ReadMe file for ACIP Release IV CD-ROM:  "A Thousand Books of Wisdom"
as of 3/30/99


*** Please note that more detail on most of the items covered below can be found in the Release IV User Manual.  An electronic version of the manual can be found as R0083 on the CD-ROM and in the ACIPDOCS directory.  This information can also be accessed from the Help menu within AsiaView.

*** For the latest information and updates, be sure to check the ACIP website at:
	http://www.asianclassics.org

You may wish to check ACIP's International Asian Scholars Database (R1001) to see if your contact information is correct and complete.  Please contact our Washington DC Area Office if you wish to have your information added, deleted, or updated.


CONTENTS of this ReadMe document
================================
1. General information for users of ACIP materials
2. Formats of texts and graphics included in Release IV
3. NEW!!  Two complete Tibetan software programs included with Release IV
4. Using the AsiaView program for viewing and searching ACIP texts and graphics
4.a. Specifying the location of your texts and graphics files in AsiaView
4.b. Trouble-shooting problems with the Tibetan-script fonts
4.c. Using the AsiaView File Viewer/Editor
5. Trouble-shooting shareware programs
6. ACIP Release History
7. Contacting ACIP


1. General information for users of ACIP materials
==================================================
All ACIP materials are supplied free of charge, as a public service.  As such, they can be freely copied and shared so long as any modifications are noted (with, at minimum, a change of file name) and with proper attribution to ACIP as the source of the materials.  Publishers who create books using ACIP digital versions are asked to mention the ACIP catalog number(s) of the original material in their publications.  It is also possible to sponsor the input of particular texts or collections; please contact us for details.

ACIP relies on the generosity of individual and institutional sponsors to continue its work.  If you wish to contribute a donation of any kind, sponsor text input, or if you know of a potential source of support for the Project, please contact our Washington DC Area Office (listed at the end of this document).

Because ACIP materials are distributed in universally recognized roman letters, the texts can be viewed and utilized on virtually any computer.  Users with Macintosh computers can also use all of the texts and graphics, but not the AsiaView program (unless they run Windows emulation).  For more information on using the ACIP CD-ROM on a Macintosh, please refer to the "ReadMe file for Macintosh users".


2. Formats of texts and graphics included in Release IV
=======================================================
Although the Release IV CD-ROM contains both roman-script and Tibetan-script versions of texts, only the roman-script versions should be considered authoritative (for research, citation, etc.).  The Tibetan-script files are provided only as a convenience to the user; because they were created using an automated conversion process, their accuracy cannot be guaranteed.  

It is our view that any electronic text database should be created in a universally accepted format, such as roman-letter ASCII (ISO-626) or Unicode (ISO-10646), rather than in a proprietary format (such as a font-based encoding).  All input work at ACIP data entry centers uses roman letters typed from a standard computer keyboard.

All ACIP data will be converted to Unicode format as soon as this new standard is fully implemented in computers around the world.  Documents relating to the Unicode standard for encoding Tibetan-script documents can be found in the "Unicode" folder on the CD-ROM.

Many of the graphics files included in Release IV are provided in two different formats: PCX and TIFF.  Graphics of either type can be directly accessed from the "Graphics" folder on the CD-ROM.  ACIP has recently started a number of digital imaging projects in the U.S., Russian, and Mongolia, so you can expect to see a substantial number of new ACIP graphics images in various formats in the near future.  Watch our website for updated information on the progress of the ACIP Imaging Division.


3. NEW!!  Two complete Tibetan software programs included with Release IV
=========================================================================
Just as this release went to press, ACIP received permission to include two very useful Tibetan software programs on our CD-ROM, to be freely offered to ACIP users.  These are the "Tibetan for Windows" program created by Mr. Marvin Moser; and the "Tibetan on the Macintosh" program created by Mr. Pierre Robillard.  Both of these programs enable for both conversion of transliterated documents into Tibetan script and the creation of new documents directly in Tibetan script.  They are included on the CD-ROM in the Programs folder.  Please consult the instructions included with each program for more information.


4. Using the AsiaView program for viewing and searching ACIP texts and graphics
===============================================================================
In the past it has been somewhat difficult for ACIP users (especially those new to computers) to read and use the ACIP materials; the new AsiaView program is designed to overcome these difficulties.  Not only does it provide easy, almost effortless, access to any text within the huge ACIP text database, but it also enables users to directly view the texts in Tibetan script.

The version (2.0) of the AsiaView program included in Release IV is the culmination of thousands of hours of dedicated work by Mr. Eric Colombel, who offered his technical expertise to the Project completely free of charge.  We are sure that all users of the AsiaView program will join us in thanking him for his good work.

The AsiaView program requires Windows 95 or later and between 50 and 80 megabytes of free hard disk space.  It is designed to work best when your display is set for 800 by 600 display resolution or greater, and using small fonts.  To reset your display, choose Settings under the Control Panel which can be reached from the Start button.  Open Display and choose Settings.


4.a. Specifying the location of your texts and graphics files in AsiaView
=========================================================================
If AsiaView has trouble finding the texts, be sure to check your Preferences under the File menu.  You must be sure to specify the drive(s) and directories (folders) where the texts and graphics files are located.  You can use the browse buttons located on the right side of the Preferences window to easily specify the proper directory.

One tricky problem is seen in the case of laptop users who either switch between or else simultaneously use a CD-ROM drive and another removeable drive.  In such cases, the drive letter assigned to the CD-ROM drive can change between one session and the next (and will need to be adjusted accordingly in the Preferences). 

Some users will want to make use of the "additional location" panel of the Preferences window.  For example, if you want to keep some of the texts you use most often on your hard disk, then you could give the hard disk locations as "primary" and the CD-ROM locations as "additional".  Similarly, updated versions of files should be placed in the "primary" location since this location will be checked first.


4.b. Trouble-shooting problems with the Tibetan-script fonts
============================================================
Release IV includes Tibetan-script versions of the ACIP texts.  These files use a format called Rich Text Format, or RTF.  In order for these files to display properly, you must have the Sambhota fonts installed in your Windows system.  For guidance in installing fonts, use the Windows Help system and look in the index under "fonts, adding to your computer".

The fonts you need are called Esama.ttf, Esamb.ttf, and Esamc.ttf.  You can also install the fonts called Sama.ttf, Samb.ttf, and Samc.ttf.  All of these fonts are located on the CD-ROM in the Sambhota folder, in a sub-folder called "Fonts".

Due to a problem with windows, you may need to actually open the font before it will display properly.  To do this, from the Start button, choose Settings; then select Control Panel and then click on Fonts.  Double-click on any of the Sambhota fonts so that the font is displayed.  Now the fonts will display properly in Windows applications.


4.c. Using the AsiaView File Viewer/Editor
==========================================
When opening documentation and other files using the AsiaView File menu option (or the Open button on the main menu bar) be sure to change "Files of type" to "All Files (*.*)" if you wish to see a complete list of all files in the selected location.  When saving newly created files, be sure to save your files as either plain text (*.TXT) or rich text (*.RTF) as appropriate. 


5. Trouble-shooting shareware programs
======================================
Most of the programs included on Release IV have instuctions on installation and use in Readme files or other on-line documentation.  If any of the included shareware programs fail to work properly, chack the following:
1. Many of the programs must be copied from the CD-ROM to your hard disk before they can be run.
2. When copying from a CD-ROM, Windows will often copy files to the hard disk as a read-only files; this can prevent some programs from running properly.  To remove the read-only attribute,  select the file(s) in Windows Explorer or My Computer, select Properties and remove the check in the "read-only" check box.


6. ACIP Release History
=======================
ACIP Release 1 demonstration diskettes:  March 1990
ACIP Release 2 diskettes:  August 1991
ACIP Release 3 diskettes:  March 1993
ACIP Release A Source CD-ROM "From Woodblock to Laser":  August 1993
All releases available from ACIP Internet site at acip.princeton.edu:  March 1995
"Diamonds for Classics" CD-ROM:  November 1995
The St. Petersburg Catalog CD-ROM "50,000":  September 1997
ACIP Release IV CD-ROM "A Thousand Books of Wisdom":  August 1998, April 1999

Because of the huge number of pages of text, all ACIP releases since August 1993 have been distributed on CD-ROM.  Each CD-ROM release includes all previously released materials plus much new material not previously released.  All released material is also available for free download from the ACIP Internet website at:  www.asianclassics.org.


7. Contacting ACIP
==================
To request ACIP materials, sponsor text input, or make donations to support ACIP, contact:

Robert J. Taylor, Ph.D.
The Asian Classics Input Project (ACIP)
Washington DC Area Office
11911 Marmary Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland  20878-1839
U.S.A.

Tel: +1 301-948-5569
email: r.taylor@ix.netcom.com


ACIP users in Japan can contact our Tokyo contact office:

Mr. Kelsang Tahuwa
ACIP Japan Contact Office
Kawachen
7-11-10 Ueno, Taito-ku
Tokyo-110-0005
JAPAN

Tel: 090-471-21940
email: DZD11010@nifty.ne.jp


