The World of Computer Software/World_Of_Computer_Software-02-387-Vol-3of3.iso/p/pafrv932.zip/PAFRV.DES

Text File | 1993-04-01 | 17KB | 289 lines

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          ║      Description of PAF Review - From File PAFRV.DES     ║
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          ║      PAF Review   -   Edition 93.2   -   April 1993      ║
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       ║ Why PAF Review? ║
       ╚═════════════════╝
       I am an avid family history researcher and a PAF user, as well as
       an interested observer of the electronic bulletin board phenomena.
       In late 1992 I started looking around the BBS world to see what
       utilities might be available to work with, or enhance, PAF's
       capabilities.  I looked first on my favorite local BBS, Hackers
       Haven, normally one of the best places in the state to look for
       files.  A couple of PAF related utilities were there, although they
       were quite old.  Next came Channel 1 and Exec-PC, two of the largest
       BBSes in the country, where I found a few more of these utilities.
       Again most of them were older.  I then checked in CompuServe's
       Genealogy Forum.  I found more programs, including some that were
       very recent.  After more searching, I located several bulletin
       boards that focus on genealogy and found even more PAF utilities.
       After several weeks searching, I had located more than 50 programs!
       However this required my contacting and sorting through the file
       lists of several dozen different BBSes.

       PAF is a very popular program for use by family historians.  It
       surprised me to find that the shareware for PAF was not more readily
       available.  During my review I encountered another problem.  I found
       it very difficult to determine which was the latest version of each
       program and to locate current copies.  Perhaps someday, the
       Genealogy Software Distribution System (GSDS) will solve this
       problem and make the latest versions of these types of files rapidly
       available in all parts of the country.  For now, it takes some
       sleuth work and a lot of long distance calls!

       I have decided to share the information I've gathered to save others
       the same time and expense.  I hope this will help make these
       programs more widely available and encourage present and potential
       shareware/freeware authors to continue their development of high
       quality utilities for PAF users.  I plan eventually to include all
       such programs which are useful to users of version 2.2 of PAF or to
       programmers who want to access data from PAF.  This includes
       programs aimed at easing the transfer of information between PAF and
       other genealogy programs including FamilySearch.

       For the present I have decided not to include programs that are only
       available as commercial products.  I have included several which are
       restricted versions of commercial programs (designated Demo) or
       which have newer versions that are commercial programs.  Several
       readers of the first edition of PAF Review have suggested that I
       expand its scope to include these commercial programs.  Perhaps I
       will do so when I have tracked down and included all (I may have to
       be satisfied with 99%!) of the current targets.


       PAF Review         Edition 93.2 (April 1993)        PAFRV.DES Page 2

       ╔═════════════════════════╗
       ║ Changes in This Edition ║
       ╚═════════════════════════╝
       You will note less heading information on each page in this edition.
       I liked the old format but in too many cases it was a squeeze to fit
       the information about a particular program on one page.  I am now
       including programs whose sole purpose is to copy information from
       some other genealogy database program to GEDCOM.  These will be of
       assistance if someone wants to convert to PAF or transfer
       information into its database.  There are now 91 programs and files
       described in PAF Review.  Some of these are not programs, but files
       that document how to accomplish something useful to PAF users.  A
       index has been added (see PAFRV.IDX).  Sorry - still no REV files.

       ╔═══════════════════════════════════╗
       ║ Copyright and Distribution Policy ║
       ╚═══════════════════════════════════╝
       Any material in PAF Review not quoted from others is copyright 1993
       by Mike St. Clair.  You may upload copies of PAF Review to BBSes or
       other information providers for redistribution.  You may not charge
       a fee for PAF Review beyond the cost of distribution.  BBSes may
       provide PAF Review for downloading and post portions as bulletins.
       Users groups and genealogy organizations may include portions in
       their newsletters.  Individuals and nonprofit organizations may use
       this material for any purpose other than generating income without
       any other permission than is granted in this section.  All other
       rights are reserved.

       ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════╗
       ║ File Naming/Edition Numbering for PAF Review ║
       ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════╝
       A new CUMULATIVE edition of PAF Review will be issued once a month
       if any new utilities or releases have appeared.  The name of the
       file will be PAFRV followed by a year (YY) and an issue character
       starting with "1", incrementing until it reaches "9", then starting
       through the alphabet beginning with "A".  This edition, the second
       in 1993, is 93.2 with a file name of PAFRV932.ZIP.  Instead of ZIP,
       the file extension may be LZH, ARJ, ARC, etc., depending on the
       standards of the BBS where you find the file.  On CompuServe, which
       limits file names to six characters, the filename will always be
       PAFRV.ZIP omitting the date/edition from the name.

       Someone suggested that I create two versions of each edition; a
       cumulative version containing a complete copy of all information and
       a second version containing only new or revised material.  This
       would allow readers to download the smaller file if they have been
       keeping up each month.  It would also make it easier to keep an up
       to date printed copy without unnecessary printing.  I am sympathetic
       to this suggestion and will consider doing so in the future.  In the
       meantime, I will retain the date and time of the last change on any
       files contained within PAF Review to help with this reprinting
       problem.  You will note that almost every file has changed in this
       edition.  I went through them all, corrected spelling and
       punctuation, and tried to make them more consistent in style.


       PAF Review         Edition 93.2 (April 1993)        PAFRV.DES Page 3

       ╔═══════════════════════╗
       ║ For Shareware Authors ║
       ╚═══════════════════════╝
       PAF Review may help you be more successful, but only if current
       information about your products is included.  Please let me know
       where you upload new versions of your PAF and GEDCOM related
       software so I can check periodically. If you would prefer, send me
       revisions or new utilities by mail. It's my goal to see that current
       copies of the software in PAF Review are widely available.  I will
       be regularly sending or uploading copies to: Channel 1 BBS (Boston,
       MA), Exec-PC (Milwaukee, WI), Capital PAF UG BBS (Wash DC), Hackers
       Haven (Provo/Orem, UT), Your Roots (Salt Lake City, UT),
       FamilySearch Support (Salt Lake City, UT), Skeleton's Closet
       (Virginia Beach, VA), and hallc1.cebaf.gov on Internet.  Internet
       site "hallc1.cebaf.gov" specializes in genealogy programs of all
       kinds. Skeleton's Closet has agreed to "hatch" onto GSDS any of
       these files which are not already present.

       ╔═══════════════════════════════╗
       ║ Where to Find These Utilities ║
       ╚═══════════════════════════════╝
       If you have access to any of the sources in the following list, they
       should have the latest versions.  The first two only allow paid
       subscribers (well worth it!) to download.  The other sources allow
       access at no charge.  Here is brief access information:

         Channel 1 BBS:                 [phone] Boston, MA
         Exec-PC BBS:                   [phone] Milwaukee, WI
         Capital PAF UG BBS:            [phone] Wash. DC area
         Hackers Haven BBS:             [phone] Provo/Orem, UT
         Your Roots BBS:                [phone] Salt Lake City, UT
         FamilySearch BBS:              [phone] Salt Lake City, UT
         Skeleton's Closet BBS:         [phone] Virginia Beach, VA
         Internet "hallc1.cebaf.gov"    The PAF related programs are
                                        available via anonymous FTP in
                                        directory /genealogy/paf.

       Other BBSes that deal with genealogy, particularly if participating
       in GSDS, will have some or all of these files.  Be aware that BBSes
       often post several versions of shareware programs.  Look for the
       file name given in PAF Review, similar names, or the version number
       that you can often find as part of the file description. CompuServe
       limits file names to six characters which usually match the first
       six characters used in the BBS file name.  You may have to look at
       the file description to figure out the version.  Don't waste time
       downloading an outdated version if the current one is available.

       I will send copies of the entire set to any BBS or individual.  Send
       me formatted diskettes (five 1.4MB/six 1.2MB) and an addressed
       diskette mailer with the correct postage.  For updates, return one
       diskette and a similar mailer after you receive each mailing.


       PAF Review         Edition 93.2 (April 1993)        PAFRV.DES Page 4

       ╔═══════════════════════════════════════╗
       ║ File Listing - Contents of PAF Review ║
       ╚═══════════════════════════════════════╝
       The following files are included in PAF Review:

         README.PRV   A brief list of these files and description of how
                      to display or print the contents of PAF Review.

         PAFRV.DES    Contains a description of the purpose and contents
                      of PAF Review.  It also solicits help from shareware
                      authors and users to help keep PAF Review up to date
                      and tells how to submit proposed updates.

         PAFRV.SUM    Contains a summary of known PAF or GEDCOM related
                      utilities including: name; latest version; version's
                      date; size for downloading; shareware, freeware or
                      demo; requested fee; author; and a description of no
                      more than two lines (for 91 files in edition 93.2).

         PAFRV.IDX    A simple index of the utilities by category

         XXXXXXXX.INF One INF file for each file.  Each will be one
                      printed page and describe the program or file in
                      more detail, including the file name by which it is
                      normally found and the author's address if known.

         XXXXXXXX.REV If present, these files will contain recent,
                      subjective review information about a particular
                      program.  There are no REV files in this edition.

       ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
       ║ How You Can Submit Changes/Corrections/Suggestions/Comments ║
       ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
       While I have tried to make the information in PAF Review as accurate
       and complete as possible, I'm sure there are omissions and mistakes.
       Please contact me if you: know of a program I missed; are willing
       to contribute commentary on a program you are proficient with; or
       have any constructive suggestions.  To suggest additions or
       revisions to this material, contact me via:

       CompuServe:          71552,3314
       Internet:            [e-mail]
       GENIE:               Mike.St.Clair2
       Channel 1 BBS:       Mike StClair - public node [phone]
       Hacker's Haven BBS:  Mike StClair - public node [phone]
       NETMAIL Conferences: (all as Mike StClair)
         ILink:             Genealogy, Shareware
         RIME:              Roots, Shareware
         FIDO:              GENSOFT Echo
       U.S. Mail:           327 North 800 East
                            American Fork, Utah 84003


       PAF Review         Edition 93.2 (April 1993)        PAFRV.DES Page 5

       ╔═══════════════════╗
       ║ Important Remarks ║
       ╚═══════════════════╝
       Most shareware authors develop programs for themselves and perhaps
       a close circle of friends in response to an immediate need.  They
       soon find these projects take ever larger amounts of time if the
       product is to become easy, safe and enjoyable to use.

       The most important thing you can do to encourage their continued
       effort on our behalf is to provide feedback.  Do you like it?  Is
       it useful?  How do you use it?  Are there problems?  Is it the
       greatest thing since sliced bread?!  Please tell the author.

       The second most important thing is to register those products you
       use regularly and make a payment if called for.  These things cost
       money to develop and the authors deserve and need your financial
       support in return for the software you find useful and therefore
       use.  The fee is usually very nominal compared to other software
       purchases - and you can try it first to know it works for you!

       I've heard from a number of PAF-related shareware authors who were
       underwhelmed by the response they received.  Many such authors stop
       developing and improving their software because, without feedback,
       they assume no one else recognized the genius of their idea.  Let's
       not let that happen to these products that can make our research
       easier, more productive and more enjoyable.

       ╔════════╗
       ║ Caveat ║
       ╚════════╝
       Unless otherwise noted, the comments contained in PAF Review are my
       own.  The program descriptions are basically from the authors'
       documentation, either printed or online, which I have edited to take
       less room.  Any review comments are based on experience with the
       software in question, either my own or that of a correspondent.
       While I take full responsibility for any inadvertent mistakes and
       for my subjective opinions contained here (don't blame the program's
       authors for what I say!), I can take no responsibility for problems
       that occur because you use any program described in PAF Review.

       **╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗**
       **║  IF YOUR PAF DATA IS AS IMPORTANT TO YOU AS MINE IS TO ME, ║**
       **║  BE CAREFUL WHEN USING ANY NEW UTILITY OR VERSION OF PAF!! ║**
       **╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝**

       Try new software out first on a copy of your data.  Use FRCHK before
       and after your test to verify that you have data integrity both
       before and after you run the new software.  Back up your data
       frequently to allow you to recover from problems that may occur.

       I hope my efforts make it easier for you to find a utility that will
       help you solve your PAF related problem of the moment.  If you don't
       find what you are looking for, let me know that too.  Perhaps I will
       add a wish list in the future for program authors to hear what is
       needed but not available.  Right now someone is probably thinking
       about writing the program you need.  It may be included in a future
       version of PAF Review; perhaps even the next one!

       Happy PAFfing! - Mike St. Clair