ShooltzSaver version 2.0b (c) 1997-1999 Tomasz Sowinski
http://www.shooltz.com.pl
shooltz@usa.net

All images inside the ShooltzSaver.scr file were rendered
by Tomasz Sowinski.

If you haven't seen this program before and don't like readme files:
Just press the right mouse button when ShooltzSaver is active.
------------------------------------------------------

This file, README.TXT, is a companion to the ShooltzSaver.scr file.
It contains the following sections:
0. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM
1. INSTALLATION
2. SHOOLTZSAVER FEATURES
3. HISTORY OF CHANGES/WHAT'S NEW
4. REGISTRATION
5. TROUBLESHOOTING
6. DISTRIBUTION STATUS
7. CONTACTING THE AUTHOR




0. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM
------------------------------------------------------
ShooltzSaver is a shareware Windows screen saver. It runs under 
Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0.



1. INSTALLATION
------------------------------------------------------
There's no need for special installation of ShooltzSaver. If you
unzipped the contents of the downloaded archive, then you should see
the program icon titled ShooltzSaver or ShooltzSaver.scr
The ShooltzSaver is ready to run. You don't have to copy 
ShooltzSaver.scr file to windows\system directory. To test 
and evaluate the program, just right-click on the icon and 
select appropriate option from the context menu.

- select 'Test' to view how ShooltzSaver works. You can click 
RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON to open control window and adjust animation
options.

- select 'Configure' to open configuration dialog box. Note that 
only small subset of general options is available from this 
dialog. You have total control over ShooltzSaver parameters after 
right-clicking on the main saver screen.

- select 'Install' to make ShooltzSaver your default screen saver.

If you don't see the 'Test/Configure/Install' options, don't panic. 
Some programs take over the .SCR extension and change the context menu 
for screensavers. In such a case, just copy the ShooltzSaver.scr file to
your windows\system (or WinNT\system32) directory. Next invoke the 
'Display properties' dialog from the Control Panel. ShooltzSaver should
be on the list of available screensavers.



2. SHOOLTZSAVER FEATURES
------------------------------------------------------
ShooltzSaver is a high performance, multithreaded, three-dimensional,
interactive and extensible screen saver for Windows 95/98 and NT 4.0.

- it displays various ray-traced, animated objects (sprites) floating 
and spinning. Smooth animation and high frame rate are achieved by
using multithreading capabilities of the operating system. WinG and 
DirectX are not required.

- it is interactive: pressing the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON will open the control
center window. You can change all the animation parameters there and 
instantly see the results. Your settings can be saved for future use as
schemes.

- it can read new sprites (BMP and AVI files) downloaded from my WWW page 
or created by the user (detailed info is available also from my website).
Due to size constraints, the best sprites couldn't be built into ShooltzSaver
and are available on the web. If you like this program, you should try to 
download them from my page.

- you can display smoothly scrolling text message

- it can change display mode before executing for better performance.
Of course, the display mode will be restored after closing.



3. HISTORY OF CHANGES/WHAT'S NEW
------------------------------------------------------
VERSION 2.0b (August 3, 1999)
- built-in schemes work ok with "keep background unchanged".

- minor bugs fixed (checker background settings, deleting 
default scheme, more...)


VERSION 2.0a (June 3, 1999)
- new option in randomizer (keep background unchanged when 
switching schemes).

- better palette handling in 256 color mode

- minor bugs exterminated


VERSION 2.0 (April 26, 1999)
- scroller: display your message using any font/color

- new background styles:
	- desktop settings
	- gradient (many styles and options)
	- checker

- improved built-in sprites and schemes

- fixed minor bugs, especially memory leaks

- minor interface improvements

- new registration name/code system. Users who registered
versions 1.x can obtain FREE UPGRADE to 2.0 by contacting
shooltz@usa.net


VERSION 1.6a (January 18, 1999)
- improved performance with additional sprites, especially on NT.

- fixed problem with registration on multi-user NT desktops.


VERSION 1.6 (December 21, 1998)
- MP3, M3U and other formats support - all through WinAmp 1.7 or later!
ShooltzSaver expects WinAmp.exe in C:\Program Files\WinAmp by default,
if WinAmp is located in another folder, use "WinAmp folder..." button.
WinAmp supports a variety of sound formats, so ShooltzSaver passes all files 
with extensions other than WAV, MID or RMI to WinAmp. Check the WinAmp 
documentation to find out which formats are supported.
This feature was tested with WinAmp 1.92 and 2.04. 

Please remember that both WinAmp and ShooltzSaver can be processor-intensive.
Using a low-end machine you can get "less than optimal" results...


- added new option in Randomizer, "Do not change sounds". Check this option
if you want changing sprites/backgrounds, but only one sound. This is especially
useful with M3U playlists. Sound file is selected and played when saver starts and
does not change during scheme switches.


VERSION 1.5a (October 19, 1998)
- fixed the bug that caused system locks on some machines after loading
the external sprites (it was the video driver problem, really). 


VERSION 1.5 (September 21, 1998)
- sound playback: you can play MIDI and WAV files in the background, just
use the 'Sound' tab in the Control Center window. ShooltzSaver will support MP3
format soon - MP3 files will be played using WinAmp or Windows Media Player.

- minor interface improvements


VERSION 1.4a (May 15, 1998)
- fixed minor bugs


VERSION 1.4 (May 13, 1998)
- custom backgrounds: you can change the default black background by setting
another color and/or using bitmap. The bitmap can be tiled, centered or displayed
in the screen corners. For best results, use dark background bitmaps 
(for example, corporate logo on black). All bitmap features are available on
the 'Background' tab in the Control Center window. Note that custom backgrounds 
require highcolor or truecolor video modes. With lower color depth such as 8-bit
(256 colors), the quality of sprites and background bitmap displayed at the same 
time would be unacceptable. 
One caveat: using background bitmap can slightly decrease overall performance. 
Some extra processor time is required to restore internal buffer after drawing 
a frame when bitmap backgrounds are enabled.

- improved loading time for large sprite files


VERSION 1.3 (March 17, 1998)
- randomizing features. You can access them by pressing
'Randomizer' button in the configuration dialog. For example, ShooltzSaver 
can now switch schemes at runtime automatically after enabling 
"Switch schemes" option. Also, it can create entirely new orbits for 
schemes selected randomly ('Create new orbits' option) and/or modify 
orbits during scheme activity ('Modify orbits'). Of course, the best way 
to explore these options is by using them. Just remember that all randomizer 
options will be disabled when you open the control center window - from this 
point you have total control over ShooltzSaver and nothing will be changed 
automatically.

- new built-in sprites and schemes

- new phasing modes

- improved performance for large avi files


VERSION 1.2 (January 19, 1998)
- first ShooltzSaver relase available on the Internet



4. REGISTRATION
------------------------------------------------------
To register the program, open the configuration dialog and press the 
'Register' button'. In the registration dialog you can enter your
registration name and ID. 

Registration costs $19.95. It will disable the quiz for unregistered 
users and "Please register" tiles on main screen. Your registration name 
and ID will be sent to you immediately after receiving the payment.
Please enclose your e-mail address (if available) for faster delivery.

Registration options:
- online registration. Use one of the URLs below:
	http://www.shooltz.com.pl
	https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=1253-1
Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover are accepted.
If you are behind the corporate firewall, proxy, etc. and have problems 
accessing the registration site, use this address (the only change is 
http instead of https):
	http://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=1253-1

- phone (9:30am - 4:30pm PST)
	toll free (United States only):  877-353-7297
	regular:  425-392-2294

- fax
	toll free (United States only):  888-353-7276
	regular:  425-392-0223

- check payable to TOMASZ SOWINSKI. Send these to:
	TOMASZ SOWINSKI
	KOLEJOWA 15
	P.O. BOX 26
	15-559 BIALYSTOK 2
	POLAND

*** PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH ***

If you have questions about registration, send an e-mail message to:
shooltz@usa.net. 



5. TROUBLESHOOTING
------------------------------------------------------
Q: ShooltzSaver locks up when using external sprites. 
A: Go to configuration dialog box (the one you can open from the 'Display
Properties' window) and click the 'Troubleshooting' button. Try changing
'Wide-mask method threshold' parameter to 1024 or 512.
This parameter affects the way ShooltzSaver decomposes the sprite bitmap 
(usually 6144 lines high when using the external sprites) into parallel stripes. 
Some video drivers are unable to display very 'high' bitmaps correctly; they 
can even completely lock your system. Using 'Wide-mask method' will change
the 96 x 6144 bitmap (96 x 96, 64 frames) to 384 x 1536 (4 stripes) when threshold 
is set to 2048. All bitmaps higher than this threshold will be decomposed into 
stripes.

Q: After selecting any additional sprite, saver works very slow.
A: Go to 'Troubleshooting' dialog and select 'Redraw background buffer on sprite change'
option. This should help, especially on NT systems.

Q: I can't open the control window; after right-clicking or pressing the 
trigger key ShooltzSaver exits:
A: This can happen on Windows NT. When default screensaver is activated by 
the system after the timeout period, there's no way to capture the mouse 
or keyboard. If you want to use the control center window, invoke the saver 
using the 'Preview' button on 'Screensaver' tab in 'Display properties' window.

Q: After right-clicking on the ShooltzSaver icon there are no 'install', 'Test' or
'Configure' options.
A: Just copy the ShooltzSaver.scr file to 'Windows\System' or 'WinNT\System32'
folder. Then use the Control Panel to configure/preview/install the ShooltzSaver.

Q: I can't connect to the registration website.
A: If you are behind the firewall, the https protocol may cause your problems.
Use the address below:
http://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=1253-1

Q: I have registered ShooltzSaver 1.x. After installing version 2.0 I'm getting
shareware reminders. What's wrong?
A: You haven't yet requested your free upgrade!

Q: I have some other problem with ShooltzSaver.
A: Use e-mail: shooltz@usa.net.



6. DISTRIBUTION STATUS
------------------------------------------------------
This program is FREELY DISTRIBUTABLE.



7. CONTACTING THE AUTHOR
------------------------------------------------------
Postal mail:
	TOMASZ SOWINSKI
	KOLEJOWA 15
	P.O. BOX 26
	15-559 BIALYSTOK 2
	POLAND
E-mail:	shooltz@usa.net
WWW:	http://www.shooltz.com.pl
