SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS SOFTWARE CREATIONS BBS (508) 365-2359 (8,1, N) Welcome to SHAREWARE REVIEWS, a new, innovative, electronic newsletter that will review the best of the latest uploaded shareware in all areas. Our objective is to help you select the software that will best fulfill your needs from among the many hundreds which are published each month. We are truly in the midst of a creative explosion by many fine shareware authors but the quantity is overwhelming. How can you select the very best from among a bewildering variety of publications? Let SHAREWARE REVIEWS help you by selecting the best developed and providing you with brief, yet information packed, reviews to help you decide what is worth your downloading dollars and valuable time. We have vast experience to bring to bear upon this endeavor having had years of professional experience in academia, advanced scientific and humanities research, technical and journal publication, public school education, and entrepreneurial private business. Furthermore, we are consultants in applied statistics and shareware authors ourselves. What is shareware? Shareware is computer software created by small companies, often a single person operation, that is marketed on a 'try before you buy' basis. An informed decison by any consumer should be based upon maximum knowledge. As a sales approach, which is remarkable for its generosity to potential customers, shareware authors create and distribute their work in a format which has at least partial, and often complete functionality. Distribution is via mail order companies which specialize in selling shareware on disk and Bulletin Board Systems, such as SOFTWARE CREATIONS, whose sysops are committed to the promotion of shareware. By not investing in expensive brochures or the usual sort of advertising, shareware authors are determined to hold down costs, and thereby the retail prices, of their products. Successful shareware benefits everyone because the retail price is as low as possible which places the least stress on a user's wallet. Hopefully, a large selling volume will increase the income for the author/publisher. Shareware authors are unusually generous and trusting. If their product is fully functional in the shareware version, which is often the case, users must feel honor bound to purchase it after the fact. Purchase is termed registration and is by mail order via forms provided within the shareware package. We urge you to register any and all shareware you try out, like and decide to use. If the shareware does not fulfill your needs, pass it on to someone who might be interested, thereby giving the shareware more exposure. Unlike browsing in a book store where there is no possibility of keeping the book without payment (short of theft), all of us could 'steal' our favorite shareware if so inclined. If we are not honorable, this generous marketing approach is in danger of disappearing. Furthermore, many shareware authors are highly creative and innovative while exploring areas still untouched by major corporations. Often their products are as full featured and 'deep' as any offered in the mainstream, highly advertised, marketplace and may, in fact, incorporate an approach that cannot be found anywhere else. SHAREWARE REVIEWS will be available only through SOFTWARE CREATIONS which is an extraordinary Bulletin Board System. The founder and sysop is Dan Linton who is perhaps the most aggressive promoter of shareware in the country. He is also a very successful software author and publisher in his own right. SOFTWARE CREATIONS is huge, yet user friendly, as I'm certain you've already discovered if you downloaded SHAREWARE REVIEWS. Personally, I have never seen a board whose menus and screens are this attractive! As of this date, Dan has over 8GB of files in well organized directories, 65 phone lines and provides many other interesting and valuable services. Everything reviewed in SHAREWARE REVIEWS may be found at SOFTWARE CREATIONS which you can consider your one stop shareware warehouse. I urge you to subscribe; Dan's system is well worth the $45/year and is perhaps the lowest subscription fee for any board of this size in the U.S. SOFTWARE CREATIONS, 26 Harris St., Clinton MA 01510. Phone lines are BBS (2400) 508 365-2359, BBS (9600) 508 368-7036 and voice 508 368-8654. SHAREWARE REVIEWS is published monthly by SOFTWARE CREATIONS and is provided in several versions. In each, the reviews will be in 'plain vanilla' ASCII format so that any DOS based, generic file viewer can be used to view and print them. An electronic newsletter of brief one paragraph reviews, of which you now have a copy, will be distributed around the first of each month and uploaded only to SOFTWARE CREATIONS. It is available to all callers, even new users, as freeware. A second version which contains in-depth longer reviews of each program with many more specifics and installation hints will be distributed by first class USPS on disk and will be available only by subscription at $30/year (12 issues). For $75/year, you can receive the long format reviews along with each shareware program in an archived (usually ZIP) format. That comes to 12 monthly issues with a yearly total of approximately 180 programs at cost of only $0.42 or less per program. Unless you live within SOFTWARE CREATIONS area code, your phone bill to download this many programs would exceed the subscription price. Single back issues of each month's shareware files are available at $12/monthly set of disks. These prices includes all costs: disks, shipping and handling. We hope to set an industry standard for shareware reviews. Glitzy no; valuable reviews, yes. If you find only one program each year that dramatically increases either your business productivity, education, or enjoyment of life, the subscription cost will be well worth it. Each newsletter will contain a minimum of 15 reviews in both the short and long versions. You can SUBSCRIBE ON LINE AT SOFTWARE CREATIONS with your credit card. At the Main Menu, type 'DOOR' and the Door Menu will give you access to an on-line subscription script with the various options described above. If you wish, you may subscribe by mail using the form provided below. We welcome feedback, comments and suggestions for new shareware to review. You may write to me, Ben Blumenberg, the writer of SHAREWARE REVIEWS at REALITY SOFTWARE, PO Box 105, Waldoboro, ME 04572 or leave e-mail at SOFTWARE CREATIONS. For those of you who may have acquired SHAREWARE REVIEWS from a colleague, and not from SOFTWARE CREATIONS, my other e-mail addresses are: America On Line benb12; Compuserve 71044,1645; and on the Internet at benb12@aol.com or 71044.1645@compuserve.com (notice comma must be replaced by a period). An interesting article which you might enjoy that looks at the problems in designing a user friendly interface for Windows applications is Moss, D. 1993. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". WINDOWS USER Vol. 2, No. 1, pp 136-140. Reality Software is also a creator and publisher of shareware and our products can be found at SOFTWARE CREATIONS. We specialize in historical timelines and history of religion and mythology. Our studies are scholarly and for serious, thinking adults. They are not high school level programs nor are they filled with New Age nonsense. We will mail a catalog on disk of our software for a $1.50 fee to cover costs and shipping. Please note that requests for this catalog must go directly to Reality Software, PO Box 105, Waldoboro, ME 04572, NOT Software Creations. We hope you enjoy SHAREWARE REVIEWS and find it a valuable tool for selecting the very best of the newest shareware available. Ben and Leslie Blumenberg SOFTWARE CREATIONS is a division of Linton Enterprises, Inc. .__________________________________________________________________________ MAIL IN SUBSCRIPTION FORM for SHAREWARE REVIEWS DATE ______ NAME _____________________________ COMPANY ______________________________ ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________ TOWN OR CITY ______________________________ STATE __________ ZIP ________ Subscriptions to SR Long Reviews only ($30/yr) _____ Total _______________ Subscriptions to SR Long Reviews plus shareware ($75/yr)_____ Total_______ BACK ISSUES of monthly collections of shareware at $12/each: (All disks will be high density 5 1/4".) Indicate month/yr ________________________________ No. ______ Total ______ Method of Payment (circle): Check Money Order Credit Card (Visa, Master Card) Credit Card # __________________________________ Exp. Date ________________ Signature on Card ___________________________________________________ If we distribute our mailing list to other vendors, would you prefer your name be deleted? Y ___ N ___ MAIL TO: SHAREWARE REVIEWS SOFTWARE CREATIONS 26 Harris St. Clinton, MA 01510 Be certain to notify SOFTWARE CREATIONS if you move and your mailing address changes. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIRECTORY 9: GAMES Vol.1, No.2 PCGAM512.ZIP 140K March 1993 BACKGAMMON (DOS) Uploaded 11/7/92 bckgam1.txt PC-GAMMON is an exceptionally attractive backgammon game in which you can play against either a live opponent or the computer. The opening screen is dominated by a large board beneath which is a message screen that logs each computer operation. A scoreboard is on the upper right beneath which is a block of menu buttons and the dice. Games may be saved and there is a choice of three different levels of playing difficulty. Online help is quite good and registration brings a more extensive manual which will explain how to play by modem. Enjoy PC-GAMMON in a software design that preserves the integrity of the classic board game. Registration is $24.95 from Sentient Software, RFD #1, Box 3720, Sheldon Vt. 05483. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS TDRAW460.ZIP 314K Vol.1, No.2 THEDRAW (D0S) March 1993 Uploaded 2/24/93 thedraw1.txt THEDRAW stands alone as perhaps the only full featured editor for creating images in a variety of 'nongraphics' formats such as ANSI, ASCII, binary, PASCAL, and C. Line drawing may executed with the cursor. Text entry may be customzied with several distinctive font choices. The DOS palette is drawn upon to choose background and foreground colors, the latter may be set to flash. Editing options are 'deep' via the use of block marking, the selected areas may then be subject to numerous manipulations including moving over or under other screen areas. Fourteen preprogrammed patterns are built in that accurately simulate animation so that you can easily set your images in motion. THE DRAW is run from the DOS command line, has full mouse support and on screen help that summarizes many commands. Do not bypass the detailed manual, THEDRAW is unavoidable complex because it features are rich and designed for professionals. However, even a beginner can created very spectacular screens in a couple of hours. Registration is $22 from TheSoft Programming Services, c/o Ian Davis -TheDraw, P.O. Box 7657, Fremont CA, 94537. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIRECTORY 16: UTILITIES (FILES) Vol.1, No.2 TD132.ZIP 69K March 1993 TdrawAid (DOS) uploaded 11/12/92 drawaid1.txt TDRAWAID is a neat graphics program that will create images from a large selection of oversize fonts. The images may be saved in either ASCII or TheDraw format for later editing and printing. Such files have great potential for use in either batch files or creating screens for DOS programs with TheDraw. The interface for entering, editing and preview could not be easier or more intuitive. Enjoy your graphics creativity outside of a high end proprietary format with TDRAWAID. Registration is $15 from Ray Carson, 1113 Hillcrest, Conroe, TX 77301. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIR 67: WINDOWS GAMES Vol. 1, No. 2 COD100.ZIP 33K March 1993 CLOCK OF DOOM (WINDOWS) Uploaded 9/10/92 cod1.txt CLOCK OF DOOM is the most 'politically correct' and news oriented Windows utility you will ever meet! CLOCK OF DOOM is a package of 14 digital clocks that can be set to ride over other apps on your Windows desktop. Statistics such as world population growth, U.S. national debt, and annual Pentagon spending are displayed in an attractive horizontal window. Every clock may be user customized and, depending upon available resources, one or several may be displayed. The data displayed will make anyone so inclined to think about some of the world's major problems. In certain circumstances CLOCK OF DOOM is freeware; download it to understand what that statement means. The author is Loran Richardson, Neon Softworks, 7083 Fairways Drive, Longmont CO 80503. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS HIFI215A.ZIP 308K Vol.1, No.2 HIFI215B.ZIP 351K March 1993 HI FINANCE (WINDOWS) Uploaded 11/26/92 hifi1.txt HI FINANCE is a superb program whose goal is to make financial and business calculations accessible to a user without any background in those areas. The opening screen is a MDI interface with each module presented as a button. The financial calculator can calculate the results for a chosen payment scenario or the requirements necessary to meet a stated goal. Loan calculation and amortization is straightforward. Three of four variables are held constant in order to compute the chosen unknown. Investment analysis takes initial values for amount invested, target rate and yearly cash flow to calculate net present value, profitability index, internal rate of return and payback ratio. Personal financial planning has several submenus for investment, retirement planning, death planning and educational goals. The business module also has submenus: markup, gross price margin, sales tax, cost-volume profit analysis and economic order quantity. The modules of HI FINANCE are exceptionally well designed and many produce not only a table of results but clear easily printed graphs as well. The manual provides an introductory tutorial and users will quickly gain in proficiency. Registration is $59 from Brightbridge Solutions, 1534 Brightbridge Drive, Kingsport, TN 37664. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS #ICHING.ZIP 123K Vol.1, No.2 I CHING (DOS) March 1993 Uploaded 1/23/93 iching1.txt I CHING is a straightforward, yet historical and mature approach to the millenium old Chinese Book of Changes. Although it now exists as a book, the I CHING is a complex device with total integrity for exploring the forces of the macrocosmos as they influence the psychodynamics of individual lives. The process of exploration is interactive and ideally suited to computer software. I CHING is for thinking adults, not New Age adolescents who wish to "predict the future". The simple interface provides several menus of in depth history, philosophy and symbolism, which are lacking in the other I Ching shareware now available, and without which the use of the I CHING becomes a meaningless game. If you have a taste for the universal as it might relate to your personal life, then settle down with ICHING for an hour and think! I CHING is freeware from L.R. Ramsey, PO Box 13, Ilkeston, Derberyshire, England DE7 5XJ. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS KSTAT1.ZIP 277K Vol.1, No.2 KSTAT2.ZIP 316K March 1993 KSTAT3.ZIP 196K KWIKSTATE (DOS) Uploaded 12/15/92 kstat1.txt KWIKSTAT is medium level statistics program that has many features and has won many awards. The main screen features a menu bar with help and two pull down menus that access data sets, or their construction thereof, and the analytical tools. The catagories, within which are several tests each, are descriptive statistics and graphs, t tests and ANOVA, nonparametric tests, regression and correlation, cross tabulation, frequencies and Chi-square, life tables and survival analysis. There are also several simple tutorials built in for data generation and simulation. KWIKSTAT employs a terminology that only assumes one, year long, statistics course and is thus as user friendly as possible in this area of applied mathematics. Database creation could not be easier with 11 built in templates that are customized for the various categories of statistical tools. KWIKSTAT can import comma delimited ASCII text. A good manual is provided which is a condensation of that which comes with registration. KWIKSTAT is a stunning value at $69 from TexaSoft, P.O. Box 1169, Cedar Hill, TX 75104. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIRECTORY 36: FOOD AND NUTRITION Vol.1, No.2 DIETDISK.ZIP 189K March 1993 DIET DISK (DOS) Uploaded 7/23/92 diet1.txt DIET DISK consists of eight, no nonsense modules for first time dieters who need to get engaged, count calories, closely follow their daily progress and read some well written rationale for "sticking with it". There are eight modules within DIET DISK: 1) a diet test program which is a questionaire about personal eating habits designed to foster adoption of a good diet plan; 2) a calculator to track average weight loss over time; 3) a calculator to compute how long to a given goal; 4) a diet foods from which a personalized shopping list may be constructed; 5) another calculator that computes weight lost/week and excess calories burned; 6) a text file about principles of dieting; 7) another text document about reasons to diet; and 8) a very useful meal calorie counter. There is no manual as such with the shareware version of DIET DISK; run m.bat to begin. Lets face it, for most folks diet is die spelled with a 't'. With its upbeat approach to behavior modification DIET DISK just might help get your weight down. Registration is $20 from M.D. Smith, Micro Development Software, 1000 Monte Santo Bvld SE, Huntsville AL 35801. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS UC3G-1.ZIP 211K Vol. 1, No.2 UNICOM (WINDOWS) March 1993 Uploaded 7/15/92 unicom1.txt UNICOM is a rare beast: a stable, easy to use Windows commuications program which only requires a knowledge of DOS path statements in order to be up and running in minutes. Initial configuration could not be simpler requiring little more than the setting of default file paths and modem comm port. UNICOM begins with the default terminal set at ANSI-BBS, file transfer protocol set at Z modem, and with the Hayes compatible initialization string selected. The readme file provides only a few configuration hints but the initial setup is inituitive. Explore all the menus on the title bar and a quick tutorial of UNICOM results. There is a script capability built in for more advanced users that can be used in conjunction with the scheduler, record on dial and record now functions. Registration brings a full manual and is $69 from Data Graphics, PO Box 58517, Renton, WA 98058. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIR 73: VIDEO Vol.1, No.2 AICAP-1.ZIP 300K March 1993 DIR 19: TEXT FILES KAMI.ZIP 47K DIR 68: WINDOWS UTILITIES RATTLES.ZIP 14K turtle1.txt These three archives contain three groups of work by a native American artist, Turtle Heart of the Chippewa nation. The files will present a collection of ceremonial songs in Word for Windows format, a short story about spiritual recovery, a ritual mission of world peace which now involves people of all races (DOS), and an online catalog of unique Indian art for sale from Turtle Heart's gallery (view .bmp graphics with Windows Paint). The implications of this presentation are profound because this presentation illustrates the impact computer technology must have if it is to affect the social and political world at large and help to bridge the gap between the dominant white Western culture and those of more ancient and non-Christian cultures. Via electronic media, Turtle Heart can now reach a non-Indian audience of a size heretofore inaccessible and make many of us reflect on the history of this nation in ways never taught in school. Freeware from Turtle Heart, House of Song Dog, American Indian Art, N 21 Lon Webb Road, Lilliwaup WA 98555. Turtle Heart will gratefully accept donations of money or computer equipment to further Indian literacy and communication. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIR 68: WINDOWS UTILITIES Vol. 1, No. 2 PLUGN12.ZIP 179K March 1993 PLUGIN (WINDOWS) Uploaded 10/9/92 plug1.txt PLUGIN is a marvelous, seamless enhancement for the Program Manager in Windows 3.x. It brings a host of new commands and functions to the anemic Win PM. Particularly useful are new functions in the file menu that deal with group management and application installation. System settings present a wealth of detailed and valuable information. Several applets can be quickly launched from a drop-down Quick Run menu. Configuration can be customized with a variety of icons and cursors and there is a low resource alarm button. PLUGIN does not come with a manual, but the on-line help is very thorough and all you will need. Registration is $20 from Plannet Crafters, 2580 Runic Way, Alpharetta, GA 30202. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIRECTORY 20: WINDOWS GENERAL Vol.1, No.2 WTIME20.ZIP 59K March 1993 WORLD TIME (WINDOWS) Uploaded 7/12/92 wtime1.txt WORLD TIME FOR WINDOWS is an interesting and informative global clock with six display windows. After setting the local time, each of the six digital clocks can be set to any one of more than 150 cities worldwide or customized for locations not in the database. Aside from an attractive decoration for your desktop if you choose to load it with Windows, WORLD TIME is a valuable and useful utility as well. The assistance it can provide to those engaged in international business or travel is obvious, but it could be used as an educational tool for children as well. A quick glance at the clocks will automatically call forth a discussion about geography and time keeping in general. Registration is $16 from Pegasus Development, 11900 Grant Place, St. Louis, MO 63131. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIR 39: SPACE & ASTRONOMY Vol.1, No. 2 SPACEPIC.ZIP 0.7K March 1993 IMDISP (DOS) Uploaded 8/12/92 space1.txt This small file is the tip of an iceberg. It provides information and ordering information for a NASA graphics viewing and editing program that can read PDS format. PDS is a full data graphics format in which all data is retained and is therefore a choice for professional researchers who explore the information embedded in images. The program is called IMDISP and it comes with several sample image files in two formats. IMQ files are decompressed and converted to PDS with a special utility that is provided so that they may be read by IMDISP. IMDISP is run from the DOS command line with a syntax that is not too difficult. The accompanying manual is very thorough and may used as a tutuorial. This package of files and inexpensive access to more than 36,000 NASA images is provided for only $2(!) as a service to the public by Chris Schoaff, 704 E. 9th St., Johnston City, IL 62951. Wow!! SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIRECTORY 67: WINDOWS GAMES Vol.1, No.2 WFW12.ZIP 367K March 1993 WYNDFIELDS (WINDOWS) Uploaded 11/1/92 wyndf1.txt WYNDFIELDS is a relational database for Windows with a user friendly simplicity of design, yet considerable depth. The template for creating a new database and assigning parameters to fields is straightforward and can be utilized without a manual. Double click on a record and it is called in the full screen template (form) for editing. When finished, a second double click returns you to the database. WYNDFIELDS does both quick and conditional searches as specified by user chosen filters. The form for entering record data can be modified by editing field structure. Valuable advanced editing features are available via the clipboard. Capabilities built into WYNDFIELDS include global update, formulas to create calculated fields, editing of both the database template and forms, and data transfer. For those who cut their teeth on DOS, the keyboard operation for WYNDFIELDS is comprehensive. Registration is $99 from WYNDWARE, One Parker Place, Suite 308, Janesville, WI 53545. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIRECTORY 7: EDUCATION Vol.1, No.2 STP250.ZIP 335K March 1993 SAVE THE PLANET (DOS) stp1.txt uploaded 4/7/92 SAVE THE PLANET is an uncommon type of shareware, an in-depth college level tutorial with obvious extensions for a wide age range from high school to any motivated adult. Proceeding from an environmentalist viewpoint, SAVE THE PLANET presents eleven modules that look at the deterioration of atmospheric ozone and global warming. Both text screens, which can be printed, and attractive charts and graphs explore each topic in detail. A second suite of eleven models explore the routes for individual action within the context that Mother Earth has been damaged, yet there is much we can do halt further destruction. SAVE THE PLANET includes a mini-text editor with predesigned template for writing politicians. The suggestions for action cannot be faulted as they emphasize acquiring a good knowledge of the science involved and then working within the political system for enviromentally senstive change. Registration is $24.95 from Save the Planet Software, Box 45, Pitkin, CO 81241. SOFTWARE CREATIONS: SHAREWARE REVIEWS DIRECTORY 9: GAMES Vol.1, No.2 WDTRX1.ZIP 330K March 1993 WORD TRIX (DOS) Uploaded 4/5/92 wdtrix1.txt WORD TRIX is a well designed and engaging educational game which teaches three aspects of spelling to children in the first through third grades. The student can choose to: a) match a first letter to one of three groups of three letters in order to construct a correct word; b) insert pairs of letters correctly between first and last letters; or c) explore the usage of silent 'e'. The lively, interactive process with the computer should guarantee student involvement. The letter(s) to be manipulated drop down the screen and have their direction controlled for insertion by the arrow keys. 'Dropping speed' may be slow or fast and, in combination with the presence or absence of a picture hint which appears to the left of the main spelling screen , allows for three levels of difficulty for the student to choose among. There is no penalty for a wrong answer and the WORD TRIX may be played with no predefined time limit. Screen design is very attractive and WORD TRIX has a terrific 'high energy' feel while accomplishing a serious educational task. Registration is $20 from Tea Time Software, 92 Acorn Circle, Oxford, OH 45056.