MCS Tidbits & Computer Hints Weekly Column

[Michael Duebner]

                           MCS Tidbits & Computer Hints
                           ----------------------------
                    A Service of Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.
                                   July 3, 1989


                                    --> Tidbits <--


        Upgrading to '486 

        Last week's  IBM '486 on-a-board upgrade  announcement was only  the
        beginning  of a  flurry of  'we have it  too' press releases.   AST,
        maker of '386 desktop  power in various speed ranges (mhz), has also
        announced  their  own  upgrade  to  '486  horsepower.    AST systems
        feature  a passive  backplanes with  the processor  and memory  on a
        daughterboard.   This forethought may be  paying off since  upgrades
        are now  so simple  that a user  can complete  them in  a matter  of
        minutes.   Other vendors are  sure to follow as the '486 speed train
        starts to steam roll the used to be high performance standard.


                         --> Hints for the Power User <--

        This weeks edition of  our column is  oriented toward the SCO  Xenix
        user.

        SCO FOXBASE+ Multi User Database Software

          When using  SCO FOXBASE+ packages  from multiple login  id's make
          sure you set the  "umask" shell parameter to "007"  before execu-
          ting the package,  and insure that  you have all users  operating
          the package in the same login group.

          This will  prevent files  from being  made inaccessible  to other
          users,  which  may otherwise  occur  when FOXBASE+  rewrites them
          during normal operation.

                                      ------

        Printing on Local Terminals

          SCO Xenix 2.3 can be configured  to operate local printers (prin-
          ters attached to terminals) by using the 'lprint' command.  There
          are a few things to note about the 'lprint' command.

          1)   The terminal  in question  must be defined  in /etc/termcap,
               and must have the 'PN' (start print) and 'PS' (end printing)
               entries defined.  A sample entry  is given below for 'vt100'
               terminals.

          2)   Your terminal or emulation  software must correctly support
               the local print  capability.  'QVT-PC' and  'Smart Term 220'
               both are  capable of  doing this on  PCs, as  well as  a few
               others.

          3)   'lprint' does not translate file formats; output translation
               must be done before input is passed to the 'lprint' program.

          4)   Printing done in this fashion is not spooled.

                                      ------

        Xenix Modem Control

          To temporarily reserve a line which has a modem on it for dialout
          without disabling the port, issue the command:
               /usr/lib/uucp/ungetty ttyname

          When you are done using the port  for dialout, and wish to return
          it to normal dialin service, issue the command:
               /usr/lib/uucp/ungetty -r ttyname

                                      ------


        Macro Computer Solutions, Inc        UUCP:   michael at ddsw1.MCS.COM
        520 N. Seymour Avenue                Direct: (312) 566-8911 
        Mundelein, IL  60060
        (312) 566-8910

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                 The place for high performance '386 workstations.

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