PsL Monthly 1993 September/PSL Monthly Shareware CD-ROM (Public Software Library)(September 1993).bin/reviews/ed_01

Text File | 1993-07-06 | 16KB | 445 lines

ED-01:  Computer Education


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0286 Pop-Up Help          Small Programs Disk
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Capture
   Kihlken, Tom
   $0
loads into memory and when you press Alt-C, captures whatever text is on the
screen at the time into a file format that can be loaded into the HELP program.

Error
   Leisy, Steve
   $0
tells you what the error numbers mean which some programs abort with, such as
"Error 5 in Line xxx...".

Expert Panel (XPANEL)
   AdvenTech, Inc.
   $20
lets you display the commands assigned to function keys for any text-based
program. You can create the display list with any text editor. This is not as
powerful as ShoFkey, but it does have some different options, such as color
controls. It does not work on all clones. It does not work under DESQview on our
machines.

Help (HELP-MM)
   Mefford, Michael J.
   $0
reads the screen stored by Capture (up to a total of 14 user-specified screens)
into memory so that it can be recalled with a keypress.  This is primarily
intended for creating help screens, as the name implies.  (res:22k)

Paint
   Prosise, Jeff
   $0
is a screen editor that makes it easy to create custom help screens. It offers
line drawing and color control and saves the screens in a file format that can
be loaded by HELP. Paint can also be used to edit screen files captured by
CAPTURE.

Help 1.1 (HELP11)
   Crouch, John
   $15
was created for beginning to advanced DOS users. It contains information about
DOS commands, hard and floppy disk preparation, and DOS command syntax. It
supports Microsoft's Mouse.

Help 2.4.1
   Unique Software ASP
   $?
lets you create custom help screens for access from the DOS command line. (Not
on this Disk. Ask for disk #8143.)

HelpSys
   Abramson, Ron
   $0
brings up a menu of help files or optionally the help file you specify on the
command line.  From the menu, you can select a help file to view.  Help-System
will use LIST (which you must already have) for viewing the file.

HyperHelper 1.5a (HYPRHLP)
   Flamig, Bryan
   $20
is a utility for creating hypertext help systems.  HyperHelper consists of a
hypertext compiler and browser which enable you to create and view hypertext
files.  A hypertext help system begins as a text file that contains the
information that is to be displayed by the browser.  In addition, special link
commands are embedded into this text which specify how you will be able to
move about the information.  The compiler then reads this file and translates
it into a special hypertext format that you can view with the browser.  We
found the program to be quite useful and easy to set up and use.

PC-Prompt 3.2
   Spuria, Anthony J.
   $20
is a unique resident DOS help utility. As you type a command at DOS, PC-Prompt
watches to see if it is a DOS command and if so, it displays the complete
syntax for the command. If you still need more help, pressing F10 pops up a
screen full of information and examples for the command. This is much easier
and faster than having to pop up a generic help menu and scroll through a list
to find the command you want.

SHellp 1.1
   Sawada, Masaaki Dr.
   $10
lets you add pop-up help windows to programs.  The help windows can be easily
configure by the user; they can be nested; and they are by nature context
sensitive.  Help menus are already provided for a couple of programs
(WordPerfect 5 and WordStar).  (res:42k)

ShofKey
   Davidson, Corry
   $?
shows function key assignments on one line at the bottom of the screen. The
line changes to show the assignments for the function keys in combination with
the Shift, Ctrl or Alt keys whenever one of those keys is pressed.

Also see the file TXT2COM and ASC2COM (section U1-05) which will create
resident, self-scrolling COM files out of text files.

TSRmakr 1.2
   Orman, Jack A.
   $15
is a menu-driven utility for making single-screen pop-up text files. A
full-screen editor is built in for creating or refining the screen, but any
editor can be used that will save in straight ASCII text. The pop-up COM files
that it creates each take about 2k of memory. Colors and hot keys are
user-selectable; multiple screens can be in memory at the same time, each with
a different hot key.


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END OF SMALL PROGRAMS DISK #0286
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4133 DOS Quizzes/Tutorials          Small Programs Disk
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5 Minute DOS Guide (5MINDOS)
   Kenny
   $15
teaches important DOS commands as well as about memory, monitors, files, drives,
batch files and more.

Advanced DOS Quiz 1.6.1 (ADQ)
   Mount, Steve
   $15
is a computer quiz that asks you to perform 20 unusual, difficult, or arcane
tasks in DOS. At the end of the test a score screen is displayed, showing a
listing of all of the questions asked, what the main concept of each question
was, and whether you answered the question correctly or not. The number and
percentage correct of the all questions asked is also displayed. This test is
NOT for the novice user, but is a good way to learn advanced DOS techniques.

DOS Help! 2.0 (DOSHELP)
   Sikes, Don C.
   $15
is a set of quizzes about DOS. This is not a tutorial, just a series of tests.
It covers a wide variety of topics. The question and answer files can easily
be edited, which is good because we felt like several of the questions and/or
answers were not accurate.  (eg: "Parameter... is the target for a command.")
Overall, this is a good set of quizzes to be used in conjunction with a DOS
tutorial.

DOS5mem
   Eyre, Dave
   $0
is a tutorial on computer memory and how to manage it with DOS 5.

DOSQuiz 1.7.1
   Mount, Steve
   $15
tests your knowledge of both basic and advanced DOS commands. At the end of the
test, a score is displayed which shows a list of all of the questions asked,
what the main concept of the question was, and whether the user answered the
question correctly or not.

New DOS Tutor 1.0 (NEWDOS)
   Knoblauch, George T.
   $10
is a tutorial for DOS. It explains the basic functions of DOS.

Tutor by Association 1.3 (TBA)
   AJOY Software
   $23
is an entertaining and colorful presentation of the basics of computer hardware
and software. ASCII graphics are used to good effect throughout.

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END OF SMALL PROGRAMS DISK #4133
--------------------------------


DOS Summary
   Computer Knowledge, ASP
   $25
   #4318
is an on-line reference manual for DOS versions through 5.0. You can access the
information via the DOS command line (by entering DOSSUM FORMAT, to read about
the FORMAT command, for example), or from alphabetical or category groupings of
the commands.


DOS Practice
   Skill Software
   $25
   #7032/2044
helps you learn DOS by practicing a variety of commands in a controlled
environment. It is not a tutorial, as is TUTOR.COM on disk ED-0085. Instead,
it is designed to reinforce what you have learned in a tutorial. Sessions of
simulated interaction with DOS can be selected for whatever topic or level of
expertise is desired, whether the student is a novice or has been using
personal computers for years. A hard disk (or other high capacity drive) is
required because the files unarchived take over 500k.

We have some minor quibbles: it will not accept the phrase "default drive" in
place of "current drive"; it would not accept "01-01-90" as a valid date,
insisting upon "1-1-90"; and there were some other acceptable answers (in our
opinion) rejected.

Nevertheless, the program is very well designed. We think this is an excellent
companion to Tutor or whatever other DOS lessons you are taking. In the past,
we have told people to "work through Tutor several times until it sinks in".
Now we would say "work through Tutor and then run DOS Practice."


Help/Pop-Help
   Help Software
   $15-$25
   #7032/1030
is an 80k pop-up utility that will help you with DOS commands. It will also
let you create your own help files for use with other programs.


Pop Train
   Majkrzak, John M.
   $50
   #7032/1650
is a 60k pop-up help system that you can customize to display specific help
screens depending on the location of the cursor. It can be made to work in
conjunction with most programs, primarily to train new users. Even experienced
users can benefit from Pop Train: most of us have one or more programs which
are run only once in a great while. It is easy to forget the keystrokes
between sessions. If you are the office PC guru, Pop Train can help you avoid
the embarrassment of forgetting how to run a program for which you are
supposed to be the expert.


Tutor
   Computer Knowledge ASP
   $20
   #7032/085
is the program we use at the PSL to train people new to the computer.  It will
teach you about DOS and the computer in general by letting you work at the
keyboard rather than trying to absorb it in the abstract by reading a book.
Tutor includes a tutorial on programming too.


DOS Dynabook
   #7160/512 [2 disks]
makes canned responses and includes useful information about DOS.  This isn't a
particularly efficient way to get information about DOS, but it's fun to play
with.


PC Primer
   Diotte, Peter
   $15
   #7160/2270
is a self-paced tutorial for learning about a microcomputer and DOS. Its topics
range from "First Time User" to "Hard Disk Level 2". Mr.Dos was developed by a
college professor for use in Introductory DOS and Hard Disk Management courses.



ReadyRef
   W. G. Madison & Ass., Ltd. ASP
   $25
   #7160/1317
is a 69k pop-up reference tool containing an ASCII table, calendar, date
calculator, and 11 other definable reference screens, one of which has
been pre-defined to provide help with DOS commands. RR can also be used
in a non-resident mode.


HelpDOS
   Help Technologies
   $20
   #7161/2269
is a help system for DOS. This program consists of menus, detail reference
information, a technical dictionary, and a cross-reference feature called
"Hints." These components work together to show you, quickly and easily, what
DOS can do and how to use it. We highly recommend this system to new users who
expect to do any work in DOS.


Nifty
   Kelly, R. A.
   $50
   #7161/1892
is a combination menu and pop-up help system. When used as a menu the program
will pass as many as 15 keystrokes to any program that it calls, allowing a
Lotus user to have a spreadsheet loaded automatically or a WP user to access a
file quickly.


On-Line Help #1
   #7161/514
provides an on-line description of all the commands and major utilities
available on a hard disk system under DOS 3.x plus a variety of additional
utilities. Since all descriptions are stored in text files, On-Line HELP can
easily be tailored to describe any particular system configuration. An
abbreviated version can also be installed on a floppy disk.


On-Line Help #2
   Ikle, David & Thomann, Chris
   $0
   #7161/0621
This utility has a lot of help files on DOS and other subjects which any one
with a text editor can add to. We are adding this disk as ON-LINE HELP #2
because most of the help files are different on this disk than on the original
one.


Tutor DOS
   Cummings, Kevin L.
   $10
   #7162/2271 [4 disks]
is an interactive, beginner's DOS tutorial. This extensive tutorial consists of
21 lessons with a quiz at the end of each one. Based on the tests, it tells you
which lessons you need to review. If you get stuck on a question, it will give
you hints, and it will accept more than one correct answer.


DosEA
   Langin Software ASP
   $5-$10 per module
   #7499/3163 [4 disks]
is a "hyperbook" DOS teacher for beginners. (A hyperbook is one in which you
can easily branch off for more detail about selected words in the text you are
reading.) Each of the four disks has a specific program. The first disk is for
beginners, the second disk is called "What is DOS?", the third is "10 Easy
Commands", and the fourth program in the series is called "Find That Command".


DOSEA 5
   Langin Software ASP
   $10
   #7653/3433
is a hyperbook which explains the differences between DOS 5 and earlier
versions of DOS.


DOSEA: Switched on DOS
   Langin Software ASP
   $14
   #7653/3729
is a hypertext database of the 238 DOS switches and parameters from DOS versions
1.0 to 5.0.


PC-Learn
   Hood, Jim
   $25
   #7653/3092
is a tutorial for new computer owners and beginners featuring chapters on
buying and using a computer, an entertaining history of computers, DOS
lessons, hard disk drives and tech tips. It provides information on word
processing, a suggested reading list, software selection, computer clubs,
batch files, spreadsheets, and databases. A hard disk or high density drive is
required.


Professor 3T First Tutor
   Software Academy, Inc.
   $69
   #7653/3226
is a comprehensive computer literacy course. It includes 14 lessons, with tests,
glossaries, and status reports. It can be used in a classroom situation and will
keep progress records for each student.


DOS User System
   Jincks, Dan
   $15
   #7809/4552 [2 disks]
is a DOS tutorial and toolkit. It provides help for 110 DOS commands and
subjects and includes 65 freeware utilities with related help files. Seven
text-based tutorials cover intermediate/advanced DOS functions, batch file
programming, configurations, and much more. A powerful text file viewer/print
utility is also provided, and all help files and tutorials may be edited or
printed. You can also create your own text-based information system with up to
26 menus with 36 choices per menu for each application.


EZhelp Reference
   Brain Child Systems
   $25
   #2954
is a help system which can be used as a stand-alone program or with existing
applications. Features include a quick text compiler with optional topic
sorting, reference report, error messages, setup utility, pop-up menus, choice
of line style and colors, manual/automatic text window sizing, optional page
number display, the ability to jump directly to any help topic, and more.


InfoPop 2.1
   GMUtant Software
   $0
   #4635
is a pop-up, 9K TSR guide to using the Internet, Compuserve, and a variety
of other on-line information systems. A non-TSR version is also provided.
Features include hypertext linking of subjects, cut and paste to underlying
programs, mouse support, and more.

Perhaps more significantly, a utility is included for creating your own
databases for use with InfoPop. Making your own pop-up, hypertext
references is fairly easy, but it does require a text editor. Look at
Qedit, Boxer, etc, under Word Processing section for text editors if you do
not already have one (a word processor may not do).


PC-Glossary
   Disston Ridge
   $29
   #2211
contains hundreds of up-to-date definitions of terms and acronyms in a
datafile with a program to search for words and display definitions. This is
not just for novices, either. Terms such as "code page switching" and "write
precompensation" are explained along with all the basics. The only definition
we take issue with is Freeware, which is defined as being public domain.
Freeware is commonly used to refer to software which is copyrighted, but
which can be used without paying a license or usage fee. Requires 512k and a
hard disk or high capacity drive.


Roo
   Forware Systems
   $29
   #4241
teaches basic programming concepts. The program is intended primarily for young
children, but it could be of value to any age group. If you are familiar with
the LOGO or Turtle Graphics, it will help to know that this is similar, but uses
a kangaroo to draw lines as instructed. Requires 640K RAM, EGA or better, and 1
MB of disk space.


World's Simplest Computer
   Langin, Chester ASP
   $19
   #7521/3437 [2 disks]
is a collection of 66 GIF art files making up an on-disk "book" which
illustrates the basic operation of digital electronic computers. EGA/VGA
and a graphic file viewing program like Graphic Workshop (DP-02 #2263) are
required.

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