is another mahjongg game from Moraff. Features include sound, 3-D playing pieces, stats, save/recall etc.
I can't remember when I took over from Cedric Bear but it must have been about eight years ago. When Cedric decided to call it a day, he asked for volunteers to take over from him.
I remember meeting with Cedric and Bill Simmons one Saturday afternoon. Cedric decided that Bill should take over the Sales side whilst I should take over the maintenance of the Software Library. I was rapt. To have immediate access to all of that software! I spent many pleasurable hours trying out various programs and becoming familiar with what was available.
Cedric had already commenced our association with Nelson Ford's Public (software) Library. This organisation collected shareware programs, packed them into archives on 360K disks and sold them. Each month, we received a PsL Newsletter together with some Utilities disks full of small programs for disk maintenance, programming etc. From the Newsletter, I would select between ten and twenty new or updated programs to add to our own shareware library. We also received programs direct from authors or from other sources. The Software Librarians had to have a full copy of the library and, with the aid of a disk duplicator, made copies for sale to members as required.
The cost and difficulty of replicating the library and the increasing size of both individual programs and the library itself led us to investigate improved means of handling the library. We supplied the librarians with computers fitted with 250Mb removable hard disks. The whole library could fit on about four of these. Unfortunately, within a few years, new technology overtook us.
The CD-ROM arrived. The PsL commenced issuing a new CD-ROM each month with about 300 Mb of the very latest software as well as a section of their permanent library. The cost of one CD-ROM was about equivalent to the monthly cost of our previous purchases of new floppies.
It is no longer a matter of the Software Librarian trying to anticipate the needs of members. Members themselves can now search the index to each monthly CD-ROM and make their own selection. The CD-ROMs are available on the Bulletin Board and members can download direct from the BBS.
We have come a long way in a few short years. But, undoubtedly, technology will have more surprises for us. It may be that, through the Internet or other information super-highway, members will be able to get access to software directly and the need for a software librarian will disappear. I will be watching from the sidelines with great interest to see what the future has in store for us.
[I'd like to thank Laurie, on behalf of all the members, for a fantastic effort over the past eight years. We will miss his wonderful contributions, but wish him all the best - perhaps now Laurie will have time to actually play with all his software! But despair not, dear readers, all is not lost - Phil Trudinger will be taking over the Software Library News from October - thanks Phil! -Ed]
However, there is an Australian agent, Budget Software, PO Box 496 Newtown NSW 2042 (1-800 022 064). Their charge is $39.00 per month. At the time of writing, they have available some back issues at a cost of $19 each. Might be worth a call if you want to be swamped with 600Mb of software per issue.
However, through the kindness of Ray Mortimer, Managing director of Mindscape, we can obtain Mindscape CD-ROMs - games and reference etc. - at a discount of 25% from recommended retail prices for consolidated orders. The list of titles is too long to publish but here are some examples:
For $30.00:
GREENIDE.ZIP
GreenIDE1.1 claims to reduce noise and save power by spinning down IDE hard drives after a period without activity. As soon as you start using the computer again, the drive starts spinning. There is also a text file giving more ideas about silencing your system. If you are going to use this utility, you would have to balance the noise and power saving against the additional strain on the hard drive motor from starting and stopping.
QUICKKEY.ZIP
Quick Keys 1.0 is an improvement on Character Map. You can insert special characters and symbols such as copyright, fractions, accented letters etc. by simply clicking on the symbol. it is then immediately transferred to your program. Needs VBRUN300.
IBAR.ZIP
InfoBar 3.0c is a small full-featured replacement for Program manager. It displays the date and time in a small window on the desktop and provides instant access to all ProgMan groups and running tasks. Other features include a pop-up command line, a user-defined launch list for frequently used applications, exit/restart options etc. Requires VBRUN300.
SCULPTOR.ZIP
is a screen saver for WIN31 which disposes of your desktop in a number of interesting ways: melting, peeling, etc.
BG152.ZIP
Backgammon 1.52 is an excellent game for Windows. You can play against the computer (with four different skill levels) or against a human opponent. You can also save and recall games, have the computer suggest moves etc.
COLORBOO.ZIP
School-Mom for Windows Vol 1 (Colour Book): This program has been about as a DOS version for many years. This is a conversion of one segment of the complete program. You are supplied with forty pre-drawn images to colour. You can also draw free-hand. You can add text to any image.
TINYJONG.ZIP
is another mahjongg game from Moraff. Features include sound, 3-D playing pieces, stats, save/recall etc.
RANGOON.ZIP
is an interesting and difficult card game for Windows. The whole card deck is displayed randomly in four horizontal rows of thirteen each. The four kings are removed and it is your job to rearrange the cards, using the gaps so that, eventually, each row contains all the cards of one suit. Requires VBRUN200.
DARNW40.ZIP
is an automatic reminder system for Windows. It can pop up every day and give warning of events up to a month or a year ahead.
FW10.ZIP
FlexEasy for windows 1.0 is a spreadsheet for those who don't like spreadsheets. It presents you with a blank worksheet to which you can add cells, descriptive text, ranges tables, graphs or whatever. You can do data analysis or "what-if" calculations. Calculations in cells can refer to variables, ranges, values in other cells or another location in the worksheet.
NSMED23.ZIP
NetScape Menu Editor 2.3 will edit the NetScape WWW bookmark file for you. You can use darg and drop, sorting, deletion recovery and create new folders, URL sites. Requires VBRUN300.
WW10_16.ZIP
WebWatch 1.0 checks URLs for an update since a given date or since the last visit. It generates an HTML file with links to the updated URLs and the result can be used as a home page for a Web browser.
INTERB.ZIP
InterBook is an address book for the 'net. You can use it to pass the address of a site or WWW page to another Internet program.
CYBSIT.ZIP
CYBERsitter 1.1 acts as a censor for PC users if you wish to stop your children from accessing adult material on the Internet or BBSs, This program gives you the ability to block access to common types of graphic files as well as specific files or types of files.
ODYWIN2.ZIP
Odyssey for Windows 2.00 is the latest version of this comprehensive Windows data communication package. It has a multiple document interface, Fax send/receive support, keyboard macros, view graphic images whilst downloading, Pascal-type script language etc.
DCWIN2.ZIP
Draft Choice for windows 2.00a is a powerful CAD package for Windows. Features include support for multiple attach points, 128 layers, Bezier/complex and spline curves, warp and tween, multilevel undo, parallel and perpendicular modes. DXF/PCX/WGP file support etc.
VISTA.ZIP
is a graphics viewer/print capture package for windows. Features include support for ten popular image formats, twenty graphic filters, luminance control, file conversion, thumbnail image viewer etc. Print capture facilities direct printer output to an image file in your choice of five different formats. Requires VBRUN300.
KREADERW.ZIP
Kanji Reader for Windows 4.1 teaches you 450 Japanese words and fifty commonly-used Kanjis. It tracks your progress and tailors lessons accordingly. Each lesson teaches just one kanji.
KANJI1.ZIP
complements the previous program by teaching you how to write Japanese characters. It includes eighty Kanjis for the beginner with 300 quizzes. Features include emulated on-screen pencil movement, writing checker, digitised pronunciation etc.
KEYNOT16.ZIP
helps music students to identify notes of the bass and treble clef and to locate their position on the piano keyboard or the guitar finger board. There are also additional drills for the alto and tenor clefs. You can have timed drills and sound playback.
PHOW156A.ZIP
Phonics for Windows teaches children and adults phonetic reading and spelling methods. it covers basic phonic sounds, the alphabet, how to find letters on the keyboard, how to spell basic words and reading sentences. See also FUN_PH_VB.ZIP Fun with Phonics Level 1.
DIGISIM.ZIP
Digital Simulator 1.0 is an excellent way for electronic students to find out what a circuit will do without the time and expense of building it first. You can practice the construction of digital circuits including logic gates, flip-flops, oscillators, switches, LEDs and 7-segment displays.
GEO_EUR.ZIP
Geography of Europe 2.0 teaches you the states, capitals, flags and major cities of Europe. You have four different ways to study or test yourself. Requires VBRUN300.
LABDPLS.ZIP
Label Designer Plus for windows 1.0 enables the creation of labels, business cards, index cards, envelopes, full page displays etc. on laser or inkjet printers. There are pre-defined layouts, a WYSIWYG editor etc.
PCPARROT.ZIP
PC Parrot Trainer 1.1 will train your parrot or budgie to speak by linking to a WAV recording device. You record the phrase or song and the compute will repeat it endlessly till the bird learns it.
BCDPLS.ZIP
Business Card Designer Plus for Windows will create personalised business cards on any laser printer. You can included rotated text, lines, boxes, circles and clip art on the card. Print preview is provided. You can print one or a whole sheet of cards.
TUNEIT10.ZIP
tunes your musical instrument from the computer. You either need a microphone or to connect the instrument to the sound card. It then displays the corresponding note and the deviation from the standard. it can also display the spectrum of the note.
PUFF10.ZIP
Puffer 1.o is a password-based data file and E-mail encryption utility for Windows. it uses the blowfish algorithm for encryption and the Secure hash Algorithm (SHA) for key generation. Three output formats are supported: binary, self-extracting executables and 7-bit text for Internet e-mail. A file-wipe facility is also provided.
CSDIFF.ZIP
displays two text files directories or ZIP archive directories side by side. Common or different sections are clearly marked with separator lines.
BONZV11.ZIP
dem bonz 1.1 is a computer version of the double-six domino game. You can play against the computer or up to three other players.
WORLD10.ZIP
CIA World Factbase 1.03 is a comprehensive resource guide to over 250 countries. Data includes geography, government, economy, religion and statistical information. Data is current to 92/93 so, for Australia, John Hewson still leads the Liberals.
POEMRITE.ZIP
is a word processor for poets. It provides a variable-width word processing screen with supporting information including a rhyming dictionary, a method to remember rhymes selected from the dictionary and to remember the metric feet being used for each line as well as the current file name, cursor line and column number.
RIMEFIND.ZIP
is another rhyming dictionary.
FLASHCAD.ZIP
Flash!CAD 1.89 is a full-featured @D, #D and #D animation CAD package for engineers, drafters, architects etc. It present two independent drawing areas simultaneously so that you can compare changes, merge drawings etc. You also have instant zoo and panning, import/export in DXF format, conversion between metric and imperial measurements, over 27 fonts etc. There are over fifty animated tutorials. Requires 5 Mb of disk space and preferably a maths coprocessor.