BMUG PD-ROM B4/PD-ROM B4.iso/Utilities/TidBITs/TidBITS 101-125/TidBITS#101⁄13-Jan-92.etx

Text File | 1992-05-27 | 29KB | 584 lines

TidBITS#101/13-Jan-92
=====================

 Big news from Apple this week, including a peek at the
   company's direction for 1992, a fix for System 7 bugs, new
   Classics, and free TrueType fonts online. For the BBS crowd,
   check out BBS In A Box IV along with a free utility that
   significantly aids the Apple Modem Tool. Last, but not least,
   the second part of our article on Word 5. Next week, news from
   Macworld SF!

 Copyright 1990-1992 Adam & Tonya Engst. Non-profit, non-commercial
   publications may reprint articles if full credit is given. Other
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 Internet: [e-mail] -- CIS: 72511,306 -- AOL: Adam Engst
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 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Topics:
    MailBITS/13-Jan-92
    Apple Consumer Electronics
    BBS In A Box, IV
    System 7 Tune-Up
    Bigger Classics
    Drive My Printer
    Word 5 Impressions Sequel
    IE To The Rescue
    Reviews/13-Jan-92

[Archived as /info-mac/digest/tb/tidbits-101.etx; 29K]


MailBITS/13-Jan-92
------------------
  I received a couple of complaints from people who don't like the
  short line length (around 68 characters) in the setext format. We
  used that line to ensure that lines pass through any strange
  mainframes on the network that may not appreciate longer lines.
  For instance, I hear that Groupe Bull minicomputers hate lines
  over 72 characters.

  There are two basic solutions to the problem. One is simple and
  will probably be the solution of choice for many of you. If the
  line doesn't reach the edge of your screen, increase the font
  size! It will be more readable and will fill your screen. You
  might want to stick with monospaced fonts like Monaco and Courier,
  since proportionally spaced fonts might look a little strange when
  the spaces don't end up being the same size.

  However, I do realize that what you really want is a way to re-
  wrap the lines that are broken at 68 characters. A graphic
  designer friend told me that the best line lengths for reading are
  between 40 and 68 characters, so the lines as you see them are
  already on the long end of the spectrum from a design perspective.
  After some thought, I'm hesitant to provide a Nisus macro or find
  and replace steps for other word processors to re-wrap the lines
  because once you do that, the file will no longer be in correct
  setext format. That's a major problem if you ever want to import
  the file into one of our forthcoming browsers. So all I'll say for
  now is that you can replace a return and two spaces with a single
  space to wrap most of the lines. More sophisticated steps would
  include replacing a return and four spaces with a special
  character, replacing a return and three spaces with a different
  special character, and then reversing the process after replacing
  a return and two space with a single space. I'm sure many of you
  have already figured this out, but please, keep a pristine copy of
  the file or you'll have to get a clean one to import into a
  browser because the files you modify are no longer correct. I
  personally think increasing the font size is the easiest
  solution.


Apple Consumer Electronics
--------------------------
  I'm pushing hard to get this in before the issue goes out, so I
  won't say much now, but at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las
  Vegas, John Sculley outlined Apple's plans for the consumer
  electronics field in his keynote address. From the sounds of it,
  Apple considers the consumer electronics market the third phase in
  Apple's overall plan, the first two being to increase the number
  of Macs out there (with the low cost Macs) and to increase
  enterprise presence, which means dealing with IBM. The products
  that will start appearing in the second half (read: Christmas) of
  1992 include a new line of CD-ROM-based desktop Macs, one for us
  normal technoweenies and one for the consumer market. I wonder how
  a CD/Mac will compare to Commodore's CDTV, which is really an
  Amiga in video game clothing. The more interesting products will
  be a bit further on, but are what Apple calls "Personal Digital
  Assistants" (PDAs). PDAs are specific beasts, and will have
  specific tasks, like electronic note-taking, videophones, and
  personal communicators. I suspect that Apple's been paying
  attention to what Xerox 's "ubiquitous computing" theories, and
  General Magic and Sony will be involved as well. I'll try to find
  more information about this at Macworld.

  Information from:
    Mark H. Anbinder -- [e-mail]


BBS In A Box, IV
----------------
  I've been a slug about checking this CD out personally because I
  don't have access to a CD-ROM drive, but I hear from Michael Bean
  of the Arizona Macintosh Users Group (AMUG) that they have a new
  version of the BBS In A Box CD-ROM. It's up to volume IV, and has
  the latest (as of December 1991) and greatest public domain and
  shareware stuff, all 1.1 gigabytes of it (after decompression).
  Some of the highlights include TidBITS issues (OK, so I'm biased),
  screen fonts for the entire Adobe font library, a special version
  of the DiskDoubler INIT that allows you to expand files from the
  Finder, a free membership in AMUG (although I don't think you have
  to go to all the meetings :-)), System 7.0.1, and lots of tools
  for searching the contents of the CD-ROM from with numerous
  databases, including On Location, Panorama, Microsoft Works, and
  HyperCard. BBS In A Box works directly with most of the popular
  software for running a BBS, including Second Sight, Telefinder,
  Mansion, and FirstClass BBS. Normal retail is $119, but AMUG is
  running a special deal until the end of February in which you can
  get the CD for $75. Updates every six months are priced at $50, so
  you can easily keep the files up to date. Sounds pretty useful to
  me - if only I had a CD drive I'd probably be able to throw out a
  lot of the PD and shareware stuff that I keep on my overloaded
  hard drive "just in case."

    Michael Bean
    AMUG
    718 E. Campbell Ave.
    Gilbert, AZ 85234  USA
    602/892-5454
    [e-mail]
    AMUG on America Online

  Information from:
    AMUG propaganda


System 7 Tune-Up
----------------
  Apple is a little late with presents this year, but I suppose in
  the Macintosh world many presents must wait until Macworld San
  Francisco. I know Tonya's 2 MB upgrade for her Classic will wait
  until then, at which point she'll actually be able to run, no
  that's a bad word - let's say push, Word 5 along on the little
  Classic. Apple has three gifts that you might not have heard
  about: an extension that fixes some bugs and minor problems in
  System 7, some new Classic models with more memory, and some new
  printer drivers. On to the unwrapping!

  I personally liked the other names I've heard for this, 7-Up and
  ElectroGlide, though I suppose the first is taken and the second
  sounds like aftershave lotion. The main use of the Tune-Up
  extension, introduced today, is to fix problems you may have
  experienced in low memory situations. The "Application prefers
  more memory" dialog box has gone to the great bit bucket in the
  sky, which will come as a relief to anyone who's replied, "Of
  course it prefers more memory - we all do!" If there's not enough
  memory to launch an application, Tune-Up will supposedly quit
  other applications that aren't in use, though I'm curious as to
  how it will work. I run about ten programs at once, and I want to
  specify which one quits when I need more memory. If you run out of
  memory using background printing, Tune-Up will automatically
  switch to foreground printing so you don't have to swear at the
  Mac and quit your application to free up memory. Finally with
  memory, if you're not using AppleTalk (and the information we have
  does not specify using it in what way), you'll free up between
  125K and 200K of additional system memory.

  Tune-Up speeds up lots of things related to System 7, including
  Chooser operation on large networks and printing on the
  LaserWriter and StyleWriter (I suspect that fixes to the TrueType
  imaging code is partly responsible for this, so it may not help
  much with complex PostScript documents). In addition, Finder file
  copying is up to 20% faster for large files if you use Tune-Up.
  Finally, Tune-Up fixes a couple of known bugs with File Sharing
  and PrintMonitor becoming corrupted. I've run into strange crashes
  when files are saved to my hard drive over the network, and I've
  seen cases where the PrintMonitor file grows to the same size as
  the LaserWriter driver, so I'm hoping that these are the
  weirdnesses Tune-Up fixes.

  Everyone using System 7.0 and 7.0.1 should get the System 7 Tune-
  Up and install it immediately, if not sooner. Apple will ship it
  with all new Macs as of the new year, and it will be available
  free from dealers and user groups, although I think that resellers
  are not _required_ to give it to you. Licensed electronic services
  and bulletin boards will have it, which I assume means that
  ftp.apple.com should get it soon. If you're the sort who wants
  everything yesterday, you can call Apple after January 13th and
  order it for $10. I'd wait for the free version.

  One thing to keep in mind is that Tune-Up is not a new set of
  system software. It took Apple so long to get System 7 out the
  door that they've decided to add functionality through system
  extensions like Tune-Up and QuickTime. It's easier for everyone
  involved

    Apple -- 800/947-5176

  Information from:
    Mark H. Anbinder -- [e-mail]


Bigger Classics
---------------
  An Apple spokeswoman was quoted in MacWEEK as saying, "We found
  that people running System 7 [with 2 MB of RAM] were restricted to
  one application and a modest-size file." I'm nominating this for
  the understatement of the month, if not the year. It was obvious
  to absolutely everyone almost immediately that a 2 MB Classic was
  only going to run a single program with a small file and no
  background printing or cool extensions. I think some Apple honchos
  should be forced to use PageMaker 4.0 on a 2 MB Classic, and then
  we'll see some faster Macs with more memory on the low end.

  As it stands, Apple now admits that most people would really
  prefer more memory in a Classic, so Apple has introduced some new
  configurations of the Classic and LC with 4 MB of RAM and 40 MB
  hard drives. I'm not sure how happy dealers are going to be about
  the new configurations, since the new machines will be $150 more
  than the old 2 MB configurations. With RAM selling for about $36
  per MB these days, a dealer would do better to pop in some cheap
  RAM rather than stock Apple's pre-configured machines. Then again,
  I don't know how Apple charges the dealers, so it might not be a
  big deal.

  The funny part is that the 2 MB configurations will still be sold,
  although they will be "repositioned" in comparison to the machines
  with more than 2 MB. As my friend Charles Wheeler commented when I
  mentioned this to him, the 2 MB Classics should be repositioned at
  Toys 'R Us. RAM is cheap, Apple.

  Information from:
    Mark H. Anbinder -- [e-mail]


Drive My Printer
----------------
  There's been quite some complaining on the nets about the new
  drivers for the StyleWriter and the Personal LaserWriter LS, not
  so much because of the drivers themselves, but because the driver
  kits now include TrueType versions of the LaserWriter Plus fonts
  (earlier they shipped with only Times, Helvetica, Courier, and
  Symbol). Lots of people want to use these TrueType fonts, and
  Apple has alternately claimed that they are available to everyone
  and made it difficult for anyone but owners of those printers to
  order the fonts.

  Now those two printers are shipping with accessory kits that
  include the new drivers and all the fonts, and Apple is making the
  fonts and drivers available on electronic services as well. I may
  be a bit behind the times on this because it's not easy for me to
  use FTP, but there is a massive file called something like
  truetype-fonts.hqx on ftp.apple.com in the
  /dts/mac/sys.soft/imaging directory. Be warned that the file is
  about 900K. Your dealer is allowed to give you the drivers, and
  those who want to pay $18 can order them from Apple after today.

    Apple -- 800/947-5176

  Information from:
    Mark H. Anbinder -- [e-mail]
    Mark Vita -- [e-mail]


Word 5 Impressions Sequel
-------------------------
  by Pythaeus

  Welcome to part two of our commentary on Word 5. Word 5 comes as
  an 825K application which forms the core of the word processor. A
  number of its features are actually add-in modules which sit in
  the "Word Commands" folder. The idea here is that third parties
  could write additional commands for specialized tasks and users
  can decide which commands to install, thus minimizing the amount
  of space disk space that Word consumes. This ability to ad
  functionality via modules is one of the main features of System 7
  so it is nice to see developers using this technique.


OLE
  However, some of these commands take advantage of Microsoft's own
  Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology, which is kind of
  like System 7's AppleEvents and Publish & Subscribe, but not
  quite. Microsoft is implementing OLE (pronounced o-lay ) right and
  left in its applications, particularly on the Windows side. We are
  still trying to fully understand OLE, but we do know that Word 5
  users having the necessary applications and memory may have some
  fun with it. Word 5's OLE features only work with System 7, Word,
  and Excel (Microsoft hasn't released the specs, though it may
  soon).

  Publish & Subscribe requires three files: publisher, edition, and
  subscriber. Two particular advantages of Publish & Subscribe are
  that it allows multiple subscribers and works with any System
  7-savvy application. A potential disadvantage is that edition
  files may start cluttering your hard drive. Microsoft's Linking
  creates a direct link between two files or two parts of one file,
  with no intermediary edition file. Embedding works like this: say
  you do a report in Word and include some totals from Excel. In the
  old days you would cut and paste them in, and today you might do a
  Publish & Subscribe (or a Link) so that you could change the
  spreadsheet and conveniently update your Word report. But, if you
  take the report home to work on it, you need to remember the Word
  file, possibly the Edition file, and the Excel worksheet (starts
  to sound luggable, not portable). If you instead embed the totals
  from Excel into Word, you actually embed the entire Excel
  worksheet, not just the totals. If you take the Word file home and
  then need to change some numbers, you can access them through your
  Word file. (Both these scenarios assume you have Word and Excel at
  home). In addition, if you submit the report electronically,
  someone wondering about your totals could access the entire
  worksheet. Embedding won't be right every time, but it does have
  appropriate uses.


Equation Editor
  Word 5 uses OLE to link with its new Equation Editor, which is
  actually a modified and stripped-down version of Design Science's
  MathType. Some of the bigger items that were removed include: the
  TeX interface, macros, and the ability to save as EPS or PICT. The
  Equation Editor represents a significant improvement over Word 4's
  equation abilities. For example, Word 4 allows you to make a
  fraction by typing \f(42,100). This isn't bad for simple stuff,
  but when you consider that the innocuous-looking backslash comes
  from typing command-option-backslash, it grows more complicated.
  I'm not particularly qualified to evaluate an equation editor, but
  it looks like a serious and useful program, and it has many more
  options than Word 4's formulas ever dreamed of offering.

  The Equation Editor does not save. If you use System 6, you must
  copy equations to the Scrapbook or another file before quitting.
  If you use System 7, OLE-style links automatically incorporate the
  equation in your file. To edit an existing equation with OLE, you
  just double-click it to jump to the Equation Editor. Although this
  is intuitive if you have a strong understanding of OLE, the common
  System 7 user may be somewhat mystified by having to create a new
  equation by selecting Object from the Insert menu. So it's not
  perfect.


Graphics
  Word 5 also uses OLE to link graphics to Word's drawing window.
  Unlike Nisus and possibly other word processors with graphics
  capabilities, Word 5 forces you to create and edit graphics in a
  separate window from your text. Poor design, in my opinion. To
  create a graphic you click a button on the Ribbon, and if the
  graphic already exists you double-click the graphic in order to
  edit it. The draw window acts the way I remember MacDraw from
  about 1987 when I had my first taste of Macintosh graphics. It has
  the usual drawing tools: text, line, polygon, square, rounded
  square, circle, and arc. You can apply a variety of patterns and
  any of eight colors to the outlines and the interiors of the
  shapes. Text can be aligned left, right, and center. You can
  choose from four different arrow-line types and several line
  thicknesses. You can flip objects and send them to the front and
  back. It's awkward to move into a different window to edit the
  graphic, but, on the other hand, you can rotate text to any angle
  that you like. It's not fancy, but for basic stuff, it gets the
  job done.

  Those of you who have used Word 4 may have encountered its
  Position command, which you use to "position" graphics or
  paragraphs of text on the page. It's nice that you can position
  graphics, but if you plan to do it often, you really should use a
  desktop publishing program. Complex positioning in Word represents
  a form of computer torture. Word 5 takes the Word 4 positioning
  logic and tries to make it a little bit easier via the Frame
  command, but still has a way to go before this function becomes
  even moderately user friendly.


Find File
  A command that I rather like is the Find File command. I'm not as
  organized as I'd like to be, and my Macintosh reflects this. Also,
  my Mac is a little slow, so I tend to throw files on the desktop
  or in a random folder when saving, promising myself that I'll file
  them away neatly when I have time. This works great except that I
  sometimes lose files. I keep Word's Find File command installed so
  that I can access it from the File menu or from Word's Open dialog
  box. It allows me to search for a file based on a number of
  attributes including the file's text, title, creation date, or
  some other stuff too. I can even preview the file before I open it
  to make sure I have the right one (including graphics files). Even
  on this pokey Mac, the preview is almost instant.


Import & Export
  Word 5's translators are all considered commands and can be
  installed as needed. Nothing is particularly ground breaking or
  unexpected, except that it can now open PICT, PICT2, TIFF, or EPS
  files through the Standard File Dialog box (you can also insert
  these files into a Word document). Microsoft added the ability to
  open and save files in formats including: DOS WordPerfect 5.0 and
  5.1, MacWrite  4.5, 5, and II, Word for Windows (WinWord to its
  friends), and all versions of Word for DOS. One important point is
  that Word 5 uses the same file format as Word 4, unlike Word 4 and
  Word 3, so there shouldn't be any major problems switching between
  them.


Writing Tools
  Another pair of installable commands are the spell checker and
  dictionary. The dictionary is based on the American Heritage
  Dictionary and has 88,000 root words (Word 4 had only 56,000 root
  words). Word 5's speller guesses at spellings automatically, but
  is rather slow. Luckily, you can turn the guess option off if you
  use a slower Macintosh. Unlike Word 4, Word 5 lets you ignore
  words. You open and close dictionaries through Preferences instead
  of using Word 4's method of opening the spell check window and
  then going directly to the File menu, choosing open, and opening
  the dictionary. That's a relief, but you're still beeped to save
  the User Dictionary when you quit, something you're often not
  expecting, especially if Word has been running all day without
  quitting.

  I haven't had a chance to work with the Thesaurus, but here's some
  administrivia about it. Word 4 used a version of Microlytics's
  WordFinder DA thesaurus program. The WordFinder that shipped with
  Word 4 only works with Word 4 and System 7 if you use the Font/DA
  Mover to install WordFinder into Word. The WordFinder that shipped
  with Word 4 should not be used with Word 5. Microlytics and
  Microsoft are going their separate ways. Microlytics will soon
  release a System 7-compatible thesaurus, and Word 5 now uses a
  completely different thesaurus.

  I haven't worked much with the Grammar Checker, because my Mac has
  a measly 2.5 megabytes of memory. The Grammar Checker comes with a
  bunch of rules which it uses to look at text. Like all grammar
  checkers, it sometimes gets things out of context, because all it
  can do is mechanically apply its rules. If it flags a rule
  violation, it shows you the rule and explains it. You can turn
  rules off if you don't like them.


In The End
  [This wasn't mentioned above, but we at TidBITS recently attended
  Microsoft's Word 5 demo at the local user group's monthly meeting.
  We saw a video clip of the Kennedy assassination in a QuickTime
  movie within a Word 5 document. Snazzy, but expected in a
  supposedly System 7-savvy application.]

  Word has more commands than I have time to write about tonight, so
  instead of trying to make time for another command, I'd like to
  mention the manual. Microsoft received a lot of feedback about the
  Word 4 manual, and no wonder. The manual includes most of
  commands, but in alphabetical order, and good luck figuring out
  the positioning command even with the manual. The Word 5 manual
  abandons the alphabetical approach, includes tips and tricks, and
  in the parts I have read, provides extremely clear explanations.
  Early on in the manual there is a section on how the Macintosh
  organizes files and folders. [Based on personal experience, many
  Word users need some help in this department -Tonya] The manual
  grows progressively more complex with sections on printing
  envelopes and page numbering and continuing to an entire chapter
  devoted to Publish & Subscribe and Linking and Embedding. This
  chapter exemplifies the new manual's approachit explains how each
  option works using text and diagrams and gives examples of when
  each one might be most appropriate. I give the manual a big thumbs
  up.

  In part I of this article, I incorrectly stated that Word 5 could
  not search for all bold and replace with, say, italic. This was
  incorrect. Word 5 can search for a set of formatting and replace
  with a different set. Sorry about that, but I hope these two
  articles will help you figure out whether or not Word 5 is
  worthwhile for you. One thing that's unfortunate is that in many
  ways, Microsoft has become the IBM of the phrase "No one was ever
  fired for buying IBM." Do look at Word 5 carefully on your own as
  well, because many people will be far better served by something
  fast and simple like WriteNow. Others will prefer the macros and
  searching capabilities of Nisus, and lots of people like the ease
  of working with the Mac and PC versions of WordPerfect. Word 5 is
  big, powerful, and often a tad clumsy, but if you need its
  features, it won't disappoint.

    Design Science -- 800/827-0685 -- 213/433-0685
    Microsoft Customer Service -- 800/426-9400
    Microsoft Mac Word Technical Support -- 206/635-7200

  Information from:
    Pythaeus
    Word 5 manual


IE To The Rescue
----------------
  by Mark H. Anbinder

  Apple's Communications Toolbox (CTB) promises a utopia of
  consistent and powerful communications software capabilities,
  which would be a boon to developers and users alike. While the
  current version of the CTB fulfills much of this promise, it still
  has a number of shortcomings in terms of functionality and
  reliability. An example of such a shortcoming is the Apple Modem
  Tool, the basic connection tool that most CTB users will use when
  setting up a modem connection. Its fixed set of supported modems
  and non-configurable modem initialization routines provide a real
  roadblock to users who have an unsupported modem or want to change
  their modems' settings.

  The solution to this problem has arrived, in the form of a new,
  free utility from Information Electronics, called AMT Configure.
  This small, easy-to-use application allows users to customize the
  initialization strings in the Apple Modem Tool's built-in modem
  definitions, as well as add, customize, or remove definitions for
  new modems that the tool doesn't already know about. AMT Configure
  supports versions 1.0.x of the Apple Modem Tool, and a future
  version of AMT Configure will support an upcoming new AMT version.

  Information Electronics is a small but prolific software company
  based in Hammondsport, New York. They offer a wide range of add-on
  products for CE Software's QuickMail electronic mail package,
  including mail forwarding, UUCP and SMTP gateways, and a Second
  Sight BBS gateway, as well as a growing collection of attractive
  TrueType and PostScript fonts.

  AMT Configure is well designed, and offers a clear user interface.
  The user must open the Apple Modem Tool file, which is within the
  Extensions folder (or the Communications folder in System 6
  installations of the CTB). After that point, customizing a modem
  definition is a simple matter of double-clicking on the modem's
  name in a scrolling list, and making any necessary changes in the
  dialog box that comes up.

  Among the configurable elements of the modem definitions are the
  modem name, the initialization string (a string of commands that
  will be sent to the modem when it is first accessed by the Apple
  Modem Tool), the ring response string (the text sent by the modem
  to the computer when a ring is detected), and a checkbox to
  determine whether the CTB will close the connection if the modem
  drops its DSR (data set ready) signal.

  Editing a modem configuration string appears to be difficult, but
  actually is fairly straightforward. Each modem has a set of
  commands (usually a subset or superset of the "AT" commands
  defined by Hayes), and you can enable or disable certain features
  of the modem, or select certain options, by invoking the
  corresponding commands. If you have trouble deciphering the
  commands described in your modem manual, you should be able to
  find a local modem expert who will be able to help, or the modem
  company's tech support personnel may be able to help you decide
  which commands are appropriate for what you want to do.

  Because it is a free utility, Information Electronics
  understandably says that they will not provide end-user support
  for AMT Configure. The utility will be bundled with all of their
  products, and will also be available from the "usual gang of
  suspects" (the usual sources of free software), beginning with
  Memory Alpha BBS at 607/257-5822 and America Online. It should be
  available by the time you read this.

    Information Electronics
    607/868-3331
    [e-mail]

  Information from:
    Mark H. Anbinder -- [e-mail]


Reviews/13-Jan-92
-----------------
* MacWEEK
    PowerBook 100 -- pg. 37
    PowerBook 140 -- pg. 37
    DataClub 2.0 -- pg. 37
    XGator -- pg. 39
    QuadFlextra -- pg. 40

References:
    MacWEEK -- 06-Jan-92, Vol. 6, #1


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