Cream of the Crop 12

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FootNotes Version 1.33 -- Program & Design by Richard Currier Copyright (C) 1995, 1996 DISCLAIMER Richard Currier has taken every precaution to insure that no harm or damage will occur on computer systems operating this package. Nevertheless, Richard Currier shall NOT be held liable for whatever may happen on your computer system or to any computer systems which connects to your system as a result of operating this package. The user assumes full responsibility for the correct operation of this software package, whether harm or damage results from software error, hardware malfunction, or operator error. NO warranties are offered, expressly stated or implied, including without limitation or restriction any warranties of operation for a particular purpose and/or merchantability. If you do not agree with this then do NOT use this program. LICENSE AGREEMENT The game program, support files, and documentation are copyrighted products of Richard Currier. Richard Currier reserves all rights to these products. This is protected by the United States of America (USA) and International Copyright Laws. In no way shall the components of the registered game software package be reproduced or modified in any form or method without prior expressly written permission from Richard Currier. Tampering with or altering the contents or integrity of the game software package is prohibited. No fee may be charged by any agency other than Richard Currier beyond the cost of distributing unregistered copies without prior expressly written permission from Richard Currier. A major portion of this software was written by Scott Baker and Steven Lorenz. Mr. Baker's Doordriver kit and the changes made by Mr Lorenz have been used for the communications and interrupt handling and this part of the software remains copyrighted by them. This program is distributed under the Shareware concept. You are allowed to operate this game for a trial period of thirty (30) days. After this trial period, you must register the game or discontinue its usage. Again, if you do not agree with this then do NOT use this game. HOW TO REACH ME BY MODEM --------------------------- Integrated Circuit/2 (407) 324-1445 (USRsportster 2400 - 28800) Fidonet 1:363/278 WorldNet 62:3800/25 PlayNet 64:1480/278 Catnet 169:8000/0, 169:800/0 or 169:800/1 Email: rcurrier%278@satlink.oau.org INTRODUCTION: ------------ FootNotes is a simple one liner program that is simple to install and operate. Simply create your FOOTNOT.CTL file using the skeleton provided. Install the necessary menu commands onto your bbs and it's ready to fly. No maintenance is required since FootNotes automatically deletes old one- liners as new ones are entered. REQUIREMENTS: ------------ At this point in time the only requirements are FILES=10 (or more) in your config.sys file and ANSI.SYS. SHARE must also be loaded IF you intend to use the game in a multi-node environment OR under DesqView. The program is RIP aware but NOT a RIP Program at this time. A FOSSIL is NOT required to run this program, although one will be supported if it exists. Automatic time slicing support is provided to most common multi-taskers as well. Files Included -------------- Below is a listing of all files for the this Program. If you are missing ANY of these files (except for the DOC and FRM files), the game may be corrupt or not function. Feel free to give out copies of the ENTIRE archive package of this game but please make sure all the files below are in that package: DO NOT distribute any keyfile for this program or accept any keyfile that you have not paid for legally according to the register.me doc file. Foothdr.ANS - ANSI Heading used for the FootNotes display screen. Foothdr1.ANS- Used as backdrop for intro. Replaceable. Fthelp.ans - Replaceable online help screen. FootNote.EXE- The FootNotes Executable file. Door.bat - A sample BAT file which runs the program on my system. footnot.ctl - A copy of the FOOTNOT.CTL file which I use on my BBS to run the program under multi-node. RA 2.02, x00 fossil SYSOP.DOC - This text file you are reading REGISTER.ME - Preprinted registration form. 131to132.txt- How to upgraded from previous versions. Bugrepor.frm- Please report bugs or suggestions. File_id.diz - Description file for use by some bbs software. bugs.fix - What I've done with the program thus far. Files created by the game when first played: FootNote.DAT - File to hold One-liners and the names of the people posting as well as the date posted. Installation ------------ 1. Create a directory for FootNotes (example: "RA\DOORS\FOOTNOTE") 2. Make sure that ALL files listed above from FootNotes package are moved into that directory. 3. Using the skeleton control file, create the FOOTNOT.CTL that will be need to execute the program on your system. 4. To insure proper multi-node use DOS SHARE must be loaded prior to FootNotes and prior to DESQview. 5. In order to run FootNotes program online the following parameters may be used. "LOG" This tells FOOTNOTE.EXE to create a logfile and log all entries to it. This parameter must be the last parameter on the command line. Don't put the quotes on the command line. "/Bxxxxx" This tells FOOTNOTE.EXE to lock its baud rate at xxxxx. In order to get the most efficiency out of a high speed error correcting modem (9600 baud or above), you may lock the baud rate to a speed higher than what the caller is actually using. By locking the baud to say 38,400, the modem can compress text data that is being sent and achieve a baud rate much higher than the actual transmission rate. This will lock the baud rate at the same value for all nodes that use this command line. If you perfer a more selective way to lock baud use 'LOCKBAUD' command in FOOTNOT.CTL file. "/Cx" (where x is 1..4) This specifies a comport number. Some bbs software does not create door information files (dropfiles) that contain the comport number. If your bbs does have a comport listed in the dropfile then there is no need for this parameter. The default is comport 0, local mode. "/E" - Expanded Memory Specification If your machine has over one megabyte of memory, then you may have some available. FootNote.EXE can utilize EMS to improve FootNotes performance and reduce conventional memory requirements. This command will tell FootNote.EXE to use EMS memory to hold its overlay buffer. Otherwise disc area may be used to hold this buffer. This needs a memory manager and when enabled and is compatible with DESQview. "/L" This tells FootNote.EXE to load up in LOCAL mode. This is good for testing or when a sysop just wants to "try out" the door without messing with his BBS setup. The "/L" mode will ask the user for his name and run the door in local mode. A sysop screen is offered in the local mode or anytime that comport is 0. "/Nx" (where x is 1..9) This specifies a "node number". Some bbs software support multinode environments in which you must know the node number of the drop file to use. For example, RBBS-PC uses DORINFOx.DEF. If you specified "/N2" then FootNote.EXE would use DORINFO2.DEF. "/Mx" (where x is up to 2 filename acceptable characters) Used to specify one of Multiple control files. If you have created more than one FootNotes.CTL file (FootNot1.CTL, FootNot2.CTL, etc.) for each node or network PC then you can select the one you want by using the /M parm. Example: "/M2" will force FootNote.EXE to use FootNot2.ctl. "/Pyyy" This specifies the path to the drop files. For example, "/PC:\WILDCAT\WCWORK\NODE1" would tell FootNote.EXE to look for the drop file in C:\WILDCAT\WCWORK\NODE1. If this is left out the program assumes the drop file is local. "/V" This command will tell FootNote.EXE not to show any display on the local screen. Only a colored screen and a message will be displayed. The cursor will not move as it will be turned off. Saves a little processing on multi-tasking systems. "/W" This flags the program that a network is present even though no multitaskers are detected. This is useful if the door is run on a network such as Novell that doesn't use multitaskers. COMMON ERRORS 003 File path not found. Check to make sure FootNote directory is correctly named. 201 Files not found. Check to make sure that all required files are in FootNotes directory. 6. Install the door into your BBS software (see your BBS software documentation for more information). A batch file is normally used to do this. To run the program just have your batch file change to FootNotes directory and run FootNote.EXE - Thats all there is to it! Sample Batch File ----------------- COPY DORINFOx.DEF \RBBS\DOORS\FootNote\*.* CD \RBBS\DOORS\FootNote FootNote x <-=- NODE number !!DO NOT USE "x"!! del dorinfox.def CD \WC30 -=*=- Please note that you replace the "x" with the appropriate node number. Ex: Dorinfo1.def ; Dorinfo2.def ; etc... 7. Surprise! There is NO daily maintenance to be performed. Liners are purged as new ones are entered. RESTRICTIONS ON THE UNREGISTERED GAME ------------------------------------- Until the game is registered the following restrictions are in effect: Users must tolerate a delay screen that will eat a few seconds of their time both on entry and exit. Registering the game disables the above. WHAT TO DO IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS -------------------------------- Every effort is made to ensure that the game runs correctly before it leaves my BBS as Shareware. If you are experiencing problems please do the following BEFORE calling me: Read ALL the SYSOP.DOC to ensure you have setup the program and have met all the program requirements. Multinode use ------------- This game supports multinode use and provides automatic multi-tasker support (time slice releasing) for a wide variety of multi-taskers. Common Problems (Locked Bauds, High Speed modems, etc) ------------------------------------------------------ 1. The game does NOT require a fossil driver to run. 2. If you are running a high speed modem (9600 baud or above), then I suggest you run your bbs/mailer/doors at a locked baud rate. On high speed error correcting modems, locking the baud rate will have a noticeable increase on the speed of text that is sent. It's beyond the scope of this document to discuss configuring your BBS and mailer for a locked baud rate; you may wish to consult those docs for information on that. Here are a few things to keep in mind when setting up GAME with a locked baud rate: a. When using a locked baud rate, I highly recommend using a FOSSIL driver. This game will work at high speeds without one though. BNU is a good fossil driver which can even be loaded and unloaded before and after you run this game. b. If you are using a fossil, then make sure to tell the fossil that the port is locked. For BNU, to lock com1: at 38,400, you would use something like "L0=38400" on BNU's command line. c. If you lock the baud for one program, it must be locked for everything. You can't lock the baud for just this game, but not your BBS/mailer. d. You may need to use the /B switch on the game.exe Command line to specify the locked baud rate. For 19,200 this would be "/B19200" and for 38,400 this would be "/B38400". Please note there is no space between the "/B" and the baud rate. 3. What follows is some information on possible strange situations that may occur: a. Low speed users can play the game, but high speed users get garbage. - If you are not using the DORINFOx.DEF or DOOR.SYS drop file then you may wish to find a converter program to convert whatever drop file your BBS produces to the DORINFOx.DEF or DOOR.SYS format and tell game.exe to use that. Several converter programs are readily available on most BBS systems. CallDoor is a good one if you can find it. b. The game hangs up when a user enters the game. - Sounds like the game is getting the wrong baud rate somehow. Try switching over to the DOOR.SYS drop file method if possible. c. Text and screens are getting cut off. - If you are running with a locked baud, then this could be caused by some sort of FLOW CONTROL problem. Try using a fossil if you aren't already. d. If you're using something other than the DOOR.SYS drop file, then I always suggest trying to use DOOR.SYS if possible. It is the most reliable method and has had the most testing. If that is not possible try DORINFOx.DEF as an alternative. e. A door locks up node 1. This can happen with fossils or the internal communications routines because it uses the default comport of 1 when NONE is found in the dropfile or game.ctl file. To correct this make sure the right port is shown in the dropfile OR game.ctl file. f. ANSI is reflected correctly on the local screen but the user is getting garbage. Assuming the user has ANSI installed then most likely the problem is at your end. First make sure you have configured the game.ctl file to show the correct locked port rate. Second make sure the dropfile is passing the locked port rate INSTEAD of the actual conncet rate. If it is not passing the locked port rate then you may need to use a different dropfile format OR use a dropfile converter program to change the line to show the locked port rate INSTEAD of the actual connect rate. "Corrupted" data files ---------------------- It is possible that something could happen to FootNotes data file. A power outage, game crash, or other event could damage the data files. If you get one of these messages, then the best thing to do is eliminate the Footnote.dat file and start the game again to create a new one. CREDITS: -------- This relatively small section is just to recognize the GOOD people who have made the DDPLUS based game a possibility. Scott Baker -=*=- Richard Curriers of the original DoorDriver Kit and are to be thanked for releasing the Derrick Parkhurst source code to their great kit! Without that act of kindness DDPLUS would NOT be possible and neither would this game. Scott is Richard Currier of several door games, most notably Land of Devastation, which uses the original doordriver kit. Steven Lorenz -=*=- Richard Currier of the enhanced add on package to Scott Bakers DoorDriver Kit. Thanks to his code modifications, add ons and enhancements DDPLus is a much more complete and capable package then originally released in the DoorDriver Kit. He is also responsible for the DDPlus setup program which he freely donated. Steve is Richard Currier of several door games, most notably Railroad Empires, Romans At War, and Empires at War, all of which use DDPlus. Bob Dalton -=*=- Richard Currier of most of the DDPLus documentation and contributor of the MISC.PAS and INITOVER.PAS units used in the game. Bob is Richard Currier of several door games, such as GodFather of Crime, Rise To Power, Task Force Broadside, Ship of the Line, Grunt Fest, Way Freight and the Adventure Door Game Toolkit, all of which use DDPLus. DESQview is a registered trademark of Quarterdeck Office Systems. Ripscript & Ripterm are registered trademarks of TeleGrafix Communications. Where to reach me ----------------- I can usually be reached at my BBS system, which should be listed in the section entitled "registration" which is below. Registration ------------ If you or your users enjoy this game, then please register it. Registration is $10.00 and you get a key code by mail or posted on my BBS which will disable the delay. To register this Door just print out the registration form (REGISTER.FRM) file included with the door and send it with your check or money order for $10.00 to: Richard Currier 181 Monroe Ave. LakeMary, Fl. 32746-3505 HOW TO REACH ME BY MODEM --------------------------- Integrated Circuit/2 (407) 324-1445 (USRsportster 2400 - 28800) Fidonet 1:363/278 WorldNet 62:3800/25 PlayNet 64:1480/278 Catnet 169:8000/0, 169:800/0 or 169:800/1 Email: rcurrier%278@satlink.oau.org Bug Reports/Comments/Suggestions -------------------------------- I have made every attempt to make sure the game is free of bugs, BUT the possibility always exists that one may have been missed by me or the playtesters. If you find a bug, or have a suggestion or comment to make which would make future versions better please send them via netmail or snail mail. FIDO INFORMATION ---------------- My BBS supports file "freq"ing at 2400 baud or above. Just call 1:363/278. Thank You, Richard Currier