\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\ R A N G O O N /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\ Version 1.11 25 Aug 1993 /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
\-\-\-\-\-\-\- A Game of Solitaire for Windows -/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\ Copyright (c)1992 Rudy Muller /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- All Rights Reserved -/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Rangoon is a game of solitaire with all of the 52 cards faced up.
Though all the cards are shown, and in spite of its simple rules
it is a challenge to find the strategy to complete a game.
After shuffling the deck, the cards will be laid down face up in
four rows of 13 cards each. Subsequently the kings are taken up,
and put down in front of the rows.
The object is to rearrange the cards such that each row contains
one complete family (the cards of a suit in the correct ranking:
King, Queen, Jack, Ten, ...., Three, Two, Ace).
Rearranging is done by using the four vacant places which were
created by moving the kings to the front. A card can be moved to
a vacant place, provided that the card is ranked with the card
in front of the vacant place ( e.g. the 6 of spades can be moved
behind the 7 of spades). By moving another vacant place pops up,
which can be used to move a card to, and so on.
The game is ended when all vacant places are behind an Ace or
behind another vacancy, so no more card can be moved.
This solitaire enjoys some popularity in the Netherlands, and is
known under various names and in various flavors. The program of
Rangoon supports a number of variants.
[ domain ]
I am releasing this as "POSTCARDWARE", which means the software
is in the public domain. You are entitled to distribute this
package, as long as you (a) include this very documentation file
with the package when you distribute it, (b) do not, in any way,
alter this file or one of the other files of the package, and
(c) do not charge more than the cost of packaging the program,
if you are distributing it on disk or other media.
Finally, sending me a POSTCARD of the town you are living, will
entitle you to play the game after some trial period.
[ disclaimer ]
The author makes no representations about the suitability of
this software for any purpose. It is provided "as is" without
express or implied warranty.
You should also be aware that there are bad people out there
who will ignore part (b) above and put a virus into this program
-- if you do not check the program for viruses, logic bombs,
trojan horses, etc. before you run it, don't blame me if there
is one. Basically, run this program at your own risk.
[ availability ]
< TO BE SUPPLIED / UPDATED BY BBS-SYSOP >
VBRUN200.DLL is the visual basic runtime library needed, and can
be obtained from CompuServe (GO WINFUN)
DDEML.DLL is a windows 3.1 library needed when running the game
under windows 3.0. For a legal copy please contact your local
MicroSoft dealer.
[ history ]
Because it was -and still is- my favourite game of solitaire, I
wrote a program for it way back in 1983 (coded in basic and 8080
assembler for the DAI). In 1984 I ported the program to GWBasic
on a XT, but neither the graphics nor the performance were at a
level sufficient to release the program. The introduction of
Visual Basic gave me the opportunity to write a program with
a satisfactory look and performance, and also get some exercise
in what turned out to be a fine development environment.
Because Rangoon is developed in Visual Basic the program must be
run under MicroSoft Windows, and does need the run-time package
VBRUN200.DLL.
[ installation ]
Copy the following files onto your hard disc in a directory of
your choice (eg c:\windows\wingames\rangoon):
<owndir>\raninfo.txt
<owndir>\ranhist.txt
<owndir>\ranprob.txt
<owndir>\rangoon.exe
<owndir>\rangoon.hlp
<owndir>\rantitle.bmp
<owndir>\randeck.bmp
The file VBRUN200.DLL is not part of the Rangoon package, it is
needed because the program is written in MicroSoft Visual Basic,
which does need the DLL at run-time. The file may be located in
the start-up directory as well as in the windows directory or in
any other directory mentioned in the environment-variable {PATH}.
The [availability]-section may give a clue where to grab it.
To run the program for a first introduction, type:
cd <owndir>
win rangoon
To install the game start windows, go to the Program Manager and
choose F[ile] / N[ew..] / Program-item, and fill in the form:
Description : rangoon
Command Line: <owndir>\rangoon.exe
or for Windows 3.1
Description : rangoon
Command Line: rangoon.exe
Working Directory: <owndir>
(note: an icon is embedded in the executable)
If you do not want to locate the files rangoon.hlp, rantitle.bmp,
raninfo.txt and/or randeck.bmp in the directory of rangoon.exe
you will have to create a private-profile named "rangoon.ini" in
the windows-directory, and append the following lines:
[RANGOON]
About=<drive>:<aboutdir>\raninfo.txt
CardDeck=<drive>:<bmpdir>\randeck.bmp
Help=<drive>:<helpdir>\rangoon.hlp
Title=<drive>:<titledir>\rantitle.bmp
[ how to play ]
Start the program and use the help provided (in rangoon.hlp)
[ future plans ]
The future plans regarding RANGOON are:
o solve the bugs (if any :-)
o (?) move-preview (at hole, at card)
o (!) ideas from other players
[ credits ]
A (considerable) contribution to the program has been made by:
o MicroSoft, USA (VisualBasic & Windows)
o Marcel Zwienenberg, Apeldoorn, Netherlands (alpha-test)
o Tilly Jansen, Hengelo, Netherlands (alpha-test)
o Martin Snow, Colorado (beta-testing, help-text screening)
o Rob Zahora, Burlington, Massachusetts (first to register)
o Andy & Sandy Fraser, Nashua, New Hampshire (beta-testing)
o Bob Pomerleau, Augusta, Maine (beta-testing)
o Patrick Roosen, Bruxelles, Belgium (beta-testing)
[ kind regards ]
I sincerely hope that this program will be of some entertainment
or use for you. When you find any problems or wish to offer
any suggestions, please feel free to mail (electronic or by
paper) to the address below.
If you like the game and don't have problems nor suggestions,
still consider sending me a note ( or by preference the picture
postcard of the town you are living), because I certainly like
to know if the game is appreciated. And - of course - because a
hobbyist does not only enjoy writing a program, but also likes
an occasional pat on his shoulder :-)
I am also very curious how the game will travel over the world,
so please mention the version-number, and the source from which
you have obtained this program.
Rudy Muller
Havezatelaan 3
7414 GD Deventer
Netherlands
phone: (+31) 5700 70631 (home) Fido: Rudy Muller@2:500/46
phone: (+31) 55 434195 (work) DTN: 829-4195
Internet: muller@idca.tds.philips.nl DECnet: HLDE01::MULLER_R
( future: muller@apd.dec.com )
Thank you and enjoy the game.