LnSOS BOOT 1.1 SOS.KERNEL SOS KRNLI/O ERRORFILE 'SOS.KERNEL' NOT FOUND%INVALID KERNEL FILE: xةw,@  ȱlmi8#)!)  !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;?+R<".(VOL4.NO5|,U<"%(VOL4.NO33b<)-III.INF.18u' (VOL4.NO65|f%;DISKNAME.DAT<< <**MENU.MAKER > |< )PRINT.ALL H< %SEG.T MjdLԡm#i㰼m#iЕOLԡȱfg hi !dLԡ憦  Ljmkm l y`2 Lԡ8(Je稽)ʈ@L ______________________________________________________________________________ ============================================================================== **** T A U T A L E S MARCH 1986 **** __________________________eir systems to those of other vendors." This venture is a who's who of the computer business. It includes: IBM, AT&T, DEC, Hewlett-Packard, Sperry, Wang, Xerox, and many others. INFOWORLD PROVES ITS TIMELINESS: Last month InfoWorld had an article introhis nonprofit, trade organization is to promote and establish communication standards. Del Yocam said, "This group's charter is in keeping with our commitment, announced last fall, to make it possible for Macintosh and Apple II users to easily connect th Fortune magazine, Compaq has reached the Fortune 500 (mostly at the expense of IBM's market share). APPLE JOINS COS: Apple was the first personal computer only manufacturer to join the still-forming Corporation for Open Systems. The goal of ts structure of placing the drive inside the box, it's easy for an impostor to go unnoticed. IBM is screaming fraud, but so far no court action has been taken. To add to IBM's woes is the report that Compaq had record earnings for fiscal 1985. According tog of approved parts with inferior ones by some dealers. IBM's pricing policies that brought about the gray-market and intense competition from clones have forced many dealers to reduce PC costs by changing disk drives for less expensive ones. With the PC'scounts in order to drive them into line or out of the market. All the while rumors abound about new PC's soon to be released and price reductions on current models. IBM has 16 different PCmodels currently available. Another IBM problem is the replacinnd other problems have been plaguing the computer maker that up to now, could do no wrong. Currently IBM is battling the gray-market in discount PC's. IBM's battle plan is to freeze new dealerships for companies suspected of selling PC's below accepted diatens to obsolete the IIe, and Apple's "failure to penetrate the business market". IBM STILL HAVING PC TROUBLES: For the second time in the past few months, Financial Analysts have lowered their opinion of International Business Machines. Poor sales ation of /// software. This move was only the beginning of a rift with Apple that has brought State of the Art to halt Apple II production, and freeze Mac development. State of the Art is concerned over introduction of the new Apple II computer that three II. The honor roll of products now include an old friend, Quark -- Catalyst 3.0 for the II--; Mouse: word, calc, budget, desk; Jeeves; and Pinpoint; STATE OF THE ART DISCONTINUES APPLE /// ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE: In August State of the Art stopped producproducts. It should be up and running by summer in Cupertino. APPLE II GETS 'LOOKS-LIFT': One of the interesting things that has been happening in the past months is the wealth of new products by third party developers that bring some Mac operation to thng given to developers. APPLE BUYS A CRAY: Apple is reported to have purchased a Cray X-MP/48 super computer for $14.5 million. It will be used for product development, and to simulate hardware and software architectures in order to evaluate prospective powered by a 65SC816 chip from Western Design Center of Tempe, Arizona, compatible with the current II's 6502 and able to emulate the MAC's 68000. Also it will support 3 1/2 inch disk drives. Several reports have stated the new Apple II prototypes are bei____________________________________________________ ============================================================================== APPLE AND OTHER MICRO NEWS: NEW APPLE II COMPUTER RUMORED FOR LATER THIS YEAR: If InfoWorld is to be believed, it will beducing the Titan /// plus IIe card thus proving the Apple /// is not dead just ignored by the national press. COMMODORE STILL HANGING IN THERE: Though Commodore posted a $53.2 million loss for the last quarter and was in technical default, a new financing arrangement was made with bankers. The arrangement provided money only for thirty days, until the middle of March. By then Commodore must show improvement. COMPUSERVE, MCI LINK E-MAIL SYSTEMS: This could be a needed first step to a true mail system. Whrd about an Apple /// success.] (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*) PROJECT TO DEVELOP A SLOT EXTENDER FOR THE /// This would add 3 or 4 slots, all accessible by programs "simultaneously". These would be high the Apple ///. He is quick to support any project to bring better software and hardware to the market at reasonable rates as well as using his experience and expertise to help the Apple /// community at large. It is always a pleasure for us to pass the woe: Frank Moore has been an Apple /// supporter and enthusiast for a number of years. We have watched his Magazine grow from a single sheet newsletter and we hope and expect it to continue to prosper. In addition he has always been a leading advocate of Mexico for 12 issues [one year]) SEND CHECKS TO: THE /// MAGAZINE 3201 Murchison Way Carmichael, CA 95608 ATTN: NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS [ Editor's note.) YOU DON'T HAVE TO MISS A THING. The subscription rate is $40.00 (2nd Class in the United States only) $50.00 (First Class USA, Canada, and Mexico) $60.00 (First Class outside USA, Canada, andticles, rumors and news about the Apple ///. All /// MAGAZINE subscribers begin their subscription as of the first of each year. All 1986 issues of THE /// MAGAZINE are included in the subscription. (Copies of the 1985 issues are availabl SOURCE FOR APPLE /// OWNERS THE /// MAGAZINE enters its SECOND year of publication as an international monthly review of the Apple /// and service to the Apple /// community. Each and every month it publishes tips, ar Schaumburg, Illinois @#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@# T H E / / / M A G A Z I N E AN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL AND @!@!@!@!@!@!@ OUR NEXT CHICAGO AREA GROUP MEETINGS ARE: Wednesday MARCH 26, 1986 7:00 P.M. Wednesday APRIL 30, 1986 7:00 P.M. The meetings are at: 1612 East Algonquin Road Suite I (2nd floor) e Sunday April 17 at the Holiday Inn Itasca (860 Irving Park Road, Itasca, Il). For more information, call:312-940-7547. TAU officers plan to be present with a table. Come on by to see us. @!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!ain hunter or looking for something no longer available. Those of you in the USA Midwest should be aware of COMPUTER CENTRAL which holds shows 4 times a year. They actually drew several thousand people during the recent Super Bowl. Their next show will b that tell of parts, new and used equipment and software at very attractive prices. Where? At local computer shows and auctions. This phenomena is becoming a national pastime (like flea markets for antique lovers) and should not be missed if you are a barg Singapore. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CHEAP! =========================== Recently a TAU member found a 256k /// still in the box for less than $400. There are several other storiesile neither are large, if they can draw others into the group, E-Mail might finally live up to predictions. APPLE in SINGAPORE: On March 14, the Nightly Business News (PBS) reported that APPLE announced it is building a $12 million distribution center inspeed slots and powered externally (not by the already stretched /// power supply). Modified Systems Utilities and SOS update would be provided to support the hardware. We need 100 people to commit to a purchase for these to go into production. Similar extenders for IBM run about $600. The price is expected be between $350 and $450. PLEASE NOTIFY FRANK MOORE (address above) IMMEDIATELY, if you are interested. The project cannot proceed if there is not enough interest! HOW TO ADJUST THE SPEED Obe able to read any disks that were created on the pre-adjustment drive(s). To resolve this, you will have to copy your A143 files to another media (Profile, 143k floppy) BEFORE you adjust the drive, then copy them back to the A143 after you adjust them. e the bottom cover, then the top/side cover to the drive. 5. To test the speed, try to format a blank disk. The system utilities will inform you if the speed is off. Note that if your speed was appreciably off before you adjusted the drive, you might not are using a metal screwdriver, be sure to remove the screwdriver from contact with the POT before doing your final check; as it will influence the speed. Continued on next page. Adjusting your disk drive..continued 4. You can now re-assemblrive spinning and watch the strobe wheel. If the little black squares on the outside of the strobe wheel are moving, then your drive speed is off. Insert your screwdriver in the adj.POT at location P2 and turn it until the black squares stop moving. If youously until you press CONTROL/C. If you don't have basic, use your System Utilities List Files function, but you'll have to do a lot of keying (good use for Powerkeys). Incidentally, the little program above is also good for cleaning your drives. Get the de so the light will shine on the strobe wheel and the adj. POT at location P2. 3. You need a way to make your drive run so you can check the speed. If you have basic, you can write a program like 10 CATALOG ".Dx":GOTO 10. This will spin your drive continu (looking at it from the front). This exposes the strobe wheel, which has black squares on it. It also exposes the adjusting POT. You'll see a 50 and a 60 on the wheel. You use the 60 MHZ wheel, or the outside one. I move my fluorescent light over the drivtrol the speed, but it will prevent you from reading/writing data if you adjust it from its factory setting 2. Remove the 4 Phillips Head screws on the bottom of the drive. Remove the bottom cover and set it aside. I usually lay my drive on its right side2 in the middle of the LEFT side as you look at the front of the drive. It has the same little brass adjustment screw as the Disk /// and ][, sticking out at a 90 degree angle to the left side of the disk drive. Do NOT adjust the POT at P1, it does NOT con(2 on each side). Slide the top/side cover toward the rear of the drive and set it aside. The circuit board that covers the top of the drive as you look down on it is the Analog board. The speed adjustment POT is directly opposite location P1 at location Pul programs, though), and not having to remove the A143's from their position in the disk drive daisy chain to adjust them. Here are the steps to adjust the drive: (Done with Power ON) 1. Remove the 4 Phillips Head screws on the sides of the disk drive positioned over the disk drive. NOTE: Read all instructions before starting this procedure, particularly #5. The advantages of using this technique include not having to buy Locksmith or Copy ][+ if you have no other use for them (they are awfully usefr Copy ][+. What you will need is: . 1 Phillips screwdriver to remove the cabinet from the drive; . 1 small slotted screwdriver to turn the speed adjustment POT with; . the System Utilities program or Business Basic; . a fluorescent light that can beF YOUR MICRO-SCI A143 (or Apple) DISK DRIVE ==================================================================== by Ed Gooding Here's a technique to adjust the speed of your Micro-Sci A143 disk drive. It does NOT require a special program like Locksmith oNOTE: This technique will also work on the Micro-Sci A3 and Apple Disk /// drives. The only difference is that the speed adjustment POT is located on the vertically mounted board at the back of the drive, and the POT adjusting screw projects at a 90 degree angle from the RIGHT side of the drive. The A3 has a predrilled hole by the POT so you don't have to remove the top/side cover, as well. I have drilled 1/4" holes in the cabinets of my Disk ///'s and my Apple /// computer cover to allow me access to thallel) * Setting up a printer (serial) * Overview of languages and general purpose software available * Intro to advanced topics (i.e. what is a hard disk) Our goal is to get out a first (simplest level) kit as quickly ases (backup, copy protection etc) * Sources for help and information We can use BEGINNER LEVEL articles on: * Using System Utilities (very basic use, step by step) * Choosing a printer * Setting up a printer (parlready been made for writing sections on: * Finding your way around the hardware (keyboard, plugs etc) * A Novices view of SOS and booting * Directories and Directory Structures and pathnames * Practical Procedur. The idea is to develop a 'public domain' /// information source to assist new owners at the cheapest possible cost for the most USEFUL information. If it goes over well enough, we will be able to add more advanced kits in the future. Commitments have a in the series will be a /// STARTER KIT. These kits will be notebooks and in some cases will contain diskettes. They will be sold (for enough to cover our expenses) by TAU and other groups supporting the /// (each group will have to set their own price)or documentation (sometimes without any diskettes). The /// HELPLINE has helped several of these people but it is very time consuming to do by telephone and letter. Thus: a new series of kits is being planned to provide coverage of /// topics. The firstLP... TAU has started a new project and is soliciting authors to assist. The recent availability of ///'s at very low prices has already resulted in a lot of new /// owners. Unfortunately, almost all of these people are getting ///'s WITHOUT ANY MANUALS and any other information that you feel would be pertinent. Be forewarned, the Rann's do travel on business once and a while...you could get a call from us. SOS...HELP...SOS...HELP...SOS...HELP...SOS...HELP...SOS...HELP...SOS...HE and in some cases be interested in getting together with the traveler to discuss the ///. If you would be interested in being contacted by ///'rs planning a visit to your area, please send us: Name, Address, Phone, User Group/Club association,me had come. Thus, TAU will create a file with names, addresses, phone numbers of people willing to be contacted when another ///'er is coming into their region. It is expected that those people would provide information on local meeting places, dates etc.if people had an idea of how to contact other /// users when they were going to travel around the country (world?). Following up on that idea, we discussed it with several user groups and prominent /// people and found that it was truly an idea whose ti /// community has become in many ways a family. We have greatly enjoyed meeting and sharing information with other /// users. Mel Astrahan (author of Draw on /// and several games for the ///) called recently and suggested that it would be a good idea -- Compliments of ///'s Company - (804) 747-8752 (300/1200, 7 bits, odd parity) ============================================================================== Introducing: * /// PEOPLE ( A Person to Person Network) * Over the past few years, thee adjusting POT's without having to remove the covers. I have to use a speed measuring program to test the inboard drive since I don't take the cover off and turn the drive over. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- possible while starting work on intermediate and advanced kits. Suggestions for topics, and ideas for PD software which should be included are encouraged. Remember, the first kits are aimed at those who have not yet learned "computerese". Some of our newer users may be just as good at writing these as the "older pros". Please let us know what you will do to help. TAU c/o Lavona Rann, 1113 Wheaton Oaks Dr., Wheaton, IL 60187 Phone: (312) 665-6319 A N N O U N C I N G A N E W D I S . It works well with regular VisiCalc and /// EZ Pieces files but NOT with Advanced VisiCalc files (because it does not handle 'frozen' titles). There are about 15 more titles being "tested" by local TAU members for release in the next few months. Includnow what kind of damage exists and in MOST cases, allows you the option to have it FIX DIRECTORY DAMAGE for you. 055 DIFPRINT by Bloom Prints the entire breadth of a spreadsheet (or other data base that can create a DIF file) on a single page Anyone with a large disk of any kind should have this disk. It contains 2 very useful programs. One checks the disk for type, and general 'healthiness' and the other checks your directory and displays utilization of blocks, at the end it lets you ks $8.50 (plus $2.50 per order shipping.) TAU DISK LIBRARY: New Public Domain Diskettes ============================================= 053 VINDICATOR This bootable diskette, checks memory on systems up to 512K. 054 Hard Disk Tools Royalty: $5.00 Cost: $ 8.50 * See item 502. The data bases are in 3EZP data base format for easy reference. This version was received by TAU 3/14/86. * Note: Since all diskettes above have $5 royalties, the charge for each disk i. Ottalini Royalty: $5.00 Cost: $ 8.50 * See item 501. The bibliography is in a 3EZP data base file for easy reference. This version was received by TAU 3/14/86. 504 /// Data Bases 3EZP version Source: D. Ottalini he most recent copy of the six data bases listing such topics as /// User Groups, Books, Newsletters and Magazines, Dealers. New versions will be available periodically. (This one received by TAU 3/1/86). 503 /// Bibliography 3EZP version Source: Djournals such as A+, SOFTALK, INFOWORLD, the WAP Journal, and, of course, THE /// NEWSLETTER and MAGAZINE, and TAUTALES. 502 /// Data Bases ASCII version Source: D. Ottalini Royalty: $5.00 Cost: $ 8.50 * This is tBibliography ASCII version Source: D. Ottalini Royalty: $5.00 Cost: $ 8.50 * This is the most recent copy of the bibliography of over 700 articles on the ///. (received by TAU 3/1/86). Includes national magazines and could not be supported when overhead had to be added to the selling price. This new category will be called Royalty Disks and will be separately listed on all future TAU library listings and announcements. NEW ROYALTY DISKS ================= 501 /// ble to order these items from us without joining TAU. TAU as a not-for-profit organization, can basically eliminate the need for "middleman" add-ons to developer costs. Hopefully this will stimulate the market for some of the smaller price tag items that d for Public Domain items, currently $3.50 per diskette and 2.50 per order shipping). NOTE: these new items WILL NOT BE PUBLIC DOMAIN and are not to be made available to anyone but the original purchaser. Members of organizations belonging to TAU will be a's become apparent that not all the good software being developed is being distributed, or at least, in an effective manner. TAU has begun entering into agreements to distribute things at the cost to TAU plus our normal handling charges (i.e. those chargeK P O L I C Y ! In addition to continuing to expand our Public Domain and TAU member only diskette library, TAU has established procedures and agreements with several developers for distribution of their products thru TAU. Over the past few months, iting a copy of SuperApplewriter modified according to the D. Anderson suggestion found in this issue of TAUTALES. Diskette #052 has not yet become available but should be by next month. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? HINTS and ANSWERS via the /// HELPLINE ====================================== /// Easy Pieces - Al Bloom has figured out what conditions cause 3EZP to "kill SOS" while writing DIF or ASCII files to a disk. The problem occurs whenever the area be that International Solutions is giving away its desktop manager for a $10 handling charge because Apple is giving Catalyst 3.0 away with every Apple Unidisk 3.5. According to a review done in the same magazine, Mouse Desk will work without a mouse. If ythe pins on his profile card. For some reason, EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE JUMPER SET TO IGNORE THE PROFILE, the ///+//e is bothered by it, in some applications, if you do not modify the card. MOUSEDESK FREE UNTIL 3/31/86. A+ Magazine reports in their March issu that it helps to run the BACK side (slideshow) for a few seconds, hit open apple-reset and then boot the front side. COPY II+ gave one member problems until he A) removed UTIL.SYSTEM from the disk, which took away the utility features, OR B) he adjusted even though the machine works in /// mode. (Don't ask why, we don't know.) Most people that call have checked the chips on the TITAN cards but not the /// chips. Try it it you have problems. Dazzle Draw does work with the ///+//e. At least one user foundnd will place the corrected version in the TAU library (replacing the old #037). ///+//e///+//e///+//e///+//e///+//e///+//e///+//e///+//e///+//e///+//e///+//e TITAN ///+//e Corner ==================== Loose /// chips can cause a malfunction in //e mode ength field to tell SOS to load an extra 16 bytes. This requires changing the 13th byte in the file from 00 to 16. Thanks to Daryl Anderson, who figured this out and supplied the information to the /// community, we are fixing a copy of Super Applewriter ahe text string "[ Insert Sheet, Press RETURN " followed by a null value which the S-AW "print to console" routine apparently uses to sense the end of string. The fix is equally simple. Using a DISK BLOCK EDITOR you merely alter one byte of the header lwhat memory location to load the program at and also how long the program is (e.g. how much to load). The LENGTH value in the S-AW header is a tad less than the actual length of the INTERP program. And guess what's at the very end of the program - tfollowing: Fix for SuperApplewriter Single-Page Print Bug The problem is very simple. S-AW, as a standalone application, is a SOS.INTERP file. Such files contain at their beginning ("header") information that tells the Operating System l a debt of gratitude for his more than generous free upgrade. The new modules are being beta tested and debugged. A lengthy review will be in TAUTALES as soon as we get the modules and test them out. Daryl has also given us all another nice gift, see ary). Their phone number is: (415) 592-8097. Good News from the "Power Cave" =============================== Those of you who own POWER KEYS have by now gotten D.A.Datasystems announcement concerning the upgrade and new modules. We all owe Darynto the possibility of a fan designed for the ///). Memory chips that work in the /// and in the ///+//e cards can be ordered from Jameco Electronics in Belmont, CA. Ask for 4164N-150 dynamic RAM chips. At last report they were $1.25 (up from .89 in Janung and causing chips to loosen when the machine goes thru warmup/cool down cycles (assuming you turn it off). Strange behavior like a dead keyboard in the middle of an everyday application is often the result of loose chips. (P.S. a TAU member is looking ieing dumped contains a blank non-numeric field. (i.e. a label field with nothing in it). Dan Wade thinks that there may be other causes, as well. A rash of loose chip problems have been reported. If you have several cards in your ///, it may be overheatiou want the program,, send your check for $10 to Mouse Desk Offer, International Solutions, P.O. Box 3541, Saratoga, CA 95070-1541. When we called them, they said that shipping time was about 6 weeks from order receipt. Be certain to ask for the 5 1/4 diskette version for the //e. ON THE WAY: APOLLO SOFTWARE has 2 new packages out for the /// which they are sending us to review: MACSTUFF: a PASCAL intrinsic unit for you to use to add mouse/joystick Mac-like menus to your programs, and FONT GEN(J)=A$(I),1,31)!J/2<>J/2)=4:=+1:ۙ=44B$(J);:J=J+1I:1,180,22:2,280,21:2,2380,23:8A$(1000),B$(1000),C%(511),C$(20),name$(20):=10:=0UCA=128:LCA=UCA+32CT=15 IF PREFIX$= PREFIX$+MID$(B$(I),=?@ABCDEFVOLUME NAME (/DISKNAME) OR DEVICE NAME (.Dx)"P12);::"80C";a$;:Zb$="CHANGING DISKS"$d=23:=0::"80C";b$;::12).n=12:=20:"MAKE A NEW MENU FOR DISK: ";N$xN$)<2110=N$ :210 I=1L(A$(I),A$))200B$0 WAP /// SIG MENU.MAKER PROGRAM (v. 6.2) =".D1"210: Coldstart (320: Warmstart &*X=11000: TEXT SLOW-DOWN LOOP ,X.1 CHANGE DISK SUBROUTINE23œ202:2200<RFa$=" YOU MAY SELECT YOUR DISK BY TAUTALES VOL 4 - 1985 - 1986 ee. Correspondence should be directed to: TAU c/o Lavona Rann 1113 Wheaton Oaks Drive Wheaton, Il 60187 MARCH 1986 TAU is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the accumulation and dissemination of information about (and relating to) the Apple /// computer. Membership fees are currently $15.00 a year, with a $5.00 initiation f***** * TAUTALES * ***************************************************************************** ***************************************************************************** Volume 4 No. 6 a Royalty Disk. His newly revised and improved Block Editor will also be along soon as a Royalty Disk. ***************************************************************************** ************************************************************************that software. New sort capability, file redefinition, creation of ASCII, DIF, and other format files from MLM files etc. Watch TAUTALES for details, this product will be available thru our Royalty Disk program. DAN WADE is going to release SIDEPRINT asERATOR ///. We also have the opportunity for a significant discount in return for a group purchase of either or both of these products. AL BLOOM has a package of utilities for use with Mail List Manager that open up a world of possibilities to users of 16,B) THEN 240 #1, d$="":=10:"80C";d$ ž#1300I=0"I=I+1:#1;A$(I):290,#1 6L=I-1@j=1:same=0 J:SEG=0 Tœ2030^CT<1CT=1cCT>13000Zha$="{,|,~,}; selects; to new disk; 0260I=11000:I:200: ,I=1X 14000 6#2,F$(I)@#3,".PRINTER" Ja$,1)="/"5060:s=s-1 5030=a$240 MENU.MAKER 6.2 * Thanks to C.M.Davidson for his help!l; G$:::320H: Error Routine 202:U=11:"79C";"BAD PATH ERROR (NO DISK IN DISK DRIVE OR DESIRED FILE NOT FOUND.)"X=11000:X:::210Z a$="{,|,~,}; selects; back 1 leve 1600 &:WW=1:0 :SEG=1;".D1/SEG.F" SEG=1".D1/SEG.G"diskname$=3802  CATCH PASCAL TEXT FILES 202 :F*=08:"78C";"SORRY BUT MENU.MAKER CAN'T READ PASCAL TEXT FILES."04=10:"7M$="NOVEMBER":1750M$="DECEMBER":1750826);"-";M$;" ";Ѡ,2));", ";"19";Р,2);" ";/П,2))=>13П,2))-12;џ,6);:1780$П,2))=0"12";џ,6);:ٟ;$П,2))=>12" PM-":" AM-" 1830WW=1530 =26:=211660,1670,1680,1690,1700,1710,1720,1730,1740^M$="JANUARY":1750hM$="FEBRUARY":1750rM$="MARCH":1750|M$="APRIL":1750M$="MAY":1750M$="JUNE":1750M$="JULY":1750M$="AUGUST":1750M$="SEPTEMBER":1750M$="OCTOBER":1750T 0")2070H540R\A$="RUNNING "+B$(I),16,B)f"79C";A$;:=0pB$(I),16,B) z::SEG=1".D1/SEG.T"t=+B$(I),16,B) yCT=CT+1~240:=24:=0:"@ ..... "DATE.TIME.LINE" ....JM=Ҡ,4,2))BTM1630,1640,1650,0=+IBOTM/2-.5):I=IBOTM:I/2=I/2)I=I-1 œ2120B=B$(I),16)," ")-1 B$(I),"BASIC 0")850B$(I),"TEXT 0")890 B$(I),"CAT 0")1140*B$(I),"FONT 0")18504B$(I),"FOTO 0")1930>B$(I),"PASTXB$(I);v:520: 500THPOS=4:I/2=I/2)I=I-1I=IBOTM THPOS=44:I/2<>I/2)I=I+1I2=-1:I=I-2:IBOTM<30THPOS=44I=IBOTM/2)*2:=+IBOTM/2)-1:CA)"PRINT.ALL": OA+P 3HA=(81+UCA)A=(81+LCA):::: OA+Q Quits 3IA=(83+LCA)A=(83+UCA)"PRINT.SHOW": OA+S 2JA=(68+LCA)A=(68+UCA)/Screen.Savers/HELLON=THPOS:B$(I);XA<8A>11540bA-7640,660,690,720l:=THPOS:ٺ1600 =Q:WW=0A=:A=21A=9&oldprefix$=40A=31410: Control C "aborts" program to Basic(:A=13770: Return Selects a file *DA=27:50: Escape to change disks/FA=324000: back out one directory level 3GA=(80+UCA)A=(80+L"BASIC 0":150A$="TEXT 0":150A$="CAT 0":150A$="FONT 0":150A$="FOTO 0":150A$(L),"BLOCKS")510*=27:=19:"FREE MEMORY AVAILABLE: ";=7:=20:"80C";A$(L);$:=5:THPOS=4:I=1:IBOTM=J-1:620Q=:=26:=21:ž#2390 ^1000c: h#2;a$ma$rY=1150:Y0wB=B+1: Count the number of lines printed xB=15B=30355yB=60#3;12)zB=60B=1 {#3;a$|360B<=20#3;13)::410#3;12):Z=11000:ZI I=3GIJKR",220(204::"79A";""; 2D=1:F=1 <#4;a$ FD=D+1 P#5;a$ZD=60#5;12)dD=60D=1nF=F+1::d$;::Y=1100:Y x13402  CATCH PASCAL TEXT FILES 202 :F*=08:"78C";"SORRY BUT MENU.MAKER CAN'T R".D1/MENU.MAKER",220 d$="" A$="PRINTING "+B$(I),16,B)=01:=0::"80C";A$;:#3,B$(I),16,B)Z=1#3;b$:"78A";b$Z=Z+1:Z=18:1290 1260 #4,B$(I),16,B)#5,".PRINTER"+ž#4#5;12):::".D1/MENU.MAKE30C$="N"C$="n"1160;:=23:=0::"79C";"PRESS ANY KEY TO HALT LISTING": $1020.202 8::Z=1B::=23:=0::"79C";"WOULD YOU LIKE A PRINTED COPY?":1C$:C$<>"Y"C$<>"y"C$<>"N"C$<>"n"1170*C$="N"C$="n"LNO79C";"PRESS ANY KEY TO HALT LISTING"::202 1020#2,B$(I),16,B)ž#242:::1160Z=1#2;A$:"78A";A$Z=Z+1:Z>1842:::Z=1980*:=23:=0::"79C";"CONTINUE...?":1C$:C$<>"Y"C$<>"y"C$<>"N"C$<>"n"10 MENU.MAKER TEXT MODULESEG=0"MENU.MAKER"890&*X=11000: TEXT SLOW-DOWN LOOP ,X.1,180,22:2,280,21:2,2380,23:z:A$="LISTING "+B$(I),16,B)$=01:=0::"80C";A$;::12)>=23:=0::"2010C$="N"C$="n"200;:=23:=0::"79C";"PRESS ANY KEY TO HALT LISTING": 20002,280,21 DF$(I)=D$+"/DISKNAME.DAT"F$(I)=D$+"/FLASHNAME.DAT"410:ۺ310 PRINTER v 1.0 p$ 900A$="PRINTING"+F$(I):$=01:=0::"80C";A$;::12)F=23:=0::"79C";"PRESS ANY KEY TO HALT PRINTING"::2,280,21 2000*:=23:=0::"79C";"CONTINUE...?":1C$:C$<>"Y"C$<>"y"C$<>"N"C$<>"n"#1,D$::"Processing directory ";34);D$;34);", please wait."; ž#1880*#1;A$:A$)<48104A$,3,4)<>"TEXT"810>X=X+1:".";HE=15:F$=A$,16,15)RF$,E,1)=" "E=E-1:850\F$(X)=D$+"/"+F$,E)f810p:  Pausež#1740#1;A$:A$)<4710A$,3,4)="TEXT"X=X+1710 :X>YN=P::7);"There are no text files in the ";34);D$;34);" directory." ::I=P::7);"Unable to locate and open ";34);D$;34);" directory." ::IT$=N$,E,1):T$=" "T$=","610XE=E+1:E>N$)610:590bD$=N$,S,E-S)l:v:E>S+1600:D$="": œ770P=3:"Looking for ";34);D$;34);" directory." #1,D$=P3:"Reading from ";34);D$;34);" directory." I>X200300S=1:D=1:B=1570D$=""500 Y=X:S=ED$(D)=D$:640 X=Y440D=D+1:S=E:440D=D-1:X=0F$(X):X=0 J=1D D$=D$(J)790&J0 :œ6303DE=S+1:N$,S,1)=" "N$,S,1)=","S=S+1:580%NEAD PASCAL TEXT FILES."04=10:"78C";"ANY KEY RETURNS TO THE MENU."!>G$:::".D1/MENU.MAKER",320 ============================================================================== **** T A U T A L E S JANUARY 1986 **** ============================================================================== WELCOME TO 1986 -- This on a special project). While Apple isn't back to the high times of a few years ago, it was well enough off to throw a Christmas party for its 2,200 San Francisco area employees. Rosa Radicchi, Apple's spokesperson said a "Top recording group" and cently he has bought back more than $5 million worth of Apple stock, and is interested in accruing more. Wozniak currently remains close to Apple working as a paid consultant while running his own company, CL9. (Rumor has it that he is working long hours ech in the top ten was Tandy at number nine with a 40.1% (Tandy did well in share price too, closing at 39.4 for an increase of 61.5% .) Financial matters were on Stephen Wozniak's mind too. Last February, when he left Apple, he liquidated his holding. Reeased its "38th Annual Report on American Industry". FORBES figures return on equity by dividing earnings per share by Jan. 1 stock price for the past five years. Apple was rated second of 1004 companies with a 63.8% return on equity. The only other high tear end rally had not raised prices. The big winner in hardware makers was COMPAQ with a 107.9% gain in stock price closing at 13.1. Software winner is Ashton-Tate with a huge 198.0 gain closing at 18.8 In a related financial matter, FORBES magazine relason. Sculley points to the promising fact that Apple's gross margin is higher this quarter than it has been in three years. Apple still has a few financial problems. With the Dow up 28.7% this year, Apple stock fell 19.7%. It would have been lower if a y2 million profit or 85 cents a share. If so, it would replace last years Christmas quarter, $46 million or 75 cents per share, as Apple's all time most profitable quarter. All this was accomplished on a smaller number of unit sales than the 1984 holiday seR MICRO NEWS: ========================= APPLE IMPROVES PROFITS: Early word about Apple's first fiscal quarter, which covers the Christmas period, is better than anyone expected. Apparently Sculley's cost cutting proved effective. Apple is predicting a $5ose of you who have not already paid for 1986 please bring you check to a local meeting or mail to: TAU c/o Lavona Rann 1113 Wheaton Oaks Drive Wheaton, Il 60187 ^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^^* APPLE & OTHE year. As of the first of the year, membership fees for 1986 are due. Last year TAU officers voted to raise the yearly renewal fees to $15.00. This became necessary because of the doubling of the cost of printing TAUTALES and the increased postage rate. Thoore's THE /// MAGAZINE, TAU was correctly listed as the "World's largest Apple /// group". This year should be just as active, and hopefully, just as successful. The coming of the New Year brings with it new challenges as well as marking a new membershipPRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzpast year was the most successful in TAU's history. During the year we added a hundred names to our rolls, completed several group purchases, and strengthened relations with Apple and other active Apple /// support groups. In the December issue of Frank Mdance band entertained. RUMORS flow about new products scheduled for this year. Following is a summary of the noisiest. MACINTOSH -- the Mac Plus .50% faster operations .Base 1 meg expandable to 4 meg .Double-density 800K disk drive .Numeric keypad in Keyboard .Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) for connecting non Apple peripherals .New 128K ROM with hierarchical file structure for hard disk organization All this is said to be ready for January 14 release, just before Mac was well received. After little more than two years, who hasn't seen a sign, card, or banner, created by Print Shop. It was an amazing program that in reality did only a limited number of things, but it did them well, and was user friendly. This little proaches to the market blasted each other in the computer press from their market analysis charts and graphs, something has been happening quietly that may be the direction of software in the future. In 1984 Broderbund Software released a little program thattop of the line, expensive, multi-function program dead? Adam Osborne thinks it is. His view of the future of software is "dime store programs". Cheap one function programs as opposed to the multi-hundred do-it-all program. Is he right? While the two apprs -- perhaps indigestion after a steady diet of VisiCalc. Its 1-2-3 is not selling the way it once did, and its newer products have not met with the success of 1-2-3. Other top-line company's seem to be having difficulty keeping their market share. Is the ing the software wars as we have, you would have seen many software companies come and go. The maker of this years hit may be next years corporate disaster. Visicalc, once the king, shrank and was eaten by Lotus Corp. Now Lotus itself is having difficultieroducts. Hopefully it will have the good manners not to make us feel too inadequate. @#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@# DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY - an editorial by Richard Rann If you had been followbrain attacks a problem, and may be the key to true artificial intelligence because it demands that the computer recognize relationships between various functions and data. Perhaps by the turn of the century this research might begin finding its way into png one simple operation at a time. In Parallel the computer analyzes the problem breaking it into pieces which it processes all at once, then reassembles the final answer from the sum of the partial operations. This process is much closer to how the human ontrol Data has one on the drawing board rated at 10,000 megaflops. A word about research. Large amounts of money and efforts are being spent at places like the University of Illinois in an attempt to create Parallel Processing. Now, computers work by doistine; nor does it refer to the next failure of a PC clone. It stands for MILLIONS OF FLOATING POINT OPERATIONS PER SECOND which is coming to be the new standard for judging computer speed. The new Cray Research machine performs at 1,200 megaflops, and Cs VAX network. To accomplish all this Apple is relying on external developers and a reported increase of 50% of Apple's R&D budget. THE WORD FOR 1986 IS "MEGAFLOPS" No it isn't the danger inherent in standing close to an elephant with a discontinent intehe next 18 months able to transfer documents between it and IBM hosts through IBM's Logical Unit 6.2 software, Document Content Architecture, and Document Interchange Architecture. He also sees MacOffice linking through IBM's Token-Ring as well as Digital'erwriter with more memory, fonts, built-in functions. (Laserwriter has been winning awards as one of this years better products.) Future: Along with the new products another change brought about by John Sculley is IBM compatibility. He sees Macintosh in t World Exposition in San Francisco. LATER PRODUCTS -- .Color monitor in larger size .Larger monochrome monitor .Use of the faster Motorola 68020 chip (capable of running MS-DOS) .Products to increase compatibility between the // and Mac .New Lasogram of Broderbund's was competing with all sorts of graphics programs, many very complex and flexible, but for most people, not very useful. Where little Print Shop could only do a few things, it did the things people could use, and it did them easily. What was most important, Print Shop was inexpensive; everyone could afford it. For $49.95 list price you could make signs without several hundred dollars spent on some combination of graphics package, mouse, and graphics card. It is not surprising that Prie complete units will Broderbund have sold? Many, many more, we're sure, than products with the same total cost. Supermarket software might be the approach that lowers costs and increases total dollar sales. (Editor's Note: Print Shop DOES work in 48K EMUsly over a couple years, a piece at a time. Broderbund will, no doubt, have more Print Shop products in the future. In a few years their entire package will come to several hundred dollars, the up front price of top line graphics programs, but how many mor did a good thing with Print Shop. Currently they have three graphics add-ons and the newly released Print Shop Companion which offers a number of additional features. If a user purchased them all at list price they would have invested $164.75, but painless even a single individual, would be responsible for a product, thus cutting overhead and giving a quicker return on investment. "Add a feature software" seems to be the answer to the problem of the tight market for both consumer and developer. Broderbundash flow for an industry that has long periods of expensive development time. In addition, it would help the development bottleneck by not demanding that everything be finished and working at a single release date. Under this system a smaller staff, perhapor two, then died because they had nothing left. For too long, software companies have been pursuing the perfect program and have been dedicated to a large single sale with little thought to upgrades and add-ons. "Add a feature software" would spread the cvious advantage. To the software company, it represents a chance to quickly get a large installed. It also provides a way of controlling overhead while creating a ready market for additions. How many companies have had a good product, sold well for a year l - continued from prior page The supermarket approach to "add a feature software" could be the wave of the future. For the software user, the ability to tailor make a system that is easy to learn and has a low cost of getting started is just the most ob, complex manuals that accompany Lotus 1-2-3 or Advanced VisiCalc. Gone too would be the intimidation of learning a complex system. Beginners, or casual users, would have an easy to learn system that they can expand at their own pace. Editoriaou didn't want macros, then you wouldn't have to pay for them, and maybe most importantly, you wouldn't have to deal with them when you used the program. The basic program would be limited in function, but it would be easy to learn. Gone would be the heavyon features, tailoring the system to his own needs, and, most important, not buy any feature he does not need. Expand this concept to other types of software. How nice it would be to add exactly what features you find necessary in a data base program. If yarned by an already established market. What seems to be happening is "add a feature systems". Broderbund sells a basic system for a modest price then supplies a series of additional features at low prices. The consumer can select any or all of these add-years Broderbund has enhanced the original Print Shop with a handful of add-ons that move it slowly, but surely, towards the capability of more complex and expensive graphics programs. Taken individually each step is inexpensive, and easily accepted and lent Shop became as popular as it did, but the important fact is what happened next. Following the acceptance of Print Shop other products began appearing to enhance it. What is important is Broderbund's Creative Workshop Series. Over the period of a couple LATION mode. A brief review appeared in Tautales of February 1985 volume 3 number 5. There has been some difficulty with printers other than those specifically mentioned on the Print Shop box. Apple DMP and Imagewriter both work well.) (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*) TAU DISK LIBRARY PRIOR RELEASES: COMMENTS/WARNINGS Member John Lomartire discovered that the /// Diagnostic Disk (#022) does not properly test external drives. A corrected version is being develhtful authors wrote the printing options to use "inches" rather than spaces and line numbers. In a way this is nice but there are limitations in that only tenths of an inch are permitted. Consequently, when one tries to fit three records, each 15 lines lonlize other software packages. As an example, when a print-out of a relatively large /// E-Z Pieces file was needed, difficulty was encountered in fitting the desired number of records on the given page. /// E-Z Pieces is marvelous software but the thoug As the Apple /// becomes "obsolete" it is all to easy to feel sorry for ourselves and forget some of the very useful capabilities of the machine. Business Basic and Pascal are powerful tools which permit users to write their own software or more fully ution, write or call the HELPLINE! (312 665-6319) TAU 1113 Wheaton Oaks Drive, Wheaton, Il 60187 ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? DO IT YOURSELF by Russell Crom ================================== alize. HELPLINE: Open Issue Inventory Code Question/Problem A 101 Can the 20 meg Corvus with Constellation I drivers be used with Catalyst? Rumor says yes. Any info? PLEASE, if you can help at all on this questihat even at $650 there is resistance to PCjr and as many as 60,000 may be returned from the dealers. After heavy advertising, between $6 to $8 million, they were able to sell about half of their inventory. It seems that IBM's Apple challenge did not materisome of the need to xerox items for lawful owners of the many products (as well as giving us legal access to some new things). =\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\=\= EARLY WORD ON IBM'S CHRISTMAS FORTUNES: It seem t manuals that have leaked into the public domain. Apple appears about to formulate and announce a policy concerning access to the remainder of Apple /// "goodies" that they have and own. We are hopeful that the announcement will be soon and will forestall o us.) If you have ideas of things you would like to see in the TAU library, or items to donate, PLEASE let us know. HARDCOPY and other things from APPLE ==================================== We have deferred the xerox approach to copying several of the BASIC versions of programs for processing special output print formats of 3EZP files. (See article in this newsletter). Later: A revised font program and a disk of all the fonts we can find. (If you have any unique Public Domain fonts, please send them t would like all OMNIS 3 owners to send him their names and addresses for future tech notes and other OMNIS 3 support. His address is: D A DataSystems, 3792 Windover Dr., Hamburg, NY 14075. COMING SOON =========== Next month, Disk #50 with the PASCAL andNIS 3 Tech Notes 0-13. These are technical notes to explain and clarify uses of the OMNIS 3 data base. It will only be useful to OMNIS 3 users and DOES NOT replace the manual. (For Owners of OMNIS 3 only). This was generously provided by Daryl Anderson whoed to allow changing of device sub-types (like you could in 1.1). This disk is NOT bootable so you must have a prior version of utilities and/or PASCAL to run the new program. (Public Domain to Apple /// Owners) Disk Library - continued #49 OMoped BUT, Ed Gooding (of the ///'s Company Bulletin Board) suggested that we would get better tests using the APPLE /// Confidence Disk (#031) in any case. NEW RELEASES ============ #48 SYSTEM UTILITIES x1.2b. This is the 1.2 version of utilities modifig, on an 11 inch page with a printer set to write six lines per inch, a problem of repeating decimals is encountered and the program balks. Any Data Base program can run into difficulties when it comes to printing reports. Here is where supplemental programs can be very useful. In the example cited above, there were thirty fields in each record arranged in a double column. When the file was printed to disk as a ASCII text file, a series of lines resulted with fields #1 as line one and field #16 as line tuse). It is very useful for extracting information from recording files. TITAN ///+//e Owners ==================== The TAU HELPLINE is taking calls concerning use of this product. We would appreciate it if you would send us your ideas on speciom "recording files" from the APPLE /// section of MAUG (Compuserve's APPLE group). It covers creating an APPLEWRITER catalog and also construction of a file that another TAU disk can use to make a file in Quickfile format (For Quickfile or 3EZP data base ou can send them to him at: 904 Barberry Lane, Mt.Prospect, IL 60056. (*)(**)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(* NEXT MONTH: We will have an article about a new disk library entry that allows for cataloguing entries fr 230 INPUT#1;l2$ 240 PRINT SPC(M);L1$; SPC(40-LEN(L1$));L2$ 250 NEXT N 260 GOSUB 100 270 GOSUB 200 1000 CLOSE#1 1010 CLOSE#2 1020 END Program and article written by Russell C. W. Crom, Consulting Engineer. If you have comments yM RECORD COUNTER AND BLANK ROUTINE 110 PC=PC+1 120 PRINT:PRINT:PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 125 IF PC=3 GOTO 80 126 REM EVERY THIRD RECORD REQUIRES NEW PAGE 129 RETURN 130 GOSUB 80 200 ON EOF#1 GOTO 1000 220 FOR N=1 TO 15 225 INPUT#1;L1$PC(65-LEN(PH$));"PAGE ";PN 95 PRINT SPC(M);"============================================ ===================================" 96 PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 97 REM LINE 97 ADDS SPACES BETWEEN HEADER AND TEXT 98 PN=PN+1 99 RETURN 100 REUT,FILE$ 40 OPEN#2,".PRINTER":OUTPUT#2 50 M=2:PN=1:PC=0 55 REM LINE 50 CAN BE MODIFIED FOR OTHER MARGIN VALUES 60 PH$="PAGE HEADER OF YOUR CHOICE" 70 GOTO 130 80 REM PAGE HEADER ROUTINE 85 PC=0 90 PRINT:PRINT SPC(M);PH$; SINES 11 REM IN PAIRS AND TABS SECOND LINE TO POSITION 40. 12 REM IT PRINTS THREE 15 LINE RECORDS PER PAGE AND ADDS PAGE NUMBERS. 13 REM TYPE IN PROPER TEXT IN APPROPRIATE LINES TO SUIT 20 FILE$="INPUT FILE PATHNAME" 30 OPEN#1 AS INPles, but if any one wants a copy, it and the BASIC version will both be available as disk #50 from the TAU LIBRARY next month. Do IT Yourself - continued ========================== REM ROUTINE TO PROCESS ASCII TEXT FROM DATA BASE. IT READS L with infinite options or to process data so that it can be used with WPL or Mail Merge. Moreover, a degree of compatibility exists with other computers by transferring ASCII text files via modems. The PASCAL program is too long to be included in the TauTabut for my repetitive problem, I use a PASCAL interactive program which has considerably more flexibility. Why not an interactive BASIC program? There is no reason to not do so, but PASCAL is more fun. The same approach can be used to make mailing labelsementary for the 'hacker' but for this engineer, it was necessary to refer to the instruction books in order to do the mundane task. In the event there are others who need a refresher regarding sequential files, a BASIC program follows. This program works slow to be practical. With either Basic or Pascal it is relatively easy to process this data rapidly into almost any desirable report format. To use either language it is necessary to read from and write to text files which are on disks. This is very elwo etc. The pattern for successive records repeated with #1 of record #2 on line 31 and field #16 of record #2 on line 32. The ASCII text file is easily read by Apple Writer /// and the print formatting task could be done with WPL, but the process is tooal "tricks" or problem solutions using either the Emulation mode or the RAM disks and any "extra special" //e things that may be of general interest. If we get enough input, we will have a monthly section of TAUTALES devoted to ///+//e topics. Print Shop users with printers on the /// serial port should note that the printer settings on your Print Shop disk must be changed from the APPLE /// port to a card in slot 1 to use it with the new emulation. MultiPlan //e users should note that there is an error i is data communication, specifically with IBM machinery. Apple wants to provide an alternative system, but one that does not exclude the prevailing IBM standards. Included is network support and products for the IIe, which becomes more important to /// ow substantiate this persistent rumor. First, Apple Macintosh supports software written in C the Unix programming Language, and second, both AT&T and Apple have machines based on the Motorola 68000. What Apple sees as its major goal for the immediate futuremanufacturers computers and peripherals. In addition, Apple is working with MCI and Dow Jones to develop business and communications services. Apple is even rumored to have a deal in the works with AT&T to distribute some Apple computers. Two facts tend to Tautales have been urging for years. To accomplish all this, Apple will rely on outside developers. The first of these is Northern Telecom. Mac users will be able to use Northern Telecom's digital PBX switches to connect through telephone lines to other 6, John Sculley said that, "Just making technology exciting isn't enough to sell products." This seems to be a 180 degree change from the Apple of Job's day. He goes on to say, "We are going to give user a growth path and connectivity." A course that we at{}~ =========================== By now everyone has heard about the Mac Plus and the Laserwriter Plus. What hasn't been as widely published is Apple's shift in market strategy. Speaking to a group of Apple's best customers at MacWorld Exposition on January 1 ============================================================================== **** T A U T A L E S FEBRUARY 1986 **** ============================================================================== APPLE AND OTHER MICRO NEWS:e Apple /// computer. Membership fees are currently $15.00 a year, with a $5.00 initiation fee. Correspondence should be directed to: TAU c/o Lavona Rann 1113 Wheaton Oaks Drive Wheaton, Il 60187 *********************************************** Volume 4 No. 4 JANUARY 1986 TAU is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the accumulation and dissemination of information about (and relating to) th************************** ***************************************************************************** * TAUTALES * ***************************************************************************** ******************************n the Multiplan manual concerning setting up 80 column mode. After booting the 1st disk, you must hit escape for the utilities BEFORE entering 3. The 'hit escape' step was omitted in the instructions. ***************************************************ners now with Titan is providing IIe capabilities for the ///. Products like the color Mac are not of as high priority according to Del Yocam executive vice president of Apple, as equipment like enhanced floppy and hard disks for both lines of Apple computers. Going with the changing emphasis on equipment comes word of the success of Apple's AppleTalk LAN. But not all is sunny in AppleLand. Apple is trying to sell to business; how ever, the business press gave Apple's announcement only mixed reviews. In th is Wilderness, a game distributed by Electronics Arts, that puts the player in a realistic situation and simulates real life. Among other things, it evaluates the health of the player according to his actions and the complex conditions of the simulation. ot, but still giving the appearance of mechanical "intelligence", new programs were introduced for microcomputers. Racter, a dialogue program where your software talks back, was mentioned in an earlier Tautales (July 85 V3 No. 10). Another unusual newcomerecome a best friend to millions of children. This year other robots have entered the homes of America. Tomy's Omnibot 2000, an 18 inch R2D2-like device with arms, brought the "patter" of little electric wheels to many homes. Not quite the same as a robwhich means involuntary service or work. The word became part of the title of his play R.U.R (Rossum's Universal Robots) and has become a commonly used term. Completely oblivious to the derivation of the term "robot", Teddy Ruxbin has invaded America and be; children respond to the facial expressions and gentle voice as if the stuffed teddy bear was human. It's a machine come to life, or near life anyway. In 1921 Karel Capek gave us a name for mechanical men, robot. It was from his native Czech, "robota", itorial by Richard Rann Watch the lips move and listen to the pleasant baritone voice speak from the tiny tape cassette because Teddy Ruxbin is going to tell you a story. The little Disneyesque bear weaves a cloak of fascination around itself. Adults starrd charge in the Dow this month when their earnings for the last quarter were reported up, but not as high as analysts hoped. @#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@# IF YOU WANT THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY, PLAY A GAME - Ed$340,00. In a cost cutting move Commodore closed a chip-making plant in Costa Mesa California, laying off 200 employees. Commodore confirmed this week that they shipped between 40 and 50 thousand Amigas in the US in 1985. IBM seems to have led the downwas the winner during the Christmas season dominating the marketplace with a 43% share. Other shares were: IBM, 25%; Compaq, 9%; AT&T, 6%; Commodore, 3%; Kaypro, 2%. While Apple was posting good results for the Christmas quarter, Commodore posted a loss of nd are both Mac-like in their operation. They make strong competition for the II and price competition for Mac. APPLE FINANCIAL: Last month's Tautales reported the results of Apple's first fiscal quarter. It was reported recently that Apple wat outlets the same way he did the Commodore 64 when he was President of that company. Also planed for release in a couple months is the 1040 ST, a 1-meg 520 with a new disk drive. The Atari ST line and Commodore's Amiga bracket the Apple II line in price am industry market research firms who mostly agree with Information Week that, "time has already run out on Apple's promises". Apple is also being pressed from the low end of its product line. Jack Tramiel, plans to sell the Atari 520 ST through mass markepening of the Mac and more connectivity. "But other products, specifically connections to standard mainframes and mini-computers promised by Apple president John Sculley last October, remain undelivered." The article goes on to interview several people froe January 20, 1986 edition of Information Week, a two page article on Apple's newest was headed, "Apple Delivers Mac Plus, Falls Short on Other Promises." The staff of Information Week proved they had a good memory by mentioning every looking for was the oThis is an example of what has become know as an "Expert System" by those involved in developing Artificial Intelligence. In other words, a system that matches conditions to a set of criteria and draws a conclusion using its "expertise" in the known facts and combinations. By now you are probably asking yourself what this has this to do with microcomputers? The answer is both quite a lot and very little. Over the years the microcomputer has seen many innovations before they were introduced to other areas osend them to you. CATALOGING MAUG S7 by Dan Martin ================================== [Editorial Note, MAUG S7 is the APPLE /// section of the Compuserve APPLE SIG. This article should be of emense interest to those who follow the activities oPPLE /// keyboard. We plan to keep them on hand and mail them out to HELPLINE callers. The standard lamp from the //e also works in the ///. If you would feel more comfortable having a couple on hand, send us a self addressed, stamped envelope and we will lations. In addition, Jobs agreed not to hire any Apple more employees for the next six months. KEYBOARD LAMPS: Our friend Charlie McConathy (of the great inexpensive Hard Disks) has kindly provided TAU with a large number of replacement lamps for the Aanti-dumping duty to impose. APPLE / JOBS SETTLE =================== Jobs and Apple came to an out-of-court settlement January 17th. It was agreed that Apple would have 30 days to inspect prototypes of the new company's first product for trade-secret vioThe International Trade Commission has made a preliminary determination that Japanese manufacturers were guilty of dumping 256K RAM chips on the US market. The matter now goes to the Commerce Department who has until May 15 to determine what percentage of master plan, technology is easing us into the future by disguising itself as a toy. Stay young, play with your computer. (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*) JAPAN CHARGED WITH DUMPING ========================== give advice, words of love, attention, and do work for them. They are educated and entertained by them. As technology brings these elements into the mainstream of life, these future adults will find them familiar, and have accepted them. Without any grand that seems to have changed suddenly. Every element necessary for the acceptance of free acting robots envisioned by Isaac Asimov in his robot stories is available to children right now. They exist in a world were computers and computer operated machines fore it changes society. The child can easily become the leader in the change by taking it as the "natural" course rather than seeing it as change. The older generation often misses this gradual introduction and finds itself uncomfortable in a future worlds in the workplace How can he take offense at having to deal with computers when he'd been conversing with them for years? Not only does the child become comfortable with the mechanical operations of technology, but he accepts the technology as normal, bethreaten the population in general, they have gained a measure of acceptance as "harmless" parts of toys or games. When Teddy has been telling a person stories for years, or the person has programmed his Omnibot to serve him, how can he be afraid of robotew technology finds its way into toys and games before it appears in other areas and it finds acceptance with the young and their parents. New concepts are seen in an unthreatening form which does not seem technological. Before they have an opportunity to parsers are able to understand whole sentences, subject, verb, and object better than many high school graduates. Editorial - Continued from prior page What seems to be happening is a process of schooling the young in emergent technology. Much nf our life. This has been especially true in entertainment software. Graphics came to computer games long before they became icons in any operating system. Language parsers were widely used in adventure games before they appeared in business software. Now f the SIG, as we do. Others may be interested for ideas of what WPL can do. Programs are available on TAU disk #51. Most references to QuickFile /// in this article are also applicable to /// Easy Pieces] For those of you with a question that you could swear you've seen answered and whizzing by on the Compuserve MAUG S7 Forum, there is a solution to your data cataloging problem. It requires that you have Applewriter /// (in one of its versions) because it depends on programs written in the Word Processing nforgiving to ANY data misalignments which occasionally appear in the catalog data. If there aren't exactly five entries per record (in the above case) the rest of the file from that point forward will be skewed by the number of fields the entry is off. Tok like: 020286 23072 #22992-#Directory problems Lavona Rann 70356,200 Frank W. Moore 74666,3660 (x) 020286 23085 #Keyboard Lamps Dan Martin 72457,537 Ed Gooding 70077,2327 GRABIT converts the above "stuff" to a QF/// file in a flash. GRABIT is totally uelds from the prior versions 1 line message, and the 5th containing the receiver of the message. Since one can control the screen layout in Quickfile, it is not necessary to leave out this field to avoid wraparound. The 2 sample entries from above would loo limit your recording batch length to a month or less. Maybe someone can come up with a modification/conversion for OMNIS or another database capable of handling lots of records. The output file contains 5 records per entry, the first 4 containing the firior page) The second program produces a modified catalog file that can be read with TAU public domain disk #20 (Grabit) and converted to Quickfile /// format. It is limited to handling about 500 records at a time, so with this approach, you would have tdiscussion of disk drives, you simply load the catalog file and Control-F 'disk' from the beginning of the file. The line it stops on has the information to lead you to the data in your recording files. CATALOGING MAUG S7 (continued from pting containing 2 entries would look like: 020286 23072 #22992-#Directory problems Lavona Rann 70356,200 020286 23085 #Keyboard Lamps Dan Martin 72457,537 This simple "database" can be easily employed by using AW///'s Find command. If you want to find a he full message, 2) the S7 message number 3) the subject of the message 4) the author of the message I did not include the receiver of the message in order to avoid screen wraparound, but you can modify it to suit your needs. A fictional lise simply edited to use other devices and names. The first program provides a simple list catalog of board action in a file named catalog.mail. It produces a single line for each message. Each has: 1) the date and time of the mail file containing tblank formatted disk in drive 3. This setup was done to handle the way I record and catalog. I record on 104k floppies (usually 2 sides per month) and catalog onto an A-143 572k disk in monthly increments. Thanks to the wonders of SOS, these programs can bg the mail with a standard naming convention of: .d2/MAIL.MMDDYY, where MM is the month, DD is the day and YY represents the last 2 digits of the year. In addition, a copy of the WPL program and an empty file named catalog.mail should be on your otherwise is means is that one cannot catalog S7 conversations, produce a big book and publish it. It is legal, however, for me to provide a tool for any MAUG user to catalog and 'data base' the material the way I have. As written, the WPL programs require recordinengineers per 10,000 capita and another 70 lawyers (compared to 400 engineers to 1 lawyer in Japan. Need I say more about our national competitive slide?) Compuserve does not permit the distribution of information you receive online to anyone else. What thLanguage (WPL). After joining the SIG in September and seeing the vast experience base scroll by, I vowed to capture it for review at a time when I would need or could explore the data. A word of legal caution is in order here. In the U.S., there are 70 here are two ways to avoid the problem. The first is to record MAUG S7 from the 'RN' command. Using this avoids the problem encountered when you record mail directed to you separately as it is missing the "to:" field. Secondly, you can "clean" your file by loading a copy of the catalog file into AW///, prior to running GRABIT and: Control-B to the beginning and then Control-F with the following command: =>=>=>=><