Introduction:

        PC-Gammon V4.0 has an easy to use menu system.
        At the bottom right portion of the  screen you will see  the 
        menu area. To select a menu item, you may either type the first 
        character of the menu item (i.e. "F" for Forfeit), or click the 
        mouse cursor (if you have a mouse) on the desired menu item. 

        Options:

        Selecting the Options entry from the main menu will display 
        the options menu consisting of the following (a detailed 
        description of the options is at the end of this file) : 

                Load            : Load a previously saved game

                Save            : Save the game currently being played.

                Score History   : Select player/View score history

                Print Screen    : Provides a graphics dump of the
                                  screen to an IBM PC Graphics 
                                  printer or compatible. 
               
                Auto Doubles    : Enable or Disable automatic doubling.

                Computer Rolls  : Enable or Disable the computer rolls.
               
                Game Log        : Writes a log of all moves to the disk.

                Main Menu       : Returns you to the main menu.

Main Menu Commands:          

Redraw: 
        If for any reason the board display should become corrupted 
        the XDraw command will redraw the board for you. 

Double:

        The Double command is used to double the stakes of the game. 
        Initially neither player owns the doubling cube, and it's value 
        is set to 1, it appears in the middle of the board. Either 
        player may offer to double when the doubling cube is unowned.
        As soon as one player offers to double the player who 
        accepts the double gets possession of the cube and then only 
        he may double (the cube changes color to the color of the player).
        If either player refuses the double, that player forfeits the game. 

Pass:

        If you can't play (i.e. you're on the bar and can't get off, etc.), 
        this command will skip the remainder of your turn and the computer 
        will play. The computer will not allow you to pass if you have a 
        valid move.  

Backup:

        Allows you to backup to the beginning of your move. For instance 
        if you rolled a 6,1 and you played the six, and then decided you 
        could have made a better move, use the B command to back-up to 
        the beginning of your roll. The program also asks you if you are 
        sure at the end of each move. If you respond negatively, your 
        move will be backed up.

Forfeit:

        If you clearly see you are loosing and you don't want to hear 
        the snide remarks the computer makes when it wins, type the "F"
        key and the computer will start a new game. (It will however be 
        scored as a loss for you).

Hint:
        Selecting hint will cause the computer to display what it thinks
        your best move would be. (Available in registered version only!)

Quit:

        When dinners ready or you simply can't tolerate any more 
        backgammon, type the Q key and the game will return you to DOS. 

Rolling the Dice:

        The space bar is used to roll the dice. When it's your turn to 
        move, hit the space bar to roll the dice. You can't roll the 
        dice more than once per move. The dice are rolled at the 
        beginning of each game to see who goes first (yours is the 
        left die). The player that wins that roll must use the roll 
        as shown. Additionally if the first roll is a double, the 
        doubling cube is incremented to 2 (provided auto doubles are 
        enabled), and you roll again to see who goes first. 

        Mouse Users may roll the dice by clicking the left mouse button 
        anywhere on the playing board or in the dice area when it is 
        their turn to roll the dice. 


Moving/Playing: 

    Please note: The "BAR" is slot 0.

    Keyboard Users:

        To move a man type an "M". A form will appear near the bottom 
        of the screen. Enter the location you wish to move from and 
        the value of the dice you wish to use separated by a comma, 
        (e.g entering a "12,5", would move your man from the 12 slot 
        5 spaces). The bar is designated as slot 0. Press enter to 
        complete the move or the ESC key to cancel a move.

    Mouse Users: 

        To move a man simply click the mouse cursor on the man you 
        wish to move, a dot will appear in the center of the man to 
        indicated it has been selected. Then click the mouse cursor 
        on the appropriate slot you wish to move to. To deselect a 
        man (i.e. you changed you mind and don't wish to move
        the man you selected), simply click the mouse cursor on the
        selected man a second time (The dot will dissappear). 
        Alternately, after you have selected the man you wish to move 
        you may click on the dice you wish to use for the move and 
        the man selected will be moved the appropriate number of spaces.
        If you attempt an illegal move the computer will notify you with 
        an appropriate messge.

Bearing Off:

    Keyboard Users:

        Bearing off men is the same as moving them, simply select 
        the man you wish to bear off followed by the dice value you 
        wish to use to move the man. 

    Mouse Users:

        There are two ways you can bear off using the mouse. In both 
        ways select the man you wish to bear off by clicking the mouse 
        cursor on that man, then you may either click the mouse cursor 
        on the die you wish to use to bear the man off with, or you may 
        click the mouse cursor in the "OFF" area.  


The Options Menu:

     Load Game: 

        Selecting the Load Game option will bring up a directory of 
        previously saved games. Use the arrow keys to select the game 
        you wish to load and press enter, or mouse users can click 
        on the file name they wish to load to highlight it and then
        click again to enter it. 

     Save: 

        Allows you to save a game in progress. Simply enter an eight 
        character name you wish to save the game under. File names must 
        conform to normal DOS file naming conventions and must not contain 
        a file extension. Examples:

             Legal Names  : MYGAME
	                       MY_GAME
	                       GAME001

             Illegal Names: MY.GAM          (Has File Extension)
                            MY?GAME         (Illegal "?")
                            TOOLONGNAME     (Name Too Long)
                            SAVE GAME       (Name Has a Space)

 
    Score History:

        PC-Gammon will maintain a score history for as many players 
        as you wish.  If there are no players in the score history file,
        the program will prompt you to enter you name, enter your
        name (up to 15 characters) and press enter when done, press 
        the ESC key to disable score keeping.

        When one or more players is already in the history file then 
        the names of the players will appear on the screen with an 
        optional scroll bar. (depending on how many players are in the 
        history file). Use the arrow keys to highlight your name and 
        press enter or mouse users can click the mouse cursor on their 
        name to highlight it and then click a second time to select it.

        To enter the name of a new user press "N" or click the mouse 
        cursor on the "NEW" button, then enter the name as described above. 

        Press "C" or click the mouse cursor on the Cancel button to
        disable the score history.

        Player selection may be done at any time, and the games score is
        not actually updated until the end of the game. 

    Print Screen:

        Select this option item to get a graphics dump of the screen to an 
        IBM Graphics Printer or Compatible. The default color scheme provided 
        with the game will produce an acceptable output. Should you change 
        the color scheme the printout may not be as readable. 

    Auto Doubles:

        This feature allows you to select whether or not the doubling 
        cube will automatically be doubled on the opening roll, 
        if the opening roll is doubles. 

    Computer Roll:

        Selecting this menu item will turn computer dice rolls on and off. 
        When on (the startup default), the computer will generate all 
        dice rolls. When turned off, you will be prompted to enter the 
        dice rolls for both yourself and the computer. This mode is 
        made available for those who prefer to roll real dice. 

    Game Log:

        This feature will keep a log on the disk for each game played.
        The log will include the players name, the date and time of the
        start of the game, and each move made by both players.
        (Available in registered version only!)

     Main Menu: 

        Selecting this option will return you to the main menu.
