=========================================================================
 
INFO-ATARI16 Digest         Thu,  8 Feb 90       Volume 90 : Issue  173
 
Today's Topics:
                        16 meg partition limit
                            Hisoft's WERCS
                  Hitachi HD?, MiniScribe for Sale.
                               TOS 1.4
                          Uniterm metafiles
                   Urbana ILL ST Club : I need info
                      Wordperfect newer release
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Date: 8 Feb 90 15:27:27 GMT
From: samsung!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!hrc!force!covertr@think.com  (Richard E.
 Covert)
Subject: 16 meg partition limit
Message-ID: <4885cc32.14a1f@force.UUCP>
 
In article <8503@pogo.WV.TEK.COM>, bluneski@pogo.WV.TEK.COM (Bob Luneski)
 writes:
>
> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  WARNING  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> Under TOS 1.0,1.2, and 1.4 repeated use of Getbpb or Dfree will bring your
> system crashing to a halt! The number of calls until failure depends on your
> system memory utilization but averages in the 35-65 call range.  This
> little bug(feature) was discovered at great loss of time, sleep, and hair
> (with a number of forehead bruises also).  The real moral of the story is
> never let someone else do what you can do yourself.  Read in the boot sector
> and pull the sector size off there!
>
> I strongly agree with Alan that it is the developers responsibility to query
> the system and never to take anything for granted.
>
> ****************************************************************************
> *  Bob Luneski                                                             *
 
Bob, I am writing Yet Another Disk Backup Program (YADBP tm of ME!!) and just
 how
can I get the disk free space of a mountable device (like a floppy, or a
 sysquest
cartidge, or even an optical floppy!!) if I can not rely on the repeated use of
dfree??
 
This is a serious bug for me because I had planned to just call dfree() and be
 done
with it. Now I need some other routine. I guess I can take your hint about
 reading
the boot sector and getting the sector size from there. But are there risks in
 doing
that?? Will that crash the system also?? Or does someone have a non-crashing
version of dfree() that I can use?
 
Does any one have C code (or ASM that is callable by MWC) that will work w/o
crashing the system??
 
HELP!!!
 
 
HELP!!!
 
 
HELP!!!
 
 
--
 Richard E. Covert, Lead Engineer of Software Tools Group
 AG Communications Systems, Phoenix AZ   (602) - 581-4652
 TCP/IP: covertr@gtephx
 UUCP: ?ncar!noao!asuvax | uunet!zardoz!hrc | att?!gtephx!covertr
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 8 Feb 90 15:39:26 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!hrc!force!covertr@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu  (Richard E.
 Covert)
Subject: Hisoft's WERCS
Message-ID: <4885d6fe.14a1f@force.UUCP>
 
In article <1990Feb7.042902.6530@gumby.cc.wmich.edu>, obryan@gumby.cc.wmich.edu
 (Mark O'Bryan) writes:
> I've had a number of problems with WERCS myself (I think I've got version
> 1.08).  I called Michtron a while back and asked whether the problems had
> been fixed.  The person I talked to didn't know about the fixes, but did
> know that an update to version 1.24 was available.  I haven't gotten
> around to it yet because I've been doing all my work in K-Resource re-
> cently.
>
> To get the update, send $5 plus your master disk to Michtron (plus your
> Registration card if you haven't sent it yet).  There may be an even
> later update by now.  You can call them at (313) 334-5700 to find out.
>
> Mark T. O'Bryan                 Internet:  obryan@gumby.cc.wmich.edu
 
Mark (and to whomelse it may concern), I just got off the phone with Michtron.
I mailed them my original disk and $5 last Wednesday (Jan 31 1990) and called
to ask about wheither Michtron had received it. I was told that not have they
received my disk, but that they shipped my upgrade Tuesday Feb 6 1990.
 
I didn't receive it in yesterday's mail, but I am hopeful that I will get it
by Saturday. I will post and let you all know what version number they shipped.
I was told on the phone though that they had version 1.6 not 1.24 and that
it was dated Jan 1989m which still seems kinda old. But, I will just have to
 wait until
I get my upgrade to know exactly what they shipped. I sure hope that it doesn't
crash (trash) my HRD files like my old version does. One of the nice features of
 WERCS
is that it allows long variable names, which I really like. Also it has a test
 mode where
you can test out dialog boxes from within WERCS. All in all, I like it better
 than the
MWC RSC Editor or The K-Resource RSC Editor.
 
I want to think Michtron for shipping so promptly. Sounds like a good company.
 
 
--
 Richard E. Covert, Lead Engineer of Software Tools Group
 AG Communications Systems, Phoenix AZ   (602) - 581-4652
 TCP/IP: covertr@gtephx
 UUCP: ?ncar!noao!asuvax | uunet!zardoz!hrc | att?!gtephx!covertr
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 8 Feb 90 17:40:17 GMT
From: usc!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!cs325ec@ucsd.edu
Subject: Hitachi HD?, MiniScribe for Sale.
Message-ID: <16000009@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
 
        DK511-5 Hitachi Hard Drive ?60 meg RLL formatted...
 
        Does anyone have any idea if this is ST compatible?  I am
        looking to replace my 30 meg MiniScribe 3425 with the Hitachi
        in my ICD interface, but it is not listed in ICDFMT.DAT.
 
        Are there hard disks that do not work with the ST?
 
        Anyone interested in buying my 30 meg MiniScribe... I don't
        have any idea on price... ca. $250? is that right? $200?
        I bought it as a component, so I don't know.
 
        Thanks
                -Gregory Kerr
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 8 Feb 90 09:46:25 GMT
From: eru!luth!sunic!mcsun!ukc!edcastle!hwcs!neil@bloom-beacon.mit.edu  (Neil
 Forsyth)
Subject: TOS 1.4
Message-ID: <4336@brahma.cs.hw.ac.uk>
 
Well I now have TOS 1.4 ("Great! Perhaps he'll stop moaning now"),
I actually had to send Atari UK the blank EPROMs to get it which I guess
beats anyone elses sob story. Do you think if I send them some chips and
solder they could make me a TT :-)
I didn't get any kind of release notes (user or developer) with it, just the
chips and a letter so I've requested them again.
 
First impressions?
I *LOVE* it!
        Faster disk access
        Beautiful file selector
        Reset from keyboard
        TPA almost back at TOS 1.00 level
        Disk copy more intelligent (copies 10SPT)
        Copy/Move file dialog shows what's happening
        Fastload
 
These are just the first few things I tried out or discovered and I'm looking
forward to the rest. Many many thanks to Allan, Ken and everyone else at Atari
US who worked so hard to make this TOS the best yet. Any hope of the 1.0
patch?
 
Sadly I'm probably the last UK developer to get Rainbow TOS. If not send your
answers on a postcard to Atari UK ...
Who knows when Joe User will get a look at it. Soon we all hope.
 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
! DISCLAIMER: Unless otherwise stated, the above comments are entirely my own !
!                                                                             !
! Neil Forsyth                       JANET:  neil@uk.ac.hw.cs                 !
! Dept. of Computer Science          ARPA:   neil@cs.hw.ac.uk                 !
! Heriot-Watt University             UUCP:   ..!ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!neil          !
! Edinburgh, Scotland, UK            "It's not much of a cheese shop is it?"  !
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 8 Feb 90 18:40:54 GMT
From: samsung!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!jarthur!agray@think.com  (Andy Gray)
Subject: Uniterm metafiles
Message-ID: <4250@jarthur.Claremont.EDU>
 
In article <286@blnosz.UUCP> ballier@blnosz.UUCP (Ralph Ballier) writes:
>In article <9002040802.AA11879@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> WACKER@CERNVM.BITNET (Klaus
 Wacker) writes:
>>[...]
>>When I try to print directly from Uniterm by selecting 'Printer' rather
>>than 'Metafile' after hitting Alt-F3, I get an alert box telling me
>>'Unable to open VDI device'.
>>[...]
>I have the same problem like you ('Unable...'). I have written to Simon Poole,
>but I have not got an answer.
 
Try increasing the size of your system buffer.  Uniterm needs a lot of
system memory to create those metafiles.  I had a lot of problems until I
increased mine to 200K or so.
 
                                                -- Andy
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--
      Andy Gray                     agray@jarthur.claremont.edu
      Platt Campus Center           agray@jarthur.UUCP
      Harvey Mudd College           ...uunet!jarthur!agray
      Claremont, CA  91711          agray@HMCVAX.BITNET
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 8 Feb 90 15:20:44 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!hrc!force!covertr@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu  (Richard E.
 Covert)
Subject: Urbana ILL ST Club : I need info
Message-ID: <4885c645.14a1f@force.UUCP>
 
My kid sister lives in Urbana Ill and she saw an announcement about an
Atari ST club meeting next Tuesday night at Leal Elementary School in
Urbana Ill. I need to speak to a member of that club. Are there any
club members on USENET?? My sister wants to attend and I would like
to get some more info for you before the meeting. Like how often do
you meet. Where do you meet. When do you meet. Club President,etc.
 
Please respond via email.
 
--
 Richard E. Covert, Lead Engineer of Software Tools Group
 AG Communications Systems, Phoenix AZ   (602) - 581-4652
 TCP/IP: covertr@gtephx
 UUCP: ?ncar!noao!asuvax | uunet!zardoz!hrc | att?!gtephx!covertr
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 8 Feb 90 16:42:36 GMT
From: mcgill-vision!quiche!calvin!depeche@bloom-beacon.mit.edu  (Sam Alan EZUST)
Subject: Wordperfect newer release
Message-ID: <2162@calvin.cs.mcgill.ca>
 
I just got the august 89 release of WP today directly from the company.
Unfortunately, in my coorespondance with other WP users I accidentally
deleted most of the messages I received.
 
But I recall one person telling me that August 18, 1989 was no longer
the current version of WordPerfect, and that there is a newer one out
already.
 
Does anyone have it? How is it different? Why didn't WP send me this one?
 
--
S. Alan Ezust                                |  depeche@calvin.cs.mcgill.ca
McGill University School of Computer Science |  Montreal, Quebec, Canada
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, all  |  Disclaimer: I am not
of your problems begin to look like nails."  |  responsible for anything!!
 
------------------------------
 
End of INFO-ATARI16 Digest V90 Issue #173
*****************************************
