timln3bg.dos
                                             BEN BLUMENBERG
                                             REALITY SOFTWARE
                                             P.O. Box 105
                                             Waldoboro, ME 04572
                                             Sept 4, 1992



 
                               TO BEGIN....


     If you acquired the shareware version of Timeline v.3, your
decompressed package of files should contain time3sh.dos (six
sample pages from the timeline itself), tmln3reg.dos (why and
how to register), sharew.hlp ( hints on how to decompress, and
begin to enjoy your shareware), timln3bg.dos (this file) and on
disc flyers that describe studies in the history of religion
available from Reality Software. 

     Timeline 2 was distributed via BBS in late 1991 as a complete
edition, with registration on the honor system. The complete
timeline was available in the 'shareware' package with a
registration form included so that Reality Software would be
compensated fairly for the large work effort involved. Timeline 2
was quite popular, judging by the large number of downloads but
very few users chose to register. For that reason, this edition
of timeline is being made available via BBS as a shareware
preview. Registration is required if you wish to own the entire
timeline which has received a major revision as explained in the
registration document. 

     All files, except the timeline itself, are text files and
they were prepared using Word Perfect for Windows (WPWIN). Text
files were converted to ASCII format. The timeline itself was
prepared using MS EXCEL 4.0 for Windows and then converted to
ASCII text format.It can be viewed in any ASCII text editor.
An opportunity is provided to acquire the version formatted for
EXCEL 3.0 or 4.0 for Windows; see the registration form. This
version has various basic desk top publishing features, such as
bold and italic, that make for easier reading and perception of
emphasis. When loaded into EXCEL, printing is a snap; the timeline
occupies 54 printed pages with headers and footers on each. This
version also has a perfectly 'clean' format in that text lines
within columns are perfectly aligned, etc.
     The ASCII version may have some misalignment of line entries,
a problem that is unavoidable because small differences exist
between ASCII text editors and basic file viewers. I edited and
'cleaned up' Timeline v 3.0 with Boxer v 4.0b (Boxer Software),
which is a superb professional ASCII editor that is also easy to
use for those at an intermediate level. If you load the ASCII
version of Timeline 3 into Boxer, a totally cleaned up formatting 
is preserved with all data entries and columns perfectly aligned.
I have also loaded the 'Boxer cleaned'version of Timeline 3 into
the PC Tools 7.1 file viewer and WinEdit (a Windows ASCII editor) 
and in both cases some formatting was lost. If you own an ASCII 
editor, you can easily clean up the format yourself if the lack of
alignment bothers you. 

     Technical help is available from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. EST,
seven days a week at 1 207 832-7348. PLEASE, BEFORE CALLING, READ
THE FILE ABOUT SHAREWARE HELP (SHAREW.HLP)! I am not home every
day of the month, but your chances of getting me are quite good;
five to six days/month I am away. I have a deep hatred of
answering machines, however efficient, and so you will not hear a
taped message if I am out. Chances are no one will answer; please
call again in 24 or 48 hours. I will also answer written
questions through the mail (no fax here either); please include a
SASE. There is a level of technological frenzy and obsessive,
machine generated demand for instant feedback, that I have no
patience with, or toleration for. I intend to keep one foot in
the tenth century. The result of that personal philosophy, for
better or worse, is that I generated an historical timeline, not
a computer game or PIM.

ENJOY!
 

File List - 

     Timeline: sonsgod.dos; tmln3sh.dos; timln3bg.dos;
timln3dc.dos; tmln3reg.dos; sharew.hlp

     'Flyers' for history of religion software: celtreg.reg;
chjapreg.reg; intbreg.reg; whgdsreg.reg.