Msg: 2528 *Conference*

05-05-92 08:25:28

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : HANK JACOBY

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #2527 (LAPDOS2)

Hank: Those are three very good questions which I will answer for you.
 
Lapdos II, as you have discovered, does a good job of transferring files.
There are times, however, when it screws up.  What's the deal?  Well, given the
fact that your Model 102 to DOS connection works most of the time and your TPDD
to DOS does not, I would say that you are experiencing radio frequency
interferance.  Most of the RF is caused by the monitor of your DOS computer;
especially color monitors.  I suggest moving the TPDD around until you get
consistant operations.  Your connection (i.e., existing TPDD cable to gender
changer to DOS COM1 or COM2 port) is correct.  You may, if you choose, use a
length of 25 pin ribbon cable in lew of the gender changer.  The length (2 - 6
foot) enables you to move your TPDD far away from your DOS computer's
influence.  I, personally, come out of my COM ports to a switch box where I
switch between a TPDD, direct connect, mouse, LapLink to another DOS computer,
and a ROM burner.  I have this configuration on 2 of my 4 DOS computers.  On
one, I substitute the LapLink for a TPDD2.  In all cases, communication is
quite consistant.
 
The term "tokenized" refers to a method of encription--for lack of better
words--wherein a file is represented by less bytes then its ASCII equivalent.
We first saw tokenized files back in the mid 70's when Bill Gates created a
BASIC interpreter for the Intel 4004 processor.  Back then, we had small RAM to
play in so every byte counted.  Bill's interpreter would take a command, like
PRINT, consisting of 5 bytes, and use a 1 to 3 byte token character to
represent the 5 byte command.  The result of tokenization was that BASIC files
were smaller--used less RAM--than their ASCII counterparts.  Today,
tokenization is alive and well.  The Model 100/102/200 computer's BASIC
interpreter was programmed by Bill Gates, Microsoft.  And thus, you have a
tokenizing BASIC interpreter.
 
In our laptops, files marked .BA are tokenized.  Files marked .DO are ASCII.
You may easily convert from one to the other from within BASIC on these
laptops, e.g., SAVE"filename.DO" converts the resident BASIC file to ASCII,
while LOAD"filename.DO" converts a .DO program file to a tokenized .BA file.
When you compare the two, you will note a difference in size.  The .BA file is
smaller than the .DO file.
 
The "Data Reading Error" is a symptom pointing to problems on your DOS
computer.  It indicates that you need to do file maintenance.  Sounds like you
are experiencing lost clusters and/or bad sectors on your hard drive.  I
urgently recommend that you stop saving files to your hard disk until you clean
it up.  There are several disk maintenance programs in the marketplace, as well
as consultants or companies that you may employ to bring your hard disk back in
line.  Data reading Errors is serious business.
 
"How" to join and library is very, very, very obvious... "if" you bothered to
actually attempt to enter the (4)Library.  Without access, you are greeted with
a friendly, prompting message leading to further information explaning library
access.  Simply enter the library and follow the prompts.  Also, please capture
or echo-print the various help messages, tutorials, etc., including this
message, for study offline.  Tons of effort built this system.  Serious study
is expected.  Most of the answers to your questions are here, online, already.
Please capture online for reading offline.
 
Ah yes, the old "How do I see what's in the library?" question.  Within a few
weeks, the initial library area--before actually entering the file storage
area--will be changed, offering both online and mail order access to the entire
Club 100 library... and more!  I've given this service lots of thought over the
last year.  The results will appear soon.  In the mean time, let me assure you
that you will enjoy library access.  Besides, your $12 annual fee (that's $1 a
month) is directly responsible for keeping this BBS online.
 
Thank you for your questions.  Hope this helps... -Rick-
 
PS: Your questions are important and of interest to many others.  Thus, I moved
this discussion into the (1)Conference area for all to read.  The (1)Conference
is "the" public message area of our club BBS.