Info-Mac-Request@SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU (The Moderators) (12/14/89)
Info-Mac Digest Wed, 13 Dec 89 Volume 7 : Issue 220
Today's Topics:
Amiga Mac emulator reviewed
default buttons and round rects
DeskWriter evaluation
Help With FileInfo
Hypercard Exporting
Inexpensive Mac dot-matrix printer
Info-Mac Digest V7 #214
Info-Mac Digest V7 #216
Lisas for landfill
MacPassword 3.5.1
Outlining default buttons
Requests for help in writing screen savers
Review: Datadesk 101 keyboard (longish)
Spontaineous Compustion and the Macintosh
Submission to info-mac digest
Technical Notes, 12-89
Telephone Dial Sounds
WDEF virus
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: Mon, 11 Dec 89 13:06 EST
From: <FILLMORE%EMRCAN.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Amiga Mac emulator reviewed
I have some additional comments on A-Max (Amiga Mac emulator):
- I am running A-Max on an Amiga 2000 with 3 megs and have very few problems.
I am running System 6.0.3. Finder and Multifinder are fine.
I have configured 1.5 megs for Mac emulation and 1.5 megs for RAM disk.
- I'm using a public-domain utility for saving PRAM settings such as mouse
speed.
- communications programs such as Z-Term work fine.
- Hypercard works fine (I had to configure 1.5 megs to get it to work)
--> make sure your Hypercard disk is write-enabled.
- there is an equivalent to the interrupt button but I forget what it is
(It's in the manual, read very carefully!)
- most software I have tried works fine, but I'm not a Mac "power user"
I use a Mac SE/30 at work and the Amiga at home - great for my purposes.
________________________
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: Mon, 11 Dec 89 09:44 EST
From: "PAUL R. POTTS" <PPOTTS%WATSON.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: default buttons and round rects
On the subject of how to draw round rectangles around buttons so they
will stay there:
People have recently posted another way to do it: it's also in the
"Mac One-Liners" on the MacServe archives. This method is to draw a
round rect as a PICT and paste it in to your dialogue template using
ResEdit. Paste it behind the button. Then when ModalDialog gets an
update event, it will redraw the PICT as well, and the round rect will
still be there. The only disadvantage to this method is that you
can't change which button gets the default round rect dynamically,
depending on the state of the program.
The slightly more difficult way is to do what I did and write a filter
procedure. I decided I wanted to add the following functionality to
my ModalDialog calls:
1) I wanted the user to be able to hit command key equivalents instead
of clicking buttons, or straight key equivalents if there were no
editable text fields in the dialog;
2) I wanted the user to be able to put in a disk while my ModalDialog was
up and have the computer mount the disk, or ask "do you wish to initialize"
if the disk is bad;
3) I wanted to intercept update events and re-draw anything in the dialog,
like default round rectangles around the buttons, that my dialog resources
didn't have in them.
4) I wanted to be able to experiment with other weird things, like making
a modal dialog that did animation while waiting for the user to press a
key (this is fairly easy: if you have something that can be redrawn
very quickly, like an icon, you have the Port and can draw it when you
get a null event.)
I wrote the functionality of the first three into a small application
and article and sent them to MacTutor magazine a few months ago. They
expressed an interest in publishing it, so I sent them a revised version,
but I haven't heard from them lately. Meanwhile, if anyone is heavily
into ModalDialog I would be glad to talk to them, send them code excerpts,
etc. I don't want to post my article/application because MacTutor might
be planning to run it.
P.S.: I'll also be looking for a programming job, come next May...
===================== Long live the toolbox ===========================
Paul R. Potts - PPOTTS@WOOSTER on Bitnet - Paul Potts on America Online
- Intern for Documentation, Academic Computing Services - The College
of Wooster - Wooster OH 44691.....My opinions are my own, and anyone else
who expresses them is obviously a cheesy imposter!
========================================================================
------------------------------
Date: 11 Dec 89 0148 PST
From: Tovar <TVR%CCRMA-F4@sail.stanford.edu>
Subject: DeskWriter evaluation
I considered the HP DeskWriter for personal use, but decided against it for the
present time. As advertised, its quality is somewhere between an ImageWriter II
and a LaserWriter. Its resolution is claimed to be 300 dpi, but i find that
number unconvincing for an `ink spitter'. I think may be an question of the
size of the the ink drops on the paper (including spreading?) and repeatability
in position, as otherwise it would be difficult to distinguish from LaserWriter
output.
But that wasn't much of an issue for me. The PostScript fonts resident in the
printer looked great. The problem for me as that it didn't do a decent job of
translating the QuickDraw font that i had available to me for testing. Given
that i use my own font for programming, and that the fonts i prefer for my
correspondence are not the formal kind from Adobe, this was not acceptable to
me. This is in contrast to the LaserWriter, where if you supply a large point
size QuickDraw font, it often generates rather good looking output, even
without the Adobe `hints'. Now, if the Adobe Type Manager is able to take a
large QuickDraw font, and make pretty DeskWriter output, i'd go check my bank
balance. But for now, i'll have to wait at least until System 7, and probably
until i can understand Apple's outline fonts well enough to use them.
-- Tovar
P.S. While it is a plain paper printer, i think the paper has to have certain
properties to generate good looking output. Perhaps someone else knows more
definitively, but it may not work well for things like letterhead.
------------------------------
Date: Saturday, 9 December 1989 12:23pm CST
From: STEVE.SWINNEA@utxvm.cc.utexas.edu
Subject: Help With FileInfo
I am trying to do something rather simple. Using stdio, I want to
open a file (fileName),write to it, close it, and then change
its fdCreator before exiting the program. The basic outline of my code is
as follows
Str255 fileName;
HFileParam fp;
WDPBRec wp;
FILE a;
fileName = "fileName" ;
a = fopen(filename,"w");
write to file
fclose(a);
PBGetWDInfo(&wp,0);
fp.ioVRefNum=wp.ioWDVRefNum;
CtoPStr(fileName);
fp.ioNamePtr=fileName;
PBHGetFInfo(&fp,0);
fp.ioFlFndrInfo.fdCreator='TYPE';
PBHSetFInfo(&fp,0);
Please forgive the lack of detailed syntax, but this is a sketch of
what I've been trying. I would appreciate seeing a bit of working
THINK 3.0 working code that would accomplish this. I can't even seem
to get CtoPStr to work. I have difficulty after I close the file and
begin to modify the Finder Info.
Thanks,
Steve Swinnea
CHAA013@UTA3081.cc.utexas.edu
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 09 Dec 89 12:36:53 EST
From: "Chris Khoury (Sari's Son)" <3XMQGAA%CMUVM.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Hypercard Exporting
I have an address stack that I want to export to a database or Excel. Is t
here a command or XCMD/XCFN that will allow me to do that?
Thanks,
Chris Khoury
Acknowledge-To: <3XMQGAA@CMUVM>
------------------------------
Date: 11 Dec 89 11:32:00 EST
From: "TEE" <tee@stc10.ctd.ornl.gov>
Subject: Inexpensive Mac dot-matrix printer
Hello World,
I am in the market for an el-cheapo dot-matrix printer for my Mac. From various
discussions on the nets, it looks like there are some problems associated with
using hardware and software interfaces to non-Mac printers (like Grappler,
etc.). So, I thought I would stick with a printer designed specifically for
the Mac. The only ImageWriter clone I know of is the Seikosha SP 1000 AP
printer. The ImageWriter II is ridiculously expensive for a dot matrix printer,
so I guess it's Clone Time.
So here's a few questions:
1. Does anyone have any good/bad experience with the Seikosha ?
2. The Seikosha supposedly provides the features of an ImageWriter I.... What's
the difference between an ImageWriter I and an ImageWriter II ?
3. Are there any other ImageWriter clones on the market?
Thanks,
Steve Teeters
------------------------------
Date: 5 Dec 89 23:29:16 EST (Tue)
From: uunet!jc3b21!david%pasteur.Berkeley.EDU@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (David Quarles)
Subject: Info-Mac Digest V7 #214
Info-Mac-Request@SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU (The Moderators):
>
> Q
> Hello Netlanders!
> We are looking forward purchasing a removable 40-45 MO HD system
> (cartridge-systems).
> In France, such systems are available from SYQUEST, IOMEGA, and
> CREX.
> Has anybody an idea of their performances and reliability?
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
I purchased Ehman Engineering's 44 Meg removable in August and think it
works just fine. It is noiser than the 80 Meg internal in my SE/30, but
then it cost me $849 (lately reduced to $799). It seems nearly as fast.
I'd do it again. It comes with one cartridge (naturally) and extras are
$99 each. This is an inexpensive way to have a lot of memory. Besides
I really don't need more than 44 megs at any one time (yet). I do not
anticipate needing to have a stack (Hypercard(tm)) this large anyway,
for now.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dave =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= EOT
Dave Quarles
Mathematics Department
St. Petersburg Campus
St. Petersburg Junior College
P.O. Box 13489
St. Petersburg, Florida
33733-3489
Ph: (813) 341-4393 (recorder ans.
on THIRD ring.)
=-=-= Email: david@jc3b21.UUCP -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dave =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= EOT
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 89 01:29:59 EST
From: George <ST701640%BROWNVM.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Info-Mac Digest V7 #216
This is my first time on this system. I know this may be a waste of your time,
but I'm trying to write a "entertainment" software, and I need some tips. Wel
l, it's more like, I need some serious help. My only concern now is how can I
incorporate snd files into a program I'm writing in Pascal? And is there an
easy way to program Appletalk? I talked to Randy Carr, who's supposed to be
the guru of Appletalk for Apple, and he directed me to Inside Macintosh vols.
whichever to whichever. But there isn't any examples given in them, only routi
nes I can call. Is there any user friendliness in this world? I'm optimistic
that there is.
I'm writing in THINK's LSP 2.0, Mac SE, 2.5 megs, System 6.0.3, Finder 6.1. If
needbe, I can incorporate assembly routines into my program.
Please reply to st701640@Brownvm
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 89 09:55:25 EST
From: gateh%conncoll.bitnet@forsythe.stanford.edu
Subject: Lisas for landfill
> R.I.P.
> Apple recently buried 2,700 unsold Lisa computers in a Utah
> landfill. Sun Remarketing purchased nearly 5,000 Lisa's for
> resale several years ago and continues to support the
> product, but Apple got a better taxbreak by destroying the
> one time breakthrough technology computers than by giving
> them away to schools or third-world countries.
> - InfoWorld 23 October
I am thoroughly appalled and disillusioned by this story. Is Apple in
such financial straits as to be forced to commit a mindless and
unconscionable act like this? I seriously doubt it.
I am inclined to write to Mr. Sculley expressing my shock and disapproval
concerning this story. If anyone else feels similarly, and is interested
in some form of group letter, I would be willing to handle the paperwork.
Please write me directly if you are interested. - Gregg
Gregg TeHennepe | Minicomputer Specialist
gateh@conncoll | Connecticut College, New London, CT
------------------------------
Date: Tue Nov 28 16:47:39 1989
From: microsoft!arts@uunet.uu.net
Subject: MacPassword 3.5.1
MacPassword v3.5.1 is a password utility program designed to protect your
hard disk drive from use by unauthorized users. Note: The manual is in
MacWrite format and you MUST read it before using MacPassword for the
first time! StuffIt is needed for decompressing this file. This is a DEMO
Version that will only work for two months after you first use it.
Registered users get the necessary keycode to unlock all the features and
create an unlimited life version.
Thanks for your support!
Art Schumer - November 26, 1989
==========================================================================
Version 3.5.1 has significant new features and here's a list of what's new
for the people who have used previous versions:
** Screen Saver Password Protection with user defined intervals
* Higher Security Protection similar to AppleShare access privileges
* Virus Protection superior to that found in other tools like Vaccine.
* All Activity Now Optionally Sent to a Log File for Record Keeping
* Volume Locking for protected volumes.
* Online Help Added
* All New Manual
* New User Interface.
* Sound File playback.
* Animated Startup Icons in Color and B&W.
* Guests can no longer access the MacPassword Control Panel device.
* Abnormal shutdown will not leave system unprotected under guest
access.
* Command key equivalents for most screen functions
* New Unique Error Sounds
* Bad entry attempt message displayed when logon fails
* All dialogs centered over Control Panel instead of screen
* Will no longer allow duplicate entries in protected list box
* Co-exists nicely with most of the new INIT Managers
The shareware registration fee is now $35.00 ($37.24 for WA residents or $40.00 US funds drawn on a US bank for non-US shipped orders).
Registered owners of previous versions can upgrade by sending in their
original disk along with $12.00 ($12.97 for WA residents or $15.00 US funds drawn on a US bank for non-US shipped orders). Volume purchasers (over 2 copies per site) can upgrade for $8.00 per copy by sending in their original disks.
If you already own version 3.x.x and want this new version, feel free to
download it and apply the version 3.x.x keycode to unlock it for your
use.
[Archived as /info-mac/demo/macpassword-351.hqx; 116K]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 89 11:09 EST
From: JACKSON@mecan1.maine.edu
Subject: Outlining default buttons
Enter your message below. Press CTRL/Z when complete, or CTRL/C to quit:
The suggested approach to outlining the default button for dialog boxes
does work; however, it's a pain to have that around in your code, and to
call it for every update. As an alternative, try doing a screen dump of
a dialog with the default outline. Then using your favorite paint program,
copy just the outline part of the button (erasing the interior button first)
and stick this into the resource file of your application using ResEdit.
Then for every dialog box you create using ResEdit, just add another item
that is the PICT resource for the outline. Just resize the PICT to whatever
size you need for the default button in the dialog. Then the dialog manager
handles the updates, and you don't need to worry about it in your code. Hope
this helps.
Jax
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 89 11:47:09 PST
From: eastman@csa2.lbl.gov (Jack Eastman)
Subject: Requests for help in writing screen savers
>Date: Tue, 5 Dec 89 10:28 EST
>From: Assistant Postmaster <BHERSEY@ocvaxa.oberlin.edu>
>Subject: INSTALLING VERTICAL RETRACE TASKS
>
> I am writing a VBL task as part of a screen saver program. I have
>been having a good deal of trouble adding my code to the VBL task queue.
>Can anyone who has successfully written VBL tasks tell me why the following
>code fragment does not work?...
>...
>David Hersey
>Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074
>bhersey@oberlin (Bitnet)
>bhersey@ocvaxa.oberlin.edu
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Date: Tue, 5 Dec 89 12:43 EST
>From: "Composer-at-large..." <SNC0243@ocvaxa.oberlin.edu>
>Subject: Request for source...
>
>Hello. I'm interested in writing a screen saver on the mac and I don't quite
>know where to start. I was wondering if anyone had any source that they would
>be willing to share with me. Thanks.
>
>-Noel Cragg ( SNC0243 @ Oberlin )
Usually when people want to write screen savers it's because they have some
really cool graphics they want to use, not because they want to become a low-
level system hacker. After Dark, the new screen saver from Berkeley Systems, is
really a screen-saver shell; it does all the hard work for you, and lets you
program your own graphics modules that kick in when it's time to sleep. (Of
course it's not just a programmers' tool; we provide about 15 modules all ready
to go.) More than half the manual is spent explaining how to write a graphics
module, and the disk includes example code for two complete modules in MPW
and THINK C and Pascal.
Or maybe you WANT to patch a lot of traps...That's cool too!
Jack Eastman
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
eastman@lbl.gov
Disclaimer: I wrote After Dark.
P.S. Maybe you Oberlin guys should get together...
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 89 18:04:26 EST
From: Damian%UMass.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu
Subject: Review: Datadesk 101 keyboard (longish)
Review: Datadesk 101 keyboard (non-ADB version).
It's simple... if you own a pre-SE Mac, are a good touch typist, and want
to get the most out of your computer, the Datadesk 101 keyboard has to be one
of the best buys you can make. It gives you all but 4 of the keys on the
apple extended keyboard, and it has a quality of feel and response exceeded
only by some of the most expensive office typewriters.
The keyboard's physical dimensions are aproximately 19" x 7", with the keytops
1.25" above the desk in front, and 1.75" in back (rear can be raised .5" with
folding feet). The key layout is identical to that of the IBM PC AT, although
of course some of the keys are labeled differently, such as the "Option" key,
which is "Alt" on the AT. Key shapes are somewhat different, and decidedly
nicer than on the AT keyboard. Differences from the Apple extended keyboard
are that it does not have a control key and power key, and lacks one key on
the numeric pad (the "="). The December '89 issue of MacUser has an
advertisment with a picture on page 45.
I ordered mine from MacConnection, and two days later (they've been behind
in shipping orders) it arrived by UPS. I unpacked it immediately, plugged it
into my Plus (2 Meg, 20 Meg Dataframe external HD, System 6.0) and started
typing away. What a joy... I think my typing speed must have gone up 20%.
Next I installed the macro software that came with the keyboard, and... was in
for my first disappointment. To put it simply, the Datadesk supplied
software, called "Master Strokes," is a dog. You can only define key mappings
>From one key to another and absolute event sequences a 'la Macromaker (Apple).
Also, prmitive though it is, the user interface is bad and ugly.
A week later I called MacConnection again, and ordered CE Software's
QuicKeys. QuicKeys is a very nice program, and has been reviewed and talked
about extensively, so I won't say much about it save that it does 95% of what
I want it to do, which is pretty damn good. Also, it lets you define FKeys to
arbitrary key sequences, and the FKey does NOT have to be in the range 0-9!
That means that a programmer can assign any needed functionality to any key on
the board.
The keyboard has a few peculiarities that need to be mentioned. For one
thing it is NOT compatible with the Apple extended keyboard. Rather, the main
keyboard, cursor diamond, and numeric pad are compatible with the Macintosh
Plus keyboard and numeric pad (with one exception which I'll mention in a
moment) and the general and specialized function keys are compatible with only
themselves. If you are going to use the keyboard with the Datadesk software
or with QuicKeys you have no problem, as QuicKeys comes with an INIT that
allows it to interpret the codes sent by the Datadesk keyboard, but if you
want to use other software you might be out of luck. Also, the numeric pad
differs from those of all Mac keyboards in having an oversized "+" key and no
"=" key, which might be significant for terminal emulators which use the top
row of the keypad as VT100 function keys.
Despite these minor incompatibilities (most of which can be worked around
with QuicKeys) I still highly recomment this keyboard to anyone who is stuck
with an old Apple keyboard. Just plan the price of QuicKeys into your budget
when you decide to buy it. Also, if you are buying a new Mac, SE or up, you
might still want to look at the Datadesk keyboard as a cheaper, and in my
opinion slightly better, alternative. I do not know wether the ADB version of
the keyboard is fully compatible with the Apple extended keyboard or not.
In summary, the Datadesk 101 keyboard is a complete keyboard with a nice
layout and superior feel and response. The software is poor, but this can be
worked around. I have not had any opportunity (fortunately :-) to test the
quality of Datadesk's customer service, which could be an issue, and if anyone
reading this has had this experience, I would be glad to hear about it.
- Jurgen Botz
Internet: JurgenB@UMass.bitnet
Compuserve: 70531,600
Voice: (413) 256-8610 (US)
P.S.: whoops...prices! MacConnection sells the keyboard for $139, QuicKeys
is $65.
P.P.S: Disclaimer: If you guessed that I have no connection to Datadesk, CE
Software, or Apple Computer, Inc., other than as a satisfied customer,
you were right.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 89 17:08 EST
From: someone please stop the bunny <ACSAZ%SEMASSU.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Spontaineous Compustion and the Macintosh
Bitnet adrs: -> ACSAZ@SEMASSU, 10-DEC-1989
Hi here in the U. S. of A., at SMU (that's Southeastern Mass U) we have
a problem with our little Mac pluses. You see tonight (sunday that is) a
few minutes ago another one of our little creatures started smoking
profusely. We DO have a no smoking policy in ALL our clusters and our
machines are no excepion. This is the 5th or 6th disobediant little
critter in the past year. You see, they are on from 8:30am to 11pm every
weekday and don't run cooling fans. As a result a few of our little
delinquents resort to smoking their power supplies. Now - does any one of
you wise (non - smoking) personages know a solution to this dilemma? A Just
Say No program? Cooling fans? Frequent spankings? Personal counseling
with Zsa Zsa and Mrs Quail? Please.. I beg of you is there hope??
- Zav
_________________________________________________________ `!'
| - Southeastern Massachusetts University U S of A - |
| Live From the 'REAL' SMU... iiiiiiit's Alex! | _-----_
| alias Alex Zavatone, RoadHazard (I've earned that one)| / _ _ \
| Discmaimer?!: You must be kidding | | O o |
|-------------------------------------------------------- | v |
| Bitnet -> ACSAZ@SEMASSU | ACS - It's not just a job | \ '___` /
| Hepnet -> ALEX@SMUHEP | It's an Adventure! | | \_/ |
|_________________________|___________________________| \___/
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 89 08:39 CST
From: <BERNSTEI%TAMODP.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Submission to info-mac digest
A while ago I posted the following:
>I'm looking for a product which allows task-to-task communication (not just
>just file transfer) between a MAC and a VAXcluster. I'm creating a Hypercard
>front end for a VAX-resident non-SQL database....
>I've identified TSSnet and CommUnity as possibilities for task-to-task
>communication via DECnet. Has anyone used the programming interface for
> these product? If so, what were your experiences?...
I did not receive many replies but the ones that did come in were helpful
and I thank those that took the time to respond.
These are the responses:
****************************
Have you fully investigated CL/1? I have recently gotten the VMS server
through a contact at Apple, and it is pure joy compared to anything else.
If you are in the DEC CSLG, you can get Rdb for cost of media and documentation
and write an API from your VAX database to Rdb (i.e., dump the data you
commonly access into Rdb tables) then query from the Macs into Rdb from
CL/1. Failing that, you can use ADSP to carry your requests from the Mac
to the VAX (assuming you are running Appletalk for VMS on the VAX). This
will require you to write some XCMDs for HyperCard to access the ADSP
driver, plus some hacking on the VMS side. Unless you have lots of time and
programmers to throw at the project, I would try CL/1.
Jeff E Mandel MD MS
Tulane University School of Medicine
AS01MEF@VM.TCS.Tulane.EDU
*******************************
There is a large ensemble of approaches that you could take for that
problem. In any one of them, there is going to be some parsing required.
I don't know what database you are planning to use, but there is always
one way to get in. That is to pretend you're a terminal. Apple has
a Serial Port extension set (HyperTerm) that can be used to log into
your machine and talk to it. I would pass the returned info to an
XCMD to do the parsing as HyperCard is a bit on the slow side.
Another option, if your database tool supports it is to write the needed
data to a file in a shared directory (i.e., mount your VMS or whatever
directory as an HFS volume), and read the data as if it were local.
That to is time consuming.
Attempting to set up some intimate message passing may require more
effort than you are willing to dish out.
Kurt Christensen
kjeld@crdecf.csc.ti.com
************************************
Here at Goddard we have used CommUnity Mac and have been rather satisfied. So
far we have tried just one application, and that is an image display server
that runs on the Mac. The image server is started on the Mac, and then a
program is run on the VAX which forms a logical link to the Mac and then is
able to display VAX-resident image files on the Mac screen.
The CommUnity documentation gives some simple examples of code used for both
the Mac-as-server and the VAX-as-server cases. We used both MPW C and
Lightspeed C without any major headaches. To write an application, however,
a knowledge of VAX programming with DECNET is necessary. The CommUnity
documentation isn't of much help here. I did see that with VMS 5.x there is an
example in SYS$EXAMPLES of a DECNET application, a database server I believe,
that may be illustrative.
User support from Technology Concepts has been fairly good, although when we
first purchased CommUnity, it had some bugs, and it was many months before
they shipped the fix via version 1.3. This new version has some minor
weaknesses, e.g. it requires the network cdev to be set to the Ethernet setting
(NCSA Telnet is smart enough to ignore the cdev setting). By the way, we
consider the CommUnity applications such as Remote File Transfer to be a
godsend (quick and simple file transfer between Mac and VAX).
I believe someone told me that TSSNet was giving him problems, but I don't have
any specifics, so you can consider that as hearsay.
Ed Seiler
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD
seiler@chrpserv.gsfc.nasa.gov
******************************* End
No one replied about TSSnet but both TSSnet and CommUnity will provide demo
versions of their products.
Another option which may be promising is to use AlisaTalk's AppleTalk services
(which we currently own) to communicate with the Hypercard AppleTalk Toolkit.
We are still reviewing all the options presented. If anyone has any insight to
using AlisaTalk's AppleTalk Services, or further info on any of the previously
discussed (i.e. TSSnet task-task). I'd love to hear from you.
Again, thanks to those that responded.
Larry Bernstein BERNSTEIN@TAMODP (bitnet)
Ocean Drilling Program BERNSTEIN@ODPVAX.TAMU.EDU (internet)
Texas A&M University
College Station, Tx 77840
409-845-4870
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1989 23:42:21 PST
From: The Moderators <Info-Mac-Request@sumex-aim.stanford.edu>
Subject: Technical Notes, 12-89
The new batch of technical notes is in /apple/tn. Check
/help/recent-files.txt to find out which ones are new.
Also there are some NFNT screen fonts from Adobe in the
/font/adobe directory, courtesy Craig Derose.
Bill
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Date: Mon, 11 Dec 89 09:43 EST
From: Bob~Franchini <BOBF%YALEADS.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Telephone Dial Sounds
Hi Everyone,
I'm writing an application using 4th Dimension running on a network of Mac
SE's designed to allow automatic telephone dialing capability. I'd like to
generate the necessary tones out of the audio output jack.
Does anyone have the tones associated with the digits "0" through "9" saved
as sound resources suitable for pasting into a 4th Dimension application ?
If I get a number of suitable responses, I'll sumarize and forward to the
network.
Thanks,
Bob Franchini - BOBF@YALEADS.BITNET
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Date: Mon, 11 Dec 89 11:45:35 -0600
From: Frank Steel <fsteele@uiucvmd.bitnet>
Subject: WDEF virus
I'm pretty sure the list has Disinfectant 1.4 now, so I'll skip instructions
on how to get rid of WDEF. (By the way, the authors of Disinfectant deserve
mass adulation for their rapid response on this one - and every other Mac
virus thus far - To all of them, "hear, hear" :-)) I will send along the
symptoms I've encountered so far in several infected labs at the University
of Georgia.
WDEF adds a resource of type WDEF (natch) to the invisible desktop file on
Mac disks. It CAN spread via network to shared volumes, and it causes dramatic
slowdowns on an AppleShare server. If your individual start-up disk has WDEF,
the Mac will freeze when opening or closing windows. You may see the radial
lines that usually blink momentarily when you close a window for up to 15-30
seconds. Additionally, the arrows in your monitor's upper left corner (denoting
network connection) will stay on - they usually flash. Additionally, infected
AppleShare volumes frequently cannot be removed by dragging them to the trash -
they just stay there.
John Norstad (one of the gentlemen on whom I just heaped adulation) hasn't
yet discovered any purpose to the virus but propagation, but there are reports
of it bombing IIci's and, less frequently, IIcx's. Damage to disks may be
possible, as well.
I've disinfected three labs here - The worst were the two with central file
servers. I would clear the server(s) first - while no one is logged in - then
each of the start-up volumes. Additionally, check any disks that are available
for check-out and disks belonging to users.
All the above information is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I'll be
happy to respond to any queries via BITNET - my address is FSTEELE@UGA.
I'd also like to know if any of the above has proved untrue in any case, or
of any further useful experience with the virus.
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End of Info-Mac Digest
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