Sorcerer Software Users Newsletter Issue 0208 Welcome to our monthly newsletter, covering the latest updates, tips and user questions about our software programs. If you have an issue or question you would like to see addressed in a future newsletter, either by me or by your fellow users, please email me and I'll include it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 31, 2002 CONTENTS: 1. The Abacus 2. CD Stripper 3. Envelope Printer 4. This month's worthless trivia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Abacus http://www.TheAbacus.biz With great fanfare and trumpets blowing, we announce a new addition to the Abacus family of line counting software products. Introducing Abacus 4.0, a standalone version of the Abacus line counter. The new Abacus 4.0 is not an MS Word add-in program, but rather runs independent of (but cooperative with) Word. The program is downloaded and installed just like any other. After installing you end up with an Abacus icon that you can double click to start the program. Once started Abacus lets you navigate among your various directories, drives and folders to find the one(s) you want, and then select the files you wish to count. When you start counting Abacus will open Word and the selected document, count the lines, close the document, and then move on to the other files you have selected for counting. When Abacus is finished it will close Word and write all of your line counts to a log file, just like the other versions of Abacus. When you have finished all your counts for a billing period, you can then prepare a formal invoice from your log file. Our beta testers (all of whom are MTs) found this new Abacus to be easier to install and to use, and we certainly agree. Abacus 4.0 has almost exactly the same feature set as the add-in version of Abacus (version 3.0), and then some. Abacus 4.0 lets you count words or pages in addition to counting gross lines and characters. It also allows great flexibility for customization, so we can continue to customize or add features as need arises. Abacus 4.0 is not an upgrade or replacement for version 3.0, our current release. It is an alternative for those who would rather use a standalone Abacus program than a Word add-in. There are advantages to both approaches and you can read more about them on our web site. Abacus 4.0 can be downloaded for a free trial from our web site at: http://www.theabacus.biz If you decide to purchase the program the cost is only $30, but current registered users can buy it for half price ($15) using either PayPal or by ordering directly from us. You can reach PayPal online at: http://www.paypal.com The current Abacus build is 020722. If you have an earlier build of version 3.0, you may want to download and upgrade to this build. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CD Stripper http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/cdstrip.htm About a year ago we released version 4.0, a major upgrade from the previous version 3.1. The new version sports a brand new interface and faster, more accurate ripping and encoding. But it lacked one feature found in the previous version: the ability to record from an external audio source. We have now rectified that deficiency. We recently posted to our web site CD Stripper version 4.0.1, build 020820. This new version includes an "External" button which allows you to record songs or sounds from any external source that your computer's sound card supports. Now you can record from any audio source that plugs into the sound card, such as a microphone, turntable or cassette tape player. And it's easy to use; start playing the source, click on the "Start" button to begin recording, and then click on the "Save" button to save (as a WAV or an MP3 file) what you just recorded. What could be simpler? The current CD Stripper build is 020820. If you have an earlier build of version 4.0, you may want to download and upgrade to this build. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Envelope Printer http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/envelope.htm Working on a minor addition to the program, which I'll report on next month. Stay tuned... The current Envelope Printer build is 020629 of version 6.1. If you have an earlier build or version 6.0, you may want to download and upgrade to this build and version. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interesting but worthless trivia (continued)... from last month had to do with: 1. The worst 50 TV shows of all time (according to TV Guide); and 2. The #1 (of 100) greatest song of the 20th century (according to the National Endowment for the Arts). I know you've all been waiting with baited breath for the answers, so here they are: 1. Worst TV show - The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present). 2. Greatest song - "Over the Rainbow" (yep... a 17 year old girl named Judy Garland). Let's go for culture this month: According to the Editorial Board of the Modern Library (founded in 1917 - not exactly a dot.com startup), the Best English Language Novel of the 20th Century is: _____________ ? Do you know? Or have a guess? Or how about an opinion??? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's all, folks. Look for our next newsletter in about 4 weeks... -- Bill bill@sorcerersoftware.com Sorcerer Software http://www.sorcerersoftware.com To read all the old newsletters, go to: http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/archives.htm To be removed from our mailing list, send me an email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.