PC Online 1996 October/PCO_10.ISO/filesbbs/cslave.arj/CSLAVEW.1/CSLAVEW.DOC

Text File | 1996-08-03 | 100.6 KB | 2,448 lines

                     CompuSlave For Windows
                          Version 3.00


                CompuServe Forum Message Database

                     Copyright 1995-1996 by

           Stevenson Technical Services, Incorporated
               108 Second Avenue West, PO Box 297
                    Bertha MN 56437-0297 USA
                     Phone/FAX: [phone]
                   The STSI BBS: 218-924-2060
                     CompuServe: 76300,3066
               Internet: http://www.stevetech.com
                  E-Mail: [e-mail]


Welcome!

CompuSlave imports CompuServe forum messages from WinCIM, CSNav,
OzCIS/OzWin, TapCIS, and CompuServe Capture Files into a
database, converting them to individual messages. Add, edit,
delete, and search the entire database for key words or phrases.
Create your own stand-alone, customized technical support
resource using the combined knowledge of the CompuServe forum
members.  Ideal tool for tech support personnel, programmers,
forum sysops, network administrators, or any user who routinely
searches the CompuServe forum messages for information.  Includes
a communications program for accessing and capturing messages
from CompuServe.  Also includes network support.

Please feel free to give us your feedback on CompuSlave.  We
encourage your comments, suggestions, and enhancement requests.
We can be reached at the following locations:

Internet:      [e-mail]
CompuServe:    76300,3066
Phone/FAX:     [phone]
BBS:           218-924-2060





Requirements

To run CompuSlave For Windows reliably, you will need the
following:

·    DOS 3.3 or Higher
·    Microsoft Windows 3.1 or Higher and a Mouse




Disclaimer / License Agreement


What is shareware?

Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software
before buying it.  If you try a Shareware program and continue
using it, you are expected to register.  Individual programs
differ on details - some request registration while others
require it, some specify a maximum trial period.  With
registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue
using the software to an updated program with printed manual.

Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software,
and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific
exceptions as stated below.  Shareware authors are accomplished
programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are
of comparable quality.  (In both cases, there are good programs
and bad ones!)  The main difference is in the method of
distribution.  The author specifically grants the right to copy
and distribute the software, either to all or to a specific
group. For example, some authors require written permission
before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.

Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software.  You
should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook,
whether it's commercial or Shareware.  The Shareware system makes
fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy.
And because the overhead is low, prices are low also.  Shareware
has the ultimate money-back guarantee - if you don't use the
product, you don't pay for it.


Disclaimer - Agreement

By using CompuSlave For Windows, users indicate their acceptance
of the following terms:

    "CompuSlave For Windows is supplied as is.  The author
    disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including,
    without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of
    fitness for any purpose.  Neither STSI, The STSI BBS, or any
    STSI employees will be held responsible for any damages,
    direct or consequential, which may result from the use of
    CompuSlave For Windows."

    "Information in this documentation is subject to change
    without notice and does not represent a commitment on the
    part of STSI.  STSI may make improvements and/or changes in
    this documentation or in the products and/or programs
    described in this documentation at any time."

CompuSlave is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge
to the user for evaluation.  Feel free to share it with your
friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of
another system.  The essence of "user-supported" software is to
provide personal computer users with quality software without
high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to
continue to develop new products.  If you find this program
useful and find that you are using CompuSlave and continue to use
CompuSlave after a reasonable trial period, you must make a
registration payment of $49.95 (+S&H) to Stevenson Technical
Services, Inc. (STSI). This registration fee will license one
copy for use on any one computer at any one time.  You must treat
this software just like a book.  An example is that this software
may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from
one computer location to another, so long as there is no
possibility of it being used at one location while it's being
used at another.  Just as a book cannot be read by two different
persons at the same time, CompuSlave should not be used on two
different computers at the same time.

Commercial users of CompuSlave must register and pay for their
copies of CompuSlave within 30 days of first use or their license
is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting
STSI at (218) 924- 2050.

Anyone distributing CompuSlave for any kind of remuneration must
first contact STSI for authorization.  This authorization will be
automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as
adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such
distributors may begin offering CompuSlave immediately.  (However
STSI must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-
to-date with the latest version of CompuSlave.)

You are encouraged to pass a copy of CompuSlave along to your
friends for evaluation.  Please encourage them to register their
copy if they find that they can use it.  All registered users
will receive a copy of the latest version of the CompuSlave,
along with a printed manual and bonus disks.




ASP Notice:

STSI is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals
(ASP).  ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works
for you.  If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related
problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP
may be able to help.  The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a
dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide
technical support for members' products.  Please write to the ASP
Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX
616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to
ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.





Registration

CompuSlave For Windows is distributed under the shareware
concept.  You may try CompuSlave for a period of two weeks.
After this period, you must either discontinue using it, or
register it.  A single-user license is only $49.95 (+$5.00 S&H in
the U.S., or $10.00 S&H on Foreign Orders).  This price includes
a printed manual, the latest version on diskette, removal of nag
screens and database record limits, along with a Registration
Name and Number allowing you to register your copy of CompuSlave.
Network and site-license pricing is also available.  Please see
REGISTER.DOC for details.

For users who do not require a registration packet, an e-mail
registration option is available.  The fee is $39.95 when you
provide us with your credit card number via private CompuServe
mail.  (Shipping and handling charges do not apply, since a
registration packet will not be sent out.)  A copy of your
receipt will be sent out only if you specifically request it.

For those of you who would like to register using SWREG on
CompuServe, CompuSlave is Registration ID #12174.  Since
CompuServe charges us a fee for this service, the registration
price when using SWREG is $59.95 (+S&H).

To register over the telephone, call STSI at 218-924-2050, and
charge it to your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover
credit card.  Once registered, you will no longer see the nag
screens, reminding you to register CompuSlave, and you will be
able to bypass the 500-message database limit imposed on non-
registered versions.  You will also be able to bypass the 5-
database limit imposed on non-registered versions.  For further
registration information and pricing, please read the
REGISTER.DOC file included with CompuSlave.




How To Order

To register, do ONE of the following (whichever you prefer):

1.  Call The STSI BBS at 218-924-2060 and order online.  We
accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit
cards.  This method of ordering can be performed 24-hours a day,
7-days a week.  (Ordering this way is fast and easy, allowing us
to process your request quickly.)

2.  To order using our voice line, call 218-924-2050.  Please
have your credit card handy.

3.  You can FAX your order to 218-924-2050.  Simply fill out the
registration form provided with the program (REGISTER.DOC),
include your credit card information on the bottom of the form,
and sign it.  (Most FAX transmissions will be automatically
routed to the FAX machine.  If you have problems reaching our FAX
machine, wait until after the first ring, press 11, and then
begin transmitting.)

4.  Send PRIVATE CompuServe mail to 76300,3066, stating that you
would like to register this program.  Please include your name,
address, telephone number, credit card number, and credit card
expiration date.  Also include the name you want the program
registered to, such as your company's name, etc.  If you want to
receive a temporary registration code that can be used until you
receive your order in the mail, simply request this, as well.
(Comments and questions are also welcome when you place your
order.)

5.  Mail the registration form along with your payment to:

Stevenson Technical Services, Inc. (STSI)
108 2nd Avenue West, PO Box 297
Bertha, MN 56437-0297 USA.





Technical Support:

Technical support is available through the following means:

Internet:
  Access STSI's internet home page at http://www.stevetech.com.
  Check the bulletins for information on the latest versions of
  our software.  Software updates can be downloaded through our
  web site or via anonymous ftp to stevetech.com (files are
  located in the \pub directory).


Internet Mail:
  STSI will respond to messages sent via the Internet.  Send any
  tech support related questions, comments, or suggestions to
  [e-mail].


The STSI BBS:
  New versions of this program will be posted here as soon as
  they are available.  The STSI BBS uses a U.S. Robotics
  V.Everything modem, which is capable of V.FAST, V.32bis, V.32,
  and 2400 baud connect speeds.  The access number for The STSI
  BBS is 218-924-2060.  Technical support questions posted on the
  bulletin board system should be addressed to Craig Stevenson.


STSI FAX:
  STSI has a FAX machine on-line 24 hours-a-day to accept FAX
  transmissions.  Technical support questions / problems may be
  faxed to 218-924-2050.  Most FAX transmissions will be
  automatically routed to the FAX machine.  If you have problems
  reaching our FAX machine, wait until after the first ring,
  press 11, and then begin transmitting.


Telephone:
  Technical support calls may be placed at [phone]. Office
  hours are from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday thru Friday, Central
  Standard Time (CST).



Please read the following before placing a technical support call
to STSI:


1.  Read the documentation files (and the help screens, if
available).  Most questions can be answered by simply reading the
docs.


2.  If you have a modem, call The STSI BBS and download the
latest version.  (Read Bulletin #1 on our BBS to find out the
latest version and release date of this program.  When
downloading a file, keep in mind that STSI's programs are always
posted in area 27.)  After you download the latest version, try
it and see if you are still experiencing the same problem.  We
attempt to fix problems as soon as we become aware of them, and
post the updated versions on the bulletin board system.  (Check
the .REV revision file for information on feature enhancements
and bug-fixes.)


3.  If you still cannot find an answer, contact us through one of
the means outlined above.  We will do our best to assist you and
answer any questions you may have.


4.  When calling or leaving a message, please be prepared to
answer the following questions:  What version of this program are
you using?  What problem(s) are you having, if any?  What type of
computer CPU do you have (486DX2-66, etc.)?  What version of DOS
are you using?  Please be as specific as possible.  The more
specific you are, the faster we will be able to assist you.


5.  When placing a technical support call via telephone, please
be seated behind your computer.  We may ask you to perform a
couple of simple tasks in order to help us narrow down any
potential problems.


6.  When speaking with any of our employees, please be
considerate.  Speak clearly, explaining your problem as carefully
as possible.  Please do not use any harsh or inappropriate
(profane) language.


7.  If one of our employees is able to help you, and you continue
to use this program, register it!  We cannot continue to produce
quality programs without the continuing support of our users.




What Is CompuSlave?

CompuSlave imports CompuServe forum messages from WinCIM, CSNav,
OzCIS/OzWin, and Capture Files into a database, converting them
to individual messages. Add, edit, delete, and search the entire
database for key words or phrases.  Create your own stand-alone,
customized technical support resource using the combined
knowledge of the CompuServe forum members.  Ideal tool for tech
support personnel, programmers, network administrators, or any
user who routinely searches the CompuServe forum messages for
information.  Includes a communications program for accessing and
capturing messages from CompuServe.  Also includes network
support.




Why Use CompuSlave?

I have found the CompuServe message bases to be an invaluable
technical support resource for my company.  Many of my questions
are answered in the various forums.  Whenever I have a technical
problem, I call CompuServe and capture the messages in an entire
forum.  I then scan the messages for key words or phrases that
relate to the particular problem that I or one of my customers is
having.  Most of the time, someone else has had the same problem,
and has already received an answer from someone that frequents
the forum.  The biggest drawback to this method is that old
messages are not kept in the forum for very long.  They are
"scrolled" out of some of the busier forums in as little as 3-4
days.  The Novell NetWare 3.x forum (NETW3X) is a good example.
If I don't call every 3-4 days, messages start to scroll out of
the forum.

In the past, I would create a capture file and compress it onto
my network hard drive.  That way, I could access it from any
workstation on the network.  The only problem was that when I
needed to find information on a specific topic, I had to search
through numerous capture files using a text editor/viewer.  This
process was extremely long and cumbersome.

That's when the idea for CompuSlave was borne.  CompuSlave will
import WinCIM and CSNav messages (*.MSG or *.THD format), OzCIS
and OzWin messages (*.MSG format), and Capture Files (ASCII text
format).  CompuSlave allows multiple databases to be created, so
it is convenient to have several different databases, each
dedicated to a specific topic.  At the same time, CompuSlave will
import endless messages (up to 2 billion, theoretically) into the
same database.  CompuSlave allows easy browsing through the
records in sequential order.  A cross reference is created when a
message is imported, so CompuSlave can quickly find any responses
to the current message, or even the original message that the
current message was a response to.  Messages can be edited to
eliminate unneeded text or comments, or they can be deleted
altogether.  The real power of CompuSlave is shown in its
searching capabilities.  Seven of the message fields are indexed
for extremely fast searching.  Perform a comprehensive search,
and locate all occurrences of a string within the entire
database, even in the message body.  Perform multiple searches,
narrowing down the search criteria, to find the exact information
needed.

For my company, CompuSlave has meant a whole new way of managing
message databases.  Now, an entire database containing thousands
of messages can be searched at one time.  When a new set of
messages arrive (usually via a capture file), they are imported
into the existing database.  No more lost messages.  No more
cumbersome searches of individual capture files.  And since
CompuSlave is a network application, I can access it on any
network workstation without worrying about multiple accesses by
other users.

CompuSlave has been ideal for our business as a technical
reference tool for network-related support issues.  Our business
performs computer consulting and network management services to
local businesses and organizations.  When one of our customers
needs assistance, they expect us to have the answer.  Our
CompuSlave Novell database gives us an extra reference tool
necessary for solving any problems that arise.  We also use
CompuSlave to store our messages from the various programming
related forums on CompuServe, especially the Borland Delphi
forum.  This particular forum scrolls every 3 days, with an
average of 800 - 1000 new messages every day!  CompuSlave allows
us to search our Delphi message database to find answers to the
programming problems we face.  Programmers who want to maintain a
database of questions and answers on programming problems will
find that CompuSlave is an excellent support tool.




Limitations

Non-Registered Version:
  The non-registered version of CompuSlave imposes a limit of 500
  messages per database.  This message limit is sufficient to
  allow our users to see if CompuSlave will meet their needs.
  There is also a limit of 5 total databases in the non-
  registered version.  This prevents dishonest users from
  attempting to use CompuSlave extensively without registering
  it.

Registered  Version:
  The most common question we receive about CompuSlave is "How
  many messages can be stored in a database when I order the
  registered version?".

  Each message in a CompuSlave database consumes at least one
  SECTION in the database, with most messages consuming at least
  2 or 3 sections.  The maximum number of sections that can be
  stored in one database is 2,147,483,647.  The largest STSI
  database contains 303,253 messages, which consume 860,048
  sections.  This equates to an approximate database capacity of
  757 million messages.  However, due to the 2 gigabyte file size
  limitation of 16-bit applications, the practical limit is about
  2.7 million messages.  This limit may vary due to the length
  of each message in the database.




Installing CompuSlave

To install CompuSlave For Windows, follow these instructions:

The package includes a program, "SETUP.EXE", which automates the
installation process.  You will need about 3 megabytes of
available disk space on the hard drive on which you plan to
install CompuSlave For Windows.  Additional space will be
required for each database you create.  The amount of space
required for databases depends completely on the number of
messages that will be stored in the database.

The exact steps you need to take to install CompuSlave will
depend on how you received the program.


Installing From Diskettes

To install from diskette, you need to perform the following
steps.

1. Place the CompuSlave distribution diskette "Disk 1" in the
appropriate diskette drive.

2. From Program Manager, select File Run. Execute the "setup.exe"
program on the distribution diskette. For example, if the
distribution diskette is on drive A:, type the command,
"a:setup".

3. Follow the instructions presented by the setup program. You
will have a chance to approve installation before any changes are
actually made to the contents of your hard drive.  The program
will ask you for a destination directory, and will copy the
program files to that directory.  When the setup program has
finished installing files, you will be informed if the
installation was successful.



Installing From A Hard Drive

If you downloaded CompuSlave For Windows from a BBS (or received
it in the form of an archive file from some other source), you
will need to perform the following steps.


1. Extract the contents of the archive file into a temporary
directory on your hard drive.

2. From Program Manager, select File, Run.  Execute the
"setup.exe" program, which you have extracted.  For example, if
the temporary directory into which you have extracted the files
is C:\TEMPDIR, you would type the command, "c:\tempdir\setup".

3. Follow the instructions presented by the installation program.
You will have a chance to approve installation before any changes
are actually made to the contents of your hard drive.  The
installation program will ask you for a destination directory,
and will copy the program files to that directory.

When you're satisfied that the installation was successful, you
should delete the temporary directory FROM which you installed
the program, (C:\TEMPDIR, in the above discussion), including all
its contents.




Importing CompuServe Messages

CompuSlave can import messages from either WinCIM/CSNav files
(*.MSG, *.THD, and *.PLX formats), OzCIS/OzWin files (*.MSG
format), TapCIS (*.MSG format) or Capture Files (ASCII text
format, created with a communications program such as QmodemPro,
Procomm Plus, etc).  When importing messages from WinCIM or
CSNav, use the import dialog box to select all of the files you
want to import.  Remember to specify which file format is being
used.  Once you have selected the files, click Ok.  CompuSlave
will automatically read all of the selected files and import the
messages into the current database.  If you do not use WinCIM,
CSNav, OzCIS, OzWin, or TapCIS, and would like to create a
capture file to import CompuServe messages, follow the
instructions in the section "Capturing CompuServe Messages".




Capturing CompuServe Messages

In order to import messages into CompuSlave, you must have a
CompuServe capture file to import.  In order to capture a message
base, there is a certain sequence of events you will want to
follow.  As an example, I perform the following steps when
capturing messages from the Novell 3.x forum on CompuServe


  1.  Type "GO NETW3X" to enter the Novell Netware 3.x Forum.
  (CompuServe will display information welcoming you to the
  conference.)


  2.  When the Forum Menu is displayed, I type "2" to move to the
  Messages Menu.


  3.  When the Messages Menu is displayed, I type "2" again to
  "READ or search messages".  (CompuServe will display the Novell
  NetWare 3.X ForumRead Menu.)


  4.  At this point, I instruct my communications program to
  begin the capturing process, so that all messages displayed on
  the screen will be added to the capture file.  (If you are
  using the Windows Terminal, supplied with Microsoft Windows,
  select the "Receive Text File" option from the Transfers menu.)


  5.  After selecting "1" to read NEW messages, CompuServe
  displays the first new message in the conference, and prompts
  me whether or not to continue.  Here, I must type "SCROLL" to
  indicate that I want the messages displayed non-stop.  All
  messages that are displayed are added to the capture file by
  the communications program.


  6.  Once the capturing process is complete, and CompuServe
  stops scrolling the messages off the screen, I close the
  capture file (using the communications package), and type "OFF"
  to end my CompuServe session.  (To close the capture file using
  Windows Terminal, press the "Stop" button that appeared on the
  bottom of the terminal screen when you started the capture.)


  7.  The newly created capture file is ready for importing into
  CompuSlave "as is".  There are no modifications that need to be
  made.  Simply select the Import option after a database has
  been created or opened, and you can import the new capture
  file.




File Menu


New Database:
  Select this option to create a new database with CompuSlave.
  CompuSlave will prompt you for the name and description of the
  database to create.  Once  you have created a new database, you
  can begin to import messages from CompuServe capture files.


Open Database:
  Select this option to open a database previously created with
  CompuSlave For Windows.  CompuSlave will display a file dialog
  box to prompt you for the name of the database to open.  Once
  you select a file, CompuSlave will check whether the database
  is already using the version 3 database format, or if it is
  still formatted as a version 2 database.  If CompuSlave detects
  that the database is in version 2 format, it will ask you
  whether or not you want to upgrade the database to the current
  version.  If you answer Yes, CompuSlave will attempt to
  reorganize (restructure) the database.  Once the reorganization
  is complete, CompuSlave will open the database.


Close Database:
  This command will close a database that is open on the desktop.
  If more than 1 database is open, the focus will move to the
  next open database.  Otherwise, CompuSlave will simply clear
  the desktop area.


Utilities:

  Delete Database:
    This command will give you the option of deleting a database
    from your hard drive.

  Reorganize Database:
    The reorganize option provides three extremely useful
    functions.  The first function deals with compression of the
    message data when adding messages to the database.  Databases
    created with compression enabled will typically be 10-20%
    smaller than databases that do not use CompuSlave's internal
    compression.  If a database was created with the "Compress
    Message Data" option disabled (on the Defaults screen),
    simply check the "Compress Message Data" check box, and
    reorganize the database.

    The second function deals with a database that has become
    corrupt.  If one or more messages become corrupt within the
    database, you will probably see "garbage" characters, or
    random ASCII characters filling the data fields.  Although
    this is rare, we did have one customer report this problem
    after running out of hard drive space during an import
    operation.  The customer was unable to delete the corrupt
    message from the database using the "Delete" option, but was
    able to successfully reorganize the database.  The
    reorganization process removed the corrupt message(s), and
    left the rest of the (non-corrupt) messages intact.

    The third function is simply for packing the database.  Once
    messages have been deleted from a database, the area
    previously used by these messages remains empty until new
    messages are added.  If a substantial number of messages have
    been deleted, you may want to reorganize the database to
    physically remove this unused space.



    The Reorganize Database screen allows you to select the
    database to reorganize, and whether or not you want to
    examine records during the reorganization process.  If you
    choose to examine records, you will be prompted with a dialog
    box that will show you all of the fields in the message, and
    give you an option to view the message body text.  You can
    then select "Save" to save the record into the newly
    reorganized database, or "Discard" to instruct CompuSlave
    that it should not place the examined record in the new
    database.  Currently, CompuSlave gives you the following
    options:  Do Not Examine Records, Examine All Records, or
    Examine Record Numbers In Range....  If you choose to examine
    record numbers in a range of values, you can specify the
    starting and ending record numbers to examine.  Note: A
    record number is not the same as a message number!  A record
    number merely indicates the physical position of a record in
    the database.

    Before reorganizing a database, CompuSlave asks you whether
    you want to make a backup copy of the data (.DAT), index
    (.IX), and ini (.INI) files, as a safeguard against any
    potential problems (such as system hangs during the
    reorganization, which could be fatal to the database).  If
    you instruct it to make a backup, CompuSlave will create a
    temporary directory underneath the main program directory,
    and copy the database files into this directory.  Once this
    is complete, the reorganization process will start.  To
    reorganize the database, CompuSlave deletes the index (.IX)
    file, renames the data file (.DAT) to a save file (.SAV), and
    copies non-deleted messages from the save file into a newly
    created data file.  Once this is complete, the save file is
    deleted, and a new index file is generated.  This process may
    only take a minute or two for a database that has a couple
    thousand messages, but will take much longer for larger
    databases.  (Our largest database, which contains over
    336,000 messages took 6-8 hours to reorganize!)  After the
    process has finished successfully, CompuSlave will ask you
    whether or not you want to delete the backup copy created
    earlier.  If you are satisfied that no errors occurred, go
    ahead and answer yes to delete this backup copy.

    During the reorganization process, CompuSlave performs data
    validation to verify the integrity of the data within each
    message.  For information on how this works, or to change
    CompuSlave's behavior when it encounters a message that fails
    the data validation check, see the Defaults section of the
    documentation.


  Batch Import:
    Users maintaining a large number of separate databases may
    want to use the batch import feature supplied by CompuSlave.
    When this option is selected, CompuSlave will display the
    batch import screen, showing a list of all databases
    contained in the CompuSlave directory.




    At STSI, we maintain over 50 different databases containing
    the messages from various CompuServe forums.  Each week (or
    more often in the fast-scrolling conferences), we capture the
    newest messages from CompuServe and import them into their
    corresponding database.  Rather than open each database and
    import the capture files on a one-at-a-time basis, the batch
    import feature allows us to select all of the databases we
    want to update, and start the import process with as little
    user intervention as possible.  The most likely cause for
    user intervention in the batch import process will occur if
    duplicate message numbers are found in a database, and
    CompuSlave needs to prompt you whether or not to add the new
    message to the database.  The status bar on the bottom of the
    screen will inform you what CompuSlave is doing, and gives an
    indication of the number of messages being imported.  Status
    bars are displayed to give a visual indication of the
    completion percentage, first for the current database, and
    also for the total batch import process.

    Start - The Start button starts the batch import process.
    Only databases that are tagged for importing will be included
    in the batch import process.  Other databases are ignored.
    Once the batch import process has been started, the Start
    button is hidden, and the Pause button appears.

    Pause - The Pause button will temporarily pause the batch
    import process in the middle of importing a capture file, or
    between databases, depending on when this button is pressed.
    When Pause is selected, the text on this button changes to
    "Resume".  Select resume when you are ready to continue the
    batch importing process.

    Scan - Use the Scan button to scan the hard drive for
    existing databases and import files.  If a database exists on
    the hard drive, and the corresponding import file also exists
    in the specified location, the database will be tagged for
    inclusion in the import process.  That way, any new capture
    files that are created by you can be automatically detected
    and imported into the correct CompuSlave database.

    Add - Use the Add button to add a database (and import file)
    to the list of databases to include in the import process.
    When the batch import screen is initially displayed, it
    contains a list of all databases in the CompuSlave directory.
    If you maintain a CompuSlave database in a different
    directory, it can be added using the Add button.

    Edit - Use the Edit button to edit a database and/or import
    file listed in the table.  If possible, CompuSlave will
    display the name of the last file that was imported into the
    corresponding database.  If you consistently give your import
    files the same name each time you capture messages,
    CompuSlave will "know" what file to import, and it will be
    displayed in the Import File column of the table.  If you
    need to change the name of the file to import, simply Edit
    the correct row, and enter the name of the file to import.

    Delete - The Delete button can be used to remove databases
    from the batch import list.  You can simply leave the
    database line untagged, which excludes the database from the
    batch process, but the Delete button allows you to physically
    remove a database from consideration.

    Tag / Untag - Use the Tag/Untag button to select or deselect
    databases in the table.  Only databases that are tagged will
    be included in the batch import process.  When a database is
    tagged for inclusion, a small marker (>>>) will appear in the
    first column.  You can also double-click on a database to tag
    or untag it, or you can use the space bar or ENTER key to
    perform the same function.

    Tag All - The Tag All button can be used to select all
    databases in the table at one time.

    Untag All - The Untag All button can be used to deselect all
    databases in the table at one time.

    Help - Use the Help button to obtain help about the various
    commands available from the batch import screen.

    Minimize - The Minimize button can be used to minimize the
    entire CompuSlave program during a batch import.  Since the
    batch import screen is a modal dialog box, you cannot
    minimize the application by using the minimize icon on
    CompuSlave's title bar.  Instead, you can use this Minimize
    button, and let CompuSlave perform the batch imports in the
    background.

    Close - Use the Close button to close the batch import screen
    without starting the batch import process.

    Halt Current - The Halt Current button will ask you to
    confirm your choice, and will immediately stop importing
    messages into the current database.  Once this option has
    been confirmed, the current database is closed, and
    CompuSlave proceeds with the next database in the list.

    Halt Batch - The Halt Batch button will ask you to confirm
    your choice, and will immediately stop importing messages
    into the current database.  Once the current database has
    been closed, CompuSlave will skip all remaining databases and
    terminate the batch import process completely.


Modem / Communications:
  When this option is selected, CompuSlave will execute STSI Com,
  a communications program that you can use for capturing
  messages from CompuServe.


Exit CompuSlave:
  Use this command to exit out of CompuSlave and end your current
  message viewing session.  Any open databases are automatically
  closed down when you exit.




Messages Menu


Import:
  Importing messages into CompuSlave is extremely easy using the
  Import feature.  When you select Import, you can use the import
  file dialog to search for a specific file in one of several
  formats.  WinCIM and CSNav users can import *.MSG, *.THD, and
  *.PLX message and thread files.  OzCIS and OzWin users can
  import the OzCIS *.MSG files, TapCIS users can import the
  TapCIS *.MSG files, and users who wish to import a capture file
  created by a communications program (such as STSI Com,
  QmodemPro, or Procomm Plus) can select these ASCII-formatted
  text files.  Once you have selected the desired file(s),
  CompuSlave will import the messages and display a status screen
  to indicate the completion percentage, the total number of
  messages it expects to import, the current message being
  imported, the name of the file being imported, and the database
  receiving the imported messages.  If a duplicate message number
  already exists in the database, CompuSlave will display a
  message box showing you the date, time, from, and to fields of
  the existing message, and the new message located in the import
  file.  You can choose to import the new message anyway, import
  all duplicates, skip this message, or skip all duplicates.
  When CompuSlave adds a message to the database, it performs
  data validation to verify the integrity of the data within each
  message.  For information on how this works, or to change
  CompuSlave's behavior when it encounters a message that fails
  the data validation check, see the Defaults section of the
  documentation.  Once the import process has been completed,
  CompuSlave will display a message box indicating the total
  number of messages actually imported into the current database.


Browse:
  Browsing for messages can be a quick way to view the message
  number, subject, section, response number, date, from and to
  fields of a message, giving you a general idea of what is
  contained in the message body.  When this option is selected,
  CompuSlave displays a browsing screen that contains all of the
  records in the database.  To scroll through the browser, use
  the Up Arrow, Down Arrow, PgUp, and PgDn keys, or the mouse to
  scroll through all of the messages.  Pressing ENTER or double-
  clicking on the highlighted message will erase the browser and
  cause CompuSlave to display the selected message on the editing
  screen for viewing, editing, or deleting.  To tag or untag the
  highlighted message, press the F10 key.

  Incremental searching can be performed in the browser by typing
  the text you want to locate.  This text must be located at the
  beginning of the current sort field.  As you type more
  characters, the records that are displayed are narrowed down.
  For example, if your database is sorted by the subject field
  and you type the letter "T", the browser will display only the
  messages whose subject text starts with the letter "T".  Then,
  if you press the letter "H", the browser will display only the
  messages whose text starts with the letters "TH".

  A popup menu is displayed when you click the right mouse button
  inside the browser window.  The browser popup menu allows you
  to change the column order, which field the database is sorted
  by, and whether or not the highlighted message is tagged or
  untagged, and whether filtering is being used.  If the message
  filter is on, the browser will display only the messages that
  have been tagged.




Find:
  The Find command allows you to search for a specific word or
  phrase on a one-at-a-time basis.  CompuSlave will prompt you
  for the word or phrase, allow you to select whether or not the
  search is case-sensitive, and will search for the next or
  previous occurrence of the text, starting at the current
  message.  When the text is found in the message body, the
  process is paused to allow you to view the current message.  By
  selecting Find Next from the Find dialog box, you can instruct
  CompuSlave to find the next occurrence of the text.  Likewise,
  selecting Find Previous will instruct CompuSlave to find the
  previous occurrence of the text.  CompuSlave will search for
  additional occurrences in the current message, and then advance
  to the next (or previous) message in the database that contains
  the specified text.  To cancel the Find operation, select
  Cancel from the Find dialog box.




Search:
  When Search is selected, CompuSlave displays a dialog box
  giving you the option of the type of search to perform.  There
  are three types of searches to perform on a CompuSlave message
  database.  The first two types are extremely fast and
  efficient, while the third is much slower, although it is much
  more thorough.



  When "Search One Field Only" is selected, CompuSlave allows you
  to search for a text string in any one of the following seven
  fields:  Message Number, Response Number, Subject, Section,
  From, To, and Keyword.  The search string must be located at
  the beginning of the field you decide to search.  If CompuSlave
  cannot find a message with the specified text, it issues an
  error message.  Otherwise it displays the browser screen
  containing all of the entries that matched the search criteria.
  Since the seven fields mentioned above are all indexed fields,
  the search can be completed very rapidly.



  When "Range Search" is selected, CompuSlave allows you to
  perform a search where the only records that are found must be
  within the a specified range of values.  For example, if you
  wanted to locate all messages numbered between 20000 and 20100,
  you could enter these two values as the starting and ending
  search values, and select the message number field as the field
  to search.  If no messages could be found within that range, an
  error message would be issued.  Otherwise, all messages within
  that range would be displayed.  As with the first search
  method, the range search allows you to find a text string at
  the beginning of any one of the seven indexed fields (see
  previous paragraph for the names of these fields).



  When "Search Entire Message" is selected, CompuSlave will
  search the entire database for up to 9 text strings and 3
  excluded text strings.  You can use the Search Entire Message
  dialog box to create a combination of And/Or/Not requirements.
  These requirements will allow you filter out which messages
  should appear in your search results.  The text strings you
  enter can be located at ANY location within the message.  They
  do not have to be at the start of an indexed field.

  There are 4 groups of text fields, and each group contains a
  check box allowing you to make the search either case-sensitive
  or case-insensitive, with case-insensitive being the default.
  If CompuSlave locates the text anywhere within the message
  (including all individual fields and the message body), it is
  included in the search results.  The only exception to this
  rule occurs when text entered in the last group is found in the
  message, since these strings are excluded from the search
  results.

  When CompuSlave starts the search process, it creates a
  temporary database (with a random filename) and places it in a
  temporary sub-directory (TEMP0001, TEMP0002, etc.).  When a
  message is found that meets the search criteria, it is added to
  the temporary database. After the search has been completed,
  you can browse through the filtered records.  If you wish to
  narrow down the search criteria even further, you can perform a
  secondary search on the database.  At this point, when you
  select "Search Entire Message", you will only be searching for
  text strings located in messages that have been placed in the
  filtered database.  For example, if you search a Novell
  database for the keywords "SCSI" AND "Seagate", and then
  perform a secondary search for "CD-ROM", your resulting search
  would only find records that contained all three of the
  specified keywords.  You can continue to perform a filtered
  search as long as necessary, thus narrowing the search criteria
  every time.  (Each consecutive search should also be less time
  consuming, since it does not need to search as many messages
  for the specified text.)

  Once this type of search is complete, you can browse through
  the filtered messages by using the browser, or by selecting
  Next, Prev, First, and Last.  When you select Quit at this
  point, the search will be cancelled, and you will have the
  option of saving the search results database under a new name,
  or erasing it.  If you've performed an in-depth search on a
  large database, you may want to save all of the filtered
  records under a new database name, making it easier to find the
  filtered records at a later date.  Once the search is complete,
  you can switch back and forth between the original database and
  the temporary search results database, without affecting the
  search results.




Sort:
  Selecting Sort will allow you to choose which indexed field
  should be used to sort the database.  Available sort fields
  include the message number, response number, date/time,
  section, subject, from, to, and keyword fields.  The default
  sort field is the message number field.  When the Browser is
  displayed, the messages are sorted according to the current
  sort field.  The First, Last, Previous, and Next buttons are
  also executed in relation to the current sort field, making it
  easy to follow messages in virtually any order.  Once you
  change the current sort field, CompuSlave will remember it the
  next time you open the same database.




Original:
  As a cross-referencing tool, CompuSlave allows you to locate
  the message that the current message was a response to.  (To
  determine if the current message was a response, check the
  "Response To" field.  If this message was not a response, the
  field will contain the word "NONE".  Otherwise, it will contain
  the number of the message that the current message responded
  to.)  When you select Original, CompuSlave will either go to
  the original message, or display an error message if it could
  not find the original message.  (If CompuSlave cannot find an
  original message, this is usually an indication that the
  original message was not located in the CompuServe forum at the
  time you captured the messages.)


Response:
  In addition to using the "Original" command described above,
  you can select the "Response" command to search for any and/or
  all messages that were responses to the current message.  If
  there aren't any responses in the current database, CompuSlave
  will disable the Response button and the Response option on the
  Messages menu.  If only 1 response is found in the database,
  CompuSlave will immediately display the located response.
  Otherwise, it will display a browser screen containing a
  complete list of all responses, giving you the option of which
  message to view.


GoTo:
  When GoTo is selected, CompuSlave prompts you to enter the text
  and field name of the message you want to move to.  For
  example, if you want to locate message number 354383, you would
  enter "354383" in the GoTo field (without the quotes), and
  select the Message Number field as the field to search.  If
  CompuSlave cannot locate an EXACT match, it will display an
  error message.  If it finds the message number or text you
  entered, CompuSlave will automatically display the resulting
  message on the screen.




First:
  Selecting the "First" option causes CompuSlave to display the
  first message in the database, regardless of the currently
  displayed message.


Next:
  Selecting the "Next" option causes CompuSlave to display the
  message after the currently displayed message.  If the current
  message is the last one in the database, CompuSlave "wraps" to
  the first message in the database.


Previous:
  Selecting the "Previous" option causes CompuSlave to display
  the message previous to the currently displayed message.  If
  the current message is the first one in the database,
  CompuSlave "wraps" to the last message in the database.


Last:
  Selecting the "Last" button causes CompuSlave to display the
  last message in the database, regardless of the currently
  displayed message.




Print Menu


Print:
  One or more messages can be printed using the Print option on
  the Print Menu.  The following settings may be changed to
  customize the print range and various options.



  Print - The print selection can be changed to the Current
  Message, Tagged Messages, Range of Messages, or All Messages in
  the database.  You must have at least 1 message tagged in order
  to print Tagged Messages.

  Message Range - The message range can be changed when the Print
  selection is changed to Range of Messages.  Use the Starting
  Message # and Ending Message # field to enter the first and
  last messages that should be included in the print range, and
  CompuSlave will print all messages included in the range.

  Print To File - When this check box is marked, you can print
  the resulting output to a file instead of a printer port.  Make
  sure the filename field is entered correctly when using this
  option.

  Filename - Use this field to enter the name of a file to be
  used for receiving the printed data when the Print To File
  option is enabled.  If the file you enter already exists,
  CompuSlave will prompt you to overwrite it before continuing.

  Use CompuSlave Import File Format - When this option is
  selected, CompuSlave will print messages in the format used by
  CompuSlave import files.  This format should match the exact
  format used by CompuServe when messages are captured using an
  ASCII terminal program.  Note: Since the Keyword field is added
  by CompuSlave, and was not imported from an import file, it
  will not be printed when this file format is used.

  Page Break Between Messages - When this option is enabled,
  CompuSlave issues a form-feed between each message that is
  printed.  This option applies when the print range is set to
  Tagged Messages or All Messages.

  Prompt To Continue If Error Occurs - When the print range is
  set to Tagged Messages, CompuSlave will issue an error message
  and ask you whether or not to continue printing messages in the
  event that one of the tagged messages could not be retrieved.
  This problem could result, for example, if a message that is
  tagged has already been deleted by another workstation on a
  network.  If this option is not selected, CompuSlave simply
  skips the offending message and continues with the next tagged
  message.

  Untag Messages After Printing - When the print range is set to
  Tagged Messages, CompuSlave can optionally untag a message
  after it is printed.  However, you may want to leave these
  messages tagged in order to perform another function, such as
  deleting or exporting tagged messages.

  Setup - This button will provide access to the Windows Print
  Setup dialog box, which allows you to change the currently
  selected printer, port, page orientation, and related settings.

  Font - Selecting the Font button allows you to select the name,
  size, color, and style of font that are used to print the
  selected message(s).  This allows you to customize the output
  depending on your current printer.  (CompuSlave automatically
  remembers the font you used the last time you printed a
  message.)


Print Setup:
  The print setup dialog box allows you to select the printer you
  want to use when printing database messages, the print
  orientation (portrait vs. landscape), and the paper size.





Edit Menu


New Message:
  When New Message is selected, CompuSlave goes into "edit mode",
  and allows you to manually enter a new message into the
  database.  Once you have finished adding the new message, click
  on "Save Message" to save it into the database, or select
  "Cancel Editing" to exit from edit mode without saving the new
  message.  Note: While it is possible to add new messages to the
  database in this manner, this feature will not be necessary for
  most users (since messages can be easily added through the
  Import function).


Edit Message:
  If the need arises to edit an existing database message, you
  can easily do so by using the Edit Message option.  When this
  option is selected, CompuSlave goes into "edit mode", and
  allows you to modify the current message.  Once you have
  finished modifying the current message, click on "Save Message"
  to save the modified message into the database, or select
  "Cancel Editing" to exit from edit mode.


Delete Message:
  Unwanted messages can be easily deleted through the Delete
  option.  When the Delete button is selected, CompuSlave issues
  a prompt to confirm that you want to delete the current message
  from the database.  When you choose "Yes" at the prompt, the
  message is deleted, and CompuSlave resets the message display
  to the next message in the database.


Save Message:
  This option can be selected when you are adding or editing a
  message, and will save your message addition / change to the
  database.


Cancel Editing:
  This button can be selected when you are adding or editing a
  message, and will cause your changes to the current message to
  be discarded.





Views Menu


Mini-Browser:
  The Mini-Browser view displays a mini-browser on the top of the
  editing window, in place of the message number, response,
  section, subject, from, to, date, time, and keyword fields.
  The browser can be used to page through messages more quickly.
  When a record is selected in the mini-browser, the
  corresponding message text is displayed in the memo window at
  the bottom of the screen.  Likewise, as the First, Previous,
  Next, and Last button are selected, the mini-browser is updated
  to point to the currently selected message.


Normal:
  The Normal view displays individual edit controls for the
  message number, response, section, subject, from, to, date,
  time, and keyword fields.  All data is easily visible on one
  screen.


Message Only:
  The Message Only view displays only the message text contained
  in the message body.  Unlike the other two views, you cannot
  see the message number, response, section, subject, from, to,
  date, time, and keyword fields from this view.  There is,
  however, a larger portion of screen available for viewing the
  message text.  This is especially useful for very lengthy
  messages.


Show / Hide Tools:
  The Show / Hide Tools command will display or hide the Tool
  Palette, depending on its current state.  If the Tool Palette
  is currently hidden, it will be displayed, or if it is
  currently displayed on the screen, it will be hidden from view.
  The Tool Palette provides a quick way of accessing many of the
  common database functions available on the various pages of the
  toolbar.  When the mouse is positioned over one of the buttons
  on the Tool Palette, pop-up help will be displayed as a
  reference for what function the corresponding button will
  perform.






Tagged Menu


Delete Tagged:
  The Delete Tagged feature allows you remove all tagged messages
  from the current database.  As with any operation that is
  performed on tagged messages, a status screen will be displayed
  as CompuSlave performs the operation.


Print Tagged:
  The Print Tagged option displays the same print dialog box that
  is available from the print menu.  However, the default range
  is automatically set to Tagged Messages instead of Curent
  Message.  For more details on this dialog, see "The Print
  Menu".


Extract Tagged:
  The Extract Tagged option allows you to place all tagged
  messages into another database.  The target database can be one
  that already exists, or you can choose to have CompuSlave
  create a new database for you.  Once a message is successfully
  extracted, CompuSlave will untag it if the "Untag Messages
  After Successful Extraction" check box is marked.  Likewise,
  the message will be automatically untagged and deleted if the
  "Delete Messages After Successful Extraction" check box is
  marked.


Tag All:
  The Tag All feature can be used in an attempt to tag all
  messages in the database.  However, it is important to mention
  that CompuSlave currently allows a maximum of 16,384 messages
  to be tagged at one time.  If there are more than 16,384
  messages in the current database, CompuSlave will warn you, and
  then attempt to tag as many as possible.  Once it reaches the
  limit, it stops the tagging process.  If you need to tag more
  messages than this, you will have to tag the first set, perform
  an operation, tag the second set, perform the operation again,
  etc.  However, this need should be extremely rare.


Tag Range:
  The Tag Range feature can be used to tag a range of messages in
  the database.  Messages can be tagged within a range of message
  numbers and dates.  An entire section can be tagged using this
  feature.  Also, messages can be tagged using a starting and
  ending range for the Subject, From, and To fields.  When
  messages are tagged based on the Subject, From, or To fields,
  CompuSlave allows you to specify whether or not a "Fuzzy Match"
  is performed.  When the Fuzzy Match check box is not selected,
  the ending range must match the contents of the selected field
  exactly.  If the Fuzzy Match check box is selected, the string
  in the ending range field can contain any string of characters,
  as long as the beginning of the string matches.

  A good application of this feature would be to tag all messages
  within a range of dates in order to delete them from the
  database.  Another option is to tag an entire section and
  extract it into another database.  This allows smaller (and
  more specific) databases to be created, making the time
  required to search a database minimal.


Untag All:
  When the Untag All option is selected, CompuSlave will remove
  the tag mark from all tagged messages in the current database.
  If you perform one of the three main operations mentioned above
  (Delete Tagged, Print Tagged, or Extract Tagged), you can
  optionally remove the message tag once the operation is
  completed.  However, you can use the Untag All feature to
  quickly remove all tags without performing one of these
  operations.




Window Menu

Tile:
  The tile command allows you to display all open database
  windows using a tiled appearance.  This way, each window is
  visible within the desktop.


Cascade:
  The cascade command allows you to display all open database
  windows using a cascaded appearance.  This allows you to see
  the header of all open database windows, and click on the one
  you want to view.


Arrange Icons:
  When more than one database is open in CompuSlave, you can
  minimize each window, and display it as an icon within the
  desktop area.  When more than one window is minimized, the
  arrange icons command will arrange the minimized icons within
  the desktop area.


Close All:
  If database windows are open within the desktop area, selecting
  Close All will close all of the open databases at once.





Compression Options


Compress Message Data:
  Enabling the Compress Message Data option compresses the data
  contained in the body of each message, reducing the .DAT file
  size by about 15%.  This option is enabled by default.  If
  Database Compression" (using PKZip-Compatible Compression) is
  enabled, tighter overall compression can be obtained by
  disabling this option.  This type of compression occurs "on-the-
  fly" and is transparent to the user.  This setting may be
  overridden for any database by selecting Current Database from
  the Settings menu when a database is open.


Database Compression:
  CompuSlave can optionally compress the entire database,
  including .DAT, .IX, and .DIA files into a single PKZip-
  Compatible .ZIP file.  This option provides the greatest
  possible overall compression.  Before a database is opened,
  CompuSlave decompresses the database files.  Compression
  effectiveness varies from database to database, but is
  approximately 4:1.  This option is disabled by default.  This
  type of compression causes a delay prior to opening and after
  closing a database.  This setting may be overriden for each
  database by selecting Current Database from the Settings menu
  when a database is open.


Test Archive Integrity After Compression:
  When PKZip-Compatible Database Compression is used to compress
  a database, you may want to enable this option to test the
  integrity of the ZIP file before deleting the original database
  files.  This ensures that all database files were accurately
  added to the compressed file and can be decompressed without
  any errors.





Database Compression (Batch Imports):
  This option is similar to the Database Compression option on
  the Standard tab page, but this setting allows a different
  behavior to be specified during the batch import process.  When
  Compress Only Previously Compressed Databases is selected,
  CompuSlave will only compress a database if it was decompressed
  prior to importing new messages during the batch import
  process.  When the Compress All Databases option is selected,
  all databases will automatically be compressed, even if they
  were in non-compressed format prior to the batch import.  When
  the Do Not Compress Databases option is selected, none of the
  selected databases will be compressed after the batch import
  has been completed, even if they were in compressed format
  prior to the batch import.  The setting of this option
  automatically overrides the Database Compression option
  specified within each individual database, when you are
  executing a batch import operation.






Defaults

Auto-Load Database On Startup:
  This option should be checked if you want to load the database
  referenced in the Startup Database Name field each time
  CompuSlave is executed.  If this check box is not checked, the
  Startup Database will not be loaded automatically.


Startup Database Name:
  The Startup Database Name field should contain the name of the
  database file that should be loaded each time CompuSlave is
  executed.  When a database file is specified in this field,
  CompuSlave will attempt to load it immediately after it is
  executed if the corresponding Auto-Load Database On Startup
  check box is checked.


Use Activity Log:
  Select whether or not CompuSlave should perform activity
  logging.  If activity logging is turned on, CompuSlave will log
  importing activity to the activity log, when appropriate.  This
  can be useful to determine what capture files have been
  imported into a particular database, when it occurred, and how
  many messages were actually imported into the database.


Log File Name:
  This field contains the name of the file that will be used to
  log CompuSlave activity.  Right now, the only activity being
  logged to this file is import information and reorganization
  statistics.  (Activity logging may be expanded in a future
  release.)  The default filename is CSLAVEW.LOG, located in the
  default CompuSlave directory.


View Log File:
  When this button is selected, you can view the contents of the
  log file named in the Log File Name field.


Delete Log File:
  When this button is selected, CompuSlave will prompt you
  whether or not you want to delete the activity log file, thus
  removing any record of activity.





Speed Button Display:
  Power users who prefer to have as much space as possible
  available for reading messages may want to change the size and
  layout of the speed buttons on the tool bars located at the top
  of the screen.  Available options are No Speed Buttons, Text
  Only, Picture Only, or Text And Picture.  The No Speed Buttons
  option completely disables the use of speed buttons and tool
  bars, increasing the amount of space available for viewing
  message data.  The Text Only option removes the pictures from
  the speed buttons, only displaying the button text.  The
  Picture Only option removes the button text, but leaves the
  pictures intact, and the Text And Picture option (which is the
  default) displays both the button text and the associated
  picture.


Search Results Window:
  Once CompuSlave completes a search using the Search Entire
  Message option, a secondary database is created and displayed
  in a new window.  If Cascade is selected for this option,
  CompuSlave will cascade all open databases.  Likewise, if Tile
  is selected, CompuSlave will tile all open databases, and if
  Maximize is selected, CompuSlave will simply maximize the
  search results window to display the search results.


Update Message Counter During Search:
  When performing a "Search Entire Message" search on a database,
  CompuSlave displays a status screen that normally updates the
  current message counter after every message is searched.  Power
  users who want to optimize CompuSlave for speed during searches
  will want to disable this option.  Although the search counter
  is helpful to know what message number is being searched, it
  slows down the search process by as much as 15-20%.  When this
  option is disabled, CompuSlave will display the word "DISABLED"
  in the message counter field.  (The percent complete status bar
  will still be updated, however, to give users a general idea of
  how far along CompuSlave is in the search process.)


Show Tool Palette On Open Database:
  If this option is selected, CompuSlave will automatically
  display the Tool Palette each time a database is opened.  If
  this option is not selected, the Tool Palette will remain
  hidden until the user manually displays it using the Show/Hide
  Tool Palette option.


Show Tips At Startup:
  CompuSlave version 2.01 added a Tips screen that is displayed
  each time CompuSlave is executed.  Users can browse through the
  available tips using the Next and Previous buttons.  Some users
  may prefer not to see these tips when CompuSlave is executed.
  To turn off the Tips, deselect this check box.


Confirm Before Deleting Message:
  Although this feature can be extremely dangerous, it was
  requested by one of our users.  By default, CompuSlave prompts
  you to confirm the deletion of a message before it actually
  removes the message from the database.  If you prefer not to be
  prompted for a confirmation before deleting a message, deselect
  this check box.  Be very careful with this option!  Deleted
  messages cannot be undeleted!


Confirm Before Exiting CompuSlave:
  When this option is enabled, CompuSlave will prompt users for
  confirmation before they exit the
  application.  When it is disabled, CompuSlave will exit without
  displaying a confirmation dialog box.








Data Validation:
  CompuSlave version 2.13 added a new feature called Data
  Validation.  When records are added to a database, either
  during an import operation or during a database reorganization,
  the fields of a message are validated to make sure that they
  are in the proper format.  If, during the import or
  reorganization process, CompuSlave determines that a message
  fails the data validation check, it will display a "Data
  Validation Error" message box and show you the offending
  message.  At this point, you can choose to "Save" the message
  to the database anyway, thus ignoring CompuSlave's warning and
  putting your database at risk, or you can "Discard" the message
  (which is recommended).  Reasons that a message may fail a data
  validation check include: improper date format, improper time
  format, message number field does not contain a number, message
  number field contains a zero (0), response number field does
  not contain either "NONE" or a number, or the size of the
  message body text exceeds 24,576 bytes (24K).

  If you select "Prompt Before Adding Message", CompuSlave will
  display a dialog box giving you the option of whether or not to
  add the message to the database.  If you select "Never Add
  Message", CompuSlave will discard any message that fails the
  validation check.  If you select "Always Add Message",
  CompuSlave will ignore the validation check completely and
  attempt to add the message to the database, even though it may
  fail the validation check.  The default setting is "Prompt
  Before Adding Message".


Issue Data Validation Error On Message Number Zero:
  As the caption of this check box explains, CompuSlave can be
  configured whether or not to trigger a data validation error
  when it encounters a message with a message number of zero.
  (Previous versions of CompuSlave automatically issued the data
  validation error when this situation occurred.)






Import Options

Import Filters:
  Import filters are used on the Import File dialog boxes,
  allowing users to change which types of files are displayed in
  the file list.  Up to 5 import filters may be entered, and the
  first filter listed in this table will be used as the default.





Import Path:
  This field should contain the default location where your
  CompuServe capture files are located.  CompuSlave will log to
  this directory as the default when you select the Import
  option.


Delete Capture File After Importing Messages:
  If this option is selected, a message box will appear after the
  importing process has been completed, and will prompt you
  whether or not you want to delete the file that was just
  imported.  When this option is turned on, the capture file is
  NOT automatically deleted.  CompuSlave gives you the
  opportunity to confirm that you want to delete the file before
  it is removed from your hard drive.


Beep After Import Completed:
  This field gives users the option of whether CompuSlave should
  beep once the import process has been completed for an
  individual database.  In cases where the capture file contains
  an extensive number of messages (perhaps a few thousand), users
  may leave their computer unattended for a short time.  The
  extra beep gives an audible signal that the import is finished,
  and the user can continue with other tasks.


Confirm Before Importing File:
  If this option is selected, CompuSlave will prompt you for
  confirmation before importing a file into the database.


Display Number of Messages Added Following Import:
  When this option is selected, CompuSlave pop up a message box
  after an import process is complete to inform you exactly how
  many messages were added to the database during the import
  operation.


Pre-import Filtering:
  When attempt to import messages from a CompuServe ASCII Capture
  File, we have noticed that on occasion, a message will not
  import correctly, causing a data validation error to occur.  A
  first glance at the message in the file doesn't show anything
  extremely unusual.  However, after looking at the message using
  a hex editor, we have found numerous cases where a #0 (null
  character) will be inserted in between a carriage return-line
  feed combination.  This character throws our reading routine
  off, causing the validation error to occur.  When the pre-
  import filtering check box is selected, CompuSlave performs a
  quick pass through the import file to remove these troublesome
  characters.  This filtering process will only occur for
  OzCIS/OzWin, TapCIS, and CompuServe ASCII capture files, but
  not for WinCIM/CSNav files.


Preserve Original Import File After Filtering:
  When the pre-import filtering check box is checked, (see
  previous item for an explanation), you have the option of
  preserving the original import file (which may still contain
  null characters), or keeping the filtered file.  (At STSI, we
  maintain a complete archive of all capture files that have ever
  been created, to make sure that we never experience data loss.)
  Place a check mark in this check box only if you want to keep
  the original file, before filtering occurred.


Duplicate Message Number Action:
  When CompuSlave imports messages into a database, it checks for
  a duplicate message number prior to adding the new message.  If
  a duplicate message number is detected, CompuSlave can be
  configured to either prompt you for what action to take,
  automatically skip the new message, or automatically add the
  new message to the database, in spite of the fact that the
  message number is duplicated.


Import File Format:
  This field specifies the default file format that should be
  used when importing new messages into a database.  This value
  can be overridden for each individual database.  CompuSlave
  automatically remembers the last file format used for each
  database, but this value can be set to specify the initial
  value used for new databases.






OzCIS, TapCIS, WinCIM, CSNav

Options on this screen apply directly to the file formats for
OzCIS/OzWin, TapCIS, WinCIM, CSNav, and ASCII Capture Files when
importing messages into CompuSlave.

Ignore Message Number 0 (Zero):
  When this check box is selected for either the OzCIS/OzWin or
  TapCIS file formats, CompuSlave will automatically ignore
  messages that have a message number of zero.  Typically, these
  are section header messages, that simply display a forum
  welcome message, along with information about the last read
  message number, total messages, etc.  If you want CompuSlave to
  ignore these messages, place a check mark in the appropriate
  box.  Otherwise, if you want these messages included in your
  databases, de-select this check box.



Current Database

The Current Database option on the Settings menu is enabled and
accessible when a database is open within CompuSlave.  When this
option is selected, you can modify the individual settings for
the currently selected database.

Compress Message Data:
  Enabling the Compress Message Data option compresses the data
  contained in the body of each message, reducing the .DAT file
  size by about 15%.  This option is enabled by default.  If
  Database Compression" (using PKZip-Compatible Compression) is
  enabled, tighter overall compression can be obtained by
  disabling this option.  This type of compression occurs "on-the-
  fly" and is transparent to the user.  This setting overrides
  the global Compress Message Data setting on the Compression
  Options screen.


Database Compression:
  CompuSlave can optionally compress the entire database,
  including .DAT, .IX, and .DIA files into a single PKZip-
  Compatible .ZIP file.  This option provides the greatest
  possible overall compression.  Before a database is opened,
  CompuSlave decompresses the database files.  Compression
  effectiveness varies from database to database, but is
  approximately 4:1.  This option is disabled by default.  This
  type of compression causes a delay prior to opening and after
  closing a database.  This setting overrides the global Database
  Compression setting on the Compression Options screen.





Database Description:
  Use the Database Description field to store a short description
  for the current database.  This description will display on the
  title bar of the current database.







Network Options

Optimization:
  This option is used to specify whether CompuSlave should
  optimize database management for Data Integrity or Speed. If
  Optimize For Data Integrity is chosen, access to certain
  routines may be impacted by a reduction in speed. If Optimize
  For Speed is chosen, CompuSlave will attempt to optimize access
  to routines without a reduction in speed.

  When Optimize For Data Integrity is turned on, CompuSlave will
  write portions of the database to be modified to the dialog
  (.DIA) file before any changes are made.  Then, in the event
  that an error occurs, the database can be restored to its known
  state prior to the operation.  If the computer system crashes
  before an operation is complete, CompuSlave automatically
  repairs the database by using the information in the dialog
  file the next time the database is opened.

  Based on our internal testing, Optimize For Speed is MUCH
  faster, especially when importing CompuServe capture files.  If
  you decide to use Optimize For Speed, however, we recommend
  that you maintain a regular backup.  If you are more concerned
  about data integrity, even to the point of sacrificing some
  performance, select Optimize For Data Integrity.


Network Type:
  Even if you don't use a network, users running under Microsoft
  Windows should change the default Network Type from None to the
  MS-Net Compatible option.  Make sure to read the following
  section!

  None:
    When "None" is selected as the network type,  file sharing
    and record locking routines are not used.  Do NOT run
    CompuSlave in a multiuser setting with the network type set
    to "None".  If you do, the data and index files are likely to
    become corrupt if two or more nodes try to access the
    program!

  Novell:
    If you are running on a Novell NetWare 2.x, 3.x, or 4.x
    network, be sure to set the network type setting to "Novell
    Network".

  MS-Net:
    The "MS-Net Compatible" setting should be used for the
    following networks and environments: LANtastic, LAN Manager,
    IBM PC-LAN, Personal NetWare, NetWare Lite, DESQview, and
    Windows.  When using this option, you must load SHARE.EXE.
    (When running under Windows, either SHARE must be loaded
    prior to running Windows, or the VSHARE driver must be loaded
    in Windows.)


Fast Search:
  When the Fast Search option is enabled, the search speed for
  the "Search Entire Message" option is increased substantially.
  To do this, CompuSlave places a "Read Lock" on the entire
  database to prevent other users from writing to it.  This can
  produce search speeds up to 3 times as fast as when Fast Search
  is disabled.  However, if Fast Search is enabled, other users
  CANNOT make changes to the database when another user is
  performing this type of search.  Network supervisors should
  consider this situation carefully before enabling the Fast
  Search option.


Browser Refresh Delay:
  This number specifies the number of seconds that CompuSlave
  will use as an update interval when displaying the browser
  screen.  If this value is set to 5, CompuSlave will update the
  browser screen every 5 seconds with any changes that have made
  from other workstations working on the same database file.






Register CompuSlave


  Description:
    Once you register CompuSlave and pay the requested fee to
    STSI for registering, you will receive a registration name
    and number.  Enter your name and number in the fields shown
    on this screen, and CompuSlave will be registered to you.
    You will no longer see "nag screens" or "reminders"
    pressuring you to register, and you will be able to bypass
    the database record limits imposes on the unregistered
    version of CompuSlave.  If your name and number are entered
    accurately, CompuSlave will display a thank-you message.
    Otherwise, CompuSlave will warn you that the registration
    number you entered was not valid.


  Registration Name:
    The Registration Name text field allows users to enter their
    personal name or the name of their company or organization.


  Registration Number:
    The Registration Number text field allows users to enter the
    registration number they received from STSI upon registering
    CompuSlave.  For information on how to register, please see
    the "Registration" section near the top of this documentation
    file.


  Network Users:
    This field contains the numbers of network users for
    CompuSlave.  To receive a registration number that provides
    support for network users, see the file REGISTER.DOC.  If you
    are registering a single-user version of CompuSlave, enter 0
    in this field.







Database Compression

CompuSlave currently offers two different types of data
compression to reduce the size of the databases created by
CompuSlave.  As more and more messages are added to a database,
the size of the database grows substantially.  As an example, our
company's largest CompuSlave database currently contains over
293,000 messages.  The database (.DAT) file is approximately 233
megabytes in size, while the index (.IX) file is 111 megabytes in
size.  Our CompuSlave directory contains over 75 separate
databases, totaling more than 1.3 gigabytes in size.  With that
type of disk space consumption, data compression becomes
absolutely necessary.

The first type of data compression offered by CompuSlave is
called "Compress Message Data".  When this option is enabled,
CompuSlave performs data compression on the message body field of
a message when it is added into the database.  Likewise, when the
message is retrieved from the database, CompuSlave automatically
detects that it was compressed, and decompresses it.  These
processes are performed "on-the-fly", since there are no
noticeable delays while the compression or decompression is
taking place.

The second type of data compression available in CompuSlave is
labeled "Database Compression" on the Compression Options and
Current Database screens.  This type of data compression stores
the .DAT, .IX, and .DIA files in a compressed archive file,
compatible with PKZip 2.0. Before a database is opened,
CompuSlave decompresses the database files, and once the database
is closed, CompuSlave recompresses the database files, causing a
time delay both prior to opening and after closing a database.
The Database Compression option can be set to Never Compress,
Prompt To Compress, or Always Compress.  When Never Compress is
selected, CompuSlave does not compress a database when it is
closed.  When Prompt To Compress is selected, CompuSlave prompts
you whether or not you want to compress a database when it is
closed.  When Always Compress is selected, CompuSlave
automatically compresses a database upon closing it.


Compression Effectiveness
  Databases that use the Compress Message Data setting have a
  database (.DAT) file that is typically 15% smaller than
  databases that do not use this setting.  This setting, however,
  does not affect the size of the index (.IX) file.  Databases
  that use PKZip-Compatible Database Compression can achieve the
  greatest possible overall compression, being typically 75%
  smaller than databases that have no compression enabled.

  Note: If you intend to use the PKZip-Compatible Database
  Compression, we strongly recommend that you disable the
  Compress Message Data option.  That is because PKZip-compatible
  compression can achieve a better compression ratio on database
  (.DAT) files that do not have the internal compression enabled.
  The following table shows the difference in file sizes
  depending on the type of compression being used:

                               Size of     Size of
                               CARS.DAT    CARS.IX

  No Compression               6,731,200  2,309,824

  Compress Message Data        5,738,600  2,309,824

  Compress Message Data        3,044,681    371,283
  AND Database Compression

  Database Compression ONLY    1,923,626    374,928



  Also keep in mind that the compression settings can be changed
  in two different places.  First, a global setting is available
  on the Compression Options screen, and secondly, an individual
  setting is available for each database on the Current Database
  screen.  When a new database is created, CompuSlave uses the
  global value to determine the default setting.  This setting
  can then be overwritten for an individual database if you wish
  to change its behavior.





Using STSI Com

If you do not already own a communications package capable of
ANSI terminal emulation (such as Procomm Plus, Qmodem, etc.), you
may want to use STSI Com, the communications package distributed
with CompuSlave.  STSI Com was written with the intention of
aiding users who want to capture the messages in the CompuServe
forums, but do not currently have an existing communications
package.

To call CompuServe using STSI Com, you should perform the
following steps:

1.  Execute STSI Com by clicking on the modem button in
CompuSlave, or double-click on the program item located in the
CompuSlave group in Program Manager.

2.  Select Parameters from the Preferences menu, and select the
Com Port, Baud Rate, Parity, Data Bits, and Stop Bits you want to
use as the default.

3.  Select Quick Modem Configure from the Preferences menu, and
select the modem from the list that most closely fits the modem
you are using.

4.  Set up your CompuServe information on the CompuServe Settings
screen, which is available from the Preferences menu.

5.  Click on the Phonebook button on the toolbar, or select
Phonebook from the Modem menu.  If you are using the default
phonebook supplied with STSI Com, you can edit the entry with the
name "CompuServe", or you can add a new entry.  When adding an
entry for CompuServe, keep the following points in mind:

  Be sure to enter the complete phone number that you want to
  dial, including a "1" if the number is long distance, and the
  proper area code.

  The parity should be set to "Even", the data bits to "7" and
  the stop bits to "1".

  The connection type should be set to "CompuServe".  This tells
  STSI Com to perform special operations for you, such as typing
  "off" before you hang up the telephone.

  The initial carriage returns field should be set to 1.  When
  you call CompuServe, you must press ENTER once before you will
  be prompted for your host name, user ID, and password.  By
  entering 1 in this field, STSI Com will perform this step for
  you.

  You may want STSI Com to log you into CompuServe automatically.
  If you completed step #4 by filling in your CompuServe
  settings, STSI Com can optionally generate a default login
  script for you.  Clicking on the "CIS Login" button will
  instruct STSI Com to assign the correct parity, data bits, stop
  bits, connection type, and initial carriage returns values, and
  a default login script will be created for you.

Once you have finished adding or editing your CompuServe
phonebook entry, select Ok to save it into the phonebook.  When
you are ready, select the Dial button.  STSI Com will dial the
entry that is highlighted in the table.  Once you are
successfully connected to CompuServe, it is up to you to join the
proper CompuServe forum and capture the messages.  For
information on how to do this, see the section "Capturing
CompuServe Messages" in the documentation.




Questions & Answers

Question:
  How many messages can be stored in a CompuSlave database?

Answer:
  The theoretical limit is 2 billion, but quite honestly, we have
  been unable to test that limit.  Our largest CompuSlave
  database, which is used on a daily basis, currently contains
  over 200,000 messages.



Question:
  When attempting to use CompuSlave on a Novell network under
  Microsoft Windows 95, I am receiving the error message "Could
  not initialize the selected network type...".  It works fine
  when using the "None" or "MS-Net" network type, but not when
  the network type is set to "Novell".  What is wrong?

Answer:
  This error message can occur after installing Microsoft's NDS
  support within Windows 95.  CompuSlave needs to access the file
  NWCALLS.DLL, but cannot find it in the Windows System
  directory.  If you are receiving this error, or any other
  network-related error message when using Windows 95 on a Novell
  network, make sure you have a copy of the file NWCALLS.DLL in
  your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.


Question:
  Can I create a capture file for CompuSlave using WinCIM?

Answer:
  Yes!  Follow these instructions:

  1. Select "Terminal Emulation" from the "Special" menu.



  2.  When presented with the Terminal Emulation dialog box,
  click on "Connect".



  3.  The Terminal Emulation window will be displayed within
  WinCIM, and the bottom of the screen should display a prompt
  that says "Enter choice or <CR> for more !"



  4.  Let's assume that you want to capture the messages in the
  Quarterdeck forum.  Type "GO QUARTERDECK" and press ENTER to
  move to the Quarterdeck Forum.  CompuServe will display
  information welcoming you to the conference, and prompt you to
  "Press <CR> !"



  5.  After pressing ENTER, CompuServe will display the Forum
  Menu.



  6.  Type "2" and press ENTER to move to the Messages Menu.



  7.  From the Messages Menu, type "2" and press ENTER to "Read
  or search messages".  The Read Menu options should be
  displayed.



  8.  Now is when you must turn on the message capturing
  capability of WinCIM.  From WinCIM's "Special" Menu, select
  "Record In File".  This will allow WinCIM to capture all future
  text into an import file that can be used by CompuSlave.



  9.  The Open file dialog box will be displayed, prompting you
  to enter a filename that will be used to store the message
  text.  Remember that it is wise to use a filename that will be
  easy to remember.  In this case, type in the filename
  "qdeck.txt" and select Ok to turn on the capturing process.



  10.  Notice that on the bottom of the WinCIM screen, the status
  bar now says "File Capture On".  This is how you know that you
  successfully started the capturing process.  Type "1" and press
  ENTER to read "[NEW] messages" in the Quarterdeck forum.



  11.  CompuServe will display the first new message in the
  Quarterdeck forum, and display a prompt "Press <CR> for next or
  type CHOICES !".  At this point, you should type "SCROLL" and
  press ENTER.  This instructs CompuServe to display the rest of
  the new messages without pausing or making you press ENTER.
  All the text that scrolls by on your screen will probably be
  displayed much too fast for you to read, but that's okay since
  it is all being saved into the capture file that we created
  earlier.


  12.  Once all of the new messages have been displayed and
  captured to the import file, CompuServe will return you to the
  Read Messages menu.



  13.  Since all of  the new forum messages have been captured to
  the text file, you should now turn off the file capture.  To do
  this, select "Record In File" from the Special menu.  (Notice
  that there is a check mark beside this option, indicating that
  file capture is still on.  Once you select this menu option
  again, the check mark will disappear, and file capture will be
  turned off.)



  14.  To verify that you turned off file capture, look again at
  WinCIM's status bar and make sure that the indicator says "File
  Capture Off".



  15.  You have now completed the capturing process.  To log off
  of CompuServe and hang up the telephone, you can do one of two
  things.  Either type "off" and press ENTER, or click on the
  Disconnect button at the top of the terminal screen.



  16.  The newly created capture file is ready for importing into
  CompuSlave "as is".  There are no modifications that need to be
  made.  Simply select the Import option within CompuSlave after
  a database has been created or opened, and you can import the
  new capture file, named "qdeck.txt".



Question:
  How do I capture messages in a section of a particular forum
  when one CompuServe forum is used for multiple vendors?

Answer:
  A good example of this problem is found with the PCVenA forum
  on CompuServe.  There are more than a dozen vendors that share
  this forum.  Using WinCIM as an example, perform the following
  actions:

  1.  Type "GO PCVENA" to access the PC Vendor A forum and move
  to the Messages Menu.



  2.  Type "1" and press ENTER to move to the "SELECT (Read by
  section and subject)" menu.  CompuServe will display a list of
  the vendors/sections contained in this forum.



  3.  Select the vendor whose messages you want to capture.  In
  this case, you might type "14" and press ENTER for PC-Kwik
  Corporation.  Now, the Subjects Menu will be displayed, showing
  you the subjects within the PC-Kwik section.



  4.  At this point, you should turn on the "Record In File"
  option from the WinCIM "Special" menu.  This will start the
  file capturing process.



  5.  After turning on the file capturing feature within WinCIM,
  type "ALL" and press ENTER to instruct CompuServe that you want
  to read all messages within the forum.  After the first message
  is displayed, type "SCROLL" and press ENTER to automatically
  scroll through all new messages.  Once the messages have been
  displayed, CompuServe will display the prompt "Press <CR> !".
  At this point, turn off the "Record In File" option and sign
  off of CompuServe.





Cautions

As with any program that maintains large amounts of data, there
is the possibility for data loss.  Regular data backups are
strongly recommended.  Hard drives can fail, files can become
corrupt, and data loss can occur.  Your best protection is a
regular (verified) backup!

If your computer system should hang while you are performing a
search with CompuSlave, you may find some temporary files left
over in a temporary CompuSlave directory. These files will be
located in a directory with a name such as TEMP0001, TEMP0002,
etc., and will have a random file name such as 123BDX4Z.???.
(You will likely find one file with a .DAT extension, one with a
.IX extension, and one with a .DIA extension.)  If you are sure
that no other network users are performing a search, that this
database is not one of your message databases, and that your
computer system hung in the middle of a search, go ahead and
delete it using CompuSlave.  For an explanation of why this
temporary database is created, see the information on Searching
the database.





Products By STSI

Stevenson Technical Services, Inc.
108 Second Avenue West
Bertha MN 56437-0297
Phone / FAX: [phone]
The STSI BBS: [phone]
Internet: http://www.stevetech.com
Internet Mail: [e-mail]
(Visa, MasterCard, American Express, & Discover Accepted)


  ·    BBS Informant <ASP> Comprehensive BBS List / Search Door!
BBS Informant is a comprehensive BBS door used for adding,
listing, and searching through BBS names and numbers. BBS
Informant stores over 40 fields of data on each BBS!  Store up to
3 phone numbers, software & version, sysop, emphasis, rate,
location, number of lines, storage space, CD-ROMS, date of
origin, services offered, summary, and much more!  Network
support is included!  BBS Informant works on Wildcat, PCBoard,
and any BBS that supports DOOR.SYS.
Registration Fee: $49.95


  ·    BOOT'R <ASP> -DOS Multiple Configuration Manager
BOOT'R allows the management of multiple configurations on a
single machine. BOOT'R can modify the CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT,
and more. Modify up to 5 files for each configuration. Useful for
changing files such as NET.CFG too! Ideal for creating custom
configurations for memory-hungry games. Easy to use push-button
interface w/mouse support!  Online reference tools!
Registration Fee: $34.95


  ·    CompuSlave For Windows <ASP> Master Your Messages!
CompuSlave imports CompuServe forum messages from a capture file
into a database.  Search the entire database for key words or
phrases.  Create your own stand-alone, customized technical
support resource using the combined knowledge of the CompuServe
forum members.  Ideal tool for tech support personnel,
programmers, network administrators, or any user who routinely
searches the CompuServe forum messages for information.  Easy to
use Windows interface!  Sample import file is included.
Documentation contains helpful hints on how to create a
CompuServe forum message capture file.
Registration Fee: $49.95


  ·    Infodex <ASP> - Multipurpose Database!
Infodex is a versatile database manager used to keep track of
names and addresses, equipment, computer software, books, and
much more!  Includes a FREE-FORM layout.  Add, delete, or
rearrange fields EASILY!  Search for text in any field.  Import
and export to a delimited text file.  Quickly browse through a
list of records.  Easy push button interface!  Both protected-
mode and real-mode versions are included to support various
memory requirements.
Registration Fee: $34.95


  ·    QwkSlave <ASP> - QWK Packet Message Database!
QwkSlave imports QWK mail packets, storing each message as a
database record.  Add, edit, delete, print, browse, sort, &
search through messages.  Cross referencing makes finding an
original message and its response as easy as a mouse-click.
Ideal as a technical support reference tool.  Network support is
included.  Easy to use push-button interface!
Registration Fee: $49.95


  ·    Replicator For DOS <ASP> - The Diskette Database / Duplicator!
Replicator is a disk image utility designed to create images of
diskettes and catalog them in a database.  Use optional
compression to reduce the image size.  Recreate disks as needed.
Store up to 10 lines of descriptive text for each disk image in
the database.  Database entries can be modified at any time.
Easy push button interface!  (286 or higher)
Registration Fee: $49.95


  ·    Replicator For Windows <ASP> - The Diskette Database / Duplicator!
Replicator is a disk image utility designed to create images of
diskettes and catalog them in a database.  Optionally compress
image files and scan disks for viruses.  Recreate disks as
needed.  Store up to 10 lines of descriptive text for each disk
image in the database.  Database entries can be modified at any
time.  Network support included.  Easy to use Windows interface!
Registration Fee: $49.95


  ·    ZIP'R Pro For DOS <ASP> - Compression Utility For DOS!
ZIP'R Pro stores programs in compressed form when they are not
being used. Use ZIP'R Pro to automatically decompress a program,
execute it, and recompress it again. Uses ARJ, LHA, PKZIP, or
built-in compression.  Integrate with a menu system, or use ZIP'R
Pro's button menu. Works with networks & multitaskers. Easy to
use push-button interface with mouse support!
Registration Fee: $49.95


  ·    ZIP'R Pro For Windows <ASP> - Compression Utility For Windows!
ZIP'R Pro stores programs in compressed form when they are not
being used. Use ZIP'R Pro to automatically decompress a program,
execute it, and recompress it again. Uses ARJ, LHA, PKZIP, or
built-in compression.  Integrate with a Windows icon, or use
ZIP'R Pro's desktop to launch the program of your choice.
Network/Multi-user support is included.
Registration Fee: $49.95




Programs Mentioned:

  MS-DOS is copyrighted by Microsoft Corporation.
  Procomm Plus is copyrighted by Datastorm Technologies, Inc.
  QmodemPro is copyrighted by Mustang Software, Inc.
  ShowCIM is copyrighted by Joerg Arnu and Gildas Quiniou.
  STSI Com is copyrighted by Stevenson Technical Services, Inc.
  Windows is copyrighted by Microsoft Corporation.
  Windows Terminal is copyrighted by Microsoft Corporation.


The following are service marks of CompuServe Incorporated:

  WinCIM


The following are registered marks of CompuServe Incorporated:

  CompuServe
  CompuServe Information Manager
  CompuServe Navigator
  CSNav
  Online Today
  The Electronic Mall


  All other brand and product names are marks or registered marks
  of their respective companies.