This summer I spent much of my time learning to use the many new features of XCHANGE and XCHANGE Quill. Some of us had expected an XCHANGE manual to surface somewhere so that we could use XCHANGE more efficiently. This never happened.
I decided to look closely at the five HELP files (those ending with an _hob extension) and decided to re-format them, select those files pertaining to the new commands and printing them out. After working with XCHANGE for several weeks, I added some text to the file I call XCHNOTES. XCHNOTES_doc file is approximately seven (7) pages long and will do for now as a user’s manual.
XCHANGE Quill, Archive, Easel and Abaçus are updated versions and seem to operate faster than the latest versions of the same named files. When in XCHANGE itself, multi-tasking with additional software isn’t a problem. I now use XCHANGE instead of Taskmaster and multi-task The Editor S. E. without any problem.
The mail merge facility in XCHANGE Quill will allow the use of a Name and Address file from either Archive or Quill. So those of you out there who do not use Archive will find a simple _doc file adequate for use as a database. Incidentally, using this mail merge is a lot easier than using a mail merge from a separate Mail Merge program.
I can supply any reader of LIST with a copy of XCHNOTES_doc or XCHNOTES_txt and all five HELP files formatted as _txt and _doc files on disk provided you send me a formatted, 720K disk (either 5 1/4″ or 3 1/2″) in a suitable envelope so that it can be used for return to you and return postage which is usually 75 cents in stamps. If you need the XCHANGE program, send an additional formatted disk with enough return postage. I will send out the software the next day after receipt of your request.
If any QL user is still suffering from a QL overheating problem, I have on hand a small supply of the 2 Amp version of the 78C05 voltage regulator. (Original version is 1 AMP). The European’s have used this fix for quite some time with good results. Here in the ‘States’ they were not available. If any one needs one, send me $3.00 and I will send you one, post paid.
Digital Precision has sent me the latest version of The Editor S. E. to review for IQLR. I’ve been using The Editor since 1987 and upgraded to the Special Edition in 1988. This is the only ‘word processing’ software that I need. At times I prepare manuals ranging from 20 pages to approximately 200 pages for some friends in the airlie entertainment industry. All pages are printed out back-to-back. The Editor SE handles this very well. Any control codes required (bold, double height-width, italics, letter quality, and so on) I embed directly into the text while proof reading. This can be done quite easily since The Editor has a special character set which, when used for control coding, the printer understands and follows through by printing out these commands correctly.
Those of you who use The Editor SE, and don’t know whether you have the latest version or not (all SE versions are 2.05 regardless of the upgrade), look at the byte count for the XTRAS file. My original SE version of the XTRAS file indicates 5K 598 bytes; the newest version indicates 7K 268 bytes. There really aren’t any new commands added, however many of the commands have been ‘tweeked’ or improved. The boot file now activates several Lightning files which are included on the disk, for faster operation of the software. Digital Precision will upgrade The Editor SE for you for a slight fee.
Digital Precision has also upgraded PC CONQUEROR (PC emulator) to operate with more memory when using a Gold Card. This program is called PC Conqueror Gold Special Edition which allows the user with a Gold Card and ED disk drives (3.2 Meg) to get the most out of this PC emulator. I understand that this edition will also support hard drives.
Most of the new software being developed recently operates with Tony Tebby‘s Pointer Environment which is Mouse operated or with the QL cursor keys. If you are really interested in this type of software, search through the pages of IQLR, QL World, Updates or QUANTA.
There is an awful lot of activity within the QL Software and hardware area, with many software libraries available consisting of public domain and shareware on disks. I have approximately 125, 720K disks full of interesting programs. Just check the ads in QL World for further information.
QUANTA’s library has grown by ‘leaps and bounds’ – I’ve lost track on just how many disks make up their library. I recently received four 720K disks from Bob Dyl, the East Coast Quanta librarian. The programs on these disks were compressed – The programs on the four original disks are now housed on 15 disks. Decompressing the programs are very easy. as it is menu driven.
If you don’t subscribe to IQLR, QL World, Updates or Quanta and are still active with your QL, you should ‘get the ball rolling’, select one or more of these publications and PLEASE, subscribe.
International QL Report, 15 Kilburn Court, Newport, RI 02840, Telephone: 401-849-3805 EST 10:00 AM through 9:00 PM – $18.00 USA. Bob Dyl Publishes IQLR 6 times per year.
UPDATE Magazine, P. O. Box 1095, Peru, IN 46970, Tel:317-473-8031 Between 5:00 PM through 9:30 PM Standard Time during the week and noon to 6:00 PM on weekends. $18.00 US and and $22.00 outside US. Carol and Frank Davis publishes four times per year – supporting ALL Timex/Sinclair computers.
QL World Magazine, Archwind, The Blue Barn, Tew Lane, Wootton, Woodstock, Oxon, OX7 1HA, UK. USA & Canada ‘49.90 – Europe ‘32.90, Credit Cards accepted! Publishes 12 times per year.
QUANTA – a World-Wide-QL User Group, Membership Secretary: Bill Newell, 213 Manor Road, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 4JD UK Telephone:0268 754407. Publishes Quanta magazine 12 times per year and provides a vast software library which is free to all members.
Please…’ byte the bullet’. Let the Magazine publishers know that all QL users in the US will support them so that they can continue to publish their periodicals. Without these publications, software and hardware manufacturers will stop producing their wares because they will not be able to advertise their products – then it will be time to say, Good Bye, QL!
See you next month….Bob Gilder