   *************************************************************************
   *                Savers 10 Version 4.2 - Final Version                  *
   *           Final Shareware Version Program Documentation               *
   *           Copyright (c) 1992-1996 Robert Manning, Author              *
   *************************************************************************
   *                                                                       *
   *  This file contains summary documentation for Savers 10 v4.2; it is   *
   *  not the full documentation. The complete instruction document is     *
   *  only shipped with the registered version of the program. There are   *
   *  several extras reserved for the registered version, though for this  *
   *  final version the program is fully functional.                       *
   *                                                                       *
   *  A registration/purchase form can be found in the file REGISTER.TXT   *
   *  Complete the form and send your payment to:                          *
   *                                                                       *
   *  Robert Manning, PO Box 2011, Lomita, CA 90717.                       *
   *                                                                       *
   *  RobertM782 on America Online               76022,1630 on Compuserve  *
   *                                                                       *
   *   Come visit South Bay Computer Assistance on the WWW! Point your     *
   *  browser to: http://members.aol.com/robertm782/public/sbcapage.htm    *
   *                                                                       *
   *      If using Internet Email, please address RobertM782@AOL.COM       *
   *************************************************************************

   ****************************
   Introduction and Description
   ****************************
   Thank you for your interest in Savers 10 Version 4.2! Savers 10 is a DOS
   Screen Show / Saver program. It serves two main purposes: To entertain,
   and to help prevent monitor burn-in. Monitor burn-in starts to occur 
   when your system is inactive for a prolonged period of time, and the
   same display is left on your monitor. Over a period of time, the display
   that is left on your screen will actually cause a deterioration of the
   pixels in your monitor, leaving the shadow of the display present, even
   if the monitor is turned off!

   Savers 10 not only serves the utilitarian purpose of preventing monitor
   burn-in, it is a form of entertainment as well! You can display your
   favorite PCX graphic images with the Slide Show, leave someone a message
   with Screen Message, or display the current time, with a starfield sim-
   ulation in the background! Each of the shows can be changed or config-
   ured in a variety of ways; There are more than just 10 screen shows!
   There are many different ways to change the basic display in each show.

   Savers 10 V4.2 can be run in DOS as well as under Windows. Please see 
   the section to follow for installing a program item for Savers 10, if
   you wish to use it in Windows.

   ****************************
   What's New in Savers 10 V4.2
   ****************************
   * Night Moon II has replaced the Night & Day show.
   * New show options in Mirror III.
   * Various other improvements and fixes.
   * Previous shareware version limits removed, program is fully functional.
   * Reduced registration fee for this final version.

   *********************************************
   System Requirements to operate Savers 10 V4.2
   *********************************************
   * 80386 or better IBM PC/Compatible.
   * DOS 3.0 or higher.
   * VESA compliant VGA video card (VESA TSR may be needed).
   * 512kB video memory recommended, 64kB minimum; 600kB+ RAM memory.
   * 100% MicroSoft compatible mouse, for the Doodle show, and optionally
     for menu command selections with a mouse.
   * Sound Blaster for music in Serenade show.

   In many cases, as long as your video card is VESA compliant, you do not
   need to load a VESA TSR video driver. However, some video cards require
   such a driver to run Savers 10 V4.2, and you should also load it if you
   plan on running the program from within Windows. 

   If the program runs, but does so extremely slowly, then you must load
   a VESA bios TSR to use it. This will eliminate the slow response.
   
   There are some cases where Savers 10 V4.2 may not seem to run on a VESA 
   compliant video card. You should check both the utilities disk that 
   came with your video card, as well as with the store it was purchased
   from, and the manufacturer. These drivers may also be found on the major
   networks, such as America Online and CompuServe.

   Known cards/systems that Savers 10 V4.2 will not operate with:
   1) Diamond Stealth 64 DRAM VLB video card, with 2M video RAM installed,
      S3 (Integrated) DAC on board
   2) Compaq LTE 386sx/20 Notebook (possibly insufficient video RAM).
   
   ***************************
   BEFORE RUNNING THE PROGRAM:
   ***************************
   Please do several things before you try Savers 10 for the first time:

   1) Run SETUP.EXE, to properly create the SOUND.CFG file.
   2) Run SX4TEST.EXE, to make sure that your system is capable of handling 
      the minimum requirements to run the program.
   3) If you run from within Windows, please install a VESA TSR before 
      starting the program, and before starting Windows. Edit the enclosed 
      windows .PIF file, and add the proper command line and working 
      directory, as you have installed the program.
   
   ****************************************
   Savers 10 V4.2 Registration and Benefits
   ****************************************
   Registering your copy of Savers 10 V4.2 (ie, legally purchasing it) will
   grant you with a number of substantial benefits:

      -You'll receive copies of all of the previous versions of Savers 10
       (three additional programs), including the source code for the
       first version, all registered to you.

      -Full documentation for all show settings and program features.

      -Full support for all the programs, via Email (America Online, Compu-
       Serve, and Delphi), by post mail, or phone.
   
   The following features will be enhanced in the Registered Version:

      -Full set of music files for use in Serenade (48), including many
       popular Christmas tunes.

   You can find the registration form for Savers 10 V4.2 in the file
   REGISTER.TXT. Complete this form, enclose your check or money order 
   made out to Robert Manning for $10, and mail to the author at the 
   following postal address:

      Robert Manning, PO Box 2011, Lomita, CA 90717

   Your registered programs will be sent via post mail ASAP. 

   ***************************************************
   Starting Savers 10 V4.2, and Command line arguments
   ***************************************************
   Before you run Savers 10 V4.2, be sure you have run the program 
   SETUP.EXE to install/change the Sound Blaster configuration, and 
   SX4TEST.EXE to confirm compatibity for running the show.

   To run Savers 10 V4.2, type SAVERSX4 at the DOS command line, and press 
   Enter. The program supports a command line argument, for starting a show 
   without seeing the main menu screen. The command line arguments are not 
   case sensitive. The usage would be as such:

      SAVERSX4 showchoice   (press Enter)

   Where 'showchoice' is the highlighted letter from the show name you want
   to run. If you wanted to start the program in the PCX slide show, for 
   example, the command would be:

      SAVERSX4 P   (press Enter)

   You may also start the configuration menu by itself, and it also accepts
   a command line argument for the menu choice. For example,

      SX4MENUS M   (press Enter)

   Would activate the settings menu for Mirror III.

   *********************
   PCX Slide Show Images
   *********************
   The Slide Show will display your .PCX image files, of up to 640x480
   image size. Additionally, the images must use 256 color palettes. The
   screen mode used to display the image is set automatically, and will be
   set to the closest matching size. For example, images of 320x200 size
   or less will be displayed on a 320x200 screen. An image with a size of
   300x480 will be displayed using a 640x480 screen. A 400x400 image will
   use a 640x400 display screen. The aspect ratio is maintained, and the 
   image will be centered as needed on the screen.

   ***********************
   Savers 10 Final Version
   *Epilog and Conclusion*
   ***********************
   The author regrets to inform the computing public that due to lack of 
   registrations, this program is going to fade into history. It's only 
   fair that you get to see the final version of the program, and be 
   informed of the fact. The shareware limits in the show have been
   removed; the program is fully functional.
   
   It takes an incredible amount of work to create graphical programs.
   Version 4 took the better part of a years work to create from version
   3 (we're talking about recoding 10,000 lines of code from QuickBasic
   into 8000+ lines of C/C++, not to mention all the new routines). Of
   course, as the About screen describes, this show was originally created
   as an experiment in graphics/screen show programming, and I used the
   creation of version 4 as an excuse to teach myself C/C++ programming.

   Nonetheless, one doesn't spend this amount of time to simply give away
   ones' work. I suppose it depends on how you look at it. In any case,
   since Mr. Gates has seen fit to start erasing DOS from the computing
   scene, it's time for all good DOS programs to reconsider where they
   are going, regardless of the reason for their creation, development,
   and so on.

   Since the last version was released in October '95, a few new items
   have gone into the program, so this isn't just a version of the same
   program - but not a lot has gone into it. Since 1992, thousands of
   hours work have been put into the various versions of this show. Just
   a few people have ever bothered to register it. This tells me that some
   of the following things may be true: 
   
      1) Nobody likes the show
      2) It's a DOS program, and DOS is fading into history
      3) It's never had a TSR startup routine, so it can't be used as 
         an automatic-startup screen saver
      4) It is not a vitally important sort of program, and it's easier 
         to delete a non-vital program before bothering to register it
      5) People simply don't pay for entertainment when they can get it
         for free
      6) It is a demanding program, that may not work on all sorts of
         computer systems
      7) Some combination of the above items

   So, when left with the painful fact that very few people have registered
   the show, one must reconsider whether they wish to pour a lot of time
   and effort into a losing proposition. I've decided to decrease the
   registration fee to $10 from $20, though I fully expect that this will
   not make a bit of difference! I'll still be around to lend a hand with
   support for the program by Email, and you'll get a copy of all the
   previous main versions of the show when you register. But this is the
   last of the Mohicans for this program, so to speak.

   This is hard for me. Really. It's like saying so-long to an old friend.
   
   I've been playing with this program for over four years, and it has
   gone through some major changes in that time. I can say with complete
   confidence that I have accomplished what I started out to do in 1992,
   that is, create a nice, full featured screen show program that is 
   fun to watch, and learn how to do so in the process. I wanted a lot
   of different things going on, and a variety of shows, something for
   any mood.

   Some testers and users have written in stating that some of these
   shows would make nice commercial programs, or Windows screen savers.
   Who knows, maybe some of these routines will end up in a Windows
   screen saver set sometime. It's hard to toss that much work in the
   trash. But not a DOS version. Nor will a commercial version be made,
   it's WAY too expensive!

   I'd still like to hear from you, if you would like to comment on
   the program. My email addresses still work - I'm not going anywhere!
   I'll be spending my time on my other projects, going to school, raising
   a family, and so on. 
   
   To the people who have registered, I thank you from the bottom of my
   heart! No, not because you sent in the registration fee, but that it
   lets me know that you liked the program enough to buy it. You would 
   laugh (cry, maybe) if I told you what the equivalent hourly wage was
   for what time I've spent on these shows, compared to registrations.
   
   Your letters of thanks are just as welcome as registrations. That says
   a great deal to me. Shareware authors are completely without knowledge
   of what happens to their programs when people download them. We have
   no idea what you think about the show, unless you write or register.
   I have no idea if you like this thing, delete it, leave it on a disk
   somewhere for years, let your kids thrash it, who knows.
   
   The author again wishes to thank you for trying this program! It is
   sincerely hoped that you find it entertaining, and pleasing to the eye.

   Robert Manning, author.
   South Bay Computer Assistance
   Savers 10 is Copyright 1992-1996 Robert J. Manning. All rights reserved.

   *************************
   Something About The Shows
   *************************
   Entertainment programs are more personal than business programs. A
   lot of imagination is required, more experimenting than you would ever
   believe, uncountable hours recoding, testing, recompiling, and reworking
   code. In a way, an entertainment program says something about it's
   author. What it says immediately is, this is what this guy finds
   interesting. The one show that I have watched on my own system, more
   than any other is Mirror. It was made long before I realized what it
   amounts to in a mathematical sense (matrix manipulation). I still use
   it all the time.

   Mirror takes a 4x4 matrix and proceeds to play with the apex locations
   on the screen. This last version has an Erase mode that looks nicer
   than leaving the whole thing plotted.

   Weaver is a 'bounce' routine that plots various sprite types about the
   edges of the screen. Not a lot of math here, just a lot of counting!

   Prism is probably the simplest of the shows. Drawing lines to the
   screen corners isn't much to look at, without all the colors and XOR
   line patterns. It ends up looking much nicer, thanks to lots of
   palette manipulation.

   Screen Message was originally thought of as just a utility show, so
   one could leave a message on the computer. I took some ideas from a
   Pascal class (much nicer string manipulation features in that language)
   and decided to see what I could do with a string of characters, and
   still make it intelligible.

   Night Moon was one of the original version shows. It was replaced by
   Night & Day (a pseudo-FLI animation) for v4.0-1, but I took it out as
   it just wasn't what I really wanted to see - not to mention the litter
   of dozens of little PCX files laying around. The 'Moon was an idea
   inspired by a Mac saver that I had seen (though not as detailed).

   Doodle was my attempt at making a paint program (albeit a very simple
   paint program), that didn't litter the hard drive with files, yet let
   you goof around with shapes and colors. It does the one thing that a
   paint program doesn't do - once you're done, you hit the Start button
   and it sits there and shifts colors. I don't know about you, but I
   enjoy making strange little drawings then watching the color patterns
   shift around when you're done.

   Slide Show was another pseudo-utility show, that was meant to let you
   actually do something with that litter of PCX files on your hard disk.
   I have many megabytes of them around, and it's just easier to let this
   show find them and show them, than sit there and click-click-click
   through a paint program.

   Time & Space came from the old Time Display saver, with the twist of
   a starfield animation. No, I never did get around to putting an
   analog clock in it, was the one thing missing.

   Menagerie was the place to put all those little routines that I didn't
   want to make a full-blown show out of. Lots more could go into it. I
   had the most fun creating the trig-function sprite routines, thanks
   to my Calculus teachers at El Camino College. Math is an amazing thing.
   
   Serenade grew out of Menagerie, taking just the trig-function/sprite
   routines and using a nice music utility that I'd found. I had wanted
   to use the music routines all over the show, but it ended up that the
   video library that I use conflicts with the music program somehow, in
   a way that will never work completely right. The other authors of these
   programs are two different people who made two different products,
   and as you might imagine, collaboration on this effort was out of the
   question. As it is, sometimes the music works right in Serenade, and
   sometimes it doesn't - and I don't know why. Both utilities use some
   low level routines that conflict somehow, and the music program is
   actually a TSR that loads during program execution. So, I relegated 
   the music to the one show, so that the graphics library could run 
   the rest of the show.

   Disappointing though it may be, the video library that I chose did
   not end up working as well on other systems, as it did on my system.
   The man who wrote it had a limited supply of video cards to test it
   on, thus my program may not work universally. I would have changed the
   library for another (found a better one later on), but we're talking
   about rewriting most of the program. So, it is what it is.
   
   *******
   Credits
   *******
   First and foremost, to my wife Chris ... I thank the powers that be for
   her patience and understanding during the development of this program.

   To Dr. J..., Dr. B..., and Dr. S... at El Camino College, for their
   outstanding instruction in Computer Science and Calculus.

   To Borland, for their outstanding C++ compiler/editor, which saw a great
   deal of use!

   To Mr. Jeff Orth (OrthWare), for his SVGA256 Borland Graphics library, 
   which was invaluable to the development of this program.

   To Mr. Jeffrey Fullerton, for his MusicBox Sound Blaster program and
   music creator.

   The creators of the Persistence of Vision Raytracer (POVRay), which was
   used for the logo.

   To my friend Mr. Jochen Walder, who translated the Help screen into
   German for me, and gave many practical suggestions for the program.
   
   To many friends who graciously allowed me to test the programs' operation
   on their systems.

   And last but not least, to the folks who did register the program over
   the years! Thank you so much for the votes of confidence in this
   program!
   
   *******
   History
   *******
   Summer '92 to Summer '93
      Various experimental programs written for monochrome, EGA systems,
      and as utilities in other programs. Many initial experimental
      programs written; no public distribution. First official version
      under development.

   September '93
      First public version distributed on America Online, granted to the
      public domain (Freeware). Contained ten shows, three program settings,
      written in MicroSoft QuickBasic.

   January '94
      Began development on version 2.

   February '94
      Version 2 distributed over America Online, as ShareWare. Written in
      QuickBasic, this version was more of an enhancement to the first
      version than a new program. Began development of version 3.

   June '94
      Version 3 distributed on America Online. This version was a major
      overhaul of the program, rewritten in structured style, and over
      three times the code of previous versions. Enhanced all shows, added
      settings menus, password protect, various other features to polish
      the program overall. Development started on version 4.

   December '94
      Released version 3.1 over America Online. ShareWare.
      During development of version 4, version 3 had a couple bugs that
      needed to be fixed. Used one palette generator routine from version
      4, so show could run without palette files and have more color
      variety. Fixed minor bug in Mirror that stalled the pattern plots.

   December '94
      Released various version 4 alpha builds on Dave's Hole in the Wall BBS, 
      for test purposes.

   March '95
      Beta testing begun over Compuserves' SWBeta forum. Final polishing
      of the show.

   March '95
      Release of version 4 of Savers 10 over AOL, CIS, Delphi, various BBS's.
      Completely recoded in C/C++, first version that is not completely
      pattern drawing. Major enhancements to the show, added variety of
      new show types to the program.

   October '95
      Released version 4.1. Main improvement is the removal of the 
      restriction of 512kB video ram to run the show. If less than this
      amount is found, the show will default to 320x200x256 standard VGA.
      Doodle will not run in 320x200 mode, though all other shows will,
      and all shows will operate in 640x400 mode if only 256kB vram found.
      Several improvements or additions to Doodle, Menagerie, Serenade.

   October '96
      Released version 4.2, the last and final version of this program.
      Replaced Night & Day with Night Moon II, and added a few new settings
      for Mirror, fixed passwords, and various other tidbits.

   **********
   Trademarks
   **********
   Borland / Turbo C++ is a trademark of Borland International, Inc.
   DOS, Windows, QuickBasic, registered trademarks of Microsoft corp.
   SVGA256 Library, Copyright OrthWare, Mr. Jeff Orth.
   MusicBox, Copyright Mr. Jeffrey Fullerton.
   Savers 10 Copyright 1992-96 Robert Manning, 
   South Bay Computer Assistance.

   *************************************************************************
   *                Savers 10 Version 4.2 - Final Version                  *
   *           Final Shareware Version Program Documentation               *
   *           Copyright (c) 1992-1996 Robert Manning, Author              *
   *************************************************************************
   *  A registration/purchase form can be found in the file REGISTER.TXT   *
   *  Complete the form and send your payment to:                          *
   *                                                                       *
   *  Robert Manning, PO Box 2011, Lomita, CA 90717.                       *
   *                                                                       *
   *   Come visit South Bay Computer Assistance on the WWW! Point your     *
   *  browser to: http://members.aol.com/robertm782/public/sbcapage.htm    *
   *                                                                       *
   *      If using Internet Email, please address RobertM782@AOL.COM       *
   *************************************************************************
