Archive Magazine CD 1995/Archive Magazine CD 1995.iso/text/magazine/volume_05/issue_02

Text File | 1995-06-25 | 205KB | 4,458 lines

More cheap computers?
5.2
A quick look at the Small Ads this month will show you the effect of the
coming of the A5000 computer on the second hand Archimedes market.
Everyone (slight exaggeration!) wants to sell their old Archimedes and
get hold of one of Acorn’s latest offerings.
5.2
If you wanted an A5000 before Christmas, I don’t hold out a lot of hope,
I’m afraid. We’ve still got a lot on order with the distributors, but
we’ve also got a long waiting list of cheques sitting in our “A5000
Orders” file. Still, sending us a cheque will keep your place in the
queue and we don’t bank the cheques until we have computers to supply.
5.2
More subscribers!
5.2
Despite the fact that a number of people didn’t renew their Archive
subscription at the end of volume 4, our list of subscribers is already
back up to within a hundred of what it was before. I see this as just
another indication of the health of the Archimedes market. (I don’t know
if this is general − other magazines are more guarded about the length
of their subscription lists!)
5.2
More pages!!
5.2
We seem to be getting more advertising at the moment plus a steady flow
of articles, so this month’s issue has an extra four pages − at no extra
cost, of course! (So now, no one can complain about my half page
indulgence below.)
5.2
Best wishes from all at Archive,
5.2
Adrian, Ali, Ray, Roger, Paul & Sue.
5.2

5.2
Products Available
5.2
•    Acorn Desktop Assembler − Acorn have released a new version of their
well established Assembler − this time, it has a fully RISC-OS compliant
front end. It comes with two versions of the macro assembler, ObjAsm
which assembles programs into object (runable code) and AAsm which
assembles programs that can be run and debugged. It also includes
Acorn’s Desktop Development Environment.
5.2
The DDE includes a range of four interactive tools − DDT for debugging
executable images files, FormEd which is an improved version of the
template editor, Make which is a new desktop application for construct
ing programs from their sources and SrcEdit, a text editor derived from
Edit with some new features for constructing program sources. There is
also a wide range of Non-interactive tools: AMU − a compact alternative
to Make, Common − a utility to find the most common words in a file,
DecAOF − a utility for examining AOF files output by the compiler or
assembler, DecCF − a utility for examining chunk files, Diff − a text
file comparison tool, Find − a tool for finding text patterns in the
names or contents of sets of files, Link − a tool for constructing
usable modules, programs, etc LibFile − a tool for constructing general
purpose (library) routines, ObjSize − a utility to measure the size of
an object file, Squeeze − a tool to compress finished programs so they
take less space on the disc and WC − a text file word and character
counter.
5.2
The price of the Desktop Assembler, including DDE, is £175 from Acorn or
£155 through Archive.
5.2
•    Acorn Desktop C − Acorn’s new version of the C language now also works
in the desktop and comes with the same range of debugging tools as the
Desktop Assembler. Desktop C consists of the C compiler itself (a full
implementation of the 1989 ANSI standard), plus CMHG which allows you to
write modules in ANSI C, ToANSI which converts source C programs from
the PCC style to ANSI C, ToPCC which converts source C programs from the
ANSI C style to PCC plus the utilities of the Desktop Development
Environment as listed above. The price is £269 from Acorn or £240
through Archive.
5.2
•    Adventure Playground − Storm Software’s latest offering consists of
two explorations for children aged 6 to 9 that aim to “develop a wide
variety of educational skills: planning, decision making, logical
thinking, memory and strategy”. The price is £19.99 from Storm Software
or £19 through Archive.
5.2
•    Air Supremacy − Superior Software’s new simulation allows you to
choose between aircraft, ground or sea combat forces as the battle
progresses. Level one is set in Europe in 1918 with biplanes and tanks,
Level 2 is 1944 in the Pacific with fighter aircraft and gunboats, level
3 is 1991 with jet aircraft and desert tanks and level 4 is set in 2150
with futuristic aircraft and rapid attack hovercraft. £24.95 from
Superior Software or £23 through Archive.
5.2
•    Alexander is a remote sensing application from Lindis UK (a.k.a.
Lingenuity) allowing you to interpret and manipulate satellite images.
Facilities include averaging and gaussian filters for smoothing, Laplace
and median filters for image enhancement, four types of classification
and several different display options. The software on its own costs
£764 (£650 +VAT), a multi-user licence costs £2,350 (£2,000 +VAT) or buy
it bundled complete with an A5000 at just £2525 (£2149 +VAT) or as a
package with an A540 + Eizo 9070 for £4752 (£4044 +VAT).
5.2
(Taking £1761, the list price of an A5000, away from £2525 shows that
the first bundled deal gives you the software for just... err... £764!
Taking £764 away from the second bundled price of £4752 shows that the
A540 and Eizo 9070 would cost you £3988. However, the Archive price for
the A540 & monitor is £2930 + £850 = £3780 so you could save yourself
£208 by buying the software from them and the computer from us and get a
£200 software voucher which we give with every A540!)
5.2
•    Bambuzle − a puzzle game from Arxe Systems involves trying to fill a
series of “pods” with four balls each of the same colour from a
selection of different balls provided at each level. Getting the right
balls into the right pods is another matter − and you are working
against the clock! The price is £19.95 from Arxe or £19 through Archive.
5.2
•    Cartoon Collection is a set of four discs full of cartoon type
chracters in Paint format from Micro Studios. The price is £19.95 or £19
through Archive.
5.2
•    Charity Part Exchange − A number of people have asked us recently if
we do part exchange on computers − I think it might have something to do
with the coming of the A5000! Anyway, the answer has, so far, been “no”.
However, we have just had an idea....
5.2
For a limited period, we are going to try offering part exchange on
A310’s, A3000’s and A400 series computers plus hard drives and monitors.
What we will then do is to refurbish the machines and make them
available at cost to registered charities (and possibly also to schools
if enough become available).
5.2
So, for example, we can offer £300 off the price of, say, an A5000 in
return for your A3000. We will get Ray Maidstone to refurbish the A3000
and then make it available to charities for, say, £350 +VAT (which we
unfortunately have to add and pass on to the government − unless anyone
can see a legal way round it) which comes to £411 − rather less than the
full price of £695.
5.2
However, if you felt able to accept a bit less than the offered discount
then we could reduce the price that a charity would have to pay.
5.2
What about warranty? − We would offer a six-month warranty on the
refurbished machines although, given that we would be doing all this at
cost, it would be on the basis that the charity would be responsible for
getting the computer to us, we would repair or replace it and send it
back at our expense.
5.2
How much will you offer? − Well, we have to reserve the right to change
the amount being offered (or withdraw the scheme altogether if it’s
costing us too much) but, initially, we can offer...
5.2
A310    £200
5.2
A3000    £325
5.2
A3000 (2M)    £350
5.2
A3000 (4M)    £400
5.2
A410    £450
5.2
A410 (2M)    £470
5.2
A410 (4M)    £510
5.2
Colour monitor    £80
5.2
Multisync monitor    £120    *
5.2
ST506 hard drives    £5    (per 10M)
5.2
ST506 controller    £25
5.2
SCSI hard drives    £10
(per 10M)
5.2
SCSI controller    £40    *
5.2
* This applies only to certain types of monitor and controller. It has
to be entirely at our discretion.
5.2
(These figures are based on what one of our rivals is offering. It’s
slightly less, but then it is in aid of charity.)
5.2
What about other add-on hardware? − Other hardware will be treated on
its merits. Because we are doing this at cost, we will have to be sure
that we will be able to sell the items that you are offering us −
otherwise, we are going to be out of pocket.
5.2
What about all my data? − If you want to keep your hard drive and/or
computer so that you can transfer all your data, you can pay for the new
computer, have it delivered and then, up to one calendar month after the
purchase, return the old computer/drive to obtain your part-exchange
money.
5.2
•    Cheap computers?! − Acorn have recently re-launched their UK Teach
ers’, Academics’ and (now also including) Students’ Support Scheme. The
offer is a discount of £100 off the price of an A3000 Learning Curve
pack with monitor and stand (£899 inc VAT) or £200 off the price of an
A5000 Learning Curve pack, which includes the hi res monitor (£1599 inc
VAT).
5.2
This offer is available to teachers and academics (as before) but now
Acorn have extended it to full-time students in F.E. or H.E. whether
they are doing study or research. It also applies to teaching support
staff such as advisors, advisory teachers, inspectors and technicians in
schools and teachers’ centres. The term “academics” includes those in
teaching or research in teaching hospitals, medical schools etc.
5.2
Application forms are available from N.C.S. or your local Acorn dealer
and we would be happy to supply the computer(s) for you so that you can
benefit from our technical back-up service. There is an “assisted credit
scheme” for teachers and academics (but not students) but this is not
available through N.C.S.
5.2
•    Chequered Flag − Cambridge International Software’s racing car
simulation program has 4 race tracks, 3 levels of difficulty, design
your own car, manual or automatic gearbox, mirrors and you have single
races or can take part in a World Championship series. £24.95 from
C.I.S. or £23 through Archive.
5.2
•    Chuck Rock − is a parallax scrolling arcade game from Krisalis. Travel
around throwing rocks at appropriate things and picking up others. The
price is £25.99 from Krisalis or £24 through Archive.
5.2
•    !CL is a multi-tasking communications link with the Psion organiser.
It gives remote file access, print to file or printer, send or receive
Psion file etc. Available for £25 from Mark Godwin, 13 Prestbury Close,
Blackpole Village, Worcester  WR4 9XG.
5.2
•    CNC Designer for millers − Techsoft now have software available for
translating drawings created in Draw or in their own Designer package
into G and M codes for CNC millers. This adds to the software they
already have (though not previously mentioned here) for the control of
CNC lathes.
5.2
•    Control Logo − Longman Logotron have now finished their control Logo
for the Archimedes. It uses the same keywords as the BBC version and
allows you to control outputs and sense inputs and also has the facility
to regulate the power of outputs. It also adds extra primitives that
exploit the processing power of the Archimedes. The cost is £22 +VAT
from Longman Logotron or £24 through Archive.
5.2
•    Converta-Key − An alphabetic overlay for your keyboard which allows
children to use a keyboard set out in alphabetical order. This new
program from Triple R Education, the educational “arm” of the 4th
Dimension, works with other software as well as their own. It comes with
a range of introductory programs such as Hangman, Quizmaster, Anagrams,
Memory Master, Find It and Speed-type. The cost is £19.95 from Triple R
or £19 through Archive.
5.2
•    Creator Support − Alpine Software have produced a number of products
to help those who are using their arcade games designer package,
Creator. The Creator Support Disc, £19.95, provides various utilities
for games writers − sprite compressor, mode converter, sprite to Creator
object converter, background build up, plus an application to allow
Creator games to run in mode 9 for extra speed and to release more
memory. Sprite Library Disc 1, £5 provides sprites of various animated
characters and building blocks suitable for backgrounds. The Sound
Effects Disc 1, £5 is self-explanatory. Alpine are also now producing a
quarterly magazine called Alpine Express, £1.20 for three issues, but
free to registered Creator or ALPS owners.
5.2
•    Data Word − This is a database, from Triple R Education, aimed at use
within the National Curriculum. It works just like a card index but is
flexible enough to use it as a word processor. The cost is £19.95 from
Triple R or £19 through Archive.
5.2
•    DeskEdit − Risc Developments (a.k.a. Beebug) have produced a multi-
purpose text editor − all that !Edit should have been − with facilities
for use with Basic and C programming. £24.95 from Risc Developments Ltd.
5.2
•    DIY VIDC Enhancer − Atomwide have just released a new version of their
long established VIDC Enhancer. (For the record, they invented it and
others have copied their idea!) The hardware hasn’t changed, but the
software includes a modes editor. You can now load up any mode module
that is in memory and edit it to suit your monitor − even if it’s just
shoving it a bit to the right or to the left − and then save it as a new
module, customised to your needs. The new enhancer package is £25 +VAT
from Atomwide or £28 through Archive. If you have the Atomwide enhancer
(and NOT any of the copied versions) you can send your original modes
disc plus a cheque for £5 to Atomwide (NOT to us, please) and they will
send you a new disc and manual.
5.2
•    DrawAid − This application, which allows you to create Draw files from
within Basic programs, was reviewed in Archive 5.1 p57. Since then,
Carvic Manufacturing have (a) added extra features and a tutorial, (b)
corrected the bug that was reported and (c) moved from Cambridge to the
North of Scotland! The price of DrawAid is still £10 and the address of
Carvic Manufacturing is given in the Factfile at the back of the
magazine.
5.2
•    EasiWriter − When does a word-processor become a DTP package? Icon
Technology, who produced EasiWriter, refer to it as “more than a word-
processor” − and it certainly is. It allows text in columns, insertion
of Draw files, sprites and FWPlus files, has spell-checking and auto-
hyphenation, styles for emphasis, paragraph definition and setting
structure. N.B. It needs 2M to run on an Archimedes. (I have many
happy(?) memories of Icon Technology’s “MacAuthor” on my Apple Mac in
the very early days. Icon Technology certainly know what document
processing is all about.) It costs £150 +VAT or £160 through Archive.
5.2
•    Elite is here! − Hybrid Technology have just launched Elite on the
Archimedes. At last, the all- time best selling computer game has come
to the Archimedes which, I am sure, will do justice to this very popular
and addictive game. The Arcade bulletin board (081−654−2212) already has
an area specifically dedicated to discussions about Archimedes Elite.
The price is £39.99 from Hybrid or £37 through Archive.
5.2
•    Ethnic Borders is the intriguing title of a disc of 43 decorative
Poster borders from 4Mation. The cost is £10 +VAT or £11 through
Archive. The title is derived from the fact that many of the designs are
based on Maori art.
5.2
•    Fun School 3 − Database Educational Software have produced “six
stunning educational programs that will help to develop many skills
including number and word skills at your child’s own pace”. Their Fun
School 2 was the biggest selling educational package ever with, they
claim, over 150,000 UK sales. Fun School 3 comes in three complete sets
of six programs each for under 5’s, 5’s to 7’s and over 7’s. Each set is
£24.99 from Database or £23 through Archive.
5.2
•    Hawk V9 price drop. Wild Vision’s Hawk V9 digitiser has now dropped in
price to £199 +VAT. It comes with fully RISC-OS compliant software
providing an “extensive range of image scaling and enhancing options”
allowing sprites produced to be dragged straight into whatever desktop
applications you are using.
5.2
•    Illusionist − Clares new 3D graphics package that enables you to
create “any object of any colour, illuminate it with coloured light or
spot lights and render it in any 256 colour mode”. Features include 3D
editor, materials editor, anti-aliasing, saving in compressed or clear
formats, compressed formats being compatible with Pro-Artisan, Render
Bender II and Titler. The price is £99.95 from Clares or £89 through
Archive.
5.2
•    Lemmings which, in other computer formats, won a “Game of the Year”
award is now available on the Archimedes from Krisalis Software. Having
played it, I can see why it was an award winner. The scenario is that a
whole pile of little animals are entering the screen and have to be
guided to a safe haven before they fall off into something nasty. Sounds
a bit boring but I’m not a games freak and I found it absolutely
fascinating trying to work out how to get through each level. It costs
£25.99 from Krisalis or £24 through Archive.
5.2
•    Manchester United Europe is a football simulation from Krisalis which
takes you into European knockout competitions with management decisions
to make and arcade action matches to play. The price is £25.99 or £24
through Archive.
5.2
•    Memory upgrade for A5000 − Atomwide are just about to launch a memory
upgrade for the A5000. There is no definite price yet (but check on the
Price List which is printed later) but it will provide 4M for less than
£140 (the price of the Acorn 2 to 4M upgrade board) and it will be
upgradable to 8M by plugging in an extra MEMC and memory chips.
5.2
•    Money Matters − This is a suite of programs to teach currency facts.
It is based on the circus theme and is suitable for “tots to teens”. It
aims to teach children all about British coins and ways of tendering
money. At a more advanced level, it is designed with specific National
Curriculum attainment targets in mind. The cost is £19.95 from Triple R
or £19 through Archive.
5.2
•    Picture Book − A set of four educational games for children (no age
specified, but young, presumably) from Triple R Education. It consists
of an electronic version of an ABC book, an introduction to spelling, a
counting program and a ‘snap’ game. The cost is £19.95 from Triple R or
£19 through Archive.
5.2
•    PinPoint is a “new generation database” from Longman Logotron. Clearly
aimed at education, it provides DTP like facilities for creating and
publishing multiple page forms. It has a WYSI-WYG data entry system, a
table browser, statistics generation and graphical analysis, all of
which can be combined to produce reports based on data entered. The cost
is £99 +VAT from Longman or £105 through Archive.
5.2
•    Pirate is a swash-buckling adventure from Chalksoft for children aged
8 to 14. Steer your ship through uncharted waters coping with problems,
exploring passing ships. Logic, strategic thinking and map-making skills
are developed. It is aimed at Geography and Maths at Key Stage two. The
price is £23 from Chalksoft.
5.2
•    Repair work − Ray Maidstone, our repair expert nearly passed out when
I showed him a list of charges being suggested by one of our rivals who
have just opened a repair service. (e.g. the cost of repairing a basic
A3000 including “up to one hour’s labour” is £65 + parts + carriage +
VAT.) I won’t tell you his exact comments but I will paraphrase them as,
“Gosh, that sounds a little bit expensive − I wish I could earn £65 an
hour. Please tell your subscribers to send their computers, drives,
monitors etc to me and I will charge on the basis of how much work I
actually do on each one.”
5.2
So, there you have it, the Archive Repair Service is born! If you have
something that needs repairing, drop us a line or give us a ring and
we’ll see what we can arrange for you.
5.2
•    Replacement mouse − Clares are selling a mouse for the Archimedes
which has “tactile micro-switches, opto-mechanical sensors, high
resolution (290 tpi) and two direction sensors per axis to provide a
stable mouse pointer”. However, the best recommendation for it, as far
as I can see, is that it works and is about half the price of the Acorn
one! It costs £32 from Clares or £30 through Archive (cf £56 for the
Acorn replacement mouse.) (Actually, I didn’t find it too good as the
buttons are not separate “islands” − the whole of the front edge of the
mouse is “continuous button”. There is nowhere to rest your middle
finger when you are not using it and I found I got accidental <adjust>
clicks occurring − but to save £26, it may be worth it.)
5.2
•    ScoreDraw form Clares is a utility that takes a Rhapsody II score and
converts it to a Draw file. The cost is £61.95 from Clares or £57
through Archive. A sample printout is shown below.
5.2
•    SCSI controllers − Morley Electronics have two new SCSI controller
cards available. They are both 16-bit interfaces for speed and one has
an added RAM cache, again to speed it up more. The prices are £149 and
£199 +VAT respectively. The A3000 versions have to be external to the
computer and are cased in metal, so they are £169 and £219 respectively.
The Archive prices are £160 and £220 for A400/540/5000 and £180 and £240
for A3000.
5.2
We have done some speed tests to compare it with the Oak SCSI interface.
We tested it on an A3000 with an ARM2 processor connected to an Atomwide
100M high speed Quantum drive. We did the raw file loading speed test,
our “better test” where we copy the contents of a directory containing
all the files on Applications Disc 2 and the same test but using the
contents of Applications Disc 1. The results are shown in the review
article about SCSI versus IDE on page 19.
5.2
•    SCSI drives − We are also now supplying Morley’s 40M and 100M SCSI
drives. The Archive prices are £350 and £560 respectively for internal
drives and £435 and £620 respectively for A3000 drives. These prices
include a non-cached board because, as suggested by the timings of the
SCSI boards mentioned above, it hardly seems worth the extra £50 to have
the cached version. (Morley have done some comparative tests of their
boards against Oaks and say that for larger drives, 200M+, their cached
board “leaves Oak board standing”.)
5.2
With the proliferation of SCSI drives that we now sell and the various
SCSI interface options it has all got a bit complicated so let me try to
simplify things a bit. (Actually, the best bet is to ring us up, tell us
what sort of thing you are looking for, and we will advise you what
options there are.)
5.2
A3000 drives are the simplest in some ways because they have to be
external drives. In the 40 to 50M range, the Morley 40M is the cheapest
at £435 but then if you want something a bit faster and a bit bigger,
the Frog 45M with the Morley interface comes out at £480. This is an
external interface but if you want to, or have to, have an internal
interface, it has to be the Lingenuity one which is the same price as
the Morley one but is a bit slower being only an 8-bit interface. If you
want the fastest in this range, you would have to go for the Atomwide
50M drive with a Morley external interface at a total of £585 (£425 +
160).
5.2
If you want a 100M drive for your A3000, it works out that the Frog
external 100M plus Morley interface is the cheapest at £580 (£420 +
£160). For a faster drive, you could choose the Atomwide 100M plus
Morley interface at £755 (£595 + £160).
5.2
If you want an internal drive for an A310 or A410, the cheapest is,
again, the Morley 40M at £350 followed by the Oak Worrawinnie 45M at
£405 and the Frog 45M with Morley interface at £430. At 100M internal,
the cheapest is the Frog with a Morley interface at £530 (£390 + £140)
followed by Morley’s own 100M at £560 and Oak’s Worrawinnie at £570. For
higher speed, you could go for Oak’s HS drive at £660 or Atomwide’s 100M
with Morley interface at £645 (£505 + £140).
5.2
If you want an external drive for an A310 or A400 series machine (or an
A5000!) because you can’t fit an internal drive, there is a similar
range as for the A3000 but at slightly different prices because of the
different costs of the interfaces. In the 40 to 50M range, the Morley
40M is the cheapest at £425 but then if you want something a bit faster
and a bit bigger, the Frog 45M with the Morley interface comes out at
£460. If you want the fastest in this range, you could choose between
the Atomwide 50M drive with a Morley interface at a total of £565 (£425
+ £140) and the Oak HS 50M at £560.
5.2
If you want a 100M drive, the Frog external 100M plus Morley interface
is the cheapest at £560 (£420 + £140). For a faster drive, you would
have to go to the Atomwide 100M plus Morley interface at £735 (£595 +
£140).
5.2
If you are unhappy about the “unproven” nature of the Morley software
interface and prefer the extremely stable Oak software then you will
need to add £40 to the price of an A3000 podule and £60 for an internal
podule on other the machines.
5.2
•    Search & Rescue is a role play program for children aged 9+. An
emergency at sea is reported and, as Coastguard, it is your task to
coordinate the actions of lifeboats and helicopters. It brings in
elements of Maths, Geography, English, History and Science. The price is
£33.50 from Storm Software or £31 through Archive.
5.2
•    Sesame Street Crayon is a computer colouring book. Lots of pictures
for you to colour by clicking on the colour you want and clicking on the
area you want to fill. The result can then be printed on a colour
printer. It comes in two varieties, Numbers Count and Letters for You,
which gives a clue to the fact that these programs also have an
education content − rather like Sesame Street TV programme. Each pack is
£19 through Archive.
5.2
•    Sky Hunter is a computer program linked to BBC’s new TV series
starting in January 1992 − Look and Read. Sky Hunter is a peregrine
falcon and the children’s job is to catch some crooks who intend to sell
Sky Hunter illegally. To catch them, you have to solve various problems
along the way. This program, aimed at 7 to 9’s costs £24 +VAT from
Longman Logotron or £26 through Archive.
5.2
•    Statistical software − If you need to do statistical analysis then
FirstJR is a cut down version of Serious Statistical Software’s package,
First. FirstJR costs £49 with a school site licence for £140.
5.2
•    Step by Step Videos − Pedigree Films have produced a set of four
videos to help you with using the A3000 and other Archimedes computers.
They are £14.95 each (£14 through Archive). Up & Running (80 mins), Text
Processing (70 mins), Data Handling (55 mins) and Art & Graphics (55
mins).
5.2
•    Target Maths − This is a suite of four programs designed with specific
National Curriculum attainment targets in mind. Eliminator helps in
learning tables; NumberFax shows factors, odd and triangular numbers
etc; Scale Factor helps in reading linear scales and, at higher level,
improve arithmetic skills; Slider is a computer version of snakes and
ladders. The cost is £19.95 from Triple R or £19 through Archive.
5.2
•    The Font Book from Dalmatian Productions is a user guide for fonts on
the Archimedes range of computers. This 100+ page book comes complete
with a disc of outline fonts and decorative draw files for just £10.50
inclusive − cheques payable to T. Richards.
5.2
•    The Public Key − This magazine which promotes interest in Public Key
Cryptography has had to increase its charges as the initial levels were
not realistic to cover costs. Issue 1 and issue 2 each cost £3 (£4 from
EEC and £5.50 elsewhere). The disc containing the cryptography program
is £6 (£7 from EEC and £8 elsewhere). The complete package of two issues
plus disc is £11 (£13 from EEC and £17 elsewhere). Cheques (in dollars
or pounds sterling) should be made payable to George Foot.
5.2
•    Tower of Babel − an interactive 3D strategy game involving an
interconnecting network of towers, platforms and lifts. You have to take
control of robot spiders and program them to solve problems and puzzles
and interact with various other creatures. Alternatively, realtime
control is available for instantaneous reaction to the game’s develop
ments. £24.99 from Cygnus Software or £23 through Archive.
5.2
•    VoxBox − This is a supporting package to Rhapsody II, Maestro and
other music packages. It allows you to play scores, provides percussion
sounds, converts sound samples into Archimedes voices and allows you to
digitally synthesize voices by drawing waveforms or harmonics. The price
is £61.95 (inc VAT) from Clares or £57 through Archive.
5.2
•    Waterloo − This successful simulation from Atari, Amiga & PC’s is now
available on the Archimedes. The author, Dr Peter Turcan, seems to have
enjoyed doing the transfer. It has 3D perspective pictures of the
battlefield, sounds of canon and an English language parser to interpret
the orders that you, the commander-in-chief give to your subordinate
officers. The cost is £24.95 plus £1 p&p from Turcan Research Systems
and for that, you get a disc, full manual and a colour map of the
terrain and the initial dispositions of the armies.
5.2
Review software received...
5.2
We have received review copies of the following software and hardware:
Converta-Key, Data Word, Money Matters, Picture Book, !CL Psion comms,
VIDC Enhancer software, Fun & Games, Design Concepts fonts, Sky Hunter,
!BasShrink, Hawk V9 updated software, Illusionist, Vox Box, ScoreDraw,
Easiwriter, Bambuzle, Fun School 3 (over 7’s), Pirate, four Step by Step
videos, Base5 DBMS, PinPoint, Ethnic Borders, Turbo Type, Genesis Script
Language book, Air Supremacy, PrimeArt, Imagine, Waterloo, OutLook for
Eizo 9080i.  A
5.2

5.2
Government Health Warning − Reading this could seriously affect your
spiritual health.
5.2
You would be amazed at the number of people, on our Technical Help
Service, who ring us up and state a problem and then our side of the
conversation goes something like... “Have you read the manual?”  “No?
Well the answer is on page ....”
5.2
Sue has just come back from running a Brownie Pack Holiday. “Do you
know”, she said, “of the twelve Brownies there, only four of them are
living with both their natural parents!” The experts analyse the problem
and amaze us all by saying that “children of broken homes are X times
more likely to have their own marriages end in divorce”.
5.2
I just want to shout out, “Won’t someone please read the Manual!” − I am
writing this through a veil of tears because it just cracks me up to see
so many people whose lives are in such a mess because of the poverty of
their marriage relationships.
5.2
What’s the problem? It’s not that we don’t know what’s right (although
the children of this generation are getting more and more confused about
what really is right) but it’s jolly hard work to do what’s right,
especially in a marriage. The Manual says that we need to get our
relationship with God right first, then He will be able to give us the
strength to make our human relationships work properly.
5.2
So, if your marriage is a bit rocky at the moment, it’s not a marriage
guidance counsellor (sorry, a Relate counsellor, as they are now called)
that you want in the first instance. Try reading the Manual or, better
still, go to someone you know who is a committed Christian and who reads
the Manual regularly and ask them, “How can I get my relationship with
God sorted out?”.
5.2
(If you do take my advice and find the joy of coming into a new
relationship with God, do tell me − it would be such an encouragement to
me because writing these comments is never easy.  Thanks,  Paul.)
5.2

5.2

5.2
Norwich Computer Services 96a Vauxhall Street, Norwich, NR2 2SD. 0603-
766592 (764011)
5.2

5.2
4th Dimension     P.O. Box 4444, Sheffield. (0742−700661)
5.2
4mation    11 Castle Park Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32
8PA. (0271−25353) (−22974)
5.2
Abacus Training    29 Okus Grove, Upper Stratton, Swindon, Wilts, SN2
6QA.
5.2
Acorn Direct    13 Dennington Road, Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 2RL.
5.2
Acorn Computers Ltd    Fulbourn
Road, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, CB1 4JN. (0223−245200) (−210685)
5.2
Ace Computing (p34)    27 Victoria
Road, Cambridge, CB4 3BW. (0223−322559) (−69180)
5.2
Aleph One Ltd    The Old Courthouse, Bottisham, Cambridge, CB5 9BA.
(0223−811679) (−812713)
5.2
Alpine Software     P.O.Box 25, Portadown, Craigavon, BT63 5UT.
(0762−342510)
5.2
Arxe Systems Ltd     P.O.Box 898, Forest Gate, London E7 9RG. (081−534−1198
evenings)
5.2
Atomwide Ltd    23 The Greenway, Orpington, Kent, BR5 2AY. (0689−838852)
(−896088)
5.2
Base5 (p31)        PO Box 378, Woking, Surrey GU21 4DF.
5.2
Beebug Ltd (pp10,14,23,24)    117 Hatfield
Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4JS. (0727−40303) (−60263)
5.2
Carvic Manufacturing     Moray Park,
Findhorn Road, Forres, Moray, Scotland, IV36 0TP. (0309−72793)
5.2
Chalksoft    P.O. Box 49, Spalding, Lincs, PE11 1NZ. (0775−769518)
5.2
Clares Micro Supplies    98 Mid
dlewich Road, Rudheath, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7DA. (0606−48511)
(−48512)
5.2
Colton Software (p9)    2 Signet
Court, Swanns Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LA. (0223−311881) (−312010)
5.2
Computer Concepts (p32/3)    Gaddesden
Place, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP2 6EX. (0442−63933) (−231632)
5.2
Cygnus Software    11 Newmarke Street, Leicester, LE1 5SS.
5.2
Dalmation Publications    37 Manor
Road, Teddington, Middlesex  TW11 8AA.
5.2
Database Publications    Europa
House, Adlington Park, London Road, Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire,
SK10 5NP. (0625−859444) (−879966)
5.2
Digital Services    9 Wayte Street, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3BS.
(0705−210600) (−210705)
5.2
Eterna    4 rue de Massacan, 34740 Z.I. Vendargues, France. (010−33 +67 70
53 97)
5.2
Hybrid Technology    88 Butt Lane, Milton, Cambridge  CB4 6DG.
(0223−861522)
5.2
Ian Copestake Software    10 Frost
Drive, Wirral, L61 4XL. (051−632−1234) (−3434)
5.2
Icon Technology    0533−546225 (or Mike Glover on 057−286−642)
5.2
Krisalis Software    Teque House, Mason’s Yard, Downs Row, Moorgate,
Rotherham, S60 2HD. (0709−372290)
5.2
Lingenuity (Lindis)    P.O.Box 10,
Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 0DX. (0986−85−476) (−460)
5.2
Longman-Logotron    Dales Brewery, Gwydir Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LJ.
(0223−323656) (−460208)
5.2
LOOKsystems (p13)    47 Goodhale Road, Bowthorpe, Norwich, NR5 9AY.
(0603−764114) (−764011)
5.2
Micro Studio Ltd    22 Churchgate Street, Soham, Ely, Cambridgeshire.
(0353−720433)
5.2
Morley Electronics     Morley
House, Norham Road, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 7TY. (091−257−6355)
(−6373)
5.2
Oak Solutions (p40)    Cross Park
House, Low Green, Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6HA. (0532−502615) (−506868)
5.2
Pedigree Films Ltd     Unit B11,
Trinity Business Centre, 305 Rotherhithe Street, London  SE16 1EY.
(071−231−6137) (−237−5776)
5.2
Ray Maidstone (p22)    421
Sprowston Road, Norwich, NR3 4EH. (0603−407060) (−417447)
5.2
Spacetech (p39)    21 West Wools, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EA.
(0305−822753)
5.2
Storm Software    Beth House, Poyntington, Sherbourne, Dorset.
(0963−22469)
5.2
Superior Software    P.O. Box 6, Brigg, S Humberside  DN20 9NH.
(0652−658585) (−657807)
5.2
Triple R     P.O. Box 4444, Sheffield. (0742−700661)
5.2
Turcan Research Systems    83 Green
croft Gardens, West Hampstead, London NW6 3LJ. (071−625−8455)
5.2
Wild Vision    15 Witney Way, Boldon Colliery, Tyne & Wear NE35 9PE.
(091−519−1455) (−1929)
5.2

5.2

5.2
Computer Concepts
5.2
New or
5.2
From 5.1 page 30
5.2

5.2
Computer Concepts
5.2
New or
5.2
From 5.1 page 31
5.2

5.2
Colton
5.2
NEW
5.2
(or 4.1 page 12)
5.2

5.2
Risc Developments Ovation Advert
5.2
New
5.2

5.2
Hints and Tips
5.2
•    Fatal error type = 5 revisited (Archive 4.12 p9) − It’s not only !Edit
that reports this error, !Draw and some other Applications abort with a
similar error, but you might want to use !Edit, for example, with fonts.
The version in Archive 4.12 p9 simply hides the !Font-folder, so the
idea is to have the Applications just to see part of the !Fonts folder.
The easiest thing to do is simply to split up the fonts-directory into
directories − i.e. create two directories within !Fonts − in the first
directory (maybe SmallFonts within your !Fonts Folder) just put the
really necessary fonts in (just Trinity, Homerton, Corpus or so), but
remember that there may only be up to 50 fonts (approximately) −
including styles (say Italic, Medium, Bold etc). In the second directory
(maybe LargeFonts) put every font that is not already included in the
first directory.
5.2
The next thing to change is your !Boot and !Run-File from the !Fonts
application.
5.2
The !Boot file should read as follows:
5.2
| !Boot file for !Fonts
5.2
| *********************
5.2
IconSprites <Obey$Dir>.!Sprites
5.2
RMEnsure FontManager 2.42 RMLoad <Obey$Dir>.Fonts
5.2
RMEnsure SuperSample 0.04 RMLoad <Obey$Dir>.Super
5.2
Set Small$Fonts <Obey$Dir>. SmallFonts.
5.2
Set Large$Fonts <Small$Fonts> ,<Obey$Dir>.LargeFonts.
5.2
If “<Font$Prefix>”=“” Then SetMacro Font$Path <Font$Prefix>
5.2
If “<Font$Prefix>”=“” Then Set Font$Prefix <Large$Fonts>
5.2
SET Alias$@RunType_745 RUN <Obey$Dir>.FontHelp -Obey %%*0
5.2
SET File$Type_745 FontObey
5.2

5.2
The !Run file should read as follows:
5.2
| !Run file for !Fonts
5.2
| ********************
5.2
Obey <Obey$Dir>.!Boot
5.2
Echo Outline Font Manager 2.42 installed.
5.2
Echo Fonts now available:
5.2
Echo
5.2
FontCat
5.2

5.2
In addition, you have to create a Basic program called Fonthelp, which
should be situated in the !Font folder and should read like this:
5.2
REM >FontHelp  Version 1.00 20.1.91
5.2
REM *******************************
5.2
REM Written by: Martin Sperl
5.2
REM             Nattergasse 12/32
5.2
REM             A-1170 Vienna (Wien)
5.2
REM             AUSTRIA
5.2

5.2
END=&A000
5.2
DIM Data 255
5.2
SYS“OS_GetEnv” TO ENV$
5.2
ENV$=MID$(ENV$,INSTR(ENV$,“-Obey ”) +6)
5.2
*SET Font$Prefix <Small$Fonts>
5.2
SYS “Hourglass_On”
5.2
SYS “Wimp_Initialise”,200, &4B534154,“**LoadMore**”
5.2
 TO ,TaskHandle%
5.2
SYS “Wimp_StartTask”,“OBEY ”+ENV$
5.2
REPEAT
5.2
SYS “Wimp_Poll”,0,Data TO R%
5.2
UNTIL R%=0
5.2
SYS “Wimp_CloseDown”,TaskHandle%
5.2
*SET Font$Prefix <Large$Fonts>
5.2
SYS “Hourglass_Off”
5.2
END
5.2
Then create a sprite called “file_745” (maybe the same sprite as for an
Obey-file, but another colour) and include it in the !Sprites file of
!Fonts.
5.2
To start an application which can only handle some fonts without errors
just change the Filetype of the !Run-file with “Settype !Run FontObey”
to FontObey. Then you can start the application as normal without having
to worry about fonts at all.
5.2
Martin Sperl, Austria
5.2
•    Formatting PC disks − If, like me, you do not have a PC Filer on your
Archimedes you will have to format DOS diskettes (for use with the PC
Emulator) on a PC. If your PC has a 1.44M drive the standard FORMAT
command needs modifying. The command to use is
5.2
FORMAT  A:  /N:9  /T:80
5.2
This certainly works on the PS/2 55SX I have at work.  Richard Wheeler,
Wokingham  A
5.2

5.2
Impression H & T
5.2
•    Function key changes − Computer Concepts have chosen to use <ctrl-F3>
and <ctrl-F4> for ‘save’ and ‘search and replace’ instead of the more
standard <F3> and <F4>. If you prefer to use the latter, simply go into
the edit styles dialogue (<ctrl-F6>), select first italic and then bold
and, on each, change the keyboard shortcut (or delete it altogether), as
follows... You could, for example, change from <F3> to <shift-ctrl-F3>
by clicking in the shortcut box, pressing <ctrl-U> to delete the
existing text and pressing <shift-ctrl-F3>, at which point the words
“<shift-ctrl-F3>” will appear in the box. Click OK and <F3> will now
produce the desired “save” effect.
5.2
If you already have a lot of documents, this could prove a frustration
since you would have to do this with every document individually. Also,
you would need to go into Impression’s Auto directory and edit the
default document. Michael Ben-Gershon, Israel.
5.2
•    Only 77 graphics frames allowed in a chapter − Impression won’t allow
more than 77 graphics frames in a single chapter. This is due to the
ADFS limitation of 77 files per directory − earlier versions of
Impression (2.03) normally crashed after loading the offending file when
displaying. Impression 2.1 does not allow to save a file with more than
77 graphics-frames per chapter. I mentioned it to CC but they told me
“This is something that would be extremely difficult to overcome. It
should only affect a very small percentage of users”. So beware of too
many frames in one chapter !!! Martin Sperl, Austria
5.2
Couldn’t you get round this by putting several draw objects together in
a single file and then show different parts of the same file in
different frames? I haven’t tried it, but it should work. Ed.
5.2
•    Running Impression documents from !TinyDirs − If you use !TinyDirs to
install an Impression document on the icon bar and then click on it to
run it, a new copy of !Impress will be fired up even if one is already
running.
5.2
This seems to be because of a small mistake in the !TinyDirs.!RunImage
programme. In the PROCdataopen procedure are two lines which read as
follows:
5.2
900 q%?(44+LEN$(q%+44))=0
5.2
910 q%!0=(48+LEN$(q%+44))ANDNOT3
5.2
If you reverse the order of these two lines the program runs correctly.
Hugh Eagle, Horsham
5.2
•    Special Characters − The full list of ISO 8859 characters is included
in the Archimedes User Guide, e.g. page 455 for the Latin 1 alphabet.
However, it’s not too helpful in that it is listed in hexadecimal. If
you want to enter characters using <Alt> and the numeric keypad, you
need to know the decimal numbers. Those of you with EFF fonts will have
a manual that shows various of the character sets by decimal number.
This is particularly useful for Zapf Dingbats and MathGreek fonts. Jim
Nottingham, York.
5.2
(For those without EFF fonts, I have put an Impression file on the
monthly program disc so that you can print out your own lists of
characters just by changing the font in the style definition. Ed.)
5.2
• Wrong sprite colours in Impression − If, when you drag a sprite into
an Impression frame, the colours come out all wrong, it’s probably
because the sprite has not got a palette. If so, the answer is to give
it a palette, which can be done as follows:
5.2
1.    Load the sprite file containing your sprite into !Paint.
5.2
2.    Double click on the thumbnail picture of the sprite you want to
alter.
5.2
3.    Click <menu> over the sprite window that now appears, then move to
the Edit submenu and click on the Palette item at the bottom.
5.2
4.    Save the amended sprite file.
5.2
5.    Load the amended sprite back into Impression.
5.2
(Note: if you don’t want to keep the amended sprite, you can, if you
like, shortcut steps 4 and 5 and save the sprite direct from !Paint into
Impression.) Hugh Eagle, Horsham  A
5.2

5.2
Risc Dev’ments
5.2
IDE Drives
5.2
New
5.2

5.2
The IDEal Hard Drive?
5.2
Brian Philp
5.2
There has been a lot of interest recently in IDE drives which, coming
from the PC market appear to provide a cheap alternative to SCSI drives
− but how IDEal are they? Brian Philp sent an unsolicited article about
his experiences with an Ian Copestake’s ideA drive, then I discovered an
excellent article on the Arcade Bulletin board (081−654−2212) by Michael
Tubby giving a careful comparison of IDE and SCSI, including the
historical background. Michael has kindly agreed to allow us to publish
his article here. Finally, Ian Copestake very kindly allowed us to
borrow an 80M IDE drive and interface which I put through its paces. So,
at the end, I add my own personal views of the relative merits of IDE
and SCSI.
5.2
But let Brian Philp start...
5.2
Recently I bought an 80 Mbyte external hard disc from Ian Copestake
Software for my A3000. Today I installed their Whisper fan quietener.
This is to give you my impression of the products.
5.2
The hard disc cost £598 (inc VAT) which included an interface card which
was simplicity itself to fit. I switched on and there on the icon bar
was an extra disc drive icon. It told me that I had a massive
85,000,000+ bytes free. I made a standard 10M DOS partition but with 5M
of that filled and other files loaded, I now have more than 35M of the
disk full! So much for toying with the idea of a 20 or 40M disk.
5.2
The only drawback was the noise from the drive − mainly the fan. I
discovered that this drive also has the powersave feature of the
internal ideA drives and so, by setting *powersave n, the disc drive
shuts down after 5 × n seconds. This cut down the noise somewhat but the
fan noise was still intrusive. I rang the technical help number (who
were extremely helpful about a small misunderstanding that I had about
fitting the interface) and they informed me that they were designing a
fan quietener. Three days ago, Ian Copestake rang me to say they now had
the quietener and asked if I would like one (£17.63 inc VAT). I must say
I was very impressed with this quality of service. I had expected to
have to hunt round the journals waiting for an advert to appear.
5.2
Yesterday it arrived and I have just fitted it − again a very simple
task. Removing four screws (two at the front and two at the rear)
removes the top of the casing. One has to take a little care to slide
the casing slightly to the left to prevent the warning LED light from
catching on something inside. The casing then has to be laid on the
right hand side of the body of the drive because the lead to the LED
comes from that side. I am reporting this because the documentation does
not mention either which screws to remove (there are some others on the
side of the casing) or about the LED.
5.2
Switching on, the fan started up and then went quiet. This is a test
feature so that you know that the fan is working. There was still some
noise but when the powersave feature came into action virtual silence
reigned. There is a very slight noise coming from the fan which is
working at 10% of its maximum speed but it is hardly noticeable. The
ambient temperature is about 20°C and it has been on for about 1 hour
now without the fan coming into play. The difference is wonderful.
5.2
I can only strongly recommend ideA disc drives to anyone contemplating
the move to greater and faster storage. I have an A440 at work, so I
really appreciate the lack of noise and detect a greater speed of
working. However, I do not know how it compares with a SCSI drive. (See
the table below − yes, it is slightly faster than a 47M ST506 drive.
Ed.)
5.2
The only warning I would give is that a lot of software has been written
with the implicit assumption that ADFS is the only filing system. (ideA
uses its own IDEFS filing system software). This means that some !Boot
and !Run files have to be modified. This probably also goes for SCSI
drives. I have had some problems with some software − notably E-Type and
Holed Out. It seems to be related to the fact that the Shared C Library
in the !System folder is on the IDE drive and the software cannot find
it. There are also problems with some of the games software that changes
the configuration in order to steal extra memory.  A
5.2
The merits of IDE versus SCSI
5.2
Michael Tubby
5.2
This short paper describes the differences between Integrated Drive
Electronics (IDE) and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) disk drives
and interfaces, and highlights the relative merits of both types of
interface.
5.2
What is IDE?
5.2
Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), otherwise known as PC/AT disk
interface, is a system where the hard disk drive has the controller also
built into it. It was developed by disc drive manufacturers for the PC/
AT (286), 386 and 486 based machines to give reasonable performance and
capacity with low cost mass produced disc drives.
5.2
The interface cable to the computer is a 40 way ribbon cable which
carries the data bus, address bus and other timing signals straight from
the computer’s expansion bus. The disk drive appears to the computer as
a memory mapped peripheral emulating a standard PC/AT type disk
controller.
5.2
IDE is a market-lead “defacto standard” which has not been ratified by
any international standards committee. Not all manufacturers’ devices
are compatible or interchangeable − particular problems can occur when
two different makes or models of disk drive are used on one computer
system.
5.2
What is SCSI?
5.2
The Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is a mass storage/peripheral
device interconnection bus which was evolved from the earlier SASI
standard. SCSI is an internationally defined standard by ANSI (X3.131/
86−109) and ECMA.
5.2
SCSI bus is used on a wide range of computer systems ranging from
personal computers through work stations to larger mini computers.
5.2
Physically, the SCSI bus is a 50 way ribbon cable up to 6m long with up
to 8 devices (including the computer(s)). Each device can be a disk
drive, disk controller (with one or more drives), tape streamer, CD-ROM
drive, terminal controller, high performance laser printer etc.
5.2
SCSI was designed with the concept of device/manufacturer interchange
ability and high performance in mind.
5.2
Conclusion
5.2
There is really nothing inherently “better” about IDE or SCSI. They are
rather different interfaces, designed for different purposes and market
places. Some advertisers have been hyping their products on the basis
that “IDE is newer and therefore better...” − this clearly is not the
case.
5.2
Acorn have now adopted IDE for internal hard discs on the new A5000
machine, but still support SCSI as the external disk drive interface and
interface for other peripherals (e.g. CD-ROM) on the complete Archimedes
range.
5.2
What to buy?
5.2
If you want a maximum of one or two hard disc drives (between say 20 and
200M capacity), connected internally with moderate performance, then an
IDE based system is likely to be most cost effective.
5.2
If, on the other hand, you want to be able to add several disc drives,
high performance (>1M/sec throughput), large capacity drives (>200M
storage per drive) or other storage or peripheral devices such as CD-
ROM, high speed printers, document readers/scanners, hard discs with
removable media, tape-streamers etc, then SCSI represents a better, more
flexible, interface standard.  A
5.2
Relative merits of IDE and SCSI
5.2
IDE
5.2
•    Low cost
5.2
•    Medium performance typically up to around 1M/sec
5.2
•    Supports disk drives only

5.2
•    Maximum of 2 devices
5.2

5.2
•    Storage capacity per drive typically up to 200M
5.2
•    Maximum cable length 20“
5.2
•    Manufacturers’ defacto standard
5.2
SCSI
5.2
•    Higher initial cost
5.2
•    Higher performance typically up to 4M/sec (See notes 1 & 3.)
5.2
•    Supports range of storage devices and peripherals, e.g. disk drives,
CD-ROM, scanners, printers, tape streamers etc.
5.2
•    Supports up to 7 controllers each with one or more disk drives
5.2
•    Storage capacity per drive typically up to 1.3 Gbytes. (See note 2.)
5.2
•    Maximum cable length 6m
5.2
•    Industry standard
5.2
Notes:
5.2
1.    SCSI bus can transfer up to 6 M/sec asynchronous but controller
cards on Archimedes cannot handle this speed.
5.2
    Acorn’s SCSI card (AKA-30) peaks at 1.5 M/sec and averages around 1.0
M/sec.
5.2
    The Serial Port’s SCSI card (ASA-160) peaks at 2.9 M/sec and averages
1.8 M/sec.
5.2
    The Morley cached card peaks at 3.98 M/sec.
5.2
2.    Storage capacity of SCSI drives can exceed the 512M limit imposed
by FileCore in RISC-OS. Disk drives greater than 512M have to be
partitioned into smaller logical units of 512M or less.
5.2
3.    Overall throughput is a function of disk drive make/performance,
interface card design/performance and CPU speed.
5.2
Wot?! No IDE?
5.2
Paul Beverley
5.2
When Ian Copestake started his pioneer work of selling IDE drives for
the Archimedes, almost a year ago now, we were asked if we would make
them available to Archive subscribers. At that stage we declined the
offer because we wanted to see a more proven track record on both
hardware and software before getting involved. This decision was born
out of bitter experience from the early days of SCSI drives on the
Archimedes. We had a lot of trouble with bugs in the software and poor
supply of drives and eventually felt that we had to stop supplying one
particular make of SCSI drives.
5.2
We have been asked several times recently why N.C.S. still hasn’t gone
into selling IDE drives. So, when Brian Philp’s quite positive review
came through, I decided to look into it again and asked Ian Copestake if
I could borrow one of the drives that Brian was using. However, as a
result of our investigations, we have decided to continue our policy of
not stocking IDE drives, so I felt it right to give our reasons.
5.2
Hardware reliability
5.2
There have been problems in the past with unreliable hardware − drives
and interfaces failing. However, from what I can gather, these problems
(which are bound to happen in the early stages of any new product like
this) have been ironed out and virtually all of the reports we have had
speak of the excellent service given by I.C.S. in sorting out such
problems. (Would that all such companies in the Archimedes market would
respond as well when things went wrong. There has been considerable
discussion on Arcade recently of problems experienced in dealing with
certain Archimedes companies.)
5.2
Software reliability
5.2
With any new product, there are likely to be bugs in the software. If it
is, say, a word processor, the worst that can happen is that a bug can
cause you to lose a document that you had been working on − frustrating,
but not disastrous. With a filing system, bugs in the software can have
more serious consequences − therefore I need to be sure that the
software is “robust”. The existing software has been in use over a year
now and so it should be OK but ICS are doing a complete re-write of the
software (see Ian Copestake’s comments below) so, until this new
software has become well-established, I would not want to trust my own
vital data to its care.
5.2
Compatibility
5.2
Michael Tubby has already mentioned that there can be problems with IDE
drives from different suppliers not being compatible with one another.
I.C.S. say that they are aware of the problem and have a “recommended
drive list” which they will give to any of their customers who want to
add a second drive to their existing one, though they do say that they
want to encourage customers not to buy the interface apart from the
drive(s). The only drive I have heard of that gives problems on some
SCSI controllers is the Syquest removable drive. It works all right with
Oak, Lingenuity and Morley interfaces but Acorn have STILL not got it
working on their (newer) AKA31 SCSI interface although it’s OK on their
(now discontinued) AKA30 SCSI interface. We do, however, have a software
patch to make the Acorn board work with Syquest but the author is
charging £30 for it!
5.2
Versatility
5.2
Again, as Michael has mentioned, IDE is only for hard drives whereas
SCSI, although more expensive to start off with, provides an interface
to other devices such as CD-ROMs, scanners, tape-streamers etc.
5.2
Speed
5.2
... or rather lack of it. I did the two standard speed tests that I
perform on most drives and the results are shown in the table opposite.
As you can see, in terms of speed, the 80M IDE comes below the 20M
Worrawinnie (except in mode 21). I.C.S. say that they are on the look
out for faster drives at a reasonable price. They have found one such
drive which runs at almost 1000 kbytes/sec, but it’s a 200M drive − more
than most people want these days. (Mind you, I remember when 20M was
thought to be quite a large drive!)
5.2
Beware of salesmen
5.2
At the Acorn User Show, a representative of one well known computer
peripheral supplier (not, I hasten to add, I.C.S.!), when asked about
the relative merits of SCSI and IDE said that IDE was faster (which is
not true), more reliable (highly debatable) and cheaper (true!). I
personally got much the same story from another such company when I
asked a similar question over the phone. In both cases, the companies
were selling IDE drives but not SCSI.
5.2
“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?” I hear you say. “You’re
selling SCSI and not IDE and are recommending SCSI!” True, but the
difference is that I have not developed either and could sell either. I
have looked at the relative merits and have decided that I would not
want to recommend IDE to my customers and risk the come-back if things
went wrong. The two companies I referred to had, at that stage, only
developed IDE drives and not SCSI and were making recommendations purely
on the basis of where they could make the most profit. I have deliber
ately not bothered to look into the profit margins on the two types of
drives so that it didn’t influence my decision.
5.2
Cost
5.2
OK, the IDE drives can be cheaper than SCSI, initially, but if you want,
say, a flatbed scanner you are going to need a SCSI interface anyway −
or if you want a CD-ROM. So, it makes more sense to me to pay a little
more now to save money in the long run.
5.2
(You may say that you can’t afford scanners and CD-ROMs, but look what
has happened to the price of laser printers! Who would have thought,
even a year ago, that you would be able to get a high speed 600 d.p.i.
laser printer for under £1000 (+ VAT)? My incredibly slow, 300 d.p.i.
Apple Laserwriter cost me over £3,000 five years ago.)
5.2
Conclusion
5.2
I think it’s a case of “you get what you pay for”. If cost is the over-
riding influence than you have to look at IDE but if reliability, speed,
compatibility and versatility are important, then SCSI is worth
considering.
5.2
Ian Copestake comments: We are at the beta test stage with new software
which will improve speed performance by typically 20%. Further tuning of
this software will raise the figure. Software updates (i.e. a new EPROM)
will be offered to existing and current purchasers at a very modest cost
(probably about £15).
5.2
The maximum limit of two drives will be overcome, indeed, some suppliers
are already claiming to have done it. Storage capacity is becoming less
of a limitation − we can already supply 300M drives and this figure
rises all the time. The maximum cable length is 24“, not 20”.
5.2
(It would need a 30% speed increase to bring the 80M drive up to the
speed of the 20M Worrawinnie. Ed.)  A
5.2
    (a) Speed    (b) Copy Test 1    (c) Copy
Test 2    Archive Price
5.2
All speeds in kbytes/second        =
Apps 2    = Apps 1    Internal  External
5.2
                           Mode:    0    15
21    0    15    21    0    15    21

5.2
100M Atomwide (o)    1170    1170
735    66.3    60.5    46.5    83.8
79.0    61.4        700    790
5.2
100M Atomwide (mu)    1170
979    524    66.5    61.2    43.2
81.9    75.4    55.7        640
730
5.2
100M Atomwide (mc)    1170
1170    1116    66.3    61.6    46.7
84.0    79.0    62.4        700
790
5.2
100M Frog (Oak card)    888
888    285    61.9    55.0    39.2
67.8    64.6    44.5        590
620
5.2
(100M A540 Conner *    790
790    790    61.2    59.7    58.6
79.5    78.6    76.0        −
     −   )
5.2
(40M A5000 IDE *    817    817
716    46.4    46.0    44.0    59.6
58.1    56.8        −         −   )
5.2
65M Frog + Oak card    796
796    574    52.6    51.0    37.9
75.0    70.8    50.8        520
550
5.2
45M Worrawinnie    659    659    55
41.0    38.8    14.6    49.5    46.5
15.9        405    500
5.2
20M Worrawinnie    607    607    55
41.2    38.0    14.1    46.9    44.0
15.8        345    395
5.2
80M IDE from ICS    472    439
404    32.4    29.8    24.6    41.5
38.5    31.9        457    586
5.2
47M ST506    416    416    82    −      −
     −      −      −      −          −    −
5.2
(o) is using Oak podule,  (mu) is using Morley unchached podule and (mc)
is using Morley unchached podule.
5.2
* The A5000 and A540 drives are not a fair comparison in some ways as
they are being run on an ARM3 machine − all the other tests were done on
an A410 with ARM2.
5.2
Speed test results for a number of different hard drives
5.2
These are the result of some speed tests done to compare different
drives and interfaces. We tested them on an A3000 with an ARM2 proces
sor. We did the raw file loading/saving speed test (a), our “better
test” where we copy the contents of a directory containing all the files
on Applications Disc 2 (b) and the same test as (b) but using the
contents of Applications Disc 1 (c).
5.2

5.2
Small Ads
5.2
•    A3000 colour + £200 worth of software. Offers around £750. Phone
Shanwaz on 0703−677669 after 7 p.m.
5.2
•    A3000 colour, 2M ram + software, £700. Epson printer + ribbons £75.
Phone 0603−55303.
5.2
•    A3000 colour, 2M ram, serial upgrade, monitor stand, Epson printer
£800 o.n.o. Free delivery and set up within 50 miles of Aldershot. Phone
Darren on 0252−345641.
5.2
•    A3000 Learning Curve with Atomwide 4M board, Interdictor II & dust
cover − £750 o.n.o. Phone 0305−775507 evenings.
5.2
•    A310 2M ram (Atomwide), 20M drive (Oak SCSI) and Electrohome multi-
sync £900 o.n.o. Phone Mike on 081−579−0607
5.2
•    A310 colour 2-way backplane, 5¼“ interface, games £600. Phone Dave
after 6 on 0299−270443.
5.2
•    A310 colour 4M ram, 45M Oak SCSI, c.p.u. recently overhauled, £995.
Phone Colin Singleton on 0742−368797.
5.2
•    A310 Colour, Citizen Swift 24 printer, FW Plus, monitor stand, paper
and assorted PD £700 o.n.o. Acorn JP150 inkjet printer (brand new) £200
o.n.o. Phone Andrew on 0532−752798 evenings.
5.2
•    A310M colour dual 3½“ floppies, backplane, 5¼” interface £450 o.n.o.
Phone Arthur on 0276−22031.
5.2
•    A310M colour, 4-slot b-plane £500 o.n.o., Opus system solver + chair
£50, Uchida daisywheel printer with s-feeder £60, Roland DXY 880A
plotter £280. Phone 0986−872465.
5.2
•    A310M colour twin 3½“ disc drives (incl. old facia), IFEL 4-slot b-
plane, Voltmace joystick, Atomwide prototyping podule (unused; RAM
version), games, PD software £680 o.n.o. Phone Simon on 0603−226041 day
or −38342 evenings.
5.2
•    A410 2M, £600. Acorn multisync monitor (from A5000) brand new £380.
ARM3 £180. PC Emulator 1.7 £70. Phone Leslie Wiggins on 0602−421413 day
or −607822 evenings.
5.2
•    A410 2M, 40M hard disc, PC emulator & First Word Plus 2. £975. Phone
0228−26131 and ask for Bill.
5.2
•    A410 4M, 45M Oak SCSI internal, ROM/RAM podule with b-backup, PC
emulator. £750 o.n.o. Phone Arthur on 0276−22031.
5.2
•    A410 4M + 40M £925; Eizo 9060S £325. Phone Colin on 0786−61501
(even’s/weekends).
5.2
•    A410 4M + 42M drive, new mouse, PC emulator, NEC Multisync II £1200
o.n.o.. Might sell monitor separately. Phone 0886−21457.
5.2
•    A410 4M + 40M, Taxan 775, ARM 3, Laser Direct Hi-Res interface,
Watford 5¼“ drive + interface, £1800 o.n.o. Scanlight Junior £160.
Orrery £60. Genesis2 £70. Impression Business Supplement £30. PipeDream3
+ Hotlinks Presenter £110. Tracer £30. Phone Chris Bollard on
0752−783663.
5.2
•    A410 4M + 40M drive, NEC Multisync II £1000 (DM 3000). Phone Cornelia
on 0201 −641230 in Essen, Germany (evenings).
5.2
•    A410 4M + 47M drive, boxed, loads of software £1400. Phone Bob on
0249−813209 after 6.30.
5.2
•    A410 4M + 50M drive, 5¼“ drive and interface, with/without m-sync
monitor. Best offer. Phone 0952−613619.
5.2
•    A420, 4M, ARM3, Taxan 770+, 20M drive, £1,500. Phone Dave on
0603−441031. Leave messages any time, all calls returned.
5.2
•    Acorn 2-slot backplane with fan and instructions £25 o.n.o. Phone
0895−630344.
5.2
•    Canon BJ 130E bubble jet printer, sheet feeder, wide carriage. Offers
over £300. Phone Mike on 081−841−1463 (evenings/weekends).
5.2
•    Digitising tablet − TDS LC12 prof. quality tablet 12“ × 12” area, 4
button puck, up to 400 l.p.i., serial or parallel, £110. Phone
0903−65727, evenings.
5.2
•    EMR Studio Plus £120, EMR Midi 4 £75, System Delta Plus 2 £30, SDP
Reporter £20, 2nd internal floppy for A310 inc front panel £60, 2-slot
Acorn b-plane £20. Offers welcome. 10% of all sales will go to Archive’s
Charity Pot. Phone David on 0284−761801 after 5 p.m.
5.2
•    LaserDirect Qume, inc original toner/drum. £800. Armadillo A448M, 8bit
stereo sampler/midi including HighNote and Armadeus editing software.
Phone Glenn on 0932−567614 (near Staines).
5.2
•    LaserDirect Qume, still on first toner cartridge, latest !PrinterLD
inc Epson emulation. £750 o.n.o. Phone 0457−763649.
5.2
•    Magpie £30, Genesis 2 £100, Schema £60, Wonderland £20. Phone
0823−283346.
5.2
•    Microvitec 1455A med res colour monitor £125 o.n.o. Microvitec
Touchtec 501 touchscreen for monitor £125 o.n.o. Tektronic 2225 o’scope
£350. Phone 0932−232837.
5.2
•    Morley 2M ram expansion board for A3000 (expandable to 4M) £35. Phone
Dave on 0323−485773.
5.2
•    Philips CM8833 colour stereo monitor with leads £130. Phone
0454−772159 evenings.
5.2
•    Podules for A300/400 series (not A3000 or A5000) − WE digitiser £110,
Lingenuity colour converter for WE digitiser £90, WE Mk2 hand-scanner
£100, CC ROM podule (no RAM or battery) £20. Phone 0283−75345.
5.2
•    Scanlight Plus A4 with sheet feeder £300. Phone 0603−742638.
5.2
•    Wanted − First Word Plus version1. Phone 0228−26131 and ask for Bill.
5.2
•    Wanted Master Reference Manuals. Phone Colin on 0786−61501 (evening/
weekends).
5.2
•    Wild Vision Hawk V9 Digitiser inc. Fastgrab + ChangeFSI + Translator
£195. Phone William on 0279−424139.
5.2
(Small ads for Archimedes and related products are free for subscribers
but we reserve the right to publish all, part or none of the material
you send, as we think fit. i.e. some people don’t know what “small”
means and there are certain things, as you can imagine, that we would
not be prepared to advertise as a matter of principle. Sending small ads
(especially long ones!) on disc is helpful but not essential. Ed)
5.2
Charity Sales
5.2
The following items are available for sale in aid of charity. PLEASE do
not just send money − ring us on 0603−766592 to check if the items are
still available. Thank you.
5.2
(If you have unwanted software or hardware for Archimedes computers you
could donate for charity, please send it in to the Archive office. If
you have larger items where post would be expensive, just send us
details of the item(s) and how the purchaser can get hold of them.)
5.2
(Not much this month but we sold a lot at the A.U.Show. Indeed, with
Careware monies we raised over £2,000 in the three days!)
5.2
Interdictor £5, Artisan 1 £5, SigmaSheet £10, Hard Disc Companion £10,
Toolkit Plus £5, RISC-OS Companion £8, DiscTree £8, Dabhand Guide
Archimedes Operating System ArcBuffer £2, AutoSketch £20, The Wimp Game
£9, Maddingly Hall £8, First Word Plus £10, Guild of Thieves £5, The
Pawn £5, Timewatch £5.  A
5.2

5.2
Help!!!!
5.2
•    Clip Art Conversion − I have been given some clip art in Draw format
which was converted from the MS-DOS program, Arts & Letters. I have
access to the OS/2 and MS-DOS versions of Arts & Letters but have not
managed to convert files to Draw format myself. All I can do is to
convert to TIFF format and then convert that to sprite but there must be
some way of taking the object-oriented output of A & L and converting it
to Draw. Any ideas? Roland Nitsch, Vienna.
5.2
•    Compare utility − Can anybody help with a compare utility. I have a
number of files and applications from different PD sources which appear
to be identical. It would be nice to have a utility onto which I could
drag two files/ applications/ directories and then be told that the two
really are the same. Richard Wheeler, Wokingham
5.2
•    French & German dictionaries − My daughters would like to do their
French and German homework with 1st Word Plus. When it comes to spell
checking, this means French and German Dictionaries. Can anybody help
with these? (N.B. This does not mean a French or German version of 1st
Word Plus. The only change I am after is new dictionaries.) Richard
Wheeler, Wokingham.
5.2
•    Listening ear − Have you got a listening ear? (No, we’re talking about
counselling.) We need a “listening ear” symbol for use on documentation
for deaf people. A draw file would be best but if someone has a scanned
version, that would do. Rev Colin Brockie (part-time chaplain to the
Deaf) Grange Church, 51 Portland Road, Kilmarnock KA1 2EQ.
5.2
•    Midi sequencer − I have spent a significant amount of time over the
last two years producing a MIDI Sequencer/Composition package for the
Archimedes. I would like to make it available to others who may be
interested, but before giving it wide circulation, would like to put it
out to a limited number of people for beta test and review. Really, I am
looking for Archimedes owners with MIDI experience who are in a position
to make an unbiased assessment, and are willing to spend some time using
the system and recording their comments. I would also be grateful if
someone with the musical ability could produce some good demonstration
songs which will do justice to the software. I have produced some
demonstration songs, but they are limited by my own ability
5.2
I have produced a draft User Manual, and would expect to include a copy
of this with each review copy, since I am keen to receive comments on
the manual as well as the software itself.
5.2
Since I have other full-time work, I am not in a position to make the
firm support commitment necessary if it were released as a full
commercial product. On the other hand, I feel I have produced something
of value for which I would like to develop a solid base of users. If I
can get feedback indicating that it is worth continuing with, I am
willing to make modifications as a result of comments received and make
it available on a wider basis, possibly via Careware. Keith Parks, 18
Christchurch Road, Malvern, WR14 3BE.
5.2
•    MS-DOS 5 & Scanners − We mentioned last month that there were reports
that MS-DOS 5 has been seen working under version 1.6 of the PC
emulator. This is indeed correct and was confirmed by a number of
Archive readers. The next question we have been asked is whether any of
the PC compatible scanners work on the Archimedes under the emulator.
More likely, do any of them work on the A5000?
5.2
By the way, I had a number of offers to coordinate the PC Compatibility
list. Unfortunately, I lost the piece of paper on which I wrote down the
name of the gentleman whose offer I accepted! Would he contact me,
please? (Ooops!) Ed.
5.2
•    Rewritable optical drives − Does anyone know if it is possible to
connect an IBM PS/2 3½“ rewritable optical drive (P/N 6450162) to the
Archimedes via an Oak SCSI card? Roland Nitsch, Vienna.  A
5.2

5.2
Risc Dev’ments
5.2
Desk Edit
5.2
New
5.2

5.2
Risc Dev’ments
5.2
Hearsay II
5.2
New
5.2

5.2
Comment Column
5.2
•    A5000 − The Archimedes is dead! It’s official. Read the leaflet about
the new A5000, and nowhere will the name be found. Now, it’s A3000,
A5000, A540, and even the ‘A’ icon at the right hand end of the icon bar
has, under RISC-OS 3, become Acorn’s acorn logo. What happens to the
title of Archive magazine, not to mention Archimedes World?
5.2
The A5000 leaflet also tells us quite a lot about Acorn’s future policy.
The table ‘The A5000 in the Acorn Range’ shows us that the A400 range
has also gone completely. It also underlines what was said in October’s
Archive about the A540 looking rather dated for the alleged top-of-range
machine. It doesn’t take a genius to suggest that a new model (A6000?),
with RISC OS 3 and 1.6M floppies can’t be far away, presumably in the
new anonymous looking box.
5.2
The move towards peripheral PC compatibility is to be commended. As
Apple realised in 1989, allowing your machine to read PC discs makes
sense commercially and encourages peaceful co-existence in a situation
in which a refusal to accept such standards as disc formats would only
hurt the minority-interest machine.
5.2
This leads me to my major grumble; the price of higher resolution
displays for Archimedes, even if equipped with VIDC enhancers. Multi-
sync monitors, especially if larger than 14“, are very expensive. In the
PC world, VGA and SVGA monitors are much cheaper, and it seems that
Watford Electronics’ new SVGA VIDC enhancer might open up new possibili
ties. Why has no one, apparently, attached relatively cheap ‘A4 portrait
mode’ (i.e. vertical) high-resolution monochrome monitors to Archimedes?
Is the Taxan Viking II (at £900) the only ‘big-screen’ option?
5.2
So complex is the range of video standards which A310s to A5000s will
drive, and so plentiful is the range of monitors sold for PCs, that I’m
baffled. Multi-syncs are clearly the ‘guaranteed to work’ option, but if
I want anything larger than 14“ – and, currently enjoying a 17” standard
resolution screen, I certainly do – they are far too expensive. How can
I tell what will work on my A310, with an enhancer?
5.2
So, how about an article (or even a series) in Archive, along the lines
of ‘Everything you wanted to know about Archimedes video monitors, but
were afraid to ask?’ Please! Stuart Bell, Brighton.
5.2
(Part of the answer may be in Atomwide’s DIY VIDC Enhancer − see
Products Available − which would allow you to set up your own mode(s) to
work with whatever monitor you wanted to use.)
5.2
•    A5000 monitor identification − Brian Cowan comments in the A5000
supplement that the A5000 can tell what type of monitor is attached to
it. This achieved by the use of the standard PC style VGA connector.
This is a 15 pin D-type connector. The pins 4, 11 and 12 are used to
provide the monitor identification. A simple truth table is described
below to show how this works.
5.2
15pin VGA                 Pin:    4    12
11
5.2
Monitor ID bit    2    1    0
5.2
Mono    n/c    0v    n/c
5.2
Colour (Interlaced)    n/c    n/
c    0v
5.2
Colour (Non-Interlaced)    0v    n/
c    0v
5.2
0v = 0 volts,   n/c = not connected.
5.2
By reading the value at these pins, the A5000 can tell the type of
monitor that is attached to it. This information was found in a book on
IBM PC’s and may well be different for the A5000/RISC-OS 3.  (It must be
the same, surely? Ed.)
5.2
Mark Taylor
5.2
•    Acorn Show − We are holding a show of Acorn hardware and software on
Sunday 17th November, 1991 at the Junction 24 Motel on the A6 in
Kegworth village − near M1 J24 − 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. The entrance
fees of £1 for adults and 50p for children will all be donated to a
local charity. Barry Thompson, Selective Computer Services, Weston on
Trent. (0332 −690691)
5.2
•    Acorn User Show − As predicted, there were a lot of new products
launched at the Acorn User Show. The trouble is that it was such a busy
show (good news for the Acorn market in general) that we didn’t get
chance to go round the other stands to find out exactly what was being
launched. Unfortunately, not all suppliers are good at telling Archive
magazine about their latest offerings. So, if there are new products you
know about that can be said to be “Products Available” and that have not
been mentioned yet, please write in and tell us about them. (Don’t phone
us, please, because our switchboard is already pretty busy with normal
day-to-day calls. Thanks. Ed.)
5.2
•    ARM Data Manual − Here is some help offered to Jonathan Heher, S
Africa, as requested in Archive 4.8. It is also a short review of a book
of great interest to all the Archimedes users.
5.2
‘Acorn Risc Machine (ARM) Data Manual’, published by Prentice Hall,
(ISBN 0-13-781618-9) is ‘the’ hardware and software (assembler)
reference for the whole ARM family, ARM 3 included. It consists of nine
parts: Introduction, 86C010 (ARM2), 86C020 (ARM3), 86C110 (MEMC), 86C310
(VIDC), 86C410 (IOC), plus other details regarding packaging, develop
ment tools and sales representatives.
5.2
It comes attractively packaged in a shiny ivory cover. The fonts and the
page layout are excellent throughout the book. Prentice Hall really know
how to print books, but this is something you don’t generally expect
with technical reference manuals.
5.2
The introduction gives an overview of the philosophy that originated the
ARM chip set and why it was so innovative, together with the basic
connection schemes that are the same, I guess, as implemented in the
Acorn computers. It is tempting to skip the introduction but if you did
you would be missing a well written, general description of the system
as a whole.
5.2
Then come the sections on the individual chips. It goes into great
detail about the inner workings of the devices. It is not an application
notes book but, clearly, anyone wishing to implement his/her ARM system
board could find all they need to know, and much of the information
could also be of use to the more adventurous Archimedes owner.
5.2
The ARM3 is also covered in great detail, and a replacement board
construction becomes relatively easy using the knowledge that you get
here. (Note the inverted reset, use a double clock frequency quartz and
divide it with a flip-flop to clean the signal.) If you are one of the
few Archimedes owners that don’t care to know how to interface the
memory controller to static ram or how to implement cascaded MEMC
systems, chapter 4 will help anyway with description of video, sound and
cursor buffer and the MEMC controller registers. The following chapters
deal with VIDC and IOC at the same level of completeness.
5.2
This book obviously doesn’t deal with the operating system and you must
have a copy of the  RISC-OS PRM if you want to access the free resources
(like Timer 1) without interfering with the system itself. Remember,
anyway, whatever you do, to follow Acorn guidelines.
5.2
‘Acorn Risc Machine (ARM) Data Manual’ is not targeted at the occasional
user, or the hardware faint-of-heart, but anyone familiar with a
microprocessor data sheets will find here the ultimate information about
the architecture of the ARM chip set. The instruction set is well
documented and explained, and this is what many users will find most
useful. Beware, though that there are some errata throughout the book
but I don’t know the number or seriousness of them. Hopefully, I’ll let
you know more when I have received an errata sheet. (Has anyone got
one?)
5.2
The style used throughout the book makes it a pleasant read, and was a
nice surprise. The contents are not easy unless you have some previous
knowledge of microprocessor systems. If you don’t, it would be better to
read some introductory books first. Of course, you must also have your
RISC-OS PRM at hand. All in all, highly recommended.   Maurizio Ferrari,
Albinea, Italy.
5.2
•    Cleaning keyboards − I totally agree with Ray Maidstone’s comments on
cleaning keyboards and using “switch cleaner” (Archive 5.1 p.25) I would
also add that certain keys are very difficult to reassemble if the
keycap is removed. The SPACE BAR, SHIFT, ENTER and CONTROL (I think the
list is correct − but I’m not taking my keyboard apart again just to
find out!) contain a “torsion bar”. This can be very difficult to put
back in place if it is removed from the keycap.
5.2
Also, I would like to comment on Ray King’s article on cleaning
keyboards (Archive 5.1 p.37). I think it should be made clear that when
he says “The other end (of the earth strap) can be temporarily attached
to the earth pin of a 13 amp plug”, he means the wire should be attached
to the earth pin inside the plug. A plug should never be part-ially
pulled out to attach a ground strap.
5.2
The best method is to use a proper “green” plug. This is a plug with
only the earth pin conected and the live and neutral pins being plastic.
The outside face of the plug has a connection point for attaching a
proper ground strap. I appreciate that a lot of people are not going to
be able to obtain these items but they really are the best tools for the
job. The plugs I have are made by “Vermason”. An alternative method of
obtaining a satisfactory earth is to attach your ground strap to the
chassis of the computer being worked on. Obviously the point to which
you attach your ground pin must be bare metal to get a good connection
and the mains lead must be left in the machine to provide a path back to
earth. The wall socket can be left switched off. (Obviously the computer
must also be switched off.)  Mark Taylor
5.2
•    DXF files (converting) − I have had many calls/letters from people
asking me for a utility to convert from Draw files to DXF. My
!WorksTools#1 disc does not do this, nor do I have any intention of
writing such a thing. My disk does enable people to write DXF files from
their own software. It is not a conversion utility. No more calls on
this subject please!
5.2
Having said that, the common problem is how to get from !Draw files to a
PC or a Mac. It appears, although I have personally not needed to try
this, that one route (possibly the only route?) is to use the !Draw/CGM
conversion utility on Careware 13. CGM (Computer Graphics Metafiles) are
the subject of a standard and, I believe, can be read by a variety of PC
applications with differing degrees of success. Any expert comments on
this would, I am sure, be welcomed by all those who have contacted me on
this subject.  Jim Markland
5.2
•    DXF files (problems with) − A number of problems have become apparent
with !Draw in the way it handles DXF files.
5.2
1.    !Draw, when used with recent versions of CLib will not read DXF
files at all. I understand that Acorn are aware of this. (Strange way to
treat an international standard!)
5.2
2.    !Draw issues a spurious error message when a DXF file is dragged
to it via a scrap mechanism. Interestingly enough, this doesn’t happen
if the file is dragged from !Edit. Simply ignore the message and carry
on.
5.2
Many thanks to Oak Solutions for confirming the above observations.
5.2
3.    Also via a scrap mechanism, !Draw will not accept certain DXF
files which it otherwise seems to read happily.... this is noticeably
troublesome using BLOCKS.
5.2
Jim Markland, 4 Shalford Close, Cirencester, GL7 1WG.
5.2
•    Deskjet 500 cartridges − If anyone is interested in getting Deskjet
500 ink cartridges refilled, you can contact M Thomson, Bank House, Main
Street, Aberfoyle, Stirling, FK8 3UG. You will receive details of the
refill service. It costs £4.95 which includes p & p. The other address I
have is Millenium 3, 413 Wembley Commercial Centre, 80 East Lane, North
Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 7XX. They sell several coloured refills in
plastic tubes − £7.00 for two.
5.2
If anyone has any empty cartridges they don’t want, please send me a few
− but contact me first! Rev John McGuire, The Rectory, Hot Lane,
Biddulph Moor, Staffs, ST8 7HP. (0782−513323)
5.2
•    Hard drive parking − Ray Maidstone says that the best way to park a
hard disc is first to perform a *BYE and then a *SHUTDOWN. The reason
the *SHUTDOWN produces a “triple tick” after the *BYE is that the drive
has been parked and all files have been closed. Therefore the drive has
to be un-parked and then re-parked by the second command (i.e.
*SHUTDOWN). The *SHUTDOWN command is different from the *BYE command
because it closes all files on ALL filesystems (i.e. RAM, ADFS and
SCSI). Mark Taylor
5.2
Ray’s answer to this comment is that not all drive ACTUALLY park when
you do a *BYE. He has proved it by taking a drive to bits and watching
what happens − anyway, yer pays yer money (for a hard drive) and yer
takes yer choice!
5.2
•    International Golf − The golf game on Shareware Disc 41 has now been
updated. A few minor bugs have been fixed and the program has been fully
tested with 1M machines. Adrian Look.
5.2
• Magnets and floppy disks − When, six years ago, the Physics Department
of my school at last received its first two computers, the colleagues
from computer science predicted doom for our software because of the
many magnets lying around in our rooms.
5.2
I was, therefore, horrified some days ago, when I unpacked some new
software and realized too late that I had put the disk right next to a
magnet lying on the table.
5.2
To my great relief, the disk had not been harmed at all.
5.2
This made me curious, and I experimented a bit. The results amazed me: I
put an old disk into a thin plastic bag (to avoid contamination with any
iron particles clinging to a magnet) and rubbed all twenty-odd permanent
magnets in our collection one by one all over the surface. This had no
effect!
5.2
I then took an iron-filled coil and sent a direct current of 10 A
through it, until it heated up so much that I had to switch off. The
magnetic field (350 mT) was about three times as strong as that of our
strongest permanent magnet. This made two files on the disk unreadable
(disk error 8 at ... etc ).
5.2
I then fed an ironless coil with alternating current, first at 50 Hz,
then at 40 kHz; here the effect was predictably more marked. The high
frequency field, which was very roughly 100 times as strong as that at
the top of my monitor (we have no calibrated measuring devices for such
fields) managed to make the disk totally unreadable when I left the disk
lying on the coil for an hour.
5.2
Conclusion? While it would be unwise to bring your disks into close
contact with a permanent magnet on purpose, don’t worry too much about
any magnets in the same room as your disks; do take great care, however,
where those electromagnetic fields are concerned which are emitted from
monitors, telephone bells and the like. Jochen Konietzko, Koeln, Germany
5.2
•    RenderBender 2 − Dave Clare writes...  I agree with Malcolm Banthor
pe’s review (Archive 5.1 p55) but there was one mistake. It is in fact
possible to alter the beam width of spotlights. You simply use the
Height function in the Functions menu, select the spotlight and move the
mouse. The two lines move to show the angle of the beam.
5.2
•    Teletext Adaptor − Would the person who bought the teletext adaptor
from our Charity Bring & Buy sale at the Acorn User Show please get in
touch with us as we have a couple of discs of software that go with it.
Ed.  A
5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2

5.2
Base 5
5.2
New
5.2

5.2
Sound Sampling
5.2
Odd Bakken
5.2
Sound samplers are widely used on the Archimedes but some people are
dissapointed with the results. To get the most out of your sampler, you
need to have some basic knowledge about “Digital Sound”.
5.2
What happens when you sample a sound?
5.2
Let’s take a simple sound signal, a sinewave. How many samples do we
need to describe it? The crudest representation is two samples/period
(Figure 1). The resulting squarewave is certainly not a sinewave but if
we filter it, cutting off all its harmonic tones (3rd, 5th,
7th....harmonic), we have a sinewave, very similar to the original.
5.2
What happens then if we sample the signal with less than 2 samples /
period?
5.2
As the signal increases above half of the sampling frequency, it is
“mirrored” back (Figure 2).
5.2
Fout =  Fsample / 2 − ( Fin − Fsample / 2)
5.2
The result is bad distortion since it isn’t harmonically related to the
signal. So, when sampling sounds, it is essentially to sample with a
frequency, that is at least twice as high as the highest possible
frequency from the source. This means that if you use a CD player as the
source, you have to use a sampling frequency over 40 kHz. The sound
output from the Archimedes is filtered at about 10 kHz (Figure 3), so
the optimum sampling frequency is the default 20.833 kHz. This means
that you should filter the input signal at 10 kHz to avoid distortion.
5.2
Playback
5.2
When the sound is recreated from the digital data, it is represented in
steps (256 for the 8-bit Archie, 65536 for the 16-bit CD). If these
steps are not smoothed out (Figure 4), they will create unwanted
overtones. If you play back a sample at a very low replay rate you will
hear a tone which is caused by the harmonics from the square steps. The
optimum solution would be an active lowpass filter that follows the
sampling frequency both on sampling and replay. The next best solution
is to use a variable lowpass filter on the input with a graduated
frequency scale and with a high Q-factor (steep flange) to avoid
dampening of the high end of the frequency scale.
5.2
Conclusion
5.2
To get the best out of your sampler you must take care to do most of the
sound processing before you digitize the sound.
5.2
With an 8 bit sampler, you have a very limited dynamic range. You
increase the S/N ratio with 6 dB/bit (with linear sampling), so you have
only 48 dB to play around with, (the same as a telephone line), so use
all 8 bits! This means that, when sampling, the dynamic range of the
source signal should be reduced (compressed). A good way to compress the
sound is to record a cassette with Dolby C on, and then switch to Dolby
B when replaying it to the sampler.
5.2
If you use sampling frequencies below 40 kHz you must pass the sound
through a lowpass filter − try coupling a speaker output from your HiFi
to the cassette recorder/sampler (take care with the sound level!!), and
turn the treble all the way down. This sounds a bit drastic but, believe
me, it will sound better than undersampling the high frequencies − the
sound output is filtered anyway.
5.2
Don’t try to compensate for the built-in filter by turning the treble
up, as this will only introduce more “undersampling noise”. If you
increase the treble after sampling, (digital processing) remember that
you increase the noise level too!
5.2
If you use sampling frequencies below 10 kHz, you will hear a tone,
modulated with the sound level − this is the remains of the sampling
frequency passing “below” the 10kHz lowpass filter!  A
5.2

5.2
Figure 1
5.2

5.2
Figure 2
5.2
1 − 10 kHz input signal
5.2
2 − sampled at 16.66 kHz gives 6.66kHz out
5.2
3 − sampled at 14.28 kHz gives 4.28kHz out
5.2

5.2
Figure 3
5.2

5.2
Figure 4
5.2

5.2
Morley Teletext Adaptor
5.2
Patrick Bean
5.2
I have used both the Acorn and Morley teletext adaptors on the BBC model
B for several years and so, in the early days with my Archimedes, this
was one add-on that I missed. However, it was not long before I was able
to purchase the Morley unit for my computer. Teletext is the information
service transmitted in a coded form along with the TV picture by both
the BBC and ITV. The BBC’s system is called “Ceefax” and ITV’s is
“Oracle”. The text and graphics are viewed on screen using the Archime
des’ emulated mode 7 display.
5.2
Hardware
5.2
The hardware is almost identical to the BBC version − a cream coloured
box about 2“ high, 10” deep and 5“ wide linked to the computer via a
ribbon cable and a podule plug. There is also a small black mains
adaptor which connects to a plug that splits off of the ribbon cable
about half way along. The other end of this adaptor plugs into any 13amp
socket. This arrangement looks a little flimsy but has worked OK so far.
The line form the aerial plugs into a standard socket on the back of the
unit and that is all there is to it.
5.2
You are supplied with a disc holding the terminal software and a key
strip. On running the software, you have to tune the adaptor in to the
TV transmitter. This is done from the computer using the cursor keys.
The tuning is very fine, so it may take some time to get all four
channels spot on. Fortunately, the data can be saved to disk and will be
loaded back in whenever you run the system. If you are unlucky, you may
find that, after much tuning, your old aerial that has picked up
“Eastenders” and the like for years, is not quite good enough for
“Ceefax”. This could mean a booster or possibly a whole new aerial.
5.2
In use
5.2
If all goes well, you should soon be able to view the large amount of
information on both “Ceefax” and “Oracle”. The terminal software is easy
to use but my version does not multi-task. However, a RISC-OS version is
promised soon. You can save pages to disk and load them in again at any
time. Pages can also be printed to an Epson printer, but only the text
is printed, not the graphics. Eight presets are available so if (like
me) you can pick up French TV, then French Teletext can also be received
− on a good day it can be almost totally error free!
5.2
The “fastext” system is also supported. This will display a line of four
titles on the bottom of the page, in the four colours “red”, “green”,
“yellow” and “cyan”. Pressing the function key marked with the same
colour calls the page for this title. For instance, the sports index may
have the four titles “Football”, “Boxing”, “Snooker” and “Swimming” at
the bottom of the screen. Pressing <f1> (red) will call the Football
pages, <f2> (green) the Boxing, and so on.
5.2
I think that there is much scope for inter-active software such as share
dealing games run over a long time span and using live data or programs
that could read the news pages aloud using !Speech, etc etc. The design
of the software does not help in this respect as low level access is not
separated from the high level system. For instance, it would be nice to
have a module that accepted commands like *PAGE 100, *TRANSFER &7000 and
*DISPLAY &7000, and so on (as did the old BBC version!) just leaving the
programmer to do the high level stuff. As it is, the programmer has to
do direct access to the hardware using SYS calls.
5.2
Conclusions
5.2
Overall, I am pleased with the adaptor but the software could make more
use of the computer’s memory to store index pages and the like, thereby
making average access times shorter. Unfortunately, the BBC’s free
“Telesoftware” service has been discontinued. Even so, this unit has
many uses. I may attempt to write some inter-active programs and, if
they are good enough, I will send copies to Paul for possible publi
cation on the Archive “Shareware/Careware” disks. The Morley Teletext
Adaptor costs £125 plus VAT from Morley Electronics (or £120 through
Archive).  A
5.2

5.2
Ace Computing
5.2
From 5.1 page 8
5.2

5.2
PipeLine
5.2
Gerald Fitton
5.2
It was a real pleasure to meet so many of you at the Acorn User Show.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for us PipeDream users was Colton Soft
ware’s launch of PipeDream 4.
5.2
PipeDream 3
5.2
The first question you will want answered is “Where does this leave
PipeDream 3?”. Colton Software say that there will be no more enhance
ments of PipeDream 3 and that version 3.14 is ‘stable’. Here at Abacus
Training we shall still support PipeDream 3 and Colton Software have
said that PipeDream 3 will still be available for purchase.
5.2
PipeDream 4
5.2
Because PipeDream 4 is still being developed, it is available only from
Colton Software and not through the usual network of distributors and
dealers. The price of PipeDream 4 is £230.30 (including VAT); an upgrade
from PipeDream 3 to PipeDream 4 will cost you £94.00 (including VAT). If
you have a receipt to prove that you purchased PipeDream 3 on or after
1st August 1991 (from anybody) then the upgrade will cost you only the
difference in price between PipeDream 3 and PipeDream 4 which is £58.64
(including VAT).
5.2
So what is new about PipeDream 4? Well, it is bigger and better with
more facilities and an improved user interface. In addition to (nearly)
all the features of PipeDream 3, PipeDream 4 also includes charts,
‘custom functions’, a few other major enhancements and a large number of
minor improvements.
5.2
The charts are ‘Hot Linked’ to numbers in the expression slots and they
work at an impressive speed. Those of you who have the Hot Link version
of Presenter will be familiar with the way in which the graphs change as
you alter the values in the spreadsheet.
5.2
‘Custom functions’ is a facility which allows you to define your own
functions rather like a procedure or function in Basic. Parameters may
be passed to your custom function from cells in the main PipeDream
document. The program is written in a separate spreadsheet and the
programming language includes flow control commands such as Repeat −
Until, If − Then − Else, and can handle string variables (text) as well
as numbers.
5.2
Matrices can be defined as a variable type and operations (functions)
can be applied to a matrix with one simple command. As an example,
complex variables are treated as a 2 by 1 matrix. Vectors and tensors
can be entered as matrices and processed with your own custom functions.
5.2
Other changes include a much improved graphic and command user inter
face. For example, large height characters with large line spacing are
now displayed on screen as they will be printed. Selecting a font is
easier and the font selection command sequence can be recorded in a
macro. There is a format marked block command, you can save template
files (rather like having a variety of ini files), changing column
widths is now a simple mouse movement (or, even better, the widths of
tables can be set to automatic), operations on blocks is much more
intuitive and unwanted formatting (generally) does not happen.
5.2
However, the version available at present is still in the early stages
of development. Purchasers are warned by Colton Software that it does
have many problems (particularly with the graphs) and they have promised
a free upgrade to a more ‘stable’ version as soon as it is available.
You must register your purchase with Colton Software to receive news of
PipeDream 4 upgrades.
5.2
I have tried many of the PipeDream 3 applications from our PipeLine
discs on PipeDream 4 and, whilst the ReadMe files are generally OK, most
of the other files containing functions (particularly database func
tions) do not work correctly and some do not work at all. I believe that
the applications on the PipeLine discs are fairly representative of
people’s use of PipeDream 3 and that the difficulties of running them in
PipeDream 4 is a fair measure of the ‘problems’ that are present in the
current version. Because of these ‘problems’, I strongly recommend that,
if you are thinking of upgrading from PipeDream 3 to PipeDream 4, you
should first make sure that you have a good copy of PipeDream version
3.14 (upgrade to 3.14 if necessary) before you ‘trade in’ your
PipeDream 3 master disc and lose the possibility of ever having this
latest and probably final version of PipeDream 3.
5.2
To obtain your free upgrade of PipeDream 3 to version 3.14 you need to
send off your master PipeDream 3 disc together with a self addressed
label and a stamp. You can not receive an upgrade to 3.14 unless you
return your master disc.
5.2
Those of you who enjoy being at the ‘leading edge’ will get a lot of fun
from the present version of PipeDream 4 and those of you with a
substantial application in mind will be able to investigate the
potential of the new features of PipeDream 4. However, if you are doing
something which has to work (like your accounts), then you should
continue to use PipeDream 3 (version 3.14) for such things until the
problems of PipeDream 4 are resolved.
5.2
Colton Software have an honest reputation and I am sure that, when it
has been developed, PipeDream 4 will be a winner and that purchasers
need not fear that they will be left with an unusable product. In
launching PipeDream 4 in its present state of development, what Colton
Software have done is to offer early purchasers a unique opportunity to
help specify and tailor, nearer to their own needs, what is undoubtedly
going to be one of the most superb pieces of software available for the
Archimedes.
5.2
The syntax of some of the database functions has been changed so, if you
have PipeDream 3 and PipeDream 4 (and the knowledge and ability!) then I
shall be grateful for any utilities which you might produce for
converting PipeDream 3 files so that they will run under PipeDream 4.
Utilities which do the reverse will also be welcomed.
5.2
Finally, if you do discover any bugs in PipeDream 4, please let Colton
Software know rather than us here at Abacus Training. We will still act
as a clearing house for ‘bugs’ that you find in PipeDream 3 but, whilst
it is still being developed, not bugs from PipeDream 4.
5.2
Colton Software have moved
5.2
Their new address is: 2 Signet Court, Swanns Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LA
and their new telephone number is 0223−311881.
5.2
Comparing Impression and PipeDream
5.2
Several times, particularly by people who have neither PipeDream nor
Impression, I have been asked to compare these applications as wordpro
cessors. Also, I have a few readers who use Impression regularly and
have recently bought (or use at school, college or work) PipeDream and
would like to know the difference. Before I start, let me tell you that
PipeDream, Impression and DrawPlus are the three applications which I
use most regularly and that I find they complement each other and so I
don’t really want to make comparisons of the type “This is better than
that”. What I will do is to explain why, when and how I use PipeDream
and (to a lesser extent) when I use Impression.
5.2
First, here is a tip for everyone. I use my hard disc to store appli
cations such as PipeDream, Impression and DrawPlus along with the System
and Fonts directories. I keep all my data files such as letters,
drawings, advertisements, etc, on floppy disc (with a backup). That way,
if ever my hard disc goes down (it hasn’t yet, but then, I always
dismount it by using *bye before switching off) I have only to install
the application from the master floppy − data unique to me is stored
safely on floppies.
5.2
I use PipeDream for invoices but not because money is numbers and
numbers imply spreadsheets but because PipeDream is more economical on
floppy disc space and I can use the database facilities of PipeDream.
5.2
My Abacus Training letterhead is a DrawPlus file on my ‘Invoices’ disc.
With PipeDream, this 18 kbyte file is stored only once on the disc and
the same file is called up in every invoice. With Impression this 18
kbyte would be saved as part of every document. The result of this
different approach to the insertion of graphics is that PipeDream uses
less disc space for the same number of invoices.
5.2
I hold a PipeDream database of addresses which takes up hundreds of
kbytes on a floppy disc which I keep separately from my Invoices disc. I
double click on my ‘Address’ file so that it is loaded into memory, then
I remove the Address disc, replace it with my Invoices disc and double
click on a blank invoice. The blank invoice contains dependent document
references to a file called [Addresses] (note that the dependent
document is not called by its full path name). Since there is a file
with the leaf name [Addresses] in memory, PipeDream does not look for
[Addresses] on the Invoices disc (it isn’t there) but uses the file
already in memory. I type a reference to the customer into one of the
slots on the invoice and the remainder of the address is filled in
automatically (using the lookup function). I mark the block containing
the address, give the command <Ctrl+BSS> (SnapShot) and then save the
invoice under a new name (in fact by the invoice number). I don’t have
Impression’s new mail merge software (part of their business package) so
I can’t make a real comparison here but, what I finish up with is a
‘stand alone’ invoice on a disc of invoices which does not depend, in
any way, on the address file because all the references to the dependent
document have been ‘SnapShotted’.
5.2
Continuing with my rather biased comparison, I use PipeDream for letters
because I can use my letter heading (only one 18 kbyte file on the
letters disc) together with a blank letter and my [Addresses] file
(you’ll remember that it’s on a separate disc). Letters contain a lot of
word processing so why not use Impression? Well, the Impression cut and
paste list is limited to one item whereas, with PipeDream I can have a
large paste list. In fact, in PipeDream you can choose the length of
your paste list − mine is fifty items. The command <Ctrl+EDC> (Delete
Column) puts a whole column on the paste list. If you then move the
cursor with <Tab> or <Shift+Tab> you can insert the column you have just
cut with <Ctrl+I>. Sometimes, using cut and paste this way is more
appropriate than using <Ctrl+BC> (Block Copy), <Ctrl+BM> (Block Move),
or <Ctrl+BRE>, (Block Replicate).
5.2
I have a PipeDream ‘library’ document with many standard paragraphs
which I load onto the screen. When I want one of these paragraphs in my
letter I mark the paragraph in the ‘library’ document, click the cursor
in the letter I am composing at the appropriate place and then use
<Ctrl+BC> to load a copy of my standard paragraph into the letter. I
find this easier than the Impression equivalent Copy to the (single item
paste list) followed by Paste.
5.2
On the plus side for PipeDream, I find that when printing a mixture of
graphics and outline fonts with RISC-OS printer drivers (such as an
invoice or a letter with the letter heading stored as a graphic),
PipeDream is almost twice as fast as Impression but I have no idea why
this should be the case.
5.2
Now on the side of Impression, it is more WYSIWYG, particularly when I
need to position graphics precisely, when I am using a mixture of font
sizes, with large fonts, or when I am using a line spacing other than 12
point. Impression documents can be scaled on screen and graphics don’t
‘fall off the edge’ of the display. Hence I tend to use DrawPlus
graphics files loaded into Impression together with text (often word
processed in PipeDream) for my advertisements.
5.2
Although I don’t use the facility myself, Impression can run two stories
in parallel such as main text and footnotes. The sequence of frames for
the main text is totally independent of the sequence for the footnotes.
It is difficult to see how this independence of two stories could be
achieved in PipeDream.
5.2
With Impression, you can have as many Styles as you need. In PipeDream
you have only one ‘style’. You choose your font using the ‘Print −
Printer font’ menu; you set up your ‘ruler’ by changing the column
widths and wrap margins; the line spacing for the one ‘style’ is set by
writing to the ‘Print − Printer line spacing’ dialogue box. Of course,
in PipeDream you have the equivalent of ‘Effects’ which can be changed
globally using <Ctrl+BSE> (Search and replace). I have no doubt that
when you need many styles in a short document then Impression wins.
5.2
Impression automatically reformats the whole story when characters are
added or deleted. In PipeDream, if the option ‘Insert on return’ and
‘Wrap’ are turned ON (use <Ctrl+O> to see the options dialogue boxes)
you will find that almost the same thing happens. I recommend that you
set these two options ON for word processing. However, with PipeDream,
you can turn either or both OFF; sometimes this has its advantages.
Something that many users of PipeDream don’t realise is that you can
change your options in the middle of writing or editing a document. One
of the best ways of doing this is with a macro. If you need to insert a
table in the middle of an Impression document all you need do is create
a new style.
5.2
With Pipedream, I recommend that you turn OFF both ‘Wrap’ and ‘Insert on
return’ when working on tables.
5.2
Another day, I will tell you about using a ‘Multi-file’ document in
PipeDream; each file in the list of files comprising the multi-file
document can have a different ‘style’. For those of you who can’t wait,
have a look at ‘Multi-file Documents’ on pages 210 to 212 of the User
Guide. The use of multi-file documents does overcome many (but not all)
of the difficulties which arise because PipeDream will accept only one
‘style’ per file. Multi-file documents will support a different ‘style’
in each of the files making up the document.
5.2
Finally, with PipeDream, you can mark only complete cells whereas
Impression allows you to mark a block starting anywhere. Some people
prefer to use Impression for wordprocessing because of this whereas
others (including me) find that they have developed a proficiency at
stacking the larger PipeDream paste list with <F4> (delete to end of
slot), <Shift+F4> (which deletes single words), and putting the words
back together with <Ctrl+I> (insert). You can use <Return> (to split
lines when ‘Insert on return’ is ON), <Delete> (to join lines together
when ‘Insert on return is ON) together with <F8> (delete row) or
<Ctrl+BD> (delete marked block) to place substantial amounts of text on
the paste list before inserting them where you want them to go. I find
that the size of the paste list and the versatile way in which it can be
used biases me towards PipeDream for word processing. However, difficul
ties arise if I get interrupted or forget what is on the paste list and
in what order!
5.2
So, to summarise, I find Impression is excellent for a mixture of text
and graphics which have to be WYSIWYG such as in an advertisement or
leaflet. For routine letters, invoices, orders and particularly labels
where the layout of the page is ‘stable’ but the content is variable,
then I find that the database functions of PipeDream together with the
more economical use of disc space and long paste list make it my first
choice.
5.2
In conclusion
5.2
If you have ideas, facts or opinions or think I’ve missed something out
of any of my articles then please write to me at the Abacus Training
address on the inside back cover of Archive. If you find ‘bugs’ in
PipeDream 4 then tell Colton Software (please don’t write to me!). If
you want ‘bugs’ you have found taken out of PipeDream 3 now that
PipeDream 4 is here you will have to make out a stronger case than you
would have a few months ago − but I will do what I can with Colton
Software.  A
5.2

5.2
Oak Computers
5.2
From 5.1 page 24
5.2

5.2
Contact Box
5.2
•    Arfon RISC-OS Club welcomes Archimedes & A3000 users. They will be
meeting soon in the Llanberis, Caernarfon area. Please contact Dr A Gwyn
Williams on 0286−870101.
5.2
•    South African Archimedes User Group − The organisers of the South
African Archimedes User Group would like to hear from Archimedes users
in S.A. and user groups in other countries with a view to exchanging
newsletters ideas etc. Please contact Mark Henderson, S.A.Arc User
Group, P.O. Box 1051, Wandsbeck, Natal, 3631, South Africa.  A
5.2

5.2
The A5000 − First Impressions
5.2
Des Fry, Malcolm Davies and Andrew Scott
5.2
Three of the lucky few who actually own an A5000 give us their first
impressions. There is a certain amount of repetition in what follows,
but these all came in rather close to the printer’s deadline, so I have
only done a limited amount of editing on them.
5.2
If you have an A5000, please let us know if there are any points of
interest to other people. It would also be interesting to know the
serial number of your computer − it gives us an indication of how Acorn
are getting on with production. As I write (31.10.91) the highest number
I have seen is 1000246. If yours is higher, let me know.
5.2
By the way, I trust you all received the A5000 Supplement that we sent
out last month. If not, let me know as we have a few copies left. Ed.
5.2
Anyway, let’s hear from Des Fry first...
5.2
Unpacking was fun, with more free software than I have ever seen before
− Acorn DTP, First Word Plus, Genesis Plus, PC Emulator (V1.7!),
InterDictor, PacMania and Lemmings. All but Lemmings were pre-installed
on the hard disc, including a 5MB DOS partition. You will be pleased to
know that DR DOS 5.0 comes with a weighty 477 page User Guide, plus a
reference card and release notes.
5.2
Now the hardware. Connecting it up was very easy − then came the moment
to switch on. It worked first time! First thing I noticed is that the
desktop boots up in Mode 27, it isn’t necessary to configure for the
Multi-sync monitor − it’s automatic. The new 15 pin cable feeds info
back to the computer enabling the monitor type to be determined.
5.2
I was slightly disappointed with the monitor for the following reasons:
the dot pitch is 0.39mm and I have been used to a Taxan 770+ LR (for
home use) at 0.31mm, so the display was not as sharp. I had read that
the monitor is micro-processor controlled and would automatically adapt
to the different modes. Although it does have an auto height switch,
this only appears to work in VGA and mode 12/15. The height and
horizontal position nearly always needs to be adjusted in other modes. I
think most users will be quite satisfied − it’s just that I have been
used to using better monitors. (I use an IBM 8514 with a 16“ monitor at
work.)
5.2
Mode 27 seems a very sensible default, as it has a scan rate of 60Hz
compared with 50Hz in modes 0-21. When switching to the lower scan rate
after an extended period of Mode27, flicker is quite noticeable. Modes
12 and 15 are also not as bright as multi-sync modes. There are 46 pre-
defined modes altogether.
5.2
The next thing I noticed is the icons on the icon bar. The hard disc now
has a name: IDEDisc4 and there is a new icon called Apps. The latter
acts like a ROM filing system and contains three sub directories − Apps,
Fonts and Resources. The first contains !Alarm, !Calc, !Chars,
!Configure, !Draw, !Edit, !Help and !Paint. Fonts contains outline fonts
for Corpus, Homerton and Trinity. Resources contains a staggering 58 sub
directories! These are all the ROM modules such as Clib and FPEmulator.
The main applications have been considerably enhanced. !Alarm is
terrific − everything you could possibly want from it. You can even set
an alarm to start applications e.g. to bring up a Do List using Edit.
!Configure can configure absolutely everything − there is no need to
leave the desktop anymore. The other applications will have to wait for
proper evaluation, but a quick try out reveals extensive changes.
5.2
RISC-OS 3.0 applications have three sets of icons, standard (!Sprites)
and !Sprites22 and !Sprites 23. These can be selected by the application
“!SetIcons” in the root directory. Selecting high resolution colour
gives 34 × 34 icons compared with 34 × 17 in RISC-OS 2.0. These are only
really suited to high res modes and give noticeably clearer icons,
especially diagonal lines.
5.2
Most people will discover the Pinboard by accident, just click <menu> on
the background. This allows you to pin files, directories and appli
cations to a backdrop of your choice. You may say that you have seen
this before, but not quite − you can iconise running applications as
well!
5.2
I do like the new filer. I can format, copy etc while I am typing this
letter − very impressive. I do like the new colour bars which tell you
how far the operation has gone. I also like the new Find option − just
select all or any lesser combination and type in a file or sub directory
name and it searches the directory tree and reports its location.
5.2
Printer drivers are a little more complicated, but there are hundreds of
printers now catered for. You can have several printer drivers operating
at the same time; this is more useful than it first sounds. Not only can
you have more than one printer connected, but you can have several for
the same printer − each with a different configuration. For example, I
have one for Monochrome printing giving the fastest print speed and one
for graphics printing. New users should read the manual, because the
printer configuration files are not stored with !Printers but are in a
sub directory on Apps2 called printers.
5.2
The task manager has new features such as automatic creation of desktop
boot files and I strongly recommend users to make a habit of using the
new shutdown option. This ensures that you don’t forget to save any data
in memory and parks the hard disc heads. The ARM 3 and the fast memory
certainly speed things up, but not as much as I expected. The hard disc
seems quite fast but I haven’t the patience to do any timings, I know
others love doing this.
5.2
(I think he’s having a dig at me but, yes, I have done the drive speed
tests. The results are on page 19 and I was quite pleasantly surprised
at how fast it was considering that it is IDE and not SCSI. In fact, it
seems to be faster than the 100M Conner SCSI drive as used on the A540,
though not as fast as the Quantum 100M drives used by Atomwide and Oak.
Ed.)
5.2
Users who were worried that RISC-OS 3 would not support 640k L format
mini discs can relax, L, D, E and the new F (1.6MB) formats are
supported. I can even format IBM PC discs at 360k, 720k, 1.2MB and
1.44MB together with Atari 360k and 720k formats. Finally, you may be
interested to know that the new JP150, which incidentally is function
ally identical to the HP Deskjet Plus but with extra fonts etc, is only
about a third of the size.
5.2
(At the Acorn User Show, a gentleman showed me some printouts that he
had done of a sheet containing text and graphics. He had got it printed
on various printers and, quite frankly, the printout from the Acorn
Inkjet was slightly better, if anything, than the 300 d.p.i. laser he
had tested, especially on the bits of very tiny text − mind you, it was
an Apple Laserwriter!)
5.2
Now it’s Malcolm Davies’ turn....
5.2
I am using the A5000 with a Technomatic 16 bit SCSI board plus two SCSI
drives − 105M Quantum internal and a 47M Seagate external. Also fitted
are a Techno-I digitiser and the CC Scanlight 256 scanner. Installation
was no problem, only requiring the backplane and supporting metalwork
plus existing drives to be pulled out − one screw plus a bit of easing −
to replace the IDE drive with the SCSI one.
5.2
The monitor is OK but I shall keep my existing NEC multi-sync and pass
the Acorn monitor on when I sell the A440/1. We now need more extra
modes such as 110 etc. (Atomwide are working on it and hope to have
something sorted out by the time you read this. Ed.)
5.2
At first, I had problems with the Techno SCSI and the interactive filing
system which didn’t seem to work together properly. (This is where we
find out which of the SCSI boards really ARE Acorn compatible!)
5.2
I also had problems with certain applications which didn’t want to start
up properly − it seemed to be related to having fonts in ROM. I have
since made some progress. In particular, I have developed a Deskboot
file that seems to overcome the apparent incompatibilities between the
SCSI filer supplied in ROM on my Technomatic SCSI board and the
Interactive Desktop Filer in the A5000. Also, the problems with some
RISC-OS 2 applications and the way they try to access fonts seem to have
been solved. My coding is not very subtle and, in some cases, may be an
overkill − but it appears to work so far! The comments below may be of
interest to other readers of Archive − especially perhaps those relating
to the use of fonts in older applications.
5.2
| Desktop boot file
5.2
|
5.2
| Note: FileSystem *Configured as (Techno) SCSI on start-up
5.2
|
5.2
| For Technomatic SCSI board + 100MB QuantumPro + 46MB Seagate
5.2
|
5.2
Adfs
5.2
WimpSlot -next 640k
5.2
ChangeDynamicArea -FontSize 128k
5.2
ChangeDynamicArea -SpriteSize 32k
5.2
ChangeDynamicArea -RamFsSize 0K
5.2
RMKill SCSIfiler
5.2
RMload scsi::HardDisc4.$.!System. Modules.SCSIfiler
5.2
SCSI
5.2
Filer_OpenDir SCSI::HardDisc4.$ 2 980 768 760 -sn -li
5.2
Filer_OpenDir SCSI::HardDisc5.$ 186 680 768 148 -sn -li
5.2
Run scsi::HardDisc4.$.!System
5.2
WimpMode 16
5.2
Run scsi::HardDisc4.$.Pinboard
5.2
Set Alarm$Options -timeout “10” -weekwork 62 -format “%z12:%mi:%se %pm.
%zdy/%zmn/%yr”
5.2
Run resources:$.Apps.!Alarm scsi::HardDisc4.$.Alarms
5.2
Run scsi::HardDisc4.$.!Fonts
5.2
Setmacro Font$Path resources:$.Fon ts.,scsi::HardDisc4.$.!Fonts.us
5.2
ed.,scsi::HardDisc4.$.!Fo
5.2
nts.surplus.
5.2
Run resources:$.Apps.!Edit
5.2
RMload scsi::HardDisc4.$.DskTopUtil.OscanMo
5.2
des.MegaMode
5.2
Run scsi::HardDisc4.$.DskTopUtil.!Me
5.2
gaMouse
5.2
Run scsi::HardDisc4.$.DskTopUtil.!k ey_click
5.2
RMload System:Modules.SerialUtil
5.2
Run resources:$.Apps.!Configure
5.2
Taking the Deskboot lines in order we can comment as follows:
5.2
ADFS − The machine is configured to switch on in SCSIFS from the board
and the two SCSI drives have been suitably *Configured. It seemed safer
to switch over to ADFS before RmKill’ing the SCSIfiler!
5.2
The WimpSlot and DynamicArea changes are automatically set up by the
Deskboot file − see manual.
5.2
RmKill SCSIfiler and RmLoad ....SCSIfiler − These replace the filer on
my board with the module supplied with the A5000’s application suite for
use with non-Acorn boards.
5.2
SCSI − Reset filing system and use the Acorn filer.
5.2
Filer_OpenDir.....on two Hard discs − Needed to ensure that the discs
are “seen” by the Interactive filer.
5.2
Run !System (?overkill?), WimpMode and Pinboard (Desktop background) are
straightforward.
5.2
Alarm settings − Alarm$Options are set by deskboot file; saved alarms
are held in file Alarms in the Hard disc root directory. Note style for
passing filename to !Alarm in ROM.
5.2
Font settings − Run !Fonts (?overkill?) as normal. To enable any
application requiring to access fonts to know where to go for them, we
must set up Font$Path to point to ALL the possible location directories.
In this example, the resources:$.Fonts directory holds Corpus, Homerton
& Trinity in ROM; !Fonts.used. (note the terminating full stop) on the
booted Hard disc root directory holds all my RISC-OS 2 fonts in normal
use and !Fonts.surplus. holds Corpus, Homerton and Trinity (in their
RISC-OS 2 format) plus any other RISC-OS 2 fonts that I have.
5.2
These three directories will be searched in turn each time a font is
called for by an application, particularly on initialisation of the
application, when default fonts residing in ROM only may not be found
and thereby prevent startup. The main problem would appear to be that
the data files in the ROM fonts are called Outlines0 and IntMetric0
rather than the RISC-OS 2, Outlines and IntMetrics.
5.2
It would of course be possible to write an IF... THEN...ELSE patch to
change these strings from one to the other when encountered, but the
proposed solution seems the simpler compromise and does ensure that
those applications that can access the ROM fonts will do so on a
priority basis.
5.2
The use of *SetMacro rather than *Set ensures that the paths are
searched each time that fonts are required. *Set can be re-set by
applications etc and is only effective the first time the paths are
searched.
5.2
Run !Edit, Megamode, !MegaMouse and !KeyClick are my own requirements on
boot-up.
5.2
RmLoad System:Modules.SerialUtil − This module is supplied on the Acorn
Applications discs and is advised to re-set the Serial Port’s parameters
to enable e.g. !Hearsay I, in my case, to run OK.
5.2
Run resources:$.Apps.!Configure − Installs !Configure on the icon bar
and allows me to re-initialise my two SCSI drives under the Acorn SCSI
filer. Once desktop is established with only floppy drive on the icon
bar, I have to:
5.2
1.    Open !Configure on the icon bar then open ‘Discs’ window.
5.2
2.    Click on ‘OK’ for the two SCSI drives, ignore dire warning! and
click on ‘OK’.
5.2
3.    Close !Configure windows
5.2
The results of this are:
5.2
1.    ALL discs initialised and fully accessible under the Interactive
DeskTop Filer.
5.2
2.    Applications can use ROM fonts except where there is direct
reference to xxx.Outlines and xxx.IntMetrics etc somewhere in the code.
5.2
3.    Fonts are accessed in the order − Rom (Resources:), Main disc
store (!Fonts.used.) or finally from main disc store of RISC-OS 2 fonts
in Rom (!Fonts.surplus.)
5.2
It has worked OK so far.
5.2
One further “quirk” that has come to light whilst playing around with
Deskboot files is that if the Autoboot radio icon is set in the Deskboot
window (Menu on the Task Manager then go to DeskBoot), the resultant
file, when saved to disc, sets the disc Opt options to *Opt 4,2 (i.e.
Run !Boot) and also configures that drive as the *Configure Drive
default. This is in the manual but may be missed. If saving alternative
!Boot files to another disc, it can be confusing to say the least if
that disc suddenly becomes your default boot disc as well as leaving
perhaps more than one disc with the *Opt 4,2 option set. I think that it
is best, in these circumstances, to turn the icon OFF and set *Opt etc
later.
5.2
That’s all for now and currently I rest content with a superb machine
that seems to run nearly all of my considerable pre-RISC-OS 3, ADFS
based software.
5.2
Finally, Andrew Scott...
5.2
The following comments and hints are based on my first week of using the
machine which, from the outset, I must say is brilliant, especially
compared with my old Archimedes A310.
5.2
During the time I have had the machine, I have tried quite a number of
applications. Now, whilst most of them have worked perfectly, I have had
problems with the following:  Atomwide Hi-Res. modes, Jinxter and
Corruption adventures (CIS Adventure pack), Beebug Toolbox disc sector
editor, Data Store’s FontFX (version 4.04), Mitre Software’s DiscTree
(version 2.16) and !DSEdit, PD sound sample player.
5.2
The Atomwide mode designer comes with a number of sets of modes for
various monitors, but none of these is completely suitable for the A5000
and Acorn’s multisync monitor. The mode designer application, however,
works fine, provided you remember to select monitor type 1, and machine
A540/A5000. Using this, it is quite straightforward to modify the hi-
res. modes (SVGA, 102 etc.) to produce working versions of these.
However, make sure that you work in mode 27 while defining the new
modes, as some of the other modes (12, 15 etc.) are redefined by the
standard mode module (MegaModes), and this can produce some strange
effects − they appear as two letter box shaped screens one above the
other!!
5.2
The adventures Jinxter and Corruption do not work with version 3.87 of
the SharedCLibrary which is in RISC-OS 3. However, they are supplied
with a very old version (1.01) which will work if you *RMKill the
version in RISC-OS 3 first. Better still, alter the !Run files to
automate this, and restore the RISC-OS 3 version afterwards. I have
included two suitable !Run files on the disc. On the monthly program
disc. Ed.)
5.2
The disc sector editor in Beebug’s Toolbox (version 1.00) does not work
at all on the A5000, and hangs the machine!!
5.2
FontFX from the Data Store (version 4.04) does not like the default
setting for the system macro Font$Path. However, if you edit out the
reference to Font$Prefix it works OK − not a perfect solution, but it
works. e.g.
5.2
*SetMacro Font$Path adfs::IDEDis c4.$.!Fonts.,Resources:$.Fonts.
5.2
DiscTree (version 2.16) from Mitre Software will load, but all attempts
to access a disc (hard or floppy) produce a fatal internal error.
5.2
!DSEdit, the excellent PD sound sample player will not play samples.
This is because the author has been ‘naughty’ and used an abbreviation
for the ChannelVoice command. RISC-OS 3 wrongly interprets the abbrevia
tion as the new command *ChangeDynamicArea and hence causes an error.
This is easily corrected by changing the abbreviation to the full
command. Acorn have issued a warning with RISC-OS 3 that a number of
commands have different minimum abbreviations, and have provided a file
on the RISC-OS 3 Support Disc to change them all back to what they were
in RISC-OS 2.
5.2
Something else that I have observed is that if you use the !Configure
application to auto-start any of the ROM based applications then this
will cease to work if you have a !Boot file on the hard disc which
includes a line like :
5.2
*Desktop -file <Obey$Dir>.DeskS tart
5.2
Instead you must include a line in the DeskStart file to run each of the
applications which you want to auto-start. e.g.
5.2
Run Resources:$.Apps.!Alarm
5.2
Hardware problems − (I have left this in to see if anyone has any ideas!
Ed.) I have discovered a fault with my machine, that concerns the real
time clock. Every time the machine is reset with either <ctrl-break>, or
turning it off and on again, the real time clock is reset back to the
last time that it was explicitly set too, e.g. using *Set Sys$Time or
the Set clock option on !alarm. The rest of the time, the clock appears
to function correctly.
5.2
My first thought was a loose battery connection. However, on opening the
case, I found that the machine doesn’t even have a battery! While the
case was off, I checked for any loose connections, but could not find
any.
5.2
Next, I thought that it might be a software fault and not a hardware
one, because the fault only occurs when the machine is reset, which is a
software function. I noticed that in the list of modules in RISC-OS 3
there is a new module called RTCAdjust which presumably stands for Real
Time Clock Adjust. Could this be causing the problem? The module
provides no star commands or software interrupts, only a service code
handler. I have not been able to confirm if this module is causing the
problem or not. Any ideas?  A
5.2

5.2
Archive Mugs
5.2
Robert Chrismas
5.2
Here, at last, is a product for the person who wants the Archive social
cachet but who hates computers.
5.2
These mugs are more versatile than removable hard disks. They can be
used for any beverage, warm or cold. In tests, they proved to be quite
suitable for watering flowers and smaller gardens although their
somewhat limited capacity proved an occasional restriction.
5.2
The mugs are of the traditional mug design, what topologists call a
doughnut − which says a lot about mathematicians if you think about it.
There is a generous space for fluid, a standard handle and omni-
directional mouth interface, or rim. They are finished in a simple white
colour with the Archive logo in blue and black covering over half the
outside. Sensibly, Archive have gone for the more traditional horizontal
arrangement.
5.2
Rather confusingly, the mugs also bear the inscription “The Subscription
Magazine for Archimedes Users”. Despite this, there have been no reports
of confused users attempting a quick thumb through for vital hints on
Pipedream’s use of Ctrl-Alt-Shift-CapsLock-Adjust. Also, at least one
regular reader of Archive reported that he was delighted because “it
doesn’t have one of those wretched reviews by Robert Chrismas in it −
chicken soup is a darn sight clearer”.
5.2
For most readers, the important question is ‘is it robust’. Well, would
the organisation which boasts of throwing removable hard disks across
the room make a fragile mug? Anything you can do to an removable hard
disk, you can do to this mug, and it’s micro-wave safe, which is more
than you can say for compact disks.
5.2
I bought three of these mugs, packed in the same plastic bag, at the
Acorn User Show and subjected them to some typical situations. Neither
the underground nor British Rail managed to produced so much as a chip.
I have been using these mugs while computing for a week now and so far
there have been no problems at all.
5.2
Conclusion
5.2
These mugs provide a valuable reusable storage space for fluid. They can
also be used to store pencils, pipe cleaners or sugar − not all at once.
5.2
They can be used in conjunction with almost any computer software,
although arcade games may require the use of the pause button.
5.2
Overall, they compare favourably with most other mugs and have a higher
capacity than teacups.  They would make an ideal Christmas present!
5.2
Archive mugs cost £4 each or £12 for four − or £3 each and £10 for four
if you collect them from the Archive office.  A
5.2

5.2
Canon BJ-300/330 Printers
5.2
Martin Geddes
5.2
Many Archimedes users are finding their old 9 pin dot matrix printers
increasingly inadequate. Purchased at some expense several years ago to
accompany some venerable 8 bit micro, they are still capable of legible
output, although at a snail’s pace. Thus many people are reluctant to
invest in an expensive new printer when their previous one is still
performing. Having myself been forced to abandon my bulky old printer
when moving to university, I decided to take the plunge and buy a high
quality inkjet printer.
5.2
Attracted by the high speed and print quality of inkjets, combined with
their quiet operation, the 24 pin dot matrix option was rejected. This
left two contenders − the Hewlett Packard DeskJet 500, and the Canon BJ-
300. (The BJ-330 is the wide carriage version of the BJ-300). The Canon
had one overriding factor in its favour − it can handle fan fold paper
whereas the DeskJet cannot. Having seen the output from both, I can
vouch that the print quality is virtually indistinguishable, despite the
Canon’s higher (360dpi) resolution.
5.2
The BJ-300 is attractively styled and sturdily built. Consequently, it
is not particularly light compared to some cheaper 24 pin printers of a
similar size. However, measuring only 18“ × 13½” × 5¼“ and being able to
handle A3 portrait paper means it is not bulky. Paper can be fed in a
sheet at a time in the front, or tractor fed from the back. A cut sheet
feeder is available, and envelope handling is very satisfactory. A paper
park facility means that the fan fold paper need not be removed when
using cut sheets.
5.2
It works on a slightly different principal to other inkjets. Instead of
vaporized ink squirting on to the paper, the ink enters a microscopic
tube in which a small patch heats up rapidly. Some of the ink vaporizes
into an expanding bubble, which then forces a tiny blob of liquid ink
out. The bubble then recondenses in the tube. Hence Canon prefer to call
it a bubble jet.
5.2
Setting up
5.2
Setting up the BJ-300 is relatively simple, with easily accessible DIP
switches and a well laid out front panel. The only word of caution is
with the removable plastic cover over the printing area. This is too
darkly tinted, so you can barely see what is appearing on the paper
until it emerges from the printer. Also, the instructions are vague as
to how to fit it. For those still struggling, the two notches fit on the
two hinges in the very far corners of the printing area, and if you
press it down, it clicks firmly in place.
5.2
My first experiences with the BJ-300 were very discouraging, with lots
of smudged print emerging. After experimenting with several paper types,
I found that this printer definitely dislikes paper easily able to soak
up ink while being poor at letting the solvents evaporate. However, most
types of paper produce good results − you too will need to experiment.
(Glossy paper seems to fare worst, along with certain very slightly
shiny coatings.)
5.2
Unlike the older BJ printers, the BJ-300 needs no special printer
drivers, working with !PrinterDM. Emulation of the Epson LQ printers and
the IBM ProPrinter range is provided. The Epson option, although already
supported by !PrinterDM, restricts vertical resolution to 180dpi.
Included below is a minimal PrDataSrc file for the new !PrinterDM
(2.46), operating in IBM mode at 360 × 360dpi. Tack the usual page/
configuration data at the end. Ensure that you set “control codes” to
“ignore” in !PrinterDM if you want the pure text output to work.
5.2
The documentation is much better than average. A User’s Manual gives
setting up instructions and general advice, while an exceptionally
comprehensive Programmer’s Manual details every command sequence.
5.2
In use
5.2
The BJ-300 is very fast − the draft mode is the fastest I have ever seen
from a line printer, and is of a quality not dissimilar to a 24 pin
printer in NLQ mode. Draft mode means less of the expensive ink is
consumed. Letter quality is excellent (especially for pure text
printing), although careful inspection will easily differentiate it from
laser printed output. This is particularly noticeable for large expanses
of black where the paper gets slightly soaked. The letter quality speed
seems very favourable compared with that of 24 pin dot-matrix printers.
5.2
Although cut sheets as wide as A3 (portrait) can pass through the BJ-
300, only the usual 80 column area may be printed on.
5.2
For best results (even with an ARM3) you should dump graphics output
into a file and then use Filer_OpenDir Printer: to get a printer filer
window. Redirect printer output back to the parallel port and drag the
file into this window. In this way, the printer has less time to pause
at the end of lines and fewer minuscule gaps appear between lines.
5.2
Ink usage seems to be reasonable. I have used my Canon heavily for a few
months now with the original cartridge. There seems to be one ‘bug’ in
the printer. If you try to park a very long piece of fan fold paper, it
stops after about 1 foot of reverse feeding, beeps and dies. Only
turning off and then on will recover the situation.
5.2
The supposed problems of older inkjets with jets blocking up when the
printer is not in use seems to have been totally overcome with this
printer.
5.2
Conclusion
5.2
This is a very competent printer which is a good substitute for a laser
printer for those on a medium budget. It represents a major leap up from
dot matrix printers, while the tractor feed combined with draft printing
leaves plenty of flexibility for the programmer. The printer costs about
£420 (inc VAT); ink cartridges are £15, lasting for 500,000 characters.
However, the potential purchaser should be well aware of the distaste
with which this printer regards some types of paper.
5.2
Sample PrDataSrc file for BJ-300 in IBM Proprinter Mode
5.2
version:               2
5.2

5.2
total_printers:        2
5.2
total_draft_printers:  1
5.2
total_nlq_printers:    1
5.2

5.2
nlq_mode:              0
5.2

5.2
features:       16_00000000
5.2
interlace:      0
5.2
line_interlace: “”
5.2

5.2
text_tab:             “<9>”
5.2
text_formfeed:        “<12>”
5.2
text_return:          “<13>”
5.2
text_return_lf:       “<10><13>”
5.2
..................................
5.2

5.2
printer_name:    Canon BJ300 (360 by 360 dpi) (IBM mode)
5.2
printer_number:  0
5.2
text_alias:      -1
5.2

5.2
pxres:          360  ; dots per inch
5.2
pyres:          360
5.2
pxres_halftone: 360/8
5.2
pyres_halftone: 360/8
5.2
dump_depth:     48   ; 48 nozzles used, not interlaced
5.2
line_prologue:  “<28>CB<4><4>”          ; select appropriate mode
5.2
line_epilogue:  “<28>CJ<04><48><13>”
5.2
                                        ; move down 48/360 inch
5.2
job_epilogue:   “<27>[K<4><0><5><37><128><128>”
5.2
                                        ; reset printer
5.2

5.2
.................................  A
5.2

5.2
Impression Business Supplement
5.2
Ivor Humphreys
5.2
It was clear from its launch that the Archimedes had great potential in
the area of desktop publishing (the more so when Arthur was superseded
by RISC-OS) and that, given appropriate software, it could comfortably
match, and probably surpass, the Apple Macintosh, which of course
totally dominates this field. The Acorn DTP package was disappointing in
some respects − it was little more than a re-write of an existing
program, Timeworks. However, both that and Beebug’s specially written
Ovation, are perfectly well suited to a good many of the tasks required
in professional typesetting. (Strictly, now that this kind of work is
undertaken on graphics-based computers, one should call it
imagesetting.)
5.2
Impression, on the other hand, had a stronger attraction for many of us
right from the time it was announced. In the first place, it was being
written by a company with such a well established track record for
innovative and ‘solid’ software: Impression’s forerunners, Wordwise and
Interword, rightly dominate the BBC Microcomputer wordprocessing arena.
It also promised significant additional advantages through being written
entirely in ARM code − specifically, it would therefore occupy a
comparatively small area of RAM and would operate at high speed.
5.2
Computer Concepts have steadily improved Impression since its first
release, adding many features along the way, upgrades which culminated
in the major new version, Impression II, earlier this year. This
enhancement includes tab-related vertical rules (making the creation of
easily-edited boxed tables an almost trivial matter), auto-saving and
provision for mail-merging, all of which widen its appeal to the serious
home enthusiast or the small business user.
5.2
Relatively few people require a paper output quality higher than can be
achieved with a laser printer, however, so CC sensibly decided to offer
an optional extra utility, Expression, to give fine control over the
PostScript output, rather than opting to enlarge the main program
itself. Expression is thus basically a ‘bolt-on’ application and it
works as a supplement to the regular Acorn PostScript printer driver.
Expression itself has been improved since its début and Version 2
includes provision for the output of four-colour separations. Originally
the utility was available separately but in its fully-fledged form it is
now the centrepiece of the Impression Business Supplement, where it is
partnered by a collection of new file loader modules, a mail merge
program called Importer, and a simple text sort utility.
5.2
Expression-PS
5.2
I mentioned the primary limitations of the Acorn PostScript printer
driver in my article “Creating the Right Impression” (Archive 4.9 p.39)
− basically its inability to produce pages larger than A4 and the long-
winded (and inevitably exacting) process involved in adding Acorn-to-
PostScript font translations to its PSprolog file. Expression-PS solves
both of those problems and adds a range of other features. As supplied,
it has a set of 15 built-in paper sizes ranging from A4 (8·27 × 11·69in)
up to what CC call “A3Long23” (11·97 × 22·75in), all of which are
readily edited in a text file called Paper, should the need arise
(perhaps to change the menu window name for convenience in a specific
project).
5.2
Two functions called Screen Density and Screen Angle affect the way the
dots on the page fool the eye into seeing continuous shadings. The
former parameter is set according to the kind and quality of medium
being used for the final output (bromide or film) and the number of grey
levels required. Screen Angle affects the way in which the dots are laid
out, 45° being the usual − the angle to which the eye is least
receptive.
5.2
Seven standard settings of Resolution are included, ranging from 600 to
2540 dots per inch, and this parameter is chosen to match to the
specification of the imagesetter in question. Eight different Screen
Types can also be selected; these change the shape of the individual
dots on the page if required; normally round is chosen.
5.2
Colour work is either, so-called, spot-colour or full four-colour, the
former used when one wants to add perhaps an additional colour, or
colours (of whatever colour ink the printer is instructed to use), to
particular elements of an otherwise single colour (i.e. black-on-white)
page. This might be done to highlight some headings, for example, or a
perhaps to tint the background of a table.
5.2
Full four-colour separations give a practically unlimited range of
colours for pictures, combining proportions of the CMYK set − the
standard printing process colours of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow plus Key (a
percentage of black which is used to enhance definition). Expression-PS
therefore has five Separation options: Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and Black
plus “All” which combines the colours to give the standard range of grey
tints in normal black-on-white work.
5.2
To produce a single spot colour separation pair, the Expression menu
button is set according to the colour used in the document and then the
normal Impression print sequence invoked. The other setting (black) is
then chosen and the print operation repeated so that two PostScript
files are generated, one for each colour. Two or three spot colours can
be used, each requiring an individual separation. Four-colour separa
tions require all four PostScript output files of course.
5.2
Finally, on the Expression menu, there are ‘radio’ buttons for Positive
or Negative film output. The default is Positive but the bureau can
reverse whatever setting has been made, if preferred, or if a mix-up
occurs.
5.2
The process of translating Acorn font names to their PostScript
equivalents is facilitated by two further buttons on the main Expression
menu: Match names and Add PostScript name. The Expression application
directory contains a text file, PSnames, which lists many of the likely
PostScript fonts, and simply selecting the Match names button causes it
to compare this list with the resident !Fonts directory, automatically
updating its own exprolog PostScript prologue file. Any PostScript font
names not already listed in PS names can be typed in by hand by
selecting the Add PostScript name option. It is then simply a matter of
running Match names again and pointing to the relevant names.
5.2
The exprolog file is sent as the header to any PostScript output file
and, as well as the complete list of fonts and their translations, it
includes all the relevant character encoding vector information. All the
likely vectors are present by default − standard Latin1, the Electronic
Font Foundry’s equivalent (EFF_Latin1), the Selwyn (Zapf Dingbats) and
EFF_Dingbats, Sidney − so exprolog is a pretty substantial file
(typically 22k). The one anomaly I noticed, having run the Match names
routine, was that the EFF_Latin1 vector information had been duplicated
a rather alarming number of times in the process. The duplications are
easily excised with !Edit (or indeed with Impression provided one uses
Save text story without styles) but no doubt CC will have eradicated
this bug in later releases − the review copy was Version 2.03.
5.2
The listing of every single Acorn font name contained in the !Fonts
directory with its PostScript equivalent is rather inefficient when
perhaps only two or three fonts might be used in a particular document.
There is a way around this: if a finished PostScript print file is
dropped on to the Expression-PS icon, the program looks through the file
to see which fonts are actually required and strips out all references
to the rest. Whether this is considered worth doing, however, depends on
the document type and size, since the actual file scanning process can
take rather a long time − a two-page A4 test document containing a
mixture of text and graphics took over five minutes! In practice, I have
only bothered to do this once or twice in several months of using the
program almost daily, since the process of printing to a PostScript file
is itself so rapid (a matter of seconds). A large font translation list
may slow down processing a little at the local PostScript Bureau but
it’s unlikely to be a significant problem and the listing of fonts for
which the bureau does not have equivalents produces only benign error
reports from the transfer program.
5.2
I should add here that although the foregoing may sound fairly elabor
ate, in practice it is quite straightforward and CC’s booklet is a model
of clarity and sensible advice. At GRAMOPHONE we have recently finished
a 700-odd page book The Good CD Guide 1992 which makes extensive use of
spot colour for a musical stave that appears under the heading of each
of its 1,200 CD reviews, and for various symbols. All of this went
through flawlessly − the PostScript output for the requisite black and
cyan separations was returned from the bureau as film ready for the
printing house.
5.2
The only obvious limitation in Expression’s colour handling abilities is
that, as yet, there is no control over so-called under-colour removal
(also known in the printing trade as “knock-out”). As its name implies,
this is a function which prevents the printing of one ink directly on
top of another − the under-colour is literally removed from the
separation. This is normally the preferred arrangement in spot-colour
work but, occasionally, it would be preferable to be able to switch it
off.
5.2
Mail-merging
5.2
The Mail-merging facility is another ancillary to Impression which will
significantly enhance its usefulness to small business users and, I
suppose, to the more organised home user! It requires Version 2.10 or
later of Impression and can also run with Impression Junior Version 1.10
or later. The relevant Business Supplement directory contains two
applications, !Importer and !Sort. The former merges a list of (typi
cally) names and addresses with an appropriately written Impression
document which contains merge commands that have been embedded via the
Misc(ellaneous) menu. When run, !Importer creates a dialogue box onto
which the Datafile is dropped followed by the relevant Impression
document icon. At this point, the document is ‘frozen’ in that it cannot
be edited, only printing being required from now on. The print options
are, as one would expect, either for individual records or for the
entire list.
5.2
!Sort is a simple utility which will re-order a text file into an
alphabetical list. The file can be of individual lines each separated by
a <Return> or can comprise fields such as complete addresses − in other
words multiple line entries separated by a whole line space (pressing
<Return> twice). Switches on the !Sort menu select the required mode and
also the option of discarding duplicate entries in the single-line mode.
5.2
New loaders
5.2
Completing the package is a collection of five new Impression file
loaders which facilitate the importing of text or data files from other
programs and/or computers. The simplest of these is LoadReturn which
simply strips Returns and LineFeeds, which can be helpful with some text
formats. LoadPipe is a dedicated PipeDream module which goes some way
towards making the two programs text-compatible, although various
PipeDream features are not converted. However, the manual does give
comprehensive help over the best ways to transfer complex documents
which contain, for example, tables.
5.2
LoadWP42 and LoadWStar convert text files from two of the most popular
MS-DOS wordprocessors, WordPerfect and Wordstar. Again, these are not
all-embracing but, for most likely purposes, will be more than adequate.
The Wordstar loader, for example, does convert italic, bold, underline,
sub- and superscript codes as well as fully justified text.
5.2
The most complex loader is LoadRTF − an emulation of the Rich Text
Format transfer system which is common to the Macintosh and PC. The
fully-fledged RTF language can support such aspects as font information,
style definitions, embedded pictures, 24-bit colour control, headers and
footers, and so on. Again, the range of options implemented is not
complete but many of the most important features have been successfully
incorporated. LoadRTF is supported by !MapUtil which is used to improve
font and character set matching between the different environments. I
have been able to verify the effectiveness of the WordPerfect and
Wordstar loaders, via the PC Emulator and !PC-Access, and also the RTF
loader from a test file prepared on a Macintosh, the file being
converted to MS-DOS format on the Mac.
5.2
(I have a small book that a friend has written on the Mac which I want
to convert to Impression (for obvious reasons!) and I tried using the
RTF loader. It worked beautifully on a test file but when I tried the
whole thing (102k RTF file) Impression crashed the machine. I divided it
up into four sections and tried again − same effect. I have sent it to
CC as a test case for them to improve the robustness of the RTF loader!
Ed)
5.2
As one would expect from this stable, the Impression Business Supplement
is a worthy addition to Impression. The complete package combines to
provide the user with a highly intuitive-to-use DTP environment which
can easily rival, and in many aspects out-perform, any on the market
place today. Some advanced page layout programs on the Mac (QuarkXpress,
for example) may offer rather more in the way of subtle typographical
control, such as options for track kerning, kerning tables and letter-
spacing, but none, to my knowledge, incorporate such a fine wordproces
sor, saving the user the inconvenience of flipping between two separate
programs, and none are so compact, operate at such speed or cost so
little.  A
5.2

5.2
The Engineer Speaks (again)
5.2
Ray Maidstone
5.2
As there were several comments of appreciation received regarding the
hardware care section labelled “The Engineer speaks” last month, further
points of interest have been forwarded and are listed here.
5.2
Headphone sockets
5.2
These stereo sockets are mechanically very delicate and several machines
have been in for repair. (This is presumably because these sockets are
getting used more now that there seems to be a little more notice being
taken of the fact that the Archimedes is capable of matching other makes
of computer, when it comes to music and sound effects.) The replacement
of these sockets is fairly simple but involves completely dismantling
your machine and getting the motherboard out.
5.2
More serious is the fact that we’ve had some machines in for repair with
the sound output chip blown. Although this is a very cheap repair, I can
only think that this was caused by people using the socket whilst music
was actually playing! Looking at the circuit diagram, I find it
difficult to see how shorting the contacts in the socket by plugging in
headphones, or whatever, whilst it is playing should be able to blow
anything up, but there it is. I suggest it would be for sensible to
cause your machine to be silent while plugging things into this socket.
5.2
RGB video output failure
5.2
Further to the question “Does disconnection or connection to the RGB
socket while things are switched on blow the VIDC (Video Output) chip?”
The answer is most definitely yes, even though several people have
expressed surprise, saying “Well, I’ve plugged and unplugged mine for
years and years, and I’ve never had any problems.”
5.2
The fact is that eventually it will blow up, as there simply isn’t any
static protection in the early machines. The modification I mentioned
last month has sparked a lot of interest. (Bad choice of words there,
Ray! Ed.) We can fit this for you and we can offer this item, fitted for
£15, but you will have to sort out the carriage.
5.2
This protection feature is already incorporated into the 400/1 series,
the 3000 and everything since, and will only be needed in the 300 series
and the early 440’s. To my certain knowledge, this modification has put
an end to the grief being caused by pupils “in the know” at a couple of
schools, deliberately plugging and unplugging monitors and Arabellas
(that’s what VIDCs are called) are not cheap.
5.2
A3000 crashes and aborts
5.2
My findings on this subject are a bit distressing and, to make matters
worse, I own one of these troublesome machines and can speak from
experience. We have had a slowly increasing number of people losing work
because their 3000 occasionally crashes with the “Abort on transfer”, or
“Address exception” captions coming up. These problems have been traced
to impedance peculiarities on the pin and socket connections of the
expansion ram cards. At first, the ram expansion itself was suspected
but we have finally discovered that these connections sometimes go high
impedance at the high frequencies of the ram access speeds. The
“sometimes” is what’s giving the problem, as the bulk of these expan
sions run trouble free.
5.2
My own belt and braces solution to this has been to remove the pins and
sockets, and replace them with gold plated counterparts − No more
problems! This, of course, is “open heart” surgery and, if not done by
an Acorn Service Centre, will invalidate any guarantee and, if it is not
performed using the correct equipment, it can destroy the machine as
well. (Solder suckers are completely incapable of performing this task
and the 4 layer board is too delicate to risk damaging.)
5.2
I have helped several people out with a temporary DIY tip that consider
ably improves the reliability of these connections. However, you should
only attempt this if you are familiar with opening your machine and
fiddling inside it. Locate the ram board, lift it off the P.C.B.
expansion pins and lay the board to one side. Take a can of WD40, or
Contek 9, but nothing else, and find a clean bottle top or small dish.
Spray some of this into the cup and, using a cotton bud, carefully rub
around all the expansion pins, taking care not to distort any. Do not
spray anything directly into the machine.
5.2
This should be done in a well lighted area and at the end, the pins
should be slightly moist (not too much and not too little!). Take the
ram card, and offer it onto the pins, checking that all pins align
properly into their relevant socket, and press it down. (Check that the
speaker wires do not get in the way.) Once the board has “bottomed”,
pull it back up again about ¼“ (6mm), and then ease it down until it
still about 1/32” (1mm) away from the bottom. Don’t push it all the way
down this time so that it leaves the connectors on “fresh” metal. This
procedure should temporarily relieve the crash situation but the
following test will reveal whether your problem is corrosive or
mechanical.
5.2
Leaving the lid off, (beware of the high voltages in the power supply if
your machine has a cardboard p.s.u. cover) connect your machine up to
monitor and mains − no other connections are needed − and switch on. You
should now have the desktop visible on your monitor. If your expansion
is Atomwide then very slightly rocking it from front to back (Do not
exceed ¼“ movement) will not disturb the display if the fault was
corrosion. If the fault was mechanical, you will see the Address
Exception or Abort error flag, in which case the problem is mechanical
and you need to rush to your nearest Acorn Service Centre.
5.2
If you have the Morley board, this is a little more difficult, as you
will have to carefully hinge up the keyboard and find a way of holding
it up (get someone to help you, as if you drop it you could short
something, or break the flexible connector strips) and now take hold of
the front edge of the board and raise and lower it about 3/8“ and watch
for the same effects as already mentioned.
5.2
(This problem would probably have been averted if the pin and socket
components used at time of manufacture had been the gold flashed type,
but this obviously would have increased the product cost.)
5.2
STOP PRESS
5.2
After talking to another dealer at the recent Acorn User Show, I have
been able to find out from a couple of their personnel (unofficially)
that Acorn did indeed have a couple of batches of A3000’s that came with
oxidized expansion pins. So I suggest that either you offer your machine
to your dealer for him to sort out, or heed the above instructions, and
also try a light rub with a very small piece of “Scotchbrite” or pan
scourer. Do not use anything metallic because that will leave a
residue.  A
5.2

5.2
The Engineer!
5.2

5.2
I-APL and the Wimp
5.2
Jim Markland
5.2
Some readers may recall an article I wrote about I-APL (Archive 4.9
p50). At the time, only an 8-bit version was available and I wrote
enthusiastically about the forthcoming availability of a 32-bit version.
This has finally arrived and, although I have only had a little time to
examine Paul Chapman’s offering, I feel that the arrival of this 32-bit
version merits some form of comment.
5.2
My position with regard to APL is very clear. I firmly believe that, as
a general programming language and a vehicle for thought, it is
unsurpassed. Strong words....which have to be taken in context. There
is, of course, no perfect programming language for what should be
obvious reasons.
5.2
APL was conceived many years ago when, to say that its approach was
revolutionary would have been a major understatement. As time has
marched on, however, the world of computing has changed dramatically.
The Wimp environment is very different from that of the teletypes which
APL originally inhabited, sophisticated spreadsheets have come into
being and even the inventor of APL, Ken Iverson, is working on a new
APL-like language ‘J’. (This will, I am assured, also appear on the
Archimedes.) What is the ideal toolbox for programming in a Wimp
environment? Do the requisite tools yet exist? How does I-APL fit into
the picture?
5.2
Accepting the desktop as the working environment, it quickly becomes
clear that the development of desktop applications from scratch can be a
very slow and painful process. There is a huge software overhead in
programming the Wimp. None of the conventional languages help in any
serious way. (Especially on the Archimedes.... where is a serious RISC-
OS Smalltalk or a Windows Basic?). There are, fortunately, several short
cuts which can be taken. One of these is to rely on the !Edit Task
Window to provide pre-emptive multitasking which certainly merits
consideration. My thoughts on this should appear shortly. (Next month!
Ed.) Code written for the Task Window is, however, easy to write but
maybe not so neat to use. I am presently of the mind that a better way
forward, for some purposes, lies in the selective use of two techniques:
5.2
(1) The use of model applications to be edited to suit specific needs −
this is self explanatory. Significant skill is required although
products such as Archway may prove successful in helping. Also see the
Risc User series on programming the Wimp.
5.2
(2) The use of a standard ‘front end’ which covers for data entry, file
handling etc. whilst permitting calculations/operations in any language.
More on this below.
5.2
Naturally, whether or not either of these is appropriate depends on the
application. Indeed, neither may be suitable.
5.2
In both cases. inter application message passing is used to the utmost
in order to drive ‘slave’ applications remotely. The wheel is, thus, not
re-invented every time a window has to be opened; the user toolbox thus
becomes very modular with the modules being reused wherever possible.
Naturally, rigorous standards have to be applied for this to work. Very
large applications follow the path of the dinosaur.
5.2
To some extent, spreadsheets may be considered to have much to offer.
Could one of these be of use? In many cases, the answer to this is
clearly ‘yes’. Every time I try to use one, however, I very quickly find
my options seriously limited. Recently, when evaluating Pipedream for
use in a very specific application, I found this to be all too true from
several points of view. Now, I don’t want to be misunderstood here!
Pipedream is actually a very nice piece of software and I certainly
don’t want to offend Colton, who were most helpful, or its dedicated
following. Spreadsheets are simply not my cup of tea. I have absolutely
no reason to believe that Colton’s ‘competition’ are any better. Indeed,
they may be far worse. Bear in mind that BEEP is an advanced Lotus
command!
5.2
The second of my two ‘solutions’ involves:
5.2
(1) A Wimp based multitasking cell editor. Facilities are provided for
import and export of data in various formats, changing of file type and
name and also the invocation of single tasking ‘calculation’... rather
like a spreadsheet although with restricted facilities. Why re-invent
the wheel? The key benefits of the cell editor are the range of file
types which can be handled (no big deal but very useful) and the ability
to process the data in virtually any language of your choice.
5.2
(2) An interpreted programming language for coding of instructions. The
interpreted language is preferred for speed of development but is not
essential. Use a compiled language if you must. Code must be capable of
being edited in a window alongside the cell editor. Single tasking eases
the coding process enormously and the choice of language gives enormous
flexibility. I have recently used Basic V using the Filetype &FD1
(BASICText) and !Edit for this purpose, the 8-bit version of I-APL
having been long abandoned due to its very tight workspace limitations.
BASICText files have a defined RunType and can be executed on a mouse
click, if appropriate.
5.2
The use of Message_DataOpen to broadcast filenames and types via
specific channels (not dissimilar to MIDI) to installed applications,
both from the multitasking ‘front end’ and from the single tasking
‘calculation’ subprogram. This allows the external applications to
respond selectively to files of the same type. Several applications are
able to respond ‘simultaneously’ to the same message.
5.2
These, along with a number of other features, I have incorporated into
an application presently known as !SS.
5.2
How does the 32-bit I-APL fit into this? Well, I-APL is the only APL
available on the Archimedes. I have very little hope that there will be
any other, since commercial APL vendors do not take the Archimedes at
all seriously. Above all else, APL is highly expressive and interactive.
It is capable of being used to develop manipulative code very quickly
indeed, providing you have a suitable data structure. APL is equally of
use as a programming language as it is a super calculator. It is often
described as a tool for thought. Can the same be seriously said about
Basic or Fortran or C? The answer to this is a resounding ‘no’. In this,
APL is supreme.
5.2
I-APL, as yet, is not at home under the Wimp, although I have had it
working, after a fashion, in a Task Window. It is designed to take over
the entire machine. This, of course, is not ideal. The application
programmer or ‘thinker’ needs windows just as much as an end user who
only wants to ‘point and shoot’. He also wants to type! Traditionally,
APL has provided the session manager, has provided the working environ
ment and has insulated the user so mercifully from the operating system.
In the future this must change. APL, as we know it, has to move into the
background: the Desktop is the workspace.
5.2
So I-APL has fallen at the first hurdle? Well yes... but hold on... it
is virtually free... so let’s not get too upset. Unfortunately, I-APL
Ltd, an international non-profit making organisation, is not able to
develop its ‘free’ interpreter at a pace commensurate with the rest of
the technology. One may argue that it should not even try to compete. I
fear that, if it does not keep up, it will not capture the imaginations
of the young audience it so needs to make it thrive.
5.2
What else does it lack? It needs a full screen editor, it needs to be
able to scroll output, it needs a compiled interpreter for greater
speed. It needs a better manual and much better example applications
without the untidiness (minor) in some of the workspaces which could
confuse a novice. An equivalent to the Basic LIBRARY statement would
also be useful. It also needs a front end. (Without getting into a
discussion of the beauty of the language proper, it is inherently not
well designed for handling polling loops. APL was, in fact, designed
with the idea of making traditional looping obsolete!) I am pleased to
be able to say that I am assured that at least some of these are being
attended to, although I would not care to hazard a guess as to when they
might appear.
5.2
I-APL32 does have the ability to offer huge workspaces. This costs a lot
of money on PC APL’s and, if we can combine the front end concept with a
window based full screen editor and session manager, and a few other
improvements, we are well on the road to having something special. I-APL
single tasking subprograms should capitalise on the strengths of the
language whilst not unduly emphasising its weaknesses.
5.2
I can only continue to offer my encouragement to I-APL to continue their
efforts. As for you, my readers... APL won’t find you, you must find it.
5.2
It is lots of fun to dream up new ways of doing things. Message passing,
for example, is a very interesting area where we can expect to see major
developments taking place. The operating system CLI and the graphical
user interface will also see changes. Earlier on, I relegated APL to the
background. In truth I would really like to see its philosophy embodied
in the CLI − what a challenge that would be to the GUI designers who can
presently mimic only the most naive monadic syntax!  A
5.2

5.2
I-APL Ltd Price List
5.2
    Address for enquiries:    Address for
orders:
5.2
    2 Blenheim Rd    56 The Crescent
5.2
    St Albans    Milton, Weston-super-mare
5.2
    Herts    Avon
5.2
    AL1 4NR    BS22 8DU
5.2
Disks are 360K PC disks except where specified. Other versions: special
order.
5.2
Part Nº    Item        Price
5.2
        I-APL and related Products
5.2
PC12    PC clone/Nimbus 360K disk & manual    4.50
5.2
AT12    PC clone/N 720K 3½“ disk & manual    6.50
5.2
BBC12    BBC 80T disk Master (& B with 32K sidews RAM) & manual
4.50
5.2
A12    Archimedes disk and manual
4.50
5.2
M12    Macintosh disk and photocopied manual    8.50
5.2
T3    Tutorial by Thomson & Alvord (45pp)    2.50
5.2
E4    Encyclopedia by Helzer (228pp)    5.50
5.2
S5    APL in Social Studies by Traberman (36pp)    2.50
5.2
P6    APL programs for maths classroom, Thomson (185pp)    14.50
5.2
        Disks for I-APL
5.2
FEMC    Disk of Functions for Thomson’s book by F Espinasse    2.00
5.2
FEK12    Maths kits 1 and 2 by Francis Espinasse    2.00
5.2
FEK34    Maths kits 3 and 4 by Francis Espinasse    2.00
5.2
MK    Morten Kromberg’s GRAF workspaces    2.00
5.2
ZVJ    Zdenek V Jizba’s Lessons workspaces    2.00
5.2
FINN    FinnAPL workspaces
2.00
5.2
        I S I Products
5.2
SAPL    Sharp APL/PC manual [sys] (350pp), disks & Tang. Math     42.00
5.2
APLIPC    Sharp APL/PC enhanced ver 20 for PC & AT clones     55.00
5.2
APLI386    Sharp APL/PC enhanced ver 20 for 386/486 in real mode
60.00
5.2
Part Nº    Item        Price
5.2
DAPLIPC    Disks only version of APLI/PC     21.00
5.2
DAPLI386    Disks only version of APLI386     26.00
5.2
SAR    Sharp APL Ref. Manual [lang] (qto 349pp) by Berry     18.00
5.2
JPC    ‘J’, (APL dialect): disk, Dictionary & Tang. Math     17.00
5.2
JMAC    The Macintosh version of JPC above: Mac 3.5“ disk     18.00
5.2
PIJ    Programming in J (inc. Dictionary) by K. E. Iverson     25.00
5.2
TryAPL2    Many can get TryAPL2 from IBM free. If YOU can, don’t buy from
us.
5.2
TRY720    TryAPL2 720K disk & manual (photocopy 41pp)    7.50
5.2
TRY360    TryAPL2 two 360K disks & manual (photocopy 41pp)    7.50
5.2
        Books
5.2
AAT    Algebra: an Algorithmic Treatment, Iverson (361pp)    6.50
5.2
SAAT    Solutions to foregoing by J Iverson (42pp)    2.00
5.2
EA    Elementary Analysis by K Iverson (218pp)    4.50
5.2
CNK    Calculus in a New Key by D Orth (286pp)    5.00
5.2
RCT    Resistive Circuit Theory by R Spence (qto 279pp)    7.50
5.2
TEY    APL Quote-Quad: The Early Years (qto 465)     11.00
5.2
SBA    A Source Book in APL (qto 140pp)    5.50
5.2
AI    APL and Insight by Berry et al. (89pp)    2.50
5.2
FCP    The Four Cube Problem by McDonnell (qto 27pp)    2.50
5.2
SM    Star Map by Berry & Thorstensen (41pp)    2.00
5.2
PA    Probability in APL by L Alvord (120pp)    3.50
5.2
IA    Introduction to APL by K E Iverson 1984 (110pp)    4.00
5.2
AL    APL Language Reference for foregoing (128pp)    5.00
5.2
IAT    Introducing APL to Teachers (25pp) by Iverson    2.00
5.2
IASE    Intro to APL for Scientists & Engs, Iverson (26pp)    2.00
5.2
AE    APL in Exposition by K E Iverson (61pp)    2.00
5.2
Please add £2.00 per parcel for packing
5.2
Prices are in £ sterling and include UK postage.  A
5.2

5.2
Hi-Fi Sound Upgrade Module
5.2
Jahinder Singh
5.2
Compared to most micros, the sound output from the Archimedes is very
good, especially when connected to a hi-fi. The sound output from the
VIDC goes through a high-pass filter circuit intended to take out
digital noise which occurs during sampling and digitising. Unfor
tunately, this  sometimes takes out the higher frequencies which give
the sound its quality and characteristics. The Hi-Fi Sound Upgrade
Module just released by Ray Maidstone aims to solve this problem by
maximising the bandwidth available from the VIDC but, at the same time,
minimising quantisation noise.
5.2
The package
5.2
The complete package consists of a user-fitable, plug-in board with
flying leads which connects to an external amplifier, installation
instructions and a disc containing a couple of non-distorted sound files
as a demonstration. A P.D. sound application called !Erasure (very good)
is also supplied which is provided to give an indication of the
enhancement. This Hi-Fi Upgrade will work on A310 and A400 series (new
and old) and the documentation states that A500 series and A3000
versions will soon be available.
5.2
Installation and testing
5.2
Installing the upgrade involves opening up the computer, removing any
podules plugged into the backplane, connecting the board to PL2 inside
the machine (diagrams supplied), connecting the power leads and finally
connecting the flying leads to an external amplifier. Clear plastic
sheets with sticky pads were provided to isolate the hi-fi board from
any potential shorts within the computer. Details of checking the
polarity of the sound channels are also provided.
5.2
After installation, I ran the !Erasure application again and was quite
surprised. Much more treble is now heard and cymbals and other high
frequency signals can now be heard easily. I tried some of my P.D. sound
samples and observed a bit of distortion with some of these. The
documentation states that this is due to the fact that a higher standard
of sampling is now required. In other words, the hi-fi module exposes
the poor quality of many of the sound samples used.
5.2
Conclusions
5.2
A lot depends on what type of sound quality people require from their
machines. Having my sound output coming from my hi-fi certainly adds a
lot more depth due to the amplifier. However, this upgrade module seems
to enhance the output further by making the output sound much ‘richer’.
Having such a upgrade in my machine now, I don’t intend to remove it.  A
5.2

5.2
Compression
5.2
Stuart Bell
5.2
The opportunity to ‘double my disc size for less than £60’ seemed too
good to miss, so, encouraged by the favourable comment in October’s
Archive, I took advantage of Computer Concept’s Acorn User Show price of
£49 inc. VAT, and invested in a copy of Compression.
5.2
Compression is effectively a separate filing system that sits between
applications and existing real filing systems (ADFS, SCSIFS, IDEFS),
compressing files as they are written, and expanding them as they are
read. Computer Concepts claim a saving of 50% for text files and as much
as 87% for screen-grabbed sprites. The time overhead for compressing and
expanding is put at 25%.
5.2
The package comprises a disc and a 24 page manual. The latter is well
laid out, decidedly non-technical, and clearly illustrated with screen
shots. Software piracy is discouraged not with a dongle nor a copy-
protected disc, but by the software requiring a once-only installation
procedure, giving the owner’s name, before it can be used. I can’t see
any problems with this for the honest user. Along with the main !Cfs
application is a PD de-compression utility which you may give away with
compressed files, so that recipients without Compression may read them.
5.2
Once installed and configured, Compression offers a new icon on the icon
bar for each disc drive (hard or floppy) which may store compressed
files. This is in addition to the usual floppy or hard drive icon.
Selecting the cfs icon allows access ‘through’ Compression, with
compressed files being shown as if uncompressed, and ‘full info’ giving
their uncompressed length. Selecting the usual drive icon shows
compressed files with a special ‘squeezed’ icon, and ‘full info’ gives
their physical compressed size. Thus, there are literally two ‘windows’
into each disc and its directories. Files can be compressed by copying
them to a cfs window from a conventional window, and expanded by the
reverse copy.
5.2
For example, to copy a compressed Impression document such as this
review from a hard disc to an uncompressed version on my floppy, to send
to Paul, I simply drag it from the cfs window on my ‘ToArchive’
directory to the normal adfs: window on the floppy disc. In practice,
this is the only time that one needs to use the ordinary window into a
directory; always using the cfs window will ensure that files are
expanded and compressed as required, and that there are no problems with
direct access to compressed files.
5.2
Incidentally, when installing Compression, existing files can be
compressed in bulk simply by copying a directory from a conventional
window to its cfs equivalent.
5.2
The manual warns against compressing applications. I tried it. The gains
are quite limited, unless, as with SigmaSheet, there are very large
sprites flying around. Likewise, one needs to be cautious when compress
ing other system files. In my initial enthusiasm, I made sure that my
!Boot and StartList files activated Compression, but then caused chaos
by compressing the StartList file, which needs to be read before !cfs
runs!
5.2
I conclude that it’s best not to get carried away compressing every
single file on your discs, but to concentrate on your own data files,
such as text, sprites, and Impression and other DTP documents – which
contain ASCII files.
5.2
In my use of Compression, I’ve encountered only one problem that, I
think, needs attention. It is that if you try to compress the contents
of a locked directory, the error is reported after the original has been
deleted. After my first panic, I realised that the directory is not
lost, but the safe copy made by Compression is called CfsTmpFile. A
simple renaming, and a change of access, solves the problem. If the
directory is an application, it must be renamed exactly as before, if
the proper icon is to be displayed. If the techno-phobic user is not to
be put off Compression, then I think that the potential chaos which
attempting to compress a locked directory might cause should be avoided
by Compression checking for locked status before the compression is
attempted.
5.2
Another problem which I found, and which the manual doesn’t seem to
answer, is how to initiate cfs directory displays from script files. For
example, my StartList file, called by !Boot, used to contain the line,
5.2
Filer_Opendir scsi::winny.$. Documents
5.2
so that the main document directory was displayed on boot-up. Attempts
to display the cfs window in a similar manner have failed.
5.2
Compression would seem to have two main uses. The first is to get more
data onto hard disc drives. It’s amazing how much space, for example, an
Impression document takes. The only warning I would offer is that if you
were thinking of getting, say, a 45Mb hard disc, and now think of saving
money with a 20Mb drive and Compression, remember that smaller drives
tend to be slower, whereas the overhead in using Compression means that
slightly faster drives should be used, not slower ones! The time
overhead is detectable, but certainly not excessive. It is better, I
think, to get a decent size drive initially, but know now that Compres
sion will extend its effective life by doubling its size when required.
However, with the higher capacity 2½“ drives still being rather
expensive, potential buyers of internal IDE drives for A3000s may feel
that, with Compression, 20Mb will be worthwhile, whereas before it would
have been too small. Computer Concepts claim compatibility with all
widely used filing systems, including IDEFS. I certainly had no problems
with my Oak SCSIFS.
5.2
The second main use of Compression applies to the use of floppy discs
for back-up. If you cannot afford tape streamers or removable hard
discs, then floppies are the only option. It is a happy coincidence that
what we back up most frequently – text files and DTP documents – are
precisely those file types which Compression squeezes most effectively.
So, the halving of the number of floppies needed is a significant
benefit for Compression users and is one less excuse for not backing up
regularly!
5.2
I have, until now, referred to ‘halving’ file sizes without supporting
that phrase with any real figures. Computer Concepts claim 50%, but the
test of any data compression system is the real-life ‘squeeze factor’,
bearing in mind time overheads. The latter, as I have said, are
detectable, but not significant.
5.2
As I write this article, I have the cfs window onto my main Documents
directory gives an uncompressed count of 10.1Mbytes. The conventional
window shows a physical size of 4.5 Mbytes. The files are mainly FWP and
Impression documents. The saving is 55%. Yes, I’m impressed with
Compression!  A
5.2

5.2
An Introduction to PD Software
5.2
David Holden
5.2
During the last year, many new Public Domain libraries have appeared.
New users may not realise that Archive was the first to publish Public
Domain material for the Archimedes on their ‘Shareware’ discs and the
inappropriate name that was given to these has stuck. Unfortunately,
most of the material on these is not in fact Shareware and this has lead
to confusion amongst Archimedes users as to what the term actually
means.
5.2
In the PC world Shareware is firmly established as a major software
distribution method and most users understand the various terms used. I
believe that if we wish the Archimedes with its comparatively small user
base to have plenty of good, cheap software then we must do all we can
to encourage the Shareware system, which so far is almost non-existent.
5.2
There are many types of software available from PD libraries. PC users
have invented names for the various categories: Demos, Bannerware,
Crippleware, Public Domain, Shareware etc.
5.2
Demos
5.2
Demos are programs which have no commercial value but mainly exist just
to show off the programmer’s skill. By their nature, they are almost
always Public Domain and normally graphics or games based. They are not
demonstrations of commercial software, programs of this type come into
the next two categories.
5.2
Bannerware
5.2
This is the term used for a functionally useless demonstration version
of a commercial product. The suppliers normally call these ‘Interactive
Demonstrations’ which mean that they ‘show’ you what the program is
supposed to do. In effect, they are disc based promotional material.
5.2
Crippleware
5.2
These are simplified versions of commercial products which allow the
user to get the ‘feel’ of the program and try out many of its features.
One or more of the major functions is disabled, however, to render the
program useless. Archimedes users will be familiar with these from the
Pipedream and Ovation discs which are widely available. Never pay for
crippleware. Would you be prepared to pay to watch a T.V. advert?
5.2
Crippleware is merely an advert on a disc. It is a very good way of
advertising but don’t be conned into paying any more for it than the
cost of the disc.
5.2
Public domain
5.2
This is software which has been given to the world by its author. In
most cases, the author actually retains copyright so it is not techni
cally placed in the Public Domain. This is a means of avoiding having
the program ‘ripped off’ for commercial purposes and is no bar to the
honest person copying and using it for his own purposes. You will often
find a message in a text file with this type of program which sets out
certain conditions if you use or copy it. Usually, this is along the
lines that you must not distribute a modified version or remove the
author’s name, you must not charge for the program and that you must
always include all the documentation. The author has freely given us the
use of his work so please always honour his wishes.
5.2
Shareware
5.2
Shareware is commercial software just the same as the software you buy
in the normal way. The only(!) difference is that, with Shareware, you
get the program free and only pay for it, or ‘register’ to use the
Shareware term, when you have tried it and decided that it is what you
want. This means that not only do you not pay until you are happy with
it but you pay only for the program and not for all the advertising and
fancy packaging which forms a major part of the cost of most commercial
software.
5.2
When Shareware was first ‘invented’, the idea was that the package
should be given away in its entirety and that users should be trusted
absolutely to send in the requested registration fee. This is still the
definition used by purists but most of the time now you receive either
an improved version or some extra features when you register.
5.2
There is a grey area between Shareware and Crippleware. The best way to
define the difference is that a Shareware program works. It is actually
useful. When you register you may get extra features but the author
still relies upon trust to get payment. Crippleware is not useful and so
no trust is involved.
5.2
Careware
5.2
There is one other category which will be familiar to readers of Archive
although perhaps not to others. The term Careware was invented in the
early days of Archive and the original idea was to add a bit on to the
price of certain PD discs and to donate this amount to charity. This has
now been expanded by some PD authors into a type of Shareware where
instead of sending a registration fee to the author you are requested or
required to send it to a nominated charity.
5.2
Counterfeit PD
5.2
One unfortunate result of the larger number of PD libraries is the
growing number of stolen programs which are appearing. So far the
Archimedes world is not cursed with the large amount of pirate copies of
commercial games which flood the Atari and Amiga market but we have our
own problems.
5.2
Like most people who write programs for the Archimedes I send a lot of
discs with updates of my own work to PD libraries and they normally
return them with a selection of their latest programs. I therefore have
a fairly good idea of what programs are in circulation and since I read
most of the publications devoted to Acorn computers, I also know what
programs are being published. A surprising number of the new programs
appearing are crudely disguised versions of other people’s work or taken
directly from material published in magazines. I have actually been sent
a disc containing a program which the library who sent it to me
described in their catalogue as ‘very good’. This was rather flattering
because I discovered it was one which I had written myself and sold to a
magazine. Someone had simply copied it from the magazine disc, removed
the copyright message and sent it to a PD library.
5.2
I don’t know why this is happening. It could be just a crafty way of
getting a free disc in return. Unfortunately, most PD libraries don’t
seem to take many care in vetting new programs. There have recently been
several embarrassing incidents where material sent to magazines as PD
and appearing on their discs has later turned out to be taken from
another publication. Many people seem to believe that if they type in a
published listing it becomes ‘their’ program. One trend is to take an
old magazine program, add a RISC-OS front end and pretend it’s your own
work.
5.2
The future
5.2
We desperately need a healthy Shareware market for the Archimedes. The C
compiler, assembler, text editor, spreadsheet, wordprocessor and
database I use on my PC are all Shareware products and as powerful as
programs in general use on the Archimedes but costing only a fraction of
the price of the Archimedes equivalents. This is not due to the
economies of scale of the much larger PC market. It is much quicker and
easier to write a program for the Archimedes than the PC but the simple
fact is that true Shareware has just not taken off.
5.2
I believe that we need to encourage Shareware if we are to improve the
variety and quality of software available. There is some very good PD
available but most of it has totally inadequate documentation and/or
bugs. If more of this software were offered as Shareware then the
quality would improve because people will only pay for programs which
are properly documented and bug free. The authors benefit financially
which encourages them to spend more time on writing better programs.
People are also more likely to contact the author of a program they have
paid for to ask for advice or make complaints and suggestions. I have
folders of letters from people who have sent me money for programs,
sometimes unsolicited, and quite often the queries raised lead to either
modifications of the programs or clarification of the documentation.
This is a vital part of the Shareware system. It keeps the author on his
toes and ensures that the programs constantly improve and do so in ways
guided by the users.
5.2
Finally my thanks to all of you who have written to me about your
favourite Public Domain or Shareware programs. I have tried to reply to
those letters that seemed to require comment and to return discs, but
time does not permit me to reply to everyone. Please keep sending your
letters and programs and I hope to write about them as soon as I can
organise all the information sent and try out all the programs.
5.2
Information to David Holden, 39 Knighton Park Road, Sydenham, London
SE26 5RN.  A
5.2

5.2
Inspiration
5.2
Stewart Watson
5.2
I received a copy of Inspiration through the post a few days ago and sat
down to study a package for which I have been eagerly waiting now for
many months. Inspiration comes in the usual A5 package, inside which is
a master disk, a 72 page manual and a dongle.
5.2
Manual
5.2
Contrary to my usual practice, I decided to read the manual before
trying the program. The first thing that struck me was that there are no
screen dumps anywhere in the manual to give a picture of what you might
expect to see on screen.
5.2
Introduction
5.2
The first twenty pages of the manual are a general introduction for
computer novices on how to use a mouse, menus and how to make a back up
copy of the master disk. It also includes instructions for installation
onto a hard disk − simply copy all the files on the master disk into an
Inspiration directory. Finally, it tells you how to fit the dongle and
connect your computer to your midi instrument. This has one of the only
two graphics in the whole manual, a computer, a keyboard and two cables.
So far, however, the instructions have been thorough and clearly
written.
5.2
Reference section
5.2
It was when I started reading the reference section that I started to
have slight twinges of worry. On page 22 there is a space for a picture
of the control panel, which the instructions refer to, but there was no
picture. Anyway, on I go. The instructions still seemed to be clear and
concise until I got to page 32 which has not been printed at all − a
completely blank page. The further through the manual I read the more I
got the feeling of a product which had been rushed out before it had
been completely finished. Still, I’ve seen many first rate products with
patchy manuals before, and vice versa.
5.2
Fitting the dongle
5.2
My next disappointment came when I went to fit the dongle. There were no
retaining screws to hold the dongle onto the computer and, as it fits
between the printer lead and the computer, I do feel that this connec
tion could be a weak spot.
5.2
Running the program
5.2
This was when I really hit trouble. I have two machines, an A420 with 4
Mbyte and an EMR midi2 interface, and an A310 with 4 Mbyte and an EMR
midi4 interface. Though I could get the program to run, I could not
persuade it to respond over midi even with EMR’s Acorn SWI emulator
loaded. Now, as EMR have been alone in the Acorn music field for many
years, it strikes me as odd that any new product should be software
incompatible, let alone hardware incompatible.
5.2
On the plus side, it does import and export Maestro files, which means
that if you have a copy of Rhapsody II you can export files for
printing, as Inspiration itself has no score printing facilities.
5.2
Features
5.2
Inspiration can have up to nine pieces of music, or ‘reels’ in its
terminology, in memory at any one time and each can contain up to 256
tracks.
5.2
It claims to be accurate to 1/10,100th beat per minute tempo resolution
which is much more accurate than EMR Studio 24 V2 which is accurate to
1/1,440 beat per minute.
5.2
There is a continuous undo stack, which lets you retrace your steps
right back through your session. This could certainly be useful in
retrieving some masterpiece that you have mistakenly discarded.
5.2
The program has a very full midi spec and saves the setup you are using
when you switch off, so that you can return to exactly the same place
when you restart your work.
5.2
The program’s graphics were not always as clear as they might be but I’m
sure with greater use they would become more familiar.
5.2
My biggest worry came when I phoned the helpline and found that the
number is unobtainable.
5.2
My overall impression was of a program into which a lot of thought and
work had been invested, but which had been rushed out before it had been
completely finished and tested. I would advise anyone thinking of
purchasing Inspiration to check with their supplier to ensure that the
promised support from the authors is in fact available before parting
with any money. At almost twice the price of Studio 24 Version 2, and
more than five times the price of Rhapsody II, I think that Inspiration
is going to struggle to find a niche in the market.
5.2
Inspiration is available from Sound Proposition Ltd, 44 Udney Park Road,
Teddington, Middlesex TW11 9BG, price £299.95 including VAT.  A
5.2

5.2
The SQuirreL Data Base
5.2
Jochen Konietzko
5.2
Digital Services’ SQuirreL is, as the name suggests, an SQL (Structured
Query Language) database. It is fully RISC-OS compliant. It arrives on
two disks, one with the program itself plus a second program for data
importing and the other disk with two example tables.
5.2
The 220 page handbook comes in a ring binder; it begins with a general
introduction to databases and a tutorial. Throughout the text of the
book, there are lots of screen dumps (about two per page) showing just
what the text describes. Alphabetical index, glossary and table of
contents are all present and sufficiently detailed.
5.2
Creating a new table
5.2
A double click installs the Squirrel icon on the icon bar, a click on
this icon opens a window which allows the creation of a mask for a new
table. To create the mask, you click on a point of the Table Layout
Window where you want the top left hand corner of a field to be and drag
the pointer to the bottom right hand corner. A menu appears which gives
all the options for this field.
5.2
Types of data supported are string (fixed or variable length − both one
line), text (as many lines as there is free RAM), number (fixed or
floating − this includes currency and percentage; the format for any
type of number can be widely varied), Date, Boolean, DrawFile, Sprite
and AnyFile.
5.2
Draw and Sprite files are automatically recognized; they appear on
screen in a frame − much in the same way as they would in Impression.
There is, however, one very significant difference: Squirrel saves the
complete file, so that by double clicking on a picture, Paint or Draw
are loaded to allow editing.
5.2
The type AnyFile is particularly interesting; any file type known to
RISC-OS can be dragged into this field − only files, though, not
applications or directories. This makes it possible, for example, to
have a table with pictures of birds and bird song samples which could be
played by double clicking on the icon in the table window.
5.2
If you want to restrict entries into a field to one file type, you
simply replace the word AnyFile with the file type number in question.
5.2
A particular boon for those of us with many files of a certain type is
the “Learn” facility. If, for example, you have hundreds of SoundTracker
modules on your disks, you could create a small table containing some
fields for describing the module and one for the module itself and save
the empty table. If you then drag one module onto the Squirrel icon, a
window opens asking where this type of file is to be stored. You drag
the new table from the filer window into the Learn window, and from then
on, every time you drag a module of the same file type onto the Squirrel
icon, it is automatically stored into that table. Because Squirrel
stores the complete file, there is no need for a second copy on the hard
disk.
5.2
Entering data
5.2
Once a table has been created and saved, data can be entered into the
mask in any sequence the user likes; simply typing <Return> at the end
of every entry moves the caret to the next field. (The user can freely
define what is “next”.)
5.2
You can leaf through the records with the PageUp and PageDown keys and
with a GoTo... submenu.
5.2
As usual with relational databases, you can add new fields to the table
at any time without losing your old data.
5.2
Queries
5.2
The most important feature of a database is the ability to extract
information from a set of records, like “all unmarried men not born in
1970”; with Squirrel this is very simple, as you don’t have to remember
long lists of expressions from the database’s query language (in this
case, SQL). All it takes is to click on “Define Query”, then you can
open a Query filter window and simply drag the necessary fields into
this window; the arrangement of the various items on the screen gives
the logical structure of the query. Parallel fields mean “OR”, fields in
series mean “AND”.
5.2
In addition to simple text matching, the options supported are < , <= ,
> , >= . MATCHES allows the use of wild cards in the string, as does the
case sensitive LIKE.
5.2
The silly example I mentioned might look like:
5.2
This is internally translated into this SQL text, which, with most MS-
DOS SQL databases, you would have to write for yourself:
5.2
SELECT mar_state, sex, born
5.2
FROM ADFS::Festplatte.$.Datenbank. DDEDir
5.2
WHERE (mar_state = ‘never married’ AND (sex = ‘m’ AND (born <1.1.70 OR
born >=1.1.71 ))) OR (mar_state = ‘divorced’ AND (sex = ‘m’ AND (born
<1.1.70 OR born >=1.1.71 ))) OR (mar_state = ‘widowed’ AND (sex = ‘m’
AND (born <1.1.70 OR born >=1.1.71 )))
5.2
ORDER BY mar_state DICT, sex DICT, born
5.2
Everything you do with Squirrel can be saved to disk in various ways. A
query, for instance, can be saved as QueryFile (which can be used again
by simply double clicking), SQLFile (see above) and as a DrawFile of the
filter.
5.2
Relational Squirrel
5.2
Squirrel is a relational database, meaning basically that you can
combine two (or more) tables which have at least one field in common
(see “Choosing a database”, Archive 4.2, p.25ff).
5.2
This, too, works by dragging the fields from the two tables into a
window (called View) which effectively gives you a new table for
defining a query.
5.2
Reports
5.2
Squirrel makes full use of RISC-OS outline fonts and printer drivers.
You can print out the results of a query in the form of a list called
report.
5.2
The appearance of this report can be varied very easily by dragging the
fields of the table around in the report layout window and deleting
those you don’t want to appear in the report. If some fields contain
numbers, the report can perform simple arithmetic operations (SUM,
AVeraGe, MINimum, MAXimum, COUNT − they can be both local (reset to zero
every time the same operator is called again) and global (applying to
the whole report)).
5.2
Specifications
5.2
There is no limitation (except through the space available in RAM [for a
single record] or on hard disk [for the whole table − only one record at
a time is kept in RAM]) to the number of characters per field, of
characters per record, of fields per record, of key fields per record,
of record per file. 26 Tables can be linked in a relational query.
5.2
The sorting order can be ascending or descending, ASCII (0-9..A-Z..a-z)
or dictionary (Aa-Zz..0-9), and the fields for sorting may, in all,
contain 1000 bytes (25 × 40 characters, 250 × 4 characters etc − this
means that the type text which can have “infinite” length, but can’t be
used for sorting, only for searching.)
5.2
Fixed numbers can have up to ten digits; floating numbers can cover a
region of (roughly) ±10±38 (length 4 bytes) or roughly ±10±308 (8
bytes).
5.2
Data can be imported and exported from and to wordprocessors (as tab-
separated lists) and from and to spreadsheets and databases which
support the CSV (Comma Separated Variable) format.
5.2
Squirrel occupies 544 kbytes of RAM space. It seems therefore quite well
suited for 1 Mbyte machines.
5.2
Additions I would like to see
5.2
There are a few additions which would make Squirrel even better:
5.2
•    the ability to do a global replace. At the end of the last term I had
to leaf through every one of the 225 pupils’ records and manually
replace the school year and the class number with the new one; with a
global replace I would have had to change one school year and eight
class names.
5.2
•    the possibility to sort the records physically on the disk (the way it
was done with the old type of database which employed sequential
searches). As with most tables, I always use the same field (like the
family name) for sorting, this would save not just time but also a lot
of unnecessary hard disk wear and tear.
5.2
•    the ability to create a runtime version which could be sent to someone
else who doesn’t own Squirrel. (Admittedly, this feature is usually only
found in databases three or four times as expensive as Squirrel.)
5.2
•    a browse or list mode. As it is, there is just a report preview mode
which is not very useful as you can’t scroll through the preview. The
only option available is “next page”.
5.2
•    password protection for sensitive data.
5.2
Addition that is coming
5.2
According to the September issue of Micro User (page 97) Digital
Services plan to make Squirrel work with Computer Concepts’ inter-
program communication system, Impulse II.
5.2
Conclusions
5.2
The only point I really didn’t like when I bought Squirrel, version
0.90, was the protection against software piracy employed. Before you
can install Squirrel on your machine you have to type your name into a
registration window, then phone the makers and tell them exactly what
you typed in. They then give you a code which you also type into the
registration window and only this code makes Squirrel work.
5.2
At least, though, this procedure is necessary only once. When I received
my (free) upgrade from version 0.90 to 1.00 (1-May-91), it came with the
code already installed.
5.2
The UK price is about £129 + VAT from Digital Services Ltd. or £140
through Archive.  A
5.2

5.2

5.2
Serious Statistical Software    Lynwood,
Benty Heath Lane, Willaston, South Wirral, L64 1SD. (051−327−4268)
5.2
Sherston Software    Swan Barton, Sherston, Malmesbury, Wilts. SN16 0LH.
(0666−840433) (−840048)
5.2
Spacetech (p39)    21 West Wools, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EA.
(0305−822753)
5.2
Storm Software    Beth House, Poyntington, Sherbourne, Dorset.
(0963−22469)
5.2
Superior Software    P.O. Box 6, Brigg, S Humberside  DN20 9NH.
(0652−658585) (−657807)
5.2
The Public Key    c/o George Foot, Waterfall, Uvedale Road, Oxted,
Surrey, RH8 0EW.
5.2
Triple R Educational    P.O. Box
4444, Sheffield. (0742−700661)
5.2
Turcan Research Systems    83 Green
croft Gardens, West Hampstead, London NW6 3LJ. (071−625−8455)
5.2
Wild Vision    15 Witney Way, Boldon Colliery, Tyne & Wear NE35 9PE.
(091−519−1455) (−1929)
5.2

5.2

5.2