Current Shareware 1994 January/SHAR194.ISO/screenut/amy_v22.zip/AMY!.DOC

Text File | 1993-08-06 | 6KB | 114 lines

           AMY! v2.2 is Copyright 1990-93 by J. McCaffrey

This program prints LARGE letters on a CGA, EGA, VGA, or Hercules screen.
It was designed for my daughter Amy when she was about 5 months old,
since she really enjoyed 'typing' but was upset that nothing appeared
on the screen.  This program traps all key combinations (including
Ctrl-Alt-Del), thus keeping your computer safe from executing
unwanted commands.

The color of each letter is set randomly, and if you type the proper
sequence of letters (AMY or the name you entered on the command line)
you get a different sound for each letter and a finale (sound &
screen) when you type the entire name.  You also get a sound when you
press the 'grey' keys (such as the Function keys, Enter key, and
shift keys).  Many of the keys also cause the CapsLock, NumLock, and
Scroll-Lock lights to flash - surprisingly, my daughter often found
those lights to be the most fascinating part of the computer.
Note: Some computers do not support such 'playing around' with the
      keyboard lights.  Use the L- command (described below) to turn
     off this feature if you find that the program crashes immediately
     after startup.

Because the program is meant to be easy to use (while you have a
screaming(?) baby on your hands), the program will automatically go
into a screen-saver mode after about 2 minutes of inactivity.  During
this screen-saver mode, the child's name will flash at random on the
screen.  Pressing any key reverts the program to normal mode.

The program can take a few command line arguments:
The first argument is the child's name, which can be followed by an
exclamation point if desired.  The remaining arguments can be in any
order:
NS = turn off ALL sound effects
G- = turn off 'grey' keys (Function keys, Enter key, etc.) sound effects
L- = turn off CapsLock, NumLock, and Scroll_Lock light flashing (this may
     be required if you computer doesn't have those lights.).
1  = set smallest size font
2  = set middle size font (default)
4  = set largest size font

For instance: AMY KAREN! NS 4

would set the 'magic name' to KAREN, use the largest font, and turn
off the sound.  A question mark (?) at the command-line will give you
a help screen.  The program requires that the ROMAN.FON and HELVB.FON
font files (included) be present.  The program will search for the
font files in the current directory, the directory where AMY was
executed from (DOS 3.0 or later only), and will also search the path.
Finally, you can use a new environment variable AMY to specify where
the font files are located.  The command "SET AMY=pathspec" will set
the variable, and may be included in a batch file.  An example batch
file is included.
Note: to use the program with a Hercules monitor, you must first
      run the MSHERC program (included).

The program is hopefully very easy to use.  You will probably want to
create a batch file with the appropriate name, or you can just type
the name on the command line from DOS.  The screen will clear and the
name to match will be shown in LARGE letters at the center of the
screen.  Note that the exclamation point after the name is for
display only - the child doesn't have to type the exclamation point
to get the "fireworks."  Anything the child types is echoed to the
screen, although non-printing characters are transformed.  To exit
the program, press Ctrl-Scroll_Lock three times in a row.  When
pressing this key combination to exit the program, HOLD DOWN the Ctrl
key and press the Scroll_Lock key three times.  Hopefully, randomly
pressing this key combination three times in a row is rare enough
that it shouldn't occur by mistake.  If it does, let me know - I can
make the combination more difficult.  My daughter hasn't hit that
combination yet....

Now for the legalese....
This program is copyright 1990-1993, but may be freely copied &
distributed as long as all the files are kept together and not
modified in any way other than through the use of the registration
program (included).  Registered copies of the program are NOT to be
distributed.  The author makes no claims as to the suitability of
this software for any specific purpose, nor will the author be
responsible for any damage the program may cause, no matter the cause
or fault.  Hopefully the above hasn't scared everyone off - my
daughter really does enjoy the program, which I run on an AT clone
with a VGA monitor.

If you (and your children) enjoy this program, please send $5.00 to:
John McCaffrey        If you have any comments, questions, or problems,
625 Overlook Drive    please call my BBS system at: (203)-250-0938.
Cheshire, CT 06410

Registration of the program (via the included REGISTER.EXE file)
will remove the startup 'please register' message.  To use the
register program, merely enter the name of the executable file (amy!.exe),
and then enter the password & user name when asked.  The required
password will be posted as a message to you on the OPAL Network BBS
(203-250-0938) when your registration fee is received.  To simplify
access to the board, you may wish to include the exact name & password
that you want to use when you sign onto the BBS.

Special OFFER: Send a $25.00 payment to the above address to register
the program AND get a full year of 60 minutes per day access to my
BBS.  The $25.00 payment will include unlimited download privleges!
This offer may expire at any time.  Call the OPAL Network BBS at
(203)-250-0938 for full details!  Registering the program means you
will automatically be notified of any program updates via the BBS -
and the updates will be FREE to registered owners.  The normal full
download privleges fee is $25 per year.

Call my BBS for more software -
OPAL Network * 640MB on-line! * USRobotics Courier HST
24 Hours * 7 Days * 300/1200/2400/9600/14.4K Baud * N81
CALL TODAY!  (203)-250-0938

I plan to write new children's software for my daughter as she grows.
If there is any software you would like to see, please leave me a
message!