README.TXT -- July 1999
NFL Forecaster

100% Cotton Software
Association of Shareware Professionals Member
Educational Software Cooperative Member


The following topics are contained in this file:
   1. What's New?
   2. Installing       <------ BE SURE TO READ THIS TOPIC
   3. Uninstalling
   4. Distribution, License, Warranty, Support
   5. Limitations
   6. 100% Cotton Software Products
   7. Finding 100% Cotton Software Products
   8. Ordering Information
   9. Contacting 100% Cotton Software


==================== 1. What's New? =====================

1. The prediction accuracy of this version (6.2) of NFL
Forecaster has been improved by about 0.6% over the
previous version.  Additionally, the spreads are more
evenly distributed; fewer are clumped at the lower end.
The number of even games (too close to call) has been
reduced by about 0.5%.

2. The schedule and main data files have been updated for
the 1999-2000 season.  The on-line documentation has also
been updated to include the 1998-99 statistics.

3. NFL Calendar (which was included with Forecaster at no
charge) has been replaced with a more sophisticated
program -- Cotton Calendar (also included at no charge).

4. The Cleveland Browns have been added to the teams list
(and given average offense, defense and sum rankings).

5. A new feature has been added to Informal Forecasts;
they can be made with or without home team advantage.

6. Labels have been added to Category Rankings Display
indicating which teams have been selected.

7. The Tasks|Weekly function no longer works with old
28- or 30-team schedules; use a previous version of
Forecaster if for some reason you want to generate
forecasts for previous seasons.

Note: 100% Cotton Software also no longer publishes NFL
Forecaster for Windows 3.1.


============= 2. Installing NFL Forecaster =============

For the fastest and easiest installation of NFL
Forecaster, determine which of the following situations
resembles yours and follow the instructions.
Also read section E ("Notes").

--A. If you have NO VERSION of NFL Forecaster installed
on your computer, then simply run Forecaster's
installation program: setup.exe.

--B. If you have the CURRENT UNREGISTERED VERSION of NFL
Forecaster (6.2, 1999-2000) installed on your computer,
and are INSTALLING THE REGISTERED VERSION, then run
Forecaster's installation program: setup.exe. When the
setup program asks for the directory (folder) to install
NFL Forecaster into, be sure it's the same directory the
current version is in.  Then the setup program will
replace the unregistered version with the registered
version.

--C. If you have the CURRENT REGISTERED OR UNREGISTERED
version of NFL Forecaster (6.2, 1999-2000) installed on
your computer and you are REINSTALLING IT, then run
Forecaster's installation program: setup.exe. When the
setup program asks for the directory (folder) to install
NFL Forecaster into, be sure it's the same directory the
current version is in.  Then the setup program will
replace the currently installed version.

--D. If you have an OLDER VERSION of NFL Forecaster on
your disk (such as the 1998-1999 versions 6.1 or 6.0 or
the 1997-1998 version) then you should uninstall that
version before installing this new version.  This will
(1) remove the NFL Calendar files (which are no longer
usable) and (2) clean out any unused entries in your
Windows Registry related to the older version of
Forecaster. Removing the older version will not delete
any weekly archive files you have created.  You don't
have to remove the older version; this new version will
install correctly over (replace) the older version, but
some unnecessary files and Registry entries may be left
behind.  To uninstall the older version
   1. Click the "Start" button.
   2. Select "Settings" and then "Control Panel".
   3. Select "Add/Remove Programs".
   4. From the list select "NFL Forecaster"
   5. Press the "Add/Remove" button.
Then run Forecaster's installation program: setup.exe.

--E. If a version of NFL FORECASTER FOR WINDOWS 3.1 is
currently installed on your computer system, you should
uninstall it before installing this version of NFL
Forecaster for Windows 95/98.  Leaving it on your computer
will cause no problems, but valuable disk space
will be wasted.  To uninstall NFL Forecaster for Windows
3.1 do the following:
   1. Delete all the files from the Forecaster directory.
   2. Delete the Forecaster directory.
   3. Delete "forecast.ini" from your Windows directory.
Then run NFL Forecaster's setup program: "setup.exe".

--F. Installation Notes
Setup.exe adds 1 entry to your Windows Registry which is
removed when you uninstall Forecaster.  It makes no
changes to your autoexec.bat or config.sys files.

Your options settings (font, windows layout, etc.) will
be preserved when you install the registered version 6.2
(1999-2000) of Forecaster over the unregistered version
(or reinstall either version).

NFL Forecaster's setup program installs files only in the
NFL Forecaster directory (the default directory is
"Program Files\Cotton\NFL"), except for a single file,
UNINST.EXE, which is placed in the Windows directory.
UNINST.EXE is used to uninstall NFL Forecaster and other
companies' programs and should not be deleted from your disk.

A minimum of five files must always be in the Forecaster
directory:
NFLForc.exe -- Executable program file.
NFLForc.cfg -- The configuration file.
main-dta.nfl -- Team rankings.
schedule.nfl -- NFL schedule.
names.nfl -- Team names.

Several other files are placed in the Forecaster
directory:
NFLForc.hlp -- The on-line help file.
NFLForc.cnt -- The on-line help table of contents.
week-xx.yy -- One or more weekly archive files.
README.TXT -- Information file.
ORDER.TXT -- Information file.
file_id.diz -- Identification file.
vendinfo.diz -- Information file.
PRODUCTS.TXT -- Information file.
DEISLx.ISU -- Log file used for uninstalling


============ 3. Uninstalling NFL Forecaster  ============

NFL Forecaster's uninstall program removes all files (and
the single Windows Registry entry) that were installed by
the installation program.   It does not remove files that
were placed in the Forecaster directory after
installation.  For example, it will not remove weekly
archive files created after installation (or backup
schedule and other files); you must remove them yourself.

From the Windows task bar choose "Settings."
Then choose "Control Panel."
In Control Panel choose "Add/Remove Programs."
Highlight NFL Forecaster in the list.
Press the Add/Remove button.

Then use Windows Explorer or your favorite file utility
program to delete the directory 
"Program Files\Cotton\NFL" if it was not removed by the
uninstall program (because it contained some new files).


====== 4. Distribution, License, Warranty, Support ======

NFL Forecaster is a copyrighted shareware product; it is
not freeware or public domain software. You can try it
before you buy it and you are encouraged to give
unregistered copies to others.  If you use it after 30
days, you must register it (see ordering below).

Complete warranty, license and support information for
individual users is contained in the program's
on-line help.

Internet Web site operators, CD-ROM publishers, User
Groups, Computer Clubs, Disk Vendors, Subscription
Services, Disk-of-the-Month Clubs, BBS SYSOPS, and other
distributors should refer to VENDINFO.DIZ for information
relating to them.


===================== 5. Limitations ====================

The unregistered version of NFL Forecaster will allow you
to use the Weekly Tasks list for 8 weeks.  The program is
not limited by date; it simply will not allow you to
choose item 9 or 10 or 11, etc.  Because it is not
limited by date (1) you can try it out anytime of the
year and (2) it takes NO negative actions (deleting
files, etc.).  You can still use Forecaster to view and
print rankings and the schedule but you cannot obtain
further forecasts.


====================== 6. Products ======================

See the accompanying file "PRODUCTS.TXT".


======== 7. Finding 100% Cotton Software Products =======

Unregistered versions of 100% Cotton Software programs
can be found on numerous Web sites and in many shareware
CD-ROM collections. They can also be downloaded from our
Web site: "http://www.cotton100.com".

For the first 8 weeks of the season on Tuesday morning
after regular-season Monday-night games and Monday
morning after playoff games we place an updated version
(zip file) of the unregistered version of NFL Forecaster
on our Web site (http://www.cotton100.com).  So if the
unregistered version of NFL Forecaster you've obtained
elsewhere is behind one or more weeks, download the
up-to-date version to avoid entering one or more weeks
of scores.


================= 8. Ordering Information ===============

See the accompanying file "ORDER.TXT".


=========== 9. Contacting 100% Cotton Software ==========

Web Site: http://www.cotton100.com

Questions and comments: qac@cotton100.com

Support: support@cotton100.com

Site licenses, bulk orders, etc.: sales@cotton100.com

Telephone: 570-289-4019 (8 am to 5 pm EST) 

Postal mail:
   100% Cotton Software
   RR 1 Box 1622
   Hop Bottom, PA 18824 USA

