POPULOUS Is an INTER-BBS Door Game with MANY Features which I Leave to the user to discover through playing. 1
POPULOUS is Copyrighted 1993 SoftSpot Software.
INDEX
TABLE OF Contents
Select Help on appropriate program section: V
HELP
EMPIRE
MANAGEMENT
HELP
CONFIGURATION
SECTION
HELP
LOCAL
LOG-IN
menu is accessed by pressing Alt-Space. All the other menus are accessed by pressing Alt-Z, where Z is the first letter of the menu. For example, the "File" menu is pulled down by Alt-F. )
Press ESC to put this help screen away.
BBS PATH
Enter the PATH to your MAIN BBS DORINFO file, for MULTI LINE Systems you may enter a '?' (question mark) in your path statement which will be replaced by the appropriate NODE ID Number passed on the command Line, for Example
C:\BBS\LINE?
and POPULOUS is started with the Command Line: POPULOUS /N2 then POPULOUS will Will search in the directory C:\BBS\LINE2 for the current DORINFO file. !
INDEX CONFIGURATION
CONTENTS
NET PATH
Enter the Path where your NETMAIL *.MSG files are stored. !
INDEX CONFIGURATION
CONTENTS
INBOUND
Enter the PATH here where your MAILER stores RECEIVED files at. !
INDEX CONFIGURATION
CONTENTS
SYSOP NAME
Enter the Name of the SYSOP as passed in DORINFO?.DEF file. (NOTE: For REGISTERED Systems, this _MUST_ Match EXACTLY the registered name) !
INDEX CONFIGURATION
CONTENTS
ADDRESS
Enter Your COMPLETE Fido Style ZONE:NET/NODE address here. POINTS NOT ALLOWED! !
INDEX CONFIGURATION
CONTENTS
MAILERS
Select Your Mailer Type here, This determines what type of OUTBOUND FILE Attach messages will be generated:
FRONT DOOR: File Attribute Bits, ^A Flags.
BINKELY: File name Preceed by "^"
D'BRIDGE: Appropriate QUE File
OTHER: Equivalent to FRONT DOOR.
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CONTENTS
RESCAN PATH
If Your Mailer uses a semaphore file to cause a rescan of outgoing message files, enter the COMPLETE PATH and file name here. the Common rescan files are:
FRONT DOOR: [Front Door Directory]\FDRESCAN.NOW
BINKELY: ???????????
D'BRIDGE: [DBridge Directory]\DBRESCAN.NOW
OTHER: ???????????
You may leave this blank if you choose. !
INDEX CONFIGURATION
CONTENTS
Mail FLags
Enter the appropriate mail flags which will be the DEFAULT Flags for
outgoing FILE ATTACH Messages generated in POPULOUS!. Eventually, you
will be able to establish alternate mail flags for each node in a league
through the EMPIRE Program.
INDEX CONFIGURATION
CONTENTS
Local Login
This is pretty self-explanatory isn't it?? Simply enter your ACTUAL name in the space provided, note that you have a limited period of time before the program will abort.
INDEX LOCAL
LOG-IN
CONTENTS
SYSTEM
This is the main node management menu. *
INDEX EMPIRE
Management
Contents
ABOUT
This will tell you everything you want to know about the program and its author. *
INDEX EMPIRE
Management
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FILE
This is the main menu for selecting and saving of Empire files. *
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Management
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ABORT
This will ABORT any current changes to the empire file since you last saved the file. *
INDEX EMPIRE
Management
Contents
MANAGER
This is the main menu selection for management of Empire files, including options to ADD, EDIT, DELETE nodes in a file. *
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EDIT
Chose this option to ADD, EDIT, or DELETE Nodes in an empire file. Note that upon creation of a new file, Data will be copied from your CONFIGURATION information as the LEAGUE LEADER--This will include automatically adding your node to the empire listing. You will NOT be able to DELETE nodes unless you have entered the correct password for the league, or have just created a new league file. *
INDEX EMPIRE
Management
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NODE ROUTING
This is accessed through either the MANAGER Menu selection or the VIA/ROUTE button of the ADD/EDIT editing screen, and will allow you to route any node in an empire league VIA any other node in that league You'll also be able to change the default mail attach flags for any node to over-ride those established in the CONFIGURATION section(s). Mouse users may also directly click the asterisk Icon to select.
a VIA'd node is defined as a node where data TO that node is packed and sent to an intermediate node Where it will be unpacked and further forwarded. A DIRECT node is defined as a node where data TO that node is sent DIRECTLY to that node.
to select a node to VIA by, simple TAB or MOUSE Click the "VIA NODE" Entry then press the ASTERISK Key ("*") to display a complete list of all nodes in this league. Mouse users may also directly click the asterisk Icon to select. Using UP/DOWN Arrow keys, Select the desired node and Press ENTER to accept. (note that the VIA node display will _NOT_ Be updated with new information until the NEXT/PREVIOUS buttons have been selected) P
to set a node to a DIRECT send simply select itself from the selection screen.
note that you may also set-up GLOBAL Routing statements for proper routing of Newly added nodes or even newly added empire data files via the DEFAULT
ROUTING Entry Menu selection as well as globally update your routing via the APPLY
ROUTING menu selections. :
INDEX EMPIRE
Management
Contents DEFAULT
Routing
APPLY DEFAULT ROUTING
This will apply your global routing statements to your CURRENT Empire data file. :
INDEX EMPIRE
Management
Contents DEFAULT
Routing
EMPIRE ROUTING DEFAULTS
This selection will allow you to enter/edit/delete "GLOBAL ROUTING STATEMENTS" which will be applied automatically when adding a new site to an existing empire data file or to all sites when adding a NEW EMPIRE Data file via the "NET" mode of Populous. b
WARNING: This function may over-ride any and all individual routing as specified in NODE
ROUTING ;
INDEX EMPIRE
Management
Contents ROUTE
STATEMENTS
GLOBAL ROUTING ENTRY
While entering your Global routing statements, the following keys are active: 2
ESC: Aborts _ALL_ entries, exits without Saving.
TAB: Moves between Fields J
ENTER: Updates/enters your Current entry (Note that the entry will first /
be validated for Legal format and data)
LEFT/RIGHT Arrow Keys: scrolls data entry line left/right. :
DOWN ARROW: allows selection of PREVIOUSLY Entered data. ^
while a CURRENT routing entry is selected from the pick list, the following keys are active: *
SPACE: Selects current Entry for EDITING 7
DEL: Deletes Current Entry after Confirmation prompt. H
Specific Routing verbs "understood" by POPULOUS include the following:
DIRECT, ALL and VIA y
=====
ALL
=====
When entering an address list, you may use ALL in place of the ZONE,NET, or NODE portion of an Address. You may also use "ALL" by itself to signify EVERYBODY! d
You may NOT use the "ALL" Verb in the VIA portion of a statement, which must be an actual address. z
=====
VIA
=====
The general format for this verb is:
[address[, address,...] VIA [zone:][Net/]Node
[EXCEPT address[,address...]]
When entering multiple node address' you must seperate each node by either a space and/or a comma. B
EXAMPLE: Suppose we have the following situtation for League 0:
then our routing statement(s) would look something like the following: K
this routes all nodes in Zone 1, net 110 via 110/257: 110/ALL via 110/257
this routes all zone 2 and 3 via 2:250/116 except for 3:400/1: Note that the spacing here doesn't matter!! 2:all, 3:all via 2:250/116 Except 3:400/1 D
finally route nodes via 3625/454: 3625/ALL 187/19 234 via 3625/454
of course for those nodes that wish to Route ALL their data via a specific node the routing statement becomes the most basic of all:
ALL via 1:2280/1
You should note that EACH routing statement defaults to YOUR ZONE:NET data, so you do not have to enter these unless different zones/nets are being entered. R
when Using Multiple entries for either the routed nodes or except nodes, the following node will use the same ZONE:NET as the previous entry, thus in the third line of the routing statement above, to route both 187/19 and 187/234, I only had to enter the node number for 234 since the zone:net had already been set by the entry 187/234. }
=====
DIRECT
=====
The general format for this verb is:
DIRECT ALL|[zone:][Net/]Node]...[EXCEPT [zone:][Net/]Node]...]
This statement will allow you to easily over-ride the built in route all via.. command, the same options and formats apply as to the VIA verb above... *
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EMPIRE NODE ADD/EDIT ^
This is where you may ADD, EDIT, or DELETE Indiviudal node data in an
empire data file. All data must be appropriate before the node will be updated/added and will be automatically validated on selection of another node to edit, Next/Previous buttons, Add button or the COMMIT button. w
You'll also eventually be able to to handle the DEFAULT ROUTING for each node here by selecting the VIA/ROUTE button. :
NEXT BUTTON
if you are not ADDING or EDITING the LAST node in the data file, this button will automatically validate the currently displayed node, and update it then select the NEXT node in the listing for editing. >
PREVIOUS BUTTON
if you are not ADDING or EDITING the LAST node in the data file, this button will automatically validate the currently displayed node, and update it then select the NEXT node in the listing for editing. <
COMMIT Button
This button will COMMIT changes to the current node to the file, if you changed the node, you MUST select this button BEFORE choosing the EXIT button, other wise your current changes to this node will NOT be saved!! 9
ADD Button
Select this button to ADD a new node. <
DELETE Button
If you've entered an INCORRECT PASSWORD you WON'T be able to select this button which will REMOVE the node from the empire listing. A
VIA/ROUTING Button
this is not yet implemented, this will allow you to manage the default routing for each node in the league. ,
INDEX EMPIRE
Management
Contents
PASSWORD PROTECTION
Whenever a EMPIRE data file is initially loaded by the program, you'll be requested to enter the appropriate password for this data file, which was assigned during the Creation process. B
this password my be up to 30 characters and _IS CASE SENSITIVE!_
once the correct password has been entered, you will be considered the "league Leader" and have full access to the EDITING Functions of the ADD/DELETE option, otherwise you will only have access to the ADD Option for adding your own node to the data file. *
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MAKING A _NEW_ EMPIRE DATA FILE
to create a NEW EMPIRE data file, choose OPEN on the FILES menu which will bring up the SELECT
INSTALLED
LEAGUE dialog box which contains a button labeled "MAKE NEW" simply select this button. %
You'll be promted for a LEAGUE name and PASSWORD for this league both fields MUST BE completed for the league to be created. Note that information from your CONFIGURATION will be copied into the newly created empire file automatically, with yourself being designated as the "League Leader". *
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INSTALLED LEAGUES
These are the CURRENTLY installed empire data files. You may scroll through the list and select which data files you wish to edit. During the execution of the door, the player(s) will ONLY be able to select from this list. Creation of a data file will cause it to be automatically installed in this list. *
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FIND String
You may find any string FROM CURRENT CURSOR POSITION by the ^QF or ^L keys.
This will open a dialog box where you input the string you wish to find. additionally you may find strings according to CASE (Exact match) as well as "whole words only" (only those words consisting entirely of the input string. K
You may continue finding the last input string by pressing CONTROL and L. '
SEE ALSO: KEY
DEFS INDEX EMPIRE
Help
Text Window
Reports and other informational logs are displayed in a bufferred window for maximum ease of use and flexibility.
Each window can display text information limited only by available RAM, and allows the use of the Up/Down arrow keys to scroll backwards/forwards through the text. G
Each report window also has a number of Buttons attached to the view: $
Send
FILE and Printer CLOSE
to allow the currently selected text window to be reprinted to an alternate destination. '
SEE ALSO: KEY
DEFS INDEX EMPIRE
Help
KEY DEFINATION
These Keys are active while in the TEXT
WINDOW:
UP ARROW: Scroll Up control keys: (Press Control (^) and Key)
DN ARROW: Scroll Down ^PG UP: Start of Data
Lft,Right: Scroll left/right ^PG DN: End of data
PG UP: Page up ^QF: FIND
String
PG DN: Page Down ^L: Repeat Last find
HOME: Start of Line ^LFT ARROW: Word Left
END: End of Line ^RGT ARROW: Word Right
BLOCK COMMAND keys: (Press CONTROL (^) and Key)
^KB: Mark Block Start ^KK: Mark Block End
^KH: Hide Block
^INSERT: Copy block to Clipboard
^SHIFT: Past block FROM clipboard
SEE ALSO: INDEX EMPIRE
Help
TEXT EDITING
The Built in text editor allows you to edit standard text files of any size Limited only by your available RAM. |
Features include Word Wrapping, Search & Replace commands, Word-Star (tm) style key commands, sizeable windows and others. '
SEE ALSO: KEY
DEFS INDEX EMPIRE
Help
EDIT DEFAULT
The EDIT Defaults allows you to set the behavior of the editor including wrap mode.
LINE Length may be set from 35 to 255 characters, lines longer then this will be WRAPPED or broken depending if WRAP MODE is checked or not (check to turn ON). '
SEE ALSO: KEY
DEFS INDEX EMPIRE
Help
KEY DEFINATION
These Keys are active while in the TEXT
EDITOR:
UP ARROW: Scroll Up control keys: (Press Control (^) and Key)
DN ARROW: Scroll Down ^PG UP: Start of Data
Lft,Right: Scroll left/right ^PG DN: End of data
PG UP: Page up ^QF: FIND
String
PG DN: Page Down ^QA: REPLACE
String
HOME: Start of Line ^L: Repeat Last find/Replace
END: End of Line ^LFT ARROW: Word Left
INSERT: OverWrite Mode ^RGT ARROW: Word Right
DEL: Delete character ^O: SET
EDITOR
DEFAULTS
^W: Set Wrap Mode On/Off
^Y: Delete Line
^QY: Delete to end of line
BLOCK COMMAND keys: (Press CONTROL (^) and Key)
^KB: Mark Block Start ^KK: Mark Block End
^KH: Hide Block ^KY: Delete Block
^KC: COPY block ^KV: MOVE Block
^INSERT: Copy block to Clipboard
^SHIFT: Paste block FROM clipboard
SEE ALSO: INDEX EMPIRE
Help
PRINT TO: FILE
This button will send the text contained with the currently selected report window to a user specified text file. >
SEE ALSO: Text
Window INDEX EMPIRE
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PRINT TO: PRINTER
This button will send the text contained with the currently selected report window to a printer connected to LPT1. NOTE: This button is _ONLY_ available if your printer is ON-LINE, LOADED With Paper and Ready to print. >
SEE ALSO: Text
Window INDEX EMPIRE
Management
Contents
CLOSE REPORT
Select this button to dispose of the current report window.
SEE ALSO: 7
Text
Window INDEX
EMPIRE
Management
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Window
(Alt-W)
The Window menu contains commands to close, move and perform other window-management commands.
Most of the windows in this program have all the standard window elements, including scroll bars, a close box, and zoom icons. >
For more about windows and their elements, refer to windows. :
Window-management commands
Size/Move Zoom
Tile Cascade
Next Previous
Close
Window
Size/Move
(Ctrl-F5)
Choose this command to change the size or position of the active window.
Size
If you press Shift while you use the arrow keys, you can change the size of the active window. Once you've adjusted its size or position, press Enter. Q
If a window has a Resize corner, you can drag that corner to resize the window.
Move
When you choose Window
Size/Move, the active window moves in response to the arrow keys. Once you've moved the window to where you want it, press Enter. F
You can also move a window by dragging its title bar with the mouse.
Window
Zoom
(F5)
Choose Zoom to resize the active window to the maximum size. If the window is already zoomed, you can choose this command to restore it to its previous size. {
You can also double-click anywhere on the window's title bar (except where an icon appears) to zoom or unzoom the window.
Window
Tile
Choose Window
Tile to tile all file viewers on the desktop. L
Tiled Windows
Window
Cascade
Choose Window
Cascade to stack all file viewers on the desktop. A
Cascaded Windows
Window
Next
Choose Next to cycle forwards through the windows on the desktop.
INDEX
Window
Previous
Choose Previous to cycle backwards through the windows on the desktop.
INDEX
Window
Close
(Alt-F3)
Choose Close to close the active window. O
You can also click the Close box in the upper right corner to close a window.
INDEX
Options (Alt-O)
The Options menu contains commands that let you change color and mouse default settings. *
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Options
Mouse...
The Mouse command brings up the Mouse
Options dialog box, where you can set various options that control how your mouse works, including: R
how fast a double-click is
which mouse button (right or left) is
active
INDEX
Options
Colors...
The Colors item brings up the Colors
dialog box, where you can customize the colors of the display.
Help on the Mouse Options dialog box
This dialog box consists of one check box, one slider bar, and the standard buttons OK and Cancel.
Mouse Double Click
Slow Medium Fast
The Mouse Double Click slider bar adjusts the double-click speed of your mouse. ^
[X] Reverse Mouse Buttons
Reverse Mouse Buttons makes the right mouse button take on the normal functions of the left--and vice versa. 6
See also:
Options
Mouse...
command
Help on the Colors dialog box
The Colors dialog box consists of two list boxes, a text display area, the standard OK, Cancel, and Help buttons, and one of the following:
On color and black-and-white systems, it
also contains two color palettes.
On monochrome systems, it contains a set
of radio buttons instead of the palettes.
This dialog box is where you can change the colors of different parts of this program.
Group
Desktop
Menus
Dialogs/Calc
Puzzle
Calendar
Ascii table
The Group list box contains the names of the different regions of the program that you can customize. L
Item
Color
When you select a group from the Group list, the Item list box displays the names of the different views in that region.
Foreground
Background
On color and black-and-white systems, you use the Foreground and Background palettes to modify colors.
Colors
) Mono low
( ) Mono high
( ) Mono underscore
( ) Mono inverse
On monochrome systems, you use the Colors set of radio buttons systems to modify the character attributes. Q
Text Text Text
Text Text Text
On all systems, the display text (above the Help button) shows the current color or attribute settings. a
Changes do not take effect on the desktop until you close the Colors dialog box by choosing OK.
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