TINY ELVIS FOR WINDOWS ---------------------- Freeware Version 1.5 - June 13, 1995 This file contains information for installing and running Tiny Elvis. Full documentation is available in the Tiny Elvis help file (TNYELVIS.HLP), which is accessed via the Tiny E system menu "Help" command. AUTHOR'S MESSAGE TO USERS ------------------------- To everyone who took the time to download, beg, borrow, or steal any of the previous releases of Tiny Elvis (1.00, 1.01, or 1.02), please accept my sincere thanks. I'm grateful that Tiny Elvis has earned a place on your Windows desktop. Special thanks to those of you kind enough to contact me via snail- and e-mail. I have enjoyed hearing from each of you, and have welcomed your comments and suggestions. No doubt many of you are taking some (sadistic) satisfaction in the fact that your fine suggestions have kept my nose to the "Elvis" grindstone a little longer. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the results. As always, you are welcome to contact me via... CompuServe: 70661,3235 Intenet: 70661.3235@compuserve.com OR you can write me in care of my distributor, Advanced Support Group, Inc., at... 11900 Grant Place St. Louis, Missouri. 63131 VERSION NOTES / PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ------------------------------------ Tiny Elvis version 1.5 is the latest update to the original Tiny Elvis for Windows program. This version is a 16-bit Windows application, which will run on Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher, Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT, or Windows 95. For best results, run Tiny Elvis on a 386SX-16 or faster PC. Animation effects will be somewhat smoother when an Windows- accelerated video card/driver combination is used. The program's waveform audio (WAV playback) features require a Windows-compatible sound card (AdLib, Roland, SoundBlaster, etc.) or other audio hardware, correctly installed and configured for use by Windows. You can test your hardware/driver configuration by running the Windows "Media Player" accessory. If your hardware and device drivers are correctly installed and configured, you should be able to load and play the file .WAV file format supported by this application. SPEAKER DRIVER NOTE ------------------- Tiny E will work with an installed PC speaker driver in lieu of dedicated audio hardware. Speaker drivers for Windows are fairly commonplace, and are available for download on many information services and BBS systems. PROGRAM FILES ------------- The Tiny Elvis package is comprised of the following files: TNYELVIS.EXE The executable program file TNYELVIS.HLP The help system file TWAV_**.WAV Nine waveform audio files used for Tiny Elvis' default spoken comments. These files are divided into two sets, A and B. TGOODBYE.WAV Single waveform audio file used for the program's "goodbye" feature. README.TXT ASCII text notes. FILE_ID.DIZ ASCII text upload description (for sysops, BBS operators, etc.). All waveform audio files were recorded as 8-bit, mono, at a sampling rate of 11.025 kHz, and should play acceptably via any Windows-compatible audio hardware and/or audio driver sets. QUICK AND DIRTY SETUP --------------------- Follow these simple instructions to get Tiny E up and running with a minimum of fuss. You will need some scissors, construction paper, some twine, white glue, and protective goggles. 1. Simply create a directory anywhere on an available physical or logical hard drive on your system (e.g., C:\ELVIS). 2. Copy the Tiny Elvis program files to this directory (or move the original .ZIP file to this directory and "un-zip"). See the "Program Files" section above for a full list of the files. If you are a user of a previous version of Tiny Elvis, you may safely overwrite all of your older files with the new versions. 3. You may run Tiny Elvis directly from Windows File Manager, Win95 Explorer or comparable alternative shell by running the TNYELVIS.EXE file. 4. Of course, you can also assign one of the many icons in TNYELVIS.EXE to a Windows 3x Program Manager group or Win95 shortcut and run it from there as well. 5. Tiny Elvis is pre-set with a default interval of 1 minute. If you're in a hurry to see him in action, select the system menu "Make Tiny Elvis Talk Now" command. 6. If you have any questions about program features, please turn your attention to the Tiny Elvis help file, which is accessed via the system menu "Help" command. This help file contains complete documentation of all program features. __________ APPENDIX A CONFIGURATION SETTINGS SUMMARY ------------------------------ The Configuration dialog box provides users with a collection of controls for enabling and adjusting a number of program features. All configuration settings are saved in the TNYELVIS.INI file, which is stored in your default Windows directory (e.g., C:\WINDOWS). Don't worry, Tiny Elvis doesn't meddle with your WIN.INI or SYSTEM.INI files, or place any other files in your Windows directory (or anywhere else, for that matter). The program might be silly, but it minds its own business. A.1 Elvis Interval Settings --------------------------- This group box contains sixteen radiobutton controls used for selecting the length of time between Tiny Elvis performances. A.2 Window/Icon Settings ------------------------ This group box contains three radiobutton controls used for selecting the visibility and behavior of the application. These settings apply both to the Tiny Elvis icon and, optionally, to the popup window in which Tiny E performances are displayed. The "Normal" option configures the window/icon to behave like any other application, even when a performance sequence is in progress. If Tiny Elvis is covered by another application, it will remain covered. The "Pop to Top" option configures the program to move atop any other active windows during its performance sequences. If Tiny Elvis is covered by another application, it will pop to the top for its performance sequence, and then return to its prior (z-order) position when finished. The "Always on Top" option configures the program to remain atop all other active windows at all times. A.3 Performance Settings ------------------------ This group box contains three checkbox controls used for enabling/disabling different Tiny Elvis performance options. The "Perform in Popup Window" option displays Tiny E's performances in a popup window. This is the default setting. When this option is disabled, Tiny E performances are displayed in the application's icon. The "Display Interval Countdown" option displays (in minutes and seconds) the time remaining until the next Tiny E performance. The time display is added to the Tiny Elvis icon caption. The "Play Goodbye on Program Close" option configures the program to play a special "Elvis has left the desktop" WAV file when closed. The required file, TGOODBYE.WAV, must be present in the default Tiny Elvis directory. NOTE: Any changes to configuration settings are placed into effect when the Configuration dialog box is closed via the "OK" pushbutton. The interval timer is always paused while the Configuration dialog is open. The timer is reset to zero if the dialog is closed via the "OK" pushbutton; the timer is resumed from its previous position if the dialog is closed via the "CANCEL" pushbutton. NOTE: Summary information on available .WAV files is provided in the Tiny Elvis Configuration dialog. APPENDIX B WAV FILE OVERVIEW ----------------- Two sets of waveform audio (.WAV) files are accessed by the program and played in conjunction with Tiny E's speech routines. One file is drawn at random from the "A" set (e.g., TWAV_A1.WAV) and played near the beginning of each Tiny E animation sequence. A second file is drawn at random from the "B" set (e.g., TWAV_B1.WAV) and played near the conclusion of each Tiny E animation sequence. Nine default .WAV files are included with the program. Six of these belong to the "A" set: TWAV_A1.WAV, TWAV_A2.WAV, TWAV_A3.WAV TWAV_A4.WAV, TWAV_A5.WAV, TWAV_A6.WAV Three belong to the "B" set: TWAV_B1.WAV, TWAV_B2.WAV, TWAV_B3.WAV NOTE: All .WAV files from both sets must be present in the default Tiny Elvis directory (i.e., the directory containing the TNYELVIS.EXE file). * FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON REPLACING THE ORIGINAL .WAV FILES WITH FILES OF YOUR OWN, PLEASE REFER TO APPENDIX C. * FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON AUGMENTING THE ORIGINAL .WAV FILES WITH ADDITIONAL FILES, PLEASE REFER TO APPENDIX D. * FOR FACTS ABOUT LAND WARS IN ASIA, PLEASE REFER TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. NOTE: Summary information on available .WAV files is provided in the Tiny Elvis Configuration dialog. APPENDIX C REPLACING THE WAVEFORM AUDIO FILES WITH SOME OF YOUR OWN -------------------------------------------------------- After using Tiny Elvis for a while, you may wish to replace one or more of the waveform audio files with some of your own. The program is actually designed to make this as easy as possible. You can replace one file, a few files, or all files. Just to be on the safe side, though, it's always a good idea to keep the original files backed up on a floppy disk, in case you wish to replace your replacements (!) later on. Tiny E will handle any type of Windows-compatible .WAV file you might choose to record. Remember, this is more a function of your installed waveform audio drivers than anything in the program itself. C.1 Playback Protocol --------------------- Tiny E's waveform playback routines are set to occur at two specific trigger points in the program's animation sequences. Each of these two trigger points has its own corresponding set of .WAV files. The .WAV files used in conjunction with the first trigger point are drawn from the "A" set; the files used in conjunction with the second point are drawn from the "B" set. Each sequence begins with Tiny E jumping to his feet, at which point he will "speak" a randomly-selected .WAV file from the "A" set. When playback of this file has completed, the figure will make his first broad hand gesture (arms stretching wide), which is accompanied by a randomly-selected file from the "B" set. He will then wait until the "B" file has finished before executing the remainder of his posturing sequence and returning to his default reclining position. For planning your own .WAV files, all "A" files should have something to do with an initial observation; all "B" files should be some sort of secondary or concluding comment. C.2 File Sizes/Formats ---------------------- Replacement .WAV files need not match the file size of the original files. All things being equal, however, they should be kept as short as possible. Replacement .WAV files need not match the bit format (8 or 16 bit), channel format (mono or stereo), or sampling rates of the original files. However, users should bear two things in mind: 1. .WAV files recorded in stereo and/or at sampling rates of 11 kHz of higher can become very large. If disk space is at a premium, you may wish to avoid recording and using higher-fidelity .WAV files. 2. .WAV files recorded at very low and very high sampling rates may not be compatible with all Windows audio drivers. If you plan to use your recorded files on other machines, you may wish to record at "standard" sampling rates of 11.025 kHz or 22.050 kHz. C.3 Filename Conventions ------------------------ Tiny Elvis accesses its companion .WAV files via filename strings that are hard-coded into the program. As a result, all .WAV files used by Tiny Elvis must follow a fairly strict filename convention: All filenames in the "A" set must exactly match those of that set's original six files. All filenames in the "B" set must exactly match those of that set's original three files. Reminder: All .WAV files from both sets must be present in the default Tiny Elvis directory (i.e., the directory containing the TNYELVIS.EXE file). APPENDIX D AUGMENTING THE WAVEFORM AUDIO FILES WITH ADDITIONAL FILES --------------------------------------------------------- Users caught up in the excitement of recording their own .WAV files for use with previous versions of Tiny Elvis have bemoaned the limitations on accessible files. For these users, the limit of six "A" set files and three "B" set files is too restrictive. Okay, fine. Tiny E can now access up to 20 different .WAV files in each set (40 in all). All you have to do is record the new files, make sure they are given filenames that Tiny Elvis will recognize (subject to the "Filename Conventions" notation below), and move them into the default Tiny Elvis directory. When run, the program automatically scans all valid .WAV files in its default directory. Consecutive files (from 1 to 20) in both set "A" and set "B", starting with TWAV_A1.WAV and TWAV_B1.WAV, are considered valid (please see the Filename Conventions section below). The program will provide summary information on accessible .WAV files in the Configuration dialog box. If you have questions about Tiny Elvis' playback protocol or specific .WAV file formats supported by the program, please refer to the Appendix topic "Replacing the Default .WAV Files". D.1 Filename Conventions ------------------------ Every time Tiny Elvis is run, the program scans its default directory for 40 specific .WAV files. The number of files the program actually uses depends entirely on the files that it can verify when first run. You do not need to have all 40 .WAV files for Tiny Elvis to run. Strictly speaking, you don't even have to have all nine of the default .WAV files; the program will work with as few as 2 .WAV files (TWAV_A1.WAV and TWAV_B1.WAV). What IS important is that the files be correctly named. The program will scan for, and accept, set "A" files with the following filenames (scanned in the order 1-20): TWAV_A1.WAV, TWAV_A2.WAV, TWAV_A3.WAV, TWAV_A4.WAV, TWAV_A5.WAV, TWAV_A6.WAV, TWAV_A7.WAV, TWAV_A8.WAV, TWAV_A9.WAV, TWAV_A10.WAV, TWAV_A11.WAV, TWAV_A12.WAV, TWAV_A13.WAV, TWAV_A14.WAV, TWAV_A15.WAV, TWAV_A16.WAV, TWAV_A17.WAV, TWAV_A18.WAV, TWAV_A19.WAV, TWAV_A20.WAV. The program will scan for, and accept, set "B" files with the following filenames (scanned in the order 1-20): TWAV_B1.WAV, TWAV_B2.WAV, TWAV_B3.WAV, TWAV_B4.WAV, TWAV_B5.WAV, TWAV_B6.WAV, TWAV_B7.WAV, TWAV_B8.WAV, TWAV_B9.WAV, TWAV_B10.WAV, TWAV_B11.WAV, TWAV_B12.WAV, TWAV_B13.WAV, TWAV_B14.WAV, TWAV_B15.WAV, TWAV_B16.WAV, TWAV_B17.WAV, TWAV_B18.WAV, TWAV_B19.WAV, TWAV_B20.WAV. IMPORTANT: The program will only make use of consecutive .WAV files verified, starting with TWAV_A1.WAV and TWAV_B1.WAV. The scanning process for each set stops as soon as it encounters a missing file; only those files verified up to that point are used. For example, if you have prepared ten .WAV files for set "A", but the file TWAV_A7.WAV is not found when Tiny Elvis is run, only files TWAV_A1.WAV through TWAV_A6.WAV will be accessed during animation sequences. NOTE: Summary information on available .WAV files is provided in the Tiny Elvis Configuration dialog. APPENDIX C LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES ------------------------ This program (Tiny Elvis for Windows) is hereby contributed "as is" to the public domain. The program, including its companion waveform audio and documentation files, is distributed as freeware. As such, it is not intended for sale, resale, purchase, or for-profit distribution in the shareware or retail marketplace. Users are free to install and run the program on any system or systems they wish (subject only to the program's hardware requirements). Users are also free to copy and re-distribute the original files in any manner of via any channel available to them (i.e., network, BBS, electronic information service, etc.). Users doing so must distribute only the original files (preferably in their original compressed format). When so distributed, it is the distributor's responsibility to ensure that the program files have been kept in their original state and format, and have not been altered, edited, disassembled, or recompiled in any way. That said, please do not disassemble the original executable or edit any of its embedded resources. Before release, this software was tested on a variety of hardware configurations, under the most rigorous test conditions possible. The author therefore warrants that the software will perform in substantial compliance with the specifications set forth in this text, provided that the software is used only on the computer hardware and operating system(s) for which it was designed. The author makes no other warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this software, including its quality or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will the author, or Pegasus Development, be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of or the inability to use this software, even if the author has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Neither the author nor Pegasus Development is responsible for any costs including, but not limited to, those incurred as a result of lost profits or revenues, loss of time or use of the software, loss of data, the cost of recovering software or data, the cost of substitute software, claims by third parties, or similar costs. So there. ________ Tiny Elvis New Tartar-Control Version 1.5 Freeware for the Public Domain "Software that promises nothing -- And Delivers!" Concept, Design, and Programming by Matthew T. Smith CompuServe: 70661,3235 Internet: 70661.3235@compuserve.com PEGASUS DEVELOPMENT 11900 Grant Place St. Louis, Missouri 63131 Users interested in information about our line of "real" applications software are invited to contact us at the above address, or by telephone at (314) 965-5630. "Microsoft" and "Windows" are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned herein aretrademarks or registered trademarks of their respective corporations and are hereby acknowledged. EASTER EGG ---------- Congratulations! If you've actually read the documentation through this far, you deserve a reward. 1. Open the "About Tiny Elvis" dialog box. 2. Move the cursor over the Elvis icon at the top of the dialog box. 3. Hold down the SHIFT key and double-click your left mouse button. Tiny E will thank you for your attention and do a quick dance, followed by the display of a dialog box containing a randomly-selected witty phrase. All this -plus- meatloaf recipe hidden in the help file!