



                     Documentation for ExWord Release 2.1
                 ElseWare's multiplayer crossword puzzle door

                          written by: Tom Moeller

		         139 Caroline St.,  Apt. 6
                            Saratoga, NY 12866

                        FidoNetMailable at 1:267/41




   When you first run the program, it checks to see if you have selected ANSI
graphics in the BBS you're logged on to. If not, a message is displayed that
asks you to try again with ANSI turned on, since the program only runs with
ANSI graphics. After the first title screen displays, you are asked if you
need instructions. If you press 'Y' you are given a page of quick help; for
more information, read this file (like you're doing now).
   Once the program starts, you are given a list of the crossword puzzles
available for you to try. Choose one by number, and the program loads the
puzzle, other player's names, and clue lists. Then the main screen is drawn.
Now you can move around the screen, using the 8-6-4-2 diamond of keys on your
numeric keypad. Make sure your Num Lock is on. If the programs detects a
keypress that it thinks might be a function key or other special key, it will
remind you to turn on your Num Lock.
   To enter letters on the puzzle, just type them in. If the clue display
shows a left-right arrow, the clue shown is an Across clue, and the letters
you enter will be added from left to right. If the arrow runs up-down, the
clues displayed will be Down clues, and letters will fill in from top to
bottom. To change from Across to Down or Down to Across, press the '5' key.
   To correct typing errors when entering letters, either move to the square
with the error and retype it, or use backspace. Backspace moves toward the
left, or toward the top, depending on the direction the clue pointer shows. To
erase a letter, enter a space on top of the letter.
   You can zoom from margin to margin with the 7 and 1 keys (numeric keys for
Home and End). To move to the beginning of the next word in a row or column,
press TAB. These also respond to the setting of Across/Down.

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Scoring
-------
   Your score is shown in the upper section of the bar on the screen. When you
first run ExWord, you start with 50 points. If you want to see what a letter
in one square is, as a hint, press the 9 key. This will put the correct letter
in that square, and charge you 5 points. It's up to you to remember which
letters were given as being correct, and which ones you're unsure about.
   When you press 3, the complete puzzle is scanned and the number of wrong
letters is added up. All wrong letters are blanked out, as well as an equal
number of randomly selected spaces. Your score is updated according to the
number of right, wrong, and blank squares that you added or removed since
starting the puzzle. If you got a letter by pressing '9', that letter will not
add to your score. Right letters are worth 2 points each, wrong letters are
worth -5 points, and blanks don't count. You are also only allowed to choose
"correct" one time per puzzle. If you've already scored the puzzle, the '3'
option will not appear on the menu, as a reminder of this limit.
   If the program can't find the file containing the corrected puzzle, the 9
and 3 options will be disabled, so your score won't be accidentally nuked.


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Other Good Stuff
----------------
   Your time remaining is shown in the upper section of the screen. If this
time is less than 5 minutes, it will appear in red, to remind you that your
time is almost up. When only one minute remains, you will be forced back to the
BBS, where you will be severely dealt with - probably just logged off. Your
score is also shown next to the time remaining.
   If you want the screen redrawn completely, in case it got messed up by
someone picking up the phone on you, hit Return. To save your changes without
leaving the program, just in case the local power or telephone company goes on
strike without telling you, press the 0 key. The current state of the puzzle
will be saved, and you'll be returned to the puzzle.
   You can change puzzles without quitting the door - just type a +. You will
be asked for comfirmation, and then asked if you want to save the current
puzzle. If so, it will be saved. Then you proceed to the puzzle selection list.
   To see who else is working on the puzzle with you, type a period/decimal
point. You will be shown the people who are working on the puzzle with you. If
this is your first time on, and you don't save the puzzle, your name won't be
added to the list. However, once you do save the changes you've made, your
name is stored, as well as the date and time you last worked on the puzzle.
Each time you make changes to the puzzle after that, your date and time will be
updated in the list.
   Once the puzzle is complete, or everyone involved has given up, you should
send a message to the sysop, who will remove the puzzle, or replace it with a
new one. If you want to enter your own puzzles for everyone to work on, leave
the sysop a message. The ExWord documentation for sysops describes how to use
the program to enter a new puzzle, so there can be new puzzles available all
the time.
