This Month's Newsletter

The camera icon works fine if you are sending pictures to someone else on AOL -- they see the picture immediately when they receive their email message, and they can send multiple pictures in one message, and all will work, However, if an AOL user tries to send an email using that icon to anyone not on AOL (any other Internet Service Provider), they won't get the image at all, and instead will just get the message [Unable to display image] (which sometimes shows up as pic.eml).

If an AOL user uses the attach button to send a single picture to a non AOL user, they will see the picture, just as easily as if it had been sent by a non-AOL user, HOWEVER if the AOL user sends two (or more) pictures, AOL will compress them into a Zip file, and the user at the other end will have to unzip it to see the pictures.

Let us look at things from the reverse side, a non-AOL person sending email to an AOL person. If the email has one picture, the AOL user will see it with no problem, However, if the email has two pictures, AOL will group them together into what is called a MIME file, and the AOL user will have to save it to disk, then use a special program to process the MIME file.

The AOL user can find out how to handle MIME files by going to keyword MIME, and
then clicking Handling Mime Files,

For PC Users...

If AOL was unable to decode the MIME file, the attachment will be in MIME format, with a filename extension of .MIM. One of the following programs will allow you to decode the MIM file so that you can use it on your computer.

Recommended MIME programs...
* MIMDECODE:V6.0 MIM Email Decoder (Win95, 98, 2000, & NT) Decodes MIME (.MME) with drag 'n drop.
* WINZIP: V 7.0 SR-1 WinZip (Win95, 98 & NT) Decodes MIME (.MME) as well as compressed ZIP (.zip) files.
* WINZIP: V6.3 SR-1 For Win31 (Win 3.1, 3.11) Decodes MIME (.MME) as well as compressed ZIP (.zip) files.
* MIME:V4.3 Decode Shell Extension (Win95, 98 & NT) Adds a "decode" option to your mouse right-click context menu.
* WINCODE: V2.7.3c Encoder/Coder (Win 3.1, 3.11, Win95)

After you've downloaded and installed any of these programs, please be sure to read the READ ME guide or "Online Manual" for information on how to use the MIME program you downloaded.

After you've decoded your MIME (.MIM) you may need to "un-zip" it. If you don't understand the procedure, check out Zipping and Unzipping Files.

For Macintosh Users...

If AOL was unable to decode the MIME file, the attachment will be in MIME format. The following programs will allow you to decode the MIME file so that you can use it on your computer.

Recommended MIME programs...
* STUFFIT: V5.5 Aladdin Expander (All Macs running System 7.1.1 or later) Uses drag 'n drop to decode your MIME as well as .SIT, .ZIP and many other formats.
* DECODER: V2.0.7 Decoder FAT (68K and Power Macs) Uses drag 'n drop to decode your MIME.
* DECODER: V2.0.7 Decoder PPC (Power Macs) Uses drag 'n drop to decode your MIME.
* DECODER: V2.0.7 Decoder 68K (68K Macs) Uses drag 'n drop to decode your MIME.

In Summary	One Picture	Multiple Pictures
AoL to AoL using Camera icon	No problem	No problem
AoL to NonAoL using Camera icon	Does not work at all	Does not work at all
AoL to AoL using attach	No problem	Files are Zipped
AoL to NonAoL using attach	No problem	Files are Zipped
NonAol to AoL	No problem	Files are left in MIME form
NonAol to NonAol	No problem	No problem

AOL may be the largest single ISP, but they are very, very, very far from being anywhere near to serving half of the Internet Users, even in this country, much less around the world, so what it amounts to is AOL's non-standard approach is foolish, because it will be very confusing to their beginner users to remember that they can send and receive single pictures with no problem, regardless of who the other party uses, but that any transmission of more than one picture per email between AOL and Non AOL users will cause some additional work on the part of the recipient, AND AOL users must be sure never to use the Camera Icon unless the recipient is an AOL user.

Now isn't that as clear as mud?

When I first discovered all of these ramifications to the problem I called Dolly and told her that AOL's handling of pictures was similar to what comes out of the south end of a north bound horse. I feel I must retract that. The stuff that comes out of the horse can be used for fertilizer, and hence can promote growth. I don't see how the convoluted way AOL deals with pictures can promote anything but confusion.

This article is brought to you by the Editorial Committee of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups(APCUG), an international organization to which this user group belongs. Don is the President, Editor, and Internet SIG Leader for the Tulsa Computer Society, and a Director and the Web Master for APCUG.

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Windows Startup Disk
by Rick Mattingly

If you are using the Windows 9x operating system, you may or may not yet have created a "Windows Startup Disk." This is an option which is prompted during initial installation of Windows. If your system was pre-configured by the vendor, you likely were not provided with a Windows Startup Disk either. The Windows Startup Disk is a bootable floppy disk containing basic hardware drivers to allow you to access the system on your hard drive in the event of a system failure. This floppy will also contain necessary utilities needed to correct most system problems to get the Windows operating system back up.

Don't put it off another day -- create this emergency disk now! To create your Windows Startup Disk, go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Startup Disk. Have a blank 3.5" floppy disk in hand and follow the prompts. Put the completed disk in a safe place and hope you never need it. But, if ever you do need it, this disk can save the day.

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Find a user group near you in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and Utah
http://www.microsoft.com/rockymtn/user.htm

Upcoming Microsoft Events in Colorado
http://www.microsoft.com/rockymtn/co_events.htm

If stress burned calories I would be so skinny I could fall through my zipper and hang myself!

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Creating An Email Signature
by Luann Veness

There are a few simple rules to remember when creating signature files. Consider these more as guidelines than cast in concrete rules;

1 Signatures should be six lines or less, eight to ten lines is the highest tolerable limit.
2 It's OK to include your name and email address, but unless you are a business, don't include a phone number and address in a signature file.
3 Unless you are looking for trouble, be polite in your signature.
4 Most people don't display more than 80 columns of text. Keep your signature to 75 columns or less to insure that most people will see it the way you want them to see it.

Signature files are nothing more than an ordinary text file. To create a text file, you can use Notepad or even the MSDOS Editor. Macintosh users have equivalent programs to these at their disposal. Whatever program you use, the only real requirement is that it must be capable of producing a plain ASCII file. No formatting or font controls can be in the signature file.

Using the editor of your choice, create a signature for yourself. Once you have the signature laid out the way you want (Remembering the column size limitation), save the file to a location where it will be relatively safe (i.e., In a place where you don't periodically go in and wipe out everything). Remember the directory name and the filename you gave your signature file!
Now for the final step in setting up your own personalized signature, you need to tell Navigator Email and Explorer Email where to locate the signature file on your local hard drive. Follow the steps below for your browser/emailer.

Navigator
I Select the "Options" Menu.
2 Choose Mail I New Preferences.
3 Click on the Identity Tag to call up the identity dialog box.
4 Locate the space provided for the signature file. (It's the last text box in the dialog)
5 Enter the complete path and name of the signature file (i.e. c:\mystuff\keep\sign.txt).
6 Close the dialog box by clicking on the OK button, then select options again, only this time select "Save Options."

Explorer
I From either Explorer or from the task bar, invoke the email program. (From Explorer go to the "GO" menu and select "Read Mail."
2 Select the "Mail" menu from the email program.
3 Pick the "Options" entry in the menu.
4 Click on the "Signature" tab to change the dialog to the signature editor This dialog contains a simple editor capable of creating a sig for you. Or you may elect to make the email program get the signature from a file you have created using your text editor
5 Should you elect to use a file enter the complete path and name of the signature file (i.e. c:\mystuff\keep\sign.txt) You will activate the file location box when you select "File" as the source of the signature.
6 Close the dialog box by clicking on the "OK" button.

As a final test, wait for the next time you want to send email, only this time make sure your own email address in the CC (carbon copy) field so that you receive a copy of it.

From July, 2000 issue of The Digital Viking newsletter

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Lightening Time
By Rick Mattingly

Late summer, early fall in the Rocky Mountain west -- lightning time! You have heard it again and again: Protect your computer system investment with a quality surge protector.

However, do not forget to also protect your modem's phone line connection as well. In the event of a close or direct lightning strike, a power surge can enter your system through the phone line. In such case, your modem is almost certainly a goner and, in the worst case, your motherboard will also be fried.

Many recent surge protection devices also provide a phone line connection. Or, purchase a separate surge protection device for the phone line.

Cheap insurance folks!

U.S. missionary in the Philippines needs a computer for email. Do you have an older laptop you would be willing to donate? Your donation is tax deductible. Call Jim Dubler: 226-0708, or John Dubler: 667-6203. Thank you.

FREE Internet Discussion Group

JYM Information Systems and Barnes and Noble are sponsoring a monthly "Internet Safari" discussion group. This group meets at 7 PM in Barnes and Noble the first Monday of each month. This is an open discussion and we examine current issues involving the Internet, how to use the Internet and subjects raised by those present. This group is open to the public without cost or obligation. This is a good chance learn how others are using the Internet.
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Book Finders
By Rick Mattingly

Looking for that impossible to find, out-of-print book? Use the Internet to not only find the material you are seeking, but find some incredible deals to boot! Try the following sites:

BIBLIOFIND http://www.bibliofind.com
or
ABEBOOKS.COM http://dogbert.abebooks.com/

Each of these free services allows you to search for the material you are looking for by title, author, keyword or publisher. Pick the best deal from the responses and either order online or contact the dealer directly. Outstanding!

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Did you know that in 1958 the chairman of IBM forecast a world market for only 5 computers?

In 1894, the president of the Royal Society, Lord Kelvin, predicted that radio had no future. He also predicted that heavier-than-air flying machines were impossible.

In 1899, President McKinley was assured by the director of the US Patent Office that "everything that can be invented has already been invented."

In the early 20th century a world market for only 4 million motorcars was made because "the world would run out of chauffeurs."

-info by didyouknow.com

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Microsoft Intellimouse Optical Evaluation
by Kevin Wood

System Requirements: (Per Microsoft)
29 MB of hard drive space available
CD-ROM Drive
Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows NT4 (with Service pack 3 or later), Windows 2000
Round mouse port or USB port (Windows 98 or Windows 2000 only) IntelliPoint software version 3.1 (included)

What is the benefit of the Intellimouse Optical over a standard mouse? The normal Mouse or trackball has a roller. As the roller turns, the mouse tracks the motion of the ball and translates that into electrical signals that correspond to the pointer movements you see on the computer screen. Eventually however, the ball gets dirty or oily, or the surface used for the mouse has insufficient friction to turn the ball and the pointer on the computer screen will stop responding.

While there are numerous products and technical tips for cleaning mice and track balls, you won't need any of them since the IntelliMouse uses an optical sensor to track motion. It actually checks the surface under the mouse 1,500 times per second to detect motion. This means you can use the mouse on almost any surface. (Reflective or very glossy surfaces do not work well!) Also, because of the speed at which it tracks motion, I would recommend limiting the speed of your hand movements to less than 1,500 per second - be careful when on that 15th cup of coffee!

During testing, I used a desk, my hand, paper, even holding the mouse slightly above the surface, and the mouse always worked. This could be very bad news for Mouse Pad manufacturers!

The IntelliMouse came with a USB connection and an adapter so the mouse can be used in a PS2/Bus port. I plugged the mouse into the USB Port. During the installation, the mouse lit up (indicating the operating system was talking to the device.) I was pleased to note that the mouse seems to work without any requiring any special software

Use: I was able to use the mouse immediately, even without initially loading the software that came with the mouse. The mouse worked well with the software I normally use. A neat feature is that the lower rear of the mouse lights up. Great for when you need to find the mouse in a dark room! Actually, the light just lets you know that the mouse is enabled and working.

For those of you who are still getting used to using a mouse (I know there are some of you out there), this mouse is probably not for you. Not only does it have the normal two mouse buttons, it also has a scroll wheel and two extra buttons on the side, about where you rest your thumb and ring fingers.

Initially, I thought these buttons performed the same functions as the corresponding buttons on the top of the mouse, they do not! The size and shape of the IntelliMouse make it very comfortable to hold and use.

Eventually I installed the IntelliPoint 3.1 mouse software. With it, I gained the ability to program the various mouse buttons to do what I wanted them to do. One drawback, however, is that no two buttons (or button and scroll wheel) can have the same function. You can however, always set a button you do not use much to no function at all. I tend to not use the lower right button (located on the right side vs right top of the mouse) so I disabled that button. An added bonus of the software is that you also get a lot of neat new mouse pointers! The one I use has a hand drumming the fingers rather than showing an hourglass.

Summary: Overall I liked the Intellimouse Optical. It installed easily. It worked even without special drivers (at least on my system). It worked as advertised. There was no learning curve to learn different commands in order to do the things I normally do (in other works I did not have to re-learn how to use a mouse.) Hopefully the next version of the software will permit the user to have two buttons perform the same function, but do not hold off buying the mouse just for that. I give the Intellimouse 5 stars.

Kevin Wood has served on the APCUG COMDEX committee and as a Board of Advisors member. He has served as President of the Atlanta PC Users Group, and of the Birmingham Software Developer's Association. There is no restriction against anyone using the article as long as it is kept in context, with proper credit given to the author. This article is brought to you by the Editorial Committee of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG), an International organization to which this user group belongs.

Wired Guide

Wiredguide is a beginner's guide to both the Internet and computing in general. There are tutorials on browsers, chat, downloading, e-mail, multimedia, newsgroups, search engines, and security. The Q&A and terminology sections cover topics that others have asked about. The In The News section tackles a hot tech topic -- such as Napster and viruses -- and then has links to timely URLs, such as political connections during an election season.

http://www.wiredguide.com

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LT_Toolkit for AutoCAD LT 2000
Add LISP to AutoCAD LT
By Geoff Harrod

Autodesk has steadfastly refused to include the LISP interpreter in AutoCAD LT. Each time rumor of a new LT version hits the wire speculation is rife about whether or not LISP will be added 'this time'. There was even an authoritative assertion that AutoCAD LT 2000 would include LISP. Apparently this was almost the case, but LISP was pulled at the last minute on instructions from Autodesk top brass.

LT began its days with quite a few elements of AutoCAD missing, to justify its considerably lower price, but it has gradually crept up so that now with 2000 it has just about everything from AutoCAD 2000 that 90% of users ever utilize - except for LISP. As a relatively easy to use and powerful programmable interface to AutoCAD LISP is a crucial element in many AutoCAD based offices. Unless solid modeling, rendering or raster image overlays are important to you, the only thing you get for the extra several thousand dollars cost of AutoCAD over AutoCAD LT is LISP. That's a mighty expensive customizing facility!

The most recent developer's programming system for AutoCAD is ARX. Of course ARX is also absent from LT, or is it? If you look in the LT 2000 directory you see that as well as a 6Mb ACLT.EXE file there are numerous ARX files. In fact, LT uses the ARX system for a lot of its own functionality. It's a fair bet that AutoCAD LT 2000 has ARX 'hooks' within it.

Making the most of the lack of LISP and the ARX hooks in AutoCAD LT 2000, drcauto of Sydney, Australia, has produced the LT-Toolkit 200 add-on for LT 2000. The toolkit is delivered partly as an ARX module adding the missing LISP facility. It also uses several Windows DLL files. Just the idea of using LISP in AutoCAD LT would be welcomed far and wide. The best part is that it does work.

The LT_Toolkit program installs like typical Windows applications, by running setup.exe. It installs into its own folder "C:\Program Files\LT_Toolkit\" by default, finds the location of your LT 2000 installation and sets up linkages to it. It creates an icon on the desktop and a link in the Windows Start Menu, both of which run the LT_Toolkit program. LT 2000 is started by the LT_Toolkit program, so that the only visible result of running LT_Toolkit is a sign-on graphic announcing itself and then the familiar LT display. LT must be started via the Toolkit for Toolkit facilities to be available. If you click the original LT 2000 icon you get the original unmodified LT.

LT_Toolkit does not make any visible changes to LT, which is a bit confusing. I thought it hadn't done anything at all at first. It doesn't even add any extra Help items. Puzzled, I copied one of my LISP files into the local directory for ease of access and tried typing on the command line: (load "attribs.lsp"). Normally LT would respond with something like: "Error: Lisp unavailable". But lo, my LISP program loaded and worked!

Well, that's very good I thought, but it's like loading LISP in ye olde AutoCAD v2.6 because you have to know the file's name and full directory path and type it all correctly (which I suspected and the reason why I copied my .LSP file into the Toolkit folder). I poked around all the menus but there was no sign of AutoCAD's Applications Loader. Taking a punt, I typed AutoCAD's keyboard command for it: APPLOAD, and surprise, surprise, up popped a dialog box for finding and loading LISP programs, as shown in the attached exhibit. Now that really fills the bill.

The APPLOAD dialog in LT_Toolkit, as you can see, has an upper panel that acts the same as a normal Windows folder navigation and file selection dialog. Having located a LISP file and highlighted it, the Load button, which replaces the usual Open button, loads the LISP file the same as typing (load "filename"). The lower panel shows LISP files that have been loaded and their drive-folder location. This is similar to the AutoCAD APPLOAD dialog except that the file-type drop-down will only filter for files of type LSP. The AutoCAD one also loads ARX files.

So far, I had run the program from the LT_Toolkit desktop icon. When I looked in the Start menu, I saw that as well as the program item there was also LT_Toolkit Help, and that popped up a quite extensive series of help screens that told all. Be sure to find it and read it!

Then I noticed that the right mouse button pop-up menu was a bit different and has some extra tools, which are the rest of LT_Toolkit, and include the APPLOAD command. These extras include commands to copy-&-rotate or move-&-rotate selected objects, and to move or copy selected objects along the Z axis. I had thought there ought to be some new menus as there are menu files in LT_Toolkit's folder. Examining the MNU file I saw that it is in fact just the one pop-up menu. There is also a DCL file that defines the APPLOAD dialog box, so obviously the system also supports DCL dialog box programming within LISP. The additional copy and move commands are implemented as LISP files, and are also accessible by cryptic typed commands, as the Help explains.

I still thought it was a bit strange having to type APPLOAD, so I got into the standard ACLT.MNU file with my trusty text editor and added APPLOAD to the Tools Pull-down menu, just like it is in the 'real' AutoCAD. I had never tried customizing LT menus before and wasn't sure whether or not it would work. But yes, it did, after I figured out a few obscurities of its menu load process. But it had the unfortunate side effect of disabling the Toolkit's right-click popup menu. drcauto advised that it had not implemented any LT menu changes because LT's menu customizing system does seem to be a bit 'flakey'.

The big thing is that LT_Toolkit does add the ability to load and run LISP, which is what everyone has been clamoring for in LT for many years. LT_Toolkit sells for about A$395 in Australia, which may seem a bit dear for just adding LISP when LT 2000 itself costs about A$800, but when you consider that the 'official' solution costs over A$5,000, LT_Toolkit quickly looks like a bargain.

CADstore.NET
http://www.cadstore.net/
US$195.00

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