Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

Tracy,

Code sharing is generally equated with good citizenship  8^{)!

Dick _no_code_is_without_room_for_improvement_(including_mine)_

    Dick,

    If I thought this program demonstrated sophisticated use of X or
    DECwindows which others could learn from, I would certainly make the
    sources available.  However, this is just a simple program I wrote for
    myself which I thought others would enjoy.

    Besides, distributing the sources would make for near impossible source
    code management. :-)

    Tracy

Just curious,

	If the programs were developed on DEC equipment, and you are paid
	by Digital, doesn't the code "Belong" to Digital?  Isn't that one
	of the points of the Employment Agreement we all signed when we
	started work?

DRL, 
who_feels_that_DEC_owns_all_the_code_I_develop_on_their_equimpemt,_even_the_hacks

"1.	I will make full and prompt disclosure to DIGITAL of all inventions,
	improvements, discoveries, methods and developments (all of which are
	collectively termed "developments" hereinafter), whether patentable or
	not, made or conceived by me or under my direction during my employment,
	whether or not made or conceived during normal working hours or on the
	premises of DIGITAL."

From the "Employee Agreement" form number EN-01078-06-REVC

    Does this mean that I get the sources to anything that Digital sells,
    since it belongs to DEC and I work for DEC ?  
    
    Tracey obviously has reasons for keeping the sources to herself.
    There are many midnight hacks available (look at all of the ASSETS...)
    and *no* source code is available.
    
    While the employee agreement certainly says the code belongs to
    DEC, it *doesn't* say that I have to post the stuff all over the
    network for everyone.
    
    I'd like the sources, too, but certainly respect her right to keep
    it to herself.
    
    Todd

    On the other hand, I think Digital's position in the market,
    especially as regards X Window expertise, is enhanced by wide
    and free access to good source code, which is the best learning
    tool. I have made it a habit to post the location of the source
    for my programs as soon as it is reasonably stable, for the
    general good of the DECwindows community. I encourage Tracey
    and all other midnight hackers to do the same.
    
    Dave

    I disagree. If an author wants to keep their code private, they should.
    It helps eliminate unofficial versions with new bugs in it. Very few
    development groups give their source code out at all.
    
    	Jon

    
    I agree with Jon et al. There is no need to share source code.
    Personally I'm just grateful Tracy shared the exe's.
    
    Andy
    

I also respect Tracy's right to keep the sources private.  The main reason
that I am interested in having a copy is to get a working ULTRIX port.

The usual method of retaining revision safety is by passing changes back to
the owner by way of DIFF outputs.

Dick

    Re: .4 .6 .7 .8

    Thanks for the support.

    Dick,

    I do not have access to an Ultrix machine.  If you're interested in
    trying to port the code, please send me mail.

    Tracy _who_is_male_(just_to_set_the_record_straight)_

I think some may have missed the point.

It is not Tracy's code, it is Digitals code, and DEC can make the decisions
on what to do with it and Tracy may not have any say in the matter.  

On the other hand, Digital may not care, and leave full discression to Tracy.
That is an active or passive decision that management makes at some point.

The decision not to release sources for various products is made by Digital,
as is the companys right, and is not something left up to the individual
developers who may have written the code, but clearly do not own it.

Could this conversation be taken up somewhere else so those of use who are
here to read DECwindows issues and don't care about "who owns the code" can
utilize the little time we have to read notes.

thanks,
		$$$$ ted $$$$

Let this be a lesson to you, author of the base topic.

Don't ever think that you're being a nice person by offering to
let people use your toys.   They'll only start screaming about
how your toys really belong to Uncle Ken and how you're mean and
bad because you won't let them play as much as they'd like.

Jeez, what a lot of ungrateful people there are around. 

    re .10:
    
    No, I'm not missing the point. I've written a buch of hacks over the
    years, and I've never claimed that they weren't owned by Digital.
    However, Digital is not a person, Digital is a corporation. If I write
    a midnight project for Digital, I think it's perfectly fair that *I*
    administer for Digital the problem who gets the sources that I wrote
    and who doesn't. If you think I should give them out when I don't, talk
    to my management. Get them to convince me.
    
    re .11:
    I think this is an issue germane to this conference. There is a key on
    your keypad with the "Next Unseen" feature on it. Learn to use it.
    
    	Jon

    Of course a "midnight hacker" has a right to manage his source
    code in any way he sees fit. Didn't mean to deny that. And
    don't we all love "toys"!
    
    Still, especially for small, light-hearted ditties like solitaire,
    it's nice to have source code. DECwindows has a pretty steep
    learning curve, and many have been helped and made more productive
    by the many source code examples contributed to the DW_EXAMPLES
    notes file.
    
    Dave

I got the following while moving a card from one auxiliary pile to another
auxiliary pile in NoNameOne.  Maybe I shouldn't have moved that card?
$
%SYSTEM-F-ACCVIO, access violation, reason mask=00, virtual address=00000018, PC
=00003C54, PSL=03C00004

  Improperly handled condition, image exit forced.

        Signal arguments              Stack contents

        Number = 00000005                00000B00
        Name   = 0000000C                03C00000
                 00000000                0000000C
                 00000018                00000B00
                 00003C54                00000033
                 03C00004                00000001
                                         00094022
                                         03C00000
                                         00000000
                                         207C0000

        Register dump

        R0 = 00000000  R1 = 00000000  R2 = 00000200  R3 = 001873DD
        R4 = 00000200  R5 = 001AFB60  R6 = 00000D7C  R7 = 00000000
        R8 = 00000163  R9 = 001A0048  R10= 000BC9B8  R11= 00000000
        AP = 7FF38584  FP = 7FF38544  SP = 7FF385C0  PC = 00003C54
        PSL= 03C00004

  KABEL        job terminated at 17-MAR-1989 15:11:49.77

  Accounting information:
  Buffered I/O count:          246      Peak working set size:  1433
  Direct I/O count:            114      Peak page file size:    5494
  Page faults:                5854      Mounted volumes:           0
  Charged CPU time:     0 00:00:38.65   Elapsed time:     0 01:13:17.09 

    
    While I agree with Jon, wouldn't it be nice if authors "released" their
    OBJs as well?  As new releases of DECwindows/VMS come out, it would be
    nice if our favorite "tools" could be relinked.
    
    The relinking issue should be easier now that interfaces to the
    libraries have stabilized, but that's not really the point.  Letting
    OBJs wander with the EXEs wouldn't seem to create headaches for 
    the authors -- would it?
    

    The latest saveset now includes the object files.  If you should need to
    relink Solitaires, enter the following commands:

    	$ backup/select=*.obj sol010.a/save *.*
    	$ link/exe=solitaires main,rules,actions,sys$input/opt
    	sys$share:decw$dwtlibshr/share
    	^Z

    Tracy

    Hi Tracy,
    
       I love this game ! Can I put in a wish list item or two ?
    
       a) The move hinter should be able to detect "loops" in its
    	   offerings. or maybe not hint moves that don't do anything 
           (this probably not relevant for some of the solitaire games)
          but is for Canfield).
       b) A collorary of this is that it should detect if you are in a
    	  no-win situation, and display some sort of "Tough Luck, Start Again"
          
       c) The easiest suggestion I have is that there should be an "End
          Game" celebration of some sort - may be a congrats message, with a
          score board - per game, of user name, time taken and number of
          moves,hints used. Maybe order in time taken,moves numbers, 
          help-requests. 
                        
        Thanks again for a good pastime !
                     
               Winton      

    >  I love this game ! Can I put in a wish list item or two ?
    
    Me, too! My only wish is for larger cards. I have to squint to read
    them on my 15" monitor.
    
    Good work! Let's sell it...

    Re: .18, .19

    I'm glad to hear that you like it.  I was beginning to wonder if anyone
    else (besides me) was playing it.

    Re: .19

    Larger cards are in the works.  I don't know when they'll be ready but
    I'll post a reply when a new saveset is available.

    Re: .18

    >a) The move hinter should be able to detect "loops" in its
    >           offerings. or maybe not hint moves that don't do anything
    >           (this probably not relevant for some of the solitaire games)
    >          but is for Canfield).

    The hint code was designed specifically for NoNameTwo because of the
    large number of face up cards to choose from.  Although many of the
    hints in Canfield appear useless (moving a black five from one red six
    to another), you sometimes have to make moves like this to win.

    >b) A collorary of this is that it should detect if you are in a
    >   no-win situation, and display some sort of "Tough Luck, Start Again"

    There isn't any real intelligence in the code which generates the hints.
    This is difficult to implement in a generalized fashion which works for
    all five games.  I am making a note of your suggestion though.

    >c) The easiest suggestion I have is that there should be an "End
    >   Game" celebration of some sort - may be a congrats message, with a
    >   score board - per game, of user name, time taken and number of
    >   moves,hints used. Maybe order in time taken,moves numbers,
    >   help-requests.

    I've already had a request for this feature but it presents the same
    problem as described above.  Thanks for your suggestions.

    Tracy

    Yes, people are playing it.  After all, its an excellent version of a
    fun game.  My congradulations!!!

    Now for the nasties...

    I find that about one time out of every four, my uVAX II (the system,
    not the program) crashes when I exit from the game.  I haven't stopped
    playing it because it is too good a game, but I do tend to cringe a
    little when I select quit.  After all, a system dump and reboot is a
    hell of a way to finish off a game of solitaire.

    I do have the system dump file, if you are interested in pawing through
    it.  If you want it, please send me mail (I don't poke in here too
    often).

    Anyway, thanks for the great new toy!!!

                                                                    Stan

    I've been thinking this one over for awhile and my best guess is that it's
    a server bug (you didn't expect me to admit that my program is directly
    responsible for crashing your system did you? :-)).  When you select Quit,
    all I do is 'exit(1)' which means the damage has already been done.  Since
    it should be impossible for a non-privileged application to bring down a
    system, this crash is most likely the result of a bug in a privileged
    application (i.e., the DECwindows server).

    Although I don't doubt that my game is somehow involved, I don't believe
    that it's directly responsible.  Perhaps the DECwindows server group would
    be interested in your system dump file.

    I'm sorry for the inconvenience this causes you.

    Tracy

  Tracy, 

  Is it possible to configure the Canfield game to turn 3 cards at a time?

  I havn't been able to figure put how to do that.

  regards

    The online help under "Customizing A Game" and "Number Of Cards Per
    Draw" describes everything you need to know.  Create the file
    DECW$USER_DEFAULTS:SOLITAIRES.DAT and add the following line:

    *Canfield.numberOfCardsPerDraw: 3

    Tracy

I play Canfield a bit differently.  I play one draws three at a time normally
but on the last round (player's decision when that is) the draw is one at a 
time.  I can customize the 3 at a time normal draw but how do I override that
for the final round?


BTW, I also want this on Ultrix.  Then my WS won't bog down the network with
unnecessary DW traffic.

\bob

    Bob,

    Right now, there's no way to override.  I'll add this to the wishlist.

    A few months ago someone requested the sources for an Ultrix port.  I'll
    try to find out what stage that's in.

    Tracy

Hi,

this is broke for DECwindows V2 (ift...).  the cards have changed color
(from white on black to black on white), and mouse clicks don't do anything 
in the main window any more.

						.dave.

    Thanks for reporting this Dave.  I don't have easy access to a machine
    running V2 right now so I don't know when I'll be able to fix this. 
    When I have a new kit, I'll post a reply.

    Tracy

    QAR it.  DECwindows V2 shouldn't be breaking applications that worked
    under V1.
    
    Regards,
    
    Marios

    I just finished upgrading my 14mB VS2000 to VMS 5.2 and DECwindows V2.
    
    Afterwards I found Solitaires was non-functional.  The title bar
    won't highlight when I click on the window and I cannot pick up
    or move any cards.  I can select items from the menu, however.
    
        
    I got the following errors when starting Solitaires...
    
    
$ solitaires
%DCL-SPAWNED, process SOLITAIRE spawned
$
  X Toolkit Warning: translation table syntax error: Modifier or '<' expected
X Toolkit Warning: translation table syntax error: Unknown modifier name: 8
X Toolkit Warning: translation table syntax error: Modifier or '<' expected

    Our device names have changed.  The kit can now be found at:

    VIA::$USER4:[PRINCIPIO.PUBLIC]SOL010.A

    The kit has not been updated.  It still doesn't work on DECwindows V2.

    Tracy

Solitaires is finally working on DECwindows V2.  All I had to do was recompile
and relink.  The saveset for DECwindows V2 can be found at:

	via::$user4:[principio.public]sol011.a

The saveset for DECwindows V1 is still available at:

        via::$user4:[principio.public]sol010.a

Tracy

         
         I just finished installing V1.1 of Solitaires.  I get the
         following failures when running on a VS2000 with VMS 5.2 and
         DECwindows V2.  This is the same error I found with V1.0.
         Do I need to upgrade to VMS 5.3?
         
         Nancy

$ solitaires
%DCL-SPAWNED, process SOLITAIRE spawned
$
  X Toolkit Warning: translation table syntax error: Modifier or '<' expected
X Toolkit Warning: translation table syntax error: Unknown modifier name:8
X Toolkit Warning: translation table syntax error: Modifier or '<' expected

Traci,

  I tried to copy the kit, but got this error:


 copy/log 2260::$user4:[principio.public]sol011.a
_To: *
%COPY-E-OPENIN, error opening 2260::$USER4:[PRINCIPIO.PUBLIC]SOL011.A; as input
-RMS-E-DNF, directory not found
-SYSTEM-W-NOSUCHFILE, no such file


 Did you have a change of device names again (re: .32)?



							Thanks,
							djg...

Yes, I have moved again.  The saveset can now be found at:

	regal::$user6:[principio.public]sol011.a

Tracy

-Andy_PEACHS> copy regal::$user6:[principio.public]sol011.a */log
%COPY-E-OPENOUT, error opening SYS$SYSROOT:[SYSEXE]SOL011.A;1 as output
-RMS-E-PRV, insufficient privilege or file protection violation
%COPY-W-NOTCOPIED, REGAL::$USER6:[PRINCIPIO.PUBLIC]SOL011.A;1 not copied
-Andy_PEACHS>

	Perhaps you should look at where you are copying it to???


-Andy_PEACHS> copy regal::$user6:[principio.public]sol011.a */log
%COPY-E-OPENOUT, error opening SYS$SYSROOT:[SYSEXE]SOL011.A;1 as ***OUTPUT******
-RMS-E-PRV, insufficient privilege or file protection violation
%COPY-W-NOTCOPIED, REGAL::$USER6:[PRINCIPIO.PUBLIC]SOL011.A;1 not copied
-Andy_PEACHS>

	Mark

I copied the SOL011.A saveset last night, and relinked the .EXE, however I 
have the problem of not being able to move a card.  All menu options work, 
but I can't manipulate cards.  I'm running VMS V5.3.

Nits:
	Could you in the KITINSTAL.COM just perform the link rather than 
	copy the .EXE?

	I requested installation of the game in a single directory, but the 
	HELP library is still expected in SYS$LIBRARY.  Could you just move 
	that automatically?

Question:
	How do I request the 48X66 cards (.UID file anyway)?  Do I rename 
	it to SOLITAIRES.UID?

I have enjoyed this game before, and I hope to again in the future.

The SOL011.A kit does not need to be relinked on VMS V5.3.  Are you sure you
didn't copy the SOL010.A kit?  This would explain your not being able to move a
card and your 48X66 question (which I don't fully understand).

Your help library problem is solved by defining the logical solitaires$library
to point to the directory the kit was installed in.

Tracy

>         <<< Note 346.42 by RAB::PRINCIPIO "Don't have a cow, man!" >>>
>
> The SOL011.A kit does not need to be relinked on VMS V5.3.  Are you sure you
> didn't copy the SOL010.A kit?  This would explain your not being able to move
> a card and your 48X66 question (which I don't fully understand).
> 
> Your help library problem is solved by defining the logical solitaires$library
> to point to the directory the kit was installed in.
> 
> Tracy

I just verified the saveset name, and it is SOL011.A (I don't use filenames 
on the "to" side of the copy/spool).  I grabbed the .EXE out of the saveset 
and ran it, and it didn't let me manipulate the cards either.  Here's the 
listing of the saveset I grabbed:

Unto KERMIT:: back /list [decwindows.games.solitaires]sol011.a /save
Listing of save set(s)

Save set:          SOL011.A
Written by:        PRINCIPIO
UIC:               [000111,000123]
Date:              29-NOV-1989 12:44:49.62
Command:           BACKUP/NOASSIST/COMMENT=VAX/VMS SPKITBLD 
Procedure/INTER/LOG/
VERIFY [PRINCIPIO.KIT]*.* 
$USER4:[PRINCIPIO.DECW.SOLITAIRES]SOL011.A/LABEL=(SOL)
/SAVE/BLOCK=9000/GROUP=25
Operating system:  VAX/VMS version V5.3
BACKUP version:    V5.3
CPU ID register:   0600052E
Node name:         _VIA::
Written on:        _$255$DUA34:
Block size:        9216
Group size:        25
Buffer count:      88

[PRINCIPIO.KIT]ACTIONS.OBJ;1                               11  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]KITINSTAL.COM;1                              5  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]MAIN.OBJ;1                                  56  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]RULES.OBJ;1                                 15  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES.DAT;1                            35  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES.EXE;1                            42  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES.HLB;1                            45  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES.UID;1                            72  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES_48X66.UID;1                     240  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES_CAN-CAN.XBM;1                     5  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES_CANFIELD.XBM;1                    3  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES_NONAMEONE.XBM;1                   4  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES_NONAMETWO.XBM;1                   4  29-NOV-1989 12:44
[PRINCIPIO.KIT]SOLITAIRES_PYRAMID.XBM;1                     4  29-NOV-1989 12:44

Total of 14 files, 541 blocks
End of save set

As for the 48X66 question, there are two .UID files.  I thought that 1 was for 
small cards and the other for large cards.  If that is incorrect, please let 
me know.

Eric

Eric,

I don't know why you can't move cards.  If you like, I'll give you access to
the sources so that you can compile and link everything on your machine.

A long time ago I began work on allowing different size cards.  To do this, I
moved the bitmaps into one UID file while everything else stayed in the main
UID file.  It's actually all implemented, I just never got around to creating a
larger set of card bitmaps.  The 48x66 file contains the cards you see now.

Tracy

>         <<< Note 346.44 by RAB::PRINCIPIO "Don't have a cow, man!" >>>
>                             -< Want the sources? >-
>
> I don't know why you can't move cards.  If you like, I'll give you access to
> the sources so that you can compile and link everything on your machine.

Sure.  I'll give anything a shot at this point.  If you want, just MAIL 
them to me, or send me a pointer.

Thanks for the quick responses to the sometimes late questions!

Eric

Sometime back, first release of vms5.3 and decw2, I ran into a problem like
this, it appears to have been fixed by release of 5.3-2 (which runs fine).

Tracy provided the sources, this were relinked and tried to no avail on 5.3.
There were some threads in the dec2 documentation that suggested a few things
were changed.  

Might I suggest that if you must run 5.3, upgrade it to the -2 version?

Bruce

    I am totally new to Decwindows.  I've finally figured out how to add
    this program and maybe I'm slow but even with HELP I can't figure out
    how to make the cards larger.  I need a magnifying glass to read them.
    Do I have to modify some file? or create a new file?
    
    Thanks for any help!!
    
    Marie
      

To use a larger set of cards, create the file decw$user_defaults:solitaires.dat
and add the following line:

*cardImages:            77x100

The larger set of cards have been available only recently.  If you don't have
the file solitaires_77x100.uid, then you need to copy a new kit.

Tracy

    Thanks!! Tracy!