The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group For the bookshelf Lesley Howells, Major Keary & Bob Burt

Lesley Howells is aiming to become a cyberarian. After being a children's librarian she became a library technician at Mullauna College where she has been for over 20 years.

A career in IT
reviewed by Major Keary

Much used - and sometimes no more than a buzz-word - Information Technology has no precise definition. In fact IT did not rate a mention in computer dictionaries until quite recently: "A general term used to refer to all aspects of technology that encompass the creation, storage, display, exchange, and management of information for business, artistic, scientific, recreational, or personal use" (Prentice Hall's Dictionary of Computing). Universities offering courses in IT will, in effect, say much the same, but with more and bigger, grander words.

When you see a book that deals with:
Workflow management,
Hypermedia,
Document browsing,
Electronic document interchange,
Standards-based publishing,
Document search and retrieval,
Data base publishing,
Electronic reference documents,
Internet publishing, and
Smart documents
it comes as a surprise to find the title is, Desktop Magic. I'm sure the author - eminently qualified to write about IT - did not intend to hide a very useful resource away from those teaching and wanting to work in the field.

Desktop Magic concentrates on the management of electronically prepared and published documents. It covers printing, and deals with serious DTP software and PostScript; however, its main concern is with the use of computer technology in document preparation. Standard generalised markup language (SGML), hypertext, and hypermedia are described in depth.

Apart from its value as a resource, there is an interesting chapter, Electronic Publishing is Changing Careers, in which various aspects of what we perceive as IT are discussed as potential areas of employment. Document analysis, electronic document design, publication programming, document management specialists, multimedia specialists, animation, interactive video, information research, editing and, of course, writing are among the particular fields. The author does not simply mention them, but provides sample job descriptions. If you happen to fancy yourself as a technical publications manager, then you will find that your qualifications should include:

• In depth understanding of digital imaging (scanner, display, and output devices),
• Complete familiarity with colour laser printing,
• Knowledge of binding technologies,
• Understanding options for outsourcing work, and
• Familiarity with business aspects of printing.

Learning GNU Emacs
reviewed by Major Keary

O'Reilly publications are the benchmark for technical books. I can recollect having seen only one typo in some dozen O'Reilly titles. Typography and overall design is excellent, binding is how all reference books should be in paperback (lays flat at any opening), and the writing style is of the highest order.

The quality of information is evidenced by the length of time their books remain in print. Learning GNU Emacs was first published in 1991 and has been in print ever since.

Emacs (the name stands for Editing Macros) is a remarkably powerful text editor created for the UNIX environment in 1975. There are several implementations, but the most popular is GNU Emacs, distributed by the Free Software Foundation. There have been ports to DOS, both commercial (Epsilon) and freeware (Freemacs).

Why learn Emacs? In some environments it is a necessary skill, and for people in that position Learning GUN Emacs is the definitive manual, even if another implementation has to be used. Emacs is worth looking at by those who program in various languages; it enables many language-specific functions to be turned into Emacs commands through the use of its language mode facility.

Similarly, there are modes for use in marking up text for troff, nroff, and TeX by automatic completion of macro pairs.

However, this is not about Emacs per se, but to tell those interested in using it - or who need a desk reference - that here is a comprehensive, comprehensible, and digestible description. It has a table that sets out which parts to read for particular purposes (casual users, programmers, writers, mail, etc). Chapters cover basics, file editing, search and replace, buffers and windows, text formatting, writing macros, customising, Emacs as a work environment, and Emacs for programmers.

Learning the vi Editor
reviewed by Major Keary

Now in its fifth edition, this is the definitive for vi, a UNIX screen editor (as distinct from those that show one line at a time). Just about every implementation of UNIX comes with vi (it stands for visual editor).

Why learn vi? Apart from necessity (some people are obliged), the commands are much the same as encountered in other UNIX editors. For those who find text-based (such as UNIX shell) access to the Internet more efficient than Windows for many purposes, familiarity with vi commands is necessary.

Anyone accustomed to text editors and word processors written for non-UNIX platforms can be expected to find vi difficult. It is something like asking a pianist to pick up a violin. At least vi lends itself to learning just enough for limited purposes. Indeed, most users are unlikely to be aware of its full potential and the presence of the ex line editor.

If you need to learn vi, or want a useful desktop reference, then this is the book to get. It has a handy tear-out card with commands arranged in alphabetical order and by class (movement, editing, ex commands, exit commands, and command line options). Chapters cover basic editing, getting around the screen, global search and replace, shortcuts, advanced editing with ex, and customising vi.

Like all O'Reilly books, everything about it is beautifully done.

The Magic Garden Solutions
reviewed by Major Keary

Quite some time ago I reviewed The Magic Garden Explained - a Prentice Hall title published in Australia - which is a "technically-oriented description of how the UNIX SVR4 operating system functions". At the end of each chapter a number of exercises are set, but space and time constraints worked against inclusion of the solutions.

Now they are available in a companion volume. Not just raw solutions, but annotated and accompanied by comment. The code is fully functional and much of it useable. Apart from teachers and students of UNIX, those with a serious interest in C should find it a useful resource. The text of the original exercises is repeated, so it is not necessary to have the main book.

Data Communications
reviewed by Major Keary

Gilbert Held is a widely published author on communication related topics, from data compression to T-Carrier multiplexing. I am not sure when Data Communications - jointly written by Held and Ray Sarch - was first published, but it has just been released in its third edition. It is not designed for readers with a casual interest in data communications (the price will deter all but the most determined dilettante). If, however, one is serious about the subject, then this is a reference well worth considering.

It is suitable as a self-teaching resource (there are questions at the end of each chapter, with answers in an appendix), as a reference for students of computer science and communications-related subjects, and for teachers or instructors in data communications.

The subtitle, A comprehensive approach, is an apt description. It begins with a introductory overview of the development of communications and "computational machinery, moves on to the role and use of terminals and PCs in data communications, and then proceeds to the real subject.

Chapters deal with concepts of data communications, transmission and equipment basics, interfacing data transmission devices, LANs and internetworking, functional networking relationships, data concentration, network topology, network diagnostic and monitoring, network planning, and include discussions of software.

Some of the discussion is oriented to North America - such as chapters on regulation agencies, the communications industry, and cost considerations - but that is a small proportion of the book; the chapter dealing with cost and selection considerations does provide a framework, so to speak, for non-American users to compare different carriers and systems.

For a technical reference the writing is exceptionally good. There is no attempt to dilute the technical nature of the book, but the discussion is easy to follow provided one takes the trouble to become familiar with communications terminology. Gil Held is very good at that kind of technical communication, and the people responsible for the editing of McGraw-Hill's computer communications series have done a good job. Illustrative material is used with discretion and provides good support for the text.

It is one of the few publications that explains ITU-T (successor to CCITT). The International Telegraph Union (ITU) was formed in 1865 and in 1934 the name changed to International Telecommunication Union. The Consultative Committee on International Telephony and Telegraphy (CCITT) was formed within ITU and was responsible for recommendations that bear the familiar X prefix (X.500, for example). In a 1992 reorganisation CCITT functions were assigned to the ITU's Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T). There is a second Sector, ITU-R (Radiocommunication Sector).

Data Communications is a reference that should be in any library (educational or corporate) with holdings on communications. It is not just an introduction, but a comprehensive resource for communications students and practioners. It is also a reference for those who, from time to time, need detailed information about some aspect of data communications.

On-Line in OZ
reviewed by Bob Burt

This book seeks to introduce the common features of the four online networks available in Australia at the end of 1995, namely the Internet, CompuServe, eWorld and MSN (Microsoft Network). Beyond that, the special attributes of each system are explored, so that you can decide which environment appeals the most. Then, if you elect to try out one of the services, the author tells you the best way to go about it. The book includes a range of special offer coupons and a couple of starter disks offering free online time if you register.

Once you have decided on your network, you can use the book as a travel guide, which is particularly beneficial for those selecting the Internet directly.

Part One is, understandably, an introduction to computer networking, including a glossary of the acronyms, jargon and general terminology the newcomer will come across. There is discussion of the choice of services, how expert you need to be, what hardware and software is required and so on.

Part Two deals with The Internet, and, not surprisingly, is the most substantial part of the book, as much of the material in it will be of interest to all online participants, irrespective of whether they are using an Internet service provider or elected to use Compuserve, eWorld or MSN. Strengths and weaknesses of the Internet are discussed and the connection requirements are explained. E-mail, World Wide Web, FTP, newsgroups and mailing lists and Interactive chatting (IRC) are all given the full treatment. Finally, a taste of what's out there on the Internet is offered, including the "best" of Australian and New Zealand Web sites. Web sites are given for eight areas of interest, such as Arts and entertainment, Commerce, shopping and other business, Travel, sport and hobbies and Education and academia.

Part Three covers Compuserve, its strengths and weaknesses, getting connected, its services and what's on it.

Part Four deals with eWorld, again its strengths and weaknesses, access and charges, navigating the town square and its content.

Part Five addresses MSN, discusses its strengths and deficiencies, deals with content and access, describes how to navigate, categorises what is available and the costs of the service.

There are three appendixes, first a list of Internet Access Providers in Australia (extracted from the Web), then Internet Access in New Zealand, a quite detailed organisational exposition and finally, On Australia independent solutions providers (MSN publishers).

The layout of On-Line in OZ is good, the content is sound and the book is well designed and illustrated. Check out the connect time charges for OzEmail though, if you are interested in using their services - I doubt their rates per hour of access are $3 more at Off-peak than at Peak time, as published.

I found the book of great interest, as this is the first time I have seen comparable information on the various services. I believe this factor will appeal to many others too.

Reprinted from the April 1996 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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