The news is organised in chronological order, with the most recent stories at the top. Choose the month you require, then click on a topic heading to jump to the associated announcement.
| 2003 | Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | 2003 |
| Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan | ||
| 2002 | Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | 2002 |
| Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan | ||
| 2001 | Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | 2001 |
| Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan | ||
| 2000 | Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | 2000 |
| Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
I have updated my site with information about:
How to get Acorn's software PC emulator working on a RISC PC,
Information about RISC OS versions of the board game Risk,
Availability of spares for Acorn BBC computers.
Old BBC BASIC and hardware books.
My aim is to make more maps available for Risk fanatics, find the solution to the PCem cache iw problem ( wishful thinking I know) and provide spares for users with older cherished hardware. I will hopefully present a list of out of print Acorn related books too.
BTW don't expect fancy graphics..... the site was hand written using Acorn's Browse hotlist as a tutorial ;-)
R-Comp's DialUp internet connection software has now been around for a few weeks, and is already receiving extremely positive feedback from users (see below for some user comments). The software makes getting onto the internet a breeze, being simple to set up, and extremely easy to use.
DialUp 1.15 was released this weekend, and works happily with all the internet providers we have tested it with, including (in no particular order):
| Demon | FreeUK | FreeServe | Red Hot Ant |
| NTLworld | UKOnline | BTinternet | Tesco Net |
| UK Gateway | Supanet | NDirect | Zetnet |
| TeleDanmark | LineOne | TeleWest | BlueYonder |
The software will happily make use of the connection scripts which most internet providers generate for their Windows customers, making setting up your RISC OS machine for new providers extremely straightforward. Of course, files for a selection of common providers are included with DialUp, if you already have an internet account.
Below, you'll find a list of Questions and Answers which should give you more information about the features of DialUp.
The basic price of DialUp is 20ukp, but this is reduced if you already own various R-Comp products (in other words, product loyalty gives you a discount):
20ukp for customers without either WebsterXL or Messenger Pro
15ukp for customers who own Messenger Pro only
10ukp for customers who already own WebsterXL
Note that WXL has always been supplied with connection software, hence the lower price for WebsterXL owners. WXL owners are actually joining our "Priority Support Scheme", which also gives them interim (beta) versions of the browser, and additional input into future developments.
Please note that we are happy for you to claim the above discounts if you purchase the related product at the same time.
We expect to release a full "R-Comp Internet Suite" consisting of DialUp, WebsterXL and Messenger Pro in time for the Epsom show in October. Price is expected to be not more than 60ukp, including a FreeUK internet account if required.
Internet connection packs consisting of DialUp, WXL, Mpro, a 56k V90 modem and a FreeUK internet account are available for 115ukp inc VAT and UK delivery. We regret that the modems are UK varieties, and hence probably not suitable for overseas.
Ideally, your computer will be running RISC OS 4 - most R-Comp products are now "enhanced" for OS 4, but run just fine on older systems too. In the case of DialUp, we recommend that users of older OS versions be running the "New Boot Sequence" which Acorn released a couple of years back. It has been included on several Acorn User CDs in recent times, particularly the 200th issue.
Users have reported successfully running DialUp on machines as old as the A30xx series with the New Boot Sequence installed.
1) If I choose DialUp, what else do I need to do Internet "stuff"?
The simple answer is an Email reader such as our Messenger Pro product (or Pluto etc.), and a web browser such as our WebsterXL browser.
DialUp includes email/news transfer software, and also the popular FTPc file uploader/downloader. (Credit to Joseph and Colin).
2) I have heard that other programs require extra bits, which may be commercial/shareware before connection can take place. Does DialUp require any extras?
Apart from the Web Browser and Email packages mentioned above, DialUp is complete in and of itself. It can be extended with other pd/commercial apps if required, but everything you need to connect is supplied.
(Exception being "New Boot Sequence" - see above).
3) What is DialUp "like"? Which other products does it compare with?
There's nothing quite like DialUp, because the package does a great deal, whilst wrapping it up in such easy-to-use "clothing".
Programs like the connection part of ANT's internet suite, or Socketeer or ArmTCP are in some ways comparable, but DialUp provides an easier-to-use superset of these. Perhaps the closest relative is ANT's !InetSuite connection software, but again, DialUp extends this with support for multiple internet providers (easily switch between free and commercial ISPs, or between daytime/evening numbers). Then add on support for Windows connection files, and the fact that it uses the proper in-built networking (Internet 5) so it won't mess with your network.
4) Does DialUp allow me to use multiple providers? Can I use it to access free providers such as NTLworld, but still have access to my FreeServe/Demon etc. account?
Yes. DialUp allows you to set up many different accounts, and simply access them via a menu. We currently have around 12 different accounts on our menu here!
Regardless of which one you connect to, the software will attempt to fetch mail from as many accounts as possible, allowing you to connect to a totally free provider, but still receive mail from a different account which you'd normally pay for.
5) Does DialUp automatically configure mail and news fetching for me?
Yes. DialUp ships with PopStar and Newshound, and both of these are automatically set up. In addition, you can add extra email boxes, or alter existing ones via a simple window.
6) Can I use Browse/Fresco/Oregano with DialUp?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
7) Can I use Pluto with DialUp?
Yes, but we can't offer any support for this. That isn't us being awkward, we've just never used Pluto! A number of our customers have reported Pluto running successfully with DialUp.
8) Can I use Marcel or Acorn's !Mail with DialUp?
No. Both of these products are tied directly into their "parent" connection products, and both have (to our knowledge) ceased all form of development. Since neither is particularly outstanding compared with Messenger Pro or Pluto, we do not consider this a great loss.
9) I'm currently using Acornet. Can I upgrade and still have access to all my old mail etc.
Yes. Although this is beyond the scope of this FAQ, you'll need to rescue !NewsDir from inside Acornet and put it in !Boot.Resources (or somewhere else that your computer "sees").
10) What would you say is DialUp's most exciting feature?
Probably the ease with which you can get set up and online. DialUp is also fast, elegant and versatile.
11) Are there any providers which are consitantly failing to work?
Not to our knowledge. At the time of writing, one customer in Pakistan is having problems browsing the web with his work account (we suspect a resolving problem) but his home one is fine. Inevitably there will be something we haven't anticipated!
[it was a mistyped DNS server, as suspected - cured between writing this and posting it!]
12) Does is tell me the correct modem connection speed? Will it work OK with *my* modem?
DialUp should give sensible connection speeds on most modems. DialUp is being used with all manner of modems ranging from old US Robotics Sportsters through the latest 3Com varieties to Zoom, Dynalink, Hayes etc. It has been tested with the latest Rockwell and Lucent modem chipsets, used by the majority of manufacturers.
13) Does DialUp support dynamic DNS assignment?
There's always one techy question!!! No, but it does include a default public DNS server which should allow successful operation even if your provider won't give you this information. ** This has not been a problem thus far.
14) Will DialUp take down my local network?
No. DialUp works with the standard Internet 5 stack, which your network card will work with too.
15) Is DialUp pd/shareware. Can you send me a free copy?
No. We've spent a long time working on the software, and offer full tech support. We've tried to keep the price as low as possible, especially to existing R-Comp customers.
16) I currently use ANT (or similar) - why should I change?
This is really down to what you want to do. If you're completely happy with your current software, and don't find it restricting in any way, then you should probably stick with what you have.
If, however, you want to do things like easily switching between different internet accounts, work with some "troublesome" ISPs like NTLworld, easily set up and add new connections, or use a program which is being updated and developed, then DialUp would be a good choice.
That's not to say that you can't/shouldn't use other programs, and the freeware programs like Socketeer and ArmTCP may also fit the bill, but getting going with DialUp is likely to be quicker and easier.
17) Can other programs trigger connections "on demand"?
Yes, but you'll always be warned before connection takes place. The latest version of WebsterXL talks to DialUp so that it is quite possible to click on a web link in Messenger Pro, have WXL load, attempt to fetch the page, then establish a connection, and display the page. All with two mouse clicks (one on the link in the first place, and another to confirm you want to go online).
Also, DialUp allows you to set up "Tasks", which can require an active internet connection. If you are offline when you choose to run one of these, DialUp will ask you if you want to go online.
Finally, the protocols for triggering a connection are very straightforward, and are documented for programmers.
18) Do I have to mess with the Network settings for my computer? I have tried to set other programs up that needed this, and have not been successful.
DialUp doesn't require any alteration of your network settings. Indeed, if you're not on a network (don't have a network card) we recommend simply disabling networking altogether, and letting DialUp set everything up it needs automatically. The aim of the program is to make connection as easy as possible, and to make it "self contained". As such, leaving DialUp to look after itself is usually the best bet.
19) Why isn't there a huge section about this on your website?
We've been rather busy recently, you know, developing stuff?! The website is due to be update soon to cover this, and many other exciting new projects which are progressing well. If you want to ask questions, send us an email, or give us a call on 01925 755043.
"I used to recommend that people try XXXXX but now I will recommend this [DialUp] app"
"I can honestly say that !DialUp is the best thing to have arrived on my desktop for a long time"
"It worked first time!"
"My primary internet is !DialUp because with XXXX multiple ISPs is a pain in the ^&^*$ "
"It may be my imagination, but it seems to work much faster [than my previous connection software]"
"Congratulations on a super little app!"
"The dialer seems really good"
"This [dialup] should be supplied with all new computers..."
(note it is now supplied with RiscStation internet packs).
I am currently recruiting on behalf of one of Britain's leading edge companies who are working hard on creating next generation technology for the mobile telecommunications market. They have attracted partners/customers such as Nokia, NEC, Microsoft and continue to gain interest and enquiries from such companies.
They are looking for high calibre candidates with at least two to three years of software development experience in an embedded environment. Predominantly beyond PC or non-PC programmers e.g. handheld PC's, PDA's, STB's etc.
Please contact Douglas@trsg.co.uk
Douglas Bradley
Consultant
The Green Partnership
0141 243 5695
I have uploaded !WhatTime to the website. It is a program to provide practice in telling the time. Just about any correct answer will be accepted. You wouldn't believe how many ways there are to state a time in English!
It is available from <http://www.armage.demon.co.uk/software/index.htm>.
New lower prices on Canon colour Bubblejet printers:
As from noon today (26sept), we have reduced prices of certain Canon printers including the RISCOS drivers and our PrintControl software.
BJC-3000 down from ukp119 to ukp99
BJC-6100 down from ukp149 to ukp139 (original rrp was ukp179)
BJC-6200 down from ukp149 to ukp129
BJC-6500 (A3) down from ukp279 to ukp249
We still have stocks of our most popular model, the Canon BJC-7100 at ukp167 including the extra colour cartridge and a 13-inch cuddly toy!
Full details of these models are available via our website page:
http://www.explan.co.uk/printers/
Please note that this is not only our new domain name, but a new sub-page address for RISCOS printer information. Please update bookmarks accordingly.
I have just updated my homepage at
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Horizon/4471/
with version 2.48 of DigitalCD and with a new utility called GrabSound which allows you to redirect the sound produced by 16-bit aware modules (TimPlayer, PlayIt, AudioMPEG, AMPlayer, etc) into a WAV file.
New in DigitalCD 2.48 is:
For those who still don't know:
DigitalCD is a desktop music player compatible with RISC OS 3.1 or later (including StrongARM). It provides independent control panels for any connected CD drive and music files playlists. Its main features are:
http://www.heyrick.co.uk/assembler/
Teach yourself ARM assembler programming. This mainly covers the ARM 2 and ARM 3; but includes a little bit on later processors, 32 bit code, and the floating point maths unit.
In the 32 bit code document is a link to a simple program scanner that will interrogate an executable and report on stuff that is likely to not be 32 bit 'safe'. Supplied as a DDE utility, in source form (so you can hack it about).
http://www.heyrick.co.uk/voyager/quickvoy/
If you use Argo's !Voyager and don't like losing around half a megabyte just for the dialler, then try QuickVoy. It runs in a mere 96K, and offers loads of facilities without the glitz and sound themes. Stuff that I think is more useful like: a Fresco cache scanner, a basic email writer, and lots of bits and pieces. All are detailed on the above URL. Supplied also is the extreme cut-down version that'll get you on-line and still offer script events and definable icons...in only 32K!!! Latest version is 0.32 (23rd September 2000)
http://www.heyrick.co.uk/software/teletext/
If you have a Ground Control teletext receiver and are stuck with the original software, no longer! Originally written in 1996, this was submitted to AU several times. I don't think it ever made it to being 'published' and it got forgotten about. :-( When over in France, I found Teletext invaluable to keep up with the state of the world, so I've fixed a few niggles, polished it up a little, and put it on my website for general release.
http://www.heyrick.co.uk/software/budgiemgr/
Software for managing Econet networks (primarily awServer/FileStore/Level4 and anything compatible with that lot). Commercial software, but available on a full try-before-you-buy kinda thing. (if any of the five that downloaded it since May are still using it, a tenner would be nice... :-) Or French Francs, Euros, or any old piece of junk you think I might get a few hours of play-value out of... <g>)
http://www.heyrick.co.uk/willow/
Okay, absolutely NOTHING to do with RISC OS, but she's gorgeous! And, having done some major image editing on the final picture (it was from a magazine, with overlaid text), I'm kinda proud of it. I wouldn't do that sort of thing for just anybody's picture... ;^)
HeyRick has a site-search facility, loads of other eccentric crap, and the totally-expected guestbook (yeah, it's a cliché; no, I'm not an AOLer in disguise).
Either way, it is worth a visit, if for no reason other than to ponder my sanity.
Seeya!
My no.spam email address is actually valid.
But if you don't trust it, fear not.
It is my domain, so you can send your mail to:
<anything you like>@heyrick.co.uk
Brownie points for originality.
My attention has been drawn to a bug in !Stego 1.1, the program which makes it possible to hide sensitive text messages in sprite files which look like backdrop textures. The bug prevents the extraction of hidden messages longer than about 8K. A revised version 1.2, in which the bug is fixed, is now available from http://web.bham.ac.uk/N.M.Queen/pgp/acorn.html.
Apologies for any inconvenience which this has caused.
The desktop is distributed under the GNU General Public License, which means that anyone can modify it, use bits of it in their own (GPL) programs, etc. Indeed, many of the improvements made to the filer were added by other ROX users and posted as patches to the mailing list.
The only changes will be bug-fixes, new icons, documentation and language translations. Please report *any* bugs at all so we can get rid of them for the stable release!
Binary RPM packages are now available for 'Linux-i386' type systems. If anyone wants to provide binaries for other platforms, please get in touch.
There are now two mailing lists, rox-users and rox-devel. You can subscribe here, or look at the archives:
http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=7023
Pinboard and panels:
Filer windows:
Others:
The latest OSLib, Version 6.11 is now available for download from
http://www.mk-net.demon.co.uk/oslib/.
OSLib is a highly optimised, efficient, type-safe APCS interface library for the RISC OS API. Headers are provided for C, C++ and Assembler.
Extract from the change log since version 6.00 follows:
##########################################
OSLib Version 6.11 - Tony van der Hoff - 19/09/2000
------------------
6.10 was only released as a late beta. This corrects that
situation, makes one enhancement, and fixes one bug:
Fixes:
* The argument passed to Wimp_LoadTemplate in R5 is now a
pointer to a non-const string (Chris Rutter).
Enhancements:
* Constant Wimp_GetSize is defined for passing to
Wimp_LoadTemplate when the buffer size is to be returned
(Chris Rutter).
OSLib Version 6.10 - Tony van der Hoff - 01/06/2000
------------------
A couple of bug fixes, one major compatibility issue, C++
compatibility, and some additional future-proofing:
Fixes:
* PaletteV_ReadEntry: Correct reason code passed in R9.
(Tom Hughes)
* Some name corrections for MimeMap. (Tom Hughes)
* osmemory definitions now correctly refer to osmemory instead
of os_memory. (David Thomas)
* For compatibility with GCC, some duplicated formal parameter
names have been fixed.
* The try string element in the font dbox structure has been
renamed from |try| (which is a c++ reserved word) to
|try_string|. ** This change is not backwards compatible **.
The compiler will fault the use of |try| in this context.
Binary compatibility is OK.
* The files Macros.Hdr and Types.Hdr have been renamed to
Macros.Hdr.macros and Types.Hdr.types respectively for
consistency with standard naming conventions. (A.Thoukidides)
* Toolbox.SWI.Quit now correctly includes "NEEDS TOOLBOX".
(A.Thoukidides)
Enhancements:
* To aid compatibility with C99 and C++ compilers, where |bool|
is a keyword, OSLib's Boolean type has been renamed from
|bool| to |osbool|. To support backwards compatibility,
types.h typedefs |bool| as |osbool| for compilers where
|bool| is not used. This may be overridden by defining the
constant BOOL_DEFINED before including types.h. Note that
some gcc users have been undefining |bool| in types.h to work
round the generated error condition. THIS INTRODUCES AN
ERROR, as OSLib's bool was typedef'd as an integer (4 bytes),
whereas sizeof( bool ) in g++ is 1 byte. Anyone who has done
this, and got has away with it, should be aware of this
ticking time-bomb, and amend their code at the earliest
opportunity.
* __swi(x) is now automatically undefined for compilers other
than Norcroft. There is no longer any need to define __swi,
but it is not an error to do so.
* By defining the constant NAMESPACE_OSLIB, all declarations in
the headers are placed in a namespace oslib {...} block. This
allows all typedefs to be qualified within the namespace.
However, OSLib itself currently requires "C" linkage,
therefore the function names are retained in the global
namespace. See file Test.cpp.Test_cpp for an example of
namespace usage.
* Constant os_VDUVAR_END_LIST now defined. (John Tytgat)
* Further changes to DefMod for 32-bit compatibility.
(Stewart Brodie)
* SetVars has been amended to bring the library itself and the
headers together into OSLib$Path, thus removing the need for
the unwieldy OSLibInclude$Path. The latter is retained for
backwards compatibility, but is now deprecated.
* All #includes in the library headers now specify the OSLib:
library path to avoid possible name clashes with other
libraries.
#################################################
A quick post to let people know that there is an updated version of my pre-Desktop banner program which should work a bit better with RISC OS 4.
For those of you that aren't aware, preLogo now at version 1.03, is a module which displays a sprite instead of all that text during boot up until the Desktop starts.
It's available from my web site at http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/coleman/
An enhanced version of my security program !Stego, which hides text files in sprites, is now available from
http://web.bham.ac.uk/N.M.Queen/pgp/acorn.html
Version 1.1 has a new option for hiding *two* PGP messages in a container sprite. While anyone with a copy of !Stego can easily recover the first hidden message (but not read its contents), the second one is encrypted with an additional passphrase, and it is impossible for any snooper who does not know the passphrase to determine whether or not a second message is actually hidden. Thus, the first hidden message can act as a decoy, in case the user comes under pressure to reveal what is hidden.
Thanks to all those who have commented on my new release of !Swipe.
As many of you know there have been a few annoying bugs which have come to light. These problems are now fixed (hopefully) in version 0.12 which is now available from my web page:
http://www.astubbs.f2s.com/swipe.html
Please note that this site seems to have some intermittent problems so if you don't get through just try again a bit later.
For those of you who are interested, the problem that was causing it to very slowly plot carats instead of text was caused by my omitting to support backward jumps when patching the FontManager. If the program was run early enough in the boot sequence it managed to get a chunk of the RMA at a lower address than the FontManager module. The way I had done the branch instruction generation did not allow for negative numbers properly and so it was jumping to the wrong place - it's a wonder it didn't freeze up altogether!
Anyway, that problem, also the problem with it running out of memory, and another problem caused by swiping zero characters have now all been fixed.
If you didn't catch my previous posting about version 0.11, !Swipe is a small utility for copying text to the global clipboard. The original Swipe could grab text from any icon or title bar, but the new !Swipe can grab text from any outline font plotted using the standard FontManager. If you use a desktop font that means you can grab just about anything! For more information and download see my website:
http://www.astubbs.f2s.com/swipe.html
Enjoy
Do you have a hard disc which is suffering problems?
Press F12 and type
for each of your drives, if you dont get "Map good", or you have experienced errors such as "Broken directory" or the dreaded "Disc not understood", then the disc has a problem.
I'm looking for people with disc problems on either E or E+ (RISC OS 4) formats to verify a new repair program, if you would like to take part please email the following details to DiscKnight@armclub.org.uk
Testing will initially be carried out offline using information extracted from your system, so there is no risk to your data.
This may not interest many people since only one person has reported the problem to which this refers; MovieDB 1.39 is now on its web page at:
http://www.actrix.gen.nz/users/rick/moviedb.html
MovieDB is an off-line browser for the Internet Movie Database (IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/) using the database files found its ftp site (ftp://ftp.imdb.com/pub/interfaces/).
The main reason for this release is a bug fixed which prevented it from correctly processing the biographies diff file of a few weeks ago. It also has a bug fixed which caused problems when dragging files to the database maintenance window.
I have finally got around to launching the latest version of !Swipe.
Originally written by Thomas Leonard, those who have already used !Swipe will know that it was capable of copying text from any desktop icon.
Now, with permission from Thomas, I have extended its capabilities so that it can copy text from almost anywhere on the desktop. If text is plotted using the standard FontManager then !Swipe can grab it.
This makes !Swipe a must for anybody's !Boot sequence!
For further information and download see:
http://www.astubbs.f2s.com/swipe.html
I have a number of different applications that load the same file types, this is particularly true of graphic filetypes. Most of the time I want my favoured application to load those particular file types, so I find it extremely irritating when another application decides to deal with that file type itself.
So having been frustrated for long enough (these magazine CDs with their own version of !ArcFS and a read only Fresco has been the final straw) I've finally managed to get round to do something about it. Hence this module.
This module aliases the Set and SetMacro commands and reads the variable being set and looks out for any that start with "Alias$". If it finds that it has already been set then it prevents it from being changed. If the variable doesn't exist then it creates it as one would expect.
Not only will it intercept @LoadType_, @PlugInType_, @PrintType_ and @RunType_ (in fact any alias starting with @) but also the Open_URI_ and URLOpen_ types and so not muck up your favoured browser. It will pass on everything else unaltered.
NewSet is available from http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/coleman/
Today's topic: Grids module released!
For a long time, ArtWorks users have been complaining about the fact that ArtWorks, although being the most advanced drawing package under RISC OS, does not even offer the isometric grid option that we know so well from the humble Draw application supplied with RISC OS since the days of RISC OS 2.
Now, finally, the Grids module gives your copy of ArtWorks rectangular, isometric and circular grids.
Apart from specifying the distance of the concentric circles that create the grid, you can also specify into how many segments you want to divide each circle (as usual with major and minor grid points).
*This price is for e-mail delivery only. Add 2.50 Pounds for snail-mail delivery. Do not add VAT as I am not registered.
As usual, when posting the order please send me an empty e-mail message with a subject line of "Grids order" to speed up delivery.
ExpLAN Computers Ltd, the publishers of the HolyBible software suite and RISC OS printer drivers, has changed its internet addresses for email and website.
Both of these no longer contain the word "demon", but are otherwise similar. Please update all records accordingly.
Our new website on www.explan.co.uk now contains a much extended section on HolyBible software modules in particular. Further changes are in progress.
Pace Micro Technology plc are seeking to recruit Software Engineers, Hardware Engineers, Quality Assurance Engineers, Team Leaders and Project Managers. There are a number of exciting and challenging developments taking place and we are interested to hear from people who may wish to join our team here in Cambridge.
The technologies you may be involved with include xDSL, Digital TV, Operating System development and Information Appliances. Vacancies exist for engineers working on RISC OS/ARM and a wide range of other platforms.
Please email, fax or send your CV to Victoria Lee <mailto:victoria.lee@pace.co.uk> or drop in to our offices on Friday 22nd September between 12.00pm and 7.00pm to see the office and have a chat.
For more information about Pace please visit our website at
http://www.pace.co.uk/
Directions to the office are available on request.
Neil Bingham, Senior Software Engineer
Pace Micro Technology plc Tel: +44 1223 508555
645 Newmarket Road, Fax: +44 1223 518526
Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB5 8PB
This is a general announce. Specifically, Joern-Erik LEO Burkert tested txt2pdf on Acorn-risc RiscOS 3.5. He also create !txt2pdf: a RiscOS frontend for txt2pdf
txt2pdf is a very flexible and powerful PERL5 program (5 penguins at LinuxBerg, 5 cows at TuCows Mac, BeOS and PSION). It's a converter from text files to PDF format files.
Why do you need txt2pdf?
Most of your documents are text files
Usually, your reports from legacy applications, DBs, ERP applications, datawarehouse are textual
txt2pdf is a PERL5 script, so you can use it in every operating systems supported by PERL5, if you prefer we distribute also executables for these OS: Windows,Linux,Solaris, AIX,HP-UX,FreeBSD. Inside the Windows version a VB GUI (Visual txt2pdf) txt2pdf is a native converter, you don't need to pass through PostScript format
txt2pdf is specific for text to PDF conversion, so you can mark coloured (using PERL regular expression) frases in the produced PDF files
you can mark bold, italic, bolditalic frases in the produced PDF files
you can add page number in every page
you can add text at the beginning and at the end of every file
you can add a border to every page
every word like http://... ftp://... mailto:... https://... file:... ldap:... news:... will become an URL
you can create a link to a specific page within a PDF document http://...pdfdocument#pdfmark
every word like mime:... will become a link that launch the correct application and opens the file
you can use background and foreground layers
every predefined encodings, supported by the PDF format, is supported + the Unix default
txt2pdf supports STDIN and STDOUT
the fee for every licence is $85
SANFACE Software is going to give you a free licence for every good idea or for every good modify
txt2pdf is shareware
The txt2pdf source code is our company core business.
We trust you.
You can test text2pdf and modify it.
You can't use a modify version of txt2pdf for production purpose. You can't resell txt2pdf or a modify version of it without SANFACE Software authorization.
You can't copy part of it to include in your source without SANFACE Software authorization.
What's new in this version
colour file feature: with a configuration file you can mark coloured (every colour you want using the rgb PDF syntax), using PERL regular expression, frases in the produced PDF files
fontmark file feature: with a configuration file you can mark bold or italic or bolditalic frases in the produced PDF files
cols, columns2 and allowinparse aren't supported with the new 4 version
New fee: $85
FreeBSD executable version
Visual txt2pdf: a VB GUI for the Windows executable version
Test txt2pdf 4.0!
You can find it at http://www.sanface.com/
People who wants to know more about the RISC OS platform are invited to come to the RUM2000! The RISC OS Usergroup Meeting 2000 in Eindhoven this year on the 14th of October. For more info please visit:
http://www.riscosuser.myweb.nl
http://www.dansoft.co.nz/sitewriter/
SiteWriter has changed, version 1.2 is a significant improvement over the original release. A new demo and example SW file can be downloaded. SiteWriter feels like a new product - a RISC OS product!
Improvements summary:
Please take a look at:
http://www.dansoft.co.nz/sitewriter/
Also note that we can accept credit cards.
SiteWriter is an active product and is therefore improved over time. Of course an update to version 1.2 is available for existing users (who have already been notified).
Thankyou to all for your comments and feedback.
Just a note to announce the release of a new program to help in the creation of HTML.
HTMLhlpr helps you write HTML code. It lists the different attributes of the tags and enables you do edit them easily. This reduces the chance of your page being viewed badly in other, alternative, browsers.
http://www.tilehurstonline.co.uk/
The Association of Acorn User Groups is pleased to announce the proposed creation of TWO new user groups in the United Kingdom. It is hoped that these will fit in well with the 21 regional groups already up and running in the UK.
The first proposal is for a BIRMINGHAM group. Anyone living in the neighbourhood should contact Augus@romsley.demon.co.uk for further details.
The second proposal is for a NORTHERN IRELAND group. Again, anyone interested should contact damian@bmena.dnet.co.uk for further information.
As always, the very latest information from AAUG, including details of forthcoming user group events, can be found on our regularly updated website at: http://www.aaug.net/
I've just uploaded !RiscSearch V0.25ß to my Homepage (www.patrick-mortara.de).
Changes in V0.25ß:
If you discover any errors, it would be nice, if you could send me the logfiles for this session. It makes debugging a lot easier!
For all of you who don't know, what !RiscSearch is: !RiscSearch is meant to be a meta-search engine, and AFAIK it is the only one available for RISC OS anywhere. It helps you finding web-pages about a certain topic by asking different search-engines about that topic. It collects results from (at the moment) 10 different engines, sorts out duplicate matches and then presents all matches in a window of your web-browser.
I have updated the RISC OS port of PHP to version 4.0.2. It is available from my website (http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~ajw498/). More information about PHP, including a list of the changes between PHP3 and PHP4 can be found at the PHP website http://www.php.net/
PHP, which stands for "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor", is an HTML-embedded scripting language. Much of its syntax is borrowed from C, Java and Perl with a couple of unique PHP-specific features thrown in. It allows easy dynamic generation of web pages, and as the scripts are interpreted by the web server, it works with all browsers.
PHP works with most RISC OS web servers.
I've just done some small changes to !RiscSearch and uploaded V0.2ß - c to my homepage at www.patrick-mortara.de
New in V0.2ß - c
For all who don't know about !RiscSearch: !RiscSearch is meant to be a meta-search engine, and AFAIK it is the only one available for RISC OS anywhere. It helps you finding web-pages about a certain topic by asking different search-engines about that topic. It collects results from (at the moment) 10 different engines, sorts out duplicate matches and then presents all matches in a window of your web-browser.
My web pages have been moved from: http://www.multimania.com/gusuki
to: http://users.otenet.gr/~gusuni
Please update your bookmarks/links. Sorry for the inconvenience. The new location is without pop-up windows, it is more reliable and the pages have been updated with some new software.
At "GUS's corner" you can find the following:
* Freeze 1.50-09 saves/restores machine states.
* Wacky-Talky 0.93 is a shared resource which is needed by some
applications in order for them to work.
* MyUtils (77 Kb) (requires Wacky-Talky)
- 3rdShift More power on the mouse.
- Agile Faster execution of all CLI commands.
- CLILog Easy CLI log.
- CloseReport Smart automatic error report closer.
- CtrlMode Change screen mode by using the keyboard.
- DDD Improves the Filer providing 2 stage icons
and directory / file icons.
- EscIII Exit from applications.
- FromCLI BASIC commands (and programs) from the CLI.
- FullError Extra CLI command info on errors.
- MakeDirs Automatic directory creation.
- MyMouse Dynamic mouse.
- MyShell Quick and colourful CLI shell.
- NoReport Skip an error report.
- PathCache Caches path information so accessing files
becomes faster.
- QSMerge Quick Sprite Merging (even RO4 is slow there).
- RunData Provides run, load and print actions and
different icons for DATA files.
- SafeDel Smart waste bin.
- StarTree Powerful directory tree commander.
- Sugar CLI pipe manager.
- WimpPool No RMA holes for iconsprites
(for pre-RPC computers).
* MiscTools (95 Kb)
- Direr Sets <filetype>$Dir (like Obey$Dir) for
all the executable filetypes.
- FontShadow Puts a real shadow to almost all the displayed
fonts.
- Mouseless 100% mouse substitute.
- NeVirus Global/future virus detector.
- RAMFScache Saves/loads RAM disc images.
- SWIcache Speeds up overloaded machines.
- Tree Displays directory trees. (text based)
* Textures a "me too" app for random JPEG/Sprite
backdrops.
* WimpSprites loads dynamically any missing sprite.
* HugeMacros a simple but powerful keyboard based macro
manager.
* GrimAce allows you to generate fast sprite plotting code.
Happy downloads :)
Kostas Proitsakis
GUS of Arm's Tech
Special offer on Canon colour inkjets with RISCOS drivers:
ExpLAN have again secured supplies of the most popular inkjet printers for which we supply drivers to run under !Printers 1.64. These are:
BOTH of the above models can print at A4+ size and on cardboard up to a massive 550 gms/sq.m!
Neither model is still in current production, but supplies of parts/consumables are guranteed to be available for at least 7 years.
Further technical info is on our website at
http://www.explan.demon.co.uk/printers.html
Prices are:
BJC-7100 ukp167 +VAT (rrp was ukp249 +VAT)
BJC-6100 ukp149 +VAT (rrp was ukp179 +VAT)
+ carriage @ ukp10 + VAT in UK mainland
The BJC-7100 is sold complete with the standard colour cartridge BC-61 which is normally an extra ukp31 +VAT
Prices include a single-user copy of PrintControl software for RISC OS.
Site licence enquiries welcomed.
And the furry animals?
These are brand-new printers containing from last year's World Wildlife Fund promotion, and most boxes still contain a furry toy leopard. :-)
The printers are "reboxed", "rechecked" and "re-sealed" by Canon, as the packaging has suffered some cosmetic damage.
All printers (and furry animals!) are offered as new items, and are not reject stock, B-grade or refurbished in any way. Full guarantee from the manufacturer is as per standard terms and conditions for new models.
If you specifically want us to ensure that your printer really does contain the "cuddly toy", then please state this when ordering!
R-Comp is pleased to announce the release of an exciting new version of its SiteMaster web site management system - SiteMaster 2.
The original program was a highly regarded web site management tool, allowing authors to identify and fix broken links, follow the structure of the site around to see how the pages fit together, rename/add file extensions without breaking links, view download times etc.
SiteMaster 2 is a completely new version of the software, running around 3 times faster (making handling of large sites much more practical) and with many new and improved features:
In addition, SiteMaster 2 also comes with a new version of the !Publish application (novelly known as !Publish 2) which has been refined based on professional user feedback. The software, which allows pages to be built from shared/common building blocks, and have the contents automatically updated, now has a script system, which allows whole sites to be "published" in one click. Using this, sites have a single file (a bit like a makefile in programming terms) which when run will build the site from its constituent parts. These parts may be situated on other drives, over networks (tested with Access/Omniclient/LanMan98) etc. All the resources can then be drawn together to form the final site, ready for uploading or network deployment.
SiteMaster 2 also includes !WebUpload to upload sites (as did later releases of SiteMaster 1).
These enhancements, and new features/applications make SiteMaster 2 an extremely powerful Web Site maintenance and management system. The package is still relatively simple to use, yet fulfils the requirements of professional web designers and webmasters who have been actively involved in the SM2 project.
Anyone who purchased SiteMaster within a month preceding the release of SiteMaster 2 on August 21st 2000 will be eligible to receive the SM2 update free of charge.
Prices include UK carriage. EU please add 2ukp. ROW please add 5ukp.
You can also email us at rcomp@rcomp.co.uk to ask specific questions.
SiteMaster 2 is just one part of a large range of Web Design and Management tools produced by R-Comp, which also include the highly acclaimed HTMLEdit Studio suite and more.
I'm happy to announce that you can now install Debian Linux on your RiscPC much more easily than in the past, because boot floppies are now available.
To start, or if you have no idea what I'm talking about and would like more information, then fetch this file:
ftp://ftp.arm.linux.org.uk/pub/armlinux/people/chocks/DebianBF.txt
Any problems, suggestions, corrections, you know who to email.
For several years now all mail sent to the @wss.co.uk domain has been forwarded to us by Pentacom communications Ltd. Unfortunately they went bust a couple of weeks ago, and all such forwarding stopped.
Through the sterling efforts of nominet UK we now have the domain up and running againg with Oaktree Internet Services Ltd.
What this means is that all mail sent to us for the past 2 weeks has probably been lost. If you contacted us and have not yet had a reply, then please send your mail again. Sorry!
Surftec Ltd are pleased to announce the sale of existing stocks of Acorn Internal Modem Podule Cards.
Is your serial port already in use? Fed up of a cluttered desk? The Internal 28.8K Modem Card fits into a spare expansion slot in your RISC PC, it requires no external power and leaves your serial port free.
This modem will work with any blockdriver compatible communications program and has been tested with the following:
ANT Internet Suite
Socketeer
Intertalk (PPP Only)
Acorn Connect (PPP Only)
Connector
the modem cards come with a full 12 month Surftec Warranty and all necessary cables, phone extension leads also available at a very low price if purchased at the same time.
28.8 Internal Modem... 19ukp
UK Carriage... 6ukp
All prices exclude VAT, see our website for payment and ordering details.
Righto, thats enough great prices for one week! These modems will be available at RISC OS 2000 Show at Epsom so you can save the postage by collecting at the show!
Surftec Ltd is pleased to announce yet another great offer on Epson Scanners, this time we have a smaller stock of GT-9500 scanners.
These are especially useful for anyone with an Acorn that doesn't have a SCSI Interface.
The Epson GT-9500 Scanners comes with a Surftec 90-Day Warranty (the boxes also include blue Epson stickers saying 100 percent guarantee, so we're not sure if that means a full 12 month Epson warranty or not), and include Acorn Twain Drivers suitable for the scanner to be driven either via the Parallel Port or SCSI card.
These scanners even come with the PC SCSI card and Windoze drivers should you want to use it on one of those Windoze things. ;-)
These scanners are professionaly reconditioned by Epson and come to you in a brown Epson box, complete with all CD's, Driver Discs, Manuals and Cables. Most of them have simply been on display, with no or little use.
The GT-9500 runs at 600 x 1200dpi, and comes complete with Acorn Twain drivers and all necessary cables.
The Epson GT-9500 with Acorn Twain drivers... 95ukp
additional ImageMaster software... 20ukp extra
UK carriage... 8ukp
All prices exclude VAT.
See our web site for full ordering/payment details.
NB: We have sourced just a couple more GT-7000 scanners so if you missed the first batch we have some more in as of this afternoon.
There's a number of major RISC OS portals requiring articles at the moment. Riscos.org, for example, has already a growing number of articles promoting the RISC OS platform to the uninformed.
In a bid to help encourage more people to write software reviews and articles for the likes of riscos.org, I have uploaded an essential links page of software that can make this task quicker easier, and possibly more seductive:
http://www.harmsy.freeuk.com/articles.html
Of course, if anyone has any comments about the software mentioned or omitted, please feel free to contact me. They will undoubtedly have many other uses!
Today's topic: BMExport module released!
I am glad to announce that the new ArtWorks bitmap export module is now available!
This module allows you to save your Web graphics directly from ArtWorks without any post-processing needed. No need to use Paint to make the background transparent because switching on the transparency option will do it for you. No need to chop off rows or columns afterwards because you can export the miminal area covered by objects (you can also export any rectangular area you want and you can have a border of arbitrary width around the bitmap).
Choose your desired colour palette (e.g., the standard Acorn 256 colour palette or the browser-safe palette used by PC and Mac browsers) and enjoy maximum display quality by switching on the powerful error diffusion option.
Please note that this module requires RISC OS 3.5 or higher!
Short features list:
One of the main strengths of the exporter is the comfortable selection of the output area and scaling: Simply specify the desired width or height of the bitmap, the absolute scaling or the desired resolution in dpi. You can export the complete page, just the drawing (the minimal area containing all the objects on the page), just the selected objects or the minimal area containing all the selected objects but also including unselected objects in this area.
You can find the BMExport WWW page at:
http://www.mw-software.com/software/awmodules/bmexport.html
* Prices are for e-mail delivery only. Add 2.50 Pounds for snail-mail delivery. Do not add VAT as I am not registered.
More payment details can be found at:
http://www.mw-software.com/paying.html
Dear Acorn Users,
Announcing an economic repair and maintenance service for your Acorns
Visual Com are established providers of computer repair services for Schools and Local Authority contracts over many years. Our services include computer repairs for Acorn (and PCs , Macs, BBCs etc.), monitor repair, printer repair, peripheral repairs and audio visual (AV) repair and maintenance contracts.
We welcome any customers, whether public, trade, business or schools and will be happy to quote you for any hardware repairs. Courier collection and return are offered upon request (please ask for prices).
Please visit us at:
Where you can fill in an enquiry form.
Other ways of contacting Visual Com:
Email service@visualcom.co.uk
Post
Mr Steve Cutchey
Visual Com
Latton Bush Business Centre
Southern Way
Harlow
Essex CM18 7BH
Telephone 01279 838144
Fax 01279 434122
We look forward to hearing from you!
After a few initial problems, I've completed and uploaded a 'new look' version of my serial networking website, which will hopefully make navigation of the site a bit easier. The new URL is http://www.serial-networking.fsnet.co.uk/, however you can still get to the new site using the old URL, which will then redirect your browser to the new site.
For those who would prefer to use the old site, there is a link to it on the introduction page of the new site.
If anybody finds any problems with either of the websites or have any suggestions for changes/additions, please feel free to email me.
There seems to be a lot of interest on digital photography, but no mailing list.
So I have set one up. I have an Olympus C2020Z
To subscribe send an email to digiphot@4qd.co.uk with the Subject: Subscribe
or click on the link Digital Photography
I have now taken over development of WebJames from its original author, Henrik Bjerregaard Pedersen. WebJames is a HTTP server for RISC OS, with features that include redirection, cache, cgi-script interface, password-protection and much more. It is ideal for use with PHP.
Version 0.25 and any future versions will be available from my website (http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~ajw498/). It is released under the GNU GPL.
| 2003 | Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | 2003 |
| Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan | ||
| 2002 | Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | 2002 |
| Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan | ||
| 2001 | Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | 2001 |
| Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan | ||
| 2000 | Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | 2000 |
| Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |