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1992-07-18
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CATCON, the BBSee Catalog Database Conversion Utility.
CATCON is a utility designed to convert databases from other shareware disk
cataloging programs to a format which can be easily used by BBSee.
Currently CATCON will convert from CatDisk, Colorado Disk Utilities Disk
Manager, DiskTrak, InteliCat, and Wssindex.
The purpose of this conversion is to allow people using or evaluating the
above mentioned packages an easy opportunity to see how BBSee performs in
comparison. Because of the mechanics of the conversion process, if you
decide to keep using BBSee after undertaking the conversion, recataloging
all converted disks would provide the most complete and accurate database
information.
A. Running CATCON
For the source database to be converted into the appropriate BBSee
database files, CATCON needs to know the location of BBSee's
configuration file, BBSEE.CFG. If a copy is not in the default
directory you will need to supply to appropriate drive and directory
information on the command line ie:
CATCON D:\BBSEE
which will locate the BBSEE.CFG file. Note do not use a trailing back
slash. Note also that the BBSee database files must already exist.
[These would be created when BBSee is run.]
CATCON functions by providing you a selection list of the possible
programs which can be converted. Once a selection is made, a list of
catalog databasse, based on their extension, in the default directory
is provided. Simply hit <Enter> on the appropriate file you want
converted. Repeat this process for each database file.
B. Possible Conversion Errors.
The information used in creating this conversion program is often
based on my guesses on how the respective program's database
functions. As such there is very little error trapping since, I do
not know specifically what to go after. If you have 'real' data in
your BBSee catalog, I suggest that before converting the other
datbase, you modify your BBSEE.CFG file and create test Catalog,
Archive, and Volume databases, do the conversion into these databases
first, and review them with BBSee to make sure they are what you'd
expect.
CATCON will try to not allow information in the database which would
take away from BBSee's integrity. One of these processes is the
determination of duplicates, between what is in the current BBSee
volume database and the disk catalog database being converted. If
duplicates are found BBSee will identify this to you in a file called
CATERROR.LOG. You must correct any duplicates before conversion can
be completed. One method of doing this would be to manually delete
the duplicates by label name in BBSee.
Other error messages will be displayed by CATCON, when it finds
differences in what I determined would be the appropriate database
information for the conversion of a specific database type.
C. Improvements to CATCON
I may add other catalog program formats depending on demand, and my
ability to decipher the database formats. I will also attempt to keep
current with these programs, and make modifications that are
suggested, but developing BBSee is my first priority. Comments and
problems on using CATCON are appreciated. Details on technical
problems you have in an actual conversion process would be
appreciated, especially if you could provide me with a copy of your
old catalog database.
D. Information on the other programs.
The products mentioned in this document and within the CATCON program
are all shareware products, and copyright belongs to their respective
authors.
For further information on these products the latest addresses I have
are:
CatDisk
DISK CATALOG SYSTEM
COPYRIGHT (C) 1986, 1992 BY RICK HILLIER
Rick Hillier
405 Barrington Lane
Waterloo, ONTARIO
Canada N2T 1H9
Colorado Utilities Disk Manager (CUDM)
Copyright (c) 1988, 1992
Micro System Solutions
5048 W. Maplewood Ave.
Littleton, CO 80123
DiskTrak
Peninsula Software
28510 Blythewood Dr.
Palos Verdes, CA 90274
InteliCat(tm) Disk Cataloger
Copyright (c)1990-91 By Curtis Little
All Rights Reserved
Curtis Little
2413 San Felipe Way
Modesto, CA 95355
Wssindex Disk Indexing Software
Programs and documentation copyright (c) 1985-1992
Robert W. Babcock and WSS Division of DDC
All Rights Reserved
WSS Division of DDC
4 Reeves Road
Bedford, MA 01730