Re: Any MUG! + Zip disk + RamFAST users?

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Supertimer writes ...
> 
 ....
> 
> Here's where to find it:
> 
> http://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/apple16/System/Ndas/mug101.txt
> http://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/apple16/System/Ndas/mug101.bxy
> 
> One thing to be aware of is to run MUG! from an application other
> than Finder due to Finder's fondness of throwing "Installed FSTs
> do not recognize disk, do you wish to format it or eject it" at
> MS-DOS Zip disks.  Running MUG! from another application such
> as AWGS or Teach suppresses the message.  The readme file
> will discuss it more.

     Thanks for the reference and info. Downloaded MUG from Ground,
transferred it to the GS, and unshrinked it. It installed fine from the
desktop under Sys 6.0.1.

     The GS is a ROM-01 with 10/64 ZipGSx, 4MB expansion RAM, Focus HD, and
RamFAST (ROM f) in Slot 2 connected to a Zip drive and CD-ROM. The CD-ROM is
on the end of the chain an is normally OFF. Sys 6.0.1 is booted from the
Focus HD in Slot 7.

     For testing, the system was started (powered ON) with a regular IIgs Zip
disk in the Zip drive. (The Zip drive is turned ON first and a disk inserted.
Then, the computer is turned ON and the hard disk booted.) This permits
loading in RamFAST settings. Mug was activated by double-clicking under the
Finder.

     As you say, you can forget about doing much with MUG from the Finder. It
is possible to insert a PC DOS Zip disk when, for example, MUG is showing a
list of devices in response to clicking the Dir function. When inserted, the
PC Zip disk shows up and can be selected and you can get a directory listing.

     However, "Continue" or any other function which returns control to
Finder for a moment results in the 'Not Recognized' message and you have to
eject the PC Zip disk.


     The idea of starting MUG from within another application seems, often,
to work. (Of course, the application has to let you access the 'Apple' NDA
menu item.)  A notable catch is that not all applications let you use MUG
without drive checking. For example, under CoolWriter and Spectrum (v1) you
get the same problem with 'Not Recognized'.

     MUG seems to work fine when selected from Platinum Paint or PMPUnZip.
(If you start from Platinum Paint, be sure to go to 640 mode first in order
to be able to see the entire MUG display.)  PMPUnZip is, probably, your best
bet because it is a relatively small program.

     Once, say, PMPUnZip is started, you can insert your PC Zip disk and
start MUG. Setting the Copy option to "to GS/OS", I copied several files from
the Zip Disk to /RAM5 RAM disk.

     The copied files included an .shk, some .wav files, and several pic
files. The .shk file unshrinked okay and the .wav files (AOL's 'Goodbye' and
'Got Mail' messages) played fine via SoundShop and SoundStudio.

     Several of the pic files were old .gif, .pcx, and .lbm files from an old
game pics folder. None of these was recognized by Convert 3200 or
SuperConvert (v3). I have not tried transferring these particular pics via
NULL modem to see if there would be any difference. (They are not currently
on PC hard disk; so, a check would require moving the Zip drive, etc. in
order to try the transfer.) Perhaps the files are corrupted in some way or,
more likely, their particular formats are just not recognized.

     Two of the pic files were relatively recent .jpg files. They could be
viewed with no problem using a IIgs jpg viewer.

     The bottom line seems to be that MUG works fine with at least the
current version of RamFAST so long as you access MUG from an application
(like PMPUnZip) which doesn't do constant drive checking.



Rubywand