Subject: Linux-Misc Digest #160
From: Digestifier <Linux-Misc-Request@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>
To: Linux-Misc@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU
Reply-To: Linux-Misc@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU
Date:     Mon, 23 May 94 15:13:42 EDT

Linux-Misc Digest #160, Volume #2                Mon, 23 May 94 15:13:42 EDT

Contents:
  Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again) (Mark A. Davis)
  LWPS (was Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again)) (Lisa Henn)
  Re: SUMMARY: Database needed (Martin Sjolin)
  Re: Who are you & what do you do w/ Linux? (David H Dennis)
  Good Linux CD-ROMs? (Colin Dunn)
  Re: BBS-development Team wanted (Larry W. Virden)
  Re: NEC 3xi CDROM cant boot Linux1.0(Yggdrasil 1.1) (Stefan Wikstrom)
  Re: A good NFS server ? (peter)
  Floptical drives (Charles Curley)
  Linux as DOS fileserver (Peter Rendle)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: mark@taylor.wyvern.com (Mark A. Davis)
Subject: Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again)
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 15:06:03 GMT

msuzio@tiamat.umd.umich.edu (Mike Suzio) writes:

>My only input at this time would be:
>Portability (in terms of being able to use any type of terminal, and
>not requiring an Alt key, for instance) is nice, but I would place this way
>below the need to emulate a *nice* interface.  Wordperfect is not what I
>might call portable (needs working function keys),

Well, actually that is not true.  WordPerfect will let you bind the WP functions
to any keys you want; and for any kind of terminal or virtual terminal.  In
addition, it allows you to use pull-down menus (point and click) on any
ASCII terminal.  Then, of course, there is the included X version, which
allows any type of keys, or clicking on GUI menus.

>One feature that needs to be included in some form is the WYSIWIG
>previewing.  Maybe some kind of hook into Ghostview?  In any case, I long
>ago learned to deal with Wordperfect's "code insertion" feature, but I always
>needed that ability to look at how the final document would turn out.

WordPerfect accomplishes this by representing the document the best it
can on ASCII terminals using all attributes and spacing.  You can then
use a graphics preview mode to actually see the document, even on some ASCII
terminals.  For example, the Wyse 160 terminal supports several graphics
modes in addition to normal text, WordPerfect will switch to that mode and
do a preview of the document!  Of course, in the X version, you always
see what the document actually looks like (WYSIWYG), but at great CPU and
memory costs....

-- 
  /--------------------------------------------------------------------------\
  | Mark A. Davis    | Lake Taylor Hospital | Norfolk, VA (804)-461-5001x431 |
  | Sys.Administrator|  Computer Services   | mark@taylor.wyvern.com   .uucp |
  \--------------------------------------------------------------------------/

------------------------------

From: schenn@lerc.nasa.gov (Lisa Henn)
Subject: LWPS (was Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again))
Date: 22 May 1994 16:21:40 -0400

In article <2rmhsp$hmq@virgo.cc.gatech.edu>,
Byron A Jeff <byron@cc.gatech.edu> wrote:

>The ultimate in cool ideas is to build some
>kind of Expert System that you can drop on a CDROM. Eliza for Linux ;-)!

hahahahhahahahahhaha

"When did you first discover you could not exit the document?"
"How do you feel about italics mode?"

<order of Byron's post changed for humor's sake>

>For the next sentence I need a name for "our system".
>I Christen this project the Linux Word Processing System!
>(LWPS for short. Pronounced: lips!)

(or else "loops")

Well, if the LInux LOader can use second letters, I suppose we could call
it the LInux word Processing System and have its name be LIPS also!

>Well that an arguable point since we have ultra sophisticated tools already
>for doing complicated tasks. Balancing power/complexity with simplicity/
>ease of use is a tough task. I'm thinking for this we err to the latter and
>just KISS (Keep It Simple Silly!).

So, LIPS would KISS? :) (sorry)

>>>      [Cent-b-15]This is Century bold 15 text.[def] and some more text
>>>      in regular format.

>><I said something about how that would detract from WYSIWYG>

>The WYSIWYG interface will show some pretty representation of
>attributed text and not the tags. 


ahhhhhh.  That would be very clever, then.

I do have a question, though:  suppose a user pulled up a doc and said, "Oh,
I've changed my mind.  I don't want that item bold-face anymore."  How
would that user do that?  

>>Some people like other formats, like HPGL.  That may be something for release
>>2, though.

>Well I'm thinking along the lines that PostScript (with GhostScript) is
>one of the few truely portable and convertible printing formats. 

Well, I know that, but then again, I'm in your choir, Rev. Byron (would that
make Linus the god???  Fame really _would_ get him a job!)

Well, my comment arose from my seeing people say, "Here is my little corner
of the world.  This is what I do.  This is what I have always done.  Can
your package do that?  Otherwise, I'm not interested."

Besides, they may not initially plunge into all Linux applications.  They
may have some old clip-art, for example the company logo that they have to
put on every document, in another format and they might not want to do all
sorts of side tasks to get into LWPS right away.


>Also we need a way to get all those DOS/Mac clipart kinds of
>graphics into our system.

Exactly.

>So I'd keep the ^T interface but I wouldn't expect many folks to use it.

imo that's the right view to take.  Most people seem to like controlling
the doc with the mouse, so I feel it's important to the success of LWPS to
have that aspect function well (in order for it to become popular)

>Also unlike WordP where when the last attributed character is deleted the
>attribute sticks around, in LWPS when the last attributed character goes
>away, the attribute is removed also.

I _*hate*_ it when WordP does that!!!


>You brought up another cogent point: documentation. For LWPS to work it'll
>need not only on-line docs and man pages, but a full documentation set
>like the LDP has been producing and both a paper and on-line tutorial.

I think it needs examples of how to do stuff, since this is targeted at a
general-user population.

Of course, WordP has all of that, and I don't know of anyone who has used
them (I've skimmed them), so maybe we don't need that.

BTW, do we have to ask Joe (Allan) permission to hack JOE?

L
-- 
Lisa Henn                     | The other day I learned that I was considered
Analex Corporation            | part of Generation X.  My first reaction was
schenn@e4310h01.lerc.nasa.gov | "Oh, yeah, _right_!"

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help
From: marsj@ida.liu.se (Martin Sjolin)
Subject: Re: SUMMARY: Database needed
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 14:50:32 GMT

In article <1994May19.090018.26653@news.uminho.pt>,
Jorge Gustavo Rocha <jgr@di.uminho.pt> wrote:

> [ ... text deleted ... ]
>
>All (except INFORMIX, of $$$ course) are at  
>sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/apps/databases
>
>1) Metalbase
>2) Postgres
>3) ingres
>4) INFORMIX

You also have LINCKS which we have development and released under GNU
License during the autumn 93. Personally I'm running LINCKS on a
portable (486) running Linux. We are about relaseing a new version and
are also working on a HTML/WWW gateway. For more information please
send mail to lincks@ida.liu.se or to me. I have attached the last
announcement.

regards,
msj
======================================================================
                    Announcing Release 2.1 of
        LINCKS - a multi-user object-centred database system

What is LINCKS?

        LINCKS is a research database system developed at the
        University of Linkoping in a project to explore the area of
        intelligent information systems.  We are releasing it on the
        net in the hope that we will (1) spark some interest in the
        work we've done, (2) obtain some users and (3) thus some
        feedback which will help us to focus our continued research in
        this area.  Finally, we also hope that our system might prove
        useful for others in their work/research and might lead to
        fruitful research contacts.

        LINCKS is an object-centred multi-user database system
        developed for complex information system applications where
        editing and browsing of information in the database is of
        paramount importance.  The focus is on sharing of small
        information chunks which combine to make up complex information
        objects used by different users for different purposes. The
        information chunks are semi-structured in that they contain one
        part which is well-structured to facilitate addition of A.I.
        processing within the system, and one part which is
        unstructured and suitable for management by the user.

Some of LINCKS interesting features are:

        * Multiple users - LINCKS is a multiuser database system.

        * A hypertext-ish database X-windows based user interface.

        * Composite objects - although all objects are built up of
          small pieces, the user interface presents these as single
          `composite objects', allowing editing over the entire
          composite object using an Emacs-like editor.

        * Database history - the LINCKS system maintains information
          regarding the history of objects and actions within the
          system.  Object history is maintained at both the single
          chunk and composite object level. Past versions of objects
          can be accessed and reactivated.

        * Alternative views - LINCKS allows a user or application
          developer to interactively define alternative views on the
          underlying database objects. This is particularly useful in
          applications where the same information is to be used for
          different purposes or by people in differing roles which
          require a different composition and display.

        * Information sharing - LINCKS provides an easy way for users
          to share database objects or for one user to share
          information across all of her/his accessible objects.  This is
          done by linking objects into composition objects.  Thereby,
          any changes to that object by one user will result in updates
          to all compositions which have that object as an component.

        * Parallel Editing Notification - As LINCKS is a multi-user
          system and allows information sharing, this leads to possible
          conflicts.  Consequently, the LINCKS system maintains a list
          of objects being edited and issues warnings when parallel
          editing occurs.

        * Tutorial - The system contains a simple interactive tutorial
          to illustrate the basic ideas and capabilities of the system.

Availability

        If you are interested in trying out the LINCKS Version 2
        system, it is available by anonymous ftp on ftp.ida.liu.se
        (130.236.139.139) in the directory pub/lincks/lincks-2.1.tar.gz
        (or pub/lincks/lincks-2.1.tar.Z for those without GNU unzip).
        This machine is in Sweden.  If it doesn't allow you in the first
        time, wait a few seconds and try again.

        Note that ftp.ida.liu.se allows very few anonymous ftp logins at
        one time, so we have the same software available on cs.utk.edu
        (128.169.201.1) in pub/partain.  This machine is in the U.S.A.

        To retrieve it, do the following:
        > ftp ftp.ida.liu.se 
        (log in using anonymous as the username and your 
         mail address as the password) 
        > bin 
        > cd pub/lincks 
        > get README "|more" 
        > get lincks-2.1.tar.gz 
        > bye

        Alternatively, you can pick up the User's Manual in
        PostScript(TM) format (xlincks_manual.ps.gz or
        xlincks_manual.ps.Z) if you want to have a look at the
        Interface user manual.  NOTE!  This file is also included in
        the tar file, so you needn't get both.

        After retrieving the LINCKS tar file, you can unpack it by:

        > cd some-directory 
        > gunzip lincks-2.1.tar.gz 
        > tar xvf lincks-2.1.tar 
        > cd lincks-2.1

        Thereafter, read the README file and the COPYING file, the
        latter of which explains the terms under which you can use
        LINCKS.  LINCKS Version 2 is available under the terms of the
        GNU General Public License version 2.


What you need to run it

        You must have some reasonable sort of UNIX (TM) and X11R5 or
        something based on it.  X11R4 support doesn't really exist,
        although the interface will run.  We hope to fix the X11R4
        support soon.

        - Sun 4's, running SunOS 4.1.[1-3], and X11R5.  This is the
          development platform.

        The rest of these have been tested only minimally and not
        necessarily by us.

        - Sun 4's, running SunOS 5.2 (Solaris), and Solaris' 
          OpenWindows (based on R5).
        - Sun 3's, running SunOS 4.1.1 and X11R4.
        - DECstations running ultrix and X11R5
        - IBM RS6000's running AIX and X11R5
        - Sequent Symmetry running DYNIX and X11R4
        - Linux 0.99.12 Kernel with X386 1.3 on a 486 box
        - HP's running HP-UX and X11R5.
        - SGI IRIX
        - SCO Unix
        - PC (386 box) running SVR4.2

        If you have any of these platforms or any other reasonable kind
        of UNIX, we hope you will be able to get the system running.


Where we can be reached

        We (the developers) can be reached by sending mail to
        lincks@ida.liu.se.  If you have bug reports, please send them
        to lincks-bugs@ida.liu.se.  Additionally there is a lincks
        mailing list (lincks-users@ida.liu.se) for interested parties,
        which you can join by sending mail to
        lincks-users-request@ida.liu.se.


COPYRIGHT

    Linkoping Intelligent Communication of Knowledge System (LINCKS)
            Copyright (C) 1993 Lin Padgham, Ralph Ronnquist.
          Department of Computer and Information Sciences (IDA)
                University of Linkoping, Sweden
                    581 83 Linkoping, Sweden

    These programs are free software; you can redistribute them and/or modify
    them under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
    the Free Software Foundation, version 2 of the License.

    These programs are distributed in the hope that they will be useful,
    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
    GNU General Public License for more details.

    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
    Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
-- 
Martin Sj\"olin     | e-mail: marsj@ida.liu.se  | phone : +46 13 28 24 10
Department of Computer and Information Science  | fax   : +46 13 28 26 66
University of Link\"oping, S-581 83 Link\"oping, SWEDEN

------------------------------

From: dhd@netcom.com (David H Dennis)
Subject: Re: Who are you & what do you do w/ Linux?
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 15:19:24 GMT

I have a 486 DX2/66 with 16MB RAM, 2 Quantum 1.8GB hard disks driven off 
an Ultrastor 34F local bus controller, a Boca Research BocaBoard 2016 16-
port serial card and a NEC 4FG color monitor. 

As you can probably guess from the configuration, it's being used for a
Usenet/Internet-oriented BBS.  (The 16-port card and the huge hard disks
should have been a giveaway :-) ).  Unlike most BBS operators, I've written
my own original software to make navigating the net more convenient than
through the average program.

I'm planning for a direct Internet connection, but whether I actually get
one depends on the costs, which are formidable.

If anyone wants to try a highly experimental program that will
probably crash if you look at it for more than a minute or two :-),
call (818) 997-7500.  My first BocaBoard was out for replacement and I
have four lines on a rotary, so if you call right now, it will ring
and ring if the line's busy.

D


------------------------------

Crossposted-To: alt.cd-rom
From: dunnc@ucsub.Colorado.EDU (Colin Dunn)
Subject: Good Linux CD-ROMs?
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 15:35:19 GMT

Can anyone recommend a good distribution of Linux on CD-ROM?
The distribution should have the 1.0 kernel (or a newer one that
is stable) and support for SCSI, plus the usual stuff, such
as editors, compilers, and the XFree86 system.

To avoid cluttering the news groups, please send me E-mail with
information on distributions you like, where to order them, cost,
etc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Colin Dunn
dunnc@ucsu.colorado.edu


------------------------------

From: lwv26@cas.org (Larry W. Virden)
Subject: Re: BBS-development Team wanted
Reply-To: lvirden@cas.org
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 16:42:32 GMT

I neglected to mention the reason that I mentioned forumnet is that it is written
with tcl and tk - making it perhaps a bit easier to move to your environment.
-- 
:s Great net resources sought...
:s Larry W. Virden                 INET: lvirden@cas.org
:s Personal: 674 Falls Place,   Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-1614
The task of an educator should be to irrigate the desert not clear the forest.

------------------------------

From: ehsstwi@ceres22.ericsson.se (Stefan Wikstrom)
Subject: Re: NEC 3xi CDROM cant boot Linux1.0(Yggdrasil 1.1)
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 16:58:32 GMT

adam@adam.yggdrasil.com (Adam J. Richter) writes:

>In article <2rlhun$5k@yggdrasil.com>,
>Adam J. Richter <adam@adam.yggdrasil.com> wrote:
>In article <1994May20.144513.3299@eisner>,
>Saul J. Rosenberg <rosenberg@eisner.decus.org> wrote:
>>Problem:
>>    Unable to boot Linux 1.0 from NEC 3Xi triple speed CDROM
>[...]
>>Notes:
>>    The backpage of the Yggdrasil booklet does not list the NEC drive.
>>    The Adaptec 1510 SCSI controller is listed as experimental.

>       The 151x/152x is still listed as "experimental" because it
>failed to work on at least one of the CDROM drives that we tested it
>on.

>       There isn't much that I can do for you directly, but it may be
>helpful for you and others in choosing a *supported* scsi controller
>to see the results of our SCSI controller testing with the Summer 1994
>boot floppy:

Has this problem been introduced with the Summer 94 release?
The combination Adaptec 1510 + NEC 3Xi works perfect for me with the
LGX Fall 93 CD.

---
Stefan Wikstrom
ehsstwi@ehs.ericsson.se

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.os.386bsd.misc,comp.unix.unixware,comp.unix.solaris
From: peter@dis.demon.co.uk (peter)
Subject: Re: A good NFS server ?
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 17:16:46 +0000

In article <Cq9Cp8.IEp@novell.co.uk> you write:
>The problem I was addressing is that this stuff is being CROSSPOSTED
>to comp.unix.unixware.  Now, UnixWare is most definitely NOT a 
>free operating system, and therefore has about the best NFS support
>imaginable. :-)  (I think it originates from Sun, through the old
>AT&T + Sun agreement.)

ROTFL :) Unixware a good NFS server. sigh. That's like saying SCO Unix
has a good TCP/IP implementation. sigh.

>Novell Labs Europe             |  Press one for confusion, press two
 ^^^^^^
All is revealed !

Regards,
-- 
Peter Galbavy                                 work: peter@demon.co.uk
Demon Systems Ltd                             rest: peter@wonderland.org
+44 81 349 0063                               play: http://www.wonderland.org/
"The 'net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore

------------------------------

From: ccurley@atl.ge.com (Charles Curley)
Subject: Floptical drives
Date: 19 May 1994 17:23:12 GMT

Anyone using the 21MB floptical drives?
--
Charles Curley                      Internet:  ccurley@atl.ge.com
Martin Marietta Labs, Moorestown    Voice:     609 866 6461
Distributed Processing Lab          Facsimile: 609 866 6543
Moorestown Corporate Center, Building 145, Moorestown, NJ 08057

------------------------------

From: PJR@eeconit.demon.co.uk (Peter Rendle)
Subject: Linux as DOS fileserver
Reply-To: PJR@eeconit.demon.co.uk
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 17:13:36 +0000

Sorry if this question is really dumb but..

I remember reading somewhere about using Linux as a DOS fileserver.  
Could someone point me in the right direction for some more information.
(FAQ Howto etc.)
Thanks
-- 
Peter Rendle

------------------------------


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