Info-Atari16 Digest Sat, 28 Sep 91 Volume 91 : Issue 511 Today's Topics: ARJ? (2 msgs) ARJ? K.I.S.S.! Atari Laser Printer for SALE ATARI ON TV GEM Font Inquire functions Help on FTP downloading.. HP 97548 disk lharc 2.01e vs zoo 2.1: some tests (2 msgs) Need ST program to convert .DFX to .GEM or .IMG People dumping machines (was.. Atari Mega 2 system.. for sale) Rap/Dance - Atari REPOST: Atari Games 4 Sale Software suggestions Wanted.. Zoo with GEM interface (Was: Re: ARJ? K.I.S.S.!) Welcome to the Info-Atari16 Digest. The configuration for the automatic cross-posting to/from Usenet is getting closer, but still getting thrashed out. Please send notifications about broken digests or bogus messages to Info-Atari16-Request@NAUCSE.CSE.NAU.EDU. Please send requests for un/subscription and other administrivia to Info-Atari16-Request, *NOT* Info-Atari16. Requests that go to the list instead of the moderators are likely to be lost or ignored. If you want to unsubscribe, and you're receiving the digest indirectly from someplace (usually a BITNET host) that redistributes it, please contact the redistributor, not us. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 Sep 91 08:16:28 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!cs.umn.edu!thelake!steve@ariz ona.edu (Steve Yelvington) Subject: ARJ? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu [In article <1991Sep26.155941.18972@cs.ruu.nl>, piet@cs.ruu.nl (Piet van Oostrum) writes ... ] >>>>>> steve@thelake.mn.org (Steve Yelvington) (SY) writes: > > > SY> I've always used a single startup module for all Sozobon-compiled GEM > SY> applications (except Desk Accessories, of course). > ~~~~~~~~~ > Not "of course". You can have a startup module that also deals with desk > accessories correctly (although I don't know if that uses undocumented > features, so it might not be legal). It's legal -- or at least, there is a legal way of doing it. (Details on request.) I have a startup module for Sozobon C that will work for a PRG or an ACC. But there are some significant shortcomings, such as no argument parsing, no stream i/o (including buffered file i/o), no support for the environment, etc. I don't know if it's possible (or desireable) to write one all-encompassing startup module. There are too many rules that a DA can't violate. The dual-mode approach has its uses, but in general, if you want to write a Desk Accessory, then write a Desk Accessory, and if you want to write a program, then write a program. -- Steve Yelvington, Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota steve@thelake.mn.org (In winter we walk on water) ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 18:59:19 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!utgpu!watserv1!watdragon!rose.waterloo.edu!cjherborth @arizona.edu (Chris Herborth) Subject: ARJ? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Sep26.155941.18972@cs.ruu.nl> piet@cs.ruu.nl (Piet van Oostrum) writes: }>>>>> steve@thelake.mn.org (Steve Yelvington) (SY) writes: } } }SY> I've always used a single startup module for all Sozobon-compiled GEM }SY> applications (except Desk Accessories, of course). } ~~~~~~~~~ }Not "of course". You can have a startup module that also deals with desk }accessories correctly (although I don't know if that uses undocumented }features, so it might not be legal). }-- }Piet* van Oostrum, Dept of Computer Science, Utrecht University, }Padualaan 14, P.O. Box 80.089, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands. }Telephone: +31 30 531806 Uucp: uunet!mcsun!ruuinf!piet }Telefax: +31 30 513791 Internet: piet@cs.ruu.nl (*`Pete') Oooooo Piet, I'd LOVE to get my greedy little hands on a startup module like that! There's been some demand for a screen saver like AFter Dark on the Macs (which loads different modules to run as the screen saver effects) on GEnie, and I thought I'd write on... Unfortunately, I'm not enough of an assembly hack to write the startup module you'd need to Pexec() from inside an accessory, and not crash the ST... Has anyone got a startup module that'll let me run the program from an acc via Pexec()? Or some other means or running an external program from an ACC? ---------------=============================================--------------- Chris Herborth cjherborth@rose.waterloo.edu 3B Hons English RPW cjherborth@lotus.waterloo.edu Disclaimer: This is your brain: "*" This is your brain on USENET: "."... ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 00:18:41 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs .ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!ncoast!bjsjr@arizona.edu (Bill Shroka) Subject: ARJ? K.I.S.S.! To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <3082@atari.UUCP> towns@atari.UUCP (John Townsend) writes: >|[Super long discussion on the merits of CLIs for programming, etc.] > >On the subject of ARJ port for the ST. I have a simple request: > > - Either include the GEM interface as Ken Badertscher has asked > for (you know, CLI version that when it is run from the desktop > will present a GEM interface..) > > or > > - Make the source to your port available so that someone like myself > or Ken Badertscher can do the GEM version ourselves. Is this an open offer? If so, I may just take you up on this for the ST Zoo port. The Zoo source is available and I don't have any objections to having Zoo use GEM if it has been launched from the desktop. As a matter of fact, it would make alot of GEnie users extremely happy :-) If either of you gentleman are willing to do the GEM portion of Zoo, contact me in E-mail and we'll discuss it more in-depth (ST Zoo may be going through some significant changes now that we're merging with the mainstream Zoo source). > >Last point.. Programmers use CLIs. Users don't. Well, Atari users don't >anyway :-) > >-- John Townsend ames!atari!towns > Atari Corp. towns@atari.uucp -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Shroka bjsjr@NCoast.ORG uunet!usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu!ncoast!bjsjr ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 01:59:26 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!milano!cactus.org!covert@arizona.edu (Richard Covert) Subject: Atari Laser Printer for SALE To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <3235@isc-br.ISC-BR.COM> michaela@isc-br.ISC-BR.COM (Michael Albo) writes: > > >What's the problem ? Is my price to high? This printer works ~~~~~~~ It might be that the laser printer is an Atari and nobody wants that dog!! >very well with spectre as well as atari applications. >Make me an offer. > >For anyone using an ST its just great. >---------------- ~~~~~~ ha ha ha!! I had one of those dogs and sold it and bought a real laser printer. The SLM804/605 require an ST with a minimum of 2.5 megs of RAM as an data is preformatted in ST RAM before being dumped to the printer. Also, the various emulators (diable 630,epson etc) are all buggy as hell. I have seen used HPLJII compatible laser printers for under a grand. and they don't require a 4 meg ST to use. Just face it it takes a special person to buy a SLiMe laser printer these days. And for you all Atari Apologists, I know that the SLiMe is greased lightning because of its DMA interface, but have you ever tried a fancy laser printer on a PC with the vidoe interface? Just as fast as the SLiMe, so there!! -- Richard E. Covert covert@cactus.org CACTUS ..!cs.utexas.edu!cactus.org!covert ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 17:21:04 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu !glover@arizona.edu (Eric Glover) Subject: ATARI ON TV To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Sep27.133426.26947@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> dhbutler@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (David Butler) writes: >>On the show "Growing Pains" on ABC, if there is a scene with computers >>in it, they usually use a Mega ST. (Last weeks episode had Carol moving >>into her dorm room, and she had a Mega ST set up on her desk. >> > >This may be old hat, but if anyone ever watched Friday The 13th., The Series >(great show), you should have noticed that every computer in it (at least that >I ever saw) was an Atari ST! Pretty neat huh? Does anyone know what happened to >this show, it used to be on FOX, and I can't find it anymore, Friday the 13th: The Series was cancelled last fall, after its syndication run. Atari Canada must be the antithesis of Atari U.S.; Ie Cool, Active, Viable. Other STs on TV, My Secret Identity[Syndicated/CBC] and Parker Lewis Cant Loose [Fox] Supposedly the machines in Star Labs on the Flash where also STs, but I could never get a clear enough recording of the show. >- David Butler - > >"innagaddadaviddababy" Why is it that Atari U.S. is so sad compared to the rest of the world. Eric .R. Glover ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 17:17:41 GMT From: europa.asd.contel.com!darwin.sura.net!gatech!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!dku ug!imada!micro@uunet.uu.net (Klaus Pedersen) Subject: GEM Font Inquire functions To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu soren@.vlsi.auc.dk (Soeren Michelsen) writes: >It will be released as a shareware offer when I've done with the initial >coding. Great... >Currently Term/ST (as it is called) runs on mono ST's only (I wrote my >own screen I/O in the window - standard v_gtext() being is *much* to slow >for high speed modeming) but I expect it to run on most STs later on. Have you thought about using your superfast text-blit routines in a off-screen buffer and then blit the buffer onto the screen with the VDI? This would not cost much time, but it would work on all ST's and TT's and on yet unconcived machines and graphics cards. You can blit the buffer to the screen, when there is a halt in the incomming serial stream or when the serial buffer get below a certain mark, or the simple way - make a text-line and blit it to the screen, make the next... Ofcause - you might want to include the v_gtext() option too, so that people can use outline fonts in the terminal window... >Now, I have some problems which I hope some of you could help me with: [...] >3) My application sees AC_CLOSE messages AFTER the desktop has been > taken over by a double clicked .PRG application. Am I doing something > wrong here - I thought AC_CLOSE messages was sent to .ACCs *before* > the Desktop was closed down? This is because the program you start, don't use the AES. In the old TOS the ACCs won't get their AC_CLOSE message until it is their turn (and the dispatcher runs on AES calls) this means that there have to be a certain number of AES calls before all ACCs have received their message. In the new TOSes 2.0x and up, the AES makes sure that all ACCs get their messages before the appl_exit call terminates. It is therefor safe to allocate memory on TOS 2.0x and up. On lesser TOSes you should only allocate memory on the desktop. - it is a good idea anyway... You can check if you are on the desktop with the PID pointer in the system header. (your ACC start it's life on the desktop - allways!). On the new TOSes you get a AC_CLOSE when the rez. is changed: case AC_CLOSE: if (OnDesktop()) Panic_rez_change(); This is a really nice trick, not that is have anything to do with your questions though... -Klaus ------------------------------ Date: 26 Sep 91 22:29:00 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acn s.nwu.edu!uicvm.uic.edu!u43610@arizona.edu Subject: Help on FTP downloading.. To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I am experiencing a horrible problem with downloading FTP files from FTP sites .. This is the oprocedure I follow: 1) FTP material from the FTP site to the IBM 370 mainframe.. 2) KERMIT the material from the IBM maionframe to my Atari ST. - The problem with this is nothing I have downloaded thus far has executed nor de compressed propwerly.. I am decompressing the file FINE.. THAT is not the prob lem (I tried to download a .prg file and IT did not work!) - What am I doing wron? I did the FTP BINARY.. that idea has been ruled out.. Do I have a protocol problem? Is it impossible to download a binary file from a CMS mainframe to an Atari? Help?! - Ken U43610@uicvm.uic.edu ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 17:49:55 GMT From: pa.dec.com!hollie.rdg.dec.com!decuk.uvo.dec.com!decuk.uvo.dec.com!les@decwrl.de c.com (Les Carleton) Subject: HP 97548 disk To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Hi all, I've just got an HP 97458 (I think) hard disk. Unfortunately I don't have any info on it. I think its SCSI (connectors look similar), but I'm not much at identifying disks from their cases (I'm not particularly happy about plugging it into my ICD SCSI on by ST to test it). Can anyone give me any information on this mystery disk or any clues as to connecting it to my ST. Cheers ..Les... -- ___________________________________________________________________ Les Carleton / Tel: +44 (256) 488351 \ \ Digital Equipment Corporation / Email: les@decuk.uvo.dec.com \ \ CSC/UK Ultrix Support Group / "The Software Lifeguard" \ \ ----------------------------+ "Open Standards ... Free Software" / / "My opinions, My Mind, Don't take that away from me!" / / _________________________________________________________________/_/ ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 17:49:01 GMT From: europa.asd.contel.com!darwin.sura.net!gatech!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!dku ug!imada!micro@uunet.uu.net (Klaus Pedersen) Subject: lharc 2.01e vs zoo 2.1: some tests To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu jhenders@jonh.wimsey.bc.ca (John Henders) writes: > < extensive zoo vs lharc test deleted > > Thanks for an excellant test article. The only real world test you >missed was extraction of existing archives, where lharc is a considerable >improvement over it's predecesors. I'm sure zoo rates highly there too. One thing I don't like about ZOO is that you can't add recursive (at least I can't get mine to eat 'zoo a// a large/*'. -Klaus ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 10:08:18 GMT From: van-bc!jonh!jhenders@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (John Henders) Subject: lharc 2.01e vs zoo 2.1: some tests To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In <1991Sep26.064525.15427@convex.com>, William Rosenkranz writes: > < extensive zoo vs lharc test deleted > Thanks for an excellant test article. The only real world test you missed was extraction of existing archives, where lharc is a considerable improvement over it's predecesors. I'm sure zoo rates highly there too. My one big gripe with zoo is that it breaks multiarc, a nice muli archiver shell I discovered shortly before zoo 2.1's release. With the old version of zoo, the command x// extracted all files recursively too folders, now the only command that does this is -extract, which doesn't fit on the multiacr command line. ( one problem with Gem dialogs is that the programmer must anticipate the maximum length of any command ever to be used. If he underestimates, something always comes along that is too long. Another good example is Gus, which truncates long subject lines.) Is my version of zoo broken, or is there a switch that I missed? -- John Henders jhenders@jonh.wimsey.bc.ca Vancouver,B.C or ubc.cs!van-bc!jonh!jhenders ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 02:26:31 GMT From: mtu.edu!mjo@uunet.uu.net (Mike O'Connor) Subject: Need ST program to convert .DFX to .GEM or .IMG To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Could anyone assist me in this department? I'm not the one who owns or uses this ST, so my knowledge in this area is zero zip zilch. Mike O'Connor | "FEEL the POWER of the WIND!" NIC Database: MJO17 | Internet: mjo@mtu.edu | -Whirlwind pinball game UUCP: ...!ttardis!mjo | ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 01:53:14 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!milano!cactus.org!covert@arizona.edu (Richard Covert) Subject: People dumping machines (was.. Atari Mega 2 system.. for sale) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Sep26.080358.12026@doug.cae.wisc.edu> carter@cae.wisc.edu (Gregory Carter) writes: >In article <0giu91w164w@cellar.UUCP> darling@cellar.UUCP (Thomas Darling) writes: >>dhbutler@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (David Butler) writes: >> >Er, I just realized how much of dupe apple is pulling on people who buy >its hardware, after talking with my ECE Prof, he really put me straight >about just HOW BAD you get ripped off when you buy ANY Apple computer >hardware... > >Folks, its the ripoff of the century, especially when Apple manufactures >IIFx motherboards for about $500 bucks a piece. I wonder about that $500 price cause the 40 MHz 68030 CPU must cost a couple of hundred bucks by itself. But I doubt that the IIFX costs more then a grand, and they sell it for $5,000 so Apple seems to be making a fortune. But, if it is true then how come the TT030 with 8 meg RAM and 50 meg drive retails for $3800?? I can't believe that the TT030 is more expensive to build than a Mac IIFX. So, shouldn't the TT030 be under 2 grand not pushing four? > >--Greg I agree that the mac hw is just too expensive but look at the software that is available. and then decide if you can justify the hw costs. for me, I need a UNIX X windows machine and can't wait for Atari to release their ATX (if they ever do now that they let their UNIX Guru go). So, if I get a Mac iici for $4000 ($3300 for a IIci with 5 mgs RAM, 105mg hd) + $600 for color monitor/video board + $150 for keyboard I can use my Sony SMO optical drive with it for free. then I can put AUX on my optical drive and run MAc off of my hard drive and off of the optical. Plus I can get a CD ROM drive NOW with real software for it. And for less than a TT030 with ATX would cost. The TT030 ATX package is going to cost $2,000 from what I hear. And the Mac isn't likely to be an orphan computer in a couple of months. So, yes the Mac's hardware is way overpriced but you can get gigs and gigs of great Mac apps and stuff on CD ROM right now!! Even NASA is releasing CD ROMs for both the PC and the MAC. so, for me, buying a Mac is much more logical (even with Apple's inflated prices) than buying another Atari product. -- Richard E. Covert covert@cactus.org CACTUS ..!cs.utexas.edu!cactus.org!covert ------------------------------ Date: 26 Sep 91 20:04:50 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!news-s erver.csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!geac!censor!isgtec!ken@arizona.edu (Ken Newman) Subject: Rap/Dance - Atari To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article , mforget@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Michel Forget) writes: |> > >Last I heard, Mick Fleetword was using an ST, and Tangerine Dream had |> > >13 of them... |> > B.B. King was using an ST a few years ago. I'm unsure if he still is. |> While we are adding to the list, the Arsenio Hall Show uses an Atari |> Anyone else have something to add? For big name acts, how about Madonna on tour? The synth wizard apparently runs around underneath the stage using Atari's running KCS (gag!). The Pointer sisters use/d Atari. Lee Ritenour, Dave Brubeck use Atari. Donny Osmond uses Atari. Several heavy metal acts use Atari, I can't remember them all, I think Blue Oyster Cult is one. Numerous top ten movies have soundtracks and effects done with Atari's using ADAP, SmpteTrack, Notator, etc. - kn ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 17:19:38 GMT From: news.mentorg.com!mntgfx!dcooley@uunet.uu.net (Doug Cooley) Subject: REPOST: Atari Games 4 Sale To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I've sold a good chunk of the games I posted, but a few are still hanging around. If you buy one of the $12 & up games, I will throw in one of the $8 games for only $4. All games are originals, and include complete documentation. Some with boxes, no warranty cards. As always, games are first come, first serve. Unless noted, all games require a color monitor. All prices include shipping (which I find to run about $1.50 + $.25/game). I don't read this newsgroup, so please, no posts to comp.sys. atari.st for me. If you must get ahold of me, call me in the evening at home and leave a message. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Paladin - Medival version of Breach 2, earlier generation of the same system. While not as slick, it is still a lot of fun. HD installable, and has a build your own editor. Don't miss this, it is a winner, especially at this price. Lots of scenarios available on the usual services such as GEnie. $12 Midwinter - You are one of 31 people on an ice-bound island which has erupted into war. Control hang-gliders, various snowcats, or ski your way over the landscape. This has not gotten a lot of press, but it is very addictive and has a great feel to it. A seriously good way to eat up your time. Boxed. $16 Dr. T's MT-32 editor/lib - Professional quality editor librarian, I don't have an MT-32 anymore, so out it goes. Has a backup disk. This was originally more than $100 retail. $16 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Buy one of the above, and take one of the below for only $4! What a deal! ----------------------------------------------------------------- RoadWars - Arcade game. *Not* a Car Wars clone! Drive along and blow stuff up. Boxed $8 Knight Orc - Graphic Text adventure. Boxed. $8 Zak McKraken - Lucasfilms Cinemaware. Kind of a text adventure, but not really. Pretty funny in places. HD install, lots of entertaining extra stuff, like an Enquirer clone newspaper. $8 I am available at work from 8AM to 5PM PST. E-mail sometimes makes it to my site, sometimes not. Doug Cooley Work #: (503)685-7759 Home #: (503)692-0680 e-mail: dcooley@mentorg.com -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Doug Cooley | My company doesn't hold me responsible for Mentor Graphics Corp. | their opinions, and I don't hold them dcooley@apd.mentorg.com | responsible for mine. So there. ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 07:58:07 GMT From: noao!ncar!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!uicvm.uic.edu!u43610@ar izona.edu Subject: Software suggestions Wanted.. To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I have a basic 512K ST with a monchrome monitor.. AND I have access to FTP sit es about anywhere.. This brings about a question(s).. Does anyone reccoment a title or titles of good FTP software that works on a Monochrome ST? - I am looking for a Good Drawing program as well as some "neat-o" demos or games . Any suggestions? (I keep downloading stuff that is for the Color ST or for the 1040ST etc.. ) - Please, if the site is other than atari.archive.umich--Do tell what site--Also- - what directory.. Thanks in advance! - Ken. ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 12:04:54 GMT From: mcsun!unido!laura!tommy!klute@uunet.uu.net (Rainer Klute) Subject: Zoo with GEM interface (Was: Re: ARJ? K.I.S.S.!) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Sep27.001841.13356@NCoast.ORG>, bjsjr@NCoast.ORG (Bill Shroka) writes: |> Is this an open offer? If so, I may just take you up on this for the |> ST |> Zoo port. The Zoo source is available and I don't have any objections |> to |> having Zoo use GEM if it has been launched from the desktop. As a |> matter |> of fact, it would make alot of GEnie users extremely happy :-) |> |> If either of you gentleman are willing to do the GEM portion of Zoo, |> contact |> me in E-mail and we'll discuss it more in-depth (ST Zoo may be going |> through |> some significant changes now that we're merging with the mainstream Zoo |> source). You could use Arcgsh 3.5. It offers a nice GEM interface to Zoo (and some other archivers) with full Zoo functionality and starts up automatically upon double-clicking on a .ZOO file. (Well, actually Arcgsh does not yet support Zoo's new 'h' option. However, Arcgsh 4.0 is in the making, which will have the 'h' option. And for those LHarc users among you :-( it will come with a configurable LHarc interface. You can adopt it to just that LHarc variant you like, resp. you are forced to use.) -- Dipl.-Inform. Rainer Klute klute@irb.informatik.uni-dortmund.de Univ. Dortmund, IRB klute@unido.bitnet Postfach 500500 |)|/ Tel.: +49 231 755-4663 D-4600 Dortmund 50 |\|\ Fax : +49 231 755-2386 ------------------------------ End of Info-Atari16 Digest ******************************