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Copyright 1988 Darlah J. Pine. All rights reserved. ST Profile may be reprinted only in its entirety with this copyright notice intact. For permission to reprint portions, contact the copyright holder. ---------------------------------------- ST Profile November 15, 1988 Volume 1 Issue 2 FEATURES 1 Comdex Overview: A Wealth of Items to Report On by Darlah J. Pine and Sandy Wilson 2 MichTron Adds Some High-Quality Products But It Will Cease Marketing GFA BASIC 3 A Fable About the Chipmunks And the Mail-Order Beavers by Mel Pine 4 An update on a Virus Killer ...and a few words about a worm by George Woodside 5 How I Would Start Off Using Spectre If I had It All to Do Over Again by Michael Easter 6 Tech Tips Commonly Asked GDOS Questions by John Townsend, Atari Technical Advisor 7 Revolver: Is It The Ultimate Switcher? by Cedric Cunanan 8 An Overview of What's New In the GEnie Atari ST Library by Sandy Wilson and Darlah J. Pine ---------------------------------------- EDITORIAL --------- ST Profile makes its second appearance with the help of many writers who donate their time. Why do they donate their time?? I can only guess that their motivations lie in the same area that brought this magazine to be. I felt that we users deserved to have an exchange of information and ideas without biased opinions mixed within our articles. That's what ST Profile is all about. We strive to give you the facts and information only. In this way, you can come to your own conclusions. In the upcoming months, we would like to include everything you, the reader, would like to see. Please send mail to DARLAH if you have any ideas or if you feel you might want to contribute. Again, my many thanks to all who contributed to this issue. You are what makes this magazine. by Darlah J. Pine Editor ST Profile ---------------------------------------- Comdex Overview: A Wealth of Items to Report On By Darlah J. Pine and Sandy Wilson Comdex is an exciting time of the year for the computer industry. Darlah's excitement started when she packed her hard drive the morning she was to depart. "I always wonder if Comdex will be worth it this year, if I should have gone," she said. "It turns out this year it was well worth the trip." Though Atari was in the Gold Room away from direct activity, there was a steady stream of people milling in the room. [The stream may get heavier tomorrow. Rumor has it that Fleetwood Mac will be playing in the Atari booth Wednesday, November 16.] We will try to fill you in on everything that was at the show though we probably won't remember it all. Atari didn't show any new machines except for a glimpse the day before of the portable, but there was a tremendous number of items to see. Atari Corporation was showing Microsoft Write again as well as Ultrascript. Ultrascript is a Postscript-compatible interpreter used for printing files with the Atari Mega and Atari Laser only at this time. For now, you have to save the file to disk in Postscript format and then run Ultrascript. Softlogik is looking into bypassing this extra step in order to send directly to the laser. Ultrascript should be available in early 1989. No suggested retail price was available. There were several desktop publishing programs being shown. Softlogik was showing its just-released Pagestream, and Timeworks was showing its full line of products with nothing new. Atari was showing Deskset, its high-end desktop publishing program. Though being displayed, it still needed final touches and the manual was not even off to the printer. Guesstimate for arrival on the market is "real soon now." We all know what that means. Calamus, from ISD Marketing, will be shipping immediately after Comdex. As an avid user of Pagemaker, Darlah was impressed to note the similarities and differences. In a recent article in Personal Publishing Magazine, users were asked for their wishlist for Pagemaker. The amazing thing is that Calamus has four out of five things on that wishlist. "In my opinion," Darlah said, "this is a must-have product. I have to admit that I am sorry now for not waiting for this product before jumping on the bandwagon to buy Pagemaker at a much higher cost." Suggested retail is $299. As previously mentioned, there was very little in the way of new hardware from Atari, but there was a bit of confusion. Atari showed a rather large, very alpha laptop computer for a very large lap indeed. Or at least that's what was displayed the day before the show. At the last minute, it was taken out of view. A couple of days later, though, Darlah happened to see a more truly laptop-size model being shown privately to someone over in a corner. We don't know whether it was a working machine or a model, but it raised the possibility that a true laptop is on the way. There were three transputers up and running, with an occasional demo from the stage. The PC-4 and the PC-5 were also being displayed with no new information regarding when they would reach the market in the U.S. John Russel Innovations was displaying its JRI Genlock System for the ST. Genlock allows you to use drawing and animated programs in low and medium resolution mode to be combined with an outside video source such as a camera, VCR or camcorder. You can install the printed circuit board inside the Mega without any modifications or soldering. Genlock is hardware ONLY. No software is required. Suggested tentative pricing is $500. Genlock is currently awaiting FCC approval. A version for the 1040 and 520 ST is now in development. Neriki Computer Graphics from Australia was showing the Neriki Image Master. This software allows the ST to interface with the Polaroid Palette Image Recorder through the serial port. This combination enables a quick transfer of the screen image to 35mm slide, print or overhead transparency for graphic presentations. The software costs around $600, and the Polaroid Palette lists for around $2,000. Navarone was showing its new version of ST SCAN, which allows you to print directly to the Atari SLM804 laser printer as if it were a copy machine. The pictures may also be saved in DEGAS, IMG and Postscript format. The quality of the laser prints was very impressive! Roger scanned a $100 bill and it's a good thing it was not printed on a light green paper, otherwise the Feds may be after him. Yes, the quality was that good. Seymore-Radix was showing its image scanner with nothing new. The Wuztek Omnimon GS monitor was being used in high resolution and looked quite good. This monitor is capable of displaying all resolutions using up to 128 grey scales. There were also a number of applications being shown using the Viking 2/91 monitor. Antic was showing Cyberpaint as well as kicking off its new magazine, Amiga Plus. There was a box for Cyber Sculpt on the Cyberpaint desk, but it was not being shown when we were there. Cyber Sculpt allows you to add an array of 3D modeling tools and capabilities to Cyber Studio. Suggested Retail $89.95 Human Technology was displaying ZZ-Lazy Paint, which is a drawing program from France. The result on your printer is one of extreme quality. It has all the functions of other paint programs plus a lot more. It utilizes powerful filtering functions to obtain 64 levels of shading. You can save your formats in IMG, PI3 and Postscript. Also being displayed was ZZ-Rough, which is a computer- assisted tool for artistic drawing. With ZZ-Rough, you can create renderings, sketches and drawings. In addition, there is a photocopier and a library of 3-dimensional objects that you can move and turn in space. No suggested retail price was available. Abacus was showing Beckercad. The program lets you draw with ease with drop-down menus for beginners. The program has an powerful toolbox and an integrated programming language oriented toward standard page description languages such as page script. No suggested retail price was available. Abacus was also showing its Computer Viruses book that describes not only what computer viruses are but how to protect yourself from them. This book is written with the PC in mind, but it includes some sample listings in Basic, machine language and Pascal. Though it comes at a time of hype and we wonder if such a book will create more activity instead of halting such a problem, it certainly might be worth looking into. The suggested price is $18.95 Biolog Systems was showing MEDI-ST, a flexible package designed for physicians in private practice, that has been available in France for two years. It includes all the functions of a database, word- processor and telecommunication program, and allows graphics to be included with an individual patient record and/or follow-up instructions. A password system allows this package to be shared by more than one physician. In the educational area, First Byte was showing its full line of educational wares for children. Computer Curriculum Corporation has a system designed for schools that allows you to have a complete educational package including math, reading, language skills and computer education. The system is available for all ages. For more information, call (415) 494-8450. Several games were demoed. Electronic Arts was showing Zany Golf while we were there. Zany Golf is a miniature golf program with a few twists. It has jumping hamburgers, holes that move and lasers and energy orbs. It looks like this game will hold your interest. Also noted to be shown was Advanced Dungeon and Dragons -- Heroes of the Lance. We didn't get a chance to see this one, though. They did say that they were putting out a commercial version of Monopoly. Hmm, no wonder why all those pd versions of this game disappeared. We were told it was to be much better, though we did not get a chance to view it. Suggested retail price for the above programs was $39.95 Spectrum HoloByte was showing "Falcon," the F-16 fighter simulation program. It looks like it is quite interesting and appears to be keyboard intensive. It is slated to be out at the end of November. No suggested retail price noted. FTL's next entry in the Dungeon Master series, Chaos Strikes Back, will hit the market around Christmas...hint disk will hit in about four weeks. The preview disk to dealers will hit RSN. The hint disk will be able to be loaded in when you get stuck at a certain point. The best part about it is it senses where you are and will not give you any hints other than the ones pertinent to where you are. MichTron and Microdeal from England were sharing a booth. Viva was shown from their booth again as well as well as GFA Raytrace and HiSoft Basic. Microdeal products looked exciting. We saw a program called Tale Spin, and that is exactly what you can do. It allows you to create an adventure with graphics that can be reused on up to 50 different pages but using the minimum amount of memory. With the ability to import NEO/DEGAS pictures and an internal art package, it makes for a very easy creator for a new user as well as a computer-experienced one. You can also import St-Replay sound files for sound effects when a new page is displayed or when you click on a character. The best part about this is you can create adventures and lock them so no one can change your adventure, or leave it unlocked so those you share it with can add to and create a more intensive adventure. This is a must-have for any adventure lover. Approximate price was not set, but $89.95 was discussed. Jug was also mentioned, but we did not get a chance to see it. There were a variety of programming languages available for the ST being shown. Mark Williams C was there. Costech Software Systems has COBOL/MST available as well as a shell that includes MS-DOS and Unix type commands. Omikron from Germany was showing its Basic, which is the "official Basic of Atari Germany." It includes an interpreter, compiler and libraries, but is not currently available in the U.S. They are looking for a U.S. company to distribute it. GEnie was promoting its product with a full staff including Neil Harris. QMI was showing ST Professional. It was noted that it will be more active online now that the mad rush has partially passed. Coming real soon from QMI is Disk Librarian. This product allows you to keep track of your software and data files with an easy-to-use Gem program. Disk Librarian allows you to sort, search and add comments to your database of files. The number of entries is limited only by the memory in your computer. Lets hope we see this sooner than real soon now. Intersect was showing Masterlink. Masterlink contains all the features of Interlink plus multiple buffers with buffer reformat, tabs, word wrap and search/replace. It has an advanced script language, which helps you to develop your own scripts. You will be able to execute your scripts in the background. A built-in answer mode gives you complete remote control. Masterlink will be available in the first quarter of 1989 with an upgrade policy available for registered users of Interlink. Suggested retail prices is $59.95. This looks like one we want to see as soon as it ships. Nite Lite Systems was demonstrating its the Lantech RS232 local area network. With this system you can control up to seven nodes, which can be computers, printers, terminals or modems. The Lantech Lan requires one meg of internal RAM to run. Suggested retail price is $799. Atari continues to do well in the music world. Hybrid Arts, Dr. T and Midisoft were there showing their current product lines, and Sonus was showing the new version of its scoring and sequencing package, Superscore 1.3. They have added a number of extra editing features as well as now allowing music to be entered using the mouse. Passport Designs was demoing Master Tracks Jr and Master Tracks Pro. These programs retail for $129.95 and $349.95 respectively. The major difference between the two versions is the addition of a graphic step editor, which greatly enhances editing capabilities. The latest version of Master Tracks Pro (version 2.5) should be available in about a week. SMPTE capabilities will be available with version 3.0, but no release date for that version was mentioned. Legend Software Systems from Canada was showing its sequencing program, The Final Cut. This program is very user friendly. It utilizes animated tape reels and standard tape-recorder-type controls to facilitate easy input from the synthesizer. It also has a good variety of editing tools for everything from manipulating any section of your song to MIDI event editing and special effects. The Final Cut lists at $89.95 and is currently available at Federated stores. DLR (Digital Laboratory Research) was showing AMADEUS ST. This is a computer-assisted music learning program that is currently available in France. The program is designed for all skill levels, from beginner to professional, and includes instruction in music reading, theory and harmony. Also included are a couple of games, and the ability to score practice sessions to determine progress. It's current price is $245. ICD was showing its Fast Tape Backup. Need we say we all need this?? Fast Tape Backup allows you to recover individual files on restore under TOS or MS-DOS partitions. Will the Spectre/Magic Sac users be left out?? An Image backup mode is also supported on these partitions. Along with another 50 meg hard drive, this too will be on our wish list. Astra was showing its full line of products with its new cases. Astra has one of the best hard drives on the market along with ICD. Upgrade Editions had its product, Twist. Twist allows you to load several applications in the ST memory (up to 14 on the Mega 4) and use them without ever having to reload or save files. Twist is sold in the U.K. by HiSoft. With MichTron picking up their HiSoft's basic, maybe this will be available through MichTron as well. ViewTouch was showing its touch-screen computer system, known mostly for its restaurant POS computer system. One can order food and drinks by touching the screen without having to wait for a waiter or waitress. Technology comes to restaurants. Lets see how far this concept spreads. Visi-Comp Systems was one of the first professional vertical market applications for the ST. It is a complete professional optometric office management system. IBP was one of our favorite stops in the Gold Room. This company from Hannover has great possibilities. It was showing the 190ST. The 190ST allows you to design a system for different industrial applications, such as a concrete-mixing plant, but different ideas come to our mind, like a more portable computer?? The central unit of the system is equipped with a CPU MC68000 and can be optionally extended by a mathematic co-processor and by the blitter. All sockets are existing. With up to 2 Mbyte of RAM and modular add- ons, the system is set up for quite a few ideas that one may have. We were told that all you need to do is let the people at IBP know what you need your system to do, and they can do it. The graphic resolution of the monitor shown was 640x400 in high res with color being 320x200 in low res and medium being 640x200. We were told that the high picture repetition frequency, noninterlaced with 71 Hz in the monochrome mode, results in a absolutely flicker-free picture. The system is equipped with interfaces all accessible on the front panel, including a centronics printer connection, buffered DMA interface with a transmission rate of 10MBit a second, keyboard with V24 levels and ST records, midi-in/midi-out/midi-thru with 126k baud option and a RS232 interface. This system is Atari ST hardware and software compatible. IBP also had a HFD2 along, which is a combined hard drive/floppy disk. The floppy had 720 kbyte capabilities, with the hard drive coming with the option for 48 or 96 Mbyte. It had a built-in real- time clock and a DMA port looped through. As you can see, we were impressed. Why are WE not seeing these products here in the United States when we are told these products are currently available in Europe? Lets hope this is the start of changes to be seen in the U.S. market. Tozd Koooperacisa was showing a MS3270 network for approximately $4,000 from Yugoslavia and an integrated database. We did not even know that Yugoslavia had Atari STs. On the business end, Logical Design Works was showing LDW Power, its spreadsheet for the Atari ST. Precision Software was showing Superbase 3.0, which is a major upgrade to Superbase professional. Among its new features, this version comes with telecommunications capabilities, more powerful forms editor and a cross-file file validation and lockup. The telecommunications area supports Xmodem, Xmodem CRC and WXYmodem. Suggested retail price is $349.95. These folks had a strong interest in getting online with GEnie. Maybe we will see them soon. Regent Software was showing its latest version of Regent Base II as well as a keyboard stiffening springs kit for the 1040 and 520ST to allow you to have a stiffer keyboard. It was noted that this may increase typing speed. They were also showing SQL Database Add-On, their program that brings SQL database capabilities to GFA BASIC. There were three word processors being shown. Neocept was there with its latest upgrade for WordUp and TurboJet, which is a GDOS driver for the HP DeskJet. WordPerfect was showing the current version of its word processor. There is also a new word processor from Blue Chip due out in January. It has graphic capabilities and supports GDOS output. Suggested retail price is about $100. Nice and Software presented a cash-register inventory-control program for the ST called Cricit. It not only has complete cash- register functions but allows you to do everything from daily/period/yearly reporting to customized receipts, coupons, inventory and reporting. It seems to be quite user friendly. There are so many features, we just do not have room to mention them all. Datafree Industries was presenting an inexpensive order entry/inventory and receivables program. These two programs are quite sufficient for the small-business owner. Suggested retail price for each is $79.95 Turning Point Software was showing Fast Forward Video Systems, which is a networking video-store management system. It has all the features necessary to run a video store. As you can see, there was definitely a tremendous number of items being displayed at the show. We are sure we may have missed some, but with a lack of sleep and many hours compiling this article in alternating shifts, you must forgive us. Was Comdex worth it?? The answer is a definite YES. Watch for more detailed reports on specific items in the GEnie bulletin board as well as future articles in ST Profile. ---------------------------------------- ***NEWS FLASH! ...on MichTron As ST Profile went to press, the following was announced by MichTron: Due to a request by GFA SystemTeknic of Germany, MichTron will no longer be marketing GFA BASIC. GFA SystemTeknic has indicated that it wants to create its own distribution network. Support for GFA products will be handled by MichTron until the transition takes place. [The article below was written before this development was uncovered by ST Profile.] ---------------------------------------- News From MichTron: Scoring Some Coups MichTron, a pioneer in providing high quality-software to computer users at affordable prices, has scored another coup! We've been searching all over the world for the best programs and hardware for you -- the most useful, most powerful and highest quality to provide the highest value. MichTron is proud to be adding Power BASIC, HiSoft BASIC, Devpac2 and other quality products from HiSoft to an already outstanding product line. HiSoft, a software developer since 1980, is headquartered in Bedford, England, and has developed products such as a fast Pascal Compiler and an outstanding assembler for the Amstrad and Spectrum computers. For the past three years HiSoft has been developing products for the 16-bit Atari ST and Commodore Amiga computers. The first product to emerge was Devpac -- the assembler, editor, debugger and disassembler -- recognized as "the best" by many developers, but it has been difficult to get in the U.S. DevpacST Version 2 is now available. HiSoft's dedication to a simple user interface coupled with extensive facilities and complete documentation is even more apparent in DevpacST Version 2. DevpacST Version 2 is an all-new version of the most powerful assembly language development system for the Atari ST, incorporating an integrated editor/assembler/debugger, a stand- alone assembler and debugger, and a fast linker. All this for only $99.95. The GenST Assembler is a high-performance, full-featured, two-pass Motorola standard macro assembler that assembles up to 80,000 lines of code per minute and can produce directly executable programs or linkable object code in GST or DRI format. It's the Ferrari of assemblers! Standard features include conditional assembly, text-include and macros. Other features are: --Speed: Include files are read only once (memory permitting), and the binary file is buffered as long as possible. --Integration: You can assemble to memory, then switch to MonST, the debugger. When you have finished using the debugger, switch right back into the quick and easy-to-use editor. You can even run other programs from within the editor. --GENST.TTP: The stand-alone assembler. For those who prefer using another editor, or if you use batch files or CLI's. --INCBIN directive: Takes a straight binary file and copies it into the output file. Ideal for sprite or screen data. --No limits: Macro calls, IFs and Includes may be nested as deeply as memory allows. --Local labels are supported. --TEXT, DATA, and BSS segments are fully supported when generating executable code. --Symbols are significant to the first 127 characters. Case distinction may be significant as required. The MonST Debugger is an advanced symbolic monitor, debugger and disassembler that has all the standard features you would expect: such as single-stepping programs, dynamic multiple break points, full register and memory display, searching by bytes, words, longwords, strings or parts of instructions, and an independent screen driver that prevents conflicts with graphics programs. MonST also offers many other enhanced features previously unheard of in such a cost-effective package. The DevpacST disk also contains source-code files, useful demos of applications like a simple TOS program, a full GEM window application, and an example of a desk accessory. A library is provided for all AES and VDI calls. The documentation details all aspects of the package with notes for using various levels of the operating system and debugging strategies, including desk accessories and AUTO applications. **The Logical Alternative - HiSoft BASIC** HiSoft BASIC for the Atari ST is the answer to many programmers' prayers; a fast, easy-to-use BASIC Compiler, which conforms to the industry standard, Microsoft BASIC. In fact, the compatibility with Microsoft BASIC is so strong, we were able to take a program written in BASICA on the IBM and convert it to run on the ST in about five minutes! The list price for HiSoft BASIC is amazingly low. Only $79.95 provides you with the power of a compiled language! Don't confuse this package with GFA BASIC, also available from MichTron. HiSoft BASIC is not an interpreted language like GFA BASIC; you must compile your programs before testing. Therefore, the development process may be slower for novices. The trade-off is sheer power and an amazing degree of portability between machines! You'll be turning your BASIC programs into compact 68000 machine- code, stand-alone, ready-to-run programs. HiSoft BASIC is the answer to many of your programming problems. HiSoft BASIC conforms to the latest specifications for BASIC. It then extends itself to take advantage of the large memory and special characteristics of the 68000 machines. It conforms as closely as possible with the QuickBASIC(TM) compiler for MS-DOS(TM) machines. HiSoft BASIC also has features not found in Microsoft BASIC: --Structured programming, using IFs, multi-line functions, CASE REPEAT and procedures. --Line numbers are optional, and alphanumeric labels can be used. --Procedures and functions are recursive. --Five types of variables are available. --Integers (-32768 to 32767). --Long integers (-2147483648 to 2147483647). --Single-precision floating point, 7-bit exponent, 24-bit mantissa. --Double-precision IEEE floating point, compatible with 68881 math co-processors. --Strings of any size. --No limit on program size. The only limitations are the amount of memory available and your disk capacity. --No size limits on variables. Strings can be megabytes long, if you have the memory. --Integer and character constants, as in C and Pascal. Compiler options: The compiler features many options for simplifying the debugging process. These options may be turned off, and your program recompiled for achieving even greater speeds. Interactive environment: Just because immense power is available, don't think it's going to be difficult to use. Atari ST users can use the built-in GEMeditor, then select "Compile" from the handy menu, choose your options, then compile to disk or memory. Of course, you don't have to use the built-in editor. Use any editor you prefer. The compiler accepts standard ASCII source files. **Power BASIC - A Step Beyond** Power BASIC for the Atari ST is a superset of Power BASIC, with extra features putting it into a class of it's own, at a price that's affordable, only $159.95! Many BASIC users have wanted to write desk accessories, without learning other high-level languages that support such applications. If you understand GEM, writing desk accessories is easy with Power BASIC. All the necessary language support is provided. While debugging assembly language routines, you'll really appreciate the symbolic debugger. Look for symbols rather than obscure hexidecimal numbers. You can also discover exactly where your program is spending most of its time by program profiling. This tells you which lines are executed the most often. Then, DevpacST can be used to rewrite time-critical parts of your program in assembly language, calling these routines as if they were subroutines, or user-defined functions in BASIC. Power BASIC offers much more for the serious programmer. Upgrades from HiSoft BASIC to Power BASIC will be available. **MichTron Brings You Even More!** MichTron has joined forces with Kuma Software, and you win again! MichTron has announced that it will begin marketing KumaSoftware, bringing even more quality software into an ever-expanding product line. The first releases from this joint venture will be K-Graph, K- Spread and K-Word. K-Graph 3, with list price of $99.95, may be used for preparing graph displays for presentations and use in documents. Line/scatter graphs, area graphs, pie charts, stacked, horizontal, 3D and normal bar charts are all available. Other features include automatic axis scaling, Grid on/off, Save Graph option, statistics, Math and Logical expressions, graph formulas, automatic creation of legends and labels, editable marker patterns and line styles, plus much, much more. Up to four graphs may be displayed at the same time. Your graphics may be sent to any Epson compatible printer. K-Spread 3, list priced at $179.95, is a spread sheet, with many innovative features, taking advantage of the innovative features of the Atari ST. K-Word 2, list priced at $79.95, is a new, powerful, full-featured word-processor program. It includes a spell checker, a mail-merge facility, the ability to display up to four windows at the same time, on-screen help, plus many more features you would expect only in a word processor costing much more. Best of all, the data produced by all three of these packages is compatible. This makes report writing simpler and more efficient, as you integrate your files to achieve professional results. **Contest!!** Do you have some unique programs written in GFA BASIC (Version 2.0 or 3.0)? Share your programs with others and be eligible to win valuable prizes! Upload your GFA BASIC creations to the MichTron RT (just type "MICHTRON" or "M490" at any ? prompt in GEnie), and you could win up to $300 in MichTron products. Three prizes will be awarded in each of two categories: Best Program, and Most Uploads. First prize in each category is $300 in MichTron products. Second and third prizes are $200 and $100 worth of MichTron products. The contest ends November 31, so upload your programs today. ---------------------------------------- The Chipmunks and the Mail-Order Beavers ...a fable by Mel Pine Once upon a time, in a forest not very far from here, a group of chipmunks came up with a new computer. It was inexpensive and powerful and had very good graphics and sound capabilities. The chipmunks called it the Irata, and they made deals with the beavers to be their distributors and dealers and market it. On the west side of the forest, there were plenty of beavers who built damns and put the Irata computer on their shelves. But in some parts of the forest, there were not so many beavers who took the Irata seriously. After all, it was built by a bunch of chipmunks, wasn't it? Anyway, where the beavers stocked the Irata computer on their shelves and sold programs and magazines for the animals who used it, the Irata users were relatively happy. They could get lots of support and software at their local beaver damns. But let's face it, Irata users are never **completely** happy. They are a pretty cost-conscious type of animal, so some of them began to make their purchases from another sort of beaver...the mail-order beaver. Now the way the mail-order beaver operates, he doesn't have to build such a nifty damn and have such a spiffy showroom and give customers support for the products he sells. He takes orders via the forest telegraph, ships the computer down the river and collects his money. This beaver's costs of doing business are much smaller than the damn-building beaver's. So the mail-order beaver can afford to sell products for a lot less than the damn-building beaver. In some cases, mail-order beavers have sold Irata computers for just $15 or $20 more than the wholesale price. So some of the animals in the forest would go down to their local beaver damn and test the computer, buy it from a mail-order beaver and then go back to the damn for product support. That wasn't very fair to the damn-building beaver, was it? Well, after a while the chipmunks noticed this going on and started to stamp their feet. "Our beaver distributors are supposed to sell only in their own areas," the chipmunks said. "It isn't fair for the mail-order beavers to advertise in other beavers' areas and undercut them this way. It screws up our whole marketing system." So the chipmunks thought about what they might do about it. "Look," said the chipmunks, "it's a free forest. We can't stop a beaver from advertising low prices outside his own area. But when we see him doing it, we can stop shipping him any computers <hehehe>." And that's how the chipmunks handled the problem. When they see a beaver advertising outside his area, they stop supplying him with Irata computers. But that leaves some animals up a creek without a paddle. Many of those outside the west part of the forest just don't have a beaver damn near them that stocks Irata computers and Irata software and magazines for Irata users. They have to travel miles and miles to get to a beaver who carries Irata products. They also might have to travel miles and miles to get to a user support group. They might be able to get some product support from electronic bulletin boards and online information services, but where are they supposed to get their products? And how about those cost-conscious animals who don't need support from their local damn-building beaver? Shouldn't they be able to take advantage of the cost savings offered by mail-order beavers? Now here comes the moral of this fable: Although the chipmunks won't supply computers to beavers who **advertise** outside their areas, they can't stop beavers from answering the phone and taking orders from wherever. So if you don't have a dealer near you or if you're willing to give up product support in return for low prices, you just have to get to know who to call. Here are a few numbers you can try: Joppa Computers, (800) 541-5197; J&R Computers, (212) 349-4727; 47th Street Photo, (212) 608-6934. ---------------------------------------- Update on a Virus Killer ...and a few words about a worm by George Woodside There is no relationship between the recent international virus attack on networked systems and the update to the ST virus killer program, VKILLER. The widely publicized attack on the networked systems was actually a "worm" program. It spread through the TCP/IP protocol mailing program, using a back-door access designed to permit software updates to the mailing program. It spawned itself on any system it could enter, but did not attach itself to other programs or install itself into the system software. (That's why it's referred to as a worm, rather than a virus). While it did no actual destruction, it caused the loss of millions of dollars' worth of computer and employee time. It could not infect an ST, since the mailing program it spread through does not run on STs. The update to VKILLER (File #8618 in GEnie's Atari ST RoundTable) was in response to my receipt of several new types of virus programs. The virus killer has been enhanced to recognize the new types of viruses. There was also a change made to the display function, to allow easier paging through the data. The third, and most complex, change involves how the program recognizes that a virus is active on the ST when the virus killer is executing. The virus killer first clears the boot sector of a disk, then uses all the triggering mechanisms found in all the virus samples received. After giving each of them an opportunity to place themselves on the previously cleared disk, the virus killer checks the disk again. If the boot sector is no longer clear, the virus killer assumes that there is a virus present. It clears the boot sector again but does not access the disk afterward. It issues a warning message that a virus appears to be present and informs the user that there is a clean disk available. The user is instructed to insert the clean disk in drive A (in case it was in drive B), power the system off, wait 10 to 15 seconds, and then power back on. That should allow the ST to clear memory and be restarted with no virus present. The user should then examine every other disk to get the virus wiped out. The virus samples received indicate that the creators of virus programs are getting more sophisticated. They no longer require certain ROM versions to execute, and no longer access specific ROM routines. They may not be designed to attack disk directories or files. One is designed to simulate a system that develops memory errors after running for some time, while another may cause a strange sound, or generate weird screen effects. If your ST begins showing any strange symptoms, it would be a good idea to check thoroughly for the presence of a virus before assuming that your system has developed a hardware problem. Check all new disks before using them, and keep your disks write- protected whenever possible. ---------------------------------------- ***NEWS FLASH! ...on the H-P DeskJet If you have been thinking about buying the HP DeskJet printer, now is the time! Buy the DeskJet between October 1, 1988, and January 31, 1989, and Hewlett-Packard will turn your old printer into a check worth $100. H-P will even add an extra $10 to cover the cost of shipping your old printer. For more information on this "DeskJet Printer Trade-In-Magic" offer, contact H-P at (800) 553-7553. ---------------------------------------- How I Would Start Off Using Spectre If I had It All to Do Over Again by Michael Easter The best way to get started with Spectre depends on your own "situation"...that is, what your hardware is, who your friends are and what software is available to you. Many of the suggestions I'm about to make are peculiar to my system and would be quite different for someone with a different set-up and a different situation (ie, more friends). My set up: a 1040 ST with only its single internal double-sided disk drive, monochrome monitor SM124, the Spectre 128 with the 128K ROMs, and an Epson-compatible printer. I did not belong to a users' group, have a friend with a Macintosh (or have a Macintosh myself, for that matter), or have in my possession a bootable Macintosh/Spectre disk. (More on that later.) I do not have a translator for translating Macintosh disks into Magic Sac or Spectre disks. I do not have Mark's (STACE's) home phone number, which is really too bad because he is not only quite an expert on the Macintosh and Mac emulation, but it is almost a local call for me. My own level of expertise on all of this is beginner, and I am trying to make it to advanced beginner. There is no way I could be intermediate before the year is over. I did not get a monochrome monitor just to be happy with Spectre, as I have been a "mono" lover since the outset. I do not have a color monitor, or a monitor master. I love the resolution of the SM124 compared to the SM1224, and yes, it does cramp my style for games and pictures. Although I do have a hard disk, I am not yet "grown up" enough in Mac emulation to be ready to have Spectre partitions, so this introduction will say nothing about hard-disk application. I'll let the intermediate users introduce all that. I started with the Magic Sac, but didn't go very far with that. If you really want to save money, the used Sac is readily available (from all those new Spectre users) for less than $100, including the 64K ROMs, and the principles below for getting started are all the same. If you can't borrow a bootable Sac/Spectre disk from a friend or fellow user, your next necessary item after the above is the Epstart disk, in Magic Sac format. I say that because my printer is Epson compatible, and if you're ever going to print in Mac mode, you have to have a driver besides that of Apple's Imagewriter. So, not only does the Epstart disk give you a driver that's compatible with your printer but even more important, perhaps, it gives you a _bootable_ Spectre disk! The Epstart disk is not PD, or Shareware, but a regular old commercially produced piece of software that costs about $45. Oh, well. Everything you do that has anything to do with the Mac costs a little or a lot more. I forgot to tell you where to get that other stuff. Obviously the Spectre cartridge and the software come from the marvelous Dave Small's Gadgets by Small. The 128K ROMs are a little trickier. There are two. Your local Apple dealer _might_ sell them to you for about $95 each, you _might_ be able to get on a backorder list with PreOwned electronics, or you can just order them from Denny Hayes for $90 (or $95) the pair. That's another story all by itself, and we won't go into that. So now you have some basics. It's time to go to work with your friendly term program (I luv Flash/Shadow!) and your friendly information service (I luv GEnie!) and get some more "stuff." The stuff can be downloaded and will prove _very_ useful, let's say essential. Don't forget to send your shareware checks! Doug Wheeler's Transverter program (ST) (for "transverting" these ST downloads over to Spectre disks), Finder 5.3 (Mac), System 3.2 (Mac), Packit 1.3 (Mac), Unstuffit DA (Mac), Font DA Mover (Mac) (all available uncompressed), FEdit 3.0.PIT (Mac), and a RAM disk (Mac) (Ram Start.PIT or Ram Disk 2.02.PIT), then Find Sys & DAs 5.4/3.2.PIT (Mac) (only available compressed). Since I think the amateur does better in the beginning with MFS format, (Doug's Transverter insists on MFS) I also suggest DC Format 3.0, an ST program for formatting your Spectre disks. For me, it has worked out best to download in ST mode, because (remember, I luv...) with my setup, I have more flexibility and efficiency that way. So even after I was up and running, I have avoided the Mac term programs. So, we accumulate the Mac software listed above on ST disks, format up some Spectre disks in double- sided MFS with DC formatter (remember, this is _my_ style; more advanced users have "better" techniques), make an extra copy of the Epstart disk with Spectre's or DC Format's software...THEN we launch Spectre. When it calls for a boot disk, we use the Epstart copy, and there's the smiling Mac face. Now that we are in Mac mode, we use our previously formatted disk(s) according to Dave Small's instructions on disk ejecting and manage to get a tiny desktop invisible file naming the disk on the Spectre disk(s). This is so later transverted files won't get "screwed up" by the desktop getting written on them. Now, we're ready to shut down and go back to ST mode and do some more work. You have to turn off your machine to do that. Back in ST mode, we use Doug's transverter to move the above- mentioned files to a Spectre disk. Those of us with a single disk drive usually use a RAM disk, but it works OK with a minimum of disk swaps without a RAM. It's mostly downhill from here, but there may be a little confusion. Packit 1.3 doesn't seem to work with the system/finder on the Epstart disk, so we have to do a little "fandango." This time when we launch Spectre, we get to our newer Spectre disk, create a system folder, put our system and finder in it, and launch the finder, which is there (Cntrl-Alt dbl-click Finder). Now we're working with a newer system, and we can use Packit to get to FEdit and the newer finder, system and its desk accessories, as well as the RAM disk(s). Later we can use UnStuffit.DA to get us to other newer Mac files. We don't really want finder 5.3, so now that we've unpacked finder 5.4, we get it up and running. (I zoomed right by that.) Now, we're using the finder of our choice, but this disk we're working on isn't really bootable. We need to write boot blocks, and we use FEdit to do that. Once you have this much in the way of basics, you are all set to unstuff and unpit files to your heart's content, write boot blocks when you need to, install and de-install desk accessories, and you're a full blown beginner! And now, children, if Uncle Wiggly doesn't download a virus- infected message (?), tune in next month for "Why I Just Use a RAM Disk Holding My System Folder." Someone else can tell you why you downloaded those Font/DA movers you haven't used yet. File, company, and people "addresses": --Gadgets by Small, Inc., 40 W. Littleton Blvd., #210-211, Littleton, Colorado 80120, (303) 791-6098 --Denny Hayes, 6150 Jessup Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45247-5842, (513) 385-3312 --Epstart, produced by SoftStyle, 7192 Kalanianaole Hwy., Suite 205, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825, (808) 396-6368, provided on Magic Sac formatted disk by Data Pacific Inc., 609 East Speer Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80203, (303) 733-4143. --Finder 5.4/System 3.2 Mac RT #7573, in packit format --Packit III 1.3 Data Pacific RT #107, uncompressed --Ramdisk+2.02.SIT, Spectre RT #9, stuffed format --FEdit 3.0.PIT, Atari ST RT #5707, packit format --Finder 5.3, Mac RT #1770, uncompressed --System 3.2, Mac RT #1769, uncompressed --Font/DA Mover 3.6, uncompressed, (local BBS RT, sorry! Apple keeps the latest on the Mac RT.) --C.E. Font/DA Mover, Atari ST RT #3656, uncompressed --Ramstart 1.4.PIT, Atari ST RT #5108, packit format --DC Format 3.0.ARC, Atari ST RT #8145, arced format --Trnsv29.ARC, Transverter 299a, Atari ST RT #4896, (or Data Pacific RT #9), arced format ---------------------------------------- Tech Tips Commonly Asked GDOS Questions by John Townsend, Atari Technical Advisor For the first issue of Tech Tips, I thought it would be a good idea to take a little time to answer a few questions on the confusion of GDOS, the Graphics Device Operating System that allows your ST to output device-independent graphics. Here are a few of the commonly asked questions. Should you have further questions or comments, please send them to me in email (GEnie Address: TOWNS) or in the Atari RoundTable's Category 14, Topic 4: Technical Questions to Atari. QUESTION: When I first attempted to set up Microsoft Write on my ST, I went through the usual setup program and installed the fonts and drivers for my printer. When I was done, I turned off the system and rebooted the computer. When I load Microsoft Write it appears to work fine, but when I try to print I get a "Device Not Initialized." What does this mean? ANSWER: This message usually occurs due to a problem in the way GDOS is set up on your system. Here are a few things to look for: 1) Make sure that your fonts and drivers are in the location you have specified in your ASSIGN.SYS file. One the first lines of your ASSIGN.SYS file is a line like this: path = C:\gem.sys\ This line tells GDOS where your fonts and drivers are located. In this case, the fonts should be located in the GEM.SYS folder on Drive C. If they are not in this location, GDOS might give you the error "GDOS Device not Initialized." Should this happen, you could check the location of the fonts and drivers, then change the path name in the ASSIGN.SYS file to the appropriate location. You can edit the ASSIGN.SYS file with any word processor. Just make sure that if you are using Microsoft Write you save with the Text Only option enabled or if you are using First Word that the WP mode is not checked (i.e., that there isn't a check mark next to the menu item). 2) If your fonts are in the right location, and everything seems in order, check to make sure that the device (usually the printer) is plugged into your computer and turned on. Warning! Never plug or unplug cables from your ST with the power to the computer on! This could damage your computer. If the cables are OK, the printer is on and your fonts are in the right location, it could be a case of a driver. In this case, the best solution is to erase the current GDOS setup and run the install program again. This way, everything is fresh. 3) If you continue to have problems, call your local dealer or Technical Support at Atari (408) 745-2004. We can assist you in getting your GDOS system working. QUESTION: What printers are supported by the GDOS system? ANSWER: Currently, Atari has several printer drivers for GDOS. They are the Epson FX-80, the Star NB-15, the Atari SLM804 Laser Printer and the Atari SMM804 printer. The Epson FX-80 driver can be used with most Epson-compatible 9-pin printers. The NB-15 driver works with most of the current crop of 24-pin printers. Atari has been working on new drivers and plans to release more in the near future. Other companies currently produce GDOS drivers as well. Neocept and Migraph also sell GDOS drivers. Contact them for further information. QUESTION: I would like to write programs for the Atari ST that would take advantage of GDOS and it's features. Is there a specific place where I can get information on how GDOS works and how to write programs for it? ANSWER: There are currently several sources of information on GDOS. Atari offers a developer's kit that contains information on writing code that is GDOS-compatible. GDOS is also available in a "GDOS Kit" for registered developers. If you would like information on becoming a registered developer, send email to CINDY.C. This is Cindy Claveran, Atari's Developer Coordinator. She can send you some information on how to get started as an Atari developer. Please include your name and address in your email message to Cindy. Other sources of information include the Programmers Guide: VDI from Compute! Books. This book by Sheldon Leemon is an excellent source of information on how to use GDOS and the VDI (Virtual Device Interface) on the ST. For those looking for information on what GDOS is and how it works, Doug Wheeler has done an excellent article on the subject. It is File #7591 on GEnie. It's worth the download! Well, that's all for now! See you in the next issue.. -- John --Companies Mentioned in this column: Atari Corporation 1196 Borregas Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94088 - GDOS, MS Write Migraph, Inc. 720 S. 333, Suite 201 Federal Way, WA 98003 - GDOS Drivers Neocept, Inc. 547 Constitution, Unit A Camarillo, CA 93010 - Turbojet GDOS Driver Compute! Books PO Box 5038, FDR Station New York, NY 10150 - Compute!'s Programmers Guide: VDI ---------------------------------------- Revolver The Ultimate Switcher? by Cedric Cunanan Speed -- most of us want more of it! If you've recently switched from the 8-bit to the 16-bit line of Atari Computers, there's no doubt that you've been amazed by the dramatic increase in the input/output and raw processing speed of the ST Line. And yet we are in constant search of new ways to boost that speed in an effort to increase our productivity. However, even with the addition of a turbo-boosting hard drive, most of us still have to resort to exiting one application and entering another if we wish to work simultaneously with two programs. The result: more "down time." The answer: switchers!! Currently, there are five major switchers available: K-Switch from Kuma, SGS Switcher from SGS Systems, Juggler II from Michtron, SwitchBack from Alpha Systems and Revolver from Intersect. All but Switchback are software-only utilities that allow you to load *at least* two applications/programs into the ST memory for almost immediate use. Although you still cannot multitask applications, those that can be switched generally run at their highest speed capacity at your beckoning. Intersect's latest entry is the brainchild of an innovative developer (Richard Plom) who was willing to probe deeper into the gut workings of the Atari ST and its operating system. Revolver works with just about any program that will let you first initialize it from within the auto folder at boot-up. It allows you to quickly run/roll out/roll in programs from within memory partitions. Installation is needed since Revolver must be the first program to be autoexecuted. An installation program is provided for this purpose. The default splits your memory into two equal partitions. I was initially greeted with a "crash" page but I found that disabling some of my accessories and auto-folder programs corrected the situation. This was absolutely mandatory since you cannot change the defaults until you can call up Revolver. Because you will want to experiment, I would recommend use of one of the many accessory/auto-program-selection boot programs available (I recommend Superboot since you can save configurations to the function keys). Once you get Revolver loaded, it can be called up by a keypress combination. Thus, you do not need the menu-bar present for access to accessories. The main menu box contains a series of buttons, which are further subdivided into three groups. The topmost group contains the switch/view buttons. Revolver allows you to switch between up to eight different partitions depending on your available memory. Currently, memory can be divided into a partitions containing blocks of 256K RAM. Thus, a 1040 ST would be divided into 2 partitions of 512K blocks at the default setting. The actual switching reminds me of a Hypercard-type screen change: The new screen is scrolled down into place while a very nice series of tones is played. The view button allows you to view the work screen associated with a saved partition without the actual loading process taking place. The creators of Revolver have thoughtfully included a keypress combination to bypass this main menu and simply switch you into the next available partition. The next group contains the rollin/rollout/alert buttons. Rollout allows you to save an application to disk in compressed form along with any of its associated desk accessories. In the process of rolling out a session, I have found Revolver's use of a non- standard file selector somewhat distracting. An option to use the standard or custom file selectors would have been nice. Also, rolling back in a saved session can sometimes take longer than simply running the program. However, the load-in time can be dramatically reduced if you count the loading of your work files after program initialization. You should note that the saved session can only be rolled back into another partition. In other words, you cannot simply roll a new configuration into the currently occupied partition. Thus, careful consideration must be given to the amount of RAM allocated to each partition or else you will find yourself with many "out of memory" errors. Nonetheless, the rollin/rollout feature is truly remarkable when you consider that programs, desk accessories, work files, EVERYTHING that is in memory at the time of a rollout can be saved and made available for immediate use. There is no need to reboot the system. Finally, the last group of buttons contains the many "extras" as well as the configuration options. The manual gives some very explicit examples and recommendations on how to customize Revolver to work with your system. During the set-up you are allowed to set: mouse speed, strings of code to specified ports, reset-proof RAM buffers and/or print spoolers, folder fixes, desk command buffers and several other excellent utilities. (I personally liked the Macintosh-like proportional mouse-movement routines.) These new defaults can then be saved (a Revolver.Sys file will be written) or the original default settings can be reselected. You may quickly find out that use of Revolver and its many excellent utilities can be hazardous to the available amount of your internal RAM. Everything eats away at that precious commodity. A suggestion for would-be users: Get Multidesk (the DA expander from Codehead that was reviewed in the last issue) and load those memory-munching accessories only as you need them. This should free up a little more working room. Revolver continues to be refined by Intersect, and it seems apparent that the company is listening to and willing to support its users. Supposedly, a user's suggestion for 128K blocks has been implemented and a reported incompatibility problem with WordPerfect has been hammered out. Intersect has a proven record for excellent customer support with its Interlink ST program. Just give them a call if you have any problems at all. With regard to potential users of Revolver, I would like to suggest that you give serious attention to the applications that you wish to run and the amount of available RAM in your system. Revolver does all that it says it does, but it does require sufficient internal memory to perform its magic. Revolver Intersect Software Corporation 2828 Clark Road Suite 10 Sarasota, Florida 34231 ---------------------------------------- An Overview of What's New In the GEnie Atari ST Library by Sandy Wilson and Darlah J. Pine There have been a number of good files uploaded over the last two weeks. These are just a few examples of what is available in the GEnie ST RoundTable library. There were two updates for commercially available programs. DoubleClick Software has uploaded SHADOW11.ARC (#8570). Use this program to upgrade your original program to version 1.1. Among other improvements is an expanded counter window that reflects errors, and the option to make the buffer resetable. Avantgarde uploaded PCDPATCH.PRG (#8645). This patch corrects a problem for PC-DITTO users, with installing and autobooting DOS and the Supra 30 meg hard disk. See PCDPATCH.DOC (#8464) for further information. For Zoomracks II users, Jerry Finzi has uploaded three more of his Rackware applications. RACKWORD.ARC (#8683) contains custom macros that will make writing stories or articles easier. MONTHLY.ZRX (#8675) is a new monthly calendar that uses less RAM than previous versions. MACNEW.ZRX (#8674) contains a number of handy utility macros. For genealogy buffs there is the latest version of the Family Tree Chart, a shareware genealogy program. The program file is REL2TREE.ARC (#8653). If you have the previous version, you also need RELCVT.ARC (#8654) to upgrade your existing files. As for utilities, there is FORMAT236.ARC (#8582). This is the latest version of CSS FORMAT. It will let you copy any ST or IBM format disk on your ST, and auto format the destination disk to match the source. There is also QUKMENU.ARC 2.0F (#8608) for those who prefer to be able to call their programs via a menu. If you're interested in comprehensive on-line information WITH NO ON-LINE FEES, check out XDEMO.ARC (#8611). This file demos Alan Page's software for X*PRESS, a service offered by an increasing number of cable companies. There are two new versions of existing astronomy programs. The latest Satellite Orbit Predictor is SAT302.ARC (#8644) written by BPENNER. TERRELL-E has uploaded another version of ASTROCAL.ARC (#8577). This program allows you to generate star charts fora given date, time and location. If you have been curious about Art and Film Director from Epyx, check out the demo programs #8591 and #8592. See the file descriptions for more information. For gamers there are several new files. One, DOTSDASH.ARC (#8607), is the classic connect-the-dots strategy game that runs in both color and monochrome. It also allows modem play and is shareware. There is also a cheat program for Dungeon Master. Check out MASTERS.ARC (#8628) to start with master level characters.ə