README.TXT -- July 1, 1998
NFL Forecaster for Windows 3.1

100% Cotton Software
Association of Shareware Professionals Member


The following topics are contained in this file:
   1. What's New?
   2. Installing           <------ BE SURE TO READ THIS TOPIC
   3. Uninstalling
   4. Distribution, License, Warranty, Support
   5. 100% Cotton Software Products
   6. Finding 100% Cotton Software Products
   7. Ordering Information
   8. Contacting 100% Cotton Software


======================= 1. What's New? =======================

1. The prediction accuracy of this version (4.5) of NFL
Forecaster for Windows 3.1 has been improved by about 2% over
previous versions.  Over the last 14 years it would have
predicted winners correctly 64% of the time and spreads 56% of
the time.  Over the last 10 years it would have predicted
winners correctly 65% of the time and spreads 57% of the time.

2. NFL Forecaster now takes into account home-team advantage
(which partly contributes to its better prediction accuracy).
This means that the order in which you choose teams (for playoff
games, for example) is important.  The first team chosen is the
away team and the second team chosen is the home team (NY Jets
at San Francisco, for example).

3.  NFL Forecaster no longer predicts partial spreads -- for
example, 1.9 or 6.2; all spreads are whole numbers.
Additionally, the spreads are more evenly distributed; fewer are
clumped at the lower end.

4. The schedule and main data files have been updated for the
1998-99 season.  The on-line documentation has also been updated
to include the 1997-98 statistics.

5. A version of NFL Forecaster that runs on Windows 3.0 is no
longer available.  NFL Forecaster for Windows 3.1 runs on
Windows 3.1 and later version of Windows (Win 3.11, Windows for
Workgroups, Win 95, Win 98).


================ 2. Installing NFL Forecaster ================

For the fastest and easiest installation of NFL Forecaster 3.1
determine which of the following situations (A or B) resembles
yours & follow the instructions. Also read section C ("Notes").

-- A. If no version of NFL Forecaster for Windows 3.1 is
currently installed on your computer system, simply run NFL
Forecaster for Windows 3.1's setup program ("setup.exe").

-- B. If a version of NFL Forecaster for Windows 3.1 is
currently installed on your computer system, run the setup
program ("setup.exe").  When the setup program asks for the
directory (folder) to install NFL Forecaster into, be sure it's
the same directory the current version is in. Then the setup
program will replace the old version with the new version.

---C. Installation Notes:
NFL Forecaster's setup program makes NO changes to your
autoexec.bat, config.sys, or win.ini files and it does not
change your PATH statement (or any other environmental
variable). 

Setup will correctly install Forecaster from one drive and/or
directory to another (that is, for example, from a:\ to
c:\forecast or from c:\temp to c:\sports or from c:\forecast to
c:\forecast).

Use the Windows Program Manager or File Manager's "File/Run"
command to execute Forecaster's setup program. A description of
each step the setup program takes is contained in setup's
on-line help. At setup's main window, press the Help button.
The setup program's on-line help also contains a complete list
of files, their functions and locations, and error message
explanations.

A minimum of four files must always be in the Forecaster
directory in order to run NFL Forecaster:
   Forecast.exe -- Executable program file.
   main-dta.nfl -- Team rankings.
   schedule.nfl -- NFL schedule.
   names.nfl -- Team names.

Several other files are placed in the Forecaster directory:
   Forecast.hlp -- On-line help file
   week-xx.yy -- One or more weekly archive files
   README.TXT -- Information file
   ORDER.TXT -- Information file
   PRODUCTS.TXT -- Information file
   vendinfo.diz -- Information file
   file_id.diz -- Identification file


================ 3. Uninstalling NFL Forecaster ==============

To uninstall NFL Forecaster for Windows 3.1 do the following:
   1. Delete all of the files from the Forecaster directory.
   2. Delete the Forecaster directory.
   3. Delete "forecast.ini" from your Windows directory.
   4. If you have a Forecaster group on your desktop, delete it.

NOTE: You should NOT delete the file "bwcc.dll" from your 
"\windows\system" directory unless you are absolutely sure that
no other programs use it.  This library file is used by
some other programs.


========= 4. Distribution, License, Warranty, Support =========

NFL Forecaster is a copyrighted shareware product; it is not
freeware or public domain software. You can try it before you
buy it and you are encouraged to give unregistered copies to
others.  If you use it after 30 days, you must register it
(see ordering below).

Complete warranty, license and support information for
individual users is contained in the programs' on-line help.

Internet Web site operators, CD-ROM publishers, User Groups,
Computer Clubs, Disk Vendors Subscription Services, Disk-of-
the-Month Clubs, BBS SYSOPS, and other distributors should
refer to VENDINFO.DIZ for information relating to them.


======================== 5. Products ========================

See the accompanying file "PRODUCTS.TXT".


========== 6. Finding 100% Cotton Software Products ==========

Unregistered versions of 100% Cotton Software programs can
be found on numerous Web sites and in many shareware CD-ROM
collections. They can also be downloaded from our Web site:
 "http://www.cotton100.com".

The unregistered versions of NFL Forecaster on our Web site
are updated weekly (Tuesday mornings after Monday-night games
and Monday mornings after playoff games). If you download from
there, you won't have to enter the past weeks' scores to
bring the rankings up to date.


================== 7. Ordering Information ==================

See the accompanying file "ORDER.TXT".


============== 8. Contacting 100% Cotton Software =============

Web Site: http://www.cotton100.com

Questions and comments: qac@cotton100.com

Support: support@cotton100.com

Site licenses, bulk orders, etc.: sales@cotton100.com

Telephone: 717-289-4019 (8 am to 5 pm Eastern Standard Time)
   After December 1998 the area code will change: 507-289-4019)

Postal mail:
   100% Cotton Software
   RR 1 Box 1622
   Hop Bottom, PA 18824 USA

