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1992-07-06
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TAKE FIVE
by
David Gross
P.O. Box 621331
Orlando, FL 32862
DESCRIPTION
Take Five is basically a PC message service and security
system. The program can display a graphical image on the screen
and accept messages while your away. The graphics are stored in
Zsoft's PC Paintbrush format. This allows the user to create and
edit images using any paint package that supports the "PCX" file
format in EGA or VGA mode. Command line parameters allow you to
move the image around the screen and provide the password used
when the security system is activated. In addition a limited
screen editor allows text to be added to the display in different
colors and sizes. The program requires EGA or VGA display
capabilities.
INSTALLATION
Floppy Disk - The program can be run as is from a single floppy
disk. To do this switch to the drive that has the
disk in and enter "TAKE5 <Graphics File>
{options}".
Hard Disk - The program "TAKE5.EXE" needs several files to
be in the current directory or path for the program
to work right. You should copy all files listed in
the "PACKING.LST" file to a single directory on the
hard drive. To run the program switch to that
directory and enter "TAKE5 <Graphics File>
{options}". If you wish to run the program from
anywhere in your computer then you should add the
TAKE5 directory to the path statement in your
autoexec.bat file.
STARTING
Before starting the program all users should read the
LICENSE.DOC file. This file contains important license information
regarding the use of TAKE FIVE ver 1.0. The program has five
optional parameters that can be passed to it on the command line.
These are the following:
P=<password> - The password can be up to eight
characters long and can consist of
letters and/or numbers. A password is
needed to activate the message taking
capabilities of the system.
X=<x-coordinate> - The x-coordinate can be from -640 to 640
and refers to the amount in pixels that
the display window should be moved left
or right.
Y=<y-coordinate> - The y-coordinate can be from -480 to 480
and refers to the amount in pixels that
the display window should be moved up or
down.
D=<delay time> - The time delay can be any positive
number. A value of 0 will turn off the
screen fading. The default value is 20
which (depending on the system) will
cause a fade in and out approx. every 20
seconds.
F=<Fade> - A value between 1 to 4 will set the type
of fade in and out the system will use.
These four type are 1-random pixel, 2-
spiral, 3-radar, and 4-rainbow. In the
default mode the program will randomly
pick the fade.
Please note that there should be no spaces after the equal sign for
the parameters. Putting a space in will cause the program to ignore
the parameter or return an error. A "bat" file can be used to run
Take Five with common parameter values. A sample file of this sort
is included with the program ("Demo.bat").
When the program is started it will first check the computers
video hardware. This is to make sure that your computer is capable
of displaying EGA or VGA. It next checks for the existence of the
graphics file listed on the command line. If the file exists the
program will read the file and verify that it is in a compatible PCX
format. The program will also check for "TAKE5.FNT", "LOCK_OUT.EGA",
and "LOCK_OUT.VGA" files.
TEXT EDITING
Every time you start Take Five you will have a chance to add
text to the screen display. You will only be able to do this in
the first few seconds of the display. This is to prevent others
from changing your display. Text editing is limited to one font,
four text sizes, and any color in the current palette. One
limitation is that there is no option for editing text that has
already been entered. If you require better text editing
capabilities you should use a good paint program to add text to
the original graphics file. The following key commands are
available for Take Five text editing:
F1..F4 - Changes the text size being entered. The
cursor blinks in the current text size and
color.
Page Up - This will change the color to the next higher
palette color. If the last color in the
palette has been reached (16 for EGA and 256
for VGA) then it will jump to the first color;
Page Down - This will change the color to the next lower
palette color. If the first color in the
palette has been reached then it will jump to
the last color;
Arrow Keys - This will move the cursor eight pixels in the
direction indicated.
Escape - Will exit the text editing mode of Take Five.
Please note that if the text color is set to the same as the background
screen color you not see the cursor or text being entered. You should
page through the palette colors until you can see the cursor clearly.
MESSAGES
A password entered on the command line will activated the
message and security system of Take Five. This system will display
a "Hit key to leave message" prompt on the bottom of the screen.
Upon someone entering a key a system lockout display will appear
on the screen. Hitting F1 will bring up a message input screen or
by entering the right password you will be shown any waiting
messages and returned to DOS.
Several options are available when the program is displaying
your messages. These options are listed at the bottom of the
display message box. Hitting the F1 key will print the currently
displayed message, F2 will write it to a file as straight ASCII
text and F3 will exit to DOS. The program can save an almost
unlimited number of messages. When running the program will store
all messages to a file named "MESSAGES.T5" on the default drive
and directory. This limits the total number of messages to the
maximum available space on your drive.
ERRORS
#1 - Unacceptable X coordinate.
Possible Cause: - Non-numeric characters (i.e. X=4F).
- Value to big (larger then 640).
- Value to small (smaller then -640).
#2 - Unacceptable Y coordinate.
Possible Cause: - Non-numeric characters (i.e. Y=4F).
- Value to big (larger then 320).
- Value to small (smaller then -320).
#3 - Unacceptable delay value.
Possible Cause: - Non-numeric characters (i.e. D=3F).
- Value a negative (i.e. D=-20).
#4 - Unacceptable fade value.
Possible Cause: - Non-numeric characters (i.e. F=I).
- Value to big (larger then 4).
- Value to small (smaller then 1).
#5 - Unable to detect EGA or VGA graphics.
Possible Cause: - Your system's graphics card does not support
EGA or VGA.
- The card has a non-standard bios.
#6 - Unable to read <FILENAME> please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
#7 - <FILENAME> - is not a recognizable PCX file.
Possible Cause: - A file is not in Zsoft's PCX format.
- The PCX file is not for EGA or VGA display (i.e.
monochrome image).
- The file has been corrupted.
#8 - Unable to access "TAKE5.FNT".
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
#9 - Unable to read "LOCK_OUT.VGA", please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
- The file has been corrupted.
#10 - Unable to read "LOCK_OUT.EGA", please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
- The file has been corrupted.
#11 - Unacceptable password size.
Possible Cause: - The password is only one character or less long.
- The password is over eight characters long.
#12 - Mode of graphics file not supported.
Possible Cause: - You do not have a VGA monitor (needed for 256
color graphic files).
- The pcx graphics file is monochrome or CGA (neither
of which are supported by TAKE5).
DISTRIBUTION
All shareware distributors, disk vendors and computer clubs
who wish to distribute the Take Five 1.0 package should refer the
VENDOR.DOC file for information. All BBS SYSOPs should refer to
SYSOP.DOC file. All others should refer to the LICENSE.DOC file.
REGISTRATION
Take Five is a "shareware program" and is provided at no
charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your
friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of
another system. 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 Take Five and continue to use Take Five after a
reasonable trial period (30 Days), you must make a registration
payment of $20. Site license are available, please contact the author
for information on these prices.
The $20 registration fee will license one copy for use on any
one computer at any one time. You must treat this software just
like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any
number of people and may be freely moved from one computer
location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being
used at one location while it's being used at another. Just as a
book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time.
To assist you in registering a text file of the registration form,
REGISTER.FRM is included on this disk. At the DOS prompt enter:
TYPE REGISTER.FRM >PRN
This will direct the form to be printed on your local printer. If
you do not have a printer just write your name, address, and where
you got the program on a plain sheet of paper. Send this along with
a check or money order for $20 US to:
David Gross /T5
P.O. Box 621331
Orlando, FL 32862
You will be sent confirmation of your registration.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
All registered users of Take Five are entitled to 90 Days of
technical support. This is available through mail or electronically.
I can be reached by mail at the following address:
David Gross /T5
P.O. Box 621331
Orlando, FL 32862
I can also be reached electronically at the following:
CompuServe: 70621,440
Internet: 70621,440@COMPUSERVE.COM
* * * ASP OMBUDSMAN POLICY * * *
This program is produced by a member of the Association of
Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the
shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a
shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the
member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can
help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does
not provide technical support for members' products. Please write
to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send
a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman
70007,3536.
* * * DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT * * *
Users of Take Five must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "Take
Five is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties
of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author
assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which
may result from the use of Take Five."