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From: mwm@VIOLET.BERKELEY.EDU.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: My turn to flame at C/A...
Message-ID: <8706110829.AA11035@violet.berkeley.edu>
Date: Thu, 11-Jun-87 04:29:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: violet.8706110829.AA11035
Posted: Thu Jun 11 04:29:46 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jun-87 08:24:15 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
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Since Scott Turner has been quiet lately, I'll take try and fill his
flames-behind-my-postings shoes :-).

Topic: Documentation, again. No, not AmigaDOS. The Enhancer kit.

There are various neat new functions in 1.2, and changes to some old
ones. They're mentioned in the Enhancer kit, and you're pointed to the
AutoDocs. For instance, on LockIBase and UnlockIBase, which I'd like
to use to make mg (among other things) more multi-tasking friendly,
the Enhancer manual says:

	A pair of entry points named LockIBase() and UnlockIBase() are
	provided to gain access to locks which assure the integrity of
	the state of IntuitionBase (...) and of the linked lists of
	Screens and Windows.

Marvelous! Just what I need! But it then says...

	The autodoc sections for these functions explains in great
	detail the intended use and cautions pertaining to these
	functions. In particular, be VERY careful that you pass the
	parameters described...

Sh*t. I'd tell the auther-programmer (who goes so far as to tell us
"don't get tricky with these locks") what to do, but they'd probably
enjoy it.

Look, I'm not a registered developer. To me, the Amiga is a *TOY*.
Spending money to buy documentation is one thing. Having to go through
some bul**hit paperwork to get documentation is another.

Putting out an OS upgrade, mentioning functioning and then pointing to
stuff that 90% of your customers don't have is an effing crock. The
documentation should have been there in the first place. Given that
some nitwit got you up this creek (you? Sh*t, you've got no problems.
It's you're customers who are screwed.), you should do something to
make the autodocs (or the infomation in them) generally available.

At the *very* least, putting them in the PD so that Fred Fish can
distribute them, giving copies to all your delears, and a mailing to
all your registered customers explaining what they are and pointing
them to a dealer.

D*mn it, do something about getting the documentation that I paid for
with the enhancer kit to me! Taking care of the those people stuck in
the boonies who haven't got the foggiest idea what "autodoc" means
at the same time would be nice.

	<mike

P.S. Yeah, the Amiga is a fairly expensive toy. But not compared to a
Porsche, and it's more fun. If only I could figure out how to use it
to go cruising for women :-).