Dots version 1.3

by A.C. Barentyne
© 1997, Paradigms Lost

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Contents of the zip:

The zip file Dots.zip should contain the following files:

Dots.exe			: Main program file
dots.hlp			: Help file
Dots.txt			: This file

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Installing the program:

This program is distributed as a Zip compressed file. Unzip the file,
using WinZip, or some other PKZIP compliant decompression utility, into
any directory.

You can freely move the program around, just keep the Help file along
with the main program.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Uninstalling the program:

Should you decide to delete this program, simply delete the files
listed above. That's all there is. No registry entries. No .dll's.
Nothing hidden going on here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

System requirements:

Any computer running Windows95 or WindowsNT 3.51 or later should have
no problems running the dots program. If you do have any problems, 
please let me know. See 'Questions, comments, and bugs' below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Instructions:

See the help file for information on how to use the program.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions, Comments, Bugs?

If you have anything to say, please do so. My email address is:

baren@ix.netcom.com

I'd be particularly interested in any bugs you may come across. But my
email box is also open to any glowing praise or suggestions for future
versions you care to share with me.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Distribution:

This program is Shareware. As such, you may distribute it to as many
people or machines as you choose, just so long as this document goes
with it. I would prefer if you were to distribute it in its original
format (i.e. the Zip file).

If you like the program, and decide to keep it, please register it, by
sending five US dollars ($5), along with your Name and Email address,
to:

A.C. Barentyne
479 Reed St.
Apt. 2
Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Please help support shareware by registering.

This program is Copyright 1997, Paradigms Lost. Paradigms Lost main-
tains all rights protected under US Copyright laws.

You may not charge to distribute this program without explicit perm-
ission from the author. If you wish to distribute it on a BBS or a
commercially available CD-ROM, or other charged medium, please 
contact me.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Version info:

This is officially version 1.3 of the Dots program. There are no 
known bugs in this release.

Updates since 1.2

* Added registry support to remember settings between sessions.

* Improved the AI's ability to handle enclosed figures. A few users
had discovered a flaw in the system, which this should fix.

* Mopped up a few details in the AI, and improved performance a bit.

Updates since 1.1.1

* Made the program Windows NT friendly.

* Improved the AI's ability to handle enclosed figures.

* Made the program 256-color friendly (Grr...)

* Updated the About box with a masked logo, so your system colors
will show through properly.

Updates since 1.1:

* Fixed a loophole in the AI which allowed the player to take advan-
tage of the computer's 'take-back' strategy in the early stages of
the game.

Updates since 1.0:

* Long computer moves no longer block user input. Dots will now run on
any Windows 95-style machine without problem.

* Player selecting dots while the computer is moving is now checked
for. You can place a circle, but you'll never complete a line when the
computer is moving.

* There was a problem that might have possibly come up under extreme
circumstances involving scores going backward. That will never happen
now.

* Status bar is now updated after each computer line, rather than all
at once after the entire move.

* Updated the About box with my keen new logo

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Standard disclaimer:

This program is provided "As is", with no guarantees of usefulness or
productivity. The author, A.C. Barentyne, and Paradigms Lost Software
bear no responsibility for damage to your system resulting from the use
of this program. If you do not agree with these terms, do not install
the program. Use of the program implicitly means you have agreed to
these terms.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you very much for trying out this program. If you like it, you
may want to check out the other software available at my web site:

http://www.netcom.com/~baren/

--------------------------------------------------------------------

A.C. Barentyne -- Paradigms Lost
7/21/97