                         Backgammon Terminal Program 
                                Release 1.0 

                              Copyright 1995 
                             Just FUN Software 
                            All Rights Reserved 


  Backgammon is a BBS door game with its own EGA/VGA terminal program.
  This README file discusses the terminal program used by the player who
  has logged on to a BBS and opened the Backgammon door.  An EGA/VGA
  monitor and a mouse are required. 

  The Backgammon door program runs on the BBS machine and the terminal
  program runs on the callers machine allowing them to play Backgammon
  with other BBS callers (not at the same time).  The terminal program is
  included in the BKGDOOR*.ZIP file.  It displays an EGA/VGA graphical
  user interface, which, with the mouse, makes playing very easy and
  enjoyable.  In addition, the objectives, rules and standard opening
  moves of Backgammon are available online while playing.  A player can be
  involved in up to 50 games at the same time including matches of 3 to 11
  games with same opponent.   

  The terminal program is free, can be used in local mode and can also be
  used in a stand alone mode for two people to play Backgammon while both
  are at the machine.  Sysops will appreciate having this Deskview aware,
  file sharing door game available for their users.  Users will appreciate
  playing/learning Backgammon with an easy to use graphics terminal
  program. 



  INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 

  Make a directory, \ BKGAMMON, on your hard disk using the DOS mkdir
  command and change to that directory with the DOS cd command.  Unzip (or
  copy) the ZIP file to that directory. 

  If you want to play the game without being logged on to a BBS then just
  enter BKGAMMON to start the game.  The objective, rules and standard
  opening moves of Backgammon are available while playing. 

  Before logging on to a BBS run the SETUP program.  This program will
  create a batch file in your communications programs directory.  This
  batch file is usually named BKG but you can actually name it anything
  you want.  It is used to initiate the Backgammon Terminal Program. 

  Help is available online.  However, if you want to read the Help text
  before going online use a text editor such as DOS EDIT to load
  BKGHELP1.HLP, BKGHELP2.HLP, and BKGHELP3.HLP.  Do not alter any of these
  files as it may affect the help screens displayed while playing the
  game. 



  RUNNING INSTRUCTIONS 

  Run your communications program, logon to a BBS and start the Backgammon
  door.  A message will be displayed telling you to shell to DOS and enter
  BKG to start the batch program created above.  Do so at this time and
  not before. 

  Almost all interaction with the program is by the mouse.  Simply click
  on the button, game number or other option presented on the screen.
  Entering messages to be sent other players is done using the keyboard.

  You can press the ESC key twice to exit the program immediately.  The
  roll of the dice will not be lost so when you restart the program you
  will essentially be at the same place. 

  If you would like assistance installing, running or resolving any
  problem call (801) 272-6238 from 10:00am to 8:00 pm Mountain time. 



  INSUFFICIENT MEMORY AND OTHER PROBLEMS 

  If you've never checked the conventional memory available after shelling
  to dos enter mem (before entering BKG) and note the largest executable
  program size.  It should be over 350K for the terminal program to run.
  Insufficient memory should only be a problem for a small number of
  users.  The following discusses some of the things you can do to resolve
  an insufficient memory condition or other conditions. 

  Check your comm program for an option to maximize the DOS shell memory.
  Telemate has this useful capability.  (Click on Options, then General,
  then Maximize dos shell). 

  Make as much conventional memory available as possible.  This means
  moving drivers, etc. to high memory.  DOS 6.2 MEMMAKER program does a
  good job of this. 

  There are some comm program that don't have an option to shell to DOS or
  don't free up enough memory when you do shell to DOS.  In these cases an
  alternative is to not shell to DOS but, instead, after opening the
  Backgammon door, quit your comm program and then start BKG (assumes you
  can quit your comm program without dropping carrier).  Of course after
  quitting Backgammon you will need to restart your comm program without
  reinitializing the modem - most comm program have this capability. 

  Still another alternative is to use another comm program.  Telemate has
  an option that allows a maximum DOS shell and you can also quit it
  without dropping carrier. 



  PROCOMM PLUS FOR WINDOWS 

  First change the modem initialization string to include &D0 so the modem
  is not left in a command state when TWH quits.  This is done in the
  Setup - Modem Commands - Advanced section.  Next use the Meta Key Editor
  in the Tools menu to create a meta key button to start the BKG.BAT file.
  The action is "Run Program", the content is "BKG.BAT" and the label is
  "BKG".  Now when you're ready to run BKG, click on the Setup menu and
  make the Meta keys visable, then click on the BKG button. 



  UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS 

  If you are upgrading from an older release you can just unzip (or copy)
  all the files from the new release directly into the \BKGAMMON
  directory.  You will not need to do anything else.  Any changes to the
  data files will be automatically handled by the program. 

  Once you have run the new release you can not go back to an older
  release.  This is because the data files will frequently contain
  additional information that the older release will not be aware of. 



  SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTED PRODUCT 

  There is no registration fee for using the Backgammon Terminal program.
  The Backgammon Door program being used on the BBS does require
  registration.  A registered program allows for a player to be in more
  than two games at the same time and for private games requiring a
  password to join.  It also provides for matches of 3 to 11 games between
  the same players and for an optional right of refusal by the orginating
  player.  Please encourage and support your sysop in registering the
  Backgammon Door program.  The registration fee is $25.00. 



  COPYRIGHT NOTICE 

  Copyright laws apply to both shareware and commercial software, and the
  copyright holder retains all rights, with the following exception.  The
  unmodified program files, complete with the files discussed below, may
  be freely copied and distributed.  It is in fact encouraged.  If you
  like this program, please tell your fellow game players and local sysops
  about it.  Upload BKGDOOR1.ZIP to BBSs in your area.  It contains both
  the door and terminal programs. 



  DISCLAIMER 

  Backgammon door and terminal programs are supplied on an "as is" basis.
  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including,
  without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for
  any purpose.  The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or
  consequential, which may result for the use of these programs. 



  FILES 

  This product is made up of the following files. 

  README.TXT - The file you are now reading. 
  README2.TXT - A continuation of the README file. 

  FILE_ID.DIZ - A description of this product for PCBoard systems. 
  DESC.SDI - The same description for the Shareware Distribution Network. 

  BKGHELP1.HLP - This help file discusses the game selection screen. 
  BKGHELP2.HLP - This help file discusses the new game options. 
  BKGHELP3.HLP - This help file discusses the rules of the game and the
  run buttons. 

  SETUP.EXE - The setup program file for the online BBS mode. 
  BKGTERM.EXE - The initial program used to communicate with the BBS. 
  BKGAMMON.EXE - The main program used to play Backgammon. 

  BKGAMMON.ICO - A Backgammon icon for Windows 3.1 for stand alone
  playing. 

  This product may be distributed only when all the above files are
  included in the distribution in unmodified form. 



  RELEASE ACTIVITY 

  Release 1.0: February 15, 1995 - Initial release. 

   
  Please continue by reading the README2.TXT file. 
