Mouse V1.1

February 10, 1996

Turn your Newton into a Drawing Tablet for your computer !

This is "Mouse", a serial mouse emulator for MicroSloth PC's and Amiga's,
and if the drivers are available, UNIX/LINUX machines with serial mouse capability.

Inspired by NewtTablet, which turns the Newton into a Mac Mouse (only works on 
some Macs).

Changes to V 1.4 : For Newton OS 2.0, rotates.

Changes to V 1.3 : Larger screen and drawing area.  Also a new button to 
toggle screen wrap.

Changes to V1.1 : I now include a PC version of the package (Mouse.pkg) and
a Mac binary version (Mouse.mac) which has all the resource stuff attached.  More importantly, the serial port bug was fixed.

Source code is available.

Semi Legal Junk :
     Except for the mouse drivers, which are freely redistributable, 
     everything in this archive is copyrighted by ME, the author.  
     You may freely distribute it, and may NOT sell it.  You MAY use it for 
     educational purposes and fun, you MAY NOT use it to conquer the world 
     or other nefarious schemes.

     It is provided "As Is" with no warranty, use at your own risk, read the 
     bug report below before using.  Back up your Newton before using.  
     WARNING : This is my first effort at programming the Newton, I've 
     tested it to the best of my ability.

     Distribution MUST include all files listed below.

     If this distribution is incomplete please delete it and email me for a 
     complete copy : Paul Cimino, cimino@mdso.vf.ge.com 

What's here :
     MouseV13.pkg                  Newton Serial Mouse emulation package
     MouseV14.pkg                  Newton Serial Mouse emulation package
					for Newton OS 2.0
     README.TXT                    This file
     AMIGA.UTL                     A directory containing Amiga mouse drivers
                                       which allow the Amiga to use a serial 
                                       mouse, some with source code
     IBMPC.UTL                     A directory with PC mouse driver

Getting Started :
     Load the Mouse.pkg as you normally would, with the Connection Kit, or
     (I highly recommend) YAPI, by Scott Herndon SHern@eworld.com 
     (see History, below).

     Once loaded, connect the Newton via NULL modem cable.  Find an Apple 
     modem cable (8 pin DIN to 25 D-Sub connector).  You may need a NULL 
     modem adapter, a gender changer and possibly a 25-Pin to 9-Pin adapter.
     Any and all of these things are available (expensively) from CompUSA or 
     similar.  You can get them cheaper by mail order. I believe the cable that 
     comes with PC Connection Kit will work as is, a 25 pin to 9 pin adapter 
     is included.  Or you can order a cable from me, which will work with 
     YAPI. (See CABLES, Below)

     Now load the driver on the computer and start "Mouse".  Hit the 
     "Connect" button and you're ready to go.    

Use :
     You can play with "Mouse" without being connected.  You'll notice a 
     marker in the upper left hand corner of the drawing area.  That is
     where "Mouse" thinks the starting point is (See "Cal" button below).
     Drawing results in lines appearing, with a marker at the tail of the line.
     Positions accumulate, and you don't have to start your pen at the marker.

     The "W" button (WRAP) toggles to "S" (SCREEN).  This changes the screen
     mode.  When you select W, the screen changes to wrap mode.  When you draw
     such that the cursor moves beyond an edge, the screen erases, wraps the
     position of the cursor, and draws a new marker.  Select the S to go back
     to SCREEN mode, and the cursor is halted at the edges.  These modes only
     affect drawing, the movements beyond the edge of the screen are still sent 
     over the connection to the PC.

     Connect/Disconnect hooks you up with your computer.

     After connecting, the first thing you may want to do is press the "Cal" 
     (Calibrate) button.  This should move the pointer on your computer 
     screen to the Upper Left Hand corner.  You may may notice a mark in 
     the upper left corner of the box of the Newton "Mouse" screen.  Draw 
     a line in the Mouse box and watch your screen.  Mouse draws a line 
     following your movements and puts a mark where you left the pointer.  
     You do not have to put your pen down where you stopped, Mouse remembers 
     (sort of, see  the bug report) where you left off.

     When connected, you may notice that the faster you move your pen, 
     the faster the mouse moves your computer cursor.
     (see bug report)

     The Erase button wipes the Screen clean, but leaves the marker in the 
     last position.

     Manual/Automatic Button toggles drawing behavior.  Manual let's you do 
     the "Erase" while Automatic keeps the screen uncluttered.

     The "Right" and "Left" buttons correspond to tapping the mouse right 
     or left button.  Similarly, the "Hold" buttons hold down the listed key, 
     so you can do things like move down a menu, drag and drop, etc. Similar
     use of the "Ctr" and "H C" buttons (Center and Hold Center)

Future Improvements :

     At the time of this writing, I would like to add :
          New Auto mode, which only draws lines when one of the keys is 
          held down, and a scrolling drawing area, The WRAP feature is
          my current compromise.

Bugs:
     For some reason, if you draw on the Newton screen too fast, it messes 
     up the last end point for the line.  I've noticed similar bugs in 
     programs using the Newton's drawing routines.

History :
     I think the Newton is great, but I really love my Amiga (I won't bore you
     with how great it is, ahead of it's time, still pretty impressive for a PC,
     or even compared to some work stations, yadda yadda yaddda)

     One of my biggest complaints about Apple is their overwhelming desire
     to make every aspect of their machine proprietary.  There are always good
     reasons to make your own design, but anything that communicates with the 
     outside world should be as flexible and open as possible (i.e. the SCSI 
     deveices, audio ports, Serial Port and any communication protocals being 
     used) unless you are actually adding value, and not just trying to lock 
     up your market in a strangle hold.

     This is why I like YAPI so much, it allows package installation from any
     computer with XModem and the proper cable (see below).

     I am working on a program which makes Newton books on the Amiga/Unix 
     platforms,  similar to Paperback (another excellent
     program) which is available for Macs and IBM.

     I am also working on package installation and memory backup.  I thought
     I was done, but nothing worked.  Then I found out the Newton uses
     MNP 4 error correction in its protocol for such things.  So I am
     painfully reverse engineering the MNP 4, and also trying to get the
     public domain docs on MNP 4.

     A compiler would be nice.  I know of one person working on a Gnu 
     compiler for the Newton : Ross Sponholtz, ross@wwa.com, 
     http://miso.wwa.com/~ross

CABLES :
     To use Mouse, you need a Null modem cable with an 8 Pin DIN for the Newton,
     and the appropriate connector on the other end.  Sparc (I'd like to see 
     a serial mouse on a Sparc !  :-)   ) users just need the standard Apple 
     cable, 8 Pin DIN on both ends.

     Most PC users can buy an Apple Modem cable, which has a DB 25 connector 
     on one end, then buy a Null Modem adapter, a Gender Changer, and if 
     needed, a 25 to 9 pin adapter.  If you own the PC Connection Kit, 
     you're all set.

     However, these cables will not work with YAPI because you must have 
     the proper wiring for the Hardware Handshake.  PCs mostly use software 
     error checking,  so the cables usually lack the right wire.  Rumor has it
     you can get a  Mac<=>Modem cable WITH the correct wiring, I haven't 
     seen it myself.

     If you'd like to order a cable from me, I will provide a NULL Modem 
     cable which will work with YAPI, and have a DB25 FEMALE or DB9 FEMALE 
     connector on one end, and an Apple 8 pin DIN on the other.  Price is 
     $20 prepaid, includes S&H in the continental US.  I probably won't be 
     making any money at that price, and you can probably get it cheaper if 
     you can find someone who sells the 
     correct cable.

     Source code is also available for "Mouse", send $10 US (domestic mail only,
     $20 foreign delivery US funds)  to me, specify Amiga, PC or Mac disk. 
     I can be contacted at :

          Paul Cimino
          564 Worthington Rd
          Chester Springs, PA 19425

          cimino@mdso.vf.ge.com  OR on CompuServe 73677,1761

     If you try to reach me via CompuServe, I may be slow getting back to you.
    
Semi Legal Junk :

Amiga is a registered trade mark of Escom Gmb
MacIntosh, NTK, Newton, and NewtonScript are registered trade marks of Apple.
RunNewt is copyrighted by Steve Weyer (weyer@netaxs.com)
Paperback is by David Fedor