============
 BASECRUNCH
============

--------------------------------
Title: BaseCrunch
Version: 0.90
Date: 1998
Authors: Ryan Elisei (ThePlague); Bart Trzynadlowski (The Good Guy)
Email: *N/A*; trzy@powernet.net
ICQ: 5573871; 10127662
Official URL: http://www.powernet.net/~trzy/base.htm

Welcome to BaseCrunch v0.90! BaseCrunch converts base 10 (our mathematical
system) to binary, hexadecimal, or oct values.
        BaseCrunch was intended to be a base conversion engine which will
later be incorporated into other programs by ThePlague and The Good Guy
such as Plug-In Calculator.
        This README.TXT file for BaseCrunch v0.90 contains technical and legal
information. For instructions on how to use the program, refer to the 
MANUAL.TXT file.

        Table of Contents
        1. General Overview
        2. Requirements & Installation 
        3. Starting BaseCrunch
        4. Technical Support
        5. Technical Overview
           5.1 Files Included
           5.2 Compiler/Coding Info
           5.3 Version History
        6. Frequently Asked Questions
        7. Credits
           7.1 Special Thanks
        8. Source Code Documentation
        9. Contact and Legal Information

===================
1. GENERAL OVERVIEW
===================

BaseCrunch is a program that converts values to different base systems from
base 10. In the next version, hopefully BaseCrunch will be able to convert
different base values to base 10.
        Other programs written by the authors include Plug-In Calculator,
Graph Plot, and Combat Sled by The Good Guy (Bart Trzynadlowski) and QUAD.BAS
by ThePlague (Ryan Elisei).

        So, just how powerful is BaseCrunch? Well, it has outperformed some
very good HEX calculators and conversion programs. With binary values the
program has a range of converting numbers from -920 trillion to 920 trillion!

==============================
2. REQUIREMENTS & INSTALLATION
==============================

To install BaseCrunch, you have to decompress the BC090.ZIP file in the
desired directory using a file decompression utility that can handle .ZIP
files. We reccomend PKUNZIP. Get it on the net at http://www.pkware.com.

Requirements are as follows:

* Computer Type: IBM-compatible. CPU - XT, 2x86, 3x86, or better.
  Operating System - DOS or any other O/S that can effectively run DOS-native
  programs. RAM - at least 128K. Video Hardware - VGA 640x480 compliant setup
  w/ color monitor. Drive Space - about 70K of free hard disk space.

======================
3. STARTING BASECRUNCH
====================== 

To start BaseCrunch, type BASE in the appropriate directory. BaseCrunch uses
a special batch file to initiate the program so when using Windows to start
BaseCrunch, double-click on the BASE (may be listed as BASE.BAT) file.

* For more help on how the use BaseCrunch, refer to the MANUAL.TXT file
  as well as the online help feature in the main menu of the program.
  
====================
4. TECHNICAL SUPPORT
====================

BaseCrunch's flaws and errors are usually limited to your system incompliance
or human error. Common errors include:

* Incorrect results: this can be caused by using letters or characters. Only
  use numbers. Also, if you use a number that is not part of the base (ie.
  using 2 with binary who's only numbers are 1 and 0.)

* Odd crashes: if you are dumped back into your operating system with a
  cryptic, numerical error message chances are your O/S is acting up,
  you don't have enough RAM to convert extremely large values, it's an
  overflow of some sort, or something other reason which is undetermined.

At the start-up of BaseCrunch there is a routine which tests to see if your
system is VGA compliant. If the program crashes with a readable error message
during this start-up routine, your computer almost certainly does not have
a VGA mode supported by BaseCrunch.

=================
5. TECHNICAL INFO
=================

BaseCrunch is a native DOS program that was created using Microsoft QuickBASIC
v4.5 and Microsoft PDS 7.1 as well as MS-DOS Editor. BaseCrunch uses equations
and algothrims to convert values. Some of these algothrims were translated
from Assembly and QuickBASIC versions were created to work with this pure-QB
software.

5.1 FILES INCLUDED

The following is a list of files included with BaseCrunch v0.90. If you
don't have one of these files, chances are you are not getting the complete
BaseCrunch package.

BASE.BAT     | The BaseCrunch batch file. Run this.
BC090.EXE    | The main program file. 
BC090.BAS    | The QuickBASIC source code.
README.TXT   | The technical and legal documentation.
MANUAL.TXT   | The manual documentation.

5.2 COMPILER/CODING INFO

BaseCrunch was programmed using Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.5 and QuickBASIC 7.1
on a Pentium 166MHz 80MB RAM system running Windows 95. BaseCrunch was also
partially coded and tested on a 3x86 with 4096K of RAM running DOS and Windows
3.1.
        BaseCrunch's base conversion algothrims and equations were compiled
using PDS 7.1 on a Compaq 4716 Pentium 200MHz 32MB RAM system.
        MS-DOS Editor was used to create the text files and batch file and
an older DOS version of PKZIP was used to compress the program.

5.3 VERSION HISTORY

This is the first version of BaseCrunch, version 0.90. More versions with
more features will follow!

=============================
6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
=============================

This is a simple FAQ for BaseCrunch:

Q1) Will BC convert negative binary, octadecimal, and hexadecimal numbers
    to decimal?

A1) No, it only converts negative values of decimal to oct, bin, or hex.

Q2) How big can the numbers get.

A2) Mostly to 920 trillion.

==========
7. CREDITS
==========

BaseCrunch was a team effort between:

Ryan Elisei (ThePlague) ICQ: 5573871 
Bart Trzynadlowski (The Good Guy) ICQ: 10127662 Email: trzy@powernet.net

7.1 SPECIAL THANKS

There were many people who helped in some little way or another contribute
to BaseCrunch. Without them, BaseCrunch would still be under development!

Bloodknight      - The one and only!
Pyrus            - Fellow die-hard.
Omega            - Hope you dig this!
Hannibal & Chaos - My other halves.
Medivh           - Christian brother and mentor (our inspiration).
Tsugumo          - A computer whiz and great artist :)
Marcade          - An awesome friend!

============================
8. SOURCE CODE DOCUMENTATION
============================

Source code has been included in a BAS file. You need QuickBASIC PDS 7.1 to
properly compile it though. If you have QB 4.5, just change any statement that
says DIM <whatever> as CURRENCY to DIM <whatever> as LONG.
        If you want to include any of the algothrims in one of your own progs
be sure to give us credit and mention the BaseCrunch engine as well!

* Have fun and learn!

================================
9. CONTACT AND LEGAL INFORMATION
================================

* Ryan Elisei (ThePlague) Email - Anonymous ICQ: 5573871

* Bart Trzynadlowski (The Good Guy) Email - trzy@powernet.net ICQ: 10127662

* Please DO NOT distribute this program (BASE.BAT, BC090.EXE, README.TXT,
MANUAL.TXT) unless you include all the files intact.
* Please DO NOT claim this is something you made -- give full credit to the
authors.

Thank You,

The Good Guy (Bart Trzynadlowski)
ThePlague (Ryan Elisei)

Created 1998


