ABClassroom (C) 1998-2000 by Michael A. Shaffer

This program requires using Windows 95/98 and a sound card. To use
the built in tape recorder you also need a microphone installed
and turned on.

This application runs best using a screen size of
640 X 480 to make it child size, but other setting are Okay.


To Install the program:

I suggest you unzip the files in a temporary directory, then run the setup.exe file to 
start the program installation.

It will install the ABClassroom program into a directory named ABC, so DO NOT name the
temporary directory name ABC.  

If after the installation you do not see the ABC directory, press the F5 key to refresh 
your directories.

The program will be available in the start button on your task bar 
or by double clicking the file abclass.exe in the abc directory.

After the ABClassroom program is installed you may delete all files in the temporary directory.
Keep the abc.zip file if you want do another installation.


To uninstall the program and all files, go to the control panel and to add/remove programs,
select (click) ABClassroom then click on the add/remove button below.

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The windows mouse control is available while running the program. I suggest
you change the mouse speed setting to slow for beginners especially when 
using the Chalkboard utility.

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The program's WAV and MID files can be substituted with those of your own to 
personalize it.

With the use of a wave file editior utility, a simple one comes with windows, you can
create and replace my wav files with yours and put the whole program in you own voice.

example:  record a new wav file saying the letter A and save it as A.wav in a temporary
          directory.
          replace my A.wav file with the one you made in the ABClassroom directory.
          now when the letter A is selected it will play your new file.          

     ************************ IMPORTANT ***************************

Keep your new wav file short, cut out most all of the dead space before and after the 
sound using the editor.  If you do not the program will not be as efficient.

The windows sound recorder, file name Sndrec32.exe is in the windows directory.

Any Midi files "filename.mid", can be copied and renamed to 
music1 2 or 3 .mid in the programs directory to replace the music that plays
when the program button is pushed for that music.

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I tried to make this application as child proof as possible.
the Alt+Tab and Alt+Ctrl+Delete key combinations are disabled while running.

except for letters and numbers the other keys are deactivated on most keyboards.


I recommend that a parent be with the child while running this application
so they do not do any harm to the computer or files if they accidentally exit
the program. If a child turns the computer off and back on again, they will be
out of the program.

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To help limit the programs abilities, setup the controls on the Menu Bar, to
limit what a child might do.  

The program's Menu Bar has options to turn on and off the volume control and
recorder controls.

The exit on/off can be set to hide the Goodbye (EXIT) control,
so it is harder for them to accidentally exit the program.
  
To exit the program:
select menu on the menu bar and turn the memu on.
select goodbye on/off on the menu bar and turn goodbye on.
a red goodbye control will now be available on the screen.

*****                                                                   *****
***** You also NEED to double click the Goodbye (EXIT) control to exit. *****
*****                                                                   *****

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The application's volume control uses Windows 95 program Sndvol32.exe
this file must be in your windows directory.

The recorder will record for 5 seconds then stop automatically.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

MICHAEL A. SHAFFER is NOT responsible for any damage or data loss while
running this application, run at you're own risk.


                  *****************************************

                                  PROBLEMS


When clicking on a ABC block or pushing a letter or number key on the keyboard
no sound is heard.
1.  Check the main volume and the wave volume settings in the Sndvol32.exe program.
2.  Make sure the mute box is not checked.
3.  The .wav file may not be in the ABC program's directory.


The Recorder is not working.
1.  Check microphone volume and settings in the Sndvol32.exe program.
    Make sure the microphone mute box is not checked.
2.  The file voice.wav may have became corrupted or is not in the program's directory.

(If the microphone is not working proper it may corrupt the file "voice.wav" file.)

To fix the file "voice.wav.

End the program and Delete the file "voice.wav" restart program and try
again. the program will try to make a new one.

If that does not work, exit the program, make a copy of any of the other
abc .wav files and rename it 'voice.wav'. 



The recorder even when set to "play only" it will not work.
1. The file voice.wav may have became corrupted.

Repair the voice.wav file as instructed above.