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DATIME.DOC
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1994-01-06
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15KB
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384 lines
/----------\
| TAG | Presents
| SOFTWARE | . . . . Digital Audio Time 1.0
\----------/
Digital Audio Time 1.0 is a program that speaks the current
time on your Sound Blaster, AdLib Personal Computer
Music System, Disney Sound Source, PC Speaker, or 100%
compatibles.
Digital Audio Time 1.0 requires an IBM PC or compatible, a
Sound Blaster, AdLib Personal Computer Music System, Disney
Sound Source or 100% compatibles, and only 256K of available
RAM.
Digital Audio Time 1.0 is distributed as Shareware: if you
like the program, please become a registered user. See the
Section "Registration Benefits" at the end of this file for
more information. Print or list the file REGISTER.DOC for
ordering information. Distribution of this shareware program
is encouraged.
The Digital Audio Time 1.0 source code, object code,
executables and manuals on paper or on disk, are COPYRIGHT
(c) 1993 by Carole & Allen Grider.
DISCLAIMER
This program is provided "AS IS" and it is WITHOUT warranty
of any kind that it will work correctly in any or all
situations. No liability shall be assumed for direct or
consequential damage caused by the use of this software.
The only claim TAG SOFTWARE makes is that there are no
intentional bugs or fatal errors in any original copy of
the program that you receive directly from TAG SOFTWARE.
MANIFEST
DATIME.DOC . . . . Text, Documentation (This file)
DATIME.EXE . . . . Digital Audio Time 1.0 executable
README.DOC . . . . Text, Last minute information
DATALARM.DOC . . . How to use DATIME with Telemate 4.0
TMALARM.BAT . . . Telemate external alarm example .BAT file
REGISTER.DOC . . . Text, Registration order form
CATALOG.DOC . . . Text, Catalog of TAG SOFTWARE Products
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution of this program is encouraged as long as the
following Shareware principles are observed:
All of the above-mentioned 7 files should be
included in the distributed disk and should not be
altered in any way. TAG SOFTWARE authorizes the
distribution ONLY of the 7 above-mentioned files.
If archiving this program for BBS use or library use,
please include all files and use the name: DATIME10, ( e.g.:
DATIME10.ARC or DATIME10.ZIP ). This will provide
consistency for future updates.
Note for Disk and Rack Vendors: Please contact TAG SOFTWARE
for the latest version of this and all our programs. Disk
and Rack Vendors are allowed to include their own
installation package. Also contact us if you require
customization. We will consider non-exclusive registration
handling agreements.
Rack Vendors: Please contact TAG SOFTWARE regarding discounts
to your customers for registering our shareware. We will
consider discounting some or all of the rack price from our
registration fee, if we receive some kind of proof-of-purchase.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND OPTIONS
COMPUTERS: IBM/PC/XT/AT or compatibles. 256K free memory.
SOUND CARD: Sound Blaster, AdLib Personal Computer Music
System, Disney Sound Source or 100% compatibles.
OPERATION
Digital Audio Time is invoked from the MSDOS command line
or batch file:
DATIME [ -a ] [ -d ] [ -p ]
Options:
-a Speak the time on a Sound Blaster in AdLib FM mode.
May be required on some Sound Blaster clones.
-d Speak the time on a Disney Sound Source connected to
your parallel port (LPT1).
-p Speak the time on your PC Speaker.
DATIME 1.0 should auto-detect both the Sound Blaster and AdLib
sound cards. The Sound Source cannot be detected. You must
use the -d option to speak on this device. If DATIME 1.0 does
not detect a sound card, it attempts to speak on the PC
Speaker. See the NOTES ON SOUND CARDS section below.
DATIME 1.0 will display and speak the time as follows:
"The time is" "HH:MM" [ "PM" ]
Where "HH" will be the hour and "MM" will be the minute.
"PM" will be added when the time is post meridiem.
Examples:
C:> DATIME
Digital Audio Time version 1.0
COPYRIGHT (c) 1993 by Allen & Carole Grider
Shareware version - Continued use requires registration
The time is 3:33 PM
Speaks the time on a Sound Blaster, AdLib, or PC Speaker.
C:> DATIME -p
Digital Audio Time version 1.0
COPYRIGHT (c) 1993 by Allen & Carole Grider
Shareware version - Continued use requires registration
The time is 3:33 PM
Speaks the time on the PC Speaker.
CONFIGURATION
Sound Blaster CONFIGURATION
An environment variable can be used to inform DATIME of the
information it requires to speak on the Sound Blaster. This
environment variable is set up by newer versions of the Sound
Blaster's installation program, but older Sound Blaster's
(and clone's) installation programs do not set up this
environment variable.
Digital Audio Time can obtain its configuration from the
environment variable BLASTER. The format of the information
in this variable is as follows:
SET BLASTER=Annn In Dn Tn
Where:
Annn nnn specifies the I/O Address of your sound card.
Sound Blaster 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0:
Possible values: 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260
Factory Default: 220 (if not changed via hardware jumper).
Sound Blaster Pro:
Possible values: 220, 240
Factory Default: 220 (if not changed via hardware jumper).
Sound Blaster 16:
Possible values: 220, 240, 260, 280
Factory Default: 220 (if not changed via hardware jumper).
In n specifies the IRQ of your sound card.
Sound Blaster 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0:
Possible values: 2, 3, 5, 7
Factory Default: 7 (if not changed via hardware jumper).
Sound Blaster Pro
Possible values: 2, 5, 7, 10
Factory Default: 7 (if not changed via hardware jumper).
Sound Blaster 16
Possible values: 2, 5, 7, 10
Factory Default: 5 (if not changed via hardware jumper).
Dn n specifies the 8-bit DMA Channel used by your sound card.
Sound Blaster 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0:
Possible values: 1
Factory Default: 1 (not changable)
Sound Blaster Pro
Possible values: 0, 1, 3
Factory Default: 1
Sound Blaster 16
Possible values: 0, 1, 3
Factory Default: 1 (not changable)
Note that DATIME 1.0 only supports DMA channel 1.
Tn n specifies the Type of your sound card.
See NOTES ON SOUND CARDS below for more information.
Possible values:
1 Sound Blaster 1.0 or 1.5
2 Sound Blaster Pro
3 Sound Blaster 2.0
6 Sound Blaster 16
Currently DATIME does nothing with this value.
For a Sound Blaster just out of the box (before you muck with
the jumpers) use:
SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 T1
or:
SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 T3
For a Sound Blaster 1.5 (what we have) on IRQ 5 (like us, most
people have a printer on IRQ 7):
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T1
The Sound Blaster Pro and Sound Blaster 16 supports
additional DMA Channels. However, Digital Audio Time does
not support the additional DMA Channels. If your card's
configuration fits the ranges given above, then Digital Audio
Time 1.0 should work. If you have problems, please
contact us.
Digital Audio Time 1.0 has the ability to auto-detect the
Sound Blaster. But, if it has trouble (please let us know)
you can set the BLASTER environment variable to get around
the problem.
AdLib CONFIGURATION
Digital Audio Time 1.0 has the ability to auto-detect the
AdLib Personal Computer Music System sound card.
Disney Sound Source CONFIGURATION
Digital Audio Time 1.0 cannot auto-detect the Sound Source.
You have to inform it that a Sound Source exists on your
system. Use to "-d" option to do this. For example:
DATIME -D BUGSBUNY.VOC
PC Speaker CONFIGURATION
Digital Audio Time 1.0 assumes a IBM PC/XT/AT clone
speaker. If you have a Sound Blaster or AdLib sound card you
can override DATIME's autodetection and speak the time on
the PC Speaker by using the "-p" option.
NOTES ON SOUND CARDS
Creative Labs Sound Blaster
Creative Labs has issued several different sound cards - all
under the name Sound Blaster. There is also the Sound Blaster
Pro and the Sound Blaster 16. The cards and their differences
are listed below:
Sound Blaster 1.0 - The original. Mono FM. Comes with CMS
chips. 100% AdLib, GameBlaster compatible plus
mono 8 bit DAC 4kHz-23kHz / ADC 4kHz-12Khz.
Sound Blaster 1.5 - Same as above but they made the CMS
chips optional (CMS chips are required for
GameBlaster compatibility).
Sound Blaster 2.0 - Same as above but the CMS support was
dropped completely (Seems they weren't selling).
Sound Blaster Pro - Same as Sound Blaster 2.0 but adds
stereo support.
Sound Blaster 16 - Same as Sound Blaster 2.0 buts adds
both stereo and 16-bit support.
Digital Audio Time 1.0 should work properly with all five
types. If you have any problems, please let us know.
Various Sound Blaster clones have been produced with
different levels of compatibility. Digital Audio Time 1.0
should work with any Sound Blaster clone with 100% register
level compatibility. If you have any problems, please let us
know. If you are unable to get DATIME working with your Sound
Blaster clone, you can try the AdLib FM option "-a".
AdLib Personal Computer Music System
AdLib produced the first sound card with 9 FM voices. But,
it has no direct digital audio support. We have come up with
an algorithm that allows playing of digital audio sounds on
the AdLib with surprisingly good results.
Disney Sound Source
The Disney Sound Source is a parallel port Digital to Analog
Converter (DAC). Currently DATIME only supports this device
when it is connected to LPT1 (the first parallel port). The
sounds that came with ours were really grotty and are not
representive of the really good digital sound this device can
produce.
PC Speaker
The PC's speaker is a truly amazing beast. Orignally
designed to only produce beeps and simple tones, it can
actually perform an amazing range of sounds. However, one
has to have a speaker with sufficent volume to be heard. On
our 16Mhz machine, the speaker is buried behind a solid front
and is not loud enough. Our 25Mhz, on the other hand, the
speaker's sound is quite acceptable.
DOCUMENTATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
If you have a printer, please print out and read this
documentation file DATIME.DOC. This idea came to Allen one
day while he was combing through a set of sound files he had
downloaded from somewhere. In that set were all the sounds
he needed to make this program. Thanks to the anonymous
person for making the set available.
We would like to thank Bob Chrisp for his information that
DAFORT (our random sound player) worked as an external alarm
player for Telemate. DATIME works also -- see DATALARM.DOC
for more information. If anyone knows of a similar way that
DATIME can be used in another package, please let us know.
We will give you credit here.
NEAR FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS
It is really silly for it to say XX:00 for XX o'clock. But we
did not have a "o'clock" phrase that matched the others. The
same goes for "AM".
We would like to add support for the Covox Speach Thing and
clones. This should be in the next release. We know how to
do it, but do not have one to test with. If anyone has one
and would like to be an alpha tester or if you would sell us
one cheap, please let us know.
We would like to add support for other sound cards including
Pro Audio Spectrum 16 and the MediaVision Ultrasound. If you
have programming information on these devices, contact us,
maybe we can work a deal.
FAR FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS
Is anyone interested in military time? The PC's time clock
runs a 24 hour clock and has to be translated to a 12 hour
clock. If someone could send us the offical rules for
pronouncing military time it would really help. We would
have to analyze it and then find or sample a sample set.
(Would offseting to ZULU time be needed also?)
Is anyone interested in the date and time being spoken?
This would really add to the sample set.
A really interesting idea would be to come up with a method
of allowing the user to specify his own set of samples (the
numerals 0 through 9, plus 10 though 19, and 20, 30, 40, and
50, plus the phrases "o'clock", "The time is", "AM", "PM").
One could have one's kid, spouse, boss, anybody or anything
speak the time.
REGISTRATION BENEFITS
Digital Audio Time 1.0 is distributed as Shareware: if you
like the program, please become a registered user by sending
$5 to TAG SOFTWARE. List or print the file REGISTER.DOC for
more information. List or print the file CATALOG.DOC for a
complete description of all of TAG SOFTWARE's products.
For registering Digital Audio Time 1.0:
- You will receive the latest registered version of this
program.
- You will receive one FREE disk from our Digital Audio
Collection Series. See the file CATALOG.DOC for details as
to which audio clips are on what disk.
- Technical Support. Please write TAG SOFTWARE. Or you
can contact us through The Programmer's Corner BBS
301-596-7692 or 410-995-6873.
As always, we will respond to your suggestions and comments.
Sometimes we can incorporate your suggestions in the latest
version of the program that you receive from us.