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NeXT-FAQ.compatibility: Questions about compatibility


*** Subject: C1. Where can I obtain a NeXT version of X-Windows?

There is a X11R3 version named XNeXT developed by MIT.  This version is
available in binary only, works only on monochrome machines and does  not work
under Release 2.0 of the NeXT OS.  XNeXT is a 1-bit black and  white server.   
XNeXT
is available from most ftp sites that have  NeXT software. 

 McGill University (der Mouse) has produced a beta version of an X11R4 server
named mouse-X available via ftp from: 

	132.206.1.1.

cd to X/XNeXT and fetch one of the files with names beginning with
"distribution". 

 This version only uses NeXTstep for keyboard and mouse events.  This version
will only work with monochrome NeXT machines, it will not work with color
products.  This version  initially did not work under 2.0, however Howie Kaye
fixed it  to work again, diffs will be incorporated soon on the McGill server
sources. 

In the meantime you can get binaries off of: 

	cunixf.cc.columbia.edu

(11.5Mbytes) in the Xnext directory.

[Howie Kaye howie@columbia.edu] adds:

---
We are planning on moving our public ftp tree, and it looks like the XNeXT
distribution here (cunixf.cc.columbia.edu) is going to disappear.  Since
it's listed in the FAQ.compatibility file, I thought I'd let you know.

Before we toss it, maybe one of the archive sights wants to take over the
distribution?    
---


A color server is available from:

	mfriedel@Mines.Colorado.EDU

or

	mfriedel@basalt.Mines.Colorado.EDU
	
It should work on color NeXTstations. 


Pencom Software of Austin, TX is distributing co-Xist, an X11R4 color server
that supports all hardware platforms and runs under NeXTstep2.0 or
higher.The rootless version of co-Xist allows you to use not only Motif but
also NeXTstep as a window manager ie. X-windows are opened on the WorkSpace
screen and act completely like NeXT windows. The Motif Window Manager,
development libraries and online Digital Librarian documentation are
available as options.  A demo is available on sonata.cc.purdue.edu   

For more information:

	Pencom Software
	email: co-Xist_info@pencom.com 
	Voice: 1-800-PENCOM4 or


Cub'X in Puteaux, France has a commercial X server.  Cub'X-Window's new
version 3.01 is now available. Its most important improvement resides in a new
option permitting to run X-Window inside NeXTstep.  

For more information:

	Claire Normand
	Cub'x Syst mes
	Tour CBC, Cedex 71, 92043 Paris La D fense, France
	tel: +33-1-46-93-29-25
	Fax: +33-1-46-93-29-21
	claire@cubx.oleane.com


MIT maintains a ftp server for X distribution:

	export.lcs.mit.edu

It currently does not have any NeXT specific servers.  If you compile software
make sure the libraries are install in the ld path, and that you use the X
provided C pre-processor.  


There is another commercial X product called eXodus.

	White Pine Software
	603-866-9050.

____________________________________________________________________________

*** Subject: C2. Can I run DOS software on the NeXT?

There is a product called Soft-PC available for the NeXT, as well as other
machines. 

For more information:

	Insignia Solutions, Inc.
	Voice: 408-694-7600


NeXT machines equipped with 2.88 MB floppy drives are able to read and write  
DOS
diskettes (3-1/2" variety!) at 1.44MB or 720Kb in addition to having UNIX
filesystems.  Consult the User Manual on initializing disk for DOS or Unix
applications.   

____________________________________________________________________________

*** Subject: C3. Can I run Macintosh Programs on my NeXT?

Abacus R&D, Inc. offers products called Executor and HFS_XFer that allows
some Mac functionality. 

Executor allows you to run Microsoft Word versions 4 and 5, Excel, and other
selected programs on your next.  Some limitations include: no color, no sound,
no system 7, no appletalk, no desk accessories.  

HFS_Xfer allows you to transfer files between HFS (Hierarchical Filesystem)
Macintosh disks and the NeXT ,where they're stored in Apple Double format. 

The latest demo copy is available via anonymous ftp on unmvax.cs.unm.edu in
/pub/ardi/DEMO. 

For more information:

	Abacus R&D, Inc.
	email: questions@ardi.com
	Voice:(505) 766-9115
	FAX: (505) 247-1899


Digital Instrumentation Technology vends software called FloppyWorks
which can read and write Macintosh diskettes.

DIT also offers an external floppy drive called CubeFloppy Plus that can
format, read, and write 400 and 800 KB Mac disks. 

For more information:

	Digital Instrumentation Technology
	email: sales@dit.com
	Voice: (505) 662-1459
	FAX: (505) 662-0897


Bill Roth has written a program called MacinDisk ToshBrowser which read 1.4
Meg Mac disks.  A demo version is available on sonata.cc.purdue.edu.   

For more information:

	Impact Software
	email: impact@impact.shaman.com
	voice: 1-800-822-3385.  

____________________________________________________________________________

*** Subject: C4. Can I run tcsh or bash on my NeXT?

If you are simply looking for emacs-like command editing you can do this with
the csh distributed by NeXT by typing: 

	set editmode=emacs
or
	set editmode=vi

Note that file completion will conflict with vi's use of esc to leave insert
mode, so you may want to map file completion to tab by adding the following to
your ~/.bindings: 

	bind-to-key FilenameExpansion "\^I" 

In addition it is possible to bind control keys to commands with a .bindings
file.  Users should seek the csh(1) man page for more information.

People have ported tcsh and bash to the NeXT.  bash is available from
prep.ai.mit.edu, the current version 1.21.1 makes correctly on the
NeXT.tcsh binaries for all kinds of machines are  available on
tesla.ee.cornell.edu , possibly including binaries for NeXT.

In addition zsh is also available. Zsh has interactive features very similar
to but more extensive than those of tcsh. In addition zsh is based on sh/ksh,  
not
on csh - something which very many even casual shell programmers will consider
a great asset. A complete pre-compiled zsh package including documentation
is available from the purdue archives.  

If you install your own shell on a NeXT, you need to add it to the file  
/etc/shells
so that FTP will work.  

____________________________________________________________________________

*** Subject: C5. Can sound files be used on the Suns and NeXT interchangeably?

Sun OS 4.0.3 stored only raw mulaw files without any extensions.  This format  
is
obsolete; however to convert it to a NeXT snd format you can: 

	sndconvert -o nextified.snd -f 1 -s 8012.8210513 -c 1 -r sun-sound

Starting with Sun OS release 4.1 they adopted a file format like NeXT's: A
comparison of <multimedia/audio_filehdr.h> on the Sun and
<sound/soundstruct.h> on the NeXT shows the formats to be compatible-- just
rename *.au to *.snd for the NeXT.

Sun only implements a subset of NeXT's sound file formats.   Currently these
seven are interchangeable:  

	SND_FORMAT_MULAW_8
	SND_FORMAT_LINEAR_8
	SND_FORMAT_LINEAR_16
	SND_FORMAT_LINEAR_24
	SND_FORMAT_LINEAR_32
	SND_FORMAT_FLOAT
	SND_FORMAT_DOUBLE

While they are all _meaningful_ to the Sun, the standard SPARCstation
hardware only directly supports 8-bit mu-Law at the CODEC sampling rate.

If you have raw soundfiles (e.g. from SunOS 4.0.3 systems, or converted from
the Macintosh), you can use raw2audio on the Sun or sndconvert -r on the NeXT  
to
add a sound header.  

____________________________________________________________________________

*** Subject: C6. Why does talk not work between NeXTs and SUNs?

Sun is running an archaic version of talk, install a new version. 

____________________________________________________________________________

*** Subject: C7. How do I get the arrow keys to work in csh?

[This is for people who use a terminal app that does vt100 keyboard emulation -
pasc] 

First, add these lines to your ".cshrc" (preferably between the if and endif):   

	set editmode = emacs
	set macrofiles = .macros

Then create a file called ".bindings" and put in it:

	bind-to-key ExecuteNamedMacro '\e['

And, next, you need to make a file called ".macros" however, this one you need  
to
enter some control characters into, because the csh STILL cannot write a macro
file (And I'm using 2.1).  Into this file put:  

	A^@^@^@^A^P
	B^@^@^@^A^N
	C^@^@^@^A^F
	D^@^@^@^A^B

where ^@ means Control-@ and ^A means Control-A, etc.  Also, don't put in the
leading spaces.   This will set up the left and right arrows to move back and  
forth
on the line, and the up and down arrows will cycle through your history.  

____________________________________________________________________________

*** Subject: C8. How do I view/convert GIF/TIF/jpeg images?

There exists a NextStep based application called ImageViewer by Lennart
Lovstrand at Xerox EuroPARC.  It can convert between many different image
formats.  It is available on the archive servers.   There is pbmplus tools  
[oops
don't remember where right now -pasc] which does most conversions through
filters.  Another package to look into is The Image Conversion Tools from
sdsc.edu in sdscpub.dir/next.dir/graphics.dir.JPEG software en/decoder
has been uploaded to the prudueNeXT archives in
pub/next/2.0-release/source/jpeg.tar.Z. 

A commercial application,PixelMagician, is available from Bachus Inc. 

For more information: 

	2210 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 330
	Santa Monica, CA 90403
	Tel:310/820-9145
	Fax:310/820-5930
	E-mail: info@bacchus.com or
	bacchus!info@uu2.psi.com

Jef Poskanzers portable bitmap tools are also available pre-compiled from
the purdue archives.

In addition there is ViewGif2 (also available from the purdue archives) which
is about 40% faster and less memory-hungry than ImageViewer but only displays
gifs.

There is also GraphicsWorkshop (also from purdue) which is a front end to a   
set
of graphic converter objects that allow you to load, save, and view  images in
gif, jpg, tiff, pbm, pgm, ppm, and xbm formats. It will also  allow you to do  
some
basic image conversions like color to black and white  or color to one bit.  


____________________________________________________________________________

NeXT-FAQ Editor:
Nathan Janette nathan@laplace.csb.yale.edu


--
Nathan Janette		"I'm a NeXTstep man,
Dept MB&B, Yale Univ	 I'm a NeXTcube guy"
New Haven, CT
nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu (NeXT)