Thank you for trying Window Garden. This file includes: Info on what shareware is. Legal stuff. How to install and run Window Garden. DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware. Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT Users of WINDOW GARDEN must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "WINDOW GARDEN 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 conse- quential, which may result from the use of WINDOW GARDEN." Please take special care when pesticides or chemicals are suggested as solutions to your gardening problems. You should always follow the manufacturer's recommendations when mixing and applying these products. WINDOW GARDEN is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this program useful and find that you are using WINDOW GARDEN and continue to use WINDOW GARDEN after a reasonable trial period, you must make a reg- istration payment of $20 to Wesley Garrard. The $20 registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat this software just like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time. Commercial users of WINDOW GARDEN must register and pay for their copies of WINDOW GARDEN within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by con- tacting Wesley Garrard. Anyone distributing WINDOW GARDEN for any kind of remuneration must first contact Wesley Garrard at the address below for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering WINDOW GARDEN immediately (However Wesley Garrard must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of WINDOW GARDEN.). You are encouraged to pass a copy of WINDOW GARDEN along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it. All registered users will receive a copy of the latest version of the WINDOW GARDEN system. Any comments and suggestions are appreciated. If you have any gardening ideals you would like to see added to WINDOW GARDEN, feel free to contact me at the addresses below. Happy gardening! Mail to: Wesley Garrard 2114 Shady Lane Drive Jackson, MS 39204 You can also reach me on Compuserve: Wesley Garrard 74653,347 Comments and suggestions are welcome. Thank you for trying WINDOW GARDEN! INSTALLING AND RUNNING WINDOW GARDEN Nothing fancy here...just create a directory named WGARDEN and copy all files to this directory. Then from File Manager select this new directory and double click on "wgarden.exe". To make things even simpler to start up, drag "wgarden.exe" onto your desktop from File Manager and the included icon will be added to your desktop. Then starting Window Garden can simply be done by double clicking the Window Garden icon. Future versions should include one of those fancy install programs. As far as running the program goes, this is a standard windows program. Selecting one of the menu options will give you the information requested. You can access these options with a mouse or by the keyboard (holding down the "Alt" key while pressing an underlined letter). Once you have selected an option a new screen will appear. Clicking once on one of the items of a listbox will give you specific information regarding a plant, pest disease, etc.. When you have selected an item you would like more information select the "Details" button. (Keyboard users can move from one listbox or control by using the Tab key and selecting an item with the space bar or arrow down key. When the program first starts up, you will need to select the "zone" you live in by selecting one of the color coded buttons. This will bring up the "plant selection" box. Selecting a vegetable will give planting info, as well as pests and diseases associated with that plant. Clicking on a pest will show a bitmap picture of the pest to aid in identifying a pest. Selecting a plant, pest, or disease and pressing "Details" will bring up more specific info about your selection. Detailed info will give organic solutions as an alternative whenever possible. Be sure to check out the companion planting option from the menu also. This will show you which plants help each other when interplanted together and which ones do not. Selecting a "Good Companion" or "Bad Companion" plant will give some additional info as to how the selected plant is good or bad for the associated plant. You can change the zone you live in by selecting the "Config/Planting zones" option in the menu. This could be helpful if you live on or near one of the planting zone borders. Well, that's about it...play around with it...it's easy to use but contains lots of info to keep you growing year round!