			Planet Dance 1.10
		Copyright 1994 Michael J. Nicol

PLEASE REGISTER:
		$10
		Michael J. Nicol
		c/o Roy Nicol
		221 W 28th St.
		Holland, MI  49423

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

CONTENTS

I.  INTRODUCTION
II.  MENU ITEMS
III.  FONTS
IV.  FUTURE ADDITIONS
V.  REGISTRATION DETAILS





I.  INTRODUCTION

The program plots the connecting line between two planets as they 
orbit around the sun.  This generates visually stimulating images.


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

II.  MENU ITEMS

PLANET DANCE WINDOW
-------------------
File|Exit:  
Exit the program.
---
Settings:
Brings up the Settings Menu window where many parameters can be changed
(see below).
---
Save:
This is only enabled if the Fast Redraw option in the Settings Menu is 
set to Off.  This makes the drawing time longer but is necessary such 
that the drawing is saved in memory. It can then be saved to a file. 
The file is saved in Windows bitmap format. The file saved has the same
dimensions and resolution as appears on the screen.See the SAVE WINDOW 
below.
---
Print:
I use the VB printer object to print the drawing. I wanted to print the
drawing centered horizontally on the page with a 0.5" border all 
around. What I found is: 1) For the same border callout on Epson 286 
and HP LaserJet III printers, the border is not 0.5" and is different 
on both printers. I thus call for a border that is a compromise. It 
causes the left edge to be under 0.5" on the Epson and just over 0.5" 
on the LaserJet. The diameter is correct at 7.5". I have not tried the 
program on any other printers. The printer driver used is set by the 
operating environment (Windows printer setup). The resolution is 
limited by your printer resolution. There is no message box for 
printing.
---
Help|Help File:
Brings up a window for viewing this file.
---
Help|About:
Brings up a small information window.
---
Add Line:
This button will add one line to the current drawing on the screen 
using the current settings.
---
Add Rev:
This button will draw one more revolution on the current drawing on the
screen using the current settings.
---
Cancel:
This button is only active while the plot is drawing. It stops the 
plot in progress.

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

SETTINGS MENU WINDOW
--------------------
To Enter A Number:
Highlight the current number, enter a new number or place the cursor in
the box and edit it. Pressing return will write the new number to the 
box with a format of: space, number with two decimal places.
---
Slow Planet:
Choose from a drop-down list. The list does not include Mercury since 
there is no planet faster than Mercury. The slow planet is the outer 
planet of the drawing because the more distant from the sun a planet 
is, the slower (angular speed) it is - it has a longer 'year'.
---
Fast Planet:
Same as slow planet except it selects the inner planet of the drawing 
and it only includes planets whose orbits are inside (closer to the 
sun) the slow planet selected. This list never includes Pluto.
---
Ratio of radii & Ratio of periods are not menu items but are supplied 
constants based on the two planets selected. Some planet pairs show a 
relationship between these numbers and the number of slow planet 
revolutions to achieve an aesthetically pleasing drawing.
---
Number of Revolutions (Slow Planet):
Enter a number from approximately 1E-300 to 1E+300. I supply default 
numbers for these which I found nice. These numbers change each time a 
planet is changed and are available by clicking the Default button.
---
Number of Lines/Revolution:
(Of Slow Planet)
The default of 90 which I found nice is available by pressing the 
Default button. Number of lines is a long integer with a maximum of 
about 2E+9 but the value must be a minimum of +1 or an error message is
generated. Fractional values are rounded.
---
Background Color:
Clicking the Change button brings up a color palette by which you can 
select the background color of the drawing. The default black 
background is available by pressing the Default button. See: SELECT 
BACKGROUND (LINE) COLOR WINDOW below
---
Line Color:
Same as Background Color except the default line color is violet.
---
Line Thickness:
This value must be an integer of +1 or greater.
---
Fast Redraw ('off' for save or print):
At startup this is on.  When on, the program writes directly to the 
screen so drawing is very fast but nothing is saved in memory. When 
off, the program writes first to memory so the image is saved for 
redrawing, saving to file or printing.
---
Done:
This button closes the Settings Menu window and redraws the drawing 
with the current settings. This can either be clicked at any time or is
activated when it has focus and the ENTER key is pressed.
---

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

SELECT BACKGROUND (LINE) COLOR WINDOW
-------------------------------------


Sample:
Displays a small image of a circle using the current background and 
line colors.
---
Red: (Green:) (Blue:)
Use the standard scroll bars to adjust each of the color values 
individually. Displayed are the hexidecimal color number, the decimal 
color number, the color, the combination of the three components, and 
the nearest solid color matching the mixture.
---
Cancel:
This button will cancel any changes made, close the window and return 
to the Settings Menu.
---
Reset:
Cancels any changes made but retains focus to this window.
---
Done:
Sets the current value for the color to that selected and closes the 
palette window.
---

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

SAVE WINDOW
-----------

This is a standard file save dialogue box with the file search set at 
.bmp since the file saved is a Windows bitmap.


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

III.  FONTS

The font for all forms and boxes is Arial TrueType from Windows 3.1. I 
don't know yet an easy way to give the user the option of changing the 
font or its properties.  I used size 8.25 which is fine for me on my 
1024 x 768, 17" monitor.


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

IV.  FUTURE ADDITIONS

What I'd like to have:
	More printing options.
	Maybe more accurate orbits.
	More planet info.
	More object choices like moons.

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

V.  REGISTRATION DETAILS

Send $10 to:

	Mike Nicol
	c/o Roy Nicol
	221 W 28th St.
	Holland, MI  49423

I'll send any upgrades on the disk size of your choice.  Please you 
tell me the version of the program you have.  Also include any 
suggestions, gripes, etc., to help me improve the program.

I've not included any annoying messages and there are no requirements 
to register in order to receive the 'full' program.  What you see is 
what you get.

***********************************************************************

		END OF HELP FILE

***********************************************************************
