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1993-02-23
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WordBird version 1.4 rf
copyright 1990,1992,1993 Diana Gruber
all rights reserved.
Greetings and welcome to the documentation for WordBird version
1.4. I hope you will spend many happy hours enjoying this program.
Hardware Requirements
_____________________
Here is what you need to play WordBird: You need some kind of a DOS
compatible machine (XT, AT, 80386, etc) with an EGA or VGA card and
an EGA, VGA or multisync monitor. This program will not run on most
Tandy 1000 series computers. It will not run on a PS/2 model 30 or
below. It will not run on a system with CGA or monochrome graphics.
It will not run on an AT&T EGA system. It will only run on a
computer that is fully compatible with the IBM EGA standard.
Optional Hardware
_________________
WordBird was designed to work with a mouse, and it works best with a
mouse. A keyboard-only mode is also supported.
Important note: In most cases, pressing the RIGHT mouse button behaves
the same as pressing <Enter>.
Memory Requirements
___________________
If you use the default dictionary, WordBird should run without
problems in 512k. If you use a larger dictionary, you may see a
message: "Unable to allocate memory". If this happens, check that
you don't have any TSR's loaded. If you try to run WordBird from
a shell-type menu program, you may experience memory problems. You
may also have problems if you have one of those programs that
simultaneously runs a clock, calendar, appointment book, note pad
and screen saver. If you have any memory problems with WordBird,
try turning off all that stuff.
If WordBird runs out of near memory during a game, it may write a
message to a file called "errmsg.txt". This should never happen. But
it might. If it does, delete that file and try again without any TSR's
loaded.
Installing WordBird
___________________
In general, to install WordBird, all you have to do is copy all the
files into the directory of your choice.
Files Included in the Distribution
__________________________________
WORDBIRD.DOC -- This file.
WORDBIRD.EXE -- The program file.
BIRD.DCT -- The default dictionary.
(In the French version of WordBird this file will
be named "FRANCAIS.DCT")
WORDBIRD.PBM -- All the artwork: the board, the tiles, etc.
(In the French version of WordBird this file will
be named "BIRDF.PBM")
FONT.BIN -- Font graphics.
ENDICT.EXE -- This program allows you to encode a dictionary.
ENDICT.DOC -- Description of dictionary encoding.
DEDICT.EXE -- This program allows you to decode a dictionary.
DEDICT.DOC -- Description of dictionary decoding.
Revision History
________________
Version 1.0 11/1/90 first release.
Version 1.1 4/1/91 fixed some bugs.
Version 1.2 7/13/91 one more itty-bitty bug
Version 1.4 2/23/93 renamed from "Scramble" to "Wordbird"
Starting WordBird
_________________
There are two ways you can start playing WordBird. The recommended
method is to stop reading this documentation and start up the game
and figure it out by trial and error. For those of you who prefer
to read about a game before playing it, I will try to describe
everything that happens in detail.
Start up the game by typing:
C:\>WordBird
After pressing return, wait patiently for a moment or two. WordBird
is loading the dictionary from disk. This takes a while because it
is a pretty big dictionary.
When the dictionary is finally loaded, WordBird will present an
exciting and tasteful intro screen with colorful animated tiles.
Whatever you do, don't press a key while this intro screen is in
progress! Pressing a key during the intro screen will interrupt
the display and put you immediately into the WordBird game. You
won't want to miss any of this exciting intro stuff, so resist
the temptation to press a key! Just wait patiently until the intro
is finished.
Following the spectacular intro screen, the WordBird board will
miraculously appear on the screen, and then it is immediately hidden
by a popup window. There is an important question in this window.
See Figure 1.
┌───────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Who wants to play WordBird? │
│ │
│ │
│ ┌───────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │
│ │ 1 │ │ 2 │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ Player │ │ Players │ │
│ └───────────┘ └───────────┘ │
│ │
│ │
│ ┌───────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │
│ │ 3 │ │ 4 │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ Players │ │ Players │ │
│ └───────────┘ └───────────┘ │
│ │
│ │
└───────────────────────────────────────┘
Figure 1.
It asks "Who wants to play WordBird?" What it means is, how many
players are going to play WordBird? It is up to you to decide how
many players are going to play. If you want to play solitaire
WordBird, select one player. If you want to play against your
younger brother, select 2 players. If you want to play against
the computer, you also select 2 players. If you want to watch the
computer play against itself, select any number of players, but make
them all computer players.
Now you are probably asking yourself "huh? How do I make them all
computer players?" Here is the answer: The next popup window lets
you decide! See Figure 2.
┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Agreed. 2 players. Like this? │
│ │
│ │
│ ┌──────────┐ ┌─────────┐ │
│ │ Player 1 │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ OK │ │
│ │ Human │ │ │ │
│ └──────────┘ └─────────┘ │
│ │
│ │
│ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ Player 2 │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Computer │ │
│ └──────────┘ │
│ │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────┘
Figure 2.
At this point, you can use the mouse or the number keys to change
any player from a human player to a computer player, or vice versa.
For example, Player 1 always starts out as a human player. To make
Player 1 a computer player, press the "1" key or move the mouse cursor
to the Player 1 box and press the left button.
When everything in this box is to your satisfaction, press <Enter>
or click your mouse on the "OK" box.
You are now ready to play WordBird.
Playing WordBird
________________
To play WordBird, you must choose letters from your tray and put them
on the board to make a vali