So, what does VoteFile actually do?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Firstly, it loads in words/strings in INPUT# style, and saves out the
stuff in PRINT# style...

Then it does some internal crap (which doesn't really concern you), and if
set - it will 'fix' the votes.

Here is a list of checks performed:

  1. Look through all 15 text strings for the old "{/}" null sequence.

  2. Make sure all 15 text strings are not too short (<2 or <3 characters,
     depending on which string) and not too long (>60 characters).

  3. Is "Creator" string "Anonymous"? Doesn't (can't) fix this, but will
     give you a 'warning' (rather than an error).

  4. Checks additional info lines are 'sensible'. This too is a warning and
     as such is not fixed. Basically if add_info1 is blank but 2 and 3 contain
     text, it will tell you your additional info strings are 'weird'.

  5. Check for overrun end points. This means if options 1,2 & 3 contain text
     4 doesn't but 5 does - there is a fault. Once an option is 'blank', all
     options following should also be 'blank'.

  6. Check to see if 'blank' options have results. This is unusual, but can
     occur. If, say, option 7 was "", the result should be '0'.

  7. Check to ensure option 7 or option 8 results are not '-1'. Older versions
     of VoteEdit used to set option 7 result (or option 8 result on one
     release) to '-1' to indicate "vote tagged". You can guess the
     consequences of this on new software.

  8. Check the results against the total. One version of CastAWote3 failed to
     include the results for options 7 and 8 in the total, leading to such
     things as a vote getting 150% score. :-)

  9. Looks for the '' symbol. This is part of the 'flags' sequence, and part
     of the new vote specification. VoteFile will patch in a really basic
     'fix', but you're best off using VoteConv to update...


I am aware this does only nine checks where the older VoteEdit's did fourteen.
The reason is the checking here is more comprehensive and some things are
grouped as "a check" and not several little checks.

Sadly none of the software can correctly handle damaged files.

   ___
  /__/
 /  \ichard.

PS: And it's up to you guys to find the easter egg. :-)