IssueBiggest Ever!

£4.00 Issue 14, Spring 2003 8.00Euro Quake 2 Read our comprehensive review of Hyperions’s latest port.

Hollywood Take a seat and enjoy our full review of this exciting new multimedia blockbuster! Contents Features The Show Must Go On! Editorial Welcome to another issue of Candy for SEAL’s Mick Sutton gives us an insight into the production of WoASE. Total Amiga, as you will no-doubt Issue 14 usergroups can afford. To give balance between space for the have noticed this issue is rather ack in the good old days we you an idea a venue capable of punters and giving the exhibitors late, which is a pity as we had Candy Factory is a graphics A built-in character generator had World of Amiga shows holding between 300 and 500 the stand space they require improved our punctuality over OS4 B the last few issues. application designed for allows you to add effects to Spring 2002 put on every year, usually at a people can cost anywhere from (some companies get a real bee high profile site (Wembley) and £500 to £1000 (outside London) in their bonnet about where they Unfortunately the main reason making logos and other text in any font without leaving texture again based on the all well attended. Everybody for a day. are situated). The floorplan goes behind the delay was that the graphics with high quality 3D the program. You can also load Contents wanted to be there and be seen, through many revisions before SCSI controller and PPC on my textured effects quickly and shapes (for example a logo) light source. Whilst on the subject of costs Amiga was seen as a very the final layout is agreed (I CyberStorm PPC accelerator without the need for a complex created in another program • Texture mapping, colour your there are also other expenses to popular alternative to the should know)! have stopped working 3D package or spending hours and add effects to them. objects using an image. News consider such as ticket printing cumbersome PC. After the (miraculously the ‘060 side still combining effects in an image and distribution, insurance, food As the day of the show Some of Candy Factory’s Editorial ...... 3 collapse of Commodore seems to be okay) and it took a processor. Many readers will to be sold (or not) and hire of approaches there are lots of final features include: When you’ve found a News Items ...... 3 commercial shows gradually while to get things sorted so I remember that this program projectors, PA etc. Most of these preparations which must be combination of effects you like shrank with World of Amiga 99 could access my data again. caused quite a stir when it was • Material effects, used to MorphOS & Pegasos costs have to be paid up front by completed. The usergroups have Candy Factory can save them being the last commercial show. Anyway I’m back up and running Update ...... 8 the usergroups and we then to identify members who will help released a few years ago, create the look of materials allowing you to re-use them on Several Amiga user groups were now and the delay has had one Alan Redhouse Column.. 10 hope to get our money back from set up the show, act as nothing like it had been seen such as wood, metals and another project. The package not satisfied without a regular positive side effect - we were on the Amiga before. One of glass. Fleecy Moss Column ...... 11 stand charges and ticket sales. stewards, collect tickets and able to complete more content is supplied with a range of show and decided to organise the key features of the original • Bevelling to instantly give Buzz Word...... 11 One of the advantages of many other tasks. Any for this issue making it the example settings so you can their own shows. release was it’s support for your graphics a 3D look. WoASE Show Report...... 12 usergroup run shows is that the presentations, demonstrations biggest magazine we’ve ever make great looking graphics After several smaller shows stand prices are very affordable and tutorials have to be planned PPC accelerators which meant • Glow, creates a bright AmigaOS 4 Update...... 14 published at 52 pages! A special straight away. SEAL, Kickstart, ANT and ASA compared to commercial shows. and we try to make a timetable thank you must go to everyone that most effects could be smooth glow around objects. Features got together to organise a joint As shows have to be planned but often we don’t find out what who contributed to this issue, adjusted in real-time, great for • Drop shadow, casts a drop Now ZeoNeo, well known for show in the South East of about six months in advance companies are going to do till the and I should point out that the perfecting the look of a graphic shadow based on the their AmigaDE games such as The Show Must Go On! ....2 England. So the idea of World of (venues get booked up very day of the show! The keen eyed delay is down to me, not the or just playing around to see position of the light source. Planet Zed, have acquired Web Design Feature ...... 16 Amiga South East was born and quickly) it’s very difficult to judge amongst you will have noticed contributors, all these pages what could be achieved. • Bump-mapping, gives objects ownership of Candy Factory Web Design Utilities...... 20 the first task was to find a venue. how many visitors will come various posters and signs dotted certainly wouldn’t have been and the original programmer, particularly in the current Amiga around the venue, of course Flashback: A1000 ...... 25 It was obvious from the start that possible without you! We’ll do Milan Pollé, is one of their market (will there be a BIG these all have to be designed any venue had to meet certain our best to get back to regular developers. Version 2 of Candy Tales of Tamar Update.... 32 release at the show)? and printed. criteria. Excellent transport links three-monthly publication for Factory for AmigaOS 4 will be Reviews by both road (close to M25) and With the date and venue On the morning of the show issue 15. ZeoNeo’s first desktop Hollywood ...... 25 railways are essential as is good decided, advertising for the show many hands are needed to set I don’t have space here to talk AmigaOS product. The new car parking (preferably free) at can start. With no news stand up the venue following the version will not only take Spider USB ...... 28 about all the great things in this the venue. We all know Amigans magazines it centres on the floorplan, this all has to be done advantage of the new features SoundFX 4.2 ...... 30 issue so you’ll just have to read like a drink or two so a licensed internet and smaller publications before the companies arrive. through and find out for of OS4 and the power of the Software Tycoon ...... 34 bar is also a priority. The venue like Total Amiga to get the word This is the reason why one day yourselves! new PPC hardware but it will Quake 2 ...... 38 has to also be the right size, big out. At the same time companies shows tend to open at around also have more effects, new As usual I hope you enjoy the PD Paradise...... 42 enough to hold the exhibitors but have to be approached (coaxed) midday as we don’t have access features and an improved work not so big that you have enough to exhibit at the show, some to the venue the night before and magazine and if you have any comments and suggestions flow to offer even more Support room for a game of football as companies are always very companies have to travel from possibilities. well! Another important supportive whilst others won’t far afield. please get in touch. Top Tips...... 44 consideration is that the venue is come to a usergroup show on More information on Candy So now you’ve got a feel for the Robert Williams GoldEd Configuration near at least one of the principle (you know who they Factory 2 should be available work involved in putting on Editor Tutorial...... 46 usergroups so they can do all are). When the bookings start WoASE turn to our show report [email protected] on the Zeoneo website by the the pre-show groundwork. Above rolling (or trickling) in it’s time to Poseidon HID Tutorial..... 49 to see how it turned out on the time you read this: all the venue has to have all get the floorplans out and design day! http://www.zeoneo.com Back Issues...... 51 these qualities at a price the the layout of the show. This is a Next Issue ...... 51 Colour Screeshots etc. ... 52 About Total Amiga Legalese Total Amiga is published quarterly Contact Us Only Amiga Made it Final Writer 5 by Softwood Fonts The views expressed in this If you wish to contact a contributor by South Essex Amiga Link. For Ghostscript 6.50 from Aladdin magazine are those of the author please send your message to one If you have any queries Possible The body text of Total Amiga is set subscription details contact us at Enterprises of each piece, they do not of the addresses in this section suggestions or want to contact us in Triumvirate Normal as supplied the address below or our website. Total Amiga is designed and laid necessarily reflect the views of and we will pass it on. for any reason please use one of There are also some essential with PageStream, the heading out using: the editor, other contributors or Editor: Robert Williams the following: utilities we couldn’t live without: typeface is Forgotten Futurist by Amiga is a registered trademark Hardware: SEAL. Design: Robert Williams Directory Opus 5, SGrab, MCP, Ray Larabie. Take a look at Ray’s and the Amiga logo, the “Boing EMail: [email protected] Amiga 3000 Contributors: Sam Byford Turbo Print 7, MakeCD. huge range of freeware fonts at Please Note: Total Amiga is Ball” device, AmigaDOS, Amiga Advertisers WWW: http://www.totalamiga.org/ CyberStorm PPC/060 Sean Courtney Our thanks to the creators of this http://www.larabiefonts.com and produced by SEAL members in Kickstart, Amiga Workbench, Amiga Inc...... 13 CyberVision PPC Michael Carillo Post: Total Amiga, and all the other great Amiga his commercial foundry at their spare time, while we will Autoconfig, Bridgeboard, and 128Mb RAM, about 13Gb HDD Amiga Super Bit...... 37 Fleecy Moss 26 Wincoat Drive, software out there. http://www.typodermic.com. always strive to produce the Powered by Amiga are Mike Powell BENFLEET, space. magazine on time and include all trademarks of AMIGA Inc. Eyetech ...... 26 & 27 Total Amiga is entirely created on Alan Redhouse Essex, SS7 5AH, Software: the advertised contents this is not Forematt Home Computing the Amiga, no other machines are All other trademarks mentioned Mick Sutton ENGLAND. Amiga OS 3.9 by Amiga always possible due to other used at any stage of the design or are the property of their ...... 41 PageStream 4.1 by Softlogik commitments. The price you pay Proofreading: Mick Sutton Telephone: +44 (0) 1268 569937 layout process. respective owners. Genesi...... 9 Sharon Sutton (19:00 - 22:00 TypeSmith 2.5 by Softlogik for Total Amiga covers our costs ImageFX 4.5 by Nova Design and nothing more, we don’t make Kickstart ...... 22 & 33 Cover Design: Robert Williams UK time only please) Photogenics 5 by Paul Nolan a profit from it. Livewire...... 41 Mick Sutton 2 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 3 News News Stefan Grows Bytes... fxPaint Alt.WoA Postponed The organisers of the Alt.WoA show which was due to be held in Huddersfield UK on the 26th New IBrowse! of April have decided to At last the wait is over... Stefan to automate functions - postpone the show until the Burstroem and the IBrowse because it is used by so many availability of AmigaOS 4 has development team have sites the improved Javascript been confirmed. Keep an eye released a new version of their along makes a lot more web on the show website at well known web browser. At pages compatible. The key http://www.alt-woa.org for news first glance version 2.3 doesn’t user interface change is the A new2.0 version of IOSpirit’s The new gradient manager is • Many new effects. of the new date. look much different from 2.2 improvement to the tabbed IBrowse 2.3 is compatible with more websites including paint and image processing very powerful allowing you to • Speed improvements which came out about two browsing mode, this is now a package fxPaint is now make gradients from an Deathbed Vigil DVD years ago but under the skin a joy to use, take a look at Top Notice the handymany browser on-line tabsbanks along like thisthe topone. of the window. available. Version 2.0 has unlimited number of colours, it fxPaint runs on 68k Amigas lot of magic has been worked. Tips on page 40 for more numerous improvements to the also supports transparency. of improved Javascript and purchase on-line from the new and also has direct support for IBrowse has been tweaked to information. core package, the available Some of the other new security now means IBrowse distributor IOSpirit who also WarpUp, PowerUp, MorphOS render many pages better and effects and the included plug- features include: Along with IBrowse 2.3 version will work with many bank’s on- host the demo and AmiSSL and Amithlon. Support for OS4 many long standing bugs have ins. fxAlbum which enables 2 of AmiSSL has also been line services. downloads: • Improved pyro plug-in for is planned when the OS is been squashed. Version 2.3 you to create thumbnail released, this package is used http://www.iospirit.de better fire effects. available. fxPaint 2 is available has been extensively tested IBrowse 2.3 is a free upgrade indexes of your pictures has by IBrowse to make secure • New tool settings window direct from IOSpirit via their on- and everyone reports it to be for IBrowse 2.x owners, just For more information on been greatly improved with connections to websites for on- keeps all the options in one line shop and from Amiga much more stable than earlier download the demo version IBrowse including an extensive many more options, increased line shopping and banking window. dealers. An upgrade from 1.x versions (although I didn’t have install it and copy over your log of all the changes and an speed and a much more amongst other activities. The • Size manager for user- costs 49.99Euro (about £35) many problems with 2.2 I know key file. IBrowse 1.x owners FAQ visit: powerful HTML export feature cool thing about this is that defined default page and the full version is 79Euro some people did). The biggest can upgrade for 34.99Euro http://www.ibrowse-dev.net which uses skins to give the IBrowse users no longer need dimensions. (£55). We’ll have a full review improvement however is in the (about £22) and the full price is album pages a slick look. a registered version of Miami • Colour variations window to in the next issue of Total Amiga Javascript support - this is the 54.99Euro (£35). Currently Another feature that will be and MiamiSSL to make secure compare different levels of but if you can’t wait that long scripting used on many pages IBrowse is only available for useful for web designers is the transactions. The combination effects. visit the IOSpirit website for navigation builder. This lets • Improved batch processing more details and to download a you cut buttons out of an Well known ex-Commodore and AREXX interface. demo version: engineer Dave Haynie has USB gets the Flipper Treatment image and will automatically Knights and Merchants • Direct support for TrueType http://www.iospirit.de released his classic video “The You can’t seem to move for USB devices. The USB stack is also build the HTML to display Deathbed Vigil” on DVD. The cards in the Amiga market at the designed so it can support other fonts with antialiasing. them, roll-overs are supported. film is about the final few days moment so it was a surprise cards - including USB 2.0 for MorphOS surrounding the bankruptcy of when a new team, Creative highspeed - if appropriate drivers Commodore and includes a Development, announced that are written. Knights and Merchants from tour of the West Chester plant they were working on another From a more practical angle the Epic Interactive is the first Caught in the with footage of the card with Jens Schoenfeld of Ultrabus has 4 built-in USB ports commercial game to be development labs. It also Individual Computers. This and supports USB 1.1 and 2.0 released supporting only the features interviews with some product, the Ultrabus, has a few devices however is does not MorphOS platform. The game of the people involved with tricks up its sleeve however. The have USB 2.0 highspeed mode is a real-time strategy title CrossFire Again making and supporting the first is that it is a “flipper” card (480Mb/s) and so is limited to ported from the PC original. It Amiga with plenty of interesting with Zorro II, clock port and 12Mb/s. At the time of writing the is set in the middle ages and CrossFire II is a new space and cut scenes. There are anecdotes. “Individual Computers” final prototype of the Ultrabus shoot-em-up game which is various mission types to expansion connectors for casts the player as a captain The DVD release includes has been delivered to the rather like a cross between complete including escort, compatibility with most Amigas. defending the last royal extra features not found on the developers and it will go into asteroids and a vertical scroller defence and large battles with In Zorro mode the clock port province. Your task, should you original video. These include a production after testing is like Xenon II, the game is many ships. During the game connector on the card can be choose to accept it and have a new short film “50 views of complete. For further information played over a 360 degree you can buy weapon upgrades used to connect clock port Pegasos with 64Mb of RAM Amiga’s impact”. Dave’s photo visit the Creative Development scrolling area. The full game at the between level shop, expansion devices. 512Kb of running MorphOS 1.0, is to win album has pictures covering website at: flash memory on the board back the surrounding provinces comes on CD and the missions there are about 40 types of everything from the C128 to http://www.credev.com allows the card to be active at which once belonged to your are tied together into a story weapon to try. The game also Dave’s post-Commodore boot time so you can boot from king. with a rendered intro movie has two multiplayer modes RAM but a PPC system and years. There’s even a music USB devices. Finally the card each with up to four players. 32Mb is recommended. video “Chicken-Lips Blues”! The game involves not only Dogfight see you up against will come with a new USB stack - battles more exciting. Knights Graphics and sound cards are The Deathbed Vigil is supplied fighting but also sustaining the human opponents, in survival few details are available on this and Merchants boasts a wide supported and the game has on a region free DVD-R or at present although from the economy through building, mode the human players must DVD+R (your choice) in NTSC range of units and over 25 been tested on Amithlon and mention of booting from USB planning your towns and roads co-operate against computer format (supported by most building types all of which are MorphOS too. devices presumably it supports and organising production. As controlled enemies. Although modern European DVD players displayed in an attractive hand the USB mass storage class. a player you have indirect the game only runs at 320x256 CrossFire II is published by and TVs) and costs $35 (about drawn style. The developers also say it is control over the economic side resolution it does have lots of APC/TCP in Germany and £22) direct from Dave. For compact, efficient and fits in with of the game, you decree what Knights and Merchants costs cool graphical effects including costs 39.90Euro (about £25), more details visit: the Amiga system architecture. you would like to happen and 45Euro (about £29), for more transparency and great more details and a demo can http://www.jersey.net/ Developer documentation will be your serfs get on with it. On the details visit: CrossFire II features colourful explosions. The game needs at be found on their website at: ~dhaynie/dbv/ supplied for so third parties can military side you can control http://www.epic-interactive.com (honest!) graphics and great least a 68030 with 16Mb of http://www.apc-tcp.de write drivers for more USB The Ultrabus prototype. your armies directly making explosions. 4 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 5 News News Faster Spider Poseidon gets Booted by ROMulus! Elbox have released a new Michael Böhmer of E3B and The prototype Bytes... Catweasel Flips Out! Poseidon hardware driver for their Spider PCI USB card Chris Hodges author of the ROMulus Amiga Forever 5.1 Individual Computers seem to which enables it to work with Poseidon USB stack have module (on A free update to version 5.1of have a knack for building lots USB 2.0 devices in Highspeed been busy once again with top) mounted Cloanto’s officially licensed of handy interfaces onto one mode. This makes the Spider another add-on for their on a Highway Amiga emulation package board and they’ve really gone the first highspeed USB 2.0 Highway Zorro II USB card. with a Norway“Amiga Forever” is now to town with their latest release card for the Amiga. USB 2.0 is The new expansion module is Ethernet cardavailable using the software’s the Catweasel Mk3 PCI the current standard and called the ROMulus and as you on it’s pass-automatic update facility. The Flipper! The main feature of all supports data transfer rates of might guess from the name it new version includes an Catweasel products has contains a 512Kb flash ROM. through updated emulation, upgraded up to 480 megabits per second connector. always been their floppy drive (nearly 60 megabytes per The purpose of the board is to support software such as Amiga Explorer and improved interface, the Mk 3 is no second). In real life the data allow you to load software documentation and help files. different, you can connect a rate is limited by the speed of modules into the ROM so they Amiga Forever 5.1 now normal 1.44Mb high density the USB device, protocol are available at boot-time. An replacement. The boot loader interface logic needs to be includes officially licensed PC floppy drive and use it to overheads and the Mediator obvious example is the used to load the modules uses upgraded, for this upgrade you copies of the classic Amiga read high and double density interface however USB 2.0 Poseidon itself. With the USB compression so 700 to 900 Kb need to return your card to “narrator” speech synthesis Amiga disks as well as disks highspeed should still be a big stack and classes loaded into of modules can be stored in the E3B. The ROMulus is software which has not been from all manner of other jump over USB 1.1 and makes ROM you could boot from a flash ROM, a list on the E3B expected to cost about 35Euro shipped with AmigaOS since platforms. For those emulating using devices like USB CD USB mass storage device and, The Catweasel Mk3 PCI Flipper couldn’t be more flexible. website shows 27 different (about £22) including the 1991. older machines 5.25” disk recorders and hard disks a with recent OS versions, use a It’s ideal for current Amiga users, the AmigaOne, Pegasos modules including Poseidon upgrade. For more details visit Cloanto drives are also supported. more practical proposition. USB keyboard and mouse in and its classes taking up just at http://www.amigaforever.com What makes this board so the early startup menu. For more details visit E3B at: The USB 2.0 upgrade arrived over half the available space. special is the PCI Flipper part, connector the other featuresand anyone intoemulators Emulation. to output authentic However other modules can http://www.e3b.de too late for our Spider review this means the Catweasel Mk 3 make sense, these are an sound. also be loaded into the ROM The ROMulus attaches to the on page 22 but if we can find The Highway is available from can connect to a PCI slot in a Amiga keyboard port (so you the system upgrades normally Highway’s expansion port and SimpleMail 0.19 Visit Individual Computers at some USB 2.0 devices to test KDH in Germany computer such as a PC, can use a proper Amiga loaded by SetPatch (causing a has a pass through for the SimpleMail is rapidly becoming their new (and rather cool) web we will bring you an update (http://www.kdh-shop24.de) AmigaOne or Pegasos. On the keyboard with your AmigaOne double boot) in OS3.5 and 3.9 Norway Ethernet card. The one of the most popular Amiga address for more: next issue. For more details on and Forematt Home other side is a Zorro slot and or under UAE), a digital can be loaded as can non- whole expanded card only EMail applications, since our http://www.ami.ga the Spider visit the Elbox Computing in the UK there is also a clock port so it joystick port and a C64 SID patching Blizkick modules. The requires one Zorro II slot. last issue there have been a website at: (http://www.forematt.co.uk), can connect to most Amiga sound chip. The SID chip only limitation is that you can’t Before you can use the couple of update releases with http://www.elbox.com telephone (08700) 112234. systems too. With the PCI allows Commodore 64 load a complete Kickstart ROMulus the Highway’s bus new features including: • Improved sorting. • Folder export facility to export Hollywood OpenPCI Encourages all the messages in a folder. • Added recipient filter rule Update HD-Rec Goes Public Driver Development type (which matches To and The first public beta version of and the developer AmigaOS 4 when it is released CC) AirsoftSoftwair have a new MIDI and audio recommends a 060, he also but this has not been tested by Open PCI is an attempt to cards are also in the • Very simple IMAP support announced the first upgrade to sequencer has been released recommends an AHI supported the author. Direct PPC support make a common API for works from the (fetches complete mail, no their recently released script- by its author Thilo Köhler. HD- sound card and a graphics is not planned although it could accessing PCI cards on the OpenPCI team. move support, no status based multimedia application Amiga. This means a PCI card Rec supports up to 256 tracks card with at least 800x600 be implemented in third party You can download the update) Hollywood. Version 1.5 will driver could be written once and can sequence AIFF, WAV, resolution. HD-Rec was plug-ins. latest version of • Can decrypt signed S/MIME include many new features, and then work with that type of mails using AmiSSL. MAUD, RAW, CDDA, 8SVX, developed on an Amithlon OpenPCI and request improvements and bug fixes When released HD-Rec will be PCI card no matter which AmithlonTV uses OpenPCI to support Download the latest beta from MP3 and MIDI sounds. As you system and will benefit from a developer kit if you but will not introduce a slide shareware, further details are Amiga PCI bus it was a variety of PCI busboards and http://simplemail.sourceforge.net might guess from the name the increased performance of a are interested in design GUI. Some of the new available on the developer’s connected to. Open PCI sits motherboards, including Amithlon. one of HD-Rec’s key features fast x86 processor even under making PCI drivers features include: website: between the driver and the PCI is that audio recording and emulation this should also be from: Amithlon TV supports a range software supplied with the bus • Full support for AHI (sound processing is not limited by the case on MorphOS and http://www.hd-rec.de http://www.chez.com/ of PCI TV cards and can also End of Aminet CDs board or computer basically samples & music modules) available memory. The titan/DevPCI.html work the FM radio tuners found Urban Müller the maintainer of acting as a translator between Aminet (the biggest collection • Multiple layers program has a very slick font on some models. More cards the two. Currently DCE GRex of Amiga software on the • Improvements to the inbuilt sensitive GadTools based AmithlonTV can be supported by writing a and Matay Prometheus bus Internet) has decided to stop undo system interface and sequences can plug-in driver for the chipsets boards are supported as are The first third party application producing the regular Aminet • Support for off-screen be arranged by drag and drop. they use. The program has a PCI cards in PCs running to use OpenPCI is AmithlonTV, CDs. This decision was taken rendering Some other features include: configuration GUI where you Amithlon and in Pegasos as you can guess from the due to shrinking sales probably • Even more cool 24-bit can set up the channels you • Real-time audio effects (not computers running MorphOS name this was originally due to the fact that Internet transition effects! wish to view and adjust your in the current public beta). 1.0. Unfortunately Elbox’s designed to allow Amithlon access (and fast access at • New flexible object moving preferences. The TV picture is • Bars & Pipes style notator for Mediator bus boards are not users to view TV programs via that) is now widely available. system then displayed in a window on The demise of the CDs does MIDI elements. supported however they do a PCI TV card in their PC. By the Workbench or other not effect the Aminet Internet • Audiomaster style editor for have better native driver using OpenPCI AmithlonTV audio elements. screen. sites which will continue as Version 1.5 will be a free support than the others. can now work on a range of normal. The final Aminet CD is • Powerful plug-in system. AmithlonTV is giftware, to upgrade for existing Hollywood Version 1.0 of Open PCI has PCI busboards and has number 52 - December 2002 download the latest version go owners, the full package costs just been released and the first already been tested on a which contains a full version of 49Euro (just over £30) and can HD-Rec needs a powerful driver available is for Realtek Pegasos running MorphOS. to its homepage at: Superview Productivity Suite 2. be ordered from: system for good performance, 8139 based Ethernet cards. http://www.vmc.de/ As usual you can visit Aminet http://www.airsoftsoftwair.com an 040 25Mhz is the minimum Drivers for PCI sound and USB amithlon/amithlontv at: http://www.aminet.net 6 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 7 Features MorphOS Update & Pegasos enhanced in other ways to with he first news to report since better multi-threading support, Tthe last issue is that bplan better memory handling and (the manufacturers of the control over running tasks. Pegasos PPC motherboard) and Thendic France (its distributor) Graphics and Ambient have merged forming a new company called Genesi. Also in Font support has been the last issue I wasn’t able to enhanced, PostScript, TrueType give you much concrete and OpenType fonts can now be information on MorphOS used and antialaising is because the only details we had supported. System wide were from the old public beta antialaising support in the versions and some comments graphics.library is in from visitors who had used the development. The MorphOS Ambient desktop. system at shows. Now a detailed MorphOS has a skin-able user optimisations have been made. It datatypes, MorphOS has PPC specification document has been interface where the user can seems that MUI is the native native datatypes for JPEG, IFF- released giving a good overview change to look of window MorphOS GUI toolkit. ILBM, PNG and GIF images of the OS itself and the included borders and gadgets by amongst others. A new version applications. In this article I’ll selecting a bitmap for each Sound is supported via AHI so of APDF is supplied to view PDF pick out the key points but it’s element. Other enhancements existing applications which use files up to version 1.4. It supports well worth reading the full over the standard Amiga Intuition this standard will work. Drivers antialaising, image transparency, document yourself. include opaque window are supplied for the on-board password protected files and movement - very fast and sound of the Pegasos progressive display. A registered CoreOS and Emulation smooth when we tried it at motherboard and two sound version of TurboPrint 7, the WoASE, the ability to move cards from Terratec, the 128i PCI MorphOS is based on the Quark excellent print enhancement windows off -screen and and the 512i digital. Micro-kernel which can be used package that will be familiar to iconification for all windows. on a variety of hardware via a AmiTCP 5 Total Amiga readers, is included Hardware Abstraction Layer. Ambient the MorphOS desktop with MorphOS to handle full Currently all MorphOS user interface - this is the “face” An enhanced version of the 24bit printing. application run inside the ABox of the system when you first start classic AmiTCP will be supplied which contains an extended re- it. Ambient is based on MUI and as the MorphOS TCP/IP stack Pegasos implementation of AmigaOS and it has a fully multi-threaded along with a suite of standard For the past couple of months it a 68k emulator allowing existing design so you can perform network tools (ping, traceroute has been difficult (probably AmigaOS applications which do several actions at once and the etc.). Version 5 supports PPP impossible) to purchase a not required Amiga hardware desktop does not block while an over Ethernet needed for some Pegasos computer, the last access to run. Existing Amiga action completes. Ambient cable and ADSL modems production run was released at PPC applications and utilities supports all existing Amiga icon (although not for UK ADSL) and the Aachen show in December using both the PowerUP and formats including NewIcons and DHCP support is planned. and has long since sold out. As I WarpUP systems are supported OS3.5+ icons as well as its own AmiTCP uses SANA II drivers to complete this article Genesi by compatible libraries. 24bit PNG based icon form access network hardware and have just announced that a new which benefits from alpha- MorphOS is supplied with drivers The 68k emulation system batch of 400 Pegasos mother channel based transparency. for the Pegasos on-board supports both traditional static boards (of which 300 will be for Also on the subject of icons networking, Realtek 8029 and emulation and Just In Time public sale and 100 for cacheing makes re-opening a 8139 PCI cards and for the recompilation and uses the most developers) will be available to drawer much faster as the icons XSurf and Ariadne II Zorro II appropriate emulation type order from Amiga dealers from are cached. The preferences Ethernet cards. To get you based on the task at hand. This Monday the 24th of February. programs have been integrated started on the Internet MorphOS “intelligent” emulation is This will be the last production of into a single MUI application and is supplied with a full version of designed to add minimum delay the existing Pegasos design. can also be run separately. Vaporware’s Voyager web and latency to time critical tasks Instead a new Pegasos II is browser and the Simple Mail E- (such as responding to user A registered PPC native version being worked on and will be Mail client, both of these input) while achieving maximum of the popular MUI interface available in September, this applications are PPC native. performance for computationaly toolkit is supplied with MorphOS, machine will have a faster intensive tasks. Genesi claim this is based on the latest MUI Supplied Utilities system bus, three gigabit that typical 68k applications version and has some new Ethernet channels and dual G4 achieve between 50 and 75 features not in the current 68k A bundle of native software processors. Owners of existing percent of the native PPC speed. Amiga release (3.8) including: comes with MorphOS including Pegasos boards will be able to More configurable bubble help. A get a discount on a Pegasos II. The ABox has a re-implemented the following: FroggerNG plays new menu system which can be PPC native Exec kernel (the back a wide range of movie and It’s nice to have some solid embedded in windows if you core of AmigaOS) which allows video clip formats such as information on MorphOS at last, wish. Native support for wheel PPC and emulated 68k code to MPEG, AVI and Quicktime we have asked Genesi if they mice not requiring a patch. mixed without task switching (MOV). Frogger supports will supply us with a Pegasos for MagicASL is incorporated so all which caused an overhead one popular codecs including DIVX review so hopefully we’ll be able system requesters get MUI the 68k and PPC PowerUP and MPEG4. Mystic View is a to give you an even better insight interfaces. On top of these many accelerators. Exec has been picture viewer which uses in the next issue of Total Amiga. performance improvements and 8 TOTAL AMIGA News News Amiga Inc’s technology chief says good riddance to 2002 and looks forward to a Fleecy Speaks brighter 2003. 2002 was a bad year for Amiga. time passed, the bulk of the work that had been done into a from scratch Amiga Generation 2 Amiga One Update The world economy slowed, slowly fell behind us and the community accessible format. (AG2) systems that look at the AmigaOne G3SE boards are in the hands of their proud owners, now Alan Redhouse updates us on the rest of the family. customers tightened their purse sweet, pure air of the summit of Amiga technical legacy, our What was fantastic was the strings and Amiga Inc, dealers, success began to make itself felt. competitors, the requirements of reaction to it being released to a Yes we did actually make it - in production towards the end of developers, users and editors our existing and potential Projects of any kind are always a private test group. For a year part at least. Most developers this year. were all subject to attacks from a customers and all the rocket roller coaster of emotion. They they’tag">d had nothing but a stream and 'Earlybird' customers did third party intent on convincing science research currently being start out with great excitement of disinformation and then A1 and Linux them that the Amiga we all know carried out in each area. 2D actually get their and energy, elements quickly suddenly, to be confronted by the and love was dead and that they graphics, 3D graphics, audio, AmigaOneG3-SE systems consumed as the individual magnitude of the work that All this begs the question as to were the only solution for an video, user environments, before Christmas. We would project tasks start, split and constitutes AmigaOS4.0, they whether the market for Amiga future. connectivity. Each will do what have been able to get all seem to engulf the original were dumbstruck; but not for AmigaOnes - with OS4 - is Amiga has always strived to do, orders out if only UPS hadn't Luckily, the Amiga community is passion, days turning into weeks long. large enough to support these show the rest of the world how it lost part of the consignment en not fooled that easily. The main turning into months before finally sorts of development. Well no, By the time you read this, that should be done. route from the Far East! damage was done because the things start to come together, it isn't - at least not at present. feature set document should be work on the AmigaOne and results appearing more You may also find in this issue Unfortunately we weren't able So with MAI's agreement all publicly available on the Amiga AmigaOS4.0 has been going on frequently and that original the first advert of the Inc website, and maybe even to get any AmigaOne-XE's out the existing AmigaOne dealers in the background, away from passion returning as the project AmigaOS4.0 advertising reproduced in this magazine, due to a delay in receiving the (as shown on our website) who the public eye. Screenshots and approaches completion. campaign. We believe that although at 20 very concentrated 7451 cpu's from Motorola, but wish to can now also sell the demonstrations of small pieces computers should be there to The latest AmigaOne G4XE motherboard on test. Well we at Amiga and in the (no diagram) pages just for it actually turns out that this Teron motherboard designs (on of the technology were effective allow anyone to embrace “digital AmigaOS4.0 team are very version 1, that might be too particular cloud did indeed clock rate. We will publish full releasing this module for which the AmigaOne is based) in communicating progress but living”™, and that this consists of excited now. 2003 has swept much. have a silver lining and we benchmarks in the next issue general purchase until OS4 for Linux, and with direct links still left the door open for four base elements, the away the tiredness and toil of were therefore able to use the of Total Amiga. has been shipped for the from the MAI website. malicious rumours and untruths. What you will see is that requirements to work, play, 2002. Every day, tasks are being new mask revision of the AmigaOne. AmigaOS4.0 is a mammoth create and connect. This All this means that volume Who would buy these designs Despite this public onslaught, the ticked off the project schedule, Articia 'S' northbridge in the - effort that has ripped the guts out campaign and all the artwork has shipments of A1XE/G4-800's hearty and passionate group that beta test completed. As the A1-SE Lite for Linux when x86 of the AmigaOS, kept the good been done by Amigans and we XE. The first batch of these has come together under disparate parts come together, are starting in earnest at the motherboards are so cheap? parts, retired the creaking parts, believe it will succeed in letting new boards were shipped in Hyperion’s excellent guidance the whole that was dreamt of 12 time of writing - initially as But what of the AmigaOne- Well any company who runs a installed brand new, gleaming the world know the good news early February to existing A1- continued to do its work, initially months ago is now becoming Earlybird systems with SE? Since the AmigaOne-XE significant number of servers - parts, and all whilst moving away about Amiga whilst also carrying SE developers - and to on 68K and PPC accelerated proudly and rudely visible. Linux/UAE (and a free copy of became available many an ISP for example - can save from not just a specific processor the unique Amiga spirit within it. Hyperion of course - to fine 68K machines and finally on OS4 when available). However individuals have opted to up to £110/cpu/year on energy The joy of this is that we can now family but also a highly tune the firmware and Linux AmigaOne machines Good riddance to 2002, and as we individually test each upgrade to this in preference to consumption alone. Thats over share it with you. Over the integrated custom media chipset. kernel to the new board and themselves. Although it was hello to 2003, the year when we board before shipping there are the A1-SE, and with the current £100,000 pa for a modest ISP Christmas holiday, when cpu modules. This turned out tempting to take shortcuts, to And it is just the start of the can start smiling again; and you practical limits to how many we size of the Amiga market it is with 500 dual-cpu servers, and stomachs were groaning and to be more complex then throw out a product much less rebirth of the Amiga desktop know what they say - laughter is can ship each week - so, as we only practicable to produce one 10 times that for some of the heads throbbing, Ben Hermans, expected because Motorola's than what we wanted, we never platform. With a brand new infectious. will be sending out systems in board type at once. But we are larger ISP’s. And these PPC the project manager for documentation on initialisation forgot that Amigans never settle foundation in place, the Amiga chronological ordering order, very conscious that, even in boards also fit in 1U high rack AmigaOS4.0 was busy putting of the 7451 cpu was only for second best. Work continued Generation 1 (AG1) systems that some of you may still not have relatively low volumes, there is cases whereas most x86 together the first version of a updated in mid-February to on through the shitstorm of have been brought across will be received your systems by the a need to produce a lot lower servers need a 4U high box to public feature set document, match the (changed) accusation and smear and as replaced by brand new, designed time this issue hits the mailbox. cost entry-level single board get sufficient air circulation for drawing together all of the work initialisation routines needed Don't worry, your A1 will arrive computer, not just as an entry- cooling purposes. That alone for the cpu versions shipped to soon. level Amiga and/or OS4 games might represent a quartering of us at the beginning of January! console, but as something that the real estate costs needed Bringing you the latest news and A1-XE/G3 & dual G4 can form the basic module for for a server farm - which of comment from the Amiga world. stand-alone multimedia Having sorted this out however The A1-XE/G3-800 using the course also represents a very Buzz Word... applications running under I am pleased to be able to IBM 750FX cpu module - which considerable cost saving. There are lies, rumours and certain rival company. have made an announcement forthcoming AmigaOS4.0 report that - as expected by us OS4. This would form, for has already been fully tested What does this mean for the sometimes (rarely) there are Naughty Boy. in relation to this matter by the launch. A new marketing (and contrary to the difficulties example, a replacement for the by Hyperion - will be shipped AmigaOne? Simple. Higher truths. Sorting out the wheat time this issue goes to press. strategy may cause a apparently being experienced CD32 and A1200 AmigaOS4 towards the end of March. volumes quickly translate to from the chaff is difficult at Sources suggest that Amiga rebranding of AmigaOS to in other quarters with similar motherboards have been used times. However there is so will now aim to attend the distinguish it from AmigaDE These cpu's also give excellent lower production costs, and It looks very likely that Amiga technology) - the by us and others in embedded much F.U.D. (Fear, Cebit Show in May which is products. It is rumoured that performance. The higher clock lower production costs coupled will not be attending the 7451@800MHz is delivering its kiosk and entertainment Uncertainty and Doubt) being held in Australia. the graphic artist involved is speed, coupled with a more with the high delivered Buzzforthcoming CeBit ShowWord... in expected performance - ie applications to date. We have spread about the Amiga the same person responsible advanced architecture than the performance of OS4 at last Germany. Work is proceeding and a much higher than that of the already produced the initial Community that the following for the latest Amiga 750CXe make this cpu around gives us a real opportunity to May/June 2003 Release is not G3-SE, and that (in the tests specification for this small- items may indeed be pure The reason circulating is that 60-70% faster than the G3-SE take the Amiga back into the beyond the realm of fantasy. advertisement in this issue... carried out) is without using footprint ‘AmigaOne SE-Lite'. speculation by others. Amiga were hoping until the in real world applications. high street computer stores About time too! The current Altivec or the 2MB level 3 Negotiations with IBM have last moment to see if OS4 once more as the leisure Amiga Website Amiga website really needs a cache! In fact the performance In addition Hyperion have also over cpu specification and Double Agents would be completed in time for computer of choice. total overhaul. against x86 technology is even been testing the dual-G4 cpu pricing are already in train at CeBit. Sadly circumstances It is rumoured that Amiga Buzz Word has heard that one more remarkable, with some module for the AmigaOne-XE. the highest level and Its all part of the grand plan. have conspired to make it webmaster Ray Akey is That’s all for this issue, see of the AmigaOS4 Betatesters real-world applications running As OS4 has been designed to indications are that this highly unlikely that OS4 will be working with a prominent you all next month with more See you next issue based in the Mediterranean is between 2 and 3 times as fast be SMP compatible truly jaw- expansion-limited A1-SE Mk2 completed in time for the Amiga graphics artist to “insider” reports and rumours. allegedly reporting all findings (under Linux) as their x86 dropping performance can be can be very aggressively Alan show. Buzz expects Amiga to design a new website for the counterparts with the same expected. We will not be priced. We aim to put this into and or discussions back to a 10 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 11 Features World of Amiga South East Show Report on existing Amiga hardware, best rather like characters from the orld of Amiga South East of all the game was on sale at the Sopranos (only joking Bill!) . At the W2002 (or WoASE for short) show. Matt Morris of BAC had his centre of the Thendic stand was was held at Poplars Hall near modified A1200 tower complete the “Video Microwave” this was a Brentwood in Essex on Saturday with side window and custom paint microwave oven with an LCD the 2nd of November 2002. This job as featured in Total Amiga panel mounted in the door and a was the same venue as last year’s issue 13. Finally Chris Morris (not Pegasos motherboard inside, it successful show, but this year a relation of Matt’s) had some OS looked cool and certainly drew Sam Byford demonstrates there were many more interesting 4 components running on his visitors attention! Tales of Tamar on the things to see. Amiga including the new TCP/IP For many people including SEAL Mediator stand. stack which was put to good use The show venue was split into two members WoASE was the first about their group. On the SEAL by networked Quake 2. In fact main areas with the all important opportunity to see MorphOS in stand Robert gave a many visitors seemed to be more bar in between. The smaller of the action, and most of us came away demonstration PageStream as it is interested in Quake 2 than the OS two housed the usergroup area with mixed feelings. The Pegasos used to produce Total Amiga. components! and the presentation stage with machines and Ambient GUI looked During the show several working PA (unlike last year) and Zeoneo were demonstrating their great and ran very smoothly. The presentations were made in the projector. In the bigger main hall AmigaDE products including the fact that classic Amiga applications hall with PA and projector. Alan the commercial exhibitors were soon to be released Crossword ran at all on completely different Redhouse gave us an update on displaying their products and of Evolution. Also on their stand was hardware was also very the AmigaOne PPC systems course selling them to visitors. information about a forthcoming impressive. On the negative side including information on a fix that release of Candy Factory Pro for everyone we spoke to experienced Eyetech’s stand was immediately had to be applied to the Artica AmigaOS 4. Next to Zeoneo was at least one crash or lockup when in front of the entrance doors to north bridge chip, this will be The Crypt web magazine who using the system, when we spoke the main hall in addition to their implemented in the next batch of showed their latest issue. Michael to Thendic they said that the beta range of “Classic” Amiga products AmigaOne motherboards. Battallina of Cloanto had the latest version at the show was the first to they had an AmigaOne G4XE release of AmigaForever with the have JIT 68k emulation Ben Hermans gave a talk motherboard on display and a JIT version of UAE for sale at a implemented so things should illustrated with a SCALA slideshow G3SE system up and running. For very reasonable price and as usual improve with further development. on AmigaOS 4, he started with a the first time Eyetech were did a very simple and stylish job of We also noticed that only very progress report on all aspects of accepting pre-orders on AmigaOne decorating his table. Cloanto also basic OS utilities were installed it the new OS. He explained the SE and XE boards and systems supplied several copies of AF5 as remains to be seen what will be status of the ExecSG kernal which with an added bonus of a free copy prizes for the entry ticket raffle. implemented in the future. is now running on the AmigaOne of OS 4 when it is released. The hardware and said it had Frieden brothers (key OS 4 Next up was our Total Amiga stand The Mediator Support Team had exceptionally good performance. developers at Hyperion) were manned by Elliott Bird, David Lloyd their own stand at the show and it Ben stated that about 90% of the demonstrating the AmigaOne and Robert Williams. We had the proved to be one of the most development on OS 4 is complete BIOS and OS 4’s ExecSG on this latest issue of the magazine along popular and interesting. SEAL’s but the 68K emulator still has to be machine although the 68k with several back issues. It was own Sam Byford showed his integrated with the system and the emulator isn’t yet implemented great to meet so many Total Amiga A4000 Tower with Mediator 4000 complete package needs to be allowing it to boot into a full OS readers and recruit some new with PCI cards including the new tested together. they were able to show that the subscribers. Altogether the show Spider USB and a TV card through kernal booted on the AmigaOne was a success for the magazine. which Sam could demonstrate his Fleecy Moss summed up Amiga’s and that various features such as Next to us was Kicksoft with Ray video camera. Sam was also current position including an multi-tasking and virtual memory McCarthy in full swing selling a demonstrating the newly released explanation of why Amiga had are already working. variety of serious software and Tales of Tamar on-line strategy been hard to contact over the games. In particular Ray had game on his system. Also on the weeks prior to the show. He also Next to the Eyetech Stand were PageStream 4.1 at a special show Mediator stand was a Playstation 2 revealed a deal with Microsoft for Amiga Inc. and Blackpool Amiga discount. Weird Science’s four playing on a graphics card screen them to distribute Amiga Anywhere Club, we mention them together tables were loaded with Amiga through a TV card and the new 6 products which according to because both tables were covered CDs and other software at show slot Mediator 1200SX. Fleecy will give Amiga stable with computers running Hyperion’s discount prices. financial backing into the future. Quake 2 port that was released at At the back of the main hall was The final presentation was a the show. Quake 2 really drew the Thendic France had the largest Forematt Home Computing with question and answer session with crowds and seems to run smoothly stand at the show with eleven their huge range of Amiga software Fleecy and Ben which was Pegasos PPC machines housed in including many classic games. In presided over by well respected stylish aluminium desktop cases addition to the classic games they ex-Amiga journalist Andrew Korn. with silver 17” TFT monitors. Most also stock many recent games Fleecy and Ben Answered a of the systems were running including Software Tycoon, Tales of variety of questions from visitors MorphOS (Thendic’s Amiga Tamar and Quake 2 all of which and seemed frank and open in compatible PPC operating system) were released at the show! 100% their answers. with a variety of applications and Amiga, the monthly CD based games loaded including ImageFX, Amiga magazine, was on display If you would like to listen to the Candy Factory, Voyager, Software showing off the new interface that presentations or read full Tycoon and Quake. A couple of the works on all Amigas and in fact transcripts then download them Pegasos machines were running any computer with a web browser. from the show website at: PPC Linux including the http://amiga.merseine.nu/ In the presentation hall four user impressive MacOnLinux emulator. woase/files.html groups, HAUG, ASA, ANT and Visitors could sit down and try the SEAL all had tables where they By Robert Williams & Mick Sutton systems and help was on hand sold some second hand Amiga from several Thendic staff, all gear and software. ANT were Thendic brought an array of smartly dressed in suits looking running a SCALA presentation Pegasos running MorphOS. 12 TOTAL AMIGA Features Features latest offerings from the likes of nVidia and ATI. Hyperion have explained that SciTech will port SNAP to Linux PPC and then they will integrate it to a Picasso 96 driver which will slot straight into the OS4 graphics system. AmigaOS 4 This move should give OS4 Robert Williams picks the best bits from the recent information on OS 4Update to bring you a veritable feast of news. much better graphics driver support with minimal effort. processors which can would imply). The emulation has are useful for palettes where Hyperion’s Ben Hermans was t’s easy to get frustrated while dramatically accelerate certain been directly integrated with application developers want to particularly keen to point out that waiting for a major product operations. The features list also ExecSG to keep it as responsive keep the document window supporting so many chipsets I was particularly important for the release like AmigaOS 4. confirms that ExecSG will as possible and to allow 68k selected. Windows can be However since the last issue of support existing WarpUp PPC applications to make limited use moved and re-sized opaquely in embedded market where he Total Amiga Hyperion and Amiga applications via a built-in of some of the new Exec real-time without the use of would like to see OS4 gain a foot have released several important emulation. A new memory features. hacks or patches. A new pop-up hold. pieces of information which give system has been implemented menu class has been added to Initially SciTech will only supply us a good idea of what the end which uses a virtualised address ReAction. The look and feel of all PCI 2D drivers but Ben says that product will be like. First they space meaning that addressable GUI elements can be controlled Hyperion plan to work with them released many screenshots memory can be larger than Support for PCI expansion cards by a new preferences program, to add 3D support for cards showing the flexibility which has physical memory. Applications has been brought into the OS various frame styles are where the necessary been added to the Intuition and can request physical areas of using the expansion.library. In available (3D, XEN or flat) and documentation is available. The ReAction systems, you can see memory if required as in the addition to the PCI slots provided most elements can filled with a initial release of OS 4 will be examples of these screen shots current Amiga model. Memory by the Artica S northbridge of the bitmap texture. Both GadTools supplied with Warp 3D 4 - this on this page and on the back can be optionally swapped to Amiga One, Prometheus and and ReAction GUIs will take their supports the 3D functions of cover. Next up was a detailed disk - this feature can be Mediator PCI bus boards are look from the same preferences Permedia 2 and Voodoo 3 based features list spelling out exactly disabled is not required and in also supported. program in almost every detail graphics cards, ATI Radeon what they plan for the new OS certain circumstances be toggled so programs using these GUI support is also planned. A port of version. Finally as we go to on the fly. tools will get a consistent look. Graphics and GUI the OpenGL compatible Mesa This is just one of the examples posted by Hyperion showing the flexibility of the enhanced press Hyperion have just GUI settings can be customised 5.0 3D API will also be included Intuition and Reaction. Notice how custom bitmap textures have been used for most GUI elements. announced an agreement with Also listed are several features The layers.library which handles on a screen-by-screen basis or to aid the development and SciTech Software which will give which are planned and already overlapping windows has been all screens can have a common OS4 will have a built-in USB the utilities a PPC native version and from my experience so far porting of 3D applications. Later OS 4 2D support for many more partially implemented. improved and greatly optimised. look. A usable demo version of stack which includes support for of this popular filesystem will be seems to be much more stable is a new release of Warp3D, code graphics cards. Symmetrical Multi-Processing In addition to higher speed it MUI will be supplied to support USB mice, keyboards, printers included as a contribution. compatible with many more named NOVA will be released will allow the OS to run on offers improved memory existing MUI applications, this and scanners. A simple GUI to websites than 2.2. IBrowse 2.3 is The features list released by with a much more advanced multiple CPUs of the same type. management, the ability to hide will be configured so MUI control the stack is completed Two new utilities will make a 68k application so it will run Hyperion is a detailed document design capable of supporting the Multi-threading for improved layers and off-screen layers so applications fit in with the default and work is in progress on a handling PDF and PostScript under emulation on OS4 spanning about twenty pages latest 3D technologies and performance and multi-tasking windows can be dragged off the OS4 GUI’s look and feel. more powerful GUI and drivers files much easier. AmiPDF is a however with the emulation and covers some ground I’ve games. within applications. Pluggable edge of the screen. This last for USB Mass Storage devices new PDF viewer with support for performance being quoted it mentioned in previous updates, schedulers will allow then user to As we go to press Hyperion has PDF version 1.4. AmiPDF can feature is optional and can also AmigaOS’s font support will be (memory card readers, should get a nice speed increase so in this feature I’ll try to pick customise the way the OS made an announcement that will display many font types and be temporarily disabled using a dramatically enhanced in version removable drives, hard disks on all but the slowest PPC out the new and interesting stuff. prioritises running processes by massively increase OS4’s antialiasing to smooth out the hot-key. 4 with a new font system called etc.) and Human Interface hardware. If you’re at all interested in OS 4 selecting a different schedulers graphics card support. Hyperion jaggies. It can open password FT2Engine. This will provide devices (multimedia keyboards, and especially if you’re a (you may have seen a similar Many changes have been made have entered a strategic protected files and has direct support for PostScript and scroll mice, tablets etc.). programmer please go to the approach in the shareware to the Intuition and Reaction GUI partnership with SciTech to port printing support. The interface What Progress is Being TrueType scalable fonts and Because the stack is part of the Amiga site at Executive package). We’ll wait to systems, here are some of the their SNAP product to OS 4. allows multiple document bitmap fonts from Windows and OS USB devices can be Made? http://os.amiga.com and read the see whether any of these most interesting: A new type of SNAP provides 2D graphics windows to be opened. AmiGS is XWindows systems. A new font available during boot, for document yourself if you haven’t interesting developments make it toolbox window is available, support for over 170 different a front-end of a new port of We understand that the OS manager utility will allow you to example you could use a USB done so already as there is a lot in time for the initial release. these cannot be activated and graphics chip sets including the GhostScript (the popular open components mentioned in the install fonts more easily, view mouse in the early start-up of detail I won’t have room to source PostScript display and features list are pretty much their character sets and set menu. mention here. processing package) this allows complete with only a handful of many new options. Emulation postscript files to be displayed minor issues outstanding. Most ExecSG The 68k emulator will be New Utilities and like AmiPDF has full of these components have been integrated into OS4 to allow CD, DVD and USB In addition to the powerful new antialaising and printing support. with the OS4 beta testing team Exec is the AmigaOS kernel existing Amiga applications and “Media Toolbox”, a replacement for some time and there has also which controls the very basic The new CD and DVD file A new PPC native version of OS elements which have not for HDToolBox, “Partition Wizard” been a call for translators to help functions of the OS such as system deserves a mention, in MooVID will give OS 4 users been ported to run on the PPC will give Amiga users long in the localisation effort. The memory management and addition to supporting all access to movies and video clips processor. Using a Just In Time awaited repair and salvage tools main area still be completed is prioritising tasks. ExecSG is the common formats such as in AVI, QuickTime (MOV) and emulator performance is for both SFS and FFS formatted the integration of the 68k new PPC native version for OS 4 RockRidge (Unix and Amiga), MPEG4 formats. A wide range of expected to be very good with disks. Basic tools are available emulation and this is the focus of with lots of important new Joliet (Windows) and HFS (Mac) different codecs are supported even a PPC 603e 160Mhz (the for both file systems to check a work at the moment. features. Limited memory it can also read audio tracks as including DIVX 3, 4 and 5, slowest PPC on a production partition for errors, recover files Understandably the OS protection stops critical memory AIFF files and Video CDs. More MPEG4 versions 1, 2 and 3, Intel PowerUP card) achieving similar from a damaged partition and to development team are unwilling areas such as the kernel, code interestingly it can also packet Indeo and Sorenson video. performance to an 060/50Mhz. find partitions on a disk with a to put a date on completion after areas and unused memory from write to a CR-RW meaning you Performance on faster PPCs and damaged or lost RDB. For FFS so many delays and so much being written to in error or can use a CD-RW disc rather Finally a special version of the particularly on a more modern disks Partition Wizard can also speculation however they do corrupted. New applications can like a large floppy disk without recently released IBrowse 2.3 system with faster RAM and repair errors in place and assure us that a lot has been use a the new MMU to protect dedicated CD-writing software. will be included as OS4’s fewer bottle necks like the undelete files. Finally it can also achieved and that work will not their memory from other The CDFS also supports the standard web browser. Version AmigaOne should be very optimise (defragment) both types be wasted. processes. The new kernel new Mount Rainier standard for 2.3 is the result of a great deal of impressive (and much more than of file system. As you might includes support for the Altivec The new GUI Preferences offers much more control over packet writing to CD-RWs if your work and testing by Stefan the additional processor speed guess from the SFS support in vector unit found in G4 drive implements it. Burstroem and the IBrowse team 14 colours than TOTALthe old Palette prefs.AMIGA Spring 2003 15 Features Features designed for formatting the document - they are for structuring the sections of a page. For example on our home page we might have The Basics of information in several groups such as personal details, work, qualifications, hobbies etc. Under some of these might be subsections of information. We can use The effect of combining text style tags. Robert Williams guides you headings to lay this out neatly, for example: through creating your first spelling of “center” in HTML code as the

My Home Page

British English spelling may not be correctly webpage in a tutorial

Personal Information

interpreted by all browsers. ...information... designed to introduce the

Work

...information... Line Breaks basic concepts of HTML.

Qulaifications

...information...

Hobbies

If you wish to start a new line rather than a

Amiga

new paragraph you can use the
tag On the Amiga Using the “H” element you can ...information... which forces a line break but does not HTMLArchetecture introduce any additional vertical space. ver recent years the world wide web has effect how they are interpreted by the 4.01 Transitional//EN”> ...information... become the “face” of the Internet, the browser, these parameters are called

Cinema

O Every HTML page is enclosed within an Starting Your First Page ...information... In-line Formatting great thing about it is that almost anyone attributes. The value of an attribute is set in with a connected computer can publish what the opening tag of the element and should “HTML” element, this means it starts with the Let’s take the example of a simple home they want for little or no cost. All you need is be enclosed in double or single quotation tag and ends with . Inside page with some personal information, we’ll You can change the format of sections of text a some basic information on how web pages marks (” or ‘). For example the “P” element these tags are two other essential elements, build up the page step by step and introduce within a paragraph or other element using a are constructed and how they are uploaded has an “align” attribute which sets whether “HEAD” which contains information about the some common HTML elements along the Delete the “Hello World” line from your HTML selection of elements. For example for so they are available over the Internet. In the text of the paragraph is left, right or document but is not displayed within the way. Open a text editor such as Editpad and file and enter the code above in its place bold, for italics and for a mono- this feature there’s no way I will be able to centrally aligned, it is used like this: page and “BODY” which contains the type in the HTML code as shown in the below the “” tag. Where I’ve put spaced typewriter style font. You can also set explain, even briefly, all the features of content which will actually be displayed. “Basic HTML Structure” section. Then save “...information...” you can type a few lines of text to be and . All these HTML (the language used to define web

Paragraph text...

Within the HEAD element you can define the the file from Editpad making sure the text if you wish. elements can be combined and all must be pages). So what I’ve decided to do is show TITLE of the page, this is normally displayed extension is “.html”. If the page you are closed with the corresponding tag. For you how to create a very simple page and The Tools You Need in the Browser’s window title bar, at the top creating is to be the front page of your Paragraphs example: make it available on the web. For more in- of a printed page or as the title of a website it is a good idea to call it This text is bold depth information you’ll find links to lots of Because HTML pages are simple text files bookmark. So a very basic HTML page “index.html”. This is the default page that The body text of a web page can be split into this is bold and itallic great websites and tutorials. If you wish in you don’t need any special software to would look something like this: most web servers will display when a user paragraph (

) elements, you can use the this is big and bold! future issues we’ll run more detailed tutorials create them - just a text editor capable of visits your site. To view the page so far start “align” attribute to change the alignment of a saving ASCII files. On the Amiga you could a web browser and then load the page using paragraph to left, right or center. Using the Be careful to close the tags in the right order. an old hand at creating web sites then I’m use Editpad (or even Ed) or a third party the “Open local file” menu command.

ending tag is optional, the browser editor such as GoldEd, Cygnus Ed or BEd. sure this feature won’t really be for you assumes the last paragraph has closed Preformatted Text however perhaps you might find some of the There are also some programs dedicated to when it encounters another block element Organising Your Site software mini-reviews at the end interesting. web page creation, on the Amiga most of such as a heading or another paragraph. If If you have a piece of text which you would these just assist in the writing process by Before we go any further it’s a good idea to

Hello World.

you use an the alignment attribute it is wise like to keep in its original format (rather than highlighting HTML tags, allowing you to think about the organisation of your web site. to use the ending

tag otherwise the being re-formatted in the browser window) How Web Pages Work insert tags from a list and set attributes Because each page of the site will be a alignment can be carried over to future you can enclose it in the

 element. A website consists of a number of pages within requesters. There are also programs separate HTML file and these files will call paragraphs. For example my Hobbies/Amiga This is useful for presenting data such as which are stored on a computer connected that aim to let you create a web page on separate image files (as we’ll see later) it section could look like: graphically - as you would create a screen dumps from text based systems or to the Internet. This computer is called the An important point to note is that HTML will keep things tidier if you make a new document with a DTP program. However 
Amiga
 emails. Note that you can’t use other HTML web server and runs software that will send doesn’t care about how you layout the text in drawer in which to keep all the site’s files. If because the way HTML is displayed I have been interested in Amiga computerselements inside “PRE”. pages to other computers on the Internet your editor. In the above example I have your site gets bigger you can make depends on the browser displaying it and the since my parents bought me an A500plus that request them. Although it is possible to indented the lines so you can see how the subdrawers within the main site drawer to for Christmas in 1991... options the user has set these programs are Special Characters run a web server on your Amiga because elements fit within each other however I hold particular information such as the 
 not usually very successful. Even if you end Now I help to run South Essex Amiga Link most people don’t leave their computer could have left out the indenting or even content of a particular section of the site or up using a graphical editor it is a good idea and edit Total Amiga magazine! If you want to use special characters which connected to the Internet all the time written all the tags on the same line, the the images. When you’ve made a new to start writing HTML pages by hand so you 
 cannot be typed on the keyboard or normally pages are copied on to a dedicated resulting page would still look the same in drawer for your site move the HTML file understand how they work then you will have characters that have a special meaning in server - this is called hosting a website. Each the browser. If you insert multiple spaces, for you’ve just saved into it. web page is a simple text file which contains the knowledge to understand what the editor HTML, angle brackets for example, then you example between words, they will be treated Use the P element to format the text you’ve the text on the page and special codes is doing and make manual corrections if can use a character entity. If you know the as a single space by the browser. Text Formatting entered in your HTML file into paragraphs. called mark up which indicate to the web necessary. Personally I found once I got to number of the character you wish to insert browser how the page should be displayed. grips with HTML I found it simple enough not Text can be formatted on an HTML page in a you can reference is as follows: “&#;” where to need a more advanced editor than GoldEd “#” is the character number in decimal of The structure of web pages and the “codes” number of ways. The key point to remember It is safest to use the American used to define them is called the Hyper Text (which has an HTML tag highlighting mode). is that, for the most part, HTML is designed NOTE: hexadecimal notation. To make life easier Mark-up Language or HTML for short. to indicate the meaning of sections of the HTML also provides a number of symbolic Basic HTML Structure page not what they should look like. This names that can be used to reference An HTML document consists of a number of interpretation is down to the program or characters, for example & represents elements, each element is defined by one or The first line of any HTML document should device used to display the HTML page. an ampersand (”&”). more tags. Each tag is enclosed in angle be the document type declaration (DTD), this brackets (”<” and “>”) so for example the tag informs anyone reading the document which HTML defines six levels of headings (the H1 There are four character entities you will that begins a paragraph element is “
”. version of the HTML specification you are to H6 elements) which are used to structure commonly require because they are used in Many elements have a closing tag, this is following. Full details of the specifications your page. These are generally rendered by HTML mark-up, using these characters indicated by a forward slash (”/”) before the are available from the World Wide Web the browser is descending size from H1 directly in your HTML page can cause errors: tag name, for example “
”. Consortium (W3C) site, see the address in (biggest) to H6 (smallest). If you check your “<” represents the < sign. the “Learning More” box out. If you are browser’s font settings you will probably find “>” represents the > sign. Open the HTML file you have saved 
Paragraph text...
 complying with the HTML 4.01 specification an option to change the size of these “&” represents the & sign. in a web browser to check it looks as Get to know the the “P” (paragraph) element, then the DTD to use is: headings. However the Hx elements and not “"” represents the “ mark. 16 TOTALyou expect.AMIGA Spring 2003 you’ll be using it a lot! 17 Features Features Another useful character entity is the non- same directory as the HTML file you just let you upload your pages using an FTP breaking space,  . This forces the need to specify its file name. If the image is client - many if these exist for the Amiga browser to insert a space which, as the in a drawer below the HTML image file you including AmFTP, SimpleFTP and Learning More name implies does not break at the end of a can specify the path relative to the HTML AmiTradeCenter (which is freeware). There There’s lots more to learn about creating line. This is useful if you want to keep two file. For example if you keep your images in is also an excellent FTP client built into web pages than I’ve been able to cover words together and if you want to ensure a drawer called “pics” you could specify an Directory Opus 5. From your ISP you need in this short tutorial. On the sites listed in that more than one space is inserted. image from the drawer: src=”pics/image.jpg”. to know the address of the FTP server this boxout you can find loads of detailed Inserting images where you need to upload, which username and password to use (normally these will be information about different aspects of Images into a page TIP: Many web servers are case sensitive the same as you login details) and what the web design. Images can be inserted into an HTML page is easy. this means that you must enter the names of address of your website will be. Most ISP’s and viewed along with the text. Most drawers, images and other linked files post this information on their website. Spcifications exactly as they are spelt with the correct graphical browsers support images in JPEG, http://www.w3c.org/ GIF and PNG formats. Which format you capitalisation or the images and links won’t When you know the details fire up your FTP Uploading the Total Amiga website with The official body that sets standards for choose depends on the type of Image you work when you upload them (even if they client and enter the server’s address, make AmiTradeCenter, a freeware FTP client. the World Wide Web. Their site has wish to display. work when you test them on the Amiga sure you’re not using anonymous FTP and which is not case sensitive). To avoid this was in a subdirectory below the HTML file enter the username and password. Now loads of information and on-line utilities stores images with no loss of quality but the called “images” we would need to put In general JPEG is best for photographs it files are substantially bigger than JPEG problem I recommend keeping the names of connect to the server, after a while you for checking the validity of your pages. supports a high level of compression with a all the files you use on your site lower case src=”images/robert.jpg”. should see a directory listing of your website which uses lossy compression (reduces the http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/ minimum loss of image quality in such and doing the same when typing filenames with no files listed (there may be a couple of quality for a smaller file size). If JPEG quality The HTML 4 specification which defines images. Experiment with the JPEG into your HTML. system files). Now copy across the HTML is adequate it is a better option than 24bit Linking to other pages and files all the available elements and how they compression quality option in your graphics PNG. Palette mapped PNG is a good page or pages you have made and any The  element has several other Most of the power of the Web comes from should be used. program to get the smallest file size possible alternative to GIF and has a more powerful images or file you linked to. If you have attributes which should be included. “alt” the way it joins information together, using while still retaining the required quality. transparency feature using an alpha channel, made subdirectories you will need to make specifies a short description of the image hyperlinks you can easily move to another http://www.w3.org/WAI/getting JPEG is less suited to line drawings, this means areas of a PNG image can have them on the server first and then copy any which can be used with non-graphical page of your site or to a different Internet diagrams and text. On these types of image different levels of transparency. However files across. If you have to manually name started/ Making a Website browsers and when images are off. “height” site altogether with the click of a mouse. compression artifacts soon start to show. PNG does not support animations. any directories make sure they are named more accessible actually and “width” indicate the size of the image in exactly the same as the ones on your hard GIF only supports images with up to 8bits pixels and are used by the browser to layout Linking to another page on your site makes the site easier for What Size Should the image be? disk. Make sure one of the files you upload (256 colours) this makes it a poor choice for the page correctly before the image itself has is called “index.html”, this will be the page everyone to use. Good photos. However it offers good compression been downloaded. This can increase the Links use a pair of  and  tags to the visitor sees when they enter your web When you are creating an image for display and works well for line drawings and speed at which your page appears. surround the text and or image elements address without specifying a page. usability advice from the diagrams which generally have few colours. on a web page remember that people with which will become the link. WWW standards authority. many different computers and web browsers GIF images can also have a transparent http://www.htmlhelp.org/ colour where the background shows through could be viewing it. Also be aware that they NOTE: In some browsers changing the My contact NOTE: Some FTP clients will let you and can be compiled into simple animations. will have to download the image in the first height and width attributes causes the details. copy whole directories from your hard disk, Lots of useful information place so the aim must be to keep the image browser to scale the image to the specified others require you to make the directories You can link to another HTML page or any about HTML standards PNG is a newer format designed in part to file as small as possible - choosing the dimensions. However it is not a good idea to manually and then copy the files. If the FTP other type of file - what happens when your replace GIF which is expensive for software appropriate image format will help here. In use them in this way, firstly if you scale down client has a transfer mode option make sure including an excellent style link is selected will depend on the type of file makers to license (this is why GIF support general it is best to keep images small, I an image the full image data still has to be it is set to binary (not ASCII) as otherwise you link to and the user’s browser guide. has been removed from some Amiga would suggest in most cases sticking to a downloaded making the image slower to images may be corrupted on upload. applications). PNG can store image in either maximum of about 600 pixels wide. load and secondly most browsers don’t do configuration. For example an HTML page Tutorials palette mapped (up to 8bit) or true colour as good a job of scaling as your image or an image will probably be displayed while With the files in place you can now visit your (24bit) formats using a variable level of When you have prepared your image save it processor will. an LHA archive might be downloaded to website with a web browser and see if http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/ lossless compression. In true colour mode it into the directory with your web page. Make disk. The URL or path you want to link to is everything has worked! tut/lessons.html sure you use a filename with the correct To add an image to our page below the top specified in the “href” (which stands for A good basic tutorial that covers more extension, .jpg, .png or .gif for the file format. heading we need to add the following tag: hypertext reference) attribute. As with aspects of basic HTML than I’ve been images if the page or file you want to link to TIP: If there are any problems when you able to fit in here. Browsers  http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/ When designing webpages it is important enter the filename. You can also specify the the same site worked from your hard disk - path to the file if it is in a subdirectory or the check that you have put the files is the same Internet/WWW/index.html to remember that different browsers will Images are added to the page using a This assumes that the image file “robert.jpg” URL to link to another website. For example places on the web server and that you don’t A more technical reference. render the page differently. Most browsers  element. The “src” attribute defines is in the same directory as the HTML file. If it to link to a page called address.html you have any case problems in the file names have many options effecting how the page the image file to display, if the image is in the http://www.w3schools.com/ would use the following code: (see “Adding an Image to a Page”). is displayed. In this screen grab you can W3Schools - Tutorials for the aspiring see IBrowse’s extensive control over the here is my Webmaster on many aspects of web fonts used for display. Finally there are address if you need it. Conclusion design. non-graphical browsers such as those based on braile and speech synthesis for That completes our very simple page. I hope Style To link to anther site just use the full URL, this has given you enough information to the blind which do not have a “display” at you can link to a specific page if you wish: all. Check the “Learn More” box out for start creating your own pages. However http://www.useit.com/alertbox there are many more features in HTML I some sites which will help you create a Come and see us at a / widely accessible page. haven’t been able to cover here, I highly South Essex Amiga Link meeting.recommend that you look at some of the Jakob Nielsen’s column on pages in the “learning more” boxout which web usability. Indespensible have the space to go into much more detail Uploading Your Page than I have been able to here. for the professional With our simple example page complete it’s If you would like a follow up to this feature Webmaster. time to upload to the web server. Most The finished page with a more in-depth look at a particular http://www.webstyleguide.com Internet service providers give you some aspect of creating web pages please let me in GoldEd. space on their webserver when you sign up / The buttons and the know and we will consider it for a future for an account so, if you’re on the ‘net, you issue. Also if you would be interested in A complete on-line book code hightlighting will most likely have some space waiting to writing an item on Javascript then please get are both provided by be used. Most ISPs and hosting companies guiding you through the the WebWorld module. in touch too. 18 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 19 Reviews Reviews While MetalWeb works well its name is show in itallics in enough for simple pages with the list and double clicking it images text and links more brings up a new window where complex elements such as you can edit the attributes tables are less successful. before insertion. Once you Useful Utilities There is also another major have set the attributes they are problem, Metal Web is not very remembered for future uses of for Web Design stable and prone to crashing that element. with annoying regularity. If you In the editing windows different HTML functions for All three HTML must have a graphical HTML GoldEd Studio AIX WebPlug makes setting example paragraph, font or editors allow you editor give the MetalWeb demo attributes as easy as possible. Author: Dietmar Eilert navigation related. If the tag to to setup each tag a try but in the long run I think For example it can determine License: Commercial be inserted has attributes then in an easy you’ll be better off learning the the sizes of images Price: 59.99Euro GoldEd opens a window where window like this basics and sticking to a text From: you can set them. The tag automatically. When you are one from based editor such as GoldEd http://golded.dietmar-eilert.de/ windows help you set the asked for a colour you can pick WebPlug. or WebPlug. attributes correctly, for example WebPlug is the Amiga’s only graphical HTML editor. from a list of named colours or if you need to specify a colour select one using a colour oldEd Studio is supplied features so you can create fundamental flaw in this there is a colour picker which WebPlug wheel, there is also a button with a comprehensive loops which automatically concept because how a page G will calculate the hexadecimal To make inserting images and drudgery out of writing HTML Author: Esteve Boix that will select the nearest HTML authoring module called generate repeating parts of is rendered is largely defined colour value and if you need to “safe” colour for those WebWorld. When you load an linking to other pages even pages and has some very nice pages (the list of back issues by the browser being used to License: Freeware select a file you can use a file browsing on 8bit displays. You HTML file WebWorld is easier WebWorld displays a list features. When you consider on the Total Amiga site is a view it. However as long as From: Aminet, requester. GoldEd can also can leave as many of the automatically started, if you of possible link destinations that it is only one part of a good example of this) and you accept that a graphical comm/www/webPlugv145.lha calculate the size of images palette windows open as you want to start a new HTML page and images in the editor powerful editor it make the include “if” statements so parts editor could be easier to use, and webPlugv2beta.lha and automatically generate an wish which makes formatting set the type to HTML using the window. The list is split into package excellent value. are only included if certain especially to begin with and for “ALT” attribute. A nice feature an HTML page with the mouse filetype pop-up menu. GoldEd four pages select by icons conditions are met. some of the more complex is that you can use the attribute ebPlug is a MUI based very quick and easy, simply uses colour to highlight various along the top. The first two HTML elements like tables. setting windows to edit existing HSC (HTML Sucks HTML code editor in a select the text you want to parts of the HTML language pages show all the HTML If you’re creating one or two W similar vein to WebWorld. The tags, just place the cursor on a pages in the same directory Completely) pages or are new to HTML In Metal Web you build your format and double click on the such as tags, attributes and main window contains an edit tag and press F2 or click the and in sub-directories below then HSC probably isn’t for page by Entering text and appropriate tag. comments. This highlighting Authors: Thomas Aglassinger area for the HTML code and a “Edit attributes” button and the the current file by either their you. However if you have a inserting other elements by makes it easier to see the and Matthias Bethke toolbar along the top with You can have several pages appropriate window appears filename or HTML “TITLE” more complex site with clicking buttons on the toolbar. structure of the page and spot License: Free software (GPL) buttons for various types of open at once and easily swap with the current values filled in. element. You can open a page common content on several You can display an “Edit” when you have missed part of From: HTML element. Most of the between them using the for editing by clicking on it, pages then a bit of work setting window which shows the a tag (such as a closing “>”). The current page can be www.linguistik.uni-erlangen.de/ buttons bring up a palette document palette. WebPlug insert its name into the current it up with HSC will make attributes for the currently displayed in a web browser at ~msbethke/software.html window which list all the supports several browsers Most of the HTML related page by Shift-clicking and keeping the site updated much selected element or piece of the click of a button. GoldEd available elements of that including the “big thee” so a controls are in a new tabbed create a link by Ctrl-clicking. easier in future. For example text. In this window you can supports AWeb, IBrowse and category. For example the text preview is just a click away. section of the main toolbar at The third page lists images in SC isn’t an HTML editor, on the Total Amiga site when a also apply styles to text such Voyager and sends the page to style palette has a list of styles The main limitation I’ve found the top of the GoldEd window. the current directory and sub- in fact it is a command new issue comes out all I have as bold, itallics or headline whichever happens to be H including bold, italic, big, small with WebPlug is that you Each tab has icons for directories, clicking on an line program with no GUI at all. to do is write two feature lists formatting. If you wish while running at the time so there’s and strong. Usually double cannot use the attribute GUI to inserting tags related to image opens a requester What it does is allow you to (a short version and a long you build your page you can no configuration needed. clicking on an element in the edit an element once it has where you can adjust the add commands to your pages version), change a variable view the HTML source that list will insert it at the cursor been inserted, you must either attributes and then insert an which are then processed by (which tells HSC what the MetalWeb is generating position. If you have text delete it and insert a fresh copy “IMG” tag into the HTML. The HSC into standard HTML. On current issue is) and run the however it is not possible to selected the tags will be placed with the change or edit the final page is a list of favourites their way through HSC also pages through HSC. This edit the source by hand and around the text, for example to element by hand. where you store the addresses checks the pages for standards updates every page which then see the results in the make the selection bold. If the of sites you commonly link to compliance and good style. I mentions the current issue MetalWeb window. A beta of version 2 has been element has further attributes on your pages, clicking on one won’t go through all HSC’s and moves the old issue onto released unfortunately this isn’t of these sites inserts a link into functions here but I’ll try to give the back issues page... easy. being developed at the the HTML. A further aid to you an idea of some of things it moment but from my testing so writing pages is the special can do. If you have “IMG” tags MetalWeb 4.01 far seems stable (although characters panel which allows in your HTML HSC can make sure you install the you to insert character entities automatically insert the “height” Authors: Josep Rubiralta and libraries and MUI custom by clicking on their symbol. and “width” attributes based on Pedro Mieza classes before running it). This the size of the image files. It License: Shareware version adds syntax When your page is finished can insert the contents of Price: £20 highlighting which helps you WebWorld has a built-in another file into your HTML, so From: www.vapor.com spot errors and makes the version of the “tidy” utility from if you have a common header page structure easier to read. It the W3C which checks for or footer you can change it on also allows you to save a web- basic errors in the HTML and etalWeb is the only project, this groups all the files all your pages by changing one Amiga graphical HTML makes some style suggestions. file. If you link to local files or M needed for a site and allows editor I know of. This means When tidy has finished running other HTML pages HSC will you to load them in one step. a list of errors are presented that rather than editing HTML check that they exist and can code and perhaps previewing it I found WebPlug to be a very GoldEd’s WebWorld provides a powerful HTML editing and you can jump to the also include information such position of each error by in a browser MetalWeb handy editor and I think it environment. The toolbar at the top allows easy insertion as their size or modification attempts to let you build a page would be excellent for of tags. A hot-list of common sites (right) allows you to make clicking on it in the list view. date in the HTML page. by manipulating the text and beginners in HTML, links quickly. At the bottom of the window are areas for the Overall the WebWorld module What makes HSC so powerful objects as they will appear in accompanied by a good output of the integrated “tidy” HTML checker and a selection of Like GoldEd, WebPlug version 2.0 highlights for GoldEd takes much of the is that it has many scripting the browser. There is a reference book or website. special characters which can be inserted with a click. the different parts of the HTML code. 20 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 21 If you don’t see what you want, just ask! Kicksoft Our range is always growing! Reviews It’s our third year of trading and to celebrate we’re offering you 10% off the advertised Birthday Offer-10% off price of all our products except upgrades and Total Amiga until the end of April 2003. Hooray for Players Graphics Moovid PPC Drawstudio PPC version with both WARPUP and POWERUP versions. Comes on CD This excellent Graphics package avaliable one again!! Comes on CD and £18.00 includes Texture Studio & Image Studio. HOLLYWOOD Moovid At last! A multimedia program that works on graphics cards... Robert Williams Investigates. £35.00 Play AVI, Mov and QT files on your Amiga©. Comes on CD. One of the features that makes by the script. Each keyword is Photogenics 5 £12.00 This excellent Graphics package by Paul Nolan. Comes on CD. e often claim that the Hollywood so different from other preceded by a “%” symbol. The Frogger PPC £70.00 Amiga pioneered Amiga multimedia systems is keywords section is ended by PPC MPEG player. Comes on CDwith example MPEGs. W This working calculator demo multimedia before that term was that it has been designed for “%CODE”. Keywords can be Image Engineer £18.00 supplied with Hollywood shows Great Image manipulation program. Add effects to images such as Jigsaw. even coined with its powerful modern Amiga systems and also used to define the background of Frogger how you can create interactive £25.00 graphics and sound hardware compatibles (it works on the presentation window, 68k MPEG player. Comes on CD with example MPEGs. and innovative software such as Amithlon and MorphOS too) as images, text, sounds, music Candy Factory Pro applications. It also £12.00 demonstrates a transparent Create 3D Text from any standard font and use them on web pages etc. Director, AmigaVision and Scala. well as on Amigas without a modules, button positions and Riva However it’s sad that in recent graphics card. The minimum other settings that will be used £35.00 The fastest 68k MPEG player on the Amiga! Comes on CD with MPEGs. background effect. Art Effect 4 years there has been a dearth of requirements are AmigaOS 3.0 during the whole presentation. objects from the display you use £9.00 new multimedia software and and a 68020 CPU. The program Any items specified as keywords Billed as “Photoshop® on the Amiga”. Excellent graphic package. Comes on SoftCinema the “Undo” or “UndoFX” CD. nothing that supports graphics itself will run in minimal RAM but that need to be loaded from disk commands, both of these require PPC AVI, QT and Mov player. On CD with example Movies. £39.99 cards, an add-on which many depending on the graphics and (images, sounds, animations and type and number of the £9.00 FxPaint NEW Amiga users consider essential. sounds used a script may need etc.) will be loaded into memory object. “Undo” simply clears the AMP 2 NEW With over 70 effects this is a superb addition to any software collection. NEW In issue 12 we had a news item much more. Although the at the start of the presentation so object and “UndoFX” removes it PPC Mpeg, CD-i and DVD player. The only way to play DVDs on the AMIGA. £60.00 on Rainboot 4, an update to the minimum specs are low they are available instantly and using a transition effect. £18.00 Image FX4 NEW popular multimedia boot Hollywood has been designed don’t need to be loaded during program, that update has turned with modern Amigas in mind so a the presentation. Some settings THE image manipulation package !! 100s of effects. Texting £99.00 into a full blown multimedia fast accelerator and plenty of made in the keywords section system which has been RAM are definitely an can be changed during the script In addition to text objects Internet Inet Dial christened Hollywood by its advantage. A few third-party if you require. Hollywood also offers two other Home server on your Amiga©., includes Apache and Geek Gadgets. author Andreas Falkenhahn. libraries are required, these are methods for displaying text. The £40.00 Games NEW Andreas describes Hollywood as supplied on the CD. Installation “Print” command is the most AWeb Upgrade Objects a “multimedia application layer”, is straight forward and updates powerful, it displays the text you Excellent web Browser. Upgrade from OS 3.5 or OS 3.9. Comes on Floppy. this description points to the fact the required libraries if Hollywood has a number of specify within user defined £30.00 PayBack £35.00 that Hollywood is not designed necessary, the whole package different object types that can be margins. Print will automatically for a particular task such as to takes up about 13Mb of disk displayed over the background. wrap text at the end of lines and create presentations or kiosk space. These include brushes (images), supports tabs for tables and the applications. Instead it provides animations and text objects. All Utilities Multimedia applications created like. You can send several print Freespace £35.00 a set of tools that can be used to these objects have to be PFS 3 in Hollywood are based on a text commands and the text will be The fastest and safest file system avaliable, up to 300 times faster than FFS. create all kinds of applications generated first (with a command script file which uses a simple added to what is already on the £35.00 which focus on media, including such as “LoadBrush”) with a BASIC-like scripting language. display, because of this you can graphics, sound and animations. specified number and are then Metaview There is no user interface to help change fonts and colours within The best Clipart viewer on the Amiga©. Comes on CD with clip art images. referred to by that number. Once The Feeble Files £35.00 you create scripts and you will a block of text created with £18.00 loaded the object can be need to use your own favourite several “Print” commands. displayed in a number of ways. Diavolo editor. This means Hollywood will Hollywood supports standard The best backup program on the Amiga©. Comes on Floppy disk. Brushes and text objects can take some time to learn if you AmigaOS bitmap and simply appear in a defined £50.00 have no programming Compugraphic fonts and also position, be moved (scrolled PhotoFolio V2 NEW experience. If you have dabbled TrueType fonts using the smoothly) on to the screen at a Misc The professional way to view, catolouge and manipulate your images. in BASIC or AREXX or any other ttengine.library. TrueType fonts TaskiSMS £30.00 .info set speed or be displayed using can be displayed antialiased with language then you will be able to Send Text Messages to mobile phones from your Amiga! Comes on CD. a transition effect (such as a GoldEd Developer pick it up quickly. To help you get the “Print” command which £12.00 fade or a wipe). Animations can The best Editor, Program Editor, HTML Generator on the Amiga. Andreas Falkenhahn started about 20 example scripts smooths out pixelisation and FxScan NEW be played at a defined position £30.00 www.airsoftsoftwair.com are supplied on the program CD looks really professional in a The only Scanner software that offers OCR on the Amiga today!! on the screen or be moved while Turboprint 7.21 NEW ranging from simple slide shows presentation. Unfortunately £30.00 playing. Once displayed objects Use modern printers with 24 bit output!! The quality is astounding. Price to quite complex multimedia antialiasing is not supported for OS 3.9 NEW can be moved at any time Full £40.00 Upgrade £25.00 E49, about £31 games, you can use these to get text objects (I asked the author Latest operating system for the Amiga. Comes on CD. although you have to specify a feel for what is possible or about this and the reason is £30.00 Requirements from and to co-ordinates which even use one as a basis for your because antialiasing would be Aminet NEW Make CD (DAO version) NEW AmigaOS 3.0 means working out what their NEW own script. In the AmigaGuide too slow when a text object is Latest Aminet disk or the latest series. Gigabytes of Amiga Software. CD writing software.Compatibale with most CD writers/rewriters. 68020 current position is. To remove manual there is a tutorial on how moved). The disadvantage of Single £14.99 Series £29.99 £50.00 16Mb RAM Spitfire 2 to create a photo slide show and VHI STUDIO extensive reference Connect digital Cameras to your Amiga and so much more If you have a 3com Palm© or compatible then you need this program! Comes Recommended documentation on all the !£30.00 on CD. Graphics card £25.00 functions available. Amiga Forever 5 NEW Emulate a AGA based amiga on your PC. Mediapoint NEW Test System Full Version £40.00 Upgrade £25.00 multimedia presentation tool on your Amiga. A3000 Keywords £40.00 CyberStormPPC 060 50/604e 233Mhz At the start of a Hollywood script Kicksoft Ltd., is a section containing keyword 128Mb RAM 30 Whitegate Way, declarations. These lines define CVisionPPC www.kicksoft.co.uk Tadworth, various pieces of data required The Hollywood GUI lets you run and compile scripts however there Add £1.00 UK postage per item. Make cheques payable to Kicksoft Ltd. Surrey, KT20 5NS Tel/Fax (01737) 219280 isn’t a GUI for creating the scripts themselves. We accept Solo, Switch, Mastercard & Visa [email protected] Spring 2003 23 Reviews Reviews “Print” is that the text cannot be depend on the datatype you If you do not declare the type of they aren’t a major problem for systems (although you will need more suited to this type of removed without clearing the have as it doesn’t work on my a variable Hollywood assumes it most projects. a reasonable system to get good application. whole display completely system with the CyberGraphX is a long integer. Otherwise you performance). It is less suited to (brushes, background and all) so picture.datatype. can declare the variable type Distribution making “PowerPoint” style So in all Hollywood does what it it is not suitable for text that manually or include a “$” presentations. Although these was created to do reliably in a changes during the presentation. Like graphics, animations are character in the variable name If you wish to distribute your type of largely static slide shows way that is easy to pick up The “TextOut” command is a loaded using datatypes this for a string or “!” for a float. You scripts to users without are certainly possible you will despite some limitations of the compromise between a text means IFF ANIM is supported can include sub-routines in your Hollywood there is an option to need to put in a fair amount of scripting language. For a version object and using the “Print” and any other types you can find script by naming them with a compile your script into an work to get the basic framework 1.0 it is very well featured and command. It does not support a datatype for. Animations can “Label” command, and jumping executable which should run on up and running and then editing the variety of examples supplied multiple styles in the same block, be started and stopped at will to the routine with a “GoSub” any Amiga that meets the blocks of text and adding show its flexibility. Anyone who is tabs or automatic wrapping using commands. The play command. It is not possible to minimum requirements. Any files graphics within the script is interested in multimedia or however you can place the text command starts the animation pass arguments to a subroutine which have been declared in the rather awkward. Andreas media intensive applications and at any position when antialiasing then immediately the next but as all variables are global keywords section are mentions in the readme file that has a modicum of programming is used. Unlike text objects, text command in your script is you can use them to pass data. automatically included in the after many requests from knowledge would be well blocks created with “TextOut” executed so other events can executable so it is possible to potential buyers he is advised to give Hollywood a try. cannot be moved and you can happen as an animation plays. In Hollywood all items are create a multimedia application considering a GUI script editor Even if you have no only remove blocks one by one The “MoveAnim” command referred to by number rather that requires no external files. Of for common functions and I programming experience it starting with the last drawn using allows an animation to be than a user defined name and course if you prefer you can also wouldn’t be surprised if a third- shouldn’t take too long to pick up the “Undo” command. All this scrolled across the display as it often you need to enter co- leave the files external by party “presentation creator” enough to create simple means if you’re creating a plays at a user defined speed. Here’s a presentation I made with Hollywood while writing this ordinates. Because of this I loading them later in the script. appears at some point so presentations. complex presentation which review. It has three sections (along the top) with animated found writing Hollywood scripts These compiled scripts can be hopefully Hollywood will become changes as the user interacts Transitions transitions and can either be navigated by clicking the buttons could get a bit mind bending at freely distributed as may any with it then it can be quite times but apart from that the scripts you have written. As the difficult to have antialiased text. Hollywood has a wide range of language is easy to pick up. Hollywood interpreter is a Pros or run as ain slide the show.subroutine won’t upset the transitions which can be used in There are a few limitations, in commercial product it may not be + Works on most User Interaction script at any point where it may many circumstances. For particular one function cannot distributed. Amigas and be called. Let’s get Graphical example to display or hide most To allow the user to interact with use the returned value from compatibles. your script Hollywood can be set Graphics for backgrounds and objects or to change a another and expressions with + Powerful functions. Pretty to monitor for different key Conclusions brushes can be loaded in any background image. There are Miscellaneous symbols (such as “+” or “/”) are + Script compiler. presses and for clicks on certain format for which you have a about 40 effects in total which not possible (you have to use Overall Hollywood is an excellent areas of the display. These hot Cons datatype, for both types you can range from simple wipes to Functions functions such as add() and div() way to make media-oriented spots are defined areas of the - Language limitations. specify a colour that will be various blinds, curtain and On top of the overtly graphics instead). These limitations applications which will work on Good! display and are not linked to - No slide design GUI. transparent. Transparent stripes type effects. Probably the related functions Hollywood has makes some scripts more long- the vast majority of Amiga objects displayed. If you want to backgrounds can be used to most impressive are the fade a number of other features which winded than necessary however Results see if the user clicks on a certain create applications with a non- and blend effects which change are useful in scripts. Firstly there brush you must define a button including RJ Mical (responsible for Atari’s bitter rival, Commodore, rectangular window as shown in smoothly between images, these is the normal collection of string over the same area. When a Intuition, the AmigaOS screen stepped in and bought Amiga for the Euro Calculator example look great on 16 and 24bit handling functions such as button is clicked or a monitored By Mike Powell manager) and Carl Sassenrath $4.25 a share! Commodore presentation. Transparent displays. Some effects Right(), Left() and FindStr() FLASHBACK (helped out with the design of needed a new machine, and key pressed Hollywood jumps to brushes allow the background or (particularly the fades) offer a which enable you to manipulate AmigaOS and worked with Viscorp immediately invested $27 million in a labelled point in your script, for themselves Hi-Torro, and had a $7 other brushes below them to pre-calculated option. On these text in various ways. There are for a while). As time rolled on even investment. Then on July 23, the example “ONBUTTONCLICK1”, ith the new generation of million investment to make this show through. As in other areas effects the frames of the DOS functions so you can read further, the people at Hi-Torro Amiga 1000 was presented to the where you can execute the Amigas now here, I thought dream come true. of Hollywood where you need to transition are calculated in and write external files and get W decided that they needed a proper world by creative legend Andy appropriate commands. Buttons it would be nice to write about specify colour the transparent advance. Although this leads to a directory listings amongst other The machine they were developing name for Lorraine. They wanted Warhol and Blondie singer Debbie also have an where it all began. shade is set using HTML style as delay before the effect takes things. Reading and writing files was code-named Lorraine, after something at the beginning of the Harry, although it wasn’t the “ONBUTTONOVER” event which three hexadecimal numbers, for place it means it plays smoothly is especially useful as you can In the early 1980s, the Personal the wife of one of the investors and alphabet and something which games machine that the original is activated when the mouse Computer was not synonymous was one of the first home example “FFFFFF” is white and even on slower systems. load large pieces of text from emphasised friendliness. They team intended it to be. The Amiga pointer passes over the button. with IBM and Windoze, as many computers to use the new 16-bit came up with the name “Amiga” 1000 unfortunately didn’t sell in the “000000” is black. In addition to external ASCII files rather than This enables you to create different companies were making Motorola 68000 processor. It was which is Spanish for girlfriend. masses as the state of the art displaying a complete brush or including them in your script. Sound images that change as the home computers, eager to get their to use the latest 3.5" disks for data technology came at a price. $2000 Then 1985 rolled around, and the background you can also display Hollywood can open simple cut out of this new and exciting storage (when most machines to be exact (around 1200 UKP). It Hollywood can play sound pointer rolls over them amongst Amiga was presented to the world a portion of the image specified requesters with multiple buttons market. Commodore were one of used cassettes, 5.25" disks were a was the ideal computer for artists, samples in IFF8SVX format and other effects. For simple scripts at the Consumer Electronics Show by co-ordinates. This allows you and file requesters to get file those companies, and their C-64 luxury), was going to use a musicians, and programmers. The can also play MED, Player61, Hollywood has commands to in prototype form. During the night to have several elements in one names and paths. Another useful model was selling like hot cakes. Graphical User Interface, using a Amiga was much admired by the Protracker and THX modules. wait for the left mouse button to before the show Dale Luck or RJ image or to display part of an function allows you to run any mouse as standard, it was going to public, although hardly anyone be pressed before proceeding. Whilst the big C were riding high Mical wrote a demo of a bouncing image, for example to swap an Like animations you can start a external program that can be have multi-channel stereo sound, was willing to pay $2000 for one in on the Commodore 64's success, red and white chequred ball, and unselected button for a selected sample or module playing and started from a shell. Harking and to add to the true multimedia the cynical days of the mid-80s. Normally while the script is some American men decided to when it was demonstrated to the one. Finally brushes can be then continue with other script experience the designers intended, running Hollywood does not look back to its Rainboot heritage make their dream of creating the press on the day of the event, Fast forward to 2002, and if you commands while the sound plays it was going to have a colour scaled to a different size for user input. You have to insert there are also functions to get all best games machine in the world a people were amazed. It wasn’t all want to buy a PC from a big-brand in the background. Commands pallette of 4096 colours. It was although I found this seems to a “WaitEvent” command when kinds of information about the reality. The San Jose team was having fun and celebrating at Hi- name, it is likely that it will be are available to control the also going to have automatic you are ready for the user to current Amiga system including lead by a very ambitious fellow Torro though, as the cost of the priced as a four figure sum, but playback once it has started. hardware recognition, which is now click buttons or press keys. If the type of CPU, amount of called Jay Miner, who had project had exceeded the original times have changed.The home Module and sample playback known as plug and play, and a truly RAM, disk space, OS version previously designed such popular investment and a buyer had to be computer, or “PC” as most people you want to respond to user multi-tasking operating system can be stopped, in addition the and the like. machines as the Atari 400, not found, and quickly. now prefer to call them, is no input while other functions are (which believe it or not, MS still volume and pitch of samples can only wanted it to be the best longer seen as a machine which is running (for example during a can’t seem to get right - try At this time, Amiga were friendly be changes and modules can be games machine, but a computer fun to use, but more of as a tool continuous slide show) then you carrying out a task whilst with Atari, and the boss of Atari, paused or a specific sub-song Scripting that would redefine the meaning of which people have to know how to have to “EnableEventHandler”. formatting a disk in Windows 98!). Jack Tramiel, loaned them a million played. The script can be set to the home computer for good, and use to get a decent job. This makes Hollywood jump to The Hollywood scripting And this was all kept a secret. dollars. When Amiga failed to pay wait until a sample has finished open up a new world of the subroutine associated with language has most of the They worked under-cover, back the loan in time, Atari offered Hopefully, the new generation of or until a particular module possibilities for creative users. the button or key pressed even features you would expect, developing games and peripherals them a 98 cents a share for the Amigas will change this, and position is reached. while another part of the script is including if, else if and else This small group of people who for Atari computers to distract company. Three days before a final remind Joe Public that computers Another interactive demo script. running. If you use this feature conditional statements, while was actually founded by a small people. As time passed by Hi-Toro decision had to be made, things CAN be fun to use! This one is a quiz that keeps you need to make sure the code and for, next loops and variables. group of dentists (!) called hired some excellent skilled people were getting pessimistic until 24 score. TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 25
Reviews Features Poseidon is required as this is Once that is done devices The Spider appears the interface that Elbox should show in the “Devices” as two devices in decided to use. However they and “Classes” sections of Trident, Poseidon’s did not come to an OEM Trident the same as with other preferences arrangement with Chris USB hardware. If you are at all Hodges which meant they unsure about how to configure program. .info could only provide an Trident I suggest you refer to Developer Sam Byford tries out Elbox’s latest addition to the Mediator family. Is it the unregistered version with the Total Amiga issues 13 or 14. Elbox Spider Spider, so every user has to There is also the highway_usb www.elbox.com best way to bring USB to your Mediator equipped Amiga? send Chris a registration (and mailing list which caters for all payment) in order to get a Poseidon users, see the side Distributor compliant items but withUSB a or the clockport data transfer keyfile. This used to be panel for details. he past few issues have future release this will finally be rate the Spider will run at Power Computing available only via snail-mail seen reviews of both the implemented which means the maximum speed. When it first came out I found www.powerc.com T with cash (Euros) but recently Elbox state in reply: “Yes, we now gone and Poseidon runs Highway and the Thylacine use of high-speed USB2.0 that with the Spider, a +44 (0)1234 851500 When users are sent the EHCI on-line payment and download use anti-piracy safeguard with the latest drivers from USB Zorro Cards. No doubt devices will be available for soundcard and a TV card all driver the Spider will make use via IOSpirit’s site measures... they are Elbox. someone will provide a use and Elbox assure me this installed my wireless optical Dealer list available at: of the faster 2.0 devices but (http://www.iospirit.de) has completely safe for legal users Subway (Clockport USB) release is not far off. mouse refused to work. I had www.elbox.com/buy.html the results will be entirely been available simplifying the of our software... The only review soon too, but for now to set the VoodooMem Envarc Conclusion It is equipped with 4 external dependant on the processor process enormously. result of activation of the anti- Price it’s the turn of the Spider - setting to 14 rather than its ports which fit neatly onto one used and as such the results piracy safeguard in the cracked This basically throws the ball Spider Card ...... £39.95 Elbox’s PCI solution. Also in The Poseidon software (un- usual 15 setting otherwise the blanking plate and one internal on the Amiga will be slower code is overwriting the first into the users court. To my Poseidon registration the last few issues Poseidon registered) comes on a 3” CD mouse juddered and was un- one. This is one more than the than that of a PC. Elbox RDB sector of the booting hard mind the main thing stopping (required)...... E19.99 and its Trident GUI have been and has a basic Installer script usable. One of the recent Highway/Subway and four estimate that on an 060/66 you disk... This sector does not anyone from buying the Spider thoroughly explained, as have to install Poseidon into the updates appears to have cured Requirements more than the Thylacine. Each would reach about 50% of the contain ANY information about is their personal opinions on all of its classes, so I shall necessary places. Also on the this problem and now it works 68030 port provides 500mA of power speed of a PC. But it is still the disk partitioning, either. What is Elbox’s ethics. They may not steer clear of all of that in this CD is a Readme file explaining as it should. If you encounter Mediator PCI bus board (if required) to connected fastest available USB stored in this sector is only like me for saying it but a lot of article and concentrate on how to register your Spider. problems I suggest lowering Free PCI slot devices so hardware that does implementation for the Amiga. information about the model the time they run to their own other issues. Once you have registered (via the Voodoomem setting to 14 Voodoo graphics card not have its own power source and parameters of the hard agenda at the expense of e-mail) Elbox will send you the to see if it helps. Elbox MMCD To run USB on your mediator can run safely. The Spider is of disk and technical others (as any company Making the Web latest Spider.lha update which you have to buy the Spider, course totally “hot-pluggable” information... (it) can be read might). I personally think their includes the usb.device file that Test Systems you can’t use any old PCI USB meaning you can insert and Naturally you require a Ethics from the hard disk with hardware is great and will A4000 card. Elbox’s reason for this is remove devices while the Mediator Board with a spare needs to be placed into continue to buy their items for So far the Spider seems to be HDToolBox software, even if CyberStorm MkIII 060 so that only one driver, for one computer is turned on and they PCI slot which means the Devs:USBHardware/ - the as long as I want to upgrade the perfect solution. However a this sector is completely Mediator 4000 card, needs to be written. This will automatically be seen Spider is not tied to any Spider is then active. my A4k. I do however know rather ethical debate has overwritten.” Voodoo 3 3000 not only saves them time but it without needing a reboot. specific hardware. Certain other users that now refuse to recently risen its head which stops compatibility issues users will find themselves in a As a direct response to this touch any new software and Further Information Using the Spider could stand to ruin Elbox’s arising. From what I can tell the dilemma as some Mediators information Chris Hodges has have stuck purely with the Visit the Poseidon website The Need for Speed Elbox recommends that you chances of staying as a internal coding of one of the only have four PCI slots and implemented a new driver older drivers that appeared not for USB stack upgrades and should place the Spider in any contender in the Amiga Scene. chips on the Spider has also The USB2.0 standard will with a graphics; ethernet; check into Poseidon. He said: to have the code in them. information: Mediator slot which has a A report by an anonymous user had to be altered slightly for it mean the Spider can transfer sound and TV card in the “Elbox has no licence Some I know have even left www.platon42.de/ higher number than the slot appeared on an Amiga news to work with the Mediator. Of up to 480Mbps or (currently) board all slots are taken. This agreement with me. They ‘only’ the Amiga scene completely. poseidon.html your Voodoo card is placed in. site that has threatened to pull course it also brings them extra 12Mbps for 1.1 devices. I could means they either have to take wrote the driver to give the This, presumably, is due to the community apart even Users of Poseidon can also money (that they would not get not do a direct speed a card out or in the case of users the opportunity to use So as a USB solution it is top DMA transfers but everyone’s further than it already is. join the YahooGroups E-mail if you bought a card externally) comparison however from 1200 users upgrade to the Poseidon. They did not pay of the range. Updates, as with digging on the ‘net I managed system is different and you all updates from Elbox are list by sending an e-mail to: which is needed to pay the Mediator 1200SX and that From the start there has been me. They accused me of to discover that the Highway may have to play with the order regular and solid and if you highway_usb-subscribe writers of the drivers! bares the question is it worth curiosity as to the origins of the cracking and spreading lies. reported a transfer speed of a bit to get all cards working have a Mediator already and @yahoogroups.com the extra money? Spider. Many people believe it They had illegal code in their The Spider is a USB2.0 card 495kB/second on a Amiga nicely together. On the 1200 want to use USB devices then is simply a re-badged NEC driver. They never apologize. that can also run older 1.1 4000 with 060 Cyberstorm mkII Well USB has increasingly Mediator they recommend it’s a must, but if you don’t 720100 PCI Adaptor card. They might produce good The Spider installed in a devices. For now it does not while the Spider produced a become the standard medium placing the Spider in the lowest there are other solutions However, as I mentioned hardware, but in my opinion, Mediator 1200. Note the fifth have the necessary EHCI speed of 734kB/second (on an for devices like printers, (4th) slot. available. Its main down-falling earlier it is possible that some they have no ethics at all.” internal USB port. drivers that would run 2.0 Amiga 1200 I believe) so we cameras and storage media is the controversy surrounding The Spider has its ports split internal item needed to be From now on all Poseidon can see that the Spider is at which means that if we want to Elbox, and only the user can into two separate control links altered for that card to work updates will test for the RDB least 50% faster on some keep our Amigas up to date we decide who’s side they will take with Ports 1, 3 and 5 on the properly on Amigas but it threw code and if it is found Poseidon systems than the Highway need USB. Mediator users also on the matter. first unit and ports 2 and 4 on up the question of “can you use will refuse to work. Elbox has (results may vary of course). have the ability to use the other the second. This means that any PCI USB card that I want now released a new version solutions in their machines two separate devices need to to?”. One person (quite without that code so the risk is Elbox e-mailed me to say: “In (they work perfectly alongside be setup in Trident: in the possibly through illegal means) the case of Spider the speed of each other) but what’s the Hardware section click on decided to hack into Elbox’s Pros mass storage USB 1.1 devices point? Having a PCI card “New” and select the driver and found, in the + Small do not depend on the Amiga running on a PCI board is a lot Devs:USBHardware/usb.device disassembled data some + Fast turbo (processor) card. You better for speed and file and set its unit to 0, then specific code which he claimed + Constantly updated always reach the maximum compatibility. do the same again but with it would trash the RDB (Rigid Pretty speed of these... This is the Cons same speed as you reach in You will also need an 68030 or set to unit 1. This gives you Disk Block) information on your - Possible ethical the PC or in the Mac higher, the MultiMedia CD two devices. Save the hard drive. That would mean debate over anti- computers.” So unlike other (MMCD), a Voodoo card (for preferences, click “Online” and your computer would loose all piracy code you should have all 5 ports record of where each partition Good! solutions which are limited to DMA purposes) and a - Needs MMCD available for use. is stored.
 the bus speed of the Zorro slot, registered version of Poseidon. Results 28 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 29 Reviews Reviews Having said that, there are some which is supposed to perform These are the improvements that have been this function, has very little (if settings I used made since the previous version. any) effect on samples, even to make a basic I’ve noticed that the batch after tweaking the settings. half-tone pitch conversion function is much However, the default effect on correction more stable now. I’ve also the “Dynamic” operator seems to effect. noticed that several effects get the job done well. appear to have been added Finally, there’s an undocumented since the last update. The Sound 4.24.2 feature in the Record window. program’s overall stability The first time I recorded via version doesn’t allow the use of appears to be significantly SoundFX, I looked at the Record ’m a sound guy. That is, I’m ARexx scripts, virtual memory, or improved, too. into sound. I love music and I saving), I couldn’t go wrong. window and was unpleasantly I surprised by the lack of a pause love to do things with it. So FX Helpful Hints SoundFX is specifically designed original is still open. This way, find the “DeCrackle” and button. After several recording naturally I’m always on the hunt help window give you not one, to take short samples and you don’t have to reload the “DeNoise” operators to be a “sessions” that involved stopping for Amiga programs that let me not two, not three, but nine I’ve found that some of manipulate them to your original sample if you don’t like godsend. (Unfortunately, I the recording, saving the file, work with sound. In particular, I ‘020 to the ‘060, including different parameters about the SoundFX’s functionality can be a specifications; however, with the effect, and you can do all couldn’t figure out how to use starting again and specifying a was on a long hunt for a good separate versions for FPUs. (A sample in the sample window. little bit quirky at first, so to save enough RAM or virtual memory sorts of things to your sound them properly!) new file, I figured out that the program that would let me load a binary from an earlier version is The documentation tells exactly you from some potential drive space, you can work with also available for the ‘000.) without affecting the original. record button actually doubles as sample or a song and tweak it what each of these windows Registered users get the benefit puzzlement if you decide to give large samples that perhaps you’d Stefan recommends an ‘060, at And it gives you all sorts of a pause button! with reverb, phasing, and other does, but it’s still hard to keep of ARexx functionality. this program a go, I’ll let you in rip from a music CD. SoundFX least 64MB of RAM, a graphics opportunities to play around with nifty effects. One of the most straight what information each Admittedly, I know next to on a few of the tricks I’ve learnt. can also act as a sound card, OS 3.5 or higher, and, various effects – which is exactly Overall popular of such Amiga programs window is showing! nothing about ARexx, but in my Many users have reported an converter, supporting almost understandably, a sound card. what I did to write this review. I was inexpensive but “playing around” I’ve found the every major audio format put some examples of what I did abundance of digital distortion In writing this review, I was unfortunately also loved to crash When you start SoundFX, the RTFM! ARexx capabilities to be fun to (including Studio16 and MP3 but online at http://www.wallnet.com/ when playing samples via AHI literally trying to find fault with my machine at random times. program opens on its own use. Several ARexx scripts that devices, making the samples SoundFX. Well, it wasn’t easy – notably not RealAudio); there’s Speaking of documentation, it is ~dauber/SoundFX.html to Another popular piece of screen in various shades of gray combine different operators are sound much worse than with the as you can see, I could only even a batch conversion option available in both English and demonstrate what kind of effects software, which combined and its own font. (Don’t worry – if included with the program, and Amiga’s built-in hardware. The come up with two, and both of that will convert an entire German in PDF and HTML are possible without even multitrack recording with sound you don’t like the default fonts they have produced some really trick here is basically not to be those problems are easily fixed subdirectory of samples, which formats, and there is great online tweaking anything. processing, was much too pricy and colours, the preference cool effects during my so quick with your mouse button! by using other simpler programs can be a godsend when a support via both for my budget. I found Stefan editor will let you choose your SoundFX gives you sixty experimentation. My personal When you have AHI chosen as for those functions. For both Windows-loving friend wants www.sonicpulse.de and a fairly Kost’s shareware program called own!) An appicon also appears different processed effects, favorite is the “GhostEcho” the audio mode, click the “Audio basic and not-so-basic sound file those cool 8SVX sounds you active discussion list on Yahoo! SoundFX, which promised me on your Workbench screen, called operators, to play with. script, which gives your samples Mode Options” icon in the toolbar processing, you can’t go wrong have in your Directory Opus Groups. Not only is the virtually limitless sound effects which is a real treat if you like to Each operator comes with a sort of a reversed-reverb effect. – that’s the third circle with the with SoundFX, especially with its themes! I was particularly documentation provided in possibilities at an affordable drag’n’drop. And if you so group of effects that you can question mark. A small window low registration fee. pleased that SoundFX has a HTML and PDF files, but the price; I figured with a registration choose, every time you open apply. You can add your own Room For Improvement will pop up allowing you to built-in AHI sound recorder; PDF file comes in two sizes: Being an amateur musician, I fee of $26 (the unregistered SoundFX 4.2 you’re given a effects to each operator, giving choose an audio mode. When anyone who might want to record “letter” size for U.S. users and SoundFX, as with most like to record and experiment random “Tip of the Day.” The you virtually limitless you click the drop-down arrow, old vinyl albums to CD and A4 size for the European side of programs, is not without a few with sound. I’ve noticed that the GUI is a bit on the strange side – possibilities. For example, I was you’ll be given a list of available attempt to clean up the pops and the Atlantic. Pressing the “Help” flaws. The program handles Amiga is tragically short of all-in- the main toolbar gives you a recently transferring some audio modes. Highlight the audio scratches without running a key from within SoundFX opens MP3s and decodes them one packages that provide handful of somewhat cryptic cassettes to CD. One cassette mode you want and, before you separate program might a web browser and takes you surprisingly fast, although I was multitrack recording, mixing, icons. For example, there are played back a half-tone too fast. click “OK,” look closely: there’s a especially find this feature right to the section of the unable to get the MP3 savers to effects processing, and CD four magnifying glass icons, Although I didn’t have the frequency selector at the bottom useful. And not only can documentation that discusses work, and many users (myself mastering. However, with some each of which performs a slightly patience to try correcting the of the list, an often overlooked SoundFX alter your samples, but the window you have open. The included) report crackling spread CD writing software, SoundFX, .info it can also generate sounds as different action; and to add to the actual speed of the recording I feature! See how low the default documentation has a nice layout throughout decoded MP3 files. with its processing and built-in Developer confusion, there are four made of it in SoundFX, I did use frequency is? Crank that sucker well with its synthesizer to it – it’s outlined and numbered I’ve found that using the “Edit” recording features, provides an Stefan Kost question mark icons (for loader, the “PitchShift” operator and up to 44100, and your samples operators. So, what we have by section. However, I noticed menu on larger samples crashes invaluable part of an Amiga www.sonicpulse.de saver, audio mode, and sample added an effect that would lower will sound brighter than ever. (A here is a four-in-one program: a that there are blanks by many my system often; then again, user’s basic desktop digital options) with no way to the pitch by half a tone. user once asked Stefan why he recorder, a processor, a section numbers. Being SoundFX is really designed for recording studio. It’s been quite Price distinguish them from each other didn’t raise the default frequency. synthesizer, and a converter – absolutely sure that I installed Of course, some basic effects handling short sound bites! I’ve useful for my purposes, and in 26USD, 20Euro visually! The status bar with ten The reason is to avoid problems basically, a mini-sound studio on the program properly, I asked like echo, reverb, and reverse mentioned the incomplete reviewing version 4.2, I’ve found unlabeled windows at the bottom with hardware that can’t handle Requirements your desktop! Stefan about this, and he are included. If you have some English docs, but the program a lot of cool effects that I never of the screen is even more frequencies that high.) confessed that he hadn’t finished samples that are too high-range realized I had at my fingertips. 68020 Now, what do you need to run cryptic. The window at the far left itself isn’t completely in English – the English documentation yet. or low-range, there are some Any useful sound editor will have this little four-in-one studio? To of the bar is for “quick help,” there are a few requester Recommended But this could actually be a good equalizer operators to help even some kind of “normalize” feature start, an Amiga with at least a which describes the functions of messages that appear in 68060 thing – the lack of documentation out the sound. Of course, you that boosts a sample’s volume to 68020 processor. There is a the toolbar icons as the mouse German. 64Mb RAM on some features may can adjust the frequencies via its maximum level before binary archive available for pointer moves across them. The Graphics Card encourage you to do some waveforms like sawtooth and distortion comes creeping in. I’ve download for all CPUs from the windows to the right of the quick Sound Card experimenting, which could give sine wave, but hey, I said I like found that using the “MaxVol” AmigaOS 3.5 you some very interesting sound, I never said I was into the effect on the “Amplify” operator, results. In fact, the user is scientific part of it! Thankfully, Test System encouraged to “...TRY AND there’s an option for bare-bones Pros A4000 PLAY AROUND!!!! – you [can] folks like me to boost the treble, + Cheap TekMagic 4060/50 not destroy anything.” bass, and medium just by + Tons-o-effects (and plugging in some bigger 144Mb RAM you can create more). Just Playin’ Around numbers. Audiophiles will Picasso IV + Good support from Pretty Prelude ZII undoubtedly appreciate the ...which is absolutely true. One operator that converts a the author and users. feature I love about SoundFX is SoundFX 4.2 has a built-in AHI AmigaOS 3.9 BB1 quadraphonic sample to Cons that after you modify a sample, a surround sound stereo. And folks recorder. The “Record” - Incomplete docs. Picasso 96 new window will open with the button doubles as a pause Good! who wish to dump scratchy old Directory Opus 5.82 What? Don’t like the default colours and fonts? - Cryptic GUI. resulting sample while the records to a digital format might button. Levels can be set No problem – change ‘em yourself! manually or automatically. Results 30 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 31 Reviews If you don’t see what you want, just ask! Kicksoft Our range is always growing! It’s our third year of trading and to celebrate we’re offering you 10% off the advertised Tales Birthday Offer-10% off price of all our products except upgrades and Total Amiga until the end of April 2003. Tamar Amiga Forever 5 ...UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE...of Sam Byford updates us on the lastest happenings in the world of Tamar. Fast Amiga Emulator and Connectivity Package for Windows people to be their vassals players which gives you room ince the initial review the (Lords who agree to be loosely to expand. However do not • Fast JIT emulation, up to 30 times faster than previous Tales have been ruled over and governed). If take this as the law; often when S versions of Amiga Forever. continuing apace. Many new they do not take vassals then a island is short on space new Lords have joined the humble they may find that without players may find themselves • Amiga runs in a window or in full screen mode. race to become a great King precautions they will start to placed in any available gap • Amiga Explorer for Amiga connectivity. and many new features have have uprisings and could loose and this can make things • Fully licensed Picasso96 software. been added to the game: towns to rebels. Taking vassals tough. There are of course • All Amiga ROMs up to version 3.1. will help lower the possibilities plenty of ways to survive, but • Includes: Personal Paint 7.1b Directory Opus 5.5 Updates of this happening. People who they are for you to find out (courtesy of GPSoftware), TurboText become vassals may become about. • MPEG-1 videos: The Deathbed Vigil and Jay Miner Version 0.46 added the better off as their Over-Lords Speech included on the CD. following (main items only): have to give them land, help, Knowing what to research and build is half the battle and will • Plus much more. • Diplomacy: Personal advice and general aid. However it also means that any help you survive but don’t be Version 5 Upgrade from V. 4 messages can be sent and surprised if you die once or received in-game decision you make should also be agreed upon by your “boss”. twice in your first attempts; I £40.00 £25.00 • Tales is now running on did and it helps you to learn the MorphOS I myself have recently become ways of things. • New BardsTale stories a vassal to Count Lucksi and • CGX V5 is now recognized am currently annexing one of his towns so that I have a Buffers Version 0.47 includes the second town, this one with One thing several people said following: access to the sea. to me at WoASE was “I tried the Demo of Tales and it just PageStream 4.1 PageStream Extras • Movement of cavalry is Hints & Tips crashed.” Recently an update improved. started to do exactly the same The mini-map makes location The Premier DTP program on the Amiga. • Second map screen If you truly intend to get along thing to me and Tales ran your troops each turn much Mac & PC version also avaliable. • Mini map and unit locator in the world of Tamar you need maybe one out of ten attempts. • Added winter graphics to interact with other players, easier and quicker, Accidentally I discovered that £199.00 form treaties, make allies and increasing the buffers on my Next issue? help one another. Since A fairly major addition here is Games: partition solved WoASE (World of Amiga South So that is the second chapter the mini-map (see picture). On everything. I used HDToolbox Warp and bend any text into any shape you want !! East) I have formed a close in the Tales. In the third the map screen you can now to set the buffers to 600 and PageStream Upgrade alliance with Bill Hoggett (Lord instalment I will talk you select the arrow and the right Tales has run perfectly ever Celebaglar in my Deverry through weapon statistics and Text effect 2 £50.00 hand information section since. It might not work for the game) and to aid us both we armour information as well as From pagestream 2.xx to 4.1 £95 changes to display a miniature demo but it certainly worked for have set up private websites details on what research you map of the land you have the game itself! From pagestream 3.xx to 4.1 £79 with valuable information on should do in the initial stages in discovered. Lower down are a that only we have access to. order to do survive. Feedback From Pagestream 4 to 4.1 £39 set of icons which provide a Forum on this article is, as usual, selection list of your units always welcome via the usual The main query I had (at To be informed of updates, turn (armies etc). Click on one of channels. WoASE) from people problems and to report bugs, Cross upgrade these and it will automatically interested in Tales was, “How jump to that figure on the main wish-lists and queries make Yours in the Tales, Upgrade from Amiga version 4.0. to PC or Mac am I, as a new player, not sure you bookmark Complete collection of 120 scalable borders map. This makes locating all of disadvantaged when there are http://www.eternity- Lords Deverry & Biffordicus. version. your troops each turn much other people who have been easier and quicker. computer.de/phpBB/ which is (a.k.a. Sam Byford) playing for much longer than the Tales forum. A fair bit of it is £89.00 Basic & Geo Borders £55.00 In the next update things will me?” in German but there are become a lot nicer for the The general rule is that new English sections for all the lesser Lords of Tamar. players are placed in Tamar on parts you would need to use. Rebellions have been added! land which has very few You need to register by Kicksoft Ltd., You can expect larger land established players on it. You following the appropriate link 30 Whitegate Way, owners to start searching for Tadworth, will be spaced away from other on the site. www.kicksoft.co.uk Add £1.00 UK postage per item. Make cheques payable to Kicksoft Ltd. Surrey, KT20 5NS Tel/Fax (01737) 219280 32 TOTAL AMIGA We accept Solo, Switch, Mastercard & Visa [email protected] Reviews Reviews Toolbar programmers, graphics and sound artists by visiting the Situated underneath the game Arcade. Each individual has screen you have current different attributes which balance, current date (starts governs how good they are 1st of Jan 1982) a briefcase and how much they want in (for putting your games titles, wages. Return to your film licenses, into etc) current Development office and assign SoftwareComputer games publishing was a huge growth industry time, balance sheet, normal the various tasks from your time icon, fast time icon, room game concept to each in the 1980’s when some of today’s household names information icon, disk/game employee. Once done, clicking were started in a back bedroom. Michael Carrillo finds out if options icon and a laptop on the office clock will allow computer (which runs ‘Sokio you to agree the timescales. he’s got what it takes to become a Software Tycoon. OS’ and office software which Be they an arbitrary date set by were all the rage in 1982 yourself or the actual date of quite reach the peak, either You can even apparently). completion. Choosing the first am probably the worst through horrible controls, Tycoon choose to option will mean that the game person in the world to review limited playability or some package freebies I I was going to write a detailed concept will be finished on your sim games. Why? Because I other ghastly mistakes, with your game. introduction on how to get specified date regardless of love the genre, I have strong a Software Tycoon has all three! This scrolling street provides the interface to the game screens. started and what all the bits do, whether the staff have finished opinion on what makes a good Unfortunately the slow speed of the scrolling can make it rather It’s not that Software Tycoon is but to be quite honest, I doubt all their assigned modules. In SIM and what doesn’t. a complete disaster, but it has if it will be worth while, other words the game will be SIM’s or Simulation games if some flaws that can drive you considering just how irritating ready to publish regardless of Joystick control as wellfrustrating as afterthe locala while. Mafia to provide you you prefer, on the Amiga come up the wall. First of all in case some of the game play can be. whether it’s complete, or still better graphics, sound and with the tools to sabotage your in two categories:- They are. you don’t know what the game Yes you can get mileage out of missing features. Genre (you start with a Skill opponents. This ranges from Railroad Tycoon, Sim City, is about here is what it says in this game, if you are not as game then research your way popularity ratings drop through Colonisation, Civilisation, the box. “In the early eighties, fussy as I am about sims. Whilst you wait for the program to Shoot-em ups, Puzzle, to their next release not getting K240, Theme Park, etc. Or the developers shot up all over the to be completed or dateline platform, and so on). Obviously as high a score as it should The idea is thus, in your office, second category: Detroit, Hill world like toadstools - it was CD ever again. Once installed level) and it runs through until achieved, you can take a trip to each piece of research costs have done. you develop a game concept Sea Lido, Sim City 2000, the birth of a new industry. click on the icon of choice, 2005. The missions are the bank, deposit some money, up to $1000.00 per based on what programming & Software Tycoon etc. Computers and consoles Amiga PPC, 68k or Pegasos basically targets, the first one savings, invest in securities, day, which on the easy level Next is the Arcade, which we technological skills are began a triumphant advance (the latter two I deleted since I is make $500,000 within two ask for a loan or bank balance. starts at 10 days for the basics, have already covered and The first category is the creme available in 1982. At the start into people’s homes and didn’t need them, but it would years of starting up, next win a Scroll right to visit the Game whilst the equivalent research finally on the production of Amiga Sims the second, you have only got sprites, text spread like wildfire. But, not have been nice if the installer software award etc. You cannot shop, here is where you will on the Hard level takes 34 factory. Once your latest well, let’s just say they don’t graphics and PC speaker only hardware was sold. had asked which version I select the next mission/target drop off the sales license of days. What annoyed me about masterpiece is finished you sound (you can research, Software, and particularly wanted to install). until you have successfully your latest creation, view sales this is that whilst it bring your trusty masterpiece genre, programming computer games, sold like hot completed the previous one. charts and read the latest comparatively takes a short here. Note the number of Stars technologies, graphics and cakes. This development Having made your choices, the reviews on not just your amount of days to research the your game has as you pack it Starting the Game sound). There are no home began with simple games such game begins. What is irritating releases but your competitors Joystick, it took over a month away in your briefcase, the computers in this game, only as ‘Pong’. But soon progressed The game is executed by though is that the next time you as well. Next door we have the to research how to integrate a higher the Stars the longer it PC’s Consoles and Hand-helds to much more complex clicking on it’s nicely rendered start the game you will be advertising agency where, mouse. - duh! On the plus side will sell for. Enter the factory (from 1990). Once you have programs which created their icon and it immediately presented with the finances depending, you can you are only allowed to and at the back there is a .info launches a screenmode selected from what is available, promote your latest release production room, go through own market. A battle-field from screenmode requester and research a finite number of Distributor you can then further select the very beginning. requester window. Select the your language preferences all from leaflets to cinema/TV items per year. Preventing you and you will be presented with Epic Interactive spoken languages and testing resolution and colour depth over again (Once is enough). commercials. Scroll right to from being able to write a an empty game box, put your www.epic-interactive.com These early days of the levels. and the game intro loads. It’s enter the +Labor+ The Quake type game in 1986. masterpiece inside, next from industry are the background for best that you always use a 256 Laboratory where you can pay the right hand toolbar decide Available From the company you yourself are The Game Screen Once your concept is ready Forematt Home Computing colour screen, for one, it’s an independent company to Exit the +Labor+ scroll right what gifts you wish to include, about to found. Armed with a you will need to hire www.forematt.co.uk faster and there is no The game starts with a research the mysteries of and enter the Cinema, here these range from T-Shirts to a small start capital, you set out noticeable difference in horizontally scrolling you can bid on the current film pen. Plus of course you have Price in 1982 to conquer the games graphics depth. Once the panoramic view of your of the month. Enter an amount the option to decide on colour £32 market. Develop your own intro’s are out of the way average town centre street. and exit the cinema, if you are or monochrome manual. At the game concepts, create a team (mouse click skips them) you You’ll be pleased to know that lucky you will be informed by bottom of the toolbar a total Compatibility and conquer the world. But are asked which language you the area is pedestrianised so the current month’s end cost is given for your latest AmigaOS 3.0 never forget that you have two want. Choose from English or that you can interrogate all the whether you have been outbid project, plus the ability to set 68060 or PPC rivals for the dominance you German next comes the people walking around in or whether you won the bid. how much you want the game or are seeking - “Though they do screen with new game, load peace. To the left of the screen Why on Earth couldn’t have the to sell for. Pegasos say competition is good for game, options, etc. If you is the building where you and whole bidding process have MorphOS 1.x business.” So in a nutshell you choose new game you are your rivals are all based, your been made real time is beyond Once done, exit the design start up in 1982 with some taken to a new screen where office is on the top floor and me. For those of you who recall room to re-enter the main 32Mb RAM capital, depending on level of you enter your company name, your development office in on Theme Park there was an publishing floor, here you have Graphics Card difficulty, and you set off to choose a logo and the difficulty the bottom floor. Next door is Auction process in that game three production lines with only Test System conquer the games market. level. Next comes the missions the Bank, scrolling to the left is that was dealt with there and production line, No.1, having only one machine available at A1200 screen. Yep, that’s right you the Game shop, Advertising then, it shouldn’t take up to a a whopping 250 copies per BlizzardPPC/040 Installation. can select missions on this office, +Labor+, Cinema, whole month to find out game. The first one is open Pizza, Arcade and finally the whether you have been outbid. day. You do however have the BVisionPPC The game fully installs on to play where you start in 1982 production room. option of buying more AmigaOS 3.9 your hard drive, there is no with X amount of money Exit, scroll right and enter the machines at $100,000 each, need to run anything from the (depending on the difficulty High security at the bank! Pizza place where you can ask increasing your capacity by 34 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 35 Reviews another 250 copies per day, To find out what type of game per machine. people want, you select the magnifying glass icon from the Select on the number of copies toobar menu and click on them. required, a rating of 6 stars or However this isn’t a sure fire more and you can expect to way to gauge reaction, unless sell over 100,000 copies, get you sit down with pen and only one star and you will paper and add them all up. struggle to sell 10,000. Don’t Surely commissioned opinion forget that you are paying for polls in the form of reports the number of copies run off a would have been better? day and this will show as a Music, there is only one in debit on your balance sheet game music track and it’s more until you have sold some suited to Payback, in the end copies. Once you are satisfied you end up turning it off. The with the number of copies to sound effects are nothing to produce, quickly scroll back to write home about and certainly the Game shop and drop your are not imaginative (one sound Sales license agreement effect nearly does all). (created when you exit the The aim of the game: getting your title on the store shelves. design room in the production Requesters: During the month factory) straight to the Game little e-mail notices appear on development office, scroll to everyone appears to shop and drop it off on the the toolbar these vary from the the right most end of the “moonwalk” throughout. shelf. Your game is now on monthly Autosave feature has screen and enter production In all this game just isn’t sale. worked, (admittedly handy) to building. You then get another finished. It obviously wasn’t the monthly new film at cinema requester saying a particular play tested properly either, the requester. This is all very well piece of research is complete. Waiting screenmode requester at the except that if you choose fast Exit production building and start of launch, the which If you are short on cash and time, (this game takes long scroll back towards the left language option, the + or - whilst you wait for the money enough as it is) it is interrupted again. All the whilst you are incrementation method and to roll in, you can either; go to by the requester which drops being plagued by stupid finally the game only filling up the bank and get a loan or visit you back to normal time. For requesters about mother’s and 90mb of a 700mb CD is a dead your office and dismiss all your example, every now and then a asteroids etc, and you find giveaway. staff. If you have some money little requester pops up yourself clicking the “fast time” button over and over. you can send them on holiday conveying the message “An In closing, whilst this game or give them a bonus, this asteroid has crashed onto the Finally, You would think the isn’t totally bad, it isn’t helps with morale, yet another Earth. Game over. (Joke)” Ha, developers would have tried wonderful either, to say factor for you to worry about. Bloody, Ha. I would much their best to make it sparkle. something nice about it I could Once you have enough money rather the bloody game had Nope sorry. They must have mention the handy autosave or have spent sufficient money kept going and my research or taken a leaf out of the game, option, and the graphics, whilst on research, you can start on game development time had the game needed xxx days and not out of this world are nice your next blockbuster. edged closer. Software Tycoon the publisher said xx days. The and functional. It’s interesting is not a game that should publisher obviously won. Some to note that Software Tycoon require you to sit in front of the So What’s Wrong With of the in game background are was originally slated for Apple screen whilst there is nothing in German, such as the game Mac release only, it is even this Game? else to do within it. shop and the production more interesting to note that as Whilst this game isn’t a total I write this article, the Mac Also the scrolling idea of an factory. The main high street loss by any means, it has got version has yet to appear. outdoor shopping area whilst has a German Language name some concept/flaws that mean Perhaps Epic Interactive novel, is irritating as hell. Say for the Advertising shop. Add to it will never be ranked amongst Entertainment will release an you are in the development that, the rendered animation of the classics sims mentioned at update for this game, but so far office (left hand side of screen) people on the street, surely it the start of this article. there is nothing. and you realise you need an couldn’t have been beyond the developer’s means to have These are.. In the production additional programmer to actually co-ordinated the room, when setting the number speed up development. You characters walk in relation to of copies required, the counter exit out of the office, (RMB) the floor? As it stands is incremented by 50, via and scroll the screen (via means of a + or - signs. This mouse) to the right and on to the Arcade to hire an additional can be annoying because the Pros auto repeat feature, is very programmer. + Some innovative slow, and if your game is a Hire your programmer, exit ideas. sure fire hit, you will want to scroll all the way back to the + Attractive cartoon run off at least 80,000 copies. left-hand most side of the graphics. It takes a while to get to 80,000 screen, enter development copies, the Bonus’s, Cons office and assign programmer. - Slow and frustrating Okay Research, Holidays, all use the Whilst there a requester pops + or - increment method, after gameplay & interface. up and informs you that you a while you it gets to be a pain. - Feels unfinished. are running low on stock. Exit Results 36 TOTAL AMIGA Support Support mouse, keyboard, joystick there is work to be done. You (Amiga or PC) or a PSX joypad are prompted on screen to can be used to control the access your objectives by game this is selected on the pressing F1 (didn’t know he “Input” tab. Multi-player options had a keyboard with him) this can be set on the “Game” tab displays a window with your and you can also enter the secondary objectives which .info name of a mod to play (if need to be completed to meet Developer installed) here. Finally the the primary objective (the Hyperion “Optimisations” tab has a major task you need to www.hyperion- whole plethora of options to complete on that level). entertainment.com QuakeThe second installment of one of the world’s biggest software titles makes it to the Amiga, tweak the look and performance of the game. Time to get moving now soldier Available From can Mick Sutton take it on? and straight away you notice Forematt Home Computing Once you “save” or “use” the settings in the GUI Quake II just how good the graphics and www.forematt.co.uk and make an assign before launches in the window or sound are as two explosions ithin the games industry starting the installation. This screenmode you chose. detonate right in front of you. Price there are few titles that process is described on a note £30 W The appearance of the game command the respect that included with the game. The will be familiar to seasoned Requirements Quake receives, it popularised mods that come supplied on a Let’s go Frag! Quake players, but overall the Much of the scenery is really impressive the whole genre of true 3D first third CD have to be installed II When Quake II loads you are graphic quality is much and the lighting effects bring it to life. 68060 or PPC person shooters which must separately. If you install the 64Mb RAM initially greeted with the improved with more detailed away into the distance. I found In Quake II the enemies that now account for a large movies onto your hard drive animated ID Software logo, at textures and enemy models. that sometimes the more are trying to kill you are not the proportion of all games sold. you will need about 400 Mb of Notes: some Mods may this point a text console Some parts of the level, such impressive weapons were not only problem you face, oh no, With Quake II ID software free space. Check your objectives and require more RAM. A 3D appears and you are left as windows and cracked walls, necessarily the most effective, there are plenty of other card is not required but the enhanced every aspect of the progress in the level by are destructible allowing you Before you start to play the wondering what to do next! In depending on the enemy and obstacles. Many areas require game looks better if you game and created a game into new areas often with game we recommend that you pressing F1. fact if you press the Esc key situation you are in. Sometimes you to collect items such as have one. engine that was used in many bonuses. I gotta tell ya this install the updates found on the bit. A minimum of 64 Mb of the main menu (that will be getting up close and personal keys or pass-cards to gain other successful titles. Well game really suck you into the Hyperion website, at the time RAM is required for the instantly familiar to Quake I with the shotgun did the trick! further access. This usually now my friends it’s time for us atmosphere of battle in outside Test System of writing there have been two standard game, some mods players) opens. It is here that involves going back and forth to enjoy this modern classic on areas there are craft flying This brings me to the enemy’s A1200 updates which made the game require more. you can set various in game between the sub-levels several our humble Amigas. overhead and you can hear the intelligence, which is improved Blizzard PPC 240Mhz 060 run faster as well as fixing options such as key mapping, times before you can complete distant battle in the from the original Quake. For BVision Back in December 2001 ID some minor bugs. Nice and Easy GUI video settings and other control the level and of course the key 128Mb Fast RAM Software released the Quake II options. background. Smaller touches example enemies duck when or pass-card you require is source code under the GNU If you run Quake II from a like shrapnel, smoke and you fire at them (that’s not fair) usually guarded by a nasty AmigaOS 3.9 BB2 General Public License, this Will my Amiga be Man workbench icon (recommended Once you have set up to your debris flying around add to the and even have the audacity to adversary (’ard bastard). Also CyberGraphX 4 basically means that the Enough or Will it Quake at least the first time) a GUI liking it’s time to get fragging! sense of realism. shoot back at you as they are there are plenty of dangerous software can be modified (for window appears with several So select your level of mayhem squirming and dying on the areas to contend with, these With Fear? Fortunately you won’t be stuck example to run on other tabs of settings. On the “Gfx” (from easy, medium or hard) floor (that ain’t cricket either). consist of the likes of molten with the equivalent of a space operating systems) but the For best performance a PPC tab you can choose between and you’re introduced to the This makes the combat more lava (where is that volcano?) cadets water pistol for long as changed source code must be system with a 3D graphics card hardware and software story by a short movie. This realistic and keeps you on your bubbling away waiting to burn there are many varied made available. Soon after the is recommended, then you can rendering and whether to run in shows your character being toes. There are still times the flesh off your bones, liquid weapons scattered around the source code was released play in high resolutions and 16 full screen or in a window on launched in a pod towards an however when the artificial toxins to swim in (no, not the levels (excellent internal Hyperion announced that they bit colour. Quake II will also run Workbench. The “Audio” tab enemy planet and crashing into intelligence could be better, local pool) and some nasty security). Some of the were working on an Amiga without a 3D card and even on has the option to use AHI and the complex surrounding a enemies follow a planned path ledges with deep drops to fall weapons are really impressive port. Finally at the World of 060 based Amigas but of you can set the CD-ROM huge gun which, of course, it is until you get close even if you and break your neck. Besides both in their power and Amiga South East show in course the performance will be device to play the audio from you job to destroy. You start are firing at them and can often these there are many areas graphical effect, ranging from November 2002 the result of slower and the display is only 8 the game CD if required. A the game proper standing be found motionless rather that require you to figure out present day weaponry such as their efforts was released. The beside your crashed pod in a than patrolling. Don’t get me how to negotiate them. Some shotguns and grenades to the package consists of a CD with heavily damaged area of the wrong here, it’s still friggin of these require good timing on monumental BFG10K (Big the Amiga executable and base with just a feeble hand hard! your part to jump onto and F**king Gun) which sweeps all installer, a CD of Mods (more weapon to take on the now from moving platforms of away before you. Damn these As you work your way through on these later) and the original really pissed off enemy! It is at varying construction. Other guns look so cool when you fire the levels you’ll come up PC version of Quake II which is this point that your commander areas include “booby traps” like them off, grenades explode against a multitude of enemy still required for the game data radios you your instructions for collapsing floors or doorways with a fireball, lasers beam types, each one has different files. this part of the mission, it’s not that suddenly animate and brightly and rockets stream strengths and weaknesses. On just blasting enemies, oh no, crush you. There are many the lower levels there are lots ways in which to die my friend! Get it on Your Hard Drive of foot soldiers which are easily Hyperion have done their usual dispatched further through the The levels in Quake II are well excellent job of providing a game you begin to meet more constructed, they vary quite a smooth installation using the “interesting” adversaries who bit in style. For example there Amiga Installer, because the are more of a challenge, these are underground caverns, open installation needs both the include the likes of cyborgs outside areas, underwater original Quake II CD and the with chain guns, flying drones passages and of course the Hyperion CD unless you have with lasers and the bitches usual rooms with corridors two CD-ROM’s you have to from hell with rocket inter-connecting them. The launchers... Women eh! Enter the world of Quake 2 copy the Hyperion CD to RAM The single player levels have an involving story. Here you game flows well, by that I The GUI lets you adjust most of the game options easily. mean each area you complete at your peril!!! can see your crashed pod at the start of the game. 38 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 39 P&P Rates: UK ...... £1 per item Support EU ...... £2 per item FORE-MATT Home Computing RoW .....£3 per item (08700) 112234 • Dept. TA, PO Box 835, Wootton Bassett, Swindon, SN4 8RXWe also accept PayPal to perform your task leads you Now Let’s go Frag the into the next area in a logical manner. For instance to World! destroy the base outside As Quake was one of the defences requires you to shut Quake £10Quake 2 £30 Napalm £15 Freespace £25 VHI Studio 5.7 £30 Hyperion Bundle £47 pioneers of multi-player gaming down the reactor and then the especially over the Internet you communication centre before would expect Quake II to excel your buddies can fly in and in this area, and we can tell bomb the area, just don’t forget you it does! Network games to get the hell out of there as use the TCP/IP stack (Miami, they don’t ask if you are clear! Simon Sorcerer 2 £30 T-Zero £20 Nightlong £25S/W Tycoon £30 FXScan 4 £35 FXPaint 2 £60 (upg £25) Genesis etc.) to connect to CDROM GAMES CDROM GAMES CDROM GAMES UTILITIES UTILITIES UTILITIES either via a local network or the Adventurers Lair...... £20Goal! 2000...... £10Spherical Worlds ...... 3DCD-1 £10 Objects...... £5CybergraphX 4 ...... £25Network CD ...... £10 Despite the high quality of Amiga Classix...... £10Gremlin Classix...... £10Sports Mad ...... 17 £20 Bit Level 6 ...... £10Cross Dos 7 Gold...... £40Network CD 2 ...... £15 Internet. Within the multi-player Amiga Classix 2...... £10Hell Squad...... £30Star Fighter...... 100%AMIGA £15 Magazine ...... £5Cross Mac ...... £50OS 3.9...... £30 graphics and sound Quake II Amiga Classix 3...... £20Heretic 2...... £40Street Racer CD ...... 100%AMIGA £10 Annual UK Sub...... £48Darkage Developer...... £10Patchez HD Installers...... £10 section of the main menu the Aminet Games...... £15Imperator CD ...... £15Superfrog ...... 100% £10 Colour Clips...... £10Desktop Video Vault ...... £10PFS3 ...... £35 runs well on relatively low spec Aqua...... £10Islona Collection ...... £20Super Methane Bros...... 100% £10 Mono Clips...... £10Diavolo 2000 ...... £50Photofolio v2...... £25 player option allows you to Arcade Classix Mk 2 ...... £15Labyrinth Of Time ...... £10Tales From Heaven ...... 1500 £20 WAV Sound Effects ...... £10Digital Makeup ...... £15Red Hat Linux...... £20 systems (compared to 2GHz Blade...... £10Land of Genesis...... £20Testament CD...... 10,000 £10 Amiga Cheats...... £10Draw Studio 2...... £45Science CD...... £10 PC’s anyway). For example the select the name of your player Bubble Heroes...... £10Mad About Mahjong...... £10Theme Park CD...... A-Z £10 of Amiga Games...... £20Emulators Unlimited...... £10Sounds Terrific 2...... £10 C64 Classix ...... £10Mad About Marbles...... £10The Games Room ...... Amiga £15 Developer 2.1...... £20Faces of Mars 2001 ...... £15Source Code Gold...... £10 game runs smoothly (at around and the type of model that CDS Collection ...... £15Megaball Deluxe ...... £15The Prophet...... Amiga £15 Forever 5 ...... £40fxPaint v2 upgrade...... £25System Booster ...... £10 Levels are quite varied with caves (like this one), out door areas Cedric ...... £15Moonbases...... £10Trivial Pursuit ...... Amiga £15 Repair Kit...... £35Gateway v1 (netBSD) ...... £10Texture Heaven 1&2...... £10 20 FPS) on my 240MHz PPC represents you, there are Chess 2k...... £15Myst...... £25Turbo Racer 3D ...... Amiga £10 Writer 2 ...... £35GlowIcons...... £10Turbo Calc 5...... £60 choices of male, female or Civilization AGA/ECS...... £10Myst (German) ...... £15Ultimate Gloom...... Aminet £10 Set 4,5 7 - 12 ea ...... £25GlowIcons 2 ...... £15Turbo Print 7.x ...... £40 with BVision at 640 x 480 and, of course, the obligatory corridors. Earth 2140 ...... £30Pacman Attack...... £10Ult. Super Skidmarks ...... Aminet £10 50 (limited)...... £10Graphic Sensations ...... £10Unix Compendium...... £30 cyborg with a variety of Earth 2140 Mission Pack ...... £15Phoenix Fighters...... £10Uropa 2 ...... Aminet £10 Singles...... £13Guinness Records v2 ...... £10Utilities Experience...... £10 resolution and would be even action is always frantic. This aspects of the game. Hyperion Eat The Whistle ...... £10Pure Doom ...... £10Virtual Ball Fighters...... Amos £15 PDCD2...... £20In To The Net (2CD)...... £10Workbench Addon CD...... £10 different skins. If the game European Superleague ...... £10PuzzleBobs ...... £15Virtual Grand Prix...... Animations £20 CD...... £15Learning Curve ...... £20 faster if I had a Voodoo 3. If doesn’t mean you don’t have to have recompiled many of these Fears CD32 ...... £10Red Mars...... £15Virtual Karting 2...... Animatic £10 ...... £5LSD 1 or 2 ea...... £15 server is on your local network use strategy but you can’t mods for the Amiga version, Feeble Files...... £35Retro Gold...... £10Vital Light...... Art £10 Effect 4 ...... £40Make CD DAO ...... £50 you enable “gldynamic” Final Odyssey...... £10Seaside ...... £20Wasted Dreams...... Art £20 Studio Pro ...... £35MediaPoint ...... £30 Fightin Spirit ...... £15Shadow of 3rd Moon...... £20Wembley Intl Soccer ...... Artworx £10 ...... £10Meeting Pearls 4...... £10 then it appears on the list in the afford to stand around working some are supplied on the CD PERIPHERALS (dynamic lighting effects) and Foundation Gold...... £25Simon the Sorcerer...... £10Whales Voyage 2...... Blitz £15 Basic 2.1 (ult.)...... £10Moovid Pro 2...... £20 A4000 3.1 ROM chips ...... £30 join game menu, if you want to Foundation Und.Land...... £15Sixth Sense Invest’ns ...... £15Wipeout 2097 PPC...... Candy £15 Factory Pro...... £35Multimedia Backdrop ...... £15 some of the other eye candy it out... or you will die! On my with the game and others can Amiga-TV Scart Lead...... £13 Giana Sisters Trilogy ...... £10Speccy Classix...... £10Word Games...... Converters £10 Suite...... £10NcodeR ...... £30 join a server on the Internet Boing Ball Mouse Mat ...... £4 goodies on the optimisation tab broadband connection the be downloaded. These mods MouseIT ser. PC Adaptor...... £5 then you need to add it’s IP game runs nice and smoothly vary in style and quality, some Scanner Targets IT8.7/2...... £10 of the GUI the game slows Serial Link...... £15 significantly (to about 12 FPS). address to the “address book” which is essential to even have are intended for on-line games Subway USB...... £65 Again this was on my BVision, before it will appear on the list. a chance against experienced and others can be played in a Voodoo 3 should fare better. You can find the addresses of players. single player mode. Many of “The Amiga Online Superstore” - Visit our new 128 bit secure online shop at www.forematt.co.uk Sam Byford runs the game on servers using webpages such the mods have a theme such Amiga Retro Classics Site: www.forematt.free-online.co.uk EMail: [email protected] his A4000 with an 060, as those listed in the “Are you You can if you wish set your as 007, D-Day landings and Mediator and Voodoo 3 and Being Served?” box out. When Amiga up to be a Quake II Star Wars. gets a respectable 10 FPS on you join a game any new server so other computers average. This specification maps, weapons, models and running the game (be they Conclusion Amiga is the minimum we sounds that are needed are Amigas or other platforms) can would recommend to play the automatically downloaded (you connect to you locally or over If you like first person shooters game. You can enable the can disable this), so an on-line the Internet. While acting as a then why are you still reading frame counter by pressing the game can be a completely new server you can still join the fun. this review? Go and buy apostrophe key (next to the 1 experience. As the server you set the type Quake II now! It has an key) to open the console and of game (death-match or Co- excellent single player game Apart from being a novice and then typing “gl_showfps 1”. operative), the maximum with an involving story and therefore being annihilated Overall Quake II is noticeably number of players and when plenty of variety but that’s only within the first thirty seconds or faster than its predecessor and the level ends (either time of the tip of the iceberg. The on- so this game really rocks on- Hyperion’s other 3D shooters frag limit). line game is heaps of fun and line. It is almost a different Heretic II and Shogo. there are plenty of active game to the single player Brave New Worlds servers (see boxout). Finally mode, there is much less time the mods add a huge number to think how you will handle So what do you do once you of new challenges keeping the different situations and the have played the game all the game fresh and interesting. way through and are bored Add to this that it runs well on a with being fragged instantly range of configurations and Are you Being Served? when playing on-line? you have one of the best Fortunately many third party games released on the Amiga. Quake II Servers On-line developers have released mods which change various If you want to find an active Quake II server on-line so you can start fragging players on the other side of the world then take a look at this web page which has a regularly updated list: Pros + Good graphics and http://www.gameaholic.com/servers/quake2/ sound. Downloading Mods + Plays well on a range Top of systems. http://www.knight-industries.de/q2 + Involving single This is the offical site for additional Quake II mods which have player game. been ported to the Amiga version (many mods are included on + Excelent lastability a CD with the game). Notch! with mods and on-line play. Results 40 TOTAL AMIGA Support Support Author: Thomas Rapp License: Freeware PicShow 1.23 Available From: http://picshow.1st.to
One of PicShow’s best he readme file for PicShow features os its flexible user Tstates that it aims to be a interface. Most operations can “picture viewer in directory be carried out with a single key PD ParadiseAuthor: James R. Jacobs License: Freeware From: Aminet, util/misc/ReportPlus.lha tools” but in reality it has press and you can adjust the ReportPlus 5.64b developed to be much more key mapping by editing the that. You can run PicShow PicShow.keys file. This is a used, the program lists a The system files either from the Workbench or a simple text list of keys and ’ve noticed Report Plus, Haage and Partner E-Mail report keeps Shell Prompt, if you do not which PicShow internal which is described as a address, but if it is this is an I track of changes specify a file name it opens a command they map to. In “multipurpose utility”, in the easy way to a correctly on a partition. file requester so you can addition to changing key Aminet recent listings several formatted report. choose a picture to show. mappings you can also add times over the last few years. The Aminet Readme editor is PicShow uses datatypes to keys to launch external Curiosity finally got the better used to prepare and edit decode image files so it will commands such as sending an of me and I decided to readme files for Aminet support all the picture formats image to a dedicated image download it and find out what it uploads. Again all the required you have datatypes for. If you processor. If you prefer using was for. It turns out to be a fields are available and there is have problems with some files the mouse to remembering key collection of utilities built into a text box for a long it may be worth upgrading your presses PicShow offers two one program with a common description. You can select the datatypes to some such as options. Move your pointer to Reaction interface. Some of appropriate Aminet directory IFF 8SVX is for 8bit sound probably the cleverest and Oliver Robert’s excellent Warp the top of the screen and press these utilities will mainly appeal for your upload from directory samples, and IFF DR2D is a most useful of all the options in series which are available from the right mouse button to to programmers while others and sub-directory lists. structured drawing format. In Report Plus - the System Files http://www.nanunanu.org/ access the familiar Amiga are more generally useful. The the IFF FORM viewer you can Report. This utility can scan ~oliver/. The selected image is menus. Here you can select all initial program window has a The battery-backed memory select an IFF file and see the any disk and make a list, called displayed in a borderless PicShow uses a borderless window so there’s no clutter. the program options and see graphical button for each of the editor allows you to make information contained within. a snapshot, of all the files, their window on Workbench or on a Notice the button bar at the bottom of the window and the the keyboard shortcuts. Finally 10 Report Plus functions of changes to a small area of For example an ILBM has size, date and version. At a new screen if you set that tool-tip showing the filename, size, colour depth and file type. pressing F5 opens the these are split into groups memory in the A3000 and 4000 information such as the pixel later date you can run the utility option. It is also possible to navigation panel which has concerning editing, viewing, which holds some system brings up a list of all the brightness, gamma and dimensions, resolution, again and ask it to report the move PicShow onto its own graphical buttons for most processing, reporting and settings between boots. This is images in the directory. Then saturation of the image in real- transparent colour and many changes that have occurred screen when you start on the program options. Like the key conducting a test. most useful on the A3000 you can pick one to display time by dragging sliders. You other parameters. since that “snapshot” was Workbench. Although the mapping you can define the where some SCSI settings with the mouse, easy. While can save the currently The first editing option allows taken. The resulting list shows window does not have a border look of the panel with your own such as the ID of the internal The Icon Processor allows you PicShow’s multi-image viewing displayed image in IFF format you to create or edit a bug files that have changed (size, you can still move it by graphics and edit which controller and whether to select one or more icons and is very good there are a couple or copy it to the clipboard. report in the official date or version), files that have dragging the top edge and commands appear by changing synchronous transfers are perform operations on them. It of limitations. Firstly it cannot When copying to the clipboard Commodore format. The been added and files that have depth arrange it by clicking the the tooltypes of the picture’s used are held in this memory. can change the icon type (from recurse into sub-directories, you can select an area of the window has fields for all the been deleted. The author top right corner. The window icon. Each icon has a help The Report Plus editor allows a tool to a project for example), you have to view files one image to copy. The save information you need to submit suggests running this after can also be re-sized by bubble which pops up when you view and change the optimise the colours and directory at a time. Secondly it options saves what you see and drop down boxes so you installing your system so you dragging the bottom right you hover the pointer over it for actual binary code or, for the remove planar (needed prior to cannot load the next image in on-screen so it includes any can easily select such options can monitor what has changed. corner, when you do this a few seconds. If you do the weak at heart, change the OS 3.5) image data - making the background so it is ready image manipulations you have as the type of bug and what I would also suggest that it’s PicShow scales the picture but same over the displayed image settings using check boxes and the icon files more compact. once you have viewed the applied in PicShow but can’t AmigaOS subsystem it effects. worthwhile before a major keeps its correct proportions. it shows some information a number gadget. The text file converter can current one - this handy feature save a picture larger than the There is an area to enter the upgrade or installation. If things such as the size in pixels and change text files from PC (CR While PicShow looks simple it is on the author’s to do list. screen. The latest version of details of your Amiga system Report Plus can show you go wrong you can use Report the colour depth (this option and LF) or Mac (CR) style line has many hidden talents, the Finally picture decoding is PicShow (1.23) at the time of and the OS versions are details of the expansion cards Plus to see what has changed can be disabled if it is not endings to Amiga (LF) style or first is that when loading an significantly slower than a writing has a print function. automatically filled in. You can installed in your Amiga based and help you diagnose required). vice versa. It can also be used image it also reads a list of all viewer with dedicated decoding This looks good and has the also setup your contact details on their manufacturer and problems. to convert tabs to spaces and the other images in the same routines like CyberShow (my option to position and scale the Altogether PicShow is a fine so you only need to enter them product IDs. It has the details to remove line wrapping in Report Plus is a strange directory. You can use the right current viewer of choice) - this picture on the page but so far I piece of software and one of once. I don’t know whether this of many cards in its internal paragraphs (this is very handy program - partly because most arrow key to view the next would be less of an issue on a have been unable to get it to the most feature rich picture bug reporting system is still database and can also use the for the magazine, where we of its options are not reports! It image in the directory and the PPC machine with PPC print in colour. Because 1.23 is viewers I’ve come across, yet it boards.library (supplied) for a need to set new margins). has the feel of a tool created left arrow to view the previous datatypes. in beta test and doesn’t have doesn’t need a complex larger list. If you know the for the use of the author and one. Pressing space shows a updated documentation I’m not interface. It is particularly nice manufacturer and board IDs The Path Size utility will scan When a picture is displayed added to as and when he random image from the sure where the problem is. to be able to browse a list of you can look them up without through a hard disk partition of you can use the “+” and “-” needed new utilities. However directory. If you want to view a images within the viewer. The installing the card. your choice and calculate the keys to zoom in and out. PicShow can operate in slide that’s not to put is down! Most particular image just right click only feature I really miss is pre- total size of each directory and PicShow can also be set to show mode which changes to One of the most interesting of the options are useful and I on the image window - this loading to make image viewing sub-directory. This is then automatically scale each the next picture automatically features is the IFF FORM can imagine many Amiga smoother, hopefully that will be presented in an indented list so picture to fit the screen using after a user defined time. If you viewer, this allows you to view users finding a need for some added in a later release. So you can find the drawers that optional interpolation (which run the program on its own information in various types of of its functions from time to give PicShow a try - it may well are taking up the most room increases the quality but takes screen it can use a transition IFF file. While most of us time. Report Plus is well worth become your default image quickly. This utility also has the longer). Images can be rotated effect between images, there associate IFF with images the few hundred kilobytes of viewer. option to set the RWED 90 degrees in either direction are a number of different many types of file on the Amiga disk space it takes up even if protection bits if you wish. and mirrored horizontally or effects to choose from and a use the IFF structure. For you only use it once in a blue vertically. There is also a colour random option if you can’t example IFF ILBM is the Now we come to the final moon. PicShow can modify an adjustment window which lets decide. The length of time the The main menu has a button proper name for an IFF image, option which, in my opinion, is image’s colour balance for each ReportPlus function. you change the contrast, transitions take can be set too. on the fly. 42 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 43 Support Support browser...” from the pop-up damaged if the update failed FAB (fast action button) menu. for any reason - there’s no CC_Reset Software point taking that risk if it’s Patches Tab FAB working well. Total Amiga is not responsible for any damage or Also in connection with our Speaking of FAB menus, if you problems caused by following ADSL feature we have noticed right click on a browser tab one this procedure. that a hardware fix is no longer pops up allowing you to close required to use PCMCIA the browser or re-load it You can download the firmware Ethernet cards in the A1200 update from the router’s without selecting the tab first. Configuring the with the cnet.device. A small OpenURL.library to use a manufacturers, who are called, motherboard modification used New Tab Button incidentally, Amigo! Go to their to be required to ensure that new tab. download webpage at the card was properly reset, 16bit Workbench If you don’t like tabs showing make sure “Open URL in new http://www.amigo.com.tw/downlo several dealers sold a small TopBackdrops Tips all the time but don’t want to browser window.” on the ad.htm and click on the AMX- clip-on upgrade to fix the access the menus to open a “Miscellaneous” tab is checked. CA64E link to go to that problem without soldering. Most of the time a 16bit display new tab it’s easy to add a “new This is just one of the great section. Choose the latest Now two clever software is pretty much indistinguishable browser” toolbar or fastlink improvements in IBrowse 2.3, firmware revision (labelled utilities are available which from a 24bit one, takes a third button. Go into the GUI we’ll have a full review in issue “Firmware download (CA6XR- perform the reset without the less memory and can often be settings section and double 15 but if you don’t have a 2.x GN.0924.00T) port range + need for any hardware mods. displayed at higher resolutions click to open it. Then select the version already (from which 2.3 mapping” at the time of writing) We found a combination of and/or refresh rates on a IBrowse 2’s tabs let you browse several websites in one window. Toolbar or Fastlink page and is a free upgrade) I heartily and download the file to your CardReset (Aminet, graphics card. For these recommend downloading the hard disk. Also check out the util/boot/CardReset.lha) and the image slightly. I know this program and use this method add a new button or fastlink. reasons many Amiga users Dragging and dropping demo version from “How to upload Firmware...” CardPatch (Aminet, sounds contradictory but to improve the look of your Set the “Action” to “ARexx” and choose a 16bit screenmode for click on the “INT” button to http://www.ibrowse-dev.net. link for brief instructions on util/boot/CardPatch.lha), both their Workbench screen. mixing the pixels up slightly will backdrops. Drag and drop opens up many how to do the upload. The by Artur Pogoda, meant Mick’s disguise the banding in the select an internal AREXX However if you choose a powerful features for tabbed command. Choose Router Upgrade upgrade is delivered in a ZIP A1200 could go without it’s backdrop picture with smooth smooth gradients... trust me on IBrowse 2.3 Tabbed browsing. You can rearrange archive so the first job is to CC_Reset hardware patch. this one. So click the “Effect” “NEWBROWSER” from the list. gradients of colour you may the tabs in a window by Enter a name for the button If you purchased the AMX- extract the file. If you don’t Just download both utilities, notice ugly banding because a button and click “Roughen” in Browsing Tips dragging a tab to a new CA64E ADSL Ethernet router have an unzip command you de-archive and copy the the pop-up menu. In the and for a toolbar button and 16bit screen doesn’t have I couldn’t resist writing position, you can even drag select a suitable image. When we reviewed in issue 12 you can download “unzip.lha” from program files to your “C:” enough colours to make Roughen window set the something about the eagerly tabs between windows. Drag a may be interested to hear that the util/arc directory on Aminet. directory. Then add the amount slider to a small value you accept the settings you smooth transitions. You can get awaited IBrowse 2.3 upgrade tab onto the fast link buttons should see a new button which there is a firmware upgrade Copy unzip into your C: following lines to your user- around this problem without (I used 4) and click the in this issue although area, into your hot list or onto available which can be applied directory and then open a shell startup file, if you run your “Preview” button to see the you can click to open a new changing your screenmode by unfortunately there wasn’t time the URL history window for browser tab in the current from the Amiga. After the and type: TCP/IP stack in your user- lightly dithering the image in an result. Remember you can pan to write a full review. One of the easy access later. If you want review was completed Mick startup make sure these lines window. cd ram: image processor. For this to another area of the image in coolest features of IBrowse 2.0 to open a page in an existing Sutton noticed that his router come before it is started: unzip drive:path/firmware.zip example I’ll use ImageFX but the top preview area before is tabbed browsing, this lets tab just drag its link or fastlink would occasionally loose the clicking “Preview” to see the Tip you can find similar effects in you open several websites button onto the tab. Finally ADSL connection and needed This will unzip the firmware file ;BEGIN PCMCIA Fixes result in the bottom area. When most Amiga packages. without the clutter of many drag and drop a tab outside the to be switched off and then on into the Ram Disk. Now open a CardPatch you are happy the process is You can add a button to open a windows. However in earlier browser window to open its to regain it - this happened browser and enter your router’s CardReset removing the banding without new window by choosing the First start your image 2.0 versions the functionality page in a new window. about every 10 days. Although IP address, log in using the ;END PCMCIA Fixes roughening detailed areas of “NEWWINDOW” internal processor then select a 16bit was limited and some users I had the same router and the username and password. In the image too much click command. And that’s all folks, it’s very screenmode so you can see might not have noticed it even Showing Tabs and Space same ADSL service I didn’t the left hand frame scroll down “Okay” to apply the effect. The simple. the effect of the process. In existed. With version 2.3 have problems and my router to “Admin Privilege” and click result should be an image that Pop-Tab ImageFX you change the tabbed browsing has matured When tabs are showing you’ll stayed connected indefinitely. the “Misc Configuration” link. screenmode in the “Preview looks much better on your notice that there’s a gap, the We noticed that Mick’s router 3Com PCMCIA Ethernet and has many excellent If you would prefer requests for Check the “FTP server” is Options” section of the “Prefs”, desktop. width of one tab, at the right of had an earlier firmware revision features, however some of a new window to open a new “Enabled”, if it is not enable it, Driver just click the “Select Custom the browser window. This is left (1.0) (shown on the first these are not terribly obvious tab by default (for example for “Submit” the settings and then Screenmode And Depth” Notes to indicate that a new tab can webpage when you access the On the subject of PCMCIA so I thought it would be worth pop-up windows) you can set “Save Settings”. Next click button and select a 16bit be opened. To use it simply router) where as mine was Ethernet I have noticed that a mentioning them here. this behaviour on the “General” “Code Image Update” under screenmode. Now load the A similar effect can be drag a link onto the space, as version 2.x (I can’t remember driver for some 3Com PCMCIA settings section, just click the “Admin Privilege”. Select the backdrop image you want to achieved using the “Add Noise” the mouse hovers over the the exact revision). Ethernet cards have been Tabbed Browsing “New browser” radio button. extracted firmware file (which smooth, one of the “boing ball” (use a low “Amount”) paint space a “[New]” tab appears, released on Aminet. We OpenURL.library is used by ends in .dlf) from the RAM Disk backdrops supplied with OS3.5 mode in Photogenics 4/5, I when you drop the link a new haven’t tested this but if you The first thing to know is that many applications to open a Important using the file selector. Click the and 3.9 is an excellent couldn’t find a suitable filter in tab opens for it. If you dislike have a 3Com card handy IBrowse refers to a tabbed URL in your selected web “Upload” button to start example. Now to smooth out ArtEffect 4. the new-tab space you can (they’re a pretty common page as a “browser” so browser. If you have this set-up Before updating the firmware uploading the file and wait for the bands we need to roughen switch it off by unchecking make a note of all the settings brand) it is well worth a try. A The AmigaOS 3.9 picture selecting “New browser...” from to use IBrowse you might like it the “File successfully “Show space for new tab” in you need to make on the router full list of supported models is datatype supports dithering on the “Project” menu opens a to open pages in a new tab transferred” message. Then the GUI settings. Without the for your ISP etc. as they will be included in the archive which 16bit screens which largely new tab. By default you won’t rather than in a new window. click the “Reboot” button to space shown you can still drag lost when you update the can be downloaded from removes this problem however see any tabs (along the top of To set this start OpenURL restart the router with the new into a new tab, just drag the firmware. Aminet: hard/drivr/3c589.lha. this is very processor intensive the web page display) until you preferences and double click Firmware. Now go through and link over the right hand end of and makes the datatype open your first additional on the IBrowse line in the change the router setup as you the tab bar, a new tab will Also we only recommend you decoding much slower. You browser. If you want to see a browsers list. In the “Edit did when you first installed it. appear, then drop the link. update your firmware if you are may want to try disabling tab even for one browser open Browser” window change the Another option instead of drag experiencing problems with the dithering on 16bit screens by the “Settings” window and “...in new window” command to and drop is to right click on a router. As with any ROM unchecking “Dither HiColor” in check “Show tab for single read “NEWBROWSER %u”. To The ImageFX Roughen effect... link and select “Open in new update process there is a small the PictDT preferences browser” in the “GUI” section. make this setting take effect also useful for smoothing! chance your router could be 44 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 45 Support Support button at the top of the “File window and choose the “File Types” tab this brings up a list of Types” tab. Click on the Pool Studio the defined rules. I’ll add a new button at the bottom of the one for Hollywood by clicking the Filetypes list, this brings up a list “+” icon , by default this is called of all the custom settings “TEXT” so first I’ll rename it to defined. Open the “Toolbars” “HOLLYWOOD”. Note that the folder by clicking the “+” symbol AIX name must match the identifier then double click on GoldEd you setup in the file types list “standard.gadgets” to open an earlier. With that done double editor window. In the list under Configuration Tutorial click on the new item to edit it, “Toolbars” open “Standard” and this brings up a new window. In then open the “Toolbars” folder, this window you can set up to here you should see a list of all s Sam Byford discovered in two conditions that will check the the standard buttons starting with his review in the last issue, A content of the file and several “new”, “open” and “save”. Find GoldEd is a powerful editor other rules. Hollywood scripts the “filetype” item and open it to supplied with a range of should always check the version show a list of the file types in the configurations for editing many this click on the “Activation” of Hollywood using the menu. Now we’ll copy an existing types of file from HTML pages to folder for the file type then click “%HOLLYWOOD” command so it item and edit it to change to our C++ source code. Another on the “+” icon at the bottom is safe to assume that a file new filetype. Highlight an aspect of its power is the wide right of the list view, this adds a containing this string near the existing filetype by clicking on it range of configuration options In GoldEd lists you can edit lines by selecting them and new activation item called “#?”. top will be a Hollywood script. To once (I’m using “Rexx”) then many of which can be tied to a Now rename this to a new set this rule set the top left drop click the duplicate icon at the Every aspect of GoldEd, including the toolbars, is configurable. specific file type. Whenever a then clicking to bring up an edit box. identifier by single clicking on the down gadget to “Find” and the bottom of the list. Rename the program has lots of options it configured for the selected file is quite basic so I added a hyphens” are all ticked. I Adding a New Filetype highlighted name as we did for top right one to “Before line” then duplicate item to suit your new can be difficult to understand type. The “Activation” section the filetype name. In my case I number of configuration options personally leave “Reformat while enter “%HOLLYWOOD” in the filetype then double click on it to to it. typing” off as I find GoldEd’s how they fit together and with To add a configuration for a file controls which files will be chose “HOLLYWOOD” as the left text box, this is the string to edit the action performed when automatic re-formatting is a bit GoldEd this problem is type not already listed, select the recognised by GoldEd as this identifier for my new filetype. look for and 100 in the right box, the menu item is chosen. The overzealous, you might want to exacerbated by the multiple file “Filetypes” item at the top of the type. If you configure this Layout this will tell GoldEd only to look window you now see shows an experiment with those options. types. In this tutorial I will use list by clicking on it once and correctly GoldEd will By File Extension in the first 100 lines. It is good to event definition, this allows you The first thing I wanted to do was When you’re finished click two examples of creating a new then click the “+” icon at the automatically switch to the limit the number of lines to define what action or actions to make GoldEd word wrap the “Save” to save the changes to file type and modifying an bottom of the list to add a new correct configuration when you If you want GoldEd to recognise searchedas searching the whole GoldEd should take when this lines in my E-Mails to 72 the “email.layout” file. existing one to give you a feel for file type called “Unnamed”. In load a file of the associated type the filetype by the extension you file could slow down recognition menu item is chosen. Currently characters as per E-Mail the configuration process. this example I’m going to make a give the files (or any other on larger files. the only item in the list is “SET convention. To do this we need new filetype for Hollywood (a characteristic of the file name) The configuration requester is Activation TYPE VALUE=”.rexx”” this sets to add the “Layout” configuration If you don’t have multimedia program reviewed you can add an activation item TIP: opened from the the current filetype to “.rexx”. I item, open the “E-Mail” filetype’s “Reformat while typing” on elsewhere in this issue) scripts. GoldEd can determine the type with an AmigaDOS wild card You can also tell Extras/Customize menu item. NOTE: need to edit this for my new folder in the list and click on the GoldEd only word wraps the To name the filetype make sure of a file in three ways, the first is string that matches the file types. GoldEd to look for a string on a This requester holds some HOLLYWOOD filetype, my new “Configuration” folder. Now click current line which can let its line is highlighted and then for you to manually select the To do this add an activation item particular line or even in the icon “Global Options” on the first tab event reads “SET TYPE the add icon to pop up the “Pool” paragraphs get out of shape click once on the name to bring type of file after it has been as you did for the identifier tooltypes for identifying strings. If which apply to all sessions of VALUE=”HOLLYWOOD””. When of available configuration items. particularly if you edit them. To up an edit box (if you find this loaded. To do this load the file above but instead of a name you add a second condition you GoldEd whatever the type of file you’re happy with your event In the list open the “Layout” clean this up you can manually tricky you can also press space then click on the select file type enter the wild card string. You can choose if both patterns must you are editing. The “File Types” click “OK”. Now, in the “Toolbars” folder which should have re-format the paragraph using to bring up the edit box). In this icon in the default tool bar (this is can match some complex match (And) or if only one needs tab allows you to customise the section, you might want to move “standard.layout” inside. We the “Layout/Paragraph...” menu box you can edit the name to a diamond shape with four patterns with AmigaDOS wild to match to identify the file (Or). editor for a particular type of file. the new menu item so it’s in could add standard.layout to our item appropriate to the one of your choice, press Return colours) and select the file type cards but the most common one At the bottom of the window you A number of example alphabetical order. To do this e-mail configuration but any justification you’re using.. to accept the changes or Escape you wish to use. New file types is to match a file extension, the can set some other conditions configurations are supplied, you highlight it and then use the up changes we make to this will to cancel. are not present on the menu by pattern for this is “#?.extn” where that the file must meet to satisfy can choose which you want to and down arrows to the right of also effect other configurations default, to add one see the extn is replaced with the this rule, for example you can Toolbars have installed during the GoldEd the list. using standard.layout, to avoid “Adding a New File Type...” extension required. For example check if the file is a binary file as installation so your list might look this it is safest to make a copy. Next I’d like to add some new Editing an Existing section later in this tutorial. Hollywood script files usually opposed to a text file. different to mine. To do this select toolbar buttons for use when have an “.hws” extension so I set Custom Configuration Filetype “standard.layout” and click the writing E-Mails, I’m going to add my activation item to “#?.hws”. If Now we’ve got our filetype setup buttons to close the editor when Filetype Specific If you wish to edit an existing file If the select file type icon Adding a New File Type duplicate button. In the “Input” TIP: you want to match more than so that it will be activated at the I’ve finished writing an E-Mail, to type click on the “+” symbol next is not available in the toolbar or requester that appears give the one extension you could use a to the Selection Menu appropriate times and can be automatically send the E-Mail Configuration to its name to expand the tree, the file type you want doesn’t duplicate a new name, in this pattern like this: chosen from the menus lets add I’ve been writing and to cancel To change the configuration of a you will see that each file type appear in the list choose When you’ve finished defining case I’ll call it “EMail.layout” then “#?.(extn1|extn2|extn3)”. For some custom configuration the current mail. The standard E- particular file type click on the has two sections, “Configuration” “Document properties” from the your new file type you may want click “OK”. Now make sure the more information take a look at appropriate to the filetype. As Mail file type already has a “File Types” tab in the “Settings” and “Activation”. Open “Project” menu and enter the to add it to the file types menu duplicate it highlighted and click the wildcards section of an you may have noticed in the toolbar set up with some text window, the main list on this tab “Configuration” by clicking the “+” name of the file type you wish to on the standard toolbar. To do “OK” again to add the AmigaDOS manual. “Pool” list there are many formatting buttons so we can shows the currently defined file sign and you will see icons for all use into the “Filetype” string this open the “Extras/Customize” configuration item to the E-Mail aspects of GoldEd that can be simply add new buttons to it. types. the items that have been gadget. Clicking “OK” will then filetype. Double click on “Layout” set GoldEd to that file type By Rules configured so in this tutorial I’m under E-Mail/Configuration to configuration. just going to introduce a few of edit it. Send Button If you want GoldEd to be more the useful ones and hopefully Listview Icons Manually intelligent that simply taking the explain the configuration enough In the “Filetypes” list under “E- file type from its file name you so you’ll be able to try the others TIP: You can check which Mail/Configuration” double click Cut to clipboard Add new group out for yourself. In this section To make a file type available for can use “Rules” to have GoldEd configuration item you are editing on “Toolbars”. In the edit window Delete Duplicate I’m going to use my E-Mail selection you must add at least determine the type of a file from by looking at the title bar of the open the folders “Toolbars”, then configuration as an example. I one item to the type’s activation its content. Before rules can edit window. “E-Mail” and “Toolbars”, here you work a file type has to have an use Thor for my E-Mail and can see the existing buttons section. If you just want to be In the “email.layout” edit window identifier so set one up as selected GoldEd’s E-Mail for listed. Select the last “Toolbars” List choices Add separator able to manually set this filetype set the right margin to “72” and detailed in the “Manually” section Thor configuration when I folder and add a new item. We then you just need to give it a Using rules can identify files ensure that “Use left margin”, Paste from clipboard Add new item above. Now select the “Rules” installed the editor. However this can now rename this item to the unique identifying name. To do without using a file extension. “Word wrap” and “Reformat 46 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 47 Support Support name of our toolbar button, you Automatic Completion and can either type in the text to be Case Correction - These displayed on the button or enter features use the word list in the the path to an image to be used Dictionary configuration item. Poseidon on the button. I have some images prepared so I’m going to Screenmode, Colours and Tutorial use them. By default toolbar Fonts - In the display item you images go in the Several commands of different types can be issued from can set GoldEd to open on its With its new Human Interface Device class the Poseidon USB stack offers “GoldEd:etc/images/” directory own screen in the mode of your so you should use either a full choice, it can also open on a much more control over keyboards and mice. and add the internal commandone buttonbuilt-in click. variables you can use in path or a path from that specified public screen or the “SAVE ALL FORCE” in the same this way. Robert Williams dives deep into the possibilities. directory. My images are in front-most screen. The colours way as before. Now click the Add “etc/images/toolbar/e-mail” so for used for various items can be The Trident preferences program allows you to icon to add a new command and Abort Mail defined as can the fonts used in HIDduring Poseidon installation, this Action tab, this my send now button I just need use the down arrow to move it to hris Hodges has recently allows USB devices to has three list to put “toolbar/e-mail/send” several different circumstances. configure your USB devices from a the bottom of the list. Set this to added a Human Interface completely emulate the standard views. The (”send” is the filename of the The final button runs an AREXX Display also has Layout options C be a “DOS Program” using the Device (HID) class to his Amiga mouse and keyboard. For “Reports and image, note that you have to script to quit GoldEd without that amongst other things, thecomfortable actions list, GUI. in this case we Action pop-up. Click the list excellent Poseidon USB stack. example I found that without the collections” list shows the groups type this as there isn’t a file saving and then delete the E- control the size of the toolbar want to set this to Miscellaneous choices icon to open a file This new class brings full new input.device certain of controls (buttons, wheels, requester). Mail from Thor’s list of outgoing buttons as mentioned in Sam’s which contains the window requester where you can choose events (if you don’t do this and review last issue. support for USB keyboards and applications did not respond to movement axes etc.) available control commands built into the the program to run. In my case Now we can assign a command just quit the editor Thor will send mice as well as many other input mouse clicks. on the device. The controls in the HID class. The next job is to set to this button, double click on the it’s SendTCP which is located in a blank E-Mail). To do this we Menus - The Menus item, fairly devices including graphics currently selected group are While the default mouse settings what event should “Trigger” the new button’s line in the list to the Thor:bin directory. This DOS just add a button and name it obviously, allows you to tablets. shown in the “Usage items” list. are quite adequate you may action, this is set with the right bring up the event definition program also needs an option to point to an appropriate icon. Edit customise GoldEd’s menus In the bottom half of the window have a mouse with additional most cycle gadget. The action editor. Click on the add icon to tell it which BBS to send e-mail the button and add a command, however it is worth noting that you can configure the action or Poseidon supports buttons to which you would like can occur when the button is add a new command (NOP by from so the full command line is: now select Rexx Macro from the every menu and item can be NOTE: actions that take place when the devices that follow the USB HID to assign some functions. In this pressed down or when it is default). Then click the list Action pop-up. Edit the changed here, you’re not just controls are triggered in some “Thor:bin/SendTCP BBSNAME “ standard, devices that need example I’ll show you how to set- released (Up). In this case we choices icon to show a list of all command line and type the full limited to adding custom items. If way (a buttons is clicked, the \”EMail and News”\” custom drivers on other up the middle mouse button to want the it to occur when the the available GoldEd commands. path to the AREXX script. A you want to add menus to the mouse moved etc.). platforms or do not follow the bring windows to the front, this is button is released so we can We want this button to save the suitable script is supplied with default set you can create a new standard may not work properly useful if you want to see a As I mentioned all the basic cancel the action by pulling off file and then exit so find “SAVE” Thor called set of menus and then include You must type this or at all. That said most of the window whose depth gadget is mouse functions should be set the window before releasing the in the list, select it and click NOTE: “Thor/rexx/Rexx/GoldED/CancelE the menus of another filetype command line exactly as printed USB mice we tried worked well obscured by other windows. by default so let’s move straight middle button. So set “Trigger” to “OK”. The command line vent.ged”. I found I had to edit using the “Include” button. with all the quotes. The as does my HP keyboard. For a to setting up our click to front. On “Up”. In the “Miscellaneous stuff” inserted lists all the possible this script slightly to make it work backslash before the quotes list of the devices tested take a my Logitech mouse all the section there is a cycle gadget options after the SAVE command in the my version of GoldEd AIX. Click to Front around “EMail and News” “Including” also works for look at the supported devices list mouse controls are in the group where you can select the event we need to edit it so it saves the escape those quotes and ensure Simply load the script into an TIP: on the E3B website: you want, if you look through toolbars. Open the Trident preferences called “Pointer” so click this in complete file and then exits and they get put into the final editor (GoldEd itself is fine) and http://www.e3b.de. you’ll find “Window to front”, program and choose the the “Reports and collections” list. does not warn us that the file will command line. I found through change line 40 from “QUIT File Settings and Backups - which seems just what we want. “Devices” page in the list on the I want to assign my actions to be overwritten. To do this we just trial and error that the quote NOSAVE” to “QUIT FORCE” and These are mostly configured in However “Window to front” left hand side. This page shows the middle mouse button which need the ALL, EXIT and FORCE immediately after “News” was save the script. With the script the “Miscellaneous” item. Here Mouse brings the active window to the all the USB devices connected to is “Button 3 (tertiary)” in the options. required for the command to selected just “OK” the window you can set an overwrite By default the standard buttons, front (whether it is under the your Amiga. In the “USB “Usage items” list so click that as work, I think this may be a bug in and save your settings, it’s as warning, whether to save icons, movement axes and wheel on mouse pointer or not) so first we Edit the command line so it Devices...” list select your mouse well. In the actions list you my version of GoldEd. simple as that! various icons settings, the path USB mice should be supported need to activate the window reads “SAVE ALL EXIT FORCE”. by clicking on it once and then should now see one item that for backups and how many without any manual has been placed there by under the pointer. Set this first While we’re in this window we If you use Thor then you’ll need click the “Settings” button, this Some Other Useful backups are made. configuration. This means that if default, “Buttons”. If you click on action to the “Activate window” can also set some other options to change this line to reflect the opens the settings window for you plug in a USB mouse while this item you will see that this is event. Then add another for this toolbar button. Click on name used on your system. If Mouse and Keyboard - Events the class to which that device is Configuration Items Poseidon is running you should assigning button 3 to the “middle miscellaneous action as before the “Details” button at the top you don’t use Thor then you can can be defined for key and bound (shown under “Bindings” Hopefully going through the be able to move the pointer and mouse button” action, this means but this time choose the note that you can set a hot key use this method to run almost mouse button presses including in the list). In the case of a configuration items above has click on things straight away. For that the middle button will act “Window to front” event. Now try which will trigger the same event any external program from a combinations in the keyboard mouse you should see the HID given you a feel for how full functionality you should opt just like the middle button on a clicking on an obscured window as this button. Another option is GoldEd button. Finally add and mouse items. class settings window. In the to install the new input.device standard Amiga mouse. with the middle mouse button, it “Online help” here you can enter another internal command “QUIT GoldEd’s settings work. The only “hid” settings window click on the remaining problem is how to find should be activated and then a comment in quotes (””) which FORCE” to close the editor after Tabs - Older versions of GoldEd pop to the front of all other will be shown in the tooltip for the configuration item you want (4.x and earlier I think) did not the EMail has been sent. You can adjust the default windows. this button. to change amongst the 19 support real tabs (they inserted TIP: mouse button assignments if you categories available! Below I’ve spaces instead) newer versions wish. For example if you use the If you want to pass the tried to identify some of the do support them but they are not TIP: mouse with your left hand you Changes to the HID GoldEd has many internal name of the current file you’re common items you might want to enabled by default. If you want NOTE: TIP: could swap the left and right configuration take effect commands, to find out more editing to an external program on change and where to find them. real tabs go to the “Tabs” buttons by assigning Button 1 immediately so you can try them about them and what all their its command line then you can configuration item and change (left) to the right mouse button out without closing the settings options do take a look at the insert the variable name (which the “Tab key function” to “Insert I’ve not gone into too action and vice versa. window. Because of this be “Internal Commands” section of must be prefixed with a NOTE: Tabs”. In this item you can also much detail on these items, to careful when you are configuring the AmigaGuide manual. backslash) “ABSNAME”. For change the tab stop positions get a description of what they do Now, we still want the middle basic mouse movements and example the command line and set automatic indenting to you can click on the “?” icon in mouse button to act like a normal buttons, you could make your Send Now Button “”Multiview “ \ABSNAME” would use tabs rather than spaces. the window title bar and then on button so we need to leave that mouse unusable! display the current document in action in place and add a new the gadget you’re interested in to As usual I hope this tutorial has The next button should save the Multiview. one using the “New” button at Take a look at the other options get a description. If you would been useful and will get you file, run an external program to the bottom of the list. The new in the miscellaneous events list, The inner set of quotes are like a see a more in-depth started making your own custom send E-Mail and then close the item defaults to “No action” so you might find others are more required to ensure a space tutorial on some of the other GoldEd configuration thus editor. So add a new button and we now need to define what we useful to you than window to between the command and the configuration options in a future making the most of this set its name to “toolbar/e- Adding a “click to front” function to the middle mouse button. want it to do. We can select front. If you have more than argument. The variables section issue of Total Amiga please let extremely powerful and mail/sendnow” to pick up the various types of action from the three buttons on your mouse of of the manual has a list of all the me know. configurable editor. In Poseidon’s HID class you can trigger multiple actions of correct icon. Edit the new item cycle gadget just to the right of course you could assign them to 48 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003different types from one button. 49 Support Support different events. It is also appropriate mapping between “Trigger” to “Up”. The shell action possible to assign these events the standard keys on a USB type allows us to run a shell to keyboard keys if you wish. keyboard and the normal Amiga command when the key is SongPlayer_PlayPause.rexx Total Amiga keys. You only need to change pressed. However it would be Here is the AREXX script which toggles Play and Pause in Wheel Support the settings if you dislike the nice to launch SongPlayer as if it SongPlayer. Mailing Lists default mapping or want to set- was run from Workbench so it up non-standard keys. My cheap picks up any Toolstypes you /* Toggles play and pause in Song Player */ The HID class sends out eep up to date with our USB keyboard has a French have set in its icon. As the HID Options Results standard mouse wheel events progress with new issues of which can be interpreted and Canadian key layout (to find out class doesn’t support launching Address “SONGPLAYER.1” K Total Amiga and get news of why I got this odd keyboard see Workbench programs directly we used by applications. The up- Get_State website updates and previews of the “Buying a USB Keyboard” need to use a shell command to shot of this is that the wheel will the content of new issues by box-out) which does not have a do this for us. One example of a If result = “PLAY” Then Do only initially work in applications joining the Total Amiga “\ and |” key in either the normal command that launches a Pause with wheel support such as announcements mailing list. This Amiga or PC positions. So my program as if it had been double End Directory Opus and AWeb. You list is only posted to the editor so first job was to map an unused opened from Workbench is can install MUIWheel to give Else Do your mail box won’t be flooded. key to this Amiga key. “WBRun”. This is included with wheel mouse support to MUI Play Expect a maximum of 4 or 5 OS3.9 and for earlier OS applications and FreeWheel End messages a month, as a versions can be downloaded which implements wheel support Assigning Letters minimum we post a monthly from http://stephan-rupprecht.de NOTE: You can download this script from the Issue 14 page of the in most other programs. Both update. these utilities are available from To configure the keyboard as part of the WBStartEmu.lha Total Amiga website, to use my command line it should be saved archive (it should be copied from into the S: directory. If you type the script in yourself be sure to Aminet in util/mouse. mappings select the keyboard in When mapping Raw key actions be sure to specify To join just send a blank EMail the Trident “Devices” list. My the archive into your C: include the first line (a comment beginning with “/*”) or “rx” will not (no subject or body text is recognise it as an AREXX script. Keyboard Keyboard has two lines in the both key up and down events. directory). Now we can enter the required) to: devices list because it has a symbols that I won’t use often). window with the newly defined command to launch SongPlayer totalamiga-announce-subscribe As with mice the HID class built-in hub (to connect two You should see the highlight in key to check it works. into the “Command” text box, in players) when a key is pressed. rx “address SongPlayer.1;PREV” @yahoogroups.com the “Usage items” list jump to the my case it’s “WBrun automatically assigns an additional USB devices), if yours Although the HID class has an We also have an open key you pressed. In my case the With boring key mapping out of Work:Utilities/Music/SongPlayer/S rx “address SongPlayer.1;STOP” is the same be sure to select the “AREXX” action type in the list it discussion mailing list where you key description in the list was the way now we can get on to ongPlayer” you’ll need to change line bound to the “hid.class”. hasn’t yet been implemented. can chat to other readers and “Keyboard Non-US \ and |”. I the more exciting topic of the path to suit your system. Now click the “Settings” button, We can work around this using Assigning AREXX Scripts talk to members of the total Buying a USB then realised that the key I had assigning commands to the extra Now tick the “ASync” check box, my keyboard presents itself as the “Shell” action and the Amiga team. The subscription chosen was the position for “multimedia” keys offered by this will stop the HID class two HID devices (”hid.class, standard “rx” command which The Play/Pause button is a little address for this list is: these characters on a UK PC many USB keyboards. My waiting for the command to Keyboard hid.class” is listed under runs an AREXX command line or more complex because we need totalamiga-subscribe keyboard anyway! keyboard had some audio return which could potentially “Bindings”) so two settings script. to check the current status of @yahoogroups.com Obtaining a USB mouse is windows open for me. If I look at controls (play, pause, next track block later key presses. SongPlayer to know whether we very easy, you’ll find many both the HID settings windows it However the HID class’s etc.) and some buttons designed My keyboard has stop, previous need to send a Play command (if mice intended for PCs and is clear from the lists of “Usage automatic key mapping did not to quickly launch applications. track, play/pause and next track it is currently paused) or a pause If you just need to run a Macs at any computer items” that one shows the work for this key so I still needed These buttons could be assigned TIP: keys which are all listed by name command if it is currently shell command (or any program Next Issue supplier and the vast majority standard keyboard keys and the to set it up. In the Performed to any function but in this tutorial in the “Usage items” list. Starting playing. To do this I have written that can be run from the shell) of them will support USB. other the “multimedia” buttons actions section select the default I’m going to use them logically with “Next Track” we need this a short AREXX script which I you can just select it using the Coming up in Total Amiga Some will have a PS/2 along the top of the keyboard. So “Keymapping” line then change by setting them up to launch and button to send an AREXX called “Command” gadget’s select file issue 15: adaptor too. However when it for now we just need to the action to “Raw key” using the then control the music player command to SongPlayer to play “SongPlayer_PlayPause.rexx” button, remember to add any comes to keyboards it is concentrate on the window with cycle gadget and set “Trigger” to program SongPlayer. the next track. Looking at the and saved into my “S:” directory arguments the command News much more difficult. For some the standard keys. “Down”. Under “Select key to SongPlayer AREXX (see the box-out for details). This requires afterwards. If the reason USB keyboards don’t send” scroll down the list and Assigning Commands documentation that command is script checks the current status • All the latest news on command needs an increased really seem to have taken off As with the mouse the first step choose the key on a standard “NEXT” , the other thing we need with the “GET_STATE” command AmigaOS 4 and the stack size you can set it on the and PS/2 models are still by is to select the key to which we Amiga keyboard you want to As a separate HID device holds to know is the name of and then sends the appropriate AmigaOne. “General” tab of the “hid” settings for the more popular. Those want to map an Amiga key map in my case it’s “0x0D (\)”. my keyboard’s additional keys I SongPlayer’s AREXX port (to command. As I mentioned “rx” window. If you need to execute USB models that are press. With the mouse it was Note that this simulates a now need to move my attention ensure that commands go to the can run AREXX scripts as well Reviews several shell commands you available tend to be rather easy to find the buttons but with keypress on a standard Amiga to the second “hid” settings right program), and the docs tell as command lines so we can • Pegasos and MorphOS could add several “Shell” actions expensive, most of them so many keys on a keyboard we keyboard so it will give the “|” window. Looking at this window us that it is “SongPlayer.1”. So set-up the Play/Pause button in • Subway USB or write a shell script and then come as part of a cordless could use some help. Click the symbol when shifted because the various controls are then split add a “New” “Shell” action with exactly the same way as the • IBrowse 2.3 run it using the “execute” desktop package for £50 or “Track incoming events” that is the shifted character on up into three different groups in the “Trigger” “Up” to the “Next others but with the following • FXPaint 2 command in a “Shell” action. more. When the HID class check box and then the standard Amiga key. You the “Reports and collections” list, Track” item. Now we can set the “Command”: was released for Poseidon I press the key you might think that we are done but “Consumer Control” for the vol “Command” line using the “rx” Support there is still one more step. As I wanted to test it and, not want to map (I and mute controls, “System Assigning AREXX Commands command that will send “NEXT” rx s:SongPlayer_PlayPause.rexx • Enhancing scanned chose a key mentioned with mouse buttons to SongPlayer: being able to find a USB Control” for the power, sleep and images tutorial. keyboard I liked locally for a with double pressing a key sends two events wake buttons and “Unknown” for In many cases you’ll want to use This tutorial has given an reasonable price, I purchased chevron a “down” when the key is all the other controls. Choose a keyboard keys to control running rx “address SongPlayer.1;NEXT” overview of configuring the Regulars an HP multimedia keyboard pressed and “up” when released. button to launch the application applications, a very good Poseidon HID class with some, I If we just define the “down” it will example of this is using transport hope, practical examples. It is • P D Paradise from a seller on EBay for only (I went for one labelled with a In AREXX the be as if the Amiga key is never controls (play, pause, next track NOTE: well worth reading the HID • Top Tips £7.50. This is a nice keyboard musical note for SongPlayer), semicolon (;) acts as a line released and we’ll get a stream etc.) to control a music player section in Poseidon.guide but it has a French Canadian click the “Track incoming events” separator so this command line of “\\\\\\\\\”! To prevent this program. It’s really handy to set- (installed in the Sys:Locale/Help The new issue is due in: layout, as the letter keys are check box then press the button is actually sending two lines of add another “0x0D (\)” up keys like this because you directory by default) for more in- the same (QWERTY etc.) this to find out its name (mine is an commands, “addressll “Raw key” action exactly can use them to control a depth technical information and June 2003 doesn’t really bother me. This “unknown” button). With the SongPlayer.1” and “NEXT”. is the keyboard shown on as before but this time correct button highlighed untick program even when you are on a for details of all the options available... Note: Total Amiga is produced by these pages and featured in set the “Trigger” to Up “Track incoming events” to different screen or while the And that’s it, we can now go volunteers and this means and tick the “Send player’s interface is hidden. To sometimes issues run late. If you’re the configuration tutorials. prevent the selection changing through and set-up the previous Happy USB typing! The mouse used is my keyup instead of when you press other keys. achieve this we can set the HID and stop buttons in the same concerned about the status of the Logitech Wheel Mouse keydown” box. class to send appropriate next issue please take a look at way using the following http://www.totalamiga.org or contact Optical, a simple mouse with Add a “New” item to the AREXX commands to Now you can try command lines: us by EMail or phone (details inside two buttons and a wheel. “Performed actions” list and set SongPlayer (or most other music the front cover). typing in a shell the type to “Shell” and the 50 TOTAL AMIGA Spring 2003 51 Quake 2 AmigaOS 4 Intuition and Reaction Screenshots from Hyperion’s fantastic These screenshots Quake 2 port, reviewed on page 38. demonstrate the level of customisation possible with the new AmigaOS 4 Intuition and ReAction GUI systems. Please note that none of these reflect the final default look.
The scenery is impressive and the lighting effects are superb.
There are many opportunities to be sliced, diced and minced!
The maps aren’t all pristine, there are collapsed walls and jagged boulders. Screenshots from APC & TCP’s new space shoot-em-up, CrossFire II take a look at our news item for more information. 
Some levels are interesting while others just take your breath away!