
			   H A N G M A N    J R.

			       for Windows

			    Copyright (c) 1992


 DESCRIPTION:

 Hangman Jr. is a spelling game for kids ranging from  5 - 9 years old.
 It features the ability to present a picture to give the child a hint
 rather than a sentence, which may be confusing, considering that this
 is a game designed to help them learn to read.

 Essentially, Hangman Jr. presents a graphics image (which can range from
 a clip art picture to a photo of Uncle Bob) and the child can choose
 letters from the alphabet (presented at the top of the window) until the
 name of the image is correctly spelled. At this point the child is
 rewarded with a pretty picture proclaiming that he or she is a wonderful
 speller.

 Unlike conventional Hangman games, there is no penalty for not getting a
 letter correct. Indeed, there is NO NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT at all in this
 game, so there is no undue pressure for your child to "get it right." If
 the child chooses a "wrong" letter, for instance, it simply migrates over
 to the TrashCan icon and 'dumps' itself. As with conventional hangman,
 the letters already chosen are not usable, and the word is written on the
 screen so that the child can see it forming...

 We did not include underscores ( __ ) to the letters as we felt it would
 be confusing to younger children. In the example file, for instance, we
 have a LEOPARD. Now, that's a tall order for a 6 year old to get that
 one, and we didn't feel comfortable putting 7 underscores on screen so
 that the child may feel overwhelmed. Even so, our test crew of 5 and 6
 year olds were able to get it correct (even if it took a while...) and
 were quite proud of themselves (and justifiably so) for doing so.

 In short, Hangman Jr. is a reasonable vehicle for allowing children to
 associate words with accompanying pictures, without pressure.


 FEATURES:

 The files used by Hangman Jr. can be modified, added to, and otherwise
 easily manipulated by Mom & Dad. Hangman Jr. files are denoted by a .HJF
 extension, and they are simply a list of words and associated pictures.
 There's built-in file Creator / Editor for this purpose. The nice thing
 about this is that you are not limited in any way to the files we
 provide, or a limit of files at all. Hangman Jr. can work with ANY
 number of data files. The only limit you have is data storage.

 Each file, as it is OPENed by Hangman Jr., is randomised. If a child
 likes a particular subject, for instance, he or she is not presented
 with the list in the same order every time, even if the same file is
 OPENed time after time. Try OPENing the example ANIMALS file a few
 times to see this.

 The window was designed such that the child using it has a minimum of
 items on screen, which can be confusing. The NEXT button, for instance,
 will grab the next available word/picture immediately.



 OPERATION:

 The design of Hangman Jr. tries to keep things as simple for Mom & Dad
 as for the intended 5 - 9 year old user. For instance, there are only
 2 menu items: FILE and MANUAL. The File menu allows you to edit, create,
 and otherwise manipulate data files. The MANUAL menu allows you to read
 this text while the program is running.

 Let's look at the FILE submenu:

 NEW:

 This item allows you to create a NEW file from scratch. You will be
 asked to enter a filename, such as ANIMALS. You are then put into the
 EDIT window. Essentially, editing is simple: you choose a graphics
 filename from the upper right hand list by clicking the name. The
 graphics files can have *.BMP or *.WMF extensions. BMP is the standard
 Windows BitMaP format, while WMF is the Windows MetaFile format. The
 name you chose will appear in the GRAPHICS FILE textbox. You then enter
 the name the child will spell in the ENTER WORDS HERE textbox. Click the
 ADD Button, and the spelling word will be ADDED to the DropDown list of
 words. To verify that a Word is associated with the correct graphics
 file, choose the word from the DropDown list. The associated graphics
 filename will appear in the GRAPHICS FILE text box. Deleting a word is
 similar: click the DELETE button instead of the ADD button.

 You can also make sure that a graphics image is the one you THINK it is
 before you ADD it to the list: just choose a graphics file from the list
 box (its' name will appear in the GRAPHICS FILE textbox) and then click
 the IMAGE PREVIEW button.

 When you are finished, click the DONE button. The last step you need to
 do is SAVE the edited file. See SAVE and SAVE AS below.

 OPEN:

 You will be presented with a standard windows FILEOPEN dialog box. You
 can choose the disk drive and the directory; the list of valid *.HJF
 files will appear in the left hand listbox. Click the name of choice
 and choose OK, or DOUBLECLICK the filename.

 This file will now be used by Hangman Jr. It may be up to 500 words
 long, but no more than that.

 SAVE:

 This choice saves the current data file, such as one you have just
 finished editing or creating. It saves it in the current directory and
 under the same name as OPENed for editing or CREATED with.

 SAVE AS:

 Allows you to save the current data file BUT using a different name than
 it was OPENed or CREATED with. You will be asked to enter a filename.
 DO NOT APPEND A DOS EXTENSION. Hangman Jr. WILL DO THIS FOR YOU!

 EDIT:

 EDIT will allow you to edit an EXISTING FILE. Like the FILE OPEN
 description, choose the file you wish to edit. See NEW above for
 instructions on the EDIT window.

 ABOUT:

 Tells you who we are and how we can be reached, and you revision number.

 EXIT:

 Quits Hangman Jr.


 MANUAL submenu:

 READ / PRINT MANUAL:

 Allows you to read this manual on-line (like if you're learning how to
 edit) or print it as you require. If you want it on-line, you can either
 place the MANUAL window in the background or minimize it to an ICON as
 you desire. You place it in the background by clicking the Hangman Jr
 window, (which makes the program active) and you put it in the
 foreground (making the program wait) by clicking the manual window.


 FILL / PRINT ORDER FORM:

 Gee, we'd really like to hear from you, so we reckoned you'd say hello
 if we made it a little easier...



 NOTES:

 The reinforcement images (the ones that come up when a child gets the
 word spelled) are listed as W1.BMP - W4.BMP. These may be edited by you
 but PLEASE keep the same names, and don't delete any. You may edit these
 by using WIndows PAINTBRUSH or a similar program.


 SHAREWARE:

 Hangman Jr. is shareware. Shareware is not a TYPE of software; rather,
 it is a form of distribution / marketing. Essentially, it is a method
 by which you can obtain and evaluate fully functional software at your
 leisure and THEN decide whether or not it is worth purchasing. Like the
 software on your local retail shelves, this is a copyrighted program.

 Now, of course, we would like you to buy this software. Let's talk about
 that. Hangman Jr. sells for $14. Now we know that you paid SOMETHING to
 get it. If you purchase Hangman Jr. we will discount up to $4 off of the
 price, based on what you had to pay for a disk from a shareware disk
 vendor. No need to ask you to PAY to evaluate it, is there? Just send us
 a copy of a receipt showing us the purchase price. If you spent money
 to download Hangman Jr. from one of the big "pay" BBS's like GEnie or
 COMPUSERVE, send us a printout of your download time estimate from your
 comm program.

 We'll also ship a collection of over 200 images (most in colour) that
 will help you get started on building a dictionary for your child. The
 pictures include foods, household items, images from around the world,
 and some more animals that kids can recognise. ( This set is very large
 and cannot be distributed well via shareware channnels. )

 Purchase of Hangman Jr. will also get you the latest copy of the
 program, and, of course, the UNLICENSED COPY tag will be removed. In
 addition, you'll also recieve discounts on other Alston Software Labs
 products; We'll send you a catalogue. You may be surprised at what we
 have to offer.


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       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	     Updates and ASL new releases can be found on
		     The Collector's Forum BBS
			 (619) 463 - 9222      ALL BAUD RATES!


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       ********************** "Fine Print" Section *******************

    Disclaimer:

    Hangman Jr. is supplied as-is with no warranty whatsoever with
    regard to merchantability or fitness for purpose. Alston Software
    Labs assumes no responsibility for any consequences of use or
    misuse of this program.





















