Classic Games for OS/2 Warp/Classic Games for OS2 Warp (1995)(IBM).iso/mlgames/walledit.hlp

OS/2 Help File | 1995-07-12 | 27KB | 555 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Overview ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use WallEdit to create or edit levels for use in The Wall. The editor have an
easy-to-use mouse interface, and implements such things as drag-and-drop
colors, local menus and notebooks for all importants level settings.

Levels are stored in a game file. You can store as many levels as you wish in
the same game file, there is no limit.

You can test the levels right away with the Test option in the level menu.

Related topics:

Using the editor
Design rules
Tips and tricks
Block types


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Using the Editor ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

o Resize the level to the size you want.
o Select a block in the block palette window.
o Place a block by clicking at the position where you want to place it.
o Erase a block by clicking at an existing block.
o Select a background color, if the default color doesn't fit.
o Select a border type to match your design goals.
o Give a title to the level.
o Test the level to make sure that the level is solveable.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Design Rules ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Follow these guidelines when designing levels for The Wall:

o Every level must contain moveable blocks.
o If bombs aren't used, one single block of a moveable type isn't allowed.
o There is a maximum of 15 elevators per level.
o A fixed block must be placed between two elevators in the same column.

See also: Block types


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Tips and Tricks ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

o The notebook is modeless, which means that it isn't necessary to close it
  down after every modification.

o It's usually faster to use the local menu to change frame style and
  background color than using the notebook.

o Use drag-and-drop from the Color Palette to change the background color. Note
  that the dragged color will be rounded off to one of the 16 system colors
  used in WallEdit.

o Use drag-and-drop (with or without the Ctrl key) from the Color Palette to
  change the color contrast in the block palette window.

o Use the Orientation local menu item to change to the best appearance of the
  block palette window.

o You can "paint" the level with lots of blocks by holding down the left mouse
  button while moving the mouse. Erase using the same technique.

o If your level depends on a special apperance of the moveable blocks, uncheck
  Swap block images in the notebook. Otherwise, the block images are randomly
  selected at the start of the level.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Block Types ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

These are the possible block types in The Wall/WallEdit:

Moveable block, type 1
Moveable block, type 2
Moveable block, type 3
Moveable block, type 4
Moveable block, type 5
Moveable block, type 6
Moveable block, type 7
Moveable block, type 8
Bomb block, also moveable. When a bomb block touches other blocks, it will let
the blocks explode.
Ice floor. When a block is pushed on this type of floor, it will continue to
move until something stops it.
Elevator moving down
Elevator moving up
Non-moving elevator
, Solid blocks


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Menu Commands ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Please select a menu:

The File Menu
The Edit Menu
The Level Menu


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. File Menu Commands ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Please select a command:

New
Open
Save
Save as
Append
Grid
Test in same window
Entry/Exit bitmaps
Exit


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1. New ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The New option opens a new, empty game file.

Select this option if you want to create a game file from scratch.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.2. Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this option to load a game file from disk. A dialog box will be displayed
with all currently available game files.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.3. Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Save option saves the current game file. If the game file is untitled, you
will have to enter a name.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.4. Save as ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use the Save as option to save to current game file under a different name.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.5. Append ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Append option is used to append another game file to the end of the current
game file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.6. Grid ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Check this menu item to display a grid on the editor board. This makes it more
easy to place the blocks.

Uncheck to hide the grid.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.7. Test in same window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Check this menu item to always test the games in the same test window.

Uncheck to always open a new window for every test.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.8. Entry/Exit bitmaps ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This menu item displays a dialog box where you can change the game file
bitmaps. The bitmaps will be displayed at the start and end of the game file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.9. Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this menu item if you want to quit WallEdit.

If you haven't saved the game file, you will be asked to do so.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Edit Menu Commands ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Please select a command:

Undo
Redo
Copy
Paste


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.1. Undo ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Undo option restores the level to the way it was before your most recent
edit. The levels of undo is nearly unlimited.

Undo can only be used on block editing; no other settings are affected.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.2. Redo ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Redo option reverses the effect of the most recent Undo option.

Redo has an effect only immediately after an Undo option or another Redo
option.

A series of Redo options reverses the effects of a series of Undo options.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.3. Copy ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Copy option leaves the current level intact and places an exact copy of it
in the local Clipboard.

To paste the current level into any other level, select Paste.

Note that WallEdit doesn't use the global Clipboard; you cannot paste the
copied level outside WallEdit.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.4. Paste ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Paste option inserts the level from the local Clipboard into the current
level.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Level Menu Commands ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Please select a command:

Add
Delete
Rearrange
Previous
Next
Select level
Test
View settings


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.1. Add ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use the Add option to append an empty level at the end of the current game
file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.2. Delete ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use the Delete option to erase the current level.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.3. Rearrange ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Rearrange option displays a dialog box with powerful tools to copy, reorder
and delete levels.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.4. Previous ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Previous option moves to the level before the current.

The Undo-buffer will be emptied.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.5. Next ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Previous option moves to the level after the current.

The Undo-buffer will be emptied.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.6. Select level ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This menu item displays a dialog box where you can make a move to any level in
the current game file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.7. Test ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Test option tests the current level.

If the Test in same window option is checked, the test will always take place
in the same test window. Otherwise the test will open a new test window.

If the level have an error, a message box explaining the error will be
displayed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.8. View settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This menu item displays a notebook containing all setting for the current
level. The notebook is modeless, which means that it can be placed behind the
main window. Therefore you can have it open all the time.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Help Menu Commands ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Please select a command:

Help index
How to use the editor
Commands
Using help
About WallEdit


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1. Help on Help Index ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Help index to see the most important topics on WallEdit Help.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2. Help on How To Use the Editor ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select How to use the editor to learn how to use WallEdit.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.3. Help on Commands ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Commands to get help about menu commands in the File, Edit and Level
menus.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.4. Help on Using Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Using help to learn how to use the Help facility.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.5. Help on About ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select this menu item to see some product information about WallEdit.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Dialog B