PsL Monthly 1994 July/PSL Monthly Shareware CD-ROM (Public Software Library) (July 1994).iso/readme

Text File | 1994-06-14 | 12KB | 287 lines

                              PsL Monthly CD

> To view this file, use the PgUp and PgDn and cursor keys.
> When done, press ESC to exit this file.
> Then PSL_SHRD will run. That is the program that accesses the CD.
> Next time, you can just run PSL_SHRD to skip seeing this file.

> PSL_SHRD is a DOS-based program. To access the CD from Windows,
> run PSL_SHRW.EXE by using File-Run from Program Manager's menu bar.

Welcome to the PsL July 1994 CD. This month's CD contains over 1200
programs received by PsL in the last 30 days. In addition, this month
includes all the programs from our Windows and DOS sections related to
Games.

To access those files, change to the \GAMES directory and type README.


1. License & Warranty:

Run PSL_SHRD to read the CD-ROM usage license and warranty.


2. File Format:

All programs are in ZIP format. Some very large programs may have also been
installed on the CD so that individual users of the CD (as opposed to BBS
users) can more easily try them out without having to go through a long,
disk-space eating installation. For the benefit of BBSs, these programs
are also included in ZIP format for easier downloading.

The "preinstalled files" directories do not have FILES.BBS files, as they are
not intended for downloading (because the same files are in ZIP format in
other directories).

All of the new ZIPs have FILE_ID.DIZ files for easier BBS use; however,
due to time constraints in trying to move large sections of PsL's disk-based
library from floppies to the CD on a monthly basis, some of those programs are
in self-extracting archive format rather than in ZIP format and many ZIPs do
not have FILE_ID.DIZ files. There are FILES.BBS files in each directory.


3. Here is the directory structure of this CD:

DOS\
  BIZ_FIN - financial apps for business
  BUSINESS - general business apps.
  COMMUNIC - communications
  DATABASE
  DTP -      desktop publishing
  EDUCA -    education
  ELEC_PUB - electronic publishing
  GAMES
  GRAPHICS - clip art, graphics displays, etc.
  HOME -      various home apps.
  HOME_FIN - financial programs for the home.
  MAILLIST - mailing list managers and related programs
  MUS_SNDS - music and sounds and related programs.
  PRGMMING - programming.
  PRINTING - printer utilities/apps.
  RELIGION
  STATS_EN - statistics, math, engineering.
  UT_DskFi - disk drive and file related utilities.
  UT_Systm - hardware related & operating system related utilities
  WORDS -    word processing programs and utilities, editors, etc.

WIN\
  APPS -     general applications
  DESKTOP -  desktop tools (clocks, notepads, reminders, etc)
  EDUCA -    education
  GAMES
  GRAPHICS - graphics, fonts, icons, BMPs, etc.
  PF_FM -    Program Manager & File Manager replacements, enhancers, tools.
  PRGMMING - programming
  SOUNDS -   WAV files and sound-related utilities.
  UTILS -    utilities
  VISUALBS - Visual Basic programming


4. FILES.BBS files:

For BBS use, we have added FILES.BBS files listing the contents of each ZIP
file directory. We have been told a dozen different formats to use, but the
format we used was the one most common to the various formats mentioned:

FILENAME.EXT --SIZE--  --DATE--  Description----------------------------------
^1                21^  ^24     | description continued.-----------------------
                               ^32

Each directory has a FILES.BBS file in it. There is also a FILES.BBS file
in the root directory for all the new/updated programs for the month.


5. The \SCREENS Directory

The Screens directory contains screen shots of some programs on this CD.
For information about how to see the screen shots while reading PSL_NEWS,
see TOGETHER.DOC in the SCREENS directory. (TOGETHER is not required for
viewing screens with PSL_WIN.)


6. RUNTIMES

The RUNTIMES directory contains run-time files required by some other
programs.


7. Problems

All the programs on this CD have been tested and should run. If you have
difficulties, write or call PsL's Tech Support department. Most difficulties
can be cleared up over the phone in a couple of minutes. There is normally no
waiting to talk to a technician.

(1.) "My machine locks up or reboots when I try to install a program
      using the PSL_NEWS program."

You have one of the small percentage of systems with a CD-ROM driver that is
incompatible with PKUNZIP. To get around that problem, we have placed a public
domain unzip program on the CD. To invoke it, you must use the DOS-based
program and run it using the syntax: "PSL_NEWS /U" (without the quotes).

The only drawback is that some programs have subdirectory structures stored
in the ZIP files and UNZIP will not recreate the directory structure the way
PKZUNZIP will. To get around that problem, copy BOTH the program ZIP file and
PKUNZIP.EXE from the CD onto your hard disk and then use "PKUNZIP -D [pgm]"
(substitute the program zip file name for "[zip]") to unzip it.

(2.) "PKUNZIP tells me to insert another disk when I try to unzip the
      file from the CD."

The programmer used a PKZIP flag that he shouldn't have when zipping
the program. To get around this, copy the ZIP file from the CD to your
hard disk and use PKUNZIP to unzip it to the same directory on your
hard disk as the ZIP file.

(3.) "I can't view the PCX files shown in the program reviews."

To view the PCX files in the DOS-based access program, PSL_NEWS.EXE,
you must set up and run the program TOGETHER which is in \SCREENS
directory. See the file TOGETHER.DOC for instructions. You do NOT need
to use the TOGETHER program if you are using PSL_WIN.EXE to access the
CD-ROM.

(4.) "There are no files on the CD."
     "There are no files in one of the directories."
     "I get an error trying to copy a file from the CD."

We have only had a few such complaints, but in all cases, there was nothing
wrong with the CD. Some of the users who made the complaints were able to
read the CDs without error on other machines or even when trying later on
the same machine.

We suspect that the problem is with dust or dirt in the drive or, more
specifically, on the laser lens, or on the CD-ROM disc itself. If you do not
have a CD lens cleaner, get one from your dealer. Also inspect the non-printed
side of the CD for dust or debris.

One caller took the CD out, wiped it off, put it back in, and it worked.
Maybe it was dirty or maybe just re-seating it helped.


8. Frequently Asked Questions:

(1.) "Why don't you install the programs on the CD ready to run instead of in
      ZIP format?"

There are many reasons:
 - Many programs try to write back to the directory that they
   are installed in, which cannot be done on a CD.

 - Many programmers require that their programs be distributed
   in archived format.

 - Some installation programs configure the software to the system they
   are installed on, so that a program installed on our system may not
   work on yours.

 - Because we add a section of PsL's disk-based library to the CD each
   month, there is not room to have all the programs dearchived.

 - For use of the CDs on BBSs, files must be in archive format.

Distributing the programs in archive format makes for a much neater
package, making programs easier to find. Dearchiving a program to
hard disk only takes a few seconds and by using a temporary directory,
you can easily delete the files when done.

(2.) "Are the same programs repeated on each month's CD?"

No. The \DOS and \WIN directories contain only the new programs received
by PsL during the last 30 days. In addition, we put a different section
of our disk-based library on each month's CD. These sections do repeat
every six months, but they are updated for the thousands of new files
received during the previous six months.

(3.) "I'm not interested in the section of PsL being added to the CD this
      month. Why should I have to pay for a CD with a section I don't want
      in order to get the lower subscription price?"

For the same reason that a magazine purchased from a newsstand costs twice
as much as the same issue if you subscribe. The reason for the lower price in
a subscription is that you agree to take every issue.

In addition, focusing on the old programs, which we decided to add to the CD
as a free bonus, is ignoring the purpose of the CD.

The PsL Monthly CD was conceived (and priced) as a way to get the many
hundreds of new programs received at PsL each month out to the public
in an economical way.

The first CD was released in July 1993 with about 350 programs on it and sold
out in two weeks. We did not start adding sections of our library to the
CD until December 1993. By that time, the number of new programs on each
month's CD doubled to an average of over 700.

Even though it meant a back-breaking amount of work to get the additional 2000
to 3000+ files onto the CD each month, we did not raise the price of the CD a
penny. Yet some people who had happily paid $19.95 to get the 700 or so new
programs each month, suddenly focused only on the programs on the files
that they did NOT want - a particular section of our disk-based library.

That may be because for retail sales purposes, WE have had to emphasize the
library section on the cover of the CD, even though that is not the purpose of
the CD.

Please remember that there is no other source to get so many new programs on
such a timely basis for such a low price. If you do not have a need for a
particular section of our disk-based library, just ignore it and focus on the
new programs on the CD. You only have to use/enjoy a few programs, clip art
files, sound files, etc., per month out of the 800+ new programs each month to
more than offset the cost of the CD compared to disk fees and download fees.

(4.) "After the PSL_NEWS program installs a file, the program sometimes has to
      be installed again from those files. Why can't it just be installed
      once directly from the CD-ROM?"

Some shareware authors have custom installation programs which create
directories, put files in specific directories, configure the program to the
user's specific hardware, etc. We cannot have multiple INSTALL programs in the
same directory and it would be cumbersome to have a separate directory for
each program, so we are forced to archive such programs, resulting in their
having to be installed once from the CD-ROM and installed again with the
author's installation program.


9. YOU Make This CD.

Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. We are striving to make this
the ideal CD for sysops and vendors, as well as for individual and users. We
will implement every possibly suggestion which will still allow us to produce
the CD in a timely manner and which will not degrade the CD is some other way.

If you are a programmer and want your program distributed on this CD, simply
send it on disk to the address below.



                         Public (software) Library
                               P.O.Box 35705
                          Houston, TX 77235-5705

                           Voice:   713-524-6394
                           FAX:     [phone]
                           CompuServe: 71355,470



Now press ESC and the PSL_SHRD.EXE program will run.

Once the program is running, you can press F1 for more instructions,
although the use of the program should be pretty obvious and simple.

In brief, you select a category, read about programs, and press I to
install one. The installation will leave you at the DOS prompt, ready
to read the documentation files and run the program.

PsL's installation simply un-ZIPs the files onto your hard disk.
Some programs may require you to perform a further installation.
After the files are put on your hard disk. Look for files like INSTALL
or files with README in the name or with extensions of .DOC or .TXT.
These files can be read with the VIEW program from the CD. If your CD
is drive D:, for example, type D:\VIEW READ.ME (assuming you are in
the installed program's drive and directory).

If you need assistance, call PsL's Tech Support at 713-524-6394.