Table Of Content

\J Oi ^ O £ university oftoronto computing services ISSN 0315-4661 November/December 1992 No. 282 Reorganization of Computing and Communications 1 Final Issue of ComputerNews 3 New Location for Site Licences Office 3 New Releases of Lotus 1 -2-3 Software 4 Saving Money on Software: Site Licences 9 Microcomputer Short Courses 11 INTERNET Notes 15 Maple Corner Macsyma Demo Available UTCC Services Consulting & Enquiries UTCC Directory Terminal and Advising Sites UTCC Site Licences PC Maintenance Support List Publisher Permission is granted to reprint articles from University of Toronto Planning and Education ComputerNews for noncommercial purposes Toronto, Ontario provided the author, publication, and issue are Canada M5S 1C1 acknowledged. Editor: Patricia Hood IBM PC, PC-XT, PC-AT. Personal System/2, Operating System/2 are trademarks of IBM. Editorial Assistant: Maureen Morin Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. Publication Date: December 1, 1992 LaserWriter is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Last Issue Lotus 1-2-3 is a registered trademark of Lotus This is the last issue of ComputerNews. (See Corporation. article on page 3.) If you would like information Macintosh 512K, Plus, SE are trademarks of Apple about other UTCC publications, direct your Computer, Inc. Microsoft Word and Microsoft Windows are trademarks questions to: of Microsoft Corporation. MultiFinder is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. UTCC Publications Paintbrush is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. 4 Bancroft Avenue, Room 217 PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Toronto, Ontario Inc. Canada M5S1A1 SAS is a trademark of SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C. SPSS* is a trademark of SPSS Inc. (416) 978-4034 UNIX is a trademark of AT & T Laboratories. Acknowledgements Thanks to Wendy Schaffer for her assistance in editing this issue. This newsletter was entirely produced on a Macintosh using PageMaker and other related Macintosh software. __ News Reorganization of Computing and Communications C. David Sadieir Vice-President, Computing and Communications I wish to inform you that effective November 1st 1992, from 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, to 5 days per the Division of Computing and Communications has week, 24 hours per day. Operations such as month-end been reorganized. On April 21st 1992, I wrote to advise or year-end processing that of necessity fall on a week¬ PDD&C that I was commencing a consultative process end will be supported through overtime assignments. within my portfolio as a preliminary step to a major The network operation will continue on a 7 days per reorganization. The changes made are based on week, 24 hours per day schedule. insights received as a result of that process, as well as With the new organization, we have better aligned our from reports and other information offered by groups and resources with our strategic directions, and intend to individuals across the University over the past eight rededicate our focus toward achieving the following: months. The new organization is made up of seven units. The Improvements in Service to Our Clients and units and their directors are as follows: Colleagues Instructional and Research Computing (UTIRC) Ms. Anna Pezacki To the extent practical, we will improve and formalize Media Centre (UTMC) our point of contact with clients. A client service coordi¬ Mr. Michael Edmunds nator will be appointed for each academic and adminis¬ trative unit in order to respond to those who are unsure Network and Operations Services (UTNOS) of whom to contact for assistance. We will be asking Dr. Warren Jackson client units, where appropriate, to identify their contact person for liaison with our client service coordinator. In Planning and Education (UTPE) addition, we will develop a prioritization process for Dr. Eva Swenson dealing with requests for service that will facilitate a greater involvement by deans, principals and senior Systems Development (UTSD) administrators. Mr. Mark Lippard We will continue to improve the means by which we communicate with our clients and work with information Technology Support (UTTS) technology staff across the University. The Advisory Mr. Eugene Siciunas Forum on Instructional Technology, and the Advisory Forum on Administrative Technology will continue, and a Voice Communications (UTVC) new UTCC Advisory Forum for the Vice-President, Ms. Deborah Stewart Computing and Communications will be created. A brief summary of the function of each unit follows. Improvements in Our Organizational Two associated organizational changes were also made: • The Erindale computing services group has been Effectiveness transferred from Computing and Communications to the College’s portfolio. • The Audiovisual Library, Reference and Information We will continue to encourage teamwork, organiza¬ section of the Media Centre has been transferred to tional flexibility and cooperation between organizational the Chief Librarian. units in order to achieve more, but with fewer resources. A further change, to be implemented before the end of Cohesive teams, for example, will be established to the year, is a reduction in central computing operations focus on specific projects. ComputerNews November/December 1992 1 News Impact on UTCC Staff The Future The reorganization has resulted in new opportunities We will not achieve all of our required budget reduc¬ for career development for UTCC staff. In addition, it is tions immediately. However, I expect that the combina¬ our intention to introduce a more focused management tion of resignations to date, further voluntary resignations and staff development program. and retirements, and normal attrition patterns, in con¬ The job assignments of over three-quarters of the junction with efficiencies in non-salary areas will get us UTCC staff are unaffected, although reporting arrange¬ where we need to be by 1995/96—barring any further ments have changed for several staff members. Some reduction targets. jobs have been eliminated. In the majority of these We will try to minimize any discontinuity in the services cases, comparable alternative job assignments have we provide to the University. Representatives from UTCC been made, or else new ones requiring retraining are will be in contact with respective client groups shortly to being identified. In a few instances, it has not been provide an opportunity for more detailed discussion. possible to provide comparable assignments. I would like to acknowledge the patience and profes¬ Some staff members have recently resigned, and sionalism exhibited by UTCC staff throughout the certain individuals have indicated an interest in voluntary consultative process, and to thank all of you as well for resignation or retirement, which we are discussing with your cooperation and support throughout this challenging them on a confidential basis. period. Computing and Communications New Organizational Structure and Functions Effective November 1,1992 Instructional and Research Computing (UTIRC) Planning and Education (UTPE) Ms. Anna Pezacki, Director Dr. Eva Swenson, Director instructional technology application support • strategic planning and policy formulation multimedia/visualization application support • portfolio-wide coordination and administration of, for high performance computing access and support example: support for research tools and applications - work program development, analysis, and support for adaptive technology monitoring - annual budget analysis Media Centre (UTMC) - revenue accounts tracking and analysis Mr. Michael Edmunds, Director - billing and accounting support support for media in campus classrooms: - site licences and major contracts - equipment - technical job descriptions and titles -technicians • client education and training including program - maintenance development, administration and publications video and audio production for teaching, research and • economic analyses for programs and major projects administration student access to media (labs and equipment) Systems Development (UTSD) publishing and distribution of audiovisual programs Mr. Mark Lippard, Director advice and information on media to the University • support for all of the University in the use of automated systems for administrative purposes: Network and Operations Services (UTNOS) - acquisition, development, maintenance and Dr. Warren Jackson, Director enhancement of institutional applications University-wide network infrastructure development - acquisition and development support for divisional and implementation applications University-wide network-based services development - support for personal productivity tools and implementation • advising and consulting to divisions external network facilities management • contracted divisional facilities management institutional computing operations production and control of aspects of applications microcomputer maintenance 2 ComputerNews November/December 1992 News Technology Support (UTTS) Voice Communications (UTVC) Mr. Eugene Siciunas, Director Ms. Deborah Stewart, Director support for institutional and LAN operating systems voice communications application evolution (e.g. software IVMS, audioconferencing) security program development and administration voice communications facilities management (moves, standards development program evolution and adds, changes) coordination voice communications directory coordination coordination of information technology monitoring and voice communications billing coordination evaluation switchboard operations database technology evolution and administration paging and cable TV service support regulatory monitoring Final Issue of ComputerNews As a result of the reorganization of UTCC, my staff Patricia Hood and I now are part of Planning and Education. We phood@vm. utcs. utoronto.ca are reviewing and rethinking our approach to provid¬ ing timely, useful information to the University of Toronto community. We want our new publications to This is the final issue of ComputerNews. I would serve you better. If you have any publications ideas like to thank all of you for your strong, loyal support that you would like to share with us, please contact over the years. Your constructive criticisms and me at 978-2066 or write to me at the address below, positive comments have been very helpful and are Room 216. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from much appreciated. you in the new year - 1993! New Location for Site Licences Office! site licences or if you would like to purchase a specific Patricia Hood licence, please telephone Evelyn Ward at 978-4990 phood@vm. utcs. utoronto. ca or fax your request to her attention at 978-7159. All mail should be addressed to: As of January 11,1993, all site licence owners should direct their mail and queries to Room 217 at 4 UTCC Site Licences Office Bancroft Avenue, rather than to Room 201. The 4 Bancroft Avenue, Room 217 UTCS Information Office has been renamed the Toronto, ON “UTCC Site Licences Office” to better reflect its M5S 1A1 purpose. If you would like information about software ComputerNews November/December 1992 3 Features_ New Releases of Lotus 1 -2-3 Software Since its initial release in January direction by shipping two separate Ihor Prociuk of 1983, Lotus 1-2-3 has been the product streams: release 2.2 and ihor@utcs. utoronto. ca most popular spreadsheet package release 3. The release 2 stream has in the PC environment, with over four moved ahead to version 2.4, and if million copies sold by 1988. Many you currently use an older version, other spreadsheet programs have you should consider upgrading. challenged Lotus 1-2-3’s popularity (current rivals including Microsoft’s Reasons for Upgrading Excel and Borland’s Quattro Pro), but none have been able to shake to Release 2.4 Lotus’s market stronghold in the DOS world. We will have to wait to see Lotus added many new features to what will happen in the graphical in¬ release 2.2 of 1-2-3, and continued terface market of Windows and OS/2. improving them until release 2.4. The most commonly used DOS Some of the highlights include: spreadsheet package at the Univer¬ File Compatibility— You can sity of Toronto, Lotus 1-2-3 version continue to use all your old spread¬ 2.01, was first released in 1986. In sheets without converting them. 1989, however, Lotus changed Figure 1: You can now combine charts and spreadsheet data on the same page. You can also add borders, shading, overlay graphics, as well as control row heights. 4 ComputerNews November/December 1992 Features Laser Printer Support— If you print Mouse Support on a laser printer, moving to release 2.4 will make your life a lot easier. A Since I also work with Microsoft preview option shows you what the Excel on the Macintosh and am output will look like before you print accustomed to working with a anything. mouse, theoretically I should Enhanced Formatting Features— welcome the mouse support added WYSIWYG (what you see is what to 1-2-3. Well, I do and I don’t. you get) formatting allows you to Most 1-2-3 users have memorized include up to eight different fonts in keystroke patterns for certain tasks, your spreadsheet, plus bold and and execute these tasks as auto¬ italic. You can easily add borders matically as they tie their shoelaces around cells, add shading to cells, and button their overcoats: without and change row heights. See Figure having to think about them. In older 1 (previous page). releases of 1-2-3, you would execute Graphics Support— You can a command such as /Range Format Most 1-2-3 users have memorized include graphs on the same page as Currency 2 (decimal places), and keystroke patterns for certain tasks, worksheet data. A graphics editor then select the range that was to be lets you enhance your graph with affected by the command. Now you and execute these tasks as automati¬ free-floating text, arrows, ovals, and can use the mouse to highlight the freehand shapes. range first and then execute the cally as they tie their shoelaces and Other new features include mouse command. Applications on the button their overcoats: without having support, “instant” deletion of cell Macintosh, Windows, and OS/2 contents, dialog boxes, and several interfaces work in this manner. It to think about them. new add-in products. I’ll discuss would have been nice if, like the these features, along with others, Macintosh, Windows, and OS/2, below. Lotus had adopted only one model. Despite a few rough edges, Furthermore, I find mouse support release 2.4 offers enough changes to be neither complete nor consist¬ and improvements to make the ent. For example, you can use the upgrade worthwhile. mouse to select a contiguous range of cells, but you cannot select an entire column. In most cases, using Some New Features the mouse requires that you move the mouse pointer icon over an Because Lotus has decided to object, and then press the appropri¬ maintain file compatibility with ate mouse button for an action to previous releases, there are limits to take place. However, when you the new features the company can move the mouse pointer into the add and how they can implement control panel (the blank part near the them. I think this decision results top of the screen), the 1-2-3 menu from the nature of the 1 -2-3 macro will suddenly appear even if you do language, and Lotus’s reluctance to not click the mouse button. Worse force users to rewrite macros with still, the menu that appears depends each new release of the program. on the set of commands, regular or For example, if Lotus were to Wysiwyg, that you used last. introduce a new subcommand level (Wysiwyg is a Lotus add-in dis¬ within an existing command struc¬ cussed later in this article.) ture, all macros that use that com¬ In most cases these inconsisten¬ mand could fail. And, since probably cies are nuisances rather than millions of macros exist, their failure impediments, and I suspect that new would do nothing to enhance users will conclude “that’s-just-the- customer satisfaction. Conse¬ way-it-works.” Established users quently, Lotus has limited itself to may be reluctant to adopt the mouse either extending commands, or to since they already know the key¬ adding new options within existing stroke equivalents. subcommands. ComputerNews November/December 1992 5 Features Small Changes, Big basic Lotus package did not supply. With release 2.2, Lotus started to Improvement include some of these add-ins as Little things can mean a lot, and part of the purchased package. You the following 1-2-3 modifications attach only those that you need. make the program work better for you. This allows 1-2-3 to maintain Easy Delete—You can now delete performance without necessarily the current cell’s contents by press¬ forcing you to buy more hardware to ing the Delete key on the keyboard. accommodate features that you If you highlight a range of cells with neither want nor need. You have to the mouse, pressing the Delete key go through the process of attaching will clear the entire range. an add-in only once. Afterwards, Expanded Memory—If you have you may access it every time you enough LIM (Lotus/Intel/Microsoft) start 1-2-3, unless you remove it. 4.0 expanded memory, you can create spreadsheets as large as 12 Wysiwyg is much better at printing What You Get When You ... megabytes (MB), containing 4MB of to laser printers than regular 1-2-3. In data and 8MB of cell pointers. Buy Lotus 2.4 Dialog Boxes—In early versions of fact, Wysiwyg's printing looks so 1-2-3, users found it difficult to see much better you will probably never what options affected a certain Wysiwyg command. For example, the Print want to use the regular Print command command allowed you to set page The Wysiwyg add-in alone is worth layout (including margins, headers, the purchase of release 2.4. You again. footers, titles, borders, and page can use Wysiwyg to: size), but each of these commands • select fonts; required that you select a different • add cell formatting, including option to see their settings. Now borders, shading, shadow boxes, when you select the Print command, bold, and italics; a dialog box shows you all the • change row heights; settings at once. You can change • change cell colours; any of the settings in this box, with or • imbed a graph into a worksheet without the mouse. (you still have to use 1-2-3 to Installation—When you install create the graph); version 2.4, 1-2-3 asks you to select • edit graphs to add arrows, floating the options and add-ins (see below) text, freehand shapes, and graph you want, and to answer a few borders; questions about the type of monitor, • add graphic elements on top of text and/or graphics printer you have. spreadsheet data. Although you will not install 1-2-3 In addition, Wysiwyg is much every day, the uncomplicated better at printing to laser printers installation is a nice touch. than regular 1-2-3. In fact, Wysiwyg’s printing looks so much better you will probably never want Add-Ins to use the regular Print command again. Other features related to Lotus 1-2-3 has always offered printing include: “add-in” products, usually from other • visible markers showing where vendors. You installed these page breaks occur; products, and then “attached” them • both horizontal and vertical to 1-2-3 when you needed to use control over page breaks; them. For example, one product that • print preview; you could buy and attach to 1-2-3 • a compression feature that allows allowed you to print your spread¬ you to shrink the spreadsheet to sheet sideways on a page on a dot fit on a page; matrix printer, enabling you to print • printing in landscape mode very wide reports. Other add-ins (parallel to the long edge of the provided special functions that the paper). 6 ComputerNews November/December 1992 Features Viewer whether they are truly a terrific idea or merely change for the sake of The Viewer is a handy add-in that change. If I had to evaluate you use to find, browse, retrieve, and Smartlcons, I might give it a C+. link spreadsheets in a “graphical” Here are some of my beefs: manner. On my PC, I have set this • It's hard to tell what some of the option to be invoked automatically icons do, based solely on their when I start 1 -2-3, since most of the graphic representation. time the first thing I do is retrieve a Furthermore, you cannot edit spreadsheet. You can use the arrow them or replace them with keys or the mouse to navigate something more meaningful. through subdirectory lists, select a However, you can point at the specific worksheet, and browse icon and press the right mouse within that spreadsheet without button to obtain a one-line loading it. If you decide you want to description. load it, press the Enter key or • Since ycu can view only one double-click the appropriate mouse palette at a time, you have to button. scroll through all the palettes until you find the icon you want. Admittedly, the contents of the Smartlcons palettes are grouped together more or less by function, so for In theory, Smartlcons makes similar tasks you will not have to common tasks easier to perform. switch palettes. You can scroll For example, if you want to format a through the palettes only in a set range of cells with the currency sequence—you cannot select one format you would (with older re¬ randomly. Usually I can type the leases of 1-2-3) execute the follow¬ command faster than I can find ing commands: /Range Format the icon I want. Currency 2 (decimal places) and • Because the first palette is then specify the range of cells. With customizable, every user can release 2.4, you simply highlight the have a different version. This fact range of cells with the mouse and raises some support and training click the currency ($) Smartlcon. I concerns. have not found the new way to be • As mentioned previously, you much more efficient than the old cannot change the icon graphics way. First I will explain how on any of the palettes. This is Smartlcons works, and then why I particularly annoying on the question its usefulness. macro palette. The icons are If you include Smartlcons, you will labelled U1 through U12, so you see a column of stacked icons along cannot tell at a glance which the right side of the screen (see macro has been assigned to Figure 2). Seven such stacks or which icon. palettes exist, but you can view only • There are icons which offer the one palette at any time. You select same functions as the Home key different palettes by clicking the and the scroll arrow keys. These arrows on the bottom of the current provide unnecessary duplication. palette. You can customize the first palette by copying onto it frequently- Auditor used icons from other palettes. Likewise, you can customize the seventh palette so that each of the The Auditor add-in shows both 12 icons executes a macro of your precedents (cells that a formula Figure 2: One of the Smartlcon choosing. These macro icons are depends on) and dependents (cells palettes. For example, to format global; they apply across all spread¬ that contain formulas of a specified a number as currency (e.g., sheets. cell). This add-in helps to track down $4,789.00), simply click the $ Although many applications now circular references, but proves most icon. use icon palettes, I have not decided useful in large, complex spread- ComputerNews November/December 1992 7 Features sheets when you want to find an Some Commands that Eliminate icons where the erroneous calculation. keyboard sequences are easier to Behave Differently use and more consistent. • Accept Currency, Comma, BackSolver In release 2.2, Lotus used a Percent, Time, and Date formats product called Allways instead of at entry time rather than forcing Sometimes you want a calculation Wysiwyg. There are minor differ¬ the user to select the /Range to produce a specific result. For ences between the two products. Format command or time and example, you can compute your Users who have written macros date functions. These shortcuts mortgage payment based on a fixed incorporating Allways will have to are long overdue. I also wish I principle, interest rate, and term. But make changes. The Getting Started could design my own formats. suppose you could afford to pay manual outlines the differences • Improve the screen scrolling. If slightly more. How much faster between the two products. you hold down one of the arrow could you pay off the mortgage? keys for too long, it takes 1 -2-3 a The BackSolver add-in can calculate long time to catch up and you Some Things That Still this problem on a single “adjustable” usually overshoot the mark, even cell. Also, it can calculate with Need Fixing or on a PC with a 386SX processor several adjustable cells, with each running at 25 megahertz (not Changing cell being adjusted by the same exactly a sluggish machine). If percentage. you use the scroll icons on the palettes instead, then 1 -2-3 can The following suggestions would, I keep up. Now if only you could Macro Library Manager think, make 1 -2-3 a lot easier to use. remember which palette they • Incorporate formats into Lotus were on... If you write a lot of macros to use spreadsheet files. I know Lotus in many spreadsheets, you may omitted this to allow for backward Upgrade Costs want to investigate this add-in. compatibility, but they could just Lotus 1-2-3 allows you to save as easily have used the Translate macros to a “library” and remove facility to remove formatting and There are various methods of them from individual spreadsheets. features that are incompatible upgrading to the most recent version Macro libraries do not operate like with earlier versions. Whenever I of a software package, depending on worksheets. You must first load the give someone one of my whether you own a commercial library into memory before you can spreadsheet files, I have to version of the software or an educa¬ run a macro within it. To edit a remember to also give the person tional package. In the case of Lotus macro, you must load and then copy the format file. 1-2-3, the educational price of the contents of a macro library onto • Incorporate the Wysiwyg menu CDN$120 is lower than the cost of a spreadsheet. If I needed to write a into the regular menu, and an upgrade. Call the University of lot of custom spreadsheet applica¬ eliminate the second unnecessary Toronto Computer Shop if you would tions, I would probably switch to menuing system. like to upgrade to version 2.4. They Excel. • Improve the graphic interface to will be able to tell you if you qualify make it consistent with and closer for the educational price, and how to to Windows and OS/2 so we will place an order if you do. The SmartPics not have to learn (once again) Computer Shop can also offer new mouse behaviour. advice on upgrading a network When you use Wysiwyg you also • Do more design work on version of 1 -2-3. If you want to use get 44 built-in graphics (SmartPics) Smartlcons. There are too many Lotus in a lab, ask about the special which, according to Lotus, give your choices. As someone once said, 10-user lab pack for CDN$525. spreadsheet “a professional touch, “It’s not that I’m confused by the add visual interest, and reinforce facts. I already have more facts your message.” These graphics than I could possibly deal with.” include everything from check marks to a map of Canada. 8 ComputerNews November/December 1992