home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
JCSM Shareware Collection 1997 February
/
JCSM Shareware Collection February 1997 Best of (JCS Marketing)(February 1997).bin
/
EKIDS38_
/
SPELL210.ZIP
/
SPELL.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1996-02-14
|
11KB
|
255 lines
SHOW 'N SPELL
Description:
A fun way for children (and adults?) to increase
their spelling skills! Random pictures appear for the user
to identify and spell. 3 different skill levels are
available to choose from, along with several play options
(reveal clues, play against the clock, display word
skeleton dashes). Imports customized word lists for spelling
reviews. Supports mouse input for those who may be physical-
ly impaired.
Requirements:
SHOW 'N SPELL requires either EGA or VGA graphics AND
A HARD DISK DRIVE to run. Although the program does NOT
have to RESIDE on your hard disk, a hard disk is
nevertheless a necessity! I realize that this may sound
strange to some, but trust the author - no hard disk, no
run! Explaining why this is so would be too technical for
the average user to understand, so take my word when we
state that your computer must have a hard disk drive to run
SHOW 'N SPELL.
To begin:
If your computer has the above hardware
requirements, then simply enter: SPELL at the DOS prompt.
The program will load after a few seconds, and after an
opening screen, the user will be prompted for a name. This
name will be displayed on the score board, and will later
be used in the "Top Ten" best scores at the end of each
round.
Play options:
Once the program has loaded, and the player has entered
their name, SHOW 'N SPELL will begin play once the F9 key
is pressed. F9 functions as the "GO" key, and the screen
button is appropriately colored "green". Once play has
begun, the ESC key will terminate the current session. The
ESC key is appropriately colored "red". Two consecutive
ESC key presses will terminate the program.
Before the F9 key is pressed, the player has the option to
select one of four different play modes.
1) Display a picture and prompt the player for the correct
spelling (test mode)
2) Display a picture and the spelling (practice mode)
The two modes above can be toggled by pressing the F2 key.
The remaining two modes are:
3) Display a scrambled up word from the WORDS.TXT list and
prompt the player for the correct spelling (mixup mode)
4) Display a word from the WORDS.TXT file list (review
mode)
You can activate the play modes #3 and #4 above by pressing
the F3 or F4 keys correspondingly.
Create your own spelling list:
With the "mixup" and "review" play modes (see above), SHOW
'N SPELL uses the words in the WORDS.TXT file. You can
create a new WORDS.TXT file from within the program by
specifying (when prompted) that you wish to "Input new
WORDS.TXT file". Any new words that you input at that
point will OVERWRITE the existing WORDS.TXT file! If you
wish to append/add to the existing WORDS.TXT file without
destroying its current contents, then you must use a text
editor (see DOS's EDIT utility that ships free with DOS
versions 5.0 and later).
Command line options:
SHOW 'N SPELL accepts command line parameters that
instruct the program of special user options. For
instance, if you wish to start the program with the mouse
arrow as the default, type: SPELL MOUSE=ON at the DOS
prompt to start the program. The mouse cursor will then
appear from the very start of the program (if you have an
active mouse attached, of course).
Or, you can skip the "PLEASE ENTER YOUR NAME"
prompt by entering: SPELL NAME=SUSAN at the DOS prompt
to begin the program.
Other command line options include:
CLUE=ON Turns on the one letter clue
feature
DASH=OFF Turns off the skeleton of dashes -
this makes the game more
challenging!
TIMER=OFF Turns off the play against the
clock feature. Note: "Top Ten"
scores are NOT tracked when this
feature is OFF.
ERROR=LPT1: Sends a report of all misspelled
words to your printer on port LPT1:
Substitute "LPT1:" with a filename
if you prefer a disk file error
log list instead.
SOUND=OFF Turns off the speaker
PRACTICE=ON Makes the startup default mode display
a picture WITH the word. All
performance testing is turned off.
MIX=ON Makes the startup default play mode
display words from the WORDS.TXT file
and displays each word one at a time
in scrambled order for the user to
unscramble. Starts when the player
presses F9 within the program.
REVIEWLIST=ON Makes the startup default mode
display words from the WORDS.TXT file
and displays each word one at a time.
Starts when the player presses F9
within the program.
WORDLIST=x.TXT Changes the default custom word list
from WORDS.TXT to the filename
specified as "x.TXT" where "x" is
replaced with a 1-8 character file
name.
Any (or all) of the above command line options can
be combined together at the DOS prompt. For those who are
physically impaired, the following would be a good example
to use:
SPELL NAME=JOHNNY CLUE=ON TIMER=OFF MOUSE=ON
Top Ten scores:
After the end of a "timed" round (play against the
clock), the player's performance will be compared to the
lowest percentage in the current "Top Ten" scoreboard. If
the player has done well, their name and score will be
added to the "Top Ten"! If you receive this disk and find
strange people's names already on the list, you may wish to
wipe the board clean by deleting the "SPELL.SCR" file.
This file (if it exists) is used to record the "Top Ten"
scores. If the file does not exist, a new one will be
created, and hence any old names and scores will be purged.
Dispappearing mouse cursor:
SHOW 'N SPELL has been tested using the three most
popular brands of mice on the market: MicroSoft, Logitech,
and Mouse Systems. Some of the inexpensive mice ($9-$25)
may prove unusable as a result of an invisible mouse arrow
problem. The invisible mouse arrow problem with these
cheaper mice is due to a failure to meet the 100% MicroSoft
compatiblity standard. The only suggestions the author has
is: 1) upgrade you existing mouse driver software (contact
the manufacturer/distributor), 2) purchase one of the brand
name mice listed above, or 3) use the keyboard for input
rather than using a mouse. If you experience this problem,
it is not the program's fault, but rather your mouse driver
failing to detect EGA screen page 1!
Disclaimer:
The author makes no warranties, expressed or implied,
as to the quality of performance of this program. The
author will not be held liable for any direct, indirect,
incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use
of FRONTLETS. Your use of the program constitutes your
agreement to this disclaimer and your release of the author
from any form of liability or litigation.
Shareware and distribution:
SHOW 'N SPELL is distributed as shareware.
Shareware is a "try before you buy" software marketing
concept that allows the user to obtain fully functional
copies of programs for evaluation. The distribution and
copying fee that you may have paid to obtain this disk DOES
NOT cover the cost of the software contained on this
disk. Shareware programs such as SHOW 'N SPELL require
separate payment to the author if it is found to be a
useful product and if it is used beyond a reasonable
evaluation period. Registration is based upon the disk
size you need. A registration form is provided for you at
the end of the program. Remember, the program author has
not received a single penny from the distributor of this
disk. The only monies we receive are from you the user.
If users do not support the program, the author goes
hungry.
If you are a shareware distributor/vendor and wish
to offer SHARE 'N SPELL in your library, we request
that you first notify the author of your plans if the .EXE
file time/date stamp is more than 2 years old. Please
mention the version number when writing to insure that you
have the latest version. Better yet, contact us at our 24
hour BBS for the latest version or for distribution
authorization. BBS's and CD-ROM publishers may likewise
distribute this program as long as the program is no more
than 2 years old.
Author:
Philip P. Kapusta 406 Monroe Avenue, Falmouth, Va. 22405
Other programs:
If you like SHOW 'N SPELL you may be interested in trying
some of the author's other programs. Most of our programs
are family, educational, or Bible related. For shareware
evaluation copies, you can obtain the latest versions from
the following BBS (bulletin board systems) if you have a
modem:
The Mustard Seed BBS
Falmouth, VA
1200-28.8k N-8-1 ANSI
BBS phone number: (540) 372-9680
If you do not own a modem, or you wish to avoid long
distance phone charges, a printed catalog of our software
is available by submitting 5 first class U.S.A. postage
stamps to the author along WITH A NOTE OF INTEREST. For
those of you living outside the U.S.A., include 5
international postal coupons instead of U.S. postage stamps
(ask your postmaster for coupon details).