 *******
 * FOT *
 *******
 Fibre Optics Training

 COPYRIGHT 1996, 97
 Bell College of Technology
 Almada Street
 Hamilton
 SCOTLAND
 ML3 OJB

 Tel: +44 (0) 1698 283100
 FAX: +44 (0) 1698 282131
 WWW: http://www.bell.ac.uk
 ftp: ftp://ftp.bell.ac.uk
 e-mail: h.reid@bell.ac.uk



Author: H.P. Reid, Bell College of Technology













DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

THIS SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION ARE SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT 
WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER 
WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS 
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THESE PROGRAMS MAY BE 
PUT, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. GOOD 
DATA PROCESSING PROCEDURE DICTATES THAT ANY PROGRAM BE THOROUGHLY 
TESTED WITH NON-CRITICAL DATA BEFORE RELYING ON IT. THE USER MUST 
ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM. ANY LIABILITY OF THE 
SELLER WILL BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO PRODUCT REPLACEMENT OR REFUND 
OF PURCHASE PRICE.
ALL AGREEMENTS ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH UK LAW.




FIBRE OPTICS TRAINING	1
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY	1
FOT FILE LIST	3
WHAT IS FOT?	3
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED	4
INSTALLATION	4
MAKING FOT EASIER TO USE	5
NETWORK SUPPORT	5
WINDOWS and FOT	5
QUESTIONS and PROBLEMS	5
CUSTOMISED VERSIONS	6
DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE	6
AGREEMENT	6
SUPPORT	7
ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS	8
SITE REGISTRATION	8
****************************** INVOICE *****************************	9







 


FOT FILE LIST
FOT distribution disk should contain the file listed below prior to 
de-archive and decompression. See the topic "installation" for 
decompression instructions. The only program designed to be executed 
directly from DOS is FOT3B.EXE. 

FOT3B.ZIP -	This file contains the compressed version of the main 
program and its related documentation. To uncompress this 
file you require the decompression program pkunzip.exe. 
This program can be obtained from most BBS systems or 
over the Internet.

FOT installation directory should contain the files listed below 
after de-archive and decompression.

FOT3B.EXE	- This is the main program for Fibre Optics Training.
FOT.DOC -	This file contains the documentation and installation 
instructions for FOT in Word 6 format. 
FOT.TXT -	This file contains the documentation and installation 
instructions for FOT in DOS text format. 
README.TXT -This is a brief description of the program to be used for 
advertising. 

WHAT IS FOT?

FOT3B is an interactive teaching package which introduces the physics 
of Optical Fibres. The package covers light guiding and fibre types, 
dispersion and bandwidth, attenuation, manufacture of optical fibres, 
splicing and connectorising, design considerations, light sources, 
fibre systems and equipment simulations.

The topics covered are appropriate for first year tertiary education 
level whether at a college or university.
 
The package was written using the educational version of the DOS 
based authoring package 'Authority'. If sufficient interest is 
generated by the release of this DOS based package, it is the 
intention that future versions will be made available in Microsoft 
Windows and World Wide Web formats.

It is intended that the package is used in a sequential manner but 
navigation tools have been incorporated to allow the student the 
possibility of choosing any learning outcome and any page within an 
outcome. The package has been used for several years, without major 
difficulty, by students having a limited computer knowledge but with 
a lecturer available to provide assistance.

The set of exercises within FOT were developed to aid and supplement 
training, not act as the prime assessment method. Instructors should 
find some exercises useful whether the main delivery vehicle be self-
paced, lecture/laboratory or CAL. In any application, the exercises 
provide varied on-line activity with the advantage of immediate 
feedback. 

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
The minimum equipment required to run FOT is an IBM compatible 
computer with 640KB memory, hard disk drive, MS-DOS 3.3 or higher, a 
mouse with a suitable mouse driver loaded and a VGA monitor. All 
processors from the 80286 can be used.

INSTALLATION
There should be at least 2.5 MB of free storage on your hard disk 
before starting the installation process below. A mouse must be 
fitted to your computer and the DOS driver for the mouse should be 
loaded (see manufacturers literature on how to load the driver). 

The installation process described below is for the authors 
distribution package. Most shareware disk distributors use the same 
distribution format but may include additional files. Some copies of 
FOT may be repackaged by disk vendors and require a somewhat 
different installation process. FOT is distributed in a compressed 
and archived format to reduce the number of disks required. Follow 
the steps below to install FOT on your computer. The distribution 
disks should contain the listed file: FOT3B.ZIP

STEP(1)  Prepare a directory on your hard disk for FOT. Any directory 
name can be used. The command line below could be given to produce a 
directory named FOT.

 MD FOT

STEP(2)  Enter the directory prepared for FOT. The command line below 
could be used.

 CD FOT

STEP(3)  Copy the contents of the distribution disk into the 
directory. Follow the sequence listed below to copy the files to the 
hard drive.
 
(Insert disk 1 in drive A:)
 COPY A:*.*  C:

STEP(4)  Decompress the files using PKUNZIP (available separately 
from most BBS systems or from the Internet.)

PKUNZIP FOT3B.ZIP

STEP(5)  Installation is finished and the program can be run by 
typing

FOT3B

MAKING FOT EASIER TO USE

Beginning students who are unfamiliar with DOS can more easily use 
the programs if a the batch file below is created and stored in the 
root directory of the hard disk. 

REM Batch File FOT.BAT 
@ECHO OFF 
CD FOT  REM ( change to the directory containing FOT ) 
FOT3B

Name the batch file FOT.BAT. Now all a student need do is boot the 
computer then type FOT to start the program. The CD must be to the 
directory containing FOT which may be some other name.

NETWORK SUPPORT 

This beta release has not had the additional sections needed for 
correct network operation added. Running this version under a network 
environment is at the users own risk and no support for this will be 
offered. If network support is imperative then the full version of 
the software should be purchased.

The full version of FOT has been used with no problems under Novell 
Netware 3.11 and 4.1. It should be ensured that the files are set as 
shareable and that the students only have read access to them.

WINDOWS and FOT

No particular problems have been encountered when running FOT in a 
maximised DOS windows environment except that you must ensure that a 
DOS mouse driver has been loaded before entering Windows.

QUESTIONS and PROBLEMS

All questions and problems related to the package should be directed 
to Hugh P. Reid at h.reid@bell.ac.uk. No guarantee can be given to 
unregistered users that their questions can or will be answered but 
it will hopefully be taken into account in future versions of the 
software.
CUSTOMISED VERSIONS

The author of FOT will consider producing modified versions of the 
FOT system or portions of the system to suit specific purposes. The 
fee will, of course, depend on the complexity of the modification. 
Please send a description of the desired changes for a quotation of 
charges for a custom revision. 

DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE

Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before 
buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you 
are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- 
some request registration while others require  it, some  specify a  
maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the 
simple right to continue using the software to an updated program 
with printed manual.

Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and 
the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific 
exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished 
programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of 
comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad 
ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The 
author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the 
software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For 
example,  some authors require written permission before a commercial 
disk vendor may copy their Shareware.

Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You 
should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether 
it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your 
needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the 
overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate 
money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay 
for it.

AGREEMENT
Users of FOT must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "FOT is 
supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or 
implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of 
merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no 
liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from 
the use of FOT."

FOT is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user 
for evaluation.  Feel free to share it with your associates, but 
please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The 
essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer 
users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide 
incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you 
find this program useful and find that you are using FOT and continue 
to use FOT after a reasonable trial period, you must make a 
registration payment. To encourage registration this copy of FOT has 
built-in time limits which will reduce functionality after 1st April 
1997.  The registration fee for a single copy of FOT for personal use 
is 30.00. Sites can be registered for a fee of 15.00 per user 
station for up to ten units and 10.00 per user station beyond 10 
units ( minimum fee 150.00 per site ). Site licences are available 
on request from the author. Each physical site must register 
separately. A registered site may issue or loan copies of FOT to 
students for use after hours. The site must register the number of on 
site user stations plus the maximum number of copies issued to 
students from the site. The site registration fee also covers 
preparation of a custom welcome message which will appear on the 
screen each time the FOT program is started. You must treat this 
software just like a book. An example is that this software may be 
used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one 
computer location to another on the same site, so long as there is no 
possibility of it being used simultaneously by more than the number 
of users licensed at this site. On networks, software which limits 
the number of concurrent users is acceptable. 

You are encouraged to pass a copy of FOT along to your associates and 
other institutions for their evaluation. Please encourage them to 
register their copy if they find that they can use it. All registered 
users will receive a copy of the latest version of the FOT system.  

SUPPORT
Registered users can obtain support information by mail or e-mail at 
the address and phone number on the cover sheet of this document. 
Primary support is via e-mail. All inquiries will be responded to 
promptly. Three months of support are included in the registration 
fee. Contact the author for extended support service pricing. 
Significant updates within the same version of FOT will be supplied 
at no cost during the free support interval. 

Registered users will be informed of the availability of updates, 
"add on" items, and new version releases. 

The author of FOT invites comments and suggestions from registered 
users and reviewers of the shareware distribution. 



ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS
SINGLE COPY :

Send your payment of 30.00 (+ VAT for UK customers) to:   

Bell Innovations
Bell College of Technology
Almada Street
Hamilton
SCOTLAND
ML3 OJB

Your payment can be made in the form of UK currency, USA currency, 
cheque ( UK banks), UK postal money orders, and international postal 
money orders.  Your copy of FOT with your name appearing on the 
welcome screen will be sent promptly.

SITE REGISTRATION

Purchase  orders are  accepted from  any credit-worthy institution or 
organisation. Payment can also be made by cheque, UK postal money 
order,  International postal money order, USA currency, and UK 
currency. Complete the invoice on the next page and send it to the 
Bell Innovations for payment. Alternately, complete an institution or 
company purchase order with the data shown on the invoice form. FOT 
is registered on a site license basis. Registration fees are 15.00 
per user station for the first 10 user stations. 10.00 for each user 
station beyond 10 users at a site. The user station count should 
include direct on site copies plus copies issued or loaned to 
students to run on their personal computers. The minimum fee per site 
is 150.00. Send all orders and fees to the address given on the 
invoice form on the next page.

Registered sites will receive a personalised copy of FOT, three 
months of support for the current version of FOT, and a signed 
license agreement. Registered sites will also be informed of new 
version releases and FOT extensions as such items become available. 



****************************** INVOICE *****************************
FROM:							TO:
Bell Innovations
Bell College of Technology
Almada Street
Hamilton
SCOTLAND
ML3 OJB


 QTY    ITEM NAME               	UNIT PRICE                	 TOTAL  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

_____  Single user copy of FOT  	@ 30.00 		_____________

_____  FOT software Registration 	@ 15.00 ea 		_____________
       up to 10 units. (min. 10) 

_____  FOT software Registration 	@ 10.00 ea 		_____________
       of over 10 units per site.

	 Inclusion of company logo    @ 20.00   		_____________
	
       Shipping, handling, media 	@ 4.00    
________________________________________________________________
 							
			 *****SUB TOTAL ***** 	______________ 

	UK Customers add VAT at the prevailing rate     	______________

				***** TOTAL ***** 	______________

 PRINT OR TYPE THE WELCOME MESSAGE DESIRED: ( Site registration only)

All lines do not have to be filled. Maximum characters per line is 26. Any text on 
the first three lines will be in a large font. Remaining lines will be in a smaller 
size font. The welcome message for registered sites can be changed later by sending 
the new message along with 20.00 cash, cheque, or Purchase Order. The necessary 
modified files will be shipped promptly.

Do not complete this area if you are a single copy purchaser of FOT. Single user 
copies are branded to the users name.

 line(1)__________________________________________________
 line(2)__________________________________________________
 line(3)__________________________________________________
 line(4)__________________________________________________
 line(5)__________________________________________________

A company or institution logo can be incorporated on the front screen of the 
program for a fee of 20.00 cash, cheque or Purchase Order. The logo can be 
included by sending a disk containing the logo file with the logo in PCX, TIF or 
GIF format, arranging with the author as to where the file can be obtained on the 
Internet or sending a good quality paper based copy which can be scanned.



