From: dtaylor@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Douglas A Taylor)
Subject: PC/GEOS FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) list
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 16:55:23 GMT

PC/GEOS FAQ List -- last modified April 9, 1992

DISCLAIMER:  The information in this article does not necessarily 
represent the official position of Geoworks in any way.  In fact, I 
have no relation to Geoworks other than that of satisfied customer.

I can't take credit for what's in this list of Q's & A's.  I compiled 
it from what I read in this newsgroup, in the manual and in computer 
magazines.  If you ask a good question or provide a good answer, you 
might well see it included in this list.

Please send comments, suggestions, or corrections to 
doug-taylor+@osu.edu
----

Q:  What is PC/GEOS?

A:  PC/GEOS is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) developed by Geoworks 
    (formerly Berkeley Softworks).  It runs on top of the MS-DOS 
    operating system.  It provides a fully pre-emptive multitasking, 
    multithreaded environment for any DOS machine (8088 through 80486) 
    with 512k of memory and a hard drive.  It also provides virtual 
    memory for its applications (ie, your disk space can be treated 
    like a lot of slow RAM), and, from what I'm told, applications 
    written for PC/GEOS are not bound by the MS-DOS 640k barrier. 

    Geoworks Ensemble, or GWE, is a suite of programs which run under 
    the PC/GEOS GUI.  The latest version is 1.2.  There is also 
    Geoworks Pro, which includes some enhancements over GWE 1.2 and 
    includes the DOS spreadsheet Quattro Pro SE from Borland.  GWE 
    Lite is a subset of the GWE suite of apps which comes bundled with 
    many computer systems. 

Q: Is PC/GEOS a real OS?

A:  It certainly is a real OS.  DOS is only used for the file system 
    support.  BTW, many people consider MS Windows to be a real OS 
    too. It mostly depends on who's trying to sell you what.  :-)  
    PC/GEOS is one of the first (if not the first to ship) object 
    oriented OS's.  PC/GEOS is a fully pre-emptive multi-threaded, 
    multi-tasking OS designed to run on everything from an original 
    IBM PC XT to the latest barn-burning i486 boxes. 

Q:  Is PC/GEOS an alternative to Windows? 

A:  That depends on what you mean by "alternative".  It won't run 
    Windows applications, but it will provide you with a lot of 
    functionality that Windows won't, especially if you have a small 
    machine (< 80386 cpu, < 2 meg RAM). 

Q:  So where do I get a copy of PC/GEOS?  Is it shareware? 

A:  No, it's not shareware.  You can get it from pretty much any 
    MS-DOS software retailer.  Pick up a copy of PC Magazine or Byte 
    and flip through the ads.  Prices range from ~$115.00 (at 
    FastMicro) on up. 

Q:  Where can I get a demo version of PC/GEOS? 

A:  The same place you can get GWE -- through a software dealer.  It 
    costs $9.95, which goes towards the price of the full package 
    should you decide to buy it.  The GWE demo will let you do 
    everything except save to disk.

Q:  Do applications have to be specially written to work under 
    PC/GEOS?

A:  Yes.  Geoworks is working on a SDK (Software Development Kit).  If 
    you're interested in developing for the GEOS environment, read the 
    following letter.  It's going out to all of the developers that 
    have contacted GeoWorks regarding the SDK:

    >>>>> START OF LETTER

    Dear Sofware Developer,

    We are currently offering the first draft of the PC/GEOS Software 
    Development Kit Technical Documentation.  This documentation is 
    for anyone interested in PC/GEOS technical information or product 
    development.  The documentation covers PC/GEOS concepts, object 
    oriented programming, system services and libraries, and 
    development tools.  Sample C source code is also included. 

    The price of the four volume documentation set is $200.  This 
    price covers the initial draft version plus subsequent updates 
    that will be send to you at no additional charge.  The 
    documentation alone will not enable you to begin programming for 
    PC/GEOS.  However, obtaining documentation now will allow you to 
    evaluate PC/GEOS as a platform for future product development and 
    to get a head start on PC/GEOS development.

    Development tools for PC/GEOS are scheduled for BETA testing this 
    summer and will be available to participants for an additional 
    fee.  BETA testers will also receive access to GeoWorks Developer 
    Support for assistance during development.  Please note that 
    purchase of the documentation does *not* guarantee that you will 
    be chosen as a BETA tester of the SDK.  We have received many more 
    requests to participate in BETA testing than we can accommodate, 
    but we will give each candidate careful consideration.

    [...]
    >>>>  END OF LETTER [Thanks to John D. Mitchell at Geoworks for 
    the text]

    To order a copy of the SDK documentation, please send *US Postal 
    mail* inquiries to GeoWorks with an attention to Developer 
    Support.

    The SDK will require a beefy i386 class machine for development.  
    If you plan to use the Swat debugger, you will need a second 
    machine that can be anything that will run PC/GEOS (i.e. XT 8088 
    or better, etc.). 

Q:  When is PC/GEOS 2.0 going to be launched? 

A:  It should be released late in the year, October/November-ish.  I 
    haven't heard of any firm release dates. 

Q:  What new features will it include? 

A:  One frequently requested feature I've heard of is for the Zmodem 
    file transfer protocol in GeoComm.  Two other features with high 
    priority (from the users' perspective) are a search/replace 
    facility for GeoWrite and better networking capabilities.  These 
    are all features I would expect to see in 2.0.  I've heard rumors 
    that Geoworks has been working with Quarterdeck (makers of 
    DesqView) towards DOS session multitasking, so that may be in 
    there too.

    BTW, I've not seen any 2.0 demos, so what I'm saying should not be 
    taken as gospel.  Anybody who's seen the 2.0 demo up to now is 
    bound by a non-disclosure agreement.

Q:  There was a rumor that GWE 2.0 will come out in April with the 
    capability to run both DOS and Windows apps.  Is this true?

A:  The April release date has generally been dismissed as utter 
    nonsense, as has the capability to run Windows apps ("Who wants to 
    use those slow, fat programs anyway?").  See the previous answer 
    about DOS multi-tasking.

Q:  Does PC/GEOS support MS-DOS 5.0 or DR-DOS 6.0 task-switching?

    Version 1.2 of GWE supports MS-DOS 5.0 task-switching if your 
    hot-key is the default (Ctrl-Esc).

    The DR Dos TaskMax (task switcher) ships with the update version 
    6.01 of DR Dos.  The task switching is only supported in Pro (not 
    in v1.2). The current support allows you to cut/paste between 
    PC/GEOS applications and DOS applications. 

Q:  Are there any third-party apps for PC/GEOS?

A:  GWE versions 1.0 through Pro have shipped with America On-Line by 
    America On-Line (fomerly Quantum).  There are a couple of products 
    that are in late beta.

    Also, Certified Software has evidently released some software for 
    the GEOS environment.  Certified Software's phone number is 
    1-800-582-4455.  The programs include Colorizer for GEOS, $14.95; 
    Clocks for GEOS, $14.95; and GEOS Kids & Vegas Games, $29.95.

Q:  What fonts are available for PC/GEOS?

A:  GeoWorks Ensemble v1.0->Pro ship with 8 (9?) base outline fonts. 
    There are currently three (3) font packs available directly from 
    GeoWorks that provide a pile of typefaces.  Both Micrologic and 
    Atech have font conversion programs that support the GeoWorks 
    Nimbus font format. 

    Shipping with v1.2 (and later) is a PC/GEOS application called the 
    Nimbus Font Converter (in the Extras folder under the World 
    directory) that will convert from the URW Nimbus font format into 
    the PC/GEOS Nimbus font format.

Q:  As I understood it, PC/GEOS was originally the PM/LITE (or OS/2 
    lite).  IBM dropped it and so it was released as Ensemble.

A:  This is not correct.  PC/GEOS was developed by Berkeley Softworks 
    (now Geoworks), not by IBM.  I heard that Geoworks was at one time 
    working towards an agreement bundling GWE with IBM's PS/1's, but 
    that agreement fell through.  I have also heard that IBM talked to 
    Geoworks about taking over PM/Lite, but nothing ever came of that 
    either. 

Q:  Which character set does PC/GEOS use? Most European languages need 
    the special characters above CHR(127)... 

    PC/GEOS has quite a large available character set.  For instance, 
    all the vowels can be given acute, dieresis, grave, and circumflex 
    accents in both upper- and lower-case.  You can also use the 
    Spanish ~n (as in se~nor), Danish (?) O-with-a-slash-through-it, 
    the German ess-tset (double s), and many other special language 
    characters. 

    You also have a choice of various typographical, punctuation, 
    currency, and mathematical symbols.  These are all well-documented 
    in the manual. 

Q:  I don't like the UI (user interface).  Can I customize it?

A:  PC/GEOS has pioneered the concept of the Generic UI.  What this 
    means is that the application is written to a very powerful 
    dynamically bound object oriented UI.  At runtime the system 
    'binds' the Generic UI to a Specific UI.  The only currently 
    shipping UI is a Motif based Specific UI.  Others, I'm sure will 
    come when time permits.

Q:  Does PC/GEOS exist in any other language versions than English?

A:  But of course! :-)  GeoWorks software has been released in 
    numerous (currently > 5) different languages.  I've heard of 
    German and Finnish versions.

Q:  Is PC/GEOS available as a pen system?

A:  Pen/GEOS was announced by Geoworks CEO Brian Dougherty at the 
    recent Pen Computing conference.  Due to PC/GEOS's object-oriented 
    design, once the basic pen support was added to the appropriate 
    system level objects, all of the applications autmatically have 
    basic Pen support.  Pen-specific applications are sure to follow.  

Q:  Is there a way to print using my printer's built-in fonts?  

A:  As far as I know, there's no way to embed printer codes in a GWE 
    document.  One thing you might try is to set your printer to use 
    the font you want before you enter GWE.  Then print using the 
    text-only mode.  I haven't tried this, so I don't know whether is 
    works.  If you try it, let me know.

Q:  Can anyone tell me what the difference is between Ensemble and 
    Pro?  

A:  Geoworks Pro comes bundled with Quattro Pro SE, a DOS-based 
    spreadsheet from Borland that you can buy separately.

    There's a spreadsheet viewer in Pro which works with Quattro and 
    Lotus files.  The viewer runs within the PC/GEOS environment, and 
    allows you to do font changes, printing, and cutting to paste into 
    other GeoWorks apps.  You can't edit the spreadsheet contents 
    unless you select an "Edit Spreadsheet" menu item.  That menu 
    selection launches Quattro Pro by dropping into DOS first.

    Geoworks Pro also has a few improvements over GWE 1.2, such as the 
    ability to use the DR DOS 6.0 task switcher.  The Pro distribution 
    contains a bunch of DOS program launchers that were bundled with 
    various OEM configurations of Ensemble.  Launchers are loaded onto 
    your system if you identify it as one of the OEM systems. This is 
    more of a packaging difference than a product difference; GeoWorks 
    simply chose to distribute the OEM versions and the generic 
    version in a single orderable item.

Q:  I can't get my backspace character to work with GeoComm when I 
    dial into Unix.  What's wrong?

A:  As I understand it, there is no way to send the DELETE (ASCII 
    127) character with GeoComm.  If your system is expecting to see 
    the DELETE character, you may have to set it to use the backspace 
    character (Control-H, ASCII 8) instead.  Two examples follow:

    If your problem is at the command line, you may need to set the 
    backspace key to erase.  Try the following command to see if it 
    helps:

        stty erase "^H"

    If your problem is with GNU emacs, you need to set the backspace 
    key to delete characters to the left.  Try this command to see if 
    it helps:

        Meta-X global-set-key "\C-h" 'backward-delete-char-untabify

Q:  How can I convert files from my DOS word processor's format to 
    GeoWrite and back again?

A:  There are no file conversion facilities yet, although I hear it's 
    a high priority item (as is everything else these days :-)  Those 
    people at Geoworks must be sorely overworked.).  The best you can 
    do is to save from your DOS word processor in ASCII, plain-text, 
    or generic WP format.  GeoWrite allows you to import and export 
    plain ASCII file.

Q:  I'm running GWE 1.2 with Stacker installed.  Drive C is my stacker 
    volume (through SSWAP).  For some reason GeoManager insists on 
    looking at drive E for the /geoworks/world directory, even though 
    when I exit geoworks, I'm on drive C.  Any ideas?

A:  Check the volume labels for drives C, D, and E.  If they're 
    identical, then use GeoManager to edit the volume labels so that 
    each drive has its own distinct label.  

Q:  I was using GeoComm in vt100 mode to edit some files on Unix.  All 
    of a sudden GeoComm blew up when I deleted a line.  What's wrong?

A:  GeoComm seems to have trouble with the vt100 code for changing the 
    the scrolling region of the terminal.  The code is of the form 
    ^[[#;#r, where the first # is the top line of the scrolling region 
    and the second # is the bottom line.  Here is a revised termcap 
    (from Ted Dunning) that should circumvent the problem:

d1|vt100-not:\
    :do=^J:co#80:li#24:cl=50\E[;H\E[2J:sf=5\ED:\
    :le=^H:bs:am:cm=5\E[%i%d;%dH:nd=2\E[C:up=2\E[A:\
    :ce=3\E[K:cd=50\E[J:so=2\E[7m:se=2\E[m:us=2\E[4m:ue=2\E[m:\
    :md=2\E[1m:mr=2\E[7m:mb=2\E[5m:me=2\E[m:is=\E[1;24r\E[24;1H:\
    :rf=/usr/share/lib/tabset/vt100:\
    :rs=\E>\E[?3l\E[?4l\E[?5l\E[?7h\E[?8h:ks=\E[?1h\E=:ke=\E[?1l\E>:\
    :ku=\EOA:kd=\EOB:kr=\EOC:kl=\EOD:kb=^H:\
    :ho=\E[H:k1=\EOP:k2=\EOQ:k3=\EOR:k4=\EOS:pt:sr=5\EM:vt#3:xn:\
    :sc=\E7:rc=\E8:

-- 
   Doug Taylor                         |   Nothing real can be threatened.
   The Ohio State University           |   Nothing unreal exists.
   doug-taylor+@osu.edu                |            - A Course in Miracles
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos