


                Q&D AstroTools v1.71 for DOS

               "Freeware" French distribution

          Copyright (C) by PhG 1980-1992, 2000-2002



                 "Verum index sui et falsi"



     English-speaking users, please note that the
Q&D AstroTools freeware astrological programs were NEVER
created with an English version in mind. From their very
beginning (back in 1980), they have been designed by the
author, for the author (and a few friends and acquaintances).
Unfortunately (if not for you, at least for him), the author
happens to be French, and he really does not feel like
translating all the programs and the documentation now (he
should have to review about 45500 lines of Modula-2 code and
more than 125000 characters of documentation, now). Unpaid
work is always too much work. ;-) Besides, this release is
just a way to gafiate (Science-Fiction fans will understand :
to get away from it all) and to say "Goodbye to all that"
(this is the title of Robert Graves' autobiography).

     Anyway, any knowledgeable astrologer, after unpacking
the archive in its own private directory (see infra in this
text for instructions about how to install and use the
programs), will easily understand how to use the programs
thanks to a quick glance at the demonstration batch file,
which incidentally shows that these programs are still useful
today, even though they are mere DOS programs, written
between 1980 and 1992.
     Fortunately, contrarily to what the Micro$oft code
kiddies would like us to believe, ideas and features do NOT
depend upon an operating system nor even upon a GUI/WIMP
system.
     Please note that some basic knowledge of DOS command
line is required. Please note, too, that keyboard commands
used in graphical view modules (CARTE*.EXE) were created with
French function names in mind, and for an AZERTY layout
keyboard.

     As a courtesy to English-speaking users, DEMOENG.BAT is
a quick translation from French to English of DEMO.BAT
demonstration batch file.

     Here is, too, a small glossary of French words used in
the Q&D AstroTools programs, with their translation in
English (symbols are explained in SYMBOLS.GIF file).



Programs (French executable name, English meaning)

     atlas.exe      Find geographical coordinates
     tu.exe         Find Universal Time (France only)
     theme.exe      Compute a natal chart
     rapport.exe    Create a report
     carte.exe      Display a natal chart
     transits.exe   Compute transits
     cartetr.exe    Display transits
     comparer.exe   Compare two natal charts
     carteco.exe    Display two natal charts
     chercher.exe   Look for a condition in charts
     ret.exe        Create a conditionalist report
     signaux.exe    Compute transits
     liste.exe      List natal charts
     modifier.exe   Modify data in a natal chart



Planets (French, French abbreviation, English)

     Soleil         So   Sun
     Lune           Lu   Moon
     Mercure        Me   Mercury
     Vnus          V   Venus
     Mars           Ma   Mars
     Jupiter        Ju   Jupiter
     Saturne        Sa   Saturn
     Uranus         Ur   Uranus
     Neptune        Ne   Neptune
     Pluton         Pl   Pluto
     Ascendant      AS   Ascendant
     Milieu du ciel MC   Midheaven
     Descendant     DS   Descendant
     Fond du ciel   FC   Nadir
     Lilith         Li   Lilith
     Noeud Nord     NN   North Node
     Noeud Sud      NS   South Node
     Soleil noir    SN   Black Sun



Signs (French, English)

     Blier         Aries
     Taureau        Taurus
     Gmeaux        Gemini
     Cancer         Cancer
     Lion           Leo
     Vierge         Virgo
     Balance        Libra
     Scorpion       Scorpio
     Sagittaire     Sagittarius
     Capricorne     Capricorn
     Verseau        Aquarius
     Poissons       Pisces



Aspects (French, French abbreviation, French character,
English)

     Conjonction    Co   C    Conjunction
     Opposition     Op   o    Opposition
     Carr          Ca   c    Square
     Trigone        Tr   t    Trine
     Sextile        Se   s    Sextile
     Semi-carr     Sc   -    Semisquare
     Semi-sextile   Ss   +    Semisextile
     Quinconce      Qu   -    Quincunx
     Sesqui-carr   Sq   +    Sesquiquadrate



Cusps (French, English)

     Ascendant      1st House (Ascendant)
     Secteur II     2nd House
     Secteur III    3rd House
     Fond du ciel   4th House (Nadir)
     Secteur V      5th House
     Secteur VI     6th House
     Descendant     7th House (Descendant)
     Secteur VIII   8th House
     Secteur IX     9th House
     Milieu du ciel 10th House (Midheaven)
     Secteur XI     11th House
     Secteur XII    12th House



Months (French, French abbreviation, English)

     janvier   Jan  january
     fvrier   Fv  february
     mars      Mar  march
     avril     Avr  april
     mai       Mai  may
     juin      Jun  june
     juillet   Jul  july
     aot      Ao  august
     septembre Sep  september
     octobre   Oct  october
     novembre  Nov  november
     dcembre  Dc  december



(* REQUIRED CONFIGURATION *)

     The Q&D AstroTools require at least this configuration :

- about 5 Mb of hard disk space ;
- an Intel 80486DX or better CPU ;
- 640 Kb RAM ;
- a VGA card (required for graphics visualization modules
only) ;
- a DOS 3.3 (whether by Micro$oft, I.B.M., Digital Research,
Novell or Caldera).

     Of course, the faster the CPU, the better : an Intel 100
MHz Pentium or better is recommended, but a mere Intel 33 MHz
80486DX, although a little slow, will still be... useable.



(* INSTALLATION *)

     The Q&D AstroTools files will be found in QDASTRO
archive with ZIP, LZH or ARJ extension. If the user does not
know how to extract the files from such an archive to a
private directory, he may as well immediately stop thinking
about using the Q&D AstroTools, which do require a basic
knowledge of DOS and DOS command line.
     So, the installation simply requires the unpacking of
QDASTRO archive to a private directory (such as C:\QDASTRO) :
that's why no sophisticated installation program was
necessary. CHKEM utility should be run at least once in order
to check files have not been tampered with.
     Uninstallation of the Q&D AstroTools files merely
requires the deletion of the files located in the
installation directory, then the deletion of the installation
directory itself.

     In order to go to Q&D AstroTools directory before a
working session, the use of a small batch file located in one
of the directories specified in PATH is recommended. For
example, if programs are in C:\SKYTOOLS directory, ASTRO.BAT
could be :

@ECHO OFF
C:
CD \SKYTOOLS
REM modify as required !
SET POUR_TU=+5h
ECHO.
ECHO Q&D AstroTools for DOS
ECHO.

     POUR_TU environment variable specifies the number of
hours required to pass from PC system time to Universal Time.
It is analog to, but different from, TZ environment variable
often used by Unix systems.

     Another method would be to include the Q&D AstroTools
directory in PATH, even though it would uselessly lengthen
all DOS searches for executable files. POUR_TU environment
variable should still be set one way or another (a dedicated
batch, or in AUTOEXEC.BAT).

     Remember the user should run at least once the
DEMOENG.BAT batch file, and have a close look at it in order
to learn how to use the programs. He may, too, ask someone
reasonably fluent in French to help him with the LISEZMOI.



(* LICENSE *)

     The Q&D AstroTools programs are freeware, but they are
NOT public domain. Therefore, there are some restrictions
about their distribution, as stated in the French LISEZMOI
documentation. In a nutshell, only two distribution methods
are allowed : the traditional copy of QDASTRO archive given
by one physical person to another one (for at most the price
of the floppy disk(s)... and possibly the price of a coffee
or a drink !), or the download from an authorized Internet
site.
     Please note that from january 16, 2002, the C.U.R.A.
Internet site is no longer authorized to offer the Q&D
AstroTools, whatever the distribution (1.60, 1.61, 1.62 or
1.70), because of Patrice Guinard's dishonesty : his offering
my programs to his clients after that date is perfectly
illegal and against my will.
     In both cases, all the original files must be kept
together, without any alteration nor added files.
     That is to say, for example, that no one is allowed to
include the Q&D AstroTools in a shareware or freeware
compilation, whether commercial or not, or on an Internet
site, unless there exists a prior written negotiated consent
by, and agreement with, the author to do so. Of course, no
one is allowed to use data and charts generated by the Q&D
AstroTools in a public way, unless there exists a prior
written negotiated consent by, and agreement with, the author
to do so.
     Basically, no one is allowed to make money with these
astrological programs by whatever means (except the author
himself, one of these days <wry smile>). Only the
geographical and birth coordinates (all gathered from many,
many sources among the years) are considered public domain
and may be copied without notice.




                  (* END OF README FILE *)

                     (January 31, 2002)
