VOICE Home Page: http://www.os2voice.org

May 2001 [Newsletter Index] [Previous Page] [Next Page] editor@os2voice.org

New survey on OS2.Ru: do you need quality software for digital camera ?

The latest arrangements are being made before the release of ThirdEye project by Igor Vanin and Eugene Gorbunoff - this is a new PM application designed to manipulate most popular digital cameras.

We wonder if you are ready to support our project. Visit our survey, look at ThirdEye screenshot and evaluate our work.

Besides we will be glad if in the comments to the poll you will indicate the model of your digital camera and functions that you would like to have when working with ThirdEye.

http://os2.ru/voice/survey.phtml.en?pollid=4

ZOC 4.0 is out

Visting the EmTec website today I discovered that ZOC 4.0 has been released. The shareware version can be downloaded at:

http://www.emtec.com/zoc/index.html

IBM Web Browser

IBM has released the IBM Web Browser, a port of Mozilla for OS/2 which includes a spell checker and flash plugin. While the browser is a fee based product, IBM has also released an open source version which is available at mozilla.org.

http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla/releases/mozilla0.6/mozilla-i386-pcos2-vacpp-0.6.zip

Win an OS/2.cz CD-ROM!!!

Register at OS/2.cz, say what do you think about our server and you can win an OS/2.cz CD-ROM. Disk full of shareware/freeware/demos for OS/2 + fixpacks and some other interesting stuff...

All is for free!

http://www.os2.cz/index.php3?lang=en&v=reg_e

Farewell Focus on OS/2

Hello everyone,

Some of you may have noticed that the Focus on OS/2 site (http://os2.about.com) has disappeared from About.com. I want you to know that I had no part in this decision, although I do understand it.

Focus on OS/2 most closely resembled a magazine. All existing OS/2 magazines are currently run on a volunteer basis as a labour of love. About.com, of course, was being run as a business, so the present hitech/dot.com climate caused About.com's executives to look carefully at sites they felt weren't generating enough revenue to justify their continued existence. Unfortunately, Focus on OS/2 was deemed one such site. However it was not the only such site. 84 other sites--approximately 10% of About.com's total number--also suffered the same fate, including the sites of the "alternative" operating systems BSD and BEOS.

During my almost three years at About.com, I was very well treated, even though I frequently complained about the "Windows-ization" of the Guide tools, and insisted I be allowed to do my work with Netscape for OS/2 despite the fact that I was only Guide out of 850 using OS/2! Invariably they made some accommodation for me. I have many good memories of my editors and others I worked with.

However, the most treasured experiences were countless notes of appreciation from you my readers that start coming from Day 1 that I went online right up to the end. They meant more than you will ever know. About also gave me a unique opportunity to talk, help, and be helped by people all over the world that I will never forget. I will also never forget some of those I met at Warpstock--the volunteers, the people in IBM who still manage to keep plugging away at OS/2 often in spite of their employer, and many others.

What will I do now? I have always been interesting in writing, and there are still OS/2 magazines seeking both articles and contributors. I will start there. It will be a relaxing change from having to crank out an article each week. It will also give me a chance to work on some software projects I could never seem to find the time for before. In any case, don't expect to see my byline to disappear; it will just appear a little less frequently.

Walter Metcalf

Goran Ivankovics OS/2 Tools Site has moved

Goran Ivankovics has moved his tool site (e.g. containing configtool, initool, worldclock) to:

http://www.os2world.com/goran/

New Larsen Commander, version 1.5 beta #2

Larsen Commander version 1.5 beta #2 is now available at

http://home.online.no/~leifel/lcmd/index.html

Please also be aware of the open Larsen Commander discussion forum at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lcmd

Larsen Commander is a powerful GUI File Manager and Command Processor that has a look and feel like the classic Norton Commander. It combines the very best of two very different worlds; - the command line and the file management panels. Both available at the same time, and even in parallel while one or more commands are running in the background!

Url: http://home.online.no/~leifel/lcmd/index.html

From: Leif-Erik Larsen leifel@online.no

New address for CDR/RW Wizard Br>

The new address for CDR/RW Wizard is:

http://www.quasarbbs.net/rocco

Scan lite v0.40 Released

Hi all,

josi Scan lite is a free SANE scanning frontend available for download at: http://www.objects.com.au/products/josi/scanlite

Features include:
- supports Windows, MacOS, Unix, OS/2
- easy to use
- intuitive controls for setting scan options
- Preview support
- Remote scanning

This release adds support for Java 1.1, in addition to fixing some bugs.

If you have any questions then feel free to email josi@objects.com.au.

Enjoy
Mick Barry
Objects Pty Ltd

Solution for VIA AC'97 Audio problems

http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/incoming/viasp09.zip

This new package will help happy (or not so happy ) owners of VIA motherboards with integrated AC'97 sound owners to use integrated sound funcitonality in OS/2. Bye,

Scitech Display Doctor IBM Special Edition 7.05

To get it a Software Choice subscribtion is necessary

http://service5.boulder.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/7978bef08284174e87256a23006fc1a3?OpenDocument The link says it's updated, but it's not. They just changed the page to say that the latest version is now on SWC. ]

[Moderator's note: The last free version of SDD SE (7.04) remains available (at least for now) at http://service5.boulder.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef?OpenView&Start=1&Count=300&Expand=13.1#13.1 The link says it's updated, but it's not. They just changed the page to say that the latest version is now on SWC. ]

New OS/2 kernels on testcase

[Moderator note: Please note that anything on testcase is not supported by IBM unless IBM tells you to use it. Please backup any files before replacing them. if you experience any problems after trying these new files, please report the problems on the Usenet group comp.os.os2.bugs.]

The latest build is out. There is a report which, so far, I cannot reproduce, of a hang exiting an OS/2 fullscreen session. As always, Get the kernels on the internet at ftp://testcase.boulder.ibm.com/ps/fromibm/os2 DFxxx is the dump formatter stuff for this build. xxxD.zip are the debug kernels. Don't use them unless you know how to use the kernel debugger.
w4 kernels are for Warp 4/MCP
uni/smp kernels are for WSeB/ACP uni and smp installations

readme follows:

This contains fixes since xr_e002/xr_m015/mcp/acp. Important note: If you use the OS/2 SES facility, you need a new sesdd32.sys dated April 2001 or later [ses0330] to use this kernel. Also, a matching dump formatter (df_ret.exe), provided separately, is required, if you want to analyze a dump from this kernel. Finally, note that os2ldr is only required for the >64mb memory detection mentioned below.

New function:
1) Support for >64m memory using int15 func e820. Note, this support is enabled ONLY for Intel Pentium Pro or later, or non-Intel Pentium-class machines. This is done in an effort to prevent problems on older PCs.
2) The presence of \os2\boot\os2norev.$$$ suppresses the display of internal revision during boot.
3) Adding "EARLYMEMINIT=TRUE" to config.sys will allow device drivers, etc., access to the memory above 16mb early in boot. Previously, this was only available after DD and IFS init was completed. This has various implications when enabled:
a) AHA154X.ADD may do bad things to your system. Don't even askb
b) There may be some settings of HPFS386 cache that are incompatible.
4) Trap messages will now give the module name instead of the device name. For example, "Exception in module: CLOCK01" instead of "Exception in Device Driver: CLOCK$". ***change from 0220/0223: Traps in 32 bit code now show the modname, too
5) Systems with a 486SX chip running FP15 will function correctly. Note, they will NOT work with ACP or (necessarily) on MCP.
6) SESDD32 will now work correctly (I hope) for both uni and smp

Bug Fixes:
Fixes from earlier "dated" kernels:
Fixed a trap 000d in w_OpenCreate (140:4dfd or so in uni/w4 krnls, don't have regs for SMP). This was a post mcp/acp regression
Fixed strange loader i/o problems specific to the 0111 kernel.
Fixed a bootup sys31xx problem specific to the 0123 kernel.
Fixed a problem that was (I think) specific to Janauary uni ~W4 kernels which resulted in odd ring 3 (maybe ring 0?) traps and hangs
Fixed some trap and other peculiar problems specific to the 0206 kernel. Those were the result of a build problem.
Fixed some trap and other problems specific to the 0220/0223 kernels
Fixed a regression from JR15038 that caused a trap in CWBBS.IFS and PCSFLR0.IFS (AS/400 shared folders access).

Fixes to problems that exist in released code:
JR15494: Delayed response of Ctrl-C or Ctrl-S (pause) in os/2 windows
JR15405: (probably) DosQueryAsyncTimer fails on timecritical thread after mscount rolls over after 49.7 days of uptime
JR15030: TRAPDUMP QUERY doesn't show PD (needs a new trapdump.exe, too)
JR13335: Some VDMs won't run, complaining of too-long command lines
JR15194: XCOPY fails with SYS1186 or SYS1192 on (at least) MO drives
JR15038: Trap 8 in h_DeviceHelpDM running an app from a tcpbeui drive
JR15229: Files left open after ERROR_TOO_MANY_OPEN_FILES returned to app
PJ27700: SMP systems may get a trap 000e in _tkStopScan, particularly during a procdump operation.
PJ27676: Causes hangs on some systems running UNI or W4 kernels
PJ27554: Hang or (on allstrict) trap 3 on SMP (only) during beeps
PJ27678: SMP kernels could not be RIPL-booted. As part of this, there is a new config.sys parameter I13PAGES= available. Adding I13PAGES=1 to config.sys (note, no SET) reduces the memory usage of the mini VDM processes used by ibm1s506.add and the GRADD drivers. This becomes important in RIPL-boot situations. It may be helpful for UNI RIPL boot, as well.
PJ27677: SMP systems hang with multiple threads of same process entering a critical section (affects ADSM client)
PJ27757: Trap 000e running Theseus/4 (note, theseus4.exe may still end up with a sys3175, but at least the system doesn't crash).
PJ27736: Trap in _PLD_WriteReturnCode
PJ27777: Set BEGINLIBPATH= (in config.sys ONLY) may be ignored. Also, it would lead to a bogus copy of BEGINLIBPATH= in the environment. This latter symptom will be fixed in the NEXT kernel drop.
PJ27821: Trap 000e in SchedNextRet2 on some APM-enabled machines

Following are rough instructions for applying the os2krnl fix: In the directory from which you boot (C:\ or d:\ or whatever), type these commands. Note that os2krnl should have come with this file.

1. attrib -r -s -h os2krnl
2. attrib -r -s -h os2ldr
3. copy os2krnl os2krnl.sav
4. copy os2ldr os2ldr.sav
5. copy \os2\system\trace\*.tdf \save (or wherever)
5. unzip -o xxx.zip
If you want, you can turn the os2krnl and os2ldr attributes back on, but it's not necessary to do so.

Trace files (*.tdf) have been included.

An os2krnl.sym file has been provided with this fix. Just save it somewhere (root directory or anywhere). It is only needed in case OS/2 service requests a standalone dump of your system in the future.

Magician (OpenGL for Java) needs a new home

By sheer coincidence, I discovered that Magician, an OpenGL implementation for Java that supports OS/2, will be discontinued on May 1. It will no longer be available for download after that date.

Anyone interested in preserving this cool technology should visit the web page and try to grab it before it disappears. Perhaps they'll let you upload the code to hobbes.

http://arcana.symbolstone.org/products/magician/index.html

OS/2.cz news

We have finally found a newsmaster for the English part of our server. Martin Chlouba is our new editor.

From now on, we can provide you regularly with fresh news from the amazing world of OS/2 and eComStation as well as interesting articles, e-cards, e-books, skins, icons and other things...

http://www.os2.cz/index.php3?lang=en

Updated Java 1.3 on Software Choice

Tuesday, April 3, IBM udpated Java 1.3 on Software Choice. The new refresh includes the Java plug-in for the IBM Web Browser for OS/2. Java 1.3 is a reserved feature for Software Choice and Passport Advantage subscribers.

http://service.boulder.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/java13/f-feat.htm

Serious bug found in C-Side

A serious bug has been found in C-Side, the bug has been detected in version 4.0 but should exist in all versions !

When a previously saved layout is loaded, and the cover-layout printed, the program can freeze the desktop.

This can only happen in the registered version.

A workaround is to view both cover-layouts before printing !

A new version of C-Side will be released as soon as I have corrected the error.

----------------------

For those who don't know, C-Side is a CD label and cover designer, with a multitude of functions, and more are coming!

You can allways find the latest version on my homepage.

Kim Foder

kimfoder@inet.uni2.dk
kif@crosswinds.net

Homepage : http://inet.uni2.dk/~kimfoder/
Photopage : http://www.crosswinds.net/~kif

Member of team OS/2
Member of IACT

mum - MySQL User Manager 0.2

I just uploaded mum02.zip to hobbes.

mum is a VIO MySQL User Manager, for easy editing your MySQL user table. Freeware, of course.

http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=mum02.zip

Connect/2 7.6.8 released

Alexander Trunov has released Connect/2 7.6.8

Conncet/2 is a free 'NC'-Style Fiilemanager (but at least twice as powerful)

http://os2.ru/projects/connect/index.phtml.en

New CDR/RW Wizard 0.9.98

Finally the new CDR/RW Wizard version is out.

After more than 4 months it's here.

NEW! Now CDR/RW is capable of directly producing MP3 tracks from an Audio CD.

....also more functions added.

See the readme file.

http://www.quasarbbs.org/rocco/

Jakesplace news server expanded

I've greatly expanded the os2 newsfeed found at jakesplace.dhs.org. You will find the entire comp.os.os2.* hierarchy as found on my local provider, as well as the complete ecomstation hierarchy from news.ecomstation.nl, Netscape's mozilla OS/2 newsgroup, the java OS/2 newsgroup from IBM Hursley, and the Scitech Display Doctor os2 newsgroups. I've included some of the more general Scitech newsgroups and the OpenWatcom newsgroups as well, as they have interest for the OS/2 community even if they are not aimed specifically at us.

I'm interested in making my OS/2 newsfeed as complete as possible... in the future I will probably add the fr.* os2 newsgroups at least. However, despite the lack of language specific groups, jakesplace.dhs.org is one of the most complete one-stop shops for OS/2 usenet news on the internet today.

Feel free to drop by and check it out!

Jack Troughton

UpdCD 1.5 has been released

A new version of UpdCD has been released. This version supports the following new features:

- Amouse, SMP, HPFS386, UDF, OD 2.0 add-ons

- Preliminary Warp 3 support

- Improved WSeB support

- Support for the integration of new SCSI (Symbios) drivers

UpdCD can be used to build an updated Warp 3/4 and WSeB CD-ROM using fixpaks, updates and the original installation files.
http://xenia.sote.hu/~kadzsol/rexx/sajat/updcd.htm
http://www.quasarbbs.net/updcd/
http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=updcd15.zip

Kidstreet feedback release

If any of you have stopped by the PillarSoft Suite homepage in the last couple of days you may have noticed a new face in the crowd. We are making an educational program available for what we will call a feedback release. It has been knocking around here for a while and we need to know if work should continue. We have more planned for KidStreet besides the spelling and math at this point but with so many irons in the fire, we have to prioritize.

There is a little more information on it at the PillarSoft website. The link is on the PillarSoft Suite pages at:
http://www.pillarsoft.net/suite.html

If you are as blessed with the pitter patter of little feet as I am you may find it to be helpful.

To warn you ahead of time, the program will timeout eventually but it will continue to run for registered users of the PillarSoft Suite. Try it out, see if the kids will use it and send us your suggestions. Your feedback is the only gauge we have of public interest.

One other thing to mention is that the Enhanced E Editor has been refreshed already since it's release of two days ago. We had two sniggling problems with the new parts of it and we have fit the new settings dialog into it also. Please take a moment to update it at:
http://www.pillarsoft.net/enhanced.html

Work continues on the editor...


Have a great day!
Wayne Swanson

InetPowerServer v0.9.3 (Alpha 7) released!

On April 1st 2001, The author Terje Flaarønning released v0.9.3 (Alpha 7) of his full featured Inet server package InetPowerServer (IPS). This new version of IPS has a number of great performance enhancement over the previous version (v0.92) and will deliver e-mails, web pages or file transfer to your clients even faster than before. The web server component now has a plug-in interface for writing CGI style applica

InetPowerServer will help you provide efficient and stable Inet services for e-mail, file transfers and web. IPS provides a common security setup for multiple services, an advanced virtual file system and flexible multi hosting or even multiple site personalities. Many of the recent extensions to the supported protocols (FTP, HTTP, POP3 and SMTP) are also implemented in IPS making it one of the most feature complet

Work has begun developing an IMAP component for inclusion into the IPS product to further enhance the e-mail features available to your clients. There is no fixed date for completion of this new component yet, but the seek for beta testers has started. Please see a message posted on the IPS-list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IPS-list/message/557) regarding this.

The official IPS site can be found at http://www.InetPowerServer.com/ from where you can download the latest available version at any time. IPS is high quality software offered to you for free!

Best regards,

Terje Flaarønning û author of InetPowerServer

http://www.InetPowerServer.com/

RexxMail released

RexxMail is now available from
http://www.degeus.com/rexx/rexxmail_english.html
or
http://www.degeus.com/rexx/rexxmail_nederlands.html
if you prefer Dutch.

RexxMail is an e-mail processing program for the OS/2 WPS written in REXX. It makes full use of the capabilities offered by the WPS to create an object-oriented, fully drag ~drop enabled e-mail handling environment.

RexxMail features a multi-user configuration as well as a wide range of individual user options, including:

- choice of text reader for incoming messages;
- choice of text editor for outgoing messages;
- preprocessing of incoming attachments (e.g. virus scan);
- preprocessing of outgoing attachments (e.g. data compression);
- preselection of header entries to show for incoming messages;
- preconfigurable message object title content;
- send message text as quoted-printable or (word-wrapped) ASCII;
- send selected messages or all messages as ASCII text;
- intelligent 8-bit (PC850) to 7-bit (ASCII) text conversion;
- conversion to 8.3 filenames for selected filename extensions;
- full error and message traffic logging;
- RFC to ISO-sorted date conversion;
- choice of message icon stationery colours (there's a novelty!).

RexxMail is released under the terms of the GNU license, see http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

Regards,

Marcus de Geus
--
marcus@degeus.com
http://www.degeus.com