   MR. Resistor 2.1 for Windows 3.x

     by Gary Rennie
        Howell, Michigan  
        ham radio call KC8BN
        April 13, 1995


   Mr. Resistor is an electronic thumbwheel guide for carbon
   composition resistors.  I had ported the original
   DOS application to run in the Windows environment using
   Visual Basic 2.0  The program appeared sluggish but was
   quite functional under WINDOWS. I hope ham radio buffs,
   electronics fans, students, and technicians may find this
   program helpfull.  I make no warranties about it's accuracy
   and you use it at your own risk. I have released it in the 
   public domain.  With release 2.0 the program has grown in size
   along with a Windows Help file. There is now a significant 
   increase in speed as the program runs. The program is now
   written in Visual Basicc 3.0. Release 2.1 adds a drop down list
   box option which allows choices of "common values" for quick
   color code look up and provisions to assure the release of
   Window's system memory upon termination of the program.

   1.0.0 INSTALLATION OPTIONS
   
   You MUST have the file VBRUN300.DLL in your WINDOWS directory
   to run this program. If you don't have it, it can be obtained
   perhaps on this and or other on line services.  Either create
   a seperate directory for Mr. Resistor or copy the files MRESIST.EXE
   and MRESIS.ICO to whatever directory you may choose. Install the 
   program via the WINDOW's SETUP utility and choose the MRESIS.ICO
   if you like.  

   1.1.0 AUTO INSTALLATION

   The installation process has been automated.  Run "SETUP" from the
   floppy that has the Mr. Resistor files within the File Manager or
   Program Manager of Windows.
   
   2.0.0  RUNNING MR. RESISTOR 2.1

   Point and click at the control button for each band.  You may 
   TAB over if you like and press [RETURN] also. Staying on each
   band will cycle through all the available values for that band.
   The drop down menus offer additional information about carbon
   compostion resistors along with the option to exit the program.
   Your actual displayed colors may vary depending on the adjustment
   and type of monitor/driver system you may use. A option of finding
   color codes of "common values" by means of a drop down list box is
   available and is faster than clicking each color band.
 
   Notes:  The color bands were created out of the windows POLYGON
           fill calls with each band being an array of the polygon
           coordinates.  Many Window's services calls be reached
           thru Visual Basic, though the documentation may not 
           define them them for you, they can be found with additional
           reading in various publications such as the Waite Group's
           "VISUAL BASIC BIBLE" or the "VISUAL BASIC How-To" books.
           These books are GREAT for anyone serious about Visual Basic  
           programming in Windows.  Bitmap switching is now used to
           speed up the color update process.

   The files of this complete installation are as follows:
     
      VBRUN300.DLL  ---  Visual Basic 3.0 runtime DLL
      MRREAD.TXT    ---  this file you're reading now
      MRESIS.ICO    ---  WINDOWS icon for Mr. Resistor
      MRESIS.HELP   ---  WINDOWS Help File for Mr. Resistor
                         (Must be in the same directory as MRESIST.EXE) 
      MRESIST.EXE   ---  Mr. Resistor run file 
                         (the VBRUN300.DLL run file must reside in the
                          \WINDOWS directory for Mr. Resistor to run)

   enjoy the the program as you graphically search for resistor values! 
