THE AMERICAN GIRLS DRESS DESIGNER (TM) CD-ROM
for PC
Readme File
Congratulations on your purchase of THE AMERICAN GIRLS DRESS DESIGNER (TM)
We have included this Readme
file to supply you with up-to-the-minute information
about the program. You may want to print this
document for future reference.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT:
For answers to common questions or to send an email to our support department use the Mattel Consumer Affairs web page at: "www.service.mattel.com".
If you wish, you can also contact us by phone. Our technical support specialist can be reached at the numbers listed below:
In the US, call the 1-888-MATTEL9 ( 1-888-628-8359) toll free
In Canada, call1-888-MEDIA11 (1-888-633-4211) toll free
In Australia, call 1-902-262-513 (Calls charges at $1.50 per minute. A higher rate applies from public or mobile phones)
In UK, call (0171) 519-5049
Comments or questions can also be mailed to:
Mattel Consumer Affairs
Tech Support M1-0109
Mattel, Inc.
333 Continental Blvd.
El Segundo, CA 90245
USA
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Section 1.....System Requirements
Section 2.....Install and Uninstall Tips
A.) Installing the Program
B.) Running the Program
C.) Uninstalling the Program
D.) Registering your Software
E.) Problems with Installation
Section 3.....General Program Use Tips
A.) Optimizing the Display
B.) Slow Program Performance
C.) Problems with Sound or Music
D.) File Saving Tips
Section 4.....Printing Issues and Tips
A.) Problems with Printing
B.) Known Epson(R) Printer Issues
C.) Known HP(R) DeskJet(R) Issues
Section 5.....Legal Notices
Section 1.....System Requirements
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95 or Windows(R) 98
Multimedia PC IBM(R) or compatible
Pentium(R) 166Mhz or faster processor
Quad-Speed (4X) CD-ROM drive or faster
32 MB of RAM or higher
75 MB of free disk space
VGA monitor with at least 640X480 resolution
16-bit color
Standard AT-101 keyboard
Microsoft(R)-compatible mouse
16-bit Sound Blaster(R) or 100% compatible
sound card
Color inkjet printer
Section 2......Install and Uninstall Tips
A.) INSTALLING THE PROGRAM
1. Insert THE AMERICAN GIRLS DRESS DESIGNER (TM) CD-ROM
into your drive.
2. If you have the AutoRun feature enabled for your
CD-ROM, the installation will start automatically and
you can follow the on-screen prompts.
3. If you do not have the AutoRun feature enabled for
your CD-ROM, follow these steps:
* Click Start and then Run from the
Windows(R) 95 or Windows(R) 98 Taskbar
* Type d:\setup (d: refers to your CD-ROM
drive. If your CD-ROM drive is not d:, type
the appropriate drive letter.)
* Click OK and follow the Installation
Instructions on screen.
4. Review the 'ReadMe.txt' file for any important last
minute information.
5. After installation is complete, you'll find the
program icon in Start\Programs\AMERICAN GIRL\
DRESS DESIGNER folder. You will also find a shortcut
icon to the program on your Desktop.
B.) RUNNING THE PROGRAM
1. Insert THE AMERICAN GIRLS DRESS DESIGNER (TM) CD-ROM
into your drive.
2. When the Autostart window appears, click the PLAY
button to run the program.
3. Or select the program icon in Start\Programs\
AMERICAN GIRL\ DRESS DESIGNER folder. You can also
double-click the shortcut icon on your Desktop.
C.) UNINSTALLING THE PROGRAM
1. Select Start\Programs\AMERICAN GIRL\DRESS DESIGNER.
2. Find and click THE AMERICAN GIRLS DRESS DESIGNER (TM)
Uninstall icon and follow the on-screen prompts.
D.) REGISTERING YOUR SOFTWARE
Follow the on-screen instructions in the electronic registration.
If the text is cut off on the registration software
screens, set your monitor to small fonts by following
these steps:
1. Click on Start\Settings\Control Panel
2. Double click on the "Display" icon
3. Click on the "Settings" Tab
4. Choose "Small fonts" in the list under Font Size
You may need to restart your computer for the new
settings to take effect.
E.) PROBLEMS DURING INSTALLATION
You may encounter problems during installation if
there are other applications running at the time
you try to install the software. If you do have
a problem, exit THE AMERICAN GIRLS DRESS DESIGNER (TM)
installation and shutdown other applications that
are running. Run the installation again.
Section 3......GENERAL PROGRAM USE TIPS
A.) OPTIMIZING THE DISPLAY
To improve the appearance of the software on your
monitor, you should set the monitor depth to 16-bit
or higher.
To do this, click on the START menu, choose SETTINGS
and select CONTROL PANEL. Double click on DISPLAY.
Choose SETTINGS and change the COLORS to HIGH COLOR
(16-bit) or higher.
B.) SLOW PROGRAM PERFORMANCE
If the program seems to be running slowly try the
following suggestions:
1. Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements
2. Close any open programs to free up more memory (RAM)
3. If you have used the program for an extended period
of time, try exiting the program and re-starting your
computer before re-starting the program
4. Try clicking on the MUSIC button and selecting
SILENT
5. If the program won't launch, shut down all applications,
re-boot the computer and re-start the program.
C. PROBLEMS WITH SOUND OR MUSIC
If you experience problems with the music or sound,
try the following suggestions:
1. Make sure you have the speakers plugged in to the
computer and turned on with the volume adjusted properly
2. Make sure that you do not have the sound muted by
double clicking the small speaker icon in the Windows(R)
Taskbar
3. Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements
4. Make sure you have the latest version of the sound
card driver installed (you may be able to download this
from the internet)
5. Try clicking on the MUSIC button and selecting
SILENT
D.) FILE SAVING TIPS
1. When you leave the Dress Designer or Pattern Maker screen
you will be prompted to save your design.
2. A maximum of 8 dress designs, and 10 pattern designs, can
be saved per girl, after that the program will replace a
design that you choose to replace.
3. If you shut down the machine without quitting the program,
Your file will not be saved.
Section 4.....PRINTING ISSUES AND TIPS
A.) PROBLEMS WITH PRINTING
Make sure you have the latest version of the driver for
your printer. Drivers can be downloaded from the
printer manufacture's website.
If nothing prints, try the following suggestions:
1. Make sure the printer is connected and turned on.
2. Do a test print from another software program.
3. Check the printer manual for other troubleshooting
suggestions.
If the print out is cut off, try the following:
1. Make sure you are loading the paper correctly.
2. Make sure you have selected the following
settings: PLAIN paper, and NORMAL quality
(using the Best setting will apply too much
ink).
If the printout seems to have the wrong colors or
has bands throughout, try the following:
1. Check that the printer nozzles are clean and
functioning (see the printer manual for instructions)
2. Check that there is enough ink in all the color
cartridges (if the printer runs out of a single color
such as yellow, all other colors will appear to be
wrong)
If you get a dialog box saying that 2-way
communication with your printer has been lost
(most commonly seen on the HP(R) DeskJet(R) 600
series), try the following steps:
1. Quit the program
2. Re-boot your computer
3. Re-start the program
4. Turn off the music in the program before trying
to print again.
Spool32 Error:
If you experience a Spool32 error, change the spool data format to "RAW".
1. Save your dress or pattern design and quit THE AMERICAN GIRLS DRESS DESIGNER (TM).
2. Click on START.
3. Click on SETTINGS.
4. Click on PRINTERS.
5. Right mouse click your printer and select PROPERTIES.
6. Select the DETAILS tab.
7. Click Spool Settings.
8. Under the Spool Data settings, click on the arrow and click on RAW.
9. Click OK.
10. Restart THE AMERICAN GIRLS DRESS DESIGNER (TM).
11. It might be a good idea to return the format to the original setting when you are finished.
Section 5.....LEGAL NOTICES
(c)& (P) 1999 Pleasant Company, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc., Middleton, WI 53562 U.S.A. All Rights Reserved. MATTEL, MATTEL MEDIA and other trademarks designated by (R) and (TM) are trademarks of Mattel, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries, except for the following: The American Girls Dress Designer, American Girl the names and images of the American Girls and the American Girl logo are trademarks of Pleasant Company; Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries; QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are trademarks used under license. QuickTime is registered in the U.S. and other countries; Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation;
HP and DeskJet are U.S. registered trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Company; EPSON is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries; IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States; Sound Blaster is a trademark of Creative Technology in the United States and/or other countries.
See User Guide for additional notices.
THE AMERICAN GIRLS DRESS DESIGNER (TM) CD-ROM
For PC