------------------------------------------------------------------------ RUBICON PUBLISHER Version 2.2C SHAREWARE EDITION Rubicon Computer Labs Inc., 2 Pommiers, Hull, P.Q. Canada J8Z 2M2 Telephone & Fax: (819)770-4317 CompuServe: 71307,1212 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ________________________________________________ | | | RUBICON\README | | | | PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE FILE (175 LINES) | | BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL OR USE THE | | RUBICON PUBLISHER. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT | | INFORMATION AND ESSENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS. | |________________________________________________| The Rubicon Publisher is a BATCH PROCESSOR which is used to publish text files which have been previously prepared in plain ASCII format using any suitable word processor or text editor, or any other software which generates plain ASCII text files. It is a serious desk-top publishing program, not really designed for beginners; but if you can use a word processor, you can install and use the Publisher sucessfully, provided that you read and follow the instructions, and pay reasonable attention to detail when preparing text files for publication. It will enable you to produce a wide variety of documents -- forms, notices, advertisements, newsletters, reports, financial statements, leaflets, brochures, book-length projects, etc. -- with typesetting of professional quality. In short, it's a very useful program: and it's also more fun than most video games, because its creative possibilities are limited only by your imagination. This edition of Version 2.2C of the RUBICON PUBLISHER is distributed as "SHAREWARE". Under the shareware concept, copies of program disks are freely circulated among computer users, so that they can become acquainted with the program at no charge. Funding for development of shareware software is collected by the HONOR SYSTEM--actual users of the program pay the requested licence fee. This fee is much lower than the price of comparable commercial software. It is the user who ultimately pays for excess advertising and dealer mark-ups. (Advertising budgets often exceed development costs by a ratio of 10 to 1.) Remember too, that successful shareware companies help lower the prices of regular commercial software by providing healthy competition. By remitting the licence fees for all shareware programs that you actually use, you can help ensure the continued supply of good quality software at reasonable prices. The shareware "try before you buy" system will only work if shareware users respect the fact that shareware is proprietary software: it is NOT in the Public Domain. If you find the RUBICON PUBLISHER useful, and make use of it for purposes other than evaluation, you are legally obliged to purchase a user's licence. When registering, please use one of the self-publishing Registration and Order forms which appear on the Rubicon directory when you install the software: * In the U.S.A., use REGFORM.US * In the U.K and Europe, use REGFORM.UK * In Australia and New Zealand, use REGFORM.ANZ * In Canada, use REGFORM.CAN * In any other location, use REGFORM.FOR The current licence fees for the various versions of the Publisher are specified in these forms. PLEASE NOTE OUR MAILING ADDRESS FOR REGISTRATIONS: RUBICON COMPUTER LABS INC. P.O. Box 336 Chelsea, Quebec, Canada J0X 1N0 When you register, you will receive a copy of the Commercial Edition of the current version of the Publisher. The Commercial Edition is too large for convenient distribution as Shareware, and contains licensed third-party software not available as shareware. It therefore includes the following important features, not found in the Shareware Edition: * Automatic Optimal Paragraph Composition * Automatic Hyphenation * Graphics (LaserJet & Postscript) * Rubicon's Times, Helv, Classic, Nova and Courier soft fonts in extended range of point sizes * Bold Italic soft fonts * Installation Utility for third-party soft fonts * Font compression utilities You will also receive a printed copy of the complete Reference Manual, which provides full documentation of all features of the Publisher, together with a glossary of technical terms, a quick reference guide, numerous worked examples, and much other useful information which would not fit in the Concise Manual included with the Shareware distribution files. For period of one year, you will be entitled to purchase all program updates, for an update licence fee of $15.00. We encourage users to make as many evaluation copies of the RUBICON PUBLISHER Shareware Edition as they like, and to pass them on to all interested parties, but copying of the Commercial Edition or the printed Reference Manual is not permitted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WHAT TO DO 1. Retrieve and read file MANUAL.1. 2. Install the Publisher by running the INSTALL program in accordance with the instructions in Sections 1.2 and 1.3 of the Manual in file MANUAL.1. (PLEASE don't try to install the Publisher before reading these instructions.) 3. To get a feel for the program, PUBLish specimen text files SAMPLE_1, SAMPLE_2, ... SAMPLE_4, and one or more of the "REGFORM" files (REGFORM.US, REGFORM.CAN, etc.) which you will find on the RUBICON directory. Note: SAMPLE_4 is the table of contents for the Concise Manual. The "REGFORM" files are the registration and order form as explained above. To PUBLish these files: (a) Make sure your printer is ready and on line; (b) log on to the directory RUBICON (if you are not already there); (c) enter the command: PUBL SAMPLE_1 /T (d) Wait for Sample_1 to be printed out, and examine the results. (e) Repeat steps (c) and (d) for SAMPLE_2, SAMPLE_3, SAMPLE_4 and one or more of the "REGFORM" files. Remember to BE PATIENT: the Publisher generally requires AT LEAST ONE AND ONE-HALF MINUTES of processing time, before it starts to print, and may require SEVERAL MINUTES, depending on the complexity of the document being published, and the hardware setup being used. During much of this processing time, the Publisher may not appear to be doing anything. To reassure you that the program is really running, we have specified use of the run-time switch "/T" to invoke the "Tracers" option, as described in Section 2.4 of the Manual. The screen display produced by the "Tracers" option shows each detailed step the Publisher takes in formatting and publishing the document. It is primarily intended as a diagnostic (or "trouble-shooting") tool, and experienced users of the Publisher generally do not use the "Tracers" option unless they are trying to solve a problem encountered in publishing a document. 4. PUBLish the Rubicon Publisher Tutorial. NOTE: The Tutorial is about 20 pages long, and takes substantial time -- typically 30 to 45 minutes -- to PUBLish. Having PUBLished the "Samples", you will have some idea of how long it takes your computer and printer to PUBLish one page: the Tutorial will take about 15 times as long. However, once you have started the process, it will proceed automatically without further instructions, provided that your printer's paper-handling mechanism is reliable and is loaded with enough paper for the job. (a) Make sure your printer is ready and on line and loaded with an adequate supply of paper; (b) log on to the directory RUBICON (if you are not already there); (c) enter the command: PUBL TUTORIAL /T 5. Use the printed Tutorial to learn how to use the Publisher. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536." --------------------------------------------------------------------------