| In this column I hope to foster communication
and support for 8-bit and ST computer owners... presenting a positive and
directive approach. This will help to strengthen the users group base and
encourage the executive element.
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| If you have a question you would like me to answer, or a topic you
would like to see covered, send me
an Email!
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| What is this DOM thing?
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| The users group "Disk of the Month", or DOM, is a vital tool
that can be used to increase the Atari computer owners software base as
well as provide participation of the group. The DOM may contain demo programs,
PD and Shareware programs. This article will discuss the process of procuring
items for the disk, creating the disk, preparing it for distribution, and
distributing it.
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| Procuring items for the disk
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| Many users groups offer a disk or program each month. These are usually
made available to the members for free or a low nominal cost. These are
generally available to non-members for a bit more. Those who do this regularly
know where to find the files. If your group is not doing this, then they
might not know where to look. First of all, do not put commercial programs
on your disk. The programs and files should be from three categories: Public
Domain, Shareware, and Commercial Demos (designed for such distribution).
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| No self-respecting users group should be without a disk of the month.
There are new and improved Atari programs be produced monthly. If you cannot
find them, then maybe you are looking in the wrong place. There are two
Atari magazines (that I know of) that have a disk with the issue. ST Informer
has a Disk subscription that is complemented by a listing in the magazine.
ST Format includes a disk (or two) with each issue. ST Format usually reserves
quite a few pages in the magazine for instructions about the programs on
the disk. Some of the programs provided are NOT to be freely distributed,
so read the documentation carefully. Between these two magazines, I have
added many quality programs and utilities to my Atari software library.
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| Another good source for new programs and files is your local Atari
BBS. However, this is usually only as good as the uploads that are on the
board. If you have an active Internet or Commercial Service user uploading
files the BBS is a good source. The Internet and the commercial services
(like GEnie or Compuserve) offer large libraries of software that you can
download. Many shareware developers use these services to distribute their
programs and updates.
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| And lastly, a good source is from users group members that program.
If you have programmers in your group, encourage them to write and share
their work on your disk.
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| So, now you have a large base for procuring many software program to
distribute on your disk of the month. Now what?
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| Creating the disk.
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| There may be many methods of creating the diskette. One option would
be to put programs on your monthly diskette that follow the same theme
as your meeting. Another similar option would be to pick a topic for your
disk and put programs and files on the disk that fit that topic. Let's
say you pick "word processing." The disk could contain a text
editor, a shareware word processor, some WP-to-ASCII utilities, and other
writing tools available. Associated programs might be a spell checker or
grammar checker. Depending on the size of your group, you might want to
have specialized disks for the 8-bit, ST, TT, and Falcon classes of Atari
computers. Our group has an 8-bit DOM and an ST DOM.
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| Be alert to the needs of the group. If you put a MONO only program
on the disk, be sure to include a mono emulator for the members in you
group that only have color monitors. Also find out what programs your members
are looking for. Locate those programs and put them on the disk.
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Be sure to include a text file called "read.me" or "contents.txt"
or some other name for the file. In this file, make a list of the
programs you have included on the disk, along with a brief description.
You will want to mention if the program runs in a
specific resolution. You will need to state if the program runs on all
Atari computers or if they are specific to certain classes of Atari computers
like the STE or Falcon.
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| Preparing the disk for distribution.
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| Providing a good looking label is not a necessity. But, your members
will be pleased if the disk has the look and feel of quality. A quality
label should include your club's name. It should include the file names
of the programs and files contained on the disk. You might also want to
indicate: "browse the read.me file." Be aware that some older
ST computers only had single sided drives. You may need to find out which
users have these smaller drives and make a single-sided copy for them.
Disks can be copied by the Desktop copy method, PD, shareware or commercial
programs. FastCopy 3 is a good quality copy program. ProCopy is a great
commercial offering. This allows you to make multiple copies from only
one pass of the origial (providing you have enough memory). Whenever copying
multiple disks it is always wise to use the verify option. While it makes
the copying procedure slower, it verifies that the copy is good.
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| The users group can make a bulk purchase of diskettes at bargan prices.
Watch the computer sale magazines. If you buy 100 or 500 at a time, the
cost can drop to below 30 cents a disk. You might check with other computer
owners as to the reliability of the vendor and the products being sold.
Also, since most all users groups need diskettes, you might buy a large
quantity for 2 or 3 users groups in your area and save a bundle.
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| Distributing the disk.
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| Distributing the disk is not difficult. There are two main methods
for distributing these disks. One is to have a master disk and pre-printed
labels. Each member brings a disk to copy from the master disk during the
meeting. They are given the disk label to put on the disk. The second method
is to copy the disks before the meeting. Make a sufficient number to satisfy
the membership. Additional copies can be made during the meeting. This
second method saves the meeting time for more important things. It is also
the more expensive method. But it does a better job of getting the disk
into your members' hands. People will often forget to bring a blank disk.
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One thing to emphasize is the nature of shareware. Often new users
believe that the copy fee they pay for shareware diskettes is the price
of the program. You need to educate your membership to pay for shareware
programs that they end up using. One method is to print out the registrations,
license, or payment forms provided with the programs that are included
on the disk. Hand out the forms with the disk of the month. If anyone is
irritated with the "commercial nature"
of such a blatant act, remind them that if they want to continue to get
good software on the Atari platform they must pay for it. Shareware is
quality software at a lot less than retail price.
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| Depending on your group's size and your resources, you might mail the
disk to members who cannot attend. However, providing the disk only at
the meeting might be an incentive to get members to the meeting. Some groups
produce a newsletter on disk. On this disk they have a program that
displays the text information and also runs the demo programs. These disks
are mailed to the membership as part of the benefit for being a member.
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Our users group maintains a software library for both the 8-Bit and
ST. Each librarian keeps track of the disks that we have used for the disk
of the month, as well as other disks that we have purchased as a user group.
Keeping a selection like this enable new members the opportunity to make
copies of disks that were distributed prior to them being members. We allow
our members to check out the entire library for a month. Larger groups
might want to have members check out a disk or groups of disks per month
rather then monopolizing the entire library. Whatever you do, make the
programs and files easily
accessible. Share what is to be shared, pay for what needs to be paid for.
By the way, if you have "old" software programs that you no longer
use why not donate it to the group. Or offer it for sale at a greatly reduced
rate. Be sure you transfer all ownership and license to the new owner.
Increasing the size of your software library will increase your ability
to service the members of your group.
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| In the future we will cover Membership (methods
of increasing it), Networking with other users groups, etc.; and I will
share from my own exploits as a users group president; the frustration
and the elation. Stay tuned.
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