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The SWAP Utilities(TM) Version 1.50 -- 09/01/89 SWAPSK(TM) -- For SideKick SWAPSP(TM) -- For SideKick Plus SWAPTN(TM) -- For Tornado SWAPMT(TM) -- For Metro SWAPMM(TM) -- For MemoryMate SWAPSH(TM) -- For PCTools Shell SWAPDT(TM) -- For PCTools Desktop SWAPNG(TM) -- For The Norton Guides The SWAP Utilities(TM) and this Documentation are: Copyright 1989, Innovative Data Concepts All Rights Reserved. This document; other accompanying written and disk-based notes and specifications; and all referenced and related program files accompanying this document are copyrighted by Innovative Data Concepts. Licensing and distribution requirements are described later in this document. For ordering information, see the included ORDER.DOC file. _______ ____|__ | (TM) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER The SWAP Utilities are distributed as shareware -- this means that we encourage users, subject to restrictions described in the License Agreement, to share copies of this program with friends, associates and bulletin boards. You may not share the registered version of The SWAP Utilities; however, you may request a free shareware disk by completing the form in ORDER.DOC. If you make copies of The SWAP Utilities, you must include all files in the original distribution files, as well as the documentation archive. You are not permitted to distribute The SWAP Utilities without this documentation (normally stored as SWAPDO.COM). ASP has established stringent standards for its members. ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a problem with an ASP member (other than technical support), ASP may be able to help. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at PO Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006. Acknowledgements Without Anne Marie, none of this would be possible. Thanks, Love ..... Once again, my beta testers were terrific. Just a quick list of them .... John, Tom, John, Mike, Lawrence, Charles, Edward, Jerry, Jeff, Bill, Lori, Noel, Bob, John, Martin, Peter, Michael, Neil, Rob, John, Bill, Earle, Gary, Manny, Charles, Chris, Ted, Bob, Barry, Cap, Don, Tom, Elliot, Joan, Frank, Bob, Marilyn, Jon, Jim and Jeff. Special thanks to Marilyn Ratcheson for her assistance in preparing this documentation. Many thanks to J.D. Hildebrand, Jim Kyle and Computer Language Magazine for their wonderful support of my on-line beta testing. And without CompuServe Information Service, none of these programs would ever have left the drawing board. This product uses the TesSeRact(TM) Ram-Resident Library and supports the TesSeRact Standard for Ram-Resident Program Communication. For information about TesSeRact, contact the TesSeRact Development Team at: TesSeRact Development Team 1657 The Fairways Suite 101 Jenkintown, PA 19046 1-215-884-3373 Compuserve: 70731,20 MCIMAIL: 315-5415 This MCIMAIL Account has been provided to the TesSeRact Development Team by Borland International, Inc. The TesSeRact Development Team is in no way associated with Borland International, Inc. TesSeRact is a trademark of the TesSeRact Development Team. TRADEMARKS SWAPSK, SWAPSP, SWAPTN, SWAPMT, SWAPMM, SWAPSH, SWAPDT, SWAPNG and The SWAP Utilities are trademarks of Innovative Data Concepts. SideKick and SideKick Plus are registered trademarks of Borland International, Inc. Tornado is a trademark of Micro Logic Corp. Metro and Express are trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation. MemoryMate is a trademark of Broderbund Software. TesSeRact is a trademark of the TesSeRact Development Team. DESQview and QEMM-386 are trademarks of Quarterdeck Office Systems. Software Carousel is a trademark of SoftLogic Solutions, Inc. 386Max is a trademark of Qualitas, Inc. INSTALLATION -Running TEST??.COM Before running each swap utility for the first time, you must run its matching TEST??.COM program. TEST??.COM will detect your hotkeys, and otherwise configure SWAP?? to match your individual copy of the application. Copy the appropriate SWAP??.COM and TEST??.COM files to the directory that contains your application. If, for example, you are installing SWAPSP.COM to swap Borland International's SideKick+, copy SWAPSP.COM and TESTSP.COM to the directory on which your SKPLUS files are stored. While at the DOS prompt in that directory, type the following: TESTSP<enter> TEST?? takes no command-line parameters, and will display a group of hexadecimal addresses. If you have any problems with SWAP??, the information provided by TEST??.COM will help Innovative Data Concepts identify and correct them. Once TEST?? has been run, it is only necessary to run it again if you re- install your application, change operating parameters as with SKPLUS' INSTALL program, or otherwise change the configuration or hotkeys. If you make any such changes, it is essential that you run TEST?? again. -DESQview In order to successfully use any of The SWAP Utilities loaded globally with DESQview, you must run TESTDV.COM first. Copy TESTDV.COM and T2-PIF.DVP into your DESQview directory. If you already have a T2-PIF.DVP, re-name the one provided with The SWAP Utilities to a different filename. Select Add a Program, and add the "SWAP Utilities Configuration" to your program list. Then, open the window, jot down the options specified by TESTDV, and add them to your SWAP?? command line(s). Once you run this program, it is only needed again if you change the TSRs that you load globally with DV. If the application program you're using has multiple memory size options, as do SK+, Desktop, Metro, then you must install that program to use the maximum resident size possible, since these programs are not DV aware. IMPORTANT NOTE!! If you use DESQview along with QEMM on a 386 machine, you will be unable to pop up The SWAP Utilities if you have a DV window open with "Virtualize Text and Graphics" set to "y". This is because DV uses the 386 "virtual 86" mode to virtualize the video screen, and does not provide any way (short of adding a 386 memory manager to SWAP??) to gain control. Quarterdeck has announced that this facility will be available in DESQview version 2.26, which is scheduled for release in October 1989. An free upgrade to The SWAP Utilities will be available at that time for people who need this capability. LOADING AND USING THE SWAP UTILITIES What follows are general loading instructions which apply to all the SWAP utilities. Be sure to read the specific notes later in this documentation pertaining to the application you will be using, before attempting to load a SWAP utility. There are two ways to load a SWAP utility -- from the command-line, or from a batch file. By default, SWAP?? assumes you will be starting it from the DOS command-line, and automatically adds the appropriate keystroke sequences to the keyboard buffer to load your application. -Loading from the Command Line When loading from the DOS command line, use the following syntax: SWAP?? <command line options> When loaded from the command line, the SWAP utility will load your application for you. -Loading from a Batch File If you load SWAP?? from a batch file, you must use the /N command line option (described below), followed by an immediate load of your application. For example, using SideKick Classic: File STARTSK.BAT: CD \SK SWAPSK /N SK CD \ When using the /N switch, you must load the application yourself. SWAP?? will not respond to the hotkey until the application has been loaded. Once the SWAP utility and your application have been loaded into memory, the SWAP utility will display a message stating it has successfully loaded the application, and give an actual report of memory available. This memory value is in Kilobytes, so multiply by 1024 to get actual bytes free. The SWAP utility memory report may differ from what is reported by your application. For ethical reasons, it is not possible to change the signon screen of your application, to reflect the correct memory usage. The memory report you will see from your application is pessimistic -- the value that the SWAP utility displays is correct. The display will also tell you what kind of memory was used for the swapping; extended memory, expanded memory, or disk virtual memory. If for any reason the SWAP utility was unable to correctly swap out the application, a message will be displayed notifying you of that occurrence, and both the SWAP utility and the application will be removed from memory. You may load any or all of the SWAP utilities into RAM at the same time. -Command Line Options /H /? ? -- Display a help screen /N -- When used in a batch file /U -- Remove SWAP?? and application from RAM /Dpath -- FULL PATHNAME to store swap files on (if not enough EMS is present) /Sx -- Set Swapping type (0=Auto, 1=Disk, 2=EMM, 3=XMS) SwapType = 0 is the default; if selected type fails (i.e.,no XMS is available with /S3), auto-check is done. /G -- Enable popping up over graphics modes /Tx -- Pasting Throttle (0=slow, 1=medium, 2=fast, 3=compat) [default=2] /V -- Special DESQview Options FOR SWAPMT ONLY /E -- Special switch for Lotus Express users FOR SWAPEX ONLY /Px -- x = # of hours between polling of MCIMAIL /Ay -- y = letter of your Lotus Express Comm_Manager application To set the hotkey /A -- Use Alt-Key for hotkey shift state /C -- Use Ctl-Key for hotkey shift state /L -- Use Left-Shift-Key for hotkey shift state /R -- Use Right-Shift-Key for hotkey shift state /Kxx -- Scan code for hotkey to use (see chart in documentation) requires two HEX digits following the /K All utilities except SWAPTN automatically default to the hotkey combination that you are currently using for the application. SWAPTN defaults to ALT-J. -Explanation of Command Line Options /N -- If the /N switch is used, The SWAP utility will not automatically place the appropriate keystroke combination to load the application into the keyboard buffer when it goes resident. This option must be used when loading The SWAP Utilities from a batch file. /U -- Use this option to cleanly remove SWAP?? and your application from RAM. If disk swapping is in use, the swap files will be deleted before freeing memory. If the application also uses expanded memory, it will be freed as well. If the application uses disk-based swap files (such as those SideKick Plus uses) they will not be deleted. In general, do not attempt to use a particular applications "unload" or "remove from memory" feature. It won't work, and will in all likelihood crash your machine. Use the /U feature of the SWAP utility instead. /Sx -- The /S parameter determines the type of swapping to use. In the default Autodetect mode, The SWAP Utility will attempt to allocated expanded memory, using EMS version level 3.2 or later. If EMS is not available, the utility will attempt to use Extended Memory that is available, using Microsoft's eXtended Memory Specification (XMS) (See note about XMS below). If neither EMS or XMS is available, two swap files will be created, and SWAP?? will use disk (default, C:\) for swapping. The /S parameter can be used to override the default mode, and force swapping to XMS, EMS or Disk. If the swapping method specified with /S is not valid, then Auto mode is used. Note that the third swapfile (SWAP??.SW3) is created in the path specified by the /D parameter, or the TEMP environment variable, no matter what swapping method is chosen. /G -- Because there are so many video adapters, and no standard way to deal with popping up TSRs over various graphics modes, the SWAP Utilities, by default, inhibit popping up over graphics modes. An exception to this is Microsoft Word; The SWAP Utilities will always pop up over MS Word (See note about Microsoft Word below) on systems with standard graphics adapters. Many TSR applications, however, have built-in support for graphics modes, so using the /G switch will enable the application to pop up, if possible. We recommend you avoid popping up SWAP utilities over graphics modes. This is because no resident program can guarantee that it will be safe to use over all graphics modes, and on all graphics adapters. There are just too many possibilities, combinations, incompatibilities, etc. That is why The SWAP Utilities default to not popping up over graphics modes. /Dpath -- The /D parameter tells the SWAP utility in what drive and directory to store the swap files. The default is the root directory on drive C (C:\). The pathname is limited to 30 characters, and must contain a valid drive specification, and path. The trailing backslash is not necessary. If the /D parameter is not the last option on the command-line, there must be a space character following the pathname and before another slash option. Note that at least one disk-based swap file will always be created on this path. An example path is: /DC:\TEMP /Tx -- This option may be used to "throttle" down the pasting speed of the SWAP utility you are using. Some applications, such as the Norton Editor, cannot handle characters as fast as SWAP?? can feed them, requiring a slower speed to be used. The valid values here are 0, 1, 2 or, ranging from slowest (0) to fastest (2). The /T3 switch is for "compatibility" mode. Use this switch if you are using a program that relocates the BIOS keyboard buffer, or expands the keyboard type-ahead buffer. This is the slowest option, but pasting will work in all cases. The default is fast (/T2). Selecting Hot Keys The SWAP Utilities allow the use of more hotkeys than most applications do; for example, they will accept F11 (/K57), or Ctl-LShift-Q (/C /L /K10). The following table can be used to determine the scan codes of the key you wish to use with the /K parameter; this is not a complete table, it is intended simply as a guide: KEY CODE KEY CODE --------------------------------- A 1E B 30 C 2E D 20 E 12 F 21 G 22 H 23 I 17 J 24 K 25 L 26 M 32 N 31 O 18 P 19 Q 10 R 13 S 1F T 14 U 16 V 2F W 11 X 2D Y 15 Z 2C 0 0b 1 02 2 03 3 04 4 05 5 06 6 07 7 08 8 09 9 0A - 0C = 0D F1 3B F2 3C F3 3D F4 3E F5 3F F6 40 F7 41 F8 42 F9 43 F10 44 F11 57 F12 58 -Sample Command Lines SWAPSP /K58 /T1 /S1 /DE:\ This command would load SWAPSP, swapping to the root directory of drive E:, using a hotkey of F12, and a paste speed of medium. SWAPMT/l/a/k25/df:\swappath This would load SWAPMT, swapping to EMS if available, otherwise to F:\SWAPPATH, with a hotkey of Left-Shift-Alt-K. SWAPTN /dD:\ /A/k14/S1 This would load SWAPTN, swapping to D:\, with a hotkey of Alt-T. -Extended Memory In order to use extended memory with The SWAP Utilities, you must use a driver that supports Microcoft's "eXtended Memory Specification (XMS), ver 2.0", such as Microsoft's HIMEM.SYS. The current versions of 386MAX and QEMM both support XMS on 386 machines; alternatively, the latest official XMS driver may be gotten free from Microsoft, either through their Compuserve Forum (GO MSSYS), or by calling Microsoft customer service at (800)426-9400 and ask for a copy of the "XMS Specification and it's supplemental diskette." Please note that if your computer supports both XMS and EMS, EMS memory is the preferred choice; using XMS requires almost twice the amount of memory. IMPORTANT NOTES -General Notes for All Utilities If you are swapping to disk, two swapfiles are created in the specified drive and directory. A third swapfile is created no matter what swapping method you have selected. These swapfiles must not be deleted while the SWAP utility is loaded. Doing so will cause your machine to crash if you attempt to popup! You must load The SWAP Utilities after all network drivers, disk cache programs, and other programs that require background processing. With these exceptions, load order is not important. You can load The SWAP Utilities at any point, early or late in your TSR order. You can also load The SWAP Utilities in extra DOS memory with 386Max(TM) or QEMM-386(TM). You may safely load a SWAP utility inside a Software Carousel(TM) partition, or as a global SC utility. You may notice a period of a blank screen when attempting to swap partitions after having used a SWAP utility, but be patient, and the partition will change normally. When pasting large blocks into an application, you will occasionally see a "hiccup" with the SWAP message on the display -- this is caused by swapping your aplication in and out, to read the next set of keys. Most applications support virtually unlimited paste buffers, and the memory used by the SWAP utilities is limited. In general, do not attempt to use a particular application's "unload" or "remove from memory" feature. It won't work, and will in all likelihood crash your machine. Use the /U feature of the SWAP utility instead. When creating swap files for disk-based swapping, the SWAP utilities default to the root directory of Drive C:. If you create an environment string called TEMP with the SET command, the utilities will instead default to the directory specified by that command, and the use of /D will not be necessary. An example of setting an environment string would be: SET TEMP=G:\ where G is a fast RAM disk. This would cause disk-swapping to take place in the root directory of Drive G:. The environment variable TEMP must, of course, be set prior to loading your SWAP utility. The programs will attempt to swap in the following sequence: 1) Try to swap to EMS; 2) If /D specified, try to swap to specified path; 3) Try to find environment variable named "TEMP" and if it exists, swap to the specified path; 4) Try to swap to the root directory of Drive C:; or, 5) abort, and remove both the application and the SWAP utility from memory. -Note for Microsoft Word Users: When using The SWAP Utilities with Microsoft Word, you should not use the /G switch, even if you plan to use Word in graphics modes. The SWAP Utilities automatically detect the presence of MS Word 4.0 and 5.0, and will switch between text and graphics modes as needed. This switch works on CGA, EGA VGA and Hercules systems with Word 4.0, except in Hercules 90x43 mode. Word 5.0 users who work in graphics mode will need to do an extra bit of setup. In order for the switch between text and graphics to work, you must set both text and graphic display modes in the Word 5.0 Options menu. Load Word 5.0, and bring up the Options menu. Select the appropriate text display mode for your system. Return immediately to the Options menu, and now select the graphics display mode you wish to work in. Test the results by pressing Alt-F9, to toggle between text and graphics modes. Exit from Word, and you're all set! -Notes for Specific SWAP Utilities SWAPSK ------ Calculator paste does not work with SWAPSK. Calculator Paste will work when SideKick is popped up, however, so you can paste from the calculator into the notepad, and then paste from the notepad into your application! SWAPSP ------ Background communication must be disabled to use SWAPSP. If you're using Super PC-Kwik in EMS, do not use the /Q+ parameter. Returning quickly to the DOS prompt will cause problems with SWAPSP. If you change the Services menu text for "Paste from Clipboard" or "Screen to Clipboard", TESTSP will not be able to locate the correct addresses it needs. These two options must be set to their factory defaults in order for TESTSP and SWAPSP to run! The Ctrl-Center key works as the default "Display Dial" shortcut key. However, TESTSP is unable to detect that this key has been changed as a shortcut key, so in order to use this feature, you must use the default key. SWAPTN ------ You will not be able to load Tornado using the "repeat" option. If you do not use the /N switch, SWAPTN will load Tornado as "TN 99" to allow you the maximum "pile" size. There is no cost in "real" RAM for this, so we recommend you load TN that way yourself, if you are loading it in a batch file. SWAPMT ------ If you load METRO in a batch file that loads multiple utilities, such as the EXPRESS.BAT file that is created, you must add the following lines to the batch file to correctly swap out the entire application: At the beginning of the batch file, before the call to METRO, add: SWAPMT /N /E <and any other cmd-line switches you want> At the end of the batch file, after loading everything, add: SWAPEX This will ensure that all the METRO applications are correctly swapped. SWAPEX.COM has two command-line switches: /Pxxx -- xxx is the number of minutes between automatic polling of MCIMAIL. /Ay -- y is the letter of your Lotus Express Comm_Manager application. For example, if you load: SWAPEX /P60 /AX This tells SWAPMT to poll MCIMAIL every hour, and that Express is "X" on the METRO Menu. Approximately one minute after loading SWAPMT, Express will be popped up and be given the command to manually poll MCIMAIL. This automatic polling will not occur if the underlying application is a communications program, and if communications interrupts are "hot". If this situation occurs, SWAPMT will attempt to pop up at 10 second intervals, waiting for the communications program to finish. Also, if a key has been hit within 10 seconds of the scheduled popup time, SWAPMT will not pop up, again, cycling every 10 seconds until safe. This is to prevent unwanted popup while you're typing in another program. IDC is aware that this feature of SWAPMT is a bit awkward. We're working on a better way right now, but we're not sure how it will go. Any background processing will not take place as scheduled. You must popup METRO first. This includes express!!! Alt-Shift-Enter works as a paste key, and all keyboard macros in the currently loaded macro file are operational at the DOS prompt. Use S_RUNKM.COM instead of RUNKM.EXE to run macros from a batch file. Use S_LOADKM.COM instead of LOADMAC.EXE to run macros from a batch file. The syntax for these programs is the same as their Metro counterparts. SWAPSH ------ DO NOT USE PC-CACHE.SYS with SWAPSH, unless you actually have a Bernoulli Box installed. PC-CACHE.COM works fine. You must add the PC Shell's /R switch to the command-line when loading the program in a batch file -- without the /R switch, the program loads, but does not go resident. You may now execute programs when PCED is active, or when using 4DOS. You still must be at the command-line, but SWAPSH will detect the command-line with these additional environments. PCRUN.COM must be in your PATH in order to execute programs correctly. If you do not use the /N switch, SWAPSH will load Shell with the /RLARGE parameter, forcing Shell to use as much memory as possible. This is because The SWAP Utiltiies can swap memory in and out faster than Shell. SWAPDT ----- You must add PC Desktop's /R switch to the command-line when loading the program in a batch file -- without the /R switch, the program loads, but does not go resident. Alarms do not function. Keyboard macros from the DOS command-line do not work. SWAPNG ------ No special instructions. SWAPMM ------ You must add MemoryMate's /R switch to the command-line when loading the program in a batch file -- without the /R switch, the program loads, but does not go resident. -Differences from The SWAP Utilities Version 1.10 Extended memory may now be used, if HIMEM.SYS is loaded. /T3 switch added. Command-line error-checking improved. If application uses EMS, it is correctly free'd when unloading with /U. DesqView supported. Incompatibilities fixed with Carousel 3.0. Reduced memory requirements. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE Direct telephone support is only guaranteed for registered users. Non- registered users will be supported directly only as time permits. The quickest and easiest way to get technical support, registered or not, is to contact Chip Rabinowitz at Compuserve 70731,20, MCIMAIL 315-5415, or FAX 1-215-886-4225. You may also write to Innovative Data Concepts at the address above, or call 1-215-884-3373. COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LICENSE Innovative Data Concepts, the copyright owner for The SWAP Utilities, hereby licenses you to: use the software; make as many copies of the shareware version of this software and documentation as you wish; give exact copies of the original shareware version to anyone; and distribute the shareware version of the software and documentation in its unmodified form via electronic means. There is no charge for any of the above. This is not free software. This license allows you to use this software without charge for a period of 30 days. In order to include this software as part of any product, either commercial, shareware, freeware, or public domain, registration is required. Any such use of The SWAP Utilities is in violation of federal copyright laws and will be prosecuted. No copy of the software may be distributed or given away without this accompanying documentation; this notice must not be removed. ONLY COPIES OF THE SHAREWARE VERSION MAY BE DISTRIBUTED IN ANY FORM. IDC will provide disks with the shareware versions of ALL SWAP Utilities programs upon written request. Warranty There is no warranty of any kind associated with this software, and the copyright owner is not liable for damages of any kind. By using this software, you agree to this. Every effort has been made by Innovative Data Concepts to make this product bug-free. However, the nature of software development is that it is impossible to guarantee bug-free software. If a registered user reports a verifiable bug, the user will receive a free upgrade to the next version of The SWAP Utilities. Registration Upon receipt of the appropriate registration fee, Innovative Data Concepts will send the user a printed copy of this documentation, a disk containing a version of The SWAP Utilities without the shareware registration screen, and a registration number entitling the user to upgrades and telephone support. Bulletin Boards, Users Groups and Disk Vendors Bulletin Board Sysops and User Groups are encouraged to fill out the form below, which will automatically place them on a mailing list to receive the latest version of all IDC shareware products as they are released, as well as upgrades to already existing programs. There is no fee for this service. Disk Vendors who wish to distribute The SWAP Utilities must satisfy one of the following requirements: 1) The vendor must have been accepted as an associate member of the Association of Shareware Professionals; or 2) The vendor must agree to abide by the standards for disk vendors, as set forth by the Association of Shareware Professionals. Disk vendors who do not meet these requirements are NOT PERMITTED TO DISTRIBUTE THE SWAP UTILITIES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! For information on obtaining ASP-approved status, contact: Vendor Membership Coordinator Association of Shareware Professionals PO Box 5786 Bellevue,WA 98006 UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY THE SWAP UTILITIES BE DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT ALL ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION FILES (INCLUDING THIS COMPLETE FILE), ALL PROGRAMS, AND OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED WITH THE OFFICIAL COPIES FROM INNOVATIVE DATA CONCEPTS. ANY SUCH DISTRIBUTION OF THE SWAP UTILITIES OR ITS RELATED FILES, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS LICENSE, SHALL BE DETERMINED TO BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS AND WILL BE PROSECUTED. ABOUT INNOVATIVE DATA CONCEPTS Innovative Data Concepts is a consulting firm owned and operated by Chip Rabinowitz, specializing in Ram-Resident programs, communications, printing, video and more. Rabinowitz is an Assistant Sysop on the Computer Language Magazine Forum on CompuServe Information Service and also provides technical support for Borland International as a member of "Team Borland" on their Compuserve Forums, in the areas of Turbo C, Turbo Assembler, Turbo Debugger, and Sidekick Plus. He is also the leader of the TesSeRact Development Team, a group pushing for Ram-Resident Programming Standards. The technique used to swap these applications may be applied to other resident programs as well, and Innovative Data Concepts is currently investigating other possibile SWAP?? programs. If you have any suggestions/comments, please contact IDC. A similar technique may also be directly incorporated into resident programs; for more information, please contact IDC directly. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Association of Shareware Professionals The owner of Innovative Data Concepts is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP), an organization formed in April 1987 to strengthen the future of shareware (user-supported software) as an alternative to commercial software. Its members, all of whom are programmers who subscribe to a code of ethics, are committed to the concept of shareware as a method of marketing. ASP has established stringent standards for its members. ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a problem with an ASP member (other than technical support), ASP may be able to help. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at PO Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006. The primary goals of the ASP are: To inform users about shareware programs and about shareware as a method of distributing and marketing software; To encourage broader distribution of shareware through user groups and disk dealers who agree to identify and explain the nature of shareware; To assist members in marketing their software; To provide a forum through which ASP members may communicate, share ideas, and learn from each other; and To foster a high degree of professionalism among shareware authors by setting programming, marketing, and support standards for ASP members to follow. Standards for the Association of Shareware Professionals PROGRAMMING STANDARDS: The program meets the ASP's definition of "shareware" (i.e., it is not a commercial demo with major feature disabled, nor a time-limited program). The program has been thoroughly tested by the author and should not be harmful to other files or hardware if used properly. DOCUMENTATION STANDARDS: Sufficient documentation is provided to allow the average user to try all the major functions of the program. Any discussion of the shareware concept and of registration requirements is done in a professional and positive manner. SUPPORT STANDARDS: The member will respond to people who send registration payments, as promised in the program's documentation. At a minimum, the member will acknowledge receipt of all payments. The member will establish a procedure for users to report, and have acknowledged, matters such as bug reports, and will describe such means in the documentation accompanying all versions of the programs. The author will respond to written bug reports from registered users when the user provides a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Known incompatibilities with other software or hardware and major or unusual program limitations are noted in the documentation that comes with the shareware (evaluation) program. GENERAL: Members will keep the ASP apprised of changes in mailing address; which shareware programs they have published and are currently supporting; the current version numbers; and of any changes in the status of their programs. If a user has a dispute with an ASP member-author, the user may appeal to the ASP to mediate for arbitration of the dispute. For more information about the Association of Shareware Professionals, contact Paul Mayer, Membership Coordinator of the ASP, at Compuserve 70040,645, or write the ASP at PO Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006.