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Text File | 1990-06-14 | 33KB | 733 lines

█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█ █ C O N T E N T S █ █▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█ Subject INFO .DOC Line How to Contact OurSoft........................................ 32 How to Order..................................................116 How to Register...............................................116 Support Services..............................................194 General...................................................200 Unbundled Support.........................................227 Procedures................................................293 Training..................................................353 Policies......................................................371 Source Code...............................................374 Software Developers.......................................398 Original Software.........................................416 Printed Manuals...........................................428 Enhancements..............................................446 Definition of Users.......................................458 Home Use..................................................488 Volume Discounts..........................................506 Purchase Orders...........................................566 Terms.....................................................578 Price Schedule................................................596 Index.........................................................650 █▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█ █ How to Contact OurSoft █ █▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█ Please note that we cannot respond to software support questions from unregistered users. Please register for both the specific software product and our support services before making a software product support inquiry. Customers registered for support receive a special support Hotline phone number. See Support Services -- Procedures. We have tried to answer as many of your questions as possible in this documentation. Please read the full documentation to see if your question is answered herein. However, if you have other questions you can contact us as follows. ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ By US Mail: │ │ │ │ OurSoft │ │ PO Box 6396 │ │ Bellevue, WA 98008 │ │ │ │ │ │ Or by Electronic Mail: │ │ │ │ MCI Mail: OurSoft │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If you do not have an account with MCI Mail you can still contact OurSoft by electronic mail. Most major communications carriers e.g. Western Union, Easylink, Telex, etc. and most major computer networks, e.g. Compuserve, now have reciprocal arrangements with MCI Mail allowing E-mail to be sent to and received from MCI Mail accounts. Contact your favorite communications carrier or computer network for details. For example, if you have Compuserve, Go Easyplex, then after composing or uploading your message, Send To:MCI:OurSoft. Or if you have Telex our MCI Telex number is: 6503557897 answerback: 6503557897 MCI UW. Besides the direct reciprocal E-mail, there are now commercial services like Dasnet that facilitate E-Mail between most computer networks. In addition you may send non-business correspondence to us via FidoNet NetMail. FidoNet does not guarantee delivery, so do not send orders or any other important business communication via FidoNet. Notes of personal encouragement for the author(s) or other non-business messages might be appropriate for FidoNet. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Non-Business only: │ │ │ │ OurSoft │ │ FidoNet Node 1:343/8 │ │ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────┘ OurSoft Software products may be downloaded from: Poverty Rock (206) 367-2596 Real Batchin' (206) 391-2330 FidoNet Node 1:343/8 Compuserve, GO IBMSYS The latest version of the software is posted in those places first. The sysop of your favorite Fido or Opus bulletin board should know how to make a 'file request' of StarCOM1.zip (or StarCOM1.lzh) from node 1:343/8. File Requests are accepted there 22 hours a day 3AM to 1AM PDT. █▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█ █ How to Order_____________________How to Register █ █▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█ With your word processor fill out the registration form and then mail it along with your check and/or purchase order to: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ By US Mail: │ │ │ │ OurSoft │ │ PO Box 6396 │ │ Bellevue, WA 98008 │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ You may print and mail the registration form in order.doc. Or you may mail a diskette with order.doc filled out, in any standard IBM PC format. Feel free to insert lines and/or spaces to adapt the form if this helps you communicate your specifications better. For example, to register for two or more OurSoft software products insert the following lines for each additional product immediately above the line for Shipping and Handling: Product: ___________________________________ Version: _____ Release Date: ___________ Upgrade from Version: _____ Software: Number of Users: _____ Registered License Fee: $______ Source Code: Number of Users: _____ Source Code License Fee: $______ Printed Manuals: Quantity: _____ Printed Manuals Price: $______ Diskettes: Quantity: _____ Diskettes Price: $______ You may also register by electronic mail. Transmit your filled out registration form and your purchase order to: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ By Electronic Mail: │ │ │ │ MCI Mail: OurSoft │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If you do not have an account with MCI Mail you can still register with OurSoft by electronic mail. Most major communications carriers e.g. Western Union, Easylink, Telex, etc. and most commercial computer networks, e.g. Compuserve, now have reciprocal arrangements with MCI Mail allowing E-mail to be sent to and received from MCI Mail accounts. Contact your favorite communications carrier or computer network for details. For example, if you have Compuserve, Go Easyplex, then after uploading your registration form and your purchase order, Send To:MCI:OurSoft. Or if you have telex, our MCI telex number is: 6503557897, answerback: 6503557897 MCI UW. Besides the existing direct reciprocal E-mail links between MCI Mail and many of the carriers and networks, there are also now commercial services like Dasnet that facilitate E-Mail between MCI Mail and most other such services. FidoNet does not guarantee delivery so do not send registrations and/or purchase orders via FidoNet Netmail nor via FidoNet Echomail. █▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█ █ Support Services █ █▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█ ┌───────────┐ │ General │ └───────────┘ OurSoft Support and Training Services is a separate division of OurSoft. OurSoft supports a wide spectrum of DOS compatible software. We have expertise and can help you with training or advice on DOS, Batch Files and integration of popular commercial, shareware and public domain software packages from many different vendors. All OurSoft software products are, of course, supported. OurSoft Support and Training is optional. You may elect to register for support and/or training services without using any OurSoft software product. Or you may elect to register for any OurSoft software product(s) while declining to register for OurSoft Support and/or Training. Or you may elect to register for support along with registering for any number of OurSoft software products. If you have already registered for support services, you are already entitled to receive training or advice for any OurSoft software product for which you subsequently register, so you do not have to re-register for support with each new product registration. ┌─────────────────────┐ │ Unbundled Support │ └─────────────────────┘ OurSoft has unbundled support from software licensing fees because of the following situations. Nearly all other software companies today have subsidized support. Some still give support free. Some have begun charging, but never more than their marginal costs, which do not include the appropriate full overhead. Here is a test of whether support is subsidized. All products have a life cycle which ends with declining sales until the product is eliminated from the market. If the support charges made would not allow support to continue for the useful life of the product, which could be several years after new sales cease, then the support is being subsidized by or bundled with new sales. Here is the challenge this test presents to us. Unless support charges are at, or raised to at least, the level required such that there would be no subsidy from new sales, you can expect that the support from such other software companies for any particular product will be curtailed or stopped before the end of that products useful life. We know that availability of support on an ongoing basis is an important consideration for many customers. Unbundled support is an advantage to you because continued support from OurSoft will not be a function of how well our software products do in the marketplace one month, five months or even five years from your initial registration. Instead, continued support from OurSoft will depend only on you, because you will pay for your support as you need it. With unbundled support you benefit from lower software prices because OurSoft does not subsidize support from new software license fees. But the flip side of this is that unbundled support must be priced higher than most software companies have priced their support because most software companies do subsidize their support. Unbundled support fees have to be more comparable to those charged by independent third party support groups. Another benefit to you of not subsidizing support from new sales is that as we succeed, we can afford to hire both the quality and number of support personnel you need for top rate service. Unbundled support means you can count on OurSoft to help you when you need help. Without the subsidies from new sales, support does not have to be tied financially to the specific products we sell. At OurSoft, support is not tied or limited to our software products, so we can go further than most software companies by also giving you the support you need to help tie your software together. Some software companies seem to have the attitude that if their software works by itself, that is the end of their responsibility to you, the customer. So, if in the past, you had a problem because of interactions with other software, you probably found yourself left to your own resources. OurSoft recognizes this need, so our support is for more than just our own products. We help you make your diverse software packages work efficiently together. We probably cannot fix the other vendors software, but we can provide you with knowledgeable solutions, work-arounds, alternatives, etc., which can help you get the most out of the tools you have. This can save you a considerable amount of time and bother reading manuals and researching articles that might not even have the answer you need. ┌──────────────┐ │ Procedures │ └──────────────┘ Because of the broad range of software products we support, you are invited to register with OurSoft Support and Training Services even if you do not use any OurSoft software product yet. To obtain Support and/or Training Services, register with the Registration Form included with this documentation. Enclose your purchase order and/or check covering at least the sign-up fee for support registration. Support is billed in units of 5 minute intervals. For your sign up fee, you will receive a direct support service Hotline phone number, credit for your first 5 minute unit and your account number will be flagged as authorized for support services. Thereafter, all you need do is phone or transmit giving your name, account number and your question. We will give all reasonable diligence to your request, normally replying by the next business day. And if your inquiry is by voice, we can often give a reply in the same phone call. Fractional units are billed as whole units, e.g. a seven minute call would be billed as two units. If you transmit your request as an E-Mail message, e.g. via MCI Mail, the units billed will reflect only the time we take to handle your query. There are no separate charges by OurSoft for connect time. E-Mail requests are more efficient for us, so the average number of units billed is less with E-Mail than with voice on similar inquiries. If you are in a hurry but still want to take advantage of the savings possible with an E-Mail request, Use MCI Mail's Alert service. If you add the MCI Mail handling command Alert followed by your hotline number to OurSoft, the MCI Alert operator will call to inform us your request is in our MCI Mail Inbox. While we have expertise in many of the areas for which you will need help, we are sure that some of you are quite capable of requests which stump even us. If we don't know, we'll say so, and ask if you want us to research that request for you. If you decline our research offer, we will back the clock up to before the question that stumped us. This could result in your not being billed any units for a call in which you asked only one question, which stumped us. Similarly, while we try our best to detect software errors and 'bugs' before release, you might find some such software errors. The time reporting those software errors and/or 'bugs' is not charged. One advantage of OurSoft's policy to send statements for your monthly usage, as you use it, is that you really pay only for the support you need. On the other hand, you may prepay any number of units you find convenient, thereby avoiding too many small purchase orders and/or billings. If your company policy would otherwise require a separate purchase order for each monthly statement, then we advise you either to prepay several units to be drawn against, or to send a master purchase order covering a fixed block of units to be billed monthly as you use them. ┌────────────┐ │ Training │ └────────────┘ OurSoft Training services include training in how to use OurSoft software products, and also how to use DOS, Batch Files and/or introductions to many popular commercial, shareware, or public domain software products published by other vendors. OurSoft will bid on any personal computer related training request. Training is usually tailored to your unique requirements. As such, it is quoted on a job by job basis. Typically this will be a flat daily rate plus expenses, but considerations include which city, how many students per class, how extensive or how much depth you desire in the class, etc.. We are willing to provide training services at your site or most any other city you find convenient as well as here in the Bellevue/Seattle area. █▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█ █ Policies █ █▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█ ┌───────────────┐ │ Source Code │ └───────────────┘ OurSoft gives the opportunity to have source code on many OurSoft software products. This allows you to easily modify applications to suit your specific needs. Source code makes possible your own internal maintenance of software. It is also a good way to learn programming techniques, by studying how others have done things. Or it could aid you in developing add-on programs that work in conjunction with the OurSoft application. The Source Code comes as listings on a diskette. The diskette also includes the current version of the packed file, so ordering the source code may reduce the number of diskettes of the software you may wish to order from OurSoft. The StarCOM source code is in Turbo Pascal, version 3.0. ┌───────────────────────┐ │ Software Developers │ └───────────────────────┘ You are encouraged to write add-on products and enhancements that work with OurSoft Software products. We think that cross fertilization of ideas is the primary basis of continued strong growth in the software industry. Our Registered License Agreement allows our customers to modify their own internal software with both their own internally generated changes, and with modifications marketed separately by third party developers. If your product is capable of being sold separately, go ahead, we wish you well. If your product is an enhancement, the nature of which requires it to be sold together with our software, then contact us. We will be happy to discuss marketing or royalty arrangements. ┌─────────────────────┐ │ Original Software │ └─────────────────────┘ The most certain way to make sure that the copy of the software you have received is the same as originally transmitted by OurSoft is to buy a diskette directly from OurSoft. When you order software on diskette directly from us, you are assured of a 60 day money back guarantee on your satisfaction. ┌───────────────────┐ │ Printed Manuals │ └───────────────────┘ Printed Manuals are provided as a service to those who want them. The printed manuals have substantially the same content as the documents included with the software as MANUAL.DOC, INFO.DOC, and LICENSE.DOC. They have been slightly rearranged for printing to pages. The printed table of contents and index each reference page numbers instead of the line numbers found in the electronic form. The line numbers are intended for use with and are more convenient for reading on your computer screen with display or editing programs like LIST. ┌────────────────┐ │ Enhancements │ └────────────────┘ From time to time, OurSoft may release major upgrades or enhancements to the software. These are entirely optional, but they will be for an additional fee if you elect to adopt them. Customers can elect to skip several such upgrades and still choose to adopt one later. Customers with any and all versions will continue to be supported by our support service at the then current rates. ┌───────────────────────┐ │ Definition of Users │ └───────────────────────┘ The actual license fee you are required to pay is equal to the single user license fee times the number of users reduced by the volume discount. In organizations with multiple computers, computer networks and/or mobile computers there can be several different ways to count the number of users. OurSoft uses a lengthy definition of users (See Registered License Agreement, paragraph 10 in license.doc.), in order to simplify what often seems very complex. At your choice, count either 1) screens equals users, or 2) people equals users. Choose the definition which obtains the least users for your situation. Any person who is a user at work is also licensed as a user at home. Auditing control suggestions: (optional) Issue permits either 1) for workstations, or 2) to specific employees. Make sure all units in your organization choose the same method of counting users. ┌────────────┐ │ Home Use │ └────────────┘ With the following two exceptions you need to register the software for home use. If you are an authorized user at work and you agree to abide by the terms of the Registered License Agreement, your employer's Registered License already covers your home use. If you need support for your home use you may need to register separately for such support. Similarly, were you an authorized user at a recent job, and you agree to abide by the terms of the Registered License Agreement, your home use is covered until your next employment or self employment. ┌────────────────────┐ │ Volume Discounts │ └────────────────────┘ Volume discounts apply separately to each different item and each different product. For example, the number of users of the software does not affect the volume discounts appropriate for Source Code, nor manuals, nor diskettes. Volume discounts may be separately taken on the: software Registered License fees -- based on the number of users of the software, or source code license fees -- based on the number of users of the source code, or pre-printed manuals -- based on the number of manuals, or diskettes, -- based on the number of diskettes. Volume discounts are not available on support or training services. Volume Discount Table Quantity Discount Net 1 - 9 0% 100% 10 - 99 10% 90% 100 - 999 15% 85% 1000 - 9999 18% 82% 10,000+ 20% 80% To get the net required for the software, multiply the quantity of users times the single user fee, then take the percent off from the volume discount table. Similarly multiply for each of Source Code, manuals and diskettes, multiply by the quantity for that type of product and take off only the volume percent appropriate for each type. Then add the four results together. While volume discounts themselves are not available on support or training services, the unbundling of support services from software license fees creates a similar effect on the total cost. For example, a typical single user purchase where the registration fee is $19.95 might consist of the single user license fee, $19.95, plus the minimum of one support unit of five minutes each, $9.95, for a total of $29.90. Similarly, a fifty user purchase might consist of the fifty user license fee, [(50*19.95)*.9] $897.75, and eight support units of five minutes each including registration, $65.60 for a total of $963.35, or $19.267 per user license including the average of support. Thus in this example, the fifty user purchase would have an effective discount of about 35%, not just the actual discount of 10% on the license fee. Your actual savings depend on your own specific needs for support, and may vary from this example. ┌───────────────────┐ │ Purchase Orders │ └───────────────────┘ Purchase Orders are accepted on orders of $50.00 or more. Your Purchase Order, if any, and/or your check should accompany your registration form. ┌─────────┐ │ Terms │ └─────────┘ The nature of our business is unusual in that delivery of the software and your incoming inspection and acceptance thereof will normally have preceded the purchase order. Customer Terms: Statements for Customers are due on presentation. █▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█ █ Price Schedule █ █▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█ All Prices in US Currency: StarCOM single user Registered License Fee $59.95 StarCOM Source Code single user License Fee $4995.00 StarCOM Printed Manuals per each $ 9.95 StarCOM Diskettes per first 5.25" diskette incl StarCOM Diskettes per added 5.25" diskette $ 3.95 (See Policies -- Volume Discounts) Blaiz single user Registered License Fee $19.95 Blaiz Source Code single user License Fee $49.95 Blaiz Printed Manuals per each $ 9.95 Blaiz Diskettes per each 5.25" diskette $ 3.95 (See Policies -- Volume Discounts) Special Introductory Combination Offer $10 Off: Blaiz and StarCOM together -- single user Registered License Fee and first diskette $69.90 (Offer good through 7-18-90) FWCONV single user Registered License Fee $ 9.95 FWCONV Source Code single user License Fee $49.95 FWCONV Printed Manuals per each $ 9.95 FWCONV Diskettes per each 5.25" diskette $ 3.95 (See Policies -- Volume Discounts) Turbo Brief single user Registered License Fee $199.50 Turbo Brief Source Code single user License Fee incl Turbo Brief Printed Manuals per each N/A Turbo Brief Diskettes per first 5.25" diskette incl Turbo Brief Diskettes per added 5.25" diskette $ 3.95 (See Policies -- Volume Discounts) Support and Training Services Registration Fee and first 5 minute unit $ 9.95 Support Services per 5 minute unit $ 9.95 Training Services request a quotation (See Support Services -- Training) Conversion Fee for Foreign Checks greater of 5% or $ 5.00 (Checks not in U.S. Funds or Checks not drawn on US Banks) Shipping and Handling -- applies to shipped items only Domestic (incl. Canada, Alaska & Hawaii) greater of 2% or $ 2.50 Split Shipments per added domestic shipment add $ 2.50 Foreign greater of 4% or $ 5.00 Split Shipments per added foreign shipment add $ 5.00 █▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█ █ I N D E X █ █▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█ Advice, Telephone.............................................206 Batch Files Advice............................................206 Contents...................................................... 2 E-mail........................................................ 68 FidoNet NetMail............................................... 83 Hotline.......................................................305 Integration Advice............................................206 License Fee, Single User.......................602, 608, 620, 626 Mail Compuserve.................................................. 74 FidoNet NetMail............................................. 83 MCI Mail............................................... 59, 158 Telex....................................................... 65 US..................................................... 50, 125 Ordering......................................................116 Policies......................................................371 Auditing, Software..........................................476 Definition of Users.........................................458 Enhancements................................................446 Foreign Checks....................................................638 Currency Conversion.......................................638 Shipments.................................................644 Home Use....................................................488 Marketing, Joint............................................410 Printed Manuals.............................................428 Purchase Orders.............................................566 Royalty Arrangements........................................410 Shipping and Handling.......................................638 Software Developers.........................................398 Source Code.................................................374 Terms.......................................................578 Upgrades....................................................452 Users.......................................................470 Volume Discounts............................................506 Prices........................................................596 Registration How to Register.............................................116 Support.......................................................194 E-Mail......................................................314 General.....................................................200 Hotline.....................................................305 Intervals...................................................302 Pricing.....................................................227 Procedures..................................................293 Sign-up.....................................................299 Units.......................................................302 Telephone Advice..............................................206 Training......................................................356