                              POWer Viewer 1.0
                       (C) Copyright Victor Yiu, 1995.
                         [victor.yiu@psl-online.com]

    POW is not free, or "public domain," but "cardware" non-commercial use.
   Corporate and BBS operators, please note the registration section below.
          It is requested that all users of this program register.
                       (It's practically free anyway!)



Introducing "POW"...     
--------------------

POW is a unique text viewer -- in fact, the ONLY ONE of its kind.
What's so special about it?  ** You can now browse plain color ANSI files! **
And ANSI.SYS is not required.

You can even scroll back and forth, search through, or goto a specific line.
It's a breeze to view raw BBS capture files!

There have been many utilities in the past that allowed users to view ANSI
files, but never before has any program allowed a user to actually BROWSE,
move back and forth, up and down, as if it were any other plain text file!


Bulletin Board Operators
------------------------

BBS Sysops can now have the ability to distribute color coded ANSI 'new files'
lists to their users.  Compared to their plain text counterparts, the colored
versions are more attractive and convenient for the users to use.  Color
coding allows the users to quickly browse through the listings.  (See
SAMPLE2.ANS for an example.)  Since ANSI.SYS is not required, sysops will not
have to worry about the users' configurations.

If you wish to use POW in your bulletin board system, please contact me to
work something out (see below).  By registering, you can get a customized
version of POW for you to include for your users.  Optionally, you may
include a short ANSI 'advertisement' for POW to display automatically
after its copyright screen (will be incorporated inside the EXE file, no
external file necessary).


Limitations
-----------

POW is designed to work with 'sequential' ANSI files only.  Files that utilize
vertical cursor positioning commands or have unusual line break placement
will result in unexpected displays.  Maximum viewable file size is 32,500
lines.

Due to the design of the program, it is not possible to view these files.
Viewing 'animation' files would require loading them completely in memory.
I have opted instead for an algorithm that allows greater capacity (32,500
lines), while maintaining a small memory footprint (will run in about 256k).
Since most animated ANSI sequences do not require the 'viewer' capability
anyway, they should be viewed with plain ANSI.SYS.


Registration  (it's practically FREE to all users!)
------------

POW is cardware for normal users (non-commercial use), which means all you
have to do is to just send me a postcard (a cool one :)  ) with suggestions
and comments about POW.  Your continued support will encourage me to further
develop this product!  Snailmail address:
     Victor Yiu
     2823 Cane Field Drive
     Sugar Land, TX 77479-1427

Additionally, I also ask that you upload the complete, unmodified version
(with all its files intact) to another BBS or internet FTP site.  Help spread
POW around!  That's it!

Drop me a line in e-mail if you can, too!  :)   victor.yiu@psl-online.com


******** NOTICE ********
For corporate accounts or BBS sysops, please contact me for details.
For BBS sysops, the general price outline based on the number of registered
users is shown below.  I don't want overwhelming registration prices to deter
you from using POW.  In all cases, please e-mail me to work something out.

    up to 25 user package   $ 9                Please make checks or money
          50 user package   $15                orders payable to Victor Yiu.
         100 user package   $19
         200 user package   $29
         400 user package   $39
         401+users      email me privately

For the option of adding an ANSI screen for POW to automatically display 
during program exit is an extra $5.  The short ANSI sequence (up to 20 lines
or so) will be customized directly into the EXE file, so tampering or erasing
of the 'ad' will not occur.

This program is based on an honor system.  I don't think the price is
unreasonable, and hope all corporate users or bulletin board operators will
take the time to register.  It may seem little, but it means a lot to me.


Contacting the author
---------------------

I can be reached through the Internet at "victor.yiu@psl-online.com", without
the quotes.  I also frequent PSL Online (see below).  On FidoNet, I can be
reached at 1:106/30, as Victor Yiu.   My snailmail address is listed above.


Revision History
----------------

.99beta     PSL Online user beta-test. Not for distribution.
  [3/19/95]

1.00        First official general-public release.
  [5/09/95]


Special Thanks
--------------

Special thanks to Maryjane Choate for her help and support.  Thanks to
Harry Brimberry of PSL Online, for running such a great board.  Try it out
and see what I mean!  PSL Online (10 nodes) (713)442-6704...


Disclaimer   (who really reads this section anyway?  :)  )
----------
The author, Victor Yiu, disclaims all warranties as to this software, whether
express or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of
merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, functionality, or data
integrity.  The author is not liable for any damages, direct or consequential,
which may result from the use of POW.

Whew!  Thanks for using POW!

 POWer Viewer 1.0  (C) Copyright Victor Yiu, 1995.  All rights reserved. 
