Hello, (read.me 01/30/1996) Spell Master 1.01 It talks to you (requires Multimedia setup (MMPM2), and extra REXX UTILS to be loaded). /* History: ** 1.0 Very first release ** 1.01 Found out that I needed to ship vputil.dll with Spell ** Master. Included it now. ** If after a new install it still does not work copy ** vputil.dll into x:\os2\dll x: is where os/2 installed. */ This is the very first shared version of Spell Master. The purpose of this program is to help people learn how to spell properly. It is also designed so that the pupil himself can go through the whole process of inputting the list of words, practicing the words, and optionally printing out his scores (to show to Mom and Dad). Hopefully you will be able to send the child off to do his spelling and he can bring back proof of how he did! This program was originally written for my third grade daughter, who unfortunately can't spell for beenz. I don't know for sure if this did it, but when they started her out in school they tried something new (invented spelling) where they let the kids spell however it makes sense to them, and you got woordz lik choclet, vary gud, hows, and kar. Unfortunately, she still spells that way now! One of our other daughters, on the other hand, never studies spelling at home and gets 100% almost all the time! Anyways, that's what made me write this for daughter number 1, and when I first had her use it 2 or 3 times per week her grades went from E to A or B! I was amazed. So I have turned it into a GUI program and here it is. It is shareware, NOT FREE, but hopefully has a reasonable price. It has built in limits when not registered. If you like it and send me payment for it I will send you back a registration number keyed to your registration info. that will unlock the full capabilities. To register see below. Whatever major version you register at, say you buy it at 1.2, you will be allowed free upgrades to all 1.x versions. This will be done by you by downloading the newer version if you choose and copying the newer version into your existing directory. Your registration key is saved in a file call spllmstr.ini in your program directory. Do not erase this file and it will automatically work with all 1.x versions. It will not work with 2.x, 3.x etc.... These higher versions would have to be bought at an upgrade price. My plan for any possible upgrades will be that you would pay for the new programming and not for a whole new program. At this time since the program is new there could be more frequent upgrades (including fixes) but they would all be for a 1.x version and would therefore be free. INSTALLATION (after you unzipped the file): =========================================== 1.) run install.exe 2.) run spell master (spllmstr.exe) 3.) Close the registration window for now. 4.) go into 'Add/Modify a Spelling List' (click it and hit O.K.) 5.) Click on 'File List...' 6.) Pick the file maincmds.spl. You get a list of the 4 phrases used by the program. These need to be ReRecorded by you. I did this so as not to unnecessarily increase the size of the downloaded file. This also lets you customize the program in your own voice (dialect, language). 7.) Select one word at a time and hit ReRecord. For each word use the following phrases (or something similar): For Word: Record: ========= ========================== VERY_GOOD "Very good." TRY_AGAIN "Incorrect, Try again." INCORRECT "Incorrect, Next word." REDO_LIST "Would you like to redo the ones you got wrong?" (You can select a word and click on "Play" to test your recording, and rerecord again as necessary.) 8.) When done, Click on 'Save List' 9.) The program is now ready to use. You can now enter your own spelling list(s), and then hit 'Exit' and go to practice your list(s). DIAGNOSTIC HELP: ================ The install is pretty simple. It just copies the spllmstr.exe, maincmds.spl, and read.me to your chosen directory and the vputil.dll to \os2\dll for os/2 2.1 or less or to the program directory for os/2 3.0 or more. It then writes a couple system ini entries to keep track of where you installed it. All it takes to run is spllmstr.exe and vputil.dll. THINGS TO CHECK: Do you have the extra REXX utils running? To enable these you need the following in say your c:\startup.cmd ======= below this line ========= /* */ <-- This line goes at very top of startup.cmd. call RxFuncAdd 'SysLoadFuncs', 'RexxUtil', 'SysLoadFuncs' call SysLoadFuncs ======= above this line ========= The /* */ at the top tells the system to run this startup.cmd as a rexx program. It is not always needed for startup.cmd. Startup.cmd can be run as a rexx file or not. It is up to you depending on if you already have a startup.cmd or not. You don't have to reboot to run these commands either. If you create a new startup.cmd you can just run it in an OS/2 window. Just type startup. Do you have MMPM/2 functional? For MMPM/2 can you go into your multimedia folder and start the digital audio device and play *.wav files and record them? The install should also say if it installed successfully. Did it say so? Once the icon is installed on the desktop you will have to delete it for it to say 'successful install' if you run install again. It should also create a desktop icon (a bee). Did it? I can run it by typing spllmstr.exe but did you try double-clicking on the icon? Did the program spllmstr.exe ever bring up the first window? When you run the program it will create a spllmstr.ini in your program directory (probably of size 0 unless registered). Did it? After this try the spell master install.exe again. GETTING AROUND THE SCREENS: =========================== TAB KEY ------- The tab key is how you move from field to field with the keyboard. Otherwise you use the mouse to point directly at what you want. I taylored the TAB key order to make it as easy as possible to get around with the fewest amount of keystrokes. For example: After you type in your word for a test and want to check it hit 'TAB' which moves you to the 'Check Word' key and then hit 'Enter'. Also after you enter the list you want to use you can hit 'TAB' which moves you to the 'Load' button and then hit 'Enter' to load it. PRACTICE A SPELLING LIST: ========================= 1.) In the 'List' field enter file name of spelling word list and then click 'Load', or hit 'File List...' to use the dialog box to load a spelling list. (A Start window appears) 2.) Choose to scramble the word list or not. 3.) Click the 'Take' picture or close the window to start the practice session. 4.) After the computer says a word on your list you type in how you think the word is spelled in the 'Answer >' box. 5.) Hit 'tab' and 'enter', or click 'Check Word'. The computer checks your spelling. 6.) The computer goes thru the whole list of words, keeping track of your score and of the words you got wrong the first time. 7.) At the end of the list it will ask you if you want to retry any words you got wrong. Select Yes or No. 8.) When you have gone thru all the words it will highlight the 'List' box and put 'Enter List filename'. You are done with that list and can do another list. Other Options: -------------- Print Menu: When you first start a practice session the computer automatically checks the option under the 'Print' menu labeled 'Start Capturing Scores' and brings up the associated dialog box. (see below). 'Print This Score': This will print the scores immediately shown on your screen to lpt1: 'Start Capturing Scores': Checking this will bring up a dialog box asking you what file you want to capture completed practice run scores into. It will then capture any subsequently completed scores into this file for later print out if desired. 'Stop Capturing Scores': This will stop subsequent capturing of completed scores into your file. It will leave the file out there and not erase it. 'Print Captured Scores': This will print out the captured file to lpt1: ADD/MODIFY A SPELLING LIST: =========================== To Add a New List: ------------------ 1.) In the 'List' box enter the name of the new spelling list you want to create (for example, 'test' ). 2.) Go to the 'New Word' box and type in the next word you want to add to your list. 3.) Tab to 'New File Name'. It should automatically fill in a file name based on the new word you are adding. The only reason this field is in here is if you are using an FAT file system instead of HPFS so you can shorten words longer than eight (8) characters down to 8 characters or less. 4.) Tab to record and hit 'enter' (or click it). 5.) When the window pops up, record your word, and hit OK when done. 6.) Repeat steps 2 thru 5 for all words you want to add to your list. 7.) After entering all new words you want click 'Save List' to save it. To Modify a List: ----------------- 1.) In the 'List' box enter the name of the spelling list you want to modify (for example, 'test' ). 2.) Click on 'Load'. 3.) Use the steps above to add new words and the available options listed below to modify your list. Other Options: -------------- 'ReRecord Word': This will let you rerecord the selected word that is is already in your list. 'Play Word': This will play the selected word to test how it sounds. 'Delete Word': This deletes the selected word(s) from your list. 'Save List': This saves your list of words into the chosen *.spl file for later recall in the practice session. 'Delete List': This will delete the opened list *.spl file and all the associated *.wav files for the words in the list. 'Exit': Quits out of this window. ********************************************************** License: You are granted a license to use the software as is for up to 30 days after which you must either pay to register it or discontinue using it. If you do not register it you have no further rights to use the program. If you do register it you are paying for the right 'to use' that major version of the program for which you paid. You have no other rights to the program. You cannot disassemble the code or modify the code in any way. You can freely distribute the original file to others as shareware. All rights are reserved by me. Warranty and Guarantee: None. If you are the kind that likes to sue people instead of earning a living and doesn't mind further turning this country into a crap shoot of who can sue who first, don't use this program. I certainly can't guarantee it will make your child an Ace speller. You judge its usefullness. Support to Registered Users: If you find a major bug that damages the usability of this program for its intended use I will make every effort to provide you with a fix within 90 days or return you your money. You can either write me thru snail mail or send email to my CompuServe address listed below. I also hang out in the os2user forum. My Intent: To provide a good and useful program at a reasonable price and to remedy any bugs that might be found in a reasonable time as long as it doesn't impede my real job. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Register Spell Master software: Fill out these fields below: Whole Name: ________________________________ (First Middle Init. Last) Address: ________________________________ City, State, Zip: ________________________________ Where did you get the program: ______________________________________ Your Email address and type: ________________________________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whole Name: At least 9 characters___________ (First Middle Init. Last) Address: At least 7 characters___________ City, State, Zip: At least 9 characters___________ Be exact in these as they tie into your registration key. Send U.S. $20.00 with this info. and a self addressed stamped envelope to: Stan Towianski (spell master software) 8711 Leslie Sterling Hts, MI 48314 I will send you back the registration key in your envelope to put into your program to unlock the full functionality of the program. Or if you wish you can skip the self addressed stamped and enclose me your Internet or CompuServe address and I will email you back your registration key. Any and all constructive comments are welcomed! Other Languages: This program can be used by anyone for (almost) any language. If you speak a different language and would like a version with all the windows in your language you could write down all the English window phrases and the equivalent in your language and I (time and ability permitting) might make an attempt to publish a version in your language. I studied Spanish a lot before, though it has been a long time, so that is a likely candidate. Notify Educators: If you happen to know any educators you might let them know about this program as I think they would be interested. I would appreciate it and it could help OS/2. Main Posting Areas: CompuServe: os2share (Shareware lib), os2user (Open Forum lib) Internet: Hobbes (hobbes.nmsu.edu) BBS: Pete Norloff's at 1-703-385-4325 Contact Info: ============= CompuServe: 72242,221 Thank You.