ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) (04/28/91)
Sun 28-Apr-91: Acquired from Simtel20 the GeoClock set of World map day/night terminator graphical display facilities featuring /pc/astronomy/geoclk42.zip. Its an excellent program, but its new user guidance is weak. To try to figure out what can be done with the program is veritable detective work, even with a careful perusal of the manual. Nevertheless, definitely worth a look. Should you be interested in knowing where the heck Vaasa is, include the following line into geoclock.dat: 63.06 21.37 Vaasa Sun 28-Apr-91: Acquired /pc/diskutil/1pass1.zip from Simtel20. Its purpose is to replace MsDos diskcopy program which requires several changes of disks for larger floppies and diskettes. Useful. I had no problems with 1pass when the target disk was already formatted, but the program couldn't cope with an unformatted 1.2K floppy on my 386. ................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi Moderating at garbo.uwasa.fi anonymous ftp archives 128.214.12.37 School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun
valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu (Doug Dougherty) (04/30/91)
ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) writes: >Sun 28-Apr-91: Acquired /pc/diskutil/1pass1.zip from Simtel20. Its >purpose is to replace MsDos diskcopy program which requires several >changes of disks for larger floppies and diskettes. Useful. I had >no problems with 1pass when the target disk was already formatted, >but the program couldn't cope with an unformatted 1.2K floppy on my >386. Yes, but it comes with no documentation. Both of the .DOC files that are in the ZIP contain no user instructions. The 1PASS.DOC file is just a listing of assembler routines. This looks like another one of those programs that was really just an exercise for the author to learn assembler; i.e., the main point is that he learned assembler by writing this program, not that the program does anything useful. I'm not bitching, yet. Its just that I don't quite feel like diving into the program with out some kind of user instructions. -- (Another fine mess brought to you by valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu)
w8sdz@rigel.acs.oakland.edu (Keith Petersen) (04/30/91)
valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu (Doug Dougherty) writes: >ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) writes: >>Sun 28-Apr-91: Acquired /pc/diskutil/1pass1.zip from Simtel20. Its >>purpose is to replace MsDos diskcopy program which requires several >>changes of disks for larger floppies and diskettes. Useful. I had >>no problems with 1pass when the target disk was already formatted, >>but the program couldn't cope with an unformatted 1.2K floppy on my >>386. > >Yes, but it comes with no documentation. Both of the .DOC files that >are in the ZIP contain no user instructions. The 1PASS.DOC file is just >a listing of assembler routines. This looks like another one of those >programs that was really just an exercise for the author to learn >assembler; i.e., the main point is that he learned assembler by writing >this program, not that the program does anything useful. > >I'm not bitching, yet. Its just that I don't quite feel like diving >into the program with out some kind of user instructions. Why not send a message to the author about this? His address is in the documentation. "If anyone wants the ASM and/or C source, drop me a note at CompuServe M. Blanco (70206,1177). I will also welcome all comments." That translates to: 70206.1177@compuserve.com Give him a chance to respond before you "go public". Keith -- Keith Petersen Maintainer of SIMTEL20's MSDOS, MISC and CP/M archives - [192.88.110.20] Internet: w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.Army.Mil or w8sdz@vela.acs.oakland.edu Uucp: uunet!umich!vela!w8sdz BITNET: w8sdz@OAKLAND
ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) (04/30/91)
In article <1991Apr29.181134.4668@midway.uchicago.edu> valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu (Doug Dougherty) writes: : >Yes, but it comes with no documentation. Both of the .DOC files that >are in the ZIP contain no user instructions. The 1PASS.DOC file is just >a listing of assembler routines. This looks like another one of those >programs that was really just an exercise for the author to learn >assembler; i.e., the main point is that he learned assembler by writing >this program, not that the program does anything useful. > >I'm not bitching, yet. Its just that I don't quite feel like diving >into the program with out some kind of user instructions. : One of my constant main gripes against many programs is a lousy user interface and/or a bad or missing documentation. Especially in shareware it often surprises me that the program has obviously not have even been subjected to any kind of "idiot test", that is given to someone who has never used it before, for getting feedback before releasing. Time and time again I have seen programs that are vey difficult (sometimes next to impossible) to figure out for the first time, but which are very useful if one does the detective work, and finds a way to use the program (GeoClock is a prime example of this). I have a "ten minute rule": If an experienced user is still stuck after the first ten minutes, the program is badly done however good it turns out later. Fortunately the general trend has been slightly for the better. As to 1pass1.zip I fully agree with you about lousy documentation, but I disgree with the contention that it doesn't do anything useful. On the contrary this kind of a program is very useful, and if one ignores the flaws of 1pass, it is a very wortwhile program for copying diskettes. Certainly worth taking a look at, and much unfulfilled potential in it. ................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi Moderating at garbo.uwasa.fi anonymous ftp archives 128.214.12.37 School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun
valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu (Doug Dougherty) (04/30/91)
ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) writes: > I have a "ten minute rule": If an experienced user is still stuck >after the first ten minutes, the program is badly done however good >it turns out later. Fortunately the general trend has been slightly >for the better. >As to 1pass1.zip I fully agree with you about lousy documentation, >but I disgree with the contention that it doesn't do anything >useful. On the contrary this kind of a program is very useful, and >if one ignores the flaws of 1pass, it is a very wortwhile program >for copying diskettes. Certainly worth taking a look at, and much >unfulfilled potential in it. I like the "ten minute rule". With all the available PD/shareware, you need something quick to filter out probably junk. As for 1PASS, yes, the idea is good, but there is TCOPY, which seems to be a much more complete and professionally done product. I just didn't see any reason to give 1PASS another look. -- (Another fine mess brought to you by valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu)