Conference 7.286::digital

78.0. "Conversion to VAX Notes" by 2CHARS::SZETO () Tue Jan 21 1986 16:54

  VAX Notes has been in internal field test for over a month now, and
  will begin external field test at the end of the month.  I would like
  to convert this file to VAX Notes format around mid-March, unless this
  creates a problem for many people.

  I conducted a poll in the MARKETING note file regarding conversion to
  VAX Notes.  The note below summarizes the results.  Please send me
  mail at HUMAN::MARKETING (yes, that's right) if you have a problem
  with converting to VAX Notes.  Specify that you are a reader of this
  file (DIGITAL.NOT).

    **** Please read the information below before responding. ****

================================================================================
2CHARS::SZETO                   Marketing Issues               21-JAN-1986 15:49
 Note 4.13                 -< VAX NOTES conversion >-                  13 of 13 
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  re .0

  Eleven people responded by sending mail to HUMAN::MARKETING.
  Two voted for early conversion to VAX Notes.  One preferred net-wide
  conversion (but has been seen using VAX Notes).  One is using VAX Notes
  now but prefers using NOTES-11 on a Pro.  One is using Shelf.
  Three expressed concern over inability to use batch.  Two are
  still on V3, one of them using the batch extract subscription.
  One voted for NOTES-11 with no reason given.

  Some answers:

  VAX Notes supports batch.  Mailing of batch extracts will continue.

  Shelf will not be upgraded to support VAX Notes.  You will need to
  use VAX Notes directly.  Sorry.

  The new NOTES-11 is now being worked on.  No dates yet.

  My question to you again:

  How many of you really can't go to VAX Notes by mid-March?  Send mail
  to HUMAN::MARKETING, please.

  My tentative plan:

  To convert this file to VAX Notes format the weekend of March 15-16.
  VAX Notes will have been in external field test for six weeks.
  NOTES-11 has a chance to be ready then or not too long afterwards.
  Batch mailing of nightly and weekly extracts will continue.

  For your information:

  Copy HUMAN::NOTES$LIBRARY:VAXNOTES.MEM.  This is an introduction to
  VAX Notes for those who are or are about to become novices in using
  the new VAX Notes.  There is also a notefile at HUMAN::SYS$NOTES:VAXNOTES
  where you can ask questions.

--moderator

  To those who sent mail in response to .0, thank you.  I heard you.
  On the other hand, from the underwhelming response, I figure that
  there aren't too many who will be in a bind after the conversion.

  To put it another way, if you have a problem going to VAX Notes
  now, you will still have a problem later.  I'll see what I can do
  to help you, but I conclude that I might as well bite the bullet
  and do the conversion mid-February instead of mid-March.

  So, the date is set.  This file will be converted on 15 February.
  If you haven't installed VAX Notes yet, please hold for another week
  until the external field test kit becomes available.  You'll still
  have two weeks to learn VAX Notes after that.

--moderator

The VAX Notes EFT kit is currently available from 

CLT::SYS$UTILROOT:[VAXNOTES]NOTES001.A

The documentation is in the same place -- either *.LPR for vanilla line 
printers, *.LNO for LN01, or *.LN3 for LN03.  If you're using an LN03, 
print one file at a time, not all 3 in one job (problems with LN03 font 
sizes have been reported).  Be sure to read the release notes that come 
in the kit -- they describe a number of known problems with the product.

The VAX Notes conference is at CLT::VAXNOTES.

The equivalent of NOTESLIST.NOT is TLE::EASYNET_CONFERENCES.

Try VAX Notes, you'll like it.

Tom

However, outside the mail I'll be sendiong, a comment.  There is a problem for
those of us whose system managers haven't been able to or hasven't wanted to
install the new notes facility.  I, as somewhat of a self-taught VMS user, tried
by following instructions, to install VAXnotes myself, and discovered that a 
utility called "npushr" wasn't in the system library, so here I sit.  It becomes
more difficult each day to read and contribute to notes.

Why the hurry (other than that we priobably will turn it into a Product)?
What happens to those with 11s (including pros)?  Are they to be locked out
(along with those of us without VAXnotes) for some indefinite time in the
future?

It's very depressing.

Steve Kallis, Jr.

I'll add to the depression that Steve mentions in .3
After finally getting vms 4.3 (from 3.7, why change when it works!?), the
system manager is unable for the last week to get vax notes working.
Does it really work?  What is the hurry?
ed