Surviving World Steam Vehicles
FAQ Surviving World Steam Vehicles
FAQQ:
How do I get a copy of your database?A: To receive your copy, print out the order form, and mail it with the amount indicated, or order with your credit card or bank account using PayPal. You will receive your CD-ROM in 1-3 weeks.
Q:
Will your program be updated?A: Updates to the database will be made available on an as-needed basis. Each update will contain the database with the latest information and additional photographs. Each update is optional, and will sell for U$ 15.
Each update will also include an "Update Wizard". The Update Wizard will compare the updated database to your current database, and transfers your pictures and links to sound files to the updated database. Your current database is then replaced with the update.
Upgrades to the program itself will also be included in the updates on an as-needed basis.
Q:
Why can't I access your database on the Internet?
Q:
Why doesn't your program run from the CD?A: Surviving World Steam Vehicles is designed to be used by individuals who travel across the country or even around the world, photographing and recording the world's remaining steam. They may be fortunate enough to have a laptop computer, many of which do not have a CD-ROM drive (or, the drive must be carried separately.)
Surviving World Steam Vehicles can also be used by museums and research groups. It even may be set up in a kiosk.
In both instances, having to rely on an internet connection or CD-ROM drive could pose more problems than they solve. Also, access to the database through the Internet or on a CD-ROM could not be personalized by adding or removing photographs and links to sound files.
Q:
Are you planning on writing a version for Macintosh, Unix, etc.?A: Probably not; roughly 95% of the people who visit this website use a version of Windows. Since making it accessible on any version of Windows reaches 95% of the market, I cannot as an individual justify the resources to port it to any other platforms.
Q:
What image format does Surviving World Steam Vehicles use? What format
do you recommend?A: Surviving World Steam Vehicles stores photographs at a resolution of 360 by 240 pixels, with an optimized color palette of 256 colors. (The Windows standard 250 color palette is not recommended.) Programs such as Paint Shop Pro allow you to to reduce the color palette to an optimized color palette, often resulting in little or no loss in image quality. See the instructions for your graphics editing program for more information.
This image size takes roughly 90KB per pictures, and shows each locomotive with a reasonable amount of detail. (Many pictures on the Internet are this size.) Making the pictures larger, or storing them with a larger color palette, would have increased the database size dramatically, with only moderate gains in quality.
Program, Documentation, and Concept Copyright © 1996-2006 by James D. Hefner. All rights reserved.