Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    This is a great idea !
    
    Patrick who one day will try to use what's on the net !
    

How about also making the conference message read "NEW users MUST read
note xx first"


Greg

    
    When I get my system backup I'll be prepaired to make copies...
    
    
    	I would even have a disk avail now if the monitor had not
    packed up...!!!!!! Line output trans on a 8833 mk1 Standard fault...
    
    	Steve G 

re       <<< Note 5261.0 by PEEVAX::GIFFORD "Mowing the weed's at Mum's." >>>
>                    -< A modest proposal re downloads etc. >-

> VltJr
> Xprzmodem

	OK, I suggest adding Handshake, I think 2.20c is the latest 
version.  Also a readme that gives a step_by_step for each of the 
unpackers, modem settings, the location of the major archives, mostly 
EOT::AMIGA:[AMIGA.FISH.Znnn], a pointer to the WATN conference ?, etc.
Beginners need that at home, in front of them, not burried in a notes 
conference that they may still not know how to connect to (-:
At work they also need .....I forget, its in my Amiga sub-directory 
somewhere, Z-Modem ? SZ ? and the DCL com file that batches stuff up 
and sends file after file after file, I think its SZ_SEND.COM by Clint 
Adams;  also the definitions for their login.com files (assuming a VAX)
etc. 

> Then I suggest a new note be created giving names and enet addresses of people
> who are willing to dearc a few copies of this disk.

	OK, I volunteer to be a distributor for people who are 
reasonably close to Littleton, or who don't mind dropping by on the 
way to/from work, other meetings or whatever.  I'll try to keep a few 
spare copies of the starter disk around so all folks have to do is 
drop by once.

> Probably what would also be nice would be a 'starter' documentation set for the
> above.

	In hard copy ?   OK, but it should only have to get them to 
the readme file.

> This should cut down on a hell of a lot of 'noise' in the conference.

	Yes.

> Any comments?

	Yes, its a very nice thought.   Thanx.

> Stan.

	Reg

    I'll volunteer to make disks for anyone in the Colorado Springs area	
    (CXN, CX0x).
    
    Ken Appleman
    592-7365
    csc32::k_appleman
    

Ah...

In my .2 I should have also offerred to be a UK distribution point.
Still insist that the conference header should read New Users read
notes .. as well as the existing Conf directory in..


Greg

Sounds like a winner.  I can be available for the Colorado Springs area also.
just in case Ken is on vacation why make a new user wait.  

In previous notes people have mentiond Starter disks being available.  If some
kind person could compress and upload I will place a few in my cubicle.  

MSH or the read only Cross Dos might be added to the list.


Alan

Re .7

I deliberatly left crossdos off.

Firstly it takes up disk space.
secondly it is a littyle more complex to install.
and if people are new to it, they may bite a little to much off.

I suggest that the 'doco' documents crossdos and msh and detail uses and also
the uses of Vaxstations in writing to 720k disk for transport.

The doco can also mention where crossdos/msh is!

Stan.

P.S I am extremely gratified by the response. Needless to say I will be the
dist point for Sydney.

I will ask the moderator to create a special note (maybe write lock it), that
contains only dist points.

I will be making the disk up this weekend! 

On monday it 'should' be un [upload] probably starter.something 

please anyone what is the compresser that does a whole disk????

my brain has died!!!!!!  is it zip?

	I have couple of things that I put together which I'd be happy  to
	contribute.  

	Some time ago I put together a basic VAX-to-Amiga user's manual for
	a couple of co-workers. (I think it's also burried in one of the 
	several notes on this subject.  It contains information on 


        1- What and Where's the data? (describes shareware, node locations,etc.)
        2- How to prepare the data. (getting files, running cvtarc etc.)
        3- Set up info  (for both modem and Ami)
        4- How to connect. (Using VLTjr and Handshake)
        5- How to download the data.  (Using Zmodem)
        6- What to do with it now that you've got it! (Unarcing)
   
	The info is ok, and it could use more words and review to be complete,
	but it might be a good place to start.  If I can get some volunteers
	to help rewrite/review this document, I'd be happy to coordinate the
	activities and place it in here as well as on EOT for reference.
 
	The other thing I have is an installation kit for installing the needed
   	environment on a VAX.  The kit is command file driven, creates Amiga
	subdirectories, sets up logicals, and copies over executables, command
	files etc.  When you're done, you have everything you need to transfer
	data to and from a VAX. If I can get the help of the owners of EOT to 
	set up a special subdirectory (EOT::AMIGA:[AMIGA.SETUP]) with world
	access, I'll populate it with the necessary files and post the 
	installation kit command file in our special "NEW USERS - READ ME FIRST"
	note. (Wish I'd thought of this sooner!)		

								Mike

I'd be willing to make and distubute copies for folks in the Nashua area.

..Dan

    I can help distribute in Alabama/Georgia.
    
    Tony Wilson BHO (ATO a lot, also)

	Before we go into massive distribution efforts.....

	I'll volunteer to novice test it;  sure, I can play dumb(er)

	Reg

    I can make/provide disks in the Marlboro, MA area.  I have an Ami at
    work so turnaround should be no problem 8^)
    
    John
    

    
    I don't have a hard disk at home, so I don't have a lot of this
    stuff set up for easy copying, although in a pinch, I can be a
    backup contact for ZKO and environs.
    
    However, I'll be happy to throw together a guide to help UNIX users
    migrate to the Amiga. I saw the notes about "VAX to Amiga", and while
    they were helpful, they are, of course, VMS-oriented. I intend to
    make mine architecture-neutral, and to cover both ULTRIX and OSF.
    Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to start until after New
    Year's.
    
    

    	As one who has been searching and grubbing around through the
    notes and looking through EOT:: and CRISTA:: etc. for several months
    I think it's a great, spiffing, wonderfull idea. Looking forward to
    using it.
    
    			Paul.
    

    Talking of proposals, I've always thought that NOTES was a wonderful
    thing. 
    The only drawback I find is in the useability and control. In fact what
    we really need is a three rather than two dimensional approach which
    would allow a far more logical structure. It would look something like
    this........
    
    MAIN TOPIC
    	SUBTOPIC
    		REPLIES
    
    As you know, quite often a topic changes half way through a discussion,
    and subsequent notes "get lost" under a heading which no longer means
    anything. Also, doing a dir/title only catches the main note.
    
    Talking of a proposal for downloads gave me an idea.........why not
    provide a more structured approach to the AMIGA conference?
    
    I suggest that we create main topic notes....much like the FOR SALE
    note and the UPLOADS note. We could expand this concept by having notes
    which were reserved for discussions about PRINTERS, DTP, DATABASES 
    UTILITIES etc.
    
    Most people could place their note conveniently in one of those main
    topics, and searching by title would be more efficient if it were
    restricted to a single topic note.
    
    I know that this would take a fair amount of restructuring effort, but
    I'm sure you see the many duplicate requests and new notes which are
    started because the existing file has become too large and unwieldy.
    
    Generally speaking, whether or not this approach is used, more
    discipline exerted in the note name would also result in easier
    retrieval.
    
    
    Any comments?
    
    
    Steven

    re .16
    
    1 year ago the same proposals were made and a new conference (amiga_v2)
    was created with the same structure you are talking about.  I was
    made a co-moderator of that conference.  Unfortunately, nothing further
    happened.  A few general notes were created but activity ceased.
    
    If the moderator is interested in starting this project up again, I am
    still willing to be a co-moderator.
    
    Other than the above comment, let's not go down a rat-hole here on
    reorganizing the conference and stick to the download topic.
    
    Ken
    

    
    Great idea!
    
    I've read most of the stuff on this conference on up/down loading and
    could not understand any of it. This has put me off connecting my Amiga
    to the net. Its not that I'm dumb (I can program my video and even get
    the clock on my micro-wave to show the right time) but all this ARCing
    and ZOOing seems incomprehensible to me (I must be getting old).
    
    On the other hand it is obvious that I'm missing out on a lot of useful
    stuff available on the net. A starter-pack to get me going would be
    ideal.
    
    This proposal gets my vote for the best idea of the year!

    re: .16, .17
    
    At 5200+ notes it's about time to restart the Version 2 Notes file
    idea.  For an example of an excellent reorganization, look at
    ROUTES::MACINTOSH.  The first 100 notes or so are the "best of" the old
    conference.  The new conference replaced the old one, so that
    apparently no new notebook entry was needed for the changeover, but
    only to access the old version.
    
    A reorg gets my vote.
    
    Wes

Re .18 Thank you for your kind comments.

I am slowly (read extremely bl**dy slowly) working on getting the starter disk
together.

Unfortunatly all this week (and the weekend) she-who-must-be-obeyed has insisted 
that I install a watering system for my gardens. For the unitiated this means
laying poly-pipe through ground that is 99.999 percent clay. This stuff has the
consistancy of high-grade concrete. I also have to pass a pipe under a driveway
which is comparable to explaining one's EEV to a manager for pain and frustration.
(I have been doing this for two evenings so far AND AM STILL NOT THROUGH!!!!).

So (as it looks like rain tonite), I will attempt to do some real work, and dist
it before Christmas so all the new users out there who receive pressies from
santa will not populate this notes file with 'how do I....?" notes.

BTW The disc will be a warped archive.
It will contain...

Zoo
arc
ARP
lharc
warp
xprzmodem
vltjr
xprkermit (maybe)

and some documentation of the stuff on the disk.

Stan.

    What at G R E A T idea.  From someone who is lost by all of the ARCing
    Zooing also!
    
    How would a person in Kalamazoo, Michigan to get a copy of this starter
    disk and to understand how to download, etc?
    
    A *wonderful* idea!  
    
    Jolene

    Vote to help start Amiga vol2 if necessary
    
    Greg

    re .21
    
    Jolene,
    
    When the starter kit is done, I can send a copy to you if you want.
    
    Ken
    

    re .23
    
    Ken, that would be wonderful . . . when I get it, I will send you a
    replacement disk.
    
    Jolene

    I might as well get on the bandwagon and beg Ken for his help here too.
    ---Please, Ken, when you make Jolene a copy, dupe one for me too.
    Thanks Ken 
    Kim Hillard
    

     
    Stan,  
    
    Good move mate. Most people forget most Digits aren't professional
    techies. BTW, is your watering system functioning now (seems like a
    starter disk for that would help too!).
    
    Can I please suggest you add the WB1.2 and WB1.3 LA75 printer drivers.
    These dont take up much space, and open up this avenue for many.
    Refer Note 4546 for WB1.3 version.
    
    Also, the starter instructions will need to include how people get RZ,
    SZ and/or Kermit+CVTARC etc copied and installed on their account on a
    VAX. 
    
    A plain-English pointer to getting AVN/PAVN Notes facilities installed on
     the VAX also wouldn't go astray, so they can take better advantage of these
    conferences.
    
    Regards,
    Randall.

    I'm willing to make disks for anyone in the Salem (New Hampshire) area.

    Peter Capriccio
    DTN: 285-3144
    CRISTA::CAPRICCIO or SALEM::CAPRICCIO