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Precision Software Appli…tions Silver Collection 1
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Precision Software Applications Silver Collection Volume One (PSM) (1993).iso
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INTELL.HLP
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Text File
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1992-06-23
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13KB
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263 lines
Intelligence
GENERAL RULES
(Use the Arrow keys, Page Up and Down, Home, End and Tab to move
around the help file. Pressing Escape returns to the game.
In this discussion, the term 'top' refers to the card that is
showing in each column; it is on the top of the 'stack' of
cards, and is closest to the bottom of the screen.)
Two decks of 52 cards are dealt in eighteen columns of 3 cards each, any ace
that is dealt is moved to the foundation, and replaced by another card. The
remaining cards are put in a stockpile.
The object of the game is to build each suit upon its ace in the foundation.
The only cards available for play are those showing at the top of each
column. Move each ace as it becomes available to the foundation. Build up
in suit on the foundation.
In the tableau, cards may be built in suit and sequence up or down from the
top card of each column. Only one card may be moved at a time from the top
of each column. The sequences may reverse in direction. If a column is
emptied, it is filled with three cards from the stockpile.
When you have no more moves, shuffle all the cards from the tableau and the
stockpile, and deal again to the eighteen columns. A total of three
shuffles is permitted, including the initial shuffle.
DEFINITIONS
Foundation - Technically, the eight aces upon which the rest of the cards
are built. Used here more generally to mean the upper right area where the
suits are built.
Game - Three shuffles, or from start until Escape is pressed. A game can
be won, lost or quit.
Hand - One deal of the cards to the tableau.
Session - All play until Intelligence is exited. Intelligence displays the
total wins, losses and quits during a session.
Shuffle - To mix the cards in a random order. Done three times in
Intelligence: once when the game is started and twice more at the player's
discretion.
Stockpile - The reserve of cards left after each shuffle. Empty columns are
filled from the stockpile.
Tableau - The 18 columns where play takes place, at the bottom of the
screen.
SCREEN DESCRIPTION
Solon Software's Intelligence has been designed to be as easy to play as it
is fun. The upper left corner of the screen contains the game status and
information. It lists the active keys, the number of wins, losses and quits
so far in the session, the number of shuffles remaining in the game, and the
number of cards in the stockpile.
The upper right section of the screen contains the foundation. This is
where the aces are put, followed by the rest of each suit.
The lower section is the tableau. This is the playing field, where cards
are moved around until they can be put in the foundation. Note that each
column in the tableau is lettered. These are the letters that are used for
moving the top card in that column. If enough cards are placed in a column
so that the bottom of the screen is reached, any additional cards placed in
that column will be put directly on top of the previous card, thus obscuring
it. This presents little problem during play, however, since the column
must be built in suit and sequence while in the tableau, and the hidden
cards must be of the same suit, and close to the showing card in rank. The
Find Card feature may be used to discover what cards are hidden. Simply
press <F10> and look for the ranks that are close to that of the showing
cards.
Just above the tableau is the message line. Keypresses are shown here, as
well as various informative messages. When entering a key, it does not
matter whether upper- or lower-case is used. Each message is explained
below.
PLAYING THE GAME
It may be easier to play Intelligence than it is to read this help file. It
is certainly easier to play Solon Solitaire's Intelligence than to attempt
shuffling and laying out 104 cards!
To move a card, enter its column letter (A-R) in the 'Move from column'
box, then press <Enter>. If there is no card in the column, an error
message will appear right away, otherwise, the highlighting will move to
the 'Move to' box, where the destination may be entered. Again, just enter
the column to which the card should be moved. If the card should be sent
to the foundation, just press <Enter> without a column letter. If an
impossible move has been entered, an error message will be displayed.
There are several useful keys besides the column designators A-R. <S> will
shuffle the cards remaining in the tableau. (Careful! Shuffles cannot be
undone.) <U> will undo a previous move. <F10> will slip into Find Card
mode, so that particular cards can be easily spotted. <F1> brings up the
help file.
Finally, <Esc> normally serves as the exit key. If the 'Move from column:'
prompt is active, Escape will confirm the end of the game. If the 'Move
to:' prompt is highlighted, Escape will cancel the current move, bringing
back a blank 'Move from column:' prompt. If Find Card or Help is active,
Escape exits back to the game. If an error message is displayed, Escape
brings back the game prompt line.
WINNING, LOSING AND QUITTING
Intelligence has three ways to end a game: winning, losing and quitting.
A WIN happens by getting all the cards to the foundation. Losing and
quitting are both caused by pressing Escape before all the cards are in the
foundation, but losing or quitting depends on how many shuffles remain. If
there are no shuffles left, pressing Escape signals that an impasse has been
reached; no moves can be made to complete the foundation. This is a LOSS.
If any shuffles remain when Escape is pressed, it is considered a QUIT,
since more moves are obviously possible.
THE FIND CARD FEATURE
At least 54 cards are initially dealt, more if aces are dealt to the
foundation, and sometimes it can be difficult to find a particular card.
Press <F10> to switch to the Find Card mode, and any card can be quickly and
easily spotted. Just enter the card rank that you wish to find, and all
cards in the tableau or foundation of that rank will be highlighted. The
rest of those cards would most likely be in the stockpile. The one
exception would be in the case of very long columns in the tableau. If
cards are hidden by the top card of a column, it is possible that both cards
of a particular rank and suit would appear to be the same. For example, say
that there is a very long column of hearts. The top run is 5-6-7-6-7, laid
in such a manner that only the 5 and 7 are showing at the top (remember,
the top of a column is at the bottom of the screen). Now, if you try to
find sixes, only one six of hearts will appear, even though both are on the
tableau.
To find cards, use <1> or <A> for aces, <2> through <9> for those cards,
<T> for tens, <J> for jacks, <Q> for queens and <K> for kings. Other keys
are ignored. Press <Esc> to return to the game.
MESSAGES
Several messages can appear on the message line. Perhaps the best is
"!!!YOU WON!!!" flashing excitedly. This section will describe the messages
that can appear on this line. There are two types of messages. One is just
informational, and pressing any key will return to the game. The other
kind, which is always followed by '(Y/N),' is actually a question that must
be answered either <Y> for yes or <N> for no.
"Find which card?" - The prompt when using the Find card feature.
Enter the value for the card desired.
"No cards in that column" - A letter corresponding to an empty column
was entered in 'Move from column:.' Since the game works by moving
cards, asking for a card in an empty column is pointless.
"Move cards in suit and sequence within tableau" - An attempt was made
to move a card either to a card of a different suit or out of
sequence. When building in the tableau, cards must be of the same
suit, and must be in sequence either up or down.
"That card cannot move to the foundation" - The foundation is not yet
ready for the top card in the column entered in 'Move from column:.'
"Cards cannot be moved to empty columns" - The column entered in 'Move
to:' is empty, and can be replenished only from the stockpile. If an
empty column is not refilled, then the stockpile has been exhausted.
Check the 'Cards in stock' number, just under the 'Shuffles left'
number; it will be zero.
"You don't have any more shuffles!" - Only three total shuffles,
including the first for the initial deal, are allowed. This message
results from attempting a fourth shuffle.
"End this game now? (Y/N)" - Confirming that Escape, to quit the game,
was pressed on purpose.
"Start another game? (Y/N)" - Asking whether a new game should be
started, this question will appear after a game has been won or quit.
"Sorry, but you don't have enough memory to ..." - Indicates that not
enough memory is available to run the find feature or to use help.
Since this game does not require much memory, most users will never
see this message. If it appears, try exiting other applications
before playing Intelligence. The help file, named INTELL.HLP, can also
be printed or read directly from DOS; it is a plain ASCII file.
Please do not change the formatting of the file; the help feature uses
the formatting for clues on how to perform various functions.
"Help failed: INTELL.HLP is not in current directory." - The help
feature uses a file named INTELL.HLP. It must be in the subdirectory
in which Intelligence was started. This error will always cause the
help feature to be turned off for the remainder of the session. To
enable help, quit the game and copy INTELL.HLP into the current
subdirectory, then start the game again.
"File error occurred while reading INTELL.HLP file." - Some DOS error
occurred while the help file was being read. This may indicate that
there is a hardware problem, and the disk system should be checked.
It may also be some temporary problem. Recopying the original help
file to the Solon Solitaire directory often helps. This error will
always cause the help feature to be turned off for the remainder of
the session.
"!!!YOU WON!!!" - Congratulations.
SOLON SOFTWARE
Solon Software is dedicated to producing quality software. The Solon
Solitaire game series is the first of a wide variety of fun and/or useful,
as well as easy to use, programs. The success of this company depends on
the support of its users. If you enjoy the games, please send us $10 and
your name and address. We will place your name on our mailing list (this
list will never be given or sold to any other company or individual), and
you will periodically receive notification of other games and software
available. If you send $25, you will receive at least three additional
games immediately, and any other Solon Solitaire games that may be created
for one year after registering. This includes any updates to existing Solon
Solitaire games. If you send more than $25, that would be great; we'll be
able to make our payroll!
If you need help, have suggestions for our games, or ideas for other
products, please let us know. Any registered user can include a phone
number if a return phone call, rather than a letter, is preferred.
Registered users always have priority in support and service.
Send registrations to:
Solon Software
P.O. Box 6117
Boston, MA 02209-6117
Copyright (C) 1992 Solon Software All Rights Reserved
This software is shareware. It may be freely distributed as long as these
files are included with the distribution:
SOLON1.EXE (Solon Solitaire menu program)
SOLON.HLP (Solon Solitaire menu help file)
INTELL.SOL (Intelligence solitaire game)
INTELL.HLP (Intelligence help file)
KLONDIKE.SOL (Klondike solitaire game)
KLONDIKE.HLP (Klondike help file)
LBL.SOL (La Belle Lucie solitaire game)
LBL.HLP (La Belle Lucie help file)
README.COM (Installation and general information program)
README.SOL (Installation and general information)
SHARDIST.LST (List of files for distribution)
No other Solon Solitaire games are distributed as shareware. They cannot
be distributed to any user, company, or bulletin board except by Solon
Software and its employees.