Copyright: © Copyright 1994 Ziff-Davis Interactive, All Right
Citation: © Copyright 1994 Ziff-Davis Interactive, All Rights Reserved.


Contents
Issue 15 - October, 1994

© Copyright 1994 Ziff-Davis Interactive, All Rights Reserved.

In This Issue:

 Reviews

This month's feature reviews.

 Author Spotlight: Alan Elliot

Meet the author of Author of KWIKSTAT and PC-CAI

 Timothy Campbell's Shareware News

Columnist Timothy Campbell brings you the latest shareware happenings.

 How to Download from ZiffNet

And how to become a member of this superior on line service

 About ZShare

All about the premier electronic shareware magazine.


How To Download from ZiffNet

If you are a ZiffNet member on CompuServe or PRODIGY, you can easily download all of the programs mentioned in this publication. If you are not already a ZiffNet subscriber, you can find out how to join by selecting "Becoming a ZiffNet Subscriber" below:

Becoming a ZiffNet Subscriber

ZiffNet/CompuServe

All of the programs mentioned in the ZiffNet Monthly Shareware Review are available directly from our Software Center (GO ZNT:SOFTLIB) or in one of the Public Brand Software Forums  (GO PBS). The correct forum is indicated in each program highlight, along with the specific library in which it can be found.

ZiffNet/PRODIGY

All of the programs can also be found on the ZiffNet for PRODIGY service. Simply [JUMP]: ZiffNet and select "Software" from the menu. Then perform a Search by Title for the program you are interested in.


Become a ZiffNet Subscriber

Anyone with a modem and communications software can discover for themselves everything ZiffNet offers. It's easy! CompuServe members can simply type GO ZIFFNET. If you are not currently a CompuServe member, just follow these easy steps:

1. Set your communications software to 7 data bits, even parity, one stop bit. Select a data transfer rate (bits per second) of 1,200, 2,400, 9,600 or 14,400 bps. Have your modem call the local ZiffNet number. (To find your local ZiffNet number: by modem, dial 800-346-3247 and at the User ID prompt type PHONES; by voice, dial 800-635-6225.)

2. Respond to the prompts by entering the information below:

When you connect: Press CTRL+C

Host Name: CIS
User ID: 177000,5555
Password: ZIFF*NET
Agreement Number: SREVIEW

3. Register your name and credit card number for billing.

You will receive your permanent User ID and temporary Password online. Write them down and use them to log on. You will receive your permanent Password within 10 days, as confirmation of your new ZiffNet membership.


Reviews Contents Page

About the Ratings

Data Master

A powerful, responsive database with an intuitive interface

Back Desk

A very popular collection of Windows utilities

MUD

An essential tool for converting file formats

Gator Edit

A sophisticated program for your text-editing needs

Pro Football Edge

It can give you an advantage in your office betting pool

Ultimate Language Tutor

Quick instruction in Spanish, Italian, German, and French

LifeTime for Windows

A PIM  to organize your appointments, to-do lists, and phone numbers

Daily Notes for Windows

Keep a freeform collection of notes, neatly arranged in a virtual binder

WinEvent

A much better way to overcome your periodic memory lapses


Data Master Review

Data Master

Reviewed by Timothy Campbell

With a bold name like Data Master, you might wonder if this DOS database can measure up to the developer's ambition. Although Data Master is visually unremarkable, you'll find that it provides a carefully chosen set of tools to give you enormous computing power and great ease of use.

The program works on dBASE-compatible DBF files. A sample file (CONGRESS.DBF, a listing of Representatives in the U.S. Congress) is provided so you can try out some of Data Master's many features.

The pull-down menus, the mouse-driven interface, and the pop-up windows are very well-done for a DOS application. Even Windows users will feel comfortable here.

The menu bar presents the following options: Files, Indexes, Use, Query Builder, and Services. A convenient quick-access bar at the bottom of the screen offers Help, Browse Data, Drop to DOS, Calculator, Count Records, and a Calendar. (Date formats, incidentally, can be customized, making this product appropriate for international applications.)

Data Master contains the usual database features: You can define a record structure, set up indexes, browse, print reports, and so on. But the thoughtfully added extras make Data Master shine. The "Use" menu, for example, lets you sum and average data, check for duplicates, or perform frequency analysis. You can also print mailing labels and form letters. (Furthermore, the "Services" menu lets you create a mail-merge file for your favorite word processor.)

With the program's statistics-generating facility, you can set up filters for analyzing the contents of your database. When it's used in conjunction with the Query Builder feature, you can acquire a better understanding of what your data means and view the information in many different ways. Time-period analysis is available as well.

Data Master can export WK1 (worksheet) files, so you can work on your data using a spreadsheet program. The worksheet can then be converted back into a database. Other "nice little touches" in Data Master include a comprehensive tool for converting just about any weight and measure in common use. And a pop-up calculator and a calendar are just a keystroke away.

We have very few suggestions for improving Data Master. Windows users would probably wish that the pop-up windows had a "Close Window" box in the upper left corner; as it is, you have to search the window for the Esc button. It would also be helpful if the sample database had more varied fields so that all of Data Master's features could be tested right away.

If you need a powerful, responsive database with an intuitive interface, take a look at Data Master. The program (currently at version 3.1) was written by Robert K. Summers of RKS Software, Inc. of Arlington, Virginia. Registration is $39.

More Info: Data Master

Main Reviews Page


BackDesk Review

BackDesk

Reviewed by Edward G. Hoffman

Program Manager is the primary program launcher in Windows. Here you can setup your programs in any number of specific groups. When you want to launch a particular program, you just go to the appropriate group and click the program you want. This sounds very simple, and works well if you have only a few programs. However, if you have a large variety of programs, you might forget where you put the program you wanted. "Let me see... is it under System Utilities, Windows Utilities, or Accessories?" By the time you find the program, you'll be hard-pressed to remember why you wanted it.

If you want to restore a semblance of order to your Windows operating system, take a look at BackDesk 3.0. It's the newest version of a very popular collection of Windows utilities. The three major parts of this utility are BackMenu, BackDrop, and BigDesk, accompanied by a few smaller utilities to help make Windows operate a bit smoother. Let's look at the major ones in order.

The BackMenu utility is a very powerful, user-configurable program launcher. Virtually any program on your system is a simple mouse click away. When you press the assigned button on your mouse, a pop-up menu appears with a wealth of options. Though you will undoubtedly configure the BackMenu program to launch the applications you use most often, even the default setup is quite useful. The Programs Groups option, for example, gives you instant access to all your Program Manager groups. Then each specific program within the group is available through a series of menus that appear as each option is clicked.

BackMenu is a text-based, rather than icon-based, menu system. This not only allows the program to use less resources and take less screen space, but it makes editing the menus much easier. The menu is a simple text file that you can edit with Notepad or a similar editor. Likewise, the menu system can include any degree of simplicity or complexity you desire, such as nested menus, chained menus from other files, accelerator keys, and an advanced set of commands to position, size, and control the windows of launched programs.

BackDrop is another very useful utility. You can set up a variety of desktop buttons, called Alias buttons, with which you can easily launch files or programs at the touch of a button. You can even drag and drop files from the File Manager onto these buttons to launch both the application and the file. These Alias buttons employ the full power of the BackMenu command syntax. BackDrop comes with a set of tools, including a dustbin for deleting files, an automatic wallpaper changer, and a utility that will allow you the option of converting any Program Manager group into a pop-up menu.

The BigDesk utility is a virtual desktop that will allow you to enlarge your available screen space up to 64 times. An icon on your desktop reveals a map view of your system, so you can see at a glance which desktop you're in and where the other programs are located. Any desktop arrangement can be saved and then reloaded as needed. Selected windows can stay on top or made to stay with the virtual desktop.

If you're looking for a utility to help make Windows more efficient and organized, BackDesk may be just what you need. The program requires Windows 3.1, and the registration fee is 25 British pounds.

More Info: BackDesk

Main Reviews Page


MUD Review

MUD

Reviewed by Thom Foulks

Do you get frustrated when converting ASCII text files between the varying formats of DOS, Unix, and Apple Macintosh? MUD 3.0 solves this problem, and it can also convert IBM mainframe EBCDIC coding to ASCII text.

Additionally, MUD (Mac-Unix-DOS) can handle character-manipulation tasks such as stripping graphics bits from letters, removing blank lines in ASCII files, and converting tabs to blank spaces (or vice versa).

It can perform one other neat function for those who live quick-and-dangerous: It can scan any file, text or binary, and replace any given group of characters with a different group of characters. There is a limit of 128 characters. (The developer, JWH Software, warns that this "search and replace" operation can be a "search and destroy" if used improperly.) MUD's clear documentation shows how the operation can even be performed with binary characters, through use of the numeric keypad.

MUD is menu-driven, displaying its operational choices and prompting for input and output filenames. If the same name is chosen for both, MUD asks for permission to overwrite the input file with the output file. (Again, that's living dangerously.) A small "progress bar" displays the conversion's status, and a counter displays the number of changes made at completion.

Taking files that were created in MacWrite and with a VAX system's database manager, we used MUD to convert them to DOS ASCII. Except for the expected lost of printer-formatting characters in the Mac file, the conversions were clean and swift. Although there are a number of other utilities that perform some of these conversions, MUD contains the most comprehensive set of converters we've seen.

A stripped-down version of MUD, MUDLite, is included in the package. MUDLite allows command-line operation of the same functions, but--like its big sibling--does so on only one file at a time.

Easy to use, with documentation that explains the intricacies of its more arcane functions, MUD is an essential tool for anyone who must deal evenly with the base file formats of computerdom's three major platforms. The $10 registration fee brings you a serialized, personalized copy of the program.

More Info: Mud

Main Reviews Page


GatorEdit Review

GatorEdit

Reviewed by Jack Germain

Although it's not as big as its commercial competitors, GatorEdit has the look and feel of the newest design in word processors like Microsoft Word and WordPerfect. This Windows text editor is loaded with enough features that you won't have much use for your high-powered word processing program.

GatorEdit has customizable button bars, hotkeys, a spelling checker, and a sound effects system. Thanks to the well-written Help file, you can quickly learn how to use all the features. GatorEdit doesn't contain any templates or demo screens, but considering everything else it has, you won't miss them. The drop-down menus are organized logically and show keyboard combinations for quick access. Point to an icon at the top of the screen, and its function appears in the status bar on the bottom of the screen. You can set up the toolbar any way you wish. It's possible to place as many as 30 features on two toolbars.

Some of GatorEdit's most useful features are undo/redo, a file finding and string search system, a text search function, place markers, and file managing options. With its file export option, you can save files in either Macintosh, Unix, or DOS format.

If you like to keep prying eyes off your work, you'll love the ROT13 encode/decode option. This tool encodes selected text or an entire file by shifting every letter to the right 13 characters. So the letter A becomes N, B becomes O, and so forth. Run the ROT13 option again to make your text normal.

GatorEdit has six WAV files that you can associate with 16 tasks. The sounds emit various beeps, thunks, clunks, and clanks. These are in addition to the sound files already in the Windows directory. Setting program and file options is as easy as clicking choices in the Options menu. Choices include automatic backup, tabs, auto indentation, and automatic scroll speed.

Installing GatorEdit is safe and fast: Simply copy its 22 files to a separate directory and run the program. All the files stay where you put them. The program doesn't mix files with your Windows System directory. It also doesn't modify your WIN.INI and SYS.INI files, so uninstalling involves just deleting GatorEdit's directory.

There are a few disappointing items. One, GatorEdit lacks full support for TrueType fonts; the program recognizes five fonts, of which only two are TrueType. Two, you can't underline text, even though you can choose from a palette of 16 text colors and 48 background colors. Three, there is no ruler or menu options to set margins.

All in all, though, GatorEdit is a sophisticated program that will meet your text-editing needs quickly and efficiently. It's well worth the $25 registration fee.

More Info: Gator Edit

Main Reviews Page


Pro Football Edge Review

Pro Football Edge

Reviewed by David Busch

On any given Sunday, a matchup between any two NFL teams is likely to surprise quite a few sports fans who have made a friendly wager on the outcome. Pro Football Edge (PFE) can take some of the sting out of Monday mornings by helping you apply shrewd statistical analysis to your picks. PFE weighs many of the factors that affect gridiron competition. During the 1993 season, it correctly predicted how teams would perform against the point spread 60 percent of the time.

You're likely to do better than that, since PFE can show you when to steer clear of iffy contests while highlighting the sure bets. All you need are this program and about 30 minutes a week to type in 11 statistics for each of the previous week's games. Or you can register for $39.95 and gain the right to download stats from PFE's BBS for a small additional fee ($5.00 per week or $30.00 for the entire season).

Pro Football Edge is a statistical database and handicapping program for NFL regular season and playoff games with some remarkably sophisticated features. For example, do the oddsmakers consistently short-change a given team after a big win--failing to take their performance into account in the next week's point spread? If so, you can take advantage of an inflated or deflated spread to score a big win for yourself.

You can gauge how well a team has been doing in recent weeks by examining key game statistics, such as net yards rushing and passing, turnovers, penalty yards, and more. Better yet, how does a team perform before, during and after a significant event, such as a big win? Can you expect the team to build momentum, or become complacent? How have two teams matched up historically? Will intra-divisional rivalries affect the outcome?

One of the most powerful features of PFE is its Consensus Pick process, which analyzes sets of games nine different ways, including comparative schedule strengths, results against common opponents, historical matchups, and recent performance. You may override any of these analyses if you have special information (e.g., injury reports) or simply a gut feeling about a particular game.

Like a team of crack sports experts, the Consensus Pick module may come up with mixed results for a few games, but it does point to a few clear winners worthy of betting action. Used wisely, PFE can easily best an amateur picker who isn't armed with the same wealth of facts and figures.

The program includes 11 years of NFL game statistics (although only the past several years' worth are likely to be relevant) and a schedule for the entire 1994 season. While no betting system can pick a winner every time, Pro Football Edge's 60 percent average can give you an important advantage in your office betting pool and other friendly wagers.

More Info: Pro Football Edge

Main Reviews Page


Ultimate Language Tutor Review

Ultimate Language Tutor

Reviewed by Ron Bel Bruno

Tired of the same old "Quelle heure est-il?" Had it with "Que pasa?" Ready to move onto the big leagues of language instruction? Try the Ultimate Language Tutor, a series of self-tests in four languages. You'll feel like a world traveler without ever leaving your desk.

The program touts quick instruction in Spanish, Italian, German, and French. Each language features a routine of four self-tests. These include the Noun, Verb Conjugation, Phrase, and Miscellaneous Vocabulary modules. You can configure the software to format the tests in either multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank format.

Each test provides a fairly rigorous roster of questions. The vocabulary modules test you on over 100 words, though if you're looking to become fluent, you might want to look under "Berlitz" in your local yellow pages.

Delving into familiar territory first established back in secondary school, we put the Ultimate Language Tutor through its paces with the multiple-choice French tests. The scores we received on the vocabulary tests were noticeably higher than those we saw back in 10th grade. However, this has more to do with the software's setup than with long-term memory. The program's entries tend to focus on particular themes, which inadvertently give you clues to the words' meanings. For example, "mere" (mother) follows "pere" (father), and "blanche" (white) appears near "noir" (black). Once you catch on to this sequencing, the test is not as intriguing.

The software poses a greater challenge with its verb-conjugation testing. In this exercise, you must type in--not check off--the answers. This area serves an additional purpose, since the right answers are inserted once you're done with the particular entry. With this, the module can also serve as a learning device for your "verb tables," if you will.

In all the modules, incorrect answers get corralled within a single list at the end of the exam. You can try these entries again, in either a timed drill or untimed format, until you get it right.

The program can stand some improvement in other particular areas. If you want to test your phrase knowledge, the software generates an on-screen list of phrases. However, much like the vocabulary exam, you'll start to see the context pretty soon. Subsequent versions should include a more challenging roster, in which words and phrases that are close in meaning are used for the multiple-choice selections.

There is a way around this, though. Upon registration ($20), you get the library builder, which is crucial to keeping this program functional and enticing. With the library, you have "carte blanche" to create new dictionaries.

System requirements include a 386 or higher system, Windows 3.x, a mouse or trackball, and the Visual Basic 3.0 runtime module, VBRUN300.DLL; this file is becoming increasingly necessary for Windows shareware, so it might just be worth the trip to the software library to fetch it.

Even if you've never studied language before, you'll be captivated by the Ultimate Language Tutor's low learning curve and breadth of knowledge.

More Info: Ultimate Language Tutor

Main Reviews Page


LifeTime for Windows Review

LifeTime for Windows

Reviewed by Timothy Campbell

LifeTime for Windows is an personal information manager (PIM) that tracks what you have done, what you are doing now, and what you still need to do. You can use it to organize your appointments, to-do lists, and phone numbers.

As soon as you first start LifeTime, it presents you with a brief animated tutorial, which helps you to learn the basics quickly. During the explanations, the tutorial takes over your mouse cursor to show you precisely what to do. This technique very effectively demonstrates LifeTimes strong, mouse-oriented interface. Appointments are represented as "objects," so you can move them around the schedule calendar, resize them, and place notes inside them, unlike many less powerful PIMs, which represent appointments as simple notations. Of course, a lot of our tasks are not "appointments" as such--they don't have to be done at a specific time. Therefore, LifeTime maintains a "to-do" list, and you can assign a priority and a due date to any item on that list.
Since you are likely to keep the PIM on your Windows desktop at all times, LifeTime provides a variety of views to reduce screen clutter. One of the views shows only the appointments and to-do lists, while hiding the calendar, the clock, and a few less important items. The smallest view features just the monthly calendar, but you can click on a given day to pop up the associated appointment schedule. Also included is a phone-number database with an autodialer that supports long-distance access codes and caller cards.

Clearly, the programmer has spent a lot of time working on the user interface--everything works in a logical way. For example, if you click on the name of the month on the calendar, the display shrinks down to the calendar view. If you click on one of the days on the calendar, the schedule for that day pops up. A convenient button snaps you back to "today" after you have been exploring the appointments for other days. While many products claim to have an "intuitive" interface, LifeTime truly has achieved that goal. The attention to detail even goes so far as to provide a "Daylight Savings Time" button so you can "spring forward" or "fall back" at the appropriate time.

Detailed and well-indexed, LifeTime's context-sensitive help is excellent. However, you may have a little trouble reading or printing LifeTime's installation documentation, because it is saved in paragraph form (i.e., the "new line" characters appear only at the end of each paragraph, instead of every 80 characters or so). Most text viewers and editors have "line-length" and "word-wrap" features that will let you format the lines to suit you. In any case, installation is quite easy.

To install LifeTime, unzip the archive file to a temporary directory, then run the Setup program. Youll need the Visual Basic 3.0 runtime module VBRUN300.DLL, which can be downloaded from most shareware libraries. The module should be placed in your Windows system directory (usually named \WINDOWS\SYSTEM).

LifeTime for Windows 1.00 was written by Amber Timbre Software of East Hartford, Connecticut. Upon registering the program ($29.95 plus $5 shipping and handling), you receive a User's Guide plus a database-management utility and a report writer.

More Info: LifeTime for Windows

Main Reviews Page


Daily Notes for Windows

Reviewed by David Busch

Yellow stick-on notes may be a great idea when you have a bulletin board (the cork kind) available, but computerized pop-up notes can quickly clutter up your screen. Daily Notes for Windows lets you keep a freeform collection of notes where they belong--neatly arranged in a virtual binder. Easy enough to use that it doesn't include--or require--a manual, Daily Notes can handle most of your casual note-taking efficiently.

If you already own a database program, personal information manager (PIM), or even another notes organizer, you'll still prize Daily Notes for its flexibility. It makes a perfect tool for compiling ad hoc collections of information, and it's ideal for home-office users.

The program's main window takes the form of two side-by-side pages, with generous fields already defined for your jottings. The Table of Contents pages show the dates and subject fields for 32 different entries. You can browse through these listings by clicking on PgUp, PgDn, First, and Last buttons. The Table of Contents can be sorted by date or subject, so you can quickly find the page you're looking for.

To jump directly to that page, click on its entry in the table. If you're searching for specific information, you can search for a string of text in all fields, or just the date or subject fields, as required. Again, just click on the Search button to start your quest.

If you want to create a new page of notes, click on the New Note button. Each note can be entered in a window that's 34 characters wide, with an unlimited length. Only 23 lines of a note are displayed at one time; use the scroll bar to view the rest of an entry. You also provide a title or subject for notes, and you can enter the date directly or "send" it to the date field from a pop-up calendar. Navigation buttons similar to those provided in the Table of Contents can zip you around in your notebook. Additional buttons let you print individual pages, save a notebook to disk, or load a new notebook.

This program is so intuitive that you won't even find a conventional Windows Help file. Just point to any area of its screen, including text fields and buttons (there are no menus at all!), and click the right mouse button. A small dialog box pops up and explains the selected component's functions.

You can create separate notebooks for each topic you want to track, so Daily Notes can be used flexibly as a diary, an expense notebook for tax-deductible expenditures, or a means to document individual projects, hobbies, or other activities. This program requires the Borland custom control module, BWCC.DLL, which is included in the archived package. Registration is just $10, a bargain indeed for such an easy note-taking tool.

More Info: Daily Notes for Windows

Main Reviews Page


WinEvent Review

WinEvent

Reviewed by Edward G. Hoffman

Anyone who has ever forgotten about a meeting, overlooked a deadline, or not remembered to backup their computer understands the frustration of the human memory. One commonly used solution has been to stick those little yellow notes all over your computer or monitor. Aside from the fact that this looks terrible, these notes do precious little unless you remember to look at them. A much better way to overcome your periodic memory lapses is to use WinEvent 1.24.

With WinEvent, you can quickly and easily set up all the important tasks or activities you might otherwise overlook. The program allows you the option of setting up reminders to yourself or  scheduling other programs to start and run unattended.

The reminder feature is especially useful for both recurring and one-time-only events. So, if you have a staff meeting each Monday at 10 a.m., simply add this to the list of scheduled events. A message window will pop up on your screen to remind you of the meeting. Likewise, if you have an appointment, simply add its date and time to the events list. At the prescribed time, the message window appears to jog your memory.

All scheduled events appear in a variety of time sequences. The available choices are one-time, hourly, daily, weekdays, weekends, weekly, and monthly. In scheduling an event, you first name the reminder, such as Staff Meeting. This name appears in the main program window along with the type of reminder and its specific date and time. The message thats actually shown in the window can also be customized to suit your requirements. This message can be up to three lines of 26 characters. For instance, your reminder for the Staff Meeting could read, Staff Meeting at 10:00AM -- Take Weekly Report.

The WinEvent program is also very useful for running other programs when you're not around. Sending faxes, logging on to long-distance BBS systems to get your mail, and other activities are operations you might wish to schedule during the late-evening hours when rates are lower. Just add the command-line entries, directory information, and the starting date and time to WinEvent. At the selected date and time, your chosen program will run automatically.

Backing up your system is another operation that is usually best accomplished during the late evening. To do this, simply add this entry to WinEvent. Of course, you'll need to set up the backup software to run in an unattended mode. The program also has a Test button that will allow you to check to make sure each event is properly set up.

The WinEvent program can even be set to exit, restart, or reboot your computer. The Exit option exits Windows and returns to DOS; the Restart option will exit and restart Windows; and the Reboot option exits Windows and reboots your computer.

WinEvent is a great tool to help you keep track of important events and tasks. It's available from GS Solutions, and requires Windows 3.1 and VBRUN300.DLL, the Visual Basic 3.0 runtime file. The registration fee is $29.

More Info: WinEvent

Main Reviews Page


Timothy Campbell's Shareware News

This Month in Shareware

by Timothy Campbell

Timothy Campbell has been following the shareware industry for several years. A shareware author himself, Tim has published several programs, and he distributes a quarterly publication entitled Who's Who in Shareware.

Product Releases and News

   Telix Developers Plan for "Shareware Registration, Inc."

DeltaComm Development, the makers of the popular Telix communications package, is preparing a BBS door program that will enable well-established BBSs to accept orders for registered versions of shareware. Each sysop will be a sales representative for DeltaComm and will receive a commission on each sale. The plan works as follows:

The door program, which is provided free of charge to qualified sysops, takes credit card orders, which are automatically transmitted to DeltaComm's toll-free line. The customer receives the software directly from DeltaComm, and the sysop receives a monthly cheque based on sales.

DeltaComm has incorporated the subsidiary Shareware Registration Inc., to handle this project. According to Jeff Woods of DeltaComm, "50,000 BBSs make up a powerful yet untapped sales force!"

   Contact Information

   Review:  The Proper Care and Feeding of Your News Media

"I mailed out 500 press releases and didn't get any coverage at all!" Such is the lament of countless shareware authors. Journalist J.W. Olsen responded to the grumbling by writing a book that explains exactly how to prepare a proper media campaign.

"The Proper Care and Feeding of Your News Media" is a three-ring binder containing approximately 80 pages of information, and a large mailing list on diskette. The writing style is breezy and familiar, but does not gloss over the difficulty of getting your product noticed.

The book starts with an overview of "The Editorial World." It reminds you that the reviewer who receives your press kit is only human, so you must take his or her situation into account. For example, if your press kit is unclear, or requires more than a little effort, a busy reviewer will be forced to file it away indefinitely.

Next, the book tells you how to plan your overall campaign: how much to spend, and where to spend it. This is followed by a description of "The Media Kit." Mr. Olsen tells us that a media kit is NOT simply a press release and a diskette crammed into a business envelope, but must contain certain key elements. Some shareware authors omit these items in an effort to save money. Some authors don't know about them in the first place. Mr. Olsen also stresses the importance of presenting your information in a standard way, warning that deviations from the expected format can make you look like an amateur.

Recognizing that shareware authors do not have large advertising budgets, Mr. Olsen helps you work out your priorities -- telling you which items can be safely left out of the press kit. The book also contains a glossary of media terms so you can speak to the press in their own language.

The book constantly emphasizes the sobering fact that even minor mistakes can doom a media campaign. This reporter consulted the book during his most recent campaign and was stunned to discover just how many mistakes he had made in the past.

"The Proper Care and Feeding of Your Media" is an insider's view. This makes it well worth the $34.50 price ($40.00 outside U.S. or Canada).

   Contact Information

   MVP Opens Up Its Distribution Network

Shareware authors are always looking for new ways to get their programs into the hands of new users. MVP Software addressed this distribution challenge by building up a network of about 1,000 BBSs in eight countries. Recently, MVP opened up the network to other companies.

MVP was preparing to update its network with updates and new releases. However, because of the volume of data, it decided to distribute the software on CD-ROM. According to Dave Snyder of MVP, "It's cheaper to make a CD than to copy 1,000 copies of 4 different disks."

Still, there was a lot of room left over on the CD-ROM, so MVP allowed other authors to participate in the mailing. "It doesn't cost me any more to put their stuff on the CD, except for some time spent in administration," said Mr. Snyder. "It seems like a win-win-win situation." The sysops benefit because they get additional shareware. MVP benefits because some of the cost of the mailing is picked up by the participating authors. The authors benefit because they get their shareware on 1,000 BBSs.

Mr. Snyder points out that since most of the BBSs in the MVP network are not ASP members, the MVP CD-ROM nicely complements the ASP's CD-ROM distribution network.

Authors were charged $100 (U.S. dollars) to include any number of programs on the first MVP CD-ROM, which is already in production. If it proves practical, MVP is considering offering this service again.

   Contact Information

   Update:  Rating Games in the U.S.A.

The alliance between the Software Publishers Association (SPA) and the major shareware trade associations (ASP, STAR, ESC) has been strengthened by the incorporation of the Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC).

As reported in earlier issues of ZShare, the alliance was formed to create a method to rate the content of computer games so that parents could make an informed decision when buying for their children.

RSAC was incorporated by Kenneth Wasch of the SPA, Jim Green of Shareware Testing Laboratories, and Karen Crowther of Redwood Games. The latter two are very active in the shareware scene and, in the past few months, have been bastions of strength as shareware companies were threatened by the encroachment of Big Business and Big Government.

The RSAC Board of Directors are:

 Bob Roden (LucasArts)

 Ken Wasch (SPA)

 Rudy Ramsey (Rams' Island Software -- a shareware company)

 Don Roberts (Stanford)

 Dr. Samuel Sherry (Harvard Medical School)

On September 13, 1994, the Board of Directors approved the basic approach to game content labeling, including basic methodology, questionnaires, descriptive phrases, and icons. RSAC believes it should be possible to start rating games fairly soon.

The current mechanism for determining ratings is a Windows questionnaire program developed by Jim Hassert of SPA. RSAC is working on supporting other platforms.

   Contact Information

Columnist Seeks Feedback

Do you find "This Month In Shareware" informative? Do you have any suggestions? If you have any questions, comments or important news, please send E-mail to Timothy Campbell at 72241,2052. All letters will be answered.

   The Software Collector

Fifteen-year old Chris Bumgardner of CB Software wanted a program to keep track of all the software he was buying. Though most of his collection consists of games, he has produced a program that is also valuable to administrators who need to keep tabs on the software used in their company. TSC can keep track of an unlimited number of programs, and can sort or search on any field.

Mr. Bumgardner is just starting out in shareware and is looking forward to seeing his programming efforts bear fruit. He enthusiastically states that those who register "will get the WAY COOL version" (meaning that it doesn't have the "Please Register" screen), plus a free T-shirt.

With refreshing honesty rarely seen in the software industry, he adds that those who register will also receive "a printed manual describing all the hard-to-use features."

   Program Information

   Contact Information

   Mice Moves

With Mice Moves, Soleau Software continues its tradition of producing non-violent, logic-based games. The game's cute, colorful pictures might lead you to believe that this is just a game for the kids. But beware! This is a strategy game that will perplex even a dedicated chess player.

There are two teams of mice on the playing field, plus a few immovable blocks. Your team is at the bottom of the screen, while the competing team is at the top. Every turn, each player (human or computer) sends out a "referee," who nudges a mouse to take up a new position. The closer your mouse gets to the opposing side before running into an obstacle (i.e., a block or another mouse), the higher its value. Add up the scores for all the mice on your team to get your current score.

It sounds so easy, but almost every time you move one of your mice, you leave an opening for your opponent. This problem is compounded by the temptation to move an unobstructed mouse right off the end of the board, which gives you a nice bonus score, but removes him from play -- meaning he can no longer block other mice.

A game like this might attract more attention in the press if it had fancier pictures instead of its fairly basic graphics. One can hope, though, that its originality will be applauded, and that other reviewers will appreciate the artistry of creating a game that is so simple, yet so challenging.

   Program Information

   Contact Information


Author Spotlight
Alan Elliot

Author of KWIKSTAT and PC-CAI

Name

Alan C. Elliott

Computer System

My primary computer is a Dell 486P/50 with 12MB of RAM, Sound Blaster, a US Robotics Sportster fax/modem, and an HP LaserJet III.

Favorite Shareware Program (Excluding Own)

NeoPaint

Programming Hours

7 to 11 p.m. most nights. Since I am addicted to programming, I keep the computer turned off on Sunday to spend time with my family.

Favorite Vacation Spot

Yellowstone National Park

Last Non-Computer Book Read

Texas by James Michner

Other Hobbies/Interests

Collector of coins and old soda bottles

Favorite Pizza Topping

Pepperoni and green pepper

Predicted Release Date of Microsofts Windows 95

April 1, 1995

Favorite Movie of All Time

Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Last Place on Earth Youd Find Me

Hang-gliding

Strangest Statistic Ever Heard

It was reported in the newspaper that half of the teachers scored below the median in a new competency test.

I was born and raised in Dallas, and currently live there with my wife, Annette, and two children. My first introduction to computing was when I was student teaching at a high school that had a 110-baud teletype hookup to a mainframe. In graduate school, my statistics curriculum required me to use computers, and I learned to program in FORTRAN and BASIC (while I also wasted many, many hours playing Adventure). I received a master's degree in statistics in 1976 from SMU.

In 1981, a friend and I began a part-time software company called TexaSoft, and I began programming on a Tandy Model II. When the IBM PC came out, we pooled all of our money and bought an IBM PC with 64K and two single-sided disk drives. Although we had intended to write a statistical analysis program, we got side-tracked into writing a word processor to do documentation, since there were no decent word processors available. Some people saw and liked our word processor, so we incorporated, gathered investors, and were fairly successful selling it -- we even developed Hebrew and Russian versions. However, we knew very little about marketing, and when large companies such as WordStar came out with IBM versions, we were blown out of the water. In 1984, we liquidated TexaSoft and I became the sole owner. I continued to work on the statistical program. In 1986, I began marketing KWIKSTAT as shareware. To help the rebirth of TexaSoft, I went back to graduate school and earned an MBA in 1991 from UT Arlington.

KWIKSTAT was followed by several other programs, including PC-CAI (Computer Assisted Instruction), Information Please (freeform database), and several educational programs. The KWIKSTAT data-analysis program won the 1992 Shareware Industry Award for best mathematical or engineering program. KWIKSTAT has now been registered by over 10,000 users in more than 60 countries. The current version of KWIKSTAT is 3.38. The major revision, KWIKSTAT 4, will be released in November.

Writing shareware has been only one of the areas where I have been busy. I am the Assistant Director of Academic Computing at UT Southwestern Medical School, where I also teach computing courses. I have authored or co-authored over a dozen books on computing, business, and children's topics including USING NORTON UTILITIES (5, 6 and 7) (Que), which has been translated into Portuguese and Polish, USING NORTON DESKTOP 3 FOR WINDOWS (Que), A DAILY DOSE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM (Saybrook), USING PROCOMM PLUS FOR WINDOWS (Que), and INTRODUCTION TO MICROCOMPUTERS WITH APPLICATIONS (West). I have also written articles for periodicals including PC Week, Collegiate Microcomputer Journal, and The American Statistician. To balance out high-tech and high-touch, I'm now thinking about becoming an emu rancher.

More Info: KWIKSTAT and PC-CAI


About ZShare
ZiffNet Monthly Shareware Review (ZShare)

The ZiffNet Monthly Shareware Review is a publication of Ziff-Davis Interactive.

© Copyright 1993,94 Ziff-Davis Interactive, All Rights Reserved.

Editor: Scott Arpajian (ZiffNet/CIS ID: 72241,1517  ZiffNet/PRODIGY: VMDH31A)
ZDI Software Library Manager: Preston Gralla

Contributing Editors: Timothy Campbell, Susan Borden, David D. Busch

Staff Reviewers: Dave Burton, Jim Edwards, Marcia Meier, Joyce Mosier, Brad Thompson

Help File Production: Bob Gollihur (CIS ID: 71334,2065)


About the Ratings

All of the shareware ZiffNet offers is provided through the Ziff-Davis Interactive Software Library. ZDI has the largest dedicated staff of professional reviewers in the industry, and each program is put through rigorous testing before it becomes available on-line.

Part of the review process is the assignment of a program rating. This rating is measured in stars, on a scale from 1 to 4. In addition, the best programs for a particular computer task are assigned a Trophy rating (5 stars).


Telix Developers
CONTACT INFORMATION:

Name: 	Zack O. Jones

Company:	DeltaComm Development, Inc.

CompuServe: 	71035,2167

Voice:       	800-859-8000

Fax:	919-460-4531

Internet:	info@delta.com

Mail:	507 Airport Blvd., Suite 1099, Morrisville, NC, USA 27560

Company:	Shareware Registration, Inc.

Voice:	800-948-2808

Mail:	P.O. Box 1554, Cary, NC, USA 27512-1554


Proper Care
CONTACT INFORMATION:

Author:	J.W. Olsen (Author)

CompuServe:	72241,2207

Fax:	312-939-3300

Mail:	1130 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1816, Chicago, IL, USA 60605

Publisher:	Next Century Publishing

CompuServe:	72727,616

Voice/Fax:	508-685-6398

Mail:	P.O. Box 9, North Andover, MA, USA 01845-0009


MVP Popup
CONTACT INFORMATION:

Name:	David C. Snyder

Company:	MVP Software

CompuServe:	70363,15

Voice/Fax:	616-245-8376

Mail:	1035 Dallas SE, Grand Rapids, MI, USA 49507


Rating Games Popup
CONTACT INFORMATION:

Name:	H. Rudy Ramsey

Company:	Rams' Island Software

CompuServe:	76244,324

Voice:	303-841-2848

BBS:	303-841-6269

Mail:	7644 E. Lakecliff Way, Parker, CO, USA 80134-5904

FidoNet:	1:104/333

RIME:	RAMSISLE

Name:	Karen Crowther

Company:	Redwood Games

CompuServe:	71501,3553

Voice:	206-726-7906

Fax:	206-726-0705

Mail:	P.O. Box 12052, Seattle WA, USA 98122

Name:	Jim Green

Company:	Shareware Testing Laboratories

CompuServe:	74746,3420

Voice:	317-352-2000

Fax:	317-322-2010

Mail:	P.O. Box 11499, Indianapolis, IN, USA 46201-0499


Software Collector Contact PU
CONTACT INFORMATION:

Name:	Chris Bumgardner

CompuServe:	73061,2467


Software Collector File Info PU
FILE INFORMATION:

File Name:	TSWC.ZIP

Location:	PBSAPPS Library 1

Requires:	Mouse recommended


Mice Move Prog Info PU
FILE INFORMATION:

File Name:	MICEMO.ZIP

Location:	PBSArcade, Library 6

Requires:	Mouse recommended


MiceMove Contact PU
CONTACT INFORMATION:

Name:	William Soleau

Company:	Soleau Software

Voice:	212-721-2361

Fax:	212-873-4994

Mail:	163 Amsterdam Avenue, Suite 213, New York, NY 10023


Data Master PU
Data Master

Data Master is a complete database manager that allows you to browse, modify, sort, query or create a DBF file or spreadsheet. You can create indices, check for duplicates and run frequency analysis reports. Statistics are easily generated. Mailing labels and form letters can be generated from database files. You can convert 1-2-3 files to dBase and vice versa. Also included are a weights and measures table, a calculator and a calendar. Presented in a menu interface, this program makes the handling of data files easier than if you used the programs in which the files were originally created. There is no limit to the number of records that can be handled. Data Master includes mouse support and a sample DBF file. v. 3.1, Shareware, $39.00, 391,919 bytes

CIS:	DM.ZIP, PBS Applications, Library 3 (DOS)

Prodigy:	Data Master


Back Desk PU
Back Desk

BackDesk is an excellent suite of utilities for enhancing Windows. BackMenu is a pop-up, user-defined menu system that replaces Program Manager. It can be configured to list specific items and lists the existing program groups, plus it has a task list, runs programs, and exits or restarts Windows. BigDesk lets you create separate desktops so you can group related programs together. The handy BackDrop tool allows you to create aliases of programs, dragging them from any Windows program that is a drag-and-drop source and putting them on your desktop. Executables can then be run, and other files can call up the applications they're associated with. It's a great way to keep frequently used files always accessible. Other utilities included are one that changes your wallpaper every few minutes, one that lets you stack multiple files for a single drop on a target application, a trash can, and a utility for running Windows programs from a DOS window. BackDesk comes with good documentation and on-line help. Although these aren't the easiest programs to use, they are well worth the effort. v. 3.0, Shareware, 25 British Pounds, 510,027 bytes.

CIS:	BAKDSK.ZIP, PBS Utilities, Library 4 (Windows)

Prodigy:	BackDesk


MUD PU
MUD

MUD is a handy utility that finds and replaces or substitutes single or combinations of <CR> and <LF> characters (e.g., MUD converts a Mac text file's <CR> characters into <CR><LF> pairs for DOS). If you import or export text files to or from Unix or Macintosh systems, you'll find MUD is worth its weight in gold. Other features strip graphic characters' eighth bits, convert tabs to and from spaces, strip blank lines from DOS files, convert ASCII code to and from EBCDIC, and more. The package includes command-line and menu versions. Online help, a fair price, and good user notes make MUD a keeper. v. 3.0, Shareware, $10.00, 37,638 bytes.

CIS:	MUD.ZIP, PBS Utilities, Library 3 (DOS)

Prodigy:	MUD


Gator Edit PU
Gator Edit

Gator Edit is a fully featured, powerful text editor. Up to 100 files may be loaded for a total of 16 megabytes, depending on your available memory. An integrated file finder searches for filenames and expressions within, and can load selections from the list of files found. Additional features include a spell checker, ROT13 encoding/unencoding, and the ability to append selected text to the existing clipboard contents. There are convenient keyboard shortcuts for virtually every action.Two handy, separately configurable toolbars can be customized to your preference. Gator Edit's unique Auto Sync scroll feature simultaneously scrolls all the files on screen at the same rate for side by side comparisons. Click the right mouse button to display a long list of menu options. You can import and export Unix, Mac, and DOS text. Gator Edit has a very well-designed interface and is ideal for convenient and accurate text editing. Users of the author's off-line mail reader, CMPQWK, will find integrated features to enhance the use of that product as well. A discounted registration fee is available for registered owners of other DOS or Windows editors and CMPQWK. v. 1.0, Shareware, $25.00, 505,355 bytes.

CIS:	GATOR.ZIP, PBS Applications, Library 7 (WP & Text Editors)

Prodigy:	GatorEdit


Pro Football PU
Pro Football Edge!

Pro Football Edge is a statistical database and handicapping program for NFL regular-season and playoff games. PFE comes with 11 years of NFL game statistics and the schedule for the 1994 season. Using the newspaper box scores or the author's BBS, you simply enter the point spreads for the upcoming week and calculate the possible outcome of that week's games. Presented with a menu interface, the program offers a guided tour to get you started and online help where you need it. Up to nine users can use this program for their own picks and print out the results. v. 3.0, Shareware, $39.95, 298,752 bytes.

CIS:	PFEDGE.ZIP, PBS Home, Library 10 (Sports & Fitness)

Prodigy:	Pro Football Edge!


Ultimate Lang PU
Ultimate Language Tutor

Ultimate Language Tutor is a thorough vocabulary and testing system for students of French, German, Spanish or Italian. The automated flashcard system teaches new words, verb conjugations and phrases. Tests can be multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, language to English or English to language. The program reviews missed words or phrases automatically and saves test scores to chart progress. v. 2.0, Shareware, $20.00, 81,600 bytes

CIS:	4LANGS.ZIP PBS Home, Library 4 (Education)

Prodigy:	Ultimate Language Tutor


Life PU
LifeTime for Windows

LifeTime for Windows is a practical, object-oriented personal information manager (PIM) with many features, yet it's amazingly easy to use. Create To Do lists that can be viewed full screen or by individual item. Keep daily appointment schedules using the drag-and-drop feature to mark the time and length of events, priorities, and due dates. Set alarms with snooze control. Maintain an individual address and phone book. Display a monthly calendar with the number of days left in the year, and scroll forward and backward by week, month or year. Perform selective or global searches. Print calendars and schedules by day or block of days, and also print To Do and phone lists. LifeTime's color and font prompts, autoscroll, and multiple styles are perks not usually found in a PIM. v. 1.00, Shareware, $29.95, 237,654 bytes.

CIS:	LIFTIM.ZIP, PBS Utilities, Library 6 (Desktop Tools)

Prodigy:	LifeTime for Windows


Daily Notes PU
Daily Notes for Windows

If you write a lot of notes on a daily basis and need to be able to refer to them quickly, then you should consider using Daily Notes for Windows. The program is a cross between a calendar and a journal, allowing you to sort by subject or date. The table of contents lets you view your notes by subject, and a pop-up calendar allows you to keep track of special dates. The journal mode accepts unlimited text input. You can search all fields by date or subject and print all or selected note entries. You can format text to a regular notebook size. This program is attractive and easy to use, but it's too basic to be considered a PIM. v. 1.0, Shareware, $10.00, 152,058 bytes.

CIS:	DAILY.ZIP, PBS Utilities, Library 6 (Desktop Tools)

Prodigy:	Daily Notes for Windows


WinEvent PU
WinEvent

WinEvent is a very handy utility that runs programs at designated times. Setup is uncomplicated - enter information about the program to run and when to run it. You can also test the event to make sure everything is correct. The program will run events once, every hour, daily, only on weekdays or weekends, weekly, or monthly. In addition, you can use the program to display messages - great for reminding you of appointments or things to do. You can even set up a countdown prior to the event that lets you know how soon it will take place and gives you the option of running the event immediately, or having it wait an extra five minutes before it executes. Not only does WinEvent run Windows programs, but it will also run DOS programs, restart or exit Windows, or even reboot your system. It's a painless system for setting up one or more programs to run automatically. v. 1.24, Shareware, $29.00, 86,702 bytes.

CIS:	WEVNT.ZIP, PBS Utilities, Library 4 (Windows)

Prodigy:	WinEvent


Alan Elliot Program Popup
KWIKSTAT

A full-featured statistical analysis program, KWIKSTAT includes extensive on-line help, several tutorials and a beginners' guide to analytical method selection. Available analytical modes include ANOVA, Student's T-test, chi-square and single and  multiple regression. KWIKSTAT imports and exports data in comma-delimited, dBASE, ASCII and 1-2-3 formats and plots results on Epson or LaserJet compatible printers. KWIKSTAT's short learning curve will help beginners. 680,957 bytes

CIS:	KWKST.ZIP, PBS Professional, Library 5 (Engineering/Math)

Prodigy:	KWIKSTAT

PC-CAI

PC-CAI gives you an easy-to-use system for developing interactive courseware. You can develop question and answer lessons for most subjects using the templates provided. In addition, you can track responses, save detailed test information, and display a grade at the end. PC-CAI supports PCX graphics and Sound Blaster cards. The programmed sessions can be distributed via a royalty-free runtime module. 820,480 bytes

CIS:	PC-CAI.ZIP, PBS Home, Library 4 (Education)

Prodigy:	PC-CAI