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Text File | 1994-07-10 | 15KB | 301 lines

               DOOM Control Center v3.0
                      by
               Nold Software Engineering
              DOOM is a trademark of id Software

- Version 3.0 release notes:

  - The WAD file level re-assignment bug is now fixed.  DCC would sometimes
    mangle a WAD file when you attempted to re-assign its levels.  This only
    happened on WAD files whose directories were not at the end of the file.
    I stupidly assumed that the directory would always be at the end of the
    WAD file and therefore anything following it got truncated.  Sorry for
    any inconvenience this may have caused (you had your WADs backed up,
    didn't you?).  Hopefully, not many of you were bitten by this bug as I
    found it myself and have had no reports of problems from users.

  - The WAD File Path selection is now more straight-forward with a Windows
    file manager-like expand/collapse directory tree.  Also, you no longer
    need to exit and restart DCC to scan the WADs in the new directory.

- What is DOOM Control Center?

  DOOM Control Center is a utility program that greatly simplifies
  running serial/modem/network games.  DCC replaces and enhances all of
  the functionality of DOOM's SETUP.EXE with the exception of the hardware
  configuration portion.

- Features:

  - Uses all of the command line features that are built into DOOM but
    are not accessible through SETUP.EXE.

    - Start on any level of any episode.
    - Select NO MONSTERS for serious DEATHMATCH games.
    - Give monsters eternal life (for you crazies out there).
    - Specify external WAD files so that you can play modified levels of DOOM.

  - Easy to use Windows-like mouse driven user interface; just point and
    click! (keyboard also supported, mouse not required)

  - WAD file level assignment editor

  - WAD file browser

  - Supports separate directory for WAD files

  - Saved game WAD file tracking

  - Record and playback DOOM demo (.LMP) files

  - Chat macro editor

  - Saved game file editor

  - Allows the use of third-party serial and network drivers

  - Context sensitive hints displayed on the bottom screen line


- Notes:

  - DCC.EXE must be placed in your DOOM directory.

  - DOOM Control Center was designed for use with DOOM version 1.2; as
    such it expects to find DOOM.EXE, IPXSETUP.EXE, SERSETUP.EXE,
    DEFAULT.CFG, demo (.LMP) files, and your save game files in the same
    directory from which DCC was launched (i.e. your DOOM directory).

  - If you use third-party replacements for the network and/or serial
    drivers make sure they are named IPXSETUP.EXE and SERSETUP.EXE;
    otherwise DCC will not be able locate and run these programs.

  - The user interface for DCC is simple and very intuitive if you are using
    a mouse.  If you don't have a mouse (you should get one! DOOM is much
    easier to play with a mouse!) press the F10 key to get to the main menu,
    then use the cursor keys to navigate the drop down menus.  Once the
    desired menu item is highlighted hit the enter key to activate it.  This
    will usually open a dialog box.  Inside dialog boxes use tab and
    shift-tab to jump between item groups.  Within item groups use the cursor
    keys and spacebar to make selections.

  - The Edit | Default Params menu item brings up a dialog box that allows
    you to set up your favorite configuration so that you don't have to keep
    selecting your COM port, Network Socket, etc. every time you play.
    Note that this dialog box is divided into two sections; Multi-Player
    Defaults and Single-Player Defaults.  I usually play multi-player games
    in DEATHMATCH with no monsters and the easiest skill level (more ammo!)
    while single player games are usually normal monsters and Ultra-Violence.
    Whatever your preference, you have the flexibility to set things up to
    suit your taste.  The WAD File Path lets you tell DCC where to look for
    your WAD files.  If your WADs are in your DOOM directory simply leave
    this item blank.  If you change the WAD file path DCC will scan the WADs
    in the new directory when you save the defaults.  Note that the Selected
    WADs list will be cleared when you change the WAD file path.

    NOTE: If your WADs are in a separate directory you should strive to
          keep the WAD path as short as possible due to the 128 character
          DOS command line limit.

  - Notes on loading saved games

    - DCC keeps track of the WAD file(s) in use when games are saved.
      You will be prompted to add the necessary WAD if you attempt to load a
      saved game without first selecting the WAD file.  Note that this
      feature will only work if DOOM is launched from DCC.  If you run DOOM
      from the DOS command line and save a game,  DCC has no way of knowing
      what WAD files you used (unfortunately, DOOM does not store this info
      in the save game file).  Also, if you have a previous version of DCC
      ignore the gibberish in the documentation referring to loading saved
      games and external WADs.  If you save a game while using an external
      WAD then you need to use the WAD when you load the game if the WAD
      completely replaces a level.

    - The Load Game dialog boxes have a control group named Monster Options;
      this item does not affect the level on which the game was saved,
      however, it does affect the following levels.  For example, if you
      select Normal Monsters when you load a saved game that was started
      with No Monsters then there won't be any monsters on the saved level,
      however, there WILL be monsters when you exit that level and proceed to
      the following levels.  DCC remembers the Monster Option in effect when
      a game is saved (provided DOOM was launched from DCC) and will
      automatically select it for you when loading the saved game.

    - When loading multi-player saved games the Game Type (Cooperative or
      DEATHMATCH) must be set to the type of game that you were playing when
      the game was saved.  DOOM does not store this information in the save
      game file.  DCC remembers the Game Type in effect when a game is saved
      (again, provided DOOM was launched from DCC) and will automatically
      select it for you when loading the saved game.

  - The WAD Files | Select WADs menu item brings up a dialog box that lists
    all of the WAD files that are in your WAD file directory (with the
    exception of DOOM.WAD).  Double-click with the mouse or use the cursor
    keys and spacebar to select WAD files from the Available WADs list.  Next
    to this list is a 3 x 9 matrix that shows you the episode(s) and level(s)
    that the highlighted WAD file replaces.  Note that WAD files that only
    replace sounds or textures do not indicate any replaced levels.  As you
    select files, they will appear in the Selected WADs list on the right.
    There is another 3 x 9 grid next to the Selected WADs list that shows you
    the episode(s) and level(s) replaced by all of the selected WAD files
    combined.  When there are one or more files shown in the Selected WADs
    list (i.e. the Selected WADs list is not empty) a check mark (√) will
    appear next to the WAD Files item on the main menu to alert you that
    external WAD files will be specified when you run DOOM.  Also, when you
    have WAD files selected that replace at least one game level, a window
    will be displayed when you close this dialog box that shows you which
    level(s) are replaced.  To clear the Selected WADs list simply press
    the Clear button.

    - DCC detects collisions between WAD file level assignments (i.e. you
      attempt to select WADs that replace the same level).  When this occurs
      you are given the option to re-assign the levels of the offending WAD
      file.

    - The Level(s) Replaced grid in the Select WADs box allows you to
      quickly double check which level is replaced by which file.  Simply
      click on the 'X' in the ExMy column/row and the corresponding WAD file
      will be highlighted in the Selected WADs list.

    - The Level(s) Replaced box that appears in the upper right after you
      close the Select WADs box will also show you the WAD file associated
      with a particular level.  Again, simply click on the 'X'.

    - DCC will recognize the first 500 WAD files that it finds in the
      specified directory.  Any beyond this number will be ignored.  And
      really, if you have more than that you should seriously consider
      getting some professional help. ;-)

    - New game selection with external WADs

      - DCC will automatically default to the first episode and level that
        is replaced by an external WAD file.

      - The level(s) replaced are indicated by an 'X' in the WADs column to
        the left of the episode and level selection buttons.  Once again,
    clicking on the 'X' will show you the associated WAD file name.

  - If you specify WAD files during multiple player games make sure that
    all players have their own copies of the files and that everyone selects
    the same ones.  If you don't, DOOM will crash with a consistancy failure.

  - The WAD Files | Re-assign Levels menu item brings up a dialog box that
    lists all of the WAD files that are in your WAD file directory (with the
    exception of DOOM.WAD).  Use the mouse or cursor keys to highlight the
    file that you want to re-arrange and then click the Re-assign button.
    This will open a window that shows you all of the level map(s) that are
    in the selected WAD file in the order that they appear in the file.  To
    change the order of the level(s) or assign them to a different episode,
    highlight the level that you want to change in the list box on the left
    and then select the new assignment (ExMy) on the buttons on the right
    side.  When you are finished, click on the Save Changes button to save
    the new level assignments to the WAD file.

  - WAD file browser

    - This utility allows you to view the internal directory of a WAD file.
      The browser lists the names of the resources as well as their size and
      offset within the WAD file.  If you know the names id has assigned to
      the WAD resource data you can determine what aspects of the game a
      given WAD file will replace.  For example, a WAD that replaces a single
      level will have at least 11 directory entries consisting of ExMy,
      THINGS, LINEDEFS, SIDEDEFS, VERTEXES, SEGS, SSECTORS, NODES, SECTORS,
      REJECT, and BLOCKMAP.  Music resources are identified by D_ExMy (x and
      y are the episode and level numbers), sound effects are DSxxxxxx
      (example: DSPUNCH is the punching sound), game demos are DEMO1, DEMO2,
      and DEMO3, etc.  For a complete list of resource names and their
      functions I suggest you obtain a copy of the DOOM specs written by
      Matt Fell.

  - Notes on recording and playing back demo files

    - When recording demos do not include the file extension (.LMP) when
      entering the demo file name.  DOOM will add this automatically.

    - Demo files must be in your DOOM directory as DOOM.EXE does not allow
      path names to be used with LMP files.

    - If you playback a demo that was made from an external PWAD you must
      make sure that the appropriate PWAD is selected.

  - DCC generates many command line parameters automatically for DOOM.EXE,
    SERSETUP.EXE, and IPXSETUP.EXE.  Following is a list of the command
    parameters that are supported:

    DOOM.EXE:     -episode        selects the starting episode
          -skill          selects the skill level for new games
          -devparm        necessary to use -warp (see below)
          -warp           selects starting episode and level
          -nomonsters     runs doom with no monsters
          -respawn        causes monsters to re-appear 8 seconds
                  after you kill them
          -deathmatch     players have all the keys, transport into
                  levels at random locations, and score is
                  kept based on how many times you kill the
                  other player(s)
          -loadgame       specifies which saved game to load
          -file           specifies a list of .WAD files to replace
                  the original level maps
                  -record         record a demo (.LMP) file
                  -playdemo       playback a demo (.LMP) file

    SERSETUP.EXE: -com            selects the com port that you are using
          -answer         sets the modem to answer the phone on modem
                  games
          -dial           causes the modem to initiate the call and
                  dial the number given

    IPXSETUP.EXE: -nodes          specifies the number of players in net games
          -port           selects the network port address that is to
                  be used for the net game

    If you are using a modified version of SERSETUP.EXE or IPXSETUP.EXE
    then you may need to generate command parameters that are not listed
    above (anybody who is playing serial or modem games is certainly using
    a modified driver as id's original SERSETUP had bugs that made the game
    unplayable).  For example, your SERSETUP.EXE may support commands that
    allow you to set the baud rate, irq number, port address, etc.  If you
    need to use these parameters you may specify them by selecting
    Extra Params | Driver Params from the Edit menu.  This will open a dialog
    box where you can enter different parameter strings for serial, modem,
    and network games.  The command strings that you input here are simply
    inserted into the command list normally generated by DCC.  Once you
    figure out the correct parameters DCC will remember your settings and
    use them again when running future games.

    NOTE: For running modem games you still need to make sure that MODEM.CFG
      contains the proper initialization strings for your modem.  The
      Extra Params option is strictly for driver parameters, not modem
      initialization.

  - When running modem games, DCC remembers the telephone numbers that you
    call and will default to the last number dialed.

  - DOOM shareware version

    - In keeping with id Software's wishes, DCC detects the shareware version
      of DOOM and disables all of the WAD file functions (this was also true
      with DCC v2.0, I just forgot to mention it in the DOC's).

  Have fun!  Now you can spend your time playing DOOM instead of fooling
  around trying to figure out what command line parameters you need!

  I would like to thank fellow DOOMer and DCC beta tester Jeff Ebert for his
  many valuable suggestions and eager willingness to play DOOM at all hours
  of the day and night for the sake of testing DCC. :)  Thanks Jeff !

  I would also like to acknowledge the work of Matt Fell et al for the
  valuable information contained in the DOOM Specs, without which, many
  of the features in DCC could not have been implemented.

  Please send comments, suggestions, etc. to

    Dan Nold
    381 E. Chestnut St.
    Lisbon, Ohio 44432