Re: [Ql-Users] Sinclair QL running a qualification test for a space component
In message e52b13a9-39dc-432f-acee-b30a8b631...@hotmail.com, Francois Lanciault francoislancia...@hotmail.com writes Hi Francois, Interesting the 80's technology is still so reliable ... :-) Are you doing the programming is SBASIC? The QL is sitting outside the chamber... The servo controller is connected directly on the back of the QL and long leads are going from the controller to the test setup through an opening in the thermal chamber. The chamber is also purged with nitrogen. It is real QL hardware, i.e. SuperGoldCard + Aurora + Minerva but in a PC case. What stand out is the 5 1/4 floppy drive and the two 3 1/2 drives :-) No I can not takes photo, but anyway a photo would have been nice if it was a standard black QL, An ugly beige box sitting next to an old thermal chamber is not as sexy. François On 2012-11-23, at 04:23, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk wrote: Wolfgang Lenerz wrote, on 23/Nov/12 09:17 | Nov23: On 23/11/2012 07:13, Francois Lanciault wrote: . But it did work. I closed the door and set the temperature to -50degC. Hi, was the QL in the chamber, too, or outside and just connected through a serial lead? Yes that was a mite ambiguous. It *must* have been outside I think. Incidentally what QL was it? I do hope it was a black box. Tony -- t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] R-pi
In message c19dcd0b-1357-4768-91db-c9a0598f1...@email.android.com, nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hmmm. It seems that I type my reply on top, but it actually posts on the bottom! Cheers, Norm. Umm ... Mr Magic . :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] R-pi
In message 1350864296.53651.yahoomailclas...@web29403.mail.ird.yahoo.com, John Alexander acontractor...@yahoo.co.uk writes Hi Bryan, Well done with getting your R-Pi going ... :-) ... and, as John says SD cards are low cost enough to use more than one of them. So, worth getting some more 'G's. To Be fair Bryan I'm using a supadupa 32GB 45MB/s card and this costs a whopping £20 fro Amazon a cheaper 32GB is just £13 so really these or smaller still cheaper cards arn't Going to break the bank. Personally I would invest in a faster card anyway as it really does seem to make a difference in the usability of the RPi !! John --- On Sun, 21/10/12, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org wrote: From: Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org Subject: [Ql-Users] R-pi To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Sunday, 21 October, 2012, 14:42 Hello All, I've loaded an SD card with the Raspian-wheezy recommended and it just goes onto a 2G with 20M to spare. All that just to host a tiny QL emulator. 'Twould be nice if the ARM could emulate the 68000 and we could go straight on. There are minimal distros I understand, and I would like one to use solely for the QL emulator. Will have to get a bigger SD if I come to do anything more adventurous. Will the Ql emulator fit in the spare 20M? Bryan H ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: Fwd: Quanta Web site down?
any understanding of the technical or practical problems involved. They just assumed a webmaster would have an instant solution to any problems, but as both you and Dan were to painfully discover both technical and practical problems were plenty. After much effort to get a working CMS all your hard work was in vain because only one member of the committee was willing to use it. I am glad that Quanta has now faced up to the reality and has begun to look at what is practical, but it should have been done years ago and long before we were paying almost £350 for a website. (This year the subscription rose by £4. Over £2 of that rise was to pay for the website which was a new expenditure in 2011.) I am not at all downcast by the disappearance of the members' area, although it is a pity for you after all the preparation work you have done. Frankly I don't think there would have been much use of the closed area especially if the magazines are to become public after two Also I doubt if there is much call on the library these days. I also felt the proposed members' forum was a non-starter as the question of moderator had not been addressed. I am not sure what Quanta means by a largely static site - what we must avoid is calling an magazine published 18 months ago recent. And if we can't keep the show page up to date then we should remove it altogether. I also knew the committee would not run a a Quanta news section. Shortsighted because within a few years they will have through necessity. On your final point about my taking over the job of webmaster the answer is a firm no. The webmaster is a technical post and you are far better qualified than I am. What has gone wrong is the lack of support you have had from the rest of the committee. I have also made it clear on many occasions that I have other QL responsibilities that make it inappropriate for me to be a Quanta committee member. There is also a good personal reason. For over six years I have remained silent about why I resigned suddenly from the Quanta Committee. During that six year I have been subjected to a lot of abuse. It was not just a simple question of an irresponsible use of members' money for vanity AA signposting, but the fact that I was not allowed to have my objection recorded in the minutes. In fact the minutes are written with a form of weasel words that give the impression the decision was unanimous. Two of the officers then are officers today, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] R-pi
In message 5082bc1a.8010...@newlan.org, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org writes Hello All, I received a message to say that my R-pi was dispatched by RS yesterday ParcelForce Express 24 hrs, and gave me a tracking no. It duly arrived in Manchester 7.24am. Not having come by lunchtime, I rang ParcelForce. If extra wasn't paid for Saturday delivery it will come on Monday. I wouldn't normally be bothered but I have grandchildren visiting who would love to get their hands on it (and their Dad would too!). I've not even got an SD card prepared. Good, you should soon have your R-Pi ... I chose to have the OS pre-installed, on an SD card, which is Debian Linux. However, the directions for a DIY installation are on the Pi web site. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] My slice of Pi
In message 507e723b.5010...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Malcolm, On 16/10/12 21:45, Malcolm Cadman wrote: I have purchased a 10 Port USB powered Hub, from Maplins, on offer at 14.99ukp. Two ports upright, and four each at front and back. In a small and neat housing. That I am now using with Pi. So plenty of room for any future expansions and experiments . :-) Have you read this http://qdosmsq.dunbar-it.co.uk/blog/2012/08/the-dangers-of-cheap-usb-hubs/ - you need to be sure that your power supply is man enough (500mA per port - so you should have a 5A supply) plus, there's a link to a disassembly and testing of a cheap power supply supplied with other USB hubs. Interesting viewing and explains a lot! Does your Pi's power light come on when the Pi is connected only to the uplink to the Hub while the Pi is powered off and the hub powered on? If so, it's bad for your Pi and completely not USB 2.0 Compliant. Hopefully, yours will be ok. Umm, applied the 'Dunbar' test to 10 Port USB - it is a cerulian USB 2.0. The two upright (top loading) are designed to be hot swappable, whilst the others can be used for everyday usage. Of course, no need for the extra power supply, when just using a keyboard and mouse. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] My slice of Pi
In message CAD15Wt18uRn-+13=koKuPTQxWMmzA=bpmarx+8pmy6gkmj2...@mail.gmail.com, Dave Park plasticu...@gmail.com writes Hi Dave, Yes, that is the 'Model B' specification. Maybe they are giving up with Model A basic concept. PS - Someone has engineered a Pi into an old Cherry keyboard ... so a 'computer in a keyboard' . Good news, a stealth specification upgrade from 256MB to 512MB for all deliveries going forward from today :) Dave On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 2:32 AM, John Alexander acontractor...@yahoo.co.uk wrote: Yes it has a composite output as well --- On Fri, 12/10/12, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org wrote: From: Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] My slice of Pi To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Friday, 12 October, 2012, 15:09 On 12/10/2012 02:38, q...@mcad.demon.co.uk wrote: Hi, Finally received my slice of Pi - the Raspberry Pi, from RS - today 12th October 2012. I had to re-order, earlier in the Year, when my email address used was no longer working I also ordered a Type B Case, in white, and a 4GB SD Card with OS installed. Which all fits together by simple clip fittings on the injection moulding. Although, RS are posting the Pi PCB with a plastic protective casing, albeit in a translucent shade of raspberry pink! Umm ... like the early days of 'home computing', you have to put something else with it. I don't have an HDMI display, yet may be able to use a DVI on my old TV. Then there is the need for a USB keyboard and mouse. My Pi is due soon; I've a USB keyboard, USB hub and card reader, and PSU. The missing bit is a monitor. I use a mono Philips on the QL, video input and have another later style Philips as spare. Will the Pi work through the video input? Otherwise I have got video i/p on the TV. By then I hope to be able to get an SD card with a QL emulation; is anyone going to market one, please? Bryan H ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] My slice of Pi
In message 507d3a49.5060...@newlan.org, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org writes Hi Bryan, Yes, I have been 'given' one of those, by a fellow London QL Group member. Yet, have not tried it as yet. Let us know how you get on. There are wi-fi USB dongles being promoted, too. I have purchased a 10 Port USB powered Hub, from Maplins, on offer at 14.99ukp. Two ports upright, and four each at front and back. In a small and neat housing. That I am now using with Pi. So plenty of room for any future expansions and experiments . :-) Somehow we've got into top reply, so I will follow. I've just realised that one USB keyboard I have is a radio one so I get a bonus of keyboard and mouse using only one USB. Bryan H On 16/10/2012 04:00, Dave Park wrote: Good news, a stealth specification upgrade from 256MB to 512MB for all deliveries going forward from today :) Dave On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 2:32 AM, John Alexander acontractor...@yahoo.co.uk wrote: Yes it has a composite output as well --- On Fri, 12/10/12, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org wrote: From: Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] My slice of Pi To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Friday, 12 October, 2012, 15:09 On 12/10/2012 02:38, q...@mcad.demon.co.uk wrote: Hi, Finally received my slice of Pi - the Raspberry Pi, from RS - today 12th October 2012. I had to re-order, earlier in the Year, when my email address used was no longer working I also ordered a Type B Case, in white, and a 4GB SD Card with OS installed. Which all fits together by simple clip fittings on the injection moulding. Although, RS are posting the Pi PCB with a plastic protective casing, albeit in a translucent shade of raspberry pink! Umm ... like the early days of 'home computing', you have to put something else with it. I don't have an HDMI display, yet may be able to use a DVI on my old TV. Then there is the need for a USB keyboard and mouse. My Pi is due soon; I've a USB keyboard, USB hub and card reader, and PSU. The missing bit is a monitor. I use a mono Philips on the QL, video input and have another later style Philips as spare. Will the Pi work through the video input? Otherwise I have got video i/p on the TV. By then I hope to be able to get an SD card with a QL emulation; is anyone going to market one, please? Bryan H ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Assembler demo
In message caaqgp_sjez1nfn4nxddf2azvqyaa8wb6pclhxz8waofwexb...@mail.gmail.com, Michael Grunditz michael.grund...@gmail.com writes On 15 October 2012 21:55, Tobias Fröschle tobias.froesc...@t-online.de wrote: Michael, you want to pick up GST Macro Assembler or GWASS if you have an 68k20+ Computer One Monitor (all three from http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/asm/index.html) the QL Keywords and Concepts Manuals from http://www.kilgus.net/qpc/downloads.html The QDOS/SMSQ Reference Manual from http://www.kilgus.net/smsqe/development.html Ok thanks, I am thinking of a editor. QD doesn't run on the ancient smsq I am using , and microemacs archive doesn't fit on a dd disk. Perhaps I can use sernet , but I am not sure if that is included in the atari smsq. I also have QPC2 so it is possible to sernet to that.Any suggestions for a editor? Michael Hi Michael, I remember using MicroEmacs as my preferred Editor, for a DD disk drive, with a black box QL and Gold Card. Check on Dilwyns web site for the file size of Emacs itself (without the Help files, etc). Another editor is The Editor, that Mark Knight and David Gilham further developed from the original Chas Dillion release. There are others, too. I guess it is about which one that you like best and has the features that you want. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - Model B - 512 MB RAM
In message 59A6E99FBFBACC43AF19617ACDC7DBA95128A866@BXCEXCH01.boxclever.local, Neil Riley neil.ri...@boxclever.co.uk writes Hi Norman, If it is 256MB, then you have the 'Model A'. Then again, the 'restriction' of one Pi per person has now been lifted. So, you can now have as many as you like . Also, as the SD Card is the OS source at present, then we can experiment with different flavours of OS on different Cards. Then we will be adding larger storage USB Hard drives, etc, and I guess we will have multiple boot options. Umm ... reminds me of doing all of that sort of thing with the original BBC Model and Sideways ROM boards and 5 1/4 disk drive for the software boot ... :-) Great, I now own a Model B- or is it a Model A+ ? Either way, I've been punished for being an early bird :( -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Norman Dunbar Sent: 15 October 2012 10:31 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - Model B - 512 MB RAM http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/2180 If you don't have your Pi yet, when it arrives, you'll have twice as much RAM as I do. Enjoy! Cheers, Norm. -- Norman Dunbar Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd Registered address: Thorpe House 61 Richardshaw Lane Pudsey West Yorkshire United Kingdom LS28 7EL Company Number: 05132767 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm *** The contents of this email are confidential to the intended recipient. It may not be disclosed to or used by anyone other than the addressee, nor may it be copied in any way. If received in error, please contact the company on 01234-265380, then delete it from your system. Please note neither the company nor the sender accepts any responsibility for viruses and it is your responsibility to scan attachments (if any) for viruses. No contract may be concluded on behalf of the company by means of email communications. BC Services (UK) Limited (trading as Boxclever), Technology House, Ampthill Road, Bedford, MK42 9QQ. Registered No. 5290544 England www.boxclever.co.uk *** ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] New game for the QL under development
In message blu0-smtp349b65df9b09a66ff0f4673a7...@phx.gbl, Francois Lanciault francoislancia...@hotmail.com writes Hi Francois, Sounds like you have a great idea. Wire frame line drawing will be good on any computer platform. So no reason not to be good on the QL. I am not a regular games player, but anything new and especially 'graphical' is very welcome or the QL. Good luck with progressing the project ... :-) Hello QL community, After many years of trying unsuccessfully to have fun writing software for other computers, I recently realized that I missed writing QL programs, especially 68000 assembly. I know that to maximize my motivation a project has to be challenging, as writing a chess program from scratch for the QL (Blackknight) was many years ago. So here is my project: I am currently writing a game for the QL. The game will be a fast paced 3D wireframe of the type shoot everything you can as fast as possible or else you will crash onto it I decided the game has to be fast and challenging, the graphics smooth and colorful. I also wanted to include some nice presentation screens using high color modes and maybe some kind of film sequence between the different levels. That was a month ago. I did not want to talk about it to soon because I was not sure it would be possible to achieve that kind performance on a QL. But now I think I can do it. As of today, the complete 3D engine is written and is performing well. It is a real 3D engine, not a pseudo 3D. You can navigate around in any direction, the object can have any shape and any movement, etc. It does take a lot of processing power from the QL, so I don't think a bare QL will be able to handle it but I am hoping that a GoldCard will be enough. For the moment the engine can achieve between 20 and 30 frames per second, depending of the complexity of the scene, running on a SuperGoldCard. The game will support the following system / graphics in its first iteration Standard QL mode 4 : very little flickering, 4 colors only, good performance in fps Standard QL mode 8 : very little flickering, 8 colors, fat ugly dots, best performance in fps Minerva QL mode 4 : No flickering, 4 colors only, good performance in fps Minerva QL mode 8 : No flickering, 8 colors, fat ugly dots, best performance in fps Minerva QL mode 4 : Lots of flickering, 10 colors, bad performance in fps Minerva QL mode 8 : Lots of flickering, 27 colors, fat ugly but colorful dots, bad performance in fps Aurora QL mode 16 : little flickering, 16 colors, sharp graphics, worst performance in fps I don't think I will do an Aurora 256 colors version. Not because it is difficult, but because it really gonna be too slow. As I don't have a Q40 or QPCII, I am not doing anything to support their additional graphic modes, but maybe sometime in the future I will look into that too. Feel free to ask any question, any word of encouragement is also welcome ! François Lanciault ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] London QL Quanta Group Meeting - 9th September 2012 - Cancelled
Hi, The Meeting for the London QL Quanta Group, on 9th September 2012, has been cancelled. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The *ins...
In message 4CDBA5AD11C04B28983C066AECBA2369@AnnPC, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes email has been hacked... Does anyone have their phone no. to let them know (assuming they don't already?). So sad about all the hacking of late. Computeractive said in a recent issue that millions of passwords had been stolen from LinkedIn, Last FM/Spotify and eHarmony and now it looks like B T inte rnet email possibly hacked too. Couple that with rumours (admittedly only speculation) that what happened to some of the big UK banks in the last week or so was initiated by a hacking or DOS attack prior to the old technology failure officially admitted. Computeractive magazine gave the website address http://leakedin.org for checking if your passwords are on a stolen list. Must be some big scale foreign hacking going on, or we are simply hearing about more incidents, so remember to use STRONG passwords everyone. It's easy to make emails look like they're coming from someone else, but these spammers have obviously gained access to contacts lists within the email accounts. The internet sure as hell ain't the friendly place it used to be years ago! Dilwyn Hi, Shame it has happened to them ... :-( Well done to everyone on this list who have quickly spotted the problem. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLToday arrived
In message f08879f0-7843-442d-b181-e652d6596...@yahoo.es, JJ Ruiz jjruiz_r...@yahoo.es writes Hi, Today arrived the QLToday 16-4 with no less than 54 pages! Juanjo Yes ... arrived in London, too, 21st June 2012, and a 'bumper' Issue . :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QStripper included in the Softpedia software database
In message 4fd07808.8070...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Norman, Well done ...Much deserved . :-) Looks like QStripper has become quite famous! Cheers, Norm. -- Norman Dunbar Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd Registered address: Thorpe House 61 Richardshaw Lane Pudsey West Yorkshire United Kingdom LS28 7EL Company Number: 05132767 Original Message Subject: QStripper included in the Softpedia software database Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2012 05:05:02 -0400 (EDT) From: Softpedia Editorial Team softedi...@softpedia.com To: nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk Congratulations, QStripper, one of your products, has been added to Softpedia's database of software programs for the Windows operating system. It is featured with a description text, screenshots, download links and technical details on this page: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/Other-Office- Tools/QStripper.shtml The description text was created by our editors, using sources such as text from your product's homepage, information from its help system, the PAD file (if available) and the editor's own opinions on the program itself. QStripper has been tested in the Softpedia labs using several industry-leading security solutions and found to be completely clean of adware/spyware components. We are impressed with the quality of your product and encourage you to keep these high standards in the future. To assure our visitors that QStripper is clean, we have granted it with the 100% FREE Softpedia award. To let your users know about this certification, you may display this award on your website, on software boxes or inside your product. More information about your product's certification and the award is available on this page: http://www.softpedia.com/progClean/QStripper-Clean-216203.html Feel free to link to us using the URLs above. If you choose to link to the clean award page for your product, you may use the award graphic or a text link: 100% FREE award granted by Softpedia. Your developer page on Softpedia can be reached at the URL below. It contains the list of software products and a link to your website. http://www.softpedia.com/developer/Norman-Dunbar-88105.html If you feel that having your product listed on Softpedia is not a benefit for you or simply need something changed or updated, please contact us via email at webmas...@softpedia.com and we will work with you to fix any problem you may have found with the product's listing. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Withdrawing from the QL Market
In message 4fd3850a.5090...@memorylanecomputing.com, Adrian Ives adrian.i...@memorylanecomputing.com writes I am sorry to announce that I have taken the decision to withdraw from developing QL hardware. In the current economic climate, it is no longer practical to devote resources to such a small (almost non-existent) market, and I need to concentrate my energies elsewhere. Unfortunately this means that I have withdrawn from the QL-SD project. I understand that Peter is talking with other parties who may be more able to bring the QL-SD to market. I wish them all the best and will make available the source code for the already written drivers to allow this to happen as painlessly as possible. Plans for Q-BUS have also been shelved. Thank you to the few people who have expressed a genuine interest in new QL hardware. Hi Adrian, Sorry to hear your news. I would be interested in any existing hardware still left for the Ser-USB project, prior to the QL-SD. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] qStripper has a new web site!
In message 4fad0786.30...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes On 10/05/12 23:11, Malcolm Cadman wrote: Now we just need a nice 'icon' to go with name ... :-) Funny you should mention that Malcolm, I've just uploaded one! And it has been incorporated into version 1.05 of the application as well. ;-) Cheers, Norm. Now, I will just have to update my copy ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] qStripper has a new web site!
In message 4fab7815.8060...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Why not? Sourceforge offer me free web sites, a forum, and lots of other stuff like bug trackers etc. I've taken advantage of the web site option and created http://qstripper.sourceforge.net which is a dedicated web site for qStripper. Cheers, Norm. Now we just need a nice 'icon' to go with name ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] WMAN Weirdness!
In message 4fa22264.9010...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes On 02/05/12 22:14, Malcolm Cadman wrote: As the great Bob (Marley) sang ... no WMAN no cry . :-) And we all know how Bob Marley likes his donuts? We Jammin. (You started it!) Cheers, Norm. 'Cos I knew you would appreciate the humour, my man . -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] WMAN Weirdness!
In message 4fa10f60.5070...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Norman, As the great Bob (Marley) sang ... no WMAN no cry . :-) On 02/05/12 11:35, George Gwilt wrote: The status area is $40 bytes long so that the loose item status block starts at wst + $40. Thanks George, that works perfectly. It appears that the offset into the definition's status area is exactly the same as for the working definition. This is good. Thanks again. Cheers, Norm. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] London QL Quanta Group Meeting - May 2012
Hi, The next Meeting of the London QL Quanta Group will be held on the Sunday 6th May 2012. Having been moved forward a week, as a one off, from our usual second Sunday of the month. Venue: Borough Welsh Chapel, Southwark, London SE. New, and old members, are always welcome ... Last month, we went flat - having some new flat screens to play with ... :-) ... as well as newly donated Quide QL system in a PC tower casing. Some new pics, are on: http://www.mcad.demon.co.uk/lquan.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Celebration of Spectrum
Hi, A Celebration of the launch of the Sinclair Spectrum computer - on 23rd April 2012. See link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-1777 -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts
In message 4f92c11b.8080...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Bryan, On 21/04/12 10:21, Bryan Horstmann wrote: The only things I know about Python are from the Cheat Sheet I mentioned earlier. But where are the equivalent of all the many other S*BASIC Keywords? Python isn't S*Basic, so most of the well known and loved S*Basic commands and keywords etc will not be there. Norm. As Norman says ... it is not a BASIC, so not all the 'helpers' as 'keywords', like in S*BASIC Its antecedents are in C/C++, so it more open ended than a BASIC programming language. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts
In message 77845c9e-9410-4678-a5d7-ac1476607...@firshman.co.uk, Tony firshman t...@firshman.co.uk writes On 18 Apr 2012, at 17:31, Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk wrote: In message 4f8e8d97.7070...@newlan.org, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org writes Hi Bryan, Thanks for the link. I believe that everything is covered within functions, yet I haven't programmed enough with Python to see if that is an advantage or a limitation. PS - You are not the Bryan, named in a Python film, are you? ... :-) Silly - that was 'Brian' (8-)# Tony (Looking on the bright side of life) Yes, yet he may have cunningly disguised himself, as Bryan, to fool his followers ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts
In message 4f927160.2090...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar
nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes
Hi Norman,
Great ... :-) ... we need you to write an easy-peasy Guide to Python!
I have been experimenting with a rather 'old version' - 2.5.2 - dated at
2008, that I never quite got around to using before the Raspberry Pi
revival came along.
With the PC Windows version, there is a separate 'interpreter' window
that runs and compiles, as you say, much like a BASIC. Easy ... :-)
I have just updated to 3.7, on Windows, 32 bit version for my machines.
Morning all,
On 20/04/12 21:40, Dilwyn Jones wrote:
This all sounds very interesting and possibly a fairly straightforward
language for S*BASIC users to learn. I notice there's versions of Python
for Windows as well as Linux etc. Anyone know if a Python program
written on one platform such as Windows, be run on another such as
Linux?
Yes. There's a few ways to run a python program on Linux/Unix either by
telling the python interpreter the name of the file:
python filename.py
or by putting this as the first line in the program:
#!/usr/bin/env python
then making it executable:
chmod u+x filename.py
then simply calling it:
./filename.py
Under windows, only the first option is available and if the program
contains the #!/usr/bin/env python line, it gets treated as a comment
and completely ignored.
There's also a python interpreter which sits there and waits for you to
type something in, then compiles and executes it.
Guess if the programs are written and saved using a text editor
there's a chance this might be possible, although probably endian issues
might arise with numbers, for example?
There's no problem with endians or numbers etc, well, not those
problems anyway! There are gotchas to watch out for with numbers:
print 3 / 4
0
The '/' operator is equivalent to integer DIV. If you want to get a
floating point answer, you need to float one or both operands:
print float(3) / float(4)
0.75
or
print float(3) / 4
0.75
or, simply:
print 3 / 4.0
0.75
Python is pretty nifty in it's ability to coerce variables from one
type to another, so in the above, it sees one float argument and
coerces the int argument into float and gives back a float answer.
It doesn't coerce strings to floats, or ints:
print '313' + 300 + '13'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File pyshell#14, line 1, in module
print '313' + 300 + '13'
TypeError: cannot concatenate 'str' and 'int' objects
But you can do it implicitly:
print int('313') + 300 + int('13')
626
And not necesarily in base 10 either:
print int('313', 16) + 300 + int('13', 8)
1098
Which is obviously 787 + 300 + 11.
Admittedly I know nothing about Python (yet... - it looks interesting)
You may not know Python yet, but you are using it frequently! Calibre,
your most favourite program of recent times, is written in Python. So
you can see it's a capable programming language.
The use of indents in interesting. You do do this in Python:
#!/usr/bin/env python
Dilwyn = 'Jones'
Tony = 'Firshman'
Malcolm = 'Cadman'
if (Dilwyn == Tony):
print Tony and Dilwyn and the same person!
elif (Tony == Malcolm):
print Clones are people two!
else:
print Everyone is an individual.
The colons mark the start of a block, which must be indented (4 spaces
is the Python standard). The block ends when the indent comes back out.
Typing the file above using into vi was interesting as it understands
the indentation and did it for me automagically, probably based on the
file name (ql.py).
In case anyone is wondering, the else clause is executed.
Arrays are the usual stuff but are called lists:
ql_people = [Dilwyn, Tony, Marcel, Jochen, ]
To print them out, for example:
for person in ql_people:
print This person is: $s % person
They can also be dictionaries. These are like lists, but hava an access
key, and use different open/close brackets:
ql_people = {'Jones': 'Dilwyn', Firshman: Tony}
print ql_people['Jones']
Dilwyn
So, you could use a dictionary to define a record of some sort:
dj = {'name': 'Dilwyn Jones',
'age': 32,
'nationality': 'Welsh',
'lives in': 'Tal-y-Bont'}
print dj
{'nationality': 'Welsh', 'age': 32, 'name': 'Dilwyn Jones',
'lives in': 'Tal-y-Bont'}
print dj['lives in']
Tal-y-Bont
print dj['name'], dj['age']
Dilwyn Jones 32
You can even add functions to dictionaries. Then, a step up from
dictionaries is a class. But I'll not bother with that, I think I've
warbled on long enough!
For Python beginners there are a couple of decent books, one of which I
got free from Amazon for my Kindle:
Hello Python:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hello
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts
In message 4f8fe256.8070...@newlan.org, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org writes Hi Bryan, Yes, every computer language has its own way of doing things, hence the variety. Python seems to be in the middle ground, where it has features like the more complex C/C++ and Pascal, etc, and yet you do not have to all of that endless 'compiling' to see a result. So like all the BASICS, it is interpreted as it is run. One of the aims of the Pi, is to encourage programming, again, to users and especially younger users. To see a quick result. It will be interesting to see whether this happens, and which computer languages actually then get used. I've had a look at Python too, Malcolm, and found Python Languages Syntax Cheat Sheet. Under basic arithmetic it says i=a%b e.g. 11%3 2 I cannot make sense of that. I'll just hope that we can get an emulator and stick to SBASIC I know. But if RS have 220,000 outstanding orders, it'll be some time before I get one! Bryan H. On 17/04/2012 10:37, Malcolm Cadman wrote: In message 1334691190.17608.yahoomailclas...@web29403.mail.ird.yahoo.com, John Alexander acontractor...@yahoo.co.uk writes Hi John, Well done ... I guess you may be the first on this list ... :-) In the meantime, I am starting to getting around to learning the Python programming language. As you may guess, the link between Pi and Python names is not accidental in all this, either. As Python is the preferred programming language for the Pi. Well at least at this early stage. For those who do not program, it also no accident that the Python programming language is directly termed after the Monty Python comedy. The Tutorial with the Version that I have, on a PC, gets in early with a variable definition termed SPAM ... which is an obvious reference to one well known comedic sketch. I guess that this will open up everyone's imagination and humour, too . My RPi arrived yesterday ;) http://youtu.be/6X2P7sVL-wU --- On Tue, 17/4/12, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk wrote: From: Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Tuesday, 17 April, 2012, 18:33 Lee Privett wrote: Someone already has atleast one emulator running on the Pi http://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/simcoupe.jpg Looks good, but a QL emulator would be even better! Dilwyn ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts
In message 4f8e8d97.7070...@newlan.org, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org writes Hi Bryan, Thanks for the link. I believe that everything is covered within functions, yet I haven't programmed enough with Python to see if that is an advantage or a limitation. PS - You are not the Bryan, named in a Python film, are you? ... :-) I've come across this which might be useful. I see functions but not procedures. http://cottagelabs.com/python-language-syntax-cheat-sheet/ Bryan H On 17/04/2012 10:37, Malcolm Cadman wrote: In message 1334691190.17608.yahoomailclas...@web29403.mail.ird.yahoo.com, John Alexander acontractor...@yahoo.co.uk writes Hi John, Well done ... I guess you may be the first on this list ... :-) In the meantime, I am starting to getting around to learning the Python programming language. As you may guess, the link between Pi and Python names is not accidental in all this, either. As Python is the preferred programming language for the Pi. Well at least at this early stage. For those who do not program, it also no accident that the Python programming language is directly termed after the Monty Python comedy. The Tutorial with the Version that I have, on a PC, gets in early with a variable definition termed SPAM ... which is an obvious reference to one well known comedic sketch. I guess that this will open up everyone's imagination and humour, too . My RPi arrived yesterday ;) http://youtu.be/6X2P7sVL-wU --- On Tue, 17/4/12, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk wrote: From: Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Tuesday, 17 April, 2012, 18:33 Lee Privett wrote: Someone already has atleast one emulator running on the Pi http://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/simcoupe.jpg Looks good, but a QL emulator would be even better! Dilwyn ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts
In message 1334691190.17608.yahoomailclas...@web29403.mail.ird.yahoo.com, John Alexander acontractor...@yahoo.co.uk writes Hi John, Well done ... I guess you may be the first on this list ... :-) In the meantime, I am starting to getting around to learning the Python programming language. As you may guess, the link between Pi and Python names is not accidental in all this, either. As Python is the preferred programming language for the Pi. Well at least at this early stage. For those who do not program, it also no accident that the Python programming language is directly termed after the Monty Python comedy. The Tutorial with the Version that I have, on a PC, gets in early with a variable definition termed SPAM ... which is an obvious reference to one well known comedic sketch. I guess that this will open up everyone's imagination and humour, too . My RPi arrived yesterday ;) http://youtu.be/6X2P7sVL-wU --- On Tue, 17/4/12, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk wrote: From: Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Tuesday, 17 April, 2012, 18:33 Lee Privett wrote: Someone already has atleast one emulator running on the Pi http://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/simcoupe.jpg Looks good, but a QL emulator would be even better! Dilwyn ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts
In message CAKAuk+BD2k81X3Uq+fH3qbsRJx+G1Vi=c+qf_j+gjz0hmso...@mail.gmail.com, Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com writes Hi Lee, Yes, I guess the fun is starting ... :-) Someone already has atleast one emulator running on the Pi http://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/simcoupe.jpg On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 1:00 AM, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk wrote: On 16 Apr 2012, at 17:19, Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk wrote: Hi, Reading the Raspberry Pi web site - with some interesting videos - the first production Pi's have been delivered to a School in Leeds, UK. On Monday 16th April 2012. Delivery of early orders is now expected from Friday 20th April 2012. I wonder who will be the 'ql-er' to receive one ... :-) I am in the USA until the 25th, so it would be really ironic if mine arrived before then. Tony -- t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, Tring, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts
In message b87bf53a-b12f-4f0f-a5bc-5ae4e1c27...@firshman.co.uk, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk writes On 16 Apr 2012, at 17:19, Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk wrote: Hi, Reading the Raspberry Pi web site - with some interesting videos - the first production Pi's have been delivered to a School in Leeds, UK. On Monday 16th April 2012. Delivery of early orders is now expected from Friday 20th April 2012. I wonder who will be the 'ql-er' to receive one ... :-) I am in the USA until the 25th, so it would be really ironic if mine arrived before then. Tony Hi Tony, Knowing life ... it will probably be delivered at home before you get back. Then, again, I guess your son will already then be using it, too ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi - starts
Hi, Reading the Raspberry Pi web site - with some interesting videos - the first production Pi's have been delivered to a School in Leeds, UK. On Monday 16th April 2012. Delivery of early orders is now expected from Friday 20th April 2012. I wonder who will be the 'ql-er' to receive one ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi
In message 1334070707.97712.yahoomailclas...@web29404.mail.ird.yahoo.com, John Alexander acontractor...@yahoo.co.uk writes Hi John, Yes, the first batch of 10,000 should be dispatched in the next 7 to 10 days ... or so it says on the RS web site ... :-) They appear to have passed now Malcolm! http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/996 http://www.raspberrypi.org/ --- On Wed, 4/4/12, Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk wrote: From: Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Wednesday, 4 April, 2012, 21:33 In message 104872.7582.yahoomailclas...@web29401.mail.ird.yahoo.com, John Alexander acontractor...@yahoo.co.uk writes Excuse the 'top posting' ... to make sense of the discussion. Yes, the long wait for the 'production' models seems to be close to an end for the RPi. Farnell and RS are collaborating to move the CE compliance requirement forward. Yep , they have photos of them been in the UK warehouse which is great leap forward. I don't know how much more if any of the EMC testing they need to complete. Any way it sort of gives me my unit in maybe 2 weeks ish Re casing, I don't see a standard plastic case doing much with regards to EMC. Obviously with the conductive paint sprayed on the inside this is a different question. My Panda board got it's FCC badge so I don't see the lack of case to be a fundamental problem. Also sub assemblies get sold like this all the time, lets see!!! John A --- On Sat, 31/3/12, Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk wrote: From: Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Saturday, 31 March, 2012, 22:06 In message 4f76cc35.7040...@firshman.co.uk, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk writes The first 10,000 have arrived in the UK but are now being held up as RS and Farnell are demanding a formal CE test, rather than the usual self certification. This might be a problem, as they are uncased and are bound to produce EMI. In the USA the FCC allow manufacturers to bypass this by labelling: This product may cause interference. I wonder how mobile phones get around this - we have all heard the interference they cause! The QL black box was absolutely awful, both for interference, and also susceptibility to interference. That directly spawned my Computer Cleaner. Tony According to the RS web site, the requirement for a CE is owing to the board not now being classified as a 'prototype'. Owing to the large number in production. -- Malcolm Cadman -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Jan Jones
In message 4f7ecda4.1040...@btinternet.com, Billy bill.wa...@btinternet.com writes Hi, I was just going to scan my copy and convert it to mobi format for reading on my Kindle v4. Derek ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm . Hi Derek I was going to do the same but for the Sony ( PDF ), here is yet another complication not all Ereaders are equal and Kindle has gone along a route that suits Amazon I guess with it's format. Mobi - he he I used to have a little horse made by them when I was five Mention was made in this thread re QLTody's PDF archive, that's interesting I have just resubscribed to QLToday in an effort to put what savings I have to good use before Osborne and Barclays reduce them to nil or worse. All the best - Bill Hi Bill, Perhaps a new Bank - Barclays Osborne (BO) - would be a great success ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspberry Pi
In message 4f76cc35.7040...@firshman.co.uk, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk writes The first 10,000 have arrived in the UK but are now being held up as RS and Farnell are demanding a formal CE test, rather than the usual self certification. This might be a problem, as they are uncased and are bound to produce EMI. In the USA the FCC allow manufacturers to bypass this by labelling: This product may cause interference. I wonder how mobile phones get around this - we have all heard the interference they cause! The QL black box was absolutely awful, both for interference, and also susceptibility to interference. That directly spawned my Computer Cleaner. Tony According to the RS web site, the requirement for a CE is owing to the board not now being classified as a 'prototype'. Owing to the large number in production. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UK Postal Increases
In message D1DF0BAFF75E49829413B903A6755DAC@AnnPC, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes One thing, Dilwyn ... you must have passed you 'O' level in maffs ... :-) Ade Vickers wrote: Dilwyn Jones wrote: I've just heard on the radio that it's to be called the Pie Tax and taxed at the rate of 3.1415926... % :o) Oh, boy, that went off at a tangent no matter which way you slice it. Cheers! Ade. Hmmm, no SIN of an improvement in the jokes COS Ade went off on his TANgent. We'll have to get to the (square) root of all this won't we :o) (off into hiding in case list owner Bruce sends the boys round to silence the bad jokes...) Dilwyn -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Raspbery Pi
In message 4f550e05.9050...@newlan.org, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org writes Whilst I'm not denigrating it, all this publicity of development boards etc. is missing the concept of the Rpi, which is to just connect the necessary ancillaries and use it for program development by youngsters, not circuit design. They're already using SCRATCH I understand which is just for making things work on the screen by complex sprites; but it does get them planning things in detail, even if only a sort of film storyboard. Bryan H Hi Bryan, Yes, there is a sort of philosophy around encouraging program development by young people. Yet, once it is 'out in the wild' it will get used for whatever people feel challenged and inspired to do. Which, I anticipate, will be quite remarkable ... and bring back a lot of 'fun' too in to the 'computing' world, along the way. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] RaspberryPi
In message 4f55c062.80...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Morning Malcolm, I have now registered with both Farnell and RS, which was all very easy to do. The former are offering a 'free' special edition Rpi T-Shirt, too ... :-) I've seen those - element 14 I think. OK ... with Linux it all seems an endless series of 'flavours' of Linux. It may look that way but Linux, or more accurately GNU/Linux is the kernel, the actual OS if you like. That's pretty much standard across all distros. A few distros do modify the kernel slightly to match their needs, but usually it's in non-important areas. The distro itself comes in many flavours, including the applications supplied, the GUI in use - KDE, Gnome, Gnome3, etc. This doesn't mean that if you use Linux Mint with Gnome that your applications won't run on OpenSuse with KDE - they will. Indeed ... logical, of course. OK ... you get some 'basic' stuff, and then post-install a lot of other potentially more useful stuff. Sort of. With Windows you install everything (ie, the OS) and then start buying applications, or downloading Firefox, Chrome, whatever from many different places. How secure these places are, you have no idea. With Linux, everything is on the DVD initially, and part of the installation set you up with repositories and it is from these that you get your new stuff, updates, patches and so on. These repositories are secure in that they use security signatures and certificates to prove their validity. Yes ... all of the Apps, again ... :-) Ah ... yes ... fault tracing in electronics is like de-bugging in software ... a potential long and tortuous road. It came to me this AM when I was in bed what I'd done wrong. I need to check later to see if my subconscious was right. My two timing resitors needed to be around 1K and 144K to go with the 100nF capacitor. I have a funny feeling that I used a 980K instead of 144K - major failure there for around 144k! ;-) It would explain why your LED is staying on ... the time period will not be much different ... :-( Umm ... you may say that a lot of hardware and software has been sold to Schools ... :-) ... but then, we are not cynical; are we? Most of our schools are sponsored by Microsoft. As is most of government. We are doomed to repeat the errors of our predecessors if we never learn. And yes, we are cynical, with good reason I'm afraid! ;-) Yes, but we are 'experienced' ... :-) Hope you get your Pi soon. Yes, it can only get more interesting . -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] RaspberryPi
In message 4f54aab4.9050...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Morning Malcolm, I thought that you would one the first 'Rpi owners ... :-) No, I'm afraid not. There are 10,000 lucky owners but I'm not one of them. I need my sleep too much to be setting alarms to get up at 05:45! I have now registered with both Farnell and RS, which was all very easy to do. The former are offering a 'free' special edition Rpi T-Shirt, too ... :-) I have not heard of Fedora Linux ... though I guess it not a hat? Close, very close. Red Hat is, if you like, the parent company, They produce Red Hat Enterprise Linux but used to produce a community version called Red Hat Linux. They stick to RHEL these days and are (or are about to be) the first open source company to break the $1 billion income mark. They charge for support and give the product away for free. Fedora is the community version - Red Hat Linux as was. New stuff usually hits Fedora first before it rolls out in RHEL. Both are, indeed, hat related! Of course, it you ned or want an enterprise level Linux for free, you simply get Centos or Scientific Linux which are RHEL with the Red Hat badges removed. It's all legal under the terms of the license. OK ... with Linux it all seems an endless series of 'flavours' of Linux. Development tools ... yes, but what actual software or 'apps' are already around to make it immediately usable? Too much to mention. When you install a Linux distro you get tens of thousands of apps thrown in for free and there are many more that may not be included in the distro, but are available elsewhere. CAD tools, compilers for just about every language under the sun, development environments, games, science stuff, astronomy, games, deocumentation tools, DVD players, CD players, MP3, Video editing, sound recording editing, text editors, whole office suites, - everything. OK ... you get some 'basic' stuff, and then post-install a lot of other potentially more useful stuff. Compare with Windows and Minsweeper or Solitare! ;-) I specialised in control and electronics and all the 'new technology' stuff, so was always being creative. I put together a 555 timer in astable mode this weekend on a breadboard looking for a square wave generator. I wanted to use it to switch on another circuit, then off again at regular intervals. How hard could it be? I got an always on LED! Sigh! It's far simpler with Arduino! Ah ... yes ... fault tracing in electronics is like de-bugging in software ... a potential long and tortuous road. Schools have mirrored and followed almost exactly all of the previous mistakes that industry first followed. Have they mirrored or have they been pushed in that direction by politicians and other do-gooders with an agenda? Umm ... you may say that a lot of hardware and software has been sold to Schools ... :-) ... but then, we are not cynical; are we? -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Nascent project: Cross-platform SuperBASIC derivative.
In message f556ce5553de280b1bf809340d35dfe9.squir...@webmail.supanet.com, j...@supanet.com writes Perhaps we could help steer the project more towards SBasic by implementing such things as channels. Has anyone here got the skills, time and motivation to do this. Our company is considering porting this to ARM (Raspberry Pi included), but we need to study the licence. If we do I'll try and make it policy to use SBasic as the programming model to use when enhancing the language. If SBasic or QL is to survive two things have to happen. 1SBasic license has to change to open source such as GPL. 2An Emulator such as Uqlx needs to be upgraded to run on the Rasberry PI and Pandora. If these programs are open source then the development will probably happen automatically. Otherwise it will die with us. Hi Jim, I guess that will happen, naturally enough. And, wow! A new computer that you can easily learn to program ... now where did that idea come from ... :-) . ? -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] RaspberryPi
In message 4f5075c9.2000...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Morning all, I see someone has pre-ordered 10 and is offering on ebay for £95 each. I thought only one per person was allowed. Wish we could rid ourselves of these touts trying to collar the market. The person on ebay was shut down pretty quickly by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. He had nothing to sell and was showing an image of a pre-production alpha board. The rule about one per person stand. The cost is £21.56 ish not including postage and the only places you can get one is from RS or Farnell. ... They had also managed to get someone who was involved in the original BBC Model B, to interview. Yes, David Braben. He wrote (or co-wrote) Elite for the BBC and is a founding member of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Like others, I can wait a while ... then, too, there will have been some things written to be able to use on the machine ... :-) Not really. It comes with Fedora Linux on an SD card, or you supply one, so you have all the tools for development at hand already. The Fedora image takes about 2 Gb so the rest of the card can be used for data. RSIC-OS is also available for it. In education we are already familiar with dedicated devices for controlling hardware ... like Lego MindStorms and Picaxe, to name but two. Better than most schools then. ICT seems to involve learning to spreadsheet and word process but little else. A friend of mine with children bought my old laptop so that the kids could be taught useful things about computers, not just what they get in ICT at school. Still ... lots of potential fun to come in the future . Indeed. Cheers, Norm. Hi Norman, I thought that you would one the first 'Rpi owners ... :-) I have not heard of Fedora Linux ... though I guess it not a hat? Development tools ... yes, but what actual software or 'apps' are already around to make it immediately usable? I specialised in control and electronics and all the 'new technology' stuff, so was always being creative. Schools have mirrored and followed almost exactly all of the previous mistakes that industry first followed. New technology comes along ... some people find a use for it, and develop something creative ... then someone wants to manage it all, so along come IT Managers and 'standard' software packages that all have to use ... creativity drops off ... then someone has a new idea to get rid of all the managers and put the technology back in the hands of people who can find a use for it ... creativity starts . -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] RaspberryPi
In message 4f4e8374.5010...@newlan.org, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org writes On 29/02/2012 07:36, Bryan Horstmann wrote: On 29/02/2012 01:11, Norman Dunbar wrote: On 28/02/12 10:15, Bryan Horstmann wrote: The Raspberry Pi Foundation will be making a big (and very positive) announcement that just might interest you at 0600h GMT on Wednesday 29 February 2012. Come towww.raspberrypi.org to find out what's going on. Well, the release of Raspberry Pi into the wilds went well. Interest was so great that both Farnell's and RS discovered an effective DDOS attack on their servers this morning. The tinkerers are taking over again! I've got my order in - I missed the first 100,000 even at 06:25 this AM. Cheers, Norm. I see someone has pre-ordered 10 and is offering on ebay for £95 each. I thought only one per person was allowed. Wish we could rid ourselves of these touts trying to collar the market. Bryan H ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm I'm happy to wait until the market settles, and then perhaps we shall be able to buy over the counter locally at Stockport RS counter to avoid carriage. My simple need is to replace the bulky QL, and also having to keep spares just to do my little apps. I've usb hubs, wireless usb keyboard and usb floppies which do me. I just haven't the time or skills to set it up. I'm going to have to rely on help, probably from the local group or a workshop. I take it that this will be getting the right stuff on the SD card. Bryan H UK A news article on Radio 4, on Wednesday 29th February 2012, announced the cost as being around £22 for a RPi. Which was described as a credit card sized computer to encourage programming. They had also managed to get someone who was involved in the original BBC Model B, to interview. Like others, I can wait a while ... then, too, there will have been some things written to be able to use on the machine ... :-) In education we are already familiar with dedicated devices for controlling hardware ... like Lego MindStorms and Picaxe, to name but two. Still ... lots of potential fun to come in the future . -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL Forum
In message 204fa547-9def-4b0b-9920-afd3a733f...@gmail.com, Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com writes What will they think of next as the new hip thing - Progs? On 23 Feb 2012, at 10:50, Dilwyn Jones wrote: I’m having problems getting on QL Forum this morning – anyone else tried? Rob/Pete: if reading this can you check? Dilwyn Jones Hi Lee, Quite likely ... :-) I think that someone did not quite work out that making an Application accessible would become as popular as an App has become. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] New to the forum
In message col110-w11f81462e5d8ebd380435fdc...@phx.gbl, Rod H rod...@hotmail.com writes From: dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:14:01 + Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] New to the forum I don't know if your Trump Card has the format ram1_,mdv1_ command - part of the Tony Tebby toolkits on interfaces. Minor typo, no comma in it, between ram1_ and mdv1_ and the underscore after the 'mdv1' is optional. If you still have your Trump Card manual, look for further details of this under 'Microdrive Imaging'. 'ram1_' part can be any valid drive. RAM drive, of course. I should have said as well, just to clarify: You can check if your QL has ramdisk simply by entering the command: DIR RAM1_ It should show a result like: RAM1 100/100 sectors the title in the first line and the numbers in the second line may vary a little, depending on exactly what system you have. The numbers refer to the number of 512 byte sectors in the ramdisk - free sectors/total sectors. The command to make an image of a microdrive cartridge which has been placed in microdrive drive 1 and to be copied to ramdisk RAM1_ is: FORMAT 'ram1_mdv1' What this does is to make a sector by sector copy of the microdrive cartridge, which it puts in the drive called RAM1_. If you've never used ramdisks before, they're just like microdrives or floppy disks but exist only in the memory of the computer. As Tony said, if any part of a file copied with the FORMAT 'ram1_mdv1' command is faulty, the filename will show up with a '*' character alongside it when you list the files with DIR RAM1_ As ramdisks are only 'temporary' media in memory, as soon as you have been able to copy the cartridges into RAM disks, you can then use WCOPY RAM1_ TO FLP1_ for example to copy the files to floppy disks. I assume you still have the manual for your Trump Card and Gold Card, if not, you can get copies from my website at http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/docs/manuals/index.html (scroll down to the Miracle Systems section). Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Thanks for the super info. I'm successfully transferring from cart to disk. Of course the disk content will need to be amended from mdv to flp or I'll try the flp use mdv command whenever using one of these disks. Rod Hi Rod, You seem to be doing well ... :-) Dilwyn's web site is a mine of archived QL information and programs (or APPs). You can most updated versions of items from there, provided that you have the original versions, so you will only need to store from microdrive your own data. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL Apps
In message 59266723589347758003C001D38487E6@AnnPC, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes I'd never heard of it, like so many flashy terms dropped into conversation these days, often by people with smug grins who you immediately know looking at you for the blank face so they can one-upmanship you when they've realised you don't know what they're on about - although I know being a QL user you didn't mean it that way of course! :o)) It sounds like a useful app anyway. At least I know now :-) (I do have an Android phone, so it's something I might try when I get time). Seriously though (hence the change of thread in subject line), can we start doing QL apps - useful little SBASIC programs you can execute, like Marcel's little SyncScrap prog for example which synchronises the Windows clipboard/Scrap and Stuffer buffer for QPC2 users. I use it all the time for getting short bits of text from Windows into QL programs. We know they're SBASIC programs we can execute, but calling them Apps would sound posher. And (despite the tongue-in-cheek first paragraph above) this is actually a serious little idea in response. (oops top-posting, sorry Tony) Dilwyn Jones -Original Message- From: Neil Riley (Tapatalk) It's an APP for the Iphone/ipod/ipad and probably Android devices that lets you connect to forums, moderate, chat, etc. I use it extensively as I'm a forum mod for OldnRubbish (a gaming site for Old Rubbish online players who are sick of ninja teenagers), Formed in 2007 so it's mearly a child as a community, same rules apply, we chat, we meet up, same old same old :) Sadly, this is off topic for the QL, but you did ask ;) Neil Hi Neil, It is amusing that an old 'hi-tec' word like Applications (Apps) has become something new and slick as an APP on more recent devices like Internet Enabled Phones (Iphones) etc ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] DEBUG
In message 1329917514.17351.yahoomail...@web171518.mail.ir2.yahoo.com, Michael Bulford michaelbulf...@yahoo.co.uk writes Hi George There is an error in the Turbo parser at line 14490. Here is this line: 14490 IF var%0 AND (struct%(var%)directive_mask%)=directive_mask% Both sides of the AND get to be evaluated. Although var% is tested for being non negative on the left hand side, the right hand side will be evaluated in any event. Should var% happen to be negative, then struct%(var%) would be outside of the array bounds and will crash SuperBASIC. The above line needs to be re written so that the right hand side will only be evaluated if the left hand side evaluates to true. Here is my suggested work-around: 1 LOCal both : REMark (if needed) 14488 both = 0 14489 IF var%0:IF (struct%(var%)directive_mask%)=directive_mask% : both = 1 14490 IF both Michael I use the logical method, of defining 'true' and 'false', as a global value in a program. 500 true=1 : false=NOT true Then you can use 1000 IF true 1010 REMark Take an action ... etc . This makes the program easier to follow. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] GST QED Editor
In message B8842DD6878A48E6B2BCCB7729AE75A5@AnnPC, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes Great work Dilwyn. Having all of this easily available will assist many people. I also like the idea of 'mirror' web site ... ym as opposed to my ... :-) Dilwyn - can you add the GST programs to the Sinclair QL Homepage (split into different ZIP files!) Rich That took a bit longer than I thought! So the GST 68K/OS, QC, QL Assembler and Q-Mac macro assembler are now available to download from ym website, as follows: I have created a new page on my website for the GST 68K/OS stuff at http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/gst68kos/index.html although it doesn't include the microdrive software part as I don't know how to convert it (it's not the same as QDOS microdrive format). On this page you can run the 68K/OS system in a QemuLator demo which Urs had prepared. If, like me, you get error messages when you try to use the demo QemuLator it is probably because you have another version ofQemuLator on your system - if so, use your registered version, go into the QL menu, select QL Configuration and find the GST_68K-OS BIN file to use as Main ROM in Qemulator and deselect any Back ROM such as a Toolkit 2 ROM image. Click OK. QemuLator should now start as a 68K/OS. (Note: having never run this before I'm not 100% sure if the above instructions are correct - if they are, could someone let me know so I can add them to the web pageonce we know they are OK). The Q-Mac and GST QL Assembler are both on the Assembler page on my website. The QL Assembler is under GST-ASM, and the Q-Mac is under Q-Mac on the page: http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/asm/index.html The GST QC development system is on my C page at http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/c/index.html under GST QC. Not being C literate, I hope I have put this file together properly! Various manuals, pictures and scanned adverts and reviews are available as separate zip and PDF files on the pages. Some of them are quite large, e.g. the scanned QC manual is over 20MB, so take note of the file sizes before downloading (file sizes are in brackets alongside the descriptions). Dilwyn Jones. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] DEBUG
In message 1329572303.66299.yahoomail...@web171520.mail.ir2.yahoo.com, Michael Bulford michaelbulf...@yahoo.co.uk writes Hi George On Saturday 18 February 2012, 9:56George Gwilt wrote: I use DEBUG 0 and 1 for the same reasons as you and have never had the fault you mention. If you could send me, privately, a copy of your program I'll try to locate the problem. Thanks for your offer of help, this is really appreciated. However, I believe I have solved the problem. I tried moving the piece of code to near the beginning of the program, and this solved the puzzle. My guess is that because my program is over 64k, the DEBUG mechanism could not cope, so that the fault is actually with Turbo. DEBUG must be using unsigned integers, when it should be using floating point variables. That is my guess. The piece of code under question is: 22268 REMark DEBUG 1 22276 DEFine PROCedure how 22284 LOCal p, scan_rt 22292 CLS 2 : PRINT 22300 p = BASIC_L(56) 22308 REPeat scan_rt 22316 p = p + 24 22324 IF p BASIC_L(60)-24 : EXIT scan_rt 22332 IF BASIC_W%(p+18)0 22340 PRINT Call at ;BASIC_W%(p+18); in ; 22348 ELSE 22356 PRINT Stop at ;BASIC_W%(146); in ; 22364 END IF 22372 IF BASIC_W%(p-12) 0 : IF NOT COMPILED : LIST #1; BASIC_W%(p-12) 22380 END REPeat scan_rt 22388 END DEFine how 22396 REMark DEBUG 0 This piece was copied from the Turbo Toolkit Demos file, the original procedure name being How_COME. My idea of using DEBUG was to try and save a little bit of code, because my program is so large. Hi Malcolm On Friday 17 February 2012, 21:35 Malcolm Cadman wrote: Also useful to use and declare integer values, wherever you can, at the start of the BASIC program - which is value% rather than value. Yes, I agree. There is a particular reason for this. Suppose the compiled program stops somewhere with an out of range error. The SuperBASIC version could then be run using the same input data, duplicate the error and stop at exactly same place. The procedure how would then be run to discover the call hierarchies that got the program to that point. Variable values could then be examined with the view to pin-point the cause of the error. However, if using IMPLICIT% value, then the SuperBASIC version would be using floating point variables and the same error would not be produced and so would not stop at the same place. Michael Bulford Hi Michael, It is always difficult to understand another persons code. Personally I would look to structure your program more. Your line was 22340 PRINT Call at ;BASIC_W%(p+18); in ; 22348 ELSE PRINT Stop at ;BASIC_W%(146); in ; 22364 END IF 22372 IF BASIC_W%(p-12) 0 : IF NOT COMPILED : LIST #1; BASIC_W%(p-12) Whereas 22340 PRINT Call at ;BASIC_W%(p+18); in ; 22348 ELSE 22356 PRINT Stop at ;BASIC_W%(146); in ; 22364 END IF 22372 IF BASIC_W%(p-12) 0 : IF NOT COMPILED : LIST #1; BASIC_W%(p-12) Is more understandable in its layout. The SELect ON structure is also available, as a clearer alternative to IF ... END IF and ELSE. Which is useful for a complicated series of conditions, and can also incorporate IF and END IF statements. Good luck with program ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] DEBUG
In message 1329506713.90809.yahoomail...@web171507.mail.ir2.yahoo.com, Michael Bulford michaelbulf...@yahoo.co.uk writes There is some code in my program that I do not want compiled: this is only used when the SuperBASIC version is running. So, I use DEBUG 1 before the code and DEBUG 0 afterwards. When compiling the parser stops with the report of Task Turbo 5.06 halted, after line 0. Reason: out of range The display panel reads: Pass: 1 Line 22300, which is a few lines after the DEBUG 1 statement. Can anyone please tell me what I am doing wrong? The program will compile successfully if the DEBUG command is not used. I have tried using DEBUG_LEVEL but this makes no difference. Michael Bulford Hi Michael, Check that the SuperBASIC code is returning a sensible value at Line 22300. SuperBASIC, when it runs the code, tolerates values that the Turbo Compiler will not, as it is much less tolerant. Also useful to use and declare integer values, wherever you can, at the start of the BASIC program - which is value% rather than value. Doing this should rid your program of these out of range type errors. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLToday V16 I2
In message CAK3ZAcK3C0cKZffZ4GnPEWh09DEzMkc5FLu7RN+trLKxDt7=8...@mail.gmail.com, Mark Martin storycraf...@gmail.com writes On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 3:56 PM, Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk wrote: In message EF8854B6-A3B0-4468-9332-**47469a35a...@jdh-stech.comEF8854B6-A3B0-446 8-9332-47469a35a...@jdh-stech.com, Jim Hunkins j...@jdh-stech.com writes Hi, Received in London today - 13th December 2011 ... Drat -- the U.S. is always behind in these things...yesterday evening for me. I suspect the Jet Stream. Or ... the North Atlantic Drift . :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLToday V16 I2
In message ef8854b6-a3b0-4468-9332-47469a35a...@jdh-stech.com, Jim Hunkins j...@jdh-stech.com writes Hi, Received in London today - 13th December 2011 ... I even received mine in Canada today. Now if only my Christmas cards get delivered that fast! Cheers, jim On 2011-12-12, at 3:48 AM, François Van Emelen wrote: Hi Jochen, Found QLToday V16 I2 in my letterbox this morning. Thanks Jochen. Have a fine day, François Van Emelen ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QaLendar 2012
In message 3A76B5F064B64E02857933C68678994C@AnnPC, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes I've just downloaded the calendar blank, Dilwyn, and I only have Open Office 3 to display it. It is haywire. Jan, Feb ok. March April titles together and no calendar. May no calendar. June title below calendar. July to Sept no calendar. and Dec ok. I was just about to send it to someone to add photos for me. I've not had trouble with .doc files before. I've downloaded it twice to make sure. Bryan H Hmm, Word doc compatibility with this sort of thing seems to fall flat on its face when it comes to OO, Works (which is a M$ package!), and other such office programs. The layout, especially when involving tables, frames and text boxes becomes a right mess in anything I've tried on other such programs. As Billy has said, it works fine as a PDF file, but I may need to greatly simplify the layout for the doc to load into other programs (so much for compatibility!!!). They were generated from a calendar wizard template originally, so I suspect it might be hard to simplify, but I'll have a go later tonight. This proved to be a harder nut to crack than I thought. All my efforts so far have yielded similar results. I don't have Open Office installed, but whatever I do with M$ Works causes the same scrambled layout. Work in progress Dilwyn Hi Dilwyn, It is worth installing Open Office, anyway. It has all the features and is easy to use. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Turbo Tk Code v3.40
In message 5f173f46-51cb-4472-9e27-2c2883d07...@gmail.com, gdgqler gdgq...@gmail.com writes Hi Malcolm On 28 Oct 2011, at 20:42, Malcolm Cadman wrote: The zip files: trbom, setwp06 and cptrp11 - are giving error report on download. These files download OK for me. Is it the unzipping which gives an error? George No. When downloaded ... :-( I will try again. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Turbo Tk Code v3.40
In message 5c638701-a998-4631-bc06-6708d8c69...@gmail.com, gdgqler gdgq...@gmail.com writes Hi George, The zip files: trbom, setwp06 and cptrp11 - are giving error report on download. trbot, downloaded OK. Version 3.40 of Turbo Tk Code is on my site http://gwiltprogs.info/ Version 3.39 allowed COMMAND_LINE to select a daughter SBASIC's channel 0 by giving as a parameter the ID of any channel opened to that SBASIC. The opened channel did not need to be a CON device. Version 3.40 additionally allows the parameter to be the Job ID of the target SBASIC. COMMAND_LINE looks first to see if the parameter is a Job ID. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] OT - The great man - Steve Jobs
In message 4e921069.4000...@lingula.org.uk, Stephen Usher st...@lingula.org.uk writes On 07/10/2011 19:48, Malcolm Cadman wrote: With, the QL, at the time of manufacture, it was the lack of a floppy disk drive (in favour of the micro drives). Erm, yes, there was the lack of a floppy drive, but then there was the foolish decision of make the over-worked keyboard controller chip also do sound and RS232 receiving. It wouldn't have cost much more per unit to put a proper DART in the machine to handle the serial communications. Basically, Sir Clive wasn't like Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs was a perfectionist with an eye for detail. Sir Clive has lots of ideas, most of which involve either making things smaller (even to the detriment of their function) and electric vehicles. He gets bored quickly and wants to move on and sell things before they're properly ready for market. Steve Jobs also had his flaws, we all do, but putting half-baked ideas into market wasn't one of them. Steve Yes, it became an if only, with Sir Clive ... if only he had done this or done that . On the whole, Steve Jobs, did a good job with most of the products he brought to market. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] OT - The great man - Steve Jobs
In message 4e8dff8e.5060...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Norman, I have never bought any Apple products ... although I appreciate the attention to detail (both inside the product and outside) from an Industrial Design viewpoint. I agree, that Apples' hidden strategy, as a business, is to lock you in to just their own products. Had Sir Clive Sinclair been more successful in business, then he could have been the UK equivalent of Jobs. Sir Clive always insisted on good looking design ideas, and then skimmed over on the manufacturing and quality control; and always left something important out in his products. With, the QL, at the time of manufacture, it was the lack of a floppy disk drive (in favour of the micro drives). Jobs, on the other hand, brought quality products - with good design - to success in the market; and consistently persuaded customers to pay a premium price. Evening, The great man Steve Jobs has passed on. It's always sad when someone passes away. Especially so young. A person would combined good design with new technology. It depends! Apple kit looks good, Apple Macs work extremely well (I'm told) although the Lisa was a bit of a non-starter as I remember. (Like Windows, stolen from Xerox's Palo Alto Research Park). I remember the first time I saw an iPod, it looked good and seemed to work well. I never bought one for the simple reason that Apple sell you things at vastly inflated prices - in my opinion. And many are the sheep that buy Apple because it's Apple - rather than weighing up the alternatives. Designer label collectors. ;-) The iPhone never did anything for me. The iPad didn't either - especially after they were advertising it showing a particular web site in full display. The website was 100% Flash based and because Steve Jobs has a spat with Adobe, there was no way that Flash would run on his kit! I predict, however, that Steve was the only man in charge who could make Apple profitable. I rather suspect that the will do what they did last time he left - go downhill. It will take a bit longer this time as the sheep have paid huge sums on money into the bank accounts of Apple. They can afford a few failures now - but they will eventually fail. :-( Of course, I could be wrong - it happens! ;-) May he rest in peace. Cancer is a bastard! Cheers, Norm. PS. The last Apple thing I liked enough to use was the Apple ][. With twin 5.5 floppies - then were the days! -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] OT - The great man - Steve Jobs
In message capqk1de6iubhjk17w8q9brm2uuckxz5pb3ufgqetpz0e9hz...@mail.gmail.com, Darren Branagh darrenbran...@gmail.com writes Hi Darren, A close encounter with two very innovative people ... :-) Hi Guys, Was wondering when the great man would get a mention I've been in shock all day, I feel like I've lost a close friend. I never met him, but came close once. I now regret not leaning a little further on that guy I was stuck behind to get to shake his hand. However, I did meet the Woz, and he is a wonderful character - loving life and what he does. Just two guys who wanted to change the world a little, and ended up changing it quite a lot RIP Steve. Darren. On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 8:09 PM, Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk wrote: Hi, The great man Steve Jobs has passed on. A person would combined good design with new technology. -- Malcolm Cadman __**_ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/**smsqe.htmhttp://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/s msqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Another song devoted to Clive Sinclair...
In message 00c501cc84ea$bb5cda20$2301a8c0@pcw.local, Urs Koenig (QL) q...@bluewin.ch writes Hi Urs, Thanks for the links. The Electric Disorder is a reasonable song/music - yet the video is just fantastic! Great sets, and humour too ... everyone should view it! The Single-Lens is a rather poor song, with lyrics that have some interesting content, yet do not really work in the song (this is no Bob Dylan). SIR CLIVE SINCLAIR by SINGLE-LENS REFLEX - paramanjara - 20111005 http://youtu.be/jXmcHaqx3lA A ballad. Not that bad. Quite different from the 2010 track from Electric Disorder which I like better. http://youtu.be/ub7FH0c2vO4 What do you think about it? Cheers, Urs - QLvsJAGUAR - Much more than retro! - Always remember: QL forever! Pictures: http://cid-c250d8748980ce5a.photos.live.com/albums.aspx http://www.flickr.com/photos/qlvsjaguar/ Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/QLvsJaguar#g/p Website: http://www.qlvsjaguar.homepage.bluewin.ch Old school but cool ;-) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] OT - The great man - Steve Jobs
Hi, The great man Steve Jobs has passed on. A person would combined good design with new technology. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Huge Sinclair repository on DVD out now!
In message 4e759303.2090...@j-m-s.com, Jochen Merz jm...@j-m-s.com writes Hi Jochen. No idea why the DVD is failing on the main PC. Maybe it is Ghostscript not being available to see the PDF's. The DVD is a Philips JackRabbit RW, which is always reliable. Although, now enjoying the nostalgia of reading the PDF's with Abode Reader X on my portable PC ... :-) I am not fond of Internet Explorer. Hi Malcolm, Arrived in London, too, on Saturday 17th September 2011. Very fast this time. Tried the DVD on my desktop PC, and was not able to auto-start. From directory, then saw files on the disc, yet no content. Turned off PC, and re-started. Then disc not accessible format message. Tried on my portable PC, and all is well. Both machines are running Win XP Pro. Any idea what could be the reason? Anyway, and great effort by all concerned ... :-) Thanks :-) Cheers Jochen Wow, THIS is a real record! So many reported arrivals throughout Europe, considering that I posted them on Thursday afternoon - two days ago! Glad they arrived fast and hopefully well ... Jochen gdgqler schrieb: On 17 Sep 2011, at 14:35, Lee Privett wrote: Ditto, mine arrived today in the UK/south, a worthy DVD On 17 Sep 2011, at 14:16, Bob Spelten wrote: Op Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:26:42 +0200 schreef Urs Koenig (QL)q...@bluewin.ch: This summer I volunteered to work on a Sinclair related retro computing DVD which is out now. And QLToday plus The DVD arrived in Amsterdam this morning in good health. Compliments to all who contributed to this project. Bob Amazingly My copy arrived today in Edinburgh. It looks good. George ___ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Huge Sinclair repository on DVD out now!
In message 4e75c978.20...@rwapservices.co.uk, Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk writes On 18/09/2011 07:43, Jochen Merz wrote: Hi Malcolm, Arrived in London, too, on Saturday 17th September 2011. Very fast this time. Tried the DVD on my desktop PC, and was not able to auto-start. From directory, then saw files on the disc, yet no content. Turned off PC, and re-started. Then disc not accessible format message. Tried on my portable PC, and all is well. Both machines are running Win XP Pro. Any idea what could be the reason? Could it be that the disk is a DVD- or a DVD+ and the one drive cannot read that format? Always a pain with DVD s! Mine has also arrived and works - many thanks for this! Hi Rich, Umm ... never thought of different DVD formats ... :-( On my desktop PC, my DVD is an external Phillips Rabbit RW. Which has always done everything without a fuss. Fortunately, I also have a portable PC, and the DVD there is fine. I am now reading a lot of article's and comments by yourself, and others, from the late 1990's. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Huge Sinclair repository on DVD out now!
In message 4e74c640.8050...@j-m-s.com, Jochen Merz jm...@j-m-s.com writes Hi Jochen, Arrived in London, too, on Saturday 17th September 2011. Tried the DVD on my desktop PC, and was not able to auto-start. From directory, then saw files on the disc, yet no content. Turned off PC, and re-started. Then disc not accessible format message. Tried on my portable PC, and all is well. Both machines are running Win XP Pro. Anyway, and great effort by all concerned ... :-) Wow, THIS is a real record! So many reported arrivals throughout Europe, considering that I posted them on Thursday afternoon - two days ago! Glad they arrived fast and hopefully well ... Jochen gdgqler schrieb: On 17 Sep 2011, at 14:35, Lee Privett wrote: Ditto, mine arrived today in the UK/south, a worthy DVD On 17 Sep 2011, at 14:16, Bob Spelten wrote: Op Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:26:42 +0200 schreef Urs Koenig (QL)q...@bluewin.ch: This summer I volunteered to work on a Sinclair related retro computing DVD which is out now. And QLToday plus The DVD arrived in Amsterdam this morning in good health. Compliments to all who contributed to this project. Bob Amazingly My copy arrived today in Edinburgh. It looks good. George ___ -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL2K on Windows 7
In message D53A062D159E4DC885F46D7B60517A45@AnnPC, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes Hi Dilwyn, I see you are finally getting along with PC Windows, and not breaking it too much ... :-) Windows 8, or whatever name it gets, is currently in development. So, maybe that will sort out all your woes ... ? It is looking like it will be based on the 'touch screen' gestures, that have now become common with mobile phones, ipads, etc, so that there will a synergy (well, in theory if M$ can ever achieve that). Either it goes this way as one OS, or a split may occur whereby the 'old tec' of PC's will have a different OS or variant. I have got it to run now in one-off mode. Ensure your user account is Administrator. Right click on the QL2K.EXE or QL2K-x64.EXE file, it says the file originated on another computer (or some message like that) and it is BLOCKED. Click on UNBLOCK, it will now run. But next time you start the program, it is BLOCKED again. I had a look at the QL2K.LOG (which I have sent to Jimmy, author of QL2K) and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong, although Jimmy will know better than me how to interpret the results and look for a clue in the file. Someone kindly sent me a known working version from their 64-bit Program Files folder. I tried this and got exactly the same results, so there is definitely a setting on this machine that ensures the program is BLOCKED. I have run a virus check on it, nothing detected. People like Norman might expect a rant from me about Windows 7, but don't fall off your Linux box, Norman, I am going to make an earth shattering announcement: _*I like Windows 7*_. [Distant sound of a crash from the Dunbar IT office] Yes, it will take me a while to get used to the differences (e.g. the START menu), but this computer is so much more stable and crash-free than the old XP PC. Anyway, I'll learn from the QL2K experience no doubt! QL2K on my machine is more for testing purposes than day-to-day QLing (for which I use QPC2 or Q-emuLator if I need QDOS). Thanks for trying to help everyone, the ql-users list at its best once more. If I find a definitive answer (e.g. Jimmy has ideas on what happened) I'll make sure I document it somewhere for everyone's benefit. Dilwyn Jones -Original Message- From: Lee Privett Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 1:19 AM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] QL2K on Windows 7 I had this problem awhile back with the same request, alas no solution presented itself, save running in administrator mode On 22 Aug 2011, at 20:16, Dilwyn Jones wrote: I am having some problems getting QL2K build 101 to work on Windows 7 64 bit. I installed the full build, then added the update files for each version until the most recent. I have installed the 64-bit Windows version QL2K-x64.exe and when I try to run this I get a brief flash of the round egg-timer icon then nothing, no error, no nothing. It just fails to start. I can of course get the 32-bit version to work on Windows XP OK. I also got QPC2 and Q-emuLator working OK on both systems of course. Anyone with any experience of installing the 64-bit version with any handy hints and tips for the installation? Dilwyn Jones (breaking [in] a Windows 7 64 bit PC) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3849 - Release Date: 08/21/11 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Undue modesty?
In message 4e4ffb99.8060...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes On 19/08/11 21:21, Malcolm Cadman wrote: Oh no ... :-) ... How many Dunbars does it take to change a light bulb? Now then Malcolm, I can answer that one for you. Given the Keith is a software guy and I'm into software as well, the answer has to be: None - it's a hardware problem ;-) Cheers, Norm. Umm ... nice one, Norman ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] PDF files (was Undue modesty?)
In message 4e4d2b72.6090...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Norman, Perhaps you got my same problem ... :-) ... with the cc . ? Excuse me? Why did this arrive twice I wonder? :-( -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Undue modesty?
In message a54ce6c7-a769-47d9-aec4-05c877d35...@firshman.co.uk, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk writes On Aug 15, at 21:23 | Aug15, Malcolm Cadman wrote: In message 003201cc5b75$bfd154d0$6402a8c0@baerchen, Ralf Reköndt ralf.rekoe...@t-online.de writes From Geoff Wicks Quanta is being very shy at the moment. If you are curious go to the penultimate item of the Just Words! news page. www.gwicks.net/justwords.htm Remember where you heard it first! You shouldn't open PDF files in your own frame. Let them open in a new, separate browser window. Cheers...Ralf A lot of people do not like having to separately download a PDF file, (etc ...), when browsing a web site. Which may be why Geoff has done it within own frame. Better still, is to convert the PDF or Word file, etc, to HTML; and then view it as a web page. Ouch - the html files Word produces I would not recommend to anyone - they are bloated and very obscure code. … but I have not found *any* pdf files on the site. Tony Hi Tony, Does anyone use Word for HTML's? -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Undue modesty?
In message 4e4cff07.1030...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Keith, You are correct, the PDF is just a link on the QUANTA website which will open in the same window. When viewed as a frame within Geoffs website it appears as a framed PDF. Really the fix would be for Geoff to open the QUANTA website either in a new page or as the top of the frames... Yes, I agree. All my links to other sites are defined as ... target=_blank_ to ensure that they do. I could put (or get someone to put) some code on the page to force this but I try to avoid it as it can cause more problems than it solves. True. Keith Dunbar Great surname ;-) Oh no ... :-) ... How many Dunbars does it take to change a light bulb? -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] a VERY expensive QL substitute?
In message 4e463c23.8010...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes On 12/08/11 22:28, Malcolm Cadman wrote: I guess I must be a little 'lossy' then ... :-) ... for using JPEG's. I see in your example that your photo's are 12 Mpixels per image, as JPEGs ... phew ! So what size are they as PNG's? Ok, as Jpegs they vary from about 500KB to around 3 MB. As PNGs they vary also up to around 20mb. Big, it's true, but I can edit them as often as I like. My wife's Konica Minolta DSLR shoots in RAW and her images are all exactly 8.8 MB in size. Indeed ... it is about the purpose of the data image. Sometime you want highest quality, sometimes lesser quality for a smaller data image file size. I only use a conversion - once - from a larger original size, down to 640 x 480, which is fine for web pages and small in size. This saves space on the web server, and the images load quickly enough on slow machines not to be awkward to wait for. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] What's the current (available) version of the PE?
In message 4e438139.7090...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Norman, Nope I had not noticed, as I only receive one email on the list. However, you are right. Group Reply from Demon Turnpike does 'cc', which I never really noticed. I will have to remember to delete it manually. Like now ... ? Thanks for pointing it out. Malcolm, have you ever noticed that you get two copies of [almost] every email you send to the list? This is because you send emails TO ql-us...@q-v-d.com and you also CC to ql-users@lists.q-v-d.com. Well, that's what Thunderbird tells me anyway. I'm pretty sure both work, so you only need one. Cheers, Norm. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] a VERY expensive QL substitute?
In message 20110811071213.c1dcd...@centrum.cz, Computer Research Centrum, Ltd computer.resea...@centrum.cz writes Umm ... media wars ... :-) It is useful to convert images to 640 x 480 pixels, for web page display - as JPEG files - which reduces the file size to a manageable number of Kb's. No JPEGs please! No lossy compression! For computer screenshots the best option is PNG (lossless compression). J.D. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] a VERY expensive QL substitute?
In message 4e438085.8050...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Greetings from a very wet and dreich Leeds! (Look it up URL:http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dreich On 11/08/11 06:12, Computer Research Centrum, Ltd wrote: No JPEGs please! No lossy compression! For computer screenshots the best option is PNG (lossless compression). I agree 100% - if I could agree more, I would! ;-) JPEGs should be wiped off the face of the planet, in face, from everywhere! No other intelligent species uses JPEGs - so what does that tell you about the human race? ;-) And now, a public information announcement Convert all your JPEGs to PNG or some other format (not BMP either - way too large!) because, every single time you open a JPEG it is uncompressed. When you save it, it is re-compressed. Now, remember the old days before digital, and you copied a VHS tape onto another and so on, well the quality ended up being quite bad pretty soon. Or photocopied a photocopy? JPEGs are the same. When you compress a JPEG, you throw away information - it is lossy - so, each and every time you save a JPEG, you throw away more and more information, soon you start to see artefacts and it's downhill from there. So all those photos of your wedding or first child etc, get worse and worse every time you edit them. Try it sometime, copy a JPEG and edit the copy. Make a little change and save it. Close re-open, edit save, repeat. See how each generation compares with the original. It won't take long, even at best quality compression (ie, less compression, bigger files, less lossy). I too have a camera that only takes JPEGs - 12 MPixels I admit, but JPEGS all the same. I have the camera set to best quality and I use digiKam as my photo organiser (I'm on Linux - it *might* be available for Windows). digiKam has an option on download to auto-convert JPEGs to any other lossless format - it takes time, I admit, but I end up with a saved PNG of my photos and minimum losses from the original. OK, I checked, you can get digiKam for Windows (XP, Vista, 7) at URL:http://sourceforge.net/projects/digikam/files/digikam/1.7.0/digiKam installer-1.7-win32.exe/download Mind you, it does mention that the software is not as stable on Windows as it is on Linux/Mac-OS x. The main download page for non-windows versions of digiKam is URL:http://www.digikam.org/drupal/download?q=download/binary/ Cheers, Norm. Hi Norman, I guess I must be a little 'lossy' then ... :-) ... for using JPEG's. I see in your example that your photo's are 12 Mpixels per image, as JPEGs ... phew ! So what size are they as PNG's? -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] a VERY expensive QL substitute?
In message 4e423eae.3040...@rwapservices.co.uk, Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk writes On 09/08/2011 20:59, Dilwyn Jones wrote: The point is simple - IF YOU WANT THE WIKI TO BE BETTER / DIFFERENT / HOSTED SOMEWHERE, THEN CHANGE IT !! I thought that was the whole point of a Wiki... that site users could (and should) update it themselves? If anyone has difficulty accessing some features or whatever, I'm sure an email to Rich with the info to go on would make life a lot easier for him, e.g. I had to email Rich some pictures because at the time it wasn't possible to upload the pictures myself directly (is that still the case?) Dilwyn Jones Yes - unfortunately, it is still not possible to upload the pictures directly onto the wiki - I have to be careful on image sizes, as obviously they are taking up a lot of room on my server. Hi Rich, It is useful to convert images to 640 x 480 pixels, for web page display - as JPEG files - which reduces the file size to a manageable number of Kb's. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] What's the current (available) version of the PE?
In message 4e423613.10...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Norman, I guess you have something else in mind too? Morning Malcolm, Are you planning to be Public Enemy and a Wild Man ...? . :-) But I already am! ;-) Cheers, Norm. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Prices of QL Books
In message 4e3fe552.6010...@rwapservices.co.uk, Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk writes Hi Rich, What are example prices being asked? Has anyone noticed the price of QL books on ebay recently - who are these people kidding (or maybe I haven't been asking enough at £2.99 a book!) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fujitsu Printer ribbons
In message 4e022bc0.1090...@newlan.org, Bryan Horstmann b...@newlan.org writes Hi Bryan, You could look for a re-inking device for the ribbons that you already have. Does anyone know a source of good ribbons for my Fujitsu DL1150 dot matrix printer. The last ones were old stock dried out. Is there anyone re-manufacturing them, perhaps. This takes A4 landscape which is useful for spreadsheets, printing a long strip although I have difficulty getting Windows to understand this. Bryan H UK ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] BBC News - ZX81: Small black box of computing desire
Hi, Did everyone catch this news item, from March 2011? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12703674 -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QIMI Mice + RasberryPi
In message 81F670BEB1514A118BBD008208172C73@d3hkh9x94, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes Hi, The Raspberry Pi looks an interesting project platform. Watching the video, on the web, the designer/inventor is a 'retro gamer' - having written 'Elite'. So, he has outlined an intention to get young people back to be interested in programming through games. Norman Dunbar wrote: I have also been racking my brains as to what I could do with multiple systems such as these inside the QL black box. Multi-multi-multi-multi-task? Umm, Linux running uQLx running a Spectrum emulator which in turn runs a ZX81 emulator which in turn has a MSDOS emulator??? ;-) Ok, being serious for a bit, it happens occasionally! Having SuperBasic available at switch on is probably possible. You can do it in a number of different ways: * Have init be redirected to run a shell that runs whatever that runs SuperBAsic. Once you quit though, you are out of the system and in a shutdown. (I think!) * Have each user's default shell be set to whatever that runs SuperBasic. That way, when the user logs in, they go direct to SuperBasic (ok, via whatever) and when they exit from SuperBasic, they effectively logout. The system stays running and they can login again. * There are other ways, like a startup script that runs SuperBasic somehow. and so on. It would be interesting to see how cleanly QDOS and SuperBASIC (or equivalent in SMSQ/E) are implemented and how easy or hard it would be to separate them. Or, someone like Laurence or Marcel might have views on how feasible it would be to do a stand-alone BASIC or whether the OS and interpreter are too integrated to separate them. Problem, how do you run Superbasic - written in 6800x assembly - on a system that will not be running a 6800x processor? Well, you could write SuperBasic in C or C++ (If you must!) or some other language that is processor insensitive. When done and tested, make it Open Source and see if the developers of the Raspberry Pi want to offer it as a built in language. If this were to prove possible, it opens up all sorts of possibilities, not just for this computer. We would then be in the realms of something like BBC BASIC all those years ago which was implemented on all sorts of systems 6502, Z80 and 808x for example. Not just BBC micros. Of course, the advantage is that you would be able to recompile the system for other chip types and hopefully have a working system for all platforms that Linux runs on. Could it be done? Probably. I'm not sure about what copyright etc [still] exists for SuperBasic - both the name, the language and the whatevers that go with it. It might be an interesting project though. Given that, and assuming it can be done, it's easy to set up a new project on Sourceforge and open it up to all and sundry to help with, but how many people on this list (or known to this list) have the ability to do such a thing? Of course, it would work just as happily as a Windows project as well, assuming we use decent cross platform tools (wxWindows, QT, Fox, etc). So, those are my ramblings on the matter. Any comments? It's very interesting proposition, if it proves to be technically possible. After all, all sorts of interesting QL-type projects have sprung up outside the mainstream QL areas, e.g. the QL board made using the Propeller robotics chips, the MESS emulator and so on. I look forward also to people's views on this and whether it is a viable project. Dilwyn Jones -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] OT - Commodore 64 rides again
Hi, We have often discussed on this list the possibility of new hardware being used for 'retro' computers. Well, check this out ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12997245 -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] OT - Commodore 64 rides again
In message F4EBD1BC0AC4426EBBECDC93B2DBE70C@d3hkh9x94, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes Malcolm Cadman wrote: Hi, We have often discussed on this list the possibility of new hardware being used for 'retro' computers. Well, check this out ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12997245 Shows the interest level in retro computers, which are still held in great esteem by many. On the same sort of theme, to celebrate 30 years (approx - not quite to the day!) since the ZX81 came out, I'll be launching a ZX81 Emulators CD at the Quanta meeting this weekend. It features a ZX81 emulator running on QL, and a couple of Windows ZX1 emulators along with hundreds of programs in the popular .P snapshot format for the ZX81. The ZX81 was my first computer and it got me into a long association with Sinclair computers, so I felt the need to do just a little token something to celebrate. Dilwyn Jones Yes, the ZX81 got me started, too, with computers. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QUORUM
In message 9E3BF3037E5A497ABE9ADE3BAF6E19B0@geoffbqm5ccx41, Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com writes -- From: paul paulh...@ameritech.net Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2011 5:44 PM To: ql-users@lists.q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] QUORUM What does Robert's Rules of Order have to say on this matter?? http://www.robertsrules.org/ Thanks for the email. For the record: 64. A Quorum of an assembly is such a number as must be present in order that business can be legally transacted. The quorum refers to the number present, not to the number voting. The quorum of a mass meeting is the number present at the time, as they constitute the membership at that time. The quorum of a body of delegates, unless the by-laws provide for a smaller quorum, is a majority of the number enrolled as attending the convention, not those appointed. The quorum of any other deliberative assembly with an enrolled membership (unless the by-laws provide for a smaller quorum) is a majority of all the members. In the case, however, of a society, like many religious ones, where there are no annual dues, and where membership is for life (unless it is transferred or the names are struck from the roll by a vote of the society) the register of members is not reliable as a list of the bona fide members of the society, and in many such societies it would be impossible to have present at a business meeting a majority of those enrolled as members. Where such societies have no by-law establishing a quorum, the quorum consists of those who attend the meeting, provided it is either a stated meeting or one that has been properly called. There is nothing about proxy voting, so probably not too helpful in Quanta's case, Best Wishes, Geoff A quorum for 'ordinary' (regular) Meetings for organisation in the UK, is usually set as an 'odd' minimum number, for example 3 members or 5 members, to be present, etc. An odd number usually ensures that a decision can be reached at a Vote when it is taken, e.g, 2:1 or 3:2 Although, some Constitutions allow the Chair of the Meeting to have an 'extra' Vote (casting), if a Voting Motion is 'tied', after normal Voting. For Annual General Meetings (AGM), a quorum is a minimum that is usually set as 10 Voting members present (i.e, does not count anyone present who is not a member entitled to cast a Vote). Some Constitutions have a percentage, like 10% of members present, for a quorum. The latter can be harder to achieve. Particularly when organisations start to struggle for their existence, for example. The overall purpose of a quorum is achieve a legitimate decision by those representative members present. If Quanta is achieving 10 to 15 members representative present, at an AGM, from an overall membership of between 130 to 150. Then it is doing well. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Quorums
In message 4d891d39.6000...@rwapservices.co.uk, Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk writes On 22/03/2011 20:25, John Taylor wrote: On 22 Mar 2011, at 18:43, Geoff Wicks wrote: -- From: John Taylorj_taylo...@btinternet.com Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 6:18 PM To:ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Quorums On 22 Mar 2011, at 16:57, Geoff Wicks wrote: A Quanta member has sent the committee some suggestions for amending the constitution to provide for the situation where an AGM is inquorate. I raised this question at the 2008 AGM and John Mason said that proxy votes count towards a quorum. (The quotation comes from the minutes of the meeting.) I tend to disagree with John on this point, but I am unable to prove that he is wrong. Equally I am unable to prove that he is right. I spent some time researching this last night and came across a lot of contradictory opinions, but no definite legal argument or opinion either way. I wonder if there is anyone with experience of this problem who could point me to a legal source or similar authority that could give a (more or less) definitive answer to the problem. Should it be possible for proxy votes to count towards a quorum and should Quanta wish to do that, it would seem sensible to include it in the constitution so that there is no misunderstanding should an inquorate situation occur. As one of the people who has offered to help in the drafting of a constitution I would be unhappy about including anything about which I was not legally certain, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Geoff The Charities Commission publishes a model constitution which you can get as a PDF file. A quorum must be PRESENT. Present is the operative word. As proxies are unable to take part in any debate, I would say that there is no case for what JM claims. Have you asked him what his authority is for such an exaggerated claim. The Quanta constitution does not support the idea anyway and that is what he was operating under at the time. This is more or less my opinion, but some people apparently argue that a proxy is a pseudo-presence. One of the arguments used by those in favour of counting proxies as part of the quorum is that some companies use this in their members and shareholders meetings. Others counter this by saying but not in their board meetings, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Geoff Such arguments are nothing more than an advanced form of political correctness. A sort of intellectual one up man ship. John Taylor ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm I know the US approach to this may be different, but I would say that unless there was some UK court ruling saying to the contrary, it is always safer to stick to the common interpretation of words, including consists of x members present at a meeting - I do not see how you could claim one person holding a meeting on their own with 20 proxy votes, could ever constitute a quorate meeting !! There are of course other ways around this, such as written resolutions, which were strictly brought into the companies act to deal with issues where physical meetings could not take place. Usual practice, in the UK, is that if a Quorum is not present, then the AGM is closed by the Chair and then reconvened at a later date. No business then having taken place. Of course, there are many variations in individual Constitutions that allow some gradations of all this. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Yahoo Groups
In message A5490AD5E2BE4271A8349E309D7508A2@mine5e8ac60903, Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com writes Hi, QLC2 ... wouldn't be a bad name, for a new QL based computer/device. That's a bit of a QLOAC Dagger statement :-) Lee - Back to the QL- Dilwyn Said To clarify what I mean I'll call it QL On A Chip or two. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Jan Jones Book
In message 9F79D908175E4C9AB25A57D8941E5BD0@d3hkh9x94, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes Malcolm Cadman wrote: In message 8dcea9cd-97c6-4ccd-a944-8dc829f4b...@btinternet.com, John Taylor j_taylo...@btinternet.com writes The QL must be very much alive. The used Jan Jones book sold for £23 on eBay. Quanta sold them, new, for £8 JJ got £5 and Quanta paid for the reprint out of their £3. John Taylor Probably becoming a 'rare' book now ... would be worth even more if had been printed with dust jacket? . :-) Ironic that when something becomes no longer available, it becomes more wanted than ever! With the book being available on the Spanish QL Resources site, and with Malcolm Lear tidying up the scanned copy, it ought to become available eventually in searchable formats. An alternative is Rich Mellor's Superbasic Reference Guide, which is available as PDFs on a CD from the SellMyRetro site. I have got the paper copy, but find it too big and bulky. Dilwyn Jones Hi Dilwyn, I have a paper copy, which I think is one of the reprinted run done through Quanta. It would be nice to have a 'clean' electronic copy, too. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Jan Jones Book
In message 8dcea9cd-97c6-4ccd-a944-8dc829f4b...@btinternet.com, John Taylor j_taylo...@btinternet.com writes The QL must be very much alive. The used Jan Jones book sold for £23 on eBay. Quanta sold them, new, for £8 JJ got £5 and Quanta paid for the reprint out of their £3. John Taylor Probably becoming a 'rare' book now ... would be worth even more if had been printed with dust jacket? . :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
In message aanlktimtv3uqmprt_et2ofsogssttydauoshcjdpw...@mail.gmail.com, Dave Park plasticu...@gmail.com writes On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:06 PM, Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com wrote: -- From: Dave Park plasticu...@gmail.com Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 7:50 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results! On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:48 AM, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk wrote: In all fairness to Dave, he did say that the email was in HTML format and quite large. Unfortunately, it seems that the list prevents HTML postings and has converted it to plain text - with all the attendant formatting troubles and loss of clarity. I didn't see a copy of my email so I didn't see how badly the list had chewed it up. Erk! I am working right now at putting it on the website. It means rewriting all the XML... I'll have it up as soon as possible. My apologies! Many thanks, Dave. No need to apologise. It's your first survey and it's all part of the learning process, Best Wishes, Okay, I have gone through the XML with a fine tooth comb to remove all the javascript, any privacy-invading links and various hidden forms. The main survey page is here: http://www.nonstickglue.com/QL_Hardware_Library/Survey.html From here there's a link on the right and at the bottom that will show the survey as it was intended. The survey will open in a new window. Hopefully this will present the data in a much more readable / interpretable form. Dave Hi Dave, Very neat ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Quanta News
In message 54C712DAAB5F41208F437F6B07441D2C@d3hkh9x94, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes Hi Dilwyn, Just to keep you busy with some 'copy' ... :-) The London QL Quanta Group started 2011 with its first Meeting of the Year on our new schedule - Sunday 13th February 2011. The Welsh Congregational Chapel has been undergoing extensive refurbishment over the latter 2-3 Years. The Meeting was our first, too, for a long time with the building works almost complete. The main space is now fully opened up together with new furniture and a projection screen. The kitchen is ultra modern, along with new toilets. It makes for an even better Venue for our regular meetings, and for potentially holding future workshops. The location is a basement, which means access is via a staircase. We also welcomed a new member to the Group - Martyn Hill - which is good news for the future of the Group. Martyn was immediately 'hands on' with his skills in assisting us to restore to life a QL + Gold Card, housed in a PC case. A project that we are undertaking for a QL User who is now over 80 Years old. If anyone has any news for inclusion in the next issue of Quanta magazine, please send it to me by 5th March. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
In message 4d6cb2c2.7020...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi, I think that the argument is that it is a preference to have a physical magazine to read, rather than an electronic imitation. I do receive another magazine in electronic form, which is very well implemented with pages that 'turn' properly as an image. Together with full colour, easy page access, or double page, zoom in/out, etc. However, you still need a 'screen' on which to view it. For the QL I prefer the magazine, in paper format, yet would also not mind having an electronic version to have access to the individual articles, etc. Each media has its pros and cons. Morning Geoff, Could you then please put your survey results on your website with a link? Much easier to read that as a poor text file at the end of an email. In all fairness to Dave, he did say that the email was in HTML format and quite large. Unfortunately, it seems that the list prevents HTML postings and has converted it to plain text - with all the attendant formatting troubles and loss of clarity. The QL community is a good deal more conservative that we probably would like to think, Interesting. I wonder if there is a correlation between the lack of internet access on the QL and the seeming lack of interest in getting QL stuff from the internet? Maybe, people using the QL can't be bothered to fire up a laptop or desktop just to get a magazine? Just a random thought. Cheers, Norman. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Micro men
In message B8CF8D1895524A398939139E40AD5628@mine5e8ac60903, Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com writes BBC Four tonight at 21:00 to 22:25 are repeating Micro Men for those who are interested Lee Hi Lee, Thanks for the reminder. I read your email at 21.05, so I managed to see it this time ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
- The QL Today web site is also well out of date, too. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Wow!
In message F0015850981249E6BE6E6B64DFA25825@d3hkh9x94, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk writes Returned home from across the pond earlier this week (a little late due to emergency detour of the plane 1/3 the way across the atlantic to Bermuda due to illness of a person on board) to find over 500 QL-users emails while I was away. Guess this will keep me out of mischief for a while reading them...then on to QL Forum to find what's been going on there! So heartening to see so much activity lately...I'll have to go away more often! :-) Dilwyn Jones Hi Dilwyn, Heavy goings on, since you went away ... :-) Interesting times ahead, too. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] [ql-users] Backplanes...
In message 4d643c95.2040...@firshman.co.uk, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk writes Malcolm Cadman wrote, on 21/Feb/11 21:34 | Feb21: Hi Dave, Is it an Mplane that was used in the AT cased version of a QL? Any backplane is possible. At the London QL Group we are repairing an AT QL system for a QL User. The back plane seems to allow connections to work themselves loose, over time, or with any sudden movements. If you can add it a simple locking system for cards to the plane, then that would be a useful enhancement. That won't be Mplane. Mplane is a wide thin card, and both the large items (motherboard and expansion card) are screw fixed. Only an item like qubide will sit unfixed by default, but it is possible also to fix that with suitable posts. I think you probably have a Qplane, with all the extensions vertically from the motherboard. Have a look at: http://tfs.firshman.co.uk/ql/mplane.htm Tony Hi Tony, Yes, definitely not an Mplane, having looked at the photo on your web site ...so most likely a Qplane. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] [ql-users] Backplanes...
In message AANLkTikeM=gpfa9smf8zwjh3_kcfhaxgstw6o6jjo...@mail.gmail.com, Dave Park plasticu...@gmail.com writes Hi all, After a bit of back and forth, it looks like I will be assembling the remaining stock of Tony Firshman's Mplane. If it happens, they will be available in about 2-3 months. For those that don't remember, the MPlane offers 3 expansion ports and has a 4-pin power connector to take power from a standard AT power supply. It also has a ROM port. This design is great for fitting in smaller cases because it folds back on the QL in a very slimline way. However, AT cases and power supplies are not the easiest to find, and don't have the best form factors any more. There are some interesting slimline and lightweight ATX cases available. I have been asked if it would be possible to do an ATX version or adaptor for this type of backplane. This came up in 2002-3 too, so the need must be even stronger now. My thinking is that many might like this within the QL community, and it would certainly be useful in many other applications so we can have our parts subsidised by wider sales - as with the battery adaptor PCB. Is there much interest in this? Dave Hi Dave, Is it an Mplane that was used in the AT cased version of a QL? At the London QL Group we are repairing an AT QL system for a QL User. The back plane seems to allow connections to work themselves loose, over time, or with any sudden movements. If you can add it a simple locking system for cards to the plane, then that would be a useful enhancement. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] What the hell happened?
In message 4d5cf9b2.9040...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes I go to Madrid for 4 days, and when I get back, I have 207 emails, unread, in my QL-Users folder! Been busy around these parts then! I'll catch up later. Cheers, Norman. Hi Norman, Yes, interesting though. I had around 180 emails to catch up on recently ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Hardware question
In message aanlktimvnyo+fgsgvbzk1jdmmazo-pbb+uwphrxnb...@mail.gmail.com, Plastic plasticu...@gmail.com writes The ZIF carrier would be a neat way of doing it. The BBC Micro also has a slot, to the left of the keyboard area, for this purpose (it is a perforated). It is normally covered over, so most people would not notice it being there. For Lee's project with the QL, a PCB taking 4 ROM's with a ZIF, would be neat way of getting easy access to alternative ROM's. If there's enough demand, I would be happy to make a few of these boards - though they would be prototype PCBs and fairly expensive. Short run PCBs tend to run around $40 each just for the PCB. Everything else would be around $10. It might be easier to have more than one QL. On the upside, ZIF sockets would make things easier. At Sandy, we had one of the QEPIII programmers, which we used to program all the EPROMS in everything we made. We also had a ZIF carrier which could hold four ROM sets. It didn't just switch the CL lines - it unpowered the unwanted slots, because once we put four Sinclair plastic-cased ROMs in there and the current draw was too much and popped something in the power section! Weird. Dave On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 6:16 PM, Peter Graf pg...@q40.de wrote: Hi Lee, So I need to look out for a Gc, SGC or Minerva conversion kit, haven't seen those on eBay or sell my retro For Minerva ROM you could try 1. Get an M27C512 and a 28 pin DIL socket (wide, long pins) 2. Program lower 48 KB with Minerva, and upper 16 KB with extension ROM binary of your choice 3. Lift up pin 1, 20, 22. 4. Press M27C512 into an IC socket 5. Wire socket pin 20 to M27C512 pin 1 6. Wire socket pin 22 to M27C512 pin 20 7. Wire M27C512 pin 28 to M27C512 pin 22 8. Remove both QL ROMs from socket 9. Press in the M27C512 with it's socket into one of the QL sockets All the best Peter ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Hardware question
In message 4d5690f5.20...@rwapservices.co.uk, Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk writes On 12/02/2011 13:32, Lee Privett wrote: I was just wondering what would be involved in burning my own EPROM with my own set of routines for plugging into the ROM port (like TK2), has anyone done this? what sort of kit is involved and how much are we talking about here. Also would I have to make my own pcb or can they be bought/manufactured. This is all for the original QL of course. Lee Privett ¦¦ Sent from my Laptop running XP but emulating the QL using QPC2 ¦¦ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Hi Lee, There is a special header for EPROM code, but I don't have it to hand... I have plenty of spare PCBs however :-) I remember the BBC micro have several Sideways ROM pcb's produced, along with software. Which allowed you to switch in to a different set of ROM's. Would that hardware be possible with the QL? -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] USBWiz Driver Update
In message 000601cbc6bf$42462ea0$c6d28be0$@acanthis.co.uk, Adrian Ives adr...@acanthis.co.uk writes Hi Adrian, I have been refreshing my memory, with a look through the USBwiz Manual as a PDF. It is based on an ARM chip. If anyone is interested, just do an online search on USBwiz. Good luck with the driver software. It must be fun, just finding out what it can do. I made a Velleman kit for a PIC Programmer and Experimental Board, sold through Maplins, some time ago; which uses the Serial Port. I could definitely make up/solder up from supplied parts, and am sure many other QL users will have hardware skills. So, maybe you could also consider a Kit Version. Dave, Bill of Materials: Yes Schematics: Yes Plan: This will depend upon the likely demand. My initial question was intended to gauge this ... because, honestly, I don't know how many QLs remain in circulation and, of them, how many owners would consider buying this kind of hardware. Maybe they would like to wait and see if a microdrive-emulating SD card slot comes along ... I know I would buy one of _them_ if they were available today! Anyway, if the demand is only there for a handful of units, I will likely build them myself on an as-needed basis and then, obviously, it won't be possible to pass on the advantage of bulk pricing for the components - the most expensive of which is the USBWiz module. It's worth remembering that the single most important component of this project is the driver. Until that is completed there is really nothing viable to market. Regarding the driver, several I/O traps are still not fully implemented and proper performance and resilience testing cannot begin until that is done, but I'm making good progress. Adrian -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Plastic Sent: 07 February 2011 10:15 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] USBWiz Driver Update Do you have a BOM for the hardware? A schematic? Or is it only ready-made boards, and if so, what is the bulk cost? How do you plan to make this into a product? Is that your plan? Dave On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 2:33 AM, Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com wrote: Well I am definately interested in purchasing such a device, have you considered putting this forward to the Quanta Commitee to get it off the ground commercially? Lee Privett - Sent from my Laptop running XP but emulating the QL using QPC2 - Original Message - From: Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2011 8:36 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] USBWiz Driver Update In message 001c01cbc23b$b4caf510$1e60df30$@acanthis.co.uk, Adrian Ives adr...@acanthis.co.uk writes Hi Adrian, Yes, using the USBWiz is a good idea. A new hardware project always creates interest. PS - This list is getting very busy, too. Just catching up on over 100 emails ... :-) I have no idea if anyone is remotely interested in this project to attach USB devices to a QL using a small card called a USBWiz. This device presents a serial interface and accepts AT style commands to communicate with many classes of USB device. I started working on this last year, but was delayed by some family problems and a move to another part of the country. My prototype hardware is a little black block that connects via a serial lead to a QL or Hermes serial port. The box has an SD card slot and two USB ports. In the past two weeks I have turned my original prototype driver inside out (not a trivial task, no wonder I missed an errant me equ 0 statement). The first version suffered from problems encountered when trying to do serial I/O while in supervisor mode (in effect, a driver on top of a driver). Today I successfully completed a test which involved writing a text file to a native QDOS format SD card, then reading it back again. The new driver switches to user mode to do asynchronous I/O over the standard serial port driver through an I/O queue which is managed by a Queue Manager job. In this it is very different from other device drivers and so will need a lot more testing. Not the least of which under QDOS as the driver has been developed under SMSQ. The framework is also in place to support real time communication with the driver core through a pipe mechanism. This is intended to allow queries to be sent to the driver, as opposed to its devices; a variation on a paper that I read about the possibility of implementing meta devices on the QL. Some time in the future I envisage a USB thing to act as the interface to this feature. Anyway, that's where I am. The new device driver has the name USB; USB1 is the SD card slot, USB2 and USB3 are the ports which can mount standard external hard drives or memory sticks. It reads and writes, but the format routine still needs completing (formatting is currently done
Re: [Ql-Users] Game idea...
In message AANLkTimaewh-83aWQGbewJxD86EE=2po5liqz1-es...@mail.gmail.com, Plastic plasticu...@gmail.com writes Hi Dave, Any new game, with graphics at the forefront, would be great for the QL. Generally an area that did not get fully exploited. Perspective/3D illusion would be good, too. Hi all, Is it that there's no interest in this kind of a graphical game? Or is anyone interested, but didn't say so? Anyone have any other game ideas? I'm fairly confident I can write one fair to decent game per month for the next six months. I'm sure they'll improve greatly in quality over that time, too. I'm open to any ideas... Dave On Sun, Feb 6, 2011 at 3:12 AM, Plastic plasticu...@gmail.com wrote: Hi all, I had a game idea back in the 80s. I feel like it might be a good followup project after the flight sim, but the idea is fun so I thought I would share it here and see what others might make of it. The game occurs in a two-dimensional gravity well. The yellow sun occupies a fixed point in the middle. The green planet orbits with an eccentricity that increases at higher levels. There will be other red bodies in random orbits too. The objective of the game is to accelerate or decelerate your ship to match orbits with the goal planet. Other bodies will affect your path. You must simply match the target's speed and velocity with a degree of accuracy that increases at higher levels. There will be a time and/or fuel limit. This game employs the N-body problem of gravitational bodies. I programmed the N-body problem in SuperBASIC in the 80s and will be able to recreate it fairly easily. I think it would be quite cool and playable and would be 100% graphical. Does anyone have any ideas to add to this, or suggestions? If you contribute ideas/code with this thread, I will presume you're sharing your ideas with the whole community and that I or others may freely use your ideas. Code, however, would only be used by explicit permission. When the game is completed, I will release it to the community, for free, with source. Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Wondering...
In message AANLkTim+73oU9gJnGPq4yy6wtj6xP=yzu7j4ugagz...@mail.gmail.com, Plastic plasticu...@gmail.com writes Hi Dave, Your phase QLing on a tumble dryer would make a great book title ... :-) I have a US QL, therefore I have a US QL PSU ;) Though I am capable of building a replacement PSU if needed, or converting a UK to US PSU. Also, US houses have 110v and 220v circuits, so 220v is available if I get really stuck (and don't mind QLing on the tumble dryer). The 50/60Hz issue is a non-issue. I would just replace the smoothing capacitor with a slightly larger one. As for the display modes...I would definitely prefer to use a UK/EU spec QL. I'm only aware of two US QL users and they're both ex-pats anyway, I think ;) Dave PS: and I am looking for the PSU, and not finding it. Fate, it mocks me. On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 12:00 PM, Malcolm Lear malc...@essex.ac.uk wrote: On 07/02/2011 17:21, tobias.froesc...@t-online.de wrote: -- From memory (as both D-Day MKII and War in the East took account of the -- difference in these ROMs), the JSU still manages 512x256 pixels, but the -- graphics characters (founts) are smaller than on the European QL. The QL Technical Manual says: This is different for countries where the television system is NTSC, which permits the use of fewer raster lines than PAL. In QLs for such countries, the following options are the defaults: For monitor operations, a 50Hz 624 non-interlaced system is used; this is the same system as is used on the English QL. The full 512x256 pixel display is available, and the default windows and character size are the same as for the monitor mode on an English QL. For TV operation, a 60Hz 524-line non-interlaced system is used in which the number of raster lines is limited to 192. In order to ease the task of software conversion, an alternate display font is provided which allows a 6x8 character square instead of the usual 6x10. This ensures approximately the same number of visible rows of text on both PAL and NTSC QLs, at the cost of true descenders and reduced vertical spacing. The default windows and graphics scaling for TV operation are different from those of the English QL. so it looks like only the TV modes would be different from European boxes. Cheers, Tobias Yes, the Mess emulator suggests that this is the case. The vertical timing and font is dependent on the F1/2 selection on bootup. Once in 624 50Hz mode you should be OK both in mode 4 and 8. Cheers Malcolm http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
In message 8ce6ad4b-05c2-47a7-a160-e652833bb...@gmail.com, gdgqler gdgq...@gmail.com writes On 6 Feb 2011, at 21:07, Malcolm Cadman wrote: In message 4d45ec4b.7030...@sbcglobal.net, Timothy Swenson swenso...@sbcglobal.net writes On 1/30/2011 10:48 AM, Malcolm Cadman wrote: Were Officers to be elected, directly, at an AGM, it would open the door to someone incompetent to get voted in, or some collusion to take place. Interesting, as California State code for Non-profits pretty much specifies that members vote on officers and the board. It is only the members that can make any changes to the By-laws. I'm guessing that the AGM is the same as a General Member Meeting. Most non-profits have one every year for elections. In one non-profit I'm involved with, rarely does a regular member attend these meetings and only the Board members show up (even with the required notification sent out). Hi Tim, I think that we are talking about the same thing. The full membership attends a General Meeting of Members ... in the UK called an Annual General Meeting (AGM), as it is held once a Year. The general membership are there to see the people being put forward for the Committee (Board). However, suppose at the AGM a member puts themselves forward for the Treasurer ... and all the other members present then vote for that person. Yet, the member voted in has not demonstrated any competence for the Position . see the problem? The Committee (Board) cannot then function. Usually you can't put forward new proposals at an AGM. Only business listed in the Notice of the Meeting can be transacted. However, the problem of ordinary members proposing and electing non competent people is real. When I have had anything to do with such situations I have seen to it that the Committee or Board or whatever you like to call it put forward what they consider competent candidates. But allowing members to propose other candidates if they want. If that fails, it is also usual to have the power of co-option so that the right person can be appointed later. I would have thought that elections are normally to the Committee or Board and not to a post within the Committee. In other words the members would not normally elect a Treasurer. Perhaps the entire constitution of Quanta needs altering. George Hi George, Yes ... I agree, AGM elections are meant to be to the Board/Committee; and not a particular Post. If the QUANTA Constitution is weak in this area, then a re-write would be the better way to go. The Charity Commission web site, has some good examples to base upon. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
In message 7CEE673EF74B4720829CBA46D820817B@geoffbqm5ccx41, Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com writes -- From: gdgqler gdgq...@gmail.com Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 9:53 AM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply Perhaps the entire constitution of Quanta needs altering. Now where did I hear that recently ;-) I once was involved in rewriting an entire constitution. When Works Council Law was changed in the Netherlands all Works Councils had to rewrite their constitutions. We had a choice of either doing it ourselves or employing an outside consultant costing hundreds of pounds. As I was the only member of the council with the relevant skills and experience I was given the job, but at the same time the council appointed another member to be my mentor to check everything I did. In practice I found I could still keep much of the old constitution in the new one and I suspect that would be much the same in Quanta. There were model constitutions published and I also had to keep checking the new Works Council Law. In short in was a bit like pick 'n' mix. Basically Quanta would have to do is: 1: Look through the old constitution and get a rough idea of what you would like to leave in and what you would like to leave out. Then have an extensive consultation period to determine the main details. Do not rush this - it is better to take your time than do a quick botched job. (The lesson of the 2005 amendments.) 2: More than one person should be involved in the drafting. It is a bit like a superbasic program. Few of us could write a superbasic program that is totally bug free and that also applies to constitutions. Even better if the draft constitution is proofread by a person or persons not involved in the drafting. 3: Bear in mind that during the drafting matters could arise that need further consultation or decision by the committee or members. When writing the works council constitution I had to consult the council on whether we should have a personal or list voting system and had to prepare a paper on the merits and demerits of each. For example in Quanta to maintain continuity the officers currently have a three year period of office. You could have chosen instead for all committee members to serve 2 years with one half of the committee to face re-election in any one year. This is not a decision for the drafters, but the committee and/or members. 4: Publish the draft constitution well in advance to allow time for possible amendments, comments or objections. A very time consuming process, but Quanta may find it worthwhile, Best Wishes, Geoff Hi Geoff, I agree with most of what you say, apart from keeping the Term of Office feature. Better to abandon that, all together, and just have all Board/Committee members standing down every Year; and then putting themselves forward again for a following Year (or not if they so choose). This way you keep your good Board/Committee members. The Treasurer Post is always a difficult one to fill. When you find a good one, then keep them ... :-) I would not object to being involved in drafting a new/revised Constitution. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
In message a1ebf150-979b-4e65-b8c2-ca4c97611...@gmail.com, gdgqler gdgq...@gmail.com writes On 7 Feb 2011, at 19:52, Geoff Wicks wrote: Perhaps the entire constitution of Quanta needs altering. Now where did I hear that recently ;-) I once was involved in rewriting an entire constitution. When Works Council Law was changed in the Netherlands all Works Councils had to rewrite their constitutions. We had a choice of either doing it ourselves or employing an outside consultant costing hundreds of pounds. As I was the only member of the council with the relevant skills and experience I was given the job, but at the same time the council appointed another member to be my mentor to check everything I did. In practice I found I could still keep much of the old constitution in the new one and I suspect that would be much the same in Quanta. There were model constitutions published and I also had to keep checking the new Works Council Law. In short in was a bit like pick 'n' mix. Basically Quanta would have to do is: 1: Look through the old constitution and get a rough idea of what you would like to leave in and what you would like to leave out. Then have an extensive consultation period to determine the main details. Do not rush this - it is better to take your time than do a quick botched job. (The lesson of the 2005 amendments.) 2: More than one person should be involved in the drafting. It is a bit like a superbasic program. Few of us could write a superbasic program that is totally bug free and that also applies to constitutions. Even better if the draft constitution is proofread by a person or persons not involved in the drafting. 3: Bear in mind that during the drafting matters could arise that need further consultation or decision by the committee or members. When writing the works council constitution I had to consult the council on whether we should have a personal or list voting system and prepare a paper on the merits and demerits of each. For example in Quanta to maintain continuity the officers currently have a three year period of office. You could have chosen instead for all committee members to serve 2 years with one half of the committee to face re-election in any one year. This is not a decision for the drafters, but the committee and/or members. 4: Publish the draft constitution well in advance to allow time for possible amendments, comments or objections. A very time consuming process, but Quanta may find it worthwhile, When I was involved in producing a new constitution we got an expert to produce one off the shelf. This was, in the main, OK but it had what I thought was a fatal flaw. It required the Committee members to retire after a period of, I think, 3 years and had to wait 1 year before they could be re-elected. I got that altered so that Committee members could stay on indefinitely, subject, of course, to being re-elected every 3 years. My reason for getting that alteration was that I thought it difficult enough to get anyone to do the voluntary work of being a Committee member. I reckon Quanta badly needs that change in the constitution. George Hi George, I agree with you, again ... :-) Good Board/Committee members are very hard to find. So, when you have them, it is best to keep them. As I commented in another email, it is best to have no Time limits. With all Board/Committee members standing down every Year, and then standing again (or not if they so choose). My community group will be holding its AGM, shortly, and this is what we do. This will be out eleventh Year of operation, with a budget of over £100K a Year. Being a Company Not for Profit and Limited by Guarantee, as well as a Registered Charity. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
