*If you are viewing this in Notepad, go to "Edit" and Turn "Word Wrap" on.*
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About the Author:
My name is Joe Tompkins, and I am a Technology Specialist for the Rockdale County School System in Conyers, Georgia. Although I am certified to teach Language Arts, computers have always been an interest of mine. I created "Gepeto Software" from my home and began writing educational software in response to needs that I saw in our schools. The teachers wanted some way to apply technology directly to what they were currently teaching. These programs allow them to do that.
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About Activity Maker:
Activity Maker creates almost a dozen different types of vocabulary worksheets quickly and easily. You enter a list of words and definitions (or use a list from Vocab-Flash if you have that product), then follow the simple steps to create quizzes, word-search puzzles, crossword puzzles, scramble worksheets, "secret code" worksheets, riddle activities, and more. A wide variety of printable, engaging activities are just a few button clicks away. Even better, use the "export" function to pull the worksheet into a word processor and add clipart and other decorative touches.
You now have an unlimited resource for activities right at your fingertips.
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System Requirements:
Activity Maker runs under Windows 95 or 98 on a single computer or a network running Windows-NT
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Registration:
*This program is shareware. This means that you are free you use it for an evaluation period of 14 days free of charge. To continue using it beyond the evaluation period, please register the program with it's author.*
The registration fee is only $10 for a Home or School Single-Use license or $50 for a site license, which allows the program to be used on an unlimited number of computers within a single building. To register this program, make out a check or money order to "Joe Tompkins" and send it to
Joe Tompkins
130 Wintergreen Ct
Covington, GA 30016
Please include your name (or your school's name) and your full address (if you want to receive the registration code via postal mail) or your email address (if you want the registration code via email).
For additional information visit Gepeto Software's Web Site at
www.gepetosoftware.com
or contact
Joe Tompkins
jtompkins@mindspring.com
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To Start:
Double-click "Activity Maker.exe" to start
-or-
create a desktop shortcut to this file for easier access.
*When creating a shortcut or desktop icon, make sure the "Working Directory" listed in the shortcut properties is the directory where "Activity Maker" is stored.*
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List Management:
From the first screen, choose "List Management".
From here, you can:
Delete a List
Create a List
View or Edit a List (including renaming the list)
or Link to an Existing Vocabulary List (Great if you already use Vocab-Flash!)
These features are all enabled in the full registered version. The shareware version of Activity Maker will only work with the original, unmodified sample list that it comes with.
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Troubleshooting:
*Crossword Puzzle Creation
-Creating an effective crossword puzzle from your list of words is a time-consuming process that demands much of your computer's processing power. Make sure all other programs are closed when the crossword creator is working, and be patient with it. The more words your list has, the longer it will take. It is highly reccommended that you don't use more than 15-20 words when creating a crossword puzzle. More words than that will return mixed results.
If your computer seems to freeze or lock up during the process, then first try to wait it out (it could still be working). If not, then restart your computer and try again with fewer words.
*Printing:
The worksheets have been spaced to print most effectively on a wide range of printers. If you notice that part of the worksheet is getting cut off, then you can add spaces in the appropriate places to correct the problem, or "export" the worksheet to a word processor and print it from there.
**Crossword puzzles will print better if your computer's video resolution is set to 800X600.**
Also, make sure your printer is NOT set to print on "Draft Quality" mode by default.
*When running Activity Maker over a NETWORK:
-To do List Management on a network, the program folder must have Sharing on and Permissions set to "Read/Write" or "Full".
-Although it will work, avoid doing List Management while others are using Vocab-Flash on a network.
*Screen size and fonts:
-Activity Maker was created to run at 800X600 resolution. It is highly reccommended that you use this setting. If you have trouble with the display, make sure the Font Size is set to "Small Fonts" in the "Settings" menu of the Windows Display Properties.
*Errors:
1) "File not found"
When creating a shortcut or desktop icon, make sure the "Working Directory" listed in the shortcut properties is the directory where "Activity Maker" is stored.*
