This is the first version of ABC.

The main limitations are:
 - this version is SINGLE writer. (But many readers are possible simultaneously).
 - Sale functions doe not manage the time function.
 - On line helps are poor.
 - Some graphic interface inconsistencies.
 - date are only recongnized two numeric formats: 
 	the European one day:mounth:year
	the british one: mounth:day:year
	
The short term to-do list is:
 - Improve the graphic interface. (Suggestions are welcome)
 - Improve the capability of sale functions.
 - Improve the date processing in order to accept any field order
 - Improve methods to check and entered data in business document which 
   	include technical data. Add spell checking.
...

Dependencies
------------

The linux version use only free software present on most distrubutions. When
using the html version, you shout use html2ps and ghostscript. If you choose the
latex variant, then you have to add the whole tetex package.
Have also a look all the small scripts under the ../resources/linux/bin to check
the called utilities. Notably, we use xless, gv, lpr. You could replace xless by
something like nedit, etc.

The windows version works well in the html variant. It require however the use
of Netscape. A copy of this software is provide on the kit. But of course, it's
better to dowload teh last eailable version from the internet.



Windows 
-------

This version can send E-mail directly to an other permanently connected node, or to a local 
mail server. But, you nust edit the resource command: html_spool_mail.bat in order to 
specify the contacted mailer relay and your local hostname.


Actually, we recommend to use html as the text processor since, as we know about, 
winword does not run in a silent way. Thus, any time tho user send some document to 
the printer, that processor popup, do its job with many not necessary visual effects
and then disappears. 
netscape, in contrast, can print in backgroud silently. It is available on the
internet and also on CD in good software libraries.
For Faxing, we did test Athosfax. This product is also available in the net. You do need 
the server an the "sdk" tool kit. You need also the ghostscript tools translate htmp to postscrip
and then postscrip to "g3" (the fax format).
The scripts commands are ready for that configuration. If you choose an other 
faxing system, you will have to adapt html_translate_ps and ps_spool_fax commands.


Have a good job,

The abstraction team.