Roy Wood wrote: > Actually it is just this kind of thing which I started the 'Start > Here' > Series in QL Today for. If someone could write this up it would be a > good addition to the series. Remember I did not intend to write the > whole thing myself. I have been hoping that some other people would > add > articles more in their area of expertise. Exactly.
Malcolm Cadman wrote: > Once a user has the unzip program, this small basic program is > useful > for unzipping QL files. Without bothering with anything else, or > having > to know the unzip command syntax. Little programs like this make it a lot easier for people who don't know (and don't want/need to know) how to command-line-drive programs like Unzip. In terms of the sort of query I was raising, most people in this situation seem to manage handling Unzip reasonably well, where people seem to get stuck seems to be: 1. Getting the downloaded software to a QL, whether it be via floppy disk, serial link or whatever. 2. Having downloaded Unzip onto a PC, how to get it onto a QL, unpacked (without an existing copy of Unzip, the catch 22 situation) even before you get to the point of unzipping something! Jonathan Hudson has documented how to self-extract Unzip, even to the point of explaining what to do when it stops half done as it does on some systems. As much as anything, what's needed is a really simple guide to: (1) how to transfer files between Windows/DOS and QL disks (2) step by step guide to downloading QL unzip, transferring it to QL, self-extracting it for those without existing Unzip on their QL, and how to set it up (since 99% of QL software out there seems to be zipped). (1) and (2) would address the kind of queries I was referring to, but of course something more general would probably fit in with what Roy was trying to achieve via his QL Today series. The little suggestions I've received via this list and privately are being gathered into a folder here and if nobody else comes up with anything, I may in time put together a little something to help and anybody hosting QL software download sites will be welcome to link to it to help QL ers out there, as I'm sure the enquiries I'm getting are from users who are somewhat isolated and have little contact with other QLers (e.g. I had an email from Antartica recently, from a member of British Antarctic Survey IIRC, who is using QemuLator on a Mac down there during his 2 year spell of duty there). Needless to say, I try to steer such people in the direction of Quanta, QL Today and this mailing list to help them keep in contact with other QLers. Without referring to anyone in particular, however much it gets said, I'm still amazed at how often I'm told people have unzipped my QL programs on a PC and then complain they don't work quoting the "bad parameter" error. I guess the best way to do this is to link from my home page to a page describing how to go about the transfer process int he simplest possible terms. -- Dilwyn Jones -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.2.1/279 - Release Date: 10/03/2006 _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
