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Conference 7.286::atarist

Title:Atari ST, TT, & Falcon
Notice:Please read note 1.0 and its replies before posting!
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Mon Apr 04 1988
Last Modified:Tue May 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1433
Total number of notes:10312

1051.0. "OPUS and SHEET" by OPG::RAYER (Behold the Man) Mon Jan 14 1991 04:11

    I've just come across two shareware spreadsheets - OPUS and SHEET. In
    fact, I'd been aware of them for some time, but as I had a commercial
    spreadsheet (the Mini-Office Spreadsheet), I'd never bothered to check
    them out. 

    However, it turns out that both are MUCH better. OPUS has an integrated
    vector graphics output; and graphics can be produced by Sheet via its
    integrated BASIC. There's a menu that suggests that graphics will be a
    future feature. Scrolling on both is faster than the Mini-Office
    Spreadsheet; and both possess a superior interface, and make better use
    of key-board short-cuts.

    The versions I'm using are Sheet 2 and Opus 2.2. Are there more recent
    versions; and if so where?

    I did have one problem with the Meta-file output of OPUS. I've pinched
    the META.SYS file from my copy of HYPERPAINT, guessing that it was the
    sort of thing that OPUS would need to print charts. And it seems I
    guessed incorrectly. I'm receiving error messages whenever I try to
    print graphs - that I'm using the wrong printer driver; that it expects
    something different to what it's getting.

    Can anyone help? My knowledge of meta-files dates backs to this
    weekend, so I guess I'm like the Russian serf whose read on a road-sign
    that there's a place called Moscow 1000 miles away. I can spell the
    word. 

    I discovered that I can print charts through Timeworks though, but not
    otherwise; the latter would be nice.

    Regards,

    �Carl

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1051.1HAMPS::POOREStuart Poore, IM, STG, @BST, U.K.Mon Jan 14 1991 04:4417
    I too have SHEET V2.0 and OPUS V2.2, and have not come across more
    recent versions.
    
    I beleive OPUS is better, but needs 1MB. SHEET is nice, but (IMHO) has
    an appauling method of cut and paste.
    
    I think that OPUS may require GDOS. No I don't know what GDOS is
    exactly, but everybody seems to think that it should be already build
    into GEM, and it's used for fonts and stuff, and it's not PD (better
    explainations greatfully recieved).
    
    Myself, I use VIP, though with only �MB in my 520, I soon fill it up.
    Yes, it's a "real" (i.e. pay money) program, but it's got more features
    than enything else I've seen and can be picked up very cheap these days
    (It was quite an early product for the ST).
    
    		Stuart P.
1051.2GDOS, and questionsPIKES::BITTROLFFMon Jan 14 1991 12:1314
There is a decent explanation of GDOS in a recent (Aug?) issue of STart, with
pointers to more information if you are interested. Basically, as I understood 
it, it is a part of GEM which for some reason is disk based and must be loaded
from your auto file. It is used to load external fonts and such. It was printed
along with an article about one of their on disk programs called CARDMASTER. If
you can't get a copy of that issue I would be glad to copy the article and send
it on.

Where did you get your copies of SHEET and OPUS? I got SHEET through BRE
as a PD program (shareware actually) but I was never able to get it to work at
all. If you have workable programs would it be possible to put them somewhere on
the net so that I can download them?

Steve
1051.3They're on PanartheaOPG::RAYERBehold the ManTue Jan 15 1991 08:4029
    Steve,

    I got my copies from an archive server. Send a VMS mail message saying
    'HELP' to either:

       NM%10390::"[email protected]"

       or

       NM%10390::"[email protected]"

    Commands don't go on the subject-line, which can read anything (because
    they're ignored?) The 'Help' command will prompt the archive-server at
    the other end to send a list of commands, usually quite quickly.
    'Index', another command (for the second address), will produce a hefty
    list of atari files for down-loading. Panarthea's syntax is  `index
    binaries'

    The files the archive servers mail will need to have their headers
    edited, and then run first through UUDECODE.EXE and then CVTARC.EXE.
    They'll then be ready for downloading.

    If you need any of the above programs, mail me at MRJINX::RAYER.

    Regards,

    �Carl 

      
1051.4VISUAL::WEAVERDave, Image Systems GroupTue Jan 15 1991 18:3513
Some GDOS programs expect certain device number assignments in ASSIGN.SYS.
Check your manual and see if they specify what your ASSIGN.SYS should look
like.  META.SYS should be the driver for producing GEM meta files.  Also,
check to see what version of GDOS you are running.  When it boots, write
down everything it says (case IS important).

Note there is GPLUS+ which is an improved version of GDOS (faster).

Its been a while since I messed with GDOS, there have been several
articals on setting it up, the STart reference is one, there are
probably others, including PD descriptions.

						-Dave
1051.5More on Meta files, pl?OPG::RAYERBehold the ManWed Jan 16 1991 03:5920
    I'm actually using GDOS+. I understand about setting up the ASSIGN.SYS
    file, and I believe OPUS knows about the fonts, if only because the
    charting facility would be inaccessible without them - the fancy screen
    fonts, etc.

    My ASSIGN.SYS includes a line like 31 META.SYS, and there is a file
    called META.SYS in the correct directory. OPUS happily outputs META
    files to *.GEM files. It announces that it can't print to my 24-pin
    printer because I've got the wrong meta printer driver. As I said, I
    can print the charts through TIMEWORKS easily, but I'm still slightly
    mystified as to how I should go about getting the correct META file.

    Are they available in the PD; is there anything in the PD that builds
    them? 

    Regards,

    �Carl

     
1051.6OPUSOPG::CMITCHELLWed Jan 16 1991 07:146
	I use OPUS for all my spreadsheet work..I found it on the net and
I run it on my IMb STE. It is really all I want in a spreadsheet. I use Version
2.2 but I seem to remember that if you send a nominal sum to the writer he will
send you Version 2.3 which writes Lotus 1-2-3 compatible files, plus some
additional documentation. It is very reliable and a very attractive screen
layout.
1051.7Ok! But where is it?SUOSW4::SURAUFWed Jan 16 1991 11:217
    Hi,
    the final questions is to me:
    
    	Where can i copy OPUS 2.3, GDOS and the *.SYS Files for it.
    
    Rolf....
    
1051.8Now availableOPG::RAYERBehold the ManThu Jan 17 1991 12:1012
    I've made available BOTH Opus2.2 and Sheet. They're on:

    STRIKR::DISK$USERS:[rayer.atari]*.*

    As mentioned, to get Opus 2.3 you need to contact the author. 

    Regards,

    Carl