World of Shareware - Software Farm 2

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---------------------------------------------------------------- THE SHAREWARE USERS TUTORIAL (c) 1990-1991 Abstracted from the PC-LEARN computer tutorial system Seattle Scientific Photography and Jim Hood POB 1506, Mercer Island, WA 98040 (206) 236-0470 ---------------------------------------------------------------- If you are using this tutorial on a computer, glance at the bottom edge of the screen for reminders as to what keys you may use to read, print or browse through the tutorial contents. This tutorial has been extracted from the much larger PC-LEARN computer tutorial disk with the permission of the author of PC-LEARN, a shareware software package. See the registration and ordering information for obtaining PC-LEARN at the end of this article or contained in the file README which accompanies this shareware program. Contact the author if you would like permission to use this tutorial in your disk vendor catalog, computer club newsletter or BBS system. You might consider obtaining the complete PC-LEARN computer tutorial system which contains additional tutorials on a variety of computer subjects. This document should be used in complete form, however, contact the author if you wish to use an abridged version. Please register this software if you find it useful. If abstracts of this document are used, full credit must be cited as to the source of this information. Both commercial and non-commercial registration arrangements are available. ---------------------------------------------------------------- THE SHAREWARE USERS TUTORIAL ---------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY OF TOPICS IN ORDER OF PRESENTATION Types of software: shareware, public domain, freeware, commercial Eight easy steps to using shareware FAST! Minimum DOS commands for using shareware Copying the master disk The directory listing of a shareware disk File names and extensions - the keys to the kingdom A turbocharged shortcut Unpacking and installing, including ARCS, ZIPS, LZH and more Configuring the program if necessary Running the program Feedback: either register or send your regrets! Common questions and answers Recommended reading list for shareware users and authors ---------------------------------------------------------------- SHAREWARE, PUBLIC DOMAIN, FREEWARE AND COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE ---------------------------------------------------------------- SHAREWARE is software which has been prepared by a variety of individuals and companies. The concept governing shareware is that you "try before you buy." Shareware is above all a unique marketing experiment which operates on the "honor system." In practice, shareware is frequently of the same quality as commercial software. However, it uses a different, and somewhat less expensive method of marketing which involves letting others freely copy, use and distribute the shareware. What you receive from your friend at work, computer club, commercial shareware disk distributor or BBS modem system is a "disk evaluation copy" which you may use, copy and above all TRY. Documentation and instructions for program use are usually contained within special text files on the same disk as the program and sometimes take a little detective work to locate. Formal printed documentation and instruction books may also be available from the author. If you like what you find and use the program consistently - many shareware authors suggest 30 days, but this is not a firm rule - then you are expected to register the shareware by submitting a fee usually by mail to the author which frequently brings additional benefits sent back to you by the author of the shareware. Above all, it is legal to copy, distribute and USE shareware. Computers improve the world, shareware improves computers and registration is what improves and motivates shareware programmers who are called "authors" in the trade. If you do not submit a registration fee AT LEAST send a postcard with your thoughts on why improvement is needed. You just might NEED and USE the revised version which is produced due to your funding or critique. Either way, feedback is essential to the shareware process! The registration fee requested by the author is a matter of good conscience since shareware registration fees are paid by users directly to the author "on the honor system." Paying an honest registration fee frequently means you will receive additional disks for the program or further instruction documents, bonus items or other "inducements" directly from the author. Registration is more than this though: on a human scale your registration fee is supporting a small company or individual who shows you how to use and understand a computer. A programmer is a craftsman whose tools are logic and considerable creativity. Your registration check is a special bond which allows this quiet "honor system" of submitting your registration fee for a programming job well done to motivate creative programmers to produce some rather astonishing products! The best way to summarize is this: you are not registering a product, you are helping a person or small company do something which improves how man uses the computer, most important tool of this century. Paying a registration fee to the author of the program rewards technical craftsmanship for providing creative computer solutions at unbelievably low cost. Good programmers are rare creatures - a small registration check goes a long way and means a lot to a small shareware author! PUBLIC DOMAIN software is a second type of computer software which is NOT copyrighted and has no other legal restrictions as to use by the general public. The author may or may not be identified. Most public domain programs result from the efforts of a programmer who designs a small piece of software for personal use. The author may not decide to invest additional time in developing and marketing the software due to lack of market knowledge or lack time and funds to effectively develop it into a larger commercial or shareware package. For these and other reasons, the author does not copyright the software and allows it to be copied, used or even incorporated into other software packages since it is part of the public domain available for the common good. FREEWARE is related to BUT NOT the same as public domain software. Freeware requires no registration fee or reimbursement for use by the public but the copyright is RETAINED BY THE AUTHOR who notes a copyright restriction within the body or documentation of the software. A reason for this subtle difference is that the author may, at a future date, wish to reclaim all or part of the software or modify and reissue the software as shareware or commercial software. The copyright continues the unique claim of the author to the product. COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE is computer software provided by a company or individual which is generally marketed via retail, wholesale or other commercial means but does not use or promote a registration fee concept, a "try before you buy" concept, and does not use or promote sharing copies of the program among individuals or other enterprises. The user is expected to purchase the right to use the package BEFORE being allowed to use the software extensively. Note that either purchase or registration of any software package does not mean you own the package, merely THE RIGHT AND LICENSE TO USE IT. The author or company which produced it owns the software programming code and is granting you a LICENSE to use it in exchange for a fee or other compensation. In essence you do not buy or own software, you merely license its use. The author owns it. ---------------------------------------------------------------- EIGHT EASY STEPS TO USING SHAREWARE --------------------------------------------------------------- Print this section and keep it next to your computer! These steps are the secrets to using shareware! We will look at each suggestion in greater detail in just a moment . . . 1) Make a copy of the shareware disk, store your original and work with the copy. 2) Do a DIRECTORY LISTING of the disk(s) on paper or your monitor screen. 3) Determine FILE TYPES using extensions and filename clues. 4) Read DOCUMENTATION and TEXT FILES if available on disk. 5) Unpack and install the program. 6) Configure the program if necessary. 7) Run the program. 8) Submit a registration fee or at least postcard(s) with your regrets to the author and the disk vendor. ---------------------------------------------------------------- MINIMUM DOS COMMANDS FOR USING SHAREWARE ---------------------------------------------------------------- Before we move forward, a brief refresher course in several basic DOS operations without which a shareware disk is useless. DOS SYNTAX A DOS command must always use the same syntax illustrated below: COMMAND <blank space> WHAT? <space> WHERE? <press return/enter> Example: COPY PCLEARN.TXT B: <press return/enter key> Example: TYPE PCLEARN.DOC <press return/enter key> In the second example DOS assume the WHERE is the screen. In the first example DOS needs to be told that a copy of a file is to be sent to the B: floppy drive. NOTE! Generally DOS commands, drive letters and filenames and be typed in upper or lower case or both, since DOS is not fussy in that respect. It is ok to use capital letters, small letters or any combination. THE DIR COMMAND An essential command which displays the names of the files on a disk. Example: A>DIR <press return/enter> Lists files on the diskette your are in THE DEFAULT DRIVE, in this case is A: Example: A>DIR B: Lists files in the B: drive. We have omitted the <press enter/ return> since you already know this is necessary after a DOS command. Example: A>DIR /P List files in current default drive but pause after each screenful of information. Example: A>DIR B: /P Same as above, but list the files on B: drive with a pause. Example: A>DIR /W List current default drive but display in wide screen mode for numerous files. NOTE! With any DOS operation which rapidly fills and overflows the screen with data, try pressing CTRL-S (control or ctrl key plus the S key together at same time) to pause the screen. Any key touched resumes the scrolling display and CTRL-S repeated pauses again. Very handy! NOTE! Switching drives is easy. If you see this: A> and you want to change the default drive to this: B> then simply do this: A>B: <press return/enter> Switching default drives is an essential skill! THE FORMAT COMMAND This prepares a blank disk to receive new information. You must format disks out of the package from the store before you can use them. Formatting tests a disk and installs magnetic tracks where information will later reside. Examples: C>FORMAT A: format floppy in A: A>FORMAT B: format floppy in B: C>FORMAT B:/S see below for explanation . . . The last example formats the disk in B: drive and also adds the special system files so that the disk can be self starting or self booting. Not essential with most disk you will work with. You MUST have the special file FORMAT.COM on your disk or hard drive to able to do this operation since FORMAT.COM normally resides EXTERNALLY on a floppy or in a special area of your hard drive. THE COPY AND DISKCOPY COMMANDS Moves, copies and even renames files as they pass from one disk to another. Examples: A>COPY *.* B: Copies ALL files (indicated by *.*) to the B: floppy drive. A>DISKCOPY A: B: This is a variation of the copy command. The above example will copy the ENTIRE contents of the diskette in the A: drive to the B: drive. DISKCOPY.COM is an external file and must be available to be used! The COPY command is an internal command (always resides in your computer's RAM memory and is thus ALWAYS AVAILABLE - unlike DISKCOPY.COM) A>DISKCOPY A: A: This is a variation of the diskcopy command. The above example will copy the ENTIRE contents of the diskette in the A: drive to the A: drive for those using ONLY a single floppy drive system and perhaps not having a B: or C: drive. In essence, this variation copies the SOURCE diskette into memory, allows you to remove the SOURCE diskette, insert a blank formatted TARGET diskette and transfer the files to that new floppy. Useful for those having only a single floppy drive. C>COPY A:*.* B: Copies all files from A: to B: while still in the C: default directory. C>COPY A:HAPPY.DOC B: Copies only the file HAPPY.DOC to B: NOTE! DISKCOPY is an external command and must be on the disk or in the default directory to work. COPY is an internal command and is always available at the DOS command line. We mentioned this before, but it is worth repeating . . . TYPE COMMAND Lets you view the internal contents of a file on the screen. If the file is in ASCII or english text (same thing) you will be able to read it. If the file is not ASCII then you will see symbols which are gibberish. Only text or ASCII files are readable for the most part. Examples: C>TYPE MANUAL.DOC Type the contents of the file MANUAL.DOC to the screen. Remember to use CTRL-S to pause, any key to resume scrolling and CTRL-S to pause again. A>TYPE B:MANUAL.DOC Type the file MANUAL.DOC which is located on the B: drive to the screen. PRINT COMMAND There are actually two ways to print text or documentation files on your printer. Examples: C>PRINT EXAMPLE.DOC Prints on your printer the contents of the file EXAMPLE.DOC. Note that PRINT command is an external file and must be present in the default drive to be used! C>TYPE EXAMPLE.DOC>PRN This is a useful alternative method of accomplishing the same result by using the TYPE command which is an internal command, always available and redirecting the output to a printer. The small > symbol is found as a shifted period mark on most keyboards and in other locations on your keyboard. Be sure to find and try the > symbol. NOTE! To stop printing use the CTRL-C key combination to stop the printing and completely abort. CTRL-C works to abort just about ANY DOS operation safely. ---------------------------------------------------------------- COPYING THE MASTER DISK ---------------------------------------------------------------- Now that you know a little DOS, be aware that the first step to accomplish with any disk of shareware is to copy your original diskette onto another blank formatted floppy. Then work with the copy and safely store the original just in case a problem arises, a file is deleted, or you accidentally copy other files over the shareware program diskette you need. It's a good idea to also put a write protect tab over the notch of the original disk before you use it so that data cannot accidentally be deleted. ---------------------------------------------------------------- THE DIRECTORY LISTING OF A SHAREWARE DISK ---------------------------------------------------------------- The next step is to use the DIR command to list the contents of a disk so you can do a little detective work and determine the disk contents and locate the instruction text files which are probably contained on the disk. We have already given examples for listing a directory to the screen in our previous DOS lesson. Another option is to print the directory on your printer and carefully highlight or pencil notes about the files on the paper which is a good idea for beginners at first. Example for printing a directory of a disk onto paper: A>DIR B:>PRN Prints the directory of files on the B: floppy drive to your printer. ---------------------------------------------------------------- FILE NAMES AND EXTENSIONS - THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM ---------------------------------------------------------------- To the beginner, DOS is a little cryptic in its use of file names. Study the example directory listing below and the notes to the right of the listing: PCPC EXE 51489 5-03-86 3:36p ---> PCPC.EXE PCPR EXE 21457 5-03-86 3:29p ---> PCPR.EXE PCPY EXE 32017 5-03-86 3:39p ---> PCPY.EXE README 128 5-03-86 12:46p ---> README NOTES565 TXT 1390 7-03-86 8:31a ---> NOTES565.TXT In each case you will note the REAL file name to the right and the directory listing version to the left. The point is that in DOS, filenames always have a name, a period or dot and an optional (but highly useful) extension. This is a very important point! KEYS TO THE SHAREWARE KINGDOM! Study the following list carefully, perhaps print it on paper and mark it with a colored highlighter. This list contains a roster of filename extensions which reveals the type of file and its possible contents and application. FILE EXTENSIONS WHICH PROBABLY CONTAIN DOCUMENTATION, INSTRUCTIONS OR PRINTED TEXT .DOC ---------> Probable DOCumentation file .TXT ---------> Probable Text (TXT) file .MAN ---------> Probable MANual/instruction file .LST ---------> Probable file containing a LIST. .PRN ---------> Probable text file from a PRINTED source. .INS ---------> Probable INSTRUCTIONS in text form. .HLP ---------> Probable HELP text file. . ---------> NO, EXTENSION. VERY LIKELY A TEXT FILE! .HST ---------> Probable text file containing HISTORY of program revisions FILENAMES (WITH OR WITHOUT EXTENSIONS) WHICH PROBABLY CONTAIN INSTRUCTIONS OR PRINTED TEXT README ---------> VERY IMPORTANT TEXT FILE READ.ME ---------> VERY IMPORTANT TEXT FILE READ.1ST ---------> VERY IMPORTANT TEXT FILE READ ---------> VERY IMPORTANT TEXT FILE READ.NOW ---------> VERY IMPORTANT TEXT FILE NOTE! There are so many variations of the "READ..." theme that hopefully you can imagine other variations of this "READ..." concept! If you stop and think about it for a minute, most of these extensions and filenames offer strong clues about file contents and phonetically "hint" to you what the file contains. Here are some examples you might actually see. Note the "clues" that tell you text or instructions are available inside the file: 1232XX.TXT MAKE445.DOC SYSOPS. ASEASY.LST MANUAL.TXT READ. DATABASE.DOC MANUAL. AUTHOR. ENTIRE.MAN FORMFEED.MAN VENDOR. MONEY.TXT HOMEHELP.HLP README. README.!!! HOMEHELP.LST README.NOW READSOON. HOMEHELP.HST VENDORS. BBM.PRN TRY44B.DOC MANUAL.PRN OTHER IMPORTANT FILENAME EXTENSIONS .EXE ---------> An EXECUTABLE FILE which starts program .COM ---------> A COMMAND FILE which starts program .BAT ---------> BATCH FILE which starts program .BAS ---------> BASIC file which can be run with the aid of the GWBASIC interpreter GWBASIC which is normally on your DOS disk or hard drive. FILE EXTENSIONS WHICH INDICATE THE FILE IS "COMPRESSED OR ARCHIVED" AND MUST BE UNPACKED PRIOR TO USE .ZIP ---------> Compressed file, use PKUNZIP to unpack .ARC ---------> Compressed file, use ARC .PAK ---------> Compressed file, use PAK .LZH ---------> Compressed file, use LHARC .ZOO ---------> Compressed file, use ZOO OTHER USEFUL EXTENSIONS .BAK ---------> A backup or duplicate file .DAT ---------> A data file .CFG ---------> Configuration data for program .WKS ---------> Spreadsheet file .WK1 ---------> Spreadsheet file .DBF ---------> Database file in dBase format .ASC ---------> ASCII file, perhaps a basic program saved in ASCII format .BIN ---------> Binary file, file used by a program Some disk vendors try to help you by putting their own files on a disk with a little extra information. The following file examples might offer help in text or documentation form. An advanced shareware user would guess quickly that these files refer to a disk from a shareware vendor or computer club library and are most probably disk number 565 in a larger set of programs that vendor or club offers in a library collection. NOTES565 TXT 1390 7-03-86 8:31a FILES565 TXT 1728 7-03-86 8:37a If you buy a disk from a disk vendor named BEST VALUE SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTORS you might look for files such as the following which also contain text, BAT, COM or other file startup information. Each vendor might use a different system, but watch for these patterns as you list directory information on a shareware disk. With the variety of methods, your best bet is to study filename extensions for a few minutes and "play detective" which for some folks is a bit of the interest in using shareware! FILES PUT ON A DISK BY A HYPOTHETICAL SHAREWARE DISK VENDOR NAMED BEST VALUE SHAREWARE INC. BESTVAL.COM 1390 7-03-86 8:31a BESTVAL.BAT 1728 7-03-86 8:37a BV.COM 5656 7-03-86 8:31a RUNBEST.COM 1777 7-03-86 8:37a BESTVAL.767 8787 8-9-91 9:30P ---------------------------------------------------------------- COM, EXE AND BAT FILES START PROGRAMS ---------------------------------------------------------------- A file ending in EXE or COM is a file which contains a EXECUTABLE OR "RUNNABLE" program and is a way to start a software package. Examples: To start PCF.EXE do this PCF (then press enter). For DBFKK.EXE DBFKK (then press enter.) Some files which end in BAS will need a basic interpreter such as GWBASIC.EXE to operate. Example files would be GAME.BAS or MUSIC.BAS. GWBASIC.EXE is usually included on your DOS disk which came with the computer. Another standard of shareware programs is to use batch files to start programs. GO.BAT or MENU.BAT or START.BAT or INSTALL.BAT are "batch files." Simply type the first word at the prompt to proceed. Example: for file GO.BAT GO (then press enter). DOS searches a disk for programs to run in a precise order: HELLO.COM ---------> Run this first if found then try HELLO.EXE ---------> to find and run this then HELLO.BAT ---------> try to find and run this. ---------------------------------------------------------------- BASIC DATA FILES ---------------------------------------------------------------- If you find a BASIC program file which ends in .BAS try this per the following example . . . For the file HELLO.BAS, first copy both GWBASIC.EXE and HELLO.BAS to a blank formatted diskette. Then issue the command: A>GWBASIC HELLO Another alternative is to leave GWBASIC.EXE on your hard drive and tell it where the basic program is located. Example: C>GWBASIC A:HELLO The above example assumes a copy of GWBASIC.EXE resides on your hard drive and a floppy containing the basic program HELLO.BAS is on the A: drive. The program will be loaded into GWBASIC and run. If you don't care for the program, try to exit if the program gives you a menu of choices, otherwise press CTRL-BREAK keys at same time which will let GWBASIC exit. You will see an "OK" prompt. Type the word "system" and press the return/enter key to return you to DOS and leave GWBASIC. Basic is a rather elegant and precise programming system if you are interested! Pick up a book at your local library and you can learn how to use GWBASIC.EXE on your DOS disk to write and modify your own elaborate custom programs! Also investigate the availability of affordable Basic compiler programs which prepare speedy .EXE free standing programs rather than requiring you to haul out your GWBASIC.EXE file each time you wish to run the program. ---------------------------------------------------------------- SOME EXAMPLES - OUR FIRST POP QUIZ! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Try to puzzle through this pop quiz! Small stars next to the filenames indicate an educated guess as to IMPORTANT TEXT information or documentation contained within. These directory lists are similar to what you might see on your screen when using the DIR command when you first explore a new software disk. Brief notes may follow each directory listing. ** means high probability documentation is contained within * means some documentation possibly is contained within BRUN10 EXE 58388 7-17-85 1:56p BUSINESS DAT 384 5-04-86 6:42a DELXTRA BAT 128 5-03-86 6:55p MSG1 TXT 384 5-03-86 7:10p * MSG2 TXT 768 5-03-86 7:23a * PAY BAT 16 9-02-85 12:11p PCPAY DOC 64512 5-04-86 7:11a ** PCPC EXE 51489 5-03-86 3:36p PCPR EXE 21457 5-03-86 3:29p PCPY EXE 32017 5-03-86 3:39p PRNTDOC BAT 128 5-03-86 7:09p README BAT 128 5-03-86 12:46p GO BAT 668 7-03-86 8:39a NOTES565 TXT 1390 7-03-86 8:31a * FILES565 TXT 1728 7-03-86 8:37a * Note that on the above disk the LARGEST file PCPAY.DOC contains 64,512 bytes. Its size leads to strong suspicion it contains the main documentation. Shorter files probably contain other useful data. The two files at the bottom of the directory listing make one suspect this disk in number 565 in a club library or disk vendor collection. Sherlock Holmes would approve of our logic! ASEASY EXE 205392 7-17-90 10:29a ASEASY MSG 9636 7-16-90 6:27p * ASEASY CFG 298 1-18-90 7:47p ASEASY HLP 58346 4-25-90 9:05a ** HTREE EXE 9185 4-11-90 12:36a ASAU400 COM 36610 4-11-90 2:26p VENDOR DOC 3784 4-10-90 11:54p * LICENSE DOC 4133 4-11-90 12:28a * ORDER ME 4301 10-15-89 11:24p * YESNO COM 97 10-02-86 9:47p SETUP BAT 2873 7-18-90 12:26p READ ME 19512 4-12-90 11:53a ** The largest file which hints it contains text data would be a good candidate to examine! The file SETUP.BAT suggests that some intial setup or configuration of the program is necessary prior to use. COMFILES <DIR> 12-05-89 4:48p GOODBY 384 10-03-89 2:44p * INTRO1 512 1-11-90 8:19a ** INTRO2 896 10-08-89 7:02p ** MENU 640 10-03-89 3:41p NEWPROD 2176 10-03-89 3:40p * MANUAL DOC 77568 2-02-91 11:12a ** QUICK DOC 33664 2-02-91 11:10a ** TUTR DOC 109696 10-02-89 4:30p ** SEBFI COM 2270 12-10-89 2:50p SEBFI DOC 5888 12-05-89 8:04p * SEBFI BAT 384 12-02-89 1:25p LASTMIN ANN 512 12-08-89 1:45p * GO BAT 1362 1-31-91 6:17p SEBFIM BAT 384 12-08-89 3:05p This is a disk with several important documentation files, but a highly unusual second subdirectory! COMFILES <DIR> contains other file(s) and must ALSO be examined. The DOS CD or change directory command must be used to examine this other subdirectory or file storage area of the disk. See your DOS manual. Most shareware authors try to stay away from using additional subdirectories on a disk which can confuse a beginner. The file LASTMIN.ANN would tell an advanced shareware user that the file contains "last minute announcements" and is most probably a text file. TUTR.DOC probably means "tutorial document." QUICK.DOC is probably quick startup documentation. HM EXE 306347 8-28-90 11:48a This is an odd disk indeed. No documentation? Actually this is a special SELF-EXTRACTING file which is usually copied to a hard drive run with the command HM. The file will proceed to unpack itself and produce several files containing documentation, COM or EXE files and more! Most authors would include a small README file on the disk to advise you of this fact, but this author has omitted even that! If you locate a large EXE file, copy it to your hard drive (perhaps into a subdirectory named TEMP or temporary) and then run the file to cause it to unpack and produce all the little subfiles which are the main program! Shareware authors do this to conserve disk space or otherwise compress large programs to fit onto fewer disks. DBATE001 EXE 185785 3-25-90 9:07a DBATE002 EXE 284884 6-22-90 11:28p DBATE003 EXE 244771 9-19-90 7:47p READ1ST EXE 6267 11-26-90 11:04p ** READ1ST.EXE is run since it is a self-extracting EXE file which probably produces documentation notes. The other three files are probably self-extracting files which produce three separate programs. This is a case of multiple self-extracting files! A clever author is highly compressing his data to save space on disk! FUNNELS EXE 59904 9-21-84 3:01p FUNNELS DOC 14713 9-21-84 1:58p ** FUNNELS INV 2432 9-21-84 3:18p ATC2 BLD 4096 8-23-84 9:08p ATC EXE 50304 7-09-84 11:20a AUTOEXEC BAT 11 7-12-84 10:29a ATC DAT 384 1-01-80 1:04a EUCHRE BAS 22784 7-21-84 3:09p EUCHRE DOC 3645 7-21-84 3:52p ** CRC TXT 1123 11-16-84 7:06a * FUNNELS SCR 128 11-25-88 10:27a A relatively simple disk. Text or documentation files indicated. Do you see the single basic BAS file which will require a copy of GWBASIC.EXE? Pop quiz part 2: Grab a few loose disks from any random source and repeat this detective process a few times and you will soon be a shareware GURU! ---------------------------------------------------------------- A TURBOCHARGED SHORTCUT! ---------------------------------------------------------------- There is always a shortcut to any process if you apply a little thought and a bit of technology. As mentioned previously, you need to identify files on a disk containing text or instruction documentation and then view the contents of the file. A previous section showed you how to use the DOS TYPE and PRINT commands to print the contents of a suspected text file to either the screen or paper. If DOS commands and structure are not interesting or you don't have the time to learn DOS, there exist programs called DOS SHELLS which essentially provide DOS access for routine things like moving and copying files AND QUICKLY VIEWING THE INTERNAL CONTENTS OF SUSPECTED TEXT FILES; these menu programs hide the DOS commands behind a series of "point and select" choices similar to the point and shoot menus you use on game programs and serious business software. The typical DOS shell is a package which surrounds DOS (like a shell, hence the name) and allows you to perform the most common DOS functions by pressing only one or two keys or moving a highlighted arrow. Very appealing for beginners! This may be all the DOS control most people need . . . Some practical and easy DOS shell packages include: Still River Shell, DOS2ools, PC Tools, Powermenu, Automenu, Dirmagic and Directory Freedom. DR.COM and its companion shell programs CO.COM and RN.COM are extremely simple shells suited for beginners which most computer clubs and shareware disk vendors carry. The author of this package uses the Directory Freedom shell which you may also wish to investigate. If you are beginner and don't want to be troubled learning DOS, then a shell program is the easiest way to use the PC. And one of the easier ways to view text files. ---------------------------------------------------------------- UNPACKING AND INSTALLING INCLUDING ARCS, ZIPS, LZH AND MORE ---------------------------------------------------------------- Many times a shareware package is quite large and has been compressed or "archived" to fit on the disk. Another use for archiving, or packing many files into one highly compressed file, is to decrease telephone charges and time when transmitting files by modem. In a previous section we indicated the following filename extensions as pertaining to compressed or "archived" files: .ZIP ---------> Compressed file, use PKUNZIP to unpack .ARC ---------> Compressed file, use ARC system .PAK ---------> Compressed file, use PAK system .LZH ---------> Compressed file, use LHARC .ZOO ---------> Compressed file, use ZOO system Let's take a closer look. For example, the file FUN454.ZIP might contain the following files contained within the ZIP archive. FUNNELS EXE FUNNELS DOC FUNNELS INV ATC DAT FUNNELS SCR FUNNELS TXT By the way, in the above example, FUN454.ZIP, we are given the probable clue that this might be Version 4.54 of the program. This is another odd but useful convention when dealing with the shareware community and archived or compressed files. In the shareware trade, one frequently hears the terms "ARCING, ZIPPING, UNZIPPING, LHARCING, PAKING" and similar terms. You can quickly understand that "archive processing" or compressing and uncompressing disk files is what these terms refer to! Not all disks contain archives - some do, some don't. To unpack the program you need a few blank floppies (or a hard drive) and a special unpacking utility program to unpack. If your software needs this utility, it is usually available on one (or several) of your disks or can be ordered from most computer clubs or shareware disk vendors. Here is how to unpack an archive file ending in ZIP. Other files ending in .LZH, .ZOO and other file extensions are quite similar in use. Files which end in .ZIP are unpacked with PKUNZIP.EXE. For our example let's pretend we are unpacking the file SAMPLE.ZIP. Start with a BLANK formatted floppy. Copy the program file you wish to unpack (e.g., SAMPLE.ZIP) and the file PKUNZIP.EXE onto the blank floppy. Hard drive users may prefer to simply copy the file to be unpacked and the unpacking utility PKUNZIP.EXE to their hard drive. For our example, SAMPLE.ZIP and PKUNZIP.EXE are now on a floppy in the A: drive. Next we need a place to put the unpacked files! For computers without a hard drive put a blank formatted floppy in your other empty B: floppy drive. This is where the unpacked newly expanded files will go: the DESTINATION OR TARGET drive for the unpacked software. Hard drive users will probably just unpack to the hard drive (C:) using a subdirectory on the hard drive as the target area. Using the examples which follow, type an unpacking command showing the source drive containing the packed file, the name of file and the final destination drive; press enter or return key after typing the unpacking command. Of course, substitute the name of the file you are using for the file SAMPLE.ZIP. Blank spaces in the command ARE essential. EXAMPLE: A>pkunzip A:SAMPLE.ZIP B: Translation: unpack or unzip all files from the packed file SAMPLE.ZIP contained on the A: floppy drive and send the unpacked files to the B: floppy drive. Press enter or return key after typing the command. EXAMPLE: C>pkunzip C:sample.ZIP B: Unpack files from C: hard drive area to a blank floppy on B: drive. By the way, you can omit the .ZIP file extension for a shortcut. EXAMPLE: C>pkunzip C:sample B: Files are now unpacked and ready to use in the conventional manner - after unpacking you will probably see the readme, text and documentation files you need. The data is now in a more familiar DOS file format. The archive can "inflate" more than 200% from its compressed format in some cases! Some programs are very large and may be submitted to you in several parts. You might find a program which consists of three or four packed .ZIP, .LZH or other archive file(s) on several disks. NOTE! for hard drive users you are usually wise to unpack each program to a separate subdirectory on your hard disk. For example, to use pcwrite you might unpack the files to C:\PCW. Of course, you must first create a subdirectory called PCW on your hard drive BEFORE you start. To prepare a subdirectory, use the DOS md (make directory) command (example c>md pcw.) Hard drive users might wish to delete the original compressed ARC/ZIP files from their hard drive since the unpacked versions are now ready and the original floppies serve as your backup copies. UNPACKING ARCHIVED/COMPRESSED PROGRAMS ON SINGLE FLOPPY SYSTEMS LACKING A HARD DRIVE A problem arises trying to uncompress archived programs on single drive systems. Most computers have at least two drives. On a single drive system you may need to uncompress your programs to a special memory area of the computer called a RAM DRIVE. Your DOS manual covers this option or you can obtain a shareware package which produces a ram drive and thus allows your computer to "think" it has two floppy drives. This is about the only alternative for unpacking software on a single drive machine. Generally single drive computers may not be fully IBM compatible with many modern software packages which may need two drives. Suggest you 1) return disks to vendor for refund or 2) consider adding a second drive as most modern fully compatible machines offer or 3) attempt unpacking with a RAM DRIVE then copy back to disk. Later versions of DOS contain a RAM DRIVE program. You can also obtain RAM DRIVE programs from shareware and other software vendors. ---------------------------------------------------------------- CONFIGURING THE PROGRAM IF NECESSARY ---------------------------------------------------------------- Many times a software program must be configured prior to being actually used. This means that possibly screen colors, type of disk drives, optional accessories such as a mouse or modem, printer types and other features must be activated. Some software programs allow you to configure this information directly within the main program. Other programs prefer that you run a separate small "configuration" program first. The only useful rule in this case is to read the documentation or at least study the table of contents or index to see if configuration is a necessary step. ---------------------------------------------------------------- TIME TO RUN THE PROGRAM! ---------------------------------------------------------------- From a previous chapter of this tutorial we again offer the reminder that the following file extension relate to a file or program that can be run! .EXE ---------> An EXECUTABLE FILE which starts program .COM ---------> A COMMAND FILE which starts program .BAT ---------> BATCH FILE which starts program .BAS ---------> BASIC file which can be run with the aid of the GWBASIC interpreter GWBASIC which is normally on your DOS disk or hard drive. Examples: File is HMFAST.EXE. To start, assuming the file is on the C: hard drive, C>HMFAST <then press enter or return key> starts program. File is ASEASY.COM. To start, assuming the file is on the A: floppy drive, A>ASEASY <then press enter or return key> starts program. ---------------------------------------------------------------- FEEDBACK: EITHER REGISTER OR SEND YOUR REGRETS! ---------------------------------------------------------------- The last step is probably the most important to a shareware author and for that matter the continued production of ever more interesting and useful shareware: Register the package if it proves truly useful. Send a 19 cent postcard to the author if you don't register with a few observations, constructive criticisms or at least suggestions. The fact that you were interested enough in the program to try it means that it might be VERY close to what you need. Inexpensive postcard feedback just might result in a program change by the author which gives you a "perfect fit." You would be surprised how responsive shareware authors are in revising a program QUICKLY to meet a customer request. You might even say this is about the closest thing to having your own personal programmer on the staff as you will ever find! ---------------------------------------------------------------- COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ---------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEMS USING COLOR SOFTWARE ON MONOCHROME COMPUTERS Some shareware programs (usually games and a few others) require a color circuit within the computer called CGA, EGA or VGA color graphics. If you start the program on a monochrome (no color) computer you may see nothing on the screen! Solutions: 1) Use an inexpensive software program (e.g., SIMCGA) which helps monochrome machine pretend (emulate) color 2) Buy a CGA, VGA or EGA circuit card 3) check the documents which come with the shareware package to see if it can be switched from color mode to monochrome. Turn off your computer and restart it if you use a program such as SIMCGA or other software patch to help a monochrome computer emulate a color machine. You don't want the emulation program interfering with other software you may wish to run later. Problem: Computer responds with "bad command or filename." Solution: Make sure that what you typed at the DOS command line is EXACTLY the filename you intended to run. This is probably a simple typing mistake. Problem: Program asks for a file which is not on the disk. Solution: Do you have ALL of the disks required. Have you unpacked all archives? Have you run the configuration program which creates the missing file? Problem: Screen goes blank and machine locks up. Solution: Sounds like this is a color program trying to run on a monochrome system. See the notes above. Problem: Incorrect DOS version message. Solution: Many sophisticated programs cannot use older DOS versions such as 2.0 or 2.11. Check the documentation. There might be a way around this that the author suggests towards the end of the program instructions. Problem: Only have one disk drive. Solution: Refer to DOS manual or obtain separate standalone RAM disk software which can create a second drive in your computer's RAM memory area. This is still a severe limitation and you are advised to at least purchase a second floppy drive which is not terribly expensive, these days. Problem: Author did not respond to my questions or send anything for my registration check. Solution: Authors can move and change address. Contact a shareware disk vendor, obtain the latest version of the program and see if the address of the author has changed. Call or write again. Problem: I want to know more about shareware! Solution: Explore the following . . . ---------------------------------------------------------------- RECOMMENDED READING LIST FOR SHAREWARE USERS AND AUTHORS ---------------------------------------------------------------- Shareware Magazine. Published by PC-SIG, 1030-D East Duane Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. Voice telephone: 408/730-9291 FAX: 408/730-2107. Included with membership in PC-SIG, one of the largest shareware disk distributors in the world. A bimonthly, "light and lively" guide to the shareware market featuring reviews and articles on the best and latest in shareware, author interviews and discussion and analysis of trends in the industry. Dr. File Finder's Guide to Shareware by Michael Callahan and Nick Anis. ISBN: 0-07-881646-7. A book and disk package teaching you how to find and use the best in shareware. Learn about disk vendors, computer club sources, details about the very best shareware in 20 categories. Disk includes such popular programs as Qmodem, Dos line editor, Anarkey, BackMail and more. Two additional disks available upon submission of a postcard contained in the book. Writing & Marketing Shareware. A book, disk and companion cassette tape by Steve Hudgik, HomeCraft, P.O. Box 974, Tualatin, OR 97062. Tel 503/692-3732. The best book in the industry for learning about programming, designing and MARKETING shareware for maximum financial return. Shows you how to become a successful shareware author who develops WINNING shareware for maximum income. Includes mailing list of distributors, equipment suppliers, service providers, how to design your shareware and more! Combined with the software program SMS in the next paragraph, you have a complete reference set on becoming a financially successful shareware author. $hareware Marketing $ystem. Two disk set containing tutorials and quarterly marketing newsletter for shareware authors plus dBase format mailing list on disk of over 3,000 addresses for industry contacts: computer clubs, disk vendors, magazine writers and more who use, distribute or review shareware. The mailing list on disk is ready to import into many database packages so you can print mailing labels for your disk mailers! By Jim Hood, the author of THIS tutorial you are now reading. $25 registration or $90 to subscribe to 4 quarterly issues. Also available as an inexpensive evaluation disk set from most shareware disk vendors, computer clubs and BBS systems, as with all shareware. POB 1506, Mercer Island, WA 98040. 206/236-0470. Known among shareware authors simply as "SMS." Alfred Glossbrenner's Master Guide to Free Software and Shareware, c/o FireCrystal Communications, 699 River Rd, Yardley, PA 19067. Alfred writes one of the largest and most respected guides to shareware in the industry and is a contributing editor to several computer industry magazines. Tips and Techniques for Using Low-Cost and Public Domain Software. John Gliedman. 1988. McGraw-Hill. A thorough guide to low cost, effective shareware and public domain programs including RAM disks, word processors, batch file systems, hard disk managers, tutorials and other topics. PC-LEARN is a computer tutorial system for computer beginners which features high speed color or monochrome menus, tutorial printing on your printer, information searching capabilities and much more! PC-LEARN is a training system which includes chapters on buying and using a computer, an entertaining history of computers, DOS lessons, hard disk drives and tech tips. It also includes information on word processing, a suggested reading list, software selection, computer clubs, batch files, spreadsheets, databases, and even a glossary! PC-LEARN runs on all IBM compatible PC-LEARN is shareware. This tutorial was extracted from PC-LEARN. Submitting $10 to the author of PC-LEARN whose address information accompanies this package brings an UNREGISTERED evaluation copy of PC-LEARN. Submitting the full $25 registration fee brings TWO BONUS DISKS and A FULLY REGISTERED COPY OF PC-LEARN. REGISTRATION INFORMATION HOW TO GET THE COMPLETE PC-LEARN TUTORIAL AND TWO BONUS DISKS! Register this program to receive the latest complete version of PC-LEARN either with two bonus disks and full registration or an evaluation copy of PC-LEARN without registration and bonus disks! A printed registration form follows after a few paragraphs. You may print it on your printer by pressing the two keys SHIFT-PRINT SCREEN (SHIFT-PTRSC) together at the same time. Purchase orders from corporations and businesses are accepted. Site and LAN licenses are available. Special arrangements are available for non-profit users: job training centers, battered/abused women and children education, unemployment retraining, inner city minority education and computer training, etc. Many PC-LEARN users are non-profit groups! If you have a favorite non-profit, pass a copy of PC-LEARN or this tutorial to that group! Registered owners can receive the LATEST COPY of PC-LEARN either with or without registration and two special bonus disks! +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Use the "SHIFT-PRTSC KEYS pressed together at same time to print | | this form on your printer, or copy it by hand if you prefer. | | To: Seattle Scientific Photography In the space below: who | | Dept SUT provided your copy of the | | POB 1506 Shareware Users Tutorial? | | Mercer Island, WA 98040 | | Telephone (206) 236-0470 _______________________________ | | | | From: __________________________ You are using version 5.2 | | of Shareware Users Tutorial | | __________________________ If you have a comment or | | question, please include it | | __________________________ on a sheet of paper. | | | | I am registering the Shareware Users tutorial as follows: | | $10.00 postpaid. | | qty ordered: ____ Brings unregistered PC-LEARN disk with no | | bonus disks. Washington residents, add | | 8.2% sales tax. Check in U.S. funds. | | $25.00 postpaid. | | qty ordered: ____ Brings registered PC-LEARN disk with two | | bonus disks. Washington residents add | | 8.2% sales tax. Check in U.S. funds. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+