[Oberon] Re: n-o: timer-reset chit-chat

[easlab at absamail.co.za]

> Yes, all the more reason why the machine should not need to
> reboot for 'failing'  Backup.* operations, to move files to other
> OSs.

Edgar wrote:
IIRC Backup isn't any more top stuff on the newest NO. I think it has been
replaced for a long time by OFSTools. Or is it still necessary for
Diskette access ?

I suspect the need to re-boot for a failing fd0 would also apply for
OFSTools.  Even linux can't handle it. I just prefer  Backup.* because
it's 4 simple commands. Or perhaps because it's in my tool-box,
and OFSTools needs an extra few moves to 'unpack'.

--------------
re. acknowledging that aborted PPPs need to re-boot before 
next re-dial [but Ctrl/Break (repeatedly) can 'clear' it]:
cg> I wish you'd mentioned that before.

Peter E. wrote:
There are many small glitches.  I complain about some but 
just learn to live with others.  

If file x is open on the Mac and FTP.PutFiles x ~ is executed, 
it fails.  Presumeably, NetPresenz on the Mac returns a 
message which Oberon FTP does not recognize.  Ideally 
Oberon FTP would report the problem in the System.Log and 
then wait for the user to try again.  Really the FTP connection 
must be closed and opened again.  There are many such small 
problems which I've learned to work around.

These are the exact candidates [discovered by more experienced
users] which I mean as (temporary-Howtos/tips) 

cg> When every one else remains silent on a reported problem, one
must consider seriously that it is one's 'own' unique problem;
perhaps even one's hardware.

> A list of bugs or unresolved problems on a Web page?  Anyone 
> favour or oppose this idea?

Very good idea !   Even if it waits for year(s) to be fixed, being
acknowledged and listed is of value.

cg> Have you ever tried Ctrl/Break; immediatly after
NetSystem.SetUser pap:<id>:<paswrd>@PPP ~

> My NetSystem.SetUser is in the Oberon.Text and always works 
> perfectly.  I don't understand the reason for Ctrl+Break in this 
> context.

I am mistaken: of the 3 lines/commands in my dialup-script,
the 
  NetSystem.SetUser pap:<args> seems to have no problem.
But Dialer.Dial PPP Device0 ~
 seems to 'fail to get the modem to get dialing tone (although
the modem LEDs react), after an abnormal ppp abort, as I've
described repeatedly.
Now apparently other users admit this and say they just re-boot ?

cg> BTW, has the 'newer' version fixed the problem that if you
Backup.Directory a non-perfect diskette, it Traps and you 
can't use Backup.*  without re-booting?   Most annoying !

> The latest version, PC Native 05.01.2003, is running here
> and it has the same problem.  If I put a Mac formatted diskette
> in the drive and do Backup.Directory there is a trap.  The drive
> light remains on and the system must be rebooted before the 
> drive will operate again.

That's why I say, moving to latter versions won't solve the problems
which are important to me.

cg> Well, I'm afraid to change over (or even try - loose time) to
a latest release; I need a reliable system for use every day.

> As Edgar said, you want to somehow get an additional 
> partition for the new system.  Hopefully your data is 
> already in a partition separate from your current system.
> If you put the new system in a spare partition there is 
> nothing to loose.  Your investment of time to make the 
> installation will be paid back multifold in better capabilities
> of the newer system.

I've got 24 partitions, and room for another score  (rotate as backup),
but any change over causes days of unwelcomed disruption.

cg> 'Tips' re. trivial matters, like how to 
swap between sending your correct return-adr for email which 
needs it and sending news-articles where you want to hide it.

> How does that work?  The list servers I was subscribed to 
> checked the return address of a submission against a subscriber  
> list.  A submission was not accepted unless there was a match.

The only way I know/found to change the email-return-adr and
'what is shown in news-postings' is in Oberon.Text at:
	EMail = "top-post at not"  {* your return address (leave out the < and >) *}

So you can use 2 different versions of Oberon.Text , i.e.
   System.CopyFiles  Oberon.TextN => Oberon.Text ~
is for News posting, and a self posted email header looks thus:--
X-Auth-No: 
Return-Path: <top-post at not>
Received: from 196.39.56.32 not authenticated [196.39.56.32]
	by absamail.co.za with NetMail SMTP Agent $Revision:  ...
	Tue, 21 Oct 2003 06:35:38 +0200
From:  top-post at not
...
Whereas for email which needs my correct adrs, I use:
   System.CopyFiles  Oberon.TextN => Oberon.Text ~
which give email thus:--
X-Auth-No: 
Return-Path: <easlab at absamail.co.za>
Received: from 196.39.56.32 not authenticated [196.39.56.32]
	by absamail.co.za with NetMail SMTP Agent $Revision:  ...
	Tue, 21 Oct 2003 06:35:09 +0200
From:  easlab at absamail.co.za

cg> Yes, all the more reason why the machine should not need to
reboot for 'failing'  Backup.* operations, to move files to other
OSs. 

> Ethernet is far better than floppynet.

What if you want to carry the data to another machine via bicycle
or donkey ?

== Chris Glur.