

        
      ޱޱޱޱޱޱޱ
      ްޱޱޱްޱްޱްްްޱ
      ޱޱޱޱޱޱޱޱްޱ
      ޱޱޱޱޱޱޱ
      ޱޱޱޱްްޱްޱޱ
      ޱޱޱޱޱޱޱޱޱްްޱ
      ޱޱޱޱޱޱޱ
      
      
        

  Volume 2, Number 14                                       28 July 1992

                 (c) Daniel Doekal, All Rights Reserved

     The BBS Clipper magazine, published SEMIWEEKLY, every FRIDAY

     Some of the material used comes from scanning CLIPPER echoes
     which are carried in various BBS throughout the World.
     These Echoes are very often the source of the most often asked
     Questions and Answers about Clipper.

     Other material, which is fully signed or abbreviated is the
     copyright of the appropriate persons.

     The publisher is not responsible for other authors submissions....
     Published material is not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

     Redaction:
        Publisher...................................Daniel Docekal
        Chief editor ...............................Daniel Docekal
        Language editor .................................Dave Wall



                               Table of Contents

1. ARTICLES  ...............................................................  1
   WHY Patches, it's for nothing  ..........................................  1
   Why update IPX/NETX/ODI?  ...............................................  7
   Hitch Hikers Guide To The Net (11)  ..................................... 11
2. ANOMALIES  .............................................................. 14
   ANOMALIES reports and commets  .......................................... 14
3. CLIPPER NET  ............................................................ 15
   Index of described files in Clipper BBS Magazine  ....................... 15
4. CLIPBBS  ................................................................ 17
   CLIPBBS distribution  ................................................... 17
   CLIPBBS, how to write an article!!!  .................................... 19

                                   - - - - -
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 1                   28 Jul 1992


===============================================================================
                                   ARTICLES
===============================================================================


                       WHY Patches, it's for nothing..
                                     by
                               Daniel Docekal

Long time discussion between relation of Novell Netware and Clipper programs
(and actually any other programs) moved me finally to write article about
Novell Netware Patches. Basic question is in this case - Are they needed or
not? Is it wise to install them on 3.11 server or just ignore them?

In most cases firms installing Novell Netware know nearly NOTHING about some
NetWire Novell Support, updates available for utilities, operating system and
any other add-in software or hardware. Installers of Novell Netware are
unfortunately in most cases satisfied with just loading server with Novell
installation floppies, building up some case of very simple login script
system and that's all. All technical care normally ends here. Something like
requirement of patches for Netware 3.11 or latest revision of IPX/NETX/ODI is
something very far from knowledge of installers. This situation is typicall
for Europe because of lack of knowledge and good sources of informations
about Novell, it may be better in U.S.A, but that's something i cannot
comment because i don't have practical experience from there.

PATCHES will be subject of this first article from serie related to
Novell/Clipper and in generall Novell/application subjects. Following article
will come to talk about IPX/NETX/ODI support for workstation which is also
very important in any case.

PATCHES are released by Novell randomly very soon after releasing of any
revision of operating system. PATCHES are released only because ALL boxes
with Novell Netware floppies are untouched and NEVER updated with latest
revision of software. PATCHES of Novell Netware 3.11 how we should call them
in full name are available from Compuserver NOVLIB or via Novell Authorized
Dealers and via Novell Support Program (very expensive one). Just one simple
archive file called 311PTx.ZIP where <x> is coming to be sequential number of
patch set. Latest one was 311PT7.ZIP at time of writing of this article. The
same exist as 310PTx.ZIP for 3.10 version of Netware, but that should be off
interest in this case because is far better switch 3.10 Netware immediately
to 3.11 than to play with patches to make it working.

PATCHES are loaded and resident on server. Not all of them are required for
all situations of course, but there is nothing bad on fact to load them ALL
at once if someone doesn't want to thing. But not loading them at all can be
VERY big mistake. There is document supplied with patches (311PT7.DOC in our
case) which is describing complete installation and meaning of all files. It
should be enough to read it to understand WHY those patches are so important.
As usual most from us are lazy to read long texts, therefore i will just try
to pick up CLIPPER/APPLICATIONs related patches which have good meaning and
importance.

ASNCRDFX NLM
   This patch fixes a problem that may occur when multiple threads do
   asyncrhonous reads.  It is possible for a thread to read data that was
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 2                   28 Jul 1992


   written by another thread.  This problem has been known to occur with the
   Btrieve.nlm application if a Btrieve data file page size is not 512,
   1024, 2048 or 4096 bytes. If the page size is not one of these sizes, the
  data file may become corrupt.

    What it means? Simple. IF your application is using BTRIEVE or any from
    BTRIEVE related libraries for Clipper, this patch can be of importance
    for you. If this patch is NOT loaded what can happend is - DATA
    CORRUPTION. Therefore DO NOT blame your CLIPPER until this PATCH is
    loaded and active.....

BIGRFIX  NLM
   This patch allows the OS to prevent "read" requests larger than 512K from
   overrunning the stack.  This problem has been known to occur when loading
  large NLMs.

    Meaning? Rare occurence but it can. Playing with .NLMs on your server?
    Load this patch otherwise it CAN end badly as usual. Novell just made
    error in stack allocation and if stack is overrunning? What will happen
    with server after stack is pushing values somewhere in programs? This
    PATCH is not so important for normal live.

CROPNFX  NLM
   This patch fixes a problem found when a client makes a request to create
   or open a file.  When a user makes a CreateOpenFile request, the server
   creates the file, but the server's reply to the user gets lost.  The
   client then makes a second request to create the file, but since it has
   already been created, the user gets the error message:
  
       "file already created."
  
   Additionally, when a client request is made to open a file, the server
   opens the file, but its response to the client is lost. The client makes
   a second request to open the file, and the server opens the file a second
   time. This scenario can result in the server keeping the file open while
   the user thinks it has been closed. This problem becomes apparent when
   the user attempts to delete the file and receives the error message:
  
      "File in use."

    Having trouble with files not being opened or program refusing delete
    files? Not seeing a reason for this. As usual, it can be one from bugs
    in Novell Netware Operating system. Until this patch is loaded noone can
    tell if it's your program or Novell who is making troubles. Solution is
    simple as usual, just load this patch and be sure about fixed System
    problem.

DIRLPFIX NLM
   This patch fixes a problem in NetWare 386 v3.11 that results in an
   infinite loop when the DOS DIR command is used in a subdirectory where
   more than 65,535 files exist.  This loop will also occur with the
  FindFirst and FindNext DOS function calls.

    Hanging Clipper application which is processing thousands of files in
    one directory can have this reason. Bug in Netware which will manifest
    in very rare condition (who has more than 65535 files in one directory)
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 3                   28 Jul 1992


    but it can. My application (FAX/TELEX package) can make this number of
    files in two weeks in some installations...

DOTFIX   NLM
   This patch fixes the problem of multiple directories of the same name
   being created at the SYS: (root) level.  Currently, if the user creates
   directories ending in two dots: ".." (e.g. "STATS.."), multiple
   directories of the same name will be created.  A directory listing using
   DIR will show multiple directories of the same name.  For example:
  
           >DIR
  
           STATS     <DIR>
           STATS     <DIR>
           STATS     <DIR>
  
   DOTFIX.NLM fixes the problem so that if the user tries to create
   directories with the same name, the error message "Unable to create
  directory" appears.

    Looks funny, isn't? Who will try to create directory named "STATS..",
    believe me, users will do it not only once. And what will happend?
    Your disk will get trashed, structure will be wrong and your files
    from your application will be lost, your program will act like mad
    because will see strange things with his directories...

EAINFIX  NLM
   This patch fixes a problem with Extended Attributes when two or more work
   stations execute XCOPY multiple times.  The result is that after about
   ten minutes the server will ABEND with the message:
  
  "Free called with a memory block that has an invalid resource tag.".

    Absolutely for sure is XCOPY command used often in your network, maybe
    even your Clipper program can call it via RUN command. If not, then very
    often users can use this command. What about two users using it at the
    same time, it can happend very often. Is it good to lost server (and lot
    of data) only because not loaded patch?

FATFIX   NLM
   This patch fixes a problem with TurboFAT and FAT corruption in general,
  when multiple workstations randomly access large database files.

  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  VERY IMPORTANT  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ŀ
                                                                           
   Believe or not, database desctructions and missing data can be related  
   to Novell Operating system. In case or LARGE database files (but we all 
   have large files often) corruption of FAT and TurboFAT (File Allocation 
   Table) can occur just because more stations are accessing data. What    
   will be after this corruption? Some parts of file will point to some    
   other places then it should and your data are gone. This PATCH is VERY, 
   VERY IMPORTANT ONE and there shouldn't be a server without this PATCH.  
                                                                           
  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  VERY IMPORTANT  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GETQFIX  NLM
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 4                   28 Jul 1992


   This patch fixes a problem which caused a large number of deleted .SRV
  files in the queue subdirectories in SYS:SYSTEM.

    Not so much important of course, until your Clipper application is
    responsible for creating hundreths of printed outputs daily. In this
    case will server be VERY busy with keeping ALL of them in DELETED state
    and later with purging HUNDRETHS of them. Problem is that queue manager
    is just forgetting to PURGE those files from system, it's just DELETING
    them without cleaning....

GETSEFIX NLM
   This patch fixes a problem found when more than 31 security equivalences
   for a user or group ID are set up.  This can result in a system hang
  which may be accompanied by a message indicating a "multiple abend".

    For sure, all of us know that securities are never enough for customers
    to protect their data. What about group which has more than 31 defined
    securities (access security to files or directories). Is it worth to have
    abend on server? I don't think so, it's time to load another patch.

GNSFIX   NLM
   This patch fixes a problem found when rebooting and attempting to get a
   connection to the file server.  If all of the connections are in use,
   (e.g. 20 for the 20-user version, 50 for the 50-user version, etc.), and
   one of the users reboots, the user will not be able to log back in to the
   server. This problem will only occur if there is only one network.  If
   the user is on an internet, a re-connection will be possible.
  
   The problem is that once a user reboots, his connection is not terminated
  at the server until a time out limit is reached (usually 15 minutes).

    Having trouble after crash of your CLipper code to get back to network
    from workstation? Don't let customer blame your CLipper program and don't
    try look too hard - just install this patch because Novell has small bug
    in this area also...

HTFXFX   NLM
   Corrects a problem when using disk block sizes larger than 4K and cache
   buffer sizes larger than 4K.  If a block was read from the redirection
   area while copying a file in the above circumstance, it could cause the
  destination block to become corrupted.

    It's hard to expect that someone will use block larger than 4K in making
    Netware Volumes, but it can also be. In case of running Clipper
    application it's nothing special to have corrupted database files during
    copying them without apparent reason. But here is reason, another small
    trouble of Network Operation system which can be solved by patch...

NCPSPFIX NLM
   This patch prevents a zero-length WriteToSpool NCP from being processed.
   This problem has been known to cause an ABEND:GENERAL PROTECTION
  PROCESSOR EXCEPTION and corrupt an entire volume.

    Rare to happend again, but to have corrupted entire volume only because
    someone was using WriteToSpool (writing to Spool is usual way of working
    with Spool...)? Install patch, problem is out...
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 5                   28 Jul 1992


SPXFIX1  NLM
   This patch corrects problems for certain applications that may hang due
  to lost ECB's.

    SPX fix, as you may know, IPX/SPX is method of communication used between
    server and workstation. Even this communication is not errors free. This
    one is fixing HANGING of applications, who knows if your Clipper program
    is not the one hanging because of this patch not installed.

SPXFSFIX NLM
   This patch fixes a problem that results in a file server GPI in the
   SPXFindSession. This ABEND is known to occur when using Madge "Smart IPX"
   Token Ring drivers.
  
   The problem is caused by a connect request SPX packet which arrives at
   the server without the system bit being set.  This causes the server to
   look up the session with ID = FFFF (session ID for system packets), but
   since the system bit isn't set, the server looks in the session table for
   a client with a corresponding ID.  This causes SPXFindSession to look
  beyond the end of memory, resulting in a GPI ABEND.

    This is of course only for TokenRing, but it's very often used in our
    networks. Do we want ABEND of server because of mistake in SPX
    communication? I have already several application which are using SPX for
    sending data between programs. That's why i'm loading this patch always.

SYNCTIME NLM
   This patch forces the server's date/time to be synchronized to the
   hardware's clock at specified intervals.  These NLM's eliminate the
   gradual loss of time experienced by the server due to "missed" clock
  ticks while the server is in real mode.

    Most from our applications are time related. Because we develop mail,
    telx and fax gateway, time and date is cruicial element in processing.
    It's well known that 386/486 servers are running out of time sync (behind
    in most cases) and that's also why this patch is out. It's taking care of
    reading time from CMOS clock instead of keeping the one made by BIOS...

TTSFIX   NLM
   TTSFIX.NLM fixes a bug encountered when certain applications execute
   explicit TTS, and file locking is also used.  This results in an
  application hang at the workstation, and a GPPE ABEND at the file server.

    Playing with TTS and Clipper? It can lead in even crash of complete
    server. Not because of Clipper, but because of Bug in Novell Netware.
    Because exetucing explicit TTS and use file locking is nothing unusual in
    Clipper.

UNKFIX   NLM
   This patch fixes a problem which was causes an ABEND on a 3.11 FILE
   SERVER.  This is caused by entering a complete file name of a valid
   NetWare file at the file server console.  This file may be located on any
   of the server's search paths.
  
   FOR EXAMPLE: typing "MONITOR.NLM" at the console instead of "LOAD
   MONITOR.NLM" will cause the above condition. Typing "MONITOR" without the
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 6                   28 Jul 1992


  .NLM extension will not cause the ABEND.

    Nothing bad, just little problem in command parser of console of server.
    it's also kind of mistake which EVERYONE can make, even maintenance
    technician can forget to type LOAD for .NLM file and succesfully crash
    your server during workign hours. Prevent it? Just load this patch.

XMCFIX   NLM
   This patch corrects a problem with utilities that use the SPX protocol to
   maintain communication with the server. Typically the client will loose
   the connection to the server and the following message will be displayed:
  
   "No more response buffers available"
  
   The most common occurrence is with a remote printer(RPRINTER.EXE) loosing
   it's connection to the print server(PSERVER.NLM), but it may happen with
  other utilities.

    This is second most important SPX patch, without it, our SPX related
    software can work very bad. After loading it? Problem went away...



That's all from patches which are in interest of CLipper programmers (and in
generall in programmers of any applications). There are some other patches
which were not mentioned because of relation to other problems. In case of
interest, write to me or just get patches and look for yourself.

.DD.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 7                   28 Jul 1992


                          Why update IPX/NETX/ODI?
                                     by
                               Daniel Docekal


Second article related to Clipper/NOVELL or anyway Applications/Novell
subjects. This time it's going to explain WHY it's very clever to have LATEST
version of IPX, NETX or ODI programs installed at your workstations.

Few words at beginning. Novell Netware workstation can be based on TWO ways
of accesing Novell Server. First way is the OLD one which is slowly moved out
from activity by Novell and it's called IPX/NETX. Second way is DOS ODI
driver way which is the one having future. In general it looks like this:

    First way           Second way

    IPX.COM                 LSL.COM         This is for hardware
                            xxxxx.COM
                            IPXODI.COM
    NETX.EXE                NETX.EXE        This is for software

IPX.COM is by special program generated (LINKED in reality with Novell own
linker) program consisting from IPX.OBJ and driver.OBJ which is highly
related to hardware. EVERY network card _MUST_ have own driver.OBJ which is
responsible for IPX.OBJ ability to comunicate with hardware. DOS ODI solution
is going over this LINKING process by releasing driver.COM modules which is
enough to just start AFTER loading LSL.COM (interface) and before loading
IPXODI (interface). NETX.EXE is needed in both cases (can be EMSNETX, XMSNETX
or BNETX). There are of course releases of several versions of IPX.OBJ and
NETX.EXE (or others as mentioned). Novell Netware distribution floppies
contain MOST RECENT version at moment of they creation - which is ALWAYS
_the_ _old_ one at moment of using them.

Why is it so important to use updated drives? For the same reason as is
important to use Novell Netware Operating System patches. Novell is slowly
fixing problems discovered in different versions and revisions of Shells
(that's how all those can be named) and also releases new services required
by newer software. Typicall example is MS WINDOWS 3.1 which will _NOT_ run
unless it will have NEW version of IPX.OBJ. Some services used in MS WINDOWS
Netware engine are not present in older versions of IPX... The same CAN be
valid about Clipper.

Small history of Novell Netware SHELL files is maybe good, it will be
extended with Clipper related informations. All problems written together
with some version of Shell should be take as FIXED in given revision, all
Clipper possible related are marked with (*) sign:

  5-8-90 3.01 Rev. A    That's where history is starting
  6-6-90 3.01 Rev. B    Problems with hanging of SiteLock software corrected
         3.01 Rev. C    NEVER released Shell with those corrections:
                        - slow performance by using /PS option
                        - MS Windows directory problems of XMS/EMSNETx
                        - Print Configuration codes not sent in EMSNETx
                        - Errors of handling LPT
                        - Problems with FAKE ROOTs
                        - XMS/EMSNETx causing hang of 286servers
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 8                   28 Jul 1992


  9-7-90 3.01 Rev. D    Public release of Rev. C named as Rev. D
 9-18-90 3.01 Rev. D    Problems of #command in login script corrected
11-27-90 3.01 Rev. E    Dos service "TrueName" is returning WRONG data   (*)
                        Microsoft Link cannot link large nr. of files    (*)
                        Error in rename function                         (*)
                        Errors when using X.25 connection for logout
                        Remote boot troubles in ELS Netware
                        Enabled file caching in EMS/XMSNETx              (*)
 2-06-91 3.02           File caching problems in XMTNETx                 (*)
                        Speed of file caching improved                   (*)
                        Hanging application using EMS/XMS
                          with EMS/XMSNETX                               (*)
                        CACHE BUFFERS=0 is now switching caching off     (*)
                        Truncated output to printer                      (*)
                        Added DOS NAME and ENVIRONMENT PAD parameters    (*)
 7-18-91 3.21           Generic shell NETX.COM is created from NOW
                        Before it was NET3.COM, NET4.COM, NET5.COM ...
                        /PS option can cause random machine hangs        (*)
                        /C option added for NET.CFG file locating        (*)
                        Added EMS memory handle names support            (*)
                        Fixed problem denying access to shared file      (*)
                        Corrected "call 5" functions
                        Resolved problem of Btrieve corruptions          (*)
                        Fixed Cache problem with DiskFull error          (*)
                        Fixed DOS NAME hanging when EMS/XMSNETX used     (*)
                        LOAD HIGH in DOS 5.0 is working properly now     (*)
                        ATTRIB was unable find Hidden dir's on network   (*)
 7-31-91 3.22           Corrected remote boot in DOS 5.0
 2-11-92 3.26        ĿCorrected problem with certain database
                     !applications which issue the commit file command
                     !the file was NOT properly updated on the file
                     server disk                                      (*)
                        Corrected DOS NAME problem with EMS/XMSNETX
                        Corrected garbage characters from CAPTURE.EXE    (*)
                        Corrected unreseting of COMSPEC after unload     (*)
                        Corrected network errors when using /PS          (*)
                        Added check to FILES=x and FILE HANDLES=y not
                        exceeding 254 in sum (x+y)                       (*)

From this VERY SHORT review of long text file supplied wiht Shell revisions
(file DOSUPn.ZIP available in NETWIRE/NOVLIB on Compuserver or from Novell
Authorized dealers and support sites) can give ENOUGH information to thing
about problems of Clipper application.

IMPORTANT. _ANY_ Shell of version prior to 3.26 can cause improper updates
for your database files. Therefore it's very important to have LATEST version
of Shell (at least 3.26 which is latest NOW). In general can be made this
list of important problems and their relation to Shells:

File destruction            3.26 3.21 3.02
File handles missing        3.26
Slow application            3.26
Printing problems           3.26 3.02 3.01
Directories/attributes      3.21
Disk Full problems          3.21
Refusing file access        3.21 3.01
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 9                   28 Jul 1992


Machine hangs               3.21 3.02 3.01
Network errors              3.26

It's obvious that for example Shell's ov revision prior 3.21 will NOT work
properly with Clipper and EMSNETX combination because of numerous problems
with EMS handling and not Name support for EMS.

It's obvious that Shell's of revision prior to 3.26 will make problems for
Clipper applications using COMMIT commands or dbcommit() functions.

Next question of our issue should be what is better, IPX/NETX or DOS ODI
combination. From point of view of Novell is answer very simple, Novell is
NOT making any NEW approvals of IPX versions of drivers for network cards,
therefore card manufacturers are forced to start using DOS ODI equivalents.
It's far better to switch to DOSODI than to stay with IPX/NETX because it
offer more possibilites:

- configuration of DOS ODI is via TEXT file which can be changed in
  any TEXT editor without need to run WSGEN and LINK new driver (as it is
  with IPX)
- four cards in one computer can be handled by ONE DOS-ODI combination
  and only driver.COM program must be loaded for different cards. Even
  different methods (IPX/SPX against TCP/IP, or Ethernet against TokenRing)
  can coexist in one computer, therefore access to MORE network with
  different method of connection can be made
- ALL programs from DOS ODI set can be LOADED and UNLOADED, therefore
  freeing of memory of computer of configuration change can be done WITHOUT
  rebooting computer.
- DOS ODI programs can be loaded high without troubles (not always true about
  IPX.COM)
- udpating of all programs is very easy, just copy new .COM file over, there
  is no need for generating new IPX.COM with special linker and floppies
- no need for separated IPX.COM for EVERY different configuration possibility
  of network card, all is written in NET.CFG configuration file
- nearly impossible configuration combination in IPX are available in .COM
  driver of DOS ODI. Even unsupported IRQ numbers are available for let say
  NE2000 compatible card which is allowing IRQ10 till IRQ15 to use.

There is NOT any difference between functionality of computer with IPX and
computer with LSL/driver/IPXODI. Speed is the same and from personal
experience are DOS ODI drivers less hardware dependent and are more nice for
all other drivers in your system.

Latest questions should be related to EMSNETX, XMSNETX, NETX or BNETX. Those
are four special versions of Shell for Novell Netware. First three are one of
kind and last one is different special.

EMSNETX, XMSNETX and NETX are standard Netware Shell programs which are
allowing access of server services and resources after loading IPX or DOS ODI
files. Difference between them is only little:

EMSNETX is loading part of itself in EMS PAGE FRAME and therefore is using
        less from conventional memory. There can be problem with Clipper
        which is linked by BLINKER because Caching/Overlaying mechanism
        of Clipper and PAGE FRAME ON option of Blinker will cause problem.
        It's something reported by Blinker Inc. company, but it's still
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 10                  28 Jul 1992


        somethign that i cannot say it's fully true. I have PAGE FRAME ON
        in my BLINKER 1.51 script and if i boot with EMSNETX everything
        works fine as with BNETX or NETX. But it can be system dependent,
        EMS driver dependent (QEMM in my case) or anything.

XMSNETX is loading part of itself in available XMS memory and therefore is
        using less from conventional memory. It _cannot_ be used in DOS 5.0
        when DOS=HIGH is used, therefore it's out of importance in DOS 5.0
        beause is better to have DOS=HIGH than XMSNETx (memory saving is
        bigger for DOS=HIGH).

    Both EMS/XMSNETX are of course SLOWER then standard NETX and CAN be
    cause of ANY problems, therefore if looking for troubles with workstation
    first try to NOT load EMSNETX nor XMSNETX

NETX    is just standard Shell loading itself into conventional memory.
        Nothing more to tell because nothign more needed to know. Can be
        loaded high without any problems (slowing thing down a bit, but
        can save some 50KB of memory or so).

BNETX is another chapter. Nearly ago Netware started using Burst Mode Shell
as decsription for Shell which can (when needed) request BIGGER data block
through network. Bigger than standard given by Network protocol. It can of
course help in case of COPYing or MOVing _big_ files because overhead of
network protocol can be minimized. BNETX is of course using MORE memory for
additional buffers required to store those BIG packets, but can make
communication faster for 30% in LAN and even 300% in WAN (in very good case,
because overhead there is very high and transfer speed slow). BNETX is
released ONLY as conventional memory Shell because issue here is SPEED and
EMS/XMS versions are REALLY slower. I'm succesfully loading it HIGH and it's
still faster (for about 10%) in our office LAN but i cannot recommend use it
on workstations for serious use, our experiences are that workstations can
hang when BNETX is used and Clipper applications are used. Also Workstations
can hang in other software, therefore it's not something to blame on Clipper,
rather to blame NetWare for not yet very tested software. But it's terrible
new and nobody has experiences with it yet on veyr high level.

Therefore final recommendation?

1) Use _ALWAYS_ latest versions of IPX.OBJ and NETX.COM
2) Use DOS ODI, it's easier and more following Novell
3) Use NETX.COM and load it high if wanted memory saving

.DD.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 11                  28 Jul 1992


                     Hitch Hikers Guide To The Net
           Episode 11 - Life, The Net, and Everything Part 1

 (Xaphod, Rod, Gillian, and Arnold Lint have just received the 'Video
 Testament' - a scripture said to contain the answer to Life, the Net, and
 Everything.)

 Rod:           Well, go on, read it.
 Arnold Lint:   Do you think we should?
 Xaphod:        Yah, why not.
 Martin:        I can think of a few reasons.
 Gillian:       Quiet, we're going to find out what it all means. Aren't you
                the least bit excited.

 Martin:        (droning sarcastically) Oh yes, I can hardly contain myself.
 Xaphod:        Never mind him, lets read this amazingly amazing book.

 (They open the book and it speaks to them.)

 Book:   Hark, who goest there.
 Rod:    Uh, who are you?
 Book:   I . . . am the Video Testament. The compendium of all knowledge and
         smart stuff from the mythical age of Kubla Konthemasus.  You may
         call me . . . Ralph.

 [*****************************************************************************
 "The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Net" has this to say about the mythical ruler
 Kubla Konthemasus: He was reported to be from Austria or Germany. He was
 supposed to be short and have a funny little mustache. He was supposed to
 have died in 1945 and then be reborn in Argentina. His followers looked upon
 him as a sort of Messiah, who would lead them to the land of Silk and Money.
 All of this is, of course, purely hypothetical; as were Konthemasus' friends
 Herman (Hermie) McGoering, and Crazy Joe Stalinson.
 *****************************************************************************]

 Xaphod:        Ralph?
 Ralph:         Well, what do you expect?
 Rod:           Well, not Ralph.
 Gillian:       Can you tell us . . .
 Ralph:         The answer to Life, the Net, and Everything.
 Gillian:       . . . why yes.
 Arnold Lint:   That's amazing.
 Xaphod:        To you it would be.
 Rod:           Tell us what it all means.
 Ralph:         You won't like it.
 Martin:        That's no surprise.
 Xaphod:        Just ignore him.
 Ralph:         Well, it all began sometime in the 1950's. A group of very
                wealthy and powerful men assembled in Argentina under the
                guidance of a man calling himself Kubla Konthemasus. This
                group of magnates were from various political affiliations -
                Nazis, Communists, Capitalists, and Urologists. They all
                liked money and wanted to rule the world.  They also realized
                that TV was going to be the tool that would give them the
                leverage they needed.

CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 12                  28 Jul 1992


 Xaphod:        I don't like the way this is starting to sound.
 Rod:           Me neither.
 Ralph:         I warned you.
 Martin:        You should have listened  to him.
 Arnold Lint:   Go on.
 Ralph:         Well, they began to infiltrate the TV industry. Soon they not
                only owned huge percentages of each network, but had also
                emplaced their own people into many of the creative positions
                at each network.  Then they began to manipulate things. They
                decided to cast the world in an image that they could easily
                control. So each little kid on TV was either predictably (and
                sickeningly) nice and helpful, or predictably always getting
                into trouble. Women were either predictably aggressive or
                predictably obtuse. You see, they set up patterns of behavior
                that they could count on. Once they could predict and control
                how the public would react to something, they could do
                whatever they wanted. Whenever they wanted to do something
                really tricky (like when they took over the Mid-East oil
                fields in the late 70's and early 80's) they made sure to get
                the country thinking their way before hand with a massive TV
                bombardment. If it was a topic that they knew nobody would go
                for no matter how they publicized it, they flooded the
                airways with those sickening human emotion type TV-movies.
                Things like "Plight of the Forgotten Children" or "Why is
                Daddy always angry?". The kind of stuff that makes you want
                to blow lunch.

 Rod:           Wow, that's amazing.
 Xaphod:        Yah.
 Ralph:         Their greatest triumph was getting a president elected. Their
                plan was simple. They made sure that the east coast was for
                their candidate, leaving the west coast alone. Then, on
                election day, the TV 'predictions' claimed their candidate to
                be a sure winner. Due to the time difference, all the people
                on the west coast thought the election was over anyway and
                didn't even bother to vote.

 Xaphod:        Wow, imagine getting a president elected by manipulating the
                media.
 Ralph:         And guess what . . . he was an actor
 Gillian:       What a coincidence.
 Rod:           Yah, imagine that.
 Martin:        Doesn't surprise me . . . I expect such things from humans.
 Arnold Lint:   But what does all this have to do with the Net?
 Gillian:       Yah, controlling TV is great but most people in the Net are
                far too dedicated to their work to partake of anything as
                tacky as TV. We're all thoroughly dedicated professionals.


 (If it were possible for an android to suppress a burst of uncontrollable
 laughter, that is what Martin could now be described as doing.)

 Rod:    Yah what about the Net|?
 Ralph:  Well . . .

                 ******************** End Of Part 11 ********************
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 13                  28 Jul 1992


 What are the interests of this Neo-Nazi-Communist-Capitalist organization in
 the Net? The answer will surprise you - unless you're a great stupid twit.
 To find out more  . . . Tune in next time . . .  same Net-time . . . same
 Net-channel.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 14                  28 Jul 1992


===============================================================================
                                   ANOMALIES
===============================================================================


                     ANOMALIES and their comments

This part of Clipper BBS Magazine is dedicated to all discovered 
anomalies and comments about them in Clipper products. Because 
Nantucket is still unable to give own bug and anomalies reports (as 
actually did in past with Summer 87 version) is very handy to have 
results of many investigations done on many user places. I'm also
doing my own investigatings, because i'm always very good when someting 
has hidden problems. Everything what i buy will first show all problems 
and then all normal things. This amazing part of my live is sometime 
making me crazy, but for testing of programs it's great <grin>.

Daniel



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 15                  28 Jul 1992


===============================================================================
                                  CLIPPER NET
===============================================================================



Following is COMPLETE list of all published file descriptions in Clipper
BBS magazine in previous numbers. Purpose of this index list is to allow
anybody find needed file descriptions in growing number of described files.
Short description after name will give first possible close image about
file. Number enclosed in "[]" will mean number of Clipper BBS magazine.

Ŀ
FileName     Src Description                                     Where 
Ĵ
ACCESS.ARJ   Cln Source of speed testing program                 [1-06]
ACH2TB.ARJ   Cln Convert ACHOICE to TBROWSE                      [1-05]
ACHOO2.ARJ   Cln Replacement of ACHOICE with GET possibilites    [1-06]
ADHOC302.ARJ Cln Summer 87 inteligent report program             [1-04]
ASCPOS.ARJ   Cln replacement of ASC(substr(cString,nPosition,1)) [1-11]
BARNTX.ARJ   Cln Displaying bar indication during indexing       [1-13]
BLOCK.ARJ    Cln Tetris game written in Cliper (-->Clipper !!)   [1-19]
BUTTON.ARJ   Cln @GET in form of BUTTON                          [1-14]
CALC14.ARJ   Cln PoPup Calculator                                [1-08]
CIVMIL.ARJ   Cln Upgrade of Civil->Military time conversion      [1-19]
CL5103.ARJ   Cln Report of 5.01 anomaly number 3                 [1-04]
CL5REP6.ARJ  Cln 5.01 replacement of REPORT command              [1-04]
CLIP110.ARJ  Cln Clipper Documentor program                      [1-05]
CLIPFPCX.ARJ Cln Fast .PCX displayer for CLipper                 [1-15]
CLIPLINK.ARJ Cbs Complete text of R.Donnay about linkers         [1-04]
CLIPPLUS.ZIP Cln Object extension for CLIPPER 5.0                [1-14]
CLIPSQL.ARJ  Cln Demo of complete SQL library for CLipper        [1-05]
CLIPWARN.AJ  Cln Semaphore for convert WARNING: into ERRORLEVEL  [1-11]
CLPFON.ARJ   Cln Set of fonts for EXPAND.LIB from author         [1-03]
COMET.ARJ    Cln Demo version of communication library           [1-19]
COND.ARJ     Cln Builder of conditional indexes like SUBNTX      [1-03]
CWDEMO.ARJ   Cln Classworks lib written in CLASS(Y)              [1-13]
DBSCN2.ARJ   Cln Screen designer generator                       [1-05]
DIAL.CLN     Cln Dialer with using of FOPEN()                    [1-07]
DOC111.ARJ   Cln Documentor, newer version                       [1-08]
DTF102.ARJ   Cln .DBT files replacement, fully functional        [1-14]
ENDADD.ARJ   Cln replacement of incrementing last char of string [1-11]
GETKEY.ARJ   Cln Input oriented library, wordprocessing          [1-12]
GETPP.ARJ    Cln Modified GETSYS.PRG well documented             [1-19]
GSR151.ARJ   Cln Global Search and replace for programmers       [1-07]
HGLASS.ZIP   Cln Hour glass for indication of index progression  [1-04]
HILITO.ARJ   Cln Highlighting of keywords on screen              [1-19]
HOTKEY.ARJ   Cln Makin unique hot key letter for every arrat el. [1-14]
INDXSL.ARJ   Cln User Fields selection builder for index generate[1-03]
IOBASYS9.ARJ Cln Demo of S87 library and calling Clipper from C  [1-03]
IS.ARJ       Cln Several c sources of ISxxxx functions           [1-11]
JG2.ARJ      Cln Jumping between GET statements in READ          [1-08]
KF_LOKUP.ARJ Cln Set of program for database relations           [1-07]
LUTLIB.ARJ   Cln Another Clipper library                         [1-08]
MK30.ARJ     Cln Mouse library demo version                      [1-03]
MOVEGETS.ARJ Cln GETSYS change for moving between gets via VALID [1-03]
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 16                  28 Jul 1992


MSWIN.ARJ    Cln Detection of Windows mode when running Clipper  [1-14]
NFDESC2.ARJ  Cln NanForum library description list               [1-06]
NFLIB2.ARJ   Cln NanForum library main file                      [1-06]
NFSRC2.ARJ   Cln NanForum library Source files                   [1-06]
NOTATION.ARJ Cln Complete text of article about hungarian notat. [1-04]
NTXBAR.ARJ   Cln Bar of indexing via system interrupts           [1-19]
OCLIP.ARJ    Cln Object extension, real (not #define/command)    [1-12]
OOPSCL5.ARJ  Cln Another version of pseudo objects               [1-07]
PACKUP.ARJ   Cln ASM source of PACK/UNPACK replacement SCRSAVE.. [1-04]
PARTIDX3.ARJ Cln Partial indexing                                [1-12]
PAT1.ARJ     Cln CIX NanForum Libraryy PATCH                     [1-07]
PAT2-2.ARJ   Cln Fix for FLOPTST.ASM in Nanforum Library         [1-13]
PAT2-3.ARJ   Cln TBWHILE improvement for Nanforum libray         [1-14]
PAT2-4.ARJ   Cln FT_PEGS() patch for NFLIB                       [1-15]
PAT2-5.ARJ   Cln FT_TEMPFIL() patch for NFLIB                    [1-16]
POPUPCAL.ARJ Cln Popup calender                                  [1-05]
POSTPRNT.ARJ Cln Postscript printing from inside of Clipper      [1-14]
POWER10.ARJ  Cln French library                                  [1-07]
PRINTSUP.AJR Cln Low level BIOS routines for printing            [1-11]
QS20F.ARJ    Cln Screen designer, demo, looks very good          [1-11]
READPW.ARJ   Cln GETSYS change for password invisible reader     [1-03]
SCANCODE.ARJ Cln Database with scan codes                        [1-07]
SCRSAVE.ARJ  Cln Screen AntiBurning utility (inactivity snake)   [1-05]
SEGUE.ARJ    Cln Novell library - demo                           [1-15]
SHADO.ARJ    Cln Creating shadow on screen                       [1-14]
SHELP50A.ARJ Cln SuperHelp for Clipper                           [1-07]
SHOWANSI.ARJ Cln Displaying a ANSI from inside CLIPPER no ANSI.SY[1-15]
SNAP497.ARJ  Cln Beta version of SNAP, partially compatible to 5 [1-12]
SNAP50.ARJ   Cln dBASE/CLIPPER documentor supporting 5.01 little [1-15]
SOUND.ARJ    Cln Multiple TONE() used as one SOUND function      [1-06]
STATUS.ARJ   Cln Timer interrupt hooked status indicator         [1-12]
SUPER160.ARJ Cln SUPER.LIB for Summer87                          [1-13]
SYMBOL.ARJ   Cln Dumper of symbol tables of Summer87 .EXE        [1-03]
TBUNIQUE.ARJ Cln Browsing unique without unique index            [1-12]
TBWHL4.ARJ   Cln WHILE browsing using TBROWSE, well commented    [1-06]
TICKER.ARJ   Cln Real Time Clock, interrupt driven on screen     [1-12]
VOICE200.ARJ Cln VOICE synthetizing library for Clipper          [1-13]
VSIX711.ARJ  Cln Vernon Six Clipper utilities and library        [1-05]
VSIX800.ARJ  Cln Vernon's library, lot of functions              [1-12]
WIPEV11.EXE  Cln VERY good screen manipulation library           [1-11]
ZIP2BAR.ARJ  Cln Printing BAR (USPS) code on EPSON printer       [1-15]


Src can be:
    Cln     File is accesible on ClipperNet
    Cbs     File is accesible in HQ BBS of CLipper BBS Magazine


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 17                  28 Jul 1992


===============================================================================
                                    CLIPBBS
===============================================================================


                             CLIPBBS Distribution

  CLIPBBS is special magazine about CLIPPER and CLIPPERing (or about
  another related problems and xBASE languages). This magazine is for
  free and articles aren't honored. Nobody can make a profit from the
  distribution of this magazine.

  CLIPBBS can be freely downloaded and uploaded to any BBS or any other
  public system without changes of original contents or number of files
  in original archive (kind of archive can be changed, but we are sup-
  porting ARJ archive because is best and smallest).

  If you are interested in CLIPBBS and would like to become a DISTRIBUTION
  site, contact publisher on 2:285/608@fidonet or 27:1331/4412@signet
  or just call to 31-10-4157141 (BBS, working 18:00->08:00, top is V32b) or
  voice to 31-10-4843870 in both cases asking for DANIEL (Docekal).

  A BIG NEWS is that also Compuserve messages are welcome:

     Daniel Docekal,  100064,2343

  Distribution sites:

  Clipper BBS Home system  
  
      NETCONSULT BBS, SYSOP Daniel Docekal, phone 31-10-4157141
      Daily 18:00 till 08:00 (GMT+1), sat+sun whole day
      Modem speed 1200, 2400, 9600, 12000, 14400 (V32b)
      2:285/608@fidonet.org

  United Kingdom   
  
      Welsh Wizard, SYSOP Dave Wall, phone 44-656-79477
      Daily whole day, modem speed HST

  Italy   
  
      Lady Bright BBS, SYSOP Gianni Bragante, Phone: +39-15-8353153
      20:00-08:00 monday to friday, from saturday 13:00 to 08:00 monday
      24h/24h holydays, 300-9600 baud v21,v22,v32,v42bis
      2:334/307@fidonet.org

  United States of America  
  
     The Southern Clipper, SYSOP Jerry Pults, phone 1-405-789-2078
      Daily whole day, modem speed HST

      The New Way BBS, SYSOP Tom Held, phone, 1-602-459-2412
      Daily 24hours, 1:309/1@Fidonet.org, 8:902/6@RBBS-Net

  Canada    
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 18                  28 Jul 1992


  
      SYSOP Gordon Kennet, phone 1-604-599-4451 
      Daily 24houts, 2400bps V42b, 1:153/931@fidonet.org

  WORLDWIDE   
  
  
      Clipper File Distrubution Network (ClipperNet, area CL-DOC)
      Various systems around whole world



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLIPBBS 2-14                   Page 19                  28 Jul 1992


                     How to write articles in CLIPBBS?
  
  
  Submission of articles to CLIPBBS is really easy:
    Maximum of 78 characters per line, as long or as short as you like
    ASCII text.
    Choose from the list of extension which most describes your text, or
    just name it .ART as ARTicle and send it to publisher or to any
    distribution site via modem to BBS or with mailer as file attach.
    Article will come automatically appear in the next free issue.
  
  Extensions are:
  
          Articles (anything)             .ART
          Software                        .SOF
          News                            .NEW
          Question and Answers            .Q&A
          ANOMALIES and their comments    .ANO
          Letters to editors              .LET
          Advertisement                   .ADV
          Wanted                          .WAN
          Comments                        .CMS
          DUMP from conferences           .DMP
          Clipper Net                     .CLN
          
  That's all at the moment, there will probably be changes later, as the
  magazine evolves. If you have any ideas for a new section of CLIPBBS,
  please tell us, or just write an article about it.
  
  Daniel, publisher

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