The Man From S.P.U.D. 

                            Presents


                            SPUDclock

SPUDclock is a simple program that uses the narrator device to output (say)
the time at certain user specified intervals. It was written mainly to
remind you of the time when you are busy working on the computer. (I used
to miss the beginings of alot of TV shows until this was written). 

To use it simply type at a CLI prompt:

    run spudclock [options]

NOTE: You need to RUN it the first time but if you invoke it later to change
some options you do not need the RUN. (Once the options are changed the later
copy dies leaving only one copy in memory).

The options are zero or more of the following.

        -f              The time is spoken every quarter hour on the quarter
                        hour.

        -t              The time is spoken every half hour on the half hour.

        -h              The time is spoken every hour on the hour.

        -p              The speakers are prestarted. This is if you have 
                        some amplified speakers that sense a signal and then
                        start amplification after a small delay. You don't
                        need this option if you are hooked up to your monitor.

        -s nnnn         Sets the starting time. See note below.

        -e nnnn         Sets the ending time. See note below.

        -v nn           Sets the volume. Where 0 < nn < 64.

        -m message      Says message before saying the time.

        -l              Lists the current settings.

        -d              Causes any unspecified option to revert to their
                        defaults. Normally only the values associated with the
                        options specified on the command line are changed.

        -q              Kills the main running copy of SPUDclock.


Setting Starting and Stopping Times

With the -s and -e options you can tell SPUDclock when to start and stop
speaking the time. This is if you are like me and leave your computer on all
the time and don't want to get waken up every half hour. The format for the
times is hhmm. (h - hours, m - minutes, 24 hour time)
If you want to start at 8:30 AM and stop at 11:00 PM then part of your option
set would be:
                -s 830 -e 2300

"Good Morning" is spoken after the starting time and "Good Night" is
spoken after the ending time. Also, times are spoken intelligently (i.e as
a human would say them.

The defaults are:

        Time spoken every half hour.
        No speaker prestart.
        Starting time 830.
        Ending time 2300.
        Alarm volume 50.

These can be changed in the source and recompiled if desired. The executable
was compiled under Lattice 3.10 and the makefile is included.

Any of the options may be changed at any time by invoking the program with
the desired options (use the -d option to put unspecified values at their
defaults).

Example:

My startup-sequence contains the line:

        run spudclock -m mister poetaytoe head says -s 700 -e 2200

so at 10:00 PM the amiga says:

        "mister potato head says it is now ten o'clock, good night"


This program can be distributed and copied freely. If you feel you want to
send a contribution, we'll be glad to accept it. That's up to you though.

Brought to you by 

                The Man From S.P.U.D.

                (H. Bret Young and Bob Beaty)


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H. Bret Young
716 N. 31st Street
Lafayette, IN 47904