
                            WELCOME to BEST BET:
                            --------------------

 Welcome to BEST BET, the affordable Lottery software package.  BEST BET is
 the newest in PC-based lottery information software from LOTTO SOFTWARE, LTD.
 
 We continue to develop BEST BET, adding features and functions.  We continue
 to work diligently to keep our costs of development low, product quality
 high and usefulness to you equally high.  We hope you are pleased with
 BEST BET.
 
 If you have suggested improvements or new features that you would like to
 see in future releases of BEST BET, please write us. Written suggestions
 are easier for us to process.  As our Customer, we take your feedback
 seriously.  Thank you for your purchase.
 
 
 LOTTO SOFTWARE, LTD.
 16421 Cornwall
 Houston, TX  77040
 (713) 896-6829

 ****************************************************************************

 NEW IN RELEASE 2.0 of BEST BET:
 -----------------------------------
 
 Release 2.0 of BEST BET contains the following major changes or additions:

 2.1  Multi-state Lottery Support
 --------------------------------
   BEST BET was originally developed for the Texas Pick 6 Lotto only.  This
   release of BEST BET supports over 100 popular state lottery games across
   North America.  It also provides a game definition feature which enables
   new lottery games to be added to BEST BET if not already included in the
   standard supported lotteries.  BEST BET will support lotteries with the
   following range of criteria:

        * 2 to 6 balls are selected in a lottery drawing
        * Numbers are in the range of 0 to 100
        * Numbers can be drawn multiple times or only once per drawing
   
   If BEST BET does not already support your favorite lottery, then you can
   add support for it easily, making BEST BET capable of supporting most any
   lottery in the world!

   Also, for our existing Texas customers, BEST BET now supports the Pick 3.


 2.2  SMART-FILTER Statistical Filter
 ------------------------------------
   A new feature known as SMART-FILTER(tm) was added to control the range and
   characteristics of the numbers which BEST BET selects.  Use of the filter
   is totally optional.  In addition to wheeling numbers and BEST BET's other
   number picking systems, SMART-FILTER can now be used to control the range
   of number combinations that BEST BET will pick for you.

   For example, in a Pick 6 lottery it is uncommon to see an unbalanced odd/
   even ratio selected (for example, 6 odd and 0 even numbers).  SMART-FILTER
   can be used to "tune out" statistically bogus combinations such as these!
   SMART-FILTER provides you with six tunable parameters which can be used
   to control the sequences of numbers BEST BET will provide.

   A typical wheel of 12 numbers for the Texas Pick 6 produces 924 different
   combinations (and costs $924 to cover all the combinations!).  This is not
   feasible for most of us to play.  Using SMART-FILTER's ability to tune out
   statistically undesirable combinations, the same 12 number wheel can now
   be "filtered" statistically to produce from 10 to 50 combinations!  Of
   course, the amount of filtering that occurs depends upon how you select
   the tuning parameters.  BEST BET will default the tuning parameters based
   upon selected recent drawings, simplifying setting up the tuning values.

   By using SMART-FILTER with the random-number picking systems, BEST BET
   is now better than just another random-number generator.  It now allows
   you to control the types of combinations that will be selected.


 2.2  Improved Statistical Analysis Information
 ----------------------------------------------

   Additional statistical analysis information is provided for each drawing:

    * AVG GAP:  the average "gap", or distance, between each number.

    * CUM AVG:  a 10-drawing, running average of the sum's of the last 10
                lottery drawings.
  
   These additional parameters are now available as SMART-FILTER parameters.

 2.3  Out of order history data now sorted automatically
 --------------------------------------------------------
   In the first release, if you missed several lottery drawings, then entered
   a recent drawing, then later entered the drawings that were missed earlier,
   BEST BET did not reorder the out-of-order drawings.  This release of BEST
   BET always sorts all history information by drawing date when it is saved
   to the disk file.

 2.4  History Filename changed
 ------------------------------
   The history file name of BASEDATA.TX for Texas Pick 6 was changed to
   TEXAS6.HIS for consistency with the other lotteries supported.  Each
   history file name is selectable, but typically begins with the state
   and the number of balls selected in the lottery, with a file suffix of
   ".HIS".  For example, the California Pick 5 history file is "CAPICK5.HIS".


 About TECHNICAL SUPPORT:
 ------------------------
 BEST BET is sold through retailers.  The retail store operators and sales
 people DO NOT support BEST BET.  If you experience a problem with BEST
 BET, please DO NOT CONTACT THE RETAIL STORE where you purchased BEST BET.
 They are not equipped to support you.  Instead, you should contact LOTTO
 SOFTWARE after reading this README.TXT file and attempting to resolve the
 problem according to the instructions shown below.

 If you have tried the suggestions below and you are unable resolve a
 given problem with BEST BET, please feel free to contact LOTTO SOFTWARE
 for more assistance.  Please try reinstalling BEST BET BEFORE calling
 LOTTO SOFTWARE.  Thank you.

   LOTTO SOFTWARE, LTD.
   (713) 937-0355


 About 3.5" MICRO and 5.25" FLOPPY DISKS:
 ----------------------------------------
 BEST BET is distributed on either 3.5" and 5.25" media.  If you want to use
 BEST BET on media other than that you purchased, simply copy all files from
 the purchased BEST BET diskette onto a formatted diskette of the desired
 type and format.
 
 For example, you purchased 5.25" double-density media and wish to use 
 3.5" high-density media. If drive A is your 3.5" drive and drive B is
 your 5.25" drive, the following MSDOS command will handle the copy:
 
 COPY  B:\*.*  A:\*.*
 
 Once all files are copied to the 3.5" media, you may proceed to install
 and use BEST BET as usual.
 
 If you want different media or have difficulties, LOTTO SOFTWARE can
 provide BEST BET on 3.5" or 5.25" media upon special request.  Just clip
 out the "bar-code" located on the back package cover and send $2.00 along
 with your proof of purchase (to cover media, handling, shipping and tax)
 to LOTTO SOFTWARE.  We will ship you BEST BET on the specified diskette
 media type and format.  Be sure to be specific as to the desired media
 type and format.  Thank you.
 
 
 INSTALLATION:
 -------------
 Installing BEST BET is easy.  The INSTALL.BAT batch command file is useful
 for installing it on the hard disk.  To install BEST BET on drive C, for
 example, enter the following commands:
 
 C:> A:
 C:> INSTALL C:
 
 The above commands change the current drive to drive A (where the BEST BET
 installation diskette should be inserted).  Next, the "INSTALL C:" command
 tells the BEST BET installation command to place BEST BET on the hard disk
 drive C.  BEST BET installs into a directory named "\BB".  The installation
 procedure copies all necessary disk files on the hard drive.
 
 BEST BET personalizes itself to a computer when it is installed.  If you
 plan to run BEST BET from a diskette drive, you should first make a copy
 of the original diskette.  When you run BEST BET, it examines the computer
 hardware upon which it is running and personalizes itself for that machine
 only.  If you change to another machine, you will want to make a copy of
 the original BEST BET diskette.  Therefore, DO NOT RUN BEST BET FROM THE
 ORIGINAL DISKETTE; keep the original diskette in a safe place.
 
 BEST BET installs into a directory named "BB" by default.  If you do
 not plan to install BEST BET into its default directory named "BB",
 then you can copy the BEST BET files onto a hard disk directory of
 your choice.  Then, run the "setup" program.  You may then run the
 BEST BET program as described below from your particular directory.

 Note:  Version 2.0 of BEST BET comes compressed in a self-extracting 
        executable file named BB20.EXE.  BB20.EXE contains most of the
        BEST BET files used during installation.


RUNNING BEST BET 2.0 from a Floppy Diskette:
---------------------------------------------

    Because BEST BET does not fit completely on a 360Kb 5.25" floppy,
    it is advised that you install and run BEST BET from your hard
    disk drive, if possible.  If you prefer to run BEST BET from a
    floppy, then the following is for you.

    If you want to run BEST BET from a floppy, you should first copy 
    all of the files from the original floppy to a floppy with at 
    least 720 Kb of free space.  Then, run the file named BB20.EXE
    while your current drive is set to the floppy drive.  Example:

    ( starts with BEST BET diskette in drive B )

    C:> A:
    A:> COPY B:*.* A:       ( copy all files to drive A: )
    A:> BB20                ( extracts BEST BET files to A: )
    A:> SETUP               ( run the SETUP program on A: )
    A:> BB                  ( run BEST BET on A: )



 SETUP Program:
 --------------
 After the installation batch file copies the BEST BET files, it runs a
 program named SETUP.EXE.  SETUP asks whether you have a color monitor or
 not.  Answer 'y' if you want color (and you have a color monitor; no, we
 can't make monochrome monitors do color!).
 
 Setup then examines your system, determines the types of devices attached,
 such as CRT monitor, ANSI.SYS settings, etc. and then exits.  At this 
 point, you are ready to run BEST BET.  In Version 2.0 or later, SETUP
 prompts you for which lottery you want to run most of the time.  You can
 change the default lottery selection at any time.
 
 
 RUNNING BEST BET:
 ----------------
 To run BEST BET, enter the following commands (assuming it's installed on
 the C: drive):
 
 C:> cd \bb
 C:> bb
 
 BEST BET contains on-line help information.  Just press "?" or "h" at most
 any menu for on-line help screens.  If you are not sure what to do, just
 experiment until you get some experience with the program.  Remember, you
 can create a hardcopy of any or all of the program at any time by using 
 the MSDOS print-screen (Shift-PrtScr) keys or by turning MSDOS printer
 logging on via Ctrl-P.  You can also print the online help files from 
 MSDOS.  For example, to print the main menu help file, enter the following
 MSDOS commands:
 
 C:> cd \bb
 C:> print main.hlp
 
 
 RUNNING BEST BET FROM MICROSOFT WINDOWS:
 ----------------------------------------
 BEST BET has been tested and is compatible with Microsoft Windows.  Of
 course, since BEST BET is actually an MSDOS executable, it must be run
 within a "DOS Box" under Windows.  BEST BET installs a file named "bb.pif".
 This "bb.pif" file contains the necessary program profile information for
 BEST BET to be operated from within Microsoft Windows.  To use BEST BET 
 from Windows, you must first create a program icon.  The following steps
 can be taken to create the BEST BET icon in Windows:
 
 1) Click the mouse on the "group" of icons that you want BEST BET to be
    placed into (double-click, if necessary, to open the group of icons
    up and show the icons on the program manager's window).  This is the
    group of icons where BEST BET will be placed.
 
 2) From Windows, select "File", then "New".  A dialog box appears with the
     title "New Program Object".  Select the item labelled "Program Item"
     by pressing 'Enter' or selecting the "OK" button.
 
 3) The dialog titled "Program Item Properties" appears.  This dialog box
    contains the information necessary to run a program from a Windows icon.
    Enter the Description, Command Line and Working Directory, as follows:
 
    Description:         BEST BET
    Command Line:        bb.pif
    Working Directory:   C:\BB
 
    The above entries tell Windows to run the program described by "bb.pif"
    and to use the "C:\BB" directory.
 
 4) You can optionally choose an icon for the BEST BET program by selecting
    the button labelled "Change Icon" (Note: you will have to choose from
    among the default icons provided by Windows).
 
 
    From this point onward, you may run BEST BET from within Windows by
    simply double-clicking on the BEST BET icon just like you would any
    Windows-based program.
 
    Note:  To change the BEST BET program between "full screen" and "windowed"
    display modes (that is, from a full screen MSDOS program view to a window
    view in Windows), simply hold the "Alt" key while pressing the "Enter"
    key.  This "Alt-Enter" key combination will switch BEST BET between
    the two display modes.  To permanently change the display mode, use the
    Windows "PIF Editor", select the "bb.pif" file and change the display
    mode to your preference.
 
 
 PRINTING WITH BEST BET:
 -----------------------
   There are two ways to get your printer to operate with BEST BET:
 
   1) Print log of what shows on the screen to the printer.
 
   To turn printer logging On, hold the "Ctrl" key while pressing the "P" key
 once.  All program actions from that point onward will be directed to the
 printer.  Note that if your printer hangs up for some reason (such as out
 of paper or off-line), using this option could slow or stop the program.
 
   To turn printer logging Off, hold the "Ctrl" key while pressing the "P" key
 once.  All program printer logging should now stop.
 
   You may use Ctrl-P to turn printer logging On/Off as many times as you
 wish and at any point in the program.
 
 
   2) Print the current screen contents to the printer.
 
   To print the current screen image to your printer, hold the "Shift" key
 down while at the same time pressing the key marked "Print Screen" (also
 marked "PrtScr" or something similar on some keyboards).  The screen contents
 will now be printed.
 
 
 NOTE:   IF YOU ARE USING CERTAIN LASER-JET PRINTERS, YOU MAY HAVE TO CAUSE
         A PAGE-EJECT IN ORDER TO GET SHORT PRINTOUTS (LESS THAN ONE PAGE)
         TO BE PRINTED.  This is because laser jet printers print one page
         at a time and do not actually print the page until they receive a
         page eject or enough lines of print to fill up a page.
 
 
 COLOR PROBLEMS:
 ---------------
 BEST BET works correctly with or without ANSI.SYS.  BEST BET has been 
 tested and is known to operate with monochrome, CGA, EGA, VGA and SVGA
 displays.  You must run the SETUP program and answer 'Y' when prompted
 about whether you are using a color monitor (SETUP runs automatically
 when you first install BEST BET).

 BEST BET determines whether or not you are using an ANSI-compatible display
 driver and makes the appropriate configuration changes.
 
 If you experience color problems, try running SETUP again (from the BB
 directory).  Refer to the above section entitled "SETUP" for more
 information on running SETUP.
 
 
 
 PROBLEMS WITH BEST BET NOT RUNNING:
 -----------------------------------
 First.  Please DO NOT contact your retailer for technical support.  The
 store personnel are not responsible for supporting BEST BET and are not
 equipped to do so.  If you cannot resolve a problem with BEST BET, you
 should contact LOTTO SOFTWARE.  Again, do not contact the retail store
 for support.  Instead, contact LOTTO SOFTWARE at (713) 937-0355 if you
 cannot resolve the problem using this information.
 
 If you experience a problem with BEST BET and see the following message:
 
 "This copy of BEST BET has either expired, your computer's date is set wrong,
 or you need to reinstall BEST BET from the original diskette."
 
 The above message is most likely caused by:
 
   1) You have changed your system hardware configuration, -or-

   2) You ran BEST BET from the original diskette and it personalized itself
      to the machine on which you first ran it.
 
 If you see the above message, then the following steps are recommended:
 
  1) Check your system date (use the MSDOS "date" command).  Make sure your
     computer is set to the correct date.  BEST BET uses the date in its
     calculations, so it needs to be correct.
 
  2) You may have changed your hardware configuration; for example, you added
     or subtracted serial ports, parallel ports, changed the type of CRT
     monitor you are using, or some other configuration change occurred.
     You may reinstall BEST BET from the original diskette and it should 
     operate correctly again.
 
 
  If you should experience the above problem, the first and best cure is to
  reinstall BEST BET from the original diskette.  If you do not have the
  original diskette, chances are you did not purchase your own BEST BET
  license and should therefore obtain your very own licensed copy
  (BEST BET's really not that expensive, so please purchase a legitimate
  copy from a BEST BET retailer near you).  Contact LOTTO SOFTWARE for the
  latest list of retailers.
 
 
 
