Re: GS/OS 6.0.1 and HCGS troubles!

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <3npajh$ps9@acme.freenet.columbus.oh.us>,
Dave Althoff <dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us> wrote:
> NOTE:  I'm the one having troubles...
> 
> (re:  There is a problem with Easy Access)
> I did the 'easy update' from 6.0 to 6.0.1, and the Installer never gave me
> any options regarding things like Easy Access.  Just what is that, what
> good (if any) is it, is it likely that the Easy Update installed it, and
> what do I clobber to get rid of it?

It isn't likely that Easy Access would have been added if you were
upgrading from 6.0 to 6.0.1, unless it was already installed.

Easy Access _was_ added by the Easy Update option in the Installer
when going from 5.x to 6.0.

To check if it has been installed, look in the *:System:System.Setup
folder.  If there are files called CloseView and/or EasyAccess in
there, then disable them.

EasyAccess provides "sticky keys" and "keyboard mouse" facilities on a
ROM 1.  These are built into the ADB microcontroller on the ROM 3.
EasyAccess also puts an indicator in the menu bar when sticky keys is
activated.

"Sticky keys" allows you to enter multi-key sequences (i.e. one or
more modifier keys and a normal key) by pressing one key at a time.

"Keyboard mouse" allows you to use the numeric keypad to move the
mouse cursor and to perform clicks, drags, etc.

Both features require an ADB keyboard - they will not work with the
IIe keyboard in an upgraded IIe.

On a ROM 1, these facilities are implemented by intercepting all
keystrokes.  An interrupt handler in EasyAccess interprets the raw key
up and key down codes, then feeds the appropriate keystrokes back to
the ADB microcontroller, from where they appear in the usual manner
(via $C000 and $C025).

The problem: if interrupts are locked out, keystrokes will never
arrive.  If a program disables interrupts and goes into a loop waiting
for a keypress, you cannot get control back.  Even Ctrl-Apple-Reset is
processed by the interrupt handler, so the only way out in this case
is to switch the computer off.

These problems don't happen on a ROM 3.


CloseView can be used on either machine.  It provides a "magnifying
glass" that allows you enlarge a rectangular area of the desktop.

Some programs are not compatible with CloseView, and will have
problems drawing to the super hi-res screen if CloseView is installed.

> And the problem--
> Mysterious crashes of HyperCard IIGS 1.1.

Hm, nothing obvious from the setup.  A problem with the Vulcan device
driver, maybe?

> Also, last night a so-far reliable text editor also crashed
> unexpectedly when I accessed a Standard File Dialog.  That one never
> crashed under 6.0.  At the time of that crash, the programmer CDA's
> were enabled; since then I have disabled them. 

Do you mean "Memory Peeker" and "Visit Monitor"?  It is highly
unlikely that they would cause any problems - they don't do anything
unless you call them up.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand