Re: [ql-users] uqlx for mac

2005-10-09 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
=?windows-1253?B?UGhvZWJ1cyBSLiBEb2tvcyAo1u/f4u/yINEuIM30/Orv8ik=?= 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
Ôçí Thu, 06 Oct 2005 15:38:29 -0400,ï(ç) Malcolm Cadman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ýãñáøå:


In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Michael 
Grunditz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



Hi

I am trying to get uqlx for macos x to work but all I get is: Bus error
I have X started and it is running on 10.4.


No doubt Phoebus will pop up with an answer ...



Cannot :-) I did not do the port myself, James Weatherly did. I will 
contact him and ask him :-)


Well ... at least you popped up ... so the answer to the query may be 
out there ...


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Re: [ql-users] QL is 21

2005-10-09 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Robert Newson 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Malcolm Cadman wrote:

...
Marvin, the paranoid android said something like ... a brain the size 
of planet and all they ask me to do is to park cars .


"OK, OK, but where are you?"
"Reverse primary thrust Marvin, that's what theysay to me, open airlock 
number three Marvin, Marvin can you pick up that piece of paper? Can I 
pick up that piece of paper? Here I am, brain the size of a planet..."

"Yeah, yeah..."
"But I'm quite used to being humiliated.  I can even go ans stick my 
head in a bucket of water it you like."

"Yeah...Marvin..."
...
"What's he saying Zaphod?"
"Oh nothing.  He just phoned up to wash his head at us."
"Has that satisfied you?"
"Will you please tell us where you are?"
"I'm in the car park."
"In the _car_ park? What are you doing there?"
"Parking cars, what else does one do in..."


Yes ... the original still sounds funny ... :-)

I'm sure that those that want to program, do.  And those that don't, 
don't.
  Well, at least that is where the QL at 21 is still OK ... it is 
still  fun to program, and people even know how.


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Re: [ql-users] QL is 21

2005-10-08 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Timothy Swenson 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
On Fri, 7 Oct 2005 20:49:37 +0100, Malcolm Cadman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:


Do modern computer users do any programming any more ?

Or is it all web pages, video clips and MP3 downloads ... ?


Given that the computer has pretty much become an appliance (sold along 
side TV, Washers, etc), I'm sure most computer users treat it that way. 
The same way that most of us treat our cars, ie. just a way to get 
around.  I'm sure the early horseless carraige hobbyists were not too 
happy when the car gained mass appeal.


Indeed ... the way of the world.

The power computers that we have now we the 'stuff of dreams' when the 
QL was launched.  And they have become just another domestic appliance 
... :-)


Marvin, the paranoid android said something like ... a brain the size of 
planet and all they ask me to do is to park cars .



I'm sure that those that want to program, do.  And those that don't, don't.


Well, at least that is where the QL at 21 is still OK ... it is still 
fun to program, and people even know how.


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Re: [ql-users] QL is 21

2005-10-07 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, John Gilpin 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes


Follow the following SuperBASIC programme to the BEST Weekend you've 
experienced in a long time:


10HAVE YOU HEARD??? (OK, so it's rude to shout but I wanted 
EVERYONE to hear me!)


20QL IS 21 and so is QUANTA

25If you've not heard THEN GOTO 10: Else: GOTO 30

30The committee of QUANTA invites YOU ALL to a Workshop and 
Celebratory Dinner to mark this unique occasion.




Nice advert John ... although I guess only those people brought up on 
the syntax of 21 years ago would recognise it ... :-)


Do modern computer users do any programming any more ?

Or is it all web pages, video clips and MP3 downloads ... ?

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Re: [ql-users] uqlx for mac

2005-10-06 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Michael 
Grunditz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



Hi

I am trying to get uqlx for macos x to work but all I get is: Bus error
I have X started and it is running on 10.4.


No doubt Phoebus will pop up with an answer ...

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Re: [ql-users] a question about QDT

2005-10-06 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Fabrizio 
Diversi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



Me too, specially for drag and drop feature and later desktop management.
I use Qdt happily on all my smsqe systems.


Yes, it is already a treat to use ... I've already given up everything 
else in its favour.


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Re: [ql-users] a question about QDT

2005-10-06 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, James 
Hunkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



HI Guys,

I must have some character checking that is blocking the extended 
characters such as these.  Will look into it and fix it on an  upcoming 
update.  Thanks for reporting it.


QDT work is currently ongoing after a long hiatus from it due to my 
move and new job.  But putting in the hours on the drag and drop copy/ 
move feature at this time.  Stay tuned...


Jim


Thanks, Jim.

Good to know that progress is being made.

Looking forward to the drag and drop feature being implemented, as that 
came out about top in the 'wish list' ... :-)



On Oct 5, 2005, at 4:20 AM, François Van Emelen wrote:


Malcolm Cadman schreef:

In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, François Van Emelen 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



Hi QDT-users,
Why can't I use characters such as 'éèêà..' to name or rename 
folders and icon texts?
Is this a feature (couldn't find anything about it in the manual) 
or is it a bug?


You mean that you wish to use accented characters and they are not 
being accepted ?



Yes


I haven't tried this myself.
Perhaps you should email the author directly.
In addition I am, for one, looking forward to an update to QDT.


So am I.
Thank you for your reply.
François Van Emelen


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Re: [ql-users] a question about QDT

2005-10-04 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, François Van Emelen 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



Hi QDT-users,
Why can't I use characters such as 'éèêà..' to name or rename folders 
and icon texts?
Is this a feature (couldn't find anything about it in the manual) or is 
it a bug?


You mean that you wish to use accented characters and they are not being 
accepted ?


I haven't tried this myself.

Perhaps you should email the author directly.

In addition I am, for one, looking forward to an update to QDT.

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Re: [ql-users] Looking for QL books

2005-07-21 Thread Malcolm Cadman

In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes


Hi,

I'm looking to buy 2 QL books:

"The Sinclair QDOS Companion" by Andrew Pennell, and
"QL Advanced User Guide" By Adrian Dickens

If someone would like to help, please write me a private email.

Many thanks,
Peter


Hi Peter,

We have probably got both of the titles that you are looking for at the 
London Quanta Group.


I will hope to be able to get in to the venue where they are stored at 
sometime in August.


Are you attending the joint Byfleet/London Show in September 2005 ?

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Re: [ql-users] Madrid QL trip

2005-06-02 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tony Firshman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



Well Jochen, Marcel and I are in Madrid, and are having a mini-QL
meeting later today in a local bar.

We have a free hotel internet connection, with Jochen linked to a wired
local network and Marcel and I linked to Jochen via bluetooth!

I am using Skype for free calls to the UK.

Isn't technology wonderful (8-)#


Technology is only wonderful when you both have it, and it is working 
... :-)


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Re: [ql-users] QPC2/Windows

2005-05-26 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes


Yes, Launchpad is good too.  I have been reviewer and user of it 
since

its 'launch' ... :-)

...and I leave such puns to Malcolm ;-)

It comes with lots and lots of pre-defined icons for all your 
favourite programs.


So the high colour version will look even better ... no doubt Dilwyn 
is hammering away with Easy Pointer4 as we speak.


--  Malcolm Cadman
Sort of...last couple of weeks has seen NO progress whatsoever due to 
pressures of work. But it will happen, although do bear in mind the 
original Launchpad took about 2 years! (though as I actually use it 
myself, I do want it to happen for my own use as much as anything else!).


The nice thing is, I can update it almost as I go along so it ends up 
under continuous test here each time new menus are linked and 
cxompiled. Such is the ease of producing apps with Easyptr!


All to the good, then.

Looking forward to progress.

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Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly

2005-05-24 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, David 
Tubbs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

At 19:54 23/05/2005 +0100, you wrote:

Parked somewhere on the web it could save any number of lengthy, and 
repeated responses


Easy enough ... when the hard work of the list is done.


Rather than a huge task for one you could accept input from users of 
their own systems and software setups.


I don't intend doing this task myself ... :-) ... although I may start 
something off when I have the time, and ask for contributions.


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Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly

2005-05-23 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, David 
Tubbs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

At 13:53 22/05/2005 +0100, you wrote:

Now for suggestions of software behaving badly ... that is valued / 
well used software in need of enhancement or remedial work for now and 
the future.


My idea was with a view to a table of what WORKs where, particularly 
all those version numbers, and if extra memory is required, or some 
underlying toolkit.


Yes, that would be there as well.

Which would identify any software that users had a particular interest 
in, and which may then lead to enhancement or remedial work.


Parked somewhere on the web it could save any number of lengthy, and 
repeated responses


Easy enough ... when the hard work of the list is done.

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Re: [ql-users] QPC2/Windows

2005-05-22 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes


1. Has anyone tried QDT?  What do they think of it?  Does it allow 
drag
and drop or any other file handling functions like Windows Explorer 
does?

2. If QDT doesn't have a file handler, are there other graphic
front-end file handlers that can be used in QPC2?
3. I vaguely remember QPTR - am I right that this just has
functions/handlers rather than being a full windowing suite?
4. Is Easy Pointer 4 anything to do with the above?


I'd like to have a snazzy interface rather than typing everything 
in.  This

will be important, I feel, if QPC/QXL/QL are to live for longer.


I'll be interested in the reply, it may cause me to part with some 
money for

newer QL programs!


You could also have a look at Launchpad. Not as colourful or snazzy as 
QDT, but a lot easier than typing in all those EXEC commands in BASIC! 
Demo version on my website, high colour version in preparation.


Yes, Launchpad is good too.  I have been reviewer and user of it since 
its 'launch' ... :-)


It comes with lots and lots of pre-defined icons for all your favourite 
programs.


So the high colour version will look even better ... no doubt Dilwyn is 
hammering away with Easy Pointer4 as we speak.


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Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly

2005-05-22 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, David 
Tubbs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



Malcolm Cadman,

A suggestion

save below as a csv
Software,Ver nnn,HARDWARE - OS,,
,,QL128,Cumana,CST,Medic,GoldCard,SupGoldCd,Qubide,Q40,Q60 
,Qlay,Qlay2k,QPC,QPC2,Qlem,uQLx

Utilities

TK2_ext
PtrGen
WMAN
RAMPRT
XTRAS
etc

Progs

Quill
Abacus
Editor
etc


Good suggestion.

Now for suggestions of software behaving badly ... that is valued / well 
used software in need of enhancement or remedial work for now and the 
future.


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Re: [ql-users] QPC2/Windows

2005-05-21 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Stuart Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



Now I have dusted off my QPC2 and discovered QDT's existence, four related
questions:



1. Has anyone tried QDT?  What do they think of it?  Does it allow drag
and drop or any other file handling functions like Windows Explorer does?


It is brilliant ... just get it and enjoy .. :-)

And there is a lot more to come, and the software is being actively 
developed, you will get free updates as they are completed.


In addition the author is open to suggestions and comments on the way in 
which the software does develop.



2. If QDT doesn't have a file handler, are there other graphic
front-end file handlers that can be used in QPC2?


Not there yet, in the ay that you mean, yet the philosophy of QDT is to 
make the best of all the latest developments, so that it integrates with 
a lot of other existing elements.


QDT introduces folders to the QL environment, so any user familiar with 
a GUI will feel at home with it.


The windows in QDT are re-sizeable at will ( slider bars ) and you can 
pick and drag a window instantly. Just like you would expect with a good 
GUI.



3. I vaguely remember QPTR - am I right that this just has
functions/handlers rather than being a full windowing suite?


You won't need that with QDT.


4. Is Easy Pointer 4 anything to do with the above?


No, Easy Pointer 4 is a software development tool.

Of course, if you have the software then you can launch it easily from 
the GUI of QDT.



I'd like to have a snazzy interface rather than typing everything in.  This
will be important, I feel, if QPC/QXL/QL are to live for longer.


QDT is a snazzy interface, and it is going to get better as more 
development comes along.



I'll be interested in the reply, it may cause me to part with some money for
newer QL programs!


I don't believe that you will regret purchasing QDT ...

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Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly

2005-05-21 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



Thanks Bill.

It seems there is interest in this project. I'm stunned :-))

I really want to go with the logo idea, which means 100. Years from now,
when the QL is probably no more, it will be a nice thing to have.


Umm ... novelty ...souvenir, and now a future antique collectors item 
... it just can't fail ... :-)


Looking forward to it.

However, just to discuss the logo image a little further.

Obviously as Sinclair no longer has an interest in the QL, wouldn't it 
be better to do a new 2005 edition ?  Reflecting more of the present and 
the future.


That is make use of one of the new logos designed for the modern QL 
scene, some of which published in QL Today, and I believe are on a web 
site somewhere.


Also if Quanta sponsor it then a 'Quanta Edition 2005' could also be 
included.


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Re: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software

2005-05-21 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Stuart Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes


Thanks for the nice welcome message, also thanks to all who contributed 
with the interesting chatter.  I agree about the relative value of the 
DP suite - it was hard to justify the cost then, and harder now, as I 
said I'm after them for nostalgic reasons.  Sadly, the PC/Offife suite 
is so good these days it's hard to find a real need for a QL - hoping 
that won't annoy the hell out of those who cling to the machine as if 
it was new today.  I loved my QL, but the world moved on.


Indeed, the world has moved on, and so has the QL world too ...

check on my site - http://www.mcad.demon.co.uk/lquan.htm

... for the start of links to all sorts of developments that have or are 
currently taking place.


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Re: [ql-users] New email address and address

2005-05-21 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
=?iso-8859-7?B?1u/f4u/yINEuIM30/Orv8iAoUGhvZWJ1cyBSLiBEb2tvcyk=?= 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes


On Thu, 19 May 2005 16:15:35 -0400, Malcolm Cadman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  wrote:


In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Darren   Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



-Original Message-
From: Dilwyn Jones [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

dbranaghATcmsperipheralsDOTcom

I'm one of the ones who used the O2 address. I thought the other one
was a work email address.


And that's fine, but as I said I only check it very infrequently.
For a speedy response use the the work email.


Dilwyn, can you put this change in the next QL Today?

OK.


The other option is to actually ban Darren from ever changing his 
email address again ... :-)




I am pretty sure that if Dilwyn would call Freddy he will be able to 
express it in a licence somewhere...


(as in the excerpt below)

Article III^2356632*128+6

I. The user shall be prohibited from reselling the software except when 
Mr. Branagh changes his email address. In such case the user shall be 
able  to sell the software, provided he books a plane to Mayo Co., 
forces Mr.  Branagh at gunpoint to revert to his old address and 
contractually binds  him to refrain from EVER drinking Guinness again 
(or drink it icy cold in  any case ;-) )


He ... he ... brilliant, Phoebus ... :-)

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Re: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software

2005-05-21 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
=?iso-8859-7?B?1u/f4u/yINEuIM30/Orv8iAoUGhvZWJ1cyBSLiBEb2tvcyk=?= 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
On Thu, 19 May 2005 15:57:48 -0400, Malcolm Cadman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  wrote:


In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Robert Newson 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes


I also bought them when it was offered (having never really bought 
any s/ware, it really expanded my collection).  From the "agreement":


(10) Remember, by purchasing this collection you have agreed to its 
licence conditions.  Note that it is for your personal use only (you 
can make a reasonable number of security backups of it or its 
contents   - again, all for your own use only), and that you agree 
not to resell,   or otherwise pass on, whether for reward or 
otherwise, any part (except   and UNZIP) or all of it, or of any 
Digital Precision Ltd software   already possessed by you, to _any_ 
circumstances.   Breaches of this will be dealt with severely.  This 
means, among other   things, that if you are disposing of part or all 
your QL system you   may NOT pass on this collection (or any part of 
it, except ZIP and   UNZIP) with it.


Umm ... interesting licence condition ..."Breaches of this will be 
dealt with severely" ... yet by whom exactly ?


As DP has gone, the MD and software authors have all had their money ...


Actually I don't think that this clause is enforceable in the UK or 
elsewhere even for software (which is always in murky waters when it 
comes  to licencing etc.)
I believe the reason for it being there was to avoid people unbundling 
the collection and selling pieces at a profit. Even so the fact that 
you  cannot resell the software I am pretty sure is illegal. It's 
essentially  like buying a car under the condition that you will never 
sell it :-)  (Even if you broke your legs and couldn't drive anymore)


Yes ... more bluff than legally enforceable ...

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Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly

2005-05-21 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes



This is the worry I had, would we sell 10 never mind 50 or 100. I would
really like to commit to 100, which would make getting the logo a reality,
which I think is the thing that will make the item a bit more personal, and
also sellable to the QL community. It will set it apart from the ton of
other USB sticks that are available everywhere.

On the plus side, there has been a flurry of positive emails and commitments
from quite a few people to buy one or even several. Thank you, this is the
sort of thing that will encourage me.

I will try and get something to John mason in the coming days - I want to
contact a few more people (beta testers, and some programmers) to make sure
I have a team on board before committing as I don't have the time to do this
on my own anymore.


Well, if the London Quanta group members agree, we may buy 5 to 10 just 
for the group.


If the software content is an instant QL environment, then they are 
useful to pass on to others who may then be tempted to have an interest 
in the QL.  Which is the marketing side of the promotion of a 'QL on a 
stick'.


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Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly

2005-05-19 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
Well, that's a probable 4 - only 96 to go :-))
Plus another one ... :-)
Besides this will have novelty and souvenir appeal too.
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Re: [ql-users] New email address and address

2005-05-19 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

-Original Message-
From: Dilwyn Jones [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
dbranaghATcmsperipheralsDOTcom
I'm one of the ones who used the O2 address. I thought the other one
was a work email address.
And that's fine, but as I said I only check it very infrequently.
For a speedy response use the the work email.
Dilwyn, can you put this change in the next QL Today?
OK.
The other option is to actually ban Darren from ever changing his email 
address again ... :-)

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Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly

2005-05-19 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
-Original Message-
From: David Tubbs [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: 19 May 2005 15:14
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly
 There are atleast two very different users, those who have been using all

along and those who would try to pick it up again after a long break. The
latter is not as easy as it might seem,  in the early days one added to
noes system gradually, building slowly, very much harder to put everything
together in a lump and remember how to write an efficient boot file.

Which was why I made a suggestion under Darren Brannah's New Product
Subject (100% ignored)  for an emulator and full working environment on a
memory card or stick. A complete Newbie could get started right away with a

collection of PD software and sample progs.

We will probably settle on buying the 128Mb sticks - they are now the
smallest we do, which only a handful of 64Mb ones remaining. I think a
70-80Mb QXL.WIN file or similar would be enough on these, and this would
leave ample room for other storage uses for the owner.
To be honest though, the fear I have is how many we'd sell. I would need to
commit to buying at least 50, but more likely 100, to get decent pricing on
the sticks. Typical price when available shouldn't exceed 15 pounds. Will we
sell that many?
It all sounds promising, Darren.
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Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly

2005-05-19 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, David 
Tubbs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
At 19:12 17/05/2005 +0100, Malcolm Cadman wrote:
Then there are the compatibility issues with older software running on 
newer hardware or emulators.

What do people want to see happen ?
A little while ago Dilwyn gave a comprehensive list of Pointer Env 
requirements, time consuming, and how many times might such info be 
given ?

My thoughts were why not a chart in spreadsheet form to show what works 
where and what does not ?

I would suggest a column for each possible hardware and OS possibility.
Col's for bare QL128, with TK2, then various floppy i/f's (I expect 
there are difff's between types), then HDD addons, then the newer 
hardware and various emulators.
Yes, a good suggestion.
Can you give a simple text example with some software that you use ?
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Re: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software

2005-05-19 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Robert Newson 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

I also bought them when it was offered (having never really bought any 
s/ware, it really expanded my collection).  From the "agreement":

(10) Remember, by purchasing this collection you have agreed to its 
licence conditions.  Note that it is for your personal use only (you 
can make a reasonable number of security backups of it or its contents 
- again, all for your own use only), and that you agree not to resell, 
or otherwise pass on, whether for reward or otherwise, any part (except 
and UNZIP) or all of it, or of any Digital Precision Ltd software 
already possessed by you, to _any_ third party, in any circumstances. 
Breaches of this will be dealt with severely.  This means, among other 
things, that if you are disposing of part or all of your QL system you 
may NOT pass on this collection (or any part of it, except ZIP and 
UNZIP) with it.
Umm ... interesting licence condition ..."Breaches of this will be dealt 
with severely" ... yet by whom exactly ?

As DP has gone, the MD and software authors have all had their money ...
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[ql-users] Software behaving badly

2005-05-17 Thread Malcolm Cadman
I think it is time that we had a debate about what software we want for 
the original QL specification OS and its descendants, and what we want 
for the SMSQ  OS successor and even beyond ...

There seems to be only 2 licence types of software for the QL - software 
the costs and software that is free.  Shareware, or the like, doesn't 
really figure very much.

Then there are the compatibility issues with older software running on 
newer hardware or emulators.

What do people want to see happen ?
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Re: [ql-users] www.kilgus.net updated

2005-05-04 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Timothy Swenson 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

On Tue, 3 May 2005 20:46:37 +0100, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
National Minimum Wage is pretty normal wages unless you happen to 
work  for national organisations paying national pay rates (public 
bodies basically)!
National pay rates?  Man, not in the US.  We have folks in some parts 
of the US working for the my company, doing basically the same job at 
half of what I make.  Some areas have a very high cost of living (SF, 
LA, etc) and some areas have a very low cost of living (rural America).

Never heard of such a thing a National pay rates.  Boy, does that sound 
foreign. :-)
Indeed ... but then the UK does have national pay agreements, because of 
national union membership for example.

However, as the size of the whole of the UK is less than many of the 
individual 'states' in the US, perhaps not so surprising ... :-)

Yet, then again, given the history of the UK, right down to very local 
individuality ... like ... regions, counties, cities, towns, villages, 
etc ... it is surprisingly that we do agree on anything ... :-)

The sign of mature democracy.
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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-29 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
Hilary is fine, and still in that HUGE Castle, all on his own. Still
beavering away with his Gold Card QL - I call on him when I visit my
parents. I think hes on email still -
Hilaryokelly AT hotmail DOT com
He has written some amazing QL programs, and I'm sick nagging him to write
manuals for them and release them. He has a brilliant yachting simulator
which is amazingly accurate (does all the calculations and he updated it
regularly, you can go sailing anywhere fro your living room and all the
beacons etc are correct) Not to mention some rather addictive puzzle games
and stuff. He also wrote an enigma code machine emulator for the QL which is
totally authentic - he even contacted Bletchley Park in the UK for info to
get the coding right.
Keep nagging him, Darren.
We need interesting new applications to enliven the QL software scene.
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Re: [ql-users] Irish Show

2005-04-29 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
extdgl42 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

The recent(?) profile of Linus Torvalds in _Wired_ claimed that Linus' 
"first love was not a woman but a Sinclair QL". So there you are, 
material for a love song.
Umm ... QL Love ... by Roy Wood, could be very catchy ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] unrar

2005-04-29 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Derek Stewart <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
writes

I did port unrar v2.41 a while back... well it was when I lived in 
Newcastle had quite a large BBS system in the North East and drank weak 
Geordie beer.
Interesting.  Probably worth reviving the work.
I still have the code somewhere, but never really tried to expand on 
it.  It is not as well developed as WINRAR, which seems to handle 
anything including ISO9660 image files.
WinRAR is shareware . you have 40 days use with the software before 
continuing use requiring a registration.

I only used it for the Phoebus RAR files, and it worked a treat. Easy to 
use.

The graphic icons have a very slick, glossy look ... very nice.
Dilwyn Jones wrote:

1. I have purchased it ;-)
2. For some reasons the zip archives were broken
3. It compresses 20-30% better that specific archive and it's even 
better  in not-too-full qxl.win files

but if that is the consensus, then I will replace all archives :-)
Ffibys
 RAR is great, but QLers are too used to ZIP. Even though someone 
(might  have been Derek Stewart possibly?) did port a "Unrar" program 
to QDOS.
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Re: [ql-users] www.kilgus.net updated

2005-04-29 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Marcel Kilgus 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

I'd just like to inform you that a somewhat bigger update has happened
to www.kilgu.net.
Umm ... does this finally reveal that Marcel is really a Klingon, of 
Star Trek fame ... :-) ?

Hence the large brain power .
QPC: New SMSQ/E, new manuals, new demo hard disc(!) read to check out,
more utility software
QPCPrint: New QPCPrint section including free demo to check out
SMSQ/E: new version of sprite converter that can produce solid sprites
(sprite without a mask, i.e. just a pattern). This format is drawn
more rapidly and produces much smaller files, good for big images
within menus and the like or even images in general. Only supported
from SMSQ/E 3.10 onwards (or more specifically PTR CON driver 2.02).
Have fun. Any feedback, especially regarding the demo hard disc, is
appreciated.
Thanks for the info and work, I will check out the site this weekend.
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Re: [ql-users] Internet on the QL

2005-04-29 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

I have only sympathy for the software itself if it has to stand being
handled by Dilwyn. Hey maybe we should start a new O/S 'Dilwyndows' I
will throw this open to suggestions as to features. Lets see how
creative you can be.

Well
1. Only runs in MODE 4 colours - Green and red mainly, as per welsh flag.
2. Plays "whats new pussycat?" by Tom Jones while loading.
3. Has a choice of sheep or leeks as a wallpaper theme.
4. Has an LWPM (large Welshman protection mode) in which the keyboard and
mouse don't work (only way to prevent Dil doing any damage)
5. Has dual processor/motherboard functionality - one intel/AMD and one
68xxx, so if Dil buggers up the Intel part, he can switch to 68xxx mode.
6. Has Welsh language Icons and help files (by default)
7. Has in-built, anti-virus protection called "know-leeks 1.0"
8. Supports a new graphic file format, similar to GIF and TIFF, called
CarDIFF.
9. The error sound is a sheep going "baa"
How that for starters?
Hilarious, Darren, you obviously know your Dilwyn ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] Irish Show

2005-04-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

So, when is a good time for a Show?  Mid-Summer? Or do we leave it until
Sept/Oct?
Not September or October ... we ( Surrey and London Groups ) are holding 
a joint Show at Byfleet in September ... to which you are coming are 
aren't you ?

... And October is QL2005.
So I guess that you are already booked over here ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] Ffibys version 2.0

2005-04-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> manual... sample of which I sent to Marcel) but due to the birth of 
>son
> .. however the time draws near ;-)

Morning Ffibys,
Congratulations due then ?
I'm intrigued by the mention that you will have 'time' soon to do 
some QL'ing - how come you have time when you've just had a child and 
I don't have any, and I never have enough time for anything ?

Cheers,
Norman.
He he, Ffibys fell into the trap, so now we can all fire off "things to 
do" lists at him ;-)
Yes, what we really need, Phoebus, is life, the universe, and everything 
... before breakfast ... after that we can get down to the serious 
stuff.

Congratulations too on the birth ... and to your partner.
Although I hope he is not called Julius, or us little Englanders may get 
conquered again ... :-)

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Re: [ql-users] Internet on the QL

2005-04-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

> Using text editors and changing lines beginning with a # sign, is not
> everyone's taste I am sure.
>
Yes, but you only have to do it once :-) But that's also a challenge for
good guys like Dilwyn to sink his teeth in :-) I am sure he can write a
configuration program for that sort of stuff (Yeah, sure throw the ball to
poor Dilwyn's court. -Ed.)

Someone asking me to tamper with Unixy or Windows-style software? I can 
just see Roy Wood gritting his teeth in fear now ;-)

(Too busy anyway)
Er ... umm ... :-) ... just be content with coding a graphical front end 
for the lynx suite, using the new EasyPtr of course ... :-)

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Re: [ql-users] Internet on the QL

2005-04-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
=?windows-1253?B?UGhvZWJ1cyBSLiBEb2tvcyAo1u/f4u/yINEuIM30/Orv8ik=?= 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 07:59:39 -0400, Arnold Clarke 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


Malcolm Cadman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi Phoebus,
Just a thanks to you for your excellent first article on internet access
for the QL in QL Today magazine - Volume 9, Issue 6, March/April 2005.
Thank you :-) I am glad that it is of some use to users :-)
Actually the second part... native hardware etc. is even more exciting. 
I am actually running Arachne and nettamer on my Q40 under PC Conqueror 
SE  and it is pretty amazing... (Put PCs to work for QLs is ALWAYS fun 
wouldn't you agree?)
No problem ... we all need stimulating articles to read and act upon. 
Looking forward to then next part ... it does sound amazing ... :-)

You tempted me in to doing the downloads of the software ported from
UNIX by Jonathan Hudson :
QL-Lynx, QL-FTP, QPOP3 and QDOS Emailer.
All available at : http://www.daria.co.uk
With your instructions, lynx worked first time ! ... and nice to see it
making use of the full screen with SMSQ/E and QPC.
I thought it was fun too... Plus it gave me an excuse for a plug to 
Tony's website which I find always very elegant in its simplicity... 
not to  mention that it looks great in QL colours and fonts ;-) (Tony 
you can send  me that cheque in the usual address)
He ... he ... obviously I tried my own web site first ... :-)
I had previously had it working in an earlier version in a QDOS window
of 512x256.
The good thing and a testament to Jonathan's port's quality is that it 
works virtually everywhere :-)
Yes, I never doubt anything from Jonathan. I remember having a good chat 
with him at QL2000, and whilst discussing everything, he never stopped 
programming and compiling on his portable ... :-)

I hope to find time to explore the FTP and email instructions more fully
later in the week.
Looking forward to the continuation in the next issue too.
I note that lynx was written for UNIX by Seung-Hong Oh, in 1996, whom I
can assume was a student at the time.

That would be fetchpop actually... I am currently working on a 
different mail client that is not as restricted as fetchpop (Mind you 
fetchpop is  the exact same software -with minor alterations- that is 
used with soQL). Unfortunately fetchpop has severe limitations... plus 
it is a real pain in the rear to use, however for the time being is one 
of two choices ;-)
Ah glad to hear of an improvement already.
As for lynx, there are newer versions but I haven't had time to explore 
newest compilations. I know that one or two people have ported more 
recent  versions of lynx to the ql but I am not even sure these support 
the https:  protocol either. I will have to look into it.
OK.  Just that we may as well be as up to date as possible.
He mentions as upgraded version being available in one of the texts,
which presumably did get completed, as this is nearly ten years ago.
I haven't seen one. I've been working on a completely different one 
that will be compatible with all major QL internet solutions including 
qlwIP. Unfortunately work on freeQDOS has a greater priority. As 
release milestone 1 approaches (freeQDOS can now boot but not do much 
else on a  Q40 and Q60) I will be able to spend more time on that.
Umm ... very interesting.
One of the things the QL port would benefit from is a nice 'front end'
to integrate this as a suite of applications. Also a menu driven way of
providing the details of the users system and preferences.
Exactly. I believe you will feel more at home therefore with QPOP3 
which is graphical. With minor alterations, it can also get the system 
palette etc. to look up to date compared with modern PE software...
Yes exactly ... it is just the convenience of a graphical GUI.
Using text editors and changing lines beginning with a # sign, is not
everyone's taste I am sure.

Yes, but you only have to do it once :-) But that's also a challenge 
for good guys like Dilwyn to sink his teeth in :-) I am sure he can 
write a configuration program for that sort of stuff (Yeah, sure throw 
the ball to poor Dilwyn's court. -Ed.)
I know, no particular problem for myself with # sign coding lines.  I 
had lots of experience of with early RISCOS internet software, before 
that became graphically integrated. Yet we as QL users need user 
friendliness now.

I am really looking forward to QDT exploiting all of this potential.
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Re: [ql-users] Internet on the QL

2005-04-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, P Witte 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Öïßâïò Ñ. Íôüêïò writes:
BTW: Due to the birth of my son I realise that I haven't uploaded the
Congratulations!!
appropriate files (as promised in the article) to my webserver. These will
be put there later tonight for everyone to download. If you download these
qxl.win files you can ensure that the programs therein are fully tested
and guaranteed to work with all three emulators: QPC II v.3.30 and later,
QemuLator v.2.3.2 and greater (Expanded registration ONLY) and uQLx (*NIX
and Mac editions but NOT Windows). They also have a good set of gnu tools
and other unix ported commands as well as a fully set up Shell so you can
unixify your QDOS experience (I refer you to Tim Swenson's article on a
previous QLT... check Dilwyn's site for the exact volume/issue)
That would be nice, yes. Would you also be able to put up a non-RARified
version of win32uQLx? Afterall, zip is the current "standard" archiving
method on win32..
Although, when you have downloaded the free RAR software, it does have a 
very nice and easy to use interface ... :-)

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Re: [ql-users] was... Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, jms1 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes


Perhaps we may now understand why it is difficult for somebody to try the
QL.
What can we do to improve compatability so newcomers can try without help?
Yes, interesting proposition.
We have to take a good look at QDOS, the original OS, and the software 
for it; and then see what simple or more complicated work is needed to 
make the bridge with SMSQ and SMSQ/E.  From the users point of view.

Following on from this all the hardware add-ons and upgrades need to be 
looked at, and simple explanations of suitable paths to take to maintain 
or enhance performance.

If this can be documented and collated then we can just point users to 
the signposts laid out, and the user can make their own decisions.

Dilwyn Jones already has some quite excellent material on his website 
that describes the history and development of the QL.

Roy Wood has begun a series in QL Today which is describing the where 
with all of the various set ups and paths that QL development has 
followed.

So in the end some users may choose just to stay with QDOS and get the 
best benefit from it, others may choose to bridge across between QDOS 
and SMSQ benefiting from both.  Others may choose to be entirely SMSQ/E, 
and beyond.

Whatever ... a commonality will be established.
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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
=?windows-1253?B?UGhvZWJ1cyBSLiBEb2tvcyAo1u/f4u/yINEuIM30/Orv8ik=?= 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 14:38:18 -0400, Malcolm Cadman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  wrote:

In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Darren   Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Reminds me, I really must organise another Irish Show, maybe in 
Galway   for a
change.
Would that be an Irish Show or a show held in Ireland ... :-)
Who cares... if there's plenty of Guinness it won't make a difference 
anyway ;-)
Well, haven't yet made it to one of Darren's Shows ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] Internet on the QL

2005-04-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Arnold Clarke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

I may have not given the right info.
When I type in "ex win1_lx_lynx"
I get the window displayed and in the window is a message saying
"Your Terminal Type is Unknown" ..." Enter a Terminal Type"  I enter 
VT-52 or VT100 but it just drops out
You need to run the boot file that Phoebus supplied on page 26 of QL 
Today - Vol 9 Issue 6 March/April 2005.

The environment variables are set up in the boot file to get around 
that, and lynx is launched from the boot file itself.

Depending what you system is like either run the boot independently or 
incorporate it in to you own boot file.

I have saved it as 'boot_lx', so I run it from there.
If you wish I can email you my 'boot_lx' ?
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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-27 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Reminds me, I really must organise another Irish Show, maybe in Galway for a
change.
Would that be an Irish Show or a show held in Ireland ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] PE and software

2005-04-27 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

(changed subject line to reflect change in thread)
Malcolm Cadman wrote:
Does anyone have a list of 'old programs' written for QDOS that do not
run under the PE ?
If there is a known list, then some action may taken.
--
Malcolm Cadman
John Gregory made a similar remark at the Quanta AGM when he was asked 
about library programs which only exist in MDV versions in the library, 
or programs which only run on one ROM version.

His reply implied that a general trawl of the library for such software 
was probably not viable, but if anyone could bring specific examples to 
his attention he'd see what could be done.

By and large, MDV programs can be tweaked for FLP usage with one of 
these options:

1. Stuffing it through Digital Precision's Transfer Utility or some 
such program of which there are some available on the PD software scene.

2. Adding an FLP_USE mdv command in its boot program on systems which 
support FLP_USE (i.e. virtually all disk d=systems except very, very 
early ones).

3. Using DEV_USE or the SUB equivalent (which also helps with 
transferring such software to run from hard disk).

I feel another article coming onin fact I think it highly likely we 
could run articles on subjects like this, pointer environment basics, 
ramdisks and so on at least once a year since the questions do seem to 
arise very often even though the subjects have appeared many times in 
print.
Yes, I do remember doing (1) above, many years ago now, although I had 
forgotten about it.

Method (2) FLP_USE was always the simplest method of running software 
that had 'coded in' reference to mdv's.

Since SMSQ/E and QPC, I can't recall of any software that I now use that 
has a problem as such.

Although many other people may have programs that they would wish to be 
brought up to date or modified in use.

So, a list of programs as targets for modifying would be a good thing. 
Then if there is demand someone can work on them. If permission is 
granted by original authors.

Dave Gilham has recently made Perfection operate in a full screen mode, 
rather than the QL 512x256 window size.  Hopefully that will be 
available soon for everyone to enjoy the benefit of.

The Exchange suite of the original PSION 4, would also benefit from 
modifications such as accessing larger screens.

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Re: [ql-users] Idle thoughts

2005-04-27 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

On the other hand there are lots of freeware products available too.
Tell me about that one! Every now and then I have a flurry of updating 
my PD Library catalogue and I realise there's more and more free QL 
software out there than I can ever find time to catalogue and add to 
the library, let alone test them all! Steve Johnson used to say as much 
SJPD days, but there's one awful lot more out there now than even in 
SJPD days!

Also in hardware there are lots of second-hand items available.
Overall it is a good time to be a user.
You only have to take Darren's advice and visit a QL show to see that. 
There was a wealth of older stuff on sale at the Quanta AGM which I 
hadn't seen for years. The pace of new developments at the moment does 
mean you have to make the effort to keep up to date or just follow your 
particular line of interest (mine being collecting PD software and 
writing compiled basic programs written with Easyptr).

As you say, a good time to be involved and a QL user!
Yes, I seem to have something new to grapple with almost every month ... 
which can only be good news ... :-)

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Re: [ql-users] was... Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-26 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, P Witte 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

The general advice seems to be to decide if you want maximum
compatibility with older QL software, stick with QDOS, or if you
want the benefits of the new facilities available under SMSQ/E you
will need to go down that route.
But only if you want "maximum" compatibility. Most old programs will run, or
can be made to run, under PE. It is often not PE which is the problem with
older programs, rather their reliance on microdrives, or a reliance on fixed
locations for the screen or systems variables (ie poor programming
practises). Also upping the speed can render some old programs
"incompatible".
Apart from those emulators that are designed to be hardware compatible with
the black box, one of the most versatile platforms to run old software,
IMHO, is QPC2. But it has the added advantage of running the bleeding edge
stuff too.
Does anyone have a list of 'old programs' written for QDOS that do not 
run under the PE ?

If there is a known list, then some action may taken.
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Re: [ql-users] Idle thoughts

2005-04-26 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Fabrizio 
Diversi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

At this point, I would like to add to the discusssion also my point of view.
Linguistic barrier do not put me confident to explain correctly, btw I 
really enjoy so much using smsqe that i have purchased basically 
everything both software and hardware (q60,q40). I have just ordered 
easyptr upgrade and qpcprint, in particular I thinks that Marcel 
products are simply exceptional and i will never loose one of his 
product even paying it twice. I agree that paying a small amount for a 
product is a sort of respect to the author.
This is my point.
Indeed ...
If you want to use the software / hardware and enjoy it, then you have 
to accept the terms on which it is available at the time.

My most recent purchases have both been 'desktops' - Launchpad, and then 
QDT.

Both products have similarities and differences.
On the other hand there are lots of freeware products available too.
Also in hardware there are lots of second-hand items available.
Overall it is a good time to be a user.
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Re: [ql-users] Celebration restarter Pack

2005-04-26 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, SMSQ - Jochen Merz 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Hi Malcolm,
Alternatively could there now be another 'offer' in time for 
September 2005 ?
heheee, although there might have been a hint in one of the
many previous mails, all I say is: watch the ads ;-)
OK ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] was... Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-26 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes
In a message dated 26/04/05 01:33:54 GMT Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
Remember that i'm still using Qdos. Has Turbo been kept compatible with
that, or does it only support SBasic and SMSQ/E? If it is not compatible
what is the most recent version of turbo that is compatible with my system?
Whenever a new version of Turbo is produced I test it on an AH rom with 
trump
card as well as Q60 with SMSQE. I have not done that yet with v4g21 since
there may be errors still to be found and reported. However, when v4.21 is
finally produced it will have to work on my AH rom.
Yes, thanks to this development work on Turbo it is incorporating extra 
functionality.

It is compatible with QDOS / SuperBasic and SMSQ/E / Sbasic, so the 
generic term has now become Sbasic, for convenience.

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Re: [ql-users] Software Prices.

2005-04-26 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, P Witte 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

John Sadler writes:
As Dilwyn Jones says in his article in Qtoady that TurboPtr is more
flexible
than EasyPtr, and the group members feel that software should be paid for,
George & I wondered whether the group members did not use it because it
was
free and they would be happier paying £60 to George because then they felt
the program was well worth using and the author was interested in
maintaining
it.
I wouldnt be surprised if that were the case ;) Free programs are all well
and good, but we have now begun to expect all programs to be free and that
may not be good for the continuation of the QL community. Linux is in a
different league, with universities and research intstitutions supplying
much of the quality free stuff: The authors of those programs are at least
fully funded and doing their thing during their working hours. I dont think
that is the case for QL programmers..
Yes, it is the student workforce, at work ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] Internet on the QL

2005-04-26 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Arnold Clarke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Hi Arnold,
Have you copied the 'qdos' file in to the directory 'win1_lx_terminfo_' 
?

The boot file by Phoebus expects to find it there, that's all, for the 
terminal emulation.

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[ql-users] Internet on the QL

2005-04-25 Thread Malcolm Cadman
Hi Phoebus,
Just a thanks to you for your excellent first article on internet access 
for the QL in QL Today magazine - Volume 9, Issue 6, March/April 2005.

You tempted me in to doing the downloads of the software ported from 
UNIX by Jonathan Hudson :

QL-Lynx, QL-FTP, QPOP3 and QDOS Emailer.
All available at : http://www.daria.co.uk
With your instructions, lynx worked first time !  ... and nice to see it 
making use of the full screen with SMSQ/E and QPC.

I had previously had it working in an earlier version in a QDOS window 
of 512x256.

I hope to find time to explore the FTP and email instructions more fully 
later in the week.

Looking forward to the continuation in the next issue too.
I note that lynx was written for UNIX by Seung-Hong Oh, in 1996, whom I 
can assume was a student at the time.

He mentions as upgraded version being available in one of the texts, 
which presumably did get completed, as this is nearly ten years ago.

One of the things the QL port would benefit from is a nice 'front end' 
to integrate this as a suite of applications.  Also a menu driven way of 
providing the details of the users system and preferences.

Using text editors and changing lines beginning with a # sign, is not 
everyone's taste I am sure.

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[ql-users] Celebration restarter Pack

2005-04-25 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, SMSQ - Jochen Merz 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Just to be clear ... will this starter pack still be valid for the 
forthcoming Byfleet show in September 2005 ?
Hi Malcolm,
Why "still"??
It was advertised in
- QL Today
- Quanta (at least I sent an ad)
- "real" Mailshot
- emailshot for QL 2004
- my website
that this "Celebration restarter Pack" offer started somewhere
in September last year and ended end of January this year,
if I remember correctly.
Ah ... so it has ended in January 2005 .
With the recent discussion around some people looking for an upgrade to 
their QL system, it would be useful.

Alternatively could there now be another 'offer' in time for September 
2005 ?

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[ql-users] Email and web usage

2005-04-25 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jeremy Taffel 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

It is the default behaviour in Outlook Express to send both a text 
and HTML file, unless you actually find the setting for text only.

I get lots of people who work in local government sending email like 
that. Usually either because they just don't know, or they are not 
allowed access to change any settings.

I don't work in local government, just the UKs largest defence 
contractor. All the IT  is outsourced.  The contract specifies the 
levels of support received. It also has the conflicitng requirements of 
standardising profiles, despite the fact that some of us use laptops, 
and others don't.  Net result, no-one can customise Windows to his 
needs.  Every time I log on, for example, the calculator has reverted 
to the simple form, despite the fact that I always need the scientific 
functions. AND, email defaults to html, even tho we are only allowed to 
send each other plain text! If I'm going to need to run an application 
other than office, (mathcad, for example) when out of the office, I 
have to start the program at work , to grab a licence off the server, 
and then put it into "suspend", because no-one is allowed his own 
licence. Everything runs so slowly because almost all the files come 
over the network, instead of being stored on the local hard drive, and 
although I work in Stevenage, I can't fill in my timesheet if a server 
in Maidstone goes down!
I still do most of my serious computing from home!
Yes, it seems to be a never_ending_story with Windows ... although we 
now need it for our QL Emulators :-)

At least everyone on this list knows that it is text only ( also no 
attachments ), etc ...

Which keeps us all content.
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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-24 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
=?windows-1253?B?UGhvZWJ1cyBSLiBEb2tvcyAo1u/f4u/yINEuIM30/Orv8ik=?= 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

On Sun, 24 Apr 2005 09:16:00 -0400, COLIN PARSONS 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


Neither did I! Put things in plain text if you want things to be read!!
Too many worms are installed by clicking on links.
On spam yes.
 What makes you think that my emails (and QL traders) are going to do
that sort of thing?
Use Text only and no HTML, if you really want things to be read!!
 It was text only.
Then a link would't  work!
It would if the text is written in the proper way. We had that 
discussion here years ago (Tony made me revisit the RFC and of course 
he was right)...

Most mailers will render "sentences" beginning with "http://..."; to a 
link (but only the first line if the link is too long as to be 
word-wrapped)  and ALL mailers will display a link if the text has been 
written enclosed  into a  construct

So all mailers will make a link out of this: http://blablah> and 
some mailers will even do

http://blahblah, but not all... :-)
Indeed, to show up they are highlighted in 'blue' when received.
Which is usually the default behaviour in the emailer, unless you 
configure it otherwise.

As is the '>' greater than sign being used as the 'quoting' leading 
character.

Over the latter few years this all seems to have settled down to become 
the 'conventions' used.

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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-24 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, COLIN PARSONS 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Neither did I! Put things in plain text if you want things to be read!!
Too many worms are installed by clicking on links.
On spam yes.
 What makes you think that my emails (and QL traders) are going to do
that sort of thing?
Use Text only and no HTML, if you really want things to be read!!
 It was text only.

Then a link would't  work!
Erm ... of course it does ...
A URL given in text file can be clicked on to go the location, provided 
that you are connected.

To get to QL_Users Mailing List click on :
http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/
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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-24 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jeremy Taffel 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
Tony Firshman wrote:

I repeat -  my emails are text only.
If there is html there, that is added by your mailer.
Nothing to do with me.
Tony


Tis true! I use thunderbird. It allows you to inspect thesource; and it 
is plain text. However under normal display it converts text strings 
that start with http: into a URL.

Similarly, it converts all the > and >> at the start of the line into 
pretty formatted coloured sidebars. There really is no reason why 
anyone should need to send email in html.
Ah ... that again :-)
It is the default behaviour in Outlook Express to send both a text and 
HTML file, unless you actually find the setting for text only.

I get lots of people who work in local government sending email like 
that. Usually either because they just don't know, or they are not 
allowed access to change any settings.

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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-24 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, gwicks 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

- Original Message - From: "Tony Firshman"
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.

On  Sat, 23 Apr 2005 at 00:53:37, Jeremy Taffel wrote:

His announcement was on the JMS .gif image linked to from the emailshot.
Also worth noting that the starter pack offer (234 Euros worth of 
software for 99.90 Euros) was advertised in the snailshot flier for 
Byfleet,
Just to be clear ... will this starter pack still be valid for the 
forthcoming Byfleet show in September 2005 ?

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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-24 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jeremy Taffel 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
Malcolm Cadman wrote:

Jeremy, with all your computer interests I am sure that you will find 
it even more fun now than the period that you are recalling.

Yes, there is a cost involved for the commercial programs, yet there 
are also lots of free software and tools too.

To get involved in the new things you will need SMSQ/E rather than 
QDOS, which is £32.

Then you have options to build on that as you wish.
Remember you can still use QDOS as well, so the QDOS 'past' is not 
lost to you.

QPAC2 Pointer Environment - mouse pointer, menus, file handler, etc, 
is £42
I have the pointer environment. But its very old - I bought it from 
Care Electronics when they had a shop in Watford; perhaps in 1988. I'm 
not sure that it was sold as QPAC2 though. Files include hot_rext, 
ptr_gen, wman, hotkey, ramprt
Would it still work under SMSQ/E, or would I need to upgrade?
Yes, that is the one.  It may be in need of an upgrade though.
QPC2 is £65 to start, yet then the upgrades seem to come along 
frequently and are mostly free.

QLAY and QEmulator are alternatives as free emulators.
Can you run SMSQ/E under them?
I don't know whether either of them run on QDOS or can run with SMSQ/E.
I am not a user of either, no doubt someone else will have the answer 
...


Good luck with what whatever you choose to do.
I am sure that you will get inspired, and maybe even write some new 
software yourself ?

I did write a few non-work related  programs; all in superbasic. One 
that displayed random words in a random colour  from a user-definable 
vocabulary against a contrasting background. One that used the same 
vocabulary to construct grammatically correct (but often nonsensical) 
random sentences; building it up one word at a time until the sentence 
is complete, then wiping the screen for the next sentence. Bilingual 
versions of the word programme  English followed by Hebrew, English 
only, or Hebrew only. I also did  an arithmetic tester which included a 
multiplication table tester. It meant that when my kids started school 
they were about 3 years ahead of the class in reading and arithmetic.

I had two additional projects that I never completed;. A bridge playing 
program  that used true AI, and a hebrew word processor. Perhaps one 
day I'll find the time to complete them
Well, as they say, the world is 'your oyster' ... with programming.
With SBASIC a compiler is useful, of which there are 2 - Turbo which has 
been further developed, and Qliberator.

They give programs a bit more speed, and protect the source code from 
being seen by others.

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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-23 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jeremy Taffel 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

My position is quite simple really. I use computers for soving 
engineering problems, and find myself using windows (98,XP, 2000), 
Linux, Solaris., but the OS is less important to me than the tools.

So, to answer your question, I haven't put anything in for the past 12 
years,

So, I'm stuck in the QDOS past, and am  curious as to whether all the 
enhancements overcome the limitations that I ran into back then. No 
doubt if I were to buy QPC2, it would be rapidly followed by QDT, as 
I'd need a decent desktop; But, I've got so many projects on the go, 
QPC2 really isn't my highest priority.

Jeremy, with all your computer interests I am sure that you will find it 
even more fun now than the period that you are recalling.

Yes, there is a cost involved for the commercial programs, yet there are 
also lots of free software and tools too.

To get involved in the new things you will need SMSQ/E rather than QDOS, 
which is £32.

Then you have options to build on that as you wish.
Remember you can still use QDOS as well, so the QDOS 'past' is not lost 
to you.

QPAC2 Pointer Environment - mouse pointer, menus, file handler, etc, is 
£42.

QPC2 is £65 to start, yet then the upgrades seem to come along 
frequently and are mostly free.

QLAY and QEmulator are alternatives as free emulators.
If you get really enthused than you will be into QDT which is £32.
Roy Wood is giving a £10 discount on SMSQ/E if you buy both QDT and 
SMSQ/E at present.

Good luck with what whatever you choose to do.
I am sure that you will get inspired, and maybe even write some new 
software yourself ?

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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-22 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Roy wood 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, David 
Tubbs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes


Would you buy the "buggy" version, even if it were £20 less? The "fix" is
usually to get the latest version.
So someone was happy to sell Buggy versions for top dollar !

No software of any complexity is without bugs. QPC2's bugs are usually 
fixed before any get sold and those that slip through are fixed very 
quickly with free updates. Older versions are not buggy as suggested - 
just not as refined and developed as the current ones.  Some newer 
programs require keywords that have been especially built into SMSQ/E 
to make them work. QPC2 and SMSQ/E are inter-linked and some versions 
will not work with the wrong SMSQ/E file. The whole thing is a 
continuous line of sustained development and very hard to backtrack on. 
In the end the users benefit from this. Most upgrades are free and the 
ones which are charged for are major re-workings of the system. Much of 
this is not evident to the users except that it works better and does 
more things. Marcel does not even own a trumpet let alone blow it.
Yes, this is all transparent to the user.
As well as more features in the upgrades, the system and the emulator 
always get faster and slicker too ( which is an added 'hidden' bonus ).

I made the plunge in buying SMSQ/E and then QPC some years ago now ... 
and I have had lots and lots of benefits from it.

We have had this debate many many times ... there comes a time with any 
computer system when the user has to make a significant investment 
upgrade ... in either hardware or software.

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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-22 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, James 
Hunkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

For myself, I started QDT as an interesting project.  Plus I really 
enjoy the people involved in the community.

To be honest, I would have abandoned the project quite a while ago if I 
was only doing it for the money.  Probably before it even started.

On the other hand, while the money will never, ever compensate for the 
time or energy, it does show me that people respect the work and are 
interested in it.  If no one was willing to pay what I consider to be a 
very underpriced cost for QDT, I would read it as no one appreciated 
the work being done.  Therefore, it would not happen and further 
development would definitely not happen.

So, while the money isn't everything, obviously, it definitely is 
something.

Knowing the effort that goes into different QL software projects, I 
don't know of any that I would consider not to be fare value.  And most 
are very good deals already.
I am an 'early adopter' of QDT, and although it is still at its early 
stages of implementation, it does show what excellence can now be 
achieved with all the new developments for the QL.

Note : QDT does not run on 'older' systems, as it is designed to make 
use of the best that is currently available.

I now hope that Jim's work will encourage software writers to flex their 
muscles again and produce all those interesting applications that we all 
need.

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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-21 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

So, all I was saying is that I think that there could be a market beyond
the one that seemingly (according to other emails)  has reached
saturation, and foolishly set myself up as a skinflint by offering
myself as  someone who  fell into that market.
Jeremy
Well, your email has succeeded in encouraging discussion on this list 
and good often comes out of discussion, even it gets a little heated 
from time to time.

Many (initially) good ideas fall by the wayside after discussion, but 
many are also lost for fear of mentioning them and getting oneself into 
heated debate, so I don't think it was a subject which should have been 
avoided at all.
With QPC you have to accept that it is being developed and sold as a 
commercial product.

Once you have 'bitten the bullet' and bought it . at a cost of less 
than a pound over a year  you never look back, just enjoy it !

The same with QDT, although I have only used it for a few weeks now, I 
already feel that I have enjoyed the benefit and 'got my moneys worth' 
in value.

It is also a part of the fun to be involved in supporting any new 
developments.

Join it is what I say ... after all this is an interest that we are 
meant to enjoy.

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Re: [ql-users] George Best (OT)

2005-04-15 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Yes, indeed.
My Mum dated George Best for several months in Belfast (prior to him being a
Man Utd player I think) - Pity, could've been my Dad if it had worked out!!
He .. he ... weird ... :-)
There is another great story. He was in a hotel suite, the morning after
winning the European cup for United. He'd spent all night in the casino, and
woke up hung-over as usual and ordered breakfast from room service.
The young waiter pushed the room service trolley into the room and seen the
place - He had a former miss world in the bed beside him, the cup was on the
dressing table filled with ice and empty champagne bottles, and a ton of
cash was strewn about the floor. The waiter looked at George and said "Oh,
George - where did it all go wrong?" ;-))
He could have invested the cash in QL ?
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Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....

2005-04-15 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

I touted this idea before in QUANTA, but got no feedback at all.
I, in my guise as Q-CELT, produce CD-ROMs for the QL. I was wondering if
there would be any demand (Hah!) for a DVD version - i.e. All of the CD-ROMs
I produce would easily fit on one 4.7GB DVD-R.
It has got cheaper to buy DVD-R's, so the overall price would be quite
reasonable (a fraction of what it would cost to buy all the CD's separately
- probably about the same as one CD).
Anyone interested, or would I just be wasting my time?
Would be a good idea, for those with DVD. ( I don't personally own one 
as yet ... )

Maybe do them 'on demand' so to speak.
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Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles

2005-04-15 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
=?windows-1253?B?UGhvZWJ1cyBSLiBEb2tvcyAo1u/f4u/yINEuIM30/Orv8ik=?= 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 14:22:06 -0400, Malcolm Cadman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  wrote:

In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Darren   Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

It reminds me of a famous quote by George Best :-
"90% of my money I spent on booze, birds and gambling - the rest I 
wasted."
Yes, that was one of his most lucid statements ...
Yet possibly the greatest footballer that I have ever seen play.
But how much better would he be if he used a QL to review his tactics?
Could have had the success of the Greeks ? ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles

2005-04-14 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Yes, it like all code writing ... the major part of say 90% to 95% 
is
relatively easy, yet it is the last 1% to 5% that is hard.

--  Malcolm Cadman
Refer to my Murphy's Law docs for the one which says that the first 90% 
of a project takes 90% of the time. The rest takes the other 90%.
Yes, myth has an uncanny way of being factual ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles

2005-04-14 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Darren 
Branagh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

It reminds me of a famous quote by George Best :-
"90% of my money I spent on booze, birds and gambling - the rest I wasted."
Yes, that was one of his most lucid statements ...
Yet possibly the greatest footballer that I have ever seen play.
-Original Message-
From: Dilwyn Jones [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: 13 April 2005 21:15
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles

Yes, it like all code writing ... the major part of say 90% to 95%
is
relatively easy, yet it is the last 1% to 5% that is hard.
--
Malcolm Cadman
Refer to my Murphy's Law docs for the one which says that the first
90% of a project takes 90% of the time. The rest takes the other 90%.
--
Dilwyn Jones
--
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Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles

2005-04-13 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Just another simple thing ... are you using the 'zero' in the
dimensioned array for the 'file_string' ?
DIM f$(100)
actually has 101 places reserved, as 0 to 100.
Yes I do. As best as I can remember from memory the MAWDRAW command is 
used for drawing the files list in the menu, this uses an array slice 
depending on how many filenames there are. If there's 60 files it's be:

MAWDRAW #channel%,1,f$(0 to 59)
I may need to
>rig up a test routine in SBASIC for you to run on your machine for me
>to get some figures back to see why it's different on your system,
OK, best to the latter, as my machine is not 'portable' to shows; and I
will not be attending the AGM.
OK
Send me a SBASIC test routine with suitable break points to check
progress.  When you have time.
Of course!
I feel sure it will turn out to be something minor that is throwing the
error.
Indeed, I'm sure I'll be kicking myself when I discover the error!
Yes, it like all code writing ... the major part of say 90% to 95% is 
relatively easy, yet it is the last 1% to 5% that is hard.

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Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles

2005-04-12 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Have tried to break QStarter - configuring it for a small number of
executables +/-
small window and other win drives but without success.
Could there be a clash between the Easyptr extensions and some other
key words
in a toolkit or SBASIC to result in the EOF message?
Oh well ... it seems robust from your tests.
If I recall the EOF comes from reading beyond the expected input 
limit. So a key word clash shouldn't be involved.

Maybe there isn't a check on the limit ? Like ...
IF EOF THEN EXIT loop
.
CLOSE#Input_Channel_Number

There is an IF EOF(#chan) THEN EXIT... clause in the line just before 
the one where you experienced the error message, Malcolm.
Yes, I assumed there was such a check ... just speculating.
I remember getting the 'end of file' message in one of my programs, 
until I found where the error was occurring.

Just another simple thing ... are you using the 'zero' in the 
dimensioned array for the 'file_string' ?

DIM f$(100)
actually has 101 places reserved, as 0 to 100.
The directory pointer points at the two byte filename length counter in 
the directory, then GET reads the filename, which is a standard 
internal format string. What seems to be happening is that we are in a 
directory entry, GET fetches a length word, but fails to find that 
number of characters, which I thought was impossible.

Will you be at the AGM, Malcolm? I could run the sources on your 
machine there to test what's going wrong, failing that, I may need to 
rig up a test routine in SBASIC for you to run on your machine for me 
to get some figures back to see why it's different on your system, 
there may be some oddity such as a particular name length causing 
problems or recursion going wrong somewhere with particular nesting 
depths. It might be a simple programming error with local variables and 
global ones getting mixed up, although at this moment I can't find 
anything like that.
OK, best to the latter, as my machine is not 'portable' to shows; and I 
will not be attending the AGM.

Send me a SBASIC test routine with suitable break points to check 
progress.  When you have time.

I feel sure it will turn out to be something minor that is throwing the 
error.

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Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles

2005-04-11 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Duncan 
Neithercut <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Hi Malcolm Cadman
Have tried to break QStarter - configuring it for a small number of
executables +/-
small window and other win drives but without success.
Could there be a clash between the Easyptr extensions and some other
key words
in a toolkit or SBASIC to result in the EOF message?
Oh well ... it seems robust from your tests.
If I recall the EOF comes from reading beyond the expected input limit. 
So a key word clash shouldn't be involved.

Maybe there isn't a check on the limit ? Like ...
IF EOF THEN EXIT loop
.
CLOSE#Input_Channel_Number
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Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles

2005-04-09 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Duncan 
Neithercut <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Have also tried the configuration of Malcom Cadman : win1_ &
subdirectories:
Worked OK - got a big list of executable files
Umm ... I am glad that it is working for you, Duncan.
Yet curious for myself ...
I am using QPC2 with SMSQ/E. Which I assume it what Dilwyn is using.
End of file error messages are irrating, yet I believe there is a simple 
cure.

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Dilwyn
Jones
Sent: 09 April 2005 13:53
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles
Thanks.
Dilwyn Jones
QStarter 1.01 -
Works on a Q60 with smsqe 3.09
Duncan Neithercut
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Re: [ql-users] QStarter, QFiles

2005-04-08 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

At last I've been able to update the QStarter program thanks to an 
upgrade of an extensions file from Marcel. The updated v1.01 has just 
been uploaded to my website.

Another new little program has been uploaded - QFiles is a button which 
calls a File_Select$ menu from QMenu to allow indirect pointer driven 
file selection from non-pointered programs such as Quill. Click on the 
QFiles button, select the file with the usual File_Select$ menu and the 
filename is placed in the stuffer buffer, ready to be recovered with a 
simple ALT-SPACE keypress in the non-pointered program. Obviously 
pointer environment and QMenu (Menu Extension from Jochen Merz) are 
required. If your version of QMenu is recent enough, QFiles will also 
use the System Palette colours.
OK. I downloaded Qstarter  v1.01
This runs, and I configured it to have win1_ as the default path and 
'Yes' to search sub-directories.

It chugged away ... and then came up with an error :
line 2880 GET
end of file
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[ql-users] Articles of interest

2005-04-05 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Ah yes, I see what you are getting at.
While not directly QL related, this would fall under the general banner 
of indirectly relevant since the distribution of documentation is 
always a problem to us unless it is in Quill DOC or plain text format.

With the new software and operating systems facilities we do need to 
look beyond QL formats or to extend what formats we can cope with. My 
own QL Documentation CD has material in everything from Quill DOC, 
plain text and RTF to HTML, PDF and Word files, without much in the way 
of  consistency although I did try to convert between formats where it 
was straightforward.

All too often we find that manuals etc for QL software sneak out as PDF 
or Word DOC files because (with the possible exception of HTML) we 
don't have a common file format which supports inclusion of graphics 
which are needed more and more for our ever more modern and complex QL 
software.

There may be forthcoming standards for other systems out there which we 
need to be aware of, as you say who knows what people like Jonathan 
Hudson may decide to port next?

As long as it's kept fairly short and general so that it does not go 
over the heads of the average QLer I don't see any problem with such 
material as long as it's placed in a QL context of some form, such as 
"this is what's happening outside our scene, we need to consider how 
relevant it could be to us and see if we can port something or produce 
something of our own."

Within common sense limits, I don't see a problem in attacking such a 
subject from that kind of viewpoint.

What do others think?
No problem to myself, as I already read a wide variety of computer and 
technology magazines and literature.

Which is also true, I am sure, of many of the users of QL derived 
systems now.

As long as the article is sensible and informative, it all adds to the 
knowledge and usefulness in the wider sense.

I subscribe to a specialist magazine called 'Living with Technology' 
that was started up about 2 years ago by some 'minority' computer 
enthusiasts with a mainly Acorn/RISCOS background.

It now covers a wide variety of articles on up-to-date information about 
technology from the point of view of actually using it with 
understanding about what is actually going on.

Try looking it up on >
http://www.livtech.co.uk
The most recent issue had articles, amongst others, on :-
Archiving Cine to Video/DVD
Energy Saving Lights( LEDs )
Google is Your Friend!
Home Theatre PC
Norman Dunbar wrote:
I wasn't referring to humour, at least, I hadn't thought about it as
such. I was thinking more along the lines of articles of a general
computing nature.
For a possible example, I sometimes work with manuals, instructions
whatever in DocBook format. Once written in this (specialised) XML
format, a file can then be converted into an HTML document in many
'pages' (one per section) or into a single HTML document with everything
in it, or to PDF format etc. The is done using XSLT which are templates
that are applied to the source file and they produce the output format
of choice either directly or indirectly.
As an article, I would only give an introduction to DocBook, a few small
examples and point the reader in the general direction of a few Web
sites for further information. As for XSLT and so on, I don't even know
where to begin with that piece of Voodoo - it's well beyond me and my
abilities.
One potential (and planned) use of DocBook is to convert my QDOS
Internals web site (still unfinished) into DocBook and get the benefits
of generating the HTML for the Web, plus downloadable files in the three
different formats. And so on.
While we don't (yet) have anything remotely like this for the QL, who
knows - the very thought of it might spur someone with the talent to do
the job, on to actually doing it.
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Re: [ql-users] Q-Starter

2005-04-05 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, gwicks 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
- Original Message - From: "Phoebus R. Dokos (Öïßâïò Ñ. 
Íôüêïò)"
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 9:14 PM
Subject: Re: [ql-users] Q-Starter


On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 15:06:37 -0400, Malcolm Cadman
wrote:
By the way QWord has its own Icon with QDT and launches successfully,
and drops back into QDT, even though there is a colour mode change on my
system.
Yes, Jim had the foresight to ask us to create one ahead of time.
Actually Jim was very helpful over icons. You will note there are also
special icons for Just Words! progams. He even created a special folder icon
when I told him that some people keep all of their Just Words! programs in
Just Words! directory,
OK ... I've missed that one, Geoff.  As I do not have Just Words!
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Re: [ql-users] Q-Starter

2005-04-05 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

I thought I had, but will check later. Maybe I put them in and made a 
mistake with the $$asmb compiler directive.

Case of "better luck next time Dilwyn" I think!
Thanks for letting me know.
I have had the same error come up.
I emailed Dilwyn privately to perhaps save embarrassment ...
From: "Duncan Neithercut" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: 2005/04/04 Mon PM 08:22:08 GMT
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: [ql-users] Q-Starter
Hi,
tried it & got the Qlib error message :
Line 600 MSTAT% Invalid name
 - an easy ptr extension?
Can you distribute the easy ptr runtimes with it?
Duncan Neithercut
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Re: [ql-users] Q-Starter

2005-04-05 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

>Hopefully, experience gained from writing this program will help and
>encourage me to write more programs to take advantage of the new
>facilities Marcel has worked so hard to bring us!
>
>http://homepages.tesco.net/dilwyn.jones/software/freeware/freeware.html
Thanks, Dilwyn.  I will download a copy this evening.
I would like a 'new colours' aware version of Launchpad as I run it on
QPC2.

It is quite possibly on the agenda!
That is what I figured ... :-)
Once I'm happy the techniques I use in QStarter work to my 
satisfaction, I plan on tackling Launchpad, although it may be a bit 
more of a job than just redoing the menus, as there's some changes I 
want to implement for my own use too/
Yes. The intention of Launchpad to work on quite basic QL systems is 
fine ... and it should still do not.  Just have the option to recognise 
a system with more enhanced features and use those features.

I have now switched over to QDT as my preferred desktop, yet I am still
using QTrans all time which is launched from an icon in the Util Folder.

This was always how it would have been - QDT the system of choice for 
those with the system necessary to run it, Launchpad for those with 
older systems. That way, all users were catered for.
Of course ... different intentions and market users.
And already having Launchpad on my system has meant that QDT has 
recognised it, so it can be run at the same time, just like any other 
program.

This is fun ... now we need software writers to get going with some new
applications.

From what I understand, it'll happen in the near future. I've written 
some articles for QL Today on the subject of developing programs using 
the new facilities with the new Easyptr when it's released.
Good.
New applications are what we really need.
Many of the utilities and helper software are already there.
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Re: [ql-users] Q-Starter

2005-04-05 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
=?windows-1253?B?UGhvZWJ1cyBSLiBEb2tvcyAo1u/f4u/yINEuIM30/Orv8ik=?= 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 15:06:37 -0400, Malcolm Cadman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  wrote:

By the way QWord has its own Icon with QDT and launches successfully, 
and drops back into QDT, even though there is a colour mode change on 
my   system.

Yes, Jim had the foresight to ask us to create one ahead of time.
Yes, I noticed it was the only 'unique' one.
Trust you to be first in ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] Q-Starter

2005-04-04 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
Q-STARTER
Q-Starter is a simple experimental program to see if I can
successfully create a program which will run on anything from a QDOS
system with pointer environment to the latest Window Manager 2 and use
the System Palette. It is also my first attempt at writing a program
to use scalable menus. In theory, it ought to display Launchpad-style
menus on systems prior to Window Manager 2, and display System Palette
colour menus on Window Manager 2 systems (SMSQ/E v3.09 or later). I
would welcome feedback on this program, in particular any problems
found in running it on older systems, being as my main "QL" at the
time of writing is a QPC2 emulator!
Oh, does this program do anything useful? Actually, yes it does. It's
a mini program launcher, which searches for all program files it can
find on your system starting from the drive/directory specified
(optionally reading through subdirectories) and presenting these in a
menu from which you can simply click on the program file to be
executed. Leave it sat in your QPAC2 button frame to have it always
available as a quick if slightly dirty program starter!
Apologies to Marcel Kilgus for jumping the gun slightly - I've used
the pre-release of Easyptr 4 to creating this program, which is an
experimental release to invite feedback on any shortcomings. My hopes
are that if this program works OK on older and newer systems, I'll be
able to update my existing programs to use the excellent new
facilities of Easyptr 4 as soon as the official release happens.
I hope plenty of people will download and use Q-Starter (which is
Freeware) and let me know if it works on their systems. My systems
are:
QPC2 v3.30 with SMSQ/E 3b09
Aurora (MinisQL) with JM ROM (Q-Starter has problems on SMSQ/E v3.06
for unknown reasons)
Q-Starter works on QPC2 v3.30 and Aurora with JM QDOS ROM, I'd like to
hear about success or otherwise on other systems.
Hopefully, experience gained from writing this program will help and
encourage me to write more programs to take advantage of the new
facilities Marcel has worked so hard to bring us!
http://homepages.tesco.net/dilwyn.jones/software/freeware/freeware.html
Thanks, Dilwyn.  I will download a copy this evening.
I would like a 'new colours' aware version of Launchpad as I run it on 
QPC2.

I have now switched over to QDT as my preferred desktop, yet I am still 
using QTrans all time which is launched from an icon in the Util Folder.

This is fun ... now we need software writers to get going with some new 
applications.

By the way QWord has its own Icon with QDT and launches successfully, 
and drops back into QDT, even though there is a colour mode change on my 
system.

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Re: [ql-users] qdt/qpc;

2005-04-03 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, James 
Hunkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Hi Bill,
Yes, please do send over your install_log file when you figure it out, 
along with letting me know if you had any demos loaded before.

You asked about the signal extensions.  You do not actually need them. 
For some reason the latest build of the unzip utility thinks that you 
do and gives you a warning that they aren't there.  But everything 
works just fine regardless.  I have added a note in the FAQ page on the 
QDT website as to this.

QDT itself instead uses the env_bin for its signal passing and does not 
itself require the signal extensions.  This env_bin is part of the QDT 
install to make sure that your system is set up properly.
That is useful to know, as I dug out a copy of the signal extensions 
before proceeding with my install of QDT when that error/warning came 
up.

The install all went fine from there on.
I am now a happy QDT user of the QPC / SMSQ/E version.
It is all very smooth.
Just waiting for all the added functionality to come along to remove the 
'not yet implemented' warnings ...

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Re: [ql-users] network installation of QPC2

2005-02-11 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Wolfgang Uhlig 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
Marcel wrote:
Quite normally, I guess. But there will be problems when
a) two users trying to start QPC at the same instant (one will get a
"Cannot open SMSQE.BIN" or something like that).
b) two users trying to access the .WIN file at the same time.
To prevent those problems I did it the following way in the language
institute I worked, where severals students had to work with the same
QL-program
at the same time.
1) There is one original QPC, SMSQ/E.bin and QXL.win on the server.
2) Clicking a QPC-icon on the client's desktop first runs a small
batch-file
which will XCOPY (DOS command) all files to the client computer and
then
3) run QPC from the client computer.
The XCOPY command cares for copying only when something on the server
has changed, so you can make sure that changes to programs or data is only
done on the server "original" qxl.win file.
If changes on the client computers have to be stored, just adapt the
XCOPY-batch
to not copy QXL.win.
Everything runs fine, fast and complications are not likely. Modern
PC-networks are so
fast, that you hardly notice the copying.
Umm ... a cool solution, Wolfgang.
You have brought back memories of discovering the use of XCOPY rather 
than COPY in DOS ... :-)

Your solution should be perfect for Dilwyns' proposal for his small user 
network.

Because, as you say, the background copying will hardly be noticed.
In fact my experience of using networks is that it is nearly always 
'slow' compared to a single machine anyway. So the user is hardly going 
to be inconvenienced.

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Re: R: [ql-users] QPC2 v3.30

2005-02-11 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Marcel Kilgus 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
Davide Santachiara wrote:
Sorry if I am a bit late but I went a few days in Barcelona and now
I am back with some three hundred message to read...
Ah, I already wondered what took you so long :-)
The speed increase on my Intel Centrino 1,6 Mhz notebook is
impressive. Here are the figures:
Now imagine how fast it'd be in a 1,6 GigaHz notebook instead of just
1,6 Mhz ;-)
Pre 3.2x QPC2  QSI:   2460 (24,6 times wrt Gold Card)
3.22 QPC2  QSI:   2780
3.30 QPC2  QSI:   3618
+47% wrt pre v3.22 QPC2
I already expected that this processor will gain the most, but this is
pretty huge. Very cool.
Thanks for the values, Marcel
QPC2 v3.30 is also quicker and slicker on a humble Pentium 1 with Win95, 
so well done Marcel with all the code tweaks.

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Re: [ql-users] network installation of QPC2

2005-02-11 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes

Ah, great news. That sounds like it will achieve what I want to do.
If the data in the file needs updating (e.g. new forms to add) I could 
temporarily un write protect it, update it, and restore normality.

In normal everyday use, nobody will need to write to it. If I need to 
update it, I'll tell everyone not to use it until I tell them I've 
finished (administrator rules OK!)

Thanks Marcel and everyone, just the information I wanted.
Also, while you at it you may as well make the win_ file on the sever as 
big as you can get away with ... then you will have lots of space to 
store QL stuff that no one else will need to know about.

I remember the DOS command to make a file read only is 'attrib +r' ... ?
From: Marcel Kilgus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: 2005/02/11 Fri PM 03:28:31 GMT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [ql-users] network installation of QPC2
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> As long as nobody opens a channel to write to it,
Doesn't matter whether you open the file for writing or only for
reading. The drive will be blocked.
But I just remember one other solution. If you set the .WIN file
attribute to "read only" in Windows then the QPCs will open the file
in a different mode. In this mode two or more QPCs can actually have
the file opened *at the same time* because they can be sure that no
other application will be able to corrupt the cached FAT data.
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Re: [ql-users] network installation of QPC2

2005-02-11 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Marcel Kilgus 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
Phoebus Dokos wrote:
The one thing that I can tell you is that at least my QPC will not share a
QXL.WIN file with another QPC (or uQLx - Q-emuLator for that matter).
Although QPC will start normally, the second another application tries to
use the QXL.WIN file, the first QPC will not have access to the QXL.WIN
file until the sharing application ceases to operate.
Do a "WIN_REMV x", x being the drive number, on the PC that hosts the
.WIN file (it is automatically done if QPC detects that the .WIN is on
a remote server).
In short that means that you cannot have one shared qxl.win across the
network.
Wrong. They can't access it at the same time (i.e. after
"OPEN#3,win1_boot" WIN1 is blocked for the other machine until you do
a "CLOSE#3"), but apart from that they can share it just fine.
And the latter is also true of multiple instances of QPC2 on the same PC 
I assume ?

Which I haven't tried by the way.
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Re: AW: [ql-users] Visit to Switzerland

2005-02-09 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

The only QLer in the village - for all you Little Britain fans. Can't 
imaging Dilwyn in those trousers though. Or, at least, I don't want 
to.
Neither do I!
Now that puts a different face on it ... :-)
You had better be careful, Tony, about making a potential visit to 
the village ... laplink, null modem cable, and all ... :-)
I vaguely remember a picture and caption in IQLR magazine along the 
lines of "Tony Firshman caught dangling his Minerva Mkii in public". 
Now if that were to become a LapLink I'd start worrying ;-)
The basis for a cartoon for QL Today ... ?
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Re: [ql-users] My Documents

2005-02-09 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, jms1 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

- Original Message -
From: "Roy wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: [ql-users] My Documents
Actually it is even easier. Right Click the 'My Documents' folder - go
to properties and change the link marked 'target' there. No need for any
of the rest of it. Don't let Dilwyn into the registry!!
--
Roy Wood
Q Branch. 20 Locks Hill, Portslade, Sussex.BN41 2LB
Tel: +44 (0) 1273 386030fax: +44 (0) 1273 430501
web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk
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And I thought Dilwyn was a computer wise gentleman!
In the QL world both wise and gentleman.  A very good programmer too ...
However, with PC's he seems to confuse them or they confuse him :-)
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Re: AW: [ql-users] Visit to Switzerland

2005-02-08 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Roy wood 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes
> Anybody got relatives in North Wales (lonely being one of only 2 known
> QLers in North Wales)?
>
> --
> Dilwyn Jones
The only QLer in the village - for all you Little Britain fans. Can't 
imaging Dilwyn in those trousers though. Or, at least, I don't want to.
Now that puts a different face on it ... :-)
You had better be careful, Tony, about making a potential visit to the 
village ... laplink, null modem cable, and all ... :-)

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Re: [ql-users] My Documents

2005-02-08 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Wolfgang Uhlig 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

As far as I can see:
By default, if you right-click the My Documents icon on your desktop 
and click Properties, the tab lets you change the path of this folder.
If this doesn't work, you probably have to change the following 
registry value to 0.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ex
plorer\DisablePersonalDirChange   (if value is 1)
They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing ...
Dilwyn would be better using TweakUI from the M$ Power Toys utilities.
If, indeed, that is where the problem lays.
PC's ... we love 'em ...:-)
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Re: [ql-users] My Documents

2005-02-08 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes

Wolfgang Uhlig wrote:
As far as I can see:
By default, if you right-click the My Documents icon on your desktop and
click Properties, the tab lets you change the path of this folder.
If this doesn't work, you probably have to change the following registry
value to 0.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\E
xplorer\DisablePersonalDirChange
(if value is 1)
DisablePersonalDirChange isn't present in the registry, at least not in 
that location. All that's there is:

(Default)  REG_SZ  (value not set)
NoWelcomeScreen   REG_DWORD 0x0001 (1)
Thanks to everyone for trying to help, I think we should close this 
thread now (especially on the list). If need be, I know how to change 
the registry entries or to download the TweakUI utility Marcel 
mentioned. Interesting though that something you'd have thought to be 
so essential should prove so *irritatingly* difficult to achieve 
without extra software for the ordinary user!
Yes, this is getting off topic.
However, I believe the intention behind the 'registry' was to make it 
not easily accessible to the 'ordinary PC user'.

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Re: [ql-users] SERNET

2005-02-07 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes


What are the wiring disagreements?
I am genuinely puzzled.
No wiring disagreements as such.
It looks like it should work. Except it doesn't. It has to be something 
with the serial ports or link cables from the board to the back of the 
case because the cable works between PCs, and it's the same version of 
Sernet. It should work, it doesn't and apart from miswired serial ports 
faulty serial ports I can't see any reason why it shouldn't.

All I can do is wait until I get a day when I can get enough 
uninterrupted time to go trough everything step by step until I can pin 
down what's gone wrong.

When it comes to computers, it seems nothing works first time, I spend 
more time tackling problems than actually doing anything productive.
A useful device for this is a LED indicator, so that you can see which 
lines are active or not when actually in use.

I bought one from Maplins for a 25 way connection.  Good fun to watch 
too ... I don't know if there is a similar one for other connectors.

The more labour intensive way is use a test meter to check that the 
individual pin outs are connected as expected.

Saving these suggestions, why not meet up with Tony with your cable that 
doesn't work ( and associated computer equipment ) and his cable that 
does ?

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Re: [ql-users] My Documents

2005-02-07 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Marcel Kilgus 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Urgently need help (preferably off list) on this one.
"My Documents" on my computer at work usually points to
\\server\users\ (can't remember rest fo it from memory)
For reasons best known to itself it's decided to put itself onto
drive C on this PC, so of course ALL company documents are suddenly
lost without trace.
I'd like to redirect the My Documents folder back to its original
server location but can find no info how to do this. Windows help is
meaningless gibberish going on about Group Policy and such things
without actually explaining how or where to go about it.
Depends on how your network works. In bigger installation the computer
is likely to be joined in a Domain, where the Domain administrator
controls that stuff.
With normal Workstations like mine at home the location can be set
using TweakUI (free download from Microsoft).
M$ did something called PC Power Tools sometime ago. Which may help you 
get control over the PC settings.

The Tools are only what the ordinary enthusiast may expect.
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Re: [ql-users] smsq gold

2005-02-01 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes

>> Otherwise, you might need the guide on setting up the Aurora hardware
>>for  high colours which Phoebus put together.
>No I am not certain. All I am certain of is that it's SMSQ_GOLD v3.06.
>It probably ain't the colours version as DISP_COLOUR 2 does nothing it
>seems.
Does DISP_COLOUR 3 work OK ?
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I haven't tried that, as it's an Aurora, I never tried beyond 256 colours.
I think I must be mistaken here. I asked Jochen for an update some time 
ago and can't remember if it was for QL+Gold Card or Aurora/SGC. If it 
was for QL+Gold Card it most likely did not have the Aurora 256 colour 
module, hence my problem (bad memory, on my part not the (S)GC!)
Yes that could be the cause.
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Re: [ql-users] smsq gold

2005-01-31 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Phoebus Dokos 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Otherwise, you might need the guide on setting up the Aurora 
hardware   for  high colours which Phoebus put together.
No I am not certain. All I am certain of is that it's SMSQ_GOLD 
v3.06. It probably ain't the colours version as DISP_COLOUR 2 does 
nothing it   seems.
Does DISP_COLOUR 3 work OK ?
DISP_COLOUR 3 works only on 16bit colour... Aurora DOESN'T have 16bit 
colour :-)
OK ... I haven't used an Aurora.
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Re: [ql-users] Old games

2005-01-31 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes


I've just put a rather nice Othello game written and sent to me by Ken 
Tait onto the games page. It's rather old, but works well on QPC2.
Yes, that may be the one that I remember ... it was given as a programme 
listing that you had to type in originally ... ?

Anyway the view of the playing board is good, and it plays a good game.
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Re: [ql-users] smsq gold

2005-01-31 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
I seem to have got myself into a bit of a muddle. First, I manage 
to destroy a QL+RomDisq with a corrupt copy of smsq_gold 3.06 
(revived with  romd214_exe) and now I can't get 256 colour mode to 
work on the Aurora.
 Is the same smsq-gold v3.06 used for 256 colour on Aurora or is 
there a  separate version for Aurora? DISP_TYPE will change 
resolution on the  Aurora/SGC (a MinisQL) but DISP_COLOUR 2 is 
ignored and configuring it  to start in 256 colour mode seems to 
make it lock up at a black screen.
 If a separate version is needed, fine, just thought that as both 
machines had Gold Card and SuperGold Card I thought I'd try the Gold 
Card version which seems to run as long as the Aurora stays in QL 
colour  modes.
 Not having the best of days today, the PC is behaving and the QLs 
ain't. Somewhat unuusal in this household.

Now now - SMSQ_Gold colour version is the right one for Aurora - but 
are  you sure you have the colour version of SMSQ/e Dilwyn - here we 
go back to  the moans that there is no way of telling one from the 
other...

Otherwise, you might need the guide on setting up the Aurora hardware 
for  high colours which Phoebus put together.
No I am not certain. All I am certain of is that it's SMSQ_GOLD v3.06. 
It probably ain't the colours version as DISP_COLOUR 2 does nothing it 
seems.
Does DISP_COLOUR 3 work OK ?
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Re: [ql-users] QPC2 v3.30

2005-01-30 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Wolfgang Lenerz 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

On 30 Jan 2005 at 17:43, Malcolm Cadman wrote:
What does UDP stand for - obviously a Protocol ?
1) Short for User Datagram Protocol.
(2) Short for Usenet Death Penalty
Umm ... I figured it would be harmful to humans ... :-)
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Re: [ql-users] QPC2 v3.30

2005-01-30 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Marcel Kilgus 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

Roy wood wrote:
Not sure I understand the point here.  If you have two machines running
QPC2 and connected by ethernet why not just map the drives so they have
a letter and then use that letter as one of the QXL.WIN files ? I have
done it like this for ages. I believe Marcel has even made it possible
for two machines to access the same file although I have not tried it.
No, it can't. UDPNet, on the other hand, could do this. Plus, it is a
native solution and is basically cross-plattform. If Q40 had IP
support, it could be used to sync QPC and Q40.
OTOH the more I know about the SERNet/UDPNet code, the less I like it.
It probably should be rewritten from scratch (and use TCP instead of
UDP). But this is not exactly a minor task.
What does UDP stand for - obviously a Protocol ?
Did it precede TCP ?
I installed the QPC2 v3.30 upgrade in the usual painless way ... :-) ... 
thanks.

As I am using WIN95, I took the advice on your web site and upgraded to 
Winsock2 first. Not being certain that I had already done so ... 
however, that was painless too ... :-)

Obviously I will explore the new and improved features.  First 
impression with real applications is that it is, once again, a lot 
faster.

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Re: [ql-users] OT: Sheds

2005-01-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tony Firshman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
On  Fri, 28 Jan 2005 at 10:29:26, Malcolm Cadman wrote:
(ref: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>)

- seven in total.
I am even thinking of extending my office (shed) to make a print room.
Dear Mr Services ... are you clear on planning permission for all these
sheds ? ... :-)
Amazingly, sheds do not need planning permission in this borough.
I could fill the garden with them!
How lucky you are ... else they may be after you for business rates ...
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[ql-users] OT: Sheds

2005-01-28 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tony Firshman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
On  Thu, 27 Jan 2005 at 21:47:30, Bill Waugh wrote:
(ref: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>)

I think it is too... and informative :-P
I won't bore you with all the various misspellings of my name.
The best one I suppose, was a letter starting
"Dear Mr Services,"
  Now THAT is funny :-)
even funnier if they had presumed a few Christian names - Motorway,
Emergency, Special or perhaps Shed Erecting (;-)
I have one more now - seven in total.
I am even thinking of extending my office (shed) to make a print room.
Dear Mr Services ... are you clear on planning permission for all these 
sheds ? ... :-)

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Re: [ql-users] Pointer Environment and TK II

2005-01-20 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Roy wood 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
After a discussion with Tony Tebby Jochen Merz and I have his 
permission to release the three Pointer Environment extensions 
HOT_REXT, PTR_GEN and WMAN as freeware. They will now be freely 
distributable. Copyright will remain with Tony Tebby  I have some 
documentation with explanation the Keywords etc. which should be 
bundled with them. I will zip the whole thing and make it available to 
Dilwyn for inclusion on his website..

We have also got Tony's agreement to do the same for Toolkit II. At the 
moment I do not have a copy of this which can be LRESPR'd or a text 
file
to accompany it but I hope to have both soon.
OK

This means that these files can now be included with emulators free of
charge
It should be noted that the Menu Extensions remain commercial as they
are still being supported and developed by Jochen Merz Software. Anyone
wishing to distribute these with their software should contact him for a
licence
I hope you will all agree this is good news.
Yes, very good news.
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Re: [ql-users] A bit of a drag

2005-01-18 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, James 
Hunkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

If the system isn't quite fast enough to do the full window drag smooth 
enough for you, then "WM_MOVEMODE 1" does the outline only versus full 
window.  And you can reset it to just the Move sprite with "WM_MOVEMODE 
0".

On QDT, to use the outline or full window modes to move a folder window 
(at least for a while), you will need to use the drop down menu to 
select move and hold the mouse button down while you are moving the 
folder window.  If you use the short cut keys, it will use only the 
move sprite, regardless of the WM_MOVEMODE selected.

jim
On Jan 17, 2005, at 6:01 AM, Marcel Kilgus wrote:
Tarquin Mills wrote:
However one thing let's SMSQ/E down is that windows are moved not
dragged, not even a frame outline is used.
It has this ability built-in. Configure it accordingly or issue a
"WM_MOVEMODE 2" command.
Marcel
I had forgotten about that option.
I have now added it into my boot file, and the windows just fly around 
the screen with no problem now.

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