ProWrite Bug?
31 messages in this thread
I seem to have found a VERY reproducable bug, which may or may not be
ProWrite's problem. The program will consistently crash the machine with an
out of memory error (status B101 0009) if I exit ProWrite when I'm running
something else that closes the Workbench to save memory.
So far I've reproduced the problem with MFF and DPaint III. I just start up
ProWrite with an existing document, flip back to the Workbench screen and
start up MFF or DPaint, flip back to ProWrite's screen and quit.
I'm running an A2000 with A2090A, A2620, 1 Meg chip, 4 Meg fast RAM and
Workbench 2.04. There is no real memory shortage when this happens and it
crashes every time I forget to re-open the Workbench before exiting
ProWrite.
Any ideas or comments on this problem?
Peter
Peter,
Thanks for reporting this. We will get right on this problem. It is
reproducable and will be fixed in the next revision.
Mark
New Horizons Software, Inc.
Mark,
While you're working on the next revision, the Arexx support could use some
enhancement. It would be a lot more useful if ALL the settings could be
controlled via Arexx. I've been doing quite a bit of correspondence lately
and grew tired of yanking the addressee's name and address out of the
document and setting up a temp. document to print the envelope and tried to
figure out a way to write a macro to do this. Unfortunately, there doesn't
seem to be a way to change the page size, orientation, margins, etc. etc.
from Arexx. I can't even figure out a way to load up pre-defined settings
for this from Arexx. Did I miss something or is this sort of thing
impossible to do with the current revision?
It would also be useful to be able to get at some of the internal
variables, like the page number, so that it would be possible to write
macros to do things like create a table of contents.
Peter
Peter,
What you need to do is save a document that has all the settings you need,
and then call that document up from ARexx and insert the address into it,
then print it from ARexx.
Mark
New Horizons Software, Inc.
I agree with Peter. A complete complement of get/set functions would be a
tre tremendous asset. Adding a way to determine the complete path of a
document would be very helpful as well.
Bob
Mark,
I've been a WordPerfect user since I got the Amiga. However, now that WP
Corp. has announced plans not to release WP 5.0 for the Amiga, I'm thinking
about changing word processors. After careful consideration, I think that
ProWrite looks like the best word processor for the Amiga. However, I have
one question. Does ProWrite have macros built into the program, or are
macros only accessible through ARexx?
2 Questions. What's the latest version of ProWrite?
Thanks.
Dom Fontana
Dom,
ProWrite's latest version is 3.2. The macro support that was added in the
3.0 version of ProWrite and enhanced in subsequent version is strictly
based on having ARexx installed.
Mark
New Horizons Software, Inc.
Mark,
Thanks for your responses concerning QB 5.0 and ProWrite 3.2.
Any chance that future versions of ProWrite will incorporate built-in
macros like WordPerfect does? In other words, click Macro Start, perform
your macro, then click MacroStop. Then every time you invoke the macro, it
performs the same actions.
It sounds to me that your ARexx macro method requires the user to program
the macro. Is this correct? If so, why not automate the process?
The lack of built-in macros has really been the only reason I haven't
purchased ProWrite as of yet. I use macros extensively in WordPerfect and
they're a breeze to define and use. I don't want to regress to a more
cumbersome method of using macros.
Dom Fontana
Dominick,
Thanks for the suggestions.
Mark
New Horizons Software, Inc.
Mark,
You're welcome. Please advise if and when ProWrite will have built-in
macros. As soon as it does, I'll buy it. You should also include a macro
editor.
Thanks.
Dom Fontana
Dom,
Any macro recorder that might be made for ProWrite will simply output the
ARexx script to a file. There would be no need for an editor, as ProWrite
can edit these files.
Mark
New Horizons Software, Inc.
Mark
Why not have some of ProWrite's features output the same way some of that
OTHER program does (wordperfect). It would make it easier for those of us
who have to use the other one at work. We are already use to the FKEYS and
the templet and controles using the FKEYS and the ALT, CTRL, and SHIFT.
Granted, we don't want you to be like THEM, but some simple things being
compatiable would be nice.
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
If you want WordPerfect keys then Wordperfect is available, eh? The
question for New Horizons is do they conform to the standard (?) set by one
popular MS_DOS word processor or do they conform to the Amiga standard so
Prowrite works like other Amiga programs. I'm very glad they chose the
latter route. — Art
Art,
I have used WordPerfect on the Amiga and it stinks. All I was saying is if
you'll make up some micro keys, for those OTHERS who have to use WP at work
(which is the widest used program of its type in the business world), it
would be nice for THEM if they were somewhat simular. In NO way do I what
you to ruin your EXCELLENT program to be like them. I don't have a job
that requires me to use a wordprocessor so it doesn't matter to me. I was
trying to think of others who are forced to use the other.
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
Mark,
That's good news. So if ProWrite gets a macro recorder, it will
automatically write the Arexx script for you. Is that what you're saying?
Then as you mentioned, you could just edit the Arexx script if you wanted
to edit the macro.
Do you think there's a chance that the macro recorder will be added to Pro
Write; and if so when?
I always wanted to get the program, but could never understand why it
didn't employ built-in macros, since it seems to have everything else. It
probably wouldn't be too difficult to implement.
Dom Fontana
Dominick,
I'm not saying ProWrite will be getting a macro recorder, rather I'm just
expressing how one would most likely work. A program that uses ARexx for
its macros has to know its macro commands, therefore, for any program to do
a macro recors, it would make sense to output the macro in a form that it
can read.
Mark
New Horizons Software, Inc.
On the subject of Prowrite Bugs, how about this one:
When I tried running my new copy of ProWrite 3.2 under Dos 2.0 with 1 MB
memory and the 512 K Agnus, it crashed whenever I hit return (i.e. after a
line of text). I thought it had to do with the limited amount of memory,
so I waited until I could install more memory and the fatter Agnus. I've
done that now, and the same crash occurs.
By "crash", I mean I'm getting a software failure, error number 800000004.
Why is this happening?
Also, with earlier versions of ProWrite, I used to run in interlace mode
and use white letters on a gray background. THIS version won't let me
darken the background. If I do, it picks another color (the brightest one)
from the palette for the background, and juggles other colors on the screen
as well.
Unfortunately, the standard black on white that I'm getting now is
practically unreadable.
Is there any way to make my screen easier on the eyes? (I do not have a
multi-scan monitor. I do have the ECS chips. Don't care for MedRes,
LoRes, or SuperHiRes modes.)
Gerry Zeitlin / Lee Vining, CA / (619)647-6438 / gmz@netcom.com
Gerry,
The problem with hitting the return key is very interesting, but I do not
have a clue as to why this is happening. Maybe is you give me your
complete computer setup, I can see something wrong. I need computer type,
memory amount, other programs that run at startup, and the version number
as it appears on the title bar of the screen.
The reason the colors are hard to change is that ProWrite is now completely
color independent. No matter what palette a screen has, ProWrite will show
you the most accurate representation on screen of what the output will look
like. The reason we went to this has to do with the fact that now under
the 2.0 OS you can open ProWrite on a public screen.
Mark
New Horizons Software, Inc.
Mark,
The problem with the software error occurring at the first carriage return
was fixed by simply re-copying ProWrite from the distribution disk. I
experienced the identical problem and cure with Distant Suns. In each
case, I had installed the program after installing Dos 2.0, but probably
before putting a new FAAASTROM in my GVP controller, backing up all
software, reformatting the hard disk, and restoring. I have no idea what
really caused the problem.
On the colors, I understand what New Horizons has done, but I'm afraid I've
suffered a degradation of ProWrite's usefulness because of it. Although I
have the ECS chips now, without a better monitor I must suffer along with a
marginally readable screen when running ProWrite.
I also am disappointed with ProWrite's support of my HP Deskjet Plus
printer. It's true that "High Quality" printing can go a long way toward
smoothing up most fonts, and the outline fonts look beautiful, but all this
means nothing if it takes five minutes to print one line on the page.
Perhaps if I had a PostScript printer I could get something out of
ProWrite.
I think it's ironic that the shareware PC-Write on my little NEC laptop
provides full support of the Times Roman font cartridge in my printer, and
high-powered ProWrite does not.
Gerry Zeitlin / Lee Vining, CA / (619)647-6438 / gmz@netcom.com
Well, I guess I'll have to withdraw my first question about 3.2 crashes; I
recopied ProWrite from the original floppy to hard disk and it works now.
The second question, about wanting to change screen colors to improve
readability, still stands.
And now here's a third: I did a test print of one line of CG-Triumvirate 15
text in high quality mode on my Deskjet Plus. After waiting five minutes
for this single line to print, I walked out of the room. Later I found
that it finally did print and it looks very nice.
So can someone offer a strategy for using high quality printing and not
having to sweep the cobwebs off the printer that form while waiting for the
output?
Is there something I should know about using CG fonts? Should I avoid
them?
I'll try the PostScript fonts next.
Gerry Zeitlin / Lee Vining, CA / (619)647-6438 / gmz@netcom.com
On the waiting for the printout, you may want to try using "fountain." This
little program hides out in the "system" drawer and will let you pre-render
the outline fonts you use the most. If you're not using an accellerated
Ami, this is an outright NEED.
Brian
Ah, an excellent suggestion, Brian. It raises other questions, such as
whether or not I'll need to choose the font size that I'm rendering, and
whether or not in general the outline fonts will be superior to the other
fonts that have collected in my FONTS directory, but I'll try to figure
these things out for myself.
Thanks for your help.
=gerry=
Gerry Zeitlin / Lee Vining, CA / (619)647-6438 / gmz@netcom.com
Brian, it's now 24 hours later and I'm afraid I haven't gotten very far. I
can find no documentation for Fountain in the System Software manual,
although I am sure I saw some somewhere. Perhaps it was in a magazine
article.
Anyway, can you or anyone else describe the operation of Fountain? Should
I use it to render just the font size(s) I need, or MULTIPLES of those
sizes so ProWrite can do the thing it does so well in "High Quality"
printing mode? How can I tell which of the bzillion fonts I have are
outline fonts which will need the Fountain treatment, and which are not? Of
those which are not, some may be "PostScript" fonts. What about that? If I
don't have a PostScript printer (which I don't), can I just use these like
any other fonts? What are the tradeoffs?
I'm sure these are basic questions which have been handled here many times
before, but I regret that I have them now, and don't seem to have any
documentation which helps answer them. Certainly, the ProWrite
documentation is no help at all.
Thanks and best regards.
Gerry Zeitlin / Lee Vining, CA / (619)647-6438 / gmz@netcom.com
To use Fountain: 1) open system drawer (Where the C= default install likes
to hide it.) 2) Start "Fountain" 3) Click on "Modify Existing Typefaces."
4) Select The typeface you want to play with in the left hand list window,
5) Select the font size you want to render in the right hand list window,
If the font size you want does not exist, type it into the text gadget
underneath the right hand list gadget and select "Add Size" 6) once it's
there, select "create bitmap." The word "bitmap" will appear
beside the size in the right hand list gadget. 7) repeat steps 5 and six
as often as needed. 8) once you are done setting up the changes you want to
make, select
"Perform Changes" and wait a ___looong___ time. Your Hard drive (you
_do_
have a hard drive, don't you?) light will go nuts for a while and the
bust pointer will show you just how far along the changes are. 9) done!
Good luck. I don't remember how I figured out how to use fountain. It's
really well hidden in the manual — I think.
Brian
If you want doc for Fountain, run the program then hit the HELP key.
-sja
Thank you Steve, and thanks Brian for your information.
=gerry
Gerry Zeitlin / Lee Vining, CA / (619)647-6438 / gmz@netcom.com
Gerry,
Fountain has help in the program. Just hit the help key.
For High quality printing you will need to make bitmaps for either twice or
quadruple in size of the font you want to use on screen. If you have a 9
pin printer, normally a double-size version is needed. If you have a 24
pin printer then either a double or quadruple-size font should be made.
It depends on the density setting of the printer you are using.
Mark
New Horizons Software, Inc.
Peter Smithem 71001,3663
Pete, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. It's a no-go with
Larry. But He's still looking for used equipment.
As to your recent problem; ie, Getting the Doc name into Arexx. Here's how
to do it:
Because Pro Write does not have a default macro and launching the program
from a scipt some times gives me fits; I use the first ten loaded macros to
configure the system. (Yes you can load more then one group of 10 macros!
Use RexxArpLib.library ver. 3.0 with Arexx. This will allow you to open the
ASL requester on the Pro Write screen. Your choice will be given to Arexx
to to track of. You then have to do you own checking and load the file
into Pro Write from Arexx. You can change your Pragma and Macros at this
time.
I further suggest that the F10 key saves your doc, launches the printing
function and then executes your first macro so that a chain is set up to do
multiple editing.
-Tom
Tom,
ProWrite runs the "ProWrite Startup" macro if it finds it in the drawer
containing ProWrite. I played around with hard links to ProWrite a little
and it will load the ProWrite Startup macro from the directory containing
the link (I've been using this to let me change some things at startup
depending on the files I'm working with), but unfortunately it seems to
grab the "ProWrite FKeys" file from (and save any changes to) the directory
containing the real copy of ProWrite. It expects the actual macros to be in
the directory ProWrite was launched from via the hard link (the dir
containing the link). If you can keep track of what the macros actually do
with all the same names in the list, you can have a different set in each
directory containing a link (fun keeping track of it all though, some of
mine are links to a common directory and others are macros specific to the
files in the current dir. but they all have the same names).
I have this nasty habit of loading existing files by double clicking on the
file icon (so does my wife, which is one of the things I use "ProWrite
Startup" for, for some strange reason my Amiga starts running low on memory
after she loads up 15 or 20 copies of ProWrite ;^).
I'll have to try loading files via macros so I can keep the pathnames
somewhere. I must have missed the upload of RexxArpLib.library 3.0, my copy
is 2.5, I'll look around for it (wish Whap! wasn't acting up, I hate
downloading manually).
Peter
36036
Pete,
>> ProWrite runs the "ProWrite Startup" macro… I knew that!
Well now that I have "Pro Write needs a startup macro" in my brain I'll
have to be corrected two or three more times before I will remember. Some
times I feel that I would be a great subject for a PBS documentary on "A
Hippy… Coping with the 90's".
>> I … loading existing files by double clicking on the file icon. >>
…….after she loads up 15 or 20 copies of ProWrite
Pete Go Buy 2.0.. When Pro Write loads it places a "ProWrite Deposit"
icon on the WB. You just grab the file icon you want to work on and drop it
into this icon. Pro Write will automaticlly come to the front with the
file loaded! Only problem is that the Deposit icon does not float and if
a second copy of PW is started it's "ProWrite Deposit" is placed over the
original.
ARE you reading this MIKE???????????? The "ProWrite Deposit" icon should
be floating! Please tell the programming staff. And since it's just a flag
that is set could you put the patch here for those that want to float this
icon. Also the icon should reflect which PW it's for in it's name. Could
you mention that also?
Lastly………..RexxArpLib 3.0 just adds the ASL requeseter and does some
2.0 things. You can use your version and later just replace the library.
Things will still work. Under 1.3 and 2.5 you will just get the Arp
requester.
-Tom
Gerry,
The slowness in printing is due to the fact that we do a graphic dump of
the whole document. Even if there is nothing on a line, we still send all
the graphic data instead of skipping that line. It is possible that this
will be enhanced in the future. Our understanding is that the printer
driver is supposed to detect when a graphic dump has no data and simply
move the page instead of passing the data on to the printer.
Mark
New Horizons Software, Inc.