OS/2 Shareware BBS: 7 Games/07-Games.zip/dmine121.zip/mine.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1994-02-27 | 22KB | 420 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Extended Help for MineSweeper ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

MineSweeper Overview

MineSweeper is a game program based on a program by the same name that is
distributed by Microsoft* as a part of their Windows*  It is a game of skill
and a race against the clock.

The object of MineSweeper is simple.  A field is gridded out into squares ,
some of which have mines  under them.  The object is to place flags  on the
mines and uncover the rest of the squares.  A timer is running at all times.
If you succeed, you'll win , otherwise a mine will go off and you lose .

See also:

o Grid icon descriptions
o Menu items
o How to play
o Game Options
o Mouse shortcuts
o Revision history


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Keys Help for MineSweeper ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

MineSweeper is mouse controlled only.  Although the keyboard may be used to
navigate the menus and dialogs, playing the game is impossible with the
keyboard as of this revision.

See also:

o Grid icon descriptions
o Menu items
o How to play
o Mouse shortcuts


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Grid icon descriptions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

There are many icons that may appear on the grid.  Below is a brief description
of them:

Icon      Desription
          A blank covered square.  This box may be clicked on to reveal what is
          underneath.  If it is a mine, the game ends.  Otherwise an uncovered
          square will be displayed, either blank or with a number.
          A marked covered square.  This box behaves just like a blank covered
          square.  You may place and remove marks from covered squares with the
          mouse.  Marks are often used as a solving aid.  You may or may not
          find them useful.
          A flagged square.  This box may not be uncovered.  You may place and
          remove flags from covered squares with the mouse.  Flags are used to
          indicate squares that are hiding mines underneath.
          A blank uncovered square.  This is a square that has been uncovered
          and has no mines adjacent to it.  All the squares adjacent to such a
          square are automatically uncovered by the system.
...       A numbered uncovered square.  This is a square that has been
          uncovered and has one or more mines adjacent to it.  The number
          indicates the number of mines that are adjacent to it.
          An exploded mine.  A square that was uncovered and had a mine
          underneath it.  After a mine is uncovered, the game end and you lose.
          A missed mine.  If you lose the game, any mines you didn't put flags
          on are shown with this picture.
          A misplaced flag.  If you lose the game, any flags that you placed on
          squares without mines are indicated with this picture.
          Numeric displays.  The number on the right is the number of flags
          left to place.  The number begins at the number of mines in the field
          and decrements once for each flag that is placed.  If the number goes
          negative, you have more flags placed than there are mines.

          Note:  This number does not gurantee that the flags are in the
                 correct place, only that there are enough placed to cover all
                 the mines.

          The number on the left is the time.  It starts at zero and increments
          once per second from the time of your first click until the game ends
          (win or lose).  If you win, it is your score.  Low scores are better.
          If your time exceeds 999 seconds, only 999 will be displayed.
          This smilie face button will change its expression as the game
          proceeds.  When nothing is being done, it smiles.  When you win, it
          puts on sunglasses.  When you lose, it plays dead.  When you're in
          the process of doing something, it looks scared.

          Clicking on the smilie button is a shortcut to start a new game.

See also:

o Menu items
o How to play
o Game options
o Mouse shortcuts


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Menu items ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Game menu has the following entries:

New Begins a new game using the currently set number of columns, rows, and
   mines.  The timer is reset to zero seconds and all squares are covered.
   Clicking on the yellow smile button will also start a new game.

Pause Stops the clock.  Use this feature if you need to stop the game for a
   while.  Note that the playfield will not be visible and you will not be able
   to make any moves when the game is paused.  Select this menu item a second
   time to resume the timer and continue the game.

Beginner Begins a new game using the beginner arrangement of 8 columns, 8 rows,
   and 10 mines.

Intermediate Begins a new game using the intermediate arrangement of 16
   columns, 16 rows, and 40 mines.

Expert Begins a new game using the expert arrangement of 30 columns, 16 rows,
   and 99 mines.

Custom... Opens up the Customize Minefield dialog where you may enter your own
   values for the number of rows, columns and mines.  When entered, a new game
   will be started using the values provided.

Options... Displays the options dialog.

Scores... Displays the high score list.

Clear Scores... Diaplays the Clear High Scores dialog.  The dialog will allow
   you to erase the high score list.

About MineSweeper... Diaplays the about box for MineSweeper.

Exit Terminates the MineSweeper program, saving all high scores and
   configuration settings to the MINE.INI file.

See also:

o Grid icon descriptions
o How to play
o Mouse shortcuts


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Customize Minefield dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This dialog box contains three spin buttons for setting the dimensions of the
mine field.  The number of rows, columns, and mines may be independantly set,
either by typing numbers into the boxes or by using the arrow buttons to
increment and decrement the values.

The number of rows may be between 5 and 30 rows, inclusive.

The number of columns may be between 8 and 50 columns, inclusive.

The number of mines may be between 5 and 90% of the squares on the mine field.

When the values are set, click on the button, and a new game will begin with
those values.  Illegal values can not be entered, and the spin buttons are
configured to reject illegal entries.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. High Score dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This dialog box displays the current high scores.  Each of the primary game
modes (Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert) has one top score. The best time and
the name of the player are recorded.  Click the button to dismiss the dialog.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Clear High Score dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This dialog box asks you if you want to erase the high score list.  If you
decide to go ahead and clear the list, all times are reset to 999 seconds, and
all names are reset to "Anonymous".


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. About MineSweeper ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This dialog box displays version information and contains my address to which
you are encouraged to send money.  I recommend $10 as a good amount to send
(but more is always welcome!).  Such contributions will encourage me to write
other software for public consumption.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Files used by MineSweeper ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

MineSweeper consists of the following files:

Name      Desription
MINE.EXE  This file contains everything that MineSweeper needs to operate.
MINE.HLP  This file contains the help screens.  If you do not want help, and
          want to free some disk space, you may delete this file.  You will be
          warned on program startup if the help file can not be found.  You can
          choose to suppress this message on subsequent runs of the program.
MINE.INI  This file contains your preferences.  It stores the high score list,
          the game settings, and the window's position.  It is updated whenever
          you quit MineSweeper.  If it is not present in the current directory
          when you start the program, it will be created for you.
DLLC.DLL  This Dynamic Link Library contains the C runtime library used by
          MineSweeper.  Place it in any directory indicated by the LIBPATH
          variable in your CONFIG.SYS file.  On systems where this line has not
          been altered, you may place DLLC.DLL in the same directory as
          MINE.EXE.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. How to play MineSweeper ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When a game begins, the grid of squares is completely covered. Clicking on a
square with button 1 will uncover the square.  Below the square is either a
mine, a blank square, or a number.  If there is a mine, you lose.  If there is
a number, the number will indicate the number of mines that are adjacent
(horizontally, vertically, and diagonally) to the square.  If the square is
blank, there are no mines adjacent to it, and the surrounding squares will be
automatically uncovered for you.

If you suspect that there is a mine under a covered square (this can usually be
figured out from the numbers displayed), you may place a flag on it.  Click on
the covered square with button 2 to place a flag on a square.  You can not
uncover a square with a flag on it, so this will protect you from mistakes.  To
remove the flag, click the square with button 2 a second time.

If the Marks option is on, removing a flag will leave a question mark in its
place.  This square may be uncovered.  The question marks are simply a
convenience that some people prefer to use as a solving aid.  Clicking with
mouse button 2 on a question mark square will erase the question mark, leaving
a blank covered square behind.

When all the squares without mines have been uncovered, you win.

See also:

o Grid icon descriptions
o Menu items
o Mouse shortcuts


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Mouse shortcuts ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

There exists a shortcut sequence that may speed you along when playing
MineSweeper:

If you click mouse button 3 (or buttons 1 and 2 together) over an already
uncovered square, the program will count the number of flags surrounding it.
If the count equals the number of adjacent mines, then the remaining covered
squares around it will be uncovered.

Note:  The program does not ensure that the flags surrounding the square are
       properly placed.  It only checks to see that the correct number of flags
       is present.  If the flags are incorrectly placed, a mine will certainly
       be uncovered, ending the game.

The face on top of the window, between the score and time counters is also a
restart button.  Clicking on it is equivalent to the Game New menu option.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Adding a new high score ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This dialog box appears when you win the game with a better time than the time
recorded in the high score list.  Type your name over the name in the box and
click the button.  Your score and name will be recorded in the list.  The list
will be saved when you exit MineSweeper.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Game Options ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The following options are sekectable from the options dialog box:

Option              Description

Marks               This option toggles the user's ability to place question
                    marks on the game grid.  Marks are on by default.

Cheat               This option allows you to cheat.  When on, all covered
                    squares with mines under them will initially be displayed
                    with question marks on them.  This option is not available
                    unless Marks is also selected. Note that a game that has
                    been cheated on will never produce a high score for the
                    list.  Cheat mode is off by default.

                    Cheat mode can be very useful for beginners to learn the
                    relationship between numbers on the game grid and the
                    presence of mines.  It is also useful for showing others
                    how to play the game.

Sound               When checked, the game will produce sounds upon winning the
                    game. Sound is on by default.

Tournament Mode     When checked, all generated mine fields will be identical,
                    the pattern based on the value in the game number spin
                    button.  This will enable multple players to compete on the
                    same game grid.

Game Number         This spin button contains a numeric value that will be used
                    to generate the pattern of mines on the game grid in
                    tournament mode. Note that this box is disabled when
                    tournament mode is not on.

Grid square size settings

                    These settings are used to stretch the grid square bitmaps
                    to larger or smaller sizes.  This is especially useful for
                    users who use hi-resolution displays with small monitors.

System Size         When this radio button is selected, the square size is
                    calculated from system settings.  Specifically, each grid
                    square is one-half of the system icon size.  For displays
                    up to 800x600, this is usually 16x16.  For 1024x768 and
                    higher resolution displays, this is usually 20x20.  Some
                    display drivers may define other icon sizes, and
                    MineSweeper will calculate a proper grid square size based
                    on this.

Custom Size         When this radio button is selected, the you may select your
                    own square size using two spin buttons.

Width, Height       These two spin buttons are active when the Custom Size
                    radio button is selected.  They are used to set the grid
                    square sizes. Allowable sizes range from 4 pixels up to 80
                    pixels on both axes.

See also:

o Menu items
o How to play


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. Revision history ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Version   Desription

1.0.0     Initial release

1.0.1     Fixed window save bug where the saved window size becomes wrong if
          the display driver changes.  Now, the size is always calculated on
          program startup.

          Fixed timer bug where the timer doesn't stop if the game is won on
          the first click.  The timer wasn't being started until after
          processing the first click, so it was stopped before it was started.
          Now, the timer is started before processing the first click.

          Fixed painting bug where spurious boxes would be drawn in the score
          region of the window.

          Fixed sizing bug where menu bars larger than the default size would
          not be taken into account when sizing the window.  They are now.

          Timer stops when window is minimized.

          About... item moved to help menu

          Game grid maximum size increased to 50x30

          Smilie face should now always have the correct expression.  It didn't
          always have the correct face before.

          Double clicks are now recognized as ordinary clicks.  Previously,
          they were ignored.

1.0.2     Added missing cleanup code that caused some installations to behave
          strangely after exitting.

          Fixed bug in Custimize dialog that allowed more mines than squares,
          causing program to crash, requiring CTRL-ESC to abort back to WPS.

1.1.0     Moved all options into a single dialog box.  Added options to disable
          sound, cheat mode, and tournament mode.

          Added pause to Game menu.

          Recompiled using GCC/2 version 2.3.3.  The C runtime library is now
          located in a DLL (called DLLC.DLL )  This reduced the size of
          mine.exe by over 50%.  Any other code developed with GCC/2 2.3.3 can
          share this DLL, saving much disk space.

1.2.0     Options added to scale grid square bitmaps larger and smaller.

          When a the first click causes a mine to be moved in cheat mode, the
          new location of the mine is now properly marked.

          Timer no longer starts itself if you minimize and restore a game that
          has not yet begun.

          If the window is minimized when the game terminates, it will appear
          in shell position the next time it is run.  Unfortunately, a
          minimized application does not return it's restored coordinates to
          WinQueryWindowPos, so I can not record the actual position in the INI
          file if the program is minimized when it is killed.  Before this
          version, it would appear off-screen, requiring a "cascade" operation
          from the task list to bring it onto the screen.

          Handling improved when help file is not found.  The user now has the
          ability to suppress the warning dialog for future runs.

          Help menu items disable themselves if help file is not found.

          Prettied up the dialog boxes - I added group boxes around the key
          parts of the dialogs.

          Help screens proofread to make them more accurate and easier to
          understand.

          WPS icon now has a 40x40 size in addition to the 32x32 size, so users
          with 1024x768 displays won't see a distorted icon.

1.2.1     Rebuilt using GCC/2 2.5.4.  The C runtime library DLL is now named
          "DLLC101.DLL".  Unless you have other applications that require
          DLLC.DLL, you may delete any previous instances of DLLC.DLL.

          Grid bitmaps now have 20x20 forms so nothing will look distorted on
          1024x768 displays.  Of course, grid squares that are not 16x16 or
          20x20 will be distorted.  I'm not drawing bitmaps for every
          conceivable size, and people with icon sizes other than 32x32 or
          40x40 are rare.

          I moved.  My new mail and e-mail addresses are in the readme,
          mine.txt file, and the about box.

          Hi-scores dialog now says "Expert" instead of "Advanced" - it now
          matches the menu item.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Copyright ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.