Play and Learn 2/19941.ZIP/19941/EDUCAMES/STRUDLE/STRUDLE.DOC

Text File | 1994-02-04 | 5.3 KB | 102 lines

                        Christopher G. Gunn
                       3174 Hawthorn Street
                       San Diego, CA, 92104
                          [phone]


Strudle is not for sale through retail facilities.  It is distributed as
shareware on an "I trust you" basis and is not in any form to be considered
public domain or free.  Considerable effort went into creating the program and
I'm retaining full protection under the copyright laws.  However, I also want
you to be able to share my games with your friends.  So, please feel free to
hand on as many copies as you would like, as long as you include the original
BAT file and all of the document files.

There are no set prices for my programs.  I leave their value up to you.  If
you are going to use Strudle for your personal enjoyment, whether you got it
from a software distributor or a friend, please mail a check to me at the
above address.  Your donation towards each programs creation is appreciated.
In exchange, I'll add your name to the list of those eligible for updates,
contests, and additional games.  For example, I hope soon to have a joy-stick
added to many of them.  I'd also like your comments and suggestions.  If you
wish, you may use the registration and order form by typing PRINT ACTMENU.REG
at the DOS prompt.

Like all of my games, Strudle is designed for full color with high resolution
EGA graphics and should run on most PC's and work alikes.  The built in mouse
support should work with any mouse.  Pressing the <M> key will rotate the
prompt line through the available options.  One of the options will allow you
to adjust the sound if it is scratchy or you prefer drawing quietly.  If you
have any problems, let me know.

Strudle is not exactly a game.  It is a drawing program designed to be as fun
and simple as possible.  Strudle was actually built for my granddaughter as a
crayola version of my art quality drawing program "ARTPICT".  There are only a
few 'grown up' keys such as <S>ave and <L>oad, so drawings can be enjoyed over
and over.  Everything else takes place on the number pad.  Even the 'Number
Lock' key doesn't do anything in case it gets poked accidentally.

You can save up to ten different drawing files by pressing one of the regular
number keys when asked for a file number.  Each drawing file holds up to 5,000
changes.  A change may be a single key, or a series of the same key.  For
example, moving the cursor from one side of the screen to the other with the
left arrow key is stored as one change.  A sample file, which uses about 1,000
changes is included on the disk as "STRUDLE5.DWG".  You can watch it being
drawn by selecting <L>oad and pressing five <5> when asked for a file number.
There is also a "STRUDLE0.DWG" which is a longer version of the introduction.


While a drawing is in progress you may save it, and then continue adding to
it.  This allows you to undo something that doesn't work right, like painting
a lot bigger area than you intended, by reloading the file and continuing from
where you saved it.  You may also save a file and add more to it later.


Painting, by pressing the <0/Ins> key on the keypad, requires a little care.
If the area to be painted is not completely outlined, a much larger area may
acquire the current color.  In worst cases, it can be the entire screen.  The
program does try to establish if it's safe by checking upward for the first
color change and then checking the other three directions for the same color.
If the outline color is just above the cursor circle and the outline does not
have any gaps in it, you can color any screen area.  File 0 and 5 shown some
of what can be done with paint.


If you are considering using Strudle for educational or development analysis,
please let me know.  Because when drawings are loaded, they are redrawn, key
for key, as if you were watching them actually being drawn, Strudle has some
interesting possibilities.  The education of our children is very important to
me and I will modify the program to suit the application.

The drawing at the beginning of the program, the initial color and cursor
position, or the sound option may be changed by creating a new "STRUDLE.DAT"
file.  A minimal change can be made by pressing the key for the desired sound
option, as the first key after the opening drawing, and <S>aving the drawing
to file number one (1).  After exiting Strudle, rename "STRUDLE.DAT" to
"STRUDLE.SVE", so you can save it, and rename the "STRUDLE1.DWG" drawing file
to "STRUDLE.DAT".  The sounds can also be changed with a word processor.  To
make the sound simple beeps change the second number in the file from a two
(2) to a one (1).  To turn the drawing sounds off, change it to a zero (0).

You may copy the Strudle program files into any directory on hard disk or
another floppy.  The only real requirement is that all of the files associated
with the game, except for its BAT file, must be in the same directory.  You
may activate the program directly, with a BAT file, or from ACTMENU.



Good luck, and let me know if you enjoy Strudle,
Chris




P.S.  You can disable this message by removing the 'TYPE' and 'PAUSE' entries
from your personalized BAT file.  Please retain the original BAT file if you
are going to pass Strudle along.



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