Important News About The Digital Compendium March 2000 March will be the LAST ISSUE of The Digital Compendium in its current DOS-based format.
Ever since the first appearance of The Compendium in 1994, NASS has also published an electronic version of each issue, mirroring the printed version and generally including additional software that would be of interest to dialists. The Digital Compendium has been compiled using the DOS-based program NeoBook, which was an excellent program in its time, but which is now outdated and cumbersome. Although there is now a Windows98 version of NeoBook available, we have decided on a different option. In the future, The Digital Compendium will be a PDF (i.e. Portable Document Format) version of the print edition. It will look just like the printed edition (except that it may contain color instead of the strictly black and white print format); it will continue to have the option to include a digital bonus; and if you wish to print it out, it is compatible with virtually any printer. To view and print the new Digital Compendium, you will need to have a copy of the Abobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0. This program is an industry standard viewer available free of charge online at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html (approx. 5.6MB download). There are versions of the Reader for several different operating systems - so use of The Digital Compendium is no longer restricted to PC-compatibles. For example, if you use a power PC Mac (nothing earlier), you can download the current Mac version of the Reader and then request The Digital Compendium by email. You should then be able to read and print the issue (although any bonus programs will generally still be usable only on DOS or Windows based machines). Members of NASS may be interested to know that there is a CD currently in preparation which will include newly formatted versions of all back issues of The Digital Compendium - that's more than 25 issues - as well as other dialing material. We hope to be able to produce the CD late this year - complete with an every-word index to the whole CD. This last issue in DOS format will be accompanied by a copy in the new PDF format. (If for some reason the PDF format does not work for you, NASS will accommodate you by refunding the portion of your membership paid for non-delivered digital issues - or by extending your print subscription in exchange as appropriate. If you wish to make such a change to your subscription, please contact Fred Sawyer as soon as possible.) Fred Sawyer 8 Sachem Drive Glastonbury CT 06033 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
