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- TD 1.0
- Transverse Directory
- Copyright (c) 1988 by Unique Software
- Post Office Box 26613
- Fort Worth, Texas 76126-0613
-
- CompuServe - 70130,330
- American People Link - UNIQUESOFT
- Delphi - UNIQUESOFT
- MCI Mail - 252-8689
-
- Our latest mighty-mini utility weighing in at 492 bytes, TD will assist
- you in navigating any disk (floppy or hard) whether you new to computers or an
- advanced user.
-
- TD anticipation
-
- Unlike CD (CHDIR), TD attempts to anticipate your wishes. For example, if
- your current directory is "\BASIC" and it has NO subdirectories when you type
- "TD", it will move you to the parent directory of "\BASIC", just like typing
- in "CD .." except that TD anticipated what was needed. However, if "BASIC"
- contains a single subdirectory, say "GAMES", and you type in "TD", it will
- move you to that SINGLE subdirectory, namely "\BASIC\GAMES".
-
- TD assistance
-
- What if there are multiple directories? Well normally the only way you
- know that TD worked is by it issuing it's name and copyright.
- TD 1.0 <> Copyright (c) 1988 by Unique Software
- But if TD detects more than one subdirectory exists at the current level
- an area will appear between the name and copyright notice. In this area will
- be the name of the first directory located (normally ".." or the parent
- directory of the current directory). At this point the cursor will stop to the
- right of the name as TD awaits your selection:
- [ENTER] selects the current directory displayed and changes to it.
- [ESC] aborts TD.
- any other key brings up the name of the next directory found. Since TD
- loops through the directories infinitely the only way to exit TD is to press
- either the [ENTER] or [ESC] keys.
-
- New to PCompatibles?
- Parent Directory? Sub-Directory? ".."?
- If you've ever used any kind of computer with a disk drive, you
- probabably have run across the DIRectory command. It's lists what files are
- contained on the disk. However, MS-DOS has taken this a step further. You can
- actually create you own directories within other directories (called the Root
- Directory) with MS-DOS. These directories (called sub-directories) are
- assigned names (just like files) when you create them. Then within each of the
- sub-directories you can create other sub-directories. Then within...(well not
- forever...there is a limit). Let's look at a SIMPLE directory structure:
-
- BOARD
- | ARCADE
- MUSIC | /
- UTIL \ GAMES
- \ OS \ | DATA
- \ | \ | /
- DOS BASIC
- \ /
- \ /
- (root)
-
- The parent directories are (root), DOS, BASIC, and GAMES. MS-DOS lists
- parent directories within subdirectories with the token "..". TD also uses the
- same token.
- The sub directories are UTIL, OS, DOS, MUSIC, BOARD, ARCADE, GAMES, DATA
- and BASIC.
- Yes, DOS, BASIC, and GAMES are BOTH parent directories AND
- sub-directories. A parent directory is ANY directory which has (child)
- sub-directories. A sub-directory is ANY directory created off of ANOTHER
- directory. [For more information read about CD, CHDIR, RD, RMDIR, MD, MKDIR in
- your DOS manual.]
-
- Copyright and Shareware License
-
- Even though TD.COM 1.0 is a copyrighted work, Unique Software grants you a
- "Shareware" license to; use the program; make as many copies of the program
- and documentation as you wish for yourself and others; distribute the program
- and documentation via electronic or other means; feel guilty if you are not
- supporting GOOD shareware software. You may NOT sell the program or any
- modification of it. You may NOT request donations for distribution of the
- program. You may NOT remove this notice. You may NOT in any other way try to
- make money from TD 1.0. If you do give away copies of TD 1.0, you MUST
- distribute the program and documentation together. Unique Software is not
- liable for any damages of any kind related to the use of this program and by
- using the software, you agree to this.
-
- Wait is Fairware?
-
- Unique Software never suggests a "donation" or "fee". We do not expect
- charity for our work. We respect your intelligence. We feel that you know how
- much each of our Shareware software packages are worth to you. Don't feel like
- you HAVE to send in $20 or $10, if you know the program is only worth $5 to
- you. Neither be embarrassed sending in $10 if you think it's worth $40. We've
- trusted you thus far and expect the balance when you've got it. In other
- words, whatever is the value of our software to you is what the price
- is...that's Fairware. [Remember to send us your name and address with your
- payment!]
-
- Shareware and Unique Software
-
- Shareware Programs
-
- This concept has been seriously perverted over the last several years.
- Initially Shareware was a daring method of distributing software without
- spending the big advertising bucks that the major firms have. It was daring
- because after the author(s) spent many hours developing the software, it was
- distributed freely to anyone who wanted it. The author(s) relying not only on
- the honesty of the users but also the quality and usefulness of the software
- for payment. Numerous "authorities" laughed continuously at the concept until
- it started to work. You probably have used or heard of the biggest successes,
- PC-TALK, PC-WRITE, and PROCOMM. There are many others.
- Success in any new venture also brings an influx of people wanting to
- share the pie. There are a lot of talented Shareware programmers and
- unfortunately a lot of half-baked amateurs. Therein lies the problem. For
- every talented programmer and program that any of us come across, we cross two
- to three half-baked programs and programmers. Shareware by it's definition at
- birth is GOOD fully-functional software, NOT stripped-down, half-baked
- software that is either so botched or stripped down that it's effectiveness
- and usefulness is absent. How could you determine you wanted to register a
- shareware spreadsheet program if the "Shareware Version" only allowed simple
- arithmetic and a 9x9 spreadsheet? Are you willing to commit 40K of your
- valuable disk space and register a program that works "most" of the time?
-
- Shareware Users
- Why bother to register? Why pay for it? Who's going to know one way or the
- other? It's not worth the $5,000 registration fee! It's only used once or
- twice a week!
- How about that stack of adventure games you've solved and now sit
- gathering dust in the corner? Where they worth the $25 and more EACH that you
- paid for them? How often do you use them a week? a month?
- The Shareware authors who are dedicated to the REAL concept of Shareware
- probably won't mind if you sent $5 or $10 instead of the $15 suggested.
- However understand if you're expecting the author to spend hours guiding you
- through problems your having, he may be reluctant without "full" payment.
- Remember, if it's REALLY not worth anything then you probably wouldn't be
- using it.
- Actually, you and your conscience are the only ones who know whether you
- registered and paid for the software or not. Look at it this way. Take your
- coin collection, or stamp collection, or video collection (something you've
- worked hard in developing and are quite proud of), open a store and put a sign
- on the counter, Please Pay Before Leaving, then walk off. Coming back and
- seeing everything gone would be very traumatic unless everyone who did want
- something did pay. You either have a bucket of money and proudly start to
- build another collection, working harder, making it better than the first
- collection; or without the money without the support of those appreciating
- your effort you just give up and quit. The programmers can often see how many
- downloads there are of his program. Fifty to a hundred to two hundred
- downloads and NO registrants, not even comments can really stifle
- creativeness. An alternative is driving down to the software store in the mall
- and paying THOSE prices. That's why Shareware was invented.
- You can tell good software from junk software. There are a lot of
- responsible programmers out there who keep up with their customers.
- Registration also allows them to let you know when there are bugs found and
- corrected, enhancements, and upgrades.
-
-