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Software Catalogue

25 August 2008: Animated Rounds on 6 added

Cross-platform | Smart Phone/PDA | RISC OS | PC (DOS) | PC (Windows)

Introduction

This catalogue describes computer programs and systems that the authors wish to make available to the Exercise.

No claim is made about the suitability of the programs for any particular purpose. Any problems should be raised directly with the program's author and not with the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers Information and Communications Technology Committee.

All the programs described in this publication are copyright. This means that you acquire the right only to use the program. You do not become the owner of the program and hence you may not make copies of the program to pass on to other people unless explicitly stated in the documentation accompanying the program.

Developing computer programs is an expensive and time consuming task. Some of these programs have been written to help raise money for worthwhile ringing projects. Feel free to donate more than the asked amount.

When asking for details of programs please enclose a stamped addressed envelope. This is not necessary if you are sending a cheque to cover the cost of purchase.

Where appropriate, please indicate diskette size when ordering software.

If you would like your program to be included please send a copy of the program, together with details in the format of the following pages, to:

Mike Chester
26 Thompson Road, Keresley End, Coventry, West Midlands CV7 8JW, UK

Animated Rounds on 6

What it runs on: Any web browser
What it does: A set of animated ringers shows what happens in the belfry above when the bells are rung, including the movements of stays and sliders.
What it costs: Free but we welcome donations for bell restoration
Where to get it and/or more information: We prefer people to just link to our site, rather than copy it because we may change it from time to time. If people incorporate it into their own website we would appreciate an acknowledgement.; Please link to fortran.orpheusweb.co.uk/Bells/software/rounds.htm; Comments or corrections to Fortran Friends

RISC OS emulators for Mac or PC

These emulators are available from http://www.virtualacorn.co.uk

The PC version runs the programs well with Windows 2000 or later. They also run on Windows 98 but with restricted function.

Bells and Bell Ringing

Review available on-line

What it runs on: Any RISC OS computer or under a RISC OS emulator running on a Mac or PC.; PC version also available.
What it does: It is a multimedia program with sound and animation designed for school children and anyone starting to learn bell ringing.
What it costs: Free but we welcome donations for bell restoration
Where to get it and/or more information: Download a copy from http://fortran.orpheusweb.co.uk/Bells/software/; Comments or corrections to Fortran Friends

CallChange

What it runs on: Any RISC OS computer or under a RISC OS emulator running on a Mac or PC
What it does: Displays between 5 and 16 animated ringers who start in rounds and obey your 'Calls' which you do by clicking with your mouse between the bells whose order you want to change. Useful for beginners practising 'ropesight' or those starting to learn to call in the tower. A record is kept of your changes which can be saved to a file, which can be played back, or printed for later use in the tower. Supplied with a few popular changes, 'Queens', Tittums etc.
What it costs: 1. Free to download from the web, with a PDF manual.
2. Provided free as a sample application to those who buy the VirtualAcorn CD
3. Can be supplied on PC format floppy disc for £5, (cheques payable to 'Fortran Friends' send to address below, all profits donated to Oxford Diocesan Guild Bell Fund)
Where to get it and/or more information: Fortran Friends, P.O.Box 64, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0TH, UK
01235 834357

http://fortran.orpheusweb.co.uk/Bells/software/

Review in the 'Ringing World' November 1st 2002

Methods

What it runs on: Any RISC OS computer or under a RISC OS emulator running on a Mac or PC
What it does: Animates a band of from 4 to 16 bellringers ringing most common standard methods. You can simulate conducting in the tower and save the method 'Diagram' to a file showing the red and blue lines. Any Bobs and Singles called are saved in the diagram. You can add your own methods.
What it costs: 1. Freely downloadable demo version from the website
2. Complete version for £10 on PC floppy disc, includes UK postage, add £1 for EU countries, £2 elsewhere. PDF format manuual on disc, or A5 paper printed version for an extra £5. (cheques payable to 'Fortran Friends' send to address below, all profits donated to Oxford Diocesan Guild Bell Fund)
Where to get it and/or more information: Fortran Friends, P.O.Box 64, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0TH, UK
01235 834357

http://fortran.orpheusweb.co.uk/Bells/software/

Review in the 'Ringing World' November 1st 2002

Strike

What it runs on: Any RISC OS computer, e.g. Acorn A3000, A5000, RISCPC, Archimedes, Mico, Risc-Station (NB: second hand RISC-OS machines are very inexpensive.)
What it does: Strike simulates accurate repeatable striking errors and provides feedback on your ability to detect and correct them, as an aid to developing listening skills. Uses real bell sounds (4-16 bells). Used individually or by a group. Includes scores and league tables for performance.
What it costs: Strike costs £15 (most of which is a donation to bell restoration projects in Sonning Deanery).
Where to get it and/or more information: John Harrison, 2 Murdoch Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 2DA, UK
(0118) 978 5520

Stringing

Review available on-line

What it runs on: Any RISC OS computer or under a RISC OS emulator running on a Mac or PC
What it does: Stringing rings methods from plain hunt to spliced Surprise on up to 12 bells, with synchronised striking and 'real' church bell sound. One bell can be rung from the keyboard or (except for the Iyonix PC and Windows PCs running Virtual Acorn) by an external sensor attached to a silenced bell or purpose-built dumbbell. Choice of screen displays includes red and blue lines. Touches can be entered in advance, or called 'live', and saved to a file for printing. Over 130 stored methods; others can be added.
What it costs: Stringing costs £10, of which the profits go to ringing-related charities.
Where to get it and/or more information: John Norris, The Birches, off Wickham Hill, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex BN6 9NP, UK
email:
website: http://www.jrnorris.co.uk

Abel Ringing Simulator

Review available on-line

What it runs on: Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista.; CD drive required for installation.; Processor power and memory capacity conforming to Microsoft's recommendation for the Windows version.; 10MB of free disk space.
What it does: Abel lets you practise method ringing and call changes on your PC. You can practise anything from call-changes on three, through plain hunt and bob doubles, to Surprise Maximus, and up to 100-Spliced 24-in. You can ring any bell, or two (or four!) if you're a handbell ringer. At home, you use the PC keyboard to ring your chosen bell(s) and Abel rings the rest, letting you practise the blue line of any method or touch, or practise call changes, and get used to ringing in perfect rhythm. You can ring a touch or changes from a library (including random touches, different each time you ring them), or call them yourself. When you go wrong in the middle of something, Abel lets you go back a bit and try again. You can also connect dummy handbells, or dumbells, for more realistic home practice. You can print out (and preview) plain courses of methods, or touches, in similar style to the RW Diary or Diagrams, or various other styles.; Abel has real tower or handbell sound, and shows sally/tail or handbells at back/hand, scrolling blue line, calls and method changes (spoken too), etc. You can use recordings of your own bells, or change the bell/sally/backstroke graphics. There are many options, including speed of the ringing, pitch and scale of the bells, cartwheeling, tenors behind, call changes up or down, half muffled, MIDI sound, etc.; Even people new to ringing and/or PCs say they find Abel extremely easy to use. More than 3500 ringers have bought Abel, and it is used in hundreds of towers.
Libraries used: microSIRIL and private library supplied with software.
What it costs: Abel costs £20. All profits go to charity, including Bell Restoration. Updates are free (download from website).
Where to get it and/or more information: Send cheque made out to AbelSim to: Chris Hughes, 8 Daisy Bank Crescent, Audlem, Crewe, CW3 OHD, UK; Further information, including the Ringing World review of Abel, is on the website at http://www.abelsim.co.uk

BELTOWER (version 10)

Review available on-line

What it runs on

PC running Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP or 32 bit Vista, with a CD drive, a fast 80486 processor + sound card for sound, or a P100 with 16mb RAM for moving ropes, although configuration can also affect performance.

What it does

BELTOWER lets you practise, edit, prove or print any method, principle, touch, peal or longer, from plain hunt and call changes to spliced surprise, on 3 to 16 bells. Select a method or composition from the sortable library or from microSIRIL files. Preview the blue line of method(s) or touch/spliced. Watch the moving ropes or hand bells and the scrollable display, with red and blue lines. Ring any or all of the bells from the keyboard, mouse or bell sensors, with independent hand/back strokes and interactive animation, while Beltower rings the other bells, with perfect striking, and monitors your accuracy.

Natural bell sounds (incl. muffled and MIDI) and voiced calls can be played, and there are various display/key-in modes and animation layouts. When ringing a touch, you can start with call changes or even part way through a touch. Record and play-back includes a graphic striking report with fault assessment. The Challenge can ring random numbers of bells and a variety of striking/method errors, to test your listening and conducting skills.

Edit methods intuitively, using place notation, blue line or bell numbers. You can use a variant of place notation which includes x in doubles, and user-definable calls. The method, calling positions, touch and call changes editors should satisfy every need.

Call your own spliced touches (or call changes), create them with the composer (incl. mixed stages), and edit them the way you write them, using calling positions (for any conductor's bell), or call events (lead ends), with splice at half-lead, and call Rounds or That's All at part leads. They can be listed and printed with all changes, lead heads, call heads, course heads or coursing orders. The prover includes a false rows, flh or fch report, and musical analysis reports Queens, Tittums, CRUs and LBRs, and checks each bell for 'all the work' and their respective calling positions.

Methods/touches/spliced can be printed with preview, as numbers, lines, grid, or combinations, any size, or output to file, all with simple selections and/or templates. Full context-sensitive Help, with tutorials, is included in software, in handbook format and printable in full or in part.

Library used

Own method library supplied, plus microSIRIL library of 11000 methods.

What it costs

Price: £40.00 including P&P, upgrade discounts available (+ £1 for delivery outside Europe).

Where to get it and/or more information

Normally supplied on CD, but 3½" floppy disk version also available.
Order by post from: D. J. Ballard, 23 Laurel Road, Honiton, Devon EX14 2XN, UK
(01404) 42732

www.beltower.co.uk

Beltower Player (version 2)

What it runs on: PC running Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP or 32 bit Vista, with a CD drive , a fast 80486 processor + sound card.
What it does: Beltower Player lets you display and replay any striking recorded using Beltower versions 7 or later or other compatible files. Play-back includes a graphic striking report with fault assessment, independent hand/back strokes plus natural bell sounds (incl. muffled, half-muffled and MIDI) and voiced calls. Performance details are also included. Full context-sensitive Help, with tutorials, is included in software, in handbook format and printable in full or in part.
What it costs: Free, if downloaded from the Beltower web site, or £5.00 including P&P from the author (+ £1 for delivery outside Europe).
Where to get it and/or more information: Download from the Beltower web site or on CD from the author.
Order by post from: D. J. Ballard, 23 Laurel Road, Honiton, Devon EX14 2XN, UK
(01404) 42732

www.beltower.co.uk

Blue Line for Psion Series 5 and Revo

What it runs on: Psion Series 5, Series 7, and Revo. (Author has tested on Psion 5mx and Revo+, and on a Series 7 emulator.)
What it does: Blue Line can be used to view the line for any method and "ring" it from the keyboard. It can extract methods from the regularly updated place notation available free of charge from the web at: http://www.ringsoft.co.uk/change-ringers/ringing-programs/microsiril/method-libraries/mslibs.zip. Thus a ringer can have any line he/she would ever be asked to ring available at a moment's notice in his/her pocket. Random touches, including spliced, can be "rung" on the keyboard to test one's knowledge of the method(s) prior to grabbing hold of a rope. Touches of spliced can be entered and practiced, such as a peal of 23-spliced. This is particularly useful when wanting to test yourself on each lead at least once, by entering an "all the work" composition of your own choice (or creation) from http://www.bronze-age.com/elf/ . Comes complete with comprehensive help.
What it costs: FREE, but a donation to the St. Mary's Cheltenham
http://www.abbey1.org.uk/parish/ Bell Fund for an amount that you believe appropriate, will incline the author to send you any updates by email.
Where to get it and/or more information: http://www.abbey1.org.uk/blue_line/

BYROC - 2

What it runs on: Most IBM-compatible PCs, under DOS
What it does: Generates touches up to normal peal length of most Plain, Treble Bob and Alliance methods, for Major, Royal or Maximus.
New features include: 6ths (8ths, 10ths) place calls; and "all the work" check; extra calling positions; updated method library; optimisation facility for preferred rows or sequences; compositions for irregular Major methods*; method generator; and proving program.
Library used: Private library supplied with software and also available, with weekly updates, from:
What it costs: £17.50 (£10 upgrade from version 1) *Add £2.50 for this facility
Where to get it and/or more information

BYROC for Windows

What it runs on: IBM-compatibles under Windows 95/98/2000
What it does: Generates, proves and prints out touches up to normal peal length of most Plain. Treble Bob and Alliance Methods for Major, Royal or Maximus, including Irregular Major methods.
Library used: Private library supplied with software and also available, with weekly updates, from:
What it costs: £25.00
Where to get it and/or more information

Called Change Ringer

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PC with Windows 95 or later
What it does: The program is easy to use by a novice or a more experienced conductor. The user can explore the effects of swapping bells over and see these translated into the necessary calls. Supports both calling UP and DOWN, on four to eight bells with or without including the tenor in the changes. It generates a list of changes, which may be rung between 1 and 20 times per change. Compositions may be saved to disk for exchanging with other users. A seek facility generates the necessary calls to get to any desired row.; Supplied with the sound of Halesowen bells, with detailed instructions on recording your own. Programs provided for installation and removal.
What it costs: Free
Where to get it and/or more information: http://www.ringbell.co.uk/software/index.htm

Eril Composition Prover and Seeker

What it runs on: Windows 95/98/NT/2000
What it does: Eril is a program that searches for compositions based on a specification for compositions. The specification can contain optional alternatives for leads, methods, or parts of the composition, each of which is tried in an attempt to find all true touches that match the composition specification. It is an enhancement of the microSIRIL language that adds macros, conditional/alternative place notation blocks, ranges of values for repeated blocks and other enhancements.
Libraries: The same method libraries as microSIRIL.
What it costs: Nothing. This is available freely to the ringing community at present.
Where to get it and/or more information: Full details about eril, and the executables and libraries needed are available from www.ropley.com/eril/eril.apsx The ZIP file containing the executable and libraries are linked from that page. The author can be contacted via the web page also.

EXCALIBUR (Version 4) for Windows

Review available on-line for VERSION 3

What it runs on: Windows 95/98/Me/XP. Excalibur comes on 1 CD-ROM
What it does: Excalibur takes compositions written in standard format, straight from the composition books, rings the composition and checks it for falseness. It has a built in editor and can check about 96% of compositions exactly as they are written. It will handle peals and touches of up to 40320 changes from 5-30 bells. An average peal is checked in around 1 second. You can view and print the output in a number of different ways, including blue lines of a single method or a complete composition. All popular methods are built in, or you can add methods with one click from microSIRIL method libraries or define your own. There are over 200 help screens with 40 compositions to try. An extensive 30 page manual is included, plus free help and support!
Libraries needed: microSIRIL method libraries included
What it costs: £19.95 including post and packaging
Where to get it and / or more information: www.truepeal.co.uk

FESTE 1.6.4

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PCs with Windows 3.1 or above
What it does: Graphical display of method falsity for 60/120 courses. Assists composition; proves such compositions as Colin J E Wyld's 6**168 peals of 24-spliced. (Familiarity with TouchStone is necessary to use some parts of the program.)
Library used: A modest library is supplied by the author. Library is easily extended (each method has a File to itself generated by NotePad) most simply by the use of Trinculo (q.v.)
What it costs: Discretionary donation to any BRF.
Where to get it and/or more information: Visit feste.org.uk

Inpact (Interactive Proving and Composing Tool)

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PCs with Windows
What it does: Checks any composition on 4-16 bells. Aimed mainly at composers and conductors. The main innovation is the interactive aspect - the user can edit the composition, or expand and collapse blocks, and see the effects immediately. Falseness and music are shown alongside the input, making it easy to see where they occur.
Library used: Supports microSIRIL method libraries.
What it costs: Free.
Where to get it and/or more information: Download from www.math.ubc.ca/~holroyd/ringing.html

JBlueLine (method learning program)

What it runs on: Any web browser with a Java runtime environment*.
(for mobile devices see JBlueLineME)
What it does: Allows you to view and 'ring' methods in the simulator. Aiming for testing method recall from memory at speed, not ringing in time to anyone else. It uses the MicroSIRIL method libraries in order to make over 15,000 methods available to you to browse and ring. You can choose to ring plain courses, random leads and random touches.
Library used: microSIRIL method libraries
What it costs: Free
Where to get it and/or more information: JBlueLine runs from the following web page, which also contains further information: www.cheltenhambranch.org.uk/jblueline.php#usage; *(The Java runtime environment is available free from Sun Microsystems. For details, please see: www.cheltenhambranch.org.uk/jblueline.php#problems

JBlueLineME (method learning program for mobile phones and PDAs)

What it runs on: Any mobile device with a Java runtime environment. Specifically, mobile phones and PDAs (Palm, WinCE, Symbian) as long as they have support for J2ME, CLDC-1.1 and MIDP 2.0. If your phone was purchased recently and plays games it can probably run JBlueLineME - try before you buy.
What it does: Allows you to view and 'ring' methods in the simulator. Aiming for testing method recall from memory at speed, not ringing in time to anyone else. It uses the microSIRIL method libraries in order to make over 15,000 methods available to you to browse and ring. You can choose to ring plain courses, random leads and random touches, all while waiting at the church for your fellow ringers to arrive.
Library used: microSIRIL method libraries.
What it costs: £12 - proceeds to bell restoration
Where to get it and/or more information: JBlueLineME can be downloaded from http://www.stmarkschelt.co.uk/JBlueLine/. Full help on using the application is available on-line there too. If you would like to see what the software is like before downloading, then please use the free on-line version available at http://www.cheltenhambranch.org.uk/jblueline.php#usage

LAVACHE (or LAVATCH) v1.6.3

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PCs with Windows 3.1 or above.
What it does: Composition generator for even bell, treble dominated methods (generally tenors together but with interludes of split work and/or half-lead calls or similar - splinter calls in TouchStone - qv).
Library used: A modest library is supplied by the author. Library is easily extended (each method has a File to itself generated by NotePad) most simply by the use of Trinculo (q.v.)
What it costs: Discretionary donation to any BRF.
Where to get it and/or more information: Visit feste.org.uk

Learn-the-Line

Review available on-line

What it runs on: Windows 95/98/NT/2000
What it does: 'Learn the Line ' is a Minesweeper style game to help ringers learn new methods. Select a Method and a bell and then move (using the mouse, arrow or number keys) down the path that the bell should follow. The program shows how your position relates to the Trebble and the lead ends whilst also keeping track of your mistakes .
Library used: None
What it costs: Evaluation version is free for 30 days then a £10 registration fee is due for further use. (Registered users are entitled to future updates for free)
Where to get it and/or more information: Full details about 'Learn the Line' and a downloadable evaluation copies are available from www.squidsoftware.co.uk.

MethodMaster

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PCs with Windows 3.1 or above
What it does: MethodMaster displays method details, including place notations, blue lines, figures, music and false course heads from any of over 11,000 methods supplied in its method library.
Library used: Private library supplied with software, and also available, with weekly updates, from www.shropshirelad.free-online.co.uk
What it costs: MethodMaster costs £15 including P&P
Where to get it and/or more information: www.shropshirelad.free-online.co.uk

Method Workshop

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PC with Windows 95 or later
What it does: Unlike some programs this is easy to use and should meet the needs of the ordinary ringer rather than a peal composer. The main features of this program are. View / print Method diagrams for any method. View / print Blue line diagrams. Any bell can be your Blue line bell. The CCCBR libraries of 13000+ methods are included as standard, or enter place notation for unclassified or recently added methods. The Method Workshop handles methods from Minimus to Maximus.; Although it is not designed as a proving program, nevertheless it tests touches, quarters and peals are true, as you enter them in lead based or course based notation. When calling a touch, you may find the option to View / print all the lead ends in the touch helpful. Workshop can help when learning the places for any bell in a plain course or touch of the selected method.; Drive your family insane by ringing a plain course or a peal on real bells. For methods above Major, download the extra 12 bell tower samples from the website or record your own bells. For fun have a go at designing your own method by modifying an existing method or template using the screen editor.
What it costs: Free
Where to get it and/or more information: http://www.ringbell.co.uk/software/index.htm

Method Tutor

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PC with Windows 95 or later
What it does: The program uses the clock dial to aid remembering the sequence of work in the method.; Instructs on plain courses and simple touches of Plain Bob Minimus / Doubles / Minor / Triples / Major, Grandsire Doubles / Triples. Allows you to practice counting your places, being warned if an error is made. The places are entered using the Mouse or the Keyboard. The user can observe the effects of Bob and Single calls on each piece of work. Step backwards then forward again to review the work, or change the call made.; In addition to the clock face is a user selectable blue line display with three levels. No Blue Line - You may click the display for a quick look if lost. Show Blue Line of past changes. Show Blue Line Preview, which updates for Bob and Single calls.; There are four user selectable Textual Prompting levels. Display current place and next place. Additional hints. Include the bell you are following in the text. No Prompt, but mistakes are still highlighted.
What it costs: Free
Where to get it and/or more information: http://www.ringbell.co.uk/software/index.htm

Method Writer

What it runs on

Runs on any Windows 95/98/NT/ME. Also works well on a Mac with VirtualPC. Not tested on Windows 2000 but will probably work fine.

What it does

Method Writer reads and expands methods from three to sixteen bells from a library. The choosen method can be modified, printed, seen as a blue line and played on any speed with real sounds. Also method proofing, command position recognition and, work analysis and a search for musically interesting changes is offered. A lot of settings to alter the behaviour of the program are available.

Advanced possibilities:

Methods can be extended to touches through a extended Lead End format.
Methods may be altered with bob and single commands in any WBHM or alike sceme (composer mode)
Touches may be extended on a 'per lead' basis with bobs, singles, plain leads or any other user defined command (conductor mode). This can even be done during actual play of the method.

What it costs

Method Writer is free software but may not be redistributed by any means without written consent of the author. Also nice postcards are welcomed if you like the program!

Where to get it and/or more information

Theo van Soest
E-mail:
http://home.wanadoo.nl/kegge13/

microSIRIL

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PCs with DOS version 3.3 or later.
What it does: microSIRIL is a fast peal-proving program. It can prove almost any composition from Minimus to Maximus up to a length of 65,000 changes.
Library used: microSIRIL method library, containing over 11,000 named methods, supplied with software.
What it costs: £8 - supplied on 3.5" diskette, with manual, or £1 supplied on 3.5" diskette without manual.
Where to get it and/or more information: Andrew Craddock, 2 Rosemoor Grove, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh SO53 1TB, UK
(023) 8026 7657

microSIRIL method libraries

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PCs, RISC OS computers and any computer system that can read 1.44MB MS DOS diskettes.
What it does: The microSIRIL method libraries contain the names and place notations of over 11,000 methods from Minimus upwards. These libraries can be used with a number of programs including abel, microSIRIL and Wbells. The libraries are easily updated with new methods by using a simple text editor such as Microsoft's EDIT. The files are not compressed and can be used with editors, WP, DTP, database packages and so on.
What it costs: £1 (or 4 x First Class stamps) - supplied on 3.5" diskette (no software included)
Where to get it and/or more information: Andrew Craddock, 2 Rosemoor Grove, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh SO53 1TB, UK
(023) 8026 7657

PalmBlueLine

What it runs on: Any Palm OS compatible personal digital assistant.
What it does: PalmBlueLine is a complete visual dictionary of the Central Council Methods Committee method collection files. It converts the place notation into a single lead of changes and displays this in traditional blue line format for any user selectable bell. Carry every single method and principle around in your pocket.
What it costs: PalmBlueLine is available free of charge on request, and is supplied under the terms of the General Public License. The databases of methods that it uses are available for free download from the website listed below.
Where to get it and/or more information: Weary Hall Music

Peal Prover version 5.1

What it runs on

PC running Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP or 32 bit Vista

What it does

The program allows you to carry out the following main actions:

Use place notations to define a method.
Print out the changes and blue line for a method (each bell in a different colour if you want)
Define a calling composition.
Exchange methods and compositions between users.
Print out the changes or just the lead ends for a composition.
Check if a composition is true or false.
Search for musical changes in a composition.
Check the leads rung in each method by each bell in a spliced composition.

Libraries used

Private library supplied with the software. Extra methods can be easily entered by the user, and exchanged between users via the export / import features.

What it costs

Available as a free download from the Bath branch ringers website.

Where to get it and/or more information

Download from http://bathbranchringing.org/pealprover/index.php

PealBook

What it runs on: Windows3.1 or later
What it does: PealBook is a purpose-written relational database for keeping peal records. Ringers, towers, methods and associations are stored in the main peal file as keys pointing to other data files for efficient data storage and easy generation of league tables to find leading ringers, etc.
Libraries used: Those who have rung a Peal with the Cambridge University Guild or The ASCY, 1968 or later, may email for a personalised list
What it costs: It is a free download from the web site
Where to get it and/or more information: Download from http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/saddleton/
Other programs for Stedman Triples, Spliced Surprise Minor, Universal Surprise Major and Stedman Turning Courses are available from the web site

Ringbell Ropesight Tutor

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PC with Windows 95 or later
What it does: Designed to assist a learner to gain an appreciation of ropesight by allowing them to stand behind the selected bell in a six or eight bell tower. It has an animated screen showing bellringers and their ropes with a number of optional guides showing the bells place, direction of movement and which bell it is following. Optional open handstroke or cartwheeling affects the display and also the sound. Shows called changes to Queens and back, Devon Changes. Shows Doubles, Minor, Triples and Major methods of Plain Hunt / Plain Bob / Grandsire. For a bit of non serious 'fun' the user can test their timing skills in interactive mode.; Supplied with the sound of Halesowen bells, with detailed instructions on recording your own. Programs provided for installation and removal.
What it costs: Free
Where to get it and/or more information: http://www.ringbell.co.uk/software/index.htm

Ringing Master for Windows 9x,2000,ME,NT4.0,XP

Review available on-line

What it runs on: PCs with Windows 9x,2000,ME,NT4.0,XP and a sound card (if you want to hear the bells). At least P100 processor recommended. CD-ROM drive or web access required for installation.
What it does: Ringing Master is a thoroughly modern & professional, touch / peal proving program. Ringing Master proves touches 'on the fly' (as you type). This means that the touch is proved, analyzed and the results displayed live (including lead heads), as you work on it. In reality it takes about 20 milliseconds to prove and analyze a peal of 8 spliced.; It will accept most normal touch formats. You have as much or as little control over every part of the process as you want. The flexibility built in to the normal method definition allows you define any method in any way, allowing the program to cope with oddball methods like Stedman, naturally and easily, rather than building in specific support for each method.; The user interface allows much customization along the lines of Microsoft Word. You can set up the whole interface to your own liking, produce your own menus of the functions you use regularly, even have an XP or standard look and feel.; Features include: Coloured touch entry grid system, highlighting how the touch is being interpreted & red underlining potential faults. Natural bell sounds with control over speed & quality. Method Explorer (like Windows Explorer) and powerful method database search engine. Control over the exact style of display of blue lines. Printing of touch, blue line and analysis reports. Visual notation editor that allows you to draw your method graphically, then search the database to find its name. Comprehensive analysis is displayed live.
Libraries used: Private library supplied - derived from the Central Council Library.
What it costs: Ringing Master costs £40 from the web and £45 on CD-ROM.; Updates (to version 1.xx) from the web are free, while CD-ROM updates cost £5.
Where to get it and/or more information: Send cheque made out to J Lake to: Ringing Master, 2, Red Lodge Drive, Bilton, Rugby CV22 7TT, UK. Email address; For further information, and to download an evaluation copy, see http://www.ringingmaster.co.uk

SABRE for Windows

What it runs on: Windows 95/98/Me/XP. Sabre comes on 1 CD-ROM
What it does: Sabre is a composition generation programme for 8 bell methods. It will generate touches of up to 40320 changes, with tenors together or split, with up to 8 spliced methods, in up to 6 parts. Sabre comes with a vast array of options and features to generate a composition which matches your requirements. It will generate and save up to 10000 compositions at once, with output in standard composition book format. The highly optimised generation algorithum can generate over 40 different peals a second. A detailed 17 page manual included, plus free help and support!
Libraries needed: microSIRIL method libraries are included.
What it costs: £25.00 including post and packaging
Where to get it and / or more information: www.truepeal.co.uk

SIRIL-2

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PCs equipped with a minimum of 512KB RAM.
What it does: SIRIL-2 checks compositions on up to 36 bells. Finds method and inter-method falseness. Finds composition falseness. Finds compositions based on a skeleton that you can provide. Prints method diagrams. If you can ring it, SIRIL-2 can check it.
Where to get it and/or more information: Ian McCallion, 3 Millstream Rise, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 8HA, UK
(01794) 514883

SPAFT

What it runs on: Windows9x
What it does: SPAFT is a Stedman Proving and Formatting Tool. It allows users to input compositions of Stedman Cinques quickly and to prove them for falseness and also to print them out in the standard format for Stedman
Libraries used: A small number of example peals can be downloaded
What it costs: It is a free download from the web site
Where to get it and/or more information: Download from http://www.saddleton.freeuk.com/ or send an email to for the source code.
Other programs for Stedman Triples, Spliced Surprise Minor, Universal Surprise Major and Stedman Turning Courses are available from the web site

WinDove

What it runs on: Windows9x/NT
What it does: WinDove is a visual interface to the data in Dove. In addition there are various options for selecting and sorting the data. Maps showing the location of the towers can be displayed. It is in an early stage of development and is a prototype version.
Libraries used: Based on the Central Council Web Site version of Dove
What it costs: It is a free download from the web site
Where to get it and/or more information: Download from http://www.saddleton.freeuk.com/ or send an email to
Other programs for Stedman Triples, Spliced Surprise Minor, Universal Surprise Major and Stedman Turning Courses are available from the web site

SPEED 1.3

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PCs with Windows 3.1 or above. This version will run on PCs with a 16 or 256 colour graphics display (it is generally possible to set others to one of these values from the Control Panel).
What it does: Speed simulates the dynamical motion of an "ideal" bell and clapper in real time. The user supplies dynamical parameters; the bell rings down from whatever starting position is specified. An ideal bell is wholly frictionless and the clapper collision is wholly inelastic. The program will indicate a multiple blow if this should happen, and assesses the force of the blow. A moving icon indicates the situation of bell and clapper in real time (occasional hesitations may intrude on slower PCs), provided that your PC has an arithmetic coprocessor.
What it costs: Discretionary donation to any BRF.
Where to get it and/or more information: Visit feste.org.uk

TOUCHSTONE 2.01

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PCs with Windows 3.1 or above.
What it does: Proves peals.
Library used: A modest library is supplied by the author. Library is easily extended (each method has a File to itself generated by NotePad) most simply by the use of Trinculo (q.v.)
What it costs: Discretionary donation to any BRF.
Where to get it and/or more information: Visit feste.org.uk

TowerBase

What it runs on: PCs that use the Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, 2000 or XP operating system. Requires a CD-ROM drive, 32MB RAM, SVGA (800 x 600) or better monitor and 700MB of free hard disk space.
What it does: TowerBase is a program that contains details of over 6500 rings of bells in the UK and overseas. It has fast selection and sorting facilities to obtain quick answers to questions such as "Where are the nearest rings to National Grid reference SU123456 that have 8 or 12 bells that practice on Mondays or Wednesdays, with a tenor weight between 5 and 25 cwt and John in the dedication?"
TowerBase contains details of grid references, guild affiliations, practice nights, tenor weights and so on. There are digital photographs of more than half the towers, brief peal details and space to record your own comments about each tower. There's also a quiz and graphical analysis of your selection of towers.
What it costs: TowerBase costs £15. Cheques should be made payable to "TowerBase"
Where to get it and/or more information: Andrew Craddock, 2 Rosemoor Grove, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh SO53 1TB, UK

(023) 8026 7657

Tower Visit Recorder

What it runs on: IBM-compatible PC with Windows 95 or later
What it does: A no frills, low budget program allowing you to keep a log of your first Visits, Quarters and Peals with additional comments too. Your data is shown as red dots on UK Density Map. Each family member may have their own independant log. The logs may be printed or viewed on screen. The tower master list is extracted from Dove and a maintenance program is included to edit the database or download a new version.; The user opens their log, moves through the Dove Extract, finds the tower and clicks on the appropriate field in the Visitor Records box. The full date and sequence number may be recorded if known, but when transfering historic records from diaries etc, partial dates or simply a flag to indicate a visit may be recorded. The Logfile is gradually built up over any number of sessions.
What it costs: Free
Where to get it and/or more information: http://www.ringbell.co.uk/software/index.htm

TRINCULO v1.3

What it runs on: IBM PC compatible under Windows 3.1, 95, 98, NT.
What it does: Provides an information retrieval system for any CC Method Collection in the format specified for March 19 1997. May provide formats for other ringing software. Includes a blue line feature.
What method library it uses: CC Method Collections as above obtainable from CC sources (see RW) or may be down-loaded from web-site.
What it costs: Discretionary donation to any BRF.
Where to get it and/or more information: Visit feste.org.uk

Utilities from Glenn Taylor

What it runs on

PC running DOS/Windows

What it does

INTERMET (DOS) Produces inter-method falseness tables for symmetric regular 8/10/12-bell methods. Can also produce tenors-together falseness for any rung course.

UGCalc (Windows) This is a universal groups calculator for 8-bell composition. The program will:

Determine the falseness groups for which a user-specified set of courses is true.
Allow the user to assemble a set of courses that is true to a user-specified set of falseness groups.

INTERLD6 (Windows) Calculates inter-method falseness for (fixed treble) minor methods by determining the half-leads of user-specified methods that must be avoided if the half-lead starting with rounds is rung to any user- specified method(s).

Library used

INTERMET and INTERLD6 each use a small library to which methods can easily be added

What it costs

Freeware. Either send a 3.5" disk and return postage, or an email (to receive a ZIP file ~400kb) to the address below.

Where to get it and/or more information

Glenn Taylor, 1 Frayne Road, Ashton, Bristol, BS3 1RU, UK
Phone: (0117) 963-5816

WAVANAL

What it runs on: Windows 95 / 98 / 2000 / NT. Sound card needed to record or play sounds
What it does:: The program analyses bell sounds using a personal computer. It provides facilities for graphical display of recorded bell sounds, identification of partial frequencies, and synthesis of bell sounds from a list of partials. It allows complete determination of the harmonic character of a bell using the facilities available on any multi-media home PC. It also allows exploration of the way that changing the tuning of a bell changes its resulting sound.
Libraries needed:: None
What it costs:: Free
Where to get it and/or more information:: Software and documentation can be downloaded from www.hibberts.co.uk. For further information, email the author (Bill Hibbert) on bill@hibberts.co.uk.

WinRK - The Ringers' Database

What it runs on

IBM-compatible PCs running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, NT v4 or Windows XP

What it does

Compiles databases of performances including quarter peals and/or handbells, societies, ringers, composers and publications with full printing, analysis and search by example.

The Windows successor to Record Keeper for DOS, with many enhancements suggested by users. Will still read and convert files from RK for DOS!

To see the full range of features and the enhancements incorporated into v2.9 see: http://winrk.co.uk

What it costs

United Kingdom - £45 (inclusive of post and packing)
The rest of the known universe - £50 (inclusive of post and packing)

Free upgrades for current users and maintenance updates for v2.9: http://winrk.co.uk

Where to get it and/or more information

http://winrk.co.uk'

or WinRK, 4 Crown Road, Mundford, Norfolk, IP26 5HQ, UK