Info-Atari16 Digest Sun, 29 Sep 91 Volume 91 : Issue 513 Today's Topics: lharc 2.01e vs zoo 2.1: some tests (2 msgs) Mega/STE Screen Shifting Mega II Expansion More Lies From Atari? NEC P3200 24-pin printer People dumping machines (was.. Atari Mega 2 system.. for sale) (3 msgs) Phantom of the Laser question about Megafile 30 Rufus with Matrix M110 pos ST Magazines (was Re: More Lies From Atari?) 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 16:00:33 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!convex!rosenkra@arizona.edu (William Rosenkranz) Subject: lharc 2.01e vs zoo 2.1: some tests To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article jhenders@jonh.wimsey.bc.ca writes: >In <1991Sep26.064525.15427@convex.com>, William Rosenkranz writes: > 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. you're welcome! i did test extraction of existion archives, the ones i made in the test itself. in those tests, zoo and lharc were of equal speed (in one of the 2 limited tests, however, zoo was faster by 2 seconds). > 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 contact multiarc's author and have him/her fix it. if multiarc is shareware and the author requests $$$ for it, he should fix it, if only to remain current and viable. marketing 101... >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 i have used "zoo x//. archive" without problems with zoo 2.1. i always include the ".", however. >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.) multiarc needs fixing. you might also consider one of the other GEM shells for zoo. > Is my version of zoo broken, or is there a switch that I missed? don't know that. i do know there were 2 (at least?) versions of zoo 2.1 but i use the one that was posted on comp.{binaries,sources}.atari.st by the moderator, steve grimm. you can see the version info by executing zoo with no arguments. i included this in the report. -bill rosenkra@convex.com -- Bill Rosenkranz |UUCP: {uunet,texsun}!convex!rosenkra Convex Computer Corp. |ARPA: rosenkra@convex.com ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 22:01:54 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!lll-winken!aunro!ersys!mforget@arizona.edu (Michel Forget) Subject: lharc 2.01e vs zoo 2.1: some tests To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Roger.Sheppard@actrix.gen.nz (Roger Sheppard) writes: > I have just had a look at your rather long posting, well for one thing > that I find that it is very biased to ZOO 2.1.. > > You allready new and use ZOO and have a source listing, so there was no > real need to read the manual..?? > > LZH201X has a few New commands, they could only be found by reading the manua > never blaim the programer if you have never read his manual. > > BUGS. I think you will find that the Date/Time Problem is possible caused > by TOS 1.2, I have tested some files and never found a date or time probem, > but then I do use TOS 1.4.:-) > > Directory delimiters can be changed with the -s switch, \ to /. > > The progress indicator can be turned off with the -n switch, and > all outputs with the -d switch. > > ARGV is claimed to be supported, but I have no way to test it, there > was some comments in the Doc's that Thomas had fixed ARGV in version 201D. > > How does gulum work with a extended inputs, is it automatic when > command lines are to long.? > > So Bill spend some money and get TOS 1.4, you could find things a lot better, > gee I could not live with out my Move Files..:-) > -- > *** Roger W. Sheppard * Roger.Sheppard@bbs.actrix.gen.nz *** > *** 85 Donovan Rd * * GEnie. R.SHEPPARD5 *** > *** Kapiti At least I don't Flicker, *** > *** New Zealand.. * not like a dying light globe *** I can't be positive about this, but I am fairly sure. Gulam uses the Mark Williams C Extended Argument Passing system, which is close to the system that ARGV uses. It *ISN'T* ARGV though, so that may be why Gulam crashes. Okami supports ARGV Parameter Passing, if you can figure it out. I can't read German, so it hasn't been the easiest method to use...:) Lharc 2.01E works fairly well. The only problems I have had with it are when trying to compact files for AFX Pack. Sometimes it will not compact the files properly (I will get a read error when trying to access .PAS files, so far.) If I ever get enough money, I'll register the thing and the version that you get for registering might not have these problems. All in all, though, Thomas Quester's programs are some of the best available for the ST. Especially PFX Pack and AFX Pack. I'll check to see how well Lharc 2.01E supports ARGV, but if the author says it is supported it is a good bet that it is. I also read the article containing the test, and it did seem very biased toward ZOO. The writer perhaps should have read the documentation before complaining about the program not being able to do certain things. The actual compression rates seemed fairly even, whih is a good thing. The next sries of compression programs will all be trying to beat each other, so we might see even better compression routines. There has to be a limit on how good compression can be though... << ---------------------------------- >> << ersys!mforget@nro.cs.athabascau.ca >> << mforget@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca >> << Michel Forget >> << "He's dead, Jim..." - Bones >> << ---------------------------------- >> ------------------------------ Date: 26 Sep 91 19:08:41 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.co lumbia.edu!ira.uka.de!iraul1!i32s1!goetz@arizona.edu (Goetz) Subject: Mega/STE Screen Shifting To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Sep21.163419.16634@usenet.ins.cwru.edu>, au036@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Chris Burgess) writes: > > I have Mega/STe that with certain programs (such as 1stprint or Lucasfilm > games) will cause the screen to be shifted to the right with what should > be displayed on the right side of the screen being displayed on the left > (somtimes in a distorted mirror image). This only happens in Monochrome. > > In color, certain programs (such as the mvngpxls demo) cause the screen > to flicker after execution. > > I have seen these problems on two machines. Has anyone else seen these > promlems? Does anyone have a Mega/Ste that functions correctly? Is there > a fix for this problem? (The machine is still under warranty) > > Chris Burgess A few days ago i have bought an Atari Mega STE 4. I have also seen this screen shifting, but there were more problems! First i have to say, that it original was an Mega STE 2. Now, first the high 2 MB doesn't respond correctly! So i have brought it back. Now i have it again and there is only 1 MB responding! I know that there are some dip switches inside to configurate the memory. Does someone know how to adjust the dip switches for 4 MB? Please e-mail me, because the server for my machine doesn't work well and so i can't be sure if i can read news in the next time! 2. Question: Is there someone who knows something about a book for Mega STE's? I know that Sybex will publish a book, but not till november! Thomas Goetz ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 23:09:23 GMT From: ENTERPRISE.NOARL.NAVY.MIL!fox@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Dan Fox) Subject: Mega II Expansion To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Sorry for the repost, but I didn't get any responses a few weeks ago... I have a 'stock' Mega 2 which I would like to upgrade with additional memory and an internal hard drive. Two questions: 1. Is the built in power supply and cooling fan adequate for this? 2. Does the internal hard drive interfere with the SLM804? I ask the second question because on a visit to Toad Computers a couple of months ago, I was told that you couldn't use the laser printer with Toad's internal drives. They didn't know if this was a problem with other drives. I need to replace the external Supra 30 drive, because it's dying for the third time in less than three years... Since the machine only runs on weekends, that came out to a mean-time-between-failures of something like 300 hours! Thanks for the help! ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 21:01:13 GMT From: sgi!shinobu!odin!flatcat.wpd.sgi.com!stever@decwrl.dec.com (Steve Whitney) Subject: More Lies From Atari? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <9511@cactus.org>, covert@cactus.org (Richard Covert) writes: [Description of ST Book available in Europe deleted] |> |> Ah yes, a message from the Europe, the market for Atari. |> |> Unforutnately, just because Atari sells a product in Europe does |> not mean that it will ever be sold here in the USA. |> |> For example, just how many different models of IBM PC clones |> did Atari sell in Europe (or even Canada)? |> |> Atari has NEVER sold a PC clone here in the USA. |> |> Atari sells many products overseas that can not pass the USA FCC |> inspection here. I wonder why that is so? Are radiation emissions |> tests more restrictive here in the USA then in Europe? why does |> atari have some many recurring problems passing FCC tests? I can't tell you why Atari has so many problems getting FCC certification for its products, but I can tell you that the emissions requiremnets in Europe are _not_ significantly less stringent than they are here. The biggest difference is that the VDE (German equivalent of the FCC, also the standard in Europe) is self-ceritfying. That is, when you receive VDE approval from a lab in the U.S.A . which is certified to give VDE approval, _that's_ _it_ unless there are problems. After getting your stuff appro ved for FCC class B at a private lab, you still have to file paper work which can take months to go through if the FCC decides to audit you. *** This part is only speculation *** If Atari has indeed given the FCC stuff that wasn't really up to the requirements before, that would explain why their stuff might be audited so often. *** End speculation *** |> |> So, its is great that you see the ST Book over there but that |> means nothing for us here in the USA. |> |> Don't you remember the STacy? |> |> It was NEVER FCC Class C approved, so you couldn't legally |> buy a STacy for home use. As a result not many sold here. You only need FCC class -B- for home use. FCC class A is industrial use. That's what Stacy has (or _had_ last I heard). I've read that there is, in fact, an FCC class C for things that can be operated on airplanes, but I don't know if that's true or not. |> |> BTW, did Atari ever sell the CD-ROM drives over in Europe? |> |> That is another vaporware here in the States. There's a store in San Francisco that sells the CDAR-504. CD-ROM player. [Generic obnoxious Atari bashing deleted] |> -- |> Richard E. Covert covert@cactus.org |> CACTUS ..!cs.utexas.edu!cactus.org!covert ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 15:45:49 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc .edu!sal.wisc.edu!gaudi!csusac!sactoh0!mfolivo@arizona.edu (Mark Newton John) Subject: NEC P3200 24-pin printer To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I just purchased an NEC P3200 24-pin printer (New at a local store for $209, $100 less than even the Bay Area) and I need some help. The printer works just fine, but I use GDOS and Microsoft Write, and the drivers do not support the Graphics Print I would need for different fonts, etc. The NEC 7710 driver doesn't work. I have tried setting up my GDOS for an Epson FX printer (which the NEC can emulate) but Graphics Print is a no go, although Meta print to a .GEM file works. So, using GDOS and Write, is there a driver available so I can use to do graphic printouts? Also, the print screen driver in the ST doesn't print a decent screen. Any help here too? -- the good guys! Sakura-mendo, CA Internet: mfolivo@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 14:08:52 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs .ohio-state.edu!dhbutler@arizona.edu (David Butler) Subject: People dumping machines (was.. Atari Mega 2 system.. for sale) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu >A word of advice: Buying SPECTRE (Mac emulator) for your Mega will cost you a >couple hundred $. But buying a Mac will cost you a LOT more. If you really >do love your Mega, you owe it to yourself to check this option out. > >~ >darling@cellar.UUCP \\\ Thomas Darling * record production * dance re-mixing >uunet!cellar!darling \\\ Fact HQ Studio * The Cellar BBS:215/336-9503 * FACT >v Actually, I've had one and used one for, well, ever since I got my Mega (3 & 1/2 years or so). I love it, but it is not color (rats). Color is generally a necessity in DTP anymore, and calamus SL is still not here... Spectre with a 1024*768 screen (via ISAAC) is really great. I also used RESEDIT to alter my FINDER so that my Mac menus are more professional sounding, and look more like my NeoDesk menus (so I don't get confused switching between operating systems all the time). Spectre is a great tool for ST users, everyone should buy it. Oh, I have AdSpeed and it works fine with that too (some people have been having problems I hear, related to memory? Anyway, it works great with 4megs). Here is a really great trick all Spectre and Mac owners should know!: When you set up your Hard Drive partitions, make your boot partition as small as you possibly can, I have mine set to only 3megs. Next, take ALL you fonts except the system fonts out of your system file (I use 6.0.7, and leave the TrueType versions of the system fonts in the system file also), and put them in files on a DIFFERENT partition of your hard drive. Do the same thing with all your DA's except one or two (you have to have at least one DA in the system file or it ruins the system, so don't take them all out, always leave one in), and put them in suitcases on another drive just like Nyou did with your fonts (if you don't know what a suitcase file is, find out!) Now, use SUITCASEII to activate those fonts and DA's from that drive (this does work with ATM, just put the printer fonts in the same folder as your screen fonts, and not in your system folder). The only things on your Boot Partition should now be: The System, Finder, and all inits and cdevs, but no fonts or DA's). Reboot off the new, small partition! As soon as you do this you'll never go back... This cut my boot time (I use lots of inits and cdevs) down to less than 15 seconds. Previouisly it was 45 seconds or more! I am quite literally not exaggeraing in the least, it is amazing. Norton Disk Doctor and Speed disk (always set it for turbo mode) work fine with Spectre and should both be used occasionally. - David Butler - "innagaddadaviddababy" - What every happened to free love anyway? - ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 14:35:53 GMT From: noao!ncar!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohi o-state.edu!dhbutler@arizona.edu (David Butler) Subject: People dumping machines (was.. Atari Mega 2 system.. for sale) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu >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... > >Wow, Sculley should be arrested, or maybe we should have mass education >programs that just say: "Apple Hardware...JUST SAY NO." > >Folks, its the ripoff of the century, especially when Apple manufactures >IIFx motherboards for about $500 bucks a piece. > >Ouch, goes the checkbook... > >--Greg > >PS: Check out Spectre GCR by Mr. Small...Suppport your local ATARI GOD, > BY GADGETS BY SMALL, and reap BIG REWARDS. One thing I have noticed about the computer world is that there are a lot of real bone-heads in it, like as in thick skulls. Atari and Amiga users are the WORST of the lot. Get off your high-horses guys, you are arguing over a hunk of frigging silicone and some wires! That's right, go home, look at your ST, and think about what it really is, a lump of PLASTIC and METAL, and that is all, it has no importance. GET A LIFE! All computers are good a different things, and that is all there is to it! I like them all, I use them all (although the consulting lab I work at during the day recently got rid of the Amigas, rats). Yep, I even like Amigas, a lot, I like STs, a lot, I like Macs, a lot, and DOS machines, a lot... But, they are all computers, and that is all, not worth arguing over. Buy whichever one you like or can afford. For the office, Mac is king, it is so easy to use a total idiot can set one up and get it working in an hour. Macs & STs are both really excellent DTP machines. Amiga has the Animation department, and DOS has big industry (how many STs do you know that are hooked up directly to, and running, CNC laser modeling devices, robot die polishers, or similar devices?) But, you can do any of these things on any of the machines (allowing for software availability). As for price, I can get a MacIIci with 5megs Ram and 80Meg hard drive, with extended keyboard, for $2880 (student discount!). This is a TRUE 25mhz 68030 machine (why did Atari screw up the TT with a 16mhz bus system? arrgghh!!), with 3 internal expansion slots. It is a very good computer, it is not an ST, but it is still a damn good machine, just like all the others. Argue over something real, or hey, go outside and DO SOMETHING! (Have you noticed that the world is falling apart while you argue over your precious hunk of wires?) - David Butler - "inagaddadaviddababy" - Whatever happened to free love anyway? - - People were so petty they even argued over computers, so eventually they all destroyed each other... - ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 23:47:36 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.pri mate.wisc.edu!doug.cae.wisc.edu!carter@arizona.edu (Gregory Carter) Subject: People dumping machines (was.. Atari Mega 2 system.. for sale) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Sep27.143553.27920@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> dhbutler@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (David Butler) writes: [..] >>--Greg >> >>PS: Check out Spectre GCR by Mr. Small...Suppport your local ATARI GOD, >> BY GADGETS BY SMALL, and reap BIG REWARDS. > >One thing I have noticed about the computer world is that there are a lot of >real bone-heads in it, like as in thick skulls. Atari and Amiga users are the >WORST of the lot. Get off your high-horses guys, you are arguing over a hunk of >frigging silicone and some wires! That's right, go home, look at your ST, and A hunk of silicone and wires? OH MY GOD, IT REALLY IS! All this time, I thought I had to replace the little mouse inside on the treadmill every 4 billion mips or so... >think about what it really is, a lump of PLASTIC and METAL, and that is all, it >has no importance. GET A LIFE! All computers are good a different things, and You are absolutely right, I don't have a life, most people don't even know I exist on campus as I study way too much. I sit in front of my ST and just rn comp.sys.atari.st when I have dinner. (I even eat in my dorm...and I don't go out on weekends!) >that is all there is to it! I like them all, I use them all (although the >consulting lab I work at during the day recently got rid of the Amigas, rats). Well, thank God..little late don't you think? . >Yep, I even like Amigas, a lot, I like STs, a lot, I like Macs, a lot, and DOS Me and the rest of the people in this newsgroup will change that soon enough if you insist on reading this news on a steady basis. >machines, a lot... But, they are all computers, and that is all, not worth >arguing over. Buy whichever one you like or can afford. For the office, Mac is >king, it is so easy to use a total idiot can set one up and get it working in A total idiot? Mmmm, so you have tested this out personally? (Have a sense of humor Dave!) >an hour. Macs & STs are both really excellent DTP machines. Amiga has the >Animation department, and DOS has big industry (how many STs do you know that >are hooked up directly to, and running, CNC laser modeling devices, robot die >polishers, or similar devices?) But, you can do any of these things on any of >the machines (allowing for software availability). > >As for price, I can get a MacIIci with 5megs Ram and 80Meg hard drive, with >extended keyboard, for $2880 (student discount!). This is a TRUE 25mhz 68030 >machine (why did Atari screw up the TT with a 16mhz bus system? arrgghh!!), >with 3 internal expansion slots. It is a very good computer, it is not an ST, >but it is still a damn good machine, just like all the others. Yes, a IIci is a good machine, what I am saying its not good ENOUGH for 2800. If you want a really nice machine for doing DTP, try a NextStation with a 040 in it, which costs just a couple hundred bucks more. Wow, you think a IIci is nice..this machine will knock you off your feet. > >Argue over something real, or hey, go outside and DO SOMETHING! (Have you >noticed that the world is falling apart while you argue over your precious hunk >of wires?) Ok, Dave, lets not get testy now. we have established, I don't have a life, OK, I can agree with that, even my roomate agrees. (Who would LIKE to work on a FRIDAY and SATURDAY night JUST so they could get close to 040 workstations in our CAE facility here on campus? We have NOT established that the world is falling apart..except well maybe for commie countries..well they don't actually count as they never had it together in the first place. > >- David Butler - > >"inagaddadaviddababy" > >- Whatever happened to free love anyway? - > > - People were so petty they even argued over computers, so eventually they > all destroyed each other... - Gregory Carter ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 23:14:32 GMT From: ENTERPRISE.NOARL.NAVY.MIL!fox@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Dan Fox) Subject: Phantom of the Laser To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Sorry for the repost, but I didn't get any responses a few weeks ago... A friend is trying to convince me I need one of these gadgets... do I? For the last three years, I've just left the back of the laser printer open when I don't need it (or its heat, which we have enough of here in Louisiana during most of the year, thank you!) So far, nothing 'bad' seems to be happening... Is this Phantom board just something to calm the more paranoid among us, or is it something I should consider? Thanks for the help! ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 16:17:32 GMT From: noao!asuvax!ukma!aunro!alberta!ncc!isagate!isasun-1.edm.isac.ca!darius@arizona. edu (Darius S. Naqvi) Subject: question about Megafile 30 To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Inside my megafile 30 is a seagate ST238R hard drive; the R means RLL format. Am I correct in assuming, then, that the controller in the megafile is an RLL-to-ACSI board? Does this mean that if I want to swap the drive mech., the only choice I have is to use an RLL drive, or is it possible to use some other type of drive? Please be patient with me if this question seems stupid. I'm not a hard drive expert, just someone who wants an easy way to get a bigger, faster hard drive. -- Darius S. Naqvi mail:darius@edm.isac.ca ISA Corp. phone:(403) 420-8081 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada ------------------------------ Date: 25 Sep 91 19:42:00 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.co lumbia.edu!ira.uka.de!smurf.sub.org!artcom0!hb.maus.de!bn.maus.de!Klaus_Guhr@ar izona.edu (Klaus Guhr) Subject: Rufus with Matrix M110 pos To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu blackbox @ pfunk.hanse.de am Sa, 14.09.91 06:55 in ATARI.ENG (Michael Kistenmacher) Hello Michael, b>First of all, you should get TOS 1.04 and throw away your old TOS. Then b>check out your version of Rufus to have 1.06 on your disks. Also, check b>your GDOS. You say, you run "normal GDOS", do you mean that one from ATARI b>or do you have AMCGDOS ? You should use AMCGDOS in Version 3.2 to run on b>your ST. A friend of mine uses Rufus without GDOS, because he uses DAVI ~~~~~~ b>as monitor driver, which doesn't allow GDOS to be installed. Allright - but what is DAVI? Bye Klaus ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 21:22:04 GMT From: milo!scotty@uunet.uu.net (Scott R. Chilcote) Subject: ST Magazines (was Re: More Lies From Atari?) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu seitz@netcom.COM (Matthew Seitz) writes: > ... >2) Personally, I'll take "good mags" over "glossy, nationally distributed mags >any day of the week. As you point out later, many times the glossy, nationally >distributed mags" are often little more than cheerleaders. > ... > Matthew Seitz > seitz@netcom.com I agree with you 100% here, Matthew. In preparing to move I had to go through four years worth of Start!, ST-Log, Current Notes, ST Xpress, and ST-Informer back issues to decide on which to save. I found myself with far more issues of CN than the others! The only "glossies" I hung on to were a few of the ST-Logs (remember "hardware modifications"? and some of the British ones. Maybe, when you can't fill your pages with two-page color ads and reviews that somehow manage to support them over the others... You have to have good material instead! ------------------------------ Date: 27 Sep 91 15:47:22 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!convex!rosenkra@arizona.edu (William Rosenkranz) Subject: Zoo with GEM interface (Was: Re: ARJ? K.I.S.S.!) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu tho i trust bill shroka and the atari guys to "do the right thing", i still prefer rainer's suggestion for a separate GEM shell for archivers. with virtually any other sort of program, be my guest (not that i am some sort of programming cop) and load it up with GEM functionality. this is actually a good idea IMHO. i just get shivers down my spine when i think about proposals to muck around with archivers. i can easily see someone else picking the code up and introducing incompatibilities in it, even inadvertantly. and i think this paranoia of mine is at least somewhat justified since we have a track record for doing this (lharc). if atari would maintain the only "official" GEM version of zoo, this, too, would be acceptable. before screwing around with zoo, i would URGE you to contact zoo's owner and check with him on this issue. i believe the copyright restrictions in zoo should be looked at as well. any changes to zoo that make it incompatible require you to stop calling it zoo. at a minimum, you should bounce back these changes to rahul dhesi so he can incorporate them in the next "official" zoo release, properly #ifdef'ed for atari... flame away... -bill rosenkra@convex.com -- Bill Rosenkranz |UUCP: {uunet,texsun}!convex!rosenkra Convex Computer Corp. |ARPA: rosenkra@convex.com ------------------------------ End of Info-Atari16 Digest ******************************