                             TUTORIAL FOR BEAT'EM

     All Beat'Em needs to make picks is the scores from last week and the
line for this one.  For best results, sit down at the computer with these
notes and go for it.  You'll quickly come to an understanding of what's
required.
     We'll be working in temporary files, so there's no way to mess up
anything needed.  They're copies of the 1992 season files, lacking the last
three weeks.  If things go so badly that a restart is needed, see Step #2
below, Getting To The Right Files.
     Each step is numbered.  Each item that needs to be considered is
preceded by .  And each such item is developed so that the key info is
presented first.  


STEP #1: STARTING UP

      We'll use <Enter> throughout.  Note that a click of the mouse brings
the same response as <Enter>.  

      If not already done, go to the directory into which Beat'Em was
loaded and type: Beat'Em.  Then <Enter>  Press any key at the introductory
screen.  If the license agreement appears, press <Ctrl-End>.

      In the main or bar menu, Week's Games will be highlighted.  Select
this option by pressing <Enter>.  [To activate the mouse, click it in this
menu.  When the mouse cursor appears, click again to select.]

      The first item, Work With Game Info, is highlighted.  Press <Enter>
to select this option.  The new screen is referred to throughout these notes
as the Game Info screen.

      The first or top line on the screen begins with File NAME, followed
by the week number.  NAME is the prefix or first four characters of the names
of files in use.  For now, NAME should be TUTO.  The week number should be 15.

      If the file name is TUTO, and the week number is 15, please ignore
the next step.  Skip on down to Step #3: 


STEP #2: GETTING TO THE RIGHT FILES

      If the top line in the Game Info Screen does NOT begin with File
TUTO, it's likely that in experimenting, another set of files was switched
to.  No problem.  But let's get back to this set so that experimentation can
continue without clobbering needed data.

      Exit this routine by pressing <Ctrl-End>.  This takes us back to the
Week's Games menu.  Exit this menu with <Esc>.

      In the main menu, use <Right-Arrow> or the mouse to move to Files.

      With Files highlighted, press <Enter>.

                                                    Beat'Em Tutorial: 2 of 7

      In the new menu, use <Down-Arrow> or the mouse to move down to Use A
Different Set Of Files.

      Select this option by pressing <Enter>.  The names of the current files
in use will be reported at the bottom of the screen.  Press <Enter> to
continue.

      In the menu of files offered, find Tuto'Gms.Dt and Tuto'Tms.Dt.  Use
the arrow keys or mouse to highlight this set of names.  Press <Enter> to
select this set of files.

      If Tuto'Gms.Dt and Tuto'Tms.Dt are not listed, something has been
clobbered.  Or the system did not load properly.  Check to see that the
correct directory is being used.  If so, we suggest deleting all files and
reloading Beat'Em.  Then return to Step #1 above.  [Note that if switching to
the season files, the names needed are Beat'Gms.Dt and Beat'Tms.Dt.]

      The names selected will be presented at the bottom of the screen for
approval.  If the names are right, press <Enter>, <Y>, or <y> to continue
with this set of files.  Enter any other character for a return to the menu
where the correct set of files can be selected.

      Whenever another set of files has been selected, the system does a
restart.  It will do so at this point.  Please return to Step #1 above.


STEP #3: THE GAME INFO SCREEN

      If all's well, Beat'Em is running.  Work With Game Info has been
selected under Week's Games.  And the file name is TUTO.  Let's consider the
screen for a time.  It takes a little getting used to.  Here's what the first
few lines should look like.

                 File TUTO in Week #15
        Teams           Scores         Vegas Rates          Local Rates
    Visit  Home  Line  Vis Hom  HFld  VVeg  HVeg  VPro     VLoc  HLoc  LPro
      DEN  @BUF   0.0    0   0   2.7  51.1  53.7  -5.3h    55.5  52.4   0.4v
      NYG  @PHO   0.0    0   0   3.7  47.7  46.0  -2.0h    44.5  50.0  -9.2h
                      Figure 1.1: Initial Game Info Screen

      This is the way this screen will appear after going to next week in
preparation for next week's games.  Under Line, all entries are zero; the
line needs to be entered.  And all scores are zero; they will need to be
entered after games are played.

      Beat'Em uses a three character symbol to represent each team,
referred to in these notes as a tag.  

      The visiting team is listed first.  The home team second.  In figure
1.1 above, DEN @BUF means Denver is to play Buffalo in Buffalo. 

                                                    Beat'Em Tutorial: 3 of 7

      HFld is the home field advantage assigned to the home team.  

      VPro is the projection Beat'Em makes using the Vegas power ratings. 
VVeg is the visiting team's Vegas rate.  HVeg, the home team's Vegas rate.  

      VPro, the projection Beat'Em makes with the Vegas ratings, is
computed as follows: The visiting team's Vegas rate minus the home team's
Vegas rate minus the home team's HFld.  In the first game in figure 1.1
above, DEN @BUF, VVeg - HVeg - HFld = 51.1 - 53.7 - 2.7 = -5.3.  

      VLoc and HLoc are power ratings determined differently, as explained
elsewhere.  VLoc is the visiting team's Local rating.  HLoc, the home team's
Local rating.  And LPro is the projection using Local Rates.  It's computed as
described above for VPro.  

      The pick made for VPro and LPro is indicated by a small v or h to
the right of the projection.  Using the Vegas rates, Beat'Em has picked BUF,
the home team.  With Local rates, the pick is DEN, the visiting team.  These
picks are meaningless, however, because the line has not yet been entered.


STEP #4: MOVING ABOUT

      Try the cursor control keys.  The arrow keys act predictably.  At
the margins they cause a jump or wrap.  A click with the mouse selects any
legal field in which the mouse cursor is positioned.  The cursor will skip
over VPro and LPro.  These fields are computed by Beat'Em.  It will also
skip HFld.  Home field advantage can be dealt with in Deal With Team Info.  

      As noted at the bottom of the screen, <Enter> is used to end entry. 
Any cursor move also ends entry.  And entry ends automatically if the field
is filled.  <Esc> is used to back out of a change.  <Ctrl-End> brings exit
from the routine and a return to the previous menu.


STEP #5: MAKING CHANGES

      Changing the line does NOT change the value of projections because
the line is not used in the computation.  For DEN @BUF note that VPro is
picking BUF and LPro is picking DEN.  Under Line, enter -6.  Then press
<Enter>.  Beat'Em has changed a call.  Now both projections are picking DEN
because they're getting more points that Beat'Em expected.  Now change the -6
to -3.  VPro again picks BUF because DEN is not getting enough points.  LPro,
though, is still picking DEN because they're still getting more points than
expected.  If this isn't clear, enter zero again.  Then -6.  Then -3.  And
observe the changes.  This is not a key point in getting started, but
ultimately it needs to be fully understood.  It may help to make other changes
in other games and watch what happens to the projections.

                                                    Beat'Em Tutorial: 4 of 7

      Changing any rate DOES change the projection.  And it may also bring
a change in the call.  For DEN @BUF, be sure the line is zero.  Then, under
VVeg, raise DEN's rate 2 points to 53.1.  VPro will change to -3.3, but the
call does not change.  Now raise DEN's rate another 5 points to 58.1.  VPro
will be 1.7.  And the call does change, for BUF is now getting more points
than expected.  If this isn't clear, enter the original value, 51.5.  And
make the changes again.  As above, this is also not a key point in getting
started, but will ultimately be needed.  It may help to make other changes in
other games as well.

      Since the files shipped include all games for the season, there will
likely be no need to deal with tags until post-season play begins.  But for
those interested, the following is provided.  It can safely be skipped for
now.
     Position the cursor over DEN so that the tag is highlighted.  Now type
in den in lower case characters.  It works fine.  For case is not considered
here.  When the "n" was typed, the field was full.  Then Beat'Em replaced
"den" with "DEN."
     The reason's simple.  Beat'Em works off internal team numbers, not tags. 
To the system, den and DEN are the same.  [Team numbers are never needed by
the user.]  In restoring the screen, the system looked up the current tag for
team #7 and reported it as DEN.  These tags can be changed, but not in this
routine.  Use Deal With Team Info.  Some may prefer Den to DEN.  Or an
entirely different set of characters.  Change to suit.


STEP #6: ENTERING THE LINE

      Exit with <Ctrl-End> in order to select Enter Only The Line in the
Week's Games menu.  The screen is the left three fields of the Game Info
screen.  While the line can be entered in the Game Info screen, this option
saves a few keystrokes.  The cursor will remain locked in the appropriate
column.  

      Enter the line given below.  It's the line for week fifteen in 1992. 
Since this is for the fun of it, it really doesn't matter what values are
entered.  But this is a good place at which to make a point.  

      If the line is negative, the points go to the visiting team.  If
positive, they go to the home team.  Entering the line with the wrong sign is
a common error.  Something to be corrected before picks are made.  And before
continuing to next week.  Note that 4.0 can be entered as 4.  End entry with
<Enter> or an arrow key.  If the field fills, as when entering -13.5, the
cursor is repositioned to the field below.

          DEN @BUF -13.5   IND @NYJ  -6.0   NOR @LOS   6.0
          NYG @PHO  -3.5   NWE @KAN -16.0   PHI @SEA   9.0
          ATL @TAM   0.0   PIT @CHI   3.0   GRB @HOU  -7.0
          CLE @DET   2.5   SFO @MIN   5.0   LAR @MIA  -6.0
          DAL @WAS  -3.0   CIN @SDG -14.0

                                                    Beat'Em Tutorial: 5 of 7

      Figure 1.2 below, is the Game Info screen after the line has been
entered.  Both projections show DEN was picked; they're getting more points
than expected.  In the second game, VPro picks NYG for they're getting a
point and a half more than expected.  LPro picks PHO, for NYG was expected to
get more.

                 File TUTO in Week #15
        Teams           Scores         Vegas Rates          Local Rates
    Visit  Home  Line  Vis Hom  HFld  VVeg  HVeg  VPro     VLoc  HLoc  LPro
      DEN  @BUF -13.5    0   0   2.7  51.1  53.7  -5.3v    55.5  52.4   0.4v
      NYG  @PHO  -3.5    0   0   3.7  47.7  46.0  -2.0v    44.5  50.0  -9.2h
                Figure 1.2: Game Info Screen With Line Entered


STEP #7: REPORTS

      Once the line has been entered, the picks will have been made
relative to it.  After printing reports needed, all that's left to do is to
make one's personal picks.  

      To explore the reports available, exit this routine with <Ctrl-End>. 
And again to get back to the main menu.  Select Reports in the main menu.  Any
or all can be selected.  We recommend saying no to the printer option; there's
no real value to output just now.


STEP #8: ENTERING SCORES

      To enter scores, select Enter Only Scores in the Week's Games menu.  As
when entering only the line, two columns are available in this routine.  The
scores given below are the scores in the fifteenth week of the 1992 season. 
[<Enter> works best to end entry.]

          DEN @BUF  17/27   IND @NYJ   10/6   NOR @LOS  37/14
          NYG @PHO   0/19   NWE @KAN  20/27   PHI @SEA  20/17
          ATL @TAM   35/7   PIT @CHI   6/30   GRB @HOU  16/14
          CLE @DET  14/24   SFO @MIN  20/17   LAR @MIA   7/20
          DAL @WAS  17/20   CIN @SDG  10/27

                                                    Beat'Em Tutorial: 6 of 7

      Exit with <Ctrl-End> and select Work With Game Info.  Then consider
figure 1.3 below, the screen after scores have been entered.  DEN lost 17 to
27.  But they had 13.5 points.  Thus Beat'Em has flagged VPro as a winning
pick because the visiting team, DEN, had been picked.  LPro was a winning pick
in the same way.  In the second game, PHO won 19 to 0.  Since they won by more
than 3.5 points, LPro is flagged as a good pick.  VPro is not flagged, for
VPro had picked NYG.  Pushes, games in which there was no winning pick, are
flagged with .

                 File TUTO in Week #15
        Teams           Scores         Vegas Rates          Local Rates
    Visit  Home  Line  Vis Hom  HFld  VVeg  HVeg  VPro     VLoc  HLoc  LPro
      DEN  @BUF -13.5   17  27   2.7  51.1  53.7  -5.3    55.5  52.4   0.4
      NYG  @PHO  -3.5    0  19   3.7  47.7  46.0  -2.0     44.5  50.0  -9.2
                Figure 1.3: Game Info Screen With Scores Entered


STEP #9: GOING TO NEXT WEEK

      In the Week's Games menu, select Go To Next Week by highlighting
this option and pressing <Enter>.  [Note that Beat'Em can not continue unless
all scores have been entered. If pressed for time, enter nonsense; these are
temporary files.]

      To Back Up Files? choose to suit.  When working with actual season
files, this option should always be taken.

      When the routine completes, the system is ready to work with the new
week.  Select Work With Game Info.  Note that Beat'Em has made the picks,
indicted by a small v or h beside the projections.  But they're not useful,
because the line has not been entered.  


STEP #10: WHAT NEXT?

      For Beat'Em to make its picks, the line needs to be entered.  Then,
with reports of interest, personal picks need to made.  After the games, the
next step is to enter scores, then go on to next week.  But it's more
efficient to wait until the line is available.  Usually Tuesday morning.  Then
all that's needed can be accomplished in one sitting.

      The weekly procedure is to enter scores.  Go to next week.  Enter the
line.  Print reports of interest.  Make one's picks.  And see how it goes.

      The user who is not yet comfortable with what's needed, is invited
to continue on to next week.  Enter whatever values as the line.  Then assume
games have been played, and enter nonsense scores.  Repeat as needed.

                                                    Beat'Em Tutorial: 7 of 7


STEP #11: DOING IT FOR REAL

      When finished with the above notes, exit and switch to the actual
season files: Beat'Gms.Dt and Beat'Tms.Dt.  [For a listing of this procedure,
see Step #2 above; Getting The Right Files.]

      Tuto'Gms.Dt and Tuto'Tms.Dt can be held for use with Call 'Em, a
fun way in which to get a better feeling for what Beat'Em is all about. 
However, the last two weeks of the season will not be available, unless data
for these weeks was entered.  If these files will not be used with Call' Em,
they can be deleted.

      If the Game Info screen does not show the current week with
Beat'Gms.Dt and Beat'Tms.Dt loaded, follow the above procedure to bring the
files up to date.  That is, enter the line, scores, then go to next week
repeatedly until the current week is available.  Also see The Weekly Procedure
under Getting Started in Help.
