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-
- Program: Crayon Box
-
-
- Version: 4.1
-
-
- Requirements: EGA or VGA graphics, Microsoft compatible mouse, hard
- disk drive, 512K free memory, one child.
-
-
- Author: Philip Kapusta, 406 Monroe Avenue, Falmouth, Va. 22405 USA
-
-
- Email: 74170.3550@compuserve.com
-
- Web site: www.pc-shareware.com or users.aol.com/shareware
-
-
- Registration cost: $ 10.00
-
-
- Short description:
-
- A coloring and sketch book, plus math drills, counting tutor, USA
- quiz, piano, and Concentration memory game all rolled into
- one colorful program! Fun and educational. Young children will love
- it!
-
-
- Long description:
-
- Crayon Box has a little bit of everything for your little ones.
- First, it is a coloring and sketch book with over 450 different
- colors and patterns that can be used to paint predrawn pictures,
- or drawings that the child creates. In addition, Crayon Box tests
- the child's math, counting, and color identification skills. The
- math feature displays large 1" high numbers and prompts the child
- for answers. 10 different skill levels from easy (2+3=?) to
- difficult (144/12=?). The counting and color identification
- feature displays a screen of randomly numbered and randomly
- colored marbles. The child must identify and count the number of
- each group when prompted. Spiral designs can also be created
- which can be painted on the screen. To increase memory skills, a
- Concentration style puzzle is available where the child must
- correctly match picture tiles in pairs. And lastly, for those
- older ones, a United States game where the child must point to the
- correct state when prompted. Attractive user interface (with
- large colorful point and click buttons) makes Crayon Box simple
- and fun to use.
-
- A word about the skill levels found in the math section of Crayon
- Box. It would be rather complicated to explain the algorithm
- behind the skill levels, but let it suffice to say that the higher
-
- levels are INCLUSIVE of the lower levels. In other words, you will
- find repetition of levels 0-8 in level 9, and repetition of levels
- 0-3 in level 4, etc. If you spend enough time in each level, you
- would see that there is a difference between level 1 and level 9.
- You will find a problem like 182/14 in level 9, but you will never
- see anything harder than 48/6 in level 1. Since the problems are
- displayed at random, it is possible for the user not to comprehend
- this during only a short evaluation period with the program.
-
-
- Command line options:
-
- You can receive a printed record of your child's math progress by
- starting the program from the DOS prompt in the following manner:
-
- C:>CRAYON GETNAME PRINTLOG press [ENTER]
-
- The "GETNAME" command line parameter will prompt the child for
- their name. You do not need "GETNAME" for the math printout. It
- was added for a school environment where it may be difficult to
- know what printout belongs to which child. The "PRINTLOG"
- parameter will cause Crayon Box to generate a summary log of the
- child's work in the math portion (+ - x /) of the program. The
- printed summary sheet(s) shows correct and incorrect responses from
- the child.
-
-
- Turn off music:
-
- If you would like to disable the upper half of the "Music" button
- so that your young one doesn't drive you up the wall with the
- pre-recorded tunes, start Crayon Box in the following manner:
-
- C:>CRAYON NOMUSIC
-
-
- Math problems input:
-
- In the large number addition and subtraction problems, keyboard
- input is displayed from RIGHT TO LEFT. For instance, if the
- problem was "100 + 72", the user would first press a "2", followed
- by a "7" followed by a "1" (i.e, 271 then ENTER). But right
- to left is backwards you might point out. True, but next time you
- add an entry into your checkbook note how you add up the numbers
- in each column! Where do you start first? At the right!
- Exactly! Well this is how the addition and subtraction problems
- expect keyboard input. Once you know this, it makes sense.
- However, when you are using multiplication and division problems,
- the default input is LEFT to RIGHT.
-
- If you prefer to stick with LEFT to RIGHT input for ALL math
- problems (add/subtract/multiply/divide), then add the "L2R"
- command line parameter at the DOS prompt (see example below):
-
- C:>CRAYON L2R press [ENTER]
-
- More than one attempt:
-
- None of us are perfect, especially our little ones. Should you
- wish to allow your children more than one attempt at a marble
- counting or math problem if they answer incorrectly, then use the
- following command line parameter:
-
- C:>CRAYON RETRY=x
-
- In the example above, replace "x" with a number from 2 to 9. This
- number will specify how many times to repeat a problem should the
- user enter an incorrect answer.
-
-
- Division display options:
-
- When using division math problems, there are two methods of
- displaying the dividend and divisor. One method is to place the
- divisor below the dividend. For example:
-
- 24
- ÷ 8 DIVISOR BOTTOM
- ---
- 3
-
- The other method is to place the divisor to the left of the
- dividend. For example:
-
- 3
- ____
- DIVISOR LEFT 8 ) 24
-
- Since both methods are acceptable in the math world, the program
- supports both methods. The question then is, how do you display
- each type? The easiest way is keep in mind that the large division
- button displayed on the far right side of the screen is divided
- into two invisible regions. When your mouse cursor is over the
- upper half of the division button (when you click the button) the
- program will display the divisor to the left of the dividend. When
- your mouse is over the lower half of the division button, then the
- divisor will be place below the dividend.
-
- If you would rather not worry about where to press the division
- button, you can OVERRIDE these invisible regions by using a DOS
- command line override parameter.
-
- To display ALL division problems where the divisor is located to
- the left of the dividend, type --> CRAYON DIVISOR LEFT at the
- command line.
-
- To display ALL division problems where the divisor is located to
- the bottom of the dividend, type --> CRAYON DIVISOR BOTTOM at the
- command line.
-
-
- Music button - dual function:
-
- From the opening screen, you will notice that the top right button
- contains musical notes and a piano keyboard. This button (when
- clicked with the left mouse button) can be used in two ways. When
- you position your mouse pointer over the MUSICAL NOTES and press
- the mouse button, a pre-recorded tune is played. Once the music
- stops, a large keyboard is displayed. The keyboard works just
- like a real piano. Click one of the ivories, and a corresponding
- note is played and displayed.
-
- Now, if you would like to skip the pre-recorded tune and jump
- straight to the keyboard, go to the top right main menu button and
- instead of clicking on the upper half containing the musical
- notes, click instead on the lower half (which displays the
- KEYBOARD icon). When the lower half of this button is pressed,
- the piano keys pop up immediately.
-
-
- Microsoft Windows: Crayon Box will run under Windows 3.1...most
- of the time. The most often encountered problem with running
- Crayon Box in MS Windows is that Windows fails to share the
- mouse with Crayon Box. The best way to insure that the mouse
- driver is available to Crayon Box from within MS Windows is to
- load your mouse PRIOR TO running MS Windows. This can be done
- by adding a line to your CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT file that
- will load your mouse driver when you turn your computer on.
-
-
- Distribution: Crayon Box is distributed as shareware software.
- Shareware is a "try before you buy" software marketing concept that
- allows the user to obtain fully functional copies of programs for
- evaluation. The distribution and copying fee that you may have paid
- to obtain this disk does not cover the cost of the software contained
- on this disk. Shareware programs such as the one that you are about
- to try require separate payment to the author if it is found to be a
- useful product and if it is used beyond a reasonable evaluation
- period.
-
-
- Vendors: Please contact the author/sysop with a SASE or e-mail
- message on The Mustard Seed BBS prior to distribution of Crayon
- Box IF THE FILE DATE STAMP ON CRAYON.EXE IS OLDER THAN 2 YEARS. We
- simply want to insure that you have the latest version of the
- program. Thank you.
-
-
- Other programs: If you like Crayon Box, you may be interested in
- trying some of the author's other programs. Most of our programs are
- family, educational, or Bible related. For shareware evaluation
- copies, you can obtain the latest versions from our Internet Web
- sites:
-
- http://www.pc-shareware.com/
- http://members.aol.com/shareware/
-
- We also maintain a forum on America Online. Use keyword "SOFTWORD"
- to visit us and obtain additional software
-
-
- Frequently asked questions:
-
- Q: How do I print the pictures in Crayon Box?
-
- A: Crayon Box does not have printer support. You will not be able
- to print or save any pictures that your child has created. If
- these options are important to you, then you may wish to
- investigate our Lil' Picasso program.
-
-
- Q: When I run Crayon Box within Microsoft's Windows 3.1, your
- programs says that it could not detect my mouse and the program
- will not run.
-
- A: Crayon Box is a DOS program, and not a native Windows program.
- Crayon Box requires a mouse driver to be loaded at system
- boot-up (i.e., when you turn your computer on). Mouse drivers
- are software programs that allow a mouse to communicate with
- your computer. Mouse drivers are either loaded at boot-up,
- executed from either your CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT files, or
- they are loaded when you start Windows. If the mouse driver is
- loaded when Windows starts then the mouse is only available to
- native Windows programs and you will find that most DOS programs
- cannot detect the mouse under these conditions. If you run DOS
- programs regularly, then you should have your mouse driver load
- first when you turn on your computer rather than later when
- Windows loads. The order in which the mouse driver loads will
- determine whether DOS programs can use the mouse while running
- under Windows.
-
-
- Here's a test that you can perform to determine whether your
- mouse is being properly loaded at boot-up. Exit Windows
- totally and return to a C:> DOS prompt. Then run Crayon Box
- from a DOS prompt. If Crayon Box will not run from a DOS
- prompt, then your mouse is NOT loaded properly. Try opening a
- different DOS program (e.g., type EDIT to load a DOS based
- text editor). If the mouse does not work in this second
- program, then your mouse driver is not being loaded at system
- bootup.
-
-
- Problems?: If you have any questions about Crayon Box, and you have
- not yet registered, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope to
- insure a speedy reply. Please do NOT send us defective disks unless
- you obtained CRAYON BOX directly from the author. At the DOS prompt
- type "CHKDSK" and if you find any bad sectors or lost clusters or file
- allocation errors, contact the SOURCE from which you purchased the
- disk. CRAYON BOX was released after extensive testing, and if you have
- any problems, most likely it will be a result of damaged or missing
- files during the copying process from your vendor or a pinched floppy
- sleeve during mailing.
-
- Also, consider sending us an email message rather then paper mail.
- You can reach us at: 74170.3550@compuserve.com
-
-
-
- CRAYON BOX REGISTRATION
-
- Indicate disk format desired (mark with an "X"):
-
- 3.5" 720K low density _____
-
- 5.25" 1.2M high density _____
-
- 3.5" 1.4M high density _____
-
- Please print your name and address below VERY CLEARLY!
-
- Individual's complete name _______________________________________________
-
- Mailing address __________________________________________________________
-
- City ____________________________ State __________ Zip Code ____________
-
- Country ________________________ Phone __________________________________
-
-
- Make U.S. funds payable to:
-
- Philip P. Kapusta
- 406 Monroe Avenue
- Falmouth, Va. 22405 U.S.A.
-
- CRAYON BOX REGISTRATION COSTS:
-
-
- Basic registration (includes 12 pictures) $10.00 $______ *
-
- Additional pictures at $0.05 each
- (maximum of 20 extra pictures) ____ x $0.05 $______
-
- Virginia residents, add 4.5% sales tax $______
-
- Canadian addresses add $1.00 shipping $ 1.00 $______
-
- Overseas/foreign addresses add $2.00 $ 2.00 $______
-
- Total enclosed: $______ **
-
-
- * Prices are valid through December 31, 1998. Contact author with a
- self-addressed stamped envelope after this date for the latest prices.
-
- ** For registrants in Canada, U.K., Australia or Europe, payment can be
- made by International money order payable in U.S.A. dollars, or you can
- pay by mailing CASH (your native currency). If mailing cash, wrap well
- for the author will not be held responsible for lost mail. No coins!
-
-