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README.TXT
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1996-07-11
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README for Pinochle 3.0
Pinochle 3.0 is a shareware program by Christopher Chapman. It plays
Double Deck Pinochle on computers with Windows 3.1 or Windows 95.
Complete licensing and copyright information is given later in this file.
I hope you enjoy the program!
Contents of this file
1. System requirements
2. Installing Pinochle 3.0 automatically
3. Installing Pinochle 3.0 manually
4. Running the program
5. Uninstalling Pinochle 3.0
6. Restoring the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory
7. Undoing the registration
8. How to report problems
9. History of program
10. Future plans
11. Licensing and Legal Notices
1. System Requirements
Pinochle 3.0 requires Windows 3.1 or Windows 95. It should run on almost
any computer that runs Windows 3.1.
The program requires an 80386 or higher processor, 2mb of extended memory,
and just over 1mb of hard disk space. Recommended minimum configuration is
80486 or Pentium at 20mhz or faster, and 6mb or more of RAM.
2. Installing Pinochle 3.0 automatically
Pinochle 3.0 was designed for both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95.
You should use the INSTALL program in either version of Windows.
You may use the automatic installation if you run Windows from a local
hard drive or a network with full write privileges. This should be the
case unless you have an unusual system setup. If this is not the case,
then follow the directions in part (3) below for a manual installation.
Installation Procedure
First, CLOSE ANY PROGRAMS YOU HAVE RUNNING WITHIN WINDOWS. This is a good
safety precaution before you install any new programs.
The unzipped files may be kept in any subdirectory (NOT in the subdirectory
in which you wish PINOCHLE ultimately to reside).
For example, you may do something like the following, at the DOS prompt:
MD \PTEMP
MOVE PINOCH30.ZIP \PTEMP
CD \PTEMP
PKUNZIP PINOCH30.ZIP
Now run the program INSTALL.EXE from Windows. At the program manager, select
FILE | RUN ... and input the directory name where you have the program, plus
\INSTALL.EXE. If you followed the above directions, this would be:
\PTEMP\INSTALL.EXE
Press OK. The installer will copy necessary files to your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM
subdirectory, and will notify you that it is making backups of any previous
versions of files found there.
The installer will create a program group with a name you specify, and will
install icons for both Pinochle and the Pinochle Help file. If you do not
wish to create a program group, then blank out the group name.
The install program does *not* change or add anything to WIN.INI or
CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT
**If you did not create a program group with INSTALL, then after the
installer has finished, you may move or add the PINOCHLE.EXE file icon to
any program group. For example, if you followed the above, you would:
**WINDOWS 3.1:
Open some program group in Windows 3.1
Select: FILE | NEW | PROGRAM ITEM
Input: \PINOCHLE\PINOCHLE.EXE
**WINDOWS 95:
Select: START | SETTINGS | TASK BAR | START MENU PROGRAMS | ADD ...
Input: \PINOCHLE\PINOCHLE.EXE
**THIS IS NOT NECESSARY IF YOU ALLOW INSTALL.EXE TO CREATE A PROGRAM GROUP.
That's all. You may now enjoy the game! It is probably best if you exit
and restart Windows after any program installation.
3. Installing Pinochle 3.0 manually
To install Pinochle manually, following the instructions above to move the
distributed files to any subdirectory you like. Then copy the following
files from the Pinochle location to your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM or equivalent
subdirectory (wherever you run Windows from):
BIVBX11.DLL
CTL3DV2.DLL
MHRUN300.DLL
MHCARDS.DLL
MHCD200.VBX
You may then delete these files from the Pinochle location.
Add PINOCHLE.EXE to any program group in Windows, and you are ready to play!
No changes need to be made to WIN.INI or CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT. In
Windows 95, no additions are made to the system registry.
4. Running the program
Simply run PINOCHLE.EXE from the Windows Program Manager, either by using the
FILE | RUN ... command or by adding PINOCHLE.EXE to a program group or to
the Windows 95 Start menu.
If you know how to play Pinochle, then the program should be pretty self-
explanatory. For more information, or to learn how to play Pinochle, check
out the online help system. Select HELP | CONTENTS from the main menu.
Note: If you are an experienced Double-Deck Pinochle player, this program
may use a different meld system from the one you use. There are *many*
different scoring systems out there. Check out HELP | MELD TABLE from
within the program to see how this program scores. Also, note that the
3.0 version of Pinochle includes options for setting up your own meld
table. You may do this from the OPTIONS | SETUP MELD TABLE menu choice.
Note also that you may print the default Meld Table within Windows Help.
WINDOWS 95 NOTE:
For users with 640x480 screens, some of the buttons in Pinochle 3.0 may be
obscured by the Windows 95 task bar. You may compress the vertical spacing
of elements in Pinochle 3.0 by selecting FILE | WINDOWS 95 MODE from the
main menu. Note that this option does *not* have anything to do with
Windows 95 as such; it may be used or not used according to personal taste
in either Windows 3.1 or Windows 95.
PORTABLE COMPUTER USERS:
The screen display in Pinochle 3.0 may not appear optimal on your system. In
this case, it is recommended that you alter your default Windows screen
color scheme. You may do this in Windows 3.1 by selecting MAIN | CONTROL
PANEL | COLOR from the Program Manager. In Windows 95: right-click on the
background and select: PROPERTIES | APPEARANCE. Pinochle 3.0 will use the
general windows settings specified by these color schemes.
5. Uninstalling Pinochle 3.0
If you decide not to keep Pinochle 3.0, simply delete the following files
from the directory where it resides:
PINOCHLE.EXE
PINOCHLE.HLP
PINOCHLE.CFG
README.TXT
REGISTER.TXT
INSTALL.EXE
You should not delete the .DLL and .VBX files from \WINDOWS\SYSTEM, since
they may be used by other programs, too. However, you may wish to read the
next section on \WINDOWS\SYSTEM if you wish to delete some of those files.
6. Restoring the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory
If you uninstall Pinochle 3.0, or if you experience problems with other
programs after its installation (very unlikely!), then you may wish to
restore your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory as follows. Generally, this
should not be necessary, even after uninstalling the program, and I do
*not* recommend tinkering with the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory. Only
follow my suggestions below if you already know what you're doing!
It is always a good idea to backup your system before performing tasks like
this, since a mistake could be costly! Do not attempt these tasks unless you
are highly familiar with Windows installation.
A. Move to the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory
B. See if any of the following backup files exist:
BIVBX11.D~L
CTL3DV2.D~L
MHRUN300.D~L
MHCARDS.D~L
MHCD200.V~X
C. Delete the following files:
BIVBX11.DLL
MHRUN300.DLL
MHCARDS.DLL
MHCD200.VBX
D. If any backup files were found in (B.) then copy those backup files
to their original file names (replace the '~' with a 'B' or 'L').
Example:
COPY CTL3DV2.D~L CTL3DV2.DLL
E. Once you are *sure* that everything is working properly, you may
then delete the files listed in (B.) above.
7. Undoing the registration
If you have registered Pinochle 3.0 but for some reason wish to undo the
registration (e.g., if you wish to change the capitalization of your name),
then move to the Pinochle location and delete the file PINOCHLE.CFG.
This will reset the program to "unregistered" and will erase your win/loss
record.
You may then re-register Pinochle if you wish, by following the initial
registration procedure with your name and registration number. You may
e-mail the author at cnchapman@aol.com if you have registered but lost the
registration number.
8. How to report problems
I hope that Pinochle 3.0 is bug free. It has been thoroughly tested, but
unfortunately problems may always exist out in the "real world"!
General Problems
Note that some video drivers cause problems with a variety of programs. If
Pinochle 3.0 does not run at all, or if it gives a "General Protection Fault"
then you should try using a different video driver, or update your video
drivers from your manufacturer or by downloading from an online service. To
determine whether the problem is with video or with another aspect of your
system or with Pinochle 3.0, you may wish to try using the generic VGA or
SVGA drivers from Microsoft by running SETUP from the Windows 3.1 Main
program group (in Windows 95, right click on the icon for "My Computer" and
select PROPERTIES | DEVICE MANAGER | MONITOR).
If you have problems that are not resolved by changing video drivers, then
also try running Pinochle 3.0 without any other programs running in Windows.
You could have a shortage of Windows resources (memory, virtual disk space,
file handles, etc.)
Note that your DOS path specified in AUTOEXEC.BAT should contain the path for
your Windows system. If not, Pinochle might have difficulty finding its
system components.
Other Problems
If you do have a problem to report, please write or e-mail me with as much
information about the problem as you can gather.
If the program crashes: Note any error messages / numbers that appear
If you were playing a game: Note the game number from the title bar
Write to: Chris Chapman, P.O. Box 555, Uniontown, AR 72955
or email: cnchapman@aol.com
9. History of the program
Pinochle 1.0 was a DOS version of the program. It had a primitive interface,
but was a very small program and played very quickly. It would make a nice
program for an old 8088 system or a laptop. It is available free for the
asking to registered users of Pinochle 3.0
Version 2.0 was for Windows, and had improved in several areas, especially
overall playing and bidding. Version 2.1 added a few new features to 2.0
Version 3.0 is an upgrade to 2.1. It corrects some minor playing problems,
and adds many new options.
10. Future plans
I plan to continue work on the program in the future. Upgrades to the
program will be free for registered users of Version 3.0.
Following are some options I am considering for the upgrade:
Different Setups for multiple human players
User-definable meld table and scoring system
Difficulty levels (both easier and more difficult than current)
Possible network or multi-user play
Possible two or three handed versions
Let me know if you have any suggestions!
11. Licensing and Legal Notices
Pinochle 3.0 is copyright (c) 1994-96 by Christopher Chapman. All rights are
reserved, except that this program may be distributed freely or for
duplication costs only, provided that it is unaltered and that all files
included in the original PINOCH30.ZIP file are included.
A license to use this program in unregisted form is granted to any individual
for a period of 15 days. The unregistered form of the program is fully
functional but places a limit on the total number of unique games that may
be played (25 total). Users at educational institutions, students, members
and employees of the U.S. military, retired military personnel, and those
employed as staff or faculty of educational institutions may continue to use
the unregistered program after 15 days, although the unique game limitation
will continue to apply. This program is licensed to individual users, not
to companies, institutions, or other corporate entities.
The registered form of the program expands the number of available unique
games to 999,999 (1,999,998 with alternate dealing method). Otherwise, the
registered and unregistered versions are identical. The registered version
may be activated by one-time input of a registration available from the
author upon payment of a $15 licensing fee.
Registered users may use the program on any computer that they own or use
routinely. For example, a single license is sufficient to allow use of the
program on computers at work, at home, and on portable systems. A single
license also is sufficient for all members of a household and all computers
that they use, and for all users of a single properly licensed computer
(e.g., co-workers sharing a single computer). However, a single license does
NOT apply to: multiple computers used principally by people who live in
different households, nor to any network server that makes the program
available to multiple people outside of a residence, nor to non-licensed
users of any computer that a licensed user only occasionally uses (e.g.,
a computer at work that is mostly used by others).
No warranties, either express or implied, are made about this program or its
fitness for any particular purpose. The author will not be liable for any
direct or indirect damages that may arise from use or misuse of this program.
All risk for use of this program resides with the user. Users should
determine fitness for their own needs, and should register only if the
program meets those needs. In no case will any liability exceed the amount
paid to register this program. Also, since the program is licensed to
individuals and not to companies, no liability may exist with respect to any
company. The license as stated here constitutes the complete agreement
between the author and users. Some states may exclude some aspects of this
agreement, so user rights may vary from state to state.
To register the program for complete function, follow the instructions in
the online HELP | REGISTER command from within the program, or read the file
REGISTER.TXT included with the program.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO TRY PINOCHLE 3.0. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE GAME.
-- Christopher Chapman
-- cnchapman@aol.com