Shareware Breakthrough! Welcome to the Shareware Breakthrough CD-ROM! This disk contains hundreds of the latest shareware and public domain programs and files. This disc was designed for computers running Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later. How do I get started? The first thing you need to do is to install the Browser software for this CD-ROM. First launch Windows, and then choose Run from the File menu. At the command line type: D:\SETUP Where D is your CD-ROM drive. (Note that often many machines set their CD-ROM drive to E instead of D.) Once the setup program has run you will now be able to launch the Browser software directly from a Windows icon. NOTE: There are a number of programs on this disc that were written in Microsoft's Visual Basic language (including the browser). These programs require either VBRUN100.DLL or VBRUN200.DLL to run properly. These files were not initially installed, but they can be found on the CD-ROM in the \LIB subdirectory. Using file manager, these files can be copied into the \WINDOWS subdirectory on your hard disk drive to ensure that these programs will run. NOTE: This browser contains animation and sound that requires a Sound Blaster compatible card. There is a separate version of the browser in the root directory with no sound or animation. To set up this version, run the regular browser. After installation, choose the Shareware Breakthrough icon, choose Properties from the File menu, and replace the "SHARE.EXE" filename with "NOSOUND.EXE." This will run the version with no sound or animation. How do I use this CD-ROM? There are many ways to use the programs and files on this disc. Many programs and files can be used directly from the CD-ROM, but some need to be copied to your hard drive first. This is because many programs need to write temporary or permanent files to the drive that they reside on. An example of this would be a game that records the high score. If the game is still on the CD-ROM it would not be able to write a file on the CD-ROM because these discs are read-only. You would first have to copy the game to your hard drive and then use it from there. Another reason you may want to copy a program or file to your hard drive is speed. Programs and files will open a lot faster from a hard drive then from CD-ROM because hard drives are much faster than CD-ROM drives. The other speed advantage is that you don't have to wait while you mount the CD-ROM, you can just launch the program or file from your hard drive. Probably the best way to use the programs on this CD-ROM is by using the browser program on this disc. The browser program is a catalog of all the files on this disc. It allows you to view information on each item including shareware info and program description. The browser will also let you launch many programs, and even copy your favorites to your hard drive. What is Shareware?Many of the programs on this CD-ROM are designated as shareware programs. This means that the original author of a specific program is asking a reasonable shareware fee for using his program. The way shareware works is "try before you buy". If you try a program from this CD-ROM and you decide you would like to keep it, then the shareware author asks that you send him or her a certain amount of money. Shareware fees are substantially lower than prices you normally pay for software because the all of the money goes directly to the author. When software is purchased through normal retail stores, a certain percentage goes to the store, as well as a software distributor or two, not to mention expensive packaging and advertising. With shareware you can feel good that all of your shareware fee goes directly to the author. So help support shareware by sending shareware authors their fees, so that they will continue to create new and affordable shareware programs. What is Public Domain and Freeware? Many of the programs and files on this CD-ROM are designated as Public Domain or Freeware. This means that the author asks no fees for their work. The main difference is that authors retain the rights to Freeware and may at a later date ask a fee, or even sell their work commercially, whereas Public Domain files are available for any type of use. Occasionally you may encounter other unique designations such as Happyware or Beerware. In the case of Happyware the author asks you to smile each time you use his program, in the case of Beerware the author asks for you to send him a six-pack of beer. What do I do if I can't figure out how to use a program?Read the documentation that came with the program. Again, Read the documentation that came with the program. Nearly every program on this CD-ROM includes instructions on how to use each specific program. Many of the programs have on-line help files that can be accessed from within the program. Even more of the programs include a text file that contains instructions and documentation. These files are commonly named HELP.TXT or INFO.TXT and can be opened from the program Windows Write that was included with MS Windows, or open them with whatever word processing program that you use. To open one of these .TXT fileswith Window Write first launch Write. Next choose Open from the File menu. Choose .TXT from the List Files of Type menu. Navigate to your specific .TXT file in the Directories list. Another way to look at a text file is to exit to DOS and use the TYPE command. For example, at the C> prompt enter TYPE INFO.TXT This would list out a text file called INFO.TXT. Note that some subdirectories even have a general help file that applies to all of the files in that section. What do I do if I still can't figure out how to use a program? Contact the Shareware author. Who knows the program better than the person who wrote it! This is another good reason to send in those shareware fees, not only does it entitle you to technical support, but generally it also gets you on the list for important updates at nominal or free price. The Browser sofware on this CD-ROM and compilation of files and programs are Copyrighted 1993. The user of this disc assumes all risk in using any file or program found on this CD-ROM. Copyright, 1993 All Rights Reserved. Made in USA