 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Guest Editorial John Wilkins |
On Catalogues, Macs and Independence
The joys of absolute power are given to only a few, such as editors of magazines. While David Jitts, editor extraordinaire, is on a well-deserved rest, I am generally wreaking havoc with the established order (and design) of PC Update. David said it was OK as long as I didn't create extra work for him in ensuing issues. Using the marvellous style sheet capabilities of Ventura Publisher 1.1,1 have set all this up so he can (if he wants) automatically retain this design in future editions.
This issue is memorable for more than my flights of fancy. It includes the first complete catalogue of the club's Public Domain Library, so carefully tended by Leon Cohen and John Beck. The catalogue runs to around 40 pages, and according to my filter program, includes about 7,000 files. For reasons of space, a number of worthy articles have had to be held over, and they will undoubtedly appear in the March edition. I had a lot of fun writing the pre-processor to format the database output given to me by John Beck, and all the algorithms were stolen unashamedly from Roger de Salis (with help from David Jitts), who did a test run on his typesetting system, also in Turbo Pascal. The source is available to anyone who needs something similar.
I have a few comments to make by way of what our parliamentary comedians call a 'personal explanation'. Last issue I was (in good faith) impugned twice: once by Alan Ross in a letter and again by our esteemed editor, David Jitts. Alan had claimed that PageMaker was available on the Macintosh before Ventura on the PC, contrary to my claim the issue before. David had a gentle dig about me being a Mac lover (a condition I am led to understand is on par with being a fellow traveller and appreciating abstract art). Alan, Ventura was originally marketed by a company called Ventura Software, before PageMaker was released on the Mac. Word in the mags at the time went that Xerox, who marketed high-end computerised publishing systems, bought out Ventura to prevent degradation of their market, but realised when the dtp boom hit that they were sitting on a gold mine, and eventually released (and supported) it. David, I still prefer the Mac as a dtp tool, but I enjoy playing with and programming on the PC, and if 1 really had my druthers, I'd be sitting in front of a Sun Workstation now. How about it, Committee?
The other error (mine) in the last edition concerns my piece on using Microsoft WORD as a program editor. I let David have an unchecked copy, which he duly printed (sorry). All who have been trying to use TTY.PRD, try PLAIN.TRD instead. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Also, WORD actually displays up to eight windows, not XYZ (no, I haven't taken to using septuadecimal numbering).
A letter was received from Graeme Strange, Games co-ordinator, recounting his experience dealing with a software supplier who claimed to have been maligned by an PC Update contributor. The company are apparently going to write to us, and we are as always willing to publish rebuttals and defences, so if they do, you will be given the full story. I am not familiar with the item in question, so I reserve comment for others to make. One point, though. It is essential that ordinary users get a chance to have a public say about the service they get from the suppliers. Computer vendors in Australia do not have a good record for customer support and service, and without some way to share experiences, we are all at the mercy of the wolves, as well as of the better companies. An independent rag such as this, for all its rough-hewn charm, will help many people avoid the traps, and provide the vendors with incentivation (remember that from 1987?) to lift their game. Graeme, I have also had exemplary service from that company, so I look forward to hearing their side. [On the topic of service, perhaps someone could make personal comment on the (lack of) support for Amstrad PC owners? Good machine, shame about the backup.
That's all. I hope I haven't wrecked your magazine too much, David.
Reprinted from the Jan-Feb 1988 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
