CD Magazyn 1996 June

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Bert's Whales and Dolphins (Including All the Bert's Coloring Programs) A Coloring Program For Introducing Young Children to the Computer Unregistered Version 3.2 User's Guide Introduction This instruction manual was produced for use with the Bert's Whales and Dolphins program. Several other Bert's coloring programs are also available and these instructions are for use with these programs as well. Bert's Whales and Dolphins is an enjoyable coloring program for children of all ages, but is especially useful for introducing young children to the computer. Bert's Whales and Dolphins was designed by educators to be used by young children with a minimum of assistance by adults. As a coloring program Bert's Whales and Dolphins is superior to many other children's coloring programs in that it allows the user to place the various sea mammals, all in four different sizes, on a variety of backgrounds. This allows children to easily create their own picture before coloring. The opportunity to create their own picture will allow children to take pride in their unique creation. Bert's Whales and Dolphins also has a voice feature, which can be turned on or off, allowing the sea mammals to speak their names, much to the delight of children. When first started Bert's Whales and Dolphins displays a title screen and then the drawing surface with eight buttons on the left. Children can operate the program with the mouse alone. A window is provided which allows children to write a short story about their picture using the keyboard. The fact that they created the picture will help provide the motivation to write about it. One of the best ways for children to learn to read is to write, even if their initial attempts include phonetic spelling which is not always correct. If your child is not ready to attempt writing his/her story, then another good strategy is for you to type in your child's story as he/she dictates it to you. Then have your child read back the story he/she created. This is another very effective beginning reading strategy. They will love creating a setting, writing or dictating their own story and printing out a copy. Installation Bert's Whales and Dolphins requires an IBM compatible computer with at least 512K of memory, a VGA display and a Microsoft compatible mouse. A Sound Blaster card will improve the voice quality considerably. The computer's speaker will be used if a Sound Blaster card and driver are not found. The program installation process is quite easy. First, make a backup copy of your Bert's Whales and Dolphins program disk. If necessary consult your PC-DOS/MS-DOS manual for a description of the DISKCOPY command. Save the original program disk in a safe place and use the copy as the working program disk. Bert's Whales and Dolphins Version 3.2 Page 1 of 7 Second, while it is possible to use Bert's Whales and Dolphins on a floppy disk system, a hard disk system is a necessity for reasonable speed and storing a number of pictures your child has created. To install Bert's Whales and Dolphins on a hard disk use the following steps: 1. Insert the floppy disk in your computer in drive A. (or B if necessary) 2. Type A: (or B:) 3. Type INSTALL A C Any hard drive letters can be used, for example INSTALL B D will install the program from floppy drive B to hard drive D. The installation will create a directory called BERT3 on your hard drive and you will need to enter a CD\BERT3 to change to the Bert's Whales and Dolphins directory before running the program. Once installed just type BERT to start the program. If your computer gives a series of beeps when you run Bert's Whales and Dolphins it is probably because it cannot find the image files it needs to run, and other problems are showing up as well. All the files for Bert's Whales and Dolphins need to be in the same directory for the program to operate successfully. You should not mix the .DOT image files from Bert's Whales and Dolphins with those of versions previous to 3.0 as they are in a different format. If you are installing more than one copy of the Bert's coloring programs, ie. - Bert's Dinosaurs, Bert's African Animals, Bert's Prehistoric Animals, Bert's Whales and Dolphins - you will get warning messages during installation such as the following: PKSFX: (W18) Warning! c:/bert3/BERT.EXE already exists. Overwrite (y/n)? You should type a letter N in response to this message, which will speed up installation. Actually, typing a Y will not hurt anything, it simply writes over the file with an identical copy. Users with a Sound Blaster card must copy the driver file CT- VOICE.DRV, which comes with your Sound Blaster card, into the BERT3 directory. This file is usually found in the DRV subdirectory which is in the Sound Blaster directory. The Sound Blaster directory has different names depending on the model you have, for example SB16 for the Sound Blaster 16 ASP. To copy the driver file you would type: COPY \SB16\DRV\CT-VOICE.DRV \BERT3 You should change the directory name SB16 in the example above to whatever is appropriate for your Sound Blaster software. If the CT- DRIVE.DRV file is not found in the BERT3 directory the program will use the computer's speaker for voice output. For computers with normal speakers the voice is quite recognizable. However, many of the new PC computers are using cheap piezoelectric devices which makes the voice sound like a duck. Users with piezoelectric devices or parents tired of listening to sea mammal names may wish to turn the voice off. If sound is not coming through the PC speaker or the Sound Blaster output, then you have the CT-VOICE.DRV file in the BERT3 directory, but have other problems. It is possible that your current Sound Blaster Bert's Whales and Dolphins Version 3.2 Page 2 of 7 setup is incorrect. First, check your AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the root directory. It should have some lines that look something like this: SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6 SET SOUND=C:\SB16 C:\SB16\SB16SET /M:220 /VOC:220 /CD:220 /MIDI:220 /TREBLE:0 C:\SB16\SBCONFIG.EXE /S Your parameters may very well be different, depending on what I/O port address, interrupt number and DMA channel your system is using. You can check the SET's by just typing SET from the C:> prompt. You can also try reinstalling CT-VOICE.DRV by using the INST-DRV program with DRV as a parameter, ie. type INST-DRV DRV. This install program can have different names or a different parameter like \SB\DRV, depending on the card you have. Check your manuals for details. You can check your Sound Blaster card with the program TEST-SBC or TEST-SBP. If these items all appear to be in place you might want to try reinstalling the Sound Blaster software from scratch. Be sure to install everything. The Bert's coloring programs are DOS programs and having the Sound Blaster work with a Windows program does not mean the DOS Sound Blaster environment is OK. Operation of Bert's Whales and Dolphins is quite easy. The eight buttons are configured to do the following when the left mouse button is clicked on them: The Command Buttons SELECT A SEA MAMMAL When beginning a new picture six small backgrounds are displayed. The user clicks with the mouse on the selected scene to have it drawn on the screen full size. Next, a group of six sea mammals are displayed. Clicking the mouse on any one of the sea mammals will select it. If the stop sign is clicked on, no sea mammal will be selected and you are returned to the drawing surface. Clicking the mouse on the box between the stop sign and the green arrows sets the voice status. Voice can be set to on, off or voice only - meaning the sea mammals only say their name through the computer's internal speaker. The sound quality is somewhat limited due to PC speaker quality, but the advantage is that no additional hardware is needed. If the down green arrow is selected the next group of sea mammals will be displayed for possible selection. The up arrow returns to the previous group of sea mammals. The selected sea mammal appears in four different sizes. After the sea mammal of the desired size is chosen, a rectangle outlining its size will appear in the upper left. When the left mouse button is held down on the rectangle it can be dragged into its desired position. When the left mouse button is released, the sea mammal will be drawn and any previously drawn lines under it will be erased. This allows you to place one sea mammal in front of the next. It is best to first place all the desired sea mammals on the drawing surface before filling with color, as Bert's Whales and Dolphins Version 3.2 Page 3 of 7 some colors cannot be drawn over with a sea mammal outline. An additional feature is that the sea mammal figures can also be drawn in reverse. To reverse a figure simply hold down the right mouse button as you release the left one when you position the sea mammal on the drawing surface. SELECT A COLOR When this button is clicked a group of thirty colors is displayed. When a color is chosen it fills the crayon in the button. This color will fill the portion of the picture clicked on. Clicking outside the color box restores the screen with no action. WRITING A STORY Clicking on this button displays a window where a story can be typed. Along with the normal alphanumeric characters, the backspace and delete keys will erase characters. In addition the left and right arrow keys will move the cursor to any position in the window. The complete window is displayed, which consists of 8 lines of 38 characters. Pressing the Enter key or filling the entire 8 lines closes the story window. If you have problems displaying the window because it was previously filled to overflowing try typing a backspace before opening the window with a mouse click. ERASE This selection will erase the current drawing surface as well as the story area. The user must verify the erase by choosing a happy face for erase or sad face to cancel the erase. SAVE The drawing surface and story area can be saved by clicking on this button and then selecting the save box with the arrow pointing inward. While simple for adults, this function may need explaining with young children. Care must be taken because selecting the retrieve box with the arrow pointing outward will load the stored image and story, erasing the one currently on the screen. When storing an image the user is prompted for a name. It should be a simple eight character or less file name with no extension or path name. When retrieving an image a large window appears containing the names of the images previously saved. Simply clicking on a name will retrieve the image. Many drawings can be stored by giving them different names. Again, this may be confusing for small children. A suggestion is to use his or her name with numbers for easy recall, ie. bert1, bert2, bert3, etc. Clicking outside the load/save box restores the screen with no action. PRINT The image and story can be printed on several different types of printers: Epson or IBM dot matrix printers that support either 9 or 24 pin graphics, the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet series of printers and the Hewlett-Packard PaintJet and DeskJet 500C color printers. Other printer brands that support these formats will also be compatible. The user need only click on the type of printer he has to begin printing. Once a Bert's Whales and Dolphins Version 3.2 Page 4 of 7 printer has been selected, the program will remember the last printer selected and assume that it will be used for future printing. Clicking on the print button will then use this as the default printer. If the type of printer needs to be changed simply hold the right mouse button down while clicking the left one on the print button. This will allow you to choose the printer you desire. UNDO Clicking on this button erases the last sea mammal that was placed on the drawing surface. Misplaced sea mammals can be removed with this command without effecting the image underneath. If the right mouse button is held down when releasing the left one the last color fill will be undone. In both cases the undo function will only work on the most recently placed sea mammal or color fill. STOP Selecting this button exits the program. A second check on a happy or sad face must be done to confirm exiting the program. After a support shareware message is displayed, clicking the mouse will return the user to DOS. Additional Programs Available Bert's Whales and Dolphins has been written in a way that it can restructure itself depending on the image files that it finds available. If image files for Bert's African Animals, Bert's Dinosaurs, and Bert's Prehistoric Animals are found by the program, the user is prompted to choose which program to run. Each program contains a different set of topic images which your child will enjoy. The following programs are currently available and others may be added. Bert's African Animals Bert's Christmas Bert's Dinosaurs Bert's Prehistoric Animals When registering your copy of Bert's Whales and Dolphins these additional programs are available for a small increase over the registration price. Registered users may purchase additional programs at any time. Registration You may freely copy and distribute this shareware Version 3.2. Shareware users who find Bert's Whales and Dolphins useful should support the author and register their copy. The form found below should be used for registration. Registered users will receive a copy of Version 3.3 of Bert's Whales and Dolphins with additional images and a printed manual. Registered users will also receive support, by mail, for six months from the date of registration. A certificate to purchase a copy of the JCSM Shareware Collection (tm) CD-ROM for only $9.95 + S&H, an exceptional value, will also be included. Bert's Whales and Dolphins is a "shareware program" and is provided Bert's Whales and Dolphins Version 3.2 Page 5 of 7 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 Bert's Whales and Dolphins and continue to use Bert's Whales and Dolphins after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of $20. plus $2. shipping to Theron Wierenga. The 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. The registration fee is $20. plus $2. for shipping and handling ($32. outside the United States.) A complete listing of the program, which is written for the newest version of Borland C/C++, is also available for an additional $20.00. Additional programs such as Bert's African Animals, Bert's Prehistoric Animals, etc. are available for $5.00 each when registering your program. All prices are in U.S. dollars. Checks should be made out to: Theron Wierenga, P.O. Box 595, Muskegon, MI 49443 Ombudsman Statement This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). The 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 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. +---------------+ ---------------| |---------------------(R) +---------------+ | | | o | | | | | | o +---------------+ + Association of | | | |-+ Shareware | | | | Professionals +---------| o | | | | ------------ | | |------------------------- +---------------+ Member Bert's Whales and Dolphins Version 3.2 Page 6 of 7 Registration Form Bert's Whales and Dolphins 3.2 Name____________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________ City_______________________________________State_____Zip________ Disk size desired: 5 1/4 in._______ 3 1/2 in._______ Registration fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00 __________ Registration fee (Outside the USA) . . . . . . 30.00 __________ Borland C/C++ program code . . . . . . . . . . 20.00 __________ Additional program, Bert's African Animals . . 5.00 __________ Additional program, Bert's Christmas . . . . . 5.00 __________ Additional program, Bert's Dinosaurs . . . . . 5.00 __________ Additional program, Bert's Prehistoric Animals 5.00 __________ Shipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___2.00___ Total enclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________ (All prices are in U.S. dollars.) Method of payment: Check or MO______ MasterCard______ Visa______ Account number____________________________ Expir. date__________ Signature (necessary)___________________________________________ How did you receive your copy of this program?__________________ ________________________________________________________________ Suggested improvements__________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Bert's Whales and Dolphins 3.2 is a software product of Theron Wierenga P.O. Box 595 Muskegon, MI 49443 Bert's Whales and Dolphins Version 3.2 Page 7 of 7