/***************************************************************************\
 *                                                                         * 
 *          Electronic Documentation for NeonJax3D Screen Saver            * 
 *                          (Direct X 7 Version)                           *
 *                                                                         * 
 *                               Version 1.0                               * 
 *                                                                         * 
 *                             July 9th, 2002                              * 
 *                                                                         * 
 *                 Copyright (c) 2002 by Richard Goedeken                  * 
 *                                                                         * 
 *                                                                         * 
 *                  A product of Fascination Software Co.                  * 
 *                                                                         * 
\***************************************************************************/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legal Stuff:

This software (NeonJax3D SDK Version 1.0) is copyrighted software.  I give
you (the LICENSEE) permission to freely copy and distribute this software in
any manner to anyone (the RECIPIENTS) as long as the following two conditions
are met:

A) The LICENSEE may not charge the RECIPIENTS more than us$1 over and above
   the media and duplication costs for copies of this software.
B) Any copies made by the LICENSEE must retain all of the original files and
   the original file structure from the ZIP file distributed by Fascination
   Software. (NeonJax3D-SDK.zip)

Fascination Software, and Richard Goedeken, are not in any way liable for any
damages incurred by the use of this software.  The user assumes full
responsibility for the use of this software.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 *************************************************************************** 
 **                       NeonJax3D_DX7.txt                               ** 
 *************************************************************************** 

This documentation file contains instructions for the operation and use of
the NeonJax3D Screen Saver V1.0 (Direct X 7 Version).

Files:
  - NeonJax3D.scr

The NeonJax3D Screen Saver only requires a single file, called
"NeonJax3D.scr".  This contains the executable code and data for the
NeonJax3D Screen Saver program.

Features:
  - Pure Assembly Language MMX 3D Engine
  - Small File Size
  - Cool Morphing Plasma Background
  - Single Planar Light Source
  - Arbitrary Polygon Palettes, allowing cool reflective lighting effects
  - Morphing 1,000 Points of Light Object with Customizable Effects
  - Load and Display User-Generated 3D Demos (*.J3D files)
  - Free to Distribute to Anyone!
  - Supports LCD glasses for a True 3D experience!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ++-----------------------------------------------------------------------++
 ||                             Installation                              ||
 ++-----------------------------------------------------------------------++

To install the NeonJax3D screen saver, simply copy the NeonJax3D.scr file
into your Windows Root Directory.  For Windows 95/98/Me this is usually
"C:\Windows", and for Windows NT, 2000, or XP this should be "C:\Winnt".

When you have the correct NeonJax3D.scr file in the Windows Root Directory,
right-click the Windows desktop and select "Properties" from the drop-down
context list.   Select the "Screen Saver" tab at the top of the window that
appears, then pull down the drop-down list and select "NeonJax3D" from the
list of screen savers.  You may now press "OK" to close this window, or you
may press the "Settings" button to further customize NeonJax3D.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ++-----------------------------------------------------------------------++
 ||                                Usage                                  ||
 ++-----------------------------------------------------------------------++

After installation, the NeonJax3D Screen Saver will be set up to 'save' your
Windows screen.  For advanced usage topics, refer to the mini-FAQ below for
information on the full functionality of the NeonJax3D Screen Saver.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     *** NeonJax3D Screen Saver Direct X 7 Version 1.0 Mini-FAQ ***

0. What's so cool about NeonJax3D, anyway?
1. How do I change the settings for NeonJax3D?
2. What does the 'Frame Rate' option do, and how does it work?
3. What does the 'World Name' option do, and how does it work?
4. What does the 'Random World' option do?
5. What does the 'Restart demo every time' option do?
6. What does the 'Stereo3D' option do, and how does it work?
7. Why can't I click on the 'Stereo3D' option?
8. What does the 'Refresh' option do?
9. What screen mode and resolution does NeonJax3D use?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q0. What's so cool about NeonJax3D, anyway?

A0. NeonJax3D has many cool features.  To begin, it's completely free to use
    and distribute.  Why should you pay money for a screen saver?  It's also
    very small and well-contained.  In fact, only a single file is required
    for the screen saver.  Another feature is that NeonJax3D renders the demo
    in software, so no special 3D hardware is required.  This means that
    NeonJax3D will run on Windows NT 4.0 systems with old video cards.  It's
    written in MMX-enhanced assembly language, so it's fast, and it looks
    very cool.

    NeonJax3D supports Nvidia-based LCD glasses such as the ELSA 3D Revelator
    for an awesome mind-warping 3D experience.  Finally, this screen saver
    has the ability to load and view user-created 3D demos, and all of the
    tools necessary to generate these 3D scenes are available freely from:
    www.fascinationsoftware.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q1. How do I change the settings for NeonJax3D?

A1. To change the NeonJax3D settings, you must go to the Windows Display
    Properties, either by:
    
    A) Right-clicking the Windows desktop, and selecting 'Properties' from
       the drop-down context menu that appears,
    -or-
    B) Double-clicking the Display item in the Control Panel.
    
    Next, select the 'Screen Saver' tab at the top of the Windows Display
    Properties window.  The NeonJax3D screen saver should be selected in
    the drop-down list of screen savers.   Click the 'Settings' button next
    to this drop-down list to open the NeonJax3D Screen Saver settings
    window.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q2. What does the 'Frame Rate' option do, and how does it work?

A2. The Frame Rate option specifies the rate at which NeonJax3D *attempts* to
    draw and display the demo.  If the Frame Rate is set to a high number and
    your computer doesn't have enough processing power to display at the
    desired rate, NeonJax3D will slow down and miss frames.  For each missed
    frame, a small white dot is drawn in the upper-left corner of the full-
    screen demo.
    
    If the user enters '0' for the Frame Rate option, then the 3D demo will
    run at its maximum speed and it will never mark missed frames.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q3. What does the 'World Name' option do, and how does it work?

A3. The World Name option allows the user to view a custom .J3D demo file.

    To use this feature, simply use the Windows File Explorer to move the
    desired .J3D file to the Windows Root Directory (see Installation).
    Then enter the filename of the new demo (without the extension, such as
    'Example_5') in the World Name option of the NeonJax3D Settings.
    NeonJax3D will then be set up to display this new demo.
    
    If NeonJax3D cannot find a file with the specified filename and the .J3D
    extension in the Windows Root Directory, it will display the default
    (built-in) demo.
    
    .J3D files are binary files created by the NeonJax3D World Compiler
    program, which is available freely from www.fascinationsoftware.com.  The
    World Compiler is one of the tools included with the NeonJax3D
    development kit (SDK).   The World Compiler accepts a simple C-like
    source text which describes the 3-D objects and their movements, and
    creates the .J3D files as output.  The NeonJax3D SDK includes 5 example
    files to start your 3D screen saving creations!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q4. What does the 'Random World' option do?

A4. When the 'Random World' option is enabled, NeonJax3D will search through
    the Windows Root Directory for all of the files which are named *.J3D and
    have the proper J3D headers, and each time that your computer goes into
    screen-save mode, it will randomly pick one to display.  Use this to get
    some variation in your 3D screen-saving.

    If NeonJax3D cannot find any proper files with the .J3D extension in the
    Windows Root Directory, it will display the default (built-in) demo.
    
    See the answer to Q3 for information on creating J3D files.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q5. What does the 'Restart demo every time' option do?

A5. NeonJax3D has the ability to save the exact state of the demo when
    returning to Windows, and to load this state information when starting.
    Using this mechanism, it is possible to effectively continue a demo for
    hundreds of millions, or even billions of frames.  The built-in demo
    inside NeonJax3D.scr is cyclical, with the morphing cycle of the 1,000
    Points of Light object repeating every 5-10 minutes.  However, each of
    the command streams in the demo is a different length, so the demo is
    slightly different after each cycle and probably wouldn't perfectly
    repeat in a million years.

    So it's kind of cool to let the built-in demo run continuously (by
    turning this option OFF) and see how it changes day to day.  It may also
    be cool to watch other (custom) demos this way.

    By turning ON the 'Restart demo every time' option, the NeonJax3D Screen
    Saver will *not* save or load this state data, and the demo will begin
    from the start each time it is started.
    
    By turning OFF the 'Restart demo every time' option, the NeonJax3D Screen
    Saver *will* save and load the state of the demo.  Note that this will
    only work correctly if the 'Random World' option is disabled.  When the
    'Random World' option is enabled, the demo state will only be re-loaded
    if the same world gets randomly selected to be displayed twice in a row.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q6. What does the 'Stereo3D' option do, and how does it work?

A6. The Stereo3D option allows users of Nvidia-based graphics cards with
    Stereo LCD Glasses to view the 3D demo in true 3D.  The LCD glasses work
    by alternating the two lenses between transparent and black opaque very
    quickly, and synchronizing this with the frame rate of the monitor.  In
    that way the NeonJax3D demo displays two unique images simultaneously but
    a user wearing the LCD glasses sees one unique image in each eye, and the
    result is a powerful illusion of 3D objects coming out of the screen.
    
    This option is available in this version (Direct X 7) of the NeonJax3D
    Screen Saver.  However the Stereo3D option will not be ENABLED, and you
    will not be able to activate it, unless several conditions are met.  For
    more information see the answer to Q7.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q7. Why can't I click on the 'Stereo3D' option?

A7. In order for NeonJax3D to enable the 'Stereo3D' option, several
    conditions must be met:

    1. The user must have a video card based on a recent Nvidia chipset,
       which supports stereoscopic 3D glasses.
    2. The user must have the Nvidia Detonator XP drivers installed, version
       28.32 or newer.
    3. The user must have the Nvidia 3D Stereo Driver installed.
    4. The Stereo Mode must be 'Enabled' in the Advanced Display Properties.
       Note that 'Enabled by Hotkey' is not sufficient - the Stereo mode must
       be 'Enabled'.

    If all four of these conditions are met, then NeonJax3D should enable the
    'Stereo3D' option in the NeonJax3D Settings window, and the user may then
    activate this option by clicking on the Stereo3D check box and clicking
    the 'OK' button.

    If these four conditions are not met, then NeonJax3D will disable (grey
    out) the Stereo3D option in the Settings window and the user will not be
    able to activate it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q8. What does the 'Refresh' option do?

A8. If the 'Stereo3D' option is enabled and selected, then the 'Refresh'
    option will be enabled.  This option allows the user to select an
    arbitrary Vertical Retrace frequency for the monitor.  This is useful
    because during Stereo3D operation with LCD glasses, the effective frame
    rate which is seen by each eye is *half* of the monitor's Vertical
    Retrace frequency.  So if the monitor/video card are set to 60 Hz, then
    each of the user's eyes will view the demo at 30Hz, and some flickering
    will be visible.  To correct this and make the demo appear smooth, and
    reduce the distraction caused by flickering, set the 'Refresh' option to
    100 or 120 (hz).
    
    If your monitor or video card are incapable of using the specified
    refresh rate, NeonJax3D will use the default (current) rate instead.
    
    Some refresh rates which are typically supported by modern video cards
    and monitors are: 60, 70, 72, 75, 100, and 120.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Q9. What screen mode and resolution does NeonJax3D use?

A9. NeonJax3D uses the 640x480 resolution with 16-bit color depth.  This
    video mode is required for the demo to run.  If your video card only
    supports 256 colors, or does not support the 16-bit color mode, then
    NeonJax3D WILL NOT WORK!  If your video card does not support the 640x480
    resolution, then NeonJax3D WILL NOT WORK!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ++-----------------------------------------------------------------------++
 ||                               Contact                                 ||
 ++-----------------------------------------------------------------------++

To contact Fascination Software, point your web browser at:

                        www.fascinationsoftware.com

And follow the links...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF EOF
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------