JCSM Shareware Collection 1997 February

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Text File | 1994-11-04 | 25KB | 479 lines

BATFX - animation and demo builder (C) PC Solutions 1994. A shareware program. PC Solutions, Box 954, Bournemouth, BH7 6YJ. EMAIL:pc.solutions@phoenix.centron.com or: pc.solutions@glass.jecsystems.com Remember that this program is SHAREWARE - if you like and use this program for more than 30 days, you are obliged to become a registered user by purchasing a PCS program package. The full version of this program with some QBASIC demo source codes, is available on our Utility-pack - see the adverts below.. If you want to use BATFX to make commercial demos for your business, contact us for details for inexpensive licensing rates. If you use BATFX in a commercial package/environment, you MUST have a license - we allow free distribution of our Shareware version with the demo script files, or with additional scripts of your own if distributed for non-profit purposes, but otherwise usage must be negociated. We generally allow free usage to Shareware libraries and Magazine coverdisks if plenty of advertising for PC Solutions is left in the final scripts. BATFX is a superb utility which will allow you to build impressive demos and animations with a few simple commands. Run it by typing BATFX at the command line, to get a demo of capabilities. When the demo is in action you can hit F11 to pause, or CTRL-N to skip to next anim. You can also hit CTRL-D for a Debug info dump, if you are working on your own animation scripts. All other keys will cause BATFX to exit, returning the key hit in the ERRORLEVEL message, which you can interrogate in your batch file. When BATFX is started, it loads the BATFX.SET font (a simple 8x8 char set) and BATFX.TXT, an animation script with text for the scroll message and data for the anim. For more info, see the sample BATFX.TXT script and BATFX.BAT demo. You can set the script/char set to use from the command line. The syntax is: BATFX20 SCRIPT.TXT CHARSET.SET FONT-SIZE where Font-size is a number from 4 up to 16. The character set needs to be in a simple format - the same format as normal IBM sets are held in. Ie. in an size-8 set, CHAR 0 are bytes 0-7, 1 is 8-15, etc. There is a neat shareware program called EGAFONTS which has a lot of fonts in this format - just specify the file-name and font size when you call BATFX and you can use these. The SCRIPT.TXT (default normally BATFX.TXT) consists of text for the scrolling text, text for any static menus and headers then a series of numbers which describe the animation objects. The best way to explain this is with a real sample script. This script is on the disk as SIMPLE.TXT - type BATFX20 SIMPLE.TXT to run this. Here is SIMPLE.TXT:- ---------------SIMPLE.TXT--------------------------------------------------- This is just a simple BATFX demo script. Run it with BATFX20 SIMPLE.TXT and this text will scroll. Dont forget to register BATFX! ^1 And this will appear as a header. } // The above text is used for the bottom line scroll message, // and also for text body/headers - these are marked with ^x // symbols, where x is a number (1..9) When the Index body/header // parameter is set below, this text will be displayed. // NOTE: Smooth scroll text must end with '}' // You can put remarks like this in - this part of the // text (NOT the scroll text above) - start rems with // // Now the numbers that describe the objects // Each number followed by a ',' // First some one-off header info.. 32767, // total length of anim in minutes 555, // RGB Color for font. (000=black,555=white) 010, // RGB fx on font.. // Ok, main header over, now data for 1st section starts // Data for PCW logo - amazing effects! // Note this anim converges on (160,100) - Infinity! 15, // Length of time to run this section, in seconds 4, // Kalidescope fx on, set speed.. (bigger=faster..) // or zero to turn off. 1, // Extra anim fx - gives interesting non-linear // motion when set. (0=off) 1, // Index of header/body text (0=none, or 1..9) // ie. this prints text marked by ^1 above.. 0, 30, // Minimum x,y pos (top left corner) 319,190, // Max xy pos (bottom right corner) // above used when bouncing points off sides. // Now for point data, in groups of 6 numbers.. // (NOTE - MUST BE EXACTLY 6!!) // Format is: RGB colour, start xpos,ypos, end xpos, ypos, rate // OR: RGB colour, start xpos,ypos, x increment, y incr,0 // If the last number is zero, the increment is added to the position // each frame, until the point reflects off the side. The sides are // defined by the Min/Max x/y positions above. // If the last number is set, this gives the no of frames it takes // for the point to oscillate between the start and end points. // If the RGB Color is set, a line of that colour is drawn between // the current point and the next point. If the RGB Colour is zero, // no line is drawn - this is used to terminate a line or series of // lines, like lifting the pen up off the paper. The last point in // any section MUST have a zero colour. // If the RGB Color is -1, this indicates the end of a section // If the RGB is -2, this means re-loop to start. // The RGB color is defined by 3 digits, one each for Red, Green // and Blue, each ranging from 0 to 5, ie. number 000 = Black, // or 555 = Bright white. 500 = Bright Red, etc... This gives // a total of (6 x 6 x 6) = 216 possible colour permutations. 355, 55,150,160,100,55, // above point oscilates between (55,150) and (160,100) in 55 frames. // a line of colour RGB (3,5,5) is drawn to the next point.. 355,100, 90, 1, -1,0, // This point drifts from (100,90) adding (1,-1) after each frame. 533, 70, 40, 200,120,65, // Oscillates (70,40) to (200,120) 0, 55,150,160,100,55, // Same as first one, but with no colour (LIFT UP PEN) so that we get // a closed triangle. -1, // -1 = End of object.. // Next object - Crazy pyramid 15, // length of this section in seconds 3, // Kalidescope on 1, // Extra anim fx 0, // Index of header/body text (0=none) 0,0, // Minimum x,y pos 319,190, // Max xy pos (used for bouncing off sides) 444, 50, 10,240,190,100, 434,240, 10, 50,100,104, 424, 50,190,240, 10,108, 414,240,100, 50, 10,120, 0, 50, 10,240,190,100, // Lift up pen.. 334,240, 10, 50,100,104, 0, 240,100, 50, 10,120, 344, 50, 10,240,190,100, 0, 50,190,240, 10,108, -2, // End file, reloop -2,-2,-2,-2,-2,-2,-2 // some more just to be sure.. }} // data ends. ---------------SIMPLE.TXT ENDS--------------------------------------------- So, in essence you start with the scroll and header texts, which end with a '}' bracket. You then have a series of numbers- the first 3 set global parameters, then the object-descriptions start, with an 8 number header giving some parameters for that object, then the data describing the properties of each point in the object (6 numbers each point) until a -1 or -2 terminates the object/script. Finish with a '}' bracket. Remember that the screen has a maximum of (319,190) range - less than this if kalidescope is selected, so keep objects in range. To maximise speed, range checking is not performed when drawing, so you could end up with a messy screen. Make a note how header-pointers work - when the "Index of Header/Body text" parameter is set (1 to 9) this will mean that the text at the point marked ^x (where x is 1 to 9) will be printed - use this for static menu displays, but be careful that animations dont overwrite the text! Set the Min/Max xy pos to avoid this. The above comments cover most points of usage. The above script loops around with 2 animations, until the user hits a key. Then BATFX will exit, with the ASCII code of the key hit in the ERRORLEVEL system variable. In the case of extended code keys (Cursor, Function, etc) 256 is added to the key code. For example, the F1 key is 315, F10 is 324, etc. If you called BATFX in a batch file, you can test ERRORLEVEL and perform the appropiate action. Remember that the DOS IF ERRORLEVEL.. command performs a >= comparison, so that you need to do comparisons starting with the largest number, working down to the smallest. This is just a quirk of DOS. Here is a sample batch file - BATFX.BAT --------------BATFX.BAT----------------------------------------- echo off :reloop BATFX20 SIMPLE.TXT if errorlevel 320 goto reloop if errorlevel 319 goto keyf5 if errorlevel 318 goto keyf4 if errorlevel 317 goto keyf3 if errorlevel 316 goto keyf2 if errorlevel 315 goto keyf1 if errorlevel 28 goto reloop if errorlevel 27 goto byebye :keyf1 echo call prog 1 here.. pause goto reloop :keyf2 echo call prog 2 here.. pause goto reloop :keyf3 echo call prog 3 here.. pause goto reloop :keyf4 echo call prog 4 here.. pause goto reloop :keyf5 echo call prog 5 here.. pause goto reloop :byebye --------------BATFX.BAT ENDS-------------------------------------- And thats pretty much it! Really its just a matter of common sense when it comes to scripts - use plenty on comments, and experiment. Use the CTRL-D debug option to dump the data contents when running BATFX. Remember to be careful when entering numbers - try to stick to the format above, and work slowly from a working example, saving and testing at each stage. If just one number is missing, the whole lot usually is thown out, and you are left with a messy anim! STOP PRESS - there is a demo 3D script on this disk, called BAT3D.TXT - get some Red/Green glasses and prepare to be amazed! Run with: BATFX20 BAT3D.TXT and wear the red lens over the left eye. One point about WINDOWS - BATFX will run file from WINDOWS, although the animation be be just a little jerky, especially if you have other tasks running. For best results, run from DOS. BATFX will animate at full VDU refresh rate (about 60 times per second), although this does make some demands on computer time - ideally a fast 386, or 486 or Pentium are needed for best results. I hope you have as much fun with BATFX as I have! I have plenty more ideas in the pipeline for BATFX, so REGISTER, and get the latest version! Finally, remember that if you are using the Shareware demo version of BATFX, you are obliged to become a registered user by purchasing a PC Solutions program pack - you can purchase ANY pack you like to become a bona-fide legal user of BATFX, although you may wish to get the full version of BATFX on our UTILITY pack, which can handle 10000 data items (each number in the script is an item) and 10K scroll text . The Shareware version is limited to 1000 data items, and 2000 chars of scroll text. HOW TO ORDER ------------ Some programs have both Windows & DOS versions, others DOS only. In either case, easy WINDOWS install is provided for all programs. SPECIAL OFFER - Buy two or more packs, and P & P is free! Please specify disk size when ordering. Remember - our programs come with high quality packaging and printed documentation. Each pack also comes with several extra PC Solutions shareware 'new releases' for free! For instance, our Games-pack 3 has about 20 programs.. If the total order amount is less than 10 pounds (or $20 US) please add 1 pound UK postage/packaging/handling, or 3 pounds overseas airmail (USA $7) For orders which total above 10 pounds (or $20 US) there is no extra charge - ie P & P is FREE. If you want overseas recorded/registered delivery, add 3 pounds (USA $5). Send cheques / P.O.'s to:- PC SOLUTIONS, Dept BA , P.O. Box 954, Bournemouth BH7 6YJ, ENGLAND. EMAIL ----- If you have a modem, and have INTERNET access, you can send EMAIL to us at: pc.solutions@phoenix.centron.com or: pc.solutions@glass.jecsystems.com Of course this advert could be years old by the time you read it, and there is a chance that this address could change at some distant date - so if you get no reply, back it up with a normal mail enquiry. We will answer ALL EMAIL enquiries. We also have an area on the GLASS ASYLUM BBS:- (phone 01268.510709). - you can download our latest SHAREWARE programs, and leave mail. US orders --------- We now have a service for US customers to place VISA/ACCESS orders - note this is for CREDIT CARD ORDERS ONLY in the US only! Do NOT send credit card orders to PC SOLUTIONS - we cannot process them. US customers can also order direct from PCS with thier normal dollar cheques. You can order with MC, Visa, Amex or Discover from the Public (software) Library, by calling 713-524-6394 (speech) or by FAX to 713-524-6398 or by CIS Email to 71355,470. You can also mail credit orders to PSL at PO Box 35705, Houston, Texas 77235-5705 THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE FOR ORDERS ONLY. When you order, PSL pass the order onto us to ship - so, please allow 2-3 weeks for processing and air-mail delivery. All enquiries about the status of shipment of the order, refunds, registration options, product details, technical support, volume discounts, dealer pricing, etc, must be directed to PC SOLUTIONS, Box 954, Bournemouth BH7 6YJ, ENGLAND. TELEPHONE and TECHNICAL SUPPORT ------------------------------- This is always a tricky subject for Shareware authors. Now it is important to remember that when you buy Shareware from a library, or purchase a magazine disk with Shareware on, the Author (ie us!) see NOTHING of the money you have paid - it all goes to the magazine/library concerned. Now considering that the number of Shareware copies of PC SOLUTIONS programs runs into MILLIONS - we have worked this out - you will understand that if we publish a phone number, we would need an operator full time just to deal with enquiries about software we have not been paid a cent for! In addition, at this stage we are not able to take VISA/ACCESS orders, so the principle advantage is lost anyway. For this reason, phone support is only available on request for REGISTERED USERS - ie. people who have brought our software. We have made arragements for US customers to place VISA/ACCESS orders over the phone with a third party (see above) - however this is strictly sales and orders only - any technical questions MUST be mailed direct to us. In fact, if you think about it, how often can you get technical phone support for free anywhere? You usually can't get through to someone who knows what they are talking about! If you do have a problem or question, you are welcome to write to us - but do check things through first - 99% of problems are due to user errors rather than problems in our programs. When you write to us, include your own phone or fax number if you wish - if it is important, we can contact you. GAME -PACK - 1 CHESSMATE-2600 - New version of our excellent chess program. Now has very nice shaded effect color pieces, plus full game store/replay features, and more.. SAGE-DRAUGHTS-2700 - Probably the worlds strongest draughts program, new graphics, mouse & many features. Forget those other weak shareware programs, and learn how to REALLY play! ADDIX-II - Great educational strategy game - an addictive two player game (Computer plays one player) also helps with Maths skills. BLITZ - Innovative Checkers game on Vari-size board- many added functions! Both DOS and WINDOWS versions supplied here - for even more advanced versions of SAGE and BLITZ, see the PROFESSIONAL version below.. DROP-IT - Variant on CONNECT-4 theme, with re-sizeable board & more.. Windows and DOS versions.. FALLZONE-II - Action - help ERIC battle through a multi-level game.. RANGER - ERIC takes on more aliens.. other great strategy/mind games.. GAMES-PACK-1 (5.25 or 3.5 disk) costs only 8 pounds !! (USA $15) GAME -PACK - 2 FLIPIT - Very strong REVERSI/OTHELLO game, many features, such as re-sizeable board, full game store/replay options, and an extensive tutorial on playing the game. Also includes OCTOTHELLO - othello on an octagonal board! Forget all those other weak programs, this one can REALLY play! JAX - Addictive little brain teaser. RENJU - Fiendish japanese board game - easy to learn, hard to beat. MINEZONE-II - Neat deduction game - another outing for ERIC. CASCADE-II - Drop marbles & collect targets in this addictive game! STELLAR-COMBAT - A neat shoot-em up - includes source code! DECODE - Crack the code! + More great games. GAMES-PACK-2 (5.25 or 3.5 disk) costs only 8 pounds!! (USA $15) GAME -PACK - 3 CAPTAIN ERIC-II - ERIC has to find his way through a dangerous landscape with monsters lurking all around, and many problems to solve. He must also find ammo for his gun, as well as the keys for the next level. Fast and furious fun! ERICS-REVENGE - Further levels for ERIC to beat - many new puzzles to solve, and many new monsters to beat. FALL-ZONE-II - Another fine action/strategy game - ERICS out again! BOMB-RUN - Bomb strategic targets in this super arcade game. (CGA/VGA) WALL-RUN - Try to out-wall your computer opponent - addictive action! ELEPHANT -Neat 'hunt the elephant' logic game - with source code! RACER - Brilliant car racing game - has smooth VGA hardware scrolling, super 256 color graphics - must be seen! SIDETRIS - A new slant on a classic game - great animation! GAMES-PACK-3 (5.25 or 3.5 disk) costs only 8 pounds!! (USA $15) GAME -PACK - 4 DYNAMO DRAUGHTS - Play the EUROPEAN 10x10 game, with sweeping KINGS & MEN jumping backwards! Very Strong player, Full Game edit/replay + more.. Also plays SHASHKI (RUSSIAN), SPANISH and AMERICAN POOL draughts! Includes tutorial texts on these fascinating games - as played by hundreds of thousands of players across Europe & America. For an even more advanced version, see PRO version below.. BLOCKADE - An exciting new OTHELLO-ish board game, many features. Its a sort of two-player version of LIFE - you play the computer and try to capture his cells, while generating new ones of your own. you score points for capturing key areas. A truely innovative game, invented by PC SOLUTIONS! CONTAX - Another PC Solutions invention! A fine strategy game (CGA/VGA). The traditional GOMOKU/RENJU type game, but with a twist - you can only occupy cells already adjacent to both one of yours and an opponents piece. This simple rule radically alters the topography of the game, considerably sharpening tactical play. SOLO - New twists to SOLITAIRE game... + all our new releases! GAMES-PACK-4 (5.25 or 3.5 disk) costs only 8 pounds!! (USA $15) X - WORD For Crossword & Scrabble enthusiasts! Solve complex anagrams, search for letter patterns, with a dictionary of over 140,000 words and phrases. It can solve partial anagrams, or find words within words - very good for 'Countdown' addicts! X-WORD (5.25 or 3.5 disk) costs only 8 pounds!! (USA $15) UTILITY PACK Sprites'n'Fonts - Mouse driven sprite/font/graphics designer, with built- in screen designer. C-Tools - Sprites/Fonts library,+ other I/O - make small EXE. (C source) Includes example C code to use graphics from SPRITES'n'FONTS. and example C programs - including a complete 8x8 GO/OTHELLO board demo. XCELCOPY - Fast Disk-Copy utility, better than DISKCOPY, many features! LIFEPIX - Fractalish generator picture generator with demo C source. ANT-LIFE - A new form of cellular life - with QBASIC Source code. Can create terrific animation and graphics. BATFX - Build your own super demos with 3d animations, scroll texts, use in batch files to make your own menus. MACLAN - Structured Assembly language for the A86 assembler. (with source) CGA Enhancer & PC-XT Speedup (for older machines) DMOUSE screen designer, CBM64 to IBM BASIC Converter. Easy-Ed - a simple line editor, with source. Phonetic Word-Finder - Demonstrates Phonetic word-matching - with C-source. Flexi-Label (Mail list & labels..) + other assorted source codes (BASIC and C) UTIL-PACK 1 (5.25 or 3.5 disk) costs only 8 pounds!! (USA $15) PCS PROFESSIONAL EDITIONS In addition to the standard versions you have just seen listed, PC SOLUTIONS now also market special PROFESSIONAL versions of SAGE DRAUGHTS, DYNAMO DRAUGHTS and DAMA ITALIANA. While the Standard versions you have seen are superb programs, with infinite play-levels, superb graphics, full game store/edit/replay, board position/problem edit and solve, and an enhanced playing power that equals or surpasses any other program - up to grandmaster level, the PROFESSIONAL editions of DYNAMO, SAGE and DAMA ITALIANA have even more features. To start, you have even larger opening and endgame databases, for more accurate and stronger play - with the option to extend the database yourself. There are also database search options - for instance, you can search for all game-lines in the book that transpose into a particular position - users of CHESS-BASE programs will know how useful that is! The play is so strong that even the World Draughts Champion uses our program to help with analysis! There are advanced game annotation features, with the ability to output the resultant game or board position to a word processor. SAGE PROFESSIONAL also comes with the PRO version of BLITZ. Also included with each of the PROFESSIONAL editions of our programs is BASIC CHECKERS - a simple 8x8 english draughts program WITH ITS BASIC SOURCE CODE - so you can have a go at writing your own program! This program will run under the QBASIC interpreter supplied with MSDOS 5/6, so no other purchase is necessary to use it. The code is heavily annotated - you do not need a high level of programming skill to start learning! Each PRO program comes with both DOS and complimentary WINDOWS versions - ie. SAGE PRO comes with BLITZ for WINDOWS. The PROFESSIONAL versions of SAGE DRAUGHTS, DYNAMO DRAUGHTS or DAMA ITALIANA cost 29 pounds sterling EACH, or $49 (USA) or 72,000 lire (Italy) or 255 francs (France) or 75 Dm (Germany) or FL 79 (Netherlands) - pay with a normal cheque in your currency. The price includes first-class/air-mail postage cost. PC SOLUTIONS, Dept XX , P.O. Box 954, Bournemouth BH7 6YJ, ENGLAND. CHESS GENIUS 3 You read about in the papers, you saw it on TV, now buy the program that beat Garry Kasparov for your own PC! Chess Genius 3 made Chess history in August 94, and shocked the Chess world, when it beat Kasparov in a 2 game match - the first Computer ever to defeat a player of his status in a serious non-blitz match (25 minutes per game). It also beat GM Nikolic in the same tournement, achieving an amazing 2795 ELO rating for its performance in that tournement, running on a commercially available 100Mhz Pentium computer. This program has all the features you would expect of a top program - set levels from beginner to GM, game store/backtrack/replay/print, import ChessBase files, automated position analyser, automated game analyser, professional mouse/keyboard operated user interface, and more! Chess Genius is simply the strongest PC Chess program money can buy. This program has almost continually been PC Chess World Champion since the early 1980's, winning nearly all computer competitions and confounding its opponents. Like all good things, this Rolls Royce of programs is not cheap - it costs 91.50 pounds plus 1 pound P & P - however there is simply nothing that touches this program - at any price! If you already have Chess Genius 2, you can update for only 45 pounds - just return your original disk with the order. NOTE - a 386,486 or Pentium PC is needed to run Chess Genius. PC SOLUTIONS, P.O. Box 954, Bournemouth BH7 6YJ, ENGLAND.