home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The World's Largest Collection of Windows Software
/
The World's Largest Collection of Windows Software - Disc 1.iso
/
connect
/
newsrd20
/
newsread.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-03-28
|
4KB
|
121 lines
Newsreader 2.0 for Windows
A Newsbyte reader for Windows
By Paul Kaliciak
April 1993 Release
INTRODUCTION
If you are a Newsbytes service subscriber, I hope you will find
this program useful. I wrote it because I wanted a simple program that
made the task of reading the news easier, while staying within Windows.
This new versions adds a host of new features:
- Printing
- Saving a story as text, or appending to an existing file
- Multi-tasking processing
- Resizable window up to 1024 x 768
- Context-Sensitive help
REQUIREMENTS
- VBRUN200.DLL in C:\WINDOWS, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM or in a directory
listed in your autoexec.bat's PATH statement.
- Windows 3.1
- 2 mb of RAM
- Arial TrueType font must be installed for printing to work
(This is a default Windows 3.1 setup, so as long as you
haven't deleted Arial, don't worry about this)
INSTALLATION
The following files are included in the .zip:
3dlabel.vbx
hmeter.vbx
newsread.exe
newsread.hlp
newsread.txt
opendlg.vbx
Copy all of these files to a directory of your choice. The first time
you start the program, it will create a newsread.ini file in that same
directory. If you have a previous version of NewsReader, you will be
asked to update your initialization file the first time you run the
program. You can add newsread.exe to your whatever Windows shell
you are using (if it is Program Manager, consult your Windows documentation
if you are unsure). After you launch the program, set the directory where
you normally keep your unzipped Newsbyte files, using "Preferences".
Consult the on-line help to learn how to save this and other settings.
All the help and explanation is on-line, with dynamic prompts that
change as you move the mouse, as well as F1 context-sensitive Windows help
that explains all the functions. Help for the icons on the Button Bar is
accessed using a right mouse-button click.
BUGS/LIMITATIONS
Please forgive any rough spots. I don't program for a living, just
for fun!
- While there is a Printer Setup, you cannot actually choose a printer
other than the one specified as Default (see Control Panel->Printers)
You can put your default printer into landscape/portrait, etc.
Hopefully this will be fixed in the next version.
- If a certain odd series of keystrokes is executed, the Newsbytes
file list may be empty, even though there are files present. Just
hit Cancel, and try again. The files are now there. If I could
find this, I'd fix it! Don't worry, though, most users will never
have this happen to them - I'm just warning you.
- Sorry about the speed. NewsReader still takes 15 to 20 seconds
on a 486/33 to process a normal file. I hope to rewrite the program
in Visual C++ this summer, which should improve things.
- NewsReader 2.0 now recognizes EDITORIALS, CORRECTIONS and REVIEWS,
three new headings the Newsbyte organization has added. If they
dream up any new ones, though, they will end up included with the
previous story instead of appearing as a separate item. I will
try to fix this in the next release, if they add anything!
EPILOG
This program is freeware, and may be distributed freely, provided all
the files are included, and not altered in any way. While NewsReader has
been tested thoroughly, the author is not responsible for anything that
happens to your system while using it. You are, as with all programs,
using this at your own risk.
If you use and like NewsReader, and/or have any suggestions to
improve it, send me your thoughts via CompuServe mail, at address
70242,3375.
BONUS
I thought I would include Waveplay, a simple utility that you can
associate with *.wav files. Click on a .wav file in the File Manager,
select File->Associate..., then Browse your way to where you put
waveplay.exe. Now, a simple double-click on a .wav file plays it.
Unlike some other programs out there, waveplay.exe does not hijack the
system - you can continue to work in Windows. Waveplay is also freeware.
Paul Kaliciak
March 26, 1993