BigCryple Manual
================

Most player will try using a game without studing big manuals.
Therefore this doc should be small as possible.


Sence of the game
=================

There are shown a lot of calculations with results. All digits are replaced by symbols.
Each number is represented by one symbol in all calculations of the current
game.
Now the user should try to find out the symbol-number assignments.


Components
==========

BigCryple owns 5 output and dialog windows.

1. Contol Center: ... to control the game order. On this place the game can
   be started and stopped.

2. Calculation list: shows all calculations of the current game.
   First completely with symbols. Later it shows the numbers which were
   replaced by the player.

3. Symbol assign: This is the panel to assign the numbers to the symbols.

4. Settings: This dialog will be always shown (and only than) when the game
   is not in the play mode. That meens
   - after program start
   - when game was successful finished
   - when game was manualy stopped
   This dialog allows to make game- and layout settings.

5. Helpdesk: This window allows to make notes and should be a help to solve the job.
   This window must be separately switched on (see following text).


Features
========

To window no. 4: Settings:
--------------------------
Close: Will close the setting dialog and automaticly start the game.
Save : To save all current settings of this dialog, which will automaticly be loaded at
       the next program start. Also the current window position will be saved.

On top of this dialog window there are 2 big buttons named as "Game Settings"
and "Layout Settings". With these buttons it can be switched between these two groups.

Game settings:

Play Mode: To choose if correction of wrong assignments should be make instant
by the program (Instant Entry Check) or if the program should wait until all
assignments are correctly made by the player to give out the game-end message
(Final Check).

Digits Quantity: To select if the calculations should be simple like 1+2=3 or more
complicated like 123+456=579.

Calc(ulation) Quantity: To select how many calculations should be available (Real).
The 2nd selector allows to set the quantity of calculations which are currently
shown in the calculation list without scrolling the window.
But it can also be set by enlarging the calcultion window with the mouse.

Calc(ulation) Mode: To set which operators (+, -, x, ) will be used in the
calculations. Subtraction only available when "Digits Quantity" is set greater than 1.

Layout settings:

Language/Sprache: Select "English" (default) or "Deutsch" and click "Save" for next run.
It is possible to adapt BigCryple to any other language by the user himself. After the
data\language.txt file is translated and the word "User" replaced by a language name,
the text in the combobox will also be automaticly replaced (after next start).

Zoom: To zoom in/out the size of the calculation list and Symbol assign incl. symbols
and numbers. This could be a help when using a small display like 800x600.
The 100% button allows quick setting to original size.

Sound: To switch sound on/off.

Background image: Click a gif-entry to change the background design of the game.

Symbol Sets: To change the current symbol set of the calculation list.
It is possible to create own symbol sets by modifing the data\symbol sets.txt file
and by adding own gif images to the symbols folder.
BigCryple uses the first symbol in a set to determine the size (width/height) for all
symbols of the current set.


To window no. 1: Control Center:
--------------------------------
New Game: Starts a new game. This has the same effect as a click on the close button
of the setting dialog window.

Stop: Will unsuccessful finish the current game, maybe to change game settings.

Helpdesk: Will open/close the Helpdesk window.

Cheat: This button will be undocumented because - I am sure - you will never use it.

Info: Will open the Info dialog. There you can get program information and download
the latest program version.

Exit: To quit BigCryple.

Left output: Failure: Counter for wrong symbol assignments by the player.

Middle output: Status line to show what the program is just doing.

Right output: Shows the passed time since the current game was started.


To window no. 2: Calculation-List:
----------------------------------
This shows the calculations the player has to solve. That meens not the results but
which number is represented by which symbol.
This is the only window which can be enlarged (in most cases)!


To window no. 3: Symbol assign:
-------------------------------
There are two possibilities to make the settings:
1. By using the fader.
2. By clicking directly onto the numbers.

Caution!
Dontt use the arrow buttons while playing Play Mode 1 (Instant Entry Check)!
Otherwise the program would check every single step and you get a lot of failures.
This can only be used while playing Play Mode 2.
Sorry, but it is not be possible to enable these buttons without enabling the whole fader
(so far I know).


To window no. 5: Helpdesk:
--------------------------
Generally the player can do anything with this panel what he wants. There are no special rules
for using it and it will have no influence over the game.
The player can use it to make any notes of his choice.
Click the numbered buttons to mark numbers which can not be true or anything else.
There are 2 states available: red background color and pressed.
There are input lines for any user comments.

Because in Play Mode 2 solved symbols can not be shown, the helpdesk gets two button rows
to mark/unmark whole lines.

Zoom-fader: to adapt the window size to the available screen space.

Reset: To reset the button matrix manually.

Symbols only: This is specially helpful in Play Mode 2 to switch between symbols and
numbers.

">>" button: to change button space (simply try).


After finish a game...
----------------------
an input dialog asks to save the game on disk.
The player can do it or leave it.
In this version of BigCryple there is no option to view the score list.
But it can be shown manually with a text editor.
The file is called "score.txt" and placed in the data folder.
