Postbag

PASCAL ENTHUSIASTS UNITE

I have an A310 and access to an A440, and I predominantly use Pascal. I also did an assessment of the Pascal compiler for Acorn on the 310.

Your excellent magazine does not cover how to program the machine except in Basic (with some machine code inserts). I would like to contact others like myself who would like to exploit the machine properly, but using Pascal rather than Basic. I have made a start by producing three modules for using the timer, providing random numbers and using the keyboard. To produce a complete set of modules is a big undertaking, especially for more complex facilities such as WIMP extensions.
Brian Wichmann

As Mr Wichmann says, RISC User concentrates on Basic with some ARM assembler, though we do not completely ignore other languages (see our recent review of a Forth compiler in RISC User Volume 2 Issue 4 for example). We would also devote more space in the magazine to other languages if there was sufficient interest. However, as far as Pascal is concerned at present, if anyone wishes to contact Mr Wichmann, they should write to us and we will forward their letters.

WORD PROCESSORS, SPREADSHEETS ETC

Like Mr Weaver in your March issue (Volume 2 Issue 4) I feel that 1st Word Plus is an excellent word processor which caters for all my present needs. I understand that in the ST and PC worlds there is now a 1st Word Plus 2. Can you confirm this?

On the spreadsheet side, I have Pipedream and Logistix, both excellent programs. Pipedream I like for its close links to a word processor, and hence its good presentational ability when printing reports. The reason I use Logistix is for its graphics facilities. But on balance I prefer Pipedream, and if they were to bring out a graph module for it I would use it exclusively.

My problem is when it comes to choosing a good database program. I originally used System Delta Plus from Minerva, but on upgrading to a hard disc, I found the 'key disc' method of copy protection (see also this month's review of Version 2) was so annoying that I no longer use this program. I have now purchased Alphabase from Clares, and whilst this is not for my purpose as useful as Minerva's System Delta, at least I can use it straight from hard disc. Convenience wins. I am still waiting for the ultimate database, maybe something along the lines of Superbase on the ST which would allow storage of both text and graphical information.

I use an Archimedes at work, and when recommending software it is important that it is not only capable of doing the job, but also that it is convenient to use. No other software we use on other machines is protected in any way. I do know that if the Archimedes is to compete in a business environment, companies like Minerva are going to have to rethink their attitude to copy protection and its effect on the end user.

The answer I received from Minerva when I raised this point just does not wash. I quote, "for £199 plus VAT we can provide a non copy-protected version of System Delta Plus. This is the same sort of price you would have to pay in the business world for a comparable program such as dBase". Is it? When you purchase dBase you not only get the program, but all the things you have to pay extra for with System Delta Plus. That is; programmer's reference manual, reporter module, and mail-shot module. In fact, by the time you have paid for all these Minerva 'extras' the cost of System delta Plus is not far short of £199 anyway.
Simon Coulthurst

We feel that, although longer than most letters which we publish, Mr.Coulthurst's comments were well worthy of a more public airing. What are your views? And maybe the suppliers of some of the software mentioned might like to reply as well. We are also hoping to devote more space to major applications software in future magazines, and indeed have already started to do so in the current issue. Finally, we are not aware of the existence of any version 2 of 1st Word Plus.