Just got back from the credit union to get coin. Very disappointing experience. First of all, they needed to look up my account even though I was paying cash. They said it was to record WHO they were receiving money from. I assume they assume the person on the other side of the till is potentially giving them counterfeit? They even asked me to confirm my account on their system with my date of birth.

--- BinktermPHP v1.6.3
* Origin: myPoint System ~ myPoint System - https://mypoint.lovelybits.org (1:153/149.42)

Just got back from the credit union to get coin. Very disappointing experience. First of all, they needed to look up my account even though I was paying cash. They said it was to record WHO they were receiving money from. I assume they assume the person on the other side of the till is potentially giving them counterfeit? They even asked me to confirm my account on their system with my date of birth.

--- BinktermPHP v1.6.3
* Origin: myPoint System ~ myPoint System - https://mypoint.lovelybits.org (1:153/149.42)

Could be because of many people in out world can't be trusted.

When I leave the house I lock my door.
Same o, same o when I leave my car, those doors all get locked too
Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Just got back from the credit union to get coin. Very disappointing experienc

>First of all, they needed to look up my account even though I was paying cash
>hey said it was to record WHO they were receiving money from. I assume they a
>me the person on the other side of the till is potentially giving them counte
>it? They even asked me to confirm my account on their system with my date of
>th.

Yes, I was a bit surprised when I stopped at a RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)
where I have an account to get some change for laundry machines and they
made me log into my account before they would let me give them a $10 bill
for coins.. I guess they are doing that everywhere.

---
* SLMR Rob * I don't know how they expect you to fit a good Tagline in
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Hello Rob!

** On Sunday 19.10.25 - 08:48, you wrote to me:

Just got back from the credit union to get coin. Very disappointing
experienc

First of all, they needed to look up my account even though I was paying
cash hey said it was to record WHO they were receiving money from. I
assume they a me the person on the other side of the till is potentially
giving them counte it? They even asked me to confirm my account on their
system with my date of th.

BTW.. your quote system is cutting out (and cutting off) words.

Yes, I was a bit surprised when I stopped at a RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) where I have an account to get some change for laundry machines and they made me log into my account before they would let me give them a $10 bill for coins.. I guess they are doing that everywhere.

And there is nothing it seems that we can do about this trend.

I have tried to offer $5 or $10 bills minimum in exchange for
coin from people who come to my shop. That seems to have
curtailed making as many visits to the bank for coin. But,
still the tendency seems to be that coin diminishes and I
eventually need a top-up supply. WHAT the heck are people
doing with their coin? - my guess, laundry machines and coffee
shops?

Several handfuls of coin accumulate at home after my basic cash
purchases over time. But I rarely have enough to supplant the
coin/change requirement at the shop.

After the clerk grimaced after my questions for the requirement
of needing a bank account for a simple cash-for-coin exchange,
she apologised if this process will take longer than expected
since "we don't carry much cash anymore". They are in the
*business* of moving cash/coin and they don't have enough to
for a small $400 transaction? That's pathetic.

I already refuse to step into the credit union to make regular
deposits. There is a fee for every deposit - and the physical
cash portion has a supplemental "handling" fee of its own now
too! - so, now I tend to pay my bills in cash where I can.

This book is illuminating.. but most of it simply chronicles
the enshittication of the banking system and there is really
nothing we can do about it:

Fleeced: Canadians Versus Their Banks | Paperback
Andrew Spence
Sutherland House Books
Business & Economics / Banks & Banking / Finance - Financial Engineering / Free Enterprise & Capitalism
Published Sep 24, 2024 | Sales (#36848)
$17.95 US / $19.95 CA list price

"[]Infuriating customer service.

"[]Chequing accounts that demand exorbitant fees.

"[]Credit cards that charge outrageous rates of interest.

"[]Mutual fund expenses that torpedo your investments.

"[]Loans departments that refuse to support Canada's small businesses.

"These are just a few of the many ways chartered banks abuse their dominant position in the Canadian financial system. Fleeced: Canadians Versus Their Banks is a stunning expos‚ of the inner workings of our six major banks, demonstrating how they are set up to avoid competing with one another, squeeze their customers, evade risk, stifle innovation, and produce staggering profits that enrich bank executives and shareholders-all to the detriment of the broader Canadian economy.

"With clarity and wit, Andrew Spence, a veteran financial services executive, excoriates not only the banks, but the regulators and politicians who refuse to stand up for consumers and initiate urgently needed reforms of Canada's costly banking system.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Stare into this point intently ->.<- (1:153/757.21)

After the clerk grimaced after my questions for the requirement
of needing a bank account for a simple cash-for-coin exchange,
she apologised if this process will take longer than expected
since "we don't carry much cash anymore". They are in the
*business* of moving cash/coin and they don't have enough to
for a small $400 transaction? That's pathetic.

It is pathetic, but I wonder if that is because so many people make their transactions electronically now vs. depositing cash and coin?

I already refuse to step into the credit union to make regular
deposits. There is a fee for every deposit - and the physical
cash portion has a supplemental "handling" fee of its own now
too! - so, now I tend to pay my bills in cash where I can.

In the states, there are fees for using the automated teller machines to
make withdrawls (if you are at a bank that isn't your own) but, to my knowledge, they've yet to start charging fees for *depositing* money into
the bank. I figure once they find out that Canadian banks are getting away
with it, it is only a matter of time.

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * Excuse my driving ... I'm trying to reload.
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

>First of all, they needed to look up my account even though I was paying cash
>hey said it was to record WHO they were receiving money from. I assume they a
>me the person on the other side of the till is potentially giving them counte
>it? They even asked me to confirm my account on their system with my date of
>th.

Yes, I was a bit surprised when I stopped at a RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) where I have an account to get some change for laundry machines and they
made me log into my account before they would let me give them a $10 bill
for coins.. I guess they are doing that everywhere.

---
* SLMR Rob * I don't know how they expect you to fit a good Tagline in

It Is hard to write 57 Character Taglines in SLMR.

Also trying to Steal a lengthy Tagline that gets shortened to the 57 Character limit.

I began using SLMR when I got a DOS computer
Couldn't steal Taglines when I used my C=64.
Just Save the whole message.
Ed
P.S. I d/l'ed MultiMail DOS and used it instead
Used Windows version of MultiMail some too.
Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

First of all, they needed to look up my account even though I was paying

>> cash hey said it was to record WHO they were receiving money from. I
>> assume they a me the person on the other side of the till is potentially
>> giving them counte it? They even asked me to confirm my account on their
>> system with my date of th.

BTW.. your quote system is cutting out (and cutting off) words.

When I do replies I pretty much always hit enter brfore the line
gets too long to prevent that, but I find a lot of replies to me
that scroll off the screen often cut off word when quoted back too.

But still the tendency seems to be that coin diminishes and I

>eventually need a top-up supply. WHAT the heck are people
>doing with their coin? - my guess, laundry machines and coffee
>shops?

I know my local laundromat has a machine that takes $10 and $20
bills and gives you coins for the machines. I haven't tried it
myself so I don't know if it's all one coin or a mix since you
pretty much need both quarters and $1 coins.

I hear at the desk they will sell you coins as well if you don't
want that many.

After the clerk grimaced after my questions for the requirement

>of needing a bank account for a simple cash-for-coin exchange,
>she apologised if this process will take longer than expected
>since "we don't carry much cash anymore". They are in the
>*business* of moving cash/coin and they don't have enough to
>for a small $400 transaction? That's pathetic.

I think that depends on the bank. I've had CIBC insist you
call ahead to pick up amounts of cash bigger then $2000 or so
and yet one day at RBC I expected to be refused, but I asked
to take out $10,000 from my account and they said it was no
problem.

I already refuse to step into the credit union to make regular

>deposits. There is a fee for every deposit - and the physical
>cash portion has a supplemental "handling" fee of its own now
>too! - so, now I tend to pay my bills in cash where I can.

It's decades since I was involved with a Credit Union but I
don't recall fees for simple things like that back then.

This book is illuminating.. but most of it simply chronicles

>the enshittication of the banking system and there is really
>nothing we can do about it:

Fleeced: Canadians Versus Their Banks | Paperback

>Andrew Spence

My main bank, I find that even when I do something dumb that
generates a fee, they virtually always reverse the fee if I mention
it to them. I found that out when a cheque written to me bounced,
which caused a payment I had going through to be NSF, which brought
about a fee.. That happened right at the end of the month so the
next day the regular account user fee came due, and that caused a
second NSF charge.. When I stopped in the next time I said that I
could see the first one, but I thought that the second one that
quickly was unfair, and they reversed both of them.

More recently there was a $25 fee for something caused by a
misunderstanding of when the fee for a transaction would come
through. I expected it at the end of the month but they put it
through the same day I set up the service. Again, a polite
complaint that their system was not clear and they reversed
that charge so, in general, I've gotten off fairly easy.. B)

---
* SLMR Rob * Don't drink and write Taglines
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Hello Rob!

** On Tuesday 21.10.25 - 08:46, you wrote:

she apologised if this process will take longer than expected
since "we don't carry much cash anymore".

I think that depends on the bank. I've had CIBC insist you
call ahead to pick up amounts of cash bigger then $2000 or
so and yet one day at RBC I expected to be refused, but I
asked to take out $10,000 from my account and they said it
was no problem.

The next guy after you was probably told to call ahead! :D

... There is a fee for every deposit - and
the physical cash portion has a supplemental "handling"
fee of its own now too! - so, now I tend to pay my bills
in cash where I can.

It's decades since I was involved with a Credit Union but
I don't recall fees for simple things like that back then.

Just to clarify, this "cash handling" fee I am experiencing is
for "business" account holders. Ironically, there is no fee to
deposit the cash in a personal account. So, I dabbled with the
thought of opening up a personal account on the spot,
depositing the cash there, and then transfer it electronically
to the business account - but that would highlight the
stupidity of the bank's cash handling fee to easily.

Fleeced: Canadians Versus Their Banks | Paperback

Andrew Spence

My main bank, I find that even when I do something dumb that
generates a fee, they virtually always reverse the fee if I mention
it to them. [...]

Your main bank still has some common-sense people working there
it seems. You are fortunate. When I have complained about
certain fees, I just get the story "the head office sets the
policy - we can refer your concern to them." No apologies, no
empathy, just a referral.

More recently there was a $25 fee for something caused by
a misunderstanding of when the fee for a transaction would
come through. I expected it at the end of the month but
they put it through the same day I set up the service.
Again, a polite complaint that their system was not clear
and they reversed that charge so, in general, I've gotten
off fairly easy.. B)

Again, you have actual people who are willing to literally push
a few buttons and reverse charges.

Not me.

I have a minimum $1500 balance with BMO that then waives fees
if I do not go below $1500 at any time. I had a series of
payments I made one time just before midnight, and the balance
dropped to EXACTLY $1499.99! It was at the end of a banking
period too, so there were extra fees that pulled the balance
down to $1499.99, not just my outgoing payments.

The next day (a few hours later that morning) I noticed the
damn $1499.99 balance and thought "WTF!" I topped up the
account to bring the balance closer to $2000. But, sure
enough, the next billing period treated the <$1500 state as
criminal behaviour and I was charged for every transaction for
the entire month because of that!

The banks have ceased to be "service for the client"
orientated. Instead, they are treating client as a source of
cash for every activity or request. I'm surprised banks don't
yet have turnstiles and charge for admission.



--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Age Doesn't Matter Unless You're a Cheese (1:396/45.29)

I already refuse to step into the credit union to make regular

>> deposits. There is a fee for every deposit - and the physical
>> cash portion has a supplemental "handling" fee of its own now
>> too! - so, now I tend to pay my bills in cash where I can.

In the states, there are fees for using the automated teller machines to

>make withdrawls (if you are at a bank that isn't your own) but, to my
>knowledge, they've yet to start charging fees for *depositing* money into
>the bank. I figure once they find out that Canadian banks are getting away
>with it, it is only a matter of time.

Credit Unions are a bit different than regular banks, and likely all
have different fees for various things. I have accounts at 2 major
banks and I never get any fees for anything (as long as I don't do
something dumb like bounce a cheque or something).

Being involved in several services (usually 3) at a bank will
often get even the regular monthly fee for the account credited
back to you, like if you have a chequing account, a savings
account and an investment account or a line of credit account.
Possibly they count having a bank credit card as well..

I can even wire money to people with no charges.

Using bank machines at the bank are free of course but, like
with you, if you use a machine not linked directly to your bank
there is a transaction fee.

There are can be advantages to Credit Unions as well though.
They often treat you like more like a neighbour than a customer
and I've seen people turned down for a loan at a bank, get one
at a Credit Union.

Funny story.. I bought my first car with a loan from a Credit
Union, co-signed by my parents since I was only 16. The next
year I went in to see if I could get another loan so I could
buy a motorcycle. I told the manager that I didn't think I
needed my parents involved since I had a good past record of
making payments and he hesitated but then gave me the loan.

I never thought about it until later but I was only 17 at the
time, underage to sign for a loan on my own.. (18 required)

---
* SLMR Rob * The one who dies with the most Taglines Wins!
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

. SLMR Rob . I don't know how they expect you to fit a good Tagline in

It Is hard to write 57 Character Taglines in SLMR.

Also trying to Steal a lengthy Tagline that gets shortened to the

>57 Character limit.

That one above was supposed to be 'funny' because that tagline
supposedly didn't fit, but the tagline was made to look like that.

I began using SLMR when I got a DOS computer

>Couldn't steal Taglines when I used my C=64.
>Just Save the whole message.
>Ed

I am currently running SLMR using DosBox on a 64 bit Windows 7
Laptop but it's the same version of SLMR I've used for about
30 years since back when I was running DOS on its own.

For some reason my current setup doesn't copy the tagline if I try
to copy it. It pops up the screen but it just shows a blank line
and I have to type it in myself.

---
* SLMR Rob * I'm Too Busy To Waste Time Leaving A Tagline
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Re: Cash for coin..
By: Rob Mccart to MIKE POWELL on Wed Oct 22 2025 08:19:44

Credit Unions are a bit different than regular banks, and likely all
have different fees for various things. I have accounts at 2 major
banks and I never get any fees for anything (as long as I don't do
something dumb like bounce a cheque or something).

It may be the opposite here in the states. I am a member of a credit union and they seem less likely to charge fees than the local banks. For example, the fee I get charged for using someone else's ATM is paid to the ATM owner... my CU doesn't charge it. It has been a while since I have used another ATM but I think my CU may also reimburse the charge the other institution charges me to use their machines.

OTOH, their interest rates on a checking or savings account are not so great, but neither are many of the banks.

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

I've had CIBC insist you
call ahead to pick up amounts of cash bigger then $2000 or
so and yet one day at RBC I expected to be refused, but I
asked to take out $10,000 from my account and they said it
was no problem.

The next guy after you was probably told to call ahead! :D

The lady at the time when I said I was surprised said that they
make sure they start out the day with $20,000 in cash for things
like that, plus they'd be taking in deposits as well so that
$20,000 would go further than just that.

It's decades since I was involved with a Credit Union but
I don't recall fees for simple things like that back then.

Just to clarify, this "cash handling" fee I am experiencing is

>for "business" account holders. Ironically, there is no fee to
>deposit the cash in a personal account.

Okay, I suppose that makes sense to someone there.. In general
I find they treat businesses better than just an account holder
but I played with money a lot over the years, with loans and
mortgages I financed (investments) coming and going through my
account frequently. And it was not unusual for my account to handle
$40,000 in a month so they tended to treat me more like a business.

My main bank, I find that even when I do something dumb that
generates a fee, they virtually always reverse the fee if I mention
it to them. [...]

Your main bank still has some common-sense people working there

>it seems. You are fortunate.

Hopefully still.. A lot of people have been replaced at the
bank so most of those who knew me best are gone now and it's
been a few years since I did anything to generate extra fees.

Again, you have actual people who are willing to literally

>push a few buttons and reverse charges.

Semi-funny story.. at one time I needed more than $1000 in cash
for something and the bank machine limited me to $750 so I had
to go to a teller to get the cash. That happened now and then
so I went to the business teller one day and asked if it is
possible to get a higher daily limit. The lady there said that
it could be increased to as much as $1500, and I said that would
probably be okay.. And she got this high and mighty look on her
face and said, "We don't give that to just anyone!"

At that moment, one of the higher up business managers had been
walking by and heard that. She literally walked up beside the
lady and pushed her aside and said to me, 'Sorry about that. Do
you think $1500 will be enough?".. I said yes and that was
the end of it but you can see how hving a 'reputation' can get
you special treatment.. B)

---
* SLMR Rob * Management not responsible for taglines left unattended
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Credit Unions are a bit different than regular banks, and likely all

> > have different fees for various things. I have accounts at 2 major
> > banks and I never get any fees for anything (as long as I don't do
> > something dumb like bounce a cheque or something).

It may be the opposite here in the states. I am a member of a credit union a

>hey seem less likely to charge fees than the local banks. For example, the
>fee I get charged for using someone else's ATM is paid to the ATM owner... my
>CU doesn't charge it. It has been a while since I have used another ATM but
>think my CU may also reimburse the charge the other institution charges me to
>use their machines.

I don't recall if I ever used a bank machine anywhere but at my bank so
I'm not certain about the fees there. They have ads online mentioning
that if you use their machines at locations other than the bank there
is no fee for it, which suggests there is a fee if it's not one of
their machines. The amount is hard to find and they suggest that
having certain accounts you may not have to pay a fee where you
will with another account.

i.e.. I saw that there is a $1.50 fee for eMailing funds to someone
but I've never been charged for doing that, either because of the
number of accounts I have or because I'm a 'senior'..

OTOH, their interest rates on a checking or savings account are

>not so great, but neither are many of the banks.

Interest on bank accounts? What's that ?? B(

Seriously, unless you use special accounts there is no interest
paid on money deposited in the bank these days, and the accounts that
do pay something, pay 1.25% a year or so, hardly worth thinking about.

Of course, at the moment even GIC's are paying less than 3% a year.
(Guaranteed Investment Certificates where you put a larger amount
of money in one for a year or two, usually locked in until maturity.)

---
* SLMR Rob * ... BREAKFAST.COM Halted... Cereal port not responding
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Hello Rob!

i.e.. I saw that there is a $1.50 fee for eMailing funds
to someone but I've never been charged for doing that,
either because of the number of accounts I have or because
I'm a 'senior'..

Some banks offer X-number of eTransfers for free. Then, there
is a charge for exceeded that.

Most banks offer no fees for any db or etransfer transaction if
you maintain a minimum $XXXX monthly balance. A rich boy like
you probably satisfies the latter requirement.

I'm looking to consider arranging a plain chequeing account
with Scotiabank because they seem to be the only bank left that
offers a "seniors" no-monthly cost and no minimum-balance plan
for ages 60+ ..and a few number of transfers are free.

OTOH, their interest rates on a checking or savings
account are not so great, but neither are many of the
banks.

I'm gransfathered into an Investment/Chequing with BMO. (They
nolonger have that combo).

Interest on bank accounts? What's that ?? B(

Seriously, unless you use special accounts there is no
interest paid on money deposited in the bank these days,
and the accounts that do pay something, pay 1.25% a year
or so, hardly worth thinking about.

Yeah.. the rate is pretty pathetic. Might be better to play/
invest into Bitcoin. I just learned that Coinbase has an
accessible entry to buy crypto via credit card and etransfer.
Likewise, withdrawals can be arranged with etransfer.

"Canadian users can now add cash for free with Interac e-
Transfer and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), or buy directly
with PayPal."

"Instant sell & withdraw
Sell your crypto and cash out instantly to most banks."


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Stare into this point intently ->.<- (1:153/757.21)

On 25 Oct 2025, August Abolins said the following...

I'm looking to consider arranging a plain chequeing account
with Scotiabank because they seem to be the only bank left that
offers a "seniors" no-monthly cost and no minimum-balance plan
for ages 60+ ..and a few number of transfers are free.

If the account is for personal use, consider Tangerine (https://www.tangerine.ca), formerly ING Direct. Scotiabank bought them out back in 2014, so you can use their ATMs for free.

No fee chequing & savings accounts. Unlimited transactions. Free Interac eTransfers. Their debit card is also a Debit Visa.

The catch is that they don't offer access to tellers, it's a "digital only" bank.

Use my "Orange Key" if you sign up and we both (could) get a $50 bonus: 66728538S1


Jay

... I made a pencil with two erasers. It was pointless

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Northern Realms (1:229/664)

>57 Character limit.

That one above was supposed to be 'funny' because that tagline
supposedly didn't fit, but the tagline was made to look like that.

>Couldn't steal Taglines when I used my C=64.
>Just Save the whole message.
>Ed

I am currently running SLMR using DosBox on a 64 bit Windows 7
Laptop but it's the same version of SLMR I've used for about
30 years since back when I was running DOS on its own.

For some reason my current setup doesn't copy the tagline if I try
to copy it. It pops up the screen but it just shows a blank line
and I have to type it in myself.

---
* SLMR Rob * I'm Too Busy To Waste Time Leaving A Tagline

This msg may be a dupe.
I started a Reply and then looked at SLMR on my XP pc.
When I finished mesing with SLMR and looked at this phone I did not see what I had written.
So here ges again if the other reply wasn't ssaved

I never have used a 64 bit Windows O/S, I was thinking if your SLMR could be ran from a CMD prompt and if doing that might clear up things such as Word Wrap, etc.

SLMR here is SLMR 2.1a .
I can start SLMR.EXE at a CMD prompt

Let me know if you try that.
Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

i.e.. I saw that there is a $1.50 fee for eMailing funds
to someone but I've never been charged for doing that,
either because of the number of accounts I have or because
I'm a 'senior'..

Some banks offer X-number of eTransfers for free. Then, there

>is a charge for exceeded that.

I have at times needed to transfer say $10,000 from home ASAP
and done it by eTransferring the maximum daily amount for 4
consecutive days and not run into that. I'm sure there is a
monthly limit to go along with that daily limit ($3000) but
so far I've been okay on that.

Looking online they say most limit you to $3000 or $4000 a day,
$10,000 a week and $20,000 a month. You can request that be
increased though I hear, maybe just for one transaction..

Most banks offer no fees for any db or etransfer transaction if

>you maintain a minimum $XXXX monthly balance. A rich boy like
>you probably satisfies the latter requirement.

Actually for most of my life I have kept only a couple of
hundred dollars in my chequing account unless I am saving
up to do something requiring more than that. Money in your
chequing account doesn't make any interest for you so any
extra money I put into one investment or another.

But for many years RBC paid your monthly fee for you if you
were using any 3 of their banking services and, more recently,
CIBC changed my account to a senior's and they pay the fee for
me on that one. The fee is still there, you get billed for it,
and then they pay it for you for some reason, although RBC
does that the same way.

Possibly because I didn't OPEN any true senior's accounts,
I just got older using my old account which always had a fee
unless you kept a balance of $1500+ in it, as you mentioned.

I'm looking to consider arranging a plain chequeing account

>with Scotiabank because they seem to be the only bank left that
>offers a "seniors" no-monthly cost and no minimum-balance plan
>for ages 60+ ..and a few number of transfers are free.

That's pretty much what I got at CIBC..
Looking online their Smart Senior's Account says 'Reduced' fees
on your chequing account, free drafts and money orders, and 12
transactions a month for free. I'm not sure I have ever done
more than 12 but, again, I'm not certain I have any standard
account there. They do things for me that are not typical fairly
often. i.e.. My unsecured Line of Credit is at Prime +1.99%,
rather than Prime plus 3.5% or more like it is for most people..

interest paid on money deposited in the bank these days,
and the accounts that do pay something, pay 1.25% a year
or so, hardly worth thinking about.

Yeah.. the rate is pretty pathetic. Might be better to play/

>invest into Bitcoin. I just learned that Coinbase has an
>accessible entry to buy crypto via credit card and etransfer.
>Likewise, withdrawals can be arranged with etransfer.

So many Crypto plans have gone bankrupt the last few years they
worry me a bit. My nephew has a bit of that but he went nuts
buying silver instead. The return on silver has been over 100%
over the past 2 years so he may have had a good idea, but I feel
the best time to buy it was a couple of years ago, not now..

Most of my investments have made 12% to 14% a year for the
past few years, which is great compared to the past, but it's
hard to say where things are going given the ongoing confusion
with the American tariff war..

---
* SLMR Rob * Life is a glitched program... Marriage is Shareware
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Hello Rob!

** On Thursday 23.10.25 - 07:43, Rob Mccart wrote..

Semi-funny story.. at one time I needed more than $1000 in cash
for something and the bank machine limited me to $750 so I had
to go to a teller to get the cash. That happened now and then
so I went to the business teller one day and asked if it is
possible to get a higher daily limit. The lady there said that
it could be increased to as much as $1500, and I said that would
probably be okay.. And she got this high and mighty look on her
face and said, "We don't give that to just anyone!"

Again.. must have been your charm, perhaps? :D

I did not know those ATM limits could be changed for each
individual. Most bank plans have published hard limits for
withdrawals.

I haven't even used an ATM to withdraw cash for over 10yrs - I
seem to have plenty of physical cash from the people who pay in
cash at the shop. My problem is depositing that cash so that I
can pay bills electronically.

At that moment, one of the higher up business managers had been
walking by and heard that. She literally walked up beside the
lady and pushed her aside and said to me, 'Sorry about that. Do
you think $1500 will be enough?".. I said yes and that was
the end of it but you can see how hving a 'reputation' can get
you special treatment.. B)

Ah.. two ladies charmed by your presence.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Stare into this point intently ->.<- (1:153/757.21)

Hello Rob!

** On Wednesday 22.10.25 - 08:19, Rob Mccart wrote to MIKE POWELL:

Funny story.. I bought my first car with a loan from a Credit
Union, co-signed by my parents since I was only 16. The next
year I went in to see if I could get another loan so I could
buy a motorcycle. I told the manager that I didn't think I
needed my parents involved since I had a good past record of
making payments and he hesitated but then gave me the loan.

I never thought about it until later but I was only 17 at the
time, underage to sign for a loan on my own.. (18 required)

How many months until you turned 18 at the time? Maybe the
manager loosened the rules since it was 4 or less months away?



--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Age Doesn't Matter Unless You're a Cheese (1:396/45.29)

I am currently running SLMR using DosBox on a 64 bit Windows 7

>> Laptop but it's the same version of SLMR I've used for about
>> 30 years since back when I was running DOS on its own.

For some reason my current setup doesn't copy the tagline if I try

>> to copy it. It pops up the screen but it just shows a blank line
>> and I have to type it in myself.

Okay, an update on that. I tried hitting T to copy a tagline on a
message last night and it worked fine, so it looks like it may
depend a bit on the exact format of the message I'm trying to
steal a Tagline from..

This msg may be a dupe.

It wasn't, just one copy came through..

I never have used a 64 bit Windows O/S, I was thinking if your SLMR could be

>ran from a CMD prompt and if doing that might clear up things such as Word
>Wrap, etc.

DosBox is pretty much a normal version of Dos, so a command line interface
is automatic. I've run all sorts of pure Dos programs in it over the years.

The wordwrap situation seems to be caused by replies from editors that
allow longer lines than usual, more than my screen can hold. I see a
lot of those so I know it doesn't always chop off some of the quoted
lines, but it does now and then.

SLMR here is SLMR 2.1a .

Same here, although I messed with the EXE to get my 'SLMR Rob' Tag. B)

I use Dos Q-Edit (Quick Edit) as my reply editor in SLMR.

---
* SLMR Rob * Must be the serial port.. It's going snap, crackle, pop
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

>> Laptop but it's the same version of SLMR I've used for about
>> 30 years since back when I was running DOS on its own.

>> to copy it. It pops up the screen but it just shows a blank line
>> and I have to type it in myself.

Okay, an update on that. I tried hitting T to copy a tagline on a
message last night and it worked fine, so it looks like it may
depend a bit on the exact format of the message I'm trying to
steal a Tagline from..

It wasn't, just one copy came through..

>ran from a CMD prompt and if doing that might clear up things such as Word
>Wrap, etc.

DosBox is pretty much a normal version of Dos, so a command line interface
is automatic. I've run all sorts of pure Dos programs in it over the years.

The wordwrap situation seems to be caused by replies from editors that
allow longer lines than usual, more than my screen can hold. I see a
lot of those so I know it doesn't always chop off some of the quoted
lines, but it does now and then.

Same here, although I messed with the EXE to get my 'SLMR Rob' Tag. B)

I use Dos Q-Edit (Quick Edit) as my reply editor in SLMR.

---
* SLMR Rob * Must be the serial port.. It's going snap, crackle, pop

I have played with DOSBOX occasionally, I'm familiar with the DOS CMD line. When I used SLMR EDIT was the Editor that I used with it
Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Hello Rob!

** On Monday 27.10.25 - 07:44, you wrote..

I have at times needed to transfer say $10,000 from home ASAP
and done it by eTransferring the maximum daily amount for 4
consecutive days and not run into that. I'm sure there is a
monthly limit to go along with that daily limit ($3000) but
so far I've been okay on that.

Yep, there are etransfer limits, but apparently there are no
limits for doing cash withdrawals in person:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/gopublic/bank-investigator-fraud-scam-
9.6950754

The fellow was scammed out of $1.7M over 6 months.

..and, more recently,
CIBC changed my account to a senior's and they pay the fee for
me on that one. The fee is still there, you get billed for it,
and then they pay it for you for some reason, although RBC
does that the same way.

The billing and then the removal is odd. I wonder why they
report it that way.

Possibly because I didn't OPEN any true senior's accounts,
I just got older using my old account which always had a fee
unless you kept a balance of $1500+ in it, as you mentioned.

CIBC was good to you then. I know people who were with
ScotiaBank for years and still got charged a plan fee even
*after* they turned 60+.

often. i.e.. My unsecured Line of Credit is at Prime +1.99%,
rather than Prime plus 3.5% or more like it is for most people..

Mine is at 10.38%. I was sitting pretty at closer to 6% for
years before that.

So many Crypto plans have gone bankrupt the last few years they
worry me a bit. My nephew has a bit of that but he went nuts
buying silver instead. The return on silver has been over 100%
over the past 2 years so he may have had a good idea, but I feel
the best time to buy it was a couple of years ago, not now..

It's not crypto that can can particularly go bad, but the
exchanges. Coinbase seems to be one operating well.

Most of my investments have made 12% to 14% a year for the
past few years, which is great compared to the past, but it's
hard to say where things are going given the ongoing confusion
with the American tariff war..

Sounds like you are doing well.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Stare into this point intently ->.<- (1:153/757.21)

Hello Jay!

** On Sunday 26.10.25 - 07:27, you wrote:

If the account is for personal use, consider Tangerine (https://www.tangerine.ca), formerly ING Direct.
Scotiabank bought them out back in 2014, so you can use
their ATMs for free.

Won't work for me. My issue is getting the wads of cash into
a bank first.

No fee chequing & savings accounts. Unlimited
transactions. Free Interac eTransfers. Their debit card
is also a Debit Visa.

I am somewhat familiar with Tagerine (actually.. when it was
first known as ING Bank). They offered $100 for opening an
account back then. I never took the bait. It was still at a
time when internet banking was not quite established.

Use my "Orange Key" if you sign up and we both (could) get
a $50 bonus: 66728538S1

Noted.

I see a few people using Tangerine cards with my POS.

President'sChoice banking is a more popular in my town due to
the NoFrills.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Stare into this point intently ->.<- (1:153/757.21)

Hey August

I went to the business teller one day and asked if it is
possible to get a higher daily limit. The lady there said that
it could be increased to as much as $1500, and I said that would
probably be okay.. And she got this high and mighty look on her
face and said, "We don't give that to just anyone!"

Again.. must have been your charm, perhaps? :D

In that case of course, this would have been someone fairly new
to the bank who didn't know me. I also tend to wear very plain
clothes, jeans and a casual shirt when shopping. I don't look
ragged but I don't look like I'm rolling in money either.

I did not know those ATM limits could be changed for each

>individual. Most bank plans have published hard limits for
>withdrawals.

Yes, it turns out there is a bit of flex that they don't like
to advertise. It helps them entice people they think will be
good customers without everyone thinking they should be treated
the same.

It's like the old saying, If getting a divorce was easy then
everyone would get one... B)

One time I was getting my Line of Credit freed up from being
locked into investment funds to guarantee payment. It tends
to slow things down because you need them to release their
hold on your investments before you can move or cash them.
When I decided to do that my banking person said that she'd
try to get me a good rate without the LOC being guaranteed.
I heard her on the phone talking to the head office, and she
said "2.24%? That's not bad, thanks..." And then when she
hung up she turned to me and said I got you Prime plus 1.99%.
I said, I thought they said 2.24%? and she said, yes, but I
have enough pull to lower that by another .25%..
They also more tha doubled my LOC Limit at the same time.
So it's nice to know the right people...

When secured it was at Prime plus 1.75%..

I haven't even used an ATM to withdraw cash for over 10yrs - I

>seem to have plenty of physical cash from the people who pay in
>cash at the shop. My problem is depositing that cash so that I
>can pay bills electronically.

I pay most everything online these days and probably 75% of the
times I go to the bank I use their machine at the entrance and
never see a teller. Mostly I only go any further is for meetings
with investment managers rather than for simple banking needs.

Other than that you are usually either looking to get some cash
or depositing some cash, and you can do both at the machines
within certain limits.

---
* SLMR Rob * The computer didn't hang up from InterNet last night?!?
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Funny story.. I bought my first car with a loan from a Credit
Union, co-signed by my parents since I was only 16. The next
year I went in to see if I could get another loan so I could
buy a motorcycle. I told the manager that I didn't think I
needed my parents involved since I had a good past record of
making payments and he hesitated but then gave me the loan.

I never thought about it until later but I was only 17 at the
time, underage to sign for a loan on my own.. (18 required)

How many months until you turned 18 at the time? Maybe the

>manager loosened the rules since it was 4 or less months away?

Generally I bought motorcycles first thing in the spring and my
birthday is in mid June so that was probably the case.

But, technically, I was still underage when I signed the papers
and that remains the case for the life of the loan..

He was pretty good about things. He always said that if I couldn't
make a payment for some reason to call him and he'd keep it from
causing me any problem. That happened twice I think .. Once when
a was payment due I and blew the tranny in my car sort of thing..

---
* SLMR Rob * If it's not on fire, it's a software problem
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

I use Dos Q-Edit (Quick Edit) as my reply editor in SLMR.

I have played with DOSBOX occasionally, I'm familiar with the DOS CMD line.

I started off in 1983 with a Dos type system on an Apple II+ computer
called Applesoft. Funny, I definitely knew I wanted a computer because
I'd never even touched one before that one, and I built that one
myself out of parts. Within 2 years I was writing commercial software.
In 1986 I got an IBM and had to learn a new Basic Dos to carry on with
things. GW Basic in Canada.. (Guelph Waterloo University)

When I used SLMR EDIT was the Editor that I used with it

Yes, I think that was what most used. Q-Edit was a more advanced Editor
to work with so I switched over to it right away.

---
* SLMR Rob * Life would be easier if I had the source code...
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

myself out of parts. Within 2 years I was writing commercial software.
In 1986 I got an IBM and had to learn a new Basic Dos to carry on with things. GW Basic in Canada.. (Guelph Waterloo University)

I never knew that is where the name came from. My first MS-DOS computer
came with v3.3 and GWBASIC was the basic interpreter that came installed
with it.

I cannot remember which interpreter came with 5.0, though.

When I used SLMR EDIT was the Editor that I used with it

Yes, I think that was what most used. Q-Edit was a more advanced Editor
to work with so I switched over to it right away.

I used Q-Edit from fairly early on, before any of the BBSes I called
offered QWK mail. I started using it because the editor I had been using, PC-Write, didn't save things in plain text. Back then, DOS came with EDLIN
but not yet EDIT.

I still used PC-Write for things that need to be printed, like reports for university. I could add things like page breaks and, IIRC, even some control characters for my Star printer. ;)

Mike

* SLMR 2.1a * If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice!
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

In 1986 I got an IBM and had to learn a new Basic Dos to carry on with

>> things. GW Basic in Canada.. (Guelph Waterloo University)

I never knew that is where the name came from. My first MS-DOS computer

>came with v3.3 and GWBASIC was the basic interpreter that came installed
>with it.

I always wondered if that were only included with systems sold in Canada.

I cannot remember which interpreter came with 5.0, though.

Yes, I think EDIT was what most used. Q-Edit was a more advanced Editor

>> to work with so I switched over to it right away.

I used Q-Edit from fairly early on, before any of the BBSes I called

>offered QWK mail. I started using it because the editor I had been using,
>PC-Write, didn't save things in plain text. Back then, DOS came with EDLIN
>but not yet EDIT.

Yes, I remember Edlin, which was a real mess. Edit was a little better
but Q-Edit could handle larger text files I believe, plus had other
options like Copying Blocks and such.

I still used PC-Write for things that need to be printed, like reports for

>university. I could add things like page breaks and, IIRC, even some control
>characters for my Star printer. ;)

I know some of the standard Editing programs in Windows have improved but
I long ago found other programs that worked well and I tend to stick
with a program I like until there's a good reason to find another.

For most simple editing and writing I use a freeware program called
Jarte. It's a small program and relatively simple but it can handle
just about anything and allows you to manipulate Fonts and such and
you can set it up to save files as PDF or HTML and it can do Spell
Checking and access a Thesaurus and Dictionary, although some of
those may also require other small programs on your computer to
work properly.. I think. It did at one time but it has improved
over the years as well. I do know it used the DoPDF program on my
system to convert to PDF. It can do search and replace as well.

You can write a simple document in any Font you like and it will
print it using that Font from a plain Text file, and it can add a
background to the document if you don't want plain white, and if
you are editing a file, it can be set to automatically retain a
Backup of the original in case you mess up and change your mind..

Because of all that I rarely use a Word Processor program anymore.

Actually it can do hundreds of things I'd never think of to use.
I was going to list some and had a fast look at the PDF Manual
which is over 3 meg and there's too much in there to convey..

I said above it is a simple program but that's not really correct.
It can be used as a simple Text editor with next to no effort
but it can do pretty much anything most huge WP programs can.

---
* SLMR Rob * Computer programers can put a HEX on you...
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

For most simple editing and writing I use a freeware program called
Jarte. It's a small program and relatively simple but it can handle
just about anything and allows you to manipulate Fonts and such and
you can set it up to save files as PDF or HTML and it can do Spell
Checking and access a Thesaurus and Dictionary, although some of
those may also require other small programs on your computer to
work properly.. I think. It did at one time but it has improved
over the years as well. I do know it used the DoPDF program on my
system to convert to PDF. It can do search and replace as well.

Is Jarte a windows program?

Because of all that I rarely use a Word Processor program anymore.

I also rarely used one until recently. I have Libreoffice installed on a couple of computers. The spreadsheet program works just fine... as good or better than Excel... but the word processor not so much. I was recently
trying to do a few more complicated things to a document and found that it
is severely lacking vs. Word. I can do the same things but it takes more
hoops to jump through -- complicated enough that it is easy to miss a
step -- it really made me miss Word.

I may have to get an older copy of Word installed on my old Win98SE laptop
and start doing my editing that way. It was that bad. :(

I am keeping my eyes open for some other linux alternatives, though.

Mike

* SLMR 2.1a * "!Beavis! ?Donde esta su hall pass?"
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

In 1986 I got an IBM and had to learn a new Basic Dos to carry on with

>> things. GW Basic in Canada.. (Guelph Waterloo University)

I never knew that is where the name came from. My first MS-DOS computer

>came with v3.3 and GWBASIC was the basic interpreter that came installed
>with it.

I always wondered if that were only included with systems sold in Canada.

Apparently it was included on at least some MS-DOS 3.3 systems sold in the
USA. ;) The system in question was an XT clone built by MMG and sold by
Hard Warehouse which, IIRC, was a local retailer and not a national chain.

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely large values of 2.
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

For most simple editing and writing I use a freeware program called

>> Jarte. It's a small program and relatively simple but it can handle
>> just about anything and allows you to manipulate Fonts and such and
>> you can set it up to save files as PDF or HTML and it can do Spell
>> Checking and access a Thesaurus and Dictionary, although some of
>> those may also require other small programs on your computer to
>> work properly.. I think. It did at one time but it has improved
>> over the years as well. I do know it used the DoPDF program on my
>> system to convert to PDF. It can do search and replace as well.

Is Jarte a windows program?

Yes, I was just checking and it doesn't mention other systems.
It did say that it is 'based' on the Wordpad Engine but, like a
lot of modified 'copies' of programs, the interface and options
are quite a bit improved/expanded.

Because of all that I rarely use a Word Processor program anymore.

I also rarely used one until recently. I have Libreoffice installed on a

>couple of computers. The spreadsheet program works just fine... as good or
>better than Excel... but the word processor not so much.

I usually install Kingsoft to do most of the Office type work, but
the more recent versions of that bug you or time limit you to buy
the paid version. I install an older version which still works well
but isn't as bothersome. These days I don't do anything with
spreadsheets or databases really, and Jarte has been more than
adequate on the rare occasions when I need a Word Processor.

Jarte hasn't been updated in a while. I'm running v6.2 and they are
still offering that as the Final (no longer supported) version.
There were also portable ZIP versions to try it out.

I think the main installer is not much over 5 meg.

---
* SLMR Rob * Invalid argument... You NEVER listen to me!
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

In 1986 I got an IBM and had to learn a new Basic Dos to carry on with

>> things. GW Basic in Canada.. (Guelph Waterloo University)

I never knew that is where the name came from. My first MS-DOS computer

>came with v3.3 and GWBASIC was the basic interpreter that came installed
>with it.

I always wondered if that were only included with systems sold in Canada.

Apparently it was included on at least some MS-DOS 3.3 systems sold in the

>USA. ;)

Yes, MS-DOS 3.3 was the same OS where I first got it I'm pretty sure.
I got that version with several thick books of documentation..

That said, I later was running AP-Basic (Advance Point I think?)
which was similar to use but offered a lot more Basic commands
and it could compile itself into an EXE file.

---
* SLMR Rob * Internal stack overflow... Please get a mop and bucket
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Rob and Mike, The first DOS PC I had my hands on at work had GWBASIC.
It was made by ITT ( I think) and had DOS v 2.11 on it.
There was a bunch of books for that computer, and Me using a Commodore 64 just had to look through those books to see what I could learn about DOS 2.11 .

On my XP box if I need to do fancy stuff in a text file I use Open Office 4.1.3 .
I mostly use Wordpad instead of Notepad so I can write sections in a different size font or to underline some parts of what I am writing.

Just thought Iwould jump in and comment.
Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Rob and Mike, The first DOS PC I had my hands on at work had GWBASIC.
It was made by ITT ( I think) and had DOS v 2.11 on it.
There was a bunch of books for that computer, and Me using a Commodore 64 just
had to look through those books to see what I could learn about DOS 2.11 .

I suspect that GWBASIC was more prominent that we realized, and maybe
wasn't replaced until MS came up with their own. IIRC, at some point, I
quit finding GWBASIC in the DOS directory and instead found BASICA (??).

On my XP box if I need to do fancy stuff in a text file I use Open Office 4.1.

OpenOffice and its derivative, LibreOffice, are both pretty good at most things. Just a couple of things, like changing page headers at section
breaks, are a real PITA compared to Word.

.
I mostly use Wordpad instead of Notepad so I can write sections in a different
size font or to underline some parts of what I am writing.

I remember Wordpad and sometimes found it easier to use than Word, when it
was available. IIRC, on our work machines (which used Win versions released after XP), it wasn't there.

Notepad was good for text but, for some things, we were able to install a program called Notepad++ which worked better with larger files and, IIRC, preserving the original formatting vs. Notepad. I used both a whole lot, depending on what I was working with.

Just thought Iwould jump in and comment.

Welcome! ;)

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * Stick em up! <BANG> Okay.... DON'T stick em' up!
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Rob and Mike, The first DOS PC I had my hands on at work had GWBASIC.

>It was made by ITT ( I think) and had DOS v 2.11 on it.
>There was a bunch of books for that computer, and Me using a Commodore 64 jus
>had to look through those books to see what I could learn about DOS 2.11 .

I'm pretty sure my first copy was from ITT as well. Funny, I still had
the original books and floppy disks for that until about 2 years ago.
I'm a bit of a Pack Rat.. B)

Mine was a bit newer (DOS 3.3) and I only got that for the software
from a friend who worked in Telecom since I'd built a computer from
parts and needed to find an OS for it..

Let's see, since this was DOS (for a PC) it was probably in 1987.
Prior to that I had built 2 Apple II+ clones using Apple software.

On my XP box if I need to do fancy stuff in a text file I use

>Open Office 4.1.3.
>I mostly use Wordpad instead of Notepad so I can write sections in a
>different size font or to underline some parts of what I am writing.

Yes, I can understand using Wordpad as I did it myself until I ran
across Jarte a lot of years back and still use today..

Just thought Iwould jump in and comment.

Always interesting to hear where people got started.. B)

---
* SLMR Rob * Are you a Klingon or is that a turtle on your head?
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Re: GWBASIC
By: Rob Mccart to ED VANCE on Sun Nov 09 2025 09:16:14

Mine was a bit newer (DOS 3.3) and I only got that for the software
from a friend who worked in Telecom since I'd built a computer from
parts and needed to find an OS for it..

Let's see, since this was DOS (for a PC) it was probably in 1987.
Prior to that I had built 2 Apple II+ clones using Apple software.

The PC that I have that came with DOS 3.3 and GWBASIC was also purchased in late 1987, so that time frame is correct. Unfortunately, it did not come with a DOS manual. I figured out how a lot of the utilities worked via trial and error -- a few of those errors required a restore! :O :D

Mike

P.S. The first DOS manuals I received were with the next machine, which ran DOS 5.0. IIRC, it was two books and one of them was really thick for a paperback. ;)
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

In 1994 when I began using DOS 5.0 it had QBASIC which was a free BASIC insteas of the costly QUIKBASIC program.
I had always used line numbers when writing BASIC code and never adjusted to writing any without line numbers.
QUIKBASIC would use GOTO with a named section of code and nstead of GOTO 300 as I was used to
Remember ten years before I got that DOS 5.0 machine I was learning CBM BASIC on my C=64 . Old habits are hard tobreak.
Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

The ITT books at work had Grey colored covers.
Did your 3.3 ITT books come with the same color covers?

In DOS 5.0 on my 486DX33 I only had books that I bought.
The builder included DOS5.0 and WIN 3.1 FLOPPY DISKS when it was delivered to me
Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Re: GWBASIC
By: Ed Vance to Mike Powell on Mon Nov 10 2025 22:14:32

In 1994 when I began using DOS 5.0 it had QBASIC which was a free BASIC inst of the costly QUIKBASIC program.
I had always used line numbers when writing BASIC code and never adjusted to writing any without line numbers.
QUIKBASIC would use GOTO with a named section of code and nstead of GOTO 300 I was used to
Remember ten years before I got that DOS 5.0 machine I was learning CBM BASI on my C=64 . Old habits are hard tobreak.

I also remember QBASIC, so maybe that was it instead of BASICA -- or maybe "A" came with 4.x and then "Q" with 5+.

Anyway, I also had issues not using line numbers as I initially learned basic on a TI 99 4A. ;)

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Let's see, since this was DOS (for a PC) it was probably in 1987.

> Prior to that I had built 2 Apple II+ clones using Apple software.

The PC that I have that came with DOS 3.3 and GWBASIC was also purchased in

>late 1987, so that time frame is correct. Unfortunately, it did not come wit
>a DOS manual. I figured out how a lot of the utilities worked via trial and
>error -- a few of those errors required a restore! :O :D

Ha.. As I said, I started out on Apple Clones and one of the first things
I bought before assembling my first computer was a college course book
for programming in Apple Soft Basic. That gave me a good idea of how
Basic worked so I just had to learn the differences in how Apple and
IBM systems did the same things.

I also bought some books with simple programs and games you write
yourself, and I took great satisfaction in copying those programs
out and getting them working and then finding ways to make them
work better than the originals.. B)

One of the first big programs I wrote for a place I was working
was a database program that was something like 60 typed pages
of code which I then drastically modified to work exactly the way
that workplace needed it to work, rather than as a general program.

I also wrote a spreadsheet inventory control program for them.

I added a production program where you could put in the name and
weight of the product you wanted (ceramics and pigments) and the
program would write out the formula with the amounts of all the
ingredients for a batch that size and print off 3 copies - for the
Lab, Office and Plant to use..

Ironically that last one I threw in as an afterthought, I didn't
really even charge extra for it. I left there soon after but I
stopped in to visit a few years later and the other programs had
both been updated/replaced but they were still using that one.

Not something MS Office could replace I guess... B)

---
* SLMR Rob * Captain Please!.. Not in front of the Klingons
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

In 1994 when I began using DOS 5.0 it had QBASIC which was a free BASIC inste

>of the costly QUIKBASIC program.
>I had always used line numbers when writing BASIC code and never adjusted to
>writing any without line numbers.
>QUIKBASIC would use GOTO with a named section of code and nstead of GOTO 300
>I was used to
>Remember ten years before I got that DOS 5.0 machine I was learning CBM BASIC
>on my C=64 . Old habits are hard tobreak.

In my later Basic years I used APBasic (Advance Point I think) which had
a lot more commands available than any other Basic I ever tried and
you had the option of using line numbers or labels for GOTO statements.
Plus the finished product could be compiled into an EXE program..

I think there is a newer program with the same name if you did a search
online. The original is from the late 80's and is a true DOS program..

---
* SLMR Rob * If all appears to go well, you missed something...
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Re: GWBASIC
By: Rob Mccart to MIKE POWELL on Tue Nov 11 2025 09:46:21

I added a production program where you could put in the name and
weight of the product you wanted (ceramics and pigments) and the
program would write out the formula with the amounts of all the
ingredients for a batch that size and print off 3 copies - for the
Lab, Office and Plant to use..

Ironically that last one I threw in as an afterthought, I didn't
really even charge extra for it. I left there soon after but I
stopped in to visit a few years later and the other programs had
both been updated/replaced but they were still using that one.

Not something MS Office could replace I guess... B)

Yeah, getting a formula like that coded for a "reprogram" might have been too much of a challenge for whatever they moved on to.

The last place I worked was trying to get their system "modernized" which meant moving off of a mainframe to a server based, packaged system. When I left, they were still leaning heavily towards leaving at least one system the way it was because it was too complicated for the users to explain and likely too complicated for anything the "packaged" product had ever attempted to replicate.

Mike[21~
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

I added a production program where you could put in the name and

> > weight of the product you wanted (ceramics and pigments) and the
> > program would write out the formula with the amounts of all the
> > ingredients for a batch that size and print off 3 copies - for the
> > Lab, Office and Plant to use..

RM > > Ironically that last one I threw in as an afterthought, I didn't
> > really even charge extra for it. I left there soon after but I
> > stopped in to visit a few years later and the other programs had
> > both been updated/replaced but they were still using that one.
> > Not something MS Office could replace I guess... B)

Yeah, getting a formula like that coded for a "reprogram" might have been too

>much of a challenge for whatever they moved on to.

Yes, something like that has to be written specifically for a customer.
It would be too clumsy to try to duplicate the output in a typical
spreadsheet or database program.

I wrote one for a trucking company as well. They did snow plowing
in winter and one year they had the police stop by to ask if they
could talk to the driver who plowed out a place that got broken
into in case he'd seen something. This was quite a while after
the fact and they had a hard time sorting out who was where when
on that date and time.

I wrote them a program that could easily do that plus it could
answer questions like who worked how many hours over a given
number of days/weeks and which trucks were used the most and
who's property was plowed how often and when sort of thing..

That's a little more typical of a database program but it
was customized with menus offering the questions they needed
answers to making it a bit easier for them to work with.
They were not the most computer literate people there.. B)

---
* SLMR Rob * You are absolulely unique - just like everyone else
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

They were not the most computer literate people there.. B)

Sometimes those are the easier users to work with. The ones who think they
are computer geniuses are the ones that often get in and mess stuff up
pretty bad! ;)

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Re: GWBASIC
By: Ed Vance to Mike Powell on Mon Nov 10 2025 22:14:32

I also remember QBASIC, so maybe that was it instead of BASICA -- or maybe "A" came with 4.x and then "Q" with 5+.

Anyway, I also had issues not using line numbers as I initially learned basic on a TI 99 4A. ;)

Mike

You are probably right about BASICA being with DOS 4 .

I remember seeing BASICA on someones machine before I had the 486 built.
Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

>of the costly QUIKBASIC program.
>I had always used line numbers when writing BASIC code and never adjusted to
>writing any without line numbers.
>QUIKBASIC would use GOTO with a named section of code and nstead of GOTO 300
>I was used to
>Remember ten years before I got that DOS 5.0 machine I was learning CBM BASIC
>on my C=64 . Old habits are hard tobreak.

In my later Basic years I used APBasic (Advance Point I think) which had
a lot more commands available than any other Basic I ever tried and
you had the option of using line numbers or labels for GOTO statements.
Plus the finished product could be compiled into an EXE program..

I think there is a newer program with the same name if you did a search online. The original is from the late 80's and is a true DOS program..

---
* SLMR Rob * If all appears to go well, you missed something...

QBASIC didn't have a Compiler as QuikBASICdid, so I never experienced doing that to ant code I wrote.
Plain Vinalla(?) code is all I could do.

When I began reading the BASIC echo I saw some entries made for DOS BASIC could be ran on my C=64.
Doing that helped me learning how to do things in BASIC on my computer.
Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

>Did your 3.3 ITT books come with the same color covers?

No, they were white and came as 3 or 4 fairly thick soft cover
books in a sleeve that held them all - Plus 3 or 4 5.25" disks.

>The builder included DOS5.0 and WIN 3.1 FLOPPY DISKS when it was
>delivered to me

I never bought books again after that time, mostly finding docs
online or what came with any computers I bought.

On my early computers, not only did I not get books because I
was building the computers myself, but there was no 'online'
to get document copies there.. The good old days.. B)

---
* SLMR Rob * A nudist wedding makes the best man easy to identify.

I started using computers later than you did, it was 1984 for me.

In an earlier message of yoursyou wrote about writing software at a Company. While reading , it made me think of oneof my suscesses at work.

A programmer from the Main Office wrote a Menu to help everyone use the computer to do things like Sendinf Reports,. Getting Daily Reports, using Word Processor etc.

There was a Afternoon report we had been printing every day that had River Forecast for the entire Ohio River.
A few lines in the middle of it showed the prediction for our area.

I added a entry to the Menu file that would Save the file as a temporiary file, then using the FIND command find the info pertainingto our place and PRINT#4 onlu those lines to our Dot Matrix Printer.

Instead of many pages being printed as the data came in (and the noise), the printer printed a few lines quickly. TADA!

I didn't remove the Menu Option to get the Report, I just added another entry to the menu.
At that time I was using a DOS pc at home and had learned enuf to be DANGEROUS. Ed
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

They were not the most computer literate people there.. B)

Sometimes those are the easier users to work with. The ones who think they

>are computer geniuses are the ones that often get in and mess stuff up
>pretty bad! ;)

I never heard back from them after so my program either worked very
well or so totally fustrated them that they gave up on it and didn't
want to admit it.. B)

Joys of the 'good old days'.. there was one minor problem. I mailed
the the program to them on 3.5" floppy disks, and they contacted me
a few days later and said the disks when they got them were blank..
It was in winter so the disks must have frozen on the way and distorted
the data. I sent it out again and it was fine..

---
* SLMR Rob * Reality is for people who can't handle drugs
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

In my later Basic years I used APBasic (Advance Point I think) which had

>> a lot more commands available than any other Basic I ever tried and
>> you had the option of using line numbers or labels for GOTO statements.
>> Plus the finished product could be compiled into an EXE program..

QBASIC didn't have a Compiler as QuikBASICdid, so I never experienced doing

>that to any code I wrote.
>Plain Vinalla(?) code is all I could do.

That program would take all the plain DOS/Basic code, it just added
a lot of extra commands it would accept if you chose to learn them,
and gave the option of using line numbers or not.. It was built in
that once you finished and tested the program it could just be saved
as a stand alone EXE.

That made it a lot easier for me to sell software I wrote back then
without me having to learn a fancier programming language..

---
* SLMR Rob * Never look back - because someone may be gaining
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)