SLO BYTES NEWSLETTER - APRIL, 1987 CLUB INFORMATION The SLO BYTES Newsletter is a monthly publication of SLO BYTES of the Central Coast of California (San Luis Obispo) an IBM/compatible personal computer user's group. Information found in this Newsletter is derived from magazine articles, manuals, books, other PC user group newsletters, and our own members. The purpose of this publication is to inform our members of meetings, their program content, and other information related to the use of IBM-PC's and compatible computers. Dues to SLO BYTES are $18 per year. As a member you will receive a membership card, an updated membership list, SLO BYTES monthly newsletter, and free use of our Public Domain Library. Contributors are asked to submit articles for the next issue by the 10th of each month either in writing or on disk (ASCII format preferred). Address all correspondence to SLO BYTES PC USER'S GROUP, % Bob Ward, 2100 Andre' Ave., Los Osos, Ca. 93402. Phone 8am-5pm 546-2164, after 5pm - (805)528-0121. Other user's groups have permission to publish any material found in this newsletter. Have a computer related item to sell? Tell the editor and we will put it in our newsletter. For further information call Bob Ward @ (805)528-0121 eves. ****************************************************** Meetings are held the 4th Thursday of every month, unless noted otherwise in the newsletter calendar, at 7:15 pm. New users SIG 6:15 to 7 pm. They are hosted by the Biology Department and located at Cal Poly University, Biology's Science North, Room 313. ****************************************************** DI$COUNT$-DI$COUNT$-DI$COUNT$-DI$COUNT$-DI$COUNT$ Discounts usually apply only to regularly priced merchandise. Ask a salesman to make sure. You must present your membership card to receive a discount. Paradise Computers 5% - all computers, peripherals, 441 Marsh St. and software. San Luis Obispo 10% - Ribbons, paper, disks & 544-7127 other expendable items. Star Computers 5% - any software in stock. 655 Morro Bay Blvd. Morro Bay 10% - paper, ribbons, cable & 772-7827 other supplies. Computer Logic 10% - off list - all computers, 973 Foothill Blvd. software, computer periphe- Store #4 rals and products. Contact San Luis Obispo Bruce, Paul, or Dave for 544-8347 your discount. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ NEW MEMBERS WELCOME to our new members who signed aboard this past month. As a user's group, we hope to be of service to you. Will any of us ever completely master our machines...... I doubt it! James W. Bigelow 238-6335 Charli Brown 481-0171 Dave Brown Ervin Dimter 466-7297 L. Dormant 481-4126 Sharon Hanish 466-2377 Bill Hart 466-4871 J.M. Hough Jr. 772-1607 Annette Rogers 544-5049 ====================================================== CALENDAR April 23rd WORDPERFECT 4.2 by Brian Johanson, regional marketing manager. May 28th Word Processing and Data Entry filing systems by Larrie Ciano. June 25th ON GUARD A hard disk access control program will be demonstrated by a representative from United Software Security, Inc. July 23rd Computer applications in Medical Imaging by Barry Mayer ======================================================= TID BITS (This article appeared in the March issue of SLO BYTES Newsletter but contained a serious error.... Omitted the second line of the prompt command. Here it is in its entirety, I hope?) Make your PROMPT command work for you. Place the following in your autoexec.bat file and the top of your screen will become an information center displaying the current directory, date, and time... all highlighted. Note: ANSI.SYS must be in your config.sys file. The command is DEVICE=ANSI.SYS (F6). (The statement below must be all in one line. Substitute spaces for the dashes shown and use no more than one space between prompt and $e.) prompt $e[s$e[24A$e[1D$e[K$e[7m$p-----$t$h$h$h-----$d- --$e[m$e[u$n$g ====================================================== WHY PAY FOR SHAREWARE? by George Campbell Many of the programs in the SLO BYTES library are part of a concept in PC software called Shareware or user- supported software. This concept allows users to thoroughly test a piece of software before deciding whether to buy it. Buy is the keyword. The programmers who have written this software ask you to pay for it once you have tried it. We all recognize the pleas for money connected with these programs and, most of the time, we just ignore them. After all, why pay for something you can get for nothing? There are a number of excellent reasons that make paying for shareware programs a good idea. Let's look at a few of them. First, becoming a registered user of a shareware program by paying for it gives you a number of benefits. Once your payment is received, the author usually sends you the latest or an enhanced version of the program, along with a printed copy of the manual. In some cases, as with PC-FILE III (Disk #90), the manual on the disk is incomplete. The only way to get the full benefit of the program is to register and obtain the printed manual. Many shareware authors also provide telephone support to registered users. This support often means talking to the person who wrote the program rather than the anonymous voice associated with most commercial software. Many shareware authors, such as the author of QMODEM (Disk #82), even run Bulletin Board Systems which allow you to get support on-line. Next, registered users receive announcements of updates, and can receive the latest versions of programs long before they appear in user's group libraries. Upgrades are typically free or very inexpensive. Many shareware and user-supported programs are the equal of any commercial software. The authors take great pride in their ability to produce programs you will want to use. The money they receive from registered users helps them to continue to create new programs and to improve the old ones. They work hard at a job they love, and hope that the PC users will reward them for their work. That brings up final, most important reason to get your checkbook out and pay the registration fee for the software you use: Your conscience. Every time you use one of these programs without having paid for it, your conscience should be quietly tapping you on the shoulder. So, copy disks from the SLO BYTES library and test the programs thoroughly. Use them as long as you like, but once you find yourself using a shareware or user- supported program regularly, support this valuable resource by sending your check to the author. Everyone will benefit. (George has written a shareware program, FWDBS, soon to appear in the PC-SIG library. This is a freelance writer's database.) ===================================================== NEWS FROM OUR LIBRARY The following disks are being added to our public domain library this month. Remember these disks may be purchased at the meeting for $.90 each. Avoid waiting in line to copy disks! SLO #185 AUTODEX: Expand your filename capabilities. PC-LOG : Creates a record of your computer usage for home or office. SLO #186 TRIVIA MACHINE (U.S. DISK #265). A computer trivial pursuit. LOTTO 6/49 : Perhaps your computer can pick the winning combination and make you a millionaire! SLO #187 Tektronix Terminal Emulator. Use your PC to log on to mainframe computers. Will handle graphics too. SLO #188 PC-FILE+ (Program Disk). The best of PC- FILE V4.0 & PC-FILE/R. Over 175 help screens. Documentation in form of help screens. Must buy program for printed manual. Will import dBASE files. Much improved over all other versions. Requires 384K $69.95 SLO #189 PC-FILE+ (Utility Disk). List changes from PC-FILE V 4.0 + sample database. SLO #190 XD - Extended DOS (ButtonWare). Extends performance and functions of DOS. On line help at all times. SLO #191 ButtonWare educational game series. Castaway & South American Trek. SLO #192 OPUS version 1.0 Bulletin Board System. Disk 1 of 2. SLO #193 OPUS version 1.0 Bulletin Board System Disk 2 or 2. Several new demonstration disks will be available for your evaluation. #47 Diploma by Brownstone Research Group. Excellent for teachers. Check this one out! #48 CADIC - A VLSI digital IC tester. #49 PC/TAXCUT PLANNER by Best Programs. ====================================================== BITS N' BYTES *** At the next meeting we will discuss changing the meeting date. The 4th Thursday conflicts with 3 events each year; Poly Royal, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The meeting will continue on Thursday evenings but may change to the 1st or 2nd Thursday of each month. What are your thoughts? The actual change will not take place until the August meeting. *** When copying public domain software, please limit yourself to 10 disks at one sitting. Because of our club size and limited number of computers we must give everyone an equal chance at the library. Remember, disks added to the library for the present month may be purchased for $.90. Many other clubs our size have their members submit a limit of 10 formatted disks which are copied for them but not available until the following meeting. We are trying to resist this as no one wants to wait one month for their public domain software. We will need your cooperation to keep our existing process running smoothly. You may still copy more than 10 disks at each meeting. We just ask that you don't do it all at one time. *** Jules Lieber will demonstrate his new telephone headset at the meeting. Great for keeping your hands free and busy on the computer while talking on the telephone at the same time. *** Britt Morris has suggested we consider a computer swap meet and computer conference. This would involve the whole computer community including other user's groups. It is in the preliminary planning stage and we will keep you posted as it progresses. Look for the show sometime in October. ====================================================== ###################################################### MEETING ** MEETING ** MEETING ** MEETING ** MEETING Our meeting place is still in a state of flux. Due to Poly Royal, our meeting will be in Fisher Hall 287. This is the large concrete building adjoining Science North where we usually meet. Hopefully by our May meeting we will have a permanent home. MEETING ** MEETING ** MEETING ** MEETING ** MEETING ###################################################### COMINGS AND GOINGS Our last meeting started out with a very successful workshop conducted by Byron Smith and George Campbell. The classes emphasized those dreaded DOS commands (Byron) and batch file configuration (George). Byron is ready to go again this coming month. He has boned up on the answers to many of your questions and will be there at 6:15 to work with those in need. This coming month he will emphasize components of a computer and the DOS commands: PATH and PRINT. You might look them up in your DOS manual before attending. Remember to bring specific questions. It's stump the teacher time; not an easy task to do with Byron. Our wizard of the BATCH file world, George Campbell, will be there to answer individual questions. If there is enough interest, I will take a group to another room and give you a chalk board demonstration of how to properly set up your files on a hard disk. Our general meeting started a little late for two reasons. First, Byron was so inspired he didn't want to quit talking about DOS (he's that kind of guy) and second, just before the meeting the Compaq computer we were going to use for the demonstrations "died" right before our eyes. With a little luck we were able to hook up the Kodak DataShow to another computer for our demonstration. The defunct Compaq did leave me to a slight disadvantage though, as I was going to demonstrate hard disk backup software, and as you might have guessed, the Compaq was the only computer we had with a hard disk. We were able to simulate a hard disk by creating a RAM disk and continue with the demonstration of TakeTwo. Our thanks to Rose Bowker for her demonstration of the Kodak DataShow and it's supporting software SHOWMAKER. She too, was at a disadvantage as the regular monitor on the computer and the DataShow couldn't be displayed at the same time due to an incompatibility with the color card. This is not a problem until the DataShow displays it's one little flaw. Certain colors and highlights are not transmitted by the DataShow and are projected as blanks on the overhead screen. If you don't have a regular monitor hooked to the computer with the full display, you may not remember what goes in the blanks on the overhead. By the end of summer Kodak hopes to have a new version of the DataShow which will display in COLOR. Then sometime in the future they will market an EGA version of the same product. It was just one of those frustrating times most of us have experienced with our computers at one time or another. Someone said, "Bob, why don't you bang on the Compaq, perhaps it will work then." I should have taken their advice although I don't recommend it as a cure for all your computer frustrations. Turns out the AST memory board was ajar in the computer and decided to "pop" out just far enough to lose contact with the mother board when we needed it the most. Maybe a small "tap" between the eyes would have straightened it out. I'll remember to bring my hammer to the next meeting. This coming month is a must for those of you looking for a wordprocessor. Brian Johanson, district marketing manager for WordPerfect, will be present to demonstrate the latest version of WordPerfect. Brian is bringing his own personal Compaq portable computer on which he will demonstrate the software. My hammer will be ready just in case he needs assistance! ====================================================== RELOADING COMMAND.COM Reprinted from the September, 1986 issue of PC-NEWS from the Alaska Computer Society. Are you annoyed every time you have to re-insert a COMMAND.COM disk after you have run a program? Well if you use a RAM disk then you can be free from this irritating nuisance forever! Assuming your DOS disk is in the A: drive and C: is a RAM disk, make the following commands the last lines on your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. copy COMMAND.COM c: (ret) SET COMSPEC=C:\COMMAND.COM (ret) COMMAND /C:COMMAND (ret) Note: No PATH command will be active until an EXIT command is given. At which point the computer will restore the old PATH and start looking on drive A: for command.com again! Since there is an upper limit of 127 characters in COMMAND.COM, this is a problem to all us hackers used to UNIX. But, with the help of DOS 3.1 and some real hacking, up to 25 directories can be specified. The only restriction is the number of disk/RAM/other drives that you access. The SUBST command (available in DOS 3.10+) allows you to use the drive designator A: through Z: as abbreviations for a directory pathname. Now, since most of us use A:, B:, C:, maybe D: and E: for RAMdisks, I start at F: and go Z:. Thus: set path=C:\;C:\COM;C:\EXE;C:\USERS\FOO\BAR\APPLICATION can be redone as: SUBST F: C:\COM SUBST G: C:\EXE SUBST H: C:\USERS\FOO\BAR\APPLICATOION SET PATH=C:\;F:;G:;H:; The only other modification is in CONFIG.SYS, the line LASTDRIVE=Z should be inserted. This allows the system to acknowledge all those bogus "drives". The time spent as SUBSTing is far outweighed by the advantage of having the path long enough for almost anyone. ====================================================== *FORSALE**FORSALE**FORSALE**FORSALE**FORSALE**FORSALE* SAMSUNG Amber TTL Monitor + monochrome graphics board. 4 months old. $80.00 Call Jim @ 772-1607 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ PRESIDENTS CORNER By Byron Smith Last meeting was quite different due to our new arrangements, and it may take a little time to get used to the new setup, however next meeting promises to be just as con-fusing due to Poly Royal being in full swing. So bear with us, I think things will be better soon! Actually, I think the new format will allow for more specific help with individual problems, which is the real purpose for a user's group anyway. I just wish there had been a user's group around when I bought my first computer (a Radio Shack Model I). I've been studying the manuals and various books I have on DOS and am getting primed for the next meeting. One thing I have found from experience is that each version of DOS, especially the different manufacturer's versions, will operate in strange ways, slightly different from each other. Sometimes the same DOS disk will perform differently on various manufacturer's machines. One reason for this is that the sundry versions of BIOS (Basic Input Output System) respond to the commands and hardware setups per their instructions, which are intentionally different to avoid copyright infringements and a big lawsuit from Big Blue. The bottom line is: Don't mix your DOS's. Hopefully, next meeting we'll be discussing the main components of the personal computer and their relationship to the CPU (Central Processing Unit). Items such as ROM, RAM, INPUT, OUTPUT, PRN, CON and AUX will become meaningful and useful to you. Next, we'll discuss the file system on a hard disk and give a little insight to the reason for directories, sub-directories and the TREES. If time permits, we'll take a look at the PRINT utility provided with the DOS disk. This is one I personally don't use, (I have a 64K external printer buffer) but like to play with since it is a limited form of multi-processing on a single processor. There were lots of good questions last meeting and I think there is a real need for the basic discussions that ensued. Hopefully enough info can be presented in a diverse enough manner that will keep every level of user at least awake. Don't be afraid to get up and walk out during any session if it doesn't apply or interest you. There are enough activities and people around that you should be able to find something interesting and important to your needs. One thing I enjoy is trying to figure out problems users are having with their machines or programs. Sometimes I'm successful and other times, well, we all learn a thing or two, once in awhile. Normally, it's real difficult to give good help over the phone. We can usually point you in the right direction, but depending upon your level of knowledge, it's usually better if we can sit down at a machine with you and your software and walk through the process. You learn some of the tricks we have discovered and see the process we go through to locate a problem. This usually is fertile ground for more questions and real learning. So I encourage you to bring in your specific problems and, after the class session, or during if time permits, we'll walk through the process of trouble shooting. Be sure to bring the documentation too. It really helps. ======================================================