This text contains some tips to customize Tangram files. If you need general instructions for Tangram, refer to 'Help' menu within the application. You can skip last section in this text without loosing any features of Tangram. Some features are not available in earlier version of Tangram.
*More keyboard shortcut
1. Hold down shift key when select 'Reset' or 'Give up' to see animated movement.
2. During animation, click with control key down to stop animation after complete movement.
3. Click 'Next' button with shift or caps lock down to select pieces in reversed order.
4. 'esc' or 'clear' key for 'Reset'.
5. During animation, keep option key down for smoother movement.
6. In editor, while working on the puzzle area, press option - up or down arrow to adjust size of pieces.
7. 'Reset' with control key down or 'piece outline' on will move to the initial position which does not need to flip to match.
8. Select 'Pick...' with option key down to see big puzzles. (Registered version)
9. In editor, click on the puzzle numer and type in new puzzle number and hit enter key to move directly to that puzzle.
10. Print with option key down for thinner white line in 'Solution' mode.
11. Print with control key down to print both shadow and solution.
12. If caps lock is on and 'Piece Outline' is on, the pieces will be snapped on the correct position when they are placed near the correct position. If caps lock is on and 'Piece Outline' is off, the pieces will be snapped on the invisible 6 pixels by 6 pixels grids. (v 3.2 or later)
*Difficulty setting
Some of puzzles are very difficult. Children, especially younger children might be frustrated when they can't find a clue. On the other hand, impatient users may peek solution before they try to solve the puzzle. Here are some examples how to set the difficulty by choosing proper preferences.
-very very easy: Piece outline=on, Start position=direction, Caps Lock Key=on
Please note that new preference setting is effective from next puzzle. 'Save' button also saves currently open file path. Try and experiment proper preferences for your own need.
*Puzzle file with faster Pick
You might notice that it takes some time to display all the miniature puzzles when you select 'Pick...' while working on a puzzle file you made. This may be inconvenient when you are working on slower machines.
You can speed up this by adding a 'PICT' resource which contains all the miniature pictures to the puzzle file. The 'PICT' resource can be automatically added with version 3.19 when saving the puzzle file. To do this, just select 'Save' with option key down. That's it!
*Customizing picture background (Hackers only)
You should know how to use ResEdit program to customize background picture files. As other resource editing programs, ResEdit may damage files and disks unexpectedly or if not used properly. Please always make a backup copy before using ResEdit. Use the tips described here at your own risk. But you are welcome to send questions or comments to the author.
Please do not distribute modified version of Tangram application and files. You may not sell or distribute Tangram files for profit without author's permission.
Now you can create or modify and use background picture files with up to 15 background pictures. Here is the way to create background picture files.
1. Select and copy 404 by 322 picture from any drawing or painting program.
2. Launch ResEdit program and open a Tangram background picture file or create new file. (creator=Tan3, file type=TanP)
3. Paste picture.
4. Renumber the PICT resource ID numbers in ascending order from 128.
5. Set the name of the PICT resource if you want to. If you leave the resource name blank, Tangram will recognize as 'Picture <number>'.
6. Open STR ID 1002 resource.
7. Type in total number of pictures.
8. Save and quit ResEdit.
9. Launch Tangram, open the background file and select pictures by name under 'Background' menu.
Note:
1.If you think the background picture is too good to enjoy by yourself, please send it to the author or distribute as a separate picture file with your own note. Please do not modify the original application and files.
2. If PICT resource ID number skips, Tangram may crash.
3. A picture with a few colors is recommended because too many colors may make the pieces hard to be seen.
