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PC CRYPTOGRAMS 1.0
(C) Copyright 1989 Blanchard Software
All rights reserved
PRELIMINARIES
PC CRYPTOGRAMS runs on an IBM PC or clone with color or
monochrome display. It requires 50k of storage and a floppy or
hard disk drive.
The first thing to do is to make a backup copy of the PC
CRYPTOGRAMS disk. This is standard operating procedure, and I
assume you already know how to do this. If you use a hard disk,
then choose a directory and copy PC CRYPTOGRAMS and all of its
files into the directory. Then you are ready to run the game.
NOTE! The first time you run PC CRYPTOGRAMS it will create a
file called STFILE.CGM in the current directory. This file keeps
data for the PUZZLE STATUS display. If you ever want to clear the
status display, you can erase the STFILE.CGM file. The program
will create a new blank file the next time you run it.
In the discussion below the symbol <CR> refers to the Carriage
Return or Enter key. This is the large key marked with an angled
arrow on the IBM keyboard.
PLAYING PC CRYPTOGRAMS
If you are running PC CRYPTOGRAMS from floppy disk drive A,
then type A:<CR> to make A the current drive. If you are
running from a hard disc, then make the hard disc the current
drive, and choose the directory that holds PC CRYPTOGRAMS.
To start the program type CRYPTO<CR>. The program will load
from disk and will display a registration reminder and then an
instruction screen. Read the instructions, and then press any key
to continue.
The program will next display the puzzle status screen. All of
the cryptogram puzzles are identified by number. Next to each
number there is a dot, the letter X or the letter P. The letter X
signifies a completed puzzle. The letter P denotes a partially
completed puzzle with partial solution stored. The dot signifies
a puzzle which has not been done yet.
You can select any puzzle from the list by typing the number
and pressing <Enter>. You can quit PC Cryptogram by typing Q and
pressing <Enter>.
Once you have selected a puzzle, the program will read the
puzzle text from disk and display the encrypted text on the
screen.
The puzzle screen begins with a header block that shows
copyright information and brief instructions. Beneath the header
block is a line of numbers and then the letters of the alphabet.
The numbers are letter frequencies for the cryptogram. For
example, if the number 15 occurs above the letter g, then there
are 15 g's in the encrypted text.
Beneath the alphabet is a line of underscores. As you guess
letters, they will appear in this line and in the puzzle text.
To guess a letter move the cursor to the appropriate
underscore in the puzzle text or below the alphabet line. Then
type the letter and press <Enter>. You may type more than one
letter before pressing <Enter>. The program will make the letter
substitutions throughout the text and in the alphabet list.
If you change your mind about any letter, retype the letter
anywhere it appears and press <Enter>. The program will make the
correction throughout. You can also blank or delete any letter
the same way.
There are four program commands that you can issue from the
puzzle screen. Use the End key to move the cursor directly to the
COMMAND area. Type a command letter and press <enter>. C CLEARS
all guessed letters. S shows the SOLUTION to the puzzle. N
starts a NEW puzzle. P saves a PARTIAL solution and quits so
that you can start the puzzle next time exactly where you left
off.
The Home key moves the cursor to the upper left corner of the
puzzle working area. You can use the End and Home keys to speed
cursor movement.
When you solve a puzzle, the program displays a message at the
bottom of the screen. Press any number or letter key to continue.
The program returns you to the puzzle selection screen where you
can pick another puzzle or type Q to quit.
If you use the S command to look at the solution then PC
CRYPTOGRAMS will not allow you to select that puzzle again during
the current session. It will be marked with an N for "Not
available" in the puzzle status display. If you quit PC
CRYPTOGRAMS and then reload the program, all unavailable puzzles
are made available again.
If you think you have solved a puzzle, but the program doesn't
confirm it, check the letters. You must have all letters entered
correctly for the program to acknowledge the solution.
ABOUT THE PUZZLE TEXTS
All the puzzles presented in PC CRYPTOGRAMS are based on
quotations or passages from well known books. They were chosen
for humor and general interest as well as for puzzle qualities.
I have removed hyphens from some paired words that are not
hyphenated in modern practice. I have spelled out a couple of
contractions that would have been too misleading. Otherwise, I
have made no changes.
In some puzzles I have included the author, and sometimes the
title, in the text. I did not do this for all puzzles because
many come from a single author, and repetition of the name would
give away the puzzle. A list of authors by puzzle number is given
below.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Ralph Waldo Emerson
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Samuel Johnson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Mark Twain
Lewis Carroll
Puzzle text
Arthur Conan Doyle
Samuel Johnson
Charles Dudley Warner
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Charles Dickens
Mark Twain
Samuel Johnson
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Saki (H. H. Munro)
Saki (H. H. Munro)
Saki (H. H. Munro)
Saki (H. H. Munro)
Saki (H. H. Munro)
Arthur Conan Doyle
Puzzle text
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Denis Diderot
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Joseph Addison
Jane Austen
Sydney Smith
Joseph Conrad
Mark Twain
Puzzle text
Thomas De Quincey
Mark Twain
Puzzle text
Puzzle text
Samuel Johnson
I have tested all of these puzzles. They are all solvable, but
some are difficult. I have limited singleton letters to a maximum
of four in a puzzle. I have eliminated puzzles where a singleton
letter was part of a crucial word or where the singleton could
not be determined unambiguously.
The final two puzzles are presented with word spaces removed.
For these puzzles I have chosen texts of almost 400 letters so
letter frequencies are more reliable.
I am interested in your comments about PC CRYPTOGRAMS.
ERROR MESSAGES
The error messages that PC CRYPTOGRAMS produces are listed
below along with suggested remedies.
Cannot create STFILE.CGM. Is disk or directory full?
The most likely cause for this error is a full disk or a
full catalog. Erase one or two files and see.
Error in reading STFILE.CGM, the status file.
The file has been corrupted or a disk error has occurred.
Restore from a backup if you have one or erase the file and
let PC CRYPTOGRAMS create a new copy.
Error in writing to STFILE.CGM, the status file.
The file has been corrupted or a disk error has occurred.
Restore from a backup if you have one or erase the file and
let PC CRYPTOGRAMS create a new copy.
ERROR in reading the CRYPTO.TXT file
The file is present on the disk, but PC CRYPTOGRAMS finds
something wrong in the file. Restore the file from backup.
ERROR. Cannot find the CRYPTO.TXT file.
PC CRYPTOGRAMS checks the current drive and directory for
its support files. The file is not present. You may have to
reset the default drive, change the directory or copy files
from backup disk.
COMMERCIAL
Blanchard Software also produces WORDS*WORDS, a word puzzle
for people who like logical deduction problems. Registered owners
say "a fascinating game", "great program", "a lovely and
enjoyable game", "an intelligent amusing game".... Volume 1 is
available from many shareware libraries and bulletin boards, or
you can request information from the author.
PLEASE REGISTER
The author receives no payment from shareware libraries or
bulletin boards that distribute copies of PC CRYPTOGRAMS. If you
enjoy the game, please register your copy ($15 fee). I will send
you Volume 2 of PC CRYPTOGRAMS with more than 150 new, different
puzzles.
PC CRYPTOGRAMS Volume 1.0 is shareware. You may freely make
copies and share them with your friends as long as you give them
all of the files and do not change any files.
REGISTRATION FORM
The PC CRYPTOGRAMS registration fee is $15.00 (PA residents
add 6% sales tax). Please make check payable to Walter Blanchard.
I will send you Volume 2 of PC CRYPTOGRAMS with more than 150 new
cryptogram puzzles.
Name:
__________________________________________________
Street: ____________________________________ Apt.________
City:
__________________________________________________
State:
____________________________
ZIP _____________
Where did you get your shareware copy of PC CRYPTOGRAMS?
Do you read any computer magazines? If so, please list.
Do you play crosswords, crostics or other word puzzles from a
magazine? What magazines?
Suggestions/Comments/Complaints about the program.
Mail to:
Walter Blanchard
Blanchard Software
P.O. Box 1650
Norristown Pa. 19401