The PDS Library Needs Your Help

               by George Kollar

In going through the CCS PDS Library the past few
months and listening to member comments, I feel
the library needs a touch of automation to better
keep it current and help members search its
evolving content. Also, I sense interest in
creating a separate library containing
demonstration versions of commercial software.
Both libraries would be cataloged using the
shareware package called WSSINDEX.

Cataloging the CCS Library will enable anyone to
search for a given filename or a particular
software category across all disks. This should
aid members in making more informed choices about
which disks to purchase. A separate disk called
CCS-CATALOG will be added to the library in the
beginning of 1988 and will contain the library
databases and utilities to aid in searching the
databases, regardless of one's PC expertise. This
disk will be updated at least quarterly and sold
for $1.00 as a service to members.

Another reason for software cataloging the CCS
Library is to encourage the general membership to
help in keeping the library current. The library
is a valuable resource of the Society and one of
the main reasons why people initially join CCS.
The growing task of maintaining and keeping it up
to date can no longer depend on one person.

Before adding much more to the library, help is
needed to catalog the existing disks. This process
will afford the opportunity to evaluate each
disk's content and decide if it is still a
worthwhile entry. In the case of games and
utilities, disks may be combined as necessary, to
eliminate some of the redundancy that now exists.

If you wish to volunteer for "Project Catalog",
you should have your own system, be generally
knowledgeable about PCs, Public Domain Software
and WSSINDEX in particular. Disk #1 in the CCS
Library has been changed from a General Utility
disk dated 1983 (ancient times) to WSSINDEX.
Please obtain a copy through a chapter or SIG
meeting where software is sold, or download it
from a BBS. It can be found on our BBS in two
files: WSSI320A.ARC and WSSI320B.ARC. Version 3.20
is the latest as of mid-November. CCS has
registered a copy to be kept informed of all future
enhancements to WSSINDEX.

WSSINDEX was chosen at this time as the most
versatile cataloging software that I could find
and exists as a shareware product. Others may be
more friendly, but lack the power of WSSINDEX. Its
more unique features include: reading disks
alternately from two drives, reading ARC file
directories as well as normal DOS directories,
merging WSSINDEX databases, adding/changing
comments and categories to existing entries, and
creating a variety of sorted reports. Output can
be directed easily to the screen, printer or to a
file. ASCII file output is suitable for reading
into a database or spreadsheet of your choice.

Please call me at 935-3058 to indicate your
interest in joining "Project Catalog". With about
a dozen volunteers working on ten disks each, the
catalog process could easily be completed by the
end of January 1988. I hope to set a goal of
expanding the library by 30% to 50% by the end of
1988, with a little help from the membership.

Finally, Library Services is always looking for
disks to add to the existing PDS or the new DEMO
libraries. Please mail me disks that need not be
returned. DEMO disks must be permitted to be
"copied freely" and contain a documentation file
to be eligible for the CCS-DEMO Library. Call me
anytime to suggest ideas on "Project Catalog" or
Library Services in general.

 *****  HOLIDAY DISCOUNT ON LIBRARY DISKS  *****

From now till December 31st, disks from the CCS
Library can be purchased at a $1.00 discount,
both at meetings and through the mail.
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