Contents for FractalSave Help

FractalSave protects your video monitor while displaying a practically infinite variety of beautiful and incredibly intricate screen images.

To learn how to use Help, press F1.

Introduction

What is FractalSave?

How To...

Set up the Screen Saver

Register the Program


What is FractalSave?

FractalSave is a Windows 3.1 screen saver based on the popular FractalWeave program. In its default configuration, FractalSave displays colorful and intricate fractal-based images based on a random selection of parameters. In this configuration, your chances of ever seeing the same image repeated are virtually zero.

You can also configure FractalSave to display one of the included setup (*.WWV) files whenever it pops up. The files include settings for fractal-based images like those generated in the default display, as well as simple text images and graphics images you might use to let people know where you are when you're not at your computer. These setup files were generated with the companion FractalWeave program, available from the same author.

FractalSave functions exactly like the screen savers supplied with Windows 3.1. You select and configure FractalSave from the Windows Control Panel, just as you do with the Windows screen savers. If you set a password in a Windows screen saver, FractalSave will use it. If you modify the password in FractalSave, the Windows screen savers will know about and use the new password.

Enjoy the program!

See Also
Setting up the Screen Saver

Registering the Program

Hardware Notes


Hardware Notes

FractalSave should run on any video system which Windows supports. For best results, however, a monitor capable of displaying at least 256 simultaneous colors at normal VGA resolution is recommended.

If such a monitor is not detected FractalSave's color cycling feature is not available.


Registering FractalSave

FractalSave is a shareware program. You may copy and distribute it freely, and use it without charge for a period of 30 days. If you continue to use the program beyond the initial evaluation period, please register it.

Registration entitles you to technical support in the program's use, notice of and reduced price for any upgrades, and that warm feeling of personal satisfaction that comes from doing the proper and noble thing.

The registration fee for FractalSave is $19.95 (US). As a registration bonus, the companion FractalWeave program is included free with registration of FractalSave. DOS versions of both programs are also available.

To register, send check or money order to:
James H. Price
1703 Santa Barbara St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Please indicate how you would like your name to appear in the license information section of the FractalWave program.

Support
I can be reached by mail at the above address, or via CompuServe at 76264,3534. I would be pleased to receive any bug reports, comments, or suggestions for future versions. Thank you!


Setting Up FractalSave

In its default configuration, FractalSave generates images based on a random selection of input values. The custom setup option allows you to specify the image displayed by selecting a particular setup file from those provided. (Custom setup files can be easily generated with the FractalWeave program.)

Default Setup
1. Open the Control Panel window (usually found in the Windows Main group).

2. Select the Desktop icon to open the Desktop dialog box.

3. Highlight "FractalSave" in the Screen Saver | Name field.

4. Set the Screen Saver | Delay value to the desired interval.

5. You can test the setup by pressing the Test button. When finished, select OK to close the dialog box.

Custom Setup
Follow steps 1-4 above, then:

5. Select the Screen Saver | Setup button to open the FractalSave Screen Saver Setup dialog box.

6. Clear the check mark in the Random Image check box, and press the Select Image button.

7. Select a *.WWV or *.BMP file from the Select FractalSave File dialog box displayed. Files with a WWV extension are small "seed images" which FractalSave animates (moves around) while it is active. Files with a BMP extension are not animated. (Typically, you would choose a BMP file only if you had added color cycling to the image with the FractalWeave program. Otherwise, it makes a rather dull display.) Choose OK to close the file dialog box.

8. If desired, check the Password Protected box to enable password checking. Password support in FractalWeave is identical to that provided by the screen savers supplied with Windows 3.1. See your Windows User's Manual for further information.

9. Select OK to close the Setup dialog box.

10. You can test the setup by pressing the Test button. When finished, select OK to close the dialog box.


What is FractalWeave?

FractalWeave is an image generator which uses fractal-based patterns to construct scenes of astonishing complexity and beauty. By varying a small number of parameters, you can create a practically infinite variety of images.

FractalWeave allows you to save and restore the screens generated in standard Windows bitmap format. You can use these images in other Windows programs, or import images generated in other programs to FractalWeave. If your video systems supports it, FractalWeave can perform color animation on images.

FractalWeave images can be transferred directly to and from other programs via the Windows clipboard, saved as a Windows bitmap, or saved in a special parameter file which records program settings in addition to the graphics image. The parameter file can be reloaded in a later session of FractalWeave, or used by the FractalSave program to make a custom screen saver.

FractalWeave is a shareware program written by the author of FractalSave.


shareware

Software which is distributed on a "try before you buy" basis.


fractal

Fractals are bizarre mathematical objects with an infinitely detailed structure. FractalSave uses a type of fractal as a "seed image" in generating its displays.


screen saver

A program which protects your video monitor from the damage which can result from displaying the same image for too long (burn-in). Screen savers monitor the keyboard and mouse, and, after a preset period of inactivity, either blank the video screen or vary its display until the mouse or keyboard is used again.


color cycling (color animation)

Color cycling rapidly changes the screen colors by modifying the video palette. The effect can be either stunning or boring in the extreme, depending upon the color content of the image. Windows does not support color cycling on video systems which cannot display at least 256 colors simultaneously.


palette

A palette is the set of colors currently in use by a program. For most video systems, the palette is a limited set of colors chosen from a much larger pool (for example, 256 colors drawn from an available 65,536).


bitmap

A bitmap is a way of storing and manipulating graphics (visual) images. Bitmaps can be stored in memory (as when they are copied to the Windows clipboard) or in disk file. When stored in a disk file, these usually have a BMP extension.