The Shareware SIG met at The Bank of the West Community Room in Petaluma this month. Bob Schulte did the honors as SIG Facilitator since Rawls was unable to be there. Steve Cerruti provided a number of programs for the group's approval.

Our thanks, again, to Bank of the West for providing our meeting place. Next month the meeting will shift back to RE/MAX Marina in Petaluma. The meeting will be Internet connected so come discover some new Internet tools and toys, or get some tips on using the ones you already have.

Here are Internet links to the programs recommended by Steve.

Aladdin Expander 5.0 decompression tool for Windows 9x/NT4
Aladdin Expander is a file decompression utility that expands all popular archive and encoded file formats, including the Macintosh StuffIt format.

Aladdin Expander offers 32-bit, long file name support and is Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 compatible. (Decompression only.)

Company: Aladdin Systems
License: Freeware
Web page www.aladdinsys.com/expander/expander_win_login.html
Register (free) and download from Web page above.

ExtendedCharacterMap v.1.41 - Better Character Map for Win 9x/NT
ExtendedCharacterMap is a replacement for the Windows Character Map utility that provides a larger display of sample characters. It is especially useful for viewing the pictures in a symbol or dingbat font. The keystroke name is displayed in the program's status bar. Any character or series of characters can be quickly copied to the clipboard. Editors' Pick at PC World. Released: December 20, 1998.

Author: Sony Arianto Kurniawan
License: Freeware
Web page aritechdev.hypermart.net/ecm.htm
Download aritechdev.hypermart.net/ecm.zip [189K]

Four In A Row v.1.0 - A Game for Windows 9x/NT
Description: This game was created for fun, and may be played against another person or against computer. Simple enought to share with young children or grandchildren.

Requirements:
· Processor: 486 - 66 MHz or better
· Memory: 16Mb
· Video: 640x480 x 256 colors
· HD Space required: 200K

Author: Fusion
License: Freeware
Web page fusion.zejn.si

Geert's Backgammon v.2.7.7 for Windows 3.1/9x/NT
Description: Challenge your computer to a game of Backgammon with this small, fast but strong playing program. Different skill levels. Adjustable color schemes. Game statistics. Save and restore games. Many other options.

Author: Geert Verkade
License: Freeware
Homepage huizen.dds.nl/~geertv

PacWorld v.1.3 for Windows 95/98
Play the old classic arcade game in this new interpretation, with several worlds and levels, beautiful graphics and sound effects, bonus items, offscreen tunnels, locked rooms and highscore. Requires DirectX and a reasonably fast PC.

The Freeware version contains 4 levels and has all the features, no other limitations. But if you really like the game and want MORE, then this might be for you: get 12 levels including 2 brand new worlds for only $10!

Requires Microsoft DirectX:
www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads
Make sure you have DirectX along with the most current DirectX drivers for your video card installed on your machine before playing the game.

Author: Johannes Wallroth
License: Freeware, enhanced shareware version available ($10).
Website www.programming.de - click [Programs]

Note: I was beguiled by Pac Mania 3D, the elaborate version of PacMan shown at Mays' SIG. I was not sure that my modest system would do this fancy game justice, and I was not sufficiently nostalgic to seriously consider registering it ($15). Still, I liked the idea of revisiting this classic, and wanted to share it with friends too young to remember this once hugely popular arcade game. Could there be a smaller, freeware version? I found and installed PacWorld. I had already installed DirectX (required) in order to play Bubble Puzzle (www.conmeg.de/BubblePuzzle). I'm delighted to report that PacWorld runs easily and well. Now … where's Pong? -Steve

ShortKeys Lite v.1.7 free macro utility for Windows 9x/NT
ShortKeys is a macro utility that allows you to specify replacement text or paragraphs for user defined keystrokes. ShortKeys constantly monitors keyboard activity and anytime a user defined keystroke combination is entered, it is automatically replaced with the pre-selected text. Very useful!

Author: Insight Software Solutions, Inc.
License: ShortKeys Lite is a reduced version of Insight Software's ShortKeys 2000 and is absolutely free for personal use.
Web page www.shortkeys.com/lite.htm
Includes installation (SETUP.EXE in the Zip file). Removal is accomplished via Windows Control Panel - Add/Remove Programs.

Slot Machine 98 v.5.1 for Windows 9x/NT
Description: "A 32bit slot machine simulator for Win95 / Win98 / Win NT with 5 different themes, lots of sounds, nice graphics, highscores and statistics about all players that have a highscore. Smooth scrolling wheels, and a configuration window where you adjust wheel & animation speed an much more. You can also make your own themes, just follow the instructions in the 'readme' file. A must have for slot machine gamblers." Released 21-Feb-00.

Company: Fun Factory
Authors:
· Coding, Peter Nordström
· Graphics, Sven Nordström
License: Freeware
Requires:
· DirectX www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/
· VB6 w1.435.telia.com/~u43505134/misc/msvbvm60.zip (download)
Web page w1.435.telia.com/~u43505133/slot.html
Themes: Additional themes are available at the Slot Machine 98 Web page.

Note: This game requires the VB 6 runtime library (most will already have it), and DirectX which is available from Microsoft (free). When installing DirectX it is a good idea to be sure that your video card drivers are up to date. -Steve

WordWeb v.1.62 for Windows 9x/2000/NT
WordWeb is a powerful English thesaurus and dictionary. It is quick and easy to use. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world use this top-rated freeware. WordWeb's features include:

 • Definitions and synonyms
 • 120,000 root words
 • Proper nouns
 • 100,000 synonym sets
 • Related words
 • Direct use in word processors.

WordWeb can be used directly in some word processors. A macro pops up WordWeb with synonyms displayed for a word you've selected (highlighted) in the word processor. Pressing the Copy button will replace that word with one you've chosen in WordWeb. Macros for MS-Word 95/97/2000, Corel WordPerfect 7, and Lotus WordPro are provided. (An installation option allows WordWeb to be automatically enabled in MS-Word.)

WordWeb is Internet-active. If you look for a word that isn't in its database, it provides an clickable Web search link.

Author: Antony Lewis
License: Freeware
Released: 12-Jun-2000.
Web page www.wordweb.co.uk/free

World Time Clock v.2.3 with alarm for Windows 9x
Author's description: "This useful program shows the time of five different timezones, with analog and digital clocks. Choose from a list of 150 countries and 400 cities or define up to 5 countries and cities of your own. Correctly implemented daylight savings time rules. Displays time in one of 8 available time formats (12/24 hours, with weekday, date, month, seconds). Colors are configurable at will. Also implemented are an alarm clock with user defined message displayed and sound signal plus a little calendar. You can make the window stay 'always on top' or hide it in the system tray." This nice compact program was written using Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0. NONAGS gave it 6-duckies (their best rating). Released 07-Jun-2000.

Author: Johannes Wallroth
License: Freeware
Homepage www.programming.de - click [My Programs].

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