Contents
 Contents for Spider Card Game Help

Learn how to use Help, press F1.

Other Keys Available:

Quick game save , press F5.

Turn Sounds On/Off, press F7.

Undo last move, press F9.

Overview: What is Spider?

Playing Spider

Menu Items

Changing the Spider.INI File

Technical Support and Customer Service

Legal Disclaimers and Notices

Updates to Spider: 1) Expanding of Large Card Stacks via

                             F8 Key held down while Right Mouse

                             button is depressed!  Letting up on

                             mouse button restores Card Stack.

                          2) Better Card Sizes at EGA, VGA,

                             SVGA and when window size is

                             reduced or resized


Overview
 Overview: What is Spider?

Spider is a particularly challenging double-deck solitaire game.

Unlike most solitaires, it provides extraordinary opportunities for the

skillful player to overcome bad luck in the deal by the means of

careful analysis and complex manipulations ( See Menu Option

BACKUP ).  The Spider program does not actually play the game for

you, but rather takes the place of the cards and keeps a record of

the game as it progresses.  From this history you can go backward

and forward to review the choices and changing you moves at

different points (but you will be called a cheater for doing this ).

The game does make to most appropriate move starting from the

left to the right, so if you need a card or stack of cards to a particular

stack or area on the tableau use the drag method (reference Strategy

and Rules of Spider).

The object of the game is to build a stack of cards in the same suit

from the King to Ace and remove the stack from the table to the

foundation area above.  When all eight stacks have been built and

removed, you have won the game (score will be 999).  A more

challenging version of this is to leave all eight stacks on the playing

area (tableau) until finished instead of removing those that are

complete to the foundation area above (score will be 1000).

Spider is free software, so use it wisely and don't forget us hard

working individuals who feel the best things in life are free (Right - Girls!).


Playing
 Playing Spider

The following topics are available related to the playing of Spider...

New Game

Strategy/Rules of Spider

Saving a Game

Resuming Saved Game

Turning Sound On or Off

Assigning New Deck Pattern

The stack of cards in the upper left of the Spider window represents the

undealt cards (initially the full deck; later the "Hand").  The eight outlines

to the right (foundation), mark where the eight sequential suits will go as

you remove them from the playing area.  The rest of the window is initially

empty until you start a game.

To start a game, press the [New Game] menu item.  Playing the game is

handled entirely within the main window; the menu bar provides a few

ancillary functions, described later (see Menu Items).

Sounds are initially turn on.  If you have a sound card there are two different

sounds made available during the game.  These sounds are for messages,

new deals and cheating.

I have made available many different card patterns for the display of down

cards on the playing field (tableau) and the deck itself.  The card patterns

can be changed at any time during the game.


New
New Game (Starting Up)

To start a game, press the [Game] menu item and select the

New Game sub-menu item.  This will shuffle the cards and deal the

first round of cards out and place the card deck in the upper left

corner of the playing field.  Playing the game is handled entirely

within the main window with the mouse; the menu bar provides a

few ancillary functions.  Refer to Game Rules/Stategy for hints on

how the game is played and mouse actions during the game.


Strategy/Rules of Spider

The following paragraphs will provide you with a overview of how

to use the mouse during the game and general rules of the game:

LEFT MOUSE BUTTON

If you press the left mouse button anywhere within or below a

column of cards, it says you want to move as many cards as

possible from that column.  The computer will make the first legal

move starting from the left moving to the right.  If no move is available

the computer will provide a message as such.

If you press the left mouse button within a column of cards, as

described above, and then move the mouse to another column and

let up on the left button ( this is called dragging), the program

moves as many cards as it can from the first column to the second

(If there is no such legal move, the program says so).

Note that, unless the destination column is empty (i.e., a "space"),

there is at most one choice for the number of cards to move.

Computer Movement Logic

If you click the left button over a single column, the program tries to

move the specified cards to "the obvious place" by trying the

following choices, in order:

(1) remove them if they form a completed suit, else

(2) move them onto a card of the same suit, else

(3) move them onto a card of a different suit, else

(4) move them into a space.

If it can't do any of these, the program complains.

RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON

If you instead use the second (right) mouse button to select within a

column of cards, it says you want to move the card you're pointing at

plus any cards covering it ( this is called splitting).  If these cards can

not be moved as a unit (i.e., they are not a sequence within a suit), the

program says so.

Again, if you move the mouse to another column and release the button,

the program moves as the selected cards to the destination.

The only time you need to use this method (instead of using left) is if

you're moving cards into a space AND you wish to move fewer than

the maximum permitted.

When card stacks become large and hard to see cards lying under

each other, use the F8 (Function) Key and while holding down this

key depress the Right Mouse button to expand the faceup cards.

When you are finish looking at the expanded cards release of the

Right Mouse button will repaint the stack of cards.

You can also remove a completed suit by selecting all 13 cards with

the left mouse button.  This will place the completed suit into the next

available position in the foundation (at the top of the playing area).

"Completed suits" are cards of the same suit and sequentially from

King to Ace.  You may use the drag feature, discussed earlier under

left mouse button, to place a completed suit to an empty space within

the tableau area.  This method is the hardest strategy to win by and

gives you the grand point count of 1000 versus 999 if you used the

foundation area.

Dealing Another Round

To deal a new round, click any button on the face down card deck stack

in the upper left.  The window footer shows you how many more deals

remain.  Remember that all spaces must be filled before you can deal a

new round.

General Hints

If you click with any mouse button in the outline region where the

removed suits go, the program will tell you which suits (if any)

have enough cards face-up to form a complete sequence of thirteen.

As a reminder, any card can be on top of another card sequentially and not

be in the same suit.  This helps the game to progress but is not the object

of the game.  The object is to build sequential set of suits without cheating.


Restore
 Saving and Resuming a Spider Game

SAVING A GAME - (F5 key)

When you wish to stop a game and save it for later playing, go to

the "Game" menu item title and choose the sub menu item called

"Save Game".  The F5 key is available for a short cut.  This will

present you with a file dialog so you may choose the directory

and file name for the saved game.  The files should end in ".GAM"

which is the default for saved games. If you decide not to save the

game, choosing the cancel or closing the dialog will resume the

current game as is.  (P.S. if you view the stored game using a text

editor you can see the tableau layout to help identify the specific

game -- [see below])

RESUMING A GAME

For when you wish to resume a saved game to be played now, go

to the  "Game" menu item title and choose the sub menu item called

"Resume Saved Game".  This will present you with a file dialog so

you may choose a saved game from the directory where they were

stored.  If you never saved a game before then the directory may be

empty of "*.GAM" files, which is the default for Spider games.  This

will restore the saved game to where you left off when it was saved.

SAMPLE TEXT VIEW OF SAVED GAME

(sp)	 --	 3h	 --	 --	 Kh	 2d	 Kc	(sp)	 Qs

 --	 --	 --	 Qh	 Ad	 Qs	 Kd

 --	 --	 --	 Js	 Js	 Qc

 4h	 --	 --	10d	10s	 Jc

 3c	 6h	 Kh	 9c	 9h	10c

 2c	 5s	 Qh	 8s	 8h

 4s	 Jh	 7h	 7c

 3d	10h	 6d	 6c


Emptying
 Turning Sound On and Off

Sounds are initially turn on.  If you have a sound card there

are two different sounds made available during the game.

These sounds are for messages, new deals and cheating.

The sounds are from the *.WAV files shipped with this game

and used under Windows 3.1.  To change sounds used during

the game reference Changing the Spider.INI file section.

ON/OFF - (F7 Key)

In order to turn sounds OFF go to the "Game" menu item title and

choose the sub menu item called "Sounds On/Off".  By choosing this

sub menu item it acts like a light switch on or off and the indication of

on is by the visual display of a check mark next to the title.  If sounds

are off this check mark will not be visual (the default is on).

In order to turn sounds ON go to the "Game" menu item title and choose

the sub menu item called "Sounds On/Off".  Again, by choosing this sub

menu item it acts like a light switch on or off and the indication of on is

by the visual display of a check mark next to the title.

The F7 key is made available for those who want a short cut.

NOTE:  In order to take advantage of this feature, you must have a

wave form audio sound driver installed.  Drivers for most popular sound

boards and the standard PC speaker can be found on many pay services

and BBS systems (i.e., CompuServe and America On-Line).

Windows 3.1 comes complete with many supported sound drivers,

see your User's Guide book page 185 and 179 for installing and turning

sound on/off under Control Panel.


Changing
 Changing the Spider.INI File

Spider information and the sound files names are kept in the

Windows directory in the SPIDER.INI file.  If this file does not

exist upon startup it is created and updated every time Spider

is played and exited correctly (EXIT or CLOSE).

You may change this file for new sound files of your choice.  If the

sound files are not present in the directory of where spider is stored

it will look at you path a go to the Windows directory to find them

( normally C:\WINDOWS ).  If they are located in any other directory

or sub-directory be sure to include the drive and path name before the

file name ( e.g., D:\MYSOUNDS\CLAP.WAV ).  Sound files can not be

found if the path to them is wronge.

The Spider.INI file contains other data used by the game and should

not be altered to avoid strange results.

Sample of SPIDER.INI:

[SPIDER]

CHEATSOUND=cheater.wav	!Sound file for Cheating

FINALSOUND=evilways.wav	!Sound file for Finishing a Game

BELLSOUND=chimes.wav	!Sound file for Messages & etc.

SOUNDS=1	!Turns sounds on or off (1/0)

X_Pos=24

Y_Pos=678

WARNINGS=0


Assign
 Assigning New Deck Patterns

To change the current deck pattern ( what we call BITMAP ) go to

the "Game" menu item title and choose the sub menu item called

"Deck Pattern".  This will present a dialog box filled with twelve different

deck patterns and two buttons (OK and CANCEL).  You may notice that

the first pattern is selected with a red rectangle around it.  This is because

it is the default for pattern for the game and will reappear with this dialog

box each time.

Change the pattern, just click on top of any pattern and the red rectangle

will appear around the pattern you have temporary selected.  I say temporary

selected because until you respond to this dialog with the OK button it is not

final, thus, you may keep choosing until you are happy with your selection.

If you do not wish any changes to the current deck pattern choose the

CANCEL button and all is maintain as before.


MenuItem
 Menu Items

Double-clicking the Spider icon displays the Spider main viewing window.

The window contains four menu selectable items and the playing field.

The following are descriptions of the various menu items...

Menu Name    Menu Item Name	Menu Item Description

Game	  New Game	Starts the Spider game

and deals the cards.

  Save Game	Saves the current game to

selected directory (F5 key).

  Resume Saved Game	Restores all past game history

stored in the save game file.

  Sounds On/Off	Allows the user to turn sounds

on or off based on the check

mark indication (F7 key).

  Deck Pattern   	Presents a dialog box that

allows the user to assign the

pattern for his playing cards.

  Exit	Quits Spider.

Backup 	  One Move	Backup move at a time (F9 key).

  Start Over	Allows player to start a new game.

  Replay	Allows player to replay the deck.

Score	  none	Initiates a scoring message line.

Help	  Contents	Brings up this Windows Help

file.

  Search for Help on...	Search for help on a certain

topic in the Spider Windows

Help file.

  How to Use Help	Brings up the "How to Use

Help" help file.

  About...	Provides the current version

of Spider and displays the

copyright notice.


Technical
 Technical Support and Customer Service

I am dedicated to the complete and total satisfaction of my friends who

use this software. If you have any questions about or problems with this

software, you are encouraged to contact me.  I will do my best to help

you (but as a reminder this is free and support can always end - just

any marriage between friends).

Spider was developed by Vincent Cecala in Valencia, California.  I can

be reached via Compuserve - User ID - 70600,1406.


Legal
 Legal Disclaimers and Notices

Spider is being distributed by and to my friends as Freeware.  More

information on the Freeware distribution method can be found on a BBS

or at a Shareware dealership.

THIS PACKAGE (CONSISTING OF THE SPIDER SOFTWARE AND ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTATION) IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR ENDORSEMENTS REGARDING THE USE OF, THE RESULTS OF, OR PERFORMANCE OF; ITS APPROPRIATENESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR CURRENTNESS.  THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE USE OF THIS PACKAGE IS ASSUMED BY THE USER.  IN NO EVENT WILL I (Mr. Cecala) OR MY FRIENDS WHO DISTRIBUTE THIS SOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, RESULTING FROM ANY DEFECT IN THE PACKAGE, EVEN IF I WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  ANY AND ALL USE OF THIS PACKAGE, FOR ANY PURPOSE, WITH NO REGARD TO THE LEGALITY OF SUCH USE OR PURPOSE, IS THE COMPLETE AND SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER.  ALL TERMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.  THIS DISCLAIMER SHALL SUPERSEDE ANY VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENT TO THE CONTRARY.  SHOULD ANY PART OR PARTS OF THIS DISCLAIMER BE DEEMED UNLAWFUL, THE REMAINDER SHALL STILL APPLY.  IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS YOU MUST CEASE USING THIS SOFTWARE IMMEDIATELY.

THIS PACKAGE IS COPYRIGHT© 1993 BY VINCENT CECALA. THIS PACKAGE IS BEING DISTRIBUTED BY FRIENDS THROUGH THE FREEWARE DISTRIBUTION METHOD.  YOU MAY DISTRIBUTE THIS PRODUCT (SPIDER) VERSION FREELY.

Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.