SLO BYTE INFORMATION The SLO BYTES Newsletter is a monthly publication of SLO BYTES PC User's Group located in San Luis Obispo, California. Information in this Newsletter is derived from both our own membership and other PC User Group Newsletters. The purpose of this publication is to inform our members of meetings and provide information related to the use of IBM PC's and compatible computers. Membership: Dues are $18 per year. Newsletter only is $10 per year. Full membership entitles you to our monthly newsletter, full use of the public domain software library and discounts at local computer stores. Article Submission: Deadline for submission of articles is the 15th of each month. Articles should be provided in ASCII format without any type of formatting from your wordprocessor including tabs, indents, extra spaces, or highlighting. We prefer articles on disk but will accept hardcopies if necessary. Disclaimer: Neither SLO BYTES PC User's Group, its officers, editor, or contributors to this newsletter assume liability for damages arising out of this publication of any article, including but not limited to the listing of programming code, batch files and other helpful hints. Reprinting of this Newsletter: Articles from this newsletter may be reprinted by other user groups if credit is given to both the author and newsletter from which it was taken. Reproduction of articles with a specific (C) Copyright notice is prohibited without prior permission from the original author. Advertising: Commercial advertisers, request ad packet from Bob Ward. Members may advertise personal computer equipment or software for free. Submit your ad to Bob Ward. Direct all correspondence to Bob Ward, 2100 Andre Ave., Los Osos, CA. 93402. Call (805)756-2164 M-F 7:30am - 5pm and (805)528-0121 all other times. Treasurer: John Rohde, 1214 Vista Del Lego, San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401 DISCOUNTS Discounts usually apply only to regularly priced merchandise. Ask a salesman to make sure. Paradise Computers 5% All computers. peripherals and software. 10% Ribbons, paper, disks & other expendable items. Star Computers 5% Any software in stock. 10% Paper, ribbons, cables, and other supplies. Computer Logic 10% Off list - all computers, software, computer peripherals, and products. Contact Bruce, Paul or Dave for discount. WITCO Computers 10% Off complete systems, peripherals, supplies but not including software. 5% Off computers alone. FISBOSA Systems 10% Off packaged systems, software, and/or peripherals when purchased with system. Contact Lynne Boisen. PC-Write 3.0 nears day of release Quick Notes Number 14, Summer 1988 Reproduced with permission from Quicksoft (R) PC-Write (R) Version 3.0 is moving toward release. The user manual went to the printer July 5, and we've received results from our first beta test. We're sending out a second beta test in August. We hope to fix the second betas' problems in time to ship Version 3.0 in October, but no definite release date has been set. Some important features currently up and running for Version 3.0 are: * Use of all available DOS memory for editing, breaking the 60K file limit. * Support of multiple columns with column reformat, on-screen display, and storage as columns in files. * An optional set of three help lines at the screen top that give useful instructions in context. * A friendly full-screen main menu when the editor is invoked without giving a file name to edit. * Menus of formatting, font, and guideline commands. * Quick key shortcuts and directories for file selection, switching, and printing. * Finer control over margins with a new "spring" right margin and five new left margins. * Spelling checker improvements including more realistic guesses and an easier checking mode using a single key to hunt for non-dictionary words. * Move, copy, delete, and other operations on boxed text (like marked text but selecting a rectangle of text.) * Special features users have asked for such as a top status line listing current line number, lines on page, and page number, and page breaks on separate lines visible as dashed lines or numbered highlighted bars. This list includes only some highlights of Version 3.0; we plan many other improvements. And 3.0 will still be shareware! Check with us if you have specific questions. Thanks for your patience and help. We're working hard to get Version 3.0 ready for you. SAFE SHAREWARE-CONSIDER THE SOURCE! By Marshall W. Magee There is much concern about a new phenomenon within the personal computing world - that of software 'viruses'. These modern day plagues are becoming more publicized every day, with news that major Fortune 500 companies (IBM,EDS, Aldus, AT&T, etc.) and even smaller businesses have been 'hit'. Damages usually range from relatively small messages appearing on-screen to a complete and total erasure of a hard disk system. The first question to ask ourselves is "What is a virus?" Viruses usually show up as abnormalities in program code that disrupt or interfere with the normal operation of a computer system. These "trojan horses" are placed into the code on purpose, with the perpetrator knowing full well of the potential dangers that lie ahead. Sometimes these viruses are outgrowths, or 'mutations', of otherwise proprietary programs, sometimes used to maintain system integrity and security. Copy protection schemes, modified only slightly, can become deadly to a disk by removing file directories and file allocation tables in an instant. Another question to ask is "Where do viruses come from? Some reports have placed origins of these 'diseases' from as far away as Pakistan. Their geographic starting point is hardly important; what we really want to concentrate on are their logical origins. Within large software organizations, many programmers work on different modules of code. There are few safeguards as to possible contamination by "logic bombs" or timing sensitive abort routines that can shut down a system, or flash messages on the screen ("Peace On Earth"). With cases like this already documented, it becomes more important WHERE you buy your software, and WHO you buy it from. Viruses do NOT come from Shareware. In fact, the majority of confirmed cases of viral attacks have been reported by users of COMMERCIAL software. These attacks are not only found on micros, but also on minis and mainframes. There is also no guarantee that by avoiding Shareware you will avoid viruses - there is just NO RELATION between the two. "What else could be causing my computer problems?" If the files were downloaded from a bulletin board or other electronic service, there is always the potential for file integrity to be compromised through 'glitches' on the phone line. Some files are even downloaded without using error-correcting protocols like X-Modem or Y-Modem, and these may well be incomplete or corrupted (at best). Running a corrupted file on your computer may cause unpredictable results, like screen blanking, or total system freezes, but hardly ever will any permanent damage occur. Restarting the system is usually all that will be required. Some users have obtained files using improper transfer formats and then blame their problems on viruses because it's the SIMPLE thing to do. "What are the facts about viruses?" Fact #1 Viruses still account for an amazingly small percentage of actual computer system failures. Most of those are caused by commercial software programs and their attending "copy protection" schemes. It is because viruses are such hot topics now that they garner so much attention. To date they have caused several dozen problems based on a population of over seventy-five million computers in use domestically. Fact #2 Avoiding Shareware is no guarantee of avoiding viruses, but avoiding questionable dealers is. KNOW YOUR PUBLISHER! Shareware is growing, thriving element of high technology, and is open to underhanded acts of sabotage as much as any segment of the computer industry. To blame these viral problems on Shareware is not only irresponsible, it is entirely ignorant. Unfortunately, some of those in high places (i.ei, computer publication editors) have already chosen to go on record by placing the blame in the wrong places. Fact #3 Copy protection schemes and bug-ridden commercial software are more responsible for the vast array of user-related problems than are viruses, or trojan horses, or logic bombs, or whatever you want to call these diseases. Shareware offers so many positive advantages over other types of computer software. It is far too easy to point the finger and blame it for the ills of userdom. Fact #4 Bulletin board systems (BBS) and other electronic file transfer services are protected from infections simply by having the System Operator review all the uploaded files before making them available to users. If the programs are mailed on diskette to the Sysop or disk duplicator, there is far less chance of contamination through improper transfer protocols or deliberate sabotage. Users should be made aware that some efforts are in order to protect themselves and NOT at the expense of the authors. They have made the fruits of their labor available to all users for the price of a phone call! Fact #5 Yes, it is true. Viruses are SUCH a hot topic that some companies are going so far as to publicize events which have never occured, in hopes of garnering free advertising. This is almost as bad as the virus problem itself. So when you read a story about a software 'hit', consider the source. Maybe everything you read isn't true. Marshall Magee is the President of Magee Enterprises and author of the Shareware product, Automenu NEWS FROM OUR LIBRARY We have several disks for the month of September, many better than usual. You may obtain these disks one of three ways: 1. Wait until the meeting and copy or purchase the disk at that time. 2. Download them from this BBS as they become available, usually a week before the next computer meeting. or 3. Call Fisbosa Systems Tuesday through Friday and set up a time to copy them for a nominal charge of 50 cents per disk. #280 This is perhaps the best disk for beginners we have ever put together! TUTOR.ARC Ver. 4.2 - this is a DOS tutorial with interactive text. It covers a description of the keyboard, history of computers, elementary and advanced DOS commands and a lesson on batch files. A shareware product of Computer Knowledge with registration of $12 - $25. This includes a return commission for each registered version you sell. PCHELP.ARC covers 55 DOS 3.1 commands. Although a bit skimpy on the command descriptions, it is very adequate for beginners. HELP.ARC is by far the best DOS help program I've seen for awhile. It covers 50 DOS commands and gives a detailed explanation on how to set up a new hard disk, how to format floppy disks and much more. The author is very thorough in his explanations and has examples for each command. These files are ARC'd so type "GO" if you have never unarc'd files before. #281 DIRECTORY SCANNER Ver 3.2A - Previously found on SLO Disk # 263 as DS.ARC This is an updated version with many new enhancements. Similar to XTREE but not menu driven. Online help with ? or F10. You must remember keystrokes or refer to help screen as this program is not menu driven as are most similar commercial programs. Shareware: $15 registration. #282 GAMES: OFFROAD - a fast moving offroad vehicle game. Good graphics. Requires CGA. Plenty of action. FSADV200 - Over 100 Flight Simulator scenarios on this disk. Supports Flight Simulator supplemental scenery disks. Choose your scenario, plug in the figures and be flying over any place in the world. Subdirectories present on this disk to keep files separated. #283 MRBILL1 Ver 3.22 - Part 1. A billing accounting program for small businesses. Documentation is minimal in Shareware version. #284 MRBILL2 - Part 2. Utility disk of MRBILL. There is a duplication of some files on these two disks for use on a floppy disk system. Ventura Publisher Enhancements and Utilities By Teri Sorgatz Last month we had a chance to take a look at some of the wonderful and varied features of Xerox Ventura Publisher. This time I would like to introduce you to two programs from Inset Systems, Inc. that are not only great embellishments to Ventura, but are exceptional aids to anyone who uses their computer to write or do desk top publishing. This is the Year of Computer Graphics and thanks to programs like Hijaak and Inset, anyone can now spice up their documents with original computer art, clipart, screen shots, or scanned images whether or not your particular word processor supports graphics. Many of the obstacles to integration of text and graphics, including incompatible graphic file formats, have been overcome with these two programs. Lets take a look. INSET(tm) Inset is a tool that allows you to paste images into your text files. It's features include: * a pop-up screen shot utility that can capture images from most PC applications and save them in Inset's own .PIX format. * a complete graphics editor to modify and create your own images. * a preview mode to view your images and text together in your word processor. * a print utility, and fast printing enhancement. * macro execution. * Mouse support * optional password protection of graphic files, such as signatures. * an encryption utility that allows you to send your complete document, including graphics, over electronic mail services. Inset manages these minor miracles very simply. The procedure is very much like the one you use to cut and paste in your word processor. First you load Inset into memory, run your graphics program, pop up Inset using a hot key combination, save the image with Inset, then exit. Next you run your wordprocessor, leaving white space where your image is to appear. In the upper left hand corner of each white space put the name of the image file you want to appear in brackets (called a PIX tag). While still in your word processor invoke Inset again and size the image to fit in the white space. Finally print your file using your wordprocessor's print function. Inset will automatically merge the images into the document as it prints. The appearance of your images can be changed in many ways, including: adding text, lines, boxes, circles, and fills, and pixel editing. Block operations are also possible that can affect sizing, gray scale interpretation, rotating, cropping, and borders. Inset can be run from either a floppy drive or a hard disk. It occupies as little as 115K system memory depending on whether the graphics editor is also installed. HIJAAK (tm) Hijaak is a complementary program to Inset, but can be purchased and used as a stand-alone. It literally ends your graphics file compatibility problems in that not only can it capture high resolution screens from a wide assortment of hardware, but it can also convert the captured screen, or any other file in supported format, to any one of twelve other file formats. File formats supported are: SOURCE FILES .PIX .GIF .MAC .IFF .TIF .PCX .CUT .TXT .HPC .PIC IMG .GEM DESTINATION FILES .PIX .GIF .MAC .IFF .TIF .PCX .CUT .TXT .HPC .PSC(Postscript) .IMG .GEM The ramifications here are limitless. Imagine being able to convert a vector graphic, such as an AutoCAD drawing, to a pixel oriented format such as .PCX and being able to import that file into a paint program for pixel editing or colorization! Imagine also capturing a text screen with Hijaak, including menus, then being able to convert that .PIX file to a standard ASCII format so that it can be imported as text into the same or a new document. Or, you could convert that PC text screen into a graphics format for incorporation into a Macintosh document! Think of all that Amiga clipart that suddenly can be added to your PC clipart library! Hijaak can be run in either Screen Mode (menus with on-line help) or Command Mode from the DOS prompt, and can be incorporated into batch files for automated file conversion. In addition to screen capture, Hijaak can intercept data from any program able to print to an HP Laserjet or compatible printer and convert that data to an image file. Other abilities include: changing of fonts, scaling the width of the screen, and inverting black/white during conversion. -------------------- Both Inset and Hijaak come with very complete documentation which includes screen shots and indexes. Inset has excellent hardware support which includes color printers and VGA graphics. I am much impressed at the low learning curve and ease of use of both programs and recommend them to anyone interested in getting the most out of their PC's desktop publishing capabilities. WHAT'S NEW Our many thanks to Bill Roch for demonstrating RememDIR. This is a handy program to have if your overwhelmed with files on your hard disk and need to add a description to each. It has a character limit of 50 which should be more than enough to describe any file. RememDIR is memory resident so a file just created can be described without first getting out of the program that created it. RememDIR does a couple of other things as well. You can execute a program from RememDIR, create Macros for DOS commands, read text files on the screen, and search for text. The program also puts the files in order, based on frequency of access, which keeps the files you use most near the top of the list. You may purchase this program for $29.95 from Elliam Associates in Los Osos. Give them a call at 528-5871. This coming month we will have a demonstration of XTREE PRO. This program is a series of menu driven file utilities for both hard disk and floppy disks. Files within a subdirectory can be marked or tagged for manipulation. Then whatever command is initiated will affect all tagged files. Great if you need to copy multiple files from one subdirectory to another or from disk to disk. Like Norton Utilities you can look at the hex code of any file and edit the internal structure. Files may be renamed, printed, and sorted as well. This just scratches the surface of this program's abilities. Come to the next meeting and see what it can really do. The early meeting for new members and users will start promptly at 1:30pm followed by the general meeting on hour later. And don't forget, the meeting has been changed to the FIRST SUNDAY of each month. BITS N' BYTES Good news for DRAM chips. The Reagan administration relaxed import restrictions on both the 256K and 1 MEG DRAM chips. Look for a slow drop in prices by year's end. If you can wait till next summer for more RAM you'll save lots of $$$$$. High density disk drives continue to be in the spotlight. Insite has introduced a "flopical" disk drive that writes tracks to a density of 1,250 tracks per inch, and holds a whopping 20.8 megabytes on one disk! Average seek time is 65 ms. The 3 1/2" drive works with the IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 series, MAC and other SCSI compatible systems. Half the H-4 parking lot has been removed for construction of a new Campus Foundation office structure. Enter H-4 from the upper part of the parking lot opposite Fisher Hall. I have received discount cards for those of you wishing to sign-up for a subscription to Ziff-Davis' PC-Magazine. The price is about $4 less than that offered in the magazine for new subscribers. The cards will be available at the meeting. They may also be used for renewals at the same low price. Comdex, the largest computer show in the world, will be held in Las Vegas November 14th through 18th. Literally hundreds of computer companies will be represented at the Las Vegas Convention Center and conference rooms of many of the larger hotels. Since our first meeting of the new year falls on New Year's Day, we will reschedule January's meeting to the following Sunday, January 8th, 1989. ANSI TIP In the past I have occassionally used a program called TODAY. This is one of those "cute" little programs with value to those of you who never look at a calendar. Besides telling you of all the important events in history that occured on the same day of years past, there is a place to put all those important personal dates, such as birthdays, anniversaries, taxes, mortage payments etc. Remembering how George made our BBS opening screen "sparkle" using ANSI graphics I decided to try my hand at adding ANSI control characters to those lines I wanted to stand out. Since I developed this code on a monochrome monitor I really have no idea what color it comes up on a CGA or EGA screen, but it flashes and it is an intense green compared to the background text. Before ANSI can be used with your computer the ANSI driver must be loaded into menory when the computer is booted. To do this create this line in your CONFIG.SYS file: DEVICE = ANSI.SYS ANSI.SYS must also be on the floppy disk from which you boot your computer or reside in the root directory or be pathed to the correct subdirectory on a hard disk system. Now using your wordprocessor, add the following line of code before and after the text you want to be highlighted: *[1;5;33mType Text Here *[0;32m * equals a character created by holding the ALT key and pressing Z. This should create a left arrow in your wordprocessor. Remember to save your wordprocessor file in ASCII format. Change the numbers around and look at the results. Especially change the 1 and 5 to different numbers and see what happens. To see the results of your experiment just use the TYPE command, i.e. TYPE filename.ext CALENDAR October 2nd XTREEPRO will be de monstrated by Executive systems. Their head quarters is now in San Luis Obispo! November 6th To be announced. December 4th Demonstrate your favorite public domain software. Semiannual swap meet. Refreshments.