INFO-MAC@SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU.UUCP (05/12/87)
INFO-MAC Digest Tuesday, 12 May 1987 Volume 5 : Issue 88
Today's Topics:
Re: Flame (V5 #87)
Re: 32K segment limit
System 4.1/Finder 5.5. What's new?
Broken Programs Under System 4.1
Color Quickdraw on Macintosh SE?
SkipFinder-6.2 (from Darin Adler)
some TOPS-20 Help-files in ACTA-format
Submission of WriteNow to/from Text DA
Small utilities
RE: New Autoblack
Re: NEC monitors & Mac II
Re: Utilization of Bernoulli Box (V5 #85)
Educational Software Recommendations
Converting ASCII Files
Mac power supply
Disappearing text in Word 3.0
Salary Review
Usenet Mac Digest V3 #38
Usenet Mac Digest V3 #39
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Date: Mon, 11 May 87 04:52:10 PST
From: jww@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu (Joel West)
Subject: Re: Flame (V5 #87)
I don't know the products in question. However, the segment loader
on the Mac Plus and later (actually, the resource manager) can
properly handle segments > 32K. Since people may end up choosing
this target configuration for other reasons, that makes it available
for most programs.
MPW has an option that allows you to set the segment size to any arbitrary
larger limit. Pascal 2.0 allows arrays > 32K.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 May 87 09:56 EST
From: Tom Dowdy <CML5A9%IRISHMVS.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re: 32K segment limit
Alright, I think I've heard enough of the gripping about this
by now, so it's time to throw in my two cents worth.
1) You can "get around" the segment limit by allocating stuff
on the heap (in other words, use pointers and decent data
structures instead of arrays of everything)
Unix C programs are notoriously badly written in terms of this,
people just LOVE to allocate 2 Meg arrays by simply defining
them. A more intelligent thing to do is to allocate things
like that on the heap.
Granted: The programming language COULD do that for you
automatically, sensing "large" arrays and compiling so as
to place them on the heap, but you have to remember, then
your compiler isn't "general" anymore, it is Mac specific
(Not that LSP isn't Mac specific, mind you)
2) If your problem is that one of your segments (ie code) is
more than 32K long, then break your code up into smaller
parts. I can't see how one routine could honestly be more
than 32K and not be composed of smaller routines.
3) As I understand it the "great" way that absoft does it is
to completly ignore the memory manager. Okay, thats seems
fine you might say. But: for large programs, having one
segment slows the load time, makes it a memory hog, AND
for future architechures and OS (i'm thinking Juggler type
stuff here) you're going to run into problems with programs
that ignore memory management. I've seen plenty of
problems with absoft FORTRAN, esp when poor souls try to do
Mac programming with it. What I think we need is a version
of FORTRAN for MPW so that you can do your calculations in
FORTRAN, your string manipulation in C, your interface programming
in Object Pascal, and your vertical retrace tasks in asssembly,
all linked together by a real linker. What a concept, I wonder
if IBM ever thought of that :-)
4) I've never (or very rarly) run aground with the 32K limit, and
when I did it was quickly corrected by doing things in a more
intelligent way. And you know what? When I did it "right"
my program ran faster. I'm converted now, keep those globals
to a minimum.
Tom Dowdy
CML5A9@IRISHMVS.BITNET
"They say there is strangeness to danger us,
In our theaters and bookstore shelves.
Those who know what's best for us,
Must rise and save us from ourselves."
------------------------------
Date: 10 May 1987 21:34-EST
From: Duane.Williams@me.ri.cmu.edu
Subject: System 4.1/Finder 5.5. What's new?
I've been using the new System for a few days now. Except for the
problems with MacTerminal and UW, the programs I use seem to still work
alright. What I want to know is what have Apple's system software
developers been doing all this time since System 3.2? The visible
improvements for us Mac Plus users are few and far between!
I see a cute fat trash can occasionally. About 5 minutes work, I
suppose. I see Sticky Keys and Mouse Keys. I suspect that these
aren't much use to about 99% of the Mac users; I threw them away.
Apple's got enough code taking up my memory already without those
"features". The Restart and Shutdown items under the Special menu are
alright, although I was getting along just fine with the old Shutdown
command. I suppose the new commands were good for about 30 minutes
work. I like the modular Control Panel; I'm assuming Apple will tell
the rest of us how to add modules to use it. I'll estimate that at
about two weeks. Find File is nice too. Give them another two weeks,
with lots of time for coffee breaks. Adding "Larry and John" to the
"About the Finder..." box--another 5 minutes, assuming they were slowed
down by using Sticky Keys. The new Print Setup Options are nice. Two
more weeks. Let's see...how long has it been since the last System?
How many people were working on this?
I almost forgot. We have to give them time to fix all the bugs they
introduced while putting in these new features. And test all this hard
code.
I suppose I'm exaggerating somewhat, but I expected a lot more.
[
from the moderator:
I too can do without cute "bulging" trashcans and moving watch hands. Since
my cluster does not run AppleShare and has every kind of Mac except (sigh) a
Mac II, why should I switch to the new system and finder? 3.2/5.3 is stable,
and later versions offer no increase in functionality. At least no obvious
increase.
Am I just missing something?
DoD
]
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Date: 9 May 1987 01:06-EST
From: Duane.Williams@me.ri.cmu.edu
Subject: Broken Programs Under System 4.1
Is anyone making a list of the programs that don't work with System
4.1? Thus far I know of two: MacTerminal 2.0 and UW3.4. I've heard
that MacTerminal 2.2 will fix the problem, but I haven't heard when it
is expected to be released. Is the author of UW working on a new
version?
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 May 87 09:15 EDT
From: <PAYNE@ITHACA.BITNET>
Subject: Color Quickdraw on Macintosh SE?
Does anyone know to what extent the new Color Quickdraw is or will be
supported on the Macintosh SE? My understanding was that the ROM did
not include Color Quickdraw, but there is a vague reference in this
month's MacWorld that says the SE has a new "style record" that allows
it to "use and retain" information from color applications on the Mac
II. Anyone know what kind of support this means?
Also, any thoughts on whether Color Quickdraw may be available on
an SE at a later date via System File ROM patches? When you plug
a card and external monitor into an SE, can you get Mac II style
color, or is it "just" a larger bitmap of the Mac-classic variety?
Thanks.
John
John E. Payne Phone: (607) 274-3704
Academic Computing Services Bitnet: PAYNE@ITHACA
Ithaca College Internet: PAYNE%ITHACA.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU
Ithaca, NY 14850
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Date: Sun 10 May 87 12:47:34-CDT
From: Werner Uhrig <CMP.WERNER@R20.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: SkipFinder-6.2 (from Darin Adler)
Darin has left Austin "for good" .... a great loss for the local Macintosh
hacker community (and a great gain for Chicago and whereever else he may
have reason to go during his new ventures).
But before leaving, he dropped improvements of some of his goodies, one of
which follows: SkipFinder-6.2 !!
(use BinHex4 or 5 to unhexify this file, and unpack the resulting file
which is in compressed format using either PackIt-II or unpit.
3 files should emerge:
SkipFinder-6.2, small SkipFinder-6.2, and StartSkip-1.0
StartSkip-1.0 is similar to a commercial program from the Quick&Dirty
series from Flights of the Phoenix, which "does nothing" - use it to
either switch Finder/System to one on another disk *OR* (and the reason
why Darin wrote it) after activating the DA SkipFinder, execute StartSkip
to get rid of the Finder and into the SkipFinder interface *QUICK* ...
)
Enjoy, ---Werner
PS: other programs in Darin's care package (which I'll upload later) are
Ranger-2.0, StartUpDesk-1.0, and ReverseScreen-1.0
all with new ICONs.
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Date: Sun 10 May 87 13:09:33-CDT
From: Werner Uhrig <CMP.WERNER@R20.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: some TOPS-20 Help-files in ACTA-format
if you are using your MAC as a terminal for a DEC-20 you may find this
file useful. It contains some of the TOPS-20 HELP-files of SUMEX-AIM
structured into an ACTA-format file. if you don't have ACTA, not all is lost:
use SWITCHER to create 2 partitions;
- one for your terminal emulator
- the second for ACTA-READER (freeware) to read the HELP-data
and avoid getting help at modem-speed from your mainframe.
...and dream of what a CD-disk can do for us .... (-:
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Date: 10 MAY 87 18:17-PDT
From: BOLSON%UWALOCKE.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu
Subject: Submission of WriteNow to/from Text DA
This is TransText version 1.02, a DA to convert TEXT files to and from
WriteNow for Macintosh (from T/Maker). It is shareware, written by
the author of the WriteNow Translator (myself), to resolve probably
the major weakness of the current version of WriteNow. With this DA,
any WriteNow file can be converted to text (and in any program, on
demand - useful even if WriteNow could do it also!) and vice versa.
Contact Ed Bolson, the author, at BOLSON@UWALOCKE.BITNET
Suggested archive name - DA-WNText-1-02.HQX
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Date: Sun 10 May 1987 01:36 CDT
From: Nihar Gokhale <MMAR013@ECNCDC.BITNET>
Subject: Small utilities
Hello again, it's me, the software guy :)
Here's Wrap DA. It'll let your cursor "wrap" around the screen. Might be
helpful for bigscreen users also (?)
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Date: Tue, 12 May 87 00:34 EST
From: <EWING@TRINCC.BITNET> (The Byte Busters)
Subject: RE: New Autoblack
After trying the new Autoblack screen saver, I admit I love the little
program, but it still doesn't work with Stepping Out, though I haven't tried
it with the BigScreen init31 yet. Although the new Autoblack is Mac SE & II
compatible, the utility just doesn't seem to like being told that the screen
size is one thing when it installs itself, and then another size once
Stepping Out takes over. Oh well, I still can't use it on all my disks
in this fashion. Strange how the Mac crashes when Stepping Out tries to
install itself, and not when Autoblack kicks in automatically. Maybe someone
can explain to us why this might me so.
Richard Ewing
Trinity College
EWING@TRINCC or EWING@YALEVM (both Bitnet addresses)
------------------------------
Date: 12 May 87 03:33:31 GMT
From: jww@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu (Joel West)
Subject: Re: NEC monitors & Mac II
If you read all the postings, they say:
* A Multisync or other third party monitor can be wired for the II
* They require impedance balancing to work properly, such as
provided by the Apple cable.
Since the Apple cable is shipped with the Apple monitor and not the video
card, there's a chance I'll get a II with no monitor or cable and end up
renting a Multisync.
Does anyone know how to build a proper impedance cable without using the
Apple cable? There must be some technical spec for the cable or a
commonly-available third party equivalent that can be hacked up.
Joel West
{ucbvax,ihnp4}!sdcsvax!jww (ihnp4!gould9!joel if I ever fix news)
jww@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu if you must
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Date: 11 May 87 14:06:15 GMT
From: jfm@mcnc.UUCP (John F. Mansfield)
Subject: Re: Utilization of Bernoulli Box (V5 #85)
>From: Harry McCaffrey STEWS-PR-C <hmccaffr@wsmr07.ARPA>
>Subject: Utilization of Bernoulli Box
>
>I'd appreciate any comments from people who have had experience with Bernoulli
>Boxes, or comments in general with respect to what I have detailed below.
I dont have my Bernoulli system on a Mac but on a PDP11/73
There may be little comparison but I have found that the drives are
SLOW! There seems to br little if any differnce between the Iomegas and
regular floppies. I have 8" 10 meg twin drives. The fact that you
have a removable easy to backup 10meg storage space is very nice and the
disks are fairly robust too. If as you say you are not a "power-user"
then you may be getting good value. I have heard very good things about
the Jasmine 20 and if you backup each night then you can survive without
a tape. I'm paranoid about crashes on the Mac that I use as other
people use it too and I always take a backup with me when I've finished
using the machine. If done regularly backups are usually really quick
and easy.
Anyway this is my 2 cents worth. Personally I'd get the Jasmine.
"See you at the barricades babe, see you when the lights go low Joe,
Hear you when the wheels turn round, some day when the sky turns black."
Ian McCulloch.
ARPANET: jfm@mcnc.org UUCP: !decvax!mcnc!jfm
------------------------------
Date: 10 May 87 20:21:18 PST
From: oxy!playa@csvax.caltech.edu (Javier Villalobos)
Subject: Educational Software Recommendations
Last week I posted an announcement (actually a plea) for information
regarding educational software for the Mac. The reason I requested it
was for the Macintosh Computer Fair that was going to take place
here at my College, Thursday, May 7. I wanted to take this oppoortunity
to thank all of you for your prompt replies. Thanks to all of you,
Occidental College will be selling and supporting the Macintosh
starting in August. Special mention goes to Brian Bechtel, formet alumnus
of Occidental College, who wrote an awesome letter which we printed in
the cover of the MacFest program. Thanks again for your candid letters
and your interest in propagating the Mac Fever!
------------------------------
Date: 10 May 87 20:29:29 PST
From: oxy!playa@csvax.caltech.edu (Javier Villalobos)
Subject: Converting ASCII Files
I am in the process of converting Text files from my university's Prime
computer and was wondering if there is program out there that takes
text files and gets rid of Carriage returns and spaces. I have a copy
of File Tricks -but that only extracts ASCII it doesn't get rid of
spaces. I have MS WORD 3.0 and I know there is DCA conversion program
but I am not to sure how to use it. Is there a program that converts
text files from mainframe word processors into Macwrite or MS word files?
Thanks...
Javier Villalobos
oxy!playa@csvax.caltech.edu
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 May 87 10:55:31 EDT
From: Jack Hill <jdhill@BFLY-VAX.BBN.COM>
Subject: Mac power supply
My father-in-law has an old 128k Mac that was upgraded to 512k as soon as the
upgrades were available. His problem is a familiar one. The screen goes blank
on him periodically and as of recently it happens every 5 minutes. I heard a
rumor that there is a particular diode that goes bad. Can anyone tell me which
diode it is, what value it is and where it is located? Better yet are there any
better power supplies available through third party vendors or otherwize?
Thanks,
Jack
jdhill@bfly-vax
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Date: 9 May 87 08:51:00 EST
From: "ERI::SMITH" <smith%eri.decnet@mghccc.harvard.edu>
Subject: Disappearing text in Word 3.0
We have also seen a bug in Word 3.0 that sounds just like the one reported by
David Gelphman. Paragraphs of text appear normal on the screen, but when
printed on the LaserWriter or Page-Previewed only the first line appears.
It has happened to only one user. It has happened to him repeatedly, but
he cannot reproduce the bug at will. Watching him I observe that he's a
fast, sloppy typist who makes frequent mistakes, but I can't detect anything
"different" that he does.
The bad paragraphs are stable with respect to saving and re-opening, at
least with "fast" saves. Editing the paragraph usually makes the problem
go away. So does saving as RTF, then reopening from the RTF text.
CTRL-Y viewing special characters shows nothing unusual. The documents
were created from scratch, not converted from 1.05.
This user is quite fond of the Chicago 12 font, even though he does his
printing on the LaserWriter, and the problem documents happen to be
in Chicago 12.
Daniel P. B. Smith ARPA: smith%eri.decnet@mghccc.harvard.edu
Eye Research Institute CompuServe: 74706,661
20 Staniford Street Telephone (voice): 617 742-3140
Boston, MA 02114
"For my part, I could easily do without the post-office.... To speak
critically, I never received more than one or two letters in my life
that were worth the postage".--Thoreau
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Date: Mon, 11 May 87 11:25:02 PDT
From: PUGH%CCC.MFENET@nmfecc.arpa
Subject: Salary Review
For those of you not closely associated with the Valley of Silicon, the San
Jose Mercury News published a list today of the 100 highest paid executives in
the valley. Since this is being posted to Info-Mac, you must therefore guess
who was number one.
The highest paid executive of a public company based in the Silicon Valley in
1986 was John Sculley, CEO and President of Apple Computer with a wopping
salary of $1,697,706. Youch. And he probably hasn't even visited the garage
that Jobs and the Woz started in. That was essentially a 61% raise from last
year. It includes the million dollar bonus that he got, otherwise he would
have been about 6th. His closest companion was still half a million behind
him at $1,188,750 (Paul Ely at Convergent). HP also had 5 guys in the top 25,
beating Apple which has 5 guys in the top 50. Apple and HP definately have the
market share of well paid executives. Everyone else is scattered down the
list with only 1 or two execs in the top 100.
Anyhow, other Apple employees figured prominently in the top 50.
Name Position Cash Compensation Rank
John Sculley CEO, Pres 1,697,706 1
Delbert W. Yocam Exec. VP, COO 491,717 14
William V. Campbell Exec. VP 480,432 16
Albert A. Eisenstat Sr. VP, Counsel, Secr. 398,051 34
Jean-Louis Gassee VP 334,408 48
Other stats for Apple are a 1% decrease in sales in 86 and a 151% increase in
profits. It's obvious that Sculley can manage a company well. It's just too
bad that Jobs was too hardheaded to get along with him. Ah well, I suppose we
are just grateful that Apple can still sell us the computers we have grown to
love, regardless of the people involved.
Jon
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 May 87 09:02 EDT
From: Jeffrey Shulman <SHULMAN%slb-test.csnet@RELAY.CS.NET>
Subject: Usenet Mac Digest V3 #38
Usenet Mac Digest Saturday, May 9, 1987 Volume 3 : Issue 38
Today's Topics:
Detecting Quits.
The mac's mouse pointer
Imagewriter Printer Driver Information
A/UX Pictorial Representation
Re: NFS, A/UX and the Mac II
RSG 3.0 versus Laserprep 3.3
HP LaserJet 2686A
Teaching Computer Literacy w/ Mac
Re: Detecting Quits. (2 messages)
Publishing in a foreign language
Custom Dragging?
Versaterm 3
Re: WARNING--512K UPGRADE!!!
Re: Custom Dragging?
Mac-nifty file formats
is VBL task in pascal possible?
MS Fortran Math from Lightspeed Pascal
68881 Installed?
Re: Change in "_Launch" interface...
Re: 68881 Installed?
linear programming on Mac
Re: MS Fortran Math from Lightspeed Pascal
Vertical Retrace Task in Pascal
why not A/UX on Mac SE?
Translating and indexing Bamana
MacApp Licensing Fee
Compatibility guidelines
MAC --> Laserwriter via Async comm
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Date: Mon, 11 May 87 09:03 EDT
From: Jeffrey Shulman <SHULMAN%slb-test.csnet@RELAY.CS.NET>
Subject: Usenet Mac Digest V3 #39
Usenet Mac Digest Saturday, May 9, 1987 Volume 3 : Issue 39
Today's Topics:
Floating-Point Precision
Re: Suggestions for Replacing Word 3.0
graphics s/w
Multiple startup systems on a HD
Re: Custom Dragging?
Re: 68881 Installed?
How to Plot Icons??
Re: curved arrows
Re: MAC --> Laserwriter via Async comm
Re: Compatibility guidelines
OWL selling vapor?
Re: Compatibility guidelines
Transparency film for the Apple LaserWriter
A/UX
PPostEvent returns a ptr to QElem?
Inside Mac: forthcoming...?
Re: Transparency film for the Apple LaserWriter
Re: Damaged XP 40 directory
Re: Compatibility guidelines
VBL tasks, offscreen bitmaps, Lightspeed Pascal, etc.
What dealers can sell MAC II?
Re: OWL selling vapor?
MacApp Licensing Agreement
Re: Transparency film for the Apple LaserWriter
Win a Mac II! (in the distant future!)
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