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General & Business Applications

Productivity trialware and shareware for Windows 95, 3.1 and DOS.
See also Internet applications for business collaboration tools and more.

Click here to see the finalists and Winners of our Shareware and Small Business Software Awards.

bullet.gif (110 bytes)Windows 95
bullet.gif (110 bytes)Windows 3.1
bullet.gif (110 bytes)DOS

Windows 95


Sheet Stylist
URL: http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~drarh/Stylist/
Registered price: $40
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

Creating your first Web page is a lot of fun. However, when you have more than three pages in your site, keeping changes consistent across the site takes a lot of work. If you've heard of cascading style sheets (CSS), you probably thought they were a good idea -- but too hard to learn. Sheet Stylist lets you to create, preview and apply CSS simply. When you begin working with the program you can use the wizards to create your sheets, but the program makes the process so easy that you'll soon be writing the code yourself.

 

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Style sheets save you hours when you're working on your Web site, and Sheet Stylist makes creating them easy.
Aver Wizard for Word 97
URL:
http://www.freewarehome.com
Registered price: Freeware
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

If you use Word and Aver paper products, setting up Word for the varying paper sizes can be a challenge. This free template wizard lets you click-create business cards, name tags, rolodex cards, CD-ROM inserts, diskette labels and much more. You simply select the kind of printer you have (inkjet, laser), and within a few moments your stationery is ready for printing.

 

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Create business cards, name tags, diskette labels and more with Avery Wizard for Word 97 -- a free add on to Word.
AZZ Cardfile
URL:
http://www.freewarehome.com
Registered price: Freeware
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

If you've missed Windows Cardfile in Windows 95, here's your free solution. The program resembles a stack of empty index cards; there are no fields as such, you decide what you want to store. Features include: compressed, encrypted and password-protected data files; import Microsoft Cardfiles; automatically sorted index; speed dial; e-mail and WWW URL links, and much more. This is a brilliant alternative to complex PIMs and databases, and is an especially handy utility for your laptop.

 

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If you've missed Windows Cardfile in Windows 95, AZZ Cardfile is your free solution.
FooBar
URL:
www.matrixsoftware.com
Registered price: Freeware
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

FooBar is a simple PIM-like program that runs as a strip of icons or as a button in your system tray. It includes a timer, calendar, task list, sticky notes, contacts database, as well as various Windows utilities, such as close down, and restart. It takes up little memory; its simplicity is its best feature.

 

Opera Browser
URL:
www.operasoftware.com
Registered price: $50
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

The vision of the Opera development team was to create a World Wide Web browser that could be used by all computer users, including those with older machines and physical disabilities. Opera was designed to be small, fast and user-friendly. Special features include multiple windows-Opera retrieves multiple documents and graphics at the same time; full keyboard interface -- you don't need to use your mouse unless you want to; scaling and zooming at the touch of a key, and much more.

 

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Opera Browser is fast and has lots of features. Although it's not free, it's worth paying for.
Recipe Calc 98
URL: www.hotfiles.com
Registered price: $25
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

This clever recipe program is very simple to use. It lets you easily analyse all your recipes for their nutritional value. You simply type in the ingredients and the program shows you the kilojoules, kilojoules from fat, total fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate and protein. In additional, percentage values of your total daily requirements are shown. You can view recipes, and print and edit them.

 

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Recipe Calc 98 lets you easily analyse your recipes for their nutritional value.
Windows 3.1x
Accounting Software note.gif (244 bytes)SOHO accounting software compared

Pastel Payroll 2.7
System requirements:
Windows 95, NT or 3.11, 4Mb RAM (8Mb strongly recommended), 3.5in FDD, VGA 256-colour monitor recommended, 15Mb hard disk space.
Support:
30 days free on registration. Ongoing support programs available.
From:
Pastel 1800 024 851; http://www.pastel.com
List price:
$199 SOHO only; $349 SOHO + 20 employee Payroll; $9.95 trial version available from most retail stores and Pastel Dealers.

Pastel Payroll 2.01 is a scaled-down version of WinPay and offers a simple answer to basic payroll needs.

Close attention is paid to the main issues arising from payroll-like electronic banking, superannuation, group tax tracking, and calculating leave entitlements. Extensive reports for these areas offer good control over the main payroll functions.

 


Figure 6: While processing a pay in Pastel Payroll is an easy process, it's not always clear exactly where you are.


Figure 3: Pastel's inventory screen resembles a paper invoice and it is intuitive and quick to complete.

QuickBooks Pro 5.0 and Quick Payroll Pro 3.0
Support:
30 days free on registration, 30-day money back guarantee. Ongoing support programs available.
From: Intuit (02) 9562 7922; http://www.intuit.com.au
List price: $499.95 QuickBooks Pro 5.0 w/o payroll; $599.95 QuickBooks Pro 5.0 with QuickPayroll Pro 3.0

QuickBooks is the easiest package to use; the terminology used in the navigator requires no knowledge of accounting software or accounting in general. This program is well suited to a business needing a flexible and intuitive accounting tool and it has, by far, the best report engine.

 


Figure 2: QuickBooks allows you to edit any of its three built-in invoice styles or to create your own from scratch.


Figure 5: QuickBooks takes a simplistic but effective approach to inventory management.


Figure 8: Quick Payroll's innovative spreadsheet view allows you to see all employee pay lines on one screen.

M.Y.O.B. Accounting with Payroll 7.0
System requirements: Windows 95 or 3.1 or later, 386 or better, 4Mb RAM (8Mb recommended), 10Mb free disk space, VGA monitor, 3.5in FDD or CD-ROM, Windows compatible mouse. Optional: soundcard, printer and modem.
Support: 60 days free on registration. Ongoing support and upgrade programs available.
From: Data-Tech Software (02) 9770 9000, 1800 555 007; http://www.datatech.com.au
List price: $399 ($525 with Payroll); $10 test drive trial pack available from major resellers or direct from Data-Tech.

M.Y.O.B. offers a good interface and a sturdy design. If you like some discipline in your accounting processes and you have a reasonable understanding of double entry accounting, then M.Y.O.B. is the right package for you. M.Y.O.B. imposes its discipline without compromising on flexibility -- offering the best of both worlds.

 


Figure 1: M.Y.O.B.'s Data File Assistant offers a range of sample accounts tailored to the needs of retail, manufacturing and service industries.


Figure 7: M.Y.O.B.'s Write Pay cheques window shows details of all pay lines and calculations.


Figure 9: M.Y.O.B.'s customiser allows you to customise a range of its forms to tailor them to your business needs but it isn't particularly easy to use.

Sterling for Windows 3.0
System requirements: Windows 3.1 or later, 386SX or better, 4Mb RAM (8Mb RAM recommended), 3.5 FDD, 10Mb free hard disk space, VGA monitor, mouse.
Support: 10 credits each worth a 10 minute call -- additional credits can be purchased for ongoing support.
From: Reflex Computers (08) 9455 4477; http://www.reflexcs.com.au
List price: $499

Sterling is a good package and offers some of the best parts of much larger packages in its inventory and sales modules. However, you'll need good accounting knowledge to use this program and, again, it uses batch processing. Its lack of wizards and other user-friendly tools is a downside of a program that is otherwise very sound.

by Kurt Best (sale@pf.com.au) & Helen Bradley (helen@journalist.com)

 


Figure 4: Sterling manages inventory with great attention to detail allowing you to easily track costs, selling prices and discounts.


Figure 10: Sterling's powerful layout generator allows you to alter the layout of screen, file and printed reports.

Shareware
Numeyoga
URL: www.shareware.com
Registered price: $70
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)
This is an interesting and comprehensive numerology program that will give you lots of information about yourself and your friends. It's very easy to use: simply type in the name and birth date of the person you're interested in and you'll be treated to several screens of information.

 

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Numeyoga is an interesting numerology program.
UpFront Outline Management
URL: http://world.std.com/~bck/
Registered price: $40
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

UpFront allows you to create outlines of various kinds. It's useful as a project management system, a structured database, or as a study or teaching aid. You can read in text files to convert them to outlines automatically, or you can send your outlines to word processors and spreadsheet programs.

 

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UpFront Outline Management creates and manages outlines.
The Athlete's Diary
URL:
http://www.stevenscreek.com
Registered price: $90
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

The Athlete's Diary is a multi-sport database. It lets you create logs for all your training sessions, view them in a variety of formats, and analyse them in any way you wish. The program is invaluable in getting the most out of your training, so that you can effectively plan your future sessions.

 

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The Athlete's Diary lets you track your training sessions on your computer.
DOS

DOS program should normally be run from the DOS prompt. Any links we have provided below are for Windows users to try running or install the program in a DOS Windows. If this fails to work however yo will need to exit to DOS and try from there

Aurora Text Editor
URL: www.hotfiles.com
Registered price: $55
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

Aurora is a sophisticated DOS text editor featuring file management tools, split screens, full mouse support and an easy to use interface. It also has lots of functions you won't find in other DOS editors, such as macro definition tools, outlining capabilities, unlimited multi-level undo and redo, a clipboard, and full support for Windows 95 long filenames. The program can use up to 1Gb of virtual memory.

 

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Aurora Text Editor is a loaded DOS text editor -- give it a try.
PC Runes
URL:
www.shareware.com
Registered price: $60
Rating: star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)star.gif (195 bytes)

This DOS program has superb graphics and is enjoyable to use. If you're interested in the runes or any fortune telling systems, you'll enjoy this. The shareware version features a single rune spread; when you register you get four and five rune spreads, and also a print out facility.

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PC Runes: read your runes on your PC!

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All text ⌐ 1998 Australian Consolidated Press - PC User Magazine