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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 8 Other
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TIPF13.ZIP
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README.TPF
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1991-08-30
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4KB
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110 lines
This readme belongs to the version 1.3 (fourth attempt) of TIPF.ZIP.
If you want any information on the writer of this information, please
read the file stext.tpf.
The ZIP file should include the following files:
TOOLS.IPF - main file
SMAKERS.TPF - software producers' address info
SMAGS.TPF - software magazines' address info.
also mail-order companies (progx).
SPRICES.TPF - software prices' info.
STEXT.TPF - introduction text for each section
FPRICES.TPF - Finnish prices' info.
FDISTRIB.TPF - Finnish distributors' info.
also dealers and mail-order companies.
and ... README.TPF - but then you knew that.
Note: The following should work with OS/2 ver 1.3. (maybe 1.2 too (?))
To use this stuff, copy all the files to any directory you care (you can
delete README.TPF but nothing else), and do
IPFC /INF TOOLS.TPF
The result should be TOOLS.INF.
If the IPFC doesn't even start, then you probably haven't got the IBM Tools
and Information Kit which contains the IPFC "compiler". If so, you can of
course buy this "Kit" or you can download the ready-made (and identical)
.INF file (TINF.ZIP), which unzips to TOOLS.INF.
TOOLS.INF can then be viewed with VIEW.EXE.
If you can't find VIEW.EXE, well it's probably only because when you installed
OS/2 1.3 you didn't request that the reference files be installed. When this
happened to me, I didn't mess about with copying from the installation disks
etc., I just installed the reference files and lo-and-behold VIEW was suddenly
included in my path.
Notes on the version 1.3 source:
Not much has changed. I've added a lot of products (around 40 or so) since the
previous version and also tried to improve the coverage of some products by
asking the makers for some info on their products. I've also improved (well I
think so) the positioning of some products.
Notes on the version 1.2 source:
The main news is that I've discovered imbedded files. Using them makes adding
products much easier (I use Brief so I flip between the files).
I also discovered the various types of lists that IPFC supports, but they
seem to be one of those things that are good in theory but not in practice,
so I still don't use them.
I haven't got 2.0 so you'll have to wait a while for the sexy additions
included there.
Notes on accuracy and things
It's as good as I can get - and I'm attempting now to mark the date of
the information like addresses and prices - but it's sometimes an
impossible task, like for instance the case of ExpertTelligence which
according to one mag. is in Santa Barbara and according to the July Byte
is in Goleta (yet the street address and postal code given are the same).
So, as always, I'm very grateful for ANY comments.
As for things .....
You probably are wondering why the Finnish prices are included. Well for one,
they'll make you realise how cheap YOUR software is (4 FMks to the dollar),
and also my company has to have some reason for allowing me some time (but
not all) for compiling this stuff - anyway not many of the products mentioned
are available here so there's very little overhead involved.
Of course you could roll your own German/Swedish/UK prices - the inbedded
files should make it easier, but still a pain.
Also note that the characters & and : are used in the IPFC source to control
the output - thus SQA:Robot becomes SQA-Robot and & usually "and" in my
source.
End of 1.2 readme - did it help at all ?
Mike
(For those who don't want to read STEXT.TPF - here follows the address info:)
This version (1.3) was created by Mike Walsh (Helsinki) on August 30 1991.
Comments and corrections please to CIS: 72557,3170 BIX: mwalsh2. You can
also contact me via the ILINK Scandinavia and OS/2 conferences (MIKE WALSH).
Tel: (Work) (358) 0 559 2214 (Home) (358) 0 422425
(Finnish Time is GMT + 2)
Fax: (Work) (358) 0 565 2205 (inside Finland 90 instead of 0)
P.S. My thanks to the Sysops of Compuserve's IBMOS2 conference for uploading
the initial TOOLS.TXT which gave me the basic data and the impulse to
create an expanded version as an .INF file.