Editorial

This issue of SynTax sees the advent of SynWin, the true Windows
version of the magazine, programmed by Alex van Kaam. I think Alex
has done a brilliant job and I am sure you will agree with me when
you try it. It is very easy to operate and I am sure you won't
have any problems with it but Alex has written an extensive manual,
including a trouble-shooter's guide, just to be on the safe side
and that is in the Articles section. He has also checked SynWin
with Windows 95 and it works - yes, we're bang up to date here!

I have included LINEDRAW.TTF on this issue's PC 3.5" disks for
anyone who doesn't have it. Just to remind you, if you don't have
VBRUN300.DLL, send me a blank disk and I'll give you a copy.
You'll need it to run SynWin but there isn't room for it on the
disk.

Leading on from that, how many 3.5" disk PC readers CAN'T cope
with high density disks? As we now have the facility to put
screenshots and maps in screenshot format into the Windows 
version, and since they take quite a bit of room, I want to shift
to high density 1.44 meg 3.5" disks and include pix on that 
version only. So if you CAN'T use high density disks, please let
me know as soon as possible. I'll still be able to provide 720K
3.5" disks - I even still have 3 readers on 5.25" disks! - but the
HD format would then become the normal one for PC users.

Incidentally I WON'T be awarding points for maps/screenshots. They
are disproportionately large compared to text files so they will
just be a 'bonus' on the disks.

Apologies to any PC readers confused by last issue's disk labels
which said 'boot with this disk'! Didn't work, did it? Nope,
that's because it was left on by mistake when I created the PC
labels from the ST and Amiga ones which DO autoboot. Hey ho.

The 'software for solutions' idea is proving very successful. As
regular readers will know, if you send in a solution to SynTax
that ISN'T already in the solutions list, you can pick either 3
library disks or 1 piece of commercial software listed in the Help
section, as a 'thank you'. As you will also know, I've long been a
keen reader and the books are taking over the house so I've
decided to be tough with myself and add some of my books to the
list as I re-read them. 1 book is the equivalent of 1 bit of
commercial software. I've always hung onto books before but we've
only got a relatively small house and I just can't push the walls
out any further!

The PC Library list has got too large to fit comfortably into one
file so from now on it will be in two parts. The first will be
text adventures, the second everything else (approximately!).
There will be a small overlap but that's the general plan. To get
the extra section, I have tacked the All About SynTax file onto
the end of the Contributions section. I think most of you know
what's in it by now anyway!

A quick offer of help from John Barnsley. John recently purchased
a multimedia Olivetti 486, 4 meg, PCS42P S2\50 from Radio Rentals.
He had awful problems sorting out the base memory but now has 3
very useful boot disks giving different configurations for Windows
and CD, HD only and CD. If you have the same set-up and would be
interested in copies, send an SAE and 3 blank disks to John at 32
Merrivale Road, Rising Brook, Stafford, ST17 9EB.

Despite remaining busy with work, I've made an effort to have some
play time on the computer and went back to Legend of Kyrandia 3 :
Malcolm's Revenge which I had briefly looked at when I first got
it and found very illogical and not much fun. To be honest, it
didn't improve much which was a shame because I had thoroughly
enjoyed Kyrandia 2 : Hand of Fate. I've also made a start on
ST:TNG A Final Unity which looks extremely interesting.

Finally, have I loaned YOU my Spellcasting 301? I can't find it
here anywhere so I can only assume I loaned it to somebody ages
ago and didn't make a note of it. Cheers.

                                              Sue


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