Like my fellow RUN editors, I spend a better part of each day on the telephone answering questions from RUN readers. Callers phone in to discuss topics that range from problems encountered typing in program listings in the magazine to recommendations of Commodore hardware and software. The callers vary in age from young to old, in experience levels ranging from beginners to long-time computer pros, and each caller serves as a reminder that lots of people are still using the trusty Commodore 64 and its big brother C-128.
Why do folks call us? Primarily, people turn to RUN because they know we're there to help them. Granted, RUN now sells C-64 and C-128 products, ranging from Commodore-compatible printer interfaces to GEOS packages, but our sales calls are minimal in number compared to the stream of calls received from our readers. The editorial staff's reputation for friendliness and genuine willingness to help readers plays a large role in why our phones are rarely silenced.
If there's any other reasons why folks call, it's usually because they just want to talk computers with us. Also, we've received numerous reports that if you place a call to Commodore headquarters and ask a really tough question, such as where to get help using your computer, and they'll usually give you our telephone number. Free advertising doesn't get any better than that!
If there's any other part of my job that I look forward to more than the telephone calls, it's the compiling of the ReRUN disk I perform every two months. It's the one job responsibility that keps met in tune with the RUN readers better than any other.
What's New In This Edition
Again, I just want to extend a big "thank you" to all our readers and subscribers for your letters and feedback. Please keep those letters coming! Kicking off this edition of ReRUN, we have a dynamite game published in the May-June 1992 issue of RUN. Our premier game programmer, Tony Brantner, brings us Traverse. This game is a challenging multi-level game that is certain to keep you entertained for hours.
Next on the roster is Stock Market by Reiner Richter. This stock market simulation program for the C-64 is almost as exciting to play as the real thing. You invest in stocks and monitor their daily performance. Remember the Golden Rule of investors everywhere: Buy low and sell high!
While computers are usually known by keeping time in a digital manner, this edition's 128 Mode goes back in time to the days before analog clocks were in use. Sundial 128, by Mark Jordan, creates a sundial for your C-128. It's great fun to see the sun on your Commodore and educational to boot.
Our bonus programs are an exciting mix of applications and utilities sure to round out the collections of Commodore enthusiasts everywhere. Magazindex by Gary Noakes is a C-64 magazine database that you can use to enter articles from all of your favorite publications. When needed, you can load in a file and search on any number of criteria, such as author or article. A number of articles from RUN and Magic column entries have already been saved on disk for your convenience and for familarizing yourself with the program. We're sure everyone will appreciate this handy program.
Next on the list of bonus programs is Intermission 128, a screen blanker by Henry Sopko. When you run this program, it temporarily clears the C-128's 80-column screen if no keys are pressed for 15 minutes. The amount of time before the program clears the screen is also user-defined.
The third bonus program is Super Autorun, a much sought-after menu utility used to load and run all of your C-64 programs. It can be run from either device 8 or 9, and supports all Commodore-compatible disk drives.
Our fourth and final bonus program is Connector 128, a connect-the-dots type program for the C-128. Written by by John Huggins, Connector is a two-player game that I recall playing with pencil and paper many years ago. You're given the choice of a small or large grid, and you and your favorite opponent compete to see who can fill the most squares.
Mail Call!
The May/June 1992 edition of ReRUN is the fourth ReRUN disk that uses our interactive interface, with its Letter to the Editor option. I urge all ReRUN users to write and mail their responses to us with this convienent option.
In previous editions, I encouraged readers to write in so that they could see their letter and name published in this column. Not only that, but also to respond to the contests we publish in each edition. More importantly, I encourage folks to write in so that we can have feedback on how we're doing. I've put to practice some of your recommendations, such as changing the screen colors and speeding up the loading process.
I'd like to share some letters that we've received from ReRUN users anxious to share their thoughts and ideas with us. Before launching into that topic, I want to congratulate Mr. Edwin Benton of Attapulgus, Georgia, who was the winner of the March/April 1992 ReRUN contest.
Mr. Benton posed some CP/M questions concerning his C-128 and correctly answered four out of the five questions we posed. He'll receive a Commodore 1670 modem and two Microprose games from RUN's ever-expanding software catalog. Great show, Mr. Benton!
Here's the questions and correct answers to last edition's quiz:
1. What year was the Commodore 128 introduced?
b. 1985
2. What year was the Commodore 64 introduced?
a. 1981
3. As of January 1992, who was serving as the president of Commodore's U.S. operations?
d. James Dionne
4. Who is the CEO and major stock holder of Commodore International?
d. Irving Gould
5. Where has the U.S. division of Commodore been based for the past several years?
c. West Chester, Pennsylvania
Moving right along, here are some of the things your fellow ReRUN users are saying:
I think this new version of ReRUN is much better.
Lawrence Scanlon
Atlantic City, NJ
A couple of comments (my wish list). Give us the opportunity to copy from drive eight to drive nine. Also, speed up the initial load. Thanks for a job well done, so far.
Leo R. Tintner
New York, NY
The Ultimate Sprite Editor on the November/December 1991 edition of ReRUN is really great. However, when I try to make a Help screen as described in teh magazine, I failed four times. What am I doing wrong?
William R. Kennedy
Birmingham, AL
Editor's note: Based on your description, I think I know where you may have gone wrong. all you have to do is copy the Ultimate Sprite Editor to a work disk, then follow the instructions for creating a Help screen. The process should work fine.
I think the new set up is cool. At first, I was wondering where the booklet was, but when I started using the disk, I was really impressed. I can't think of any improvements, but I'll let you know if I think of any in the future. Thank you.
Joseph J. Sowka
Scranton, PA
I just wanted to know that I can copy your disk by myself. I am a ham operator who had to learn computers by myself. I am 66 years young and you should know a lot of your programs are not for us older people.
Edward Van Sickle
Whitehall, WI
This is my first ReRUN disk, so I really don't have any basis for comparisions. I do like the menu for getting around. I do agree with those who say we need to change the screen colors. Mah Jongg on the Janaury/February disk is dark and hard to see clearly.
My thoughts are to sign up for ReRUN and to have it be delivered on a regular basis. Incidently, I don't know the answers to your quiz.
Bruce Malcom
Blackfoot, ID
I like the new ReRUN disk format. The menu is easy to use and I like having the documentation and copy options on the disk. I really like the Automenu program on your November/December 1991 edition, and it should be quite useful.
I have one suggestion for future consideration. Since your disks are double-sided, why not put the C-64 programs on one side and the C-128 programs on the other. That way, C-64 users could load using the syntax LOAD "*",8 and they wouldn't have to bother with flipping the disk.
Tom Hamm
Mansfield, OH
For the first-time ReRUN user, this format is great. Simple, concise and certainly effective, you could say it's a mini-typewriter in disguise. Keep up the good work.
Jerry Littman
Channel Islands Harbor, CA
The only thing I will add to all the good things that have been said is that I like the new mailing envelope. Everthing else has been covered. I would also like to see the following improvements: In the game Mah Jongg, I can't distinguish the dots and circles on the tiles.
Make use of the 128 keypad in both 64 and 128 mode. I have a 64 mode keypad program that I use. Finally, put Menu 64 as the first program on the disk. That way, you can use LOAD "*",8 to load the program.
Harold D. Johnston
Bakersfield, CA
This is a follow-up letter to my first. I used ReRUN's Multi-Format program to format a 1581 disk and a 1571 disk. Using the Maverick disk utility, I copied Menu 64 as the first file on my backup disk. I then copied the remaining ReRUN files to the backup disk.
All my C-64 programs are on one side, and my 1571 will now read both sides of the backup disk, without a need to flip the disk over. I now load Menu 64 with a LOAD "*",8. I load my C-128 programs by pressing F3 (the Directory key) and typing RUN in front of the program want to run.
Harold D. Johnston
Bakersfield, CA
Your new interface is great. I would like to be able to use the LOAD "*",8,1 command to load the disk, then have a choice of either running Menu 64 or Menu 128. What a fanatistic interface it would be then.
The Copy command in the interface should give you the option of using two drives. That way, you could copy between two 1541's or a 1541 and a 1581. Maybe a copier between the disk drives and a REU would really enhance your interface.
Donald H. Wilson
Holly Hill, FL
I have received my November/December 1991 edition of ReRUN and am very pleased with it. It was money well spent. I'm really impressed with he contents for both the 64 and 128. I am sure looking forward to the next.
K. B. Wilson
Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
Editor's note: Just so that you're made aware we don't always get wonderful letters continually praising the goodness of ReRUN, I submit the following letter:
I am less than thrilled at the "docs on disk" change. First, I like the smallness of the booklets. They're easy to store. The output to the printer from ReRUN requires an 8.5" X 11" page and some sort of notebook for storage. I might as well keep the floppy magazine propped up!
Second, if you continue this format, the printed docs must be kept to a single page (or two full pages). The top of this letter contains the end of the documentation for Composite-Man. What a waste!
Joanne Corney
Midwest City, OK
Tips on Using ReRUN
If you're using this ReRUN interface for the first time, be sure to read the following instructions carefully. While all the programs on this disk are listed and described above, neither Menu 64 nor Menu 128 will display all of them. That's because Menu 64 lists those programs that run in 64 mode, or both 64 and 128 mode; it does not list 128 mode programs. Menu 128 (which only works in 40-column mode) accesses programs that run in 128 mode, or both 64 and 128 mode; it does not list any C-64-specific programs.
The ReRUN interface not only accesses program and documentation files, but it also copies files to work disks. All related data and program files are copied when the file copy feature is selected. Just place a formatted work disk in the drive when prompted.
As with previous ReRUN disks, I've included the following tips that will help you use both Menu 64 and Menu 128:
1. When in either Menu 64 or 128, you can use either the cursor keys on the keyboard or a joystick plugged into either port to position the cursor on a selection. Pressing Return activates that selection.
2. Selecting a program brings up a menu for executing the program, copying the program's files to a work disk, or reading and printing the program's documentation.
3. We encourage everyone to use the Send Us a Letter option in Menu 64 and 128 to give us feedback on ReRUN. Just type in a short letter, and enter your name and address at the exit prompts. Your letter will be output on your printer, complete with both your address and our address. Fold it into thirds, put a stamp on it and mail it to us. We'll publish your letter on our next ReRUN disk. When you send us a ReRUN reader feedback letter, you also become eligible for winning hardware and software prizes .
4. All documentation is included on the ReRUN disk. Selecting the Read Documentation option for a program automatically loads the corresponding text file. Here's a quick reference summary of commands:
Cursor keys = Move up or down one line at a time.
Home = Go to the first screen.
Control/L = Go to the last screen.
Control/P = Print the file on the printer.
Control/H = Display the help screen.
Control/X = Exit to the main screen.
Control/F = Page forward to the next screen.
Control/B = Page backwards to the previous screen.
5. Menu 64 and 128 also include a handy Copy command which copies all the files of an application to another disk. If you're copying lengthy files, look for the "Insert destination disk" and "Insert source disk" prompts that appear. They let you know when you need to swap disks.
That covers the information needed to use ReRUN. To paraphase a popular news show on television: "You stay in touch so that we'll stay in touch!"
