FLASH CARD

OVERVIEW:
   Flash Card is a program designed to help students study for almost any kind of test:
	History
	Science
	Vocabulary
	Math terms and properties
	Government
	Computer Science
	Grammar
	Humanities
	Certification Exams
	And almost any other subject . . .

   Students can type notes into Flash Card while they're studying and review them instantly.  Then they can add more.  The flash cards are specific to the test they will be taking so no study time is lost on irrelevant material.

REQUIREMENTS:
	Windows 95 or later.
	This program should work with Windows NT/2000.  However, it has not been tested on NT and the only Windows 2000 computer tested was not able to complete the installation program.  This could have been a problem with that particular machine.  If you are running Windows NT or Windows 2000, please let me know how well this works (good or bad) so I can update this readme file and perhaps fix any problems.  My e-mail address is near the end of this document.  Thank you.

PURPOSE AND LEGAL NOTES:
   Thank you for chosing Flash Card.  I wrote this program while studying for a test for which flash cards were not available.  It helped me so much, I knew I had to tweak the program for a more widespread use.  I think you will find this program just as indespensible a study tool as I have.  To promote this, I not only allow free distribution of this program, I encourage it!  Please share it with your friends and teachers who are encouraged to distribute this freely to their students.  Please note, though, that the key word is FREE.  I am charging nothing for this program, and no one else allowed to charge anything either.  If you know of anyone requiring any payment for this program, please let me know at the e-mail address at the end of this document.  Thank you.

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   Now that we have the legalities out of the way,
   let's get on to the fun stuff!
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INSTALLATION:
   To install Flash Card, click on the Start button, then choose Run.  Type "a:\setup" (if the program is on your a: drive, otherwise, substitute the proper drive and directory).

THE PROGRAM:
   The program is quite simple.  I suggest you place the program into its own folder, although this is not required.  The only requirement is that the file "Flash Card.mdb" be located in the same folder as the file "Flash Card.exe".  If you have already installed Flash Card in one folder, and decide you need to install another copy on your computer (e.g. you are studying for two tests, and you want a different copy for each test), simply run the setup program again and install Flash Card in a different folder.  (Make sure you install the program and don't simply copy the previous installation as this will copy all the terms and definitions you have already entered.)  But you MUST specify a different folder from the first installation.  It would probably work best to tell Setup to create a folder called "c:\FlashCard\History", etc.  You do this by clicking "Change Folder" and typing the folder name in the space provided.
   When you install the program, it will ask you where in the START MENU you want the program to be located.  Again, I suggest you rename the Flash Card folder it provides to the name of the subject you will be using this for.  For example: History, or Flash Card Biology.  This will help you keep track of each separate installation.

CREATE:
   When you start Flash Card, you will see two options: Create and Review.  Create is used to input terms and definitions into the database.  I suggest you write your terms and definitions Jeopardy-style (where the term and the definition rely on each other to be a complete answer).  For example:

	Term:		George Washington

	Definition:	This man was the first President of the United States.

The reason for this will be discussed shortly.  After you have typed the term and the definition, click OK.  Your entry has been saved and you are ready to start another.  You may click Cancel (or Exit) at any time to quit without saving the current entry.
   Please note that, while there is no limit to the number of entries you may put in the database, for both terms and definitions you are limited to 255 characters (including spaces) each per entry.  While the terms box was not designed for such length, you may very well find yourself running out of room in the definitions text box.  There is no way around this at this time.  If you run into this problem (the text box simply will not allow any more input), try to rephrase your definition so that it uses fewer characters.

REVIEW:
   The other primary option, Review, quizzes you on the entries you have made.  Again, you have two options: Show terms and Show definitions.  This determines which portion of the entry will be revealed to you.  This is why I suggest the Jeopardy approach; you will get twice as much out as what you put in.  When you know every definition by heart, you can test yourself on the terms.  To reveal the answer, click Show (or press enter), then click the Next button to move on to the next term/definition.  All entries are "flashed" at you in a completely random order, so occasionally you may see the same question twice in a row.  Also, if you notice a mistake you made, you may make a correction during the review and it will instantly be saved to the database.  Pressing enter moves to the next question, so to input a new line, press SHIFT+ENTER.

IMPROVEMENTS:
   New in version 1.2:
	The Restart button has been added to allow you to delete all entries in the database.  This action cannot be undone!  It is put here in lieu of an uninstall program (which may be placed in a future version, once certain difficulties are addressed).  If you have a cumulative final, you should only use this button after you complete your course.  Otherwise, you may use it after you pass a certain test.  This will allow you to reuse the installation (thus saving space on your computer).

FEEDBACK:
   Please let me know of any problems you find with this program.  I will correct the problem (if possible) and send you an upgrade.  As long as the problem is in the program and not the database, you will not lose any data by upgrading.
   Flash Card is really too small to charge any money for (asking for $5 in the mail is more trouble than it's worth), so updating/enhancing this product is not a high priority for me.  But let me know what you think; if several people make the same suggestion or if your idea really grabs my attention I will put it in Flash Card 2.0

   You may reach me at smiller@axxys.com

A FINAL NOTE TO TEACHERS:
   Your students will love you if you preload Flash Card with terms they should know, and this will certainly help younger students and students who are poor at taking notes.  It will also allow you to develop a library of Flash Cards to be used in the future.  But there is a mysterious physical connection between note taking and memory.  Most students will get more out of entering their own flash cards, just as they get more out of homework than they get out of photocopied notes--if they bother to do it.
   Obviously, the ultimate decision is up to you, and maybe you will arrive at a compromise, such as preloading a few basic questions.  But whatever you choose, I firmly belive you will find your students better test takers by using this program.

Once again, thank you.

Scott Miller (no, not THE Scott Miller)