

              ͻ
                                 4Space 1.1                   
                                                              
                    Copyright (C) 1995   Lonny A. Eachus      
              ͼ


    4SPACE is a different kind of screen saver.  It gives the impression of
    a moving and shifting "window" on a surrealistic world of textured lines
    and curves.  It can be a lot of fun to watch.  The lines and shapes that
    it moves around the screen are nothing new.  The "uniqueness" comes from
    the fascinating, eye-pleasing curves or interacting Moir patterns it
    makes in the process.  It has many combinations of options to modify its
    operation, so if you get bored with one setting, try another.  The options
    cover a wide range from relaxing and interesting to very obnoxious,  so
    you can set it however your mood suits you.

    I think M. C. Escher would have liked this.

    4SPACE 1.1 requires at least a 286 with VGA monitor.  If you don't have
    at least a 286 with VGA or Super VGA video adapter, don't try to run it.
    This shareware version does not check your hardware for suitability
    before attempting to run.  A math coprocessor speeds it up, especially
    on older machines, but it is not required.  The most important performance
    factor is the speed of your video adapter.


                           ͻ
                            COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
                           ͼ

    4SPACE 1.1 is Copyright (C) 1995  Lonny A. Eachus.  The author reserves
    all rights under US law and international treaty regarding 4SPACE and its
    associated files.  The program 4SPACE 1.1 is distributed as shareware.
    Shareware is not free software.  You may evaluate the product for a period
    of 30 days. If you continue to use it after that time you are expected to
    pay for it.  Registration information is provided below, and in the file
    REGISTER.FRM, included with the program.   4SPACE 1.1 may be freely copied
    and distributed for evaluation, provided: the program and associated files
    must be distributed together as a unit; no additions, modifications, or
    deletions may be made to the original material; and no fees of any kind,
    including cost reimbursement, may be charged for distribution without
    written permission from the author.


                               ͻ
                                DISCLAIMER 
                               ͼ

    4SPACE has been tested, but that doesn't mean it will work on your machine.
    The author assumes no responsibility for damages OF ANY KIND associated
    with the use of this software.  USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.  I have to say
    this, but I mean it.  If your big red power switch fries (I have seen it)
    and your house burns down, it ain't my fault.  If your kid swallows the
    disk and needs surgery, don't blame me.  If your Pentium miscalculates your
    tax (likely?) and you go to jail: I wasn't there.  The visual effects may
    be different, but this software uses standard commercial stuff.  If your
    monitor decides to go to Hell while 4SPACE is running, it isn't the fault
    of 4SPACE.  And I can prove it.  Does that seem defensive?  You bet.


                             ͻ
                              INDLUDED FILES 
                             ͼ

    4SPACE 1.1 is distributed electronically in compressed form, in a file
    called 4SPACE11.xxx, where xxx is the extension given to it by compression
    software.  This extension will usually be .ZIP or .ARJ, but others are
    possible, including .ZOO, .ARC, .PAK, etc.

    After uncompressing, you should have the following files.  You should find
    ONLY these files - the advertising files that some BBSs insert are NOT
    appreciated and violate the distribution restrictions given above.  If you
    find those in the compressed file you download, I would like to know about
    it.  Please contact me at the address given below.

      FILE          SIZE (bytes)              PURPOSE
      ----          ------------              -------

    README.1ST          1996            Getting started instructions.

    4DEMO.BAT           3851            Demonstration batch file.

    4SPACE.TXT         21474            This file.

    4SPACE.EXE         47072            The executable program.

    FILE_ID.DIZ          494            A description file for Bulletin Boards.

    DESC.SDI             494            Another description file.

    REGISTER.FRM        1436            A printable registration form.

    If you have reason to suspect that the program or any other files have
    been modified, please contact the author at the address given below.


                            ͻ
                             INSTALLING 4SPACE 
                            ͼ

    No special installation is required to use 4SPACE.  Just create a DOS
    directory, copy the compressed file into it, and uncompress.  4SPACE 1.1
    is distributed as a compressed file called 4SPACE11.xxx, where xxx is the
    extension of the compressed file format (most commonly .ZIP and .ARJ).
    See the instructions for the compression software if you don't know how
    to uncompress.  If you don't know how to create a directory or copy the
    files, see your DOS manual.

    4SPACE will run under Windows as a full-screen DOS program (NOT as a
    Windows Screen Saver).  To install under Windows, uncompress 4SPACE into
    a directory.  Then open the Windows program group you want 4SPACE to be
    in, and make sure it is the currently selected group.  Choose File | New
    from the Program Manager menu.  Click OK on New Program Item.  Click
    anywhere in the Command Line box, then Click Browse.  Move to the
    directory where 4SPACE is located.  Select the file 4SPACE.EXE.  Click
    OK.  If desired, you can change the assigned Windows Icon at this point.
    Click OK.  The end.  It's a lot of steps, but that's Windows.  Go figure.


                              ͻ
                               RUNNING 4SPACE 
                              ͼ

    *** IMPORTANT ***  when evaluating 4SPACE, give it a little time at each
    setting to see what develops.  Often the most interesting part is the
    pattern that emerges, rather than the moving shapes on the screen.

    To start the program in one of its simplest modes, just type 4SPACE.  But
    please read further first.

    The program begins with an info screen, which is reproduced below between
    the dashed lines.  The shareware version will pause for about 8 seconds at
    this point.  The registered version starts immediately with no pause.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

              ͻ
                                 4Space 1.1                   
                                                              
                    Copyright (C) 1995   Lonny A. Eachus      
              ͼ

                         UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY
     To order a registered copy,                 Lonny A. Eachus
     send your name and address                  Consultech Computing
     along with a check or money                 1108 N. 22nd
     order for $7.00 US to:                      Coeur d'Alene, ID  83814

Syntax: 4SPACE [SWITCHES]  Switches are not case sensitive.  Valid switches are:

/Dxx   (D)elay factor for faster machines.  Valid range: 0-9999999.  Default 0.
/Lxx   (L)ines for generating screen patterns.  Valid range: 3-32.  Default 4.
/Cxx   (C)olor xx for single color (try it).  Valid range: 1-15.  Default 7.
/M     (M)ulticolor.  Each line is a different color.  /M will override /C.
/V     (V)ary colors.  Color shifts every bounce.  Really wild with /M and /N.
/Nxx   (N)oise frequency xx enabled.  Valid range: 100-7000.  /N alone = Random.
/?        Displays this screen, then exits.  Main program will not execute.

SPACEBAR    while running freezes the screen.  Press again to continue running.

                     Pausing to remind you to register...
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Most of the information you need is here.  You can call up this screen by
    typing   4SPACE /?   or   4SPACE /H.    "H" is for Help.

    4SPACE is controlled by command line switches.  This makes running it
    from batch files convenient: put your favorite settings in a batch file
    to run 4SPACE the same way next time.  If you are unfamiliar with
    command line switches or batch files, see your DOS manual.

    Look over the list of command line switches.  A few notes about them:

    1)  All switches must be separated by at least one space.  4SPACE /M /N
        is OK, but  4SPACE/M/N  is not.

    2)  The order of the switches doesn't matter:    /N /V  =  /V /N

    3)  The switches are not case-sensitive:    /D  =  /d

    4)  All switches are independent except /C.  Using the switches /M or /V
        will override the /C setting.  This will be explained further below.

    5)  4SPACE likes to run; it doesn't want to quit and spit out error
        messages.  So if a switch setting is incorrect or out of range, it
        usually won't choke and spit out "ERROR #73" or something.  Instead,
        it will ignore the error and use a default setting.  This helps avoid
        false starts, but can cause confusion if you are not aware of it.  So
        if it doesn't run the way you expect, check your switch values.  When
        an error does occur (entering ridiculously large switch values), an
        attempt has been made to make the messages clear and meaningful.


    Let's look at the switches and see what they do.

    /D is first.  "D" stands for Delay Factor.  It is very important because
    it controls how fast the program runs.  If you have a newer computer and
    you don't set this value, 4SPACE will likely run around the screen so
    fast you won't see what's going on.  That's no fun at all.  So you will
    probably have to set some value here.  A good one to try first is 1000.
    Enter it like this:   4SPACE /D1000         The default Delay is 0.

    See the README.1ST file for instructions on how to get started with the
    /D switch.  4SPACE actually looks better if it runs rather slowly.  The
    valid range of numbers for Delay are 0 to 9999999.  That should cover any
    newer, faster PC that is likely to appear in the next few years.

    *** IMPORTANT ***  If you accidently enter a huge Delay, the screen will
    appear frozen (or you may think your machine has locked up).  If this
    happens, hitting the ESC key will exit so you can try again.

    Free advice: whenever your computer appears frozen, whether running
    4SPACE or some other program, you should ALWAYS attempt hitting ESC,
    CTRL-BREAK, and CTRL-C  before you throw in the towel and reboot your
    computer.  Other good keys to try are Q for Quit and X for eXit.  If
    none of those work (I am going to make some ememies here) it is often
    the fault of the programmer.  Not always, but often.

    Quitting 4SPACE is simplicity itself: hit any key except the SPACEBAR.
    You cannot quit, of course, during the few seconds that the startup
    registration reminder is showing.       :-)

    The /L switch controls the number of "lines" the program uses to generate
    its patterns.  For example: the minimum, /L3, sets it to three lines,
    forming a moving triangle on the screen.  The default setting, /L4, forms
    a shifting quadrangle (NOT always rectangle - watch it and see what I
    mean).  The valid range is 3 to 32.  Needless to say, 32 lines on the
    screen can make it look a bit busy.

    /C is used to set a color if you want to have 4SPACE use one, constant
    color.  Call it Constant Color.  It sounds boring, but it is my favorite
    mode.  The patterns it generates can be seen most clearly if only one
    color is used.  4SPACE uses the 16 "standard" VGA colors, so the valid
    range for this switch is 1 to 15 (color 0 is the black background).  Try
    different values to find a color you like.  Default is 7 (light gray),
    often called "white" in the PC world.  Also good is 15 (white), which is
    called, also incongruously, "bright white".  What the hell: try 'em all.

    /M is Multicolor.  If you specify /M, each "line" is assigned a random
    color value when the program starts.  Two things about that: often two or
    more lines will be of the same color (guaranteed if you have more than 15
    lines); and it will override the /C switch - you can't have single color
    and multicolor at the same time!    Default is Multicolor OFF.

    /V enables Variable colors.  When you use /V, a color will shift when the
    line "bounces".  In Multicolor mode, the result of /V is that colors
    change individually.  If /M is not used, the single screen color changes.
    So this switch, too, overrides /C.    The default is Variable Color OFF.

    The final switch, /N, enables Noise (sound).  The sounds are simple,
    quiet beeps.  The value of xx specifies the approximate frequency of the
    sound, so for example  4SPACE /N1000  will cause the program to emit a
    beep of about 1000 Hz.   The valid range for /N is 100 to 7000.  Using
    /N with no value (/N by itself) or a value less than 100 will cause the
    frequencies to be random.    Default is Noise OFF.

    While 4SPACE is running along and doing its thing, you can temporarily
    freeze it by hitting the SPACEBAR.  So if you see a pattern you enjoy,
    press the spacebar to stop it on-screen.  Press another key and 4SPACE
    will resume normal operation.

    As mentioned before, hitting any other key will exit 4SPACE.  There is
    yet another registration reminder in the shareware version, so you will
    actually have to hit a key twice to exit the program.  The final reminder
    does not lock you out as the beginning one does, so just press a key to
    exit at any time.

 
                         ͻ
                          PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER 
                         ͼ

    For examples of how to combine 4SPACE switches for particular effects,
    examine the lines that say 4SPACE in the included batch file 4DEMO.BAT.
    To avoid confusion, remember that 4DEMO.BAT uses the characters "/D%1" in
    place of the normal /D value.  The other switches appear just as they
    would be entered at the DOS prompt or in another batch file.  For more
    information about 4DEMO.BAT, see the included README.1ST file.

    Here are some more examples:

            4SPACE /L3

    These are the minimal settings.  /L3 sets the number of lines to the
    fewest possible (the default is 4).  All other settings are default:
    default constant color (light gray); Multicolor OFF; Varying colors OFF;
    Noise (sound) OFF.  Note that /D is not specified in these examples.  It
    is impossible for me to predict what your /D setting might be.  You will
    probably have to include /Dxxxx on all your command lines.


            4SPACE /L5 /M

    Lines 5, Multicolor ON.  Each line is a separate color (although repeats
    are common).  Colors will remain constant as the program runs.


            4SPACE /L10 /C12

    Lines 10, all lines of one constant color (12 = bright red).


            4SPACE /L10 /C12 /V

    Lines 10, color 12, Variable colors ON.  The /C color is irrelevant, as
    it will change randomly as soon as it Varies.  Only one color is visible
    at any time, however.  Since /C here is overridden, this is equivalent
    to 4SPACE /L10 /V.


            4SPACE /L5 /M /N100

    5 lines of random but constant colors.  Each "bounce" will produce a
    brief, soft 100 Hz. tone.


            4SPACE /L5 /M /V

    5 lines, of (usually) separate colors.  One of the colors will shift
    randomly on each bounce.
               

            4SPACE /L10 /M /V /N

    10 lines of different shifting colors with a random tone on each bounce.
    We're starting to get wild here.  Because of the limitations of the PC
    speaker, some frequencies will sound louder than others.  If you use just
    one tone (/Nxxxx), adjust the frequency to one you like.

            
            4SPACE /L32 /M /V /N

    Max!  32 lines of multiple shifting colors with random tones.  Either you
    will love this or it will drive you nuts in a hurry. I personally prefer
    the more minimal settings.  They can be very relaxing to watch.  This
    setting, in my opinion, is a busy-looking, noisy disturbance.  But what
    the hey, I set it up so that YOU can choose.

    With 32 lines on-screen, naturally it takes a bit more computing power to
    drive the thing along.  You will probably want a different Delay with all
    this going on at once.  These switches and a Delay of 0 still runs just a
    bit slow on a 386/20 with a math coprocessor and older VGA card.


    Try 'em all and have fun!

                                -  Lonny A. Eachus



                               ͻ
                                REGISTRATION 
                               ͼ

    As with the nag screens in the program, I have to take this opportunity
    to remind you to register 4SPACE.   Think about it: I spent a good bit of
    time on this and the  US $7.00  registration fee is not a whole lot over
    the cost of buying, copying, and mailing the disk.   We're not exactly
    talking Get Rich Quick here.  Shareware authors also need to know that
    their time is not being wasted.  Their only feedback is registrations.

    Registration brings you a disk with the latest version of 4SPACE.  The
    registered version has delayed reminder screens.  It also includes any
    new features developed since the time of this writing.  While I can't
    predict the future, by the time you register 4SPACE, these are features
    that you may expect:

    Better sound.  PC beeps are at the low end if the aesthetic spectrum.
    Since the whole idea is a mellow thing to watch (you aren't really running
    it manically around the screen, are you?) I will try to add some pleasing
    sounds.  Understand that Bach is beyond my capability and Black Sabbath
    won't be considered.  At least for this program.

    256 colors instead of 16.  This is already in progress: I just haven't
    had the time yet to pick and choose 256 colors from among the 256k that
    are available.  (If you have ever gone shopping with a spouse for
    wallpaper, you know what I mean.)  Most of those 256k are ugly, and of the
    rest, I don't want too many Reds or too many Blues.  That would skew the
    Random features.  Right now, 4SPACE is really just mimicking the standard
    16 VGA colors through its own internal color palette anyway, so adding
    more will be a piece of cake once I find the right ones.  No fear: it will
    remain compatible with standard VGA.  640 x 480 resolution with 256 colors
    IS possible in standard VGA.  Most programmers just don't bother.

    A real Windows Screen Saver version of the program.  A current problem
    with this is the sluggish graphics speed of Windows.  I am looking for
    workarounds.  The Windows version will first be included with the DOS
    program for evaluation.  Later Windows versions will probably be separate.

    I would like to encourage you to contact me if you have ideas for features
    to include in 4SPACE.  Write to the address given below, and include your
    name and address.  Also please include the name and address (Internet
    path or BBS phone number) where you found it.  Marketing contacts are
    important, after all.  If you are the first to submit an idea that is
    used in a future version, you will receive a free registered copy of it.

    To register, print the file REGISTER.FRM included with these files, and
    fill it out.  It is a plain ASCII file.  To print it on most systems,
    type  COPY REGISTER.FRM PRN  at the DOS prompt.  If for some reason you
    don't have the file, or can't print it, send your name and address, along
    with a check or money order for $7.00 US, payable to Lonny Eachus, to the
    following address.

                                Lonny A. Eachus
                                Consultech Computing
                                1108 N. 22nd
                                Coeur d'Alene, ID  83814

    Thank you for trying 4SPACE.  It's work, but fun work.
