Star Tech Journal

STAR* TECH JOURNAL
CD
s* T J BuLLETIN BoARD ADDs
December 1994
Tech Library
OFF-LINE READER
Reading messages while logged
on to a bulletin board can be a
drag. The functionality isn't that
great; it ties up a phone line; runs
up the phone bill; and forces you
to read/compose messages within
a restricted time frame.
As you reply to various messages
and/or compose new messages,
the offline reader stores those
new messages in something
called a .REP packet which you
upload to the bulletin board next
time you log on.
An offline reader is a program
that runs on your computer and
allows you to read and compose
messages on your own terms:
When and where you choose -the
same as a VCR lets you tape a
TV show and view it later.
There are many offline readers
available.Some of them, like one
called lStReader, can be pro-
grammed to automatically dial up
a bulletin board and upload/
download messages unattended.
Some of these are available thru
the <0> THER ILES area.
Instead of the EAD or
RITE options of the
ESSAGES menu, use the
<0> FFLINE option.
FFLINE's EEDME op-
tion causes the bulletin board to
create a packet containing all
messages you haven't read yet
and download it to your PC.
Once the file ( called a .QWK
packet) is in your own PC, you
can hang up your modem & read/
compose at your leisure.
If you have a laptop and/or use a
PC at home/work you're going to
*love* using an offline reader.
The offline reader on your PC
opens up the packet, decom-
presses it (it's compressed in
PKZIP 1.1 format) and presents
the messages to you as you want
to read them.
The ones we've chosen to supply
through the previous menu don't
do anything like that. They're as
simple and straightforward as we
could find.
Even so, you'll have to spend
some time going thru the
ReadMe files that come with
them before you'll become an
offline reader expert. A great way
to kill some time on one of those
slow drizzly winter days.
These things are shareware, but
not crippled like some shareware
programs -they give full function
from day one, perhaps with a
"nag" screen. If you like them,
send the author his twenty-five
bucks or whatever: you'll feel
better, the author will feel better;
and any nag screens will go away.
Subscribers can reach the board at
215/ 251-9387
STAR* TECH Journal's
Tech Library comes
complete with every
service manual
published.
SAVE OVER
25%
For more information
see page 23.
See
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New Software
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MuRPHv's LAw
#1610
If several things
that could have
gone wrong have
not gone wrong/
it would have
been ultimately
beneficial for
them to have
gone wrong.
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