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Nag Screen

The nag screen is an annoying little opening and closing screen. It's only purpose is to remind you that this software is not free, If you like it, pay for it. If you do register this annoying little reminder will go away.


Button Bar

This button bar has three buttons on it, each of the buttons will display what they do if you hold you mouse over button.

  New Game: This will start a new game.

  Options: This will load the options screen.

  Exit Game: This will end the game.


Finderz - Keeperz Options

The option screen allows you to customize the game to your preferences.

The option screen has four parts each of these parts are described below.

  FILE LIST BOX: This displays the files which can be used in the game. As each one is selected, you will see the pictures displayed in the picture boxes. Whichever is displayed when you click Done is the picture set you will use for the game. This can be changed at any time, but be forewarned: Changing picture sets in the middle of the game might confuse a child. It will not alter the pictures that area already displayed, but will change all the pictures that are not displayed.

  PICTURE BOXES: Displayes the pictures that will be used in the game. These pictures can be changed by selecting different pictures from the file list box.

  "SOUND ON" CHECK BOX: If there is a check mark next to "Sound ON", then the sound files will play through your Sound Card or your internal speaker. For more information on playing through your speaker, see "Playing sounds with internal speaker" in this help file.

  TIME SCROLL BAR: This effects how long the pictures will be displayed if they are not a match. The farther to the left, the shorter period of tie they will be displayed. The farther to the right, the longer they will be displayed.


How to Register

Print out a registration form using the nag screen or the Help menu. (if you do not have a printer, write the information on a peice of paper and send it along, we aren't picky).

Fill in the form with all the needed information

Send it with a check or money order * for the correct amount to:

Steven T. Fricke

807 Sandalwood Lane

Arlington, Texas 76017-6051

* You should always avoid sending cash through the mail. This protects you and me from theft.


Contents
Finderz - Keeperz

General Information:

Obectives and overview

Main screen

Button bar

Options

Playing sounds with an internal speaker

Product support

Adding your own pictures

Registration Information:

What do I get if I register?

How to register

Entering registration key

What is Shareware?


Entering registration key...

To enter a registration key  select the enter key button from the nag screen or by Help + Registration + Enter Key

When the entry window opens, enter your name in the top box, your key in the lower box, and select the Done button.

That's all there is to it. The game will no longer nag you about registering.


Objectives and Overview

Finderz - Keeperz is a simple game intended for young children, but some older children enjoy playing as well. The concept is to match pictures, colors, letters, or shapes. This game is intended to help children with shape, color and letter identification and their sense of recall.

When the game starts, the screen is filled with 30 blank pictures.

First, a blank picture is clicked with a mouse and a picture will appear. Next another blank picture is selected and once again a picture will appear in that box. If the picture matches, then both will remain on the screen. If the pictures do not match, then the pictures go back to blank after a short interval.

If the sound function is on, then a child's voice will be played after every second selection.

This voice is intended to be encouraging to children even if they don't make a match. This can be played with or without a sound card *

The objective of the game is to find the match to every picture in the group.

Please note that some of the included pictures groups are harder than others. There are one or two that are chalenging even for us.... and we made them!

* If an internal speaker is to be used, you will need to have a speaker driver. This is available free from many Online services, usually under the file name SPEAK.EXE

Helpfile generated by VB HelpWriter.


Main Window

The main screen has 30 blank pictures on it at the beginning of the game. Each blank pictures is hiding a small picture underneath. These are the pictures to be selected by clicking with the mouse.

The Game menu will allow you to start a new game, Load the game options screen, or exit the game. The Help menu will get you to this help file.

There is a floating button bar. This button bar has three buttons on it, each of the buttons will display what they do if you hold you mouse over button.

  New Game: This will start a new game.

  Options: This will load the options screen.

  Exit Game: This will end the game.

Helpfile generated by VB HelpWriter.


Playing sounds with internal speaker

This game will play the sound through the internal PC speaker. This requires that you have a "speaker driver". A "speaker driver" is software, or a program. You do not need to buy anything else to attach to your computer to run sounds through the speaker, you only need this software. The sound quality running through the speaker is limited, but much more entertaining for a child that a silent computer. If you do not have a speaker driver I urge you to get one.

The big question: "How do I get a speaker driver?" A speaker driver may be provided by the manufacturer of your computer... but don't count on it. The best way to get one is to sign on to an online service  or local BBS . There is a file out there called SPEAK.EXE . This will expand into several files once you run the program. There will be a text file expanded with the rest that will tell you step by step how to install this driver. It is very easy to do if you follow the instructions! If you were able to run this program, then you have all the knowledge you need to set up the driver.

What if you can't get the file from an online service, or don't know where to look? Feel free to contact the author of this software at the address on the registration form. We want you to be happy with this software, and we can send information on how to get this file directly from us.

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What is Shareware?

Shareware is the ultimate in "try before you buy". You get the software and test drive it. This allows you to be sure you are getting the software you want at a fair price. There are many ways to obtain shareware . Many online services have areas which are dedicated to this distribution process. There are services which charge you a cost for the diskette or CD ROM that the software comes on, and distribution costs. You can get shareware from the authors of the shareware, or from a friend who has already tried it. But be aware: Just because you bought a diskette or CD ROM with shareware on it, you do not own the shareware. You only own the disdette or CD ROM that you purchased it on. You are still bound by the license of each software package on the diskette.

Although shareware is released to the public at large, it is not free software, nor is it public domain. You get to run the software, use it for a specified period of time or number of uses before you are required to either pay for it, or discontinue use.

So, why should you pay for the software if you have it already. There are several reasons. First and most foremost: It's the law, and just the right thing to do. There are other reasons though. Most shareware has built in reasons. Some have disabled parts of the software until you register. Some shareware has "nagware" built in until you register. These are reminders to pay that may come up before during or after the running of the software. Some software just relies on your honesty.

So, does the process work? YES! It works because we as users make it work. There are parts of the development of this package which are registered software development shareware products. As long as people pay for the shareware they get and use, the process will work. Rest assured that if people stop paying, this fine distribution process will go away. If you like the fact that you don't have to pay big company prices for their packaging and advertising, and reduce the cost of the software to just paying for the software, then support the process.

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Product Support

The author of this software can be contacted for product support, comments and criticism at:

US Mail:

Steven T. Fricke

807 Sandalwood Lane

Arlington, Texas 76017-6051

E-Mail:

AOL: Moodie Blu

Internet: steven.fricke@whytel.com

Helpfile generated by VB HelpWriter.


What do I get if I register?

When you register, the most important thing you get is the legal right to continue to use the software, but what else do you get?

Once the registration key  is entered the game is licensed forever. This will stop the nag screen from coming up

If you register by E-Mail:

You will get your registration key sent to you by E-Mail . This is the fastest form of registration. The turn-around is almost always within 24 hrs of receipt, many time same day delivery.

If you purchase the game on diskette:

You will get the personal printed license and the game on diskette. This gives you an archival copy of the game and the ability to insure you have the most recent version available.

If you register by US Mail:

You will get a personal printed license with the registration key printed on the license.

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Adding your own pictures

If you are familiar with creating *.BMP files (standard Windows bitmap) then creating you own graphics for this mathing game can be fun and fairly easy.

Using a paint program like Windows Paintbrush, create a BMP file that is 160 X 96 and it is best to keep it to 16 colors. Add pictures that are 32 X 32. in five columns and three rows. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use an icon editor (Windows Icons are 32 X 32), create icons, then copy and paste the icons into the paintbrush picture. Save the file to the Finderz - Keeperz directory, and you are done!

It will all make sense, I am sure, if you look at one of the BMP files that accompany the program. Have fun!

Helpfile generated by VB HelpWriter.


Glossary

E

E-Mail

L

local BBS

O

online service

R

registration key

S

shareware

SPEAK.EXE


SPEAK.EXE

This file contains the driver for the internal speaker. This is available from online services. A driver is required to run sounds in MS Windows.


registration key

A registation key is a series of numbers or letters that when entered into the program will tell the program that the copy that is running is a licensed copy.


shareware

Shareware is the ultimate in try before you buy. In a nutshell: If you like it you pay, you don't like it. Stop using it.


E-Mail

E-Mail is a form of sending information over the computer. Ususally in the form of a letter.


online service

An online service is a company who's you access using your computer and a modem.


local BBS

A local BBS is a Bulletin Board System. They are in many way the same as major online services, but they tend to be much smaller and more economical. You access their computer using your computer and a modem.