GEM Spooler 4.0 Beta release 4.0.10 Jan 31, 1995 -------------------------------------------------------------------- This Beta release of GEM Spooler can be freely copied and spread amongs Atari users. It can e placed on BBSes and online services. However, publication on a magazine or in a public domain or shareware library is not permitted without prior permission of the author. INDEX 1. What is GEM Spooler? 2. GEM Spooler 4.0 Beta 3. How to use this beta release? 4. E-mail addresses 5. Postal address 6. Beta history -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. What is GEM Spooler? ----------------------- GEM Spooler is a disk based system spooler for Atari TOS computers. For more information on GEM Spooler, please refer to the GEM Spooler 3.3 documentation in the GEM Spooler 3.3 distribution file that is available on the same online service where you got these archive. 2. GEM Spooler 4.0 Beta ----------------------- Why this beta release? There are some good reasons: a) First of all, the GEM Spooler 4.0 beta release offers a communication channel between the GEM Spooler users and its developper(s). Testing GEM Spooler 4.0 on your system lets you evaluate where GEM Spooler is heading and gives you the opportunity to comment upon it and to have things corrected before its final release. b) Secondly, GEM Spooler 4.0 has been under development for a long time now. A lot of effort has been put in enhancing the underlying GEM library to offer modern features like full windowed dialogs, color icons, window iconifying, resolution switch support etc. Most of these new features have been introduced to support the new AES features since AES 4.0, Geneva or MagiC. Meanwhile, a diversity of TOS versions and Atari compatible systems has emerged and it is virtually impossible to have them all in house to test GEM Spooler with it. By releasing the beta to the Atari community, testing can be done by anyone who is interested thus speeding up the correction and development process... c) As the Atari TOS community has been abandoned by the manufacturer of these wonderful computers himself (mysterious ways Atari goes), feedback by beta testers of GEM Spooler would encourage me to go on developing GEM Spooler beyond version 3.3. Fact is that GEM Spooler is a very complete utility for about 95% of the Atari users and that GEM Spooler 4.0 has to offer a clear advantage over 3.3 before I will make it a final release. Therefore, try it, test it and send your feedback to me by (see further for E-mail addresses). 3. How to use this beta release? -------------------------------- The best way to start is by installing a GEM Spooler 3.3 distribution (you need the UK version) and than replacing GSPOOL.ACC by the GSPOOL.ACC of the 4.0 beta release. After you have done this, install GSP40TSR.PRG into your AUTO folder. Afterwards, reboot your system. All GEM Spooler 3.3 PDF and CTB files do function with the GSP 4.0 beta. Please notice that this beta release is working but can contain errors. If you run into one, please report them to me using the REPORT.TXT template. 4. E-mail addresses: -------------------- The fastest way to contact me is through E-mail: INTERNET: 100256.3406@compuserve.com World Wide Web: http://ourworld.compuserve.com:80/homepages/Steven_Van_Rossen Contains a home page with GEM Spooler 4.0 beta information. You can send E-mail from this page too. Compuserve: 100256,3406 All mail will be answered, but allow me for some time to do so, especially when reporting bugs because they have to be investigated. 5. Postal address ----------------- If you don't have E-mail, you can write to me at: Steven Van Rossen Philips Verheyenstraat 5 B-2650 Edegem BELGIUM 6. Beta history --------------- Changes compared to GEM Spooler 3.3: 14-02-94 Setup menu reorganized with popup menu's & groupboxes 23-02-94 Menu bar added if run as an application 27-02-94 Job dialog removed, job settings moved to Setup 28-02-94 3D look implemented 12-04-94 Dialog history support 14-04-94 Choice between dialog centering and dialog history in setup 22-08-94 Dialogs can be opened at mouse position 28-08-94 Registration dialog added 08-03-95 ST-Guide interface added 18-03-95 Icon bar implemented 10-04-95 Spooler queue displayed in window 28-05-95 Color icon support implemented 29-05-95 Extended alert icons implemented (info, disk) 04-06-95 Iconify implemented 10-06-95 3D activator buttons on monochrome systems 23-07-95 3D support for all systems that can display 16 colors 24-07-95 Queue window selection fully implemented 01-10-95 [GSPOOL] identification in all windows 21-11-95 Saves INF file to the TSR boot drive 22-11-95 Automatic queue resizing through TSR 23-11-95 Scrolling by keyboard correctly implemented 24-11-95 Redraw optimisations when scrolling by keyboard 15-11-95 Icon click and move away handling corrected 17-11-95 Redraw of status info corrected 30-12-95 AP_TERM and AP_RESCH implemented 30-12-95 Accessory can (de)activate itself when (un)loading TSR