GEnie Livewire e-zine/LW9408MM.ZIP/IBM.TXT

Text File | 1994-07-27 | 8.0 KB | 199 lines

Any visit to one of GEnie's IBM-compatible
computing RoundTables can be a learning experience.
There's a wealth of knowledge to be garnered from
the Bulletin Boards, a huge selection of
educational software, tutorial programs and
information-packed text files in the Software
Libraries, and instant tips and troubleshooting
advice in Real-Time Conferences (RTCs) all over
GEnie.

Microsoft RoundTable

Yet another type of resource is available at
GEnie's Microsoft RoundTable. Selecting Option 6
from the Microsoft RoundTable's Main Menu at Page
505 will lead you to the Microsoft Knowledgebase, a
searchable database of information on all aspects
of the many products produced by Microsoft. You can
locate and capture answers to questions about MS
DOS, Windows, Windows NT, and Windows for
Workgroups, Microsoft Word for Windows and DOS,
Microsoft Excel, Word, and so forth.

In the Microsoft RoundTable Software Library on
Page 505, KBWRD6.EXE (File 4766) and WMWORD.EXE
(File 4881) are Windows Help files which discuss
issues relating to Word for Windows 6.0, compiled
from Knowledgebase articles. Similar .HLP files are
available for your favorite applications. If you
use Microsoft Works for Windows version 3.0 you
look for File 5221 USAWKS3B.EXE to update to
version 3.0b.

WordPerfect RoundTable

The WordPerfect RoundTable (Page 521, Keyword WP)
features "Users helping Users," and is a grand
source of reviews, printer drivers, macros,
graphics, models, templates, programs, tips, and
many other kinds of information pertaining to
WordPerfect Corporation products. This RoundTable
has a Product Support Database too, in Option 6 on
the Main Menu. Called the WordPerfect Product
Support Database, it contains a variety of general
information, help, tips, and support.  All entries
are derived from WordPerfect Corporation's Service
Bulletins and Infoshare files from their Customer
Services.

The WordPerfect RoundTable Software Library
features utilities to enhance your use of
WordPerfect products, information files, clip art,
WordPerfect support files and more. Recent
additions include File 4962 VIEW93.ZIP which is
VIEW 9.3, a great display utility program for
WordPerfect 5.0-6.0, Word 4-5, WinWord 1-2, Windows
Write, Ami Pro and ASCII files. File 4956
IC1WIN.ZIP is WordPerfect's support file for the
new personal information manager InfoCentral 1.0
for Windows. File 4957 OF4DOS.ZIP is a WordPerfect
support file for Office 4.0 for DOS.

Windows RoundTable

To better accomodate its large number of members,
the Windows RoundTable RTC Help Desk has expanded
coverage during the Western time zones. Help Desk
hours, at the time of this writing, are from
Midnight to 3:00 AM Eastern (that's 9:00 PM to
Midnight Pacific time) on Mondays and Thursdays,
and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00
PM until Midnight Eastern time. Type M1335;2 (or
use the keyword WINDOWS and select Option 2) to
visit the Windows RTC Help Desk for a quick
tutoring session with a Windows expert.

Schools and other places where computers are shared
by several users will want to download Cetus
Software's WinGuard and ProGuard from the Windows
Software Library (Page 1335). WinGuard (File 2381
WNGRD-21.ZIP) shields Program Manager from damage
by guest users using seven levels of protection,
and can hide user-selected program groups and
Control Panel icons behind a password-secured
shell. ProGuard File 2380 PROGUARD.ZIP is a Windows
utility that makes it impossible for guests to run
selected programs by clicking on their icons; a
password must be entered before any protected
icon's program can be made to start.

BarClock (File 2391 BARCLK24.ZIP) is high on this
writer's list of cool Windows utilities. It's a
tiny digital clock that displays on the title bar
of any active application, using little memory and
system resources. Highly configurable, BarClock
also displays the date, system information, timers,
alarms, a pop-up monthly calendar, and it will even
run programs on schedule.

If you use Microsoft Word for Windows version 6,
Woody's Office Power Pack 6.0 should be high on
your download list. A collection of utilities and
macros from Winword guru Woody Leonhard and
colleagues, Woody's Office Power Pack (or WOPR)
offers advanced file management tools, a toolbar
editor, 2x4 printing, superior envelope handling, a
mini personal information manager, and more. It's
in File 2415 WOPR60.ZIP.

WinFlash v3.0 (File 2327 FLASH_30.ZIP) is a
terrific program for students at all educational
levels. This major upgrade adds fonts, colors, BMP
graphics, WAV sounds and a new "Auto Learn" mode
that customizes its selection of questions by
focusing on those not yet learned. Questions and
answers can be up to 1000 characters in length and
may be edited from within the program. WinFlash is
easy for children to use and adults will find it
helpful for memorizing coursework or professional
material.

OS/2 RoundTable

The OS/2 RoundTable at Page 1400 has a "flash card"
program for children of that operating environment,
File 1514 PMMATH24.ZIP. And check out PMSPELL.ZIP
(File 327), a Presentation Manager-based spelling
game that challenges kids' knowledge with a nice,
big dictionary of spelling words.

For tips on techniques and answers to questions
pertaining to MultiMedia 1.1, download File 2552
MMTIPS.ZIP. And take a look at INFSTART.ZIP to
learn about online references and get started on
creating your own. INFSTART.ZIP is File 2551.

IBM PC RoundTable

Need to improve your keyboard skills? Head for the
IBM PC RoundTable at Page 615 (Keyword IBMPC) and
download MasterMind Typing v1.04 (File 35758
MMTYPE04.EXE). You'll learn to touch-type quickly
and easily because patented MasterMind "reads your
mind." It introduces a new key only when you're
ready for it and repeats just what you need.

A great selection of educational programs for
children awaits you in the IBM PC Software Library.
Try KidStuff Software's Talking Number Machine v2.0
(Files 35582 and 35581, TNUM2B.ZIP and TNUM2A.ZIP),
for example. Utilizing both mouse and keyboard,
Talking Number Machine 2.0 is designed to help
children recognize, say, and write numbers from 1
to 9,999,999,999,999. TNUM displays interesting
facts which include large numbers. TNUM uses high
quality digitized speech to pronounce numbers.
Activities include entering numbers as digits,
writing them as words, having the computer speak or
write numbers, and counting by increments of 1 to
10.

Sounds Like A... v3.0, also from KidStuff Software,
is a uniquely entertaining game for children that
uses colorful graphics, high-quality sounds, and
MIDI music. Identify the picture which represents
the sound or song to reveal a hidden picture. It's
also a memory game in which you match pictures
with sounds, as well as a Tape Recorder where any
of the sounds and songs may be played. Sounds Like
A... is available in Files 35607 and 35606,
SLA30B.ZIP and SLA30A.ZIP. If you don't have a
sound card installed, download version 2.0 in
Files 35605 and 35604, SLA20B.ZIP and SLA20A.ZIP.

Enhance your computer education by downloading File
35551 TUTOR.ZIP. This is a set of batch file
tutorials consisting of 70+ files -- ten lessons
with three appendix lists of important DOS Keys
among others. The Lessons were written by the
author for his T.A.F.E. Computer Classes in General
Computing and have been tested in classrooms over a
period of three years. Its tutorials range from
simple to complex.

Of course, while visiting the IBM PC RoundTable,
don't overlook the Bulletin Board. It's home to
some of the liveliest and most informative
discussions on IBM-compatible computing anywhere
online. Take time to browse through the vast
message base -- it's a continually evolving
resource of shared information.


If you've been playing hooky from your favorite
IBM-compatible computing RoundTable, now's the time
to return. You'll find classes in session whenever
you want them, and there's no teacher's dirty
looks.