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GenieLamp Apple II - Vol.5, Issue 56
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|||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| GenieLamp Computing
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~ WELCOME TO GENIELAMP APPLE II! ~
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
~ THE REAL WORLD APPLE: Measuring Temperature, Part A ~
~ PD_QUICKVIEW: Sorry (a word game) ~
~ HISTORY MINOR: The History of GenieLamp ~
~ HOT NEWS, HOT FILES, HOT MESSAGES ~
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
GenieLamp Apple II ~ A T/TalkNET Publication ~ Vol.5, Issue 56
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Publisher................................................John F. Peters
Editor...................................................Douglas Cuff
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Genie Mail: GENIELAMP Internet: genielamp@genie.com
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>>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE APPLE II ROUNDTABLE? <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
~ November 1, 1996 ~
FROM MY DESKTOP ......... [FRM] FROM MY MAILBOX ......... [MAI]
Notes From The Editor. Letters To The Editor.
HEY MISTER POSTMAN ...... [HEY] PUZZLE FUN .............. [FUN]
Is That A Letter For Me? Who Calls Genie?
PD_QUICKVIEW ............ [PDQ] THE ONLINE LIBRARY ...... [LIB]
Sorry (a word game). GenieLamp A2 Back Issues.
FILE BANDWAGON .......... [BAN] THE REAL WORLD APPLE .... [RWA]
Top 10 Files for September. Measuring Temperature.
HISTORY MINOR ........... [HSM] LOG OFF ................. [LOG]
The History of GenieLamp. GenieLamp Information
[IDX]""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
READING GENIELAMP GenieLamp has incorporated a unique indexing system
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this system, load GenieLamp into any ASCII word processor or text editor.
In the index you will find the following example:
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Genie Fun & Games.
To read this article, set your find or search command to [HUM]. If
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In this example, to respond to Smith's message, log on to page 475
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A message number that is surrounded by brackets indicates that this
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ABOUT Genie Genie has pricing plans to fit almost any budget. Genie's
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*** GET INTO THE LAMP! ***
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
////////////////////////////////////////////// QWIK_QUOTE ////
/ "The _Guinness Book of Records_ mentions Alexander /
/ Woolcoot's Broadway review of _Wham!_ which read 'Ouch!' /
/ But there is one more dismissive. At the Duchess /
/ Theatre in the London at the turn of the century there /
/ opened a show called _A Good Time_. Next morning it got /
/ the simple review, 'No.'" /
////////////////////////////////////////// Stephen Pile ////
[EOA]
[FRM]//////////////////////////////
FROM MY DESKTOP /
/////////////////////////////////
Notes From The Editor
"""""""""""""""""""""
by Douglas Cuff
[EDITOR.A2]
>>> "COME GATHER 'ROUND PEOPLE WHEREVER YOU ROAM" <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Up here in Canada, there's been an awful lot of fuss recently about
Bob Dylan's song "The Times They Are A-Changin'" appearing in a television
advertisement for a bank. A bank! It makes you want to wash.
The 30-second version of advert is pretty well done (kudos to the
sound editor): full of heart-warming, life-celebrating, "motherhood issue"
shots that make it impossible to tell who the sponsor is until they
identify themselves in the final seconds. (Hence the horror after those
final seconds.) The first time I saw it, I suspected it was touting for a
phone company or perhaps a religious group. Manipulative, but I admired
the technique until I saw the name of the bank, at which point I choked on
my root beer.
The advert features a throng of children too young to know that the
song they're lip-synching wasn't just written for the ad. That doesn't
help.
After Michael Jackson's bunch got hold of the Beatles catalog and
hawked "Revolution" to Nike, you think we'd be inured. After Mick Jagger
let Bill Gates start up the Windows 95 campaign, who cares?
Lots of people up here seem to care. Some care that Dylan has sold
out. (Though I think that happened a long time ago.) Some don't care
about the selling out but care about the trashing of their memories. (If
the phrase "half-naked, exploding porpoises" rings a bell, then further
explanation is superfluous.) A bank! What's more, a bank I personally
happen to loathe, placing it second from the bottom in terms of how it
treats its customers.
Dylan defenders have rushed to point out that it's Bob Dylan's song.
He can license it to whoever he darn well pleases. And we've got a hell of
a nerve complaining about it.
Still, this issue has been getting a lot of airplay on Canadian
radio. (I don't watch much TV.) So much so that after just one
day--everyone seems to start covering a story on the exact same day--I was
sick of the whole issue. I felt like gathering everybody I knew in the
town park, and lead the whole works in all five verses of "The Times They
Are A-Changin'", over and over, until we were hoarse. Or until the entire
community participated, which meant that everyone would associate the song
with good feelings, and not some thrice-cursed television spot.
Then it dawned on me that someone had already thought of that. I was
listening to a regional radio call-in program in the lunchtime slot. The
female host had a musician guest, and they wanted callers to share the
songs they remembered and the memories they associated with the songs.
(The Dylan/bank issue wasn't raised.) It started nice but dull, but then I
noticed something. When the musician played a tune on his guitar, he'd
start to sing the lyrics. And the host would join in (and a fine singing
voice she had, too). Then the caller would join in. Community singing
over the air? In Canada? Most Canadians are shy about singing their
national anthem in a stadium--forget singing to radio audience.
It got better. A caller who knew the musician called in and told a
charming story about one of the musician's songs. Then a caller who knew
the host called in and played a bootleg tape of her singing with her band,
back before she turned to radio announcing. I've heard this call-in show
before, folks--it's never turned into Old Home Week. It took me awhile to
realize what the producers were saying, since they weren't saying it
overtly. It was quietly charming, and it was fun.
For one marvelous moment, we focussed on the feelings that songs
reminded of us, found the community spirit that is lying dormant, and it
was good. I can't carry a tune in a ten-gallon bucket, but somehow I still
feel like singing.
A sense of community is particularly important to me these days. You
see, next month's issue of GenieLamp A2 will be my 40th--and also my last.
Ryan Suenaga will be taking over the post. Ryan is becoming increasingly
well known in the Apple II community. He's written for Juiced.GS, The
Apple Blossom, The AppleWorks Gazette and even allowed GenieLamp A2 to
reprint one of his Top 10 messages (Humor Online, February 1996). I think
all I really need to say about Ryan is that he's lived in Hawai'i all his
life, and only left the islands twice--both times for KansasFests. This is
a serious Apple II person. Get ready for him, starting in 1997.
I'm not resigning because I want to--I'm resigning because it's time
for me to leave. I'm not leaving the Apple II world--I just bought a ROM
03 GS for my wife, as a matter of fact, and I'll probably keep writing for
GenieLamp A2 as long my articles come up to Ryan's high standards.
Still, it's time for me to live. I'm an Atlantic Canadian--a
Newfoundlander--despite the fact that I've been living in Ontario for the
past five years. My wife and I moved to Ontario so that my wife could
attend university here. (Yes, there are universities in Atlantic Canada,
but none that could afford to offer a substantial scholarship.) This
spring, my wife will finish her master's degree in computer science, and
we'll be heading back to Atlantic Canada. That means I have to start
looking for a job there now. And that just isn't possible if I remain
editor of GenieLamp A2. You would not credit how much of my time I spend
putting this magazine together. Anyway, I'll still be around for another
month, and I'm not dead, so hold those eulogies. I'll be around on Genie
for as long as I can manage to keep my personal D.CUFF account open.
Last month, I promised a report on the status of the EDITOR.A2
account. It's back. Since Ryan is going to take possession of it some
time before Christmas, I'm continuing to sign all my articles (except the
editorial) with my D.CUFF E-mail address/account name. If you want to
write to me personally, use that address. If you want to write to the
editor of GenieLamp A2, keep using the EDITOR.A2 address. That way it'll
always get to the right place.
-- Doug Cuff
Genie Mail: EDITOR.A2 Internet: editor.a2@genie.com
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[EOA]
[MAI]//////////////////////////////
FROM MY MAILBOX /
/////////////////////////////////
Letters To The Editor
"""""""""""""""""""""
ENABLING THE PROGRAMMER CDAs I just read your article "The Treasure Hunt"
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (at least I believe it was yours) in the
September GenieLamp A2. Very good article and it gave me some downloading
ideas. However, I have a question on one of yor remarks. After the
section on RemoveAltDisplayMode you said:
"(While you're cleaning up the Classic Desk Accessory menu, don't
forget to use the SetStart CDev to disable the programmer CDAs, Memory
Peeker and Visit Monitor. They're just confusing to new Apple IIers.)"
My question is: How do you get SetStart to enable them on startup?
I have an Apple IIgs with ROM3 and 8 Meg of RAM using System 6.0.1.
I don't know what else is pertinent.
Thanks.
||)) ||
||))(())||)) R.Sanders19
I'm glad you enjoyed my "Treasure Hunt" column in the September
issue! To answer your question:
You begin by making sure that your System:Desk.Accs: folder has
the ControlPanel NDA in it, and that your System:CDEVs: folder
has the SetStart CDEV in it. If not, install 'em and reboot.
From there, it's simple. Simple run any desktop program, such
as the Finder, pull down the Apple menu and select Control
Panels. Find and select the SetStart option. (Remember,
pressing S will get you to the right area fast.) Once you've
click on the SetStart icon, you should see something like this:
Start up with: [ Finder __________ ]
[_] Show startup icons
[_] Enable programmer CDAs
Just click on the box next to "Enable programmer CDAs" so that
an X shows there, and you're done. Next time you reboot, the
CDAs will be in the menu. Just press Apple-Control-Escape, as
always, to use them.
OPERATION LAMBDA "MISLEADING" Last month's TREASURE HUNT column contained
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" this paragraph:
"Operation Lambda by Bret 'Slixter' Victor is an all-new,
original game for the Apple IIgs. As the documentation stresses,
'It is not a port or conversion.' If this demonstration version
is anything to go by, Operation Lambda is a clear winner!"
Not to put a damper Bret's Operation Lambda game, but statements like
"all-new, original game" is stretching things. I must point out Bret
Victor's choice of words: "It is not a port or conversion" to be a very
misleading claim, somewhat false even.
id Software's John Carmack and John Romero wrote a PC game years back
called Rescue Rover. As some may recall, "Burger" Bill Heineman ported the
game to the Apple IIgs for Softdisk G-S. If you've played this game,
you'll find many concepts and ideas borrowed in Lambda. Operation Lambda
_is_ a variation of R.R., in both you move about mirror pieces to deflect
lasers, and the goal is to rescue a "hostage" and exit the level. Granted
there are differences (rescue a hostage dog rather than multiple humans,
your in a robot factory instead of a space-station, etc) but it is unfair
to claim Lambda as a freshly created idea.
By the same token, I was disappointed when Bret failed to mention
that his last game, PuyoPuyo, was not his own game concept either. Nowhere
in his documention does it mention PuyoPuyo was a direct port, nor the fact
that he "borrowed" the graphics, music and sound-effects directly from the
Macintosh freeware version. I know a number of people who thought Puyo was
his creation due to a failing to mention it was a port. I would, however,
like to stress these programming efforts are HIGHLY appreciated and
enjoyed, but I get a little disgruntled when someone takes credit for
another person's ideas or creations. It's simply a matter of being honest.
Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca
APPLE II BBS SOFTWARE I, too, ran a Prime BBS for a few years. Let's
""""""""""""""""""""" Talk also. Your GenieLamp reminiscing gave me a
smile. My GBBS board is just about up to 12,000 calls. Sadly it will
likely go down in June as my elementary school has decided to close my GS
lab in favor of a few pc's in each classroom.
Steve Jensen
sjensen@cello.gina.calstate.edu
Ah, yes, the Let's Talk bulletin board system. I remember that
one too, though I never actually ran it. Thanks for the
memories.
I'd also like to acknowledge letters this month from Mike
Wallace (M.WALLACE15) and Donald Lee (leed@sfsu.edu). Thanks,
folks!
[EOA]
[HEY]//////////////////////////////
HEY MISTER POSTMAN /
/////////////////////////////////
Is That A Letter For Me?
""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Douglas Cuff
[EDITOR.A2]
o BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS
o A2 POT-POURRI
o HOT TOPICS
o WHAT'S NEW
o THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
o MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT
>>> BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
[*] CAT 2, TOP 24 ....... Birthday favors from Apple
[*] CAT 17, TOP 4 ....... AppleWorks and the RamFAST SCSI card
[*] CAT 17, TOP 27 ....... Scantron Quality goofs on some AW 5.1 disks
[*] CAT 20, TOP 14 ....... Sequential's support for Second Sight
[*] CAT 43, TOP 15 ....... Spectrum v2.1 mini-fixes
>>> A2 POT-POURRI <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""
DECODING BINHEX ...putting out a fire with gasoline...
"""""""""""""""
Anybody wanna take a krack at deciphering a "binhex 4.0" database
document for me?
GSCii+ won't do it.
I keep telling these folks, "tab-delimited ASCii" format; but do they
listen to me? No!
...and the worst part of it all? One of these folks owned an Apple
//e up untill two years ago!
I'm getting tired of this stuff glomming up my eMail...
___(2___ "The Un-Dead Apple"
/ , _`' _\
\)|(@)m(_, Mike Brouillette / M.BROUILLET1@genie.com
~7ooood' Via: Spectrum / CoPilot - Genie's offline message manager
(M.BROUILLET1, CAT35, TOP15, MSG:226/M645;1)
>>>>> Spectrum v2.1 can decode a binhex 4.0 document. Do you have your
""""" upgrade yet?
Max
(M.JONES145, CAT35, TOP15, MSG:227/M645;1)
DESKWRITER INTERNAL FONTS Udo,
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
Once again, let me clarify this. The DeskWriters, at least in my
experience, DO have the same internal fonts built-in that the DeskJets
have. HOWEVER, the serial port is locked at 57.6K, which very few ProDOS 8
programs (well, none that I know of) support for printing. THAT is the
reason the DeskWriter does not appear to work from ProDOS 8. If you can
get the program to drive the serial port at 57.6K, you're all set!
(Please don't take this as any sort of personal attack towards you
Udo. This myth is so widespread that I've just had to restate the above
many times and it does get tiresome. I'm just trying to be as clear as
possible so the correct information starts getting spread instead.)
The other alternative is to use the DeskWriter over AppleTalk (then
you could print to slot 7), but the Apple Net Printer control panel and
8-bit Chooser only recognize Apple printers. I believe this can be fixed,
but I haven't had time to do it yet. Maybe once Facelift is out, since I
am personally quite interested in getting a DeskWriter working over AT from
a IIgs.
(M.HACKETT, CAT12, TOP8, MSG:90/M645;1)
HISTORY LESSON: RETOOLING THE FACTORY Another important reason for the
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" IIGS getting killed when it did is
that the IIGS was produced in what was arguably Apple's most modernized
production facility...and the company badly needed manufacturing space for
the PowerBook line, which was recently introduced. The IIGS became a
target because of its modern facilities, which is one reason the IIe
managed to outlive it.
(S.CAVANAUGH1, CAT28, TOP4, MSG:63/M645;1)
HTML GRAMMAR CHECKERS This looks like as good of a place as any :)
"""""""""""""""""""""
As you all may have guessed from my recent activity here, I've been
doing some work with HTML, home pages, and the WWW.
There's currently a sort of "checker" for HTML, which is a WWW site
which checks the HTML on your web page to make sure it's all legit, after
which you can put a small icon on your page with a checkmark and HTML 2.0
on it, which is like a HTML "seal of approval". I first saw this on Brian
Wells' page (nice job, btw, Brian :)
Is there a similar type of checker for Lynx? It's really important
that Apple II www sites be as lynx friendly as possible. Harold and I had
this discussion and he thinks there's a site, but couldn't come up with a
URL (he wants this info too, I think :)
Any ideas, folks?
Ryan
http://www.keystroke.net/~rsuenaga
ANSITerm and CoPilot v2.55
(R.SUENAGA1, CAT35, TOP14, MSG:112/M645;1)
>>>>> I use WebLint to validate my home page..
"""""
http://www.khoral.com/staff/neilb
(JOE.KOHN, CAT35, TOP14, MSG:113/M645;1)
>>>>> I whipped up an HTML document using a form, with checkboxes, choice
""""" (equiv of popup menus), and a few other elements. I purposly put in
some errors scattered about.
WebTech's validator picked up errors that Weblint missed, and Weblint
picked up errors that WebTech missed. (I went for a very strict HTML 2.0
validation in both cases)
Between the two however they did catch all the intentional errors
(and even a couple of unintentional ones! :)
-Harold
(HAROLD.H, CAT35, TOP14, MSG:115/M645;1)
TRACKBALL HUNTING I think you're going to find that the trackball in
""""""""""""""""" question is an 'Interex Mac 200'.
Interex tech support can be reached at: 800-513-9744
That number is listed as 'tech support only' but that number is the
main voice mail system. Hit 0 (zero) and you get their operator. :) I
would have taken that farther, but their hours are 8-5 Central Monday thru
Friday.
;) ;)
Kit (Midnight Magic, Sunday 11-1) has one of them. It's -okay- I
guess; the 'right click button' that locks the button down -is- neat, but I
don't feel it is as selectively 'pointable' as a mouse. Then again, maybe
once you get used to them.........
Paul { Don't take life too seriously, it's only a temporary situation.}
Delivered by:CoPilot and Spectrum2.0
(P.PIROSKO, CAT12, TOP32, MSG:102/M645;1)
CLARISWORKS DOCUMENTS WITH EGOED I have recently discovered that Egoed
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" can read ClarisWorks 4.0 docs without
any transferring to RTF. Egoed opened it as a Teach file, formatted and
all. I'm wondering if this can be reversed. Can Clarisworks 4.0 read a
Teach file made from a GS?
Andy
(L.MIDDLETON3, CAT33, TOP12, MSG:3/M645;1)
>>>>> I just tried to have Egoed read a CW 4 WP file and was far less
""""" successful than you. The only way I could even select the file was
"Any File as Text" and the result was generally garbage :/
However, if you have the Teach translator for the Mac from EGO
Systems, Clarisworks (and lots of other Mac apps) ought to have no problems
dealing with Teach files :)
Ryan
http://www.keystroke.net/~rsuenaga
ANSITerm and CoPilot v2.55
(R.SUENAGA1, CAT33, TOP12, MSG:4/M645;1)
LICENSING APPLE'S LOGO Well, if anybody wants to display the Apple logo
"""""""""""""""""""""" on their home page -- you're allowed to. Just
fill in a license form and download the image you want. It has to point to
www.apple.com...
I don't remember where on the Apple WWW server I found them -- but
somewheres on the www.apple.support... you're gonna find them. Look at the
most frequently asked questions, there's a question with the answer and a
URL to the right location.
Udo - ... with the IIGS into the next millennium -
(U.HUTH, CAT5, TOP3, MSG:255/M645;1)
APPLE II (TV) SIGHTING The program "Karnak on the Nile" on The Learning
"""""""""""""""""""""" Channel showed an Apple //e being used to catalog
the many stones from disassembled structures at the site. The //e did not
merely appear in the background. It was featured in a brief scene with a
restorer saying a computer was necessary to his work (he didn't mention the
Apple by name, though). Looked like he was using the Apple II composite
color monitor.
Bill Dooley
(WMD, CAT2, TOP7, MSG:405/M645;1)
>>> HOT TOPICS <<<
""""""""""""""""""
APPLEWORKS SPELL-CHECKER "5L" BUG I think I have stumbled on something
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" here, and quite frankly, I for the life
of me, just do not get it. Some history: I am starting to catagorize my
Apple II Collection, I decided to start on paperwork. With the intention
of eventually putting major portions of the list into an html table for
posting on my Apple II Information web site. That is why I chose to just
use the word processor instead of a data base file for this particular part
of it, (some of you may say, why not use the database after I describe what
lead me up to this.) I have my file boxes (Hanging folder cardboard boxes)
labeled 1-12 at this point and the folders A-Z within. The stuff is in no
particular order at this point which is why I just figured I'll make a
quick list, save it as a TAB delimited format, import it into a database
later and swap stuff around, alphabetize/catagorize it... I sure wish I
started that way and then I would have had this mess.
Here is an example what I was doing.
Name What Box/Folder
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wico Joystick Dealer Kit Hardware 1A
Titan Technologies Dealer Kit Hardware 3C
Analytical Engines Saybrook 68000 Fliers/Kit Hardware 4H
Sweetmicro Systems Dealer Kit (Mockingboard) Hardware 5L
I decided to spellcheck it so I could add some more words to my
custom dictionary... and that was the end of that.
[Cut to the end]
I after a long mess of 'WTF!?@@@>#$%' is going on here, I said.. ok,
it's choking on something... Lord knows what, no disk access had happened
yet. I ditched the (thank god for Macros) the Box/Folder catagory and it
worked. To make a long story short, 5L Locked up AppleWorks.
What a completely and utterly SILLY and stupid bug.
I give up. I thought I have seen it all. This one takes the cake.
I'm really curious, has anyone had this happen, or is my copy of
AppleWorks screwed? Is something causing this, I did use a fresh copy w/o
any Timeouts installed, same thing. That IIgs is lucky it's not in orbit.
I'll post this on comp.sys.apple2 when I get the chance, I want to
see if anyone has gone nuts on a spell check and never could figure it out.
Is there anything else besides 5L out there, what that? Why me. Whatta
waste.
The moral of the story, until this is verified, Spellcheck only
things resemble words. Leave the cryptic nonsense out of it. Or next
time, use a database.
Tony
(T.DIAZ, CAT17, TOP4, MSG:255/M645;1)
>>>>> I wasn't going to say anything here (wrt: AppleWorks v3.0 - 5.1,
""""" 5L, DMA SCSI cards and lockups in the document scan function during
spell checking), but seeing as how Bev has 'let the cat out of the bag', I
will.
As far as I have been able to tell, after an extensive amount of
trying different things, the lockup only occurs on IIgs machines, and only
when a RamFast SCSI card is installed... and it does not seem to matter if
any volume that is attached to the RamFast has been accessed or not.
I have gone thru the RamFast's firmware (which is what P8 uses) with
a -fine tooth- comb, and while it's not written as cleanly or nicely as -I-
would like to see it, I can find -NO- reason for the lockup in this
firmware. Furthermore, knowing what I know about the RamFast hardware, I
can not find a fault in that area either.
However, the spell checker in AppleWorks (incl the document scan
function, which is where the lockup occurs) has not received any serious
(any at all???) upgrading / updates since version 3.0 per some old posts in
A2 by Randy Brandt (as I recall)
I =strongly suspect= (but have NOT proved!) that the problem is
really in AppleWorks itself, and most likely related to it's use of some
6502/65C02 opcode that does not execute in quite the same manner on a
65C816 processor. (There are several of these, the majority revolve around
whether or not they wrap on page or bank boundaries. This kind of thing
-could- cause the processor to inadvertently 'bump' some addresses in the
I/O space, and if one of those addresses happens to be the one that
triggers a DMA cycle on a RamFast, well a lockup could well occur)
I do not have access to source code for this portion of AppleWorks,
and simply do not have time to disassemble this portion of the application
myself. If someone else who is =very fluent and skilled= in Apple II assy
programming is able to pick up the ball from here, well, you'd likely wind
up with a lot of kudos if you could nail down and fix this problem.
Again, as I had privately agreed with Beverly Cadieux to keep my
efforts under wraps (as she approached me privately about this matter, and
requested discression in-advance) I would not normally be noting any of it
here and now. But as it has been officially revealed by Bev what the
problem centers on, and that I've been trying to track it down (see msg
#261 this topic), I feel at this point it is not only proper, but mandatory
that I make full disclosure of things, and request the assistance of other
programming types in solving this riddle.
-Harold
(HAROLD.H, CAT17, TOP4, MSG:263/M645;1)
SPECTRUM V2.1 CHECKMARKS I used Genesys to update the status window in
"""""""""""""""""""""""" Spectrum to 2.1. However, I couldn't revise the
pstrings to include the correct checkmark. Seems like Genesys wouldn't
take a special character like Control-R. Any ideas?
Dave Stewart
Delivered by:
Spectrum 2.1 and CoPilot v2.55
(D.STEWART2, CAT43, TOP15, MSG:92/M645;1)
>>>>> I displayed the init strings in the Spectrum Phone dialog and
""""" corrected the checkmarks there. Then I copied them to the
clipboard, opened Spectrum with Foundation and pasted the correct strings.
Rather than do them one at a time I pasted them one at a time to Spectrum's
editor and then copied them both to the clipboard. When I pasted them,
first to the standard and then the high speed both strings were pasted and
I deleted the unwanted one.
I hope you can make some sense of that. I tried to be clear but it
seems pretty muddy. The short of it is: fix the checkmark with Spectrum
and copy and paste using the system clipboard.
Mark Wade
(M.WADE7, CAT43, TOP15, MSG:95/M645;1)
>>>>> John Larsen asked me if I was going to write a patcher for Spectrum
""""" v2.1 to change the incorrect resource pStrings so they showed the
correct 'Ctrl-R' tick mark.
So here it is... A simple script!
You must have the ScriptEditor and ResEdit XCMDs installed, be
running Spectrum v2.1, and point the script at a copy of Spectrum. When
the patch script has finished, move your normal copy of Spectrum into
another folder, and use the patched copy. If all is well, you can then
delete the backup copy.
Ewen (Speccie)
Delivered by: CoPilot v2.5.5 and Spectrum 2.1
DO NOT USE THIS SCRIPT ON YOUR WORKING COPY OF SPECTRUM!
# Patches the two modem Init strings in Spectrum v2.1
# *** ONLY USE THIS SCRIPT ON A COPY OF SPECTRUM ***
If not Equal "$Version" "Spectrum v2.1" then Goto Abort
Ext ResEdit 0; If Failed then Goto Abort
Ext ScriptEditor 0; If Failed then Goto Abort
Get File "Find me a COPY of Spectrum v2.1" 0 Spectrum
If Failed then Stop Script
Set Var Spectrum "$SFPrefix$Spectrum"
Clear Screen; GotoXY 30,10
Display "Working..."
Create ScriptEditor 0
Ext ResEdit 1 "$Spectrum" $$8006 $$00010062 $EditorHandle0
If Failed then Goto Abort
Ext ScriptEditor 3 0 5 5
Ext ScriptEditor 5 0 "^R" 5
Ext ResEdit 3 "$Spectrum" $$8006 $$00010062
Ext ResEdit 2 "$Spectrum" $$8006 $$00010062 $$0000 $EditorHandle0
If Failed then Goto Abort
Ext ResEdit 1 "$Spectrum" $$8006 $$00010061 $EditorHandle0
If Failed then Goto Abort
Ext ScriptEditor 3 0 5 5
Ext ScriptEditor 5 0 "^R" 5
Ext ResEdit 3 "$Spectrum" $$8006 $$00010061
Ext ResEdit 2 "$Spectrum" $$8006 $$00010061 $$0000 $EditorHandle0
If Failed then Goto Abort
Clear Screen; GotoXY 10,10
Display "Your Init strings are now looking good!"
Stop Script
# Abort
Clear Screen; GotoXY 0,10
Display "Make sure you are using a copy of Spectrum^M"
Display "and also have the ScriptEditor and ResEdit XCMDs^M"
Display "installed..."
(E.WANNOP, CAT43, TOP16, MSG:69/M645;1)
CUSTOMER AND DEVELOPER SUPPORT FROM SEQUENTIAL I was wondering if
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Sequential has ever talked
to the guy who was going to put out the Turbo Rez card about helping them
out with the firmware for the SS. I think he would be a good source and a
darn good replacement for Jawaid. Anyone have any info.
Andy
(L.MIDDLETON3, CAT20, TOP14, MSG:140/M645;1)
>>>>> I'd be stunned at Sequential having done such a thing, to be
""""" honest.
A very prominent Apple II programmer offered his services to
Sequential to work with the firmware-- =for free=. They still haven't made
a response. :/
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I've been really down on
Sequential's customer service for awhile now; I've sent them eight emails
(the same question, noting each time it was the "Nth request") and they've
flately -ignored- all of 'em. . . and I know that something is making its
way to their mailbox and the mailbox is being checked regularly--gotta love
finger.
If they don't know what the answer to my question is, that's fine;
I'd just like some acknowledgement that they're working on things.
Ryan
Who used to be a retail manager and knows the value of customer service
(R.SUENAGA1, CAT20, TOP14, MSG:141/M645;1)
>>>>> That's pretty much been my experience as well, Ryan. And I've also
""""" offered to fix the firmware, as I have a big stake in getting it
working. However, I have figured out that it is possible to patch the
firmware on the fly with an INIT (as the firmware is copied from the ROM to
RAM on the card at start up), after using a neat little trick to fix a bug
in the upload firmware routine (making use of the bug itself :-).
So, if the promised update (I was told 5 months ago that it was being
worked on) does not appear by the time Facelift is ready to go, then I'll
also put out a patcher to at least fix the bugs, and maybe rewrite a few
routines. A total rewrite is unlikely with being able to use some of the
existing code, which I obviously cannot do without Sequential's permission,
but we'll see what the next month or two brings.
(M.HACKETT, CAT20, TOP14, MSG:142/M645;1)
<<<<< What exactly is Facelift?
"""""
Andy
(L.MIDDLETON3, CAT20, TOP14, MSG:144/M645;1)
>>>>> Wait and see! :-
"""""
(M.HACKETT, CAT20, TOP14, MSG:146/M645;1)
<<<<< Just thought more people would read this here than in any other
""""" topic:
Sequential has an email tech support address: tech@sequential.com
I sent them some mail and they actually responded!! Good news indeed.
Andy
(L.MIDDLETON3, CAT20, TOP13, MSG:60/M645;1)
>>> WHAT'S NEW <<<
""""""""""""""""""
MUSIC COMPOSER v4.00 Music Composer 4.00 is now availible from Effective
"""""""""""""""""""" Software Solutions.
Music Composer is a music creating, editing and playing program for
the Apple IIGS. It is built around the MIDISynth tool. Notes can be
entered via a spreadsheet, sheet music interface or a MIDI keyboard
attached to the computer. Music Composer saves the sequence files in its
own file type and it can save files as synthLAB or Standard MIDI file type.
Music Composer can load Music Studio, Sound Smith, synthLAB and Standard
MIDI files. Music Composer can receive and transmitt all MIDI messages
including system exclusive messages. It can also be used to store system
exclusive messages sent to it. Music Composer can edit individual notes,
chords, measures or tracks
Included is a hard copy manaul and an online manual
Ordering information:
Music Composer 4.00 is availible directly from Effective software
solutions.
Effective Software Solutions
1928 E. Camelback Rd #623
Phoenix, AZ 85016-4143
USA
Pricing:
PRICE TAX SHIPPING TOTAL COST
HANDLING
Arizona 45.11 3.18 1.71 $50.00
US (Outside Arizona) 45.11 1.71 $46.82
Mexico 45.11 2.02 $47.13
Canada 45.11 1.88 $46.99
Outside North America 45.11 2.96 $48.07
Prices are in US dollars. Make payment in equivalent funds to
Effective Software Solutins.
Anyone who has paid sharware fees to Clayburn W. Juniel, III (the
writer of Music Composer) can deduct all shareware fees from the base
price. Please contact Effective Software Solutions get the total cost and
confirm what shareware you have paid for.
Phone: (602)274-6905
Email clay1@primenet.com
Clay
Effective Software Solutions Clayburn W. Juniel, III
Custom Software Design 1928 E. Camelback Rd. #623
Phone: (602)274-6905 Phoenix, AZ 85016-4143 USA
Fax: (602)274-6851
Internet: clay1@primenet.com WWW: http://www.primenet.com/~clay1
c.juniel@genie.com FTP: ftp.primenet.com users/c/clay1
(C.JUNIEL, CAT6, TOP19, MSG:148/M645;1)
EGO SYSTEMS CUTS BACK A BIT October 1, 1996 - For Immediate Release
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""
EGO Systems Announces New Hours, Disconnects Toll-Free Order Line
As many of you are no doubt aware, the Apple II and IIGS market is
still shrinking. As a result of that shrinkage, I've been forced to make
some hard decisions about EGO Systems and its future as an Apple II vendor.
But first, here's a quick summary of why I'm making this announcement
today.
For the past 7 years, the support of the Apple II/IIGS and Macintosh
has been my full-time job. However, business has gotten so bad over the
last few months that I've been forced to take part-time employment to pay
my share of the bills here at the old EGO Systems homestead. Sadly, that
part-time employment is rapidly becoming my main source of income.
Clearly, the time has come to make some tough decisions. Here they
are:
o - First and foremost, EGO Systems is NOT (I repeat NOT) going out
of business! So if anyone tells you that we are (or have), smack
them. I'll continue to offer Apple II/IIGS, Mac and Newton
hardware and software for as long as I possibly can.
o - EGO Systems will no longer accept purchase orders or invoices.
o - Effective immediately (the end of the October 1, 1996 business
day), the toll-free order line will no longer be in service. I
REALLY did not want to do this, but, over the last few months, the
toll-free line has become a HUGE money drain. (More folks were
using the toll-free line for questions [usually about products
from other companies] than for actual orders.) By disconnecting
the toll-free line, I hope to save about $1,200 a year, which
should allow me to stay in business for quite a while longer.
Orders can still be placed via our voice phone line
(423-843-1775), our Fax line (423-843-0661) or via e-mail
(diz@chattanooga.net).
o - Effective immediately, EGO Systems will be closed on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays. (This is to better accommodate my
part-time employment.) EGO Systems will be open its normal hours
on Tuesdays and Thursdays (9 am to 5 pm Eastern Time). Because of
this I strongly encourage everyone to mail, Fax or e-mail any
orders. You can also call and leave a message. I WILL call you
back (assuming you leave a daytime phone number), but it will be
on a Tuesday or Thursday!
o - Even though EGO Systems is now open on Tuesdays and Thursdays
only, all orders for in stock items will still ship no later than
the next business day after we get the order. For example, if you
FAX or e-mail us an order on Monday, it WILL ship out on Tuesday
morning. Or, if you FAX or e-mail us an order on Sunday, it WILL
ship out on Monday morning. (The only exception to this rule is
that orders we receive on Saturday will ship out on Monday. This
is only because the Post Office is closed on Sunday.) Orders
placed on Tuesday or Thursday before 10 A.M. will ship the same
day!
o - If you haven't noticed yet, the KansasFest 1996 video is LATE.
This is another unfortunate side effect of my part-time
employment. But, we WILL be finishing and selling the video just
as soon as possible. The good news here is that the KansasFest
1996 video will be LONG, at least three hours worth of stuff...
maybe more!
o - If you have a link to the EGO Systems home page
(http://www.hypermall.com/ego/index.html) on your web page, please
check to see if the toll-free number is listed on your page. If
it is, please remove the toll-free number (but keep the link to
our page!).
These last few points do not really have anything to do with any of
the above, but since I was doing a press release anyway, it seemed like a
good time to announce them...
o - Sales tax in our part of Tennessee has gone up another half-cent.
So if you live in Tennessee and place an order with us, be sure
to include 8.25% sales tax.
o - Due to the high cost of CD-R disks, I'm having to raise the
prices of the Script Central and Studio City/Stack Central
CD-ROM's. Effective immediately the new prices are:
Script Central CD-ROM: $89.95
Studio City/Stack Central CD-ROM: $109.95
Bundle Price: $180 (Save $19.90)
o - Finally, if you are mentioning EGO Systems in a newsletter or on
the Internet, here is an "official" contact information blurb you
can use:
--cut here--
How To Contact EGO Systems
EGO Systems is open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
However, our FAX line is available 24 hours a day, and we check e-mail for
orders and inquiries daily. We are also closed on weekends and most major
holidays. You can use one of the following methods to contact us:
Snail Mail
EGO Systems
7918 Cove Ridge Road
Hixson, TN
37343-1808
USA
Phone 423-843-1775
Orders/Inquiries/technical support (Tuesdays and Thursdays only)
423-843-0661 FAX - 24 hours a day
e-mail: diz@chattanooga.net
World Wide Web: http://www.hypermall.com/ego/index.html
(All payments must be in U.S. funds. Tennessee residents must add
8.25% sales tax. For your protection, we recommend that you call or FAX us
with your credit card orders.)
--cut here--
Well, that's it. I really didn't want to have to make ANY of these
changes, but I've gotta pay my bills and the only other alternative was to
shut down completely and take a full-time job for "da man." :-)
Thanks again for all your support over the past 7 years. Hopefully,
with these changes in place I can keep supporting the Apple II for seven
more years!
Steven W. Disbrow
EGO Systems
(DIZ, CAT33, TOP2, MSG:24/M645;1)
GSAUG VIDEOTAPE FEATURES RARITIES To elaborate a little bit on Matt
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Pearce's posting...
In mid-June, 1996, the GravenStein Apple User Group hosted a
demonstration of the Mark Twain IIGS (aka, the ROM4) prototype computer.
The event was captured on videotape, and that 96 minute VHS video is now
available _only_ from the GravenStein Apple User Group. It's available in
both NTSC and PAL format.
The video is hosted by Joe Kohn, the Vice President of GravenStein
and the Publisher of Shareware Solutions II.
Since the video is about a computer that doesn't officially exist, it
seemed appropriate at the time to use that non-existant computer to show
off some non-existant IIGS software...such as Brutal Deluxe's System 6.0.2
and Wolfenstein 3-D.
System 6.0.2 was supplied by Brutal Deluxe and Wolf 3-D was supplied
by the author of the program. The Wolf 3-D Easter Eggs, of course, were
supplied by Burger Bill Heineman. The Mark Twain was supplied by Joe Kohn.
Heckling was supplied by The Lovely Shiva ;-)
In many ways, the video parallels the article about the Mark Twain
that appeared in Shareware Solutions II. Actually, I think you can say
that the article served as an informal script for the video.
GravenStein Apple User Group is a large Northern California user
group, and all proceeds from the sales of the video will benefit
GravenStein's ailing treasury.
The tape is available for $20 if sent to a US address, or $25 for
international orders.
Please specify if you want the video in NTSC (US) or PAL (European)
format.
Send check or money order (US funds) made payable to GSAUG to:
GravenStein Apple Users Group
C/O Mark Twain sales
Post Office Box 964
Petaluma, CA 94953-0964
(JOE.KOHN, CAT4, TOP42, MSG:7/M645;1)
[You can also visit "http://www.crl.com/~mpearce/GSAUG/Apple.html"--DGC]
<<<<< Brutal Deluxe lost the System 6.0.2 source code when their hard
""""" drive crashed. So, sad as it is to say, the demo of System 6.0.2
found on the Mark Twain demo tape will be the closest the Apple IIGS world
will ever get to seeing System 6.0.2.
Joe
(JOE.KOHN, CAT7, TOP4, MSG:48/M645;1)
!HELP! NDA AVAILABLE FREE The !Help! NDA that was shipped with Spectrum
""""""""""""""""""""""""" 2.1 is now available for downloading on my Web
Site:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/
The Help.NDA archive may be freely distributed with the compliments
of SevenHills Solutions Specialists, provided it remains intact in its
original format.
The !Help! NDA is a universal Help and Information System for the
IIgs. It can be used to build customised Help systems for any desktop
application.
Full details of the Spectrum v2.1 update are also available on this
Web Site.
Ewen (Speccie)
Delivered by: CoPilot v2.5.5 and Spectrum 2.1
(E.WANNOP, CAT43, TOP2, MSG:134/M645;1)
>>>>> I downloaded the !Help! NDA and I found it very easy to set up..
"""""
BUT - If I open the !Help! NDA, close it, and then try to launch a P8
program, I get:
____________________________________________
| Sorry, System error $0201 occurred while |
| trying to run the next |
| application. |
| |
| Restart |
|__________________________________________|
I have verified this both with the CoPilot launcher and with
AppleWorks 5.1. I was hoping to use !Help! to keep Genie topic, library,
and index lists, but this appears to be self-defeating. It isn't 100% of
the time with AppleWorks (or I did something different in !Help!).
Drat!
Don V. Zahniser
Delivered by CoPilot for ANSITerm
(D.ZAHNISER, CAT43, TOP2, MSG:136/M645;1)
>>> THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
THE PAST... Last week, I took a day off from the SSII mailing to go visit
""""""""""" an engineer who works for Apple. He was there during the
hey-day of the Apple II. He also designed a number of 3rd party Apple II
peripherials, and he wrote for many Apple II magazines during the early
days.
We discussed the possibility of a new column for Shareware Solutions
II...a sort of Apple II history column...written from the perspective of an
insider who saw it all.
How's that sound?
I ask because of some of the comments made about the Mark Twain
article.
After all, he and I discussed him writing about other Apple II
prototypes that never saw the light of day. Yet, after reading the
comments, I wonder if that would be enjoyable reading, or whether it would
be like "rubbing salt into the wounds" because he'd tell us of things that
could have been.
I'd really appreciate your input.
Joe
(JOE.KOHN, CAT28, TOP4, MSG:54/M645;1)
...AND THE FUTURE: LemminGS Ohmigosh!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
I have just seen the future of Apple IIGS gaming, and I'm completely
blown away!
"Brutal Deluxe's LemminGS" has just recently entered beta-test phase,
and although there's still some work that needs to be done on the game, the
latest version is simply incredible. Heck...it's more than just "simply
incredible"...it's fabulous, it's wonderful, it's a work of art, it's one
of the best GS games I've ever had the pleasure of playing!!
I have a feeling that a lot of you are going to have some late nights
soon, basking in the glow of the phosphor LemminGS. In fact, I think the
beta test team is already complaining that they're now getting even less
sleep than they did at Kfest.
I have a feeling that the long wait will soon be over. Watch
out...the LemminGS are coming! Catch up on your sleep now, while you still
can.
(JOE.KOHN, CAT28, TOP4, MSG:103/M645;1)
>>> MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
Category 2, Topic 7
Message 71 Mon Sep 30, 1996
QUALITY [RTC Mgr/Gena] at 20:54 EDT
Tony Morales emailed this to me and asked me to post it on Genie. We
will sorely miss his talents!
Dear Apple II User,
I regret to inform you that effective October 1, 1996, I
will no longer be developing Apple II software. This decision
was not made overnight. As college, and life in general, began to
consume more and more of my spare time, it became increasingly
difficult to write new code. I intend to continue using my Apple
IIgs for many things, just not software development.
As a final software contribution to the Apple II community,
I have decided to release the source code to a number of Apple II
programs I have written. It is my hope that some upcoming Apple
II enthusiast will find this code valuable in creating software
for this great machine. You can download any of this source code
from my WWW site at, http://www.best.com/~hexman.
I would like to take a minute to thank everyone who has
contacted me with comments and/or suggestions regarding my
software. Your support has been greatly appreciated. Feel free
to keep in touch. You can E-mail me at, hexman@best.com.
For those who might be interested, I will continue to write
software for other computer platforms as I pursue my goal of
earning a BA in Computer Science. I will update and maintain my
home page, including all existing Apple II areas. This is how I
plan to offer support to the users of the one computer that
started it all for me.
The Apple II definitely has a few years left in it. I hope
all II users can find a way to work together with one another, to
make the II an even better machine.
Tony Morales Now just a regular Apple II user
http://www.best.com/~hexman
[NOTE: When I tried to visit this site, I always got the message "Access
forbidden due to file permissions on server". I've reported this to Tony
Morales.--DGC]
[*][*][*]
While on Genie, do you spend most of your time downloading files?
If so, you may be missing out some excellent information in the Bulletin
Board area. The messages listed above only scratch the surface of
what's available and waiting for you in the bulletin board area.
If you are serious about your Apple II, the GenieLamp staff strongly
urge you to give the bulletin board area a try. There are literally
thousands of messages posted from people like you from all over the
world.
[EOA]
[FUN]//////////////////////////////
PUZZLE FUN /
/////////////////////////////////
by Douglas Cuff
[D.CUFF]
>>> WHO CALLS GENIE? <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""
This month, we present a special logic puzzle for A2 RoundTable
users. Any resemblance to any person, whether living or dead, is entirely
coincidental. Well, mostly.
There are five houses, each of a different color and inhabited by
five people who have special hardware, who subscribe to different
magazines, and who call different telecommunications providers.
1. Pat lives in the yellow house.
2. Sarah calls Prodigy.
3. The 28.8 modem is used in the blue house.
4. Dave uses a SecondSight video card.
5. The blue house is immediately to the right (your right) of the
green house.
6. The GenieLamp A2 reader calls Delphi. (Incredible as that
sounds. Hmm, this person must have picked up their copy somewhere
on the Internet.)
7. Juiced.GS is read in the brown house.
8. The laser printer user lives in the middle house.
9. Cindy lives in the first house on the left.
10. The Shareware Solutions II subscriber lives in the house next to
the person who calls CompuServe.
11. Juiced.GS is read in the house next to the house where the
America Online caller lives.
12. The Apple Blossom reader uses an Floptical drive.
13. Hugh subscribes to The AppleWorks Gazette.
14. Cindy lives next to the red house.
[*][*][*]
Now, on the basis of what you've been told above:
o Who owns the CD-ROM?
o And who calls Genie?
You'll find the answers in this month's edition, just after the LOG
OFF column. We know you don't usually read that section, so we thought
that would be the safest.
[EOA]
[PDQ]//////////////////////////////
PD_QUICKVIEW /
/////////////////////////////////
Yours For The Asking
""""""""""""""""""""
by Douglas Cuff
[D.CUFF]
Program Name: Sorry
Filename: SORRY.BXY
Program Number: 27919
File Size: 45,824 bytes
Program Type: word game
Author: Russell Nielson
Version Reviewed: 1.0
File Type: freeware
FROM THE AUTHOR Sorry is a word guessing game. A word or phrase is
""""""""""""""" displayed on the screen as a series of underlines. Each
underline represents a letter, and spaces between them indicate separate
words. You will guess letters one at a time until you solve the puzzle or
you lose the game. There is no difference between consonants and vowels,
so guessing vowels first is a good way to get started.
There are two modes of play, a one player game and a two player game.
During a one player game you will try and solve the puzzle without
mis-guessing more than four times. Each time you guess incorrectly, you
will spell a letter in "SORRY". When you spell the whole word, the game is
over. A game is made up of five rounds of play. If you make it through
all five rounds then you win the game and are awarded bonus points.
During a two player game, players will alternate turns. Each player
will continue to guess until they are wrong, then control passes to their
opponent. When you start a two player game you are asked if you want to
play to a predetermined score which is set at 1,000 points. If not, you
have the option to enter a new score to play to. A two player game is over
once a puzzle is solved and one of the players has a score equal to or
greater than the number of points entered before the game started.
Scoring is based on how many correct guesses you can get in a row.
Each subsequent correct guess is worth ten more points than the previous
value. In other words, your first correct guess is worth 10 points, your
second is worth 20, your third is worth 30, etc. The better you do the
higher your score will be. After a one player game, you have the
opportunity to make the high scores list, if your score is good enough.
During a two player game, the winner is displayed and scores are not added
to the high scores list.
Word Lists The words are arranged in word lists called databases. You
'''''''''' are allowed nine different word databases at one time. These
databases are maintained through a maintenance program that you can access
with option 6 on the menu. This program will allow you to choose a
database then view, add, delete or sort the words. You can create new
databases and delete current ones.
To choose the active database select option 5 from the menu and you
will be presented with a list of the current databases on the disk.
Choosing one will make it active, meaning that all words used in the game
will be taken from the active database. The words chosen for a game are
completely random.
[*][*][*]
. __
(^) <^> /~ ~\
\-=======_/"\_======-/ \)
PD_Q RATING "\. 1 ./"
""""""""""" "\._ _ _./"
. __ (_____) . __
(^) <^> /~ ~\ (^) <^> /~ ~\
\-=======_/"\_======-/ \) \-=======_/"\_======-/ \)
"\. 2 ./" "\. 3 ./"
"\._ _ _./" "\._ _ _./"
(_____) (_____)
__
(^) <^>
/~ ~\
\-=======_/"\_======-/ \)
"\. 4 ./"
"\._ _ _./"
(_____)
FOUR LAMPS (1-5)
PD_Q COMMENTS As the author makes clear, Sorry is a word guessing game,
""""""""""""" similar in many respects to Hangman. (It should not be
confused with Sorry!, the Parker Brothers board game.) Although the game
is not innovative, it is fun to play, for two main reasons.
First of these is that the implementation is top-notch. Sound is
well implemented used. The menus are attractive--well designed and laid
out, attractive fonts are used, and a good use of the limited hi-res
colors. Eager enthusiasts will even eventually encounter an Easter egg.
The game has a "Softdisk" feel--and let me assure, that's meant as a
compliment. I've never been a big fan of the diskazine, but I think they
know a thing or two about design.
Unfortunately, that same "Softdisk feel" occasionally comes across in
the user interface, which would be my one complaint about the game. For
example, when you're changing the word list, you press a number to select a
list and then Escape to confirm the choice. Fortunately, this is a small
irritant and doesn't affect actual game play. If Nielson ever revises the
game, I hope he'll alter the game screen slightly to include a window for
the round number. Currently, you're told the round number only at the
beginning of a round, and in the excitement of play, you may forget how
many more rounds it will take to win. Again, just a minor problem.
The second reason Nielson's Sorry is worth a look is that it comes
with 900 words and phrases for you to guess (spread across six categories).
That will make it fun to play without constant repetition. You can make
the word lists last even longer simply by toggling the option to reveal the
solution if you don't win. Finally, there's a sensible program to let you
add to the existing word lists, or create your own word lists. Data is
under-appreciated--having lots of it on hand makes for better games, here.
I'm delighted to report that Sorry will run on any Apple II. There
simply isn't much 8-bit software being developed these days, so it's great
when a slick production like this one comes along.
SUMMING UP The implementation of Sorry is an absolute delight. The only
"""""""""" reason it doesn't earn the top rating is because the game
itself could either be considered old hat or an old favorite. I recommend
you download it yourself and give it a try. You won't regret it.
RATING SYSTEM
"""""""""""""
5 LAMPS.........What? You haven't downloaded this program YET?
4 LAMPS.........Innovative or feature rich, take a look!
3 LAMPS.........Good execution, stable program.
2 LAMPS.........Gets the job done.
1 LAMP..........A marginal download.
0 ..............GenieLamp Turkey Award!
[EOA]
[LIB]//////////////////////////////
THE ONLINE LIBRARY /
/////////////////////////////////
by Douglas Cuff
[D.CUFF]
>>> GenieLamp A2 BACK ISSUES <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
As many of you know, GenieLamp A2 lost its home in the middle of July
1996, when the DigiPub RoundTable was closed. DigiPub was the repository
for all GenieLamp back issues.
In September, with the help of the A2 RoundTable library staff, I
managed to ensure that the 52 back issues were not lost by transferring
them to the A2 Library. The back issues, running from April 1992 to July
1996, are available in two editions:
o a text file packed with ShrinkIt; and
o a text file _with linefeeds_, unpacked.
The latter edition should be of most interest to readers who no longer use
an Apple II and therefore can't run ShrinkIt on their computers.
Back issues since April 1994 are also available in AppleWorks word
processor format. Back issues since March 1996 are available in HyperCard
and HyperStudio stack formats. These files have been in the A2 RoundTable
library for some time now, and are not new arrivals.
Here's a chart to help you find the back issues in their new home:
INDIVIDUAL BACK ISSUES
""""""""""""""""""""""
Edition Date Vol # ShrinkIt ASCII AWP HyperCard HyperStudio
'''''''' ''''''''''' ''' ' '''''''' ''''' ''''' ''''''''' '''''''''''
A2/A2Pro 1 Apr 1992 1 1 27746 27747
A2/A2Pro 1 May 1992 1 2 27748 27749
A2/A2Pro 1 Jun 1992 1 3 27750 22751 19034
A2/A2Pro 1 Jul 1992 1 4 27752 22753 19034
A2/A2Pro 1 Aug 1992 1 5 27754 27755
A2/A2Pro 1 Sep 1992 1 6 27756 27757
A2/A2Pro 1 Oct 1992 1 7 27758 27759
A2/A2Pro 1 Nov 1992 1 8 27760 27761
A2/A2Pro 1 Dec 1992 1 9 27762 27763
A2/A2Pro 1 Jan 1993 2 10 27764 27765
A2 1 Feb 1993 2 11 27766 27767 <--- GenieLamp A2Pro starts
A2 1 Mar 1993 2 12 27768 27769 as separate magazine
A2 1 Apr 1993 2 13 27770 27771
A2 1 May 1993 2 14 27772 27773
A2 15 May 1993 2 15 27774 27775 <--- Sorry, no June 1993 issue
A2 1 Jul 1993 2 16 27776 27777
A2 1 Aug 1993 2 17 27778 27779 <--- My first issue as
A2 1 Sep 1993 2 18 27780 27781 editor :-)
A2 1 Oct 1993 2 19 27782 27783
A2 1 Nov 1993 2 20 27784 27785
A2 1 Dec 1993 2 21 27786 27787
A2 1 Jan 1994 2 22 27788 27789
A2 1 Feb 1994 3 23 27790 27791
A2 1 Mar 1994 3 24 27792 27793
A2 1 Apr 1994 3 25 27794 27795 22550 <-- AppleWorks editions
A2 1 May 1994 3 26 27796 27797 22645 start
A2 1 Jun 1994 3 27 27798 27799 22812
A2 1 Jul 1994 3 28 27800 27801 22999
A2 1 Aug 1994 3 29 27802 27803 23088
A2 1 Sep 1994 3 30 27804 27805 23250
A2 1 Oct 1994 3 31 27806 27807 23422
A2 1 Nov 1994 3 32 27808 27809 23544
A2 1 Dec 1994 3 33 27810 27811 23656
A2 1 Jan 1995 4 34 27812 27813 23840
A2 1 Feb 1995 4 35 27814 27815 24012
A2 1 Mar 1995 4 36 27816 27817 24277
A2 1 Apr 1995 4 37 27818 27819 24647
A2 1 May 1995 4 38 27820 27821 24832
A2 1 Jun 1995 4 39 27822 27823 25099
A2 1 Jul 1995 4 40 27824 27825 25247
A2 1 Aug 1995 4 41 27826 27827 25366
A2 1 Sep 1995 4 42 27828 27829 25554
A2 1 Oct 1995 4 43 27830 27831 25769
A2 1 Nov 1995 4 44 27832 27833 25968
A2 1 Dec 1995 4 45 27834 27835 26102
A2 1 Jan 1996 5 46 27836 27837 26334
A2 1 Feb 1996 5 47 27838 27839 26464
A2 1 Mar 1996 5 48 27840 27841 26697 26698 26752
A2 1 Apr 1996 5 49 27842 27843 26938 26939 26940
A2 1 May 1996 5 50 27844 27845 27129 27130 27131
A2 1 Jun 1996 5 51 27846 27847 27292 27323 27294
A2 1 Jul 1996 5 52 27848 27849 27441 27442 27443
A2 1 Aug 1996 5 53 27523 27524 27520 27521 27522
A2 1 Sep 1996 5 54 27744 27745 27739 27742 27743
A2 1 Oct 1996 5 55 27909 27910 27906 27907 27908
BACK ISSUE DIGESTS I've also uploaded yearly digests of GEnieLamp A2 to
"""""""""""""""""" the library:
Year File number
''''''''''' '''''''''''
1992 digest 27912
1993 digest 27913
1994 digest 27914
1995 digest 27916
These are all archives of text files. These digests are great for
those of you who want to have the entire print run. (Note that file #27915
is not part of the GEnieLamp A2 digest collection.) Only the first year
can be downloaded to a 3.5" disk--I suspect this is because there were only
9 issues in GEnieLamp A2's first year.
In December 1996, I will upload a GenieLamp A2 digest for 1996. (It
was in 1996 that GEnieLamp became GenieLamp.)
Current issues of GenieLamp A2 continue to be available in the A2
RoundTable. If you know someone who used to look for GenieLamp A2 by
visiting page 645;9 or page 515, please let them know where to find
GenieLamp A2!
[EOA]
[BAN]//////////////////////////////
FILE BANDWAGON /
/////////////////////////////////
Top 10 Files for September
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Douglas Cuff
[D.CUFF]
This feature lists the ten most popular files for the month. To give
files a chance to seek their own levels, no files will be added to the list
until they've been in place at least a month. This month, we look at the
files uploaded 1-30 September 1996.
This isn't the Academy Awards ceremony, folks; it's more like the
People's Choice Awards (both of which are trademarked, by the way). The
Top 10 doesn't necessarily tell you what's new and interesting--what files
_you_ might find interesting--it simply tells you what files have been
downloaded a lot--what other people found interesting!
This month, GenieLamp A2 occupies four spots on the list, but we're
just counting that one file. We hope this explains why there are 13 files
on the Top 10 list.
File # Filename Bytes DLs Short description
------ --------------- ------ --- -------------------------------------
27736 COOLWRITER3.BXY 39936 100 CoolWriter GS 3.0 Word Processor
27696 DJ.STACK.BXY 149248 93 Hyperstudio stack abou HP inkjets!
27744 ALMP9609.BXY 45952 52 GenieLamp A2, Sep. 1996 (text)
27731 CURLYISER.BXY 3200 51 Curlyises quotes - GWIII extra
27874 HCWORD20.BXY 5508 43 HC.Word 2.0--HTML creator
27739 ALMP9609.AW.BXY 50560 40 GenieLamp A2, Sep. 1996 (AppleWorks)
27737 PIX.WHIZ2.1.BXY 63404 39 New Print Shop color pix editor
27853 QND.HTML.BXY 16896 38 HTML page initiator in BASIC
27743 ALMP9609.HS.BXY 73856 37 GenieLamp A2, Sep. 1996 (HyprStudio)
27725 A2.LIB.ADB.BXY 541000 37 ADB Index of entire A2 Library
27726 A2.LIB.INFO.TXT 7856 35 Description of A2 Library Indexes
27742 ALMP9609.HC.BXY 61568 34 GenieLamp A2, Sep. 1996 (HyperCard)
27868 OCT96DESK.BXY 145660 32 Desktop background INIs for Oct. 96.
COOLWRITER3.BXY CoolWriter GS v3.0 by Rolf Braun is a stand-alone text
""""""""""""""" editor/word processor. New to this version are Insert
Data and Insert Time, Add or Strip Line Feeds, Proportional Jumps
(Open-Apple-9 to jump to the end; Open-Apple-0 [not 1] to jump to the
start, and so on), printing from the Finder, and support for Softdisk Issue
Text (load and save, making it the only freeware package to support
saving). Freeware.
DJ.STACK.BXY This HyperStudio stack by Ryan Suenaga explains which
"""""""""""" Hewlett-Packard DeskJet (and DeskWriter) printers can be
connected to an Apple II, how to connect them, and how to get them to work
with AppleWorks. The section on Frequently Asked Questions is particularly
helpful. Freeware.
ALMP9609.BXY The September 1996 issue of GenieLamp A2, in text file
"""""""""""" format. Features the first installment in Peter Brickell's
REAL WORLD APPLE column about using your Apple II to get information from
and pass information to other devices, a look at must-have programs for the
new Apple IIgs user, and a song parody from the Apple II historian himself,
Dr. Steven Weyhrich. Freeware when distributed intact.
CURLYISER.BXY Curlyiser by Richard Bennett is a GraphicWriter III 2.0
""""""""""""" extra which converts ASCII single and double quotes to
appropriate left and right, single and double curly quotes. Freeware.
HCWORD20.BXY HC.Word v2.0 by Steve Cavanaugh is a simple word processor
"""""""""""" that's a HyperCard IIgs stack. It allows you to create a
New document, Open an existing document, Save your document, or Print your
document. You can also choose which font (one only) you want your document
displayed in and choose from text that is left-, center-, or
right-justified. This new version of the stack features two new
options--Find, which searches for words or characters, and HTML, which
produces an HTML file from your document. You are prompted for a title for
your document and HC.Word handles the rest. Freeware.
ALMP9609.AW.BXY The September 1996 issue of GenieLamp A2, in AppleWorks
""""""""""""""" word processor format. Features the first installment in
Peter Brickell's REAL WORLD APPLE column about using your Apple II to get
information from and pass information to other devices, a look at must-have
programs for the new Apple IIgs user, and a song parody from the Apple II
historian himself, Dr. Steven Weyhrich. Freeware when distributed intact.
PIX.WHIZ2.1.BXY Pix Whiz v2.1 by Geraldine Wright allows you to create
""""""""""""""" and edit colorful New Print Shop style graphics. New in
this version are an "undo last change" command and increased speed for most
graphics operations. Freeware.
QND.HTML.BXY Q'n'D HTML page builder by Clark Hugh Stiles is an Appleoft
"""""""""""" BASIC program that lets you create a very simple HTML
document. It prompts you for such things as the title of the document, the
header, your E-mail address, the date of the document, and lets you choose
a GIF graphic for a background. There's no way to view your creation with
this program, but it's cheaper than a copy of _HTML for Dummies_.
Shareware ($1).
ALMP9609.HS.BXY The September 1996 issue of GenieLamp A2 in a HyperStudio
""""""""""""""" stack. Features the first installment in Peter
Brickell's REAL WORLD APPLE column about using your Apple II to get
information from and pass information to other devices, a look at must-have
programs for the new Apple IIgs user, and a song parody from the Apple II
historian himself, Dr. Steven Weyhrich. Freeware when distributed intact.
A2.LIB.ADB.BXY A huge AppleWorks 3.0 data base file--11,807 records, and
"""""""""""""" it consumes 1500K of desktop space on an Apple IIgs with 4
megabytes of RAM. The entire A2 Library holdings in one file! Requires a
hard drive. Accelerated IIgs with RamFAST SCSI card recommended. The A2
Library file listings are maintained by Tom Zuchowski. Freeware.
A2.LIB.INFO.TXT Your introduction to the A2 Library index files by Tom
""""""""""""""" Zuchowski. Will help you decide which indices to
download, and explains how they're organized. Freeware.
ALMP9609.HC.BXY The September 1996 issue of GenieLamp A2 in a HyperCard
""""""""""""""" IIgs stack. Features the first installment in Peter
Brickell's REAL WORLD APPLE column about using your Apple II to get
information from and pass information to other devices, a look at must-have
programs for the new Apple IIgs user, and a song parody from the Apple II
historian himself, Dr. Steven Weyhrich. Freeware when distributed intact.
OCT96DESK.BXY These 20 files from Pat Kern are .INI format, meaning they
""""""""""""" can be used to create new background for IIgs desktop
programs. All Freeware.
o BRICKS.INI: Red brick wall, with bricks of varying sizes
(heights).
o BRICKS.OCT.INI: The same red brick wall as above, plus a calendar
for October 1996.
o DECO1.INI: This art deco style design features an ornate circle
and colored horizontal lines and bars.
o DECO1.OCT.INI: Same art deco design as above, plus a calendar for
October 1996.
o DOTS.INI: This one could also be named "Confetti"--various small
colorful circles, squares, diamonds, and hearts on a dark blue
background. In my opinion, one of the top three most attractive
designs in this archive.
o DOTS.OCT.INI: Same confetti pattern as above, plus a calendar for
October 1996.
o FTILE.INI: A swirling pattern that looks like some sort of cross
between moire and paisley.
o FTILE.OCT.INI: Same moire/paisley patterns as above, plus a
calendar for October 1996.
o MYCOMPUTER.INI: Letter-intensive design reads: "This computer is
my personal property. If you mess with it, death will be your
reward."
o MYCOMPUTER3.IN: Smaller version of above, with the rightmost
third of the screen left blank (allowing plenty of room for disk
icons in the Finder).
o SCHOOLDZ.INI: A row of 8 old-fashioned schoolhouses at the bottom
of the screen, on a dark blue background. In my opinion, one of
the top three most attractive designs in this archive.
o SCRCRD.INI: A baseball scorecard--black and white line drawing.
o SWISS.INI: This bold, colorful design of blue and pink looks a
bit like Swiss cheese, I suppose--but to me it looks as though
someone took a pink metal cheese grater and shone blue light
through its round holes. In my opinion, one of the top three most
attractive designs in this archive.
o SWISS.OCT.INI: Same blue circles on a pink background as above,
plus a calendar for October 1996.
o WEB.INI: Roughly six spider webs in a tile-like pattern--white
webs on a black background.
o WEB2.INI: One large spider web--black on white. It's been
enlarged just a bit past its resolution, making it a little chunky.
o WEB3.INI: Roughly six spider webs, tiled, but black webs on white
this time--inverse of WEB.INI.
o WEB4.INI: The large spider web from WEB2.INI is back--a white web
on an orange back.
o WEB4.OCT.INI: Same large spider web as above, plus a calendar for
October 1996.
o WINJOKE.INI: A Windows desktop, with program manager and file
manager windows open, but the IIgs resolution isn't really up to
displaying the fine details.
[EOA]
[RWA]//////////////////////////////
THE REAL WORLD APPLE /
/////////////////////////////////
Connecting to the World Outside
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Peter C. Brickell
[P.BRICKELL]
>>> PART 3a: MEASURING TEMPERATURE <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
In this installment, we will be looking at the basics of measuring
temperature with the Apple II. Apple IIc owners will be pleased to know
that this interfacing technique will work with their computers.
The approach to temperature measurements that I will describe is
based on the Apple paddle line inputs of the game port. These can be
checked in a limited way from BASIC, with the PDL() command or more
accurately with a machine language routine. A basic understanding of the
Apple paddle circuits is needed before we can use them for our own
purposes. More information on the paddles can be found in the "Apple II
Reference Manual" or "Chaos in the Laboratory" (see references at the end
of this article).
The paddles themselves control variable resistors inside the paddle
or joystick. These variable resistors are also called potentiometers or
just "pots" for short. One side of the pot is connected to the Apple's +5V
line, and the other side of the pot is connected to the PDL line
corresponding to the particular paddle in use. For joystick users, the two
paddle potentiometers are connected to the stick in such a manner that one
paddle senses the "vertical" position of the stick and one senses the
"horizontal" position of the stick. Otherwise the paddles and joystick are
identical in the way they function.
Monitoring the position of a paddle is done by determining the
resistance of the pot at any given moment. The pot's resistance changes as
the paddle or joystick is moved. Put another way, the resistance of the
pot tells the Apple what the position of the paddle or joystick is. When
you use the BASIC statement X = PDL(0), X will contain a value between 0
and 255 which is proportional to the resistance of that paddle's pot (at
the moment the command is executed).
What follows is a simplified description of how the paddle circuits
work to produce this resistance measurement. It is not essential to know
this in order to build a temperature measuring device for the Apple, but I
would be remiss if I didn't provide some underlying theory.
The PDL connections on the game port (pin 6, 10, 7, 11 on the 16 pin
game I/O connector for PDL 0, 1, 2,3 respectively) are connected to the
positive terminal of a capacitor and to a voltage sensing circuit inside
the Apple (see diagram below). The other side of the capacitor and the
sensing circuit are grounded.
+5V -----------------------|
|
>
>
> <----
POTENTIOMETER --> > |
in paddle or > |
joystick |
(150k ohm) |
----------
|
\ | |
GND ----------)|---------|
/ | |
0.022uF CAPACITOR |
|
|
GND --[SENSING CIRCUIT]--|
The paddle measuring process begins when the Apple's sensing circuit
discharges the capacitor to ground. Once this is complete, the Apple
starts a timing/counting sequence. At the same time, current flows from
the +5V line, through the variable resistor and into the discharged
capacitor (cap). The cap begins to store the current entering it and the
voltage across it begins to rise. This also causes the voltage at the
input to the sensing circuit to rise. Eventually, the voltage reaches a
specified level (3.3V) which triggers the sensing circuit. This stops the
Apple's timing sequence. This whole process is repeated each time the
paddle routine is accessed, either from BASIC or from machine language.
The amount of time it takes for the capacitor to charge up to the
trigger voltage is determined by the amount of resistance presented by the
variable resistor. That is, the higher the resistance setting, the slower
the cap charges, and the longer it takes for the voltage to reach the
trigger level. In this case, the Apple's timing routine reaches a high
count. The lower the resistance in the paddle circuit, the faster the cap
charges, and a shorter time passes before the cap charges to the trigger
voltage. The Apple's timing routine will produce a lower count in this
case.
The built-in paddle monitoring routines in the Apple produce a number
between 0 and 255 which is proportional to the timing count. From the last
paragraph, you can see that this is also proportional to the resistance of
the paddle circuit (as determined by the setting of the paddle's pot).
What we now have is a way of measuring electrical resistance in a circuit
connected between the paddle and +5V lines of the Apple's game port.
Now, suppose we substitute a special temperature sensitive resistor
for the mechanically variable one inside the joystick or paddle. This
resistor will change its resistance value as its ambient temperature
changes. We now have a way, although an indirect one, of measuring
temperature by reading the value returned by the paddle routines in the
Apple. This is the idea behind the method of measuring temperature with
the Apple which I will be describing.
The specialized resistor is called a thermistor, and its resistance
decreases as its temperature increases. They are widely available in
surplus houses and electronic suppliers (or Radio Shack) at prices which
range from a few cents to a few dollars. The inexpensive ones are plain
beads of thermistor material on the end of two wire leads. The more
expensive versions are enclosed in some sort of protective material (often
glass) which allows them to be used for measuring the temperature of
corrosive chemical solutions or for use in other hostile environments.
Before you run out to buy a thermistor to stick in your game port, I
have to break it to you that it is not quite that simple. There are two
practical problems which must be overcome before we can use a thermistor as
a practical temperature measuring peripheral for the Apple.
The first is that the PDL routines in the Apple can only produce one
of 256 possible values. This will be sufficient for crude temperature
measurements but will not provide enough accuracy for most temperature
measuring situations. The solution to this problem is to increase the
counting time which the Apple uses to measure the paddle circuit's
resistance. This requires a machine language routine of some sort to
replace the built-in routine used by BASIC (and the monitor).
For the experienced machine language programmer, this will not be too
much of a problem. For the rest of us, a suitable program can be found on
the disk which accompanies Vernier's "Chaos in the Laboratory" workbook.
Incidentally, with this book you also get a detailed description of the
thermistor temperature probe project and 13 other Apple II interfacing
projects.
A way of producing a longer charging time is needed for the
voltage-sensing circuit so that it will not trigger before a reasonable
number of counts has been reached. This is accomplished by adding a large
capacitor to the paddle circuit, which augments the capacitance of the one
inside the Apple. It is also important to pick a thermistor of suitably
high resistance to allow the capacitors to charge sufficiently slowly.
These hardware additions form the core of a practical thermistor circuit.
A final complication that arises when using a thermistor as a
temperature probe is that its resistance does not change in a linear
fashion with temperature. In other words, a 10% change in temperature does
not result in a 10% change in thermistor resistance. The relationship
between temperature and resistance is quite complicated, as is the math
required to accurately calculate one from the other. It is possible to
make some simple approximations based upon trial and error, but for more
demanding applications a proper calibration program is necessary. Again, a
suitable program can be found on the "Chaos" disk from Vernier. More
adventurous programmers may want to consider writing their own calibration
programs.
I will conclude with a few comments about the use of the paddle
circuits for interfacing in general. It should be clear by now that these
circuits can be used for measuring output from almost any device which
varies its electrical resistance in response to some external quantity.
There are sensors which do this in response to changing light or infrared
radiation levels, pressure, humidity and other parameters. Many of these
sensors should be adaptable to the Apple's paddle inputs once you
understand how they respond to change.
Next month I will discuss some of the details of building and using a
thermistor circuit as an Apple II temperature probe.
FURTHER READING You will have noticed by now that I frequently refer to
""""""""""""""" the two Vernier books. These are the books which
started me into computer interfacing and electronics in general. I found
them well written and easy to follow. They both include useful and well
documented software for each project. In addition, their projects use only
the Apple II game port, so no computer modifications are required.
I cannot recommend these books highly enough for anyone who wants to
explore Apple II interfacing (just so you know--I have no affiliation with
Vernier Software). I will be referencing them frequently for the
interfacing projects that I will be describing in the following months. If
you are seriously considering experimenting with any of these projects, it
would be well worth your while to acquire one or both of them. Each of
them is a self contained manual, but describes a different set of projects.
I purchased my copies several years ago from Resource Central when
they were still in business. I believe they can still be purchased
directly from Vernier Software. If you are interested, drop a line to
David Vernier at dvernier@vernier.com or visit http://www.vernier.com for
current pricing and availability. As far as I know they are still both in
print.
I think it is possible to occasionally get photocopies of some Apple
II manuals directly from Apple (at least I did from Apple Canada recently).
This may be worth a try if you don't already have a copy of the Apple II
Reference. It is also worth dropping by in Cat 4, Topic 27 in the A2
RoundTable on Genie. I have occasionally seen them for sale there (used).
There have been many other books written on microcomputer
interfacing. Some are Apple II orientated, but many are either more
general in nature or refer specifically to other computer platforms. A
trip to the local library may be useful. A browse through back issues of
computer magazines such as _Byte_ will certainly turn up some useful
references and projects.
Next month--Building the thermistor temperature probe.
REFERENCES
""""""""""
1) Espinosa, C., _Apple ][ Reference Manual_, Apple Computer Inc.
(P/N A2L0001A), 1979.
2) Vernier, David L., ed., _Chaos in the Laboratory and 13 Other
Science Projects Using the Apple II_ Vernier Software, Portland OR, 1991.
3) Vernier, David L., ed., "How to Build a Better Mousetrap and 13
Other Science Projects using the Apple II", Vernier Software, Portland OR,
1986
[EOA]
[HSM]//////////////////////////////
HISTORY MINOR /
/////////////////////////////////
The History of GenieLamp
""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Douglas Cuff
[D.CUFF]
>>> GENIELAMP HISTORY: WHERE WE'VE BEEN <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
John Peters began by creating freeware online magazines for the Atari
community--first TeleTalk OnLine, which started on Denver BBSes and moved
national, then 3 issues of PD_Quickview, and finally, 1990, GEnie Lamp,
which focused on the ST RoundTable exclusively.
In February 1992, GEnie allowed John to expand the concept to other
computing RoundTables. The "first four" were GEnieLamp ST, A2, Mac, and
IBM. Over the years, the GEnieLamp roster boasted at least 10
editions--GEnieLamp IBM (and GEnieLamp IBM MM), GEnieLamp Mac, GEnieLamp
MacPRO, GEnieLamp ST (and GEnieLamp TX2), GEnieLamp A2, GEnieLamp A2Pro,
GEnieLamp Windows, GEnieLamp PPC, GEnieLamp Elsewhere and a weekly
GEnieLamp {PR}.
Slowly, editions of GEnieLamp began to disappear. GEnieLamp MacPRO
was an early casualty, closing after just 3 issues in February 1993. The
weekly GEnieLamp {PR}--press releases and classified ads from the Atari
RoundTable--finished with its 74th issue in August 1994.
In late 1995, issues began to appear less regularly as payment for
contributors dried up. The first edition to go was GEnieLamp Windows, last
published in September 1995. The IBM MM (MultiMedia) edition and GEnieLamp
PowerPC stopped in December 1995. In January 1996, GEnieLamp A2Pro
published its last issue.
In February 1996, GEnie was sold to Yovelle, and they stopped all
credit-hours, which meant that GEnieLamp (now GenieLamp) no longer had a
way to pay contributors. The next month, GEnieLamp ST--the flagship
issue--and GEnieLamp TX2 (the Atari version in a special graphic format)
stopped with their March 1996 issues. GenieLamp IBM and Mac published a
June 1996, as did GenieLamp A2. IBM and Mac were working on their July
issues when the word came--DigiPub was to be closed, and the editor's
accounts taken away. Most editor's accounts were surrected at the last
moment, but the damage was done.
FIRST ISSUE LAST ISSUE
''''''''''' ''''''''''
GenieLamp A2 Feb. 1992 STILL GOING STRONG!
GenieLamp IBM Feb. 1992 June 1996
GenieLamp Mac Feb. 1992 June 1996
GenieLamp ST June 1990 Mar. 1996
GenieLamp TX2 Dec. 1990 Mar. 1996
GenieLamp A2Pro Feb. 1993 Jan. 1996
GenieLamp IBM MM Jun. 1994 Dec. 1995
GenieLamp PPC Nov. 1994 Dec. 1995
GenieLamp Windows Mar. 1994 Sep. 1995
GenieLamp {PR} ? Aug. 1994
GenieLamp MacPRO Dec. 1992 Feb. 1993
Only GenieLamp A2 soldiered on, and produced what was supposed to be
the final issue. Even after the closure of DigiPub, GenieLamp A2 continued
to be produced, and continues now--the last of the GenieLamps in the
original, classic form.
[*][*][*]
GenieLamp A2 began in April 1992 when John Peters took his Atari
magazine and brought it to three more platforms--IBM, Macintosh, and Apple
II. At first, it was known as GEnie Lamp Apple ][ (note the space), and
its first editor was Tom Schmitz, though he was listed as co-editor for the
first two issues. Contributors to that first issue were Larry Faust Lorne
"Rainy" Wilson, and the big story was the release of IIgs System Software
v6.0. Tom's title was changed to editor with issue #3, and Phil Shapiro
became co-editor.
By the fourth issue, the name had changed to GEnie Lamp A2/A2Pro.
That was a special issue since it was combined with parts of the third
issue and was brought out in HyperStudio stack format to help celebrate
KansasFest. Surprisingly, it would be the last hyper-issue for over three
years.
The space was dropped from the name--now GEnieLamp A2/A2Pro--with the
seventh issue (October 1992). That was also Tom Schmitz's last issue.
Darrel Raines took over with the November 1992 issue, still assisted by
Phil Shapiro.
GEnieLamp A2Pro got its own separate issue in January 1993.
GEnieLamp publisher John Peters tried out the concept of the "mini issue"
in March and April 1993, which left out all the multi-platform material...
and the humor, puzzles, and ASCII cartoons. That was about the time that
the A2 RoundTable gave away a slew of prizes to the person who uploaded the
library's 20,000th file. The next month, May 1993, John Peters tried
running two issues a month--one on the first of the month and one on the
fifteenth--but the experiment wasn't a success. In fact, some issues fell
behind, GEnieLamp A2 included. There was no time to produce a June 1993
issue.
John Peters did a large part of the editorial work on the July 1993
issue, which took time that he couldn't really afford, so he and Dean Esmay
went looking for a new editor. They chose Doug Cuff, who made his bow in
the August 1993 issue. Cuff's second issue was the biggest ever--250K--but
he soon calmed down a lot.
With the October 1993 issue, the focus shifted. Instead of each
editor having to submit his material to publisher Peters for the final
assembly, each editor became responsible for every step required to put
together the magazine. That was the same month we reported on shareware
author Karl Bunker saying goodbye, and AppleWorks 4.0 saying hello.
GEnieLamp A2 began producing a new edition with the April 1994
issue--an AppleWorks word processor file. Up until then, there has been
three editions: a text file packed with ShrinkIt for the power users, a
text file not packed with ShrinkIt for those who didn't have ShrinkIt, and
a text file, not packed, with added linefeeds for those didn't have an
Apple II but wanted to read GEnieLamp A2 anyway. The AppleWorks edition
was available in the A2 Library only; the others were found in the DigiPub
RoundTable.
Almost two years later, in March 1996, GenieLamp A2 (as it became
when General Electric sold GEnie to Yovelle and it became "Genie")
introduced two more editions--a HyperCard stack from Josh Calvin and a
prototype HyperStudio stack from editor Doug Cuff. These too were
available exclusively in the A2 Library.
When Yovelle began closing down the less profitable RoundTables in
June and July 1996, DigiPub was one of those slated for closure. Since the
July 1996 issue, all editions of GenieLamp A2 have been uploaded to the A2
RoundTable library--and the back issues have since been moved there as
well.
In 1997, GenieLamp A2 gets a new editor--Ryan Suenaga. We'll let him
write the new few chapters in the history of GenieLamp A2.
////////////////////////////////////////////// QWIK_QUOTE ////
/ "Why does one never hear of a _blessing_ thundering down /
/ the years and pursuing a certain family...?" /
/////////////////////////////////// Lady Norah Bentinck ////
[EOA]
[LOG]//////////////////////////////
LOG OFF /
/////////////////////////////////
GenieLamp Information
"""""""""""""""""""""
o COMMENTS: Contacting GenieLamp
o GenieLamp STAFF: Who Are We?
GenieLamp Information GenieLamp A2 is published on the first of every
""""""""""""""""""""" month in library 55 of Genie's A2 RoundTable (page
645;3). GenieLamp is also distributed on CrossNet and many public and
commercial BBS systems worldwide.
o To reach GenieLamp on Internet send mail to genielamp@genie.com or to
reach GenieLamp _A2_, send mail to editor.a2@genie.com
o Back issues of GenieLamp A2 are available in the A2 RoundTable
Library #55 on page 645 (m645;3).
o We welcome and respond to all E-mail. To leave comments, suggestions
or just to say hi, you can contact me in the A2 RoundTable (Category
3, Topic 3) or send GenieMail to Doug Cuff at [EDITOR.A2] on page
200.
>>> GENIELAMP STAFF <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""
GenieLamp o John Peters [GENIELAMP] Publisher
""""""""" o Mike White [MWHITE] Managing Editor
APPLE II o Doug Cuff [EDITOR.A2] Editor
""""""""
A2Pro o Tim Buchheim [A2PRO.GELAMP] Editor
"""""
ATARI o Sheldon H. Winick [GELAMP.ST] Editor
"""""
IBM o Sharon Molnar [SHARON.LAMP] Editor
"""
MACINTOSH o Richard Vega [GELAMP.MAC] Editor
"""""""""
POWER PC o Ben Soulon [BEN.GELAMP] Editor
""""""""
>>> Answers to PUZZLE FUN <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Cindy owns the CD-ROM. And who calls Genie? You (Hugh) do!
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors, and do
not necessarily represent the opinions of Genie Online Services,
Yovelle Renaissance Corp., GenieLamp Online Magazines, or T/TalkNet
Online Publishing. Bulletin board messages are reprinted verbatim and
are included in this publication with permission from Genie Online
Services and the source RoundTable. Genie Online Services, GenieLamp
Online Magazines, and T/TalkNet Publishing do not guarantee the
accuracy or suitability of any information included herein. We reserve
the right to edit all letters and copy.
Material published in this edition may be reprinted under the fol-
lowing terms only. Reprint permission granted, unless otherwise noted,
to registered computer user groups and not for profit publications.
All articles must remain unedited and include the issue number and
author at the top of each article reprinted. Please include the fol-
lowing at the end of all reprints:
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\///////////////////////////////////
The preceding article is reprinted courtesy of GenieLamp Online
Magazine. (c) Copyright 1996 T/TalkNET Publishing and Genie Online
Services. To join Genie, set your modem to half duplex (local echo).
Have your modem dial 1-800-638-8369 in the United States or
1-800-387-8330 in Canada. When you get a CONNECT message, wait for
the U#= prompt, type: JOINGENIE and hit the RETURN key. Genie will
then prompt you for your signup information. If the signup server
is unavailable, call (voice) 1-800-638-9636 for more information.
////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
[EOF]
