Significant Series Windows/significantserieswindows1993.i/0winrun/2455/slide.doc

Text File | 1990-07-30 | 11KB | 257 lines

                  Slide
                 -------
Windows Sliding Puzzle Game
Version 1.01
Copyright (c) 1990 David A. Feinleib


Introduction
-------------
    The object of Slide is to move numbered pieces in a contained area
    in order to put them in the correct order.    A Slide box looks similar
    to Figure 1.

    ┌────┬────┬────┬────┐
    │ 1  │ 2  │ 3  │ 4  │
    ├────┼────┼────┼────┤
    │ 5  │ 6  │ 7  │ 8  │
    ├────┼────┼────┼────┤
    │ 9  │ 10 │ 11 │ 12 │
    ├────┼────┼────┼────┤
    │ 13 │ 14 │ 15 │    │
    └────┴────┴────┴────┘
          Figure 1


Running/Installing Slide
-------------------------
    Please note that the following directions assume you are using a
    mouse or other pointing device.  If you are not, please refer to your
    Windows documentation for equivalent keystrokes.

    1. Copy SLIDE.EXE to your Windows directory or another directory
       of your choice.

    2. Do one of the following:

        Note: Option D (which combines options B and C) is highly
        recommended over A, B, and C.

        A.  Click on "File" then "Run..." in the Program Manager menu.
            Type SLIDE.EXE (including the path) in the "Command
            line" edit box and click "OK".  If you use this option,
            you will have to do this every time you want to run
            Slide.

        B.  Click on one of the program groups in the Presentation
            Manager (the "Accessories" group is suggested).  Select
            "File" then "New..." from the program manager menu.
            Select "Program Item" and type SLIDE.EXE in the
            "Command line" edit box.  For example, you might type:
            C:\WINDOWS\SLIDE.EXE if that was the directory into
            which you had copied Slide.     When you want to run
            Slide, double click on the Slide icon.

        C.  On the line that says "load=" in your WIN.INI file,
            add SLIDE.EXE (with the appropriate path).    For
            example, if you copied SLIDE.EXE to C:\WINDOWS,
            the line would say: load=C:\WINDOWS\SLIDE.EXE

            This option will automatically run Slide each time
            you run Windows.

        D.  Do both B and C, which will automatically run Slide
            and allow you to run Slide easily if you close it.

        Slide creates a window with a 4x4 game in it.

Rules of the Game
------------------
    You may click on any number which is next to the space without a
    number in it.  You have solved the puzzle when the numbers are in
    consecutive order.  The solved Slide puzzle will look similar to the
    one shown in Figure 1 (although it may be a different size or have a
    different number of numbers in it).

Playing Slide
--------------
    Since the puzzle is originally in order, you should first mix up the
    pieces.     A minimum of twenty moves is suggested.  The more you mix
    up the puzzle, the harder it will be to solve.    After you have mixed
    up the pieces, you should begin to solve the puzzle.

    You may change the size of the puzzle so that it has fewer or more
    numbers in it.    The larger the size of the puzzle, the greater the
    challenge in solving it.  To change the puzzle size:

1.    Click on "Game" in the Slide menu bar and then on "New".

2.    A pop-up window will ask you if it is OK to end the current game.  To
    end the current game and begin a new one (and change the size if you
    want to) click "OK", otherwise click "Cancel."

3.    A dialog box will appear.

    You may click on the puzzle size you would like, from 3x3 to 9x9.
    The missing number is the number which is missing from the puzzle.
    The default missing number will appear in the missing number edit
    box (the default is shown when you click on a puzzle size).  To
    change the missing number to a number other than the default, click
    on the edit box and then type the number you would like.  An
    invalid number will result in a return to the default. While at the
    new game dialog box, you may get help by clicking on "Help."  When
    you are finished selecting, click on "OK."  If you want to return to
    the game you were playing, click "Cancel."

Opening a Previously Saved Game
--------------------------------
    You may open a previously saved game.  By doing this you may continue
    a game you saved earlier and you do not have to mix up the pieces.
    (For information on the saved games that come with Slide, see the
    section "Saved Games that come with Slide.")  To open a saved game,
    click on "Game" then on "Open."  A dialog box will appear
    in which you may select the game to open.  The default extension for
    Slide games is ".SLD."    You may return to the game you were playing
    by clicking on cancel.

Saving Games
-------------
    To save a game, click on "Game."  You may click on "Save" to save a
    game that has been saved before.  If the game has not been saved
    before, a dialog box will prompt you for the name of the file in
    which to save the game, otherwise the game will be saved under its
    current name.  If you want to save your game under a different name,
    click on "Save As."  If the file you specify already exists, Slide
    will ask you if you want to overwrite it, if you want to, click "OK,"
    otherwise click "Cancel."

Saving Games in Slide for DOS Format
-------------------------------------
    Since Slide also comes in a version that runs in DOS instead of MS
    Windows, you may save games in Slide for DOS format so that you may
    play them in Slide for DOS.  (Games that are saved in Slide for DOS
    format will automatically be read by Slide for Windows.)  To save in
    Slide for DOS format, click on "Game" then on "Save DOS format."
    If the game has not been saved before, a dialog box will prompt you
    for the name of the file in which to save the game, otherwise the
    game will be saved under its current name.  If the file you specify
    already exists, Slide will ask you if you want to overwrite it.  If
    you want to, click "OK," otherwise click "Cancel."

Opening your last game played
------------------------------
    When you quit Slide, Slide automatically saves your current game in
    the current directory so that you may return to the game at a later
    time.    The game is saved in the file "LASTGAME.SLD" so you may also
    open using the "Game - Open" command.  To open your last game, click
    on "Game" then on "Last game."    Slide will automatically bring up
    your last game.

Undoing moves
--------------
    Unlike other Sliding puzzle games, Slide has the ability to undo all
    the moves you have made in the puzzle.    To undo moves, click on
    "Undo" in the Slide menu.


    Slide can save up to 1,000 moves that you can undo.  When you save
    a game (except when you save in Slide for DOS format), Slide saves
    your moves so that you may undo them when you "Open" the game.

Saved games that come with Slide
---------------------------------
    Included with Slide are several game files that have been mixed up
    and then saved.  These may be opened the same way as any other game
    files.    Below is a list of the included saved games.

        Filename        Description
        --------        -----------
        EVENODD.SLD     All even numbers then all odd numbers
        ODDEVEN.SLD     All odd numbers then all even numbers
        GAME3.SLD        A mixed up 3x3 puzzle
        GAME4.SLD        A mixed up 4x4 puzzle

       Libraries of more mixed up, saved Slide games are available on
       Bulletin boards and from me (see below under "Libraries").

Moving and Sizing Slide
------------------------
    When you start a new game, you may want to make the puzzle bigger.
    To do this, move to one of the corners of the puzzle and click on
    the left mouse button.    While holding the button down, move the
    arrow until the puzzle is at the size you want it to be.  You can
    also change the size by clicking on size in the system menu.

    To move Slide, move the pointer to the caption bar and while holding
    the left mouse button down, move the puzzle to the desired location.

History of Sliding Puzzle Games
--------------------------------
    The date of the first sliding puzzle game is unknown.  Although many
    sliding block puzzles may be found in stores (and some on computers!)
    one of the most famous is Sam Loyd's "Fifteen-Fourteen" puzzle in
    which the numbers were in order except that the numbers 15 and 14
    were reversed.    In the 1870's, Loyd offered a $1,000 reward to anyone
    who could solve the puzzle.  This is mathematically impossible since
    in order to solve a puzzle, there must be an even number of exchanges
    if the numbers are picked up and moved to their proper positions.

    For more information on Sliding block puzzles, please refer to
    "Puzzles: Old & New", by Jerry Slocum and Jack Botermans (University
    of Washington Press, 1986).  This book provided much of the
    information for this short history of sliding block puzzles and has
    some excellent photographs of old sliding block puzzles.  Also refer
    to Sliding Piece Puzzles, by Edward Hordern (Oxford University Press,
    1986).


Getting Help
-------------
    You may get a summary of Slide commands and their meanings by
    clicking on "Help."

Ending Slide
-------------
    To exit Slide, click on "Game" then "Exit."  If you have made any
    moves since your last save (or if you have not saved), Slide will
    prompt you if you want to save your game.  If you have saved your
    game, and choose "Yes" your game will be saved and Slide will end.
    If you have not saved your game and choose "Yes," Slide will prompt
    you for a filename.  If you choose "No" Slide will exit will without
    saving.     Choosing "Cancel" will return you to the current game.

Payment/Registration
---------------------
    Slide is ShareWare.

    You may make copies of this program and give them to others as long
    as the documentation is included, both unaltered.

    If you like this program, a $5 registration fee would be appreciated.
    If you send $12 or more, you will receive the next version of Slide
    when it becomes available as well as a 10 game library of mixed up
    games.    Please include your name, address, and current version
    number.     Comments and suggestions (with or without the registration
    fee) would be greatly appreciated.  Send to:


    David A. Feinleib
    1430 Mass. Ave. Suite 306-42
    Cambridge, MA 02138


    You can send comments and suggestions to me on:

         BIX                    at        pgm
         CompuServe                at        76516,20
         FidoNet (IBM UG BBS, Boston MA)    at        David Feinleib

Libraries of mixed up, saved Slide games
-----------------------------------------

    Libraries of mixed up, saved Slide Games are available on Buletin
    Boards and from ShareWare libraries.  If you would like to order
    directly from me, registered users send $2.00 and unregistered users
    send $3.00 to me at the above address with your name and address.
    Please specify disk format.