Users' Guide

To program your own prompts/responses into the Rev-Party program:

1. Open the file, template.rpq or template, in Notepad or Edit.
2. Close the splash screen by clicking 'OK' (sorry, this is useful for copyright registration)
3. Set the number of rows and columns where the template says.
   • (Any lines that have a single quote at the beginning of a line and blank lines are ignored.)
   • The rows are the dollar (point) values. Normally, this is set to 5, which corresponds to the values $100, $200, $300, $400, $500.
   • The number of columns corresponds to the number of categories for each round.
4. Anything under the line that says {Rev-Party} before the line that says {Double Rev-Party} is for the first round.
5. Inside each set of square brackets ([]) put the category title (like [Category]).
6. After each of the numbers and right parentheses that follow them, type a prompt to display for the dollar value of the category.
   1. After the vertical bar (|) on each line, type the appropriate response.
   2. Make sure you have exactly 1 line of prompt/response for each of the rows that you set earlier in step 3 for each category.
   3. Make sure you have exactly 1 category for each of the columns that you set earlier in step 3.
   4. Anything under the line that says {Double Rev-Party} before the line that says {Final Rev-Party} is for the second round.
      • The point values are doubled in the second round.
   5. Repeat steps 5-9 for this round
   6. Anything under the line that says {Final Rev-Party} is for the final round.
      • There is only one category and one prompt/response for the final round, and there is no number for the final round.
   7. Save the file as default.rpq .
      • (File -> Save As for Notepad)
      • Change the "Save as type" to All Files
   8. Check that your file was indeed saved under this name.
   9. If it wasn't, rename it to default.rpq
   • You can save different files under different names, though it is recommended that you keep the names ending in .rpq

To run the Rev-Party program:

1. Program your prompt/response as described above.
2. Run the program by double-clicking either the Rev-Party.bat or Rev-Party file.
3. If you'd like to preview the correct responses to the prompts on a separate monitor, set up the second monitor response screen.
4. Get the screen to the appropriate size by either dragging the corner of the window, or hitting the maximize button on the window.
5. When a player selects a category and dollar value, click on that square with your computer's pointing device (mouse, trackball, trackpad, etc.)
6. The prompt comes up.
   • If Team 1 responds correctly, press the number 1. If Team 2 responds correctly, press the number 2. (There can be up to 9 teams. See Tools | Options on the menu.)
     • (The program will keep track of the score based on what number you press.)
     • If neither team gets it right, press the spacebar and neither team will be credited with the points.
   • The response comes up. (Note: This option is configurable. See Tools | Options on the menu.)
   • Press the space bar to remove the response from the screen and return to the category/dollar value screen.
   • Continue in this manner until either the time for round 1 is expired or the prompts/responses are exausted.
   • Press the key F2 to skip to round 2 (Just remember: F2 for round 2.)
   • The team scores will appear on the screen.
   • Press the space bar to remove the scores from the screen.
   • The second round screen is revealed and has the dollar values doubled.
   • Proceed with round 2 similar to round 1.
   • Press the key F3 to continue to the final round.
   • The final round screen is revealed. This screen has only two buttons that say Final Rev-Party.
   • Press the top button to reveal the category of the final responses.
     • If playing teams against teams, it is recommended that you select a player from each team to compete in the final response before pressing the button.
   • Have the players or teams write down their wagers on the final response.
   • Press the bottom button to display the final prompt.
   • Press the space bar after players have finished writing down their response.
     • You may wish to have a time limit for finishing writing.
   • The Team scores are once again displayed (without being adjusted for the wagers/correctness of the final response) for you to compute the final scores.
   • Finally, the response for the last prompt is displayed on the screen.
     • (This allows for suspense if players are not sure about the prompt :v)

To preview the response to the current prompt on a separate monitor:

1. Note: This process assumes that your computer will allow you to set up multiple monitors. Check with your IT person to find out if this is possible.
2. Tell Windows to Extend your Desktop onto both monitors.
   1. Also Note: Sometimes using the "SVGA" output for the projector will allow a laptop to use its built-in screen as an independent screen.
   2. Finally, Note: This process assumes a particular version of Win is on the computer that is used. Most other Win versions have a similar configuration. The program should run under any system that can run Java (including versions of Xnix), but consult your IT person for more details on setting up multiple monitors on non-win systems.
   3. Plug in the second monitor or projector.
   4. Go to your display settings. (Right-click on the desktop. Select properties.)
   5. Select the "Settings" tab.
   6. Click the "Advanced" button.
   7. Select the "Displays" tab.
   8. Make sure that the two monitors to be used are on. (If they aren't, click the (|) buttons until they are on.)
   9. Click OK.
   10. On the "Display" drop-down, select the first monitor.
   11. Select the "Extend my ... monitor" check box.
   12. Repeat the previous two steps with the second monitor
   13. Click OK
3. On the Rev-Party program, select Tools | Options on the menu.
4. Select the "Screens" tab.
5. Check the Secondary Monitor Screen checkbox.
6. Click OK.
7. The secondary window appears behind the main window.
8. Move the primary window onto the screen that will be displayed to the game participants.
9. Move the secondary window onto the screen that will only be displayed to the host/teacher/judge(s)/whatever (hereafter, "the host").
10. Maximize the secondary window if you'd like.
11. Now, as the buttons are clicked and the prompt comes up for the participants, the response will be updated for the host.

Planned Rev-Party changes/additions:

• Add a utility to enter prompts/responses more easily (and maintain a database of prompts/responses more easily)
• Add timer function
• Add ability to change team names via the datafile (i.e. saving the team names)
• Add boxes to the final prompts that will allow the final scores to be automatically computed.
• Add the capability of automatically computing the wagers in Final Rev-Party. (Doesn't quite work right, yet...)
• Add bonuses on select prompts/responses.
• Add ability to play video files and sound clips and to show pictures.
• Add ability to subtract points for wrong prompt.