Computernews: May-June 1992

44 Pages·1992·3.2 MB·English

by  Patricia Hood

university of to root o
computing services
OSA90 (Optimization
Shell Assembly) is
an optimization
package that runs
on Sun and
Hewlett-Packard
workstations. The
package is designed
to handle
situations where a
function (or
functions) of one
or two variables
with respect to a
set of parameters.
WordPerfect has changed its
policy pertaining to the
relationship between
universities and hospitals.
REACH (Research and
Educational Applications
of Computers in the
Humanities), the
newsletter of the
Humanities Computing
Facility of the
University of California
at Santa Barbara, is now
available both through
Listserv as well as
through anonymous file
transfer protocol (FTP).
The Department of Planning and Coordination has
prepared an Annual Report outlining projects
completed by all departments in the Division of
Computing and Communications.
Did you know that
right here on the St.
George campus there is
a group of computer
specialists who are
ready, willing and
waiting to provide
expert installation
and repair services
for your personal
computers ?
ISSN 0315-4661 May/June 1992 No. 278
Modems: Computing Tips from Advising and Consulting
Novell Conference: Brainshare 1992
Changes to WordPerfect Site Licence Eligibility Requirements
The Micro Sales and Maintenance Group
INTERNET Notes
Computing and Communications News
Statistical Software News 21
OSA90: Optimization Software for Engineering Applications 22
No-Obligation Trial for Visualization Software from IMSL 23
Maple Corner: News for Maple Users at U of T 24
UTCS Services
Consulting & Enquiries
UTCS Directory
Terminal and Advising Sites
UTCS Site Licences
PC Maintenance
UTCS Software List
Publisher Unless otherwise indicated, network addresses
University of Toronto Computing Services appearing after the author’s name pertain to
Toronto, Ontario NetNorth/BITNET/EARN.
Canada M5S1C1
Permission is granted to reprint articles from
Editor: Patricia Hood ComputerNews for noncommercial purposes
provided the author, publication, and issue are
Editorial Assistant: Maureen Monne
acknowledged.
Publication Date: June 1, 1992
IBM PC, PC-XT, PC-AT, Personal System/2, Operating
Subscriptions System/2 are trademarks of IBM.
Subscriptions run for one year, beginning each Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
January. Changes should be entered on the LaserWriter is a registered trademark of Apple
form at the back of this issue and mailed to: Computer, Inc.
Lotus 1-2-3 is a registered trademark of Lotus
ComputerNews, 4 Bancroft Avenue, Room 217
Corporation.
(or phone [phone]). FAX: [phone].
Macintosh 512K, Plus, SE are trademarks of Apple
ComputerNews is published eight times yearly Computer, Inc.
Microsoft Word and Microsoft Windows are trademarks
by the University of Toronto Computing Services
of Microsoft Corporation.
(UTCS). Enquiries should be directed to:
MultiFinder is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
The Editor Paintbrush is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems
ComputerNews
Inc.
University of Toronto Computing Services
SAS is a trademark of SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C.
4 Bancroft Avenue, Room 217
SPSS’1 is a trademark of SPSS Inc.
Toronto, Ontario UNIX is a trademark of AT & T Laboratories.
Canada M5S 1A1
Network address: Acknowledgements
[email protected] Thanks to Amanda Wagner and Elizabeth Rayson for
(NetNorth/BITNET/EARN) their assistance in editing this issue.
This newsletter was entirely produced on a Macintosh using PageMaker and other related Macintosh software.
Features
“What is a modem, and how
can I use it at U of J?”
"The modem (MOdulator-DEModulator) is your computer's link
with the world outside it is a device that takes information from
/
the computer and translates it into signals that can be sent over
the telephone line. ”
Modems: Computing Tips
from Advising and Consulting
Jon Alexander
jon@utcs. utoronto.ca
Modems come in one of two forms: Modems normally plug into a standard telephone jack;
1. a card that plugs into a slot inside your computer; most modems will allow you to plug in your regular
or phone as well, usually into a second jack on the back of
2. a separate, exterior box that connects to the serial the modem, so that you may use your phone normally at
port on the back of your PC. times when your modem is not turned on and connected.
For the exterior box modems, you usually need a The manual for your modem should describe how to do
cable with a connector on each end, each looking like this; on modems with two jacks, the jacks will normally
one of the following (see Figure 1): be labelled “to phone” (plug in the telephone set here)
1. Two rows of 25 pins or holes, referred to as “DB-25.” and “to line” (plug in to the wall jack).
The connector with pins is often referred to as “male,” As well, most external modems and some internal
and the one with holes referred to as “female.” modems will come with indicator lights on the front,
2. Two rows of 9 pins or holes, referred to as “DB-9.” which normally operate when the modem is powered on.
3. A round connector with 8 pins or holes, referred to as These can be useful to tell what the modem is doing at
“DIN-8.” any given time.
Obviously the connector will have to fit the port into Most modems will have some way of indicating that
which it plugs. they are powered on, either by flicking all the lights at
This cable will plug into the serial port on the back of power-on time or with a steadily-shining “Power” or “On”
your computer. Most modems have a 25-pin port at the light. For Flayes-compatible modems,* some of the
back of them, so one end of your cable will probably other useful indicator lights are:
need to be 25-pin. On a PC-compatible, the serial port is Tx/Rx — “Transmit/Receive" — This light flashes
usually a DB-25 or DB-9 connector; on an Apple Macin¬ when data are sent through the modem, either by your
tosh, it is usually a DIN-8 connector. computer (“transmit”) or by the remote “host” computer
(“receive”). This is the light you will watch when you are
1 mi j checking your modem to see if it is hooked up properly.
See the next section, “A Conversation with your Mo¬
dem.”
OPI — “Off-Hook" — This light is on whenever the
modem has engaged your phone line to begin a call (i.e.,
the phone is “off-the-hook”).
HS — “High Speed" — On modems with multiple
speeds, this will tell you when the modem is operating at
the higher speed. Most multiple-speed modems have
two speeds, for example 1200 bits per second (bps) and
2400 bps.
Figure 1: a DB-25 connector (top left), a DB-9
connector (top right), and a DINS (bottom centre). see glossary
*
ComputerNews May/June 1992 1
Features
A Conversation with your Modem
The following is a typical session you would have with a modem if it is Hayes-compatible. For comparison, we've
shown the equivalent natural language conversation that you might have with a human being, if she or he were a
modem (note that this is unlikely in reality).
If we were conversing with a modem, our dialogue would look something like this:
AT (We’d hear the phone dial, and, if a free line
O K ____—--" was available, the phone at the other end
ATDP 978 7239 would answer. We would hear the modems’
Dialing. .. - carrier signals* as they recognize each other,
and we’d see the following message.)
CONNECT
Hi -
(Then, by pressing return, we could begin
"Hi there. I'm here and ready to do work for
talking to the computer on the other end.)
you"
If the modem were a real person, the
Hi, dial 978 7239 for me, will you?
conversation might look like this:
"OK, I'm dialing it now. Let's see
9... 7 ... 8.7 ... 2 ... 3... 9"
(RRING-RRRING-RRING...>click<...)
(The modems would exchange greetings
with high-pitched tones.)
"OK, I'm connected"
V_
The Advising Desk can provide you with further information on accessing UTCS services via modem. We distrib¬
ute several helpful pamphlets on each service. The Advising Desk can be reached by phoning 978-4357 (HELP)
during the hours of operation, 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
see glossary
*
Glossary
“BPS” or “bps” — “bits per second” — The speed Hayes-compatible — A type of modem that be¬
at which a modem sends information. Usually, you can haves like one manufactured by the Hayes Corpora¬
calculate roughly the number of characters (single tion, especially one that uses the same set of com¬
letters or numbers) sent by dividing a modem’s “bps” mands used by Hayes modems. It is the most popular
rating by 10. For example a 2400 bps modem sends type of modem for microcomputer communications, and
approximately 240 characters per second. (See it has become an industry standard. Most modems you
“Selecting Modems" by Doug Carson, ComputerNews, can purchase for this type of communications will be
March 1992, p. 9) Hayes-compatible.
“carrier” — Analog signal (usually an audible Modem — (MOdulator-DEModulator) — Device for
continuous tone) used by modems to communicate sending computer data over the phone lines by modu¬
with each other. Data can be sent by modulating this lating an analog signal.
signal to represent the digital information from a
computer.
2 ComputerNews May/June 1992
Features
Novell Conference:
Brainshare 1992
Terry Jones
tj@gpu. utcs. utoronto.ca
The University of Utah in Salt Lake agents to automate processes. On a
City was host to 2,500 attendees of more down-to-earth scale, watch for
the Novell Developers Conference, more NetWare “plug and play”
Brainshare. This year's conference printers and plotters from HP. He
included the Technology Transfer believes we are finally moving from
Partnership Conference, which is the “plug and pray” to the “plug and
Novell’s way of bringing together play” stage!
universities that use Novell products. Philippe Kahn, president and CEO
The conference was four and a of Borland, gave a very interesting
half days of keynote speakers, talk and product demonstration. He
breakout sessions, lunch speakers, is an object-oriented evangelist, and
and evening meetings with Novell demonstrated dBASE for Windows,
scientists and third-party vendors. Paradox for Windows, and Quattro
All the keynote speakers were Pro for Windows. These applica¬
industry heavyweights with great NOVELL. tions have a very broad access to
influence on the future development rich data types, and to illustrate this,
of the personal computer industry. he demonstrated graphics and
Andrew Grove, president of Intel, sound data types in dBASE for
focused on collaborative computing demonstrated version 3.1 and Windows using the Microsoft
and the need for “natural” or “rich" explained some of the more impor¬ Multimedia Extensions. Kahn did
data types (such as continuous and tant benefits of this new release. some dynamic application creation in
digitized sound, images, animation These include a new file manager, Paradox for Windows, linking to both
and full motion video). Naturally, persistent network connections, easy Paradox and dBASE tables, and
Intel expects users to need more installation from a network, TrueType demonstrated the creation of links to
CPU power (millions of instructions scaleable fonts, and Multimedia and graphics and other data types using
per second or MIPS) to handle these Pen extensions. Object Linking and Embedding
new data types, as well as greater Robert Frankenberg, vice presi¬ (OLE). His entire demonstration was
bandwidth on the networks. Grove dent and general manager of done using the new Windows 3.1.
also discussed the P5 chip (a Hewlett-Packard, presented a At an evening session, Steve
superscalar processor with about different perspective. He feels that Jobs, president, chairman and
200 MIPS), and conjectured about information access using a kind of founder of NeXT Computer, provided
what the computing generation after “just in time" approach is needed. a discussion of the “NeXT revolution"
that will hold. Because there is more information and n lively demonstration of the
Steve Ballmer, vice president of available to us than we can scan and capabilities of NeXT computers.
Microsoft, spoke of how Windows retain, we need tools that allow us to Built-in Ethernet connectivity, Novell
3.1 and Windows NT form the basis access information when it is networking as part of the operating
of Microsoft's systems software needed. We need enhanced system (in beta test now and
platform, which is designed to deliver personal communication in the form tentatively scheduled to ship in
Microsoft’s goal of “information at of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) June), object-oriented interface, and
your fingertips,” Querying the to obtain information, and full application building tools all support
audience, he found that 75% were wireless communication to get the his current slogan, “it just works.” As
Windows users and 50% were information where we need it to go. well, NeXT will be porting its operat¬
Windows developers. Since the As a start to this trend, he indicated ing system to the Intel 486 platform
conference was held before the April that Hewlett-Packard's graphical (scheduled in 1992). Jobs feels that
6 rollout of Windows 3.1, Ballmer user interface, NewWave 4, will have since NeXT computers are well
ComputerNews May/June 1992 3
Features
NetWare Global Messaging integrates with NetWare, and additional protocols Integrate with NetWare
Global Messaging.
known for their ability to create sessions, new products were product provides a distributed and
custom applications very quickly, announced, including NetWare replicated directory database across
companies using NeXT technology Global Messaging. multiple servers. A user name can
will have a strong competitive edge. NetWare Global Messaging is a be added to one server, and the
The conference breakout sessions family of NetWare Loadable Modules information will be automatically
covered all aspects of Novell for NetWare 3.11. Intended as an updated on other participating
networking, from cabling to multiple integration platform for enterprise¬ servers. Asynchronous communica¬
platform integration. I attended wide messaging, it allows store and tion features include support for
sessions on Macintosh and UNIX forward communications among multiple transmission media, simpli¬
connectivity, database technology popular industry standard messaging fied modem definition, and public
within the Novell environment, data protocols such as NetWare MHS, data network support.
transports, messaging, document Simple Mail Transfer Protocol For more information about the
imaging services, NetWare and (SMTP), System Network Architec¬ conference, contact Terry Jones at
Windows, and detecting viruses in a ture Distribution Services (SNADS), 978-4924.
NetWare environment. At some and OSI X.400 protocols. The
An integrated network
of Macintoshes, PCs,
and UNIX workstations
using a Novell server.
4 ComputerNews May/June 1992
News
Changes
to WordPerfect Site
Licence Eligibility
Requirements
Patricia Hood
phood@vm. utcs. utoronto.ca
WordPerfect Corporation has changed its policy Until the new Canadian policy is finalized, hospitals
pertaining to the relationship between universities and (except Sunnybrook) are not considered part of the
hospitals in the United States. As a repercussion of this University of Toronto campus. Cross-appointed re¬
change, a new policy is being developed for teaching searchers and other University of Toronto employees
hospitals affiliated with universities in Canada. Until the who previously were able to purchase WordPerfect
new Canadian policy is in place, Sunnybrook is the only licences from UTCS for use on their machines in their
hospital qualifying as being part of the University of hospital offices can no longer do so. They will have to
Toronto campus and, therefore, the only hospital location purchase the “educational" package from a local retailer,
eligible for the current School Software Licensing such as the University of Toronto Computer Shop. As
Program administered by UTCS. always, persons wholly employed by hospitals and not
There are three conditions of use for all WordPerfect employed by the University of Toronto cannot buy or use
5.1 licences administered by UTCS: the WordPerfect software purchased from UTCS.
1. The licences can only be purchased by U of T employees.
2. The software can only be used on the U of T campus.
3. The software remains the property of the University of Toronto, and
reverts to it should the purchaser leave the employ of the University.
ComputerNews May/June 1992 5
Mews___
The Micro Sales and Maintenance
Group
Kam Mark
kam@gpu. utcs. utoronto. ca
Did you know that right here on the St. George charge of $60.00 for an on site service call but no
campus there is a group of computer specialists who are minimum is chargeable on depot service.
ready, willing and waiting to provide expert installation Consider as well the following advantages of dealing
and repair services for your personal computers? Yes, with UTCS:
there is! — the Micro Sales and Maintenance Group of • NO taxes, PST or GST, are payable because these
UTCS!! Do you need to have your computer hardware services are internal transactions.
set up, software or LAN installed? UTCS can do it for • We are on campus and can provide you with quicker
you! Do you have a problem with your computer and response times (average about two hours).
you don’t know whether it’s a hardware, software, or • You are always dealing with the same trusted people
local area network fault? UTCS can resolve and repair it from within the University.
for you! All at competitive rates (and we keep the money • We are a complete service centre: we also service
within the University). IBM, Commodore, Dell, and other clones. Also, we
UTCS is a fully authorized Apple Service Centre. We can take care of your local area networks, both
will maintain your Apple equipment ON SITE for the hardware and software.
same price you would pay for AppleCare. Why bother • We are backed by the full range of UTCS resources.
with the inconveniences of taking your computers to a As our name implies, we also can assist your depart¬
service centre, picking them up, and keeping track of ment in purchasing certain manufacturers’ personal
your warranty forms? We are also an authorized repair computer products at substantial savings. Such pur¬
centre for Packard Bell and Zenith personal computer chases are intended to be institutional; i.e., they must be
equipment if you need warranty work done. charged to a University debit memo. For now, we can
We provide three types of service: an annual mainte¬ supply Packard Bell and Zenith computers. We are
nance contract, a labour only contract, or a “per call’’ engaged in negotiations with other manufacturers for
service. their products as well. If you are interested in purchasing
Under an annual maintenance contract, customers either Packard Bell or Zenith equipment please call us for
receive the first priority of calls. All work is done on site a quotation.
and all labour and parts are included. This type of Let us take care of your computer equipment require¬
contract guarantees a maximum response and minimum ments. Please call me at 978-5050. Let’s talk about how
repair time. A fee covering the maintenance period is we can be of service to you.
payable in advance. (Please see pages 7-8 of this issue
of ComputerNews for annual maintenance prices of
typical systems.)
A labour contract specifies the number of hours of
service and the specific services that will be provided for
a specified fee payable in advance. The hourly rate is
discounted from the “per call” rates — the discount is
dependent on the number of hours of the contract. This
type of contract ranks after an annual maintenance
contract in terms of priority of calls. Parts are NOT
covered and no maximum repair time is guaranteed. All
services are performed on site.
The third type of service that we provide is “per call”
service. No fee is payable in advance — pay only as
you need the service. We do on site and depot service
on a time and material basis. There is a minimum
6 ComputerNews May/June 1992
Typical Systems Pricing - Annual Maintenance
1992 Maintenance Contract Pricing: MS-DOS Computers & Peripherals
Typical System Prices Annual Monitors Annual
PC, XT or Compatible (4.77 MHz) 144.00 Monochrome 12.00
Monochrome Monitor EGA or VGA Colour 24.00
640 K RAM, 2 - 360 K Floppies SVGA Colour 36.00
1 - 20/30MB Hard Disk
Disk Drives
PC/AT or Compatible (6,8,12 MHz) 204.00 360 K, 720 K, 1.2 & 1,44MB Floppy 12.00
Monochrome Monitor 20 - 40MB Hard Disk (IDE) 12.00
640 K RAM, 1 - 40MB Hard Disk 50 - 60MB Hard Disk (IDE) 24.00
1 - 360 K & 1.2MB Floppy 100MB Hard Disk (IDE) 36.00
120MB Hard Disk (IDE) 48.00
IBM PS/2-30 204.00 240MB Hard Disk (IDE) 96.00
Monochrome Monitor
1MB RAM, 1 - 20MB Hard Disk Tape Backup
1 - 720 k floppy Colorodo 120MB Internal 24.00
Colorodo 250MB Internal 36.00
286 PC or Compatible (16 MHz) 216.00 Colorodo 120MB External 36.00
Monochrome Monitor Colorodo 250MB External 48.00
2MB RAM, 1 - 40MB Hard Disk
1 - 1,2MB & 1,44MB Floppy Modems & Mice
Logitech Mouse 12.00
IBM PS/2 - 50 240.00 1200/2400 Baud Modem 12.00
Monochrome Monitor
1MB RAM, 1 - 40MB Hard Disk Printers
1 - 1,4MB Floppy Dot Matrix 48.00
Panasonic KX1090/92, KX1191, KX1592
386 Sx/Dx or Compatible (16-25 MHz) 240.00 Epson FX100,FX185,FX286, IBM ProPrinter
Monochrome Monitor
2MB RAM, 1 - 40MB Hard Disk Letter Quality 60.00
1 - 1.2MB & 1.44MB Floppy IBM ProPrinter XL,C-ITOH FI 0-55
Epson LQ1000,LQ1050.LQ1500,LQ2500,LQ255(
386 Dx or Compatible (33 MHz) 264.00
Monochrome Monitor High Quality & Speed 96.00
2MB RAM, 1 - 40MB Hard Disk Toshiba P341SL, P351, P351SX
1 - 1.2MB & 1.44MB Floppy Fujitsu DL2400/2600
486 Dx or Compatible (33 MHz) 288.00 Laser
Monochrome Monitor HP LaserJet IIP 204.00
2MB RAM, 1 - 40MB Hard Disk HP LaserJet IMP 240.00
1 - 1.2MB & 1.44MB Floppy HP LaserJet, LaserJet II & III 360.00
QMS 410,800, 810, PS Jet+ 360.00
ComputerNews May/June 1992 7
1992 Maintenance Contract Pricing: Apple Macintosh Computers & Products
System Prices Annual Monitors Annual
Mac 128, 512, Plus 156.00 Mac 12" Mono 36.00
Mac Classic - 40MB HD 168.00 Mac 12" RGB 60.00
Mac Classic II - 40MB HD 192.00 Hi-Res 12" Mono 48.00
Mac Classic II - 80MB HD 240.00 Hi-Res 13" Colour 84.00
Portrait Display 84.00
Mac LC - 40MB HD 216.00 Two-Page Mono 168.00
Mac LC - 80MB HD 252.00 Mac 16" Colour 144.00
Mac LCII - 40MB HD 228.00 Mac 21" Colour 360.00
Mac LCII-80MB HD 252.00
Disk Drives
PowerBook 100 - 20MB HD 192.00 400K / 800K /1,44MB Floppy 36.00
PowerBook 100 - 40MB HD 192.00 20 Megabyte Hard Drive 84.00
PowerBook 140 - 20MB HD 240.00 40 Megabyte Hard Drive 132.00
PowerBook 140 - 40MB HD 276.00 80 Megabyte Hard Drive 168.00
PowerBook 170 - 40MB HD 348.00 160 Megabyte Hard Drive 252.00
Compact Disk CD 132.00
Mac SE-20MB HD 252.00/312.00
Mac SE-40MB HD 288.00/360.00 Tape Backup
Mac SE/30 - 40MB HD 396.00 Apple 40SC Tape Backup 168.00
Mac SE/30 - 80MB HD 504.00
Modems & Scanners
Mac II -40MB HD 372.00 Personal Modem (1200 baud) 36.00
Mac II -80MB HD 552.00 Data Modem (2400 baud) 36.00
Mac llx-40MB HD 528.00 Fax Modem 48.00
Mac llx - 80MB HD 624.00 Scanner 192.00
Mac Ilex - 40MB HD 420.00 OneScanner 120.00
Mac Ilex - 80MB HD 552.00
Mac llci - 40MB HD 492.00 Printers
Mac llci - 80MB HD 624.00 ImageWriter 1, II, ML 84.00
Mac llsi - 40MB HD 300.00 StyleWriter 84.00
Mac llsi - 80MB HD 360.00 LaserWriter Plus 228.00
Mac llfx - 80MB HD 696.00 Personal LaserWriter LS 156.00
Mac llfx - 160MB HD 780.00 Personal LaserWriter SC 192.00
Personal LaserWriter NT 252.00
Quadra 700 - 80MB HD 660.00 Personal LaserWriter NTR 228.00
Quadra 700 - 160MB HD 720.00 LaserWriter II SC 228.00
Quadra 700 - 400MB HD 792.00 LaserWriter II NT 324.00
Quadra 900- 160MB HD 876.00 LaserWriter II NTX 432.00
Quadra 900 - 400MB HD 828.00 LaserWriter Ilf 288.00
LaserWriter llg 384.00
Rates quoted include all parts and labour. Equipment Drop-off service is $60/hour with no minimum and
must be certified as operational by a representative of does not include parts. The rate for on-site service is
UTCS prior to commencement of a maintenance con¬ $60/hour plus travel and also does not include parts. A
tract. No extra “check-out” fee, PST or GST are charged minimum charge of one hour per call applies to all on¬
on maintenance contracts for University of Toronto site calls. UTCS also supplies and installs floppy drives,
departments. (Service rates are subject to change hard drives, video boards, math coprocessors, and
without notice.) UTCS will also consider maintenance, memory upgrades.
on a time and material basis for many types of micro¬ Operating hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday
computers (e.g., Commodore, Packard Bell, Zenith). through Friday (excluding legal and University holidays).
8 ComputerNews May/June 1992