VAX SIG Fall 1987 Tapes Initial Documentation This directory contains general documentation for this and previous tapes and an index. It is intended to replace previous distributions of [VAX000...] but there may be some older files you want to keep. The top level description summary to the Fall '87 VAX SIG tapes is contained in ABSTRACT.TXT and VAX87CDE.BRIEF_SUMMARY in this directory. For a longer description see AAAREADME.87C, AAAREADME.87D, and AAAREADME.87E, the concatenated AAAREADME.TXT files from the respective submissions. AAAREADME.TXT's back through the Fall 1981 tape are in a sub-directory [.OLD_AAAREADME]. The tapes are in VMS Backup format in four save-sets - one each for [VAX000...], [VAX87C...], [VAX87D...], and [VAX87B...]. As usual VAX000 and VAX87C will fit on one 2400 foot tape at 1600 bpi. Many of the filenames violate VMS version 3.x naming conventions so you will get RMS errors if you try to load the tape on a version 3 system. Since most people are on version 4 by now no attempt has been made to make the names compatible with version 3. Because of the high volume of submissions, and problems people were having with compressed files, the Fall 1987 collection has 3 tapes at 1600 BPI this time. This will still fit on a single TK50 (or one reel at 6250 BPI), and should be ordered on the larger media where possible. Data compression is used in only a couple very small areas on this tape, and will be avoided where possible to facilitate access to the software. We do not want to let the tape grow too large for a single TK50 if it can be avoided, though. Should submissions continue to grow, we may have to revisit this decision. An informal survey at the Fall 1987 symposium showed around 80% of sites can handle 6250, so we hope this will cause few problems. You will run accross .ARC files on some directories. For those of you not familiar with ARC it is an excellent file compression and archiving program that is widely used in the microcomputer world for distributing programs via floppy and bulletin boards. You can use [VAX87D.RCAF87.NETNEW] - VMSSWEEP to read these files on a VAX. All areas have ONE AAAREADME.TXT (and possibly many something.DOC or something.1ST or something .MEM or something_else.TXT or *READ*.something). This is so the AAAREADME.TXT's will be short enough to help you find a program without being cluttered up with how to install or how to use the software. If you are making up a submission for the next tape you can make it easier for us to put the tape together if you will follow this convention. Be sure and look through the tapes for all backup sets present. Because the index preparation was somewhat delayed this time, the tapes do not have an index at this point. A version of the index will be released later. As partial compensation, AAAREADME files from fall 1981 on have been included this time. Using the SEARCH utility on them is frequently effective in locating software needed. This tape was put together from submissions at the Fall 1987 DECUS Symposium, Anaheim, California, by Glenn C. Everhart RCA/GE Aerospace Technology & Lab Operations Bldg. 206-1 Rt. 38 Cherry Hill, NJ 08358 (609) 486-6328 Everhart%Arisia.decnet@crd.ge.com with the able assistance of various volunteers. Special mention is due: Alan Zirkle, who does a LOT of the initial screening and recording of who submitted what, and maintains numerous command files needed in the process of making the master, and Tom Gerhard, who maintains and supplies the index every time.