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1994-03-01
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TAKE FIVE
by
Ssorg Software
P.O. Box 621331
Orlando, FL 32862
DESCRIPTION
Take Five is basically a PC message service and security
system. The program can display a graphical image on the screen
and accept messages while your away. The graphics are stored in
Zsoft's PC Paintbrush format. This allows the user to create and
edit images using any paint package that supports the "PCX" file
format in EGA or VGA mode. Program menu screens allow you to
change the position of the display, set delay time and type of
screen fade. Providing a password activates the system's message
taking ability and security system. In addition a limited screen
editor allows text to be added to the display in different colors
and sizes. The program requires EGA or VGA display capabilities.
INSTALLATION
Floppy Disk - The program can be run as is from a single floppy
disk. To do this switch to the drive that contains
the disk in and enter "TAKE5". Please note that
unless the install program is run the override
password will not be set.
Hard Disk - The program "TAKE5.EXE" needs several files to
be in the current directory or path for the program
to work right. An install program has been included
to set this up for you. Insert the disk in the
appropriate drive (A or B) and type
"A:INSTALL" or "B:INSTALL" and hit the enter key.
STARTING
Before starting the program all users should read the
LICENSE.DOC file. This file contains important license information
regarding the use of TAKE FIVE ver 2.0. When the program is
started it first checks for all required files. The program will
then check you computers graphic capability to make sure it can
support EGA or VGA graphics. If any problems are found you will
get a error message identifying the problem with a possible
solution.
RUNNING THE PROGRAM
The first screen the program will display is a list of PCX
files in the current directory. The current path is shown at the
top of the screen with specific file information at the bottom.
Use the arrow keys to highlight the graphic file you wish the
program to display on the screen. The F2 key will let you change
the drive and directory and F3 will display more detailed information
on the image file currently highlighted. The program is designed to
display only 16 color EGA images and 256 color VGA images. If the
image highlighted is of one of these types the F4 key will let you
preview the image.
Once you have selected the graphic image a program
configuration screen will be displayed. This screen allows you to
set specific program options. Using the tab and arrow keys you can
move between these options.
The first option that can be set is a password. This password
can be up to eight characters and is required if you wish the
message taking capabilities of the program to be active. The X and
Y coordinates allows you to move an image around a screen. For
example, an X coordinate value of 100 will have the image to the
right when it is displayed on the screen. A negative value (i.e. -
100) will move the image to the left. The delay value determines
how long the program will wait between each fade-in and fade-out of
the image. A value of 0 for the delay will cancel the fade-in and
fade-out and leave the image continuously on the screen. The value
for fade determines what type of fade-in or fade-out is used. For
this version of Take Five there are 4 different types of fades:
pixel wipe, spiral, radar, and a rainbow sweep. A value of 5 for
the fade will have the program randomly pick the fade.
The last option on the screen is to have the program place
your current Take Five configuration in the autoexec.bat file.
This will set the program to run every time the computer is turned
on or rebooted. Please be cautious about doing this. If you
forget your password the only way to bypass the program is to use
the override password set up by the install program or to boot the
computer from a floppy disk. If you have to boot the machine from
floppy disk you can remove the Take Five command line by editing
the autoexec.bat file on your hard disk. The first line in the
autoexec file should be the Take Five command line.
Upon setting up program options you will be prompted on
whether you want to create a batch file with the configuration you
set up. Creating a batch file will let you run Take Five exactly
the way you set it up (including password if any) just by entering
the batch file name. For instance, you can set the program up with
the LUNCHVGA.PCX image, password "OPEN" and a rainbow fade then save
it as a batch file called "lunch". From then on, every time you go to
lunch you can just enter "LUNCH" at that directory prompt to run it.
A demonstration of this type of batch program is included on the
program disk. To run this program just enter "DEMO" at the prompt.
Please make sure your default drive and path are the same as the
program files. (i.e. C:\TAKE5)
TEXT EDITING
Every time you start Take Five you will have a chance to add
text to the screen display. You will only be able to do this in
the first few seconds of the display by hitting the Enter key.
This is to prevent others from changing your display. Text
editing is limited to four text sizes, and any color in the current
palette (The palette is the total number of colors your display can
show in the current video mode). One limitation, when adding text
is that there is no option for editing text that has already been
entered. If you require better text editing capabilities you
should use a good paint program to add text to the original PCX
image. The following key commands are available for Take Five text
editing:
F1..F4 - Changes the text size being entered. The
cursor blinks in the current text size and
color.
Page Up - This will change the color to the next higher
palette color. If the last color in the
palette has been reached (16 for EGA and 256
for VGA) then it will jump to the first color;
Page Down - This will change the color to the next lower
palette color. If the first color in the
palette has been reached then it will jump to
the last color;
Arrow Keys - This will move the cursor eight pixels in the
direction indicated.
Escape - Will exit the text editing mode of Take Five.
Please note - If the text color is set to the same as the
background screen color you not see the cursor or text being
entered. You should page through the palette colors until you can
see the cursor clearly.
MESSAGES
If the program is running with a password configuration a "Hit
F1 to leave message" prompt will be displayed at the bottom of the
screen. For anyone to leave a message all they have to do is hit
the F1 key. This will switch the display to text mode and display
a text input screen. All messages left this way are time and date
stamped.
EXITING
Hitting any key other then F1 will display a system lockout
message. At this point you can enter the password and unlock the
system. If there are any messages you will be prompted on whether
you wish to read them or not. If you decide to read the messages
you will have the option to file (as an ASCII text file) or print
each message. Several options are available when the program is
displaying your messages. These options are listed at the bottom
of the display message box. Hitting the F1 key will print the
currently displayed message, F2 will write it to a file as straight
ASCII text and F3 will exit to DOS. The program can save an
unlimited number of messages. The program will store all messages
to a file named "MESSAGES.T5" on the default drive and directory.
This limits the total number of messages only to the maximum
available space on your drive.
ERRORS
#1 - Unacceptable X coordinate.
Possible Cause: - Non-numeric characters (i.e. X=4F).
- Value to big (larger then 640).
- Value to small (smaller then -640).
#2 - Unacceptable Y coordinate.
Possible Cause: - Non-numeric characters (i.e. Y=4F).
- Value to big (larger then 320).
- Value to small (smaller then -320).
#3 - Unacceptable delay value.
Possible Cause: - Non-numeric characters (i.e. D=3F).
- Value a negative (i.e. D=-20).
#4 - <Filename>is not a recognizable PCX file.
Possible Cause: - Not a PCX file or not a 16 color or 256
color image.
#5 - Unable to detect EGA or VGA graphics.
Possible Cause: - Your system's graphics card does not support
EGA or VGA.
- Your card has a non-standard EGA or VGA bios.
#6 - Unable to read <FILENAME> please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
#7 - Unable to read "LOCK_OUT.VGA" please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
- The file has been corrupted.
#8 - Unable to read "LOCK_OUT.EGA", please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
- The file has been corrupted.
#9 - Unable to read "FONT1.FNT", please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
#10 - Unable to read "FONT2.FNT", please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
#11 - Unable to read "FONT3.FNT", please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
#12 - Unable to read "FONT4.FNT", please check file.
Possible Cause: - A file with that name could not be found (check
current directory and path for file)
#13 - Unable to access full "FONT1.FNT".
Possible Cause: - The file has been corrupted.
SITE LICENSE
For a low price companies or groups can receive a site license
to the Take Five program. This license will legally allow an
unlimited number of people to use the program at a single location.
Site licenses holders receive a special copy of the program with
their company (or group) name displayed promptly on the
introduction screen. In addition, their version of the install
program will allow custom setting of the override password. Please
contact Ssorg Software (P.O. Box 621331, Orlando, FL 32862) for
more information.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
All registered users of Take Five are entitled to 90 Days of
technical support. This is available by telephone, electronically
through Compuserve, or by mail. Non-registered users will receive
"limited" mail support. To obtain support by mail send questions to
the following address:
Ssorg Software /T5
P.O. Box 621331
Orlando, FL 32862
To obtain support electronically, send questions to:
CompuServe: 70621,440
Internet: 70621,440@COMPUSERVE.COM
* * * ASP OMBUDSMAN POLICY * * *
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 or send
a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman
70007,3536.
_______
____|__ | (R)
--| | |-------------------
| ____|__ | Association of
| | |_| Shareware
|__| o | Professionals
-----| | |---------------------
|___|___| MEMBER
* * * DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT * * *
Users of Take Five must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "Take
Five is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties
of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author
assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which
may result from the use of Take Five."