Title: Buried Software Utilities in the Simtel and 'pcmag' Archives created by PC Magazine Note: as of 9/2006, you find this archive still on the net: http://www.umich.edu/~archive/msdos/util/pcmag/ W. Curtiss Priest, Director, CITS Center for Information, Technology & Society 466 Pleasant St., Melrose, MA 02176 Voice: 781-662-4044 BMSLIB@MIT.EDU Fax: 781-662-6882 WWW: http://Cybertrails.org Software Technical Note March 22, 2001 Buried Software Utilities in the Simtel and 'pcmag' Archives created by PC Magazine Introduction ------------ One of the best documented sources of PC utilities is a regular feature of PC Magazine. Yet, when these got archived in Simtel (and elsewhere), they were bundled with others in ZIP files with only the magazine volume and number, and single word descriptors of what each issue contained. As a result, some "leaked" out and became stand-alone utility entries at various BBSs and sites, but not very regularly. The same thing happened to authors who created multiple utilities and then published them to the net, again, as one large ZIP file. Those are even harder to find something useful in because there aren't often single word descriptors of what's inside. Solution -------- The Internet at this point in time -- the year 2001 -- does not provide free access to journal archive citations or full text. You can go some place on the net, such as www.zdnet.com, but the entire PC Magazine archives require a subscription. You can also go to OCLC or InfoTrac which contain citations and often full text, but you need, again, to subscribe to gain access. Some of us with college affiliation can access the "citation databases" as part of the school's extended library resources -- a "site license." And, some of InfoTrac (they have many "levels" of service) can be found at some public libraries. And, if you are lucky, you are allowed to bring a floppy disk, and "download" citations (and full text). Search Strategy --------------- Folk on the net are used to search engines where there is essentially "one field." But, in magazines and books there are multiple fields (author, publisher, date, etc.) So a search strategy at such a site (search strategies that pre-dated the Internet by 20-30 years) involves the use of both boolean operators and field designations. And, unlike free stuff on the net, part of the reason these resources cost more is someone often attaches very specific keywords or descriptors to the items, so that the search can be very specific -- obtaining articles you want and ignoring the others. The search statement at OCLC's Microcomputer Index database looks like: ((so: pc and so: magazine)) and (de= "utility program") not ((pt: software and pt: review)) These finds all utility programs in Pc Magazine except for those articles tagged "software review." This produced 163 articles. Without the removing of the software reviews, there were 1200 articles. But, OCLC coveres only the period from 1989 to the present. To fill in the gap for the earlier utilities (DOS utilities), the Infotrac database called Gen'l Reference Ctr (Magazine Index) was also searched. The search statement there was: Jn (Pc magazine) and Ke (Utility Program) not Ke (software review) not Ke (evaluation) This search was similar to the above, but notice that the field descriptors differ and I also excluded articles tagged as "evaluation." For the period 1985 to 1999 there were 72 articles (but over double that if the ones tagged "evaluation" were not removed). One other Oddity ---------------- Since descriptors are assigned by hand, the numbers of articles vary between databases with the same search strategy. In this case, when I also searched Infotrac from 1989 to the present (corresponding to the period in OCLC which produced 163 articles), the search only returned 75 articles for that entire period. And, more curious, some of the articles returned in Infotrac's smaller set were some not in the OCLC search. But, upon examination of obviously missing articles in the Infotrac search, I found that unlike OCLC, many articles were simply tagged "utilities" rather than "Utility Program." Running yet another search: Jn(Pc magazine)and Ke(Utilities) not Ke(software review)not Ke(evaluation)not Ke(Utility Program) produced another 456 articles. While some of these articles sometimes describe non-PC Magazine written utilities, there was no way to reduce the set via the search statement. So, for completeness, this document contains I. The 163 articles from OCLC II. The 72 articles from Infotrac from 1985 to 1989 III. The 75 articles from Infotrac from 1989 to the present with tag "Utility Program" IV. The remaining 456 articles from Infotrac from 1985 to the present with tag "Utilities" but not "Utility Program" V. A sample Simtel directory of DOS PC Magazine archives for January 14, 2001 ftp://mirrors.aol.com/pub/simtelnet/msdos/pcmag/00_INDEX.TXT VI. An expanded listing of the files named in those archives ftp://mirrors.aol.com/pub/simtelnet/msdos/pcmag/00_PCMAG.ZIP VII. Out-of-Print books about PC Magazine Utilities VIII. Programs listed in 1988 DOS POWER TOOLS How to use this document: ------------------------ Using your wordprocessor you can search on words and find articles that mention them. When searching on file names, you may wish to use case-insensitive searching as Simtel entries are mostly in lower case. If you use the shareware utility "LOOKFOR.COM" (curiously not in the Simtel archives) you can do proximity searching of this file. LOOKFOR, for example, will let you find multiple words that are close together. (If you want this program, just e-mail me.) Once you find what you want, you can then match the volume and number with the Simtel archives for files up to 1997 or for files later than 1991, you can access the ZDnet ftp site matching on year, month, day of the issue (see below). There may still be archives at Compuserve under their Computer Pro area ($4.95/mo. subscription). As for fairly recent files (last few years) Ziff-Davis does operate a free download site (at this time): http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/downloads/index.html So, for example, the recent Petzold program (below) ClockRack can be found by entering ClockRack in the search box. The download contains the source, the .hlp help file, and the executable. It does not include the article about the program but the download page does contain an extended description of the program. Curiously, searching on LFNDir (below) not only turned up the program, but also "Utilities - 1998" and "Utilities -- F to L" But, if you try searching for these directly, they don't appear. These categories were listed under a blue banner called "Top PC Magazine Items" in the listings for LFNDir. And, if you search on "Utilities" you come across a "Utilities Guide" -- but this appears to be a search area for commercial products. If you try to go to "The Latest Utilities: PC Magazine Utilities Discussion" you must subscribe at $4.95/mo. And the "Top Downloads" only lists programs where the word 'utilities' is in the actual name of the the file. However, there is a short cut to "Utilities" on one of the bars (and in the frame to the left under "Pick a Category"): http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/downloads/utilities.htm There is also a path to here labeled "Software Library's Utilities" from the "Utilities" search above. And here, a search on "Utilities" produces 57 hits from and area: http://hotfiles.zdnet.com via their use of the Thunderstone "texis" search engine. And in all cases various shareware utilities from other sources are mixed in with any written by a PC Magazine writer/programmer. There is no sense of inclusivity but rather "popularity" of the programs listed here. Alternatively, there is an FTP area for PC Magazine at Ziff-Davis: ftp://zdftp.zdnet.com/pcmag ftp://ftp.zdnet.com/pcmag The first directory and site was not obvious. When downloading a file from the web site, I noticed it was downloading from the above server. So I put ftp://zdftp.zdnet.com in my browser and came to the root directory. I presume 'zdftp' is a mirror site for 'ftp.' Here the earliest magazine archive is the year 1991. To some that will sound very old and to me that sounds fairly late. Most of the DOS utilities were written before this date. They give this listing example: /pcmag/1999/0323 = March 23rd, 1999 issue One disturbing problem. If I go to do an FTP search at http://ftpsearch.lycos.com/?form=medium and enter the file 2both.zip that I found under /pcmag/1991/0312, it does NOT find the file at the ZD site. The files in the MSDOS section of Simtel end in 1997. Some Windows utilities are mixed in with the "MSDOS archives." The citations here cover both MSDOS and Windows. I am always bothered when files are available on the net, by everyone relying on the originator, here, PC Magazine. Already the files prior to 1991 are missing from the site. What's to happen in another few years? Will 91-95 disappear? Or, worse, will access become restricted in some way? Comments to improve this document are welcome. ************************************************************************** I. The 163 articles from OCLC Record No.: 00PI10-060 Author: Seymour, Jim Title: A successor to Magellan, R.I.P.? Source: PC Magazine (October 3, 2000) v23 n5 p107 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: Lotus Development; SilverLakeTech.com Product Name: Magellan; PC Data Finder 5.5 Abstract: Describes a search for a file-finding program to replace the discontinued Magellan utility from Lotus Development Corp. Mentions that Magellan quickly searches and indexes the text content of the user's hard drive, generates a list of files containing a user-specified key word, and provides one-click entry into the file. Explains that Magellan was discontinued because Lotus did not know what to make of it and how to sell it priced at $70 to $100. Introduces PC Data Finder 5.5 ($99) from SilverLakeTech.co Indicates that it comes close to the functionality of Magellan. Cites PC Data Finder's support of multiple file formats, Boolean logic, and interface similar to Windows. Indicates, however, that price may pose a hindrance to some users. Concludes with the recommendation to take advantage of a 15-day trial offer. Descriptor(s): File Management; Utility Program; Indexing; Market Research; Disk Files; Document Management System ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PIO9-037 Author: Petzold, Charles Title: ClockRack tracks world time -- A configurable rack of clocks on your desktop eases time-zone confusion Source: PC Magazine (September 1, 2000) v19 n15 p131 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Product Name: ClockRack Abstract: Describes ClockRack, a free Windows-compatible utility that can be downloaded from the "PC Magazine" Web site. Defines ClockRack as a virtual array of clocks that is displayed on the microcomputer system's desktop. Explains that ClockRack helps users keep track of time in various parts of the world and eliminates the tediousness of mentally computing the time difference. Says that ClockRack can be configured as an auto-hide application bar so that it does not take up desktop space when not needed. Cites features such as display of any number of clocks, choice between analog and digital representations, large database of world locations to which the user can add location, and time-setting function based on National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Time Service Centers. Includes four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Clock; Realtime; Utility Program; International ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-253 Author: Petzold, Charles Title: Seize the moment -- ScreenSeize lets you capture and save any portion of your screen Source: PC Magazine (May 23, 2000) v19 n10 p127 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Product Name: ScreenSeize Abstract: Describes ScreenSeize, a free utility program from "PC Magazine." Explains that ScreenSeize enables users to save images from a computer screen and has been designed to meet all contingencies. Indicates that the Windows operating system has a screen-capture facility with limited uses. Mentions that in ScreenSeize, capture can be activated by a click on the mouse button, a hotkey, or a timer. Cites an Automatic Save option for capturing multiple images in sequence. Presents the choice to capture an entire screen, a selected object or area, a dialog box, or an application window. Points out that ScreenSeize works under Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, and Windows 95. Says that the magazine's Web site contains ScreenSeize's programming information. Includes three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Information Storage; User Interface ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-252 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Windows start-up and shutdown screens -- Change the images displayed every time your PC boots and shuts down Source: PC Magazine (May 23, 2000) v19 n10 p123-124 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: Microsoft Product Name: Microsoft Windows Abstract: Presents a method for changing the images displayed onscreen during Windows PC startup and shutdown. Explains that Windows will display the Logo.sys file found in the root directory of the boot drive, which represents a bitmap in the correct format. Mentions that if Logo.sys is missing, Windows will extract the default startup bitmap from Io.sys. Indicates that Logo.sys is a simple bitmap file while Io.sys is a system file that should not be loaded into the Paint application. Says that Logow.sys and Logos.sys files store the shutdown bitmaps. Describes how to create startup and shutdown bitmaps using Paint. Suggests how to rename Logow.sys and Logos.sys in order to prevent their display. Elaborates on the procedure for restoring the default bitmap displays. Includes a sidebar and two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Computer Instruction; User Interface; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-229 Author: Gunnerson, Gary Title: Collaborative Web publishing Source: PC Magazine (May 23, 2000) v19 n10 p149 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Interwoven; NetObjects; Worldweb.net Product Name: TeamSite 4.0; NetObjects Authoring Server 2000; Expressroom Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to collaborative Web page authoring tools. Presents comparisons of three products from three providers on roles and permissions, Web site and page design, collaboration, and publishing. Products reviewed (and rating on a scale of one to five) are: Expressroom ($75,000) from Worldweb.net of Alexandria, VA (888,703) - 2; NetObjects Authoring Server 2000 ($1,395) from NetObjects Inc. of Redwood City, CA (650) - 3; and TeamSite 4.0 ($70,000) from Interwoven Inc. of Sunnyvale, CA (408) - 4. Explains that TeamSite stands out because of flexibility in letting users define their own roles, ease of dragging and dropping an existing Web site into it,integration with third-party Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tools, and a function that lets multiple contributors split off duplicate branches to work on them separately and then merge them again later. Includes two screen displays and a product summary. Descriptor(s): Web Page Authoring; Web Tools; Web Publishing; Utility Program; Collaboration; Workgroup Computing; Client-Server Computing Grade: B C D ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-220 Author: Mendelson, Edward Harris, Jack Title: Design a great site -- Whether you need an interactive Web site or a basic home page, today's Web authoring products make it easier than ever to build... Source: PC Magazine (May 23, 2000) v19 n10 p134-152 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to Web page authoring tools. Presents a table comparing eight tools from eight providers on 15 criteria including interface, wizards, predefined Web effects, ease of complex Web site design, and support for JavaScript and Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language (DHTML). Products reviewed (and rating on a scale of one to five) are: Adobe GoLive 4.01 ($300) from Adobe Systems Inc. - 4; Dreamweaver 3 ($299) from Macromedia Inc 5; HomeSite 4.5.1 ($89) from Allaire Corp. - 4; HoTMetaL PRO 6. ($100) from SoftQuad Software Inc. - 3; Microsoft FrontPage 2000 ($150) from Microsoft Corp. - 5; Namo WebEditor 3.06 ($79) from Enova Software Inc. - 4; NetObjects Fusion 5.0 ($299) from NetObjects Inc.- 4; and Trellix Web 2.6 ($69) from Trellix Corp. - 3. Explains that Dreamweaver and Microsoft FrontPage received the "Editors' Choice" merit. Includes fifteen screen displays, three sidebars, a glossary, two tabl! es, and ten product summaries. Descriptor(s): Web Page Authoring; Web Tools; Web Sites; Design; Utility Program; Application Development; Client-Server Computing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI06-049 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Sweep away the scraps -- FindOrphans lets you locate and safely remove orphaned files Source: PC Magazine (June 6, 2000) v19 n11 p139 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Product Name: FindOrphans Abstract: Presents FindOrphans, a free utility from "PC Magazine" which scans all local hard drives and analyzes the dependency relationships among the files in Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, and 2000. Says that it can scan and remember the files on any number of removable disks. Mentions that when scanning is completed, it identifies orphan files and problem files. Notes that it provides a way to safely and reversibly remove orphan files. Points out that FindOrphans had been inspired by the earlier utility FDDLLs. States that FindOrphans addresses the situation in which support files remain on the hard drive after a program has been uninstalled. Declares that orphan files are support files that no longer have any programs interdependent with it. Says that orphan files take up hard disk space for no purpose. Includes four screen displays. Descriptor(s): File Management; Utility Program; Disk Files ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI06-015 Author: Clyman, John Title: Know your site -- Whether you're in charge of designing, coding, or the bottom line, don't assume you know everything about your Web site - until... Source: PC Magazine (June 6, 2000) v19 n11 p169-182 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: WebTrends; WebSideStory; Active Concepts; Sane Solutions; MyComputer.com Product Name: WebTrends Log Analyzer 5.0; HitBox Pro; Funnel Web Professional 3.6; NetTracker 4.5 Enterprise; SuperStats Professional Abstract: Presents a buyer's guide to Web management utility programs. Displays a table comparing five products from five providers on setup, ease of use, performance, automation, reporting, analysis, configurability, result value, and guidance. Products reviewed (and rating on a scale of one to five) are: Funnel Web Professional 3.6 ($499) from Active Concepts of San Francisco, CA (800, 415) - 5; HitBox Pro ($19) from WebSideStory Inc. of San Diego, CA (858) - 5; NetTracker 4.5 Enterprise ($995) from Sane Solutions LLC of North Kingstown, RI (800, 401) - 4; SuperStats Professional ($19) from MyComputer.com Inc. of Orem, UT (801) - 3; WebTrends Log Analyzer 5.0 ($499) from WebTrends Corp. of Portland, OR (503) - 5. Indicates that WebTrends received the "Editors' Choice" merit. Includes five sidebars, two tables, three diagrams, four photos, three screen displays, and five product summaries. Descriptor(s): Web Management; Web Tools; Client-Server Computing; Utility Program; Benchmark Testing Grade: A A A B C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI04-236 Author: Sipe, Steven E Title: Size Windows with precision Source: PC Magazine (April 18, 2000) v19 n8 p157 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Product Name: WinSize Abstract: Presents the free WinSize utility program from "PC Magazine." Mentions that WinSize is for setting a window in the Microsoft Windows operating systems to exact dimensions, which helps in Web page building and in adjusting the monitor's aspect ratio. Mentions the absence of a window-resizing function in Microsoft Windows. Presents the initial step of positioning the mouse cursor on the edge of a window and clicking the left button to view the window's dimensions in pixels. Explains that the new dimensions will appear in the small yellow ToolTip status window. Says that it is compatible with Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 98. Presents the suggestion to use the WinSize Plus! pack to see the dimensions update continuously during resizing within Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 95. Includes three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Windows; User Interface; Design; Web Page Authoring ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI03-019 Author: Brown, Bruce Brown, Marge Title: Manage Web page printing -- Tame Web page printing using your browser, Office applications and some handy utilities Source: PC Magazine (March 7, 2000) v19 n5 p115-118 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: Microsoft; Netscape Communications; Hewlett-Packard Product Name: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0; Navigator 4.08; Web PrintSmart 2.0 Plus! Abstract: Discusses typical problems encountered with Web page printing. Cites losing content outside print margins, wasting paper when only a few lines print on a page, printing a whole page when only a portion is needed, and tying up a printer for a long time to print huge Web page graphics. States that both Internet Explorer 5.0 and Netscape Navigator 4.08 have printing shortcuts that can save time and paper and generate useful output. Instructs on specific printing techniques and options to use with Internet Explorer 5.0 and Netscape Navigator 4.08. Focuses on Web page-printing utilities that are being developed by printer manufacturers. Features the HP Web PrintSmart 2.0 Plus! ($30) from Hewlett-Packard and WebRecord, which is bundled with Creative Pro software from Canon. Contains five screen displays. Descriptor(s): Web Tools; Publishing; Printer; Web Browsers; Web Sites; Tutorial; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-066 Author: Cohen, Alan Title: Window dressing Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p234 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to third-party "Windows-dressing" utilities. Says that these utilities enable the user to customize the Windows user interface. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are: WindowBlinds 1.2 ($19) from Stardock Corp. - 5; Chroma 1.02 ($20) from Thematic Software - 4; Webshots Desktop ($0) from The Webshot Corp. - 4; Cool Desk 99 v2.85 ($12) from ShellToys - 4; NeoPlanet 5.1 ($0) from NeoPlanet - 5; Hotbar.com ($0) from Hotbar.com - 3. Explains that WindowBlinds 1.2 enables users to change the style and appearance of the interface in Windows and in applications, with hundreds of themes that replicate a certain look. Notes that NeoPlanet 5.1 offers a browser that works with AOL and Internet Explorer 4 or later. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Operating Systems; User Interface; Utility Program; Windows; Interface; Web Browsers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-065 Author: Dreier, Troy Graven, Matthew Title: PDA tools Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p233 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to utility programs for personal digital assistants (PDAs). Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are: Sign-On ($19) from CIC (800) - 4; MagicText ($17) from Synergy Solutions (800) - 5; BackupBuddy NG ($29) from Intelligent Systems (800) - 5; Launch 'Em 2 ($10) from Synergy Solutions - 5; StarTap 4.5 ($10) from Thumbs Up Soft - 5; bUseful Utilities Pak 2.0 ($59) from Bsquare Corp. - 5; PocketFlash 1.0 Beta ($0) from Conduits Technologies - 4. Cites MagicText's collection of editing tools for the Palm platform. Cites BackupBuddy NG's ability to reinstall databases and applications on the Palm. Explains that Launch 'Em gives Palm users an intuitive way to organize applications. Explains that StarTap lets Windows CE users place shortcuts for favored desktop applications. Explains that bUseful has ten tools that will improve the Windows CE experience. Includes two photos.! Descriptor(s): Personal Digital Assistant; Utility Program; Mobile Computing; Hand-held Computer; Portable Computer; Editor; Backup ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-064 Author: Randall, Neil Title: Surfing & downloading Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p231 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyer's guide to utility programs that extend the surfing and downloading functions of Web browsers. Reviews 15 utilities, dividing them into four categories: download managers, bookmark managers, browser toolbars, and ZIP utilities. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale from one to five are: Download Accelerator Plus ($0) from SpeedBit - 4; Netzip Download Demon 3.2 ($0) from Netzip - 4; Go!Zilla v3.5 ($0) from Aureate Media - 4; URL Manager 2000 ($15) from Author Direct Shareware - 4; AcqURL ($35) from GT Technologies - 4; Backflip ($0) - 5; Clickmarks ($0) - 5; BookMarkBox ($0) - 4; Snippets.com ($0) - 5; EntryPoint ($0) - 5; PKzip 2.70 ($39) from PKWare - 5; WinZip ($22) from Nico Mak Computing - 5; ZipMagic 2000 ($24) from Mijenix Corp. - 5; FreeZip 1.4.8 ($0) - 4; CuteZip ($NA) from GlobalScape - 4. Includes one screen display and one sidebar. Descriptor(s): Web Tools; Online Searching; Information Retrieval; Compression; Web Browsers; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-063 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: System diagnostics Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p229 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to utility programs that do system diagnostics and troubleshooting. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are: AMIDiag 6.0 ($99) from American Megatrends - 5; WinCheckIt 6.5 ($49) from TouchStone Software Corp. - 5; SpinRite 5.0 ($89) from Gibson Research Corp. - 4; DiskMapper 2 ($49) from MicroLogic Corp. - 5; VMware 2.0 ($299) from VMware Inc. - 5; System Commander 2000 ($49) from V Communications - NA; Compuware BoundsChecker 6.2 ($549) from Compuware - 4. Notes AMIDiag runs in real-mode DOS to identify all kinds of hardware problems. States that WinCheckIt's QuickCheck routing runs a quick diagnostic of all system devices. Says when it detects a problem, it runs a wizard-style troubleshooter, which offers possible solutions. Notes DiskMapper provides unparalleled visual representation of disk space usage. Says VMware lets user run in multiple OSs simultaneously. Includes ! one screen display. Descriptor(s): Diagnostics; Utility Program; Troubleshooting; Enterprise Computing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-062 Author: Randall, Neil Title: Modem user Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p227 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to utility programs that bolster the performance of modems. Reviews ten utilities, dividing them into two categories: dial-up networking enhancements and Internet Protocol (IP) optimizers. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are: DUN Manager 2.0 ($40) from Magenta Systems - 5; Ras+ Dialer 2000 ($17) from DigitalWeb - 5; Bob Connect 1.2 ($15) from Bobline - 4; ConnectPal Professional 6.40 ($17) from Pendulab - 4; Dial-up Toolkit 1.0 ($20) from Mayneware - 4; DU Meter 2.2 ($15) from Hagel Technologies - 4; SpeedConnect Internet Accelerator ($29) from CBS Software - 4; Internet Boost 99 ($55) from Bonzi Software - 2; Speedlane Internet Optimizer ($29) - 2; and Modem Booster 1.0 ($19) from InKline Global - 2. Includes benchmark test results. Descriptor(s): Modem; Utility Program; Internet Access; Accelerator; Speed; Input/Output; Optimization Compatibility: IBM PC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-061 Author: Giebel, Thomas W Title: Web authoring Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p225 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Ipswitch; Watchfire; Mach5 Software; Bradbury Software Product Name: WS_FTP Pro 6.05t; Linkbot Pro 5.0; FastStats 2.69a; TopStyle 1.51 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to Web page authoring utility programs. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are: TopStyle 1.51 ($50) from Bradbury Software - 4; WS_FRP Pro 6.05t ($40) from Ipswitch - 5; Linkbot Pro 5.0 ($400) from Watchfire - 5; FastStats 2.69a ($100) from Mach5 Software - 5. Says that WS_FTP Pro includes utilities that let users create scripts for automating the uploading of selected files on a scheduled basis. States that Linkbot Pro enables decreases the likelihood of broken links when adding new pages or updating outdated ones. Adds that it also catches many other common errors. Explains that FastStats rapidly provides a tree-view set of reports about a Web site's visitors, their surfing habits, and what brought them to the site. Explains that TopStyle eases the creation and design of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) stylesheets. Includes one diagram. Descriptor(s): Web Page Authoring; Utility Program; Web Tools; Web Sites Compatibility: IBM PC Grade: A A A B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-060 Author: Randall, Neil Title: Windows 2000 tools Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p221-222 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to utility programs that are interoperable with Microsoft's Windows 2000 operating system. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are: PerfectDisk 2000 ($49) from Raxco Software - 5; RepairDisk Manager ($149) from Raxco Software - 4; Diskeeper 5.0 ($46) from Executive Software International - 5; ERD Commander ($249) from Winternals Software - 4; ERD Commander Professional ($324) from Winternals Software - 4; NTFSDOS Pro ($149) from Winternals Software - 4; Remote Recover ($299) from Winternals Software - 4; NTFS for Windows 98 ($49) from Winternals Software - 4; FastMove 2000 ($39) from TouchStone Software - 5. Presents five well-known utilities still undergoing development: McAfee ViruScan and McAfee WebShield SMTP from Network Associates; and Norton AntiVirus 2000, pcAnywhere, Norton Ghost, and Mobile Essentials from Symantec Corp. Includes three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Operating Systems; Windows; Utility Program; Interoperability; Compatibility; Enterprise Computing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-056 Author: Schenk, Rob Title: Desktop migration; have it your way Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p215-216 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: AlohaBob; Miramar Systems; Altiris Product Name: AlohaBob's PC-Relocator 1.2; Desktop DNA 1.0; PC Transplant Pro 1.0 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to utility programs for desktop migration. Presents a table comparing three products from three manufacturers on Windows settings and preferences migration, network settings migration, application settings migration, data migration, and management/logging/monitoring. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are: AlohaBob's PC-Relocator 1.2 ($49) from AlohaBob of Miami Lakes, FL (888, 305) - 3; Desktop DNA 1.0 ($245) from Miramar Systems Inc. of Santa Barbara, CA (800, 805) - 3; PC Transplant Pro 1.0 ($245) from Altiris Inc. of Lindon, UT (888, 801) - 3. Mentions that none of the utilities under review merit the "Editors' Choice" designation because all of them require in-person contact with the desktop PC during preparation for migration. Includes three product summaries, one sidebar, one screen display, and one table. Descriptor(s): File Management; Desktop Software; Enterprise Computing; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Grade: C C C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-045 Author: Alwang, Greg Title: Disk utilities -- Grappling with gigabytes Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p204-212 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to disk utility programs. Reviews ten utilities, dividing them into three categories: rollback, partitioning, and imaging. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are: ConfigSafe Desktop Edition 3.0 ($40) from imagine LAN Inc. of Nashua, NH (800, 603) - 4; GoBack 2.1 ($50) from Wild File Inc. of Plymouth, MN (612) - 5; SecondChance 2.0 ($69) from PowerQuest Corp. of Orem, UT (800, 801) - 4; PartitionMagic 5.0 ($69) from PowerQuest Corp. of Orem, UT (800, 801) - 5; System Commander 2000 ($79) from V Communications Inc. of San Jose, CA (800, 408) - 4; Drive Image 2.02 ($69) from PowerQuest Corp. of Orem, UT (800, 801) - 4; and Norton Ghost 2000 Personal Edition ($69) from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800, 408) - 5. Gives GoBack, PartitionMagic, and Norton Ghost the "Editors' Choice" designation. Includes ten product summaries, three screen displays, three tables, an! d one sidebar. Descriptor(s): Hard Disk Drive; Utility Program; Enterprise Computing; Disaster Recovery; Disk Duplicator; Optimization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-034 Author: Roberts-Witt, Sarah L Title: Filtering; return to sender Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p190-197 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Elron Software; Symantec; Content Technologies; Tumbleweed Communications Product Name: CommandView Message Inspector; Mail-Gear; MailSweeper; WorldSecure/Mail Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to electronic mail filtering utility programs. Presents a table comparing four products from four manufacturers on installation and administration, policy rule creation and customization, filtering controls, and message actions. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are : CommandView Message Inspector ($10,995) from Elron Software Inc. of Burlington, MA (800) - 4; Mail-Gear ($4,533) from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (408) - 2; MailSweeper ($8,251) from Content Technologies Inc. of Kirkland, WA (425) - 3; WorldSecure/Mail ($11,195) from Tumbleweed Communications Corp. of Santa Clara, CA (800) - 3. Awards CommandView the "Editors' Choice" designation. Includes four product summaries, two screen displays, one diagram, two sidebars, and two tables. Descriptor(s): Filtering; Utility Program; Electronic Mail; Security; Messaging Grade: B D C C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-028 Author: Freed, Les Title: Corporate antivirus -- Germ warfare at work Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p176-186 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: F-Secure; Panda Software International; Trend Micro; Symantec Product Name: F-Secure Anti-Virus; Global Virus Insurance 24h-365d; NeaTSuite; Norton AntiVirus Enterprise Solution Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to corporate antivirus utility programs. Presents a table comparing four products from four developers on installation, configuration, management, updating, scheduling, notification and logging, scanning, and disinfection. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are : F-Secure Anti-Virus ($46) from F-Secure Corp. of San Jose, CA (888, 408) - 3; Global Virus Insurance 24h-365d ($40) from Panda Software International of San Francisco, CA (415) - 3; NeaTSuite ($39) from Trend Micro Inc. of Cupertino, CA (800, 408) - 4; Norton AntiVirus Enterprise Solution ($31) from Symantec Corp. of Santa Monica, CA (310) - 4. Notes that Norton AntiVirus received the "Editors' Choice" designation. Includes four product summaries, one diagram, four screen displays, three sidebars, two tables, and benchmark test results. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Security; Enterprise Computing; Network Management; Client-Server Computing Grade: C C B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-022 Author: Seltzer, Larry Title: Retail antivirus -- Be very afraid Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p164-174 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Aladdin Knowledge Systems; McAfee.com; Norman Data Defense Systems; Symantec; Panda Software Product Name: eSafe Desktop 2.2; McAfee VirusScan 5.0; Norman Virus Control 4.72; Norton AntiVirus 2000; Panda Antivirus Platinum 6.15.01 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to antivirus utility programs designed for individual users. Presents a table comparing five products from five providers on ease of use, installation, configuration, scanning, scheduling, updates, and performance. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are : eSafe Desktop 2.2 (free) from Aladdin Knowledge Systems Inc. of Seattle, WA (888) - 3; McAfee VirusScan 5.0 public beta ($30) from McAfee.com Corp. of Santa Clara, CA (800, 972) - 4; Norman Virus Control 4.72 ($80) from Norman Data Defense Systems of Fairfax, VA (888, 703) - 3; Norton AntiVirus 2000 ($36) from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800, 541) - 5; and Panda Antivirus Platinum 6.15.01 ($59) from Panda Software of Los Angeles, CA (800, 415) - 5. Says that Norton AntiVirus 2000 received the "Editors' Choice" designation. Includes five product summaries, eight screen displays, four sidebars, two tables, an! d benchmark test results. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Security; Microcomputer System; Macro Compatibility: IBM PC Grade: C B C A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI05-018 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Suites; not so suite Source: PC Magazine (May 9, 2000) v19 n9 p156-160 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: McAfee.com; Symantec; Ontrack Data International Product Name: McAfee Office 2000 PRO; Norton SystemWorks 2000 Professional Edition; Ontrack SystemSuite 2000 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to suites of utility applications. Presents a table comparing three products from three providers on installation, support, interface, updates, diagnostics, uninstaller, registry, security, antivirus, integration, and disk maintenance. Products reviewed and ratings given on a scale of one to five are : McAfee Office 2000 PRO ($70) from McAfee.com Corp. of Santa Clara, CA (800, 972) - 3; Norton SystemWorks 2000 Professional Edition ($99) from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800, 541) - 4; Ontrack SystemSuite 2000 ($60) from Ontrack Data International Inc. of Eden Prairie, MN (800) - 4. Explains that Ontrack SystemSuite 2000 received the "Editors' Choice" designation for providing the most thorough integration of applications. Includes three product summaries, three screen displays, four sidebars, benchmark test results, and two tables. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Integrated Software; Bundled Software; Enterprise Computing; Management Grade: C B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 00PI01-203 Author: Seltzer, Larry Title: System savings time -- When the clock runs out on your PC, a system recovery tool can take it back to when things were working smoothly Source: PC Magazine (January 18, 2000) v19 n2 p37-42 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: WildFile; imagine LAN; DuoMark International; LANovation; PowerQuest Product Name: GoBack 2.1; ConfigSafe Desktop Edition 3.0; 9Lives 1.0; PictureTaker Personal Edition 2.0; Second Chance 2.0 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to system recovery tools. Features five products from five manufacturers. Explains these tools are designed to repair a malfunctioning computer. Says they let users un-do anything that was done to a Windows-based system, even if Windows will not boot. Says they also help clean out a system when performance begins to degrade. Recommends GoBack 2.1 ($70) from WildFile Inc. of Plymouth, MN (888). Names it PC Magazine Editors' Choice. Also includes ConfigSafe Desktop Edition 3.0 ($39.95) from imagine LAN Inc. of Nashua, NH (800); 9Lives 1.0 ($49.95) from DuoMark International Inc. (310); PictureTaker Personal Edition 2.0 ($59.95) from LANovation of Minneapolis, MN (800); and SecondChance 2.0 ($70) from PowerQuest Corp. of Orem, UT (801). Includes six screen displays and two sidebars. Descriptor(s): Disaster Recovery; Backup; Utility Program; Microcomputer System; Software Tools Grade: A C C C B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI11-223 Author: Dvorak, John C Title: Inside track Source: PC Magazine (November 16, 1999) v18 n20 p85 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: INSIDE TRACK column mentions Intel's shift from Slot 1 to Socket 370 processing. Suggests that although Intel claims the speed limitations of the slot to be the reason for the change, it is nore likely to be a cost issue. Also reports on Intel's European public relations snafus, found to be quite politically incorrect. Says that Linux converts who complained about the high price of Windows are requesting their money back for unused preinstalled copies of the Windows operating system. Says the Fourmilab site in Switzerland features numerous Autodesk strategies as well as utilities for UNIX, Windows, and Palm computers, and observations of Autodesk founder, John Walker, including a diet plan and science fiction. Notes several changes in the flash memory market and says the Smart Media format has been abandoned by all but Olympus. Mentions the release of a seven CD-ROM set of the entire archive of Mad magazine. Descriptor(s): Microprocessor; Public Relations; International; Operating Systems; Competition; Utility Program; Magazines ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-078 Author: Roberts-Witt, Sarah L Title: Make Net work, not play Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p189-204 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: SurfWatch Software; Learning Company, The; Kansmen; Secure Computing; NetPartners Internet Solutions Product Name: SurfWatch@Work; CyberPatrol for Microsoft Proxy Server; LittleBrother Pro; SmartFilter for Microsoft Proxy Server; WebSense for Microsoft Proxy Server Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to corporate monitoring/filtering solutions for Internet access. Features five products from five manufacturers, each designed to make the Internet a tool, not a time-waster. Recommends SurfWatch@Work ($995, 50 users) from SurfWatch Software Inc., a division of Spyglass Inc. of Los Altos, CA (800). Names it PC Magazine Editors' Choice. Also reviews Cy Patrol for Microsoft Proxy Server ($1,395, 100 users) from The Learning Company of Framingham, MA (800); LittleBrother Pro ( 10 users) from Kansmen Corp. of Milpitas, CA (800, 408); SmartFilt for Microsoft Proxy Server ($3,250, 1,000 users) from Secure Computing Corp. of San Jose, CA (800); and WebSense for Microsoft Proxy Server ($5,000, 1,000 users) from NetPartners Internet Solutions Inc. of San Diego, CA (800, 619). Includes five screen displays, one diagram, two sidebars, and one scorecard. Descriptor(s): Filtering; Security; Internet; Utility Program; Software Tools Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A B B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-077 Author: Seltzer, Larry Title: Going up, going down Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p185 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Ipswitch; TransSoft; GlobalScape; BulletProof Software; Sean Hu Product Name: WS_FTP Pro 6.0; FTP Control 3.0 Pro; Cute FTP; BulletProof FTP; Cupertino Version 1999-01-22 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to file transfer protocol (FTP) utilities. Features five utilities from five manufacturers. Explains that Web site builders frequently use FTP clients to send the HTML and other files that make up a site to the server. Adds that software companies such as Netscape maintain FTP servers for users to find and obtain software. Notes that these tools are for those who use FTP frequently and are not necessary for just the occasional user, since the browser's FTP capability would suffice for infrequent use. Recommends WS_FTP Pro 6.0 ($37.50, direct) from Ipswitch Corp., making it the PC Magazine Editors' Choice. Also reviews FTP Control 3.0 Pro ($29, direct) from TranSoft Ltd.; Cute FTP ($34.95, direct) from GlobalScape Inc.; BulletProof FTP ($29.95, direct) from BulletProof Software; and Cupertino, Version 1999-01-22 (free download) from Sean Hu. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Data Transmission; Software Distribution; File Management; Software Tools; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A B B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-071 Author: Moskowitz, Jeremy Title: Essential NT utilities Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p179-180 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Winternals Software; Executive Software International Product Name: BlueSave; Diskeeper for Windows NT Workstation; ERD Commander; NTFSDOS Tools; Undelete for Windows NT Workstation Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to Microsoft Windows NT utilities. Features five products from two manufacturers. Explains that these utilities provide troubleshooting for PCs running Windows NT Workstation, noting that they are designed to handle the complexities of the operating system. Products reviewed include: BlueSave ($99) from Winternals Software of Austin, TX (512); Diskeeper for Windows NT Workstation ($50, street) from Executive Software International Inc. of Glendale, CA (800); ERD Commande ($249) from Winternals Software; NTFSDOS Tools ($89) from Winter Software; and Undelete for Windows NT Workstation ($50, stre Executive Software International. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Network Operating Systems; Software Tools; Network Management; Operating Systems Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows NT Grade: B B B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-062 Author: Haskin, David Rigney, Steve Title: Dice & dupe drives Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p173-176 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: PowerQuest; Altiris Product Name: PartitionMagic; RapiDeploy Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to disk utilities. Reviews two types of disk utilities: disk partitioning (four products) and disk imaging (four products). Explains that partitioning allows users to better organize data, make more efficient use of disk space, and run multiple operating systems. Recommends PartitionMagic ($70, street), a partitioning tool from PowerQuest Corp. of Orem, UT (800, 801), and names it PC Magazine Editors' Choice for the category. Says that disk imaging, or disk-cloning, tools takes a snapshot of an entire disk or partition and copy it to another disk or one or more PCs. Recommends RapiDeploy ($315, 25 users), a disk cloning tool from Altris Inc., a division of KeyLabs Inc. of Lindon, UT (888, 801). Names it PC Magazine Editors' Choice for the category. Includes benchmark test results and one sidebar. Descriptor(s): Optimization; Disk Drive; Utility Program; File Management Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-056 Author: Rigney, Steve Title: Get a safety (Inter)net Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p159-162 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Connected; ackup; Atrieva Product Name: Connected Online Backup; ackup; Internet FileZone Plus Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to online backup services. Features three services from three vendors. Recommends Connected Online Backup($19.95) from Connected Corp. of Framingham, MA (888, 508). Names it PC Magazine Editors' Choice. Also includes ackup ($99, per year) from ackup Corp. of San Diego, CA (888) and Internet FileZone Plus ($9.99, per month, 100MB) from Atrieva Corp. of Seattle, WA (888, 206). Explains that these services are a good alternative for backing up important data to a remote server, via the Internet. Says all three services use file compression to reduce the time requires to perform such backups; however, notes that it is still rather time-consuming. States that all are automated to some degree and backups can be scheduled to run unattended. Concludes that these services provide a good alternative for individual users to back up important data at a remote location. Includes one scorecard, two sidebars, an! d five screen displays. Descriptor(s): Backup; Utility Program; Internet; Remote Computing; Server Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A C B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-050 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Service your PC online Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p156-157 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Trend Micro; Intel Corp.; Network Associates; Symantec Product Name: HouseCall; Intel AnswerExpress Support Suite; McAfee Clinic; Norton Web Services; Oil Change Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to online utilities services. Points out that such online tools can provide services such as virus scanning, online backup, and technical support. Points out that there are advantages in keeping files up to date; however, warns that certain tools are only effective if they keep constant watch over the system. Reviews five services from four vendors: HouseCall (free) from Trend Micro Inc. of Cupertino, CA (800, 408); Intel AnswerExpress Support Suite ($49.95, first three months; $9.95, each additional month) from Intel Corp. of Hillsboro, OR (888); McAfee Clinic ($5.95, per month) from Network Associates Inc. of Santa Clara, CA (408); Norton Web Services ($29.95, per year; or $3.95 per month) from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800); and Oil Change ($29.95, per year) from Network Associates Inc. of Santa Clara, CA (801). Includes six screen displays. Descriptor(s): Diagnostics; Backup; Internet; Utility Program; Troubleshooting; Virus Grade: B B B C C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-045 Author: Simon, Barry Title: Tune up your PC Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p141-150 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec; Touchstone Software; Network Associates Product Name: Norton Utilities 4.0; Check-IT 98; First Aid 2000 Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to computer diagnostic programs. Features four products from three manufacturers. Explains that such programs can identify and repair software and hardware conflicts, prevent problems that can lead to crashes, and enhance performance by defragmenting hard disks and cleaning out junk files. Points out that many of these tools are now part of Windows and are not necessary unless the user is experiencing problems. Adds that they often go beyond what Windows programs can do. Names Norton Utilities ($50, street) from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800) as the PC Magazine Editors' Choice. Also reviews Check-IT 98 ($50, street) from Touchstone Software of North Andover, MA (800, 978); First Aid 2000 ($40, street) and Nuts & Bolts 98 ($50, street) from Network Associates of Santa Clara, CA (800, 801). Includes three screen displays, five sidebars, and one scorecard. Descriptor(s): Diagnostics; Utility Program; Software Tools; Troubleshooting Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A C B C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-041 Author: Rigney, Steve Title: Defend your network Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p123-138 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Trend Micro; Symantec; Network Associates Product Name: NeaTSuite; Norton AntiVirus for Windows NT/NetWare; Norton AntiVirus for Exchange/Notes; Total Virus Defense Enterprise Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to network antivirus solutions. Features four solutions from three manufacturers. Says that the products protect every network component, including file servers, e-mail servers, and client PCs. Adds that all of the products are certified by the International Computer Security Association (CSA), which means that they can detect all of the viruses known to be ``in the wild.'' Recommends NeaTSuite ($1,145, 25 users; $1,680, 500 users) from Trend Micro Inc. of Cupertino, CA (800, 408). Names it PC Magazine Editors' Choice. Also includes Norton AntiVirus for Windows NT/NetWare ($499.96, 10 clients) and Norton AntiVirus for Exchange/Notes ($795, 25 clients) from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800, 408); and Total Virus Defense Enterprise ($14, per node, 5000 nodes or more) from Network Associates Inc. of Santa Clara, CA (800, 408). Includes one scorecard, one diagram, two sidebars, two screen displays, ! and benchmark test results. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Network Management; Security; Networks; Bugs; Enterprise Computing Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-031 Author: Seltzer, Larry Title: Defend your PC Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p111-120 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec Product Name: Norton AntiVirus Deluxe Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to desktop antivirus software. Features nine products from nine manufacturers. Points out that the Internet has made the need for antivirus software greater, because it makes it easier to transfer virus files to a computer. Explains that the typical antivirus program scans files, drives, and folders for viruses, and monitors the system in the background against any unusual activity. Recommends Norton AntiVirus 5.0 Deluxe ($50, street, includes one-year of definition updates) from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800). Calls it ``the most effective virus protection in an easy-to-use package.'' Says that it provides a simple and easily accessible interface and integrates with Windows 98's task scheduling feature, instead of adding its own. Names it the PC Magazine Editors' Choice. Includes one diagram, two sidebars, one scorecard, benchmark test results, and three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Software Tools; Troubleshooting; User Interface; Upgrade Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 98 Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-028 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Full-service packages Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p109 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec; Network Associates Product Name: Norton SystemWorks; McAfee Office Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to full-service software utilities suites. Features two products from two manufacturers. Points out that these suites provide a collection of tools at a price much lower than if the user bought each utility individually and at the same time, provide a single installation and one main user interface. Notes that the suites provide antivirus, diagnostic, crash protection, uninstall, and other utilities. Recommends Norton SystemWorks ($69.95, Standard Edition; $99.95, Professional) from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800). Names it PC Magazine Editors' Choice. Also includes McAfee Office ($99.95) from Network Associates of Santa Clara, CA (800, 801). Includes one scorecard and one screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Virus; Diagnostics; Software Tools; Competition; User Interface Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI05-027 Author: Morris, John Title: The complete PC toolkit Source: PC Magazine (May 4, 1999) v18 n9 p100-204 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a special buyers' guide, ``The 1999 Utility Guide.'' Features individual buyers' guides to today's utility options: full-service packages, desktop antivirus solutions, network antivirus solutions, performance boosters, online utilities services, online backup solutions, Web research solutions, instant messaging, disk drive management options, Windows NT-specific tools, upload/download management, Internet access management, and filtering programs. Points out that utilities are a necessa addition to any computer, even one that is configued to exact specifications and explains that they are designed to help maintain a system's performance and productivity. Mentions the influence o the Internet on today's utility options, including online services, noting that they provide many of the same features traditionally available in packaged software. Includes 17 sidebars, three diagrams, six scorecards, 30 screen displays,! and three benchmark test results. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Software Tools; Virus; Management; Backup; Web Tools; Filters ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI02-216 Author: Brown, Marge Title: Utilities Source: PC Magazine (February 23, 1999) v18 n4 p143 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Intelligent Systems; Bsquare; Sierra Imaging; Communication Intelligence Product Name: BackupBuddy 3.05; bPrint 2.0; Image Expert CE 1.0; QuickNotes Pro 1.0 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to utilities for Palm OS and Windows CE-based handhelds. Features capsule reviews of four titles from four manufacturers. Highlights BackupBuddy 3.05 ($15, street), from Intelligent Systems, distributed by PalmPilot Gear H.Q. of Arlington, TX (800). Says it is an easy-to-use backup solution for Palm devices and names it a finalist in the ZDnet Shareware awards. Also features bPrint 2.0 ($29.95, direct) a printer utility from Bsquare Corp. of Bellevue, WA (888); Image Expert CE 1.0 ($49.95, direct), a digital image management solution from Sierra Imaging Inc. of Scotts Valley, CA (887); and QuickNotes Pro 1.0 ($39, direct), a note-taking utility for keyboard or stylus from Communication Intelligence Corp. of Redwood Shores, CA (800). Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Software Tools; Backup; Printer; Image Management; Image Processing Compatibility: Palm OS; Microsoft Windows CE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 99PI01-201 Author: Shaffer, Gail Title: Free (and nearly free) stuff and where to get it Source: PC Magazine (January 19, 1999) v18 n2 p100-114 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to free and nearly free software that can be downloaded from the Internet. Covers seven categories, including system utilities, Microsoft Office add-ons, Internet tools, communications tools, organizational tools, Web development tools, and games. Includes product requirements, price, Web address, and a brief description. Explains that users can keep freeware, trialware is free but crippled and may ultimately time out, and shareware programs nag users to register and pay for the software, adding that if users do not, the program times out after 30 days or so. Includes a sidebar, ``Tips on Web downloading and Storage,'' advising users to keep copies, Regedit (but only if they are proficient with Regedit), check for viruses, save order numbers or similar information that appears on the browser before downloading; and create a special folder on the disk for downloaded ZIP archives. Includes seven scree! n displays and two product source guides. Descriptor(s): Web Sites; Shareware; Web Tools; Games; Utility Program; Add-on ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI12-225 Author: Dvorak, John C Title: John C. Dvorak's inside track Source: PC Magazine (December 15, 1998) v17 n22 p89 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: Olympus; Sony; Kodak; Microsoft; Adobe Systems Product Name: Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 Abstract: INSIDE TRACK column notes Olympus's introduction of the phrase ``filmless camera'' to promote its digital camera line. Claims that Olympus is definitely leading the way in digital camera development. Says that Kodak and Sony are expected to follow suit. Mentions the increase in competition in the photo-manipulation software market, including a ``battle'' between Microsoft and Adobe to offer the coolest product. Calls Microsoft's PhotoDraw 2000 fabulous, an easy way to create quick graphics for Web pages or presentations. Compares the competition among the image market to the once-great competition in the utilities market. Notes that this competition quickly ceased, as most users were buying two or more of these competing products. Descriptor(s): Digital Camera; Marketing; Competition; Image Processing; Special Effects; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI11-244 Author: Sipe, Steven E Title: Create a personalized start page -- Page1 gives you a starting point for accessing the World Wide Web Source: PC Magazine (November 17, 1998) v17 n20 p255-257 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: PC Magazine Online Product Name: Page1 Abstract: Discusses Page1, a downloadable utility for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0 which provides a means for customizing one's Web start page. Explains that it is available for download free of charge from PC Magazine Online, through anonymous FTP, or by mail. Explains that it is a simple way to create a start page with one's own list of links. Mentions that the source code, written in C++ with Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) is also available for programmers. Provides step-by-step instruction on how to create a start page using the utility and notes that the process is fairly straightforward. Also points out that the style of the page, including the font and color, can be customized easily using HTML. Includes two screen displays and two sidebars. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Web Page Authoring; Shareware; Software Tools ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI10-215 Author: Brown, Bruce Title: The written word -- Edit and enter data faster on PDAs with these three handwriting recognition utilities Source: PC Magazine (October 20, 1998) v17 n18 p52-53 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Advanced Recognition Technologies; ParaGraph, a division of Vandem; Communication Intelligence Product Name: ARTrecognition; Calligrapher 5.1; Jot Pro Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to handwriting recognition utilities designed to update a Palmtop PC's data entry capabilities. Covers ARTrecognition ($60) from Advanced Recognition Technologies of Chatsworth CA (888, 818); Calligrapher 5.1 ($50) from the ParaGraph division of Vandem of San Jose CA (888, 612); and Jot Pro ($29) from Communication Intelligence Corp. of Redwood Shores CA (800, 650). States that all three products can be downloaded via the Web. Mentions ARTrecognition's ability to recognize English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese printed characters, and Calligrapher's ability to recognize printed characters and cursive writing, both separately and in combination. Points out Jot Pro's ability to decipher the Graffiti alphabet used with 3Com Palm devices. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Handwriting Recognition; Foreign Language; Hand-held Computer; Web Tools; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI09-260 Author: Randall, Neil Title: Maintaining your Windows 98 system -- A set of very useful tools in Windows 98 will help you keep your system functioning at its peak Source: PC Magazine (September 22, 1998) v17 n16 p245-247 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Presents a discussion of the Windows 98 Maintenance Wizard and the System Configuration Utility. Says the primary function of the Maintenance Wizard is to keep the user organized to perform the tasks of checking the hard disk for errors, deleting unneeded files, and defragmenting the disk, by enabling automatic scheduling of the ScanDisk, Disk Cleanup, and Disk Defragmenter system utilities. Adds that each of these utilities is customizable. Notes that both the Maintenance Wizard and the System Configuration Utility provide a means to speed the system boot process by preventing programs in the StartUp folder from loading. Says the configuration utility offers a total of six tabs to control a different element of the start-up process. Concludes, ``System maintenance is never much fun, but it's necessary, and now we have very few excuses not to perform it.'' Includes three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Maintenance; Productivity Software; Operating Systems; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI05-090 Author: Knoblaugh, Rick Title: An antidote to aliases -- LFNDir displays long filenames under DOS, instead of cryptic aliases containing tildes Source: PC Magazine (May 5, 1998) v17 n9 p303-306 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Product Name: LFNDir Abstract: Describes LFNDir, a command line program that lets user view Windows 95 long filenames under DOS, and is available free for download from the PC Magazine Web site, or by mail. States that LFNDir's syntax and output closely match those of the DOS DIR command when DIR is executed from within a Windows 95 DOS box. Explains that LFNDir supports all DOS disk formats, but not the new FAT32 disk format introduced with Windows 95B. Notes that LFNDir improves upon DIR by allowing user to use wildcard characters in specifying pathnames, right up to the last path element. Attention is given to the FAT structure, wherein each disk has a fixed number of root-directory entries located in the sectors that immediately follow the FAT sectors. Considers subdirectories, and the layout of the long-filename directory entries. Explains how LFNDir determines which sectors are inhabited by the DOS file system structures. Includes two screen displa! ys, two illustrations, and one sidebar. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Directories; DOS; Windows; User Interface; Disk Files Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows; Microsoft Windows 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI05-022 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Stroke saver -- MJMSoft Design's KeyText automates your most frequent keyboard and mouse actions Source: PC Magazine (May 5, 1998) v17 n9 p76 Pub. Type: Software Reviews Company Name: MJMSoft Design Product Name: KeyText 1.0 Abstract: Presents a very favorable review of KeyText 1.0 ($25), a keyboard and mouse automation utility from MJMSoft Design Ltd. of Edinburgh, UK. Runs on IBM PC compatibles with 500K hard disk space and Windows 95 or NT 4.0 or later. Explains that KeyText performs the four basic tasks of entering text, scheduling programs, pushing dialog-box buttons, and gathering text from the clipboard. States that user can store the text of such repeatedly typed objects as their name and e-mail address, as KeyText ``items,'' and have the program enter it into an application when user selects the item from Keytext's menu. Features include the ability to enter the current date and time anywhere in an automated text string, and the ability to launch the browser and open any Web site assigned to the menu or a hotkey. Concludes that KeyText is the most powerful, elegant, flexible, and unobtrusive automation utility available for Windows 95 and NT. In! cludes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Keyboard Actuator; Keyboard; Text; User Interface; Input/Output; Mouse Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95; Microsoft Windows NT Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI05-006 Author: Nash, Sharon Perenson, Melissa J Title: Utilities: E-mail extras Source: PC Magazine (May 5, 1998) v17 n9 p36 Pub. Type: Software Reviews Company Name: Simplify Development; GFI Fax & Voice; CS2Exchange Software; Expert Software; Sierra Solutions Product Name: MailRoom for Windows 4.0; Emailrobot for Exchange/SMTP; CS2OutlookExpress; Animated E.Mail; MailRoom for Internet 2.3 Abstract: Presents favorable reviews of five e-mail utilities for IBM PC compatibles, including MailRoom for Windows 4.0 ($79 per user) from Simplify Development Corp. (603), Emailrobot for Exchange/SMTP ($495) from GFI Fax & Voice Ltd. (888), and Whew! ($9.95) from WordCruncher Publishing Technologies (801). Also reviews CS2OutlookExpress ($25) from CS2Exchange Software (540), and Animated E.Mail ($15) from Expert Software. States that MailRoom is a document imaging application that can deliver browsable documents to an e-mail inbox. Adds, Emailrobot automates and manages company's corporate and Web site e-mail. Notes Whew! is an e search utility and CS2OutlookExpress converts e-mail data from CompuServe 3.0 to Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0. Sidebar reviews MailRoom for Internet 2.3 ($55) from Sierra Solutions (310). Says it provides a simple, elegant design, and support for long file names. Includes four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Electronic Mail; Utility Program; Web Tools; Search Engines; Conversions; Enterprise Computing Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows; Microsoft Windows 95 Grade: B B B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI07-078 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Personalize your start menu with DecoMenu -- Now you can use a customized bitmap to decorate the Windows 95 or 98 start menu Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1998) v17 n13 p313-322 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Explains how to use freeware utility DecoMenu to supplant aspects of the standard Microsoft Windows start menu with a customized bitmap. Says DecoMenu supports Windows 95, Windows NT 4, Windows 98, and Windows NT 5, although the latter two operating systems are still in beta testing. Explains that it allows user to decorate the Start menu with their own bitmap, replacing the six or seven icons for the main section of the Start menu. Says user can put company logo or brand home computer with favorite sport, pet, or hobby. Points out that the software has an easy-to-use, wizard-style, question-based interface. Notes the software displays a preview of start menu changes before they are actually implemented. Describes each step in the process in detail, and provides extensive information on how the software works. Includes discussion of display speeds, extracting bitmaps and icon images, and other functions. Includes two screen! displays and one sidebar. Descriptor(s): Icon; Shareware; Utility Program; Programming Aids ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI09-091 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Explorer Notes 2.0: make a note of it! -- An enhanced, Windows 98-compatible version lets you add descriptive notes to files displayed in Explorer Source: PC Magazine (September 1, 1998) v17 n15 p269-276 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Profiles the latest release of Explorer Notes 2.0, a utility program for the personal computer that enables the user to display notes on every file or folder in a system. Notes the previous version was only compatible with Windows 95 and was incompatible with Internet Explorer 4.0. Says while the 2.0 does not display the notes directly in Windows Explorer, the user can view, add, or edit notes for a file or folder by right-clicking the context menu. Adds the program allows the user to review, edit, back up, and otherwise manage notes he or she has associated with the particular files. Notes if the user deletes, moves, or renames a folder in Windows Explorer, Notes will update the corresponding notes automatically. Adds the user can also use a file's associated note to locate a file on a hard disk. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): File Management; Window Software; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI06-274 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Freely manage file associations -- Freedom of Association finds and fixes your Windows 95 file-association problems Source: PC Magazine (June 30, 1998) v17 n12 p271-274 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: PC Magazine Online Product Name: Freedom of Association Abstract: Provides a detailed discussion of the Freedom of Association (free) utility program, a 32-bit Windows application written in Delphi, and available as a download from PC Magazine Online. Says the program runs under Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0. Gives a thumbnail explanation of Windows file associations, and provides step-by-step instructions on how to get started with the utility. Offers a highly-detailed guided tour of the utility, including finding and fixing problems, executing an undo, reading extensions, and writing registry files. Notes the utility enables the user to review all registered extensions, review the file types associated with those extensions, clean up invalid entries, correct invalid associations, and add extensions to existing file types. Includes three screen displays and one sidebar. Descriptor(s): File Management; Utility Program; Problem-solving; Programming Aids ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI04-276 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Create and solve Word-letter puzzles Source: PC Magazine (April 21, 1998) v17 n8 p227-230 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Product Name: PC Ladder Abstract: Explains the utility program PC Ladder, which lets you create, solve, and print ``word ladder'' puzzles. States that to solve such a puzzle, the user transforms a starting word into an ending word (usually an opposite) by changing one letter at a time, using a real word at every step. States that the mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll) is credited with inventing this word puzzle. Says PC Ladder will solve most puzzles in a few seconds, but occasionally will take a little longer. Requires Microsoft Windows 95, NT 4, and NT 3.51. Says the author hopes the techniques discussed here will inspire other software authors to think about how other users interface with programs. Includes two screen displays and a sidebar. Descriptor(s): Puzzles; Games; Utility Program; Computer Instruction; Application Development; Word Games; Interface Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95; Microsoft Windows NT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI06-045 Author: Wolking, Gregory A Title: Avoid the DOS prompt -- MultiRen lets you rename groups of files from within Windows Explorer Source: PC Magazine (June 9, 1998) v17 n11 p269-276 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Provides a profile of MultiRen, an program that enhances Windows Explorer with a sophisticated feature called Multiple Rename. Says it runs under Windows 95 or Windows NT 4. Explains to access MultiRen, select two or more files from within Explorer, right-click for the context menu, and select Multi Rename. Adds MultiRen supports special commands that add sequence numbers to filenames, force uppercase or lowercase, and more. Explains how to use MultiRen, how to create a file list, rename files, sequence numbers and use templates. Offers a chart explaining MultiRen commands, including the functions of each. Concludes MultiRen is a simple but powerful program that demonstrates some useful Windows programming tricks. Contains one chart and one screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Operating Environment; Software; Programming Language ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI08-076 Author: Sipe, Steven E Title: Organize downloads with HandsDown -- Create lists of Internet files for downloading at your convenience in batch mode Source: PC Magazine (August 1, 1998) v17 n14 p347-354 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Presents a profile on HandsDown, a free-downloadable utility program made available by the magazine. Says HandsDown requires Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT 4.0 or better, and the Windows WinInet communication routines, which come with Windows. Explains that it lets it the user use the Windows Clipboard to create a list of files for download from FTP or Web servers, then download the files all at once and save the list as a project file for later use. Adds, a command line option lets user schedule downloads using Task Scheduler in Windows 98 or System Agent, available with the Windows 95 Plus! Pack. Concludes that if the users download files on a regular basis, they might appreciate the convenience that HandsDown offers. Includes four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Operating Systems; Web Server ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI04-033 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Don't waste disk space -- Dupeless ferrets out duplicate files on your hard disk and helps you decide which ones to blow away Source: PC Magazine (April 7, 1998) v17 n7 p259-264 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: PC Magazine Online Product Name: Dupeless Abstract: PC TECH UTILITIES column introduces Dupeless, a 32-bit Delphi-based Windows application designed to find, and remove, duplicate files from a hard disk. Notes that this is a good utility to run once a month, to clean the hard disk and recover disk space. Claims that it works by comparing filenames and file sizes, and there is also an option to compare date and time stamps. Adds that it also allows the user to define exclusions, including specific folders or extensions. Explains how Dupeless was written in order to give it the ability to recognize several definitions of duplicates using an alternative to the typical MD5 algorithm. Also, recommends that programmers overview the ShFileOperation API for a simple information function. Includes one screen display, one product source guide, and one program listing. Descriptor(s): File Management; Utility Program; Windows; Programming Aids; Application Development; Tutorial; Algorithm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI04-023 Author: Plain, Stephen Title: Utilities Source: PC Magazine (April 7, 1998) v17 n7 p131, 134 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Presents a special report on Java-based utilities. Includes six products from six manufacturers. Points out that unlike traditional utility programs, Java utilities are not designed for specific operating systems or applications. Explains that Java utilities provide specific functions, rather than enhancing performance. Notes that Java utilities focus on content management. Suggests that Java is a natural choice for Internet and intranet applications. Mentions that they have benefited from the introduction of JavaBeans for the creation of third-party add-ons, such as spell-checkers. Includes three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Java; Utility Program; Application Development; Intranets; Internet; Add-on ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI04-022 Author: Randall, Neil Title: Internet applications Source: PC Magazine (April 7, 1998) v17 n7 p120, 130 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to Java-based Internet applications as part of a special report on Java applications. Features the following products: Dart-Pro, a Java-based e-mail program from NetAccent Inc., of Downers Grove, IL (630); Novita LifeLetter, an e-mail client that offers the advantages of Java without compromises from Novita Communications Inc., Santa Clara, CA (408); Ding! which can be thought of as an office in/out board with the immediacy of the telephone and the reach of the Internet by Activerse Inc., of Austin, TX (800, 512); VolanoChat a full-featured chat package from Volano LLC, San Francisco, CA (415); MerzScope a Java-based In utility from MerzCom Inc., Laval, Quebec, Canada (510); and NetResults a server-based application that indexes any text-base files from Innotech Multimedia Corp. of North York, Ontario, Canada (416). Calls these applications full-featured. Includes three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Internet; Java; Electronic Mail; Messaging; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI04-019 Author: Coffee, Peter Title: Java applications -- Although Java has received much attention, until recently it has been slow to find its way into mainstream applications Source: PC Magazine (April 7, 1998) v17 n7 p107-134 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to Java applications. Features guides to products in four categories: productivity applications (seven products from seven manufacturers), financial applications (two products from two manufacturers), Internet applications (six products from six manufacturers), and utilities (six products from six manufacturers). Notes that the number of Java-based off-the-shelf applications is slowly increasing, and claims that the quality of these applications is improving. Reports mixed resul testing, with the Java applications proving to be efficient. However, their installation was frustrating and difficult. Argues that generally the Java applications do not offer the level of performance of their Windows counterparts. However, points out they have the advantages of portability, platform independence, lower cost. Includes one diagram, one sidebar, and eleven screen displays. Descriptor(s): Java; Application Development; Productivity Software; Financial Planning; Internet; Utility Program; Benchmark Testing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-267 Author: Wolking, Gregory A Title: Read on-screen documents with ease -- Scroller lets you scroll windows automatically at the speed of your choice Source: PC Magazine (March 24, 1998) v17 n6 p259-266 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Presents a description of Scroller, a utility program for reading long documents on-screen. Without this program, users read a screen of text, stop reading, aim the mouse, click the scroll bar, relocate their place in the document, and start reading again. This program scrolls the window, line by line, at a rate specified by the user. This 32-bit applications runs under Windows 95 and NT 4.0. Describes how to install the application, its impact on external files, and how to uninstall it if desired. Describes the steps the author took in identifying tasks the program had to accomplish and the programming techniques used to accomplish them. Includes instructions on how to obtain Scroller online or by mail and tips on how to use it once it is installed. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Software Tools; Utility Program; Tutorial; Programming Instruction; Reading ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-257 Author: Proffit, Brian Stone, M David Title: Do tasks in other OSs -- Windows 95 is the leader on desktops, but there will always be other OSs. Here are some utilities for them Source: PC Magazine (March 24, 1998) v17 n6 p221-224 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents capsule reviews of utility programs for OSs other than Windows 95. No "Editors' Choice" was named for any category in any OS. Programs for OS/2 include three antivirus programs, six backup programs, four desktop managers, four disk managers, four interface programs, and eight system utilities. For Windows NT there are four antivirus programs, five backup programs, three disk managers, four interface programs, and two system programs. For Windows 3.x and DOS there are 10 utilities but are not grouped by category. Includes one illustration and four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Operating Systems; Utility Program; OS/2; Software Review; DOS; Backup Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-256 Author: Beizer, Doug Anderson, Jennifer Mendelson, Edward Canter, Sheryl Title: Complete your Net toolbox -- Here we've pulled together a few more tools to help you make more productive use of your time online Source: PC Magazine (March 24, 1998) v17 n6 p213-219 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Product Name: BulletProof FTP 1.03; CheckMail 32 1.50 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide, in tabular form, to a number of miscellaneous Internet utilities, including three floating toolbars, two Web outliners, a bookmark synchronizer, two Web graphics managers, 16 e-mail notifiers, 16 FTP utilities, and browser utilities in five categories. "Editors' Choice" honors went to CheckMail 32 1.50 ($12) in the e-mail notifier category and BulletProof FTP 1.03 ($29.95) in the FTP utilities category. No other "Editors' Choices" were announced. Includes one illustration, two tables, and six screen displays. Descriptor(s): Internet; Web Tools; Software Review; Utility Program Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-246 Author: Morris, John Giles, Douglas Haskin, David Schneider, Michael L Title: Take care of other tasks -- From compressing files to enhancing printer output, this assortment of utilities will help you get the most out of your PC Source: PC Magazine (March 24, 1998) v17 n6 p163-174 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: PKWare Product Name: PKZip 2.60 for Windows Abstract: Presents reviews of miscellaneous utilities for Windows 95. Includes reviews of seven file compressions utilities, seven disk utilities, six data security utilities, three surveillance utilities, two multiboot utilities, two display utilities, three sound and storage utilities, and two printer utilities. Most of the reviews are very brief, and only one category - file compression - had an "Editors' Choice." The winner in that category was PKZip 2.60 for Windows ($49) from PKWare Inc., (414). This version of the program has an improved graphical interface. It is available in both 16- and 32-bit versions and zipping and unzipping can be done either with the aid of a Wizard or using a standard interface. The program is noteworthy for its interface and speed. It can read and extract BinHex, GZIP, MIME, TAR, uuencoded, and xxencoded files. It can also search for and sort files by name, size, and date. Includes one ill! ustration and 14 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Compression; Wizards; Encryption; Sound; Printer; Utility Program; Software Review Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-244 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: View files faster -- These handy tools extend Windows Quick View and let you have a quick look at just about any type of file without installing the software Source: PC Magazine (March 24, 1998) v17 n6 p157-161 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Inso Product Name: Quick View Plus 4.5 Abstract: Presents reviews of five file viewer programs which allow viewing files without the requirement of launching the application that generated them. These programs also include some management features and all but one - which is specialized for CAD viewing - are priced below $60. Viewing a file requires only right-clicking on a filename in Explorer and selecting the viewer from a menu or opening a file from the viewer's dialog box. Most word processing or spreadsheet files appear with formatting intact and graphics files can be zoomed in and out. Users can also view files in text or hex mode. Includes a buyers' guide comparing features of the programs reviewed. Quick View Plus 4.5 ($50) from Inso Corp., Boston, MA (800, 617) is the "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration, one table, and five screen displays. Descriptor(s): File Management; Software Review; Utility Program; Document Viewer; Computer Aided Design Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible; 486-based PC Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-242 Author: Stone, M David Title: Back up your work -- There's no excuse for not protecting your valuable data. These utilities make backing up your work as easy as 1, 2, 3 Source: PC Magazine (March 24, 1998) v17 n6 p149-152 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Seagate Software Product Name: Backup Exec for Windows 95 Abstract: Presents reviews of four backup programs for Windows 95. Although Windows 95 includes two backup packages--XCOPY and Microsoft Backup - Microsoft Backup can restore files only to the drive and directory they came from and does not offer the capability of disaster recovery, and XCOPY requires a level of comfort with the DOS command line that not everyone has. Two of the programs reviewed allow users to treat a tape drive as a disk drive, so files can be read from tape using any program that can normally read from a disk. A sidebar presents a brief description of four online backup services which can store backup files on the Net and another sidebar describes Safety Net Pro ($21.95) a minimalist backup program that saves only essential files including the Windows registry and all .INI files. Backup Exec for Windows 95 ($99) from Seagate Software Inc., Heathrow, FL (800, 407) is the "Editors' Choice." Includes one il! lustration and five screen displays. Descriptor(s): Backup; Software Review; Utility Program Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 95; IBM PC Compatible Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-237 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Clean up your hard disk -- Too many downloads? One of these uninstaller utilities will safely rid your system of unwanted files and old applications Source: PC Magazine (March 24, 1998) v17 n6 p139-146 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Quarterdeck Product Name: CleanSweep Deluxe Abstract: Presents reviews of six uninstaller programs which can clean up a system more completely than Windows 95's Add/Remove Programs applet. These programs scan a hard disk to create a complete database of files including a library of links and dependencies which tell them which DLLs and other files are required to run specific apps - a feature lacking in Add/Remove. When an app is installed, an uninstaller records the names of files added or changed and data modified in the registry and INI files so when the app is removed or archived, the program deletes only those files that were added or changed. An insert presents four reasons why one needs an uninstaller. Includes a buyers' guide comparing features of programs reviewed and a benchmark test. CleanSweep Deluxe ($60) from Quarterdeck Corp., Marina del Rey, CA (800, 573) is the "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration, two tables, and four screen displays. Descriptor(s): File Management; Utility Program; Software Review Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible; 486-based PC Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-236 Author: Simon, Barry Title: Solve PC problems -- Here's an array of tools and suites to help you fix what's ailing your PC or let you fine-tune your system for better performance Source: PC Magazine (March 24, 1998) v17 n6 p125-137 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: CyberMedia; Network Associates Product Name: First Aid 98; Nuts & Bolts Abstract: Presents reviews of seven troubleshooting utility programs and suites. Traditionally, such programs concentrated on hardware, reporting a diagnosing IRQ and DMA problems, but with plug-and-play they have shifted the emphasis to software troubleshooting. These programs address problems of unwanted files left by old programs, shared files getting lost, disk fragmentation, and others. A sidebar describes three Internet programs that deliver software updates and another sidebar describes crash protection features included in five of the products reviewed. Includes a buyers' guide comparing features of the programs reviewed. An insert gives five reasons why one needs a troubleshooting program. FirstAid 98 ($40) from CyberMedia Inc., Santa Monica, CA (800, 310) and Nuts & Bolts ($50) from Network Associates Inc., Santa Clara, CA (800, 408) ar "Editors' Choice" for beginners and power users, respectively. Includes one il! lustration, nine screen displays, and two table Descriptor(s): Troubleshooting; Utility Program; Software Review Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible; 486-based PC Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-234 Author: Morris, John Brown, Bruce Canter, Sheryl Mendelson, Edward Title: The 1998 utility guide -- For our annual roundup of desktop utilities, we tested 225 products to find the best tools to help you get the most out of your PC Source: PC Magazine (March 24, 1998) v17 n6 p100-224 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents PC Magazine's annual roundup of the best of PC utilities, based on tests of 225 products "from antivirus to Zip." Says the essential toolkit will have an antivirus program, a troubleshooting program, an uninstaller, a backup program, and a file compression program (and recommends eight optional goodies). Lists the utility features already in Windows based on beta versions of Windows 98 and NT 5.0 Workstation. Includes a directory of programs tested. "Editors' Choice" honors are given in most categories. Program categories are: troubleshooting; antivirus; uninstallers; personal backup; file viewers; file compression; hard disk utilities; data security; multiboot utilities; other hardware utilities; Internet security suites, parental filtering, search and navigation, FTP utilities, and other utilities; and DOS, Windows 3.1, and OS/2 utilities. Includes 27 illustrations, 111 screen displays, 11 tab! les, and one graph. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Backup; Internet; Security; Troubleshooting; Diagnostics; Software Review ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI01-235 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Changer2 livens up your desktop -- Automate changes to your screen saver, wallpaper, pointers, and desktop theme Source: PC Magazine (January 20, 1998) v17 n2 p243-248 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Provides a profile on Changer2 ($NA), a Windows 95 utility available for download from the PC Magazine Online site. Claims that Changer2 automates changes to the desktop, giving the desktop a different look every time the utility is run. Explains that it allows the user to specify changes to the wallpaper, pointer, screen saver, and desktop theme, giving it a choice to select from for the changes. Overviews installation and setup of the utility, including how to set the parameters via item selection. Also discusses how the setup works, with an explanation of how the source code works. Points out that this version is an update of a Windows 3.1, and notes the differences in the program. Includes one screen display and one product summary. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Screen Savers; Window Software; Task Automation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI01-217 Author: Morris, John Stone, M David Title: Second looks Source: PC Magazine (January 20, 1998) v17 n2 p80 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Company Name: Verity; SyQuest Product Name: Verity KEYview Pro; SyQuest SyJet Abstract: Presents a second look of two products previously reviewed by PC Magazine, and notes changes and/or their real-world performance. Includes the KEYview Pro ($49; $29, upgrade), a file viewer originally from FTP Software and now available from Verity Inc. Notes that it has been upgraded to 6.0 to address stability problems, and adds new features such as a hex viewer and support for the latest office suite file formats. Also spotlights the SyJe ($399), a 1.5GB removable disk drive from SyQuest. Reports that after several months of day-to-day use, it is still a relia impressive product. Adds that it is definitely one of the top performing removable drives, and notes that the company is working on a utility that will allow the drive to be recognized by Windows 95 and Windows NT as a fixed disk. Includes one photo. Descriptor(s): Disk Drive; File Management; Document Viewer; Removable; Upgrade; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-092 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Screens: a screen-saver manager -- Schedule screen savers for holidays, special events, and days of the week Source: PC Magazine (March 10, 1998) v17 n5 p259-268 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Introduces Screens, a utility program which can be used to schedule screen savers by day of the week or special dates. This is a 32-bit program that runs under Windows 95 or NT 3.51 or higher. It can be obtained by downloading or by mail. Includes instructions on how to use the program overall as well as specific instructions on how to program it to display a particular screen saver on a special day. When the program does not find a special-event screen it uses the default screen saver defined on the "Default" tab. The program makes a list of available screen savers by examining all files in the Windows directory and System directory for files with the extension .SCR. Includes a brief description of how the program determines whether a given day is special or not and describes calculated dates and also describes some of the API functions used to store and manipulate screen savers. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Screen Savers; Utility Program; Programming Design; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-084 Author: Sipe, Steven E Title: Installation toolkits -- We look at five packages that give developers a quicker way to produce professional-looking installation programs Source: PC Magazine (March 10, 1998) v17 n5 p239-244 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: InstallShield Software Product Name: InstallShield Express 2; InstallShield Professional 5 Abstract: Presents reviews of five installation programs. Historically, most programs came with custom installation programs which required many lines of Visual Basic or C code. These programs were built for a specific installation and in many cases had to be rewritten for each new product and sometimes for each version of the same product. The programs reviewed here handle many of the common tasks such as checking for disk space and checking for write permission on target drives and also include an uninstall feature. Each of the products reviewed has strengths and weaknesses but all provide a core set of features required for building a professional-quality installer. A table summarizes the features of each of the programs reviewed. InstallShield Express 2 ($245) and InstallShield Professional 5 ($795) from InstallShield Software Corp., Schaumburg, IL (800) are the basic and advanced "Editors Choice" selections, respective! ly. Includes one illustration, one table, and six screen displays. Descriptor(s): Programming Aids; Utility Program; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI03-010 Author: Beizer, Doug Title: Return to sender Source: PC Magazine (March 10, 1998) v17 n5 p40 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: America Online; Omron Advanced Systems Product Name: Mail Controls; MailJail Abstract: Announces two e-mail utility programs for filtering out unwanted junk e-mail. Mail Controls (free) from America Online (800) lets AOL subscribers set mail acceptance levels to receive e-mail from AOL members only, members plus specified domains or addresses, or all sources. MailJail ($24.95 download, $29.95 on CD) from Omron Advanced Systems (408) has a knowledge base of more than 400 rules with new filtering rules added monthly using MailJail's online service. It can check whether a message comes from a frequent correspondent or a known spammer, in which case it is blocked. The program learns the user's e-mail preferences before identifying and filtering unwanted mail. It checks the entire content of each message to ensure that no junk mail slips through. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Electronic Mail; Filtering; Utility Program; Spamming ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI02-279 Author: Sipe, Steven E Title: Download Web sites -- Avoid waiting for individual Web pages to load: SiteSnagger downloads entire Web sites Source: PC Magazine (February 24, 1998) v17 n4 p229-232 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Presents SiteSnagger, a utility program for downloading Web sites. The downloaded sites are displayed in a tree display with a Table of Contents, and are available for browsing offline. SiteSnagger can be configured by specifying the number of levels to download, the number of pages to download (which overrides the number of levels when it is reached), and limiting links to other servers. The program generates a log of every file it downloads and of the level of each item. It is a resource-intensive utility - for large sites it will require as much as 2MB free memory and or course hard disk requirements can also be heavy. Provides a brief description of the inner workings of SiteSnagger, tells how the program extracts HTML tags, and how it navigates links. Provides information on how to obtain the files for this and other programs in the PC Tech articles from the Net or by mail or fax. Descriptor(s): Web Sites; Utility Program; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI02-081 Author: Deurbrouck, John Title: The ins and the outs -- InOutBd lets every employee in your company keep track of who's in and who's out Source: PC Magazine (February 10, 1998) v17 n3 p257-262 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Presents a utility program, InOutBd, a small Web server which can be used to keep track of which employees are in or out of the office. Anyone with a PC and a TCP/IP network can use this program to maintain a personal in/out board. The program is available for download from PC Magazine or by mail and the source code is also available. Describes how to set up the program and how to use it once it is operational. Provides instructions on how to customize its display and presents a brief discussion of the security aspects of the program which, although it can connect to outside computers, makes only very limited information available. Concludes with a brief discussion of methods of handling HTTP with Microsoft Foundation Classes. Some Web servers will require more complex status boards, but for simple requests with simple responses, InOutBd will be useful. Includes five screen displays. Descriptor(s): Web Server; TCP/IP; Utility Program; Tutorial; Window Software; Human Resources ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI02-073 Author: Buehler, Steve Title: Bits and pieces Source: PC Magazine (February 10, 1998) v17 n3 p226 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: Executive Software; Raxco Product Name: Diskeeper; PerfectDisk NT Abstract: MULTIPLE ACCESS column discusses defragmentation tools. Historically servers had no defragging tools - to recover lost disk space one unloaded the entire file system to tape and reloaded it. Microsoft has incorporated defragmentation in the Windows Plus! pack but much of corporate America has avoided Windows 95. Two companies have recently introduced defragmenters. Executive Software has introduced Diskeeper in versions for NT Server and NT Workstation. A Lite version will be bundled with Windows NT 5.0. Raxco has introduced PerfectDisk NT which also does standard defragmentation but also has an optimization feature which watches how the user works and which files are accessed most often. It moves these files near to Windows NT's Master File Table to minimize head-disk movement. Defragging is not a necessity but it does guarantee that the hard disk throughput will not slow down over time. Descriptor(s): Hard Disk Drive; File Management; Utility Program; Product Announcement Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI02-011 Author: Beizer, Doug Title: Better your browser Source: PC Magazine (February 10, 1998) v17 n3 p40 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Ethos Software; Primenet; Webcom Product Name: Ethosware 2.5; NetLaunch 3.13a; Auto WinNet95 4.1 Abstract: Announces three new browser utilities. Ethosware 2.5 ($24.95) from Ethos Software Corp. (617) allows users to cut and paste the addresses of files desired for download. It connects to the Net, downloads the files at the scheduled times, and then closes the connection. It offers diagnostic and repair tools to correct errors due to protocol, modem, dialing, and Internet connections. NetLaunch 3.13a from Primenet can launch or close e-mail, browse and news services when the user connects or disconnects from th Net. Programs can be added by dragging their shortcuts into the launch-list window. AutoWinNet95 4.1 ($29.95) from Webcom (800) can automate dial-up, file transfers, Web navigation, and e-mail according to a preset schedule. It supports an unlimited number of mailboxes and supports advanced formatting. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Web Browsers; Utility Program; Scheduling; Electronic Mail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI02-007 Author: Nash, Sharon Title: Software shopping online Source: PC Magazine (February 10, 1998) v17 n3 p36 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Product Name: Chumbo.com; BuyDirect.com Abstract: Presents a listing of Web sites which sell software through third-party outlets or direct purchase from a vendor, or allow users to sample a product through shareware or a demo. Chumbo.com provides a large list of software titles at reasonable prices and also includes products reviews and news from Ziff-Davis publications. BuyDirect.com sells software directly from developers over the Net. Most of these are Web enhancement programs which can be downloaded immediately after purchase. Payment is made via Secure Internet transactions. Also provides a list of additional sites which focus on programs in mutually exclusive formats or concentrate on shareware and demo versions of popular software. Most of them can be found by a search for "shareware" on the Web. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Web Sites; Electronic Commerce; Shareware; Software; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI01-077 Author: Wolking, Gregory A Title: Share your bookmarks between browsers -- Synchronize your Internet Explorer and Navigator bookmarks with SyncURLs Source: PC Magazine (January 6, 1998) v17 n1 p253-259 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Describes SyncURLs, a utility program which can be used to synchronize bookmarks between Internet Explorer and Navigator. The program is a 32-bit application that runs under Windows 95 or NT 4.0. It imports bookmarks from both browser libraries into a single bookmark library where they can be rearranged and exported back out to either or both browsers. Describes how to install the program and how to run it. Provides guidelines for organizing bookmarks and managing bookmark libraries. Includes a brief discussion of the inner workings of SyncURLs which was written in Visual C++ 5.0. Also provides guidelines for working with the TreeView common control, a common control introduced with Windows 95. This program was not difficult to write, but the task it performs will be welcome to many people who use more than one browser. Includes one table and one screen display. Descriptor(s): Web Browsers; Utility Program; 32-Bit Code ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI01-012 Author: Anderson, Jennifer L Title: Faster! Faster! Faster! Source: PC Magazine (January 6, 1998) v17 n1 p40 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Kiss Software; GOTO Software Product Name: Speed Surfer; WebEarly Abstract: Announces two new browser accelerators. Speed Surfer ($29.95) from Kiss Software Corp. (888) works with any browser higher than Netscape Navigator 2.0 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0. Its Intelligent Agent keeps track of the kind of surfing the user does (so it should get better at its job) and it stores the sites visited in a Smartcache. The program keeps track of the top-ten most visited sites which are prefetched. WebEarly ($24.95) from GOTO Software (33) preloads pages that are linked to the one the user is visiting. It can be customized to load a set number of next-level pages, to search for specific file types, or to omit advertisements. Both programs anticipate which page the user is going to visit next and loads it in the background so when a link is clicked the new page appears instantly. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Web Browsers; Accelerator; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 98PI01-008 Author: Kolouthros, Yvonne Title: No more stamps? Source: PC Magazine (January 6, 1998) v17 n1 p36 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Pitney Bowes; Saranac Software Product Name: Pitney Bowes Personal Post Office for the PC; Saranac PostagePlus Abstract: Announces two computer-based mail meter systems due to ship the second half of 1998. The Personal Post Office for the PC ($NA) from Pitney Bowes (800) allows users to download postage from the Net or from a direct network connection to Pitney Bowes' secure Postage by Phone system. The postage can be printed on labels or envelopes using a laser or bubble-jet printer. It supports multiple address books and can import and export PC lists that are ODBC-compliant. PostagePlus ($30 plus $5 to $10 plus postage) from Saranac Software (315) can print onto labels or envelopes using any 300-dpi printer. It supports mail-merge address lists from Symantec's ACT! and Microsoft Access. It includes mail tracking and provides a two-way authentication system for secure transactions. Both programs are awaiting USPS approval. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Internet; Federal Government; Utility Program; Security ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI11-077 Author: Wolking, Gregory Title: RoboType means less typing for you -- You can add text macro expansion to almost any application running under Windows 95 Source: PC Magazine (November 4, 1997) v16 n19 p327-340 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: PC Magazine Online Product Name: RoboType Abstract: PC TECH UTILITIES column provides an overview of RoboType, a 32-bit C++ utility, designed to allow users to type abbreviations in place of long, frequently-used text. Overviews how the utility works, and how to set up abbreviation libraries. Explains how RoboType was designed, using Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0, and how modifications can be made to the code in order to give it self-resizing windows. Also, complains that the RoboType help button does not work, and explains how to fix this problem by manipulating the OnHelpHitText handler. Mentions how to set up individual message queues and how to define the handling of multiple instances. Includes one screen display, one program listing, and one product source guide. Descriptor(s): Task Automation; Utility Program; Library; C Programming Language Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95; Microsoft Windows NT; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI11-011 Author: Anderson, Jennifer L Title: The human connection Source: PC Magazine (November 4, 1997) v16 n19 p40 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Activerse; PeopleLink; Claudin Lambert Product Name: Ding!; PeopleLink; PeerChat Abstract: Announces the release of three instant-messaging applications for online communication. Explains that these applications allow users to locate other users online, let other users know that you are online, send immediate messages, or conduct chat sessions. Includes: Ding! ($NA) from Activerse (512), a message alerting and re-routing tool; PeopleLink ($NA) from PeopleLink (310), a desktop user-location and messaging utility; and PeerChat ($8), a shareware chat application from Claudin Lambert. Includes four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Messaging; Web Tools; Data Communication; Computer Conferencing; Electronic Mail; Utility Program; Shareware ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI10-231 Author: Freed, Les Title: Cardinal Connecta Internal 56K Data/Fax Modem Source: PC Magazine (October 21, 1997) v16 n18 p105, 108 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Company Name: Cardinal Technologies Product Name: Cardinal Connecta Internal 56K Data/Fax Modem Abstract: Presents a mixed review of the Connecta Internal 56K Data/Fax Modem ($150, street; trade-up program available), a 56Kbps x2 modem from Cardinal Technologies Inc. of Atlanta, GA (770). Says that it is easy to install, and reports that Cardinal plans to offer a free unconditional upgrade once the ITU standard is set. Software includes Eudora Lite e-mail, FaxTalk Plus, Windows drivers, and trial versions of several utilities including an antivirus title. Notes that this device is nearly identical to the Sportster 56K Faxmodem from 3Com, one of the top rated in this evaluation, but that its performance is a bit lower and its software bundle is not as full-featured. Criticizes the lack of a Web browser in its software bundle. Concludes that this is a good performer at an impressive price. Descriptor(s): Modem; Speed; Standards; Data Transmission; Facsimile; Utility Program; Upgrade Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95; Microsoft Windows Grade: C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI12-021 Author: Simon, Barry Title: Managing your .ZIPs -- Five utilities let you manipulate your .ZIP files with ease. Source: PC Magazine (December 2, 1997) v16 n21 p62-63 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Canyon Software; Software Builders; PKWare; Pacific Gold Coast; Mijenix Product Name: Drag and Zip; NetZIP for Windows with NetZIP Plug-In; PKZip; TurboZIP; ZipMagic Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to five utility programs for managing .ZIP files. All five can make self-extracting .ZIPs. The programs reviewed are Drag and Zip version 2.21 ($30) from Canyon Software of San Rafael, CA (800, 415); NetZIP for Windows with NetZIP Plug-In version 4.0 ($29.99) from Software Builders of Atlanta, GA (800, 770); PKZip 2.50 for Windows ($49) from PKWare of Brown Deer, WI (414); TurboZiP version 2.1 ($39) from Pacific Gold Coast Corp. of Glen Cove, NY (800, 516), and ZipMagic ($39.95) from Mijenix Corp. of Madison, WI (800, 617). Although all five of these programs can perform basic unzipping, the reviewer feels that NetZIP and PKZip need to improve their interfaces. Power users will be attracted to ZipMagic's integration of .ZIP files into the file system and its archive manager is unique among the five in its ability to view all eight graphics files and manage multiple .ZIPs. Includes five screen displa! ys. Descriptor(s): Compression; Software Review; Utility Program; Interface; File Management Grade: B B B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI11-229 Author: Seymour, Jim Title: Tips for...umm...your friends -- It's satisfying to help someone with a task they find baffling Source: PC Magazine (November 18, 1997) v16 n20 p93-94 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: The JIM SEYMOUR column discusses the author's unofficial role as the so-called Designated Technical Support Provider for his friends and family. Claims that the ability to help those who have computer-related problems is satisfying. Lists ten tips that he regularly shares with these individuals, which include: keeping program and data files separate; using a lot of directories for organizing data files; using the Windows 95 long filenames; usi utility more powerful that Windows' built-in file finder; regul checking company Web sites for new video and printer drivers; removing any unused programs and fonts; performing regular scan a defrag routines; checking company Web sites for any software upgrades or add-ons; and keeping an up-to-date emergency backup disk. Includes one photo. Descriptor(s): Troubleshooting; Customer Support; File Management; Utility Program; Tutorial; Backup ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI11-212 Author: Daly, Robert Title: Inoculating your network Source: PC Magazine (November 18, 1997) v16 n20 p42 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: IBM Corp.; Intel Corp.; TouchStone Software Product Name: IBM AntiVirus 3.0 Enterprise Edition for Networks; LANDesk Virus Protect 5.0; PC-cillin Corporate Edition 2.2 Abstract: Introduces three recently-released antivirus solutions for the network from three manufacturers. Presents IBM AntiVirus 3.0 Enterprise Edition for Networks ($620 for 25 user license), a multilingual solution for global networks from IBM (800). Notes that it provides remote distribution, configuration, and administration from a central NetWare server. Also reports on LANDesk Virus Protect 5.0 ($1,495) from Intel Corp. (800), which has added a centralized management console for installation and administration, and PC-cillin Corporate Edition 2.2 ($995 for 50 users) from TouchStone Software Corp. (800), which offers simple administration, distribution, and updating functions with customizable protection levels. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Virus; Network Management; Utility Program; Security; Networks; Software Distribution Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95; Microsoft Windows NT; OS/2; NetWare ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI12-229 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Fill in the blanks Source: PC Magazine (December 16, 1997) v16 n22 p80 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: Microsoft; Adobe Systems; Symantec Product Name: Microsoft Internet Explorer; Adobe PhotoDeluxe; Norton Utilities for Windows 95 Abstract: Reports that Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 is incompatible with some features of Adobe PhotoDeluxe 2.0 and Symantec's Norton Utilities for Windows 95 2.0. Some screens in these programs appear blank when they are run after IE 4.0 is installed on a PC. Both of these programs use IE 3.0 within their application windows to display some browser content, but Microsoft says that the new problem is due to the fact that certain HTML tags act differently with the new browser. Adobe and Symantec planned to have patches available on their Web site by press time. IE 4.0 includes a READ.ME file which lists a number of incompatibilities, but these two are not among them. Article lists several specific instances of how these incompatibilities affect the operation of the two programs. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Web Browsers; Image Processing; Utility Program Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI12-270 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Put the squeeze on compound files -- Unfrag eliminates dead spaces in compound files and frees disk space in the process Source: PC Magazine (December 22, 1997) v16 n22 p275-280 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Presents a description of Unfrag, a utility program which can defragment compound files and restore wasted hard disk space. The program works with Windows 95 and NT 4.0 or higher and is available online or by mail. Compound files are created by applications such as Word, Excel, and others that support OLE. When these files are fragmented internally, they waste disk space. Includes a definition of compound files. Provides instructions for installing and running Unfrag, noting that it is an .exe file which makes no changes to the Window's registry. Uninstalling it is a simple matter of deleting Unfrag.exe. Includes some details about the utility program itself as well as some bits of code used in the program. Also describes how the custom bitmap display in the left half of the program's main window gets its colors. Running this utility may free up a few megabytes of hard disk space. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): File Management; Utility Program; Tutorial; Disk Files ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI09-035 Author: Perenson, Melissa J Title: Get the word out Source: PC Magazine (September 9, 1997) v16 n15 p81 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Microsoft; Inso Product Name: Microsoft Word 6.0/95 Binary Converter for Word 97; Microsoft Word 97 Document Converter; Microsoft Word Viewer 97; Quick View Plus 5.0 for Windows 97 Abstract: Announces a new converter which bridges the file-format gap between Microsoft Word 97 and Word 95. Many Word 97 users who tried to save files as Word 95 files found that they were saved in RTC format rather than as .DOC files. The Word 6.0/95 Binary Converter for Word 97 is available as a free download from Microsoft's Web site. It saves Word documents as binary files with a .DOC extension. When the download is installed, it replaces the Word 6.0/95 converter that originally shipped with Word 97. A Word 97 Document Converter is also available, which allows users to view a Word 97 document in Word for Windows 6.0 or Word 7.0 for Windows 95. Inso, the publisher of Quick View Plus 4.0 for Windows 95, NT 4.0, and 3.1 offers an update that supports Word 97 and Excel 97. These viewers can be downloaded from Inso's Web site but they work only with Quick View Plus 4.0 ($60). Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Word Processing; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI09-015 Author: Levy, Josh Title: Priority packaging Source: PC Magazine (September 9, 1997) v16 n15 p40 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: e-parcel Product Name: SmartLoad Abstract: Announces SmartLoad (server software $299 for five simultaneous connections, $15,000 for unlimited connections, client software free), an Internet utility to expedite downloads from e-parcel (888). The program maximizes the bandwidth available on a Net connection and monitors the user's CPU activity. It can download invisibly, and if a download is interrupted, it notes where it left off and resumes from that point later. Its protocol is compatible with nearly every format including antivirus, e-commerce, encrypted, and compressed documents. Includes one illustration. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Internet; Electronic Commerce; Compression ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI09-013 Author: Muchmore, Michael W Title: Just the pix, please Source: PC Magazine (September 9, 1997) v16 n15 p40 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: S&H Computer Systems; Scott M. Baker; NetWork, The Product Name: NewsRover; NewsRobot; Pluckit! Abstract: Announces three new utilities for finding binary image files on the Internet and aid in downloading them. NewsRover ($29.95) from S&H Computer Systems (615) works under Windows 95 and NT. It can be scheduled to download binaries and can do both MIME and unencoding. It can filter out spam and support the user of search terms. NewsRobot ($15) from Scott M. Baker is available in 16- and 32-bit versions. It displays images as it downloads them. It includes an image-catalog generator, slide-show viewer, and duplicate detection. Pluckit! ($24.95 for 16-bit, $29.95 for 32-bit) from The NetWork (817) also displays images as they arrive. It can transfer files to a Favorites area and view them with a zoom feature. It does not offer text-reading and search capability but can exclude messages containing specified terms. It can also block messages coming from a specific e-mail address. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Internet; Shareware; Newsgroups ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI08-013 Author: Muchmore, Michael W Title: There and back again Source: PC Magazine (August 1, 1997) v16 n14 p40 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: SmartBrowser; NetJumper Product Name: HistoryTree; NetJumper Abstract: Announces two browser utilities which replace the linear navigation between URLs provided by Back and Forward buttons by allowing users to skip to a URL that is not on the Back and Forward trail. HistoryTree ($10) from SmartBrowser Corp. provides a graphical tree view of Internet browsing and each time a new Web page is visited it adds a small icon to its chart. Users can jump to any page by clicking on its icon. NetJumper ($19.95) from NetJumper installs a floating button bar on the screen. As the user surfs, the program creates a list of all the links on a Web page. Afterward, a user can explore each link by clicking on the Forward button and opening the page in the browser. It also lets users access any of the new URLs from a list view that can be saved as a file or play a SlideShow option which plays a succession of Web pages from the list it has built or by using manually added URLs. Includes one screen display.! Descriptor(s): Web Tools; Web Browsers; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI01-285 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Recently used programs redux -- RUPL2 adds configuration options and a graphical front end Source: PC Magazine (January 21, 1997) v16 n2 p207-212 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: PC Magazine Online Product Name: RUPL2 Abstract: PC TECH/UTILITIES introduces a new version of the RUPL (recently used programs list) utility, which adds a list of recently run programs to the Windows 95 Programs menu. Explains that the new version, RUPL2, allows the list to be moved to the Start menu. Overviews the basic functions of the utility, explaining that it provides a Recently Used menu that was originally included in Windows 95 betas, but removed from the final version. Indicates that RUPL2 makes the Recently Used menu user-configurable, to provide the Start menu option, and that it maintains its own configuration editing utility. Notes some of the utility's source code, and points out that these changes are useful additions to the original RUPL. Includes three screen displays and one product source guide. Descriptor(s): Program Optimization; Upgrade; Window Software; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI01-281 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Mass data transit -- Three handy techniques for moving large files between PCs Source: PC Magazine (January 21, 1997) v16 n2 p193-194 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Company Name: PC Magazine Online; Traveling Software Product Name: SLICE/SPLICE; PKZIP; LapLink Abstract: PC TECH/TUTOR discusses methods of transferring files between two PCs. Points out that transferring large files can be problematic, since they are often too large to be copied to floppy disk. Suggests three methods of transferring files, which help to simplify the process. Provides instruction on how to perform the necessary functions. Includes: SLICE and SPLICE, DOS-based companion utilities which break a file into pieces to fit onto floppy disks, and then puts it back together on the receiving hard disk; the PKZIP 2.04g "-&" option, which creates a compressed, multiple-floppy disk archive of the file to be retrieved by PKUNZIP on another computer; and direct cable connections, such as LapLink ($NA) from Traveling Software (800), which provide a cable and software for moving files from computer to computer by wire. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Data Transmission; Compression; Utility Program; Computer Instruction; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI01-014 Author: Lidsky, David Title: A child's view of the Web Source: PC Magazine (January 7, 1997) v16 n1 p40 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: InterGO Communications; Connectsoft Product Name: InterGO; KidWeb; E-Mail for Kids Abstract: Announces three new browsers and e-mail programs designed to allow children to access the Internet. InterGO ($49.95) from InterGO Communications (972) now supports HTML 3.0 tags and plug-ins. Its filter, KinderGard, determines site appropriateness for children by age group. It can filter out unwanted content from newsgroups, search results, and e-mail, as well as IRC chat. KidWeb ($39.95) from ConnectSoft (206) is a browser for children ages 6 to 10. It has a user-friendly interface and is highly customizable by parents. Parents can list banned sites or keywords or create a list of approved sites. E-Mail for Kids Version 3.0 ($29.95) from ConnectSoft adds a child's own e-mail interface to a parent's account. It supports all the major online services as well as cc:Mail, MCI Mail, and Internet e-mail. It can screen both incoming and outgoing mail for content. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Electronic Mail; Web Browsers; Utility Program; Internet; Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI01-013 Author: Perenson, Melissa J Title: Consolidating messages Source: PC Magazine (January 7, 1997) v16 n1 p40 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: ConnectSoft; General Magic; Global Village Communications; Wall Data Product Name: EMail Connection; Magic Cap for Windows 95; FocalPoint; Rumba Mail Featuring 3M's Post-it Software Notes Abstract: Announces four new e-mail utility programs. EMail Connection ($49.95) from ConnectSoft (800) can automate the filing of e-mail across multiple services such as America Online, CompuServe, MCI Mail, Prodigy, any ISP, and any LAN e-mail system. Faxes and pages can be sent from within the program. Magic Cap for Windows 95 ($49) from General Magic (888) is aimed at home- and small-office markets. It supports e-mail communication via any POP3 ISP or America Online. Its address book captures the addresses of incoming messages and the program is integrated with Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 (included). FocalPoint 5.5 ($89) from Global Village Communications (800) not only manages e-mail but also handles data, voice, and fax communications. It now offers support for Windows NT Workstation 3.51 or later. Rumba Mail Featuring 3M's Post-it Software Notes ($149) from Wall Data (800) is designed for LAN and WAN. Includes two screen di! splays. Descriptor(s): Electronic Mail; Utility Program; Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-003 Author: Gottesman, Ben Title: Utility quicksand Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p29 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: INSIDE PC LABS column discusses how PC Labs tested the performance decreases experienced by PCs when they run antivirus software. The Business Winstone 97 benchmark tests were run on two systems, one of which had the utilities loaded and one which did not. Performance degradation ranged from none (for IBM AntiVirus) to eight percent (for Norton AntiVirus and PC-cillin). To further examine the effect of these antivirus utilities, they were tested in combination with other utilities. Reports that combination of Norton AntiVirus and Norton Utilities reduced performance by 20 percent. Adding utilities also increased boot times: the largest increase in boot times was caused by Norton Utilities and the NetWare login script process. Despite these problems, Norton Utilities and AntiVirus were awarded the "Editors' Choice" honor because it was felt that their value outweighed any loss in system performance. Includes two sc! reen displays. Descriptor(s): Benchmark Testing; Utility Program; Virus; Speed; Security ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-055 Author: Proffit, Brian Stone, M David Mendelson, Edward Title: OS/2, NT, & WIN 3.x utilities -- Not everyone in the world uses Windows 95. We showcase some of the best utilities around to help users of OS/2, Windows NT, Windows... Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p251-256 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to utility programs for OS/2, Window NT, and Windows 3.x. Includes descriptions of 33 utilities for OS/2 (three antivirus, seven backup, two data compression, two data transfer, six desktop management, three disk management, four interface, two Internet, and five system). Also includes descriptions of 12 utilities for Windows NT (four antivirus, two backup, three disk management, and three system) and provides descriptions of 14 utilities for DOS and Windows 3.x which include antivirus, desktop enhancers, utility libraries, file viewer reformatters, file managers, disk browsers, file compressors, an command line enhancer. Notes that, because the programs are dissimilar, there is no "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration and six screen displays. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Review; Internet; File Management Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-053 Author: Munro, Kathryn Title: Internet filtering utilities -- The Internet can be a wonderful resource for your children, but it has its dark side, too. Monitor and control your kids' online... Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p235-240 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Microsystems Software; Solid Oak Software Product Name: Microsoft Cyber Patrol; Cybersitter Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to seven Internet filtering utilities that can be used to regulate the Net content which children can access. The simplest of these programs do not require elaborate configuration routines, but the more sophisticated can filter the Web, chats, e-mail, and applications, and can also control the amount of time children spend on the Net. Explains that they monitor the data stream coming from the network to block specific words and sites. All seven perform well, but the author notes that it is impossible to develop a foolproof filter list because of differing views of what is and what is not objectionable and the constant changing of the Internet. Cyber Patrol 3.1 ($29.95 for registration, $19.95 for six month subscription) from Microsystems Software, Framingham, MA (800, 508) and Cybersitter 2.1 ($39.95) from Solid Oak Software, Santa Barbara, CA (800, 805) are "Editors' Choice." Includes one! illustration, one table, and seven screen displays. Descriptor(s): Filters; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Review; Internet; Children Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-051 Author: Mendelson, Edward Canter, Sheryl Gottesman, Ben Z Koulouthos, Yvonne Title: Internet off-line browsers -- Your connection to the Internet is slow; your hard disk is fast. And you're on the road a lot. But that's no excuse for not... Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p207-218 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: InContext Systems; Tennyson Maxwell Product Name: InContext FlashSite; Teleport Pro Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to 15 off-line Web browsers. Explains that these programs search and download pages and organize them on the hard disk. When the user wants to view the pages, the program launches a Web browser - usually IE or Navigator, although one program reviewed, Folio Web Retriever, uses its own proprietary viewer. Includes a sidebar listing the features of five cache browsers that allow users to revisit files they have already seen. Predicts that by early in 1998, the major browsers - Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer - will have incorporat many of the features of these programs. Very favorably review InContext FlashSite ($35) from InContext Systems of Toronto, Canada (800, 416) and Teleport Pro ($40) from Tennyson Maxwell of Cambridge, MA (617), receiving "Editors' Choice" honors. Includes one illustration, two tables, and 15 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Web Browsers; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Review; Internet Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-050 Author: Ozer, Jan Mendelson, Edward Canter, Sheryl Boscardin, Andrew Title: Essential Internet utilities -- If Microsoft and Netscape get their way, your OS and browser will someday merge, and your browser will need more utilities than ever. Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p199-205 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to a number of utility programs deemed essential by the writers of PC Magazine. Includes two animation programs, three streaming audio programs, one MIDI player, two streaming video programs, a QuickTime plug-in, two MPEG-1 video players, two VRML browsers, a chat plug-in, three search utilities, two rich-content Portable Document Format (PDF) file viewers, and two miscellaneous programs. Because of the diversity of the uses of these programs, there is no "Editors' Choice. Notes that all of the utilities listed are available from the specified Web sites and are freeware. Includes a sidebar by Neil Randall describing two browser accelerators, an internet organizer, two Internet fax utilities, and a Java security program. Includes one illustration and three screen displays Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Animation; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Review; Internet; Streaming Audio Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-049 Author: Rigney, Steve Title: Network backup -- Today's networks don't use just a single network operating system. These four storage management systems for NetWare and Windows NT... Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p187-196 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Cheyenne Software Product Name: ARCserve 6.0 for NetWare, Enterprise Edition; ARCserve 6.0 for Windows NT, Enterprise Edition Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to four utility programs designed for network backup. Windows NT Server and NetWare both include backup utilities, but they lack the advanced features of the products reviewed. Programs reviewed were rated for installation and configuration, scheduling and management, and interoperability. Includes a table comparing features of the four systems and benchmark test results of performance. A sidebar describes Replica for NetWare 3.0 ($499 for single server) from Stac Inc. of San Diego, CA (800, 619), which was not included because only the NetWare version is available. Other products work with both Net and Windows NT Server. A sidebar by Padraic Boyle describes option available in tape backup drives. ARCserve 6.0 for NetWare ($1, and ARCserve 6.0 for Windows NT ($1,395) from Cheyenne Softwa Roslyn Heights, NY (800) are "Editors' Choice." Includes two illustrations, one graph, one table, and f! ive screen displays. Descriptor(s): Backup; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Review; Local Area Networks; Benchmark Testing Compatibility: Microsoft Windows NT; IBM PC Compatible Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-048 Author: Morris, John Mendelson, Edward Haskin, David Buehler, Steve Title: Miscellaneous utilities -- Want to build a better desktop, keep your data private, get the most out of your hard disk, or just find some great shareware or... Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p179-185 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to miscellaneous utilities for use with Windows 95. Includes descriptions of two desktop enhancers, five file compression utilities, three data security utilities for encrypting data on a hard disk, two partitioning utilities, one multiboot utility, and two display utilities. Also includes a sidebar by David Haskin, Edward Mendelson, Neil Randall, and Barry Simon that lists their choices for the seven best shareware/freeware utilities. Concludes that, because of the wide variety of types of programs described, there is no "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration and 15 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Compression; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Review; Security; Shareware Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-047 Author: Seltzer, Larry Title: Performance enhancers -- The easiest, most cost-effective way to improve PC or CD-ROM drive performance may not be a hardware upgrade. Six utilities offer... Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p165-174 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to six utility programs designed to improve the performance of a PC or its components. Explains that they are generally less expensive than other options, such as adding RAM, upgrading to a faster CPU or hard disk, or installing a faster graphics card. Reviewed three categories: RAM compressors (two), disk accelerators (one), and CD-ROM drive accelerators (three). Says that most can provide a benefit, but some have the potential to slow performance. Notes that reviews list the areas in which each is most and least effective. Also includes benchmark test results comparing performance of the RAM compressors and CD-ROM accelerators. Lists no "Editors' Choice." Says RAM compressors either hindered performance or improved it by an insignificant amount. Notes that three CD-ROM accelerators earned honorable mentions, but not a clear winner since all had similar test results. Includes one illustra! tion, one table, and six screen displays. Descriptor(s): Optimization; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Review; Speed; Compression Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-046 Author: Mendelson, Edward Haskin, David Title: File-view utilities -- The can openers of the working world, these essential utilities can quickly display files in a wide range of formats. No longer... Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p153-163 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Inso Product Name: Quick View Plus Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to five file viewers. Explains that the basic tasks that these programs perform is to display the contents of a file quickly, as well as searching for text within a file and possibly converting files between formats and providing file management features. Includes a sidebar describing four special-purpose graphics file viewers and another sidebar that describes four file viewers that allow PC Windows users to view Macintosh-formatted disks. Says the Macintosh OS includes a cross-platform file-exchange utility and the file viewer in Windows 95, Quick View, can display the contents of only a few major te and graphics file formats. Recommends Quick View Plus 4.0 ($59. from Inso Corp. of Boston, MA (800, 617), the "Editors' Ch Requires a 486-based PC or better with 8MB RAM, 5MB hard disk space and Windows 95 or NT 4.0. Includes one illustration, one table, and seven screen displays. Descriptor(s): Document Viewer; File Management; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Review; Utility Program; Macintosh Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 95; Microsoft Windows NT; 486-based PC Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-045 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Uninstall utilities Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p137-140 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: MicroHelp Product Name: Uninstaller 4 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to five uninstall utilities for use with Windows 95 and NT. Explains that, under DOS, removing a program was a simple matter of removing all the files in its directory. Under Windows, applications fill the hard disk with files that use space and serve no purpose. Says these utilities can remove every trace of an application from the disk. They monitor an installation so they know which files were added to a system and can remove apps that they did not monitor, but not as thoroughly. Most of them back up the programs they remove, so they can be restored if the users change their minds. Notes that a safe feature is the ability to move applications, but says other functions should be used only by experts, and only when the utility makes a backup. Uninstaller 4 ($35) from MicroHelp Inc.of Marietta, GA (800, 770) is the "Editors' Choice." Requires a 486-based PC with 8MB RAM. Includes one illus! tration, one table, and five screen displays. Descriptor(s): File Management; Maintenance; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Review; Utility Program; Backup Compatibility: Microsoft Windows; 486-based PC Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI04-042 Author: Shaffer, Gail Haskin, David Title: The 1997 utility guide -- More than 250 utilities to fine-tune your PC and help you be more productive. Source: PC Magazine (April 8, 1997) v16 n7 p100-256 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec; Microsoft Product Name: Norton Utilities for Windows 95; Microsoft Power Toys; Microsoft Plus! Abstract: Presents PC Magazine's annual buyers' guide to utilities. Includes a sidebar that summarizes the utilities contained in Windows 3.1x and MS-DOS 6.2x, Windows 95, Windows NT Workstation 4.0, and IBM OS/2 Warp 4.0. Described utilities grouped into the following categories: network backup, Internet essentials, off-line browsers, antivirus, diagnostics, uninstallers, off-line searching, filtering, e-mail encryption, file-viewers, performance enhancers, miscellaneous, and OS/2, NT, & Win 3.x utilities. Each section offers a buyer's guide comparing features and an "Editor's Choice," and some have benchmark tests results. A sidebar lists three "essential utilities:" Norton Utilities for Windows 95 2.0 ($79) from Symantec Corp. (800), Microsoft Power Toys (free) from Microsoft's Web site, and Microsoft Plus! ($54.95) from Microsoft Corp. (800). Says all are "Editors' Choice" selections. Includes 107 sc! reen displays, 10 tables, 36 illustrations, and one graph. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Electronic Mail; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Internet; Benchmark Testing; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows NT; Microsoft Windows 95; OS/2; DOS Grade: A A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI02-085 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: URL tracking made easy -- ClipAid lets you snip and save the URLs you want to keep Source: PC Magazine (February 4, 1997) v16 n3 p253-256 Pub. Type: Articles, News & Columns Abstract: Offers a utility program entitled "ClipAid" which provides users with a way to clip Uniform Resource Locator (URL) addresses and store them for future use. Requires Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0. Says users copy the URL to the clipboard which ClipAid monitors and then saves in a history list. Permits users to paste URLs to the desktop to create an Internet shortcut. Provides detailed instructions for installing and using the program as well as information on how the program was created using Microsoft Visual C++ and the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC). Descriptor(s): Utility Program; C Programming Language; Internet; Window Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 97PI03-052 Author: Mace, Thomas Title: Web graphics tools -- On the Web, less is more. Here are the tools you need for tweaking graphics to fit the limited palettes and bandwidths imposed by... Source: PC Magazine (March 4, 1997) v16 n5 p141-161 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: 1Automata; Ulead Systems; Equilibrium Product Name: Web Hotspots; PhotoImpact GIF Animator; DeBabelizer Pro for Windows 95/NT Abstract: Presents a guide to Web graphics tools. These tools are needed because the Web restricts users to 256 colors, and rather than the large graphics that can be delivered across fast LANs and off CD-ROMs, the Web requires tiny graphics that can fit the narrow pipes of dial-up users. Includes reviews of five image-map editors, six GIF animators, and five palette optimizers & anti-aliasing tools. For each category of software, a buyers' guide comparing features is provided. Because of the Web's severe color limitation, palette optimizers may be the most import category for professional Web designers. Rates nearly every tool reviewed as a possible useful addition to a Web designer's toolbox. "Editors' Choice" awards went to Web Hotspots 2.01 ($49) from 1Automata (image-map editor), PhotoImpact GIF Animator ($29.95) from Ulead Systems Inc., and DeBabelizer Pro for Windows 95/NT ($595) from Equilibrium. Includes one illust! ration, 15 illustrations, three tables. Descriptor(s): Graphics; Web Tools; World Wide Web; Utility Program; Software Review; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows NT; Microsoft Windows 95 Grade: A A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 96PL10-011 Author: Delio, Michelle Title: Software short takes Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (October 1, 1996) v8 n10 p10-14 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Outlook Software; Traveling Software; 3M; Kent Marsh Product Name: Real Estate Organizer; LapLink for Win95; Post-It Software Notes; Winshield for Win95 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to four software titles. "Short Takes" reviews include: Real Estate Organizer User's Guide ($495), an integrated database program for real estate professionals from Outlook Software Corp. of Dallas, TX (214), rated five out of five; LapLink v7.5 for Win95 ($149), a data transfer utility program from Traveling Software of Bothell, WA (206), rated five; Post-It Software Notes ($27.95), a desktop management tool from 3M Corp. (800), rated four-and-one-half; and Winshield for Win95 ($49.95), a utility program from Kent Marsh Ltd. of Houston, TX (713), rated four. Includes one screen display and two photos. Descriptor(s): Real Estate; Vendor Guide; Software Review; Database; Utility Program; Disk Files; Personal Information Manager Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: A A B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI11-073 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Attach notes to files -- Explorer Notes adds a notes column to Explorer's fine details Source: PC Magazine (November 5, 1996) v15 n19 p307-316 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: PC Magazine Utilities Product Name: Explorer Notes Abstract: Spotlights Explorer Notes, a Windows 95 utility that allows the user to associate a note of up to 255 characters with any file or folder. Adds that the utility displays the note in a fifth column that is added to Explorer's detail view. Instructs the reader on installing and using Explorer Notes, as well as how to program the utility. Includes how to extend the Windows 95 shell, how to use Delphi to reduce the size of DLLs, and how to add a fifth column to Windows 95's listview control. Includes three screen displays, one program listing, and one product resource guide. Descriptor(s): File Management; Computer Instruction; Utility Program; Window Software Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI11-023 Author: Perenson, Melissa J Title: Searching the Internet in style Source: PC Magazine (November 5, 1996) v15 n19 p73 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Symantec Product Name: Internet FastFind Abstract: Announces the upcoming release of Internet FastFind ($49.95), an Internet search utility and tool set for Windows 95 and Windows NT from Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800, 541). Explains that this is a single interface for searching multiple search engines, then providing results in a single list. Also includes an FTP-management tool and Internet-based file-searching utility, as well as a tool for merging bookmarks among multiple browsers. Indicates that this new product is a "hot prospect." Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Online Searching; Web Management; Internet; Utility Program; Web Tools; Web Browsers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI09-234 Author: Perenson, Melissa J Title: Zipping along Source: PC Magazine (September 24, 1996) v15 n16 p80 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: MicroHelp Product Name: MicroHelp Zip Abstract: Announces MicroHelp Zip ($30), a file compression utility from MicroHelp Inc., Marietta, GA (800, 770). The program allows users to encode, unencode, and manage compressed files through use of drag and drop. It can search among or within archives for specific files and display a file from an archive before extracting it. It also makes it simple to create self-extracting archives. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Compression; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI10-122 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: MonSys monitors Windows 95 -- MonSys improves on the Windows 95 System Monitor utility Source: PC Magazine (October 8, 1996) v15 n17 p345-356 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: PC TECH/UTILITIES column provides a look at the MonSys system monitoring utility for Windows 95. Explains that MonSys acts as a replacement for the System Monitor, offering the data in a more flexible interface. Instructs the user how to install and use MonSys, including customization and programming options. Also overviews several of the MonSys reporting components and how to manipulate them. Includes four screen displays, one table, two program listings, and one product source guide. Descriptor(s): Software Tools; Utility Program; Window Software; Troubleshooting; Data Analysis ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI10-078 Author: Moller, Arie Title: Protecting yourself from evil e-mail Source: PC Magazine (October 8, 1996) v15 n17 p192 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Integralis; Trend Micro; McAfee Associates Product Name: MIMEsweeper; InterScan E-Mail VirusWall; WebShield; WebScan Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to Internet e-mail virus detection software. Features three server-side and one client-side (desktop) solutions. Includes: MIMEsweeper ($995, 25 users; $7,000, 1,000 users), a server-side solution from Integralis, Inc. (206); InterScan E-Mail VirusWall ($995, 50-user license), a server solution from Trend Micro Inc. (800); and WebShield ($3,995, two-year site license subscription), a Unix-based server solution from McAfee Associates Inc. (408). Also includes WebScan ($30, street price), a client-side product, also from McAfee Associates Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Virus; Electronic Mail; Client-Server Computing; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Software Review ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI09-074 Author: Bonner, Paul Title: Now you're playing with PowerToys -- Microsoft's gift makes Windows 95 an OS experienced users can love Source: PC Magazine (September 10, 1996) v15 n15 p299-302 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Microsoft Product Name: Microsoft PowerToys; Microsoft Windows 95 Abstract: Discusses the PowerToys utilities for Windows 95, which can be downloaded from Microsoft's Web site. Notes that PowerToys includes a collection of utilities that allow Windows 95 power users to fine-tune their operating system. Hints that these are the tools that did not pass the Windows 95 "idiot-proofing test" and therefore did not become standard Windows 95 utilities. Explains that Windows 95 is designed to ward off destructive mistakes by novice users and that the PowerToys involves some fine-tuning, allowing the user to go beyond the secure environment. Gives a brief description of each of the included utilities, questioning the need for several of them. Includes utilities for interface customization, shell extensions, taskbar customization, Web tools, and "silly stuff." Includes four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Window Software; Utility Program; Optimization; Operating Systems; User Interface Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI08-014 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Off-line readers deliver the world of the Web to your hard disk Source: PC Magazine (August 1, 1996) v15 n14 p43-44 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: FreeLoader; Bourbon Street Software; FirstFloor; Traveling Software; ForeFront Group Product Name: FreeLoader; Internet Marauder; Smart Bookmarks; WebEx; WebWhacker Abstract: Presents reviews of five off-line readers which can be used to download World Wide Web sites to a hard disk so the user can browse the contents at hard disk speed at leisure. The five readers reviewed are FreeLoader v1.0 (free) from FreeLoader Inc. of Washington, DC (202); Internet Marauder v1.4 ($10) from Bourbon Street Software of New Orleans, LA (504); Smart Bookmarks ($25) from FirstFloor of Mountain View, CA (800, 415); WebEx ($29.95) from Traveling Software of Bothell, WA (800, 206); and WebWhacker v2.0 ($49.95) from ForeFront Group, Houston, TX (800, 713). Rates FreeLoader the easiest of the five to use, while WebWhacker is the most complete. Calls these among the most innovative and powerful off-line readers and lists three comparable programs with URLs that users can find on the Internet. Includes five screen displays. Descriptor(s): Web Tools; Utility Program; Software Review; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Web Browsers; Add-on Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows; Microsoft Windows 95; Microsoft Windows NT Grade: B B B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI06-226 Author: Nadel, Brian Title: Dr. Solomon's postdoctoral course in virus scanning Source: PC Magazine (June 25, 1996) v15 n12 p73 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: S&S Software International Product Name: Dr. Solomon's AntiVirus Toolkit Abstract: Reports improvements recently made to Dr. Solomon's AntiVirus Toolkit from S&S Software International. In an earlier review the program was faulted for its inability to deal with macro viruses, which can infect apparently safe document files, and for its lack of certification by the National Computer Security Association (NCSA). An available upgrade, which will be sent automatically to registered users of the program, corrects both these deficiencies. In testing, the upgraded program successfully identified and repaired a macro virus in a Word for Windows file. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Window Software; Troubleshooting Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI06-225 Author: Nadel, Brian Title: First Aid 95: potent PC therapy Source: PC Magazine (June 25, 1996) v15 n12 p73 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: CyberMedia Product Name: First Aid 95; First Aid 95 Deluxe Abstract: Reports on changes made to First Aid 95 by CyberMedia. The program was reviewed in January, and although it did a good job of identifying Windows file problems, it suffered from many general protection faults and was potentially dangerous in the hands of inexperienced users. Version 2.1, recently released, can repair more problems than the earlier version and is much more stable. Update files are available from online services or the vendor's Web site. CyberMedia has recently released First Aid 95 Deluxe, which has a feature called CyberFix that can access the Internet to perform automatic updates to Windows 95. Article presents instructions on how to use this new program. In testing, CyberFix installed Microsoft's Windows 95 Service Pack very quickly. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Diagnostics; Troubleshooting; Window Software; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI07-049 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Control installations under Windows 95 -- A new 32-bit version of InCtrl understands the registry and long filenames Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1996) v15 n13 p307-350 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Instructs the user on how to perform Windows 95 installation using InCtrl v3 ($NA), a utility program available online from PC Magazine. Explains that the utility allows the user to track changes that are made to the registry during software installations. Points out that installations tend to "litter the disk," and InCtrl should help remedy this problem. Notes that the program uses a wizard-style interface to control an installation procedure. Mentions that it can also be used to uninstall programs. Includes one product source guide, one table, and three screen displays. Descriptor(s): File Management; Utility Program; Tutorial; Disk Files; Window Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 96PL07-003 Author: Leyenberger, Arthur Title: Don't leave home without these handy little helpers Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (July 1, 1996) v8 n7 p20 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Extend; FormGen Product Name: WinZones; WinZip; WinModem Abstract: LAPTOP OFFICE discusses three handy utility programs compatible with Microsoft Windows. Reports that WinZones ($35) from Extend Inc. of Pleasanton, CA (800) is a small utility that provides the ultimate clock for those doing business internationally. Says the following shareware is available on a CD-ROM ($14) released by the Association of Shareware Professionals and produced by FormGen (800): WinZip ($NA), which zips and unzips files within Windows, and WinModem ($NA), which provides a display of the status of PC Card Modems as they are being used. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Shareware; Clock; Compression; Modem ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-259 Author: Proffit, Brian Title: InterNotes: more than just a browser -- Lotus's solution for connecting business with the Internet Source: PC Magazine (May 28, 1996) v15 n10 p207-216 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Lotus Development Product Name: InterNotes Abstract: PC TECH/INTERNET TOOLS column discusses the InterNotes utility that comes with Notes v4.0. Says it uses a server to retrieve information from the Internet, convert it into the Notes database format, and make it available to any Notes client. Adds that while it has good graphics support, it does not support frames, tiled background images, blinking text, background text, and marquee scrolling. Notes that it allows the network administrator security control over access to Web pages. Also says it needs to keep pace with browser upgrades such as animation, multimedia, and support for Java applets. Includes four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Web Tools; Web Browsers; Internetworking; Tutorial; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-222 Author: Perenson, Melissa J Title: Strike a pose Source: PC Magazine (May 28, 1996) v15 n10 p75 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Fractal Design Product Name: Poser Abstract: Announces the availability of Poser ($199), a Windows 95 design tool from Fractal Design Corp. of Aptos, CA (800, 408). Says it helps even the artistically challenged to create realistic-looking human forms. Adds that it understands the intricacies of the human body, provides for dragging and dropping various body parts that can be assembled into the desired positions, comes with light sources and texture maps, and includes a selection of male and female body types and sizes. Includes a screen display and a summary card. Descriptor(s): Anatomy; Modeling; Three-dimensional Graphics; Utility Program; Window Software Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-212 Author: Morris, John Rupley, Sebastian Title: Get plugged in: Navigator plug-ins that liven up the Web Source: PC Magazine (May 28, 1996) v15 n10 p44-51 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to six Navigator plug-in programs. Products reviewed are: CoolTalk ($69.95) from Insoft, an audio- and data-collaboration tool that offers full-duplex audioconferencing; Crescendo Plus ($19.95) from LiveUpdate, a viable alternative to RealAudio; Formula One/Net (free) from Visual Components, which enables embedding Excel-compatible spreadsheets within Navigator; Net Toob ($14.95) from Duplexx Software, which facilitates viewing video or animation; QuickSilver (free) from Micrografx, which allows using Designer to create and display vector-based Web graphics; Sizzler ($NA) from Totally Hip, which makes it easy to design animated Web pages; Web Translator ($49.95, full version; or free Web download) from Globalink, which can translate from French, German, or Spanish to English or vice versa; and WorldView (free) from Intervista Software, a 3D Web browser. Includes three screen displays and a sidebar. Descriptor(s): Web Browsers; Vendor Guide; Add-on; Audio Processing; Video Processing; Shareware; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Unix workstation; Netscape Navigator ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI06-031 Author: Perenson, Melissa J Title: Make a dash for the Web Source: PC Magazine (June 11, 1996) v15 n11 p73 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Starfish Software; Microhelp Product Name: Starfish Internet Utilities; PowerDesk Abstract: Announces Starfish Internet Utilities ($50), a Web utility from Starfish Software Inc., Scotts Valley, CA (800, 408). The program uses the same interface as the Windows 3.1 and 95 Dashboard utilities and allows users to monitor their online time, system resources, and modem activity. It can also alert users when selected Web sites have been updated. It is a useful and easy way to organize Web bookmarks. It works with any 32-bit Web browser. Also announces a version 1.1 maintenance kit for PowerDesk ($49. a competitor to Dashboard 95 from Microhelp, Marietta, GA (800, 770). With the kit, the program can include Web-site shortcuts in the PowerDesk panel. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Web Tools; Utility Program; Window Software; Auditing; Web Browsers; Add-on Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-158 Author: Boyle, Padraic Munro, Jay Rovengo, Rick Seltzer, Larry Title: More Internet utilities -- From file-transfer programs to cyber censors, we test a grab bag full of practical Internet tools. Most are available straight... Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p214-219 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to Internet utility programs, most of which are available on the World Wide Web. Includes reviews of five FTP clients, six screening and filtering utilities, seven time keepers and monitors, and three uuencoders. The article lists pricing and contact information for commercial products. Freeware and shareware products are described. There is no "Editors' Choice" among the programs reviewed. Includes one illustration and eight screen displays. Descriptor(s): Web Tools; Utility Program; Internet; Software Review; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-127 Author: Lidsky, David Mace, Thomas Muchmore, Michael W Rabinovitch, Eyal Title: Internet plug-ins and helpers -- We pick the top 30 helper apps and Netscape Navigator plug-ins Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p212-213 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to 30 Internet utilities in four categories. These programs are all shareware or freeware and are available for downloading from the Web. Products reviewed include six audio utilities, seven graphics utilities, eight video utilities, and nine virtual reality utilities. Includes one illustration. Descriptor(s): Internet; Utility Program; Shareware; Software Review; Multimedia; Virtual Reality; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-120 Author: Canter, Sheryl Title: Internet search tools -- So many millions of megabytes out there and so little time. We review six search utilities that help you scour the Internet for... Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p207-210 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Quarterdeck Product Name: WebCompass Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to six Internet search tools. Some of them, databases on CD-ROM, allow a user to examine sites off-line to refine searches before connecting to the Internet. Others query the search engines on the Web and build databases and indexes for the user. WebCompass v1.0 ($139) from Quarterdeck Corp., Marina Del Rey, CA (800, 310) is the "Editors' Choice." Includes six screen displays and one illustration. Descriptor(s): Web Tools; Online Searching; Utility Program; Software Review; Window Software; Vendor Guide; CD-ROM Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows; CD-ROM Drive Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-110 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Internet organizers Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p197-202 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Internet Solutions; Surflogic LLC Product Name: NetBuddy; Surfbot Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to nine Internet organizers. These programs replace the bookmarks or Favorites menu of a Web browser. Some of these tell the user that a site has changed, others also show the user the changed text. Some can jump to a Web site as soon as their name is clicked in the organizer. Some can also create HTML pages which contain sets of links which can be loaded into a browser. These programs "can greatly increase your ability to glean information from the Web." NetBuddy (free) from Internet Solutions Inc., Seattle, WA (206) and Surfbot ($40) from Surflogic LLC, San Francisco, CA (415) are "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration, one table, and nine screen displays. Descriptor(s): Web Tools; Web Browsers; Utility Program; Software Review; Internet; Information Retrieval; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-084 Author: Schindler, Esther Title: OS/2 utilities -- For all that sets OS/2 Warp apart from Windows 95, its utility needs are quite similar. OS/2's object-based desktop, backup, and... Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p191-196 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to utility programs for OS/2. Includes reviews of five desktop enhancements, a listing of three antivirus programs, reviews of four backup programs, three memory management programs, one uninstaller, two file manager replacements, a disk utility, two "Swiss Army Knives," and five miscellaneous utilities. As one would expect with such a diverse collection, there is no "Editors' Choice." Includes seven screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Desktop Software; Software Review; OS/2; Memory; File Management; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; OS/2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-073 Author: Haskin, David Title: More essential problem solvers -- Call them esoteric, call them niche-market, but the tools we've profiled here tackle a broad range of system and performance... Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p187-190 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to 11 "uncategorizable" utility programs, including three compression programs, a four-module set of interconnected utilities, two file conversion utilities, two utilities to allows Windows 3.1 apps to use long file names under Windows 95, a program to provide faster print drivers for color ink jet printers, and a screen saver. Includes one illustration and eight screen displays. Descriptor(s): Disk Files; Utility Program; Software Review; Window Software; Vendor Guide; Conversions; Compression Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-068 Author: Rigney, Steve Title: Network backup utilities -- Your NetWare server is better protected than ever. Today's network backup packages are reliable and fast Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p181-186 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Cheyenne Software Product Name: ARCserve for NetWare Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to four network backup utilities for NetWare. The four programs provide a Windows-based administration utility and a set of NLMs. The utilities are generally more intuitive than NetWare's System Console and can manage several servers from a single location. Things to consider when choosing a network backup package are ease of installation and configuration and flexibility. The programs reviewed are rated on installation and configuration, management and administration, compatibility, and performance. Includes a benchmark test and a buyer's guide comparing features of the programs reviewed. ARCserve for NetWare ($795 for single server, $1,895 for enterprise edition) from Cheyenne Software Inc., Roslyn Heights, NY (800) is "Editors' Choice." Includes two illustrations, one table, and two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Backup; Utility Program; Software Review; Window Software; Local Area Networks; Vendor Guide; Network Management Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-062 Author: Simon, Barry Title: Diagnostic utilities -- Looking for the root of a problem? Not sure your PC is running optimally? These five packages let you test it, tune it, and fix it Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p175-180 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to five diagnostic utility programs for Windows 95 which not only report system resources but also diagnose and help remedy problems. Four of these programs are designed for use by sophisticated users or those who are responsible for troubleshooting someone else's PC. These programs were run on four test PCs which varied in complexity. The reporting and diagnostic portions of the programs were run to see if the program could correctly identify the configuration. The cleanup and tune-up functions of the programs were run to see what type of advice they offered. The accuracy of the programs varied widely. Several of the programs provided accurate and useful information but these initial Windows 95 versions need polishing. As a result, there is no "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration, five screen displays, and one table. Descriptor(s): Diagnostics; Problem-solving; Software Review; Window Software; Utility Program; Report Generator; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-058 Author: Seltzer, Larry Title: Memory utilities -- Under Windows 95, you may not need them often. But when you do, there's no alternative. We test the market leaders to see which... Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p169-173 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to three memory management utilities. Notes that for most users, memory managers are unnecessary under Windows 95 except for running in MS-DOS mode which is required for compatibility with DOS applications which will not run under the protected-mode environment of Windows 95 (these are mainly games). A sidebar describes the results of reviews of five leading memory managers designed for use with Windows 3.1x reported in the February 20, 1996 issue. Includes a benchmark test comparing performance of the memory managers reviewed with that of Windows 95. Includes three screen displays, one illustration, and three graphs. Descriptor(s): Memory; Management; Software Review; Window Software; Utility Program; Benchmark Testing; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-053 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: File viewers Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p163-166 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Inso Product Name: Quick View Plus Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to four file viewers for use with Windows 95. These viewers support a wide variety of file formats but all have interfaces that are inconsistent, awkward, or both. Some support conversions between file types but full-scale conversions are not yet available for Windows 95. Not available for review was a combination of two products Adobe Systems has acquired from MasterSoft: Viewer 95 and Word for Word which will be sold as Adobe File Utilities for $149. Reviewer notes that Windows 95 includes Quick View which is a reduced version of Quick View Plus. Includes a buyer's guide comparing features of the viewers reviewed. Quick View Plus ($49), from Inso Corp., Chicago, IL (800, 312) is the "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration, four screen displays, and one table. Descriptor(s): Document Viewer; Disk Files; Software Review; Window Software; Conversions; Utility Program; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95 Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-044 Author: Rigney, Steve Title: Network antivirus solutions -- Here are eight packages that patrol for viruses on your NetWare server--and help you combat them Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p156-161 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec Product Name: Norton AntiVirus for NetWare Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to eight anti-virus programs for NetWare servers. All eight of these programs alert when a virus attempts to enter the server, but only two of them offer cleaning or disinfection of viruses on the server (most do that at a client). Lists three reasons why it is a poor idea to disinfect on the server: false positives (deleting a clean file), performance (the network will slow down every time an NLM tries to disinfect a file), and safety (just because a program says a file is clean one should not trust it with data on the server). Norton AntiVirus for NetWare ($599 for a 10-user license) from Symantec Corp., Cupertino, CA (800) is the "Editors' Choice." Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Software Review; NetWare Loadable Module; Local Area Networks; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows; NetWare Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-034 Author: Schultz, Keith Title: Antivirus utilities -- Missing from Windows 95's collection of utilities is an antivirus tool. For the ultimate in virus protection, choose from among... Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p143-156 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec Product Name: Norton AntiVirus for Windows 95 Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to nine antivirus programs for Windows 95. All of these programs offer direct support for 32-bit engines. None of the programs reviewed offers every feature the reviewer was looking for (prevention, detection, virus removal, performance, integration, and administration) but some came close. Windows 95's long filenames, compatibility problems with TSRs, and a major change in the way the system accessed boot sectors of floppy disks required almost complete rewrites of the programs' code to true 32-bit engines. A sidebar by Ben Z. Gottesman and Keith Schultz discusses macro viruses, new viruses that surfaced in 1995 which attach themselves to data files rather than to programs and boot sectors. Norton AntiVirus for Windows 95 $79.95 from Symantec Corp., Cupertino, CA (800, 541) is the "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration, two tables, and 10 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Software Review; Window Software; Vendor Guide Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 95; 386-based PC Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-030 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Uninstallers Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p135-141 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to three uninstaller programs for Windows 95. The purpose of these programs is to remove applications by removing the app itself, dynamic link library (DLL) files, and Visual Basic Extensions (VBXs) used only by the application. Some of these programs will also search and destroy data files created by the application. These programs currently are not able to know whether many DLL files are expendable or essential and two of them provide lists of "orphan" DLL files for possible removable. These three programs each have strengths and weaknesses but "none of them truly unwraps the uninstallation enigma to our satisfaction" so there is no "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration, one table, and three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Disk Files; Utility Program; Software Review; Window Software; Vendor Guide; File Management Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 95; IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-021 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Desktop enhancers -- If Windows 95's interface doesn't quite hit the mark for you, then take a close look at the various makeovers these desktop... Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p115-132 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec Product Name: Norton Navigator Abstract: Introduces reviews of eight desktop enhancers which can replace some or most of the features of the Windows 95 interface. When Windows 3.x was the current operating system, PC Tools for Windows or Norton Desktop for Windows could entirely replace Program Manager. These enhancers do not totally replace the Explorer interface. A replacement for the Windows Explorer is available in Windows 95, which contains slightly improved versions of the Windows 3.x Program Manager and File Manager. This can replace Explorer if the user replaces the "shell=explorer.exe" line in SYSTEM.INI with "shell=progman.exe." The programs reviewed represent a good first effort but "the best Windows 95 enhancements are probably yet to come." Norton Navigator ($99.95), from Symantec Corp., Cupertino, CA (800, 541) is the "Editors' Choice." Includes one illustration, eight screen displays, and one table. Descriptor(s): Desktop Software; File Management; Software Review; Window Software; Utility Program Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 95; IBM PC Compatible Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-018 Author: Rosch, Winn L Title: The basics -- Windows 95 lacks a few necessary tools. Here we look at the basic set of tools that will make your Windows 95 system more complete Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p107-111 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Microsoft; Symantec Product Name: Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95; Norton Utilities for Windows 95 Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to two basic utility packages for Windows 95. Notes that Windows 95 includes a number of utility functions including CHKDSK, DISKCOPY, FORMAT, FDISK, ATTRIB, and DOSKEY. Its Recycling Bin allows undelting files, ScanDisk can be used for normal disk maintenance, DriveSpace 2 offers disk compression, Microsoft Backup provides backup capabilities, and Microsoft Diagnostics aids in troubleshooting. The two packages reviewed add more features. They are Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 ($54.95) from Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA (800, 206), and Norton Utilities for Windows 95 ($119) from Symantec Corp., Cupertino, CA (800, 541). Includes one illustration and six screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Disk Files; Software Review; Window Software; Troubleshooting; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI05-017 Author: Ulanoff, Lance Title: The ultimate utility guide -- Work better and smarter by outfitting your PC with some of these 170 problem-solving tools Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1996) v15 n9 p100-219 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to utility programs including reviews of 170 programs in 14 categories. Includes "The basics" (p107-111) by Winn L. Rosch, "Desktop Enhancers" (p115-132) by Edward Mendelson, "Uninstallers" (p135-141) by Edward Mendelson, "Antivirus Utilities" (p143-156) and "Network Antivirus Solutions" (p156-161) by Keith Schultz, "File Viewers" (p163-166) by Edward Mendelson, "Memory Utilities" (p169-173) by Larry Seltzer, "Diagnostic Utilities" (p175-180) by Barry Simon, "Network Backup Utilities" (p181-186) by Steve Rigney, "More Essential Problem Solvers" (p187-190) by David Haskin, "OS/2 Utilities" (p191-196) by Esther Schindler, "Internet Organizers" (p197-210) by Edward Mendelson, "Internet Plug-ins and Helpers" (p212-213), and "More Internet Utilities" (p215-219). In! cludes benchmark tests results. Includes eight tables, three graphs, 15 illustrations, and 89 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Software Review; Benchmark Testing; Vendor Guide ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI04-275 Author: Deurbrouck, John Title: SCInvoke: screen savers on demand -- Control when your screen saver can and can't run Source: PC Magazine (April 23, 1996) v15 n8 p215-220 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Product Name: SCInvoke Abstract: Focuses on the use of SCInvoke, a Win32 executable file for controlling when your screen saver begins functioning. Explains that to invoke SCInvoke, you copy the SCINVOKE.EXE file to a subdirectory on your hard disk. Says this program presents a tiny dialog box, and you decide where on the screen you place SCInvoke. Attention is given to program options such as Always on Top, which causes SCInvoke to float above other windows even when it's not active; removing SCInvoke; and programming this screen saver. Discusses how to allow SCInvoke to start or prevent it from starting; placing the window at the same location on the screen, regardless of screen resolution; and how to move the window around the screen using client-area dragging. Includes one sidebar, two screen displays, and four code listings. Descriptor(s): Screen Savers; Utility Program; Window Software; 32-Bit Code ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI04-235 Author: Perenson, Melissa J Title: Fight back against Boza Source: PC Magazine (April 23, 1996) v15 n8 p80 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Command Software; IBM Corp.; McAfee Associates; S&S Software International; Symantec Product Name: F-PROT Professional for Windows 95; IBM AntiVirus; VirusScan; Dr. Solomon's AntiVirus Toolkit; Norton AntiVirus for Windows 95 Abstract: Announces that various anti-virus programs have released updates that counter the Boza virus, which attacks 32-bit executable files and is the first Windows 95-specific virus to be isolated. Explains that Boza updates are available for IBM AntiVirus v2.4 ($NA) from IBM Corp. of Somers, NY (800); VirusScan ($NA) from McAfee Associates of Santa Clara, CA (800, 408); and Dr. Solomon's AntiVirus Toolkit ($NA) from S&S Software International Inc. of Burlington, MA (800, 617). Similar Boza updates are included in Norton AntiVirus for Windows 95 ($NA) from Symantec Inc. of Cupertino, CA (800, 503); and ThunderByte Anti-Virus Utilities for Windows 95 v7.0 ($NA) from ThunderByte Corp. of Massena, NY (800 Notes that F-PROT Professional for Windows 95 ($170) from Comma Software of Jupiter, FL (800, 407) did not need any additio patches to deal with the Boza virus. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Window Software Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI03-265 Author: Rawson, Tom Title: Find lost files and text with WSearch -- Add regular-expression searching to Windows and OS/2 Source: PC Magazine (March 26, 1996) v15 n6 p213-222 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Product Name: WSearch Abstract: Presents a tutorial which outlines a file and text search utility, called WSearch, for Windows 3.1 and 95 and OS/2. Explains how the utility works and offers a program listing to add this capability to your applications. Notes that the tool supports wildcards in both the filename search and text string search fields. Includes a table listing character functions and examples of each, a diagram illustrating the compiler state machine, and a list of escape sequences recognized by WSearch. Includes one screen display and a program listing. Descriptor(s): Disk Files; Information Retrieval; OS/2; Tutorial; Program Listing; Utility Program; Window Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI03-262 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: One for the little guys -- Three diminutive utilities that can save you a lot of work and frustration Source: PC Magazine (March 26, 1996) v15 n6 p201-202 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Presents a tutorial which offers program listings for three small utilities which, although diminutive in size, are work savers, including: a TEE utility for DOS for redirecting and piping output; a detabbing utility for Windows 95 which converts tabs into spaces in text files; and a look at Partition Magic ($49.95) from PowerQuest (801), a neat little utility for creating partitions without disturbing your existing data. Notes that the program listing for the TEE utility is included while the detabbing utility is available for download. Includes a program listing and a screen display. Descriptor(s): Operating Systems; Tutorial; Program Listing; Window Software; DOS; Utility Program; Disk Files ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI01-241 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: A cornucopia of utilities for Windows 95 and Windows NT -- Windows 95 utilities Source: PC Magazine (January 23, 1996) v15 n2 p50-51 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to shareware and freeware utility programs for Windows 95 and Windows NT. Features 15 products available from either the Internet, the World Wide Web, or CompuServe. The following are available from CompuServe: Boot Manager 95 (Free for non-commercial use), Steve Flynn's DirSort utility ($19.95), Brian McCarty's TrayIcon ($5), Steve Saxon's WinGO ($20), Wedge Software's WinHacker 95 ($10), and Nigel Thomas' WinBrowse ($15). Available from the Internet are: Firas El-Hasan's DOS Explore (Free), George Harth's Imp VWM ($15), WinTronix' KeepGoin' ($9), Sapphire's WinShade ($5), and Silicon Prairie Software's Zip Explorer ($29.95). Available from the World Wide Web & Internet are: ChaoSoft's Step-Up ($29.95), PowerToys (Free) from Microsoft's Web site, RTV Software's RTVReco (Free), and Microsoft's Control Panel applet (Free). Includes nine screen displays and 15 product summaries. Descriptor(s): Window Software; Internet; World Wide Web; Utility Program; Shareware; Online Systems Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95; Microsoft Windows NT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI02-025 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Three OS/2 utilities packages bring Warp to warp speed Source: PC Magazine (February 6, 1996) v15 n3 p63 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Stardock Systems; Development Technologies; SofTouch Systems Product Name: Object Desktop; DeskMan/2; UniMaint Abstract: Presents a buyer's guide to three utilities packages for IBM PC compatibles running OS/2. These include Object Desktop ($99.95) from Stardock Systems (313), offering a fast, intuitive interface that can provide instant access to files while viewing any drive or directory, and which provides a caching option for speed, and a new editor. Considers DeskMan/2 ($79.95) from Development Technologies Inc. (803), called the most elegant and usable of all OS/2 desktop-maintenance utilities, which allows you to preserve, modify, and restore anything from a single icon to everything on the desktop. Also covers UniMaint ($99.95) from SofTouch Systems Inc. (800, 405), which backs up multiple generations of the desktop and lets you copy all or part of the desktop to another computer. In addition, says that UniMaint provides good control over OS/2's internals, and lets you dig deep below OS/2's surface. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): OS/2; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Software Review; User Interface; Operating Systems Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI02-304 Author: Dragan, Richard Title: Warp Cabinet: an OS/2 filer -- Copy, move, and rename files in OS/2 Warp with a File Manager-like window Source: PC Magazine (February 20, 1996) v15 n4 p223-226 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Presents a tutorial for creating an OS/2 utility called Warp Cabinet, which allows users to copy, move, and rename files under a File Manager-type window. Provides samples of the C++ source code that runs Warp Cabinet, and offers the entire source code for free download. Notes that users will need Borland C++ for OS/2 v2.0 to compile the program. Explains how to use this handy utility, which has the look and feel of a Windows 3.1 File Manager window, but can also display multiple drives in one window like Windows 95 Explorer. Includes five screen displays, two program listings, a list of PC Magazine's top ten utilities, and a sidebar that explains how to obtain copies of utility programs and summarizes the article on Warp Cabinet. Descriptor(s): OS/2; Tutorial; Disk Files; Window Software; Utility Program; Program Listing; C Programming Language ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI02-297 Author: Pietrek, Matt Seltzer, Larry Title: Windows 3.1 memory enhancement utilities -- The right utility can help you past major memory roadblocks in Windows 3.1. Source: PC Magazine (February 20, 1996) v15 n4 p205-213 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Helix Software; Quarterdeck; Connectix; Syncronys Software Product Name: Hurricane; QEMM; MagnaRAM; RAM Doubler; SoftRAM95 Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to memory enhancement utilities for Microsoft Windows 3.1. Features full reviews of four products: Hurricane v1.02 ($79.95) from Helix Software; QEMM 8 ($70) and MagnaRAM2 ($40) from Quarterdeck Corp.; RAM Doubler v1.02 ($99) from Connectix; and SoftRAM96 v2.00 ($79.95) from Syncronys Software. Rates Hurricane v1.02 as the best of these solutions, awarding it PC Magazine's Editors' Choice award. Includes four graphs that compare speed increases on machines running various programs under 8MB and 16MB of RAM and one graph that compares the products' RAM compression rates. Includes five screen displays and a sidebar. Descriptor(s): Memory; Utility Program; Window Software; Vendor Guide; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: A B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 96PI02-210 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Windows 95 antivirus utilities: the latest in PC protection Source: PC Magazine (February 20, 1996) v15 n4 p39-41 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: S&S Software International; Symantec; TouchStone Software; ThunderByte TCT International; McAfee Associates Product Name: Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows 95; Norton AntiVirus for Windows 95; PC-cillin 95; ThunderByte Anti-Virus Utilities Professional Version for Windows 95; VirusScan for Windows 95 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to antivirus utility programs for Microsoft Windows 95. Includes capsule reviews of Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows 95 ($125) from S&S Software International Inc.; Norton Antivirus for Windows 95 ($79.95) from Symantec Inc.; PC-cillin 95 v1.0 ($49.95) from TouchStone Software Corp.; ThunderByte Anti-Virus Utilities Professional Version for Windows 95 ($149.95) from ThunderByte TCT International Corp.; and VirusScan for Windows 95 ($65) from McAfee Associates Inc. Reveals that all of these programs do a great job of virus detecting, but maintains that ThunderByte Anti-Virus and PC-Cillin scanned the hard drive the fastest in testing. Includes five screen displays. Descriptor(s): Virus; Window Software; Utility Program; Disk Files; Vendor Guide; Hard Disk Drive; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95 Grade: B B B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 96PL02-009 Author: Mann, Richard Title: Take it off: uninstaller programs -- Unwanted Windows programs can clog up your hard drive by depositing files in a myriad of locations. That's where a dedicated... Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (February 1, 1996) v8 n2 p58-60 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Quarterdeck; Vertisoft Systems; MicroHelp Product Name: CleanSweep 95; Remove-IT; Uninstaller Abstract: Presents a comparative review of three uninstall programs for Windows. Compares three products from three companies, including: CleanSweep 95 ($29.95) from Quarterdeck Corp. of Marina Del Ray, CA (800, 310); Remove-IT v2.0 ($69.95) from Vertisoft Systems Inc. of San Francisco, CA (800, 415); and Uninstaller v3.0 ($79.95) from MicroHelp Inc. of Marietta, GA (800, 404). Notes that only CleanSweep 95 comes in 32-bit code, and adds that the reviewer awaits Windows 95 versions of the last two products. Says that Remove-IT seems the better program, and praises its runtime unarchiver, faster operation, and ability to remove entire program groups at once. Includes three photos, one screen display, one chart, and a product source guide. Descriptor(s): Disk Files; Window Software; Software Review; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows; Microsoft Windows 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI11-235 Author: Ulanoff, Lance Title: Windows 95 utilities: picking up the pieces -- Fear not, vendors are already rushing to provide the missing pieces for the Windows 95 utilities puzzle. Source: PC Magazine (November 21, 1995) v14 n20 p157-203 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec; Microsoft Product Name: Norton Navigator for Windows 95, The; DriveSpace 3 Abstract: Presents reviews of 11 utility programs for Windows 95. Includes two desktop managers, two hard disk compression programs, four antivirus packages, and three backup programs. A table compares the features of these programs with those included in Windows 95 and those in Microsoft Plus. Windows 95 offers little in the way of virus detection and backup, so this market is expected to grow as third party vendors bring the offerings to market. The reviews indicate that utilities development efforts for Windows 95 are still ongoing, but "whether all these categories can remain viable u the new operating system remains to be seen." "Editors' Choice honors were given to Norton Navigator ($99), a desktop manager fr Symantec Corp., Cupertino, CA (800, 503) and DriveSpace 3 ($49) from Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA (800, 206) a hard disk compressio program. Includes a benchmark test. Includes two graphs, one illustration,! 30 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Software Review; Window Software; Benchmark Testing Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI12-314 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Unzipping files the Windows 95 way -- A shell extension shows you what's in your .ZIP files and unzips them Source: PC Magazine (December 19, 1995) v14 n22 p255-264 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Product Name: ZipView Abstract: PC TECH/UTILITIES column describes ZipView, a Windows 95 property-sheet shell extension that adds a Contents page to the property sheets of .ZIP files, allowing you to see what is in a .ZIP file without using an application as a middleman. Explains that ZipView also demonstrates: how to write property-sheet shell extensions, how to use Windows 95's new ListView control, how Win32 applications can spawn synchronous child processes, and how to use the Registry to save and restore program settings. Attention is given to: how to install and use ZipView, uninstalling ZipView, property-sheet shell extensions as DLLs housing a component object that meets the specifications of the Component Object Model upon which OLE is based, and extracting files with ZipView. Notes that ZipView and its C++ source code is available online from PC Magazine. Includes three code listings, three screen displays, and one sidebar. Descriptor(s): Disk Files; Utility Program; Compression; Window Software; Software Tools ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI12-245 Author: Machrone, Bill Title: Taming the PC Card memory monster Source: PC Magazine (December 19, 1995) v14 n22 p85 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Practical Peripherals; Zoom Telephonics Product Name: PCONFIG; Practical Peripherals PC288T2; ENABLE Abstract: Describes configuration programs for turning on a modem that save the memory overhead of PC Card services software. Explains that most PC Card modems include configuration software, such as the PCONFIG that comes with the Practical Peripherals PC288T2, that requires you to set up a 2KB excluded block in high memory, used for communicating with the modem. Indicates that using PCONFIG provides the author with 81KB more memory and that Zoom's ENABLE utility is quite similar. However, notes that you need to remove lines from SYSTEM.INI, edit the CONFIG.SYS file, and make adjustments to your memory management utility, if you have one. Also says that your PC Card slots or modem may not come back to life after a suspend-resume cycle, and not all laptops benefit from these programs. Descriptor(s): PCMCIA; Lap-sized Microcomputer; Modem; Utility Program; Memory ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI12-231 Author: Perenson, Melissa J Title: PowerDesk: a powerful utility Source: PC Magazine (December 19, 1995) v14 n22 p61 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: MicroHelp Product Name: PowerDesk Abstract: Announces the release of PowerDesk ($40), a file manager from MicroHelp Inc. of Marietta, GA (800, 770). Runs on IBM PC compatibles with Windows 95. Explains that this utility has a great degree of customization, and it provides instant access to Windows 95's shutdown and system controls, integration with the Taskbar, and easy-to-maneuver, single-layer pop-up menus. Indicates that PowerDesk includes the DOS command line in its toolbar, and its Explorer Plus allows you to view multiple drives simultaneously and allows automatic decompression of zipped files when they are dragged-and-dropped. Other features include the ability to resize the PowerDesk toolbar and to have multiple-application QuickLaunch pads within the same toolbar for single-click access to programs. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): User Interface; Utility Program; Window Software; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 95PL12-011 Author: Leyenberger, Arthur Title: Laptop office Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (December 1, 1995) v7 n12 p87-88 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Cirque; Merritt Computer Products; Woods Wire Products; Software Architects Product Name: GlidePoint; Mouse2Go; TravelSurge; Here & Now Abstract: LAPTOP OFFICE column presents a buyers' guide to a utility programs and three laptop peripherals. Features capsule reviews of four products from four companies: the GlidePoint ($89) pointing device from Cirque of Salt Lake City, UT (801) which provides for improved cursor control; the Mouse2Go ($60) from Meritt Computer Products of Dallas, TX (214) which combines a short cord, high-resolution, two-button mouse with a special pad that attaches to either side of a portable computer; the TravelSurge ($20) surge protector from Woods Wire Products of Carmel, IN (800); and Here & Now ($90) from Software Architects of Bothell, WA (206) which can run under DOS or Windows to enable a portable PC to read Macintosh disks directly. Includes three photos and a product resource guide. Descriptor(s): Lap-sized Microcomputer; Peripherals; Vendor Guide; Pointing Devices; Power Supply; Utility Program; Interoperability Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: B B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 95PL11-012 Author: Yacco, Wayne Title: Software odyssey Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (November 1, 1995) v7 n11 p92-94 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Vertisoft Systems; PowerQuest; V Communications Product Name: Name-It; PartitionMagic for DOS/Windows; System Commander Abstract: SOFTWARE ODYSSEY column presents a buyers' guide to utility programs for Windows 95. Features capsule reviews of three products from three companies: PartitionMagic for DOS/Windows ($49.95) from PowerQuest of Orem, UT (800) which enables isolating Windows 95 in its own partition to limit problems with installing a new OS; System Commander ($99.95) from V Communications of San Jose, CA (800, 408) which install as a master boot record to handle any operating system that runs of a PC and supports multiple operating system in a single partition; and Name-It ($29.95) from Vertisoft Systems of San Francisco, CA (800, 415) which resides in the background to enable facilitates finding 16-bit application files with a long name without a reduction in functionality. Includes a screen display, two photos, a drawing, and a product resource guide. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Vendor Guide; 32-Bit Code; Window Software; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows 95 Grade: B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 95PL12-009 Author: Cahlin, Michael Title: Stand out shareware -- Looking to make your Windows notebook run a little better-or add functionality? From powerful calculators to file viewers, ... Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (December 1, 1995) v7 n12 p64-66 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to Windows-based shareware. Features capsule descriptions of 14 products from 14 companies. Includes fee and vendor contact information as well as online addresses. Says shareware are also available through CD-ROMs and user groups that maintain shareware libraries. Includes 14 summary cards and two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Shareware; Vendor Guide; Utility Program; Window Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 95PL10-007 Author: Roth, Cliff Title: Going remote: Remote access software -- With remote access software and a modem, laptop users can access their desktop PC's to remotely run programs and use resources. Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (October 1, 1995) v7 n10 p46-50 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Triton Technologies; Symantec; Microcom; Traveling Software Product Name: CoSession for Windows; PC Anywhere for Windows; PC Anywhere for DOS; Carbon Copy for Windows; LapLink for Windows Abstract: Introduces a buyer's guide to five remote access software packages (four for Windows and one for DOS). Includes a discussion of the essential elements of and the problems likely to be encountered with remote computing. Provides individual reviews of: CoSession for Windows v2.0 ($99) from Triton Technologies (908); PC Anywhere for Windows v2.0 ($129) from Symantec (408); PC Anywhere for DOS v5.0 ($179) from Symantec (408); Carbon Copy for Windows v3.0 ($120) from Microcom (617); and LapLink for Windows v6.0a ($199) from Traveling Software (800). Recommends CoSession for its low-impact installation procedure and LapLink for its multiple capabilities and the included high speed parallel connection cable. Includes four photographs and four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Remote Computing; Software Tools; Vendor Guide; Utility Program; Window Software; DOS; Lap-sized Microcomputer Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows; DOS Grade: B B C B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 95PL02-009 Author: Yacco, Wayne Title: File-transfer feud: LapLink vs. WinLynx Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (February 1, 1995) v7 n2 p82-83 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Rupp Technology; Traveling Software Product Name: WinLynx for Windows; LapLink for Windows Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to file-transfer programs. Features a comparative review of two Windows-based programs from two companies. Products reviewed are: WinLynx v3.0 for Windows ($169) from Rupp Technology Corp. of Phoenix, AZ (602) which offers superior support for DOS operations, requires fewer system resources, and provides a file searcher and viewer; and LapLink v6.0 for Windows ($199) from Traveling Software of Bothell, WA (800) which offers remote-control capabilities, can reduce connect time, and is "the most comprehensive file-transfer product you can buy." Includes two photos and a product resource guide. Descriptor(s): Data Transmission; Vendor Guide; Remote Computing; Window Software; Utility Program; Disk Files Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 95PL02-011 Author: Yacco, Wayne Title: Software Odyssey Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (February 1, 1995) v7 n2 p88-89 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Ocean Isle; Quarterdeck Office Systems Product Name: Reachout Remote Control Pro Edition; QEMM Abstract: SOFTWARE ODYSSEY column reviews two mobile computing programs. Features capsule reviews of two products from two companies. Products reviewed are: Reachout Remote Control Pro Edition v4.01 ($199 for modem version) from Ocean Isle of Vero Beach, FL (407) which offers "completely versatile" remote-access capabilities; and QEMM v7.5 ($99.95) memory manager from Quarterdeck Office Systems Inc. of Santa Monica, CA (800, 310) which provides increased support for popular laptops and can also help to avoid conflict with memory addresses used by PC Cards. Includes a screen display, a photo, and a product resource guide. Descriptor(s): Mobile Computing; Vendor Guide; Remote Computing; Memory; Utility Program; Lap-sized Microcomputer Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI10-105 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Launch as you like it -- Launch Windows programs minimized, maximized...however you want. Source: PC Magazine (October 10, 1995) v14 n17 p523-544 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Microsoft Product Name: Microsoft Windows Abstract: Presents a tutorial on the use of a utility for Windows called LaunchControl, which enables control over how DOS and Windows applications are launched under Windows 3.1. Explains how the executable works, how to install and use it, and looks at the techniques used to implement its various functions. Includes information on where to download both the executable and the source code for LaunchControl. Includes one screen display, two program listings, a list of top 10 utilities, and a sidebar guide to PC Magazine's utilities. Descriptor(s): Window Software; Utility Program; Programming Instruction; Tutorial; Program Listing; DOS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI10-100 Author: Rigney, Steve Title: The long and the short of Windows 95 filenames -- Before you reap the benefits of long filenames, you need to investigate their pitfalls. Source: PC Magazine (October 10, 1995) v14 n17 p369-370 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Microsoft Product Name: Microsoft Windows 95 Abstract: Presents a tutorial on the use of the extended filename enabled by Windows 95. Discusses the limitations of the VFAT file system and the problems caused when a 16-bit application accesses a file with an extended filename. Explains how to create extended filenames noting that the process can be difficult), how networks react to long filenames, and the limitations you may encounter when using backup and disk utilities. Concludes that until most applications are available in Windows 95 versions, the use of long filenames will remain risky, at best. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Window Software; Disk Files; 32-Bit Code; Utility Program; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI09-149 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: QEMM 8 Source: PC Magazine (September 12, 1995) v14 n15 p258 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Quarterdeck Office Systems Product Name: QEMM 8 Abstract: Announces QEMM 8 ($NA), a memory management utility from Quarterdeck Office Systems. This version will increase available RAM for DOS applications and drivers under Windows 95. Windows 3.x users will benefit from increased resources. Descriptor(s): Memory; Product Announcement; Window Software; Management; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI09-148 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Dashboard 95 Source: PC Magazine (September 12, 1995) v14 n15 p258 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Starfish Software Product Name: Dashboard 95 Abstract: Announces Dashboard 95 ($49.95), a Windows 95 shell from Starfish Software (800). The program will ship concurrently with Windows 95. It replaces Windows 95's Taskbar with compact and efficient program and printer-management features. Descriptor(s): User Interface; Product Announcement; Window Software; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI09-146 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Arcada Backup for Windows 95 Source: PC Magazine (September 12, 1995) v14 n15 p258 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Arcada Software Product Name: Arcada Backup for Windows 95 Abstract: Announces Arcada Backup for Windows 95 ($99), a backup utility from Arcada Software (407). Unlike the backup software that is included in Windows 95, which works only with QIC tape drives and disks, this program supports those formats as well as SCSI tape, and provides Wizards to aid in automating backups. Descriptor(s): Backup; Product Announcement; Window Software; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI06-076 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Change a program's address with COA Source: PC Magazine (June 13, 1995) v14 n11 p273-282 Pub. Type: Program Listing Company Name: Neil J. Rubenking Product Name: Change of Address Abstract: PCTech UTILITIES column presents a PASCAL language program listing, Change of Address (COA), a utility program that effectively sends change-of-address notices regarding application programs, to Windows. Explains that COA will change one address string to another address string in the .GRP and .INI files, and in the registration database. Notes that COA is a Multiple Document Interface program which includes a File List window, Find and Replace window, and a Registration Database viewer window. Indicates that the items in the main window's Options menu control how COA searches for and replaces text. Covers how to edit .GRP and .INI files with COA, and states that Windows provides numerous specialized API functions for reading and changing the registration database. This file is available separately on-line from ZiffNet's PC MagNet; sidebar describes how to obtain COA and how to join ZiffNet. Includes three program listings ! and four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Window Software; Pascal; Programming Instruction; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 95PL03-008 Author: Mann, Richard O Title: Organizing your finances Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (March 1, 1995) v7 n3 p52-57 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Intuit; Meca Software; 4Home Productions; Microsoft Product Name: Quicken; Managing Your Money; Kiplinger's Simply Money; Microsoft Money; TurboTax Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to personal-finance and tax-preparation software for IBM PC compatibles. Provides capsule reviews of four personal-finance programs: Quicken for DOS/Windows ($39.99) from Intuit, Inc. of Menlo Park, CA (800, 415); Managing Your Money for DOS/Windows ($40) from Meca Software of Fairfield, CT (800); Kiplinger Simply Money v2.0 ($35) from 4Home Productions of Islandia, NY (800, 516); and Microsoft Money v3.0 ($14.95) from Microsoft of Redmond, WA (206). Also provides capsule reviews of three tax-preparation software: TurboTax for DOS/Windows ($35) fro Intuit, Inc.; TaxCut for DOS/Windows ($40) from Meca Softwa Simply Tax ($35) from 4Home Productions. Concludes that Quicken TurboTax are the best in the business although Managing Your Mon and TaxCut both offer intelligent advice. Contains five photos and seven screen displays. Descriptor(s): Finances; Taxes; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Software Review; Window Software; Accounting Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A B B B A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI05-306 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Save the desktop! Source: PC Magazine (May 30, 1995) v14 n10 p270-274 Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: Presents a tutorial for using a free utility called SaveIt, which scans the windows on the desktop to determine which programs are running. Says the program and source code files are available for download from PC Magazine's PC MagNet and require a C compiler compatible with Microsoft C or Borland C++. Explains how to use SaveIt and examines the program's design. Includes a list of PC Magazine's top ten free utilities, one screen display, several programming examples, a screen capture of the layout of the structures in the Group file format, and a guide to PC Magazines utilities and how to get them. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Desktop Software; C Programming Language; Program Listing; Shareware ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI12-041 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Raiders of the lost DLL Source: PC Magazine (December 6, 1994) v13 n21 p367-368+ Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Product Name: FDDLLS Abstract: Describes Find Dead Dynamic Link Libraries (FDDLL) (0), a utility program from PC Magazine that scans a hard disk for DLLs and the programs that put them there. Details how to download and install FDDLL in a system, the FDDLL scanning phases, and the order in which Windows searches for DLLs. Defines DLLs and its advantages in microcomputing. Explains how to determine appropriate DLLs for a Windows program. Lists the offsets under the New Executable format header. Points out several types of false flags that are encountered in the deletion of DLLs. Contains the sidebar "Guide to Our Utilities & How to Get Them" (p376).. Includes two tables and a sidebar. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Library; Management; Hard Disk Drive; Window Software; Disk Files Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI03-289 Author: McSorley, John Title: 1MBFort protects low memory Source: PC Magazine (March 28, 1995) v14 n6 p283-294 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: 1MBFort; View1MB Abstract: UTILITIES column discusses 1MB Fort (free) written in C, and View1MB (free) written in Visual Basic, Windows utilities available from PC Magazine. Says 1MB Fort can be used to build a fortress to protect low memory. Adds that View1MB is a companion to 1MB Fort and it can be used to check on low memory. Explains how to check memory with View1MB; how to use 1MBFort; identifying the problem; and inside 1MBFort. Includes a guide to PC Magazine utilities and how to get them; and program listings for 1MB Fort and View1MB. Includes two screen displays, one diagram, two sidebars, and one program listing. Descriptor(s): Memory; Utility Program; Window Software Compatibility: Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI02-271 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Kick-start programs with DropKick Source: PC Magazine (February 21, 1995) v14 n4 p254-258 Pub. Type: Column Company Name: PCMagNet Product Name: DropKick Abstract: UTILITIES column describes DropKick, a Windows 3.1 utility that launches Windows programs by clicking the mouse button. Explains that the user can add a program to the DropKick menu by dragging the file's icon from the File Manager to the DropKick window. Notes that DropKick's menu is configurable, and installation is very simple. Provides details of DropKick's usage, including its Add button and Run Minimized check box. Indicates that the DropKick window is implemented by means of a dialog box, thus freeing the program from having to create child windows. Notes that DropKick's DragQueryFile function returns the number of files dropped on the window, and determines the names of files. Also reports that DropKick launches programs using the ShellExecute function. Concludes that DropKick is a modern, context-sensitive menu that can easily be added to the Windows program. This program is available on-line from PCMagNet. Include! s two code listings, one screen display, and one table. Descriptor(s): User Interface; Window Software; Desktop Software; Disk Files; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI02-232 Title: Symantec makes the missing link Source: PC Magazine (February 21, 1995) v14 n4 p61 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Symantec Product Name: ACT! Link Abstract: Reports that Symantec Corp. of Cupertino, CA (800, 503) has announced the release of ACT! Link ($299), an add-on for the company's ACT! for Windows contact manager. Runs on IBM PC compatibles with Windows. Explains that ACT! Link enables ACT! for Windows to communicate remotely with a central ACT! database. Changes to the database are sent to, and incorporated with, the central database, and new updates are automatically sent by di in. Features include the ACT! Mail feature for making ACT! Link an e-mail package and security options for screening files from unauthorized users. Descriptor(s): Contact Manager; Utility Program; Remote Computing; Window Software; Add-on Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows; Act! for Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 94PL12-001 Author: Rohan, Rebecca Title: Software short takes Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (December 1, 1994) v6 n12 p12 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to utility software for IBM PC compatibles. Provides brief descriptions and capsule reviews of six products from six companies. Rates the products on a scale of one to five points with five being the highest score. States the products' hardware and software requirements. Gives the address and telephone number of the products' distributor. Includes six photos and six summary cards. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI03-021 Author: Mace, Thomas Simon, Barry Title: Why wait? Get more from Windows now! -- Today's Windows utilities offer the interface that Windows never had -- and that upgrades can only promise. Source: PC Magazine (March 14, 1995) v14 n5 p108-166 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Borland International; Central Point Software; Wesson International; Systems Compatibility Product Name: Dashboard; PC Tools for Windows; Praxim; Outside In for Windows; XTree Gold for Windows Abstract: Presents reviews of 35 Windows utilities. Although many of the features of the utilities reviewed are expected to be incorporated in Windows 95, scheduled for release later this year, these utilities can provide improved performance now. Windows deficiencies addressed by these utilities are the fact that Program Manager groups can't be nested within other groups and there are no virtual desktops; File Manager lacks compression, encryption, and undelete; and File Manager searches are limited to path- and wildcard-based searches, there is no capability of searching for file content. Sidebars describe OS/2 Warp as an alternative interface, File Manager enhancements, and utilities for dealing with zipped files. Dashboard 20 ($49.95), PC Tools for Windows 2.0 ($179), Praxim 1.0 ($39.95), Outside In/for Windows ($89) 2.1H, and XTree Gold for Windows 4.0 ($99.95) are "Editors' Choice." Includes 34 screen displays, three ! tables. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Software Review; Window Software; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: A A A A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 95PI02-042 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: A calculator with "paper tape" Source: PC Magazine (February 7, 1995) v14 n3 p273-278 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Microsoft Product Name: TapeCalc Abstract: Discusses TapeCalc, a Microsoft Windows utility calculator program. Says TapeCalc is designed for real-world tasks, and keeps a record of calculations on a simulated paper tape. Explains how to use TapeCalc; its operators, both binary (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, power) and unary (square root and reciprocal); and its memory. Adds that TapeCalc can be programmed, and more operators and functions can be added as needed. Includes sidebars on the top 10 utilities and how to access utilities f Magazines online service, the PC MagNet. Includes three sidebars, two screen displays, and a program listing. Descriptor(s): Calculator; Utility Program; Window Software; Program Listing Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 94PL09-001 Title: Software short takes Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (September 1, 1994) v6 n9 p10 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to software to IBM PC Compatibles. Products reviewed and overall ratings (out of five) are: Remind Me ($50) from Velocity Development (800) - 5.0; Disney Collection Screen Saver ($50) from Berkeley Systems Inc. (510) - 5.0; Timeless Hints from Heloise ($40) from Lifestyle Software Group (800) - 4.0; Professional Write ($249) from SPC Software Publishing Corp. (800) - 3.0; Jonathan Pond's Personal Financial Planner ($50) from Vertigo Development Group - 4.0; and Real Estate Lawyer ($90) from Z-LAW Software Inc. (800) - 2.0. States the hardware requirements of each product. Includes six photos, and six summary cards. Descriptor(s): Software; Vendor Guide; Consumer Information; Productivity Software; Utility Program; Word Processing; Real Estate Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 94PL11-006 Author: Cahlin, Michael Title: Power Windows -- Wish you could customize Windows to the way you work? Our 14 Most Valuable Utility Players will make Windows run like a champ on ... Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (November 1, 1994) v6 n11 p48-50 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to Windows-based software utilities. Provides individual summaries of 15 products from 15 companies in the following categories: envelope addressing; font manager; icon editor; alternatives to the Program Manager; screen savers; uninstallation software; fax software; file compression. Says that power and versatility can be added to Windows through the use of the software and utilities which were reviewed. Also says that utilities typically require an 80386 or higher processor; 4MB of RAM; a VGA display; and Windows v3.1. Adds that Windows can also be customized according to the preferences of a user. Includes three screen displays, and two photos. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Window Software; Software Tools; Consumer Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 94PL08-013 Author: Rohan, Rebecca Title: Software short takes Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (August 1, 1994) v6 n8 p18 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to software for IBM PC compatibles. Features individual summaries of six products from six manufacturers. Products reviewed and overall ratings (out of five) are: HeartLight PC ($23) from Epic MegaGames of Rockville, MD (800) - 4.0; The Family Circle Cookbook: New Tastes for New Times ($39) from Pinpoint Publishing (707) - 4.0; Easy Notebook Of from Apsley-Bolton Computers Inc. (800) - 2.0; WinCom Pro ($129) from Delrina Corp. (800) - 4.0; HomeOwnership Plus ($69) from Personal Vision of South Dennis, MA (800); and Norton DiskLock 3.0 for Windows ($129) - 4.0. Includes six photos, and six summary cards. Descriptor(s): Software; Vendor Guide; Software Review; Utility Program; Games; Consumer Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 94PL10-008 Author: Mann, Richard O Title: Keeping data safe -- Protecting data from unknown disasters is easy--if you prepare. Richard takes a look at some ways to keep your data safe Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (October 1, 1994) v6 n10 p58-60 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Standard No: 1043-1314 Abstract: Presents an overview of ways to protect data. Details steps for minimizing data loss caused by hard disk failures: making backup copies of files; using DOS utilities for hard disk maintenance. Provides brief descriptions of software utilities and computer peripherals for protecting data, including: removable hard disk drives; encryption programs; password protection programs; programs for limiting user access; utilities for recovering lost computers. Says that data loss cannot be prevented, but it's impact can be lessened through the use of utilities and by making backup copies of files. Includes a photo. Descriptor(s): Security; Consumer Information; Utility Program; Software Tools; Information Storage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 94PL11-013 Author: Rohan, Rebecca Title: MosesDOCK! Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (November 1, 1994) v6 n11 p78 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Moses Computers Product Name: MosesDOCK! Abstract: Presents a very favorable review of MosesDOCK! ($299), a package for connecting a notebook to a desktop computer from Moses Computers of Los Gatos, CA (800). Runs on IBM PC Compatibles with DOS 3.3 or higher, and an 8-bit expansion slot. Features a network card for the desktop; a lightweight external adapter for the parallel port in notebooks; and a cable to connect the adapter and card. Says that the dual-port card can be used to accommodate up to eight stations; and that the four-port card can accommodate up to 74 stations. Adds that installation is simple, but configuring the terminals requires some technical knowledge. Concludes that it enables users to share resources. Includes a photo, and a summary card. Descriptor(s): Lap-sized Microcomputer; Hardware Review; Utility Program; Peripherals; Data Transmission Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 94PL10-005 Author: Preuss, Frank Roth, Cliff Title: Software suites -- Software suites offer high-power business programs at bargain prices. We put the Lotus, Microsoft and Borland/WordPerfect ... Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (October 1, 1994) v6 n10 p42-47, 64 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Microsoft; Lotus Development; Borland International Product Name: Microsoft Office; Lotus SmartSuite; Borland Office Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to software suites. Features a table comparing five specifications of three products from three companies. Includes price of the suite, and of the individual programs; and suite product requirements. Products reviewed include Microsoft Office v4.3 Professional Edition ($899) from Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, WA (206); Lotus SmartSuite v2.1 ($795) from Lotus Development Corp. of Cambridge, MA (617); and Borland Office v2.0 (595) from Borland Corp. of Scotts Valley, CA (408). Gives tips for purchasing software suites. Includes three photos, two screen displays, and a table. Descriptor(s): Integrated Software; Vendor Guide; Software Review; Consumer Information; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: A B C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 94PL11-005 Author: Atlas, Jay David Title: Do it in DOS -- Do you really need Windows to get your work done? Professor Atlas takes a contrary view Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (November 1, 1994) v6 n11 p40-45 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to DOS-based software. Features a table comparing three specifications of 13 products from 11 companies. Describes DOS-based word processors; spreadsheets; databases. Compares DOS-based programs to Windows versions. Says that DOS is still a good alternative for laptop users who can't afford to use Windows. Adds that DOS programs are still widely used compared to Windows versions. Contains the sidebars "Using DOS" (p42) which discusses the basic DOS commands and "Is DOS Really Dead?" (p45) which covers the use of DOS-based programs. Includes two photos, and two tables. Descriptor(s): Software; Vendor Guide; Utility Program; DOS; Consumer Information; Lap-sized Microcomputer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI11-255 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Back to the future with PCMKEY Source: PC Magazine (November 22, 1994) v13 n20 p319-328 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: UTILITIES column discusses PCMKEY, a command line editor. Says with PCMKEY, editing functions can be assigned to any key on the keyboard. Adds that it allows environment variables in aliases, provides intelligent command stacking, and supports reassignable keys. Provides a sidebar "Guide to Our Utilities & How to Get Them." Notes that PCMKEY is written in assembly language. Topics covered include how to use PCMKEY, assigning aliases, command line switches, code used to write PCMKEY, Windows compatibility, PCMKEY enhancements. Includes one program listing and four tables. Descriptor(s): Editor; Utility Program; Assembly Language; User Interface ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI11-253 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: The STACKS command revisited Source: PC Magazine (November 22, 1994) v13 n20 p307-312 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: TUTOR column discusses the STACKS setting in DOS for a PC. Says STACKS is a command in DOS 3.2 and later that intercepts selected hardware interrupts and provides stack space from an internal stack pool. Adds that the default setting of STACKS=9,128 (or 9 stacks of 128 bytes each) consumes almost 2K of conventional memory, and that another setting might be better, such as STACKS=0,0. Notes that if STACKS is set to a nonzero value and the number of nested hardware interrupts exceeds the number of specified stacks, the system is liable to crash. Reports on the STACKMON and STACKCHK utilities to determine the optimum stack size. Includes one debug script and two data printouts. Descriptor(s): DOS; Tutorial; Memory; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI11-206 Author: Caster, Kathleen Title: DCI: the secret to digital video speed Source: PC Magazine (November 22, 1994) v13 n20 p31 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Intel Corp.; Microsoft Product Name: Display Control Interface Abstract: Discusses a device driver called Display Control Interface (DCI), developed by Intel and Microsoft which runs Windows applications faster and speeds up video playback. Says the DCI works as an arbitrator by moving certain graphics and video-intensive jobs away from the CPU and onto the graphics card. Notes that the graphics drivers and operating system must be DCI-enabled, though most application programs do not require it. Includes one flow chart. Descriptor(s): Graphics; Utility Program; Accelerator; Window Software; Digital Video; Speed ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI11-008 Author: Olsen, J W Title: Keep Windows healthy with these six problem solvers Source: PC Magazine (November 8, 1994) v13 n19 p37-39 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Touchstone Software; Landmark Research International; CyberMedia Product Name: WINCheckIt; Chec-It Set Up Advisor; Landmark WINProbe; Landmark DataSafe; First Aid, for Windows users Abstract: Introduces a buyer's guide to Windows utilities. Features reviews of six products including: WINCheckIt v2.0 ($79.95) and Chec-It Set Up Advisor v1.1 ($29.95) from TouchStone Software Corp. of Huntingdon Beach, CA (800, 714); Landmark WINProbe v3.0 ($99) and Landmark DataSafe ($99) from Landmark Research International Corp. of Clearwater, FL (800, 813); First Aid, for Windows Users v1.2 ($129.95) from CyberMedia Inc. of Los Angeles, CA (800, 310); and wInformant v2.0 ($49.95) from Neocom Microspecialists Inc. of Martinsville, VA (703). Includes six screen displays. Descriptor(s): Window Software; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: B B B B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI07-053 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: The perfect utilities toolkit -- The right tool for the job at hand often spells the difference between perfection and frustration. Do you have all the right... Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1994) v13 n13 p221-237 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Presents a buyer's guide to purchasing the perfect utilities toolkit. Features a table comparing utilities bundled with three operating systems and two utility packages. Includes a diagram explaining how memory managers work, a diagram showing what optimization does for a hard drive, and a two-page sidebar by John Moore describing graphics utilities. Describes a variety of commercial utilities, including prices and vendor information. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Operating Systems; Vendor Guide; Bundled Software; Memory; Hard Disk Drive; Optimization ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI07-037 Author: Hicks, Adam A Title: Close-Up 6.0 steps up Windows remote-control speeds Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1994) v13 n13 p69 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Norton-Lambert Product Name: Close-Up Abstract: Announces the release of Close-UP v6.0 ($199), a remote-control software package from Norton-Lambert Corp. of Santa Barbara, CA (805). Reveals that this new upgrade offers better Windows performance and added features, drawing on artificial intelligence technology to improve the speed of screen redraws within Windows. Says the package offers remote printing support, keeps a log of host transactions, checks for viruses, and support for sharing modems. Descriptor(s): Remote Computing; Window Software; Upgrade; Utility Program Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI07-033 Author: Hicks, Adam A Title: Solid Oak tags hard disk waste Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1994) v13 n13 p66 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Solid Oak Software Product Name: Disk Historian Network Edition; Disk Historian Abstract: Announces the release of Disk Historian Network Edition ($795) and Disk Historian v2.1 ($79.95), a utility for tracking file activity from Solid Oak Software Inc. of Santa Barbara, CA (800, 805). Says that both the network edition and upgraded v2.1 are excellent utilities for identifying unnecessary files for network administrators to purge. Notes that both have a file viewer and a control box for deactivating the program from within Windows. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Network Management; Utility Program; Disk Files; Local Area Networks; Document Viewer; Window Software Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI08-073 Author: Stevenson, Ted Title: Remote-control software: how to be in 2 places at once -- Today's remote-control packages break the tyranny of the workplace: Now you can do it here even if you keep it somewhere else. Source: PC Magazine (August 1, 1994) v13 n14 p275-313 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec Product Name: pcAnywhere; pcAnywhere for Windows Abstract: Presents reviews of 11 remote-control software packages which run under Windows, DOS, and OS/2. Formerly, such packages were difficult to set up, slow performers, limited in ability to handle graphics, and weak in security. Recently released products, such as those reviewed, address these issues so that remote-control software is much more appealing. Packages are rated on ease of setup and configuration, remote control (running host programs), remote access (accessing host files), and security. Includes a benchmark test and a buyer's guide comparing features of programs reviewed. A sidebar by Kathleen Caster examines programs offering only remote access. A sidebar by Amarendra Singh and Ted Stevenson discusses remote control on a LAN. A sidebar by John Clyman describes WinView for Networks from Citrix Systems. Norton pcAnywhere for DOS and Windows ($179 each) from Symantec Corp. are "Editors' Choice." Includ! es one illustration, three graphs, 12 screen displays, four tables. Descriptor(s): Remote Computing; Window Software; Software Review; Benchmark Testing; Vendor Guide; Utility Program; Local Area Networks Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI05-293 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Switch Windows setups with Switcher Source: PC Magazine (May 31, 1994) v13 n10 p311-316 Pub. Type: Program Listing Company Name: Douglas Boling Product Name: Switcher Abstract: UTILITIES column describes the Switcher utility program, which saves up to 16 different Windows 3.1 configurations. Notes that after saving the configuration, it can be returned by a mouse click. Explains how to set up the Switcher button and other configuration information; how Switcher works; how to delete a button; and how to changes the settings of a particular button. Describes the system calls that this program uses, and details the use of the Microsoft Windows API function called SystemParametersInfo() for querying and setting many of the parameters that Switcher saves. Includes a listing of the 35 items that can be set and queried by this program. Also considers the Switcher window, noting that the window width may not be narrower than necessary to display the menu text on one line. This program and its C source code is available either online from PC MagNet, or by mail. Includes two program listings and two tables.! Descriptor(s): Window Software; Utility Program; Tutorial; Multitasking Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 94PI06-091 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Save paper: Print with WINPRIN Source: PC Magazine (June 14, 1994) v13 n11 p345-352 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Presents a description of the Windows text-printing utility WINPRIN, written by the author. Says that the utility prints text files in 1-, 2- and 4-page-per sheet per format, making it easier to put more text on a single page of printer paper. Examines how to use WINPRIN, how it works, and looks at its source code. Goes over possible error messages and how to correct them, and takes a close look at the process of Windows printing. Provides ways to enhance the utility, such as initializing printer settings or adjusting paper sizes. Gives all necessary information to obtain WINPRIN, through the Ziff-Net online services. Includes two screen displays and a utility. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Printer Controller ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 9312PI-331 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Taking command away from COMMAND.COM Source: PC Magazine (December 21, 1993) v12 n22 p323-334 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: The UTILITIES column discusses the use of the QPATH (quick path) utility, which permits the user to direct DOS to search for a program in a specific directory, rather than in the current directory. Says QPATH is a Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) utility which also stops DOS from executing specified commands and describes how it can be installed. Features program listings for the Findinstalled and FindProg routines and discloses that the QPATH utility can be downloaded from PC MagNet. Includes a table. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; DOS; Directories ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI12-238 Author: Grimes, Brad Title: Software utility keeps track of what you do in Windows Source: PC Magazine (December 21, 1993) v12 n22 p69 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Basic Systems Product Name: Win, What, Where Abstract: Announces the release of Win, What, Where ($37), a utility program from Basic Software of Kennewick, WA (800, 509). Says it monitors tasks being performed in Windows and provides various information on those tasks such as what time it began, how long it lasted, files used, etc. Comments that it is useful for tracking work time for billing and tax purposes, it has an automatic delete feature, and it provides summaries of the information. Includes a screen display. Descriptor(s): Time and Billing Software; Window Software; Utility Program; Monitor Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI12-232 Author: Grimes, Brad Title: Sonera brings DisplayMate video utilities to Windows Source: PC Magazine (December 21, 1993) v12 n22 p63 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Sonera Technology Product Name: DisplayMate for Windows Abstract: Announces the release of DisplayMate for Windows ($129), a display utility from Sonera Technologies of Rumson, NJ (908). Says it helps enhance the sharpness and contrast of a monitor display, shrink geometric distortion, reduce Moire patterns, and improve color and gray-scale accuracy. Adds that it also supports color modes from monochrome to 24-bit color. Includes a screen display. Descriptor(s): Color Display; Utility Program; Monitor; Window Software Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 93PL12-015 Author: DeMaio, Michelle Title: Laptop office -- The freedom portable computers offer has created a new breed of highly mobile professionals. Laptop Office looks at the latest... Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (December 1, 1993) v5 n12 p82-83 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: BookMaker; Golden Technologies; Microfield Graphics; ORA Electronics; Cellabs Product Name: ClickBook; Sliders & Dials; SoftBoard; IDEA; MiniDial Abstract: LAPTOP OFFICE column presents a buyer's guide to five products from five companies for laptop computers. Includes product features, pricing and vendor information. Includes one color drawing and three color photos. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Software; Data Transmission; Vendor Guide; Consumer Information; Lap-sized Microcomputer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 93PL12-010 Author: Rohan, Rebecca Title: Useful utilities Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (December 1, 1993) v5 n12 p52-55 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Standard No: 1043-1314 Abstract: Presents a buyer's guide to software utilities for laptop computers. Features the benefits, components, hardware and operating system requirements, price and vendor information, and capsule evaluations of eight products from eight companies. Includes "Battery Boost Notebook Utility Pack"(p53) side-bar. Includes one cartoon and five photos. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Consumer Information; Lap-sized Microcomputer Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI09-110 Author: Derubrouck, John Title: Launch your applications the easy way with BTNGO Source: PC Magazine (September 14, 1993) v12 n15 p347-354 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: John Deurbrouck Product Name: BTNGO Abstract: UTILITIES column provides an overview of a free utility for Windows' Program Manager called BTNGO (for ButtonGo). Says it lets you set up a button bar for displaying only the icons of the programs you run most frequently. Explains that it can be used with both Windows 3.0 and 3.1, and in 3.1 it can float over other Windows applications so you don't have to return to the Program Manager to use it. Describes how to install and use BTNGO. Notes that BTNGO along with its C++ source files can be downloaded from PC MagNet's Utilities/Tips Forum. Includes one screen display, two code listings, and a sidebar on PC MagNet's programs. Descriptor(s): User Interface; Utility Program; C Programming Language; Window Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI09-108 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Using the DOS 6.0 antivirus tools Source: PC Magazine (September 14, 1993) v12 n15 p331-333 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Microsoft Product Name: MS-DOS Abstract: TUTOR column presents a tutorial on the antivirus tools in DOS 6.0: MSAV providing passive protection against viruses; and VSAFE providing active protection against viruses and Trojan Horses. Says that MSAV can be added to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so that it runs automatically and it can be used to check specific files. VSAFE reveals infections already present and includes eight customizable options. Concludes that these two utilities can drastically reduce the danger of viruses in your PC. Includes two screen displays and one table. Descriptor(s): Virus; Utility Program; Troubleshooting; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI09-285 Author: Knoblaugh, Rick Title: Locate available IRQs with FINDIRQ Source: PC Magazine (September 28, 1993) v12 n16 p330-337 Pub. Type: Program Listing Company Name: Rick Knoblaugh Product Name: get_stacks_seg; find_drivers Abstract: UTILITIES column focuses on a PC Magazine utility called FINDIRQ that tells which devices in your system are using which IRQs and which IRQs are unassigned. Explains how to use FINDIRQ and its syntax options. Briefly reviews the subject of interrupt processing. Details how FINDIRQ works, including its checking the system model ID byte, reading the PIC mask registers, and displaying the device description for an IRQ which is enabled and has a standard system assignment. Also covers how to find a device driver or TSR program by looking at the interrupt vector corresponding to the IRQ and how to find the name of the device. Presents two assembly language programs for IBM PC compatibles: 1) get_stacks_seg, for determining the segment where the DOS_STACKS code resides and finding the original IRQs, and 2) find_drivers, for checking for a description for devices with active IRQs. FINDIRQ is available from PCMagNet. Includes one d! iagram, one screen display, and a quick reference guide for FINDIRQ. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Board; Hardware Evaluation; Peripherals; Programming Instruction; Memory ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI09-283 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Writing DOS utilities with DEBUG, part 1 Source: PC Magazine (September 28, 1993) v12 n16 p317-320 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: TUTOR column describes how to use DOS DEBUG to build a small program called GETKEY, which reads a character from the keyboard and returns an exit code identifying the key that was pressed. Defines the registers, segment registers, index registers, pointer registers, instruction pointer, and interrupts. Also discusses two methods of reading a character from the keyboard: by calling DOS function 08h, Character Input Without Echo, and calling interrupt 16h, function 00h, a programming function in the PC ROM BIOS that returns an ASCII key code in register AL. Explains the use of the assembly MOV command to place function numbers in the AH register, and describes how to execute an INT command. Also covers terminating the program, entering the instructions with debug, and storing them to disk as a .COM program. Provides information on ROM BIOS Interrupt 16h keyboard functions. Includes two tables and one program listing. Descriptor(s): Keyboard; Utility Program; Program Listing; DOS; Programming Instruction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI09-230 Title: Back up your data without hindering system performance Source: PC Magazine (September 28, 1993) v12 n16 p59 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: CCT Product Name: Back In A Flash! Abstract: Announces the release of Back In A Flash! ($49), an OS/2 2.1 archive and backup utility from CCT Inc. of Minneapolis, MN (612). Runs on IBM PC compatibles. Notes that Back In A Flash! uses OS/2's preemptive multitasking and multithreading capabilities to perform backups while you work, with practically no loss in system performance. In addition, says this true 32-bit application features file compression and support for hidden and system files, and it can back up to magneto-optical disks, hard disks, and network drives. Descriptor(s): Backup; OS/2; Multitasking; Compression; Utility Program; Networks Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; OS/2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI09-228 Title: Calera takes OCR to the next level in WordScan Plus 2.0 Source: PC Magazine (September 28, 1993) v12 n16 p59 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Calera Recognition Systems Product Name: WordScan; WordScan Plus Abstract: Reports on the release of WordScan v2.0 ($295) and WordScan Plus v2.0 ($695), optical character recognition (OCR) programs from Calera Recognition Systems Inc. of Sunnyvale, CA (800, 408). They run on IBM PC compatibles. Claims that Calera's new 32-bit Adaptive Recognition Technology applies contextual information during the recognition process to identify characters based on whole words or pages, rather than on a character-by-character basis, making for greater accuracy. Also notes that both programs support OLE 2.0, and WordScan Plus can be accessed from within a Windows application. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Optical Character Recognition; Window Software; Utility Program; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible Grade: B B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI09-043 Author: Ayre, Rick Barr, Christopher Mendelson, Edward Singh, Amarendra Title: What's the price of a free lunch? DOS 6 utilities vs. the competition -- You get a host of utilities for free when you upgrade to MS-DOS 6.0. But can they hold their own with the established Source: PC Magazine (September 14, 1993) v12 n15 p108-158 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Stac Electronics; Helix Software; Symantec Product Name: Stacker for Windows & DOS; NetRoom; Norton Utilities, The Abstract: Introduces a buyers' guide to 20 utility programs and compares them to the utilities in MS-DOS 6.0 for performance, safety, reliability, and ease of use. Presents reviews of five data compression, four memory management, seven backup and restore, and four data recovery programs. Includes product summaries for each category, two graphs and nine tables of benchmark test results, and four screen displays. Editor's Choice Awards: Data Compression - Stacker v3.1 for Windows & DOS ($149) from Stac Electronics (800); Memory Management - NetRoom v3.0 ($99, one user; $179, four users) from Helix Software (800); Backup and Restore - no Editor's Choice; and Data Recovery - The Norton Utilities v7.0 ($179) from Symantec (800). Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Compression; Memory; Management; Backup; Software Review; Vendor Guide Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows; DOS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI11-050 Author: Knoblaugh, Rick Title: Load device drivers from the DOS prompt with DRVLOAD Source: PC Magazine (November 9, 1993) v12 n19 p351-366 Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: UTILITIES column presents DRVLOAD, a utility for loading device drivers from the DOS prompt. With this utility, device drivers for infrequently used peripherals can be loaded without the necessity of editing CONFIG.SYS and rebooting. The program works with DOS 3.0 or later. Describes how the program works and provides suggestions for using it, as well as some troubleshooting information in the event that using it causes error messages. Includes complete listings of a routine used to issue the initialization command to a device driver and a program to alter system areas to add block devices. A sidebar describes ow to obtain PC Magazine's utilities by modem or by mail. Includes five tables. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Input/Output; Tutorial; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 93PL09-012 Author: Yacco, Wayne Title: Parallel Storage Solutions PSS-525 Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (September 1, 1993) v5 n9 p42-43 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Parallel Storage Solutions Product Name: PSS-525 Abstract: Presents a favorable review of the PSS-525 ($1,795), a tape drive backup system from Parallel Storage Solutions of Elmsford, NY (800). Reports that the PSS-525 is very fast, backing up 8,545K of data in one minute, 53 seconds without compression. Notes that this drive is capable of storing 1GB of data using compression with its proprietary DOS software, and it performs well. However, says that compression requires setting a switch during installation, and it failed to work with one out of the three machines tested. Includes one photo. Descriptor(s): Backup; Tape Drive; Portable; Hardware Review; Compression; Utility Program Grade: B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 93PL09-011 Author: Yacco, Wayne Title: Valitek PST-250 Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (September 1, 1993) v5 n9 p42-43 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Valitek Product Name: Valitek PST-250 Abstract: Presents a mixed capsule review of the Valitek PST-250 ($1,795), a tape drive backup system from Valitek of Amherst, MA (413). Says this substantial, 14-inch by 6-inch by 3 3/8-inch unit, has a 250MB capacity and a handle. Its proprietary DOS software requires no installation and allows backup over either a parallel or, more slowly, over a serial line. Reports very fast backup speed, taking five minutes, four seconds with compression, and only two minutes, 30 seconds without compression, to back up 8,669K of data. However, there is no pass-through parallel port, and the Valitek PST-250 only worked with one of three test computers. Includes one photo. Descriptor(s): Backup; Tape Drive; Portable; Hardware Review; DOS; Compression; Utility Program Grade: C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 93PL09-010 Author: Yacco, Wayne Title: Jumbo Trakker Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (September 1, 1993) v5 n9 p41-43 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: California Memory Systems Product Name: Jumbo Trakker Abstract: Presents a favorable capsule review of the Jumbo Trakker ($548), a portable tape drive backup system from Colorado Memory Systems, Inc. of Loveland, CO (303). Features a QIC-80-format and 250MB capacity. Says it is very portable, and it has a simple backup program which has full functionality, including unattended operation. Notes that its compression utility allows for either maximum speed or maximum compression, the latter of which resulted in a 53% compression ratio, backing up 8MB of files in eight minutes, 14 seconds. Includes one photo. Descriptor(s): Backup; Tape Drive; Portable; Hardware Review; Compression; Utility Program Grade: B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 93PL09-009 Author: Yacco, Wayne Title: Storage Devices 250P Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (September 1, 1993) v5 n9 p41, 43 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Storage Devices; Gazelle Systems Product Name: Storage Devices 250P; Back-It 4 Abstract: Presents an unfavorable capsule review of the Storage Devices 250P ($539), a portable tape drive backup system from Storage Devices, Inc. of Buena Park, CA (714). The smallest of the units tested, the 250P uses an external power supply, and it bundles Gazelle Systems' Back-It 4 software for DOS. Reports that this drive locked up when trying to back up data; it did not work at all with a Librex test machine, nor did it auto-sense foreign voltage; and it required more time to work with than any of the other systems tested. Descriptor(s): Backup; Tape Drive; Portable; Hardware Review; Utility Program Grade: D ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 93PL09-008 Author: Yacco, Wayne Title: Autobahn Tape 250 Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (September 1, 1993) v5 n9 p41, 43 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Portable Solutions; Central Point Product Name: Autobahn Tape 250; Backup Abstract: Presents a favorable capsule review of the Autobahn Tape 250 ($529), a portable tape backup system from Portable Solutions of Anaheim, CA (714). Calls this a lightweight, stylish, rugged drive which is functionally the same as the Iomega Tape 250, except it lacks an internal power supply and is unable to rest on its side for a smaller footprint. Backup of a little over 8MB took eight minutes, 25 seconds, and the included Central Point Backup software compressed files to a ratio of 44%. Includes one photo. Descriptor(s): Backup; Tape Drive; Portable; Hardware Review; Compression; Utility Program Grade: B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Libraries that Own Item: 14 Record No.: 93PL09-007 Author: Yacco, Wayne Title: Iomega Tape 250 Source: PC Laptop Computers Magazine (September 1, 1993) v5 n9 p40, 43 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Standard No: 1043-1314 Company Name: Iomega; Central Point Product Name: Iomega Tape 250; Backup Abstract: Presents a favorable capsule review of the Iomega Tape 250 ($548), a portable tape drive backup system from Iomega Corp. of Roy, UT (801). Calls this a rugged machine which is also lightweight. Says the Tape 250 worked flawlessly on all three machines tested for backup, being compatible with each. Backup of a little over 8MB took eight minutes, 28 seconds, and the included Central Point Backup software resulted in a 45% compression ratio for the files. Also reports that the Tape 250 contains its own power supply. Includes two photos. Descriptor(s): Backup; Tape Drive; Portable; Hardware Review; Compression; Utility Program Grade: B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI07-042 Author: Simon, Barry Title: System reporting software: taming your IRQs -- Today's Perfect PC is packed with peripherals, each making demands. As mice and modems, CD-ROMs and scanner proliferate, so do... Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1993) v12 n13 p265-285 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: TouchStone Software; RenaSonce Group Product Name: CheckIt PRO:SysInfo; Skylight Abstract: Presents reviews of 10 system reporting software packages. These packages can aid the user in resolving control conflicts between peripherals. Each time an expansion board is added to the system it must be given an IRQ and/or a DMA channel and/or an I/O port. Programs reviewed were required to report on two of the three of these options. CheckIt PRO: SysInfo ($99.95) from TouchStone Software, Huntington Beach, CA (800, 714) and Skylight version 3.0 ($99.95) from RenaSonce Group Inc., San Diego, CA (619) were "Editors' Choice." A sidebar describes the system reporting modules of Norton Desktop for Windows, PCTools for Windows, NetRoom, QEMM, 386MAX, and Microsoft System Diagnostic. Includes one illustration, three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Software Review Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI04-028 Author: Grunin, Lori Title: The image crusaders: 12 screen capture & conversion utilities -- If your application can't read your image files, try one of these 12 programs to create a perfect fit. Source: PC Magazine (April 13, 1993) v12 n7 p221-259 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: North Coast Software; Inset Systems Product Name: Conversion Artist; HiJaak for Windows Abstract: Presents reviews of 12 screen capture utilities and graphics conversion utilities. To qualify for inclusion in the reviews, programs had to support a minimum of .PCX and TIFF formats, as well as 15- and 24-bit color images and to support screen captures. Prices of the programs reviewed range from $49 to $249. Notes that under Windows or OS/2 Presentation Manager screen capturing is not a problem, but under DOS it "can be a nightmare." DOS programs usually must be able to load into EMS or XMS memory, which accounts for the lack of options in the DOS capture and conversion market. A sidebar by Jeff Mace discusses troubleshooting conversion programs. Another sidebar discusses compression of graphics files. Includes a buyer's guide comparing features. Conversion Artist ($149.95) from North Coast Software Inc. and HiJaak for Windows ($249) from Inset Systems are "Editors' Choice." Includes eight illustrati! ons, 15 tables, 12 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Video Display; Conversions; Utility Program; Software Review; Vendor Guide; Graphics Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI04-020 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: DOS 6: the ultimate software bundle? -- Disk compression, memory management, file backup, virus protection--DOS has evolved to handle today's toughest computing... Source: PC Magazine (April 13, 1993) v12 n7 p108-152 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Microsoft Product Name: MS-DOS 6.0 Abstract: Presents a discussion of DOS 6. The importance of this system is twofold--it answers customer complaints about the omissions and shortcomings of prior version, and it builds into the operating system many of the utilities on which many users depend. Includes a description of DoubleSpace, the data compression enhancement; MemMaker, the memory manager; new start-up options which can bypass CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT or run CONFIG.SYS line by line; Microsoft Backup; Microsoft Anti-Virus; and Microsoft Undelete. Includes reviews of these enhancements, comparing them to the leading third-party products in each category. A sidebar presents twelve tips to getting the most out of DOS 6. A sidebar by Barry Simon presents a wish list for DOS 7. Includes an annotated listing of DOS 6 files alphabetized by extension. Sidebars describe Novell DOS, an update of DR DOS, and IBM DOS. Includes one photo, seven screen displays, nine table! s. Descriptor(s): MS-DOS; Tutorial; Software Review; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI04-002 Author: Levin, Carol Ulanoff, Lance Title: Utility vendors find big market in bettering DOS 6 Source: PC Magazine (April 13, 1993) v12 n7 p37, 42 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Describes efforts by utility publishers to provide add-on products for DOS 6. Stac Electronics and Vertisoft Systems are developing data-compression products which will work with DOS's DoubleSpace disk compressor. In light of a shortage of features in MemMaker, DOS's memory manager, Helix Software is developing a new version of NetRoom 3 and Qualitas is developing 386MAX Version 7.0. DOS 6's InterLink file transfer utility may be disappointing, so Traveling Software is releasing LapLink V which has an improved graphical look and feel and provides peer-to-peer file transfers over NetWare at speeds up to 8MB per minute. Because of limitation in Microsoft Backup Symantec is releasing new versions of The Norton Backup for both DOS and Windows. The new Norton AntiVirus 3.0 is faster, more customizable, and more network aware than DOS's virus prevention and Symantec and Central Point Software continue to publish libraries. Inc! ludes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): MS-DOS; Product Announcement; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI04-284 Author: Grimes, Brad Title: Animate your own desktop with DeltaPoint's newest utility Source: PC Magazine (April 27, 1993) v12 n8 p64 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: DeltaPoint Product Name: Animated Desktop for Windows Abstract: Announces Animated Desktop for Windows v1.0 ($59.95) an animation utility program from DeltaPoint Inc. of Monterey, CA (408). Comes with an icon and cursor editor that allows manipulation of the 50 cursors or 400 static icons included, or you can also create your own. Includes animator to make your custom icons move. Animated Desktop also has an application launcher for putting commonly used applications in a single pull-down menu. Descriptor(s): Animation; Utility Program; Icon; Editor; Window Software Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible; Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI04-279 Author: Grimes, Brad Title: Helix ships Netroom 3.0 Source: PC Magazine (April 27, 1993) v12 n8 p59 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Helix Software Product Name: Netroom Abstract: Announces Netroom v3.0 ($99), memory management software from Helix Software Co. of Long Island City, NY (800, 718). Features "Cloaking," a new technology which moves BIOS, video BIOS, screen savers, disk caches, RAM disks and other utilities to extended memory. The Cloaking API lets developers produce 32-bit applications that use little conventional memory. Descriptor(s): Memory; Management; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI04-268 Author: Petzold, Charles Title: Experimenting with OS/2 Outline Fonts -- Outline fonts offer greater flexibility than their bitmapped cousins. Here are the basics for listing and manipulating outline... Source: PC Magazine (April 27, 1993) v12 n8 p313-324 Pub. Type: Program Listing Company Name: Charles Petzold Product Name: OLFLIST; OLFSIZE; OLFSTR1; OLFSTR2; OLFROT Abstract: ENVIRONMENTS column presents C programming language listings for listing and manipulating outline fonts in OS/2. OLFDEMO is a shell module to handle the Presentation Manager overhead for font enumeration and selection. OLFLIST lists the outline fonts in the client window. OLFSIZE displays fonts in different sizes. OLFSTR1 displays a font scaled to the size of the client window. OLFSTR2 displays a font scaled to the size of a client window while keeping correct proportions. OLFROT uses GpiSetCharAngle to display rotated outline fonts. Includes four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Typeface; OS/2; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI04-267 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: WINCMD: a windows command language -- WNDCMD.EXE, a Windows counterpart to DOS's batch language, lets you automate tasks in the environment and even goes beyond its ... Source: PC Magazine (April 27, 1993) v12 n8 p302-312 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Product Name: WINCMD Abstract: UTILITIES column describes WINCMD.EXE, a Windows-based command file interpreter for creating simple Windows programs that perform repetitive functions. Says these functions were once done using the DOS batch file language, and users who switched to Windows have no similar language. Includes a list of the WINCMD.EXE statements and functions; a list of values that can be passed to the MsgBox function and the meaning of the values returned; a list of WinCmd key aliases used by the SENDKEY() function; complete listings for a file search program and a program to copy a file onto the Windows Clipboard; a sidebar with updates to utilities previously presented; and a sidebar with information on obtaining this utility by modem. Descriptor(s): Programming Language; Window Software; Utility Program; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI04-228 Author: Seymour, Jim Title: Better integration, richer OS -- Letting apps share resources may seem like building a house of cards. But they still should Source: PC Magazine (April 27, 1993) v12 n8 p99-100 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: JIM SEYMOUR column explains why programs should share resources. Uses the dictionary as an example. Users who customize a dictionary used for spell-checking in one program, should be able to use that dictionary in other programs. Duplicate resources also take up valuable space. Adding the resources to the operating system assures standardization. Suggests that resources such as a dictionary, thesaurus, e-mail, LapLink-style file-transfer functions, and good backup and restore routines belong in the operating system. Counters claims of software vendors who say it will destroy the market for some of their products. Users often purchase products that duplicate operating system functions. Says this level of integration will not happen soon, but "it's the right thing to do." Descriptor(s): Software; Operating Systems; Optimization; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-221 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Upgrading your PATH: How to add or remove directories easily -- User-to-user Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p427, 430 Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: Presents a batch file listing called PATHEDIT.BAT written in by PC Magazine reader Richard Davies of Aurora, CO which allows addition and removal of directories from PATH without retyping anything. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; DOS; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-219 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Patching DISKCOPY: The addition of an audible disk-swap prompt makes DISKCOPY even -- easier to use Tutor Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p423 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Responds to a letter sent in by PC Magazine reader Christopher Stout of Wichita, KS inquiring of a way of patching in an audible sound when disks need to be replaced when using the DISKCOPY command. Discusses the use of the DEBUG command for altering the DISKCOPY file. Descriptor(s): Programming Design; Utility Program; DOS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-218 Author: Salemi, Joe Title: Tracking files: Are there files on your hard disk you never use? -- Advisor Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p419 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: PC Magazine; Solid Oak Software Product Name: RECORDER; PC-Sentry Abstract: Responds to a letter written in by PC Magazine reader Andre Boulanger of Quebec, Canada concerning the availability of a utility file for deleting files unused during the course of a year. Says PC Magazine has a utility available called RECORDER which creates a list of up to 200 files that have been opened for tracking files, while another program, PC-Sentry from Solid Oak Software of Santa Barbara, CA (800, 805) supports tracking of different levels of file activities. Descriptor(s): Data Base Management; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-217 Author: Salemi, Joe Title: MultiBoot upgrade: Using PC Magazines's MultiBoot utility with DOS 5.0 -- Advisor Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p419 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Responds to a letter written in by PC Magazine reader Richard Barrows of Elko, Nevada on the incompatibility of the MultiBoot program with DOS 5.0. Says MultiBoot has been upgraded to version 5.1 by its author Doug Boling to allow it to operate on DOS 5.0, and is available from PC Magazine of New York, NY. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Upgrade ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-216 Author: Terdeman, Sharon Title: Improved string searching: Enhance string searching by adding a Soundex routine to -- your BASIC programs Languages Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p407-408 Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: Presents a BASIC program for use with modern BASIC versions called SOUNDEX.BAS which returns a code corresponding to how a word sounds to make it possible to identify names that sound alike but are spelled in a different way. Explains how the program works. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Sound; Utility Program; Program Listing; Basic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-184 Author: Simone, Luisa Sosinsky, Barrie Grunin, Lori Ores, Pauline Title: Darkroom, R.I.P.? -- Editing images on PC is easier than ever. But you still need heavy duty hardware and a lot of patience Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p185-188+ Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Aldus; Micrografx; ZSoft; Image-In Product Name: Aldus PhotoStyler; Picture Publisher; PhotoFinish; Image-In-Color; Image-In-Color Professional Abstract: Introduces a buyer's guide reviewing color image-editing software, amontg which are: Aldus PhotoStyler 1.1a ($795) from Aldus Corp. of Seattle, WA (206); PhotoFinish 1.01 ($199) from ZSoft Corp. of Marietta, GA (404); Picture Publisher 3.1 ($495) from Micrografx Inc. of Richardson, TX (800, 214); and Image-In-Color 3.0 ($495) and Image-In-Color Professional ($795) from Image-In Inc. of Minneapolis, MN (800, 612). Features a table comparing 149 features of 8 products from 6 companies. Also features individual reviews of the products. Includes the following sidebars: "Suitability to Task: Image-Editing Software" (p.186); "Editors' Choice" (p.187); "Separation Anxiety" (p.202-203) by Luisa Simone; and "Mac Hegemony" (p.207) by Pauline Ores. Mentions Aldus PhotoStyler, PhotoFinish and Picture Publisher as the Editors' Choice products. Includes 10 digitized images, 8 score cards, 5 photos,! 12 screen displays, 5 product summaries, 3 sets of bar graphs, and a table. Descriptor(s): Image Processing; Editor; Vendor Guide; Consumer Information; Window Software; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-147 Title: Software that answers the question: What's my line? -- New Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p64, 66 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: KnowledgePoint Product Name: DescriptionsWrite Now! Abstract: Announces the release of DescriptionsWrite Now! ($149), a utility program from KnowledgePoint of Petaluma, CA (800, 707). Says DescriptionsWrite Now! helps users make custom job descriptions through a question-and-answer process defining responsibilities, job requirements, qualifications, and work conditions. Also says the program features context-sensitive job description writing advice, and a 2,400-term job-title library. Descriptor(s): Writing; Utility Program; Product Announcement; Employment ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-146 Title: (Intex Solutions) -- Briefs: Utilities and add-ins Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p64, 66 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Intex Solutions Product Name: Ready to Run Accounting; Spellin! for Release 3; UltraBar for Lotus 1-2-3 Abstract: Announces the release of the following spreadsheet add-in products from Intex Solutions (617): Ready to Run Accounting 2.12 ($199.95); Spellin! for Release 3 ($95); and UltraBar for Lotus 1-2-3 ($69.95). Says Ready to Run Accounting is a small-business accounting package; Spellin! for Release 3 is a spellchecker for Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3.1 and 3.1 Plus spreadsheets; and UltraBar for Lotus 1-2-3 gives users up to 75 icons in palettes and allows users to create icons. Descriptor(s): Spreadsheet; Add-on; Product Announcement; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-144 Title: (Bullseye Systems) -- Briefs: Utilities and add-ins Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p64 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Bullseye Systems Product Name: File Linker Abstract: Announces the release of File Linker ($295), a conversion utility from Bullseye Systems (408). Says File Linker imports and exports files, records and fields to and from applications one at a time. Descriptor(s): Conversions; Utility Program; Product Announcement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-142 Title: CAM unveils PARISS line of business management apps -- New Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p64 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Computer Aided Management Product Name: PARISS Enterprise Abstract: Announces the release of PARISS Enterprise 1.0 ($2795), a project management software from Computer Aided Management Inc. of Petaluma, CA (800, 707). Says PARISS Enterprise features automated structured planning, resource calendars, table editors, presentation graphics, management reports, resource leveling, constraining, balancing, and load tracing. Descriptor(s): Project Management; Product Announcement; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-141 Title: Wordlinx 1.0: OCR software with a low price tag -- New Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p64 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Ocron Product Name: Wordlinx Abstract: Announces the release of Wordlinx 1.0 ($145), an optical character recognition software from Ocron Inc. of Santa Clara, CA (800, 408). Says Wordlinx comes with a text verifier and omnifont capability, works as a menu item on Windows word processors, recognizes 11 European languages, is compatible with flatbed and handheld scanners, and recognizes and transfers several text attributes. Descriptor(s): Optical Character Recognition; Utility Program; Product Announcement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-138 Title: (BC Enterprises Software) -- Briefs: Utilities and add-ins Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p60 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: BC Enterprises Software Product Name: DB-Dupe Abstract: Announces the release of DB-Dupe 1.1 ($89), a duplicate record deletion system for dBASE III and compatible databases from BC Enterprises Software (703). Says DB-Dupe comes with a feature called DB-Zip, which checks for mismatched city, state, and ZIP code combinations in mailing lists. Descriptor(s): Database; Utility Program; Product Announcement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-136 Title: (Alpha Software) -- Briefs: Utilities and add-ins Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p60 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Alpha Software Product Name: db*Spell; db*Spell Programmer's Edition Abstract: Reports that Alpha Software (617) released db*Spell ($99), a DOS utility program for database and spreadsheet files. Says db*Spell features support for more than eight file formats, and is available in a Programmer's Edition ($149) for checking spelling errors in programs written in five languages. Descriptor(s): Spelling Checker; Product Announcement; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-135 Title: Abbot Systems -- Briefs: Utilities and add-ins Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p60 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Abbot Systems Product Name: Calc+; Powerstrip for Windows Abstract: Reports that Abbot Systems (800, 914) has come out with two products: Calc+ 1.0 ($79); and Powerstrip for Windows 3.1 ($79). Says Calc+ is a printing calculator, while Powerstrip for Windows is a menu bar utility that offers a Macintosh-like menu bar to Windows users. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Product Announcement; Calculator; Window Software; User Interface ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-124 Author: Miller, Rock Title: DeltaGraph and Stanford take on technical charting -- Presentation graphics Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p56-57 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: DeltaPoint; 3-D Visions Product Name: DeltaGraph Professional for Windows; Stanford Graphics for Windows Abstract: Introduces a buyer's guide reviewing two presentation graphics software products: DeltaGraph Professional for Windows 2.0 ($495) from DeltaPoint Inc. of Monterey, CA (800, 310); and Stanford Graphics for Windows 2.0 ($495) from 3-D Visions of Torrance, CA (800, 310). Features individual reviews of the products. Also includes vendor addresses and telephone numbers. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Presentation Graphics; Window Software; Consumer Information; Vendor Guide; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 93PI02-211 Author: Flanders, Bob Holmes, Michael Title: Optimize your disk drive efficiency with DEFRAGR Source: PC Magazine (February 23, 1993) v12 n4 p335-341 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents DEFRAGR, a utility which can improve hard disk efficiency by eliminating file fragmentation. Readers can determine if this is a problem by running CHKFRAG, a utility previously presented in the column and currently available on PC MagNet. Describes the types of information provided on-screen when DEFRAGR is running and lists restrictions to use of the program. Includes a detailed description of how the program works. A sidebar provides instructions for downloading utilities from PC MagNet. Includes two screen displays, three illustrations. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Optimization; Hard Disk Drive; Tutorial; Disk Files ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-244 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Taking out the trash -- Using EMM386 with DOS 5.0: A tiny program demonstrates that EMM386.EXE makes DOS 5.0 run in Virtual 86 mode Source: PC Magazine (November 23, 1992) v11 n20 p506, 508 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: TRASHOUT.BAT Abstract: Presents a batch file called TRASHOUT.BAT, which deletes all files and directories written within the C:TRASHCAN directory, supplementing a letter written in by Vancouver, BC-based PC Magazine reader Alan Zisman concerning a use of the drag-and-drop feature of Windows 3.1. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Data Base Management; Program Listing; Utility Program; Programming Design ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-243 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Using EMM386 with DOS 5.0 -- Using EMM386 with DOS 5.0: A tiny program demonstrates that EMM386.EXE makes DOS 5.0 run in Virtual 86 mode Source: PC Magazine (November 23, 1992) v11 n20 p503, 506 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: VIRT8086.ASM Abstract: Presents an assembly language program called VIRT8086.ASM, a program running under DOS 5.0 to see if DOS 5 is running under protected mode; a script file VIRT8086.SCR is also included which creates a file identical to that assembled from VIRT8086.ASM. The programs supplement a discussion written in by PC Magazine reader Eric Webb of Research Triangle Park, NC on DOS 5.0's protected-mode overhead. Includes two program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; Assembly Language; Programming Design ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-242 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Testing for DESQview and Windows -- Testing for DESQview and Windows: This routine detects the presence of Windows or DESQview and can pass that information to a batch... Source: PC Magazine (November 23, 1992) v11 n20 p492-493 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: WINCHECK.COM Abstract: Presents two programs written in response to a question by PC Magazine reader Bob White of New York, NY on determining whether Windows or DESQview was running. WINCHECK.COM is a utility that detects the presence of Windows or DESQview, and WINTEST.BAT illustrates the use of WINCHECK.COM in a batch file. Includes two program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; Programming Design ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-241 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: SMARTDrive update -- Testing for DESQview and Windows: This routine detects the presence of Windows or DESQview and can pass that information to a batch... Source: PC Magazine (November 23, 1992) v11 n20 p491-492 Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: Presents a batch file created in response to a problem written in by reader Roy Hanson of Sunriver, OR related to a BOOT.BAT batch file and REBOOT.COM utility operational error traced to SMARTDrive 4.0. Says the batch file flushes the write-behind buffers before rebooting a machine to ensure all data is written to disk. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-239 Author: Shaw, Richard Hale Title: Controlling the floppy disk drive -- Extending heap space: The UMB_HEAP unit links as many as four chunks of upper memory into the available heap of any Turbo Pascal program Source: PC Magazine (November 23, 1992) v11 n20 p468-469 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: DISKETTE.C Abstract: Presents a C program called DISKETTE.C sent in by PC Magazine reader Ferdinand Purnomo of Jakarta, Indonesia, which prompts the user to remove the current disk or insert a new one. Says the program operates under the assumption that the floppy disk is formatted. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Disk Drive; Program Listing; Utility Program; C Programming Language; Programming Design ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-238 Author: Webb, Brian Title: Extending heap space -- Extending Heap space: The UMB_HEAP unit links as many as four chunks of upper memory into the available heap list of any Turbo Source: PC Magazine (November 23, 1992) v11 n20 p467-468 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: UMB_HEAP; TEST_UMB.PAS Abstract: Presents a Turbo Pascal program called UMB_HEAP sent in by PC Magazine reader Brian D. Webb of Bayton, TX which allows Turbo Pascal 6.0 to extend heap space into upper memory blocks, resulting in up to 200KB more program memory. Includes a Pascal program called TESTUMB.PAS which tests the UMB_HEAP unit. Includes two program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; Pascal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-237 Author: Ricciardi, Sal Title: Updating GET values -- This technique for updating on-screen GET values takes advantage of new features of the GET object class in Clipper 5.0 Source: PC Magazine (November 23, 1992) v11 n20 p465-466 Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: Presents a Clipper program written in by PC Magazine reader Joe Wirtley of Seven Mile, OH which updates the value on the screen displayed by the @...GET command, which can be used in the VALID clause to change values in related data entry fields. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-234 Author: Thorpe, Danny Ritchey, Pat Title: Customizing Windows' common dialog boxes, part 2 -- By combining the customization and control techniques learned in Part 1, you can make an OWL object that produces a COMMDLG dialog... Source: PC Magazine (November 23, 1992) v11 n20 p445-452 Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: The second of a series of articles presents several programs that supplement a discussion where customization and control techniques relative to the Windows 3.1 COMMDLG are combined to produce a COMMDLG dialog that looks and feels like the Borland Windows Custom Controls (BWCC): CUSTOM1.RC, in C++, defines a dialog template for an Open dialog; CUSTOM1.PAS, in Pascal, creates a descendant of an object created in the preceding article; TEST3.PAS, in Pascal, is a test platform; TEST3.RC, in C++, is a resource file for the test program, containing only a menu definition; CUSTOM1.PAS, in Pascal, is a revision of the CUSTOM1.PAS program; UTEST4.PAS, in Pascal, is a small Object Windows Library; and TEST4.RC, in C++, is the resource menu for the TEST4 program. Includes four screen displays and eight program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; Pascal; C Programming Language ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-132 Title: Conversion Artist gains add-on interface, imaging modules -- Improved Source: PC Magazine (November 23, 1992) v11 n20 p63-64 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: North Coast Software Product Name: Conversion Artist Abstract: Announces the release of Conversion Artist 1.1 ($149.95), a Windows bitmap imaging package from North Coast Software Inc. of Barrington, NH (603). Says Conversion Artist 1.1 offers support for 32 bitmap formats, image conversion, color reduction, screen capture capabilities, printing, seven new file formats, seven new dithering techniques, improved TrueColor image display in standard VGA, enhanced Windows metafile support, JPEG image compression, a Dycam camera interface module, a module for printing to a Kodak 6600 thermal printer, and an image editing module. Descriptor(s): Image Processing; Utility Program; Upgrade; Window Software Compatibility: Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-081 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Repeating commands revisited: Executing commands on a list of filenames. Making exceptions: A batch file that lets you exclude ... -- User to user Source: PC Magazine (November 10, 1992) v11 n19 p456, 460+ Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Presents a delayed response to an answer given to a question in the April 10, 1990 issue regarding repeating commands; illustrates how a list of batch files can be effectively used in conjunction with universal DOS commands. Discusses how users of the REPT.BAT batch file can take advantage of the new syntax of DOS 5.0's DIR command; includes a demonstration provided by the author which makes use of the DELBAK program. Presents also a batch-file proposal sent by a New Mexico reader for EXCEPT.BAT, which enables DOS users to designate certain files not to be processed by "hiding" them temporarily. Includes three program listings. Descriptor(s): Disk Files; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-078 Author: Terdeman, Sharon Title: Building up a PChar: The easily extensible TOString object is a "smart" PChar -- Languages Source: PC Magazine (November 10, 1992) v11 n19 p421-422 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: TOString Abstract: Presents a question submitted by a Berkshire, England reader regarding TOString, a string object which builds complicated strings from any number of parts. Examines the TEString object written by author Neil J. Rubenking in response to the solution and discusses how it adds to the capabilities of TOString. Includes listings of programs implementing these two objects as well as UString, which executes both of them. Includes three program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Optimization; Object-oriented Languages; Program Listing; Pascal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-077 Author: Ricciardi, Sal Title: A black-box copy function; this Clipper 5.0 function copies records between differently structured databases -- Databases Source: PC Magazine (November 10, 1992) v11 n19 p415-417 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: DupRec() Abstract: Presents an overview of DupRec(), a Clipper 5.01 function contributed by Ronald Hansen of Staten Island, NY that copies a record from one database to another regardless of the order of the fields. Provides a step-by-step examination of DupRec(), which can be downloaded through the PC MagNet online forum, as well as a sample program, TDUPR.PRG, which tests the capabilities of that function. Discusses the role of Clipper's AEVAL() function in the DupRec() utility. Includes three program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Database; Data Transmission; Program Listing; Interface Compatibility: Clipper ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-076 Author: Duncan, Ray Title: Memory management and mapped files in Win32 -- Power programming Source: PC Magazine (November 10, 1992) v11 n19 p403-404+ Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: HEXVIEW2.C Abstract: Presents an overview of the evolution of memory management in Windows; spotlights the new mapped-file functions designed for the 32-bit flat, paged memory model. Discusses why the designers of OS/2 2.0 and NT/Win32 have foregone the benefits of the segmented paged- memory model and decided to adopt the flat model despite its much smaller virtual address space. Examines the Win32 memory-management API and discusses the three new memory-management functions - memory allocation, heap management and mapped files - that it imparts aside from the usual Windows memory-management functions; spotlights on the benefits and use of mapped-file functions. Includes a program listing of HEXVIEW2.C, a C-language utility which illustrates the potential of mapped-file APIs. Provides further references and a contact address for inquiries. Includes three program listings and tables as well as two diagrams. Descriptor(s): Memory; Management; Utility Program; Program Listing; Window Software; Case Study ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI11-073 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: TIME! A threefold digital timer for Windows -- Utilities Source: PC Magazine (November 10, 1992) v11 n19 p361-362+ Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: TIME! Abstract: Presents an overview of TIME!, a digital timer utility which makes use of the Windows interface's custom controls for programmers. Requires Borland C++ 3.0 or Microsoft C 6.0 as well as the Windows 3.x Software Development Kit for compilation. Says that TIME! is composed of three independent timers, each of which can be set, started and stopped; users may choose between red-on-black LED or black-on-gray LCD displays. Discusses construction of the TIME! Windows application as well as the custom controls behind its operation; provides listings for the main window dialog box as well as the DIGIT.H and DIGIT.DEF files. One sidebar announces updates to featured PC Magazine utilities while another explains the use of the DigiClass control with the SSK; still another discusses how developers can download through their modems these utilities through ZiffNet's PC MagNet service over at CompuServe. Includes three program listings as ! well as a screen. Descriptor(s): Clock; Utility Program; Program Listing Compatibility: Microsoft C; Borland C++; Microsoft Windows SDK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI09-103 Author: Grimes, Brad Title: Managing calls -- Trends Source: PC Magazine (September 29, 1992) v11 n16 p29-30 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: AG Communications Systems; Rochelle Communications Product Name: WindowPhone; Caller ID+Plus Abstract: Announces the availability of two products which can be used with the Caller ID telephone service. Says WindowPhone ($295), is a caller-management software from AG Communications Systems Corp. (800) which gives users a screen listing the caller's name and telephone number, and logs unanswered calls even with the computer off. Also says Rochelle Communications (800) is offering Caller ID+Plus ($195), which adds a history of previous calls to caller profiles. Includes a screen display. Descriptor(s): Telephone; Utility Program; Product Announcement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI10-354 Author: Duncan, Ray Title: Writing portable programs for Windows Source: PC Magazine (October 27, 1992) v11 n18 p391-400 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: HEXVIEW Abstract: Presents a program called HEXVIEW, a utility for viewing a file in hex and binary. Says that it demonstrates many of the aspects of a functional Windows application as well as the surprisingly easy portability between the 16- and 32-bit Windows environment. Notes that you can download it from PC MagNet, archived as HEXVIE.ZIP. Discusses infrastructure procedures, event-handling procedures, file manipulation procedures, helper routines, and portability considerations. Includes three tables and one screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Hexadecimal; Programming Instruction; Binary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI10-351 Author: Deurbrouck, John Title: Keep your PC's clock right to the second with WTIME Source: PC Magazine (October 27, 1992) v11 n18 p361-366 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: WTIME Abstract: Presents a C program called WTIME, a utility that puts your computer's time clock on the correct time. Runs under Windows 3.x or under OS/2's Windows implementation. Says that it uses your modem to synchronize the clock in your PC with that of the Automatic Computer Time Service (ACTS) which is maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Adds that you can either call with one mouse click to check the time, or you can call automatically when you bring up Windows. Notes that the program is also available free from PC MagNet. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Clock; Standards; Utility Program; C Programming Language ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI10-325 Author: Dvorak, John C Title: Inside track Source: PC Magazine (October 27, 1992) v11 n18 p95 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Company Name: Microsoft; Nintendo; Apple Computer Abstract: INSIDE TRACK column says that it is amusing that Microsoft plans to put Windows in ROM so that it can be run on a variety of home appliances. Announces that there are secret projects being planned by Nintendo and Microsoft which will supply applications for Nintendo's new keyboard option for the basic Nintendo game machine. Adds that Microsoft may produce a version of Flight Simulator for Nintendo. Recommends Personics' (508) Laptop UltraVision ($69.95) which makes the LCD displays of laptops fill up the whole screen; and "New Life for Old PCs" ($29.95 with disk) by Aldred E. Poor from Business One Irwin (708), a book to help upgrade older machines. Adds that people using the terms OODL (Object-oriented Dynamic Language from Apple), paradigm shift, client/server, scalable, and mission-critical probably don't know what they are talking about. Descriptor(s): Strategy; Lap-sized Microcomputer; Utility Program; Upgrade; Hardware; Games ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI10-126 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: The bugs you'll want to keep in your Windows 3.1 setup Source: PC Magazine (October 13, 1992) v11 n17 p371-379 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: BUGS Abstract: Presents a C program listing called BUGS, a screen saver for Windows v. 3.1. Says that it creates voracious little "bugs" which gradually eat away the display on your screen when the monitor is idle for a few minutes; it allows you to instantly restore your normal display with any keystroke or mouse movement. Notes that it is available on PC MagNet or directly from PC Magazine. Includes one screen display and the sidebar "Utilities by Modem." Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Monitor; C Programming Language; Programming Instruction; Window Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI10-090 Title: Essential tools: the best utilities -- Our editors list the utilities you want to have in your toolbox when you do some very serious computing. Source: PC Magazine (October 13, 1992) v11 n17 p291-331 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents a buyers' guide to primarily DOS utilities but includes some Windows utilities. Reviews 30 products from 26 companies in the following categories: command line enhancers (3); file managers (11); compressors (3); memory managers (4); graphics programs (6); lifesavers (3). Includes 10 screen displays and the sidebar "Traveling Utilities." Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Disk Files; Management; Software Review; Vendor Guide; Graphics; Compression ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-208 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Managing a TPWIN dialog box -- Languages Source: PC Magazine (February 25, 1992) v11 n4 p393-394 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: DLGEXMPL.PAS; DLGEXMPL.RC Abstract: Presents two Pascal programs: DLGEXMPL.PAS, which demonstrates a problem with Turbo Pascal for Windows which has a main window made up of an initially visible dialog box; and DLGEXMPL.RC, which is the resource script. Both programs complement a discussion on the management of TPWin dialog boxes written in by PC Magazine reader Patrick Philippot of Draveil, France. Includes two program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Software Tools; Program Listing; Pascal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-207 Author: Winer, Ethan Title: Changing a file's date and time -- Languages Source: PC Magazine (February 25, 1992) v11 n4 p393 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: UPDATE.BAS Abstract: Presents a BASIC program called UPDATE.BAS written in by PC Magazine reader Mike Zier of Smallwood, NY which updates the date and time stamp on a disk file. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; Basic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-205 Author: Duncan, Ray Title: Making an ordinary Windows application pen-aware -- Power programming Source: PC Magazine (February 25, 1992) v11 n4 p381-884+ Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: Presents seven C programs: DEMO1.C is the listing for the DEMO program's pen-oblivious version; DEMO1.H is a C-language header file for the DEMO1.C listing; DEMO1.DEF is the module definition file; DEMO1.RC is the resource script for DEMO1.C; DEMO2.C is a listing fragment that shows parts of the program that differ from DEMO1.C; DOCOMMAND() ROUTINE shows a code fragment from DEMO3.C; and the last shows two dialog templates for DEMO3. The programs complement a discussion covering how to make a conventional Windows application "pen-aware." Includes seven program listings and a screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; C Programming Language ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-204 Author: Petzoid, Charles Title: Experimenting with additive synthesis in multimedia Windows -- Environments Source: PC Magazine (February 25, 1992) v11 n4 p373-374+ Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: Presents six C language programs: ADDSYNTH.MSC, a make file for Microsoft C 6.0; ADDSYNTH.BCP, a make file for Borland C++ 2.0; ADDSYNTH.C, an additive synthesis sound generation program; ADDSYNTH.RC, a resource script; ADDSYNTH.DEF, a module definition file; and ADDSYNTH.H, a header file. The programs supplement a discussion of the principle of additive synthesis, which breaks down, analyzes, and digitally regenerates musical tones to give sounds a richness not attainable using analog methods. Includes six program listings. Descriptor(s): Sound; Program Listing; C Programming Language; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-202 Author: Shaw, Richard Hale Title: Rid your disk of duplicate files with SHOWDUPE.EXE -- Utilities Source: PC Magazine (February 25, 1992) v11 n4 p355-358 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: SHOWDUPE.INI Abstract: UTILITIES section presents a program called SHOWDUPE.INI, which allows customization of settings for the SHOWDUPE utility. Complements an article that describes a utility program available from PC MagNet or from PC Magazine called SHOWDUPE, which finds duplicate files in one or several hard drives, organizes them, and allows their deletion. Includes a program listing and a screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-195 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: User-to user -- The ultimate iterating batch file Source: PC Magazine (February 25, 1992) v11 n4 p337-338 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: ITER.BAT Abstract: USER-TO-USER column presents a DOS batch file called ITER.BAT written in by PC Magazine reader Allen P. Krygeris of Seattle, WA which can execute a command of the user's choice up to 99,999,999 times. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; DOS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-193 Author: Salemi, Joe Title: Advisor Source: PC Magazine (February 25, 1992) v11 n4 p331-332 Pub. Type: Column Company Name: DacEasy Abstract: ADVISOR column presents answers to questions written in by PC Magazine readers on subjects that include: contacting the new owners of SmartKey; mouse driver incompatibilities; getting in touch with DacEasy; and obtaining PC Magazine utilities through the mail. Also lists and describes six programs that keep track of baseball statistics. Includes a screen display. Descriptor(s): Consumer Information; Athletics; Mouse; Utility Program; Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-132 Author: Torgan, Emerson Andrew Title: Pizazz Plus adds file compression, screen capture -- New & improved Source: PC Magazine (February 25, 1992) v11 n4 p64 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Application Techniques Product Name: Pizazz Plus Abstract: Announces the release of Pizazz Plus Version 3.0 ($149), a screen print and capture program from Application Techniques Inc. of Pepperell, MA (800). Says Pizazz Plus features a new bit-image file format converter, support for the HP DeskJet 500C color printer, and screen capture functionality for both DOS and Windows environments. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Video Display; Product Announcement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-420 Author: Winer, Ethan Title: Hotkey menus in QuickBasic -- Languages Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p380 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: MENU.BAS Abstract: The second part of LANGUAGES column features a QuickBASIC program called MENU.BAS sent in by PC Magazine reader Eduardo Ballesteros of Guadalajara, Mexico, which shows a way to add a highlight bar menu to BASIC programs. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; Basic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-415 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Sum the numbers on your screen with ADDIT.COM -- Utilities Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p347-351, 354 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Product Name: ADDIT.COM Abstract: UTILITIES column describes a terminate and stay resident (TSR) program called ADDIT.COM which can calculate numbers blocked within a document. Says the TSR can include the negative sign, and allows pasting a display into the same or another document, but comes up only in character mode. Includes the following sidebars: "Downloading Utilities" (p348) gives instructions on downloading utilities from the PC MagNet online service; "Teaching ADDIT to Read" (p349) by Douglas Boling describes how the program finds and interprets numbers onscreen; and "Saving Memory Using RLE" (p351) by Douglas Boling discusses the use of run-length encoding with ADDIT. Includes two code fragments and a screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Calculator ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-413 Author: Derfler, Frank J Title: Connectivity Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p339 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: CONNECTIVITY column describes enhanced parallel ports (EPP) as a technology that offers faster throughput. Also describes a C program written in by Ricardo Machado and Marcelo Albuquerque of Rio De Janeiro in Brazil that allows changing of the address of LPTx in the BIOS data area. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Parallel Input/Output; Program Listing; C Programming Language; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-410 Author: Finnegan, Fran Title: Managing .ZIP files -- Windows Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p333 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Product Name: PKUNZIP.EXE Abstract: WINDOWS column features a tip written in by PC Magazine reader Steve Konings of Milwaukee, WI on .ZIP file management. Suggests that PKUNZIP.EXE be placed within the same directory as the downloaded .ZIP file, clicking the zipped file and dragging it to PKUNZIP, then releasing it. Includes an explanation on why the method works. Descriptor(s): Compression; Utility Program; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-409 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Pausing a batch file -- User-to-user Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p329 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: ALTPAUSE Abstract: USER-TO-USER column features two script programs that insert an optional pause in batch files: ALTPAUSE.SCR produces the ALTPAUSE.COM that pauses batch files in the shift key is held down, and was written in by reader Tom R. Donnelly of San Dimas, CA; and ALTPAUS2.SCR sets the ERRORLEVEL to 1 if used to pause a batch file. Includes two program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-408 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Detecting step levels -- Tutor Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p317-318, 328 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: 386STEP.ASM Abstract: TUTOR column presents an assembly language program called 386STEP.ASM, which detects the stepping level of an 80386 chip by executing an XBTS instruction and testing for an invalid opcode exception. 386STEP.SCR is a script code that produces the 386STEP.COM utility that functions similar to the 386STEP.ASM program. Includes two program listings. Descriptor(s): 80386; Program Listing; Utility Program; Assembly Language ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-407 Author: Salemi, Joe Title: Advisor -- Solutions Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p315 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: ADVISOR column presents answers to questions written in by PC Magazine readers covering the subjects of telephone access for hearing-impaired PC users and utilities that allow turning batch files into executable programs. Descriptor(s): Handicapped; Telecommunications; Computers and Society; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-084 Author: Cohn, David Title: 19 programs that build on AutoCAD -- AutoCAD is the dominant CAD program in the world today, but hundreds of add-on programs from independent developers helped it get there Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p259-289 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyer's guide reviewing AutoCAD utility programs, among which are: AutoManager Professional 4.22 ($495) from Cyco International of Atlanta, GA (404); AutoSight Access 3.0 ($299) from AutoSight Inc. of Melbourne, FL (407); AutoView Plus 3.75 ($195) from MarComp of Parkton, MD (301); AutoVue 11.2 ($250) from Cimmetry Systems Inc. of Cambridge, MA (800, 514); Drawing Librarian Professional 1991.7 ($500) from SoftSource Inc. of Bellingham, WA (800, 206); FastLook Plus 5.0 ($295) from Kamel Software Inc. of Chuluota, FL (407); SirlinView Plus 1.2 ($495) from Sirlin Computer Corp. of Londonderry, NH (603). Features a table comparing 53 features of 10 drawing viewer software utilities from 10 companies and another table comparing 19 features of 9 text editor utilities from 9 companies. Also features individual reviews of the products. Includes 23 screen displays, 19 product summaries, and two tables. Descriptor(s): Computer Aided Design; Utility Program; Consumer Information; Vendor Guide; Drafting; Software Review ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-074 Author: Simon, Barry Pastrick, Greg Title: Nine memory managers open up new frontiers -- Software Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p207-10, 212+ Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Introduces a buyer's guide reviewing memory management software products: QEMM-386 6.0 ($99.95) from Quarterdeck Office Systems Inc. of Santa Monica, CA (213); 386MAX 6.0 ($99.95) from Qualitas Inc. of Bethesda, MD (800, 301); ATLast! 5.0 ($59.95) from RYBS Electronics Inc. of Boulder, CO (303); DOS 5 Memory Management Kit ($79) from Biologic of Manassas, VA (703); DR DOS 6.0 ($99) from Digital Research Inc. of Monterey, CA (800, 408); Memory Commander 2.1 ($99.95) from V Communications Inc. of San Jose, CA (408); MS-DOS 5.0 Upgrade Kit ($99.95) from Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, WA (206); and Netroom 2.13 ($99) from Helix Software of Long Island City, NY (800, 718). Features a table comparing 46 features of products from nine companies. Mentions QEMM-386 and 386MAX as the Editor's Choice products. Includes two diagrams, six screen displays, 9 photos, nine product summaries, nine score cards, a table, and four sets of bar gra! phs. Descriptor(s): Memory; Management; Consumer Information; Vendor Guide; Utility Program; Benchmark Testing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI02-035 Author: Torgan, Emerson Andrew Title: The Writer's Toolkit comes to Windows -- New & improved Source: PC Magazine (February 11, 1992) v11 n3 p64 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Systems Compatibility Product Name: Writer's Toolkit for Windows, The Abstract: Announces the release of The Writer's Toolkit for Windows 2.0 ($129), a writing utility program from Systems Compatibility Corp. of Chicago, IL (800, 312). Says The Writer's Toolkit features the Dictionary of Common Knowledge, drag-and-drop menus, a thesaurus, a book of quotations, a grammar checker, an abbreviation book, and a style guide. Also says the software allows simultaneous data retrieval from open tools while entering the desired term only once. Includes a screen display. Descriptor(s): Writing; Utility Program; Product Announcement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI05-292 Author: Duncan, Ray Title: The Windows file-oriented common dialog functions -- Power programming Source: PC Magazine (May 26, 1992) v11 n10 p379-384+ Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: DLGDEMO.C Abstract: POWER PROGRAMMING column features a C program called DLGDEMO.C which demonstrates the use of Windows 3.1 file-oriented common dialog functions. Describes the COMMDLG.DLL, COMMDLG.H, and COMMDLG.LIB components of common dialogs. Includes three tables, a program listing, and two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; C Programming Language; Window Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI05-289 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: SPRINTER adds a flexible cursor speedup to your PC -- Utilities Source: PC Magazine (May 26, 1992) v11 n10 p357-360 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Product Name: SPRINTER.COM Abstract: Describes SPRINTER.COM, a terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) program that adds a cursor-accelerator feature similar to that of an IBM 3778 mainframe. Says SPRINTER will not work with applications that take over the keyboard interrupt, such as Windows. Elaborates on the six optional command line parameters of SPRINTER.COM. Discusses how SPRINTER operates. Features two sidebars: "Downloading Utilities" (p358) which presents an overview of the PC MagNet online system that makes available PC Magazine utilities; and "PC Magazine Utilities Updates" (p359), which shows the latest versions of utilities on PC MagNet. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Desktop Software; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI05-284 Author: Finnegan, Fran Title: Is Windows running? -- Windows Source: PC Magazine (May 26, 1992) v11 n10 p345-346 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: WINMODE.C Abstract: WINDOWS column presents a C program called WINMODE.C for DOS-based machines which informs a user if Windows or the DOS 5.0 Task Switcher is running from the DOS prompt. Includes a program listing and a source code. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Window Software; Program Listing; C Programming Language ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI05-283 Author: Feldman, Bryan D Title: Shelling to DOS -- User-to-user Source: PC Magazine (May 26, 1992) v11 n10 p344 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: WIN.BAT Abstract: Presents a Basic program for DOS-based machines called WIN.BAT which helps avoid loading Windows atop a copy of Windows that is already running when using the DOS shell. Includes a screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Window Software; Program Listing; Basic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI05-282 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Saving DOSKEY macros -- User-to-user Source: PC Magazine (May 26, 1992) v11 n10 p343-344 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: SAVEMAC.BAS; LOADMAC.BAT Abstract: Presents two Basic programs for DOS-based machines: SAVEMAC.BAS saves DOSKEY macros by automatically inserting the DOSKEY command before every line in a batch file containing the macros; and LOADMAC.BAT is a batch file containing several DOSKEY macros. Includes two program listings. Descriptor(s): Template; Program Listing; Utility Program; Basic Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI05-235 Author: Torgan, Emerson Andrew Title: Swans! Mirrors! More fish! -- New & improved Source: PC Magazine (May 26, 1992) v11 n10 p64, 66 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Berkeley Systems Product Name: After Dark for Windows Abstract: Announces the release of After Dark for Windows Version 2.0 ($49.95), a screen saver program from Berkeley Systems Inc. of Berkeley, CA (510). Says After Dark for Windows features digitized sound, True Color graphics, 40 displays, a MultiModule feature, a Sounder module, support for Sound Blaster cards and Multimedia sound, and two-level password protection. Also says the program can blank windows in the DOS environment in the latest version. Includes a photo. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Window Software; Product Announcement; Upgrade Compatibility: Microsoft Windows ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI07-056 Author: Stinson, Craig Title: Excel shortcut keys: perform common spreadsheet tasks quickly; Saving unnamed 1-2-3/W files: a macro that pops up Save As dialog when ... Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1992) v11 n13 p535-536 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: Presents a table of 20 Excel shortcut keys in the areas of data entry, editing, and files, some of which are undocumented. Also gives a small macro which automatically invokes the Save As command whenever a filename similar to FILE0000.WK3 is created for a new spreadsheet, so as to rename the file then and there. In addition, describes a way of making the field size of dates the same size in Quattro Pro as well as Lotus 1-2-3, instead of some being 2 digits and some 4 digits. Includes 1 table. Descriptor(s): Spreadsheet; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI07-055 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: User-to-user expands!: Now we'll cover tips on DOS and Windows A FOR command quirk: How to split off the first character of any ... Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1992) v11 n13 p527-530 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: GETLNGTH.BAT; REVERSE.BAT; ADD.BAT Abstract: Presents three batch files for IBM PC compatibles. GETLNGTH.BAT calculates the length of any text string by using the FOR batch command and the slash (/) symbol. REVERSE.BAT is used to create an inverted copy of a given string by removing characters from the front of the string, one at a time. ADD.BAT adds or subtracts decimal numbers, by use of the STRINGS utility. These programs are available for downloading from PC MagNet. Includes 3 program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; DOS Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI07-052 Author: Terdeman, Sharon Title: Word wrapping in BASIC: how to display long strings more attractively; Checking serial numbers: getting and setting a disk's serial ... Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1992) v11 n13 p495-498 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: StringBreak; SERIAL.PAS Abstract: Presents a BASIC program function for IBM PC compatibles called StringBreak, which accepts a single string, examines it for blanks as break points, then divides it into array elements for display with word wrap. Also presents a PASCAL program for IBM PC compatibles, called SERIAL.PAS, which uses the undocumented DOS function 69h to set or get the serial number present on any disk FORMATted with DOS 4.0 or 5.0. Both these programs are available for downloading from PC MagNet. Includes 2 program listings. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI07-051 Author: Ricciardi, Sal Title: Reclaiming disk space in Paradox: a script that compresses your Paradox tables; Changing the case: macros that change the case of a ... Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1992) v11 n13 p491-492 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: COMPR.SC Abstract: Presents two program listings for IBM PC compatibles, a Paradox language program called COMPR.SC which reclaims disk space formerly occupied by deleted Paradox records, and a FoxPro program which converts a word in FoxPro's editor from lower to upper case. In the first case, this may become necessary since Paradox attempts to reuse the space of deleted records by marking them, rather than physically deleting them. The FoxPro program can easily be modified to convert from upper to lower case. These two programs are available on PC MagNet for downloading. Includes 3 program listings. Descriptor(s): Database; Utility Program; Program Listing Compatibility: IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI06-053 Author: Antonoff, Michael Grunin, Lori Title: Capture and conversion the Windows way Source: PC Magazine (June 16, 1992) v11 n11 p245-281 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Media Cybernetics Product Name: HALO Desktop Imager Abstract: Presents reviews of ten Windows screen capture and conversion utilities priced from $49 to $149.95. Although Windows has a built-in screen capture facility, to use the captured image requires a program with a paste command to transfer the image from the clipboard to a graphics file. Programs reviewed are rated on their ability to manipulate color, convert files (number of formats supported), process images, print, and capture screens. Most vendors of the programs reviewed recommend using a display adapter that supports more than 16 colors but since these drivers are not standardized, they don't guarantee compatibility. Users should ask the vendor about compatibility with specific adapters. Includes a buyer's guide comparing features. A sidebar by Robin Raskin compares DOS and Windows capture programs. HALO Desktop Imager ($139) from Media Cybernetics Inc. is "Editors' Choice." Includes 11 illustrations, ten scr! een display, two tables, one photo. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Window Software; Software Review; Vendor Guide; Conversions Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI03-180 Author: Pandya, Vikram Title: Reboot routine -- Languages Source: PC Magazine (March 17, 1992) v11 n5 p439 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: REBOOT.BAS Abstract: Presents a QuickBASIC program called REBOOT.BAS sent in by PC Magazine reader Vikram Pandya, which he uses to reboot a PC from within a BASIC program. Includes a program listing. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing; Basic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 92PI03-179 Author: Ricciardi, Sal Title: Databases Source: PC Magazine (March 17, 1992) v11 n5 p437-438 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: DD.SC Abstract: Presents a Paradox program called DD.SC which creates a table structure dictionary for a current dictionary. Features a description of the program. Also features DD report samples to supplement the discussion. Includes a table and a program listing. Descriptor(s): Dictionaries; Database; Program Listing; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI11-210 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: The first DOS 5.0 utility: UBMFILES frees up extra RAM -- This issue's utility is one of the first programs to make use of upper memory blocks. In doing so, it can free up as much as 15K... Source: PC Magazine (November 26, 1991) v10 n20 p497-502 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents UMBFILES, a utility which can load the DOS System File Table (SFT) into high memory on 386 and 486 systems configured for loading programs and device drivers into the high memory area (HMA). Includes a listing of the program, written in assembly language, and describes how the program works. The program can free up to 15K of RAM for application use (this is the amount of RAM required for a SFT created by the statement FILES=255 in CONFIG.SYS). Includes one illustration. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; DOS; Tutorial; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI10-052 Author: Simon, Barry Title: Squeeze play -- Data compression utilities aren't just for modem users trying to cut the cost of their phone bills. Any one of these six inexpensive... Source: PC Magazine (October 15, 1991) v10 n17 p291-320 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: PC Magnet Product Name: LHA Abstract: Presents a tutorial on file compression utilities, with reviews of six program ranging in price from free to $89.95. Includes a brief history of the development of these programs beginning with ARC, released by System Enhancement Associates in 1985. A sidebar describes several archive shells, and another sidebar lists pros and cons of 13 data compression alternatives. Discusses the advantages of using compression programs with compressed graphics formats. Notes that for modem transmission of data, it is more efficient to transmit .ZIP files with MNP 5 off than to transmit .ZIP files with MNP 5 on or uncompressed files with MNP 5 on. Includes a buyer's guide comparing features of the programs reviewed and a benchmark test comparing performance. LHA version 2.12 (free), available on BBSs and PC MagNet's Utilforum, is the "Editors' Choice." Includes two illustrations, two screen displays, four tables, one graph. Descriptor(s): Compression; Utility Program; Vendor Guide; Software Review; Benchmark Testing Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI08-068 Author: Shaw, Richard Hale Title: WINCOLOR.EXE: maximum color control in Windows -- WINCOLOR.EXE lets you properly display and set custom colors for more Windows components than you can through the Control Panel. Source: PC Magazine (August 1, 1991) v10 n14 p411-418 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: WINCOLOR.EXE Abstract: UTILITIES column presents WINCOLOR.EXE, a utility program for customizing color sets under Windows. Although colors can be customized through the Control Panel, the colors selected are not always the same as those displayed in real windows after exiting the Control Panel. Additionally, the Control Panel does not allow setting the colors of highlighted menu items and their text, the text of unselectable menu items, push buttons, system icons, scroll bar arrows, or minimize/maximize buttons. WINCOLOR gives the ability to change all these items and view the changes as they are made. Includes a description of the program's menu items, how to use the program, and how it works. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Window Software; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI08-064 Author: Murphy, Paul Title: Artful assistants: three graphics utilities for Windows and PM -- Windows and Presentation Manager users often need to snap screens, convert graphics between formats, or reduce image to monochrome... Source: PC Magazine (August 1, 1991) v10 n14 p363-389 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Computer Presentations Product Name: ImagePrep Abstract: Presents reviews of three GUI graphics utilities, rating them on their abilities to perform screen capture, file conversion, and image processing. Includes a listing of several programs which can provide only screen capture capability. Provides a buyer's guide comparing features of programs reviewed. A sidebar by Barry Simon describes three programs which can aid in organizing large numbers of graphics files by making thumbnails of them and storing these in libraries. ImagePrep version 3.1 ($295) from Computer Presentations Inc., Cincinnati, OH (513) is the "Editors' Choice." Includes five illustrations, four screen displays, two tables. Descriptor(s): Graphics; Window Software; OS/2; Utility Program; Software Review; Vendor Guide Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI06-079 Author: Deurbrouck, John Title: Track down your PATH problems with CHKPATH.COM -- Same-named programs on your PATH can produce unpredictable results. This utility will show you where such .COM, .EXE, and .BAT files... Source: PC Magazine (June 11, 1991) v10 n11 p367-376 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: CHKPATH.COM Abstract: UTILITIES column presents CHKPATH.COM, a utility for troubleshooting the DOS PATH. The program can be set to search specified drives, to list all executable files it finds, to pause between screens, and to display all file information or to ignore date, time, and size information. In the case of files with duplicate names, the program will advise the user which of the files will actually be executed when the command name is typed. Output can be directed to a printer or to a file. Includes a discussion of programming techniques used in writing the program for the edification of programmers. Includes instructions for obtaining a copy of the program by downloading it from PC MagNet. Includes one figure. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Troubleshooting; DOS; Programming Instruction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI05-155 Author: Dickinson, Robert Title: Get control over your WIN.INI file with PROGSET.EXE -- This handy Windows utility lets you clean out the WIN.INI modifications made by discarded applications. Source: PC Magazine (May 28, 1991) v10 n10 p355-360 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: PROGSET.EXE Abstract: UTILITIES column presents PROGSET.EXE, a utility for managing the WIN.INI Windows file. Each application installed under Windows usually modifies part of the WIN.INI file but when old applications are removed, they do not remove the modification. This program allows cleaning up the file without the possibility of corrupting it. Includes a tutorial on WIN.INI and its use of file associations. Provides instructions on using the utility and describes some of the programming techniques used in it. Includes one screen display, two figures. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Window Software; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI05-075 Author: Shaw, Richard Hale Title: Restore your Windows 3.0 sessions with WINSAVER.EXE Source: PC Magazine (May 14, 1991) v10 n9 p391-393 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: WINSAVER.EXE Abstract: UTILITIES COLUMN presents WINSAVER.EXE, a utility that can be used to restore applications and utilities that were in use when Windows 3.0 was last exited. When active, it displays the names of programs which were being run as well as the arrangement of their windows and icons. It does not, however, remember the state of the programs that were running. Describes how the program works and provides information on some of its limitations. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Window Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI04-176 Author: Holmes, Michael Flanders, Bob Title: Finding and changing to the directory you want, with CDX.COM [author note: this is one of many early DOS programs that cannot handle a path/subpath string wider than 64 characters] Source: PC Magazine (April 30, 1991) v10 n8 p361-370 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: CDX.COM Abstract: UTILITIES column presents CDX.COM, a utility that can be used to change directories without the requirement of specifying the names of intervening subdirectories. It scans the directory structures of several or all drives for the directory or file desired, displays matches found one at a time until the desired directory is displayed, then places the user in that directory. Explains the command syntax for the program, gives examples of commands which may be used, and provides a brief description of how the program works. Includes instructions for downloading a copy of the program from PC MagNet or receiving it by fax or mail. A sidebar gives directions for compiling CDX.C with Microsoft C 6.0. Includes one illustration. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Directories ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI04-077 Author: Chaney, Scott Title: Automate your program operations with ENCORE.COM -- Repeating the same menu-choice sequences over and over can be a thing of the past with this task macro generator. Source: PC Magazine (April 16, 1991) v10 n7 p327-342 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: ENCORE.COM Abstract: UTILITIES column presents ENCORE.COM, a utility program than can be used to record a series of keystrokes and pauses between them necessary to perform a task. The program loads itself into memory as a TSR requiring approximately 1K of memory, and can record up to 100 keystrokes. The number of keystrokes can be increase through use of a switch, with each keystroke requiring 5 bytes of buffer memory. Describes how the program works and provides suggestions for how to use it. A sidebar describes how to change the program's hotkeys. Includes instructions for obtaining the program by downloading from PCMagNet, by mail, or by fax. Includes two tables. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Template; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI04-030 Author: Levin, Carol Title: Utility add-ins: something for everyone -- These eight time-saving add-ins make 1-2-3 more efficient by letting you customize as much as your budget and PC memory allow. Source: PC Magazine (April 16, 1991) v10 n7 p137-164 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Symantec; Intex Solutions Product Name: Norton Utilities, The; Rescue Plus Abstract: Presents reviews of eight utility add-ins for Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2. Because the collection reviewed is so diverse, none of the products is named "Editor's Choice" but most of them "do their job simply and well." A sidebar by Ed Perratore provides comparative reviews of the spreadsheet file recovery capabilities of The Norton Utilities version 5.0 ($179) from Symantec Corp., Cupertino, CA (408) and Rescue Plus version 1.3 ($149.95) from Intex Solutions Inc., Needham, MA (617). Includes one illustration, seven screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Add-on; Spreadsheet; Software Review Compatibility: Lotus 1-2-3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI04-013 Author: Stinson, Craig Title: Lotus 1-2-3 add-ins: building the perfect spreadsheet -- The vast Lotus aftermarket provides software to make the spreadsheet you have do just about anything you want. This overview covers ... Source: PC Magazine (April 16, 1991) v10 n7 p101-164 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: A special section dealing with add-in programs for Lotus 1-2-3 release 2.2. Includes "Building the perfect spreadsheet" (p101-104), an overview of the section; "Financial add-ins: a wealth of spreadsheet shortcuts" (p105-116) by Mike Falkner, reviews of six financial add-ins; "Forecasting add-ins: garbage in, gospel out" (p119-124) by Jack McGrath, reviews of four fore add-ins; "Optimizing add-ins: the educated guess" (p127-132) John C. Nash, reviews of three optimizers; and "Utility add- something for everyone" (p137-164), reviews of eight utility add-ins. A sidebar by Jim Seymour examines the history of development of Lotus 1-2-3 add-ins, and another sidebar by describes Add-In Toolkit for 1-2-3 Release 3.0 and Add-In Toolkit for 1-2-3 Release 3.1 ($395 each), two add-in development packages from Lotus Development Corp., Cambridge, MA (617). Includes eight illustrations, ! 20 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Spreadsheet; Finances; Forecasting; Add-on; Software Review; Optimization; Utility Program Compatibility: Lotus 1-2-3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI03-173 Author: Adler, Marc Title: Create and customize your own icons for Windows 3.0 Source: PC Magazine (March 26, 1991) v10 n6 p345-357 Pub. Type: Program Listing Abstract: UTILITIES column presents IKE, a utility program which can be used to edit icons in Windows 3.0. Icons created by IKE can be used in the Program Manager to represent a program, but they cannot be used by an application when it is in a minimized state. The program provides a selection of drawing tools and supports a palette of 16 colors. Describes how the program works and how icon files are read and written and how icons are displayed. Concludes with a brief discussion of ways in which IKE might be enhanced. Includes some brief excerpts of C code from IKE's source files to illustrate creating a brush or displaying a button. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Icon; Utility Program; Window Software; Tutorial; Programming Instruction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI03-160 Author: Seymour, Jim Title: System setup: the inside story -- What's going on in your PC? These 11 system setup and reporting utilities illuminate the configuration of your components and... Source: PC Magazine (March 26, 1991) v10 n6 p273-316 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Merrill & Bryan; Quarterdeck Office Systems Product Name: InfoSpotter; Manifest Abstract: Presents reviews of 11 system setup and reporting utilities. These programs can be valuable assets to corporate PC managers by providing detailed configuration data on a large base of installed computers and expediting upgrades when required. Configuration information is also useful when working with technical support personnel to solve problems. Includes a buyer's guide comparing features of the packages reviewed. A sidebar by Barry Simon describes three shareware system reporting utilities available on PC MagNet. Includes a glossary of setup and configuration terms. InfoSpotter version 2.5 ($79.95) from Merrill & Bryan, San Diego, CA (619) and Manifest version 1.01 ($59.95) from Quarterdeck Office Systems, Santa Monica, CA (213) are "Editors' Choice." Includes one photo, 12 illustrations, one table, 11 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Diagnostics; Systems Integration; Software Review; Vendor Guide; Definitions Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI03-070 Author: Cooper, Stephen D Title: 2FILE and 2FLOPPY let you DISKCOPY by modem -- When you need to send an exact disk image or duplicate floppies on a one-floppy system, this set of utilities is the only sensible answer Source: PC Magazine (March 12, 1991) v10 n5 p369-376 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: 2FILE; 2FLOPPY Abstract: UTILITIES column presents two programs for use with floppy disks. 2FILE creates a sector-by-sector image of the contents of a floppy disk as a file on a hard disk. This file, which can be compressed, can then be transferred to a remote site by modem. The companion program 2FLOPPY, takes the file on the hard disk and reconstructs its contents onto a floppy disk, verifying it after each track if desired. 2FLOPPY can be used to expedite multiple duplication of a floppy disk on a system with only one floppy drive. Includes a tutorial on diskette types, file allocation table values, and the layout of a root directory. Includes a description of how the programs work and instructions for downloading them via modem from PC MagNet. Includes four figures. Descriptor(s): Disk Duplicator; Diskettes; Utility Program; Floppy Disk Drive; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Database: InternetPCAbs Query: (so: pc and so: magazine) and (de= "utility program") not ((pt: software and pt: review)) Record No.: 91PI02-158 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: MBOOT.COM: a multiple boot program for your PC -- Now you can select from among several configurations and operating system versions each time you boot up. Source: PC Magazine (February 26, 1991) v10 n4 p359-373 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: MBOOT.COM Abstract: UTILITIES column presents MBOOT.COM, a utility that can be used to select from up to four different operating systems (one of which can be OS/2) with up to four different CONFIG and AUTOEXEC files. Includes a tutorial on what happens when a computer boots up and how MBOOT works. A sidebar describes how to download MBOOT, as well as other programs, from PC MagNet via modem. Includes a caveat recommending that, although the assembly language source code is available from PC MagNet, not even experienced programmers attempt to modify it since the program modifies the boot record of a hard disk. Includes three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Operating Systems; Utility Program; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI02-117 Author: Unger, Tom Title: Windows your way: 41 utilities for Windows 3.0 -- PC Magazine reviews over 40 utilities that make Windows more versatile, more productive, and quite simply, more useful. Source: PC Magazine (February 26, 1991) v10 n4 p135-199 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: METZ Software; Publishing Technologies; Okna; Inner Media; Softbridge Microsystems Product Name: METZ Task Manager; Pubtech File Organizer; DeskTop Set; WideAngle; Bridge Tool Kit Abstract: Presents reviews of 41 utilities for Windows 3.0. Includes reviews of six program management utilities by Paul Murphy, four file management utilities by Ronni Geist and Harry Geist, four accessories by Tom Unger, one screen enhancer by Barry Simon, three macro utilities by M. David Stone, two text editors by Barry Simon, two icon editors by Laura Cox, and one network utility by Rock Miller. METZ Task Manager ($30) from METZ Software, Bellevue, WA (800, 206); Pubtech File Organizer ($199.95) from Publishing Technologies Inc., Austin, TX (800, 512); DeskTop Set ($149) from Okna Corp., Lyndhurst, NJ (201); Bridge Tool Kit ($695) from Softbridge Inc., Cambridge, MA (800, 617); WideAngle ($129) from Inner Media Inc., Hollis, NH (800, 603); and Windows Workstation ($695) from Automated Design Systems Inc., Atlanta, GA (800, 404) are "Editor's Choice." 19 others are described but not reviewed. Includes one illustration,! 27 screen displays, four tables. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Window Software; Software Review; Vendor Guide Grade: A A A A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI02-055 Author: Rosch, Winn L Title: Handle your expense account the easy way with JOURNAL.COM -- This handy utility not only helps you keep track of expenses and lets you know then they're big enough to submit, but gives you... Source: PC Magazine (February 12, 1991) v10 n3 p337-349 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: JOURNAL.COM Abstract: UTILITIES column presents JOURNAL.COM, a utility which can be used to record expense data on an as-occurring basis. It also includes a calendar and appointment scheduler. Cumulative totals of expenses by category can be displayed at the touch of a key, and once totals become large enough to submit for payment, the program can print out a report for submission. Includes a discussion of how the program works and a list of commands used with it. A sidebar describes how to customize the program, another sidebar describes how the program does decimal addition. Includes instructions for downloading the program by modem from PC MagNet. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Finances; Utility Program; Scheduling; Calendar; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 91PI01-280 Author: Munro, Jay Title: LZSELECT: laser printer control the easy way -- Without every figuring out an escape code, you can set up your LaserJet to print exactly the way you want. Source: PC Magazine (January 29, 1991) v10 n2 p347-354 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a description of LZSELECT, a program which can be used to control a LaserJet or compatible printer. When used as a standalone program, or with the SETUP2 utility, it provides a menu-driven system for setting up a LaserJet. Describes how the program works and how to use it. Sidebars describe combining ESC commands using the PCL language using printer macros. Includes instructions for downloading LZSELECT from PC MagNet. The LAB NOTES column (p335-346) in this issue provides a more detailed description of the PCL language. Includes one figure, four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Laser Printer; Utility Program; Programming Aids ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI12-210 Author: Adler, Marc Title: Finding our files in Windows 3.0 with WINWHERE -- This handy Windows file finder eliminates the painful process of searching through individual drives and directories to locate... Source: PC Magazine (December 25, 1990) v9 n22 p397-404 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: WINWHERE Abstract: UTILITIES column presents WINWHERE, a file finding utility for use with Windows 3.0. The program allows searching for files with a file specification which can be either a complete filename or a filename containing ? and * wildcards. The search can be limited by file date and size if desired. Provides instructions for downloading the program from PC MagNet, for installing in on a system, and for using it. Includes a tutorial describing how the program operates and includes an excerpt of the C code used in the program. Includes five figures. Descriptor(s): Window Software; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI12-076 Author: Gerrold, David Title: Free your VGA from CGA captivity with PRISM.EXE -- Here's a utility that allows you to set each of the 16 colors on your Video Graphics Array to any of 262,144 shades. Source: PC Magazine (December 11, 1990) v9 n21 p463-480 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents PRISM.EXE, a utility program which can be used to create custom color palettes by modifying the 16 basic DOS color attributes. The program can be used either with the keyboard or with a mouse and the column describes both modes of operation. A sidebar describes the evolution of display standards from CGA through VGA, and another sidebar describes the effects of altering the saturation and intensity of colors. Includes instructions for downloading PRISM.EXE, which is written in Turbo Pascal, from PC MagNet. Notes that since PRISM is a text mode only utility, it will not run under Windows or DESQview. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Color Display; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI11-127 Author: Shaw, Richard Hale Title: WSMOOTH: scroll through text files under Windows 3.0 -- Introducing WSMOOTH: our first Windows utility whose keyboard/mouse interface employs the best of Windows' own video technology... Source: PC Magazine (November 13, 1990) v9 n19 p485-520 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column present WSMOOTH, a program for scrolling through text files under Windows 3.0. The program is a version of SMOOTH.COM which was presented in the February 14, 1989 issue of PC Magazine. WSMOOTH supports use of a mouse and is compatible with all three operating modes of Windows 3.0. Includes a description of how the program works and how to use it. Includes listings of the programs used by WSMOOTH as well as a source code listing of WSMOOTH.C. Includes 11 figures. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Window Software; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI10-270 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: CARDFILE for the PM: It's time to retire your Rolodex -- More than an update of our popular DOS utility, the PM version of CARDFILE shows why we'll all be more productive with OS/2. Source: PC Magazine (October 30, 1990) v9 n18 p361-376 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a description of PMCARD, a Rolodex utility program for OS/2 Presentation Manager. Similar to an earlier published utility, CARDFILE (for DOS), it allows storing names, addresses, and telephone numbers in a file. The file can be searched, data can be cut and pasted between entries or into other PM applications, and the program can dial phone numbers. The program requires OS/2 Version 1.2 or later. Includes a discussion of configuration options of the program and a description of the memory management scheme used in the program. A sidebar provides instructions for downloading the program, as well as its source code, from PC MagNet. Includes three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Desktop Software; OS/2; Utility Program Compatibility: OS/2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI11-148 Author: Duncan, Ray Title: Power Programming -- Arithmetic routines for your computer programs, part 1 Source: PC Magazine (November 14, 1989) v8 n19 p423-429 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: POWER PROGRAMMING column presents proven routines written in assembly that handles aritmetic operations on the following subjects; single- and double-precision integer arithmetic, development of a library of variable precision arithmetic routines, and an examination of the capabilities of the 80x87 numeric coprocessor. Includes assembly source code listing for the following; double-precision multiplication for the 8086, 8088,80286, and 80386 and accepts two 32-bit arguments, another multiplication routine for 80386 in 32-bit protected mode and accepts 64-bi arguments, a double-precision division routine that accept dividend and 32-bit divisor returning 32-bit qoutient and remainder, another division routine that accepts a 128-bit dividend and 64-bi divisor returning 64-bit qoutient and divisor. Descriptor(s): Assembly Language; Mathematics; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI11-147 Author: Petzold, Charles Title: Environments -- Understanding and using Bezier Splines in OS/2 graphics Source: PC Magazine (November 14, 1989) v8 n19 p409-420 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: ENVIRONMENTS column presents the Bezier Splines built-in support offered by the Graphics Programming Interface (GPI) component of the OS/2 Presentation Manager. Explains the use, how to use, drawing function, characteristics, and mathematical representation of Bezier Splines. Includes code listing of how to automate the creation of a Bezier.Exe. file. Contains three diagrams Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Geometry; OS/2; Presentation Graphics Compatibility: OS/2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI11-146 Author: Maclean, Pete Title: Utilities -- 1st Class and Couriers make binary transfers easy Source: PC Magazine (November 14, 1989) v8 n19 p399-408 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a set of instructions that makes possible the transmission of binary files over MCI Mail. The code gets connected to the MCI Mail by first invoking Couriers, a memory-resident COM port driver; and 1st Class, the PC Magazine eletronic MCI Mail agent that automate the MCI connection procedure. Also says that the technique serves as an alternative to Lotus Express, another MCI Mail interface program. Includes a lis to customize a 1st Class.CSF script file. Has sidebars on the following; explanation of 1stClass's script language, how to create and edit a script file, and directions how to access PC Magazine' published programs through modem. Contains one diagram Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Electronic Mail; Data Transmission Compatibility: MCI Mail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI08-108 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: Compile your batch files for added speed with BAT2EXEC -- Large batch files often run annoyingly slowly. Compiling them with BAT2EXEC will increase both your productivity and satisfaction. Source: PC Magazine (August 1, 1990) v9 n14 p415-427 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a listing of BAT2EXEC, a program which compiles batch files for faster execution. Includes a discussion of the differences between interpreted programs and compiled programs, the latter of which contains only the machine language instructions necessary to run the program, making it much faster in execution. Illustrates what BAT2EXEC does by providing listings of COPYFILE.BAT, an interpreted program, and COPYFILE.ASM, the assembly language program produced by running COPYFILE.BAT through BAT2EXEC. Includes a listing of BAT2EXEC.BAS, the BASIC program, and provides instructions on downloading the program from PC MagNet. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI08-107 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: Exploring and organizing your hard disk with Lotus's Magellan -- One of the few "must have" utilities for every power user, Magellan 2.0 adds new power and flexibility. Source: PC Magazine (August 1, 1990) v9 n14 p407-412 Pub. Type: Column Company Name: Lotus Development Product Name: Magellan Abstract: LAB NOTES column presents a tutorial on the use of Magellan 2.0, from Lotus Development, to manage hard disk files. Includes numerous examples of how to use the program to search for files, organize the directory structure of a hard disk, build menu systems, and store information from floppy disks. Notes that Magellan can replace a large number of separate utilities, including DOS shells, file browsers, file finders, PKZIP and PKUNZIP (included in Magellan), directory tree managers such as PRUNE and KILLDIR, file comparison programs such as DIFF, MOVEFILE utilities, file undeletion utilities, cyclic redundancy check utilities that check files for modification, and word processor conversion utilities. Includes one table, one illustration, three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Information Retrieval; Utility Program; Disk Files; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI10-182 Author: Munro, Jay Title: PCBOOK makes your LaserJet print files in booklet form -- The painless way to handle README and similar files is to turn them automatically into handy booklets. Source: PC Magazine (October 16, 1990) v9 n17 p425-444 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a discussion of PCBOOK, a utility program that converts README and similar files into booklet form on a LaserJet Series II, IIP, or III. The program works with regular text or ASCII files and prints four 80 characters per line by 66 line pages on two sides of a standard 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper. A single fold of the resulting pages produces a 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inch booklet. Describes how the program works and lists the options available within the program. A sidebar describes ways of customizing the program, and another sidebar describes LaserJet escape sequences. Includes instructions for obtaining the .EXE file and the source code (in QuickBASIC) by modem, mail, or fax. Includes one illustration. Descriptor(s): Desktop Publishing; Utility Program; Laser Printer Compatibility: HP LaserJet II; HP Laserjet IIP ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI09-240 Author: Nadkarni, Ashok P Title: CMDEDIT: the PC Magazine DOS command-line editor -- Whatever your level of expertise, this utility offers you a host of ways to make your interface with the DOS prompt more efficient. Source: PC Magazine (September 25, 1990) v9 n16 p447-458 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents CMDEDIT, a DOS command line editing utility. The program provides automatic insertion of often-used commands (up to 254 characters) from a symbol file, executing commands or inserting character sequences by using function keys, recalling commands from a command history file for editing or execution, and rapid navigation of disks and directories. It allows defining a sequence of command lines as a macro, and can display currently defined macros and symbols from the DOS prompt. A sidebar describes how to prepare an initialization file, and another sidebar lists the error messages the program may display and the corrective actions to be taken. Includes instructions on downloading the program from PC MagNet. Includes two tables. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Editor; DOS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI09-015 Author: Murray, Rink Title: Norton Backup, Version 1.1 Source: PC Magazine (September 11, 1990) v9 n15 p54 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Peter Norton Computing Product Name: Norton Backup, The Abstract: Reports that Peter Norton Computing of Santa Monica, CA (213) has released Norton Backup v. 1.1 ($149; upgrade free), an upgraded backup utility that includes enhanced features such as improved speed, more efficient data compression, a new command line restore feature, and expanded hardware and software compatibility. Descriptor(s): Backup; Utility Program; Upgrade Compatibility: IBM PC; IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI06-163 Author: Mefford, Michael J Title: Trim the branches of your directory trees with PRUNE.COM -- What lopping shears and grafting tools do to uncontrolled growth in your garden, PRUNE can accomplish for your hard disk. Source: PC Magazine (June 26, 1990) v9 n12 p361-398 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: PRUNE.COM Abstract: UTILITIES column presents PRUNE, a program designed for disk directory management. The program can be used to copy, rename, remove, or move a directory. It also includes DR.COM and DIRMATCH, two utility programs which have been previously published in this column. Includes a discussion of how the program operates. A sidebar discusses methods of customizing the program for displays that don't display color contrasts clearly. Provides listings of PRUNE.COM in assembly language and BASIC. Includes two screen displays, one illustration. Descriptor(s): Directories; Disk Files; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI06-118 Author: Howard, Bill Title: The ultimate utility bookshelf -- Thirty-three powerful programs that recover files, make sense of DOS commands, speed your hard disk, find files and text, enhance... Source: PC Magazine (June 26, 1990) v9 n12 p165-200 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Abstract: Presents reviews of the 33 best utility programs for the PC. These utilities were selected by the editors of PC magazine based on six months of consideration using electronic mail and through face-to-face discussions. Input was also provided by readers through PC MagNet. Utilities chosen were "mainstream products that solve a range of common problems." Presents recommendations for a "starter kit" of utilities, based on user needs. A sidebar by Edward Mendelson describes thirteen single-task utilities available from PC MagNet. Utilities reviewed include five for communications and connectivity, three for memory management, two for diagnostics and setup, five disk utilities, seven DOS tools, three for graphics, two for keyboards, two for printers, two for screen handling, and four for text handling. Includes seven illustrations, 11 screen displays. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Software Review; Vendor Guide ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI05-272 Author: Neuhaus, Trudy Shaw, Richard Hale Title: PARAVIEW, a Paradox Engine application -- The hardest part is getting started. This utility sets the stage for adding functionality to your database applications using C... Source: PC Magazine (May 29, 1990) v9 n10 p401-413 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: PARAVIEW Abstract: DATABASES colum presents a listing of PARAVIEW, a Paradox Engine application which can be used to read, display, and update table records and navigate the tables on-screen. Includes a description of the capabilities of the program and an explanation of how it works. Includes the source code for the program. Readers who desire to add capabilities to PARAVIEW will require Turbo C 2.0 and Paradox Engine 1.0. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): Data Base Management; Utility Program; Tutorial Compatibility: Turbo C; Paradox Engine ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI05-248 Author: Poor, Alfred Title: Network printing without pain -- While it's true that NetWare comes with its own utilities for managing printers on a LAN, it's also true that you can do much... Source: PC Magazine (May 29, 1990) v9 n10 p265-290 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Software Directions Product Name: PrintQ LAN Abstract: Presents comparative reviews of seven utility programs designed to make printer sharing more efficient on an Advanced NetWare LAN. Despite the fact that NetWare provides basic printer sharing capability, these utilities address two weaknesses inherent in NetWare's printer sharing--the fact that all shared printers must be attached to the file server, and the requirement to issue NetWare's CAPTURE and ENDCAP commands at the DOS prompt. A sidebar presents brief discussions of other packages that can assist with LAN printing. Includes a buyer's guide comparing features of the programs reviewed and a benchmark test. PrintQ LAN, version .96 ($495 for 20 users), from Software Directions Inc., Randolph, NJ (800, 201) is an "Editor's Choice." Includes one illustration, one table, eight graphs. Descriptor(s): Printer Controller; Local Area Networks; Utility Program; Spooler; Vendor Guide; Benchmark Testing; Software Review Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI10-160 Author: Smtih, Ron Q Title: Create colorful, interactive menus for your applications Source: PC Magazine (October 31, 1989) v8 n18 p319-332 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: MENU Abstract: UTILITIES column provides programming tips on how to create an interactive menu with the screen displays and keyboard input facilities needed for novice users to operate a computer. Makes use of MENU, a program that lets users display an unlimited amount of information with which the user can interact. Includes symbol, function key, and editing key tables; program listings; and a sidebar called "How to Create a Template File" (p322-323). Includes three screen displays. Descriptor(s): User Interface; Tutorial; Template; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI10-116 Author: Manes, Stephen Title: Our cantankerous columnist finds a program he really likes--one that makes no claims to artificial intelligence but turns out to be a ... Source: PC Magazine (October 31, 1989) v8 n18 p91-92 Pub. Type: Column Company Name: Lotus Development Product Name: Magellan Abstract: STEPHEN MANES presents a very favorable review of Magellan ($NA), a utility program, from Lotus Development Corp. States that its most crucial feature is its viewer technology; it offers amazingly free-text retrieval; and applications can be launched within it. However, notes that it has some problems that should be addressed in the next version. Still, says the program is so good that operating system designers ought to steal its best features. Includes one illustration. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Information Retrieval; User Interface; Software Review; DOS Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI10-111 Author: Venditto, Gus Title: Utility makers team up for the battles enough Source: PC Magazine (October 31, 1989) v8 n18 p63-64 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: PIPELINE column reports that the trends toward mergers and acquisitions among PC vendors is about to change the landscape of the utilities market. Features a graph showing sales rankings of the top ten utility programs over a five-week period. Descriptor(s): Trends; Utility Program; Mergers/Acquisitions; Market ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI11-261 Author: Mefford, Michael J Title: Easy binary file transfer through ASCII text files Source: PC Magazine (November 28, 1989) v8 n20 p319-326 Pub. Type: Column Company Name: PC MagNet Product Name: DEBUGSCR.ASM Abstract: UTILITIES column discusses ways to transfer complicated binary files over MCI and other E-mail services. Presents an assembly language program called DEBUGSCR.ASM that turns binary files into ASCII form transmittable over MCI. Available by modem from PC MagNet. Includes one program listing and one illustration. Descriptor(s): Program Listing; Assembly Language; Utility Program; Data Transmission ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI02-113 Author: Cohen, Alan Title: FontSpace compresses LaserJet fonts Source: PC Magazine (February 27, 1990) v9 n4 p53-54 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Isogon Product Name: FontSpace Abstract: Report that Isogon Corp. of New York, NY has released FontSpace ($89.95), a TSR program which compresses font files for LaserJet printers up to 98 percent. Requires 20K (3K if EMS is available), hard disk and DOS 3.0 or later. It works with all fonts compatible with the LaserJet Plus, LaserJet Series II, and LaserJet IID. Contains one screen display. Descriptor(s): Compression; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI02-112 Author: Cohen, Alan Title: RoundTrip automatically creates worksheets Source: PC Magazine (February 27, 1990) v9 n4 p53 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Circle Systems Product Name: RoundTrip Abstract: Reports that Circle Systems of Seattle, WA (206) has released RoundTrip ($695), a worksheet building tool. Requires 256K of RAM, DOS 2.0 or later, and a hard disk (recommended). Says it can automatically generate complete Lotus 1-2-3 worksheets and can update and extract data from existing worksheets. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Spreadsheet ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI05-166 Author: MacLean, Pete Title: Introducing PAN.COM, the program animator -- With this versatile script language utility, you can add opening menus, schedule automatic operations, and customize your programs'.. Source: PC Magazine (May 15, 1990) v9 n9 p253-290 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents PAN.COM, a utility designed to automate PC applications which is described as "a universal script language." Presents instructions for creating the program from the source code (requires a macro assembler) and describes how the program works. A sidebar presents the PAN command set, another sidebar present tips for creating scripts, a third sidebar provides programming notes for extending PAN, and a fourth sidebar provides instructions for downloading PAN from PC MagNet. Includes three sample PAN.COM script files, and a complete listing of the assembly language source code. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Template; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI04-069 Author: Winer, Ethan Munro, Jay Title: Download utilities the easy way with PCACCESS -- PCACCESS, our first utility written entirely in QuickBASIC, shows off the communications capabilities and sophistication of the ... Source: PC Magazine (April 10, 1990) v9 n7 p293-312 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: PCACCESS Abstract: UTILITIES column presents PCACCESS, a utility program written in QuickBASIC which can be used to download files from PC MagNet, on CompuServe. Describes how the program works and how to use it, and provides a tutorial on the communications capabilities available in QuickBASIC. Sidebars discuss obtaining PC utilities by modem, describe how Xmodem works, provide a tutorial on the CRC protocol, and present instructions for adding features to PCACCESS. Includes two illustrations, three screen displays. Descriptor(s): Data Transmission; Online Systems; Telecommunications; Utility Program; Tutorial; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI04-156 Author: Mefford, Michael J Title: TYPEFAST and TPFST-AT give your keyboard pizzazz Source: PC Magazine (April 24, 1990) v9 n8 p287-293 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a description of two utility programs, TYPEFAST and TPFST-AT, which can be used to alter the typematic characteristics of the keyboard of an IBM PC XT, AT, PS/2, or compatible. TYPEFAST works with all XT and later models, while TPFST works with ATs with a BIOS date of 11/15/85 or later and with XT 286, PS/2 and 386-based PCs that are completely AT-compatible. Discusses how the programs work and presents instructions for downloading the programs and their source code from PC MagNet. Descriptor(s): Keyboard; Speed; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI04-149 Author: Raskin, Robin Title: Screen-capture software saves the moment -- There's more to saving screens to disk than just hitting a hotkey, as Collage Plus, The Graphics Link Plus, HiJaak Plus, Hot Shot... Source: PC Magazine (April 24, 1990) v9 n8 p257-269 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: SymSoft; Application Techniques Product Name: HotShot Graphics; Pizazz Plus Abstract: Presents a discussion of screen capture utility programs. The five major reasons for using such programs are inclusion of total screen information in documentation, preparation of slide shows, working with nonstandard file formats, image enhancements for color printing, and image editing. Screen capture programs work well with CGA, EGA, and VGA displays, but can present problems when used with Super VGA, 320 by 200 by 256-color .GIF images, and TIFF images. Includes reviews of five "image-capture mainstream" programs, and notes that other screen capture utilities are available as shareware or included as modules in other software packages. A sidebar illustrates the effects achieved using screen-capture software. Includes a buyer's guide comparing features of packages reviewed. Hot Shot Graphics ($249) from SymSoft and Pizazz Plus ($149) from Application Techniques are "Editor's Choice." Includes four p! hotos, three screen displays, one table. Descriptor(s): Image Processing; Utility Program; Presentation Graphics; Software Review; Vendor Guide; Graphics Grade: A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI12-156 Author: Boling, Douglas Prosise, Jeff Title: Give yourself a smart DOS command line with ALIAS Source: PC Magazine (December 26, 1989) v8 n22 p253-268 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: ALIAS Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a discussion of ALIAS, a utility program that allows word processor-like control over the DOS command line. It also keeps track of the last 16 commands issued and allows the user to pop them into the command line without retyping. Provides instructions for using the program and a discussion of how the program works. Includes instructions for obtaining ALIAS.COM and its source code by modem, mail, or fax, and a listing of other utility programs available on PC MagNet which have been upgraded to fix minor bugs or system incompatibilities. Includes two tables. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Word Processing; DOS; Tutorial; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI06-079 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Importing an AutoCAD drawing; Extended keyboard services; Teaching a TSR new tricks Source: PC Magazine (June 12, 1990) v9 n11 p383-384 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: TUTOR column explains how to import AutoCAD graphics into WordPerfect, how to determine whether a BIOS supports extended keyboard functions, and how to write intelligent TSRs. Includes a macro. Descriptor(s): Computer Instruction; Tutorial; Computer Aided Design; Graphics; Keyboard; Utility Program; Programming Instruction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI06-078 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: What day is it? An easier way to use ANSI commands Source: PC Magazine (June 12, 1990) v9 n11 p381-382 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: DDATE.BAT; XDATE.BAT; SED.BAT; SE.BAT; SWAP.BAT Abstract: USER-TO-USER column presents DDATE.BAT, a macro that uses DOS's internal day of the week calculator to determine what day of a week a given date will fall on; XDATE.BAT, a macro that combines the DDATE and DDATESET functions; SED.BAT, a macro that sets up mnemonic environment variables as synonyms for useful ANSI commands; SE.BAT, a macro that maintains the SED.BAT file and sets the colors users choose; and SWAP.BAT, a macro that uses mnemonic ANSI environment variables to display an attractive help screen. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Calendar; Color; User Interface; DOS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI06-074 Author: Hall, William S Title: TSR programs and Windows; the multiple document interface Source: PC Magazine (June 12, 1990) v9 n11 p367-369 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: WINDOWS column discusses some solutions to the problem of running TSRs under Windows, and presents some new libraries and tools that will help developers perfect the implementation of the multiple documents interface (MDI) in future Windows programs. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Window Software; Memory; Utility Program; Software Tools ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI06-027 Author: Brown, Bruce Title: Playing the DOS shell game -- Cut through the confusion and find the right DOS shell by deciding how knowledgeable a user you are, how knowledgeable you want to ... Source: PC Magazine (June 12, 1990) v9 n11 p185-240 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Central Point Software; Mouse Systems; Micro-Z; Xtree; Lotus Development Product Name: PC Tools Deluxe; Power Panel; Direc-Tree Plus; Xtree Pro Gold; Lotus Magellan Abstract: Introduces a section reviewing 14 programs that can act as DOS shells. Says they include the classic DOS-shell functions of disk and file management, easy DOS command usage, and application launching. Examines what a good shell should offer. Each product is evaluated on its suitability to task, including simplification of DOS usage; file and directory management; value as an addition to a user's tool set; and customization/automation of frequent operation. "Editor's Choice" ratings went to PC Tools Deluxe v6.0 ($149) from Central Point Software as an overall favorite; Power Panel v1.0 ($69.95) from Mouse Systems for novice users; and Direc-Tree Plus v5.4 ($49.50) from Micro-Z and Xtree Pro Gold v1.31 ($129) from Xtree for power users. Sidebar articles discuss DOS shells for portables, the DOS 4.0 Shell option, and Lotus Magellan ($199). A table compares 73 features of each package. Includes fifteen screen displays! . Descriptor(s): User Interface; DOS; Software Review; Vendor Guide; Utility Program Grade: A A A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI07-062 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Another fix for LASERLST; the NUL device; redirecting printer output; distinguishing among CPUs Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1990) v9 n13 p425-426 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: WHATCPU.SCR Abstract: TUTOR column presents instructions for modifying code for a program that works with LaserJet IIP printers called LASERLST.COM, and a utility called WHATCPU.SCR, which determines what type of CPU a program is running. Also discusses the purpose of the NUL device driver, and how to redirect printer output to a file. Includes one listing. Descriptor(s): Programming Instruction; Tutorial; Laser Printer; Printer Controller; Microprocessor; Utility Program; Programming Design ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI07-060 Author: Stark, Craig L Title: Increased readability; perfect parallels; checkoff boxes in WP Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1990) v9 n13 p415-416 Pub. Type: Column Company Name: Microsoft; WordPerfect Product Name: Microsoft Windows; WordPerfect Abstract: THE WORKING WORD column discusses how to modify the Microsoft Windows palette to make your screen easier to read, and what the manual doesn't tell users about creating handy forms-oriented items in WordPerfect. Also presents a WordPerfect 5.0 macro which can help keep running translations straight. Contains one procedure. Descriptor(s): Word Processing; Window Software; Tutorial; Utility Program; Upgrade; User Interface ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI07-055 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: PMVIEW: A Presentation Manager file browser Source: PC Magazine (July 1, 1990) v9 n13 p335-371 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: PMVIEW Abstract: UTILITIES column presents PMVIEW, a Presentation Manager file browser that allows users to look at files either as ASCII text or in hexadecimal format. Discusses how to acquire and use the utility, PM programming, and the utility's commands and functions. Contains four screen displays and a sidebar that explains how to access PMVIEW by modem. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; OS/2 Compatibility: OS/2 Presentation Manager ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI08-063 Author: Flanders, Bob Holmes, Michael Title: Utilities -- Speed up file and loading access: CHKFRAG.EXE tells you when it's time to defragment the files on your hard disk. Source: PC Magazine (August 1, 1989) v8 n14 p355-366 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: CHKFRAG Abstract: Presents a C program language listing, called CHKFRAG, which reports on-screen the extent of file fragmentation on a hard disk and provides an ERRORLEVEL value usable within a batch file to call a defragmenting program. Contains one diagram. Descriptor(s): Hard Disk Drive; Maintenance; Optimization; Utility Program; Disk Files ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI12-113 Author: Dvorak, John C Title: Technology horror -- The computer revolution has made many of life's chores easier to take. But technology worsens some aspects. Take voice mail,... Source: PC Magazine (December 26, 1989) v8 n22 p73, 75 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: JOHN C. DVORAK column comments on the disadvantages of voice mail systems. Says they mean no accountability, they leave a bad impression with anyone who does business with the firm that uses them, and this results in lost sales and ill will. Calls voice mail systems "the end of civilization." INSIDE TRACK column comments on Portable OS/2, a generic OS/2 written in C, said to be under development at Microsoft. Also comments on the Friday the 13th Virus, which was a publicity stunt by Wes Thomas, a PR man who was working on behalf of a virus newsletter and several virus books on the market. Presents a recommendation for Clear for C ($199), a utility that creates flowcharts from undocumented source code, from Clear Software, Brookline, MA (617). Descriptor(s): Voice Mail; OS/2; Virus; Corporate Information; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI12-043 Author: Greenberg, Ross M Title: Compress and expand the files on your hard disk automatically -- With PCMANAGE and DCOMPRES you can make room for all those files you want on hand but don't need access to every day. Source: PC Magazine (December 12, 1989) v8 n21 p299-326 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a discussion of PCMANAGE and DCOMPRES, two utility programs which can be used to compress unused files and subsequently decompress them for use. The programs utilize the Lempel-Ziv-Walsh (LZW) algorithm to compress files by replacing repeated sequences of characters by a single code. PCMANAGE will compress any file which has not been access in a specified time, and specific file types or directories can be excluded from this automatic compression. Describes how the programs operate, presents suggestions for their use, and provides excerpts of the assembly and C source code used in the programs. Includes instructions for obtaining copies of these programs via modem, mail, or fax, and lists other programs on PC MagNet which have been upgraded to fix minor bugs or system incompatibilities. Includes five figures. Descriptor(s): Compression; Utility Program; Disk Files; Tutorial; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI03-118 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: DOS utilities save the day -- You have only to erase valuable data once to understand why everyone needs a good collection of DOS utilities. But unerase is just... Source: PC Magazine (March 27, 1990) v9 n6 p97-124 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Fifth Generation Systems; Peter Norton Computing; Central Point Software Product Name: The Mace Utilities; The Norton Utilities; PC Tools Deluxe Abstract: Introduces a special section reviewing five DOS disk utilities which function as disaster recovery programs. These programs correct common dangers to your disk from software or damaging keystrokes. Most automatically recover deleted files or lost data, include sector editors which modify any byte on your disk, and directory utilities that change a file's attributes, data, and its size. Also includes a cache, a defragmenter, and a backup program. One sidebar article describes how undeleting works and another reviews better models of large-scale utilities. Includes a features chart that compares 8 considerations of 5 utilities. Recommended products are: The Mace Utilities ($149) from Fifth Generation Systems; The Norton Utilities, Advanced Edition ($150) from Peter Norton Computing; and PC Tools Deluxe ($129) from Central Point Software. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; DOS; Hard Disk Drive; Disk Files; Vendor Guide Grade: A A A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI03-117 Author: Ross, Matthew J Title: PC FormFAX lets users create, fill, and fax forms Source: PC Magazine (March 27, 1990) v9 n6 p59 Pub. Type: Product Announcement Company Name: Commtech International Product Name: PC FormFAX Abstract: Reports that Commtech International of Atlanta, GA (800, 404) has announced PC FormFAX ($89), a memory-resident forms utility. States that it allows users to create forms up to ten screens long, inputs data into customized fields, and faxes the finished product to either fax machines or PCs with fax boards. Descriptor(s): Forms; Utility Program; Facsimile ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI03-102 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: QEMM-386 5.0: finder of lost RAM for 386 systems Source: PC Magazine (March 27, 1990) v9 n6 p35 Pub. Type: Hardware Review Company Name: Quarterdeck Office Systems; Qualitas Product Name: QEMM-386; 386-to-the-Max Abstract: Presents a favorable review of QEMM-386 v5.0 ($99.95), a 386 memory manager from Quarterdeck Office Systems of Santa Monica, CA (213). Runs on a 80386-based computer with DOS 2.0 or later. Says it makes more RAM available for TSRs and expanded memory, and installs the most efficient possible configuration elaborately and automatically. Comes with Manifest, a system analyzer utility which suggests ways to use RAM most efficiently. Recommends careful testing to prevent the advanced memory analysis function from using ROM BIOS memory addresses. Says that because access to technical support difficult, you may want to use a similar product instead, like 386-to-the-Max v5.0 from Qualitas. Contains one screen display. Descriptor(s): Memory; Utility Program; Software Review; RAM Grade: B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI01-166 Author: Mefford, Michael J Title: Add music, color, and power to your batch files with BATCHMAN Source: PC Magazine (January 30, 1990) v9 n2 p283-291 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: BATCHMAN Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a discussion of BATCHMAN, a utility program which can be used to enhance batch files by adding color, musical tones, the capability of performing a warm or cold boot, the ability to display system information, and determine available memory. A sidebar presents instructions for obtaining a copy of BATCHMAN by modem, and an address is provided for users who wish to obtain a copy by mail or fax.. Includes two tables, one illustration. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Color; Music ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: .89PI04-16 Author: Mefford, Michael J Title: Fine-tuning your mouse motion -- Microsoft and IBM mouse drivers provide only two-speed mouse action. MOUSECTL lets you tailor mouse motion for better drawing control ... Source: PC Magazine (April 25, 1989) v8 n8 p261-283 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: MOUSECTL.ASM; MOUSECTL.BAS Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a program in assembly and BASIC languages called MOUSECTL that allows you to set multiple sensitivity levels for controlling mouse actions in IBM PCs and compatibles. Includes a graph and a chart. Descriptor(s): Mouse; Programming Instruction; Utility Program; Program Listing Compatibility: IBM PC; IBM PC Compatible ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI04-126 Author: Poor, Alfred Title: Battling Babel: word processing format conversion -- Preserving your formatting commands as you move among word processors is the forte of these four format-conversion programs. Source: PC Magazine (April 25, 1989) v8 n8 p141-155 Pub. Type: Buyer and Vendor Guide Company Name: Systems Compatibility Product Name: Software Bridge Abstract: Presents a buyer's guide to four word processing format conversion programs. Includes the sidebar "A Matter of Recognition;" performance test results; and a table summarizing the formats supported for the six products. The "Editor's Choice" rating goes to Software Bridge v3.11 ($199) from Systems Compatibility of Chicago, IL (800). Includes photos, screen displays, and one graph. Descriptor(s): Word Processing; Conversions; Utility Program; Software Review Compatibility: IBM PC; IBM PC Compatible Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI02-065 Author: Stark, Craig L Title: Power user Source: PC Magazine (February 13, 1990) v9 n3 p319-320 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: POWER USER column explains how to create headings at any level in the outlining feature of Microsoft Word and how to count words in Microsoft Word when it won't give it to you. Also provides the program ALTG.WPM which allows users to examine two WordPerfect documents on one screen. Descriptor(s): Word Processing; Utility Program; Tutorial Compatibility: Microsoft Word; WordPerfect ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 90PI02-064 Author: Rubenking, Neil J Title: User-to-user Source: PC Magazine (February 13, 1990) v9 n3 p315-318 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: USER-TO-USER column explains how to simplify ERRORLEVEL tests, and provides a method for detecting viruses and repeat batch commands up to 255 times. Contains six illustrations. Descriptor(s): DOS; Utility Program; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI09-152 Author: Mefford, Michael J Title: Update your directories with a keystroke Source: PC Magazine (September 26, 1989) v8 n16 p323-347 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: DIRMATCH.ASM Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a listing of DIRMATCH.ASM, an assembly language program which can produce a side-by-side listing of source and target directories, highlighting differences between the two. Includes an explanation of how the program works and directions for using it to copy, move, and print files using the program. A sidebar describes methods which can be used to customize the program. Includes two screen displays. Descriptor(s): Directories; Disk Files; Utility Program; Program Listing; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI09-051 Author: Duncan, Ray Title: Configuring OS/2 for your system Source: PC Magazine (September 12, 1989) v8 n15 p243-270 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a tutorial on the directives available for inclusion in an OS/2 CONFIG.SYS file. Although on 10 such directives are available in DOS, version 1.1 of OS/2 supports 26 directives, and a CONFIG.SYS file can be 50 lines or more. Divides these 26 directives into five categories for discussion: shell and environment, multitasking, protection and memory management, internationalization support, and miscellaneous. Presents a listing of CONFIG.EXE, a C language program which can be used to handle the components of an OS/2 CONFIG.SYS file. Includes instruct obtaining CONFIG.EXE by modem. Includes one screen display. Descriptor(s): OS/2; Utility Program; Program Listing; Tutorial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI06-157 Author: Boling, Douglas Title: EMS.SYS expands extended memory -- Living within 640K is getting harder every day. If you've got extended memory that's only good for VDISK programs, here's how... Source: PC Magazine (June 27, 1989) v8 n12 p277-310 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents EMS40.SYS, a device driver that allows use of extended memory by making the computer think it is expanded memory. Provides listings in both assembly language and BASIC which will produce this driver. Includes a tutorial on expanded and extended memory, as well as a description of how EMS40.SYS works. The program provides all LIM EMS 4.0 functions except the DMA functions included in the Alternate Map Register Set function. A sidebar discusses extended memory management. Includes instructions on getting a copy of EMS40.SYS through PCMagNet. Includes four illustrations. Descriptor(s): Memory; Tutorial; Program Listing; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI06-099 Author: Duncan, Ray Title: Using extended memory, part 2 -- Accessing memory in protected mode requires a very different addressing system from that used by regular DOS programs. The... Source: PC Magazine (June 13, 1989) v8 n11 p353-360 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: POWER PROGRAMMING column presents a tutorial on using extended memory. Defines a global descriptor table and discusses protected-mode memory addresses. Presents two assembly language routines, GETXM and PUTXM, which allows C programs to transfer data between conventional and extended memory as well as SHOWXMEM, a C program which illustrates the use of GETXM. Includes four figures. Descriptor(s): Memory; Tutorial; Program Listing; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI06-098 Author: Petzold, Charles Title: PM functions in non-PM programs -- As a rule, Presentation Manager functions can be called only from within PM programs. As INISHOW.EXE demonstrates, however, rules... Source: PC Magazine (June 13, 1989) v8 n11 p343-350 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: ENVIRONMENTS column presents a tutorial on using Presentation Manager functions in non-Presentation Manager programs. Notes that use of these functions is limited to PM facilities which don't involve windows. Provides three files which can be used to produce a program, INISHOW.EXE, which can be used to examine the contents of an OS2.INI file. No complete listing of PM functions that can be used outside of Presentation Manager exists, so experimentation will be required to find whether a desired function will work. Includes four figures. Descriptor(s): OS/2; Tutorial; Program Listing; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI06-097 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Putting color in the OS/2 kernel -- The first OS/2 utility in this column, COLOR.EXE, lets you dress up your screen while using the text-mode applications likely to be... Source: PC Magazine (June 13, 1989) v8 n11 p329-338 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a listing of COLOR.EXE, a protected-mode utility program for OS/2 1.0 or 1.1 which allows selection of foreground and background colors on the display. Includes source code listings in both C and assembly language and a sidebar discusses the differences between the programs they produce. Also includes a listing of a BASIC program which can be run as an alternative to COLOR.EXE. Provides instructions for obtaining the program from PCMagNet. A tutorial describes how the program works. Includes one figure. Descriptor(s): OS/2; Tutorial; Program Listing; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI06-091 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: New life for old fonts -- More than any other utility, font editors let you control your own letterforms, allowing you to create new ones or modify the ones... Source: PC Magazine (June 13, 1989) v8 n11 p287-292 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: A special section on font editors, which the author defines as "the ultimate font utilities." Notes that font editors are professional tools, and should be used with professional care, lest a normal font be turned into a "grotesque absurdity." Includes reviews of four font editor programs. Includes four screen displays. Descriptor(s): Typeface; Desktop Publishing; Software Review; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI06-080 Author: Mendelson, Edward Title: Faster access, more control -- Timesaving utilities like font modifiers, installers, and downloaders specialize in automating one or more font-preparation... Source: PC Magazine (June 13, 1989) v8 n11 p273-282 Pub. Type: Feature Articles and News Abstract: A section devoted to font utilities, which can be used to install, modify, and download fonts. Describes some small utilities available on BBSs which can be used to obtain information about fonts. Includes reviews of ten font utility programs. A sidebar describes five grahics programs which can be used to manipulate fonts for special effects. Includes one illustration. Descriptor(s): Typeface; Desktop Publishing; Software Review; Utility Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI02-143 Author: Flanders, Bob Title: File transfers fast and easy -- Moving files between machines that lack a common disk format can present a formidable challenge. ZCOPY provides the answer with ... Source: PC Magazine (February 28, 1989) v8 n4 p251-282 Pub. Type: Column Product Name: ZCOPY Abstract: UTILITIES column presents ZCOPY, a utility program in that transfers files between computers which lack a common medium or when the files will not fit on a medium they share. ZCOPY differs from DOS's XCOPY in that it does not allow files to be renamed in transfer and it does not create subdirectories on the destination disk. Describes construction of a null-modem cable to allow transfer without a modem. Includes instructions for transferring ZCOPY through a null-modem cable. Presents representations of the algorithms used by ZCOPY to establish data transfer speed, block transfer protocols, and intermachine commands. Includes a listing of ZCOPY.ASM in assembly language and instructions for obtaining ZCOPY by modem. Includes six tables and a program listing. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; DOS; Program Listing; Tutorial; Data Transmission ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI05-179 Author: Prosise, Jeff Title: Printer control: the easy way -- This easier, more flexible upgrade of our popular SETUP utility lets you tell your printer exactly how to print a file--and you never... Source: PC Magazine (May 30, 1989) v8 n10 p345-370 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: SETUP2.COM Abstract: UTILITIES column presents a tutorial for printing a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet sideways on a laser printer using the SETUP2.COM utility program written in assembly language. Explains how to use the SETUP2 program, how to customize menus, how to modify the code, and gives some programming notes. Includes a sidebar that explains how to customize SETUP2.COM for Epson dot matrix and HP LaserJet printers. Contains two diagrams and a program listing. Descriptor(s): Printer Controller; Utility Program; Spreadsheet; Printer; Laser Printer; Programming Instruction Compatibility: Lotus 1-2-3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI05-050 Author: Flanders, Bob Holmes, Michael Title: Slice oversize files down to floppy size -- When your file is bigger than your floppy, SLICE and SPLICE let you split that file across a number of disks and then reassemble it ... Source: PC Magazine (May 16, 1989) v8 n9 p279-290 Pub. Type: Program Listing Product Name: SLICE.COM Abstract: UTILITIES column presents assembly language and BASIC program listings for a program called SLICE.COM, that can split files that require more than one floppy and copy onto multiple disks. Explains how to download the program, how it works, and how the commands functions. Includes Sidebar article "Slice By Modem" (p. 287), which explains how to download the program from PC MagNet. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Disk Files ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI02-070 Author: Mefford, Michael J Title: Smooth scrolling means easy reading -- Text browsers usually scroll in whole-line increments, blurring the words you're trying to read. SMOOTH.COM lets you navigate through.. Source: PC Magazine (February 14, 1989) v8 n3 p289-301 Pub. Type: Column Abstract: UTILITIES column presents assembly language and BASIC listings for SMOOTH.COM, a utility which allows smooth scrolling of a file through scrolling based on scan lines rather than text lines. Direction of scrolling is controlled through arrow keys, speed of scrolling through the plus and minus keys or through the number keys. Presents a detailed description of how the program works. A sidebar describes how to obtain a copy of SMOOTH.COM from PC MagNet. Includes one figure. Descriptor(s): Utility Program; Tutorial; Program Listing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record No.: 89PI02-017 Author: Seymour, Jim Title: Mousing around with Lotus -- A devoted fan of alternate input devices has long despaired of getting a mouse to work well with 1-2-3. Now he's found a ... Source: PC Magazine (February 14, 1989) v8 n3 p77-78 Pub. Type: Column Company Name: Marq Technologies Product Name: MarqNavigator; Felix Abstract: JIM SEYMOUR column discusses the use of mice as an alternate input device, specifically for Lotus 1-2-3. Says he tried Felix, which replaces the 1-2-3 interface with one of its own, and found it lacking because of the different feel of the program. Gives a very favorable review, however, to MarqNavigator ($149), a mouse control utility from Marq Technologies (800). It supports Logitech and Microsoft mice and using it retains the feel of 1-2-3 while making it faster and easier to use. Says that testing by coworkers resulted in unanimous enthusiasm for the product. Descriptor(s): Mouse; Utility Program Grade: A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. The 72 articles from Infotrac from 1985 to 1989 Envelopes on lasers are easy. (includes related article on customizing envelopes) (Utilities) (column) Ron Saidikowsky. PC Magazine, Dec 27, 1988 v7 n22 p233(14). Mag. Coll.: 47H1094. Bus. Coll.: .41Z4644. Elec. Coll.: A7168195. Abstract: A memory-resident utility program is listed that allows the printing of envelopes within a word processing application to a laser printer. The program captures name and address listing from the screen and prints it with an optional return address. Details of the program are listed, along with a related sidebar on customizing the program. The program may either be entered on keyboard or received through PC magazine by modem. Keyworks. (envelope-printing macro) Edward Mendelson. PC Magazine, Dec 13, 1988 v7 n21 p256(3). Mag. Coll.: 47E1975. Bus. Coll.: .41X3411. Elec. Coll.: A7121313. Abstract: The $99 Keyworks is a simple keyboard macro program that offers more functions than any other such program. An envelope-printing macro is given that lets the user run the macro with a letter onscreen. The user simply marks the address, copies it, then prints it on an envelope. The advanced version of the Keyworks program lets the user write a macro that automatically finds the address. The program offers flexible and effective printer support. Lotus Metro. (envelope-printing macro) Edward Mendelson. PC Magazine, Dec 13, 1988 v7 n21 p264(2). Mag. Coll.: 47E1983. Bus. Coll.: .41X3419. Elec. Coll.: A7121379. Abstract: Although the $85 Lotus Metro keyboard macro program takes a lot of RAM (125Kbytes), it offers a great deal of functionality and flexibility in return. An envelope-printing macro is given for the LaserJet printer which lets users block out an address in a letter, copy it into the Metro Clipboard, print the address with the user's return address, then restore the printer to its default mode. The program comes with an Editor accessory that provides users with even more power and maneuverability. The program is not as effective at handling a printer as another program, Alpha Software Corp's Keyworks 3.0. Log your PC's activity. (program log utility) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Dec 13, 1988 v7 n21 p317(10). Mag. Coll.: 47E2032. Bus. Coll.: .41X3468. Elec. Coll.: A7122285. Abstract: Users can automatically track the dates, times, and names of the programs that are being run with a type-in utility. The utility produces a log that can be used to keep track on online time or to document specific program use for office managers or tax purposes. The user simply places the program, LOG.COM, into the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The program is a compact, memory-resident utility that produces ASCII log files. Users can either type in the source code that is provided here, or download a ready-to-run copy directly from PC MagNet. Although the program does possess some programming complexities, LOG is a convenient and unobtrusive utility. The program is best-suited for hard disk systems. User type-in listings are given in BASIC and assembly language. Communications and video setup with SETMODE. (utility program) (includes related articles on obtaining SETMODE via modem and on the RS-232 language) (Productivity) Tom Kihlken. PC Magazine, July 1988 v7 n13 p351(13). Mag. Coll.: 45E2040. Bus. Coll.: .38Z4850. Elec. Coll.: A6756053. Abstract: Configuring the video mode and communications ports of a PC using the MODE command can be complex and tedious. A memory-resident utility program called SETMODE is given. The program gives users complete control over communications ports and video modes, offers all the common functions of MODE, and even gives users access to data and functions that DOS ignores. A program listing is provided and users can obtain the utility via modem using PC MagNet. The function and usage of SETMODE are explained in detail. Splitting up the keyboard combos. (Utilities) (column) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, April 26, 1988 v7 n8 p233(12). Elec. Coll.: A6296510. Abstract: STAYDOWN is an user type-in keyboard utility program in BASIC and assembly language that lets the user enter any two key combinations among Ctrl-, Alt-, and Shift-keys as separate keystrokes. The utility is handy because of IBM's awkward placement of the function keys, requiring agile typing skills to simultaneously press two of the keys at once. With STAYDOWN, any of the three keys is temporarily locked down - the break code is ignored - when pressed until the break code from a second one of the keys is introduced. The memory-resident program is entered the first time with a direct DOS command and can be either deactivated or uninstalled with switch commands at the DOS prompt. The program is particularly useful with Enhanced keyboards with function keys that are at the top of the top instead of the side. Reach out and touch your files. (Touch, utility program) (Productivity) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, April 12, 1988 v7 n7 p309(11). Mag. Coll.: 43M1432. Bus. Coll.: .36Z4700. Elec. Coll.: A6274028. Abstract: TOUCH is a user type-in program in BASIC and assembly language which lets users change DOS file date and time designations on disk directories. The program is prompted directly from a DOS prompt. A help screen showing proper entry of arguments is given. Either or both time and date attributes can be commanded at once. A related article on the relationship between TOUCH and the MAKE utility on Microsoft MASM and QuickC language compilers is offered. LAP-LINK Mac connects PCs and Apple Macintoshes at 57,600 bps. (New on the Market) Michael W. Muchmore. PC Magazine, March 29, 1988 v7 n6 p51(1). Mag. Coll.: 43J1746. Bus. Coll.: .36Y2466. Elec. Coll.: A6259688. A programmer's pop-up calculator. (Utilities) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, March 29, 1988 v7 n6 p257(15). Mag. Coll.: 43J1946. Bus. Coll.: .36Y2656. Elec. Coll.: A6258564. Abstract: CALC is a user type-in program in assembly language and BASIC which operates as a memory-resident calculation utility program. Activated with a hot key combination of ALT-S (user changeable), Calc acts as a programmer's pop-up calculator with base conversion, bit shifting, logical operators, mod functions and 32-bit number representation that also supports two-decimal fixed-place arithmetic calculations. Instructions on changing the default hot key and colors are provided with tables of possible values. WYSIfonts! displays soft fonts in Ventura Publisher and Windows. (product announcement) Michael W. Muchmore. PC Magazine, Feb 29, 1988 v7 n4 p52(1). Mag. Coll.: 43E1151. Bus. Coll.: .36T2935. Elec. Coll.: A6218920. In brief. (WonUnder expansion unit and Extra! program) (PC Update) (product announcement) Peggy Gavan. PC Magazine, Feb 29, 1988 v7 n4 p54(1). Mag. Coll.: 43E1153. Bus. Coll.: .36T2937. Elec. Coll.: A6219348. TOPS-DOS Version 2.0. (PC Update) (product announcement) Peggy Gavan. PC Magazine, Feb 16, 1988 v7 n3 p54(1). Mag. Coll.: 43A0483. Bus. Coll.: .35Y1339. Elec. Coll.: A6178202. Datacopy scanner and utility format tabular text into spreadsheets. (Model 830 Image Scanner and OCR 4mat) (New on the Market) (product announcement) PC Magazine, Jan 26, 1988 v7 n2 p53(1). Mag. Coll.: 42L0532. Bus. Coll.: .35W1521. Elec. Coll.: A6162238. A memory manager for TSRs shuttles pop-ups into and out of memory. (Delta Technology's Extra software package) (New on the Market) (product announcement) Jonathan Matzkin. PC Magazine, Jan 12, 1988 v7 n1 p53(1). Mag. Coll.: 42J0840. Bus. Coll.: .36N1514. Elec. Coll.: A6186978. Custom-design your own help screens. (in PC Lab Notes) (column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Jan 12, 1988 v7 n1 p311(10). Mag. Coll.: 42J1098. Bus. Coll.: .36N1772. Elec. Coll.: A6162292. Abstract: HELP is a user type-in utility program in BASIC and assembly language. The program lets users create memory resident pop up help screens or reference tables for use in applications or at DOS prompts. HELP must be used in conjunction with CAPTURE.COM, another type-in program listed in the Utilities section of the same issue. Together the programs let users write screen pages of information pertinent to applications and DOS functions. By pressing a hot key, ALT-H, the screens pop up where needed. Capture your own help screens. (in Utilities) (column) Tom Kihlken. PC Magazine, Jan 12, 1988 v7 n1 p325(10). Mag. Coll.: 42J1110. Bus. Coll.: .36N1784. Elec. Coll.: A6162332. Abstract: CAPTURE is a user type-in utility program that is used in conjunction with HELP, another type in program listed in the same issue. The memory resident screen saving program saves text and attribute bytes on the screen to a 4,000 byte file which can then be popped up either in an application or at the DOS prompt. KBX is even better. (utility program KBX.COM) (letter to the editor) E. Michael Perdue. PC Magazine, Dec 8, 1987 v6 n21 p21(1). Elec. Coll.: A6141300. Abstract: KBX.COM allow entering extended-ASCII line-drawing, foreign language, math, and science symbols from within a word processing program and editors that would not otherwise support them. [Author's Note: See also the wonderful CTRLALT.COM program by Barry Simon and Richard Wilson, V. 1.00, April, 1986 which pops up a 256 character ASCII table including all high bit characters (available addressed by hex or decimal) that can be selected and pasted into the current document. The program also supports multiple-line text cut and paste operations on a text mode (non graphic) screen.] The compleat copy utility. (CO.COM, user type-in DOS utility program) .Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Dec 8, 1987 v6 n21 p397(18). Elec. Coll.: A6096120. Abstract: CO.COM is a type-in program in assembly language and BASIC, which lets users COPY, MOVE, or DEL groups of files; makes efficient use of floppies; and lets users change floppies when needed when backing up files. The program retains original COPY command functions as well. Directories are shown in pages scrolled up and down with cursor arrow keys. Files can be pinpointed by pressing the first letter in their names. CO.COM also works by with mnemonic control-key combinations, such as CTRL-C for copy and CTRL-D for delete. A colorfast screen and stable cursor. Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Nov 24, 1987 v6 n20 p349(9). Mag. Coll.: 42A0522. Bus. Coll.: .34X1627. Elec. Coll.: A6124115. Getting control of your cursor. (Utilities; the first of a two-part series on the CTYPE utility program) (column) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Nov 10, 1987 v6 n19 p463(10). Elec. Coll.: A6015728. Abstract: In the first of a two-part series, the CTYPE utility that customizes the shape of the screen cursor until another program changes it is described and listed in BASIC and assembly language. The program is compatible with monochrome, EGA, or CGA video display adapters as well as the new VGA cards. CTYPE cursors can be shaped either interactively on a special viewing screen or directly from the DOS prompt by typing in CTYPE and a two-letter code corresponding to the shape desired. How to use the program, the Motorola 6845 CRT Controller on which the CGA and monochrome display adapters are designed, two flaws in EGA emulation logic, and how the video adapter is identified are described. What print screen should have been. (column) Tom Kihlken. PC Magazine, Oct 27, 1987 v6 n18 p359(13). Elec. Coll.: A6015876. Abstract: Any portion of a screen can be captured by the SNIPPER utility and sent to a printer or a diskfile or added to an applications program that will take keyboard input. The pop-up utility program will enable the programmer to mark any segment of a screen in order to copy that area to the printer, to disk, or into keyboard buffer. The memory-resident program can be downloaded via modem. Snipper is compatible with most memory-resident programs. Address listed. (LIST utility program review) (letter to the editor) Harvey Tannenbaum. PC Magazine, Oct 13, 1987 v6 n17 p21(1). Elec. Coll.: A6126136. A directory-wide file manager. (RN.COM utility program to manage subdirectories and files) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Sept 29, 1987 v6 n16 p351(17). Elec. Coll.: A5245544. Abstract: The analysis includes program listings for RN.COM, a utility program that allows users to move quickly among branches of a directory tree and manage subdirectories and files. RN allows users to rename, create, and delete directories and contents, as well as to change the attributes of all the files in the directory at once. The program complements the DR file utility presented in the Volume 6, Number 14, issue of PC Magazine. RN can only be accessed from the MS-DOS prompt and should be loaded before SideKick and other memory resident programs. The program can be uninstalled without rebooting and requires 128Kbytes of RAM on an IBM PC or compatible. The program displays an alphabetized directory tree, with the current directory highlighted on the left side of the screen and menu options to the right. A tutorial on how a disk is laid out is included. Expanding DOS at the touch of a finger. (a terminate-and-stay-resident program to improve DOS productivity) (in PC Lab Notes: Enhancing DOS) (column) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Sept 15, 1987 v6 n15 p357(12). Elec. Coll.: A5141642. Abstract: A terminate-and-stay-resident utility program, called DOSKEY.COM, is described and source coding for the utility is provided in both assembly language and BASIC. DOSKEY enhances DOS commands by providing macro commands (stacked DOS commands) for eight function keys, by buffering the last 15 DOS commands to allow arrow-scrolling through them, by enabling command line editing, by adding color to teletype interfaces on DOS, and by ensuring that CLS clears the viewing area. TSR DOSKEY requires only 4Kbytes of RAM. Adding notes to directories. (annotating directories with DIRNOTES.COM) (in Programming-Utilities) (column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Sept 15, 1987 v6 n15 p385(10). Elec. Coll.: A5141644. Abstract: The source code for a utility program that allows users to annotate their file directories is listed in assembly language, and a BASIC program listing is provided that will automatically generate the utility, called DIRNOTES.COM. DIRNOTES lists files in directories alphabetically, with file sizes and dates of most recent updates provided, while allowing annotation of each file on the right half of the screen. Expanding DOS at the touch of a finger. (keyboard utility program) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Sept 15, 1987 v6 p357(12). Mag. Coll.: 40L1150. Bus. Coll.: .33S2217. Elec. Coll.: A5177056. Popping out your pop-ups. (three programs for terminate-and-stay resident softwares) (in PC Lab Notes) (technical) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Aug 1987 v6 n14 p419(11). Elec. Coll.: A5081622. Abstract: Pop-up utilities or TSR (terminate-and-stay resident) programs cannot normally be cleared from memory without rebooting the entire system. Moreover, instructing the operating system as to where the cleared memory space is, once the TSR utility has been removed, is problematic at best. Three programs are described, including their source codes in assembly and Basic languages, that can help shuffle TSR (or pop-up) softwares in and out of memory. The programs listed and explained are: INSTALL, REMOVE, and PCMAP. THe last program is a relatively short utility program that displays memory mappings of names, addresses, and sizes of TSR utilities. Beyond number crunching. (products that add database management and word processing capabilities to Lotus 1-2-3) Tom Badgett. PC Magazine, July 21, 1987 v6 n13 p289(16). Elec. Coll.: A5158813. Abstract: The Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet package has row-column arrangements suited for creating a simple database and simple database management activities. Add-in software packages that are recommended to aid in database manipulation include Lotus Development Corp's $150 1-2-3 Report Writer and Fox & Geller's $149 QuickCode for 1-2-3. Report Writer is recommended for Lotus 1-2-3 users for added flexibility, and Quickcode is recommended as a better user interface than Lotus Development Corp's HAL. Four word processing products examined include: Turner Hall Publishing's $99.95 4-Word $79.95 and Note-It; Funk Software Inc's $99 InWord; and Personic Corp's $79.95 SmartNotes. Mouse software: see how they run. (mouse add-on utilities) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, July 21, 1987 v6 n13 p411(10). Elec. Coll.: A5158842. Abstract: Mice users can enhance their devices' capabilities with mouse add-on utilities. Microsoft Mouse and its corresponding device driver is recommended for the following reasons: Microsoft Corp produces both mouse software and hardware and a variety of applications; the Mouse driver has a range of 24 functions, and the product is constantly under internal review for adaptation to the latest industry requirements. A listing and explanation of Microsoft Mouse Drive Function Calls is included; a utility program to add mouse utilities to an application is also included. Your pop-up stenographer. (PC utility program) Steve Holzner. PC Magazine, July 21, 1987 v6 p433(7). Mag. Coll.: 40A0422. Bus. Coll.: .32P3309. Elec. Coll.: A5012296. TurboPower Software: T-DebugPLUS. (Turbo Pascal utility program) Stephen Randy Davis. PC Magazine, June 23, 1987 v6 n12 p238(2). Elec. Coll.: A5158756. Abstract: T-DebugPLUS from TurboPower Software is a debugging utility program retailing for $60 and requiring 256Kbytes of RAM on a microcomputer operating DOS 2.0 or later with two disk drives. T-DebugPLUS supports Turbo Pascal 3.00b, 3.01a, BCD, or 8087. The third-party debugging software is praised for its flexibility, command-driven interface facility, usefulness, variety of functions, user-friendliness (which eliminates the need for a manual, although one is provided), easy assembler debugging routines, and easy symbolic debugging routines. T-DebugPLUS is described as 'difficult to praise...too highly.' Clean out clones the easy way. (unneeded duplicate files) (column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, June 9, 1987 v6 n11 p377(8). Elec. Coll.: A5090862. Abstract: The REPEATS utility program is a useful tool for the hard disk user. The utility program has the ability to identify duplicate files that are unnecessary and all of the same-named versions that inundate hard disk directories. The utility program's assembly code is examined. A BASIC program is included that creates the REPEATS.COM program. Drawing made easy. (The BASIC DRAW utility complementing the PLAY utility presented earlier) (column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, May 12, 1987 v6 n9 p343(15). Elec. Coll.: A4832671. Abstract: The DRAW utility program can be used with the PLAY utility presented in an earlier column for creating artwork. The two utility programs have similar BASIC command structures and are designed for the BASIC programming environment. The utilities require an EGA or CGA card; complete instructions on how to use the utilities are presented. Also presented are BSAVE and BLOAD, two utilities for creating pictures that are generated full-blown on-screen rather than having DRAW paint the screen. A DOS music generator. (utility program) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, April 28, 1987 v6 n8 p297(9). Elec. Coll.: A4975203. Abstract: PLAY.COM is a DOS utility that emulates the BASIC command set of the same name, but allows more versatile music composition than the BASIC version. Several options are available from the program after the PLAY.DAT file in the current directory has been created by the user. Among them are automatic operation, giving PLAY arguments directly from the command line as a string, and giving PLAY a data file with the commands. Data files for the Scott Joplin rag 'The Entertainer', the 'Dragnet' theme, and 'Greensleeves' are provided as examples. The design and operation of PLAY.COM and how it can be used to create music in the chromatic scale are described. Expanding the DOS environment. (column) Richard Hale Shaw. PC Magazine, April 14, 1987 v6 n7 p295(10). Abstract: The DOS environment can be expanded despite limits on program interaction. When a secondary command processor is used to run a batch file, allowing batch file nesting, alterations can be made only for a copy of the environment, and they become lost once the batch program is over. Memory-resident and non-memory-resident programs are different from batch files in that they receive only a copy of the environment, either from the program that they were loaded from or from DOS. With the DOS SETENV utility program from Microsoft the user can patch COMMAND.COM to reserve an environment between 160 and 992 bytes. Instant access to directories. (column) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, April 14, 1987 v6 n7 p313(15). Elec. Coll.: A4756923. Abstract: XDIR.COM is a memory-resident utility program that uses DOS interrupt 27th to connect itself to the operating system. The program gives the user access to virtually a window at almost any time in order to examine the contents of any disk directories or subdirectories, even from within the applications program. The memory-resident utility will defend against violating DOS non-reentrancy characteristics; however, the utility that assumes disk access must be careful not to intercede with the program that is being interrupted. XDIR will produce custom interrupt 28th calls, allowing SideKick or any other program to pop up at any time. The internal routines of DOS are functional coding tools for DOS programmers. Preventing copy disasters. (column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, March 31, 1987 v6 n6 p295(10). Elec. Coll.: A4739058. Abstract: The utility program COPYSAFE will warn users when they are about to write over an existing file with the same name, a capability now missing from DOS. The memory-resident program is used to monitor the DOS prompt looking ahead to warn when an existing file is about to be overwritten. COPYSAFE allows the user to move ahead or backward in order to prevent an irretrievable miscue. The fastest way to receive the program is to download it from the PC Magazine Interactive Reader Service with a modem. Once COPYSAFE saves the old interrupt 21h vector, the utility program will substitute its own vector. Consequently, if an INT 21h is issued, the program is called first. When COPY has been entered by the user, COPYSAFE issues the necessary warning if it has determined the target file exists. Instant ASCII at your service. (column) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, March 10, 1987 v6 n5 p349(11). Elec. Coll.: A4749542. Abstract: The ASC.COM memory-resident utility program described and listed in assembly and BASIC can be used to generate a window listing the complete ASCII character set, including the hexadecimal and decimal equivalents of each character. The source code listing gives various working approaches to the techniques and concepts that form the foundation for programming desktop software. The extended ASCII chart is split into segments of 32 characters by ASC, with several range control techniques available to the user. ASC will not work with programs that take over the keyboard interrupt, but will work with most other programs. It provides a fast and easy way to exit a running application, find the codes needed, and return to the application without losing data. The program should be particularly appealing to programmers who would rather not use 40Kbytes of RAM for a more popular but less well-behavedutility on the market that serves the same function. A very savvy search utility. (column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Feb 24, 1987 v6 n4 p287(9). Elec. Coll.: A4689673. Abstract: The SEARCH.COM DOS utility program quickly merges string search and file search functions into one program, with case sensitivity and printer echo options. With SEARCH.COM, a higher number of parameters will result in a narrower search. The addition of the (slash)C case switch will make the string searches case sensitive. A large part of the power of assembler programming stems from the use of different subroutines that exist in the BIOS in ROM and the more advanced DOS subroutines in RAM; how SEARCH uses these subroutines in perusing documents is described. Also discussed are narrowing the search, searching across the disk, and tree-structured searches. A very savvy search utility. (computer utility program, SEARCH.COM) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Feb 24, 1987 v6 p287(9). Mag. Coll.: 38A0786. Bus. Coll.: .29U2330. Elec. Coll.: A4646600. Playing the dating game. (keyboard macros used to insert dates and time-stamps into documents) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Feb 10, 1987 v6 n3 p323(9). Elec. Coll.: A4644300. Abstract: The TIMEKEY utility program is a memory-resident command that can be used by programmers to enable the keyboard to invoke dynamic string assignments. The present time or date can be included with documents at the cursor's location. TIMEKEY is designed to borrow, but not steal, the timer interrupt from coresident programs. TIMEKEY is compatible with a large variety of software, though it may not agree with programs that intercept the keyboard interrupt and some resident utility programs. A command you can count on. (PARSE.COM) (column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Jan 27, 1987 v6 n2 p273(7). Elec. Coll.: A4655427. Abstract: PARSE.COM is a utility program that will allow the program developer to see quickly how many words, characters, and sentences are included in a document, and it will rate the readability of the document, according to the close approximation of the .FOG index. Each file character is evaluated by PARSE.COM under grammatical regulations. An example: a period must come before a space in order to differentiate it from an embedded decimal point; by setting SENTENCE-FLAG high, PARSE can do this. It is taken for granted by PARSE that any word with more than seven letters will at least be trisyllabic. PARSE.COM is listed in both assembly language and BASIC. Retrofitting a DOS system. (column) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Dec 9, 1986 v5 n21 p303(11). Elec. Coll.: A4617883. Abstract: The DISKPREP.COM utility program can be used to reformat the clusters of data, the directory of the non-system floppy disk, and its file allocation table in order to ensure that the SYS command will effectively add the system even when some of the disk files take up space that is required by the system files. DISKPREP will allow the programmer to eliminate system files and replace them with up-to-date files. There are three steps to transforming a non-system disk: the initial step begins with using DISKPREP to prepare the disk; the next step is using the SYS.COM program accompanying DOS to install the system on the disk; and the last step is copying the file COMMAND.COM from the DOS disk to the target disk. Ideal candidates for the batch file include the three procedures used in the SYStemization technique. When the prepping process is not successful, DISKPREP will halt the process and flash a status message identifying the source of the problem. Taking up residence. (Special report: RAM residency) Robin Raskin, Charles Petzold and Stephen Randy Davis. PC Magazine, Nov 25, 1986 v5 n20 p163(7). Elec. Coll.: A4586581. Abstract: The use of RAM-resident software packages that allow users to perform multitasking operations using DOS has its problems. The terminate-but-stay-resident (TSR) function call, with the printing utilities contained in DOS 1.1, do not operate interactively. Pop-up utilities in the form of desktop accessories or keyboard enhancers require a large part of the system's resources including keyboard control, large amounts of memory, timing and scheduling control, and the best positions in the memory stack. A program will hand over control to DOS, remaining in memory itself, when the TSR command is used with a computer that has only limited memory. Though the SideKick utility program from Borland International is the most popular utility program now on the market, utility programs based on fast and attractive pop-ups are available from many vendors. Eventually, RAM-resident software will be replaced by operating environments, partitioning, and multitasking. The power of suggestion. (SUGGEST.COM, a program that flashes subliminal messages on a monitor screen) (column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Nov 25, 1986 v5 n20 p317(5). Elec. Coll.: A4586613. Abstract: The resident program SUGGEST.COM can be used to flash subliminal programming communiques in the background, while work is being done. A message will flash almost instantaneously, but it is not completely invisible; you will usually see the message, or you will at least see the flash. The monitor design, not the design of the utility program, determines a messages "on" time. Researchers have used the tachistoscope to measure a truly subliminal message, showing that the duration of such a message should be about 1-1000 of a second. SUGGEST does not display subliminal messages, but does display abbreviated supraliminal messages. Beat the beeps with VISITYPE. (a utility program for data entry) Steve Holzner. PC Magazine, Oct 28, 1986 v5 n18 p313(7). Elec. Coll.: A4470962. Abstract: The 80-character VISITYPE buffer, which is visible, can be used to make corrections when the amount of keystrokes runs ahead of the disk operating system's (DOS) 15-character typehead limit. The user will use this kind of utility many times or not all. The utility program VISITYPE is memory resident and furnishes a huge 80-character buffer for users who need to type faster than the personal computer's (PCs) 15-character typehead buffer will allow. The visible typehead displayed on the screen does not upset the program or cause the program to crash because of its writing to the video buffer. Weed out excess files with XDEL. (computer program utility) Ronald Czapala. PC Magazine, Sept 30, 1986 v5 p267(8). Mag. Coll.: 35H1460. Bus. Coll.: .26R1390. Elec. Coll.: A4376505. Display screen issues. (column) Peter Norton. PC Magazine, July 1986 v5 n13 p73(3). Elec. Coll.: A4290908. Abstract: A discussion of the page-down key (PgDn) design that appeared recently in the Letters to PC Magazine column debated whether it was better to refer to the key as the down-page key (DnPG), and while that issue in itself is of no real significance, it does suggest an underlying design principle in personal computers. The relationship between the display screen and the data it displays can be seen in two ways: either the screen is static and the data moves under it, or the data is static and the screen moves above it. A particular user's preference for PgDn of DnPg will depend in large part on how the screen-data relationship is perceived, and points out the psychology of software engineering, and to a degree how humans like to imagine an objective view of the world would appear. Following this ethereal discourse, a memory-resident utility program called FlickerFree is described, which helps alleviate problems associated with snow, flicker and lack of speed in screen displays. Status symbols for your PC. John Socha. PC Magazine, July 1986 v5 n13 p305(7). Abstract: A common complaint about the old-style IBM PC keyboard is that its NumLock, CapsLock and ScrollLock toggle keys do not feature any way to know their status, whether they are active or not. The problem was corrected by IBM with the PC AT keyboard, but users of PCs are still left without a way of monitoring the status of those keys. STATLINE is a utility program written by the author that provides users with a way to find the status of the three keys by providing a line on the bottom of the display that shows three 'lights', one for each, that report the status of the keys. The program is written in assembly language and can be downloaded from the Interactive Reader Service for users with modems, otherwise it must be keyed in manually. (Complete directions for assembling and loading the program are included.) The operation of the program, how it compares with SideKick from Borland International, tips on how to avoid potential problems, and an inside look at the mechanisms involved in the program's operation are included. Programming-utilities: Make exceptions with NO.COM. Charles Petzold. PC Magazine, May 13, 1986 v5 n9 p275(8). Elec. Coll.: A4240863. Abstract: The NO.COM utility program listed is intended to allow users to specify what should not be done, such as delete all files except one, or copy an entire subdirectory except certain files, or list everything except .BAS files. The program's syntax, limitations, capabilities, and operation are described, and how to copy the program or download it directly from the magazine's Interactive Reader Service is explained. The primary exception to the use of the program is that it will not work with the PCDOS BACKUP program, but there are a number of other less serious precautions outlined as well. A future column will list a more complete program for controlling file attributes. Search and identify. (computer program utility) Peter Norton. PC Magazine, May 13, 1986 v5 p81(3). Mag. Coll.: 33J4644. Bus. Coll.: .23Z1278. Elec. Coll.: A4240895. Make exceptions with NO.COM. (file program utility for the PC) Charles Petzold. PC Magazine, May 13, 1986 v5 p275(8). Mag. Coll.: 33J4826. Bus. Coll.: .23Z1472. Elec. Coll.: A4240907. CAD Support: An Embarrassment of Riches: AutoSHAPES. Glenn Hart. PC Magazine, March 11, 1986 v5 n5 p176-178. Abstract: AutoSHAPES from Systems Unlimited of California provides almost all AutoCAD users with the ability to use that package's Shapes system to increase speed and disk storage and to simplify custom font generation and drawing. The $150 utility displays a matrix of boxes sixteen by sixteen, one box for each ASCII character set code, with shapes drawn within the boxes using a grid that is 100 by 100. A variety of symbols and other preset entities are included in the program, and definition of text fonts, a complex and time-consuming task with AutoCAD alone, is made easier. AutoSHAPES is recommended as a fast and easy shape utility program for users requiring a large number of symbols. Fix Up Commands with DOS-EDIT. Charles Petzold. PC Magazine, Feb. 11, 1986 v5 n3 p217-219. Elec. Coll.: A657124. Abstract: A utility program, DOS-EDIT, is listed to allow the Cursor up key to fix text and reenter in the disk operating system (DOS). The program resides in memory and works on the DOS command level as well as with DOS programs like EDLIN and DEBUG. It is first necessary to learn a little about the DOS editing keys, which themselves can only recall the command immediately preceding, but DOS-EDIT can be used to retrieve other commands on the screen as well. It may conflict with other RAM-resident programs, however, and may require rebooting if it does not run initially. Complete instructions on installing and running the DOS-EDIT program are included, along with the complete program listing. Custom-Made Boot Messages. Peter Norton. PC Magazine, Jan. 28, 1986 v5 n2 p271-272. Elec. Coll.: A655949. Abstract: A utility program is listed for users who try to start up a computer with an ordinary disk instead of a boot disk. The program is useful to program vendors who wish to reassure users who may be intimidated by the harsh warning generated by such a mistake, and for user groups which distribute thousands of diskettes in the public domain. The program displays a series of messages to give users information of the programmer's choice before waiting for a keystroke and rebooting the computer. Step-by-step instructions for running the program are included. Sizing Up Your Files. Art Merrill. PC Magazine, Jan. 14, 1986 v5 n1 p221-225. Elec. Coll.: A656154. Abstract: SIZE, COM is a utility program that determines the total amount of bytes necessary to copy from 1 to 255 files, assembled by file name or by type. The utility runs on any drive, directory, or subdirectory, and based from any subdirectory. A program called FREE. COM is included that is faster than waiting for DIR or CHKDSK at indicating the number of bytes allocated and the number still available. Versions of SIZE and FREE can be downloaded from PC Magazine's Interactive Reader Service by modem, or by typing the program listing in the magazine. KEY-FAKEing Keystrokes. Charles. Petzold. PC Magazine, Dec. 24, 1985 v4 n26 p215-220. Elec. Coll.: A659574. Abstract: KEY-FAKE is an utility program that provides the required keystrokes automatically to programs and increases the application of batch files. Program commands can be inserted in a batch file as a number of keystrokes using KEY-FAKE, which are interpreted as user initiated keystrokes when the batch file is loaded. KEY-FAKE differs from the DOS 2.0 facility called redirection by using the BIO Interrupt for inputing keystrokes and the control of the program is returned to the user once KEY-FAKE's keystrokes are through. KEY-FAKE can be obtained by either typing the KEY-FAKE.BAS program listing to create KEY-FAKE.COM, or download KEY-FAKE from PC Magazine's Interactive Reader Service. The limitations to KEY-FAKE are: the command parameters are limited to 127 characters, a KEY-FAKE command must be completely executed before initiating a new KEY-FAKE command or the second will write over the first command, and KEY-FAKE only supports keys supported by PC BIOS. [Note: The original KEY-FAKE could not be loaded high. For a later copy that can be, please contact the author of this document] Unearthed Treasures. P. Norton. PC Magazine, Oct. 1, 1985 v4 n20 p81. Elec. Coll.: A645663. Abstract: Microsoft Word runs slowly on some word processors, so Norton suggests a turbo board that can increase a PC's power. A Hercules graphic card and a mouse are also recommended. SetHP, an utility program for the H-P Laser jet lets users issues commands to the printer from an unsophisticated program. Software Digest reviews one type of program per month with ratings similar to Consumer Reports. The magazine's ratings are available on a disk and are presented in a formula that gives relative weights to objective facts and subjective judgements. End Big Blue's Backup Blues. J. Dickinson. PC Magazine, Aug. 20, 1985 v4 n17 p197-199. Elec. Coll.: A638603. Abstract: Backing up data and programs is unpleasant but necessary. Backup copies should be made on a regular basis. The creation of back-up copies is not very easy under PC-DOS. The DISKCOPY and COPY commands are not very fast. The included utility program, called BAC.COM, speeds up the back-up copy creation process. The program is written in BASIC for the IBM PC. Complete listings are included. Keeper of lost commands. (utility program that rekeys long commands) Steven Holzner. PC Magazine, July 23, 1985 v4 p191(5). Mag. Coll.: 28G1251. Bus. Coll.: .15P3066. Elec. Coll.: A3865550. Watching for Disk Errors. S. Holzner. PC Magazine, June 11, 1985 v4 n12 p263-264. Elec. Coll.: A620399. Abstract: Disk drives are subject to head contamination and natural wear and tear. Disk operating systems do not always indicate errors caused by this condition. A utility program for the IBM PC called DSKWATCH.COM allows the user to check for interim errors. Features of the program are described. A listing of the program in BASIC and Assembly Language is included. It's Odds and Ends Time. P. Norton. PC Magazine, April 16, 1985 v4 n8 p103-105. Elec. Coll.: A597544. Abstract: Businessland is the IBM products retailer which now seems to be quickest at getting IBM's newest products, such as the Enhanced Graphics Adapter. A routine called DiskTest has been used to test the IBM PC XT and AT for disk access and data transfer performance. The AT was clocked at sixty to eighty percent faster than the XT. Realia Incorporated has two new products of interest to the IBM PC user: Spacemaker, a routine which squeezes programs and converts the EXE format to the COM format; and COBOL, which is the first implementation of the full, standard IBM mainframe COBOL. EV Capture Plus. PC Magazine, Jan. 22, 1985 v4 n2 p281. Abstract: Visual Communications Networks' EV Capture Plus is a utility program that provides a graphics interface between popular applications and color printers or plotters. EV Capture Plus can be called on while a program is running. The package works with Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony, Chartman and WordStar. List price is $125. A sample screen display is included. IBM Utilities Give DOS a Personal Touch. T. Badgett. PC Magazine, Nov. 13, 1984 v3 n22 p39. Abstract: Utilities I, Utilities II, DOS File Transfer, File Facility, and the StarProof Bridge are IBM's Personally Developed Software packages for the IBM PC. Utilities I includes the COMPRESS utility to change disk files so that they take up less space, the EXPAND utility to change them back, and the RETRIEVE utility to allow for the creation of abbreviations for DOS commands. Utilities II includes BACKUP to copy files to disk or subdirectory, UNMARK to allow users to set a disk's archive bits, the File Locator utility to help find files in subdirectories, and the Tree Display utility to graphically display relationships of subdirectories. DOS File Tracker reads directories from multiple disks and places the information in a separate disk file. File Facility is a DOS overlay that eliminates the PATH file-handling restriction in DOS 2.0. The StarProof Bridge provides an interface between WordStar and IBM's WordProof spelling checker. The StarProof Bridge's documentation is on-disk. The program is a good buy for $14.95 for those requiring its specific capabilities. All the other packages cost $19.95. Operation Cleanup. S. Holzner. PC Magazine, July 10, 1984 v3 n13 p365-366. Abstract: Cleanup is a utility program that will selectively delete IBM PC disk files. The program is written in BASIC and uses ninety eight bytes of memory. Cleanup runs with DOS 2.0 or 2.10. The File Command Mystery. S. Manes. PC Magazine, Feb. 21, 1984 v3 n3 p305-318. Abstract: File Command is a utility program from IBM which is judged to be less than user-friendly or easy to use. A new set of commands must be learned and the program is complex and confusing. The package lists for $35 and requires 64K RAM, PC-DOS, one disk drive and an 80-column monitor. A PC in the Type Shop: Better Than Dedicated. S. Wolbarst. PC Magazine, Jan. 24, 1984 v3 n1 p214-216. Elec. Coll.: A530252. Abstract: Dwan Typography uses IBM-PCs for typesetting. The PC can run software from different computers by using a utility program so the files may be read by the PC. The PC has provided speed and flexibility far beyond the dedicated typesetting computers used previously. Word Processing: A Fast Recovery from WordStar Disaster. R. Kershaw. PC Magazine, June 1983 v2 n1 p411-412. Abstract: Using the DEBUG program of the PC-DOS operating system enables the user of a word processing program on the IBM Personal Computer to recover data that might otherwise be lost. If, for example, an attempt is made to save a document created in a word processing session and copy it to a disk file when the disk is full, the word processing program will terminate with the new document left in memory. The DEBUG utility program can be used to find the document in core and copy it back to a disk file. Sample screen displays of the information in memory are included. Programming: Defining Function Keys with PC-DOS. K.W. Wood. PC Magazine, June 1983 v2 n1 p423-424. Abstract: The PC-DOS 2.0 operating system for the IBM Personal Computer allows the definition of the function keys to be changed. A utility program that reads the new KEY definitions from a file when certain settings are required is useful in customizing the KEY definitions for each program being run. A sample program is provided to change function keys based on variable input is included. Utilities: Simplifile: Takes The Mystery Out of File Names. D.Z. Meilach. PC Magazine, March 1983 v1 n11 p382. Abstract: Simplifile by Durant Software is a utility program written for the IBM Personal Computer to aid in managing files. The package allows for the addition of a forty-two character description of each file as it is created. The expanded descriptions are displayed when the disk directory is searched, making it easier to identify files. The package lists for $100. Sample screen displays of file listings are included. III. The 75 articles from Infotrac from 1989 to the present with tag "Utility Program" Screens: a screen-saver manager. (scheduling screen savers for holidays, special events or days of the week) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, March 10, 1998 v17 n5 p259(5). Mag. Coll.: 94M1946. Bus. Coll.: .109Y4812. Elec. Coll.: A20314284. Abstract: This issue's utility, called Screens, lets a user preschedule screen savers. For example, screen savers can be scheduled for holidays or birthdays, and selected screen savers automatically pop up as screen-savers-of-the-day. Screens, which can be downloaded from PC Magazine's Web site, is a 32-bit utility program that works with Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51 or higher. Its source code was written using Borland's Delphi visual programming software. Screens is easy to install: a user simply runs its INSTALL program. Screens' files go into a subdirectory on a hard drive, and an icon appears in the PCs shell. A shortcut also appears on the user's StartUp folder so that the screen-saver-of-the-day is invoked when the system starts up. Screens can also be obtained by mail. Go Crazy with LogoMania! Design a replacement for the Windows 95 animated logo. (freeware utility program lets users replace standard Win 95 logo with a custom bitmap) (includes related articles on programming and support, obtaining program files) (Product Information)(Column) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, March 25, 1997 v16 n6 p355(5). Mag. Coll.: 89K2918. Bus. Coll.: .101Z4210. Elec. Coll.: A19168019. Abstract: LogoMania, a free program that lets Windows 95 users replace the animated start-up and shutdown Microsoft logos with their own bitmaps showing moving backgrounds or shifting colors, is presented. Win 95 uses palette animation to create the illusion of animation and does not change the actual pixels when it animates a logo bitmap. LogoMania users select or generate the animation bitmap from an existing one, build a bitmap with Windows Paint or click the Generate button to have the program create an animated background. All bitmaps must be precisely 320 by 400 pixels in size and are stretched to 640 by 480 upon display. A detailed technical description of the program's operation is presented, along with instructions for creating logos, foregrounds and backgrounds and partial source code. LogoMania can be downloaded from CompuServe or the Internet. Kick-start programs with DropKick. (Windows utility program) (PC Tech: Utilities)(includes related articles on top 10 utilities, guide to utilities, how to obtain utilities online) (Column) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, Feb 21, 1995 v14 n4 p254(5). Mag. Coll.: 77J1577. Bus. Coll.: .84W3869. Elec. Coll.: A16398385. Abstract: DropKick, a freeware utility that lets users launch programs with a single mouse click by clicking on an empty spot on the desktop to bring up a user-configurable menu of programs, is presented. Users add a program to DropKick's menu by opening the File Manager and dragging the file icon from File Manager to the DropKick window. Both the menu and DropKick itself are highly user-configurable. Users can specify which mouse button brings up the menu. Installation is simple, and there is a menu item for configuration. A detailed description of the program's operation is presented. DropKick implements drag and drop action through a few simple calls to the Windows drag and drop function; each window processes the WM_DROPFILES message to accept dropped files. A DKDLL.DLL file detects the mouse click on the desktop, monitoring events by subclassing the desktop window. DropKick uses several Windows API functions to create its menu and display it on the fly. Identifying CPUs through software. (PC Tech: Tutor) (Tutorial) (Column) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Jan 24, 1995 v14 n2 p241(3). Mag. Coll.: 80B2436. Bus. Coll.: .84N4075. Elec. Coll.: A16034969. Abstract: The WHATCPU utility program has been upgraded in order to recognize the Pentium processor, the latest in the evolutionary line of Intel processors based on the x86 architecture. Users with a modem can access this utility via the WHATCP.ZIP element of the PC MagNnet's Utilities Tips Forum. Those without modems can simply type in a DEBUG script to derive an executed message. The key differences in the evolving x86 processor architecture can be viewed in terms of data line widths, processor speed, and memory-addressing capabilities. The early 8086 model offered 16 data lines or a 16-bit data bus access. The 8088 offered only 8 data lines and an 8-bit data bus interface. The Intel 80286 increased the width of data lines to 24, which enabled the CPU to command 16MB of memory. The Intel 80386 created a 24 data line interface, in the case of the 80386SX model and a 32 data line interface in the case of the 80386DX model. The Intel 80486 produced such refinements as fast static RAM and on-chip code. The latest entry, the Pentium processor, offers a 64-bit data interface. SHRED private disk files. (program for erasing files thoroughly) (PC Tech: Utilities)(includes related articles on top 10 utilities, guide to utilities, where to obtain utilities) (Column) (Tutorial) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Jan 10, 1995 v14 n1 p250(5). Mag. Coll.: 77G1713. Bus. Coll.: .83X3923. Elec. Coll.: A15951945. Abstract: A freeware utility program called SHRED that erases sensitive files by overwriting them with zeros is presented. The normal DOS DEL command only removes a file from the directory; its contents are not actually removed from the disk until they are overwritten. SHRED, like DOS, recognizes wildcard characters and can be used with a variety of switch parameters. The S (subdirectory) switch tells it to erase files in subdirectories below the given directory as well as those in the main directory. The C switch acts as a safeguard, prompting the user for confirmation before a file is actually shredded. SHRED also will not destroy hidden or read-only files unless they are made visible with the ATTRIB command. The program prevents undeletion by software methods but is not completely secure because hardware devices can recover 'ghosts' of shredded files. Government requirements call for erased files to be overwritten seven times using a program such as WipeInfo in Norton Utilities. Utility software. (Stac Electronics' Stacker 4.0 compression utility, Helix Software's Cloaking Developer's Toolkit and Traveling Software's LapLink for Windows file transfer package) (The 11th Annual Awards for Technical Excellence) Michael J. Miller. PC Magazine, Dec 20, 1994 v13 n22 p136(1). Mag. Coll.: 76K1943. Bus. Coll.: .83Q3244. Elec. Coll.: A16294101. Abstract: Stac Electronics' Stacker 4.0 disk-compression program earns a PC Magazine Award for Technical Excellence as the best utility program of 1994. The product improves on previous disk-compression technology by using a technique called sector packing, freeing space on the last sector in a cluster, which is almost always partially unused. Stacker eliminates the waste of disk space caused by using entire sectors to store small files. Runner-up awards go to Helix Software's Cloaking technology in the Cloaking Developer's Toolkit, which allows executable code for TSRs and device drivers to be loaded into extended memory, and Traveling Software's LapLink for Windows file-transfer package, the first true Windows-hosted version of an already mature product that offers the powerful SpeedSync technology for identifying and transferring only the changes made to a file since the last time it was transferred. PasteBoard: a step beyond the Clipboard. (includes related articles on top 10 utilities, description of PasteBoard, how to get files online) (PC Tech: Utilities) (Column) Robert Lausevic. PC Magazine, Oct 25, 1994 v13 n18 p308(5). Mag. Coll.: 76A2901. Bus. Coll.: .81Y3745. Elec. Coll.: A16279076. Abstract: PasteBoard, a simple utility program that modifies and enhances the Windows clipboard, is presented. Windows Clipboard empties its contents every time anything is cut or copied to it, forcing users to cut and paste only contiguous portions of text at a time. PasteBoard keeps a 'pasteboard' in addition to the Clipboard that concatenates each block of text copied to the Clipboard onto the text already there. It works with pure ASCII files instead of the Clipboard's .CLP files; it cannot store bitmaps or other binary data, but adds editing capability. Users launch PasteBoard first and then use the word processor text editor in a normal manner, switching to PasteBoard when ready to paste collected text. The program is written in Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0 and works by appending new text stored in the Clipboard to the pasteboard; the Timer control lets users periodically check what has been stored. A detailed technical description of the program's operation is included. WinPointer highlights your presentations. (includes related articles on top 10 utilities, guide to monthly utility, where to obtain utility) (PC Tech: Utilities) (Column) Jonathan Zuck. PC Magazine, Oct 11, 1994 v13 n17 p351(6). Mag. Coll.: 75M2348. Bus. Coll.: .81X3010. Elec. Coll.: A16252550. Abstract: WinPointer, a utility program that lets users draw on top of any window by pressing a hotkey, is presented. The program is especially useful for those giving presentations and is far less expensive than the $2,000 'Telestrator' used by professional sportscasters to indicate plays. It is minimized and ready for drawing when first launched; pressing Ctrl-C causes the cursor to change to a large arrow pointing straight up that indicates draw mode. Users can then draw as they would in any drawing package. WinPointer includes a keyboard interface for laptop users as well. Configuring it is a simple process that involves double-clicking on the minimized icon; a dialog box lets the user select what key to use as a hotkey. The hotkey works exactly as it does in Windows Macro Recorder. The program first saves the desktop as a bitmap with the Visual Basic SavePicture command and then places the bitmap on a VB form which can be drawn on top of with VB drawing tools. Sample source code is included, along with a detailed description of the program's operation. WinPointer is available from online services. Turn wallpaper into AllPaper. (AllPaper freeware utility program stretches .BMP images to fill screen) (PC Tech: Utilities)(includes related articles on top 10 utilities, BMP file format, guide to utilities, how to obtain utility online) (Column) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Sept 13, 1994 v13 n15 p350(8). Mag. Coll.: 75E2777. Bus. Coll.: .81N3212. Elec. Coll.: A16190492. Abstract: AllPaper is a freeware utility that lets users obtain wallpaper files in any size from bulletin boards and resize them to fit the screen. The program can modify an image's resolution and dimensions to fit any display setup. Windows wallpaper files are stored as native .BMP files. Users can create custom wallpaper using Paintbrush or any paint program that supports the .BMP format. AllPaper reads a file and creates a new file with the dimensions and resolution the user specifies; the original .BMP file is not altered unless the user requests it. A detailed description of how the program operates is presented. Windows offers its own function for block transferring pixels from one location to another, but AllPaper is somewhat more complex because it must avoid creating bitmap objects and deal directly with device-independent bitmaps. Copy disks fast with QUIKCOPY. (utility program for replacing MS-DOS' 6.2's DISKCOPY command) (PC Tech: Utilities) (Column) (includes related articles on top ten utilities, overview of QUIKCOPY program and instructions on obtaining free utilities) (Tutorial) Michael Holmes and Bob Flanders. PC Magazine, August 1994 v13 n14 p411(5). Mag. Coll.: 75C2718. Bus. Coll.: .83W4581. Elec. Coll.: A15579215. Abstract: MS-DOS users can replace the DOS DISKCOPY command found in versions 6.2 and higher of the operating system with a useful programming utility called QUIKCOPY. The QUIKCOPY utility allows users to copy an entire disk in one pass as does DISKCOPY. QUIKCOPY, however, uses extended or expanded memory for storage instead of a RAM disk. The utility also provides a method for determining whether or not a disk is DOS formatted, and offers a means for calculating physical disk addresses for low-level disk I/O. In addition, QUIKCOPY outperforms DISKCOPY in its reporting abilities. The QUIKCOPY program will display a bar graph of progress as it copies the disk. The utility will also list the source disk label and capacity, the amount of memory required, the type of copy algorithm utilized and other valuable data. Instructions for creating the QUIKCOPY utility are also provided. What's on top? Windows' Z-Order figures it out. (method used for ordering, updating of open windows in Microsoft's Windows graphical user interface; utility program presented for assigning unchanging topmost status to given window) (PC Tech: Tutor)(Column) (Tutorial) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, March 15, 1994 v13 n5 p311(3). Mag. Coll.: 73L1736. Bus. Coll.: .78T4079. Elec. Coll.: A15066528. Abstract: The ordering of display windows in Microsoft's Windows graphical user interface (GUI) is controlled by an obscure utility known as Z-order. This function's essential task is to assign a number along an imaginary z axis to each window that is opened, and to update the ordering as the user rearranges the onscreen windows. This is how, even though overlapping windows share space along the x and y axes, the program is able to determine which ones are to be made active or inactive. This is especially important during screen redraw operations; open windows are numbered from 1 to n, where n is the total number displayed. When the screen is redrawn, the higher-numbered windows appear closer to the front of the screen. Windows' jargon defines windows as being topmost or nontopmost, depending on their numbering. A utility program is presented that will keep a certain window in topmost status even when inactive. This may prove useful for keeping utility programs such as calculators accessible at all times. The Windows NT path functions. (PC Tech: Environments)(Column) (Tutorial) Charles Petzold. PC Magazine, March 15, 1994 v13 n5 p322(5). Mag. Coll.: 73L1747. Bus. Coll.: .78T4090. Elec. Coll.: A15066776. Abstract: Microsoft's Windows NT operating system uses the Graphics Device Interface (GDI) subsystem to assist in creating graphics paths for facilities not otherwise available. These paths provide the information necessary to perform such functions as joining lines and curves with a predefined style, as well as for filling areas with patterns or colors. Nine such functions, used specifically for creating and rendering paths, are included in Windows NT. These are used between the BeginPath and EndPath calls to create path definitions. A utility/demonstration program, PATHOPS.C, is presented as a method to demonstrate how paths are filled, along with general directions for using the path functions. Fire up Windows programs fast with HK.EXE. (includes related articles on 'Take Command of Windows' contest and downloading utilities) (Utilities) (Column) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, Oct 12, 1993 v12 n17 p365(7). Mag. Coll.: 71H3072. Bus. Coll.: .73W1992. Elec. Coll.: A14397578. Abstract: HK.EXE is a free utility program that expands Microsoft Windows' ability to define hot keys that launch applications. In Windows 3.1's Program Manager, Microsoft provided a hot-key capability. However, hot keys cannot be used to launch programs that have not yet been started and the variety of hot-key combinations allowed is severely limited. HK.EXE addresses both these problems. It allows almost any shift combination to be used as a hot key, with the exception of combinations involving the tab key and those such as Alt-Esc that are used by Windows. Users should be careful not to assign as hot keys any key strokes they must use in applications software. HK.EXE will take precedence in these cases and may prevent users from accessing certain commands. Launch your applications the easy way with BTNGO. (ButtonGo utility for Microsoft Windows) (includes related articles on the Take Command of Windows Contest and utilities available on the PC MagNet on-line service) (Utilities) (Column) John Deurbrouck. PC Magazine, Sept 14, 1993 v12 n15 p347(5). Bus. Coll.: 74W4669. Elec. Coll.: .A14185225. Abstract: The ButtonGo (BTNGO) program management utility for easy program launching in Microsoft Windows is presented. The utility enables users to set up a button bar to show the icons of programs they use most. Users can choose Program Manager group files to turn into button bars automatically. Some icons may be duplicates, but users can view the original file names as well as the icons. In addition to turning existing Program Manager groups into button bars, users can create groups. Users can even create associations between the utility and the group extension. Then users can easily start BTNGO when they enter Windows. Users need to make sure groups do not get too large, or button bars will extend off the screen. Each group file has a section. Minor difficulties result from BTNGO's independence from Program Manager. For example, changes to a group in Program Manager may not appear in the button bar. FINDEXEC locates the program that will run. (when programs have the same name) (includes related article on the PCMagNet on-line service and quick reference guide to FINDEXEC) (Utilities) (Tutorial) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, August 1993 v12 n14 p406(8). Mag. Coll.: 69M2403. Bus. Coll.: .72X4148. Elec. Coll.: A14046063. Abstract: The FINDEXEC utility will search for files when users are trying to differentiate between applications of the same name. FINDEXEC prints out a program's location without executing the program. The utility operates in DOS, OS/2 or Windows, provided the operating system is in character mode rather than graphics mode. The utility searches all drives and directories on the system PATH to find the location of an executable file. FINDEXEC's syntax is FINDEXEC (/W) (/V /Ln) (/?) program_name. FINDEXEC searches for programs basically the same way the three operating systems do, looking in the current directory and checking the directories listed in the PATH statement. In Windows, the utility also checks the Windows and Windows system directories. After finding a Windows or OS/2 executable file, the utility locates any dynamic link libraries (DLLs) the program needs. FIND: a text-search utility for Windows 3.1. (includes related articles on PC MagNet utilities and on how to install FIND.DLL) (Utilities) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, July 1993 v12 n13 p387(6). Mag. Coll.: 69H2282. Bus. Coll.: .72Q2960. Elec. Coll.: A13968735. Abstract: The FIND file-search utility program for Windows 3.1 lets users scan a single file, a set of files, or an entire partition to find all occurrences of a specific string without resorting to the DOS box. The program searches in the background, so users can work on another task during the search, and it integrates seamlessly into the Windows File Manager, so the services it provides supplement those in File Manager. FIND adds an extra menu item to File Manager after it is installed; File Manager extensions must be implemented as a dynamic link library (DLL) with an external entry point with the name FMExtensionProc. File Manager sends an FMEVENT_LOAD message to the extension DLL when it is loaded; the extension must fill in the dwSize, szMenuName, and hMenu fields in the FMS_LOAD structure before returning from the FMEVENT_LOAD call. Transverter Pro: graphics file sharing across platforms. (TechPool Software Inc.'s Transverter Pro for Windows graphics file import utility program) (New & Improved)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement) Brad Grimes. PC Magazine, June 15, 1993 v12 n11 p66(1). Mag. Coll.: 69D2273. Bus. Coll.: .71W3531. Elec. Coll.: A13761980. OS/2 utility displays audio, image, and video files. (Commix SP Inc.'s DisplayMaster image file management utility program) (New & Improved)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement) Brad Grimes. PC Magazine, June 15, 1993 v12 n11 p66(1). Mag. Coll.: 69D2273. Bus. Coll.: .71W3531. Elec. Coll.: A13761982. Quick-boot your PC and protect your data with BOOT2C and BOOTPW. (includes related article on utilities available via modem) (Utilities) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, March 30, 1993 v12 n6 p314(5). Mag. Coll.: 68B2443. Bus. Coll.: .70S3878. Elec. Coll.: A13500414. Abstract: A utility program called BOOT2C boots microcomputers more efficiently. A utility called BOOTPW password-protects either a floppy disk or a hard disk drive. BOOT2C installs a small amount of code in the boot sector of the drive A: floppy disk. This code tells the machine to launch the machine's operating system from the hard disk. Running the BOOT2C can result in faster booting because the machine will not encounter an error and try to process it when it tries to read A: drive. BOOT2C works with computers running under DOS or OS/2. BOOTPW-protected disks will not be recognized as a valid disk by DOS or OS/2 until the user supplies the proper password. Passwords can be up to eight characters long. After the user enters the password, the system asks for it again to make certain it has been entered correctly. BOOTPW protects at the operating system level. DoubleDisk GOLD improves disk compression, access time. (Vertisoft Systems' DoubleDisk GOLD version 6.0 data compression utility program) (New & Improved)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement) Brad Grimes. PC Magazine, March 16, 1993 v12 n5 p62(2). Mag. Coll.: 68A1695. Bus. Coll.: .70Q3294. Elec. Coll.: A13414586. Installing your application is easy with PC-SETUP. (includes related articles on downloading PC Magazine utilities from PC MagNet on CompuServe, and on the PC-SETUP installation utility program) (Utilities)(Column) (Tutorial) Ethan Winer. PC Magazine, March 16, 1993 v12 n5 p334(6). Mag. Coll.: 68A1943. Bus. Coll.: .70Q3560. Elec. Coll.: A13414842. Abstract: The PC-SETUP utility program is intended to install program or data files that have been compressed with the PKZIP data-compression shareware program. PC-SETUP supports multiple disks and will use or create any needed directories and subdirectories on the hard disk; file installation can be automatic or manual, and comments can be included to help users. The procedure need not be repeated after the first installation to install a different printer driver or other optional files, and no printed user instructions are required. The program requires at least 256Kbytes of RAM and DOS 3.0 or later. Using PC-SETUP, setting up for installation, setting destination directories, selecting files for installation, installing to nested directories, programming considerations, the DOS EXEC function and determining the program name are described. Optimize your disk drive efficiency with DEFRAGR. (Utilities) (Column) Bob Flanders and Michael Holmes. PC Magazine, Feb 23, 1993 v12 n4 p335(7). Mag. Coll.: 67K2772. Bus. Coll.: .69V3702. Elec. Coll.: A13375826. Abstract: A freeware utility program called DEFRAG that optimizes hard disk performance by eliminating file fragmentation is presented. Fragmentation is almost inevitable when disks are used normally because files saved on the disk are stored in pieces that may be physically distant from each other. A defragmentation program moves file fragments closer together so that they are contiguous, reducing the amount of time the disk head must spend reading a file. DEFRAGR has a very simple syntax and is easy to use. It displays several lines of drive information when it executes, and a Status line reports progress. The program should not be run under Windows or any multitasking system, and its output should not be redirected to the drive being defragmented. DEFRAGR will not try to move hidden, system or read-only files because they are very system-dependent. All memory-resident programs except disk-caching programs must be disabled or unloaded before using DEFRAGR. Write caching should be disabled to avoid damage to files. A detailed technical description of DEFRAGR is presented. Command Center Windows utility arrives on the launch pad. (Artist Graphics' utility program) (New & Improved)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement) Emerson Andrew Torgan. PC Magazine, Jan 26, 1993 v12 n2 p64(1). Mag. Coll.: 67F2647. Bus. Coll.: .69Q3776. Elec. Coll.: A13315975. Bring variety to your Windows desktop with CHANGER. (utility for altering Microsoft Windows 3.1's desktop each time it runs)(includes related article on accessing utilities via PC MagNet) (Utilities) (Column) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, Jan 26, 1993 v12 n2 p327(6). Mag. Coll.: 67F2876. Bus. Coll.: .69Q4009. Elec. Coll.: A13317367. Abstract: Microsoft Windows 3.1 desktops can be altered each time the program is run with the CHANGER utility program. CHANGER allows users to select wallpapers, color schemes, desktop patterns and screen savers available in Windows, and options can be limited to certain favorites or to a preset sequence of selections. The program runs automatically after being installed and configured. The utility, which is available on PC MagNet, is used to describe how Windows handles wallpaper and the other desktop options. Extensive details are included. Mailing lists are a snap to print with MLPRINT. (Utilities)(includes related articles on obtaining utilities by modem, command reference card, updates to earlier utilities) (Column) Jay Munro. PC Magazine, Dec 8, 1992 v11 n21 p405(8). Mag. Coll.: 66M2830. Bus. Coll.: .68V4282. Elec. Coll.: A12912964. Abstract: MLPRINT.COM, a free utility program for printing mailing lists on HP LaserJet and compatible printers, is described in detail. The program implements not only LaserJet label and envelope standards but also Postnet bar codes and the US Postal Service (USPS)-approved address format. It has HP-compatible printer escape codes built in. The user should first select names and arrange them into the proper sequence using a database program; MLPRINT is for formatting and printing only. MLPRINT uses the standard Courier monospaced font. The ZIP code must be the last item in the address block in order for MLPRINT to build a bar code. The program follows the same rules as post-office scanners when interpreting the delivery address. Instructions for using the program are given, and a detailed technical description of how it works is presented. CDPLAYER make your CD-ROM drive sing. (utility program to play audio compact discs in CD-ROM drives) (includes related articles on utility program updates and retrieving utilities from PC MagNet) (Utilities) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Nov 24, 1992 v11 n20 p433(8). Mag. Coll.: 66K2838. Bus. Coll.: .68Q3959. Elec. Coll.: A12768046. Abstract: Standard CD-ROM drives can be used to play audio compact discs. Microsoft Windows 3.1's Media Control Interface can be used to write a program to perform this task. CDPLAYER requires the MSCDEX CD-ROM extensions and the Windows CD Audio driver. The program displays buttons that simulate the control buttons on an audio CD player and includes many features common to CD players. Extensive details about the design of the program and its interaction with the Windows environment are included. TIME!: a threefold digital timer for Windows. (Microsoft Windows)(includes related articles on PC Magazine utilities updates, using the DigitClass Control and some utility programs available via modem)(Utilities) (Tutorial) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, Nov 10, 1992 v11 n19 p361(6). Mag. Coll.: 66J2890. Bus. Coll.: .68N4467. Elec. Coll.: A12774739. Abstract: TIME!.EXE, a utility program that can be downloaded from Library 2 of the Utilities/Tips Forum on PC MagNet archived as TIME!.ZIP, is a triple digital timer that enables users to make customized controls in the Microsoft Windows environment. TIME! works very much like a cooking timer; it consists of three independent timers and each has the ability to be set, started and stopped. Because all the timers use the same display, only one timer's setting can appear at one time. All three timers can, nevertheless, be used simultaneously. Before users decide to use TIME! to implement a custom control, they should first ask themselves if it is necessary. Microsoft Windows' standard interface is extremely pliable and consists of a variety of controls for gathering user input and presenting outcomes. Keep your PC's clock right to the second with WTIME. (free utility)(includes related article on retrieving utilities via modem) (Utilities) John Deurbrouck. PC Magazine, Oct 27, 1992 v11 n18 p361(6). Mag. Coll.: 66E2548. Bus. Coll.: .67X4495. Elec. Coll.: A12741291. Abstract: WTIME.EXE is a free utility program available over online information services. The utility corrects IBM PC and compatible microcomputers' clocks so that the time displayed is accurate to within a second. WTIME.EXE runs under Microsoft Windows 3.x, or within OS/2's Windows implementation. The utility calls the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) via the microcomputer's modem every time Windows is launched. NIST maintains the Automatic Computer Time Service (ACTS). Users simply download WTIME.EXE from PC MagNet in addition to accessing the C source code from PC MagNet. A compiler such as Microsoft Quick C for Windows 1.0 is needed to recompile the source code. The bugs you'll want to keep in your Windows 3.1 setup. (the BUGS screen-saver utility)(includes related articles on downloading PC Magazine utilities by modem and on the most recent utility updates) (Programming: Utilities)(Column) (Tutorial) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, Oct 13, 1992 v11 n17 p371(7). Mag. Coll.: 66B2804. Bus. Coll.: .67V4257. Elec. Coll.: A12658511. Abstract: The screen-saver utility program called BUGS is listed; it creates little 'bugs' on the screen whenever the monitor is left idle for more than a few minutes and restores the original screen with any keystroke or mouse movement. It takes awhile for BUGS to blank the entire screen, so users who need an immediate screen blanker will need to use a different screen saver; the program only works with Microsoft Windows version 3.1. BUGS.SCR can be downloaded from Library 2 (PCMag Utils) of the Utilities/Tips Forum on PC MagNet; BUGS.ZIP offers the C source code and the required include and resource files. Users without modems can get the executable and source code directly from PC Magazine by sending a postcard to the magazine. Installation instructions and the program's configuration options are described; also described is the static library, SCRNSAVE.LIB, in the Windows 3.1 Software Development Kit. Keep indispensable applications handy with TOTOP. (Microsoft Windows 3.1 operating system enhancement for maximizing screen space)(includes related articles on downloading utility programs via modem, how to compile TOTOP, Microsoft Windows' Z-order function for determining the height of a window and a directory of utility program upgrades) (Utilities) (Tutorial) John Deurbrouck. PC Magazine, Sept 29, 1992 v11 n16 p363(6). Mag. Coll.: 65M2226. Bus. Coll.: .67Q3669. Elec. Coll.: A12563814. Abstract: TOTOP is a operating system enhancement that helps users of Microsoft Windows 3.1 graphical user interface (GUI) fully utilize the GUI's windowing capabilities. TOTOP is a freeware program available from PC Magazine. Users often view the Windows applications they are working on in full-screen at the expense of seeing other windows or icons. TOTOP allows an application or icon not in use to be floated above an active application without deactivating the active application. A pull-down menu reveals TOTOP's functions. The TOP function floats an application, while the BOTTOM function returns an application to its original location. TOTOP will generate error beeps if a floating window is covering an area where an active application must call up a dialog box. To avoid this conflict, the floating window can be sunk or minimized so the dialog box is no longer covered. TOTOP is easy to use and because it uses only 9Kbytes, it does not affect system performance. Synergy offers a new approach to Windows utilities. (SynApps Software Inc. announces Synergy utility program; Microsoft Corp.'s Windows graphical user interface)(Brief Article) (New & Improved) (Product Announcement) Emerson Andrew Torgan. PC Magazine, July 1992 v11 n13 p59(1). Mag. Coll.: 65C2352. Bus. Coll.: .66N4329. Elec. Coll.: A12358113. Take control of your Windows installations with INCTRL. (includes related articles on obtaining utilities by modem, updates to existing utilities)(Utilities) (Tutorial) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, July 1992 v11 n13 p443(9). Mag. Coll.: 65C2714. Bus. Coll.: .66N4687. Elec. Coll.: A12348173. Abstract: INCTRL is a utility program that supervises a Windows application's install utility and writes a report file specifying added files and directories, changed files, deleted files and directories, new sections and keys in configuration files and changed keys. Users can use the report to undo any unwanted changes made by the install program. INCTRL is loaded from the Program Manager and requires protected mode to operate. It first memorizes the file layout of all hard disks and makes copies of the WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI files. After the installation, the program writes a header for its output report, scans disks again and checks them against the previous disk contents. INCTRL scans all fixed disks on a system by default; users can configure it to exclude partitions that are never used for Windows applications. A detailed technical description of the program's design and operation is presented. Direct Access now available for Windows. (Fifth Generation Systems introduces Direct Access Windows utility program)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement) Emerson Andrew Torgan. PC Magazine, June 16, 1992 v11 n11 p59(2). Mag. Coll.: 64J2480. Bus. Coll.: .65U3008. Elec. Coll.: A12160340. Swans! Mirrors! More fish! (Berkeley Systems Inc.'s After Dark for Windows 2.0 utility program)(Microsoft Corp.'s Windows graphical user interface) (New & Improved)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement) Emerson Andrew Torgan. PC Magazine, May 26, 1992 v11 n10 p64(2). Mag. Coll.: 64G2677. Bus. Coll.: .65Q3635. Elec. Coll.: A12213937. Utilities: you can end the download delay with BACKDOWN.EXE. (includes related article on how to create and use scripts, program messages)(Programming) (Tutorial) Bob Flanders and Michael Holmes. PC Magazine, May 12, 1992 v11 n9 p380(8). Mag. Coll.: 64D2805. Bus. Coll.: .65P3658. Elec. Coll.: A12162057. Abstract: BACKDOWN.EXE, a utility program that lets users start and manage communications sessions and file downloads in the background while continuing to work in a foreground application, is discussed. BACKDOWN and its related protocol files are available through the PC MagNet online service. Bringing up the program entails some complex syntax, but it is very flexible and allows the creation of elaborate scripts. A technical description of the program's operation is presented, along with detailed instructions for its use. WINPTR lets your find your Windows cursor on a laptop. (includes related article on how to download file) ( Utilities)(column) (Tutorial) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, March 17, 1992 v11 n5 p417(5). Mag. Coll.: 63F2822. Bus. Coll.: .63W4792. Elec. Coll.: A11932843. Abstract: WINPTR, a utility program that helps users locate the Microsoft Windows cursor on the liquid crystal displays (LCDs) of laptop computers, is presented. Today's laptops have more than enough power to run Windows, but the cursor tends to disappear because the screens do not have the speed and contrast to handle the details of a graphical interface. WINPTR highlights the pointer so that it stands out clearly on a washed-out LCD screen. It is also useful for presentations on large-screen projectors. A detailed technical description of WINPTR's design is presented. The program has one optional command-line argument; the /i switch automatically minimizes it at startup. WINPTR uses a modeless dialog box as its primary window and divides its functions into an executable file and a dynamic link library (DLL) file. Special functions control window creation and changes in scroll bars; the DLL handles the actual highlighting of the pointer. Looks like a form, feels like e-mail. (electronic mail systems)(work group software) (Trends) Rick Ayre. PC Magazine, Feb 25, 1992 v11 n4 p29(2). Mag. Coll.: 63E2598. Bus. Coll.: .63T4313. Elec. Coll.: A11771628. Abstract: Office automation software, groupware and workflow software packages feature applications that look like forms but have data base access and electronic mail capabilities. Lotus Development Corp's Lotus Notes office automation software is the most established of a variety of products gaining popularity. Beyond Technologies' BeyondMail electronic mail system, Reach Software Corp's WorkMan office automation software and JetForm Corp's JetForm forms generation software are providing competition for Lotus Notes. Each product utilizes electronic mail capabilities to disperse data, and they all connect with data bases for access and storage of information. The WorkMan and Lotus Notes products are considered program development environments, and BeyondMail is targeted for individual users. The JetForm product is more of an electronic mail-enabled software package than a program development utility. PCREMOT2 transfers files from your office to your home. (includes related article on using the utility program) (Utilities)(column) (Tutorial) Terry Lahman and Kevin Sims. PC Magazine, Jan 28, 1992 v11 n2 p309(6). Mag. Coll.: 63A2736. Bus. Coll.: .63N5714. Elec. Coll.: A11713440. Abstract: PCREMOT2, a communications utility that allows users to display the screen contents of a host computer on a remote computer and transfer files between the host and remote computers, is described. PCREMOT2 replaces PCREMOTE, which lacks file transfer capabilities. The new utility uses a separate program called ZCOPY to perform the actual file transfer. The utility is limited to running text-based software in 25-row by 80-column mode, although any type of files can be transferred in the background. Extensive details regarding the design and function of the utility are included. If you bill clients by the hour, TRACKR can simplify your life. (Utilities) (includes related article on downloading utilities from PC MagNet) (Column) Scott Chaney. PC Magazine, Jan 14, 1992 v11 n1 p387(3). Mag. Coll.: 62L2786. Bus. Coll.: .62Z4334. Elec. Coll.: A11660084. Abstract: The TRACKR utility software available from PC MagNet is a great program for keeping track of how much time a user spends on an on-line service for a client, or how a user's time on the computer is divided between business and recreation. TRACKR is a 7Kbyte memory-resident utility that lets the user create or switch tasks at any time, temporarily stopping the clock; switch applications while the clock is running; combine several separately timed tasks for the same client into one billing report; and update a task log easily and quickly. Partial-hour calculations can be performed in increments of one minute. To use the program, a CLIENT.DAT file must be created to hold billing information for each client. Any ASCII editor can be used to create the file. Sample entries and file organization tips are included. DOS menu system adds software-based security. (MenuWorks Advanced and MenuWorks Total Security from PC Dynamics Inc.) (brief article) (Product Announcement) Nate Zelnick. PC Magazine, Dec 31, 1991 v10 n22 p66(1). Mag. Coll.: 62J2591. Bus. Coll.: .62U4283. Elec. Coll.: A11609076. Major upgrade for Pandora. (script language utility) (PC MagNet News) PC Magazine, Dec 31, 1991 v10 n22 p370(1). Mag. Coll.: 62J2873. Bus. Coll.: .62U4561. Elec. Coll.: A11638980. Building better PCs: you tell us how. (column) Jim Seymour. PC Magazine, Nov 12, 1991 v10 n19 p97(2). Mag. Coll.: 62C2590. Bus. Coll.: .61Y3709. Elec. Coll.: A11481128. Customize your PC Magazine utilities with PATCH.COM. (includes related articles on the .ZIF file template, PC Magazine utilities updates and the PATCH command) (Utilities)(column) (tutorial) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Nov 12, 1991 v10 n19 p425(8). Mag. Coll.: 62C2878. Bus. Coll.: 61Y3998. Elec. Coll.: A11471388. IntelligenceWare ships error-detection tool for dBASE and Lotus. (IntelligenceWare DBS: Database Supervisor) (New & Improved) (product announcement) Cristina Cordova and Nate Zelnick. PC Magazine, Sept 10, 1991 v10 n15 p64(1). Mag. Coll.: 61C2409. Bus. Coll.: 60W2614. Elec. Coll.: .A11116411. Two utilities magnify VGA laptop images. (General Business Machines Corp.'s LapZOOM and Microsystems Software Inc.'s MAGic provide screen magnification) (New & Improved) (product announcement) Cristina Cordova and Nate Zelnick. PC Magazine, July 1991 v10 n13 p58(1). Mag. Coll.: 60J2539. Bus. Coll.: 59T4157. Elec. Coll.: A10855256. $79 utility customizes mouse and cursors. (Fanfare Software Right On!, Magic Cursor! utility programs) (New & Improved) (product announcement) Cristina Cordova and Nate Zelnick. PC Magazine, June 25, 1991 v10 n12 p58(1). Mag. Coll.: 60F2635. Bus. Coll.: 59U3372. Elec. Coll.: .A10799302. Extend your WIN.INI extensions with WINEXT.EXE. (Utilities) (column) Fran Finnegan. PC Magazine, June 25, 1991 v10 n12 p391(4). Mag. Coll.: .60F2928. Bus. Coll.: 59U3699. Elec. Coll.: A10814904. $79 Windows utility schedules events for background operation. (Aldia Systems Inc.'s Time After Time event processing software package)(New & Improved) (product announcement) Cristina Cordova and Nate Zelnick. PC Magazine, June 11, 1991 v10 n11 p60(1). Mag. Coll.: 60D2595. Bus. Coll.: 59N3262. Elec. Coll.: A10763886. DiskDupe Pro formats and copies floppies. (Micro System Designs Inc.'s copying and formatting utility program)(New & Improved) (product announcement) Cristina Cordova and Nate Zelnick. PC Magazine, June 11, 1991 v10 n11 p60(1). Mag. Coll.: 60D2595. Bus. Coll.: 59N3262. Elec. Coll.: A10763898. Get control over your WIN.INI file with PROGSET.EXE. (Utilities) (tutorial) Robert Dickinson. PC Magazine, May 28, 1991 v10 n10 p355(5). Mag. Coll.: 60A2904. Bus. Coll.: 58W3764. Elec. Coll.: A10719557. Restore your Windows 3.0 sessions with WINSAVER.EXE. (Utilities) (column) Richard Hale Shaw. PC Magazine, May 14, 1991 v10 n9 p391(3). Mag. Coll.: .59M2892. Bus. Coll.: 58T2609. Elec. Coll.: A10648516. Dynamic Data Exchange and the clipboard in Windows. (Power Programming) (tutorial) Ray Duncan. PC Magazine, May 14, 1991 v10 n9 p405(5). Mag. Coll.: 59M2906. Bus. Coll.: 58T2623. Elec. Coll.: A10648600. Handle your expense account the easy way with JOURNAL.COM. (Utilities)(includes related articles on customization procedures and decimal addition used in JOURNAL.COM) (Column) (tutorial) Michael Mefford. PC Magazine, Feb 12, 1991 v10 n3 p337(9). Mag. Coll.: 58F2758. Bus. Coll.: 56S2332. Elec. Coll.: A9805509. Utilities: PCSPOOL lets you get back to work while you print. (column)(includes related articles on changing PCSPOOL's hotkey, interrupt 17 calls added by PCSPOOL and PC utilities updates) (tutorial) Michael Holmes and Bob Flanders. PC Magazine, Jan 15, 1991 v10 n1 p419(9). Mag. Coll.: 58B2916. Bus. Coll.: 55V3193. Elec. Coll.: .A9754625. The new generation of Windows displays. (users of Windows 3.0 need highly functional monitors) (column) Jim Seymour. PC Magazine, Dec 25, 1990 v9 n22 p87(2). Mag. Coll.: 58B2114. Bus. Coll.: 55R2420. Elec. Coll.: .A9670739. Finding your files in Windows 3.0 with WINWHERE. (file-finding utility program) (includes related article on accessing PC MagNet) (Utilities) (Column) (tutorial) Mark Adler. PC Magazine, Dec 25, 1990 v9 n22 p397(6). Mag. Coll.: 58B2396. Bus. Coll.: 55R2708. Elec. Coll.: .A9714901. The PIMs you already own. (personal information management features in utility programs) (tutorial) Donald P. Willmott. PC Magazine, Nov 27, 1990 v9 n20 p408(2). Mag. Coll.: 57G2871. Bus. Coll.: .54X3559. Elec. Coll.: A9624027. Sorting it out: PCSORT.COM outdoes DOS's SORT.EXE. (utility program that provides sort filter)(includes related articles on sort algorithms, customization) (tutorial) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Nov 27, 1990 v9 n20 p455(9). Mag. Coll.: 57G2914. Bus. Coll.: 54X3605. Elec. Coll.: A9624243. The intelligent Windows desktop: making Program Manager work for you. (tutorial) Craig Stinson. PC Magazine, Sept 11, 1990 v9 n15 p208(1). Mag. Coll.: 56F2679. Bus. Coll.: 52W4665. Elec. Coll.: A8772858. Utilities; Trim the branches of your directory trees with PRUNE.COM. (includes related articles on upgrades, customizing PRUNE and PRUNE Command) (tutorial) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, June 26, 1990 v9 n12 p361(23). Mag. Coll.: 55H2872. Bus. Coll.: 51U4537. Elec. Coll.: .A8538464. COMPUTE.COM: the command-line calculator. (calculator program)(Utilities - column) (tutorial) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, May 29, 1990 v9 n10 p363(9). Mag. Coll.: 55E2872. Bus. Coll.: .51P4908. Elec. Coll.: A8436468. Download utilities the easy way with PCACCESS. (a communications program for accessing PC MagNet)(includes related articles on adding features to PCACCESS and PC Utilities by modem)(Utilities) (column) Ethan Winer and Jay Munro. PC Magazine, April 10, 1990 v9 n7 p293(11). Mag. Coll.: .54K2540. Bus. Coll.: 50P5842. Elec. Coll.: A8265726. Track your time and appointments with SCHEDULE.COM. (includes related articles on customizing SCHEDULE and SCHEDULE command) (column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, March 27, 1990 v9 n6 p303(7). Mag. Coll.: 54B1666. Bus. Coll.: 49Y3612. Elec. Coll.: A8208872. Add music, color, and power to your batch files with Batchman. (includes related article on Batchman by modem.) (tutorial) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Jan 30, 1990 v9 n2 p283(8). Mag. Coll.: 53C2030. Bus. Coll.: 48Y5006. Elec. Coll.: A8019028. Bill Machrone. (column) Bill Machrone. PC Magazine, Jan 16, 1990 v9 n1 p67(2). Mag. Coll.: 52K2742. Bus. Coll.: 48T4881. Elec. Coll.: .A7947820. Create colorful, interactive menus for your applications. (sample utility program) Ron Q. Smith. PC Magazine, Oct 31, 1989 v8 n18 p319(9). Mag. Coll.: 51L1002. Bus. Coll.: 47Q4873. Elec. Coll.: A7714712. Converting your DOS programs into 80386 protected-mode code. (Power Programming.) (column) Ray Duncan. PC Magazine, Oct 31, 1989 v8 n18 p345(9). Mag. Coll.: 51L1026. Bus. Coll.: 47Q4897. Elec. Coll.: .A7715120. Utilities. (DIRMATCH) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Sept 26, 1989 v8 n16 p323(16). Mag. Coll.: 51F1570. Bus. Coll.: 46X5221. Elec. Coll.: .A7591104. Utilities. (type-in program for configuring OS/2) Ray Duncan. PC Magazine, Sept 12, 1989 v8 n15 p243(12). Mag. Coll.: 51A1550. Bus. Coll.: .46S4176. Elec. Coll.: A7511804. Utilities. (the use of CONVERT for translating escape sequences and setup strings in printers, modems, or EGA monitors) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, July 1989 v8 n13 p319(8). Mag. Coll.: 50E1936. Bus. Coll.: .45T4821. Elec. Coll.: A7343232. Slice oversize files down to floppy size. (Utilities ) Bob Flanders and Michael Holmes. PC Magazine, May 16, 1989 v8 n9 p279(9). Mag. Coll.: .49F2066. Bus. Coll.: 44S4640. Elec. Coll.: A7166832. Landscape mode to the rescue. (type-in utility program) Michael Holmes and Bob Flanders. PC Magazine, April 11, 1989 v8 n7 p257(11). Mag. Coll.: .49B1726. Bus. Coll.: 43Y4237. Elec. Coll.: A7104656. Mickey: $20 utility adds mouse speed control. (First Looks) (Metroplex Digital Corp.) Edward Mendelson. PC Magazine, March 14, 1989 v8 n5 p48(1). Mag. Coll.: 48J2031. Bus. Coll.: 43R3520. Elec. Coll.: .A7325993. Multitasking with a 286. Winn L. Rosch. PC Magazine, Feb 28, 1989 v8 n4 p120(2). Mag. Coll.: 48F1187. Bus. Coll.: 43N4031. Elec. Coll.: .A7284439. File transfers fast and easy. (Utilities) (Column) (includes related articles on the null modem cable, transferring ZCOPY without a diskette, speed seeking, and ZCOPY data block contents) (technical) Bob Flanders. PC Magazine, Feb 28, 1989 v8 n4 p251(21). Mag. Coll.: 48F1316. Bus. Coll.: 43N4160. Elec. Coll.: A7286143. IV. The remaining 456 articles from Infotrac from 1985 to the present with tag "Utilities" but not "Utility Program" Rescue the Files You Need; Wipe Out Those You Don't - Did you hit Delete when you meant Save? You have more options than you think.(Technology Information) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, Jan 2, 2001 p107. Elec. Coll.: A67546517. Abstract: A primer on file storage and file recovery is presented. To understand how deleted files are recovered, it is important to understand how files are stored on disk. The three file systems commonly used under Windows platforms are FAT (file allocation table), FAT32 (32-bit file allocation table) and NTfs (NT File System). Under the FAT file system, every disk is divided into fixed-size clusters. The FAT32 file system is almost the same, but clusters are smaller. NTFS is a substantially more advanced file system. Its master file table (MFT) is a full-blown database that indexes every file on the disk. Utilities.(Product Support) Neil J Rubenking. PC Magazine (UK), Jan 2001 v10 i1 p170. Elec. Coll.: A69653525. Manage Your Passwords - Keep track of passwords without compromising security.(Product Information) Neil Randall. PC Magazine, Dec 19, 2000 p101. Elec. Coll.: A67205961. Abstract: Password management utilities have proliferated with the growth of the Internet and, as Web users log on to more and more password-protected sites, have become almost indispensable tools. These tools work, for the most part, by collecting your usernames and passwords, along with associated documents and Web sites, and then protecting the whole bundle with an encrypted master password. Whenever you need a password, you start the management program (which stays in memory and is accessible from Windows' icon tray), enter the master password, and click on the username/password combination for that document or site. Home PCs: Help Yourself - In looking at ten home PCs, we found that many in this year's lines are equipped with software utilities and Web- based support tools that make them easier to set right when something goes wrong.(Buyers Guide) Bill Howard. PC Magazine, Dec 19, 2000 p177. Elec. Coll.: A67205989. Abstract: Home PCs are now being sold with more options for support, including preinstalled utilities that help buyers diagnose and solve problems. These preinstalled utilities also connect users with online support technicians who can browse the user's PC remotely and download fixes. How to Print from a PDA - With PDA-to-PC transfers and third-party IR applications, your documents are more portable than ever.(Product Information) Bruce Brown and Marge Brown. PC Magazine, Dec 5, 2000 p123. Elec. Coll.: A66683219. Abstract: There are several ways to make hardcopies of information stored on your personal digital assistant. Data can be transferred to a PC using synchronization tools. Also, utilities allow PDA files to transfer to infrared-capable printers. Utilities.(Product Support) Ignacio Alvarez. PC Magazine (UK), Dec 2000 v9 i12 p188. Elec. Coll.: A66762049. Utilities.(ScreenSeize)(Product Support) Charles Petzold. PC Magazine (UK), Oct 2000 v9 i10 p188. Elec. Coll.: A66107529. Utilities.(Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) Steven E Sipe. PC Magazine (UK), Sept 2000 v9 i9 p196. Elec. Coll.: A65539082. Utilities.(Technology Information) Neil J Rubenking. PC Magazine (UK), August 2000 v9 i8 p208. Elec. Coll.: A64974846. Utilities.(Product Support) Neil J Rubenking. PC Magazine (UK), July 2000 v9 i7 p195. Elec. Coll.: A64339745. Utilities.(Product Support) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine (UK), June 2000 v9 i6 p192. Elec. Coll.: A62925309. Forward Thinking.(Industry Trend or Event)(Column) Michael J. Miller. PC Magazine, May 9, 2000 p7. Mag. Coll.: 102E1434. Bus. Coll.: 125X2474. Elec. Coll.: A61241635. Abstract: Utility programs are no longer a luxury. Companies need a variety of utilities, ranging from e-mail filters and disk defragmenters to zip utilities, browser add-ons and antivirus programs. Amazon.com's patent for `one'click shopping' and the company's aggressive suit against Barnes & Noble could be a serious threat to electronic commerce. Amazon.com recently received another patent, one on affiliate shopping programs that provide a commission to Web sites with links for purchasing items. Priceline.com received a patent on its reverse auctions. The concept of patents for business processes is new and was introduced in 1998. Online Utility Services.(Company Business and Marketing) Jay Munro. PC Magazine, May 9, 2000 p156. Mag. Coll.: 102E1553. Bus. Coll.: 125X2623. Elec. Coll.: A61241708. Abstract: New Web-based services intended to ultimately replace packaged utility programs are reviewed. McAfee Clinic costs $29.95 per year and offers such extensive features as anti-virus scanning, a rescue-disk creator, uninstall and cleanup utilities, and a software update finder. Norton Web Services is similarly priced and includes Live Update Pro checks for updates to programs installed on the hard drive, but is dangerously buggy. The Vital Check feature is based on Norton AntiVirus and Norton Disk Doctor. Grappling with Gigabytes: Disk Utilities.(News Briefs) Greg Alwang. PC Magazine, May 9, 2000 p204. Mag. Coll.: 102E1625. Bus. Coll.: 125X2665. Elec. Coll.: A61241739. How We Tested: Disk Utilities.(News Briefs) Greg Alwang. PC Magazine, May 9, 2000 p204. Mag. Coll.: 102E1625. Bus. Coll.: 125X2671. Elec. Coll.: A61241750. Utilities.(Product Information) Mark Sweeney. PC Magazine (UK), May 2000 v9 i5 p228. Elec. Coll.: A63133277. Utilities.(Product Support) Patrick Philippot. PC Magazine (UK), April 2000 v9 i4 p201. Elec. Coll.: A63133092. Manage Web Page Printing - Tame Web page printing using your browser, Office applications, and some handy utilities.(Product Support) Bruce Brown and Marge Brown. PC Magazine, March 7, 2000 p115. Mag. Coll.: 101M2388. Bus. Coll.: 121Q2404. Elec. Coll.: A59244824. Rescue Your System: An emergency start-up disk is vital for recovering from system crashes, but it can't help if you don't have it.(Product Support) Neil Randall. PC Magazine, Feb 8, 2000 p113. Bus. Coll.: 120U1646. Elec. Coll.: A58408282. Abstract: It is important to have emergency start-up disk (ESD) created during installation of Microsoft Windows 98 OS easily accessible. If an ESD was not created at that time it is important to create it. ESD's main function is to reboot the computer if loading Windows 98 becomes impossible. The utilities and files in ESD are discussed. Utilities.(News Briefs) Mark Sweeney. PC Magazine (UK), Feb 2000 v9 i2 p196. Elec. Coll.: A63500955. Corporate Managed PCs: Centralized management utilities, product-line consistency, and easily serviced chassis separate these PCs from the pack.(Technology Information) Cade Metz. PC Magazine, Jan 18, 2000 p103. Mag. Coll.: 101B2357. Elec. Coll.: A58266419. Software: Adobe Acroba.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) PC Magazine, Jan 4, 2000 p101. Mag. Coll.: 101B2107. Bus. Coll.: 120Y2033. Elec. Coll.: A57902710. PC Magazine's Technical Excellence Awards: Utilities.(Product Information) Michael J. Miller. PC Magazine, Dec 14, 1999 p101. Mag. Coll.: 100L1675. Bus. Coll.: 120N2116. Elec. Coll.: A57761634. Abstract: Utility products receiving Technical Excellence awards are discussed. Network ICE Corp's BlackICE Defender is a powerful Web-security tool that monitors any system on a network and automatically closes down ports if it detects an intruder. It provides considerable personal control and is designed for end users rather than global use. Setup is exceptionally easy, and the product is indispensable in small and home offices with full-time Internet connections but no firewall. WildFile's GoBack 2.1 backup tool can rescue a system even when Windows refuses to boot by running beneath the OS and tracking disk activity on a time basis. The program can restore or roll back a system to any working state and restore whole disks or individual files, displaying all recoverable file versions. Brightmail wins an award for its anti-spam filtering software and service combination. Second Looks.(Product Information) Mark Child. PC Magazine (UK), Dec 1999 v8 i12 p98. Elec. Coll.: A63501391. Utilities.(Product Support) Patrick Philippot. PC Magazine (UK), Dec 1999 v8 i12 p214. Elec. Coll.: A63501437. Keep Your Disk Together.(Diskeeper for Windows NT 5.0 from Executive Software Inc)(Product Announcement) Jeremy A. Moskowitz. PC Magazine, Nov 16, 1999 p68. Bus. Coll.: 119U3695. Elec. Coll.: A56917908. File utilities.(shareware)(Buyers Guide) PC Magazine (UK), Nov 1999 v8 i11 p96. Elec. Coll.: A63501219. Internet utilities.(Buyers Guide) PC Magazine (UK), Nov 1999 v8 i11 p119. Elec. Coll.: A63501227. Linux utilities.(Product Information) CRAIG PATERSON. PC Magazine (UK), Nov 1999 v8 i11 p142. Elec. Coll.: A63501235. Utilities.(Technology Information) Ignacio Alvarez. PC Magazine (UK), Nov 1999 v8 i11 p231. Elec. Coll.: A63501290. Utilities.(Product Support) Mark Sweeney. PC Magazine (UK), Oct 1999 v8 i10 p222. Elec. Coll.: A63501130. Utilities.(Product Support) Neil J Rubenking. PC Magazine (UK), Sept 1999 v8 i9 p190. Elec. Coll.: A63536910. The Not-So-Managed PC.(network management and systems management utilities software)(Product Information) Rich Fisco. PC Magazine, June 22, 1999 p29. Elec. Coll.: A54703946. Linux 2.2 Gives NT a Run for Its Money--for Free.(Product Information) .Neil Randall. PC Magazine, June 8, 1999 p247(1). Mag. Coll.: 99C1266. Bus. Coll.: 116S2658. Elec. Coll.: A54594139. Abstract: Linux, the POSIX-compliant Unix operating system, now out in Version 2.2--a significant new update. The latest version of the free Linux OS offers a feature-rich version of Unix that runs on platforms ranging from 386s to SPARCstations, gives you superb Internet tools, including the extremely popular Apache Web server, and runs an increasing collection of applications and utilities, many of which are downloadable free from the Web. Linux makes Unix even more central to the Net, because it runs on PCs and thus could vastly increase Unix's presence. The 2.2 kernel offers a number of improvements over earlier versions. First and foremost, its cross-platform support is far more extensive. Dissecting Diagnostics Packages.(disk/file diagnostic/maintenance software)(Buyers Guide) PC Magazine, May 4, 1999 p146(1). Mag. Coll.: 98D2677. Bus. Coll.: 115V3043. Elec. Coll.: A54299444. Disk Utilities: Dice & DuPe Drives.(News Briefs) John Morris. PC Magazine, May 4, 1999 p173(1). Mag. Coll.: 98D2702. Bus. Coll.: 115V3068. Elec. Coll.: A54299463. Disk Utilities: Performance Tests. Russ Iwanchuk. PC Magazine, May 4, 1999 p174(1). Mag. Coll.: 98D2703. Bus. Coll.: 115V3069. Elec. Coll.: A54299466. Windows NT Utilities: Essential NT Utilities.(Buyers Guide)(Brief Article) Jeremy Moskowitz. PC Magazine, May 4, 1999 p179(1). Mag. Coll.: 98D2708. Bus. Coll.: 115V3074. Elec. Coll.: A54299477. Click It Automatically. (AutoAct).(Utilities)(Product Information)(Column) PC Magazine, May 4, 1999 p217(1). Mag. Coll.: 98D2748. Bus. Coll.: 115V3112. Elec. Coll.: A54299492. Utilitize Your Web Portal.(Network Associates' McAfee PC Clinic portal offers virus protection, system troubleshooting )(Company Business and Marketing) Josh Taylor. PC Magazine, March 23, 1999 p65(1). Elec. Coll.: A53947436. Abstract: Network Associates has launched the McAfee PC Clinic, a smart portal that gives users protection against viruses and troubleshoots their networks at the same time, all for $5.95 per month, $49.95 per year. McAfee PC Clinic lets users access McAfee utilities, such as VirusScan and QuickClean, directly from the Web via ActiveX controls. The McAfee PC Clinic also features PC Advisor, a troubleshooting utility, and Virus Information Library. System Utilities.(Buyers Guide) PC Magazine, Jan 19, 1999 p100(1). Mag. Coll.: .97D1537. Bus. Coll.: 113W3624. Elec. Coll.: A53482031. Hard Disk Troubles.(Technology Information)(Abstract) PC Magazine, Dec 15, 1998 p229(1). Mag. Coll.: 96L2614. Bus. Coll.: 113P4788. Elec. Coll.: .A53218106. A Powerful Four-Pack.(Norton SystemWorks 1.0 bundles four popular utilities)(Product Announcement) Barry Simon. PC Magazine, Nov 1998 v17 n19 p76(1). Elec. Coll.: A21209548. Mind Your Manners.(Internet utilities) (Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Column) Bill Machrone. PC Magazine, Oct 20, 1998 v17 n18 p85(1). Bus. Coll.: 111Z3043. Elec. Coll.: A21205942. Utilities.(HandsDown downloading tool)(Product Information)(Column) Steven E Sipe. PC Magazine (UK), Oct 1998 p210(1). Elec. Coll.: A53199574. More useful utilities for you to download.(News Briefs) PC Magazine (UK), Oct 1998 p213(1). Elec. Coll.: A53199575. Explorer Notes 2.0: Make a Note of It!(file management utility) (PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Support)(Column)(Tutorial) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, Sept 1, 1998 v17 n15 p269(4). Mag. Coll.: 95B2588. Bus. Coll.: 110X3617. Elec. Coll.: A21041818. Utilities.(using the Freedom of Association utility in Microsoft Windows) (Technology Tutorial)(Brief Article) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine (UK), Sept 1998 n9 p217(1). More useful utilities for you to download. (News Briefs) PC Magazine (UK), Sept 1998 n9 p220(1). Primed for Windows 98.(Network Associates' Nuts & Bolts 98, Symantec's Norton Utilities 3.0 and CyberMedia's Oil Change 97 and First Aid 97 disk/file utilities are updated for Windows 98)(Product Announcement) Matthew Graven. PC Magazine, August 1998 v17 n14 p36(1). Mag. Coll.: .94L2343. Bus. Coll.: 110S3052. Elec. Coll.: A20924603. Utilities: With MultiRen you can rename more than one file at a time from within Windows Explorer. We explain how it works and how it was created. (Product Information) Gregory A Wolking. PC Magazine (UK) August 1998 n8 p246(1). Elec. Coll.: A21195953. The Best of Both Worlds.(V Communications' System Commander Special Edition for Windows 98 and Syncronys's UpgradeAid 98 utilities for migrating to Windows 98 without abandoning Windows 95)(Product Announcement) Matthew Graven. PC Magazine, August 1998 v17 n14 p36(1). Mag. Coll.: .94L2343. Bus. Coll.: 110S3052. Elec. Coll.: A20924604. Using That Web Research.(Insight Development's Hot Off the Web facilitates Web research) (Product Information)(Column) Jim Seymour. PC Magazine, August 1998 v17 n14 p93(2). Mag. Coll.: 94L2412. Bus. Coll.: .110S3123. Elec. Coll.: A20924634. New utilities in Windows 98. (Product Information) PC Magazine (UK), July 1998 n7 p48(1). Elec. Coll.: A21195692. Utilities.(FontViewer freeware program)(Product Announcement) Jake Richter. PC Magazine (UK), July 1998 n7 p244(1). Elec. Coll.: A21195793. Personalize Your Start Menu with DecoMenu.(for Windows 95 and 98) (PC Tech Utilities) (Product Support)(Column)(Tutorial) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, July 1998 v17 n14 p313(5). Mag. Coll.: 94G1420. Bus. Coll.: 110P3816. Elec. Coll.: A20813320. Optimum Performance.(Sterling Strategic Solutions' SOS Pro, PoweerQuest's Guardian Angel, American Systems' TidyDisk 2.0, Symantec's Norton Mobile Essentials systems management utilities)(Product Announcement) PC Magazine, June 30, 1998 v17 n12 p36(1). Mag. Coll.: 94D2407. Bus. Coll.: 110Z4659. Elec. Coll.: A20631115. Popular Utility Fixes.(Second Looks) (Product Information) Brett Krasnove. PC Magazine, June 30, 1998 v17 n12 p79(1). Mag. Coll.: 94D2462. Bus. Coll.: 110Z4713. Elec. Coll.: A20631142. What You Need to Know About Windows 98.(guide to Microsoft operating system) (Product Support)(Tutorial) Edward Mendelson. PC Magazine, June 30, 1998 v17 n12 p100(4). Mag. Coll.: 94D2483. Bus. Coll.: .110Z4733. Elec. Coll.: A20631148. Avoid the DOS Prompt!(the MultiRen utility that adds Multiple Rename to Windows Explorer for renaming several files with a single command) (PC Tech Utilities) (Product Information) Gregory A. Wolking. PC Magazine, June 9, 1998 v17 n11 p269(4). Mag. Coll.: 94C2684. Bus. Coll.: .109Q4408. Elec. Coll.: A20636249. Utilities: Dupeless is a space-saving utility that allows you to find duplicate files on your hard disk using various criteria and group them for immediate or future deletion.(shareware) (Product Information) Neil J Rubenking. PC Magazine (UK), June 1998 n6 p229(1). Elec. Coll.: .A21271136. More useful utilities for you to download.(Directory) Mark Child. PC Magazine (UK), June 1998 n6 p232(1). Elec. Coll.: A21271137. FontViewer Shows All.(Utilities) (Product Information)(Column) Jake Richter. PC Magazine, May 26, 1998 v17 n10 p261(1). Mag. Coll.: 94L2230. Bus. Coll.: 109R3281. Elec. Coll.: A20652653. Test Your Own Monitor.(Sonera Technologies DisplayMate video utilities)(Product Announcement) PC Magazine, May 15, 1998 v17 p15(1). Elec. Coll.: .A20611809. The Power of Choice.(deregulation of electric utilities) (Industry Trend or Event) PC Magazine, May 5, 1998 v17 n9 p258(1). Bus. Coll.: 112S4593. Elec. Coll.: A20501968. One-Stop Shopping.(Mijenix's PowerDesk Utilities 98)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) Melissa J. Perenson. PC Magazine, April 21, 1998 v17 n8 p36(1). Mag. Coll.: 95A2093. Bus. Coll.: 110T3958. Elec. Coll.: .A20479862. Create and Solve Word-Ladder Puzzles; PC Ladder creates word games that challenge your vocabulary and ingenuity.(PCTech: Utilities) (Technology Tutorial)(Column)(Tutorial) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine April 21, 1998 v17 n8 p227(3). Mag. Coll.: 95A2276. Bus. Coll.: 110T4147. Elec. Coll.: A20479896. Necessity, mother of utility. (software utilities) (Technology Information)(Editorial) Michael J. Miller. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p4(1). Mag. Coll.: 96A2213. Elec. Coll.: A20404114. Utility hits and misses. (testing software utilities) (Inside PC Labs) (Technology Information) Diane Jecker. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p29(1). Mag. Coll.: 96A2238. Elec. Coll.: A20404128. The Swiss Army knife of graphics programs. (CorelDraw utilities and ancillary programs) (Product Information)(Brief Article) PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p60(2). Mag. Coll.: 96A2269. Elec. Coll.: .A20404151. The 1998 Utility Guide: for our annual roundup of desktop utilities, we tested 225 products to find the best tools to help you get the most out of your PC. (includes related "Complete 1998 Utility Guide" listing)(Buyers Guide)(Cover Story) John Morris. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p100(7). Mag. Coll.: 96A2309. Elec. Coll.: A20404165. Protect your files: the Internet is a great place to catch a virus. Don't worry, though; these 11 antivirus utilities will protect your system.(Antivirus Utilities) (The 1998 Utility Guide) (Technology Information) Will Fastie. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p109(9). Mag. Coll.: .96A2318. Elec. Coll.: A20404168. File compression. (reviews of seven disk/file compression software packages)(Miscellaneous Utilities) (The 1998 Utility Guide) Douglas Giles. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p164(1). Mag. Coll.: 96A2373. Elec. Coll.: A20404219. Monitor a child's access.(Internet Parental Filtering Utilities) (The 1998 Utility Guide) (Technology Information) Kathryn Munro. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p185(2). Mag. Coll.: 96A2394. Elec. Coll.: .A20404235. OS/2 Utilities: make the most of your OS/2 system. With these handy products, you'll work faster and smarter.(The 1998 Utility Guide)(Buyers Guide) Brian Proffit. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p221(3). Mag. Coll.: 96A2430. Elec. Coll.: A20404274. Windows NT: build even more power into Microsoft Windows NT with these productivity-enhancing solutions. (Windows NT utilities)(The 1998 Utility Guide)(Buyers Guide) Brian Proffit. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p223(2). Mag. Coll.: 96A2432. Elec. Coll.: A20404275. DOS AND Windows 3.x: whether you work in DOS or in a DOS box, these utilities can help you accomplish your goals. (utility programs)(The 1998 Utility Guide)(Buyers Guide) M. David Stone. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p224(1). Mag. Coll.: 96A2433. Elec. Coll.: .A20404276. Read on-screen documents with ease. (Scroller window scrolling utility)(PCTech Utilities) (Product Information) Gregory A. Wolking. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p259(4). Mag. Coll.: 96A2468. Elec. Coll.: .A20404291. Return to sender. (America Online's Mail Controls, Omron Advanced Systems' MailJail) (E-Mail Utilities) (Product Information)(Brief Article) Doug Beizer. PC Magazine, March 10, 1998 v17 n5 p40(1). Mag. Coll.: .94M1729. Bus. Coll.: 109Y4593. Elec. Coll.: A20314232. Whither Windows 98? (From the Editor-in-Chief) (Product Development)(Editorial) Michael J. Miller. PC Magazine, Feb 10, 1998 v17 n3 p4(1). Mag. Coll.: 92D1879. Bus. Coll.: 106Q4084. Elec. Coll.: .A20165641. System Utilities.(Buyers Guide) PC Magazine, Jan 19, 1999 p100(1). Mag. Coll.: 97D1537. Bus. Coll.: 113W3624. Elec. Coll.: A53482031. Hard Disk Troubles.(Technology Information)(Abstract) PC Magazine, Dec 15, 1998 p229(1). Mag. Coll.: 96L2614. Bus. Coll.: 113P4788. Elec. Coll.: A53218106. Abstract: Hard disk failures are one of the biggest concerns of PC users, since a disk crash can create problems in terms of lost files and missing information. To record and retrieve data, the hard disk assembly contains read/write heads. These heads are attached to mechanical arms which contain built-in intelligence which enables R/W heads to access exact data points on the disk. During a planned spin-down, the actuator guides the R/W heads to a dedicated spot called the landing zone (LZ). If the head lands in the wrong place, a so-called head crash can damage or destroy data. The best protective measure against such losses is to back-up data, programs and the operating system itself. Further, a number of disk/file utility software is available. Disk utilities such as ScanDisk isolate bad sectors, and prevent the system from writing to them. A Powerful Four-Pack.(Norton SystemWorks 1.0 bundles four popular utilities)(Product Announcement) Barry Simon. PC Magazine, Nov 1998 v17 n19 p76(1). Elec. Coll.: A21209548. Mind Your Manners.(Internet utilities) (Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Column) Bill Machrone. PC Magazine, Oct 20, 1998 v17 n18 p85(1). Bus. Coll.: 111Z3043. Elec. Coll.: .A21205942. Utilities.(HandsDown downloading tool)(Product Information)(Column) Steven E Sipe. PC Magazine (UK), Oct 1998 p210(1). Elec. Coll.: A53199574. More useful utilities for you to download.(News Briefs) PC Magazine (UK), Oct 1998 p213(1). Elec. Coll.: A53199575. Explorer Notes 2.0: Make a Note of It!(file management utility) (PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Support)(Column)(Tutorial) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, Sept 1, 1998 v17 n15 p269(4). Mag. Coll.: 95B2588. Bus. Coll.: .110X3617. Elec. Coll.: A21041818. Utilities.(using the Freedom of Association utility in Microsoft Windows) (Technology Tutorial)(Brief Article) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine (UK), Sept 1998 n9 p217(1). More useful utilities for you to download. (News Briefs) PC Magazine (UK), Sept 1998 n9 p220(1). Primed for Windows 98.(Network Associates' Nuts & Bolts 98, Symantec's Norton Utilities 3.0 and CyberMedia's Oil Change 97 and First Aid 97 disk/file utilities are updated for Windows 98)(Product Announcement) .Matthew Graven. PC Magazine, August 1998 v17 n14 p36(1). Mag. Coll.: 94L2343. Bus. Coll.: .110S3052. Elec. Coll.: A20924603. Utilities: With MultiRen you can rename more than one file at a time from within Windows Explorer. We explain how it works and how it was created. (Product Information) Gregory A Wolking. PC Magazine (UK), August 1998 n8 p246(1). Elec. Coll.: A21195953. The Best of Both Worlds.(V Communications' System Commander Special Edition for Windows 98 and Syncronys's UpgradeAid 98 utilities for migrating to Windows 98 without abandoning Windows 95)(Product Announcement) Matthew Graven. PC Magazine, August 1998 v17 n14 p36(1). Mag. Coll.: 94L2343. Bus. Coll.: .110S3052. Elec. Coll.: A20924604. Using That Web Research.(Insight Development's Hot Off the Web facilitates Web research) (Product Information)(Column) Jim Seymour. PC Magazine, August 1998 v17 n14 p93(2). Mag. Coll.: 94L2412. Bus. Coll.: .110S3123. Elec. Coll.: A20924634. New utilities in Windows 98. (Product Information) PC Magazine (UK), July 1998 n7 p48(1). Elec. Coll.: A21195692. Utilities.(FontViewer freeware program)(Product Announcement) Jake Richter. PC Magazine (UK), July 1998 n7 p244(1). Elec. Coll.: A21195793. Personalize Your Start Menu with DecoMenu.(for Windows 95 and 98) (PC Tech Utilities) (Product Support)(Column)(Tutorial) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, July 1998 v17 n14 p313(5). Mag. Coll.: 94G1420. Bus. Coll.: .110P3816. Elec. Coll.: A20813320. Abstract: The DecoMenu utility decorates the 'Start' menu in Windows 95 and Windows 98. Its Introduction page shows the active operating system and its version, as well as the values in the system registry for the icon size and number of colors. The Questions page is used to collect the information required to install or uninstall new 'Start' menu icons and to preview the changes. It asks seven yes-no questions, after which the Confirmation page shows a simulation of the 'Start' menu based on the answers. Icons cannot be loaded when the file containing an icon is missing or corrupted, or when a bitmap has been used in place of an icon. How to overcome this problem is described. A main 'Start' menu icon or a standard shell icon can be changed simply by writing the icon location to the registry. Optimum Performance.(Sterling Strategic Solutions' SOS Pro, PoweerQuest's Guardian Angel, American Systems' TidyDisk 2.0, Symantec's Norton Mobile Essentials systems management utilities)(Product Announcement) PC Magazine, June 30, 1998 v17 n12 p36(1). Mag. Coll.: 94D2407. Bus. Coll.: .110Z4659. Elec. Coll.: A20631115. Popular Utility Fixes.(Second Looks) (Product Information) Brett Krasnove. PC Magazine, June 30, 1998 v17 n12 p79(1). Mag. Coll.: 94D2462. Bus. Coll.: .110Z4713. Elec. Coll.: A20631142. What You Need to Know About Windows 98.(guide to Microsoft operating system) (Product Support)(Tutorial) Edward Mendelson. PC Magazine, June 30, 1998 v17 n12 p100(4). Mag. Coll.: 94D2483. Bus. Coll.: .110Z4733. Elec. Coll.: A20631148. Abstract: A guide to installing and using Microsoft Windows 98 is presented. Windows 98 is a consumer OS and is the last major incarnation of its product 'style' as distinct from Windows NT; Microsoft plans to merge the products into an advanced version of NT in the future. The upgrade from Windows 95 to Windows 98 lists for $108 and is expected to sell for about $90 on the street. Its Active Desktop interface closely resembles Internet Explorer, with disk views and the help system appearing in HTML and browser windows. Many users will want to let Windows 98 convert the hard disk to its FAT32 file system, which packs files into smaller clusters and can save a great deal of wasted space on large drives. FAT32 also allows larger disk partitions than FAT16, but older versions of disk utilities may be incompatible. Windows 98 supports up to nine monitors connected to a single machine, new power management features for notebooks and a new Broadcast Architecture for PC/TV integration. Avoid the DOS Prompt!(the MultiRen utility that adds Multiple Rename to Windows Explorer for renaming several files with a single command) (PC Tech Utilities) (Product Information) Gregory A. Wolking. PC Magazine, June 9, 1998 v17 n11 p269(4). Mag. Coll.: 94C2684. Bus. Coll.: .109Q4408. Elec. Coll.: A20636249. Abstract: The MultiRen utility adds the Multiple Rename feature to the Windows Explorer in Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 to allow several files to be renamed with a single command. It is used by selecting two or more files from within Explorer, right-clicking for the context menu, and selecting 'Multiple Rename.' MultiRen supports special commands for adding sequence numbers to filenames, forcing uppercase or lowercase, and other features in addition to the standard wildcard characters. The Multiple Rename command appears only when more than one object is selected, all the objects selected are physical files, the folder in which the objects reside are not special system folders, and all the files selected are in the same folder (when the files selected are from the 'Find' command's results list.) Using the \N command in the base or extension templates allows sequence numbers to be included in the new filenames. Utilities: Dupeless is a space-saving utility that allows you to find duplicate files on your hard disk using various criteria and group them for immediate or future deletion.(shareware) (Product Information) Neil J Rubenking. PC Magazine (UK), June 1998 n6 p229(1). Elec. Coll.: A21271136. More useful utilities for you to download.(Directory) Mark Child. PC Magazine (UK), June 1998 n6 p232(1). Elec. Coll.: A21271137. FontViewer Shows All.(Utilities) (Product Information)(Column) Jake Richter. PC Magazine, May 26, 1998 v17 n10 p261(1). Mag. Coll.: 94L2230. Bus. Coll.: .109R3281. Elec. Coll.: A20652653. Abstract: FontViewer, a free utility that lets users browse all fonts on the system at once, is presented. The program runs under Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 and is written with Visual C++ 4.0. It consists of three program files and displays a list of font names on the left side of its window and a sample of each on the right. The program separates fonts into bitmapped and TrueType outlines; the latter are stored as sets of rules and can be scaled to any size, while the former are optimized for a particular point size. A toolbar lets the user select which fonts and character sets to display. The Show Alphanumerics option displays only the most commonly used characters. A detailed technical description of the program's operation is included. FontViewer is a Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) application that uses the Single Document Interface (SDI). It has a special Cview-derived class to accommodate its unique display requirements. Test Your Own Monitor.(Sonera Technologies DisplayMate video utilities)(Product Announcement) PC Magazine, May 15, 1998 v17 p15(1). Elec. Coll.: A20611809. The Power of Choice.(deregulation of electric utilities) (Industry Trend or Event) PC Magazine, May 5, 1998 v17 n9 p258(1). Bus. Coll.: 112S4593. Elec. Coll.: .A20501968. One-Stop Shopping.(Mijenix's PowerDesk Utilities 98)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) Melissa J. Perenson. PC Magazine, April 21, 1998 v17 n8 p36(1). Mag. Coll.: 95A2093. Bus. Coll.: .110T3958. Elec. Coll.: A20479862. Create and Solve Word-Ladder Puzzles; PC Ladder creates word games that challenge your vocabulary and ingenuity.(PCTech: Utilities) (Technology Tutorial)(Column)(Tutorial) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, April 21, 1998 v17 n8 p227(3). Mag. Coll.: 95A2276. Bus. Coll.: .110T4147. Elec. Coll.: A20479896. Necessity, mother of utility. (software utilities) (Technology Information)(Editorial) Michael J. Miller. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p4(1). Mag. Coll.: 96A2213. Elec. Coll.: .A20404114. Utility hits and misses. (testing software utilities) (Inside PC Labs) (Technology Information) Diane Jecker. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p29(1). Mag. Coll.: 96A2238. Elec. Coll.: .A20404128. The Swiss Army knife of graphics programs. (CorelDraw utilities and ancillary programs) (Product Information)(Brief Article) PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p60(2). Mag. Coll.: 96A2269. Elec. Coll.: .A20404151. The 1998 Utility Guide: for our annual roundup of desktop utilities, we tested 225 products to find the best tools to help you get the most out of your PC. (includes related "Complete 1998 Utility Guide" listing)(Buyers Guide)(Cover Story) John Morris. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p100(7). Mag. Coll.: 96A2309. Elec. Coll.: .A20404165. Abstract: Instead of diminishing, as might be expected because of improvements in PC computing, demand for utilities is continuing to increase. In this 1998 edition of PC Magazine's Utility Guide, 225 desktop utilities are tested. These products serve diverse puroses, varying widely in their capabilities. They range from file protectors to access restrictors and search engines. Some products speed up browsing and others transmit messages quickly. Most of the products considered here work with Windows 95, but there is a section devoted to ones that work with other operating systems (OS), including IBM's OS/2 Warp, Microsoft's Windows NT and MS-DOS. Protect your files: the Internet is a great place to catch a virus. Don't worry, though; these 11 antivirus utilities will protect your system.(Antivirus Utilities) (The 1998 Utility Guide) (Technology Information) Will Fastie. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p109(9). Mag. Coll.: 96A2318. Elec. Coll.: .A20404168. File compression. (reviews of seven disk/file compression software packages)(Miscellaneous Utilities) (The 1998 Utility Guide) Douglas Giles. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p164(1). Mag. Coll.: 96A2373. Elec. Coll.: .A20404219. Monitor a child's access.(Internet Parental Filtering Utilities) (The 1998 Utility Guide) (Technology Information) Kathryn Munro. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p185(2). Mag. Coll.: 96A2394. Elec. Coll.: .A20404235. OS/2 Utilities: make the most of your OS/2 system. With these handy products, you'll work faster and smarter.(The 1998 Utility Guide)(Buyers Guide) Brian Proffit. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p221(3). Mag. Coll.: 96A2430. Elec. Coll.: .A20404274. Windows NT: build even more power into Microsoft Windows NT with these productivity-enhancing solutions. (Windows NT utilities)(The 1998 Utility Guide)(Buyers Guide) Brian Proffit. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p223(2). Mag. Coll.: 96A2432. Elec. Coll.: .A20404275. DOS AND Windows 3.x: whether you work in DOS or in a DOS box, these utilities can help you accomplish your goals. (utility programs)(The 1998 Utility Guide)(Buyers Guide) M. David Stone. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p224(1). Mag. Coll.: 96A2433. Elec. Coll.: .A20404276. Read on-screen documents with ease. (Scroller window scrolling utility)(PCTech Utilities) (Product Information) Gregory A. Wolking. PC Magazine, March 24, 1998 v17 n6 p259(4). Mag. Coll.: 96A2468. Elec. Coll.: .A20404291. Abstract: Scroller, a 32-bit application, runs under Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0, makes it easy to read a long document on screen. Scroller accomplishes this by automatically scrolling the displayed window at a speed determined by the user. Previously, a user had to periodically stop reading, aim the mouse, click the scroll bar and locate the appropriate place in the document. Scroller overcomes this problem, eliminating these frequent interruptions. The utility employs a distinct thread to scroll, and a ClassWizard may be used to make a CScrollerThread class. Scroller is offered as a free download from PC Magazine Online, or it can be obtained through the mail. The program's source code, which was written in Microsoft Visual C++, is also available. Return to sender. (America Online's Mail Controls, Omron Advanced Systems' MailJail) (E-Mail Utilities) (Product Information)(Brief Article) Doug Beizer. PC Magazine, March 10, 1998 v17 n5 p40(1). Mag. Coll.: 94M1729. Bus. Coll.: .109Y4593. Elec. Coll.: A20314232. Whither Windows 98? (From the Editor-in-Chief) (Product Development)(Editorial) Michael J. Miller. PC Magazine, Feb 10, 1998 v17 n3 p4(1). Mag. Coll.: 92D1879. Bus. Coll.: .106Q4084. Elec. Coll.: A20165641. Abstract: Microsoft's Windows 98 operating system has many features that do not depend on the Internet Explorer (IE) browser, which is good news for Microsoft since a Federal court recently ruled that the company can no longer require that PC vendors include IE 4.0 with Windows 95. IE 4.0 is fairly well integrated with Windows 98, allowing files on the local hard disk or on a local network to be viewed in a browser window with the same appearance as a Web site. Microsoft will have to focus on new features in Windows 98 other than IE 4.0 to compel Windows 95 users to upgrade. Windows 98 will likely be more stable than Windows 95 and will include more drivers. It also features built-in support for USB peripherals, DVD drives and other devices that have shipped since Windows 95's introduction. The new operating system is faster as well, and its Tune-Up Wizard monitors and defragments disks and improves application performance. If Microsoft is blocked from including IE 4.0 in Windows 98, should it also be barred from including other utilities available from third parties? Bits and pieces. (disk defragmenters for Windows NT servers) (Multiple Access) (Product Support)(Column)(Tutorial)(Brief Article) Steve Buehler. PC Magazine, Feb 10, 1998 v17 n3 p226(1). Mag. Coll.: 92D2085. Bus. Coll.: .106Q4292. Elec. Coll.: A20165710. THe ins and the outs. (the InOutBd utility makes it easy to determine which company employees are in and which are out) (PC Tech: Utilities) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) John Deurbrouck. PC Magazine, Feb 10, 1998 v17 n3 p257(4). Mag. Coll.: 92D2116. Bus. Coll.: .106Q4323. Elec. Coll.: A20165715. Abstract: The InOutBd utility described makes it easy to determine which company employees are in and which are out, much like an electric in/out board. The program is a small, special-purpose Web server that uses a TCP/IP network and PCs running a Web browser. Using the utility requires that the names to appear on the in/out board be entered via the configuration dialog box. An image can be associated with each employee to be shown on the main InOutBd and on the employee Detail pages. Browsers connecting to the InOutBd server see a list of employees and their in/out status, and the 'Names starting with' control makes it easy to move directly to names beginning with a specific letter. The names in the list are hotlinks to the detail pages for the employees named. Employees can be listed as 'out,' 'out for the day,' 'out for lunch' or 'out sick.' Perhaps a more apt description for some managers would be 'out of his/her gourd.' PC service centers. (Quarterdeck TuneUp; Symantec Norton Utilities diagnostic utilities)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) Sharon Nash. PC Magazine, Jan 20, 1998 v17 n2 p36(1). Elec. Coll.: A20167212. Share your bookmarks between browsers. (synchronizing Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator bookmarks with the SynURLs utility) (PC Tech Utilities) (Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Column) .Gregory A. Wolking. PC Magazine, Jan 6, 1998 v17 n1 p253(4). Mag. Coll.: 92E1656. Bus. Coll.: .107Y3950. Elec. Coll.: A20080372. Abstract: The SyncURLs utility synchronizes bookmarks between Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Netscape's Navigator Web browsers. The 32-bit program runs under Windows 95 or Windows NT and works by combining Navigator bookmarks and IE Favorites into a single library. The bookmarks can be rearranged and exported to one or both browsers, and the library can be saved to disk for moving between machines. Navigator and IE store bookmarks very differently: Navigator uses a single file named Bookmark.htm, and the bookmarks are logical objects created with HTML tags; whereas IE stores bookmarks as physical files and folders on disk with the .url extension. SyncURLs imports and merges all existing bookmarks automatically and displays them in a tree representing a 'virtual workspace.' Bookmarks and folders can be dragged and dropped anywhere in the list, although locked folders cannot be dragged, and folders cannot be dragged to their own children. Improve your image. (nine image-editing applications priced under $100) (includes related articles on the Editors' Choice, four less-expensive applications, digital scanners and printers, panoramic images and image-cataloging utilities)(Buyers Guide) Sally Wiener Grotta and Daniel Grotta. PC Magazine, Dec 16, 1997 v16 n22 p178(16). Mag. Coll.: 92B1933. Bus. Coll.: .107S3614. Elec. Coll.: A20049778. Abstract: Digital technology and image editing software have brought new dimensions to photography. Image editing features typically include brightness and contrast controls, red-eye reduction capabilities, special effects and the ability to add brush strokes and text. Nine image editing programs priced under $100 are compared. They include Adobe PhotoDeluxe, the consumer version of Adobe's professional-level PhotoShop. The Editor's Choice is Microsoft Picture It! 2.0, which is a powerful, but inexpensive, image editor. Corel Print House Magic and Micrografx's Windows Draw 6.0 receive honorable mentions for their powerful tools and large collections of projects and clip art. ExactTime for PC clocks.(PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Information)(Column) Charles Petzold. PC Magazine, Nov 18, 1997 v16 n20 p291(4). Mag. Coll.: 92G1632. Bus. Coll.: .106S2889. Elec. Coll.: A19958185. Abstract: ExactTime, a utility that automatically adjusts the PC's clock by calling one of two time-of-day services designed specifically for data use and obtaining the correct date and time. It is a completely new, 32-bit program that relies on the atomic clocks of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and US Naval Observatory. Users install the utility by copying is program files to a folder and click on a radio button to select NIST or USNO. There are Configure Modem and Dialing Properties buttons that let users change the modem settings without opening Control Panel. Pressing the DIal button saves the time-of-day service and selected modem in a file called Exacttime.ini. ExactTime reports any problems it encounters during an attempt to connect. A detailed technical description of the program's operation is presented; it calls 14 Telephony API functions to manage the communications port and synchronize the PC clock with received data. RoboType means less typing for you. (utility saves typing by using short, expandable, abbreviations to represent text) (Technology Tutorial) Gregory A. Wolking. PC Magazine, Nov 4, 1997 v16 n19 p327(5). Mag. Coll.: 91A2654. Bus. Coll.: .104R3838. Elec. Coll.: A19909198. Abstract: RoboType is a 32-bit utility that helps save typing time when a specific piece of text is frequently repeated. The utility allows the user to type short abbreviations that represent the larger blocks of text, which are then expanded with a few keystrokes or the click of a mouse into the complete version of the text. RoboType will add this capability to almost any application. The utility stores the user's abbreviations and related expansions in library files. The utility runs under Windows 95 and NT 4.0. It can be obtained free from PC Magazine, either by mail, from its Web site (www.pcmag.com/discuss.htm) or in the Utilities section of ZDNet's TIPS Forum (GO ZNT:TIPS). Make telephone numbers more memorable. (the Foneword/32 utility finds the word equivalent of telephone numbers) (includes a related article on programmer resources)(PC Tech: Utilities) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, Oct 21, 1997 v16 n18 p281(3). Mag. Coll.: 91F2260. Bus. Coll.: .104W4645. Elec. Coll.: A19840760. Abstract: The Foneword/32 utility finds the word equivalents of telephone numbers by searching a dictionary with almost 80,000 words. The program is a new version of the Foneword utility created in 1993 using Visual Basic 3. The update was written using Borland's Delphi 3, and it requires no support files other than the dictionary. Foneword/32 looks like a telephone, and users enter up to 10 digits of a telephone number before clicking on one of three action buttons below the number buttons. The first choice is 'All real words,' the second is 'Some real words,' and the third is 'Just letters.' The first returns all letters, such as 'SYNERGY,' the second returns some letters and some numbers, such as 'BREAK 31' or '5 BUCKS 5,' and the third ignores the dictionary and shows all combinations of letters for the number. One-stop utility shop. (public utilities offering Internet access and energy services) (Internet/Web/Online Service Information) Carol Levin. PC Magazine, Oct 7, 1997 v16 n17 p28(1). Mag. Coll.: 90H2601. Bus. Coll.: .104T3262. Elec. Coll.: A19765657. Abstract: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 stipulated that utility companies could also provide telecommunications services, so some people may find in the near future that their electric companies also are offering Internet access. Most utilities entering this niche are working with telecommunications firms to provide packages of telecom, entertainment, home security and energy services. Users will benefit from such one-stop shopping because it will be more convenient to get Internet access. Customers will have to deal with only one support service department to meet all telecom and energy requirements. In addition, the bundling of services will likely mean that the services will carry a lower cost. High-speed Internet access will be priced at approximately $35 a month, which is less than the price of current ISDN and T1 access charges. The 1997 PC Magazine shareware awards. (includes related article on finalists) (Industry Trend or Event) Sheryl Canter. PC Magazine, Sept 23, 1997 v16 n16 p219(5). Mag. Coll.: 90G2188. Elec. Coll.: .A19723613. Abstract: JASC's Paint Shop Pro 4.12 wins as the Program of the Year in the fourth annual Ziff-Davis Shareware Awards. The bitmap-editing program also tops the Graphics and Multimedia Tools category because of its broad range of tools that are easy to use. The shareware has emerged as standard for creating online images. The 1997 award evaluated 54 finalists in 11 categories, including applications; business; communications and networking; e-mail, news readers and chat; file utilities; graphics and multimedia tools; HTML editors; Internet utilities; programming tools; system utilities; and Web development tools. Paint Shop Pro 4.12's new features help in photo retouching and highg-end image manipulation. By using the program, the inability of digital cameras to do double exposure is overcome because Paint Shop Pro eases the task of combining digital images and provides more flexibility than the usual methods. Protection at the desktop. (overview of evaluations of Internet security products) (includes related articles on Web browser security features, and on proxy servers)(Your Personal Internet) (Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Cover Story) Scot Finnie, Larry Seltzer and Neil Randall. PC Magazine, Sept 9, 1997 v16 n15 p149(3). Mag. Coll.: 90B2536. Bus. Coll.: .103V5123. Elec. Coll.: A19682448. Abstract: The Internet has introduced many new and dangerous security risks for PC users, not the least of which are new, more virulent computer viruses. Following articles evaluate Internet security products in three categories: personal security suites, cookie managers, and S/MIME e-mail clients. Included in personal security suites are antivirus programs, data encryption utilities, and ActiveX and Java filters. Web servers place text files, or cookies, on people's hard disks to identify them to make return visits faster, but they can also be used to snoop on the other sites visited. Cookie managers can be used to monitor and delete cookies. S/MIME is becoming the standard for universal e-mail encryption and is supported by both Microsoft and Netscape. Automate tasks at shutdown. (the ShutUp utility facilitates shutting down Windows) (PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Support)(Column)(Tutorial) .John Deurbrouck. PC Magazine, Sept 9, 1997 v16 n15 p275(4). Mag. Coll.: 90B2660. Bus. Coll.: .103V5245. Elec. Coll.: A19682462. Abstract: The ShutUp utility is the omega to Windows' StartUp alpha: it cleans out selected history lists, ejects CDs, deletes files in the Temp directory, and runs specified programs prior to shutting down a Windows PC. The utility can also be used to schedule daily, weekly or monthly reminders, or to invoke a reminder at a specified date or time. ShutUp is added to the system tray after installing, and right-clicking on the ShutUp icon shows a menu with choices that include Shutdown, Configure, Help, About ShutUp and Exit. Choosing the Configure option leads to a dialog box with tabs for history lists, launch, reminders, miscellaneous and help. The four items in the Start Button group under history lists are Documents, Find Files, Find Computer and Run. The Launch page is used to create a folder of links to programs that execute on shutdown. IconEdit: customize your desktop; create custom icons for the shortcuts on your desktop. (includes related article on where to get files)(PC Tech: Utilities)(Product Announcement) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, June 24, 1997 v16 n12 p247(4). Mag. Coll.: 93F1862. Bus. Coll.: .102S3946. Elec. Coll.: A19476112. Abstract: IconEdit, a free utility that lets users create and modify Windows 95 desktop icons and rescale them as necessary for different applications and screen sizes, is presented. The program eliminates the need to delete old icons and recreate them in Windows 95's Explorer. Users can change shortcut icons with a simple right-click. IconEdit supports 32x32 icons with 16 colors. Windows programs do not actually use new icons unless they are recompiled or altered with a resource editor. A newly created icon will be visible only on the Desktop, Start menu and Explorer windows. IconEdit consists of two files and has a toolbar with eight tools. It supports reverse colors as well. A detailed technical description of the program's operation is presented; it creates an effective illusion of zooming on an icon edit square. BigBin enhances your Recycle Bin.(PC Tech: Utilities)(includes related articles on what programmers should know, where to get files) (Product Information) Rick Knoblaugh. PC Magazine, June 10, 1997 v16 n11 p253(4). Mag. Coll.: 96C2858. Bus. Coll.: .112Q4467. Elec. Coll.: A19437806. Abstract: BigBin, a freeware utility that automatically routes files deleted from within DOS boxes to the Windows Recycle Bin, is presented. The program is easy to install, requiring the copying of only two key files, and generally uses whatever properties the user has set in the Recycle Bin's Properties dialog. It consists of a dynamically loaded virtual device driver (VxD) for low-level tapping into the file system and an application program that loads and directs the VxD and utilizes application-level services. The VxD eavesdrops passively on Windows activity and takes more action only when the BigBin executable directs it too. There are two threads in the program, a main thread of execution and an additional thread dedicated to receiving and processing callbacks. Users can obtain the program via the Internet or CompuServe/ZDNet online service. The InternetUser guide to 50 essential downloads. (World Wide Web)(Directory) Karen J. Bannan. PC Magazine, Summer 1997 v16 nSpeiss p79(8). Elec. Coll.: A19520454. Abstract: An annotated InternetUser guide to downloadable software is provided. All of the programs listed are available-for-free, limited-trial downloads, so a user can try them before actually buying them. Categories include Authoring, Browsing, Communicating, Plug-ins and Helpers, Servers, Site Management and Utilities. Each entry includes a Web address and a brief description. Be paged by your E-mail: MailPage monitors MAPI clients for incoming faxes and e-mail. (includes related article on where to obtain files)(PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Information)(Column) John McSorley. PC Magazine, May 27, 1997 v16 n10 p213(3). Mag. Coll.: 95M2620. Bus. Coll.: .111Y3657. Elec. Coll.: A19344826. Abstract: MailPage, a freeware utility that monitors MAPI mail clients and alerts the user via a pager when faxes and E-mail messages are received, is presented. The program installs with a Setup.exe program that offers a default installation directory and setup files the user can place in a temporary directory and later delete. Configuring the program to operate involves choosing Properties from the File menu and setting pager parameters such as whether the device is numeric or alphanumeric, the communications port and which pager object to use. The Paging.Pager object is the only object nonprogrammers will need; programmers can select the OLE Automation object to page a person. There are separate, specific settings for alphabetical and numeric pagers. A detailed technical explanation of the program's operation is included. Change your keyboard layout: ZDKeyMap can remap or disable any of the standard keys. (includes related article on where to obtain files)(PC Tech: Utilities)(Column)(Product Announcement) Zan Oliphant. PC Magazine, May 6, 1997 v16 n9 p251(4). Elec. Coll.: A19321673. Abstract: ZDKeyMap, a simple utility that adds a property page to the Control Panel's Keyboard applet and lets users remap or disable any key on a standard Windows 95 keyboard, is presented. Microsoft's own Key Remap utility can handle only a few keys, while ZDKeyMap can convert an entire keyboard to a different layout. It consists of three files, including a VXD, a device information file and a DLL. Keys are presented in logical groupings to make them easy to find, but users can jump to any key immediately. Extended keys are missing from the ZDKeyMap key list because the program handles only standard keys found on all PCs since the IBM XT. All extended keys use an entire sequence of scan codes to maintain software compatibility. A detailed technical description of the program's operation and the functions of each of its files is presented. Printing the screen in Windows 95; PrintNow makes the PrtSc key work just as it did under DOS. (includes related article on obtaining files)(PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Information)(Column) Gregory A. Wolking. PC Magazine, April 22, 1997 v16 n8 p215(4). Bus. Coll.: 102Q4564. Elec. Coll.: .A19253045. Abstract: PrintNow, a 32-bit Windows 95 utility that lets users print DOS-like screen dumps with the PrtSc key. Windows normally uses PrtSc to capture an image of the entire desktop and Alt-PrtSc to capture an image of the active window, but the copies are stored only in the Clipboard and can be actually printed only by copying them into a graphics program. PrintNow runs in the background and intercepts PrtSc to present a standard Print dialog. Users can then select the desired printer settings and print the captured image. The program adds its icon to the system tray when launched and has a check-box and radio-button interface. A Screen Capture Enabled check box determines whether PrintNow activates automatically every time the user pressed PrtSc; unchecking the box temporarily disables PrintNow. Users can also print to a file or work with DOS applications. A detailed technical description of the program's operation is presented. OS/2, NT, & WIN 3.X Utilities(The 1997 Utility Guide)(Cover Story)(Buyers Guide) Brian Proffit. PC Magazine, April 8, 1997 v16 n7 p251(5). Mag. Coll.: 88M2596. Bus. Coll.: .101P4647. Elec. Coll.: A19210924. Abstract: A buyer's guide to 43 utilities for OS/2, Windows NT and Windows 3.x is presented. The products for each operating system are divided into categories such as disk management, data compression, file transfer, data compression, user-interface management, file management, system diagnostics, anti-virus, backup and the Internet. Each brief discussion gives a short description of the product and vendor contact information. McAfee, IBM and Dr. Solomon all make antivirus software for OS/2, and there are powerful systems-management tools available for all three operating systems. Users who have not yet upgraded to a 32-bit OS will find Symantec's products, inlcuding Norton Desktop 3.0, Norton Utilities and Norton AntiVirus 3.0, capable and strong. Numerous freeware and shareware tools are available that eliminate weaknesses in 16-bit Windows and DOS. FileGrab; the missing link; grab file lists from Explorer for use in other applications. (PC Magazine's FileGrab 32-bit file maintenance utility for Windows 95/NT) (includes related article on obtaining FileGrab on the Internet) (PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Information)(Column) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, March 4, 1997 v16 n5 p261(4). Mag. Coll.: 90C2660. Bus. Coll.: .102V4083. Elec. Coll.: A19125100. Abstract: FileGrab is a 32-bit file maintenance utility for Windows 95/NT, which allows users to use Explorer's file lists in other programs. The utility can be downloaded from PC Magazine Online. FileGrab, written in Borland's Delphi 2.0 visual programming software, lets users harness the power of Explorer's listing capabilities. When files are dropped into the FileGrab window from Explorer, users receive a list of filenames, rather than the files contents. This list can be saved to a disk, printed or copied to the Clipboard. To install the utility, users must copy the application files Filegrab.hlp and Filegrab.exe to a hard disk subdirectory and develop a shortcut for the utility in the Start Menu. FileGrab always displays filenames in details mode. Surf your printer. (HP Web JetAdmin, Xerox CenterWare printer utilities)(Trends)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) Jamie Bsales. PC Magazine, Feb 18, 1997 v16 n4 p37(1). Mag. Coll.: 89G3062. Bus. Coll.: .101Y3969. Elec. Coll.: A19069682. An Rx for Norton Disk Doctor. (bug in Norton Utilities 2.0 damages filenames on systems that previously had OS/2 installed)(Pipeline) (Product Information)(Brief Article) Don Willmott, Regina Kwon, Carol Levin and Sebastian Rupley. PC Magazine, Feb 4, 1997 v16 n3 p9(1). Mag. Coll.: 89M2462. Bus. Coll.: .101Z3448. Elec. Coll.: A19046476. URL tracking made easy; ClipAid lets you snip and save the URLs you want to keep.(PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Information)(Brief Article) .Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, Feb 4, 1997 v16 n3 p253(3). Mag. Coll.: 89M2720. Bus. Coll.: .101Z3706. Elec. Coll.: A19046546. Abstract: ClipAid, a Windows 95 utility that lets users save Internet URLs to the Clipboard for later storage and retrieval, is presented. The program is easy to install, requiring the user only to copy a single file to a directory on the hard disk and create an icon in the Windows shell. It places an icon in the Taskbar that displays saved URLs as a list of property sheets and supports HTTP, FTP, Gopher, Mailto, News and Telnet addressing schemes. The history page has buttons that let users manage the history list, either deleting a selected URL or clearing the list entirely. ClipAid can insert the URL data type into the Microsoft Word clipboard, although Word does not do so directly. This unfortunately overwrites other data types; ClipAid lets users control automatic address insertion for this reason. A detailed technical description of the program's operation is presented. ClipAid is the first in a series of utilities to be written in C++. Recently used programs redux. (RUPL2 tool for placing Recently Used menu on Win95 Programs or Start menu) (includes related article on where to get utilities)(PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Information)(Column) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Jan 21, 1997 v16 n2 p207(3). Mag. Coll.: 95M2270. Bus. Coll.: .111Y3307. Elec. Coll.: A19011016. Abstract: A freeware utility called RUPL2 that lets users place a Recently Used menu on either the Start or Programs menu in Windows 95 is presented. The program is an enhanced version of an earlier RUPL design that required the menu to be nested within Programs. An early beta of Windows 95 kept a list of the 10 or 12 most recently used programs in the Start menu, but the feature was removed from the final version and replaced with a menu of recently opened documents. RUPL applies the technology Microsoft eliminated in favor of its document-centric view. Installing the utility is a simple matter of copying files; the companion RUPLCFG program lets users change the number of program names that appear in the Recently Used menu, assign descriptive program names to applications, or prevent certain applications from appearing in the menu. RUPL2 taps the Windows Registry heavily; a detailed technical description is presented along with small pieces of source code. Unfinished business.(From the Editor-in-Chief) (Industry Trend or Event)(Editorial) Michael J. Miller. PC Magazine, Jan 7, 1997 v16 n1 p4(1). Mag. Coll.: 87C2183. Bus. Coll.: .101Z3029. Elec. Coll.: A18960652. Abstract: PC technology continued to improve in 1996, with the Internet rapidly gaining ascendancy. Two new generations of Web browsers were developed in 1996, a staggering number of new sites and services as well as servers to host them emerged and vendors introduced new utilities for developing content. There is still room for improvement, particularly in the area of PC manageability; hardware conflicts, driver incompatibilities and other unforeseen problems make managing desktops a nightmare in many businesses. Computers marketed for home use are sometimes simply business PCs with different bundled software, but many new home PCs are designed with easy setup and family use in mind. They are nevertheless still too complicated, and plug and play does not always work. Windows 95 has a better user interface than Windows 3.x but is still patched together, and upgrading to Windows NT requires reinstalling most applications. OLE, Visual Basic and Java all improve application integration but still have a long way to go. Relocate without reinstalling; COA lets you change the addresses of 32-bit Windows programs. (includes related article on where to get program files)(PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Information)(Column) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, Jan 7, 1997 v16 n1 p235(3). Mag. Coll.: 87C2420. Bus. Coll.: .101Z3280. Elec. Coll.: A18960708. Abstract: COA32, a 32-bit Windows version of a popular freeware utility called COA for changing program addresses, is presented. COA32 let users change the drive or directory of any Windows program without having to reinstall it. It has been rewritten from the ground up as a 32-bit application and has a redesigned, easier-to-use interface than the original COA. Installation is a simple file-copy process, and adding a CleanRegistry string to the command line allows a clean uninstall. COA32 has a new multi-page wizard interface with each page representing one step in the process of telling the system how and where to move a program. Users can set a variety of search options; some search keys may be ignored because of duplication, volatility or security issues, and the user can define keys to ignore in case of future problems. A detailed technical description of the program's operation is presented. All on one computer: incorporate multiple operating systems on your PC. (PC Tech: Operating Systems) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) Sheryl Canter. PC Magazine, Dec 17, 1996 v15 n22 p223(3). Mag. Coll.: 88J2490. Bus. Coll.: .100U1776. Elec. Coll.: A18959051. Abstract: Users may install several operating systems (OS) on their PCs simultaneously, provided they plan carefully. Users must first decide whether the OSes will reside in separate hard drive partitions or share a partition. Typically, OSes perform better if they reside on separate partitions. Some operating systems, such as DOS and Windows 95, must be installed on primary partitions, but more sophisticated OSes may be installed in logical drives. The hard drive partitions may be created using the disk utilities that come with each OS. Users should not compress files on systems with multiple OSes, because each OS will have to load its own compression drives. Ideally, users should employ a single file system for all the OSes installed. Unix and IBM's OS/2 Warp OSes have special requirements, but Microsoft OSes can be installed with the utilities that ship with the programs. Tips on backing up multiple OSes are provided. Viewers that Microsoft forgot: ImgView adds seven graphics formats to Windows 95's Quick View. (includes a related article describing how to obtain the files) (PC Tech/Utilities) (Product Support)(Column)(Tutorial) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, Dec 3, 1996 v15 n21 p343(2). Mag. Coll.: 88J2066. Bus. Coll.: .100T3896. Elec. Coll.: A18864275. Abstract: Windows 95 features built-in support for plug-in file-viewing components called Quick Viewers, which let users see inside a file even when they do not have the application that created it. Viewers for more than 24 file types are included in the CD-ROM version of Windows 95, but it does not have viewers for such popular image file formats as PCX and JPEG. The ImgView utility adds Quick View support for seven types of graphics file formats: GIF, JPEG, Kodak PhotoCD, PCX, PNG, TARGA and TIFF. Right-clicking on a filename or icon with the extension .GIF, .JPG, .PCD, .PCX, .PNG, .TGA or .TIF and selecting Quick View from the context menu displays the image contained in the file in a Quick View window. The four commands on the utility's Options menu are Copy to Clipboard, Status Bar, About This Viewer and Exit. Play backgammon with your PC. (computerized version of backgammon presented) (includes related article on guide to utilities)(PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Information) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, Nov 19, 1996 v15 n20 p237(5). Mag. Coll.: 90C2264. Bus. Coll.: .102Q4192. Elec. Coll.: A18843131. Abstract: Backgammon, a freeware utility that generates an electronic version of the ancient game of skill and chance on a Windows PC, is presented. Each player has 15 stones, or colored disks, which must be moved between triangular designs called points and off the board to win the game. Installing the program involves simply copying two files. Users drag and drop stones in the correct order in order to make moves according to standard backgammon rules. A detailed technical description of the program's operation is presented. Users can play against the Computer routine, which employs step-by-step logic to determine its next move. A constant array uses classic opening moves, and the program is aware of strategies such as bearing off, advancing anchor, blocking and covering a blot. Sample source code is included. Hardware: briefs. (Graphic Utilities' InkLink ink-feed system, Philips Electronics' EasyISDN terminal adapter, Belkin Components' ParaShare 95 parallel device and Panasonic's PanaMedia 17-inch monitor)(Product Announcement) PC Magazine, Nov 5, 1996 v15 n19 p74(1). Mag. Coll.: 86L2007. Bus. Coll.: .97W3550. Elec. Coll.: A18791116. Power to the right click! (MenuEdit utility allows users to edit context menus in Windows 95) (includes user guide for MenuEdit) (PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Support)(Tutorial) Douglas Boling. PC Magazine, Oct 22, 1996 v15 n18 p249(4). Mag. Coll.: 85K2352. Bus. Coll.: .96V3084. Elec. Coll.: A18712895. Abstract: Users can use the MenuEdit menuing utility to edit the context menus in Windows 95. MenuEdit allows users to edit existing context menus of specified file types, develop context-menu commands for unknown file types and set the default command to be run after double-clicking on an icon. MenuEdit is available by mail or from PC Magazine Online. The utility's Menu Items for Specific File Types radio button activates the list box, which specifies every file type registered in a system. The third radio button contains Bitmap Image, which is located in the list box. The Open and Print actions are listed in the Commands list box. Open and Print are the context menu commands designated for bitmapped files. The MenuEdit utility allows users to change actions and add new menu items to a file type. MenuEdit is easier to navigate than the keys and subkeys within the Registry, as well as safer. BootOpt gives you start-up control: a GUI interface makes it easier to set Windows 95's start-up options. (includes related article on guide to utilities)(PC Tech/Utilities) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) Gregory A. Wolking. PC Magazine, Sept 24, 1996 v15 n16 p222(6). Mag. Coll.: 85F1865. Bus. Coll.: .96N3799. Elec. Coll.: A18651424. Abstract: The only way to change start-up options for Microsoft Windows 95 is to edit a plain-text file, Msdos.sys, and editing can be facilitated by making use of a GUI for MSdos.sys called BootOpt. BootOpt is appealing because it gives a user-friendly interface for part of Windows 95 that is rather obscure. BootOpt can be obtained by downloading it by mail or from PC Magazine Online. Users should note that BootOpt manages a critical system file in Windows 95 and havoc can result if it is utilized incorrectly. However, there are built-in protections, and programmers can always return to their original Msdos.sys file. A detailed discussion of BootOpt is presented including program design, details about what is included in Msdos.sys and problems encountered when creating BootOpt. Don't know HTML? These might convert you. (utilities that convert files to HTML for publishing on the Web)(Web Authoring)(Buyers Guide)(Cover Story) Wayne Kawamoto. PC Magazine, Sept 10, 1996 v15 n15 p133(1). Mag. Coll.: 89L2422. Bus. Coll.: .102P4131. Elec. Coll.: A18589976. Abstract: Several utilities are available for converting files from popular applications into HTML files for publishing on the Web. Corel's $119 CorelWeb.Data works with Oracle, Access, FoxPro, Lotus 1-2-3, Paradox and dBase data. SkiSoft's Web Publisher ($495 Standard edition, $990 Pro single-user version) translates Excel and PowerPoint documents and converts .RTF files into HTML. FTP Software's $49.99 KEYview combines a viewer and translator and works with word processor, spreadsheet, raster and vector format files. InfoAccess's $495 HTML Transit uses templates to add HTML tags to ASCII or word processor text. Microsoft offers free Internet Assistants for converting Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents into HTML. Net-Scene's $199 PointPlus Maker saves PowerPoint presentations in a compact file format for Web servers. The WordPerfect Internet Publisher add-on is used to edit documents in a WordPerfect window with a special HTML toolbar. The 1996 PC Magazine Shareware Awards. (includes related articles on the award winners, and on obtaining the programs)(PC Tech: Shareware Awards)(Buyers Guide) Sheryl Canter. PC Magazine, Sept 10, 1996 v15 n15 p259(5). Mag. Coll.: 89L2550. Bus. Coll.: .102P4257. Elec. Coll.: A18590011. Abstract: The best shareware is listed in seven categories: applications, business and finance, Internet, math and science, networking, programming tools, and utilities. My Personal Diary for Windows 95 from CAM Development is the best of the applications, and SmartDraw 95 for Windows 95 or NT from SmartDraw Software Inc is the choice in the business and finance category. The best shareware graphing program is William Hood's WPlot, and the best for networking is Extensions Software Corp's X-Forum3 Network Message Forum public discussion program for Banyan Vines and NetWare LANs. The 16-bit WinEdit Windows ASCII/ANSI program editor from Wilson WindowWare is the best of the programming tools, and Niko Mak Computing Inc's WinZip for Windows 95 is the winner in the utilities phylum. The Internet shareware award winner is Forte Technologies' Free Agent online/offline news reader. Now you're playing with PowerToys. (Microsoft's Windows 95 enhancements) (PC Tech: Inside Windows 95) (Product Information) Paul Bonner. PC Magazine, Sept 10, 1996 v15 n15 p299(3). Mag. Coll.: 89L2590. Bus. Coll.: .102P4297. Elec. Coll.: A18590013. Abstract: Microsoft's PowerToys are Windows 95 utilities that let users determine the way they will use the operating system. The 13 programs are used to customize Windows 95 in ways that eliminate many of the operating system's 'features.' Microsoft will not offer any technical support for PowerToys and will not guarantee that they will work correctly on every system. The Tweak UI Control Panel applet makes it easy to change many user interface and shell properties that are hidden in the registry, such as to eliminate the 'Shortcut to' prefix on new shortcuts. Six of the utilities are shell extensions: Contents Menu, Explore From Here, Shortcut Target Menu, CabView, DOS Prompt Here, and CD AutoPlay Extender. Three are Taskbar notification areas: Telephony Location Selector, FlexiCD, and QuickRes. The HTML Printer Driver allows HTML Web pages to be 'printed' from any Windows application, although the resulting HTML code will likely need to be touched up manually. The last two PowerToys are Round Clock and XMouse. CD-ROM anywhere. (Logicraft Information Systems' FastCD Personal Edition CD-ROM emulation software) (Network Edition)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) Michelle Schoenung. PC Magazine, July 1996 v15 n13 pNE70(1). Mag. Coll.: 88M2287. Bus. Coll.: .100Y3474. Elec. Coll.: A18418940. Control installations under Windows 95. (InCrtl3 application installation/distribution software)(includes related article on InCtrl3 and accessing utilities)(PC Tech: Utilities) (Product Support)(Tutorial)(Column) Neil J. Rubenking. PC Magazine, July 1996 v15 n13 p307(5). Mag. Coll.: 88M2072. Bus. Coll.: .100Y3259. Elec. Coll.: A18418912. Abstract: The InCtrl3 application/installation distribution program is a 32-bit program that works specifically with Microsoft Windows 95 ot NT, tracking the changes made by installation programs. InCtrl3 supports the long filenames new to the Windows platform and can identify changes in the Windows 95 Registry. The program's interface resembles Microsoft's wizards, and users are led through a series of pages each time the application begins. Users may decide the level of control they have over the tracking process by choosing to skip a specific page in the future. In its default mode, InCtrl3 requires a two-step process in which it collects information from the system before the new program is installed and then terminates after generating a report of system configuration. InCtrl3 must then be restarted after the installation is complete. This method lets users employ the Win95 Add/Remove Programs applet without incurring any risk of losing a critical file. First Aid 95: potent PC therapy. (CyberMedia's Windows file utilities) (Product Information)(Brief Article) Brian Nadel. PC Magazine, June 25, 1996 v15 n12 p73(1). Mag. Coll.: 85A2380. Bus. Coll.: .94Z3838. Elec. Coll.: A18371527. The searchers. (CommTech Software's PowerSearch search utilities for Microsoft Word and Netscape Navigator)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) Melissa J. Perenson. PC Magazine, June 25, 1996 v15 n12 p80(1). Mag. Coll.: 85A2387. Bus. Coll.: .94Z3845. Elec. Coll.: A18371544. How Windows 95 stores long filenames. (PC Tech/Tutor) (Product Support)(Tutorial) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, June 25, 1996 v15 n12 p217(3). Mag. Coll.: 85A2550. Bus. Coll.: .94Z4008. Elec. Coll.: A18371620. Abstract: Windows 95's Virtual File Allocation Table (VFAT) file system's ability to use long filenames overcame the length limitation for filenames under DOS and earlier versions of Windows. Filenames in the earlier form (eight characters plus a three-character extension) are stored the same way by Windows 95 as by DOS and 16-bit versions of Windows, but adding long filename support to the older format required more than simple expansion of directory entries to hold more than 11 characters. Windows 95 stores two names for every file and subdirectory: one short name visible to all applications, and one long name visible only to Windows 95 applications and to applications that have been rewritten to support long filenames. Problems with VFAT's method of supporting long filenames are examined. Quod: a new classic game for your PC. (PC Tech/Utilities)(includes a related article describing Quod and how to get PC Magazine utilities) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, June 25, 1996 v15 n12 p234(4). Mag. Coll.: 85A2567. Bus. Coll.: .94Z4025. Elec. Coll.: A18371623. Abstract: The Quod strategy game created by G. Keith Still has players try to place pieces on a grid to make a square; the squares can be any size and tilted in any direction. The grid measures 11 by 11 but has the four corners missing. Each player has 20 attacking pieces and six blocking pieces: one attacking piece is placed on the board by each player on each turn; players can put any number of the six blocking pieces before placing their attacking piece. When both players run out of attacking pieces before completing a square, or 'quod', the player with the most blocking pieces left is the winner. Various strategies for the game are discussed, and the mechanics of the game are described. A belt and suspenders? (products that allay the fears of network managers) (Multiple Access) (Product Information)(Column) Steve Buehler. PC Magazine, June 11, 1996 v15 n11 pN26(1). Mag. Coll.: 86G2767. Bus. Coll.: .97V2909. Elec. Coll.: A18313731. Abstract: Network managers know it pays to be extra careful, and they appreciate products that provide them with added security. HT Communications offers the LineSaver, which monitors a data line and automatically dials up a standby ISDN line when traffic fails. The device costs $595 per side, which puts it out of the reach of many network managers, but it does give them a little more peace of mind. American Power Conversion's PowerShield UPS is useful for ISDN lines, which need external power, unlike the plain old telephone system. LinkPro's $89 PowerSync 3.0 32-bit PC-to-PC file synchronizer allows file synchronization to be scheduled for times or events, such as Windows startup; it also lets quick-pick lists of directories and files be set up, which is useful when having to start from the same configuration repeatedly. Make a dash for the Web. (Starfish Software's Starfish Internet Utilities and Microhelp's PowerDesk version 1.1 Web access software)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) Melissa J. Perenson. PC Magazine, June 11, 1996 v15 n11 p73(1). Mag. Coll.: 86G2716. Bus. Coll.: .97V2862. Elec. Coll.: A18313678. A new way to open Windows 95 files: this shell extension creates multiple file associations. (includes related article on guide to utilities)(PC Tech: Utilities)(Column)(Product Announcement) John Lam. PC Magazine, May 28, 1996 v15 n10 p217(6). Mag. Coll.: 89K2408. Bus. Coll.: .102P3821. Elec. Coll.: A18272607. Abstract: MultiLaunch, a Windows 95 shell extension that lets users associate more than one application with any document file type, is presented. The program is distributed online in the form of a DLL and must be added to the Windows 95 Registry, a task performed automatically by the setup program. Step-by-step instructions for registering MultiLaunch manually with the RegEdit program are given. A specific Registry key defines MultiLaunch as an OLE object. Special application programming interfaces let MultiLaunch do its job because Windows 95 passes its Class ID as a parameter to the DllGetClassObject function. MultiLaunch uses Microsoft Foundation Classes but not the clumsy standard method of implementing COM interfaces; each object is essentially a CShellExtension object. A detailed technical description of how the program was written is presented as a guide to those creating Windows 95 shell extensions. Zip it up. (PKWare's PKZIP for Windows 2.0, Vertisoft Systems' Zip-IT, and Nico Mak Computing's WinZip 6.1 data compression software)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) Melissa J. Perenson. PC Magazine, May 14, 1996 v15 n9 p78(1). Mag. Coll.: 89J2325. Bus. Coll.: .102P3256. Elec. Coll.: A18218961. A free checkers game for your PC. (includes related article on using Checkers)(PC Tech: Utilities) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, May 14, 1996 v15 n9 p253(6). Mag. Coll.: 89J2552. Bus. Coll.: .102P3489. Elec. Coll.: A18219006. Abstract: A downloadable Checkers game reveals that a complex game can be created from relatively simple programming. The game's logic revolves around a hierarchy of seven decision-making steps stored under Computer(), which are applied in relation to a database of possible moves. The database is divided into a Jumps array for moves that involve jumps, and a Moves array for moves that do not. The database grows as the game continues, storing an index for each potential move in MoveIndex. If the move involves a jump, the move is pointed to the Jumps array; if it does not, it is pointed to the Moves array. IndexCount tracks the number of indexes stored in MoveIndex. If MoveIndex is empty, the decision process goes to the next level of the hierarchy. If it holds moves, the Computer() chooses between available moves. The computer uses the EvaluateRisksMoved() function to determine risks before and after a potential move is made. Fight back against Boza. (antivirus software for detecting the Boza computer virus) (Product Information)(Brief Article) Melissa J. Perenson. PC Magazine, April 23, 1996 v15 n8 p80(1). Mag. Coll.: 89K1909. Bus. Coll.: .102N3381. Elec. Coll.: A18204995. SCInvoke: screen savers on demand: control when your screen saver can and can't run. (includes a related article on SCInvoke and obtaining PC Magazine utilities)(PC Tech/Utilities) (Technology Information)(Column) John Deurbrouck. PC Magazine, April 23, 1996 v15 n8 p215(5). Mag. Coll.: 89K2082. Bus. Coll.: .102N3562. Elec. Coll.: A18205042. Abstract: Screen savers may no longer be needed to protect today's monitors from burn-in when left for long periods of time, but they are still useful in providing password security and for keeping sensitive information away from prying eyes. Users need a way to invoke the screen saver quickly, in order to change the screen when needed. The popular After Dark screen saver and Microsoft Windows 95 Plus! accomplish this by assigning screen corners as hot or cold corners. Placing the cursor in a hot corner immediately invokes the screen saver. Placing the cursor in a cold corner keeps the screen saver from being activated. SCInvoke, which works with all Windows screen savers, solves the problem with a dialog box containing a single button. Clicking on the button immediately invokes the screen saver, and activating the dialog box prevents the screen saver from starting up. SCInvoke can be obtained by mail from PC Magazine or by downloading it from PC Magazine Online. Palindrome and Windows NT. (Palindrome Corp's Storage Manager 4.0, Windows NT Edition, and Visual Storage Administrator 1.1, Enterprise Edition backup software)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement) Eryn Brown. PC Magazine, April 9, 1996 v15 n7 pN37(1). Mag. Coll.: 83D2524. Bus. Coll.: .92Y2280. Elec. Coll.: A18132678. Clip-media shortcuts. (products for importing content into multimedia applications) (Product Information)(Brief Article) Arie Moller. PC Magazine, April 9, 1996 v15 n7 p170(8). Mag. Coll.: 83D2595. Bus. Coll.: .92Y2359. Elec. Coll.: A18132635. A Bitmap Photo Album: PicAlbum finds and organizes all the bitmaps on your hard disk. (PC Tech/Utilities) (includes a related article describing the PicAlbum utility) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) Michael J. Mefford. PC Magazine, April 9, 1996 v15 n7 p267(5). Mag. Coll.: 83D2688. Bus. Coll.: .92Y2452. Elec. Coll.: A18132651. Abstract: The PicAlbum utility finds bitmap files scattered around a hard disk, displays them, and lets them be organized into picture albums. PicAlbum supports .BMP, .DIB, .PCX, .GIF, TIFF, and Targa bitmap file types; it includes two program files, an .INI file created automatically when the program is run, and four support files. ImageKnife provides a support file that lets PicAlbum display all the different bitmap file formats; Media Architects granted a license to the magazine to use ImageKnife, so anyone who wants to change PicAlbum's code and recompile it will have to obtain a license file by buying ImageKnife. One for the little guys. (three small utilities for DOS)(PC Tech/Tutor) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial) Jeff Prosise. PC Magazine, March 26, 1996 v15 n6 p201(2). Mag. Coll.: 83D2246. Bus. Coll.: .92Y2002. Elec. Coll.: A18106809. Abstract: Three small DOS utilities are described. The DOS command dir >files.txt creates a directory listing and uses output redirection to capture a listing in a text file named Files.txt, while the command debug