General Instructions
       
       
       WARNING!  When you  initially  open  a  database using the Public
       Domain  Catalog,  the  program  allocates  approximately  110,000
       characters of disk space to be used  for writing the index.  This
       insures that you  will  always  be  able  to  save your data even
       though the diskette becomes  full.   Consequently, if you receive
       this program on a public domain distribution  diskette, there may
       be insufficient disk space for  the  program to execute.  In this
       event, copy  the  PubCat  directory  to  its  own diskette before
       attempting to use the program.
       
       
       INTRODUCTION
       
       The Public Domain Catalog program provides a convenient method of
       keeping track of all those Public Domain programs.  The following
       information is maintained for you in the database:
       
                           Program Name
                           Disk Name
                           Type File
                           Program Size
                           Program Date
                           Version
                           Reference Data
                           Author
                           Remarks
       
       A method is provided  to  automatically  scan  diskettes and make
       entries into  the  catalog.   Before  an  entry  is placed in the
       catalog, you are given the opportunity  to change the information
       and add a brief description  of  the  program  if desired.  Also,
       during the scan process, you  may  specify that certain directory
       entries are to be bypassed.   This  feature  allows inappropriate
       entries such  as  ".info",  ".doc",  etc.,  to  omitted  from the
       catalog.
       
       The idea is to create a catalog  of  your  programs rather than a
       directory of your diskettes.   Consequently,  during the diskette
       scan process, the program does not  make catalog entries for each
       program in a directory.  Only the  directory name is entered into
       the catalog.  However, the program  does look at individual files
       within a directory for the purpose of computing the size.
       
       A general  purpose  query  system  is  provided  to  allow you to
       produce reports based on your  selection,  sorting and formatting
       specifications.
       
       In order to reduce disk  accesses,  the program will grab all the
       RAM it can get.  If sufficient RAM  is available, it will put the
       entire  database   in   memory.    Consequently,   the  program's
       performance can be improved considerably by terminating all other
       processes and deleting any extraneous RAM files.
       
       The  database  will   accommodate   approximately  5,000  entries
       provided you have sufficient disk space.
       
       Be sure to backup you database often!!
       
       
       DISCLAIMER
       
       The author makes no  warranty  of  any  kind with respect to this
       documentation or the  software  described  therein,  its quality,
       performance,  merchantability,  or  fitness  for  any  particular
       application.  The author shall not be liable for errors contained
       herein or for incidental or  consequential  damages in connection
       with the use of this product.