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Checkbook Management Program
everyone. If you are in doubt as to whether you have a double
precision version, follow the appropriate steps above and check a
report. If you already had double precision capability, your report
will have garbage on the first screen - that is, the transactions will
not line up properly on the screen and there may be some strange
characters displayed.
If you get a bad report or if you know for sure that you have double
precision capability, restore the data files from your back up copy,
and follow these instructions.
1) Delete the file CUSTOM.DAT from your data disk.
2) Start the new program. You will be asked whether the data is
on a floppy diskette or a hard disk. Answer <Y> if your data
is on a floppy disk. Answer <N> if it is on a hard disk.
3) The program will begin. You will have to redo any customizing
you had already specified (monitor colors and such).
4) Try running a report again. If the files are still faulty,
please contact M. P. Data for assistance.
Appendix E: New Features
New features of version 5.1:
1) List by category/all categories - new option to list compactly or
one category per page.
2) If the memo on a check is not blank, the memo information appears on
a second line for all listing reports, not just the ones by
category.
3) List categories report lists alphabetically in columns, not across
the page, as it used to.
4) List by categories/all categories - new option to omit page
numbers. This was requested by a user who wanted to pass selected
pages to his accountant without having the accountant wonder about
the missing numbered pages.
5) The character pressed in bank reconciliation to mark the transaction
as having cleared is retained as entered rather than changed to an
"X". This can be used to indicate which reconciliation session
cleared that transaction.
6) The category pop-up function will now recognise the home and end
keys. Home will take you to the first category entry and end will
place you at the last category entry.
New features of version 5.0:
1) Some minor cosmetic changes (boxes around menus, etc.).
2) Faster sort routine (as of 7/14/88 - some copies of 4.0 already have
this).
3) On all reports that print single line information, if the memo field
of a non-check transaction is not blank, then this information is
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Checkbook Management Program
printed instead of the transaction identifier.
4) Blank check numbers are no longer allowed.
5) New report - Annual Income Report. Similar to Annual Expenditure
Report, but uses deposits.
6) New report - List Uncleared Transactions. Lists all uncleared
transactions regardless of dates.
7) Annual Expenditure Report and Annual Income Report can be viewed on
the screen rather than printed, if desired.
8) Transactions can have default categories defined for them. See
System Customization for details.
9) New report - Reconciliation Report. This is found after Bank
Reconciliation and lists all transactions just cleared as well as
the current balance, bank balance, total deposits cleared, and
total withdrawals cleared.
10) The presence or absence of DEVICE = ANSI.SYS in the CONFIG.SYS file
no longer affects the Checkbook Management Program. If the line
was present, older versions eventually lost color completely. That
no longer happens.
11) A list of current categories can be "Popped-up" to select a
category by highlighting it.
12) The Checkbook Management Program can now print checks.
New features of version 4.0:
1) Bank charges and interest entries (through Bank Reconciliation) will
ask for more information than before. You can now enter a different
date and your own category and memo information.
2) The Find by Contents report now totals the amounts involved.
3) Enter and Correct menus can access transaction types by pressing the
first letter of the transaction type in addition to highlighting the
name and pressing <enter>.
4) New report: List Bank Transactions.
5) Voided transactions (those with zero amounts) can be retained for
report purposes.
6) The report listing AutoTeller transactions has been split into two
separate reports. One lists AutoTeller Deposits, the other lists
AutoTeller Withdrawals.
7) Those reports which list both deposits and withdrawals will total
these amounts separately.
8) The account balance now appears on the Main Menu, Report Menu, and
Deletion Menu screens.
9) Printed report pages are now numbered.
10) Files are now closed then reopened after five transactions have
been entered. This forces the files to be written to the disk,
reducing the potential amount of material lost in the event of a
power failure or other mishap.
11) The transactions can be sorted by check number (with other
transactions appearing in alphabetical order at the end of the
list).
New features of version 3.x:
1) The ability to correctly handle amounts of money larger than 90,000.
2) New reports - List of checks only in an interval and Summary Report.
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Checkbook Management Program
3) List all budget categories now lists the categories in alphabetical
order.
4) The ability to change all occurrences of a category name with a
different category name (new or existing).
5) The three special listing reports (Checks only, Deposits, and
Automatic Teller Transactions) print/display the total of all
transactions appearing in the report at the end of the report.
6) The first four reports (Check Register, Checks only, Deposits, and
Automatic Teller Transactions) print/display the current balance as
part of the report header information.
7) The transactions can be sorted into chronological order rather than
leaving them in the order entered.
8) There is a new column on the Annual Expenditure Report, giving the
average monthly expenditure for each budget category.
9) There are two new customized options. You can define a fiscal year
other than the calendar be used for the two annual reports (Annual
Expenditure Report and Summary Report). And you can change the
default number of printed lines per page.
10) The ability to list transactions based on the contents of the "To
Whom" and "Memo" fields.
11) Check numbers larger than 32767 will now increment correctly.
12) This version also contains corrections for all the minor bugs
reported in the previous year.
New features of version 2.x:
1) Data files on hard disks will no longer cause an error.
2) Better use of color on color monitors. You can change the colors
used if you do not like the colors supplied with the program.
3) Future dates are still disallowed. However, for those who write
checks for dates in the future, this disallowance can be disabled
(see System Customization).
4) Deposits and Auto Teller Transactions can have budget categories
assigned to them and can have the memo field filled in.
5) A seventh report has been added allowing you to generate the second
report (Transactions in a category) for all categories at once,
rather than one at a time.
6) A couple of minor bugs have been corrected.
7) Internal routines have been changed to better use DOS and BIOS calls
rather than writing directly to the screen buffer. This should
clear up some of the compatibility problems that have been reported.
8) Check numbers and transaction dates are prefilled, but can be
changed.
9) Category reports include totals.
Appendix F: Transfer Data to a Hard Disk
1) Use the DOS COPY command to copy CONTROL.DAT, CATEGORY.DAT, and
CHECKS.DAT from the floppy diskette to the correct subdirectory you
have chosen for the hard disk.
2) Make this subdirectory the current directory on the default drive.
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Checkbook Management Program
3) Run the program. Since the file CUSTOM.DAT was not transferred, it
will begin with the question "Is default drive (where data is) a
floppy drive? (Y or N)". Press <N> then <enter>.
4) The program continues normally.
5) If you had customized the program, select System Customization (on
the Utility Menu) to reset these values.
Appendix G: Multiple Accounts
It is possible to use this program with more than one account. There
is more than one way this can be accomplished.
If you are keeping your data on floppy diskettes, then use a separate
diskette for each account.
If you are keeping your data on a hard disk, then keep each account in
a separate subdirectory. The program can reside in the same directory
as each account (giving you multiple copies of the program on your
disk, which will waste space), or you can keep the program on a floppy
disk and run the program with the command A:CHECKS, or you can use the
PATH command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to specify the full path leading
to the subdirectory containing the program file.
Appendix H: Special Tips
1) Regular backups of the data files are strongly recommended. It is
vital that the four (five, if you are printing checks) data files
are kept together. If the files are small enough to fit on a single
floppy, then use this command:
COPY B:*.DAT A:
(Assuming your current data files are on a diskette in drive B:.) If
the files are larger (and you are using a hard disk), use this
command:
BACKUP C:*.DAT A:
You may have to adjust the PATH command so that DOS can find your
copy of the BACKUP command. Refer to your DOS manual for additional
details.
If you ever need to restore your backed up files, be sure to restore
all of them, not just one.
2) If it is necessary to split a check between two or more categories,
this is the method I have used. Enter the check once with the
amount to be credited to the first category as if that's all the
check was written for. Then enter the check again (using the same
check number) with the amount to be credited to the next category.
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Checkbook Management Program
The check number can be repeated as many times as necessary. As
long as you enter all portions of the check at the same time (or
place the same date on all segments then sort by date), the segments
will appear together on most of the reports and in the bank
reconciliation process.
Appendix I: Glossary
This is a glossary of some of the words used in this document that may
need defining.
Auto Teller - This is also referred to as an automatic teller (or ATM).
This is a machine used by many banks to allow people to
deposit or withdraw funds without the assistance of a human
teller. They use a special plastic card and coded numbers to
transact business. Most people have seen one, even if their
bank does not offer one.
Backup Copying the data and program files to another disk that can
be kept in another location. Then, if anything happens to
the first disk, the second can be used with a minimum of data
loss. I recommend backing up the data files every time you
finish with this program.
Cursor The blinking line or block on the screen that shows where the
next character typed will appear.
Data Files - This is where the information you enter about transactions
is kept. This program uses two primary data files named
CONTROL.DAT and CHECKS.DAT. If either is deleted, your
information is lost. Please copy these files to a backup
disk every time you exit the program. This is for your
protection. Disks are not meant for permanent storage and
can go bad. This program also uses a customization data file
(CUSTOM.DAT), a category list file (CATEGORY.DAT), a check
printing parameters file (PRINT.DAT), and a scratch file
(TEMP.DAT). See System Customization for more details on
CUSTOM.DAT. The program will recreate any missing files.
However, CUSTOM.DAT and PRINT.DAT may need modifications, if
the program recreates them after you have customized them.
<F1> Function key F1. The function keys appear to the left of the
typing keys on on form of the IBM PC keyboard. They appear
across the top of others. F1 is one on these (they are marked
F1, F2, etc.). In this program, pressing <F1> will display a
Help screen. Function keys <F1> and <F10> are the only ones
used by this program.
<F10> Function key F10. If the cursor is in a field requesting a
budget category, pressing <F10> will activate a pop-up window
containing an alphabetical list of your current categories.
A category may then be selected by highlighting it. See the
section on Pop-Up Notes for additional information.
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Checkbook Management Program
Menu A choice of options. Just as a restaurant will present you
with a menu of the items they have available to sell, this
program will present you with a menu of the functions it can
perform. You make your choice on these menus by either
highlighting the one you want in reverse video or pressing
the letter in parentheses.
Reconciliation - Sometimes referred to as balancing the checkbook.
Verifying the permanent record of the checks agrees with the
bank's statement of funds deposited and withdrawn.
Reverse video - Most of the screen presentations will involve normal
video (white letters on a blue background for color monitors,
green letters on a black background for green monochrome
monitors, amber letters for amber monochrome monitors). Menu
choices and data to be filled in will appear in reverse
video, that is, black letters in a field of either green or
amber, for monochrome monitors, white letters in a field of
red, for color monitors. Systems with color monitors have the
added option of changing these colors.
Transaction - For this program, a transaction is any item dealing with
the bank. This includes checks, deposits, automatic teller
withdrawals, automatic teller deposits, interest postings,
service charges, and other bank charges.
Valid date - A valid date is one that can really appear on a calendar.
April 31 is not a valid date as April has only 30 days.
February 29, 1993 is not a valid date, as 1993 is not a leap
year.
Voided Transaction - A transaction with a zero amount.
Appendix J: Messages
This section summarizes some of the messages you may receive when
running this program. If you need further assistance, please contact:
Marilyn Price
M. P. Data
113 Foxport Dr.
Kingsport, Tennessee 37664-5626
(615) 349-7744
1) Amount is zero. Void transaction (V), Edit (E), or Quit (Q)
The amount on the transaction you are entering or correcting is
zero. If you want to keep the transaction in the data file with the
zero amount, press <B>V<D> to mark it as a voided transaction. If
the zero is a mistake, press <B>E<D> to reedit the transaction or
<Q> to ignore the transaction entry or changes.
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Checkbook Management Program
2) Blank check numbers are not allowed. Please correct.
Since there is no way to correct or delete a check with a blank
check number, this field CANNOT be left blank. Press any key to
return to the check number field and make an entry.
3) Dates out of order.
Several of the reports require a range of dates. The first date
entered must be earlier than the second. You will be given the
opportunity to correct the situation.
4) Error in file CONTROL.DAT.
Once you have begun to really use the program, this message should
never appear. It should only appear before you have entered any
data. Its appearance means that at some time, you began the
program, but it was unable to complete the initialization process.
This message would appear the next time you attempted to run the
program. To correct it, delete the file CONTROL.DAT and begin
again.
5) Invalid Date.
The date you entered cannot be found on a standard calendar. April
31 would be an invalid date as April only has 30 days. February
29, 1993, would be an invalid date as 1993 is not a leap year.
6) More than 50 categories. Some will be omitted.
The function you are accessing sorts the categories into
alphabetical order. There is an internal limit of 50 categories
for this. If this number is too small for your purposes, please
contact M. P. Data to have it increased.
7) More than 200 transactions were cleared.
This message appears in the Reconciliation correction mode when
more than 200 transactions were just cleared. This is the internal
limit. You can review the first 200 of the cleared transactions,
but, if the error is not in this group of transactions, the program
will not be able to help you.
8) More than one found. Indicate which you want.
More than one transaction meets the criteria you requested.
Indicate which one on the list displayed is the one you want.
Enter 1 for the first on the list, 2 for the second, etc.
9) No entries to reconcile.
You are trying to reconcile an account with no uncleared
transactions.
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Checkbook Management Program
10) None cleared this time.
You are attempting to use the Reconciliation correction mode
without clearing any transactions. This mode only operates on
those transactions just cleared. Once you return to the Main Menu,
this mode is no longer available.
11) Not Found.
The transaction you were looking for was not found. Please recheck
the check number or transaction date and try again. If this
appears in a report, it means that no transactions met the report
criteria.
12) Nothing to report.
There are no transactions which match the report criteria.
13) Real indefinite.
You are attempting to run the program with the data on a hard disk
after telling it that the data would be on a floppy diskette. The
program is attempting to determine the remaining disk space.
Unless your hard disk is very full, this number is much too large
for the program to handle. To correct, follow the instructions
earlier in this manual for transferring data from a floppy diskette
to a hard disk.
Appendix K: Support
Registered users of the Checkbook Management Program receive the
following:
> A copy of the current diskette set.
> A printed manual.
> Notification of future upgrades, which are available at a reduced
price.
> Notification of any other products available from M. P. Data.
Current upgrade policy:
> Users who register within 90 days of an upgrade release receive the
upgrade free.
> All other registered users can obtain a disk only upgrade for $5.00
or a disk plus printed manual upgrade for $10.00.
These prices and policies are subject to change without notice.
Current support policy:
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Checkbook Management Program
> M. P. Data will answer all letters and phone calls from both
registered and non-registered users about getting started with the
program. This includes questions about the basic functionality and
features of the program, damaged disks, and undocumented error
messages. These kinds of problems are answered regardless of
registration status.
> Registered users are entitled to reasonable support over the
lifetime of the product. M. P. Data reserves the right to terminate
support to users who abuse the service.
> Disatisfied users are entitled to a refund if requested, in writing,
within 3 months of registering. Requests for refunds must be
accompanied by the original registration package (diskette set and
printed manual).
> Registered users are informed about special versions of the
Checkbook Management Program or special utilities that can be used
with the program. These special versions contain infrequently used
features that some users have found useful.
Appendix L: Warranty Information
*** PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY ***
TRIAL USE (SHAREWARE EVALUATION VERSION) WARRANTY:
The Shareware evaluation (trial use) version is provided AS IS. M. P.
Data MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
REGISTERED VERSION ONLY WARRANTY:
M. P. Data warrants the physical diskette(s) and physical documentation
provided with registered versions to be free of defects in materials
and workmanship for a period of sixty days from the date of
registration. If M. P. Data receives notification within the warranty
period of defects in materials or workmanship, and such notification is
determined by M. P. Data to be correct, M. P. Data will replace the
defective diskette(s) or documentation.
The entire and exclusive liability and remedy for breach of this
Limited Warranty shall be limited to replacement of defective
diskette(s) or documentation and shall not include or extend to any
claim for or right to recover any other damages, including but not
limited to, loss of profit, data, or use of the software, or special,
incidental, or consequential damages or other similar claims, even if
M. P. Data has been specifically advised of the possibility of such
damages. In no event will M. P. Data's liability for any damages to
you or any other person ever exceed the lower of suggested list price
or actual price paid for the license to use the software, regardless of
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Checkbook Management Program
any form of the claim.
M. P. Data SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Appendix M: License Information
This information applies to individual users who wish to pass copies
out to friends and associates.
BBS SYSOPs, User Groups, Computer Clubs, Disk Vendors and Distributors,
Subscription Services, Disk-of-the-Month Clubs, etc., should refer to
the VENDOR.DOC file on the diskette for complete information relating
to them.
PLEASE! Show your support for Shareware by registering the programs
you actually use. M. P. Data depends upon and needs your support.
Thank you!
Trial Use License:
Checkbook Management Program is NOT a public domain program. It is
Copyright 1985 - 1993 by M. P. Data. All rights reserved.
This software and accompanying documentation are protected by United
States Copyright law and also by International Treaty provisions. Any
use of this software in violation of Copyright law or the terms of this
limited license will be prosecuted to the best of our ability. The
conditions under which you may copy this software and documentation are
clearly outlined below under "Distribution Restrictions".
M. P. Data hereby grants you a limited license to use this software for
evaluation purposes for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. If
you intend to continue using this software (and/or its documentation)
after the thirty (30) day evaluation period, you MUST make a
registration payment to M. P. Data.
Using this software after the thirty (30) day evaluation period,
without registering the software is a violation of the terms of this
limited license.
Licensee shall not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile,
disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed
program except as provided in this agreement. Any such unauthorized
use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this
license.
All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to M. P. Data.
Limited Distribution License:
As the copyright holder for Checkbook Management Program, M. P. Data
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Checkbook Management Program
authorizes distribution by individuals only in accordance with the
following restrictions.
(BBS SYSOPs, User Groups, Computer Clubs, Disk Vendors and
Distributors, Subscription Services, Disk-of-the-Month Clubs, etc.,
should refer to the VENDOR.DOC file for complete information relating
to them.)
Individuals are hereby granted permission by M. P. Data to copy the
Checkbook Management Program diskettes for their own use (for
evaluation purposes) or for other individuals to evaluate, ONLY when
the following conditions are met.
The Checkbook Management Program package is defined as containing all
the material listed in the PACKING.LST text file. If any files listed
in the PACKING.LST text file, or the PACKING.LST file itself, are
missing, then the package is not complete and distribution is
forbidden. Please contact us to obtain a complete package suitable
for distribution.
The Checkbook Management Program package - including all related
program files and documentation files - CANNOT be modified in any way
and must be distributed as a complete package, without exception. The
PACKING.LST text file contains a list of all files that are part of the
Checkbook Management Program package.
No price or other compensation may be charged for the Checkbook
Management Program package. A distribution cost may be charged for the
cost of the diskette, shipping and handling, as long as the total (per
disk) does not exceed US $8.00 in the U.S. and Canada, or US $12.00
internationally.
The Checkbook Management Program package CANNOT be sold as part of some
other inclusive package. Nor can it be included in any commercial
software packaging offer, without a written agreement from M. P. Data.
The PRINTED User's Guide may not be reproduced in whole or in part,
using any means, without the written permission of M. P. Data. In
other words, the disk-based documentation may not be distributed in
PRINTED (hardcopy) form.
The Checkbook Management Program package cannot be "rented" or "leased"
to others.
The person receiving a copy of the Checkbook Management Program package
MUST be made aware that each disk or copy is ONLY for evaluation, and
that M. P. Data has not received any royalties or payment for the
product. This requirement can be met by including the complete
Checkbook Management Program package, which contains any appropriate
registration reminders.
The person receiving a copy of the Checkbook Management Program package
MUST be made aware that he or she does not become a registered user
until M. P. Data has received payment for registration of the software.
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Checkbook Management Program
This requirement can be met by including the complete Checkbook
Management Program package, which contains any appropriate registration
reminders.
M. P. Data prohibits the distribution of outdated versions of the
Checkbook Management Program package, without written permission from
M. P. Data. If the version you have is over twelve (12) months old,
please contact us to ensure that you have the most current
version. This version was released in January 1993.
Licensee shall not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile,
disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed
program except as provided in this agreement. Any such unauthorized
use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this
license.
U.S. Government Information: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the
U.S. Government of the computer software and documentation in this
package shall be subject to the restricted rights applicable to
commercial computer software as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of
the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at 252.227-
7013 (DFARS 52.227-7013). The Contractor/manufacturer is M. P. Data,
113 Foxport Dr., Kingsport, TN 37664
All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to
M. P. Data
113 Foxport Dr.
Kingsport, TN 37664-5626
(615) 349-7744
Appendix N: What is Shareware?
Definition and Description of Shareware and the ASP
The Shareware Concept:
If you are familiar with the idea behind Shareware, then you know that
Shareware is the ultimate in money back guarantees.
Most money back guarantees work like this: You pay for the product and
then have some period of time to try it out and see whether or not you
like it. If you don't like it or find that it doesn't do what you need,
you return it (undamaged) and at some point - which might take months -
you get your money back. Some software companies won't even let you
try their product! In order to qualify for a refund, the diskette
envelope must have an unbroken seal. With these "licensing"
agreements, you only qualify for your money back if you haven't tried
the product. How absurd!
Shareware is very different. With Shareware you get to try it for a
limited time, without spending a penny. If you decide not to continue
using it, you throw it away and forget all about it. No paperwork,
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Checkbook Management Program
phone calls, or correspondence to waste your valuable time.
Software authors who use the Shareware method of distribution feel that
Shareware is the best way to try a product. You are able to try it on
your own system(s), in your own special work environment, with no sales
people looking over your shoulder. Have you ever purchased a car and
realized that if you could have test driven it for 30 days your
purchase decision might have been different? With Shareware these
problems can be avoided - you DO have a 30 day test-drive!
After trying a Shareware product and deciding to continue to use it,
then - and only then - do you pay for it. Not only that, but Shareware
is traditionally MUCH less expensive simply because you are paying for
the software, not the advertising and marketing that comprises the
majority of the cost of most software (a one page ad in PC Magazine,
one time, can cost upwards of $20,000). If the try-before-you-buy
concept sounds like an ideal way to make your purchase decisions,
you're right!
Some companies burden their products with annoying copy protection
schemes because they don't trust their users. Shareware developers not
only don't use copy protection, they freely distribute their products
because they DO trust their users.
Someone once said that you should never trust software which doesn't
trust you. This makes a lot of sense - no wonder Shareware is becoming
so popular among users and developers.
Shareware is a distribution method, NOT a type of software. Shareware
is produced by accomplished programmers, just like retail software.
There is good and bad Shareware, just as there is good and bad retail
software. The primary difference between Shareware and retail software
is that with Shareware you know if it's good or bad BEFORE you pay for
it. Registration of Shareware products, in addition to being required,
is also an incentive for programmers to continue to produce quality
software for the Shareware market.
There is another significant advantage to Shareware - it allows small
companies (like M. P. Data) to make software available without the
hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses that it takes to launch a
traditional retail software product. There are many programs on the
market today which would never have become available without the
Shareware marketing method. Please show your support for Shareware by
registering those programs you actually use and by passing them on to
others. Thank you for your support!
The Virus Problem:
We've all heard the horror stories about computer viruses.
Unfortunately, we have also heard lots of conflicting statistics and
opinions. When it comes to the virus problem there is a lot of
confusion among users and even developers.
The sad truth is that some unscrupulous publishers of anti-virus
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Checkbook Management Program
products are using half-truths, overdramatizations, and outright
fabrication to promote sales of their products. They delight in
manipulating statistics to support their marketing efforts. While not
illegal, these snake-oil tactics are certainly not ethical.
To make matters worse, the media has frequently promoted the
misinformation promulgated by these unscrupulous individuals rather
than the straight facts. While the misinformation may be more
interesting than the actual facts, the media is not doing the computer
industry any favors by spreading inaccurate information. To be fair,
many newspapers, magazines, and news networks are beginning to realize
which "virus experts" are reliable and which "experts" say whatever is
in their own best interest.
One of the most interesting myths that has been promulgated by these
snake- oil salesmen is that BBSs (Bulletin Board Systems) and Shareware
programs are a major source of virus infections. This is interesting
since one of the individuals who makes this claim, also distributes his
virus detection system as Shareware. Some corporations are now afraid
of Shareware and BBS activity because of this misinformation.
In the October 11, 1988 issue of PC Magazine, publisher Bill Machrone's
editorial was entitled "Shareware or Scareware?". In his article, Bill
Machrone points out "The truth is that all major viruses to date were
transmitted by commercial [retail] packages and private mail systems."
That sounds a little different than the claims being made by less
knowledgeable journalists.
Let's consider for a moment, the distribution differences between
retail software and Shareware software. Company XYZ releases a new
version of its retail software product. At the same time that company
XYZ ships tens of thousands of copies to its retail distribution
channels, it also ships 30,000 updates to loyal users. Most of those
loyal users will receive the update within a few days of each other.
This can be a big problem if the update happened to be infected with a
virus.
"Not likely", you say? It has already happened! Several times! There
have been seventeen (17) major incidents of virus and trojan horse
problems in retail software. Some of these incidents affected tens of
thousands of users.
What about Shareware? To date there has been one case of a shareware
author shipping an infected product. The virus was detected by the
disk vendors and the problem was corrected immediately. No users were
infected.
"But it makes sense that programs which are passed around have a
greater chance of virus infections, doesn't it?" Think about it. Who
has the most to lose if viruses were spread by BBSs and Shareware
programs? The BBS operators, Shareware disk vendors and the Shareware
authors, of course. Because of this, reputable BBS operators, disk
vendors and Shareware authors are very careful with the programs they
handle.
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Think about it. Hundreds (even thousands) of BBS operators and disk
vendors are carefully examining the programs they receive and
distribute. Their business depends on it. This means that any given
Shareware program can go through hundreds (even thousands) of
checkpoints where the program is carefully examined. If a problem is
found the word spreads incredibly fast. News travels "on the wires"
even faster than the proverbial small town gossip. Programs have
disappeared almost overnight as a result of this highly efficient
communication network.
If a Shareware program has been around for a few months, it has been
checked for viruses and trojan horses many more times than any retail
software could hope to be checked. Retail distributors don't check the
disks they sell. Even if the publisher checks their masters for viruses
(few do), that is still far less than the scrutiny to which Shareware
programs are subjected.
There's something else to consider. Most retail distributors have a
return policy. What do they do with packages that are returned? They
shrink-wrap them and resell them, of course. How can you be sure that
you are the first person to purchase the package you just bought at
your friendly neighborhood computer store? You can't. On the other
hand, most shareware authors erase, reformat, and reduplicate the disks
that are returned to them. Which do you think is safer?
Bill Machrone's article in PC Magazine goes on to say "It's time to
recognize that there's nothing to fear in shareware. As a distribution
medium, it saves you money and helps you try out new genres of software
with minimum risk."
Does this mean that we should all start buying Shareware instead of
retail software? Not at all (although few Shareware authors would
object). Let's face it, more data has been lost to power failures and
spilled cups of coffee than all viruses, trojan horses, and worms
combined! An even bigger threat is plain old human error, a mistake,
a wrong key press, turning off the power while files are open, and so
forth. Accurate information and common sense (regular backups) are the
best defenses against lost data.
Sure, the virus problem is real. Viruses exist. But shunning
Shareware is not the answer. Shareware and BBSs are, quite simply, NOT
a major source of virus infections. Some corporations have even banned
Shareware entirely because of fear of infections. This is not only
unreasonable, it is also expensive. Think how much they could save in
software costs if they would only try software before they buy it!
Is there anything you can do to help protect yourself from virus
infections? Absolutely! Fortunately, the best preventive measures are
also the least expensive!
If you need informative, accurate and practical information, please
read the treatise on "Computer Virus Myths" written by Rob Rosenberger
and Ross M. Greenberg. This treatise is available as a text file on
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many BBSs and online services. It not only gives you the facts, it
also provides the best overall strategy for protecting your computer
system.
Don't let fear stop you from saving money on software. Don't let fear
prevent you from trying some of the best software available. Shareware
is an important market for software. Take advantage of it. You'll be
glad you did!
The Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP):
In the early days of Shareware there were no real standards.
Independent authors had no efficient way to learn from each other or to
work together to improve the overall image of Shareware. There was no
system in place to ensure that users were treated fairly and
professionally. There was no way for users to find an address for an
author who had moved. In short, the Shareware community was
disorganized and each author did things the way he or she thought was
best. It was clear that if Shareware was ever to become a viable and
respected marketing alternative, there had to be some standardization.
There had to be some guidelines to best serve the users.
In 1987 a handful of Shareware authors founded the Association of
Shareware Professionals (ASP). In forming this industry association,
these Shareware authors had several primary goals in mind, including:
> To inform users about Shareware programs and about Shareware as a
method of distributing and marketing software.
> To foster a high degree of professionalism among Shareware authors
by setting programming, marketing, and support standards for ASP
members to follow.
> 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.
The newly formed Association of Shareware Professionals worked together
to draft a code of ethics for all present and future members. This
code of ethics included several requirements that soon became very
popular among users (customers), including:
> A member's program (evaluation version) could not be limited
(crippled) in any way. In the true spirit of Try-Before-You-Buy,
users must be able to evaluate all the features in a program before
paying the registration fee.
> Members must respond to every registration. At the very least they
must send a receipt for the payment.
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> Members must provide technical support for their products for at
least 90 days from the date of registration.
A new system was put in place to help ensure that users were treated
fairly and professionally. If a user was unable to resolve a problem
with a member author then the user could contact the ASP Ombudsman with
their complaint. The Ombudsman would then try to help resolve the
dispute. For more complete details regarding the Ombudsman, please
refer to the "ASP Ombudsman Statement" below.
The ASP currently (November, 1990) has about 300 author members and
almost 200 vendor members, with new members joining every week.
Contacting ASP Members Via CompuServe:
There is an easy and convenient way to speak directly to many ASP
Members (both authors and vendors). Visit the Shareware forum on
CompuServe. Simply type "GO ASPFORUM" - or "GO SHARE" - from any
CompuServe ! prompt.
Here you will be able to talk to the authors of your favorite Shareware
programs, learn about other programs, ask questions, make suggestions,
and much more.
Author Address Changes:
People move. Forwarding orders expire. What can you do?
"I got a copy of a Shareware program written by an ASP Member. I sent
in the registration fee and the post office returned my letter saying
that it was undeliverable. Now what do I do?"
If the author has moved then chances are very good that you have an old
version of the program. This is another situation that the ASP can
help you to resolve. ASP Members are required to keep the ASP informed
of address changes. If you need to obtain the current address for a
member, simply write to the following address:
ASP Executive Director
545 Grover Road
Muskegon, MI 49442
U.S.A.
or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe MAIL to ASP Executive
Director 71327,2051.
For More Information:
If you would like to learn more about the Shareware phenomenon, there
are several excellent sources of additional information. Two of the
best books ever written about Shareware are described below.
Announcing an Outstanding Book/Disk NEW from Dvorak*Osborne/McGraw-Hill
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Dr. File Finder's Guide to Shareware by Mike Callahan and Nick Anis
Foreword by John C. Dvorak
Includes One 5 1/4" Disk with Dr. File Finder's Favorite Shareware
Programs: Qmodem 4.2, BackMail 1.10, dCOM 3.44, and many more.
For All IBM PC & Compatibles.
"[Mike's] book distills thousands of hours of his online search for the
crown jewels of Shareware into one usable guide. As such, it may be
the most valuable computer book you'll ever buy."
--Jack Rickard, Publisher, Boardwatch Magazine
"No one combines Dr. File Finder's comprehensive knowledge of the
Shareware genre with his good taste in software. This is sure to be
the definitive place to look for insight and program information."
--Barry Simon, Former President of the
Association of Shareware Professionals, PC
Magazine Columnist, and Coauthor of Stackey,
Batutil, and Ctrlalt
"GREAT! Every PC user will find something of value within these pages.
This book will save you a bundle."
--Alfred Glossbrenner
"If I were going to buy only one computer book, this would be it."
--Tom Scott, Publisher, Telecomputing Magazine
Nobody knows Shareware like the illustrious Dr. File Finder, known off
line as Mike Callahan. Now, in Dr. File Finder's Guide to Shareware,
you can learn about dozens of leading Shareware programs, including
where and how to get them. In the true spirit of Shareware, this
book/disk package includes a disk full of top programs that you can try
out yourself before registering. Send in the card at the back of the
book and you'll get two additional disks with more software.
About the Authors:
Mike Callahan, AKA Dr. File Finder, is the world's leading authority on
Shareware. He regularly accesses thousands of bulletin board systems
and has been a major force in promoting many of the top Shareware
packages. Callahan has spent several years and thousands of hours
helping people around the world learn more about Shareware.
Nick Anis is the coauthor of several acclaimed best-sellers in the
Dvorak*Osborne imprint, including Dvorak's Guide to PC
Telecommunications, Dvorak's Guide to Desktop Telecommunications, and
Glossbrenner's Complete Hard Disk Handbook.
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$39.95, ISBN: 0-07-881646-7, 950 pp. 7 3/8 X 9 1/4
AVAILABLE NOW AT YOUR LOCAL BOOK OR COMPUTER STORE OR CALL TOLL-FREE 1-
800- 227-0900 (M-F, 8:30 - 4:30 PST)
Shareware: "Try Before You Buy" Software:
Perhaps you've read Rob Rosenberger's well known and highly acclaimed
treatise on the computer virus problem. If you liked that article then
you'll love his excellent book on Shareware. This book is a must for
anyone who is interested in Shareware, what to look for (and look out
for), and where to find it. In this book, shareware author and writer
Rob Rosenberger delves into the very heart of Shareware, telling you
who developed the concept and why.
You'll know why these programs: * undercut the price of retail
software * helped bring down the use of copy protection schemes *
receive numerous editorial and reader survey awards * generate more
sales than retail software in some cases * make retail OS/2 software
developers so nervous * are falsely accused of spreading computer
"viruses".
Rob shows you where you can find good Shareware. You'll learn to
beware of companies that make money by abusing the "try before you buy"
concept. And you'll discover where Shareware is heading in the near
future.
"A lot of good books devote just one or two chapters to the concept and
history of Shareware. I'm pleased to say there is finally a reference
book on the subject."
--Jim Button, cofounder of the Shareware concept
"It's filled with accurate information for anyone who wants to learn
about one of the most significant sources of high-quality software."
--Edward Mendelson, contributing editor, PC
Magazine
Here's all the information you need to obtain your copy of this
outstanding book:
Shareware: "Try Before You Buy" Software by Rob Rosenberger Third
Edition Only $6.95! Paradise Publishing
Phone: (800) 233-2451 3111 S. Valley View Blvd.
Suite B-105
Las Vegas, NV 89102 U.S.A.
(Note: I would like to thank Bob Falk of Falk Data Systems for writing
this file and allowing A.S.P. members to include it on their disks. I
have adapted portions of it for this disk as it is an excellent
description of shareware, virus, and ASP. M.P.)
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Appendix O: ASP Ombudsman Statement
This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the Shareware
principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a Shareware-
related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly,
ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a
dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical
support for members' products.
Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at:
ASP Ombudsman
545 Grover Road
Muskegon, MI 49442
U.S.A.
or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe MAIL to ASP Ombudsman
70007,3536.
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