Executor 2.0/executorv2.0.iso/pc/linux/extra/docs/maillist/text/archive.92/text0086.txt

Text File | 1996-04-02 | 6.5 KB | 131 lines

Dear Folks,

            Status of V1.2

    I know you're eagerly awaiting release 1.2 of Executor.
We're making progress, but it certainly seems like we take a step
backward for every two or three that we make forward.  We sent out a
few copies of Executor V1.1.1c a couple weeks ago, but that beta
version was fatally flawed by not changing a symbolic link to the
Word configration file; I have sent one copy of V1.1.1e out but it
appears to have cache problems (Barlow wasn't exagerating in his
mention that we're doing something that Apple can't, running Word 4.0
with the cache on most of the time), so I'll hold off on sending that
out to the rest of you.

    Here's how I see V1.2 shaping up:

    We have revamped the filesystem greatly.  You can now get at
files anywhere on your system and you can run programs directly off
the floppy (it's very slow, but it is necessary for the installation
of some programs).  However, we didn't realize it, but since HFS_XFer
doesn't use stdfile (where some of the trick mods were made), it
can't go everywhere like Executor can; hence HFS_XFer is being
rewritten by overworked and underpaid Bill Goldman.  He's up for it
as long as no one distracts him with job offers that pay real
money...  One person has also had problems with our filesystem code
when he tried to go across mounted filesystems.  The code to make all
of this work is pretty tricky, but it worked over here, so we were
real frusterated to find out it was failing elsewhere.  Luckily we
have found a way to make the bug appear over here, which means a fix
is in sight (our biggest problem is when others have trouble that we
can't repeat.  Emulating another machine, especially one with no
formal spec, is a much tougher job than typical programming).

    Printing is much improved, but just like the filesystem,
there's a mystery bug that has to be crushed.  Justification works
and printed output is much nicer than before, with one major
exception: any text that was scaled when it was printed on the screen
will drift significantly around the page.  This one is very
repeatable in house and is my top priority (after I get my wedding
invitations done).  You can't yet use your NeXT fonts within Executor
(unless they happen to already be in the System file that we supply),
but we will be making a separate program that allows you to do this
(kind of like Font/DA Mover).  I had wanted it to be more automatic,
a la ATM, but there's no way we can get that into V1.2.

    Word 5 runs well, but hasn't had as much testing as we'd like
(it's a big program).  Gone are the problems with saving files and
printing (other than the printing problems already mentioned).  We
still have more testing to do.  However, we haven't been able to get
Equation Editor to work.  We will continue to work on this but will
not be able to guarantee it will be ready by V1.2 time.

    Excel 3 is in the same state that Word 5 is, except we can't
yet get it to print.  Bill has looked into it and is mystified.  I'll
look at it this weekend.  Don't be too worried by the upcoming
release of Excel 4.  Now that Apple's product line is more diverse
and actually has an 040 product in it, we're finding the software
that comes out now is much easier to qualify than software from a
year ago.  Hooray!

    Some floating point bugs were fixed which means that some of
the money managing programs work better.  There is still at least one
known bug which Bill is looking into.

    Executor now claims that it is running "System 6.0.5"; it
also supports the "Gestalt" call.  This should allow more programs to
run.  We're working on a couple bits of short term financing that
should allow us to have copies of many more programs to qualify.

    V1.2 will be packaged in a 3 ring binder that slips into a
protective box.  I like the Stone Design packaging and asked Andrew
whether he minded us copying it.  He's a good guy.  If you know what
Create! and DataPhile documentation looks like, that's what we intend
for V1.2.  However V1.2 will be ready before the documentation is, so
we'll ship the software as soon as it's ready with a note that says
you can go forward without documentation (which shouldn't be a chore;
V1.2 should be that easy to use), or you can put the disk aside until
the documentation is ready.

            Status of ARDI

    We are very happy with the letters and e-mail that we
receive.  As you know, the task that we have chosen is much harder
than typical application development and that difficulty has been
compounded by our lack of capital.  We're still pursuing deals (in
our copious free time) that could alleviate the capital crunch, but
the good news is that even if we have to totally bootstrap ourselves,
with our only source of funds being what we've already borrowed from
friends and family and our now small but steady revenue stream, we
will do it!

    I know that our small size can be frusterating, but in the
future you may find yourselves chuckling at our humble beginnings,
just as I do when I reflect on some of the documentation for the
PDP-8 (DEC's machine before the Alpha, before the DECstation, before
the VAX, before the PDP-11).  BTW, we now have another phone line, so
it should be much easier to get us without getting a busy signal.
We'll also be getting a ".com" address so within a couple of weeks
our addresses should shorten considerably (e.g. [e-mail] instead
of iclone![e-mail]).

            Word 4.00E Announcement

    From "One to One", Microsoft's newsletter for Microsoft Mac
products, May 1992 p.2 column 3:

    "If you're a registered MS Word user, we can send you the
    Word 4.0e maintenance release, which is fully compatible with
    the Quardra.  Version 4.0e is a one-disk release that makes
    Word 4.0 compatible with the Quadra; no other changes have
    been made.  To order the maintenance release, call Microsoft
    Sales and Service toll free at [phone].  This release
    is available free of charge (plus freight) to any registered
    user of MS Word for the Macintosh version 4.0"

We will be ordering this upgrade when the busy signal on the above
number dies down.  We are hoping that this version can be run without
requiring the "CacheProblems" section of the Configuration file.
That would mean that Word would run faster.  It also might be worth
pursuing if you have a copy of Word that is older than 4.00D, since
4.00D is what we've used in house for all of our testing.  I'll post
more about 4.00E when we receive our copy.

    Thanks for your support.

    Sincerely

    Cliff