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================= C o m p u S h o w ================= Standard Version 8.23a for the IBM PC, XT, AT, PCjr, PS/2 (and compatibles) with Hercules Monochrome Graphics Adapter or Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) or Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) or Multi-Color Graphics Array (MCGA) or Video Graphics Array (VGA) Execute CompuShow by typing CSHOW (and a <Carriage Return>) at your DOS prompt. The program requires at least 221k of available memory (depending on the "start-up options" specified.) If the program displays an "Insufficient memory" message, you need to make more memory available. (Remove some memory- resident programs, for example.) Start-Up Options ================ "Command-line switches" let you control graphics video features and the way that the program allocates memory for various purposes. Video Hardware Identification ----------------------------- CompuShow should recognize the type of video adapter present in your computer (Hercules, CGA, EGA, MCGA, or VGA). In case the detect routine fails to identify the correct adapter, a command-line switch will override the automatic routine: >CShow +H (or +h) force Hercules mode >CShow +C (or +c) force CGA mode >CShow +E (or +e) force EGA mode >CShow +B (or +b) force EGA (monochrome monitor) mode >CShow +M (or +m) force MCGA mode >CShow +V (or +v) force VGA mode Page 1 "Super-Ega" ----------- A "/" switch is used to indicate the presence of a 480 line "Super-EGA" adapter. The program knows about several: >CShow /A ( or /a ) Ahead Systems >CShow /G ( or /g ) Genoa >CShow /P ( or /p ) Paradise AutoSwitch EGA-480 >CShow /T ( or /t ) Tseng >CShow /V ( or /v ) "VGA" (eg. the Zenith "VGA") These commands specify graphics modes 38, 115, 80, 37, and 18 respectively, which puts each card in 480 line EGA mode. Other 480 line cards may be identified by supplying the (decimal) graphics mode number, for example: >CShow /71 to use mode 71 for 640x480 EGA Hardware-Specific Video Drivers: -------------------------------- CompuShow uses "video drivers" to support extended graphics modes on a wide variety of video hardware. With the standard (version 8.23a) program, the video drivers are included as separate disk files, named "videoP1.drv", "videoI4.drv", etc. The "+S" command-line switch tells the program to load a specific video driver, for example: >CShow +sP1 loads the "P1" video driver ("videoP1.drv"). To set up a video driver to be used whenever the program is started: >copy videoP1.drv video.drv With no "+S" switch specified, the program will load file "VIDEO.DRV". With the enhanced (version 8.23b) program, the video (and printer) drivers are "built in to" and selected with the System Configuration program CSHOWI. When you select a video driver with the CSHOWI program, it creates "VIDEO.DRV", which is loaded automatically at program start-up. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | FOR A COMPLETE, UP-TO-DATE LISTING OF THE VIDEO DRIVERS, SEE README.DOC | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Page 2 Optional Features ----------------- A "#" switch is used to specify optional features: >CShow #E ( or #e ) DISABLES horizontal EGA panning Some EGA adapters have trouble with horizontal panning. If your EGA display is "scrambled", use the #E switch. >CShow #J ( or #j ) ENABLES PCjr/Tandy-1000 video modes The program will reserve 32k of memory required for these special video modes. (Without this switch, the memory is available for the program to use for other purposes.) >CShow #MS ( or #ms ) allocate MEMORY for a SMALL buffer >CShow #MM ( or #mm ) allocate MEMORY for a MEDIUM buffer >CShow #ML ( or #ml ) allocate MEMORY for a LARGE buffer This option lets you control the amount of memory that the program reserves for reading the graphics file. The small buffer is 2k, the medium buffer is 32k, and the large buffer is 62k. A small (2k) buffer is the default. (The size of the read buffer DOES NOT determine the maximum size file that the program can display: a 45k file requires 23 reads with a 2k buffer, 2 reads with a 32k buffer, and 1 read with a 62k buffer.) >CShow #D300 This option lets you control the amount of memory reserved for the file directory. The "default" is 120 files. You may specify any number from 0 to 9999. >CShow #Q Turns off the sounds that the program makes (Quiet). Missing files ------------- The CompuShow "package" includes the program, documentation files, video drivers, etc. When CompuShow starts, it checks to see that all its files are present and displays a "missing files" message for 15 seconds if any are missing. While we recommend that you keep a copy of the original disk or archive including all these files, you don't need to keep them on your "working floppy" or hard disk: - Copy everything to the floppy or hard disk sub-directory. - Execute CSHOW. With all files present, it will create CSHOW.DAT - Execute CSHOWDEL to delete the documentation and video drivers (and CSHOWDEL.BAT, so a "batch file missing" message is normal.) Please remember that you MUST INCLUDE ALL FILES when you pass CompuShow on to a friend, or post it on a BBS. Page 3 Dual Monitor Operation ====================== On a system with both a monochrome and color graphics (CGA, EGA, VGA, etc.) adapter installed, start the program on the monochrome monitor to operate in dual monitor mode. The directory screen will appear on the monochrome monitor, and graphics images on the color graphics monitor. When you finish displaying a graphic, press <Carriage Return> to leave the graphic image on screen, or <ESCape> to clear the graphics screen. [F1] for Help ============= Press the [F1] function key to pop up a quick-reference Help Screen with a brief description of the options available. [Shift-F1] for Information ========================== Hold a shift key and press the [F1] function key to pop up a Program Information box, which identifies the options you've specified and the amount of memory used by the program for various purposes. Several of the start-up options control the way the program allocates memory. This is important for several reasons. - The amount of Display Memory determines the extents for panning images, and can affect the operation of transparency and "restore to previous" functions. The (default) small read buffer provides the most memory for a large virtual screen. If you specify a larger read buffer (eg. with the "#MM" or "#ML" command line switch), you take memory away from the virtual screen. - If you have a lot of files in the directory, and the program needs memory to pop up a box, it will have to "abandon" the sorted file list. When you return to the directory screen, the program will retrieve, sort, and re- display the directory, and you will be placed at the first file on the first screen. The "#D" option lets you reserve memory for a directory of up to 9999 files, so that the program won't have to "abandon" it to pop up boxes. Keep in mind that reserving memory for a large directory leaves less memory for the virtual screen. Changing the directory display ============================== The program automatically selects a format to display as many files as possible on each screen. If you have more than one screen of files, press PgDn/PgUp (with the cursor in the input area) to view the next/previous directory screen. - At the input area, you may change to a different disk drive by typing the drive designation and pressing the [F2] key. For example, type "A:" and press [F2] to switch to drive A:. Page 4 You may also change to a different sub-directory. Type the sub-directory name in the input area and press [F2]. The sub-directory specification can be any form acceptable in a DOS "ChDir" command, such as "\" or "..\..\OTHER". You can also combine a drive and sub-directory change, such as "B:\PICS". Press [Alt-A] or [Alt-B] to change to drive A: or B:. Press [Shift-F2] to change to your "original" (drive and) sub-directory; where you were when you started CompuShow. Press [Ctrl-F2] to change to the (drive and) sub-directory containing the CompuShow program. Press [Alt-F2] to change to the "start-up" (drive and) sub-directory that you installed with CShowI (with the enhanced program.) - Press [F3] to "toggle" between the compressed directory display (4 or 6 columns) and a wide directory display (two columns, including file name, size, date, and time.) - Enter a directory mask and press [F4]. Type "*.GIF" and press [F4] to limit the directory display to all files with a ".GIF" file name extension. Press [F4] with a blank mask to reset the directory mask to "*.*". - Press [F5] to pop up a directory sort box: - Press "C" for a Complete directory display with the volume label, hidden files and sub-directories, including "." (this sub-directory) and ".." (the directory "above"). Press "O" to display Only files. - Press "U", "N", "E", "S", or "D" for Unsorted (DOS sequence) or to sort the directory on Name, Extension, Size, or Date. - Press "F" or "B" for Forward (ascending) or Backward (descending) sequence. - Press carriage return when you're done. Selecting a file to display =========================== Method 1: Enter the name of the file ------------------------------------ Type the name of any file and press <Carriage Return> to select it. Note that you may use this method to specify a file that's not in the displayed file list. (You may need to include the drive and subdirectory, as in "c:\pics\special\hidden\other.gif"). When you press <Carriage Return>, the file will be retrieved, or a "beep" will sound if it was not found. Page 5 Method 2: Selecting from the directory list ------------------------------------------- Press the "up arrow" cursor key to move into the directory display, then: - "Down arrow" ("Up arrow") moves you to the next (previous) file. - At the last (first) file on the screen, you move to the next (previous) screen, if there is one. - Ctrl-PgDn (Ctrl-PgUp) moves you to the bottom (top) of the column. - Ctrl-End (Ctrl-Home) moves you to the last (first) file on the screen. - PgDn (PgUp) moves you to the next (previous) screen. - End (Home) moves you immediately to the last (first) file. - A letter key (A..Z) moves you to the next file starting with that letter. (Type "A" repeatedly to move to each file starting with "A".) When you find a graphic that you want to display, press the SpaceBar to display it immediately, or <Carriage Return> to pop up the Graphics Information Box. Press ESCape to return the cursor to the input area. Directory "Goodies" =================== ChDir At a sub-directory (identified by <DIR>), press <Carriage Return> to change to that sub-directory. Sub-directories are displayed when you select "C"omplete in the [F5] directory sort box. Remember that "." is "this directory" (so nothing happens when you attempt to change to "."), and ".." is "the directory above". DEL Press Alt-D to delete the current file. (You must confirm a delete by responding "Y".) REN Press Alt-R to REName the current file. Enter a new name for the file, or press ESCape (or just leave it blank and press <carriage return>) to change your mind about renaming it. COPY Press Alt-C to copy the current file. Enter the "destination" file name, or press ESCape (or just leave it blank and press <carriage return>) to change your mind about copying it. NOTE: While parallel to the DOS commands "REN" and "COPY", these functions are different in one important respect. You can't use any "short-cuts", such as "?" or "*" wildcards for Alt-R and Alt-C, or "destination only" for Alt-C: Valid DOS command CShow function ---------------------- ------------------------- REN NUMBER1.GIF N1.* Alt-R (name>) N1.GIF (N1.* won't work) COPY NUMBER1.GIF N1.* Alt-C (name>) N1.GIF (N1.* won't work) COPY NUMBER2.GIF B: Alt-C (name>) B:NUMBER2.GIF (B: won't work) Page 6 The Graphics Information Box ============================ When you press the SpaceBar while in the file directory area, the graphic is displayed immediately in the best available display mode. If, instead, you press <Carriage Return>, the Graphics Information Box pops up. The top line of the box identifies the type of graphic file, and any other information available, such as "version", width, height, and number of colors in the graphic. Monochrome graphics (CompuServe RLE and MacPaint) have a simple Graphics Information Box, with a single display option. To display the graphic, press "1" or the spacebar. Color graphics (CompuServe GIF, PC Paint, PC Paintbrush, Dr. Halo, ColoRix, etc.) have up to 40 display modes listed; for example "EGA 5=320x200x16": - You may have Hercules, CGA, PCjr/Tandy, EGA, MCGA, VGA, "extended VGA" and video driver modes available, based on the type of video adapter, start-up options, and the video driver you've loaded. - The "5" will appear in a bright text color if it's "recommended" or in a dim color if the graphic is larger than the screen, or has more colors. - The "=" indicates that this is a "true" graphic mode. A ":" indicates a simulated mode. - "320x200x16" means that the screen is 320 "pixels" (dots) wide by 200 pixels high in 16 colors. To display a color graphic, press the key ("5" in the above example), or press the spacebar to have the program choose the "best available mode". RLE Graphics ============ The RLE format supports "Medium" (128x96) and "High" (256x192) resolution monochrome graphics. While the RLE image is displayed: - Press "N" (or Alt-N) to Negate the image. Some RLE images (radar/weather maps, for example) should be "negated", which reverses black and white, before printing. Without negating, you would print a black page with white lines. - With the enhanced program, you may print the image by pressing "P" (or ^P). Page 7 MacPaint Images =============== The information box indicates the number of rows in the MacPaint image. Each image is 576 wide, and a maximum of 720 long. MacPaint images are usually longer than the physical screen. During display: - The up and down arrow keys "auto-pan", so that the image moves slowly up or down the screen until the top or bottom is reached, or until a key is pressed to stop the "auto-pan." - Home and End jump immediately to the top and bottom. - Press "N" (or Alt-N) to negate the image. - On an EGA or VGA, press "C" during the display to "colorize" the image. The 576x720 image is compressed to 288x360, and displayed with shades of reds and browns in place of the black and white image. The [F1]..[F10] function keys allow you to select any of ten different pre-defined color palettes. Press any key to remove the colorized image. - With the enhanced program you may print the MacPaint image by pressing "P" (or ^P). CompuServe GIF Graphics ======================= The information box for a GIF (pronounced "JIF") graphics file indicates the GIF signature and version. CompuShow supports GIF versions "87a" and "89a". If the GIF file is an unknown (future) version, you will hear a "buzzer" sound, and the GIF version will blink. The width, height, and number of colors in the image are also shown. During display, if there's an error in the GIF file, the program will make a "buzzer" sound as the error is encountered. When you return to the GIF information box, the error description and location are shown on the top line: Version: GIF87a, 320x200x256 Error: End Of File at 36050 [00] The possible errors are: Bad Block ID, Bad MinCode, End of File, Bad Code, Invalid Image, Interlace Overrun, and Sequential Overrun. In all cases, an error indicates that the GIF file is damaged (perhaps in downloading), or was incorrectly encoded in the first place. With the release of GIF version 89a (July '90) several exciting new features are supported: - Text may be included for display with the graphic. On an EGA or VGA system, CompuShow uses a text font "built-in" to the adapter. On any other adapter, the program uses the character fonts in the file FONTS.DRV. - A "user input" request causes CompuShow to wait for you to press a key before continuing, to allow you time to read text, etc. To indicate that it's waiting for your keypress, the program sounds a "click". Press any Page 8 key to proceed (ESCape will interrupt further processing.) - Delays between images may be used for animation or to allow time for you to read text. Delays are also usually associated with any user input, so that the program can continue after you've pressed a key or the delay time has expired. - Transparency may be used to create non-rectangular images (or text characters) to appear "on top of" the underlying image. - Images may appear which are "disposed of" by restoring to either the background color or the previous (underlying) image. - Comments may be included by the person creating the GIF. After you've viewed a GIF with comments, you're asked whether you want to read them. As a rule of thumb, transparency and restore to previous functions in a 640x480x256 GIF will require a 640k system, with no RAM resident programs loaded (TSRs, RAM disks, etc.), so that at least 530k of memory is available to CompuShow. If there isn't enough memory available, the transparent color will be displayed, and restore to previous will be handled as a restore to background. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | See README.DOC for information about "CompuMake Tools" for converting | | your existing graphics images to GIF, including support for all | | features of the GIF89a format. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ PC Paintbrush ============= The information box for a PC Paintbrush PCX file indicates the version, size and number of colors. CompuShow supports PC Paintbrush version 2.5, 2.8 (including external 256 color palette ".PAL" file), and 3.0 graphics in 2 to 256 colors. PC Paint ======== The information box for a PC Paint PIC file indicates the size, colors and "mode". CompuShow displays mode "G" and "L" graphics with 16 or 256 colors. Note that PC Paint graphics are displayed starting at the bottom, so if the graphic is larger than the screen, it may appear that nothing is happening until you reach the point where the row is on screen. Dr. Halo ======== The information box for a Dr. Halo PIC file indicates the version, size and number of colors. CompuShow supports Dr. Halo versions 2 and 3, and a number of formats including 320x200x4, 320x200x16, 640x350x16, 720x348x2 and 720x348x16. Page 9 RIX ColoRix and Ega Paint ========================= The information box for a ColoRix "SCx" file indicates the size and number of colors. CompuShow supports uncompressed ColoRix files in a wide range of sizes and 256 colors. Ega Paint images are 640x350x16 colors. Targa ===== Targa 16, 24, or 32 bit, uncompressed or run-length-encoded, mapped or RGB images may be displayed. (Targa type 1, 2, 9, and 10.) Deluxe Paint ============ Deluxe Paint II and Deluxe Paint II Enhanced "LBM" (and "BBM", etc.) Color Graphic Display ===================== To display any color graphic (GIF, PC Paintbrush, PC Paint, Targa, etc.): - Type any character listed in the Information Box to display the graphic in that mode, or - Press the spacebar to have the program select the "best mode" (the character it will use is displayed at the cursor), based on the size and number of colors in the graphic. To tell the program to consider video driver modes when selecting the best display mode, see "Video driver modes", below. As the image is being displayed, press ESCape or Ctrl-C to interrupt (and abort) display of the rest of the image. (The partial image will remain on the screen. Type <Carriage Return> to return to the information box.) While the image is displayed: - Images larger than the PHYSICAL SCREEN can be "panned", using the up, down, left and right cursor arrow keys. Press a key (once) to pan in that direction. Panning will stop at the end of the image, or may be interrupted by pressing any key. In addition: Home/End jump to the upper-left/lower-right corner, Ctrl-Lft/Ctrl-Rgt jump "one screen width" Left/Right, Ctrl-Home/Ctrl-End jump "one screen height" Up/Down. - The EGA/VGA display pans both vertically and horizontally, and can accommodate 16 color images up to 320x1638, 640x819, or 1024x512. - Other display modes (including hardware-specific modes) pan both vertically and horizontally, with the maximum size dependent upon the amount of memory available. (The [Shift-F1] information box indicates the size of the "virtual screen".) Page 10 - The "brightness" of any monochrome (mode A..P) display may be adjusted, as described below. - Alt-N negates any monochrome display. - On an EGA/MCGA/VGA monitor, you may adjust the appearance of the COLOR image, as described below. - With the enhanced program, you may print an image by pressing "P" (or ^P). Special Modes: ------------- On an EGA or VGA, with a graphic that's 320x200 or smaller, a "Z" mode is available: - If the graphic has 16 colors or less, this will display it double-wide and double-high using the 640x350x16 or 640x480x16 mode, which will have much truer colors than the 320x200x16 display. - If it has more that 16 colors, it will be displayed using a "color dithering" routine, which simulates over 2000 colors. On an MCGA or VGA, five "extended" modes are available. These modes work on a PS/2 or register compatible VGA, although they aren't "IBM standard" modes. "[" sets the adapter to 360x480x256 mode. "]" simulates 720x480x256 by skipping every other pixel horizontally. "," sets the adapter to 320x400x256 mode. "." simulates 640x400x256 by skipping every other pixel horizontally. "/" simulates 640x480x256 by skipping every other pixel horizontally, and skipping one row out of every six. The simulated modes above and the simulated modes in the video drivers will provide a good looking display on most graphics, except for areas that contain text. Text characters on graphics screens may be illegible in these simulated modes, since some columns and rows are skipped. Video driver modes ------------------ With a video driver loaded, up to seven additional modes (S..Y) are available. The video driver lets you display graphics using the unique capabilities of your video card. Keep in mind that some of the video driver modes may not work on your adapter. For example, a (true, not simulated) 640x480x256-color display requires 512k of video RAM. Similarly, a 1024x768x256 display requires 1meg of video RAM. NOTE: If you press a key (S..Y) and the screen stays in text mode (perhaps changing colors), then that mode isn't supported on your adapter. If the same thing happens on ALL the video driver modes, then you either have the wrong video driver loaded, or your adapter just doesn't have any "Super-VGA" Page 11 capabilities. (VGA adapters that are built-in to a system board or bundled with a computer are often "low-end" [cheap] adapters without Super-VGA capabilities.) CompuShow doesn't consider video driver modes when selecting the best mode to display a graphic with the space bar, unless you tell it which video driver modes work on your adapter. For example, assume that modes S, T, U, V, and W work on your VGA, and mode U is a simulated 640x480x256, where mode V is the preferred (true) 640x480x256 mode. To tell CompuShow to use modes S, T, V, and W, create a text (ASCII) file with the characters "STVW". The name of the file corresponds to the video driver that you're using: VIDEO.DAT for VIDEO.DRV, or VIDEOP1.DAT for VIDEOP1.DRV, etc. You can use a word processor to create the file (make sure you save it non-document, un-formatted, or ASCII), or just type in the following at your DOS prompt: COPY CON VIDEO.DAT STVW and then press [F6] or Ctrl-Z to write the file. Adjusting a MONOCHROME image ---------------------------- An image displayed in EGA/VGA monochrome mode P may be adjusted by pressing PgUp to make the image brighter, or PgDn to make it darker. This brightness adjustment is instantaneous. An image displayed in a Hercules, CGA, or MCGA monochrome mode (A..O) may be adjusted by pressing PgUp to make the image brighter, or PgDn to make it darker. You may also adjust the image to a particular brightness by pressing the letter key (A..O). This "adjustment" is accomplished by re-displaying the image. The previous image is left on the screen, so you can see the effect of the adjustment as the new image replaces the former display. (Displaying an image in monochrome mode H and then pressing PgUp results in the same image as monochrome mode G.) Adjusting a COLOR image ----------------------- EGA: ---- CompuShow uses a "color dithering" technique for displaying images: - with more than 16 colors, - which are 320 wide (or narrower), - when displayed in mode Z ("Zoomed" to 640 wide). With this technique, the program "simulates" over 2000 colors using a 16 color EGA palette. Dithered images MAY NOT be adjusted. However, you CAN adjust the colors of a non-dithered image displayed in EGA modes 7, 9, or Z. The sixteen colors displayed are numbered 0 to 9 and A to F. Color zero is always the background. To select a color to adjust, type the color number Page 12 (0..9 or A..F). That color will flash, so that you can see where it is and decide whether it should be adjusted. There are two methods for adjusting colors: - A selected color may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the Red, Green, or Blue component: RED: decrease [F1] [F2] increase GREEN: decrease [F3] [F4] increase BLUE: decrease [F5] [F6] increase Each color has a Red, Green, and Blue component with a "weight" of 0..3, so pressing [F2] four times will step through all four levels of Red. [ 4 (Red) x 4 (Green) x 4 (Blue) = the palette of sixty-four colors. ] - You may "step through" all sixty-four colors in color number sequence: COLOR NUMBER: decrease [F7] [F8] increase The adjusted palette may be saved to disk by pressing Alt-F10 (hold down the Alt key and type the [F10] function key.) When you display the GIF file in mode 7, 9, or Z, the program automatically uses this saved palette (press [F9] to see the original color palette; [F10] to switch back to the saved color palette.) MCGA/VGA: --------- On an MCGA or VGA adapter, you can adjust the colors of an image displayed in any 16 color mode (5, 6, 7, 9, or Z) or 256 color mode (8), including any "Super-VGA" modes (S..Y). - PgUp/PgDn increases/decreases the "brightness" of the image. - The color may be adjusted: RED: decrease [F1] [F2] increase GREEN: decrease [F3] [F4] increase BLUE: decrease [F5] [F6] increase As with an EGA, the adjusted palette is saved to disk by pressing Alt-F10, and [F9] and [F10] allow you to review the differences between the original and the adjusted palette. MCGA/VGA Grayscale: ------------------- On an MCGA or VGA adapter, any image displayed in a 16 or 256 color mode may be instantly converted to a "Grayscale", by pressing Alt-G, and returned to a color display by pressing Alt-C. While the grayscale image is displayed, PgUp and PgDn adjust the brightness of the image. Quitting CompuShow ================== At the input area, press ESCape to exit the program and return to DOS. Page 13 The Enhanced Program ==================== The enhanced program (CompuShow version 8.23b) includes all features of the standard program, plus: - Printing of all graphics images on most dot matrix and laser printers. NOTE that color printing is supported in version 8. See README.DOC for a complete, up-to-date list of supported color printers. - A "slide show" program with script generator, for automated display of all graphics in a "stand-alone" or "operator attended" mode. - A System Configuration program, which lets you change screen colors, and specify "start-up" options, making the command-line switches unnecessary. You can also automatically log to a disk drive and/or sub-directory, and set the type of directory display you want, including: the [F3] "wide" directory display, the [F4] directory mask (eg. "*.GIF"), the [F5] directory sort options. The user's guide describing these features is CSHOW8B.DOC, included with the enhanced program. Page 14 S H A R E W A R E ================= CompuShow is copyrighted software. However, you are encouraged to copy and share it with others according to the following requirements: CompuShow may be freely copied and shared with others, so long as no charge is made for the software, and it is unmodified and copied in its entirety, including all program documentation and all support files. CompuShow may be distributed via modem, provided that all files are transmitted (archived) together. Notice that ShareWare is copyrighted software. It's not "Public Domain" software, nor is it "free" software. If you continue to use this program beyond a reasonable "trial period", not to exceed 21 days, you must pay for it by registering. WHY SHAREWARE? -------------- A few years ago, we advertised a (much simpler) program in a national computer magazine. Our advertising cost was so high that, even with a retail price of $45, we never reached "break-even"! The ShareWare concept turns CompuShow into its own ad! Our costs are reduced, and we can price the program accordingly. ShareWare let's you "try it before you buy it"! You can determine whether a program works properly and how easy it is to use, before you pay for it. WHY REGISTER? ------------- Since CompuShow is a ShareWare product, we don't receive a penny when you download it from a commercial information service, such as CompuServe or GEnie, from a BBS, or receive it on a disk of ShareWare programs. Since version 1.7 was released in July 1987, we've continued to improve and enhance the program, and have released new versions on a regular basis. Most of the enhancements were suggested by our registered users, and most of our registered users have upgraded as new versions are announced. They like CompuShow and the improvements that their registration fees have made possible! If you use CompuShow, you must register: - Your registration fee makes it possible for us to continue to improve the program and to provide similar high quality software at reasonable prices. - For your registration fee you receive the LATEST VERSION of the ENHANCED PROGRAM. - As a registered user, you'll be notified as new versions are released, and may upgrade for a nominal charge. Page 15 - Registered users may purchase other CaSSS software at reduced prices. - IF YOU USE THE PROGRAM FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, YOU MUST REGISTER. Registering for the Enhanced Program ------------------------------------ For your convenience, we've included an order form (OFORM.DOC) with space for all the required information. (Complete it by hand or with a word processor.) Prices as of January, 1990 -------------------------- Basic registration, 5.25" disk............................. $25 To receive a 3.5" disk, please add......................... $ 1 For overseas delivery, please add.......................... $ 2 Arizona residents, please include 7% sales tax............. - Credit Card: Indicate Visa or MasterCard, card number, and expiration date. - Check or Money Order: must be in U.S. funds, drawn on a U.S. bank. (A Canadian Postal Money Order in US Dollars is acceptable.) - Sorry, no CODs or Purchase Orders. - The $2 for overseas shipping IS NOT REQUIRED for the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, US possessions, APOs, FPOs, or Canada. Electronic Mail: CompuServe Mail: [76555,167] (MCI Mail can be routed to CompuServe) Internet (BITNET, ARPANET, CICNet, etc.): 76555.167@compuserve.com GE Mail: R.BERRY7 U.S. Mail: Canyon State Systems and Software Post Office Box 86 Sedona, AZ. 86336 Phone: (602) 282-5070 Orders are shipped first class mail, and registration puts you on our mailing list for notification when future versions are available. If you're ordering through a corporation, college, or university purchasing department, an individual's name would be advisable, so that upgrade notices don't get lost in "receiving department". Uploading to a Bulletin Board: ----------------------------- As mentioned, we encourage you to copy and share CompuShow with others. We do ask, however, that you be considerate when you upload to a BBS (or give a copy to a friend, computer club, or user group.) A number of users have called asking for help because the CompuShow that they downloaded from a BBS was missing documentation, and/or support files. Be kind to the other guy! If you're going to upload to a BBS, be sure you include ALL FILES in your upload. Not only is this a requirement for distribution as ShareWare, but Page 16 it's also the only way to be fair to the people who download it! Keep in mind that any upload that doesn't include all files will result in the display of the "missing files" message. BBS SysOps and ShareWare Distributors: ------------------------------------- We appreciate the distribution of CompuShow on electronic bulletin boards and ShareWare disks. If you have a version of CompuShow which may be outdated (the program date is displayed on the second line of the screen), or you just want to be sure you have the latest version, contact me. I'll send you the most current version (at no charge), and put you on a mailing list to automatically receive free upgrades when available. If you see the "missing files" message at program start-up, you don't have the full package and don't have permission to distribute it. If the person who provided the disk or archive can't supply the missing files, contact me for the latest complete version. Viruses and Trojan Horses: ------------------------- Due to the growing concern over computer viruses, Trojan horses, and other malicious programs, BBS SysOps and ShareWare distributors have started establishing "direct from author" libraries, or providing ONLY that software which they receive directly from the author. We feel this is an excellent policy, and expect to see it become more common as time passes. For your information, we post CompuShow to CompuServe and GEnie, and mail copies directly to a number of BBS SysOps and ShareWare distributors. We NEVER post directly to BBS's. (Just to put in one last "plug"), your concern about possible "virus infection" is another reason to register the ShareWare that you intend to continue using. Thank you for your support: Bob Berry Canyon State Systems and Software Post Office Box 86 Sedona, Az. 86336 (602) 282-5070 CompuServe: [76555,167] Internet: 76555.167@compuserve.com GEnie: R.BERRY7 Graphics Interchange Format(c) copyright CompuServe Inc. GIF(sm) is a Service Mark property of CompuServe Inc. Copyright (c) 1991, Canyon State Systems and Software (tm), Sedona, Az. Page 17