C C C C N E W S L E T T E R
CENTRAL COAST COMPUTER CLUB
Santa Maria, California
VOLUME XV: NUMBER 7 JULY, 2000
NEXT MEETING: JULY 18, 2000 7:00PM KNOLLWOOD VILLAGE 4012 S. BRADLEY
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| CONTENTS |
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(1) Officers, Helplines, S.I.G.s
(2) President's Corner Charles Barney
(3) June Internet S.I.G. Dick Trissel
(4) Editor's Comments Dick Trissel
(5) Review: Drivecopy Ray Isenson
(6) One Step Forward-Two Steps Back Dick Trissel
(7) Web Wanderings Gil Smith
(8) Exploring Windows Explorer PT2 Dick Trissel
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Officers Helplines
President Juno
Charles Barney 937-1240 Gilbert Smith 925-3743
cbarney@lightspeed.net colgil1@juno.com
Vice President Windows 95
Frank Maciel 922-2318 Amy Malicki 925-5780
frm8198@juno.com amymal@juno.com
Secretary Hardware & DOS
Barbara Godwin 934-9885 Ray Isenson 937-6938
yungbag@best1.net risenson@juno.com
Treasurer Voice control & Input/Output
Gerald Miller 934-1396 Amy Malicki 925-5780
gmiller33@excite.com amymal@juno.com
Librarian Desktop Publishing & scanners
Sharon Allen 928-2209 Don Harelson 934-3926
sallen4060@aol.com qef1@juno.com
Publicity Software User Identification
Bill Corning 934-0775 Fred Adams 934-1128
foster95@juno.com fred421@juno.com
Newsletter Editor Visual Basic
Dick Trissel 937-7572 Gerald Miller
rtrissel@slonet.org Gmiller33@excite.com
Program Chairman
Ray Isenson 937-6938
risenson@juno.com
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Windows 95/98 Internet
Amy Malicki Dick Trissel
amymal@juno.com rtrissel@slonet.org
CCCC Membership is $15 for twelve months. For this you receive:
Monthly newsletter
Access to the clubs software library
Disk of the month (usually for $1)
Helpline support
Monthly presentation
Valuable door prizes
Question and answer sessions
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CCCC Page 2 July 2000
President's Corner
by Charles Barney
There were approximately 75 folks who turned out for the June 20th meeting
despite the great weather and it being the first day of Summer. We must
have something good going on!
Breaking from the traditional separate SIGs held in different areas of the
clubhouse, Dick Trissel conducted one Internet "Super SIG" in the main
room. The people who normally attend Amy Malicki's Windows group
(including Amy herself) got to experience some new information. A live
internet connection was used with the club computer and Dick once again led
an informative and interesting discussion on this popular subject.
A hearty 4C's welcome to new members Jim and Jean Burress, William Pugh and
Vera Scott. We are pleased to have you join our PC user's group and trust
that your experience will be a most rewarding one. While not a single one
of us claims to have all the answers to the myriad questions and problems
that can arise in day-to-day computing, we are collectively a considerable
pool of knowledge. Tap into us and contribute your skills as well. The
club is only as good as the sum of its member participation. Help to make
us a great group!
Dan Logan, popular author and local tech columnist, was our guest speaker
for the evening. Dan informed us about the state of technology companies on
the Central Coast (San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara), where things are
likely heading and their impact on our area. He said that while we are
currently just a "small blip" on the technology world screen, things are
changing rapidly. Forbes magazine recently listed San Luis and Santa
Barbara as being among the top "most favorable" areas in the country for
new high-tech businesses. Santa Barbara alone has over 150 "dot-com"
companies. Our area has many "homegrown" successes such as Computer CafT
in Santa Maria that does high-end graphics animation work and claims some
big-name clients like Disney. San Luis Obispo is bustling with startup
companies that specialize in areas such as software evelopment and wireless
communications. Dan said that a growing technology industry is a boost to
the local economy, provides high-paying jobs and keeps more of our college
graduates in the area. Whether or not we will become another "Silicon
Valley" on the Central Coast remains to be seen.
The club computer, in picking door prize winners, was not quite as
forgiving of non-attendees as it was last month. Bill Corning was present
however when his name was called first up and chose a very nice surge
protector as his prize. Rae Lumbrazo was picked but not present and lost
the opportunity to Howard Williams who took the Mega Solitaire program.
Sandy Ashby was the next winner and chose a ream of printer paper. Arthur
Debolt's name came up but he was nowhere to be found and so the 25,000 Clip
Art Image Collection went to Al Cooper who had the foresight to attend the
meeting. Charles Saylor snagged Calendar Creator 4.0 after no-shows Al
Paquette and Wanda Stiffler were called. Ray Isenson (who, suspiciously
enough, was operating the door prize program) produced his own name and
picked Will Maker ver 6. Last prize, a package of 10 CD jewel cases was
unclaimed by an absent Wallace Kane before going to Jack Tyo.
In last month's column, I had asked for input from the membership on any
interests or ideas for a new Special Interest Group at the monthly
meetings. The attendees were decidedly mute when asked again at the
meeting. A show of hands was unanimous in approval of keeping just the two
SIGs, Windows and Internet for now. I have a hunch though, that if any one
of you wanted to try your hand at leading a new group (ongoing, or one-
time-only), say on digital cameras for instance, that there would be a
number of interested folks.
I'd like to acknowledge Bill Corning as our new publicity manager.
Advertisement of the upcoming meetings is an important facet of the club's
operation. It gives us a degree of exposure to the local community;
informing many whom otherwise wouldn't know about us, or the benefits of
joining our computer user's group. Publicity is also a main source of
bringing new members to the club. Thanks Bill for your efforts in this
needed area.
The next meeting of the 4C's on July 18th will be led by Vice President
Frank Maciel, as I will be away on a much needed vacation during that time.
I plan to be back in August. Aloha! -Charles
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CCCC Page 3 July 2000
June Internet S.I.G.
by Dick Trissel
WOW! With a captive audience we had nearly 70 members in attendance for
the June S.I.G. What a dirty trick to pull on the membership. They either
attended the Internet S.I.G. or attended the Internet S.I.G.
At least we did take advantage of having a computer, projector, and an
Internet connection, thanks to the use of Charles Barney's account.
We started a little early because I wanted to take as much advantage of the
equipment as possible--this may be our last opportunity.
The first question was how, in Internet Explorer/Outlook Express, do you
get back to I.E. from O.E.? The procedure was demonstrated on the
computer--exit O.E. and click on the I.E. icon in the Taskbar.
There was a brief discussion on the free Internet Service Providers,
particularly KMART's Bluelight. Ray Isenson said he uses it with no
problem.
After a few more questions, I discussed the structure and management of the
Internet Explorer bowser cache called Temporary Internet Files. Also, the
ability to replay prior Web accesses in the offline mode. We concentrated
on using Windows Explorer to look at and manage T.I.F. files. However,
there are several other ways to do the equivalent, especially from within
Internet Explorer.
The usual question as to whether to delete the T.I.F. files, delete some of
them, or let them just keep building up. I've seen systems with hundreds
of megabytes of T.I.F. files.
There are two philosophies about managing T.I.F. files. There is an
advantage (up to a point) of having previous Web pages and objects that can
be brought up without spending the time to re-download them--get them from
the hard drive faster than the Internet. If you don't have a fast
connection (DSL or cable), which most of us don't, then this could be
advantageous.
The worry about how big to let the folders get from a disk utilization
pojnt is a problem only if you have limited hard disk space. The default
setting is 3% of the partition size. Or, about 90Mb for a 3.2Gb drive.
That's a lot of files. This limit can be adjusted in the I.E. options.
However, the speed of acquisition of a Web page from the T.I.Fs may be
reduced if there are so many files that the time to search is excessive.
As usual with computers, the decision has to be weighed between speed and
size. I keep my T.I.F. folders empty. But, I don't go to the same Web
sites often. And, I need the disk space.
One other concern people have. You will not hurt anything by deleting the
files or even the folders. Internet Explorer will rebuild them. I don't
recommend deleting the folders--it's pointless.
After the session, Barbara Godwin showed me that not all the files appear
in the main T.I.F. folder. That the main page file I was looking for was
only in one of the four T.I.F sub-folders, and not the main folder. See,
we all learn from these sessions.
Unfortunately, we ran out of time before we could finish discussing
Cookies. Although, we did spend a little time deleting them from the
T.I.F. area.
During the online demonstration, we went to the CCCC Web site and to the
Notes and Comments page. Ray pointed out the new article in there about
the HTML/DOS bug and the fix download. Go there, read it:
http:/member.apcug.org/fourseas.
At the July Internet SIG I will describe how to make a shortcut to the
Internet Options window that allows the management of the T.I.Fs.
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CCCC Page 4 July 2000
Editor's Comments
by Dick Trissel
The absence of Web Wonders by Mal Plambeck is not an error. Mal is taking
a short hiatus from writing the articles while she is away. She assures me
she will write more in the future.
In the meantime Gil Smith has graciously volunteered to fill in with his
Web Wanderings--many thanks to Gil.
I guess you are stuck with me as the newsletter editor for a few more
months. Nobody has volunteered to take over the job--yet. Maybe, if I
leave out a few pages, print some of the pages upside down, or whatever,
then somebody will realize they
can do a better job. Apparently, putting the wrong month on the June cover
wasn't bad enough. I can only hope.
As newsletter editor I also make the mailing labels. This requires
maintaining an up-to-date roster of club members. Ray Isenson and Gerry
Miller have been a big help in getting me up to speed.
Along that same line, Ray has tried to keep a roster of the club member's
e-mail addresses. This is a very important list for the officers to use to
communicate with members occasionally. It is NOT distributed to anyone but
club officers. PLEASE give Ray your correct e-mail address.
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CCCC Page 5 July 2000
Review: Drivecopy
by Ray Isenson
With the almost simultaneous release of versions 3.0 of DRIVEIMAGE and
DRIVECOPY, the PowerQuest Corporation has upgraded these two almost
indispensable utilities to meet the demands of state of the art PC hardware
and software trends. Hard drives larger than 8.4gigabytes and Linux
(DRIVEIMAGE only) or IBM's OS/2 operating systems can be handled as well as
various versions of DOS or WINDOWS; including 3.x, 9x, NT and 2000.
DriveCopy is reviewed this month. Its companion program, DriveImage, will
be reviewed in the August issue of the 4C'er.
Were you just aching to install one of those huge, new hard drives into the
old desktop, in place of or addition to the existing drive? What held you
back? Are you sure that it's far too difficult for anyone but a computer
guru? Did the thought of copying all those files from the little old one
to the big new one terrify you? Were you afraid to risk losing valuable
data currently on the old drive while transferring them? Or, did you
acquire another hard drive and would like to load it with everything from
your primary drive as a safety measure; but you have all those same
concerns? If that's all that's holding you back, DriveCopy v3.0 is just
what you need.
System requirements for running DriveCopy are very basic. If your computer
has an Intel 386 (or equivalent) or later CPU, 16 Mb or more memory, any
speed CD-ROM drive, a 1.44 MB floppy drive and is running Windows 3.x, 9x,
DOS 5.0 or OS/2, it's adequate.
DriveCopy, although delivered on a CD-ROM, runs from a 3.5" floppy disk.
It does not get loaded onto the hard drive. The floppy is created by
following simple step by step procedures set forth at the beginning of
chapter one of the provided manual. Once the floppy disk is created and
set aside, instructions provided in the manual describe the procedure for
physically mounting and connecting the new and old hard drives in the
computer. Clear instructions in the manual, including photographs showing
precisely what is seen on the computer monitor at each step in process of
transferring information to the new drive, make for an almost fool proof
operation.
Software furnished with many new hard drives can be used to copy the
contents from an older drive to the new one. Unlike DriveCopy, however,
that software lacks provisions for anything other than very basic
procedures. For example, DriveCopy allows the user to selectively include
or exclude partitions to copy when there is no desire to copy all old
system files onto the new drive. The procedures to accomplish this are
displayed clearly on the monitor during the copying process. Additionally,
DriveCopy will work with compressed drives (e.g., DriveSpace or Stacker).
Detailed, step by step, instructions for handling compressed partitions are
contained in the manual.
At the special User Group price of $20, DriveCopy v3.0 should be in every
member's library. Order from the secure web site, and
indicate special price code, UGEVAL00, with your order.
DriveCopy v3; PowerQuest Corporation, P.O Box 1911, Orem, UT
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CCCC Page 6 July 2000
One Step Forward-Two Steps Back
by Dick Trissel
When does the clock run backward, or seem to? When you are downloading or
transferring a file. Have you ever noticed the "Time Remaining" clock will
sometimes get larger while the "Elapsed Time" also gets larger? This is
not a demonstration of Einsteins Theory of Relativity. Its actually the
dumb computer reporting correctly for a change.
Here's how this happens. Let's say you are downloading a 1,000,000 byte
file. Your modem is connected at 50,000 bits per second, which is 5,000
bytes per second--the expected throughput rate. So, initially, the
computer calculates the remaining time as 1,000,000 bytes divided by 5,000
bytes per second equals 200 seconds. It actually displays 3 min., 20
seconds, but lets talk in seconds to make things simple.
For the first 100,000 bytes everything is OK--the time remaining goes down
to 180 seconds (100,000/5,000 = 20 seconds gone by). But now the Net bogs
down--nothing transfers for 5 seconds. The computer makes another
calculation on the throughput rate for the first 25 seconds and comes up
with 4,000 bytes per second for the first 100,000 bytes (100,000/25 = 4,000
bytes per seconds). Therefore, the computer calculates the time for the
remaining 900,000 bytes at 4,000 bytes per second is 225 seconds
(900,000/4,000 = 225 seconds)--we just backed up 25 seconds from the
original 200 seconds. So, it appears the time remaining clock is running
backwards (200 to 225).
All goes well for another 50,000 bytes or 10 seconds (the modem is still
transferring at an instantaneous rate of 5,000 bytes per second). Now, 35
seconds has lapsed (20 + 5 + 10) and bingo, we get stalled for another 5
seconds--40 seconds has lapsed. We've transferred 150,000 bytes in 40
seconds for a throughput rate of 3,778 bytes per second. We've still got
850,000 bytes left at 3,778 bytes per second, or a computer calculated time
remaining of 225 seconds. Time is standing still (225 to 225 seconds).
You get the picture. The delays, calculations and display changes are much
more rapid than that, so you will see the time remaining counter run few
thousand bytes, the counters get caught up and it all comes out even--
usually.
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CCCC Page 7 July 2000
WEB WANDERINGS
by Gil Smith
I'm filling in for Mal Plambeck this month and here are some web sites
which may be interesting and / or useful to you.
1) http://www.mapsonus.com -- If you do any traveling, or if you just want
to send a map and directions on how to get to where you live, this is a web
site which will draw a map and plan a route for you. When you click on
Guided Tour, it guides you through several pages with information on
setting up and personalizing your map. For Route Planning, you can print
turn-by-turn directions, plus print a map of the overall route.
2) http://www.howstuffworks.com -- Have you ever wondered how the engine
in your car works or what makes the inside of your refrigerator cold? When
all the fireworks were going off on the 4th did you know how they worked?
This web site will tell you, in non- technical terms, how almost anything
works.
3) Investing -- Here are a number of web sites which will provide
information on planning and managing investments in the stock market. The
Internet has numerous web sites which can help educate you and your
grandkids on investing. Most of the sites are not limited to Finance or
Investing but all of them include information on the subject. When you
open the Home Page, you can select the subject area in which you are
interested (i.e. Finance, Investing, Stocks, etc).
A) www.yahoo.com -- Business & Economy; Finance; - - -
B) www.freerealtime.com -- Register Free
C) www.motleyfool.com -- Take a look at Investing Strategies
D) www.morningstar.com -- well known rating agency for stocks
E) www.cbs.marketwatch.com -- Set up your portfolio and follow it.
F) http://library.thinkquest.org/3096 -- Good information for Beginners to
Advanced.
G) www.clearstation.com -- click on Education. More information than you
can digest in a long time.
____________________________________________________________
Spellbound
(Contributed by Gil Smith)
I have a spelling checker,
It came with my PC;
It plainly marks four my revue
Mistakes I cannot sea.
I'm sure your please too no,
It's letter perfect in it's weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.
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CCCC Page 8 July 2000
Exploring Windows Explorer Part 2
by Dick Trissel
In Part 1 I setup Windows Explorer for maximum utility. In this part I
will describe some of the toolbar menus. Some are obvious. Some need
elaboration. Therefore, I'll not discuss all of the options-just the ones
used most often.
1) File
a) Open-opens the selected file with the associated application.
b) New
Folder-to create a new folder under the selected
folder (click on the folder to select it.)
Shortcut-creates a shortcut for the selected file.
2) Edit
a) Select All-to select all the items in the right pane.
3) View
a) Toolbars-check the Address, and Text Labels options.
b) Status Bar-check.
c) Explorer Bar-check the All folders, and the Details options.
d) Arrange Icons-choose Name for now (more later).
e) Folder Options
General-choose Classic
View-(covered in Part 1)
File Types-(more later).
4) Go-(more later, maybe)
5) Favorites-(shades of Internet Explorer).
6) Tools
a) Find-same as Find in the Desktop Start.
7) Help-same as Help in the Desktop Start.
When a folder has been selected in the left pane, the content is displayed
in the right pane under column headings of Name, Size, Type, Modified, and
Attributes. The widths of these columns can be adjusted by placing the
mouse pointer on the little divider bar (a double arrow appears) and
dragging the bar. The spacing can be set automatically by double clicking
a column divider line. The order of the columns can be changed by right
clicking on a column heading and dragging it to a new position.
The order of the items displayed can be selected by clicking on a column
heading. One click selects that column in ascending order. A second click
inverts the order (descending).
Many of the toolbar options are duplicated in the menus obtained by right-
clicking in a pane. The only cautions are; don't do Customize in the right
pane, and be careful with the Format option in the left pane.
Here are a few exceptions to the above recommendations. You may want to
choose the Standard toolbar in the View/Toolbars. I don't use it-it just
takes up space.
That should be sufficient to get you setup in Windows Explorer. The next
part will be how to use Explorer to manage your system.
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