CryptoSolver version 1.0
The cryptogram utility program

OVERVIEW

	CryptoSolver is a utility program for creating new cryptogram
puzzles, and entering already encoded ones to solve. A cryptogram is a
puzzle in which a phrase is encoded using an alphabetic substitution
table (i.e. A=R, B=M, etc.) Cryptograms are found in the puzzle section
of many Sunday papers and puzzle books. Solving these puzzles used to
involve a lot of writing and erasing to do it on paper. With the advent
of CryptoSolver it is now fast and easy to do on your personal computer.   

	CryptoSolver is easy to use, simply right click on a letter and
select the letter from the menu that you think it represents. Letters
already assigned are checked off in the menu-if you select one of these
it is reassigned to the new letter. If the puzzle was generated by
CryptoSolver then the Hint menu item will be available; selecting this
will give you the proper letter (and also subtract from your score).

CRYPTOSOLVER FILES

	CryptoSolver files contain the encoded phrase and also the
progress made in solving them. If the cryptogram was created using
CryptoSolver it will also contain the substitution table allowing you to
get 'hints' on specific letters and providing scoring. Five sample
cryptosolver files are included with this package.

SOLVING A CRYPTOGRAM

	The first step is to open a cryptosolver file or enter a
cryptogram taken from another source such as the Sunday paper. To open a
cryptosolver file click on the open file toolbar button or select Open
File from the File menu. To enter an already encoded cryptogram click on
the solve new cryptogram toolbar button (the document icon with the
letter 'S') or select Solve New from the File menu. Enter the cryptogram
to be solved in the dialog box and click OK. The cryptogram can be on
multiple lines.
	IMPORTANT: When entering a cryptogram manually the program will
NOT prompt you to save the last cryptogram you worked on. Make sure you
save before selecting Solve New. This error will be corrected in the
next version.

	Once your cryptogram is ready simply right-click on a letter and
select the letter you think it represents from the pop-up menu. The
pop-up menu also has two additional items. One is 'Hint', selecting this
will assign the correct letter (and also lower your score). This item is
only enabled if the cryptogram was created by CryptoSolver. The other
item is the '*' which is to unassign the last assignation. The pop-up
also has checkmarks on the letters already assigned, selecting an
assigned letter will unassign it from its previous assignation. The last
letter worked on will changed to red throughout the puzzle to allow you
to quickly find all the substitutions made in that selection.

CREATING A NEW CRYPTOGRAM

	Click on the Create New Cryptogram toolbar button (the document
icon with the letter 'C') or select Create New from the File menu. Enter
the phrase to be encoded in the dialog box and click OK. The program
will randomly encode the phrase and display it. A cryptogram created
this way will also have the substitution table included, allowing for
'hints' and scoring. Save immediately to create a CryptoSolver file.
	IMPORTANT: When creating a cryptogram the program will NOT
prompt you to save the last cryptogram you worked on. Make sure you save
before selecting Create New. This error will be corrected in the next
version.

RESTARTING

	You can unassign all letters at once by clicking the the Restart
Puzzle toolbar button (the red circle with the 'R') or selecting Restart
Puzzle from the File menu.

FONT SIZE

	Take a guess... If you're clueless give it a try.

SCORING

	Scoring is not implemented in version 1.0 of CryptoSolver. It
will be included in the next version.

A FEW HINTS ON SOLVING CRYPTOGRAMS FOR THE BEGINNER

If you see one letter alone, of course it must be an 'A' or an 'I'.

If a word ends with an apostrophy and a letter (MDCH'W) that letter will
be an 'S' (W=S).

Look for two letter words, there are so few of them in the English
language.

Here's a real TOUGH one! KC'Z, IT'S gotta be IT'S (K=I, C=T, Z=S).

MORE TO COME...

	The next version will include new enhancements. A new file
format that will keep multiple cryptograms in a single file while still
retaining backward compatibility with version 1.0 cryptosolver files. A
more highly refined user interface. The ability to provide a clue for
each cryptogram. A comprehensive help system. Improved font size
selection and the saving of the font size. And much more...

REGISTRATION

	Registration fee is $19.99 US Dollars. Registration entitles you
to receive the latest version, without the delayed splash screen, and
any subsequent versions as soon as they're released. 

Send a check or money order to:

Edward Murphy
1036A Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA. 01013

Include full mailing address and/or EMail address for prompt delivery.

Or download the latest version of CryptoSolver <unregistered> at:

http://www.tiac.net/users/edmurphy/

CryptoSolver is copyright 1998 by Edward W Murphy Jr.
All Rights Reserved.





