Copyright

TLC WordGame version 3.2 is Copyright (C) 1993-96 Terry Conkright. ALL 
RIGHTS RESERVED.

Quickly

TLC Word Game is a Windows 3.x program that has 3 games in one.  The
first is something like Scrabble and something like Upwords -- but a lot
different than either.  The second is a word search.  The third is anagame.
The game comes with a 26000 word English dictionary. There are 16 different
sets of rules for play that the user selects.  Registration is $10.00. 
Registered users  may purchase an enhanced Engligh, French, Norwegian, 
Dutch, German, or Italian dictionary at $5 each. (Only the French dictionary
has accented characters).

WINDOWS VERSION
To install the program Double-Click on SetUp.Exe from the File Manager.
The program requires the following files:
[Unique]
TlcDic.DLL, WWrdGame.DLL, Anagram.DLL, WordGame.Exe, WordGame.Hlp,
English.Lex, WordGame.Txt,

[Shared]
VBRun300.DLL, ThreeD.VBX

[Installation only]
SetUp.Exe,  Install.Exe, Setup.Lst,  SetUpKit.DLL, Ver.DLL


This progam may be distributed freely when distributed for free
in its complete uninstalled form. Except that the files named WordGame.LIC
and WordGame.Lic_ must not be distributed.

Association of Shareware Professional (ASP) Vendors, BBS's and clubs may
charge a nominal distribution fee. Non-ASP distributors, BBS's, and clubs
must secure specific permission prior to distribution.  Individuals may 
distribute without asking permission if no fees are charged.

General

This disk contains a suite of word games.   There is one 
for Windows and a different set for DOS.  All three Windows 
programs are contained in the same executable file.  Each of 
the games for DOS, however, are in separate executable 
programs.  Install the Windows version by running Setup from 
File Manager. To install the DOS version, run DosSetup from 
the DOS prompt.  The following documentation is applicable 
to both version.  Differences are noted where differences 
exits.

The first game, "Good, Better, Best", is something like scrabble
 and something like upwords but a lot different. The
user select from a set of three skill levels and a set of 16
different build rules.   

The second game, "Word Search", is a typical word search 
type of program where the user can chose the board size. 

The third, "Anagame", provides a set of 5 to 9 letters; the
user then makes as many words of those letters as (s)he can.

These three programs use the same dictionary.  

DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT

Users of TLC Word Game must accept this disclaimer of 
warranty: "TLC Word Game is supplied as is.  The author 
disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, 
without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of 
fitness for any purpose.   The author assumes no liability 
result from the use of TLC Word Game."

                                
Main Window of Good, Better, Best
                 
The main window displays the game board, the player's active 
tiles, status of scores, tiles, and time; it also provides 
the menu functions necessary to navigate around in the game. 
The first text line under the menu bar shows whose turn it 
is.  It also shows if the computer has passed its turn or 
built a word.  If the computer built a word, that word is 
displayed in the text line -- Capital letters indicate 
letters that were already on the board.
                 
When it is the player's turn to move, the player can build a 
word from his active tiles by dragging the tiles onto the  
proper square or by selecting the square and typing the 
letter associated with the tile. After the word has been 
built, the player then must select the DONE option in the 
menu or press the RETURN (ENTER) key.  If the word is 
accepted, it will be scored. If the word is not accepted, 
the program will return the tiles to the active tile bar and 
post a message.  If you are sure that your selection was a 
correct word, add your word to the dictionary.  Move the 
tiles into place and again select DONE. If you realize that 
you have made a mistake prior to selecting DONE, you may 
select UNDO to undo the previous play. If you can not find a 
word, you may pass your turn with or without an exchange of 
tiles.

If you do not like a word that the computer used you can 
remove it from the dictionary.  This will prevent the 
computer from using the word again, but you can not disallow 
a word once it is used.
                                                        
Setup Options                     
             
To change the game option configuration, select ALT FN from 
the Main Window.  This option can only be selected when it 
is your turn to play. The following items can be changed for 
Good, Better, Best.  The other games disable the options 
that are not appropriate for the game.  The speed at which 
the computer plays is dependent upon the computer 
characteristics and the amount of work that it is asked to 
do.  Start with low settings for Hand Size, Board Size and 
level of play.  If your computer handles the play fast 
enough to suit you increase the parameters slowly.
       
Skill Level

The computer attempts to play at 3 discrete skill levels.  
The Good level will search its memory until it finds a word 
that will be slightly better than the players current score.  
It will only use the specified time or less. The Better 
level will always use the allotted time and will find the 
best word that it can in that amount of time. The Best level 
will find the best possible word and can not be limited by 
time.


First Move

At the beginning of each session the player always has the 
First Move.  If you want to let the computer move first, use 
the menu item ALT FP to pass your turn.  If you want to play 
a series of games, you may set the "First Move" option for 
the current session.  You may chose to move first every 
time, have the computer move first every time, or let the 
choice be randomly selected.

Rules of the Game  
                                                                                                                  
The human and computer play in turn.  Play consists of 
building a word or combination of words.  Each letter has a 
specific value.(See Scoring)     
                                                           
Count

The total score for a play is the sum of the value of each 
letter that is used in a new word created. Any word that is 
different than it was a the beginning of the play has each 
of its letters counted in the total score.  Note: if the Dup 
flag is on, a new letter is not the same characters as the  
letter that it replaced. The game is over when neither 
player can create a new word.
                  
You can change the way a word can be built by setting any 
combination of four flags: Wrap, Stack, Groups, and 
Duplicates.

Words wrap on the board

This option allows a play to continue from the right side of 
the board to the left, or to continue from the bottom of the 
board to the top.


Stacking the Tiles
                 
This option allows a player to change a tile that is already 
on the board.   A player could change a word from RIGHT to 
LIGHT by placing an "L" over the "R".  Any number of tiles 
can be changed on the same play.  You could change HAS to 
THE.  None of the original tiles need remain.  Letters can
only be played in one direction (Left to Right or Top to 
Bottom) in any single turn.


Multiple groups of words
                 
This option allows a word to be formed that is completely 
disjointed from any other word or group of words currently 
on the board.  A new word can be formed that is not part of 
a previous word.


Duplicate letters
                 
This option allows a play to replace a letter in a word with 
the same letter.  You could put a new T on top of an old T.  
The new T is a new letter and any word that used that letter 
is a different word.  All new words count in the score.


Font Size  (Fixed size for DOS)
                 
The size of the font determines the size of the window 
display.  The larger fonts can not be used with large boards 
and low resolution screens.  For example, a board width of 
20 is the max board size if a font size of 8.25 is selected 
on a 1024 X768 display and 5 is max board size for a font 
size of 18.  The selected font size takes precedence and 
causes the board size to be diminished. Font sizes may be 
8.25, 9.75, 12, 13.5, or 18. Font size of 12 is default.

DOS font size is fixed which yield a max board width of 11 
for EGA and 16 for VGA.

Hand Size
                 
The hand size is the number of letters or tiles that are on 
the players' active board at one time.  The smaller the hand 
size the  faster the computer can play.  The hand size is 
not allowed to be larger than the board size.


Time Limit
                 
The amount of time allowed for the player and computer to 
make a move can be set in one minute intervals from 1 to 15 
minutes.  A time setting of 0 minutes means that there is no 
time limit.  Skill level "Best" will not allow a time limit 
to be set. (Windows Version)

Board Size
                     
The board size is variable from 8 x 8 to 20 x 20 but must 
always be square.  (DOS Version has a smaller max - 
dependent on VGA vs EGA). The smaller the board size the 
faster the computer can play.  If you select a large board 
size and a large font, the font takes precedence and will 
reduce the board size as necessary to fit on the screen.


Player's Name
                 
The player may enter a name in the Player Name text box.  
This name is used in the main window to identify Tiles, 
Score, and specify whose turn it is to play.  Any name of up 
to 20 characters may be entered.

Choosing a lexicon
                 
The English dictionary that comes with the word game
program is English.Lex.  Users may purchase a more extensive 
English dictionary.  English.Lex has approximately 26000 
words.  The expanded English dictionary contains in excess 
of 70000 words.  The French.Lex dictionary contains 
approximately 54000 words. Users may purchase additional 
languages for 5 dollars per language. Available dictionaries 
are German, Dutch, Italian, and Norwegian (accent marks 
included only in French dictionaries).


Number of Tiles
                 
The number of tiles or letters available in the game can be 
selected from the options.  When a player discards tiles, 
the tiles are gone from the current game, they can not be 
reused later.  When the tiles are used, the game is over.


Save, Cancel, Default, Restore
                 
The Save and Cancel options terminate the "Set options 
session". Only the Save option uses the current options in 
future games. The Cancel and Restore options reset the 
options to the values found in the current INI file. The 
Default option resets the options to the values that were 
originally available.

DOS version has only Save and Cancel options.

Display of Score
             
The score will be indicated or the score board as the 
previous accumulated score and the new score.  For example: 
0 + 5 will be displayed in the score rectangle after the 
first word is created with a score of 5.  If the next word 
scored 10, then 5 + 10 will be displayed.

Selecting a menu item
             
This can be accomplished by pressing the ALT key and the key 
in the menu name that is underlined or by clicking the left 
mouse button on the menu name.


Proper Square
                 
Words can be built from left to right or top to bottom. 
Words must be built in a linear sequence.  A new word may 
contain letters from words that are already on the board, 
but each new letter must be placed on the board in the 
sequential order that the letter appears in the word.

Dragging a Letter
             
The "dragging" process requires you to place the mouse 
cursor over the desired tile, click and hold the left mouse  
button, move the mouse (thus dragging the letter) to the 
desired board position, and then release the mouse button. 
The board position that will be used is the one that has the 
focus box (a dotted line around the square).


Menu Item Help
                 
The help menu can be used to access:

Help on Help -- a file provided by Microsoft to teach people 
how to use a help file.  (Windows Only)
About -- a copyright notice.
Rules -- access to quick review of the way the game is 
played.
Score -- a table showing how each character is scored.


How to Count the score
    A 1    B 2    C 2    D 2    E 1    F 3    G 3   H 3
    I 2    J 4    K 3    L 1    M 2    N 1    O 2   P 4      
    Q 4    R 1    S 1    T 1    U 3    V 4    W 4    X 4    
    Y 3    Z 4
             
Each of the following characters are worth:
             1 Point   -- A, E, L, N, R, S, T
             2 Points --  B, C, D, I, M, O
             3 Points --  F, G, H, K, U, Y
             4 Points --  J, P, Q, V, W, X, Z

            
The availability of a letter is inversely proportional to 
the value.  There are 4 chances in 10 of getting a 1 point 
character, 3 in 10 for 2 point characters, 2 in 10 for 3 
point characters and 1 chance in 10 for a 4 point character.  
The probability of getting an specific letter is roughly 
based on the distribution of letters in English words.

             
Each letter that constitutes a part of each new word causes 
all of the letters in the new words to contribute to the 
score. Rules determine the way each word can be built.


Menu Item Beep (Windows only)
             
Beep -- Turns on/off the beep used to signal the end of the 
computers play or 15 sec left of the player.


Menu Item Dictionary
             
Dictionary -- Provides access to the window that allows you 
to modify the usable word list.


Menu Item Exchange
             
Exchange -- Toggles the option for a player to exchange 
tiles rather than playing.  If the menu item is checked, the 
exchange option is on and a player must then click on the 
tiles that are to be discarded.  When all desired tiles have 
been selected, chose done to continue play.


Menu Item Load
             
Load -- Allows a player to reload a saved game and continue 
play of that game.


Menu Item New
             
New -- Allows a player to start a new game with new options.  
The new options are saved for later.


Menu Item Pass Turn
             
Pass -- A player can pass  the turn without discarding tiles 
any time desired.  It is important to note that if the 
computer then passes the game is over.


Menu Item Save Game
             
Save -- The game can be saved in its current state.  That  
game is then terminated but can be restarted by selecting 
the Load option.

Menu Item Exit
             
Exit -- Terminates the program.


Menu Item Undo
             
Undo -- Each time undo is select the prior letter played is 
removed.  Nothing happens if no letter has been played since 
the last time "Done" was selected.


Menu Item Done
             
Done -- Indicates the player has finished the turn and is 
ready for the computer to play.  This option is used 
following a play or an exchange.

Modifying the Lexicon

The lexicon can be modified by adding and or deleting words.  
Select ALT FD from the main menu.  The window allows you to 
search the lexicon for a word, if it is present then you may 
delete the word, if the word is not in the lexicon then you 
may add it.  The command buttons are only active when the 
command is allowed.  Since you can not add or delete a word 
until it has been found, initially only the find and cancel 
buttons are active.  The cancel button is always accessible 
from the ESCAPE key.  The most likely command button is 
"Default" and can be activated by pressing the RETURN key. 
Once in the lexicon modification window, you stay in the 
window until the ESCAPE key or cancel button is pressed.


Main Window of Word Search
                 
The main window displays the game board, status of scores, 
words left, and time; it also provides the menu functions 
necessary to navigate around in the game.  A second window 
which shows the words to be found is displayed to the left.  
Select one of the words by clicking on the first letter of 
the word and then clicking on the last letter of the word.  
If you do not have a mouse, move the highlight using the 
arrow keys to the first letter and select ALT+B; move the 
highlight to the last character and select ALT+D.  (DOS 
version uses Space Bar to signal the beginning and ending of 
a word.)
                 
The word is accepted if it is in the word list and it will 
be scored by adding its length to the current score. 



Main Window of Anagram

The main window displays the game board, status of score, 
words possible, and time; it also provides the menu 
functions necessary to navigate around in the game. Type a 
word into the text box and press return.  If the word is in 
the dictionary and uses the available letters the word is 
added to the list of good words.  If the word is already in 
the list, the computer will BEEP.  If the word is not in the 
dictionary or if it uses letters which are not in the 
selection, a message will be posted to this effect.
                 
Words can be made from only the letters shown in the 
selected list.  If only 1 L appears in the list then only 
one L can be used in a word.  When you have done as many as 
you can, press ALT+D. (DOS Press ALT+FD).

The final score is based on the number of words available, 
the number found, and the time required to find them.

     
