HomeWare 14/HOMEWARE14.bin/utils2/slowmo.arj/SLOWMO.TXT

Text File | 1994-04-28 | 15KB | 472 lines

SlowMo  v2.00 - Slow Motion which can be turned on and off while playing a game

Copyright (c) 1992-1994, Andrew King.

Contents

    What is SlowMo?               1
    What can SlowMo do?           2
    How to Register               3
    How to Use SlowMo             4
    To Make SlowMo Ready for Use  5
    How to Remove SlowMo          6
    To Activate SlowMo            7
    To Cancel SlowMo              8
    Options Screen                9
    Action Keys                  10
    Recommended Procedure        11
    Memory                       12
    Known Bugs                   13
    License                      14
    Registration Form            15



1  What is SlowMo?
   ---------------

SlowMo is a utility which can give you slow motion in another program at the
touch of a button.

It is especially suited to games and could be just the thing you need to get
through the 'impossible' bits.


2  What can SlowMo do?
   -------------------

SlowMo can be used with most games.

Slowmo provides slow motion which can be truned on and off DURING a game.

SlowMo features variable speed slow motion which can be adjusted whilst the
game or other program is running.

A Pause facility gives you time for a breather.

Freeze allows you to freeze the action and leave the computer, e.g. to answer
the 'phone or get a drink.

All facilities are available on a single keypress.  The keys used can be
assigned by you.

Special settings for each game can be saved and reloaded automatically.



3  How to Register
   ---------------

To register SlowMo send #4 (pounds) or US$8, cheque or cash to:

Andrew King,
25 Montem Road,
New Malden,
Surrey KT3 3QW,      CompuServe:  100112,204
U.K.                 Telephone:  [phone]


SlowMo may also be registered through the Compuserve registration facility (GO
SWREG), registration id. 2552.

When you register you will receive a copy of the latest version of SlowMo with
the reminders to register removed.   An order form is included at the end of
this document.  See Registration Form below.


4  How to use SlowMo
   -----------------

SlowMo is a pop-up utility (TSR) which is installed under Dos.  Once installed,
it sits around in the background waiting to be activated when you hit a special
combination of keys on the keyboard (the 'hotkey' combination).  When you give
the correct key combination SlowMo is made 'active' and will respond to the
action keys chosen (see Action Keys below).  Using the same 'hotkey'
combination again will make SlowMo 'inactive'.  SlowMo can also be removed from
memory altogether.


5  To Make SlowMo Ready for Use
   ----------------------------

SlowMo is made ready in Dos (not via Windows) as follows.

Either    Change directory to the directory where the SlowMo distribution files
    were installed

    eg. cd \SlowMo

Or    Add the directory where the SlowMo files were installed to your path
    (in your Autoexec.bat file)

    eg. path=c:\SlowMo

Then load SlowMo by typing its name

    eg. SlowMo

A screen showing the default key assignments and allowing you to change the
options will be displayed.  Details of using this sceen are given in the
section Options Screen below.

SlowMo can also be asked to load settings which have been saved to disk.  If
there is a file called 'SlowMo.cfg' in the directory you are currently in,
SlowMo will take its initial settings from that file.  If you wish to take
settings from a file with a different name type the name of the file after
SlowMo
    eg. SlowMo zool.key


6  How to Remove SlowMo
   --------------------

SlowMo may be removed so that it is no longer sitting in background waiting to
be activated.

SlowMo is removed in Dos as follows.

If the directory where the SlowMo distribution files were installed is not in
the path
    Change directory to the directory where SlowMo is installed

Type SlowMo /r


7  To Activate SlowMo
   ------------------

Once SlowMo has been made ready it can be activated over another program at any
time by using a special key combination as follows.

Hold down the left Shift key and at the same time hit the Caret (^) key (or 6
on the alpha keypad).

Two rising bleeps will be heard to indicate that SlowMo is now 'active'.

If no bleep is heard SlowMo is unable to activate.  The reason for this will be
one of the following.

    Some games programs take control of the timer interrupt which SlowMo
    needs to be able to pop-up.

The recommended procedure for using SlowMo is to activate it from DOS
immediately prior to running the game or other software which requires SlowMo
(see Recommended Procedure below).

If you wish to use a Caret (^) character while you have SlowMo waiting in the
background you can still use the right shift key and caret.


8  To Deactivate SlowMo
   --------------------

If you have made SlowMo active and then decide you wish to deactivate it use
the same hotkey combination i.e.

Hold down the left Shift key and at the same time hit the Caret (^) key (or 6
on the alpha keypad).

Two falling beeps will be heard to indicate that SlowMo has been deactivated.

One reason for deactivating SlowMo is when you have just returned to DOS from a
game.  While SlowMo is active it is occasionally possible for keystrokes not to
be registered by DOS.


9  Options Screen
   --------------

When SlowMo is first installed an options screen is displayed which allows you
to configure SlowMo's operation to your requirements.  Each feature is shown on
a separate line and has a number of items which may be configured.  Each
feature is automatically assigned a default key and other items are assigned a
default value.  The following features can be configured:


Slow Motion
-----------

Hit the assigned key to switch slow motion on or off.

The initial speed can be adjusted.  A custom key can be assigned or the option
can be disabled so that no key will switch slow motion on or off.  Even if the
slow motion key is disabled the program can still be configured so that when
SlowMo activates it will immediately give slow motion without the need to hit
another key (see Slow Immediately below).


Pause
-----

Hold the assigned key down to pause the game.  The game continues when the key
is released.

A custom key can be assigned or the option can be disabled.


Freeze
------

Hit the assigned key once to freeze the game.  The game stays frozen until the
same key is hit again.

A custom key can be assigned or the option can be disabled.


Reset Speed
-----------

Hit the assigned key to reset the speed to the initial speed setting.

A custom key can be assigned or the option can be disabled.


Faster
------

Hit the assigned key to increase the slow motion speed. If you hold down the
'faster' key the speed increases more quickly.

A custom key can be assigned or the option can be disabled.


Slower
------

Hit the assigned key to decrease the slow motion speed. If you hold down the
'slower' key the speed decreases more quickly.

A custom key can be assigned or the option can be disabled.


Sound
-----

When you take any action with SlowMo you can hear a beep or click to indicate
that SlowMo has responded.

Hit the assigned key to switch sound on or off (it defaults to on).

A custom key can be assigned or the option can be disable so that no key can
switch sound on or off.  You can still configure SlowMo so that sound is either
on or off immediately (see Sound Immediately below).


Report
------

Hit the assigned key to see SlowMo's current speed setting.  It is best to use
this after leaving a game, having adjusted the speed setting to your
requirements.  The speed setting can then be set before running the game again.

A custom key can be assigned or the option can be disabled.


Active Immediately
------------------

Setting this option on makes SlowMo active immediately i.e. you don't have to
use the Hotkey combination to activate it, in fact the next use of the Hotkey
combination would deactivate SlowMo.


Sound Immediately
-----------------

This option defaults to 'on'.  Setting it off makes SlowMo silent.  The next
hit of the 'sound' key would then switch sound on.


Slow Immediately
----------------

Setting this option on switches on slow motion as soon as SlowMo is activated.
This option defaults to 'off'.


Screen Keys
-----------

The following keys are used to operate the Options Screen:

Right Arrow   Select the next configurable item for this feature
Left Arrow    Select the previous configurable item for this feature
Up Arrow      Select the previous feature
Down Arrow    Select the next feature

Space         Change the value of this item

              The procedure for assigning a custom key is:

              Highlight appropriate Custom Key field
              Hit space
              Hit key required

+             Increase slow motion speed
-             Decrease slow motion speed
Shift + or -  Change slow motion speed quickly

              The procedure for changing the slow motion speed is:

              Highlight the Speed field
              Hit space
              Hit + and - as necessary
              Hit space

F10           Save current settings to file.  By default SlowMo will save the
          current settings to a file called 'SlowMo.cfg' in the current
              directory.  If you loaded SlowMo specifying a settings file then
              saving the current settings will overwrite that file.

Enter         Finish changing options and install SlowMo

Escape        Quit without installing SlowMo


10 Action Keys
--------------

Once activated the various features can be used by hitting the assigned Action
Keys as described above.  The default settings for these are as follows:

Right Shift  Slow Motion
Control      Pause
Alt          Freeze
Faster       Numeric Keypad +
Slower       Numeric Keypad -
Reset Speed  Backspace
Sound        Tab
Report       F4


11 Recommended Procedure
   ---------------------

The following is the recommeded procedure for using SlowMo.

Change to the directory of the game or other program you wish to run.
Install SlowMo into memory (specifying settings file if necessary).
Activate SlowMo by using the hotkey combination.
Start the game.
Use SlowMo's action keys as necessary during the game.
Quit from the game.
If you want to record the slow motion speed hit the Report key now.
Deactivate SlowMo by hitting the hotkey combination.
If you wish, remove SlowMo from memory by typing SlowMo /r.

If you need to change the SlowMo keys for a particular game you might find it
easier if you store the game in its own subdirectory.  Save the settings for
SlowMo by hitting F10 while on the menu.  From now on, if you install SlowMo
from the game's subdirectory the appropriate key settings will be loaded
automatically.


12 Memory
   ------

Some games require a large amount of base memory to run and will not run once
SlowMo has been installed.  If this happens it may be possible to make
additional base memory available by using a special boot configuration.  To do
this you would need to make special version of your config.sys and autoexec.bat
files.  Things you can do include loading DOS into upper memory (high) and
removing drivers such as disk cacheing and ram disk.  Your operating system
manual should give details of how to boot the system leaving maximum base
memory available to your programs.

You can also load SlowMo into high memory to leave extra base memory.


13 Known Bugs
   ----------

There is a conflict between SlowMo and the Trident 8900 display card using a
16-colour driver under Windows.  This causes the screen to be largely shown in
black & white.  There is no conflict under DOS or with a 256-colour driver.


14 License
   -------

You are licensed to use a single copy of the program.

SlowMo is a shareware product.  You may freely copy the unregistered version of
SlowMo and pass it to your friends and colleagues.  Please encourage them to
register if they like it as cheap utilities like SlowMo will only be developed
if the Shareware system is respected.


15 Registration Form
   -----------------

The next page contains a registration form for ordering further copies of
SlowMo.


First some details of two other programs available from Andrew King:

WallpaperMaker - Brighten up your Windows desktop with an endless supply of
pictures from your favourite games!

WallpaperMaker can capture screens from most games.  You can choose which
portion of a screen is used for your wallpaper.  The image can be scaled to
fill your screen or to repeat an exact number of times across the screen.
Output can be as a normal bitmap, which can be edited by Windows Paintbrush,
or as a compressed bitmap which takes less disk and RAM memory.  WallpaperMaker
can save the screen in original colours, or can translate them to 16 colours for
use with a 16-colour Windows driver or to conserve memory.  WallpaperMaker can
mix the 16 colours to produce hundreds of different shades.

WallpaperMaker costs just #6 pounds (US$12) or only #4 pounds (US$8) if
ordered with SlowMo.

IconMaker - Now you don't need to be an artist to create your own Windows icons.

IconMaker enables you to create Windows program icons by screen capture.

IconMaker can pop-up over most games.  You can choose the portion of screen to
be used, which is then scaled to icon size.  IconMaker can produce either icon
or bitmap file output.  Bitmaps can be edited using Windows Paintbrush before
being recaptured as icons.  IconMaker translates the colours of the original
image to the standard 16 colours allowed by Windows for an icon.  It can mix
them to create hundreds of shades to closely match the original image.

IconMaker costs #5 pounds (US$10) or just #3.50 pounds (US$7) if ordered with
SlowMo.




    [    ]  SlowMo            #4 (pounds)  or  US$8

    [    ]  WallpaperMaker    #6 (pounds)  or  US$12

    [    ]  IconMaker         #5 (pounds)  or  US$10


    Name        [                                              ]

    Address     [                                              ]
                [                                              ]
                [                                              ]
                [                                              ]
                [                                              ]
                [                                              ]

    [    ]  3½" disk
        or
    [    ]  5¼" disk


    Please enclose cheque payable to "Andrew King", or cash.

    Other currencies, cash notes only, please add the equivalent of #3.50
    for the currency exchange.



Mail to:    Andrew King
            25 Montem Road
            New Malden
            Surrey  KT3 3QW
            U.K.