#Need help
3 messages in this thread
Hi! I'm George, and though I'm getting up there in age I'm somewhat new to a
lot of this stuff. I purchased this Amiga 2000 with workbench 2.04 a few
months ago as my first computer and have a lot of trouble getting info that I
can understand. I'm using a Supra Fax Modem V32bis, and ATALK III
communication software. My troubles are too numerous to mention entirely but
maybe I can get some help on a few basics to get me started.
First of all, what is CompuSeve B is it an information manager like
CIM, or is it a protocol setting such as xmodem and would I be correct in
assuming that Com puServe dos not support zmodem (zmodem gives me all the info.
on files while I'm downloading). I believe I ran across CompuServe B somewhere
in my installation of ATALK though I can't seem to find it now. I think it was
a tool icon or something that I had to use an ASIGN or something. If so how do
you do that without causing any damage?
One more thing, I tried downloading a weather map choosing option #2
which was 240×240 I think and all I got was a gray screen. What's the prob.?
Their was no mention of File crunching or anything! OK one very last thing. I
have a com pression / decompression program which involves two steps, the last
one is opening up a draw called GUI ARC . The problem there is that I can't,
or don't know how to open any file or program other than something with an LHA
extension. If anyone can offer any help with any of the above I would be
forever grateful and not dead as I am now.
George,
Being new to the 2000 when it is an orphaned machine (well the parents are
dead but its users adopted) is a brave thing to do! The Amiga is a great
computer and you will have many fun hours using it. Not about you specific
problems…..
If you are going to use Compuserve, download Autopilot from the Autopilot
section in Amiga Vendor. It is a demo but will get you started. It is the
defacto Amiga CIM. That way you won't have to work with AtalkIII. Good but
outdated software. That will take care of your Compuserve probs.
The file compression is alittle different. There is a program called
Larc138.run in the Amiga User forum that will handle the lxh and lha
extensions. If you have arc extensions (must be OLD) the there is an de-arcer
in User forum too. Use browse option or Autopilot <g> and search for it. If
the file ends in zoo then there is a program called booz, or zoo , your choice
that will extract those as well. I just saw a program in either User or tech
forum just a few minutes ago that is supposed to change an compression format
from one to the other so you might look it to that as well.
I hope some of this helps. Hang in there with your new machine. You
picked a good'un.
Dege
Pop quiz: Two biggest crooks in modern history? (o\_/o)
Answer: Gould & Ali {-I-}
George;
For CIS you definately want to consider seriously trying AutoPilot (from the
AmigaVendor forum). There is a demo version there.
If you are using a terminal program that supports any of the "B" protocols then
use them. Xmodem is not only terrible in general but it is especially bad for
an Amiga (reasons related to 'hunk padding' and file system differences between
various machines – xmodem WILL work fine between to Amigas for any type data).
I believe that Atalk has special problems with CIS (but there are work
arounds).
Weather map — A Weather map is a GIF file and therefore binary. You must have
some sort of GIF viewer to look at one. AutoPilot does allow Weather map
viewing on-line (among other things).
I am afraid that I can't help you with GUI ARC as I don't use a GUI with any
archivers/dearchivers.
In the future, it helps those of us reading your messages if you will break up
long paragraphs as well as place different questions in different paragraphs.
As far as ASSIGN goes — This is a command in the "c" directory of your "sys:"
disk. It makes logical assignments. For example:
The "sys:" that I referenced above is actually an assignment. For convenience
(and Operating System use), "sys:" will always reference the disk that was used
to boot the computer regardless of the disk's name or what drive it might be.
Some of the assignments that always exist on a normal Amiga system are:
HELP System3:Locale/Help (probably OS 3.x only) LOCALE
System3:Locale ( " " " ) KEYMAPS System3:Devs/Keymaps
PRINTERS System3:Devs/Printers REXX System3:Rexxc
+ System3:S CLIPS RAM_DISK:Clipboards T
System3:TEMP ENV RAM_DISK:ENV ENVARC
System3:Prefs/Env-Archive SYS System3: C System3:C S
System3:S LIBS System3:Libs
+ System3:Classes DEVS System3:Devs FONTS
System3:Fonts
+ System3:PGS/PageStream3/SoftLogik/Fonts L System3:L
Others can be created by either programs or yourself. For example I have one
called "DOWN:" that always points to where I want downloaded files to go to.
To create this one 'permenantly' I have an entry (essentially) in
S:User-Startup that reads: C:ASSIGN DOWN: WORK:DOWN
Are you familiar with other computers and operating systems such as maybe Unix
or (ugh) DOS?
-bill