                     On Disk Monthly's
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                          LETTERS
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It shows that you are truly working hard to continue to
improve ODM. I have enjoyed each issue more and more. You do
seem to be listening to your customers, myself included.

I especially enjoyed issue #69's Super Crossword. It's
GREAT...please continue that feature.

I recently saw an advertisement for a shareware program
which claimed to be able to convert graphics compatibility.
For example, .PCX graphics could be converted to .TIFF, and
so forth. I did not purchase the program, but thought I'd
suggest that kind of program for the future.

Keep up the good work.
--James A. Gillman, Pensacola, FL



PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE:
Thanks for your kind words. Other subscribers also enjoyed
Super Crossword and would like to see more of it. You will,
see more of it but probably not on every issue. The question
of regular features was raised on a recent Report Card. Some
people would like to see certain programs, such as Word-Up,
on every issue. Others want and expect all-new and unique
programs on every issue. We'll continue to give you the best
of both worlds. Also, your graphics converter idea is a good
one. We will add it to our subscriber "wish list."

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                RECENT REPORT CARD REMARKS:
                ------ ------ ---- --------

I enrolled in ODM because I could use it with a 512K RAM and
CGA monitor [computer]. What happened? I cannot run
everything. --James Kennedy, Jonestown, PA

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: You don't say how long ago you
became a subscriber, but since issue #61, our minimum system
requirements have been as follows: an IBM or 100% compatible
PC, 640K RAM, CGA or better graphics (this includes your
monitor and graphics card), a disk drive (any size), and
MS-DOS 3.0 or higher recommended. When DOS 5.0 became the
"norm," our DOS requirement changed to MS-DS 3.0 or higher
REQUIRED (around issue #67). While you should be able to run
most of the programs on each issue, you won't be able to run
some that have a lot of graphics, i.e., require a full 640K
of memory. You state that you have a 286 computer. You
should be able to upgrade your RAM to 1MB for about $40. If
you want to go even further (save those pennies!), you can
buy a VGA graphics card for around $100 and a VGA monitor
for around $250. I also recommend that you upgrade to DOS
5.0 if you haven't already. You'll save in RAM and can load
any TSRs in high memory. Start saving (and shopping for the
best buys) now.

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Why is it that when I leave a program, I have to return to
the logo and restart? --Robert G. Chaplick, Wheaton, MD

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: I hope you don't mean the Softdisk
Publishing animation when you say "logo." If so, call our
toll-free technical support line and let's find out what's
wrong. If you refer to the ON DISK MONTHLY logo, it is a
part of the ON DISK MONTHLY main menu. From there you may
run or copy any program on the issue. If you run our
programs from the menu, you'll return to it each time you
exit a program, not to the DOS prompt.

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Explain how to use .PCX and Print Shop.
--Charles Eastman, Rochester, NY

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: While our Print Shop Utilities
program will allow you to view and print Print Shop images,
you must own either Print Shop or the New Print Shop (both
are commercial software) in order to fully use the Print
Shop images you'll find on many issues. Those programs will
allow you to place the images in correspondence, on labels,
etcetera. Likewise, to do more than view, clip and print
.PCX files by using PCX 'Rangler on this issue, you must own
a program--word processor, page layout and drawing programs
are the most common--that will import .PCX graphics. If you
have such a program, run the program and import the image(s)
into it. 'Rangler cannot export the images into another
program for you. If you don't know whether you own software
that will allow you to use Print Shop or .PCX, check your
software manuals.

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What's the difference between Family Tree 3.0 and Enhanced
Family Tree? [Also, the] "save" feature on Super Crossword
wouldn't work. I kept getting "Error Saving Rome.SXP."
--Robert A. Jensen, Colorado Springs, CO

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Besides giving Enhanced Family
Tree a "facelift," Family Tree 3.0 is much more powerful,
includes more features and solved a few problems that have
surfaced since Enhanced was published. You may not have
reached that point yet, but Enhanced has a limit on the
number of entries. 3.0 is limited only by your disk space.
The update also imports and exports GEDCOM files, which
makes it compatible with other geneology programs. In short,
it may look a lot like last year's model, but only until you
look under the hood. I believe your Super Crossword error
resulted from saving to a full or almost full floppy. Call
us for a replacement disk if you have more problems.

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DTP uses .PCX graphics. If you could separate the graphics,
I could use them. ...Every ad says there will be demos. I
haven't seen one since issue #44.
--Boyd Thomison, Guymon, OK

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Separate or clip those .PCX images
with the PCX 'Rangler program on this issue. Then look in
our back issue catalog at all the other great .PCX graphics
we've published. As I only came on board with issue #66, I
can't comment on demos before that. We haven't, of course,
included any with the last few issues. We'd love to send out
more demos, but keep in mind that other companies generally
pay us to send out a demos of their products as a form of
advertisement. On an upcoming issue, however, you will
receive a scaled-down version of a game developed for our
Gamer's Edge subscription disk. It's sort of a fully-
functional "demo" (for EGA or higher graphics systems).

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More Print Shop graphics...games like Nucleon--very
addictive. [My] high score, so far (after having it 24
hours), is 17,450. --Cliff Franklin, Redding, CA

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: Like you, I'm addicted to Nucleon.
It requires me to think. One wrong choice and the game's
over. It requires me to act. If the clock runs out and I've
left 10 or more "blocks" on the screen, the game's over. It
causes me to keep playing because I'm sure I'll be able to
score more when I play the next game. Three hours later I
"awaken" and feel drained of energy.... My husband and I
argue over who gets to play it first. It's a keeper.

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[I'd like to see a] food shopping guide where we could
program what aisle an item is in and print out our food
shopping list by aisle number.
--Michael T. Call, Seabrook, NH

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: You are really a lucky guy. That's
one of the many features of Grocery Kart...a program on this
issue of ON DISK MONTHLY.

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The ODM menu is fairly good. Could you get away from the
mouse leaving the screen when returning to the main menu? It
is somewhat aggravating to [have to] click to get the mouse
to return. --Lawrence DeFilippi, Andalusia, AL

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: What's really happening when you
"return" is that a graphic ad (we call it a Marketplace
billboard ad) has been superimposed over the menu. You'll
see a new billboard ad every time you exit a program until
all the ads (usually around 5 ads) have cycled through once.
The mouse isn't on the screen because you really aren't "in"
the menu; you're "viewing" the ad. When you click the mouse
or press a key, you're "exiting" the ad and going to the
menu. As documented in the User Guide, there is a way to
turn these ads off. And when you do, you'll have a mouse
pointer every time you return--without clicking. To do this,
simply start the issue from the DOS prompt by typing the
following: GO /NOAD (instead of just typing GO), and then
press return.

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I would like to put Family Tree 3.0 on my hard disk, but
cannot find the right menu command.
--L.H. Gilbertson, Overland Park, KS

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: The best way to copy Family Tree
is to boot up our disk and use the copy feature of the ON
DISK MONTHLY menu. Once the menu is on the screen, select
the Copy/Info button (on the bottom left corner of the
screen). Select the Copy Single Program button that will
appear on the right side of the screen. Family Tree 3.0
should now be highlighted (on the left side of the screen).
If you're not sure that it's highlighted, scroll with the
arrows until you're certain that it has been selected. Press
Enter. You'll be prompted to type the path (i.e., disk and
directory) to which it will be copied. A default path of
"C:\ODM" will already be in place. If you do not change it,
ODM will create that directory on your hard drive when it
copies the program. You may delete the default and type in
your own path, if you prefer. Press Enter again and the
program will copy to that directory. Exit ODM until you are
at the DOS prompt, then run Family Tree 3.0 from your hard
drive. You may also copy Family Tree by using the DOS copy
command. Read your DOS manual if you are not familiar with
this DOS feature.

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Another poor issue [#69]. Hate the crude graphics. Very few
programs received in the last year that I could use. Way too
much fluff--too many games. How about some meaty business,
management, personal productivity software. The kind of
programs we've been getting from you are available elsewhere
for way less money. Your service used to be very helpful,
especially PC Businessdisk, but anymore there is nothing of
value to me. Every issue is a bigger disappointment. Even on
my 486 your software is very slow!

PRODUCT MANAGER RESPONSE: I'm quite proud of the fact that
our highest graphics, EGA, are quite good. However, I do
plan to include VGA graphics in future programs when
possible. But compare the amount of disk space
(uncompressed) that a full-screen SVGA or VGA graphic
requires to CGA or EGA (highest resolutions only):

              CGA full-screen graphic.....16K
              EGA full-screen graphic....112K
              VGA full-screen graphic....154K
              SVGA full-screen graphic...394K

Obviously, the number of programs per issue would have to
drop in order to put VGA screens on every program. I don't
know how our other subscribers might feel about that.

If you think ODM is slow now (I assume you mean floppy
access speed here), wait until you start loading VGA
graphics--especially if they have to be decompressed--from a
floppy. Subscribers, if you have a hard drive, I once again
suggest that you copy the entire issue onto it and run it
from there--at least until you decide which programs you
want to keep on your hard drive and which you'll archive on
floppy disks. It is a fact that hard drives are 30-40 times
faster (access/load time) than floppy drives.

In response to your comments on our content, I urge you to
send me specific program ideas for new programs or a list
previously-published programs that you'd like us to update.
I am open to ALL ideas. There are only three restrictions:
program size (one program obviously can't fill an entire
disk), necessary development time (we must develop most
programs on a four-week or eight-week schedule) and balance
(a mix of program types is ODM's current and successful
niche). PC Businessdisk did have a useful, business-oriented
content. Unfortunately, its narrow focus never attracted
enough subscribers to make it a truly viable subscription
disk and it was canceled after only eight issues.

Letter may be shortened or edited for clarity. Mail your
letters to:
  ODM Mailbag,
  606 Common St.,
  Shreveport, LA 71101

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