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Conference 7.286::atarist

Title:Atari ST, TT, & Falcon
Notice:Please read note 1.0 and its replies before posting!
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Mon Apr 04 1988
Last Modified:Tue May 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1433
Total number of notes:10312

159.0. "A Tools Wish List" by FRACTL::HEERMANCE (In Stereo Where Available) Mon Jul 11 1988 15:19

    I was hacking last night on my ST and I began thinking about
    the need for better generic tools.  The following are a few
    I would like to see.
    
    On the 8-bit I had a resident debugger which I could use to
    examine memory or sectors on a disk.  It was real handy for
    examining a running system, patching an image in memory, or
    patching a disk.  Also it was a consistent debug environment
    which was always available.
    
    Another thing I could use is a simple consistent GEM based
    text editor which doesn't make any assumptions about the
    file extention (*.PAS or *.C).  I guess I not a fan of EMACS.
    
    Martin H.
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159.1Try SEDT and say "YES" to monochrome.PRNSYS::LOMICKAJJeff LomickaMon Jul 11 1988 20:5935
>    Another thing I could use is a simple consistent GEM based
>    text editor which doesn't make any assumptions about the
>    file extention (*.PAS or *.C).  I guess I not a fan of EMACS.

You might by happy with the GEM version of SEDT (See topic 9.  I keep
SEDT on PRNSYS.)  It's pretty fancy, and all of your VMS reflexes work.
Of course, I don't use it, so I can't say much about it.

If you haven't toyed with the latest Emacs, you might want to consider
trying again.  The 3.9n version isn't full GEM, but desk accessories
are accessible by moving the mouse into the upper-right corner.  I've
used it with Thunder with no problems.  (Well, almost no problems. 
Sometimes it crashes on the first invocation of a desk accessory.  Write
your files out before calling on an accessory.)

About your previous question.  I wholeheartedly recommmend getting a
monochrome monitor.  You listed as your two most frequently used
applications:

	- Terminal Emulation
	- Word processing

These applications work much better in Monochrome due to the higher
resolution, and therefore, the better looking text.  I think Uniterm can
give you a 50-line mode in monochrome.  "Whack", my multi-session
terminal emulator (see topic 3) works great in monochrome, but only
so-so in color, due to the limitations on font sizes in medium res mode.

I don't know much about 1st word, but Publishing Partner is almost
unusable in monochrome, because their screen fonts are not tuned for
use in such low resolution.  The default font turns into globs.  (Some
of the loadable fonts are better in this regard.)  Works great (well,
it's more readable anyway) in monochrome.

159.2How about multitasking?FRACTL::HEERMANCEIn Stereo Where AvailableTue Jul 12 1988 14:3514
    Re: .1
    
    Being a TPU user I have avoided SEDT.  However, if there is a
    GEM version out now I guess I'll give it a try.
    
    One reason I have avoided a monochrome monitor is the large
    amount of over scan the tube has.  I have heard that it can
    be adjusted to yeild a full screen image.
    
    
    Does anyone else have a wish list of items they would like to
    have or am I the only one who is dissatisfied?
    
    Martin H.
159.3PRNSYS::LOMICKAJJeff LomickaTue Jul 12 1988 15:1828
>    Being a TPU user I have avoided SEDT.  However, if there is a
>    GEM version out now I guess I'll give it a try.

Beyond the keypad, it doesn't resemble EDT that much.  It is reputed to
have some windowing capability, and I'm sure you can re-arrange the
keypad to feel like your TPU bindings.
    
>    One reason I have avoided a monochrome monitor is the large
>    amount of over scan the tube has.  I have heard that it can
>    be adjusted to yeild a full screen image.

There is no overscan in the Atari monochrome modes.  There is lots of
overscan in the color modes, as required by regular TV sets, but the
monochrome mode doesn't do any overscan at all.  Because of this, you
are forced to have black border around the image, instead of a solid
color (or white) border.

Of course, you are referring to the fact that the scanned area on the
monochrome tube is limited to an area of the center of the tube that is
much smaller than the face of the tube.  This is easily corrected by
adjusting the internal width and height controls, and more carefully
adjusting the focus.    
    
>    Does anyone else have a wish list of items they would like to
>    have or am I the only one who is dissatisfied?
    
Yes, I do have a list of software I'd like to have, and I'm writing it
fast as I can. :-)
159.4PNO::SANDERSBa belaganaTue Jul 12 1988 18:139
        You should read note 137, replies .7, .9, .10, .11, and .13 if
        you are considering a monochrome monitor.
        
        As for tools, yes, one of the tools I would like to have is an
        Indexed file system (B-Tree type of file system). Looks like I'm
        going to have to write it if I want it.
        
        Bob
159.5FRACTL::HEERMANCEIn Stereo Where AvailableTue Jul 12 1988 18:368
    Re: .4
    
    I keep mulling over the idea of writting a B-tree file structure
    for the ST.  I have no use for them though, I just like indexed
    files.  The main reason I haven't is that I just don't have the
    time.
    
    Martin H.
159.6Error in wording in .1PRNSYS::LOMICKAJJeff LomickaWed Jul 13 1988 15:299
>I don't know much about 1st word, but Publishing Partner is almost
>unusable in monochrome, because their screen fonts are not tuned for
>use in such low resolution.  The default font turns into globs.

It's been pointed out to me that I meant to say "unusable in color". 
P/P is quite usable in monochrome, but doesn't work well in color.

Sorry if I confused anybody with this error.

159.7Small editorDORIS::JAMESLeft Handed People are Super NaturalWed Jul 13 1988 16:588
    My wish list is to have a simple EDT type editor that requires less
    than say 32K so it runs in a RAM disk. SEDT is brilliant but requires
    too much memory and the EMACS supplied with the MJC PD compiler
    doesn't map to the UK keyboards. Also it would mean learning ANOTHER
    set of commands. By the way the RAM disk is on a 520 and is loaded
    with other things such as assemblers and compilers.
    Simple eh?
    ...Howard.
159.8EDT editorCIMBAD::POWERSI Dream Of Wires - G. NumanWed Jul 13 1988 17:1110
    > My wish list is to have a simple EDT type editor that requires less
    > than say 32K so it runs in a RAM disk.
    
       I use an editor that is edt based, I don't know how much memory
    it takes up, but I think it is in the 32K range.  It also works well
    under different operating environments (shells, and the like).  Will
    post it this evening, if I get the chance.
    
    Bill Powers
    
159.9who has that type of editor?BERN01::RUGGIEROMon Jul 18 1988 09:0320
    I also look for an editor: It does not have to have any fancy
    formatting or all the other functions of a wordprocessor neither
    does it have to be fully GEM supported. Just a simple  screeneditor
    with insert/overwrite and perhaps <cntrl>-key based as good ol'
    wordstar. The nicest if accessible as accessory.
    Such an editor would help in all that cases where you just want
    to try something out by making some little changes in a .INF file
    or add a remark to a notesbook without performing any lengthy 
    programstartups. 
    
    Anybody has one?
    
    ---markus---
    
    ps:   I use the public domain monitorprogram TEMPLEMON. I alows
    all the things you want--- and you'll never see any bombs on your
    screen: DEVISION BY ZERO ERROR, PC=... USP=... SSP=... LAST INSTR=...
     
                                    
    
159.10Is 400 enough ?PILOU::ANDERSENRelocating my way home ?Mon Jul 18 1988 14:3114
159.11My Kingdom for a shellSTAR::HEERMANCEIn Stereo Where AvailableWed Jul 20 1988 12:2610
    I need a new shell.  Up until now I have been using Gulam and I
    have been fairly impressed by it. The command recall and the IF
    command are really powerful.  I was never a fan of its built in
    EMACS though.  Recently I have started using microEMACS 3.9 and
    this editor doesn't work well with Gulam (or at least I can't
    get it to).
    
    Can anybody suggest another?
    
    Martin H.
159.12SKITZD::MESSENGERAn Index of MetalsWed Jul 20 1988 16:098
    Re:.-1
    
    > I need a new shell.  Up until now I have been using Gulam and I
    > Can anybody suggest another?
    
    Yes... I recommend either micro C shell or multitasking C shell
    from David Beckenmeyer. They aren't free, but they're really solid.
    				- HBM
159.13Is the multitasking worth it?STAR::HEERMANCEIn Stereo Where AvailableWed Jul 20 1988 17:419
    Re: .12
    
    I was thinking of the multitasking shell but I heard many programs
    crash if multitasking is attempted.  Is it worth the extra expense
    over the strait shell?
    
    Do they both support command line recall and an IF construct?
    
    Martin H.
159.14SKITZD::MESSENGERAn Index of MetalsThu Jul 21 1988 16:4917
    re: .-1
        
    > Is it [multitasking c-shell] worth the extra expense
    > over the strait shell?
    
    Not in my opinion. I use micro c-shell all the time, and I can easily
    live without it. 
    
    > Do they both support command line recall 
    
    Mine doesn't :-(.
    
    > and an IF construct?
    
    Yes... standard c-shell syntax is supported.
    					- HBM

159.15Print Queue ManagerMUNCSS::BURKESat Jul 30 1988 08:1522
    I've been in the situation where I'm printing lots of files, some
    NLQ, some Elite, etc. 
    My wish is therefore a 'Print Queue Manager' with the functions:
    	Maintain a queue of 'jobs',
    	optional F/Feed between jobs,
    	different printing characteristics for different jobs,
    	queue editing (delete, etc)
    	priority (allowing sort-by-size/prio/date/etc.)
    	good spooler (with ability to 'panic-stop')
    	test-print facility
    	Accessory !!!!
   
    I've already started coding it. I opted for Lattice -C although
    my Prospero F77 and Modula-2 compilers were considered (the F77
    is BRILLIANT).
    However, as is always the problem, finding the time is difficult.
    If I knew that there was no such Accessory with the above
    functionality, I suppose I would put on a spurt.
    Anybody any comments (eg. "here's what you're looking for..." !) ?
                                                                
    
    Jim Burke 
159.16I know of one que manager. . .AKOV11::KINGExtremists should be shot!Sat Jul 30 1988 10:116
    I just bought it today, so I cannot give you a review of it yet,
    but NeoDesk by Grifnib (sp?) software has a que manager (also allows
    batch files, 3 different icons for floppy, Hard, and Ram Disks,
    etc. And all for only 29.95! :-)
    
    Bob K.
159.17Time to review ?BRSDVP::GEBOERSGrin and ignore it.Thu Aug 11 1988 06:2510
>    I just bought it today, so I cannot give you a review of it yet,
>    but NeoDesk by Grifnib (sp?) software has a que manager (also allows
>    batch files, 3 different icons for floppy, Hard, and Ram Disks,
>    etc. And all for only 29.95! :-)
    
    Could you tell now something more about it ?
    Like : - Do you start it as an accessory ?
	   - No real ennoying bugs ?

    Cor