PC-SIG: World of Games/PC-SIG World of Games (CDRM1080710) (1993).iso/2297/READ.ME

Text File | 1990-02-09 | 9KB | 157 lines

     I have enclosed this letter with a program I wish to submit
for consideration.  I call this program "KNOW-IT-ALL!"  This
program is a game/study aid that I wrote on a 80286 VGA machine.
I also tested it on an 8088 EGA and CGA machine, and an 80286 VGA
machine running at six and eight megahertz, with the turbo.
Since this program uses only expanded text I am sure it will run
on a true Hercules machine as well.

First Prompt:  The first prompt after the startup screen prompt
you for the file that you wish to use.  To enter the file name
you can use the backspace key to correct any typing errors.  You
may enter the file name; the directory and the file name; or the
drive, directory, and file name.  If no extension is given the
".DAT" extension is assumed to be the extension.  If there is no
extension on your question file then type the file name and then
a period (if this period is omitted ".DAT" will be assumed).
After you enter the file name it will be tested to see if it is
in the proper format.  If it is not you will be returned to the
first prompt, the computer will beep, and INVALID FILE! PLEASE
RE-ENTER will be flashing in the middle of the screen.  If this
occurs press any key to continue and you can re-enter the file
name.  If the file does not exist you will be asked if you want
to create the file.  If you answer yes you will be placed in the
editor, if you answer no you will be placed in the directory
manager.  After you enter the file name you will be prompted what
you want to do.  The options are play the game, add question to
the question list, or print the questions, all of which will be
explained later.

Editor:   The "KNOW-IT-ALL" program also comes with a built in
question editor.  This editor will let you input question and
then append them to a specified text file making it a fun way to
study specific class material.  When you specify the text file
you can just enter a name, a directory and a name, or a drive,
directory, and a name.  The file names must follow the DOS rules
for file names.  In the data file each question will take up two
lines.  The first line tells the program whether or not it is a
multiple choice question or not.  A "Y" signifies that the
question will be a multiple choice question.  A "N" signifies
that the question will be a straight answer.  Be careful with the
straight answer questions because in order for the answer to be
correct it has to be typed exactly like the right answer
specified in the file.  Then next line has the question, choices
(if any), and the right answer.  While in the editor you can use
the F9 key to return to the beginning.  The editor will not allow
you to enter keys that are invalid.  If you hear a beep then the
key you pressed was not accepted.  There are certain keys that
are outside the alphabet that the program will accept.  These
keys are listed in a bar across the bottom of the screen.  If the
key is not there the program will reject that key when you press
it, except for keys such as the `.' and the `?'.  While using
this program, it will not allow you to leave key parts blank.
You will just stay there until you input something that is
adequate.  When entering non-multiple choice question you must be
sure that the answer you entered is spelled correctly.  Since the
program can not guess as to what the word is meant to be, the
only correct answer will have to be spelled exactly as the right
answer that was entered in the question editor.

Game:     When you are asked a question you must input the letter
of the answer you wish to choose.  Throughout the game, as well
as in the editor, the CONTROL-BREAK and the CONTROL-C
combinations have been disabled.  You must exit the program
through the game by pressing F10 when you wish to quit.  With
multiple choice questions no matter what the answer you chose
will appear in reverse text.  If you get the question right you
will hear cheerful music and the next question will appear on the
screen.  If you are wrong you hear different music and the screen
goes back to the way it originally was.  If the question you are
trying to answer is not multiple choice then the question will
reveal the right answer after five guesses.  If it reveals the
answer it will not count it as correct when figuring out the
final statistics.  If you are playing the game and you press F9
you will be returned to the screen where it prompts you for the
file you wish to use, at the very beginning.  This program will
take full advantage of the function keys and the backspace key.
The active keys, besides the letters of the alphabet, will be
listed across the bottom of the screen.  When you run out of
questions or you press F10, the exit key, you will see some
statistics.  The number of guesses it took you to get x questions
correct, a statement based upon these previous statistics, and
the average number of guesses per question.

Files:    On this disk I have included NOITALL.EXE, the game
program.  KIDS.DAT, a file consisting of 30 multiple choice
questions specially created for kids.  SPORTS.DAT, a file
consisting of 20 multiple choice questions for the sports fan.
ASTRO.DAT, a series or 97 questions based on astronomy.
COLOR.DAT, the initial color configuration default file.
SCIENCE.DAT, a series of 48 questions based on all the different
sciences.  STARTREK.DAT, questions for the Trekkie.
STARWARS.DAT, is very similar to STARTREK.DAT except that the
subject is STARWARS.  TVSHOWS.DAT contains questions about the
shows that were at one point on the air (and still might be).
READ.ME is what you are reading at this moment, the instruction
manual.

Directory Manager:  To get to the directory manager you must
enter a blank line when you are prompted to enter the file you
wish to use.  From anywhere in the program you can return to this
prompt by pressing the F9 key.  This section lets you view any
directory on any disk.  In the directory manager you can press F7
to change the directory you wish to view.  After you enter this
information it will be displayed as the directory you wish to
view, at the bottom of the screen.  Also you can press the F8 key
to change the file spec.  Again this will be displayed at the
bottom of the screen.  You can press enter at any time to view a
directory using the parameters specified at the bottom of the
screen.  If the directory prompt is left blank you will see the
current directory and if the file spec is left blank you will see
everything.(*.*)  In the directory manager you can press ESCape
to return to the first prompt of the program.  You will
automatically be brought to the directory manager if you enter
the name of a file that does not exist and you chose not to
create a file with that name when prompted which file do you wish
to use.

Question printout:  This feature has been installed for the
teachers who use this program.  The printing option is available
right after you enter the file name.  Once you press P the
program will prompt you to turn on the printer and then press any
key to start printing.  The program will print all the questions,
multiple or non-multiple choice, in the exact order that they are
in the file.  It will also leave enough space after each question
for writing.  This option will skip over the page perforation,
leaving at least two or three lines on each side.  If the program
can not access the printer you will be prompted to check the
printer or press the F9 key to restart the program.  If you press
any key the program will try to print again.  If you press the F9
key you are back where you are prompted for the file to use.
This options will also print an answer key on a new page after
all the questions are done printing.  The program will require
blank disk space, as it saves the answers as it comes to them and
then prints them later.  The answers require approximately 20-30
bytes per answer.

Color Modifier:  From the main prompt of the screen you will see
at the bottom of the screen an option to press F1 to modify the
game colors.  When you push F1 you will see two pull down menus.
One is titled Background Color and the Other is labeled
Foreground Color.  You switch between these menus by pressing the
left and right arrow keys or their numeric equivalents.  To
choose a color press the letter that is highlighted in red.  At
any time you can press F2 to save these defaults(this is listed
on the bottom of the screen).  This option saves two numbers in a
file called COLOR.DAT.  The two numbers will be the numeric value
of the selected background color, the numeric value of the
selected foreground color.  On each menu their is an option to
return to outer menu.  This option highlights the T.  This option
return you to the first prompt, select a file prompt.

     This program does not have a limit to the number of
questions you can put in a data file.  The only limitation is the
amount of disk space that you have.
     When you use this program it is suggested that you use all
CAPITAL letters, but in most cases the program will convert the
data to capitals.