[HEA] _____________________ ___ _ |___ ______________| | | | | | | _ | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | ____ _ _ _ _ ______ | | | || | | | / __ \ | | / \_/ \ | ___ \ | | | || |__ ____ | | / / \ | | /\ /\ \ | | \ \ | | | || _ \ | _ \ | | \ \__/ | | | |_|| | | |__/ / | | | || | | || |_|| | | \___/|_| |_| |_| | ____/ |_| | || | | || |__ | |____________________ | | _ |__||_| |_|\____/ |________________________| | | |_| | | Lighting Your Apple II Path | | |_| ----------------------------------- >>> WELCOME TO THE LAMP! <<< ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE BEST OF THE A2 BULLETIN BOARD ON Syndicomm.com AND THE BEST OF THE DELPHI A2 AND A2PRO MESSAGE BOARDS "Teaching the Apple II user how to fish since 1998" :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The Lamp! An Onipa'a Software Production Vol. 4, No. 11 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Publisher................................Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. Editor.....................................................Lyle Syverson Internet Email, Publisher.........................thelamp@sheppyware.net Internet Email, Editor................................lyle@FoxValley.net :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: TABLE OF CONTENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 15, 2001 HIGH ABOVE THE ROCK RIVER---------------------------------------------[OPN] The Fork in the Road A2 FORUM AT Syndicomm Online (A2Central.com) DISTILLATIONS New Bulletin Board Software in Use in A2 Forum-------------------[NBS] Web Access to the A2 Bulletin Board------------------------------[WAB] Snack Arrangements for K-Fest 2002-------------------------------[SKF] New Version of SOAR Will be Required-----------------------------[NSR] Gopher and Other Internet Tools----------------------------------[GIT] The Future of Apple II GIF Viewing Programs----------------------[FGV] MIDI Keyboard Interface to the IIgs------------------------------[MKI] Space Invaders for the Apple II----------------------------------[SIA] How do You Pronounce Eamon?--------------------------------------[PNE] Silvern Castle v7.3 Delayed--------------------------------------[SCD] Uninterruptible Power Supplies With the IIgs---------------------[UPS] Bret Victor's Web Sites------------------------------------------[VWS] Ping for the IIgs------------------------------------------------[PGS] APDA Products Being Added to Syndicomm Online Store--------------[APA] Latest on Bernie II the Rescue-----------------------------------[LBR] Apple II Forever Projects----------------------------------------[AFP] Apple II Documentation Project-----------------------------------[ADP] IPC Spy CDA------------------------------------------------------[ISC] FREDA CDA Debugger-----------------------------------------------[FCD] Pixie Debugging Tool for the Apple IIgs--------------------------[PDT] GS/OS Serial Drivers Adequate for APP?---------------------------[GSD] Apple II FileType for PDF Files----------------------------------[AFP] What do You Think of the iPod?-----------------------------------[TIP] It, The Invention------------------------------------------------[ITI] The Myth Series by Asprin----------------------------------------[MSA] ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM SYNDICOMM Webside Bulletin Boards Open in Several Forums-------------------[WBB] Prolifif Quill Forum Now Open------------------------------------[PQF] Like to Play Dungeons & Dragons?---------------------------------[DAD] Sign up for Syndicomm Online-------------------------------------[SSO] DELPHI A2 DISTILLATIONS What do You Use Your Apple II For?-------------------------------[UYA] LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Apple II Documentation Project-----------------------------------[ATP] An Invitation----------------------------------------------------[LTE] KFEST 2002 Plan Ahead for K-Fest 2002---------------------------------------[PAK] EXTRA INNINGS About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN] [*] [*] [*] READING THE LAMP! The index system used by The Lamp! is designed to make """"""""""""""""" your reading easier. To use this system, load this issue into any word processor or text editor. In the index you will find something like: EXTRA INNINGS About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN] To read this article, simply use your search or find command to locate [INN]. There is a similar tag at the end of each article: [EOA]. [OPN]------------------------------- HIGH ABOVE THE ROCK RIVER | ------------------------------------ From The Editor """"""""""""""" by Lyle Syverson The Fork in the Road ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From High Above The Rock River the calm water and clear blue sky beckon us to go for a walk along the river. The dry, crisp leaves crunch beneath our feet. The blue sky, and its reflection in the water, provide an awe inspiring background for the white bark of the birch trees. On the other side of a group of leafless trees in the distance we see a road that was hidden from view during the summer. A fork in this road leads to another road that disappears behind a rise in the land. The path one's life takes is based on which forks in the road were taken. All of us have a common interest in our journey... the Apple II computers. There is a new group of people who are interested the Apple II. They have acquired an A2 at a garage sale... or had one given to them... etc. These people are eager to learn what these computers can do and where to get software. To learn how you can help, see "Letters to the Editor" [ATP], Apple II FOREVER PROJECTS [AFP], and Apple II DOCUMENTATION PROJECT [ADP] in this issue. A fork in the road has led many Apple II users to yet another experience... K-Fest. You have never been to K-Fest? You really ought to try it. Can't find the fork in the road leading to K-Fest? See the section on K-Fest in this issue. [EOA] ASCII ART BEGINS _________ _ _ _ |__ __| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |___ ____ | | _____ __ ___ _ _ _____ | | | | | ___ \ / __ \ | | /____ \ | v v | | v ___ \ | | | | | | | | | /__\ \ | | ____| | | /\ /\ | | / \ \ | | | | | | | | | _____| | | / ___ | | || || | | | | | |_| | | | | | | | |_____ | |____ | |__| | | || || | | \___/ / _ |_| |_| |_| \______| |______| \____^_| |_||_||_| | |\____/ |_| | | | | |_| ASCII ART ENDS [EOA] --------------------------------------------------- DISTILLATIONS FROM The A2 FORUM at Syndicomm.com | (A2Central.com) | --------------------------------------------------- by Lyle Syverson [NBS] NEW BULLETIN BOARD SOFTWARE IN USE IN A2 FORUM """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" A2 is now running the new bulletin board software; things should be much, much faster here now, and we have a webside board as well. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 2, Top 1, Msg 13) [EOA] [WAB] WEB ACCESS TO THE A2 BULLETIN BOARD """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" If you have Web access (yes, Lynx and Links both count, haven't checked SIS yet), accessing the A2 Bulletin Board just got lots easier. Point your browser to http://www.syndicomm.com/communities/a2/messages and you can access our board via the Web. You will need your password and username, of course. You will also have to enable Cookies in your browser. Give it a try and see how you like it. Ryan A2 Chief Sysop and Head Geek (A2.RYAN, Cat 2, Top 5, Msg 1) [EOA} [SKF] SNACK ARRANGEMENTS FOR K-Fest 2002 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (Posted via the web, partially as a test): As long as I'm at KFest 2002 (I plan to be, just a little less sure than usual), I'll be buying the same 6 dozen or so Krispy Kreme donuts I did this year. Someone else will have to get the milk ;-) Ryan (A2.RYAN, Cat 5, Top 3, Msg 193) >>>>> """"" I'll take care of the Milk. I figure I might as well contribute something. Dain Neater Keeper of the Boards (A2.DAIN, Cat 5, Top 3, Msg 194) [EOA] [NSR] NEW VERSION OF SOAR WILL BE REQUIRED """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The recent changes in the Forum software will require an update to SOAR. You may find in the meantime that SOAR sticks or ceases to work for some functions. I am away from home for the rest of this week, and will not get a chance to work on the scripts till I get home. I shall post an updated SOAR on my web site as soon as I can get the scripts worked out. Please be patient till then... Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Tue 30 Oct 2001 - 266 days till KFest '02 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR 1.0b5 Setup: Bernie ][ the Rescue 3.0 and a dual G4/800Mhz GeForce3 http://www.ewannop.btinternet.co.uk/ (CONDUCTOR, Cat 10, Top 59, Msg 226) [EOA] [GIT] GOPHER AND OTHER INTERNET TOOLS """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The latest set of Web Browsers, Netscape 6 and Explorer 6, have dropped their support for Gopher. That spells doom for the remaining gopher sites that are still up. A quick check on gopher in the last year resulted in alot of dead links and nothing interesting to see. Gopher has served its purpose and was not as easily expandable as what the Web has grown into. It was nice in its time when there was no Web to look for information. The concept of its use was simple. Everything was indexed-based. Your home index had links to sub-indexes and/or files and through some path of links, a link to a master index by country, state, site. Each item in an index pointed to another index or to a file, ftp file or directory, telnet server, or web page. Files linked from an index followed a certain set of types as specified in the RFCs. This was pretty much limited to text, "binary", sound, graphic, animation, and "unknown" files. By the way, there was also a Jughead. Jughead was a serch tool for a set of servers (instead of all of them). Jughead only worked if there was a jughead server set up on the gopher sites. It is my understanding that it was difficult to set up a jughead server and not well maintained. Also, for more information about Code Red and Nimda, take a look at these links: http://www.incidents.org/react/nimda.pdf http://www.incidents.org/react/code_redII.php Geoff (GEOFF, Cat 11, Top 11, Msg 38) [EOA] [FGV] THE FUTURE OF Apple II GIF VIEWING PROGRAMS """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Does the Unisys patent spell the end for Apple II GIF viewing programs? Will anyone write a new or updated GIF viewer? Ryan (A2.RYAN, Cat 12, Top 3, Msg 6) >>>>> """"" The gif/lzw patent is #4,558,302 if anyone wants to check it out at the US patent office homepage: uspto.gov. It was filed december 10, 1985, which means it expires December 10, 2005 (20 years). They also have separate patents for UK and Japan - they may expire at some other time. I think a more serious obstacle than unisys in the development of new gif tools is the dirth of programmers and programmers with time, though :( (KWS, Cat 12, Top 3, Msg 7) >>>>> """"" Yeah, this is a bigger problem. But the Unisys thing still sucks. Four more years. :) Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 12, Top 3, Msg 8) [EOA] [MKI] MIDI KEYBOARD INTERFACE TO THE IIgs """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Hi all. I recently bought a midi keyboard, and I'm now keen to try connecting it to my GS. I have downloaded a couple of designs for midi interfaces from Harmony Central. These are for serial port Macs, so I presume they would work with the GS too. I'm planning to construct one of these and try connecting my keyboard (a Casio CT-670). Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? What software can I use? Any of it freely available? What can the GS do when interfaced to a midi keyboard? Always fun to explore a new area of our old friend :) Kim Howe Newton Forum Host (KIMHOWE, Cat 12, Top 12, Msg 3) >>>>> """"" IIRC, there were 2 ways of getting MIDI data into the IIgs... AE had a midi card Apple (and maybe others) had the external midi->serial port converter, which worked the same for the macintosh & IIgs, so presumably the device you build would work with IIgs midi port driver. If it works, I'd like to see a tutorial on building one :) (KWS, Cat 12, Top 12, Msg 6) >>>>> """"" I bought Pyware's Music writer just before I got married. I have Apple's midi interface. It worked; you could play on the keyboard, and the notes would appear on the screen, but of course if your rhythm was off even a little, the notes wouldn't come out the way you expected. Naturally, priorities changed significantly with the addition of the gold ring, so that was the last I ever really played with it. Someday, though.... :) _________ | homas (TCOMPTER, Cat 12, Top 12, Msg 7) [EOA] [SIA] SPACE INVADERS FOR THE APPLE II """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" I'm finding a lot of great classic games that were on the 8 bit Apple II now on the Palm platform. The primary one I'm thinking of is Space Invaders. Is there a publicly available Space Invaders for the Apple II or IIgs? Ryan (A2.RYAN, Cat 14, Top 1, Msg 46) >>>>> """"" Here's a Space Invaders game for the GS, Ryan: ftp://ftp.syndicomm.com/pub/members-only/a2/games/arcade/16-bit/spaceinv.gs .bxy There are also be a few such games under different names; I think Solarian might be one. It's in the same directory as above. -Ken (KGAGNE, Cat 14, Top 1, Msg 47) >>>>> """"" I remember the original "Super Invader" which was distributed by Creative Computing back in 1978. I received this from the computer store that sold me my first Disk ][ back then. In those days computer stores were not interested in selling software, only hardware. Thus I was able to copy it for free. It was probably legal to do that back then since software wasn't subject to Canadian copyright laws at the time. (They fixed that!) The only IIGS specific version I am aware of is the version done by David Ong Tat-Wee. GS Invaders is available from a lot of places including David's home page at http://myhome.asia1.com/home/d/dotw/iigs_software.html . Mark Percival - Syndicomm.com Apple II RTC Host "Midweek Madness!" every Wednesday night. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT (MARK, Cat 14, Top 1, Msg 48) [EOA] [PNE] HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE EAMON? """"""""""""""""""""""""""" Last night I met a young man by the name of Eamon, which leads me to two questions: 1) How is the name of the classic Apple II adventure game pronounced? Is the 'E' silent, as this gentleman's name was? 2) Was the computer game named after someone? -Ken (KGAGNE, Cat 14, Top 1, Msg 50) >>>>> """"" I would assume it is pronounced the same way as the common Irish first name Eamon. 'E' as the 'ay' of 'hay', 'a' as 'Ah', and 'mon' as 'Montreal'. Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Mon 12 Nov 2001 - 253 days till KFest '02 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR 1.0b5 Setup: Bernie ][ the Rescue 3.0 and a dual G4/800Mhz GeForce3 http://www.ewannop.btinternet.co.uk/ (CONDUCTOR, Cat 14, Top 1, Msg 51) [EOA] [SCD] SILVERN CASTLE v7.3 DELAYED """"""""""""""""""""""""""" Sorry, the Silvern Castle v7.3 release has been delayed due to a recent change of address. Can you believe that I now reside at Sylvan Way? Anyway, the new release will be available shortly. Jeff Fink (FINKSTERJ, Cat 14, Top 7, Msg 83) [EOA] [UPS] UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES WITH THE IIgs """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Is there any software for the IIgs to let it receive notifications from UPSes? Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 17, Top 16, Msg 1) >>>>> """"" Not that I'm aware of. I've looked in to this ever since I got an APC Backups Pro 420 four years ago. The documentation for APC's "Powerchute" program shows that the UPS communicates via a RC-232c interface. A script for Spectrum could communicate with and control it. (Spectrum already does that?) :-) The problem is deciphering the control codes. I've never had the time to sit down and do that. Roger A. Schnorenberg - Roger Delivered by Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR v1.0b6 (SCHNORENBERG, Cat 17, Top 16, Msg 2) >>>>> """"" You can probably determine the control sequences by looking at the code for the UPS daemon for Linux; the source is of course freely available. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 17, Top 16, Msg 3) [EOA] [VWS] BRET VICTOR'S WEB SITES """"""""""""""""""""""" Bret's main web site can be found here: http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~bret/ His extensive collection of Apple IIgs tables is listed and available at this page: http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~bret/create_software_iigs.html (KGAGNE, Cat 20, Top 12, Msg 1) [EOA] [PGS] PING FOR THE IIgs """"""""""""""""" I didn't even know there were new messages here until I looked at the latest "The Lamp". Ping for the Apple IIgs does not do anything more than make sure that the ICMP echo is successful to a remote machine. Unlike ping for many other operating systems, it will not display sequence numbers, packet times, data content, or anything else beyond what is seen when it runs. It was modeled after an early Microsoft version of ping and Cisco's IOS ping. Packet times are mostly useless since the IIgs can't track time less than 1/60th of a second (and even that time scale is not guaranteed). Tracking sequence numbers would have meant I had to develop a queuing system which goes beyond a simple ping tool. Anything else is gravy for a ping utility. I didn't know ping would work under Prosel since I don't have that. It is nice to see that more people can use ping if they have Prosel. Geoff (GEOFF, Cat 20, Top 13, Msg 45) [EOA] [APA] APDA PRODUCTS BEING ADDED TO SYNDICOMM ONLINE STORE """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" We've started gradually adding APDA products to our online store! We finally finished the paperwork involved in transferring these products to Syndicomm, so over the next couple of weeks you'll see our online store grow to cover the entire APDA product line, from the AppleTalk Programmers Guide to X-Ref. :) Eric Shepherd Owner Syndicomm (SYNDICOMM, Cat 24, Top 1, Msg 32) [EOA] [LBR] LATEST ON Bernie II the Rescue """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Just curious, but has anyone heard anything from the Bernie Boys in a while? I used to catch Henrik in chat every now and then, but I am not sure I have heard much from him since Kfest 2000. Dain Neater Keeper of the Boards Self-Title Worst Diablo player ever (A2.DAIN, Cat 29, Top 21, Msg 89) >>>>> """"" I haven't heard much from him either. Answers to emails I send him are pretty much limited to a word or two. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 29, Top 21, Msg 90) >>>>> """"" Not in awhile, I know he's busy, and so am I. However, I would not be surprised to find a new beta in my mailbox in a minute. I would be equally unsurprised to find it in my mailbox in three years. Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. - rsuenaga@apple2.org - A2's Head Geek Alpha Testing CoPilot v2.55 and ProTERM 3.1 Offline Syndicomm.com Message Manager (A2.RYAN, Cat 29, Top 21, Msg 91) [EOA] [AFP] Apple II FOREVER PROJECTS """"""""""""""""""""""""" The "Apple II Forever Projects" are a group of projects initiated at KansasFest 2001 to bring new life to the Apple II family of computers. This category is devoted to these projects and the work involved in operating them. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 30, Top 1, Msg 1) [EOA] [ADP] Apple II DOCUMENTATION PROJECT """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The Apple II Documentation Project is our new effort to write and distribute free documentation for Apple II computers, operating systems, and software, in order to aid newcomers to the community as well as people that buy software without manuals. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 30, Top 3, Msg 1) >>>>> """"" Let's talk about what sort of documentation we think the community most needs, and start sorting out who can work on what. I think the first priority would be a "setting up your Apple II" type of manual, one for the IIgs, one for the IIc and IIc+ and one for the others. Something like that, anyway. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 30, Top 4, Msg 1) >>>>> """"" I think it's a great idea, but I don't have any time to donate to it (trust me, I've tried :) Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. - rsuenaga@apple2.org - A2's Head Geek Alpha Testing CoPilot v2.55 and ProTERM 3.1 Offline Syndicomm.com Message Manager (A2.RYAN, Cat 30, Top 4, Msg 20) >>>>> """"" I know. My goal here is to get people that aren't already heavily engaged in Apple II projects to get involved in the A2DP. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 30, Top 4, Msg 3) [EOA] [ISC] IPC Spy CDA """"""""""" IPC Spy is a CDA for monitoring Apple IIgs IPC messages as they wizz around the system. The first version, written by Richard Bennett include formatting of known messages, making it easy to view messages structure with their data types and field descriptions. The second version was written by Joe Wankerl for GS+ magazine, and included plugins so you can stick your own message definitions into it. Not sure whether Joe's version was based on the version one code (fading memory), but GS+ certainly asked for permission and worked together on features to include. Version 1 was freeware. Version 2 came on GS+, so I'm not sure what the licensing was. Regards, Richard (RICHARDB, Cat 54, Top 6, Msg 1) [EOA] [FCD] FREDA CDA DEBUGGER """""""""""""""""" FREDA is CDA debugger used for situations where GSBug use was not available, such as in interrupting code sequences, 8 bit code, and where IIgs memory integrity wasn't guaranteed such as in the middle of GS/OS drivers, interrupt routines and P8 code which messed with IIgs memory (which happened more so in the early days of the Apple IIgs). FREDA worked by putting in a COP instruction into your code, and following it with a string, exactly the same way GSBug handles embedded strings. However in FREDA's case, this triggers a break point which puts a dialog on the screen displaying all registers and a number of other variables. Key commands display various display screens, and optionally enter Pixie if necessary, maintaining absolute system state due to interrupts being disabled. As more and more system functions required interrupt support, the situations where you could use FREDA became less and less, and GSBug obtained a lot more features as Dave took over the project inside Apple. Anyway, FREDA still has it's specific uses, particularly on projects I tend to work on which seem to be more often system level functionality where interrupts are involved. The display is neat, because from memory it uses multiple text colours using scan lines, which is fine because interrupts are disabled. Regards, Richard (RICHARDB, Cat 54, Top 43, Msg 4) [EOA] [PDT] Pixie DEBUGGING TOOL FOR THE Apple IIgs """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Pixie is a debugging tool for the Apple IIgs, which never really took off in the U.S. Pixie took the tried and true route of looking like a disk zap utility (like Bag of Trix Zap or similar), which at the time was the preferred way of looking at memory on most computing platforms. Unfortunately for Pixie, Dave Lyons' Nifty List gains a firm footing in the U.S. around the same time, mostly due I suspect to his contacts with the developer community (this was before he joined Apple from memory). I don't like shell based debuggers, never have, never will, and I was amazed that many Apple IIgs developers did. Pixie displayed $100 bytes of memory at a time, in hex and ASCII, with many functions for navigation, searching and displaying memory. It could dump all the toolbox and system memory structures which Nifty List eventually supported, but also included descriptions of each field, and the ability to follow links between data structures, follow handles with a single key press, following memory links, display memory handles, show loaded files their names and locations, jump up and down between memory allocations and a heap of other stuff I can't even remember. It supported editable data structure templates, so you could add your own on top of all the toolbox and system ones, it supported it's own COP ala FREDA for interrupt sensitive environments, drop to monitor (while disabled if you wished), print a complete map of memory with legend for every handle and who owns it and their pathname. You can display all handles owned by an app or some other userid, the list goes on... For me Nifty List involved too much typing. With Pixie, simple key presses allowed you to bounce in display what you need and bounce back out. The COP support also allowed you to preempt the memory address to display, couple this with appropriate assembly macros and the options are quite extensive. Then again, if you'd never used a disk editor or a memory zap utility on another platform, you'd probably find Pixie difficult to use. For my liking however, it was a better metaphor for debugging memory than Nifty List. GSBug did stepping and tracing just fine, so it's the missing features that programmers should have been looking at, and that's why it looked and behaved the way it did. Does that make sense? :-) Regards, Richard (RICHARDB, Cat 54, Top 43, Msg 5) >>>>> """"" Pixie sounds pretty cool. I might have to give that a try. I never liked the shell-like interface of Nifty List. :) Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 54, Top 43, Msg 6) [EOA] [GSD] GS/OS SERIAL DRIVERS ADEQUATE FOR APP? """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Are the GS/OS serial drivers adequate for writing an app that does serial communication? Doesn't need to be lightning fast, just reasonably reliable and easier to use than talking directly to the firmware. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 57, Top 12, Msg 6) >>>>> """"" I think TML Pascal (Complete pascal) included a sample modem program that used the GS/OS serial drivers. And InCider had a review of it that seriously bashed the sample app. I'm not sure if it was because TML Pascal sucked or because the serial drivers sucked. That was a while back. The drivers might have improved since then. Jawaid Bazyar wrote a modem user tool (used by Telecom GS), and I've seen documentation for it. I never had any problems with TelecomGS dropping characters, etc. GNO/ME also includes serial drivers, and I can't recall too many problems using them, even with multiple processes running. (KWS, Cat 57, Top 12, Msg 7) [EOA] [AFP] Apple II FileType FOR PDF FILES """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Are PDF files assigned an Apple II filetype? I'm wondering if we ought to do so at this point. Ryan (RSUENAGA, Cat 60, Top 3, Msg 6) >>>>> """"" They aren't, but perhaps they should be. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 60, Top 3, Msg 7) >>>>> """"" Since there is an Apple II program that can create them, I'd say so. :) That brings up an interesting question, though. It's obvious (it IS obvious, isn't it?) that the file type "short form" for this file type should be pdf. I know that there is a list in one or more of my programming references (although I can't remember which one) of selected file types with their long and short names. It's not as extensive as the one here on A2Central, but it does have the short names. (AWP,ASP,ADB, etc) But what is the relationship between the short name and the hex name of the file type? Or is the short form connected to the aux type? Are they hard-wired into the ROM somehow? (In which case we couldn't add a new one?) _________ | homas (TCOMPTER, Cat 60, Top 3, Msg 8) >>>>> """"" The relationship is one of a lookup table, basically. The File Type Descriptor (FTD) files in your Icons folders contain lookup tables that map filetype/auxtype pairs to the appropriate type name and three-character abbreviation. Adding more is simply a matter of adding more FTD files. The Finder opens these files and reads in the lists of type/auxtype->description mappings when it starts up. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 60, Top 3, Msg 9) >>>>> """"" So what's the process of applying for a filetype, since we need one here? Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. - rsuenaga@apple2.org - A2's Head Geek Alpha Testing CoPilot v2.55 and ProTERM 3.1 Offline Syndicomm.com Message Manager (A2.RYAN, Cat 60, Top 3, Msg 10) >>>>> """"" The filetype form hasn't been set up yet on the A2Central.com site... hm. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 60, Top 3, Msg 11) [EOA] [TIP] WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE iPod? """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Any opinions on the iPod? Ryan (A2.RYAN, Cat 4, Top 2, Msg 27) >>>>> """"" I think it's a great looking device. I'd love to be able to afford one. If I could I'd rig up some sort of holder and connection in the car and use it as a car stereo too. They aren't available in Australia yet, but I hear they're going to be $A850. Hmm wonder if they'll be cheaper education... Kim Howe Newton Forum Host (KIMHOWE, Cat 4, Top 2, Msg 28) >>>>> """"" I think the iPod looks great. I'd love to have one. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 4, Top 2, Msg 29) >>>>> """"" I want one! The cassette player in my car has ceased to play properly, but it will still handle one of those dummy cassettes that you can plug into the earphone socket of any Walkman, Diskman etc. The iPod makes a perfect companion to that device, and would bring back music of my choice to car journeys. The iPodt is also much more practical than lugging a Diskman and a folder of CDs around when you go travelling. But the price is high over here in the UK, we are being asked to pay $520 for one! Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Mon 12 Nov 2001 - 253 days till KFest '02 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR 1.0b5 Setup: Bernie ][ the Rescue 3.0 and a dual G4/800Mhz GeForce3 http://www.ewannop.btinternet.co.uk/ (CONDUCTOR, Cat 4, Top 2, Msg 30) >>>>> """"" I agree with Ewen on the price. If it was 1/2 the price, I'd have ordered one the day it came out. Of course, with that unusual size of hard drive, I'm not surprised it's expensive. Ryan (A2.RYAN, Cat 4, Top 2, Msg 31) >>>>> """"" The unusual hard drive form factor is part of the reason the iPod is so tiny. :) Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. (SYNDICOMM, Cat 4, Top 2, Msg 32) [EOA] [ITI] IT, THE INVENTION """"""""""""""""" Hello, My aunt has asked me what "it" is about. She says there is some known inventor who promises to unveil something in 2002 that will "revolutionize society more than computers." This invention is simply being called "it" in the meantime. She's the only person from whom I've heard about this. Any idea what or who she's talking about? -Ken (KGAGNE, Cat 2, Top 8, Msg 233) >>>>> """"" Speculation is it's some kind of scooter. Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. - rsuenaga@apple2.org - A2's Head Geek Alpha Testing CoPilot v2.55 and ProTERM 3.1 Offline Syndicomm.com Message Manager (A2.RYAN, Cat 2, Top 8, Msg 234) >>>>> """"" Dean Kamen is a new hampshire inventor, who reportedly invented a "revolutionary" invention. So revolutionary, he got a contract to write a book about it without the publisher knowing what it is. This was "news" a year or so ago. As the story goes, Steve Jobs and Jeff "Amazon.com" Bezos have seen it and are providing some venture capital. I think Jobs was quoted as saying something like "Cities will be built around it". I think if I invented something revolutionary, showing it to Jeff Bezos wouldn't be on my list of things to do, but I digress. The inventor (under his company's name DeKa) has invented a wheel-chairy device that can climb stairs, and has filed patents for a gyroscopic-one-wheeled device, so it/ginger might be a one-wheeled, self balancing, electric/gas powered scooter. Sort of like a pogo stick with a wheel, that doesn't tip over. (KWS, Cat 2, Top 8, Msg 236) [EOA] [MSA] THE MYTH SERIES BY ASPRIN """"""""""""""""""""""""" For those of your who are familiar with the Myth series by Robert Asprin, he's released a new story. In the forward he says that this one fits between the 3rd and 4th of the series, and was written to get him back used to writing about Skeeve and Aahz. Trade size, it retails for $14.00. Later...........Howard (A2.HOWARD, Cat 2, Top 34, Msg 61) >>>>> """"" I usually wait until it comes out in mass-market paperback, but my son may buy it sooner. :) Been waiting a long time for this. In the mean time, I have enjoyed his "Phule" series and his "Time Scout" series with Linda Evans. Carl Knoblock - Telephone Tech - Mon 22 Oct 01 7:24:59 pm cknoblo@home.com - Via Spectrum v2.5.2 & SOAR v1.0b6 KFest 2002, July 23-28, 2002 - 274 days till KFest On cable via LANceGS & Marinetti 2.0.1 - Thank you, Richard. A2 RTC Staff - Saturday Night House Party - carlk@syndicomm.com (CARLK, Cat 2, Top 34, Msg 62) [EOA] ------------------------------------ ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM SYNDICOMM | ------------------------------------ by Lyle Syverson [WBB] WEBSIDE BULLETIN BOARDS OPEN IN SEVERAL FORUMS """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The following forums now have webside bulletin boards open: Page Keyword Name ---- ---------- ------------------------------------------- 150 HELPDESK Syndicomm Online HelpDesk 590 PALM Palm OS Forum 605 MAC Macintosh Forum 645 A2 Apple II Community 850 GAMEBITS Gamebits Forum 990 WRITING The Prolific Quill 1600 WTC The WTC/Pentagon Support & Discussion Forum The rest of our forums will move over in the next couple of weeks, we expect. Also, the web board software will continue to receive upgrades over the coming weeks and months as we strive to improve our services for you. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. SYNDICOMM, HelpDesk Forum, Cat 4, Top 6, Msg 2) [EOA] [PQF] PROLIFIC QUILL FORUM NOW OPEN """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" If you know how to read and write, then you have something to discuss in the Prolific Quill Forum at page 990, keyword WRITING. The Prolific Quill is a forum for writers, both professional and casual, to exchange ideas and techniques, as well as to share samples of their work. We also provide a place for avid readers to discuss their current and favorite books. Whether you're reading or writing fiction or non-fiction, in print or online, Prolific Quill has a place for you! Prolific Quill is also available from your web browser at this URL: -Ken Gagne PQ Chief Sysop (KGAGNE, HelpDesk Forum, Cat 3, Top 11, Msg 9) [EOA] [DAD] LIKE TO PLAY DUNGEONS & DRAGONS? """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Like to play Dungeons & Dragons but can't find a campaign near you? Join us in the Live Games Forum at Page 810, keyword LIVEGAMES, category 8, topic 1, where a hardy band of adventurers is gearing up for a foray into the Caves of Shadow! (Login Banner, Syndicomm Online) [EOA] [SSO] SIGN UP FOR SYNDICOMM ONLINE """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Since Syndicomm message boards are available via both web and telnet, can one sign up for Syndicomm membership either way? I don't know if there are people with access to telnet but not the web; they're the only ones I could think of who would benefit from having both choices. -Ken KGAGNE, HelpDesk, Cat 4, Top 3, Msg 4) >>>>> """"" Someday there will be a telnet-based signup capability, but I don't know when. However, our new user signup forms should work fine in text-only browsers, such as Lynx. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd sheppy@syndicomm.com Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. SYNDICOMM, HelpDesk, Cat 4, Top 3, Msg 5) >>>>> """"" That's great! Is Lynx still available via telnet? I remember people doing so years ago, on CompuServe and GEnie, though I forget which server they were telnetting to - somewhere in California, I think. -Ken (KGAGNE, HelpDesk, Cat 4, Top 3, Msg 6) >>>>> """"" > ... Is Lynx still available via telnet? ... From: http://www.trill-home.com/lynx/public_lynx.html Public Lynx access There are a number of sites that will permit public Lynx access via telnet and a guest account. Web masters can also use web based services to see how their pages will appear in Lynx. * Public Lynx at lynx.bob.bofh.org (supply your e-mail address at the prompt) ver 2.8.1rel2 * Public Lynx at sailor.lib.md.us (login as 'guest') ver. 2.7.1 * Public Lynx at public.sunsite.unc.edu (login as 'lynx') ver. 2.6 * Public Lynx at lynx.cc.ukans.edu (login as 'lynx') ver. 2.5 * Lynx View mirror in Japan (support for Japanese charsets) Lyle Syverson Editor, _The Lamp!_ published monthly on the WEB at: (LYLE, HelpDesk, Cat 4, Top 3, Msg 8) >>>>> """"" There are versions of Lynx for many operating systems, including Mac OS. You can also run Lynx on your own UNIX (or similar) boxes, which is what I do. Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. - rsuenaga@apple2.org Chief Sysop and Head Geek, A2 Brought to you by alpha CoPilot v2.55 and ProTERM 3.1 Offline Syndicomm.com Message Manager (A2.RYAN, HelpDesk, Cat 4, Top 3, Msg 10) (EOA) ------------------------------------ DISTILLATIONS FROM DELPHI A2 | ------------------------------------ by Lyle Syverson [UYA] WHAT DO YOU USE YOUR Apple II FOR? """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Hey everyone, I come here almost every weekday and see so few posts. I understand a lot of folks have migrated to A2 Central's boards, but I also notice quite a few visits throughout the day from lurkers (like myself). I use my Apple about every other day on average for games and fiddling in Applesoft and ML. I have a IIc in sweet condition and quite a few boxed games that I've amassed from eBay and local sources. Lately, I've been tinkering with sound and graphics in ML, but am still rather novice at it. I wrote tiny ML routines "back in the day," but nothing serious. I started programming in Applesoft in '80, so I'm comfortable with programming principles, I'm picking up assembly for the Apple to sort of fill in the blanks on my knowledge of this amazing machine... it's incredibly nostalgic. I've been doing a lot of assembly coding directly in monitor, but I do have Merlin... I'm just not very used to it and it's easier for me to boot up into Applesoft and tinker. But since I'm starting to dabble in graphics, I have a feeling I'll be re-acquainting myself with Merlin real soon. :) I'd like to know what others are doing with their Apples. I have mine connected to my PC via serial cable and use ADT to transfer disk images, but I haven't done any other networking with it (yet). I'm curious if others are using their Apples for e-mail or even browsing. I'll be receiving a modem soon and I own ProTerm 3.0, so I may see if there are local BBS's to mess with (not necessarily Apple-related, but dialing up to a BBS in general would also be terribly nostalgic). Anyway, please share your experiences with this classic machine! I'd love to read them! -Lee (THELBANE1, 3530.1, Delphi A2 web side) >>>>> """"" I still come here often. I'm not much of a poster though. B-{) Most of my time is on A2Central's RTC. We have a nice bunch of folks who love to chat there. Programming is a blast. I haven't done any for quite a while lately, but in the early days, I really enjoyed doing it. It stretches those old brain cells. B-{) I use my GS daily. It has a LANceGS ethernet card in it, and I share my cable modem connection with it and 5 other computers here at home. I really love this LANce! I have a Linux account at school I telnet into to use my GS to browse using lynx and links. And Spectrum works great for that. I use TelnetNDA for my chatting on A2Central. Kim did great work on this! Well, since I've been involved with Apples since 1981, I'd go into withdrawal symptoms if I didn't have one in front of me. That's why I have 8 spare GS's, 6 //e's, and one ][+. B-{) Kirk (KMITCHEL, 3530.2, Delphi A2 web side) >>>>> """"" I use my IIgs every day. I have a dialup shell account which gives me email, telnet, FTP, and Lynx. Many places on the web are Lynx friendly including A2Central.com. I also access Delphi via Lynx. I access Syndicomm Online via telnet. And, of course, _The Lamp!_ is produced using my IIgs. Lyle Syverson Editor, _The Lamp!_ published monthly on the WEB at: (LYLE837, 3530.3, Delphi A2 web side) >>>>> """"" I used to come here at least once a day back when there was text access. When text access was dropped, it was at least 4 months before I came back for another look. I now try to stop by for a look every weekend but sometimes forget and go two weeks without stopping by. I try to keep up on what's going on in the Apple II area of syndicomm.com but I'm going to have to start from scratch once I get myself set up to deal with messages there easier. I'm also back to reading the apple2 usenet newsgroups after not having read a single message there in three months or so. I would love to use my IIgs, which is set up beside my PC, every day but unfortunately I don't always get the chance. I still use my IIgs for programming, gaming and communications. I also use my IIgs for those rare times when I actually have to print something as I own better word processing and desktop publishing software for it than I have for my PC. :) I'm getting a rather large collection of stuff now and I really need to organize all this stuff one of these days. That is something that I'm looking forward to as I'm sure I'll come across some great stuff that I've forgotten about. Jeff Blakeney (JBLAKENEY, 3530.7, Delphi A2 web side) [EOA] ------------------------------------ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | ------------------------------------ [ATP] Apple II DOCUMENTATION PROJECT """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 17:10:58 -0800 From: Eric Shepherd To: lyle@syndicomm.com Subject: Letter to the editor Hi, Lyle. You've been doing a great job with The Lamp! and I thought I'd drop you a line and say so, as well as point out that I'm trying to organize an effort to create real documentation for Apple II computers and software that can be distributed freely to people that get their Apple IIs at garage sales and the like. If anyone would like to pitch in, we have a few topics set up for the Apple II Documentation Project in the A2 bulletin board on Syndicomm Online. Eric Shepherd Owner, Syndicomm http://www.syndicomm.com Building communities, bit by bit. [EOA] [LTE] AN INVITATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Express your opinions about the comings and goings in the world of the Apple II computers. Send your comments to Lyle Syverson, Editor The Editor reserves the right to edit any material submitted. The Editor reserves the right to reject any material he considers unsuitable for publication in _The Lamp!_. [EOA] [KFT]------------------------------ KFest 2002 | ----------------------------------- [PAK] PLAN AHEAD FOR K-Fest 2002 """""""""""""""""""""""""" KansasFest 2002 is scheduled for July 23 through 28 of 2002. Plan ahead. Mark your calendar. Start saving your money. Join us for K-Fest 2002! For additional information visit the K-Fest Home Page at: http://www.kfest.org/ [EOA] [INN]------------------------------ EXTRA INNINGS | ----------------------------------- About The Lamp! The Lamp! is published on the fifteenth of every month on """"""""""""""" the WEB at: http://lamp.a2central.com/ This publication produced entirely with real or emulated Apple II computers using Appleworks 5.1 and Hermes. Apple II Forever! * The Lamp! is (c) copyright 2001 by Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W. All rights reserved. * To reach The Lamp! on Internet email send mail to thelamp@sheppyware.net * All issues of The Lamp! are available at The Lamp! Home Page, http://lamp.a2central.com/ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of A2Central.com, Delphi Online Services, Syndicomm, Ryan M. Suenaga, or Lyle Syverson. Forum messages are reprinted verbatim and are included in this publication with permission from the individual authors. A2Central.com, Delphi Online Services, Syndicomm, Ryan M. Suenaga, and Lyle Syverson do not guarantee the accuracy or suitability of any information included herein. We reserve the right to edit all letters and copy. Material published in this edition may not be reprinted without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Registered computer user groups, not for profit publications , and other interested parties may write the publisher to apply for permission to reprint any or all material. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< [EOF]