CFOG's PIP, May 1988, Volume 7 No. 3, Whole No. 65, page 40
CFOG II RCPM News
CFOG's RCPM has moved to Rogers Park, on the North Side of Chicago, much to the joy of certain members who now find it in their 'nickel' calling area, so that they can call for as long as the system allows for just about a nickel. Despite the worst that Illinois Bell could do, failing to install the needed new line on the appointed day and giving system administrator Bill Kuykendall an incorrect number to post for the week before the move, over 50 calls were received in the first 36 hours after the system went back 'on the air' after the move. Thanks to Bill's efforts the move went smoothly and the system is up and running.
Thanks to Mike Andrews the MS-DOS sections of the RCPM have been filled to over-flowing with public domain software and shareware. Steps are being taken to archive some of these programs so that more new stuff can be added. For example, more than 700K bytes were devoted to programs and templates for preparing 1987 Federal and state income tax returns. These are still around if you still haven't gotten your return filed, but you'll have to ask for them.
The CFOG Board has approved the ordering of a WestWind Perfect XI system to add to the RCPM. This is an 11 Mb floppy disk system. This means we'll be able to practice what we preach: a complete backup of the files on the RCPM [we do have a backup of the system files, but we don't cherish the task of backing up 65+ Mb of software on 183 Kb floppy disks!]. In addition, the Perfect XI also will provide another 10+ Mb of on-line storage.
Oh, yes. The new number for the RCPM is [312] 764-5162.
CFOG Library Expands
Thaks to Peter Cook and the Hoosier Osborne Group we've added a number of new FOG disks and several updates. We're now complete through FOG CP/M disk number 190.
Through the courtesy of the Association of Shareware Professionals we're receiving a number of MS-DOS shareware contributions. They are generally being added to the library as Steve Lucius groups them with other files. One exception is a complete set of disks from ButtonWare, Inc. We have PC-File+ Version 2.0, PC-Type+, PC-Calc+, PC-Dial, PC-Stylist, XD (Extended DOS), and the Baker's Dozen Utilities.
As with all shareware offerings, these are for evaluation only. If you want to use the software on a regular basis you must register. ButtonWare offers discounted prices on user group orders, but KaftorWare Corporation will offer CFOG members a 15% discount, better than we could obtain without a purchase of at least ten units.
Speaking of MS-DOS, Steve Lucius has completed the first groups of MS-DOS disks for CFOG's public domain and shareware software library. They are available at both Sunday and downtown meetings. The categories (with the number of disks in parenthesis following) are: file squeezing utilities (1); Games (4); data base (2); CP/M emulation (1); artificial intelligence (1); communications (6); finance (3); taxes (3); graphics (2); disk utilities (2); text files (3); languages (1); spreadsheets (4); word processing (4); miscellaneous utilities (10); tutorials (1).
Some of the programs included are the popalar file compressing programs, ARC521, ARCE, ARCMAS2O, LU86403, NSWP19, PKARC, UNCR231 (to uncrunch files crunched with the CP/M CRUNCH). Games range from ALLEYCAT to WRDSRCH. Data base programs inclued WAMPUM, a dBase III clone, DOCDATA, the Doctor Data mailing list manager, and ROLODEX. Communications programs include QMODEM, PROCOMM, MSKERMIT, and PCTALKB. Disk utilities inclued FRAGS, which lists fragmented disk files; HDDIAG; hard disk diagnostics; REPEATS, which look for duplicate files; and WHERE3, a program to search your hard drive. Text files include HELPDOS, on line DOS help.
Word processing programs inclued GALXY22C, VDE12, and New York Word, and you'll also find there WORDCT, which counts words, and, for reasons best known to Steve Lucius, CED, a command line editor. Miscellaneous utilities include CALENDR; CASIOZ; calculator watch on screen; CATS22, a floppy disk catalog program; CFORMAT, a quick floppy formatter; COVER, which make covers for disk; DUPDSK2O, to copy disks; FKEYOVLY, to make functon key overlays; GO, to go direct to a directory; FF, which fast formats 360k floppy in 2 drives; HISTORY, to recall previously used commands; SIDEKICK, an ARC with Sidekick utilities; UNDEL, to undelete erased files; and QFILE30D, a disk and file maintenance utility.
MS-DOS users with modems have access to a much wider selection of public domain and shareware software, but Steve's hard work now makes many of these programs available to users without modems. As always, there is no charge for disk copying at CFOG meetings; members are encouraged to bring machines (MS-DOS machines are especially needed) to the Sunday meetings.