NewDeal Technical Support Document 209
We define Y2K compliance in two parts.
NewDeal Office and NewDeal SchoolSuite are Y2000 compliant. Dates in our applications and formulas are valid through the year 2099. Two digit input is assumed to be in the range 1900 through 1999. Four digit display is available throughout the applications to eliminate any ambiguity that could result from two digit display. System dates for setting the computer's clock and for file date stamping are valid through the year 2050.
NewDeal software does not compensate for Year 2000 issues that may be inherent in the BIOS of some older computer hardware. We encourage owners of Geoworks Ensemble or other early versions of the software to upgrade to NewDeal Office or NewDeal SchoolSuite in order to avoid any Year 2000 issues that might exist in the older software.
Where can I get product upgrades, patches and shareware?
Visit the NewDeal web site at http://www.newdealinc.com. On the Downloads page you can find updates from NewDeal and programs, templates, sample documents, and shareware collected over time by and from our avid users.
Does NewDeal offer information for Developers from its web site?
We are building a NewDeal Developers Program designed to provide programmers and software companies with a full range of training, support, discounts, and early access to new products. For further information, take a look at the Developers page on our web site.
What is new in NewDeal Office 98? What are the differences between NewDeal Office 98, NewDeal Office 97, NewDeal Office 2.5, Geoworks Ensemble 2.01, and previous versions of the software?
For a detailed list of feature changes and enhancements among the various versions of the software, see document 266 (Revision History).
What is the minimum hardware that I need to run NewDeal software?
NewDeal will run on any personal computer with a 286 processor, 640K RAM, and a hard drive with at least 10MB of free space. NewDeal will also run on all 386, 486, 586, 686, Pentium, and Pentium II computers. NewDeal is compatible with most video adapters, removable drives, Hayes-compatible modems, monitors, and other standard peripherals.
I would like to sell or distribute NewDeal software. What should I do?
Contact NewDeal Sales Department for more information.
Is NewDeal an operating system?
Yes. NewDeal Office and NewDeal Schoolsuite include both a computer operating system and a suite of applications. NewDeal is not a DOS (Disk Operating System), so your computer must have one of the following DOS softwares:
Do I need Microsoft Windows to use NewDeal?
No. If you have Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 3.1, you may run New Deal as a DOS program from Windows, but NewDeal does not require Windows. NewDeal will run with any of the DOS versions listed above.
Will NewDeal work with Microsoft Windows NT?
Users of the latest version of NewDeal software report some success using it with Windows NT. See document 269 (NewDeal and Windows NT) for more information.
Can I run NewDeal software on a Macintosh computer?
NewDeal software was designed for IBM compatible computers, not for the Macintosh. Some customers have successfully run NewDeal on Macintosh computers by using a DOS software emulation called Soft PC, or a hardware device called a bridge-board which makes the Macintosh simulate an Intel-compatible PC.
How can I find my NewDeal serial number?
Your serial number should be on the inside cover of your manual or addendum. If you cannot locate your serial number, contact NewDeal Customer Service.
How can I start a DOS Program from within NewManager?
You can simply doubleclick on the DOS program's icon in NewManager or you can select Create Launcher from the Utilities menu to make a launcher for the program.
What is the Desk Accessories folder for? It looks empty.
Applications you place in this folder are "always on top" of other open applications. You might find this useful behavior for the Calculator, NewDex, or other apps you frequently use. Simply move the application into this folder to make it an "always on top" application. If you decide you don't like this behavior, move it out of the Desk Accessories folder and back into the World directory.
What are these User Levels? Why do they keep changing back after I set them?
The User Levels are designed to ease the "learning curve" for beginning and intermediate users. Say you're a beginning spreadsheet user, but an advanced word processor: you can set User Level 2 in NewCalc and User Level 4 in NewWrite. If you want the new User Level to be permanent, you need to choose Save Configuration from the Options menu in each application.
How can I dial into America Online from NewDeal software?
NewDeal software does not include a client for America Online.
Can NewDeal products be used to automate interactions?
No. Programs like HP New Wave will perform tasks at predefined times, because they have something called an "agent," but we do not. Also, some calendar programs can start up something automatically, but NewPlanner cannot. A macro program is available from Breadbox Computers.
Can I print something directly from NewManager?
Yes. Select one or more document files and then press CTRL+P, or select Print from NewManager's File menu.
Do NewDeal products support a network environment?
Yes. Our software is network aware. That means you can run it on a workstation attached to a network and will see the network drives. Netware, Lantastic, and LanManager are supported. Banyan vines and some other networks are not supported. A network version is available that runs on the server.
What kind of mouse can I use with NewDeal Software?
There are 3 common types of mice: bus, serial and PS/2. The mouse must be 100% compatible with Microsoft, Logitech or Mouse Systems.
How much memory will NewDeal software take up when I'm running a DOS application from a launcher?
It varies slightly depending on your system. About 2.7K.
In NewDeal software, it is possible to move graphic objects completely off the screen, because you no longer have to click on the object to drag it as you did in earlier versions. Now you can move any selected object by holding down the right mouse button and moving the mouse in any direction. If you drag an object too far in any direction, it will go off the screen and you will have to drag in the opposite direction to get it back. If you've already deselected the object, choose Select All from the Edit menu. Then deselect all of the objects you can see, one at a time, by clicking on them while pressing the CTRL key. Now drag the mouse while holding the right mouse button. The remaining selected objects (which were off screen) will be moved back into view. Also, you might temporarily enlarge your Page Size to help locate the object.
You need to change to User Level 3 or 4 before you can start a new NewFile database.
Simply click on the ruler with the left mouse button. A leftaligned tab marker will appear at the position you clicked on. To change the tab to a different alignment or to make it a "dot leader" tab, doubleclick on the tab (or choose Tabs from the Paragraph menu). The Tab Attributes dialog box will appear, where you can set the attributes or position of any tab.
How do I import an ASCII text file?
Choose New/Open from the File menu. Click on the Import button. In the Import File dialog box, select ASCII for file type. Select the directory path and filename in the File portion of the box, and click on Import to import the file, or open the file in Text File Editor and copy/paste the text into NewWrite.
The INSert key isn't working anymore. How do I enable it?
Launch Preferences and click on the Look and Feel button. In the section headed Overstrike Mode, click on Via Insert Key.
What happened to Save As under the File menu?
This option is only available under user levels 3 and 4. Choose Change User Level. To make this the default User Level whenever you enter the application, choose Save Configuration from the Options menu.
Can I print from small files like ASCII files?
Yes, you can print from the Text File Editor or import to NewWrite and print from there.
Can I increase the spacing between letters in NewWrite my document? Yes, you can increase the character spacing (sometimes called "manual kerning"). Just choose Character Spacing.
Under the File menu, choose New/Open. Click on the Import button.
How do I export a file?
Under the File menu, choose Other. From the Other menu, choose Export document.
Why does each application have different formats listed for import/export?
Some formats are only appropriate for one type of application. For example, NewWrite is textbased, so it's difficult to export NewWrite files in spreadsheet or graphics formats. You can always copy information from one application to another to try to expand your export options.
Why won't some of my files import?
How do I import my Quattro Pro spreadsheets into NewCalc?
Open the file in Quattro Pro and save it again using the WK1 or DBF file name extension. Once the file is in WK1 or DBF format, you can import it directly into NewCalc.