of thing can happen after a system crash. The problem
was fixed by using one of the utilities called Disk First Aid (which you
get when you buy the Mac.) It checked the hard disk, found it was "damaged",
and fixed it.
I'm so sorry I forgot who sent me that advice. (I deleted the mail).
Thanks to all who responded.
*
(Manuals? We don need no stinkin manuals!)
(I actually had to take the shrinkwrap off of one for this. :)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 14:03 N
From: <HEWAT%FRILL.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: How to change the default clipboard window size in
I use MDS EDIT 2.1, which came with Absoft Fortran, a lot for simple text files.
It opens a default clipboard window which covers my waste basket. A royal pain.
Anyone know how to patch it to reduce the default clipboard window size, or
maybe suggest a better general purpose, simple editor ? The default windows
are huge with my virtual double-page display (Stepping-out-II on my SE/30).
Many thanks, Alan Hewat, ILL Grenoble France. (bitnet HEWAT@FRILL).
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 12:57 EDT
From: Lonnette Edwards <EDWARDSL%ATSUVAX1.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Information Sought
>From: DIANA::EDWARDSL "Lonnette Edwards" 22-MAR-1990 09:56:29.59
To: IN%"info-mac@eboubo11.bitnet"
CC: EDWARDSL
Subj: Help finding DBM program
I would like to locate a database management program for the Mac
that would allow me to do several things:
1. Create a screen for easy data entry(as opposed to entry by
columns.
a. if this screen also diplayed the col. # that
would be a plus.
2. Transfer the data to a Digital MicroVax (VMS)
3. Use the data to run SAS programs.
All for the amazingly low price of less than or = $300.00.
Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks. edwardsl@atsuvax1.bitnet
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 11:08 EST
From: <FILLMORE%EMRCAN.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: LaserFix.init
LaserFix was just what I needed, so I downloaded it and tried it out.
Unfortunately it does not put a checkbox in the Laserwriter dialog box
as described. Has anybody noticed this?
It is still useful because it does put up the file requester box when you
type command-K. I'm running System 6.0.3.
BTW, I need to do the equivalent of command-K to have a Postscript header
included in the file - does this init allow you to ask for a header?
________________________
Bob Fillmore, Systems Software & Communications BITNET: FILLMORE@EMRCAN
Computer Services Centre, BIX: bfillmore
Energy, Mines, & Resources Canada Voice: (613) 992-2832
588 Booth St., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E4 FAX: (613) 996-2953
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 16:38 EST
From: "Kirke B. Lawton" <LAWK_E75@db1.cc.rochester.edu>
Subject: Matrix-based language for the Mac?
I am a student looking for a matrix-based programming language for
my SE. Is there such an animal (GAUSS?, Matlab?) in the Macintosh
universe? If there is nothing in the shareware world, would Mathmatica
or some other commercial product fit the bill?
Thanks, if I get anything, I'll compile and post.
Kirke B. Lawton
LAWK_E75@UORDBV.bitnet
LAWK_E75@db1.cc.rochester.edu
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 09:48:52 MST
From: Bob Bolt <BBOLT%UALTAVM.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: More America Online hassles
Further to my earlier messages on the problems I have had with America
Online, I was finally able to contact the billing department to find out
why my bill was not what I had originally agreed to when I cancelled my
account.
FLAME ON
The person I talked to was uncooperative and surly. He insisted that it
was my fault for not reading the fine print (which it was), but I insisted
that the way the extra charges were explained was misleading. Every other
charge for the service was listed by the hour, but the communication
surcharge was listed as 20 cents per minute ($12 per hour). I indicated
that it would be a good and fair business practce to inform users of this
charge when they first sign on, to prevent misunderstandings. The AOL
representative informed me that they "can't hold every customer's" hand
and that $500,000 in revenues indicated that the service was acceptable
to many people. Then in a patronizing tone, he proceeded to lecture me on
communication charges, reading documentation and suggested that in the
unlikely event that I ever use the service again, to find out what charges
would be billed beforehand. ARGHHH!
FLAME OFF
I am done with AOL now (I hope). Good luck to any of you who are still using
the service. I'm going back to CompuServe. It is less money, a better service
and you know where you stand.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Bob Bolt | Bitnet: BBOLT@UALTAVM
Instructional Tech Centre | CI$: 75410,2754
University of Alberta | AppleLink: BBOLT@UALTAVM.BITNET@DASNET#
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 11:15 EST
From: <FILLMORE%EMRCAN.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: NCSA Telnet
The standard NCSA Telnet program only contains an FTP server, no client.
This means that you have to login to the mainframe and use the mainframe
FTP command to get files from your Mac.
There are other versions of NCSA Telnet from Berkeley and Cisco which
include FTP clients which would be more suitable for you. The Cisco version
(unsupported PD) is available by anonymous FTP from ftp.cisco.com with a
file name of telnet.hqx. This version also includes SLIP, which I haven't
tested. Good luck!
________________________
Bob Fillmore, Systems Software & Communications BITNET: FILLMORE@EMRCAN
Computer Services Centre, BIX: bfillmore
Energy, Mines, & Resources Canada Voice: (613) 992-2832
588 Booth St., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E4 FAX: (613) 996-2953
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 90 12:09:43 +0100
From: freek@fwi.uva.nl ()
Subject: Stop
This FKEY is called 'Stop' because it executes the STOP instruction of
the 68000. After it has run, the processor will _stand_ _still_, not
even fetching instructions from memory anymore. Even an interrupt will
not restart the processor, because the interrupt level has been set to
maximum. This means that only a hardware reset will restart the
machine. Needless to say: _THIS_ _IS_ _DANGEROUS_. Only try this
FKEY when there is nothing important running (note: the Finder is also
important...)
(This FKEY is a major contender in the contest for the most useless
FKEY ever written for the Macintosh...)
Freek "the Pistol Major" Wiedijk Path: uunet!fwi.uva.nl!freek
#P:+/ = #+/P?*+/ = i<<*+/P?*+/ = +/i<<**P?*+/ = +/(i<<*P?)*+/ = +/+/(i<<*P?)**
[Archived as /info-mac/fkey/stop.hqx; 3K]
------------------------------
Date: 22 Mar 90 21:16:59 GMT
From: v132gcnx@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu
Subject: Unusual 'problem' with Moire
I have a problem with Moire somewhat similar to the one someone else had, when
Moire would 'cause' the screen to go haywire, even after it had been removed
>From the system folder.
I have recently gotten a 2 page monitor, and Moire didn't work at all with it.
So, I got rid of it, and use pyro instead. But, after the screen has been
showing fireworks for awhile, the Moire patterns suddenly appear, along with
the fireworks! I don't really mind, as the Moire pattern does dance over to
the little screen too, and that's nifty, but it's a little disconcerting that
the Moire program itself is long dead and gone. Also the Moire thing that
bounces around leaves an occasional scrap line here and there, which very much
detracts from its aesthetic, um, value. What's going on?
John Feinberg
S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo
ps
In regards to the post when I asked if getting MPW was a good idea, the
unanimous response was to start programming with Think C 4.0. It's far
cheaper, and runs with the ever-friendly mac interface, as opposed to a
unix-like (bleaugh) interface for MPW. So I will be learning C this summer.
One question about Think C: will I be able to do nifty things with it like
create applications with their own icons, and desk accessories, and stuff like
that?
A big thank-you to those that responded!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 09:23:15 GMT
From: elroy!grian!alex@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Alex Pournelle)
Subject: Weird Printing Requirement
Bob Rahe <CES00661%UDELVM.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu> writes:
> Francis Taylor <narf@media-lab.media.mit.edu> asked:
> > Subject: Weird Printing Requirement, and ...
> > Hi. I wrote a manual, which I would like to have printed.
> > I would like it to be printed on 8 1/2" by 11" paper,
> > folded over and stapled. The pages need to be printed on
> > the paper in a peculiar way so that all the pages will be
> > in the right places when they are stapled and folded.
> > Does anyone know of any software (preferably for the Mac)
> > that can do this for me?
> FullWrite Professional can do this, no problem. Just format your
>manual for 8.5x11 inch paper as usual, but when you go to print it,
>check "COLLATED", "TWO-UP", "BOTH SIDES", and I think you might also
>print front-to-back. Follow the mid-point instructions and when it's
>done the second pass, you just fold the stack in half. Pretty neat
>to watch too....
There's also a program that just does this process, called "stripping"
in the trade--it's "PostStrip" from Ultimate Professional Publishing
systems up in Montreal. Only trouble is that they want $3K for it
(urk!) and the Mac version isn't quite shipping.
But it does a very professional job, I'm told--includes staple creep,
two-ups, etc.
Alex
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 90 10:01:37 GMT
From: Kevin 'fractal' Purcell <KPURCELL%liverpool.ac.uk@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk>
Subject: Why are Quantum Pro Drives so cheap now? What's the catch??
>For example, in March 13 MacWeek, p.65, a 105MB 12ms internal is going for
>only $619!!! And on p.67, someone else is selling the same drive for
>only $625. I need a hard-drive like this, and I have to buy this
>month, but I'm suspicious as hell. Can anyone tell me what is going on?
I'd like to know too -- but I don't get MacWeak in the UK. Could somebody
PLEASE send me the names and addresses of these suppliers. I need a hard
disk and this is the best deal I've seen (especially if they fit in an SE).
It will only take a minute to look 'em up in MacWeak.
Thanks in advance (from an impoverished post-doc :-)
Either post to the net or (if that is considered advertising mail me direct)
Kevin
_________________________________________________________________________
Kevin 'fractal' Purcell ...................... kpurcell @ liverpool.ac.uk
Surface Science Centre, Liverpool University, Liverpool L69 3BX
------------------------------
End of Info-Mac Digest
******************************