Oblique Strategies for Pilot

Version 1.0

Based on original code by Dave MacLeod <davmac@bigfoot.com>

Copyright �1998, Lonnon Foster <lonnief@pobox.com>
All rights reserved.

The original Oblique Strategies are Copyright �1975, 78, 79
by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt.

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CONTENTS

1. What Are the Oblique Strategies?
2. Files Included
3. Installation
4. Using Oblique Strategies
5. Source Code Notes
6. Copyleft Information

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1. What are the Oblique Strategies?

The Oblique Strategies are a creativity tool designed by Brian Eno
and Peter Schmidt. Originally published as a deck of cards, they are
intended to provide an extra creative push when working on artistic
pursuits under a tight deadline. When experiencing artist's block,
simply draw a card and apply its instructions to the work in progress.

The original Oblique Strategies were published in four editions,
each one modifying, adding, and removing cards from the set before
it. Oblique Strategies for the Pilot includes multiple databases,
allowing you to pick your favorite edition or install a merged list of
Strategies from all four.

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2. Files Included

readme.txt The file you are currently reading.
license.txt A copy of the GNU General Public License; see
Copyleft Information, below.
obstrat.prc The Oblique Strategies program itself.
ObStratDB_Ed1.pdb First edition Oblique Strategies database.
ObStratDB_Ed2.pdb Second edition Oblique Strategies database.
ObStratDB_Ed3.pdb Third edition Oblique Strategies database.
ObStratDB_Ed4.pdb Fourth edition Oblique Strategies database.
ObStratDB_diary.pdb Additional Strategies from Brian Eno's diary.
ObStratDB_signal.pdb Additional Strategies from "Signal: A whole
earth catalog - Communication Tools for the
Information Age" (ed. Kevin Kelly, 1988,
Harmony Books, p.17).
ObStratDB_all.pdb A merged database containing everything from
editions 1-4, the diary, and Signal.
ObStratDB_lonnie.pdb A database containing my own favorite Strategies.
src This directory contains the GCC for Pilot
| source code for Oblique Strategies.
-- makedata This directory contains the source code for
| the Makedata program, which was used to
| generate the pdb files listed above.
-- readme.txt A file explaining how to use the Makedata code
to make new Oblique Strategies databases.

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3. Installation

To install Oblique Strategies onto your Pilot, you will need to
install both the program itself (obstrat.prc) and one of the database
files (files ending in .pdb). The program will not work without a
database installed.

Run the PalmPilot Install Tool which was installed with the
Pilot Desktop software. This program will allow you to specify
.prc and .pdb files which will be downloaded to the Pilot during the
next HotSync.

If you want to change which database you are using, simply use
the intsall tool to install a different .pdb file. It will replace
the database that is currently installed on your Pilot.

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4. Using Oblique Strategies

There is little to say about the interface for Oblique Strategies:

Random button This will display a random Strategy from the
database.
Previous button Displays the previous Strategy in alphabetical
order.
Next button Displays the next Strategy.

The hardware scroll up and scroll down buttons will also display
the previous and next Strategy, respectively.

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5. Source Code Notes

The "src" directory contains the GCC for Pilot source code used to
generate the Oblique Strategies program. There is a subdirectory of
src called "makedata" which contains the code for Makedata, another
small Pilot app which I used to generate the .pdb files. The
readme.txt file in the makedata directory explains the somewhat
bizarre method I used to generate the databases. It's an ugly hack,
but it works.

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6. Copyleft Information

Oblique Strategies for Pilot is based on original code by Dave MacLeod
<davmac@bigfoot.com>

Copyright �1998, Lonnon Foster <lonnief@pobox.com>
All rights reserved.

The original Oblique Strategies are Copyright �1975, 78, 79
by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program (see LICENSE.TXT); if not, write to the
Free Software Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139,
USA.