[HEA]
    _____________________   ___                                   _
    |___   ______________| |   |                                 | |
        |  | _             |   |                                 | |
        |  || |            |   |                                 | |
        |  || |            |   |                                 | |
        |  || |            |   |   ____ _   _ _   _   ______     | |
        |  || |            |   |  / __ \ | | / \_/ \  | ___ \    | |
        |  || |__   ____   |   | / /  \  | |  /\ /\ \ | |  \ \   | |
        |  ||  _ \ |  _ \  |   | \ \__/  | | | |_|| | | |__/ /   | |
        |  || | | || |_||  |   |  \___/|_| |_|    |_| | ____/    |_|
        |  || | | || |__   |   |____________________  | |         _
        |__||_| |_|\____/  |________________________| | |        |_|
                                                      | |
         Lighting Your Apple II Path                  | |
                                                      |_|

-----------------------------------


                       >>> WELCOME TO THE LAMP! <<<
                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


           THE BEST OF THE A2 BULLETIN BOARD ON Syndicomm Online
          AND THE BEST OF THE DELPHI A2 AND A2PRO MESSAGE BOARDS
           "Teaching the Apple II user how to fish since 1998"


 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 The Lamp!            An Onipa'a Software Production        Vol. 5, No. 3
 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 Publisher................................Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W.
 Editor.....................................................Lyle Syverson
 Internet Email, Publisher.........................thelamp@sheppyware.net
 Internet Email, Editor................................lyle@FoxValley.net
 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

                            TABLE OF CONTENTS
                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                             March 15, 2002

HIGH ABOVE THE ROCK RIVER---------------------------------------------[OPN]
     Signs in the Distance
     The Restless IIgs
     The K-Fest Connection

A2 FORUM AT Syndicomm Online (A2Central.com) DISTILLATIONS
     History of Online Games and MUDs---------------------------------[OGM]
     Which Telecomm Programs Have You Used?---------------------------[WTP]
     Warp Six BBS Still Lives-----------------------------------------[WSB]
     Classic Apple II Games Resurfacing on PDA Platforms--------------[CGR]
     Bypassing the Prompt in ChessMaster 2100-------------------------[BTP]
     Upcoming v7.4 Update to Silvern Castle---------------------------[SCU]
     Silvern Castle Tip-----------------------------------------------[SCT]
     Speeding up the Automap Feature of Silvern Castle----------------[SCA]
     At What Speed Are You Running Silvern Castle?--------------------[SCS]
     Diversi-Cache----------------------------------------------------[DIC]
     New Web Site for Juiced.GS---------------------------------------[NWS]
     The Golden Orchard CD-ROM Available Via the Net From SSII--------[GOC]
     Updates for Spectrum---------------------------------------------[UFS]
     Padded Room Solution - PDF from Word Document :)-----------------[PRS]
     Additions to Apple II Developer Database-------------------------[ATD]
     What do You do in the "Real World"-------------------------------[TRW]
     How Did Other People Get Their A2 Programming Skills?------------[GPS]
     Are There Any Apple II Programs Waiting to be Written?-----------[WTW]
     Port Open-Source Palm Sync Utilities to the IIgs?----------------[POS]
     About File Transfers---------------------------------------------[AFT]

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM SYNDICOMM
     Dated Announcement - Don't Miss This-----------------------------[DLC]
          Subject: [A2Central.com] Special Dave Lyons Chat
     To Sign up for Syndicomm Online----------------------------------[TSU]

DELPHI A2 DISTILLATIONS
     5.25 Drive Not Showing up in GS/OS-------------------------------[DNS]
     Andromeda TV Series and IIgs?------------------------------------[ATS]

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
     No Letters to the Editor This Month------------------------------[NLE]
     An Invitation----------------------------------------------------[LTE]

KFEST 2002
     Plan Ahead for K-Fest 2002---------------------------------------[PAK]
     KFest 2002 Registration Information Soon-------------------------[KFR]

EXTRA INNINGS
     About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN]


                                [*] [*] [*]

READING THE LAMP!   The index system used by The Lamp! is designed to make
"""""""""""""""""   your reading easier.  To use this system, load this
issue into any word processor or text editor.  In the index you will find
something like:

EXTRA INNINGS
     About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN]

To read this article, simply use your search or find command to locate
[INN].  There is a similar tag at the end of each article: [EOA].



[OPN]-------------------------------
         HIGH ABOVE THE ROCK RIVER |
------------------------------------
From The Editor
"""""""""""""""
by Lyle Syverson <lyle@FoxValley.net>

                           Signs in the Distance
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Today's bright sunshine and the cool, clear air provide the
opportunity to study details on the distant horizon from High Above The
Rock River.

     Toys-R-Us?  Hmm.  That sign reminds me of my favorite childhood toy.
Tinkertoys.  One day you could create an airport, complete with airplanes,
terminal building, etc.  The next day you could build a crane and move
paper clips from the floor to the top of the dinning room table.  What a
toy to stimulate the imagination.

                             The Restless IIgs
                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     The Apple II computers allow so much flexibility to attach specialty
cards, drives, printers, etc.  Add to that the opportunity to buy various
components, often at bargain prices, on the net, at garage sales, and at
recycling centers.

     The IIgs _The Lamp!_ is produced on is made up of components coming
from several states.  Seldom does a month go by that something has not been
changed.  The hard drive was taken from an old Mac.  The DeskJet printer
"served time" on a Pentium.

     Hmm.  How about twin hard drives partitioned and formated alike?
Should make backup a breeze.  Got to get to work on that!

                           The K-Fest Connection
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     Speaking of unusual computer setups.  Visit people in their rooms at
K-Fest and check out what they brought in the way of computers.  Including
a IIgs with an impressive stack of drives attached to it.

     Visiting with all these Apple II people is a lot of fun in itself.  We
would really like to visit with *you*.  See you at K-Fest!

[EOA]



ASCII ART BEGINS
_________  _                     _                                      _
|__   __| | |                   | |                                    | |
   | |    | |                   | |                                    | |
   | |    | |___     ____       | |       _____   __ ___ _   _ _____   | |
   | |    | ___ \   / __ \      | |      /____ \  | v   v | | v ___ \  | |
   | |    | |  | | | /__\ \     | |       ____| | | /\ /\ | |  /   \ \ | |
   | |    | |  | | | _____|     | |      / ___  | | || || | | |    | | |_|
   | |    | |  | | | |_____     | |____  | |__| | | || || | |  \___/ /  _
   |_|    |_|  |_| \______|     |______| \____^_| |_||_||_| | |\____/  |_|
                                                            | |
                                                            | |
                                                            |_|

ASCII ART ENDS
[EOA]

---------------------------------------------------
DISTILLATIONS FROM The A2 FORUM at Syndicomm.com  |
                                  (A2Central.com) |
---------------------------------------------------

by Lyle Syverson <lyle@foxvalley.net>

[OGM]
HISTORY OF ONLINE GAMES AND MUDs
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
A three-part history of online games and MUDs can be found at these URLs:

http://www.happypuppy.com/features/bth/bth-vol8-36.html
http://www.happypuppy.com/features/bth/bth-vol8-37.html
http://www.happypuppy.com/features/bth/bth-vol8-38.html

The article is written by a former Apple II RoundTable file librarian, and
focuses primarily on text-based games available in the early days of
CompuServe and GEnie.

-Ken

(KGAGNE, Cat 2, Top 6, Msg 45)
[EOA]


[WTP]
WHICH TELECOMM PROGRAMS HAVE YOU USED?
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
The first telecom program I used was Smartcom, though I barely remember it
now.  I recall having difficulty downloading files, though whether it was
due to Smartcom's archaic formula or a complete inability to do so, I can't
recall.

Either way, some other member of CompuServe's APPUSER forum, Loren,
recommended I call this company called "Quality Computers" and order a copy
of ProTERM.  I'd never heard of either the company or the software, but I
decided to take a gamble on this fellah's suggestion.

Haven't seen Smartcom since. :)

-Ken

(KGAGNE, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 3)

>>>>>
"""""
The first telecomm program I used was VisiTerm.  It was kind of neat in
that it used the HGR screen to come as close to getting 80 columns on the
][+ screen as possible.

The downloads sucked, however :)

ASCII Express Pro (DOS 3.3) was next on my list.  That was not so good
either.

However, the current crop of ProTERM, Spectrum, and ANSITerm are just
great.

Ryan

Chief Sysop and Head Geek

(A2.RYAN, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 4)

>>>>>
"""""
I ordered ProTERM 3.0 when I bought my first modem for my IIgs.  Used AOL
more for the first couple of years though. :)

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 5)

>>>>>
"""""
On the 8-bit 65c02 128 KB Enhanced IIe/IIc, ProTerm is pretty much the
ultimate Telecom program.  I use it daily.

Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host
"Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT

(MARK, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 6)

>>>>>
"""""
Terminus was the first telecomm program I owned.  It came in a package with
a modem and modem cable.  I never could get it to do anything.

When I asked for help from the vender, they admitted they had no idea how
to make it work and offered to send me another telecomm program called
Full-Duplex.  I never was able to get that to work either.  Nor was the
vender of any help.

I then sent off for a copy of Talk Is Cheap.  I was up and running soon
after I received it.  I was so impressed that I sent in the shareware fee
within 24 hours.  I then joined GEnie and found out that TIC was no longer
shareware, was up to version 3.xx, and being sold by Quality computers.

The day after that it was announced on GEnie A2 that Quality Computers
would no longer be selling TIC and version 4 would be available by direct
order from the author.

The shareware fee I had sent in for version 1.xx was applied to my purchase
of v4.

So TIC was my 3RD telecomm program... but the FIRST one that worked!

When I bought my first IIgs (used) one of my projects was to download the
six disks of System 6.01 from GEnie using TIC at 2400 baud.  Took over an
hour for each disk.  :)

If only TIC would have had Zmodem.

I also own ANSITerm, Spectrum, and Proterm.

Lyle Syverson <lyle@FoxValley.net>   Editor, _The Lamp!_
published monthly at:   http://lamp.a2central.com/

(LYLE, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 7)

>>>>>
"""""
My first Apple II telecom program was Point to Point.  It was wonderful,
and I never had any problems with it until my changes in modems exceeded
it's limits.  I flirted with TIC, but finally got ProTERM.  And there I
stayed until Marinetti appeared, and Spectrum began to handle it.

Now, most of the telnet I do online is done by my GS with Spectrum
(although I have ProTERM Mac) just because I can.  B-{)

Kirk

(A2.KIRK, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 8)

>>>>>
"""""
>> The first telecomm program I used was VisiTerm. <<

I remember that well. It was the most professional of the first crop of
comms programs to appear.

I decided I could not afford to buy it, so I started to write my own comms
program. Eventually my efforts turned into Data Highway, which at the time,
was the highest selling comms program for the Apple II in the
UK. I think we shipped over 2000 units, mainly with the help of Apple User,
then the only Apple magazine published in the UK. I never looked back... :)

 Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Fri 8 Mar 2002 - 137 days till KFest '02
 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR 1.0b5
 Setup: Bernie ][ the Rescue 3.0 and a dual G4/800Mhz GeForce3
 http://www.ewannop.btinternet.co.uk/

(CONDUCTOR, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 9)

>>>>>
"""""
My first modem was a 2400 that cost around $100, and came with a free copy
of AE's ReadyLink (formerly EasyLink).  I also used AOL, although they
eventually dropped a2 support...

I can't begin to describe how horrible ReadyLink is.  I wound up using
various freeware programs (like Agate and telecomGS), most of which were
less problematic, and eventually Spectrum.  Now that AnsiTerm is available
again, it's on my list of things to buy when I remember to :)

Kelvin

(KWS, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 10)

>>>>>
"""""
I started with ProTerm and dialed into a local bulletin board where I could
get email. Later I got ANSITerm, which looked much better with some of the
places I connected to. I tried all the bulletin boards I could get to with
a local call - there were about a dozen at that time.  One that sticks in
my mind was an openly religious board with a bunch of x-rated games.
(I never tried the games, maybe they put subliminal messages in them or
something)

Once there was a local ISP provider the bulletin boards died off. I started
using a Mac for online stuff - as I still do. However, I do have the
hardware and software to do it on the GS and Maybe I should get back to it,
just to prove I can do it.

Margaret

(MARGARET, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 11)

>>>>>
"""""
AnsiTerm is also on my "to get" list. :)

Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host
"Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT

(MARK, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 13)

>>>>>
"""""
Well, as I came very late to the Apple II telecom party...my first telecom
program that I used was the AppleWorksGS telecom module to transfer files
from a Windows PC to the IIgs via a null modem cable.  I was doing all of
that without a hard disk back in 1998 or so. Soon I learned how bad that
telecom module was.

Eventually I picked up a copy of Spectrum from the now defunct Seven
Hills/MyEsource.  It's what I still use to this day on my Apple IIgs to
connect via Marinetti.  Originally through dial up and now with the LANceGS
Ethernet card.

I need to pick up a copy of ProTerm A2 for the IIc+

Dain Neater

(A2.DAIN, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 14)

>>>>>
"""""
This one probably no one has heard of. :)  My 1st telcomm program was
written for, and sold by a company called DAK which sold interesting
electronic devices.  It came with a 1200 baud modem (Prometheus, but sold
under the ADC label) and a dumbed-down serial card made by Practical
Peripherals--made just for DAK.  It would let you dial a number and
connect, but I don't think it had any file transfer ability (maybe xmodem
if anything).  I then moved to ModemMGR and also to Proterm.  I still use
the latter two on my //e all the time.

Later.........Howard

(A2.HOWARD, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 15)

>>>>>
"""""
I got ProTERM at the same time I got my first Modem. I upgraded it
regularly, so I've always been current with it. My last upgrade was to
ProTERM Mac, which I use for Telnet, now. Spectrum gets used regularly with
SOAR for reading these messages. Poor PT2 got left behind when I got the
LANceGS card and connected to cable.

 Carl Knoblock - Telephone Tech - Sat  9 Mar 02  5:15:23 pm
 cknoblo@applelinc.org - Via Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR v1.0b8
 KFest 2002, July 23-28, 2002 - 136 days till KFest
 On cable via LANceGS & Marinetti 2.0.1 - Thank you, Richard.
 A2 RTC Staff - Saturday Night House Party - carlk@syndicomm.com

(CARLK, Cat 2, Top 16, Msg 16)
[EOA]


[WSB]
WARP SIX BBS STILL LIVES
""""""""""""""""""""""""
Warp Six BBS lives, as a newsgroup on a system at the following name:

warpsixbbs.homeip.net

The instructions webpage is still at http://www.warpsixbbs.webhop.net/

(KGAGNE, Cat 10, Top 29, Msg 1)
[EOA]


[CGR]
CLASSIC Apple II GAMES RESURFACING ON PDA PLATFORMS
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
A lot of classic games for the Apple II (and machines of that era) are
resurfacing on PDA platforms, such as the Palm and PocketPC.  There are
some very nice renditions of games like Galaxian and Space Invaders on the
Palm.

Ryan

(A2.RYAN, Cat 14, Top 1, Msg 53)
[EOA]


[BTP]
BYPASSING THE PROMPT IN ChessMaster 2100
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
I am looking for a hack for ChessMaster 2100 to bypass the prompt.

rreedy@attbi.com

(RREEDYJAX, Cat 14, Top 4, Msg 6)

>>>>>
"""""
I wrote one a long time ago; you can download it on my Web site at
http://www.sheppyware.net.  It doesn't work with every copy of ChessMaster
2100; it appears there are a couple versions out there.  So be sure to only
apply the patch to a backup copy!

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 14, Top 4, Msg 7)
[EOA]


[SCU]
UPCOMING v7.4 UPDATE TO SILVERN CASTLE
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Upcoming V7.4 update:

I've been messing with adding preferences for many Silvern Castle
"features" that many of you may wish could be turned off.

For now I have the following new preferences:

1. Fixed store prices (regardless of stock available; many people emailed
me they thought the changing prices must be a bug)

2. Fixed monster equip (happens when twisties are displayed at the start of
combat; makes initializing monster items really fast)

3. Show name of spell cast by monsters (for those of you who want to know
what that spell was that killed your favorite character)

4. Easier XP advancement (no more 4X XP for demi-humans & lesser XP needed
for everyone over level 8)

No maze command:

Quick P)lot - Limits the maze view to 2 squares forward regardless of how
much light is cast; makes moving through familiar areas much faster)

No more minimum raise dead price (for low-level parties; now level 1-3
mages can be raised for as little as 30gp, or less)

Anyone have any other "Features" they would like to become a preference?

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 85)

>>>>>
"""""
New features sound great.  How about a switch to display remaining hit
point for a monster after a hit.  This would help beginners figure out just
how tough monsters are and let them know if fleeing would be a good idea.

Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host
"Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT

(MARK, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 86)

>>>>>
"""""
>>...How about a switch to display remaining hit point for a monster after
a hit. <<

Done.

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 92)

>>>>>
"""""
For everyone that paid the original Silvern Castle shareware fee (SC's now
freeware, BTW) and helped it SC online to the A2 community, I have also
included a nice cool-looking scroller routine listing all your first names
at the title page.  Look for it in the upcoming v7.4 update!

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 88)
[EOA]


[SCT]
SILVERN CASTLE TIP
""""""""""""""""""
Silvern tip-

For those using the GS RBG monitor, you can get a crisper display without
any color fringe on the text characters by going to the control panel and
selecting monochrome from the display menu item.

This will give you a higher resolution, but only black and white colors
(you only lose purple anyway).

The reason this technique works with SC and not some other programs is that
Silvern hits the soft switch in the GS that turns this feature on so it
obeys the control panel color/monochrome display setting.

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 91)
[EOA]


[SCA]
SPEEDING UP THE AUTOMAP FEATURE OF SILVERN CASTLE
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
On another topic, did you find anyone to write your automap display in
assembler?  I've been tinkering around with assembler and may want to try
to write this routine.  Where exactly is the existing routine located?

Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host
"Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT

(MARK, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 86)

>>>>>
"""""
Hey, your my first taker!

I'll try to send you more detailed info later, but for now the routines can
be found in the SC.MOD1 file somewhere.  I'm not at my GS so I don't know
the line number, but the routine starts right around where it loads the
pre-plotted GRID file (since I'm using MicroDot, look for the &.BL,"GRID"
command).

If my memory serves, this routine is entirely BASIC except for when it
calls existing ML code that has nothing to do with the actual automapping
routine. You'll know when I'm calling my ML code as it is in the format
&x[,y].  Usually this code is yanking out binary maze data such as exit
info and passing it back to BASIC.

Take a look and let me know what you think.  The biggest problem is passing
all the AppleSoft variables back & forth between the ML code I think.

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 87)

>>>>>
"""""
Jeff,

You will have to keep in mind that I'm an amateur assembler hacker at this
point so it may take me some time to come up with something.  However I do
have some good info on how Applesoft stores it's variables so that will
help.

Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host
"Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT

(MARK, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 89)

>>>>>
"""""
Actually that's where I'm at too, I just don't have the time for assembly
conversions.  I can do anything in BASIC 10X faster in development time,
although it's probably 10X slower!

But I wonder how many other amateur hackers out there have tried to change
Silvern on their own.  After all, SC is mostly BASIC, so you can list and
change variables easily, and even without REMmarks you probably can
decipher enough info to write your own character editor.

In fact, Silvern's automap and saved game routines were taken from ideas
gleaned from listing other programs.  Somewhere on the Time in a Bottle CD
there's a program called Rat's Maze that gave me the core for an automap
routine.  Since I'm using MicroDot, I can't use Basic.System's
STORE/RESTORE to saved games anymore, so I got a binary technique used in
DOS 3.3 days, in this case, from listing a few Eamon's that have a saved
game feature.

I'd be happy to answer questions about BASIC routines used by SC if anyone
is interested.

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 90)

>>>>>
"""""
Sorry Mark, but I just converted the automap routine to machine language!
It now runs almost 3 times faster; on my 8Mhz GS it now takes only 5
seconds to plot a complete level, where it took 14 seconds previously.

I used MacroSoft to do this.  This is a bunch of BASIC command-like macros
that when used with Nibble's MindCraft assembler, produces machine language
code.  Its much easier than doing by hand, since the macros look almost
like AppleSoft anyway.  Example of code:

BEGIN $3000      ;ORG
VAR L,S          ;define INT vars
FVAR SF          ;define FP vars
GETVAR L,A%      ;get A% from AppleSoft and transfer to L
GETVAR SF,LM     ;get LM from AppleSoft and transfer to SF
TOINT S,SF       ;convert SF (FP) to S (INT)
IF L=0, LET S=1  ;if L=0 then set S=1
PUTVAR S,A%      ;transfer S back to AppleSoft A%
END              ;RTS to AppleSoft

From AppleSoft
100 S=4: LM=0: CALL 12288: PRINT S: REM prints 1

There is still some BASIC parts in the automap routine because, get this, I
don't know how to call my own machine language programs from assembly!  I
use AppleSoft routines mostly to find variable pointers and values (i.e.
CALL 768,A% or & 15,A%(0),T).  I think what I need to do is search the
variable table directly to find simple variables and arrays (I know how to
do this in theory, but actual practice make take much trail & error).

One limitation MacroSoft has is not being able to handle more than single
dimensioned arrays.  If it could I think coding the rest of the automap
display would be done already, I think I could get the speed down to 2
seconds or less eventually.

BTW, this stuff from Nibble is pretty old (copyright 1982, but converted to
ProDOS in 1991).  I got it right before Nibble went under and never did
anything with it until last week.  Now I wish I had used it earlier.

Anyone else familiar with MacroSoft?  The biggest problem with it is the
archaic line editor that MindCraft's Assembler uses, plus the need to put
or not spaces exactly as needed, and virtually no error checking (except
for assembly errors).  I almost throw this package out the window a few
times because it will assemble merrily without indication anything is
wrong, so much trail & error is needed.  For example HPLOT only plots two
coord pairs, so HPLOT 0,0,50,100,0,0 will not work, but the manual doesn't
mention this little pitfall.

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 97)

>>>>>
"""""
Well, I now have converted the remaining core automap routines into ML with
MacroSoft.  So now the automap display runs almost 5 times as fast!  My
time to plot a complete level is now 3 seconds flat.

There still is a bit of optimizing I can still do, so I might be able to
save an additional second or two.

I figured out a way to call my own ML routines from assembly.  This is
somewhat difficult because my ML routines are meant to be called by
AppleSoft; such as:

& 15,A%(0),T: REM is square "T" in automap?  Returns PEEK(249)=1 if true

My routine in ML does this:  Jumps to routine #15, gets address of
beginning of A%(0) automap array (each square is 1 bit position) using
AppleSoft routines, finds square "T" in array then returns result in memory
location 249.

To get this to work with MacroSoft without rewriting or duplicating the
existing routine, I would do this:

5339 CALL 12288: GOTO 5440: & 15,A%(0),T

Which calls the automap plot routine assembled with MacroSoft, when done it
skips the rest of line.  In MacroSoft, I use AppleSoft's parse routine to
find the ampersand following the GOTO, then simply jump to my ML routines.
Since AppleSoft's TXTPTR will be pointing to the "1" following the
ampersand, my existing ML routines work from assembly.  I then reset the
TXTPTR back to were it was.  Pretty neat trick.  Probably slower than
direct assembly but saves me the trouble of using the existing routine
without creating a new routine.

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 89)

>>>>>
"""""
After optimizing further, the time is now 2.72 seconds.  Which is as fast
as the automap routine is going to get.

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 101)

>>>>>
"""""
Thanks for the update Jeff. I feel like I'm inspiring you. :)

Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host
"Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT

(MARK, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 104)

>>>>>
"""""
More like good timing.

I have been looking for an easy way to speed up the automap plotting, and
just happened to stumble upon the MacroSoft package while looking for
something else.

I still can't believe it took me over 10 years to re-discover it.  That's
what happens after you recently move-you can't find what you looking for
and find things you didn't know you had.

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 107)
[EOA]


[SCS]
AT WHAT SPEED ARE YOU RUNNING SILVERN CASTLE?
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Is anyone running SC on a stock 8-bit Apple II or GS?  Or does everyone
have 8Mhz or faster accelerators or emulators?

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 93)

>>>>>
"""""
I have run it on my 1 MHz IIe's and have found the performance very
sluggish.  However on either my stock IIGS or my IIc plus it performs much
better. :)

Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host
"Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT

(MARK, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 94)

>>>>>
"""""
I know.  I've been using a stock GS and the speed is o.k.  I've been making
some changes to routines to make Silvern play better on this configuration.

Silvern needs to run on a stock GS, or IIc+ (but the disk speed of the IIc+
is too slow, unless you have a large enough RAM disk).

Version 1.0 played o.k. on my 1Mhz Apple IIe.  Since then you really need a
GS or an emulator.

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 102)

>>>>>
"""""
I'm running it on a GS with a 10 MHz Zip GSX, 8 Megs of memory and a 750
Meg hard drive.  It seems to run just fine for me. <eg>

 Roger A. Schnorenberg - Roger
 "Roger A. Schnorenberg" <AB0MX@ARRL.net>
 Delivered by Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR v1.0b8 with NiftySpell 1.0
 Via Marinetti 2.1 TCP/IP stack on a ROM 0 IIGS upgraded to the max!

(SCHNORENBERG, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 95)
[EOA]


[DIC]
DIVERSI-CACHE
"""""""""""""
On a Woz-Edition GS with 1Meg I have found the 2.8Mhz speed is good enough
(to run Silvern Castle), but the 3.5" disk speed is not.  I know one could
use the RAM5 disk, but that involves copying files to and from floppy disk.

The next best thing is getting Diversi-Cache (now freeware I believe).
This caches the 3.5" disk making it seem as fast as a hard drive.  To take
advantage of it, you should have at least 1Meg of memory (which the ROM3 GS
comes with), but it can be configured to cache less for 256K ROM1 systems.
The difference is amazing.

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 93)

>>>>>
"""""
I always thought that Diversi-Cache was one of the under-appreciated
wonders of the IIgs world. Even with full caching turned off, disk I/O was
improved by reading a track at a time. (From memory, later versions of
GS/OS did much the same thing.) And with full caching, any disk became a
RAM disk! (Well, provided you didn't write too much.)

The only "down" side was that it didn't know how to handle the SuperDrive
controller, so it would simply bypass itself.

Peter               peterw@syndicomm.com
Palm OS Community Bulletin Board Manager

(PETERW, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 96)

>>>>>
"""""
Also with  Copy 2+ you can't use the sector edit, or any advanced utility
feature with the SuperDrive controller.

I found some copy-protected programs that also hiccup with it.

Seems you can use the SuperDrive disk drive with the GS's built-in
smartport and Diversi-Cache (I'm using that config right now).

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 103)

>>>>>
"""""
>> Also with  Copy 2+ you can't use the sector edit, or any advanced
utility feature with the SuperDrive controller. <<

That's why I have my 800K drive on the Smartport, and the SuperDrive on the
SuperDrive controller in slot 6.

>> I found some copy-protected programs that also hiccup with it. <<

Another reason.

>> Seems you can use the SuperDrive disk drive with the GS's built-in
smartport and Diversi-Cache (I'm using that config right now). <<

In that config, the SuperDrive looks and works just like a standard GS
drive.

Currently, I don't have a 5.25" drive connected at all, but I could plug
one into the standard drive, and change slot 6 to built in port to use it.

 Carl Knoblock - Telephone Tech - Wed  6 Mar 02  8:32:59 pm
 cknoblo@applelinc.org - Via Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR v1.0b8
 KFest 2002, July 23-28, 2002 - 139 days till KFest
 On cable via LANceGS & Marinetti 2.0.1 - Thank you, Richard.
 A2 RTC Staff - Saturday Night House Party - carlk@syndicomm.com

(CARLK, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 105)

>>>>>
"""""
Posted by CARLK at 19:48 PST on Wed Mar 06, 2002

>> That's why I have my 800K drive on the Smartport, and the SuperDrive on
the SuperDrive controller in slot 6. <<

Excellent suggestion.  Now why didn't I think of that?

-Jeff

(FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 106)
[EOA]


[NWS]
NEW WEB SITE FOR Juiced.GS
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Juiced.GS has a new web site under construction, which includes information
about renewing and/or subscribing for 2002.  Visit http://www.juiced.gs for
information.

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 23, Top 2, Msg 195)
[EOA]


[GOC]
THE GOLDEN ORCHARD CD-ROM AVAILABLE VIA THE NET FROM SSII
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Hi. I just wanted to let folks know that The Golden Orchard CD-ROM can now
be ordered via the net, and paid for by credit card.

Shareware Solutions II's online order form can be found at:

http://order.kagi.com/?zs3

Joe Kohn
http://users.foxvalley.net/~joko

(JOKO, Cat 26, Top 2, Msg 100)
[EOA]


[UFS]
UPDATES FOR SPECTRUM
""""""""""""""""""""
Joe or Ewen,

Is there anyway to get a full install CD for Spectrum 2.5.2?  I have a slew
of Disks that makes it difficult to install.

Install 2.2
Install 2.3
Install 2.4
Install 2.5 etc....

Or is the only avenue for that buying the full version?

Thanks for you help and your programs.

Dain Neater

(A2.DAIN, Cat 26, Top 5, Msg 74)

>>>>>
"""""
As far as updates to Spectrum go, cost-wise, I'm cutting/pasting the info
here from my web site:

   The cost of Spectrum v2.5.2 is $35, and first time buyers can purchase
   the complete Spectrum package by credit card, on either 3.5" disk or
   CD-ROM, at Shareware Solutions II's online store at:
   http://order.kagi.com/?zs3

   Low cost updates for those who purchased Spectrum from My eSource are
   available only through the mail, as proof-of-purchase must be supplied.
   Costs for updates are as follows:

     v1.0-=>v2.5.2 upgrade $25

     v2.0-=>v2.5.2 upgrade $20

     v2.1-=>v2.5.2 upgrade $20

     v2.2-=>v2.5.2 upgrade $5

     v2.3-=>v2.5.2 upgrade $5

     v2.2-=>v2.5.2 CD upgrade $10

     v2.3-=>v2.5.2 CD upgrade $10

   Shareware Solutions II
   166 Alpine Street
   San Rafael, CA 94901

(JOKO, Cat 26, Top 5, Msg 77)
[EOA]


[PRS]
PADDED ROOM SOLUTION - PDF FROM WORD DOCUMENT :)
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Ahhh...the Padded Room is probably the best place to ask my question.

I've been asked by a computer-phobic PC user how to create a PDF file from
a Word word processing document. And, in this case, "darned if I know" is
not the correct answer ;-)

I looked at the Adobe site, and the only free download I saw was for the
Adobe Reader software. But, I figured that if there was software for the
IIGS that lets you create PDF files, surely, you don't need the full $500
(or so) Adobe Acrobat package to create them on a PC.

So, does anyone know of a free method to create PDF files on a PC from a
Word document?

Thanks.

Joe Kohn

(JOKO, Cat 2, Top 13, Msg 54)

>>>>>
"""""
I don't know of any way to do it on the PC, but on the Mac, there's
PrintToPDF, which is shareware, and Mac OS X has support for creating PDFs
built into pretty much any application.

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 2, Top 13, Msg 55)

>>>>>
"""""
Does anyone know of anything similar on a PeeCee?

Surely, they're gotta be 8 million ways; I just need one ;-)

Joe

(JOKO, Cat 2, Top 13, Msg 56)

>>>>>
"""""
I don't know of anything on the PC but if I were in need of one I would
start with www.download.com.

Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host
"Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT

(MARK, Cat 2, Top 13, Msg 57)

>>>>>
"""""
Like Sheppy, I don't know how to do so on a Windows box, but my experience
with the Mac says that a lot depends on how exact a replica you want.  The
free products are good, but if you need something that's production
quality, there's nothing that substitutes for the full version of Acrobat
(which, for those of us who qualify for an educational discount, can be had
at a really good price :).

Perhaps someone could do the conversion for you.  I would volunteer but I
don't anticipate any free time until April at least. . .

Ryan
Chief Sysop and Head Geek

(A2.RYAN, Cat 2, Top 13, Msg 58)

>>>>>
"""""
I don't have time to check right now, but my (somewhat flaky) memory tells
me that there is at least one web page where you can convert a Word(?)
document to PDF. It might even be on the Adobe site.

I'd suggest checking Google or the like.

Peter               peterw@syndicomm.com
Palm OS Community Bulletin Board Manager

(PETERW, Cat 2, Top 13, Msg 59)

>>>>>
"""""
Thanks, all. The 2 most important tips were "PDF Writer" and "download.com"

I passed the information along to the PC user that asked me how to create
PDF files, and I imagine in a couple of days, I'll get a question about how
to deal with a .zip file ;-)

Thanks!

Joe

(JOKO, Cat 2, Top 13, Msg 60)
[EOA]


[ATD]
ADDITIONS TO Apple II DEVELOPER DATABASE
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Lucas Scharenbroich
100 Hurlbut St. #19
Pasadena, CA 91105

Programmer of Super Mario Bros. GS and scads of unreleased stuff.

(LSCHAREN, Cat 50, Top 1, Msg 3)

>>>>>
"""""
Thomas A. Compter
P.O. Box 808
Milton, Vermont 05468

tcompter@syndicomm.com
tcompter@adelphia.net
TomCompter@aol.com
tcompter@gdarm.com

Programmer of Hammurabi GS (and hopefully more to come)
__________
  | homas

(TCOMPTER, Cat 50, Top 1, Msg 4)
[EOA]


[TRW]
WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE "REAL WORLD"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Well, since I've been out of the A@Central loop _because_ of moving to a
real job, I suppose I can post here first!

I'm a Research Programmer in the Machine Learning Systems group at NASA's
Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA.  See our group at

http://www-aig.jpl.nasa.gov/public/mls/mls_people.html

-Lucas

(LSCHAREN, Cat 50, Top 2, Msg 1)

>>>>>
"""""
Cool -- and sounds like fun work :)

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 50, Top 2, Msg 2)

>>>>>
"""""
Congrats, Lucas.  We all need to eat :)

Ryan
Chief Sysop and Head Geek

(RSUENAGA, Cat 50, Top 2, Msg 3)

>>>>>
"""""
It really is a blast.  Unfortunately, the trusty IIgs is not as useful for
doing 'real work' these days. :)  Although, since I have 2, a GS Beowulf
might help....

-Lucas

(LSCHAREN, Cat 50, Top 2, Msg 4)

>>>>>
"""""
My job title is Principal Software Engineer, but in real life I've been
doing everything from training to debugging to a smattering of project
management.

I wish I was doing more real software development, but hey; it's a living.
:)
_________
  | homas

(TCOMPTER, Cat 50, Top 2, Msg 5)

>>>>>
"""""
These days I'm a technical writer at PalmSource, Inc. (the company that
writes the operating system used in PDAs built by companies like
Handspring, Sony, Palm, etc).  I've been doing developer docs for creating
conduits for Mac OS X, mostly. :)

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 50, Top 2, Msg 6)
[EOA]


[GPS]
HOW DID OTHER PEOPLE GET THEIR A2 PROGRAMMING SKILLS?
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
I got started by sneaking home all of the old Nibble magazines our computer
lab had back in High School.  Typing in the BASIC listings, PEEK, POKES,
etc. After a while I started porting QBASIC programs to AppleSoft.

Then the usual (for A2 people, anyway) transition to assembler.  I actually
never bough a 'real' assembler and coded for about 2 years using the
mini-assemble and raw hex.  Finally picked up a copy of ORCA/C and the
Learning to Program/Toolbox Programming books and moved 100% to ORCA/C,
ORCA/M.

So, in summary, learning by doing.

-Lucas

(LSCHAREN, Cat 50, Top 6, Msg 30)

>>>>>
"""""
I have just started going through the learn to program C course off of
OPUS ][ again.  I knew some C at one time so I am trying to refamiliarize
myself. About the only thing I remember anymore is printf and that I hated
pointers;) My goal is to one day program something "useful" on the Apple
IIgs.

Right now I like my IIgs programming setup with One monitor on the Mac
filled with Bernie running Orca C and the other monitor filled with
Documentation.

Dain Neater
Watching the Boards
A2 Syndicomm

(A2.DAIN, Cat 50, Top 6, Msg 31)
[EOA]


[WTW]
ARE THERE ANY Apple II PROGRAMS WAITING TO BE WRITTEN?
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Are there any Apple II programs that are waiting to be written?  There are
at least a few people who don't want to suck when it comes time for KFest
2002.  :)

-Ken

(KGAGNE, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 22)

>>>>>
"""""
Stuff I'd like to see:

1. A Palm backup program, that would let you archive your Palm's data to
your IIgs and sync it back over.  Installing apps would be awesome.  The
open source ColdSync software might be a starting point.  Heck, just
installing Palm packages would be cool.

2. I could use a quick disk formatting tool.  Something that would cycle
through all my 3.5" drives formatting the disks in them until I tell it to
stop.  No interface of any kind, other than asking if I want to continue if
there aren't any disks in the drives.  Would be handy to be able to
preformat my disks before making all the disks I sell.  Supporting 5.25"
drives too would be nice.

3. Two words: PDF reader. :)

4. How about a program to create Palm eBooks from AppleWorks and AppleWorks
GS files?

5. AppleShare IP support for the LANceGS.  Bonus points galore for this
one.   :)

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 23)

>>>>>
"""""
I'd like just regular Appleshare support for LANceGS too.

Ryan

(A2.RYAN, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 24)

>>>>>
"""""
I've been thinking of a couple NDAs ...

A dictionary one to extract dictionary definitions from one of the various
online dictionaries.

A stock ticker one to do the same thing, but with stock prices.

Kelvin

(KWS, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 25)

>>>>>
"""""
Those would both be handy.

I admit that these days I use my GS only for a few specific tasks.  I make
disks with it, and a few other things, but otherwise it just sits there.

What would be really great would be some software that would let my GS take
over one or more tasks that I normally run some little app or another on my
Mac, like watching my stocks, or syncing my Palm, or whatever.

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 26)

>>>>>
"""""
I've always wanted a better word processor that was IIgs native.

Ryan

(A2.RYAN, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 27)

>>>>>
"""""
8 bit TCPIP stack for LANceGS.

Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host
"Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT

(MARK, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 28)

>>>>>
"""""
>> 1. A Palm backup program, that would let you archive your Palm's data to
your IIgs and sync it back over.  Installing apps would  be awesome.  The
open source ColdSync software might be a starting  point.  Heck, just
installing Palm packages would be cool. <<

Presumably, though, this would require a serial cradle/cable, right?
I guess you can still get them in the aftermarket, huh?

>> 2. I could use a quick disk formatting tool.  Something that would cycle
through all my 3.5" drives formatting the disks in  them until I tell it to
stop.  No interface of any kind, other  than asking if I want to continue
if there aren't any disks in  the drives.  Would be handy to be able to
preformat my disks before making all the disks I sell.  Supporting 5.25"
drives too would be nice. <<

Doesn't PROSel do all of that except the 5.25 drive part, or am I reading
that wrong?
_________
  | homas

(TCOMPTER, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 29)

>>>>>
"""""
>> Presumably, though, this would require a serial cradle/cable, right?
I guess you can still get them in the aftermarket, huh? <<

Yes, it would.  And you can get cradles new still.

>> Doesn't PROSel do all of that except the 5.25 drive part, or am I
reading that wrong? <<

I'm not aware of ProSEL having a quick disk batch formatter, and even if it
does, it's overkill -- I want just a little app that only does that. :)

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 30)

>>>>>
"""""
I have a (mostly) Applesoft "mass format" program that I wrote many moons
ago. It only handles one or two 3.5" drives, but once started all you have
to do is keep the drives fed with disks.

Let me know if you want a copy.

(Hmmm, it was released as part of the first shareware disk I ever did. I
don't think it ever made the usual archives, but it *may* be on Mike's Opus
][. I sent Mike some stuff for the user contributions section, but I can't
remember if I included those programs or just the MS-DOS stuff. If it's
there (maybe in a .SHK file), it will be called Mass.Format.)

Peter               peterw@syndicomm.com
Palm OS Community Bulletin Board Manager

(PETERW, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 33)

>>>>>
"""""
>> Are there any Apple II programs that are waiting to be written? <<

Lots. The Apple II has still got a lot of untapped potential.

>> There are at least a few people who don't want to suck when it comes
time for KFest 2002. <<

Well, I for one don't intend to suck!

Kim Howe
Newton Forum Host

(KIMHOWE, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 39)

>>>>>
"""""
>> I've always wanted a better word processor that was IIgs native. <<

What feature set would you look for in a IIgs native word processor?
Obviously there are already a few, from NDAs like Hermes through to feature
laden ones like Medley. What do you want that you can't get?

Kim Howe
Newton Forum Host

(KIMHOWE, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 40)

>>>>>
"""""
>> What feature set would you look for in a IIgs native word processor. <<

Well, margin and page length controls.  Actual pagination.  Something that
no TextEdit word processor supports.

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                                sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                  http://www.syndicomm.com
                     Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 41)

>>>>>
"""""
>> What feature set would you look for in a IIgs native word processor. <<

Multiple rulers, headers and footers, page numbering, easy file exchange
with other data formats, page breaks, macros (although you can get this in
GS/OS with Instant Replay anyway), spell check (NiftySpell?). . .

Ryan
Chief Sysop and Head Geek

(A2.RYAN, Cat 50, Top 10, Msg 42)
[EOA]


[POS]
PORT OPEN-SOURCE PALM SYNC UTILITIES TO THE IIgs?
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Has anyone looked into porting one of the open-source Palm sync utilities,
like ColdSync, to the IIgs?

I think it'd be a great, handy use for my IIgs, to use it as a backup
station for my Palm. :)

Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd                               sheppy@syndicomm.com
Owner, Syndicomm                                 http://www.syndicomm.com

                    Building communities, bit by bit.

(SYNDICOMM, Cat 57, Top 13, Msg 1)

>>>>>
"""""
Dain writes.....or tries to....

That would be a great idea.  A Newton Backup utility would be nice too.
How difficult is it to write programs such as this?

Dain Neater
A2 Bulletin Board Manager.

(A2.DAIN, Cat 57, Top 13, Msg 2)

>>>>>
"""""
Hm.  Thinking about it, I don't see any reason why you couldn't do a Palm
sync utility over serial in, say, a Spectrum script.

Newton, I'm not sure.  Years ago, there was a Newton package called YAPI,
Yet Another Package Installer, which let you install packages through a
null modem connection with any computer that did YModem or XModem, iirc.
That was pretty neat :)

Ryan

(A2.RYAN, Cat 57, Top 13, Msg 3)
[EOA]


[AFT]
ABOUT FILE TRANSFERS
""""""""""""""""""""
I was just curious about file transfers.  My only real experience with file
transfers came from using Zmodem on a Unix Machine at college and some
Zmodem and Xmodem stuff transferring files from Hyper Terminal on a PC to
my IIgs.  I have seen Y-Modem but have no clue what this is?

What makes one better than the other anyway?

Dain Neater

(A2.DAIN, Cat 57, Top 49, Msg 1)

>>>>>
"""""
X-Modem was the first of the error-free protocol file transfer methods. It,
and all the others, use a packet of data with a check-sum. if the check-sum
does not match, then the receiving end ask for the packet again. This way,
you get an error-free transfer regardless of the integrity of the
connection.

X-Modem does not carry the filename, and in general uses small packets,
although there is a 4K X-modem option that some hosts support. As each
packet has to be acknowledged, the turn round for a packet can be slow if
the distance between the host and the receiving computer is great.

Y-modem carries the filename, and can have larger packets and an improved
check-sum. Also Y-modem can 'batch' a number of files per session. It is
therefore more robust.

Z-modem also carries the filename, has an improved check-sum, and variable
length packets. However the main speed boost with Zmodem is that it uses a
send-ahead method, whereby the next packet is sent out regardless of
whether the previous one has been acknowledged. This speeds things up
dramatically on long distance connections. Also Z-modem can resume a
transfer in the middle, if you had to abort a download for any reason.

Finally there is Kermit. Kermit was designed to work on almost any link you
might come across. It can handle both 7 and 8 bit connections, and can have
optionally very large packets and a windowed mode. When you start a
transfer, it negotiates with the other end to see what features are
supported. The best method is chosen to suit both ends. It supports large
packets, has improved check-sums, send-ahead, and a windowed mode where bad
packets can be re-requested from the middle of a window. Zmodem always goes
back to the last good packet to resume a download.

Kermit IMHO is very much underrated, as if both ends support all the
features, it is actually faster than Zmodem. However it is rare to find a
host that supports all the features, so usually you end up with a slow
small packet transfer often with only a 7 bit transfer rate. Spectrum
supports most Kermit features, so against a full featured host, it can
outrun Z-modem!

As TCP/IP is an error-free connection in itself, you do not need to have
packets and check-sums, as data can flow freely. FTP file transfer simply
dumps the data as fast as it can across the link, but is only available if
you use an Internet connection through Marinetti.

 Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sun 3 Mar 2002 - 142 days till KFest '02
 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR 1.0b5
 Setup: Bernie ][ the Rescue 3.0 and a dual G4/800Mhz GeForce3
 http://www.ewannop.btinternet.co.uk/

(CONDUCTOR, Cat 57, Top 49, Msg 2)

>>>>>
"""""
Dain,

In addition to Ewen's excellent descriptions, check out the printed manual
for ProTERM A2, if you have it.  The book includes historical and technical
information on the various protocols.

-Ken

(KGAGNE, Cat 57, Top 49, Msg 3)
[EOA]



------------------------------------
      ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM SYNDICOMM |
------------------------------------

by Lyle Syverson <lyle@foxvalley.net>

[DLC]
DATED ANNOUNCEMENT - DON'T MISS THIS
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Subject: [A2Central.com] Special Dave Lyons Chat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A2Central.com's RTC (Real Time Conference) is happy to announce a Special
Event coming March 18th.

We'll be bringing a well know Apple II Illuminati to our Monday Chat
session.

Very few Apple II users will be ignorant of the contributions of Dave
Lyons.

Dave is a former Apple IIGS system software engineer, currently working as
a Mac OS X system software engineer.  He is noted for his programs DIcED,
Davex, and worked on Shrinkit GS with Andy Nicholas.  And according to our
sources, he's not finished with the Apple II even yet.

So, mark your calendar and join us  Monday, March 18th, at 7:00 PM PST.
If you aren't currently a member of A2Central.com, feel free to follow the
links at:

http://www.a2central.com/join/index.html

You don't know what you're missing!

Cindy Adams
Syndicomm PR Manager
http://www.syndicomm.com
Building communities bit by bit.

(email)
[EOA]


[TSU]
TO SIGN UP FOR SYNDICOMM ONLINE
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Please visit our web site at http://www.syndicomm.com for information or to
sign up!

(Logon message)
[EOA]



------------------------------------
      DISTILLATIONS FROM DELPHI A2 |
------------------------------------

by Lyle Syverson <lyle@foxvalley.net>

[DNS]
5.25 DRIVE NOT SHOWING UP IN GS/OS
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Here's an interesting one. I recently acquired 2 apple platinum 5.25 drives
and put them on my GS. For some reason only 5.25A shows up in GS/OS. 5.25B
is nowhere to be found. However, in P8, they both work great. All my P8
disk utilities, and even older 2-disk games on my ][plus work fine in both
drives.

I thought maybe I had too many devices listed in the finder, so I disabled
most of my HD partitions with the RamFAST utility, but still no luck.

My floppy drive chain is plugged in like this:
GS -> 3.5 d1 -> 3.5 d2 -> 5.25 d1 -> 5.25 d2

I also have a Zip accelerator, RamFAST RevD, and LanceGS, 5 meg RAM (4 meg
card on Rom 3) and running System 6.0.1 with all the patches that I know
of.

Thanks,

Matt

(MPORTUNE, 3571.1, Delphi A2 web side)

>>>>>
"""""
It took a bit of remembering, but I know the reason and a solution...
Before System 6, the OS would attempt to detect how many 5.25 drives were
attached to the diskport (or card based controller) and display an icon for
each appropriate drive found. The problem was some third party drives,
including Apple-made drives, weren't always being detected properly.

So, when System 6.0 was introduced, GS/OS would just automatically place
_two_ 5.25 drive icons on the desktop (for each controller found)
regardless of how many drives were connected. Lots of people with only a
single 5.25 drive found this annoying and patched the device driver so it
would only show *1* drive icon on the desktop. I'm pretty sure this is what
you must have done 10 years ago and forgot (in fact I had to think about
this a bit before my memory kicked in since my system is set up this way).
:)

The solution is to revert the 'Appledisk5.25' driver found in
/System/Drivers back to how it came. Simply change the auxiliary filetype
back to "$010E"--it's probably set to $0101 or $0103 if you're seeing only
one drive icon now. Or you could just copy over the driver with one from a
clean copy of the System 6.0.1 disks, that would obviously work too.

Reboot and you should see two 5.25 drives on your desktop.

ps - ProTERM 3.1 is handy for quickly changing filetype/auxiliary types,
just go to the 'Set File Info' option in the File menu.

Mitchell Spector
a_specto@alcor.concordia.ca

(SPECTOR1, 3571.5, Delphi A2 web side)

>>>>>
"""""
Mitch, as usual you're a genius! You were dead on - it was set to 0103.
Resetting it to 010E fixed it. Thanks a million!

- Matt

(MPORTUNE, 3571.6, Delphi A2 web side)
[EOA]


[ATS]
ANDROMEDA TV SERIES AND THE IIgs?
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
A few weeks ago while watching TV, I caught a sci-fi series called
Andromeda (it's been on 2 years now actually, it's another one of those
Gene Roddenberry story concept show). While the show is pretty mediocre and
not something I'd watch, there was something about it the one or two times
I've watched it that kind of made me curious if the writers weren't former
IIgs fan...

Within the show they apparently have a group called the "FTA" and some race
called the "MaGog". FTA even uses the same acronym, only the word "Trade"
replaces "Tools". Could this be some obscure fan refer to the FTA and
Olivier Goguel? (who went by the name Gog).

Of course it could just be a coincidence. :)

Mitch

(SPECTOR1, 3572.1, Delphi A2 web side)

>>>>>
"""""
heh.

I've been watching Andromeda since it started and I never made the
connection but now that you mention it... :)

Jeff Blakeney
Dean of the Apple II University in the A2Pro Forum

(JBLAKENEY, 3572.2, Delphi A2 web side)
[EOA]



------------------------------------
             LETTERS TO THE EDITOR |
------------------------------------

[NLE]
NO LETTERS TO THE EDITOR THIS MONTH
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
The mail box for Letters to the Editor remained empty this month.
[EOA]


[LTE]
AN INVITATION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Express your opinions about the comings and goings in the world of the
Apple II computers.

Send your comments to Lyle Syverson, Editor <lyle@FoxValley.net>

The Editor reserves the right to edit any material submitted.

The Editor reserves the right to reject any material he considers
unsuitable for publication in _The Lamp!_.
[EOA]



[KFT]------------------------------
                       KFest 2002 |
-----------------------------------

[PAK]
PLAN AHEAD FOR K-Fest 2002
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
KansasFest 2002 is scheduled for July 23 through 28 of 2002.  Plan ahead.
Mark your calendar.  Start saving your money.  Join us for K-Fest 2002!

For additional information visit the K-Fest Home Page at:
                http://www.kfest.org/
[EOA]


[KFR]
K-Fest 2002 REGISTRATION INFORMATION SOON
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
We have finally received the info we needed from Avila to establish the
prices for this year's KFest. It will take us a few more days to figure out
how to keep the prices as low as possible but we hope to post the relevant
info RSN.

Stay tuned and continue to make your plans to attend this very special
event!

Steve (KFest Grand Gouda)

(email)
[EOA]



[INN]------------------------------
                     EXTRA INNINGS |
-----------------------------------
About The Lamp!   The Lamp! is published on the fifteenth of every month on
"""""""""""""""   the WEB at:   http://lamp.a2central.com/

This publication produced entirely with real or emulated Apple II computers
using Appleworks 5.1 and Hermes.  Apple II Forever!

     * The Lamp! is (c) copyright 2002 by Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W.  All
       rights reserved.

     * To reach The Lamp! on Internet email send mail to
       thelamp@sheppyware.net

     * All issues of The Lamp! are available at The Lamp! Home Page,
       http://lamp.a2central.com/

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors, and do not
necessarily represent the opinions of A2Central.com, Delphi Online
Services, Syndicomm, Ryan M. Suenaga, or Lyle Syverson.  Forum messages are
reprinted verbatim and are included in this publication with permission
from the individual authors.  A2Central.com, Delphi Online Services,
Syndicomm, Ryan M. Suenaga, and Lyle Syverson 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 not be reprinted without the
expressed written consent of the  publisher.   Registered computer user
groups, not for profit publications , and other interested parties may
write the publisher to apply for permission to reprint any or all material.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<



[EOF]
