Shareware Breakthrough: Utilities & Productivity/SharewearBreakthroughUtil_ProdCol.cdr/readme.txt

Text File | 1993-07-25 | 6KB | 103 lines

Shareware Breakthrough!

Welcome to the Shareware Breakthrough CD-ROM! This disk contains
hundreds of the latest shareware and public domain programs and files.
This disc was designed for computers running Microsoft Windows 3.1 or
later.How do I get started?The first thing you need to do is to
install the Browser software for this CD-ROM. First launch Windows, and
then choose Run from the File menu. At the command line type:

D:\SETUP <ret>

Where D is your CD-ROM drive. (Note that often many machines set their
CD-ROM drive to E instead of D.) Once the setup program has run you will
now be able to launch the Browser software directly from a Windows icon.

NOTE:  There are a number of programs on this disc that were written in
Microsoft's Visual Basic language (including the browser).  These
programs require either VBRUN100.DLL or VBRUN200.DLL to run properly.
These files were not initially installed, but they can be found on the
CD-ROM in the \LIB subdirectory.  Using file manager, these files can be
copied into the \WINDOWS subdirectory on your hard disk drive to ensure
that these programs will run.

NOTE:  This browser contains animation and sound that requires a Sound
Blaster compatible card.  There is a separate version of the browser
in the root directory with no sound or animation.  To set up this version,
run the regular browser.  After installation, choose the Shareware
Breakthrough icon, choose Properties from the File menu, and replace
the "SHARE.EXE" filename with "NOSOUND.EXE."  This will run the
version with no sound or animation.

How do I use this CD-ROM?

There are many ways to use the programs and files on this disc. Many
programs and files can be used directly from the CD-ROM, but some
need to be copied to your hard drive first. This is because many
programs need to write temporary or permanent files to the drive that
they reside on. An example of this would be a game that records the high
score. If the game is still on the CD-ROM it would not be able to write
a file on the CD-ROM because these discs are read-only.
You would first have to copy the game to your hard drive and then use
it from there. Another reason you may want to copy a program or file
to your hard drive is speed. Programs and files will open a lot faster
from a hard drive then from CD-ROM because hard drives are much faster
than CD-ROM drives. The other speed advantage is that you don't have to
wait while you mount the CD-ROM, you can just launch the program or file
from your hard drive. Probably the best way to use the programs on this
CD-ROM is by using the browser program on this disc. The browser program
is a catalog of all the files on this disc. It allows you to view
information on each item including shareware info and program description.
The browser will also let you launch many programs, and even copy your
favorites to your hard drive.What is Shareware?Many of the programs on this CD-ROM are designated as
shareware programs. This means that the original author of a specific
program is asking a reasonable shareware fee for using his program. The
way shareware works is "try before you buy". If you try a program from
this CD-ROM and you decide you would like to keep it, then the shareware
author asks that you send him or her a certain amount of money.
Shareware fees are substantially lower than prices you normally pay
for software because the all of the money goes directly to the author.
When software is purchased through normal retail stores, a certain
percentage goes to the store, as well as a software distributor or
two, not to mention expensive packaging and advertising. With shareware
you can feel good that all of your shareware fee goes directly to the
author. So help support shareware by sending shareware authors their fees,
so that they will continue to create new and affordable shareware programs.
What is Public Domain and Freeware?

Many of the programs and files on this CD-ROM are designated as Public
Domain or Freeware. This means that the author asks no fees for their work.
The main difference is that authors retain the rights to Freeware and may
at a later date ask a fee, or even sell their work commercially, whereas
Public Domain files are available for any type of use. Occasionally you
may encounter other unique designations such as Happyware or Beerware. In
the case of Happyware the author asks you to smile each time you use his
program, in the case of Beerware the author asks for you to send him a
six-pack of beer.What do I do if I can't figure out how to use a program?Read the documentation that came with the program. Again, Read the
documentation that came with the program. Nearly every program on this
CD-ROM includes instructions on how to use each specific program. Many
of the programs have on-line help files that can be accessed from within
the program. Even more of the programs include a text file that contains
instructions and documentation. These files are commonly named
HELP.TXT or INFO.TXT and can be opened from the program Windows Write
that was included with MS Windows, or open them with whatever word
processing program that you use. To open one of these .TXT fileswith
Window Write first launch Write. Next choose Open from the File menu.
Choose .TXT from the List Files of Type menu. Navigate to your specific
.TXT file in the Directories list. Another way to look at a text file is
to exit to DOS and use the TYPE command. For example, at the C> prompt
enter TYPE INFO.TXT This would list out a text file called INFO.TXT.
Note that some subdirectories even have a general help file that applies
to all of the files in that section.What do I do if I still can't
figure out how to use a program?Contact the Shareware author. Who
knows the program better than the person who wrote it! This is another
good reason to send in those shareware fees, not only does it entitle
you to technical support, but generally it also gets you on the list
for important updates at nominal or free price.

The Browser sofware on this CD-ROM and compilation of files and programs
are Copyrighted 1993. The user of this disc assumes all risk in using
any file or program found on this CD-ROM.Copyright, 1993All Rights
Reserved.

Made in USA