home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Fritz: All Fritz
/
All Fritz.zip
/
All Fritz
/
FILES
/
EDUCMISC
/
EDUCAID.LZH
/
FLAGS.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1987-06-16
|
6KB
|
125 lines
FLAGS of the WORLD
Herbert F. Van Brink
213-486-2865 days
BASICA FLAGS
FLAGSOVR.BAS is an overlay segment and cannot be executed
independently.
Requires Color Graphics Adapter & Display or equivalent.
Will not run with EGA, PGA, or VGA in this version, except with
such adapters as the QUAD EGA+ or the PARADISE running in
ABSOLUTE CGA COMPATIBILITY MODE.
115 different national flags, in FULL COLOR, are included
in this educational program. There are three different modes
of operation; each may be selected at any time via the function
keys:
(1) Automatic
(2) Flags by request (Select highlighted country
or enter name)
(3) Random Quiz [NOT YET IMPLEMENTED]
AUTOMATIC:
All of the flags are displayed, starting with the currently selected
flag, in alphabetical order. This version may run inordinately fast
on an AT or equivalent. Pressing any key will terminate the
automatic operation and provide further options.
BY REQUEST:
The user is asked to select, by name or by selecting the name on the
screen, the next flag to be displayed. Each flag remains on the screen
until another is requested.
RANDOM QUIZ:
The program randomly selects a flag to be displayed, and
asks for its identification. Viewers are given three chances,
after which they are given the correct country or countries,
and another flag is presented.
NOTE: NOT AVAILABLE IN THIS VERSION
FLAGS OF THE WORLD
DEMONSTRATION VERSION
This preliminary version demonstrates only the "Flags by
Request" and automatic options. In addition to the QUIZ option,
consideration is being given to incorporating the following features
into the final version.
1) Some names may be located based on the uniqueness of the
first few letters (e.g., Venezuxxx is OK for Venezuela).
2) Additional flags will be included.
3) Additional National Anthems or Identifying music will
be included (but not all countries will have music).
5) A MAP feature is under consideration. This option
would add a simple world map with the chosen country
highlighted.
6) A separate United States version is being considered.
This would include historical flags, state flags, and
some other banners such as naval ensigns and the
presidential flag.
7) Function key options on the screen (as in BASIC)
(A limited version of this is in the demo system)
8) Limited misspellings will be recognizable (they will be
commented upon).
9) The alternate name feature, which includes variations of national
names as well as some obsolete nomenclature, will be expanded.
LIMITATIONS Designed for CGA and equivalents only
AND An EGA version is being developed.
TECHNICAL
NOTES
Because of the limitations of IBM's color graphics mode, providing only
two color palettes of three colors (plus background) each, there are
many flags which the IBM PC is incapable of portraying in reasonably
accurate color. Some of the color combinations used here, especially
RED, WHITE, and BLUE, may not be accurately presentable on IBM-
compatibles, since this particular palette combination is created by
invoking an un-documented peculiarity of the IBM PC. It has been
tested on the AT&T 6300 and the Ericsson look-alikes.
Compiled versions of this code do not utilize the "bright" color
palettes properly. Previous compilations under the IBM Basic compiler
1.0 worked; language features unsupported in that ancient program
prevented its further use.
Another combination which requires testing on IBM "Compatibles"
is the documented feature which allows bold background colors in
text mode. This is used for many of the flags that have no
need for complex graphics, as well as for the flag menu.
The colors used in this program will not display correctly on many
Enhanced Graphic Adapters. A bug that IBM introduced in its EGA has
been faithfully reproduced by almost all EGA cards from other vendors;
this is the inability to use highlighted background colors in text
mode. The program is being revised to allow for that (it was
originally much easier to produce rows of blanks than character 177)
Some use is made of the BASIC interpreter environment; in particular,
the country names shown in graphics mode make use of the ability to
modifiy the text color. This is not supported by any of the Basic
compilers.
The only major difference in compiling is that line 40 of FLAGSOVR must
be changed [it is a comment in the BASICA version] to be operational.
Compilers cannot inherit the characteristics of the defined variables.