Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!tektronix!dadla!amadeus!jamesa From: jamesa@amadeus.TEK.COM (James Akiyama) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Bible software for the PC Summary: The Bible Word Program is "freeware" Keywords: Freeware, Shareware, not King James Version Message-ID: <1226@amadeus.TEK.COM> Date: 16 May 88 07:07:45 GMT References: <557@ndcheg.UUCP> Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or. Lines: 123 In article <557@ndcheg.UUCP>, eggers@ndcheg.UUCP (Mark Eggers) writes: > I have a user who is looking for some public domain/shareware > software for an IBM PC that is related to scholarly Bible work. > If anyone has any knowledge about the existance of software of > this type, please let me know by email, since I don't read this > group regularly. > > Thanks in advance - Mark Eggers, University of Notre Dame I have been working on a program called "The Bible Word Program" which may serve your friends needs. It is not "public domain" (since I want to maintain copyright; mainly to allow a sane bug reporting scheme and because I may have to in order to legally meet Microsoft's C-Compiler's license agreement) nor is it "shareware" (since I don't really want people to "send money" (outside of covering duplicating/shipping costs) for two reasons: (1) It creates sticky IRS issues; and (2) It may be contrary to my "non-competitive" employment agreement with Tektronix since I am hired by them as a software developer--I don't think Tek would mind, but why take chances). Anyway, the program has been in use at a local seminary (Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, Portland, OR) for about six months. They seem quite pleased with it so far. Note that I will NOT POST THE PROGRAM since it is VERY LARGE. The program itself is about 120K; plus 40K for the installation program; and about 10K for the support stuff. Each text is about 2.0 MEGS per Translation (Old and New Testament--Hebrew and Greek version smaller since they only contain either OT or NT). The program has the following features: 1. Potentially works with an unlimited amount of Translations (limited only by your available disk space); currently available: a. King James Version (with or without Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical additions). b. United Bible Society Greek NT (displays fully polytonic Greek set on EGA or VGA graphic compatible systems). Shortly available (within a few weeks): a. Revised Standard Version (with or without Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical additions). b. Greek Septuagint OT including variations (e.g. Theodotian). Work progressing: a. BHS Hebrew OT (text will be shortly available in a transliterated form--Hebrew character set is still a ways off). Additionally, I am trying to obtain Copyright permission with several other Translators. Note that several of the text above require registering your name with the University of Pennsylvania (where I got several of the Translation's text). The registration mainly makes sure that you recognize the Copyright holders of the Text and also that you do not use the text for commercial applications. More infomation can be obtained from the U. of P. CCAT program or directly from me. Note that their version of the text, as provided by them, cannot be directly used with my program (they use a different format). 2. Ability to open two windows into two different areas of Scripture or even two different Translation. Both windows are independent--allowing independent scrolling, pattern matching, and verse ranges. 3. Pattern matching is based on the Unix style "regex" with the addition of logical operators (NOT, AND, and OR functions). It includes "wildcard" matching, and other nice features of "regex". In Greek, the pattern matching currently ignores Breathing marks, Accents, Diphthongs, etc. since these generally change semmatics and not actual Biblical meaning (watch me get flamed by some Literature people for this one). 4. Ability to view a Catholic translation with or without Apocrypha/ Deuterocanonical additions. The program seamlessly "remaps" the Book numbering and/or verse numbering appropriately. In Catholic mode, the program currently adapts the format used by the New American Bible (although references can be entered using the older Vulgate numbering scheme). The program performs this mapping by determining how many Book Names (or abbreviated names) you provide. 5. Ability to generate and edit "Index Files". Note that it is also possible to generate an index in, say, Catholic mode, and read it back in Protestant mode--the program again automatically adjusts for the differences in Book/Chapter/Verse ordering. 6. Limited compatibility with Microsoft Windows. Although currently the program expects to own the whole screen, it does not poke around directly with hardware. Thus it can be run as a Windows application and swapped out to an ICON using Window's "minimize" option (ALT-ESC). Later versions will probably be enhanced to offer fuller support. 7. Portable to many systems. Currently the program has been tested on Unix (Sys V and BSD), as well as DOS. Since all code in in C; porting should be relatively simple (the DOS version does contain assembly optimized routines; however, C version of the routines exists). 8. Search time is approximately one minute, forty seconds on an IBM 8 MHz AT system. This is not as fast as Search Programs with pre-sorted indexes but offeres the advantage of not requiring an incore wordlist (word list is approimately 256K) for every Translation. 9. On-line, context sensitive help. Help is always available by hitting the ESC key. Help can always be aborted by hitting the ESC key. Several other "features" exists, these are just the ones I remember. System requirements are: IBM PC/XT/AT with a minimum of 256K memory (512K or greater will substantially increase performance and features). Fixed Disk and EGA/VGA graphic's adapter are desirable (note that an monochrome EGA system is a low cost way of getting the alternate character set). I am providing the program, on a very limited basis, to various church groups, and other such organizations. I can probably be convinced to make arrangements in sending a few copyies out to individuals. Unfortunately, since this is being done as "freeware" the funding for this project is VERY LIMITED. Contact me directly if you're interested. James Akiyama Tektronix, Inc. jamesa@amadeus.TEK.COM (503) 645-7357 (home) (503) 629-1907 (work) DISCLAIMER: Tektronix, Inc. is in no way affliated with this project and does not discriminated on the basis of religion (or any other way that I'm aware of).