Conference 7.286::atarist

461.0. "ABACUS user group and library information" by LEDDEV::WALLACE () Mon May 01 1989 19:00

I seem to mention ABACUS (not the book publisher) frequently in this notes file
and a few have indicated they were not familiar with what ABACUS is. So I will
use this note to explain what ABACUS is and a bit about the ABACUS PD
software library. 

A.B.A.C.U.S. (or ABACUS) stands for the "Acton-Boxboro Atari Computer User
Society". Put plainly we are an Atari Users Group that supports ST's as well as
8 bit Ataris. ABACUS meets in the Acton and Boxboro Mass. area on the last
tuesday of each month. Membership is only $10/year. Meeting notices
including directions to the meeting place can be found in the replies
to note 25.0.

As part of our support for the ST we maintain a library of Public Domain (PD)
software for the ST (as well as 8 bit). Copies of disks from this library are
available for a small copying fee to both members (of ABACUS) and non-members.
On top of that the club holds "Copy Fests" about twice a year. Copy fests are
special meetings were members can copy any and all of the software in the PD
library at NO charge (non-members can copy disks at copy fests for $1.00/disk). 

As the current ST librarian for ABACUS I sometimes make exceptions to the above
library availability rules. In particular if someone at DEC is interested in
one or two specific files from the library (and there not too large) then I may
choose to upload them to the VAX and make them publicly available for copying
from my system (ie: no copying fee). Those don't normally stay on my system for
very long, but you are welcome to look and see what is currently there at
LEDDEV::DISK$USER9:[WALLACE.PUBLIC.ST]*.*. 

The library consists of about 200 disks, some are double sided but most are
single. A listing of the library including a brief description of each file can
be copied from, LEDDEV::DISK$USER9:[WALLACE.PUBLIC.ST]ABACUS.ARC. You should
either use ARC.EXE to extract ABACUS.MAR from the archive or use "cvtarc v
abacus.arc" and then VMSSWEEP to extract the file. If you use VMSSWEEP use the
K option before extracting ABACUS.MAR. ABACUS.MAR (MAR meaning the March
listing not a macro program) also lists the copy fees (which go to support the
users group) and the beggining fo the file. 

	Ray

    As current President of A.B.A.C.U.S., I would like to add that
    non-residents are welcome to join. However, Ray has forgotten that
    the club dues were recently raised to $15/yr. Members are also able
    to buy boxes of diskettes at bulk-rate prices.

    Time marches on...
    
    A.B.A.C.U.S. is now known as NaVAUS
    
    I am now the ST PD librarian and the current list is available as
    QARRY::DISK$USER:[BHAMILTON.PUBLIC]STLIB.LST
    
    The library will shortly be reorganized into fewer categories and
    converted into all double-sided diskettes. When the new list is
    available and whenever new entries are made I will announce in the
    NaVAUS Notices note (25).
    
    Since the club needs the funds I will enforce the $1 extra for
    non-members upon requests by non-member DEC employees. It's still a
    deal! When the library is reorganized you will be able to get a
    double-sided diskette with PD stuff for $3+postage.
    

    As of 24-Apr-90 an updated NaVAUS PD list has been posted to
    QARRY::DISK$USER:[BHAMILTON.PUBLIC]STLIB.LST