Universal Hint System Revision 95a README File for UHSWIN & UHSDOS, Version 3.10 (October 30, 1995) 1. Read Me First 2. Archive Contents 3. Quick Start Instructions 4. Windows 95 Compatibility Read Me First ============= Starting with this version, the UHS readers for DOS and Windows have been combined into one distribution package and are also treated as one product for the purposes of registration. There are a few reasons for this. First of all, much of the documentation and support files for the two programs have become increasingly similar in recent versions, and distributing the programs as one eliminates duplication. Also, as Windows and Windows 95 are being used by more and more gamers, the demand for a single product has been increasing. By having the two products combined, you can try both and use the one(s) that best suit your needs and preferences. Please note that separate DOS and Windows registrations will no longer be accepted. The new registration fee (now $20 for both instead of $10 each) is due primarily to the increased costs of supporting the UHS and is not just a straight sum of the individual reader prices. However, those who have already registered either a UHS reader for DOS or Windows in the past will be able to use their old registration codes for the new 3.1 version of the UHS reader on the platform they registered (i.e., a code for UHSDOS works with the new DOS version but not the new Windows version) or may upgrade to the combined distribution for the $10 difference in registration fees. Portions of some new hint files will be accessible only by registered users. Sending in your registration now will insure that your flow of hints will remain as uninterrupted as possible; your personal registration code will enable all the hints in every UHS file. In addition, your registration fee will help to support future development on the UHS, both in terms of a greater flow of new hint files and upgrades to the readers. Although the recent policy of denying some hints to unregistered users has helped to increase registrations, it is still extremely difficult to attract and compensate new file authors given the current level of revenues. At the present time, UHS hint files are being provided by people's volunteer efforts. Although I am trying my best to live up to the demand for new hint files, I don't have the resources to do much more than what I am doing now. I would like to be able to expand coverage in UHS files, both in terms of more features (more graphics, more maps, etc.) and more titles and genres of games, but I can only do so with the help from others, funded by your registrations. Jason Strautman Universal Hint System Archive Contents ================ The following files should be included in this archive: READMEUH.TXT This file UHSWIN.EXE Executable for UHS Reader for Windows 3.x/95, version 3.10 UHSDOS.EXE Executable for UHS Reader for DOS, version 3.10 UHS.TXT Documentation file for UHSWIN and UHSDOS UHSWIN.HLP Windows Help file for UHSWIN VENDOR.DOC Information for distributors (disk vendors and BBS operators) LICENSE.DOC License information NEW_310.TXT Lists changes in UHSWIN.EXE/UHSDOS.EXE since version 1.00 FILE_ID.DIZ Description for BBS sysops REGUHS1.WRI Registration form, page 1 (Windows Write format) REGUHS2.WRI Registration form, page 2 (Windows Write format) REGUHS.FRM Registration form (ASCII format) Quick Start Instructions ======================== Find a UHS hint file -- the place where you found this reader can tell you how to get one (see UHS.TXT if you're on a commercial on-line service such as CompuServe for instructions). Copy your hint file into the same directory as the files in this archive. Use the DOS COPY command to do so. Type the following at the DOS prompt (substituting C:\UHS with the directory where the readers are located): COPY *.UHS C:\UHS The instructions above assume that you already have a .UHS hint file and that it's in the same directory that you're currently using. Normally, when you download files, the program that you use will place all downloads in the same directory. If you can't find a .UHS hint file in the current directory, look in your download directory, type the letter of its drive, use the CD command to move to that directory, and then copy the hint file to your UHS directory, as follows. Change the first two lines to match the download directory for your communications software. C: CD\AOL\DOWNLOAD COPY *.UHS C:\UHS Some hint files may be compressed when you receive them; if so, you will need to uncompress them and repeat the previous instructions. The place where you found your hint files should be able to tell you how to uncompress them. Now you should be ready to start the UHS reader. Follow these instructions: Windows 3.x: ------------ * If you're not in Windows, start it by typing WIN at the DOS prompt. * Switch to either Program Manager or File Manager. * Select "Run" from the "File" menu of either program. * Enter C:\UHS\UHSWIN.EXE followed by the name of the hint file when asked for a "command line," as in "C:\UHS\UHSWIN.EXE C:\UHS\BIT.UHS". Windows 95: ----------- * Select the "Run" option at the bottom of the Start Menu. * Enter C:\UHS\UHSWIN.EXE followed by the name of the hint file, as in "C:\UHS\UHSWIN.EXE C:\UHS\BIT.UHS". Also, after you've run the reader for the first times, it can automatically associate all .UHS files with it (just answer "Yes" at the first dialog box). After that, when you use the File Manager under Windows 3.x or the Explorer under Windows 95, you only need to double-click on a file, and it will automatically be loaded into the reader. DOS --- Type the following commands, replacing "BIT" with the name of the .UHS file that you're using. C: CD\UHS UHSDOS BIT Windows 95 Compatibility ======================== Even before Microsoft released Windows 95, I received a fair number of questions asking if UHSWIN was compatible with Win 95 or if I was planning on releasing a Win 95 version of UHSWIN. As far as I have been able to tell, this version of UHSWIN is fully compatible with Windows 95, and you should be able to use it under Win 95 exactly as you would under Windows 3.1. I've also tried to upgrade the appearance of UHSWIN to make it look more like Windows 95 applications. But I do not plan on writing a version of UHSWIN specifically for Win 95 in the near future. At this time, the overhead of distributing a third UHS reader far outweighs the benefits of Win 95-specific code. Should I eventually write a Win 95 reader, however, it will be distributed along with the present UHSWIN and UHSDOS and use the same registration codes. Also, I have made a few small changes to UHSDOS to help improve its ability to run under a Windows 95 DOS shell, as noted in the version histories.