The Datafile PD-CD 3/PDCD_3.iso/utilities/utilss/solarsys/!SolarSys/!Help

Text File | 1995-03-05 | 5KB | 111 lines

SolarSys - Version 0.00
By David Pratt
Code © David Pratt 1995

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Now I can do this one of two ways. I can do a nice help file, structured
with 'chapters' and 'indexes' or I can write what comes into my mind at the
time. Errrrrr, methinks the latter as this is after all a type of beta test
version hence the version number of 0.00 which I suppose should have one
of these ß things after it. Oh well, down to the important stuff.

This program was inspired by the pictures that come up in the initial window,
which you may not know about yet, if unlike me you always read the !Help file
first (which in general is normally a good idea). They came off some PC
CD-ROM which my friend Christopher Jarman got off a PC magazine. Anyway, I
borrowed these lovely pictures, made some changes and wrote a program around
them. Initially the program was just going to display the pictures, but then
I came across a book I got for Xmas a couple of years ago, which had some
information about all the planets, so I extended the program, a number of
times, while I was supposed to be doing work for college. Oh well, such is
life. Anyway, I thought I would get this version off to a PD library to see
what kind of response I would get from it. And thats what I would appreciate.
Feedback. More on that later. I should really explain how to use the program
first

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OK, this is how it works.
  • Double click on !SolarSys
  • After a while the icon will appear on the icon bar. Click on this
  • A window containing ten icons to the left and a big icon to the right
    will appear. If you click on any of the icons on the left a different
    picture will appear in the big icon. The symbols in the left hand icons
    are ancient symbols for the planets.
  • Clicking on the picture icon will bring up another window giving basic
    information about the planet. If you don't know what any of the terms
    mean click on the 'Definitions' icon and a window with definitions will
    open.
  • Furthur information about the planet is available by clicking on the
    'Furthur Information' icon in the 'Basic Information' window. If you
    don't understand and of these terms click on the 'Definitions' icon in
    the 'Furthur Information' window.

Thats all there is to it, and that is, currently, all it will do.....however
below is a list of future enhancements

- You will be able to put notes in the icons and save them to a file
- You will be able to save out the infomation about the planets as a text
  file
- The sprite files will be compressed with the LZWD module so it will be
  possible to use the program out of an archive without taking up large
  amounts of storage. (It currently stands at 2.1Mb uncompressed but about
  0.5Mb compressed with ArcFS)
- Memory will be optimised as it currently takes 520k
- A number of cosmetic changes will be made
- There will be an option to turn off the texture of the windows (maybe even
  in specific windows if you are lucky)
- A number of new sections may be added, especially one about the moons of
  the planet

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FeedBack
--------

After closing down GemPD my post has been reduced to a couple of letters a
week. I do like getting letters so if you do have any suggestions, critisisms
etc about the program please write to me. I can't promise to reply immediatly
but I will reply to all letters, promise!!!!!!!

One of the great thing about public domain programs is there are no deadlines
from big companies saying get this done by 21st April or we won't sell you
program. This version is really to get a feel of the market to see whether
it is worth developing furthur than its current incarnation. I would like
to know your thoughts.

If you do write I would be very very very very grateful if you could send an
SAE with you letter as I am a mere student and I do get a good response in
feedback it will cost be an awful lot in stamps etc.

I live in a humble abode called
15, Partridge Down
Winchester
SO22 4HL

This is my Post Office prefered address but if you would like to make it
look nicer on the envelope, put 'Oliver's Battery' between the 1st and 2nd
line and 'Hampshire' between the 2nd and 3rd line.

I am constantly on the look out for new projects to express my programming
'skills' (ha ha ha, who am I kidding!). So if you have any ideas, do drop me
a line or if you just want to write to me, feel free. I have a vast majority
of interests and will discuss a lot of subjects (which reminds me of a
very amusing incident which occured at 11pm at night out of a hotel window
on the outskirts of Prague, Czech Repubic in the summer of 1994 while on
tour with the Hampshire Training Orchestra, but thats another story!)

For anyone who is going to hack my code, please acknowledge me as this has
take an appreciable amount of time to produce.

Well thats about it. I hope you find some use for this program, and please
do write to me about any comments you wish to make. I want to develop this
program into something worthy (and maybe even get the presigious PowerPD
award in Acorn Archimedes World).

All the best

David Pratt

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