Info-Mac-Request@SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU (The Moderators) (11/26/89)
Info-Mac Digest Sun, 26 Nov 89 Volume 7 : Issue 210
Today's Topics:
Appleshare freeze-ups
calliper input device
DFaultD 2.0
ERROR IN SCHEMATIC IN INFO-MAC VOLUME 7 ISSUE 204
Facade 1.0
Formating non-standard hard disks
Fractals images for use as Desktop backgrounds
government forms
Hard Disk Backup Program Response Summary
Info-Mac Digest V7 #208
Mac Ethernet
MAC PRINTERS ???
New version of DoppleMaker
PAL & NTSC video boards on U.S. Macs
Re.: Formatting a CDC Wren Runner?
Screen savers
Sound file problems
SpiNit
Tax form templates
TextEdit problem
The new and future macs
White Knight (was Red Ryder) release note
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: Wed, 22 Nov 89 15:58 EST
From: <CHLAMY%CTSTATEU.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Appleshare freeze-ups
Our department has an Appletalk network with 15 Macs (a mix of +, SE and II)
using an SE (1MB) server with 3 20MB disks. At unpredictable intervals the
entire network freezes and all machines, including the server have to be
rebooted, any work in progress is lost. In many, but not all, cases the server
shows one user being logged on anywhere from 2 to 6 times. This multiple sign-o
n
is generated by the system itself, not the user. Our Apple reps have no answer
and claim this is unique.
Does anyone have an explanation and a possible cure?
Thank you
Mike Adams
Biology Dept.
ECSU
Willimantic CT 06226
(203) 456-5305
CHLAMY@CTSTATEU
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 89 14:25:41 CET
From: "Willem N. Ellis" <A429WILL%HASARA11.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: calliper input device
A colleague of mine, who is an ichthyologist, would be much helped if I could
find an electric calliper + interface which would enable him to input his
measurements directly into the Mac (Plus) he is using.
I have found a few descriptions, but no details about compatibility with the
Mac. They do use an RS-232-C port, but that is about all I could gather. If
there is somebody who could send me a suggestion I would sincerely appreciate.
Willem N. Ellis (a429will@hasara11.bitnet)
Inst. of Taxonomic Zoology, dept. Entomology, Pl. Middenlaan 64, 1018 DH
Amsterdam
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1989 16:28-EST
From: Jon.Gotow@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu
Subject: DFaultD 2.0
Following is DFaultD 2.0, a cdev that lets you specify default folders for
applications and desk accessories. DFaultD allows you to:
- Make any number of "link sets" which specify default folders for
any number of applications and desk accessories.
- Automatically switch to an application's default folder if it's
launched without a file.
- Manually switch to an application or DA's default folder at any
time using a pop-up menu in your file dialogs.
Version 2.0 also responds to some of the requests I've gotten from version
1.01 users.
- Fixes the disk-switch bug which caused the wrong disk name to be
displayed by the system.
- Supports DAs.
- Allows you to turn off that annoying little start-up dialog.
- Provides a "history" feature like Boomerang (you can turn it off
if you wish to use Boomerang instead).
- And many, many more...
DFaultD is shareware. I've included the documentation as a separate binhexed
file - the cdev has enough on-line help that the docs aren't absolutely
necessary.
[Archived as /info-mac/cdev/dfaultd-20.hqx; 43K
/info-mac/cdev/dfaultd-20-docs.hqx; 73K]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 89 13:55:47 EST
From: zben@umd5.umd.edu (Ben Cranston)
Subject: ERROR IN SCHEMATIC IN INFO-MAC VOLUME 7 ISSUE 204
I believe an error has crept into the schematic published in V7I204 and
attributed to me! The one pin on the right (DB25) that is represented by
a zero instead of an oh is labeled DSR. The trouble is that this signal is
sourced by the DCE and is connected to HSKOut on the Mac, which is sourced
by the Mac.
It is considered bad Karma for two drivers to be sourcing a single line,
even if they should both be "marking" in normal operation.
I'm recovering from Carpal Tunnel surgery on Mon Nov 20 and typing is still
extremely painful, but when I can work again I'll try to post the appropriate
schematic. That should probably have been RTS rather than DSR, maybe the pin
number is even correct...
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 89 11:42:05 PST
From: PUGH@ccc.nmfecc.gov
Subject: Facade 1.0
Here is the release version 1.0 of Facade. The one in the archives is a beta.
This version seperates the icons from the INIT, so there are two files. I
have placed some icons in this one, so check it out.
Jon
[Archived as /info-mac/init/facade.hqx; 10K]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 89 13:48 CST
From: <MPARK%UTMEM3.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Formating non-standard hard disks
I'm one of the guys who wrote in describing problems with
an internal 40 MByte hard disk. As I said then, my solution
has been to leave the Mac II on all the time. Nothing has
blown up yet. Should I choose to replace that drive--and it
turns out not to be under some extended Apple warranty--I
feel that I can do it at a very reasonable cost with what
people are calling non-standard drives:
Several months ago, I set out to put together an external
HD following the recipe that Stan Armstrong published in
Info-Mac in Nov 88. This had already been successfully
done once in our department. However, my Seagate ST277N
SCSI hard drive would not format using the Apple HD SC
formatting utility, as Stan described. According to
Seagate, who were very helpful, the Apple program does
not reliably format all ST277N drives. The proof was in
our experience in the department--it worked for one but
not the other of our two ST277Ns. Seagate said that the
only reliable formatter that they knew of was Disk Manager
Mac, from Ontrack Computer Systems, Inc. I got it and it
worked. Moreover, Ontrack claims that their program will
format all non-standard hard disks. This should mean that
I can replace any hard disk with a $450 60-MByte, 17 msec.
drive.
Please note that I am just reporting my experience as a user
and satisfied customer, so the standard disclaimer applies.
-Mel Park
Univ. Tennessee, Memphis
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 89 10:20:25 EST
From: gateh%conncoll.bitnet@forsythe.stanford.edu
Subject: Fractals images for use as Desktop backgrounds
I've recently had a bucket of fun creating fractals with MandelZot 2.1, and
have in the process saved a number of full-screen (Mac color monitor) images
in PICT format for use as background or desktop images. I've packed up four
of my favorites in BinHex format. They're a little big for the archives,
but if there are folks who don't have the time or resources to needed to
generate these images (about an hour a piece), I'm willing to send copies to
anyone interested in using them with !DeskPict or other such inits/cdevs
(or for any other purpose).
Drop me a note if you are interested. Also note that these files will have
to be converted from PICT files to PICT res id=0 files for use with
!DeskPict (Giffer can do this, and is in the archives).
Many thanks to Dave Platt, author of MandelZot, for writing and maintaining
such an excellent bit of code, one which has the relatively uncommon
distinction of being both educational _and_ entertaining.
Gregg TeHennepe | Minicomputer Specialist
gateh@conncoll | Connecticut College, New London, CT
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 89 08:54:08 EST
From: stroup@tsb.nrl.navy.mil (janet l stroup)
Subject: government forms
Part of our office automation effort is creating various
Federal Government/Defense Department/Navy Department
forms on the Macintosh so our secretaries can process them
using Adobe TrueForm or Claris SmartForm. It's proving to
be a very time-consuming project. Setting up the forms in
one of these applications is pretty straight-forward--most
of our time is being spent on the actual artwork, either
drawing the forms or scanning and editing them. Several
offices in my agency have already drawn/scanned a number
of forms but there's been little coordination and alot of
duplication. To save myself some work (and avoid reinventing
the wheel), I'm trying to assemble these individual works
into a single collection to be maintained by the Software
Support Center at our library.
I thought perhaps this same kind of effort was happening at
other agencies; if so, I'd like to hear about it. And, of
course, I'd like to solicit contributions to my collection
(MacDraw, PICT, EPSF, or TIFF format and please, no commercial
products!). If there is enough interest I could post the
collection in the info-mac archives.
Janet L. Stroup | stroup@tsb.nrl.navy.mil
==================================+===========================
The views expressed in this | Naval Research Laboratory
message are my own and not those | HCI Lab, Code 5533
of my employer. My employer is | 4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
not responsible for my mistakes | Washington, DC 20375-5000
and vice versa. | (202) 767-3930
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 89 12:41:24 est
From: Rocky_Olive@dgc.mceo.dg.com
Subject: Hard Disk Backup Program Response Summary
CEO file contents:
Thanks to all who responded to my inquiry regarding hard disk backup
programs. Here's a summary of the responses that I got:
SUPERMAC'S DISKFIT 1.5 $59
Backs up files in Finder format.
Each disk is self-contained.
SmartSet updates modified files only (for incrementals).
MICROSEED'S REDUX 1.5 $52
Backs up files in Finder format ONLY if it all fits on one disk.
Backs up apps/docs/sys files as groups.
Allows scripting for individual file backups.
FIFTH GENERATION'S FASTBACK II 1.0 $108
Allows full incremental backups.
Will backup single files.
Takes only about 1 minute per disk (empirical estimate).
I'm sure there are some things that were left out here, since I only
receive a few messages, but this was enough to help me decide. I've decided
to go with DiskFit for the following reasons: 1) There were no complaints
from the messages that I received from DiskFit users, 2) There seem to be
more DiskFit users out there, 3) I like the idea of self-contained disks,
and 4) the price is right.
Again, thanks to all who responded!
........................
.Rockford L. Olive...... <rocky_olive@dgc.mceo.dg.com>
..Data General Corp.....
...Technology Drive.... #define PS2 NULL
....Apex, NC 27502... #define OS2 NULL
.....919/362-4800x5392.. #define MSWINDOWS NULL
......919/362-4914 home. #define DISCLAIMER "It just slipped out."
..........................................................................
------------------------------
Date: 23 Nov 89 11:30:01 EST (Thu)
From: jc3b21!david@uunet.uu.net (David Quarles)
Subject: Info-Mac Digest V7 #208
Info-Mac-Request@SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU (The Moderators):
> Well, it is time to look for a new hard disk. This 40 megger is just to small
> (and soon will feel smaller). I do not want to merely jump to an 80 meg drive.
> I am looking into drives that range from the 160-300 meg range and I am looking
> for opinions on drives in this size range. So, can you people speak forth? I
> want to focus on external drives that are reliable, fast, QUIET (my 40 sounds
> like a damn jet). Please feel free to mention how you people back these things
> up as well. I am just seeking info right now and the more info I can get the
> better....
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
I had a 20 Meg SE here at work and it filled so fast I couldn't believe
it. I could see that I too wanted something that could expand with me.
I was looking at the 160 and up hard drives when someone suggested that
I take a look at the 44 meg removables.
After about 8 months of looking and reading (MacUSER had a product
report on them), I posted a query on this newsgroup asking what
experiences users had had. THE RESPONSE WAS ALL POSITIVE. Then just
about the time I was preparing to part with about $1300, Ehman
Engineering dropped the price of their removable to $850, and just
recently they dropped it again to $799.
Since the Syquest mechanism is the same in all these units, I bought the
one from Ehman. I had one problem with the fan which they sent me a
brand new unit immediately. No problems since. The fan is louder than
the SE fan (I now use an SE/30 with 80 Meg internal).
The drive unit has a 2 yr. Wtty and the cartridges have 1 yr.
Since the cartridges cost about $90 now (and will drop in price), then
this is the least expensive way to have a lot of memory.
If you have a 40 Meg or larger internal or another external you could
back up to it and then to another cartridge.
I'd do it again.
=-=-= Email: david@jc3b21.UUCP -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dave =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= EOT
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 89 10:06:07 EST
From: jake@leah.albany.edu (Jake)
Subject: Mac Ethernet
Hi all,
I'm looking for the name & address of a company that
sells/manufactures Ethernet cards for the Mac SE, and Mac II family.
The main functions that I'm looking for are price (low), and efficiency
(high). If anybody can send me whatever information they have, it would
be greatly appreciated. Please send all replies to me, as I usually
cannot read the entire news group. Thank you in advance.
-Steve Jacobson |
- internet - - BITNET - | USnail:
jake@leah.albany.edu | 171 N. Allen St. Apt 1
jake@rachel.albany.edu JAKE@ALBNYVMS | Albany, N.Y. 12206
jake@uacsc2.albany.edu JAKE@ALBNYVM1 |
------------------------------
Date: 22 NOV 89 09:30:13 CST
From: Ron Rushing <RRUSHING%SFAUSTIN.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: MAC PRINTERS ???
One of our profs has been asking me about printers for her new Mac.
For some reason, she doesnt like the ImageWriter II. But--she doesn't
want to spend the $$ for a laser, either.
I'm looking for comments-suggestions on 3rd party printers for the Mac.
Any comments on the HP ***jet series ?
How about the GCC WriteMore and WriteImpact printers ?
Please respond to me directly. As usual, if interesting info comes my
way, I'll sumarize and post.
RON RUSHING- Supervisor
Education Media Center
S.F.A University
Nacogdoches, TX
<RRUSHING@SFAUSTIN.BITNET>
RON RUSHING <rrushing@sfaustin.bitnet>
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 89 10:35:04 MST
From: ANDREW REIFFENSTIEN <ZZMLAB%UALTAVM.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: New version of DoppleMaker
DoppleMaker is a utility that network administrators can use to specify
how many copies of an application can be launched at any given time. It
works with most local area networks, including AppleShare, TOPS, Netware,
and AlisaShare. It is simple to use - just enter the number of copies of
each network application that you own and DoppleMaker will ensure that
only that number can be launched. For example, if you have 5 copies of
MacDraw and all are in use, the 6th user who tries to launch MacDraw will
get a message indicating that all copies are in use. When one of the
MacDraw users quit, DoppleMaker allows someone else to launch it.
Version 1.1 of DM is now available. This version has an improved user
interface and contains a number of new features. DM can track the total
number of times each application has been launched, the number of times
that users were informed that all copies were in use and the greatest
number of copies open at one time. It also adds an extra level of copy
protection to your applications and can make any file or folder on the
file server invisible to users.
DoppleMaker is $199 per network file server. There is no limit to the
number of nodes attached to the file server. All registered users of
Version 1.0 will receive version 1.1 at no charge upon request. For more
information contact:
Bolt Consulting
10168-88 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5H 1P3
(403) 460-7299
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 89 19:17:31 PST
From: Peter Scott <PJS@grouch.jpl.nasa.gov>
Subject: PAL & NTSC video boards on U.S. Macs
Hi. I will shortly have a couple of dozen VHS 1/2" video tapes from
the U.K. which I would like to view here, but as you know, the U.K.
uses PAL video format and we use NTSC. All you get by playing a PAL
tape here is snow and chipmunk dialog.
I know, there are conversion services - several nearby in Hollywood -
but the cheapest charges $100 per 2-hour tape with no discount for
multiple originals. I'm looking into going via 35mm as a cheaper
intermediary, but it just occurred to me that (1) I have access to
Macintoshes; (2) there are video boards which can read and write
NTSC tapes which I can get access to; and (3) therefore there must
also be such boards for the PAL format.
So, the question; can I run both these boards on a Mac here? Let's
suppose for a moment that I obtain a PAL VCR and plug it into the
PAL board; and I plug my NTSC VCR into the NTSC board; then some
relatively simple software will do the conversion for me. Not in
real time, of course; but time is cheap when you're not renting the
Mac.
I'd greatly appreciate hearing from anyone who can give me any
concrete information in this area. Please e-mail me whether or
not you reply to the group as well since I don't get this list.
Thanks.
Peter Scott (pjs@grouch.jpl.nasa.gov; SPAN: GROUCH::PJS, 5123::PJS)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 89 09:46:24 PST
From: meldal@anna.stanford.edu
Subject: Re.: Formatting a CDC Wren Runner?
On our CDC Wren IV (formerly used as a Sun SCSI disk) we are using
formatting software from
Carl Nelson & Associates, Inc.
4327 Rucker Avenue
Everett WA 98201
ph. (206) 252-6897
It works very well.
-- Sigurd Meldal
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 89 13:08:37 CST
From: Graeme Forbes <PL0BALF@vm.tcs.tulane.edu>
Subject: Screen savers
With regard to the recent correspondence about screensavers, my own exp-
erience is that they often work fine until they try to come on during
background printing with SuperSpool. But I haven't had any real problems
with After Dark. It seems to coexist happily with other inits and cdevs
and spooling works well. According to its author it can handle multiple
screens; it also provides a nice choice of images, lets you create your
own, and is very inexpensive. Recommended.
Graeme Forbes
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 89 16:18:02 MST
From: daspit%zodiac@johns.Stanford.EDU (John Daspit, C.U. LASP, (303)492-6951)
Subject: Sound file problems
Hello Info-Mac readers,
This is my first attempt at asking a question to the net, so I hope I'm
doing this right!
In my attempts to get sound files off the net and use them on my
SE/30 (1mb) (Sound Manager software) I have found that some of the sound files,
although they will play using the sound>snd program's play button, the
resulting snd files do not work when installed in the system. Is there
something I'm doing wrong, or is there some incompatibility with the Sound
Manager stuff and the SE/30?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
John Daspit
University of Colorado
Decnet: ZODIAC::DASPIT
Bitnet: DASPIT@COLOLASP
Snail: CB392
Boulder, Colorado, 80302
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 13 Nov 89 15:37:14 EST
From: Kenneth Sussmann (PBMA) <sussmann@pica.army.mil>
Subject: SpiNit
Here is a cute INIT that I found on the MacCincy BBS
Written by Jonathan Gary - U of Rochester, NY Bill
Johnson - Exodus Software
SpiNit is an init that patches ShowWindow so that
windows Spin & Zoom open. Inspired by the old movies,
when they showed newpapers spinning out at the camera
to show you how the hero had become the talk of the
town.
Ken
[Archived as /info-mac/init/spinit.hqx; 13K]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 89 13:28 EST
From: jhf@cblpe.att.com
Subject: Tax form templates
I'm looking for something that will produce W-2s, 1099s, etc.
I assume that such a beast could be anything from a template for
a commercially available spreadsheet to a standalone PD program.
Any and all info appreciated.
Jeff
---
Jeff Frontz Work: +1 614 860 2797
AT&T-Bell Labs (CB 1C-356) Cornet: 353-2797
att!jeff.frontz jeff.frontz@att.com Home: +1 614 794 3986
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 89 09:11 N
From: "Rainer Fuchs (EMBL)" <FUCHS%EMBL.bitnet@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: TextEdit problem
Can anyone please give me an advice on TextEdit? My problem is the "speed"
of the TextEdit routines when more than a few hundred characters are
entered.
I understand that everytime a new character is added by TEKey, the
lineStarts array is rebuilt, which takes quite a lot of time. In my special
case, a non-proportional font is used and the line length is constant, so
there is actually no need for recalculating lineStarts.
I would greatly appreciate any information on how to patch the TextEdit
routines, or even a piece of code to do so.
Rainer Fuchs, Ph.D.
EMBL Data Library
fuchs@embl.bitnet
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 89 11:27:31 EST
From: eric%bnrmtl@iro.umontreal.ca (Eric Brunelle)
Subject: The new and future macs
I am confused. Everything seemed so clear and nice for three months, and
now it's all foggy again. The IIcx had come out, and it was the Right
Machine, crowning the II family. Enter the IIci. About 50% faster.
With slot for cache, 32 bit-clean ROM, elegant SIMM management, and
other niceties, enough to make the IIcx (and the rest of the II family)
obsolete.
So you say "what's your problem, the IIci is simply the new Right Machine".
Well no, it isn't. There's this 8 bit video card on-board which I have
to buy. It probably accounts for much of the $1500 price hike over the cx.
But I don't want 8 bit video. 32 bit is the name of the game now,
and I can have it for less than $1000 chez RasterOps.
What am I to do? Wait another 3 months for the new, Righter Machine?
What are Apple's plans? Anybody have a clue? And that 20 or 25 MHz
Nubus, is it coming? I am still in a state of shock, but I sure am
glad I didn't order that IIcx. I know I can't count on having the
Best Machine for long these days, but then, 3 months seems utterly
short!
=============
Eric Brunelle
eric%bnrmtl@iro.umontreal.ca
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 89 20:15:48 EST
From: Tom Coradeschi <tcora@pica.army.mil>
Subject: White Knight (was Red Ryder) release note
Scott Watson, of Red Ryder fame, has released the successor to Red Ryder
10.3. Due to copyright limitations, it is no longer called Red Ryder, but
rather, White Knight. The following binhexed, stuffed file contains three
text files - one is a description of the ordering process, while the other
two contain descriptions of the features, improvements, etc, in White Knight.
Downloaded from GEnie.
tom c
Electric Armaments Division
US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center
Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000
ARPA: tcora@pica.army.mil
UUCP: ...!{uunet,rutgers}!pica.army.mil!tcora BITNET: Tcora@DACTH01.BITNET
[Archived as /info-mac/report/white-knight.hqx; 40K]
------------------------------
End of Info-Mac Digest
******************************