Z*Net: 05-Apr-91 #9113

From: Bruce D. Nelson (aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 04/13/91-06:37:28 PM Z


From: aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: Z*Net: 05-Apr-91 #9113
Date: Sat Apr 13 18:37:28 1991

Also thanks to: Todd C. Miller


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                          ** SPECIAL EDITION **

                Z*NET INTERNATIONAL ATARI ONLINE MAGAZINE
                    Issue #91-13, Volume 7, Number 13
                              April 5, 1991

          Copyright (c)1989, 1990, 1991, Rovac Industries, Inc.


 =======================================================================
                              EDITORS DESK
                              ------------
                              by Ron Kovacs
 =======================================================================


 This is a special edition of Z*Net.  This week we have an exclusive
 interview with Alwin Stumph by Z*Net Germany's Mike Schuetz.  Also,
 we have the first press release information from the upcoming CEPS
 show in Chicago.  This is Part 1 of 2.

 We are sending belated birthday wishes to Bob Brodie, Atari Corporation
 User Group Services Manager.  Happy Birthday Robert!! I bet you thought
 we forgot!!!!

 Next week, a full exclusive eyewitness report from Z*Net Correspondents
 at the CEPS show and hopefully some interesting pictures are coming, so
 stay tuned to the online services and the Z*Net BBS for the latest CEPS
 information!

 Thanks for reading!!!




 =======================================================================
         EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ALWIN STUMPH AND RICHARD MILLER
         --------------------------------------------------------
                by Christian Strasheim and Michael Schuetz
 =======================================================================


 courtesy of Germany's ATARI PD JOURNAL
 translated by Kevin Festner for Z*NET


 During CeBit 91, we had the opportunity to talk with Alwin Stumph,
 Managing Director of Atari Germany and President of Atari Worldwide
 Sales and Marketing, and Richard Miller, Chief of R & D with Atari USA.

 PD JOURNAL: A question on your role at Atari, Mr Stumph.  In the last
 few months there has been some confusion concerning your area of
 responsibility.  What is it all about?

 Alwin Stumph: My range of responsibility concerns all of Atari's
 divisions, including the U.S.  That means my role in the U.S. is
 practically the same as in Holland, Austria, or Germany.  The section
 heads report to me.

 PD: What is the policy at Atari concerning video games, particularly
 with the Lynx?

 AS: There is a another Lynx model that differs merely in the design from
 the current model.  CeBit is not a forum for this product, and because
 of that, we displayed only a few for entertainment.  A renaissance has
 taken place in video games.  In the last year, in Germany alone, we have
 sold 250,000 video games, without expending a lot of effort.  It
 wouldn't be prudent to abandon this market.

 PD: Will Atari distinguish itself from its video game line, and like
 Commodore, show and sell them separately?

 AS: We're divided on that already, the funds and sales are divided.

 PD: How do you evaluate the market for Windows in the U.S.?  Due to its
 cryptic user interface, DOS machines up to now posed no direct
 competition for the ST.  Microsoft has really pushed Windows.  20
 million packages have been sold and of course, this speaks for itself.
 Does Windows pose any threat for Atari?

 AS: I can't assess it at this time.  In fact, I have the feeling, this
 competition will stimulate business, as so frequently happens.  We are
 not the only ones employing a graphical user interface.  The desktop is
 becoming a standard and due to this it might make selling a bit easier.

 PD: What's the story on the Portfolio?  At the press conference we
 learned that a RAM extension, for example, would be very expensive,
 bringing the Portfolio into the price range of the Notebook.  Do I
 understand that the originally planned redesign will not be carried
 out?

 AS: In this respect the market has changed a little, as you approach the
 price of the Notebook.  And the Portfolio as a lap-top computer does not
 make any more sense.  Atari prefers to approach this market from above,
 so to speak.

 PD: And that's the key concept here.  To what extent will the hardware
 have similarities to the current ST?

 Richard Miller: The ST-Book will embody two custom chips already used in
 the STE.  In addition, we will be installing a lot of new hardware in
 both new models.  About 30 discreet CMOS chips will use special 'Power
 Management' allowing the optimal use of battery capacity.  We will also
 equip the existing production models with these discrete chips, since
 they have less power consumption than newer chips.  We're talking about
 micro-amps.  The power consumption of a CMOS chip in standby-mode
 amounts to perhaps 10 micro-amps.  That corresponds to two electrons
 per second.

 PD: What does that have to do with pseudo-static RAM?

 RM: Pseudo-static RAM is primarily dynamic RAM with some intelligent
 logic chips added.  Addressing is carried out in parallel and is not
 normally multiplexed.  And because of that, the chip has more pins than
 dynamic RAM.  In addressing a specific point in memory, fewer parts of
 the chips are activated than with dynamic RAM.  In concrete terms that
 means that in a 16 bit data bus, only two pseudo-static RAM chips with
 an 8 bit bus must be addressed, and with dynamic RAM 4 or 16 chips must
 be addressed.  Furthermore pseudo-static RAM has a self-refresh mode
 without necessitating an external refresh.  In this mode pseudo-static
 RAM needs about ten times as much current as static RAM and the contents
 in memory can be stored over months.

 PD: The external storage card in the ST Pad is certainly interesting
 news.  Who will offer the cards and at what price?

 RM: The specifications for this card and especially for the 68 pin
 mechanical connector comes from a firm by the name of JEIDA and has
 already become standardized.  These cards come equipped with static RAM
 and can offer a storage capacity of up to 4 MBytes.  Principly, they can
 be equipped with any type storage, even with ROM, so that a complete
 application can be offered.  There are about eight suppliers of such
 cards and the price will certainly fall to such an extent that I really
 don't want to speculate on the cost.  In addition, these card can not
 only be fitted with memory.  I know a company who offers a modem on this
 type of card.  That means there is a complete system bus on the
 connector.

 PD: At first report the ST Pad will not be offered with a hard-drive.
 It this decision final?

 RM: Hard drives are very sensitive at the moment.  The head flies over
 the surface of the platter at a distance of a few microns.  Anytime such
 a mechanical contrivance is used there is a high risk of damage.  We
 need to look around more for a hard drive to equip the ST Pad which can
 offer a certain level of reliability.  But I'm not convinced whether the
 ST Pad requires a hard drive.  The use we have envisioned for the ST Pad
 is that it can manage well without a hard drive.  I'm more interested in
 offering a radio modem and a hard drive, which can send data over packet
 radio.  Atari is working with other firms on the development of such a
 modem.

 PD: Do you think it will be possible to equip it with such a modem,
 especially in Germany?

 RM: That will certainly be difficult.  In the U.S, the F.C.C. reserves
 certain frequencies for such uses.  Radio modems can be purchased, for
 example, from Motorola.  The German Postal Service is the big problem
 here.

 PD: Finally a question on which we really don't expect an answer.  At
 the press conference last night, there was a question from the audience
 regarding the Multi-tasking TOS.  Leonard Tramiel and you, Mr. Miller,
 responded by smiling.  What should we read from this smile?

 AS: It has never been a secret that Atari is moving towards multi-
 tasking.  We have entered into discussions with major software firms in
 Dusseldorf on this subject.  And in time we will be working on it.  And
 with every new TOS version, an upgrade to multitasking TOS will be
 possible.

 PD: Can we count on this TOS being ready for release sometime this year?

 AS: Perhaps.

 PD: Mr. Miller, Mr. Stumph, thank you for this informative interview.




 =======================================================================
                              Z*NET NEWSWIRE
                              --------------
 =======================================================================


 APPLE IIE CARD
 Apple Computer has begun accepting orders for the new optional card on
 Feb. 25, 1990, and will begin shipping orders by the end of March 1991.
 The Apple II card has a suggested retail price of $199 and takes full
 advantage of the Macintosh LC computer's peripherals, including the
 monitor, keyboard, floppy drive and mouse.  The new card comes with 128K
 (RAM) and can use up to 1MB of the Macintosh LC personal computer's RAM.
 The card also features a floppy disk drive controller and connector
 ports, allowing customers to connect to a 5.25-inch floppy disk drive
 and an Apple joystick.


 ATARI PLANNING FACTORY IN ISRAEL
 Atari is planning to set up a huge multi-million dollar factory to build
 computers in Israel, according to the Israeli Trade and Industry
 Ministry.  Investment costs are expected to total 150 million dollars,
 which will be shared by Atari and the Israeli government.  The factory
 will initially create 600 jobs, mostly for engineers and could rise to
 1,000 in five years with an annual turnover of 150 million dollars.


 TOSHIBA SHIPS MATRIX COLOR LAPTOP
 Toshiba announced this week that its T3200SXC color Portable Desktop
 computer is now shipping.  The T3200SXC is the industry's first portable
 computer to incorporate full VGA-compatible active matrix color display
 technology, providing the functionality of a desktop machine without the
 limitations of a deskbound system.


 EPSON ADDS FONTS/FEATURES
 Epson is now shipping enhanced versions of three dot-matrix printers,
 the LQ-510, LQ-850 and LQ-1050.  The enhancements include additional
 letter-quality fonts, automatic single-sheet loading, an expanded front
 control panel and, on the LQ-510 only, faster print speeds.  The LQ-510
 is a 24-pin, 80-column printer with a retail price of $499.  The LQ-850,
 an 80-column printer, and LQ-1050, a 136 column printer, have retail
 prices of $749 and $1,099 respectively.


 VERBUM CD MAGAZINE
 Verbum announced the mid-April availability of "Verbum Interactive 1.0,"
 a CD magazine which features a showcase of animation and interactive
 multimedia works, interactive columns and feature stories, with music
 from popular musicians Todd Rundgren and Graham Nash, and several
 recognized electronic music composers.  The 2-disc "Verbum Interactive"
 edition requires a CD-ROM player and a Macintosh II color computer, and
 sells for $49.95.  Verbum will launch a regular quarterly subscription
 service to the magazine in early 1992, for both Macintosh and MS-DOS/
 Windows systems.  For more information contact, Verbum (619) 233-9977.


 BORLAND SHIPS POWER PACK
 Borland announced this week the ProView Power Pack, a collection of
 graphic enhancements designed for users of Borland's Quattro Pro 3.0,
 the new WYSIWYG version of Borland's high-end spreadsheet.  The ProView
 Power Pack provides additional clip art, fonts, macros and other
 presentation materials to augment those already found in Quattro Pro.
 Both the ProView Power Pack and Quattro Pro 3.0 began shipping on
 Wednesday, March 27, 1991.  The ProView Power Pack will be included free
 in the $495 retail price version of Quattro Pro 3.0.  Users upgrading to
 Quattro Pro 3.0 from Quattro Pro 1.0, 2.0 or from competitive high-end
 spreadsheets, may purchase the ProView Power Pack for $49.95.


 MICROCOM UNVEILS VIREX
 Microcom announced this week the Virex Appleshare Installer, which
 allows a network manager to easily update Virex anti-virus software over
 a network of Macintosh computers.  Using the Installer, network managers
 review a log to determine which network users have the latest version of
 Virex.  The Virex INIT can be pre-configured and locked in each user's
 system folder and password protected to prevent tampering.  The Virex
 Installer resides on any Appleshare server.  It automatically loads the
 latest version of Virex and the Virex INIT and removes outdated versions
 when the user double clicks on the Installer icon.  The INIT is
 installed in the system folder while user name, date, and time of
 installation go into a comprehensive log file easily accessed by the
 network manager.


 IBM TO CUT WORK FORCE
 IBM said Thursday, March 28, 1999 that it would reduce its total work
 force by 14,000 in 1991.  No layoff plans were announced, and, as with
 its previous job reduction programs, IBM offered substantial incentives
 for early retirement or voluntary departure.  IBM's current work force
 amounts to about 373,000 people worldwide, including about 206,000
 people in the United States.  It is the first time the company is
 proposing to include its overseas staff in a major work force reduction
 plan.


 COMMODORE LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE PRODUCT
 Commodore introduced this week the first interactive multimedia product.
 The CDTV player, an Interactive Multimedia product that combines audio,
 video, graphics and text into a component, that will be available at
 audio/video retail chains in Los Angeles, San Jose, Calif., San
 Francisco, Sacramento, Calif., and Chicago on April 19 followed by New
 York, Boston, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Dallas and Denver in May.  The CDTV
 player, which resembles a conventional audio compact disc player,
 connects to a television set and home audio system to become an
 interactive education, information and entertainment center.  A simple
 hand-held infrared remote control provides access to an entire library
 of multimedia educational, entertainment, information and reference
 titles.  During the introductory, 50 CDTV multimedia titles will be
 available, with more than a hundred planned.  The CDTV library will
 consist of titles developed by leading entertainment and reference
 companies including Grolier, Guinness, Disney Software and LucasFilm.


 SPA RELEASES "HITS LIST"
 The Software Publishers Association announced this week the top-selling
 video games and MS-DOS computer games for February, 1991.  In the
 category of MS-DOS computer games, Sierra On-Line again tops the list
 with King's Quest V as the number one selling game.  SimEarth published
 by Maxis, jumped from the number nine spot to number two.  Red Baron,
 published by Sierra On-Line, moved from number two in January to the
 number three spot in February.  MicroProse, Orgin, Microsoft round out
 the top ten selling software packages.  Software Publishers Broderbund,
 Microsoft, Sierra On-Line and MicroProse each have three games on the
 chart.  New on the hits list for February are programs from Konami and
 Electronic Arts.  In the video game category, Teenage Turtle-Arcade
 Game, published by Konami moved to the number one spot from number three
 in January.  The Simpsons by Acclaim Entertainment appears in the number
 two spot and Super Mario Land moved from number nine in Janaury to
 number three in Febraury.  Other publishers in the top 25 include Caoco,
 Electronic Arts, Enix, Acclaim Entertainment, Konami and Tecmo.





 =======================================================================
                            ATARI AT CEPS 1991
                            ------------------
    PROFESSIONAL SYSTEMS GROUP'S DIRECT TO PRESS PUBLISHING SOLUTIONS
 =======================================================================
                        P R E S S   R E L E A S E


                                PART ONE


 The advent and evolution of desktop publishing has been a great benefit
 to the computing and the publishing communities.  The technology has put
 design and production power in the hands of many enabled innumerable
 elegant designs, and enpowered creative as well as production artists.
 But until now, desktop publishing products have been subject to
 compromises in quality and output speed when put to the test in the most
 demanding professional situations.  Most existing desktop publishing
 systems force users to compromise on the quality of photographic images
 or to use scanned images for position only--as placeholders for photos
 that must be stripped manually.  And those systems require impractically
 long periods of time to process each image.

 The Direct To Press publishing solutions are designed to meet the
 highest quality and speed requirements, and to do so at very affordable
 costs.  There products provide an array of options for compatibility
 with other computing and publishing standards, as well as in depth and
 breadth of capabilities.  Complete Publishing Solutions.  No
 Compromises.

 Direct To Press means no compromises:  No compromises on speed, no
 compromises on achieving the best value and lowest cost, and no
 compromises on image quality.

 Direct To Press is a collection of hardware and software tools from a
 select group of manufacturers assembled and led by Professional Systems
 Group, a division of Atari Computer.  The publishing software offered in
 these solutions is among the most innovative and exacting available on
 any popular computing platform.  And it's designed for hardware that
 packs the power to support such advanced applications.

 ATARI TT030

 Design and imagesetting workstations are based on versions of the Atari
 TT030, the company's most powerful computing platform.  It features a
 32MHz Motorola 68030 microprocessor with on-chip cache and memory
 management as well as a 68882 math coprocessor, 8MB of RAM expandable
 up to 26MB, an 80 MB hard disk, and a wide range of storage expansion
 options, including larger capacity hard disks and a removable Syquest
 cartridge drive.

 The system's built-in video processing includes support for a wide range
 of resolutions from 320 x 200 at 16 colors, or 320 x 480 at 256 colors
 to 640 x 480 with 16 colors on the PTC 1426 14" color monitor.  All
 colors are chosen from a palette of 4096 colors.  With the 19" TTM194
 monochrome monitorm the system supports 1280 x 960 resolution without
 requiring an additional video board.  The video system can access up to
 10 MB of the system RAM.  Suggested retail prices to be announced:

 Output for proofing purposes is provided by the 300 dot per inch Atari
 SLM605 laser printer.  The SLM605 features a small footprint, high-
 quality output, and fast 6 page per minute operation.  Suggested retail
 price to be announced.

 HELL SYSTEMS IMAGESETTER

 The Hell Systems imagesetter is capable of resolutions up to 3000 dpi.
 When used with the Image Speeder, only four (600, 800, 1200 and 2400
 dpi) resolutions that result in the highest precision are used.  The
 imagesetter produces 55mm of film per minute at 2400 dpi, 110mm/min at
 1200 dpi, and 220mm/min at 600 dpi.  Actual throughput depends on the
 raster processing technique and the use of the specialized support
 hardware.  For futher information about Hell Systems imagesetters,
 contact:

   Linotype-Hell
   Ultre Division
   145 Pinelawn Road
   Melville, New York 11747
   (516) 753-4800

 PAGESTREAM 2

 Soft-Logik's PageStream 2 is an extremely powerful and versatile desktop
 publishing program with an intuitive user interface, and full support
 of the PostScript page description language.  It imports and exports a
 wide variety of graphic and text formats, works with industry-standard
 type font families, and supports a large number of printing devices.
 The program can import and color separate 24-bit images, and supports
 spot or process color.  PageStream 2 is equipped with a full complement
 of page layout tools and facilities for handling complex books up to
 1000 pages in length.  It is designed to meet the needs of a wide range
 of users, from hobbists to professionals.

 PageStream 2 can display AGFA Compugraphic's Intellifont hinted outline
 fonts, or the Adobe Type 1 IBM format, using font point sizes from .02
 to 183,000 points with variable horizontal and verticle point size on
 the screen as well as print them out on a wide variety of PostScript
 (and non-PostScript) printers.

 PageStream 2 exhibits impressive flexibility:  It can create documents
 of any page size up to 400 feet by 400 feet, control tracking to .0001
 of an em, leading to .01 points, and kerning to .0001 of an em.  It can
 draw and edit Bezier curves, support an unlimited number of columns per
 page with text routing between columns in any order, easily bleed
 objects off the edge of a page, flow text arounf irregular shaped
 graphics, crop pictures, view or print pages at 15 - 1500%
 magnification, and rotate or twist any text or graphic.  Suggested
 retail price is $299.95.  For futher information about PageStream 2,
 contact:

 Soft-Logik
 Post Office Box 290070
 St. Louis, MO 63129
 (314) 894-8608 or (800) 829-8608

 CALAMUS SL / tms CRANACH STUDIO

 CALAMUS SL

 Widely acclaimed Calamus Sl from ISD Marketing features true WYSIWYG,
 fast printing speeds, and extensive color support.  Calamus SL takes a
 modular approach to incorporating features for image management, graphic
 design, text processing, illustration, font editing, and autotracing.
 The program uses proprietary outline font technology to produce
 identical results on both the screen and the printer.  Fonts can be
 scaled from 0.1 to 999.9 in tenth of a point increments.  Text and
 graphics can be rotated 360 degrees,  Text can be formatted around
 irregular objecs.

 Calamus SL can have up to seven documents loaded simultaneously, and
 select multiple files and multiple fonts for loading.  Each object --
 text, line, fill pattern, picture -- can take on any of up to 16.7
 million colors.  Users can specify colors either by simple RGB mixing
 method or by an external module such as Pantone.  Calamus will create
 the necessary four films per page for color separations.

 Calamus SL's Mount & Print module enables large documents to be split
 into smaller pieces.  Text attribute combinations can be saved as
 styles.  Drivers for import and export functions are contained in
 external modules so that new ones can be added as the need arises.
 Suggested retail price is to be announced.

 CALAMUS OUTLINE ART

 Calamus Outline Art supplements Calamus SL and is a complete vector
 graphics editor for lines, Bezier curves, control paths, and other
 vector shapes.  Calamus Outline Art can also generate freely definable
 raster areas.  Text attributes include rastering, transparent, rotation,
 outlines, stretching, compression, and cursive styles.  Text handling
 features enable circular text, text along a freely definable vector
 path, and kerning functions.  Calamus Outline Art also includes as
 integrated fully-programmable calculator with a pre-defined and user-
 expandable library of transformations.  Suggested retail price is
 $289.95.

 tms CRANACH STUDIO

 tms Cranach Studio is an electronic image manipulation program.  It uses
 a modular format for functions and features, similar to the strategy
 followed by Calamus SL.  tms Cranach Studio can import and export a wide
 array of graphic formats.  It can even load color separations.

 tms Cranach Studio can simultaneously display up to six graphic screens
 with different picture formats--raster, grayscale, color, and vector.
 The program offers a zoom range of 100-800%, and it will zoom a vector
 image along a background.

 tms Cranach Studio is strong on color handling and separation.  It can
 perform a 3-color separation based on CMY or RGB, or a 4-color
 separation.  It can correct low color values, adjust adornment colors,
 manipulate gray balance, and even output the color separation as
 grayscale film.

 The Draw and Paint module offers lacquer, watercolor, crayon, airbrush
 textures, and other effects.  Retouching functions include lightening
 or darkening, modifying the image with water or watercolor, finger-
 painting, or oil painting.

 tmc Vector Studio is an add-on module to tms Cranach Studio that
 provides a raster-to-vector (autotracing) and vector-to-raster
 conversion program that enables the user to work with halftones, bit
 maps, color and vector geometry.  Suggested retail price is to be
 announced.

 CALAMUS SOFTRIPS

 Calamus SoftRIPs connect directly from the Atari TT030 to the Linotronic
 or AGFA CompuGraphic 9000 series imagestters.  These proprietary raster
 image processors provide substantial speed and quality advantages over
 the competitive PostScript RIP.  Suggested retail price of the Calamus
 SoftRIP is $3500.00, which includes a special version of Calamus SL.
 For futher information about the Calamus and tsm Cranach Studio line of
 products, contact:

 Nathan Potechin
 ISD Marketing, Inc.
 2651 John Street, Unit 3
 Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 2W5

 RETOUCHE/DIDOT

 The following group of publishing tools has been developed by 3K-
 ComputerBild and is published in North America by Goldleaf Publishing,
 Inc.  The products share a focus on providing tools to meet the
 requirements of the most demanding lithograohy or typography
 professional, and most of the products use a propreitary technique of
 rasterizing the image within the application software, thereby removing
 the need for a separate raster image processor (RIP).

 (EDITORS NOTE:  Next week we will complete this background press release
  from Atari.  Also, look for a full eyewitness report from our staff
  currently enroute to the 1991 CEPS show in Chicago.)

  The following is a summary of the hardware and software to be shown at
  the show.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Atari TT030             Computing platform       Professional Systems
                         32 MHz 68030, 8MB RAM    Group.  ( A division
                         80 MB HD, 1280 x 960     of Atari Corporation)
                         monochrome monitor
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 3K Image Speeder        Based on TT030, tower    Goldleaf Publishing
                         case, graphics co-       developed by 3K-
                         processor, screening     ComputerBild
                         processor, scanner and
                         imagesetter interfaces
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Hell Systems Imagesetter  300-3000 dpi           Linotype-Hell
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Page Layout             PageStream 2             Soft-Logik
                         Calamus SL               ISD Marketing
                         Didot Professional       Goldleaf Publishing
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Line Art                Calamus Outline Art      ISD Marketing
                         Didot Line Art           Goldleaf Publishing
                         tms Vector Studio        ISD Marketing
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Digital Image Processing
                         Retouche Professional    Goldleaf Publishing
                         (grayscale)
                         Retouche CD (color)      Goldleaf Publishing
                         tms Cranach Studio       ISD Marketing
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Character Recognition   Sherlook Professional    Goldleaf Publishing
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Presentation Graphics   SciGraph                 Goldleaf Publishing
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Document Processing     Wordflair II             Goldleaf Publishing
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

 Agency Contact:  Andy Marken
                  Marken Communications, Inc.
                  (408) 296-3600 Office
                  (408) 296-3803 FAX
                  (408) 732-9589 Home





 =======================================================================
                            Z*NET NEW ZEALAND
                    Australia the forgotten Atari-land
                    ----------------------------------
                              by Jon Clarke
 =======================================================================


 The Hardware project

 How many times do you see the word "Australia" in an average day?  Do
 you know where it is?  That's right the little island off the west coast
 of New Zealand (opps).

 Remember the Kangaroos, Wombats, Koala Bears (look out for the "DROP
 BEARS"), Tasmanian Devils, and the millions of Sheep?  Remember the
 Sydney Opera House, the Opal, the World Expo, Ozzie Rules, the outback,
 Crocodile Dundee, Mal Gibson, the Holden Motorcar, QANTAS ?

 If you answered no to one or more these do the following.  Go and find
 your old atlas and a piece of tracing paper.  Trace the out line of
 Australia onto the tracing paper with a pen or pencil.  Right now we are
 ready for a little geography lesson.  Overlay the tracing over your
 country.

 The realization

 If you are in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, France, Germany,
 Sweden or the UK one thing will be perfectly clear to you.  AUSTRALIA is
 a big nation!  See how it covers your country with ease even on your
 little atlas or globe.  With a population of some 15 million people I am
 happy to report Atari has a thriving market on its hands.  Atari
 Australia.

 You may remember 12 months ago in Z*Net International I reported the
 pending release of the TT and the Atari specific show in Sydney
 Australia.  Not to be out done by their past efforts Atari Australia has
 been a major "shaker and mover" in the home and business computing
 fields in the Australian PC market place.  The past twelve months have
 seen many of the major retail firms stock the full Atari range of
 computers from the Portfolio to the STE.  Now located in their new
 premises in North Ryde they are set to capture more of the Australian
 computer market.  If this reads like a press release it is not.  It is
 just that I was very impressed with Atari Australia's operation.

 Let me expand a little more on this

 The new offices of Atari Australia are located in the electronics area
 of Sydney.  (Get the maps out) In an area called North Ryde, a few miles
 from the heart of down town Sydney.  They are surrounded by giants like
 Sony and Dick Smith Electronics.  "Who are Dick Smith Electronics ?" you
 ask.  Well to me they are the guys with the biggest flag in Australia,
 and in 1985 on a trip to Sydney I remember this flag gracing the front
 room of several technicans from an opposition firm.  With a large
 distribution network though out Australia and a very large warehouse
 adjacent to the administration block Atari Australia can have full hands
 on control of all their product.

 What impressed me the most was the attitude of _all_ the staff.  From
 the time I first rang them their receptionist was only happy to direct
 my queries (unlike many other computer firms who's front line people
 seem to have _failed_ charm school).  I was supposed to be there to meet
 Alastair Campion at 2pm last Monday,  but work got in the way and I was
 running late.  So a short phone call to say this, I was on the way.  I
 arrived and was greeted with a cool blanket of air conditioned air.
 "Bliss" I thought as it was 27 degrees Celsius and very humid outside
 (who said it is cool in the fall in Australia?)

 As I was running a little late I overlapped with an other appointment of
 Alastairs so after a cup of well deserved coffee and a tour of the
 presentation room Alastair appeared from the upper levels of the
 complex.  Up till now Michelle who a lot of you will know as Atari-OZ on
 the GEnie RTC's had been showing me around.  I must confess it is nice
 to see the face behind the "fingers", and Michelle I take back all those
 Ozzie jokes (grin).  Having been some twelve months since we had met
 face to face we had alot of "gossip" to catch up on and an other coffee
 or two.

 I was floored when I as taken upstairs and shown to a demo room that had
 a "TT 030" in bits for all to see and feel the insides (real hands on
 stuff).  This sort of practise along with a room dedicated to in-house
 training for not only the staff but dealers pointed out to me the
 dedication to Atari product Down-Under by Atari Australia.

 With the varied product line Atari carries now and with my job taking
 me more and more in the *nix (read UNIX) fields I can see the TT030 *Nix
 becoming a major force.  X-Windows support and all the other features
 you have read about in Z*Net International are a reality not just
 fiction.  Expect to see more and more Australian users on GEnie soon.
 As they now have access to GEnie via the Public Data Network in
 Australia called "Austpac".

 After a few hours of mind boggling demos and a quick tour on the world
 networks it was time to go back to the hotel.

 As I traveled through the State capitals over the last few weeks I have
 been seeing all these people caring yellow bags with the Atari symbol on
 them so I decided to pop into a few stores and there they were all lined
 up (the Atari STe's).  I as a few stores how the STe's were selling.
 From all accounts the STe is selling well every where I asked.  I would
 like to thank all the staff at Atari Australia for their time in showing
 me around their complex and for their hospitality.





 =======================================================================
                             BLACKJACK PLUS 3
                             ----------------
                              Press Release
 =======================================================================


 by MUSICODE SOFTWARE

 A UNIQUE NEW PRODUCT FOR ATARI ST USERS!

 Realistic casino play, plus 3 additional play modes using programmable
 strategies.  More than just another game, BLACKJACK PLUS 3 can show you
 why you have lost in the past and teach you how to WIN in the future!
 Both new and experienced players will find this program equally
 valuable.

 Play with one to seven players.  Play with one to nine decks; you may
 specify the deck dealing depth (when to shuffle).  Adjustable playing
 speed.  Card totals for each hand may be displayed.  Set casino rules.
 Play and enjoy, alone or with friends, using the mouse, keyboard or
 joysticks!

 All aspects of the game of blackjack are supported.  You always have the
 option to:  Double Down, Split, Double after Split, take Insurance (when
 the dealer has an ace up) or Surrender your hand.

 You will lower or eliminate the casino's odds by practicing the game.
 See why you have lost, and how to win next time!

 Set up and try any playing, betting or counting strategy.  All
 strategies and program settings may be saved to disk.

 Each player may be individually set to one of four playing modes:

     MANUAL - you play the game, just like in the casino
       AUTO - play is automatic, according to chosen strategy
   FEEDBACK - play manually, you are informed of mistakes in play
 BACKGROUND - test strategies quickly (100 hands in 8 seconds)

 Practice different strategies to see how to improve your game.

 A log may be kept which shows all play action for every hand!
 Statistics are tallied for each session and may be displayed on the
 screen.  The log and statistics may be printed for evaluation.

 BLACKJACK IS ALWAYS FUN TO PLAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WIN!

 Check out the self-executing demo in Library #10 (DEMOS): (GEnie)

                      # 18758   BJP3DEMO

          Ask your dealer to order it for you, or contact:

                         MUSICODE SOFTWARE
                        5575 Baltimore Drive
                           Suite 105-127
                        La Mesa, CA    91942
                           (619) 469-7194

                        RETAIL PRICE:  $89.95




 =======================================================================
               ATMODEM: ATASCII COMMUNICATIONS FOR PC USERS
               --------------------------------------------
                             by Mike Mezaros
 =======================================================================


 For almost six years I used Atari 8-bit home computers.  Only recently
 did I part with the last of my 8-bit components simply because I had
 nowhere to keep them (they went to everybody's pal and Atari 8-bit
 diehard Stan Lowell, a regular columnist for Z*Net PC's sister
 publication for Atari 8-bit users, Z*Magazine).  Sure, in this day and
 age where 1024x768 resolution displays and stereophonic digitized sound
 samples are common, the Atari 8-bit's are a little behind the times.
 But you get attached to them. Not enough to rent extra storage space,
 but certainly enough to miss certain features when they're gone.

 Which is why I was happy to find ATMODEM Version 1.0 on the
 aforementioned Stan Lowell's Atari 8-bit BBS (The Blank Page, 908-805-
 3967).  ATMODEM is a simple DOS terminal program that let's PC users
 connect with Atari 8-bit BBS's in their native ATASCII mode.  Before you
 (the uninitiated) ask, ATASCII is a special version of the universal
 ASCII character set.  It adds special graphics characters, special
 control codes, special cursor control functions, and so on.  ATASCII is
 very similar in concept to ANSI, minus the colors.

 The result: Atari users can call other Atari users, or Atari BBS's, in
 ATASCII mode and add a lot of flair to their telecommunications.  Flair
 like ATASCII animations, graphics displays, inverse characters, and
 other special effects.  A few years ago it was extremely common to see
 Atari users sign their messages with fancy, personalized ATASCII
 animations.  It's probably not so common anymore because these days a
 lot of non 8-bitters call Atari 8-bit boards in ASCII, ANSI, or VT-52
 mode, which interpret ATASCII characters as jibberish.

 What I really missed were the ATASCII games available on the only Atari
 8-bit BBS I call regularly, The Blank Page.  That's not a problem
 anymore, though, thanks to ATMODEM.  Sure, the 40 column text looks huge
 on my VGA monitor, but I can live with it.

 ATMODEM is shareware (the author, Robert Sinclair, requests $10, but
 seems to be very liberal about it), and features an 80 column VT-100
 emulation mode (suitable for calling most BBS's), a 40 column ATASCII
 emulation mode, X-Modem file transfer, a capture mode, a dialing
 directory which allows multiple directories with nine entires each, and
 two user-defined macros per dialing entry.  Also included in the package
 are ATMAKER, an early version of an ATASCII editor, and AT2ASC for
 converting files from ATASCII to ASCII and ASCII to ATASCII.

 The ATASCII emulation speed seemed fine on my 20Mhz 386 with 2400 baud
 modem, but the documentation mentions that it may be sluggish on slower
 PC's.  This can be partly remedied by turning off the graphics block
 cursor by hitting F3, which gives the program less screen updating to
 do.  The documentation also notes incompatibility with certain Tandy
 1000SX systems, for reasons unknown.

 ATMODEM's interface is utilitarian and takes a little getting used to
 (like P for the phone directory and F10 for the terminal), but it is
 completely menu driven so you can never get stuck.  Otherwise the
 program seems very well written with great emulation and reasonable
 speed.  It isn't a disk hog, either, with the ATMODEM.EXE program taking
 up less than 57k.  I also had no trouble using the program under
 Windows, so I imagine DesqView won't be a problem either.

 As you can see above, the only feature of ATMODEM that stands out is
 it's ATASCII emulation.  The others are pretty much bare-bones.  And
 that's okay, because ATMODEM was obviously not designed to be a standard
 terminal program with the added feature of ATASCII emulation.  This
 program is ATASCII emulation first, second, and last.  Even the author
 concedes that for other communications you're much better off with a
 different program.

 But for playing (and eventually losing) the ATASCII trivia game on The
 Blank Page BBS while using a PC,  ATMODEM is the only way to go.




 =======================================================================
                         CODEHEAD SOFTWARE UPDATE
                         ------------------------
                              Press Release
 =======================================================================


 (Editors Note:  April 1991 is CodeHead Month in Z*Net Online and you
  will be updated every-week this month with Codehead information)



 CodeHeadQuarters
 Friday, April 5, 1991
 ---------------------


 WE BLEW IT !!!

                 AND YOU SAVE !!!

                                ...BUT YOU MUST ACT FAST !!!


 The CodeHeads have no one to blame but themselves.  They couldn't just
 release a normal update to MaxiFile worth $10.  Noooo...they had to
 keep adding this and that nifty gadget and inventing new features that
 just couldn't be left out until MaxiFile was transformed into a JEWEL
 worth far more than they're charging.

 As it turns out, the printed addendum to MaxiFile is almost equal in
 size and content to the original MaxiFile manual.  Unfortunately, the
 CodeHeads can't afford to continue offering upgrades to MaxiFile
 including the addendum for the advertised price of $10.  On May 1st,
 the price for the MaxiFile 3.0 upgrade will be increased to $15
 including the addendum manual.  At that time, the purchase price for
 MaxiFile will also be increased to $44.95.

 HOWEVER ... our loss is your gain!

 Those who have already ordered their MaxiFile update and those whose
 orders are placed (or postmarked) before May 1st will still pay only
 $10 for the upgrade, or $39.95 for the full package! So hurry -- send
 back your MaxiFile disk today for upgrading (see below) and you'll
 receive the complete MaxiFile upgrade package, including the printed
 manual addendum, and save yourself $5.00 at the same time!

 See our previous press releases for an impressive listing of all of
 MaxiFile's features.

 HOW TO ORDER OR UPDATE YOUR OWN COPY OF MAXIFILE
 ------------------------------------------------

 MaxiFile can purchased and used separately, or you can enjoy its
 increased power when linked up with HotWire by purchasing HotWire and
 MaxiFile packaged together as HotWire Plus, AND save yourself $15-20 at
 the same time.

 As a current owner of MaxiFile, you can obtain an update by sending
 your original MaxiFile master disk and the update fee to the address
 listed below.

     Product           Before May 1st   After May 1st
     ================================================
     MaxiFile Update      $10.00            $15.00
     MaxiFile 3.0         $39.95            $44.95
     HotWire              $44.95            $44.95
     HotWire Plus         $69.95            $69.95

 CodeHead Products are available from your local Atari dealer, through
 mail-order houses, or directly from CodeHead Software:

      CodeHead Software
      P.O. Box 74090
      Los Angeles, CA 90004

      Phone: (213) 386-5735
      FAX:   (213) 386-5789
      BBS:   (213) 461-2095

 CodeHead Software accepts Mastercard, Visa, and American Express, as
 well as checks, money orders, and cash.  Shipping charges are $3 US, $4
 Canada, and $6 elsewhere.  The is no shipping charge for updates.

 Current office hours are Monday-Friday 9A-1P Pacific time.  Prices and
 hours are subject to change without notice.

 Thank you for your support!




 =======================================================================
                           Z*NET SOFTWARE SHELF
                           --------------------
                  by Ron Berinstein, Contributing Editor
 =======================================================================

 CodeHead Quarters BBS
 1610 Vine Street
 Hollywood, CA  90028


 Well the folks at ICD keep working and working at trying to keep their
 software working in the best possible way.  Hence, it was just last
 month that we saw the last revision.  Now another new upgrade is posted
 and available for downloading on GEnie and CompuServe.  STHOST_E.ARC is
 the file for the latest SCSI Host Utilities (Version 5.2.0 of ICDBOOT
 included).  CLEANUP is in a separate file.  ICD_VERS.TXT contains the
 latest current version numbers.  It was mentioned this week in one of
 the message bases that the ICD BBS has yet even more "current" versions
 available than those posted on GEnie.  I have not confirmed that, so,
 your assignment this week, should you choose to accept it, is to darn a
 Sherlock Holmes cap and check out if the rumor is true.  One thing that
 definitely is true is that ICD does limit the availability of their
 software, making same only accessible (with regard to Online Services)
 from GEnie and CompuServe.  This writer feels that at the very least it
 would be nice if Delphi also could post it.  Delphi is fast becoming a
 home to many ST fans that formerly logged on to the other big two only.
 A reason for this change is their agressive policy at signing ST folks
 up.. Twenty hours of monthly time on Delphi costs as little as twenty
 dollars!

 So, where else are freely distributable software files available?
 Certainly it is no surprise to the readers of this column that there are
 several regional and local BBS's that help to maintain a network for
 developers to make their software downloadable inexpensively.  What
 might be new knowledge though is the updated "Prichard's Pursuer v.3.5
 PRG. and ACC."  Same will automatically handle all the chores of using
 PC Pursuit.  It will call up to 100 BBS's, as well as track and log
 chargeable connect time.  It will link to your terminal program's
 scripts, macros, and recordings.  PPUR35.LZH is shareware and sports
 other new features as well.

 ARCSHL24.ARC (Shareware) was released on March 30th, by Charles F.
 Johnson and Little Green Footballs Software.  This, the latest version
 of the program that adds a complete, easy-to-use GEM interface to
 archive programs like ARC.TTP and LZH11316.TTP.  This version provides a
 "link" to CodeHead's MaxiFile as well!

 Under the heading of:  "I'll Give You An Image To Remember!"

 SQUEESIM.ARC (Shareware) replaced the recently uploaded file named
 similarly SQUEEZIM.ARC.  "SQUEEZIMG" squeezes the original size of your
 .IMG files and makes them smaller, but still viewable!  This because
 several .IMG program modules save the files without compressing them,
 and some that may compress them might not do so as effectively as
 possible.  The author feels you might save anywhere from 2% to 60% of
 .IMG file related disk space!  Besides preserving the "time/date stamp"
 of the .IMG file this program also allows you to delete those "GEM
 sister" files that TOUCH UP creates.

 VIDI_CON.ARC (Shareware $5)  will convert a series of sequentially-
 numbered Degas (.PI1) files to a Delta (.DLT) file (that which allows
 for animation). It will convert an animated sequence created with VIDI-
 ST, REZRENDER or any program that creates similar files.  This program
 will run in any resolution but will convert low res. files only.

 MARIE_1.LZH  and  MARIE_2.LZH  are the photographer's first pictures of
 Marieta that he digitalized with his new VIDI-CHROME software.  In both
 shots she is pictured completely nude.  She is quite beautiful and one
 might wonder how in fact he had any time at all to play with his new
 VIDI-CHROME!  These are SPECTRUM (.SPC) pictures.

 So what kind of game are you playing?

              Three uploaded this week include:

 CONCENTR.LZH (Shareware $5)  "Picture Concentration" is just like the
 card game.  You match pictures of course instead of cards.  The source
 code is available.  Written in LDW Basic.  Low Rez only.

 AMAZE.LZH   "...clear the playground from the squares, but don't jump
 aside..."  A program written with Modula-2.  Runs on all machines, but
 not in Low rez.

 TRAPPER.LZH  Well this little game ought to get you a pleasant evening
 of "entertainment."  It is meant to be played "between/with" your
 girlfriend/spouse.  Lewis Trapper is trying to catch her, and this
 program instructs her what she must do should be caught.  A little bit
 of "in-to-your-mate" fun is created here.

 MDMZ2DOC.LZH  is a file that is here due to the courtesy of a users
 group in Ontario, Canada.  This file contains an English translation of
 the German docs for MIDIMAZE 2 program.

 Well, it may well be that 1991 might be declared the, "year of the text
 reader."

 At one time we used to have ASCII text files and to view them we clicked
 on the Atari desktop's SHOW button... now that seems by any conservative
 opinion very antique.  CodeHead's "LookIt" was introduced last year,
 offered a variety of options and provided you with text that began to
 roll faster than ever!  And, ASCII itself is being challenged... now TX2
 has made the scene as well.

 Shareware authors have seen the potential for marketing the readers and
 voila!, text readers, and color pictures, and mono pictures, and ASCII
 versions, and TX2 versions, big versions, and small versions, and
 continuous updates seem to occupy our current file library databases
 everywhere!  Some of this week's choices include:

 TX2VIEW5.LZH (Demo) the latest upgraded version of David Holmes' program
 corrects all of the known bugs resulting from the graphics being
 integrated with the text.  Mouse support is turned off after five
 minutes, and this version, or higher, will be necessary to view much of
 the new TX2 material that is to be released.

 MINITX23.LZH (Shareware $10) updates the the Mini TX2 Viewer.  Like it's
 big brother it fixes the known bugs with the graphics and provides the
 ability to view the newer releases of TX2 text material.

 STEXT14E.LZH (Shareware) is the March 28th update of STEXT, a file and
 picture viewer.. It now supports mouse controlled block features, print
 from page to page, TT command lines, printer output line status, linking
 to application, online magazine index format, and more.

 Under the heading:  "Oh my God, I forgot I had a Date Tonight!"

 PACAL117.ARC (Shareware $3) "Personal Appointment Calendar v1.117" will
 provide an appointment book feature for those who don't want to end up
 in "Hot Water," or, the "Dog House." It can also be used for event
 storage, and the printing of simple calendars.  This is a real quick and
 efficient piece of work.. Probably a real good buy for all of three
 dollars!

 Other posts this week:

 P_A_M_2.ARC (Shareware $5)  The latest version of "Print-A-Matic."  The
 print formatting commands included allow for single sheet mode, width
 and length of page, line numbers, page numbers, margins, and more.
 Included also is your ability to send the regular breed of commands to
 your printer as well.  Has a "Macro Mode," and is a TOS type program.

 NSYSCM.LZH  "SYSCOM v.1.2"  will show you the GEMDOS, BIOS, XBIOS, and
 GEM calls as they happen.  You can even slow the system down and watch
 windows draw.  Choose where the information is displayed.  Runs in high
 resolution only.

 TN_PCALC.LZH  Version 1.2  The real version 1.2!  This file replaces a
 previous one recently claiming to be 1.2 but really was 1.1.
 Programmer's Calculator from Take Note Software

                       For the real expert:

       Our thanks to Albert Dayes for uploading BISON.ARC.

          *Same is his choice for: PROGRAM OF THE WEEK!*

 BISON.ARC is a YACC clone formerly on MS-DOS and ported to the ST with
 Laser code.  Porting by James Patchel.  File was originally downloaded
 from Megamax BBS and comes complete with development log on problems
 with moving code from IBM to Atari ST.  Very Good Documentation!

 The above files were compiled by Ron Berinstein co-sysop CodeHead
 Quarters BBS (213) 461-2095 from files that were either directly
 uploaded to CodeHead Quarters BBS, or downloaded from GEnie, Compuserve,
 and Delphi online services.





 =======================================================================
                       CALAMUS TUTORIAL - PART VII
                       ---------------------------
                       Graphics II by Geoff LaCasse
                       GXR systems, Vancouver, B.C.
 =======================================================================


 Last session I discussed Calamus's built-in graphic tools: Raster Area
 Graphics, and Line Graphics.  I find both useful for defining page
 elements and dimensions.

 For example, we can add graphic backdrops to Calamus's text frames which
 are transparent and have no borders.  Retrieve your document from last
 session.  Turn on SNAP TO HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL AUXILIARY LINES.  In the
 space in the lower right, create a small text frame and fill it with
 text.  Turn off SNAP TO... With the frame still selected, click on dX
 (WIDTH) in the upper right of the screen.  dX displays the frame's Width
 (left to right).  Type in a new value 0.04 (of an inch) smaller (ESC or
 BACKSPACE to delete old).  Use the down arrow key to move to dY (HEIGHT-
 - measured top to bottom) and do the same thing.  Press RETURN.  The
 frame's anchor point--its upper left corner--is unchanged, but width and
 height are reduced by 0.04.  Follow a similar process but add 0.02 to X
 and Y (to the left of dX and dY).  X and Y define a frame's page origin
 measured from the upper left corner of the document.  Turn on SNAP TO...
 and create a raster frame (with raster, shadow, and border style) on top
 of the text frame.  Make sure you not select the text frame when SNAP
 TO... is on.  Turn off SNAP TO...

 Click on the Raster frame, then on PLACE FRAME TO BACKGROUND (FRAME icon
 pad, bottom row, left).  This and the adjacent icon--PLACE FRAME TO
 FOREGROUND--rearrange frame stacking order.  The raster frame moves from
 above the text frame to below.  Frames can be placed above or below one
 another and remain distinct entities.  Only your system's memory limit
 the number of frames which may be stacked.

 Frames may also be grouped.  Hold down the shift key, click on the
 raster and text frames (make sure both show handles), and select GROUP
 FRAME (FRAME, fourth row from bottom, on the left).  Alternately, you
 could select GROUP FRAME and drag the cursor across the frames to be
 grouped.  The disadvantage there lies in selecting only those frames
 which you want to group.  Shift-Left mouse button is more accurate if
 somewhat slower.  Grouped frames show as one frame but GROUP FRAMED is
 highlighted when selected.

 Grouped frames re-size as a unit, although text point size will not
 change.  Individual elements can't be modified without breaking up the
 group.  To ungroup, select the frame, then UNGROUP FRAME (exploded icon
 on third row), and click on the right mouse button (to deselect all
 frames in the group).  Click on DRAW UP PROPORTIONALLY (third row from
 bottom, right) to re-size proportionally.  Click on PROTECT FRAME (to
 the right of Ungroup Frame) if you want to protect frame dimensions and
 position.  Protected frames have hollow (visible when selected) in place
 of solid handles.  Individual or grouped frames can be protected.

 Line frames can be used for a variety of tasks, for example, defining
 page length and width, and separation of adjacent frames.  They will re-
 size in length but not thickness when part of a grouped frame.  When
 choosing line thickness, use common sense.  Hairlines (<1.0 point) can
 only be accurately printed by Linotronic printers (default for others is
 1.0 point).  Thick lines (>6.0 points) have horrible banding on 9-pin
 printers.  Don't underline text with a line.  Any changes to the wording
 will change line placement.

 Calamus's Line and Raster Area commands provide some simple drawing
 tools for the desktop publisher.  Experiment but remember a few rules.
 Calamus's strengths lie in the nearly limitless imagination you bring to
 the task and the tools the program has given you to exploit its
 flexibility and complexity.  If you understand both the medium you are
 using and the tools to provide the message, you will have no difficulty
 working with Calamus.  But, as I have said previously, its strengths can
 also be its weaknesses in the wrong hands.  If your message cannot be
 easily discerned, then the message, no matter how entertaining, is lost
 on the readership.  Because of this, I prefer simplicity of form to
 complexity.  Beginners should heed this, if only to prevent abuse.  Do
 not overuse Raster Area graphics and lines.

 Calamus has as yet no Raster or Vector graphics tools.  Instead, both
 must be imported.  Delete your grouped Text/Raster Area frame, and click
 on RASTER GRAPHICS FRAME (FRAMES, third icon pad, second row, on the
 right).  Create a frame where the Raster Area graphic frame used to be.
 Note the paint brush symbol in the upper left corner of the new frame.
 In Calamus, each frame type is distinct, identified only by the symbol
 (except Raster Area and Lines which need none).  These visual clues are
 important because frames (whether paint, drawing, or text) hold
 particular file formats.

 Select the Raster Graphic frame, and click on IMPORT from the File menu.
 A dialogue box with a list of file formats will appear.  Some--Degas,
 GEM Image--should be familiar.  Others--STAD, for example--will not
 (STAD is used by German programs such as Sketch).  Choose the file
 format you want to import (have a file in that format ready to import).
 Calamus looks into your \PICTURE folder for files.  If not there, click
 on the drive letter at the bottom of the screen, and again on the folder
 or file in the item selector window.  Load the file.  The graphic will
 fill the frame you created.  To properly proportion the picture, click
 on FRAME SPECIAL FUNCTIONS (the ? mark on the second icon pad), and
 highlight OPTIMIZE SIZE FOR PRINTER (at bottom, second row, left).
 Calamus re-scales the graphic to match the resolution of your printer.
 For example, a Degas file will appear one-quarter scale if your Calamus
 printer is capable of 300 dpi (DeskJet or LaserJet), because Degas uses
 a bit-mapped image of the Atari screen--at 72dpi (or approximately one-
 quarter of 300 dpi)--for its drawing format.  Highlight PICTURE SIZE
 INDEPENDENT OF FRAME (on right, bottom) if you want to enlarge the
 Raster Graphic frame without changing picture size or position on the
 page.  Or select CENTRE PICTURE IN FRAME (which also selects the icon
 Picture Size Independent of Frame) if you want to stretch the borders of
 the frame and leave the graphic centred and untouched in the frame.

 If the graphic is too small, highlight HALF-TONE PICTURE SIZING, enlarge
 to desired size, and click on OPTIMIZE SIZE FOR PRINTER.  Half-Tone
 Sizing works in multiples of the optimal size, to avoid pattern effects
 when the graphic is printed.  Use OPTIMIZE SIZE FOR SCREEN when cropping
 or sizing graphic to fit with original size (and not match dot for dot
 as above).  CROP PARTS OF A PICTURE (the scissors icon at bottom, mid)
 selects the desired area of a graphic.  Highlight the icon, position
 cursor (thin cross) at the upper left, hold down the left mouse button,
 and drag to the right and down.  When you have selected the graphic area
 you want, release the mouse button.  The selected area will expand to
 the borders of the frame.

 Vector Graphic frames work similarly to Raster Graphic frames.  Create a
 Vector frame, and import a file.  Use IDEAL SIZE in FRAME SPECIAL
 FUNCTIONS to properly proportion the graphic.  If you want to enlarge it
 while keeping the X and Y dimensions correct, select PROPORTIONAL
 DRAWING (third row, right, in FRAMES icon pad).  The frame will only
 have four handles and changing dimensions in one direction will change
 it in the other.

 Next session we begin our last document.  Have handy a three-four page
 word processor file plus a number of Raster and Vector Graphic files.





 =======================================================================
                           PUBLIC DOMAIN UPDATE
                           --------------------
                             by Keith MacNutt
 =======================================================================


 UPDATE ON FORMDOIT!
 -------------------
 In my article in last weeks ZNET, I stated that I could not get
 FormDoIt! to work on my 1040STE.  After submitting the article for
 publication, I discovered that the LZH program I used to extract the
 program had rendered the file unworkable.  I re-downloaded the program,
 and this time was able to install and see that the program did indeed
 work as stated in the accompanying documentation.  I would like to
 apologise at this time to both DAN WILGA and GRIBNIF SOFTWARE for any
 inconveniences arising from this unfortunate error in my article.

 Yours Truly
 Keith MacNutt


 PRINT-A-MATIC V2.0
 Michael H. Douville
 1661 S. Deframe ct.
 Lakewood, CO 80228

 Print-A-Matic's main purpose, as stated by the author, Is to make it
 easy to setup and automate the configuration of you printer.  Some of
 the features included are:

  1. Send control characters to you printer to enable curtain features.
  2. To group these features together in macro format.
  3. Save the configuration for future use or modification.
  4. To print text files from within the program.
  5. A test feature to enable you to see how the file will look on your
     printer before the entire file is printed.
  6. This, the latest version, has a variety of print formatting
     commands.

 USING THE PROGRAM

 There is no installation process to follow, only that the files
 PRINTA.TOS and PRNCONFG.DAT are in the same folder.

 The documentation file states that before the program can be used, you
 will have to enter control codes that allow the program to control the
 setup of the printer.  To do this, you should get the manual that came
 with your printer and look up the ESC sequences that tell your printer
 what to do.  Next you pick a letter between A-Z and type CONTROL + the
 letter you have chosen to edit.  The rest is very simple in that you
 give that entry a name and then enter the control sequence that you wish
 to use with that entry.  If you make a mistake you need only use the
 BACKSPACE key and re-type the correct code in its place.  The program
 allows you to also turn on or off the  control codes by simply typing
 the letter A-Z and the line will become tagged or un-tagged, depending
 on how many times you press the letter.

 CREATING AND USING MACROS

 To create a list of macros you simply tag the codes you will want to use
 and then by pressing CONTROL and a number from 1-9 on the numeric at the
 same time, a macro of those features has now been made.  What could be
 simpler then that.  This allows you to make up to 10 (0-9) different
 macros that can control how the page is laid out or the type size of the
 print.

 PRINT CONTROLS

 F1- Sends the tagged ESC codes to the printer.
 F2- Prints any legal file
 F3- Test print. Prints 4 lines of text to the printer for final check.
 F4- To reload the printer and macro configurations.
 F5- Save the printer codes you have entered.
 F6- Clear all printer codes and macros.
 F7- Clear all tagged codes.

 PRINTER FORMATTING

 SHIFT F1- Sets the number of copys of the text file.
 SHIFT F2- Sets the number of lines and the number of characters across
           the page.
 SHIFT F3- Page length-either 11" or 14" paper.
 SHIFT F4- Set the left margin from 0-20 or how many spaces, 0-20, are
           skipped if a TAB character is detected.
 SHIFT F5- Sets page numbers on or off.
 SHIFT F6- Pause printing at the end of each page.
 SHIFT F7- Prints header information. Name of the file,date and time and
           the title of the file which can be up to 40 characters.
 SHIFT F8- Prints line numbers preceding each line of text.
 SHIFT F9- Allows you to by-pass the print formatting used by Print-A-
           Matic.
 SHIFT F10- Selects whether a form feed is sent after each file printed.

 CONCLUSIONS

 If this impressive list of features hasn't knocked your socks off yet,
 then the news that the author will be adding more to the program,
 including a GEM interface in the near future, should do it.  As always,
 the author requests a donation of only $5.00 if you use his product, and
 will send you the latest version (GEM) if you include your Name and
 address along with the above mentioned contribution.  Oh, by the way,
 the new version will also work as an accessory.




 =======================================================================
                                DC SHOWER
                                ---------
                              Press Release
 =======================================================================


 Available now!

 If you loved DC SHOWIT, you'll love DC SHOWER!
 (pronounced: Dee Cee Sho Ir)

 This is SHOW magic!  SHOW 'NUF!

 DC Shower replaces the GEM desktop SHOW FILE function with up to seven
 DC Shower modules that let you view text files, binary files, 17
 different picture formats, and (even extract) ARC, LZH, ZIP and ZOO
 archives.

 Use the DC Pick desk accessory to view files in any GEM program.

 Or, use DC Shower directly from UIS 3.3 (simply drag a file to the <P>
 button in UIS 3.3 and click on SHOW).

 Or, you can install DC Shower as the ALTERNATIVE SHOW in NeoDesk 3.0
 for even more power!

 Fully compatible with all ST, STe and TT computers.  100% assembly!

 Check out what the April 1991 ST Informer says about DC Shower!  They
 love it!

 Only $29.95!  Ask your dealer for a copy!

                             ++++++++++++
                             SPECIAL DEAL
                             ++++++++++++

 Get DC Shower for 1/3 off the retail price!

 As a special bargain, you can have DC Shower for only $19.95 (US)!

 Simply send us a disk with a copy of DC Showit v1.0 or v1.1 and $19.95!
 (DC Showit is available online on GEnie, CompuServe, the DCS BBS, and
 many, many other BBS throughout the world - in case you are interested.)

 (add $3(US) or $5(foreign) shipping/handling, TX residents add 8.25% tax)

 This offer ends June 1, 1991.

 Mail, COD, VISA and MC orders welcome.

 You can reach us almost everywhere!

 Double Click Software
 PO BOX 741206
 Houston, TX 77274
 (713) 977-6520

 GEnie       :  DOUBLE-CLICK (CATegory 30)
 CompuServe  :  75300,577    (GO ATARIVend, area 13)
 Usenet      :  uace0@menudo.uh.edu
 DC BBS      :  (713)944-0108


 =======================================================================
 Z*Net International Atari Online Magazine is copyright (c)1989 - 1991,
 Rovac Industries, Inc..  Middlesex, New Jersey. (908) 968-2024
 =======================================================================


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