Info-Mac-Request@SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU (The Moderators) (10/30/89)
Info-Mac Digest Sun, 29 Oct 89 Volume 7 : Issue 188
Today's Topics:
Apple EtherTalk NB or Kinetics Etherport II
AutoCruise init
Bugs in recently posted INITs
Close File DA
Comparisons of Mathcad/Matlab wanted
DeskWriter Printer
DEST Scanner/ Mac SE problems
Ethernet on mac+
Help requested on Hewlett Packard DeskJet Manual for Macs
LaserWriter NT switches
Locking HyperTalk Scripts
Macintalk on MacII
Mac Kermit 0.98(62)
MacNFS
More interest in sound from Allegro
NFTS and N-Font 1.1
Palette DA
Public Folder distribution
Public Folder Problem
Reply to question by KSBOLDUAN%AMHERST in V7 #186
UNIVERSITY OF MACINTOSH
Why can't the Macintosh adopt a standard text output???
XCMD fun with THINK C
Your Info-Mac Moderators are Bill Lipa, Lance Nakata, and Jon Pugh.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 10:44:53 EDT
From: Marcelino Bernardo <MBERNAR%ERENJ.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Apple EtherTalk NB or Kinetics Etherport II
We are buying an Ethernet board for a Mac IIci. I would like to hear from
people who have either of the above cards. I specifically need performance
data on transfer rate to make a decision between the two. I was told that
using TSSnet the transfer rate for the Kinetics Etherport II is slow ( around
20 kbytes/sec). Is this true? What about the EtherTalk?
Regards,
Marcelino Bernardo
mbernar@erenj.bitnet
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 89 14:13:21 CDT
From: creiman@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Chuck Reiman -Student)
Subject: AutoCruise init
A few days ago, someone on comp.sys.mac.programmer requested
information about how to set the mouse coordinates. I've done
a little research along similar lines, and when I saw that
note I dug it up and hacked with it. AutoCruise is the
result. It changes cursor movement so that moving the mouse
alters the cursor velocity, not the cursor position. If you've
played Crystal Quest, you'll feel right at home. Oh yeah, it's
an INIT.
PS. Source code for LSC 3.0 is included. The entire package
is public domain.
PPS. Don't play Crystal Quest with AutoCruise running. It'll
work, but not the way you want it to. Actually, maybe you
should try it, but only if your in a good mood and don't mind
being frustrated.
[Archived as /info-mac/init/auto-cruise.hqx; 22K]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 16:37 N
From: "Rainer Fuchs (EMBL)" <FUCHS%EMBL.bitnet@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Bugs in recently posted INITs
I post this because there have been some INITs posted to INFO-MAC which are
really great in my opinion, but contain severe bugs (or problems) that make
them totally useless to me.
1) Boomerang: I still recall the days of old, when I never had any problems
with v1. I like the new features added, but now system errors always result
in a totally corrupted configuration file. I have to use a backup then with
all my configuration switches, file and folder names lost.
2) FreshStart: please tell me the secret of how to use it? Even without any
other INITs and CDEVs in my system folder, it always bombs out with ID=2 on
startup. (Mac +, 1 MB, 30 MB Hard Disk, no multi finder, system version 6).
3) WindowShade: I guess it's Microsoft's fault, but starting MS WORD v3.01
or v4.0 always results in a system error (even when WindowShade is
disabled).
It's a pity, because all these INITs offer a new functionality that should
be part of the system or the finder.
Rainer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rainer Fuchs, Ph.D. | Post: EMBL Data Library
| European Molecular
EARN/Bitnet: fuchs@embl.bitnet | Biology Laboratory
Internet: fuchs%embl.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu | Meyerhofstr. 1
| D-6900 Heidelberg
"Waiter, there's a bug in my soup!" | FRG
"No, Sir, it's not a bug, it's a feature!" | Phone: +49-6221-387467
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 12:09:04 EDT
From: decvax!philmtl.philips.ca!desbois@decwrl.dec.com (Daniel Desbois)
Subject: Close File DA
Hi,
I'm posting this utility for a friend of mine who doesn't have access to the
net.
Close File is a desk accessory which allows to close files. Close File DA is
particularly useful when a program crashes and leaves opened files on the disk.
This is annoying since usually these files can't be reopened without rebooting
the system or unmounting the disk. Documentation included.
[Archived as /info-mac/da/close-file.hqx; 6K]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 89 21:31:01 CST
From: Phys300%UNLCDC3.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu
Subject: Comparisons of Mathcad/Matlab wanted
We are contemplating getting either MATLAB or MATHCAD for our small
physics teaching network and I would like to here from anyone who has used
either or both of these programs or similar ones.
I have gotten literature from both companies. The MATHCAD people have a
Hypercard demo available but it is little more than a computer copy of the
printed materials. What I want is "real" information from users.
Please be sure to mention your hardware if you reply. We will be using
whatever program we choose on a LocalTalk network with 4 Mac Pluses
with another Mac as a file server. No accelerators, no math chips. Ah well.
Thanks for your help. I will summarize if appropriate.
(P.S. Of course, if this has already been discussed, just send me pointers to
the archives!)
Glenn Sowell PHYS300@UNLCDC3.BITNET
Department of Physics & Astronomy
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588-0111
(402) 472-6279
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 09:15:35 PLT
From: Paul Brians <HRC$04%WSUVM1.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: DeskWriter Printer
Folks have been asking about the DeskWriter from Hewlett~Packard. I have
had one now for about a month and have been keeping tabs on problems
identified on the HP forum on CompuServe and on MacPro.
Its advantages are those of any ink~jet printer: silence, low cost, ease
of set~up and use. You will need to remember to use the chooser to select
it the first time you use it, however (obvious, but I forgot).
Problems:
1) Its printer driver demands A LOT of RAM. It runs out of memory when
running Word 4.0 all the time. The size of the document, the kind of
fonts used make a big difference. Mixing Imagewriter fonts with HP's
fonts causes trouble). The RAM is not well managed, so even when
one takes precautions to assign less RAM to Word, it doesn't help.
Most people have to shut down and turn off or remove their INITS to
get RAM to print successfully on a 1 meg machine. Printing from the
DeskTop sometimes works; but a bug in the driver prevents one from
successfully printing a page range within a larger document. The
whole document is always printed. Consensus: although you can wrestle
the DW into printing just about any Word file; it may take a lot of
messing around and frustration on your part. Have at least 2 megs of
RAM to avoid grief.
2) Many people have complained that with even 2-4 megs of RAM they
have had "out of memory" problems. What seems to work best for these
folks is running under MultiFinder, which somehow allocates the RAM
more intelligently.
3) Other reported printing problems: HyperCard reports have often
refused to print. FileMaker IV has some problems (upgrade to FM II).
4) That 2 page per minute figure is optimistic. I have had the
bloody thing turn out 2 pages per HOUR in some situations. It works
fastest when printing only bit-maps.
5) The DW does not use regular laserfonts. You must use HP's own
fonts, which are substituted for the laserfonts when you choose
laserfont names in your font menu. The printer comes with the
basic four: Times, Helvetica, Symbol, and Courier. Others cost $60
each (at discount). But it's probably not smart to invest heavily
in HP fonts when the Apple/Microsoft fonts will be available sometime
next year and are supposed to be supported by the DW. IF you can
run system 7.0, and IF you have enough RAM. The new system will also
provide virtual memory; so the memory crunch should be alleviated.
The upshot: great idea, lousy implementation, and EXTREMELY POOR
CUSTOMER SUPPORT. Nobody at HP seems to know beans about Macs.
One "expert" I talked to at HP on the dealers' help line didn't
know what a "Desktop" was--hadn't ever heard the term, didn't
know printing from the desktop was possible.
The upshot: Great printer IF you scrap your INITs, use only one
HP font at a time and don't mix in any others (including
invisible character returns in New York, etc.), and keep your
documents short. On CompuServe this morning I read that the
driver is being worked on. I hope so. It's wretched.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 08:53:17 EDT
From: Mark Edward Toomey <MTOOMEY%UGA.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: DEST Scanner/ Mac SE problems
We've recently run into a problem using a DEST PC Scan Plus sheet-feed
scanner with a new Mac SE. It was working fine with a Mac Plus using
the recommended DIP switch settings, setting SCSI priority at 4. As the
folks from DEST don't seem to have anyone "technically" knowledgeable
enough to answer our question, we would appreciate anyone's help in this
area (we really don't want to have to try all the possible permutations
of the DIP switches if it's not absolutely necessary. Thanks in advance.
**************************************************************************
Mark Edward Toomey Disclaimer: I only speak for
Computer Services Specialist myself, although
College of Home Economics sometimes I wonder
University of Georgia even about that!
BITNET: MTOOMEY@UGA
FAX: (404) 542-4862
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 10:01:46 -0700
From: ksc@chem.ucla.edu (Kim Cary)
Subject: Ethernet on mac+
In the discussion of this subject, I did not see mentioned Adaptec's Nodem,
which plugs into the SCSI port, and supports a couple of flavors of cable.
Their ad in the mags is the one with the db25 connector on the banana.
kim
------------------------------
Date: 26 OCT 89 09:32:08 CST
From: Z4610891 <Z4610891%SFAUSTIN.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Help requested on Hewlett Packard DeskJet Manual for Macs
Hello all,
I recently downloaded the HP DeskJet printer driver files from
RICE and am grateful for their quality. I'm having some problems on
getting everything set up, though.
For starters, I can't read the documentation, the MAC DeskJet
manual. It is not in TeachText format or MacWrite format. I have absolutely
NO idea what format it is! The following attributes exist:
TYPE: nX~d
CREATOR: nX~n
The file is 191k and I was able to view a little of it by changing
TYPE to "text" and viewing the file through MacWrite (slow!!!).
If anyone can tell me how to read the documentation, I would really
be grateful. Many thanks!!!
Anthony F Gaudiano <Z4610891@SFAUSTIN.BITNET>
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 13:27:25 CDT
From: "Bob B. Funchess" <S090726@umrvma.umr.edu>
Subject: LaserWriter NT switches
I never heard of a limit on the number of times the HARDWARE switches could be
flipped (actually, even if they did go bad, it should be easy enough to
replace them). We have an NT which is sometimes connected to an IBM PC/AT.
We have changed the switches WELL over 50 times and have no more problems with
the combination now than we had when we started. In the manual it does say
that the parity/stopbits/baudrate/general communications parameter settings
should be changed as few times as possible, since there is some sort of wear
involved when these are switched. However, if you hook one PC to the serial
port, set the parameters, and leave them, you should be able to change the
DIP switches to go from mac/pc use with no problems. The only time you run
into trouble is when you need to change the serial port parameters, which don't
affect the LocalTalk port you plug your mac into. This is what we have done,
and it has worked fine so far (knock knock knock). Unless you have really bad
IBM software, you should be able to configure everything on that end to use
7 databits / even parity / 9600 baud or whatever you set the LW to. If you
can't change the communications parameters for some particular piece of
software, set the printer to those and adjust everything else accordingly.
< Bob : S090726@UMRVMA.UMR.EDU : Funchess >
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 08:23:47 MDT
From: "Bruce A. Carter" <DUSCARTE@idbsu.idbsu.edu>
Subject: Locking HyperTalk Scripts
Regarding the question on locking HyperTalk scripts, there is currently no
way to 100 percent protect scripts. An experienced HyperTalker can get
through any kind of protection you attach in 15 minutes or less (and we've
tried some way out stuff). About the only thing you can do is compile the
script with CompileIt! so that it turns into an XCMD and can't be viewed.
The problem with that is that you have to keep an editable copy of the
stack and scripts around somewhere.
* BRUCE A. CARTER OFFICE: (208) 385-1250 *
** COURSEWARE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR MESSAGE: (208) 385-1433 **
*** BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1910 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, BOISE, ID 83725 ***
** BITNET: DUSCARTE@IDBSU INTERNET: DUSCARTE@IDBSU.IDBSU.EDU **
* APPLELINK: U0919 CIS: 76666,511 PLATO: CARTER/IDAHO/PCA *
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 10:30 EDT
From: <PJORGENS%COLGATEU.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu> (Peter Jorgensen)
Subject: Macintalk on MacII
Mickey Feaster writes:
>Date: Tue, 24 Oct 89 12:07 EST
>From: <FEASTER%IUBACS.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
>Subject: MacinTalk on Mac II
>
>We have several mac applications that run on a Mac Plus using MacinTalk.
>All of the applications bomb when we try to output speech on a Mac II.
>Is there an available version of MacinTalk that works on the Mac II? Thanks.
>
> Mickey Feaster
> Speech Research Lab
> feaster@gold.bacs.indiana.edu
Macintalk is not supported by Apple anymore. It has been updated though, by
Paul Mercer, to work with the Mac II.
I believe that the version in the Archives (MACINTALK.HQX) is MacII compatible.
It is available, also, through APDA (Apple Programmers and Developers
Association). Though it is unclear which version this is.
Peter Jorgensen
Microcomputer specialist
Colgate University - Hamilton, NY 13346
AppleLink - U0523
BITNET - PJORGENSEN@COLGATEU
tel - 315-824-1000 ext 742
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 89 11:05:36 EDT
From: gateh%conncoll.bitnet@forsythe.stanford.edu
Subject: Mac Kermit 0.98(62)
Here is the latest test version of Mac Kermit. As noted below, I believe it
takes care of the problems with 0.97(57) that were cited in a recent digest.
Also included is the file of VT100 escape sequences which was released with
version 0.97(57).
"This version fixes the font assignment problems, makes mouse->arrow keys
work again, and does statistics on file transfer right. It also is better
about keys when running under System 4.2 or better (specifically, it
disables dead-keys and doesn't strip off shifting when unmodifying keys)."
--Paul Placeway, Mac Kermit programmer
Please send reports and comments to Info-Kermit@watsun (Bitnet).
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
Gregg TeHennepe | Academic Computing and User Services
Minicomputer Specialist | Box 5482
BITNET: gateh@conncoll | Connecticut College
Phone: (203) 447-7681 | New London, CT 06320
[Archived as /info-mac/comm/mackermit-098.hqx; 140K]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 15:04:02 +0100
From: "J.J. LEJEUNE" <LUDWIG%BUCLLN11.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: MacNFS
I've read from the Kinetics "Network Primer" booklet, that a Macintosh
version of NFS has been developed by the Center for Information Technology
Integeration (CITI) group of the Information Technology Division at the
University of Michigan. This product, called MacNFS, allows the Mac to use a
standard NFS server on an Ethernet network.
I would appreciate to have additional infos about this product ( availability,
contact person within CITI, user experience feedback, etc..).
I can post a summary of received answers, if others are interested in such
a product.
Jo Lejeune
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research - Brussels Branch
Av. Hippocrate 74 - UCL 7459 B-1200 Brussels Belgium
Bitnet : LUDWIG@BUCLLN11
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 10:23:06 -0400
From: spector@cs.umd.edu (Lee Spector)
Subject: More interest in sound from Allegro
A previous digest article asked about playing sounds from Allegro Common
Lisp, and said that a summary would be posted if there was sufficient
interest. I am very interested in playing sound from lisp, so please do
post a summary. In addition, I would appreciate getting email from anyone
who has relevant information.
Thanks! -Lee (spector@cs.umd.edu)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 17:18 EDT
From: KSBOLDUAN%AMHERST.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu
Subject: NFTS and N-Font 1.1
Thanks to all who answered my question about converting FONT resources
to NFNT resources. It can be done easily with Fontastic Plus, or, there's
a FreeWare application archived as info-mac/util/nfont-11.hqx in the
Archives. It's from Ouldavi software, and works great,
BUT IT IS NOT MULTIFINDER COMPATIBLE. It converted the fonts very
quickly and efficiently, but froze my machine (SE/30, 6.0.3, 5 megs) when
I tried to run it under Multifinder.
Kevin Bolduan '91 Amherst College
KSBOLDUAN@AMHERST Bitnet address
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 11:49:49 PDT
From: 6600map%ucsbuxa@hub.ucsb.edu (Michael Perry)
Subject: Palette DA
This is a simple DA that displays the colors being used in the
current palette. Only works with 8-bit color.
Mike Perry
[Archived as /info-mac/da/palette.hqx; 7K]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 16:07:45 PDT
From: claris!peirce@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Michael Peirce)
Subject: Public Folder distribution
In Info-Mac Digest Volume 7 : Issue 184 Doug Phillips at The Univeristy of
Calgary asks about the distribution of Public Folder.
It's true that the About box says "Any licensed user of Claris software
may use Public Folder". This is true. But also notice that this does
not prohibit others from using it.
I think the idea is that Claris customers are getting a nice bonus and other
users are forced to look at the Claris logo and remember that it came from
Claris :-)
Public Folder can be distributed to and used by anybody.
Claris Corp. | Michael R. Peirce (authoer of Public Folder)
-------------+--------------------------------------
| 5201 Patrick Henry Drive MS-C4
| Box 58168
| Santa Clara, CA 95051-8168
| (408) 987-7319
| AppleLink: peirce1 (this address down for repairs)
| Internet: peirce@claris.com
| uucp: {ames,decwrl,apple,sun}!claris!peirce
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 13:34:25 EDT
From: ephraim@think.com
Subject: Public Folder Problem
Gregg Cohen writes:
"I am trying to use Public Folder on a Mac II with 8MB memory, and
internal 40 Mb drive and an external 100 Mb drive (System 6.0.3).
What I would like to do is have the public folder on the external 100
Mb Rodime drive. When I click on the customization menu, and tell the
program to find the public folder on Rachel:Public: and reboot, the
public folder init does not find the folder."
Many external disks aren't mounted until the system is completely up.
That is, they're not yet visible while your INITs are running. Sounds
like someone should whip up an INIT that walks the drive queue runs
_Mount on every logical drive. Make this one of your first inits, and
your troubles will (should, anyway) be over.
Ephraim Vishniac ephraim@think.com ThinkingCorp@applelink.apple.com
Thinking Machines Corporation / 245 First Street / Cambridge, MA 02142
One of the flaws in the anarchic bopper society was
the ease with which such crazed rumors could spread.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 06:48:13 PDT
From: JMUELLER%PPC.MFENET@ccc.nmfecc.gov
Subject: Reply to question by KSBOLDUAN%AMHERST in V7 #186
There is a utility in the Font/DA Juggler+ package called Font/DA Utility.
This will convert FONTs to NFNTs AND VICE-VERSA. (Note the caps)
However, be sure all the programs you are using can recognise NFNTs.
The fact that a program was recently released or upgraded does not guarantee
that it recognises NFNT as a viable font. WordPerfect's latest Mac release
1.0.2 still does not recognise them. I found this out AFTER I converted all
thirty or so fonts on my system. Thus the fact Font/DA Utility can restore
NFNT to FONT (you supply the font#) saved considerable time.
Hope all works well
Ad Astra!
Jim Mueller aka JMUELLER%PPC.MFENET@NMFECC.ARPA
oh, Font/DA Juggler+ and Font/DA Utility copyright ALSoft,Inc & Paul Cozza
so much for legal responsibilities.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 89 21:22:16 EDT
From: Matthew Quagliana <QUAG%BROWNVM.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: UNIVERSITY OF MACINTOSH
Hello Fellow Mac Enthusiasts-
For the past six months I have been writing a book called *University
of Macintosh.* Unlike the other billions and billions of Mac books on
the market this one has a very narrow focus: it is written solely
for college students who use the Mac in their studies.
For the past three years I have trained and consulted Mac users at
Brown University (where I am a Senior), so I have a good idea of
what we know and don't know. I also am aware of thing that we do
(like pirate software) and don't do (like back up our work) that
makes life less than pleasant. These issues and other are addressed
in my book.
At this point in the writing process (I have been at it for six months)
I am soliciting input from any and all interested parties. I especially
would like to hear from other students who have done "insanely great"
things with Macs (i.e. more than writing term papers.) My goal is to
compile a "Gallery" of real work done by real students at schools around
the country.
Of course, I also welcome all queries from support staff, commercial
reps, and anyone else. Any tips and leads on landing a publisher
would also be greatly appreciated.
Mail me directly and I will send you my Statement of Purpose, Target
Audience, and Outline.
Thanks,
"Quag"
Matthew Quagliana
BITNET: quag@brownvm
INTERNET: quag@brownvm.brown.edu
(401) 273-7655
Box 878 Brown University * Providence, RI * 02912
===============================================================================
* UNIVERSITY OF MACINTOSH *
* SEX, COMPUTERS, & ROCK n ROLL *
===============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: 26 OCT 89 00:30:38 CST
From: Z4648252 <Z4648252%SFAUSTIN.BITNET@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: Why can't the Macintosh adopt a standard text output???
Please pardon my ramble, but I've been spending a very frustrating
session with a piece of nameless MACintosh software that has a very
unreadable READ_ME_FIRST documentation. Why is the documentation
unreadable? Because the author saved it on a word processor or
text processor that I don't have.
The MACintosh has perhaps the friendliest interface that I have
ever encountered. I don't have to memorize cryptic commands to execute
programs, move files, etc. After buying my MACintosh emulator, the
Spectre GCR for the Atari ST, I was impressed with the Macintosh
environment. Whether I am using the Spectre GCR, or any REAL Macintosh,
no matter its complexity, I am able to operate the platform. It can
be a MAC II, a MAC Plus, or emulated MAC. At any rate, the Macintosh
interface and the behavior of the MACintosh environment is a pure joy.
Regretfully, I can't AFFORD a real MACintosh, hence, the emulation.
In spite of its friendliness, the MAC suffers in the most unstandard
way in the method of dealing with program overview. "READ ME" documentation
typically creeps out via MacWrite. Occasionally, the documentation uses
TeachText, a text processor that is somewhat faster.
Forgive me for bringing up the Atari ST on a MACintosh net, but a
simple comparison for text file handling may clear up my ranting. On
the ST, no program is required for any "READ ME" docs. Text access is
fast and the user can get a quick overview of the program. If the
program requires complex instructions and graphics, then a manual is
typically included on the disk using a "standard" word processor format.
The standard is a program called First Word, and other word processors
can work with its files in a manner similar to the situation of the MAC.
Even under this situation, a READ ME is still given.
The READ ME is in standard ASCII with absolutely no graphics.
Now then, moving back to the MACintosh.....
Why or why isn't simple documentation that requires no graphics
not in TeachText format????? Why isn't simple documentation saved
in straight text mode, that is, ASCII?
A proposal:
REGARDING SIMPLE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE MAC:
1) If at all possible, save documentation in simple ASCII only.
2) Please use TeachText.
3) SYSTEM 10 (????) suggestion...:
O Allow direct text reads without ANY (no, not one!!!) program
intervention.
- IBMs and STs allow this. Does the Amiga? I'll bet it does.
O Perhaps allow direct graphic reads without program intervention.
What would be the standard here? MacPaint?
------
It is absolutely amazing how much faster the Atari ST is in processing
simple text reads than even the fastest MAC. Yet, the ST is currently
rated at only 8mhz. Even faster still are cheap IBM clones.
Now, please, this is not really a desire to flame the MAC. But, in
just this one area, the MAC really hurts. There is no excuse, none
whatsoever, for a user to have to wait for nearly a minute for MacWrite
to load and THEN convert a simple document to read. This should be
an instant process. Please....???
Larry Rymal: |East Texas Atari 68NNNers| <Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET>
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 89 00:29:47 CDT
From: lindahl@evax.arl.utexas.edu (Charlie Lindahl)
Subject: XCMD fun with THINK C
I have discovered a "bug" (or feature, or whatever) in THINK C when writing
XCMDs: YOU CANNOT USE STRING LITERALS IN THE SOURCE CODE FOR YOUR XCMD or
XFCN!
This is actually documented in several places, the most authoritative of
which is the HYPERCARD SCRIPT LANGUAGE GUIDE: The HYPERTALK LANGUAGE,
pg. 219, which states in part:
* XCMDs cannot have global data
* Because they cannot have global data, XCMDs cannot use string literals
with MPW C (MPW C makes string literals into global data). To
circumvent this restriction, use 'STR ' resources or put the
strings in a short assembly-language glue file.
Here is a small point of confusion for me: I have both THINK C 3.02 and
THINK C 4.0. BOTH appear to exhibit the above characteristic, although
the THINK C 4.0 manual states (p. 87):
Note: In multi-segment code resources, THINK C treats string literals
and floating point constants the same way as globals. [...etc...]
In single-segment code resources, string literals and floating point
constants are NOT treated the same way as globals. [...etc...] This
is different from the previous version of THINK C in which all
code resources treated string and floating point literals in the same
way as globals.
I am sending this epistle out to (hopefully) save a few hours of hair-tearing
for some other XCMD hackers in the future. I was trying to utilize some
of the XCMDs in the Gary Bond XCMD book (VERY good job, by the way; I wish
more technical books were written this well), when I ran into this anomaly.
This is NOT meant to be a flame against Apple or THINK C.
I would appreciate any and all comments on the above message (particularly
with respect to various implementation alternatives to literal strings), and
will summarize responses to the net if there is sufficient demand.
Charlie Lindahl
Automation and Robotics Research Institute
University of Texas at Arlington
ARPA: lindahl@evax.arl.utexas.edu
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End of Info-Mac Digest
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