From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:00 1992 Subject: Prerecorded answers on ts-progs ------------------- begin prerecorded message ---------------------- There are some frequently asked questions about the ts-programs available from garbo.uwasa.fi, by anonymous ftp, from the /pc/ts directory here at the University of Vaasa, Finland, site 128.214.87.1. Below you will find some of them prerecorded with answers. Please notice that the questions / answers are not in any logical order. The order has more or less been dictated by the arriving questions. And, there is overlapping. Also please note that although these questions and answers concern the /pc/ts directory, much of the information is directly applicable to the other directories at our site. Please note the provisions of using the ts-programs. You are free to use them for your personal, private purposes, and you are free and encouraged to upload them to bulletin boards. But if you use the programs, say, at a university or a business enterprise then you must consider the programs shareware and you should contact me for the terms of a personal or a site license. If you are well familiar with FTP and mail servers please note the following. Using automated FTP (batchftp) is preferred, since it minimizes the connection time (it is convenient for you, anyway). Furthermore, use mail servers *ONLY* if you don't have the FTP potential. ................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi Moderating at garbo.uwasa.fi anonymous ftp archives 128.214.87.1 School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun ................................................................... 1) What is this anonymous ftp? 2) Send file(s) to me by email. (Or how to use the mail server?) 3) Why announce programs in c.b.i.p.a when not everybody can ftp? 4) Send me your source codes. 5) Why won't your program run on my PC? 6) How is anonymous ftp used? 7) When I try to unpack your package, it is allegedly corrupt. 8) What are the conditions of using your programs? 9) Does any US site (nearer me) have your programs available? 10) In which Simtel20 directories are the copies of your programs? 11) What is garbo.uwasa.fi guest user-id? 12) Do you have a mailing list? 13) Your programs have a .zip extension and won't run on my PC. 14) I have made some programs myself. Are you interested? 15) I want a description of your programs to decide what to get. 16) Can your files be accessed through FidoNet? 17) Why don't you reply to my email messages? 18) Are there other programs besides yours on garbo.uwasa.fi archives? 19) How are you? What do you do? What's your weather like? 20) Is there any way of automating getting the files? 21) Why doesn't your mail server respond to my correct request? 22) Why did you use .arc packing when there are tighter archivers? ................................................................... -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:01 1992 Subject: What is anonymous FTP 1. ***** Q: I do not understand this getting files with anonymous ftp. What does it mean? A: Ftp stands for file transfer program, which is a standard feature in many mainframe Unix and VAX/VMS systems. It also means that you must have a network connection to reach University of Vaasa. Please contact your computer's system manager for more information on the connection. When this is ok, just follow the instructions in Appendix A at the end of this prerecorded message. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:02 1992 Subject: Email server instructions 2. ***** Q: I have no ftp access to your system. Would you please send your programs to me by email. A1: To get files sent to you by email, please use our mail server. To get more information write a message to hv@uwasa.fi. The subject line of this message must be garbo-request The message must contain just the following text (at the beginning of the line): send help Do not include a signature because it may confuse the server. If you do not understand, please don't send the mail server request. If you have ftp capability, please use FTP only, since it causes less load. A2: Our customary format for the file names when announcing programs for ANONYMOUS FTP is e.g. garbo.uwasa.fi:/pc/ts/tspfon29.zip or /pc/ts/tspfon29.zip IMPORTANT!!! The format for the MAIL SERVER is slightly different: send pc/ts/tspfon29.zip In other words omit / from the path when using our mail server. .... Here are some common examples of INCORRECT requests: send pc/ts/tsgamb15.arc send pc/ts/tsgmeb15.zip The format is correct, but there is no such file. Look at the file list and your spelling of the file name more carefully. .... send pc/ts/tspfon28.zip The format is correct, but the package has been updated with a more recent version. Look at the directory list again. .... send /pc/ts/tsgmed11.zip send ts/tsgmed11.zip The directory path is incorrect. .... send pc/ts/TSPFON29.ZIP The system is case sensitive. Almost all the files and all the directories are lower case. .... send pc/ts/tspfon*.zip Wildcards are not allowed. A3: There are also other alternatives to get the programs. The programs have reached quite a number of mainframe sites and BBSes. Also notice that if you do not have the ftp capability, but do have an access to UseNet news, some of these programs have appeared in comp.binaries.ibm.pc newsgroup as binary postings. Or, if you know a SysOp of a bulletin board, who has the ftp capability, ask him/her to download the files to his/her BBS and then get the packages from there. There is one drastic alternative for getting the programs sent to you by ordinary mail on disks. These programs may be used and distributed freely for private, non-commercial, non-institutional purposes. For other purposes they must be registered. This leaves you the option of obtaining the programs by registering them. In that case each package is delivered on a 3.5" 720K diskette, but then you would have to pay for each individual package in advance for a personal registration. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:03 1992 Subject: Poor souls without FTP 3. ***** Q: Why make announcements of your and other programs in the UseNet newsgroups when many users do not have the ftp capability? A: Look at it this way. I know this is a problem. In fact I once had an interesting and lengthy email discussion with one user about this dilemma. Let me put forward my own view about the c.b.i.p groups. I feel that the primary purpose of groups like these is (or should be) to disseminate and exchange useful information about PC programs. A secondary purpose is to exchange information about getting files. In getting the files there are five major alternatives, that is postings in the binaries, ftp, emailing between users, using mail servers, and BBSes. What this amounts to is that even if you do not have the ftp capability, the information may give you useful hints what programs to look for via the many alternative methods of getting the files. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:04 1992 Subject: Getting source codes of ts-programs 4. ***** Q: I am interested in the sources of some of your programs (or particular procedures in them). Would it be possible to get them? A: Sorry. No way. I never reveal my sources :-). But if it is Turbo Pascal sources and tricks in general that you would like to have, take a look at the extensive Turbo Pascal textbook references in /pc/ts/tsfaq27.zip or whatever is the current version number). There is a veritable gold mine of useful material in those books. Furthermore, there is much useful source code eg in /pc/turbopas/bonus507.zip, /pc/turbopas/ifp1s150.zip, and in our /pc/turbopas directory in general. And don't forget the demos that come with the Turbo Pascal compiler. Besides, the sources of my programs might not be as useful as you might think. Although my programs are outwardly in English, all the variables and routine names, and the program comments are in Finnish. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:05 1992 Subject: What if the ts-programs won't work 5. ***** Q: Some of your programs refuse to work on my PC. They do nothing or just confuse the screen. A: Not surprising. The ts-programs are (mostly) Turbo Pascal 5.0 programs written for true compatibles. In particular, the programs which use advanced screen writes (inverted colors, windowing, etc) and the so called interrupts (direct access to PC's internal services) require a truly compatible PC. Most frequently the problem is in the user's non-standard video adapter hardware. A proper CGA, EGA or VGA personal computer should have no problems, but a monochrome might. (Monochrome PCs often are older and non-compatible anyway). The thing to do is to try out the offending program on a truly compatible machine. If it does not work even then, I would be very interested in a description of the problem so that I could try to look into it. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:06 1992 Subject: FTP transfer commands 6. ***** Q: I have the ftp (file transfer program) capability and a network access that includes your 128.214.87.1 site. But how do I transfer the files? What are the commands? A: The information and examples in Appendix A of this message should enable you to get the files. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:07 1992 Subject: Allegedly corrupt packages 7. ***** Q: I have received your programs but the package is corrupt. When I try to unpack them with my unpacking program (pkunzip, etc.) the unpacking fails or produces files that lock my PC. A: The files with the .zip, .zoo, .arc, .arj, .lzh, .pak, and .exe extension are binary packages and you have to use the correct transfer mode when you transfer the programs from the remote FTP site to our host, and when you transfer the files from our main frame to your PC. Very frequently the problems the users report are due to failing to set the binary mode when transferring the files from the user's host to the users PC. Please see Appendix B for more information. There have been hundreds of thousands of successful transfers, and it is very unlikely that the original file at garbo.uwasa.fi is really corrupted. It is not impossible, but first check all the other possibilities. Perhaps the most common error is failing to make the transfer binary. There is another common cause for allegedly corrupt packages besides failing to use the correct mode in the file transfer from the FTP site to one's own host, or in the file transfer from one's own host to one's PC. This is failing to use the correct version of the relevant archiver for archived packages. In particular, if a .zip file at the FTP site has been constructed with Unix zip version 1.0, and you try to unzip it with old (pre 1.1) PKZIP versions, you'll get an error message indicating an CRC error. This is a misleading error message since it really is an incompatible version error. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:08 1992 Subject: When to register ts-programs 8. ***** Q: What are the rules for using your programs. Are they freeware, shareware, or what? A1: Some, albeit very few users have been considerate enough to ask this question. The answer is contained in the .inf document files of the programs and the it is the following. You are free to use and distribute my programs as long they are used for private purposes only. For ANY other purpose (including using at work in business enterprises, classroom usage, university teaching, and government offices) please contact me for a registration. A few of the packages (TSLIN linear programming, TS#ST statistics packages, and TSPELL and TSCHEK spelling checkers) are scaled-down versions. To obtain a full-scale version you will have to register. A2: If and when you distribute my programs as acceptable under A1, I would REALLY appreciate it if you distributed the original packages unchanged (repacking with a different packing method is quite ok, though). Please do not distribute *separately* any of the programs or files in the packages. Give out a whole package, or nothing, if you please. A3: Uploading to BBSes is solicited. As I do not place any fee on the non-registered versions of my programs, I would very much appreciate it if you would reciprocate by doing me the favor of uploading my program(s) to at least one bulletin board which does not have them, or has old versions. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:09 1992 Subject: What to do about busy lines to Europe 9. ***** Q: The lines to Europe are not always available. Does any site in the U.S. have your collection. A1: Yes, SIMTEL20 (site 192.88.110.20) has practically all my programs, often almost as soon as they come out. SIMTEL20 and garbo.uwasa.fi are also mirrored, but for more information on this alternative you will have to see /pc/pd2/moder.lst. A2: Try using automated ftp. It is very convenient. See /unix/ts/0news-u for more information on batchftp. Warmly recommended. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:10 1992 Subject: SIMTEL20 directories of ts-progs 10. ***** Q: I would like to get your files from SIMTEL20. Send me a list telling in which directories your files are in SIMTEL20. A1: I am very often asked this (and other) information about SIMTEL20. I like to cooperate with SIMTEL20, but nevertheless this is really something you should find out from SIMTEL20, not me. North American users first try one of the many archives in the USA such as SIMTEL20 and wuarchive.wustl.edu instead of overseas sites to cut down the load on the overseas link. For the other users the reciprocal seems logical. First take a look at garbo.uwasa.fi archives (or some other European site). A2: The files at SIMTEL20 are available from a US bulletin board. Please see the often posted SIMTEL20 announcements or ask SIMTEL20 for the details. SIMTEL20 archives maintainer is Keith Petersen. His email address is w8sdz@vela.acs.oakland.edu. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:11 1992 Subject: What is garbo's guest user-id 11. ***** Q: Do you have a guest user-id? I cannot ftp, but I can reach your site through the net. I type anonymous at the login: and then try to give my email address at the Password:. I am not let in, but get a "Login incorrect" message instead. A: We do not accept guest users. This means that what you tried, is not allowed at our site. The only way you can get connected to our system is using the true ftp system, which is described in Appendix A. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:12 1992 Subject: Pointer to garbo-infolist 12. ***** Q: I have noticed that you have updated your packages often. Is there any possibility of getting the update announcements mailed directly to me. A: Yes, in fact I do have a garbo-infolist mailing list for update announcements (even if I cannot accept any requests for mailing the actual packages). Especially if you are a SysOp of a BBS or a maintainer of an ftp site, you are welcome to send me a request for including you on garbo-infolist announcements mailing list. All other users are also welcome to inquire about an inclusion on this list. But first look at /pc/pd2/infolist.txt for more information, because this is not a fully open offer. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:13 1992 Subject: How to handle .zip files 13. ***** Q: I now have your files, but they have this .zip extension and they won't run then I write their name at my DOS prompt. A: Please do not be offended, but this seems a problem of a PC novice. The files are packed (also called archived) entities. This is a special format of compressing files and packing several files together. This really is standard knowledge for PC users, and if you are not familiar with the system, just ask a knowledgeable fellow user. As to my files, as well other .zip files, you can handle the with a program called PKUNZIP with comes with pkz110eu.exe, and even some others. All the major (un)packing programs for MsDos are available in the /pc/arcers directory. Note that if you use an out of date PKUNZIP version, it may report a CRC error in your .zip file although the true reason for your problems is using the out of date version. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:14 1992 Subject: Upload instructions 14. ***** Q: I have made some programs myself which I think might be of general interest. Or I have obtained this fabulous program which I think would be of general interest. Or I have a more recent version of this program than you have on your archives. Would it be possible to upload them to your system. A: Please see garbo.uwasa.fi:/pc/UPLOAD.INF and /pc/UPTEXT.INF for the full information on this question. In brief, we welcome quality MsDos uploads in many categories. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:15 1992 Subject: Need file descriptions 15. ***** Q: Is there a description of the ts-programs? I would like to have some information on the files before I start transferring them. A: Yes, certainly. This approach is even recommended. There is a file called /pc/INDEX (also available as /pc/INDEX.ZIP) which has a general description of all the MsDos files on garbo.uwasa.fi archives. Then there is the 0news-ts file which has news on updates and such information. Finally there is a tsarc###.txt (where ### stands for a growing version number). It contains more detailed information on the contents of each of the packages. Get these three, or at least tsarc###.txt. It is available also in a zipped form tsarc###.zip. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:16 1992 Subject: Getting ts-programs from BBSes 16. ***** Q: Can your files be accessed through FidoNet? A: Well in a way, yes. I used to upload my updates to BBSes such as Micro Maniacs Opus 2:220/22 run by Ron Dwight. Another possibility is Compart BBS. You may call in as an ordinary user and download. Or if you have the knowhow you can use the file request system. I am not familiar with the file request system myself, but the following might be of use for those of you who know FidoNet tricks better than I do. *** BUT please note that the versions of my programs at BBSes will in all probability not be as up-to-date as at garbo.uwasa.fi archives ***. This is the prerecorded standard advice from my friendly SysOp Ron Dwight for file requesting the PD programs of Timo Salmi from 2:220/22 (Micro Maniacs Opus in Finland). Because Ron is using SEAdog the you must make a BARK type of request. SEAdog or DUTCHIE can handle this. If the you have neither of these programs then you can download BARKREQ.* eg from 2:220/22. Do not make the request during seventy minutes BEFORE International mail hour as well as 120 minutes AFTER International mail hour. You can use the magic file name TSALMI for the Timo Salmi files. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:18 1992 Subject: Problems with sending replys 17. ***** Q: I sent you a message a couple of weeks ago. Did you receive it? Why don't you reply? A: I try to reply to all queries I have received. But getting the reply to you successfully is not always technically possible. The reason for this is, that the reply address which the mail program gives, is sometimes not adequate. My reply bounces back to me as a consequence. Therefore you should include your InterNet and/or BitNet address in your message. Using proper signatures in email is customary, anyway. This does not guarantee a successful reply, but it definitely increases the possibility of getting an eventual reply. Of late I have had to backtrack on this promise somewhat. I now get so much email, that if my reply bounces I seldom have time to try to fix it. So if you don't hear from me, contact your own system manager. Ask him/her to see to it that your email address in your message header is a returnable address. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:19 1992 Subject: What else is on garbo archives 18. ***** Q: Are there any other PC programs at garbo.uwasa.fi archives than the ts-programs? A: Definitely. There is a great number of public domain and shareware PC programs at this site. Get the file /pc/INDEX (or /pc/INDEX.ZIP) for the list of our MsDos files. Also get /pc/pd2/news-pd2 and /pc/ts/0news-ts for selected news and reviews on new uploads. For our Unix files see /unix/INDEX and /unix/ts/0news-u. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:20 1992 Subject: How are you, what's the weather like 19. ***** Q: I would like to ask you some personal questions and/or know more about Finland and Vaasa. What kind of weather do you have over there? What is your field? How come you are interested in programming? What are the main fields of Univeristy of Vaasa, and so on? A: It is very nice of you to ask. I hope that you understand that for practical reasons (moderator's email-load) it is difficult for me reply individually to these questions. Instead, I have to refer you to some of the material available in the /pc/ts/ directory. The file /pc/ts/vaasa.inf will give you information about Finland, Vaasa, the University of Vaasa, our faculty, and even me. Also see vaasa2.inf. And the gif pictures /pc/gif/euro01e.gif and euro01v.gif will show you where Vaasa is located. As for my own background, please first see the current /pc/ts/vaasa.inf, then tsfcom.inf which is part of the /pc/ts/tsfcom*.zip package. I have also put in writing some of my thoughts on programming in tsgmeb.inf in the /pc/ts/tsgmeb*.zip package. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:22 1992 Subject: Automated downloads (see this!) 20. ***** Q: The ftp session is repetitive and tedious, and the connection is not always available. Is there any way to automate getting files from garbo.uwasa.fi archives by anonymous ftp. A: Yes, there is a useful facility called batchftp by Shawn Cooper, which achieves this if you have a BSD Unix system. You can get it by downloading /unix/ftp/batchftp102.tar.Z (or whatever version is the latest). The package contains documentation, and also see /unix/ts/0news-u for brief instructions. This system has the added advantage of cutting down the unnecessary idle time inherent in "manual" ftp connections. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:23 1992 Subject: Problems with mail server requests 21. ***** Q: I sent a mail server request to garbo.uwasa.fi but I get no response at all. And I am sure that I did everything as instructed. A: In that case your, or your system's, email address is probably badly configured. Please contact your own system manager. DON'T send a repeat request until your email address problem has been resolved!!! What happens is this. We get your request, but when garbo.uwasa.fi tries to honor your request to send you the file(s) by email, the email bounces back to us because of the problems in your email address. If you send repeat requests, it will just clog our post-master with the bounced email. Try using a corrected mail address to return the requests. You can do this by adding the following command to (the body of) your message to our mail server. path e.g. path youruserid@yourmachine.yourdomain.yourcountry send WhateverYouWant You should contact your system manager to asses an optimized path especially if you are using UUCP or BANG paths to get your mail delivered to us. Our mail server checks the mail queue every 15 minutes so if you don't get response in a reasonable time you'd better check this one out with a little help from your friends. You can use this command with or without the <> characters. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:25 1992 Subject: Why were ts-programs in .arc format 22. ***** Q: Why did you use .arc packing when there are tighter archivers? A: Because of the file comment format of .arc packing. It is the only archiver that uses this handy one-line format for the file comments. Take a look at tsarc###.txt which shows the contents of all my packages. If I changed to another archiver, there would be quite a task to rewrite all the file comments, and furthermore the commenting would loose its concise one-line format, and the content list would be much larger than convenient. I still have the packages in .arc format, but I convert them to the .zip format on our Unix host before making them available. (This makes the file names appear in lower case if you apply the zip -v to get a list of the files within a ts-package). -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:51 1992 Subject: Appendix A: FTP downloading A. ***** Q: APPENDIX A: Obtaining the PD Programs by Timo Salmi via InterNet =================================================================== You can obtain the file(s) from garbo.uwasa.fi (128.214.87.1) using the InterNet ftp (file transfer program) with username "anonymous". For a login password use your electronic mail address. If you are using ftp from a VAX/VMS system, set case lower before proceeding. The files are in directory /pc/ts. At the ftp> prompt first type binary (for binary files). To go to the relevant directory apply cd /pc/ts. To see its contents apply ls or dir. To download a file, use get filename or mget filenames. The files have been packed with Unix Zip so you will need PKUNZIP from PKWARE to unpack them in your PC. The following contains the same information by giving the commands needed for transferring vaasa.inf (contains text on Finland, Vaasa, and University of Vaasa) and tspfon29.arc as an example. In the example its is assumed that you are calling from a Unix system. The usage for a VAX/VMS system is quite similar. It is recommended that you get the files /pc/INDEX (or /pc/INDEX.ZIP) and /pc/ts/tsarc164.txt (or whatever version is the current) for more information of what is in the packages. ftp #Invoke the file transfer program open 128.214.87.1 #Connect to garbo.uwasa.fi at the University #of Vaasa anonymous #Use this name to get temporary privileges Give your email address as your password cd /pc/ts #Go to the relevant directory dir (or ls -lF) #Directory of available files ascii #vaasa.inf is an ordinary text file get vaasa.inf #Copy the file to your default directory binary #tspfon29.zip is a binary file mget tspfon*.zip #mget allows wildcards close #Terminate the connection quit #Quit the file transfer program -------------------------------------------------------------------- From ts@uwasa.fi Mon 16 Mar 00:00:52 1992 Subject: Appendix B: Your host -> your PC B. ***** Q: APPENDIX B: Transferring the Programs to PC ============================================== After you have received the files to your host, there still remains the task of transferring the programs to your PC. This is familiar to most users, but occasionally there are problems. It impossible to give advice that would cover resolving all the difficulties, but the most common can be described. The most usual file transfer method between the host and the user's PC is MsKermit. (Z-modem and others may be used as well, but I would guess that most often persons using these alternatives are advanced users, and can resolve any problems by themselves.) The most common problem is probably that after getting a packed file to one's PC, the file appears damaged. Almost always this is due to failing to set correctly the MsKermit parameters in BOTH ends of the transfer. What you have to do is in your host MsKermit to set file type binary, set parity even (or none or whatever), and in your PC MsKermit you must have the SAME parity you set for your host (select host MsKermit parity on the basis of your PC's). If you fail to get these compatible, the transfer will not result in what you want. Transferring text files does not lead to problems so often. The trick is set file type text (or ascii depending on your MsKermit version). Finally, if nothing else, absolutely nothing else(!), seems to resolve the problem, please let me know, and I will check that the file at our site is good and proper. -------------------- end prerecorded message -----------------------