I noticed that OCAT was mentioned in one of the Opus 1.70 docs.
Right now, I only have 4 entries in the data base.  If there is
a software author in your net, please pass this on to them and
ask them to fill it out and send it to me.  I'm going to start
putting stuff in as best I can.  I also plan to compile a list
of authors and perform a bombing run to solicit a response.
If you can help, you'll be doing everyone a favor.

Keith Ford, 24-JUL-91
===============================================================


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                     Opus Catalog of Amazing Things


                      Copyright 1991 by Keith Ford
                 in accordance with the Opus philosophy

              Dedicated to everyone who has helped someone



About 15 months ago, I became an Opus CBCS sysop.  Along the path from
then to now I have had help from many people and from many pieces of
software.  Now, as I gaze out over the Meadow, I notice others asking
the  questions I had once asked.  So I have decided to do a little
something to pass on those many favors I have received.

OCAT, the Opus Catalog of Amazing Things, is a listing of available
utilities and helpful files that an Opus sysop might find useful. The
only files that would not be useful are those that are "very" specific
to another bbs package.  I quote the word very because some software
can be used in unique ways.  For example Waffle can be run as a door
for Usenet access.

OCAT will be a living database, much like the software list at the end
of each FidoNews.  The database itself will be available in a number of
formats.  You can file request the magic word OCAT from my board at
1:373/12 (HST/V32bis) which will give more information should you be
interested.

The purpose of this letter is to solicit response from authors that
have items they wish to include in OCAT.  Following is a simple form
that you can complete and send to me.  And remember, send updates as
you make them available.

     Program Name     : (1)
     Version          : (2)
     Opus Version     : (3)
     Release Date     : (4)
     Release Filename : (5)
     Software Class   : (6)
     Author  : (7)
     Fidonet : (8)
     Other   : (9)
     Keywords : (10)
     Description : (11)

Description of items listed in the form above.

 1.  Name that the program is known as.  If your program name is an
     acronym, you should use what is most common.  For example, OBUL
     is Opus Bulletin Utilization Language, but it is most commonly
     called OBUL (oh bull :-).
 2.  Version number of program for this description.
 3.  Version of Opus this program supports. (e.g. 1.0x, 1.2x, any)
 4.  Date author released this version.
 5.  Filename, without extension, author used for released program.
 6.  Type of software:  
	Commercial
	Public Domain (all rights released)
	Freeware (no fee, some rights reserved)
	Shareware (fee for continued usage)
	Crippleware (fee required to enable all features)
	Nagware	(fee required to turn off annoying screens)
 7.  Author's name.
 8.  Author's fidonet address for correspondence.
 9.  Other addresses for author.  (Usenet, US Mail, phone, etc.)
10.  Words that categorize the program, useful for quick searches.
11.  Paragraph description of programs function, usage, requirements,
     compatibility and such.  Might also include where the program is
     available, if it has a freq magic word, if source is included,
     and anything else that might be useful to readers.

Thanks for listening!  -kef/MM-

======================================================================

When the data base is ready for initial release, information will be
provided here indicating what files should be requested.  The notice
will appear in a number of echoes that are Opus releated.