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The Completely Free E-mail Update #23
Issued December 16, 1997
Welcome to the twenty-third edition of the 'Completely Free Software E-mail Update'. Over the past week we've added many new programs, including the ones listed below.
None are time-limited and all are fully functionable. If you know any that aren't exactly as specified, please let us know and they will be removed immediately.
We are interested in hearing about your favorite freeware and freebie websites so we can share them with others. The Internet is (or should be) about sharing – us to you, you to us, all of us to each other. If you find any of the links broken or changed, please let us know immediately so we can amend the CFS website.
COMPLETELY FREE PROGRAMS
Dark Reign demo – W95
Excellent playable demo of this futuristic battle/real time strategy game which features multi-player options for on-line gaming. You are part of the Freedom Guard, fighting the evil forces of the Imperium in a struggle for Galactic control. While this is a monster download at 16.1MB, the game is worth the time and effort to get. We found that the Net Vampire ftp downloader (from the W95 Internet Related page) was essential as we lost the connection a few times but Net Vampire was able to pick up the download at the point where it was lost so we didn't have to start again from the beginning. Access this excellent playable demo from: W95 General Games
Split Files Shell Extension – W95
Ever want to transport files larger than 1.44MB? Ever sat looking at a stack of 1.44MB disks with split files on them and can't figure out how to merge them back into one large file? We have the answer! Split Files Shell Extension is the easiest large-file splitter we've seen. Rightclick on a file in Explorer and you'll see an option to 'Split This File'. The dialog box which pops up will give you all the options on where you want it split to and how large you want the split files (usually 1.44MB but you get a choice of nine predefined sizes, including 'Available Size', or you can customize it into either a certain number of files or to a certain filesize). Click on Options and you can set the directory where you want the file split to, no header (which makes it compatible with the DOS Copy /b command), automatic merging (it creates and EXE file which will merge your files easily – note, this is NOT the default when you download the program, we advise that in most cases this is the easiest way to merge files), output the file in DOS 8.3 format, provide a repairing space of a size you determine (probably rarely needed), and the file extension (you get a choice of SFE, which is the new extension, or SPL which is the old one but which can conflict with Shockware Active X Control). Installation is as simple as unzipping the file and leftclicking on the split.exe file. The unzipped files can then be deleted. Uninstall through Add/Remove Programs. In operation we could not fault this program for ease of use and offering sufficient options so we could control the output. Merging a split file is best done from within the same directory (we usually copy all the single files from floppies into a temporary directory and then merge in that directory) and is a breeze if the number 1 file to be merged is an EXE file (selected via Options when the file was first split). It's usually not a matter of if you need a file splitter but which one. Without doubt, this is the best we've seen to date! Access this 177kB download from: W95 General Programs
Postie – W95 & W31
Postie is a command-line only e-mail client supporting POP3, SMTP, HTML-mail and multi-part MIME attachments. While its interface is somewhat awkward (and is best setup through the use of multiple shortcuts so its properties can be set for each task), it also performs inter-host mail relay and can be set up to transparently handle multiple users sharing a single e-mail account. Supplied complete with the source code and both 16 and 32-bit versions, you can access this 142kB download from either: W95 Internet Related or W31 Internet Related
Celebrity Calculators – W31
Over 80 celebrities are featured on Celebrity Calculators which replace the standard Windows one with something a little more glamorous. What you get is a 'standard' calculator (the four basic functions plus %) and a picture of your choice of celebrity to adorn the calculator. So if you like having Whitney Houston or Mel Gibson smiling at you while you struggle trying to balance the household budget, then access this 21kB download from: W31 Desktop Utilities
LifeSaver – W95
LifeSaver is a configuration file backup utility which can then be used to restore those files should they become corrupted. The free version (called the Standard version) features a seven file backup, the ability to restore system files from the command prompt (DOS) mode with self-generating batch file, etc. For the first 30 days – or if you register – you get some additional functionability but after that you're on your own with the Standard version. Everybody needs some sort of Win95 lifesaver to help in case of corrupted configuration files. Access this 1.5MB download from: W95 Desktop Utilities
Chalk – W31
Frightened of letting your very young child near the computer but still want them to become computer literate? Want to vent your anger on the screen without actually causing any damage? Then you need Chalk. This is a fun tool for children aged 3 to 93 which uses the mouse cursor as a (variable-sized) drawing tool. Click the left mouse button (you don't hold it down) and as you move the cursor it will draw colorful lines (or a series of boxes) on the screen. Click the mouse button again to stop or press the Esc key. To exit the program, save your artwork, or receive the bare basics of Help, you must first use the Esc key and then access the System menu in the top left hand corner of the screen. Unfortunately, for W95 users a young child could still access the desktray after the Esc key had been pressed (until then he or she could draw over that as well) so it is probably not as valuable for W95 users as those with W31. You can load a bitmap onto the screen to draw over, you can save your work and then re-load it next time (or print it so it can be 'posted' on Grandma's fridge), or you can capture the previous screen (by pressing Print Screen) and then pasting it onto the chalkboard so you can draw all over that work you love to hate (this is mainly for daddies and mommies who wish to vent a certain amount of frustration over their 'normal' work). For people with a really bent sense of humor, you could install it on a colleague's computer (from a floppy when he went out of the office for a moment), 'capture' his latest important project, and then paste it back to the chalkboard screen and scribble all over it :) What a happy chappy he'd be when he returned to his screen and saw the results of his last month's work apparently destroyed... But then again, you wouldn't be that nasty, now would you? Access this tiny 11kB download from: W31 General Games
PowerEssentials:ComandLine – W95
Apart from being a mouthful, PowerEssentials:ComandLine is a very handy command line shell extension which adds a DOS command line dialog box to any EXE, COM or BAT files. If you are running a DOS program which necessitates a command line (like a syntax switch) now you don't have to fire up a DOS-box under Windows (or use the W95 Run dialog box) and then add the command line. For example, if you had a program which required a switch, eg c:\Boxes\boxes.exe /r, then all you would have to highlight the boxes.exe file in Explorer, rightclick and select CommandLine. In the dialog box which appeared you would just type in /r and click on OK. Simple as. PowerEssentials:ComandLine features a Most Previously Used dropdown so you don't have to retype the same information time after time, and a full install/uninstall procedure. Access this handy 174kB download from: W95 Windows Extras
Ini Editor – W95
Ini Editor is a terrific editor for, you guessed it, INI files with the same look and feel as Microsoft's Registry Editor. Supporting a host of shortcut keys (which we always love), Ini Editor boasts a simple but effective Help file and an intuitive front end. If you aren't comfortable playing around with INI files you're better to leave this one alone, but if you are then you can make most programs stand on their head with correct INI amendments. For example, many text-based programs use a bland font which doesn't enhance the look or readability of the program, but don't offer an option to change it. With Ini Editor you can make those sorts of amendments to many programs. Access this 166kB download from: W95 Desktop Utilities
COMMENTS
We had Serif's PagePlus Intro 95 listed as a completely free non-time limited but fully functionable DTP demo but this is now no longer the case. Serif has added a 30-day time-out to the program and a $15 registration fee. While it's still a bargain at $15, we have now dropped it from our listing because it is not 'completely free software'. There is a Win 3.1 version which, while not quite as powerful as the W95 version, is still an excellent DTP program, specially when combined with the DrawPlus Intro drawing program. You can access both these Win 3.1 programs from: W31 General Programs
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APOLOGY
It appears we were wrong last week when we said that the WebTurbo window stays up all the time and reduces the main browser window. We have been informed that there is a WebTurbo toolbar button which removes the WebTurbo window. We apologize to NetMetrics for this error and would like to thank the readers who pointed this out to us. If you didn't get WebTurbo last week due to our negative comments in this area, here's a second chance. Go get this great program from: W95 General Programs
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