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Ictari Issue 52
ICTARI USER GROUP ISSUE 52 APRIL 1998
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* m a g a z i n e *
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I C T A R I U S E R G R O U P
G Greenway, 8 Denmark Road, Reading, Berks, RG1 5PA. 0118 9756668
http://www.elis.demon.co.uk/ictari/ictari.htm
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INDEX FOR ISSUE 52
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HISOFT BASIC: Lockout -Leave your computer safely unattended
Password -Password protection program
MISC: IPL - GEM-based scripting language
Personal database program
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EDITORIAL
=========
I knew ICTARI 52 would arrive late, I just didn't realize it would
be this late ! That being said, the new issue of Atari Computing took
some time to appear. Unfortunatly, it's taken this long to collect
enough submissions to make this issue worthwhile, and it's still not
exactly bursting at the seams. Mathew Bacon's comments below show that
there is still demand for assistance in programming, and that it will be
vital to ensure the future of the platform. I will continue to try to
get issues of ICTARI out, and will maintain the WEB-site to ensure that
the back issues are available to as many people as possible. I should be
able to upload more issues soon, they contain a lot of valuable
information. I know everyone's busy, (me included) and its hard to find
time to code. Once you get started it can be a very rewarding and
creative process, in the end it can be hard to *not* find the time ! To
all those reading this, have a go, you might enjoy it !
Let us be optimistic,
See you *next* month,
Giles
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CORRESPONDENCE
==============
From: Anthony Jaques
To: ICTARI
Re: STOS
Hi
here are a few answers to STOS queries/points raised in Ictari 51...
1) There is a limit of 26 extensions (A-Z), although old versions
(pre-STE) had a bug which limited it to 10, and then 1 less per for/next
loop depth (the extensions used the wrong memory, and used the for/next
loop stack). It may be possible to extend STOS beyond this limit, if
necessary...
2) There are a number of extensions that allow multiple joysticks to be
used. However, both the "official" joystick extension, and the "STE
Extension"s routines should be avoided as these are incompatible with
Falcons, and TOS 2.xx machines. "The Missing Link" (Top Notch -
registered via Goodmans) provides "p joy" (and other associated
commands) which do work on all machines. TML is recommended to any STOS
users - not just for joystick usage.
You may also be interested in my EJP Extension, which allows STE/Falcon
users to use jaguar controllers, dyna-blasters adaptors, team-taps and
other forms of controller.
3) Paul's explanation of STOS's memory management was slightly incorrect
- although STOS doesn't return the memory with a Mshrink() call on
startup, simply allocating some memory before start up is not sufficient
to fix STOS to work with a multitasking system. The reason for this is
that STOS simply assumes that it has all the memory from the end of the
program, to the end of RAM. This clearly isn't always the case in a
multitasking system (and can lead to memory corruption).
I believe that Paul has replaced this routine in the loader such that it
allocates a fixed amount of RAM for STOS's own internal use. This could
have adverse affects on some STOS programs, and so should be noted.
4) The idea of a "STOS 2000" as you describe it would be good, however
it will probably never (officially) happen. Some of the authors of STOS
(and the distributors) have already been contacted with regard to *free*
distribution of STOS. Neither wished to give formal agreement to this
idea, and as the copyright is not owned by one person it is unlikely
that this will ever be resolved. However, on a personal basis one of the
authors said that he wished to help in any way he could.
Also, I thought it quite sad that at both of the recent Atari shows,
pirate copies of STOS (complete with photocopied manual) were openly on
sale (at a greater than cost price - so "someone" was making profit).
5) As you pointed out, you have had a number of STOS related queries -
well, I thought that it was worth pointing out that the STOS mailing
list exists, and could always do with more STOS questions. Email Phil
Hough (pjh@cs.man.ac.uk) to subscribe. (sorry to take some of your
correspondence away :)
I hope this is of some help...
Anthony
--
----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
Anthony Jacques IRC: AnthonyJ | The boy stood on the burning deck
| Whence all but he had fled -
jacquesa@zetnet.co.uk | Twit.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/jacquesa/ | (Spike Milligan)
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From: G Greenway
To: ICTARI
Re: iPL
Just a post-script to Mark Wherry's iPL program, you now get a printed
manual when you register.
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From: Mathew Bacon
To: ICTARI
Re: Atari Authors
Dear Atari User,
May I first introduce myself. My name is Matthew Bacon (alias
Cadenza Software). I have been an Atari enthusiast for more than seven
years and am a dedicated programmer to the Atari platform. Over the past
few years, as I am sure you are aware, there has been a decline in
commercial companies producing software for the Atari market.
This I believe has been both a good and bad thing. While this leaves
the Atari user with less choice of software the companies/programmers
that have remained, are producing some truly superb and exciting
products.
However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that over the next few
years, the role and demand for programmers to produce good quality and
up to date software for the Atari platform will be greater than ever
before.
I learnt to program in late 1995, and have since written and
released several programs into the public domain (Atari Personal
Organiser, titactoe etc.). This has made me realise how difficult and
time consuming writing a program can be. With this in mind, I have setup
"Atari Authors" (AA). It is my aim that through "Atari Authors",
programmers and users alike will be brought together to aim towards a
common goal. "The survival of the Atari platform and production of
future software".
How can I help, I hear you ask? ...
If you're a...
- Programmer,
Distributor or Supplier (commercial or otherwise) Please consider
writing a brief profile about, who you are, what programs you've
written, what you have planned for the future... etc. and send a copy to
me at: cadenza@cyberstrider.org so that I may include it at the "Atari
Authors" web page (http://www.cadenza.cyberstrider.org/aa.htm).
By doing this you'll benefit from exposure and users will benefit by
knowing there are still programmers committed to the Atari Scene!!.
- User
Please take time to either download or read the "Atari Authors"
programmer profiles available at the "Atari Authors" web page
(http://www.cadenza.cyberstrider.org/aa.htm), and reply to the
programmer/s pledging your support or with suggestions for new projects,
comments or queries regarding the software they support.
By doing this you'll benefit from gaining new and up to date software
while the programmer receives feedback and acknowledgement for all their
hard work!!
- Atari Users with web pages
Use as often as possible one of the "Atari Authors" logo's available at
the AA web page (http://www.cadenza.cyberstrider.org/aa.htm), with a
link to the AA web page. "I am an Atari Author", "I support Atari
Authors".
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