Subject: Info-Mac Digest V16 #284 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="Info-Mac-Digest" --Info-Mac-Digest Info-Mac Digest Thu, 08 Apr 99 Volume 16 : Issue 284 Today's Topics: [*] TidBITS#475/05-Apr-99 Palm Desktop Problems and Questions (A) coding attachments (A) disappearing printers (A) Don't laugh: a Mac LC & The Internet (A) Font and other questions (A) scripts, scripts, and more scripts! (A) startup memory check in 8.5 5200 and scanner questions [A] Don't laugh: a Mac LC & The Internet - do they bite or .. ? [Q] EasyView configuration for OneList digests? [Q] iMac-to-IWII? Appearance Manager? Apple Printer and a Windows PC Applescript - how do I check if Appletalk is on? Appleshare and TCP/IP collisions Appletalk cannot be opened? Performa 6205 7.6.1 w/o OT installed Backing up and synching a Sharp Wizard BestData Smart One Modems desktop DB problems Don't laugh: a Mac LC & The Internet - do they bite or .. ? Files mentioned two week sago theat have not yet appeared at Fwd: address book etc. Fwd: Palm Desktop Problems and Questions G3 Powerbook Screen Hack? IDE -> SCSI Adaptor Localtalk problems Maximum number of files in Open Dialog Power for a PowerBook Printing Problem Providing Security to Home Network question for digest Reset ADB port? Sound Problem on a G3 Troubleshooting wanted Why won't IE4.5 use StuffIt Expander instead of Deluxe? Word 6 and OS 8.5 Wordpercect scrolling problems WriteNow The Info-Mac Network is a volunteer organization that publishes the Info-Mac Digest and operates the Info-Mac Archive, a large network of FTP sites containing gigabytes of freely distributable Macintosh software. 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Or, click . * A full list of Info-Mac mirror sites is available at the URL below: * Search the archive at . Info-Mac volunteers include Gordon Watts, Adam C. Engst, Demitri Muna, Michael Bean, Liam Breck, Hugh Lewis, Tom Coradeschi, and Shawn Bunn. The Info-Mac Digest is sponsored in part by StarNine Technologies, developers of Internet server software for the Macintosh, including Web and email publishing systems. We'd also like to thank AOL for the main Info-Mac machine. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --Info-Mac-Digest Content-Type: multipart/digest; boundary="----------------------------" Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Info-Mac Digest V16 #284" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 22:30:00 -0700 From: TidBITS Editors Subject: [*] TidBITS#475/05-Apr-99 TidBITS#475/05-Apr-99 Wondering about Y2K and the Macintosh? You may have heard that the Mac OS is Y2K-compliant, but that doesn't mean there won't be problems related to Y2K in homegrown databases, spreadsheets, and custom applications that run on the Mac. Also this week, Jeff Carlson looks at Default Folder in the latest Tools We Use column. In the news, Bare Bones releases Mailsmith 1.1.3 and Keyspan ships a USB-to-serial adapter aimed at Palm organizer users. Topics: MailBITS/05-Apr-99 Tools We Use: Default Folder Parsing Like It's 1999 [Archived as /info-mac/per/tb/tidbits-475.etx; 29K] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 15:40:29 -0800 From: Daly Jessup Subject: Palm Desktop Problems and Questions Alan Stein was asking about Palm Desktop and B. J. Major gave some answers. I have a few comments to add: >>1.The installation placed the "Serial Port Monitor" in my Startup folder, >>which created a "serial port is in use" error when I tried using my modem. >>Right now, I easily solved that problem by removing it from my Startup >>folder, but I suspect that will be a problem when I get my new toy. > >Alan: the first thing you should do is create a new set in the >Extensions Manager called "Palm" which contains the Hot Synch Manager, >Instant Palm Desktop, and the Serial Port Arbitrator by themselves with >only the 8.5 base control panels or extensions (or whatever Mac OS you >use). Don't run Palm extensions with your other 3rd party stuff unless >you want trouble big time, including freezes and crashes, etc. I use all my many extensions and control panels with Palm hotsynch software available and have not had a crash or problem. I am synching a Palm III with a blue and white G3 running OS 8.5.1. It may be wise to make a special extensions set if your system is sensitive to Palm stuff, though. Anyway, it's not a rule that you HAVE to make a special set. > >>2. I'm getting a message that Palm Desktop quit unexpectedly everytime I >>quit the application. > >Same here, with 8.5.1. You just have to live with that, I'm afraid. I don't get that. So it may be worth looking into a little further and tracking down specific conflicts. > >>Questions: > >>2. Which models will synchronize with one of the newer Macs through a USB >>port? (Since I expect to replace my aging PowerMac with an IMac in the >>not-too-distant future.) > >I don't know of any plans by Palm to sync in the future via USB; for now >it's only serial port(s) or infrared beaming that's supported (through >IrDA, *not* IrTalk infrared ports on some PowerBooks). If you do indeed >buy an iMac, you can synch cordless-style through the iMac's IrDA >port--provided you've upgraded your Palm innards to Palm III specs and >have the infrared memory door that's included with the upgrade to either >the Palm personal or the Palm Pro. You will need to install the IrDA >extra files on your Palm included in the IrDA folder within the new 2.1 >Palm software (the iMac already has what files it needs for this). I need to comment here in particular. I bought a KeySpan USB-Serial adapter when I got the b&w G3. It works very well. It supports my digital camera, my modem, and my Palm cradle. HotSynching is fast and trouble free. I'm very pleased with the adapter. However, I looked into the possibility of doing hot synch to my daughter's first-generation iMac, and to make a very long story short, you definitely can not hot synch to the iMac using IrDA. One of the readmes with the Palm extras says you can, but when you go further into the folder where you found that read me, you will find another read me that makes it clear that it is really saying you can hot synch Palm-based handheld devices using IrDA, and when you go to their web page (and also call 3Com tech support) you find out they are talking about some handhelds for PCs based on Palm technology, that can be hot synched to IBM ThinkPads using recently-released software. You can beam files using IrDA and exchange files with other Palm users, but you can not Hot Synch a Palm Pilot using IrDA. :-( I think their documentation is positively misleading on this score. Anyway, let me repeat my plug for the KeySpan USB-Serial adapter. It really works, and you will be able to hot-synch your Palm Pilot very nicely to a serial-portless iMac using the adapter. Daly ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 99 22:42:37 -0500 From: "D. Scott Beach" Subject: (A) coding attachments Ezra Nathan writes: >I'd like some advice as to how to code attachments to Windows users. There >are some files in Word and Excel that I need to send to those who run >Windows 97 or later and I know that Binhexing the documents will cause >them >problems because they won't know what to do with it. Is there a coding >method that Windows users are familiar with and that their usual >unstuffing >software will be able to handle? Like UUencode perhaps? Has anyone >experience with the procedure that they can advise me about? Ezra: What mail client are you using? In Eudora you can opt to mac attachments encode as Apple Double. (I think that's MIME in some other Qualcom dialect.) In Netscape mail - and probably in Communicator - you can choose to make the attachments "printed quoteable" which is also MIME compliant. I think that's Base 64 encoding. I'm not sure what can be set in Outlook Express, and Cyberdog only binhexes. You can manually MIME encode and attach the resulting text using Mpack. UUencoding is native to UNIX but most mail servers will recognise it Remove the =D2spamless=D3 to eMail to me. Scott Beach Toronto, Canada ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 99 13:49:27 -0500 From: "D. Scott Beach" Subject: (A) disappearing printers Luskin@aol.com wrote: >I am using System 8.1 on a G3, with two laser printers, a laser writer II >and a personal laser NT, hooked up by local talk. >Then a small red >stop sign, with a hand on it appeared on the icon. And then I got such a hand >on the personal laser writer icon. >Both printers turn on, print the initial sheet of paper, and appear in the >chooser when they are on. When I select either printer, and close the >chooser, nothing happens, and when I go back into the chooser, the laser >writer icon is unselected again. > >Any idea what my problem might be? Thank you in advance. mbl: When you select the printer icon on the desktop, the Printing menu will become visible in the Finder's menu bar. You'll notice that the second item on the pull down is checked. That's "Stop Print Queue". Just select the first item - "Start Print Queue" - and you should be in business again. I realize you probably didn't ask the queue to stop so it wouldn't occur to you to look for something so obvious. I think that the print queue shuts itself off if the printer can't be found on the network. Maybe you sent a job before the printer had fully initialised. - Scott Remove the =D2spamless=D3 to eMail me. Scott Beach Toronto, Canada ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 99 22:04:59 -0500 From: "D. Scott Beach" Subject: (A) Don't laugh: a Mac LC & The Internet Rowdy Blokland wrote:> >.. or, can a Mac LC be used to surf the Internet without data > dripping in like frozen honey? > > See, it's not my fault - my girlfriend bought a Mac LC back in 1991 > - right now, one'd have to pull a gun to someone's head to ever > sell one -, and the darn thing simply refuses to break down, > or explode, or open a window at jump out of it by itself, so: > > QUESTION: A Mac LC with NE-7.5 system software and 4 MB ram; > can it really be used to, perhaps modestly, > surf the Internet? Rowdy: I used an LCII and a 14.4 modem to do all my net access for a couple years. It was beefed up with 10 whole Mb of RAM and RAM Doubled for 20Mb and that was passable. I've set up Classics with 4Mb of RAM for net access. If you use Eudora for mail and an old browser like MacWeb or Netscape 1.1N and stick to MacTCP vs. OT then you may be able to do all right. Don't look for Java and remember that there's a lot you can do with just eMail. - Scott Remove the "spamless" to eMail to me. Scott Beach Toronto, Canada ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 99 18:42:52 -0500 From: "D. Scott Beach" Subject: (A) Font and other questions Luskin@aol.com wrote: >I have had a font, MTExt, spelled correctly, upper case E, for a very long >time, and I have no idea what it looks like any more. Its icon looks like an >old Apple laser writer II from the side, and there are two small ones on it. > >When I double click it, I am told that it is a postscript font, and that I >must put it into the fonts folder in order to be able to use it. Even though >it is in the fonts folder, I cannot get it to display. Though it is sitting >in the fonts folder, it is not available as a font choice in applications. In >addition, it resists being dragged into any of the font suitcases. > >I tried to drag it into the fonts folder, in the resources folder, of the >adobe acrobat 4.0 reader folder, which worked. But acrobat does not seem >to >want to allow me to select any text of any acrobat documents that I have, >in >order to change the display font. >How can I use this font; how can I write or print in it; at minimum, how >can I see what it looks like? > >Next, why is there a collection of fonts in the acrobat resource folder? I >have the reader only, so I can't write anything. In addition, why are these >fonts not in the fonts folder in the system folder? Are they useable for >anything? I notice that many are identical to fonts in the system folder, >except for the fact that they are postscript. > >Why is it that the Apple laser writer II seems to get along with postscript, >while the personal laser writer NT does not. I have one of each hooked up to >my machine. > >On a slightly different subject, I wonder what the modifications to the desk >top laser printer icons tells me. The Personal LaserWriter NT icon has a >red >ball on it. And the LaserWriter II NT icon is heavily outlined. These icons >remain as they are, whether or not the printers are on, or chosen. > >And what is the Apple desktop printer utility, stored in the Apple extras >folder, do? > >What is the difference between "normal printing and use of the desk top >icons. >I always do my printing from inside the applications, and these icons are >new to 8.0 or perhaps 8.1. > >I am interested in setting up a list for a small group I am a member of on >one >of the free hosting sites. However, I am told by one of them that I must >have >Java. I have Java on my machine, it is standard on 8.1, but how do I make it >available in a way that would please both AOL and a host? I think that AOL >uses Internet Explorer, but it is somehow embedded in the AOL system. >Here at >last is perhaps a good reason NOT to be on AOL. > >Finally, I should have been thinking about this year or so ago, but in >general, do I want to be on 8.5 or 8.5.1 or am I just as well off here at 8.1? >A simple answer, reflecting the dumb generality of the question, will do. >Just like the kitchen in my favorite restaurant, there are things I prefer not >to learn too much about. My brand new power book is using 8.5.1, perhaps >8.5, and I prefer uniformity somewhat.. Michael: Some of your questions I hope I answered in my last message. You can't drag the MTExtra PostScript font to a suitcase because suitcases are only for bitmapped screen fonts and TrueType fonts. The PostScript fonts are ostensibly only for PostScript printers to use. In fact they're also used by Adobe Type Manager to draw on-screen fonts in sizes you don't have bitmapped screen display fonts for. All you need is the 10 and 12 point screen fonts and ATM can use the PS outline description to scale any size on your screen. If you're not getting the choice of MTExtra in your menus it's because the bitmapped screen fonts are not in your system. The fonts folder in the Acrobat Reader folder is probably just a place the the installer shuffles fonts that it de-installs from your system (but I'm guessing). They won't be accessible to your system. I think that the whole point of Adobe PDF files is that someone can create them in whatever font, layout and artwork they want and not have to worry about others changing the fonts etc. I don't think you're supposed to be able to. I don't know that the Personal LW NT is a PostScript printer. If it's not then that's reason it doesn't like PS fonts. It'll probably print TrueType pretty happily. You could get Desktop Printing as a separate install that would work on System 7.5. I've been using it for several years. The new destop spoolers can each run independantly and you can drag'n'drop files to any number of desktop printers in succession and have them all printing simulateously. You can set their memory allocation individually too. They run with much greater stability than the old Print Monitor which used to get corrupt if you so much as looked at it sideways. The newest version will let you print PostScript files, PDF, and text by dragging a dropping them without the need to open an application. Very cool. Apple desktop printer utility lets you create various desktop printer spoolers that do a variety of things. Open it up and try a couple; It won't break. OS 8.5 is pretty great. Sherlock alone is worth the upgrade. I think that 8.5 also has newer, faster verions of AppleScript, AppleShare and other stuff that's getting gradually rewritten in native PPC code. It's probably best to always update to the latest patch version. ie: 8.1 from 8.0 or 8.5.1 from 8.5. The readme files included with the patch always lists all the fixes but there's usually a big notice towards the beginning to tell you if there's some reason not to. Java eh? You can use Netscape Navigator/Communicator with its built-in version of Java or you can use MS Explorer which gives you the choice of using its version of Java or Macintosh Runtime Java. There's an option in the preferences to choose which one. MRJ 2.1.1 was just released in the last few weeks and it's supposed to be a lot faster than previous versions and probably the best choice for running Java on your Mac. Sorry to go on so long. I hope it helps. - Scott Remove the =D2spamless=D3 to eMail to me. Scott Beach Toronto, Canada ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 20:58:55 -0400 From: abrody@smart.net Subject: (A) scripts, scripts, and more scripts! Dear Digest readers, Anybody still looking to optimize their modem speed may be interested in the following web page that I have posted for my local internet provider: http://www.smart.net/~abrody/modem_support.html It contains scripts and modem updaters for many different modem models. I will be expanding this archive if anyone finds additional scripts. If anyone can verify that certain scripts do or don't work with specific models, I'd be happy to include any notes next to the script link. Many of these scripts may be found on the MacOS 8.5 CD-ROM, but others I have gathered from users of my provider, and the web sites of the modem manufacturers. Thank you. Sincerely, abrody@smart.net ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 99 20:19:39 -0500 From: "D. Scott Beach" Subject: (A) startup memory check in 8.5 >Does anyone know how to disable the startup memory check? The 8.5 >Memory >control panel has resources for turning it off, but what is the magic key >combination to get that option to appear? Dr. Gomez: I think I saw this just recently in MacWorld or the like: hold down cmd+opt while the memory control panel is opening. - Scott Remove the =D2spamless=D3 to eMail to me. Scott Beach Toronto, Canada ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 03 Apr 1999 09:54:02 -0800 From: Linda Subject: 5200 and scanner questions I just bought a scanner--Astra 1220S.....I just cannot figure it out. It came with Presto! Page Manager and Adobe PhotoDeluxe. The little book of instructions does not match what comes up on the screen with my Mac performa 5200CD......Should I look for a "Dummies" book in either of the above programs? I bought this scanner, who knows why? I wanted to scan recipes and scan documents to my son. It takes forever to scan anything...so it has actually sat unused for a month. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will be out of town for l week....so if you could please email at my addy below, I would be forever greatful!~ :-) Thanks....Linda -- Linda lsirbuly@eee.org **Spread kindness as you go along because life is a one-way street and you're not coming back. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999 12:06:47 +0000 From: Ian Goldby Subject: [A] Don't laugh: a Mac LC & The Internet - do they bite or .. ? Rowdy Blokland wrote: > >.. or, can a Mac LC be used to surf the Internet without data > dripping in like frozen honey? > ... > QUESTION: A Mac LC with NE-7.5 system software and 4 MB ram; > can it really be used to, perhaps modestly, > surf the Internet? I don't see any reason why not. In the WWW's early days, I used a Mac Plus and Mosaic. Of course, you won't be able to use the latest and greatest (?) software, so don't even think about using Netscape or Internet Explorer version 3 or greater. Your biggest limitation is memory. For ease, upgrade to 8MB or more - it's not expensive. But assuming you don't, here are two possibilities: iCab - So far only a demo version is available, but it is quite amazing. When the full version arrives, you will have to pay a modest shareware fee. It runs on 68k machines like the LC and runs fast. It has a suggested memory partition of 2500 kB, so should fit into your LC if you keep the System trimmed to the essentials. If necessary, turn on virtual memory - but only if you have to. Personally, I would recommend downgrading to System 7.1. I had this running in around 1.7 MB RAM before I was forced to upgrade to 7.5.3 by my scanner software. You should use MacTCP, and not Open Transport, mainly because it should use less memory. For iCab, visit www.iCab.com. This is from memory, so if it doesn't work, just do an internet search for iCab. iCab adheres to the latest web page language (HTML) standard. The 68k version does not do Java or Javascript yet though. Netscape 2.02 - This has a suggested memory partition of 4296 kB, but a minimum partition of 2560 kB. Expect trouble if you try to make do with the minimum partition. This aside, Netscape 2.02 is a good browser. It doesn't understand the latest additions to HTML, but responsible web designers make sure that their pages will display well enough with older browsers such as this. However, I can't see any reason to prefer Netscape 2.02 over iCab. You may struggle to find version 2.02. It is apparently not available from Netscape's own web site. I got it after a bit of internet searching. Hope this helps. Ian. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999 18:20:13 -0600 From: Jesse the K Subject: [Q] EasyView configuration for OneList digests? Checked DejaNews, couldn't find any EasyView (explained below) configuration advice. The mailing list generators continue to multiply. I'm on two lists now from "OneList," a company that offers free mailing list hosting. Each message is delineated by <80 underlines> <80 underlines> Can't figure out how to define the digest or mail options so EasyView breaks up my digest into several mails. EV gives a "too many chars" error when I try to paste in the above. (Not surprising.) In other cases where the message divider has been long, I've suceeded by snipping the first few chars -- that didn't work: returned a "too many sections" error. Specific advice sought, and/or pointers to details on configuring EasyView. EasyView is a really swell freeware filereader -- available at InfoMac /text/easy-view-262.hqx -- that offers heirarchical navigation in many digest file formats -- LISTSERV and Majordomo and Tidbits (setext) and InfoMac (default "digest"). Jesse the K - 43:04N 89:24W Madison WI USA - Madness takes its toll, please have exact change. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 14:50:41 -1000 From: Jerry Levinson Subject: [Q] iMac-to-IWII? My mother would like to connect her (forthcoming) iMac to her old ImageWriter II (She's 83 and would have difficulty changing ink jet printer cartridges, but the IW's ribbons are no problem). Has anyone done this, using, say, Asante's EtherTalk iMac adapter, or the uConnectUSB-to-Serial convertor from Momentum? An under-$50 would be first choice, then under-$100. More than that isn't worth it, I don't think. Thanks, Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Apr 1999 14:19:36 -0600 From: Gene Huebner Subject: Appearance Manager? I am in the process of upgrading some software, and the new software tells me I require Appearance Manager. I cannot find this extension? or whatever it is on my computer. I am using OS 7.6.1. What is Appearance Mangager and how do I acquire it? Gene Huebner ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 16:17:53 -0500 From: "Kevin o'Cahan" Subject: Apple Printer and a Windows PC Is there any way to cheaply and easily use an Apple Personal Laserwriter to print docs from a PC? I would like to set up some simple printing network so I can print from both my Mac and my PC. Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Apr 1999 20:21:32 -0700 From: "Squires Family PowerMac" Subject: Applescript - how do I check if Appletalk is on? Hi, I want to be able to check from within an Applescript if Appletalk is active(this is all to do with swapping between an AT and non AT printer). I've tried all the usual things with 'appletalk active' of appletalk configurations' (set etc) and keep getting errors from the Network Setup Scripting app Can anyone help with the necessary incantation? Please e-mail me and I'll post the most elegant solution to the list Thank you Rick ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Apr 1999 08:18:26 PDT From: "Sebastian-Anton Ponovescu" Subject: Appleshare and TCP/IP collisions I tried to link the next LAN to InterNET and it does not work!!! --------> InterNET Server | -------- ---> | Switch | | -------- ----- ^ ^ ^ | Hub | | | | ----- G3 X24 HP ^ ^ | | C1 C2 The two computers C1 and C2 see each other through apple talk, but they don't see the other devices connected even thow G3, X24 and HP see the InterNET. Non of the computers / printers see (are seen) by the computers /printers below the HUB! The link between the HUB and the Switch is OK (green led indicators on both). Whenever the either C1 or C2 tries to access G3 or InterNET the HUB flashes collision led and the Switch rejects the frames. Do you have any sugestion on what could I do about it? Regards, Sebastian Ponovescu P.S. The only way I managed to make C1 see both G3 and InterNET was to disconnect it from the HUB and directly connect it to the Switch, in wich case it doesn't sees any more its friend C2. Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999 11:40:01 -0500 From: gstefun@juno.com Subject: Appletalk cannot be opened? Performa 6205 7.6.1 w/o OT installed I have chosen to stick with "classic networking" after unsucessfully trying to use OT 1.1.2 and 7.6.1 to get reliably connected to my internet provider. Now I want to use the printer port for a Laserwriter printer and cannot turn Appletalk back on. The warning pops up to use Appletalk with the Laserwriter 8 driver then I get message Appletalk cannot be opened?? Can anyone enlighten me on this feature?? I have sucessfully used 7.5.5 to turn on Appletalk and print to the Laserwriter on the same machine. (Thanks Apple for System Picker!!) George S gstefun@juno.com ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 06:59:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Shogi Net Subject: Backing up and synching a Sharp Wizard I have been given a Sharp Wizard OZ-570PC personal organizer as a present. It came with a docking station. I would like to use my G3 as a backup device and, if possible, share data between equivalent applications on the Wizard and Mac (e.g., calendar, to do list, checkbook). Does anybody know how I should go about achieving this? Are SoftPC or Virtual PC options, i.e., do Wizard drivers exist that work with these PC emulators? Thanks a million, Shogi Net _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Apr 1999 18:17:16 -0400 From: gene nail Subject: BestData Smart One Modems i hope someone can help. about 18 months ago i got a Best Data Smart One Mac 56k modem, and generally have had no problems with it. my isp recently upgraded from 56k Flex to v.90 and i went to BD's site for flash rom upgrades, and downloaded them. when i opened the document i downloaded, it opened my IE 4.0 browser showing thousands of lines of data (which i assume must, someway be downloaded to the modem). I emailed Best Data, asking how i send the data to the modem (for its PC users, BD provides a utility that you also download). when BD finally answered my email, they said i'd have to call because the problem was too complicated to be handled by email. I called, and found out why they wanted to help on the phone. First you give them your credit card number, then you get put on hold and wait hours for help. I can't see paying someone even a penny for help when they should be able to help me through email. I emailed them back, giving them a piece of my mind about their greedy trap for tech support, but no one would bother to answer. but i understand why. can anyone help. i have the data from their site, and downloaded it three times to make sure i got it all and got it right. has anyone out there upgraded their BestData modem to v.90 that could help. i'd really appreciate it. gene nail gnail@tds.net ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 13:03:53 -0400 From: Vincent Cayenne Subject: desktop DB problems I give up - I can't solve this one alone. If I add ANYTHING to my HD, I have to recreate the desktop. Not just rebuild, but trash the existing desktop DB & DF then recreate. Typical scenario - I download a file, any file, from my own server onto my laptop. I try to open an application, say SimpleText. The machine freezes. At this point the desktop database is corrupt and I can only restore reliable operation by doing the following: Boot from Norton CD Trash the desktop DB & DF files (I use TrashDesktop to do this) Rebuild the disk directory (I use Disk Warrior 1.03) Allow the desktop to be rebuilt when DW unmounts then remounts the HD Empty the trash to get rid of the old DB & DF files (5.6Mb total) Restart from internal HD Environ: PWB1400c, 48Mb real RAM, Ram Doubler 8.01 to 113.2Mb, OS8.1 HD: 2Gb, HFS+, 20,000+ files, 2200+ folders --------- "Crumpled bits of paper filled with imperfect thoughts" (Rutherford/Robertson) Vincent Cayenne ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 11:19:59 -0400 From: Chuck Reti Subject: Don't laugh: a Mac LC & The Internet - do they bite or .. ? In Info-Mac Digest V16 #279, Rowdy Blokland writes: >.., can a Mac LC be used to surf the Internet without data > dripping in like frozen honey? > > See, it's not my fault - my girlfriend bought a Mac LC back in 1991 > - right now, one'd have to pull a gun to someone's head to ever > sell one -, and the darn thing simply refuses to break down, > or explode, or open a window at jump out of it by itself, so: > > QUESTION: A Mac LC with NE-7.5 system software and 4 MB ram; > can it really be used to, perhaps modestly, > surf the Internet? > > Any hints, comments and pointers are more than welcome, > here or in my mailbox, > thanks in advance! > Rowdy Blokland, > science journalist, > The Netherlands. > I have an original (Jan 91) LC, (40MB HD, 4MB RAM, OS 7.1) in my basement office that I use for general text editing, Ham radio teletype & packet, and backup internet access with old Zoom 14.4 modem. "Modestly surf" is the key word. I am using MacTCP 2.0.6, FreePPP 1.0.4 to connect, Nifty Telnet to get mail from FreeNet account; MacWeb, MacLynx for low end web text. Don't have an POP email client on it so not sure what would work (eMailer or Eudora Lite perhaps). Not real speedy by any means, but if you stick to mostly text-based content, it's adequate. Not enough CPU/RAM/HD or speed to do any serious web browsing whatever. --- Chuck Reti Detroit,MI | Member- MacGroup Detroit aa010@detroit.freenet.org | http://www.macgroup.org ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 16:45:18 EDT From: Luskin@aol.com Subject: Files mentioned two week sago theat have not yet appeared at Could I be doing something wrong? The following files were announced in info-mac two weeks ago, and yet I cannot find them. Is it possible that I have done something wrong, or that they have been withdrawn, or there is a spelling typo... info-mac/art/zine/maczine-international-1.hqx info-mac/gst/grf/3d-maker.hqx info-mac/gst/grf/graphic-converter-361-de.hqx info-mac/gst/grf/simple-image-203.hqx And this one was just announced: info-mac/game/genetish.hqx I am suspicious of the second one, beginning as it does with a number... Michael B. Luskin ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 15:56:55 -0800 From: Daly Jessup Subject: Fwd: address book etc. Sam asked: > Can anyone tell me which if any Mac version of Netscape has 128 bit >encryption? It does not have a special version. You just ask for 128-bit encryption when you download the product, and get taken to a form you fill out before starting the download. If you go to http://home.netscape.com/download/index.html?cp=hom04wbro you will see around the middle of the page the various downloads to choose from. Some are listed under 40-bit encryption and others under 128-bit encryption, for the same versions of Netscape (Novigator 4.0.8 and Communicator 4.5.1). > Also, in trying Navigator 4.0 (not preferred over Communicator) I >mucked up the works and lost my address book while Norton'sFile Saver >was turned off. Is there anyway to retrieve my lost and,drat! unbacked >up address book? This I don't know. How did you lose it? Did 4.0 overwrite it? Daly ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 15:59:16 -0800 From: Daly Jessup Subject: Fwd: Palm Desktop Problems and Questions This question came up: >1. Which models will synchronize with a PowerMac through its printer or >modem ports? > I've used a Palm III and a Palm V through the modem port. Note that >if you have both a modem and the Palm cradle going into the modem port you >either need an A-B switch or must shut down and switch serial port cables >(then enable/disble the HotSync software) All Palm Pilots synchronize through the serial ports, if you have them. >2. Which models will synchronize with one of the newer Macs through a USB >port? (Since I expect to replace my aging PowerMac with an IMac in the >not-too-distant future.) If you don't have serial ports (iMac or b&w G3) I can wholeheartedly recommend the KeySpan USB-serial port adapter. It works great with Palm Pilot on my B&W G3. Daly ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 16:02:31 -0700 (MST) From: svspire@telespin.com (Shannon Spires) Subject: G3 Powerbook Screen Hack? The original G3 series powerbook cannot display any resolution but 1024 x 768 on its built-in screen. I have a video projector which attaches to the Powerbook but which can only display (readably) at lower resolutions. When I set the Powerbook to these lower resolutions with the projector attached, its LCD screen goes black. Mirroring is thus impossible, and when giving a talk, it's necessary to face the projection screen, not the audience. Isn't it possible to write a fix for this in software, such that the Powerbook screen would just have a black border around the outside, with a reduced-size window in the middle representing the lower res? Scaling the pixels isn't necessary. Has anybody done such a thing? TIA Shannon Spires svspire@nmia.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 10:05:21 +0800 From: Al Byrne Subject: IDE -> SCSI Adaptor Folks, I've just spotted an advertisement in a magazine for an 'IDE - SCSI Adaptor', that will, apparently, "allow you to change IDE devices (with ATA 40 pin connector) into SCSI2/SCSI3 (50 pin connector) devices. Gain access to cheap IDE CD-ROM burners, CD drives, LS-120 and Hard Disk drives" Anyone out there used one of these things? Any comments, good or bad, welcome. -- Al Byrne - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 18:26:45 -0500 From: "Will Porter" Subject: Localtalk problems The small Localtalk network in our office has some odd problems. There are five Macs on the daisy chain, along with a LaserWriter. Mac #5 has file sharing turned on, and its Documents folder is shared for guest access. This Mac -- I'll call it the server -- is the last Mac at one end of the chain. Nobody has any trouble printing, ever. Macs 3 and 4 can access the shared Documents folder on the server just fine, at least for the purpose of opening folders and copying files from the server to the client machine. However, attempts to OPEN documents that remain on the server (using a copy of the application that is on the client machine) are very risky. About half of the time, these attempts freeze the client machine. Mac 2 can mount the shared Documents folder from the server, but every single time we try to copy a document from that shared folder to Mac 2's desktop, Mac 2 freezes at the start of the copying process. All the Macs are running Mac OS 8.5.1. Can anyone suggest how I might go about trouble-shooting this problem? Thanks in advance. Will Porter Houston Texas ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 21:00:21 -0600 From: "dave.trautman" Subject: Maximum number of files in Open Dialog I've not come across this myself, but since beginning work in a Win98 office environment where there are many thousand files kept on a server I've noticed there is no problem in the dialogue for Save or Open to include the entire list of files. One of the Mac's in this not-very-mixed environment is a "fisher-price" Blue G3 fold-out type and the graphic artist using it has become frustrated by an "error" message (the contents of which I have not read myself) which seems to suggest it cannot list all the files on the server and would he like to see the first ...n...? This is not the Find dialogue where the list maxes out, it is within an application (say Photoshop) where he just wants to open from a huge list of available source files to adapt a graphic. When I was told about this problem I wondered if it was real. I've been asked to inquire amongst the venerable Mac community here (well, the truth is I offered to) about a solution, utility, hack, adjustment, addition or removal of an extension or whatever it might take to be able to view a list of about 4,000 files from within the Open/Save dialogue. The person who brought this to me is (as I am) a Mac fanatic working in Windows (because we have to; but we don't have to like it) and he'd like to be able (as I would) to give the G3 equal footing on this front. Is it a network thingy. Is it a Finder limitation? The machine in question is connected well through normal 10baseT Ethernet to an MSnetwork LAN. It's running OS 8.5 and has about 96MB of RAM. It is properly TCP/IP configured by the other fanatic who knows and who is in charge of all the machines in the facility. Is it something we have to tell the Win Server? As you can see I'm just guessing here. There were suggestions that Macs still have some sort of file limitation when it comes to the thousands. Am I hearing this right? Any help offered will be graciously accepted. I offer a choice of two addresses to reply to. My personal is: < dave.trautman@home.com > and at work (where it counts most to clear this up) is: < davet@meccamediagroup.com > Thanks in advance. If it turns out to be something easy to fix or easy to understand I'll report back to the list (unless replies to the list provide the answer). Info-Mac has yet to let me down. I know the "truth is out there". Dave Trautman EncycloMEDIA Ltd. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada "Never make forecasts, especially about the future." =8B Samuel Goldwyn (1882-1974) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 20:40:45 -0800 From: Doug Hardie Subject: Power for a PowerBook > I am contemplating the purchase of one of the new PowerBooks to use while travelling in a motorhome. I'd like to be able to use it while underway without having to fire up my 110v generator or use a convertor to get 110v AC just for the computer. On the other hand, I have a RadioShack power converter that can take the 12v DC and produce a variety of different DC voltages. I currently use it to supply power for my portable CD player. It has a number of different tips for plugging into a external power feed of devices using externally supplied DC power, either with a positive or a negative tip. Could something like that be used for the PowerBook? If so, what is the current demand? There are several manufacturers who make auto adaptors that power your powerbook from a cigarette lighter jack. However, do keep in mind that the road conditions may be a larger concern. Disks can only take so much shock. The roads around where I live would not be conducive to longevity of your disk. You can easily use the car to charge the battery while driving and stop to use the powerbook. Thats how I handle the situation. -- Doug ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999 14:49:37 -0600 From: "Richard A. Wilson" Subject: Printing Problem I am having problems printing the Retrospect Express Users Guide, a PDF document. The hardware: Power Mac 7500/100 Mac OS 8.1, LaserWriter 8.5.1 Printer, LaserWriter v42.2 (the original), Postscript Level 1, v47.0, rev2 I get the message "Could not be printed on printer "LaserWriter" because of a PostScript error". The printer spits out the following message: ERROR: VMerror OFFENDING COMMAND: } STACK: (fonts/Jun101-Light-83pv-RKSJ-H) -dictionary- / pdfFaceByStyleDict false Any help would be appreciated ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 17:07:50 -0500 From: "Jason Torrey" Subject: Providing Security to Home Network I am contemplating signing up for the ADSL service when it is offered here in Kansas City in a few months. However, I have concerns about the security of my home Ethernet network after I connect an ADSL modem to it. Southwestern Bell's web page doesn't really address security concerns other than telling Windows users to turn off file and print sharing. This really isn't a good usable solution to all of the problems (hacking) that could occur. Therefore, does anyone have any experience adding hardware (a router, for instance) or software to a network for providing security (like a firewall)? Do you have any recommendations? Thanks, Jason ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999 14:53:23 -0600 From: Ted Logan Subject: question for digest > I am currently using Norton Disk Doctor 4.0.3 on my beige G3 which is > running System 8.5.1. Each time I use it, it reports that "A minor error > was found in the Master Directory Block: The attributes are incorrect" and > it reports the code (5,1,2). If I let NDD 'fix' the problem, it is present > again the next time I run the program, even if all I do is quit NDD and > then start it up again. I suspect that NDD is wrong about this. Am I right? Spend a couple of bucks and call Symantec Technical Support at 541-465-8440. They've invaribaly been quick and helpful for me. Otherwise, use technical support email at www.symantec.com, also reasonably prompt in replying. Ted Logan Logan Writing, Inc. (Cleveland, Oklahoma) Consultant to The Parthenon Publishing Group (New York and London) Email: tedlogan@busprod.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 19:39:39 -0600 From: Jeff Sass Subject: Reset ADB port? I am looking for a utility to reset the ADB port on a Mac. I used to have one a couple years ago but I cannot find it anymore. Any type of ADB diagnostic software would be great. TIA, Jeff Sass ______________________________________________________________ Jeff Sass mailto:jsass@adobe.com Adobe Systems Voice: x34734 or (651) 766-4734 Pager : (888) 550-0487 or via email mailto:pagejsass@adobe.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 16:15:19 -0700 From: Richard Friedman Subject: Sound Problem on a G3 Here's an interesting little puzzle for all of you out there: We have a G3 Tower which after about 3 months of use stopped playing sounds. Nothing comes out of the speaker or headphone jack. I enter the picture about 6 months into it's silence and tried a number of things like reinstalling the system, trying a locked Zip disk with a system - nothing. About 2 weeks ago we started hearing static periodically. Then last week I heard the startup tone when I did a restart and for a few minutes I was able to listen to a CD, and get the alert tones to be heard, then nothing. Yesterday I noticed I could restore the sounds, for a few moments if I either did a restart or toggled between CD & RCA in the Sound Monitoring source pull down. As before, after a few minutes the Mac goes mute. I've reseated the connector to the speaker and that seems to be okay. Anyone got any ideas??? Richard Friedman rfriedma@fhcrc.org ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999 13:59:17 -0400 From: rob Subject: Troubleshooting wanted quoting Info-Mac and possibly previous message abstract: >Q1. Once a day it happens that my computer gets stuck -- > it stops, lika in an electronic glue -- when I have > been clicking "Open PPP Connect". > Then I must click in order to > get a break off. But then the computer freezes completely =3D> > the typical Powermac Syndrome with system 7.5.3 -- but I > have OS 8.0. You can update tyo system 7.5.5 and System 8.1 from the current versions you are using and get more reliable systems. Also Try making an alias to your PPP control Panel and click and use it instead of the script open PPP close PPP. This will tell you if you have a problem with PPP or with Applescript. Applwscript changed where it looks for script additions with System 8. It now has scri0pting additions in the System folder instead of the extensions folder. This message was sent with the latest in Apple email clients - Claris eM@iler2.0v3 'The Best Just Keeps Being Better than the rest' ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 07:43:47 -0700 From: Denny Davis Subject: Why won't IE4.5 use StuffIt Expander instead of Deluxe? At 3:03 PM -0500 3/8/99, Vincent Cayenne wittily wrote: The problem is that there is a known bug in IE 4.0 to 4.5. Internet Explorer looks at the Creator for .sit files and is finding StuffIt Deluxe, it is supposed to use what is set for post process...but of course it doesn't....that is where the bug comes in. The only solution I know of is to change your file mapping in InternetConfig to use StuffIt Expander as the creator for .sit files. Suggestion: I don't know why you are having trouble changing the type and creator, but you might hack the bundle resource of Expander with ResEdit and add the file type info for .sit files....get icons and resources from StuffIt Deluxe. Change the change your file mapping in InternetConfig to use StuffIt Expander as the creator for .sit files. Then rebuild your desktop from scratch by using TechTool or other utility to trash your desktop file(s) and have a brand new desktop file after you restart. > OK - I give up. Every time I download a .sit file from within MS > Internet Explorer 4.5, the archive is opened in StuffIt Deluxe as > opposed to being expanded by StuffIt Expander. > > If I change settings to try to set the file type/application to > StuffIt Expander, then it works as I intend only for the session but > reverts to the "Deluxe" settings when next opened. > > I've tried deleting Internet Preferences, Internet Config extension, > Mac Easy Open preferences, PC Exchange prefs. I've tried setting the > helpers from Internet Config, Internet Explorer, Configuration > Manager and those in PC Exchange. > > The only anomaly I can discern is that there only seems to be a TEXT > type for StuffIt Expander. So, assuming that StuffIt Deluxe _HAS_ to > own the file, why can't it permanently relinquish the HANDLING of the > file to Expander? > > ----- Background ----- > PWB1400c, 8.1, OT1.3 > > The settings in IE4.5's preferences/file helpers are as follows: > Name: StuffIt 5.0 Archive > extension: .sit > MIME: application/x-stuffit > file type/ > application: StuffIt Deluxe > type: SIT5 > creator: SIT! > encoding: Binary data > use for: Incoming, Outgoing > download destination: Download Folder > Handling/ > Post process with application > Application: StuffIt Expander > > StuffIt 1.5 archives are type "SIT!" and pre-5.0 StuffIt archives are > type "SITD". > > My versions are: > MSIE 4.5 > Internet Config v2.02 > StuffIt Deluxe 5.02 > StuffIt Expander 5.1 > Aladdin DropStuff 5.1 > > Aladdin StuffIt SpaceSaver is disabled. > --------- > "Crumpled bits of paper filled with imperfect thoughts" > (Rutherford/Robertson) > > Vincent Cayenne > Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. ICQ#5066430 Blessings, Denny ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Apr 1999 10:06:39 -0500 From: tkraft@bgea.org (Theresa Kraft) Subject: Word 6 and OS 8.5 I have learned from Microsoft that OS 8.5 "breaks" macros in Word 6 for the Mac. The only options are to downgrade the system or upgrade Word to 98. I have one lonely macro that I use once per month on about 40 files. It saves me several hours. Now I have to run it on a Centris 610 that still uses OS 8, and is so much slower than my G3! Caveat emptor! tk -- Theresa Kraft Desktop Copy Assistant DECISION Magazine 1300 Harmon Place Minneapolis MN 55403 612-338-0500 ext. 2242 tkraft@bgea.org Personal mail: takraft@bigfoot.com <+((((((((< ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 14:26:29 EDT From: Luskin@aol.com Subject: Wordpercect scrolling problems In all applications, especially older versions of Wordperfect, the relationship between the position of the black thing (technically speaking!) in the scroll bar channel on the right side of the window, and the position within the file of what is actually on the screen, is linear. In addition, as one moved the black thing up or down, the text within the window moved along with it. This is NOT the case when I use Wordperfect 3.5ep. I think I have noticed that there is more or less a square relationship between the relative position of the black thing within the channel and the position within the file of what is actually on the screen. For instance, to be about one quarter into the text, one should be about one half down the scroll bar. Sort of. In addition, when using Wordperfect, the text does NOT move as the black thing moves, Wordperfect waits until I have stopped moving the black thing, and have released the mouse button, before displaying text more or less in relation to where the black thing black thing is, as per the square rule above.. Finally, the scroll speed in Wordperfect 3.5ep is incredibly high, and this makes it very difficult to work with any file. The SLIGHTEST tap on the mouse moves the position within the file by large amounts. Often too much to see a next screenful of information Even more, when I try control panels, such as smartscroll and scrolling, they work perfectly with ALL other applications, BUT NOT with Wordperfect. It seems as though all applications scroll very quickly on a G3, due to inherent processor speed, but I can cut the scroll speed to be quite slow in word, nisus, AOL, etc.. But the scroll speed of Wordperfect is unaffected. In addition, even with these control panels, the second problem, text not moving as the black thing moves, is unaffected. Are these scrolling problems inherent to Wordperfect 3.5ep, or have I missed something. I am curious how others can tolerate this. This happens whether I am using my G3 powerbook, my desktop G3, or my Mac IIvx. These problems were the main reason I bought nisus. By the way, nisus is wonderful, as intuitive and easy to use as Wordperfect was five years ago. I have made the discovery, sad to say, that Wordperfect is in my fingers, and try as I might, I often do something the Wordperfect way, and have to catch myself. If not for this, I would not bother to ask this question, as I am sick of the crashes, and the Corel soap opera. I would have removed Wordperfect from the hard drive long ago. Michael B. Luskin ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 19:52:33 -0800 From: Doug Hardie Subject: WriteNow During the last few days WriteNow has started crashing on startup with a Type 1 error. At first it was only on certain files. Now its on all of them and the application itself. If I restart without extensions it locks up the whole machine. It never did this on OS 8.1 but I recently upgraded to 8.5.1 and about a week later it started. Any ideas? Have I finally reached the end of the road for WriteNow? I certainly hope not as its still better than the others out there. -- Doug -------------------------------- --Info-Mac-Digest-- End of Info-Mac Digest ******************************