THIS SOFTWARE IS SOLD WITHOUT ANY EXPLICIT OR IMPLICIT WARRANTY. BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY OF SYSTEMS AND TYPES OF COMPUTER ON WHICH THIS SOFTWARE CAN BE USED, NO WARRANTY AS TO IT’S FUNCTIONALITY CAN BE MADE. YOU THE USER SHOULD ACCURATELY TEST THIS SOFTWARE. YOU ASSUME ALL RISKS REGARDING THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
ALL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RETAILER AND MANUFACTURER WILL BE LIMITED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DISK OR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE. YOU CANNOT MODIFY THE CONTENT OF THE ORIGINAL DISK NOR THE COMPRESSED FILE CONTAINING THE ORIGINAL FILES.
YOU HAVE THE PERMISSION TO COPY THE INTEGRAL CONTENT ONTO ANOTHER DISK AND TO GIVE IT TO WHOMEVER, ON THE CONDITION THAT IT IS NOT FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, IN WHICH CASE IT WILL BE CONSIDERED LIKE THE ORIGINAL DISK.
THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE ON YOUR BEHALF OF THE LICENSE AGREEMENT. DO NOT USE THIS SOFTWARE IF YOU CANNOT ACCEPT THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT.
The Ortograf software is protected by Copyright Laws. It is strictly forbidden to modify the name or the content of the files “Ortograf 1.0” and “Dictionary”. You can reach the author by E-Mail via Internet at ortograf@teamsoft.com or visite Ortograf’s home page at http://www.teamsoft.com/ortograf.english. Thank you for your comments and suggestions.
Installation
Ortograf software must be installed on a hard disk. It operates on any Macintosh that has at least 2 megabytes of free memory. If your computer does not have this quantity of free memory, restart your computer while deactivating the extensions (hold down the Shift key at startup). Alternatively, activate/increase virtual memory (system 7 and later). Using virtual memory on a system that only has 4 megabytes of memory can considerably slow down the computer when looking for a word. Ortograf is accelerated for Power Macintosh.
Ortograf must be installed on your hard disk. The “Dictionary” file must be in the same folder as the Ortograf application.
The files “Added Words” and “Deleted Words” are your personal word indexes. If you throw them out, Ortograf will re-create the files, but without your added and deleted words. Using a word processor you can modify the files, which are in the “Ortograf 1.0 Preferences” folder in your “Preferences” folder (or in your system folder). Do not modify them while Ortograf is running.
Help
To obtain help during a game, choose Help from the menu Window, to find the wanted section, click on the Section popup menu.
Registration
To try Ortograf before buying, use the number given in the dialog box that appears when you start up. You will then be using the software in non-registered mode. Registering of Ortograf for $25 (partial) or $60 (complete) will give you key to enter in the dialog.
Restrictions on your non-registered version:
• The computer can only play in beginner’s mode.
• You cannot save or open a game.
• Twenty letters are removed from of the bag before starting a game.
• Duplicate, Belgian or Prepared games will end after 4 moves.
Restrictions on the partially registered version:
• The computer can only play in beginner’s and intermediate modes.
• Duplicate, Belgian or Prepared games will end after 4 moves.
If you have a partially registered version, and you buy the key for the full registration, choose About Ortograf from the menu Apple and click the register button to bring up the registration window.
New Game
To start a new game, choose item New Game from the File menu, enter 1 to 4 player name(s) in each space, identify each type of player with the help of the popup menu and select desired the type of game.
The computer can play at 4 different levels:
• “Mac the beginner”, plays at 70% of its capacity.
• “Mac the intermediate”, plays at 80% of its capacity.
• “Mac the expert”, plays at 95% of its capacity.
• “Mac the champ”, plays its maximum capacity.
Rules
Build a word using the letters that you find on your rack. The first word must cover the star in the center, then all following words must connect to any existing word(s) already on the board. All words formed must be valid. If you all your 7 letters from your rack to build your word, you will earn a bonus of 50 points. If you wish, instead of placing a word on the board, you can change one or more letters.
The goal of the game is to make as many points as possible. The game ends when one player has no more letters to play and the bag of letters is empty. The winning player adds to his score the value of all remaining letters on his opponents’ racks. All players with letters remaining on their racks, subtract the value of their letters from their final score.
Classic Game
One by one, players take their racks (from Rack menu) and place their letters on the board to form words.
When playing against the computer, choose the computer’s rack from the Rack menu to start computer play. If you do not, the computer will automatically start after the delay indicated in your Preferences dialog.
The letter of the last word placed on the board has a small blinking dot in the top right corner, until the next turn is played.
Duplicate Mode
Unlike a Classic game, in Duplicate mode, on each turn. All players have the same letters on their rack. One after the other they place a word on separate boards. The points are calculated, and the player with the word that counts for the most points, keeps his word on the board.
When all players have placed their word, the points of each player are added to their cumulative scores.
On your rack, for the first fifteen turns there will always be at least 2 vowels and 2 consonants, after there will be at least 1 vowel and 1 consonant. The game ends when this is no longer possible.
Belgian Mode
Belgian mode is similar to Duplicate Mode, with the exception that your racks contain a blank letter on each turn. Once your word is placed, the blank will go back on your rack if the letter corresponding to the blank is available in the bag. If the blank is not played, it stays on your rack.
If your rack does not contain a blank square, it means that the corresponding letters are no longer available in the bag.
Prepared Mode
The Prepared game, is similar to Duplicate mode, with the exception that, on each turn the letters on your rack allow you to do a bingo (put your 7 letters on the board to build your word). Each turn, it will be possible to have the 50 bonus points if you find the bingo.
Open and Save a Game
To save your game, choose Save from the File menu, choose the destination folder, name the file and then click the Save button.
To open a game, choose Open from the File menu, find and select your file, then click the Open button.
History
To display the window that contains the history of the game, choose History from the Window menu. The players name is followed by the reference on the board, the word and then the score. A letter in brackets represents a letter replaced by the blank.
In Duplicate mode, the move of each player is noted only when all the players have placed their words, followed by the word placed on the board.
Preferences
Choose item Preferences from the Edit menu, the Preferences dialog will appear.
No time limit to play a turn: If this item is checked, you have unlimited time to place your word on the board. Otherwise, automatically after 3 minutes your rack window will close (the time is indicated at the top left of your rack).
No lost turn on invalid word: If this item is checked, you can play your turn again if you place an invalid word on the board.
I choose the letter from the bag: If this item is checked, you will must pick the letters for all players; if not the computer will pick for you.
Score box shows zero: When you place your letters on the board, your word and score will be indicated in the window on the top right of your rack. If this item is checked and a word is invalid, the score will indicate zero followed by the value of the word if it were valid.
Show computer’s letters: If this item is checked, when Ortograf is looking for a word, you will see the letters and words the computer is about to play.
Period of inactivity before the computer takes its rack: How many seconds of inactivity (no mouse movement or key down) are required for the computer to take its rack from the Rack menu. The minimum is 2 seconds.
Use Deluxe board: You have choice of two boards: small and big. Your game board will be in color if your monitor can display at least 256 colors.
Animate board while computer is searching: If this item is checked, when Ortograf is searching for a word, an arrow will indicate where it is considering placing its word.
I choose the word to be placed on the board: If this item is checked and you are playing in duplicate mode, at the end of each round. The computer will open a window that shows the words placed by each player, and propose the one that counts for the most points. Choose the word to be placed and click OK.
If this item is not checked, the computer will automatically choose the word that counts for the most points; if the words are of equal value, the computer will choose the first word played.
Show the word played by the opponent: If this item is checked and you are playing in duplicate mode, after Ortograf or another player has placed a word on the board, you will see the word before the next player’s turn. Do not check this item while playing if Ortograf is playing before you!
Tops Lists: The maximum number of words that can be found in the Tops List window; the values of the words are placed in descending order. The fewer words, the faster the search.
Bonus squares
In the small coloured board: the red squares are for <triple word score>, the pink squares are for <double word score>, the navy blue squares are for <triple letter score> and the light blue squares are for <double letter score>.
In the small monochrome board: the black squares are for <triple word score>, the gray squares are for <double word score>, the dark striped squares are for <triple letter score> and the light striped squares are for <double letter score>.
Distribution and Values of letters
There are 100 tiles in the bag at the beginning of the game: 9 A at 1 point, 2 B at 3 points, 2 C at 3 points, 4 D at 2 points, 12 E at 1 point, 2 F at 4 points, 3 G at 2 points, 2 H at 4 points, 9 I at 1 point, 1 J at 8 points, 1 K at 5 points, 4 L at 1 point, 2 M at 3 points, 6 N at 1 point, 8 O at 1 point, 2 P at 3 points, 1 Q at 10 points, 6 R at 1 point, 4 S at 1 point, 6 T at 1 point, 4 U at 1 point, 2 V at 4 points, 2 W at 4 points, 1 X at 8 points, 2 Y at 4 points, 1 Z at 10 points and 2 blanks without any value.
During a game, to know how many letters are left in the bag, open your Scoreboard window. The check mark indicates that it is Mac’s turn to play. In Classic mode, the number of bingos are indicated in brackets next to the player’s name. In Tournament mode the percentage is shown compared to the top i.e. the total of best scores for each round.
Racks
For each player to can play their turn, they must choose their rack from the Rack menu, place a word on the board, and click on the close box of the rack window (box above the chronometer). Once your rack is closed, your turn is over.
To move a letter, just click and drag the letter to the right place and release.
When you click the mouse on a letter, the cursor will become a small circle; please wait until it changes into a cross before moving your letter.
If you drop a letter on top of one or more letters on your rack, it or they will moved around the one just placed. If you drop a letter on top of a letter on the board, the letter will go to the nearest available square.
If you choose Undo from Edit menu, all letters placed on the board in the current turn will automatically go back to your rack.
Change of letters
To change a letter, hold down the Shift key, click on the letter to change; it will turn around on your rack. Close the rack window.
If the letter does not turn, a letter maybe left or placed on the board or there are not enough letters in the bag.
To cancel, click on your letter again, it will turn itself.
Changing a letter is not possible when playing in duplicate mode.
Board References
The squares on the board are numbered from 1 to 15 horizontally, left to right; and marked from A to O vertically, top to bottom. Example: to find the reference H5, look on the top left, go down until you reach the letter H and go right until you reach number 5.
If the reference starts with a letter, the word must be placed horizontally on the board. If the reference starts with a number, the word must be placed vertically.
To see the references on your game board at any time, hold down the Option key.
Consult Dictionary
To consult the dictionary, choose Consult from the Dictionary menu. Enter 2 to 8 letters in the box and click the Search button. All valid words that can be created from these letters will be shown in the list on the right.
If you check the Anagrams Only item, only words created with all the letters entered will appear.
If you check the Fixed Capitals item, only words containing the capital(s) letter(s) at the same place in the word will appear.
A question mark “?” will be considered to be a blank square, and the “@” symbol will be considered to be a capital blank letter (in a fixed position).
Add/Delete a Word
To add or delete a word in the dictionary, choose Add a Word (or Delete a Word) from the Dictionary menu, enter the word in the window and click OK.
The “Added Word” file contains all the words you’ve added, and the “Deleted Word” file contains all the words you’ve deleted. These files can be modified using a word processor; you can find them in “Ortograf 1.0 Preferences” folder with in the Preferences folder (or the System folder). If you throw out either files, Ortograf will recreate them automatically, but your words will be gone. Do not modify your these while Ortograf is running.
Ortograf will never play a word from your personal dictionary, but it will never play a word that has been deleted.
Verify a Word
To verify quickly if a word is valid, choose Verify a Word from the Dictionary menu, enter the word in the Word box. At the bottom of the window a black circle will indicate if your word is valid or not.
Tops List
During your turn, you can see a list of all possible words available to you. Choose Top List from the Window menu and click Search.
The player’s letters will appear in brackets in the top window and the list will fill up as Ortograf finds valid words. A question mark (?) represents the blank letter.
The maximum number of words in the list may be changed in the Preferences dialog. Ask for maximum of 10 words and Ortograf will list the 10 words with the highest scores.
