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Fog International Computer User's Group
Contents: Changes from Previous Versions
Files
Hardware and system requirements
General Description
Getting Started
Using Search
On-Line Help
Printing
Color on DOS Machines
Poorly Compatible DOS Machines
Rebuilding DOS version index files
Pretty CP/M version
Color on Commodore 128
Using command line parameters
Miscellaneous Information
Running on a BBS
Setting up the DOS version
Setting up the CP/M version
Files
FOGSCANC.COM (CP/M 80 program)
FOGSCAND.EXE (DOS program)
FOGSCAN.DOC (this file)
SETFGSCD.EXE (DOS program to set up FOGSCAND.EXE)
SETFGSCC.COM (CP/M program to set up FOGSCANC.COM)
ORDRFORM.DOC (disk order/membership application form).
FogScan uses one or more data files. Each data file
has a name which begins with "Fog" and ends in ".DTA".
The DOS version uses optional index files; their names
end in ".IDX" and ".IXP". If the index files are
missing, the DOS version of FogScan can reconstruct
them, provided your system has enough memory. Because
of memory and disk size limitations, the CP/M version
cannot use the index files at all.
(c) Claude Ostyn -- 9/16/89
FOGSCAN.DOC PAGE 2
Changes from Previous Versions
DOS Version: The DOS version now features indexed search, the
ability to reconstruct missing data file indexes,
and much faster approximate spelling search when
the index files are missing. The new DOS version
also allows you to print a single item, the whole
file, the disk summaries only, or tagged items
only. Special thanks to Steve Brammer. Hercules
monochrome adaptors should now show highlighting.
CP/M Version: The CP/M version now performs OR searches
correctly (thank you Alan B). The setup program
now sets it up correctly to run on Osborne and
similar machines; the setup program can now also
set up FogScan to run on Commodore 128 in color
without patching or requiring a special version.
Version 2.38 of the full CP/M program handles
formatting and display of publication index files
as well as library data. It is otherwise identical
to version 2.34 and it uses the same setup program.
Harware and System Requirements
DOS Version: IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or close
(FOGSCAND.EXE) compatible with at least 256K RAM,
any display card.
PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.1x or above.
(FGSCNBBS.COM) A special trimmed version which only
requires a 43.25K TPA is available to
CP/M BBS SysOps directly from Fog.
General Description
The disk libraries of Fog contain thousands of files on
several hundred disks. Since the library is constantly
being updated, searching through a printed catalog for
the kind of file you are interested in can be like looking
for a needle in a haystack.
FOGSCAND.EXE and FOGSCANC.COM are the PC-DOS and CP/M
versions of FogScan, a program which allows you to
browse and search the on-line Fog library guides.
FogScan also allows you to browse and search the Fog
publication indexes for FOGLIGHT and FOGHORN.
(c) Claude Ostyn -- 9/16/89
FOGSCAN.DOC PAGE 3
Getting Started
FogScan uses the FOG-xxxx.DTA data files compiled and
regularly updated by Fog. There are data files for the
DOS and CP/M libraries, and for FOGLIGHT and FOGHORN.
The same data files work with the DOS and the CP/M
versions of the program.
Depending on whether you are running DOS or CP/M, type
FOGSCAND or FOGSCANC at the system prompt. If no data
file is found in the current drive and path when you
start the program, you will be prompted for a path in
which to find them.
When you start FogScan, you first see the Fog copyright
notice. If there is more than one Fog data file on the
default drive, you get to choose from a list. If there
is only one, FogScan opens it directly. If there is
none, FogScan asks you to specify a drive or path.
In the DOS version only, if the optional index files
are bad or rmissing, FogScan offers to rebuild them.
This takes a while, and you don't have to do it now.
You can change files while FogScan is running.
However, if the data files are on different disks, you
should use the "Change File" command in the FogScan
main menu when you change disks, otherwise FogScan may
get very confused.
Using Search
With FogScan, you can search for specific items by name,
for disks by number, or locate all the shareware
programs. When looking at a publication index, you can
search by author, by title or by issue. You can also
look for multiple keywords. Anything in the item name
or description can act as a keyword. For instance, if
you look for "Edit", FogScan will show you every item
where the string "Edit" appears. Case does not matter,
so it will find "QEDIT" as well as "editor".
If FogScan allows you to search for multiple keywords
with "AND" or "OR" operators. For instance, if you
look for "This or That", FogScan will find every record
that contains either "This" or "That". If you look for
"This and That", FogScan will find only the records
that contain both "This" and "That". You can use up to
five keywords with either "or" or "and" between them;
you cannot mix "or" and "and" in the same search,
though. If you do not specify an operator, "and" is
assumed.
(c) Claude Ostyn -- 9/16/89
FOGSCAN.DOC PAGE 4
Searching in the DOS version.
In the DOS version, you can even look for items if you
are not sure how they are spelled. For instance, you
can look for "PCRite" and it will find "PC-Write".
This kind of search is quite a bit slower than a normal
search. To search for misspelled items, just type a
space then the word "please" (without the quotes) after
the name of the item you are looking for.
Unfortunately for CP/M users, there is not enough
memory in CP/M systems to allow this kind of search.
Another feature of the DOS version is indexed search.
If the correct index files were found with the data
file, you see "(Indexed)" in the top window of the
FogScan screen. FogScan always searches the index
first. When searching the index, FogScan looks only at
the beginning of the words. Every word in the file is
indexed, except words such as "the" or "when". If it
does not find anything in the index, FogScan asks you
whether to look harder. When FogScan looks harder, it
ignores the index, and the search works exactly as
described in the "Using Search" section above.
On-line Help
Context-sensitive on-line help is available. In the
DOS version, it is available at any time by pressing
F1. In the CP/M version, it is available in every
menu. You cannot do any damage by running the program,
so the easiest way to find out how it works is to
simply fire it up, play with various commands, and ask
for help if you get stumped.
Printing
To print an item while you are looking at it, hold down
the Ctrl key and press P. FogScan will advance the
paper automatically when the items you print that way
reach the bottom of the page. To print the whole file,
hold down the Ctrl key and press A. FogScan assumes
that you have continuous feed paper or a laser printer.
Printing is not available if you are running FogScan
through a bulletin board system.
(c) Claude Ostyn -- 9/16/89
FOGSCAN.DOC PAGE 5
Tagging
This facility is available in the DOS version only, and
only for the library data files. When any library item
is displayed, you can tag the disk number for that item
by just pressing the T key. A star will appear next to
the disk name to indicate that it is tagged. You can
remove the tag by pressing U. Many disks contain more
than one item, but only entire disks get tagged, so you
may see the tag indicator on items other than those you
had tagged directly. To view a list of the tagged
items, press F8. The tags do not disappear if you
change to another file. When you exit FogScan, you
will be asked if you want to print an order form. If
you answer yes, a list of all the tagged disks will
then be printed along with the form.
Color on DOS Machines.
The DOS version runs in color with color video
adapters, and in monochrome with monochrome video
adapters. If you have a color video adapter but only a
composite (one-color) monitor, or if you are using a
laptop, the color effects will look pretty bad; some
screens may even be unreadable. If you have this
problem, use SETFGSCD.EXE to set up FogScan so it will
always come up in monochrome.
If you don't want to modify your copy of FogScan but
you want it to run in monochrome, be sure to put the
statement "MODE BW80" in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, or to
type "MODE BW80" at the DOS prompt before running
FOGSCAND. MODE.COM is a DOS program which you should
have on your system diskette. Another way is to call
FogScan with the parameter "BW". FogScan will then run
in monochrome mode.
Poorly Compatible MS-DOS Machines
Some MS-DOS "compatibles" are not very compatible, and
will not run FOGSCAND correctly. There is very little
we can do about that, because developing a "generic"
MS-DOS version would be quite expensive. In BBS mode,
FOGSCAND should run on any DOS machine. See "Using
command lines parameters", below, for info on how to
run FogScan in BBS mode or on not very compatible MS-
DOS systems. If your machine can run CP/M programs,
you can also try to run the CP/M version.
(c) Claude Ostyn -- 9/16/89
FOGSCAN.DOC PAGE 6
Rebuilding DOS Version Index files (DOS version only)
When the index files that go with a data file are
missing , or if the index files don't match the
contents of the data file, FogScan offers to rebuild
the index files at the time you choose the data file.
Depending on the speed of your machine, this process
can take up to 40 minutes for a large data file. You
also need considerable room on the disk which already
contains the data file (typically 100 Kbytes or so).
The DOS date stamp of the index files may be different
from the DOS date stamp of the data file. That's OK.
Important note: You do *not* need the index files to
run FogScan, but searches are much faster with the
index files. Also, if you have less than 384K of RAM,
the index rebuilding may fail for lack of memory.
Pretty CP/M version
The CP/M version of FogScan can run full-screen
(without scrolling, and with highlighting when
available) on any computer which can emulate an Osborne
or ADM3-A terminal. Just add the keyword 'CUTE' on the
command line at the CP/M prompt. You can also use
SETFGSCC.COM to set up your copy of FogScan so it will
always come up in this mode automatically.
Color on Commodore 128
You can use the SETFGSCC.COM to set up your copy of
FOGSCANC.COM to run in color on a Commodore 128 with a
color monitor. Just answer "Yes" when the appropriate
question comes up.
(c) Claude Ostyn -- 9/16/89
FOGSCAN.DOC PAGE 7
Using Co
mmand Line Parameters:
Optional command line parameters can be used in any
order when you start FogScan. They are:
* Screen width (a number from 52 to 80). Default is 80.
* A path to locate the data files. Must contain at
least one drive descriptor with a colon. Default is
the current drive (and directory in DOS version).
* The string 'BBS' to run the browser in BBS mode. In
this mode, a CR is required after every command, ^K
is used to interrupt the search (search interrupt is
not available in the DOS BBS version), and the header
is not displayed. Printing is disabled and is not
mentioned in the on-line help in BBS mode.
* DOS users can also use the parameter 'BW' to force
FogScan to run in black and white on a color video
adapter, or the parameter 'MSDOS' to run FogScan in
'plain vanilla' MSDOS mode.
* CP/M users can use the parameter 'CUTE' to make
FogScan run in full-screen mode on an Osborne or ADM-
3A compatible terminal.
Examples of command line parameter usage:
A>fogscan 52 B:
Use 52-column screen width and look for library files
on drive B.
A>fogscan C:\Downloads\Fogstuff\
Look for the data file(s) in specified drive and
subdirectory. \ at the end of the path is optional.
The CP/M version does not understand subdirectories.
A>fogscan bw
Run the program in black and white (applicable only
on DOS machines with a color video adapter).
A>fogscan BBS F12:
Run the program in BBS mode (i.e. with input/output
redirection enabled) and look for data file(s) on
drive F, user area 12 (user areas are a CP/M feature
only).
(c) Claude Ostyn -- 9/16/89
FOGSCAN.DOC PAGE 8
A>fogscan cute 52
Run the "plain vanila", unpatched CP/M version of
FogScan on an Osborne 1 with 52-column screen, taking
advantage of screen highlighting.
Miscellaneous Information
FogScan was written in Turbo Pascal by Claude Ostyn.
The CP/M version is compiled with Turbo Pascal 3.0, and
the DOS version is compiled with Turbo Pascal 5.0.
FogScan is a copyrighted program which you can
distribute and share with others as long as you do not
modify it, you do not charge any fee beyond a
reasonable duplication and media cost of up to $10, and
you distribute ALL the files together, including this
documentation file and the data files.
Running on a BBS
Both the CP/M and the DOS versions of the program can
run on a bulletin board if the board software allows it
to execute a .COM or .EXE program and to redirect
normal console input and output to the remote terminal.
The new DOS version fixes several problems with BBS
use that caused previous versions to crash.
The behavior of FogScan is a little different when it
runs in bulletin board mode. For instance, you have to
confirm menu choices by pressing <Return>.
If you have a CP/M BBS system and FOGSCANC.COM is too
large to run on it, contact the Fog office for a copy
of FGSCNBBS.COM. FGSCNBBS.COM only requires 43.25K of
TPA and does not have pretty video or printing. It is
otherwise full-featured, with support for library data
files as well as publication index files and all the
normal search and browsing facilities of the full CP/M
version. SETFGSCC.COM will also correctly set up the
default drive/user path and default screen witdth for
FGSCNBBS.COM. Just be sure that FOGSCANC.COM is not on
the default drive when you run SETFGSCC.
(c) Claude Ostyn -- 9/16/89
FOGSCAN.DOC PAGE 9
Setting up the DOS version
Unlike earlier versions of FOGSCAN, this version now
comes with a setup program which makes patching a
breeze.
You can set up the default path for the data files,
whether or not to run in BBS mode, the screen width for
BBS mode, whether or not to use color, and whether or
not to allow printing.
To set up your copy of FOGSCAND.EXE, you need:
- Your copy of FOGSCAND.EXE, which MUST be named
FOGSCAND.EXE or FOGSCAN.EXE. No other name will
work.
- SETFGSCD.EXE
- A disk with at least 80Kbytes free.
Make sure that FOGSCAND.EXE is in the default path and
call up SETFGSCD.EXE. The setup program will read
FOGSCAND.EXE, show you what the setup options are, and
prompt you for changes. Note that the options may be
different depending on whether you choose to run in BBS
mode or not. You will be able to review the changes
before saving the modified copy. You will also be able
to cancel without making any changes.
Setting up the CP/M version
FogScan now comes with a setup program which makes
patching a breeze. You can set up the default path for
the data files, whether or not to run in BBS mode,
whether or not to use full-screen video effects,
whether or not to set up for a Commodore 128, the
screen width, and whether or not to allow printing.
To set up your copy of FOGSCAND.EXE, you need:
- Your copy of FOGSCANC.COM, which MUST be named
FOGSCANC.COM, FOGSCAN.COM or FGSCNBBS.COM. No
other name will work. This copy must be on a disk
with at least 34 Kbytes free.
- SETFGSCC.COM
Make sure that FOGSCANC.COM is in the default drive and
call up SETFGSCC.EXE. The setup program will read
FOGSCANC.COM, show you what the setup options are, and
prompt you for changes. Note that the options may be
different depending on whether you choose to run in BBS
mode or not. You will be able to review the changes
before saving the modified copy. You will also be able
to cancel without making any changes.
