=========================================================================
 
INFO-ATARI16 Digest         Mon, 26 Feb 90       Volume 90 : Issue  261
 
Today's Topics:
                         A couple of requests
                         Directory Limits??!!
                 Folder hierarchy and pathname length
                      FORMATS NEEDED !!!!!!!!!!
                            Phantom Typist
                   SAMPLERS: The one that I want...
                   SM124 mono monitor adjust query
                 STE DMA sound (documentation posted)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Date: 26 Feb 90 16:26:23 GMT
From: chinet!saj@gargoyle.uchicago.edu  (Stephen Jacobs)
Subject: A couple of requests
Message-ID: <1990Feb26.162623.437@chinet.chi.il.us>
 
I have a couple of requests for information (maybe 3).
 
Has anyone seen a STacy offered for retail sale in the USA?
 
Has anyone seen a Mega ST offered for sale with TOS 1.4 as original equipment?
 
Would someone who knows more details about the Spectrum picture format than
are given in the Baggett image formats list please explain the handling of
palettes to me a bit more.  What I get from the list is that the image data
looks just like a low rez screen, but that 3 palettes are loaded for each
scan line; the palettes are somewhat abbreviated.  What pixel number does
each palette take effect at?  Are these regular 16-word-long palettes?  If
the docs with the package are good enough, I might buy it just for the docs,
but with my lack of artistic ability, another paint program is the LAST
thing I need.
 
I guess replies to the net are appropriate for the first 2 questions; mail
or posting, your choice, for the third.
 
Thanks.                              Steve J.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 26 Feb 90 17:44:15 GMT
From: maytag!water!ljdickey@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu  (L.J.Dickey)
Subject: Directory Limits??!!
Message-ID: <3031@water.waterloo.edu>
 
In article <276.25E65B7C@uscacm.UUCP> Ron.Hollins@uscacm.UUCP (Ron Hollins)
 writes:
>
> Question:  Is there a limit to the total number of files that a
>double-sided floppy disk can contain. (I'm NOT refering to the 40
>folder limit). I suspect that the 'FAT' must have a ceiling to it.
>If someone does know this 'magic' number , might you also suggest a
>technique to trap for this disk 'error'.  I'm using GFA 3.07
 
I think that there is a limit of 100 objects (files or directories) at
the top level.  I seem to recall, however, that in a sub-directory,
there is no such limit.  On the other hand, there is another limit that
may get you:  my experience is that each file consumes at least 1K of
space, no matter how small it is.  I think this means that a floppy
formatted with 709K bytes will be limited to 708 or so files, 99 at
the root level, and the rest in a sub-directory.  I have never tried
to pack such a disk, has anyone else?
 
--
    L. J. Dickey, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo.
        ljdickey@water.UWaterloo.ca     ljdickey@water.BITNET
        ljdickey@water.UUCP             ..!uunet!watmath!water!ljdickey
        ljdickey@water.waterloo.edu
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 26 Feb 90 08:31:12 GMT
From: mcsun!unido!laura!klute%heike.informatik.uni-dortmund.de@uunet.uu.net
 (Rainer Klute)
Subject: Folder hierarchy and pathname length
Message-ID: <2018@laura.UUCP>
 
In article <2051@atari.UUCP> apratt@atari.UUCP (Allan Pratt) writes:
>Most people don't open a file 40 directories down in
>their heirarchy, or two folders each 20 (different) levels down, or
>whatever.
 
Hmm, is that really possible? I once tried out how deep a file
could be nested in the file system hierarchy. From the desktop
I created a folder "1" in the root directory, then a folder "2"
within "1" and so on. I ended with folder "8" and got a message
which told me that it is not possible to create a folder so
deep in the index structure. To open a file 20 or 40 levels
deep in the file system should not be possible.
 
Now you can calculate the maximum pathname length: 3 (drive id,
colon, backslash) + 8 (max. folder nesting) * (8+1+3+1)
(basename (folder), dot, extension, backslash) + (8+1+3)
(basename (file), dot, extension) + 1 (string terminating null
character) = 120.
 
Many (most?) programs do not care for pathnames of that length.
For example I got 1st Word Plus to bomb out when I tried to
open a file "D:\11111111.111\...\88888888.888\TEST.DOC".
Probably the internal pathname buffer is to small and longer
names overwrite other data. My Laser C documentation says that
a 64 byte buffer for the dirname portion of a pathname is
sufficient. However, I do not know what the official Atari
developer's documentation says.
 
Any comments?
 
  Dipl.-Inform. Rainer Klute      klute@heike.informatik.uni-dortmund.de
  Univ. Dortmund, IRB             klute@unido.uucp, klute@unido.bitnet
  Postfach 500500         |)|/    ...uunet!mcvax!unido!klute
D-4600 Dortmund 50        |\|\    Tel.: +49 231 755-4663
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 26 Feb 90 11:55:06 GMT
From: mcsun!sunic!lth.se!newsuser@uunet.uu.net  (Peter Tomaszewski)
Subject: FORMATS NEEDED !!!!!!!!!!
Message-ID: <1990Feb26.115506.20584@lth.se>
 
%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%
 
I need help with the disk-formats of the following samplers:
 
- Emax/Emax II
 
- Akai S900/S950/S1000
 
- Ensoniq Mirage/Eps
 
- Korg Dss1
 
- Yamaha ?
 
- Any other 16/12/8-bit sampler with 3.5'' disks.
 
Addresse to the above companies in USA are welcome.
 
E-mail to: d88pt@efd.lth.se
 
%/%/%/%%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/%/
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 26 Feb 90 05:58:25 GMT
From:
 imagen!atari!portal!portal!cup.portal.com!Bob_BobR_Retelle@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU
Subject: Phantom Typist
Message-ID: <27334@cup.portal.com>
 
Max J asked:
>I used to use Flash occasionally as an editor while online ( before I switch
>to Uniterm :~) - thanks Simon!), but I never ran across the phantom typist
>while doing so - in fact I've never had it happen to me.  I have the 85 ROMs
>and normally have some fairly minor accessories running - the control panel
>and so forth.  What kind of things were you doing when it hit?
 
I've used FLASH as my "editor of choice" for all my ST-Log articles, my
Dungeon Master hintbook, and most of my other text editing.. it doesn't have
all the "bells and whistles" of the "real" wordprocessors, but then again,
my applications have never required any of those features..
 
Essentially the same symptoms as reported by others, using other programs,
occurred...  I would be typing in new text at the bottom of the text buffer..
A series of quick backspaces would trigger the "phantom typist", resulting
in the last 10 or so characters being repeated over and over, until the syste
crashed...
 
It didn't happen often, but when it did, it was terribly annoying...
 
I wonder if Ken knows where I can buy a new supply of dried chicken blood..?
 
BobR
 
------------------------------
 
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 90  17:17 GMT
From: "sometimes known as Fraser..."
 <ZDEE050%elm.cc.kcl.ac.uk@NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK>
Subject: SAMPLERS: The one that I want...
 
SAMPLERS: I have been trying to find a decent sampler at "the right price".
What I need is something a bit more professional then the likes of REPLAY
(8-bit, mono, minimal MIDI, designed for L-M Rez gaming types....), but not
quite up to ADAPI,II,AKAI-S900 spec.
 
In fact, what I could do with is (in order of importance):
At least 2 outputs (pref 4) and able to bung different sounds down each.
A good MIDI control - not just note on/off, pitch etc, but control too.
Support/upgrades etc.
12 bits (though 8 can still sound good)
Good Mono display.
Priced 200-300 quids. (Pounds Sterling to you across the pond....)
 
I have looked quite a bit, and no body seems to have a package to fit the bill.
I had hoped Germany would have something - Their stuff is generally 10-20 times
better then UK offerings, but my best chance seams to be the ProSampler by
Galaxy coming out in March (so they say...). G-Datas' AS sound sampler III is
16 bit MONO! no good for me.....
 
As for the Britsh offerings, Tony Racine at AVR has some good ideas, except
that he does not think the market exists for what I want. I put this down to
him not knowing about the recording industry. (Think: Most Studios have at
least one ST (for running Pro-24 etc) so a good sampler using a Mega as control
and memory would really sell. If the studios use them, bedroom studios like
mine will too to maintain compatability)
 
The biggest joke is POWER COMPUTING (I noticed that someone else on the net
seems to question this firm....). They "market" MOUSE MUSIC, which on paper
looks good (8 bits only, but Stereo, so more than one ouput), but talking to
various people (including Chris, the programmer) got me worried, there were
problems they said.... So I asked Power Computing for a Demo. The weeks passed,
Ken (of PC) kept saying it would be with me of friday/friday/friday etc. What
finally convinced me was when Chris left the company - after falling out with
the hardware designer! I would never now touch Power Computing with a
bargepole, a very very long one too!
 
So: If anyone out there knows of a Sampler that has multiple outs, please let
me know!!!
 
Thanks,
 
Fraser Stephens, UK.AC.KCL.CC.OAK::ZDEE050
 
 
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 24 Feb 90 22:49:54 GMT
From: att!oucsace!bwhite@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU  (Bill White)
Subject: SM124 mono monitor adjust query
Message-ID: <1151@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU>
 
In article <2137@rodan.acs.syr.edu>, jfbruno@rodan.acs.syr.edu (John F. Bruno)
 writes:
>
>   My monochrome SM124 monitor has a problem where the right side of
> the screen is shorter than the left side, so the screen isn't a
> perfect rectangle.  Has anyone else had this problem? Is it even
> fixable?  There aren't any Atari Service Centers nearby (of course)
> and I don't really feel like forking over a flat rate service charge
> for something that (I hope) is a simple adjustment to make...
>
> I'd appreciate any help w/this
>
> ---jb (jfbruno@rodan.acs.syr.edu)
 
        My guess is that it's probably either 1) magnetic fields, or 2)
assymetry in the yoke compensation magnets.
        If it's the first problem, check and make sure nothing is sitting
near your monitor that could be making magnetic fields.  If you move a
peripheral and your distortion goes away, that's it.  If not, try degaussing
your monitor screen.
        You can do this yourself if you have a degaussing coil (which you
can get at a TV repair shop) or you can bring the monitor to a TV repair
shop and have it done for you.  To use a degaussing coil, first take your
monitor AWAY FROM ANY MAGNETIC-SENSITIVE MEDIA (floppies, hard drive, etc)
and place it on a large flat surface, sitting normally.  Try and make the
video cable connect to it (you can move the computer too, it isn't magnetic
sensitive as long as there's no floppy disk in it).  Just keep the computer
as far away as the monitor cable will allow.
        Boot up and get something on the screen, and then plug in the
degaussing coil, at least 6' away from the monitor.  Using a reciprocating
motion, move the coil around and slowly bring it towards the front of the
monitor.  You should be making a big enough circle so that your hands go
in a path about 4' or so in diameter.  bring it up to the point where the
screen is very distorted, about 4" distance or so (depending on your
degaussing coil this may be more or less), and slowly bring it backwards,
keeping the same reciprocating motion until you're at least 6' away again.
        Repeat the procedure on the top and sides of the monitor.  DO NOT
PERFORM THIS OPERATION ON THE BACK OF THE MONITOR!  To do so would be
extremely dangerous to both you and the monitor.
 
        If this doesn't help, then your problem is in the CRT's yoke
compensator magnets, most likely.  Unless you have experience in aligning
these, I'd suggest you take your monitor to a computer repair shop, give
them the specifics of horizontal and vertical scan frequencies, and let
them do it.  It can be a very difficult procedure.
        If your monitor doesn't have adjustable compensator magnets, you're
out of luck.  If you really want a rectangular screen, you'll have to get
a new CRT (probably $200 or so).
 
                                        Bill White
                                        bwhite@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 26 Feb 90 06:24:50 GMT
From:
 imagen!atari!portal!portal!cup.portal.com!Bob_BobR_Retelle@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU
Subject: STE DMA sound (documentation posted)
Message-ID: <27336@cup.portal.com>
 
Allan Pratt asks, in reference to the posting of some technical data about
the STE's sound:
 
>Why was this article posted?  That information is available to all
>developers, is of limited interest to anyone else, and is protected by
>the nondisclosure agreement between developers and Atari.
 
Well, it was probably posted by someone who's tired of Atari's stupid,
restrictive policies about who gets to know the details about the computers
they've purchased...   only the "elite" developers who've passed the
intitiation rites and paid the initiation fee prescribed by Atari are worth
Atari's time or effort.. (as recently noted by KenB@Atari)
 
>I don't want to be a bad guy about this, but you shouldn't just key
>in Atari documentation and post it.
 
I don't think anyone here thinks Allan (or Ken) are "bad guys" because they
follow company policy...  (not even *me*... would you believe it..??)
 
 
>Among the reasons is that you can get it wrong, or leave
>out important stuff, and people will complain to us about things which
>are not our fault.
 
OK, "people"... go ahead and write us the most incredible sound programs
we've ever seen (or heard), but if they're based on the information you
read here, and not on "official" Atari documentation, don't complain
to Allan, or Ken, or anyone at Atari... OK..?
 
 
BobR
 
------------------------------
 
End of INFO-ATARI16 Digest V90 Issue #261
*****************************************
