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To:       Special Effects Enthusiast
From:     Patrick Grengs, Product Author
Subject:  How to install and run Special Effects
Date:     Friday, November 27, 1998
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Product:  Special Effects 2.3

Purpose:  Display 3D Special Effects by setting numerous properties.
          Effects include:  Fireworks, Starfield, B-Spline Warp,
          B-Spline Sparklers, Gravity Wells and Galaxies.  Properties
          can be saved as Templates for later use or can be exchanged
          with other users of the Special Effects product.  You can
          use the product as your Screen Saver.  Notes appear below.

Status:   This is a Freeware product.
          You may distribute it without cost.
          All rights are reserved by the Author.
          Please read the License Agreement during installation.  
     
Contact:  You may contact the Author with your comments, questions or
          concerns.  Please be as specific as possible.

          1900 Stevens Drive  Suite 210
          Richland, WA  99352

          pgrengs2@aol.com
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What's New in Version 2.3

1.  Starts properly as a Screen Saver on Windows NT 4.0.
2.  Password Protection is available on Windows 9X.
3.  Displays preview in Windows Screen Saver preview window.
4.  The mouse pointer is invisible during the effects.
5.  Galaxies can have up to 30,000 Stars, up from 9999.
6.  Right click the .SCR file to Test, Configure, Install.
7.  New Fireworks Burst Configuration:  Decaying Stars.
8.  Improved Sound effect files with descriptive names.
9.  General user interface improvements.
10. Advanced Settings:  On-Screen Message Font Name, Size and Hue.
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Greetings -

You can complete the installation of the Special Effects product by
following these steps:

1.  Locate the spfxv23.exe.  It should be in the same directory as
    this Text file.

2.  Double-click the spfxv23.exe file.  This starts a typical Windows
    application installation process.  Files will be installed into
    your Windows System directory.

3.  Click the appropriate buttons as presented on the installation
    dialogs.

4.  Once the installation is complete, you can setup Special Effects
    as your Windows Screen Saver:
    -  Right-click on the Windows Desktop.
    -  Select the Properties menu.
    -  Select the Screen Saver tab.
    -  Select "Special Effects" from the Screen Saver dropdown.
    -  Specify the Wait time in minutes.
    -  You may set the Special Effects properties by selecting the
       Settings button.  Note that the default factory settings for
       the product provide a nice demonstration of the effects.
    -  Select the OK button on the Properties window.

    You may also start the product using the Windows Menus:
    -  Click the Windows Start button.
    -  Click the Programs icon.
    -  Click the Special Effects menu item.
    -  Click the Special Effects sub-menu item.

5.  Once Special Effects is running, as either a Screen Saver or
    in stand-alone mode, you should see the display clear to a
    black background with Fireworks effects being rendered.  If the
    product is running as a Screen Saver, then moving the mouse or
    pressing a key will stop the effects.  

6.  To create a stand-alone version of the product:
    -  Create a copy of the *.SCR file.
    -  Rename the copy to SPFX23.EXE.

    When running the stand-alone EXE, you have a few options:
    -  Press the Escape key to end the effects.
    -  Press the F5 key to refresh the effects.
    -  Press the Spacebar (or other key) to display the Special Effects
       Properties dialog.  From this dialog, you can change several
       variables including the Effect Type.  Properties can be set for
       each of the Effect types.  Context sensitive help is available.
       Click the question mark icon located in the upper-right corner
       of the dialog.  Then, click on a field of interest.  A help
       window will popup.  You can also get to the Help Index from the
       Help main menu.

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Notes:

1.  The application has been tested on Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0.
    Feedback from Win98 users indicates that it works in on Windows 98.

2.  A small sample of sound files are included.  You may wish to
    create your own sound files.  A slight delay occurs when a sound
    file is loaded for playing with respect to a Fireworks burst.
    Recommendation:  don't bother associating sounds with Fireworks.
    This feature was simply added per a suggestion from the 6 to 10
    year old demographic.

3.  The Effects look best when displayed with the High Color Setting.
    To change your Windows Color Settings:
    -  Right-click on the Windows Desktop.
    -  Select the Properties menu.
    -  Select the Settings tab.
    -  Select "High Color (16 bit)" from the Color Palette dropdown.
       If High Color is not available, 256 colors will due, but you're
       really missing out on the high quality effects provided in the
       High Color mode.  Consider purchasing new display hardware.

Cheers.
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Revision History:

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-   Version 2.0:     -
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-   Galaxy Effects were added.

-   Performance was improved.

-   Sound files can be associated with Firework Burst types.

-   All Fireworks and/or Galaxy Themes can be displayed in
    sequence from the Advanced Settings.

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-   Version 1.3:     -
----------------------
-   This release is being provided only shortly after the first public
    release due to an issue encountered by many people who downloaded 
    the product.  One or more DLLs were not copied during the install
    process; hence, the product would not operate.  The required DLLs
    and proper versions are included in this release.

-   New Firework bursts are available:
    -  Sparklers
    -  Rings
    -  Twisters

-   Gravity Well performance has been improved by approx. 25%.

-   Overall display performance has been improved, slightly.

-   The user interface has been changed to improve the layout.

-   An advanced option is available to resize the Display Window.
    This can be useful if you wish to capture screen snapshots.

-   Press F5 to Refresh the screen while effects are being displayed.

-   The online Help has been updated as appropriate.

-   The Windows Screen Saver Preview window is filled when you select
    the Special Effects product from the Saver list.

-   The Icon for the product has been changed.

----------------------
-   Version 1.2:     -
----------------------
-   This was the first release to the general public.
    It made its appearance on the Internet in late January of 1998.

-   The product was made available as Freeware.

-   Effects Available:  Fireworks, Starfield, B-Spline Sparklers, 
    B-Spline Warp, Stars and Gravity Wells.

-   Numerous properties were available for customizing the effects.

----------------------
-   Version 1.1:     -
----------------------
-   Developed during late 1997, this product utilized 3D-transforms
    to create visually realistic effects.

----------------------
-   Version 1.0:     -
----------------------
-   The first release was part of a real-time pixel effects package
    developed in 6809 Assembler for the Radio Shack Color Computer.

-   Primary development was completed in April of 1988.
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How to Uninstall the product:

1.  Click the Windows Start button.
2.  Click the Settings menu item.
3.  Click the Control Panel folder.
4.  Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
5.  Click the Install/Uninstall tab.
6.  Select the product that you wish to Uninstall.
7.  Click the Add/Remove button.
8.  Confirm your intention to Uninstall the product.

The following section must be manually deleted from the Registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Special Effects\SPFX_SS
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Installation Parts List:

*  Product Files:
   -  Special Effects 23.scr
   -  Spfx23.hlp
   -  Spfx23 Readme.txt
*  Sound Files:
   -  Spfx_Launch.wav
   -  Spfx_Cannon.wav
   -  Spfx_FarAway.wav
   -  Spfx_LowBoom.wav
   -  Spfx_DualBurst.wav
   -  Spfx_MultiBurst.wav
*  Support Files:
   -  MSVBVM50.DLL (version 05.00.4319 (SP2))
   -  OLEAUT32.DLL (version 2.20.4122)
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Standard Disclaimer:

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. 
THE ENTIRE RISK OF THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU.
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