Tyler Links wrote: 
    
        
        Could you provide a 
        synopsis of the basic behavior of each of the .abo files which GEMS 
        supports?You know, the basic 
        stuff, which ones produce long tapes, which ones produce short tapes, 
        which ones give you a choice, which ones show all of the long tape 
        information, which ones only show a ballots cast summary, which ones 
        have specific certification language at the end, 
        etc.
        I don’t want to put 
        too fine a point on it, but I requested this 11 months 
        ago.
 
    
  I think that I got Nel to volunteer for this one and then it 
    got sidelined on his job list.  Sorry about that.  What I'm going 
    to do is give you the raw comments from the source file headers.  Here 
    goes: 
    
---------------- 
194 Canadian: 
REM 194can.abs - The standard 
    Accu-Basic Source file for Canada. 
REM  In election mode this 
    produces a short precinct totals report 
REM  for the default 
    election results and offers to print short 
REM  reports with 
    summaries and precinct breakdowns until 
REM  powered off. 
    
REM  In pre-election and post-election modes it will print all 
    
REM  combinations of long and short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-11 GLL Created from stdcan.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add page before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
----------------- 
194 Demo: 
REM 194demo.abs - The standard 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the demonstrations. 
REM  In election 
    mode this produces a short summary report for the default 
REM  
    election results and offers to print short reports with summaries and 
    
REM  precinct breakdowns until powered off. 
REM  In 
    pre-election and post-election modes it will print all combinations 
    
REM  of short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-10 GLL Created from stddemo.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
---------------- 
194 French: 
REM 194fr.abs - The standard 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the French Canada. 
REM  In election mode 
    this produces a short precinct totals report 
REM  for the default 
    election results and offers to print short 
REM  reports with 
    summaries and precinct breakdowns until 
REM  powered off. 
    
REM  In pre-election and post-election modes it will print all 
    
REM  combinations of long and short reports. 
REM  NOTE: 
    This does not handle cross endorsed candidates. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-11 GLL Created from stdus.abs and old stdfr.abs. 
REM 
    96-10-22 GLL Fix to handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified 
    to avoid malloc bug in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix 
    problem where get_yesno() was printing "NO". 
REM 96-10-30 GLL 
    Clean up ballot count reporting. 
REM 96-11-01 GLL Add numeric default 
    straight party codes up to 16. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters. 
REM 99-10-25 GLL 
    Print only the blank lines in the signatures section. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
------------------ 
194 US: 
REM 194us.abs - The standard 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the United States. 
REM  In election mode 
    this produces a short precinct totals report 
REM  for the default 
    election results and offers to print short 
REM  reports with 
    summaries and precinct breakdowns until 
REM  powered off. 
    
REM  In pre-election and post-election modes it will print all 
    
REM  combinations of long and short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-11 GLL Created from stdus.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 96-10-24 GLL print_wrapString() 
    truncates trailing spaces. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
------------------ 
194 US 5 decimals: 
REM 194us5d.abs - The 
    standard Accu-Basic Source file for the United States 
REM  with 5 
    digits allowed for all counters. 
REM  In election mode this 
    produces a short precinct totals report 
REM  for the default 
    election results and offers to print short 
REM  reports with 
    summaries and precinct breakdowns until 
REM  powered off. 
    
REM  In pre-election and post-election modes it will print all 
    
REM  combinations of long and short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-11 GLL Created from stdus5d.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
------------------ 
194 California: 
REM 194usca.abs - The 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the state of California. 
REM  In 
    election mode this produces a cards cast report 
REM  for the 
    default zero totals and election results and offers 
REM  to print 
    short reports with summaries and precinct breakdowns 
REM  until 
    powered off.  All results reports include cards cast with 
REM  
    party codes for closed primary ballots. 
REM  In pre-election and 
    post-election modes it will print all 
REM  combinations of long and 
    short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 00-05-16 GLL Created from 194usga.abs. 
REM 00-05-28 GLL Also 
    print just cards cast for election zero totals. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
------------------- 
194uscp: [VTS only] 
REM 194uscp.abs - The 
    standard Accu-Basic Source file for Cambridge's 
REM  Preference 
    voting in the United States. 
REM  In election mode this produces a 
    short precinct totals report 
REM  for the default election results 
    and offers to print short 
REM  reports with summaries and precinct 
    breakdowns until 
REM  powered off. 
REM  In pre-election 
    and post-election modes it will print all 
REM  combinations of long 
    and short reports. 
REM  The candidate counts are not printed since 
    they are always zero 
REM  for Cambridge Preference. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-11 GLL Created from stdus.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 96-10-24 GLL print_wrapString() 
    truncates trailing spaces. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters. 
REM 97-10-23 GLL 
    Suppress printing candidate counters. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
----------------- 
194 Georgia: 
REM 194usga.abs - The standard 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the state of Georgia. 
REM  In election 
    mode this produces a short precinct totals report 
REM  for the 
    default election results and offers to print short 
REM  reports 
    with summaries and precinct breakdowns until 
REM  powered 
    off.  All results reports include cards cast with 
REM  party 
    codes for closed primary ballots. 
REM  In pre-election and 
    post-election modes it will print all 
REM  combinations of long and 
    short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 00-05-11 GLL Created from 194us.abs. 
REM 00-05-28 GLL Enable 
    searching for partisan card party code. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
----------------- 
194 Illinois: 
REM 194usil.abs - The Accu-Basic 
    Source file for the the State of Illinois. 
REM  In election mode 
    this produces a short precinct totals report 
REM  for the default 
    election results and then offers to print short 
REM  precinct 
    breakdowns.  In the election end and post-election 
REM  modes 
    it offers to repeat this until powered off. 
REM 
REM  In 
    pre-election mode it will print these or a summary. 
REM 
REM  In 
    pre and post election modes, it offers to print long 
REM  versions 
    of the reports. 
REM 
REM  For Illinois we include blank votes in 
    the undervotes. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 00-01-18 GLL Adapted from 194us.abs for Illinois. 
REM 00-01-28 
    GLL Modified to not offer summaries of election results. 
REM 00-01-28 
    GLL Modified to offer each pct result after election default. 
REM 
    00-02-16 GLL Fix undervotes to use race.vote_for rather than no_running. 
    
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
------------------ 
194usjc: [VTS only] 
REM 194usjc.abs - The 
    Accu-Basic Source file for Jefferson County as requested by Debbie Musser. 
    
REM  This version is based on the 194us.abs as of Jan. 6, 1998 but 
    is modified to suppress 
REM     the straight party 
    races. 
REM 
REM  In election mode this produces a short precinct 
    totals report 
REM  for the default election results and offers to 
    print short 
REM  reports with summaries and precinct breakdowns 
    until 
REM  powered off. 
REM  In pre-election and 
    post-election modes it will print all 
REM  combinations of long and 
    short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-11 GLL Created from stdus.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 96-10-24 GLL print_wrapString() 
    truncates trailing spaces. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
----------------- 
194 Massachusetts: 
REM 194usma.abs - The 
    standard Accu-Basic Source file for the states of 
REM  MA, NH, ME, 
    CT, and RI which: 
REM  - report all non-used votes as blank votes, 
    
REM  - prints ballot summary after race summary, 
REM  In 
    election mode this produces a short precinct totals report for the 
    
REM  default election results and offers to print short reports 
    with 
REM  summaries and precinct breakdowns until powered off. 
    
REM  In pre-election and post-election modes it will print all 
    combinations 
REM  of long and short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-11 GLL Created from stdusma.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
--------------------- 
194 Minnesota: 
REM 194usmn.abs - The 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the state of Minnisota. 
REM  In election 
    mode this produces a short precinct totals report 
REM  for the 
    default election results and offers to print short 
REM  reports 
    with summaries and precinct breakdowns until 
REM  powered off. 
    
REM  In pre-election and post-election modes it will print all 
    
REM  combinations of long and short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 97-05-14 GLL Modified from 194us.abs. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
--------------------- 
194 US Summary: 
REM 194ussm.abs - 
    Accu-Basic Source file for summary only election night results. 
    
REM  In election mode this produces a short summary totals report 
    
REM  for the election results and then offers to print short 
    
REM  reports with summaries and precinct breakdowns until 
    
REM  powered off. 
REM  In pre-election and post-election 
    modes it will print all 
REM  combinations of long and short 
    reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-11 GLL Created from stdus.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 96-10-24 GLL print_wrapString() 
    truncates trailing spaces. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
------------------ 
194 Virginia: 
REM 194usva.abs - The standard 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the Virginia, USA 
REM  which: 
    
REM  - prints long reports in election mode. 
REM  In 
    election mode this produces a long precinct totals report with 
REM  
    an optional summary report for the default election results and offers 
    
REM  to print short reports with summaries and precinct breakdowns 
    until 
REM  powered off. 
REM  In pre-election and 
    post-election modes it will print all combinations 
REM  of long and 
    short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-10 GLL Created from stdusva.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
------------------ 
194 Vermont: 
REM 194usvm.abs - The standard 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the state of Vermont 
REM  which: 
    
REM  - reports blank votes as undervotes, 
REM  - prints 
    ballot summary after race summary, 
REM  - always reports write-in 
    ballots in summary. 
REM  In election mode this produces a short 
    precinct totals report with 
REM  an optional summary report for the 
    default election results and offers 
REM  to print short reports 
    with summaries and precinct breakdowns until 
REM  powered off. 
    
REM  In pre-election and post-election modes it will print all 
    combinations 
REM  of long and short reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 96-10-11 GLL Created from stdusvm.abs. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Fix to 
    handle xtot as unsigned. 
REM 96-10-22 GLL Modified to avoid malloc bug 
    in pre 194f^ (1.94l) releases. 
REM 97-03-27 GLL Add PAGE before prompts. 
    
REM 97-03-27 GLL Allow 5 digits for long counters 
REM 00-01-25 GLL 
    Print card summary on short as well as long reports. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
-------------------- 
194 Wisconsin: 
REM 194uswi.abs - The 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the state of Wisconsin. 
REM  This is 
    based on 194us.abs but prints RPT UNIT instead of 
REM  PRECINCT and 
    prints SCATTERING instead of WRITE-INS for the 
REM  race results. 
    
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 00-01-11 GLL Modified from 194us.abs for Wisconsin. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
-------------------- 
195 Anoka: 
REM 195anoka.abs - The Accu-Basic 
    Source file for Anoka Co., Minnisota. 
REM  In election mode this 
    produces a short precinct totals report 
REM  for the default 
    election results and offers to print short 
REM  reports with 
    summaries and precinct breakdowns until 
REM  powered off. 
    
REM  In pre-election and post-election modes it will print all 
    
REM  combinations of long and short reports. 
REM  
    Candidates are printed in the order that they appear on the 
REM  
    first ballot card containing the race. 
REM  Precinct headings print 
    the new precinct name string. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 98-09-14 GLL Modified from 194anoka.abs. 
REM 99-02-04 GLL Added 
    VOTECTR.NAME to label. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
--------------------- 
195 Wisconsion: 
REM 195uswi.abs - The 
    Accu-Basic Source file for the state of Wisconsin. 
REM  This is 
    based on 194us.abs but prints RPT UNIT instead of 
REM  PRECINCT and 
    prints SCATTERING instead of WRITE-INS for the 
REM  race 
    results.  It also prints the vote center name on the 
REM  
    label. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
REM 00-01-19 GLL Modified from 194us.abs for Wisconsin. 
REM 
    *************************************************************************** 
    
-------------------- 
    
  I can't guarantee that these descriptions are accurate but we 
    try.  Anyone want to volunteer to turn this into a proper document? 
    
             
    Guy