Current Shareware 1994 January/SHAR194.ISO/textfile/hof1093.zip/README.HOF

Text File | 1993-10-10 | 13KB | 250 lines

                   ╔═══════════════════════════════╗
                   ║   THE FREEWARE HALL OF FAME   ║
                   ╚═══════════════════════════════╝

       ┌─────────┐
       WHAT IS IT?  We are a list of programs commonly found on public
       └─────────┘  access Bulletin Boards.  The programs on this list
       have been tested and found to work as described, and to be
       worth downloading. The list is limited to Freeware, defined as
       programs and databases for which NO FEE is required for use by
       individuals.  The meaning of Freeware, Shareware and Public
       Domain, all frequently mis-used, are given below.

       ┌────────┐
       WHAT'S NEW  We added 15 programs by David Daniel Anderson and
       │FOR 10/93  more from a dozen other authors.  With 15 entries,
       └────────┘  David becomes a leading Freeware contributor.

       Last issue we began releasing the HALLFAME file and this README
       as self-readers.  README grows exponentionally in size with
       that format so we went back to an ASCII file for the README.
       After a 2-year search for the perfect program to convert a text
       file to an EXE we discovered Bruce Guthrie's marvelous utility,
       READ.  We used READ307 to make the file this month.  It was the
       perfect utility, and Freeware of course.

       If users would prefer the text file to a self-reader, let us
       know.  We're reluctant to include both out of consideration for
       BBS harddrive space.

       ┌───┐
       NAMES  Others in the circle of Great Freeware Writers for their
       └───┘  output and quality are John McNamara--noted benefactor
       of sysops; Robert Vostreys; Fredrick Volking; Chris Dunford
       (CED & 6 others); Ward Christensen; the two Keiths - Graham and
       Ledbetter; Michael Mefford; Vern Buerg and so many others.

       ┌────┐
       IN ALL  this HOF edition lists more than 930 entries by 500+
       └────┘  authors.

       ┌────┐
       LAYOUT  The Freeware Hall of Fame comprises three sorted ASCII
       └────┘  indexes in the file HALLFAME.EXE.  Each index contains
       the same information: Author, Program Name, a brief Description
       of the program, and the Program Category.  Index One sorts by
       AUTHOR, Index Two by NAME and Index Three by TYPE.

       ┌──────┐
       TO PRINT  the indexes, set standard 80-col narrow-carriage
       └──────┘  printers for 12 chars per inch (Elite).  The file
       prints very nicely with appropriate page breaks on 8½ by 11
       paper, but at more than 50 pages we're really too large to
       print now.

       ┌─────┐
       UPDATES  will always be named HOFmmyy.ZIP and there will never
       └─────┘  be two in one month.  HOF packets should contain
       HALLFAME.EXE, README.HOF and a SYSOP.NOTe, and may or may not
       contain a FHOF Logo and description.  These are commonly
       stripped off during uploads.

       ┌────────────┐
       WANT A HOF D/L  We give an ON-LINE version of the Freeware Hall
       │DIRECTORY ON│  of Fame to any Sysop who wants it for his BBS.
       YOUR AREA BBS?  The 5 megs of Freeware amount to 150 programs
       └────────────┘  using the ZIP archive, plus indexes for PCBoard
       and most other popular BBS platforms. These are the programs
       themselves, not merely a list.  The indexes contains full
       descriptions of the programs.

       We estimate there are about 140 Boards in North America, Europe
       and Africa now carrying the ON-LINE FHOF.  If you'd like it on
       a local BBS ask the sysop to read the SYSOP.NOTe in this packet
       for more information.  It's a free service to sysops.

       ┌───────┐
       JUST WANT  We give files to others also.  If you have a local
       │ FILES?│  or school computer club and would like Freeware
       └───────┘  programs, call us.

       ┌──────┐
       WHO'S IN  Among the most prominent people in the computer
       THE HOF?  world, past and present, are those programmers who
       └──────┘  allow us to use their programs at no cost. Writing
       software and distributing it via Bulletin Boards with no
       request for payment, they enable everyone to share the fruit of
       their knowledge, the benefit of their discoveries, and the
       steady advances that have typified the computer industry from
       the beginning.

       ┌───────┐
       GRATITUDE  This file is intended to honor those generous and
       └───────┘  wonderful people.  The HOF Index is not finished and
       never will be. It's a list that will grow every few months as
       we attempt to catch up with the hundreds of fine people who
       represent the hobby side of the IBM PC world, and along the way
       we honor a few pioneers from the era of CP/M, lest we forget.

       ┌────────┐
       AMONG THEM  are some of the best programmers in the profession,
       └────────┘  software experts sought after and employed by the
       most advanced government and industry employers in the world.
       The Freeware they write on their own time (cough) commonly
       reflects the highest level of concept and execution.

       ┌──────┐
       BENEFITS  This Freeware Hall of Fame is the only published
       └──────┘  guide to tested Freeware. All these programs work.
       All are free. Nearly all are commonly available on public
       access Bulletin Boards and at Internet ftp sites, as well as at
       the Hall of Fame.  We can recommend them as programs that will
       do the job they were intended for.

       ┌───────┐
       WHERE YOU  Our file is indexed to make these programs easier to
       FIND THEM  find, but locating them on a Bulletin Board can
       └───────┘  require a search. The Board's ZIP, ARC or LZE/LHA
       packets commonly are named with an abbreviation of a program's
       full name, often adding a version number to that. You might
       have to hunt and peek unless the Sysop has set up a Freeware
       Hall of Fame Directory all to itself.

       ┌─────┐
       PCBOARD  Some of the programs for running a BBS such as PCBoard
       └─────┘  make the search easier. On a PCBoard, entering
                             Z filename A
       should reveal every version of <filename> the BBS has available
       for download.

       For example, you will not find DIRX, Kaya's file management
       program for compressed files, listed in a BBS file index. The
       -index name- for the program is DRXxxx where xxx is the version
       number, and that changes with every update. The Z command in
       PCBoard is a -text search- command and it will find the word
       DIRX in the file -description- since it can't be found in the
       file index.

       ┌──────┐
       FREEWARE  Freeware refers to programs or databases that an
       DEFINED│  individual may use without payment of money to the
       └──────┘  author. Commonly the author will copyright his work
       as a way of legally insisting that no one re-write it prior to
       getting his approval. The copyright has nothing to do with a
       user fee, aside from giving the author a legal right to require
       one.  Freeware authors don't exercise that right so far as
       individuals are concerned.  In some cases a program will be
       Freeware for an individual but require a site license if used
       by business or government.  The HOF includes these.

       ┌────┐
       PUBLIC  Other Freeware is in the Public Domain, which means the
       DOMAIN  author donated his work to the public and retains no
       └────┘  ownership rights. No fee can be required for the use of
       these programs, though a polite and sometimes humorous request
       for author support might drift into the Docs.

       ┌────────┐
       WHAT'S NOT  Shareware is not here.  Shareware refers to a way
       │ HERE?  │  of marketing programs.  It involves using Bulletin
       └────────┘  Boards and software distribution mail order houses
       to distribute software rather than using retail stores.  And
       most importantly, shareware programs are available to "try
       before you buy."   Because you're expected to buy shareware
       programs if you decide to use them, they aren't Freeware.

       As Shareware, many superb programs are made available at
       reasonable cost. Most Shareware is a delight to use.

       ┌───────┐
       SHAREWARE  always asks for a fee to use the program and the
       └───────┘  author says so, usually in a professional way. A few
       authors aren't professional when discussing payment. They
       presume you're not going to pay and in their Docs they insult
       you.  A few authors are...strange. We discovered one Shareware
       author offering a $100 reward for information about anyone
       using his $10 program without registering it.  Ok...

       ┌──────┐
       CRIPPLED  Some Shareware comes crippled. You get only a
       └──────┘  limited version of the program until you buy it.
       Shareware might have annoying delays and payment dunnings built
       into the program which only go away when you purchase a
       registration number. Some Shareware quits working if you don't
       buy a code number within a few weeks.  Some shareware requires
       that you download a key from the author's board which will
       expire if you don't buy a permanent key.

       ┌──────┐
       FREEWARE  does none of these things. The author might
       └──────┘  ask as one did that you take him to dinner (he called
       his method Dinnerware), and another suggests you take your
       spouse out to atone for the time you spend at the computer.
       One German author wants you to send him picture postcards.
       Freeware authors often show a sense of humor. They also
       frequently provide the source code.

       ┌───────────┐
       WHO GOT HERE?  To gain entry to the Freeware Hall of Fame,
       └───────────┘  a program can be discovered by the FHOF compiler
       or nominated by someone.  Anyone may nominate a program and we
       encourage Freeware authors to nominate their own. The only
       requirement is that the software be a PC program or database
       available for individual use at no cost. Every program gets a
       1-line listing. Ward Christensen gets 1 line for his CP/M
       communications programs--probably the most influential Freeware
       of all time--and you'll get a 1-line entry for your program.

       ┌─────────┐
       NOMINATIONS  are made to the compiler of this list and we need
       └─────────┘  to know 4 things:
       (1) Author name
       (2) Software name
       (3) Brief description of what the program does
       (4) Your certainty the program is Freeware.

       ┌───────────┐
       CALL THE HALL  We can be contacted three ways: via the ILink
       └───────────┘  computer network; via the Internet as
       [e-mail] and through our FHOF BBS.

       ┌───┐
       ILINK  Hundreds of BBSs around the world are members of the
       └───┘  ILink network and many North American cities have an
       Ilink affiliate or two. The network is a collection of hundreds
       of topic conferences which are provided to member Bulletin
       Boards for the use of their callers. The HOF monitors the
       Shareware and Sysops conferences for mail addressed to Rey
       Barry. The monitoring is automated so watch the sperling. Rey
       has the E, Barry has the A.  All Ilink messages are public.

       ┌────┐
       │FHOF│  Our BBS operates 24 hrs a day using PCBoard software
       │ BBS│  and a USRobotics Dual Standard modem.  The FHOF
       └────┘  conference is #3.  804-293-4710 and enter J 3 at the
       main menu. 1st time callers have 30 minutes and have batch
       download privileges up to 99 files.

       ┌───────┐
       COPYRIGHT  This file, the accompanying files HALLFAME.EXE and
       └───────┘  SYSOP.NOT, and the name "Freeware Hall of Fame" are
       Copyright 1989-93 by Rey Barry. HALLFAME.EXE is a Freeware
       database offered for the use of all to accord Freeware authors
       the recognition their contributions have made to the PC hobby.

                                   Charlottesville, VA, USA  1993
                                   FHOF BBS -- 804-293-4710
                                   [e-mail]