Date   : Thu, 27 Oct 1983 20:44:23 PDT
From   : DGILBERT.ES@PARC-MAXC.ARPA
Subject: QBAX IS OK - CORRECTION & APOLOGY

QBAX REVISITED - I Should have called Amanuensis first!!!!!

MY QBAX WORKS FINE.

The Author of QBAX called me tonight regarding the problems
I was having with the file backup program QBAX with the
following result:

       QBAX is a good program and at $30 is definitely a
       bargain.
       
       QBAX can work as advertised, and I intend to use it
       in my system, with the advantages it has over the public
       domain program Archive.
       
       I apologize to Amanuensis and the author who called me 
       for my temporary insanity and ignorance.  In my own
       defense, there was a small bug in QBAX which is easily
       fixed.
       
SO WHY THE CHANGE IN MY OPINION?  WHAT HAPPENED?????

FILE SIZE PROBLEM:

SD-71, the public domain program, incorrectly handles the 'S2'
directory bit.  Only the lower 4 bits of this byte have any
meaning to CP/M.  QBAX used the MSB as previously stated.  The
problem here is mis-information in many CP/M books. In my case,
I was misled by 'INSIDE CP/M' by David Cortesi. Using 'S2' has
the advantage that CP/M updates it for writes other than a 
direct random file update.  Therefore, most users can live without
any BDOS patch at all.  The QBAX patch to BDOS is very easy to
implement, however.  Thus, a fix to SD-71 will correct the
file size problem.

SMALL BUG:

The problem I had with double density directories and commands
'sometimes doing something funny' was traced to a small bug
in the program.  I was quickly given the 1 byte correction.  The
correction needed will be sent to all previous purchasers of
the program.


In all, I will definitely be more responsible in the future with
my criticism.  Calling the person or company selling the software
product when a problem occurs is always the first step.  If I
had called Amanuensis first, it would have saved my embarrassment
and any damage to QBAX's reputation which I hope is minimal.
Later, if a company is not responsive, then maybe some criticism
is required.  The author of QBAX is very concerned about any
program problems and will respond to them.

My last statement was definitely not called for.  I want to 
encourage more software being sold at reasonable prices.  I
believe that the selling of excellent programs for less than
$50 is commendable and benefits all computer users, and in
the long run will benefit the authors of these programs.

PLEASE DELIVER MY PREVIOUS MESSAGE TO THE BYTE BUCKET!

Doug.