Backgrounds: How to create a transparent background

A transparent background is one that has no background color of its own, so the background color you choose shows through the black foreground pixels, like the Full Moon background and some of the others included in the GeoWorks Ensemble package.

ENSEMBLE 2.0

1. Import a bit map graphic
2. Select Area Attributes then Draw Mode*
3. Copy the bit map to the clipboard
4. Proceed to Preferences, Background and continue as usual.

*At Draw Mode, select one of the options. INVERSE, AND and OR seem to deliver the best effects... all offer different levels of color interplay; in v2.0, Draw Mode>AND is the route to take to simply turn a bit map background transparent.

This works with B&W, 256-greyscale (4 color display) and 256-Color (16 color display) bit maps!

ENSEMBLE 1.2 or GEOWORKS PRO

You must begin with a black and white bit map image. To make your black and white picture into a transparent background, Import your image but don't Copy or Cut it from GeoDraw. As soon as you import it, open the Preference Manager immediately, click on Background and click on Get Background from Clipboard.

--Information provided by GWRepBobby and GWRepNeal

Article#0001
Updated 05/11/93
Backgrounds: Editing existing backgrounds

Here's some fancy stuff. Say you want to put a man on the Full-Moon background or you want to edit some other background you already have. You can't import into GeoDraw because a background is not a PCX or TIF file. So you're stuck, right? Well, not quite. Just use the Screen Dumper.

The Screen Dumper will let you capture or take a "picture" of any background that you can display on your screen. You can save it as a PCX or TIF (PCX is recommended) and then import it into GeoDraw for editing. Once you're finished editing, just follow the normal procedure of copying to clipboard, starting Preferences, and clicking on Get Background from Clipboard..

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0002
Updated: 05/11/93
Backgrounds: Backgrounds to PCX

You can use the Screen Dumper to capture a background without the pointer showing. Here's how:
Launch the Screen Dumper
Close all other applications
Banish the Screen Dumper
Press CTRL+SHIFT+TAB to freeze the screen
Press F3

It will take a few seconds and the pointer will be gone while it's dumping. That's it - a PCX of the whole screen with no pointer.

After dumping, if you press F2 to go to Welcome and then press Advanced, GeoManager is still closed.

To get back to your GeoManager desktop, press CTRL+SHIFT+TAB again and then F1. This will bring back the Dumper dialogue box. From its Express menu you can "Startup" GeoManager again.

--Information provided by YumaLamb1 (Susan Lamb, a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0003
Updated: 05/11/93
Backgrounds: How To Make Electronic Greeting Cards

The following is a method I use to create "electronic greeting cards" GEOS backgrounds, which I send to others via email on special occasions, even if they have no drawing program or don't use GeoWorks software.

The background is converted to a self-displaying EXE file that anyone can view on his or her own monitor regardless of what type of drawing programs he or she may have.

1. Convert a colorful GIF to a GeoWorks background or use an existing background.

2. Use the Screen Dumper to capture the background to a PCX file.

3. Import the PCX file into GeoDraw and overlay any greetings or text on the background image. (A 14" by 14" page gives you a nice workspace.)

4. Select All and Copy the new "card" to the clipboard.

5. Use the "Get Background from Clipboard" feature of Preferences, Background to convert your new "card" to a background.

6. Dump your new background to a .PCX file using the Screen Dumper.

8. Convert your new PCX to a self-displaying EXE file using Graphics Workshop or a similar program.

Your new .EXE file can then be ZIPed and mailed on disk or attached to an email message for a friend on a special occasion. The recipient can simply unzip the file and view the "card" by running the EXE file.

-- Information provided by J4Dice (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0004
Updated: 05/11/93
Backgrounds: How to make them

The basic process for making a background in GEOS is to put the graphic on the clipboard and then click "Get background from clipboard" in Preferences, Background.

Okay, so how do you get the background on the clipboard? It's easy, just import the graphic into GeoDraw or Scrapbook. When you import a graphic, it is automatically put on the clipboard in Ensemble 1.2 or GeoWorks Pro. As soon as you import the graphic, immediately run Preferences, click Background, click Get from Clipboard, give the background a name, and click Apply.

If you're using Ensemble 2.0, or If you want to draw your own background, or if you have already imported the graphic to GeoDraw or Scrapbook, then you'll need to "select" the graphic by clicking on it or dragging the select tool over it in GeoDraw or paging to it in Scrapbook, and then click Copy in the Edit menu. Copy puts the graphic on the clipboard, also.

Okay, so what kind of graphics can you import? In Ensemble 2.0, you can import PCX, TIF, GIF, CLP and BMP files with any number of colors. In previous versions of Ensemble, the files must be PCX or TIF and 16 color or fewer format. I've had the best success with PCX files.

Graphics Workshop is a shareware program available on America Online that will convert many graphics formats. It's my favorite. I use it to convert GIF or TIF files into PCX format. Graphic Workshop will display the "number of colors format" of the selected graphic if you hit the F4 key. You can find Graphic Workshop on America Online at keyword (CTRL+K) QUICKFIND by entering the searchwords "graphic workshop" (without the quotes).

If the graphic is in, say, 256 color format and you are using a version of GEOS older than version 2.0, then you need to reduce the number of colors--a process called "dithering." The best program I know of for that is PICLAB v1.83, available in the Shareware and Utilities file library on America Online in the GeoWorks Support Center (use the searchword "piclab").

For instructions about how to use PICLAB, also download GWRepBobby's excellent file called 256TO16.ZIP. The ZIP file includes instructions and the GEO.MAP palette file that will allow you to get the right colors to appear in GEOS.

Article#0005
Updated: 04/04/93
Clock: My clock runs slow under GEOS

QUESTION. My clock works fine in DOS and keeps nearly perfect time. The clock loses several minutes after running GEOS for a few hours. Why?

ANSWER. This is a problem that, so far, we have not been able to track down. We've seen it happen in-house, but it doesn't always happen and we haven't found when exactly it happens.

On every computer we've tested, the cause has always been something other than GEOS: either a hardware problem or a software conflict. In some cases, the problem only appears when two specific programs are running at the same time.

GEOS sets the DOS clock when it quits, so any slowness that might be caused by GEOS will be passed on to DOS. We continue to do our best to track down the problem and try to fix in future versions. If you are experiencing this problem, the only solution for the present is to use the DOS TIME command to reset your clock after running GEOS. This will reset the system clock, though not necessarily your hardware clock. If the TIME command does not reset your hardware clock, you should have received a program with your clock/calendar card that will do so.

Article#0006
Updated: 05/11/93
Clock: Some tips for keeping track of time

To keep track of how long a phone call is, or your time online, or how long the kids can play Tetris or Solitaire before taking turns, do the following:

Elapsed Time with Alarm:
Start GeoPlanner. Look at the current time. In Preferences, set the time to zero, then set the Alarm in GeoPlanner for the length of time you wish.

(Note: If you have a GeoPlanner set for a 10-15 minute warning and you are trying to track a shorter period of time, the alarm may not sound at all if the warning period is longer than the scheduled event.)

Use the Snooze feature to have the alarm repeat. It will go off about every 4.5 minutes

How to track elapsed time with Solitaire:

Start Solitaire. Shrink the window vertically to the maximum. (Only a tiny slit of cards will be showing.) Shrink the window horizontally so the Time display is in the lower right corner. Then drag the Solitaire box to the lower right corner of the screen. Click on the left card stack to start the timer. Click on Game/ Re-deal to reset the timer or select Options/Timed Game to clear/reset the timer. Once a card has been touched the timer will keep on counting: Seconds, Minutes, Hours... Minimize Solitaire and drag the Icon to the lower right corner of the screen so it will pop up over the icon when opened again. (Keep your work in one place.)

To play the timer copy of Solitaire while using the timer, Click the upper right corner button to maximize the application, press the box again to shrink it down to size. Press the Minimize button (left box in the upper right corner) to minimize the timer, but it makes more sense to start another copy of Solitaire so the timer is not interrupted if something serious is being tracked.

Remember: Re-dealing will stop the clock and reset the timer. So will Selecting Options/Timed Game, without going through Game-Redeal. The options menu can be pinned open and the timer reset in an instant by double-clicking on it.

It is also possible to slide the open timer window to the lower left corner, if you want to see both the GeoPlanner Clock and the elapsed time in the lower right hand corner. If GeoPlanner clock has already been placed in the lower left corner, select GeoPlanner from the Express menu to make it appear in front of the Solitaire Application. When other applications are minimized they may obscure the timer or clock unless the numbers are right along the bottom edge of the screen.

Hope you get some use from the "second hand" for your GeoPlanner clock.

Enjoy!

--Information provided by BruceB23 (Bruce Balsom, a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0007
Updated: 04/20/93
Clock: Turning OFF AGRCLK v2.0

If you use AGRCLK v2.0 and want to have it active only in GEOS and not in DOS, here's how to install and uninstall it effortlessly.

The files you need are MARK or FMARK and RELEASE. They are part of the TSRNET v2.8 files, which can be downloaded from the regular software libraries on America Online. Use the keyword QUICKFIND and search for TSRNET.

Either of the sample GEOS.BAT files below will do the work for you using the MARK/RELEASE pair or the FMARK/RELEASE pair.

(1)

@echo off
C:\UTILS\MARK
C:\UTILS\AGRCLK
cls
echo Loading GeoWorks PRO Version 1.2 ....
C:
CD\GeoWorks
KERNEL %1 %2 %3 %4
C:\UTILS\RELEASE
CD\

(2)

@echo off
C:\UTILS\FMARK C:\UTILS\CLOCK.TXT
C:\UTILS\AGRCLK
cls
echo Loading GeoWorks PRO Version 1.2 ....
C:
CD\GeoWorks
KERNEL %1 %2 %3 %4
C:\UTILS\RELEASE C:\UTILS\CLOCK.TXT
CD\

C:\UTILS is my utilities directory. Substitute yours if it is different. The advantage of using FMARK over MARK is that it saves RAM. FMARK uses less than 200 bytes of memory. CLOCK.TXT is the file in which it saves its information.

--Information provided by John Ezike (GWRepJohn)

Article#0008
Updated: 04/20/92
Clock: How to track your time on America Online

In this day and age, it seems that we're all cash conscious. Here are a few ideas for how to keep track of your time online, use it wisely, and stick to your budget.

1. You can find out what your bill is up to but NOT including your current screen session. To do this, go to keyword (CTRL+K) BILL.

2. Time flies when you're having fun and that's particularly true about time on AOL! Here's an easy way to keep track of time while you're online. At any time, do a keyword (CTRL+K) TIME. This will display the current time and more importantly the elapsed time since you logged on.

3. Special tip with Ensemble. If you've budgeted a certain amount of time online for your particular session and you want to stay within that limit but don't want to keep thinking about it and checking the time, here's an idea for you. Before logging on, determine the time you want to log off. Open GeoPlanner. Select the current day. Scroll through the day until you get to the time you want to log off. Mouse click to the right of the time you want to log off and type log off. Highlight the alarm symbol (the little bell). You can do this just by pointing your mouse at it and clicking the left button. The alarm will go off at the time you specified and will remind you to log off.

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0009
Updated: 04/20/92
DESQview: Running GEOS under DESQview, Task Switching

Officially GEOS is not compatible with DESQview. However, we've received some reports that it's possible to run GEOS under Quarterdeck's DESQview 2.4x with moderate success. Earlier versions of DESQview don't work as well.

In DESQview, you need to change the .DVP file associated with GEOS. If you're not sure which file that is, the .DVP
filename's first two characters should match the two character ID you choose from the Open Program menu to start GEOS. (see your DESQview manual for more about .DVP files).

Here are the settings for the .DVP file (only the changed options are shown. All other options use the defaults):

STANDARD OPTIONS

Memory Size: ................ 512K
Program: .............. KERNEL.EXE
Directory ............ C:\GeoWorks
Writes directly to screen ...... Y
Displays graphics information .. Y
Virtualize text/graphics ....... N*
Uses serial ports .............. Y
Requires floppy diskette ....... N

ADVANCED OPTIONS

Text Page ...................... 1*
Graphics Page .................. 4
Maximum Height ................ 25
Maximum Width ................. 80
Starting Height ............... 25
Starting Width ................ 80
Starting Row ................... 0 (zero)
Starting Column ................ 0 (zero)
Close on exit .................. Y
Allow close window command ..... N*
Uses math coprocessor .......... N
Share CPU in foreground ........ Y
Can be swapped out ............. Y
Uses its own colors ............ Y
Runs in Background ............. N
Keyboard conflict .............. 0 (zero)
Share EGA when FG/Zoomed ....... Y
Protection level (0-3) ......... 0 (zero)

  *recommended

When you're finished, Press Enter to save the information.

A TECHNICAL NOTE:

Use the most recent mouse driver available for your mouse. You should also have the following line in your CONFIG.SYS file:

DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS RAM X=C000-C7FF

in which your Video ROM's address is excluded. In the above example, C000-C7FF would be address in the UMB area. Consult your video cards manual for the correct information or use Quarterdeck's Manifest v1.x to locate the address in the First Meg/Overview section.

Always invoke DESQview with the /xb:88 command. This command excludes the bank of interrupts 88-8f, which GEOS grabs and causes a conflict.

In GEOS, turn off the EMS option in Preferences/Computer.

With MS-DOS, up the number of FILES in CONFIG.SYS to FILES=100 . This covers DOS versions through 5.0 .

ADDITIONAL NOTES

NOTE: On some systems, there is still a problem that when you tap ALT to get to the DESQview menu, the alphanumeric keys no longer function. This doesn't happen on every machine and is fixed as soon as you task switch to a non-GEOS application and come back.

But anytime you leave GEOS many of the keys don't work. This is merely an inconvenience. However, the arrow keys work fine and so does the mouse, which means you just need to navigate your selection with these.

NOTE: If you have configured the right ALT key to function as CTRL-ALT (in Preferences/Keyboard), using the quick move feature in a GEOS app is not possible. This is because the left ALT key is the DESQview key and holding it down pops up the DESQview menu.

The work around is to:

1. Quick Copy the text (see the GEOS Users Guide for information on how to do this), then highlight the original text again and delete it by pressing the spacebar or delete key.

2. Cut and paste the text.

TASK SWITCHING

You can switch out of AOL and run another application from the DESQview menu. In order to do this, run AOL and click on Setup. In the Advanced Setup dialog box, add &DO (zero not the letter 'oh') in the Post-Modem String box. This will tell GEOS to ignore the DTR line so that you will not be disconnected.

The time you spend in the new application is limited by how much inactive time AOL allows before you are automatically logged off. You will be alerted, via a dialog box, before being logged off and given the choice to remain online.

--Information provided by John Ezike (GWRepJohn)

Article#0010
Updated: 06/08/92
DESQview: DESQview v2.4x mouse tip

If you are task switching GEOS with DESQview v2.4x, there is a possibility that your mouse might freeze after long use.

To avoid this, switch back to the DV menu, select Rearrange, Tune Performance and click on REVIVE MOUSE. Click DONE to return to the previous app.

Revive the mouse after 15 minutes or so and that should do it. Remember to always use the most recent mouse driver for your mouse.

--Information provided by GWRepJohn

Article#0011
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: GW Adam's famous memory explanation

GW Adam's "famous" memory explanation:

XMS has three types of memory to offer an application: upper, high and extended.

Upper memory lives between 640K and 1Mb and is usually provided only with the help of a 386 (QEMM, 386MAX with the RAM option), or a special chip set or an EEMS board. If an XMS manager supports upper memory blocks, GEOS will allocate as many as are available (up to 10, I think) and give it to the heap to parcel out to applications just as if the blocks were part of the conventional 640K--the apps never know the difference.

High memory is the 64K-16 bytes that can be accessed at the 1Mb boundary on a 286 and above, owing to a quirk of the address calculation. If this is available when GEOS starts up, it will use this memory, but only for swapping as DOS can't access memory up here (it "normalizes" all pointers it's given, so any pointer to this area gets wrapped down to the interrupt table at the bottom of memory). GEOS can swap to this 63K faster than it can to the rest of extended memory, as it doesn't have to go to and from protected mode to do it.

Extended memory is anything beyond the first 63K. GEOS will use the largest free block of extended memory the XMS manager has to offer and will swap to it using XMS functions. This is, of course, a little slow, but not as slow as swapping to disk.

When in the presence of EMS (expanded memory), GEOS takes the 64K page frame provided by a 3.0-compliant EMS manager and maps 3 16K pages to the lower 48K and gives it to the system in the same way as upper memory is used--those 48K are parceled out automatically among the apps as requested and they never know the difference. The remaining 16K page is used for swapping, with data being copied to the 16K page until no more will fit, at which point the current EMS page that is mapped there is mapped out and another EMS page from the set GEOS allocated at start-up is mapped in its place, and the swapping continues. GEOS doesn't use the expanded page frame offered by some EMS 4.0-compliant managers and boards, unfortunately, but it will...

Given a choice between having memory be expanded and extended, I would always choose expanded, both for the extra 48K it provides for immediate use by applications (it's amazing the difference 48K makes in system performance), and for the increased speed of swapping (not having to go in and out of protected mode to copy the data), as well as the lessened chance of losing serial-port interrupts while in protected mode.

If presented with just raw extended memory, no XMS driver, GEOS just uses the whole thing as swap space, employing the BIOS block move function to copy the data to and fro.

Article#0012
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: AOL, GeoComm, and Taskswitching

In order to taskswitch to DOS applications with TaskMAX while using your modem, you need to tell the modem not to disconnect when you switch out to the DOS application. There are two ways to do this:

1) Start up GeoComm and type AT&D0&W. The AT&D0 tells the modem to ignore DTR and the last &W tells the modem to save this setting in its non-volatile RAM memory so every time you use the modem this will work. Exit GeoComm, and use America Online or GeoComm normally and you'll be able to taskswitch out without hanging up.

2) In America Online insert in the post-modem string the following:

AT&D0DT

If you insert only AT&D0, the modem knows to ignore DTR but not how to dial. The "DT" tells the modem to (D)ial (T)one. This will allow you to taskswitch from AOL, but will not affect GeoComm unless you had run AOL beforehand. The setting will be lost each time you power off your modem. Either of these two methods should work.

--Information provided by GWRepMike

Article#0013
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Some notes about using a cache

I have a friend who was having trouble running Windows on her laptop and thought maybe the 4Mb card (over and above the 2Mb on the motherboard) might be having some trouble. She could run GEOS, however, so we loaded up Perf and tried to get GEOS to use 2Mb of extended memory, so we could see if writing to the 4Mb card produced death. We worked at it for 10 minutes opening document after document after document, running through all the pages of each, and finally managed to get GEOS to use 1.5Mb of memory.

When you've got extended or expanded memory, GEOS already treats it as sort of a file cache for its documents. Given a choice between throwing out a clean block of memory [and having to load it back in from disk] or writing it out to extended/expanded memory, GEOS will always choose to write it to the memory, until that memory fills up.

There are two things for which a cache is really nice:

1) The mapping of 32-character names to DOS names and the enumeration of directory contents in general. GEOS doesn't cache such things at all, so any help it can get from a disk cache is good.

2) If your cache is big enough, most of the stuff that GEOS needs to restart after running a DOS program remains in the cache (unless the DOS program did a lot of disk stuff) so restarting is lightning fast. I give Super PCKwik 7Mb to play with (it gives GEOS back half of that, though) and GEOS restarts in under 2 seconds, usually, after running a DOS program. Your mileage may vary.

There is a quite noticeable difference in speed between GEOS running with 384K of extended memory and no extended memory. As you get up to 2Mb of extra memory, it becomes much less noticeable, unless you're manipulating really large documents, or documents with a large number of ellipses in them (you don't want to know why).

On a 4Mb machine, I'd probably give 1Mb-2Mb to the cache (whatever it happens to be), use some for filling in the space above 640K (of which GEOS can make good use) and leave the rest for GEOS to swap in.

--Information provided by GW Adam

Article#0014
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Taskswitching, MS DOS 5, GEOS 1.2

Using Upper Memory with MS DOS 5.0:

Upper Memory is the area between 640K and 1Mb, historically dedicated to I/O adapters and System ROM. Memory management programs often use this area to allow access to extended memory. If you have a 386-based machine, you can use Upper Memory to increase your system performance by installing the EMM386 driver included with MS DOS 5.0. GEOS can only access Upper Memory by working through DOS and a memory manager. Add the following lines (if they aren't already there) to your CONFIG.SYS file to enable EMM386:

  DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS
  DEVICE=EMM386.EXE RAM
  DOS=HIGH,UMB

If you are using a memory manager other than EMM386, such as 386MAX or QEMM-386(TM), you don't need to add these lines to your CONFIG.SYS file, though DOS still needs the DOS= line to load things into Upper Memory.

If the above lines are in your CONFIG.SYS file when you run the GEOS SETUP program, SETUP will automatically get GEOS ready for working with EMM386. If necessary, you can set this up yourself by turning on the XMS/HIMEM.SYS option from the Computer section of the Preferences desk tool.

If you are task swapping with another application that uses Upper Memory you should start that application first, so that it has a chance to make use of Upper Memory. If you wish, you can prevent GEOS from allocating Upper Memory by turning off the XMS/HIMEM.SYS option from the Computer section in GeoWorks Ensemble's Preferences desk tool.

Task Swapping GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2 or GeoWorks Pro in MS DOS 5.0

The MS DOS Shell has a Task Swapping feature which allows you to switch back and forth among DOS programs. Using GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2 or GeoWorks Pro with Task Swapping requires some preparation.

Your CONFIG.SYS file contains a FILES= line which sets the system's maximum number of open files. GeoWorks Ensemble or GeoWorks Pro will refuse to suspend (return to the MS DOS shell) if the number of files is too small. You should set the value to 100. Edit the line to read:

  FILES=100

If you create a Program Item to run GeoWorks Ensemble and Pro and want GeoWorks Ensemble and Pro to use your extended memory, set the XMS Required field of the Advanced Properties of your Program Item to a non-zero value (512 is recommended). The MS DOS 5.0 on-line documentation incorrectly suggests running GeoWorks (Ensemble) with the Advanced Property option Prevent Program Switch set. This is not necessary.

The only Task-Swapping Hot Key supported under GeoWorks Ensemble is CTRL+ESC. All other Application Hot Keys will be will ignored, since they will be intercepted by GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2.

GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2 will refuse to suspend itself (it won't return to the MS DOS shell) if:

* The FILES= line in CONFIG.SYS contains too small a value.

* A COM port other than the mouse's (e.g., the modem's) is open, as when GeoComm is running, or if GeoDex is running and has dialed the phone.

* GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2 is formatting a disk or working with a disk drive in the background.

You can return to the MS DOS Shell from Ensemble when Ensemble is in the middle of most disk operations, but you may experience strange behavior. It is recommended that you wait until Ensemble is idle before hitting CTRL+ESC.

If you press CTRL+ESC while printing, Ensemble will present a dialog box asking you to confirm your action. If you do choose to suspend Ensemble, printing will halt and you must be sure not to do anything to the printer before resuming Ensemble, or risk printing garbage when you do resume.

--Information provided by GW Matt

Article#0015
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Double DOS prompt

If you get two DOS prompts when exiting GeoWorks Ensemble, like this:

C:\>
C:\>

here are some possible fixes:

* Edit the batch file that launches GEOS and make the first line @ECHO OFF. That should take of it. You need to be running DOS 3.2 or later.

--Information provided by GWRepJohn

* It could also be an extra carriage return at the end of the batch file that launches GEOS. Make sure you don't have a blank line or two at the end of the file.

--Information provided by JBENZver2

* You can also delete the ECHO ON line at the end of the batch file that launches GEOS. It caused the same result on my system till I deleted that line.

--Information provided by JaxomSteve

* The reason you are getting two C\GEOWORKS> prompts when you exit GeoWorks Ensemble is that when we wrote the batch file that launches GEOS in Notepad, we accidentally stuck in a blank line at the end. Use Notepad to edit the batch file and delete that last blank line.

--Information provided by GW Peter

Article#0016
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: DR DOS and FILES=120

When running GeoWorks Ensemble under DR DOS, you need to have a FILES=120 line in your CONFIG.SYS. This is because DR DOS does not allow us to dynamically extend the file table in the same way that we do with MS DOS, so you need to allocate enough file entries ahead of time.

--Information provided by GW Matt

Article#0017
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Booting from a floppy and using COMSPEC

When you boot up your PC, DOS sets up a system variable called COMSPEC which stores the location of COMMAND.COM. COMSPEC can be set during boot up though, so if you wish to boot from a floppy but have your PC access COMMAND.COM from C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM you can do so by putting the following line in your floppy's CONFIG.SYS:

  SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS /E:256 /P

and put the following line in your floppy's AUTOEXEC.BAT:

  SET COMSPEC=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM

After you do this, you only need IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS on your floppy and COMMAND.COM in C:\DOS. If you want to examine COMSPEC, type SET at the DOS prompt.

--Information provided by Goody (Glenn Goodman)

Article#0018
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Some Info on File Handles

Starting with DOS version 2.0, a set of UNIX-like file functions were added to the DOS repertoire. The idea is that when you open a file, DOS passes back a 16-bit value called a "file handle." Thereafter, when you read, write, seek a position, or close the file, you refer to it with its handle.

One of the nicer features is that you can refer to certain devices as if they were disk files by using one of the reserved DOS handles:

Pre-defined DOS handles
-----------------------

Handle  Name/Description
---  ----------------------
 0  Standard Input Device (usually the keyboard)
 1  Standard Output Device (usually the screen)
 2  Standard Error Device (always CON, the screen, for  messages)
 3  Standard AUX Device (Asynchronous Adapter; 1st serial Port COM1)
 4  Standard Printer (first parallel printer port LPT1)

--Information provided by GWRepJohn

Article#0019
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Multitasking and Chewing Gum

Computers: The Walking and Chewing Gum Theory

Single-Tasking: You are walking down the street and you decide you would like to chew gum. You stop, untie your shoes and take them off, get a pack of gum from your pocket, take out a stick, put it in your mouth and then chew. When you are done chewing you remove the gum from your mouth, place it carefully back inside the wrapper, put it in your pocket, put back on your shoes and then continue to walk.

Task-Switching: You are walking down the street and you decide you would like to chew gum. You slip out of your loafers, grab the piece of gum you have stashed behind your ear for just such an emergency and chew, chew, chew. When you are done chewing, you remove the gum from your mouth and quickly place it behind your ear (making sure, of course, that no one sees you do something so disgusting), slip back on your loafers and continue walking.

Cooperative Multi-tasking: You are walking down the street with gum in your mouth. Your shoes have been specially designed to release your brain at the end of every other step. As soon as your brain is free it notices that you have gum in your mouth. You chew your gum twice. Your gum then releases its grip on your brain. Your brain looks around and realizes that you are standing in the middle of a busy street with your mouth open. You quickly start to walk, hoping that you will reach the sidewalk before you are hit by a car and lose your gum. Warning, there may be bugs in your shoes or your gum. Several users have reported uncontrollable chewing while standing on one leg.

Pre-Emptive Multi-tasking: You are walking down the street and chewing your gum. Just like the other coordinated human beings. Little do they know you are really an android: a flesh covered machine from the future, stalking the streets of the city, looking for a haircut.

--Information provided by GW SScholl (Steve Scholl, GeoWorks Engineering)

Article#0020
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Multitasking/Task Switching

GEOS does Pre-emptive Multi-tasking with applications written for it (i.e. GeoWrite, GeoDraw). GEOS as a whole will Single-Task with other DOS applications. If you use DR DOS 6.0 and TaskMAX, GEOS will Task-Switch with other DOS applications. With MS DOS 5.0 you must use their dosshell and GeoWorks Ensemble 1.2 to switch to other DOS applications. With DR DOS 6.0, the DOS applications that you can task switch to will appear in the Express Menu.

THE DEFINITIONS:

Single Tasking: This is what you have been using for years when you run DOS applications. One program is in main memory. To use another application you must shutdown the current application and load the new program into memory.

Task Switching: Similar to Single Tasking in that only one application is in main memory and running. However, you may have several other applications which are "switched out." These applications are loaded into expanded or extended memory, or swapped to disk, but they are not actually running or performing any function. You can switch quickly (2-15 seconds) between the running application and any one of the "switched out" applications. When you switch to an application it picks up exactly where it left off when you switched it out.

Multi-Tasking: This is when you have several applications in memory and running at the same time. You can be typing in your word processor, while downloading a file with your terminal package and printing from your graphics program. Inside your computer the cpu is not really running all the applications at the same time. Instead it executes some instructions for one application then executes some instructions for another application and so on. This switching is so fast that to the user it appears that all the applications are running at the same time. Multi-tasking comes in two flavors: Cooperative and Pre-emptive.

Cooperative Multitasking: A primitive means of multitasking. To allow the cpu to switch to a different application, the current application must "give up" the cpu. The programmer actually makes system calls which tell the operating system that the application is willing to stop executing. The smoothness of the transition between applications is dependent upon programmers correctly anticipating when their programs will be busy and making the system calls at those times.

Pre-emptive Multitasking: The correct way to multi-task. The operating system uses a concept called a Time-Slice (usually about 1/10 of a second). It allows one application to run for the entire Time-Slice, then it examines the list of applications that wish to run and gives the application with the highest priority the next Time-Slice. Each application has a base priority and this priority increases if the user is interacting with it and decreases if the application recently was given a Time-Slice.

--Information provided by GW SScholl (Steve Scholl, GeoWorks Engineering)

Article#0021
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Real, Protected, and Virtual Memory

An introduction to processors and operating modes.

The original 8088 processor, by design, is able to directly address only 640k. It can actually address more but the additional address space is reserved for system uses and is not available to applications. The 8088 is also a single-threaded processor and can only handle one task at a time. It wasn't called anything at first because this was all that was available, but this mode of operation is now called REAL mode.

The 80286 processor was designed to operate in one of 2 different modes, REAL and PROTECTED. The REAL mode is downward compatible with the earlier 8088 and has all the same capabilities and limitations, including the 640k memory limit. But the 286 can also operate in PROTECTED mode. This uses a completely different set of circuitry in the chip and has several features not found in REAL mode. First, it is not limited to 640k as the chip can directly address 16meg of memory when in this mode. But due to built in support for virtual memory (page swapping), software applications can actually address up to 1gig of memory. In addition the 286 provides direct hardware support for multi-tasking in this mode. It also provides memory protection (thus the name) which prevents a task running in one block of memory from invading the memory being used by another task. The downside of PROTECTED mode is that it is totally incompatible with applications written for REAL mode, including MS DOS itself. OS/2 is an example of an operating system that runs entirely in this mode.

And finally along came the 80386. The 386 retained both REAL and PROTECTED mode operation to be downward compatible with earlier processors, but added some new features. First of all the enlarged 32 bit address bus allows the chip to directly address a whopping 4gig of memory with virtual memory addressing of 64,000 gigabytes! Another great feature of the 386 chip is the addition of VIRTUAL REAL mode. This mode utilizing the virtual memory mapping features of the chip which allows it to slice up the PC's memory into separate partitions, each of which then appears to be its own little PC (a virtual machine) operating in REAL mode. This allows downward compatibility with REAL mode applications while retaining the ability to multi-task at the hardware level. When Windows says it is running in "Enhanced" mode and multi-tasking DOS apps, it is really the 386 chip that is doing the work via this VIRTUAL REAL processing mode. This is why Windows Enhanced mode requires a 386 machine to operate.

--Information provided by Rocky25 (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0022
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: DR DOS 6 and GeoWorks Ensemble tips

GeoWorks Ensemble works fine under DR DOS but it does require some special configuration. Files need to be set at 120. This may seem like a high figure but it will only use about 9K of RAM, and if you are using EMM386 it will not reduce the amount of your conventional memory. GeoWorks Ensemble will not even load with files equal to 30.

GeoWorks uses XMS memory when available and will use the HMA if it is available.

ENSEMBLE 2.0

Ensemble 2.0 has built in support for TaskMAX available. Enable the taskswitcher support by selecting it in Preferences, Taskswitcher. Tasked DOS programs will appear in the Express menu and any DOS program launched from Ensemble 2.0 will become a task, as long as TaskMAX is active. TaskMAX/GEOS clipboard support may be enabled from the TaskMAX Control panel, which will also appear in the Express menu.

GEOWORKS PRO, QUICK START, PERSONAL OFFICE SERIES

GeoWorks Pro, Quick Start, and the Personal Office Series products will automatically detect TaskMAX if it is active. In most other respects, support for TaskMAX in these products is similar to the support in Ensemble 2.0.

ENSEMBLE 1.2

In Ensemble 1.2, TaskMAX can be initialized only with CTRL+ESC. No other hot keys can be used. We have also received reports that even if it does switch TaskMAX will eventually fail. At this time we cannot recommend the use of TaskMAX with GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2.

Any version of GeoWorks prior to 1.2 will not work under DR DOS 6.

There have been some reports that GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2 will not run when SuperPCK is loaded into upper memory (/&U+). If you are having trouble loading GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2 try the switch /&U-. Also if you are using SuperPCK in expanded memory (/A+) advanced disk transfers must be turned off with the switch /H-. These problems were corrected in more recent versions of GEOS.

Article#0023
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: MS DOS SETVER and Ensemble V1.0

In order to make GeoWorks Ensemble V1.0 work with MS DOS 5.0 or 6.0, you may be required to use the DOS SETVER command.

Note: SETVER is not required in all cases; you only need to try SETVER if GeoWorks Ensemble V1.0 won't run under MS DOS 5.0 or 6.0. MS DOS 5.0 compatibility is built into GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2 or higher.

Details:

To make GeoWorks Ensemble V1.0 work with MS DOS 5.0 or 6.0, please follow the steps below:

1. Make sure you have the following line in your config.sys file:

  device = c:\dos\setver.exe

2. At the DOS prompt, type the following:

  setver geos.exe 4.01

A message appears announcing that the version table has been successfully updated.

3. Restart your machine as you normally would, such as by pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE all at the same time.

4. At the DOS prompt, type the following lines:

  C:
  CD\
  CD GEOWORKS
  SETUP

Note: In Ensemble 1.2, the executable file was renamed from GEOS.EXE to KERNEL.EXE. We do not guarantee that Ensemble 1.0 will work at all with MS DOS 6.0. If it does not, consider upgrading to a newer version of GEOS.

Article#0024
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: DR DOS 6.0 essential information

To successfully run with DR DOS 6.0 you must:

1) Use a GeoWorks product, version 1.2 or higher

2) Set the number of files in the CONFIG.SYS to 120. When users get the error "Fatal error in ___" it is usually because of not having enough files. How much memory will this take up?

A user reports that he tried changing the files setting in CONFIG.SYS back from 120 to 30 (with DR DOS 5). By cutting the number of files by 90, he got back 9K of RAM. This comes out to 100 bytes per file. Not very much.

Some users wish to know why their FILES statement in CONFIG.SYS is suddenly set to 120. For DR DOS, we set files to 120 (for MS DOS, only 30). DR DOS does not allow us to extend the files table the way MS DOS does.

3) Unless the drive has been compressed do not load the SSTOR.EXE device driver in the CONFIG.SYS. This will cause the error
"Error reading drive D: Abort, Retry, Fail"
Fail will bring up the GeoWorks product without a problem but the error will not occur after the drive has been compressed. Of course if SSTOR.EXE has not been loaded then the error will not occur.

Article#0025
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Fastopen and GeoWorks

When users report encountering problems with damaged files, it is often difficult to determine if it is caused by hardware failure, a bug in GEOS, or an incompatibility with other software. We have determined that in many cases it can be attributed to an incompatibility with FASTOPEN.EXE. This problem may also cause DOS buttons in the DOS Programs section of the Welcome application in Ensemble 1.2 to suddenly disappear. If you are running DOS 4.01 and have FASTOPEN loaded in your CONFIG.SYS file, we recommend that you remove it.

The following is an example of how FASTOPEN may be invoked in the file CONFIG.SYS:

 install = c:\dos\fastopen.exe c:=(50,25)

The first numeric parameter in the example above (50) is the number of files FASTOPEN tracks, and the second numeric parameter (25) is the "file extent parameter", which we assume to mean the size of the file.

GEOS definitely appears to be incompatible with FASTOPEN and MS DOS 4.01 when it is invoked with two numeric parameters. We have also had reports that it is incompatible when invoked with just one numeric parameter or without any numeric parameter (just the drive letter). This incompatibility does not prevent GEOS from running; instead, spurious data may be written out to the disk at undetermined times, thereby damaging open files. You will not notice any problem until the next time the damaged file is accessed. Therefore, the safest option is to avoid invoking FASTOPEN at all (i.e. eliminate the line containing FASTOPEN in the file CONFIG.SYS).

This problem also manifests itself in the form of disappearing DOS room buttons in Ensemble 1.2. Both the serial number and the information for buttons in the DOS Programs area are stored in the file \GEOWORKS\SYSTEM\DOS_ROOM.000. Since this file is accessed each time you launch GEOS, it is fairly common for the incompatibility to damage this file. If the Welcome application accesses this file and detects that it's been damaged, the file is deleted to prevent any further problems. However, this will cause the buttons that you have defined to suddenly disappear. You will also have to re-enter your serial number. When you experience problems of this type, it is advisable to check for FASTOPEN in CONFIG.SYS and to remove it.

--Information provided by GeoWorks Engineering Staff

Article#0026
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Delayed Write Disk Cache Problem

We have fixed the problem we had when trying to run with disk caches that have a "delayed write" feature. As it turns out, it was a bug in our EMS driver in versions prior to GeoWorks Pro. The problem was corrected in GeoWorks Pro and newer versions.

Article#0027
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: DR DOS 6.0 TaskMAX and Removable Drives

If a person has a removable drive with a letter higher than B and is running DR DOS 6.0 with TaskMAX with Ensemble 1.2, GEOS will think all disks in that drive are write-protected when other tasks are active in TaskMAX. This is because TaskMAX refuses to allow absolute sector writes for drives after B when it has more than 1 task around. Since an absolute write to the boot sector is how GEOS 1.2 determines if a disk is writable, GEOS will think such disks are write-protected. This problem should not occur with GeoWorks Pro or newer versions of GEOS.

Article#0028
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: PC-Kwik's Power Pak

QUESTION:
I'm having trouble running GeoWorks Ensemble after entering the POWERON command at the DOS prompt to load my PC-Kwik Power Pak. GeoWorks freezes and won't load. Any suggestions?

ANSWER:
You may need to edit the batch file to not have the screen accelerator loaded. I think the other parts of the package work okay with Ensemble. If you're running GeoWorks Pro, or Ensemble 1.2 and have PC-Kwik using expanded memory (/A+), you'll either have to make Ensemble not swap to expanded memory, or change PC-Kwik to use extended memory (/EM), or turn off its advanced features (/H- /D-).

--Information provided by GW Adam, GeoWorks

Article#0029
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Passwords in the DOS Room

While there is no built in password to use in the DOS Room, there is a work around. Using the following batch file, CHESS.BAT, as an example, here is what you do.

@echo off
cls
if .%1==.@ goto run
echo
echo
echo  Incorrect Password entered ....
echo ^G^G
goto end
:run
c:
cd\games
chess
cd\
:end

In the third line, the syntax is: IF (period)%1==(period)@ goto run.

In the line, ECHO ^G^G, the two ^G's (shift+6+G) should be displayed as bullets and it will beep twice indicating an error.

1. Set up your button as normal, but use CHESS.BAT as the DOS File for Button.

2. In the Command Line Options box, select ASK FOR OPTIONS EACH TIME.

3. Select NO, for Ask Before Returning To GEOS.

Now, when you click on the CHESS button, you will be asked to enter a parameter. If anything other than the @ symbol is typed and you press Enter, GEOS will shut down, but the Chess program will not be run!!

--Information provided by GWRepJohn (John Ezike)

Article#0030
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Why GEOS 1.2 is slow at formatting diskettes

This is straight from the programmer of GeoManager:

We know that formatting an unformatted disk under GEOS 1.2 is slow (though the actual slowness depends on the version of DOS being used; the most blatant offender is DOS 5). Anyone who has said that slow formatting is due to hardware differences is wrong. What *is* due to hardware differences (and by differences I mean from anything we've got in-house, as obviously if we could get it to happen in-house, we would have fixed it by now, as we've fixed every DOS-related thing I could reproduce and track down) is the inability to recognize valid floppies on some systems.

The GEOS 1.2 formatting code attempts to protect the user by checking to see if the disk is formatted and prompting for confirmation before formatting the disk. This is a good and worthwhile thing to do and I would be surprised if anyone disagreed with it.

The problem is that under GEOS 1.2, both GeoManager and the kernel have to see if the disk is formatted. GeoManager does it so it can request confirmation and the kernel does it so it can keep its record of registered disks up-to-date (if you format a disk the kernel already knows, it needs to update the 32-bit volume ID and volume name in the table, so if someone uses that disk handle again, it refers to the proper disk).

When the disk is unformatted, this means both GeoManager and the formatting code attempt to read the boot sector 3 times. Apparently under DOS 5.0 there's a DOS wrapper around int 13h that appears to retry the read even more times for each time we do it. This all adds up.

Article#0031
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: DR DOS and Tandy Portables

A problem has been reported when installing DR DOS 6.0 on Tandy Portables (specifically the 1400 HD). Upon boot completion, DR DOS will not recognize the 3.5" 720 KB floppy drive A:. It thinks that the drive is a 5.25" 360 KB. Ironically, the drive will READ a 720 disk, but it won't let you write to it. The FORMAT command will render your 3.5" disk able to hold only 360 KB of data. The folks at DR DOS and TANDY advise adding a line in CONFIG.SYS that reads:

DEVICE=C:\DRDOS\DRIVER.SYS /D:0 /F:2 /H:2 /S:9 /T:80

This solves the problem. Please note that in "/D:0" and "/T:80" those are zeros and not the letter "o". The only inconvenience with using this driver, is that it automatically assigns a different drive letter to the drive. Please note that the DRIVPARM statement will NOT work in this case. DRIVER.SYS must be used.

--Information provided by Foot lover (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0032
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: TaskMAX and Swap Memory

When setting up TaskMAX to use extended or expanded memory, about 512k per task is adequate for text based apps. With graphics applications add about 256k more per task, for a total of 768 per task.

A little bit of experimentation will narrow down the minimum each application requires to swap efficiently--swapping to memory is fast! When additional memory (over the amount of allocated RAM) is required for swap space, TaskMAX will use your hard disk to swap to.

--Information provided by GWRepJohn (John Ezike)

Article#0033
Updated: 06/08/92
DOS: Menu programs, problems with batch files

The problem: Many DOS-based menu programs (e.g. Direct Access, PC-Shell) have trouble with batch files as opposed to executables. You set up some keystroke to run GEOS.BAT and when you exit GEOS it drops you to DOS instead of going back to the menu program, like all your other apps do.

The solution: Tell the menu program to run KERNEL.EXE instead of GEOS.BAT in Ensemble 1.2, or LOADER.EXE instead of GEOS20.BAT in Ensemble 2.0.

--Information provided by Andrew Chaikin (GeoWorks)

Article#0034
Updated: 06/10/92
DOS: OS/2 and Ensemble 1.2

The one case where I know a person has been successful at running Ensemble 1.2 with OS/2, he's got an HPFS partition off of which OS/2 runs, but also has a bootable DOS partition containing DR DOS 6.0. He sets up a DOS beast in the workplace shell with DOS_STARTUP_DRIVE set to C: and it boots DR6 in that DOS box and GEOS runs fine under it. the one drawback is he can't access the HPFS partition from there.

The root of our troubles with running under a booted DOS session (as opposed to one with DOS services provided by OS/2) is FSFILTER.SYS, which does two things that screw us over: it won't let us open more than 20 files unless we've invoked int 21h function 67h, and it makes every open file appear to DOS to have been opened to the character device "NUL". Ironically, the guy who has gotten GEOS to run without tweaks to it cannot get FSFILTER.SYS to work, while I can't boot a DOS session without FSFILTER.SYS... go figure...

--Information provided by GW Adam

Article#0035
Updated: 06/10/92
DOS: Directories of GEOS Long Filenames

A file called GDIR071B.ZIP is available in the Software Libraries on America Online. It allows you to print out the 32 character GEOS filenames from the DOS prompt. This utility only works with GEOS 1.2 or 1.0 files.

To use GDIR071B, unZIP and read the docs. Basically you just type GDIR to list files in your current directory or GDIR [pathname] for another directory. Output will look something like this:

homeowne 000  37008  6-15-91  22:04 Homeowner's Newsletter

As you can see, the DOS filename is printed first, then the file's size, its modification date and time, and finally the GeoWorks extended name for the file.

A companion batch file called GEODIR.ZIP will display one screen at a time so you don't have to try to "catch" it as is scrolls by (similar to DOS's DIR /P). After unZIPing just put the file GEODIR.BAT in the same directory as GDIR.EXE (from GDIR071B.ZIP). To use, type GEODIR or GEODIR [pathname].

A great way to use GDIR to put all this directory info on disk comes from Lady Carmen:

"What I did was to plug in disk after disk (all files are on floppy disks because of hard disk size constraints, like--no ROOM) and issue GDIR B:*.0* >> GEODISK.TXT. This appends each new directory into the file GEODISK.TXT, so that when I finish I have a document containing the description of every GEOS file I own, along with which disk those files are on, which I can then print out, or port into GeoWrite and fancy up as much as I want."

GWRepDerek expands on this idea a bit:

He suggests trying a "GDIR *.*|SORT>gdirlist - where the "|" symbol means route the GDIR output through the DOS SORT command (assuming DOS is in your path) and ">" means to redirect the resulting output to a file called GDIRLIST rather than to the screen. Quite handy if you have a large directory and want to do some maintenance, because you can just print out the list and decide what you want to archive or get rid of.

Special thanks to Coty Rosenbalth and Jim Schmidt for writing these handy utilities!

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0036
Updated: 06/10/92
DOS: GEOS 1.2 and the MS DOS 5 Taskswitcher

Here are some step by step instructions about how to swap GeoWorks Ensemble 1.2 and other programs using a feature of the DOSSHELL, the task swapper.

1. Enter the DOSSHELL (either automatically when you boot up or by typing DOSSHELL and any command prompt).

2. You will see four windows:
Directory Tree (upper left)
Current highlighted branch of dir tree window (upper right)
Main programs (lower left)
Active Task list (lower right)

Click on your Directory tree window and highlight your \GEOWORKS directory. Notice that all your GeoWorks files are now displayed in the window to the right (upper right).

3. Go to the upper right window where your GeoWorks files are displayed and highlight GEOS.EXE (version 1.0) or KERNEL.EXE (version 1.2), the file that starts GeoWorks Ensemble for you.

4. Press SHIFT+ENTER (hold down the SHIFT key while hitting ENTER). This will move GEOS.EXE or KERNEL.EXE to your active task list and will start GeoWorks Ensemble for you. You can use Ensemble as you normally would.

5. When ready to swap out of Ensemble, press CTRL+ESC (hold down the CTRL or "control" key while hitting the ESC or "escape" key). This key combination will be passed on to DOS and will take you out of Ensemble and put you back in the DOSSHELL. Ensemble is now inactive but it is NOT shut down. Notice that GEOS.EXE or KERNEL.EXE is now listed in your active task window (lower right).

6. Repeat steps 2-4 but this time instead of picking your GeoWorks directory, pick another directory and program you wish to use. Or, you may wish to highlight "Command Prompt" in the Main programs window (lower left) to get to the DOS prompt (a handy exit to DOS when using Ensemble that won't disturb your work within Ensemble... you will be able to pick up where you left off without closing any windows). When satisfied with your choice, do SHIFT+ENTER again to start this program.

7. Now that you have two programs in your active task list. To swap between them, press CTRL+ESC, highlight the other program in active task list, and bingo, you're there. Or, you can take a shortcut.. hitting ALT+TAB will take you to the other program in your active task list without the need to return to DOSSHELL in between.

8. You will need to close each program in your task list before exiting DOSSHELL. Don't worry, if you forget, DOS will remind you and give you a chance to close them from the DOSSHELL itself.

NOTES:

If you want to get fancy, you can have many programs in your active task list and swap directly between them.. ALT+ESC takes you to the next program in your list, ALT+SHIFT+ESC takes you to the previous program.

If you don't remember all these key sequences, there's help for you in DOSSHELL. Just click on HELP. Pick INDEX. Pick "Active Task List". All of the keys and functions are described for you there.

If you try this and it doesn't work, don't panic. Chances are you're not doing anything wrong. Whether this works for you or not depends on how much memory you have and how your system is configured.

Finally, there is one catch. For a program to be swapped out, it must be completely inactive. That means it can't be printing a document, writing to a disk, etc.

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0037
Updated 04/15/92
DOS: Staying Computer Virus Free

Chances are by now most of you have heard of computer viruses. Just as an unwanted virus can attack the human body and do damage, a computer "virus" can destroy data on your computer system. A virus can be transferred via modem over bbs systems and, in some cases, via floppy disks. But before panic sets in, there are two important thing to keep in mind:

1) viruses are MUCH less common than you might think and chances are VERY likely that you will never see or come into contact with one;

2) damage from viruses is very easy to prevent.

All programs on America Online and most commercial online services are checked for known viruses before they are made available for you to download. But if you exchange shareware with friends, transfer disks between home and work, or call local BBSs, it might be a good idea to do your own virus scanning. An excellent program for doing this is available on America Online. It's updated continuously and AOL gets it directly from the author. It's called SCAN by McAfee. SCAN will search for over 1199 known viruses and variations on your hard disk or floppies. It is very easy to use (you just type SCAN and then the directory or disk you want scanned). If it finds any viruses, the companion program CLEAN will remove them.

To find these programs on America Online, press CTRL+K for keyword, then type QUICKFIND. Next type McAfee. You'll see all of the virus programs available. Highlight SCAN and pick "get description" then "download file".

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0038
Updated: 06/10/92
GEOS.INI: Font Directory in Ensemble 2.0

QUESTION: How do you modify the GEOS.INI file in Ensemble 2.0 to make Ensemble 2.0 automatically see the fonts from the font directory in GeoWorks Pro or Ensemble 1.2?

Add these lines to your Ensemble 2.0 GEOS.INI file:

 [paths]
 userdata font = C:\GEOWORKS\FONT

--Information provided by GWRepRoseS

Article#0039
Updated 07/05/93
Printers: HP DeskJet 500, Ensemble 2.0, envelopes

Here are detailed instructions for printing envelopes on the DeskJet 500 using Ensemble 2.0. The major things to note are that you must not use the envelope feed button, and you must be careful not to put the envelope too far into the paper tray (see step 5):

DeskJet envelope printing--definitive instructions.

1. From the File menu, choose Page Size.
  For "Type," select Envelope
  For "Size," click on Envelope #10
  Decrease the Width to 8.5 inches.
  Click Apply, then Close

2. From the File menu, choose Page Setup
  Change the margins as follows:
  Top Margin: 0.375 inches
  Bottom Margin: 0.375 inches
  Right Margin: 0.25 inches
  Left Margin: 0.25 inches
  Click Apply, then Close

3. Enter the return address at the very top left of the envelope form on the screen. When entering the addressee information, start the first line about two inches down from the top, and three or four inches from the left margin.

4. From the File menu, choose Print. Then click on the Options button.
  Change the height to 4.5 inches
  For Paper Source, select Manual
  Do NOT select Envelope for "Type of Paper."
  Click OK.

5. Feeding the envelope into the printer is the tricky part. DeskJets have a button on their main panel to advance the envelopes into the printer. Do NOT use this button. To feed the envelope, insert the envelope face down, lengthwise (portrait), into the top paper tray until the top edge of the envelope is barely touching the large paper feed rollers. Another way to say this is to insert the envelope up to the "stop", then pull it back it out about a half inch to an inch.

6. Now click on the Print button.

If the envelope is ejected and the envelope text prints on a sheet of paper, the envelope was inserted too far under the large paper feed rollers in step five.

Note: When printed correctly, the return address will print one inch down from the top and one inch in from the left margin. This is unfortunate, but normal.

--Information provided by GW Doreen

Article#0040
Updated 06/26/93
Printers: HP DeskJet 550C, envelopes

Successful envelope printing on the 550C is a snap:

1. Follow directions in the HP manual for printing envelopes, but LOAD ENVELOPES FLAP LEFT.
2. Select FILE, Print.
3. At the Print window, select OPTIONS.
4. At the Options window, select:
a. Type of paper in printer: envelope
b. Size of paper: Envelope #10
c. Paper feed: click on "lengthwise" feed (first choice)
5. Click on OK at the Option Window, then click on Print at the Print Window.

If the 2.0-supplied envelope template is used without the modification noted above, the first few characters on the return address line will be cut off on printout.

--Information provided by GWRepNeal

Article#0041
Updated 06/26/93
Errors: Bad Handle Messages

QUESTION: I've been experiencing frequent crashes and "Bad handle..." messages. Any suggestions?

ANSWER: Copy SHARE.EXE to the ROOT directory of the hard drive you boot from. GEOS should automatically detect and use it. You can accomplish the same adjustment by including the line:

  INSTALL=C:\SHARE.EXE /F:4096

in your CONFIG.SYS file (MS DOS 4.x and 5.x only), or

  C:\SHARE.EXE  /F:4096

in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file (MS DOS 3.3 to DOS 5.x).
In Preferences, click on the GEOS icon and try changing the 'Number of Handles' to 3000. Make sure you have the lines:

  FILES=30
  BUFFERS=30

in your CONFIG.SYS file.

--Information provided by GWRepJohn (John Ezike)

Article#0042
Updated: 06/08/92
Errors: Program too big or Bad .EXE file errors

The problem:

Trying to start GEOS for the first time, I get error message from DOS: "Program too big to fit in memory" or "Bad .EXE file" or some similar message.

The solution:

First, check your available conventional memory. A quick way to do this is with the DOS CHKDSK command. GeoWorks products require 512K of available memory. If you have 512K of free base memory, then there is one other possibility:

You did not run SETUP, but rather just copied GeoWorks Ensemble disks into the hard drive. Files on GeoWorks product disks are compressed and fragmented and cannot run unless installed using the SETUP program. You should erase all files copied to the hard drive and run SETUP or INSTALL from disk 1, as appropriate.

Article#0043
Updated: 06/08/92
Errors: Insert proper disk in drive 3

The problem:

The user encounters strange error messages such as "Insert proper disk in drive 3," which may occur during installation or when accessing serial port or using Preferences. Especially a problem on Leading Edge Model D's. Another symptom may be an inability to dial phone numbers from GeoDex.

Details

This may be traceable to a problem in the serial driver in early (pre-Thanksgiving 1990) copies of Ensemble. A subsequent fix is in place in more recent versions. If you experience this problem, contact GeoWorks to obtain an upgrade.

Article#0044
Updated: 06/08/92
Errors: Cannot locate COMMAND.COM

The problem:

When trying to launch a DOS application from GEOS, the user gets the message "Cannot locate COMMAND.COM".

The solution:

The user may have the command processor (either COMMAND.COM or some other such as 4DOS.COM) loaded in a RAM drive that GEOS does not recognize. If GeoManager does not recognize or display the drive, then it cannot find the command processor on that drive.

Article#0045
Updated: 06/08/92
Escape: GeoPoker winning tunes

Here's a list of the songs that play when you win a hand in GeoPoker, from the song author, Chris Boyke:

5 of a kind: Thus Spake Zarathustra
Straight Flush: A song by Chris' Band, Huck
4 of a kind: Four ascending notes, (G A B C)
Full House: The Brady Bunch-like theme
Flush: Roto-Rooter-like theme
Straight: A melody that Jon Witort (Author of Solitaire, Pyramid & Poker) created.
3 of a kind: 3 Blind Mice
2 Pair: Tea for two
1 Pair: Odd Couple-like theme

Of course, any resemblance to copyrighted materials is coincidental!

--Information provided by GW James, James Kirkpatrick, GeoWorks

Article#0046
Updated: 06/08/92
Escape: Escape and Ensemble version 1.0 and 2.0

The first release of GeoWorks Escape requires Ensemble v1.2 or GeoWorks Pro.

If you tried to install Escape to GeoWorks Ensemble version 1.0 and then installed the upgraded GeoWorks Ensemble version 1.2, you will have to reinstall Escape. Escape contains some special system files that are not included with version 1.2.

Ensemble 2.0 requires its own version of Escape.

Article#0047
Updated: 4/20/92
Escape: Installation errors

Here are some solutions to some errors that have been reported during Escape installs:

"Abnormal Program Termination" Error:

Solution: Turn off extended memory and try again. REM out the "LOAD DOS HIGH" line in your CONFIG.SYS."

Quick Solution for Escape Install Problems using 720K disks only:

If you are having trouble installing Escape and you've got Escape on one 720K disk (as opposed to two 360K disks), go to the A or B prompt and type:  GH23 GP720.HLP

This executes the script without having to load the script into memory, which is the cause of most of the problems. Remember: this will only work if you've got Escape on one disk. The analogous command for the two-disk set (GH23 GP360.HLP) will stop the process after the first disk. So, if you've got Escape on two disks, or the above command doesn't seem to work, then try the next following install sequence suggestion:

1) Copy the files SYSTEM.EXE and VGA.EXE to the C:\GEOWORKS directory.

2) Copy the file WORLD.EXE to C:\GEOWORKS\WORLD

3) At the C:\GEOWORKS directory type:
  vga -d -o
 then type
  system -d -o

4) at the C:\GEOWORKS\WORLD directory type:
  world -d -o

5) Cross your fingers and type GEOS.

Make sure your GeoWorks software is in directory C:\GEOWORKS or substitute the proper directory name. Also substitute MONO.EXE for VGA.EXE if you have a monochrome monitor. The "o" above is the letter "o" and not zero.

--Information provided by GW Leslie

Article#0048
Updated: 06/10/92
Escape: The Clock and Multitasking with AOL

NOTE: This tip involves using the on screen clock that comes in the GeoWorks ESCAPE package along with GeoWorks Ensemble v1.2 or GeoWorks Pro.

With the release of the GeoWorks Escape entertainment package, we now have a brand new and very convenient way of multitasking during a download on America Online.

Up until now, the method for multitasking during a download has been to change AOL from full screen to window, switch to GeoManager, and then move it downward until a part was sticking out from under the AOL window. Then you switch back to AOL, start the download, and click on any part of GeoManager, and you're in business. This method works well. But if you're like me, you often find yourself starting a download then realizing you've forgotten to set things up beforehand. So you either cancel the download and start over or you're stuck. Well not anymore.

If you have GeoWorks Escape, you may have discovered this nifty trick already, but just if you haven't, give it a try:

1. From GeoManager or the Express menu, start the Clock.

2. Select the type of clock, text and background colors, size, and placement on the screen. I like the digital clock in the lower right hand corner of my screen. When you're happy with your selections, pick "Save Options" and then "Hide this window". As long as you exit Ensemble via the Express menu "Exit to Dos", you'll only have to setup the clock once.

Notice that even though you switch windows,the clock will always remain in the foreground and is never obscured by another window.

3. With no particular preparation, setup a download on America Online and click SAVE. Normally at this point, the download is started and you're stuck with it. Not anymore. Point your mouse at the clock. Notice the "not" sign turns back to a pointer. Click the left button and you get the clock options window. More importantly you get that terrific little blue E for Express menu. Click on that, pick STARTUP and then go about using any other GEOS application that you may want.

-- Information provided by PC Robin (Robin Bush)

Article#0049
Updated: 04/04/93
Extras: Why was Bounce included in v1.2 and Pro

Actually Bounce and the Font Demo programs were written a long time ago as test code. Bounce was there because it was a CPU intensive program that would cause lots of context switches and the font demo was there to make sure that we could actually apply transformations to fonts and it would work correctly, even in the obscure cases.

Both of these programs evolved later to more sophisticated test code, but these were the original. People in the office (non engineers) and people at trade shows commented that they really liked these things and since it didn't cost anything to include them (except a little disk space) we decided to do it.

We don't spend our days concocting little sample applications, but we do make an effort to write test programs. When these test programs are of interest to our users it's hard not to release them.

I hope you understand now where these programs originated and why we put them on the disks.

--Information provided by GW John (John Wedgwood, GeoWorks)

Article#0050
Updated: 06/08/92
Extras: How To Play With 3D Font Demo

The 3D Font Demo, which at first glance seems to do nothing more than spin the word GeoWorks around, is actually a fascinating electronic toy that can give as big a boost to your productivity as Solitaire and Tetris!

How To Use This Article

Instead of presenting 3D Font Demo in a strictly "command and function" format, I've provided a hopefully logical "tour" of the program. Probably the best way to use this article is to copy it to your Notepad and then set it up in your workspace alongside the Demo. Options: move the Demo as far into the upper left corner of the screen as it will go, then resize the Notepad as a long vertical box and move it to the right of the Demo. Alternatively, resize the Notepad as a wide horizontal box and position it under the Demo.

This article will take you through the Demo's tricks as well as its keyboard and mouse command sequences with one caveat: I'm not sure I've discovered all of them. We'll be looking at a lot of things in the Demo while it is in OFF Status, so don't turn the Demo on until the instructions request you do so.

Commands Preview

Keyboard keys you will be using alone or in combination: TAB, ENTER, BACKSPACE, DELETE, HOME, LEFT ARROW, RIGHT ARROW, UP ARROW, LEFT & RIGHT ARROWS TOGETHER, UP & RIGHT ARROWS TOGETHER

Mouse commands you will be executing: CLICK LEFT ONCE, CLICK RIGHT ONCE, CLICK LEFT & RIGHT TOGETHER ONCE, CLICK LEFT & RIGHT TOGETHER TWICE

1. 3D Font Demo

The 3D Font Demo consists of the STATUS: ON/OFF BUTTONS display, the TEXT FIELD BOX and the MAIN VIEWING SCREEN. When you first click on the Demo in the EXTRAS folder, its STATUS is set to OFF and the word GeoWorks appears in two places: once in the TEXT FIELD BOX to the right of the ON/OFF buttons and again in the MAIN VIEWING SCREEN.

2. The Keyboard Toggle and Mouse Select Commands

The first keyboard command that you'll probably find helpful is TOGGLE (I've made most of these command names up myself). Toggle shifts activity between the STATUS: ON/OFF BUTTONS and the TEXT FIELD BOX. To toggle from the keyboard, first hit the TAB KEY twice; this activates the toggle feature. You only have to activate to activate the toggle feature once per session.

Now hit the tab key again. This will shift activity from the STATUS: ON/OFF BUTTONS to the TEXT FIELD BOX while placing a cursor in the box. Hit the TAB KEY again. The CURSOR in the text field box will disappear and the OFF button will once again be highlighted.

IMPORTANT NOTE: While the Demo is running, the TAB KEY toggles between the text field box and the ON button. Of course, you don't have to use the TAB KEY toggle. You can simply use your mouse to click once on the ON/OFF buttons and/or activate the CURSOR in the text field box.

3. Changing the text in the Text Field Box

Use the tab key to activate, OR mouse to select, the TEXT FIELD BOX. A cursor will appear in the box. Using standard Ensemble commands, delete or backspace delete the word GeoWorks; alternately, use the mouse to highlight the word GeoWorks, then hit the DELETE key to erase it.

You are now ready to type in any word or words you'd like, up to 20 characters. You can include spaces, standard punctuation and even Ensemble's extended keyboard character commands (See Appendix B in the GeoWorks User's Guide for a list of these commands). After you have typed in your text, hit the ENTER key. The text you typed in the TEXT FIELD BOX automatically appears in the MAIN VIEWING SCREEN, replacing any text that was previously there.

EXTRA SPECIAL FUN: Please note that you are not limited to changing text while in OFF mode.
You can change text mid-stream, as well. While the Demo is running, Simply TAB to or CLICK ONCE in the text field box and delete the existing text. Then enter your NEW text and hit ENTER!

4. Using the ENTER KEY to "Run" the Demo Manually

Let's leave the text field box for a moment and take a look at the MAIN VIEWING SCREEN. With one simple keyboard command, you can run the demo, step-by-step, manually. To do this, make sure you are in TEXT FIELD MODE. If the text field box has not been activated, the ENTER command will not work. You are in text field mode if you see a cursor in the text field box.

With the STATUS still set to OFF, hit the ENTER KEY once to watch the display move one step. By repeatedly pressing the enter key, you can watch the demo run through its paces. The ENTER command only works when the Demo is OFF.

5. Using the SPACE [BAR] command

Let's go back to the TEXT FIELD BOX one more time. As I mentioned, you can type in any text you like including spaces. In the Demo, however, SPACE is also used to control how the Demo runs! This is one of the Demo's most intriguing features. If you changed the text in the text field box in one of the sections above, delete that text and replace it with the word GeoWorks. Be sure to capitalize the letter "W".

While deleting text in the text field box and before typing any new text, it is important to make sure you have deleted the entire text string, including any spaces to the left or right of your text string. You can do this by highlighting the text with the cursor and pressing delete or, if you use the keyboard, press the RIGHT ARROW KEY to bring the cursor to the last character in the text box, which may or may not be a space! Then, use the BACKSPACE KEY to erase all text. When you are finished, the cursor should be resting flush with the left side of the box.

With the word GeoWorks now typed in the box, hit the ENTER key to move the word onto the main viewing screen.

6. Starting the Demo

Start the Demo by clicking once on the ON button; alternately, use the TAB KEY to toggle back to STATUS: ON/OFF BUTTONS and PRESS the LEFT ARROW KEY.

7. The Axis, or Center of Spin

As the Demo starts up, pay particular attention to the SPIN AXIS, or center of spin. In the GeoWorks example, the center of spin is the "W," which is just about the center of the word. You can change the center of spin by adding and deleting SPACES to the left and right of your text string. Let's stop the demo and try this now.

8. Stopping the Demo

You can STOP the Demo by clicking once on the OFF button; alternately, use the TAB KEY to toggle back to the STATUS: ON/OFF BUTTONS and press the RIGHT ARROW KEY.

9. Changing the Center of Spin

The Demo should now be OFF. Activate the TEXT FIELD BOX and, if it is not already there, move the cursor to the left side of the box. You do this by clicking once with the cursor, or just use the HOME KEY. Using the SPACE BAR, place 5 spaces to the left of the word GeoWorks and hit ENTER. Start the Demo again. Notice that the CENTER OF SPIN is no longer on the "W" but on the "o" in Geo. By adding SPACES to the LEFT of the text string, we effectively moved the SPIN AXIS to the LEFT.

So far, we have used 13 characters out of a maximum of 20. Since we have room for 7 more characters, let's add 7 more spaces to the left. After you are finished, hit ENTER and run the Demo again. This time, our SPIN AXIS is on the letter "G"! Likewise, placing spaces to the RIGHT of the word GeoWorks will move the center of spin RIGHT. To spin the word GeoWorks on the letter "s," simply add 12 spaces to the right of the word instead of the left!

IMPORTANT NOTE: You do not have to stop the demo to change the center of spin. Just the follow the instructions for changing text mid-stream, which is outlined above.

10. Changing the Direction of Spin

Stop the Demo if it is running, then start it again. Notice that the word GeoWorks is spinning from left to right, or counterclockwise. This is the DEFAULT SPIN DIRECTION. You can easily REVERSE the SPIN DIRECTION by using the mouse or the keyboard.

While the Demo is running, click the LEFT mouse button ONCE to change the spin direction from left>right (counterclockwise) to right>left (clockwise). Likewise, click the RIGHT mouse button ONCE to change the direction back. From the keyboard, PRESS the LEFT ARROW TWICE to change the spin direction to right>left; PRESS the RIGHT ARROW TWICE to change the direction to left>right.

11. Special Spin Mode Effects: See-Saw and Accordion

As the Demo is running, it will begin do to two things on its own: See-Saw and Accordion. In See-Saw, your text will appear to swing back and forth from left to right, right to left. In Accordion, your text will appear to expand and contract while flipping itself horizontally.

While I have not found a way to prevent the Demo from entering these modes on its own, you can instruct the Demo to enter them and you can temporarily change them or go back to the regular spin mode. The keyword here is "temporarily," because once the Demo has decided to enter either of these modes it is truly in the driver's seat. From here on in you can ask the Demo to perform a specific spin, but after it executes your request it will return to doing what it wants. Please note that if you ask the Demo to enter either of these modes before it decides to enter them itself, you effectively hand control of the program over to the Demo, as if the Demo entered these modes on its own. You can, of course, still ask the Demo to perform specific spins. If you don't want to hand control of the program over to the Demo prematurely, stick to the basic spin direction commands until the Demo decides to enter See-Saw or Accordion on its own.

To enter See-Saw Mode with the mouse, click the LEFT and RIGHT mouse buttons ONCE at the same time. To enter Accordion mode, click the LEFT and RIGHT mouse buttons TWICE at the same time.

Once you are in either of these modes, you will no doubt want to go back to spin. To do this, issue the basic spin direction commands. To spin from right to left, click the LEFT mouse button. To spin from left to right, click the RIGHT mouse button. The Demo will perform one complete rotation for each mouse click you enter, and then revert back to what it was doing before you issued the command!

To enter these modes from the keyboard, first make sure that the TEXT FIELD BOX is activated (if it is, it will have a cursor in it). To activate the TEXT FIELD BOX, click on it ONCE or use the TAB KEY. (You can enter these modes while the STATUS area is active but it takes more key presses.)

To enter See-Saw from the keyboard, PRESS the LEFT and RIGHT ARROW KEYS at the same time once. To enter Accordion from the keyboard, PRESS the LEFT and RIGHT ARROW KEYS at the same time twice.

Important Note: You may find you have to activate the arrow keys before the Demo will accept your command requests, especially if it is too busy having fun on its own. To see whether the Demo will accept your commands, PRESS the LEFT ARROW once to do a right>left rotation. If it performs the rotation, you can proceed. If it does not, you can activate the arrow keys by PRESSING the UP and RIGHT ARROWS at the same time once.

One last thing before you run off and try to break your all-time record for pc productivity: if you issue lots of commands faster than the Demo can execute them, it may appear as if the Demo is no longer responding to you. It is, but it is busy carrying out all of your command sequences. Sit back, watch the screen for awhile, then continue to issue commands.

Hmm... should I play with Bounce now?

--Information provided by Neal Katz (GWRepNeal)

Article#0051
Updated: 06/08/92
Fax: Complete Communicator, Ensemble 1.2 or Pro

To use GEOS's "Complete Communicator" application, you must do the following:

1) Hardware:
Correctly install the Complete Communicator Fax Board. Out of the box, the board is set up to default to COM2: IRQ3. You can change it to COM1: IRQ4 using DIP switches on the board. These are the only choices available (i.e. no COM3: or 4:).

2) GEOS Software required:
You need to have the GEOS file "CCom Fax Driver" in your \GEOWORKS\SYSTEM directory, as well as the "Complete Communicator" application (usually in the \WORLD directory, though that shouldn't matter) if you want to be able to receive and manage faxes. Both should have a version number that matches your GEOS version number (use File, Get Info to check). For GeoWorks Pro this is 1.2 8-1.

3) In your AUTOEXEC.BAT:
Make sure the directory \CC is on your path (their SETUP program also puts \CC\CAM on your path; that doesn't seem to be necessary to run the GEOS fax driver) and run the program CCBACK.EXE that comes with the board before you run GEOS.

4) In GEOS.INI :
You've got to have these lines:

  [fax]
  driver = ccom.geo

They can go right between the sections [modem] and [printer], though I don't think location is critical.

If it is set up properly, you can run any GEOS application that includes a Print function (GeoDraw, GeoWrite, etc.) and you will see the choice "Fax" appear below Print on the File menu.

By the way, since CCBACK is running outside of GEOS, you can initiate a fax and then exit GEOS and the fax will still be sent (unlike printing, which depends on GEOS running until the job is completed).

You need V2.60 or higher of the software for the CCOM board to function properly with GeoWorks Ensemble. I load CCBACK /N high as well using QEMM386 and it takes up about 87k in the UMB. I never use the hot keys anyway.

The GEOS software can be found in the GeoWorks Software Library on America Online under the name NEWCCOM.ZIP.

--Information provided by GWRepJohn

Article#0052
Updated: 06/08/92
Fax: Fax software & Zoom or Intel fax cards

You can't use a Zoom fax board from within the GEOS environment. The only fax board support is for The Complete Communicator (the application won't work with The Complete Fax). You can, however, create the Fax message within GeoWorks and then "print" it to the Fax card as mentioned below.

QUESTION: I have a PS/2 and an Intel Satisfaxtion Board. When I try to use the fax-pop function by faxing from Geowrite the system crashes.

ANSWER: If you are using a TSR that sends what would go to a printer to the Intel Satisfaxtion board, try setting your printer port in Preferences/Computer to DOS or BIOS. The Satisfaxtion Board isn't compatible with the GeoWorks Complete Communicator software. In DOS mode, the Fax card intercepts what is going to the printer port when the software is turned on. When the DOS print option is selected in Preferences the card can work as advertised. Then the DOS print option will send the file across so the Fax board can get it.

--Information provided by GWRepDave

After much trial and error, I have successfully gotten the "print to disk" utility program that comes with the BitFax-SR software package that is bundled with a Zoom 96 Fax/Modem card to work with GeoWorks Pro.

The utility is called PRINTCAP. It does basically the same thing as VPRINT (found here online) only is designed specifically for the BitFax program and fax card. (I could NOT get PrintCap to correctly "capture" a file being copied to the printer that had been previously "printed to disk" using VPRINT. I can't explain why.)

Set GeoWorks Preferences for the computer's parallel printer port to DOS and then COMPLETELY EXIT GeoWorks and start the PRINTCAP program with:

printcap/DISABLE

(NOTE: "DISABLE" must be in all caps as it appears above.)

Also start the "hot keys" for it while still at the DOS prompt (before restarting GeoWorks).

Now, restart GeoWorks (type GEOS and press the ENTER key) and select printing for an Epson FX-80 printer. The PRINTCAP program should capture the file in a format that the BitFax-SR program will recognize. Now completely leave GeoWorks and turn off the capture hot-keys and then remove the PRINTCAP program from memory.

Then start the BitFax-SR program and you should see the file you just captured listed as being converted in the "fax format" for the BitFax program to then transmit.

--Information provided by McQuain (a GeoWorks customer) and GWRepDave

Article#0053
Updated: 06/08/92
Fax: Using the Intel SatisFAXtion board with GEOS

How to configure the Intel SatisFAXtion (classic bus version) for faxing in the GeoWorks environment:

Foreword:

The Intel SatisFAXtion allows users to fax from within any application that can print to an Epson FX-85 printer, using a special TSR which pops-up and captures the printer output. The TSR will stop the application temporarily, prompt you to enter a sending time, the person to send the fax to, and the fax number. It then returns control to the program, captures the printer output, and faxes it at the designated time.

Intel SatisFAXtion installation:

Install the Intel software as described in the manual. In the Setup software, change the Advanced Setup/Pop-Up Options/Port to LPT2 (this is the capture port). The Pop-Up/Mode should be Text & Graphics. Save the changes and update the system files. Finally, reboot the computer to implement these changes.

GeoWorks configuration:

Now, GeoWorks must be properly configured. Startup Preferences. Enter the "Mouse" section. Make sure the mouse driver is "MOUSE.SYS OR MOUSE.COM" (this will prevent Pop-Up from killing the mouse).

Exit the "Mouse" section and enter the "Computer" section. Change LPT2 to DOS (BIOS didn't work). Exit the "Computer" section and enter the "Printer" section. Select "Install New" and select "Epson FX-85" and "LPT2". If you've done this properly, the Pop-Up TSR will pop up and ask where you want to send the fax. Hit the ESC key to exit the Pop-Up utility. (**The Pop-Up utility will continue to intercept the output, so either use the Printer Control Panel to Cancel Document or simply don't disturb the computer until it has finished printing.**) Exit the "Printer" section. The installation is now complete.

Now, any time you wish to fax a document (regardless of the application in GeoWorks), simply print it to the Epson FX-85 on LPT2 and tell Pop-Up where and when to send it. All of the capturing and/or faxing will take place completely in the background.

Use caution, however. Two possible problems may arise. First and foremost, make sure all documents to be faxed have been completely printed before attempting to use the computer. (Just because you have aborted a fax does not mean that it has finished printing. The Pop-Up utility will continue to intercept the GeoWorks output. When in doubt, check the Printer Control Panel to make sure GeoWorks has finished printing, then check the light on the hard disk drive. If both report no activity, then you may safely proceed.) When a document has finished printing, Pop-Up will pause GeoWorks for a short time to convert the fax (it tells you so). It is imperative that the computer is not disturbed while GeoWorks is printing the fax (in other words, while GeoWorks and Pop-Up are interacting). Otherwise, at best the fax will be cut-off or GeoWorks could crash.

Second, do not attempt to use the modem while faxing or vice-versa (it only makes sense).

Faxes which are scheduled to be sent at a later time work flawlessly, whether you're in GeoWorks or DOS. Faxes are also automatically received, whether you're in GeoWorks or DOS.

Recently, four new Intel SatisFAXtions have been released, model 100, 200, 400, and 400e. These instructions specifically apply to the standard Intel SatisFAXtion, which is related to the SatisFAXtion 200. The new SatisFAXtions feature Hewlett Packard LaserJet II and III emulation (512K). For these boards, I recommend using the HP LJ II or III printer driver on LPT2 and the inclusion of the "MODE LPT2:,,P" statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. (However, this has not been tested.)

--Information provided by SteveShell (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0054
Updated: 06/08/92
Fax: Complete Communicator Tip

Here's a tip about the Complete Communicator's CFAX software:

Any time you need to play with something you're faxing (putting different letterheads on the same page successively for multiple senders, etc.) and CFAX can't handle it, you can send the fax to a number that you know is disconnected or is not a fax line. The transmission won't go through, obviously, but the document files will be placed in the CFAX directory page by page. Each page can then be renamed individually in DOS (as long as you keep the 3-digit extension).

--Information provided by Andrew Chaikin (GeoWorks)

Article#0055
Updated: 06/10/92
Fax: Using Complete Communicator and QEMM

For those of us using CCOM. Remember that COM MUST be loaded in the "REAL" part of high RAM. The Complete PC has confirmed what I had suspected: if you use STEALTH, and have High RAM Mapped (ST:M) or framed (ST:F) out, if any part of the main CCBACK code gets mapped, you will get a "resident code not found" error. This affects CCOM in GEOS and CFAX from DOS. If a call comes in, the Complete Communicator will still answer and take a fax or message, but you can't access it from the keyboard. You can get your messages from the local phone, but not a fax. It's still there, but you'd have to load CCBACK low or change your AUTOEXEC.BAT. CCBACK should be loaded as EARLY in the autoexec.bat and low in the High RAM area as possible. Also, you can LOADHI CCBACK with the /N flag, and then loadhi CFAXHKEY separately into another RAM area.

The part of my high RAM concerning this looks like:

  REGION  AREA  SIZE  STATUS
1  B7EC - B7FE  0.2  USED (UMB)
2  D000 - D312  12K  USED (QEMM)
2  D313 - E041  52K  USED (SSTOR)
2  E043 - E195  5.4K  USED (CCBACK)
2  E196 - F5CC  80K  USED (CCBACK2)

If my CCBACK moved any higher into the RAM, it wouldn't run properly.

There is much that comes before this in region 1 (/R:1) and more after what shows here too. Optimize could not solve my problem. This was trial and error. I am comfortable poking around with this, so it was fun being a detective. I was left only with my mouse driver being loaded low. This is because the mouse driver needs 53K as it initializes, then settles down to about 17K. I only have about 7 K left available. So, I have to live with 619,477 bytes free.

--Information provided by GWRepMike

Article#0056
Updated: 04/04/93
Fax: Using QuickLink II

QuickLink II is the fax program that comes with Practical Peripherals faxmodems.

You can use GEOS and QuickLink II, but what you do is create a document in GEOS, snap a screen of it with Screen Dumper (Ensemble v1.2 or GeoWorks Pro) or print-to-file with the appropriate printer driver (in Ensemble 2.0), and then load QLII and convert it into fax format there. You cannot use QLII to fax from within GEOS. However, this still allows you to create a nice looking document with ease and the capturing and conversion processes don't take long.

THE STEPS:

1. Create your document in GEOS, however you want to, then capture it with Screen Dumper or print-to-file. A couple of tips: if using the Screen Dumper, save your image in PCX format - QLII won't accept the color TIFF format dumps; also, PCX files are a lot smaller than TIFF files. Second, your best results are black text and graphics on a white background. Gray GEOS borders come out as a pattern in the fax.

2. Once you have the PCX or "print-to-file" file, exit GeoWorks and start QLII. Pick:
  Fax
  Convert Documents
  Fax Out
in the QLII menus.

3. Use the dialog boxes to select the file. Either double-click its name, or click the name once and then click "Add". Click "OK" when you're done.

4. QLII will now automatically convert the document into fax format.

5. That's it. Now send the converted file, which has a QFX extension, to whomever you want.

Other tips:

- If you get mixed up in QLII, (this is easy to do at first) it has built-in help, which isn't too bad.

- QLII lets you create a custom header page, including a graphic, that automatically goes out with each fax. If you spend a bit of time in GeoDraw, you can create a really sharp-looking header that can be converted to fax format following the steps above. This will save you from having to create a header each time you make a new fax.

Article#0057
Updated: 04/04/93
Fonts: Making Hollow Fonts in GeoDraw

It is possible to make hollow (outlined) fonts in GeoDraw. Thanks to GeoWorks enthusiast Al Bartholomew, who came up with this technique, all you need is a little patience and a good "clicking finger" for your mouse to make great looking headings for your documents.

First, type in your heading. Next, use the arrow pointer to select and CUT your text, removing it from your document. Then PASTE it back onto your document, to center it on your screen. The reason you need to center your text will become clear in a moment.

Select your heading with the arrow tool, and NUDGE it to the left. Now, PASTE another copy of the heading, and nudge this one down one space. Repeat this process 8 times, once in each of the directions of a compass. (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW)

Now comes the final stage. PASTE the text one more time. Modify the Text Properties of this last copy to make it SOLID WHITE. And there you have it! You can now bask in the glory of your custom-made OUTLINED HEADING!

Oh, yes. Once you've completed your heading, you can drag over the whole heading (selecting all layers) and change its size, style and even its font.
Enjoy!

--Information provided by CartoonGuy1 (Dale Beach, a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0058
Updated 01/10/92
Fonts: What fonts are supported by GEOS

QUESTION: I've seen the Display Faces package from MicroLogic which includes a program (MT.EXE) for converting their MLS fonts into GEOS format. Will GeoWorks offer additional font support for Bitstream and other formats?

ANSWER: GeoWrite (and other GEOS applications) currently uses only URW fonts (a German type foundry), so Bitstream fonts are not supported. However, the system software is set up to support multiple font drivers and GeoWorks expects to support Bitstream, Adobe Type 1, and even TrueType fonts at some point in the future. As we add additional font support we will let you know. In 1991, GeoWorks began selling additional font packs (URW fonts).

More complete information about fonts is available from GeoWorks' automated fax service, document 106.

--Information provided by GwRepRandy

Article#0059
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: GEOS vs. standard names

Below is a list of the GEOS names, and the corresponding 'standard' names. Note that 'standard' is a loose-fitting term, as there are different versions of fonts that are very similar but not identical, as well as fonts that are identical but don't have the same name.

I'll take this opportunity to also note which fonts are CAPs only, that is, they do not have lowercase letters. When users type lowercase letters in these fonts, they will get the corresponding uppercase letter. These fonts are marked with a "C" in the left margin.

GEOS:
---------
  URW Roman = Times Roman / Dutch
  URW Sans = Helvetica / Swiss
  URW Mono = Courier
  URW SymbolPS = Symbol
  Cranbrook = Century Schoolbook
  Shattuck Avenue = Park Avenue
  Cooperstown = Cooper Black
  Superb = Broadway
  Sather Gothic = Franklin Gothic

Fun Fonts:
----------
C Guinevere = American Uncial
C Cartoon = Balloon
  Circle Black = Blippo Black
  Fuller Script = Brush Script
C Liberty = Liberty
  Aero Extended = Eurostile Extended
  Flick Bold = Flange Bold
  Alfredo Heavy = Goudy Heavyface
  Vagabond = Hobo
  Cursive = Kaufmann / Kauflinn
  Art Nouveau = Arnold Boecklin
  Canterbury = Old English / Chaucer
  Dodge City = Old Town No. 536 / Old Towne
C Army = Stencil
  Callalily = Vivaldi / Vivante
  Tubular = VAG Rundschrift / VAG Rounded

Newsletter Fonts:
-----------------
  Holmes = Baskerville Handcut
  Lara = Commercial Script
  Pondeur = Stone Sans Medium
  Funte = Le Griffe
  Marquis = Mariage
  Occidental = University Roman
  Van der Rohe = Bauhaus Light
  Elizabethian = Edwardian Light
C Matchbook = Machine Medium
C Galleria = Plaza Regular

Business Fonts:
---------------
  Hastings = Berkeley Old Style
  Lewellyn = Chelmsford
  Cimier = Copperplate Bold
  Galopin = Goudy Old Style
  Ping Pong = Dingbats / Zapf Dingbats
  Aubade = Avante Garde Gothic
  Greenville = Galliard
  Pedigree = Panache Book

--Information provided by Gene Anderson

Article#0060
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Which fonts are necessary?

While we don't recommend you remove any fonts from the FONT directory, here's some information about which fonts are used for what purpose:

The only fonts that are absolutely required are UNIVERSI.FNT and BERKELEY.FNT. If you intend to use America Online, then you must keep the BISON.FNT. If you intend to use GeoWrite or GeoDraw, you should keep the ROMAN.FNT. If you intend to use the Calculator desk tool, you must keep LED.FNT. If you intend to print with GeoPlanner, you must keep SANS.FNT.

--Information provided by GW Matt (Matt Loveless, GeoWorks)

Article#0061
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Fonts, font names, and font order

You can change the DOS filename of a font file, no problem. GEOS looks "inside" the font files for the internal (menu) name and ID number, and ignores the DOS file name.

The order in which the fonts appear in the menus in GeoWrite, GeoDraw, and GeoBanner is based on the order of the font files on your hard drive. If you copy the font files to an newly created subdirectory, the fonts will appear in the order in which you copied them. If you use a utility which sorts all the files on your hard drive in alphabetical order (like many disk defragmenter programs do), then the fonts will appear in that order, alphabetically by the DOS filename. Since the DOS filename is not the same as the internal font name, the fonts may not appear in alphabetical order by the names in the menus.

To change the menu name of a font, you need to use a disk editor. Personally, I use the disk editors in Norton Utilities or PCTools. Do not use a disk editor if you don't know what you are doing... and back up, backup, backup everything before messing around with a disk editor. Mistakes made while using a disk editor can destroy the data on your drive!

Okay, warnings aside, the font ID number is two bytes in lowbyte/highbyte order: the ninth and tenth bytes in the file (bytes 08 and 09, if you count the first byte as 00). The internal font name starts at the 14th byte (0D, hex).

If you see null bytes (bytes of value 00) following the internal font name, then you can make the name longer, provided you leave at least one of these null bytes at the end of the new name.

Do NOT change the internal name or ID number of the original font files that come with the GeoWorks Ensemble package. GEOS needs to be able to find some of these fonts in order to operate properly. Also, be aware that when you change a font's internal name or ID number, that any documents previously created with that font will no longer display that font.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0062
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Public Domain (PD) Fonts

There are many public domain Type 1 fonts for use in Adobe Type Manager available in the software libraries on America Online and on other online services and bulletin boards.

These the fonts can be imported to GEOS format if you have MicroLogic's MoreFonts Import and MoreType programs, or Atech's AllType program.

Not all of the ATM Type1 fonts will work properly in GEOS, but most of them do.

In addition, there are hundreds of Type1 fonts in MAC format. Using the above mentioned tools, along with a MAC to PC font converter like REFONT (a PD program also available on America Online and other online services), the MAC Type1 fonts can be converted to GEOS format, as well. Again, not all of them work properly in GEOS.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0063
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Maximum number of fonts

There is a limit of 255 files that GEOS can have open at one time. If you use DR DOS, the number is further limited by the line FILES= in your CONFIG.SYS file.

When you launch GEOS, it opens up as many as 50 files automatically (the kernel, the screen display fonts, printer drivers, keyboard driver, DOS driver, etc).

When you launch applications or open documents, then more files are opened.

In version 1.2, when you launch GeoWrite or GeoDraw, then ALL the files in \FONT are opened. As you can see, this means there is a limit somewhere around 200. If you exceed this number, then GEOS will crash and burn. (When this happened to me, I had to reinstall GeoWorks Ensemble to fix things.) I'd recommend playing it safe and keeping fewer than 180 fonts in \FONT.

In newer versions, things have been changed so that when GeoWrite, GeoDraw, or GeoBanner are opened, they do not automatically open all the fonts in \FONT. GEOS only opens those font files that are in the document or that you click on in the More Fonts menu. As long as you are careful never to click on too many of the fonts in the menu, you COULD have more than 200 files in \FONT.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0064
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Organizing your fonts

Here is how I've organized fonts for myself (I've got over 300 fonts that I've converted to GEOS format).

I've created several subdirectories inside my \FONT subdirectory, like \FONT\ML (for fonts from MicroLogic) and \FONT\PD (for freeware fonts I've downloaded and converted) and \FONT\GW (for the font pack fonts from GeoWorks), etc.

I started out fresh a couple months ago with only the original fonts that come with GeoWorks Ensemble in my \FONT subdirectory. I put all my other fonts inside the extra subdirectories I had created inside \FONT, where they are not accessible to GEOS.

As I go along in my work and decide to use a font that I've got stored in one of my subdirectories, I use GeoManager to move it out to the root \FONT directory by dragging it and dropping it on the "Up One Level" button (the button near the top left of GeoManager just below the menu bar, with the picture of a folder on it and an arrow pointing upward.)

Then I exit GEOS and restart to make the system recognize the new font I have added.

I now have about 60 of my fonts moved up to "active" status, the ones I expect to use the most... I figure it might be a year or more before I will have moved enough of them up to "active status" that I need to think about having too many in there again.

I don't want to delete any of the fonts I have, because someday I *might* want one of them, but there are many of them that it seems unlikely that I will actually ever use, like the Math fonts or some of the unusual display/headline fonts. So those can sit in the extra subdirectories I've created for the time being.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0065
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Font names and ID numbers

I have taken to renaming all my font files using the convention that GeoWorks uses in their Font Packs--which is the same way that the Nimbus Font Converter names the font files that it imports--the first four letters of the internal (menu) font name followed by the font ID# in highbyte/lowbyte hexadecimal value. (The reason the font ID# seems "backwards" from the way it appears when you look inside the font file with a disk editor is because 16 bit numbers are typically stored in lowbyte/highbyte format in the PC's memory or in files on disk. By convention, we reverse the two bytes into highbyte/lowbyte form when we "discuss" the number.)

ID numbers in the range E000 to EFFF have been "assigned" to MicroLogic for their use. Numbers in the range D000 to DFFF have been "assigned" to Atech (AllType). Numbers below C000 are used by GeoWorks. At this time, a "safe" range for us to use for our own purposes is C000 to CFFF.

By the way, I named (DOS file names) the original 20 fonts that come with GeoWorks Ensemble slightly differently so that after sorting my fonts alphabetically, they always show up first.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0066
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Notes about the Nimbus Font Converter

The Nimbus Font Converter will eventually create fonts with conflicting ID numbers if you convert enough fonts.

The Nimbus Font Converter will create files that contain both plain and bold styles in one file.

To use the Nimbus Font Converter to import Adobe Type 1 fonts, you must use MicroLogic's tools (MoreImport and MoreType) to convert ATM Type1 fonts to URW Generic format, which the Nimbus Font Converter will recognize. AllType does not create a URW or NimbusQ format that the Nimbus Font Converter can read. Atech says they are aware of this and are looking into it.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0067
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: MicroLogic's MoreType and Font ID numbers

When you have two fonts with the same ID number on your system, it won't let you access the second one and always "jumps" back to the first one.

Two fonts can have the same menu (internal) name and as long as the ID numbers differ, both will work okay.

In the booklet that comes with the GeoWorks font packs, it shows an example of the font that is substituted when the one used in a document is not available on the system. To see it on your system, just move one of your fonts out of the \FONT directory and open a document that you used it in. (You won't hurt anything, move the font file back when you are done.)

The GeoWorks Font Packs assign specific numbers when you install them, so they should be the same on everyone's system. It is MoreType that creates trouble.

Be careful about deleting fonts. They may look the same at first glance, but there can be subtle differences between fonts that you might want to take advantage of. Not the least of which can be that the character sets may be different (the extended characters may be different or missing in one font and not in the other).

You may get "out of memory errors" if you try to print documents that use too many different fonts on PostScript printers. On regular laser or dot matrix printers, this is not a problem. The limit on the number of fonts you can use in a document is the same as the limit on the number of font files you can open in any session.

It is highly unlikely that you would end up with font ID number conflicts between MicroLogic's fonts and GeoWorks own font disks. MicroLogic was "assigned" a certain "range" of font ID numbers to use for their work. The GeoWorks fonts all have lower numbers than this.

Do be aware that MoreType assigns font ID numbers based on the .OTL files that are in your \MF subdirectory.

If you delete .OTL files from \MF, then the next fonts that you convert to GEOS using MoreType will end up conflicting with previously converted fonts.

Now, about changing font ID numbers:
Caution! Be careful!

Use of a disk editor is not recommended for the inexperienced. Mistakes can make your entire system inoperable or cause you to lose data. Backup your hard drive first! Do not use a disk editor on a drive or partition that is compressed with a software like SuperSTOR, Stacker, or DoubleSpace unless you are sure that the disk editor is compatible with the compression software. Copy the file to an uncompressed partition or a floppy disk and edit it there.

Use the following information at your own risk! (If you DO know how to use a disk editor, changing a font ID number is quite easy and quick.)

You can alter the font ID numbers with a disk editor, like Norton's DiskEdit or PCTool's hex editor. The font ID number is two bytes in typical "lowbyte/highbyte" format. The bytes are the 9th and 10th bytes inside the font file. (That's bytes 08h and 09h, if you count the first byte in the file as 00h.)

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0068
Updated: 04/20/93
Fonts: Commodore GEOS fonts vs. GEOS fonts

There is a big difference between the fonts on the two systems. Commodore GEOS uses simple bit-mapped fonts: easy to create and relatively easy to write font editor software for. Similar fonts and font editors are available on the PC for downloadable soft fonts and for software packages like First Publisher.

PC/GEOS, on the other hand, uses a much newer "outline font" technology that has several advantages. Beside the fact that the fonts for PC/GEOS are of a quality simply not available in Commodore GEOS, they are fully scalable from 4 points to 792 points. Also, the software can adjust such "fine tuning" features as leading and kerning. I can't count the number of times while using Commodore GEOS that I had to choose a font on the basis of the point size or the width of the characters, rather than for the design of the typeface that I felt was most appropriate for the topic of the document.

With PC/GEOS, I can produce documents that better reflect the best of my design abilities and rival what the folks down at the print shop could do for me. I can make use of the best of the desktop publishing fonts available in the marketplace, by converting fonts from many of the major software font distributors for use in PC/GEOS.

The drawback to all this power, is that the outline font technology is much more complex and, therefore, much more expensive than the Commodore's bit mapped fonts. The software to create and modify outlined fonts is very large and costly, but is already available. Right now, you can create and modify outline fonts with the right software (like Corel Draw on the PC, or Fontographer on a Macintosh, for example), and then convert them for use in PC/GEOS.

A good quality outline font can take as many as three people working full time for a year to create, using special software and hardware tools. Yes, that's as many as 5,000 to 6,000 man-hours, even with large computers doing most of the work. Considering that, the cost of purchasing that font and being able to use it in PC/GEOS is really a pretty good deal.

Any fonts that you import to PC/GEOS are fully scalable, just like the fonts that come with GeoWorks Ensemble. Some of the fonts I've imported are of good quality and some are not. Commercially distributed fonts are usually good quality and usually work well. Some public domain fonts are excellent, some are poor, and a few will not work at all or do not work properly.

If you create a document using a font that only you have and you give this document to someone who does not have the font, they will see the text in the "system" font. The "system font" looks similar to the font used for the menus in GEOS. It is a "fixed" point size, so it will appear in that one size, regardless of how large or small you have scaled that text in your document.

This means that the text might not "fit" in the space you provided for it in your document (it might appear "cut off", although none of it is really lost). The "receiver" of the document can select the text and change it to a font that he or she does have, and will then be able to see all of the text.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0069
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: MoreType, MoreFonts, MicroLogic's tools

There are two different programs from MicroLogic that are needed in order to convert Type 1 fonts to GEOS format:

(1) MoreType comes bundled with the Display Faces and Classic Faces packages. You must purchase either Display Faces or Classic Faces to obtain MoreType. The list price of Display Faces or Classic Faces are around $150 (available for $70-100 in retail stores).

(2) The More Fonts Importer comes bundled with the newest version of MoreFonts. MoreFonts costs about the same as the Display Faces or Classic Faces packages. MoreFonts does not support GeoWorks Ensemble software directly, but comes with 3 fonts that can be imported to GEOS format, provided you have a copy of MoreType. The MoreFonts importer is also available to owners of Display Faces or Classic Faces as a separate product for around $40.

You must have both MoreType and the More Fonts Importer to convert Type 1 fonts to GEOS format.

Fonts that are in Type 1 format and state that they are for use with Adobe Type Manager (ATM) are the ones that can be converted. I have converted many of them successfully. However, some of them do not work properly in GEOS, especially some fonts found in the public domain. A few of them crash the system, and others do not print properly, although they appear okay on screen.

MicroLogic's Classic Faces package comes with 48 fonts, but only 12 different typeface "families." For each "family" there is a plain, a bold, an italic, and a bold-italic font. The ideal situation would be to have only 12 different fonts show up your menu in GeoWrite or GeoDraw, and have the bold, italic, and bold-italic versions appear when you select those styles in the "Styles" menu.

Using MoreType to convert the fonts to GEOS format directly will not give you access to the true bold, italic, and bold-italic versions of the fonts from the Styles menu, but converting the fonts to URW Generic format, which the Nimbus Font Converter will recognize, will allow you to do so.

You must look closely at the results of using the Styles menu in GeoWrite to determine if the "true" fonts have been imported this way. If they were not, GEOS will "simulate" the bold and italic by mathematically widening or slanting the plain font. However, the "true" bold and italic fonts are more than just a mathematical manipulation of the plain version, they are completely redrawn fonts, with different strokes. Some differences to look for are in the "tail" of the capital Q, the descender of the lowercase g, the shape of the capital Y, and the serifs, if any.

Be sure to run HINTER on all the fonts before you begin the conversion process. Hinter is a program included with Display Faces or MoreFonts.

Hinting a font ensures that you get the best rendition of each character, even in small point sizes. In an outline font, the "strokes" or "lines" of the characters are stored as the "data" for the font. As this information is translated by your software into the pixels that you see on your screen or on paper, sometimes those strokes or lines do not fall onto the "grid of available pixels" in a manner that provides the best approximation of the character. The "hints" are bits of information that make little "adjustments" to specific characters so that the characters have the best possible appearance.

Imagine using a big Magic Marker to draw a large hand-written character on a piece of graph paper (ignoring the lines on the graph paper as you do this). Next, imagine trying to determine which squares on another piece of graph paper would have to be "filled in" in order to get the closest approximation to the character you drew. If the graph paper contained many small squares, the result would be very close to your original, but if the graph paper had fewer, larger squares, you might have a hard time deciding which to fill in and which to leave white. This latter situation is similar to what happens as the software tries to reduce an outline font to a small size.

By default, the HINTER.EXE program that comes with Display Faces is stored in \MT and, when you launch it, it automatically looks for and hints the fonts it finds in \MF. Some fonts may already be hinted, in which case it will report that on screen.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0070
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Difference between Roman and Cranbrook

URW Roman, is basically a derivative of the TIMES ROMAN typeface that has been around for ever. A lot of newspapers and periodicals used this typeface back when printing was done on the old manual presses of years gone by, some still do. This is a standard typeface that goes back a long time.

Cranbrook, is a derivative of Century Schoolbook, which is one of those older fonts too, but it found its life more in books, and comes from the Times Roman serif style family. A great number of books today are printed using this font. It's easy to read, and prints at relatively small sizes without bunching characters together (especially important in paperbacks).

If you look carefully at the fonts with the same message at the same type size, you'll start to see the differences. Cranbrook is spaced farther apart, the letters are individually a bit wider, and even a bit taller.

The flags on the i, h, and other characters that have serif edging, are more horizontal in Cranbrook. In URW Roman those same serifs are more angled downward. For example...

  .xx

 xxxx
  .xx
  .xx
  .xx
  .xx
xxxxx

poor simulation of Cranbrook letter 'i'

  .xxx

  .xxx
xxxxxx
  .xxx
  .xxx
  .xxx
  .xxx
  xxxx
 xxxxxx

even worse simulation of URW Roman Letter 'i'

I think you get the picture. If this is a little too boring of an explanation, try this one: Times Roman is more of a headline or title font, whereas Cranbrook is more of a body of the text font.

--Information provided by GWRepKnox

Article#0071
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Converting MAC Type 1 fonts to GEOS

It is possible to convert MAC Type1 fonts to GEOS format.

There are several steps to the process, and the results are not always great, but it can be done.

Some online services a small file header to all MAC files. The first step after downloading a MAC file is to remove this header using a utility called CHOPHEAD.EXE.

Most of the MAC fonts found online are in .SIT files. .SIT is a file compression sort of like .ZIP on the PC. So, the next step is to decompress the file using another utility called UNSIT.EXE. Both CHOPHEAD and UNSIT are available on America Online and other online services and BBSs.

The .SIT files will decompress into several files. Now you need another utility called REFONT to convert the MAC Type1 into PC Type1. Type1 fonts usually consist of at least two files: the font data file (.PFB) and the metrics file (.AFM). The tricky part is figuring out which of the MAC files is which, but once you do the process a few times, it gets pretty easy.

Okay, now you've got a PC Type1 font that Atech's AllType or MicroLogic's MoreFonts Import and MoreType programs will convert to GEOS format for you.

One thing: Some PD fonts do not work in GEOS format, so don't be disappointed if every font doesn't work properly--some are too complex for the converter to handle, some contain errors that cause GEOS to crash, and some appear to work properly on screen but give trouble when printing. However, many of them are great and work beautifully.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0072
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Document transferability

A document created with an unusual public domain font that others may not have is not something that is easily transferred to another.

This has been resolved in the font-promiscuous world of Macintosh in this way. Incidentally, these guidelines are not of my own invention, but instead this is a paraphrasing and condensation of guidelines set out for user groups by the Apple User Group Liaison (an office of Apple Computer, Inc. that provides support and materials for user groups).

-----------------------------------------------------------------
1. If you are creating a document for electronic transmission (i.e. posting on bulletin boards, online services, Email systems, etc.), and that document's substance is not chiefly design-dependent, then use one of the PostScript fonts common to the LaserWriter Plus standard.

2. If your document is an example of graphic design or page layout and must require an unusual font as a significant design element, then either clearly designate the font in the file description.

3. If such is available, use one of the several font and/or professional illustration programs to convert the fonts to PostScript bezier outlines. If such programs are used, then no clear designation (or the originating font) is necessary, and these documents will be easily printed on PostScript compatible printers.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, not many GEOS users have ready use of the font outline conversion (such as Fontographer 3.3 on the Mac) and professional illustration programs (such as CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator), although such programs or similar ones are available on the PC under Windows. But neither do most Macintosh users. Therefore, most users, irrespective of the platform, rely upon guidelines 1 and 2 above.

To make a long story shorter, use the standard fonts that come stock with GEOS when possible if you intend to share your document widely. Otherwise clearly post the name and source of the unusual font.

--Information provided by GwRepRandy (Randy Padawer)

Article#0073
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Alphabetize your fonts in v1.2 or Pro

ENSEMBLE 1.0 or 1.2

From DOS, copy all the .FNT files to a new directory. Then launch GeoWorks and use GeoManager to copy all those fonts OUT of that directory and into another directory, but NOT the \GeoWorks\FONT directory just yet. GeoManager will, by default, place these files in the second directory in alphabetical order.

Then, exit to DOS, and copy all the fonts from the second directory, back to the \GeoWorks\FONT directory.

GEOWORKS PRO

This is great. Simply load GeoWorks and close all applications BUT GeoManager. Then, move all the fonts to another directory and move them back. You will get an error message when it tries to move Berkeley and one other font, simply click OK for those messages (the fonts will be in use).

After this, the fonts will be in alphabetical order. If you want them in another order other than alphabetical, after you have copied them out, move them back in the order you want them.

EITHER VERSION

If you happen to have Norton Utilities and your \NORTON directory is installed in your path, then alphabetizing your fonts can be even easier. From DOS just change to your GeoWorks\font directory then type DS for directory sort. Pick sort by filename.

Remember, fonts will be sorted based on their DOS filename. This may be different from their font name within Ensemble. If you find you'd like to do some rearranging on your own, there's a file in the public domain that can help. It lists the font name, dos filename, and font ID number. The file is called FONTINFO. One final word, if you decide to delete some fonts you don't use often, please do not erase BERKELEY.FNT, BISON.FNT, or UNIVERSI.TNT as they're needed by GEOS.

--Information provided by GWRepKnox and PC Robin

Article#0074
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: Why does my text appear cut off on screen?

The problem is GEOS fonts are divided into a few sections:

  Accent Area
  Char Area
  Descent Area
  Extra Below

In a text object (GeoWrite, GeoDraw) data in the Accent and "Extra Below" area is allowed to draw over the lines above and below the line where the character with this data lies.

The important thing to realize here is that the height of the line is not affected by these areas. This means that a character with an accent on the first line of a GeoDraw (or GeoWrite) document will have the accent stick up into the never-land that is outside of the text object. This isn't a problem when printing because we don't clip anything when drawing a text object for printing. The drawing is clipped for display on the screen though. The result is that these accents can be hidden.

It's a drag, but to do it differently would require that we enforce some top and bottom border on text objects and this introduces some complexities and also may lead to strange situations for a user (like a 1 inch tall object containing 12 point text not being able to hold 6 lines).

For fonts with correct information this can be an annoyance. For fonts where the height information wasn't converted correctly it can be a real mess.

Article#0075
Updated 04/17/92
Fonts: The origin of URW Roman

There are actually three companies involved in getting URW Roman into GEOS.

URW in Germany designed the font, but not with PCs and "low-resolution devices" like dot-matrix or even 300 DPI laser printers in mind--they're more of the 1200 DPI Linotronic crowd. They design the fonts on special workstations using their own software and file format.

DTC (Digital Typeface Corporation) in Minnesota (actually its predecessor company, but I won't go into that here) took the URW design for URW Roman and made a special hinted version of it to work with the Nimbus font rasterizer. It is DTC that added the hints which are intended to make fonts look good at low resolution, and affect the shape of characters up to about 120 points at 300 DPI (e.g. on an HP LaserJet).

GeoWorks in Berkeley took the URW font and the Nimbus rasterizer and integrated it into GEOS, and the result is used to generate characters for screen display and printing on just about every printer we support (PostScript printing is done differently).

Some users have complained about the serifs being too large on some lowercase letters like "r" and "n". I did more looking into the URW Roman "fat serif" issue, and here's what I've found.

I couldn't find any printed samples of URW Roman direct from URW, so I don't know precisely what their original design was intended to look like. They have a Times Roman, but of course that's not the same beast.

The demonstration software and sample URW Roman font from the original Nimbus-Q demonstration disk (this is from way, way back --the disk is from the original GEOS development days when we were still trying to decide which rasterizer to license and before LaserMaster had started DTC) show the exact same results as the GEOS versions. At some sizes, the serifs on "n", "m", etc. stick up above the bowl of the letter significantly. So it would seem to not be a problem in the GeoWorks' implementation of the Nimbus rasterizer, or in our version of the font--it's been there since before DTC even existed.

On a related note, the version of "Roman" that ZSoft includes with SoftType is the same font, I believe. It shows the same characteristic when printed on a LaserJet.

"True" Times Roman (eg. from Adobe) and ATech's Marin do not show this when converted and printed in GEOS. The reason appears to be the outline data. When viewed at original size (outline fonts are usually designed on a 1000x1000 grid), the serif on the top of the "n" sticks above the bowl of the "n" only slightly (or in the case of Marin, not at all). In URW Roman, however, the serif sticks significantly higher than in the other versions.

Given the above, it would appear that this characteristic of URW Roman is intended--the serifs are supposed to stick above the tops of the letters slightly.

Admittedly, at certain sizes, it is unsightly, and probably not what the original designers had in mind when they "borrowed" the design of Times Roman, although it is significantly taller than the equivalent in Adobe's Times Roman. I don't know why there is so much variation at 300 DPI, nor precisely why it appears to be less of problem on screen or on a dot-matrix printer. In part, it is probably related to the hinting mechanism, which has more effect at lower resolutions than at higher ones, and so "forces" the serif to the same height as the bowl. However, at 300 DPI, the hints have less effect, and so the serif is free to go closer to where the data indicates it should.

--Information provided by Gene Anderson, GeoWorks

Article#0076
Updated: 04/20/93
Fonts: Font Format Documentation, Nimbus Font Converter

Documentation on the font format will (probably) be available when the SDK comes out. Some documentation currently exists, but given the very unorganized, unpolished format that it is in, it really isn't ready to be generally distributed yet. It is this early documentation that MicroLogic and Atech created their conversion programs from, and it required a bit of conversation back and forth between us and them to get all the information clear.

Here's the easy part of the documentation:

 char 4 dup "BSWF"
 byte 0 ;minor version #
 byte 1 ;major version #
 word # ;size of header
 word FontIDs ;unique 16-bit ID
 word 0x1000 ;which font rasterizer to use (0x1000 == GEOS)
 byte  FontFamily --
  bit 7: must be 0
  bit 6: 1 if fixed width, 0 if proportional
  bit 5: 1 if landscape, 0 if portrait (bit map fonts only)
  bit 4: 1 if outline font, 0 if bit map only
  bits 0-3:
  - 0 - serif (eg. URW Roman)
  - 1 - sans serif (eg. URW Sans)
  - 2 - script (eg. Shattuck Avenue)
  - 3 - ornamental (eg. Cooperstown)
  - 4 - symbol (eg. URW SymbolPS)
  - 5 - mono-spaced (eg. Courier)
 byte char 20 dup(?)

The name must be NULL-terminated (and therefore can be up to 19 characters).

If you have trouble getting the italic or bold versions of fonts to convert as part of the same file as the plain versions, here is some information which might help. Finding out if this is appropriate will require looking at the Nimbus font files with a disk editor of some sort, so it is not for the weak-hearted...

The Nimbus Font Converter looks at several fields in the header of the Nimbus file(s) to get this:

(1) offset 84: full name of font

This should be the name of the font, plus any styles. For example, the original Nimbus file for the bold-italic version of URW Sans has "URW Sans Bold Italic" for this field. If there are several files that contain different styles of the same font, the 'basename' in the 'fullname' should be the same. For example, for "URW Sans", the 4 files would contain "URW Sans", "URW Sans Italic", "URW Sans Bold", and "URW Sans Bold Italic". If the 'basename' does not match, then the fonts will not be placed together. If the 'fullname' for any of the fonts is missing any part of the style, then the Nimbus Font Converter won't be able to distinguish which is which style.

(2) offset 304: weight

This should be the weight of the font, such as "Bold", "Extra Bold", or "Heavy". This should be set correctly so that for some fonts, the different weights of "Bold" can be distinguished. For example, many fonts may come with a "Normal" weight, and a "Bold" weight. However, some fonts may come with a "Heavy" weight instead of the "Bold". If this field is not set correctly, then the Nimbus Font Converter may have problems similar to distinguishing separate styles, as mentioned above.

Some fonts that are compatible with the Nimbus Font Converter are included in ZSoft's "SoftType" program. I believe it includes 60 or so Nimbus-Q font files, some of which are various styles of a particular font (eg. Bold, Italic, and Bold-Italic), and some of which are the same fonts that are already included with GeoWorks Ensemble (eg. URW Sans). There may be other sources of Nimbus-Q fonts, but this is one that I know of (because we used it for some testing of the Nimbus Font Converter.)

--Information provided by Gene Anderson, GeoWorks

Article#0077
Updated: 06/08/92
Fonts: AllType and "too much data"

GEOS has limits on the amount of data that a single font can have. The characters 32-127 are one group, and 128-255 are another. Each of these can be up to about 64K each.

Some public domain fonts have flaws in the data, too. Some are minor (eg. pieces of characters overlap, causing areas of the characters to invert), and some are more serious, such that the font converters cannot correctly interpret the data.

I imagine there are some fonts out there, though, that are just too big for the GEOS engine to handle.

If you get errors when using AllType, here are some things to try:

1. Increase your conventional memory by booting "clean."

2. Convert to another format then convert from that format to GEOS.

3. Choose a smaller character set in AllType.

There are two reasons I can think of for AllType to produce "too much outline data" errors:

(1) AllType may be unable to allocate sufficient memory to load the outline data. I'm not sure about its internal architecture, but it has a bunch of data it needs in memory: code to convert from Type 1, the Type 1 font itself, and their intermediate font format. Once that is complete, it needs: code to convert from their intermediate font format, the partially converted font, and the GEOS format font. I don't know how their memory management is done, but either side can be a lot of stuff. In addition, Type 1 fonts are encrypted, and I believe that the decryption process generally requires a lot of memory.

(2) The other possibility is that the GEOS font it is generating is too large. I believe AllType converts to (the GEOS equivalent of) Nimbus-Q V2.2, rather than Nimbus-Q V3.0 format. V3.0 fonts are anywhere from 10%-40% smaller, depending on the font. Anyway, either the data for the characters 0x20-0x7f or 0x80-0xff are larger than 64K, GEOS won't be able to handle it. This may be the case for some particularly complex fonts (eg. the "Igloo" font that is posted somewhere is complex because all of the little 'icicles' at the top). Again, this problem is worse for a V2.2 font than a V3.0 font.

P.S. Using the Nimbus Font Converter won't make any difference--it simply converts either V2.2 or V3.0 Nimbus-Q commands to their GEOS equivalents. It doesn't attempt to upgrade the V2.2 to V3.0. GEOS fonts are a bit smaller than their Nimbus-Q equivalents, but do have the restrictions mentioned above

--Information provided by Gene Anderson, GeoWorks

Article#0078
Updated: 05/17/93
Fonts: Creating fractions

1/2 and 3/4 characters aren't part of the GEOS character set. However, you can make them (or any other fraction you want) using the following technique:

(1) set superscript
(2) type the numerator (eg. "1")
(3) clear superscript
(4) type the special fraction character (SHIFT+CTRL+ALT+3 on the GEOS U.S. keyboard)
(5) set subscript
(6) type the denominator (eg. "2")
(7) clear subscript

NOTE: The fraction character does not exist in all fonts. If you are in a font that doesn't have it (eg. URW Roman), you will get a "." instead. Try Sather Gothic or Shattuck Avenue.

NOTE: If the spacing of the fraction isn't quite what you want, you can use "Character Spacing" in GeoWrite to adjust the various portions of it.

One suggestion: if you use these characters frequently, store the above steps in another GeoWrite document or in a Scrapbook file, and then you can copy and paste whenever you need one of these.

--Information provided by Gene Anderson, GeoWorks

Article#0079
Updated: 04/06/93
Fonts: Missing fonts with Postscript

Question:

I'm very familiar with GeoWrite and GeoDraw. Each month I use them to typeset and print a hobby newsletter. For the most part, printing works fine. However, I don't seem to be able to print certain fonts, most notably, Cooperstown. The printer substitutes Courier (aka URW Mono) for this font.

I have a Postscript printer (actually, an old Canon printer with a QMS JetScript Postscript controller) with 3 mb of memory. Graphics and most text print out fine. I imagine it has something to do with font downloading, but I'm stumped as how to do it. The printer's utilities include a downloader, but it only lists the fonts in my PSFONTS directory.

Answer:

When you are using a PostScript printer, especially one that is using an emulation board to give you PostScript printing capability, not all fonts are going to be available in the engine.

GeoWorks converts (internally) the necessary fonts to the most compatible PostScript font available in the printer. If you can find a downloadable PS font that looks very close to Cooperstown, then you might be able to get it to work. You might want to try using the Apple PS printer driver, as this one is very generic and might help in getting the font across.

While I haven't tried Cooperstown, the QMS font downloader will only work with a PS font in your PSFONTS directory. These should be Type 3 for an "OLD" PostScript cartridge but if yours is less than a year or two old, it may use Type1.

The font download is used so you can store "extra" fonts instead of needing extra font cards.

Your best bet would be to convert the URW or Nimbus font you want to use to PostScript (Type 1 if you can use it) then download the PostScript font to your printer.

If you check closely, you will find that ALL of your fonts are actually substituted for internal or downloaded PostScript fonts (internal first if installed and, unless overridden, then downloaded).

To ensure that your GEOS fonts match your printer fonts, you can translate all of the GEOS fonts to PostScript format and then download. It takes a bit more printing time, but any kerning and leading applied in GeoWrite should then show up accurately in your documents.

PostScript only recognizes the first 15 (or so) characters of a font name, so if you have several font variations that have the same family name, watch out!

-- Information provided by NDWood (a GeoWorks customer), Stefan Jones (Co-Author, Desktop Publishing with GeoWorks, by GeoWorks Press), and GWRep Doug

Article#0080
Updated: 04/04/93
GEOS: Miscellaneous Questions and Answers

Q: Can GeoWorks products be used to automate interactions?

A: No. Programs like HP New Wave will perform tasks like that (they have something called an "agent") but we do not. Also some calendar programs can start up something automatically but GeoPlanner cannot.

Q: Can I print something directly from GeoManager?

A: At this time, you cannot print directly from GeoManager. You must print from each application. It should be noted that a print spooler is included as part of GEOS.

Q: How many dpi (dots per inch) will my laser printer print?

A: Most laser printers print high resolution at 300 x 300 dpi. Currently, that's the resolution at which we support the HP Lasers.

Q: Will GeoWorks products support a network environment?

A: Currently, we do not support network environments under GeoWorks 1.2 and GeoWorks Pro. However, sometimes you can run successfully on a PC connected to a network if you run GeoWorks on a non-network drive. We do plan on supporting a network environment in the future.

Q: Can I change the fonts on the document all at once or do I need to go page by page?

A: In Ensemble v1.2 or GeoWorks Pro, you need to go page by page. Five quick successive clicks will select all the text on one page. In Ensemble 2.0, five quick clicks selects the whole document.

Q: Can I print from small files like ASCII files?

A: Yes, in Ensemble v1.2 or GeoWorks Pro, you can print ASCII files from Notepad or import them into GeoWrite by using the Insert from Text File feature under the File menu and print them there. In Ensemble 2.0, you can print from the Text File Editor or import to GeoWrite and print from there.

Q: Can I increase the spacing between letters in GeoWrite my document?

A: Yes, you can increase the character spacing (typically called "manual kerning"). Just choose Character Spacing.

Q: What kind of mouse can I use with GEOS?

A: There are 3 types of mice: bus, serial and PS/2. The mouse must be 100% compatible with Microsoft, Logitech or Mouse Systems.

Q: How much memory will GeoWorks products take up when I'm using DOS applications or when it's just "sitting resident"?

A: It varies. About 2.7K.

Article#0081
Updated: 06/08/92
GEOS: Using GeoWorks Ensemble With the Kids

Here are a collection of tips that may be useful for getting your kids involved with various aspects of Ensemble.

The first thing you may want to do before introducing your kids to Ensemble is go to GeoManager, click on Confirm Delete and Confirm Replace, then click on Save options. This will give you a slight safety net against the accidental disappearance of important files. Now that I have your confidence built up (grin), a few ideas...

One question... how young is too young? That's up to you. I've been an elementary school computer teacher for many years now and introduce kids to computers in Kindergarten. There are some great opportunities for exploration within the Ensemble environment.. All it takes is some creativity and a good computer insurance policy (just a joke!).

GEODRAW:
GeoDraw is an excellent way to introduce your kids to windowing and using the mouse. Things as simple as pointing, clicking, and moving objects don't necessarily come naturally. First, open GeoDraw. Click on the maximize button (square in the upper right corner) so that it's full screen. Make sure some tools are showing. Now click on MODIFY. Click on Line properties, area properties, and text properties. In each case leave the window open and drag it down to the bottom of the screen. This will give your kids plenty to play with. You may want to give a demo of what to do or take the completely exploratory approach. Kids in the early elementary grades are most likely to experiment with colors, shapes, and patterns.

GEOWRITE:
For the young ones...
Ever wonder how young is too young to teach your kid to type? Of course it depends on your child's readiness, but even 9 or 10 yr olds can learn. There are great typing tutor programs geared to kids available commercially and even some shareware available on America Online or other online services. Another option is to get out the old typing manual and setup your own lessons in GeoWrite.

You could easily type a row of letters (start with the home row and lots of repetition) then skip a line. Have your child type in the line you skipped copying the line above. Whether practicing typing or writing a simple story, be sure to adjust the font size to at least 18 pts, possibly 24. This will match the font size in the primary grades' readers and will give your child the feeling that he/she is accomplishing something (fills up the page fast).

For older kids...
Do you remember your teacher telling you to write a first draft then refine it to a final copy? If you're like me, your first draft WAS your final copy. If you can get your kids to write reports in GeoWrite, the ease of editing will make it much more likely that they'll improve on their work. Be sure to show them how to use the spell checker!

Want to get sneaky? Show your kids how to use an online encyclopedia or one on CD ROM. Once your child has mastered the art of searching and locating the information that is needed, and has learned to use Copy/Paste or Quick Copy to paste it into GeoWrite, report writing will be easy and you may never get your computer back.

Teaching your kid to play solitaire:
Just a few fun tips.. set up Solitaire at the beginner's level and see how long it takes your kid to figure out you just have to click on the card in the draw file (or any other) and an appropriate destination will be highlighted. For starters, you may want to set number of cards drawn to one instead of three and possibly even turn scoring off.

How to win at Tetris:
Here are a few survival tips for YOU. Your kids probably already know how to play tetris after thousand hours in front of a "Game Boy". So your top score is 1200 and your kids score 10,000 on a bad night? Here are a few "get even" ideas.
First, turn off Preview pieces since that causes you so score less. Secondly, drop a piece (using the spacebar) from as high as you can and still place it correctly... the higher the piece when you drop it, the higher your score. Finally, keep this in mind:

If you complete 4 lines at once, you get a thousand point bonus. The only way to do this is to complete the 4 lines but leave a vertical column empty until you get a blue 4x1 and then drop it in. Good luck!!

Hope you enjoy these tips and will get your kids involved with Ensemble.

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0082
Updated: 06/10/92
Text: Smart Quotes

There is a feature known as "Smart Quotes" available in GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2 and later versions. In Ensemble v1.2 or GeoWorks Pro, the way you make it active is by adding the following lines to your GEOS.INI file:

  [text]  (assuming this line doesn't already exist)
  smartQuotes = true

In Ensemble 2.0, you can toggle the feature on in Preferences, Text.

Now, when you type normal quote marks, they will get mapped to the appropriate typographic (curly) quotes. This makes your documents look very cool.

However, there are times when you may need straight quotes. For example, straight quotes are typographically correct when printing measurements, such as in 5-1/4" disk. In Ensemble 1.2 or GeoWorks Pro, there is no way to access straight quotes from the keyboard when smartQuotes are turned on, so before you turn on smartQuotes, be sure to copy the straight quote characters into a Scrapbook or Notepad, from which you can Copy and Paste them when necessary.

Article#0083
Updated: 06/08/92
GEOS.INI: GeoManager Features in GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2

This document is provided as a way for GEOS users to get the most out of GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2. It contains technical information on how to modify GEOS system files and use undocumented features. Therefore, most of these tips are for advanced DOS users and are not supported by GeoWorks since they go beyond the scope of normal use.

(Note also that GeoWorks cannot promise to get you out of any mess you may create using this information. Not to say we won't, but the customer service reps have not been briefed on this information since it is undocumented --GW Adam)

Under the OPTIONS menu in GeoManager, you will find a new option that will allow you to come directly back to GEOS after you exit a DOS app launched from GeoManager. If you don't like "Press ENTER to return.....", then this is for you. If you are an advanced user, you can edit the GEOS.INI file to allow you to open any text file simply by double clicking on it. This will cause NotePad to come up with the file you've chosen. You will need to insert the last two lines before the end bracket below:

 [file manager]
 filenameTokens = {
  *.EXE = "gDOS",0
  *.COM = "gDOS",0
  *.BAT = "gDOS",0
  *.SYS = "gDOS",0,"NPAD",0
  *.*  = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0
 }

Notice the line: *.SYS = "gDOS",0,"NPAD",0. This seems to be redundant since the line following it (*.* = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0) opens all files anyway. The only thing the *.SYS line seems to do is change the icon for those files to the DOS program icon. I removed this line in my GEOS.INI.

If you use the dosAssociations function in and have the line *.* = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0 in your GEOS.INI you need to make some modifications otherwise the dosAssociations won't work. For example if you have dosAssociations set up to unzip all .ZIP files, double clicking on a .ZIP file will instead open Notepad! Luckily there is an easy way to get around this. You can do one of two things. Either erase the *.* = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0 line and specify each individual type of file you want Notepad to open or (my favorite way) add the file types you listed under dosAssociations to filenameTokens. Here's an example of what I mean. Suppose I want to set up my GEOS.INI so that I still retain the ability to double click on any file and have Notepad come up, but also that double clicking on a .ZIP file will bring up PKUNZIP. This is how the GEOS.INI would be set up:

 [fileManager]
 filenameTokens = {
  *.EXE = "gDOS",0
  *.COM = "gDOS",0
  *.BAT = "gDOS",0
  *.ZIP = "FILE",0  ( <-- add this line)
  *.*  = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0
 }
 dosAssociations = {
  *.ZIP = C:\UTILS\PKUNZIP.EXE
 }

That's all there is to it. For every file type you specify in dosAssociations just add the line *.XYZ = "FILE",0 to filenameTokens. But... make sure it comes before the NPAD entry, otherwise it won't work!

--Information provided by FrankLfr (from PC/GEOS Tips and Tricks 2)

Article#0084
Updated: 06/08/92
GEOS.INI: Assigning GEOS Icons to DOS Files

This document is provided as a way for GEOS users to get the most out of GeoWorks products. It contains technical information on how to modify GEOS system files and use undocumented features. Therefore, most of these tips are for advanced DOS users and are not supported by GeoWorks since they go beyond the scope of normal use.

(Note also that GeoWorks cannot promise to get you out of any mess you may create using this information. Not to say we won't, but the customer service reps have not been briefed on this information since it is undocumented --GW Adam)

Here is a way to give your DOS files any icon seen in GEOS (to temporarily, I hope, relieve the lack of an icon editor). Under the heading of [fileManager] in the GEOS.INI file add the name of your file (wildcards ok) and then specify the icon (i.e. token), which is a four letter code and is case sensitive. The code is in quotes and is followed by a comma and a zero. For example, if I wanted to give my PROCOMM.BAT file the GeoComm icon, my GEOS.INI file would be modified to look like this:

 [fileManager]
 filenameTokens = {
  PROCOMM.BAT = "TERM",0
  *.EXE = "gDOS",0
  *.COM = "gDOS",0
  *.BAT = "gDOS",0
  *.*  = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0
 }

Notice that I have placed the filename before the wildcards--this is important! Also note that the four letter code for GeoManager is TERM. The four letter codes for the rest of the icons in Ensemble 1.2 are listed below along with the actual icons on the next page. Remember they are case sensitive and must be in quotes followed by a comma and a zero as seen above.

gDOS - generic DOS program icon
WP00 - GeoWrite icon
FILE - generic DOS file icon
NFCT - Nimbus font converter icon
gAPP - generic GEOS application icon
NPAD - Notepad icon
gDAT - generic GEOS data icon
PERF - Perf icon
3DFt - 3D Font Demo
PMGR - Preferences icon
AMOL - America Online icon
scbk - Scrapbook data file icon
BANR - Banner icon
Scrp - Scrapbook icon
BONC - Bounce
DUMP - Screen Dumper
CALc - Calculator icon
SOLI - Solitaire icon
CCOM - Complete Communicator
FLDR - Subdirectory folder icon
TERM - GeoComm icon
TETR - Tetris icon
adbk - GeoDex data file icon
ADBK - GeoDex icon
DDAT - GeoDraw data file icon
DP00 - GeoDraw icon
GCAL - Unknown application icon
DESK - GeoManager icon
GCDa - Unknown app's data file
plnr - GeoPlanner data file icon
PLNR - GeoPlanner icon
WDAT - GeoWrite data file icon

If you browse through the TOKEN.DB file with a HEX/ASCII editor you might find some duplicate icons, but I have only listed the primary ones here since the other ones haven't always worked for me in all cases.

Note: Within the TOKEN.DB file which was sent out on the setup disks with version 1.2 there are two additional icons. Be careful, though. If you erase (e.g. to rebuild) your TOKEN.DB file they will be gone!

A technical note about GEOS v1.2 file structure and icons:

GEOS stores GEOS files with a three digit numeric extension. This is because GEOS allows long filenames whereas DOS does not. So, if you save a file named "Business Report for April" in GeoWrite, the DOS file name would look like BUSINESS.000. All that GEOS does is take the first eight valid DOS characters from the GeoWrite name and then tack on a numeric extension. If a BUSINESS.000 file already existed, GEOS would simply increment the numeric extension by one, thus creating a BUSINESS.001 file (for example, that would be the case if you subsequently created a GeoWrite file called "Business Report for May"). You can therefore create a thousand GEOS data files in which the first 8 characters of the filename are "business." The actual GEOS filename is stored within the data file itself along with its Type and Creator.

If you use a file Hex editor to view GEOS files (application or data files), you will notice three things. The file's Type is listed at offset 14H, the Creator at offset 1AH, and the long filename at offset 20H. The Type and Creator are stored as four digit codes. The Type is simply the code for that particular file 'type' and the creator is the code of the application which created it. The Creator for all GEOS applications is GEOS. Thus, if you wanted to know the code for a new GEOS application, you could simply pull out your handy hex editor and take a look at offset 14H to find the code. For example, the Type and Creator of a GeoWrite document would be WDAT and WP00, respectively. Whereas, the Type and Creator of GeoWrite itself is WP00 and GEOS.

Now a little background on icons. When GEOS is started for the very first time, it looks through all the files in the current directory (e.g. World) and places any icons it finds into a database file called TOKEN.DB. The purpose of this file is to prevent GEOS from having to look through all the files to find icons (a slow process) each time it is started. Once the TOKEN.DB file has been created, GEOS can simply load it on startup and display the icons without having to search the files. If you open a directory containing GEOS files that have new icons (i.e. that aren't in TOKEN.DB), GEOS searches these files and places the icons into TOKEN.DB. The building of TOKEN.DB can take some time, depending on the amount and size of your files. For example, if you erase the TOKEN.DB file (don't worry--it won't harm anything) you can see how long it takes to rebuild the database. The icons in TOKEN.DB are referenced according to the file's Type. There are some drawbacks to this scheme. For instance, if a new version of a GEOS application comes out that has a new icon, you probably won't be able to see it until you erase the old TOKEN.DB file (this was the case with previous screen dumpers). Why? Remember that the TOKEN.DB file references the icons according to the file's Type code. If the updated application has not changed any of its codes, GEOS will assume that the icon in TOKEN.DB is valid and show you the old one that it has in its database. It is not until you erase the TOKEN.DB file and force GEOS to rebuild the icon database that you will see the new one.

--Information provided by FrankLfr (from PC/GEOS Tips and Tricks 2)

Article#0085
Updated: 06/08/92
GEOS.INI: dosAssociations and dosParameters

This document is provided as a way for GEOS users to get the most out of GeoWorks Ensemble v1.2. It contains technical information on how to modify GEOS system files and use undocumented features. Therefore, most of these tips are for advanced DOS users and are not supported by GeoWorks since they go beyond the scope of normal use.

(Note also that GeoWorks cannot promise to get you out of any mess you may create using this information. Not to say we won't, but the customer service reps have not been briefed on this information since it is undocumented --GW Adam)

Two undocumented functions exist that allow GeoManager to (1) Run DOS programs when you click upon a certain file (or file type--like *.TXT) and (2) Specify parameters for DOS .COM and .EXE files. What this means is that GeoManager can automatically run a DOS program and load the DOS file you clicked on in the same way you can double click on a GEOS document and have its creator automatically load it! To use these functions you must modify your GEOS.INI file, so if you don't feel comfortable with this, you shouldn't do it. Also remember that there is a backup of your GEOS.INI file in the System directory named INI.BAK--in case things go wrong. Note: This backup copy is overwritten with the current GEOS.INI file when you run preferences or setup.

With that said, under the heading of [fileManager] in the GEOS.INI file you will notice the function filenameTokens {}. The two new functions are dosAssociations {} and dosParameters {}, both have a similar format to filenameTokens {}. The best way of explaining their format is to just show how they work by an example:

 [fileManager]
 filenameTokens = {
  *.EXE = "gDOS",0
  *.COM = "gDOS",0
  *.BAT = "gDOS",0
  *.*  = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0
(This line allows you to double click on a DOS file and have Notepad come up automatically!)
}
 dosAssociations = {
  *.DOC = C:\UTILS\EDIT.COM
  *.TXT = C:\UTILS\EDIT.COM
  *.ZIP = C:\UTILS\PKUNZIP.EXE
 }
 dosParameters = {
  FORMAT.COM = ?
  PCPLUS.EXE = /f
  DOS_CMD.EXE = ?
 }

First let me explain the dosAssociations {} function. In the example above, I have told GeoManager to invoke the file C:\UTILS\EDIT.COM each time a file with the extension .TXT or .DOC is double clicked. You must specify the path name (unless the file is in the DOS PATH) and filename with its extension (i.e. C:\UTILS\EDIT would not have worked). As seen in the example, wildcards are accepted for the files (but not for the programs to be run, of course). What actually happens is that GeoManager simply places the filename you clicked on after the program on the command line. So, if you double clicked README.TXT, GeoManager would drop to DOS and run 'C:\UTILS\EDIT.COM README.TXT.' Therefore, you must be sure that your program allows files to be loaded by placing their name on the command line (almost all programs do this). By the way, with version 1.2 you can specify that Notepad will open certain file types as seen above with the line *.* = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0.

The dosParameters {} function allows you to specify parameters for .EXE and .COM files. Unfortunately, you cannot specify parameters for .BAT (batch) files. The format is straightforward: the filename with extension (wildcards are accepted--for example *.COM), an equal sign, and then the parameter(s). If the parameter is a question mark (?), then GeoManager will prompt you for the parameters each time you double click on that file. You can also combine the two functions. For example, I can modify dosParameters {} to look like this:

 dosParameters = {
  EDIT.COM = ?
  PCPLUS.EXE = /f
  DOS_CMD.EXE = ?
 }

Here I have added the line EDIT.COM = ?. Now, every time I click on a *.TXT or *.DOC file, GeoManager will know to load 'C\UTILS\EDIT.COM' from the dosAssociations {} function, but it will also ask for parameters since I specified EDIT.COM = ? in dosParameters {}. Note that the parameters are (for some strange reason) added BEFORE the selected filename on the actual DOS command line. So, if I double click on the file README.TXT and enter the parameter "/v" when GEOS prompts me, the resulting DOS command line (what DOS would see), looks like this: C:\UTILS\EDIT.COM /v README.TXT--notice the order.

Finally, the dosParameters {} function can be used to create a DOS command line feature as requested by several people. I did this by creating a simple program called DOS_CMD.EXE whose only function is to pass its parameters to DOS as commands. Thus, by having DOS_CMD.EXE in your World directory and "DOS_CMD.EXE = ?" in the dosParameters {} function (as shown in the example), you have a quick and easy way to enter DOS commands.

One more thing, you can use BAT2EXEC, to simulate a batch file. For example, suppose I wanted to use the DOS DISKCOPY command because this reduces the swapping of disks as opposed to copying a disk using GEOS (the more RAM that is available the less swapping is required). I would simply write a batch file named DISKCOPY.BAT, for example, that contains this line:

C:\DOS\DISKCOPY %1 %2 %3 %4

Then I would compile the batch file to a .COM file using BAT2EXEC and write the following under the heading of [fileManager] in GEOS.INI:

 dosParameters = {
  DISKCOPY.COM = ?
 }

By placing the compiled DISKCOPY.COM file into the World directory, you have quick access to this function. Now every time you double click on DISKCOPY.COM, it will ask you for the parameters and then copy the disk. The same can be done with the DOS FORMAT command, etc.

A word of caution:
I have had problems with BAT2EXEC in that it created phantom files in my World directory. That is why I created DOS_CMD.EXE. It is safer and also allows unlimited parameters (instead of creating and compiling a batch file which simply contains %1 %2 %3, etc.). I welcome comments and suggestions.

--Information taken from PC/GEOS Tips and Tricks 2 by FrankLfr.

Article#0086
Updated: 06/08/92
GEOS.INI: Eliminate the "Are You Sure" dialog box

For those of you who would like to see the "Are you sure you want to Exit to DOS?" go away, Adam de Boor has provided you the ability to do just that. In Ensemble v1.2, at the part of the GEOS.INI file that begins with:

  [welcome]
  versiontext = Version 1.2 Beta #2
  resetIfOEMSerialNumber = true
  enteredprofessionalroom = true
  startuproom = Professional

insert >  confirmShutdown = false

  [text]

--Information provided by FrankLfr (from PC/GEOS Tips and Tricks 2)

Article#0087
Updated: 06/08/92
GEOS.INI: Turn off the blinking cursor

This document is provided as a way for GEOS users to get the most out of GeoWorks products. It contains technical information on how to modify GEOS system files and use undocumented features. Therefore, most of these tips are for advanced DOS users and are not supported by GeoWorks since they go beyond the scope of normal use.

(Note also that GeoWorks cannot promise to get you out of any mess you may create using this information. Not to say we won't, but the customer service reps have not been briefed on this information since it is undocumented --GW Adam)

There is another undocumented function which allows you turn off the blinking cursor. Under the section name [input] in the GEOS.INI file you can write:

 [input]
 blinking cursor = false

which then turns off the blinking cursor. A value of 'true' would turn it back on.

--Information taken from PC/GEOS Tips and Tricks 2 by FrankLfr

Article#0088
Updated: 06/08/92
GEOS.INI: Speed up Scrolling

Modify the GEOS.INI file where it says under the [Motif] heading:

gadgetRepeatDelay = 18

If you reduce the number there, the scroll buttons in GEOS will work faster when pressed with the mouse. This means when your choosing a file to open in Notepad, the names scroll faster when you press the scroll button.

I set the amount to 8.

GeoWorks does not endorse or support modification if its software. Please make a backup copy of your GEOS.INI file before making any modifications. You can do this from the DOS command line by changing to your GeoWorks directory and typing COPY GEOS.INI GEOS.BAK

You will have to edit your GEOS.INI file from DOS using a text editor or edlin. You can't edit it within Ensemble because the file is in use. Of course a way around that is to make a backup file, edit that in Notepad, then copy it over GEOS.INI (in that event, you'd need a spare backup).

--Information provided by PC Robin and Singh (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0089
Updated: 06/10/92
GEOS.INI: Changing the Environment Fonts

To change environment fonts in Ensemble v1.2, go to the following lines in GEOS.INI:

  [motif]
  fontId = berkeley
  fontSize = 10

and replace
  fontId = berkeley
with the ID for the font of your choice, e.g.
  fontId = pondeur
which I found particularly appealing. You can also change the line
  fontSize = 10
to
  fontSize = 14
or another pleasing number. Pondeur looks better at points higher than 10.

What does it do? These changes affect the menu bars and dialog boxes as well as the iconified open application outside of the desktop. It does not affect the ruler bar in applications such as GeoWrite or the application work space such as the center of the desktop in GeoManager. The change also affects the application title bar, e.g. GeoManager, as well as the title of the data project, e.g. Write Untitled.

I tried various fonts in different sizes and experienced no problems. The change does not result in changed fonts for the application and data names that go with the icons in the desktop which was the actual target of my investigation.

--Information provided by ClemensKo (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0090
Updated: 04/04/93
GeoBanner: Banner special effects

QUESTION: In GeoBanner, can I give just one word a special effect or a different font?

ANSWER: No. Fonts and special effects apply to the entire banner. Of course, it is possible to do it the old fashioned way: print out the part you want different as a separate banner, and use scissors and tape to insert this section in the original banner.

If it is a small banner (under 45 inches long) you could create it in GeoDraw.

Article#0091
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: Using Zmodem with GeoComm

Would you like to download multiple files in the shortest amount of time? Then Zmodem is for you! GWRepDave explains why and how:

Until a full-fledged terminal package becomes available, the easiest way to add the fastest file transfer available today (Zmodem) is to modify your \WORLD subdirectory to add GSZ/DSZ support.

Several versions of the modification are now available in the GeoComm area of the GeoWorks Software Library on America Online. They use short batch (.BAT) files to access a non-GEOS program based on DSZ/GSZ from Chuck Forsberg and Omen Technology. DSZ/GSZ, and its recently released graphical-based successor, provide ways to access Zmodem file transfers. A couple of the versions also give you access to Ymodem protocols. If you've used GeoComm to download from local BBS's or other online services, you've been limited to only the Model-T of transfer protocols, Xmodem. Xmodem was great in its day, but new things--like Zmodem--have been developed since then. You'll notice some handy functions when using Zmodem transfers. The ability to download several files at a time is the one I enjoy most. Also, once you request the files you'd like to download, DSZ/GSZ will automatically write them to the download directory on your hard disk, without further intervention from you. The downside to all of this is that you won't be able to multitask during external protocol downloads.

Whichever "modification" you choose, you'll need DSZ or GSZ, and to add the directory where you'll keep it to your PATH statement. So, if you keep the DSZ/GSZ files on the D: drive, in the \ZMODEM subdirectory, your modified PATH statement might look something like this:

PATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\GeoWorks;D:\ZMODEM

You'll also need to add an "environmental variable" statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT, so DSZ/GSZ will know what your COMM port is:

set DSZPORT=2

It's important to type the statement exactly as it appears above, modifying it only for the actual port number: 1, 2, 3 or 4. Be sure not to put any spaces on either side of the equal sign. For instance, set DSZPORT = 2 will not work.

The rest of the "modifications" are straightforward, but be sure to consult the README files bundled with the programs.

The final step involves placing the batch file which will call the external protocol from the \WORLD subdirectory. The Zmodem utility I uploaded requires two batch files in \WORLD: one for uploads and one for downloads. Some of the others use just one batch file for both uploads and downloads and call an external shell where you specify the filenames and whether you intend to download or upload.

A few additional tips. If you'd like to upload via Zmodem, using the modifications I created, you'll need to convert the batch file to a .COM file, using a utility like BAT2EXEC. This will enable GEOS to open a Dialog Box (DB) to specify the names of files to be uploaded when Upload File is double-clicked. The GEOS.INI will also require modification to "turn on" the DB function.

To enable the entry of filenames for uploading, the following must be added to GEOS.INI, under the fileManager heading, following the filenameTokens area. Please type it exactly as it appears (including spaces and brackets).

dosParameters = {
ZUPLOAD.COM = ?
}

Here's a list of the files available on America Online which will help "enable" Zmodem (their subject names appear first, followed by the actual file):

External Protocol Shell, GEORSHLL.ZIP
Zmodem Shell External Protocol, GEOXFER.ZIP
Z-Modem Shell External Protocol, ZMDMHKEY.EXE
Zmodem for GeoComm, GCZMODM2.EXE
Graphic Zmodem Transfer Protocol, GSZ0807.ZIP
DSZ: ZMODEM Protocol, DSZ0613.ZIP

--Information provided by Dave Gibson (GWRepDave)

Article#0092
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: GeoComm and ANSI

QUESTION: I logged on to a BBS which I know uses ANSI sequences to produce a graphics screen, but what was displayed was the command sequences. I have ANSI.COM loaded and had selected terminal type ANSI.

ANSWER: The GeoComm ANSI mode is only meant for the ANSI cursor movements, not the ANSI color graphics commands.

Article#0093
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: GeoComm and Auto-Answer Mode

While GeoComm doesn't have an "auto-answer mode", you can set your modem to auto-answer from the GeoComm screen with a simple AT command.

At the GeoComm prompt, enter ATS0=x. That's a ZERO, not the letter "o". And make x the number of rings you want before the modem will answer. I like to use 2, so it'll ring twice before the modem picks up. So, I would type ATS0=2. Additionally, be sure to go to "Options" on the GeoComm menu bar, then "Terminal" and choose "half" duplex instead of "full", so you can see what you type, as well as what the person on the other end types.

Article#0094
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: GeoComm and Empty Text Capture Files

QUESTION: When I use text capture, it quits immediately and leaves me with an "empty" text capture file.

ANSWER: When using "Capture to Text File" from the File option on GeoComm's menu bar you are asked to choose a directory and a file name for the capture. Once you've done that and clicked on capture, you'll see the "Capture Status" dialog box (DB). It's necessary to move the mouse pointer away from this DB and click once on the GeoComm screen to make it the active screen. If you don't, the first time you hit "enter" in response to a BBS prompt, the enter will actually be directed to the "done" button in the Text Capture DB.

Article#0095
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: VT100, Protocols, and the Future

VT100 Emulation:

I was surprised to see a message from a user who had discovered that we use UNIX termcaps for our terminal emulation. His assumptions were correct. This explains why we don't fully support the VT100 spec. It was not our goal with the first release of GeoComm to make the world's best communications program. We wanted a simple terminal emulator that could be multi-tasked in the environment (I use GeoComm to get onto our company mail system and it works great for that). Quite frankly, we have been amazed at the level of interest in GeoComm.

When we set out to do the program, we were not sure what terminals to support. One of our engineers came up with the idea of using the terminal definition files found on UNIX systems. The UNIX termcap files provide a standardized interface to a wide range of terminals. The termcap files are used to map desired screen effects to the escape sequences of a particular terminal. We reasoned that by building a software state machine, we could use the termcap files in reverse, i.e. take escape sequences being sent to GeoComm, look them up in the termcap definition for that terminal, and effect the desired result on screen. The benefit of this approach is that UNIX termcaps have been written for nearly every terminal known to man, in theory, with the state machine complete, we would support any desired terminal!

Things did not work out quite as well as we planned. One major problem that we did not anticipate was that GeoComm's terminal emulation would only be as accurate as the termcap definition file. In reality, most UNIX termcaps do not fully map all of the capabilities of a given terminal. It depends on who wrote the termcap. Finally, we didn't even end up using all of the wide variety of terminal types because we had no way of testing them.

Transfer Protocols:

Once again, we didn't realize how popular a Comm program would be. I agree, more protocols should be supported. As for the future, see below...

The Future:

Right now we are trying to decide what to do about GeoComm. To support all of the features that have been requested, would require a major rewrite. Just adding additional transfer protocols would not be too difficult. One option we have considered, is to contact a company with a good, all purpose telecom program and see if we could interest them in porting their application to GEOS. What we finally end up doing will largely be dictated by what you, the users, want us to do. If enough people want us to evolve GeoComm, we will do it.

--Information provided by GW Brian (Brian Dougherty, CEO, GeoWorks)

Article#0096
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: GeoComm and UNIX

QUESTION: GeoComm doesn't seem to work properly on my UNIX system. After logging on the Prompt is ALWAYS at the bottom of the screen and I have to scroll continuously in order to display it. The moment a key is pressed when typing in a command the prompt disappears. If I continue typing anyway the command is executed but I have to scroll again to see the results. I'm using a CGA display and an XT. Any ideas on what is happening?

ANSWER: Since you are using a CGA, you are probably using 12 lines by 80 columns in GeoComm. In order for things to be in sync, you need to tell UNIX about your screen size. The appropriate command is "stty rows 12 columns 80". This probably needs to be done every time you log-on, if you continue using CGA. In EGA, VGA, HGC, etc., you can use the normal 24x80 display. Even in these cases, however, you should make sure that UNIX knows what your screen size is.

Another important thing is the terminal emulation. You should make sure that the GeoComm terminal type is the same as what UNIX thinks you are using.

Article#0097
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: Sample GeoComm Script

; Name this script GENIESMP.MAC
; GEnie automated logon
; $Id: genie.mac,v 1.7 90/11/01 16:42:11 eric Exp $
;
; GEnie is a registered trademark of General Electric
;
; We assume modem is COM 1. If otherwise, change this to 2, 3, or 4. ;
PORT  4
;
; As of 11/1/90, GEnie recommends "1200-7-E-1-HALF" for ;communication.
;
COMM  2400-7-E-1-HALF
;
; set the terminal type
;
TERM  TTY
;
; clear the script display
;
CLEAR
:retry
PAUSE
PRINT  "DIALING GEnie", CR
DIAL  "555-5555"
MATCH  "BUSY"  GOTO  retry
MATCH  "CARRIER"  GOTO  retry
MATCH  "CONNECT"  GOTO  connect
PROMPT  1800
PRINT  "TIMEOUT ON DIALING",CR
GOTO  done
:connect
PRINT  "CONNECTED TO GEnie",CR
BELL
PAUSE
SEND  "HHH",CR
MATCH  "U#="  GOTO  user
PROMPT  600
PRINT  "TIMEOUT ON U#",CR
GOTO  done
:user
PAUSE
PRINT  "SENDING ACCT. #",CR
PRINT  "AND PASSWORD",CR
SEND  "XACCT#,XPASSWORD",CR
:done
BELL
PRINT  "  * * *DONE* * *",CR
PRINT  "PLEASE CLICK ON CLOSE",CR
END

:ABORT
PRINT  "HANGUP PHONE?",CR
SEND  "+++"
MATCH  "OK"  GOTO  dohup
PROMPT  300
PRINT  "Couldn't disconnect the modem",CR
GOTO  end
; Hangup the connection
:dohup
SEND  "ATH0",CR
MATCH  "OK"  GOTO  hangup
PROMPT  300
PRINT  "TIMEOUT ON hangup",CR
GOTO  end
:hangup
PRINT  "HUNG UP",CR
:end
BELL
END

Article#0098
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: GeoComm and Dialing Long Numbers

QUESTION: I'm trying to enter a dial out number, a long distance access number, a credit card number and then the number of the BBS I'm trying to reach. GeoComm's scripts can't handle a number this size. What can I do?

ANSWER: The work-around of last resort applies here as it does many other places. You can enter the ATDT<blah blah blah> string directly to the modem. Alternately, you can type the "big thing" in the Message box and click "Send" when you want to dial, to save yourself some repetitive typing.

Article#0099
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: Maximizing the GeoComm Window

QUESTION: How can I maximize the GeoComm window?

ANSWER: There is no maximize button in GeoComm. While under the View option, choose the bottom selection (Window Size). This will give you the opportunity to specify the number of lines (horizontally) and columns (vertically) you want in the GeoComm window. It also will have the effect of changing the window size--you've just got to be sure this matches the lines/columns your mainframe is sending. I assume you have no control over this as you would on most BBSs.

If others who read this tweak the line/column numbers, don't forget to change the line setting on the BBSs you frequent (usually under something like "Your Settings"), or you won't be able to see the whole screen in your window at once.

Article#0100
Updated: 06/08/92
GeoComm: GeoComm and the Disappearing Cursor

QUESTION: My cursor disappeared from the GeoComm Screen and ended up below the window. After restarting GeoComm it was fine. I cannot seem to reproduce this problem, however. It happened while I was editing GeoComm script files for dialing under Notebook and then running the script files. Somewhere along the way the cursor 'slipped' under the window.

ANSWER: Check your screen size. The cursor can get lost if the number of rows is not 24.

Article#0101
Updated 06/08/92
GeoComm: Using Multiple COM ports

QUESTION: A friend needs a telecom program that can have multiple windows open so he can compare readings from several different computers on the screen at one time. Will GeoComm do this?

ANSWER: If you have multiple modems and multiple phone lines (or the equivalent of such), you can run a different instance of GeoComm for each line. For this to work, each modem/line must be addressable through a different COM port.

Article#0102
Updated 06/08/92
GeoComm: How to Disable Call Waiting

QUESTION: How can I setup my modem to disable call waiting?

ANSWER: Try this fix, if using a script from within GeoComm:

  DIAL "*70,555-1212"

Note: Be sure to include the quotes.

Use 1170 is for pulse dialing systems.

*70 is for tone systems.

Article#0103
Updated 06/08/92
GeoComm: GeoComm and TTY

I tried calling a friend using the TTY emulation, but I kept getting a "no carrier" message. I tried connecting to AOL immediately afterwards and connect with no problem at all, so that means the problem lies in the software. I had thought TTY baud rate was only 35.5 or 45.5, something like that. There's no such baud setting in the software, so how do I use the TTY emulation?

ANSWER: The GeoComm TTY emulation is only for screen and cursor control codes. As the user has verified, a matching baud rate is also needed for successful connection.

Article#0104
Updated 06/08/92
GeoComm: Sample Logon Script for GeoComm

;
;SAMPLE. logon file
;
; $Id: SAMPLE.MAC,v 1.3 90/12/07 11:45:39 DAVE G. Exp $
;
PRINT  "THIS IS A SAMPLE SCRIPT FILE",CR
PRINT  "FOR SIGN-ON TO LOCAL BULLETIN", CR
PRINT  "BOARDS, SUCH AS WILDCAT AND RBBS",CR
PRINT  "PORT, COMM, TERM, DIAL, CONNECTED TO,",CR
PRINT  "FIRST AND LAST NAME, AND PASSWORD",CR
PRINT  "FIELDS MUST BE EDITED"
PRINT  "FOR YOUR PREFERENCES"
PAUSE
PORT  2
:comm
COMM  2400-8-N-1-FULL
TERM  TTY
; clear the script display
CLEAR
:retry
PAUSE
PRINT  "DIALING" , CR
DIAL  "555-1111"
MATCH  "BUSY"  GOTO  retry
MATCH  "NO"  GOTO  retry
MATCH  "CONNECT 2400"  GOTO  connect
PROMPT  4800
PRINT  "TIMEOUT ON DIAL",CR
GOTO  done
:connect
PRINT  "Connected to the BBS NAME", CR
PAUSE

MATCH  "What is your FIRST Name?" GOTO first
PROMPT  600
PRINT  "TIMEOUT ON FIRST NAME",CR
GOTO  done
:first
PRINT  "Sending FIRST NAME", CR
PAUSE
SEND  "FIRST NAME",CR

MATCH  "What is your LAST Name?" GOTO  last
PROMPT  600
PRINT  "TIMEOUT ON LAST NAME",CR
GOTO  done
:last
PRINT  "Sending LAST NAME", CR
PAUSE
SEND  "LAST NAME",CR

MATCH  "Enter Password (dots will echo)?"GOTO pword
PROMPT  600
PRINT  "TIMEOUT ON PASSWORD",CR
GOTO  done
:pword
PRINT  "Sending password", CR
PAUSE
SEND  "PASSWORD",CR

:done
BELL
PRINT  "  * * *DONE* * *",CR
PRINT  "PLEASE CLICK ON CLOSE",CR
END

:ABORT
PRINT  "HANGING UP",CR
SEND  "+"
MATCH  "OK" GOTO done
MATCH  "NO CARRIER" GOTO done
PROMPT  300
PRINT  "Couldn't disconnect the modem",CR
GOTO  end
; Hangup the connection
:dohup
SEND  "ATH0",CR
MATCH  "OK"  GOTO  hangup
PROMPT  900
PRINT  "TIMEOUT ON hangup",CR
GOTO  end
:hangup
PRINT  "HUNG UP",CR
:end
BELL
END

Article#0105
Updated 06/08/92
GeoComm: The Script Display in GeoComm

QUESTION: The only way to exit from the Script Display window is by clicking CLOSE. Once the script has been executed successfully, why can't it go away on its own?

ANSWER: We thought about having the script display go away after the script executes but decided that there might be information in the display that would be useful to see. The best way to handle this is to have a script command that closes that window. That way, only when the script determines that it has successfully executed will the script display be closed.

The STOP button is linked to the :ABORT label in the script. When you click on STOP, script execution jumps to this label. If you want to be able to press STOP without hanging up, you will have to change the script code at the :ABORT label.

When the script is attempting to hang-up, make sure that it correctly grabs the modem's attention with the "+++"

Article#0106
Updated 06/08/92
GeoComm: GeoComm Dialing & GeoDex

When I first got GeoWorks Ensemble over a year ago, I really wasn't impressed with GeoComm. It didn't support color ANSI graphics commands, which really wasn't a big problem since all they do is increase the time you spend on the BBS, but the worst limitation with it was that phone numbers had to be entered by hand, or using a Script file. This was very clumsy. Well, after getting familiar with the rest of Ensemble, I started to become frustrated because my big, expensive communications program tied up the computer during long downloads. That didn't happen when using AOL from within GeoWorks Pro, so I decided it was time to take another look at GeoComm.

I started out by creating a GeoDex file of BBS names and phone numbers, but found that I couldn't dial them from GeoDex when GeoComm was running since GeoComm had the COM port in use. GEOS was doing exactly what it should do and not letting 2 applications have the same port at the same time.

I overcame the dialing limitation by doing the following:

1. Start up GeoDex and create or open a file of the BBS names and numbers you want to use. Start up GeoComm also. You should now have GeoDex and GeoComm open.

2. To dial a number, simply highlight the number in GeoDex, and the copy it to the clipboard.

3. Switch to GeoComm by clicking the GeoComm title bar. Type "ATDT" (if you use tone dialing), or "ATDP" (if you use pulse dialing) at the GeoComm prompt. Don't worry if nothing appears when you type. If you don't have your modem's echo function turned on (the default on my modem), the characters will not appear. Now, pull down the EDIT menu and paste the number from the clipboard into GeoComm. Again, the characters may not appear. Hit ENTER on your keyboard to complete the dial command and the modem will begin to dial. Remember, it is not necessary for the AT command or the number to appear on the GeoComm screen.

4. You can use the Quick Copy feature of GEOS to paste a phone number from GeoDex into GeoComm's Quick Dial window. Just position the GeoDex and GeoComm windows so you can highlight the number in GeoDex, then drag the number with the right mouse button and drop it into the Quick Dial window in GeoComm.

5. When the BBS answers, your modem will send you a "CONNECT XXXX" message, where XXXX is the modem speed. Now you are ready to work the BBS! Be sure to tell the BBS that you do not want ANSI graphics (called color graphics on some BBS's) since GeoComm doesn't support the color command subset of the IBM PC subset of the ANSI standard.

As for downloads, the best GeoComm offers is XMODEM CRC 1k blocks. I found that this really wasn't a big limitation. The ability to use the computer while downloading far overshadowed the limits of XMODEM.

I hope this will stimulate some of you to give GeoComm a second chance. Don't think of it as a stand-alone program, but as one integrated with the other GeoWorks programs.

--Information provided by LAMark (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0107
Updated 06/08/92
GeoComm: No Echo in GeoComm after using AOL

If you have no echo in GeoComm (that is, you can't see what you are typing on the screen) when you launch GeoComm after running America Online, the problem is most likely related to the post modem string in AOL's SetUp. To fix it, go to AOL's Advanced Setup options and edit the post modem string to read E1, not E0 (that's a zero). There are several other AT commands in the string, but E0 is the problem.

You might also edit the X1 command to X4, after testing whether it will work with your modem by entering AT X4 on the GeoComm screen. If you get OK in response from the modem, you're all set. If you get an error, then use the X1. X4 enables responses like busy, etc. from your modem, which might be useful for scripts.

--Information provided by GWRepDave

Article#0108
Updated 06/08/92
GeoComm: Script SEND commands

I've not had much success with sending control characters using the SEND command. I've tried a couple of things, but they failed. Most of my success has been with sending commands to the modem. For instance:

  SEND  "ATV1 X4 &D0",CR

enables word results and the "smarter" modem commands, as well as dropping to DOS without the DTR line dropping as well. This is the command's strong point--modem setup.

These are the non-alpha commands you can use with SEND:

  CR
  BELL
  LF
  NULL
  TAB

You can also use the "^" (caret) to send control characters like

  ^C
  ^X

The way this works is that the character following the caret is taken and masked with 01fh. So you can do things like:

  ^[ (caret-bracket)

to get ESCAPE.

You can send a BREAK with the Pause/Break key on AT-style keyboards and with a Shift-Scroll Lock on XT keyboards.

Unfortunately, ASCII 127 cannot be sent by either a script or via the keyboard. The keyboard driver does not generate ASCII 127 from any key.

--Information provided by Brian C. (GeoWorks) and GWRepDave

Article#0109
Updated 06/08/92
GeoComm: Capture & Scripts Hints

CAPTURING ON-SCREEN TEXT IN GEOCOMM

I use GeoComm all the time to access a few local BBS's.

When you activate the "Capture To Text File" command, GeoComm will place all text presented on the screen in a text file that you can open later. A child window will appear, with a "Done" button, so GeoComm can close the file. Once the child-window appears, it is highlighted (it was the last window to appear). You can highlight something else to work on.

Here are a couple of tricks I have learned:

1. Although it appears that while GeoComm is capturing text, you can not interact with the "other" computer, that is not so. Usually, I just drag the header of the child-window and move it out of my way. Then I interact with the other system, as usual, while GeoComm records my keystrokes and responses from the other system. Then I use GeoWrite to view the file, using a font like URW Mono.

2. While you are "capturing to a text file", you cannot download a file or highlight text to copy it to a file directly. To do either of these tasks, you must click on DONE, thereby closing the file. GeoComm will not let you "append" one capture text file to another capture text file. In the cases where I've had two or more capture sessions while using a BBS, I number the capture files in sequence. That way, you can append the files in GeoWrite or another text editor.

3. Script files: How to make them? Don't bother. Copy the two that you have for Genie and Compuserve to new file names ending with .MAC, inspect them with Notepad or Text File Editor, and modify them. Simple. You get a guide to script files and its painless.

4. GeoComm can be used while your working with other applications. For example, you can download with XModem a large file that takes 20 minutes or more to receive. While that is happening, you can open GeoWrite and review the information you captured.

--Information provided by Michael549 (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0110
Updated 04/04/93
GeoComm: External Kermit Support

I've found that it is also possible to add external Kermit support. This discovery was inspired by GWRepDave's articles about adding Zmodem support. The procedure for adding Kermit is nearly the same.

Why add Kermit? Well, Kermit is almost universally supported by academic computing systems. In fact, I've never seen X,Y, or Zmodem supported on a university computer and Kermit is free!

The key line in the batch file I later converted to a .COM file is

KERMIT %1 %2, STAY

So when I want to transfer a file, I start the remote host kermit and put it in server mode (while logged in via GeoComm) then click on KERMIT.COM. This brings up a dialogue box in which I type

get filename  (to download a file)

send filename  (to upload a file)

CR  with no parameters to enter Kermit terminal emulation normally.

For more information, see the Kermit documentation.

--Information provided by Tom (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0111
Updated 04/04/93
GeoComm: Scripts for Beginners

HOW TO USE SCRIPTS WITH GEOCOMM

A script is a file that gives instructions over your modem. Many people use scripts to enter an ID or user number and a password when calling a local or even commercial BBS.

Two script files are included with GEOS for use with GeoComm:
GENIE.MAC for Genie and COMPU.MAC for Compuserve. These are sample files and may need editing before they will work properly with GeoComm and your particular configuration. Both of these files are set for COM1. If your modem is not connected to COM1, then this will have to be changed (the scripts won't work and may even change your settings).

Other examples of things you may need to change in the script files are BAUD rate, parity, data bits, and stop bits.
The most common settings for many BBS's are: 2400, 8,n,1
(this means 2400 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, one stop bit). For the Genie script, you probably want 2400 7,e,1.

If you've had some experience using scripts, you may also want to include your id/password and any necessary logon information.

The easiest way to edit the script file is to use an ASCII text editor. If you'd prefer to do it in GEOS, you could use Notepad or Text File Editor. Both COMPU.MAC and GENIE.MAC are located in the \GEOWORKS\GEOCOMM directory in Ensemble 1.2, or in the \USERDATA\COMMACRO directory in Ensemble 2.0.

When you've finished editing, be sure to save as a text file (click on FILES, click on save as text file). Also be sure to save it in your GeoWorks-GeoComm directory.

If you don't want to overwrite your original script, give it a different name. As long as you use the extension .MAC, GeoComm will see it as a script file. (HINT: you can create any number of scripts,  just call them NAME.MAC where "name" is the name of the script).

Article#0112
Updated 04/04/93
GeoDex: Importing data into GeoDex

In regards to importing a Dbase file into geoDex, there is no direct import capability, but you might try this: When I wanted to import my old electronic rolodex, I used the Notepad to "read" the other rolodex data file. What Notepad does when you tell it to read a DOS file, is that it reads in the file and discards any non-printable characters. What happened in my case was that I got some garbage, but the text for my business contacts were grouped together, so I could highlight the text in the Notepad and "quick copy" it into the geoDex (if you have not discovered Quick Copy yet, I strongly suggest you look it up in the manual, it is one of the best features of the product, you can quick copy text between all of the applications). It took about an hour to transfer 200 records.

--Information provided by GW Brian (Brian Dougherty, CEO, GeoWorks)

Article#0113
Updated 06/08/92
GeoDex: Printing only certain records in GeoDex

How can I print out just some of the names in my GeoDex file?"

At present, you cannot select only certain records in a GeoDex file when printing.

In Ensemble 1.2 or GeoWorks Pro, you can make up a new GeoDex of just the names you want or Quick Copy the data to GeoWrite and print from there.

In Ensemble 2.0, you can export the data from GeoDex and import it to GeoFile or GeoCalc, or use the mail merge feature in GeoWrite.

Article#0114
Updated 04/20/93
GeoDex: GeoDex dialing problem

I had a customer who could not dial from GeoDex. Since both GeoComm and the AOL software were working properly and he had the modem set up correctly in Preferences, I had him try this out and it worked.

In short, I had him startup GeoComm and send this command to the modem

ATE1Q0X4

then exit GeoComm, start up GeoDex, try to dial.

The customer came back on as happy as could be. This is a round about way to do it, but it seems to have worked for him.

There is a program on America Online that will allow for the sending of modem commands from the DOS prompt. This program could be added to the GEOS.BAT file and then used to send the above command to the modem each time GeoWorks Ensemble is launched. Here's the file description:

Subj: DOSMODEM: Modem Command Utility
Date: March 19, 1990
From: DavidK109

File: dosmodem.zip (4407 bytes)
DL time (2400 baud): < 1 minute
Download count: 376

AUTHOR:  Donavon Kuhn
NEEDS:  An UnZIPing Program

Keywords: Kuhn, DOS, Command

This program allows you to control the modem from DOS by using the "AT" commands at a DOS prompt. A program to toggle the DTR is also included, along with complete assembly source code for both programs. It is very handy for controlling the modem "on the fly", when you don't have time to load a term program to make minor adjustments in the modem.

--Information provided by GWRepKnox and GWRepKen2

Article#0115
Updated 06/08/92
GeoDraw: Stretching & resizing objects in v1.2 or Pro

1. Any DEFUSED object can be resized to ANY size.

2. Any FUSED object can only be resized to a maximum of about 11 inches by 11 inches.

3. Any BIG group of objects (larger than 11 x 11) can be fused together, but CANNOT be enlarged after that.

4. Any font can be made to a maximum point size of 792. Summary: If you what to do a BIG PAGE, then do EVERYTHING BIG to begin with.

When designing posters or other very large documents in GeoDraw, if you want an imported PCX graphic to resize as big as you need, don't copy it from a Scrapbook at any size other than 100%, and don't Fuse it. Then you can resize it in GeoDraw by dragging the resize handles as large as you need.

A graphic which has been Copied at View in the Scrapbook, at a View other than 100%, or has been fused will not be resizable beyond a certain point.

The limit on resizing a Fused object is 11 x11 inches. This is done to prevent the font driver from attempting to generate text larger than 792 pt. 11 inches x 72 dots per inch is 792. Technically, fused objects without text in them could be resized larger, but GeoDraw currently does not treat text-less fused objects differently.

--Information provided by GW SScholl (Steve Scholl, GeoWorks Engineering) and GWRep Jay

Article#0116
Updated 06/08/92
GeoDraw: DTP Dropcaps with Screen Dumper

The files described by Jerry can be found in the GeoWorks Software Library on America Online.

Screen dumper seems at first just something of a novelty. But, with some thought you can get some interesting effects.

1. REALLY Big drop Caps. I wanted to create a poster with some big drop caps. To do this, open up a blank geodraw document and put the letter you want to be enlarged on the screen. Then, enlarge its screen size with font size changes and/or % view changes. When it fills the screen, take a screen dump of the letter in PCX format. Use the F5/F6 dump procedure to cut out the letter only. Then go to the GeoDraw document where you are doing your poster and paste the PCX letter in. Size the letter to the size you want and add the rest of your text as a regular text object. See the file "Oktoberfest."

3. A poster self portrait. Using screen dumper, you can take a dump of all or parts of GeoDraw, GeoWrite, GeoPlanner, (well, you get the idea) and incorporate it into the drawing itself. I used this in 'The Great Escape' safety poster where I placed a copy of the poster itself (but slightly modified in PC Paintbrush) as a poster on the wall on a bulletin board. See file "The Great Escape."

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0117
Updated 06/10/92
GeoDraw: Avoiding Large GeoDraw Files

Here is a tip for cutting down on the file size (bytes) of GeoDraw documents when you have done a lot of reworking in the document.

If you have done a lot of cutting and pasting on a GeoDraw document, the byte-size may be larger than necessary. From the Edit menu, choose Select All, then Copy and Paste into a new document.

(In GeoWorks Ensemble 1.2, you don't have the option to Select All, but you can accomplish the same thing by manually selecting everything on the page.)

--Information provided by Susan Lamb

Article#0118
Updated 04/04/93
GeoDraw: Finding The Vertical Center in GeoDraw

Here's a quick and easy way to find the vertical center of any GeoDraw object:

1. Create a text box starting from the left edge of the object and ending at the right edge of the object.

2. Set text justification to center.

3. Type the "pipe" character: | (a shifted backslash)

That's it! You can use the pipe character as a guide to drawing a vertical rule, positioning another object, or whatever! When you're done, just delete it.

--Information provided by NealK (Neal Katz, a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0119
Updated 04/04/93
GeoDraw: Scale your work in GeoDraw

SCALING YOUR WORK IN GEODRAW:

Whether you import a graphic, text, or even create something in GeoDraw, Murphy's Law almost insists that it's not where you want it to be in your document and it's not the right size. Here are some tips on sizing and placing in GeoDraw:

THE BASICS: MOVING AND SIZING

Once you have created or imported a graphic or a piece of clipart into GeoDraw, you can move, scale, and modify it in a number of ways. Here's just one example:

From the toolbox, pick the pointer tool, point at your object and click your left mouse button to "select" that object. You can tell when an object is selected because small square dots called "handles" appear as a rectangle surrounding the object. These "handles" can be used to move or resize your object.

Notice the handle in the very center is diamond shaped. Try pointing at it. Click and hold your left mouse button then drag your mouse. Notice the object moves as you move the mouse. When you let up on the left button, the object is placed where you left it.

Next, try pointing at one of the outer handles. Again click and hold your left mouse button and drag your mouse. This time the whole object doesn't move. As you move your mouse toward the center of the object it gets smaller. As you move it away from the center, it gets larger. When you release the left mouse button, it remains the size you left it. In this way, you can resize or scale your object to meet your needs.

PROPORTIONAL SCALING: (this idea comes to us from GW Steve)

If you have GeoWorks Pro, then use the proportional scaling feature in the Scrapbook. Click View, select a view percentage, then click Edit then Copy at View to get perfectly proportional scaling. If you have Ensemble 2.0, simply hold the shift key while dragging the corner resize handle or use the proportional scaling feature in the Transform, Scale menu.

If you are using GeoWorks Ensemble 1.2 or earlier, then the following tip may help.

When I need to resize an item in GeoDraw, and I want to maintain the original height to width proportions, here's what I do.

For a quick and dirty job, I select the object, then I place a ruler or straight-edge against my monitor screen diagonally across the object, from the upper-left resize handle to the lower-right resize handle. Next I drag the lower-right resize handle and drop it anywhere along the edge of the ruler to resize the object either larger or smaller.

For a more precise job, instead of using the ruler,

1. Position the object in the upper left corner of the geoDraw page, carefully aligning its "edges" with the default dotted "guidelines."

2. Select the object

3. Select the thinnest line size in the "Line properties" item in the "Modify menu.

4. Position the screen so I can see the lower right handle of the object, then I hold a ball point pen against the monitor aimed at the exact center of the resize handle.

5. I click on the line tool and move the horsehair cursor to the exact spot my ballpoint pen is aimed at.

6. I press the left mouse button and begin drawing a line. The line goes from that point (where the lower right resize handle was) up to the upper left corner of the object.. which was aligned with the default guidelines in step 1 above.

7. I now have a thin diagonal line that is positioned in he same way, but is more precise, than the ruler in the quick and dirty method above.

8. All that is left is to drag the lower right resize handle to any position along the diagonal line. If I need to enlarge the object, I draw another, longer diagonal line using the first one as a guide. When all done, I delete the diagonal lines.

9. If I need a specific size in inches for either height or width, I simply paste one of the many GeoDraw rulers available in the libraries here online along the edge of the object, to guide me in resizing.

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0120
Updated 04/04/93
GeoManager: Avoiding window clutter

When in overlapping Window mode, each time you open a new directory, you get a new window. What I do to avoid this window clutter, is to open the "Tree View" window (under the tree menu item). This will allow you to build out the structure of your directory without opening windows on every directory. When you find the directory that you want, you can double click on it in the tree view window to open that directory. Note: you can also move and delete whole directory structures from the tree view window.

--Information provided by GW Brian (Brian Dougherty, CEO, GeoWorks)

Article#0121
Updated 06/08/92
GeoManager: Some tips for icon creators

You will note that some GW Icons have letters in them, but none of them have the actual application name (for example, GeoWrite has the word Write in its icon). In general, icons are best done as simple visual keys or clues to the applications function. If a program has a logo, that's often appropriate.

Jay Degn did almost all of the icons in the first three uploads by Doc Icon for Ensemble v1.2. I did all of the last three. I used public domain icons for Windows as my inspiration, but they come in 32 x 32 pixel format, and ours is 30 x 40. They all needed some attention. The GOLF icon is entirely my own creation, and many of the others are mostly mine.

As people create their own, we're going to see some, ..er.. ah .. "special" icons uploaded. Be kind to peoples' efforts. It's hard to create a really nice icon. A few tips:

1. All the GW icons and most of mine have a 3d effect. it always assumes that the light is in the upper left, so the shadows point to the lower right.

2. Shadows are always done in the light grey color--not that this is the right way, but it's consistent with everything else.

3. Working without an actual size icon to look at is difficult. I work in Deluxe Paint and this allows me to work at an 8x view AND allows me to see the effect in the real size. What you see at 8x is not always what your eye sees at normal size. Pay close attention to the use of the grays. They appear in places that you wouldn't think were right, but the effect pays off.

--Information provided by Doc Icon

Article#0122
Updated 05/15/92
GeoManager: Using Launchers in GeoWorks Pro

I have been able to "adjust" a few of the launchers that came with GeoWorks Pro for my needs. In the GW Pro package there are several launchers (installing both for the Samsung and Magnavox computers) for Lotus 123, Dollars & Sense, and a couple of other programs. Of the launchers, I have found the Lotus 123 launcher to be the easiest to work with and to modify.

The Lotus 123 launcher tries to run the Lotus123.Bat file. You could rename any of your batch files to that name and run them. You can even copy the launcher (with a new name) and run it.

With PC-Tools there is a Hex/Ascii file editor. I have found that I can edit the icon, replacing one line "C:\Lotus123.bat," which appears twice. After you save the file, it will run the batch you gave it. You must preserve the same spacing (drive letter & 8.3 characters) as the original text that was there. For example, I copied the Lotus123 launcher to WordStar, and used the Hex/Ascii editor type in the WordStar.BAT filename. WordStar runs just as if you typed the batch file at the DOS prompt or double-clicked on it in GeoManager. If your batch file does not work "normally" the launcher won't help it.

Of course, this means that you'll end up with a \WORLD directory with several different Lotus-123 launchers, renamed to other programs, but it is a start. The Dollars & Sense icon works this way also.

There are a couple of launchers that point to EXE files. These launchers are the hardest to work with, sense they don't turn batch files. You could create the directory the launcher is asking for, and rename a program file - but why bother?

Note: if you create a whole series of these launcher files (modified or not) the "Start-Up" listing of program icons becomes very long. You may not be able to see the name of a program icon or be able to click on it. My list shows only 24 items although there are 28 icons and launchers in the World Directory.

In Windows, there is the concept of the "program group," where you place similar tools in the "same" location. For example, all word processing related tools can be in the word processing program group. You can in the World directory create folders in the WORLD directory that can become your "program groups."

--Information provided by Michael549 (a GeoWorks customer)


Article#0123
Updated 06/08/92
GeoManager: My 286 won't open Read Only files.

QUESTION:
When I try to call up Read Only files, I get "File Not Found" messages. This happens with the templates that come with GeoWorks Ensemble as well as files I create. When I change the attribute to Read Only, I get the error; when I change it back, it loads fine.

ANSWER:
The source of the problem may be a TSR called DPATH, which basically allows DOS programs to call up files located in different subdirectories than the current one. Disabling the program should eliminate the problem. (The program causes no such problems on a 386, however.)

Article#0124
Updated 06/08/92
GeoManager: Using Batch files, Quattro Pro Viewer

I have always a problem trying to get the QUATTRO PRO VIEWER to launch a .BAT file which I used for Quattro PRO SE. The reason I use a .BAT file is because I hate single letter names (Q) for the TaskMAX menu. Use the command TaskMAX /n {new name} in a .BAT file. However, the Viewer will not load a .BAT file, only .EXE files.

GEOS protects its own copy of COMMAND.COM when it launches ANY application. This means that a new copy of COMMAND.COM must be loaded before a .BAT file can be read. Just to note, if you use NORTON, launched from the DOS room, to examine memory, you will see two copies of COMMAND.COM loaded. One belongs to GEOS and the other belongs to NORTON. Now, how do you get the Viewer to launch QUATTRO.BAT (the file I use to start Q.EXE)?

Here is the tip: In the Advanced Options area of the VIEWER, select the Quattro Pro SE Configuration program as 'C:\COMMAND.COM' (or where ever you have it). In the Arguments window, enter '/C QUATTRO'. This tells the launcher to launch the COMMAND.COM program with the argument to load QUATTRO.BAT. Note: Do not put any paths in your .BAT file (i.e. CD \QPRO, or D:) because Quattro PRO SE will not be able to find the spreadsheet you launched and will just open a new spread sheet at the path you changed to, titled the same as what you were launching. Also, do not use a '%' in either the COMMAND.COM or argument because that will be the name of the spread sheet you open (i.e. %1).

Don't mean to muddy the waters. I hate that pesky "gotta have an EXE prg." thing sometimes myself. When trying to use the external Zmodem protocols, I found the only way to get the dosParameters dialog box is to launch an EXE file and assign the DB to it via the setup in GEOS.INI. It won't work with a BAT file.

My solution was to use BAT2EXEC (the PCMag utility) on it, and make the batch file an EXE.

--Information provided by GWRepDave and GWRep Don

Article#0125
Updated 06/08/92
GeoManager: Secrets of Iconmake Revealed!

Iconmake will convert PCX images to GEOS v1.2 icons. Following are instructions to make a vga token using Deluxe Paint II Enhanced:

1. Boot up in Deluxe Paint II Enhanced using the 640x480x16 mode.

2. Set your page to 48x30 in Deluxe Paint. This will produce a tiny drawing area in the upper left corner of the screen.

3. To make this area more accessible, click on the magnifier, position the cursor in the extreme upper left corner of the tiny drawing area and click. This will produce a zoomed-up view of the drawing area on the right side of the screen.

4. There is no need to hide the menu bar (F10); you'll neither gain nor lose anything either way.

5. Since the picture needs to start at 0,0 (extreme upper left corner or -- very first pixel), for Iconmake to recognize the presence of a graphic, the best thing to do is give your drawing a full background. You can choose any of the 16 colors you want... but, since Iconmake translates light magenta as transparent, choose light magenta as your drawing color, click on the paint can and flood the area. You now have a "transparent" background--that starts at 0,0--on which to draw. You can change the transparent color later--see below.

6. Draw your picture on top of the light magenta background. Use the zoomed area to draw, and the normal view as a "preview" to what you're doing--just like a full-fledged icon making program!

7. When you're done, make sure you save the picture as a PCX file and not an .LBM file. Just click on the .PCX radio button.

8. Run Iconmake as follows:

  C:\{dir}\Iconmake m XXXX,111 ZZZZZ.PCX

The "m" is the switch that tells Iconmake you're making an icon from a PCX file. XXXX is the 4-character name of your token, whatever you want. 111 represents the "manufacturer's ID," again, any number in the range noted in the Iconmake documentation.

ZZZZZ.PCX is the name of your .pcx file.

Now... to complicate things:

In the command string, instead of "m" you can place "mX", where "X" is one of the color numbers in the documentation. If you don't place any number after the "m", Iconmake will convert all instances of light magenta to transparent, whether it's the background or a foreground color. If you do place a number after the "m", Iconmake will convert every instance of light magenta to the color the number represents, whether it finds light magenta in the background or in the foreground!

Thanks to GWRepDave, GWRepJay, and everyone else who talked to everyone else in this quest to figure out Iconmake!

Iconmake will not accept images created with Screen Dumper, supposedly because of an extra header the Dumper places in the file.

--Information provided by NealK (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0126
Updated 06/08/92
GeoManager: Simple instructions for using Iconmake

Iconmake is s third party DOS-based program which converts Windows icons and PCX graphics into GEOS v1.2 icons.

Icons from ICO files:

Let's assume you have a Windows icon file named "HELP.ICO" and you want to convert it to GeoWorks v1.2 format, naming it HELP, with a Manufacturer's ID "345":

ICONMAKE w HELP,345 HELP.ICO

In DOS, Iconmake will pad the file name with 00FF and add .000 as the extension. It will appear as HELP.345 from within GEOS.

Note, the Manufacturer's ID parameter is optional, in both converting from ICO and PCX files. Iconmake will, by default, assign 255.

Icons from PCX files:

If you're trying to create an icon from a PCX file named PIC, and you want to name the Icon "Test", and give it the Manufacturer's ID "123":

ICONMAKE m TEST,123 PIC.PCX

Extracting icons from GEOS Files:

If you want to convert icons from GEOS applications or stand alone icons to PCX files, here's the command. Let's assume you want to take the icon from GeoComm.

  ICONMAKE x GeoComm

Iconmake will create, in this instance, three PCX files. They correspond to the three types of icons stored in the application--EGA/VGA, HGC(mono) and CGA.

If you extract a file from a GEOS icon, you may or may not find all three video modes. Iconmake will extract as many as it can.

--Information provided by GWRepDave

Article#0127
Updated 06/10/92
GeoManager: Icon size

The GeoWorks icon sizes are as follows:

  VGA color or black and white = 48w x 30h
  CGA = 48w x 14h

I recently discovered that the GeoManager icon size limit is not 48 by 30, as commonly thought, but 48 by 32. I discovered this when I noticed that the America Online icon extends below the black rectangle when selected. I then converted the icon to PCX using Iconmake, and the EGA Icon was 32 by 32 pixels. I experimented a bit, and found that you can convert a 48 by 32 pixel PCX to an icon with Iconmake, but no larger. The full icon shows up in GeoManager, and when selected, the bottom 2 rows extend below the inverse rectangle.

I hope this helps those of us who need 2 extra pixels!

Note: Iconmake is a third party DOS program that converts Windows(tm) icons and PCX graphics into GEOS v1.2 icons.

--Information provided by AaronB6 and GWRep Jay

Article#0128
Updated 06/10/92
GeoManager: How to Use the Garbage Can

Did you ever think you'd find yourself reading instructions on how to use a garbage can? Well, here's how to delete a file or files in GeoManager.

You can use GeoManager to see any directory on your hard drive. Just click on the drive C: icon in the lower right corner of your screen. You'll see a screen full of file folders, one for each directory on your hard drive. Double-click on the one you want. Notice the screen changes to show you all of the files in that directory.

There are two methods to delete one or more of the files you see on your GeoManager screen now. The easiest way is to point your mouse at the file you wish to delete and press the RIGHT mouse button. Hold it down while moving (dragging) to the garbage can. You'll see a tiny outline of a square as you go (this is called the ghost icon). When you get to the garbage can, release the right mouse button. You'll be asked if you really want to delete the file, say yes.

The alternate method can be more useful for deleting a group of files. This time, point the mouse at the file you want to delete and click the LEFT button. The file is highlighted. If you want to delete several adjacent files, hold down the left button and drag the outline you see until it encircles all the files you want to delete. When you release the left button, all files you want to delete should be highlighted. Now click on Files, then Delete--or "drag" any one of the selected files to the trash can (you'll see the "multi-file" ghost icon attached to the pointer as you do). Again you'll be asked if you really want to delete the file or files, say yes.

Remember, to use the garbage can method, you must click the RIGHT mouse button... the left one will never get you to the garbage can.

Also, please use care when deleting files, one wrong click can wipe out important work.

--Information provided by PC Robin


Article#0129
Updated 06/10/92
GeoManager: Using Ensemble as a PIM

This may seem trivial, but it took me months to even discover the Express menu, so here it is for others with a "What, me read the manual?" attitude like me.

If you deal with people a lot, you can modify GeoWorks so it is more like a personal information manager. First, take your GeoPlanner and GeoDex files and save them under the names 'Master Schedule' and 'Master Address Book' or something similar, then delete the 'First' files so you don't get them confused. This will help you avoid entering data accidentally into the default files (or worrying whether some future upgrade will wipe them out).

Now set your work area screen up the way you want it... size your GeoManager Screen, or whatever application you want to come up in. Call up your master address file and set up GeoDex the way you prefer, then make it an icon. Call up your master schedule and set up GeoPlanner the way you prefer, then make that an icon too.

From now on, when you exit, be sure to use the Express Menu 'Exit to DOS' function. That way, you will always have your phone/address list and scheduler handy when you start GeoWorks.

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0130
Updated 06/10/92
GeoManager: Launchers for Ensemble v1.2

The file LAUNCHER.EXE can be found in the GeoWorks Software Library on America Online. These launchers are fun for anyone and should be a real treat for anyone who owns a CD-Rom drive.

This is a collection of program launchers that GeoWorks developed for their OEM customers (original equipment manufactures). If you decide to download this file, be ready for a little playing around... they might not all work for you. It will help if you're familiar with DOS commands and can write batch files.

There's one important thing you should be before going any further. Make a backup copy of everything in your \GEOWORKS\WORLD directory. That way if you get confused and want to go back to the way it was, you have a backup. Next, copy LAUNCHER.EXE to \GEOWORKS\WORLD and type LAUNCHER then hit enter/return. This will extract 15 files. You can now erase Launcher.exe if you wish. Following is a list of the GEOS launcher filenames, the programs they launch, and whether the program is DOS or CD-Rom based:

BACKUPPR.GEO  Backup Pro (DOS program)
CDPLAYER.GEO  CD Player (CD-Rom)
DOLLARS.GEO  Dollars and Sense (DOS Program)
GROLIER.GEO  Grolier's Encyclopedia (CD-Rom)
PCJIGSAW.GEO  PC Jigsaw (CD-Rom)
LOTUS.GEO  Lotus 1-2-3 (DOS Program)
BOOKSHEL.GEO  Microsoft Bookshelf (CD-Rom)
SMALLBUS.GEO  Microsoft Small Business (CD-Rom)
STATPACK.GEO  Stat Pack (CD-Rom)
OFFICE.GEO  Office Manager (DOS Program)
PCGLOBE.GEO  PC Globe 4.0 (CD-Rom)
PCUSA.GEO  PC USA 2.0 (CD Rom)
PRODIGY.GEO  Prodigy Interactive Service (DOS Program)
TUTORIAL.GEO  Sensor Tutorial (DOS Program)
MANHOLE.GEO  Manhole (CD Rom)

Each of these launchers consists of an icon that will show up in your GeoManager and an UNMODIFYABLE path. All of the CD-rom launchers expect to run a batch file in a directory on your C drive called CDAPPS. Most of the DOS programs will look for a batch file in the root directory of your C drive with the exception of OFFICE which runs from C:\MANAGER. The best way to find out what batch file is associated with each launcher is to just start up Ensemble, go to GeoManager and start double clicking on icons. If you don't have a file the launcher is looking for you'll get an error message telling you what you need to know like "Unable to launch the DOS program C:\LOTUS123.BAT." That tells you what the Lotus 123 launcher is looking for. If you use Lotus, simply create a batch file to start it called LOTUS123.BAT and put it in the root directory of your drive C.

Here comes the fun part. While the path and filenames for the launchers can't be changed, you can fake them out. I don't happen to have a CD Rom drive but I do use PC Globe and PCUSA so I can still use those launchers. I just made a directory called C:\CDAPPS and wrote simple batch files to start each program called PCUSA.BAT and PCGLOBE.BAT. Next I wrote a batch file to start my Infodesk encyclopedia and called it GROLIER.BAT so I can use the Grolier launcher. These launchers don't care what they run as long as you give them a startup batch file with the right name and put it in the right place. So have some fun and write a batch file to use the Manhole launcher with your bosses favorite business software.

One more thing about Launchers. Only the first 25 items in your \GEOWORKS\WORLD directory will actually show up so you may have to be a bit selective. Items that are there are based on the order of the filenames in DOS so as you find launchers that you don't want, erase them and more will show up.

Just a brief commercial... remember that the launchers are unsupported software and GeoWorks isn't responsible for any trouble you may get into with them. So please don't call GeoWorks Customer Service about Launcher problems, just blame me.

--Information provided by PC Robin

Article#0131
Updated 06/10/92
GeoManager: Icons for Ensemble v1.2

DOC ICON, with the artistic help of GWRepJay, has made several collections of icons available in the GeoWorks Software Library on America Online. To locate them, do a CTRL+K for keyword, type GeoWorks then select the blue disk icon for "Software Library". Next select "Search Library". This will bring up a search screen. There type ICON and hit the ENTER key. Once you've downloaded one or more of these icon collections, perhaps you'd like to use them in GeoWorks? Of course! One of the first things I did was assign a baseball bat icon to all of my .BAT files to replace the gDOS (green "DOS") icon. DOC Icon explains how to assign icons, and specifically the baseball bat icon to BAT files:

In order to use the icons, you will need to edit your GEOS.INI file (A bad thing to do, but since you're gonna do it any way...) Find the section that begins:

 [fileManager]
 filenameTokens = {
  *.EXE = "GDOS",0
  *.COM = "GDOS",0
  *.BAT = "GDOS",0
  *.TXT = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0
  *.DOC = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0
  *.HLP = "FILE",0,"NPAD",0
  *.WQ1 = "VWQ1",0,"VIEW",0
  *.WK1 = "VWK1",0,"VIEW",0
  *.EPS = "VEPS",0,"VIEW",0
 }

This section tells GEOS what Icons to use for certain files. For instance,

  *.BAT = "GDOS",0

tells GEOS that every time in encounters a file with the DOS 8.3 name that ends with .BAT, it should use the icon with the token "GDOS" and the manufacturer id "0". Every one of the icons in DOC ICON's files use the manufacturer id "255". The icon file itself is a very small GEOS application that does nothing. You can start it up and shut it down, and move it around on the screen, but that's it. To use the icon in your GeoWorks installation, add it to your GEOS.INI file in the above section. For instance, there is a file called nBAT that has a ball and bat in its icon. If you wanted to use it for .BAT files, you would edit the line in your GEOS.INI file to look like this:

  *.BAT = "nBAT",255

Remember this: The file name is the token name, and they all have the manufacturer id of 255.

Credit for much of the artwork in DOC ICON's files goes to Jay Degn (GWRepJay).

Some notes and more info:

First, always make a backup copy of your GEOS.INI file before you try editing it.

Second, keep in mind is that assigning icons as described above is for use through Geomanager and NOT in the DOS Programs room.

Finally, for more information on assigning icons, you can download the following files from the software libraries on America Online:
TOKENS.ZIP by WeBeGeos "PC/GEOS Icons and Tokens"
GEOTIPS2.ZIP by Frank Loeffler "PC/GEOS Tips and Tricks 2"
TOKENVM_.EXE by Rudi Ferrari "ICON: VM Token Changer"
ICONEDIT.TXT by Cami Lee "Icon Assignment For .000 files"

--Information provided by PC Robin, DOC ICON, and others.

Article#0132
Updated 04/04/93
GeoManager: Safe Delete in GeoManager

In Ensemble 2.0, the wastebasket in GeoManager has a "safe delete" feature built in.

Here's how one user implemented a similar feature in an earlier version of Ensemble.

In my DOCUMENT directory, I have added a folder called \WASTE. Anytime I want to delete a file or a series of files, they go into the WASTE folder. When I'm ready to delete them, they're all gone in one step. You can even tell GeoManager not to ask you about each deletion before a mass delete operation. Then you can turn that question feature back on when you don't use the WASTE area for a deletion.

The nice part about this, is just in case I need something I've put in the Waste area, I can retrieve it before it's deleted. You could even leave the Waste area open as a folder in GeoManager, so you are always sure of what you're about to delete.

Here's a real snazzy idea. If you activate GeoWorks with a batch file, you can include a statement at the end of the batch file, to delete everything in your WASTE folder only. That way, your system takes care of file deletions automatically. However, automatic deletes can be scary, and good backups are essential.

If you activate GeoWorks with a batch file, you can include a statement at the end of the batch file, to delete everything in your WASTE folder only.

Why not just have the batch file move the contents of WASTE.DIR to a floppy named WASTE? Then you would have a permanent record of all your trash. The BAT file could even ask you to insert disk WASTE in drive a when you exit GEOS.

--Information provided by GB8687and Michael549 (GeoWorks customers) and PC Robin

Article#0133
Updated 04/20/93
GeoPlanner: My alarm didn't ring

QUESTION: I have set alarms in GeoPlanner, but they do not ring. Why not?

ANSWER: GeoPlanner must be active in order for the alarm function to work. This can be achieved by either leaving GeoPlanner open in a window or by minimizing the program so it is displayed as an icon on the screen.

Article#0134
Updated 06/08/92
GeoPlanner: How to get a corner clock in Ensemble v1.2

GeoWorks Ensemble 1.2 comes with a corner clock, but it's not advertised as such. Here's how to find it and use it.

First, launch the GeoPlanner application. Make it full screen and choose "Calendar Only" under the View menu.

Then shrink the window to the smallest size possible by grabbing the bottom right corer of the window with your pointer and pushing the window frame up and to the left. Don't worry; it has a built-in minimum size, and that's the exact size you want.

Now put your pointer on the "move bar" at the top of the window (the dark band) and drag the window to the lower left corner of your screen. Push it right off the edge as far as it will go. It will stop right at the correct spot.

Push it down so that the time display as just above the bottom of your screen.

You're done! You can now iconify the window (by clicking on the tiny raised button to the left of the "full-size" button at the top right of the window) at any time. The clock will reappear when you click twice on the icon.

Make sure you exit GeoWorks while the corner clock is still displayed (or while the GeoPlanner application is iconified). Then it will resume its spot on your screen the next time you load GeoWorks Ensemble.

--Information provided by Al Fasoldt (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0135
Updated 06/08/92
GeoPlanner: Print a Month's Calendar

Question:

When printing out the calendar, it has a set size for each day or each box. Can you change the size of the box (for printing purposes) to make it larger to encompass more events than it defaults to?

Answer:

You can create larger calendars, by using the "Page Setup" dialog box. All of the date "boxes" will still be the same size, but you can create larger calendars to encompass more events.

More event data will fit on the page if you print in landscape mode. Also, if you want to create a calendar spanning over multiple pages, calculate the document size by doing the following:

1)
  Page Size accounting for margins: 8 x 10.5
  Page Width = (n x 8) + .5
  Page Height = (m x 10.5) + .5

where the printout is n sheets wide by m sheets high. If you are using the DeskJet or something with larger margins, use this "formula" instead:

2)
  Page Size account for margins: 8 x 10 (approx)
  Page Width = (n x 8) + .5
  Page Height =(m x 10) + .5

In case 1, a document size for a 2 sheet by 2 sheet document would be (16.5" x 21.5"), and for case 2 would be (16.5" x 20.5"). All this is done to get a document that fills all the paper on which it is printed.

--Information provided by PC Robin and GW  Matt

Article#0136
Updated 06/10/92
GeoPlanner: Print a reminder calendar

Using GeoPlanner, you can print a calendar with reminder notes for each day without the event time showing.

Double click on the GeoPlanner icon and click on Options on the Menu bar. Select Change Preferences. In the dialog box, make sure that the Day Template and Show Empty Days options (in the Event Window Preferences section) are NOT selected. In the General Preferences section, select 'Always Show Today's date...' and 'At Midnight...'. Click on OK to exit, return to the Options menu, and click on Save Preferences.

Use the horizontal scroll bar to select the month to use and click on the first day of the month. On color monitors, the day selected will be red and it will be highlighted on a monochrome display.

Click on the Edit menu and select New Event (CTRL+N for keyboard users). In the Event Window, press the delete or backspace key to erase the time and move to the description box by pressing the TAB key (or by clicking in the box).

NOTE: You can type up to 7 lines of 15 characters for each event (your reminders) and, if the Page Orientation selected is Landscape, the Calendar will be printed sideways. See Page Setup in the File menu. If you want to have the dates clearly visible, press Enter on the first line in the description box and start typing on the second line.

Click on the next day you want to enter reminders for and repeat the steps in the previous paragraph. In the Calendar window, dates with reminders will now be marked with a triangle in the lower right corner.

Save the document. From the File Menu, select Print and make sure that Month and Include Events are selected in the GeoPlanner Prints Options box before you start printing.

--Information provided by PC Robin and GWRepJohn (John Ezike)

Article#0137
Updated 06/10/92
GeoPlanner: To Do List

To create a To Do List in GeoPlanner, set up a repeating event called Things To Do (or whatever), have it repeat forever, BUT DON'T GIVE IT A TIME. GeoPlanner will place the words Things To Do at the top of every day, before the start of your hourly schedule.

To add items to the list, simply place your cursor after the words Things To Do and press Return. That will take you to the next line. You can start your list there.

When you complete an event, you can select it and delete it. If you want to move your To Do list to the next day, simply select items you haven't completed and copy them to the next day's Things To Do list.

--Information provided by Pete Scisco, by way of GWRepKnox

Article#0138
Updated 04/04/93
Graphics: Converting to .PCX or .TIF

QUESTION: How do I convert graphics from other non-GEOS graphics formats to .PCX or .TIF?

ANSWER: There are several good commercial conversion programs on the market. Among them, Hijaak seems mentioned most often. On America Online there are several shareware programs that work well. Graphic Workshop is a favorite of many users, is easy to use, and covers a wide number of conversions. For the more advanced user, Image Alchemy has some very sophisticated features.

GeoDraw graphics files can be directly converted to another format with Ensemble 2.0.

For earlier versions of GEOS, see the note about converting from GEOS to .PCX using VPRINT and Hijaak, or consider using the Screen Dumper application or the FAX2PCX utility written by a member of the German Users Group.

Article#0139
Updated 04/20/93
Graphics: GeoDraw Animation, a quick history

GeoDraw animation, where did it begin? How did it happen? Purely by accident!

In late August of 1990, Halfman1 uploaded "Animation Experiment" to the GeoWorks Library. In the file description he explained "I have been fascinated by the way GeoDraw art 'moves' as it is assembled. The inspiration came to me that this effect could be used to produce animation." At the same time, unaware of Halfman's racquetball simulation, Jack Happy was working on his own animated creation, a birthday cake with flickering candles for GWRep Jay. With those two additions to the GeoWorks Library the art and fun of GeoDraw animation was born.

Animation is an unexpected effect of the way the GeoDraw screen redraws as a file is displayed. For step by step instructions on how to create your own animations download Jack Happy's "GeoDraw Animation Kit" from the GeoWorks Software Library on America Online.

The number GeoDraw Animation files has grown with contributions from GWRep Jay, Jack Happy, Marica2, SoChio and others. Check them out for a real treat.

--Information provided by GWRep Rose

Article#0140
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: Making Banners in GeoDraw

Making Banners in GeoDraw

by Lee W. Grant
(from an idea provided by GW Dudley)

When using the Banner appliance, have you been frustrated that you couldn't make a banner with graphics or more than one line of text? Well, now you can do both_with GeoDraw! Using the proper setup, you can make a banner or sign from 1 to 4 pages long, with multiple lines of text and graphics. Here's how:

1) Open GeoDraw

2) Click on Page Setup in the File menu.

3) Change the Height measurement to 8.5" (That's for letter size paper. If your paper is wider, adjust the size accordingly.)

4) Change the Width measurement to:
* 11" for a banner 1 page long
* 22" for 2 pages long
* 33" for 3 pages long
* 44" for 4 pages long

5) Click OK and when the window disappears click the View menu and choose a reduced view so you can see the whole document on screen.

6) Use the text tool to write your message, then Fuse and resize it, if needed.

7) Add graphics, if desired. You can import graphics or use any of GeoDraw's other tools.

8) All done! You can save the file as normal or print it out for viewing.

If you need, you can enlarge the View for close-up editing. You may need to develop two new skills when working with the reduced view: (1) a feel for the location of the text cursor and (2) a steady hand for grabbing the resize handles, because they are so small. With a little practice, you can get the hang of it. In Ensemble 2.0, you can change the size of the handles.

--Information provided by Cami Lee 1 (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0141
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: About the Photo Gallery

The Photo Gallery is an area in the GeoWorks Software Library on America Online. Online members can have their photo and a short biography uploaded to the library or can download someone else's. The Photo Gallery enables people who might otherwise never meet, to see their fellow online friends.

Many people have asked me how I get a photo into GeoDraw. It's a relatively simple, but time consuming task. First, I use a color video camera and ComputerEyes Pro, by Digital Vision, to digitize the picture. Pictures with red, brown, grey, and/or dark shades in the background seem to produce the best results. Once the picture has been digitized, it is saved in the GIF format.

The next step is to convert the image into a format that can be imported into GeoDraw. There are a number of ways to do this. For converting pictures for the Photo Gallery, I use VGA2EGA to convert the 640x480 256 color GIF to a 320x200 16 color GIF. Then I use Graphics Workshop to convert the image to the PCX format for importing into GeoDraw. This produces a small photo-sized image with good color. Both VGA2EGA & Graphics Workshop can be found in the software libraries on America Online. In Ensemble 2.0, you can import the GIF file directly into GeoDraw.

Now that the image is in GeoDraw, it is a simple task to enter the information for the bio. You can either send the information with the picture or I can send your picture to you in Email and you can have fun writing your own biography. You can have almost anything you want in your bio, such as your real name, city and state, the type of computer you use, your occupation, hobbies, interests, and much more.

If you would like your photo and bio posted in the Photo Gallery, send your picture to:

Photo Gallery
c/o Ken Bell
1408 Scott Ave.
Johnstown, PA 15902

If you want me to return your photo, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

--Information provided by GWRep Ken2

Article#0142
Updated 04/20/93
Graphics: Extra Texture in GeoDraw v1.2

Ensemble 2.0 has bit map editing tools, so the following discussion does not apply. If you are using an earlier version of GEOS, this may help.

Think of your PC as an expensive pencil that you plug into the wall. Now think of the software for your PC as the lead in that pencil. It's pretty obvious that if you have lousy quality lead in your pencil it's not going to be very useful to you. By the same token, the software in your computer needs to be powerful enough to make your PC useful to you.

Well, enter GeoDraw. With this powerful "lead" you can make any number of great things happen. But if you've used the program for any length of time, you already know that!

Here's a different approach to making images in GeoDraw that will give you a shaded effect. It makes use of imported PCX files that have been modified in a bit map paint program for the shading, and GeoDraw closed polygons for the lines., Although this happens to be a cartoon, many different styles of images could benefit from shading,

Just follow the numbers for an explanation of how it works.

1. Make a bit map graphic in a paint program. This one happened to be a pencil line drawing I did, and scanned into a PCX file using a hand held scanner, and touched up using PC Paintbrush+. But if you're more talented with a mouse, you could create your image directly by hand!

This PCX image is used as a template behind your finished GeoDraw image, which has had its area properties lightened somewhat (although still kept dark enough to be easily seen). It's eventually deleted, after you've created all your black lines using GeoDraw's solid polygon tool.

Make a fairly large bit map drawing so your final GeoDraw images will have good detail.

2. Make a copy of your bit map graphic, and work with the copy. This copy will be imported to use for the shaded background in your final image. In this instance I used the airbrush tool to give a stipple effect. You might want to do it differently, depending on your needs.

Since you'll be using GeoDraw to create the lines, erase your lines on this copy of your graphic.

3. Create your lines in GeoDraw over the top of the imported PCX file you made in step 1. You'll want to end up with line properties of none, and area properties of solid black so that the lines of your final piece will stay the same width if you shrink or enlarge it. But since it's harder to work with invisible lines, you may want to start out with your line properties set to solid black with the smallest line width. You can change them all to line properties of none after you've made them.

4. Your final image will look something like this portion of the drawing. In all, you will have made two PCX files, one to use for the template for making your GeoDraw lines (which will be deleted), and another to be used for the shaded background (which will be kept in your final image). You'll also have made the actual lines in GeoDraw, ending up with closed polygons with none as the line properties, and solid black as the area properties.

You may want to give the shaded area you created in step 2 something less than solid black for the area properties to keep it from printing too dark, as we've done here.

Finally, once you've completed everything, fuse everything together to keep the background from separating from the rest of the image.

That's about it. After a bit of practice, you'll be creating custom graphics that suit your needs to a tee!

--Information provided by CartoonGuy1 (Dale Beach, a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0143
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: Wrapping Text around Graphics in GeoWrite v1.2

Ensemble 2.0 provides automatic text wrap around graphics in GeoWrite. If you are using an earlier version of GEOS, the following discussion may help you.

Here's how to wrap text around graphics in GeoWrite; yes, I said GeoWrite. In most cases it's easier to use GeoDraw, but it can be done in GeoWrite. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Most of us give up the first time we Paste a graphic into GeoWrite and discover that the height of the line on which we pasted it has expanded to accommodate the height of the graphic. However, this problem is easily overcome by using Manual Line Spacing (called "leading" by desktop publishers). Select (highlight) the text, then click on the Paragraph menu, select Paragraph Spacing, and in the dialog box click on Manual for the Line Spacing setting.

Now comes a tricky part. We must "make room" for the graphic. This may involve a bit of trial and error.

As an example, let's say our text is in 12 point size and our graphic is one inch high. The graphic is six lines high (there are 72 points to an inch) so the graphic needs to be pasted on the sixth line of text. Don't worry about the math, this process can be done "visually," it just might mean pasting in the graphic a couple times before getting it right-the bit of trial and error I mentioned.

Anyway, back to our example. On each of the first five lines of text, we need to make space for the width of the graphic. Personally, I use non-breaking space characters (ALT+SPACEBAR) to do this. If we use regular space characters, then we must insert a carriage return at the end of each line of text, which messes up the formatting of fully justified text.

Now that we've made space on the first five lines of text, we Paste the graphic as the first character of the sixth line. This process can also be used to create large initial drop caps: instead of pasting a graphic, simply insert the initial cap in a large point size.

At this point if we go back and edit the first five lines of text in our example, portions of the graphic may disappear. That's okay! It is just a screen update problem. Simply click on Redraw in the Window menu to restore the screen. In any event, the entire graphic will be there when we print the document.

--Information provided by GW Steve (Steve Main)

Article#0144
Updated 04/20/93
Graphics: Bit map editing in GeoDraw v1.2

QUESTION: Why isn't a pencil tool, eraser tool, bit map editing, or freehand drawing available in Geodraw version 1.2?

ANSWER: Geodraw 1.2 is a vector based program. The information about a line, for instance, is stored as a starting point, a width, a color, and an ending point. In that way, it is easier to manipulate. Bit map programs store each individual pixel in a line. All of the above mentioned tools and features utilize bit map editing. GeoWorks Ensemble 2.0 contains a full set of bit map editing tools.

Article#0145
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: Importing .PCX and .TIF errors

QUESTION: Why do I get an error message telling me that my .PCX or .TIF file is the wrong format and cannot be imported?

ANSWER: Some .TIF files are saved in a compressed format to save on disk space. GEOS cannot import compressed .PCX or .TIF files at the present time. Check your other software for the option to save the file in an UNcompressed format. This may solve your problem.

Most often in GEOS 1.2, the error message appears because the graphic is in "more than 16 color (or shades of gray)" format. Both .PCX and .TIF files must be in 16 color (or fewer) format. In Ensemble 2.0, more formats are supported.

Article#0146
Updated 04/20/93
Graphics: GEOS 1.2 to PCX using VPRINT and Hijaak

Note: In Ensemble 2.0, you can export GeoDraw files directly to PCX format. If you are using an earlier version of GEOS, the following discussion might help.

Things you will need...
1. GeoWorks Ensemble v1.2 or GeoWorks Pro
2. VPRINT 5.0
3. Hijaak or some other software that will convert PCL (Hewlett Packard LaserJet II file) to PCX.

I got the VPRINT 5.0 utility from America Online, in the GeoWorks Software Library, Customer Files, Shareware and Utilities, "Print to a file." READ THE DOCS! Follow the instructions on how to use the utility. VPRINT will capture the output to LPT1 and write it to a file.

Name the output file FILENAME.PCL. This is the extension of an HP LaserJet PCL file.

Run VPRINT FILENAME.PCL /b64 /p1 /i before starting GeoWorks. This sets up the print capture TSR in memory.

GeoWorks Preferences:

Set GeoWorks Preferences, Computer, LPT1 to DOS, not BIOS. In Preferences, Printer, select the HP LaserJet II printer(1.5 Meg memory).

Turn the screen saver off. Turn off Automatic Document Safeguarding in Preferences, Look and Feel. This will prevent GEOS from performing other disk reads and writes while printing to file.

Printing:

Print as you normally would. Resize the Page both in "Page Setup" and the printer "Options" to be only as big as your graphics so that you don't end up with a lot of white space around your image and to have the smallest file possible.

Now you have the file FILENAME.PCL on your drive.

Exit to DOS after printing and type VPRINT /F to flush the buffer to complete the file. You can also set up a dosAssociation by editing your GEOS.INI file, so you can click on the Vprint file and enter the /F parameter from GeoManager to have it drop to DOS and run the flush buffer command (this is what I do).

Converting:

I used Hijaak to convert from the LaserJet PCL file to a B&W PCX file. I set up the conversion as "Match Source." HP LJ files are B&W. Using Match Source will make the PCX image the same size as the original image.

Woe and Intrigue Dept.:

WARNING: VPRINT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE TOO RELIABLE.
I made a backup copy of my GEOS.INI file before attempting any of this, and a couple of times after printing strange things happened, like having large text in my directory listings, and lockups after printing. I'm not sure what happened, but you should experiment carefully.

--Information provided by Perkele

Article#0147
Updated 04/20/93
Graphics: Importing bit maps

The internal format of bit maps in GEOS allows for the specification of a resolution for the bit map in dots/inch. If the information is provided in the format we are importing from, then it will be retained in GeoDraw. So, if you scan something that is 4x4 inches at 300 dpi, the bit map is 1200 pixels square. GEOS will account for the resolution when displaying the picture, so it will appear to be 4 inches square in your document. None of the data is thrown out, however, so when you print at 300 dpi, all of the data the scanner puts out will appear on the printed page.

--Information provided by GW Jim (Jim DeFrisco, GeoWorks Engineering)

Article#0148
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: GEOS, graphics, and colors

When you import a graphic, GEOS and GeoDraw do not try to optimize the colors available to suit the image, they just overlay the GEOS palette over the palette of your picture, the result being that the colors you get when you import are usually mixed up. The solution is to use an outside program to optimize the colors of your picture before you import.

Fortunately, there is a freeware program you can download that does an excellent job of this. As a matter of fact, it does a better job than anything I have ever seen, shareware or commercial.

The program I am talking about is PICLAB, available in the software libraries on America Online (be sure to get version 1.83 and not the newer version 1.91--the newer version doesn't always work right with GEOS colors). You will also need a special MAP file that PICLAB uses to match the colors. You can that, and a step by step description of how to use it, in the GeoWorks Shareware and Utilities Library under the heading 256 to geoDraw. Don't let that title fool you, it works just as well with 16 color pictures as it does with 256 ones. One tip to using it with 16 color pictures: try it with the command PL> SET DITHER OFF. Some 16 color pics look better with the dither switched off while some look better with it on.

--Information provided by GWRepBobby

Article#0149
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: Converting PrintShop graphics to GEOS

A new upload to the software libraries on America Online, "NPSTOIMG.ZIP" will convert the NEW PS graphics (whether they are high, medium or low res) to IMG format. Then you can use Graphics Workshop to convert them to PCX and thus, import them into GeoDraw. I have converted almost all of my NEW PS graphics.

--Information provided by Terry Ann2 (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0150
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: Converting PFS graphics to GEOS

PFS MAC files are standard Macpaint format. You can use Graphic Workshop, available in the software libraries on America Online, to convert them to PCX and a number of other formats. If your files are sheets of clipart you can clip them out with Ensemble 2.0 or, before importing, with the newer versions of Graphic Workshop or a bit map editing software like DeskTop Paint.

ART and PUB files are proprietary formats used only by PFS and I have yet to find anything that will convert them to any useful format, including Hijaak. So, save your PFS graphics in Mac format and you shouldn't have any trouble with them then. Also, a good way to get images from software packages that support odd formats is to use a screen dumper.

--Information provided by GWRepBobby

Article#0151
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: Using CGM graphics with GEOS

Hijaak will convert CGM to PCX very nicely with a lot of different options you can set. The drawback is that Hijaak costs about $100, which may or may not be worth it to you. Graphic Workshop will convert most graphic formats you are likely to come across, unfortunately CGM is not one of them.

Another option is to use a program available in the software libraries on America Online called VCGM and a screen dumper utility. VCGM will display your CGM files on screen, then you just pop up your favorite screen capture program.

A third possibility is a program called METASCAN, available in the software libraries on America Online.

--Information provided by GWRepBobby and GWRepJohn

Article#0152
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: GEOS and PC Paintbrush Plus

Ensemble 2.0 will import and export PCX files directly in GeoDraw. If you are using an earlier version of GEOS, then the following information may be useful.

You can convert GeoWorks output to PCX using PC Paintbrush IV+ instead of Hijaak.

Files you will need:
VPRINT50.ZIP - a print-to-file utility available on America Online
GEOS2PCX.TXT - an instructional text file available on America Online
and
PC Paintbrush IV + - a commercial software package

Follow the instructions in the file GEOS2PCX for capturing output from GeoWorks to a LaserJet file using VPRINT to the point of getting the PCL file.

If you have PC Paintbrush IV+, it has a little command line utility called HP2PCX.EXE.

Type HP2PCX FILENAME.PCL at the DOS prompt and it will convert the PCL file to black and white PCX format. The resulting file seems to be identical to the results I obtained using Hijaak, except that there are not nearly as many options available using the PC Paintbrush IV+ conversion utility.

Recently, I was trying to figure out how to draw in PaintBrush Plus and get the colors I wanted in GeoWorks. Now, I've never seen this mentioned anywhere, but once I convert a file for use in GeoWorks, I can go back into PB+ and SAVE that palette for use on other pictures.

So, if I want to draw a picture for use later in GeoWorks, all I have to do is call that palette back up and draw. It will be automatically compatible with GeoWorks. In fact, I can load a picture already done, and just switch it to the GEOS palette for ready use.

The trick is to use PBSETUP to set the program for 16 color format. The default palette PB+ sets up for down-coloring is almost the same as the GEOS palette. It helps also to set the palette to solid colors only in PB+.

--Information provided by Perkele and MartyH10 (GeoWorks customers)

Article#0153
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: Converting TIFF graphics to GeoDraw

TIFF is a very odd file format. The image itself can be in a number of different formats with a tag that tells your software exactly how the image is stored. This makes TIFF very flexible, but also very complex. There are literally hundreds of different versions of TIFF and no software package can read them all. A TIFF file can even contain more then one image in different formats, each one with its own tag, and can even include vector images.

TIFF files can also be saved in a compressed format but still retain the TIF extension.

Here is some advice on what to try if you have trouble importing TIFF files.

First, if you are using a version of Ensemble earlier than v2.0, make sure that your images are in16 colors or fewer format. Next, make sure that your other software is set to save uncompressed TIFF images. After doing this, if you still can't import your TIFF files, try PCX if it's available.

Personally, I never use TIFF images; I convert them to PCX for importing. I can find no real advantage to using TIFF formatted files.

GeoDraw does handle quite a few different versions of TIFF and if you try the suggestions above, you might be able to get them to work.

--Information provided by GWRepBobby

Article#0154
Updated 06/08/92
Graphics: Converting GEOS to PCX, Intel Fax software

Ensemble 2.0 can export GeoDraw documents to PCX format. Also, Ensemble 2.0 has a built in print-to-file feature for all supported printers. If you are working with an earlier version of GEOS or with an application other than GeoDraw, then the following discussion may be useful.

Have you ever wanted to convert your favorite GeoWorks document (any application) into a .PCX file for use in your favorite DOS application? Well for owners of the Intel SatisFAXtion this is indeed possible! Here's how to do it:

When you use Fax-Pop to intercept Epson FX-85 output, it converts the printer output into a .DCX file (a .PCX file with multiple pages) and saves it in the same directory as your Intel software under a name that begins with the letters "IP" followed by a six-digit number and NO extension. What isn't documented, to the best of my knowledge, is that this file is indeed a .DCX file (all you have to do is copy and rename it with a .DCX extension). Then use the Intel program BRKUPDCX to turn the .DCX file into multiple .PCX files.

The trick is to do this without actually faxing the document. You must first have properly configured both your Intel software and GeoWorks. Print your GeoWorks document via the Epson FX-85 printer driver, just like you were going to fax it. Schedule the fax to be sent next week in Fax-Pop, just to be safe. After the conversion is complete (a box will pop-up and tell you so), exit GeoWorks and change to the directory which contains your Intel software. List the directory and look for the file containing the fax. Copy the file (you may give the copy a different name or directory, but make sure you give it a .DCX extension). Now type: BRKUPDCX {.DCX file name} {.PCX file name}. Make sure you're in the Intel software directory and provide appropriate paths for each file. Your .PCX file name should be 7 or less characters long, since there may be more than 1 page. Now that you have .PCX files, enter the fax software and cancel the fax. This should delete the "IP??????" file and leave you all set to use your GeoWorks document in the outside world as .PCX files. While the Epson FX-85 driver doesn't deliver stunning clarity, it does work (and that's what counts). I'm not sure if having your fax software set for Fine mode increases the clarity of the PCX file, but it may.

Of course, if you've just faxed the document, you may be able to Undelete it and follow the same procedure.

--Information provided by SteveShell (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0155
Updated 05/12/93
Graphics: Screen Dumping backgrounds

One of the problems when Screen Dumping a background is getting everything else out of the way. Of course you could iconify things, but then you'd have at least one icon in your dumped background. Not quite what we want.

Here's a method I've found to get around this. There may be other ways but I know this will work.

1. Run Screen Dumper. Set all the Screen Dumper options.

2. Close all other windows so all you have left is the Screen Dumper and your background behind it.

3. Select BANISH to get rid of the screen dumper window (be SURE you've set your dump options, including file name and type BEFORE doing this!)

4. Hit the F12 key to dump your background.

5. When it's done, you'll need to "unbanish" the screen dumper and return to GeoManager. Press CTRL+SHIFT+TAB then press the F1 key. To get back to GeoManager use the Express menu.

If for any reason this doesn't work for you, there's still an "escape" back to normal: hit the F2 key to take you to the Welcome screen. Then hit the F3 key to exit. At the DOS prompt, change to your \GEOWORKS directory and type RESET, then hit the enter key. This will erase your "state". If you have erased RESET.BAT from your GEOWORKS directory, you can accomplish the same thing by changing to your \GEOWORKS\STATE directory and erasing the files there:

CD\GEOWORKS\STATE
DEL *.*

Next, start GeoWorks and pick "reset advanced (or professional) workspace". This will return you to the GeoManager screen. You will need to reopen windows you usually have open.

--Information provided by PC Robin and JamyK

Article#0156
Updated 06/10/92
Graphics: PrintMaster tips

My boyfriend loves Sylvester. I wanted to make a Sylvester letterhead for my boyfriend. One that he could use with WordPerfect or GeoWrite.

I searched for a Sylvester graphic that might be usable for what I had in mind. Finally, I found a PrintMaster Graphic. I converted the PrintMaster graphic with ICONVERT to a PCX. Then I imported it into GeoDraw. I resized it. Then I imported a pretty Cooper graphic frame, inserted our address and saved it as a GeoDraw file.

I used the Screen Dumper to turn the GeoDraw file into a PCX. Finally I used the utility that came with WordPerfect 5.1 to convert the PCX into a WPG. Voila. I was able to present my boyfriend with a 'made to order' letterhead for use in both softwares.

You can convert PrintMaster clip art to PCX format using a program called ICONVERT, available in the software libraries on America Online.

--Information provided by PC Robin and Kuby 2 U (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0157
Updated 04/20/93
Graphics: Batch Graphic Conversions And Color Remaps

Question: I have many graphics that I want to convert and remap to GEOS colors. Is it possible to write a program that will take all these graphics and convert them automatically?

Answer: You can write a batch file and convert them with Image Alchemy. Alchemy is available in the software libraries on America Online. This is the batch file I use (AL.BAT):

alchemy -p -f f:geo.pal %1

It uses this .PAL file (GEO.PAL) to set color palette:

PAL
16
0 0 0
0 0 170
0 170 0
0 170 170
170 0 0
170 0 85
170 170 0
170 170 170
85 85 85
85 85 255
85 255 85
85 255 255
255 85 85
255 85 255
255 255 85
255 255 255

--Information provided by IMJerry (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0158
Updated 04/04/93
Hardware: Keyboard Navigation in 1.2 or Pro

The following discussion applies to Ensemble v1.2, GeoWorks Pro, and Quick Start. Some key presses are different in Ensemble 2.0.

While the mouse is a big part of what makes GeoWorks software so friendly, many features can be accessed through the keyboard. This might be handy if you are caught one day with a broken mouse or if you want to run GeoWorks products on a laptop or other computer that does not have a mouse. Not all features are available from the keyboard. (Note: Using GeoWorks software without a mouse is neither supported nor recommended by GeoWorks.)

Most of the keyboard navigation features are included in the GeoWorks User's Guide and page numbers are noted here where appropriate. Page numbers apply to the Ensemble 1.2 version of the User's Guide. In the GeoWorks Pro or Quick Start versions, the numbers might be off slightly.

There are many keyboard accelerators available within the various applications. (Page 61) Most of them make use of the CTRL key in combination with another letter or symbol key. Since the accelerators appear in the menus on screen, they are not included in this article.

WELCOME SCREEN

The "current" button is surrounded with a broken line. Move the current button with the TAB key. Activate the current button with the SPACEBAR or the ENTER key. F3 or ALT+F4 will "exit."

DIALOG BOXES (Page 71)

Press ENTER to select the default button (marked with heavy outline.) (Page 68)
Use TAB to move the current button. Press the SPACEBAR to select the current button.
ESC selects the Cancel button, if there is one.
In a File List dialog box, be sure to use the SPACEBAR to select a drive or directory. (Using the ENTER key will select the default button, which usually closes the dialog box.)

WINDOWS WITH SCROLL BARS

Use PgUp and PgDn to move the vertical slider. (The only way to move the horizontal slider from the keyboard is by moving the text cursor in a text window.)

MENUS (Pages 62-64)

In any window that contains menus:
Press and release the ALT key to activate the menus. ESC exits the menu mode without making a selection. Navigate the menus with the CURSOR keys, or with the letter key mnemonics (underlined letters). Use TAB or CURSOR LEFT/RIGHT to move the current menu. SHIFT+TAB moves in reverse. Press SPACEBAR, ENTER, or CURSOR DOWN to open the current menu. Move the current menu item with the TAB or CURSOR UP/DOWN keys. If you pin a menu, you cannot unpin it with the keyboard. You will have to exit and re-enter the application to remove a pinned menu.

RADIO BUTTONS AND CHECK BOXES

In menus and dialog boxes containing radio buttons or check boxes, TAB moves between groups. A group of radio buttons is considered one item and SPACEBAR or CURSOR LEFT/RIGHT moves the selection among the radio buttons in that group. Check boxes are considered separate buttons and SPACEBAR toggles them on and off.

TEXT (Pages 100-101)

END - move the cursor to the end of the line
INSERT - toggle insert and overwrite modes (Page 102)
DELETE - delete selected text
HOME - move cursor to beginning of line
CURSOR KEYS - move one character or line
CTRL+CURSOR KEY -move one word or paragraph
CTRL+HOME - move to beginning of text
CTRL+END - end of text
To select text, position the cursor at one end of the block to be selected, then use the above keys while holding down the SHIFT key. Use CTRL+SPACEBAR to select a word. To add to a selection, hold the SHIFT key, and use any of the cursor-moving keys listed above.

WINDOWS

F2 - return to Welcome Screen (Pages 24,44)
F3 - exit the current application. At the Welcome Screen, exit GEOS. (Page 26)
F10 or ALT - menu mode
CTRL+F5 - overlapping inner windows
CTRL+F10 - full sized inner window
ALT+F4 - close current application
ALT+F5 - restore (un-maximize/minimize) application
ALT+F9 - minimize application
ALT+F10 - maximize application

GEOMANAGER

Individual file icons and the buttons along the bottom of the window cannot be selected from the keyboard. To open a document, you must first launch the appropriate application from the Express menu and then open the file by selecting Open from the File menu within the application.

GEOWRITE (Pages 234-237)

Most of the features of GeoWrite can be accessed from the keyboard. One exception is the ability to set tabs and margins in the ruler. Default tabs can be accessed and changed from the Paragraph menu, but individual tabs cannot be selected, making the Tab Attributes feature useless except for modifying the one selected tab in an existing document. Global margins (those affecting the entire document) may be changed from the Page Setup item in the File menu, but margin changes within the document are unavailable.

GEOCOMM

Using the keyboard with GeoComm is fairly straightforward. See the sections about using menus, dialog boxes, and text.

GEODEX (Pages 298-301)

TAB moves the cursor among the fields.
PgUp flips to the following card. PgDn flips to the previous card.

GEOPLANNER (Pages 328)

CTRL turns on the "date" mode in which the TAB key moves among the year display box, and the previous/next arrow buttons. There is no way, from the keyboard, to select an individual existing event for editing, but you can add events. When adding an event, TAB moves the cursor from the time field to the description field.

AMERICA ONLINE

There is an excellent description of how to use the keyboard in America Online, called "Using the Keyboard" under Get Help in the Help menu.

CALCULATOR (Pages 414-415)

There is a full chart of the available keys for the Calculator on page 414 of the User's Guide.

THE DOS ROOM

TAB moves the current button. ENTER or SPACEBAR selects the current button.

SOLITAIRE

You cannot play Solitaire without a mouse.

GEODRAW

GeoDraw is severely limited without a mouse. The tools are
unavailable, as is the ability to select different objects on the page. Only the menu functions work.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0159
Updated 04/20/93
Hardware: Parking your hard drive

First a brief note on when and why to park your hard drive. When you turn off your computer, your hard drive is probably still ready for action with the read/write heads just hovering somewhere. (Some larger hard drives are self parking. When in doubt, read your owner's manual.) Most hard drives have the ability to "park" the heads, moving them to an empty area on your drive and/or locking them into place. This prevents any possibility that they may bounce around and cause problems. You should park your hard drive whenever you transport your computer. There are many utility programs that will do this for you.

Because laptops are moved so much, it's particularly important to park the hard drive.

For an easy exit from a GeoWorks product and to park the hard drive heads for safety, try this. Put a parking utility in your world directory. Give it a filenameToken in your GEOS.INI for a better looking icon if you wish.

Double click on your park icon and GEOS will drop to DOS and park the hard drives. Turn off the computer and away you go. When you turn on the computer and enter the GeoWorks software again it will bring everything back just as you had it before. No mess no fuss, everything up and running just how you like it.

If you prefer, you can utilize your park utility without copying it your \WORLD directory. Just set it up as a DOS button in your DOS programs room.

Article#0160
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: Disappearing COM port

QUESTION: Whenever I start the stand alone version of AOL or GeoWorks Ensemble V1.2 my COM1 port does not exist to the software. The only solution to this problem is to exit GEOS and run one of my DOS based communication programs and send a command to the modem. Could it be that GEOS does not initialize the port correctly?

ANSWER: When GEOS loads its serial-port device driver, the driver runs through the ports found by BIOS and attempts to provoke each one to interrupt the CPU so it can determine at what interrupt level the port is operating (INT 4 is usual for COM1 and COM3, while INT 3 is usual for COM2 and COM4). There's a "gate" between the 8250 and the I/O bus that must be opened to allow the interrupt request from the 8250 to make it to the CPU. On some systems, there's something screwy in the system such that unless the gate is opened before GEOS starts, the initial interrupt never makes it to the CPU, so the serial driver thinks it can't deal with the port. We've never been able to figure out just what could be going on (we've even tried waiting for literally half a second between opening the gate and provoking the interrupt, and it didn't help).

One possibility for you to try is to use a batch file to run GEOS, then create a script (pokeport.dbg) for debug that contains these two lines:

o3fc 8
q

then have the batch file say

debug < pokeport.dbg
geos

writing 8 to port 3fc will open the gate before GEOS starts and should perform the same function as starting your other telecom program and typing something at the modem.

--Information provided by GW Adam

Article#0161
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: NEC MultiSpeed laptop pop-up TSR's

To make the thing work correctly, you needs to disable the TSR's and the screen blanker, both of which can be done easily from the DOS prompt.

Instructions:

Before running GeoWorks Ensemble, disable the NEC pop-up utilities by typing this command at the prompt:

  KILLPOP

The machine should respond that the pop-up utilities are disabled. Then disable the screen blanker by typing the command:

  EL ON

The machine should respond that back lighting is now turned on.

Explanation:

The pop-up utilities are built into the Multispeed's hardware and will reload every time the computer starts up, so you must run killpop every time you re-boot the computer. Otherwise, these utilities will completely prevent GEOS from loading.

The Multispeed has a back lit LCD screen, whose back lighting normally turns off after 1 minute to save power if no key is pressed. Since GEOS intercepts keystrokes before they reach BIOS (and thus before this screen dimmer detects them), the EL ON command is needed to disable the screen dimmer.

To turn the screen dimmer back on, type the command:

  EL x

where x is length of time in minutes before the screen dims. This must be an integer between 1 and 10. EL OFF will make the screen dim immediately.

Tip:

You could put these commands in a batch file, say NGEOS.BAT, that will run them automatically.

Article#0162
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: Keyboard lockup on first screen in setup

The problem:

GEOS locks up completely at the first screen in the graphical setup, the video driver confirmation screen. This screen appears, saying GEOS has selected a video driver, very likely the correct one. The machine completely locks up at this time. No keystroke has any effect.

The solution:

The user may have an incompatible keyboard or have PC/AT selection switch (usually underneath keyboard) set wrong. Turn the keyboard over and change the PC/AT switch. If this doesn't work try using the "Force XT" US keyboard driver, available for downloading in the GeoWorks Files section of the GeoWorks Software Libraries on America Online or directly from GeoWorks Technical Support.

Article#0163
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: Accusaver UPS, Emmerson, performance degradation

The problem:

After running GeoWorks Ensemble for 10-15 minutes, system performance starts slowing down drastically.

The solution:

This can be caused by the Emerson Accucard inboard UPS (uninterruptable power supply), equipped with the Accusaver auto-backup software. Look for a driver in CONFIG.SYS that installs this program and remove it.

Article#0164
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: Accessing the Express Menu without a Mouse

Keyboard navigation allows you to use most of the features of GEOS without necessarily having to own or use a mouse. However, there are certain functions which you simply cannot perform without a mouse, such as selecting a file in GeoManager or drawing an object in GeoWrite. This is why we say that a mouse is "required."

Although most keyboard navigation functions are explained in the manual, it is not obvious how one may access the Express Menu. The easiest way is to press and release the ALT key. This highlights the first menu item. Now press the LEFT ARROW key to navigate to the Express Menu. Press the DOWN ARROW key to display and navigate the Express Menu. When the desired item is highlighted, press the SPACEBAR. The ESC key will release the menu.

Article#0165
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: Crash on exit with /nowaitpost

The problem:

Sometimes when you are using GEOS with the /nowaitpost flag, you crash upon returning to DOS. Typically you get a blank screen with an unmoving blinking cursor. Everything locks up, even the CAPSLOCK keyboard indicator. You need to perform a hard reset. This problem does not occur if you run without the /nowaitpost flag.

The solution:

If other possibilities have been eliminated, this could be a bug with the /nowaitpost option in GEOs version 1.04 and earlier versions. Contact GeoWorks to see about getting a newer version of the software.

Article#0166
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: COM and LPT port recognition

Background

GEOS automatically recognizes a system's parallel (LPT) and serial (COM) ports by checking data in the system's BIOS area. If it does not recognize a port, the user will not be able to access it--it will appear "grayed out" in every menu in which it appears.

The crucial BIOS data consists of a set of port addresses and of an "equipment word" listing which ports actually exist. Without the address list, no program--GEOS nor any DOS program--can use a port. The equipment word is ignored by most software. GEOS version 1.0, however, does look to this piece of data to establish whether a port exists.

An incorrect or overwritten "equipment word" will cause GeoWorks Ensemble V1.0 to "gray out" a system's serial and parallel ports. This is fixed in more recent versions of GEOS.

Details

Here is the port data from a typical SYSINFO file:
Bios data area (0040h:0):

0000: f8 03 f8 02 e8 03 e8 02 78 03 00 00 00 00 00 00
 "......x......"

0010: 61 48 af 80 02 00 00 00 00 00 26 00 26 00 0d 1c
 "aH......&.&..."

Port information is located in these two lines of BIOS data, dumped directly from BIOS hardware every time you boot up. Serial port locations are listed least-significant-byte-first at these locations:

0000: f8 03 f8 02 e8 03 e8 02

Translation: COM1, 2, 3, and 4 are located at 03f8, 02f8, 03e8, and 02e8, respectively.

From the same data, here is the location of the parallel port LPT1:

0000: f8 03 f8 02 e8 03 e8 02 78 03 00 00 00 00 00 00
 "......x......"

This again is least-significant-byte-first, so LPT1: is located at 0378. On this machine, there is no LPT2:

The other key piece of data (and the one that sometimes causes trouble) is the equipment word on the next line, in this case

0010: 61 48

This is a sort of list of exactly what equipment is installed on the machine, including the number of parallel and serial ports installed.

Again reading least-significant-byte first, this example translates to 4861 hex. In binary:

 0100 1000 0110 0001

bit number: 15 11 7 3 0

This gets interpreted as follows:

bit number  -  interpretation  -  in this case
----------  -  --------------  -  ------------

bit 0  -  set if IPL floppy present  -  yes
bit 1  -  set if math coprocessor installed  -  no
bit 2  -  set if ps/2 mouse installed  -  no
bit 3  -  set if ps/1 sound board installed  -  no

bits 4&5  -  video mode, as follows:  -  80x25 color

bit 5  -  bit 4
  0  -  0  -  usually EGA
  0  -  1  -  40x25 color
  1  -  0  -  80x25 color
  1  -  1  -  80x25 mono

bits 6&7  -  # of floppy drives  2
bit 8  -  reserved
bits 9,10,&11  -  # of serial ports  4
bits 12&13  -  reserved
bits 14&15  -  # of parallel ports  1

If this equipment word is corrupted or overwritten, GEOS version 1.0 or 1.1 will not allow access to the serial or parallel ports.

This condition has been repaired in the more recent versions of GEOS, which simply ignore the equipment byte altogether.

Article#0167
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: TESTDISK.BAT for disks GEOS won't read

If you have a floppy disk which GEOS refuses to read, you can run TESTDISK.BAT (included in GeoWorks Pro and newer versions) to take a look at the disk's boot sector data. The first three bytes of the first row of the data dump must be one of these combinations:

EB __ 90
E9 __ __
FA EB __
00 00 00

(Where __ can be any value). Any other combination will not be recognized by GEOS as a properly formatted disk and may indicate virus infection. Some known viruses:

FA E9 CC  -  was on a disk with the Music virus
EA 05 00  -  the Stoned virus.

Note: A proper disk sector does not necessarily mean that a diskette is virus-free! Get a good virus testing program such as McAfee's to make this determination.

The first row of the data dump will look like this, with numbers instead of x's:

xxxx:0000  EB 01 90 ... <- these are the 3 bytes you want.

In the second row, look for byte 15 (6th from the left).

xxxx:0010  __ __ __ __ __ F9  <-this byte

It is the media descriptor:

F0=3.5" 1.44 Meg
F8=hard drive
F9=5.25" 1.2Meg or 3.5" 720K
FD=5.25" 360K
FC=5.25" 180K
FE=5.25" 160K
FF=5.25" 320K.

TESTDISK depends on DEBUG or SID (the DR-DOS equivalent of DEBUG) being in the user's path, or otherwise available.

(The complete text of TESTDISK.BAT appears further on)

Using DEBUG or SID

If the user does not have TESTDISK.BAT, he or she can do the same thing by hand with DEBUG or SID (SID is the DR-DOS equivalent of DEBUG). At the command line, type DEBUG or SID as appropriate. The DEBUG command prompt is just a little dash, while SID's command prompt is a pound sign. The commands are shown below.

Where %1 appears, substitute 0 for drive A:, 1 for B:, 2 for C:, etc.

**THESE ARE THE COMMANDS TO ENTER AT THE DEBUG PROMPT**
l ds:0 %1 0 1
d ds:0 3e
q

**THESE ARE THE COMMANDS TO TYPE AT THE SID PROMPT**
NOTE: DO NOT PLACE ANY SPACES BETWEEN THE COMMANDS OR SID WILL NOT WORK
qrds:0,%1,0,1
dds:0,3e
q

TESTDISK.BAT:

echo off
cls
if "%1"=="A:" testdisk 0 A: %2
if "%1"=="B:" testdisk 1 B: %2
if "%1"=="C:" testdisk 2 C: %2
if "%1"=="D:" testdisk 3 D: %2
if "%1"=="E:" testdisk 4 E: %2
if "%1"=="F:" testdisk 5 F: %2
if "%1"=="G:" testdisk 6 G: %2
if "%1"=="a:" testdisk 0 A: %2
if "%1"=="b:" testdisk 1 B: %2
if "%1"=="c:" testdisk 2 C: %2
if "%1"=="d:" testdisk 3 D: %2
if "%1"=="e:" testdisk 4 E: %2
if "%1"=="f:" testdisk 5 F: %2
if "%1"=="g:" testdisk 6 G: %2
if "%1"=="0" goto okay
if "%1"=="1" goto okay
if "%1"=="2" goto okay
if "%1"=="3" goto okay
if "%1"=="4" goto okay
if "%1"=="5" goto okay
if "%1"=="6" goto okay
echo Enter the command "TESTDISK X:" where X: is a drive with a disk in it.
echo If you are using DR-DOS, type "TESTDISK X: DR"
goto end
:okay
if exist data.txt del data.txt
echo Displaying boot sector for drive %2 . Several rows of numbers should echo appear below.
if "%3"=="DR" goto drdos
if "%3"=="dr" goto drdos
rem **THESE ARE THE COMMANDS TO ENTER AT THE DEBUG PROMPT** echo l ds:0 %1 0 1>> data.txt
echo d ds:0 3e>> data.txt
echo q>> data.txt
debug < data.txt
goto end
:drdos
rem **THESE ARE THE COMMANDS TO TYPE AT THE SID PROMPT**
rem NOTE: DO NOT PLACE ANY SPACES BETWEEN THE COMMANDS OR SID rem WILL UPCHUCK
echo qrds:0,%1,0,1>> data.txt
echo dds:0,3e>> data.txt
echo q>> data.txt
sid < data.txt
:end

Article#0168
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: light pens, digitizers, graphics tablets

Many users have trouble using light-pens, digitizers and graphics tablets in GeoWorks products.

A variation of the generic mouse driver, called absgen.geo, takes the absolute coordinates provided it by mouse.com and uses them directly. This is suitable only for inherently absolute devices such as touch screens, light pens, tablets, and digitizers. Choosing one of these devices in Preferences, Mouse will use this driver.

Article#0169
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: NEC-V20 lockups and strange chip speeds

Description of the problem:

Sporadic random lockups and system errors on an XT with a NEC V20 chip. The problem seems to be hardware related. The SYSINFO identifies the processor as an 8088. Also, interestingly enough, different diagnostic programs indicate very different clock speeds on the system. The system is 8 MHz, but DOS 5's SPEED.COM reports it running at 16 MHz!

Response:

A lot of machines (such as the well-known NEC laptops) use the NEC V20 chip. We are normally completely compatible with it.

We make no special effort to identify a V20 chip. A V20 will appear like an 8088 running faster than it's supposed to, as a number of things are done in hardware on the V20 that are done in microcode (a level of software below even machine language) on an 8088, so depending on which instructions are used for the timing, different speeds will result.

Article#0170
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: Mouse freezes in various applications

If a serial mouse freezes up in GeoDex, GeoComm, AOL, Preferences, or Planner or all of the above and there is a modem or some other device on a second serial port we are most likely dealing with an interrupt conflict. There have been customers who claimed that they definitely had the correct interrupt levels set for each device and the mouse still froze. In cases like that HIDECOM.COM seems to be helpful. The fix essentially zeros out the serial port address of the afflicted mouse. If the mouse is on COM1 use HIDECOM1.COM, if the mouse is on COM2 use HIDECOM2.COM. The HIDECOM programs are included on the GeoWorks Pro disk set. If you need and don't have the HIDECOM program, contact GeoWorks technical support or download the files from America Online.


Article#0171
Updated: 06/08/92
Hardware: Third Floppy Drive and Stacker

I was able to resolve the problem of my third floppy drive (3.5 HD) not being properly recognized by GEOS. Turned out that several things were necessary:

1. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file created by Stacker had to be changed so that it is a one line statement - "E:AUTOEXEC.BAT"

2. The swap statement in the CONFIG.SYS file had to be changed to C:  E:

3. It was necessary to have the device driver for the third floppy drive in the root directory of both C: and E:.

4. Also, it was necessary that the device driver statement for the third floppy drive be listed before the two Stacker device statements.

--Information provided by William902 (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0172
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: A work around for a slow clock

My DTK 286 has had a problem with the clock running slow. It however does not seem to be random--about an hour loss each 3 days. It only occurs if I am using GeoWorks Ensemble or when I use Windows.

Last week I downloaded a file called RIGHTIME from the software libraries on America Online. It calibrates the clock after a few days of "normal" and after resetting the clock several times. It seems to work well as a temporary solution.

--Information provided by DRJ2 (A GeoWorks customer)

Article#0173
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: Crashes and "bad handles" on a 486

If you are having random crashes or bad handle messages on a 486, take off the computer cover and touch the 486 processor while GeoWorks software is running. If you burn your fingers, you should add an extra cooling fan and a heat sink.

A small California company now makes CPU Koolers (a small fan with built-in heat sink) for Intel 80486-based systems. These devices provide similar heat displacement to that which is standard on every Macintosh computer. The article noted that these chips usually operate *very close* to the maximum temperature specified by Intel and have been known to overheat on occasion. After showing the article to a local computer store, they put it through rigorous testing and determined that the CPU Kooler actually kept the CPU cool to the touch (as opposed to extremely hot without them). Even the heat sink alone works well. These devices are now standard on all 80486 systems they sell. The cost is around $40. Should anyone be interested in them, the company can be contacted at:

  PCubid Computer Technology
  6705 Silverthorne Circle
  Sacramento, CA 95842
  (916) 338-1338 (voice or fax)

--Information provided by SteveShell

Article#0174
Updated 04/04/93
Hardware: Drive Mounting Screws Too Tight

If you've been troubled by intermittent "ERROR READING DRIVE" messages on your CD-ROM drive, check the mounting screws that hold the drive in the bay.

Creative Labs has found the cause of some drive errors to be over-tightened mounting screws which flex the drive and prevent it from spinning properly. Loosening the screws eliminates the problem.

The situation can affect floppy and hard disks, too. The screws that secure these units in place do not need to be tightened excessively. Keep this in mind when adding third party drives to your system.

--Information provided by GWRepDave (Dave Gibson, GeoRep)

Article#0175
Updated 04/04/93
Hardware: Changing COM Port Assignments

I had some hangups on my modem board for a while. I finally cured it by changing the modem board to COM4, eliminating COM 2. (I also do not have a COM3). Now my mouse is on COM1 (IRQ 4) and the modem is on COM4 (IRQ3) and they all lived happily ever after. I don't know why moving the modem to COM4 cured all the problems and I don't really care, as long as the thing works. By the way, I can now task switch out of GEOS to a DOS application without losing my modem connections, which was the main reason for moving it in the first place.

Other IRQ assignments in an IBM compatible system:

IRQ0 -- Timer (Called 18.2 times/per second)
IRQ1 -- Keyboard
IRQ2 -- Second 8259 (cascading interrupts )
IRQ3 -- Serial interface 2 (COM2)
IRQ4 -- Serial interface 1 (COM1)
IRQ5 -- Hard Disk (XT computer) or second printer (AT computer)
IRQ6 -- Diskette (floppies)
IRQ7 -- Printer (LPT1 & PrtScr)

--Information provided by GWRepDon

Article#0176
Updated 04/04/93
Hardware: Configuring an External Drive

A device driver should be loaded in your CONFIG.SYS file for your external drive.

If GEOS is not recognizing your external floppy drive or a floppy drive with a letter higher than C:, then add ONE of the following lines AFTER the line with the driver and it might help. The line explicitly defines the parameters for a 5.25 inch high density drive.

DRIVPARM=/D:1 /T:80 /S:15 /H:2 /C /F:1

or

DEVICE=C:\DOS\DRIVER.SYS /D:1 /T:80 /S:15 /H:2 /C /F:1

An explanation of the switches follows:

/D:drv_no  is the logical drive number (required parameter)
  (0=A, 1=B, 2=C, etc.)

/T:trks  specifies the number of tracks per side (default=80)
  (40 tracks for double sided double density drives)

/S:sects  specifies the no. of Sectors/track (default=9)
  (15 sectors for HD 5.25in drives)
  (18 sectors for HD 1.44in drives)

/H:hds  specifies the number of heads (default=2)

/C  indicates that "changeline" support is required
  (for AT and compatibles which sense when a
  disk is swapped)

/N  specifies that the device is non-removable (a hard drive)

/F:n  specifies a drive "form factor" index (default is n=2)

  0 = 160/180K format (single-sided)
  0 = 320/360K format (double-sided)
  1 = 1.2M high-capacity drive
  2 = 720K (3- inch) format
  7 = 1.44M high-capacity drive

--Information provided by John Ezike (GWRepJohn)

Article#0177
Updated 04/04/93
Hardware: 9600 Baud Modem

PROBLEM: I bought the Eagle Plus 9600 baud external modem. It comes with the dip switches set for Prodigy use. I could log on to Prodigy and local BBS's okay, but even at 2400 I couldn't reach America Online. The new modem appeared to connect at 2400 okay, but then stopped, tried to dial my secondary number and then gave the standard error message to call Customer Service.

SOLUTION: I learned that I needed to add a special string to my America Online Advanced Setup.

1. Select America Online Setup.

2. Select Advanced Setup.

3. Add the following string to the Pre-Modem String:

  at*e0&w

Also, when using my GEOS scripts in GeoComm, I add this line at the beginning:

SEND  "ATX4*E9&C1*S1M0",CR

-- information provided by GWRepTerry

Article#0178
Updated 04/04/93
Hardware: Zoom Fax/Modem Installation

From the Zoom Fax/Modem installation book. They recommend the following combinations be avoided:

Mouse on COM1- IRQ4 and Fax/modem on COM3 IRQ4
Mouse on COM2- IRQ3 and Fax/modem on COM4 IRQ3

What they're saying is that the mouse is constantly sending IRQ's so keep it away from the Modem. Makes sense. Some modems apparently won't let you select IRQ's 2 or 5 for COM's 3 and 4.

--Information provided by GWRepChris

Article#0179
Updated 04/04/93
Imports: Commodore GEOS to PC/GEOS

The easiest way to convert files from Commodore GEOS to PC/GEOS is to use the program from the German GEOS Users Group (available on America Online in the GeoWorks Software Libraries, Customer Files, Shareware and Utilities, C64 to Ensemble converter, dated 09/02... filename: GEOS64CE.ZIP.) This program runs on the PC.

First, you must use Bill Coleman's Convert 2.5 program (available on Q-Link and most Commodore BBS's) to convert the Commodore GEOS files from the proprietary Commodore GEOS (VLIR) format to regular Commodore SEQuential format.

Second, you move the SEQ files from the Commodore to the PC. This can be done using Big Blue Reader (a commercial program for the Commodore which allows Commodore 1571 or 1581 disk drives to read and write to IBM-type floppy disks.)--or you can use a null modem cable to move the files from one machine to the other--or you can upload the files from the C= to your local BBS and then download them to the PC.

Third, you run GEOS64CE on the PC to convert the files. It detects what kind of Commodore GEOS file you have brought over and converts them accordingly. C= geoWrite files are converted to ASCII, geoPaint and PhotoAlbum files are converted to .PCX for importing to GeoDraw or Scrapbook (in Pro).

Here are some other ways to convert files from C= to PC/GEOS, besides the German converter.

*There are several 3rd party programs for the Commodore that will convert Commodore geoWrite files to ASCII format. The "best" of these is probably Wrong Is Write by Joe Buckley (Red Storm), available on Qlink, or from Storm Systems Software. Once the file is in ASCII, it can be moved from the Commodore to the PC and brought into PC GeoWrite via the Insert from text file feature (in the File menu).

*Jim Collette's GEOPCX (available on Qlink) runs on the Commodore and converts geoPaint to a PCX file that can then be moved from the Commodore to the PC and imported to GeoDraw. Jim's program retains the colors from the geoPaint file.

*Joe Buckley's (Red Storm's) MacAttackII will convert a geoPaint document to black-and-white-only .MAC format. The .MAC file can then be moved from the Commodore to the PC, where Graphic Workshop (or any of several other utilities on the PC) can be used to convert the .MAC to a .PCX for importing to GeoDraw. A disadvantage of this method, besides the loss of color, is that a .MAC file is not as wide as a geoPaint file, so you cannot capture the entire width of a full page geoPainting.

*geoPublish... GeoPublish files can be transferred to geoDraw, a page at a time, this way: First a GeoPublish file page is "printed to a geoPaint file" by using the paintPAGES or paintOVERLAY printer driver on the Commodore (PaintPAGES and PaintOVERLAY are created by the PaintDrivers application, which comes with C= GEOS 2.0).

A tip: Do NOT "open" the resulting geoPaint file before doing the conversion process... a geoPublish file can be larger than a geoPaint file, if you "open" the file in geoPaint, some of the bottom of the page may be lost--if you don't open the file it will contain ALL of the geoPublish page.

Now, you have a geoPaint file that can be converted to PC/GEOS format by any of the three methods mentioned above: the German converter, Jim Collette's converter, or MacAttackII.

--Information provided by GW Steve

Article#0180
Updated 06/08/92
Networks: COMMAND.COM error on Novell network

If you're using GeoWorks Ensemble on a Novell network and get an INVALID COMMAND.COM, SYSTEM HALTED error, here's some information that might help:

In your netware login script, where you've got your network drives set up with MAP commands, use instead the MAP ROOT command. Basically, the map command goes something like

MAP D:\COMPANY\SYSTEM X:

(I don't remember exactly how the syntax works, but you get the idea. To the user at his/her node, the server directory D:\COMPANY\SYSTEM appears as drive X:). If the user in this example logs onto drive X: and then, say, types CD.., he or she will be able to back out all the way to the root directory of the server's drive D:
Most users won't do this in the normal course of events, but GEOS, since it searches for the root of every drive, will. So if you're counting on COMMAND.COM that's sitting in D:\COMPANY\SYSTEM, it may not be locatable when the user exits GEOS.
The MAP ROOT command (which should really be the default, but isn't), keeps GEOS and the curious user from backing out past the desired directory.

It's not GEOS, but COMMAND.COM that'll do the searching for COMMAND.COM after exiting GEOS, and it always looks at the COMSPEC variable to find itself; it doesn't do any searching along the path or anything of that nature.

Article#0181
Updated 06/08/92
Networks: LANtastic Printing and SHARE.EXE

We have found that the following settings, recommended by Artisoft (makers of LANtastic), make GEOS printing work under LANtastic 4.0 (the current version as of 12/91):

To change these settings, run LANtastic's NET_MGR program, typically by typing:

  C:\LANTISTI\NET_MGR

Then,

  Select  SHARED RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
  Select  @PRINTER
  Set  Chars/Second to 32767 (for dot matrix printers, use 3000)
  Set  Setup Delay to 60
  Set  Cleanup Delay to 120

  Hit  [esc] [esc] [esc]

Then type:

  C:\LANTISTI\NET LPT TIMEOUT 30

In GEOS under Preferences/Computer, set your parallel port to DOS. You need to be running GEOS version 1.2 or higher.

If LANTastic Users Have File-Sharing Problems:

To prevent file-sharing problems, users should have SHARE.EXE from MS-DOS 4 or above installed.

Here's the problem: User reports that on his LANtastic network running GeoWorks Ensemble, multiple users were able to open a copy of the "Office Calendar" GeoPlanner file simultaneously. The document was NOT set to read-only, and when any user attempted to save a change to it, the file got trashed.

Solution: LANtastic depends upon DOS's SHARE.EXE to provide file-locking that prevents multiple accesses to the same file.

THE COPY OF SHARE.EXE ON THE SERVER MUST BE MS-DOS 4.0 OR HIGHER, OR IT WILL NOT WORK.

Article#0182
Updated 06/08/92
Networks: Lantastic Z

Question: I am having a compatibility problem with GeoWorks and my LAN software, Lantastic Z, which is published by Artisoft. When I load up Lantastic Z, and then try to run GeoWorks, the LAN no longer functions. Is there a way around this problem?

Answer: Unfortunately, no. At the current time GEOS will only run on Novell, LANtastic (2Mbits and 10Mbits using NOS 4.x) and LAN Manager networks. Because it is 'network aware', GEOS cannot be run from the server only. It must be installed on the hard disk of each workstation on the network.

--Information provided by GWRepJohn (John Ezike)

Article#0183
Updated 05/15/92
Networks: Which networks are supported by GEOS?

GeoWorks PRO is compatible with Novell, LANtastic and LAN Manager. It is 'network aware' and you will be able to map drives and print from any station.

You must have a copy of GEOS installed on each workstation.

Zero slot LAN's for the most part will allow you to share files and printer resources. While this may be adequate for now, you will surely outgrow it in a short while.

An inexpensive but more palatable solution is to get the LANtastic 2 megabit starter kit. It comes with 2 network cards, software and a 25 foot cable and a pair of terminators. You can get longer lengths of cable or have some made up. The pinouts are available in the manual. Additional adapter cards are available for each PC you want to connect to the network. Installation is simple and Artisoft tech support is good.

Email, password security, sound and voicemail are some additional features you can get. You get all the benefits of a 'real network' without the added cost and you don't need a Systems Administrator to manage your network.

Theoretically, you should be able to connect up to 2-300 PC's but the actual number of nodes you can have are determined by network load, cable distances and the type of adapter. With about 16 nodes, you should have no problems.

One major benefit is that RAM overhead is small. About 12k per workstation and 40k per server. Since it is a peer to peer network any node can be configured as a server or workstation.

NOTE: If you need a faster network (10Mbit), Netbios compatibility and an upgrade path to NetWare, then consider the LANtastic AE-1/2/3 Ethernet adapter. Small increase in cost but still very affordable.

--Information provided by GWRepJohn

Article#0184
Updated 06/08/92
Networks: GeoWorks Pro on a network server

I run Geoworks Pro with absolutely no problems on a network server on the Invisible Software NET/30 network software, which is very similar to the LanTastic peer-to-peer. GeoWorks Pro is loaded on my computer in a regular C:\GeoWorks directory, and I load all network drivers (server, redirector, mail, share, etc.) from my AUTOEXEC. BAT.

My only gripe is that GeoWorks Pro will not recognize mapped network drives other than my local physical drives. I understand that GeoWorks and Invisible are communicating about this. Anyway, check your network initialization file to make sure a screen blanker or a disk cache is not being loaded. I know, for example, that a disk cache comes with Invisible. GeoWorks Pro will NOT work with any screen blanker, and you MUST disable it before loading GEOS. As for disk caches, they WILL work, as long as you disable any delayed writing to disk features. I use PCTools PC-CACHE (not the one from Invisible). I can leave my network running, and simply insert disabling commands for my screen blanker and cache in the batch file that starts GEOS. I then have re-enabling commands in the same batch file after GEOS runs. Works like a charm.

--Information provided by NC LAW, Chip Reinhardt (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0185
Updated 06/08/92
Networks: Printing on a network from America Online

In order for GEOS, the operating system that America Online uses, to access a 'redirected port' on your machine you must tell GEOS to talk to the port via DOS. GEOS usually talks directly to the parallel port which allows for an increase in speed, because GEOS is normally a graphics printing system for producing the What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) output of GeoWorks products.

To set the parallel port to the DOS interrupt, if you have V1.3 of the America Online software you can select the System Preferences item in the Express menu. After the System Preferences application window comes up, select the COMPUTER button. In the computer window, the parallel port interrupts are located on the right side. Select the DOS radio button, then OK. The system will restart and you will now be able to print to the 're-directed' parallel port. However, America Online doesn't print in GEOS' normal graphics output, so this will not work on a PostScript printer.

--Information provided by GWRep Don

Article#0186
Updated 06/08/92
Networks: Printing hint for Novell networks

My office recent changed its network over from 3Com (who got out of the network software business) to Novell. I had problems printing with GEOS over this new network. The network printers would treat each page as a separate document--ejecting a blank page after each one, then printing a new header page, then next page of the document, another blank page, and so on.

On Novell networks, there is a command called CAPTURE which can be included as part of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. It basically tells the network which printer to send your output to and allows you to include parameters. You need to use two CAPTURE commands to get GEOS to print correctly: No Formfeed and No Tabs. I found that if you tell CAPTURE to use No Formfeed, it will not print the blank page between each page of the document, but then garbage characters appeared on the left margin of the pages. It is the No Tabs command (which turns off some sort of automatic tab interpretation by the network) which solves the problem. The command line looks like this (it's part of my AUTOEXEC.BAT):

CAPTURE /Q=2SLJET /L=1 /No Formfeed /No Tabs

"Q=2SLJET" refers to a specific HP LaserJet
"L=1" means that LPT:1 should print to the LaserJet
If you need exact syntax for CAPTURE, just type CAPTURE /? at the DOS prompt while logged onto your Novell network.

--Information provided by Jeff Haas (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0187
Updated 04/04/93
Notepad: Change font size, Notepad, Text File Editor

Do you find the text in Notepad or Text File Editor a little small and hard to read? I do. Here's how to make it larger:

1. Open Notepad or Text File Editor (double click on the icon in GeoManager)

2. Click on Sizes.

3. Click on the size you'd like to use.

The "default" (or normal size) is 10 points in Notepad or 9 points in Text File Editor. If you'd like the text larger, try 12, 14, or 18 point. The larger the number, the larger the text.

If you increase the text size and find you can't see enough text at one time, you can always make the application larger the same way you would any window. Point your mouse at the bottom border. It will change from a pointer to a down arrow. Press and hold the left button while dragging the mouse downward. When it's the size you want, release the button. Finally, if you really want it large, you can click in the upper right hand corner and "maximize" it (make it full screen).

--Information provided by PC Robin, JohnD208, and Chuckk5

Article#0188
Updated 04/15/92
PCTools: PC-Cache and GEOS

I have been using PC-CACHE v6 with GEOS for some time without any problems. But, version 6 of PC-CACHE is an entirely new rewrite of the software and it got a bad reputation when it was released as people were frequently getting trashed files on their hard drives. The problem comes from the fact that version 6 includes a new feature called delayed write back. Normally a cache program only caches disk read requests. Disk writes are always written immediately to the drive and are not retained in memory. Not so with version 6 of PC-CACHE. The delayed write feature causes it to retain disk writes in memory to be written at a later time. Unfortunately this is a dangerous practice at best and can lead to corrupted files and crashed disks in the event of a software problem or something as innocent as a power failure. Quoting the PC-TOOLS user manual "Use this parameter with caution because it delays write operations to the disk and can result in loss of data." The problem is that most people are using this parameter without knowing it, as it happens to be the DEFAULT setting! I recommend that anyone using PC-CACHE v6 disable the delayed write feature by including the parameter /WRITE=0 in the command line. If you do so I think you will find that your problems with PC-CACHE and GEOS will disappear.

--Information provided by Rocky25

Article#0189
Updated 06/08/92
PCTools: Initialization string for PC Tools' Commute

In order to use PC Tools' Commute to operate GeoWorks products on a remote computer, we used the initialization string:

ATE0Q0V0S0=2X1C1S7=90^m -- (By the way, those are zeros)

In my AUTOEXEC.BAT FILE, I have placed the command:

commute /smc /r

For "modem" I chose "Other" in the Custom Configuration section.

I'm using generic Hayes compatible modems. It works fine. Loading GeoWorks is awesomely slow (it is fun watching the overlays), so I generally stick to downloading and uploading files from the command line.

--Information provided by JonB1 (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0190
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: Printing on a Novell Network

When you create a document in GeoWrite or GeoDraw, you should be able to treat it as you would any other word processing or desktop publishing file. You should follow the normal procedures for saving and printing that you use on your computer network.

To send a GeoWrite document to a printer over the Novell network, use the following command:

CAPTURE L=1 Q=QueueName TI=10 NB NFF

Where:
L= the LPT#
QueueName= the name of the print queue
TI= timeout in seconds that will signal end of print job
 (in this case, TI=10 means a print job is done when no data has been transmitted for 10 seconds)
NB means no banner (or title page for print job)
NFF means no formfeed following print job

Note: Some smaller Novell networks use Printer numbers rather than Queue names. If this is the case, replace Q=QueueName with P=1 (or whatever the printer number may be).

IMPORTANT: Be sure you set up GeoWrite for the printer you will be sending the document to. If you will be sending your document to an HP LaserJet, set up GeoWrite for an HP LaserJet, if you'll be printing to an Epson LQ2550, set up GeoWrite for an EpsonLQ2550, etc. If your network has more than a single print queue, determine which printer is serving the print queue you will be using and set up GeoWrite for that printer.

Article#0191
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: HP DeskJet and Margins

Most printers can't use the outside 1/4" of the paper. The DeskJet cannot print on the top and bottom 1/2" of the paper. GeoWrite always starts the header at 1/4" down the paper, hence the problem you are seeing.

To ensure that the header prints correctly on your DeskJet, leave a blank, 18pt. line at the top of your header.

You can also see this problem at the bottom of footers.

--Information provided by GW Tony

Article#0192
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Printing on a remote printer

I heard that one user managed to run one application (GeoWrite, I think) with *one* font from a floppy on a laptop (meaning no hard drive at all).

While it's possible, therefore, to run GeoWrite from a floppy in order to print on a remote printer--you'll likely want two or more fonts in your document.

As an alternative:

With GeoWorks 1.2 or Pro and a remote PostScript compatible printer, you can print to a PostScript file. Then bring the PS file to the printer and simply print the file from DOS like you would a text file.

To print to file, you must install a "ghost" PostScript printer. Install the driver for the printer that you'll ultimately use (e.g. LaserWriter). Then, when printing to the PS file, use the PS printer driver. There will be a button in the print dialog box saying "Print To File." Just choose that option.

In Ensemble 2.0, you can print to file with any printer driver, PostScript or not. At the remote printer use the command

COPY filename /B PRN:

to send the file to the printer from the DOS prompt.


--Information provided by GW Dudley (Pete Dudley, GW Tech Docs)

Article#0193
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: HP LaserJet, why printing is slow

The reason the pages print so slowly when you print at full resolution on the HP LaserJet is that we are fully imaging the page to 300 dots per inch using our outline fonts and graphics routines, and then shipping the final page over to the laser printer. This is great when you are doing a complex one page flyer because it allows you to get a true WYSIWYG display on the screen of what will come out on the printer, and you can do neat font rotations, and so forth that the IIP does not support, but it gets kind of slow when you want to print a long document that is mainly text.

GEOS contains a much more powerful document imaging system than the HP printers and sometimes you will want to take advantage of that to create elaborate pages. However, we realize that on other occasions you want fast high resolution printing, so starting with GeoWorks Pro, we provided a special "font downloading" printer driver for LaserJets and compatibles.

For those of you working on long documents, source the documents in the mono font and print your initial drafts as "text only". This will use the resident courier font of the HP printers and print quickly (as fast as the HP's are capable of). When you are ready for the final printing, change to the desired fonts, and be prepared to wait.

The downloading of fonts will allow you to print text documents out at full resolution. But complex graphics documents will still have to be printed at medium resolution. The full resolution of the HP printers is 300 dots per inch. When you do the math this works out to 1 meg of memory required to image a full 8 1/2 X 11 inch page. In short, there is nothing we can do.

--Information provided by GW Brian (Brian Dougherty, CEO, GeoWorks)

Article#0194
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Canon BJ-10e dip switch settings

To function properly with GEOS, the dip switches on the Canon BJ-10e should all be turned to the off position, except for the first one (the Automatic Sheet Feeder switch), which should be turned on even if you don't have an Automatic Sheet Feeder.

Article#0195
Updated 06/08/92
Hardware: Toshiba 1000SE, DOS 2.11

On the Toshiba 1000SE laptop, clicking on the 3.5" A: or B: drive in Geomanager may not work. The machine ships with DOS 2.11, which doesn't recognize 720K drives. Toshiba tricks DOS using an illegal device code which GEOS doesn't recognize.

A work around is as follows: before running GEOS, insert a formatted disk in A: (or B:) and switch to A: (type A: at the DOS prompt). Then start GEOS with the /nowaitpost parameter .

Article#0196
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: HP LaserJet, blank or faint printouts

The problem:

The HP LaserJet spits out blank pages or pages with a few faint lines printed on them when user tries to print.

The solution:

This will happen if the printer itself is set to landscape mode. Run a printer self-test by pressing ALT+TEST on the printer itself. If the test page comes out printed sideways, the printer is in landscape mode and it must be changed to portrait mode

Article#0197
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Tandy 3000L Parallel Port

The problem:

I have a Tandy 3000NL and cannot print from LPT1.

The solution:

The parallel port on the Tandy 3000NL is not 100% compatible with the IBM standard, and we don't work with it. The only solution (currently) is to buy a separate parallel port (about $40) and disable the one on the machine. It is possible that sometime in the future, we could have a separate parallel driver for this machine.

Article#0198
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Epson LQ-850, early model

The problem:

On some Epson LQ-850 printers, printing in high quality mode produces a page with horizontal white spaces about 1/16" high every 1/4" down the page, lines of text are duplicated, and slash marks ("/") may appear down the left margin of the printout. In other programs, such as WordPerfect, you may have had to select the Epson LQ850 (M-8 ROM) driver.

The solution:

You may own an older version of the LQ-850 that does not support 360 x 360 dpi printing. Instead, it supports only 360 x180 dpi printing. Select Epson LQ-850 (Early Model) in GeoWorks Ensemble. If that option is not available in your version of Ensemble, then select the Epson LQ-500 or Epson LQ-2500.

Article#0199
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Troubleshooting tips

The problem:

There have been several incidents where the printer will "hang" during printer operation or testing. This normally occurs while running the setup program. After selecting the proper printer driver from the menu and selecting the TEST button, the printer will start to print and then quit. On the screen the message "Printer not ready" will appear. You then have to restart GEOS to clear the hang. This problem can occur even though you have selected the exact printer driver to match your printer.

The solution:

GEOS, the operating system for both GeoWorks Ensemble and American Online PC, has been designed to run on slower PCs. In order to acquire adequate speed to print the graphics and produce a true What You See Is What You Get hard copy printout on dot matrix printers, GEOS bypasses the normal printer drivers contained in DOS and the system BIOS. By bypassing these internal drivers, GEOS is able to communicate directly with the printer for all print operations.

Although this greatly increases the speed at which GEOS prints, it has a draw back. GEOS does not allow as much variation in the signal strengths that DOS or BIOS would. Because of this, sometimes a hardware setup which works normally for other programs will not work with GEOS. During printing operations, GEOS continually monitors the SELECT, BUSY and ERROR NOT signals coming from the printer which informs GEOS of the status of the printer. Although the DOS and BIOS drivers may not be fast enough to detect an intermittent error, GEOS's speed will quickly detect an error. This is why GEOS may fail while other programs work.

If any problems are detected, GEOS will suspend printing and attempt a recovery, if possible. These signals may temporarily indicate an error if the connections on the printer cable are loose, the cable is too long, or the signals receive interference from an outside source. Most printer manufactures recommend a maximum cable length of 6 foot for parallel drivers. They also recommend that the cable be routed clear of electrical cables and power supplies. A lot of printer problems have also been traced to a failure to secure the connectors during installation.

The recommended steps in correcting an intermittent printer problem are:

1. Set the interrupt on the parallel port to POLL for version 1.0 or to DOS or BIOS for all newer versions of GEOS. This is accomplished by running the PREFERENCE appliance. By selecting the COMPUTER button you will be able to change the interrupt settings for the different ports. On the LPT1 port select the Poll or DOS or BIOS button. After selecting OK to close the COMPUTER window, select the PRINTER button and go through the printer selection sequence. This will allow you to select a printer and test.

Warning: Always turn off the power to both the computer and the printer before removing, installing, or testing the connection of the cable. Failure to do so may result in damage to the printer or computer!

2. Verify that the connectors on both ends of the printer cable are properly secured. The connectors are normally secured with screws or snap clips.

3. Check to see if the printer cable is the recommended 6 foot length. If it is not, borrow one from a friend or purchase one from a computer store and try it. GEOS was developed and tested using the "recommended" 6 foot length. If you purchase a new cable, invest a little extra money for a shielded cable.

4. Ensure your printer cable is properly routed between the computer and the printer. Some common problems to watch out for are:

Do not run any data cables (printer cable) parallel to power cables. If you do, the strong power signals in the power cord will influence the low power data signals, causing false indication and bad data. If your printer cable must cross a power cable, have it cross the power cable at a right angle, forming a cross.

Keep the data cables away from power strips. They too will cause the strong power signals to influence the low power data cables.

Do not lay your data cable across a power supply for the same reason.

Do not coil the excess printer cable into a tight circle. If you must coil the cable up, coil it into a big circle or, better yet, flake the cable out on the floor into a figure 8, ensuring you have the cable cross as close to right angles as possible.

Completing the above steps will normally take care of any intermittent printer problems. Sometimes the problem could be more serious like a faulty printer or parallel card in the computer, but if the printer works with other DOS programs, it should work with GEOS.

Article#0200
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Diconix 150 and 300, problems

There are two problems we know of on Diconix printers.

Unwanted Test Page:

The first is that our driver included with v1.2 will cause Diconix 150's and 300's to print a test page before every print job.

The code ESC-t-1 does it. This is used in the Epson driver to set the character codes 80h-9fh printable. The Diconix (which is SUPPOSED to be Epson-compatible) uses ESC t to print a test page.

A fix for the test page problem with the Diconix D150 is included in the driver named

"Diconix D150 (Epson Mode V1.28)"

Make sure that is the one you're using.

Shrunken Printouts:

The second problem is that the original Diconix 150 portable printers print a reduced size document.

The reason is that the resolution of the printer is slightly higher, and nothing is done to print up to the real Epson or IBM size. The margins seem to stay wide, which makes it difficult to scale up the document without losing info off the edge.

No work around for this one at this point.

--Information provided by Dave Durran, GeoWorks Engineering

Article#0201
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: PostScript font appearance

The problem:

Certain fonts (Cooperstown, Greenville) come out a little bolder and a little more scrunched together--to the point of slight illegibility--than when using the non-PostScript HP emulation (which is much slower). Setting character spacing has no effect.

The explanation:

For PostScript printing, we use Adobe Type 1 fonts built into the printer whenever an equivalent is available (eg. Times Roman when printing URW Roman). For non-built in fonts (eg. Cooperstown), we download Adobe Type 3 fonts.

There are two main functional differences between Type 1 and Type 3: Type 1 is hinted whereas Type 3 is not, so at very small sizes, Type 1 fonts will generally look a little better than Type 3. Also, Type 1 fonts use a slightly different fill rule than Type 3. Type 1 fonts only turn a dot on if it the majority of it is within the bounds of the character, whereas Type 3 fonts turn on a dot if *any* of it is within the bounds of the character.

The problem is probably mostly because of the different fill rules.

Article#0202
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: HP LaserJet, how much memory is enough?

We all know that 512K of memory in a laser printer is often not enough to print a full 8.5"x11" page at high-resolution. Our suggestions to the customer: add more memory to your printer, simplify the page you're trying to print, or print in a lower resolution.

When it comes to printer memory, how much is enough?

One meg of memory is just barely enough to print a high-resolution 8.5"x11" page. Larger pages require more memory.

For instance, an 8.5x14 (legal) size document could require as much as 1.2 meg. Not all pages require the maximum amount of memory; it's a function of the amount of the page that is actually covered with text or graphics (we compress empty space, sometimes called "white space", which is why even a 512K printer can print some high-resolution pages if they're simple enough).

There is a mathematical relationship between the amount of memory on the printer and the largest page we can print. If you assume the worst case (most complex page), it goes something like this:

A laser printer that prints at 300dpi (dots per inch) would require 300 bits for every horizontal inch of the page. An 8" page has 7.5 printable inches, which means each horizontal line would require 300 x 8 = 2,400 bits of memory. There are eight bits in a byte, so a single horizontal line would require 2400/8 = 300 bytes. Every vertical inch of the page has 300 of these lines. Therefore, every vertical inch requires 300 x 300 = 90,000 bytes of memory. 90,000 bytes is about 88K. So, for instance, an 11" page (with 10.5 inches of printable vertical area) would require 10.5 x 88 = 924K of printer memory, worst case. That's nearly one meg (1,024K). A 14" page (with 13.5 inches of printable vertical area) would require 13.5 x 88 = 1,188K (about 1.2 meg).

The amount of memory actually available with our version 1.2 drivers is a function of the number of fonts the user has already downloaded because those drivers won't remove the fonts from the printer's internal memory. This means that even if the user has 2 megs of printer RAM, he or she may still run into problems printing if most of that RAM is taken up by previously downloaded fonts. (Cycling power on the printer should let you know if this, indeed, is the problem.) Our newer HP drivers that have "fast" text-mode printing (available in GeoWorks Pro) behave a little differently. These new drivers remove downloaded fonts from the printer's memory if the user chooses the Text Only option when printing. This is the only way of knowing how much memory is available on the printer (the HP printers provide no status reports on memory availability). For most people using GeoWorks products, this removing of downloaded fonts won't be a problem. The only problem we can think of would be when printing to a network printer that has standard pre-downloaded fonts (fonts that get downloaded when the network starts up). If somebody on the network prints from their GeoWorks software using one of the new drivers in text mode only (and, thereby, removes any downloaded fonts) he or she may not be too popular around the office.

However, they can always avoid text mode printing or use the "HP Compatible" driver--which has a more passive text mode option. The newer HP drivers have a new "text mode"; they will download GeoWorks Ensemble fonts to the printer, making text mode printing lightning fast while essentially persevering WYSIWYG printing of text--fonts, sizes, styles and all--(graphics will still require non text mode printing).

The drivers in Ensemble 2.0 have been improved to give the user control over whether to retain the fonts downloaded to the printer or whether to remove them.

Article#0203
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: Star NX-2420 series

If your Star NX-2420 printer doesn't work properly with GeoWorks products (it leaves a 1/8th inch horizontal line somewhere in the document), it could be related to the ROM chip in the Star printer. The first series of printers to be shipped from Star had a bug in the printer ROM that causes this problem.

To correct this problem, an upgrade rom (V1.7) needs to be received from Star and installed into the printer. You can either do this yourself by calling Star and complaining to them (I don't know if the upgrade ROM is free or if there's a charge) and then opening your printer up and removing the old ROM and installing the new one. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT BOTH THE COMPUTER AND PRINTER IS POWERED OFF BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE ROM.

If this sounds too scary, or the printer is still under warranty, I recommend returning it to the place of purchase and ask them to upgrade it for you.

I do know that GeoWorks obtained the new ROM, tested it, and declared this to be the fix to the problems.

--Information provided by GWRep Don

Article#0204
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: Panasonic 4450, Multiple Copies

The Panasonic Laser Partner 4450 will print multiple copies with no problems, by setting it for multiple copies from the control panel.

I create an elaborate calendar each month for the office. The first copy takes five minutes, but the additional nine copies print in less than one minute.

I can also set the printer to legal size paper and feed in letter size to print that last line at the bottom of the page that laser printers often chop off.

--Information provided by Richard250, Richard Menge (a GeoWorks Customer)

Article#0205
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Canon BubbleJet, blank pages

QUESTION: Why does my Canon printer spit out a blank page between each printed page?

ANSWER: Canon forces the printing to start either 1/4 or 1/2 inch from the top of the page, depending on printer type. This causes the printable area on the page to be that much less (10 3/4 or 10 1/2). GEOS thinks the paper is 11 inches long and keeps track, down to the micro inch, where it is on the paper. When it reaches the 10 1/2 inches, your printer calls the page done and ejects it. GEOS thinks there is still another 1/2 inch to print (usually the footer area). Now when you insert a new sheet of paper, GEOS finishes up the rest of the page (normally a blank footer) and form feeds to the next sheet.

To correct what GEOS thinks the paper size is, you need to run the Preferences application and change the default settings. Once the application is started, select the PRINTER button. In the next window, select the 'Change Defaults....' button. Change BOTH the Document AND Paper size to a height of 10.875 and click OK. Try a NEW document to see if the paper size is correct. You may need to go back and change the height a few times until it is correct (the height changes in .125 increments). Usually either 10.875 (for 1/4 inch forced top margin printers) or 10.75 ( for 1/2 inch forced top margin printers) will work.

--Information provided by GWRep Don

Article#0206
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: Daisy Wheel Printers

Ensemble 2.0 provides printer drivers for daisy wheel printers.

There is no way to reliably print with a daisy wheel printer with earlier versions of GEOS.

--Information provided by Dave Durran, GeoWorks Engineering

Article#0207
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: Text Only Mode and Geodex, version 1.2

Question:

Using GeoDex to print my list of names and addresses for Christmas cards, when it gets to the second page it no longer line feeds. This happens no matter what setting I use, 1 column, 2 column, or all info. I'm using a Panasonic KX-P1180 in IBM Proprinter mode and I have GeoWorks set for that printer and mode. The result is one solid black line across the page.

Answer:

This problem will not occur in Ensemble 2.0.

The earlier version of GeoDex had a bug in its implementation of text-only printing. You can work around the bug by printing in low, medium, or high quality mode.

--Information provided by GWRepDon

Article#0208
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: OkiLaser 400, envelopes

Here's how one person prints envelopes on a OkiLaser400 printer:

Open a new GeoWrite document, and under Page Setup, set Page Size as #10 envelope (it's down near the bottom of the list). Next, bring margins all the way around down to .25 inches. Leave orientation as Portrait.

Hit ENTER about 6-8 times, down just past the center of the page (envelope). You may now wish to set a tab stop just left of center, or wherever you want to start the "to" address. SAVE this as a new document "Envelope template". (If you want to be fancy, you can go back and make it read-only.)

After you set up the envelope, you're ready to print. GeoWrite defaults to U S Letter. *Leave it there!* Pull the wings together on the OL400, and set the envelope in so that the top is on your right side. That is, if you've put your return address in the top left corner, that end would be fed in first. Open the back for a straight paper path. Otherwise, it comes out all croggled up. Then print away!

--Information provided by NightFlier (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0209
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: HP LaserJet: envelopes

I recommend using the following template from the GeoWorks Software Library on America Online:
ENVTEMPL.000

This has worked for me from the beginning. Just use it this way. Put the envelope in your paper tray, set up for ordinary 8 1/2 x 11 paper, put it all the way over on the right. Put the envelope in upside down so that the top of it is on the left side, away from the track which the envelope will be pressing up against. (Ignore the little picture on the printer showing the opposite). After having called up the template to the screen and replaced the text with whoever's address, print it, not in the text only mode, but in regular mode. It will print perfectly.

--Information provided by GWRep MK

Article#0210
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: Epson Action Printer 3000

If the printer isn't listed specifically, then use the LQ 200 driver.

Article#0211
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Epson LQ-2500 notes

If your LQ-2500 isn't working, check the following:

When you attach your printer to the computer is it a straight shot without a printer share device in between and with a cable not exceeding 6 feet in length?

If all the above is OK, then run Preferences, click Printer and make sure that your printer is set for the correct port. Return to Preferences, click Computer, and select BIOS for your LPT port.

Article#0212
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: Epson LX-810 notes

If you have problems with your LX-810, check your manual and set the sheet feeder to automatic, or installed.

Article#0213
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Epson LQ or FX

I have the Epson LQ800 24-pin printer. I tried installing the drivers for other Epson LQ's, but the print out was messed up. I forget who, but someone suggested using a driver for an Epson FX printer.

That works beautifully. I pretended I have an FX 850 (Epson mode). Not only does it print on Medium, it does so quickly and it looks good. Interestingly, when I print the Events Window in GeoPlanner, the size of the letter is pleasingly larger than it was using the driver that is named for my printer.

--Information provided by JJ50 (Jason Wolfe, a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0214
Updated 05/15/92
Printers: Screen Freeze Problem

QUESTION:

Why is that when printing a document with the parallel port set to DOS, my screen freezes when I run out of paper or I forget to have the printer on line?

I have to set the parallel port to DOS in order to print, otherwise GEOS tells me that the printer is off line when it isn't. The BIOS setting doesn't work, either.

ANSWER:

The reason for the freeze is the error routine in the print spooler that is handling the printer communications. The reason it was designed to freeze is because of what would happen if it didn't freeze. If the screen was allowed to be freed up on an error printout, then you may never see the error message until you start wondering why the printer didn't print out the document. This is a big problem if you're on a network and the printer is down the hall. Remember, there is no printer application running, just the multitasking spooler and driver, neither of which has a Man-Machine (screen) interface to use.

GeoWorks decided it was best to freeze the screen so the message will be the top priority to call your attention to it.

--Information provided by GWRep Don

Article#0215
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: PostScript, how to print to a file

1. Run the Preferences application and select the 'PRINTER' button. Now install a new printer (it doesn't matter which port you select). For this new printer, select the PostScript Compatible driver.

2. The system will warn you that you do not have a PostScript printer installed at the port you selected (it is smart software). You will then be given the option of completing the install without testing the printer. Select OK so the new PostScript Driver will be installed on your system.

3. Now create your document and get ready to print by selecting Print under the File menu.

4. Select the PostScript Printer you installed earlier. Select "Print To File".

5. You will be prompted for a file name to save the print file under.

When all is done, the file can be transferred to any print shop for "standard" PostScript printing. Almost every print shop in the country can print this file. You may want to ask the print shop to print a test page just to make sure it can handle the PostScript file from GeoWorks before attempting a large project.

--Information provided by GWRep Don

Article#0216
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: PostScript Problems with GEOS

Lines imported from Quattro Pro then reprinted using PostScript output lose identity. For example, two lines were imported. One was in a heavy dash while the other was heavy dotted. When imported to GEOS, then plotted, the patterns of the lines appeared the same. When plotted to a file then viewed, both lines were plotted using the same matrix assigned to setdash. For example, PostScript code that set up the red line in a heavy dash was:

2 LW [4] 0 LD 205 0 0 SGC

A green, heavy dotted line was set up as follows:

2 LW [4u 0 LD 85 255 34 SGC

Note that the one element array [4] is used to set the pattern of a line's dashes.
Perhaps the heavy dotted line should have a value less than the heavy dashed line. I edited the file and changed the [4] to [2] for all the occurrences of this heavy dotted line, then sent the plot to the printer. That works.

I needed to plot a figure in orange. I used the Quattro Pro preamble to create a reasonable facsimile of my company's logo in a PostScript file for import into GEOS. I altered the definition of one of the colors in the preamble to try to assign orange as the color ([1 0.52 0.18u). I realize that the object will not appear in this color on the screen in GeoDraw. However, I was hoping to see it plot out of GeoDraw in orange. The color assigned in the resulting PostScript file was [205 0 0].

Speaking of fooling around with PostScript, I found several operations normally available in PostScript that did not seem to be available in the GEOS Quattro Pro EPS Import Library (either that, or I screwed up in trying to use them). It appears that only the following are available:

Standard PostScript Operators:

def
dup
exch
moveto
restore
save
showpage
true
false

GEOS Defined Operators and Procedures:

CL - CLosepath, stroke/fill
OP - Set Object Pattern/Color (?)
MT - moveto
LT - lineto
CP - closepath
NP - newpath
SD - setdash
SG - setgray
TR - translate
LW - setlinewidth
DL - draw line
TW - (I don't know what this does)
TB - (I don't know what this does, either)
SC - Set Clip
SA - Add an arc from (start angle) of x degrees to the current path
DOARC - Add an arc from (start angle) to (finish angle) to the current path
FE - Form filled Ellipse
DB - Draw Box
DF - Define Font
FP - define Fill Pattern
CO - define COlor
ST - Start Text
SH - SHow text
DO - Draw Object

--Information provided by AClem (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0217
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Citizen GSX 140 & 145 notes

Check to see if you have a setting on your GSX-140 to disregard software changes to your printer's configuration.

This should be something like SW Lock (?) and is accessed through your printer macro.

If SW Lock is off, select on, save your macro and load it. This will keep GeoWorks from resetting your printer.

If you have installed the color option kit, using the software lock will also let you select any one of the seven printer colors using the quick select function on your printer.

One more note. Make sure that your printer is set to emulate Epson in your installed macro if you are using a GSX Epson mode driver--or set to IBM mode if using an IBM mode driver. This stuff works for the GSX-145, but is poorly explained by the Citizen book.

--Information provided by NDWood (a GeoWorks customer)

Article#0218
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: Printers that can use the Download Font Drivers

For those thinking about a laser printer, there is one more thing to consider. That is the ability to use GEOS fonts while printing TEXT ONLY documents. This greatly increases the speed for text only documents (no pictures, lines, or other graphics). Here are printers known to be supported by the HP LaserJet Download Font (1.5 MByte Memory) driver:

  Epson EPL-7000 (HP Mode, 1.5 MByte Memory)
  HP LaserJet IIP (1.5 MByte Memory)
  HP LaserJet III (1.5 MByte Memory)
  HP LaserJet IIID (1.5 MByte Memory)
  HP LaserJet IIIP (1.5 MByte Memory)
  IBM 4019 (HP Mode, 1.5 MByte Memory)
  Kyocera F-Series (1.5 MByte Memory)
  Okidata OL830 (HP Mode, 1.5 MByte Memory)
  Olivetti PG 306 (HP Mode, 1.5 MByte Memory)
  Olivetti PG 308 (HP Mode, 1.5 MByte Memory)
  Panasonic KX-P4420 (1.5 MByte Memory)
  Philips NMS 1481 (HP Mode, 1.5 MByte Memory)
  Toshiba PageLaser6 (HP Mode, 1.5 MByte Memory)

Here are printers known to be supported by the HP LaserJet Download Font (512 KByte Memory) driver:

  Epson EPL-7000 (HP Mode, 512 MByte Memory)
  Epson ActionLaser II
  HP IIP, III, IIID, or IIIP
  HP LaserJet IIP (512 MByte Memory)
  IBM 4019 (HP Mode)
  IBM 4019 (HP Mode, 512 MByte Memory)
  Kyocera F-Series (512 MByte Memory)
  Kyocera F-Series
  Okidata OL-840
  Okidata OL-820
  Okidata OL830
  Okidata OL-800
  Okidata OL-400
  Okidata OL830 (HP Mode, 512 MByte Memory)
  Olivetti PG 308 (HP Mode, 512 MByte Memory)
  Olivetti PG 306 (HP Mode, 512 MByte Memory)
  Olivetti PG 306 or PG 308
  Panasonic KX-4420
  Panasonic EPL-7000 (HP mode)
  Panasonic KX-P4420 (512 MByte Memory)
  Philips NMS 1481 (HP Mode)
  Philips NMS 1481 (HP Mode, 512 MByte Memory)
  Star LaserPrinter 8 II
  Star LaserPrinter 4
  Toshiba PageLaser6 (HP Mode)
  Toshiba PageLaser6 (HP Mode, 512 MByte Memory)

--Information provided by Dave Durran, GeoWorks Engineering, and GWRepDon

Article#0219
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: NEC P9XL

Use the Epson LQ-1500 driver.

--Information provided by GWRep Don

Article#0220
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: PostScript printers and America Online

PostScript printers do not print in a Text Based output. The Apple LaserWriter II NT, NTX, PLUS and PERSONAL series printers are PostScript printers, which means they will not print from the current AOL software. GeoWorks is working with AOL to isolate this problem and produce a fix, but until AOL can fix this problem, you can use these work arounds...

Typing CTRL+N in AOL will open a text editor window. Just copy what you wish to print to the text editor, save the file, and then print the file later using a software that will handle ASCII files and works with your PostScript printer. The easiest way to copy Email and messages is to click 5 times quickly to highlight the whole message then click and hold the right mouse button until the cursor represents an arrow. Now drag the arrow to the text editor window and release the right button. This will transfer the information to the text editor.

Pressing CTRL+S will save the current text window to an ASCII file that you can print later using a software that supports ASCII and works with your printer.

Log your session by clicking on Logging... in the File menu, then open a Session log. Provide a name for the file and then start reading (bringing up) your mail and messages. The log will automatically save all the items you look at. Later, you can use Notepad, GeoWrite (Insert from Text File) or any software that works with ASCII files to view or print the log. You can start the session log before signing on to save connect time.

--Information provided by GWRep Don

Article#0221
Updated 06/08/93
Printers: HP DeskJet driver specs

Here are the specs for GEOS driver for the DeskJet:

Hi Quality - 300dpiH x 300dpiV, 1 pass (1/8")
Med Quality - 150 dpiH x 150dpiV, 1 pass (1/8")
Lo Quality - 75dpiH x 75dpiV, 1 pass (1/8")
Text Only Mode - Courier
Margins (enforced by printer)
top  1/2"
bottom 1/2"
left  1/4"
right 1/4"
Tray feed only

--Information provided by DavidDGW (Dave Durran, GeoWorks Engineering)

Article#0222
Updated 06/25/92
Printers: Canon BubbleJet driver specs

Here are the specs for the GEOS BubbleJet driver:

BJ-300e (Mode 1):
Hi Quality - 360dpiH x 360dpiV, 1 pass (1/9")
Med Quality - 180dpiH x 180dpiV, 1 pass (1/9")
Lo Quality - 60dpiH x 72dpiV, 1 pass (1/9")
Text Only Mode - Courier
Margins (enforced by printer)
top 1/4"
bottom 1/4"
left 1/4"
right 1/4"
Tractor and Single Sheet feed

--Information provided by DavidDGW (Dave Durran, GeoWorks Engineering)

Article#0223
Updated: 06/23/92
Printers: Epson LQ-850 driver specs

Here are the specs for the Epson LQ-850 driver:

Hi Quality - 360dpiH x 360dpiV, 4 pass (1/8")
Med Quality - 180dpiH x 180dpiV, 1 pass (1/8")
Lo Quality - 60dpiH x 60dpiV, 1 pass (1/8")
Text Only Mode - Courier
Margins (enforced by printer)
top 1/4"
bottom 1/4"
left 1/4"
right 1/4"
Tractor and Single sheet feed

--Information provided by DavidDGW (Dave Durran, GeoWorks Engineering)

Article#0224
Updated 06/08/92
Printers: NEC P9XL

The P9XL is a mid width carriage version of the P6/P7 line. if you want all the high resolution features of the P9XL, use the P7 driver. This will let you select paper that is too wide for the printer, so just don't select these sizes from the print dialog box.

--Information provided by Dave Durran, GeoWorks Engineering

Article#0225
Updated 06/08/92

