The magazine for members of
RISC OS 4 arrives right on time
Full details of:
A beginner’s guide to TeX
An introduction to data analysis
Digital time travel to visit the Real Romans
Issue 31 — Autumn 1999 The New Age Opens
The Acorn era has finally ended. some of the new, rival, computers Acorn Computers Ltd ceased to exist which have been announced. Among in April and RISC OS 4 arrived on the them is the RiscStation, due at any scene at the start of July. Eleven lucky time now from CTA. early visitors to the SouthEast Show jumped the queue for pre-ordered It will also be an option for the Mico, copies and snapped up the first sets of which Microdigital have been chips to go on sale. demonstrating and which they plan to have available in quantity production For the rest of us there was a long, by September. agonising, wait to the end of the month for the first of the main batches Imago, a computer motherboard to be sent out. We hope to have a full mechanically compatible with the report on them in our next issue. Risc PC motherboard, is also due to come onto the market soon. This is to The release of RISC OS 4 has now be the first of a planned series being opened the door to a new generation developed by Millipede who are of Acorn-type RISC OS computers. looking to the future by not using any Castle Technology are still keeping of the Acorn proprietary chip designs, the Acorn name and familiar logo such as VIDC and IOMD. alive with new and enhanced versions of the Risc PC. Other models are Eventually, too, newer operating planned but Castle say they are not systems will be required but for the going to repeat Acorn’s mistake and present RISC OS 4 is making it will not make any announcements possible for Acorn type computers to about them until they are ready for sale. move on. We in the Club wish it every success. The tower design, as planned for Phoebe, is coming as an option in Peter Jennings
All opinions expressed in Eureka are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Club or its Committee members and officers. CONTENTS
4 RISC OS 4 released on time 32 Site Seeing The new operating system and London’s Metropolitan Police what it offers. reveal their all — including how to complain about them — on 6 The RISC OS ’99 Show their WWW site. The latest information on the Club’s big Show at Epsom which 36 Sony Mavica Digital Camera replaces Acorn World. A globe trotting test of a camera which uses floppies instead of 13 A beginner’s guide to TeX film. The start of a new series introducing TeX and LaTeX and 40 Feedback: Digital photography explaining their value for writing Unfreezing the screen and mathematical, scientific and ezFlyer and where to find a ‘cute technical documents. On ftp site. image viewer’ for JPEGs.
18 Keep in touch round the world 42 In a Whirl Leave your cocoa tins at home The ARM Club puzzle this issue and take a laptop if you want to comes with a challenge to set a email from down under. new speed record in solving it.
22 TextEase Multimedia CD-ROM 44 Kosovo CD Version 4 goes triple platform on The bargain price CD that gives CD-ROM, with new features and you some interesting software a clip art collection. and helps the victims of Kosovo.
26 1st Statistical Analysis 48 Real Romans An introduction to data analysis Digital time travel, with book and and why you might find the CD-ROM, takes you on an software more useful than a entertaining trip to life in Roman spreadsheet. Britain.
2 Eureka 31 — Autumn 1999 54 All in a day for RISC OS ’99 70 Farewell Eureka disc Just one day's free time work, Why the disc has now been planning and organising the big discontinued and where to get the event at Epsom. Eureka programs.
56 Free for all 71 Members’ Ads A selection of recommended PD Offers for a spare computer and and shareware programs to computer equipment from two download when you're Web members (who are not leaving browsing. the Acorn scene).
60 Hints & Tips for Psions 3 & 5 72 Primary curriculum clip art Short cuts you may have missed Pictures with notes for use in to make those useful Pocket schools or by anyone else who Books quicker and easier to use. wants a useful collection of graphics. 62 Club products Good value and continuing low 76 How can I…? membership fees are offered with Questions on losing sound and the Club's software and souvenir adding a CD writer, answered by mug. our Technical Help team.
65 Acorn Midlands Show 78 Around the clubs The ARM Club event for Central Dates of local club meetings. and North England in November. 79 In a Whirl — The solution. 66 Gill’s Journal: Moving house Acorn users in Ireland The adventures of Gill, Toby and A proposed users group. a vanload of computer equipment, including a fried modem. 80 Club contacts Who and where.
Eureka 31 — Autumn 1999 3 RISC OS 4 Released On Time
The eagerly awaited RISC OS 4 Paul Middleton, Managing Director operating system, essential for the of RISCOS Ltd, said: future of Acorn type computers was “I am very proud of the efforts of the released, as planned at the small programming team at RISCOS beginning of July. RISC OS Ltd has who, in less than four months, have now released the full details with the been able to produce an operating following statement: system that will take Risc OS computer users into year 2000 and On Thursday 1 July 1999, beyond.” RISCOS Ltd successfully Key features Paul added: launched, on time, “I am grateful for a new operating • Great increase in speed. the support of system: RISC OS • Fully Millennium compliant. investors in 4. • Support for hard discs up to 256GB RISCOS Ltd and • Long filenames facilitating cross- am looking This will be platform operations. forward to incorporated in • Boot system implementing drag working with the newly designed and drop. new Board of computers and as • Advanced Configure tool. Directors that has an upgrade for • Sophisticated Pinboard tool. been formed to Acorn A7000, • Security features. take the company A7000+ and Risc • Compatibility with earlier RISC OS forward through PC computers. and Acorn software. the next stages in • Bundled commercial software. its development.” As an upgrade this is competitively priced at £120 Advance orders for RISC OS 4 are and is available from dealers or, post very encouraging and shipping free, direct from RISCOS Ltd. started at the Acorn South East Show last month.
4 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Bundled Software
· !Writer, from the authors of !Easiwriter and !Techwriter, for producing properly formatted letters and documents. · Vector, a very powerful drawing package to supplement the inbuilt !Draw program. · !Organizer to help organise your life and keep track of diary, alarms and addresses. language versions of RISC OS 4 can · !ImageFS to transparently be produced in very small quantities. convert between RISC OS and Further, as a security measure, PC and Mac graphics formats. owners' details can be burned into the · !Taborca which allows the ROM. In line with RISC OS's high generation of PDF (Portable security against virus attack, it is Document Format) files from important to note that the FlashROM RISC OS files, that can be is not user reprogrammable. imported to a PC or Mac. · PhotoDisc image library in a We hope to have a full review in the series of resolutions, suitable for next issue of Eureka. -Ed. screen display or high quality printing. RISC OS 4 Price: £120 inc VAT and delivery It has been decide that RISC OS 4 will Supplier: RISCOS Ltd be supplied on FlashROM. 3 Clarendon Road, Cyncoed Cardiff CF23 9JD This advanced format will make Tel: 01222 464020 upgrades cheaper. The use of Fax: 01222 440071 FlashROM enables each copy of Email: [email protected] RISC OS 4 to be personalised. This Web: www.riscos.com means that, for example, foreign
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 5 The RISC OS ’99 Show
s you will have read in Eureka and the other RISC OS press or on the AInternet, The ARM Club is organising a brand new show at the end of October, filling the place left by Acorn World.
The Show is to be a two day event running on Saturday 30th October and Sunday 31st October 1999. It is being sponsored by Acorn User, Spacetech, Castle Technology and RiscStation and will be a proper exhibition style show complete with shell scheme.
Current Exhibitors
The following exhibitors have signed up for space so far, or are in the process of doing so:
RISC OS Ltd. Archive Magazine Acorn User Magazine (Tau Press) Aleph One Ltd. Spacetech Ltd. Softease Ltd. Castle Technology Ltd. RiscStation Cumana / Cannon Computing Warm Silence Software Millipede Electronic Graphics Electronic Font Foundry APDL Circle Software R-Comp & R-Comp Interactive Akalat CJE Micros Icon Technology CTA Direct Simnett Computing The ARM Club Jonathan Duddington Irlam Instruments Ltd. The Really Good Software Company
We also have a number of local clubs attending under the AAUG umbrella and we are having discussions with other companies about taking space.
6 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 The RiscStation Village RiscStation have kindly agreed to sponsor an area of ten small stands to support our aim of encouraging all RISC OS companies small and large to attend the event. We are limited to ten stands in this area, but there may still be some remaining at a cost of £100 for a 2m x 1m stand with table, power and shell scheme. If you are interested please email me.
Castle’s Acorn Theatre Castle Technology are sponsoring the show theatre. Over the two days there will be presentations from Castle Technology, RiscStation, RISC OS Ltd as well as software presentations including Top Model and others.
Getting There Epsom Downs Racecourse is within easy access of the M25 for visitors arriving by car. It will be sign posted from Junction 8 (Reigate Hill). For those arriving by public transport, regular trains run from Victoria to Tattenham Corner and from both Victoria and Waterloo to Epsom. Tattenham Corner is walkable distance from Epsom Downs Racecourse and Epsom is about a quarter of an hour away by road. We plan to a run a minibus service from both stations. More details will be released about this nearer the time, in the RISC OS press, on the website and by email to anyone on the announcements mailing list.
Accommodation For anyone looking to make a weekend of it, a list of the nine closest hotels and guest houses is available on the show website.
Other Attractions If you are travelling to Surrey for the weekend, there are many other attractions not far from the race course, particularly if the weather is reasonable. These include the scenic Box Hill and Polseden Lacey which are literally down the road. If you are interested in a night out in London that is also an option using public transport into the centre of town.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 7 Web Site For all the latest developments, keep a check on the website at:
http://www.armclub.org.uk/shows/riscos99/
This has up-to-date information on exhibitors, the show theatre, accommodation, travel and anything else of relevance.
If you have any queries about the event, or would like to take space, you can contact me by email at [email protected].
Advance Tickets Advance tickets are available by sending a cheque made payable to The ARM Club to ‘FREEPOST The ARM Club’ along with a covering letter indicating how many tickets you would like.
The advance ticket cost is £3.50 per person.
Credits and Helpers As always with events organised by The ARM Club, a number of people are giving up a lot of their spare time freely to organise The RISC OS ‘99 Show. In particular, I’d like to thank Rob Brown, Tom Hughes, Dave Ruck and Ralph Sillett for all the work done so far.
If anyone would like to help with organisation or on the weekend, please contact me.
I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the show!
Mark Smith
And you can read about some of the hours of his spare time which Mark has devoted to this project in All In A Day on page 54.
8 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Local Accommodation colour television, radio, satellite TV, direct dial telephone, trouser press The table below contains details of a and hairdryer. Tea/coffee making number of Hotels and Guest Houses facilities. in the Epsom area. The details have Tariff - Friday to Sunday: been compiled from information Single occupancy in double supplied by each establishment and or twin £78.00 the organisers of RISC OS `99 can Double or twin room £78.00 accept no liability for any errors. Buffet/Continental breakfast £8 Full English breakfast £11´50 ANGLESIDE GUEST HOUSE Weekend Special: any Friday or 27 Ashley Road, Epsom Saturday when dining in the Surrey KT18 5RD restaurant twin/double bedded Tel: (01372) 724303 room with full English breakfast for Fax: (01372) 723604 2 persons per room per night £78.00. There is colour TV in all rooms. Ample free parking is available. Tariff (no credit cards accepted): CHALK LANE HOTEL Standard single £20´00 Chalk Lane, Epsom Large single £26´00 Surrey KT18 7BB Single with shower £28.00 Tel: (01372) 721179 Twin or double £36.00 Fax: (01372) 727878 Twin or double with shower £39.00 All 28 rooms have colour televisions, All accommodation prices are satellite channels, hairdryers, direct inclusive of English breakfast. dial telephones and a hospitality tray. Tariff - Friday to Sunday (minimum stay 2 nights): BRIDGE HOUSE HOTEL Single bedroom, ensuite bathroom Reigate Hill, Reigate £60.00 Surrey RH2 9RP Standard double bedroom, Tel: (01737) 246801 or 244821 ensuite bathroom £65.00 Fax: (01737) 223756 Large double/twin bedroom, ensuite All 39 rooms are en-suite with bathroom £75.00
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 9 Single bedroom £45.00 Epsom, Surrey KT17 3PT Double/twin bedroom £55.00 Tel: (01372) 740643 All rates are per room and are Fax: (01372) 723259 inclusive of Farmhouse breakfast and Email: [email protected] VAT. The hotel accommodates a maximum of sixteen guests. All rooms are ensuite and are THE DRIFTBRIDGE TOBY serviced daily. Each room has a HOTEL colour television, a direct-dial Reigate Road, Epsom telephone and tea/coffee making Surrey KT17 3JZ facilities. Central heating features Tel: (01737) 352163 throughout. Fax: (01737) 371861 Tariff - Friday to Sunday: Internet: Single £45.00 http://freespace.virgin.net/ian.flush/ Double £65.00 All 34 en-suite bedrooms have Twin £65.00 colour TV, hairdryer, trouser press Weekend Special (excludes peak and tea and coffee making facilities. periods): 2 night stay £70 single, Tariff - Friday and Saturday: £110 double/twin. Single £38.00 Rates are per room per night Double/twin £58.00 inclusive of VAT and a full English Weekend Breaks - stay two breakfast. consecutive nights between Friday and Sunday and qualify for a special rate of £28 per person per night THE HAYWAIN BREWERS (based on two sharing). FAYRE & TRAVEL INN Rates are per room. All rates are 2-4 St. Margarets Drive inclusive of VAT and full English Off Dorking Road breakfast. Epsom, Surrey KT18 7LB Tel: (01372) 739786 or 720691 Fax: (01372) 739761 EPSOM DOWNS HOTEL Internet: http://www.travelinn.co.uk/ 9 Longdown Road The 40 en-suite bedrooms have
10 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 televisions and tea/coffee making [email protected] facilities. All 50 bedrooms offer en-suite bath Tariff: Per room per night £39.95 and/or shower, direct dial phone, Continental breakfast £3.75 BBC/ITV and SKY television, radio, English breakfast £5.75 trouserpress, hair dryer and hospitality tray. Tariff - Friday to Sunday: THE HEATHSIDE PREMIER Standard single £80.00 LODGE Superior single £80.00 Brighton Road, Burgh Heath Standard double £80.00 Tadworth, Surrey KT20 6BW Superior double £100.00 Tel: (01737) 353355 Rates include breakfast and VAT. Fax: (01737) 370857 The 75 ensuite bedrooms feature: telephone (modem compatible), THE WHITE HOUSE HOTEL SKY TV (at no extra cost), trouser Downs Hill Road, Epsom press, hairdryer, hospitality tray, Surrey KT18 5HW complimentary Express. Additional Tel: (01372) 722472 features: rooms for wheelchair users, Fax: (01372) 744447 family rooms, meeting rooms, fax The bedrooms feature en-suite and photocopying facilities. bathrooms, tea/coffee making Tariff - Friday to Sunday (based on a facilities, televisions, direct dial minimum of 2 nights) starts at telephones and trouser presses. £39.50 per room per night, including Tariff: Single room £45.50 VAT but excluding breakfast. Single room with shower £47.50 Single room en-suite £52.50 Double room with shower £57.50 REIGATE MANOR HOTEL Double room en-suite £69.50 Reigate Hill, Reigate Weekend rates from £45.50 (up to Surrey RH2 9PF five pounds cheaper than the above Tel: (01737) 240125 rates). All prices include VAT and Fax: (01737) 223883 full English breakfast Email:
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 11 Organised by The ARM Club in association with AAUG Sponsored by Acorn User magazine, Spacetech, RiscStation and Castle Technology The Premier RISC OS Event In Southern England
• New Hardware • New Software
• RISC OS 4 Developments
• Presentations In The Purpose Built Theatre
• Clubs, Events And Opportunities In Your Area
• All The Leading RISC OS Developers And Dealers
Saturday 30th October Ð 10.00 to 17.00 Sunday 31st October Ð 10.00 to 16.00
Queen's Stand Epsom Downs Racecourse Surrey (Close to M25 Nearest station: Tattenham Corner)
Tickets £3.50 in Advance £4.50 on Door Send a cheque payable to The ARM Club to ªFreepost, The ARM Clubº http://www.armclub.org.uk/shows/riscos99/ [email protected] 1T2e l: 07050 679262 Fax: 07050 679263 (Call rateEs uhriegkhaer 3 t1h aÐn ANuatiuomnanl R19a9te9) A Beginner’s Guide To TeX
vation Pro, EasiWriter Pro, TeX. picture commands. It is even possible OTeX what’s that? I hear you say. to typeset chess boards if you are so Well, TeX and its cousin LaTeX are inclined! very powerful typesetting programs which are also available for Acorn Figure Two provides a simple computers. example of LaTeX's table making
In the first of a new three-part series, Paul Webb introduces TeX and LaTeX and explains how they can help when writing scientific and technical documents.
Acorn users have a wide range of capability while Figure Three shows word processors to choose from so that LaTeX has the ability to produce you could be forgiven for thinking diagrams. This article will therefore that TeX is surplus to requirements. describe what TeX is in addition to But if you produce mathematical, describing how to get TeX up and scientific or technical documents on a running. regular basis then TeX is a must. A second article will then take the Figure One provides an illustration of reader through the process of some equations which were generated generating a simple document with with TeX. TeX and LaTeX. The series will then conclude with an outline of some of Although TeX is indispensable for the the many packages which are technical writer TeX is much more available to supplement the standard than a text processor for programs. mathematicians and scientists. LaTeX will produce tables, simple pictures Perhaps the most difficult thing about and graphs generated with packages TeX is deciding how best to such as gnuplot which use LaTeX pronounce the word. Knuth Ð the
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 13 Figure One: Generate equations with TeX
Figure Two: TeX produces a Table creator of the system Ð pronounces TeXless reader will probably also be TeX as tek whereas Lamport Ð the wondering why TeX is spelt with an creator of LaTeX Ð suggests that upper-case `T' and `X'. This is simply pronunciation should be governed by because Knuth wanted to distinguish usage rather than by fiat! Fortunately, his program from Tex (pronounced your ability to use TeX will not be tecks) which was a commercially affected by whichever side of the produced program from Honeywell pronunciation debate you take. The Information Systems.
14 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 With the controversial questions of pronunciation and spelling behind you, I will now say something about TeX's distinguishing features. TeX and LaTeX are not WYSIWYG programs. In order to generate a paper copy of some work the user will have to pass through a number of stages.
Stage One involves typing what you want to say into a text editor such as Zap or Edit. The words that you have typed are then interlaced with formatting instructions which you choose and place within the text. The formatting instructions that you Figure Three: Technical Diagrams include depend upon your final in TeX intentions. All this takes place as a prelude to saving your suitably satisfied with the result, you can save formatted file as a TeX or LaTeX file. your work in a system specific form TeX files are of filetype &2A7 whilst which Ð for Acorn users Ð involves LaTeX files are of filetype &2A8. saving the document as a Draw file. Figure One is an example of a Stage Two then involves running fictitious document fragment which your completed file through the TeX was created with TeX on an Acorn. `compiler' which will generate a Device Independent (DVI) file and a There is no getting away from the fact number of other files which you that TeX can be hard to master but it should not worry about as yet. It is at is obvious from Figure One that such this stage that the TeXnician Ð the output would be hard to produce with name for a TeX aficionado like you another package with the honourable Ð may view the file in something exceptions of TechWriter and resembling its final form. If you are Scientific Word which are both
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 15 commercial products. TeX is also If, like me, you have an aversion to noted for the device-independence such things then unpack SemTeX or and portability of its files which DaTeX which both provide WIMP means that the TeXnician can front ends for TeX. I use SemTeX and exchange files with non-RISC OS find it very easy to use. BibTeX and users. Ready-to-run TeX systems are MakeIndex are also useful if you plan for example available for Win32, to create a document which has a Linux and Unix and a slew of the bibliography and an index. `lesser' platforms. LaTeX is also under continuous development with I have never used the Acorn BibTeX an updated version being released at port but have found MakeIndex very six monthly intervals. Sadly, TeX is intuitive. TeXnicians and LaTeX now no longer being developed gurus can also obtain dvips Ð a DVI although Knuth continues to fix bugs to Postscript driver. which are reported to him. And, last but by no means least, TeX and If you have need of technical LaTeX are free although you can part diagrams in your document then with your money by buying a download draw2latex from Richard commercial version. Atterer's web-site. This is a superb little program which translates Draw So, if you're interested in TeX, it is files into LaTeX picture commands. possible to download it from the ftp sites listed at the end of this article. Your new TeX system will take up You can download the `standard' eight to 10MB of which 4MB will be package or supplement the standard taken up by TeX's own set of fonts. It package with optional extras. If you is also a good idea to place TeX in its choose the first option, then unpack own directory because TeX may crash TeXBase1, TeXBase2 and TexFnts1 to your computer. If all goes well your Five as well as DVIview into the same new typesetting system should look directory. Your TeX system should something like the one in Figure Four. now be in working order although you will have to run it from the command I hope that this article has given you line. an insight into the power of TeX and
16 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Figure Four: TeX on HardDisc
LaTeX and has convinced you that Armtex is on The ARM Club's new both packages have something to PD CD 3 CD-ROM, price £15. offer all Acorn users irrespective of their requirements. After all, Knuth Other sources of TeX are the APDL stated that he created TeX in order to PD-1 CD and B254 discs and the typeset beautiful books. So why not Datafile PD-CD3 (all available from have a go at creating beautiful essays, APDL). reports, letters...? TeX References APDL PD-1 CD: £12´50 Donald E. Knuth. The TeXbook. Datafile PD-CD 3: £7´50 Addison-Wesley, Reading, 1986. B254 discs 10 x 800K £11 or 5 x 1.6MB £7 Leslie Lamport. LaTeX Ð A B254-A discs Source Code for Document Preparation System Ð TeX Package Users Guide and Reference Manual. 3 x 800K or 2 x 1.6MB £3 Addison-Wesley, Harlow, 1994 (All prices include VAT and postage) Sources Supplier: APDL http://ftp.univie.ac.at/packages/tex/sy 39 Knighton Park Road stems/acorn/Armtex/ Sydenham, London SE26 5RN http://mic2.hensa.ac.uk/cgi-bin/brows Tel: 0181 778 2659 er/local/riscos/textprocess/armtex/ Fax: 0181 488 0487 http://www.informatik.tu-muenchen.d Web: www.apdl.co.uk/ e/~atterer/riscos.html
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 17 Keeping In Touch Round The World
am an old guy so I remember my much research I bought a TIME PC Ifirst telephone. It was two cocoa laptop by mail order and using tins joined by a piece of string. I made Argonet's PC software, provided as a this from an article in Arthur Mee's free extra to subscribers, I logged Children's Encyclopaedia sometime onto Argo Voyager's mail and news. I during the early part of World War asked them how I might stay in touch Two. overseas but the reply I got was that it
From two cocoa tins and a piece of string to a laptop in a bush hut at Lake Mahinapua, Christopher Jarman has found out how to keep in touch on his travels.
A couple of years later, using two would cost quite a lot in international magnetic earphones, my friend and I phone bills. Then a friend told me on spoke to each other from our the day before we left about Hotmail! respective houses, using a wire fence and two earthing rods. Yes, it really Hotmail.com is a Microsoft website worked and we were over the moon which anyone can log onto. You with its success! register any email `handle' you wish and a password, all for free. You tell My wife and I planned to be out of the your friends that you have a hotmail UK for nine weeks during February address and that's it! and March this year, so I thought about the possible withdrawal Being a well-known and popular site, symptoms if my new communication it sometimes jams up or is unavailable process of email was taken from me. for a few hours but it is really quite a It didn't bear thinking about too good system. You can also register for deeply. So unable to take my Risc PC various types of news to be sent to along, I decided to buy myself a you, such as sport or technical or laptop as a Christmas present. After current affairs, but it is best not to do
18 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Singapore
Adelaide Lake Mahinapua
Email service on the Internet is as world wide as the Web that unless you can cope with profit!) I spotted a Cybercafe in the hundreds of extra emails that you may hotel. Being a bit of a yokel, I had not wish to read. never seen such a place before. It turned out that for the price of a coffee The laptop proved very reliable and I could have 15 minutes on one of the worked well in every country and modern PCs all around on the tables. hotel that we visited, but more of that I logged onto hotmail.com typed in later. my password and it immediately told me I had 43 emails waiting! Singapore Our first stop was in Singapore. After Gobsmacked describes it well! I took a bit of shopping (some of the a sip of the excellent coffee and software was so cheap that you started to read my mail. Four were wonder how the Chinese even make a from friends and family and 39 were
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 19 various news items that I had Adelaide and logged me on requested when I registered! No spam automatically. It could not have been though thank goodness. I was able to simpler. So here I was now on the reply to all four real letters there and Web as well as hotmail and for free! then and began to regret the large sum of money I had laid out on the laptop. By the time I got to New Zealand, where we were to spend over a month, Adelaide I was feeling pretty competent about The next significan stop was in my things and was keeping in touch with cousin's home in Adelaide, South those people who knew I was on Australia. He encouraged me to plug hotmail.com. the laptop into his electricity system, but I had to go out and buy a small Unfortunately I had told most friends phone connection to fit the Australian that I would be out of touch for two telephone socket. The laptop's months and I also did not take my transformer guaranteed to work with own email address list as it is in Acorn any supply from 100 to 240 volts and format! Of course I should have just indeed I never had any trouble with extracted a textfile and shoved it onto this aspect at all. the laptop before leaving.
I used the battery on aeroplanes of Lake Maninapua course, but I noted that Quantas and We soon settled in our bush hut near Air New Zealand will shortly be Lake Mahinapua on the West Coast of offering laptop voltage supply the South Island. This is almost as far connections in Business Class seats. away from civilisation as you can dwell apart from Antarctica. My son I had brought with me a CD with a grows trees there, which is why we month's free trial for Compuserve, were visiting. you know the usual beermat stuff which normally goes in the bin? I There was a phone line but it had been started it and selected Australia as my `barred' except for local calls. When I place of residence. It immediately connected up the laptop and tried the found the nearest phone number in Compuserve software it tried and
20 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 failed to connect to Adelaide! After a The following day I happened to be day or two I got the line unbarred but having a rather homesick look at the the nearest Compuserve server was in Argonet website when I saw Christchurch, five hours away over WEBMAIL staring at me! On further the Southern Alps and certainly not a digging I discovered that Argo had all local call. this time their own version of hotmail whereby you can log onto a Web page Luckily my son is online with the and download your own email from New Zealand server clear.net. He anywhere in the world on a local line. kindly gave me his own password (a Why, I asked, had they not told me Maori phrase of course) and logon this in the first place!? I dare say that name and on February 17th I every provider now has this service connected to clear.net.nz. As soon as I and I was the last to know! selected `Outlook Express' (which for those without Windows is the Marvellous gadget Microsoft email prog) I was suddenly To sum up. The modern PC laptop is connected to pop.argonet.uk and had a marvellous gadget. With PC graphic another 30 or so emails addressed to viewer software, one can work and me. take photos anywhere. Check your own provider for an email website or Hastily disconnected use hotmail.com. It seems that Outlook Express, having been told that I was now in New Take a free AOL or Compuserve Zealand, had automatically added the sample CD with you. Freeserve etc overseas telephone code to Argo's are not available overseas yet. For an phone number and I was indeed Acorn enthusiast without an Acorn connected by an international line! I laptop it was a useful training in PC hastily disconnected. familiarity.
Incidentally the New Zealand phone It was not an unpleasant experience, connector was the same as BT, so I but I returned to the RPC with relief had to change back from the Aussie when I got home on April 1st! one.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 21 TextEase Multimedia CD-ROM
extEase is a program that won't Undo and redo are effected from new Tkeep still. Just as you have icons on the button bar or by using f8 become familiar with all the and f9. Subject to RAM size they can improvements that keep getting extend right back to the original added you find a new lot to tempt you version of the document when loaded. with an upgrade. Object grouping is also done from the Last year (in Eureka 26) we looked at button bar. Grouped objects can be the Multimedia version when an sized, moved, rotated and copied as HTML reader/writer was added. This expected but there is also the novel year version four of TextEase has facility of being able to adjust
The award-winning TextEase goes triple platform on CD-ROM, with some new features and free clip art. Peter Jennings sees what you get on this latest version. gone triple-platform on a CD-ROM, individual components without which runs on Acorn, PC and Mac ungrouping by holding down the Shift machines, with files and graphics key as you reposition or resize them. interchangeable between them, and has now has a clip art collection. Text is repelled by selecting the picture or object concerned and either The packaging has also been restyled, clicking on Repel text in the Other giving the box and User Guide a menu or pressing f2. smart new look. Other new facilities are the inclusion The most important innovations are of an improved HTML writer within complete undo and redo facilities, the main program, instead of being a objects grouping and optional text separate application, a list of possible repel for pictures or other objects. spelling corrections is shown by
22 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 clicking adjust on a misspelt word and the ability to make background tiles from any object or group.
When you first click on the CD-ROM icon the software recognises that you are using an Acorn computer and automatically opens the appropriate directory. This happens after a quick flash of the root directory, where you are briefly able to glimpse the clip art folder.
Clip art There appears no obvious way to One of the new features is the access the clip art from the Acorn ability to repel text from an object. directory until you run the Welcome program and find it an option there, The `free' clip art comprises 1,664 although more experienced users will WMF and JPEG files totalling 53´6 eventually realise that they can Open megabytes. They are divided into 16 parent from the mouse Menu button directories: Animals, Architecture, to get back to the root directory. Borders, Cartoons, Clothes, Effects, Household, International, Medieval, This is worth exploring for there is an Music, Nature, People, Photos, interesting collection of pages from Religion, Tiles and Vehicles. Some of the TextEase Web site. these have sub-directories with
The spell checker can suggest a correction — you may not always agree.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 23 Flags directory which meant that I didn't get a Union Jack, assuming that one was included. The flags are all numbered, not named, Ð a common grouse about a lot of American- originated clip art. However, the majority of the files in this collection Textures from the clip art collection. do have meaningful names.
Cartoons having the biggest There are some very beautiful tiles collection of 13 subjects. and textures among the images otherwise the pictures are good Most images appear to be of quality but with nothing exceptional. American origin and this is It is a useful freebie to have supplied particularly noticeable in the with TextEase (which is well worth Cartoon.Hobbies sub-directory where buying) and anyone who has an some sports pictures are found but earlier version of the program can cricket and football are markedly have the clip art on a CD-ROM for absent. just a fiver.
One problem I found was that I could not drag the images straight onto a TextEase Multimedia CD-ROM TextEase page as the program kept Price (including clip art): £85 +VAT demanding that I insert the CD-ROM Site licence from £175 for 5 users although I was trying to drag from it! Price for clip art only: £5 inclusive This was corrected by downloading Supplier: Softease Limited the latest version (4´ 22) from the Market Place, Ashbourne TextEase Web site. Derbyshire DE6 1ES Tel: 01335 343 421 About 30 images gave error messages Fax: 01335 343 422 and would not load on my Risc PC, Email: [email protected] although this is a minute proportion of Web: www.textease.com the total. Most of these were in the
24 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Easy When You Know: Using ALT
o you ever wish your keyboard Using ALT with the following keys: [ Dhad a selection of fractions, such ] ; ‘ , . / adds accents to foreign as ¼, ½ and ¾, which you could use language letters and works in a instead of the clumsy 1/4, 1/2 and different way. Press ALT and the 3/4? If so, you obviously don’t know appropriate key and nothing appears how to make use of those ALT keys to happen. Then type the required which sit at each side of the space bar. letter and it duly appears complete
Not read your User Guide from cover to cover? Then you may not have found out just how useful those ALT keys can be when you can’t find a character on the keyboard.
They really are most useful. Just hold with the accent (as shown below). down ALT then press and release ‘4’ and there is your ‘¼’ as a single Any letter or other character available character. Similarly, ALT+5 gives ½ in your font can be entered by using and ALT+6 the ¾ sign. ALT and typing in the character code on the numeric keypad. For details of Characters can be obtained from other this and a full keyboard diagram of the keys using ALT or Shift+ALT and ALT and Shift+ALT characters look these are shown in the table below. in your Acorn User Manual.
KEY A C D F M O P R S X Y Z ALT æ ¢ ð µ ø þ ¶ ß » « SHIFT ALT Æ © Ð ª º Ø Þ ® § ¥
KEY 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 ` - [ ] ; ‘ , . / ALT ¹ ² ³ ¼ ½ ¾ ¦ - É È Ë Ê Õ å Ç SHIFT ALT ¡ ¤ ± ° × ÷ ¿
Eureka 31 — Autumn 1999 25 1st Statistical Analysis
his article reviews the 1st Transferring 1st onto a hard disc is Tstatistical analysis package from simplicity itself. You create a Serious Statistical Software. It is not directory Ð called 1st naturally Ð intended as a tutorial in statistics and copy the contents of each disc although I have provided a useful over. It is also possible to drive 1st reference at the end of the article for from the floppy disc where needed. interested readers.
Why bother with a data analysis package when there are so many good spreadsheets available for Acorn computers? Paul Webb explains why he uses one.
1st arrives on two high density floppy I can imagine that the sceptical among discs. Disc one contains the you feel that there is no need for a application together with example dedicated data analysis package when data files which have been saved as the Acorn platform is already well 1st, CSV, or text files. I loaded one of served by an excellent range of the example 1st files into 1st in order spreadsheets. Well the answer is that to get a feel for the package. This file even the best spreadsheets cannot Ð entitled Fitness Ð contains compete with the range of facilities physiological observations of which a specialized program offers. middle-aged men. These files are Moreover, we all have to contend useful to the learner as they are with situations Ð whether at work or intended to illustrate particular at home Ð where we are bombarded `control features' of the package. with statistical information. Many More technical information can be professionals now have to justify their obtained by referring to the on-line practices with reference to rigorous manual. Disc two contains a demo of research. Think for example of the some pictures which can be produced medical scientist who is testing the with 1st as well as the on-line manual. efficacy of a new drug or the teacher
26 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Sheet One: Data from Fitness file loaded into a data matrix. who wants to know whether one course define the size of the matrix teaching method is better than and specify the number of additional another. There is also the issue of cost columns and rows. This is a useful which will always be a factor in facility where the user intends to software selection. An equivalent of perform calculations on the data. 1st on the PC Ð the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Ð Sheet One shows the matrix of one of costs many hundreds of pounds the example 1st files. The matrix is whereas 1st is £149 for a single divided into a top row which gives educational user. variable names and other rows which provide data values. The data can then 1st is also quite easy to use although be analyzed by clicking Menu over I wouldn't go so far as to say that it is the matrix. A second menu appears an intuitive piece of software. The with a range of options depending on user may either load a ready-made 1st which actions the user specifies. file, import a CSV file or enter data manually. The danger of statistical analysis is that the unwary user may generate The last alternative is accomplished meaningless data. Remember: by entering data onto a spreadsheet- Garbage In Garbage Out! 1st provides type grid. Statisticians tend to call this for this eventuality by greying out grid a data matrix. The user can of options which are nonsensical.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 27 Sheet Two: Example sheet with important menus displayed
Sheet Two shows the matrix and the histogram. This is a very interesting Data Ctrl and Statistics menu. When distribution which has enhanced our you have selected a specific understanding of many phenomena in operation, 1st will either generate a the natural and social sciences. text-based or graphical report window. It is then possible to save the It is also possible to investigate resulting information as a text, sprite relationships between variables or or draw file. look for differences between groups.
The user can also explore the data in With regard to the former objective order to get a feel for it. This is 1st has an extensive regression usually done by generating graphs, analysis facility. This is a particularly charts and tables. Figure One useful technique because real world provides an example of a histogram. research often entails the Note that a normal distribution curve investigation of relationships between can be superimposed on the two or more variables. It may for
28 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 example be necessary to relate the indicate that you have either been values of the variable y to values for lucky or that you have made a wise variables x1, x2...xn. decision!
Report One (over page) provides a I hope that I have given you a feeling summary of a regression analysis for the range of facilities which 1st where OXY, RTM and RTIM are offers. I have however only scratched respectively analogous to y, x1 and x2. the surface. In addition to providing a range of useful information the crucial statistic 1st has may features with which I am is R-Sq which is a measure of the unfamiliar but with which I will appropriateness of the model that you hopefully become more conversant have chosen. Values near to one now that I have this package. The Histogram of AGE, discrete, 10 classes, width 2.1 Frequency 7 Normal Dist Mean 47.6774 6 S.Dev 5.21144 Count 31 Chsq = 2.371 5 Prob. 0.79567 DF = 6 4
3
2
1
0
38 Lower and Upper range limits 59
Figure One: Example Histogram which can be edited in !Draw
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 29 R-Sq = 0.760465 Adjusted R-Sq = 0.743356 Multiple Linear Regression for OXY, Mean 47.3758, SD .32723 Variable Coefficient Std Error ‘t’ Probability Lower & Upper 95% that t=0 Conf. Intvls. for Coef.
CONST 115.614 23.7908 4.86 4.07126E-5 66.8901 164.337 RTIM -9.49193 4.38839 -2.163 0.0392335 -18.4793 -0.504512 RTS 0.283027 0.200272 1.413 0.168615 -0.127131 0.693185
Very Possibly correlated Indep Vars! Check Diagnostics Info. Resid. Std. Dev. = 2.69878 with 28 D.F. ‘t’ 95% critical = 2.048 Resid. Sum of Sqs. = 203.935
Report One: Report of a Multiple Linear Regression on-line manual is consequently a the range of facilities of SPSS but, in valuable resource if, like me, you fairness, many of these features are wish to improve your statistical superfluous for the bulk of users. 1st knowledge. This is a delightfully is also very much cheaper to buy and simple utility which loads onto the easier to use. I therefore feel that 1st is icon bar and moves interactively to the ideal package for anyone who the page which is most appropriate to wishes to perform data analysis on an your current task. The user can of Acorn computer. course move through the manual by clicking on Menu over the on-line Sub-sets manual icon in order to gain access to Two sub-sets of the package are also the Forward and Back options. available for those with less extensive needs. 1st Elementary is designed to Well, you will probably have guessed meet pre-A level requirements whilst that I like this application. Yes, it is 1st Junior caters for the A-level possible to find fault. 1st doesn© t offer student. I cannot comment on these
30 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 lesser versions in any depth as I received the full package. 1st
I was also very impressed by the Educational use prices: service which Serious Statistical Software provide. As well as the 1st Elementary £49 evaluation copy I received a letter Site licence £149 from the company which told me 1st Junior £79 about some statistical tests which Site licence £249 were specific to my own interests. Mr 1st £149 Edwards of SSS also told me over the Site licence £349 phone that the product was under continuous development. Standard prices:
The latter comment goes some way 1st Elementary £65 towards answering the criticism Site licence £199 which could be made that the program 1st Junior £99 lacks some features which some Site licence £299 scientists find useful. I am thinking 1st £189 here of the lack of support for factor Site licence £449 analysis which psychologists use in order to devise measuring Supplier: Serious Statistical instruments like intelligence and Software personality tests. Lynwood Benty Heath Lane In short, if you are a prospective or Willaston established quantitative data analyst South Wirral buy 1st! L64 1SD Tel: 0151 327 4268 Reference Email: [email protected] Ehrenberg A S C (1994) A Primer in Web: www.serious-stats.co.uk/ Data Reduction: Chichester, John Wiley & Sons.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 31 Site Seeing
id you know that fishing was the Surfing the web is a bit like touring Dmost popular leisure activity in Cornwall's back roads without a map the UK? I didn't but that's what the Ð you haven't a clue what's up statistics show. ahead. Sometimes it is a dead end but often it is of great interest. The So, Carp Monthly may have pride of various search engines (why do they place in your magazine rack with, call them engines Ð I thought
Geoff Lane visits the Internet — one of the few great leisure activities of the 90s to rival fishing — and looks at some aspects of his own job with the police. perhaps, Amateur Photographer, Car engines converted fuel into power) Weekly and Woman's Own, alongside can find many sites but often you are a selection from Eureka, Acorn User, confronted with `there are 134,287 Archive, RISC User and Acorn sites matching your description'. I Publisher. generally abort at this stage.
Anyway Ð let's forget about fish and Over the next few issues I will describe turn to computers, or the Internet, or some sites of interest that I have visited more precisely, the Web. The World and this time I am going to start with Wide Web, or WWW as it is known, is `The Met Police' site. ªBoring” I can growing at a phenomenal rate. imagine some of you howling at this Business in the UK is eventually point but it is a well laid out site with realising the importance of having a areas of interest for most. home page and as such many new ones are coming on-line every day. Log on to www.met.police.uk/ and you will be presented with the Home One hasn't enough lifetime to view Page and the `spinning logo' made them all and where do you start? famous in the TV programme No
32 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Hiding Place. (Young readers ignore showing recruitment opportunities the last comment). should anyone fancy a career with the `Met'. The Home Page gives access to various interesting areas including On the left is a simple index giving `Wanted Posters' Ð but, unlike the News, Index, History, Education, cowboy films, no big rewards are Feedback and Crime Prevention. offered. The news link will give you Ð well Also listed are sections on Press Ð news. News about anything releases, policing London; both involving the Met Police and it will useful for many educational research give you access to a Police Magazine requirements. Also on offer is a link available to staff.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 33 If you click on the Education or out of the images. History links you can get a fascinating insight into the history and Within the Education link there is a development of various departments section on `know the law' where within the Metropolitan Police. This certain scenarios are described and can be very useful for school or you are asked if an offence is college projects concerning social committed or not. developments, history or policing. Find out about traffic, mounted Quite clever as they describe some branch, dog section, river police, real life situations for example: `A CID, fingerprinting and forensics. friend is at your place and is smoking some cannabis and you know he is There are many images available too smoking it. Are you committing an for download and use and the site offence by allowing him to smoke it?' even enables you to create a backdrop View the site for the answer.
34 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 There is also a guided tour of a police dogs, boats, helicopters and vehicles station with images of the various of historical interest and sounds of areas including the charge room, sirens. I am sure there is much for all station office and gaol. ages to enjoy.
Go back to the index and you will get Appreciating that many of our readers options to find out about the various are not from London try areas of The Metropolitan Police and www.police.uk/ for links to many (if clicking on these will give you much not all) UK police forces. info about that area including a more local history, the management of the After typing this article I revisited the main police station should you wish site to check on something and found to address any correspondence, Crime the links on the Home Page had Prevention Advice, Neighbourhood changed but that is to be expected Watch information and useful links to with many sites. As they grow and other sites. It even tells you how to expand various alterations take place complain against the police. Now and this is essential as, if visitors see there's openness and accountability! f the same old Home Page then they don't think there is anything new Overall a well laid out site with much within to look at. of interest and with images of horses,
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 35 Sony Mavica Digital Camera
he editor has asked me to report on The Mavica is a tiny computer in Tmy new toy the Sony Mavica itself. It will accept only 2HD 3.5 inch MVC-FD81 Digital Camera. I bought 1.44MB floppies. It will format them it early in the new year in order to take for you if required as well. it on a fairly extensive overseas trip. So it got quite a hammering from the start. The standard battery pack is the NP-
Christopher Jarman goes globe trotting with an impressive new toy to keep a record Ð and some artistic shots too Ð of the places he visited.
I used it in conjunction with a PC F330 which is very efficient and did notebook but as it puts its photos everything I wanted for nearly three directly onto a floppy disc in JPEG or months abroad. The charger worked BMP form it makes no difference on all voltages from 100 to 240 as all what kind of computer you use, even good modern portable chargers seem an Apple Mac! to nowadays. The NP-F330 takes a full charge lasting about two hours David Glover has written a small PD and will then work for around 180 program called Mavica Reader for minutes. This is slightly less than the the Acorn which some members may manual states but I found it acceptable. find helpful but with the Risc PC at home again I have not found any need When we got to Canada I bought the for it. The cunning part about this extra NP-F550 battery, which lasts camera is that as it takes each picture it nearly four hours, and with that as a creates an HTML page and links each backup there has never been any picture file to it. Thus when loaded problem of running out of power. into any computer with a browser you may call up all your images from the I carried a pack of 10 floppy discs single Web page on screen! with me and took some 25 to 40
36 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 The Sony Mavica MVC-FD81 and parts identification chart
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 37 pictures each day. These were then There are, however many more downloaded onto the laptop’s HD aspects to this machine. To start with, each night to edit and review. you can set the date, time, and year. You can tell it to make a lifelike click The general overall impression is that or to remain silent. You may number this is the best camera I have ever the images in order on one floppy and owned. The lens is the equivalent of a then repeat the numbers on the next. 37mm-111mm zoom lens on a normal Or you can arrange for it to number all 35mm camera. This means that it will photos differently in order for ever — take those beautiful telephoto shots much more useful! You may set with an out of focus background and different flash levels and you can also a pin sharp object if required. But it choose from six program modes: will take a close-up as near as 5mm on wide-angle, which means that a Soft Portrait: faithful skin colour and superb picture of a small insect or a a soft background. flower petal is no problem. In fact I Sports: high speed. have been taking digital photographs Beach and Ski: strong light. of my 1950s collection of 35mm Sunset and Moon: fireworks etc. colour slides using the Mavica. The Landscape: or through glass. quality is excellent. Panfocus: for quick shots under any conditions. When travelling, you want to take pictures of relatives, of one another It is also possible to impose certain and of the scenery. The Mavica does special effects before you take a photo all of this with ease. I have some such as: negative effect, sepia picture particularly romantic clichés of or black and white. There is also a sunsets which would credit any solarize effect which makes your calendar. picture look like a poster. There is more! Although called a still camera With the LED screen and the abilty to this Mavica will also take two sizes of try many exposures and erase the ones sound movie. you don’t like; it makes the photographer’s life a doddle. With an MPEG film size of 320 x 240
38 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 you can get a useful 15 second film of program then this is quite good for reasonable quality. At the smaller size, free. But the Acorn Photodesk or 160 x 112, you can take up to 60 seconds Adobe Photoshop are much more of sound movie. The limitations are due comprehensive. Nevertheless, it is good to the size of the floppy disc of course. It for free and is aimed at the non expert. is also possible to select sound while taking a still photo and to have a WAV I paid around £550 inc VAT for mine file to accompany your good quality still and I consider it excellent value. I picture. should think that this model is now available for less. It is a superb piece There are several choices with still of equipment with hours of fun for the pictures too: gadget minded and it takes very Standard quality. impressive photos. Fine quality: 1024 x 768 JPEG approx 16 images Two extras I recommend buying are a according to quality. carrying case and a haze filter to keep 640 x 480 JPEG approx 40 images your own grubby fingermarks off the according to quality. lens. I bought both of these in 320 x 240 JPEG for email uses. Singapore for just a few dollars! There is also a BMP choice which is non compressed at 640 x 480 size. It * The FD81 has been replaced by the is a very large file and only one per FD83 at the same quoted price. -Ed. floppy is possible. Sony Mavica MVC-FD81 or FD83 I found that I kept my selection at fine Price: £630 (dealer quote) quality and the largest JPEG size for Supplier: Sony United Kingdom Ltd almost everything. There is no The Heights, Brooklands shortage of floppy discs and one can Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0XW always reduce the size of a picture. Customer Info tel: 0990 111999 Tel: 01932 816000 Bundled with the camera is the MGI Fax: 01932 817000 Photosuite software for Windows on a Web: www.sony-europe.com CD-ROM. If you have no other
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 39 FEEDBACK Getting Into Digital Photography
Freezing screen and ezFlyer was solved (I thought). Then infrequent freezes reappeared Ð a In my article on the digital camera, I look at the back of the ezFlyer mentioned that the screen and ezFlyer revealed that the weight of the cable was freezing regularly. This became through the back of the desk was worse and and thinking it was a angling the connector slightly down problem with the ezFlyer I rang from horizontal.
Following his article in our last issue, Eric Dobson describes how he solved a problem and Australian member Barrie McElroy recommends a cute viewer.
APDL. David Holden was most A small roll of Sellotape under the sceptical and suggested that I check cable to support it and the freezing the SCSI card connection as being a problem has really been solved Ð I far more likely reason. hope!
A nervous hour stripping down the Eric Dobson computer, taking out the SCSI card and putting it back again with all the Megumi stories of the effects of static left me in a cold sweat! Making sure the pins Eric Dobson's piece, `Getting into really were pressed fully into the digital photography' which included socket was not obvious other than by discussion on displaying JPEGs was pressing the rear of the backplane very interesting and useful. He may with my fingers on the plate itself. Is be interested in the Freeware this really `best practice'? application called Megumi.
When fully assembled again, with There are many useful applications relief it all worked and my problem for quickly displaying JPEGs singly
40 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 like !JPEGView. Some like !SwitfJPEG can load a group and allow one to click her/his way through or present a slideshow.
My favourite is Megumi. I have clipped a little info below to allow him to find and try this little wonder. Can go forward, back, slideshow with significant control etc etc. It even has cute pictures on the menus drawn by a Japanese artist I think. Barrie McElroy
Megumi - Cute Image Viewer
© 1997,1998 Dirk Krumbholz Version 2.00 Freeware
The image formats: ECC, GIF, JPEG, MAG, PI, PIC, PNG, Sprite.
Download from: http://www.os.rim.or.jp/~sira-m/megumi.html
Contacting the author: Support is provided via e-mail. You like Megumi? You have an idea for further improvement? You have graphic files that won’t work? You have a question?
You can reach me at this adress: E-Mail: [email protected]
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 41 In a Whirl © Rex Puzzles
Instructions Starting at the right-pointing arrow enter the answers to the clues shown opposite. The last letter of each answer is also the first letter to the next answer. The downward-pointing arrow points to the last word to be entered into the grid.
If you have filled the grid correctly then the grey squares will reveal a musical instrument patented in 1846.
42 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Clues Can You Beat The
· A large kettle for boiling liquids. Record? · The son of one's brother or sister. · German composer. Have a look at the clues (at left) for · Two of these are needed to make this issue’s puzzle by Roger King. you mobile on the water. They include: · A fortress. · A territory with one ruler. · Tomato sauce. · Inhabitants of Scandinavia. · A composition for two performers. · Indian name for a European. · A lover or collector of books. Think they are easy? Then how · Class of burrowing animals in quickly do you think you could Australia. complete the puzzle without looking · Musical instrument. at the answers? · A Stone Age artefact. · North Atlantic sea fish. Roger says that the record for · Tomato sauce. completing one of his Whirls is eight · Of an animal, black & white in minutes, set up by a Canadian patches. puzzler some years ago. Can you · A composition for two performers. beat that? · A metal element with atomic number 22 Now’s your chance to set up a new · Choral work by Handel. world record! Let us know your time · English composer. for solving the puzzle if you can do · A four-sided figure. it faster. · A small fly. · An age. … For those of us who · Common talk. · Gave way. can’t, the solution is on · Two-terminal electrical device. · To fit out. page 79. · A small fairy.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 43 Kosovo CD
his CD has been compiled by One of the inclusions is the TPaul Johnson who organised the Archimedes World CD1. Remember great Online Charity Auction a few that one back in 1995? The only months ago. The profits from this CD omissions are the music tracks. are going to help all those in war torn Kosovo. There are 13 main directories in the
Ralph Sillett finds how you can help Kosovo’s refugees and help yourself to 570MB of software on CD-ROM for a bargain price.
For the £6´75 minimum donation and CD, which is well structured. I found including post and packing for the UK a program that I hadn't seen before you get a CD with just under 600MB and promptly tried it out and was very of useful programs and clip art along pleased with the results. The program with exclusive demos of some in this case is NUP by Dr Simon J commercial software. Melhuish from Jodrell Bank. The program is easy to use and does what Paul has done a lot of work with the is intended and that is to print out a help of several companies such as page of clip art files by just dropping Clares, CTA Direct, Tau Press and a clip art directory onto the NUP icon Archive magazine as well as some on the icon bar. This program can be individuals. found in the $.ArchimedesWorld _CD2.Graphics directory. The contents of the CD are well structured. After approximately an Within the commercial demos hour browsing I only found one directory there are programs from directory that was empty. See if you Abacus Training with the latest can find it and I will send you a version of Pipedream version 4.50. Malteser. This spreadsheet has been around for
44 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 program from their comprehensive portfolio. One of the must haves for musicians is the demo of Rhapsody 4. There is a full version of Rhapsody 2 also included within the Fullblown directory. In the Icon Technology folder are demos of EasiWriter and TechWriter. If you haven't Enhance your knowledge of Xor again — a seen these before or 12-year-old game that’s still fun to play. visited Icon Technology's quite a while now and is very stable. From APDL's series of clipart CDs are some samples of what you get on the CDs (see right). The Catalogue of PD software is included along with the commercial products and hardware list. David Holden has a very comprehensive catalogue which will take some time to get through but if you know what you want then it's quick as each part is broken down into sensible directories such as Games Cat and Hardware. So whether you are after a new CD or a PD program the APDL directory will help.
Clares Micro Supplies have Clip art sample R2-D2 contributed either demos or the full May the Force be with you
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 45 A good selection of Internet browsers and software stand at any of the shows then now is Rock Software. Within the Acorn your chance to have a go. Warm folder are the Clan Discs and a load of Silence software have donated demos icons which I think were from the of LANMAN98 and WIN95FS for competition Acorn held for ideas to be those interested in networking and used in RISC OS 4 or was it 3´8 a few going over to the other side. years ago? There are some nice icons within the directories which have all The Fullblown folder contains been archived. MACFSLite, CFS and software from Acorn, Clares, AudioWorks from Computer Computer Concepts, Krisalis and Soft Concepts and from Krisalis is the
46 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 game Mad Professor Mariarty. Kosovo CD Remember that one? My daughter Price: £6´75 including UK postage does. The only problem with this by cheque from Paul Johnson game is that it doesn't work on a 77 Station Road, Haydock, RISC PC, A7000+ or the new RISC St Helens, Lancs WA11 0JL Station 7500. Archive Publications The Internet, Graphics software, 18 Mile End Road Science and Utilities directories Norwich NR4 7QY contain loads of PD software Tel: 01603 441777 including !Socketeer, !Antutils, Fax: 01603 460736 !Blackhole2, !Photofiler and a few Email: [email protected] applications for scientific purposes such as periodic tables. The website APDL directory is an archive of the complete 39 Knighton Park Road CBSA website at the time the CD was Sydenham London SE26 5RN created. Tel: 0181 778 2659 Fax: 0181 488 0487 All the PD programs are the latest Email: [email protected] incarnations at the time the disc was compiled. The latest version of ZAP, Clares Micro Supplies its own directory, is version 1´42. 75a Webbs lane Middlewich Cheshire CW10 9DS I have enjoyed reviewing this CD Tel: 01606 833999 because I have found programs and Fax: 01606 836111 clip art that I haven't seen before. Email: [email protected]
To get a copy of the CD you can either CTA Direct send a cheque to Paul Johnson, made 168 Elliott street payable to him, or pay by credit card Tyldesley, Manchester M29 8DS at the dealers listed. The dealers are Tel: 01942 797777 also the suppliers for overseas orders. Fax: 01942 797711 Email: [email protected]
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 47 Real Romans: Digital Time Traveller
s part of a proposed new series of Roger Wagner's multimedia software Ainteractive history software HyperStudio. Therefore, there is the releases with the theme `Digital Time potential for much user interactivity Traveller', TAG Developments have with the application in addition to released Real Romans. The package, plentiful graphics, sound and speech. produced in conjunction with English Indeed, this is what we get!
Andrew Weston goes time travelling to explore life in Roman times with a new book plus CD-ROM offering an entertaining educational resource.
Heritage is an educational resource Starting the software is just a matter and entertainment product, of clicking on the application icon. apparently aimed at the primary From thereon, navigating the options sector. It comes in the form of a book and obtaining the available and CD-ROM which accompany information is achieved simply by each other. It focuses on Roman life in mouse clicks as those familiar with Britain during the occupation period multimedia software will be aware. If in the first millennium. the user wants to move back to the previous screen, there is always a It should be noted that the CD is triple close or exit icon available which is format and is designed for Windows reassuring for those less certain Ð the and Macintosh computers as well as younger user perhaps. RISC OS. The recommended minimum specification is an A7000, On starting, there are three main presumably for swift running of the options: software. · Visit one of three sites The main application utilises TAG · Try out one of six activities Developments' RISC OS port of · Access the `references' section
48 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 The site plan for Housesteads Roman fort. The mouse pointer reveals the buildings deduced function. The clock icon leads ‘back in time’ to an artist’s impression of the original site.
It is perhaps on the latter option that Roman settlements, Roman provinces the user should start as there is an in Britain etc. Certain interactivity is illustrated chronology of the Roman provided here with the mouse pointer occupation of Britain, beginning with revealing such locations as it moves the initial raids on the south of (unless the reveal all option is taken). England until the withdrawal of troops to defend the more central The illustrations are accompanied by parts of the empire. This is provided terse but adequate textual by means of a graphical depiction of descriptions of the events. This Britain showing the location of chronology serves to provide an significant sociological features of overall `feel' for the sequence of the respective time Ð tribes, forts, events that occurred in this period.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 49 A thought-provoking artist's impression of the market place and main street of Wroxeter.
The references section also contains software. This will serve more strictly other very important aspects of as a reference rather than a section of Roman culture which still have interest to browse and will probably bearing today, such as the Roman be comforting to have at hand. numeral system, the Imperial measurements system (ounces and Roman Sites miles, for example) which still have a Three sites are available to explore: a part to play in modern society, albeit villa, the settlement of Wroxeter and an arguably diminishing one. the fort of Housesteads. These can be navigated either independently or There is a glossary section too, using the software interface as a guide containing definitions for Roman (that is, a guided tour). In the former, terms which are used throughout the the user decides where to explore and
50 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 what auxiliary information he/she information is always freely wants to access whereas this is mostly accessible for re-viewing if desired presented to the user when the guided by virtue of the Hyperstudio tour is opted for. interface.
For each site, there are a number of Roman lavatory options available in addition to There are many highlights of the three exploring the location itself. These site-tours including light-hearted are: a textual introduction to the site, moments (such as Roman lavatory a museum and a map of the site practices!), genuinely enlightening showing the areas that are on display moments (teaching all of us and those that have been covered over something new) and moments after excavation. Certain areas of the encouraging us to picture the sites have not been excavated and circumstances in this historical interestingly, are represented on the period. The tours can take around half map. These areas are visible as so- an hour or more but are by no means called field-marks from the air. In tedious. The tour of Wroxeter is the other words, building remnants are most extensive and especially implied by the effect on the crops or interesting. The high quality artist's other vegetation above. impressions of this site should go a long way to helping pupils appreciate However, undoubtedly the most the fact that the site was once attractive option is to explore the site. occupied by people like themselves, This involves a photographic tour of who went about their everyday lives the site together with audio as the situation permitted. commentary which is consolidated with text below the main display. This Of most personal interest was the is surely as informative an experience perhaps `peripheral' information that as one would gain from physically is provided on a visit to the sites, touring the site as the software mentioning facts about the site prior includes all significant areas while to Roman occupation and what pausing for the user to assimilate the became of it subsequently with description. Of course, the regards to later settlers for example.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 51 historical sources. The most obvious of these is probably the Internet and usefully, there are a series of links to official and unofficial historical websites on TAG Developments Ltd home page.
There is one other area in which the software possibly could have been better. This is the presentation of A parcel from home. historians' deductions on the Roman culture with not a great deal of In some cases, there are descriptions explanation as to why they have been of people exploiting the sites much made. Examples include the closer to the present Ð even later than occasions on which the program the middle ages. If this package has a states what a structure would have shortcoming in terms of content, in looked like when clearly only the my view it would be a relative disintegrated foundations remain. scarcity of such peripheral Presumably, these deductions are information, although this is possibly based on objects of Roman culture beyond the scope of the software. that have been found, such as engravings or objects in a room However, more information on why indicating the room's function Ð particular sites were chosen and what such as engravings of Gods implying became of the knowledge, a worship chamber. Sometimes this is manufacturing skills and construction confusing to the user. skills demonstrated by the excavated sites may provide a complete picture To the package's credit however, the to a user of Real Romans. By making accompanying book has several this information scarce though, to pages detailing, in a clear and easy- concentrate on other areas, it could be to-read fashion, the work of argued that there is the impetus archaeologists which will serve to provided to search out further enlighten those of us who are
52 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 interested. The book itself is a joy to opportunity to write a postcard read and would undoubtedly prove (which can be printed) using the enjoyable to children who could interactive Latin phrase book! maybe look at it while not using the software. It has many well drawn Therefore, the Real Romans package cartoons to capture the reader's overall, is a product that is quite hard attention and photographs where to fault and TAG should be applauded necessary to provide support in the on bringing this highly enjoyable form of a background or introduction resource to the RISC OS market. to the Roman sites on the CD-ROM. Maybe, a few more animations would In addition to supporting the have brought the application to life a software, there is a lot of extra little more but any criticisms I might material in the book such as have raised should mainly be information on different aspects of interpreted as personal preferences. Roman life, history, and culture. A The wealth of material and the nice touch is the inclusion of several remarkable price of the book and suggestions for hands-on activities CD-ROM together, at £14.99, makes such as making a miniature ruins site this educational product an to practice basic excavation skills. unmissable bargain. These will interest younger children and be valuable to teachers who, at times, may be far too busy to find Real Romans: Digital Time inspiration for an activity to fill a Traveller particular session. Price: £14´99 (No VAT) Supplier: TAG Developments Ltd On top of all this, there is the added Dept PRI02, Freepost SEA1562 bonus of a collection of clip-art and 25 Pelham Road, Gravesend six activities provided with the Kent DA11 0BR application on CD including a Roman Phone:0800 591262 jigsaw and game. For times when the Fax: 01474 537887 user feels they have assimilated Email: [email protected] enough information these will be a Web: http://www.tagdev.co.uk relaxing break. There is even the
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 53 All In A Day For RISC OS ’99
9am: Leave home 10am: Meeting with PHD It's a hot, sunny Saturday morning in Our shell scheme contractor, Phil late June and I leave my flat just Hooper from PHD Ltd, arrives with outside Woking for meetings at an assistant. We decide to sit outside Epsom Downs Racecourse. on the terrace to hold our meeting which involves items such as accurate Epsom was chosen as a pleasant floor plans, set up and break down venue of the right size with good road logistics and payment terms.
Mark Smith, who has spent much of his free time in the last few months planning and organising October’s big Show at Epsom, describes one of his days. and public transport links. It is about 11:00am investigate logistics 10 minutes away from the M25 and and admire the view about three quarters of an hour from While Phil and his assistant take central London by rail. measurements, Rob and I investigate the ways in and out of the venue for 9.35am: Arrive at Epsom exhibitors setting up and breaking A queue of traffic trying to pass race down stands. horses on the road leading up to the course delays my arrival slightly. We also stop to admire the spectacular view across the downs. If only we Once there, I meet Rob Brown who is could have weather like this at the end doing much of the venue organisation of October! and local transport work. We chat about progress on the event and 11.30am: Dash to the bank admire the view out of the window Rob returns home for a family across the Downs. gathering. Although I still need to meet with John Crasey, the deputy
54 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 events manager at the racecourse, I need to get to the bank before it closes so take the opportunity to go into the centre of Epsom to do that and get lunch.
1pm: Return to Epsom Having finished in town, I return to the racecourse for my meeting. Our two-page advertisement in Acorn User
Once there, I discuss a number of 3.30pm: Start advertising rolling items with John Crasey, including We've already started a rolling requirements for connecting a video programme of double page adverts in feed to the television monitors around Acorn User, but we need to start the venue. moving on other sources of publicity both within the Acorn Press and 2pm: Leave for home outside. I send out an email with some With my business at Epsom Downs suggestions, aimed mainly at Ralph completed, I finally leave for home to Sillett and Dave Ruck who are catch up with show administrative looking after the advertising. work. 5pm: Article for Eureka 2.30pm: Check email I need to complete this article for The first task is to catch up with my Peter, so make a start on it with all the email. It takes me a while to read and events fresh in my mind. Other day's respond to a number of messages, work is completed on show business, many of which are in connection with but many more are yet to come. the show. For Show details see pages 6-12.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 55 Free For All
ne of the big joys of exploring listed alphabetically Ð which means, Othe Internet is discovering some for example, 10 appearing before 2 gem of free or shareware software and 3 in a directory Ð and also allows which, from then on, becomes one of a sequence of files to be renumbered your essential utilities or favourite if some are deleted. games. www.argonet.co.uk/users/tudor
The first of what we hope will be a new regular series revealing some of the free or almost free software which can be found on the World Wide Web.
We are now looking for someone who Append, by Bernard Veasey, is an enjoys this exploration to share his or early version of a utility to join files of her finds with other members in a any type together into a single large regular series of articles with the site file, offering some intriguing addresses of where to find them. possiblities of how it could be used. www.argonet.co.uk/users/bernard In our selection this issue we have the .veasey `cute image viewer' Megumi for viewing JPEGs, sprites and other A shareware program formats (see the feedback on Getting which is very likely to Into Digital Photography on page gain a regular place on 40). This is available from: your icon bar is Stuart www.os.rim.or.jp/~sira-m/megumi Haliday's TempDir, .html which can be downloaded for a free trial from Quantum Software (with Some interesting new utilities found registration after 28 days costing a on the Web include Jochen Lueg's mere £10). This gives you an NumberFix which sorts out the immediately accessible temporary problem of numbered files being directory without the bother of having
56 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 The astronomical program, Copernicus, can be set for information and viewing from your own home town. to set up a RAM Disc. All you have to There are two applications for more do to save a file is drag and drop it specialised interests. onto the icon bar icon (which also shows you the day's date). The file is Astronomy buffs are now offered as then stored in a dated directory, which freeware Ray Middleton's previously is opened by clicking on the icon, and commercial Copernicus program, can be kept as long as you wish with complete with on-screen manual but no danger of losing the file when you with no support (except for those who switch off or if the computer crashes. have already bought it) or further www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/qs/ upgrades. It can be customised,
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 57 TrackTime scans your CD and give immediate information of which tracks will fit onto each side of a cassette. including being set to your own co- There are two programs which CD ordinates to give information, such as users may find useful. the local times of sunrise and sunset, and your views of the night sky. If you have an audio CD www.stargaze.force9.co.uk/ to be copied onto cassette, a little utility For those interested in called TrackTime, from growing their family tree Matthew Somerville, will scan the there is the latest version CD and tell you instantly which tracks of the well established can be fitted on each side for any Family, from Denis Howe. This length of cassette. makes it easy to set up a graphical display of your ancestors and It compiles a list of track lengths and descendants and store collections of a total and if there are no audio tracks related people in files using the on the CD it will tell you. standard GEDCOM genealogical data www.msomerville.ukgateway.net/pr format. ograms/ foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk/acorn/denis/
58 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 F1Help can be customised to bring up on-screen help messages where and when you want them, with a choice of two to 10 seconds before removing.
CD Hunt, by Martin Finally, for a good Dann, catalogues CD- pixel image viewer, ROMs Ð and other processor and converter, filing systems too Ð there is Jon Kortink's and enables you to search for any of shareware program Translator. This the contents. The discs are logged by can read AIM, BMP, CadSoft, Clear, dragging a file or directory into the Degas, GIF, IFF, IMG, Irlam, JPEG, log window. Then a rapid search can MacPaint, MTV, PBMPlus, PCX, be carried out by entering an Pineapple, PNG, QRT, Sprite and appropriate word into the search TIFF formats. It can write BMP, window. Archived directories can be Clear, GIF, JPEG, PBMPlus, PNG, included in the search. Sprite and TIFF formats. All new www.f451.freeserve.co.uk/ Sprite formats are supported and there is a powerful but simple method of F1Help, by David Rushall, is a batch processing. versatile replacement for the standard www.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink Acorn on-screen Help. It allows you to choose where you want the Some of these programs are message to appear and will bring it up shareware so please check the status automatically when the pointer is of any you intend to continue using paused for a time which you can set to see if a registration fee is payable. from instant to about five seconds. You can make it stay from two to 10 seconds. If you would like to take over this www.piecafe.demon.co.uk/ new series please email the Editor at: [email protected]
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 59 Hints & Tips For Psions 3 & 5
Series 3 Series 5 I have acquired via other magazines Do you find that the touch screen does and by trial and error a few hints and not respond like it should, such as tips that I use regularly. Each one is another menu appearing other than written into Word on my Series 5. the one touched. Try re-calibrating
collected over the year to make life easier and bring lasting happiness to all Psion Three and Five users.
Some of these may have been screen from Screen in the Control documented in previous articles by panel and pressing Calibrate then the clubs Guru with the Psion, ie Toby follow the on screen instructions. This Smith. is mentioned in the manual on page 147 (manual version 1.0 July 97). Hitting the Delete key places any highlighted text onto the clipboard Pressing FN (function key) while which can pasted back in if you hit the tapping on a program Icon will create delete key accidentally. To paste back a new document for that program. For use Control+I. example try it with Word. This saves opening the last document then To delete text without it going to the creating a new file from the menu or clipboard use the Shift+Delete keys. Ctrl+N. This can be useful if you have a particular piece of text on the Cycling between tasks, especially clipboard which you require to use programs which reside on the Extra's several times within a document you bar, is easy with CTRL+FN+System. are editing. By using FN+System you can revert back to the last program used.
60 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 I tend to use Data and Agenda mostly numeric keypad) from within your so this is a quick way to move windows application. It may be between the two. possible to do it on an Acorn if you go via the PC emulator then convert the To get to any programs on the first file once again to import into line of the Extra’s bar without Impression or Ovation then use one of bringing the bar into view press Ctrl+ the newer fonts from iSV or EFF the icon immediately below on the which include a Euro Symbol. Icon bar, such as CTRL+ Word will load Spell in most cases. Car Adaptor There is a unit on sale from Allcomms One of my favourite mailing lists on on 01235 811 119. It is called Power the Internet is Psion Life. It has been Up the in car power cord for the running since the end of February. Series 5, the cost is £35.00. Every few weeks I receive news from Psion, a chance to enter a competition That© s all for now. Do you have any to win a Psion related product and Hints or tips you would like to share. some special offers. Don't forget there are an awful lot of Pocket Books 1 & II out there and a To subscribe log onto the Psion lot of Acorn users also use the Five website or send an email to because of its ARM chip. [email protected] with a subject line of Subscribe. Emulator Also for those who use a PC as well as The Euro currency an Acorn (like me) there is an symbol is not supported emulator for the Five that runs in with the fonts supplied Windows and a DOS only version for with the Psion machines. the Three series. The Series Three There is a way round it by printing to emulator is a bit old now in PC terms. a PC (yuk!). Place a marker in the The Series Five emulator is about document such as &Euro, convert the 4MB. If you want a copy log onto the file on the PC then do a search and Symbian Web site. replace with Alt+0128 (on the
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 61 Club Products
The Club's continuing low membership fee, is made possible by being subsidised by a range of good value products with profits going directly into the Club's funds.
PDCD3 £15
Our new CD-ROM with an improved front end, new software and more than 550MB of wonders for RISC OS, Psion 3/A and Psion 5.
PDCD2 £5
The Club's second CD-ROM is still available at the discount price of five pounds. There are limited stocks left.
Club Mug £3.50
Want to impress your friends when they come round for tea? Get a Club mug with the slogan Don’t be a Mug, Join the Club! Only three pounds fifty pence will get you this priceless piece of computing history.
62 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 StrongGuard! v3.1 £25
Upgrade from Game On! v1 £15 Upgrade from Game On! v2 £10
StrongGuard! is the Club's world renowned application for helping with StrongARM incompatibility. Over 180 items are currently in our database with more and more being added! Got a Strong ARM processor and programs that don't work? You need StrongGuard!! Download the compatibility database from our WWW site.
Game On! v2.5 £15
Upgrade from Game On! v1 £5 Upgrade from Game On! v2 £1
Game On! is the little sister to StrongGuard!, doing the same for programs running on a Risc PC.
Type Tutor £10
A bit slow on the keyboard? Want to type faster, with more fingers! What you need is Type Tutor. For only ten pounds The ARM Club can provide the answer to all your problems. Lots of interesting exercises and much more. Type Tutor provides everything you need to become a typing whizz!
More on next page
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 63 Smart CD+ £10
Use audio CDs on your computer, want better control, stylish interface and cataloguing information at your fingertips? Smart CD+ is what you need to provide all this and much, much more! Download a demo from the Club's WWW site.
Latest Printers v1.53 £2.50
The latest Acorn printer drivers, including those for the new Canon, HP, Apple and Epson Printers.
Sample Pack £2
Want to introduce the Club to a friend or send them a copy of the magazine? A sample pack can be sent to any address with Club Information enclosed for two pounds.
Order from: Sales, FREEPOST ‘The ARM Club’. There is no extra charge for postage.
We are sorry that we cannot accept credit or debit card payments. Inquiries can be emailed to: [email protected]
64 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 An ARM Club event
Supporting users in Central and North England SATURDAY 20th November 1998
The National Motorcycle Museum Birmingham Doors open from 10am until 4.30pm Adults £2.50 / ARM Club members £1.50 Children under 16 FREE (accompanied by an adult) (Refreshments available)
» Latest products » Charity Bring & Buy » Special show discounts » Demo your programs » Hobbyist / Games area » Meet fellow enthusiasts FREE bus shuttle from train station
Phone: (01785) 714535 Email: [email protected] http://www.armclub.org.uk/shows/midlands
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 65 Gill’s Journal: Moving House
t’s been a tough few months for getting gold! They could make their Igetting time to write a journal for fortunes working a few hours a week you. Somehow there just hasn’t for a manufacturer, packing their seemed to be a free minute to sit in boxes! front of a computer and type an article. Of course, Toby has managed One minute there he is with the to spend a little more time with his Acorn, networked to the PC and my
Gill Smith finds and unpacks her computer and sits among the boxes to report on the trauma and perils of moving house Ð and electric storms. computers, but still hasn’t had much laptop. The Acorn is complete with time to do anything useful. printer, scanner, external extra HD, modem, external speakers and zip That’s the trouble with moving house drive, and Toby is surrounded by — we both seem to have spent a lot of large boxes. Like a caring wife, I time doing a lot and we’re still partly disappear off to make him a coffee — in boxes and haven’t time to do all the all that work; he’ll need it! While the things we want to. Leaving the old kettle’s boiling I slip a few kitchen house, things went pretty smoothly. utensils into boxes (do we still need This is Toby’s eighth address in just the cheese grater accessible, when five years –- including several that he we’re going to call for pizza tonight didn’t stay in all-year round — and anyway; we can probably cope what with his experiences exhibiting without it!) I fight my way to ‘the at Acorn shows, I am tempted to enter computer room’ (as opposed to the him for a new competitor sport of study – we own too many desks!) and computer packing. I have visions of find Toby is still surrounded by boxes, your committee being entered en- but is now in the process of taking the masse as the British team… and desk apart. I can only assume that the
66 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 electronics are all already boxed. It's we had a lot of stuff but it packed in either that or he's thrown them out the like a dream, boxes of glasses window and I didn't hear any loud carefully stored protected and crashes! cushions stuffed into gaps. The computer boxes were placed in Then there's just a pile of boxes in one various levels of safety based on how corner and a pile of wood and metal many times and in what large a hand desk sides in the other. Even the Toby had written `Fragile' on each (much prized) six-way has gone into a box! box somewhere, and the strange stuff that `covers' the cables Ð by making Normally, we're pretty organised and them bright orange, naturally Ð has we had, as ever, prioritised what we gone away somewhere. The room needed to unpack, in order to make looks strangely empty, in spite of the life easier. So we'd kept the picnic set huge pile of boxes. Perhaps I'm just out to ensure that we had some plates, missing the faint green glow of the zip mugs etc. Take away can be so helpful drive that never gets turned off and but it is nicer with a plate to put it on. the power light of the scanner. My parents came up and suddenly we could see the kitchen floor again! We I think the removal men, who arrived put the desks together but were bright and far too early, must have surprisingly relaxed about the rather impressed Toby with their computers. That was scheduled in for handling of some of our other stuff, as a day when I was safely back at work he did allow them to pack the and Toby could rearrange the cables computers onto their van and whisk to his heart's content, without me them off for us. I'd been a touch bothering him with odd questions like worried that the traditional keep- where we should keep towels! your-kettle-accessible would be over-ruled by the need to fit a 17º For once, Toby is prepared to concede monitor, along with all the computer that having not got the computer out other boxes, into the back seat of our was a really good thing. A few nights little car. So all that went into the van, after we moved in, it rained pretty in an amazing Tardis effect; I thought heavily. You can guess where this is
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 67 Before … going. The dorma window leaked, that the phone line wasn't working. right above the desk. Right on the bit We knew it had been after a long chat of the desk the Acorn normally sits to a BT engineer and after dialling up on. If we'd been any quicker at once in an attempt to stop the demon unpacking, my poor husband might account exploding. After trying out have been the first ARM Club chair to all sorts of re-wiring the lines off the not own a working Acorn! main box and many accusations of being constantly on the phone, we Of course, that wasn't the end of all worked it out. the fun, when, several days Ð a moved desk and three quotes for One of the storms Ð in that week fixing the roof later Ð we discovered where we had about three, just before
68 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 … After the twisters in Selly Oak (where we stuff Ð like roofs Ð to fix. So now I used to live!) Ð had fried our modem, can get this off to Peter for editing, at which is now not an awful lot of use. least within the same month as he Fortunately, due to being able to work asked for it. I bet this is the longest on this in my lunch hours, (as if I got excuse for a contributor being late those without my boss finding me that he's ever had! plenty more to do!) I've been able to get some of this written. Now, due to Yes but I’ll give it the award for the a colleague of Toby's having a spare most imaginative (and there have modem (like you do!) we are been plenty to compare it with). -Ed. connected again, pending buying our own when we have a little less other Cartoons by Jan Pearce
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 69 Farewell Eureka Disc
ou will have noticed that as from collection. These days we have entire Ythe last issue of Eureka, our libraries worth on a CD, for a measly cover disc has ceased to be provided £10. An extra disc worth is not really with the magazine, as had become useful. Additionally the Internet has customary since about issue eight. risen as an effective PD distribution and download method for those with While this is regrettable, as explained access, which is a high, and growing, in the last issue, it comes down to a percentage of our members. combination of costs, trouble finding a reliable service, complexity in The second, and most important distribution and mainly finding a reason for a cover disc was to carry
Toby Smith explains why the Eureka disc has ended its usefulness and how you can still get the programs which are featured in the magazine. volunteer member prepared to take on applications, files and other material all that organisation. related to articles in the magazine itself. However, these are always very The cover disc was started for two small, and often there are none for a purposes. One was to act as a method particular issue, and from our of distributing some PD applications. surveys, few of you seem to use them In the years since the disc started, this with any regularity anyway. has become less and less relevant a distribution method. They certainly don't warrant the work and cost of a cover disc when we can Back in the days when PD libraries distribute them separately. flourished, and discs full of PD came at a pound a time at shows, a cover Therefore we made the decision to discs of PD was a useful addition to a provide those magazine related items
70 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 on our Web and FTP sites for those Members' Ads members particularly interested in the relevant articles to get at. Each magazine should have a small For sale: 2MB A3000 (used for all selection of files available through the original ArcFS development either our ftp site or web download work), Philips TV resolution from out website (addresses at end). monitor with RGB scart, composite video and stereo audio inputs, Star If you don't have access to either of LC10C Colour dot matrix printer those sites, and still want a specific with spare ribbons, computer file for an article that interested you, trolley and chair and numerous you can either request that it is sent by software including Impression. email or write/fax/ phone us and we'll send the relevant files out on disc to Reasonable offers for all or part you. accepted. Contact Mr D. Smith on (01992) 631140 from 14th August. Unfortunately we can't take requests always to have everything sent Ð that is a lot of time and trouble in a club Leading edge Joystick interface that already takes a lot of time to run. V2.40; CC Video 256 card inc hand But if something does interest you scanner & SA software; Revelation and you can't get at it yourself, then 2; Junior Pinpoint; CSH multimedia we can help. showcase; CSH amazing maths; CSH Cromwell the fire fighter; Eureka program sources Vivid 5000; Chatter; Pipedream 3; Ftp site address: Pipedream 4; Fabis Font Namer; ftp.armclub.org.uk Oregon DiskCat; Spell; The Big Directory: /pub/eureka/ Picture. For BBC enthusiasts Website: www.armclub.org.uk Magscan & Fontstyle. Email: [email protected] For other addresses and Offers to David on 0161 941 1683 or phone/fax numbers see page 80. e-mail: [email protected]
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 71 Primary Curriculum Clip Art
he Sherston Primary Curriculum Most sub-directories contain an TClip Art acknowledges its additional folder of black and white educational purpose with a images, usually duplicating the colour description on the box saying that it versions but sometimes having contains ªHigh quality images for additional pictures. primary schoolsº. In fact it could be of use for anyone who wanted a There is no printed catalogue but an general purpose collection of enclosed viewer allows you to browse
Peter Jennings looks at a clipart collection for primary schools, and other users, where the pictures come complete with explanatory notes. graphics which doesn't duplicate all through the pictures which are the subjects found in most others. accompanied by brief notes. Pictures and text can be saved individually as The latest, updated, version contains Draw and Text files, although as both more pictures and is now on a triple- have the same default file name an format CD-ROM for Acorn, PC and inexperienced used may find a Apple computers. problem here.
The main classifications are: Complete novices to Acorn Animals, Buildings, Geography, computers are, however, well looked History, Maths, My Life, Science, after in the User Guide, which Technology and Transport, all with devotes seven of its 19 pages to numberous sub-directories. For simple instructions on using Draw. example, Animals has directories This is a useful bonus to anyone not containing: Birds, Bugs, Dinosaurs, already with familiar with the Endangered and Extinct species, Sea, program. UK and World.
72 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Running the browser brings up a title shows the sub-directories which in page followed by the main menu turn will lead to a series of pages of which is designed like a card index thumbnail pictures and notes for that with the title in a tab at the top. The subject. first `card' shows the titles and a pictorial icon for the nine main The text accompanying each image classifications. Clicking on any one make this CD a useful teaching aid of them opens another card, which rather than just a clip art collection.
The main menu opened at ‘History’ (above) and the first page of WW2 (World War Two) at left.
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 73 Galimimus Dimetrodon Diplodocus Height 1.2 metres Length 3.5 metres Height 9 metres Weight 10 to 11 tonnes
Man Height 1.8 metres Weight 75 kgs
C 1991 DEC_dATA
C 1991 DEC_dATA
Anatosaurus Triceratops Eohippus Horse Height 3.6 metres Height 4 metres (Dawn Horse) Height 1.7 metres Weight 3 tonnes Weight 6 tonnes Height .6 metres Weight .8 tonnes
A chart showing the relative size of various dinosaurs compared with a man.
Although notes, rather than lessons, large collection. the text ensures that users of all type know exactly what the pictures As already briefly mentioned, non- represent and, in schools, can spark educational users could find this CD off an interest in the subject with a offers a somewhat different range of background knowledge which the subjects than usual, although mostly teacher can fill in. with a comparatively small selection of images of each topic rather than There is some minor duplication comprehensive collections. between subjects, such as the same graphic of a Spitfire fighter plane There are some exceptions, such as a appearing in the From 1930, WW2 wide range of flags and maps. As and Flight groups. This is, however, befits a resource primarily intended completely insignificant in such a for education use, the flags include
74 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 one for the Soviet Union as well as those of Russia and other former Soviet states.
My Life has a selection of topics of more personal interest to children featuring Christmas, Food, Music, People, Sport and Toys.
Among the more uncommon subjects not usually found in clip art collections are Ships and Navigation which includes buoys and navigational flags.
Altogether there is an interesting mix of images designed for Ð but by no means restricted to Ð educational use.
Sherston Primary Curriculum Clip Art Price: £40 +VAT Site Licence: Free Supplier: Sherston Software Ltd Angel House, Sherston Malmesbury, Wilts SN16 0LH Tel: 01666 843200 Fax: 01666 843216 Email: [email protected] Web: www.sherston.com
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 75 How Can I …?
Question: Answer: ªI have a Risc PC 600 40MB Ram If you have done a delete power on, 2VRam, upgraded with Acorn Sound check that you have run !Configure Card, Cumana 300ia CD, Cumana and selected 16bit sound. It defaults SCSI card 2 and StrongArm (bought back to eight bit sound after a delete and fitted as soon as they were reset, which will be silent if the 16bit available). expansion is fitted.
One of the most valuable benefits of Club membership is the freeTechnical Help Service. Here are two of the subjects they have recently dealt with.
All working fine until installing Pep It is always a good idea to run the Associates' enhanced CDFS. Finding !SaveCMOS util supplied with your that it wasn't what I wanted, I machine at regular intervals. uninstalled it. By copying the `saved' file inside the When restarting the RPC, it halted app elsewhere before installing new midway through its boot sequence, stuff or changing your config, you can cleared the screen and locked restore the previous state in cases completely. Switched the RPC off, such as above, without having to counted to 10, switched it back on remember the dozens of things to again (holding Delete down), change after a delete power on. machine working but no CD drive. I managed to retrieve the CD drive but Question: now find I have no sound from the “Can anyone advise me if it is worth RPC. Audio CDs play OK, but that's getting an IDE CD ReWriter (as the only sound I get. Any ideas?º offered in the August Acorn User) or are CDs about to be made obsolete by Raymond Burch DVD?
76 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Would this equipment be easily mainstream PC wise, and far longer linked with an audio hi fi system as I than that for Acorns. wish to transfer some of my vinyl LPs while I still have the equipment to At the moment, I'd buy a CD rewriter play them?º in preference, unless you need a very large capacity backup device. Single Answer: sided, single layer DVD can hold I would personally go for SCSI as 2.6GB, which should be adequate for opposed to IDE. IDE Can cause a few most uses. CDs can `only' hold about errors with over run buffer. Even on a 650MB. PC this is the most common error. You must also have a fast IDE drive If you can't write CD-Rs, you can't and CD-ROM (for copying). If you produce music CDs for play-back in a already have a SCSI interface this hi fi system (or CD-Rom drive), would be the better system. whereas you can with a CD (re)writer. That might be useful if you wish to Experience with IDE rather than produce your own compilation CDs SCSI CDRWs are limited at the (not sure of the legality of that, but moment. I imagine you will be I'm certainly not advocating the limited to one or two versions of the copying of CDs! ;-) ) software that will drive them (CDBurn / CDScribe?). These were two questions sent in on the subject of CD writers, with the This equipment would be easily answers supplied by three different linked with an audio hi fi system. members of the Technical Help Service. CDs will eventually be made obsolete by DVD but not now. There are many If you need help with a computing DVD writable standards at the problem send it by email to moment. The whole thing is a mess [email protected] or, if and won't really take off until they urgent, you can phone 07010 708098. sort themselves out. A CDR/W has a (As this number has to be portable it good three years of life left in it is charged at higher rates.)
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 77 Around The Clubs
August October
4th SARCÐTBA 6th SARC Ð TBA 4th WakefieldÐPD/Shareware 6th Wakefield Ð AGM + 9th Southampton Cambridgeshire software 9th SASAUG 8th Welwyn Hatfield 9th DARCÐAdvanced Pluto (TBC) 11th Southampton 10th Bottisham Acorn Usergroup 11th SASAUG 10th Liverpool Acorn Usergroup 11th DARC Ð Advanced Pluto 10th Essex Acorn Usergroup (TBC) 12th North Kent Computer Club 12th Bottisham Acorn Usergroup 13th Welwyn Hatfield 12th Liverpool Acorn Usergroup 24th Blackpool 12th Essex Acorn Usergroup 25th Bristol Acorn User Group 14th North Kent Computer Club 31st Acorn Club NorthEast 26th Acorn Club NorthEast 26th Blackpool September 27th Bristol Acorn User Group
1st SARCÐTBA For up to date details see the AAUG 9th North Kent Computer Club Web site at www.aaug.net/ 10th Welwyn Hatfield 13th Southampton Shows 13th SASAUG 13th DARCÐAdvanced Pluto(TBC) 30 & 31 October 14th Bottisham Acorn Usergroup The RISC OS `99 Show 14th Liverpool Acorn Usergroup (Full details on pages 6 - 12) 14th Essex Acorn Usergroup 24th Blackpool 20 November 28th Acorn Club NorthEast Acorn Midlands Show 29th Bristol Acorn User Group (Full details on page 65)
78 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 In a Whirl: The Solution
S N A I G E W R O N O I N I M O D A L H D L A B E I P U H C T E K O I U C H B E H C O P E G D I M O G I T E U D N B I A P I U Q E I D O L T R I D Z A R I A S A X O P H O N E H T O N A I I P T S P I Y I E L D E D A I K H U R L C I M E S S I A H O L S T O O L E L E C H I D N A C C O R D I O N W O C A U L D R O N E P H E W A G N E R
© Rex Puzzles Acorn users in Ireland
If you live in Ireland and are interested in a proposed group for Acorn/RISC OS users, Paul Webb would like to hear from you. Contact him by email at: [email protected] or write or telephone to: Paul J Webb, 73 Altmover Road, Dungiven BT47 4QD. Tel: 015047 40155
Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 79 Club contacts
Email: General queries [email protected] Membership queries [email protected] Members’ technical help [email protected] Product sales [email protected] Magazine [email protected] Disc [email protected]
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• Chairman: Toby Smith • Secretary: Chris Price • Treasurer: Simon Burrows • Membership Secretary: Matthew Cook • Technical Help Co-ordinator: David Ruck • Internet & Products Co-ordinator: Tom Hughes • Open Days Advisor & Quartermaster: Ralph Sillett • Open Days Organisation/Support: John Stonier • Graphics Designer: Phil Jones Discount Scheme Organiser: Rob Brown • Eureka Despatch Co-ordinator: John Bancroft • Without portfolio: Steve Arnold Martin Ebourne Gary Parr Mark Smith
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80 Eureka 31 Ð Autumn 1999 Benefits of membership The national club for all users of 32 bit Acorn computers and Pocket Books
· The Club's magazine, `Eureka', written by members, is published and sent free of charge four times a year.
· Free software to accompany articles in Eureka is available on the Club's FTP site or can be sent to members on disc.
· Free Technical Help Service. We will do our best to solve any problems which you may have, by email, letter, telephone or fax.
· Special discounts for Club members from well-known companies.
· Regional open days and shows are regularly organised by the Club. Other events can be arranged on request.
· Special offers at shows and open days.
· Regional contact lists of other members, available on request.
· Opportunities to get involved in the running of the Club itself.
· School and Affiliate Membership available on request.
· Joining pack includes an extra copy of a recent issue of the magazine and software.
Annual membership £12 (+£3 joining pack for first year) Europe £16 and rest of the world £19 FREEPOST `The ARM Club' Email: [email protected] Tel: 07010 709849 (Flextel)