INFO-ATARI16 Digest         Mon, 13 Nov 89       Volume 89 : Issue 641
 
Today's Topics:
                     (none) GDOS & Outline Fonts
                        Clock chips for 1040?
                              GEM OS/386
                           I/O Redirection
                             Languages!!!
                               NOTATOR
                                Pascal
                  Problems booting w/accessories...
                 TOS 1.4 Incompatibility List Request
                         TOS 1.4 vs. ARKANOID
                                  TT
                           TT, TT030/2, STE
                      What does the TT Buy me??
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 16:02:26 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!samsung!aplcen!jhunix!esp_05@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu  (Stdnt
 05)
Subject: (none) GDOS & Outline Fonts
 
Just some thoughts to add to the other thoughts about an outline GDOS:
 
1) Just now completing a course in computer graphics, I don't see how
anyone could call outline fonts difficult to implement.  Using
scanline fill algorithms coupled with Bresenham's line and circle
(ellipse) algorithms, not only would it be fairly easy to design a
system that scales, but rotations would be just as easy.  As for
speed, well, couldn't be slower than the present incarnation of GDOS,
no?
 
2) Regarding the point size inquire used by current GDOS programs, one
could implement a program like Apples Font/DA Mover to load and unload
fonts, AND specify what point sizes the GDOS inquire function should
return.
 
3) Isn't there an info file about GDOS somewhere?  I really know
nothing about the present GDOS, except that Degas Elite seems to ahve
a copy of it on the disk but also seems to run fine without it.
 
I'd be interested in collaborating with someone interested in making
an outline font system.  I've been toying with the idea of re-creating
MacDraw II for the Atari with a few enhancements, one of them being
outline fonts.  Of course, this semester I overloaded my class
schedule and have only used my computer for word processing and CS
assignments.
 
Eric Ruck
(Send mail to: RICK AT JHUVM)
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 17:06:12 GMT
From: psuvm!bgb100@psuvax1.cs.psu.edu  (Bruce Blanar)
Subject: Clock chips for 1040?
 
Hi there:
  I am looking for any info on clock/date chips and cartridges for my 1040.
Christmas is coming up and I'd like to know where I can get one of this
for a decent price.  I've seen prices around $40-$50 for just the time/date
setup.  If you have one of these things, could you please tell me about your
clock chip, how it's used, name of maker and approximate price.  I'd just like
to get a good one and not get stuck with a piece of junk.  Please let me
know what you think!
 
Thanks!!!!
Bruce Blanar
-------
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 __   __   __    Bruce Blanar           |"Everybody need a mood lifter,
|__) | _  |__)   Penn State University  | Everybody need reverse polarity."
|__).|__|.|__).  BGB100@PSUVM.BITNET    |                      -Rush
                 voice: (814)862-8036   |
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 16:42:16 GMT
From: ogccse!blake!ramsiri@ucsd.edu  (Enartloc Nhoj)
Subject: GEM OS/386
 
In article <8911130802.AA09876@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> 01659@AECLCR.BITNET (Greg
 Csullog) writes:
>Apparently DRI is going to release a multitasking GEM for '386 machines.
>Atari ported GEM for 8088s to the 68000, can it port GEM OS/386 to the
>68030?
 
 
I got the impression that Allen says it is very hard,
perhaps TOO hard.
 
Maybe its like "shooting AT the moon"
 
I wonder how hard it was to get people
walking up there 20 years ago?
 
-kevin
ramsiri@blake.acs.washington.edu
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 14:24:42 GMT
From: eru!luth!sunic!mcsun!hp4nl!ruuinf!piet@bloom-beacon.mit.edu  (Piet van
 Oostrum)
Subject: I/O Redirection
 
It seems that I am having some problems with I/O redirection. What I do to
exec a child with e.g. the stdout to some file:
 
        temp1 = Fdup(1);                        /* save old stdout */
        temp2 = open ("filename", O_WRONLY);    /* Fopen or Fcreate */
        if (temp2 < -3) ?printf ("error");?
        Fforce (1, temp2);                      /* set new stdout */
        Fclose (temp2);                         /* no use for temp2 anymore */
        Pexec (......);                         /* start child */
        Fforce (1, temp1);                      /* reset stdout */
        Fclose (temp1);                         /* no use for temp1 anymore */
 
Could it be that the close statements are giving problems?? It is not
completely clear to me what is going wrong, but I have had strange
malfunctions after execing a child like this. It could be that it has to do
with using GULAM as a shell. I remember a question from Jahwar Bammi about
this subject earlier this year, where a redirection gave also similar
problems. I copy it to the end of this posting.
 
 Could someone from Atari speak about the above code. Is this the correct
way to do things?
 
From bammi's posting:
 
i had tried to include a redirection for stderr to console, so that
gcc applications would not need a wrapper shell to run in by doing
a
        Fforce(2,(short)Fdup(1))
in crt0.s. This works fine, until you try to redirect stdout from
a shell (like gulam)
        a.out > foo
what happens is that stdout and stderr end up in foo (another exotic TOS
bug -- is this fixed in tos 1.4??)
Now if you try to run this program a second time:
        - i get error code -61
        - eric smith reported that some files got trashed
so depending on your setup, i suspect one of the two will happen.
Please apply the patch enclosed below that backs out these changes, and
recompile and install crt0.o in $GNULIB. Hopefully we will come up
with a better scheme for stderr soon:
--
*** crt0.s?     Fri Mar 10 16:00:34 1989
--- crt0.s      Fri Mar 10 16:01:00 1989
***************
*** 146,162 ****
  |     movw    d3, sp@-                | push argc
        movel   d3,sp@-                 | .. jrd
 
-       movw    #1, sp@-                | set up stderr  ++jrb
-       movw    #0x45,sp@-              | Fforce(2,(int)Fdup(1))
-       trap    #1
-       movw    d0,sp@-
-       movw    #2,sp@-
-       movw    #0x46,sp@-              | Fforce
-       trap    #1
-       lea     sp@(10),sp              | adjust stack
-
-       subl    a6, a6                  | clear link reg - why I don't know
-
--
Piet* van Oostrum, Dept of Computer Science, University of Utrecht
Padualaan 14, P.O. Box 80.089, 3508 TB Utrecht,  The Netherlands.
Telephone: +31-30-531806   Uucp: uunet!mcsun!hp4nl!ruuinf!piet
Telefax:   +31-30-513791   Internet: piet@cs.ruu.nl      (*`Pete')
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 16:09:32 GMT
From:
 gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!aplcen!jhunix!esp_05@tut.cis.ohi
o-state.edu  (Stdnt 05)
Subject: Languages!!!
 
Strikes me that older versions of GFA Basic are in the public domain.
Although I don't know a whole lot about it because I don't use it, it
strikes me that it has full GEM support, and that it's really easy to
use. The one time I looked at it, I was also impressed by its editor.
If I used BASIC I would probably be happy with it.  (I must say, way
back when I got my 520ST in what, '86 I guess, ST BASIC was a real
disappointment.)
 
Eric Ruck
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 19:01:07 GMT
From: ogccse!blake!ramsiri@ucsd.edu  (Enartloc Nhoj)
Subject: NOTATOR
 
From
 ogccse!ucsd!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!snorkelwacker!mit-eddie!attctc!jolnet!swan
 Mon Nov 13 09:00:28 PST 1989
Article 19605 of comp.sys.amiga:
Path:
 blake!ogccse!ucsd!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!snorkelwacker!mit-eddie!attctc!jolnet!
swan
>From: swan@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US (Joel Swan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Music notation software?
Message-ID: <2095@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US>
Date: 13 Nov 89 07:12:33 GMT
References: <8910301728.AA27683@gilroy.pa.dec.com> <1766@thumper.bellcore.com>
 <4414@blake.acs.washington.edu>
Reply-To: swan@jolnet.UUCP (Joel Swan)
Organization: Media Specialties LTD
Lines: 42
Posted: Sun Nov 12 23:12:33 1989
 
In article <4414@blake.acs.washington.edu> ramsiri@blake.acs.washington.edu
 (Enartloc Nhoj) writes:
:In article <1766@thumper.bellcore.com> lamb@thumper.bellcore.com (John W. Lamb)
 writes:
:>
:>If you are willing to buy both DMCS and The Copyist, you can enter
:>the score in DMCS, import it into The Copyist, tweak as needed and
:>
:>No matter how you do it, producing good looking sheet music is a
:>lot of work.  After using both programs separately and together
:>many times, it still takes me 1 or 2 hours per page to get
:>something I'm happy with.
:
:I have just begun reading the AMiga newsgroup.
:I have an ATARI 1040ST .. am considering the Amiga 3000 or the Atari TTx
:
:Music:  I use NOTATOR for the Atari.  While The Copyist is also
:available for the ATARI, i can't see spending 1-2 hours per page.
:I did close to 300 pages one week for the Pacific Northwest ballet.
:Notation and midi-event data are fully integrated.  No file conversion
:or program switching is necessary.
:
:I am reading this newsgroup to find out if anything like NOTATOR
:even exists for the AMiga... as i am growing very interested in the
:open architecture of the Amiga line and may in fact leave the ATARI world.
 
Unfortunately there is nothing close to the power of Notator for the Amiga.
It really is a pitty because the Amiga could probably blow the Atari
version from the water.  Still, no one has really maxed the Amiga out in terms
of midi software or notation software.  Notator is a remarkable feet of
software engineering on an average to above average piece of hardware.
I do wish the Amiga software developers would not rely so heavily on
the Amiga's hardware magic and instead (in addition to) push their software
creativity to the limits, as was done with Notator.  I would give anything
to see C-Lab do Notator on the Amiga.  Sigh, What a dream.
 
(To those Amiga users who have never seen Notator by C-LAB, I HIGHLY recommend
you run down to the nearest Music dealer who knows the Atari and Notator and
watch it run.  You will be Amazed.  I wish some Amiga music-software developers
would look at it and get inspired!)
:-kevin
:ramsiri@blake.acs.washington.edu
 
Joel Swan
 
I offer this posting for those who are wondering which machine
is better for music.  Obviously the Atari wins in this category.
The existence of NOTATOR is the primary reason I wait for the TT.
If NOTATOR shows up on another box... hmm?
 
-kevin
ramsiri@blake.acs.washington.edu
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 16:47:35 GMT
From: davidli@UMN-CS.CS.UMN.EDU  (Dave Meile)
Subject: Pascal
 
In article <wZLP2fe00XoGA0kEcT@andrew.cmu.edu> mg40+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael
 Jeffrey Garland) writes:
>There is a program on the terminator archive called PASCALII.ARC.  My
>question is, what compiler/linker does this shell belong to?  I'd like a
>pascal system and if this is a PD version, I'm very interested in it.
>Does anyone know about this?
 
The shell program is for Personal Pascal, previously marketed by OSS in the
United States and now by another company whose initials my mind has blanked
on...
 
The compiler is not in the public domain, nor do I know of any version of
Pascal which is PD.  The actual cost for Personal Pascal (and most of the
others avaialable for the Atari ST) was fairly reasonable when I purchased
my copy.
 
-- David Paschall-Zimbel
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 14:11:34 GMT
From: eru!luth!sunic!mcsun!hp4nl!ruuinf!piet@bloom-beacon.mit.edu  (Piet van
 Oostrum)
Subject: Problems booting w/accessories...
 
In article <1786@ruuinf.cs.ruu.nl>, verwer@ruuinf (Nico Verwer) writes:
 `In article <1669@fredonia.UUCP>, sale5312@fredonia.UUCP (Marty Saletta)
 writes:
                                                                  Sometimes
 `| when I boot up with such a floppy (I'd guess about 10% of the time) I
 `| get the computer loading a few of the accessories, but then doing a
 `| cold or warm boot in the middle.  It's like someone hitting the reset
 `| switch during bootup before the GEM Desktop appears.
 `
 `This sometimes happens to me, with about the same frequency. The boot
 `procedure seems to go all right, and then suddenly a reset occurs.
 `The machine boots again, and everything is fine.
 
I also encounter this occasionally, and I get the impression that it
happens when you move the mouse. I suspect that some mouse-interrupt vector
is not properly set until GEM has been initialized.
--
Piet* van Oostrum, Dept of Computer Science, University of Utrecht
Padualaan 14, P.O. Box 80.089, 3508 TB Utrecht,  The Netherlands.
Telephone: +31-30-531806   Uucp: uunet!mcsun!hp4nl!ruuinf!piet
Telefax:   +31-30-513791   Internet: piet@cs.ruu.nl      (*`Pete')
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 18:31:55 GMT
From: pasteur!euler.Berkeley.EDU!jmorton@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU  (John Morton)
Subject: TOS 1.4 Incompatibility List Request
 
In article <130@watserv1.waterloo.edu> bmaraldo@watserv1.waterloo.edu (Commander
 Brett Maraldo) writes:
>Can somebody post or email me an updated TOS 1.4 incompatibility list?
>I am considering purchasing TOS1.4 ROMs - is it worth it?
>
 
I have been trying to keep my list up to date, but I have found that
most entries have been contested by subsequent postings.  The following
is where it stands now, with all entries removed which were cited as
running flawlessly by someone.
 
Chessmaster 2000 - bombs on save
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
PC Ditto v. 3.01 - (some disagreement on this, unresolved)
compress.ttp - comp.binaries - (disagreement here also)
VIP Professional, GEM version - pallette problems
Timeworks DTP
Mousetrap
Omnires 3.01
Baal
ST Wars
Zoo
Arkanoid
 
 
"Down                      John Morton                  M.E. Machine Shop
 Down in the basement      jmorton@euler.berkeley.edu   Etcheverry Hall
 We hear the sound of machines..."                      Univ. of Calif.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 18:05:35 GMT
From: ncis.tis.llnl.gov!blackbird!news@lll-winken.llnl.gov  (News System
 Account)
Subject: TOS 1.4 vs. ARKANOID
 
I have found the illegal accesses to the mouse buttons and position that
ARKANIOD makes and have the (illegal) replacement accesses (now only works
on 1.4).  Details via email.  Then there's the "invincible" modification ...
Naaah, that'd spoil it. ;-)
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Bill Hodges                    |  Me?  People who speak for the Air Force get
 bhodges@blackbird.afit.af.mil  |  paid a lot more than I do! I just work here.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 06:44:20 GMT
From: portal!cup.portal.com!Bob_BobR_Retelle@uunet.uu.net
Subject: TT
 
Steve Whitney sez:
 
>THANK YOU Atari.  It appears to me that you've been listening to what people
>want.  What have been the main complaints against the ST hardware?
 
>       1) Memory not expandable:  Taken care of in TT
 
Yes, thank you Atari.. .this only took since 1985
 
>       2) ACSI instead of SCSI: Taken care of, means cheaper disk drives
 
Yes again thank you.. only 4 years to come up to industry standards.
 
>       3) Only one serial port: Taken care of
 
Again, thank you.. my 8-bit Atari has only had 4 serial ports since 1979
 
>Most of the rest of the complaints are software-oriented.  Give Atari time.
 
Yes.. let's give Atari time.. after all, it took them 4 years to upgrade the
operating system in the ST, and they still can't seem to fix GDOS, so let's
give them time.  Maybe by the turn of the century they'll be able to come
up to 1980's standards.
 
>They have said unofficially, with no commitment to a target release date
>that there will eventually be a multitasking TOS.  Someday.  Not tomorrow.
>Unix should be available sooner.
 
I've also heard that someday pigs would fly... maybe with Atari controlled
computers..?  Seems to me that I've heard about multitasking Operating System
on other computers *now*...  Not tomomorrow.. Now..
 
Maybe a better advertising slogan for Atari would be:
 
"Someday, Over the Rainbow"
 
BobR
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 09:59:34 GMT
From: mcsun!inria!laas!news@uunet.uu.net  (USENET News System)
Subject: TT, TT030/2, STE
 
In article <4062.255748c1@uwovax.uwo.ca> 4224_5132@uwovax.uwo.ca (Andrew Semple)
 writes:
|
|     ---> The 1040 should be phased out during March/April 1990 and replaced
|  by the once called "ST Plus" or "Enhanced ST", now called 1040STE.  The
|  STE will include 1MbRam, fast hardware scrolling, 4096 colour palette,
|  8-bit stero PCM sound, TOS1.4 operating system, and four SIMM (single in
|  line memory module) for easy expansion to 4Mb."
 
Just a slight correction.  According to local full-color adds, by
Atari-France, for the STE, it will come with 512k RAM.  It's
advertised as the 520 STE!
 
Them's my two bits worth.  :-)
 
Ralph P. Sobek                    Disclaimer: The above ruminations are my own.
ralph@laas.laas.fr                         Addresses are ordered by importance.
ralph@laas.uucp, or ...!uunet!mcvax!laas!ralph          If all else fails, try:
SOBEK@FRMOP11.BITNET                                  sobek@eclair.Berkeley.EDU
===============================================================================
Upon the instruments of death the sunlight brightly gleams.   --   King Crimson
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 13 Nov 89 07:34:14 GMT
From: mcsun!unido!tub!tmpmbx!netmbx!hase@uunet.uu.net  (Hartmut Semken)
Subject: What does the TT Buy me??
 
In article <29034@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> stephen@oahu.UUCP (Steve Whitney) writes:
>Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it, VME is a multimaster bus
>which means that you can plug another processor board in there and let
>it control the system.  Perhaps this is one of the reasons Atari chose to
>use an expensive bus standard.
 
 
True. Standard-VME is a multimaster BUS.
Ataris "implementation" in the TT/Personal (the one to come real soon
now) is not capable of multiple masters.
 
as someone@atari said, the TT/x (the larger machine, prototypes yet to
be seen) will have a 32-bit extended VME BUS capable of multiple bus
masters.
 
Very few VME cards are BUS masters. Most are slaves. So the TT/P's slot
will do almost everything You want it to do.
 
 
But why don't we all just shut up till the TT appears in the shops, till
we get facts/real machines thar rattle when falling down?
 
hase
--
Hartmut Semken, Lupsteiner Weg 67, 1000 Berlin 37 hase@netmbx.UUCP
Dennis had stepped up into the top seat whet its founder had died of a
lethal overdose of brick wall, taken while under the influence of a
Ferrari and a bottle of tequila. (Douglas Adams; the long dark teatime...)
 
------------------------------
 
End of INFO-ATARI16 Digest V89 Issue #641
*****************************************
=========================================================================