  +------------------------------+
+-!                              !
! !       M A T H T E S T        !
! !                              !
! !        Version 3.60          !
! !                              !
! +------------------------------+
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Copyright (C) 2000, Kenneth Perrine


WELCOME

Mathtest is a free educational math problem solving game.  Players 
can practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division 
problems, with varying skill levels and difficulties.  Mathtest has 
options for solving with specific multiplication tables, negative 
numbers, decimal points, carrying, and borrowing.  There is also an 
option for solving for parts of problems, where the answer is given, 
but one of the terms of the problem are missing.  This math program is 
intended for students who are learning basic math problems and also 
for students who know basic math problems but wish to improve speed 
and accuracy on more advanced problem types.

When math problems are successfully solved, and missed problems are
reviewed, Mathtest displays one of three games; these games change
over time.  The first game involves using a rocket to hit the word
"TEST" which moves across the screen.  In the second game, the player
attempts to throw a ball through a moving box.  In the third game, the
player tries to hit a sphere with a light-beam.  By default, these
games do not affect scoring; they are included for fun.  Scores for
correctly- and incorrectly-answered math problems are displayed after
each game.  The number of math problems needed to win a level of
Mathtest depends upon the difficulty of the problem type selected; for
basic problems, this is 60 problems; for other problem types it is
either 40 for complex problems, or 30 for advanced problems.

When using Mathtest, the <F1> key can be used to call up a help 
screen.  The help screen describes the functions and options available 
on the screen being shown.  


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Mathtest 3.60 has been designed to run on a wide variety of IBM-
compatible PC's.  Mathtest will run on Pentiums, as well as XT's.  The 
computer must be equipped with color graphics, such as VGA, EGA, or 
CGA.  The system must also have at least 320K of free memory.  
Mathtest will work with DOS versions 3.0 and greater, and will run 
under Windows.


STARTING MATHTEST

(Note that if Mathtest is being copied to hard disk from a floppy disk 
or a .ZIP archive file, all Mathtest files can be placed in any 
directory.  It may be preferable to create a directory for Mathtest, 
such as C:\MATHTEST).

To start Mathtest from DOS, type MATHTEST at the DOS prompt.  If the
Mathtest files are in another disk or directory than what you are
currently using, you must change to the appropriate disk or directory 
first.

Mathtest can also be accessed through the Windows 95/98/NT4/2000 Start
Menu, Desktop, Explorer, or through the Windows 3.x Program Manager.
Please refer to your Windows documentation for information on how to
access or add a program to one of these resources.  (The program which
must be added is MATHTEST.EXE; in Windows 95/98/NT4/2000, MATHTEST.EXE
may be added as a shortcut to the Desktop or Start Menu.)

If you run Mathtest under Windows, you may need to run it in full-
screen mode if Windows puts Mathtest in a window by default.  Press
ALT+ENTER to switch from the windowed mode to full-screen mode.

When you start Mathtest, you may find out more about features and on-
screen options by pressing the <I> key for the Information Screen.  
And, as mentioned, on almost every screen the <F1> key can be pressed 
for on-line help.


CONFIGURATION FILE

When Mathtest is first started, a configuration file called 
MATHTEST.CFG is written in the current directory.  This configuration 
file saves user-selected options, making the same options active when 
Mathtest is restarted.  To reset the options to default selections, 
erase the file MATHTEST.CFG by using Windows Explorer or Windows File 
Manager.  Or, at the DOS prompt in the Mathtest directory, type:
     ERASE MATHTEST.CFG

If you make copies of the freeware version of Mathtest for others to 
use, you should erase the configuration file so that Mathtest will 
start with its default choices when it is started on a different 
computer.


FREE SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION

If you copy Mathtest for others to use, these are the files that 
should be included with the copy:

     MATHTEST.EXE - Main program
     MATHTEST.DAT - Graphics data file
     MATHTEST.HLP - Help file
     MATHTEST.TXT - Documentation file


DRILL MODE

The Drill mode determines how many math problems are displayed before
a game.  By default, this is five problems for basic problems, and
two problems for complex and advanced problems.  This setting can be
canged by pressing <CONTROL-D> while the title screen or starting
menus are displayed.  To turn off games, the Drill mode can be set to
the last option in the Drill menu.


REVIEW MODE

Mathtest, by default, recycles math problems which were answered
incorrectly before moving on to a game or the end of a practice
session.  The review problems do not affect the scoring of correctly-
answered math problems.  If a review problem is answered incorrectly,
it is recycled a second time and the missed-problem score is
increased.  After a second incorrect answer, a recycled problem is
not repeated again in reviews, unless it is randomly generated again
later in the game.

There are three options available in the Review menu, accessed by
pressing <CONTROL-R> while the title screen or starting menus are
displayed.  The default setting turns off the timer when review
problems are being solved.  The second setting lets a timer be
displayed, but it runs slower than the timer used for normal problems.
The third option turns off the use of review problems.


OTHER UNDOCUMENTED OPTIONS

While a math problem is displayed, you can press <CONTROL-Q> to change 
the game that is displayed when Mathtest problems are answered 
correctly.

If explosion effects are slow when the games are running, the <ESC> 
key may be pressed once to skip the remainder of the explosion.


COMMAND-LINE OPTIONS

Mathtest may be started with the command-line options listed below.  
If you wish to use any of these options, use the options as shown 
below when Mathtest is started.  For example, if you want Mathtest to 
operate in Drill 10 mode (meaning that 10 problems are displayed
before a game), then the following command-line would be used to start
Mathtest:
     MATHTEST /D=10

Note that more than one option may be used in any order.  Separate 
options with a single space.  For example, if you want to run Mathtest 
in four-color mode and use a configuration file on drive A: in such a
way that it is not changed, use:
     MATHTEST /C /F=A: /N

These options may be put into a batch file, Windows 3 Program
Manager entry, or Windows 95/98/NT4/2000 shortcut link so a user would
not need to type these options when he or she is starting Mathtest.
See the question: "Startup: How do I type less to start Mathtest?" in
the section "How do I..." below for more information.

A brief overview of the available command-line options may be seen by 
typing at the DOS prompt:
     MATHTEST /?

/A=number
Assigns the top number in math problems as a certain value.  This is 
useful for practicing individual multiplication tables in math 
problems.  Numbers 0 through 100 are valid.

/C
Makes Mathtest run in four-color mode.  Use this option if the 
sixteen-color graphics are not behaving correctly, or if the animation 
in sixteen colors is too slow.

/D=number
Sets the Mathtest Drill mode.  The Drill mode in Mathtest allows you
to set how many math problems will appear before a game is seen.  For
more information, run Mathtest, press <CONTROL-D> when the Title
Screen or the Main Menu appear, and then press the <F1> key for on-
line help.  Valid values for this option are: D, 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 
30, or 60.  Use D to enable the default Drill mode.  Select 0 to 
make successfully-won games determine the progress of the player (as 
in Mathtest 2.0), 1 to enable a game after every math problem, 2, 5, 
10, 20, or 30 for the same scoring method as number 1 but with more 
math problems displayed before games, or 60 to turn off the games.  
Changes to this option are saved in the configuration file, unless the 
/N option is used.

/E=number
Sets the Mathtest Review mode.  The Review mode causes incorrectly-
answered math problems to be recycled at the ends of problem sets.
Valid options are 1 for enabling the Review mode with no timer, 2 for
enabling the Review mode with a slow timer, or 3 for turning off the
Review mode.  Changes to this option are saved in the configuration
file, unless the /N option is used.

/F=[path]filename
Defines a custom location and/or filename for a configuration file.  
Normally, when Mathtest is run, a configuration file called 
MATHTEST.DOC is written to the same location as the Mathtest program 
files.  By using the /F parameter, configuration files of other names 
than MATHTEST.CFG may be used.  If only a path is specified, the file 
MATHTEST.CFG is written in the location of the path.  This is useful 
for managing the configurations of multiple users, classes or groups 
on individual computers or networks, especially when used with batch 
files.
        MATHTEST /F=CLASS06.CFG   uses the file CLASS06.CFG as a
                                  configuration file.
        MATHTEST /F=C:\STUDENTS\MTH.CFG  uses the file MTH.CFG in the
                                         specified path.
        MATHTEST /F=C:\STUDENTS  uses the default file MATHTEST.CFG in
                                 the STUDENTS directory.
        MATHTEST /F=A:  uses the default file MATHTEST.CFG in drive
                        A:.

/G=number
Changes the first game that appears when a math problem is 
successfully answered.  By default, /G=1 is used.  This makes the 
first rocket game appear.  Use /G=2 to make the throwing game appear, 
or use /G=3 to make the light-beam game appear.

/H or /?
Displays a brief overview of the command-line options.

/N
This causes changes in Mathtest options to not be written to the 
configuration file.  If you set up a configuration file which contains 
preset options, you may use the /N option in a batch file to keep 
those preset options from being changed.  To change the preset options 
again, don't use the /N option when starting Mathtest.

/R
Clears and resets the configuration file with Mathtest defaults.  Use 
this in conjunction with the /N option to bypass a configuration file 
without changing it and to use Mathtest default options.


HOW DO I... ?

Mathtest contains several features which may be very useful if 
utilized.  If you have a particular question of how to do something, 
browse through these questions (which are arranged somewhat by 
subject, alphabetically):

Configuration:  How do I insure that Mathtest will start with the same 
set of options as when it was last started?
     Start Mathtest with the /N command-line option.
         MATHTEST /N
     The configuration is read from the configuration file, but new or 
     changed selections are not saved.

Configuration:  How do I use an alternate configuration file?
How can I use Mathtest for multiple users or groups?
     Use the /F command-line option.  For example, you can use:
         MATHTEST /F=CLASS06.CFG
     to make certain options become active which are based upon a 
     particular group's or user's objectives.  The name CLASS06.CFG is
     arbitrary; any path and/or filename may be used after the /F
     option.  If you don't want an already-established configuration
     to change for a class, then use:
         MATHTEST /F=CLASS06.CFG /N
     If multiple users use certain directories on a computer for 
     storing configuration files, a path may be specified with the /F 
     option.
     Note that all of these command-lines can be placed in a batch 
     file, Windows 3 Program Manger entry, or Windows 95/98/NT4/2000
     shortcut link.  Refer to the question: "Startup: How can I type
     less to start Mathtest?" for more information.

Drill:  See "Games".

File (Configuration):  See "Configuration".

Games:  How do I change which game appears?
     When you start Mathtest, use the /G option.  Specify the desired 
     game number like this:
         MATHTEST /G=n, where n equals the game number.  /G=1 is the 
     default rocket game.
     The game can also be switched by pressing <CONTROL-Q> when a math 
     problem appears on the screen.

Games:  How do I turn off the games?
     The Drill mode setting determines how many math problems are 
     displayed before a game appears.  If the number of consecutive
     math problems is set to 60, no games appear before the player
     wins Mathtest.
         MATHTEST /D=60
     You will only need to do this once; this change is saved in the 
     configuration file.

Games:  See also "Score".

Multiplication Tables:  How do I make Mathtest display math problems 
which correspond to specific multiplication tables?
     Use the /A command-line option.  For example, if you want 
     Mathtest to multiplication problems which use the number 6, start
     Mathtest like this:
         MATHTEST /A=6
     Remember that "Multiplication" problems must be selected on the
     main menu.  Note that the preferred approach is to select
     "Practice a Table" from the Multiplication options screen.

Option: See "Configuration".

Speed:  How do I speed up the graphics?
     If you see a blue border on the Main Menu screen, then Mathtest 
     is running in sixteen-color mode.  On older computers, sixteen-
     color graphics modes run slow.  Start Mathtest with the /C option
     to change the graphics to the faster four-color mode.
         MATHTEST /C
     Also, the <ESC> key can be pressed on slow explosion effects to
     end the animation.

Speed:  How do I turn off the timer?
     Select "No Time" from the "Speed" option on the Options Screen.

Startup:  How can I type less to start Mathtest?
How can I make sure command-line options are used when Mathtest 
starts?
     This can be done several ways.  If you are running Windows, 
     Mathtest can be started from the Program Manager or the Start
     Menu.  Refer to Windows documentation for information on how to
     do this.  If you want to use command-line options, include them
     when you put Mathtest into the Program Manager in Windows 3.x.
     For Windows 95/98/NT4/2000, command-line options may be defined
     by right-clicking on the MATHTEST.EXE file or a shortcut and
     selecting Properties.  Another method for specifying command-line
     options is to write a batch file.  A batch file is a collection
     of DOS commands that are normally typed at the DOS prompt.  Batch
     files are defined by a filename, followed by a .BAT extension,
     such as MT.BAT.  You can create a batch file by starting a text
     editor or a word processor that can save or export text files,
     typing in the DOS command(s) that you would normally type if no
     batch file existed, and saving the file in a convenient location
     on a hard or floppy disk.  For example, you could create a batch
     file called MT.BAT that contains the following DOS commands:
         C:
         CD \MATHTEST
         MATHTEST /G=2 /C /D=2
     The user would then only need to type MT to cause these commands
     to start.  Or, MT.BAT can be placed in the Windows 3 Program
     Manager, or run directly from the Windows 95/98/NT4/2000 desktop
     or Start Menu.  Note that the batch file cannot be called
     MATHTEST.BAT if MATHTEST.BAT is stored in the same directory as
     MATHTEST.EXE, the Mathtest program.

Timer (or No Timer):  See "Speed".


COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Mathtest version 3.60 is free software.  You are free to use this
fully-functional version of Mathtest at home or in schools.  You are
encouraged to make copies of Mathtest 3.60 and pass them on to friends
for their evaluation and use on a non-profit basis.  Mathtest 3.60
must be distributed in its original un-modified form.  Mathtest 3.60
may be distributed by Shareware distributors, through BBS services,
via FTP sites, and on CD-ROM collections as long as no more than $5.00
is charged for the distribution service for the Mathtest program in
particular without explicit consent from the author.  (This means that
if Mathtest 3.60 is put on a CD-ROM with 19 other programs and the
CD-ROM is sold for $20, the effective distribution service cost of
Mathtest is $1 which is less than the maximum allowed cost and 
therefore permitted.)
        
Mathtest version 3.60 is distributed "as-is" and without any express 
or implied warranties whatsoever.  Kenneth Perrine shall not be liable 
for indirect, special, or consequential damages resulting from the use 
of this software.  In connection with this software, Kenneth Perrine 
grants no warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular 
purpose.


***********************************************************
FEEDBACK

If you find Mathtest useful, and/or you have questions, comments, or 
ideas for Mathtest, please send an e-mail to the author at: 
kenperrine@yahoo.com
