Copyright: Copyright © 1994 REEVEsoft, Alan Reeve


Contents

WinStick Contents

About

Shareware

Ordering Information

Using WinStick

Calibration

Options

Customization


About

With the many fine games that I've seen for MS Windows 3.1, I've wondered why we must be limited to playing them with the keyboard. The joystick has long been standing as the ideal game device. That's why I've written WinStick. WinStick allows you to play any MS Windows game with a joystick. WinStick works by converting joystick input into appropriate keyboard input. The shareware version is limited in that the joystick can only be equivalent to up, down, left, right, and space bar. The full version is customizable.

The default setup for WinStick is for a joystick to be equivalent to the up/down/left/right arrows and the spacebar. Customization allows you to change these settings and save them for later use.


MS Windows
MS Windows (or Microsoft Windows) is Microsoft's GUI (Graphical User Interface) for IBM PC and PC compatible computers. You're using Microsoft Windows right now, otherwise you wouldn't be able to read this!


Shareware

Shareware is a marketing method used by small companies and individuals to promote their products. The benefit to us is that it's relatively cheap to market such a product as it can avoid large, expensive ads. The benefit to you is that you get to try before you buy in your own home on your computer. If you don't like the product then that's fine...simply don't use it. If you find yourself using it multiple times then it's time to register or order the product. Why order something you already have?

1) It's fair. Not paying for a shareware program you use is stealing, plain and simple. I don't mean to sound harsh as I believe that the two main reasons people don't register is that it's inconvenient and lack of understanding. We've made it as convenient as a toll free call to register and after reading this there should be no lack of understanding. Thanks.

2) You will get the latest version of the product which means it may have enhanced capabilities or incorporate bug fixes.

3) You will get the full version of the product (frequently shareware authors don't give out their full product...they save that as the incentive to ensure that you register).

4) You will receive product support which would not be there when you get a new computer, new version of your Operating System (Windows, in this case), ... if you hadn't registered.

5) You may receive other goodies like other shareware products the author/company has developed.

In essence, it's not only the right thing to do, but it makes sense to register (or order) any products that you use...


Ordering Information

You can order the full version of WinStick for $20.00 (US dollars) in the following ways:

* By Credit Card

You can order with Mastercard, Visa, American Express, or Discover from Public (software) Library by calling 800-2424-PSL (or 800-242-4775), 713-524-6394, or by FAX to 713-524-6398, or by CIS Email to 71355,470. You can also mail credit card orders to PsL at P.O. Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235-5705.

THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE FOR ORDERS ONLY

Any questions about the status of the shipment of the order, refunds, registration options, product details, technical support, volume discounts, dealer pricing, site licenses, etc, must be directed to REEVEsoft at the address listed below.

Mention WinStick (item #11529) with your order. Your order will be shipped within 48 hours.

* With your CompuServe Account

CompuServe has a service called shareware registration. CompuServe members can order WinStick through this service and have their order billed to their CompuServe account. To do so just type "GO SWREG" at any CompuServe prompt and select menu item 2 (Register a shareware product). You will be asked for a product name or number. WinStick's number is 3210. You will then be asked for the shipping address. Your order will be shipped out within 48 hours.

* Direct From Us

We accept checks, money orders, COD (cash on delivery), and corporate POs. Any special delivery orders such as overnight must be placed directly with us. Dealer/distributor inquiries invited. Our address is:

REEVEsoft

P.O. Box 1884

Clemson, SC  29633

(803) 654-7378

(803) 654-8130 FAX

CIS: 71521,2200 * Internet: reevesoft@delphi.com


Using WinStick

To use WinStick you must run (or load, or execute, or whatever else you want to call it...) the WinStick program. You will then be required to calibrate the joystick. Once this is done WinStick will minimize itself into a small, icon on your desktop. DO NOT ever close WinStick as this program must be running on your system to use the joystick.

Customizing WinStick can be done by restoring WinStick (double-click on the icon) and then selecting appropriate customization options.


Joystick Calibration

A PC joystick is different from most joysticks that are included with todays (and yesterdays) hot video gaming systems. A PC joystick must be calibrated as different joysticks attached to different systems return numerically different information. Calibration is the act of telling your PC which values correspond to up, down, left, and right.

You do so by following on screen instructions to move the joystick to the upper left corner and the lower right corner pressing the joystick's buttons as you do each. Calibration is done when you first run WinStick, and should be done if the joystick starts doing things you don't want it to do. To recalibrate simply click on the button marked Calibrate in the WinStick window.


Customization

You may discover programs that use more than the up, down, left, and right arrows along with the spacebar. Many follow this convention, but it's not a requirement. WinStick (the registered version) can be customized.

WinStick's window is divided into three sections labeled calibration, customization, and options. The customization part consists of two red buttons and up, down, left, and right arrows which correspond to the four directions your joystick can be moved and its two buttons. To the right of each of these pictures is a box in which a selected key can be chosen. To select a key click on the box and a list of keys will appear on which you can select a key.

Beneath this are load and save options so that your customizations can be saved and restored. To save a layout click on save. You will be asked for an eight character filename. Loading previously saved layouts can be done by clicking on the load button.


Options

Minimize on startup - When WinStick loads the default option is for the joystick to be calibrated and then for WinStick to be minimized (into an icon) automatically. If this box is not checked then after calibration the WinStick window will not automatically be minimized giving you a chance to reconfigure WinStick.

Auto-repeat - Some games that use the buttons to shoot at something require that a key be continuously pressed and released to fire. If auto-repeat is on then a joystick button can be held down and WinStick will simulate this press-depress action so that rapid, continuous firing is possible. This option only affects the joystick's buttons.

Sensitivity - Sensitivity determines how far your joystick must be moved for a left, right, up, or down motion to be detected. On high sensitivity small movements of the joystick will be detected and on low sensitivity it will be necessary to move the joystick all the way to the left (or right, or up, or down) for motion to be detected. Some joysticks such as the Gravis game pad are not affected by this setting as such devices do not support a range of motion.