We've Got Big Fun/295W.BIN/tech/funstuff/savers/seascape/seas_doc.txt

Text File | 1994-11-12 | 21.3 KB | 504 lines

                           DOCUMENTATION FOR SEASCAPE 2.0


INTRODUCTION

   Seascape (TM) is a screen saver which displays relatively
   realistic fish (Indo-Pacific Sergeants and Regal Angelfish)
   swimming and eating.  Produced by a member of the Association
   of Shareware Professionals (ASP), Seascape requires Microsoft
   Windows 3.1 and at least a 386 with 4 Mb of RAM.  Following
   installation, Seascape takes up under half a megabyte of disk
   space.  Seascape works with the Windows built-in screen saver
   subsystem, so for configuration, viewing the documentation, or
   exploring other options, access the Control Panel (from Main),
   choose Desktop, and then choose Setup (with Seascape selected
   as the current screen saver).


SEASCAPE LICENSE AGREEMENT

   This software product is copyrighted, and all rights are reserved
   by the author and publisher.

   Installation and use of Seascape requires that you agree to the
   following conditions:

     Trying out Seascape is free, but for continued use registration
     is required.  Registration of a single copy of Seascape permits
     you to use it on a single computer, except that if you use one
     PC at work and another at home, or both a desktop PC and a
     portable PC, you may use Seascape on both (or even all three)
     with a single registration.

     You are invited to make unregistered copies of Seascape for
     your friends.  All copies must contain the unaltered complete
     set of files generated by selecting "Make a Copy" as described
     below (or, if you prefer, by using "diskcopy" to duplicate your
     unaltered installation disk).

     Commercial users of Seascape must register and pay for their
     copies of Seascape within 120 days of first use or their license
     is withdrawn.  Site License arrangements may be made by con-
     tacting Advanced Computer Tektonics.

     THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF
     ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.  DUE TO THE
     VARIETY OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS IN
     WHICH SEASCAPE MAY BE USED, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS
     FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED.  THE AUTHOR AND
     PUBLISHER ASSUME NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ALLEGED OR
     ACTUAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM USE OF THIS PROGRAM.

   If you agree to these conditions, you are invited to try out
   Seascape, and, if you find the fish to your liking, to support
   improvement of Seascape by registering.

   Following installation, you may read this documentation at any
   time by selecting "Documentation" from the Seascape Setup dialog
   box (accessed by choosing Desktop in the Control Panel).

   (Instructions for using Seascape are displayed at the end of
   the installation process.)


MAXIMIZING IMAGE QUALITY

   Seascape looks best with a 256 color, relatively high resolution
   display.  The first step in maximizing the quality of the images
   shown by Seascape is to understand the nature of your current
   computer display.  The two key characteristics are the display
   resolution and the number of colors displayed.  To determine the
   current display characteristics, double-click on Windows Setup
   in Main.  You will then see a line such as

      Display:      -ProDesigner II Series 1024x768 256 colors

   which describes the current display driver.  "1024x768" means
   that the pixel resolution is 1024 by 768, or in other words,
   that your screen image is 1024 dots of color wide and 768 dots
   high.  Other standard resolutions include 640x480 and 800x600.
   Seascape works well with all these resolutions, but more fish
   fit on the screen at higher resolutions, which you may find
   preferable.  "256 colors" means that 256 colors can be displayed
   simultaneously.  The other value you are most likely to see
   here is 16, indicating that only 16 standard system colors will
   be displayed.  Although the Indo-Pacific Sergeant looks nearly
   the same on a 16 color display as on a 256 color one (since
   its limited colors map closely to the 16 system colors), the
   Regal Angelfish looks considerably better on a 256 color
   display, where its rich golden can be shown accurately rather
   than being replaced by the plain yellow of a 16 color display.

   If the description on your Display line does not make your
   display characteristics clear, you may be able to find this
   information in your Seascape Registration Form, where it is
   encoded to help us make sure that Seascape will work as well
   as possible with Seascape users' displays.  Choose Desktop
   in the Control Panel, choose Setup (with Seascape selected as
   the screen saver), select "Register or Order...", and then
   select Registration and Order Form.  To the right of your
   Registration ID, you will see a number like #12561024768107,
   which encodes what Seascape was able to determine about your
   system's display characteristics.  In the exampe just given,
   after the first digit you can see the current number of colors
   displayed (256), followed by the pixel dimensions (1024x768).

   If you want to experiment with changing your display settings,
   select Options in the Windows Setup window; then select
   "Change System Settings...".  Click on the down arrow to the
   right of Display to see a list of display driver options.  Be
   careful:  choice of an inappropriate setting has been known to
   result in a fatal Windows error, so make sure you do not have
   applications running with unsaved data when you do this.  Select
   a display configuration you would like to try, and click on OK.
   With luck, a window will appear stating that a driver for the
   chosen display is already on the system, in which case you can
   use it by clicking on Current.  If the requested driver is not
   on your system, you may be asked to insert the driver diskette
   that came with your system, or with your video controller card.
   (Sometimes system sellers neglect to include these diskettes
   with the systems they sell; if you do not have a diskette with
   the necessary driver, you should be able to get one from the
   provider of your system, or if that fails, from the maker of
   your display adapter.  The latest drivers for major brand
   display adaptors can ordinarily be downloaded from bulletin
   boards maintained by the manufacturers.)  After installing
   the new driver, depending on your system characteristics you
   may be informed that you will have to restart Windows in order
   for the new display settings to take effect.

   In choosing a display configuration, bear in mind that more
   colors and higher resolution place greater demands on your
   hardware, so performance may be slowed.  Also, depending on the
   quality of your monitor, a high resolution on a small screen may
   make text difficult to read.  On the other hand, the higher the
   resolution, the more you can fit on your screen, and increasing
   the effective screen real estate can be highly beneficial.


REGISTRATION

   For continued use of Seascape, registration is required.

   Your registration fee will help finance improvement of Seascape,
   and as a registered user you will be entitled to a $10 discount
   on registration of our next major release.

   When you're ready to register (or if you just want more
   details), select "Register or Order..." in Seascape's Setup
   dialog box (accessed by choosing Desktop in the Control
   Panel and then clicking on Setup).  (If you're a registered
   user of Seascape 1.x who is upgrading to 2.0, please write
   "Registered 1.x user" on your order form and deduct $10
   from the total due.)

   We hope you enjoy Seascape, and look forward to improving it
   with your support.


HOW TO MAKE AN UNREGISTERED COPY OF SEASCAPE

   1.  Insert a blank formatted diskette in a suitable drive.

   2.  Select "Make a Copy" in the Seascape Setup dialog.  (To get
       to the Seascape Setup dialog, open the Control Panel from
       Main in Program Manager, double click on Desktop, make sure
       Seascape is shown as the name of your current Screen Saver,
       and click on Setup.)

   3.  When production of the copy is complete, please put a
       label on the diskette with instructions, such as:


               SEASCAPE 2.0

               In the Windows 3.1 Program Manager:
               1. Select "File".
               2. Select "Run".
               3. Type "A:SeaNstal" (or "B:SeaNstal").
               4. Insert diskette in drive A (or B).
               5. Select "OK".

               You'll be invited to read more before
               choosing whether to proceed with installation.


USING SEASCAPE

   Since Seascape is integrated with the Microsoft Screen Saver
   utility, it is accessed by activating the Control Panel (from
   the Program Manager's "Main" window), choosing "Desktop" to
   open the Desktop dialog box, and then selecting "Seascape" on
   the Screen Saver Name list.

   Features such as changing the Delay (between the end of user
   activity and start-up of the screen saver) and setting a
   password are precisely the same for Seascape as for Microsoft-
   supplied screen savers.  To set the Delay, click on the little
   up and down triangles to the right of "Delay:" in the Desktop
   dialog box.  To try out the currently selected screen saver,
   click on the "Test" button in the Desktop dialog box.

   Additional Seascape options, including password setting, are
   accessed by clicking on "Setup..." in the Desktop dialog box
   (with "Seascape" showing in the Screen Saver Name field).


HOW TO RUN SEASCAPE FROM AN ICON

   To set up an icon from which you can start Seascape, first
   click on the program group in which you want the icon to
   appear (e.g. Games) to make it active.  Then in the Program
   Manager select File, choose New, make sure Program Item
   is selected, and click on OK.  For Description, enter
   Seascape.  For Command Line enter SSCSCAPE.SCR  /S.
   For Working Directory, enter the path of your main Windows
   directory, e.g. C:\WINDOWS.  If you want, enter a Shortcut
   Key that will allow you to start Seasape from the keyboard
   (for instance, if you type Z while the cursor is in the
   Shortcut Key box, you will later be able to start Seascape
   by typing Z while holding down the Ctrl and Alt keys.
   Finally, click on OK.  (If when you try to use the icon
   or the shortcut key combination you get a message saying
   "No application is associated with the specified file",
   add " scr" to the end of the "Programs=" line in WIN.INI
   in your main Windows directory, to make it, for instance,
   "Programs=com exe bat pif scr", and restart Windows,
   which will now realize that files with ".scr" endings
   are programs.)


HOW TO PRINT THIS DOCUMENTATION

   This documentation is contained in SEAS_DOC.TXT, located on
   your installation diskette (if you have one) and, following
   installation, in the SEASCAPE subdirectory of your Windows
   startup directory (typically C:\WINDOWS\SEASCAPE).  Should
   you want a hard copy, it can easily be printed with Notepad.
   (From Program Manager, open Accessories, double click on
   Notepad, click on File, click on Open, move to the right
   directory, e.g. C:\WINDOWS\SEASCAPE, select seas_doc.txt,
   click on File, and click on Print.)


HOW TO ORDER SEASCAPE PRODUCTS

                   Single Copy Prices

   Registration of unregistered copy.............. $15.00

   Seascape diskette with registration........... $20.00

   "Seascape diskette with registration" means a registered
   copy of the latest update of Seascape 2.x together with a
   keyword you'll type in to activate the registration.
   (If you wish it registered to a name other than your own, as
   in the case of a gift, please be sure to specify the name to
   which you would like it registered in your order.)

   For an order including a diskette, Seascape will be sent on a
   3.5" diskette unless 5.25" is requested.

   If you have a printer, simply fill out and print the Registration
   and Order Form, accessed by clicking on "Setup..." in the Desktop
   dialog box (with "Seascape" showing as the Screen Saver Name),
   then selecting "Register or Order...", and finally selecting
   "Registration and Order Form".

   If you don't have a printer, send a note saying what you want,
   with a check for the proper amount and your return address, to

                 Advanced Computer Tektonics
                 334 State Street, Suite 106
                 Los Altos, CA 94022


   If you are ordering from outside the United States, please
   send a check in your local currency for an amount
   equivalent to the U.S. dollar price, or an international
   money order, or a check for U.S. dollars payable through a
   bank in the U.S., or cash.  Note that foreign checks for
   U.S. dollar amounts are generally not acceptable, since
   they must be sent for international collection at a cost of
   $55.00 each.


INSTALLATION

   1. From the Windows 3.1 (or later) program manager menu bar
      select "File".

   2. Select "Run...".

   3. If you're installing from a diskette, insert your Seascape
      diskette into drive A or B.  Then enter A:SeaNstal in the
      Command Line field (or B:SeaNstal if you're using drive B)
      and select OK.

      If you're installing after downloading Seascape to your hard
      disk, you have probably already extracted files, e.g. with
      PKUNZIP SEAS20.ZIP; if not, do so now.  Then enter
      <PATH>\SeaNstal in the Command Line field, where <PATH> is
      the path of the directory containing your Seascape files
      (for instance, C:\INBOX\SEASCAPE\SeaNstal if they're in
      C:\INBOX\SEASCAPE), and select OK.

   4. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
      When asked to confirm that you want to install Seascape
      in your Windows startup directory, select OK unless you
      are installing on a network.  Since this is the directory
      in which the Control Panel's Screen Saver utility searches
      for screen savers, it's normally the only proper place to
      install Seascape.  In general, Seascape cannot be expected
      to work if it is installed anywhere other than a Windows
      startup directory.

      Network Installation:  If you are installing Seascape on
      a network, and wish it to end up in a common Windows
      directory rather than a personal Windows directory, enter
      NETWORK as the directory into which you want Seascape
      installed.  This will turn off the checking that normally
      prevents installation into an arbitrary directory.  When
      you are again asked to confirm the destination directory,
      enter the path of the desired common Windows directory.

   Note:  If you have an earlier version of Seascape, simply
   follow the instructions above to replace it with this version.
   If your earlier version was registered, you can activate
   registration for this version by re-entering your existing
   registration key.


UNINSTALLATION

   Should you wish to remove Seascape from your computer,
   go to your windows startup directory (typically C:\WINDOWS)
   and issue the following commands.

      del sscscape.scr
      del seascape\*.*
      rmdir seascape

   If you wish, then delete the "[ScreenSaver.Seascape]" section
   in control.ini (in your windows startup directory, typically
   C:\WINDOWS).  (This section, created by use of the Seascape
   Setup dialog, stores about 65 bytes of configuration data,
   such as your preferred number of fish.)


SUPPORT AND REFUND POLICY

   Advanced Computer Tektonics offers free support to
   registered users for a minimum of one year from the date
   of registration.  Please report any problems to

                 Advanced Computer Tektonics
                 334 State Street, Suite 106
                 Los Altos, CA 94022

   or, if you prefer, send electronic mail to one of
   these addresses:

      From Compuserve:       Alan Walworth at 71204,2226

      From America Online:   71204.2226@cis

      From the Internet:     [e-mail]

   In the event we are unable to resolve a significant problem
   reported within a year of registration, we will be glad to
   refund your registration fee.


QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS

   Your comments are always welcome.  If you have suggestions
   about how we could best improve Seascape, or criticisms, or
   questions of any kind, please send them to us at the U.S.
   mail or email addresses just above.


SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTOR AND BBS INFORMATION

   All copies distributed must include the complete set of
   Seascape files without alteration.  (For a list of the
   files, see below.)

   Distributors should make clear that Seascape is shareware.
   Distribution of Seascape in any manner that conceals the
   fact that Seascape is shareware or discourages users from
   registering is prohibited.

   If Seascape is compressed into a single file with a
   utility such as PKZIP or LHA, the distributed file
   should have a name which makes it readily recognizable
   as Seascape and if possible makes clear the version.
   The preferred name for zipped Seascape 2.0 is SEAS20.ZIP
   (or for locations such as CompuServe libraries where the
   version number should not be in the name, SEASCP.ZIP).

   Provided the above conditions are satisfied, vendors
   of shareware on diskettes or CD-ROMs, bulletin board
   operators, user groups, and software archives are
   permitted to distribute unregistered copies of Seascape
   2.0 and to make unregistered Seascape 2.0 available for
   downloading.  Notification to Advanced Computer
   Tektonics is welcome, but is not required.

   No other commercial distribution of Seascape is permitted
   without prior written permission from Advanced Computer
   Tektonics.  (Distribution methods subject to this
   restriction include rack vending of software not
   requiring registration, bundling with other products, and
   all other forms of distribution not covered by the
   previous paragraph.)


ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS OMBUDSMAN

   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.


CONTENTS OF INSTALLATION DISKETTE

   Your Seascape installation diskette (or downloaded Seascape)
   should contain the following files:

       SEA_READ.ME
       SEAF0001.DLL
       SEANSTAL.EXE
       SEAS_DOC.EXE
       SEAS_DOC.TXT
       SEAS_SSL.DLL
       SEAS_SST.DLL
       SEAS_STA.RCS
       SEAS_TNL.RCS
       SEAS_VJN.RCS
       SEAS_WWL.RCS

       SEASCAPE EX_
            or
       SEASCAPE EXE

          Depending on how you obtained Seascape, you will have
          either seascape.exe or the compressed version of it,
          seascape.ex_.  If you have the compressed version,
          it will be expanded automatically during installation.

       SEASFISH.EXE

       FILE_ID.DIZ

          A descripton of Seascape suitable for use on Bulletin
          Board Systems is provided in a file with the standard
          name file_id.diz, which enables this description to
          be automatically presented to users by PCBoard based
          and compatible BBSes.

       VENDOR.DOC

          Information for shareware vendors and bulletin board
          operators is provided in a file with the standard
          name vendor.doc.


RELEASE NUMBERING AND NEW RELEASE NOTIFICATION

 Minor ("dot") releases contain incremental improvements that
 will make little if any difference to most users.  In general,
 upgrading to the latest dot release is worthwhile only in the
 unlikely event that a problem is encountered with use of an
 earlier version, and in such cases we will gladly send an
 update when notified of the problem.

 Major releases contain significant, obvious improvements;
 for example, Seascape 2.0 adds Regal Angelfish to the
 Indo-Pacific Sergeants of earlier releases.  As soon as
 practical after a new major release is ready, we will notify
 all registered users of versions of the previous major release.


RELEASE HISTORY

 11/94  Version 2.0  - Regal Angelfish added
 09/94  Version 1.9  - network capabilities refined
 08/94  Version 1.8  - compression improved
 07/94  Version 1.7  - vendor.doc and file_id.diz revised
 06/94  Version 1.6  - documentation improved
 05/94  Version 1.5  - registration form improved
 11/93  Version 1.4  - registration reminder refined
 03/93  Version 1.3  - standard files for vendors and BBSes added
 01/93  Version 1.2  - minor changes to reflect ASP membership
 01/93  Version 1.1  - user interface and documentation improved
 11/92  Version 1.0  - initial release