                             Razzle Dazzle 3D
                                ReadMe.txt
                              4 February 1994


Thank you for selecting RAZZLE DAZZLE 3D.  We've packed as much into this 
program as possible, making it so very much more than just another screen 
saver.  But, the User's Manual is the proper place for the hype.

These README files should not be a major extension to the printed manual.  
So, we'll keep this short and simple.


1) CORRECTIONS, ERRORS, AND SUCH

Marvel of marvels, as of this writing we don't have any of these to handle 
here.  So, the good news is, you can use the DOS INSTALL, or the 
Windows SETUP, programs as is to put RAZZLE DAZZLE into your computer.  
The User's  Manual is (thus far) not known to have any errors.  Enjoy it 
while it last.


2) VIDEO FOR WINDOWS (AVI) 

MicroSoft offers a multimedia application called MediaPlayer.  This nifty 
tool can play Video For Windows (*.AVI) files, as well as other things.  
The really nice thing is that it also installs all the drivers needed by 
Windows to activate multimedia capabilities, as optionally used by WinDaze.

If you don't have this on your system, you can download VFWRUN.ZIP from 
the MicroSoft forum on CompuServe.  As of this writing we have not found 
which of the many telephone order numbers offered by MicroSoft provides 
access to MediaPlayer for users without CompuServe accounts.  Therefore, 
if you need this ability, joining CompuServe even only on a trial basis to 
download the VFWRUN.ZIP file (which has the Video For Windows runtime 
files by MicroSoft) and a few sample .AVI files (use IBMFF for KeyWord 
'AVI' to sample the large list of available files) is the best solution.


3) AUDIO IN WINDOWS

If you enable WAV, MIDI, or AVI files, and have a properly installed
sound card available to Windows, then you should have audio with your
screen saver. Note that some Windows audio drivers may not properly
respond to the volume control information that we supply. So if you
use the SETUP menu in Windows to adjust the volume, and nothing
happens, you have an unfortunate choice in audio cards or drivers.
There is nothing we can do to assist you. As of this time we are not
aware of any such limitations in our DOS audio drivers for RAZZLE DAZZLE.


4) AUDIO IN DOS

If you have an external synthesizer connected to your PC, or otherwise
have a sound source that has configuration memory, you may wish to
reset the default parameters after RAZDAZ music has been played.
The RAZDAZ/RZDAZE 2D programs will play the file RESET.XMI as the
program terminates. However, some devices do not respond to the
bender reset and a few other controller commands within this file.
If you have such a system, and don't wish to reset the system manually, 
you may elect to use our SETMIDI program to either disable music
completely or to enable another device that responds properly.


5) COLORS IN WINDOWS

If you run WINDAZE as a Window, instead of a full-screen saver, you 
will notice that some other colors on your display may be changed
while WINDAZE is active. Your VGA card is only capable of 256
distinct colors in any one display. WINDAZE uses all but 16 of these
colors. Windows reserves 16 colors to try to keep most menus and
icons usable at all times. All the remaining colors are surrendered
to WINDAZE for cycling for artistic effect. If you have a Windows
WallPaper or any other image on the display that uses more than
the default Windows 16 colors, these colors will change while WINDAZE
is active. What Windows will normally do is ask the application
responsible for the image to convert to using the closest of the
available reserved 16 colors for the entire display, thus releasing
the other colors for cycling by WINDAZE. This can result in some
interesting looking displays. The means of handling this reduction
in available colors from 256 to 16 is handled by both Windows and
each application that is using the display at the time. WINDAZE does
not directly participate in the process, other than asking Windows
for control of the unreserved colors. When WINDAZE terminates Windows
will announce to all the applications that 256 colors are available
again. It is the responsibility of Windows and the active applications
to restore normal screen colors when WINDAZE terminates.


6) REMOVING THE PROVIDED SAMPLES

If you allowed the Windows SETUP, or the DOS INSTALL, programs to install
the sample animations or images, then some files were placed on your
system that you might later wish to remove. 

RSIMOTB.FLI is a sample animation file for the "Mark of the Beast" PC
game. This shows how such files can be used with the screen saver. If
you had a file named RSIMOTB.XMI in the same directory then its music would
be played along with the animations. 

RZ_VGA.PCX and RZ_SVGA.PCX are sample image files that show the name 
"RAZZLE DAZZLE" on a background captured from the Razzle Dazzle program 
itself. These images show not only the ability to import your own custom 
images into the saver, but also give a hint of how useful you may find the 
screens that Razzle Dazzle will export for your own screen designs.

In the WINDAZE program, the SETUP mode allows you to simply disable these
samples by clicking on a button. The "Directories" button allows you to
specify where to find your own custom files. In the DOS RAZZLE DAZZLE 
programs you can use a command line option (the "RAZDAZ /#" command
configuration menu, option /P) for the same effect.

If you simply wish to discard the provided samples (for the first few
days these are fun, but they do grow old), you can simply delete the
above named *.FLI and *.PCX files from the base Razzle Dazzle
directory (the default location is C:\RAZDAZ, if you didn't change it
during the install).

If you setup WINDAZE you will also have RZSAMPLE.MID, a short sample
MIDI music file, RZ_VGA.BMP and RZ_SVGA.BMP image files, in your Windows
root directory as samples. You may delete these if you wish.


7) NEW STUFF IS ON IT'S WAY ALREADY

Have a look in the box for your add-on coupon.  We've already prepared 
additional 3D Virtual Reality environments (Mansion and Dungeon), and 
additional Music Composer files (Blues/Jazz, classic), that you can 
place in your RAZZLE DAZZLE directory for even more amazing variety 
and entertainment.

We have even more stunning features and ideas in the works (imagine 
fractal based computer generated animated landscapes, sunsets, etc.).  
So be sure to send in your Warranty Registration Card NOW so that you 
can receive the notices of all that our publisher, Road Scholar, Inc. 
has to offer.

