home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The World of Computer Software
/
World_Of_Computer_Software-02-387-Vol-3of3.iso
/
e
/
excal371.zip
/
SYSOPDOC.XC2
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-02-26
|
15KB
|
302 lines
************EXCALIBUR! INSTALLATION AND INFORMATION******************
**** LICENSING INFORMATION ****
First, let's get the legal aspect out of the way.
Excalibur! and associated software are Copyright (c) 1991 Richard L. Chism
and are protected by US and international copyright laws.
For your registration fee, you are granted the right to use Excalibur! on
your BBS, and modify the files for your own use. The right to use this
software is non-transferable, and you are not permitted to distribute any of
its files, whether modified or not, without the express written consent of
the author of Excalibur!, Richard L. Chism (hereafter referenced as "author"),
in advance, with the exception that you may distribute the demonstration ver-
sion, unmodified, as it was prepared by the author. The liability of the
author is limited to a refund of the purchase price in the event the game will
not operate on your BBS and you so notify the author within thirty days of
receipt of the software. The author will not be liable for damages to
hardware or software related to the use of this game.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sorry to put you through that, but you know how the world is these days...
************************ INSTALLATION INFORMATION **********************
**** WWIV ****
To install the game on a WWIV BBS version 4.10 or greater, edit your chains.
Create a new chain as follows:
A. Description : Excalibur!
B. Filename : EXCAL37.EXE %1
C. SL : (Whatever you want)
D. AR : (Whatever you want)
E. ANSI : Optional
F. DOS Interrupt: Not Used <== This should SAY "Not Used"
G. 300 Baud : (Whatever you want, I recommend against it.)
H. Shrink : Yes
**** BBS Systems using DORINFO1.DEF user files ****
For systems which use DORINFO1.DEF to pass user information, simply use the
command EXCAL37 The game will automatically look for a DORINFO1.DEF
file in your BBS root directory. If the DORINFO1.DEF file is in another
directory, you must specify the complete path as an argument. For example:
EXCAL37 C:\ALTDIR\DORINFO1.DEF
For information on how the game distinguishes between the WWIV CHAIN.TXT
file format and the DORINFO1.DEF file format, see the section on Running the
Game Locally Without the BBS (below).
***** EASY INSTALLATION *****
***** FOR SYSOPS WHO HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE DEMO VERSION *****
*--------------------------------------------------------------------------*
| If you do NOT want to reset the game, copy the two files USERS.XCL and |
| COUNTIES.XCL from your XC2 subdirectory into a safe place. When instal- |
| lation is completed as described below, copy those two files back into |
| the XC2 subdirectory. These files hold all the information required to |
| continue the game without interruption. Failure to do this will force |
| all players to re-enter the game as new players, and all previous wealth |
| and map information will be lost. |
*--------------------------------------------------------------------------*
The easiest way to install EXCALIBUR! is to UNZIP all the files into a
single directory. While in that directory, type INSTALL followed by the path
to your BBS root directory ( e.g. INSTALL C:\BBS ). If you just type
INSTALL the batch file will inform you of the appropriate format.
***** MORE DIFFICULT INSTALLATION *****
If you do NOT want to run the installation program to install EXCALIBUR!,
then follow the instructions below:
Note the section above entitled FOR SYSOPS WHO HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE DEMO
VERSION, and follow the instructions given if they apply to you.
Place the file EXCAL37.EXE in your BBS subdirectory (the one that contains
the executable BBS file).
Create a subdirectory of your BBS directory called XC2. For example,
if your BBS executable file is in C:\BBS, then create C:\BBS\XC2
Copy all the files with the extension .XCL into the newly created XC2
subdirectory.
**************** RUNNING THE GAME USING A FOSSIL DRIVER ******************
If your BBS uses a fossil driver, there should be no special steps re-
quired. Simply run the game with your FOSSIL driver activated as usual.
Excalibur! will detect the presence of the FOSSIL and handle all I/O
using DOS Interrupt 14H. The FOSSIL will intercept these DOS 14H interrupts
and handle them in its own way, using its own interrupt scheme.
If you wish, you can disable your fossil driver. Excalibur! will read
all necessary information from DORINFO1.DEF and your communications port
registers, and handle the I/O directly.
********** RUNNING THE GAME USING A NON-STANDARD PORT INTERRUPT **********
***WARNING***
IGNORE THIS SECTION UNLESS YOU KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND INTERRUPTS
VERY WELL! OTHERWISE, UNNECESSARY PROFANITY MAY RESULT.
Excalibur! version 3.7 and greater can use command-line parameters to modify
the interrupt id for ports 1 thru 4. Format of the command line parameters is
EXCAL37 [userdata] [/portnum] [/baseaddress] [/intmask] [/intvector]
The parameters in square brackets [ ] are optional. The brackets do not
appear in the actual command line. Order is important. The slash, where
indicated, is required. If a slash is followed by a zero and a space, the
default value for that parameter is used. If one of the slash parameters
is used, all the slash parameters to the left of it must also be specified
in the proper order. The parameters must be separated by one or more spaces.
* EXCAL37 causes the file EXCAL37.EXE to execute, and is required.
* [userdata] is the name of the file which passes the user and comm info to
the game. If present, Excalibur! will read that data for information.
Otherwise it will look for the file DORINFO1.DEF for the information. If
the userdata file ends in the extension .TXT, Excalibur! will expect the
data to be in the WWIV CHAIN.TXT format. Otherwise it will expect the
data to be in the DORINFO1.DEF format.
Ex: EXCAL37 udata.txt to look for WWIV-style info in file udata.txt
Ex: EXCAL37 to look for DORINFO1.DEF
Ex: EXCAL37 mydata.inf to look for dorinfo1-style info in file mydata.inf
* [/portnum] is the comm port number, and must agree with the comm port
identified in your userdata file. If the portnumber is not 3 or 4, the
remaining data in the command line will be ignored.
* [/baseaddress] is the address of the port. For example, the default base
hexadecimal address for comm port 3 is 03E8, and for comm port 4 is 02E8.
The baseaddress must be expressed in hexadecimal as opposed to decimal.
* [/intmask] is the IRQ mask. This is related to the Interrupt request
(IRQ) number, but in a somewhat strange way. Whichever bit is set (based
on Intel's bit numbering scheme) determines the IRQ number. For example,
Bit -> 7654 3210 Hex intmask value IRQ#
0000 0100 04 2
0000 1000 08 3
0001 0000 10 4
0010 0000 20 5
More simply put, if you know the IRQ#, raise 2 to that power and the
result will be the value of intmask. Intmask must be a hexadecimal value,
not decimal.
* [/intvector] The interrupt vector number (not the address) to which the
port is attached. This is determined by the interrupt number (determined
by [/intmask] above).
IRQ # intvector
0 8
1 9
2 A
3 B
4 C
5 D and so on.
intvector is a hexadecimal number (as opposed to decimal).
Examples:
EXCAL37 data.txt /3 /3E8 /8 /B This example runs Excalibur!, tells
it to look for data in the file data.txt (the .txt indicates that it
will be in WWIV CHAIN.TXT format), to use COM3, base address 3E8 hex,
interrupt mask 8 hex (meaning IRQ3), and interrupt vector B hex.
EXCAL37 /4 /2E8 This example runs Excalibur!, takes
the default data file name (DORINFO1.DEF), verifies COM4, and specifies
that the address is 2E8 hex. The last parameters accept the default,
since they are not listed.
EXCAL37 uinfo.dat /3 /0 /4 /a This example runs Excalibur!, tells it
to look for data in uinfo.dat (DORINFO1.DEF format, since the extension
is not .TXT), verifies COM3, tells it (by the /0) to take the default
base address, specifies interrupt mask 4 (hence IRQ2), and specifies
interrupt vector A hex ('A' or 'a' are equivalent).
************** RUNNING THE GAME LOCALLY WITHOUT THE BBS ********************
The game will run as a stand-alone if you type in EXCAL37 XXXXXXXX.TXT for a
WWIV formatted user file (XXXXXXXX can be any eight characters -- the .TXT
extension tells EXCALIBUR! that the file is in CHAIN.TXT format). For a
user file in DORINFO1.DEF format, type EXCAL37 XXXXXXXX.YYY where XXXXXXXX
is the name of the user file and YYY is any extension other than TXT. In
either case, the referenced chain file must exist on the same directory as
the EXCAL37.EXE file unless the entire path is specified along with the name
of the user file. Make certain the user file specifies a local logon so that
the system doesn't try to send characters out through the comm port. A local
logon is specified by setting the comm port to 0 in the user file.
**** INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE CREATION ****
If you would like a brief message to your players to be typed out as they log
on to the game, place the text in a file called XC2NOTE.XCL in the XC2
subdirectory with the other *.XCL files.
**** USING THE MAPMAKER.EXE FILE TO GENERATE A CUSTOMIZED MAP ****
(Registered copies only)
The files MAPMAKER.EXE and all the ????NAME.XCM files may be placed in
any directory as long as they are all in the same one. ***NOTE*** If you
had a version of Excalibur! earlier than 3.3, the MAPMAKER.EXE program
will need to be replaced by the new version. Running MAPMAKER.EXE will allow
you to make a personalized version of the map of the kingdom of Excalibur!
Just change to the directory it is in, type MAPMAKER and follow the
directions that are given during the execution of the program. A file will
be created called COUNTIES.XCL. A file by this name is included with the
game, but it is highly recommended that you make your own personal map so
that the game will be more interesting to those who are playing it on more
than one BBS. It only takes few minutes. Look it over thoroughly before
you save it, then copy the file COUNTIES.XCL into your XC2 subdirectory.
Then run XCEDITOR and select RESET THE GAME from the menu. This will
properly initialize everything for a new setup.
**** THE XCEDITOR.EXE FILE FOR EDITING YOUR GAME FILES ****
(Registered copies only)
To edit your game data files, go to your BBS directory, type XCEDITOR and
the rest should be obvious.
**** TOP TEN LISTING ****
If you want to print out the top ten players in Excalibur! on your BBS,
use the file XC2STATS.ANS in your BBS directory for a color listing, or use
XC2STATS.TXT for a non-ANSI listing. These files will be created and updated
as the game is played.
**** FILE HOUSEKEEPING ****
The following files are associated with the game. B = Binary, A = ASCII
EXCAL37.EXE B The executable file.
XCEDITOR.EXE B The game data file editor. (registered only)
MAPMAKER.EXE B The file which creates a custom map (registered only)
SWMPNAME.XCM A Names for the swamps, for use with MAPMAKER.EXE
MNTNNAME.XCM A Names for the mountains, for use with MAPMAKER.EXE
FRSTNAME.XCM A Names for the forests, for use with MAPMAKER.EXE
PLAINAME.XCM A Names for the plains, for use with MAPMAKER.EXE
DSRTNAME.XCM A Names for the deserts, for use with MAPMAKER.EXE
CITYNAME.XCM A Names for the cities, for use with MAPMAKER.EXE
QUESTHLP.XCL A Instructions available while you are questing.
INSTRUCT.XCL A Instructions available from within Camelot.
USERS.XCL B The players and their associated maps and data.
COUNTIES.XCL B The map and information about the various fiefs.
XC2NOTE.XCL A OPTIONAL. If present, is displayed at start of game.
JOUSTERS.XCL A The opponents you face when you go jousting.
INTRO.XCL A The introductory screen.
MAINMENU.XCL A The menu available in Camelot (for non-expert mode).
QUESTION.XCL B Questions the Warlock will ask if you want an amulet.
JOUST.XCL A The results of the jousting matches, selected at random.
TEXTMSG.XCL A Various messages which will be printed in the game.
TEXTMSG1.XCL A More messages used throughout the game.
WIDEMENU.XCL A The Camelot menu for 80 character screens.
MONARCHS.XCL B Auto created. Listing of the kings and dates of reign.
ORDERING.XCL A How to order Excalibur! (PLEASE leave this for my sake!)
MESSAGES.XCL B Auto created. Messages between players, announcements.
PENALTYS.XCL B Auto created. Record of penalties exacted by the king.
THUGS.XCL B Auto created. Record of highwaymen and cutpurses hired.
XC2STATS.ANS A Auto created. Color listing of the top ten players.
XC2STATS.TXT A Auto created. Ascii listing of the top ten players.
SYSOPINF.TXT A Additional sysop information about data file structures
You may also see some other temporary files in your XC2 subdirectory which
will have the prefix OLD or NEW or the extension BAK. These are remnants of
file cleanup operations and are not required for the game. They will be
rewritten or written over as required. Best bet is to just ignore them,
except for the following:
USERS.BAK B The previous record of the USERS.XCL file.
COUNTIES.BAK B The previous record of the COUNTIES.XCL file.
You may need to rename these to their current counterparts in case of a
disaster.
If you have any problems, give me a call.
HAPPY QUESTING!
Richard L (Rick) Chism The Party Line BBS
or Jami Chism Mountaintop, PA
California Wino (717) 868-5435
Voice (717) 868-8017 3/12/24/96 HST/v.32/v.42
CIS - 76337,1236 SYSOP@XCL on MajorNet
Registrations are accepted online or voice using your Mastercard
or Visa. See ORDERING.FRM for more info.
February 23, 1993