Msg: 4255 *Conference*

04-24-93 22:58:15

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : GLENN LEAVITT

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #4254 (LAPDOS)

----
My, my... where do I start.  I appreciate your questions, Glenn.  Giving them a
close reading, I think I'd better start by defining some terminology and
concepts before moving on.

You said you were about to get a file out of Idea! and onto a disk (assume
TPDD) but you are not able to get the file back into Idea!.  First off: Idea!
data files aren't "in or out" of Idea!  The Idea! data file is just a .DO file
with a special structure for the data within; necessary for the Idea! program
to use that data.  Idea! is just an application program.  Idea!, itself, can
not save or retrieve its data files to/from TPDD, or tape, etc.

Copying .DO files to and from TPDD is handled by a disk operating system (Aka:
DOS).  I "assume" that you are using TS-DOS via either its menu method, or its
DOS-ON method.  I don't know which method you used.  But, whatever method you
used, you simply reverse that method to copy your .DO (Aka: Idea! data file)
from TPDD to RAM.

If you used the menu method, then you were "in" TS-DOS and you used its "load"
option to copy a file from TPDD to RAM.  If you were using the DOS-ON method
then you must use TEXT to created the name of the .DO file in RAM; then while
in that .DO file, you hit your <f3> function key, enter 0:filename.DO and hit
<enter>--assuming your TS-DOS has its DOS turned ON, your TPDD is connected,
and you've spelled the name of the .DO file correctly.

----

Your questions about Lapdos II, the library online vs. the "files" on the disk,
the error messages, etc., really had me stumped for awhile until I realized
what you were trying to actually do.  I think I understand.  The files I
discussed in the last message were the ready-to-run files I placed on the
Lapdos II distribution disk.  These are:

BJACK.BA, BUD.BA, CHANGE.BA, CHANGE.DO, FOURSC.BA, FOURSC.DO, GFCLK.BA,
GREEN2.BA, GRENUP.BA, HPCALC.BA, MINIVC.BA, MINIVC.DO, SCODE.DO, SDOC.DO,
SLOAD.BA, SXM.BA, SXMDOC.DO, WHEN2.BA, and WILTEL.BA 

You made no mention of these files.  You didn't even acknowledge their
existance--which leads me to believe that you haven't read the support files.
If I'm correct, place your Lapdos II distribution disk into one of your DOS
computer's disk drives, get onto that drive, issue the command GO and hit
<enter>.  Once the menu appears, select menu item 5, then select menu item 2 to
view the complete listing of files on the Lapdos II distribution disk.  Along
with the above, these include:

LOGO, GO.BAT, L1.BAT, L2.BAT, L3.BAT, L4.BAT, SUPPORT.BAT, LIST.COM,
LOADER.COM, SELECIT.COM, COLD.DOC, DREW.DOC, FILES.DOC, LAPNOTE.DOC, LAP.EXE,
and LIBRARY.LST

Now, I think your confusion lies in the fact that you think that the files
listed in the ASCII file, LIBRARY.LST, are all contained on the Lapdos II
distribution disk.  They are not.  What I think you're doing is trying to
access a referenced file from the LIBRARY.LST files directly from MS-DOS.  This
would account for the error message, "File not found."  Furthermore, it sounds
like you do not understand that Model 100 .BA files will not run under MS-DOS;
or perhaps you attemped to issue some unknown MS-DOS command like: COPY
filename.ext to Model 100.  This, of course, will not work, but then you might
not understand this "fact" yet.  However, don't think I haven't heard things
like this before; I have--far too many times.  So, I'm used to working through
these questions with full respect.  Let's move on.

The LIBRARY.LST file is a listing of the "issue-based" library; wherein members
may order the programs in our library on diskette, rather then have to download
them from the online library.  As the LIBRARY.LST file explanes, and issue is a
random collectinon of about 15 files, available on TPDD, TPDD2, MS-DOS 5.25"
and MS-DOS 3.5" disks.

The last part of your question was interesting.  It sounded like you inserted
the MS-DOS formatted 3.5" diskette (Lapdos II distribution disk) into your TPDD
and attemped to access it, directly.  It didn't work, of course.  Such a stunt
would return the error message in TS-DOS, "Disk not formatted."  The disk "is"
formatted, but not TPDD format; rather MS-DOS 720K format.  And, lastly, you
asked if you need a PC (assuming you ment DOS computer) to access and download
from our online library.  The answer is no.  You may use any computer (i.e.,
DOS, Model T, Mac, etc.) to access and download from the Club 100 online
library.

From that last question I get the impression that you have never actually used
Lapdos II, or read even studed the Lapdos II manual.  If you had, you would not
only know that you can move files to and from your Model 100 and your DOS
computer, but have done such with .DO files, at least.  And, or, your could
have copied all the .BA files from the Lapdos II distribution disk on your DOS
computer to a formatted diskette in your TPDD.  And, once those files
(programs) are on a TPDD formatted disk, they may be loaded into your Model 100
via TS-DOS.

----

I think I've covered all your questions.  And I'm sure you're going to have to
capture this answer and study it offline.  I am sure your terms and concepts
will start clearing up.  But in case they don't, please ask again.

Hope this helps... -Rick-

PS: Since you raised the issue of using a DOS computer online for library
access, I've enclosed a detail sheet I composed some time ago in response to a
similar question/concern.  To see a file enclosure simply tap E then A... truse
me!

*Enclosed File: DOS2T.DO