Howdy Fellow Commodore Users!

Don't forget, we are meeting this month (like last month) at the Cincinnati Public Library. There was some confusion last month as to which room we were assigned, but it all worked out OK, I don't think anyone got lost?

You might remember last month Mihai's stirring letter in our newsletter. It did stir some controversy on the COPS mailing list into examining a program that used to be commercial, but is now free, called GoDot.

Breifly, GoDot is a graphics processing program for the C64, that does some pretty amazing things on a stock machine. So that you too can follow along here is the info that Dale Sidebottom relayed to a variety of Commodore mailing lists. If you wish, we can have demos at our next few meetings and go thru these steps outlined by Dale.

Here is what he posted on 8/24/2003

Dear Commodore Friends,

This email is going out to three Commodore mail lists. It is aimed at everyone who has ever heard of GoDot and said, "Gee, that sounds like a great program. `Someday' I would like to learn how to use it!" ;-)

In order to participate in this project, I am challenging everyone who is not on COPS to sign up so that you, too, can join us in this venture. Ignore all those `nasty' rumors, like the one that says that the COPS list is "overrun" by SuperCPU-dependent GEOS users. Consider the following...

GoDot is NOT A GEOS PROGRAM!!! Even though they might speed things up a bit, a SCPU or even an REU is not required to run GoDot! In fact, you can run it on a stock system, if you so choose. If you choose to participate with us, you can sign up on the COPS list by going to...

http://lists.videocam.net.au/mailman/listinfo/cops

This is Gaelyne's website and is Commodore-friendly, meaning you can use your Commodore to log on and sign up for COPS.

So why is it that ONLY the COPS list is taking on this project? Frankly, I am not "in charge" elsewhere.... :-)))) Bruce Thomas and I are founders of the COPS mail list (with Gaelyne's help, of course), and we are have been working together and planning this project for over a year. With Mihai Barbat's recent plea to make the Commodore lists more active ringing in our ears, Bruce and I have decided that now is the time to activate COPS by challenging everyone to begin experimenting with GoDot. I must also mention that Geoff Sullivan and Arndt Dettke are also intimately involved and that their continuing support is critical to its success.

Sincerely, Dale Sidebottom

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THE CHALLENGE...the rest of this message is aimed at those who are currently on the COPS list or are interested in learning "How to GoDot."

Arndt Dettke began writing GoDot in 1991 and is still continuing to support and improve this program. It is the best of its kind. What `kind' is that? It is the best "graphics effects" program that I know of.

Most people think that the purpose of any graphics program is to be able to `draw' but GoDot is not a drawing program, per se. It allows you to do, with graphics, what no other Commodore program can. Despite its excellence, very few people in North America have ever really used it! It may help explain why I have never seen it "demonstrated" at an Expo. Considering the quality and capabilities of the program, this is a shame.

So we are asking everyone to go to the COPS website, kept by Geoff Sullivan...

http://c128.port5.com

Or you can also access Arndt Dettke's website...

http://www.godot64.de/download

From there, you will need to download the GoDot program, if you do not already have a recent copy. (Sorry, I do not know how recent.) I advise you to download the documentation, recently translated into English. Last, you need to download the file, icerunner.4bt, which is the starting point of this "tutorial" exercise.

If you get the Commodore Digest, the July issue has the article on pages 9-10 which explain how Arndt handles this graphic (converted from a Windows clipart library) and "enhances" it with GoDot. My Challenge is that each of us download this graphic from one of these websites and see if we can duplicate what Arndt has done. This is a start, and the best way I can think of to begin to become familiar with his GoDot program.

Of course, if you do not currently receive the Commodore Digest, then you will need to download the instructions to this project (always a plus ;-) which is called, HowToGoDot.txt or HowToGoDot.pdf. If you are using a PC, then you can download the .pdf file, access a viewer from Adobe, and read the original article. If you are using a Commodore, then you can download the .txt file and convert it to your favorite word processor and read the directions there.

Thus you have three ways to get instructions for this tutorial project...

1. Read pages 9-10 in the July issue of the Commodore Digest,

2. Download HowToGoDot.txt and convert it to your favorite word processor on your C64/128,

3. Download HowToGodot.pdf and use an Adobe program to convert it to be viewable on your screen or from your printer.

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My personal bias is that one of the reasons that GoDot has not received more popular support in the past is that we in North America may find it to be less "user-friendly" than other program we commonly use. Rolf Miller has confirmed this, saying that in his opinion the "How To GoDot #1" tutorial is not very intuitive. This is a nice way of saying that those who are not accustumed to using the program will probably be totally lost! :-(

BUT THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE EXERCISE! Obviously, something about GoDot has discouraged users in the past, and this project is an effort to find out what needs to be done to make this important program easier to use and more effective for resolving our Commodore graphic needs!

So I'm specifically asking each of you, do not give up before you even start! OK? ;-)

If you try to duplicate Arndt's project (How To GoDot #1) and run into trouble, then your constructive criticisms can play a crucial role in the development of future improvements. I would not be recommending this venture if Arndt Dettke were not actively involved, willing to listen to suggestions, and anxious to make GoDot bigger and better than ever before.

This is a project in which we can be proud to participate, and I hope each of you is "up" for the challenge.

Adventurously yours,

Dale Sidebottom

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If you have problems downloading this archive, I'll try to bring copies with me to the meeting this month on September 21st. It's several disks full, so bring some blank floppies with you.

Keep on Commodoring!