The Plan

[DarkerLine]

For now, we're going to be just sorting the files. When we're done, the goal is to have a structure somewhat like the following:

TI-xx\TI-xx Basic\Category\Program Name
OR
TI-XX\TI-xx Assembly (Shell title)\Category\Program Name

where the category is one of the following:
Games
Math & Science
Media (that is, animations, screensavers, as well as anything that isn't a program)
Routines (not stand-alone programs, e.g. code for converting number to string)
Shells
Utilities
Miscellaneous (only for the weirdest stuff, e.g. french verb conjugator or random insult program)
if you see something you think should get its own category, or disagree with mine, talk to me.

Each program will be in its own folder that should contain:
program.zip
description.txt with:
Full Title
Author
Description
any screenshots

[alexrudd]

I propose switching asm/basic and category.
TI-xx\Category\Basic\Program Name
Ti-xx\Category\Asm\Name

If I wanted to look for, say, a factoring program I don't want to have to look in both assembly and basic. I wouldn't go to the archives thinking "hmm I want an assembly program" > "do I want a game or math utility?"

[DarkerLine]

How we're going to do this:

everyone's going to get several folders e.g. e.g. TI-73, or TI-83+ Assembly (Ion) and TI-83+ Assembly (MirageOS). In a convenient .zip folder.

The structure we want will exist up to \Category\, but I don't know if it's going to be correct. You'll have to look at the programs in order to check this. The "Miscellaneous" category is especially dubious. Some people might get an "unsorted" category which is exactly what it says.

To get the description and title for each program: there are two files, dimti.sql and progs3.txt which might have it (both attached to this post). Ctrl+F for the name of the .zip file, and be sure to check if it's the right one if it's something like tetris.zip that several programs could share.
If there is no description in either of these files, check if there's a readme or something inside the program.
If there isn't, I guess we're screwed. You could try googling desperately. Or giving it to me so I may do the same.

To get screenshots for each program, if they exist: each \Category\ has a folder called \ss\ in it: this folder contains screenshots. By looking at the screenshots, you can usually figure out which program they came from. Not all programs will have screenshots, and frankly, these are not our foremost priority.

After you're done with all this, .zip it back up and get it to me somehow. Probably just upload it here, or in a PM.

I would also like to know if any programs you get have versions for other shells or other calculators, and whether these other versions are included with the program. Just get me a list.

For outdated programs: first off, watch for duplicate programs and take only the latest version, or just pick one if they're identical (as may happen). If you happen to know that the latest version we have of a program is REALLY outdated (like, Omnicalc v1.00) don't include in the final .zip but do get me a note about it.

[DarkerLine]

[Super Speler]

I'm feeling REALLY stupid right now, I've been sorting through all the files, how exactly am I supposed to organise them before uploading?

[Cure]

[bananaman]

[leofox]

Unfortunately I have been chosen to do the TI-81 files (a calc that I cant emulate), which means that I can't test or make screenshots of the programs, unless I all type them in and convert them to 83+ format by hand. I will start with the programs that already have a description, and convert them into the standardized format you posted, so i will at least have something ready quite soon.

The files that I have all are program.81, and it looks like they're supposed to be typed in by hand, although some of them also seem to contain information for a Graphlink like program. Should I keep the program code as it is, and add instructions for typing it in?

[DarkerLine]

Here's a sample of some of the TI-92+ files sorted, that should clear up most questions.

leofox: we're not going to be testing programs now for two reasons:
1. We don't have enough (or possibly any) people for the non-83+ calculators to test them all.
2. If we did, it would still take a very long time.

If I think of a way to test & screenshot all the programs easily, we'll be doing that too. For now, my best idea is uploading the programs without testing, then announcing a contest to test the most files and win a calculator? I'm open to any better ideas though.

[Super Speler]

That answers all my questions thanks.

EDIT: My folder is full of computer programs, would you like me to organise it by Windows/Mac/Linux rather then language?

EDIT2: I just stuck them in computer, where should I put tutorials, there are several?

[Cure]

Ok, I understand completely now.

So no testing files at this moment?

[bananaman]

[DarkerLine]

[Super Speler]

Ok Windows/Mac/Linux it is, all of them are Windows so far though...

Yes TI-Freak said he wanted them but I beleive that was something else, not sure though. I'm almost done by the way, I should be finished by tommorow night.

EDIT: Where should I put screenshots, where should I put level editors for various games (on computer editors, not sure if it should be in games or utilities or whatnot...)?

[tifreak8x]

Tutorials... What kind of tutorials are they??

I will try my best to get the rest of the 73 files done tonight.

Are you sure you would rather us not check them as we have them??? I have already found one that does not work, and was not going to include that file...

Oh, for files without a Readme, should we cook a simple one up for it??

[leofox]

[alexrudd]

I have TI-80, but some of the files are appearing for the 81. Are they compatible? Does anyone know about the syntax of the 80 BASIC? (For example, can I just go through and remove all the ending parentheses?)


EDIT: The program files are just text, and the ones with documentation just have it before the code. Here is what I intend to do with them:
If there is documentation, leave it alone.
If not, copy the blurb from progs3.txt into the top, and delete the parts (program number, name of zip) that don't seem to have any purpose any more
Save the file as program.80 (maybe program.txt?) instead of a zip file since there is only one file.

Any problems with that approach?

[DarkerLine]

[alexrudd]

Did you miss my questions, which probably went through while you were typing post?

* * *
In other news, "guess.zip" has been permanently deleted from the archives. For the sake of programmers everywhere, I was forced to take a stand against the anonymous "just a simple guessing game."

EDIT: "Random insult generator" has also gone the way of [s]the dodo[/s] guess.zip. Even though it does have an author, the insults are rather inappropriate.

[DarkerLine]

I've read the TI-80 and TI-81 manuals, briefly; the two calculators are so different that even the home screens don't have the same font. Also, the menus are completely different. I'm going to take a wild guess and say they're not compatible.

And I have no problems with your approach. I'd save it as program.80 instead of program.txt since that's the way ticalc.org does it and it seems to be the most popular way to do so.