Help Index
  Baffle-Gab Help Module Index

   Installation
    	Setup
    	Concepts

   Operations
    	Generating Phrases
    	Checking Word Meanings
    	Copying Phrases
    	Pasting Nouns
    	Menu Bar Selections

   Using the Dictionary
    	Dictionary List
    	Dictionary Maintenance


#The Index contains a list of Help topics available from the application. For information on how to use Help, press F1 or choose Using Help from the Help menu.


Baffle-Gab:

1)  'Baffle-Gab' is a registered tradmark of:
     Six 'S' Software Inc.
     Four Hundred Two Sea Gate Drive
     Newport, North Carolina  28570

2)   The fine art of interjecting extensive superfluous verbosity in the process of obfuscating any written or oral communication.


Copying Baffle-Gab onto your System
Setup Exec

Baffle-Gab is copied and distributed as 'Share Ware' and as such may be received in any number of different forms. The product is constructed to run in DOS Windows 3.0 or greater.  Assuming that this environment is available, and that you have about 300K of available disk space, you can install and run this product from any of the following forms:

FROM BG.EXE

This is a self extracting file which creates the entire Baffle-Gab  Installation directory.  The BG.EXE file might be downloaded from a bulletin  board or copied from a friends system via diskette.  In any case the program  file should be copied into any convienient directory of your PC, perhaps  'C:\BAFGAB' for example.  Then proceed as follows:

o First, invoke the file manager.
o Next, select the Directory where BG.EXE was copied.
o Double-Click on 'BG.EXE'.
o Proceed to 'SETUP.EXE' instructions, below.

FROM a 'Directory Copy'

You may also install Baffle-Gab from someone elses working directory.  This is usually done via a diskette, by first going to the source machine,  invoking File Manager, and then doing a 'Copy *.*' procedure to put all of  the Baffle-Gab files onto the diskette.  Then the diskette can be taken to  the target machine and the reverse procedure is done.  Again, you may copy  the files into any directory you may choose.

o First, invoke the file manager.
o Next, select floppy drive where the diskette is inserted.
o Select all (*.*) of the Baffle-Gab files.
o Select 'Copy' from the File Manager Menu.
o Designate the path name for the directory where you want Baffle-Gab to be installed.
o Proceed to 'SETUP.EXE' instructions, below.

Running 'SETUP.EXE'

Once all of the appropriate Baffle-Gab files are installed into a directory on your system, the product may or may not be ready to run.  The two main programs you want to look for within the directory are 'BAFGAB.EXE' and  'SETUP.EXE'.  BAFGAB is the main program.  For the experienced Windows user,  you may be comfortable configuring to run it in any of the usual Windows  methods.  (e.g. from the File Manager, or from the Program Manager either  as a direct program item or via a PIF edited definition.

If you are not comfortable, or not successful, in running Baffle-Gab as  installed then you will need to run the setup program.  To do this, simply  stay in the File Manager, and in the directory where the Baffle-Gab files are  installed.  Locate the SETUP.EXE item in the file list and double-click on  the name.

 The program will run automatically.  The first phase of setup will  install any missing items from the source directory into the WINDOWS  directory.  Phase two of setup will automatically invoke BGSETUP.EXE, which  will in turn take care of configuring the directory and creating the  appropriate Program Manager groups and icons.

 This will fully complete the installation of the product.


The fine art of Baffle-Gab
Concepts

Before you go too far with Baffle-Gab you should understand its purpose:  IT IS JUST FOR FUN!

Baffle-Gab invents three word phrases.  It selects an adverb, an adjective, and a noun from its dictionary choosing the words at random.  The result is a grammatically correct, albeit perhaps somewhat meaningless phrase.

Baffle-Gab can therefore help anyone soliloquize with deftness and style.  Any communication may be 'colorized' with Baffle-Gab.    The trick is to merge our baffle-phrases into your language.

Baffle-Gab is therefore configured for integration with all MS-DOS 'Windows-based' word processors.  Baffle-phrases may be copied to the clip-board and are thus available for pasting right into your documents.  Similarly, if you have a noun in your document which could use a little 'color', mark it and copy it as you would for any other purpose.  Then paste that noun into the Noun Text Box of Baffle-Gab and let it generate a new phrase for you.  Your communications will sound like a million bucks regardless of the relative transparency or opacity of your meaning.


Phrase Generation

There are two ways Baffle-Gab can invent a phrase for you.  In both cases you must supply some input and then press a 'phrase generation' command button.

Random Number Seed: The first method for phrase generation is by using the random number seed.  You may either enter a three digit number directly into the 'Seed Number' text box or you may change the number which is already there by moving the scroll bar associated with the box.  Once a random number seed is selected, simply click the 'From Number' command button and a phrase will be generated.

Noun Seed:  The second method for phrase generation is by specifying a seed noun.  This seed word can be either pasted or typed into the 'Seed Noun' text box.  Once this is done you need only to click on the 'From Noun' command button to produce your baffle-phrase.

If the first method 'Random Number Seed' is used, then a specific region of the word dictionary is chosen and words are selected at random from around that area.  If the second 'Noun Seed' method is used, then Baffle-Gab will first attempt to find synonyms for the given noun and choose one of those for the phrase.  If no synonyms can be found, the seed noun itself is used for the phrase.  Other words to complete the phrase are then chosen using the 'time of day' as a random number seed.


Word Lookup
Checking Words

The Baffle-Gab dictionary contains some words which may not be found in common English usage.  This being the case, it is sometimes useful to look-up the dictionary meaning of the words chosen for your phrase.   It is the users responsibility to evaluate how appropriate any given phrase might be for the purpose at hand.  The 'word lookup' itself can be done easily by simply pointing at, and double-clicking, any word within the baffle-phrase.


Menu Bar Selections
The Menu Bar

The selections available from the Menu Bar include the following:

FILE
Provides access to the pull-down menu selection to exit Baffle-Gab.  This exit procedure is exactly equivalent to using the CANCEL command button on the main Baffle-Gab screen.

EDIT
Provides access to the pull-down menu selections for the 'Copy Phrase' and the 'Paste Noun' functions.

DICTIONARY
Provides access to the pull-down menu selections for 'Dictionary List' and the 'Dictionary Maintenance' functions.

COPYRIGHT
Shows the Baffle-Gab copyright information and explains the terms under which the use of Baffle-Gab is licensed.  It also affords the authors of this product a place to acknowledge the contributions derived from the work of certain other individuals.

HELP
The Help selection from the menu bar enables access to (this) documenation structure.


Dictionary List

Sometimes it may be useful to view and/or to print out all of the words within the Baffle-Gab dictionary.    This may be done by selecting the 'Dictionary' selection from the menu bar and then selecting the 'list' command within that menu.  The Dictionary list window will be called, but will not automatically fill.  You must first choose the word type(s) you wish to list by checking the appropriate 'check boxes' within the 'selection' block.  You may choose more than one type.  Once you have made your word type choices, then simply click the 'Select' command button and the word list will appear.

To look up the meanings of words shown within the dictionary list you may either double-click on a word, or you may hi-lite the word and then click the 'Details' command button.  Use the 'Print' command button to obtain hardcopy output of the dictionary list either with or without definitions.


Maintain Dictionary
Dictionary Maintenance

For even more fun with Baffle-Gab, you may wish to modify the dictionary specifically for your personal use.  You may do so in two ways.  First, you may modify the definitions of existing words, and second, you may add new words of your own.

To customize your Baffle-Gab dictionary, choose the 'Dictionary' option from the menu bar and then choose 'Maintenance' from the pull-down menu.  Just type a word into the word box.  Baffle-Gab will recall the word for maintenance if it is already on file, or it will automatically enter 'new item' mode if it is not.  Use care to correctly classify words by type - Adverb, Adjective, or Noun.  Baffle-Gab phrases cannot be properly constructed without these classifications.  The synonym group table is available for all words, but it is used only for nouns.


Copy Phrase

Once you have produced exactly the correct baffle-phrase for your purpose, and you wish to copy that phrase for later pasting it into your document, then you may do so as follows:
1) Select the 'Edit' command from the menu bar.
2) Select the 'Copy Phrase' command from the pull down menu.

Thats all there is to it.  Your very own Baffle-Phrase is now on your clip-board ready to be pasted into any application package you may be using.

NOTE: It is not necessary to 'mark' or 'select' the phrase before invoking the copy.  The Baffle-Gab 'copy' procedure always copies the entire Baffle-Phrase.


Paste
Noun Paste

If you have previously copied a noun and wish for Baffle-Gab to produce a 'colorized' phrase from that noun, then you may simply choose the 'Paste Noun' command from the 'Edit' menu.    This will automatically place your noun into the 'Seed Noun' text box so you are ready to click the 'From Noun' command button.

 Note:  You can use Baffle-Gab's 'Copy' and 'Paste' commands together.  If Baffle-Gab has produced a phrase and you like the noun, but you want to vary the rest of the phrase, then simply:
1)  Copy the phrase
2)  Paste the noun
3)  Press the 'From Noun' command button.