[english version][die deutsche Version ist noch nicht fertig, sorry]

S T E R E X   9 6
*****************
Aphorism & Ultra Short Story Synthesizer
ver 2.5.00 (November 1996)
(c) 1996 by Donald Lessau and Sibyll Kalff

STEREX (STEReotypes EXecutable)
is a high-end Aphorism & Ultra Short Story Synthesizer of the latest fashion. Its glorious and mind-boggling outputs are truly generated on the spot, drawing on a (german) lexicon and a module that knows more about (german) grammar than you - there are no prefabricated lists whatsoever. The possibilities are so vast that repetition is near to impossible.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
PC 386 CPU or better, Windows 3.1 upwards (Win95 inclusive), a mouse is a very good idea, a color monitor would be quite nice, too, SVGA High-color (16 bit) or Truecolor (24 bit) for ultimate fun.

CONTACT
Donald Lessau, Moltkestr. 83, D-50674 Kln (Germany)
Tel (+49) (0221) 516903
E-mail: 106227.3401@compuserve.com
I *love* to get mail!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
***** (1) INSTALLATION *****

Preamble for bloody ignorants:
"Installation" or "setup" are two words for the same thing: creating a functioning copy of the given application on your hard disk. Most applications nowadays consist of a set of files instead of just one "program file" (the executable: *.exe). Some of those additional "helper files" can be used by different programs, therefore it is common practice to have just one copy of them on the computer in a place (or "path") where any executable program can find them: this is normally either the windows-directory (usually C:\WINDOWS\) or the windows-system directory (usually C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\).

Internet version:
In case you received STEREX96.ZIP (or STEREX.EXE, a self-extracting archive) via downloading from a Compuserve forum or from the artgate-homepage (http://www.daton.de/artgate) then first unzip it extracting the archive to an empty directory or to a floppy (which will then serve as your installation diskette - good idea).
To reduce download time, the internet version comes without automatic setup utilities and without VBRUN300.DLL and THREED.VBX which are both required. See section (1b) below for manual installation.

Diskette version:
You have the choice between three options:
(a) Automatic installation: see section (1a) for details.
(b) If you dislike automatic installations you can opt for manual installation, which is really easy to do: see section (1b) for details.
(c) No installation: You can run the program directly from your 3 1/2" floppy drive - no automatic or manual setup/installation is necessary (though from diskette it runs slower, of course). Just double-click (run, open) [A:\ or B:\] STEREX96.EXE from the Windows File Manager or - Win95 - from the Explorer or Start|Run ...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1a) AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION with SETUP.EXE

START THE INSTALLATION [from Diskette]
1. Close any other applications apart from windows internal ones like FileManager or Explorer.
2. Run (e.g. double-click) [A:\ or B:\]SETUP.EXE from your Windows environment (FileManager or Explorer) and just follow the instructions.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING INSTALLATION?
1. The following files are copied to the directory you created (or selected) during setup, e.g. "C:\STEREX96\":
	
	STEREX96.EXE (the application)
	S96_I.DAT (initialization data)
	S96_D.DAT (data)
	S96_C.DAT (data)
	S96_L.DAT (data)
	S96_P.DAT (data)
	S96_W.DAT (data)
	READTHIS.TXT (this file)

2. If they are not already there, the following files are copied to your windows-system directory (usually "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\"):

	THREED.VBX (run time library)
	VBRUN300.DLL (run time library)

3. The file

	STEREX96.INI (setup information)

is created and placed into your windows directory (usually "C:\WINDOWS\"). It contains data which are only relevant for the setup process and for possible future update installations. Since it is not necessary for the program itself you may delete this file if you need the space.
4. A program group "STEREX 96" is created containing two icons (short cuts to the application itself and to READTHIS.TXT)

START THE PROGRAM
Run (double-click / open) STEREX96.EXE or click the icon "Sterex 96"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1b) MANUAL INSTALLATION (without SETUP.EXE)

1. Create a directory on your hard disk, e.g. C:\STEREX96\

2. Now just have a look at the file listing in section (1a) and copy the first listed 8 files to the directory you just created.

3. Then copy THREED.VBX and VBRUN300.DLL into your windows-system directory (usually "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\")(but FIRST see the following notes!).
  * Note: if the files THREED.VBX and VBRUN300.DLL are already located in your windows-system directory (usually "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\") then you do NOT need to copy these two files from the diskette.
  * Note: you won't find the file STEREX96.INI on the diskette - it is not necessary when you opt for manual installation.
  * Note: Since in the internet version of STEREX 96 the files THREED.VBX and VBRUN300.DLL are not included, check if they are where they should be. If not, get them (you find them e.g. in the CompuServe MSBASIC forum, library 1).

4. Run the program by double-clicking / opening STEREX96.EXE.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
***** (2) DEMO VERSION vs FULL VERSION *****

1. The demo version is FREEWARE, so you can use it, copy it, distribute it as you like. You must not change it or sell it, though!
2. The limitation: well, there *must* be some difference between the demo and the full version, right? So let's see ... nothing nasty, don't worry ... and NO time-limits (!) ... well, I think you'll find out yourself ...
3. The full version is SHAREWARE. I you haven't registered yet see section (4) below for registration and all its additional benefits.
4. In any case you might have a look at section (5) for the concept of shareware.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
***** (3) THE ULTRA-SHORT STEREX-MANUAL *****

Just a quick explanation of most of the buttons to push (the rest you will find out by yourself ...).

0. But first a few KEYBOARD-SHORTCUTS
<m>      menu visible/invisible (alternatively mouse-click the sterex display screen)
<enter>  next action
<space>  next action
<Ctrl+s> Save
<Esc>    Exit
TIP: You can use these keys even when the menu is invisible !!!

1. BEAT Buttons
BEAT: do the next sentence
SLAM: do a lot of sentences all over the screen (the loop function is automatically triggered, turn up the BPM for more speed)
CREDITS: well, obvious ... somebody always has to get the credits
DADA: forget the rules of grammar and go for the real gaga stuff

2. POP Buttons
POP: do the next word image
HIP/HOP: many colors/one color
Check out the scroll bar at the POP-button: it controls the average number of word output

3. General Buttons
LOOP ... BPM: this is the loop function, check this button to sit back and relax while things are just happening. Move the scrollbar next to the BPM-button according to your awareness capabilities.
RESET: gets you back to either your initial standard style or to the fabric style (choose yourself)
SAVE <Ctrl+s>: by clicking this, you can fix your own standard for the next time: you can for example have STEREX start always with a loop in a small window, or so ... all the present settings are saved.
INFO: who dunnit
EXIT <Esc>: enough now!

4. More Buttons and Functions
[FONTS]: some of the ordinary stuff you know from text processing software
[WINDOW SIZE]: click the three larger picture buttons to change style/size of the display window
[PRINT POSITION]: check out the four smaller picture buttons in the low row to control left/right and top margins and horizontal and vertical centering of the text.

5. The Color Controls
The left three scrollbars for each forecolor and backcolor control the RGB-values (Red Green Blue, each from 0 thru 255), the right three scrollbars control the HSB-values (Hue from 0 to 359, Saturation 0 to 100%, Brightness 0 to 100%).
RANDOM FORECOLOR & RANDOM BACKCOLOR: The buttons below the scrollbars turn random color on & off.
The POCOS (4-bit) & MUCHOS (24-bit) button: switch to 4-bit to avoid dithered colors in a 256 color VGA environment. (I know that 256 colors is 8-bit, not 4-bit, but even with 256 colors, windows has only 16 solid foreground colors, i.e. colors to print text. Tell me if I'm wrong.)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
***** (4) I WANT IT, BUT HOW DO I ORDER? *****

STEREX 96 costs ONLY $20 (DM 30) complete -- shipping, handling and disk (3 1/2" floppy, high-density) included. All you got to do to get it is:

1. Print the order form below and then fill it out. Or write it out on a separate piece of paper. Or mark the options on the notes line of your check.

2a. Make your check or (international) money order out to
		"Donald Lessau",
2b. or, if you are in Germany, transfer DM 30 to the following account (Konto):
		Donald Lessau		
		Stadtsparkasse Kln, Kto. 73 16 39 41, BLZ 370 501 98

3. Enclose check and order in an envelope and mail it to:
		Donald Lessau
		Moltkestr. 83
		D-50674 Kln (Germany)

4. your disk with the newest update of STEREX 96 will be on its way back to you the next business day.

5. If you prefer to receive the files by e-mail, say so (it's about 400K zipped). If you don't need VBRUN300.DLL and/or THREED.VBX let me know - that would reduce the size of the package to less than 100K!

6. NOTE: if you buy this version now, you will get the upcoming major upgrade version 3.0 for just the shipping-fees plus disk-price!! (Hey hey!)
	Version 3.0 will include:
	- Printing options to file and to paper
	- Optional configuration of Sterex as a screen saver
	- A new revolutionary approach to syntax, pragmatics and text-morphology
	- Virtual dialogs
	- and more (incl. this manual in German)

*** THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT! (for sure) ***


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
O R D E R   F O R M

Your Name:
Address:
City/State/Zip/(Country):
E-mail address:

__ YES, I WANT TO REGISTER FOR THE FULL VERSION OF STEREX 96
__ check enclosed   (or)   __ money transferred

__ send me the diskette with the full version (or)
__ I have the full version already, I just want to give you
   your money [cool!]

__ Please notify me of future updates!
__ I would like STEREX as screensaver, please make one!
__ Looks pretty, if the output would be ENGLISH I could even READ it!
__ STEREX is wonderful! Keep on doing things like this!
__ Please destroy this bullshit program to save my children's
   moral and spiritual development! [Feel free to elaborate ...]
__ I did not and will never pay you, so throw this order form away!
__ Who is Sibyll Kalff?
__ Ich kann kein Englisch!

I got the STEREX 96-Demo thru:
__ CompuServe,  __ Artgate-homepage,
__ A very kind friend, __ My worst enemy,
__ You, Donald/Sibyll, __ [_________________________________]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Try a book once in a while, ciao, Donald & Sibyll
               E-mail: 106227.3401@compuserve.com
                            (Cologne, November 96)



-------------------------------------------------------------------------
***** (5) Addendum: What is Shareware? *****

Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual.
Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.

Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee - if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it.

Please show your support for the Shareware concept by registering and paying for the Shareware you use. It's the registration fees you pay which allow us to support and continue to develop our products.

	Thanks to Anonymous (I stole this text but I forgot where)


