0ver the past several months several disks have been sent for inclusion in the PD library. These consist of updates to current programs which registered members have received from the authors. These are always welcome, and make sure that our disks are up to date. In some cases the author sends one, but it is usually the ones with whom we have had dealings, such as Jim Button, Bob Wallace etc. Several overseas shareware companies have put us on their mailing list and send programs. 

There are also several local authors who have made submissions. The standard varies. In some cases there is no documentation or README file and after several people have tried to run the program without success, it is discarded. If it cannot be established what a program does, or how to use it, then it cannot be catalogued with a category and description. Other submissions are demonstration files which are not interactive and hence do not give a representative outline of the program's usefulness. Unless these disks are of outstanding merit, they also do not enter the catalogue. 

Another category is the ones with an accompanying writeup extolling the goodies on the disk, but not containing them. There have been complaints that some programs will only run for a set period of time and then cease to function. The best known one of these was a financial package which ran for nine months then locked up. Registration was required to make it continue. When this was discovered, the catalogue was not updated to this version. When this type of program is known it is generally discarded, but as every file is not evaluated, many could be in existence. One has to sympathize with the author, as he has given time for evaluation, and expects the user to register thus giving him compensation for his labour.

PC90 

PC90 will be held at the Exhibition Buildings from Sunday 12th August to Wednesday 15th. Sam Brown is still accepting offers of assistance to help on the stall, prepare beforehand and pack up after the show is over. If you have time to spare, contact Sam. You are assured of an enjoyable time as you will meet many of our Country members who have made a special trip to Melbourne to attend.

Survey 

At the time of writing there is an encouraging response to the survey of members. One thing that emerges, but not a point surveyed, is that a lot of our members have a distrust of Australia Post delivering their mail without making it fall apart. The amount of tape and staples used is considerable and at one stage it was contemplated saving the staples and selling them as scrap metal. It will take time to analyse the data. One of the results will be to find out what non-metropolitan members think of the Group and its activities. At this very early stage some of the returns express apprehension that the magazine is to be discontinued. Be assured that the committee has no such intention as it is a vehicle for communicating with members who cannot attend meetings. The response to questions on PC Update are often expanded with comments which give an indication of what kind of articles are desired. There are several suggestions for new services, and hopefully the suggesters will be willing to assist with them.

Administrative Officer 

You may find a different voice if you ring the office. David Sloan will be on holiday for about six weeks, but things will not come to a standstill, Lance will attend to your your requests. He has had a crash course in running the office, so be patient if the service you require is a little strange to him. 

Reprinted from the August 1990 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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