#LPD Writer
8 messages in this thread
I just got LPD Writer today, and I like it a lot….except for a few
peeves. Maybe someone that uses it can give me some advice, or this
note can serve as a caution for someone that is considering buying it.
Overall the features seem very good. I like the fact that the screen
display reflects the appearance of the printed text, ie., no special
imbedded format characters. Another thing that I like is its "clean"
looking screen. Not a lot of goofy-looking gadgets.
It IS copy-protected, though, which may be partly the cause of some of
the other problems….which are:
I have only been able to load LPD Writer when I booted the
system using the LPD disk, either from the Workbench or CLI.
This is annoying to me 'cause my Workbench disk, <like most
people's> is customized for my own uses, and I don't want to
mess around too much with a copy-protected program that I
intend to use a lot.
When I try to load LPD after booting from another disk, it
causes an apparent system crash, ie., the screen goes BLACK
and both drives light up but don't move. I can only recover
by doing a restart.
I have never needed a copying program, since I use mostly PD stuff,
but I may get Marauder, or Mirror…if just for this and DPaint. Will
those programs work with LPD and DPaint??? Maybe it could even clear
up my loading problem.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Paul Gangwisch
Paul,
I'm afraid there isn't anything to be done with LPD Writer at this tim other
than to put up with the &^%$*%&$ copy protection. If the previous versions of
the program (for the 64 and 128) are any indication, they will change the
protection scheme occasionally, in order to keep the copiers busy.
I took one look at it and decided not to buy. I can do without programs that
are protected, and LPD Writer is no exception.
Regards, Larry.
Paul:
To run LPD Writer while booting from your own Workbench disk, it is
necessary to copy some of the support files from the LPD Writer disk
to your Workbench disk. Boot from your WB disk, open a CLI window,
then type:
copy Writer:libs/lpd.library to LIBS:
copy Writer:fonts to FONTS: all
copy Writer:s/LPDwriter.config to S:
If you're loading help, also enter:
copy Writer:s/LPDwriter.help to S:
Stick in your LPD Writer disk if you are asked for volume "Writer".
Using your own WB disk is good because you won't have to change any
files on the original disk–any changes to Preferences or the
"LPDwriter.config" file can be made on your WB disk.
The problem you are having with hanging is probably being caused because
your LPD Writer disk is not in DF0: when you load the program. The
reference guide mentions this at the bottom of page 6.
(continued…)
(…continued)
Incidentally, Digital Solutions will be notifying registered LPD Writer
owners within the next week or two with details of a non-copy-protected
backup offer. It won't be copy protected, meaning that you can make
your own backups or put it on a hard disk, but it will ask you to type
in a word from the reference guide after the program loads. Cost will
be $19.95 U.S., plus shipping and handling. Provision will be made for
users who have already purchased protected backup disks.
Regards,
Lee
Lee,
That is all very excellent news. I will try it right now!
Thanks a lot,
Paul Gangwisch
Lee,
Thanks a lot for the information on LPD Writer. Your instructions worked
perfectly.
I don't know whether you work for Digital Solutions or not, but I must
compliment them (or you) for a nice piece of work. Now that this new type of
copy protection is being adopted, I think the sales will improve. There seems
to be lots of bad feelings for productivity software that is protected. I am
not familiar with WordPerfect, but LPD has all the power I need in a word
processor, and is much less costly. I think many other Amiga users have
similar needs.
The reference guide type of protection is a great idea. I am very glad DS has
decided to use it. Software piracy, in my opinion, only serves to depress the
incentive for development of new, useful software…. but programs that people
need to use for serious applications must be easy to use AND back up.
Thanks again,
Paul Gangwisch
Paul,
Glad to hear you got the problem with LPD Writer straightened out. I of
course was wrong in stating that "it couldn't be done", but have filed the info
for future reference.
When the unprotected version becomes available, it will make it worthwhile
looking at. "Look-up-the-word-in-the-manual" schemes are still a bother, but
are the least irritating or limiting of all.
Regards, Larry.
Paul–
If you think thumbing through manuals to answer inane questions is a good use
of your time–well, what can I say? Keyword protection is by no means the most
obnoxious, but it is pretty obnoxious anyhow.
PageSetter does that–sometimes asking for words from sections my manual
lacks.
Finally, do you really think that a serious pirate would hesitate to copy a
manual? This method is good for the psyche of the paranoid produceer, but all
it REALLY could do is discourage a very casual pirate while annoying ALL the
legitimate owners.
The product may cost less than WordPerfect, but it is NOT inexpensive enough
to justify treating its purchasers this way, in my view.
Still, I am glad you like the product and that it meets your needs, because
that is all that really matters.
// Jim