XREAD.DOC

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  The Official ABC Express Reader Version 1.8        Accept no substitutes!
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                                           Released v1.8  July 22, 1998
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³°ÚÄÄ¿°³ ³°³    ³°³                        The All BASIC Code (ABC) Archives
³±ÀÄÄÙ±³ ³±³    ³±³                        can be found at various sites and
³²ÚÄÄ¿²³ ³²³    ³²³                        distribution packages.
³Û³  ³Û³ ³ÛÀÄÄ¿ ³ÛÀÄÄ¿                     PLEASE NOTE, The All BASIC Code
ÀÄÙ  ÀÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÄÙ                     Reader v1.10 (Express v1.8) and
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÚÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÚÄÄÄ¿ ÚÄÄÄÄÄ¿    bi-monthly packets CANNOT be
À¿°ÚÄ¿°³ ³°ÚÄÄ¿°³ ³°ÚÄÄÄÙ À¿°ÚÙ ³°ÚÄ¿°³    included in commercial programs or
 ³±ÀÄÙ±³ ³±ÀÄÄÙ±³ ³±ÀÄÄÄ¿  ³±³  ³±³ ÀÄÙ    sold as is or modified in ANY way
 ³²ÚÄ¿²³ ³²ÚÄÄ¿²³ ÀÄÄÄ¿²³  ³²³  ³²³ ÚÄ¿    for the benefit of the person
ÚÙÛÀÄÙÛ³ ³Û³  ³Û³ ÚÄÄÄÙÛ³ ÚÙÛÀ¿ ³ÛÀÄÙÛ³    or people involved.
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÀÄÙ  ÀÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÙ    NO CHARGE OF ANY KIND IS PERMITTED
ÚÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÚÄÄÄÄÄ¿          FOR THIS WORK!  AND AS SUCH, THERE
³°ÚÄ¿°³ ³°ÚÄÄ¿°³ À¿°ÚÄ¿°³ ³°ÚÄÄÄÙ          IS NO WARRANTY EITHER EXPRESSED
³±³ ÀÄÙ ³±³  ³±³  ³±³ ³±³ ³±ÀÄ¿            OR IMPLIED.
³²³ ÚÄ¿ ³²³  ³²³  ³²³ ³²³ ³²ÚÄÙ            USE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!
³ÛÀÄÙÛ³ ³ÛÀÄÄÙÛ³ ÚÙÛÀÄÙÛ³ ³ÛÀÄÄÄ¿                                  ú úú Ä ÄÄÄÙ
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÙ

OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTORS (Subject to change without notice)

  ON THE INTERNET:
       -  http://charlie.simplenet.com/abc/abchome.html
       -  http://www.xs4all.nl/~excel/pbabc.html
       -  http://www.cvnet.co.uk/o.cook/abc/
       -  http://www.freenet.edmonton.ab.ca/~voxel/
       -  http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net/msdos/basic.html
           ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/basic

 NOTICE:  This document is outdated, some information may be incorrect.

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³ The ALL BASIC CODE (ABC) Reader v1.10 and Express v1.8 (c)1998 William Yu ³
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 Please accept no substitutes.  These are the OFFICIAL ABC Reader's and are
 not to be modified or duplicated for the purpose of violating the provisions
 of the copyright act.  They are supplied AS IS, with NO WARRANTY either
 expressed or implied.  SUPPORT for operating the reader is limited.  Those
 who have e-mail addresses can e-mail me at: voxel@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
 If you have bug reports, or future ideas/suggestions, then please e-mail me.
 NOTE: I reserve the right to discontinue the distribution of The ABC
       (Express) Reader and bi-monthly packets without any prior notice.
       The ABC Reader v1.10 is no longer being supported, please do not
       contact me with error reports or upgrade status.

*** LEGAL JARGON ***

     "The ABC Express Reader is supplied as is.  The author disclaims
      all warranties, expressed or implied, and assumes NO liability
      for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the
      use of The ABC Express Reader."

      The author(s) do(es) NOT claim responsibility nor the accuracy of
      their source codes contained in the ABC Packets.  Please use and
      modify at your own discretion.

      UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED in the source code, all snippets contained
      herein are considered to be PUBLIC DOMAIN.  Any copyrighted material
      contained in the ABC Packets is distributed with the permission of
      the original author.  Selling their program/code, or using the code
      in one of your programs other than for personal uses, is illegal
      without prior written consent.

      The All BASIC Code Archives does NOT promote commercial/shareware
      or crippleware programs/software.  Please do NOT send any of these
      to the ABC Archive for inclusion, as they will be deleted promptly.

*** END LEGAL JARGON ***

ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³                   The ALL BASIC CODE (ABC) Archives                       ³
³             Brief Introduction & Commonly asked Questions                 ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

 Q: What is All BASIC Code?
 A: The All BASIC Code (ABC) Archives is a massive collection of BASIC
    code ranging from QB/QBasic/PDS/VBDOS to more modern (supported) versions
    of the BASIC language such as ASIC, LibertyBASIC and PowerBASIC.  Source
    codes are collected from various resources, such as the FidoNet QUIK_BAS
    Echo, internet BASIC newsgroups and individual programmers who submit
    their code via e-mail.  The ABC Archives operates similarily to the SWAG
    Archives.  Surviving with contributions world wide.
    For more on the SWAG Archives (Pascal snippets), please visit their
    homepage at  http://www.gdsoft.com/swag/swag.html
 Q: Its purpose?
    The ABC Archives will be the future for all BASIC programmers and the
    survival of the BASIC language.  With the help of many contributors
    world wide, this repository will be the largest and most widely used
    BASIC resource in the world.  Let's prove BASIC is still live and well!

 Q: What files do I need to get started?
 A: Assuming this came along with The ABC Express Reader v1.8, you're
    already on your way to the BASIC "information superhighway."
    What you need now are the bi-monthly ABC Packets which contain all the
    BASIC snippets for the two months that were collected.
    Look for:
          ABCyymm.ZIP   (Where yy = year, mm = month)
      ie. ABC9609.ZIP   (September 1996 ABC Packet)
      ie. ABC9509.ZIP   (Oldest BASIC Packet, September 1995)
             ^^^^
             Watch out for ABC0995.ZIP which is the same packet.
    Oldest Packet is September 1995, so don't tire yourself out trying
    to find anything older than that.

 Q: I have this .CDE file, but the Reader requires *.ABC?
 A: You will have to run The ABC Reader to extract *.ABC from the .CDE
    file.  Just make sure the .CDE and .UPD file resides in the directory
    of the ABC Reader.

 Q: Why not just release a text version?
 A: I prefer the collection to be accessed with ease and organized for
    the benefit of the user.  What would you do with 1000+ files in one
    directory?  It makes it easier for the user to select their desired
    interests, whether it be GRAPHICS, SOUND or anything in between.
    Even though this leaves out Mac users and other platforms of BASIC,
    there is not enough interest to convert the packets into plain text.
    This also makes it an easier way to catalogue your own BASIC code
    into the ABC Packets, which was really the original idea, but most
    packets would grow empty unless there are people kind enough to
    contribute to it.

 Q: Can I send in some of my code?
 A: Of course, any code you send in is greatly appreciated!
    E-mail: William Yu <voxel@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>
    We suggest that you file attach your source codes to eliminate the
    dreaded word wrapping.  If not, then you are suggested to UUencode
    your file or use Postit!  Yes, we accept multiple files and binary
    DATA, not EXE's!
 Q: Do you accept libraries and object codes?
 A: Yes, .LIB's & .OBJ's are welcome, and must be accompanied
    by a demo or document file.  Because of the nature of libraries,
    I will request the source code for verification (that there's no
    hidden virus or "DELETE everything" routine) for the safety of all
    ABC users.  After the verification process I will PROMPTLY delete the
    source code.  Please do not send in commercial/shareware/crippleware
    programs.
 Q: How about Freeware (Copyrighted) programs?
 A: Yes, copyrighted material is welcome.  In the case of copyrighted
    material, you have granted unconditional permission for the ABC
    Archives to distribute the code, unmodified of course.
 Q: My code I sent you has an obvious quirk and error, and you didn't even
    pick it up!  Do you even test these codes?
 A: Perhaps, but your code is YOUR responsibility.  Most of the codes
    contained in the ABC Archives have been previously tested, but we
    assume NO RESPONSIBILITY over any of the snippets.  We do try to modify
    any code which acts up or send it back to the original author to have
    it updated, but whatever you send in will likely be unmodified.

 Q: What is Postit! code?
 A: These are actually BASIC Codes which run fine under QB,QBasic,PDS,VBDOS,PB
    and extracts the binary file which was originally encoded.
    Don't try running it under ASIC though, it won't work.
    For PowerBASIC users, remove the DIM from the DIM SHARED for a proper
    extraction.  As a side note, the ABC Express Reader eliminates this
    extra process by decoding the Postit! file to its archived file.
    You can easily disable this (since it takes a little longer to extract),
    by pressing ALT+P when asked for an extraction name.
 Q: How does one use Postit! 7.xx
 A: The most commonly used command is: POSTIT72 -s e ABC.ZIP FileName.BAS
    Which encodes the ABC.ZIP file to a loadable BASIC file <FileName.BAS>

ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³   The ALL BASIC CODE Express Reader v1.8  (Features/Requirements/Files)   ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

 NOTE: Although this is the first official release, this reader is still
       very much in its development stage.  Your comments are welcome!

 The ABC Express Reader v1.8 Files List:

          XREAD.EXE     ABC Express Reader v1.8
          XREAD.DOC     ABC Express Reader Document File (This file)

 ABC Express Reader v1.8 Requirements & Recommendations:
     Minimal requirements:
        *  512KB of free Extended (XMS) memory
        *  CGA Card & Color Monitor
        *  400KB Conventional memory (varies)
        *  MS-DOS/PC-DOS 3.3+
        *  350KB of HD Space

     Recommended (+ For Music):
        +  386SX or better
        +  Sound Blaster compatible card
        +  1MB of free Expanded (EMS) memory
        +  550KB Conventional memory
        -  2/3 Button Mouse
        -  Printer
        -  One of QB/QBasic/PDS/VBDOS/ASIC/PB or knowledge of
        -  Smart Drive (ABC Express reader detects Version 4.0+)
        -  For best results, run under DOS if you run Windows 3.x or W95
        -  5MB (or enough free HD Space for ABC Reader & Packets)

 ABC Express Reader List of Revisions for Version 1.8
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Released v1.7, but found a horrible bug!
 ========================================
  - Did not properly install abc1996.cde or abc1997.cde, etc...
    Because the reader did not account for 100+ snippets.

 Released June 07, 1998
 =======================
  i - Minor fix to tutorial section (carried over from revision 1.6h)
      Minor fix in checking disk space (not 100% correct though)
**j - Re-entry problem fixed for Group Search results
**k - Fixed XMS memory problem (returned error if more than 32M available)
      Note: this error occurred only under real-mode DOS (found out myself).
  l - You can now search whole words or sentences in Group Search

 Previous Revisions (released May/22, Apr/02):
 =============================================
  a - Implemented play list (see using MUSIC.LST)
 *b - Now checks for sufficient disk space before installing packets
        + May underestimate disk space available (pre-caution)
        + Can be bypassed
 *c - Now checks for previously installed packets (99% reliable)
        + Can be bypassed
 *d - Removes the "new" flag from all index files during installation
  e - Added an Origin Search option for Group Searches
 *f - Partial keyword search available in Group Searches
        + Limited to 5 keywords per field
**g - Proper handling of > 250 characters/line
**h - Proper delete/move instruction


 (*  denote user suggested features, please e-mail your requests/suggestions)
 (** denotes a bug fix carried from version 1.5)


 NEW For ABC Express Reader v1.5
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

     * ADD to packet, DELETE snippet/packet, MOVE code
     * Ability to print code
     * Yank in totals
     * View All/New/Special snippets

 ABC Express Reader FEATURES
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This is the 1st official release of The ALL BASIC CODE Express Reader.
    It is a major step-up from the old ABC Reader v1.10.  Although v1.5
    is the official release, it is still partly under development.

    ABC Express Reader v1.5  vs.  ABC Reader v1.10
      * The Express reader offers Tutorials, Special features section
        and the ability to create your own Custom Packets that may or may
        not have anything to do with BASIC. (ie. C++ Code, or Pascal code)
      * The Express reader is much much more faster in extracting
        snippets and less of a strain on the HD.
      * Since the Express reader utilizes XMS memory, it can load files
        as large as your XMS memory can hold!  (Check configuration)
      * The interface between the two readers are drastic.  The Express
        reader maintains a modern 3D like environment, and is more user
        friendly.
      * Ability to extract POSTIT! encrypted files to it's archive (.ZIP)
        In one single step.
      * What definitively sets the two apart is the simple fact that
        one takes advantage of the modern computer system's power,
        while the other is more primitive and laxed.  Obviously there
        are still computers of the stone-aged type, so The ABC Reader v1.10
        wouldn't be completely obsolete.

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³               Using The ALL BASIC CODE Express Reader v1.8                ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

 COMMAND Line Options:

     XREAD /NS           Disable Music
     XREAD <MusicFile>   ie. XREAD MUSIC.GDM
                         Must be a preconverted GDM file.
                         Refer to BWSB by Edward Schlunder at
                         Marc van den Dikkenberg's homepage:
                         http://www.xs4all.nl/~excel/pb.html

 For a complete list of commands/functions, use the On-line help [Press F1]

[FAQ] Frequently Asked Questions:
---------------------------------

 Q: Why can't I hear any music?
 A: Perhaps you have an unsupported sound card, or you don't have enough
    memory to load it.  Enable EMS if you plan on listening to a large
    music file.  Another thing to note, if your sound card and some
    other device(s) share the same IRQ, then be sure not to use that other
    device.  Also, make sure the music file actually exists if you input
    one on the command line, there will be no error message, just bypasses
    music instruction code.
 Q: Why can't I load a .MOD or .S3M file?
 A: It must be previously converted to a .GDM file with Edward Schlunder's
    Bells, Whistle, Sound Board 2GDM.EXE file.
 Q: What's internal for default song?
 A: If you leave this field as is, it will load up a song internal to the
    XREAD.EXE file.  In case you must know, the title to that catchy tune
    is called "Clutching at Life" by an unknown composer... which would
    occupy approx. 50KB of memory if you wish to load it.  Peanuts :)

 Q: Why does my computer hang when I try to exit?
 A: Shouldn't happen, but in case it does, just disable the music since
    it takes up a lot of memory.  Either that or free up some EMS or
    unload some TSRs.
 Q: Why doesn't it do anything when I select a packet to view?
 A: You're probably missing the corresponding .IDX file.
    Check that it exists, or else the ABC Reader will abort.

 Q: I seem to get weird results when I have MAXIMIZED XMS usage... why?
 A: It depends on the operating system or shell you might be running under.
    Some programs like QEMM allocate memory on the fly, so it might not
    give the ABC Express Reader its fair share of the memory base.
    Stick with minimal since maximum XMS usage is seldom needed.  In fact,
    the ABC Express Reader probably only uses about 150KB of XMS anyway.
    The extra is there in case YOU decide to include a big fat file in the
    ABC Packets and view it, and just as a cushion in case I decide to use
    more in future releases.

 Q: What is CUSTOM there for?
 A: Right now, just taking up space.  However, if you do this:
    REN GRAPHICS.ABC GRAPHICS.CST
    REN GRAPHICS.IDX GRAPHICS.CDX
    It will work quite nicely.  It's like a separate ABC Archive.
    So you can put your Pascal/C/C++/Assembly code there for cataloguing.
    Try adding to the section your favorite routines.
 Q: What is SPECIAL there for?
 A: Still under development.  I really don't know yet, but if you have
    any suggestions, I would like to hear from you.  My first idea was
    to create a "runable programs section," in which I would create a
    new "BASIC" language and put up the code in the SPECIALS section
    for people to run right from the Reader.  It would also enable people
    to program in this new "BASIC" language and put up their programs there
    for other people to run from the Reader.  But something like this would
    take a few months to perfect, and I just don't have the time.
    Oh well, next summer maybe.

 Q: Your reader looks like WINDOWS!  Ahhhhhhhhhh!
 A: That's what I thought at first... sorry, heheheh.
 Q: Speaking of which, will there be a Windows version out?
 A: Yes, The ABC Reader 95 is released on July 20, 1998
    

ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³          The ABC Express Reader v1.8 Credits and Special Thanks           ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

   * Reader XMS routines courtesy of Robin Duffy
   * Music routine coutesy of Edward Schlunder's "Bells, Whistles, and Sound
     Boards."
   * Thanks to Charles Quante, Marc van den Dikkenberg and Ollie Cook for
     supplying homepages for the ABC Archives!
   * Thanks to all distributors for spreading the ABC Archives world wide!
   * And of course, thanks to all contributors!