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1992-06-14
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12KB
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289 lines
This is the documentation for BALLOONS, version 3.9
(c)1990 by AssistWare
P.O. Box 13464
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3464
DESCRIPTION:
This program draws a balloon and sounds a tone when any key is
hit. The balloons are a random size, color and are drawn at
random locations on the screen. Each key is assigned a different
tone (the user can play tunes by pressing the appropriate keys).
Hitting the down-arrow key causes the balloon to shrink until it
disappears.
Hitting the up-arrow key causes the balloon to grow until it
pops. After the pop, a rainbow is drawn and the first phrase of
"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" is played.
For EGA & VGA monitors, Hitting the G makes green balloons
B makes blue balloons
R makes red balloons
Y makes yellow balloons
W makes white balloons
For CGA monitors, Hitting the Y makes yellow balloons
G makes green balloons
R makes red balloons
Hitting qu (short for quit) stops the program.....
If you forget, you will have to CTL-ALT-DEL to get out.
=================================================================
STARTING THE PROGRAM:
1) Type the following on the DOS command line: balloons
2) Press the enter key.
The DOS command line is the place where one types in the name of
programs. It often has a "command prompt" at the left side the
line that looks like C:> or A:>.
==================================================================
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
- If your monitor is set to 40 column mode, set it to 80 column
color mode before the program is started.
(use the DOS command: MODE CO80).
- To allow a small child to continuously hold a key down and
the program run without overflowing the keyboard buffer, the
program discards all keys which are in the keyboard buffer
while the program is drawing a balloon. For slow machines this
has the following implication:
The processor may not be fast enough to discard all of the
extra keys and draw the balloon at the same time. If this
occurs, you will hear the high-pitched beep that indicates
the keyboard buffer has overflowed. Just take your hand off
of the key for an instant and the program will have time to
discard the keys in the buffer and draw the balloon. This
problem does not occur with faster machines.
- If you have a CGA monitor, the program can only draw balloons and
rainbows in 3 different colors. This restriction is due to the way
Turbo C and the CGA video card work together.
=================================================================
SOME PROBLEMS OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED:
- Program does not work with a monochrome (single color) display.
- The program requires a color display to operate. Color
displays are often called CGA, MCGA, EGA, EGA64, or VGA
displays. In general, if a display can display 4 or more colors
at the same time and if the display is compatible with the
IBM CGA, EGA, or VGA display, this program should work.
In addition, this program will support SVGA or XVGA displays by
running in a VGA mode.
- Program starts, then stops indicating that one of the following
problems was detected:
- "Program could not detect a graphics card in your PC."
- "Program does not support the display subsystem contained in
your PC."
- "Insufficient memory to load code which creates the graphic
images."
This is similar to the above problem. The display must be a
CGA, EGA, VGA or correctly emulate one of these display types
for the program to operate. "Insufficient memory" may indicate
a lack of available memory either in the PC or on the graphic
display subsystem.
- When my child hits the PRINT SCREEN key and the printer is turned
on, the printer prints "garbage".
- The PRINT SCREEN key is a special PC key that causes DOS to try
to print what is on the screen. In the case of Balloons
there will be balloons or rainbows displayed on the screen.
The PRINT SCREEN function does not know how to tell the printer
to print balloons or rainbows but tries to anyway. The result
is often pages of "garbage". The solution is to turn off the
printer when using Balloons.
=================================================================
ERRORS:
If the program had an error and could not continue, try the
following:
1. Review the above list of problems that others have encountered;
the answer to your problem may be given above.
2. Run the program again, starting it with a "starting option".
A list of starting options are given by starting the program
with a ?.
- for example: balloons ? (The list is also given below)
Then pick the starting option that appears to best fit your
computer's monitor.
(A "starting option" is a way for you to tell the program how
you wish to start and run the program.)
==================================================================
Starting options: (i.e. balloons option)
If no option is used, the program tries to determine which
monitor your computer has and then writes directly to the video
card RAM. Writing directly to the video card RAM only works if
your system's video hardware is identical to IBM display adapters.
> I suggest that you try starting the program with no starting
> options:
> i.e. balloons and see if it works; use the following starting
> options only if needed.
The following table shows the valid starting options. You may wish
to use these if the program is unable to determine which monitor
your computer has.
| write directly | use DOS
Monitor | to video card | video interface
-------------------------+----------------+-----------------
CGA | CGAD | CGA
VGA | VGAD | VGA
EGA (high resolution) | EGAD | EGA
Let program decide | | DOS
Examples: - Start program for a CGA monitor writing directly to
the video card: balloons CGAD
- Start program and let program decide the best choice
and use the DOS video interface: balloons DOS
- Start program and let program decide the best choice
and write directly to the video card: balloons
==================================================================
3. If you still have problems, send the following information
to: AssistWare,
Atten. Balloon's Problem
P.O. Box 13464,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3464
a. The type of computer you have.
b. The type of monitor you have.
c. The DOS version you are using.
d. The program version.
e. The program error number and a description of your problem.
We will make a good-faith effort to fix your problem.
=================================================================
MY CHILD'S EXPERIENCE:
This program was written for my son, Charles, who wanted to work
on the computer (hit on the keyboard), because he saw his parents
doing this. However, he was too young mentally and did not have
the fine motor skills necessary for programs that show A when "a"
is hit, etc. He just wanted to push the keys and see something
happen. He likes balloons and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
was one of his favorite songs. So this program was
conceived to give him a way to hit any key and see something
happen. He learned surprisingly quickly (and remembered) where the
up and down arrow keys are and the keys that made the color of
balloons he liked (G, B and R). This program has been a very
positive experience for Charles; I hope you find that to be true
for your child as well.
As an aside, because his favorite color is green, when the
balloons are made randomly, there will be more green ones than
any other color.
==================================================================
PACKAGE CONTENTS:
This package contains 3 files: BALLOONS.EXE -- the program.
BALLOONS.REG -- the registration form
BALLOONS.DOC -- this file.
==================================================================
WARRANTY:
Users of BALLOONS must accept this disclaimer of warranty:
BALLOONS is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the
warranties of merchantability and fitness for any purpose. The
author assumes no liability for damage, direct or consequential,
which may result from the use of BALLOONS.
==================================================================
Association of Shareware Professionals - Ombudsman Statement
This program is produced by a member of the Association
of Shareware Professionals (ASP). 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
or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP
Ombudsman 70007,3536."
==================================================================
DISTRIBUTION OF PROGRAM:
You can give a copy of this program to anyone who wants it. Please
encourage them to register if they find the program useful.
==================================================================
REGISTRATION PROCESS AND FEE:
I hope your child is enjoying the BALLOONS program. My two-year old
son, Charles, has a great time with it, and asks to "work on the 'puter"
frequently in order to make balloons and then pop them.
This is the point where I'm supposed to ask you to send money if you
like this program. My husband and I are honest people; I trust that
you are as well. If, indeed, you value this program and your child's
interest in it, please send the registration form included with this
program (balloons.reg) and the registration fee to:
AssistWare
Atten: Balloons Registration
P.O. Box 13464
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3464
USA
There are two registration options, please pick the one that you prefer:
Option 1:
If you send $7.00, we will register you as a user, entitling you to
future upgrades, technical support and information about other programs
for your child.
Option 2:
If you send $15.00, you will receive , in addition to the items in
Option 1, above, three other programs:
-- BALLOONS & RAINBOWS - a non-shareware program similar to this program
but with several advanced features, designed to help your child
learn colors and color names. These features include the
ability to display the names of the balloon colors, the ability
to allow balloons to be drawn selectively, and other options.
-- A registered version of "DRAWSOME" - a wonderful children's drawing
program that helps children learn how to interact with the
computer and a mouse (optional). The program draws lines with
a hand as the hand is moved with the arrow-keys or with the
mouse. Colors are selectable and various flowers, circles,
triangles and squares are drawn when certain keys are pressed.
-- A graphical menu which your child can use to select the program with
which (s)he wishes to play.
Please use the registration form included with this program
(balloons.reg). Just print it and mail it in. Please remember: if you
are taking advantage of option 2, include the size of diskette which
you use (3.5" or 5.25").
Thank you,
Patti