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1997-06-17
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MAP Ed's Utility Manual MAP
SUMMARY
map -- prints character based map of a SIMCITY city file
PARAMETERS
map [-lsde] [-f outfile] cityfile
DESCRIPTION
Map examines a SIMCITY saved game (.CTY file) and prints a
schematic diagram of the city, along with some vital
statistics.
Map makes two passes over the .cty file. First, zones of
all types are counted, and animated zones are repaired with
the non-animated tiles that belong in those animated spaces.
Next, the map is printed on the systems default printer, or
optionally to a file.
OPTIONS
l Use LaserJet with Line Printer font in Portrait
orientation. This option should work on the Series II,
the IID, the IIP and even the DeskJet, although output
on the deskjet will be distorted.
s Use LaserJet with the special font included with the
package. The font is found in file MAP.FNT. This
extends use of the program to the LaserJet Plus. The
font should be downloaded and made permanent.
d Download and use the special font. The font is
downloaded as temporary, used to print the map, and
cleared. Font #1 is used.
e Manipulate the printer from strings found in the
environment. See ENVIRONMENT section below.
f Output to a file. The print stream is output to the
named file. If the print stream contains LaserJet
codes, or the downloaded font, these will be included
in the file.
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS AND ISSUES
Map should run on virtually any PC. Output should be to a
printer that can display 132 columns by 99 rows. For 132
column output you may use a printer set for compressed print
or one with wide paper. For 99 rows, you may set a large
number of lines per inch, or allow the printout to run over
the page boundary. You may initialize the printer with a
batch file, from the front panel, or by placing printer
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MAP Ed's Utility Manual MAP
commands in the environment. See the ENVIRONMENT section
below for details.
Output may be customized for the HP LaserJet. The font
requirement is Portrait orientation, PC-8 (Also known as
IBM-US) Symbol Set, and Line Printer Font. This font is
found in the Y cartridge, and is also permanently installed
in the Series II, IID, IIP and LaserJet 2000 printer.
The MAP font may be used to print a map with more
specialized characters. It extends use of the program to the
LaserJet Plus, which has no Line Printer font in portrait
mode.
The program may be used with the original LaserJet only with
the Y cartridge.
ENVIRONMENT
If you select the -e switch, MAP will manipulate the printer
settings taking codes from environment variables. MAP will
search for three variables:
MAPINIT: Sent immediately before printing.
MAPDEINIT: Sent immediately after printing.
MAPRESET: Sent first and last.
In other words, the order of processing is as follows:
Send MAPRESET
Send MAPINIT
Print Map
Send MAPDEINIT
Send MAPRESET
Any or all of these variables may appear. If one does not,
the step will be skipped.
When placing strings in the environment, certain characters
cannot be easily inserted. These may be added with the
following special sequences. (This concept was taken from
the DOS Prompt command.)
$q The = character
$$ The $ character
$g The > character (greater than)
$l The < character (less than)
$b The | character (bang)
$_ A carriage-return/line-feed pair
$e The Escape character
$h The Backspace character
Any good editor should be able to place other control
characters in your autoexec or other batch file.
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MAP Ed's Utility Manual MAP
For example, to send an ESCAPE-D to the printer on startup
and end, place the line
set MAPRESET=$eD
in your Autoexec, and use the -e switch on the map command
line.
BUGS
MAP does not know about animated tiles. The program
compensates for this by rebuilding all animated zones with
non-animated tiles before printing, therefore, if the center
of an animated zone (industry, power plant, airport, etc.)
is destroyed, and the animated portions are left behind, the
program cannot rebuild them, and will print the unknown tile
symbol.
The program will not yet rebuild a stadium in which a game
was in progress when the game was saved. Several unknown
tile symbols should appear.
Power Lines are not shown when they cross roads.
Railroad crossings are not distinguished. The only
indication of a railroad crossing is that the rail exists on
both sides of the road.
EXAMPLES
map cityfile.cty
Print map of cityfile.cty file the prn device. No printer
codes sent.
map -l cityfile.cty
Print map on the prn device, expecting a LaserJet with the
Line Printer font in portrait orientation, PC-8 symbol set.
map -lf outfile cityfile.cty
Write map described above on the file outfile.
map -df foo cityfile.cty
Write file named foo containing a LaserJet print image.
This will include the codes to initialize the printer,
download the MAP font (including the font data itself),
print the map, and reset everything. NOTE: Don't forget to
use the /B option when copying this to a printer.
map -e cityfile.cty
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MAP Ed's Utility Manual MAP
Print the map using the codes in the environment.
map -s cityfile.cty
Print the map on a LaserJet, with the expectation that the
MAP font is already downloaded.
FEEDBACK REQUESTED
Please feed back on the following:
Did you have any problem with the environment option?
Is the map readable and useful?
Does it come out right? Are there any errors in it's
portrayal of your cities.
Any changes in the interface or operation desired?
MAP writes a log of unknown tiles. This log is written in
BADTILE.LOG in the current directory. If you get a
BADTILE.LOG, please forward it, along with the city file, to
the author, as shown below. Exception: If the unknown tile
is in an area of widespread devastation, or in a stadium do
not bother to report it.
AUTHORSHIP AND COPYRIGHT
Edward W. Greenberg
PO Box 28618
San Jose, CA 95159
408-283-0184
CIS: 76703,1070
USENET: edg@cso.3mail.3com.com
edg@netcom.com
This document, and the accompanying program are Copyright
1990 by Edward W. Greenberg, San Jose, California. They may
not be reproduced for profit or gain with the exception that
a reasonable disk reproduction fee may be charged. They may
be freely shared on diskette, on Bulletin Board Systems or
on for-profit on-line services, so long as no charge is made
for them in excess of the normal on-line charge for such
service.
The MAP font is not copyrighted, since one cannot copyright
a font, but only a font name. I don't claim copyright on
the name MAP as a font name.
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MAP Ed's Utility Manual MAP
SHAREWARE
This program represents about 20 hours work. I have made it
available on CompuServe and encourage it's distribution on
other shareware media.
If you'd like to acknowledge the usefulness of this program,
and encourage further development of SIMCITY utilities,
please register with a $10 shareware contribution. I'll
notify registered users of new versions and other utilities.
Whether or not you send a shareware contribution, please
drop me an electronic note, or a postcard, and let me know
that you're using the program and what you think of it.
OTHER TRADEMARKS
SIMCITY is a trademark of Maxis.
LASERJET and DESKJET are trademarks of Hewlett Packard, as
is HP.
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