Copyright: ©'95 Thomas Hövel Software
Citation: © 1995 Thomas Hövel Software


Index
The Lights Go Down

Freeware version

What is what? (Introducing the Programs)

Use Screen Savers economically!

What is Shareware? And why you should register! Awards! Other products

How to register

Conditions for the distribution of UL-TOMat Shareware

Hints for Windows' Program Manager / Changing Help Colours

User Support

Author's Address

What's new? / Who are The Makers of Ultomat? / Known Problems

Obtaining new versions of UL-TOMat

If you'd prefer a different language version of UL-TOMat...

Für Deutschsprachige: Lies mich


What is what?

The Contents button will take you to the overview of this Read Me! file.

This file belongs to the freeware copy of The Lights Go Down. It was compiled for distribution via modem. One of our goals was keeping this version small.

This version contains the screen saver The Lights Go Down with only a few saver modules.

The normal shareware version is available on CIS: GO PIKAPRO (library 18) and load LIGHTOUT.ZIP. It will be available on other media, too. Look out for LIGHT???.ZIP (currently LIGHTS22.ZIP) or LIGHTOUT.ZIP.

You can get the shareware version from the Internet, too.

The Lights Go Down (LGD) is a multi-module screen-saver.

The internal Randomizer module provides variety.

Usage hints:

Run LGD. Press R (for Randomizer).

Windows 3.0: Set the delay (Alt-E). Minimise LGD - and you are ready to go! You should include LGD in the LOAD= line in your WIN.INI-File.

Windows 3.1: Do not run LGD alone. Run CONTROL. Select Desktop. Select LGD Loader as your Screen-saver.

Windows 95: Hit the right mouse button on the desktop. Select Properties. Select the Screen Saver tab. Select LGD Loader as your Screen-saver.

For further information press F1 while in LGD.


Use Screen Savers ecologically

We use our environment as thoughtlessly as we use terms like "bio", "green" or "environment-friendly".

A car with catalytic converter isn't really "environment-friendly". The converter works only if it is hot. At full throttle, it cannot convert all the pollutants!

In Germany 10 per cent of all car journeys are less than 1 kilometre! A total of 30 per cent aren't longer than 3 kilometres. The converter won't get hot and therefore doesn't do much good - not to mention the possibilities of walking, going by bike or using public transport ...

Even with a converter that may filter up to 90 per cent of all pollutants our cars are not "environment-friendly".

However, if you go by car you should, of course, have a catalytic converter.

Let's talk about Screen Savers now, not about cars.

Use your computer conscientiously

I suggest that you turn off at least the Display if you know you won't need for 10 minutes or more.

Your monitor's Power Saver (if you have one) will be activated after several minutes. It may then still take 20 through 60 minutes before power saving is at its maximum (still consuming about 10 watts).

If you turn it off it consumes 0 watts - at once!

After turning the monitor on again, you'll have to wait 10 through 20 seconds before the display is visible again.

Leading monitor manufactures have confirmed that turning the monitor off and on doesn't reduce its lifetime.

It takes a little longer to shut the computer down. You have to re-boot when you need it again.

I suggest you should do so when you won't need your computer for more than 30 minutes.

These are my suggestions. If you want to save some energy, you still may find your own timings for turning monitor or computer off.

The Swedish TCO92 standard requires displays to consume less than 30 watts if the screen is black for 3 minutes and less than 8 watts after 60 (!) minutes. Other displays may consume less, of course.

Computer as heating

In a letter to an editor I read a remark that Energy Star computers increase the cost of heating the rooms.

You don't have to bother about saving energy if you heat your rooms with electrical energy (that's true during heating periods only).

Heating with gas or oil is considered more environment-friendly than electrical heating. Make power saving your goal - any time of the year.

During summer-time, saving energy will always make sense! Especially if you use air-conditioning: the computer wastes energy to produce heat, while the air-conditioning system consumes energy to cool the room!

Use your screen saver ecologically

It is true that any CRT display consumes less power when the screen is blank. My old 14" monitor saves only 5%, but it may be more with other models.

However, you may forget to turn your computer or your monitor off just because the screen is blank!

If your monitor has power management, you may configure LGD to blank the screen after running for a few minutes. This will enable the power management of monitors according to the TCO92 standard.

I do not use LGD's power feature. Instead, I turn the monitor off when I don't need it. When I turn it off I'll see a random image drawn by LGD.

Finally I want to mention that a monochrome display (with 16 or 256 shades of grey) is sufficient for several uses - you don't need colour for word processing and what you see on the screen looks more like what you'll get on your monochrome printer!

Monochrome displays often consume less than 30 watts when they're running - a "sleeping" colour display may use the same amount!


Localization of UL-TOMat
Localised Versions of UL-TOMat

UL-TOMat was first released in a German version.

Currently it is only available in English and German.

I will assist you if you would like to translate these programs into other languages. You should have a word-processor capable of reading and writing RTF Files (like MS Word or Word for Windows). Any state-of-the-art word processor will do - if we can convert files from Word for Windows 2.0 to your word processor (and back again) without losing too much format information.

A program like Borland's Resource Workshop would be a great help, but is not required. You do not have to be a programmer!

If you translate the programs, you will receive a percentage of each registration fee for each copy sold in that language version.

Any language that works with single-byte character codes (e.g. English, French, Spain, Greek) can be used without any problems.

Languages that require double-byte character sets or other writing directions (Arab, Chinese, Japanese) may be a problem. Contact me if you want to translate UL-TOMat and I'll find out if it'll work.


Liesmich
Liesmich - die Seite für deutschsprachige Anwender

Dies ist die englische Übersetzung eines deutschen Programmpakets.

In Deutschland wird es unter dem Namen WEEP vertrieben.

Die deutsche Shareware-Variante ist bei allen gutsortierten Sharewareversendern erhältlich (z.B. Pearl Agency oder CDV).

Dies ist der preiswerteste Weg, wenn Sie mehrere Shareware-Disketten bestellen.

Sie kann für DM 10,- (nur Vorkasse) auch über mich bezogen werden. Falls Sie nur WEEP bestellen möchten, ist dies wahrscheinlich die kostengünstigste Variante.

Die Vollversion können Sie auf Wunsch ebenfalls auf deutsch erhalten.

Beachten Sie die Datei BESTELL.TXT.


Shareware
What is Shareware?

And why you should register! Shareware Awards! (Other Products)

This file belongs to the freeware version. Use this version as long as you like.

Share this version with others, if you want to. Give away the complete package, with all documentation files!

You may wish to evaluate the large shareware version with 22 saver modules and sound effects!

The Shareware version contains over 20 screen saver modules (plus some freeware modules), including Customize Bitmap Show (for .BMP and .JPG files, displayed sequentially or picked by random) and the Sound Extension.

The registered version contains more than 40 screen savers!

The following text describes the differences between the large shareware version (22 modules) and the registered version.

Why you should register!

You will receive a diskette with the latest full version! Without nag screens, of course!

While the shareware version allows to evaluate all essential functions, you will receive some bonus files:

Apple 32, Plasma and Plasma 32: The registered version includes many more predefined images for the Apple screen saver. Plasma creates excellent images that are totally different from anything that Apple calculates! Apple 32 and Plasma 32 are special versions of the Apple and Plasma savers that use 32-bit-assembler-code to run faster (gains up to 20%!).

Screen savers Spores and Pollen (amazing look through a Scanning Electron Microscope),
Moonbase,
3D Graphics, Flags (shows different flags including Union Jack and Star Sprangled Banner),
Haystacks,
Flying Cookies,
Radiation,
Boxes,
Quotations,
Drifter (superb screen manipulation!),
Stretching,
Abstract,
Flower Power,
GeoMagic,
Kaleidoscope,
Loops,
Tilt,
Shrink,
Flood Fill.

The Full Source Code for the Plasma 32 screen saver that shows the usage of 32-bit-code under Windows 3.x!

Converter to use all SPX modules from the well-known Screen Peace saver with The Lights Go Down.

DOS-based APPLE.EXE that lets you dive into the fascinating world of Mandelbrot Fractals. File format is compatible with the screen savers Apple and Apple 32.

Bonus games MindMaster and 3D-Labyrinth.

The Full Version Info screen saver introduces the bonus programs and some of the new screen savers!

Other screen savers that were developed since this version was released.

Run the Full Version Info screen saver to take a first glance at the bonus software!

All screen savers are listed in the LGD help file.

Am I crazee?

Several people (independently) told me I was a fool to hand out this package for free.

I explained that's the way Shareware works and that people are allowed to use these programmes for only 30 days.

However, does Shareware work?

Does Shareware work?

Shareware is based on trust. I trust you to pay for this program if you continue to use it after the trial period.

Shareware can only work if people like you distribute the free trial version to friends, register the programs they like, and encourage those who like them to register.

Programming is plain fun.

Writing and translating help files and other gimmicks necessary for distribution are hard work. It is unjust if the money I get for registrations does not pay for this extra trouble.

Registrations are encouraging, but they do not pay yet for all the time I spent developing these programs.

I guess I'll wait at least till the end of 1995 before I decide whether I will distribute future projects as Shareware as well.

Eventually, if people do not pay for Shareware they enjoy, discouraged program-writers will only work for professional companies; program choice will fall while prices rise.

Shareware Awards

I received a letter from Ziff-Davis Europe, France, written 15.02.1995.

The letter was written in German, here is an inofficial translation:

'Congratulations!

'After the bestowal of the European Shareware Awards 1995 in Düsseldorf on the 10th February we now have the pleasure to inform you that your program

'WEEP for Windows

'was elected as second winner amongst the German contributions to the "Games" category.'

The Lights Go Down is the English version of the WEEP package.

Other Products

Is anybody interested in my Installation Program?

A fully featured Windows-based set-up routine that consumes less than 30 kB precious disk-space on your distribution disks! Decompresses files, creates program groups and symbols, modifies .INI files!

I didn't fix the price yet.

It's written with Borland Pascal for Windows. I may either modify a version for your or send you the source code.

May add some other tools (like my README.COM, TESTCRC.COM, &c) if you're interested.

These files should be in the shareware version you received so you can take a look.


Distribution of UL-TOMat
Conditions for the distribution of UL-TOMat

This documentation is part of the Freeware version.

See README.1ST for conditions on distributing UL-TOMat.

You may wish to evaluate the large shareware version with 22 saver modules and sound effects!

These programs are included in the large Shareware version:

The Lights Go Down (LGD): Screen Saver with 20+ modules (plus some freeware modules)

Green Point Quest: Dice game

WinPulse: Displays CPU usage and system resources

WControl: Utility to easily stop or restart Windows

Differences between Registered version and Shareware:

Shareware version and registered version are essentially the same. See Why you should register for a list of differences.

The shareware version "features" Nag Screens - only when you start or terminate a program. These screens will automatically disappear after a few seconds - thus programmes may be loaded when Windows is started (WIN.INI's load entry or Progman's Autostart (or Start-up) Group).

At the first start of any of the programs you have to read the License Agreement. You have to enter your name to use the software. This will happen only once!

These nag screens are combined with a delay. After 10 days you have to wait 1 second. Nag screens reach their maximum delay after 40 days (3 seconds).

This proves a paradox: Ten days pass very soon while three seconds sometimes seem very long!

I guess these limitations are fair.


How to register?

This file belongs to the freeware versions with 14 screen saver modules. You can use the Freeware version as long as you like. This usage doesn't require any payment to the author or his agent.

You may wish to evaluate the large shareware version with 20+ saver modules and sound effects!

Information why you should register!

The registered version is available from Pik A Program (TM), New York, USA.

Pik A Program handles orders from all over the world incl. credit card orders. Free order phone for USA inhabitants!

The price is just US$ 25.00 (3.5" diskette version, plus shipping).

Printable Order Form Pik A Program (TM) (just click here)

If you live in Germany or if you want the German version, please send your order to the Author. (Credit card orders (English version only) are handled by Pik A Program (TM), see above!)

Printable Order Form Germany (just click here)

If you live in Europe, you may send your orders to either Thomas Hövel or Pik A Program. Please note, that the German version is currently not available from Pik A Program.

Site Licenses / Special Services

Site licenses are available. Just contact us!

For huge site licenses we even change the installation program to include your personalized bitmap shows (company logo etc), customized messages and so on.

If you want a special screen saver - we can develop it for you.

The game "Green Point Quest" is dedicated to ecology movements like BUND (the German section of Friends of the Earth).

Therefore I will donate 25 % of my share in each Registration Fee to these ecology movements.

I think the protection of the rain forest - especially in South America - is a good project of global interest.

Cheques are only acceptable when they are drawn on a local bank and payable in local funds (that is US$ cheques drawn on a US bank for Pik A Program or DM cheques (Deutsche Mark) drawn on a German bank for orders send to Thomas Hövel).

For orders sent to Thomas Hövel only:

If you send cash, only bank-notes are acceptable. Sending bank-notes is not recommended, though it is convenient for me - if you do, you should consider having the letter registered.

International cheques (not euro-cheques) are very uneconomic. My bank pay only DM 33.- for a cheque "worth" DM 50.-. They charge DM 17.- for the "trouble" they have.

I received several postal orders from Switzerland. If you cannot pay by euro-cheques, please ask your postal service for international postal orders (German funds only!).

Please indicate whether you prefer  the English (UL-TOMat) or German (WEEP) version.

Please indicate which disk format you require (3½", 1.4 MB or 5¼", 1.2 MB).

I deliver as fast as I can, but international SnailMail may require at least two weeks for the double journey.

These prices will be valid until December 31, 1996.


Printable Order Form

These prices will be valid until December 31, 1996.

Send your order to

Thomas Hoevel Software

"UL-TOMat 2.20c"

Saturnstrasse 45

D-53842 Troisdorf

(Germany)

(Please check o)

Yes, I want the full version of The Lights Go Down with more than 40 LGD modules and bonus software!

UL-TOMat (#) on	o 3.5" 1.4MB diskette 	o 5.25" 1.2MB diskette

Price:	o US$ 30.00 (*)	o DM 50.00

I pay by	o Postal Order	o Euro Cheque (EC)	o bank-notes included

(#) Double License: Use the software on two computers (eg Desktop, Laptop);

The Software must not be used by two different persons at the same time.

WEEP (German version of UL-TOMat) on

o 3.5" 1.4MB diskette 	o 5.25" 1.2MB diskette

Price	o US$ 30.00 (*)	o DM 50.00

I pay by	o Postal Order	o Euro Cheque (EC)	o bank-notes included

Name:	___________________________________________________

Address:	___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Postcode:	___________________________________________________

Date/Signature:	___________________________________________________

Information: The Price is US-$25.00 plus $5.00 for Post & Packing or DM 49.00 plus DM 1.00 for P&P.

(*) We can only accept checks / money orders in German funds (Deutsche Mark DM) drawn on German banks. We cannot accept Checks drawn on foreign banks because bank charges cost too much.

Make your cheque or Postal Order payable to Thomas Hövel.


Printable order form
Printable Order Form (Freeware)

Prices good through 12/96, subject to change thereafter.

__________________________________________________________________________

(Name)

__________________________________________________________________________

(Company)

__________________________________________________________________________

(Street1)

__________________________________________________________________________

(Street2)

__________________________________________________________________________

(Town)                                   (State)              (Zip)

__________________________________________________________________________

(Telephone)                   (Fax)               (Country if outside USA)

Shipping is $4.00 for your entire order, whether you order 1 or 100 items.

 QUANTITY  ITEM                               PRICE EACH          TOTAL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

           The Lights Go Down small version   US  $15.00    US$

           (Registered version w/ 28 LGD modules)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

           The Lights Go Down 3.5" diskette   US  $25.00    US$

           (Full version w/ 42+ LGD modules) (*)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

           The Lights Go Down 5.25" diskettes US  $27.00    US$

           (Full version w/ 42+ LGD modules) (*)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

           Shipping                           US  $ 4.00    US$    4.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

           TAX  (NYS residents only)               ___ %    US$

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                  TOTAL:    US$

                                                          ================

(*) Double License: Use the software on two computers (eg Desktop, Laptop);

    The software must not be used by two different persons at the same time.

Prices good through 12/96, subject to change thereafter.

I am paying by:

( ) CHECK     ( ) VISACARD    ( ) MASTERCARD     ( ) AMERICAN EXPRESS

( ) CASH  (by registered mail only, please)      ( ) DISCOVER CARD

                     Number ______-______-______-______  Exp. date ___-___

________________________________________________      ______-______-______

(Signature)                                           (Date)

We would appreciate it if you would tell us where did you first hear about this program. Thanks for your cooperation.

[] BBS - which one?______________________________________

[] Friend    [] retail store package    [] CD-ROM

[] magazine - which one?_________________________________

[] other - ______________________________________________

Send your order to

Pik A Program (tm)

13 Saint Marks Place

NY, NY  10003

USA

TOLL FREE (ORDERS ONLY) 1-800-TOREGISTER  (1-800-867-3447)

Telephone (212) 598-4939, Fax (212) 228-5879

Compuserve: 74777,3233 (GO PIKAPRO)

Internet: 74777.3233@compuserve.com

Please make your check or postal order payable to Pik A Program


Hints for Windows' Program Manager

The UL-TOMat Set-up Program creates a Program Group with some Icons.

If you are not satisfied with these Icons or this Group, please read the following:

Moving an Icon:

Place the Mouse on the Icon. Hold down the left button while you drag the Icon to a new position (e.g. in another Group).

Copying an Icon:

Place the Mouse on the Icon. Hold down the Control-Key (Ctrl). Hold down the left button while you drag the Icon to a new position.

Deleting an Icon:

Click on the Icon. Then hit the Del-Key.

Deleting a Group:

Minimise the Group. Click the Icon of this Group once (the system menu will appear). Wait a moment, then click it again (the system menu will disappear). Now hit the Del-Key.

Deleting UL-TOMat:

Delete the Directory where UL-TOMat was installed.

Delete the files WEEP.INI and LGDWIN31.SCR from your Windows Directory.

Delete UL-TOMat's Program Group (see above).

I hope you like UL-TOMat and decide to pay for it rather than delete it!

Changing the colours of Cross References in WinHelp

Change the colours by running the program THelpClr.Exe. Unless you like the green default colour, of course. Due to a limitation in WinHelp (is it a bug or a feature?!?) you cannot change these colours for "True Colour" modes with 32k or plus colours.


Support

Support is available to non-registered users, too!

My phone number is (02241) 42440.

A caller from other countries must dial *49 22 41 42 44 0. Replace * with the op code for international phone calls (which is 00 in most European countries, but it might be 19, for example). 49 is the code for Germany.

Please call only between Monday and Friday. The best time will be 1730 until 1830 local (German) time (usually it's 1630 until 1730 in Great Britain). You might have to try it on several days because I'm not always home.

Callers from outside Europe should remember the time difference! Callers from America should try it in the early afternoon or saturday morning.

You can contact me on CompuServe, ID 100550,324.

E-mail: 100550.324@compuserve.com

You can contact me on the German Videotext system Datex-J (formerly Btx) as 0224142440 0001.

Written requests are possible, too, but if you are not registered as a user, you should include an International Reply Coupon or something of that kind. Better still - register or include a cheque when you write!

My Address


Author's Address

WEEP: © 1989-1995 by Thomas Hövel

All Rights Reserved.

Alle Rechte vorbehalten!

Thomas Hövel Software-Entwicklung

Saturnstraße 45

53842 Troisdorf

Bundesrepublik Deutschland / Germany

Thomas Hövel Software-Entwicklung, im weiteren Lizenzgeber genannt, garantiert nicht, daß dieses Programmpaket fehlerfrei ist.

Eine derartige Garantie ist beim derzeitigen Stand der Technik nicht möglich. Der Lizenzgeber versichert, daß die Programme brauchbar im Sinne der Beschreibung sind.

Jegliche Gewährleistung für Fehler der Programme und daraus resultierende Schäden ist ausgeschlossen.


Who's responsible for THAT?!?
What's new?

Who are the Humble Guys behind the scene?

New stuff

The last feature I added was support for Screen Peace SPX modules. I include a migration-tool SPXCNVRT.EXE (windows-based) which will ask some additional information for each SPX module you want to use. It creates a *.LGD module that will interface the SPX saver. See Help on LGD for further information! (Note: Screen Peace is CharityWare supplied by Anthony Andersen while many authors wrote SPX modules. Anthony and some of his co-authors ask to contribute money to charitable organizations if you use Screen Peace. This also applies if you use Screen Peace modules with The Lights Go Down!)

You can find SPX modules on BBSs or Shareware CD-ROMs.

Support for Automatic Power Down Displays isn't actually new (implemented since 28.3.93 (3/28/93)), but I thought I should emphasise this. (You can use this feature only with the Randomizer and it will blank the screen only when the Randomizer switches between saver modules. See Help on LGD for further information.)

Some of the most recent changes include:

*	adding Palette Animation to Apple and Plasma

*	adding 32-bit-code to Apple and Plasma (Apple 32 and Plasma 32) [I declared USE32-segments in the assembler source; Windows, however, loads 'em as 16-bit-segments; using two DPMI-calls I change the segment to 32-bit-code - and there you are! Speed improvement is only 10 to 15 per cent, so don't expect to much of 32-bit operating systems (unless you use Windows NT on your Quadro-Pentium-90 computer ...)]

*	Apple and Plasma will calculate images at a 2x2-resolution by default; select 1x1-resolution if you want to save bitmaps to files

*	latest new savers are Flower Power, Pik A Program saver, 3 "D" saver

*	Flags shows more flags now, not just simple tricolours (others will follow)

*	Changed the nag-screens (reduced delays)

Ultomat has been brought to you by the joint efforts of

Leo "The Software Developer Kid" Minor a.k.a. "The Master Programmer"

David "Master Linguist" Stewart who made the documentation worth reading

Thomas "Tee-Aitch" Hövel who wrote the German documentation and the Pidgin-English translation.

Known Problems

1. Windows 95 (Version 4.00.950) has a problem displaying multi-column menues. This applies to the Saver menu in The Lights Go Down.

2. The ET4000W32 display driver has a problem running the Loops saver. You can solve this problem by either disabling the Loops saver in the Randomizer settings or by turning the accelerator feature of the display driver off. The true colour modes run without problems. Other display drivers work without problems, too.

Please note: I cannot test all available display drivers. I recommend you test all screen savers with your computer. Disable those screen savers that encounter problems.

3. Windows 95 doesn't always set the focus to the correct button in the registration reminder screen if you start the shareware version of the Ultomat programs from a program group.

You do not have this problem if you run LGD from the control panel.

4. The Lights Go Down is a 16-bit program. You can use Ctrl+Alt+Del to terminate 16-bit screen savers thus bypassing their password protection. This applies to The Lights Go Down, too. We are planning to release a 32-bit version of The Lights Go Down (we'll begin as soon as we have a 32-bit Pascal compiler <g>). A 16-bit version with improved password protection may be available by November or December '95. (See Obtaining new versions).

(Pentium is a trademark of Intel, Corp., Windows NT is a trademark of Microsoft, Corp.)


Obtaining new versions

Our distributor Pik A Program (tm) will provide new versions of The Lights Go Down in its CompuServe forum (GO PIKAPRO or GO PCVENH, library 18) as LIGHTOUT.ZIP.

The latest version of The Lights Go Down is available from Pik A Program's home BBS, Software Creations.

You can reach this BBS at the following numbers:

(508) 365-2359 - 2400 Baud V42 MNP5

(508) 368-7036 - 14.4K V32(BIS) DS

(508) 368-4137 - 16.8k HST USR

Look for file LIGHTxxx.ZIP where xxx represants the version number (currently LIGHTS22.ZIP).

You can get the shareware version from the Internet, too.

Pik A Program are currently setting up their own WWW server. The address will be http://www.pik.com.


{ bmc th-color.bmp}


Useful Tools and lots of fun: that's the UL-TOMat Fun Package.
Thomas Hövel's UL-TOMat: Pleasure and Help!
UL-TOMat: © 1989-1995 Thomas Hövel