4-7-11

                     4-7-11.PRG   v.1.04
                     ====================

              Copyright  EasyPill Software 1992

      4_7_11.PRG is SHAREWARE and may be distributed freely
provided that the associated file 4_7_11.ASC is kept intact.
Registered users will also receive a program which will allow
them to design their own set of personalised cards, PLUS
THE REAL BONUS, a Desk accessory version. The D.A. is
accessible from within any GEM application (any program that
uses menus), making it possible to play a quick game at the
click of a button. You can return to whatever it was you were
doing, exactly as you left it.
 
See SHAREWARE section for details.

     4_7_11 runs in Medium and High resolution only, Low res.
isn't really up to the job. The standard (.PRG), and Desk Acc
(.ACC) versions are almost identical, any differences will be
shown in the text. Notice that this makes 4_7_11.ACC a very
rare beast indeed, a Desk Acc that uses menus.


A WALK THROUGH THE MENUS
========================
                        
Desk       Info ...     Just that.

           Desk Accs    Only the .PRG version of course. In
                        the .ACC version any other D.A.s can
                        be reached by clicking on Exit.
                        See Quit below.

                       

Games      Four         The four card game, also known as
                        Russian patience

           Seven        The seven card game, the one everyone
                        knows

           Eleven       You guessed it, the twelve card game,
                        also known as 'Casting out Elevens'.

           Redeal       Allows you to retry the previous game. 
                        (Depends on scoring system).
                        See also KEYBOARD.

           Quit         Return to desktop.

                        In the .ACC version this is shown as
                        'Exit'. You can never really quit a
                        D.A. but you can close it down and
                        re-open it whenever you please. The
                        state of the game will be exactly as
                        you left it.  

                        
   The items in the next menu only refer to the 7-card game

Options    Auto finish  Move cards to piles at end of game.

           Auto turn    Turn cards as they become exposed

           Part moves   Allows parts of runs to be moved.
                        Also allows cards to be moved from
                        the piles back on to the table.
                        (Depends on scoring system).

           3 card draw  Allows cards to be drawn in singles
                        or threes.

                    

Scoring    Display      Displays the scoring system of the 
                        current game in the top right hand
                        corner. Since this is also a favourite
                        place for corner clocks, 4-7-11 has
                        been designed to work transparently
                        with Neodesk in 24 hour mode. Most
                        other clocks are similar but this
                        option can be turned off to avoid
                        conflict if required. 
                        The score itself is always displayed,
                        either above or below the pack.

           System       Selects the scoring system, either
                        Vegas or Basic.

           Clear score  Just that.

           Pull down    Allows the use of normal or pull down
                        menus.
                        Pull down menus are slightly harder to
                        get used to but interfere less. Click
                        and hold down over the menu title,
                        move pointer to highlight the required
                        item, release button to select.
                        Available in .ACC version only.

           Go back      Undoes the previous move, but there
                        is a points penalty..
                        (Depends on scoring system).

                         



HOW TO PLAY
===========

 NOTE.  The Aces always count low (value 1). This applies to
        all games.

The 4-card game.
                  The aim here is to finish with just the four
Kings left on the table. Cards are dealt four at a time, one
to each column. Play depends on the four cards at the bottom
of each column. A card can be removed (by clicking) if it has
a lower value and is the same suit as one of the others. Any
empty column can be filled by moving a card from the bottom of
another. When no more cards can be removed four more cards are
dealt (Click on the pack). A bonus of 20 points is available
if four cards of the same value are exposed and a bonus of 52
if the game works out.

The 7-card game.
                  The aim here is to remove all the cards to
four piles, according to suit. There are many ways of playing
this game, what some people consider quite legal others will
say is blatant cheating. The scoring system that you choose,
and the options selected, will determine what you can get away
with.
            The principle behind the scoring systems is this:
If you have set Vegas you will not be allowed to use any
option or 'Go back' that gives you an advantage or lets you
have a peek. For example there is no 'Go back' if 'Auto turn'
is selected, no part moves or redeals, and no changing from
triple to single draw in the middle of a game.

Setting Basic scoring lets you get away with whatever you can.
        
                                                                             
The 11-card game.
                 The aim here is to remove all the cards.
Twelve piles of four cards are laid out, leaving four cards
spare. Cards can then be removed in pairs if they add up to 11
Cards are selected by clicking and can then be removed by
either double clicking on one of them, or using the O.K box.
As well as pairs, a Jack, Queen and King can also be removed
in the same way. Any piles that become vacant can be filled
from the spares.

In the Basic scoring system you will get a visual guide to how
many cards remain in each pile.

 
SCORING
=======
         
VEGAS    scoring is cumulative and you pay 52 points for each
         deck you use.
BASIC    scoring is reset each game and the decks are free.
 
you earn points for removing cards as follows :

               4 card       1 point
               7 card       5 points
              11 card       1 point

Penalty points for using 'Go back' are the same but note the
extra penalty for cards that are put back after they have
already scored.


KEYBOARD ENTRIES
================

               4_7_11 is unashamedly mouse based. If ever you
need an excuse, it's an excellent mouse trainer and gives good
practice in most of the mouse techniques, just the thing to
try out a new mouse accelerator. There are, however, a couple
of features left over from the development stages that are
useful.
               Press Alternate and S to save a particular
deck to memory, it can then be replayed or issued as a
challenge by pressing Alternate and R. Rigged decks are
available for all three games at start up, but anything you
have saved yourself will be lost after a reset.


A WORD ABOUT MEMORY
===================

                  4_7_11 is full screen and graphics intensive
so it uses quite a lot of memory. This is never a problem with
the .PRG version, but if you can't spare about 180K for the
.ACC version you should disable it by renaming to 4_7_11.ACX.
On a basic 520 machine memory will be a bit tight using the
D.A. it all depends on what else you want to run at the same
time.

WHAT PROBLEM ?
==============

P. The menus have stopped working.
A. PRG version  -  The menus will be disabled if a Desk Acc.
has been opened. Since 4_7_11 is full screen there is little
point in doing anything while a D.A. is active, it would just
get completely buried anyway. Better to close it down before
continuing with the game.
   ACC version  -  Make sure you have not selected 'Pull down'
from the Scoring menu. Click and hold down over 'Scoring'. Is
there a tick against 'Pull down' ?

P. I can't select the 'Redeal' option.
A. Certain options are only available if the Basic scoring
system is selected first.


A WORD ABOUT SPEED
==================

                  Only one set of data is used for the cards.
This is held in medium resolution format and converted 'on the
fly' if the program is run in monochrome. This gives a
slightly more leisurely feel in High res, but it saves on
memory and avoids keeping RSC files on the same disc. This
might not be so apparent to Blitter users. For the same reason
monochrome graphics don't do full justice to the resolution
available.
(NOTE for registered users, this means you will need Medium
res. to use the Card Designer).


SHAREWARE
=========
           4-7-11 is SHAREWARE and contributions are invited.
Anything between 5 and 10 pounds sounds reasonable. As an
incentive you will receive by return the most excellent Desk
Accessory version, and a program that will allow you to design
and install your own pack of cards.

       Available from     
                        EasyPill Software
                        20 Hawkesworth House
                        Cavendish Road
                        LONDON SW4 8NA

          Feedback, bugs and news of incompatibilities always
welcome. If you have a favourite type of patience you would
like to see incorporated let me know and I'll see what can be
done.

     
                Best regards     John Phillips.