Universal Hint System Revision 91a Reader for MS-DOS, Version 1.61 (September 15, 1994) 1. Copyright Information 2. About the UHS 3. Loading the File (and where to find new UHS files) 4. Basic Interface Options 5. Advanced Interface Options 6. Shareware Information (how to register, what you get for registering) 7. Addresses (how to write to me) 1. Copyright Information ======================== This program and all related documentation are copyright 1992,1994 by Jason Strautman. All rights reserved. Portions written and copyright 1992 by Robert Norton. The Graphics Interchange Format, used in some UHS files, is copyrighted by and a service mark of CompuServe Incorporated. Thanks to Jim Griebel for his GIFSLOW program, which helped me with the GIF decoder used in this reader, and to all of the beta testers of all of the UHS programs. This program may be used only for evaluation purposes until it has been registered. Use of this program after initial use as described in the section above, or use of the program with a registration code for which you did not pay, is prohibited. License information in this file is intended only as a summary of policies contained in LICENSE.DOC. Some product names referenced in this documentation are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. 2. About the UHS ================ I created the Universal Hint System (or UHS) to provide computer gamers with alternate method for getting hints when they are stuck on a game. The UHS offers a large number of hint files that cover many of the current and classic games, all for the price of a single registration fee. UHS files were designed to be exchanged across computer formats, so a file written on any computer can be uploaded and shared with users of any other computer -- as long as an up-to-date reader is available. The files will also provide hints ranging from subtle clues to outright answers. You only see what you need to. This is the second version of the UHS. The first version, now called 88a, and its accompanying programs were released in 1988. This version, 91a, was created in 1991, although the first batch of programs was delayed until 1992. This new version offers improved hint options, the ability to include 16-color pictures, and a new file structure that will make future revisions easier to implement. The UHS 91a format was codesigned by Robert Norton. 3. Loading the File =================== This UHS reader won't be enough to give you hints for a game. If you do not already have the hint file for the game that you need help with, you should download it from the proper library. Hint files aren't available for every game on the market, so if you cannot find one, it may just be because no one has written a file for that particular game. America On-Line: Look in the PC Games Forum, keyword "PC GAMES" or "PGM". There is a "Universal Hints" library for all UHS files. You can also use the "Software Search" command and specify "UHS" as a keyword to find related files. CompuServe: Users can find UHS files in various LIBraries on The Gamers' Forum (GO GAMERS). If you're not certain as to how the game is classified or in which LIBrary the file would be found, either ask a SysOp or specify a search in all LIBs, by using the command "LIST /LIB:ALL /KEY:UHS,[game]" from any LIBrary. Users of programs such as TAPCIS, OZCIS, or CIM should check the documentation of those programs for instructions on performing the search. Exec-PC BBS: A free file area for the UHS that all callers can access is available on this BBS. The main phone number is (414) 789-4210. GEnie: Search in library 8 (Universal Hint Library) of the Games Roundtable (SCORPIA). You only need to specify the game title as a keyword; all files in the library relate to the UHS. Internet FTP: The FTP site ftp.gmd.de (directory /if-archive/solutions/uhs) and its United States mirror wuarchive.wustl.edu (directory /doc/misc/if-archive/solutions/uhs) should contain a complete collection of new UHS files. Check the on-line index (filename "Index") within those directories to locate a particular hint file. Software Creations BBS: Type "F 155" from the main menu to reach the UHS file area. Current phone numbers are (508) 368-2359 2400 baud Public Access (508) 368-7036 9600-16.8K Public Access (Additional numbers are available to BBS members) Subscription: If none of the above methods work for you, or you'd just like a more convenient way of getting new UHS files, you may get a subscription that will provide you with all of the latest files about every two months via postal mail. The price of for six disks is just $18 per year. See the "Shareware Information" section at the bottom of this document for more information. Now that you have downloaded the file, make sure that it and this program are in the same directory of your hard drive (or floppy). Type "UHS", followed by the name of the file (you may omit the .UHS extension) and hit ENTER. For example, to view LOL.UHS, simply enter "UHS LOL" and the file will be loaded. You can also specify a filename within the program. Either hit the F3 key or click on the "F3 Open" option at the bottom of the screen. (You'll need to have your mouse driver installed in order to use the mouse.) Only one hint file can be opened at the same time with this reader. A separate version of the UHS is also available for Windows 3.x; check CompuServe, AOL, or GEnie for a copy. 4. Basic Interface Options ========================== Experienced computer users will find the interface fairly basic and may want to skip this section of the documentation. But for those who need the help, there are a few basic things you might need to know. To use the menus at the top of the screen, click (press and release the mouse button when the cursor is over the item) on one of the headings, and then click on the item that you want to choose. Or you can click and hold the mouse button, releasing it over the item. Keyboard users should hold ALT while pressing the key for the highlighted letter of the menu name. Then press the key of the highlighted letter on the menu item, or use the arrow keys and ENTER to select. You can also use the shortcut keys, listed either at the bottom of the screen or on the right side of the menus. For example, the shortcut key to close a window is ESC. When the file is loaded, double-click on the item in a window that you want to select, or use the arrow keys to move through the choices and press the space bar or ENTER to select. Some windows have more choices than will fit inside the available space. If you're using a mouse, click on the arrows on the scroll bar at the right of the window to display more choices. Any window can be closed by hitting the ESC key. You can also click on the box in the upper-left corner of the window. To zoom the window so that it fills the entire screen, click on the button in the upper-right corner or hit F5. And to change to another window, either click in any portion of that window or hit the F6 key to scroll through the available windows. You can also use SHIFT-F6 to move through the windows in reverse order. All four of these options are also available from the "Windows" menu. If you want to move a window, you can either click on the title bar and drag, or hit CTRL-F5 and use the arrow keys to move the window around. Hit ENTER when finished. To resize a window, either use the size "box" in the bottom right corner or press CTRL-F5 and hold the CTRL key while pressing the arrow keys, followed by ENTER to accept. The "Tile" and "Cascade" options, also on the "Windows" menu, will re-arrange the desktop so that all windows are displayed. However, if too many windows are on the screen, you'll probably find that these commands make the windows too small to be practical. In that case, close unneeded windows first and then use tile or cascade. 5. Advanced Interface Options ============================= Windows with hints in them will automatically zoom to the maximum space available. To display additional hints, either click on the "Another Hint" or "Hint xx of yy" button at the bottom of the window or press the ENTER key. If the display becomes cluttered with too many windows, you can use either the "Show Top Window" or "Clean Up" option from the "Windows" menu. The first option will simply bring the highest-level window (i.e., the first one that is displayed upon loading a file) to the top of screen. "Clean Up" closes all windows associated with the current file, except for the top window. The "Help" menu provides information about the currently-loaded file and the reader. For files written in version 91a or higher, the "File Version" information brings up a window containing the format used to write the file and information about the compiler used. You should view this window any time you are having problems with a file, to determine the cause of your problem. If the version reported is higher than 91a (such 94a, 94b, 95a, etc.), first attempt to replace your reader with the most current version before reporting a bug. 88a files don't include version information. However, many files include a few words from the author of the file or compiler that can be displayed by going to the top window and selecting "A note from the author." If there is no such option, then you will have to check with the person who uploaded the file for more details. 5a. Hint Counting ----------------- The reader will count the total number of hints in each question. Both the number of the current hint and the total number of hints are displayed inside the button at the bottom of the screen, as in "Hint 1 of 5". Clicking on this button will reveal the next hint just as the "Another Hint" button does. If you want to disable the hint counting for any reason, click on the "Options | Counting" menu item, and the counting will be turned off. Click on this menu item again to turn it back on. Buttons currently on-screen will not be affected by your selection. Your preference will be saved for the next session in a file called UHS.INI. 5b. Print/Save Window --------------------- If you want to print or save a copy of the contents of the current window, select the appropriate item from the "Window" menu. F4 is the hot key for "Print", and CTRL-F4 is the hot key for "Save". If you select the save option, a file will be created with the same name as the hint file, except the ".UHS" at the end is replaced with ".EXC". For example, the contents of any saved window from GOBLINS.UHS are placed in a file called GOBLINS.EXC. If the save file already exists, the contents of the window are appended to the current file. In a hint window, only the hints that are currently displayed will be saved or printed. If you want to save (or print) all of the hints in a question, you must first click on the "Another Hint" button until all the hints have been displayed and then save (or print) the contents of the window. 5c. Verbose File Open --------------------- If you don't remember a particular hint file's name, you can use the "File | Verbose" option from the menu to locate it. This option will bring up a list box with all of the files in the current directory, their version numbers (88a or 91a), and titles. Double-click on any selection (or use the arrow keys and spacebar/ENTER) as with all other list boxes to open that particular file. Only one verbose file window can be open at the same time. The "File | Change Dir" will change the directory that is used with the Verbose file opening routine and the normal "File | Open" option. Use the arrow keys and ENTER to change directories -- the space bar does *not* work here -- or double-click on the directory you wish to change to. The "Revert" button will return you to the directory that you were in before opening the dialog box. 5d. Displaying Pictures ----------------------- Some files will contain pictures that the reader can display. In order to view any picture, you must have a EGA card in your system. When a picture is available, a button in the window will remind you; click on this button or hit the ENTER key, and the picture will be displayed. You may stop the drawing routine with the ESC key. Hit any key or click on either mouse button to return to the main display once the picture is completely drawn. (You should hear a beep from the internal speaker.) If you either don't have an EGA display or want to use another program to print the picture, click on the "Export" button in the window. A file named UHSGIFxx.GIF will be placed in the same directory as the UHS file. The "xx" will be replaced by a number from 1 to 99. You can then load the file into a GIF viewing or printing program. 6. Shareware Information ======================== This program is shareware. If you continue to use it, you should send a contribution of $10 ($20 if you want the TSR reader). In return, I will send you a code to disable the registration reminders. The codes from the DOS and Windows versions are not interchangeable; you should register each program separately if you keep both. Please use the REGISTER.FRM text file included in this archive or the form that can be printed from within the reader when sending in your registration. Make sure that you request the right registration; the form includes options for both DOS and TSR registrations. Anyone who sends me an extra $5 (or more) will receive a high-density 3.5" disk with all of the latest files, an unregistered copy of the Windows reader to try out, and the newest versions of the DOS and TSR readers. As of this writing, there are more than 90 different UHS hint files. The disk also includes a program that will print out the complete contents of any UHS file; the decoder program is available only with the disk. I am now also offering a year-long subscription of files disks to registered users. For $18, you will receive one disk with your registration of the complete set of hint files and readers, and five additional disks over the course of a year with all of the new hints and updated readers. Disks will be sent at intervals of roughly 2 months apart, but the exact dates of updates may depend on the availability of new files (which in turns depends on the availability of new games). Please note that the primary purpose of subscriptions is to save you the trouble of seeking out and downloading new files -- hints are not sent earlier to subscribers than they are to the major on-line services. Subscriptions are currently available only to those who have US addresses, but others interested in receiving subscriptions should contact me at any of the addresses below in case of any changes in this policy. If you want a list of available files and the place where you found the UHS does not frequently update its UHS files, you can send a self-addressed stamped envelope to me at the address below. Registered users may purchase disks with the latest versions of UHSDOS, UHSTSR, and all of the files at any time for $5. Please give me your registration code with a request for an extra disk, since the code is the easiest way to verify that you are registered. Foreign users may register this program through CompuServe's shareware registration service (GO SWREG). The registration ID is #352. I have added a $2 service charge to pay for CompuServe's commission. Disks will not be mailed to anyone who registers through SWREG. If you live outside of the US and Canada and want a copy of the files disk, please mail your registration and add $3 to cover extra shipping and handling costs. Payment will be accepted ONLY IN US DOLLARS. Anyone who writes a complete UHS file that follows the guidelines included with the compilers will be registered automatically for the DOS, TSR, and Windows readers and will receive the files disk. But you must check with me before beginning the file to prevent duplication and to get the authorization code that the compiler requires. 7. Addresses ============ Jason Strautman P.O. Box 391481 Cambridge, MA 02139-0015 America On-Line: JStrautman CompuServe: [72337,2611] GEnie: J.STRAUTMAN Internet: jstrautman@aol.com