Interactive Fiction Reference Card for the  

Atari ST
__________________________________________________________ 


I.  What You Need 

Required 

	[] Atari ST series computer

Optional 

 	[] Extra 3 1/2 inch disks (for SAVEs) 

	[] Second disk drive (for convenience with SAVEs) 

	[] Hard disk drive (for faster execution)

 	[] Compatible printer (for SCRIPTing) 


II.  Making a Backup Copy

	To make a backup copy of the story, copy the story disk onto a

blank, formatted disk.  You should use the backup copy each time you

start the story.  Store the original disk in a safe place.


III.  Starting the Story

  	Turn on the Atari ST and wait for the desktop to appear.

Insert the story disk and open the disk window.  Click once with the

mouse on the story (.PRG) icon to select it, then choose Open from the

File menu.  A standard shortcut is to double-click on the story icon.


IV.  Talking to the Story 

  	Whenever you see the prompt (>), the story is waiting for your

instructions.  You may type a full line of instructions at a time.  If

you make a mistake, use the backspace key to erase the error.  When

you have finished typing in your instructions, press the RETURN key.

The story will respond and the prompt (>) will reappear.

  	If a description will not fit on the screen all at once,

[MORE] will appear at the bottom of the screen.  After reading the

screen, press any key to see the rest of the description.


V.  The Status Line 

  	At the top of the screen, you will see a status line.  This

line is updated after every move to show your current position in the

story.  Depending upon the type of story, it may also show other

information:


Score and Moves 

  	In stories that keep a score, such as the ZORK () underground

adventures, the right side of the status line will show something like

this:

        Score: 245/920 

 	The first number is your score and the second is the total number 

of moves you have made.  In the example above, you have 245 points 

in 920 moves. 


Time 

        In stories that keep track of the time, such as the mystery thriller 

DEADLINE (), the right side of the status line will look something like 

the following: 

        Time: 9:22 a.m. 

        This shows the current time of day in the story. 


VI.  SCRIPTing 

  	The SCRIPT function is an optional feature which is not necessary

to complete the story and may not be available with certain hardware. 


  	If the SCRIPT command works with your hardware configuration, you 

may make a transcript as you go along: 


  	1.  Connect the printer directly to the printer port at the

back of the Atari ST.  Turn it on and make sure it is ready.

  	2.  Start the story as described in Section III.  

	3.  Type SCRIPT at the prompt (>) to start the transcript.  To

stop the transcript, type UNSCRIPT. 

  	4.  SCRIPT and UNSCRIPT may be used as often as desired.


VII.  Saving a Story Position

  	You can save your current story position to any disk in any

drive, space permitting.  The save disk must have been previously 

initialized.  Any other data on the save disk will not be affected.


  	1.  Type SAVE at the prompt (>).  The standard Atart ST dialog

box for selecting files will be displayed.  The directory in which

your save will be stored (including drive identifier) appears near the

top of the box.


	2A.  Using a single drive

	If you want to SAVE to the story disk itself, skip to #3.

Otherwise, remove the story disk from the drive and insert your save

disk.  Click with the mouse on the shaded "title bar" area of the

inner directory window to display the directory of the save disk.


	2B.  Using multiple drives

	If your save disk is in a different drive than the story disk,

you must identify the drive by changing the directory specification

(the line near the top of the dialog box).  Edit this line so that the

drive letter corresponds to the drive containing your save disk.  Click

with the mouse anywhere INSIDE of the inner directory window to display 

the directory of the save disk.

	The following keys are useful for editing items in the file

selection box:

	[] Up and down cursor keys - select item to edit.

	[] Left and right cursor keys - position cursor within item.

	[] Backspace and delete keys - erase the character before

or after the cursor.

	[] ESC key - erase the whole item.


  	3.  Choose a file name under which to save your position and

type it into the selection area.  It is not necessary to type ".SAV" after

the name, this is added automatically.

  	4.  Click on the OK button, or press the RETURN key.  If you want 

to cancel the save operation, click on the CANCEL button.


The disk drive will spin for several seconds.  If all is well,  the story 

will respond: 

  OK 

If it responds: 

  FAILED 

consult the troubleshooting section. 

  	You may now continue the story.  


VIII.  Restoring a Saved Story Position 

	You can return to a previously saved story position at any

time, as follows.

  	1.  Type RESTORE at the prompt (>).  A standard dialog box

will appear, showing a list of your saved positions on the indicated

disk.  If there are more save files on the disk than will fit in

the window, the scroll bar becomes active.  If you want to restore

from a different disk, change disks as described in Section VII.

  	2.  Click once over the name of the position you want to restore, 

then click on the OK button, or press the RETURN key.  If you want 

to cancel the restore operation, click on the CANCEL button.


IX.  Color Display

	If you are using a color monitor, you can change the colors

used in the display.  At the prompt (>), hold down the SHIFT key and

press the cursor keys to cycle through the available combinations.

	If you are using a monochrome monitor, you can display

reversed video in the same way.


X.  Troubleshooting

A.	 If the story fails to load properly, or if SAVE, RESTORE or

SCRIPT fails, check each of the following items.  If none of these

offers a solution, consult your Atari dealer for assistance.


	1. Inspect all disks carefully for any visible damage. 

 	2. For SAVEs, make sure the SAVE disk is not write-protected

(the small opening in the corner of the disk should be closed).

	3. For SCRIPTing, make sure the printer is connected properly, enabled 

 for printing, not out of paper, etc. 

  	4. Try again, the problem may only be momentary. 


  	If all else fails, you can call the Infocom TECHNICAL HOTLINE at 

(617) 576-3190.  Please note that this number is for technical problems

only.


B.  If you receive an error message, run the following procedure: 


  After booting the disk and receiving an initial screen, type $VERIFY. 

The disk drive will spin for a minute or so, and a message similar to 

one of the following will appear. 

 	1.  "DISK CORRECT."  The disk has not been damaged; the data

is intact. This may indicate a problem with your hardware (usually

with the disk drive).  It is also possible the story contains a bug.

If you suspect a bug, call the Infocom Technical Hotline number.


	2.  "DISK FAILED" or "DISK READ ERROR."  This reply indicates

either hardware trouble or disk damage.  Repeat the $VERIFY process

several times.  Also try the $VERIFY process on another computer (such

as your dealer's).  If the story ever replies "DISK CORRECT", the

problem is in your hardware.

	If you repeatedly get an internal error message with more than

one computer, the disk has most likely been damaged.  Please send the

disk only to Infocom for testing.