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Night Owl 6
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Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso
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foxcut01.zip
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README.1ST
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1991-04-30
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270 lines
WELCOME TO FOCKE'S-CUT
INTRODUCTION:
-------------
In case you aren't familiar with what is known as the Focke directory
it is a listing of Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) bulletin board
systems (BBSs) and it is updated monthly. The listing is arranged
into categories: active BBSs within the WMA are listed by area
(DC.DIR, MD.DIR, and VA.DIR) as are active BBSs outside of the WMA
(NMMD.DIR and NMVA.DIR). In addition, BBSs that are 'down' are in a
list (DOWN.DIR) and BBSs that provide user support for software
products, hardware products, etc. are provided in a listing
(SUPPORT.DIR).
To date, users have had no convenient way of determining which of the
BBSs listed would be a local call - particularly true for those
numbers beyond the WMA. That is a problem that Focke's-Cut is
designed to solve.
The program was originally designed to help only BBS users beyond the
WMA determine which of the Focke listed BBSs would be a local call.
Howver, during program development, it became obvious that the program
could be expanded to provide this capability to all BBS users within
or nearby the WMA.
PROGRAM FEATURES:
-----------------
1. Focke BBS files can be used to create a listing of BBSs within
YOUR local calling area. (Due to on-going changes in the
telephone system, there can be no guarantee given that the list
of numbers that results is 100% accurate. If you call the BBSs
listed, a simple test of whether or not the number is local is to
make sure you do not include the long distance prefix '1' on the
number when you call! Virginia residents should take care to
check numbers for extended area calling rates.)
2. You can look up a local BBS and get its telephone number.
3. You can search the Focke's-Cut database to determine if your
local exchange is included. (If yours is not included, there may
be several reasons: 1) periodic changes in the telephone system,
2) you are in an area outside the WMA that has not been included,
and 3) database errors or omissions! The database is intended to
include all exchanges within a 'reasonable' distance from the
center of Washington, D.C. In any event, if your exchange was
missed or if you feel that it should be included - write! The
address is given below. Be advised however, there is no
guarantee that your exchange will be included in the next
program/database update.)
4. You can view all of the calling areas and numbers included in
Focke's-Cut's WMA telephone exchange database.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
---------------------
Running Focke's-Cut requires two files:
1. FOCKESCT.EXE
2. AREASFC.001
In addition, full use of the program requires that you obtain the
Focke directory described earlier. This directory is updated monthly
and is released as a ZIP file having the structure DCBBmmyy.ZIP where
mm is the current month and yy is the current year. When this file is
unzipped, it yield several files. Those that are needed for this
program are:
1. DC.DIR (DC DIRectory)
2. MD.DIR (Maryland DIRectory)
3. VA.DIR (Virginia DIRectory)
4. NMMD.DIR (Non-Metro Maryland DIRectory)
5. NMVA.DIR (Non-Metro Virginia DIRectory)
STARTING FOCKE'S-CUT:
--------------------
When starting the program up, you can enter the following command line
parameters (note that they are not case sensitive):
/A() - This allows you to tell the program where to find the
AREASFC.001 file if it is not in the default directory. If you
don't use this command and the program can't find the file, it
will ask you where it is to be found.
/F() - This allows you to tell the program where the Focke DIR files
can be found. Again, if the program can't find the files, it
will prompt you to enter the correct path/directory.
/M - For monochrome monitors should make the screen more readable.
A sample command line is as follows:
FOCKESCT /Aa: /Fd:
Be sure to leave a space between each of the parameters as shown.
This sample command line would start the program and tell it that the
AREASFC.001 file is in the a: drive and that the Focke DIR files are
in a RAM d: drive (more about the use of RAM drives in a moment.)
USING FOCKE'S-CUT:
------------------
There are several actions you can take to speed the program up and
things you should know about how it operates:
1. If at all possible, copy the Focke DIR files listed above to a
RAM disk. This will speed the program up considerably when you
begin searches for BBSs within your calling area or for BBS
names.
2. You will note that on yes/no questions, the letters Y and N are
written to the screen and either the Y or the N is uppercase and
highlighted. Pressing the <ENTER> key will automatically choose
the emphasized option. You can still choose the option by letter
and can, of course, select the non-emphasized option by pressing
the appropriate letter.
3. When searching for a BBS, remember that the first search looks
for the EXACT occurrence of the text you enter. For example, if
you entered 'Dark Forest,' the program might find 'The Dark
Forest' and 'Dark Forest Lands.' If the actual name of the BBS
was 'Darkforest,' the program would not identify it. However,
the program would then ask you if you want to search for all BBSs
having any of the words you have specified. If you answer 'Y'
(or press <ENTER>) it will search for any BBS having the words
'Dark' or 'Forest.' The program would then identify all of the
BBSs named in this example during the search.
During a word search, keep in mind that the program will not
search for matches to 'trivial' words such as AN, AT, IN, IS, OF,
ON, OR, THE, or TO, nor will it search for single letters. This
helps eliminate scores of unwanted BBSs during searches. Also,
no matter what the search level, the area you specify before the
search begins is the only one searched. E.g., if you specify that
you think that the BBS is in Virginia, the program will search
only the VA.DIR and NMVA.DIR Focke files. If you aren't really
sure of the BBS's location, choose the last option - 'I Don't
Know.' This will cause ALL of the Focke DIR files to be searched
but will of course take a little longer. (especially if you are not
using a RAM drive!)
REGISTERING YOUR COPY OF FOCKE'S-CUT:
-------------------------------------
Your support would be most welcome. Registration for continued use of
the Focke's-Cut will ensure that your comments and suggestions are
incorporated in future versions and will help ensure future program
development. To register your copy, send the registration amount of
$5.00 (check or money order - NO CASH!) to:
Tom Morgan
6591 Ashford Lane
Frederick, Maryland 21702
MORE DETAILS ON REGISTRATION:
-----------------------------
Focke's-Cut is a shareware program and is provided to you at no charge
for evaluation. However, if you find this program useful and use it
beyond a fifteen day evaluation period, you must make a $5.00
registration payment. Note that this registration cost covers
Focke's-Cut version 1.0 and ANY FUTURE VERSIONS of the Focke's-Cut
program that are released! (Focke's-Cut is defined as that software
product specifically named FOCKESCT.EXE, being known as Focke's-Cut,
and using the Focke directory listings as an input database for
identification of Washington Metropolitan Area bulletin board systems.
This offer does not apply to other software programs that provide
similar features nor is it applicable or transferrable to any other
program that utilizes the WMA calling directory database used in
Focke's-Cut.)
Any monies you have paid for obtaining the Focke's-Cut software do not
include the registration amount. No vendor is authorized to accept
payment of the registration amount or sell you a license to use the
software.
A NOTE FOR REGISTERED USERS:
----------------------------
You may install your registered version of Focke's-Cut on an unlimited
number of computers as long as you are the sole user of the installed
program and as long as there is no possibility of it being used at one
location while it's being used at another. You are also authorized to
make archival copies of the software for the sole purpose of ensuring
that you do not lose a working copy.
DISCLAIMER:
-----------
Users of Focke's-Cut must accept the following disclaimer: Focke's-
Cut is provided AS-IS. The author disclaims all warranties expressed
or implied. This disclaimer includes, without limitation, warranties
of merchantability and fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no
liability for direct or consequential damages arising from the use of
Focke's-Cut.
FOCKE'S-CUT REGISTRATION FORM
-----------------------------
Registration - $7.00
Submit to: Tom Morgan
6591 Ashford Lane
Frederick, MD 21702
REQUIRED INFORMATION:
---------------------
NAME: ___________________________________________
ADDRESS: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________
CITY: ___________________________________________
STATE: __________________ ZIP CODE: ______________
OPTIONAL INFORMATION:
---------------------
PHONE: ____________________
WHERE/HOW DID YOU RECEIVE THE PROGRAM? _______________________
______________________________________________________________
COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS: ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_ _
ANY PROBLEMS RUNNING ON YOUR SYSTEM? Yes |_| No |_|
(If yes, please describe in as much detail as possible: 1) your
system and 2) the problems and symptoms encountered. Use the
back of this form or a separate sheet.)