Shareware registration                                            MetalBase 5.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hiya.  This is the part where I whine about how society's going down the tubes
   and it's probably because no one ever pays for shareware anymore.

I have designed and written all the versions of MetalBase.  The database engine
   itself is of my own design and implementation, though there are several
   people to whom I am indebted for input and testing of the engine, and
   suggestions for development of supporting utilites:


   John Steele      -- jsteele@netcom.netcom.com        -- Beta Testing / Input
   Larry A Keber    -- lak@world.std.com                -- Beta Testing / Input
   Marlin Sheffield -- marlin@thelink.rn.com            -- Beta Testing / Input
   Warlock          -- warlock@coco.ca.rop.edu          -- Beta Testing / Input
   Mike Cuddy       -- mcuddy@fensende.rational.com     -- Miscellaneous ideas
   Bruce Momjian    -- jabber!candle!root@dsinc.dsi.com -- Reporting
   Adrian Corston   -- adrian@internode.com.au          -- DE and mailing list
   Robert S         -- roseg@taurus.bitnet              -- 4.1a Unix locking
   Michael Wayne    -- mwayne@troy.ilium.com            -- Delayed indexing


SHAREWARE ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Previous versions of MetalBase were released as DonateWare--I suggested
   that you send $10 or so if you felt MetalBase was worth it, and nothing
   otherwise... and although I generally receive a great deal of positive
   feedback about MetalBase, only a handful of users have bothered to fill
   my request for registration (my thanks to those who did).

It basically wasn't working.  So MetalBase is now officially shareware; if you
   plan to keep and use it, you should register the package with the author.


REGISTRATION ------------------------------------------------------------------

"Registration" basically involves sending to me a small amount of money, along
   with yielding the following information:

         o Your name (and company, if applicable)

         o The version of MetalBase which you are registering

         o An email address (if possible; or normal mail address if not)
           where you can be reached

         o A list of each type of platform MetalBase has been installed upon,
           and the number of users expected on each platform

         o Feedback about MetalBase; your views on aspects of the DBM which
           need to be improved, and suggestions for new abilities


The registration fee is dependant upon what platform you are using:

         Multiple platforms..............................$20 US

         or
         Multiple users on a single platform.............$20 US

         or
         Only one user on a single platform..............$10 US


WHAT YOU GET ------------------------------------------------------------------

Once you have registered, I will:

      o Send you fixes to any bugs which have cropped up in the release
        you have since its distribution.

      o Send you updates to the following files:

           tech/chapter.8
           src/mb_comp.c

        These files regard data compression, which is not included in this
        release as distributed.  See the current chapter.8 in the ../tech
        directory for a discussion of whether this in itself is worth your
        effort.

      o Place your registration information in a list of users (managed by,
        of course, MetalBase).

      o Place your registration fee in my piggy bank, to save for purchasing
        an engagement ring for my girlfriend.  There, now THAT's incentive,
        right?


REQUESTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------

There are a few things I would ask of you, whether you decide to register your
   package or not (but particularly if the latter):

    o Give MetalBase to as many people as possible.  It's very hard to get
      good distribution these days, so if you like the package, copy it to
      your favorite FTP drop or BBS.

    o Tell me about any bugs you find.  As it states in the troubleshooting
      section, I do complete support for MetalBase whether or not you've
      registered, and part of that is finding and removing bugs.

    o Leave the existing documentation intact.  Add more if you'd like, but
      leave what's already there.  Feel free to add sample programs and
      relations if you like--they always help.

    o Leave the credits.  I'm vain and I'm poor, and the publicity for me might
      do me good; if not for my wallet, at least for my ego.

    o Send any modifications to the enclosed code to me, preferably as diffs
      (but I don't mind complete source code at all).  More importantly, send
      ideas!  If you'd like an improvement, tell me about it.  Most of the
      additions to MetalBase have come about from things like this, so it
      really works.

