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DOOMLOAD.NFO
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1994-10-18
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-----------------------------------------------
DOOMLoad v4.0 Beta 02 for DOOM I
Released on October 18th, 1994
Coded by Christian Antkow (cant@softchoice.com)
-----------------------------------------------
Notes and What's New
--------------------
The PWADFILE.NDX is now stored in the PWAD directory and has shared
access rights for users of a network that all point to the same directory.
I've also fixed the bug that incorrectly identifies Deathmatch pwads. It's
now 100% accurate. If you see a "d" as opposed to a "D" in the PWAD
listings, one or more of the levels do not fully support DeathMatch play.
What this means is that users no longer have to have their own local copy
of the PWADFILE.NDX file. They all read the information from the PWAD
directory. This is good because if one person adds WADS and refreshes the
list using F11, all of the other users on the network will get the updated
changes...
Also, if you try to add two wads with duplicate level information, a
message box will pop up informing you of this and ask if you still want to
add it. I've also added provisions for the -TIME feature of DOOM 1.666 and
1.7. It's available as a drop-up combo box on the lower left of the form.
It defaults to infinite time play, with preset increments of 5,10,15,25 and
30 minutes of play. Feel free to add your own time in the text area.
Whoa! Almost forgot, on the CONFIG form, you will see a "Which DOOM
version are you running". It expects a three digit decimal value. Ie:
If you are running any DOOM 1.6 or 1.666, enter 106 in the text box.
If you are running DOOM 1.7 (Yes! A few people got this in their DOOM II,
myself included...) Enter a 107. Running 1.2? Enter a 102... This is used
to process the command line parms based on the DOOM version you are running
and will also be used to convert LMP's from other versions of DOOM.
Which brings me to the point, that DOOMLoad now converts LMP's from
previous versions.
DOOMLoad will not be actively supported from now on. I am concentrating
my efforts on WinDOOMLoad which will be compatible with Win '95s
version of DOOMLoad and will offer some AMAZING features that I am just
plainly not able to do in DOS. I am constantly revising DOOMLoad for us
DOOM nuts here at SoftChoice and if I write another version, I'll be
sure to release it.
DOOMLoad for DOOM II should be out shortly. My source code got f$#@ked up
so I have to redo it. Shouldn't take me too long...
How to Use DOOMLoad v4.0
------------------------
DOOMLoad was written for use with a 100% compatible MS mouse. If you don't
have one, I've attempted to make it as keyboard friendly as possible.
Use the TAB key to move around, and use either Space or Enter to select
an option, check or command button. If you want to whip around using
quick keys. There's a drop down menu which is accessable by selecting
ALT-S at the main DOOMLoad form (Shortcut Keys) or press the appropriate
function key.
Support Files
-------------
DOOMLOAD.NFO - The file you are reading. DON'T DELETE THIS FILE!!!
DOOMLOAD.DAT - DOOMLoad information which contains your common network
directory, pwad directory, demo max buffer size, com port
and irq level for modems (in that order...)
MODEM.STR - Bundled with DOOM. This is the file DOOMLoad uses in order to
add a modem string or to read modem strings.
MODEM.CFG - Bundled with DOOM. Config file for the modem you are
presently using.
DOOMLOAD.EXE - Main program and interface.
RUNDOOM.EXE - Response file parser and program resposible for executing
DOOM.
QUICKNET.DAT - Created by DOOM as needed. Contains information which is
passed to DOOM, IPXSETUP, or SERSETUP.
PWADFILE.NDX - Index file of your PWAD's in the PWAD directory
Installing DOOMLoad v4.0
------------------------
If you are upgrading from a previous version of DOOMLOAD, delete the
DOOMLOAD.DAT and the PWADFILE.NDX files.
Unzip the contents of DOOMLD40.ZIP into the directory that contains DOOM
and run DOOMLOAD.EXE. A config form will pop up asking you for
various information that's needed... Press save and away you go...
DOOMLoad v4.0 Main Form
-----------------------
[No Info/View Info Button]
If a PWADFILE.TXT file exists for the WAD file that is highlighted,
the button will change to View Info. If no TXT file exists, it
will change to No Info. Press the View Info button to see the
accompanying TXT file.
[<----/----> Buttons]
Add or remove the highlighted WAD to play.
[F1] Start Single Player
This option will launch DOOM for play by a single player based on
the settings that you have provided it.
[F2] Send QuickNet Packet
For the Quicknet Master. Writes out a file called QUICKNET.DAT to
the common network directory where other quicknet players can pick
it up and read in the settings for network play. It then launches
DOOM. Same theory as the old versions of DOOMLoad.
[F3] Wait for Quicknet Packet
Network players will press this and wait for the Quicknet master to
configure the DOOM session. It polls the common network directory
for the existance of QUICKNET.DAT. When it appears, it's read and
DOOM is launched. Parameters are sent to IPXSETUP.
[F4] Wait for Call
Launches SERSETUP based on the options you have setup in the DOOMLoad
main form, grabs modem settings from DOOMLOAD.DAT and MODEM.CFG, and
waits for a call.
[F5] Initiate Call
Brings up a dialing directory, the user selects the name of the
person to dial, then reads in information from DOOMLOAD.DAT and
MODEM.CFG and calls the other player waiting for a call.
[F6] Configuration
The most important form of all. This is where you configure your
common network directory (if not on a network, set this to your
C:\DOOM directory or a TEMP directory or something...), PWAD
directory (Where your PWAD's reside), the Demo buffer size for
recording LMP's, and your modem COM and IRQ settings.
A command button also exists to run DOOM's SETUP program to
reconfigure your card (I'll probably rework this in DOOMLoad 3.1)
and to get another form in which you select your modem.
**NOTE** If you're on a network, may I suggest creating a common
directory where your place ALL the avaiable PWADs? This will make it
much more flexible to your users and DOOMLoad. ie: make a dir called
G:\DOOM\WADS\ and make your PWAD directory point there.
[F7] Sudden Death
Plops you onto a random Episode and Mission based on the PWAD's you
have selected and other play settings. Works for either single player
mode or as an alternate method of sending a Quicknet packet.
[F8] Play LMP
Brings up a list of available LMP's you can view. Press the play
button to launch DOOM and view the LMP. If it is a multiplayer
LMP, remember, you can press F12 to alternate player
viewpoints and press TAB to view the other players on the map.
[F9] QUIT
The most important key. Bails you out of DOOMLoad.
[F10] Serial Link
Initiates a null-modem serial link game of DOOM.
[F11] Validate PWADs
If you've added WAD files to your PWAD directory, it won't show
up in the WAD listings. You'll have to press F11 to refresh the
list box and update the stats for the PWADs.
Other Main Form Features
------------------------
Levels <------------------------------This area fills with level info
1 2 3 1 2 3 about the current WAD file you've
1 1 clicked in the Available WADs
2 2 list box
3 3 <--------------------+
4 4 |
5 5 +-This list box fills with the level
6 6 info of all the PWAD's you've
7 7 selected for play
8 8
S S
Available PWADs List Box
------------------------
Beside the WADFile, you may notice either a G S or M letter after the name.
This denotes that the particular WADfile highlighted contains either;
M - Additional music
S - Additional sounds
G - Additional graphics
D - Full Deathmatch support for the level or all levels contained
in the PWAD
d - Partial Deathmatch support. Some levels in a multi-level
PWAD do not support deathmatch play.
Modem Configuration
-------------------
Pretty straightforward. Select the modem you wish to use from the list.
When you've clicked on the modem you wish to use, press the "Save Modem"
button to make it the current one to use.
Alternately, should you wish to add a modem, click the "Add Modem" button
and fill in the requested information.
*NOTE REGARDING THE MODEM.STR FILE*
You will notice that id has, for example, a US Robotics Sportster 14.4k
modem with a baud rate of 9600. Why not 14400 or 38400? I don't know.
What I do know is that if you change the baud rate, the modems won't
respond properly. Looks like id did their homework on the modem strings.
If it's in the MODEM.STR file, it works for the respective modem. May the
force be with you should you decide to tweak them.
Serial Play Info
----------------
When playing either via modem or null modem cable, you'll have to
syncronize your play options with the other player in advance.
Ie: "Let's play E1M6 with KRADLEV.WAD with Fast monster and turbo @ 200"
DOOMLOAD v4.0 Known Quirks and other bad things
-----------------------------------------------
You should not be able to pass non-existing directory names for your
configuration for either common directories or PWAD directories. The
config form will complain if you do so. If by some freak you manage to
enter a non-existant directory and the config form does not catch it,
chances are DOOMLoad will crash! This being the case, you will have to edit
the first two entries in the DOOMLOAD.DAT file to point to the common
directory and the pwad directory (ending in a \) respectively).
So my tabstops for the forms could be better but I'm hoping that most
you you all use a mouse. If I get enough compaints, I'll be sure to
put quickkeys on each form.
Again, if you are using a mouse, YOU NEED A 100% COMPATIBLE MS MOUSE
DRIVER or the mouse will only go halfway down the screen!!!
Please report any bugs to cant@softchoice.com so I can squash them ASAP!