Subject: Info-Mac Digest V16 #384 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="Info-Mac-Digest" --Info-Mac-Digest Info-Mac Digest Wed, 15 Dec 99 Volume 16 : Issue 384 Today's Topics: [*] TidBITS#510/14-Dec-99 (Q) Anyone having any luck using Acrobat phone support? (Q) Saving Remote Access configurations [*] audion_1.2.sit.hqx - listen to CD's, MP3's, and net audio in style. [*] FTP: LSQL10b14.hqx [*] Mac Stock Calculator 3.0 [*] QuoEdit 0.61 [*] Studio System 2.1 [*] Verbs & Nouns 2.4.2 - foreign language learning [*] Witchdoctor Pro 2.0.0 [*] WolfEdit 2.0.4 Source Code flash demo infrared port not working on G3/bronze (Q) invisible file utilities making my own icons OS 9 and ATM 4.5.2 Patch builder? PowerMac G4 and Mac OS 8.6 Security certificates in Web Browsers The Info-Mac Network is a volunteer organization that publishes the Info-Mac Digest and operates the Info-Mac Archive, a large network of FTP sites containing gigabytes of freely distributable Macintosh software. Working with the Info-Mac Digest: * To submit articles to the digest, email . * To subscribe, send email to with subscribe in the Subject line. * To unsubscribe, send email to with unsubscribe in the Subject line. * To change your address, unsubscribe from the old address, then subscribe from the new address. If that fails, try using the list maintenance form at before contacting us. * Please send administrative queries to . Downloading and Submitting Files from the Info-Mac Archive: * A full list of Info-Mac mirror sites is available at: * Search the archive via the MIT HyperArchive at: . * To submit files for the archive, email the binhexed file with a description to . Submissions must be made by the author or with permission of the author. It may take up to a week to process; check mirror sites for the status of new uploads. * To submit files larger than 2 MB, email a description to and then use an FTP client to upload the binhexed file to info-mac.org, using the userid "macgifts" and the password "macgifts". Or, click . Info-Mac volunteers include Adam C. Engst, Demitri Muna, Hugh Lewis, Tom Coradeschi, Shawn Bunn, Christopher Li, Patrik Montgomery, and Ed Chambers. The Info-Mac Digest is sponsored in part by StarNine Technologies, developers of Internet server software for the Macintosh, including Web and email publishing systems. We'd also like to thank AOL for the main Info-Mac machine. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --Info-Mac-Digest Content-Type: multipart/digest; boundary="----------------------------" Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Info-Mac Digest V16 #384" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 22:00:00 -0800 From: TidBITS Editors Subject: [*] TidBITS#510/14-Dec-99 TidBITS#510/14-Dec-99 Happy Holidays! We've collected gift suggestions from TidBITS readers again= this year, so read on if you're still trying to find the perfect gift for= your Macintosh-using friends and relations. This is also our final issue= for 1999, though we'll continue to post news items and polls on our home= page. Assuming the world doesn't end at midnight on 31-Dec-99, we'll see= you in 2000.=20 Topics: GiftBITS/14-Dec-99 1999 Hardware Gift Ideas 1999 Software Gift Ideas 1999 Gaming Gift Ideas 1999 Miscellaneous Gift Ideas 1999 Gift Ideas for the Macintosh-Minded Gifts That Help Support TidBITS [Archived as /info-mac/per/tb/tidbits-510.etx; 36K] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 09:51:18 -0800 From: Mark Allen Subject: (Q) Anyone having any luck using Acrobat phone support? For assistance with Acrobat beyond the initial period of complimentary phone support, Adobe provides the option to subscribe for a fee to a year of phone support (toll-free access, priority routing). On Monday, I contacted the Acrobat number to receive support under this plan, but I was not able to get through to a support technician. The person who answered the phone took down some information and told me that I would be called back within 24 hours. Today, two days later, I had not been called back, so I called again. Again the person who answered the phone said that I could not be put through to a technician, but this time the call back time was increased to 48 hours. So, while I have a pressing problem that I need to resolve for my work and while I've paid for "priority access," Adobe doesn't seem to be even able to start to assist me for as much as a week after I made the initial contact. Is anyone else having this problem at this time? Mark Allen ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 09:11:50 -0500 From: Mike Kreachbaum Subject: (Q) Saving Remote Access configurations On Fri, 10 Dec 1999 23:47:30 -0500, Tom Fortmann wrote; >>>snip<<< Whenever I upgrade the OS, all my Remote Access and TCP/IP configurations disappear. The only way I know to save them is very tedious: export them individually to files and then import them after the upgrade. Does someone know a better way? Where does the OS store that information? <<>> Tom, These settings are stored in the preference files. Just go to the System folder, then to the Preferences folder and save a copy of the RA and TCP/IP and while your there, save a copy of the Modem prefs too. Then after you upgrade, replace the new files with your saved copies. I have also taken a screen shot, (command, shift, 3) of the open TCP/IP window in case the pref file is corrupted. Hope this helps, Mike Kreachbaum "just an ordinary boy, playing with an extraordinary toy!" Think Different, do it on a Mac. ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 From: Cabel Sasser Subject: [*] audion_1.2.sit.hqx - listen to CD's, MP3's, and net audio in style. Panic Inc is proud to announce Audion(tm), a sophisticated, full-featured, stylish audio player only for the Macintosh that can play CDs, MPEG audio (including MP3s), and network streaming audio. This latest version, 1.2, fixes a number of bugs and adds some significant new features! The full releasenotes are available at the following location: Audion's features include full threaded CDDB support for CD title lookup, complete MP3 support including VBR files and ID3 tags, an original design that offers seamless integrates the three audio types, gorgeous interfaces with true shadows and transparency, smooth network audio (IceCast, ShoutCast) playback including a built-in guide of network audio servers, an 100% Finder-like playlist, and much much more. Audion comes with a full-featured demo that can be used for as long as needed to decide to purchase; after 15 days of use, however, your sessions will be limited to thirty minutes. Audion requires a PowerPC 604 processor (G3 recommended) and MacOS 8.0+. Give Audion a whirl, and let us know what you think! We'd love to hear from you. Our E-Mail address is "audion@panic.com". [Archived as /info-mac/gst/snd/audion-12.hqx; 2945 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 From: "Hao Li" Subject: [*] FTP: LSQL10b14.hqx LSQL 1.0b14 LSQL is a replacement of isql from Sybase. System 7.1 or higher and PowerPC are required. LSQL is threaded, and a long query won't block other queries or other running softwares. It works on MacOS 8.6, which was the primary reason to develop the software, since isql can run due to the font bug on MacOS 8.6. LSQL is distributed as freeware for non-commercial use. For commercial use, please contact me at: li_hao_@hotmail.com. [Archived as /info-mac/dev/lsql-10.hqx; 1509 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 From: george Subject: [*] Mac Stock Calculator 3.0 Mac Stock Calculator Freeware When I first started using the Apple Computer in the 80's. There were many shareware and freeware applications circulating among Apple users. Stock Calculator, a basic stock application created by George Gaeta a LIMac member and is designed to give the user a view of what the stock is doing with just a few clicks of the mouse. Stock Calculator allows the user to ask for a percentage on the stock investment that the stock returns and also the percentage that the user would want from the stock. Stock Calculator creates a bar graph showing the percentage on the stock investment. The results can be printed for future reference. [Archived as /info-mac/app/bus/mac-stock-calculator-30.hqx; 26 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 From: Lyomei Sakai Subject: [*] QuoEdit 0.61 A text editor for plain (monostyled) text that runs on System 7 or later. QuoEdit 0.61 is Free. [Features] Intended to provide quick operations in the simple interface. Supports AppleScript -- it can even record, run and save tasks like keyboard macro without the Script Editor! Multiple levels of undo and redo for each document. WorldScript savvy. and so forth. [New in this version] Supporting proportional scroll box Showing preview on the standard file dialog boxes And several bugs were fixed. Lyomei Sakai [Archived as /info-mac/text/quo-edit-061.hqx; 772 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 From: stefan schramm Subject: [*] Studio System 2.1 *system requirements: macintosh (or windows) computer running filemaker 3.0 or greater. some restrictions apply to windows. *the studio system helps you minimize the time spent on management and administration chores of your studio(s). the system consists of a number of related modules that hold specific information and are accessed from a central main menu. *point-and-click interface: no knowledge of filemaker pro required. with about 1000 field definitions, you can enter as much detail as you wish or just use the modules that you find most useful. *cost-effective: solutions of this type are normally custom-programmed and can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. the studio system is shareware and registration costs no more than a roll of multitrack tape. *integration: access all information from within one application. the studio system is communication and accounting software, archive, address, and inventory database, studio calculator, appointment keeper, label and track sheet printer, and more for all studio activity. *support for international users: customize all printable forms with local language templates (english, german, french, and italian already included). [Archived as /info-mac/app/bus/studio-system-21.hqx; 1677 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 From: Jacek Iwanski Subject: [*] Verbs & Nouns 2.4.2 - foreign language learning 'Verbs & Nouns' is an application for practising inflection, translation and pronunciation at the level of single words. Features include the opportunity to do various inflection exercises, and translation exercises in both directions; to record and play sound for single words; to do exercises based on sound or pictures; and to play various word-games. The program keeps a record of exercises, and identifies the words that the student has difficulty with. Along with the program, you need a module for the target language concerned. The program can also be used as an authoring tool to write your own modules of inflected words for any language. A built-in 'inflection-generator' simplifies the addition of these words. A 'Find' feature allows the modules to be used as bilingual dictionaries. Ready-made modules are already available for certain languages. You can visit: to get more information. Jacek Iwanski. [Archived as /info-mac/edu/lang/verbs-and-nouns-242.hqx; 1967 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 From: Yellowsoft Subject: [*] Witchdoctor Pro 2.0.0 Witchdoctor Pro is a program that allows the user to manipulate files in several way by means of plug-ins. It has three kind of plug-ins: Watcher (the plug-in that does everything), Resource Module (a plug-in containing resources) and Data Module (a plug-in containing data). You may create or modify plug-ins, quickly and easily using Witchdoctor Pro itself. When you drag a file onto Witchdoctor Pro then you may select manually the plug-in that should work, or let Witchdoctor Pro choose the appropriate one. Moreover, Witchdoctor Pro may create Witchcrafts! Witchcrafts are 68K, PPC or FAT stand-alone applications containing a Watcher and, optionally, a Resource Module and a Data Module. As bonus Witchcrafts may contain custom About boxes. Watchers and Witchcrafts can perform up to five series of actions and link together all series. Without wasting words here are some of stuff you may do by creating Watchers or Witchcrafts for Witchdoctor Pro: Updater Applications with name and version checking. File's Finder flag bits manipulation (stationery, locked, invisible and so on). Two ways or one way file conversion (Type, Creator, Finder Infos) between specified kind of files, example: you may create a Watcher for just swapping only between SimpleText files and SimpleText Read Only and vice versa. Simple Type, Creator and Name changing. Adding Data and Resource from Modules or remove resource forks. Another example: up until now in order to create self-extracting compressed archive, you need to open the document with whatever program goes with it, then save it as a self-extractor. Now instead, after you've created the appropriate plug-in, you can just drop the document on Witchdoctor Pro (or on the created Witchcraft), and it will output a self-extractor, and vice versa. File deletion. File launching. File launching by means of alternate applications. File duplication. File trashing. File copying. Alias creation. Internet Config post process. And more... In a few words plug-ins creation is limited only by your creativity. By using a bit of fantasy you may create plug-ins for (little) security erasing, or to launch a self-extracting archive after its creation, or to open all dragged files by using one alternate application, or to open any dragged file by using several alternate applications. And so on... Witchdoctor Pro is Internet Config and Navigation Manager aware, it's Appearance Savvy and requires at least System Seven to run. Think different, use Witchdoctor Pro! [Archived as /info-mac/disk/witch-doctor-pro-20.hqx; 475 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 From: greg@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz Subject: [*] WolfEdit 2.0.4 Source Code This is the Think Pascal 4 source code of WolfEdit 2.0.4. The executable is also available from the Info-Mac Archive. What is WolfEdit 2? WolfEdit 2 is a complete scenario editor for the Macintosh version of Wolfenstein 3D. With WolfEdit 2, not only can you design your own maps, you can replace the artwork for walls, doors, objects, weapons and more. Greg Ewing greg@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz http://www.cosc.canterbury.ac.nz/~greg [Archived as /info-mac/dev/src/wolf-edit-source-204.hqx; 446 K] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 14:07:09 +0100 From: remi Subject: flash demo quadra 950 with PPC-card 950 mb disc / 80 mb ram os 7.5.5 i got an official flash 4 demo on cd from macromedia-distributor and installed it on my hard-disc. according to the readme file the circumstances should be sufficient, but flash wouldn't start. in apple techinfo library i discovered tips about copying 'objectsupportlib' from the system into the flash-directory but so far: no success. i keep getting the message: interfacelib--makedataexecutable can anyone tell me what the problem could be ... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 23:08:06 -0800 From: David L Hirschberg Subject: infrared port not working on G3/bronze (Q) My infrared port is not working on my mac. This started sometime after installing system 9. I realized something was up when I got an error -23 when trying to turn on the infrared port to sync with my palmIII. When I choose infrared from the control panel I get the following message: The infrared control panel can not run on this macintosh because no infrared hardware was discovered. My plan is to reinstall system 9 tomorrow unless someone has a better suggestion. David hirschberg@stanford.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 12:06:20 -0800 From: "Cyrus Roton" Subject: invisible file utilities Luskin@aol.com asked: > Why would I wish to make a visible file invisible, or vice versa? > The most obvious reason seems to be to provide an additional level of > security. Would an invisible file appear in dialogs? Well, security (hiding a file) might be one reason. Of course, you would need to remember where you put it, so you could later make it visible. Occasionally, it might be necessary to make a file visible in order to edit it or trash it. For example, I found that when I copied a MacTCP file into the system, and had an incompatable Open Transport and PPP, the TCP file was made invisible when I restarted. When I tried moving a replacement into the system folder, I got a message telling me that I could not do that because an invisible file of the same name is there. So, I had to make the file visible in order to trash it. Note that there are a great many invisible files on your hard disk (most of them are icon files). Be very judicious about which files you make visible and trash (or, otherwise mess with). Most of that stuff is needed, and were made invisible to keep the user from messing with them. Cyrus Roton MITA tech Chairman, Ridgecrest Apple User Group ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 01:11:14 +0000 From: JIM BRUNSWICK Subject: making my own icons Hello everyone ; I would like to design my own icons for folders on my desktop. I'd like to make them any size I want, if possible. Is there a software utility which will let me replace a Mac icon with one of my own ? All advice + replies are welcome and appreciated. Jim Brunswick jimages@interlog.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 18:43:20 +0100 From: Paolo Bartoli Subject: OS 9 and ATM 4.5.2 Bundled with Mac OS9 comes the new ATM 4.5.2. I installed the software but I get an alert box saying "Unable to install Adobe Type Manager because ATM needs more memory or other system resources" (or something like that - was translated from italian....). I installed ATM once again, getting back the same error alert box. What should I do? ** Arch. Paolo Bartoli ** pbartoli@iname.com ** (pbartoli@libero.it) ** http://space.tin.it/arte/bpxba ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Dec 99 04:43:47 -0500 From: "Stephen J. Wright" Subject: Patch builder? Hi folks. I wanted to know if anyone could point me in the direction of an app = that would build patching utilities (vis-=E0-vis "Jerry's Finder 8 = Patch" and others). I have a couple sets of ResEdit .rsrc files and = would like to collate the ones meant for customizing app icons and = such, into patches. So far as similar apps go, I have the last = de-commericalized copy of StuffIt InstallerMaker, so I'm somewhat = familiar with apps that install things in predetermined places in = another system. As far as programming goes: I haven't got MPW or any = of the commercial editor/compilers, but I do have a pretty broad = knowledge of AppleScript and pre-OOP BASIC. I'd much prefer it if = the patch builder were idiot-proof GUI, like Stuffit's IM, but if = not, I don't think I'd get too too lost with something you have to = script, if it had good documentation. Thanks in advance. Steve Wright ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 15:47:37 +0100 From: Paolo Bartoli Subject: PowerMac G4 and Mac OS 8.6 Is it possible to install Mac OS 8.6, even though Apple give G4 bundled with Mac OS 9? I'd like to work with Mac OS 8.6, since many applications no longer works with Mac OS 9. ** Arch. Paolo Bartoli ** pbartoli@iname.com ** (pbartoli@libero.it) ** http://space.tin.it/arte/bpxba ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 13:20:14 -0800 From: Chris Schram Subject: Security certificates in Web Browsers On Tue, 14 Dec 1999, Avrum Lapin wrote: > I know that Charles Schwab does not like my certificate (with >Netscape 3.0.4) but he has no solution other than to upgrade my browser. >Schwab does not seem to be bothered with my IE 3.01. browser. Fidelity is >only mildly concerned and Vanguard hasn't said anything yet. Wells Fargo >Bank says new browser or no on line banking. FWIW, here is the full text of a sidebar on page 1 of the November, 1999 "Y2K Update" (a special publication from Fidelity Investments). After I read this, I upgraded my wife's Performa 578 to from Netscape 3.0.4 to 4.0.8. (I believe that's the latest version that will run on an '040.) << If you use Netscape Navigator to connect to some Web sites with electronic security measures (such as fidelity.com) after Dec. 31, 1999, it's possible that a message could appear that says "Certificate Authority Is Expired." This means that you're probably using Navigator version 4.05 or earlier, which contains a component that's programmed to expire at the end of this year. The message has nothing to do with the Y2K issue. To avoid this message, however, Fidelity Investments suggests that users of Netscape 4.05 or earlier upgrade their browsers to the latest Netscape version. To check which version of Netscape Navigator you're using, you can go to: www.verisign.com/server/cus/rootcert/user/index.html. For more information on the year 2000 certificate problem, you can go to: www.informationweek.com/author/internet26.htm. In an effort to provide the highest degree of confidentiality and security for your personal financial information, Fidelity strongly recommends the use of 128-bit encryption browsers. >> -- Chris Schram schram@mail.coos.or.us http://www.coos.or.us/~schram/Chris/ -------------------------------- --Info-Mac-Digest-- End of Info-Mac Digest ******************************