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