Duxbury Systems - Duxbury Newsletter #18, April 1993
Professional Braille Production Products Since 1975

Duxbury Systems, Inc. 
435 King Street, P.O. Box 1504 
Littleton, MA 01460 U.S.A. 
Tel- (508) 486-9766;  Fax. (508) 486-9712 
CompuServe: 76150,2046

Frequent readers will quickly notice the change in format commencing with
this newsletter. Rather than clumping the news into departments, the
newsletter will be composed of stories, such as this one, with an author
and title. We hope that this new format will make it easier for you to
find the subjects that interest you. We're still scheduling issues
approximately twice each year.

As in the past, the newsletter is available in braille at no charge. All
you have to do is ask for it! If you know of anyone else who might be
interested in receiving this newsletter, please let us know what format
they prefer, and we'll be happy to update our mailing list. Finally,
please let us know if we have misspelled your name or address, or if you
are receiving more than one copy of this newsletter. Thank you.

In this newsletter:

New News is Good News by Matt Sullivan 
What's Up with DUXWP by Peter Sullivan 
Improving Technical Support by Joe Sullivan 
Bulletin Board News by Don Breda
Compatibility with ICADD SGML Coding by Joe Sullivan
Miscellaneous Technical Notes by Joe Sullivan
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What's Up with DUXWP, by Peter Sullivan

In the year since its release, there have been several changes made to
DUXWP, most of which deal with the way it interacts with other software.
The original version of DUXWP required quite a bit of memory--nearly 530
kilobytes ! This proved to be a problem for many users, particularly those
running speech software on non-386 systems. Newer versions require only
about 470 kilobytes, though we still recommend a system with at least 500
kilobytes free for full functionality.

In addition to the memory-related problems, we believe that the following
problems have been fixed: (1) The stubborn printing behavior with LaserJet
clones and unusual braille printing equipment, (2) the incompatibility
with HumanWare's MasterTouch speech program, and (3) functioning from
within Windows 3.1 running in 386 enhanced mode.

In fact, DUXWP will now run in any Windows configuration we have tested.
For those users with a 386 machine, DUXWP can run in its own window,
alongside WordPerfect for Windows. Speaking of WordPerfect for Windows,
the new 5.2 version can be used as input for DUXWP.

A special note for MasterTouch users: While DUXWP will now work with this
program, you must press the shift and alt keys where the DUXWP manual says
to press the alt key alone, and be sure the computer has enough low DOS
memory available to run DUXWP.

If you are a registered customer experiencing any of the above problems, or
if your version of DUXWP is earlier than 1;5, then contact us prior to May
1st for a free maintenance update. You can acquire the update through our
Bulletin Board (see below), or you may call or fax us specifying your
serial number and preferred disk size. After May 1st, regular update
prices apply. To find out your version of DUXWP, use the "File, About
DUXWP..." selection from the menu.

How does one purchase DUXWP if they don' t have it already? See the end of
this newsletter. DUXWP is a stand-alone product (item #18-C9), but is also
a subset of the MS-DOS Translator (item #18-C1). Existing users of the
MS-DOS Translator can acquire DUXWP by updating (item #18-C1-U).

Improving Technical Support, by Joe Sullivan

Back in the "good old days" of the mid-70's, when our customer base
numbered in the tens, it was possible to provide effective customer
support on a relatively informal basis. The customer would call us (or at
times it was just me), we (or I) would do our damedest to answer the
question or solve the problem, and then we'd go back to hours or even days
of further work on the software before the next call came in. The problems
were fewer, too; the software itself was simpler, and it operated in
simpler environments, so that all the possibilities could be checked more
thoroughly. The first user-discovered bug, the trauma of which I still
remember well, wasn't reported for three years !

All that has changed, mostly for the better. Our most popular Braille
Translator does a great deal more than the mid-70's model, yet costs
1/50th the price. We have about 200 times as many customers now as we did
then, so even at those much lower prices, we can keep a larger staff
going--six persons full-time, one part-time at this writing. The only
problem is that doing things the "old" way makes it hard to keep up with
support calls while continuing to carry the software development forward.
The cause of this problem is obvious enough -- 200 times as many customers
are being supported by only six times as many employees. Still, we feel
strongly that both development and support are essential to our customers'
interests and to our own. So, we are working on better and more efficient
support methods.

One of these methods is the electronic bulletin board system (BBS),
operated by Don Breda (see separate article) . BBS ' s and other forms of
electronic mail have been around for a long time, but only recently has
their usage begun to take off. This has much to do with the hardware.
Compared to the "inexpensive" modems of a few years ago, today's modems
are more affordable, faster, and easier to use. To top these advances, we
now have the political stimulus afforded by Vice President Gore' s
interest in the "Electronic Highway." Clearly electronic communications is
coming of age, and we have committed ourselves to making the best of it.
From the user's point of view, our BBS is a fast, efficient way to check
for specific improvements or generally "what' s new", and to download the
latest versions (within a year of purchase or paid update), at virtually
any convenient time.

Another change we're making is to separate, procedurally, the two functions
of technical support and development. In other words, the person providing
technical assistance is not the programmer, but a support specialist who
consults with the programmer(s) only as needed, freeing the latter to
concentrate more on development activity. This division of labor has
numerous, long-range benefits for all concerned, including an increase in
the overall number of people who are able to address questions. It does,
however, mean a shift towards a more formal as well as indirect process.

Specifically, we ask that you be ready with the following information when
you call for support, so that we can better make this work: (1) The
identity of the Duxbury product in question, (2) your license (serial)
number for that product, (3) model and version numbers for any hardware
and software items involved in the question, including your computer,
braille embosser or other peripherals, operating system, word processor or
composing program, etc. (4) a specific example illustrating your question
or difficulty, if that is at all possible. Often such an example takes the
form of corresponding input and output files, which we may need you to
send us in order for us to understand and work out the problem.

Items 1 and 2 are required partly to determine the version and release
date, but frankly this is mainly to help us be sure that we are using our
customer-supported resources to meet customers' needs, not to supply oral
documentation for someone who has dishonestly copied the software. Items 3
and 4 help us to "pin down" the problem. There are an enormous number of
variables in a computerized braille production setup. If we can "rule out"
many of them immediately, the problem will be easier to locate.

Changes such as these typically involve a few wrinkles, especially at
first, that may take a little time to iron out. But, given that time, we
anticipate that communications, including technical support, will become
even easier and more effective than in the "good old days."

Bulletin Board News, by Don Breda

The Duxbury bulletin board is the latest in our efforts to serve our
customers with software updates and technical support in the most
efficient manner possible. Several customers voiced their interest in a
bulletin board and so it came to be.

The bulletin board, or BBS, was originally designed with two purposes in
mind: (1) To provide software updates to registered customers who were
familiar with telecommunications, and (2) so that registered customers
could send us files to assist us in providing technical support.

The BBS is now being used for these purposes and a few more. For instance,
customers and non-customers alike can use the BBS to download the latest
demonstration versions of our software products so that they can evaluate
them at their own leisure. We hope that this will bring us additional
customers and spread the word about our products.

The BBS is organized into file and message areas. Message area one and file
area one, for example, are for anyone who decides to call the BBS. The
file area contains all of our demonstration programs, freeware and
archiving utilities to expand the files you download. The corresponding
message area allows anyone to upload and leave messages for us. All other
message areas (numbered 2 and up) are accessible only by registered
customers with an access code, for up to a year after purchase or paid
update. In all areas, history (.HST) files are maintained so you can
quickly determine what enhancements have been added, and when.

The bulletin board can run at any speed from 300 baud all the way up to
14.4 BPS, with automatic detection. You should use a setting of 8 bits and
no parity. Please call Duxbury to request access if you're a registered
customer. If you are not, but would like to look around and download some
demonstration programs, feel free. The BBS number is (617) 767-5964. The
voice line for the system operator (me) is (617) 767-5916.

We hope that you find this bulletin board to be useful. Please feel free to
leave us your feedback, good or bad, in a message area, or send it by
mail, fax or telephone. I should note that we have already heard back from
users who don't own telecommunications equipment, and who feel that they
may be somehow "left out." While the bulletin board is the most efficient
way to handle many types of support, the old methods (phone calls, faxes,
letters, this newsletter, etc.) also still work!

Compatibility with ICADD SGML Coding, by Joe Sullivan

In Newsletter 17, we discussed the concepts behind the Standard Generalized
Markup Language (SGML), its relevance to braille production and some of
the history of its use for that purpose. We also mentioned that the
International Committee on Accessible Document Design (ICADD) was
gravitating towards SGML as the basis for establishing standards for
document encoding, so as to assure the broadest possible accessibility. In
SGML terms, a formal definition of a coding system is called a Document
Type Definition or DTD. (Take heart, we're just about through with the
alphabet soup !) ICADD has in fact developed two DTD' s, one establishing
a minimum set of markup codes for accessible documents, the other defining
a fuller set.

The minimum set has the advantage of simplicity, both for direct human
coding and as a target for conversion from other sources, and is adequate
for quite simple documents. The full set can handle greater complexity in
document structure. Thus the minimum set has a more short-term purpose,
with the full set expected eventually to supplant it as appropriate
conversions are defined. Of course, the full set itself will undoubtedly
evolve as dictated by experience and emerging needs.

For users of current Duxbury software, ICADD-coded SGML files can be
regarded as just another file to be converted to a "Duxbury dollar-coded"
text file (or maybe a WordPerfect file, if you prefer to think that way)
before translation to braille. In fact, if you are accustomed to our text
files, you will probably find SGML files to be relatively easy to work
with as sources, because the two file types have a lot in common. Both,
for example, are instances of ASCII text files, which means you can use
the same editor for both kinds of files. Furthermore, you can build a
converter for your own text editor using macros, global replacements and
the like. Of course, we're also working on more automated methods, and
already have some crude but helpful "tools" for this purpose. I've also
written a paper that explains, in layman' s terms, what SGML is all about,
and why it' s good for braille. It also touches on why SGML is
complementary to the Unified Braille Code (UBC), which was also briefly
described in the last newsletter.

Incidentally, BANA's UBC Research Project has progressed to the point where
a proposed method of code extension is under review. I hope to have more
to report next newsletter.

The easiest way to get access to the SGML paper and conversion tools, and
to keep up with the tools as we improve them further, is to join our BBS.
Or if the BBS is not possible for you just now, contact us and we'll send
a disk at no charge; the only requirement is that you be a registered
MS-DOS Translator customer with a sincere interest in SGML, and that you
tell us how it works out for you.

Miscellaneous Technical Notes, by Joe Sullivan

I'm not sure that I should be writing this article, as GUI interfaces,
LANs, font handlers and the like are beginning to make some of my older
technical skills seem, well, older. Still, with a bit of borrowing from
Peter, Don and Matt, here goes. Additional notes are available in the
history (.HST) files on our BBS system (see Don's article).

The dot size and other aspects of the simulated braille fonts may now be
reconfigured by the MSDOS Translator, DUXWP and Edgar. With this same
release, we've added support for the HP DeskJet.

The $pi command has been expanded to support Enabling Technologies'
ETGRAPHX braille graphic files in addition to TeleSensory graphic files.
This is only applicable to the MS-DOS translator.

When using "Dux-Bridge" on the Macintosh, it may help to realize that there
is a difference between the way Dux-Bridge looks at a page and the way a
human looks at the same page. In particular, Dux-Bridge treats the page as
if it had been composed entirely in a fixed-pitch font. Consequently, if
it is possible, you can "help" Dux-Bridge by applying a fixed-pitch font,
such as Courier, to the entire document before printing to disk with
Dux-Bridge. Naturally, you do not need to retain the document in that form
for other purposes.

We're sometimes asked whether we will be providing Edgar, or some
equivalent means of direct braille editing, on the Macintosh. We have no
immediate plans for such a product, mainly because most Mac keyboards
cannot accept six-key data entry. This may be changing, however. In the
meantime, one enterprising user has managed, to our pleasant surprise, to
run Edgar on a Macintosh using SoftPC! Edgar uses the PC architecture in
some fairly deep ways, and we had not expected SoftPC to provide such a
thorough emulation of that architecture. If you are a Macintosh user and a
six-key braillist, you may want to give us a call --we can send you a free
demo disk to try it out for yourself.

A much-requested update of Edgar, to permit display of the file as ordinary
ASCII characters on screen, is ready. In ASCII mode, Edgar can now be used
for six-key braille editing by blind persons using ordinary screen access
tools.

The right-context or look-ahead capability has been improved in the
Translator proper (TRANST). This has helped us make a considerable
improvement in the accuracy of the braille-to-print tables for the French
supplement (FRABP.BTB). While speaking of French, we were pleased to hear
of the formation of the "Autorite Internationale du Braille Francophone",
which like BANA and BAUK will constitute an authority that may help remove
slight differences in French braille practice from place to place.

PIMBRI of the MS-DOS Translator, and DuxBridge on the Macintosh, now have a
facility for treating wide tables in "partitioned" format--that is,
putting as many columns side-by-side as will fit spatially in the braille,
then taking as many additional columns as will fit (repeating the first
column as presumably consisting of "row headers"), etc. until all columns
have been processed.

The American and British tables have been updated, mostly to follow some
rule changes but also to correct the usual handful of obscure words.

A few Edgar users have reported occasional keyboarding problems, which we
believe are related to a memory architecture issue (in the handling of the
so-called "A20 line"), which is described in a recent issue of Byte
Magazine as causing occasional keying glitches in general editing software
such as WordPerfect. If you think you have been similarly affected, we may
be able to help you work around it, pending a more permanent solution.

OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The following is a summary of our principal products and prices. As many of
you know, we work with many braille codes and grade 2 languages (e.g.
Arabic and Swahili) and operating environments other than those listed.
Please contact us for details on additional products and prices. All
products, unless otherwise indicated, are sold as a single-user license.
Although not explicitly listed, every product has a corresponding "site
license" (unlimited users at one location) at a price of five times that
of the single-user equivalent. Our products generally require a hard disk
for convenient operation. Documentation and operating language for all
software obtained directly from us is in English; contact us regarding
suppliers of versions that operate in other languages. All products carry
a full 90-day warranty.

All orders must be prepaid in US$ by check, money order, Discover, Visa or
MasterCard, or shipped COD, unless received from a government agency or an
existing customer with a credit application on file. Massachusetts
customers must add 5% sales tax or supply exemption form. Shipping is free
only for ground shipments to North American destinations. For overseas and
faster shipping methods, please call for a quote.

IBM PC (MS-DOS) Products

18-C1   Duxbury Braille Translator .....................  $495
18-C1-U Duxbury Braille Translator Update* .............  $175
18-C3/C4/C5 Nemeth/Spanish/French 
            supplements to item C1 ...............each at $195
18-C6   Duxbury Braille Editor (EDGAR) .................. $295
17-C6-U Duxbury Braille Editor (EDGAR) Update* ..........  $99
18-C9   Duxbury Braille Translator for WordPerfect 
                                          (DUXWP)** ..... $295
18-C9-U Duxbury Braille Translator for WordPerfect 
                                   (DUXWP) Update   .....  $99

Windows Products

18-C10  Duxbury Braille Board/MS Windows ................ $295
18-C11  Duxbury Braille Font for ATM/Windows ............ $99

Macintosh Products

18-C2   Duxbury Braille Translator/Macintosh ............ $495
8-C2-U  Duxbury Braille Translator/Macintosh Update* .... $175
18-C12  Duxbury Braille Font for ATM/Macintosh  ........   $99

Please specify 3-1/2" or 5-1/4" diskette size when ordering MS-DOS or
Windows products.

*All update orders must be accompanied by a valid serial number from the
initial purchase.

**This product is included with products 18-C1 and 18-C1-U. As a
stand-alone product, DUXWP is recommended for new users who need fast,
easy and accurate braille from WordPerfect 5.x files.

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