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Software Vault: The Gold Collection
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Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO
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CRPTGRAM.DOC
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1993-06-23
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=======================================
CRYPTOGRAMMER V1.3
A fun word game solver, by Paul McGuire
=======================================
INTRODUCTION - SOLVING CRYPTOGRAMS
Cryptograms are word puzzles which encrypt a saying or pun using a simple
substitution code. For example, the saying "A penny saved is a penny earned"
might appear in a cryptogram as "B QFOOZ TBWFE JT B QFOOZ FBSOFE", by using the
next letter of the alphabet in place of the original ("A" becomes "B", "B"
becomes "C", etc.). Or, a random substitution sequence might generate "L RFSSG
DLYFU CD L RFSSG FLISFU" ("A" becomes "L", "P" becomes "R", and so on). To
decipher these codes, one looks for letter frequencies, groupings, and
repetition to provide clues as to the encryption sequence used.
Popular interest in cryptograms goes back to at least the 19th century.
Arthur Conan Doyle had Sherlock Holmes decipher such a code in "The Case of the
Dancing Men," in which stick figure men drawn in various positions were used as
an encryption sequence for a secret message. Edgar Allan Poe in "The Gold Bug"
narrates the deciphering of a message describing the location of buried
treasure. (The Gold Bug message is included in this kit for you to try your
own hand at breaking the code.) Nowadays, cryptograms are commonly found in
word game magazines, or in the newspaper next to the crossword puzzle.
Solving cryptograms requires an initial trial-and-error process. When
solving by hand, this usually involves repeated markings and erasings as
different substitutions are tried out. However, using CRYPTOGRAMMER, the
letter translation is automatic, and trial-and-error is a far simpler process.
In addition, CRYPTOGRAMMER provides a simple toolkit for tallying frequencies
of letters, doubles, 2- and 3-letter words, and provides references on typical
frequencies found in everyday usage.
GETTING STARTED -
At the DOS prompt (after having extracted all files from the provided .ZIP
file), enter the command to run CRYPTOGRAMMER:
C:> CRPTGRAM
While the cryptograms are being read, you will be shown the title screen.
Press a key when prompted (the space bar will do), to move to the main editing
screen.
GETTING HELP -
Pressing F1 at the main editing screen will display a window giving further
explanation of the key choices at the bottom of the screen; you may scroll
through this help text, using the arrow and Page Up/Page Down keys. Pressing
Escape will exit the HELP window, and return you to the main editing screen.
CHOOSING A CRYPTOGRAM -
Pressing F2 at the main editing screen will display a scrollable menu of
available cryptograms. The topmost choice will be highlighted. You may move
the highlight bar using the Up and Down arrow keys, and the PageUp and PageDn
keys. If there are more cryptograms than will fit in the menu display, moving
the highlight bar will also scroll the menu. To choose a cryptogram,
highlight it and press Return; to exit the menu without making a choice, press
Escape. Pressing Return or Escape will return you to the main editing screen.
CRYPTOGRAMMER: V1.3 Page 2
DECIPHERING THE CRYPTOGRAM -
Once you have selected a cryptogram, you will see the main editing screen.
The screen has two parts: the cryptogram/translation display in the top
portion of the screen, and the alphabetic key at the bottom of the screen.
When you start, the cursor will be located under the letter "A" in the alphabet
at the bottom. You may move the cursor left or right using the left and right
arrow keys. If you wish to try a translation of a letter move the cursor under
the letter as it is used in the cryptogram; then press the letter you think is
the correct substitution. All instances of the cryptogram letter will have the
substitution letter displayed beneath it. If you later wish to change this
letter, you may simply type over it. Or to erase it, and return it to a blank,
press the space bar.
For example, if you see the 3-letter word "UKR" used several times in the
cryptogram, you might check if this equates to the word "THE". Move the cursor
under the "U" in the "CODE:" display, and press "T"; all the "U"s in the
cryptogram will show a "T" underneath in the translation lines. Repeat for "K"
and "R", substituting "H" and "E". Now review the other parts of the
cryptogram to validate your assumption. If you find a 2-letter word showing as
"T_", you might continue working the cryptogram, plugging in "O" for the second
letter, and so on. However, if you find some other word showing as "__HH___",
you should consider whether "UKR" is really "THE" - there are not too many
words in English with double H's in them. (Try "AND" instead of "THE".) Using
CRYPTOGRAMMER, it is easy to experiment with different ideas about how the
cryptogram might be translated. Another advantage is the access to a variety
of simple tools to give hints on what paths might be more fruitful.
USING THE TOOLS -
Pressing F10 at the main editing screen will display a menu of deciphering
tools. To select a tool, highlight it and press Return.
Tools included are:
- Letter frequency counter
- Double-letter frequency counter
- Two-letter word frequency counter
- Three-letter word frequency counter
- Punctuation cues
The "counter" tools will walk the cryptogram currently displayed and give
counts of letters, doubles, 2- and 3-letter words, respectively. For each
letter, double, etc., the screen will show the cryptogram letters, the observed
count, and any translation thus far, with other letters you may have already
translated (this partial translation is especially helpful in the 2- and
3-letter words). A second pop-up box will show you reference frequencies
for the 26 letters of the alphabet, and for common double-letter and 2- and
3-letter words.
The punctuation tool gives some hints on how to use punctuation within the
cryptogram to guess surrounding letters.
Exit the selected tool by pressing Escape; exit the TOOLS menu by pressing
Escape again.
CRYPTOGRAMMER: V1.3 Page 3
MOUSE SUPPORT -
CRYPTOGRAMMER will support a Microsoft-compatible mouse. Move the mouse to
scroll through help and menu displays. Use the mouse left button to select
function labels or to select a highlighted menu option; this button is roughly
equivalent to the F-function and Return keys. You can also move the CODE/PLAIN
text cursor using the mouse: position the mouse cursor in the CODE/PLAIN
alphabetic display at the bottom of the editing screen, and press the left mouse
button. Use the right mouse button to cancel a menu or scrolling display, or to
exit CRYPTOGRAMMER; this button is equivalent to the Escape key. (Be sure your
mouse driver is installed before running CRYPTOGRAMMER.)
ENTERING YOUR OWN CRYPTOGRAM -
You can use CRYPTOGRAMMER to solve other cryptograms too, that you might
find in a crossword puzzle book, or in the daily newspaper. To do so, you must
first enter the body of the cryptogram. Pressing F3 at the main editing screen
will display a cryptogram entry form. The title can be any name you wish; this
title will be shown on the selection menu for the entered cryptogram. Use the
RETURN or arrow keys to move from field to field in the entry form. Do not
leave any blank lines in the body of the cryptogram (although you may have
blank lines at the end of the cryptogram). Also, do not worry about upper or
lower case in the body of the cryptogram; CRYPTOGRAMMER will convert to all
upper case, as is customary in cryptograms.
When you are finished entering your cryptogram, press F10; the form will
be redisplayed with all upper-case letters, and you will be prompted to confirm
your entry by pressing Return. If you press Return, you will go back to the
main editing screen, and your entered cryptogram will be shown on the screen,
ready to begin solving. If you press Escape instead of Return, you will go
back to the entry form, to continue entering your cryptogram. If you press
Escape while in the entry form itself, you will cancel the entry, and go back
to the main editing screen as it was, before you selected cryptogram entry.
NOTE: Entered cryptograms are not saved, and must be re-entered if you exit
CRYPTOGRAMMER.
CRYPTOGRAM DATA FILES -
CRYPTOGRAMMER can accept a command line argument naming a file of
cryptograms to be loaded. If no file is named, CRYPTOGRAMMER will use the file
CRYP.DAT. However, if you have a different file of cryptograms, you can use it
instead of CRYP.DAT using the DOS command (in this example, the filename is
NEW.DAT):
C:> CRPTGRAM NEW.DAT
You can create alternate data files using the CRYPTGEN program.
CRYPTGEN -
CRYPTOGRAMMER is now distributed with the CRYPTGEN utility included.
With CRYPTGEN, you can create your own CRYPTOGRAMMER data files, for yourself,
family and friends. CRYPTGEN is similar to the cryptogram entry form
embedded in CRYPTOGRAMMER, except that you enter your message in plain
English, and CRYPTGEN generates an encryption code and stores the cryptogram
in a data file, ready for use by CRYPTOGRAMMER. You can also come back later
and add new messages to an existing file.
CRYPTOGRAMMER: V1.3 Page 4
To use CRYPTGEN, simply run the program and specify your cryptogram data
file (in the example, the data file is NEW1.DAT):
C:> CRYPTGEN NEW1.DAT
If NEW1.DAT is a new file, CRYPTGEN will prompt for your name and a "title"
for your cryptogram file. These will be used to create a header record, with
a copyright notice and the title (the title is primarily for your own
reference; it is not used by CRYPTOGRAMMER).
CRYPTGEN then displays a data entry form prompting for your cryptogram
title, and the body of the message. Enter your message in plain text, using
the Return and arrow keys to move from field to field. You may also specify
"starters" or hints in the field labeled "HINT:". Enter in this field any
characters you wish to "give" as a starting clue in the cryptogram. When you
are done, press F10. Your message will be encrypted and displayed for your
review. In addition, any hints you have given will be shown in the translation
line on the bottom, as well as provided in the body of the cryptogram display.
If you like the results, press RETURN, and the cryptogram will be
added to the data file. You may press ESCAPE if you have made an error, or
if you would prefer to re-encrypt the message, or add or change your starter.
After your cryptogram is saved, you will be re-shown the entry form, so that
you may enter another cryptogram.
To exit CRYPTGEN, press ESCAPE at the entry form.
LICENSE INFO / ORDER FORM
You are free to use, copy, and distribute CRYPTOGRAMMER for NONCOMMERCIAL
use if:
- no fee is charged for use, copying or distribution
- it is not modified in any way
- it is distibuted in its original .ZIP file form
Clubs and user groups may charge a nominal fee, up to $5, for expenses while
distributing CRYPTOGRAMMER.
If you find CRYPTOGRAMMER/CRYPTGEN enjoyable, an $8 registration would be
appreciated. To register your copy of CRYPTOGRAMMER, please use the order form
below, and indicate your selection.
CRYPTOGRAMMER, Copyright (c) 1992, 1993, by Paul McGuire.
All rights reserved.
CRYPTOGRAMMER Registration / Order Form
Paul McGuire
50 Market Street #1A, Box 316
South Portland, ME 04106
Send CRYPTOGRAMMER to:
----------------------
Name: ___________________________________
Address: ___________________________________
City/State/Zip: ___________________________________
Order Form:
-----------
____ CRYPTOGRAMMER registration (including CRYPTGEN) $ 8.00
____ Additional data file, with 25 cryptograms FREE with
(indicate 3½" or 5¼" disk) CRYPTOGRAMMER
registration
With your order, please add $2.00 for media, postage, and materials.
Thanks.
Optional:
---------
- Have you solved cryptograms before?
- Where did you download/copy CRYPTOGRAMMER?
- Do you have any suggestions on how to improve CRYPTOGRAMMER?