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Atari Power User Online Magazine Issue 1
Atari Power User
Online Magazine
Issue 1
Febuary 15 , 1993
Editor and Publisher..................Brian Hilbern
DTP Editor............................Dave Trutzenbach
Telecommunications Editor.............Darren Trutzenbach
Games Editor..........................Jeff Coon
Technical Editor......................Position Open
Programming Editor....................Position Open
Business Editor.......................Brian Hilbern
---------------------------------
Support BBS's
-------------
Online Connections............(405) 691-0244 3-14.4K
ISIS Node 54
The Roundtable................(609) 268-7524 3-14.4K
ISIS Node 39
Atari Power User Magazine is available through the ISIS Network
via node #54. This magazine will be sent to all ISIS Nodes.
---------------------------------
Contents this Week
------------------
General Information:
* User Group Newsletter Exchange
Business:
* Atari Business: FAX Modems
Telecommunications:
* ISIS Network
Software Review:
* STraight FAX! 1.6
* PhotChrome 3.0
* Oxyd
---------------------------------
Editor's Notes
--------------
We're Back!!! That's right ST Power User Magazine is back
online. After 2 years of being gone we are back. In case some of
you don't remember what happened we suffered a massive hard drive
loss and all our work went down with the hard drive. After that a
couple of our writers jumped the ST boat and swam over to IBM's
and a couple more just disappeared.
Let me take this opurtunity to introduce myself again. My
name is Brian Hilbern. I have been in the business of selling
Atari hardware and software for almost 5 years now. I have run a
BBS using an ST for almost 5 years. I originally started this
magazine 2 years ago because I felt that the magazines currently
out were big heads. This magazine was originally to be devoted to
the programming wizards of the PD and shareware world and to let
you the readers know what is available and wether you should waste
your money buying the disk from a PD software company or
downloading from a pay service. We will still be doing that but
we will also be doing commercial programs as well.
We want to continue with the same quality that we had before.
The magazine has a new group of writers some of whom have written
for ST magazines in the past and a few first time writers that I'm
sure will do a fine job and will become even better in the future.
We now have a new name also. We are changing from ST Power
User to Atari Power User because of the new Atari computers.
And with the soon to be released Falcon 030 there will be even
more to talk about in the future.
I want to take this time to thank the readers of ST Power
User for their support in the past. We are glad to be back and
hope that you are happy to see us once again.
---------------------------------
User Group Notice
-----------------
Atari Power User is compiling a list of ST User Groups who are
interested newsletter exchanges with other user groups. Please
send us your groups name and address and it will be added to the
list.
All articles in this magazine may be reproduced for non-
commercial use as long as credit is given to the magazine and
writer and the article is not edited.
---------------------------------
Atari Business
---------------------------------
FAX Modems
----------
By Brian Hilbern
Do FAX Modems have a place in or are they strictly for non-
business use. Fax modems are limited in their capabilities.
They are great for receiving fax messages but for sending they
are very limited. If you own a scanner it is a little different
but if you buy a scanner just for sending a fax it might be
better to just buy a fax machine.
Fax machines are down to the $350 range now and scanners
are that much or higher. In any business that requires you send
out pre-printed material through a fax machine you would need
a scanner to use the fax modem. For instance in my business I
have to send credit applications to a finance company after the
customer fills in the blanks and I must also do this to a
leasing company. To do this with a fax modem I would have to
scan the application into the computer, have the fax program
convert the IMG file to a fax file, and then send the file. It
would take several minutes to do all this and the investment would
be well over $700 for the fax modem, scanner, and fax program.
In my opinion fax modems are mainly for home users to fax
orders or other information. Business owners can use them for
receiving a fax and they work VERY well for that. When receiving
a fax you can save and print want you want. It really saves the
paper. I have received a fax over 10 pages and I only needed
information from one.
Another drawback is the printing speed. It sometimes takes
over 10 minutes to print one fax.
I personally would recommend getting both a standard fax
machine and a FAX/Modem. You will use the FAX/Modem more and
you'll have the fax machine there also when you need it.
Later in this issue you will find the review of STraight FAX!
from NewSTar Technology Management for the Atari ST/TT/Falcon.
---------------------------------
Telecommunications
---------------------------------
---------------------------------------
The I S I S Network
---------------------------------------
Integrated Switched Information Service
---------------------------------------
By Darren Trutzenbach
Hi, My Name is Darren Trutzenbach, I just want to formerly introduce
myself and let all of you get to know me as I'm sure you will be reading
more articles from me in the future.
Most of my free time is spent running, maintaining and operating The
Round Table BBS, an Electronic Information Exchange system for computers,
I am currently in the printing trade in which I am a bindery and shipping
manager for a local printing company here in New Jersey. I am not an
American citizen, although I hope to be someday. I moved to the states
about 10 years ago from London England, where I was born, raised and went
to school until I was 17 years old. Up until 2 years ago I ran and owned
an ATARI authorized computer store in NJ, where I learnt most of my computer
skills, due to the bad economy I decided to sell and went back into the
printing trade. I am happily married, believe it or not, but no kids yet.
I own an ATARI TT030, 520ST, 520STFM and I am waiting to buy one of those new
ATARI FALCON things whenever they are released, I also run in my spare time,
with my Father, a small Desktop Publishing business, so as you can tell I'm
a busy person, anyway enough about me and on to my article.
After thinking carefully of what to write my first article on, I thought
it would be logical to write about one of the best Computer Networks I
have ever been a part of.
The BBS I SysOp is part of an ever increasing network made up of over 50
other BBS systems from all over the country, formerly known as the
ISIS network. When I first started in the ISIS network it was setup for
SysOp's who were using BBS Express ST! as their main BBS software, glad
to say things have changed and now RATSOFT & TRANDESENCE are beginning to
get a foot in the door, basically now ISIS should be compatible with any
type of BBS program on the market for the ATARI ST\STe\MEGA STe\TT family
of computers.
My first experience with ISIS was not to difficult after spending two
days familiarizing myself with the features, commands and available
inter-BBS programs, I was well on the way to becoming a fully operational
part of the network. I was amazed at the way the SysOp utility programs,
which are made up of colorful mouse driven (GEM) menu's, screens and
digitized sounds, worked and basically took care of themselves.
At this present time ISIS is made up of 5 regional concentrators, and one
main ISIS concentrator. The 5 regionals call the main every day to pick up
and send file packets back and forth around the net, in turn the other nodes
call one of the 5 concentrators as often as they choose. Each node has a set
concentrator, which depends on there location and who they prefer.
The main back bone of the ISIS network has to be the terminal software,
ISIS.TTP. It is the part of the Network which keeps you in touch with the
other's. many different options are available for calling out, configurable
through the ISIS SETUP.PRG. This uses Y and Z modem protocols for the
transferring of files, and keeps you fully posted, not only on the screen but
by writing all ISIS events to different log files, depending on the nature
of the event determines which log. It is fully compatible with high speed
baud rates considering over half of the network is high speed already.
And not forgetting graphical displays and digitized sounds for each terminal
command.
Next off is ISIS mail, this is a SysOp to SysOp mail system which keeps
all us SysOp's in touch with each other, with a few other great features, one
being a newcomer, the ability to auto request any network software being used
by any node in the network, so you can always keep your software in tip top
shape by having the latest versions at your fingertips so to speak, bet you
haven't seen or heard of that feature before! Also built into ISIS mail is
the File Requestor, most nodes have a list of file sigs that they make
available throughout the net, for SysOps to pick and choose files from, the
requestor lets you load up any given nodes file listing and scan through the
whole thing or search for a certain string in the filename, the option to
search through all the file listings you have received is implemented as
well. There is a small terminal built into ISIS mail it doesn't do much at
the moment soon the ability to send crash type mail straight to the node
you choose, just a way to get those files in and out quicker.
This is just a taste of what to expect throughout the ISIS network.
I could go on forever explaining each different option and utility available
but I don't have the time or space, so heres is a short list of some of the
other available external programs that various people have written to be
used in conjunction with ISIS.
NETWORKER: BBS Express ST! compatible networked message base system.
ISISFILE: Remote Downloading System for BBS users.
CONFESSIONS: Confession messaging system.
FIDO\ISIS: FIDOnet compatibility without BINKLEYTERM, currently Beta testing.
SEE: InterGalactic Space Empire Elite, one of my favorite.
As you can tell ISIS is supported very well indeed by the author, Marc
Ferrari, and also by the nodes involved too, which in turn also play a big
part in beta testing new software. I would like to point out also that the
network has been built around the user, a very important factor, our
comments and idea's are a vital help for the writing of all the programs.
I personally suggested a couple of ideas which were put onto the drawing
board and where either improved or made reality, one of them being the
network software requestor, I thought it would be nice to have at the press
of a button a list of the current versions that I was using, and you read
before what that turned in to.
If you are currently running a BBS and have thought about Networking but
didn't want the hassle of trying to configure, run and maintain one, then
ISIS is the one for you. You can find the files needed on one of the
following BBS's in the form of ISISxxxx.ARC, xxxx being the latest full
release version number. The file is big about 600k or so, but well worth
the Download time. You don't have to register the software either to be
issued a node number, and there are no monthly fee's. I do strongly
suggest registering, it will cut your phone bill literally in half, I'm
not going to say why, you'll have to Download the file and find out.
ISISnode:
1. Quantum Thump BBS, Austin TX (512)795-9175
SysOp: Marc Ferrari, ISIS author.
7. Cool Wave BBS, Columbus, OH (614)870-0085
SySop: Lee, Coordinator, call for a node number.
* 39. Round Table BBS, Vincentown, NJ (609)268-7524
SysOp: Darren Trutzenbach, East coast Concentrator.
Please feel free to call my BBS if you have any questions or need any
help (*). And also when calling to get a node number remember where you
found out about ISIS and be sure to tell the person with whom you are
contacting. Thank you.
That about sums up my first article. I hope you have enjoyed reading
it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
---------------------------------
Desktop Publishing
---------------------------------
Coming Next Month!!
---------------------------------
Software and Hardware Reviews
---------------------------------
-------------
STraight FAX!
-------------
NewSTar Technology Management
P.O. Box 0122
Columbia, Maryland 21045-0122
Suggested Retail Price $89.95
For: Atari ST/TT/Falcon030
Requirements: 1 Meg, DSDD Disk Drive, Class 2 Compliant FAX/Modem
Recommended: 2 Megs, hard drive, GDOS compatible software for
printing.
By Brian Hilbern
If your like most FAX/Modem owners you bought it more for the
modem than the FAX. Well you are missing out on a great feature.
And like almost all FAX/Modem owners your modem came with software
for an IBM. You probably thought that the software wasn't even
available on the Atari computer. Well I've got news for you.
There is a program called STraight FAX that will allow you to
send and receive FAX's over your modem. It was formally owned by
Joppa and now is owned by NewSTar Technologies.
In this article I will explain the general operations of
STraight FAX!
Creating a FAX
--------------
A FAX may be sent from several different formats. Printer
drivers are available for Pagestream, Calamus, and GDOS. These
printer drivers are used to convert the file from one format to
the FAX format. For Pagestream you load the printer driver
supplied and choose to print to disk. Then you select print and
it will write a FAX file. STraight FAX! will convert ASCII,
Degas, or IMG. It's that easy.
Sending a FAX
-------------
Next you choose from the menu to send a FAX. You load
the FAX that you want to send. You may send one or multiple
and STraight FAX! will convert the files from any of the formats
listed above into the FAX file format. You are then presented
with a cover sheet. You may save and load cover sheets or just
enter the information. You may bypass the cover sheet. Another
feature of the cover sheet is that you can put a graphic heading
on the cover such as a company logo or letterhead.
The next step you choose a number from the number list. You
may select one phone number or several. The program will
automatically send to all that are selected. At this menu you
can also schedule a FAX to be sent at a specified time.
After you have chose the phone number you press SEND and the
program takes over from there. When the remote answers the remote
FAX's ID is shown (the phone number). Then STraight FAX! sends the
FAX. You are given information about the percent of the FAX that
has been sent. If the line is busy STraight FAX! will wait a number
of minutes specified by you in the system preferences before it
attempts to send the FAX again. You may also limit the attempts
in the system preferences.
Receiving a FAX
---------------
Receiving a FAX is just as easy. You may have the auto
answer turned on all the time, on during a specified time, or you
may manually receive an incoming FAX by selecting that from the
menu.
Viewing a FAX
-------------
Once you have received a FAX you may view in from the
program. From this window you may save it as an IMG or FAX file,
flip the graphic, clean up the graphic, edit clip settings, show
clip outline, invert clip area, or half size view. This feature
will allow you to review a FAX before printing to make sure it is
something that you want to print.
Printing a FAX
--------------
Printing a FAX file is easy. You may print either a FAX file
or an IMG file. When you choose to print a FAX file it will be
converted to an IMG file and then printed. You MUST have GDOS
installed with the proper printer driver and ASSIGN.SYS file
loaded. The program has been tested with GDOS 1.1, G+Plus
GDOS replacement, Atari FONT GDOS, and Atari FSM GDOS. As with
most programs like this the printing is slow. You may also print
with the Atari OUTPUT.PRG that is included with STraight FAX!
Scanner Support
---------------
STraight FAX! also has a scanning feature. It supports a
hand scanner when used with the ScanLite desk accessory from Dr.
Bobware. It also supports the full page scanners from Joppa
Software Development. Because this reviewer doesn't own a scanner
it wasn't possible for me to try this feature.
Overall View
------------
STraight FAX! is a very solid program. It is very simple to
operate. Help is available everywhere on the program. I would
recommend this program to anyone who is interested in using the
full capabilities of the FAX/modem.
Overall Rating: A Perfect 10
The following is extracted from the Straight FAX! version 1.07 feature
list:
Version 1.07 Enhancements:
-------------------------
- In the Receive FAX Preferences dialog, a new popup menu exists:
Silent Answer. The Silent Answer Popup Menu enables the Silent Answer
capability that is available in some FAX Modems. If the Silent Answer
capability is not present in the FAX Modem, this parameter should be
left as disabled. When Silent Answer is available, the 'Answer After'
field should be set to 9 rings or as specified by the FAX Modem vendor.
The Silent Answer capability will allow a voice phone and FAX Modem to
share a single phone line. This feature detects the CNG tone that the
calling Group III FAX device sends and signals the computer by sending
the appropriate number of ring responses that causes the STraight FAXø
software to answer the call. Some older model FAX machines, such as
those that require manual handset dialing, do not send the CNG tone
when dialing. Silent Answer currently does not operate with these
types of FAX Machines.
The Silent Answer feature requires that the user either manually answer
the phone and listen for the FAX Modem to also answer and establish a
connection and then hang up or for an answering machine to answer
the call, allowing the FAX Modem to establish the connection if a
FAX is calling.
Note: Silent Answer is currently available as a firmware upgrade
(revision 1.200-H or 1.200-H) for the Supra V.32/V.32bis FAX Modems.
Please contact your FAX Modem vendor for upgrade availability and
instructions as to connecting the FAX Modem and telephone handset and
answering machine to the telephone line to operate properly with the
Silent Answer capability.
The availability of the Silent Answer feature may be detected by
sending the following AT command from a terminal program to the
FAX Modem:
AT+FAA=? (followed by a Carriage Return)
If the response is of the form:
+FAA = 0,1 or 0,1
then Silent Answer is not supported.
If the response is of the form:
+FAA = 0,1,2 or +FAA = 0-2 or 0,1,2 or 0-2
then Silent Answer is supported.
- Other files may be "embedded" in an ASCII Text File using the new
Include command, which is placed in a text file.
The include command should follow the following syntax and must
start in the first column of a line in an ASCII Text file:
#INCLUDE=filename.ext
or
#INCLUDE=d:\path\filename.ext
If the drive and path specification are omitted from the filename,
then the drive and path of the ASCII Text file are used as the
path where the included file is located.
The include file command must be the only text on the line in the
ASCII Text File. An end-of-line or space character following the
filename will be used to determine the end of the filename string.
Included files may be of the following types:
Monochrome Image Files (.IMG)
Monochrome DEGAS/DEGAS Elite Files (.PI3/.PC3)
Normal or Fine Rez FAX Files (.Jnn)
ASCII Text Files
Included ASCII Text Files will not be parsed for additional
include commands (i.e. no nesting of include files). The text
from an included ASCII Text File will be placed into the generated
FAX page as if it were part of the parent ASCII Text File,
causing new pages to be generated when the maximum number of text
lines possible on the page is reached.
The graphic from an included graphic file (Image, DEGAS or FAX)
will be placed into the generated FAX page immediately following
the previous placed text/graphic. Depending on where in the
page a graphic is placed, the page may or may not exceed the
maximum 'Page Height' as specified in the Page Preferences
dialog box. If the placement of a graphic causes the page height
to be exceeded, a new page will be generated following the
graphic. The user may choose to place form feed characters
(ASCII 12 decimal) into the parent ASCII Text File prior to
including a graphic insure deterministic paganation.
The horizontal positioning of an included Image or DEGAS file
(i.e. left, center or right) will be determined by the 'Horizontal
Justification' parameter in the Graphic Conversion Preferences dialog.
Included FAX Files will always be centered, since all FAX files have
the same width. Included ASCII Text files will be horizontally placed
according to the new Text Offset parameter.
The include file command may be used to place logos, signatures,
form headings in a document.
- In the Page Preferences dialog, a new set of parameters exist:
Page Margins. The Top, Bottom, Left and Right Page Margins specify the
number of inches/centimeters to be used as page margins when converting
ASCII Text Files to FAX Format. The margins may be any value in the
range from 0.30 to 2.00 inches (0.76 to 5.08 cm).
Note: The maximum number of characters that can be placed on a single
line of text is 80 characters. Each character is approximately 0.1
inches (2.54 mm) in width. An 80 character line is approximately 8.0
inches (20.32 cm) in width. To allow 80 characters to fit on a line,
the Left and Right Margins should be set to the minimum value of 0.30
inches (0.76 cm).
- During ASCII Text to FAX conversions, the text will now word wrap when
the line length exceeds the number of characters that fit on a line.
- When pasting an Image File from the Clipboard into a View Window Clip
Area several new options are available:
1) If the 'Image Scaling' parameter in the Graphic Conversion Preferences
dialog is set to 'Automatic' and GDOS is installed with the MEMORY.SYS
driver installed as device number 61, then when an Image File is pasted
into a Clip Area, the Clipboard Image will be scaled to fit the Clip Area.
2) If the 'Image Scaling' parameter in the Graphic Conversion Preferences
dialog is not set to 'Automatic' and GDOS is not installed or if the
MEMORY.SYS driver is not installed as device number 61, then when an
Image File is pasted an Alert Box will be displayed if the size of the
Image File in the Clipboard is larger than the Clip Area. The Alert Box
will allow three choices:
Yes - Expand the Clip Area to the size of the Image on the Clipboard,
then paste the Image on the Clipboard into the Clip Area.
No - Maintain the current size of the Clip Area, then paste the
the Image on the Clipboard into the Clip Area.
Cancel - Cancel the paste operation.
- Three file types are now supported for pasting into a Clip Area in a
View Window:
Image Files
GEM Metafiles (requires GDOS and MEMORY.SYS to be installed)
ASCII Text Files
When pasting ASCII Text Files into a Clip Area, the text will be converted
into graphics using the FAX Fonts, in the same manner as the ASCII Text
to FAX conversion. Word Wrap will occur and as much text will fit will
be pasted into the Clip Area.
The font size used for the pasting of ASCII text files depends on the
type of file being viewed:
Image & DEGAS Files - The FAX Resolution parameter determines if the
Normal Rez or Fine Rez FAX Fonts are used.
FAX Files - The resolution of the FAX file determines which font is used.
GEM Metafiles - The FAX Resolution at the time that the GEM Metafile
was viewed determines which font is used.
Pasting ASCII Text into a View Window allows easy addition of text
messages to graphics, charts, etc.
- The "Wait till connect" parameter in the "Dialing Preferences" dialog
may now be specified as any value in the range of 30 seconds to
255 seconds.
- The Asterisk Key (*) on the Keypad will toggle a View Window
between its full size and normal size, providing the same
capability from the keyboard as the Fuller gadget in the upper
right corner of the window.
- The Clipboard functionality in the Cover Page Entry dialog box is
now context sensitive to the section of the Cover Page parameters where
the text cursor is located.
Selecting the 'Copy' button will copy the contents of the Cover Page
section (i.e. 'To:', 'From:', 'Voice Phone:', 'FAX Phone:' or 'Message:')
from the line where the text edit cursor is located, through the last
line of the section to the Clipboard.
Selecting the 'Paste' button will paste the Clipboard to the Cover Page
section (i.e. 'To:', 'From:', 'Voice Phone:', 'FAX Phone:' or 'Message:')
from the line where the text edit cursor is located, through the last
line of the section.
- A new command exists in the 'Edit' menu: 'Clear All ^E'. This
command will clear the entire contents of a View Window.
- The commands in the View Window Popup Menu have been re-ordered
and a new command exists: 'Rotate Graphic'. This command will
open a new View Window with the contents of the current View
Window rotated 90 degrees to the right. This will be useful for
viewing text on a received FAX that was transferred sideways.
- The 'Save Clip as FAX' command in the View Window Popup Menu will
be disabled if the Clip Area is wider than a FAX page (1728
pixels).
- A check mark () will appear to the left of the 'Cover Page F6'
command in the 'File' menu when the 'FAX Cover Page' parameter
has been enabled in the General Preferences dialog box.
- If the 'Auto Close Windows' parameter is enabled in the General
Preferences dialog box, any open View Windows will only be closed
if a FAX send operation is proceeded with after the destination FAX
Numbers have been specified.
- The graphic in a View Window may now be dynamically scrolled by holding
the left mouse button down while the mouse cursor is inside the top
View Window work area and dragging the Flat Hand mouse cursor. The
ability to scroll a View Window in this manner will only be active when
the Window Clip Area Outline is not displayed.
When the mouse cursor reaches the top, bottom, left or right edges of
the View Window's work area, the View Window will continue to scroll,
until the mouse button is released or until the View Window can no
longer be scrolled in the specified direction.
The dynamic Window updating may appear "jerky" on slower ST computers
without a Blitter or a screen accelerator active and on graphic modes
that support many colors (i.e. 16 or more colors).
- The Input and Output 'I/O Buffer Size' parameters in the Modem Preferences
dialog may now be specified as any size from 256 bytes to 32767 bytes with
a TOS version before 1.04 or from 256 to 65535 bytes with a TOS version of
1.04 or higher. The buffers will be allocated for the specified serial port
(the Mega STe and TT/030 have multiple modem ports) during FAX send and
receive operations. The Input Buffer is allocated during FAX receive operations
and the Output Buffer is allocated during FAX send operations.
If the Input and/or Output Buffer's for the specified modem port
have already been expanded using an external utility (such as
the AUXINIT.PRG included with Gribnif's STalker terminal program)
to a size that is larger than the specified size, then the
external buffer will be used as is.
The addition of these parameters eliminates the need for an external
utility for use with the STraight FAXø software and is more efficient
with memory utilization as the buffer's are only allocated when needed.
- Bezier curves are now supported in GEM/3 Metafiles on all supported
GDOS's (i.e. Atari GDOS 1.1, FONT GDOS, FSM GDOS, Speedo GDOS &
CodeHead's G+Plus. The German GDOS replacement/screen accelerator NVDI
is compatible, but the public domain German GDOS replacement AMC GDOS
is not compatible). The quality of the Bezier curve output may vary,
but it is usually more than acceptable.
In addition some older GEM Metafiles that have 14 word headers vs. the
more common 24 word headers will now be properly recognized as GEM
Metafiles.
Note: GEM Metafile conversion requires that the MEMORY.SYS driver that
is included with Atari FONT GDOS and FSM GDOS be installed as GDOS
device number 61.
If the MEMORY.SYS driver is not setup as GDOS device number 61, then
attempting to view a GEM Metafile will result in the following error
alert message:
Error: Use of GEM Metafiles requires the MEMORY.SYS
GDOS driver to be installed as device 61!
- When selecting a file via the File Selector that will be read (i.e.
Send, View, Load). An alert will be displayed if the selected file
does not exist that will allow a new file to be selected or for the
operation to be cancelled.
This alert box will present two button choices:
Select - Re-Display the File Selector to select a different file.
Cancel - Cancel the File Selection.
- When selecting a file via the File Selector that will be written (i.e.
Save). An alert will be displayed if the selected file already exists
that will allow a new file to be selected, to overwrite the selected
file or to cancel the operation.
This alert box will present three button choices:
Select - Re-Display the File Selector to select a different file.
Overwrite - Overwrite the File Selected.
Cancel - Cancel the File Selection.
The user may change the default button choice by holding down the
Alternate Key while making the selection. The default button choice
will be saved with the system preferences.
- A new button, 'Margins' is present in the Graphic Info/Clip Area Edit
dialog. Selecting the 'Margins' button will size the Clip Area to the
fit the Page Margin values from the Page Preferences dialog.
- The 'GDOS Type' field will now distinguish between FSM GDOS (which
was only released with Word Flair II and to registered Atari Developers)
and the new Speedo GDOS.
- If the Alternate Key is held down while selecting a FAX File to View
from the File Selector, then starting with the page number of the
selected FAX file, a View Window will be opened for each successive
FAX File page number that exists with the same file name.
i.e. if the FAX Files: TEST.J03, TEST.J04 and TEST.J05 exist and TEST.J03
is selected from the File Selector with the Alternate Key held down,
then each of the following FAX Files: TEST.J03, TEST.J04 and TEST.J05
will be viewed, each in a separate View Window. As many FAX Files will
be viewed as exist, until either an error occurs, there are no more
windows available or the highest page number of a FAX File (99) is
reached.
This feature allows an easy method of reviewing several pages of a FAX
document generated via one of the STraight FAX! "Print to Disk" drivers
or to view multi-page received FAX documents.
This method of selecting a sequence of FAX files may also be used
when adding FAX Files to the File List and when Printing FAX
Files.
- In Automatic Receive FAX Mode a call that does not ring the number
of times specified by the 'Answer after ## rings' parameter, which
is most likely a Voice call will not be logged in the Receive Log.
In addition if Manual Receive is aborted without attempting to
start the manual FAX receive, the Receive Log will not log the
aborted Manual Receive attempt.
- The STraight FAX! will now look for the International Day and Time
Cookie (IDT) in the Cookie Jar which is present in AES versions 3.30
and higher (i.e. Falcon TOS 4.0x & Multi-TOS). The IDT Cookie specifies
how the time and date should be formatted according to international
standards.
The IDT Cookie specifies the following:
Time Format: 12 Hour with AM/PM
24 Hour
Date Order Format: Month Day Year
Day Month Year
Year Month Day
Year Day Month
Date Separator: usually '/', '-' or '.'
Since the STraight FAX!ø has a 'Date Format' parameter in the General
Preferences dialog, this value will be used when formatting dates.
However, two new settings are available for this parameter:
'Year-Day-Month' and if the IDT Cookie is present 'IDT Value'.
The 'IDT Value' setting will format the date according to IDT Cookie.
The Date Separator displayed in the 'Date Format' Popup Menu and
in dates displayed in the Send Log, Receive Log and Scheduler dialogs
will reflect the IDT Cookie.
The Time format used on the Cover Page, Page Header and other areas of
the program will also reflect the IDT Cookie.
Note: It may become possible to modify the IDT Cookie with a future CPX
while the STraight FAX! is running. The STraight FAX!ø reads the IDT Cookie
value once when it starts up, so any changes made while the STraight FAX!ø
is running will not take effect until the STraight FAX!ø is executed again.
On computers with out the IDT Cookie, default values will be used for
the IDT parameters, according to Atari specifications. It is also
possible that a future utility could install an IDT Cookie on computers
that have TOS versions that do not automatically install this cookie.
- In the process of sending a FAX, the FAX Modem must be initialized by
sending commands to the FAX Modem. This can take several seconds, in
the mean time it is possible that the phone may ring with an incoming
voice call. If for any reason you wish to pause the sending of a FAX,
hold the Alternate Key down until the message:
Paused, Hit any key to resume
appears in the Status Message box. The STraight FAX!ø will wait until
the user hits a key on the keyboard before dialing. If the Undo Key
is hit, the transfer will be aborted.
- When the 'Rotate Graphic' or 'Half Size View' commands in the View
Window Popup Menu are executed, the new View Window created will
be created with the Clip Area in the same state as in the original
window.
When the 'Flip Window' command in the View Window Popup Menu is executed,
the Clip Area will also be flipped.
- When creating or sizing a Clip Area in a Window, the window will
scroll when the mouse cursor leaves the work area of the window. This
will allow easier selection of a Clip Area. The window will continue
to scroll as long as the mouse button is held down outside the window's
work area or until the end of the graphic is reached. The scrolling may
be accelerated by holding down either of the Shift Keys. The window
can immediately be scrolled to the end if the Alternate Key is held
down.
- STraight FAX!ø now uses an improved method of establishing communication
with a FAX Modem, which should reduce the possibility of not being able
to communicate with the FAX Modem.
- STraight FAX!ø now has limited support for the Caller ID capability that
is available as a firmware upgrade to the Supra V.32/V.32bis FAX Modems
(i.e. firmware revision 1.200-J). If the FAX Modem supports Caller ID
and the Caller ID information is provided by the local phone company,
the FAX Receive Status dialog will display the Caller ID information
received as follows:
Caller ID: 717-428-3231 or
Caller ID: Out of Area or
Caller ID: Private Number
In most areas where Caller ID is available, only calls originating from
the local calling area will display the caller's area code and phone
number. Calls originating outside of the local calling area will be
indicated by an 'Out of Area' message. In some areas, local regulations
allow a caller to block the Caller ID information. When this occurs, the
display will be indicated by a 'Private Number' message.
In the FAX Receive Log, the caller is indicated by the 'Remote FAX ID',
which most FAX machines send during the start of a FAX connection. If
the remote FAX does not send an identification string, then the Caller
ID information (if available) will be listed in the FAX Receive Log
(where it would otherwise be blank).
The availability of the Caller ID feature may be detected by
sending the following AT command from a terminal program to the
FAX Modem:
AT#CID? (followed by a Carriage Return)
If a response of ERROR is returned, the Caller ID is not supported by
the FAX Modem. While the FAX Modem has the ability to report the
Caller ID information to the computer, the Caller ID service must also
be activated by the local phone company (usually at an additional
monthly fee). Caller ID service is not available in all areas, so
check with the local phone company for availability.
Note:
NewStar Technology Management is in the process of developing a standalone
Caller ID program that will provide automated logging of the Caller ID
information that will be available in the first quarter of '93. The
Caller ID support in the STraight FAX!ø is intended to provide limited
Caller ID capabilities to enhance FAX Receive operation.
- A few minor bugs have also been eliminated, including increased
compatibility with the Atari Falcon 030.
Major Features to be added in STraight FAX! Version 1.07
========================================================
- Limited support for Caller ID (requires a Supra FAX V.32 or V.32bis FAX
Modem with version 1.200-J firmware).
- Support for the Silent Answer capability of the Supra V.32 and V.32bis
FAX Modems with version 1.200-H or 1.200-J firmware. Please read the text
file SILENTA.TXT for details on setting up Silent Answer.
- The ability to include Image, DEGAS, ASCII Text or FAX Files in an
ASCII Text file. This capability allows graphics to be used for logos,
form letters, signatures, etc.
- Page margins may now be specified for ASCII Text to FAX Conversions.
- The Atari Clipboard functionality has been enhanced when editing
Cover Page Parameters.
- A graphic may be rotated 90 degrees to the right and viewed in a new
window.
- A graphic may be scrolled in a window by dragging it with the left
mouse button held down.
- The input and output buffer sizes may now be specified (up to 32K bytes).
An external utility to set these sizes is no longer necessary.
- The ability to paste ASCII Text from the Clipboard into a Clip Area in
a View Window.
- Improved support for GEM/3 Metafiles, including Bezier curves.
- The ability to scale Image Files pasted from the Clipboard into a
Clip Area (requires GDOS and MEMORY.SYS).
-----------------------------
Atari ST/E PhotoChrome v3.00
-----------------------------
Douglas Little
160 Goremire Road,
Carluke, Lanarkshire
Scotland. ML8 4PN.
Shareware 2-5 pounds suggested (apprx 3-8 US Dollars)
(c) 1992 Pixel Twins Shareware Utilities.
The following is extracted from the DOC's for PhotoChrome.
The author of the program says it better than anyone.
The review of the program follows at the end.
You are now the proud owner of the PhotoChrome graphics card
emulator. It is the only one of its type currently available for the
Atari ST and is capable of out-performing all other screen modes
including the infamous HAM and HalfBrite displays on the Commodore
Amiga.
It's basic specification is the ability to load most IFF formats,
24-Bit True colour screens (16 million colours), GIF files and
VidiChrome digitised 'RGB' colour separations (4096 colours) before
converting to one of six powerful screen modes.
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
THE 6 CONVERSION MODES
----------------------
The six screen modes are...
1. Spectrum 512 > 42/45 cols per scanline from 512 on an ST
or STE.
2. Spectrum 4096 > 42/45 cols per scanline from 4096 on an STE.
3. PCS-ST > 48 colours per scanline from 512 on an ST
or STE.
4. PCS-STE > 48 colours per scanline from 4096 on an STE.
5. Super HAM > A full 4096 colours out of 4096 on an ST
or STE.
6. STE PhotoChrome > 19200 colours out of 32768 on an STE.
Modes 1 and 2 are basically real Spectrum-512 files. They are not
compressed, but Spectrum can do this if you need it. STE mode seems to
handle pictures better than I had expected, since with such a large
palette the colour assignments tend to be used up twice as quickly.
Modes 3 and 4 are my own custom versions of the Spectrum display.
They both have a few extra colours to play with, filling up the streaks
and dots Spectrum can often leave behind. This is my own 'PCS' format
(PhotoChrome Screen) and uses the best of 2 compression methods.
Modes 5 and 6 are actually impossible, so just accept they work
and don't ask too many questions!
SUPER HAM is an emulation of the Hold And Modify mode normally
exclusive to the Commodore Amiga. After some experimentation with my
own Amiga, I found that HAM is not actually as capable of displaying
some of the more detailed colour images (especially with high levels of
contrast or lots of sharp lines) and so renamed my own format 'SUPER
HAM'. Many HAM pictures are of course better as they have many more
colours per line, but have to smudge and blend to obtain them.
PHOTOCHROME is only available when the source picture contains in
excess of 4096 colours (i.e. QRT 16-million colour pictures), and then
only to STE owners. However, if you do have an STE and some RAW files
knocking about (STF cover disk 35!) then you are in for a treat indeed!
Eat your heart out, VGA! This is the most powerful mode available short
of a real Graphics card, with 19200 colours on-screen at once from a
largish palette of 32768! (15-bit colour). The picture requires two
conversion passes, but is well worth the wait!
N.B. Pictures saved out as Super HAM or PhotoChrome tend to be
anywhere from large to enormous, even with fancy compression. Bear this
in mind when testing out the hatched and fractal stippling options!
(Check out PCSVIEW.DOC for info on better compression...)
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
FEARURES
--------
1> STIPPLING. (COLOUR REDUCTION ONLY)
Generally, if the source picture holds more colours than the
destination format (i.e. RAW > SPU) then you are allowed stippling.
The three options are CLEAN - just leave the picture as it is, HATCHED
- use levels of hatching to make up in-between colours and FRACTAL -
the weird one. This uses fractal numbers to highlight/leave each pixel
on the screen, the result being that graduated colours look more obvious
but you get a weird 'oil-painting' effect. It really only works well
in PhotoChrome and super-HAM modes.
2> ERROR/FLICKER FREE. (SUPER HAM/PHOTOCHROME ONLY)
Error-free mode makes a better job of mega-colourful pictures
but is not normally needed (a sort of last-resort). 'Flicker-free'
should be used where available, the only problem being that it chews
through the colour tables at an alarming rate (keep an eye on QRT
screens). N.B. STE PhotoChrome mode is fixed at ERROR-FREE in 60Hz,
since flicker is minimal with such a large palette.
FLICKER-FREE mode CAN sometimes reduce the quality of the screen...
3> 50/60 Hz MODES. (SUPER HAM and QRT PICTURES ONLY)
Basically, everything runs at 50Hz, with a couple of exceptions.
QRT pictures tend to have a 60Hz aspect ratio (not fixed but the option
is there) causing the screen to look squashed at 50Hz. Also, PHOTOCHROME
mode looks best at 60Hz anyway, so it is left as the default frequency.
60Hz also helps when 'flicker-free' option has been avoided for
accuracy. To change the default, click on the 50Hz button. All screens
will now run at 50Hz regardless of how they might look. To switch modes
while viewing the picture, hit the '*' key.
4> SPECTRUM OPTIONS.
Spectrum 512 does not use all of it's available colours. Colour 0
(background colour) is always black and colour 15 is reserved for drawing
and for the mouse pointer etc. leaving 14 variable colours for use in the
picture. There are 3 palette changes per line meaning (16-2)*3 or 42
cols available for alteration on each individual scanline of the
screen. The 'LEGAL COLOURS' option uses just these colours. The 'ALL
COLOURS' option however releases colour 15 for use, meaning (16-1)*3 or
45 cols per line. The only disadvantage is that Spectrum will crack up
if you try to load them in. Any pixels using colour 15 will turn bright
orange and look a right mess. You have been warned... (N.B. slideshows
should display these pictures no probs.)
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
LIMITATIONS
-----------
Hmmm, I'm not sure there are any, really..
No, seriously, there are a few bits you should know about before
creating slideshows full of pretty pictures!
1> RAW's
QRT screens can be any width or height (<=320*200) and will be
centred on the screen with a black border. If you use the 'flicker-
free' option (SUPER HAM only) some loss of detail or palette-errors
might occur on very complex pictures. To avoid this you may have to use
the 'error-free' mode instead (at 60Hz there is very little flicker
anyway). To cut down any flicker you may still see, reduce the contrast
setting on your monitor.
2> GIF's
The program can load GIF's of any height or width and will offer
the option to either squash the picture, or select a 320*200 zone.
320*200 GIF's will bypass this stage. To select a zone, use the arrow-
keys and 'SPACE' when satisfied.
2> IFF's
The program can load ILBM IFF's of any height or width but will
crop them to 320*200 (a later version will contain squash/interlace
options). The real bonus is that it eats up colours like nothing else.
All of the Amiga pictures I fed it looked identical to the originals,
with no loss of colour or detail! (HalfBrite 64 colour IFF's are
supported properly)
3> RGB's
VidiChrome RGB screens suffer from very few limitations. Generally
you should choose the 'flicker-free' option all the time and if you
spot dots/errors on the screen (rare) you can resort to 60Hz and
'error-free' mode.
4> SYNC PROBLEMS.
It came to my attention some time ago that both Spectrum-512 and
GFA Raytrace suffered from video-synchronisation problems. This caused
very irritating little dots or vertical lines to appear from time to
time and totally ruin the effect of the picture. It was also very
embarrasing when trying to show off the ST's capabilities to other
members of the computer world (i.e. Amiga-people). These programs
are supplied with a 'SYNC.PRG' which, contrary to many peoples beliefs
does sod-all to fix the problem. All it does is TELL you whether your
ST is READY to display a picture or NOT, having no effect on the
machine at all. The only way to rectify a 'no-sync' situation is to
TURN OFF and reboot, resetting the video-clock hardware and hopefully
reversing the situation. Generally it takes a few tries before success,
and although I have seen a few ST's that ALWAYS boot up properly, the
effect on STE's is generally quite bad (just try to merge a colour
digitised picture in 4096 colour mode in VidiChrome and you'll probably
see what I mean).
Anyway, Since my own display code incorporates similar colour-
switch techniques, PhotoChrome was initially prone to this bugging
effect. After a lot of work and an equal amount of problems it has been
solved, and as far as I know, is rectified on all ST's and STE's. All
pictures saved out from PhotoChrome (including Spectrum-512/4096) are
'immunised' against sync problems, regardless of which slideshow
program you choose to display them (they even load into Spectrum
itself! Although if you mess about with the picture, Spectrum will re-
assign the colours and destroy the immunised structure of the screen.
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
SAVING A PICTURE
----------------
To save a screen, hit 'RETURN' or 'S' once it has been converted
and is being displayed. The file will take a few seconds to compress
before giving you a file selector. The program will check diskspace
prior to saving the screen.
To switch 50/60 Hz on the same screen, hit the '*' key. This will
be recorded into the file for displaying in the slideshow.
While selecting a part of a GIF picture, use the arrow keys and
'SPACE' when done.
*------------------------------------------------------------------------*
PhotoChrome Review
------------------
By Brian Hilbern
There are not enough good things I can say about this
program. The quality of the converted pictures is excellent.
The program is very simple to use. Included with the program is a
viewer and a slide show program. If you own an ST or STe you will
be delighted with the results. The picture quality is
outstanding and you can't beat the price.
Overall Rating
--------------
This part is easy. I have to give it a 10 all around.
Download this program. You'll really like it.
---------------------------------
Oxyd
----
By Brian Hilbern
Oxyd is an interesting new PD game. The object of the game
is to move this round object through different scenes without
destroying it. And to move from one scene to another you turn on
these other boxes to show their colors. You match the colors of
one object with the color of another then they are locked in.
Then you go to the next color. Only 2 objects may show their
color at the same time. If you open one and then the next one
doesn't match the first one you opened will close.
You must move the round object through different areas trying
to avoid obsticles and trying to find a way past obsticles. Later
in the game you must put an explosive to blow up certain objects
so you can get around them.
All the movement is done with the mouse. I have only gotten
through about 8 levels so far. It's a tough game. One thing you
must remember is to record what level you are on. Before you
enter a level you are given a level code. Write the code down and
if you loose you can type the code and it will allow you to start
where you left off.
The graphics are very well done. I'm sure you will enjoy
playing this game.
Overall Rating: 9
---------------------------------
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purchasing information, and U.S. and Canadian pricing information
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