Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/comm/batdoor.zip/BATDOR33.DOC

Text File | 1990-07-25 | 15KB | 282 lines

==============================================================================

                         Battleship Door Version 3.3

                   A Multiplayer Door for PCBoard Version 14

                        Registration is only $10.00!

              Written by: Gerry Freymann
                          R.R.#1
                          Baltimore, ONT K0K 1C0

          The Phantom BBS [phone]/3766 USR HST
                          [phone] Hayes Ultra
==============================================================================






Brief Update History
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.0 - Initial Release written in Turbo Basic
2.0 - Updated to work with PCBoard 12 or 14
2.1 - fixed a few bugs
3.0 - Now rewritten in Quickbasic using Clint Labarthe's Door Patch code
    - Changed the screens to look more like Backgammon and Checkers
    - Added an ANSI version of the Bulletin as well as the ASCII
    - Added an option to reply to a message right after you read it.  Before
      you had to get to the Command Line in the Game to leave a message
    - Added "stacking" of Commands.  Make a move in Game One by entering
      1-1 <RETURN> etc.
3.1 - The authors of Door Patch released an update on their code which caused
      me to recompile all of my Doors using DORPCH35.EXE
    - fixed a problem of no flashing hit ships on the far right columns
  * - NOTE:  the .CFG file format has changed.  See the section on the .CFG
      file later in this document.
    - added NULL options on the two Bulletin lines in the .cfg file.  You can
      now choose from one, both or none.  Simply put the word NULL on the
      line(s) for the bulletins if you wish NOT to produce one or both of
      them.
    - changed the method by which the program would copy the Hall Of Fame
      at the bottom of the Bulletins.  I used a SHELL COPY command before
      but that caused problems if you had a small amount of memory available.
    - also added a carraige return after the sentence at the end that says
      please wait while updating the bulletins.  Looks nicer now.
    - Also fixed the problem with the .NDX file getting mysteriously set to
      zero!  Every now and then you could have a batch of games going and
      when somebody entered the door the program thought NO games were
      underway.  All you found in the .NDX file was the number 0.  This has
      been fixed.
3.2 - Released after successful Beta Testing on March 22, 1989
    - The Index file has been changed to a Random Access File.  The program
      will read this file at various points throughout the Door.  The index
      file will only be updated IF a new game is added, a player completes
      his move or a player joins a game waiting for a player.  It also only
      updates the RECORD in the .NDX file as opposed to rewriting the entire
      file.  This will fix the mixed up .NDX file problem on multi-node
      systems.
    - All game files have been changed to Random access files and are
      opened with File Locking syntax.
    - The opening and closing screens have been changed in favour of
      quicker log-ins and log-offs.
    - The opening where the program searches for the Players' name has been
      updated.  The program now tells the user it's his move in game 1, 2,
      3, etc..  The program also lists the game numbers of games which
      need a second player.
 ** - A convert program to change the .NDX file and the game file to the new
      format has been created.  Run it once and forget it. [BCONVERT.EXE]
    - The Sysop maintenance program [BATKILL.EXE] has been updated to 3.3
      and has also been rewritten in QuickBasic.  Very FAST!
    - An option to allow the player to withdraw from the game has been
      added.  Option 9 - a Sysop only command has been removed.  If you
      really want to delete a game just DEL BATDOOR.0?? and run the
      BATKILL program.
    - If you don't specify a configuration file after the BATKILL name,
      Batkill will now open BATDOOR.CFG by default.  Batkill does require
      a .cfg file to be passed onto it, but if one isn't, BATDOOR.CFG will
      be used.
    - Stopped displaying the Hall of Fame (if one exists) upon exiting the
      door program to speed up exits.  If they want to see the Hall of Fame
      they can read the Bulletin!
May 15/89
    - fixed a small problem with the messages in the system.  Player 1's
      messages were never seen by Player 2, although Player 2's messages
      were seen by Player 1.  My fault.  Fixed now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.3 - increased maximum number of games allowed to 100 from 50
    - added necessary code to work with Register program (see DOCS)
    - added expert mode on Main Menu
    - added a check for ? or H on Main Menu command line and offer help
    - added a comment to screen when searching for player stats
    - messages left will be displayed in their original case (used to be
      all caps in earlier versions)
    - added a colour graphics toggle to Main Menu
    - corrected stacking at main command line.  You could view game 5 with
      just a 2;5 but a 2;10 would fail.
    - have the program stop after filling up the screen when listing games
      and displaying current game status bulletin.  It used to just scroll.
    - Added a question mark at the end of the Main Menu command line
    - put in the current date to the game file when player2 joins a game.
    - justified the game numbers from 1-9 when listing games
    - Updated the Batkill program
      -fixed double version number when the Hall of Fame was added to Blt
      -now creates a Batkill.LOG file (overwrites each time)
      -automatically deletes games that have not had a move in them for
       45 days or longer



Overview of Battleship Door
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to Battleship!  A Multiplayer Door for PCBoard Ver 14. Now
written in QuickBasic using Clint Labarthe's Door Patch Ver 3.5!

Battleship was a program I first found way back in my Commodore days.  I've
played around with that program for some time and have two modem battleship
packages available, one for the C64 and one for the IBM.  Now I've converted
it to a PCBoard Door.  It was a PUBLIC DOMAIN file and the author's name was
not included.  Some routines and code from the very original program exist
in various forms in this Door program.

Batdoor Release 3.2 and greater are now fully NETWORK compatable.  All of the
main Data files are opened using File Sharing.

Upgrading instructions are in the History log... read em!

Batdoor is very simple.  It lets two users take turns guessing where each
other's ships are.

When you enter the Door a menu will be presented with 8 choices.  They
are:

                1) Make a move in a Game that you are in
                2) Start a brand new game and wait for a Player
                3) See a Game that is already underway
                4) Become Player 2 in a Game waiting for a Player
                5) List the current Games, Players & who's move
                6) Complete instructions for Battleship Door
                7) End program and Exit to PCBoard
                8) List your current Stats
                X) Expert Mode ON/Off
                G) Colour Graphics ON/off

Most of this stuff is pretty straight forward.  The program checks and checks
again to make sure that anyone trying to make a move or join a game is indeed
eligible to do so.  Other users not involved in a game will NOT see where
anyone has placed their ships in any game but their own.  See a Game that is
already underway simply displays the guessing grids of the two players
involved in the game.  You also won't be allowed to make a move unless it's
your turn - go ahead and try!  You basically aren't allowed to enter anything
the program isn't expecting.

When a Player enters the program and gets into the Setup or Make a Move
function, his grid containing his ships will always be on the left while
his "guess" grid will always be on his right, regardless of what Player
he is (like in 1 or 2).  The only time Player 1 is on the left and Player
2 is on the right is when you view a game in progress, all other times
the program automatically flips the grids as needed.

When a user exits the Battleship Door the program will write a Bulletin
that you can add to your system containing the names of the Players and
their opponents, who's turn it is, if the game is over, how may guesses
have been made and if some games have been completed, the
Battleship "Hall of Fame" appears at the bottom of the Bulletin.
The "Hall of Fame" is contained in a file that is called BATDOOR.SCR
and will appear once a game has been completed and should remain there
until you deem fit to 'reset' the Hall of Fame scoreboard.
The program basically appends BATDOOR.SCR to your Bulletins
so deleting BATDOOR.SCR will erase any completed game history.


Files needed for Battleship Door Operation
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you have any doubt about the integrity of the files contained in this
ARCHive, feel free to call my BBS in Cobourg, Ontario Canada and download
the latest version.  [phone]/3766 HST [phone] Hayes Ultra.

*BATDOR35.EXE      <<--The main program
* BATDOOR.CFG      <<--A sample configuration file
  BATDOOR          <<--A sample file to run the whole thing
* BATDOOR.INS      <<--The instructions the user will see
 BATDOR33.DOC      <<--I luv this part - You're reading it right now!
* BATKILL.EXE      <<--Sysop Maintenance program, use in your Event.Sys
 BCONVERT.EXE      <<--Updates files to new 3.2 format, run once and forget
                                            ^-> if you are running 3.2
                                                and are upgrading to 3.3 you
                                                DON'T run this again.
  LICENSE.DOC      <<--You MUST read, understand and agree with this!
    SYSOP.DOC      <<--Important setup instructions
    FLYER.DOC      <<--Information on other programs available from me
 REGISTER.FRM      <<--Registration Form

Files created by the program after running it:

* BATDOOR.SCR      <<--Hall of Fame is held in here once a game has ended
* BATDOOR.0??      <<--Games currently underway, ?? equals 01 to 100
* BATDOOR.NDX      <<--Quick index off all the Games
* BATDOOR.REG      <<--Created by BATREG.EXE after registering

Files needed for proper Door Patch Operation:

* DOORPCH35.EXE  <--you should have these already.  If you don't they are
     BRUN30.EXE  <--available to you on my system.


[*] - these files must be in the same directory


BATDOOR.CFG - What is required
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C:\PCB\PCBOARD.SYS   <<--Full path and name of PCBoard.Sys
The Phantom BBS      <<--Your BBS Name (Use upper and lowercase)
Gerry                <<--Sysop first name
Freymann             <<--Sysop last name
20                   <<--Maximun number of games you want (100 is the max)
C:\PCB\GAMES\GBLT4   <<--Full path and name of ASCII Bulletin | NULL if none
C:\PCB\GAMES\GBLT4G  <<--Full path and name of ANSI Bulletin  | NULL if none


BATKILL.EXE - Daily Maintenance Program - UPDATED!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This program has been rewritten in Quick Basic also.  This program can be
called up from DOS or added to your Event.sys file.  I suggest you run this
at LEAST ONCE A WEEK.  The players can now quit the game and the only way
to remove it is by running BATKILL.  Why?  I couldn't fit any more code into
the damned program!  The compiler wouldn't take it.  The basic code for the
main program is over 66,000 bytes as it is!  BATKILL's purpose is to delete
any games that are completed and move all other games up.  Games are stored
as BATDOOR.001 for game 1, BATDOOR.002 for game 2 etc.  The main program
reads these files sequentially from 1 to the end and should you delete a game
in the middle it will not see any game past that point.  Therefore you should
run BATKILL to delete unwanted finished games and restore the list.  It will
automatically delete expired games and rename the remaining games from 1 to
end, update the Bulletins and index file.

Also, if for any reason your index file becomes inaccurate, simply run
BATKILL and it will be updated.  BATKILL actually reads in each data file
of all the games and read the Player's name and who's turn and all that
important stuff.  It kinda double checks everything and sets it right.

Batkill also needs a configuration file name passed onto it when you run it,
as it must know your maximum allowed games and where your Bulletin is to be
kept.  Use the SAME name as you did to load BATDOOR.  For example, if you
loaded Batdoor using BATDOOR BATDOOR.CFG then you should load the Battleship
Sysop maintenance program like this:  BATKILL BATDOOR.CFG.  If you don't
specify a .cfg file name, then Batkill will open BATDOOR.CFG by default.

As of Batdoor v3.3 the Batkill program will now automatically delete games
that have not seen action for 45 days or more.  Batkill also creates a log
file called BatKILL.LOG which will let you know what games have been
deleted and why.  The Log file is overwritten each time the program is run
so you don't have to worry about it growing and growing.


Support the Shareware concept...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Register, please print out and return the REGISTER.FRM in the Zip file.
With the release of Batdoor 3.3 I have made a slight change to the
register process.  Now, when you register, you will be given a small program
called BATREG.EXE which you run in your door subdirectory.  This program will
create a file called BATDOOR.REG which will instantly register your existing
copy of the door program, and any and all future versions as well.  This
means that any future releases you find will automatically continue to say
registered to you, without the need to come back to me.  I hope you'll
appreciate this new system.  You should be able to call The Phantom BBS and
make your initial call, wait until I receive your payment, and download this
small utility without spending alot of time on the phone.  Or, for an
additional $5.00 per order, I can send you the whole package on disk using
the postal service.  The choice is yours.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for your support!