This is the SDTS++ C++ toolkit, which can be used to write applications
that read and write SDTS datasets.  The current version is 0.5.3.

If you are working on a UNIX platform, you will need gcc 2.8.x or egcs
to build and use this library.  You can get gcc 2.8.x via ftp at
prep.ai.mit.edu and egcs on the web from http://egcs.cygnus.com/

If you are working on a Windows platform, you will need Visual C++ 5.0
to build and use this library.  Moreover you will also need to apply
the Visual C++ service pack.  You will not be able to compile our
library without this service pack.  (The patch fixes a bug that
requires comparison operators to be defined for classes that use STL
containers, even if those comparison operators are not used.)  Service
packs can be obtained from http://www.microsoft.com/.  Sdts++ has not
been tested with Visual C++ 6.0 nor with the third service pack.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SDTS++ VERSION 0.5.3 MAY BE THE LAST ONE THAT
OFFICIALLY WORKS WITH VC++.

Build and installation instructions can be found in the file
"doc/MANUAL".  That file also contains basic usage instructions.

Please consult the file BUGS for known problems and limitations with
the toolkit.

The TODO file lists pending work to be done on the library.

The file NEWS contains information on changes to SDTS++ by version.

"doc/sdts.ood" contains the Booch diagram of SDTS++'s design in Object
Domain format.  Object Domain can be found at "http://www.object-domain.com/".

"doc/SDTS++FAQ" contains frequently asked questions regarding SDTS++.

There is an electronic mailing list dedicated to SDTS software
development topics.  Please see the file "doc/MANUAL" to find out how
to subscribe to that mailing list.

The SDTS++ toolkit was written by employees and contractors of the
U.S. Geological Survey.  The USGS writes software to support
government research and data production operations, not to provide
free alternatives to commercial software.  The SDTS++ toolkit is
placed in the public domain in the spirit of sharing the results of
scientific research. The library is not an official USGS product, is
not commercial-grade software, is not guaranteed to be appropriate for
all SDTS applications, and is not supported.  We invite user comments
and suggestions, and will act on them as resources and as other
priorities permit.  However, the availability of this software does
not imply any USGS committment to fix reported bugs, provide
documentation, or assist other organizations in learning to use the
toolkit.

Neither the U.S. Government nor any agency thereof nor any of their
employees make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assume any legal
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any
information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed herein or
represent that its use would not infringe privately owned
rights. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or
service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not
necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or
favoring by the U.S. Government or any agency thereof.
