ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿAtari Portfoilio for Macintosh Users. The following notes and information will help a new or prospective Mac/Portfolio user to get the most out of their machines. First and foremost. The portfolio is an excellent palmtop computer. It is great for many of those typical organization tasks like Addresses and Appointments. As a fully featured computer you will find yourself creating all sorts of great tools and files. The only limit is of course memory and your creative use of this fact. You donÕt expect your briefcase to carry several file cabinets of information. You likely load up with the information you are currently working on or need at close reach always. Manage your Portfolio similarly. To be truly productive you will want to transfer files from your Mac to the Portfolio. The Portfolio has a limited storage capacity and is powered by batteries most of the time. You want to back-up that 500 name client list, right? You may also be working on some facts and figures that it would be really helpful to have available when you are suddenly inspired while in a traffic jam. The Atari Dealer Network does not fully understand Macintosh users and will need to know some things to get the Mac talking to the Portfolio. (Atari has been very helpful, donÕt get me wrong.) 1 The portfolio built in file transfer is only for DOS machines. DonÕt even bother trying to make it talk to your Mac. You will need a Terminal Communications program for your Mac like Red Ryder, White Night, Microphone, Smart Com or the Microsoft Works built in communications program... to recreate the file transfer facility. 2 You will need an ÒAtari Serial Port ConnectorÓ which you will connect to the Mac modem port. If the Dealer has the ÒHPC-407 Mac transfer cableÓ you are in luck. If not please see 3-6 below for complete details on what to do. 3 The Serial Port Connector has a different Pin configuration than the Mac requires so if the cable is not available locally and you like me have to have it right this very second NOW! ... Be paitient. The Atari Dealer probably has some of the parts and you can get the rest from a Mac Dealer. 4 The Serial Port Connector has a 9 pin female connection and the MAC has a DIN-8 Modem port. I managed to hook them together (This is much easier than it sounds); To Serial Port Connector attach a standard IBM Modem Cable or RS232 Serial cable. (These are essentially the same, the serial cable uses all 25 pins and the Modem, only 9) You now have a cable from the Atari Serial Port Connector ending in a 25 pin RS232 connector. If you have a modem for your Mac you likely have an DIN-8 to 25 pin RS232 to make the connection. If not, that is the next step. Get one. Now your Mac has an RS232 cable attached to he modem port. 5 You now have 2 - RS232 cables about to meet for the first time. They are both probably male fittings which is actually good as if you were to connect them now it wouldnÕt work. Both cables are configured exactly the same so your data coming in would collide with data coming out. You need a Nul Modem adaptor with Female fittings on both sides to straighten out the connection. You may also need a Gender Bender (changer) to get the proper Male/Female orientation. 6 You now have an IBM compatible modem cable connected to a Nul modem adaptor connected to a Gender Bender Adaptor (optional) connected to a standard Mac modem cable. Or a cable supplied by a dealler for the Mac Portfolio transfer process. 7 You will need Terminal software for the Portfolio. ÒXterm2.ComÓ works wonderfully and is shareware. If the Dealer does not have it available to transfer right now, Stop! Ask why not. Jump up and down that you simply must have it or the sale is off. Go to a dealer who does have it. In Canada, the Dealer network can download the file directly from Atari to their site in about 3 miniutes. There are no reasonalble excuses for selling the Serial Port interface to a Macintosh user without appropriate portfolio terminal software and cables. 8 If you do not have a memory card think about getting at least 32K for backup purposes. The terminal program has to be loaded onto the Portfolio and if the batteries die you will lose the Terminal software and have to go back to the dealer to get it re-loaded. 9 Set up your Macintosh Terminal software: Use standard X-Modem Protocol, 8 bit,1 stop bit, parity: None. Disable Macbinary if the option is available. This is a standard default setting for most modems so everything should go right off the top. 10 Start up Xterm2.com on the Porfolio by typing ÒXterm2Ó at the Dos Prompt. The menu at the top of the Portfolio screen now shows a list of commands such as Quit [F1], Send [F2], Recieve[F3]... 11 To recieve a file from the Portfolio; turn off ÒMac Binary ProtocolÓ in the file transfer preferences section of your Mac Communications program. Follow XtermÕs command to recieve the file. Type a path and name for the recieved file. EG Òc:newfile.xtmÓ When you have both machines ready start sending the file from the Mac. Then start recieving at the Portfolio by hitting the return key. Done. To send a file is the reverse except that you are required to know the exact DOS path to the file you want to send. EG ÒDrive,Directory,Filename.Ó ÒC:Numbers.WKSÓ . Prepare your Mac to receive the file first (setting Mac Binary to off). Set Xterm 2 to Send Mode. Type file name into the Portfolio and hit return. DONE! Easy as pie... Setting up the Portfolio (Dealers please take note) Software: The Atari Manual does not mention Macintosh anywhere. The Serial Port manual says ÒConnects to MacintoshÓ but there is no reference on how. DonÕt let your customer get stuck at home trying DOS commands on their Mac. There are lots of Macs out there and it is in everyoneÕs best interest to make the Portfolio easy to use. DOS looks intimidating to a MAC user. Pathnames, Ò/Ó, Ò:Ó and the like are too typing and memory intensive to the graphically oriented Mac User. DonÕt scare them off by telling them DOS is better or more powerful or anything... Show them The Absolutley Free (IÕll toss it in as part of the package, valued customer!) File Manager by Atari. By simply typing ÒFMÓ at the Dos Prompt just once the user is forever presented with a very helpful Menu of available files and programs. FM also has several great function menus to copy, delete, rename and reset clock and date. A neat and tidy way around DOSsy stuff like ÒC:> Dir/pÓ or ÒC:> Copy Numbers.wks A:Numbers.BAKÓ With a program size of 7k this program is a must have for most Mac Users. As a terrifically informed dealer you can also help your client get started by Formatting their memory card and setting the Time/Date Functions while downloading Xterm2, FM and Updater. Mark Matlock has prepared an Installer Batch file that properly updates any portfolio. I will be suggesting a similar Installer file for every dealer to have available for Mac Users. I think this could be available for the end of October 91 Memory Management If you are not going to be running any other software than the bundled group, FM and Xterm2, you will want to consider changing the Portfolio Memory allocation. 128k is available but out of the box only 32K is available for storage. 7k for FM and 3K for Xterm2 leaves a miserly 22k for all your files. Great as it is the Portfolio is limited in memory and after experimenting with some interesting games and programs I chose to stick with the onboard software and adjust my habits to the machineÕs limits. After all I could have bought a $2000.00 laptop instead, right. I decided that it was more important to have file space than lots of add on do-dads. Using the FDisk command (The manual explains this and other DOS commands admirably) after backing up everything to a 128K memory card and the Mac , I set the memory to 64K. I have not had any trouble with the onboard programs or Xterm or File Manager. The game Tetris complained about insufficeint memory but I really wanted a large address file and a few essential spread sheets more, so sorry Tetris. I find that I can carry lots of valuable info in 52K of space. I use the 128 Card as a backUp and a storage for less used files. I feel that I have lots of space now. A 2K spreadsheet can be very powerfull if you construct or adapt it to the portfolioÕs limits. Text file transfers Any text file can be transfered to the Mac as a straight text file. (ASCII File) Any word processor will open the file once it is on the Mac Desktop. If you have used the PortfolioÕs word wrap function you will have a very narrow column on the Mac word processor. There are several ways around this. Keep word wrap off always, use a utility to strip the returns from the file. Hugh Campbell recommended McSink which works excellently but has a shareware fee of $50.00. As a DA this program is well worth it. Strip 1.2.9 is a utility capable of the same thing but with out the intelegence of McSink. I am sure that there are Hypercard scripts and Portfolio batch files available. Once you get the hang of it youÕll be able to write correspondence while waiting for your lunch, and then updating your expenses while they process your bill. Later, you can transfer all the data to your Mac for further processing. Worksheet transfers Transfering a spreadsheet to the Porfolio from the Mac is the fastest way to get going. Keep in mind that only 5 rows by 3-5 columns will be visible at one time so donÕt expect to work on cash flow projections for the next 5 years. I keep my worksheets (WKS) brief and abbreviated. (Use the ÒFunction-5Ó option to maximize the portfolio screen) Plan them to have information inputs at the top of the file so I can scroll or go to the results . Design your Worksheets with the Mac Window reduced to emulate the portfolio for best results. The most valuable Worksheet is a Bank Book which calculates your current balance for you. Look for a generic Bank.WKS file soon. I also have several complex ÒWhat if...Ó worksheets that use extensive lookup tables and complex data input and output. DonÕt be shy, give it a try. Just keep in mind that 3 ÒAAÓ batteries and 128K for a couple hundered bucks is a long way from 4Megs and a hard drive connected to a muncipal power plant. Compuserve to the RESCUE The following is a thread of messages that I discovered on Compuserve while attempting to find out what a Òserial-port-interface-nul-modem-gender-bender-cableÓ was... I have included it for several reasons. I could not have come this far with out Don, Hugh, Reina and LarryÕs help. I felt that I was not alone in my crusade to teach my Mac to speak Portfolio. I owe them many thanks and this help file is a way for me to put something in for the next crusader. Some of the technical discussions are very enlightening, and you should know how helpful any forum can be from the variety of valuable contributions made. George Gooderham October 21 1991 #: 16421 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 07-Sep-91 09:58:29 Sb: Mac connectivity Fm: Larry Land 73765,605 To: George Gooderham 70274,3060 (X) George...If all else fails you can get a little jewel called a SmartCable which will just about automatically connect any two serial devices. I've used one for a long time and it's great. It's $49 from Jensen Tools (among others). Jesen is at 602-968-6231. Hope this helps. Computasaurus---> -=Larry 73765,605=- #: 16509 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 08-Sep-91 06:04:49 Sb: #MAC cables Fm: Reina Pennington 73040,307 To: George Gooderham 70274,3060 (X) Save yourself a lot of trouble -- order a cable from Will Davis at Able Cables (415-457-4028). It's $20 and no headaches. That's why I did, and my Port talks to my Mac quite happily. Use XTerm2 on the Port, and I'm using ZTerm on the Mac. Tell the Mac to "Receive XModem file" first, then have the Port send the file. You can leave the MacBinary settings on for Port to Mac transfers, but change it to Text for any files you send from the Mac to the Port. You should also get a little utility called Add/Strip 2.9.2, if you don't already have it (I downloaded it and ZTerm from one of the Mac forums), which will clean up the Port text files for your Mac word processor. Have fun! #: 16544 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 08-Sep-91 12:50:15 Sb: #16509-MAC cables Fm: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 To: Reina Pennington 73040,307 I would add one suggestion, look for a desk accessory for the Mac called d "McSink". It is a full featured text editor which not only adds and strips controls, but also will add line numbers, does global search/replace, convert tabs,etc. I find it extremely useful, particularly as an editing environment for PBasic programming on the Mac... Hugh #: 16414 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 07-Sep-91 00:58:15 Sb: Mac connectivity Fm: Don Thomas 75300,1267 To: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 (X) I can tell you that I know no more about MACS than I do Sinclair Z-80s, but I have connected the MAC and made the procedure work on numerous demos. I agree that since the MAC world is convinced that this just can't be done, it's sometimes hard to get the facts together. But I do know, that once you get it all together, it will work like a charm every time. Perhaps it will help if I describe what you're actually doing briefly. In essence, you are setting both the MAC and the Port up seperately as if you were going to call CompuServe up on both of them at the same time. The only difference is that the null-modem cable bypasses any modem and connects the serial ports together. I know the MAC has a DIN-8 (also known as a circle 8) serial port. I also know that modem cables are readily available to connect that DIN-8 to a standard Hayes modem. The end that goes into the modem may be the wrong gender, but it is essentially what goes into the serial port of the Portfolio. If you have (or obtain) a null-modem adapter, you would simply place that between the Portfolio's serial Interface and the end of the cable that normally goes into the modem. Then you need to run communications software on both computers. Remember that the built-in File Transfer software is not intended for this, you will have to run slave or a communications program. To transfer a file from the Port, you would prepare an Xmodem upload. On the MAC you would prepare an Xmodem download. I use this method to transfer files to my Atari ST. Since communications programs often time out, I usually set both up with their commands up to the final RETURN, I review my entrees, then press RETURN on both machines at the same time. If it would be easier for you, the HPC-407 cable has been available for quite some time. We have NEVER been out of them. Your dealer simply isn'rt bothering to order it. If you want, I'll be happy to take your order. Then you'll know that you're getting the right cable. Another tip is to make certain the Serial Interface is initialized through the Set-Up menu. You also must make certain that the baud rate, stop bits, parity and data bits match on both systems. Other MAC users on line may be able to assist as well. Hope that helps. #: 16420 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 07-Sep-91 08:57:52 Sb: #16415-#Mac connectivity Fm: Steve Liberty 71450,2341 To: Don Thomas 75300,1267 (X) Don, That was a great explaination of something that confounded me several years back (now I do understand it, but where were you then?). It is actually the exact same procedure that a DOS user might use if he had to move files between a desktop and a laptop WITHOUT Laplink (it is slow, but it works). I also used this procedure in the old days to move files between a DEC Rainbow and a PC whose disks are generally incompatible. Sometimes I forget that Port users aren't always heavily into the PC as I am, but your support certainly helps bridge the gap. Steve #: 16446 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 07-Sep-91 14:03:47 Sb: #16420-#Mac connectivity Fm: Don Thomas 75300,1267 To: Steve Liberty 71450,2341 (X) Thanks Steve, You're right. People think that null-modem transfers is a NEW technology, but it's been around since modems. It wasn't used much on the consumer level since it didn't used to be practical to move around mainframes or design mile long cables. Now that computers are so portable, null-modem transfers are very practical and can be essentially performed between ANY two computers. The Portfolio is the PERFECT tool to do this regardless of the platform of whatever computer use wish to share information with. Since the exact connectors on the cable may vary and since the software also varies, it induces enough confusion that many people conclude it can't be done or it's too difficult to try. This is compounded by the fact that Radio Shack employees (actually any electronics store) often tell customers they never heard of such a thing and believe it's a fanatasy. We've had numerous people call us and tell us that Radio Shack employees told them that they don't sell anything that would ever connect to an Atari computer. I was so upset that I called the cable buyer in Fort Worth. He proceeded to tell me the same thing and cited the I/O connector on our 8-bit line. We began replacing our 8-bit line 10 years ago (+/-). Our 16-bit desktop computers were among the first designed for the consumer and offer FULL PC standard ports and I/O protocol. The cable buyer said that was interesting, but he couldn't communicate the info to all of his stores. The point is that the consumer has to educate himself. Just like riding a bike. No one can say anything that can help you feel what you have to feel in order to maintain balance and ride a bike. Once you do, however, it's as easy as anything can be and you never forget. #: 16440 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 07-Sep-91 13:36:10 Sb: #16415-#Mac connectivity Fm: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 To: Don Thomas 75300,1267 (X) Don, Maybe you can clarify two points. If Port to Mac transfers using XTerm a or ACOM work over a cable, should that same cable connection work with Slave? I don't want to buy new cables just to try out SLAVE and my conection has been working with these other COMM programs. The second question is, do you know if a "handshake" should be set on the Mac communications side? I have tried Microphone II and VersaTerm Pro and both have options for XOn/Xoff, Hardware or No handshake (Frankly, I don't have a clue what this is all about and I have tried numerous settings). I am determined to get SLAVE to work with the Mac. Thanks... Hugh #: 16448 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 07-Sep-91 14:09:42 Sb: #16440-#Mac connectivity Fm: Don Thomas 75300,1267 To: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 (X) The easiest way to answer this that I can think of is to set up both computers with communications software. If what you type on one screen, shows up on the other, you're connected exactly as you should be to run SLAVE on the Portfolio. I am not a MAC expert and always rely on the MAC user to set his communications software for Xmodem send or receive when performing demos. I know other MAC users are on this forum and I'm sure one or more can step in to help with the settings on the MAC end. #: 16483 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 07-Sep-91 19:16:03 Sb: #16448-Mac connectivity Fm: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 To: Don Thomas 75300,1267 (X) Don, OK I'm past the first step.. I am confident that the cable setup is OK. I may try to download another copy of SLAVE. I cannot get past the message on the Port screen "Initialising...". This occurs when I try it with my Mac as well as when I try it with my T1000 (PC). Any suggestions from you Mac folks out there? Thanks... Hugh #: 16510 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 08-Sep-91 06:04:55 Sb: #Mac connectivity Fm: Reina Pennington 73040,307 To: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 (X) Hugh, in case you missed my reply to George -- Save yourself a lot of trouble -- order a cable from Will Davis at Able Cables (415-457-4028). It's $20 and no headaches. That's why I did, and my Port talks to my Mac quite happily. Use XTerm2 on the Port, and I'm using ZTerm on the Mac. It limits me to transferring one file at a time, but it gets the job done! There is 1 Reply. #: 16543 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 08-Sep-91 12:46:06 Sb: #16510-Mac connectivity Fm: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 To: Reina Pennington 73040,307 Reina, my problem right now is not with XTerm or ACOM, I've been using them with my Mac with no trouble for a year and a half. My current problem is trying to get the program SLAVE to work with the MAC. I don't think my problem is my cable since these other programs are working. I've also tried every possible cable connection with no luck. Have you tried SLAVE.EXE with your Mac? I'd appreciate any input... Hugh #: 15496 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 24-Aug-91 13:01:39 Sb: MAC file transfers Fm: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 To: SYSOP*Ron Luks 76703,254 (X) Ron, Let me just suggest one thing with MacBinary. The rule is that every binary file should be transferred to/from the Port with MacBinary disabled. When you transfer text files to and from a Mac, which I do often since I write PBasic code on a Mac and then send it to the Port, the rules change. When sending text files TO the Port disable MacBinary. When sending text files from a Port TO a Mac use MacBinary. This results in properly formatted Afiles on both machines. ...Hugh #: 17031 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 12-Sep-91 18:34:47 Sb: #16989-Mac Connectivity Fm: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 To: George Gooderham 70274,3060 George, a couple of questions... How did you get SLAVE onto your Port, if you don't have a comm program (XTerm or ACOM) on your Port? What Mac Communications program are you using? I'm going to give SLAVE one more try this weekend and if I don't get it going I'll give up. So far XTerm on the Port and Microphone II on the Mac has been sufficient. Microphone lets you create buttons to automate most down/up load procedures so its pretty easy. I'll let you know if I get SLAVE running... Hugh Hugh I got the prog Slave from a guy who had it on card and transported it to my portfoilio in a DOS copy mode. He is an Atari user. How to use it is a mystery to both of us! I am using SmartComII in direct-connect on a null modem set up as reccomended by Don Thomas. I have Xterm2 on my Mac so you can imagin how frustratrating this is. I haven't found any one in Toronto with a copy on Card yet.I have tried everything but all I get is an ÒInitialising...Ó Message on the Port and a still cursor on the Mac. When I turn the port off , I do get a beep so something is connected to something. Weird Science.... Good luck buddy I'm still hunting for a solution cause I need the connectivity for the port to be really useful. Geo #: 17058 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 12-Sep-91 23:15:16 Sb: #17055-Mac Connectivity Fm: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 To: George Gooderham 70274,3060 George, When I first got my Portfolio I spent hours trying to "bootstrap"(?) a copy of XTerm from my Mac to the Port. This mysterious procedure involves serial transfers controlled from a host machine (Mac) to the Port... Needless to say, it never worked. I broke down and bought a parallel port, borrowed a DOS machine and transfered XTerm to the Port with the built in FT program. I have since found the parallel port to be a useful investment. I often find myself needing to print a hardcopy in the field somewhere and invariably you find parallel printers at most sites. They've come down in price so you may want to consider this alternate route. Good Luck... Hugh Thanks Hugh, I have the serial port connector and I got a copy of xterm2 from Atari Canada on Friday . The portfolio not is very happy talking to the Mac. Great when it works. I'd like to create a Mac Help Guide for othrers who follow this thorny trail. Do you have both serial and parallel ports? How do you carry the parts around? Thanks for all your help. I will be back to you soon with more news. #: 17071 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 13-Sep-91 03:59:10 Sb: #16988-Mac Conectivity Fm: Don Thomas 75300,1267 To: George Gooderham 70274,3060 I am anxious to hear an expedient resolution for you! REPLY: Thanks Don, Here it is... When in trouble grab the dragon by the head...I went up to Atari Canada offices and introduced myself to Rob McGowan and explaned my dilema. He was really helpful and I now have XTERM2 on my 128 Card. This Portfolio is fantastic. However the Mac Connection needs to be made simpler. It says on the Box Mac compatible... But there is no documentation. I am saving a list of what works and does not and plan to create a Mac Self help file for this BBS. I would also like to see the Dealer network get the process in order so that a mac user with a serial port knows that and gets what is needed at the time of purchase. This is a great machine and the consumer should be able to get it up and running easily. More later. Thanks. #: 17293 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 15-Sep-91 22:35:17 Sb: #17278-Mac Connectivity Fm: Hugh J. Campbell 70611,3212 To: George Gooderham 70274,3060 George, I think you're going to find XTerm is an excellent and stable comm program. I keep Xterm on my C drive (FDisk 8) and (*VERY Important*) a backup copy of XTerm on a card. I do have both serial and parallel ports. I usually leave the parallel port in the office and carry the serial port around with the Port. Since I use a Land's End soft attache case, which has three pockets inside of a perfect size for the Port, its easy to throw the serial port in. I use a Worldport 2400 Modem from Touchbase and I made a small cable to carry on the road. I wish someone would make a modem the size of a serial port which plugged into the Port and had a serial throughport so I could carry just one thing. I have gotten to the point where my Port is an extension of my Mac and I'm finding ways to make the interface more seamless... Hugh #: 17302 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 16-Sep-91 00:27:19 Sb: #17279-Mac Conectivity Fm: Don Thomas 75300,1267 To: George Gooderham 70274,3060 I agree. In fact I heard Apple did a video to train their dealers on how it's done, but I haven't heard any more since we sent someone to them to show them how it's done! I've tried to offer tips and hints in A.P.B. I have found that the entire issue seems to confuse people (as it did me) until they've simply done it themselves once or twice. However, I think detailed instructions would be fruitful and beneficial. I wanted to get more about that stuff ion the newest manual, but we were on a kick to reduce pages since people were screaming that the old manual had too much infomation. #: 17331 S10/Mac-to-PORTFOLIO 16-Sep-91 11:50:06 Sb: #17278-Mac Connectivity Fm: SYSOP*Ron Luks 76703,254 To: George Gooderham 70274,3060 We've seen the extra problems that MAC owners have interfacing with the Portfolio (not necessarily caused by the Portfolio as much as by the MACs operating system) and we'd *love* to have a MAC HELP FILE available. If I can help you in the creation of this helpfile (with free access to this forum) please let me know. Ron Luks