Bert's Dinosaurs
(Including All the Bert's Coloring Programs)
A Coloring Program For Introducing
Young Children to the Computer
Shareware Version 3.0 User's Guide
Introduction
This instruction manual was produced for use with the Bert's
Dinosaurs program. Several other Bert's coloring programs are also
available and these instructions are for use with these programs as
well.
Bert's Dinosaurs is an enjoyable coloring program for children of
all ages, but is especially useful for introducing young children to the
computer. Bert's Dinosaurs was designed by educators to be used by young
children with a minimum of assistance by adults. As a coloring program
Bert's Dinosaurs is superior to many other children's coloring programs
in that it allows the user to place the various dinosaurs, all in four
different sizes, on a variety of backgrounds. This allows children to
easily create their own picture before coloring. The opportunity to
create their own picture will allow children to take pride in their
unique creation.
When first started Bert's Dinosaurs displays a title screen and then
the drawing surface with eight buttons on the left. Children can operate
the program with the mouse alone. A window is provided which allows
children to write a short story about their picture using the keyboard.
The fact that they created the picture will help provide the motivation
to write about it. One of the best ways for children to learn to read is
to write, even if their initial attempts include phonetic spelling which
is not always correct. If your child is not ready to attempt writing
his/her story, then another good strategy is for you to type in your
child's story as he/she dictates it to you. Then have your child read
back the story he/she created. This is another very effective beginning
reading strategy. They will love creating a setting, writing or
dictating their own story and printing out a copy.
Installation
Bert's Dinosaurs requires an IBM compatible computer with at least
512K of memory, a VGA display and a Microsoft compatible mouse. The
installation process is quite easy.
First, make a backup copy of your Bert's Dinosaurs program disk. If
necessary consult your PC-DOS/MS-DOS manual for a description of the
Diskcopy command. Save the original program disk in a safe place and use
the copy as the working program disk.
Second, while it is possible to use Bert's Dinosaurs on a floppy
disk system, a hard disk system is a necessity for reasonable speed and
storing a number of pictures your child has created. To install Bert's
Dinosaurs on a hard disk use the following steps:
1. Insert the floppy disk in your computer in drive A
2. Type A:
3. Type INSTALL A C
Bert's Dinosaurs Version 3.0 Page 1 of 5
Any combination of drive letters can be used, the first is the
source and the second is the destination. For example, INSTALL B D will
install the program from floppy drive B to hard drive D. The
installation will create a directory called BERT3 on your hard drive and
you will need to enter a CD\BERT3 to change to the Bert's Dinosaurs
directory before running the program. Once installed just type BERT to
start the program. If your computer gives a series of beeps when you run
Bert's Dinosaurs it is probably because it cannot find the image files
it needs to run, and other problems are showing up as well. All the
files for Bert's Dinosaurs need to be in the same directory for the
program to operate successfully. You should not mix the .DOT image files
from Bert's Dinosaurs with those of versions previous to 3.0 as they are
in a different format.
Operation of Bert's Dinosaurs is quite easy. The eight buttons are
configured to do the following when the left mouse button is clicked on
them.
The Command Buttons
SELECT A DINOSAUR
When beginning a new picture six small backgrounds are displayed.
The user clicks with the mouse on the selected scene to have it drawn on
the screen full size.
Next, a group of six dinosaurs are displayed. Clicking the mouse on
any one of the dinosaurs will select it. If the stop sign is clicked on,
no dinosaur will be selected and you are returned to the drawing
surface.
Clicking the mouse on the box between the stop sign and the green
arrows sets the voice status. Voice can be set to on, off or voice
only - meaning the dinosaur's only say their name through the computer's
internal speaker. The sound quality is somewhat limited due to PC
speaker quality, but the advantage is that no additional hardware is
needed.
If the down green arrow is selected the next group of dinosaurs will
be displayed for possible selection. The up arrow returns to the
previous group of dinosaurs.
The selected dinosaur appears in four different sizes. After the
dinosaur of the desired size is chosen, a rectangle outlining its size
will appear in the upper left. When the left mouse button is held down
on the rectangle it can be dragged into its desired position. When the
left mouse button is released, the dinosaur will be drawn and any
previously drawn lines under it will be erased. This allows you to place
one dinosaur in front of the next. It is best to first place all the
desired dinosaurs on the drawing surface before filling with color, as
some colors cannot be drawn over with a dinosaur outline. An additional
feature is that the dinosaur figures can also be drawn in reverse. To
reverse a figure simply hold down the right mouse button as you release
the left one when you position the dinosaur on the drawing surface.
SELECT A COLOR
When this button is clicked a group of thirty colors is displayed.
When a color is chosen it fills the crayon in the button. This color
will fill the portion of the picture clicked on. Clicking outside the
color box restores the screen with no action.
Bert's Dinosaurs Version 3.0 Page 2 of 5
WRITING A STORY
Clicking on this button displays a window where a story can be
typed. Along with the normal alphanumeric characters, the backspace and
delete keys will erase characters. In addition the left and right arrow
keys will move the cursor to any position in the window. The complete
window is displayed, which consists of 8 lines of 38 characters.
Pressing the Enter key or filling the entire 8 lines closes the story
window. If you have problems displaying the window because it was
previously filled to overflowing try typing a backspace before opening
the window with a mouse click.
ERASE
This selection will erase the current drawing surface as well as the
story area. The user must verify the erase by choosing a happy face for
erase or sad face to cancel the erase.
SAVE
The drawing surface and story area can be saved by clicking on this
button and then selecting the save box with the arrow pointing inward.
While simple for adults, this function may need explaining with young
children. Care must be taken because selecting the retrieve box with the
arrow pointing outward will load the stored image and story, erasing the
one currently on the screen. When storing an image the user is prompted
for a name. It should be a simple eight character or less file name with
no extension or path name. When retrieving an image a large window
appears containing the names of the images previously saved. Simply
clicking on a name will retrieve the image. Many drawings can be stored
by giving them different names. Again, this may be confusing for small
children. A suggestion is to use his or her name with numbers for easy
recall, ie. bert1, bert2, bert3, etc. Clicking outside the load/save box
restores the screen with no action.
PRINT
The image and story can be printed on several different types of
printers: Epson or IBM dot matrix printers that support either 9 or 24
pin graphics, the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet series of printers and the
Hewlett-Packard PaintJet and DeskJet 500C color printers. Other printer
brands that support these formats will also be compatible. The user need
only click on the type of printer he has to begin printing. Once a
printer has been selected, the program will remember the last printer
selected and assume that it will be used for future printing. Clicking
on the print button will then use this as the default printer. If the
type of printer needs to be changed simply hold the right mouse button
down while clicking the left one on the print button. This will allow
you to choose the printer you desire.
UNDO
Clicking on this button erases the last dinosaur that was placed on
the drawing surface. Misplaced dinosaurs can be removed with this
command without effecting the image underneath. If the right mouse
button is held down when releasing the left one the last color fill will
Bert's Dinosaurs Version 3.0 Page 3 of 5
be undone. In both cases the undo function will only work on the most
recently placed dinosaur or color fill.
STOP
Selecting this button exits the program. A second check on a happy
or sad face must be done to confirm exiting the program. After a support
shareware message is displayed, clicking the mouse will return the user
to DOS.
Additional Programs Available
Bert's Dinosaurs has been written in a way that it can restructure
itself depending on the image files that it finds available. If image
files for Bert's African Animals, Bert's Dinosaurs, and Bert's
Prehistoric Animals are found by the program, the user is prompted to
choose which program to run. Each program contains a different set of
topic images which your child will enjoy. The following programs are
currently available and others may be added.
Bert's African Animals
Bert's Prehistoric Animals
Bert's Whales and Dolphins
When registering your copy of Bert's Dinosaurs these additional
programs are available for a small increase over the registration price.
Registered users may purchase additional programs at any time.
Registration
You may freely copy and distribute this shareware Version 3.0.
Shareware users who find Bert's Dinosaurs useful should support the
author and register their copy. The form found below should be used for
registration. Registered users will receive a copy of Version 3.1 of
Bert's Dinosaurs with additional images and a printed manual.
The registration fee is $20. ($30. outside the United States.) Please
include $2.00 for shipping and handling. A complete listing of the
program, which is written in the newest version of Borland C++, is also
available for an additional $20.00. Additional programs such as Bert's
African Animals, Bert's Prehistoric Animals, etc. are available for $5.00
each when registering your program.
Checks should be made out to:
Theron Wierenga, P.O. Box 595, Muskegon, MI 49443
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Registration Form
Bert's Dinosaurs 3.0
Name____________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________
City_______________________________________State_____Zip________
Disk size desired: 5 1/4 in._______ 3 1/2 in._______
Registration fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00 __________
Registration fee (Outside the USA) . . . . . . 30.00 __________
Borland C++ program code . . . . . . . . . . . 20.00 __________
Additional program ( ) . . . 5.00 __________
Additional program ( ) . . . 5.00 __________
Additional program ( ) . . . 5.00 __________
Additional program ( ) . . . 5.00 __________
Shipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___2.00___
Total enclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________
Method of payment: Check or MO______ MasterCard______ Visa______
Account number____________________________ Expir. date__________
Signature (necessary)___________________________________________
How did you receive your copy of this program?__________________
________________________________________________________________
Suggested improvements__________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Bert's Dinosaurs 3.0 is a software product of
Theron Wierenga
P.O. Box 595
Muskegon, MI 49443
Bert's Dinosaurs Version 3.0 Page 5 of 5
