                            PICKS94
                 Copyright 1994 by Kevin Angley
            Pool Organizer for the 1994 NCAA Tournament
                Version 94-01      February 28, 1994

PICKS94 automates the task of running a pool for the 1994 basketball
tournament. Now, before we go any farther, let me make it clear that this
program is not to be used in conjunction with any gambling or wagering
activity. This program is for matching wits against your friends to determine
who is the best predictor of sports outcomes. Have a good time with it.

PICKS94 makes a pool so easy to do. Entering picks and results is as painless
as it can be! You can either enter everyone's picks yourself, or allow each
player to create their own .PIX file containing their picks, which you can
subsequently read into the master database.

At any time you can get a report (either to the screen, to a file, or to a
printer) of everyone's picks, the standings, and/or a review of the game
results so far.

QUICK START: Simply type PICKS94 to get started. A menu will appear in glorious
NC State Wolfpack Red and White:

  PICKS94 for DOS - version 94-xxx
  Copyright 1994 by Kevin Angley

  Choose an option or hit escape key to exit:

  S) Setup the field of teams

This will be the only available option the first time into PICKS94. After you
have set up the field of teams, the menu gets more interesting:

  PICKS94 for DOS - version 94-xxx
  Copyright 1994 by Kevin Angley

  Choose an option or hit escape key to exit:

  POOL MANAGEMENT:                   REPORTS:

  W) Modify weights                  G) Report Game Results
  I) Add a player interactively      P) Report Pool Results
  F) Add players from PIX files      A) Report All Picks
         in current directory
  R) Enter the results for round x

  PLAYER OPTIONS:

  C) Create a .PIX file of your picks


**************************************************************************
                     POOL MANAGEMENT Options
**************************************************************************

S) Set up the field of teams

This is the only option that will appear the first time you run PICKS94. It
is here that you will enter the field of 64 teams for the 1994 tournament.
This will create the file FIELD.DAT in the current directory.

You should create the FIELD.DAT file and distribute this with the copy of
PICKS94.EXE to players who desire to enter their own picks (see player
option C).

After each region of teams, you will be asked to verify that the
teams are correct, so that you can correct it before moving on.

The order in which you enter the teams is critical. Follow the order as
listed in the pairings chart. After entering the first region, make
sure that the second region you enter plays the first region in the
semi-finals. Other than observing that, you can enter regions in any
order.

If you discover that you have entered the field incorrectly before adding the
the first player or entered the results for round 1, then you can just
delete FIELD.DAT and set up the field again. However, once you have either
added a player or entered results, do not modify FIELD.DAT. If you need to
correct an error, you are up the creek and will have to delete
FIELD.DAT, PICKS94.DAT, and ROUND*.DAT and start all over.

W) Modify weights

By default, PICKS94 gives more credit for correct guesses in the later
rounds. One point is awarded for each first round guess, two points for
each second round guess, and so forth. If you prefer an alternate strategy,
select this option and assign weights to each round. You can modify the
weights at any time, and go back and forth between several scenarios even
after the final round results are in. Of course, you should establish the
official weights before your pool begins.

I) Add a player interactively

You can add players at any time, and you need not add them all in one sitting.
For each player, PICKS94 will go through the 63 games asking you which that
player has selected. A single keystroke is all it takes. After each round,
you can verify that you have entered the data correctly. After all the rounds,
you are asked if you want to go ahead and enter this player's data into the
picks database. Note: Some deviants in pools select a winner in a subsequent
round that they have eliminated in a previous round. No fair! PICKS94 will not
let you do this, so be sure to establish this as a ground rule.

F) Add players from PIX files in current directory

This option processes all the PIX files that individual players have submitted.
Put all the PIX files in the same directory with the PICKS94 program and
database, then select this option.

PIX files must be produced by PICKS94 option C. If there is something wrong
with the file, you will be alerted and that player's picks will be skipped.

This option searches for all PIX files in the current directory, processes
them, and then deletes each one as it goes to make sure you don't accidentally
add the same player to the database twice.

You can add a player with this option at any time.

R) Enter the results for round x

This option appears until you have entered the results for all the rounds.
You enter the results of each round as they are complete. For each game, you
are given a choice to which you can response with a single keystroke.

**************************************************************************
                     PLAYER Options
**************************************************************************

C) Create a .PIX file of your picks

This option allows an individual player to create a file of his personal
picks which he or she can then deliver to you via floppy, etc.
You need the PICKS94.EXE file and FIELD.DAT file in your directory to create
your personal picks file. PICKS94 will go through the 
63 games asking for your choice. A single keystroke is all it
takes. After each round, you can verify that you have entered the data
correctly. Follow the onscreen instructions. After exiting PICSK94, take
your PIX file to the pool administrator.

**************************************************************************
                     REPORTS
**************************************************************************

G) Report Game Results
P) Report Pool Results
A) Report All Picks

The report options can be run at any time once you start accumulating some
data. You should publish pick sheets before the first game, so participants
can check that their data are entered correctly. Publish standings along the
way to make it more exciting.

The report option that reports the game result has a cute feature. Instead of
saying boring things like "NC State defeated UNC", etc., it uses all those
sportscaster terms that mean the same thing, chosen at random. Feel free to add
your own in file SYNONYMS.DAT - up to 256 phrases up to 24 characters in length.

**************************************************************************

Have fun!

Now for the really good part ... PICKS94 is shareware published by an author
who believes we should get back to the roots of what shareware was intended
to be - that is, a way of getting good programs distributed among peers in the
PC world without the high costs and roadblocks of marketing, etc. In this
author's opinion, shareware (well, all software for that matter) has gotten
way too expensive. For that reason, registration of PICKS94 is a lousy $5.
Yep, five bucks is all it takes for you to say smugly, "Yeah, I register my
shareware". So, go ahead ... print out REGISTER.TXT and
send it in with $5. Make a statement for shareware.

Thanks for using and registering PICKS94!