home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
High Voltage Shareware
/
high1.zip
/
high1
/
DIR27
/
PENTABL.ZIP
/
PENTABLX.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-08-25
|
10KB
|
350 lines
PentaBlox v1.0
==============
for Microsoft Windows v3.0 and v3.1
in standard or enhanced mode
Copyright (c) Aquila Software, 1992 - 3
All rights reserved
This program is shareware. Shareware is a concept that allows users to
assess software before buying it which benefits the user but the concept
depends on your support. This program can be freely copied for the purpose
of evaluation. However this program is not free and must be registered after
an evaluation period of 30 days or its use be discontinued. Upon
registration you will receive the registered version of the program including
the 5 x 12, 4 x 15 and 3 x 20 puzzles. You will also receive notification of
upgrades and be entitled to support
To register send your cheque / money order for #12 (12 pounds sterling) made
payable to "Aquila Software" to:
Aquila Software,
P O Box 137,
Tunbridge Wells,
Kent,
TN4 0YN,
United Kingdom.
A registration form is provided at the end of this document and with the
online help. For details on how to register in the U. S. see below.
PentaBlox v1.0 consists of the following files which must all be copied when
distributing this program:
PENTABLX.EXE - Main Program
PENTABLX.DOC - This File
PENTABLX.HLP - Online Help
Introduction
============
PentaBlox is a puzzle based on a series of shapes described by Solomon Golomb,
in his book Polyominoes, as pentominoes (Polyominoes by Solomon W. Golomb,
Allen & Unwin, 1966). Each piece or pentomino of the puzzle consists of an
arrangement of five connected squares giving twelve unique pieces.
With a total area of 60 squares these pieces can be arranged in a multitude of
ways and can form rectangles of 6 x 10, 5 x 12, 4 x 12 and 3 x 20 squares as
well as many other arrangements. The challenge of PentaBlox is to find as many
solutions as possible for these rectangular arrangements. For instance the
6 x 10 puzzle has 2339 unique solutions!
Pentablox gives you the ability to save all your solutions to file and the
program will also check each solution to see if it is unique.
Moving the pieces
=================
Below is a table of the keyboard and mouse commands that will rotate a
selected piece. The selected piece is shown by a heavier outline. Users with a
mouse can also quickly rotate a piece by using the speedbar.
Rotation Keyboard Mouse
======== ======== =====
90 degrees to the Ctrl + R Left button double click
right
90 degrees to the Ctrl + L Shift + left button double
left click
Flip Ctrl + F -
Mirror Ctrl + M Ctrl + left button double
click
Key Commands
============
Key(s) Function
====== ========
Enter / Spacebar Releases or picks up piece
Home Moves the cursor to the lefthand side of the
window
End Moves the cursor to the righthand side of the
window
PgUp Moves the cursor to the top of the window
PgDn Moves the cursor to the bottom of the window
Direction keys Move the cursor
Ctrl + F Flips the selected piece
Ctrl + M Mirrors the selected piece
Ctrl + R Rotates the selected piece 90 degrees to the
right
Ctrl + L Rotates the selected piece 90 degrees to the
left
F1 Calls PentaBlox Help
Menu Commands
=============
Solution Menu
Open: Loads a previous solution.
Reset: Resets the pieces to their default positions
around the board.
Print: Prints any solution obtained to the currently
selected printer.
Printer Setup: Chooses the printer options and page
orientation required when printing your
solutions.
Exit: Closes PentaBlox.
Rotation Menu
Flip: Flips the selected piece
Mirror: Mirrors the selected piece
Rotate Left: Rotates the selected piece 90 degrees to the
left
Rotate Right Rotates the selected piece 90 degrees to the
right
Options Menu
6 x 10: Select the 6 x 10 puzzle
Speedbar: Show/ Hide the speedbar
Grid: Show/ Hide the grid
Help Menu
Index: Go to the main index
Using Help: Find out how to use the help system
Registration: Register your copy of PentaBlox
Using the mouse
===============
Action Function
====== ========
Depress the left button Selects and picks up piece
Drag the mouse Moves the selected piece around the
window
Release the left button Releases the piece
Left button double click Rotates the selected piece 90 degrees
to the right
Shift + left button double Rotates the selected piece 90 degrees
click to the left
Ctrl + left button double Mirrors the selected piece
click
Using the speedbar
==================
The speedbar provides a quick way of rotating the pieces using the mouse. To
rotate the selected piece just press the required button. If a rotation has no
effect on the piece then the corresponding button is inactivated. The
speedbar can be moved anywhere in the main window and can be shown or hidden.
System Menu
Move: Enables the speedbar to be moved.
Hide: Hides the speedbar. The speedbar can be made visible
again by using the Speedbar command in the Options menu.
Help: Produces this help information
Saving a solution
=================
Once a solution has been obtained you have the option to save the solution to
file. If you decide to save to file then the solution is checked to see if any
have been previously saved. For the 6 x 10 puzzle the solutions are saved to
the file PENTABLX.610 in the programs working directory.
PENTABLX.INI
============
PENTABLX.INI is the initialisation file for PentaBlox which you will find
in your \WINDOWS directory. This file stores the values for the following
[PentaBlox]
Puzzle= ... ; puzzle selected
Grid= ... ; state of grid
0= ... ; position of pieces
.
.
.
11= ...
Speedbar= ... ; position and state of speedbar
DISCLAIMER AND AGREEMENT
========================
Users of PentaBlox must accept this disclaimer of warranty otherwise they
should not use the program.
"PENTABLOX IS SUPPLIED AS IS. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES,
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO
LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM
THE USE OF PENTABLOX"
"THE LICENCE AGREEMENT AND WARRANTY SHALL BE CONSTRUED, INTERPRETED
AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES. YOU MAY HAVE OTHER
RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER."
U. S. Registration
==================
To register PentBlox in the U. S. please do the following:
1) At your local Post Office ask for an authorization to issue an
International Money Order for $20.
2) Put your own name and full address on the front of the form.
3) On the back of the form put the following in the Payee's box
Trevor Poile,
Aquila Software,
(PENTABLOX 3) or (PENTABLOX 5)
PO Box 137,
Tunbridge Wells,
Kent TN4 0YN,
United Kingdom.
The part in brackets is important as it lets me know what program you are
registering and your preferred disk size
4) Mail the completed form to
International Money Orders,
Box 14964,
St. Louis,
MO 63182 - 9421
The money will be converted to U. K. pounds and sent to me. On receipt of your
money I will immediately send you your registered version of PentaBlox.
Registration Form PentaBlox version 1.0.
Copyright (c) Aquila Software, 1992 - 3
Send your cheque / money order for #12 (12 pounds sterling) made payable to
"Aquila Software" to:
Aquila Software,
P O Box 137,
Tunbridge Wells,
Kent,
TN4 0YN,
United Kingdom.
Name:________________________________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Town/City:_________________________ County/State ____________________________
Country:___________________________ Postal/Zip Code: ________________________
Telephone:_________________________
Disk Size: [ ] 5.25" [ ] 3.5"
Where did you obtain PentaBlox?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Comments:____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________