From: batchelor@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov (Dave Batchelor, NSSDC, 301-286-2988)
Subject: General Questions
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords:  GeoManager, File Cabinet, GeoWorks
Organization: NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 21:15:00 GMT

cffs@fox.nstn.ns.ca (Bruce Organ) posted the following:

>Subject: General Questions

>Date: 7 Oct 92 19:31:03 GMT

>I've loaded GW Pro on my home machine.  Can anyone answer the following
>questions:
>     -   Does GW Pro use a math coprocessor if it is installed ?
>     -   How does one "print" a document to a "Postscript" file, for
>         later printing on a capable printer ?

Even if you don't have a printer connected, use the System Preferences icon
and double-click the "printer" icon.  There, select a printer from the list
which is marked as a PostScript printer.  If there isn't REALLY such a
printer connected to your system, GeoWorks will complain some, but it will
permit you to do the selection, assuming that the printer is turned off and
therefore invisible to it.  Thereafter, when you are using GeoWrite and click
the Print selection, you will see the option button "Print to File."  If you
use it, the "printed output" will go to a PostScript file.  You may then
transfer that file to another machine to print, or whatever.  But the "Print
to File" option is not offered unless GeoWorks is configured to use a
PostScript printer.

>     -   Can I move the "Document" directory (and subdirs) to a different
>         drive and annotate some file to let GEOS know to where they have
>         been moved?  (I like to keep my data and applications on different
>         drives..)

I don't think the files in the \geoworks\document dir MUST be in \geoworks.
The GeoWorks applications work on documents on other drives.  Let us know...

>     -   Is there a simple method to determine how much memory GEOS has
>         detected, and will use, on the computer

Try the Perf application in \geoworks\world\extras.

>I can't find the answers to the above in the GW Pro documents.

>Thanks in advance.

>Wish list for aspiring GEOS developers.
>     - Ability to format floppies in the background
>     - Ability to transfer files from/to floppies in the background.

You can do this.  In GeoManager, look in the \geoworks directory for the
\geoworks\sysappl subdirectory.  If you double-click it, you will see an icon
for the File Cabinet application of the Intermediate workspace.  File Cabinet
can do some things autonomously that you would normally do with GeoManager
(I haven't explored the possible conflicts of having both GeoManager and
File Cabinet open at once.  One can imagine them fighting over floppy drives.)
You can format a floppy in background with this.  HOWEVER when first you start
this, File Cabinet won't let you go back to GeoManager for a scary minute or
two while it scans the diskette.  I was afraid the system was hung.  When the
%done window appears and you hear the drive start writing tracks, however, you
can change the active window to GeoManager or some other application and work
with it.  I haven't tried file transfers to floppy in the background, but
there doesn't seem to be any obstacle, if GeoManager isn't competing for the
drives.  Try it and let us know.......Best regards, Dave

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Dave Batchelor   Space Science Data Operations Office   Mail Code 632
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center  Greenbelt  MD  20771  USA
batchelor@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov