========================================================================== MATH CIRCUS ========================================================================== This README.TXT text contains additions and alterations to the manual. ========================================================================== CONTENTS ========================================================================== 1. Arranging to launch from Windows 2. SOUND when launched from DOS 3. SOUND when launched from Windows 4. Mouse problems ========================================================================== 1. Arranging to launch from Windows ========================================================================== This software is designed to run under DOS, but (as with many DOS programs) it may be launched from Windows if you wish. The way to achieve this is much the same under all versions of Windows. The exact details described here apply to Windows 3.1. First you must install the software to your hard drive as described in the manual. It is assumed in these instructions that you have installed it in the directory C:\CIRCUS. If you have installed it somewhere else, such as C:\MATHCIRC, then replace C:\MATHCIRC with C:\CIRCUS in the following instructions. Start Windows, and choose the group in which you want the new item to appear. Ensure that the title bar of this group is highlighted (by clicking anywhere in this window). From the main "Program manager" menu, choose "File" then "New" (by clicking, or by pressing ALT then F then N). Click on the "Program Item" button, then click on "OK". Now type in the three lines of text as follows. Do NOT press ENTER to move from line to line, but use the TAB key or the mouse instead: Description: Math Circus Command Line: C:\CIRCUS\CIRCUS.EXE Working Directory: C:\CIRCUS The "Description" may be any text you wish. The "Working Directory" must be the full path name of the directory where you installed the software. The "Command Line" should be the same path name, plus the "\" symbol, plus CIRCUS.EXE. The remaining step is to arrange for a suitable icon to be displayed. Click on "Change icon", and ignore any message saying that no icons are available (by clicking on the "OK" button). A window labelled "Change Icon" will appear. Click on "Browse" then navigate your way to the directory C:\CIRCUS. Double-click on the filename CIRCUS.ICO. Finally keep clicking on "OK" buttons to complete the process. ========================================================================== 2. SOUND when launched from DOS ========================================================================== The variety of sound cards and their related software drivers is constantly changing. This software endeavors to provide correct sound effects under a wide range of conditions, but there are certain limitations. The sound menu offers you various options for sound effects. Sound effects: no This turns off all sound effects (except the opening music, which can be turned on or off separately). This should work correctly on all computers. Sound effects: yes This will attempt to produce sound effects, depending on the sound card setting. Sound card: none Use this if you have no sound card, or if you experience problems with the other settings. The sounds will be "beeps" via the internal computer speaker, and this should work on all computers. Sound card: SB16 Use this setting if you have a Sound Blaster 16 card, or a later Sound Blaster card. It will also work for certain earlier cards if you have updated drivers. Sound Card: SB2/SBPro Use this setting if you have a Sound Blaster 1.5 or 2, or a Sound Blaster Pro card. Many other cards emulate either SB16 or SB2/SBPro. The first time you use the software, it will try to determine what sound card you have (if any), and will try to choose the setting appropriately. Normally it will therefore not be necessary to alter the setting. If you choose to alter the setting to "SB16" or "SB2/SBPro" yourself, then an error message will be given if any part of the sound system appears not to be working. This error message will appear when the fault is discovered, which will typically be when you next try one of the puzzles with sound effect turned on. If this happens, start again and choose a different setting. Each time the software starts, it checks that the current setting is suitable. If any problems are found, it automatically changes the setting to "Sound card: none" and continues. Not all errors with sound cards are predictable! In the worst possible situation, the system may hang rather than give an error message. If this happens, reboot the computer, go to the directory where you installed Math Circus, and give the command SOUNDOFF. This alters the settings to "Sound card: none", and turns off sound effects and music. This will avoid using the sound card and thus should avoid the error. You may then wish to turn sound effects or music on again, but you should leave the sound card setting at "None". ========================================================================== 3. SOUND when launched from Windows ========================================================================== These comments are in addition to section 2, "SOUND when launched from DOS", which you should read first, and they assume that you have already arranged for the software to be launched from Windows. (See section 1 for details about how to achieve this.) There are additional known problems involved in using sound in a DOS program when it is launched from Windows. These problems apply to all such programs, and are to do with the way that Windows emulates DOS. They apply to versions of Windows at least up to 3.11, and to some sound cards and drivers. These problems result in unpredictable errors, particularly with SB16 sound cards. Typically you may receive a message indicating that a device is already in use or is unavailable, but at other times the whole system may hang. If this happens, use the SOUNDOFF command from the DOS prompt as described above. Go the the DOS prompt (either in Windows, or by quitting Windows), navigate to the directory where you installed Math Circus, and give the command SOUNDOFF. After this, you should be able to use Math Circus either from the DOS prompt or from within Windows. You can turn sound effects or music on again, but you should leave the sound card setting as "None". ========================================================================== 4. MOUSE problems ========================================================================== This software is designed to work with a standard Microsoft mouse. Many other types of mouse are compatible with this, so will also work. If you do not have a mouse, you can use the SPACE BAR to move through the available choices, then ENTER to make your selection. If you have a mouse but it does not work properly, there are two likely causes. The first possibility is that you do not have a mouse driver installed. The pointer will appear, and you will be able to control it using the space bar and ENTER, but moving the mouse will have no effect on the pointer. Note that Windows uses is own separate mouse driver, so the fact that your mouse works in Windows does NOT mean that you have a mouse driver for DOS programs suitably installed. Usually a suitable driver is provided with your mouse, complete with installation instructions. If in doubt, contact your dealer and ask for a DOS mouse driver for your mouse. The second possibility is that your mouse in not Microsoft compatible, or that you have mouse-driver software that is non-standard or is not consistent with the drivers in common use when Math Circus was written. Unfortunately there may be instances where later Microsoft drivers are not entirely consistent with their earlier drivers. At worst this may cause the pointer to remain fixed, and even the SPACE BAR and ENTER will not work. In this case, it is necessary to disable the mouse. To do this, use the /N option: To install, use A:\INSTALL /N instead of A:\INSTALL To run, use CIRCUS /N instead of CIRCUS The /N option causes the software to disregard the mouse, so that you will be able to drive the software by using the SPACE BAR and the ENTER key. Date of this README file: September 1995