CHAINLINK  - version 1.2
February (August) 1997 - MyCat Software
Copyright 1997, Lucie Dorais

A brand new card Solitaire game for the PC, was a smash hit with 
TI-99/4A Home Computer users for many years.
Move all cards to the Top by building Chains of cards of the same 
Suit. Use the mouse or the keyboard. Big card design option.

Win 3.1, Win 95 compliant.  
Minimum requirements (286, VGA)
Needs VBRUN300.DLL to run. 


New in version 1.1:
------------------
. top graphics redone
. corrected a little Hint problem concerning a single
  card and a completed chain 
. Ver. 1.1.1:  corrected a bug in the "Where is?" function
  (fatal error if you clicked outside the suit and rank sections)

New in version 1.2:
------------------
. database of winnable games, WinDb
. slower speed option for fast machines
. second choice of card deck for non cat-lovers...


To Install:  
----------
Move all files in the directory of your choice (you don't 
need the WAV files if you don't have a Sound Card); all files must
be in the same directory, so you can use Help and hear the sounds.  
The CHAINLNK.INI file will be created in your Windows directory
the first time you play CHAINLINK.

    If you don't already have VBRUN300.DLL in your Windows\System
    directory, you must get it before you can play CHAINLINK. 
    It is a must for any program written is Visual Basic 3.0, and
    is available on the majority of BBSs and commercial online services.
    On CompuServe, look for VBRUN3.ZIP in Library 1 of the WinShare
    Forum, or go PCFF and search for file VBRUN3.ZIP.  

I leave to you the joy of adding the program to one of your
Program Manager's Groups or Start/TaskBar menu. 

Windows 3.1: select a group, click on File Menu, then New, 
    select "Program Item", add the proper description (like
    "Chainlink") and command line (path of directory you placed
    the program in, plus filename: "C:\dir\subdir\CHAINLNK.EXE"),
    then press the OK button. The icon will appear in your Group.  

Windows 95:  Select Settings/Taskbar and click the Start Menu 
    Programs tab, then click the Add... button, use Browse to 
    find the CHAINLNK.EXE file.


To upgrade to version 1.2:
-------------------------
You need to copy only the new and modified files over the old ones:

New:    CHAINLNK.WIN (the WinDb database)
        CHNSUNNY.WAV (new deck image animation sound)

Mod:    CHAINLNK.EXE, CHAINLNK.HLP
        CHNSORRY.WAV, CHNPILE.WAV (volume slightly decreased)

If you are a registered user, your registration will work with the
new version.


To uninstall:
------------
Just delete all files in the directory where you placed CHAINLINK,
and delete the file CHAINLNK.INI from your Windows directory.


Registration: 
------------
CHAINLINK will run for 30 days. After that, you should be addicted;
to continue playing you need to... Register!

Registration is only $15 US (or $15 Cdn if you live in Canada and pay by
snail-mail).  On CompuServe, GO SWREG, and follow the menus; the 
registration number is #14442.  

You can use the file ORDER.TXT to register via snail-mail. Don't
forget your e-mail address if you have one! Your registration key
will come much faster.

American users can send a cheque. If you live outside Canada or the US,
and the charges for a bank draft or money order are out of this world, 
you can send the equivalent in your country's money (bank notes only); 
although it might not be as safe, I have had no problem so far.
                         
The shareware version is not crippled in any way, I am the optimist 
type... (except for the trial period). And, being mostly homebound 
(and not working) due to illness, I avoid trips to the Post Office.  

Please send any mail to:
     Lucie Dorais
     603 - 222 Guigues
     Ottawa, Ont.
     K1N 5J2
     Canada

     CompuServe:  76440,623
     e-mail: ldorais@cyberus.ca
             76440.623@compuserve.com
             l.dorais@genie.com
     www:  http://www.cyberus.ca/~ldorais/

What you will get:  a registration key, a nice thank you letter, a free 
conscience, and my eternal gratitude. And that nagging screen will 
disappear forever!


License:
-------
CHAINLINK is a Shareware program and is provided at no charge to
the user for evaluation.  You may evaluate it for 30 days; after 
that trial period, CHAINLINK will stop running (but will still allow 
you to enter the registration number if you got one).

Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give
it away altered or as part of another system.  And please don't
give them your registration number! The essence of "user-supported"
software is to provide personal computer users with quality
software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for
programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this
program useful and find that you are using CHAINLINK and continue
to use it after a reasonable trial period, you should look deep
into your pocketbook and make an effort to register it (see
above). This will entitle you to the right of running one copy of
the program on one computer at a time.