CASTLE'S RABBITRY AND COLOR GENETICS PROGRAM

README.TXT FILE

Check your Memory Configuration before Installation:
Some computers have had problems running my program because their memory was not configured properly. Before you install the program please verify that you have at least 580K bytes available for program use, 600K is using Windows 95, as follows:

Windows 95: See #3 below
Windows 3.x: Exit Windows, select Exit from the File menu.
DOS: If you are using a menu system please exit to DOS
At the DOS Prompt type MEM then press ENTER

Look for the line that says "Largest executable program size".

To the right of that will be some numbers like "615K "

If you have at least 580K or more your computer should be able to run my program without any problems from the DOS prompt with windows shut down.

If you would like to run it from Windows you will probably need to have at least 600K. If you run into any errors or problem when running in Windows please run from DOS with windows shutdown.

Memory Management:

If your computer has less than 580K you may run into some unexpected

errors. To correct this memory problem you will need to use a Memory

Manager program.

1. DOS 6.x comes with MEMMAKER which does an adequate job of memory

optimization. To use this just go to any DOS prompt and type MEMMAKER.

If MEMMAKER is not on your computer you will get a response that says

"File not found". MEMMAKER is not included with Windows 95/DOS 7.0.

2. If you don't have MEMMAKER another good memory management program is

QEMM V8.0 (for Win95, Win3.1, DOS) from Quarterdeck. This will cost

between $55 and $80.

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To Check your memory:

Click on START

Click on RUN

In the Text box type: MEM Then Press Enter

Look at the third line from the bottom it should say,

Largest Executable Program Size 600,000 or more

If not you may be able to increase that by revising your CONFIG.SYS file

Make sure you have a bootable disk before you do the following (just incase).

To view and edit your CONFIG.SYS file:

Click on START

Click on RUN

In the Text box type: EDIT C:\CONFIG.SYS

Then Press Enter

The following lines should be in your CONFIG.SYS File, if not, revise them

as necessary:

The last line is for your CD-ROM driver which will different than what is

listed here. Just make sure that it starts with Devicehigh= instead of

just Device=

DO NOT change the Path and file name.

Make the changes above and then click on File then click on save. Then Exit

You will need to restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Repeat the memory check above.

Setting Up the rest of your Computer

Before you can run the program you will need to check your CONFIG.SYS

file to ensure that it has a FILES=20 statement in it. (Any number

greater than 20 will also work).

Memory and Mouse Problems

If your mouse does not work with this program it may not be 100%

Microsoft compatible. A mouse driver is included with this program,

give it a try, however you may run into memory problems.

First load the mouse then check your memory, as above.

If you are running Windows 95 and you don't have a mouse cursor, you

will probably need to load the mouse driver that came with your computer.

Exit Normally & Back-Up your Files

Prior to starting the program you need to know that the data base system

in this program is very complex and the program needs to "Close-Out" the

data base files properly when you are finished with the program. Always

exit the program by using the EXIT menu selection or by using the ESCAPE

key, DO NOT TURN OFF the computer while the program is running. When

you do exit the program you are given an opportunity to Back-Up your

data base files. If you have made changes to your data base you should

Back-Up your files when you exit.

Starting the Program

When the installation program is done you will be in the CASTLE3

directory. To start the program type CASTLE3, then press the ENTER key.

If you have the 90 day trial program you will be presented with a

license agreement which you will have to agree to before you can use the

program.

For Windows 3.x users choose EXIT from the File Menu.

Once the prompt comes up: Change directories, Type CD\CASTLE3

then Press ENTER. To Start the program, Type CASTLE3 then press ENTER.

If you have at least 600K you can try running the program from windows.

An Icon is included with the program. But if you encounter any problems

please try running it from the DOS prompt by shutting down Windows

completely.

Running the program from WINDOWS 3.x

This program is not a Windows program, but like most DOS programs you

can run it from the Windows Program Manager. After the Program is

installed, start Windows and create a new Program Item by using the

program Manager. From the Menu bar at the top of the screen select FILE,

then select NEW, then select OK. Now type in the Description: Pedigree,

the Command Line: C:\Castle3\Castle3, the working directory C:\Castle3.

Now Select CHANGE ICON and fill in the File Name C:\Castle3\Castle3.ICO

Opening Screens

Upon Start-up you will be presented with a Breed List, you will need to

select a breed by using the mouse or the arrow keys and then select OK

or Press ENTER. You will then be placed at the Main Screen which will

have a Menu Bar at the top of the screen. To access the Menu just use

your mouse or press the ALT key and then use the Arrow keys to make your

selection.

Help Features

The first menu selection that you should try out is the Help selection.

To activate Help either press the F1 key or select the Help Topic from

the Menu. You will be presented with a list of all available Help

Topics. When you select a topic you can choose to either view it on

the monitor or print it out on the printer.

Entering Pedigree Data

When you enter data into the program from a pedigree you will need to

start with the oldest rabbits first. Enter the Rabbits that are on the

far right hand side of the pedigree, these are usually the Great Grand

Parents for a three generation pedigree. For a three generation

pedigree the Great Grand Parents will not have a Sire or Dam for their

individual records, so leave these areas blank. Next work your way to

the left by entering the Grand Parents, using the Great Grand Parents

as their Sires and Dams. Next Enter the Data for the Parents using the

Grand Parents as their Sires and Dams. Lastly enter the data for the

Rabbit in the same manner as the previous rabbits.

Color Genetics Data

The Color Genetics Functions in this program require that you enter the

data for the rabbit in question and the data for it's parents. There is

no need to enter an entire three generation of pedigree data if you are

only going to use the color genetics functions.

Example: A friend of mine has a Doe that he wants to breed to one of my

Bucks. We want to see what colors the Doe could produce when bred to each

of my Bucks. Since we will not need to print out a pedigree for his Doe

we do not need to enter an entire pedigree of data, we only need to enter

the data for the Doe's parents, and the Doe herself. Once this

information is loaded we can now test breed his Doe to each of my Bucks

to see what colors they could produce.

If you decide to use only the Color Genetics portion of the program then

the data that you enter into the program need only be the data for the

Rabbit and it's parents.

Question Mark (?)

Several edit fields on the Pedigree screen require exact spelling so that

the program can link the records and colors correctly. As an aid, there

are several list boxes that can be pulled up just by typing a question

mark (?) and then pressing the ENTER key. The Edit Fields that have this

feature are: COLOR, SIRE, and DAM. Once the list is displayed you can

make your selection and then select OK and the appropriate data will be

printed on the screen, and it will be spelled such that the program will

recognize it and it will be able to link the records correctly.

Printer Selections

If your Printer is not listed in the Printer Set-Up list you will need to

try some of the other printer drivers to see if there are any that will

provide satisfactory results. If you have a Laser printer try using the

HP Laser Jet print driver. If you have an Ink Jet printer try using the

Print driver for the HP DeskJet 550C, or the Canon Bubble Jet. If you

have a Dot Matrix printer try using any of the other print drivers.

Color Notes for all Lop Breeders

The color "Sooty Fawn" is not supported by my program due to it's frequent

incorrect usage by both experienced and novice breeders. In it's place

you should use either Orange or Tortoiseshell as appropriate.

Blue Eyed Whites

If you have Blue Eyed Whites you may run into a problem when you use the

color testing features of this program. This is due to the Vienna Gene

hiding all of the other genes, which will be assumed to be recessive until

proven otherwise. If you don't routinely breed your BEW's to other

colored rabbits I suggest that you prevent them from showing up on the

color tests by mis-spelling their color name. Use Blue-Eyed White instead

of Blue Eyed White. When the warning box appears select "Use my own color".

Back-Up, Repair, and Replace

After you have a couple of records saved I recommend that you test out the

disk utilities to make sure that they work properly on your computer. When

you exit the program you are given an opportunity to Back-Up your data

base files. If you have made changes to your data base you should Back-Up

your files when you exit.

If your data base becomes corrupted you may be able to repair the data

base by using the REPAIR function. If a repair is not possible then you

should replace the corrupted data base with your back-up data base files

by using the REPLACE function.