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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)