                                 NAVCIS
                          Reviewed By Chip Cox

    NAVCIS by DVORAK Development is one of several off-line navigators
for CompuServe. All of these packages provide the same basic functions
with a few special features to make them unique. NAVCIS allows you to
download message headings, messages to you, marked messages, library
catalogs and sign on screens from requested forums. NAVCIS also lets you
upload files, download files and submit messages to CompuServe Mail,
Internet, or any Forum.
    NAVCIS uses drag and drop objects to perform many of it's features.
For example to upload a file you drag the upload icon over the forum you
want to upload the file to and drop it. NAVCIS then prompts you through
the necessary screens for additional information. One particular feature
I liked in NAVCIS is it's ability to recognize internet addresses. In
normal CompuServe all messages sent to people on the Internet must be
preceded with the "INTERNET:" string. NAVCIS understands standard
internet @ style dressing and converts it to what CompuServe needs to
see. So when sending a message to myself at supportu.com, I can enter
"chip.cox@supportu.com" as the address and when the message is sent,
CompuServe gets the addressing it needs and my message gets to me.
NAVCIS is full of bells and whistles that other similar packages don't
have. NAVCIS allows you to download weather maps and display them from
inside the package.
    You can configure NAVCIS to allow you to show multiple pictures at
once or only one at a time. I personally like being able to look at
today's weather map, tomorrow's weather map and the current radar
summary at the same time. Viewing of objects is not limited to weather
maps downloaded from CompuServe. Other formats including GIF, JPEG,
TIFF, BITMAP, PCX and TGA can be viewed as well. NAVCIS is very
graphical. I have seen several programs of different types in the past
that were "graphical". This was not always a good thing. NAVCIS did
"graphical" ri ght in my opinion. One nice feature I wonder a bout
though is the usage of fonts in messages. NAVCIS lets you change fonts,
colors and font sizes in messages. However unless you are using NAVCIS
to read the message, you don't get anything but regular text and a
little bit of gobbledygooks at the bottom of the message. However if
everyone you correspond with is using NAVCIS, fonts will bring a new
dimension to your letters.
    The only thing keeping me from giving NAVCIS perfect marks is it's
lack of a scripting tool. I would like to be able to save scripts of
things to do and have them execute at a predefined time. For example: I
want to come up stairs in the morning and have the daily weather
reports, mail, forum messages and forum message headings from the forums
I participate in, already downloaded and ready for me to peruse. I
shouldn't have to come in every time and pick the things I want to do.
Considering all the other really nice features in NAVCIS this was a major
oversight in my opinion.
    NAVCIS version 1.25 costs $69.00. This includes NAVCIS Pro and a 200
page manual. DOS and Windows versions are available. The windows version
requires Windows 3.1 in Enhanced mode, 4MB free disk space, 4 MB RAM,
386-20 or faster processor, VGA or better monitor, modem and a mouse.
    NAVCIS SE (special edition) is a limited function version of NAVCIS
available as freeware in LIB 1 of the DVORAK forum on CompuServe. All
information collected in this version will import easily into the
commercial version if purchased.
    NAVCIS TE (timed edition) is the package I reviewed and is also
available in LIB 1 of the DVORAK forum on CompuServe. This package
expires after 30 days of use. As with the special edition mentioned
above all information collected will import easily into the commercial
version if purchased.

                           DVORAK Development
                           385 S. Pierce Ave
                          Louisville CO 80027
                             (303) 661-0345

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