Universal Hint System
                         File Creator Atari ST Version
                       Copryight 1990 by Jason Strautman
               Written and compiled with GFA BASIC version 3.05

         First, I'd like to thank all of you who are helping to write hint
    files for the Universal Hint System.  Please remember when you are
    writing your files, DO NOT USE ANY HINT BOOKS.  These are usually
    copyrighted, and you could possibly be sued for copyright infringement.
    Also, you should contact me at on of the E-Mail addresses listed in the
    program before beginning to work on your file.  There is a good chance
    that someone may already be doing a file for the that game, and I would
    really hate to see all of the effort needed to write a file go to
    waste.  Besides, if a file has not been previously cleared by me, it
    will not be eligible for any currently running UHS contests.  Check in
    this library for complete contest rules.


                               Writing the Hints

         The first thing you need to do is to create an outline.  You may
    use any text or word processor to do so.  But make sure that you use an
    ASCII save, as most word processors add some kind of format code onto
    the file.  (The text editor in Flash will work fairly well for this
    purpose.)  When writing the outline, break the questions into topics
    (usually a geographic area of the game).  Make sure to indent two
    spaces for every question, four per clue.  You may also include a title
    in the outline, by placing "TITLE," followed by a space and the game's
    title (if you do not provide one in the file, the program will allow to
    enter a title later), flush with the left margin.  Blank lines and
    comments (lines beginning with a semi-colon in the first column) may be
    included.  Neither will appear in the completed file.

         Example:
         TITLE Sample Game

         ;This game doesn't exist
         ;(But doesn't it sound fun?)

         Inside the Prison
           How do I kill the armored guard?
             Bullets don't pass through his armor.
             But other things do.
             Like something from the Layzer (tm) Room.
             Namely, the Layzer (tm).  Shoot him with it.
           How do I get past the alarm system?
             Search the guard.
             He has a number in his pocket.
             It's marked 'Security Code'.
             Turn the dial to 84556.  Now open the door.

         Outside the Prison
           How do I drive the car?
             That's a dumb question.
             Put the key from the prison in the ignition.
             Turn the key and drive.










    Do the same with your game.  Make sure that no line exceeds 80
    characters.


                              Converting the File

         To run the program, switch to medium or high resolution, and then
    double-click on the appropriate icon (which would be UHS_WRT.PRG
    unless you rename it).  Once you run the program, you will be given the
    standard file selector box.  You should enter the filename of your
    outline, or CANCEL to end the program.  Now select the filename of the
    UHS file.  The program defaults to the same path and filename, only
    with a .UHS extender, so you can just hit RETURN to simplify things.
         The program will start to scan the file.  When it has finished, it
    will print the number of topics, questions, and clues.  As the file is
    being read on the second pass, the program will keep track of how many
    lines have been processed, so you can get a general idea of how far
    along the processing is.  Before the program saves the file, it will
    give you a chance to give yourself one line of credit (and also to
    title the file if you haven't already).  This credit line is not
    printed by any of the programs that I know of, but in case someone
    prints out the file, they will be able to see it.  It's really not
    important, though.
         If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me at the
    electronic mail addresses that I put in the program.