¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶
¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶
Would you believe it? The entire issue
10 magazine passed by without a mention
of 8-bit's very own SYSTEMS programs!
Jokes aside though, I did promise to
keep members up-to-date with
developments, and this is exactly what I
intend to do. Any new members who joined
after 10th March will not have the
SYSTEMS programs, so for the benefit of
those, the SYSTEMS Server is a disc file
database and management system that
stores details of your disc-based
software on one single DFS or ADFS disc.
Unlike previous programs of it's kind,
the SYSTEMS Server has been Tailor-made
with "file management" in mind. For
example, details of all your programs
are entered in the Server and stored on*
disc, so that when you wish to find a
program, Server will search, locate
and display the entered details, and
then offer loading of the program
through a loading gateway. ADFS users
benefit most from it because it provides
easy loading through the tangles of
directories, thus making loading as easy
as a normal DFS file. It provides an
easy and trouble-free way of creating
records, amending, making notes,
altering directory paths, classifying
filetypes etc. Should any newer member
want more information, write to the
usual address.
Version 5 of the SYSTEMS server has now
been piloted amongst approximately 12
members, and a few bugs have been
identified which were mainly due to the
program failing to load on Masters.
Contrary to publication in Issues 7 and
8, it has been decided NOT to launch *
this version to all members, as it has
not significantly improved enough to
benefit the time and costs involved. A
lot of lessons have been learnt from the
pilot version, and most of these lessons
were learnt from the detailed comments
and suggestions recieved from members on
both Version 4 and Version 5(pilot)
programs.
I would like to say a big Thank You at
this point to Mr. Frederick Nevin from
Crawcrook, Newcastle Upon Tyne. His
detailed letters containing his findings
when using the Server have provided a
superb standing for the development of
Version 6 software (details below).
Thanks for your time, effort and
determination which is much appreciated.
After much time, I am please to say that
Version 6 is almost ready. Unlike
previous versions, it will be different*
in layout, and will be operated on a
complete "front end" menu bar system.
There will be little learning needed as
the program itself will guide you
through the various steps that need to
be taken. ADFS users are paramount in
this new version, with many more new
features incorporated especially for
ADFS users. If you thought previous
versions of Server didn't quite meet
your needs, hang on for Version 6 and
you'll be pleasantly surprised.
NOW HERE COMES THE REAL NEWS...
I have been approached by a mail-order
software company who has plans to sell
this new version of SYSTEMS Server.
Therefore, the program will NOT be
Public Domain, and will instead be a
commercial profit-making piece of
software. The full piece of software
will not be avaliable on any P.D. or
Shareware Libraries. *
However, existing members of 8-bit
who joined on or before Issue 4 will be
entitled to a free complimentary copy
of the program.
All other members and non-members will
be charged £5 per copy should they
require one. More details will be made
avaliable as I get them, but in the
meantime I propose the launch date will
be April/May 1991. A cut-down version
will be made SHAREWARE so non-members
can try before you buy.
Watch this space for further
developments.