NGDD.EXE Version 1.2 07/10/88
Norton Guides Database Decompiler













NGDD.EXE

Version 1.2


A Database Decompiler For Norton Guides








Copyright (c) 1988 Omni Software Associates
All Rights Reserved




Written By

R.C. Ascheri

GENIE: AMIGAMAN
BBS: PC EXCHANGE
(714) 956-5468
CLIPPER BBS
(714) 731-3946
BUENA PARK BBS
(714) 821-5014
1139/SOUTH
(714) 545-1706











Copyright (c) 1988 Omni Software Associates

NGDD.EXE Version 1.2 07/10/88
Norton Guides Database Decompiler



NO-NONSENSE LICENSE


All versions of the Norton Guides Database Decompiler,
starting with version 1.0, are placed in the public domain
and are hence known as shareware software. You may make as
many copies of this software and distribute it freely.

No fee, charge or other compensation may be accepted or
requested for any version of NGDD.EXE by anyone other than
the author.

NGDD.EXE may not be distributed in conjunction with any
other product where a charge exists for the original product
without written consent from the author.

The NGDD package consists of NGDD.EXE, NGDD.DOC,
REGISTER.TXT and any update notices, bug reports etc..

If you find this utility useful please register your copy
with the author $25.00. See the section on ordering infor
mation for more information.

The source code for NGDD.EXE can be obtained from the author
for the price of $100.00. This shall include one diskette
with the Turbo Pascal 5.0 Source Code, any and all libraries
required, along with the documentation, etc.. To order the
source code, fill out the order blank and mail it to the
addressee according to the instructions at the end of this
documentation.


WARRANTY


Omni Software Associates makes no warranty of any kind,
neither express or implied, including without limitation,
any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a
particular purpose. Omni Software Associates shall not be
liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, special or
consequential arising from a failure of this program to
operate in the manner desired by the user. Omni Software
Associates shall not be liable for any damage to data or
property which may be caused directly or indirectly by use
of the program.

IN NO EVENT WILL Omni Software Associates BE LIABLE TO YOU
FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR
OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF
YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM
BY ANY OTHER PARTY.



Copyright (c) 1988 Omni Software Associates

NGDD.EXE Version 1.2 07/10/88
Norton Guides Database Decompiler



1.0 ABSTRACT

What is The Norton Guides? The Norton Guides is an excel
lent on-line reference library. The guides is a memory
resident utility that can be accessed at the touch of one
key stroke. Imagine that! At the touch of a keystroke you
can have all of your Borland manuals, assembler manual,
debugger manual, database manual and desktop publishing
manual on-line. The guides comes complete with a database
compiler that will allow you the user to create your own
Norton Guides Databases. This will allow you to enter in
all of those manuals that are not available from Norton
Computing.

What is a Norton Guides Database? A Norton Guides Database
is a file that contains all of the reference information for
a particular subject. At the present time Norton Computing
has the Turbo Pascal, Turbo C, Microsoft Assembler, PS/2 and
other databases available and Nantucket has a clipper data
base available.


2.0 PROBLEM

So if Norton Guides is so great what's the problem? The
problem is that it takes a long time to create a good Norton
Guides database. Think of typing in a whole manual by
yourself and you suddenly realize how difficult it is. Now
think about having to update it every time someone comes out
with a new version of there product. For example, when
Norton Computing first came out with The Norton Guides,
Borland's Turbo Pascal Version 3.0 was available. So Norton
Computing created a database for this version. Since then
Borland has released Turbo Pascal Version 5.0. At the time
of this writing the Norton Guides database for Turbo Pascal
version 5.0 update is NOT available. Will they write one?
I don't know. If they do that's all well and good, but if
they don't then you've kind of thrown your money away.
Well the Norton Guides Database Decompiler is a solution to
this problem. Now you the user can decompile your purchased
copy of any database, into an original source code format
that can be edited by you and recompiled. You can finally
update your old versions of Turbo C, Turbo Pascal, Clipper,
etc..










Copyright (c) 1988 Omni Software Associates

NGDD.EXE Version 1.2 07/10/88
Norton Guides Database Decompiler



3.0 OPERATION

NGDD is a command line driven utility. The syntax of this
utility is as follows:

d:\> NGDD ?

or

d:\> NGDD [d:\path\]filename.ext

The first form above will display the syntax of how NGDD
must be called. The second form will start the decompiler
by decompiling the specified file into the current directo
ry.

The decompile process will create several files. A main
file based upon the specified filename "filename.lnk",
several support files of the form "FFFFNNNN.DES", where the
FFFF represents the first four letters of the filename and
NNNN represents a number between 0000 and 9999. The decom
piler will also create a general make file so that the
database can be automatically recreated using a make utility
(such as the Borland make utility). This make file will be
of the form "filename.mak".

The decompiled source files can be edited using any text
editor that uses standard ASCII characters. Graphics char
acters can also be placed into the decompiled source files.
For example, the PC line drawing characters work well to
separate special information. For more information regard
ing the creation of Norton Guides Databases consult your
Norton Guides Reference Manual.





















Copyright (c) 1988 Omni Software Associates

NGDD.EXE Version 1.2 07/10/88
Norton Guides Database Decompiler


4.0 CONCLUSIONS

The Norton Guides Database Decompiler was written to allow
the end user the capabilities of updating his/her legal
database. It is NOT to be used as a means of plagiarizing
the work of the authors. Any newly created databases are
still copy written by the original authors. You CANNOT
redistribute it as your own work, even though you have added
to it! The original authors have put a great deal of time
and money into the creation of the database you are updat
ing. Give them the credit and the money they deserve.
After all, without there original efforts you would NOT have
a database to update in the first place!

If you have any questions regarding this utility, or bug
reports, please send them to Richard Ascheri via:

GENIE: AMIGAMAN
BBS: PC EXCHANGE, Rick Ascheri
(714) 956-5468
CLIPPER BBS
(714) 731-3946
BUENA PARK BBS
(714) 821-5014
1139/SOUTH
(714) 545-1706

Also, if you find the program useful why NOT go ahead and
register your copy. By registering your copy you are enti
tled to receive future updates of this utility.

------------------------------------------------------------

Norton Guides Is A Registered TradeMark Of Norton Computing.
Turbo Pascal Is A Registered TradeMark Of Borland Interna
tional.



















Copyright (c) 1988 Omni Software Associates

NGDD.EXE Version 1.2 07/10/88
Norton Guides Database Decompiler



ORDERING INFORMATION


To register your copy of NGDD.EXE and or purchase the source
code fill out the order form provided with this software
package (REGISTER.TXT) and mail it to the appropriate mail
ing address as listed below:

Attn: Richard Ascheri
Omni Software Associates
15027 Watkins,
La Mirada, CA. 90638

For registration you will receive an IBM formatted 360K
diskette containing the latest version of the utility along
with the updated documentation.

For source code purchases you will receive an IBM formatted
360K diskette containing the Turbo Pascal 5.0 source code
and all of the library files necessary to create a new
NGDD.EXE file.

All versions of the NGDD.EXE remain the sole property of
Omni Software Associates. Under no circumstances will
anyone be allowed to redistribute any versions of NGDD
without the express written consent of the author. The
source code purchase does NOT, under any circumstances, give
the purchaser the right to distribution. The source code is
made available so that other Norton Guides utilities can be
easily created.
























Copyright (c) 1988 Omni Software Associates