Hello once more.
8BS Charges
~~~~~~~~~~~
I have included on this issue a copy of the 8BS charges article to be found on
TBI-00. Basically the only change is the way 8BS supplies software from the
pool. Here is the reason:
Recently I have been having to spend more and more time reformatting badly
formatted discs (formatted only one side), or writing letters explaining to
people that have sent High Density Discs explaining why they should not be used
(the 8BS disc drives will not grip the hubless HD discs), or replying to people
and re-copying when their discs have become faulty.
The vast majority of discs that cause problems are those discs not supplied by
8BS. So it is with regret that I now make the following rule:
You may send your own disc for the latest issue, TBI-00 update or when
submitting software for the pool and requesting software from the pool in
exchange.
8BS supplies the disc in all other cases.
I explained in the last issue that my employment circumstances have changed
(see below) recently. Unfortunately 8BS will have to "tick over" for a while.
I am looking for ways to lighten the burden. The above change will save me a
lot of time.
I finally decided to make this change today (18/9/96) after spending at least
one hour of my valuable time responding to various problems caused by non-8BS
supplied discs.
Changes to the Pool
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are the discs that have been added to the pool or have had alterations
made to them since issue 51:
JGH 002 Updated
JGH 012 Updated
Janny Looyenga has sent the usual bundle of 512 software. Remember that you
need a Master 512 to run this software:
512-65 TWO 360 K IBM discs. The Lotus 1-2-3 Learning System.
512-66 360K IBM Dungeons and Dragons game.
512-67 360K IBM Life Forms.
Use it or Lose it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A lot of you must know Jon Ripley. He flooded 8BS with submissions a few
months ago. He was so prolific that I suggested he start up his own disc based
magazine. This he did. He has not really had a very encouraging response.
Please give him a look over!
Write to:
Jon Ripley
37 Ceylon Place
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN21 3JE
EBTEL
~~~~~
The foetus is still developing. I shall repeat the text from issue 51:
EBTEL (8BS Telephone Network) The Plan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrew Nelson has loaned 8BS an SJ fileserver. To follow is a 450 meg hard
drive. This will enable me to place the whole 8BS pool onto the hard disc.
The idea is that I shall eventually make the fileserver available to YOU over
the telephone.
Jonathan Harston is writing 8BS communications software that will make
connecting to 8BS as simple as booting up the 8BS magazine.
Software will be written so that you can:
1. Write messages off-line to send them over the phone for use either in the
magazine or to be left for someone else to pick up via their telephone.
2. Receive any messages waiting for you
3. Browse the 8BS pool
4. Download specific files from the 8BS pool
5. Upload files to me
6. Chat with me
This is how it will work:
You get a modem and the 8BS EBTEL utility disc.
The disc contains everything that you need to get you going.
SHIFT+BREAK before going on-line, and from the menu, select what you want to do
whilst on-line. Go on-line and carry out the selected tasks. Examine the
results off-line.
The time on-line will be kept to a minimum, theoretically, the EBTEL software
will do everything quickly without you having to intervene. This should keep
your costs quite low.
A system of "call back" may be used. Basically this means that those of you
who would pay more to ring 8BS than 8BS can call you for can be in credit with
8BS and get 8BS to call you, thus saving you money.
At first, only a few key members of 8BS will have access to the system as we
debug and refine it. More on the system later, but start looking for a modem.
If you are not sure about what to go for, go for the fastest, avoid those that
require specific software to run them. If in doubt, don't get it and contact
me. The idea is to keep the 8BS "look" and to have a similar setup to the 8BS
magazine but on-line. A whole host of ideas have been discussed, any
suggestions from the membership would be welcomed (the sooner the better!).
Contact Jonathan Harston for advice on modems please.
J.G.Harston
70 Camm Street
Walkley
Sheffield
S6 3TR
Tel. 01142 332682
Please remember to include return postage if you are writing.
EBTEL UPDATE 10/96
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Never fear, despite me reducing the time I spend at the keyboard, the foetus
of EBTEL is growing slowly.
Jonathan Harston is writing the EBTEL software.
I am still working on acquiring a hard disc for the file server.
There is a core group of members who are developing the system. Since the last
issue when the above text was first published, I have had at least another six
members show a keen interest. Some are asking if their modem is suitable . I
can't tell you as my expertise in communications is 0. This is where a user
group is handy. Please contact Jonathan Harston for advice regarding modems. I
hope to feature a helpful article soon.
Me
~~
I am an Ambulance Paramedic at a nearby Ambulance station although for the last
5 months I have not worked there. I have been seconded into headquarters;
firstly to rescue a computer system that was flagging and then to adapt a model
in a software package called "Witness", used to try and win a patient transport
service contract. Now I have been seconded for a further 6 months to set up
clinical audit within the service. It would seem that my organisational skills
have been spotted, it only took them 26 years!
Unfortunately for 8BS this means that I temporarily cannot devote the same
attention to running our little club that I have for the last few years. FEAR
NOT! We are not going down the pan, far from it. Please bear with me for a
while as 8BS "ticks over". You can help by keeping your requests simple and
easy to understand. LIST your requirements rather than embedding them in code.
Do not stop ordering stuff or sending submissions! Do not stop writing your
letters, I do enjoy reading them, but cannot reply at length. If I have
forgotten to reply to a particular question you asked, ask again, please do
not think that I am being ignorant!
I am sure you all understand that I require all of my limited brain power to
accomplish my project at work. Then I must relax afterwards with my family
rather than sitting beating away at this keyboard all night. I have realised
now that in the past, when I worked shifts I had more time on my own at home
where I could sort 8BS out.
As it is, I have managed to reduce the time I spend each night on 8BS down to
around 2 hours, which still adds up to quite a lot.
An Admission
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have purchased a PC. HERETIC! As Neil Parry would say. Feeble excuses now. It
is mainly to help me with things I am doing at work (using EXCEL, ACCESS, and
WOD FUR WINDERS, WITNESS and a couple of others.
I have put all the club records into Access (an amazing relational database).
This will enable me to produce interesting facts and figures quite quickly and
certainly very easily.
I have started collecting BBC emulators. Have any of you got any? I know there
are a lot out there. I am considering putting them into the library.
My EMAIL address is:
106427.1510@compuserve.com
It will shortly be Chris_Richardson_12@compuserve.com
Hint
~~~~
If you have a Master do this*
Go into the directory or disc that this editorial contains.
Type *EDIT Editori
Press F5
type \I/YAHOO
Press RETURN
Thanks
~~~~~~
Thanks to Paul Clucas who finished this magazine off beautifully (I hope). I
sent him a very raw 8BS-52 and he has finished it off. Including all of the
fiddly bits that I have done in the past. It must have taken him ages, it has
saved me a lot of time. Thanks Paul.