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1993-08-31
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STATUS REPORT ON THE VENDINFO PROJECT
(still in "alpha-test", 8/31/93)
Brief Project Description
VENDINFO is a system for conveying software product information
and distribution permissions from the author to distributors.
A standard (public) file format will carry extensive information
in a compressed, efficient form. The associated toolset will aid
the author in constructing the record, and will allow the
distributor to extract portions of the record, or to make
distribution decisions based on its content, in a highly auto-
mated way. VENDINFO will allow automation of many operations now
performed manually by BBS Sysops, disk vendors, etc.
VENDINFO Project Status and Plans
On 8/31/93, a minor revision of the VENDINFO file-format
standard (alpha-test version 0.90) was released for study and
comment. As development of the toolset has progressed, a number
of minor errors were found. There was also a substantive change
in the "Required Hardware/Software Platform" area, and a small
number of minor adjustments. Such changes will probably continue
at least through the alpha-test period.
Tools development has been slightly slower than projected, but
we still hope to start the tools alpha-test in September (this
should be the final test phase for the standard itself).
The basic tools involved in this testing will be the VendEdit
editor, the VendPrcs processor, and the software developer's
library.
Upon completion of this toolset, work will begin on the (free)
VendView viewer for end-users, and the Product Registry will be
opened.
Availability of Concept Paper and Draft File-Format Standard
A package containing the VENDINFO Concept Paper and the draft
file-format standard can be obtained from the SHAREWARE forum on
CompuServe (lib 0, VNDINF.ZIP); the UKSHARE forum on CompuServe
(lib 11, VNDINF.ZIP); by download or FidoNet/RIME file
request (as VENDINFO.ZIP) from the Rams' Island Software BBS
(see below); or from various other sources. If absolutely
necessary, hardcopies are available for mailing within the
United States upon receipt of $3.00 U.S. and a mailing label.
A complete set of VENDINFO information, including some material
not available electronically, can be obtained for $5.00 U.S.
and a mailing label.
Trade Groups Which Have Endorsed VENDINFO
The following shareware trade groups have formally endorsed the
VENDINFO file-format standard as a means of conveying product
and product-distribution information from authors to users and
distributors.
Shareware Trade Association and Resources (STAR)
Products Now "Committed in Principle" to Support VENDINFO
The following software manufacturers are "committed in principle"
to "support" the VENDINFO standard. That is, subject to our
development of a satisfactory standard and software developer's
library, these manufacturers agree to extract relevant product
description information directly from the VENDINFO record, much
like today's use of FILE_ID.DIZ. They have not been asked to
make any direct use of the distribution policy information in the
VENDINFO record. That is the function of a separate tool,
optionally available to the Sysop.
BBSes
PCBoard, Clark Development Co.
Wildcat!, Mustang Software, Inc.
Major BBS, Galacticomm
RBBS, RBBS Development Team
Searchlight BBS, Searchlight Software
TBBS, eSoft
Auntie BBS, Wes Meier
Executive Host BBS, Steve Wood
MainLine BBS, Scott Green, City Limits Software
OmegaComm BBS, Larry Loiselle
PowerBBS for Windows, Russell Frey
ProBoard BBS, Philippe Leybaert
Sapphire BBS, Pinnacle Software
Tinyhost, Bruce Krobusek
UltraBBS, UltraBBS Software
Windowed Modem Environment, Jason Fesler
File Upload Processors
CatScan, Mike Ortiz
CheckZip, Bill Hull
DIZIT, Robert Neal/CorpSoft
HoboScan, Floyd Hobson
TransScan, Craig Dunstan
Other Products
Colorado Utilities Disk Manager, Micro Systems Solutions
SmartCat Disk Cataloger, Oakley Data Services
================================================================
Rams' Island Software
7644 E. Lakecliff Way _______
Parker, CO 80134-5904 (USA) ____|__ | (R)
--| | |-------------------
Voice: (303) 841-2848 | ____|__ | Association of
BBS: (303) 841-6269 | | |_| Shareware
CompuServe: 76244,324 |__| o | Professionals
-----| | |---------------------
FidoNet: 1:104/333 |___|___| MEMBER
RIME: RAMSISLE
Internet: 76244.324@CompuServe.Com