• Abandoned Point software

    From Martin Foster@2:310/31.3 to All on Tue Sep 15 11:21:00 2020
    Greetings All!

    Not sure if this is on topic but I'm posting it anyway :-))

    Off the top of my head, I can think of three Point programmes that fall
    into the "abandonware" category:

    [1] APoint
    - Abandoned in 2001 but still quite usable *provided* the binkD plugin
    is installed. There are limitations however and a few bugs that need
    fixing but it is closed source and the original author seems to have
    disappeared. Needless to say, the bugs will never get fixed but one
    of the limitations(in the binkD plugin) could be fixed by someone
    who is competent in batch file programming. The plugin(and APoint)
    are available here: https://stargate.org.uk/apoint

    [2] WinPoint
    - Abandoned in 2007 but still quite usable BUT there are lots of bugs
    that need fixing. The original author is still about but it's closed
    source. He told me a couple of years ago that he had no intentions
    of re-starting development but I never got around to asking if he
    would be prepared to release the source(Delphi). If he could be
    persuaded to release the source, perhaps there's someone in here who
    has the necessary time/inclination/knowledge to have a look at it
    with a view to fixing the bugs.

    [3] Fido Package Deluxe
    - Abandoned in 2007 but still usable(with some tweaking 'n twiddling)
    but needs "bringing into the 21st century". The original author is
    still about and it's open source(Delphi). Somebody tried porting it
    to Lazarus/FPC fairly recently but failed because he said it
    required some third-party libraries which he didn't have. If anyone
    fancies having a bash at porting it to Lazarus/FPC, the source is
    available here: https://stargate.org.uk/fpd

    Regards,
    Martin

    --- OpenXP 5.0.46
    * Origin: Bitz-Box - Bradford - UK (2:310/31.3)
  • From Charles Pierson@2:240/1120.976 to Martin Foster on Tue Sep 15 09:30:51 2020
    Hello, Martin Foster.
    On 9/15/20 11:21 AM you wrote:

    Greetings All! Not sure if this is on topic but I'm posting it
    anyway :-))

    I would think it should be. They are utilities of a sort.

    <Snip>
    [1] APoint
    <snip>
    [2] WinPoint
    <Snip>


    It's unfortunate that they are closed source. I'm pretty sure there are people around who would have interest in development.

    [3] Fido Package Deluxe


    Well, at least this one is open source.



    --
    Best regards!
    Posted using Hotdoged on Android
    --- Hotdoged/2.13.5/Android
    * Origin: The Oasis, Houston, Texas, USA (2:240/1120.976)
  • From Martin Foster@2:310/31.3 to All on Sun Dec 20 09:16:00 2020
    Greetings All!

    *** Tuesday 15.09.20 at 11:21, Martin Foster wrote to All:

    [snip]
    [2] WinPoint - Abandoned in 2007 but still quite usable BUT there
    are lots of bugs that need fixing. The original author is still
    about but it's closed source. He told me a couple of years ago
    that he had no intentions of re-starting development but I never
    got around to asking if he would be prepared to release the source(Delphi). If he could be persuaded to release the source,
    perhaps there's someone in here who has the necessary time/ inclination/knowledge to have a look at it with a view to fixing
    the bugs.

    Update .....

    WinPoint development has now re-started and from what I've read
    elsewhere, top priority is to complete the English translation.

    Regards,
    Martin

    --- OpenXP 5.0.47
    * Origin: Bitz-Box - Bradford - UK (2:310/31.3)
  • From Alan Ianson@1:153/757.2 to Martin Foster on Sun Dec 20 01:50:05 2020
    Re: Abandoned Point software
    By: Martin Foster to All on Sun Dec 20 2020 09:16 am

    WinPoint development has now re-started and from what I've read elsewhere, top priority is to complete the English translation.

    That's great news. Let us know if there are new versions available and where to get them.

    Ttyl :-),
    Al

    ... A sense of humour is the difference between ambition and achievement
    --- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)
  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to Martin Foster on Sun Dec 20 08:13:00 2020
    Hello Martin!

    ** On Sunday 20.12.20 - 09:16, Martin Foster wrote to All:

    [2] WinPoint - Abandoned in 2007 but still quite usable
    BUT there are lots of bugs that need fixing. The
    original author is still about but it's closed source.
    He told me a couple of years ago that he had no
    intentions of re-starting development..

    I guess the covid-bug spawned the programming-bug! <g>


    WinPoint development has now re-started and from what
    I've read elsewhere, top priority is to complete the
    English translation.

    It will be interesting to read and understand the various sub
    sections about file-requests and hatching files.


    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.47
    * Origin: Got mobile? FIDO_UTIL = https://tinyurl.com/yy83amvd (2:221/1.58)
  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to Alan Ianson on Sun Dec 20 09:55:00 2020
    Hello Alan!

    ** On Sunday 20.12.20 - 01:50, Alan Ianson wrote to Martin Foster:

    WinPoint development has now re-started and from what I've read
    elsewhere, top priority is to complete the English translation.

    That's great news. Let us know if there are new versions available and where to get them.

    As of now, the current release is easily found by visiting:

    https://kolico.ca/fidonet/echos/points/

    THEN, in the "POINT software comparisons" link, look for:

    WinPoint = https://stargate.org.uk/winpoint/ (includes Windows
    program and Quick-Start guide)

    Hopefully the new version can be added there.

    And.. then hopefully, it will make its way into the Fido[news/
    gazette] lists of software.

    Winpoint has hatching capability. So, someone may then be able
    to hatch it to the network!

    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.47
    * Origin: Got mobile? FIDO_UTIL = https://tinyurl.com/yy83amvd (2:221/1.58)
  • From Alan Ianson@1:153/757.2 to August Abolins on Sun Dec 20 13:21:28 2020
    Re: Abandoned Point software
    By: August Abolins to Alan Ianson on Sun Dec 20 2020 09:55 am

    Winpoint has hatching capability. So, someone may then be able
    to hatch it to the network!

    That can be done. I can do it myself. I would need an area to hatch the files into, I don't think we have that now but such an area could be created.

    We would need someone to create an FDN and a file area to hatch these files into. The process of creating an FDN is explained in this file.

    http://filegate.net/fg_worf/fdninfo.zip

    I run the NASA FDN, so I understand the process and could do this myself if that would be a good thing.

    I'd be open to creating and running that FDN, or helping someone else who would like to do that get it done.

    Martin has been taking good care of point software, I wonder if he would like to do that or if he would prefer I do that?

    Ttyl :-),
    Al

    ... Junk - stuff we throw away. Stuff - junk we keep.
    --- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)
  • From Martin Foster@2:310/31.3 to Alan Ianson on Tue Dec 22 09:07:00 2020
    Hello Alan!

    *** Sunday 20.12.20 at 01:50, Alan Ianson wrote to Martin Foster:

    WinPoint development has now re-started and from what I've read
    elsewhere, top priority is to complete the English translation.

    That's great news. Let us know if there are new versions available and where to get them.

    Will do but any news regarding WinPoint will be posted in either
    POINTS and/or the new WINPOINT echo.

    Regards,
    Martin

    --- OpenXP 5.0.47
    * Origin: Bitz-Box - Bradford - UK (2:310/31.3)
  • From Martin Foster@2:310/31.3 to August Abolins on Tue Dec 22 09:13:00 2020
    Hello August!

    *** Sunday 20.12.20 at 09:55, August Abolins wrote to Alan Ianson:

    WinPoint development has now re-started and from what I've read
    elsewhere, top priority is to complete the English translation.

    That's great news. Let us know if there are new versions available and
    where to get them.

    As of now, the current release is easily found by visiting:

    https://kolico.ca/fidonet/echos/points/

    THEN, in the "POINT software comparisons" link, look for:

    WinPoint = https://stargate.org.uk/winpoint/ (includes Windows
    program and Quick-Start guide)

    Hopefully the new version can be added there.

    Yes, that's more than likely ;)

    However, please bear in mind that that site is not an official support
    site. THE official support site is located at http://winpoint.org

    Regards,
    Martin

    --- OpenXP 5.0.47
    * Origin: Bitz-Box - Bradford - UK (2:310/31.3)
  • From Martin Foster@2:310/31.3 to Alan Ianson on Tue Dec 22 09:17:00 2020
    Hello Alan!

    *** Sunday 20.12.20 at 13:21, Alan Ianson wrote to August Abolins:

    Winpoint has hatching capability. So, someone may then be able
    to hatch it to the network!

    [snip]
    Martin has been taking good care of point software, I wonder if he would like to do that or if he would prefer I do that?

    Please feel free to do it, I've got more than enough on my plate with
    my involvment in OpenXP development ;)

    Regards,
    Martin

    --- OpenXP 5.0.47
    * Origin: Bitz-Box - Bradford - UK (2:310/31.3)
  • From Martin Foster@2:310/31.7 to Alan Ianson on Sun Nov 14 11:06:17 2021
    Hello Alan!

    *** Sunday 20.12.20 at 9:50:04, Alan Ianson wrote to Martin Foster:

    WinPoint development has now re-started and from what I've read
    elsewhere, top priority is to complete the English translation.

    That's great news. Let us know if there are new versions available and where to get them.

    No new version yet but there have been three public BETA TEST versions released in the last nine days, which comprise the WinPoint executable *only*.

    Regards,
    Martin

    --- WinPoint 373.0
    * Origin: WinPoint Test Rig - UK - (2:310/31.7)
  • From Alan Ianson@1:153/757 to Martin Foster on Sun Nov 14 10:07:25 2021
    Hello Martin,

    That's great news. Let us know if there are new versions
    available and where to get them.

    No new version yet but there have been three public BETA TEST versions released in the last nine days, which comprise the WinPoint executable *only*.

    Yes, I've seen those. I've added a WINPOINT file area to the filegate and hatched wp2005b5.zip (just so folks have it if they need it) and also wp_373.zip and we'll keep those up to date as Tim wishes.

    I have two points here running WinPoint, one for some time and another just doing the setup so I hope he'll have it running smoothly before too long.

    Ttyl :-),
    Al

    ... Junk - stuff we throw away. Stuff - junk we keep
    --- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)
  • From Martin Foster@2:310/31.7 to Alan Ianson on Mon Nov 15 10:37:49 2021
    Hello Alan!

    *** Sunday 14.11.21 at 18:07:25, Alan Ianson wrote to Martin Foster:

    That's great news. Let us know if there are new versions available and
    where to get them.

    No new version yet but there have been three public BETA TEST versions
    released in the last nine days, which comprise the WinPoint executable
    only.

    Yes, I've seen those. I've added a WINPOINT file area to the filegate and hatched wp2005b5.zip (just so folks have it if they need it) and also wp_373.zip and we'll keep those up to date as Tim wishes.

    Thank you very much for that.

    I have two points here running WinPoint, one for some time and another just doing the setup so I hope he'll have it running smoothly before too long.

    That *is* good news, excellent! :-)

    Regards,
    Martin
    --- WinPoint 373.0
    * Origin: WinPoint Test Rig - UK - (2:310/31.7)
  • From Alan Ianson@1:153/757 to Martin Foster on Mon Nov 15 22:17:36 2021
    Hello Martin,

    Thank you very much for that.

    No worries.

    I also have your winpoint_guide.pdf in my collection of stuff around here. That would also make a good file to have when folks are getting setup. With your permission I would hatch that file also. What do you think?

    Ttyl :-),
    Al

    ... Give a woman an inch and she'll park a car in it
    --- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)
  • From Martin Foster@2:310/31.7 to Alan Ianson on Tue Nov 16 10:57:03 2021
    Hello Alan!

    *** Tuesday 16.11.21 at 6:17:36, Alan Ianson wrote to Martin Foster:

    Thank you very much for that.

    No worries.

    I also have your winpoint_guide.pdf in my collection of stuff around
    here. That would also make a good file to have when folks are getting setup. With your permission I would hatch that file also. What do you think?

    Please feel free but you have to bear in mind that depending on what English documentation(if any) is included in the next full WinPoint release will dictate whether I update the guide or just file it away for posterity. Already, some of the stuff in the guide is no longer valid, as it relates to v359.1 only.

    Regards,
    Martin

    --- WinPoint 375.0
    * Origin: WinPoint Test Rig - UK - (2:310/31.7)