!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! Jon Persky Presents ! ! THE PERIODIC TABLE v. 1.0 ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (In this text file, the abbreviation TPT will often be used in place of the full program name, The Periodic Table.) I. PACKING LIST PERIODIC.EXE - the executable program file. PERIODIC.TXT - this text file. PERIODIC.DAT - contains the data for the elements. If you have the Visual Basic source code version of The Periodic Table, you should find instead of the PERIODIC.EXE file these: ABOUT.FRM, GLOBAL.BAS, PERIODIC.FRM, PERIODIC.ICO, and PERIODIC.MAK. You can install TPT into any directory you choose (below I have suggested C:\WINDOWS,) but all the files MUST be in the same directory. If any of these files are altered or missing, please let me know! II. REQUIREMENTS Windows 3.x, VGA, mouse. I'm not sure if you can get by without at least a 386, you're free to try. IMPORTANT: This program needs the file VBRUN100.DLL to operate. Please see the Technical Notes section below for details. III. INSTALLATION First, copy the three files that came with TPT to your C:\WINDOWS directory, or any other directory, by using File Manager. Close File Manager and open your Games group in Program Manager. Select File...New and click on Program Item. In the Description box, type "The Periodic Table". In the Command Line box, type "\windows\periodic.exe", or substitute the directory you use for "\windows". You don't need to worry about the rest; just click OK. The icon will be there and you're ready to go! To load The Periodic Table, double-click on the icon. If you have the TPT source code, open the Visual Basic Program, choose "File...Open" and select the file "PERIODIC.MAK." Then press Shift-F5 to run. IV. TECHNICAL NOTES TPT was made on Microsoft Visual Basic v. 1.0. To work effectively, the program MUST be accompanied by the file VBRUN100.DLL. You should either receive the file with this program or separately from the person or board you received this from. On CompuServe, this file is available in compressed form as VBRUN.ZIP in Library 5 of the Microsoft Basic Forum (GO MSBASIC). If you cannot access this file, please contact me via CompuServe [70661,700] or by mail (see below for address) and I will upload or mail a disk to you at no charge. Note: VBRUN100.DLL is a large (270+ KB) file. You only need one copy of this file. So if you have previously downloaded a Visual Basic application or have the Visual Basic program, you do not need another copy of this file. However, you should have a copy of VBRUN100.DLL in the same directory as the TPT program. V. OVERVIEW TPT is a reference chart of the Periodic Table of Elements. The chart is graphically displayed onscreen, and you can click on each component of the table to get information such as atomic number, atomic mass, chemical state, melting point, and boiling point. In addition, you can search by the element's name, symbol, or atomic number to find the element you wish. Also, you can copy the data for an element you desire by simply clicking on or searching for the element and choosing Edit...Copy. VI. HOW TO USE TPT There are two ways to find the information for a particular element. First, if you know the symbol and the element's position on the table you may simply click on the square with the appropriate symbol on it and the information will appear at the bottom of the screen. The other way to find the element is by searching. You can search by one of three ways: by atomic number, name, or symbol. Simply choose the command you want from the Search menu. Then type the appropriate information into the dialog box. If you search by atomic number the number must be an integer from 1 to 109. If you search by name or symbol, please remember that the first letter must be capitalized. For example, enter "Hydrogen", not "hydrogen" or "HYDROGEN". Likewise, enter "La" instead of "la" or "LA". If you do not enter it in this way, your search will come up empty. When you find the element you want, you can copy it into the Windows Clipboard to later paste it in any word processing or other document. Simply choose Copy from the Edit menu. TPT will copy a report of the selected element's data to Windows Clipboard, looking like this: Radon: Atomic number: 86; Atomic Mass (of most stable isotope): 222; Natural Chemical State: Gas; Melting Point (°C): -71; Boiling Point (°C): -61.8 To paste the data into a document, simply open the word processor or other application, then choose Paste from the application's Edit menu. You must paste the information before you copy anything else because the second thing you copy overwrites the original. VII. COMMANDS A. File Menu Exit (^X): Quits TPT. About TPT: Shareware info and other stuff. B. Edit Menu Copy (^C): Copies a report of the selected element to the Clipboard. C. Search Menu By Name (^N): Search by the name of the element. By Atomic Number (^A): Search by the element's atomic number. By Symbol (^S): Search by the chemical symbol. D. Help Menu - a dialog box that tells you to open this file. VIII. HOW TO EDIT THE PERIODIC.DAT FILE I have tested this program many times and I am sure that all of the data is correct. However, in case of a possible typo, or if you wish to change any of the information, you may do so by editing the data file PERIODIC.DAT. Use Windows Notepad to open the file, and you will see a list of the elements from 1 to 109, starting with Hydrogen and ending with Unnilennium. From left to right, the data categories are: Name, atomic mass, melting point, and boiling point. The atomic number is determined by the element's order in the data file; the symbol is determined by the label on the element's square on the table; and the chemical state is determined by the color of the element's square (blue for gas, red for liquid, yellow for solid, green for synthetic.) You must have the source code version of TPT to change the latter two. In the data file, the element name comes first and must be in quotes. The other data must be real numbers. All the data must be separated by commas. Following these rules you should have no problem editing the PERIODIC.DAT file. IX. SHAREWARE INFO The Periodic Table is Shareware. If you enjoy it, you should register by sending $5 to this address: Jonathan D. Persky 5 Oak Lane Weston, CT 06883 Please include your name, address, and tell where you got your copy of TPT. (If it is a bulletin board, please include the board's phone number.) If you register, you will receive a disk (please specify 3.5" or 5.25") of the latest versions of all completed Jon Persky games and programs so far. The disk will only contain one copy of the file VBRUN100.DLL, and will not include the shareware nagging title screens or shareware information in the text files. You can also register electronically if you subscribe to CompuServe. Simply type GO SWREG and search for registration #. The registration fee will appear on your CompuServe bill. If you register by this method, the fee will be $6 instead of $5. This additional charge covers CompuServe's 15% processing fee. However, you may find this method more convenient, as you can include the fee on your CompuServe account and you don't have to bother with sending cash or checks. Please remember that the only way I receive compensation for my time and effort is by your registration payment. Remember that you'll receive a disk with the complete set of Jon Persky Games in exchange for your registration. At the current time, the disk will include 7 programs (see the "Won't You Please Check Out" section below.) With shareware, disk, and postage costs, this is a $37 value for your $5 registration! The good thing about shareware is that the author and the user both benefit from it a great deal. And, if you don't like the game, simply remove it from your hard disk and your only cost is any charges associated with downloading the program. Also, you are not required to pay registration for the games you receive upon registering this game. (However, you are not permitted to distribute registered copies.) You may upload Target to bulletin boards in condensed or uncondensed format or pass it to your friends provided you do so at no cost and you keep the files PERIODIC.EXE and PERIODIC.TXT intact and unaltered. (Please check with your bulletin board to see if it has a copy of VBRUN100.DLL, and if it doesn't, please upload it separately.) X. AND WON'T YOU PLEASE CHECK OUT... A. As of October 10, 1992, these are all completed Jon Persky Games, with the latest version number in parentheses and the *.EXE file in brackets. 1. What's My Number? (3.0) [WHATSMY#.EXE] Can you guess the computer's secret number in as few turns as possible? 2. Switch (2.0) [SWITCH.EXE] 100's of combinations, only 2 solutions to this challenging logic puzzle! 3. 23 Pickup (2.1) [23PICKUP.EXE] The game where you get to prove the mechanical brain is not always smarter than the natural variety. 4. Target (3.0) [TARGET.EXE] Shoot for the bullseye in this fun dart-shooting game. Which type of throw is best for you? 5. Number Crunch (2.0) [NOCRUNCH.EXE] Can your trigger finger beat the clock and uncover the numbers in order? Based on the board game Numbers Up. 6. Jeopardy Scorekeeper (1.1) [JEOPKEEP.EXE] An accessory program that lets you play along with the contestants on TV! B. And these Jon Persky Windows applications: The Periodic Table (1.0) [PERIODIC.EXE] A graphical periodic table that features detailed data on an element that you click on. You can do a search by three categories of data, plus you can copy the data to the Clipboard and paste it into any document. C. On the cluttered desk in my mind: The Matrix Wiz (1.0) Add, subtract, and multiply large or small matrices with a few clicks of the mouse. An algebra lover's (and hater's) dream come true! Make-your-own-Quiz (1.0) You choose the questions and the answers, and test yourself or someone else! I'm looking to have a choice of multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, or short answer. Any feedback on these or ideas for additional games or programs would be greatly appreciated. (See below.) XI. FEEDBACK I'd love to chat. If you subscribe to CompuServe, E-Mail me at ID# [70661,700]. Questions, comments, ideas, suggestions, criticism, or ideas for new games would be appreciated. If you don't use CompuServe, you can use the traditional mailbox method and send it to the address below in section XV. I'll be sure to get back to you personally. I am 14 years old, a novice computer programmer, and would like to learn all I can! P.S. PLEASE SPREAD THIS AROUND!!! Public domain and shareware software is the most popular kind out there, and its essential purpose is to provide you with quality entertainment for a low cost. Please do your best to upload this game to all the bulletin boards you subscribe to, and pass it around to your friends. It will make us all very happy ! If enough people let me know what they think, I'll feel motivated so I just might decide to put that little world peace plan I've been conjuring up into action. :-) XII. TO SOURCE CODE RECIPIENTS In addition to the .EXE file version of TPT, I have also sent another version containing the Visual Basic source code to selected places such as the MSBASIC forum on CompuServe. If you receive the source code version, you are free to tamper, play, and fool around with the program all you like, but I must stress that you do not redistribute anything you alter. If you can improve on the program in any way, please send me a copy of the new source code and I will look at what you have done and probably incorporate it in the next version. XIII. CONTACTING THE AUTHOR A. Mail: Jonathan D. Persky 5 Oak Lane Weston, CT 06883 B. Compuserve: Jon Persky, ID# 70661,700 Shareware Registration #: C. BBS: The Fine Blue Line, (203) 226-3565, tell the sysop I sent you and leave a message to Jon Persky! XVI. FROM THE LEGAL DEPT. A. Disclaimer The author hereby disclaims any charges or damages resulting from use of this software that is higher than the registration fee paid directly to the author by the user, minus costs such as CompuServe's electronic registration processing fee. If you do not register this software, it is not legally yours and therefore no claims can be filed against the author. I will refund your registration fee of $5, if accompanied by a written reason for refund (and if possible, proof of such) and return of the disk obtained upon registration. B. A Word about Computer Piracy Please remember that you are only allowed to distribute unregistered copies of software. If you pass around software that someone else has paid the author for, it is considered computer piracy and is against the law! This version of TPT is marked as an Unregistered Copy and therefore may be distributed without permission from me. ©Copyright 1992, Jonathan D. Persky. All rights reserved. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy using TPT as much as I did writing it! Jon Persky Wednesday, October 7, 1992