README CONTENTS PLANETWATCH VERSION 1.0 June 1 1993 Late Breaking News (Please read... changes, bugs, new offerings) PlanetWatch Package Contents Installing PlanetWatch In case of problems Software License (Must read!) Limited Warranty --------------------------- LATE BREAKING NEWS ---------------------------- WHAT IS PLANETWATCH? PlanetWatch is a powerful reference tool that combines animated maps, planetary images, and a database of planetary information. It can be used at almost any level of experience with astronomy. The novice can use PlanetWatch as an educational guide, the amateur astronomer or student can use it as a quick reference tool. It is an atlas of the Solar System, planetary ephemeris, and slide show in one easy-to-use program! BUGS There are no known serious bugs as of this writing. NEW IMAGE SETS AVAILABLE... This PlanetWatch distribution includes a 16-color image set. A 256-color image set should be available from wherever you downloaded PlanetWatch, the filename is planet1b.zip (or something similar). If you cannot find this file the 256-color image set can be ordered directly from Raben Software & Graphics for $7 U.S. (to cover duplication costs, shipping & handling). Please make checks/money orders payable to Raben Software & Graphics. See the "Ordering and Registration" section in PlanetWatch help or ORDER.TXT for information on how to order copies or register PlanetWatch. Registered users will get the next version of PlanetWatch as soon as it is available, at no charge! Enhancements will include plotting of the moon, improved user interface, better animation control, and more! Another benefit of registering - a user manual and your choice of image set. Additional benefits may become available. Please consider registering!!!! ---------------------- PLANETWATCH PACKAGE CONTENTS: ---------------------- On the distribution disk you should find the following files... ddeml.dl_ earth.bm_ jupiter.bm_ mars.bm_ mercury.bm_ neptune.bm_ order.txt planetw.ex_ planetw.hl_ pluto.bm_ readme.txt saturn.bm_ setup.exe setupkit.dl_ setup1.ex_ sun.bm_ uranus.bm_ vbrun200.dl_ venus.bm_ ver.dl_ After installation the following files should have been added to the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory (or wherever your Windows system files are) vbrun200.dll (you may possibly already have this one) setupkit.dll (can be deleted...) setup1.exe (can be deleted... but do not delete setup.exe!) ddeml.dll (you already have this if you have Windows 3.1) ver.dll (you already have this if you have Windows 3.1) After installation the following files should be in the \PLANETW directory (unless you changed the default directory name) earth.bmp jupiter.bmp mars.bmp mercury.bmp neptune.bmp order.txt planetw.exe planetw.hlp pluto.bmp readme.txt saturn.bmp sun.bmp uranus.bmp venus.bmp ------------------------- INSTALLING PLANETWATCH -------------------------- PlanetWatch runs on an IBM compatible computer with a VGA display running Windows 3.0 or 3.1. To install and run properly, a minimum of 2mb of ram and 2.5mb of hard disk space is needed. To install PlanetWatch (if downloaded from a bbs): 1) Unzip the PlanetWatch distribution to either a temporary directory on your hard drive or to a blank formatted hi-density floppy. 2) Select "Run" from the Windows Program Manager. At the "Command Line" prompt enter the entire pathname to the setup.exe file that came with PlanetWatch. For example, if PlanetWatch was unzipped to a directory named "\MYUNZIPS" then you would enter: c:\myunzips\setup.exe If you unzipped PlanetWatch to a diskette you would enter: a:\setup.exe 3) A Windows program setup dialog window with the words "PlanetWatch Setup" should appear. If this doesn't appear (or says "Windows Setup"), abort the installation. Recheck the pathname given to the Program Manager "Run" menu, making sure the ENTIRE pathname to the PlanetWatch setup was entered. 4) Once PlanetWatch setup is running, pressing the Enter key at each prompt will result in a normal/default installation. Different drive/path names may be entered for a custom installation. To install PlanetWatch from a distribution disk: 1) Select "Run" from the Windows Program Manager. At the "Command Line" prompt enter (if the disk is in drive A): a:\setup.exe 2) A Windows program setup dialog window with the words "PlanetWatch Setup" should appear. If this doesn't appear (or says "Windows Setup"), abort the installation. Recheck the pathname given to the Program Manager "Run" menu, making sure the ENTIRE pathname to the PlanetWatch setup was entered. 3) Once PlanetWatch setup is running, pressing the Enter key at each prompt will result in a normal/default installation. Different drive/path names may be entered for a custom installation. --------------------------- IN CASE OF PROBLEMS --------------------------- If you experience a lockup when attempting to install or run PlanetWatch, check the following: Is your cpu a 286 or better? Are you using a VGA (or VGA compatible) graphics card? Are you using Microsoft Windows 3.0 or 3.1? (Windows NT behavior unknown) Are you using MSDOS 3.X or later? (DRDOS behavior unknown at this time) Do you have at least 2mb of RAM memory installed? Is Windows running in either STANDARD or ENHANCED mode? - check the Program Manager About box (within the Program Manager Help menu) - it will say what mode is being used (PlanetWatch will not run properly in REAL mode). Are all PlanetWatch files in the appropriate directories? In particular, if PlanetWatch locks up during installation, PlanetWatch is very likely incompatible with your hardware configuration! As of this writing PlanetWatch has been tested on a very limited number of systems. Although every effort has been made to eliminate program bugs, there is always something I may have overlooked. I would appreciate your help in making PlanetWatch more perfect by reporting any problems you have. Please contact me either via email or direct mail if you experience problems with PLANETWATCH... Internet: galenr@hpgrla.gr.hp.com Compuserve: 73717,510 Galen Raben Raben Software & Graphics P.O. Box 3317 Greeley, CO. 80633 USA ---------------------------- LEGAL MUMBO JUMBO ---------------------------- SOFTWARE LICENSE - Please read before using PlanetWatch!! You may use and distribute the NON-REGISTERED version of PlanetWatch as long as observe the following conditions... PlanetWatch must be distributed with all files complete, intact, and unaltered (see the README.TXT file for a listing of files). You may not distribute any part of the files and materials received for the REGISTERED version without the express written permission of the author (Galen Raben). No fee, charge, or other compensation may be requested or accepted beyond reasonable cost for duplication without express written permission of the author. No one may modify, or patch the PlanetWatch files in any way, including but not limited to decompiling, disassembling, or otherwise reverse engineering the program. No version of PlanetWatch may be distributed in conjunction with any other product without a specific license to do so from the author. PlanetWatch is copyright (c) 1993 by Galen Raben, Raben Software & Graphics VBRUN200.DLL is copyright (c) 1987-1992 Microsoft Corporation, Windows 3.0 and Windows 3.1 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. A limited license is granted to distribute the non-registered version of PlanetWatch for trial use by others, subject to the above limitations. LIMITED WARRANTY Registered users may have a defective PlanetWatch registered upgrade disk replaced or their payment refunded at the author's option. No other warranty is given or implied. Galen Raben (the author and his company) assumes no responsibility for any damage, loss of data, or loss of income (including without limitation damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information and the like) arising from the use or inability to use this product even if the author has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event will the author be liable for any amount exceeding the registration fee paid directly to the author for this product, if any. Use of this product for any period of time constitutes your acceptance of this agreement and subjects you to its contents.