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Subj:	Review of DECUS Library Material -  VCU

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From: Ted Nieland <@AAMRL.AF.MIL:TNIELAND@FALCON>
Subject: Review of DECUS Library Material -  VCU
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The DECUS U.S. Chapter Library Committee has begun a process by which items in 
the DECUS Library are reviewed by DECUS members with the  resulting written
review published in the DECUS U.S. Chapter Newsletters  publication.

The items reviewed are available from the DECUS Library for a minimal charge. 
If you wish to order the item in this review, contact the DECUS Library and
request the item by the reference number in the review title.

The DECUS Library can be contacted within the United States at:

 		The DECUS Library
		219 Boston Post Road  BP02
		Marlboro, MA  01752-1850

		Phone: 508 480-3418

People who would like to volunteer to help with the DECUS Library review 
project should contact the Review Coordinator, Ted Nieland.  Mr. Nieland can 
be contacted on DCS at NIELAND.


			 DECUS Library Reviews
			    VCU - V00327

			    Ted Nieland
			Control Data Corporation




		Encapsulated Review

Rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being excellent

Ease of Installation:   5
Documentation:          4 
Intended Audience:      General Users
Ease of use:            5
Usefulness:             4
Sources: 		Not supplied
Objects Supplied:       No





INTRODUCTION

VCU, VAX Calendar Utility, is a screen oriented calendar utility.  It was 
submitted by Michael Johnson from Spuds Software.  The submission does not 
include the source code or object files.  Even though the program was compiled 
and linked under VMS 4.5, it runs under later versions of VMS, including VMS 
5, without problems.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

VCU is intended for general VAX users.  It uses the VAX Screen Management 
Routines (SMG) to output to the screen a very nice display.  It makes use of 
special keystrokes and pull down menus that make it very easy to use.  Since 
it is a calendar utility, it is for those people who work on the VAX all day 
long and would like to use it to keep track of their meetings, deadlines, and 
other appointments.

TEST CONFIGURATION

VCU was tested on a VAX 8650 running VMS 5.1-1.  The terminal used was a VT220 
compatible in VT200 mode. 

INSTALLATION

The installation is very easy to and quite smooth.  After reading in the tape 
(which has four files), you need to assign to logical names and issue one {\tt 
SET COMMAND} instruction.  VCU is then ready for use.

DOCUMENTATION

VCU comes with an excellent 11 page, typeset documentation booklet.  It 
explains the installation and use very well.  It makes good use of figures and 
and diagrams.  It would only take a few minutes for a someone to sit down and 
to go through the documentation and start using VCU.

The documentation only comes in written form, however.  There is on-line help 
available, but the to get extra copies of the documentation you need to go 
down to the photocopier.

EASE OF USE

The program makes excellent use of the capabilities of SMG.  It uses pull down 
menus and multiple windows that have become highly popular in recent times.  
Once a user becomes very familiar with VCU, command keys eliminate the 
need to use the pulldown menus (which are operated using the arrow keys).

VCU also has a DCL interface that allows a user to issue commands from the DCL 
prompt.  This allows VCU to be used from not VT terminals.  It also allows the 
user to put commands in the {\tt LOGIN.COM} file to list current messages 
when you login.

It is has many VMS like options.  Control-R will refresh the screen, 
Control-Z will exit the program.  One improvement it could use is broadcast 
message trapping, so incoming messages do not mess up the screen.

USEFULNESS

VCU can be extremely useful.  It is has very nice features such as  designating 
messages that occur every week on the same weekday (Friday  morning meetings)
and messages  that occur every day each year (like holidays, anniversaries,
birthdays). As  you get more into the program you can find interesting things
you can do.

The only limitation to VCU is that it is a personal calendar utility.  It is 
for one user only.  It would be easy to set it up for everyone on the system 
to use it with the data directory being the only thing changed for different 
users.  It is not designed, however, for allowing different users to access 
each others calendar information.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS

VCU is a very well done piece of software.  The author has put some time into 
it's design and friendliness.  He even has a message on the help screen asking 
for suggestions.

This software package is one that many people will find very nice on the VAX.  
It is easy to install and easy to use.  With the explosion of small VAX 
computers in offices, this program could find a lot of use for many VAX users. 



DECUS Library Abstract for VCU


V00327  VCU VAX/VMS Calendar Utility  Version: 3.7, March 1988
Submitted by: Michael C. Johnson, Spuds Software, Brookline, MA
Operating System: MicroVMS V4.5, VAX/VMS V4.6  Source Language: VAX
BASIC  Memory Required: 350K  Hardware Required: VT100, VT220
Terminals  Keywords: Calendars

Abstract: VCU is an interactive perpetual calendar for the VAX/VMS 
operating system.  It provides you with a simple way to store 
and retrieve messages for any day.

Features include: 
o A complete pull-down menu system with command keys. 
o A display consisting of the time, date, previous month, 
  current month, next month, day of the year, days left in the 
  year, yearly messages, weekly message, and daily messages. 
o A search function. 
o Output capability. 
o On screen message editing. 
o Qualifiers and parameters to provide complete access from 
  DCL. 
o Toggling of the yearly, weekly, and daily message 
  displays. 
o A full year display. 
o On-line help. 

Notes: Operating system VMS V4.0 or later is required, because the
program utilizes system routines, screen management routines, and 
utility routines. 

Sources not included.

Media (Service Charge Code): User's Manual (EA), 600' Magnetic Tape
(MA)  Format: VMS/BACKUP, or order VL0009




