PsL Monthly 1994 January

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PYRO 2.2 Technical Information ############################# ## ## ## TROUBLESHOOTING ## ## ## ############################# Following is a list of the most common problems, with solutions. If you cannot solve a problem using this list, refer to the descriptions of all the command line switches below. Remember that command line switches are case-sensitive. PROBLEM: Pyro hangs on the title screen. SOLUTION: Your computer is giving incorrect joystick detection results. Type 'PYRO22 -j' to disable the joystick. PROBLEM: The screen shakes or is off-center. SOLUTION: Pyro is attempting to use a video mode which your monitor does not support. Type 'PYRO22 -g' to disable graphics. PROBLEM: Characters on the screen are blinking. SOLUTION: Pyro was unable to reprogram the colors on your video adapter. Type 'PYRO22 -n' to disable the extended color set. PROBLEM: Pyro makes a squealing or buzzing sound. SOLUTION: Pyro's sound techniques are not compatible with your computer. Type 'PYRO22 -s' to disable sound. PROBLEM: Computer is not fully IBM-compatible. SOLUTION: Type 'PYRO22 -H'. PROBLEM: The [Enter] key does not seem to work. SOLUTION: Remember to release [Shift] before pressing [Enter]. Otherwise you will immediately pick up a gas can after putting it down. ############################# ## ## ## COMMAND LINE SWITCHES ## ## ## ############################# BASIC SWITCHES ADVANCED SWITCHES COMBINATION SWITCHES ============== ================= ==================== -c Copyright Notice -z# No Speed Testing -M Monochrome -i Instructions -w Show Speed Test -H No Hardware Access -I Instructions Mode -a# Set Video Adapter -T Troubleshooting Mode -o Olympic Scoring -v# Set Video Mode -W# Microsoft Windows Mode -b Black & White -n Normal Background -D DesqView Mode -b# Black & White Mode -d Use DOS/BIOS I/O -s Disable Sound -f Disable Fading -j Disable Joystick -g Disable Graphics -k Pyro 2.1 Keys USING COMMAND LINE SWITCHES =========================== Keep the following rules in mind when using command line switches: - Command line switches are case-sensitive. 'PYRO22 -i' is not the same as 'PYRO22 -I'. - Command line switches can be grouped together in the following ways: Good: PYRO22 -s -j -d -a2 Good: PYRO22 -sjd -a2 BAD: PYRO22 -s-j-d-a2 ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SWITCH DESCRIPTIONS ======================================== -a# Set Video Adapter Every time you run Pyro, it runs through a series of tests to determine what type of video adapter is active in your system. Sometimes these tests can produce incorrect results. In such a case, use the '-a#' switch, with one of the following numbers in place of '#', to disable the adapter tests: 1 = MDPA (Monochrome) 2 = CGA (Color) 3 = EGA (Enhanced Color) 4 = MCGA (PS/2 Enhanced Color) 5 = VGA (Analog Color) -b# Black & White Mode Tells Pyro to translate on-screen colors to those required by black & white monitors. This command line switch affects only colors, not the way in which Pyro addresses your video adapter. Use one of the following values in place of '#': 0 = Standard Black & White 1 = Bright Black & White 2 = IBM PS/2 with Black & White Monitor 3 = Monochrome Monitor (default when '-a1' used) 4 = Microsoft Windows 2.x in Window (default when '-W2' used) 5 = Full Color, but Brighter Note: '-b' is the same as '-b0'. -c Copyright Notice Displays the copyright (but not the license) information. Read the interactive instructions for complete license information (see '-i'). -d Use DOS/BIOS I/O Pyro normally accesses the screen by writing directly to video memory and your video adapter's registers. This command line switch tells Pyro to use the DOS and BIOS interfaces instead, sacrificing speed for portability. -D DesqView Mode Using the '-D' combination switch, Pyro will be able to run in a window under DesqView 2.x. Tell DesqView to use this switch on the command line. Also tell it that Pyro does not directly access the keyboard or monitor, and that Pyro needs 140k of conventional memory. This command line switch is a combination of the following: -d Use DOS/BIOS I/O -f Disable Fading -g Disable Graphics -n Normal Background If other command line switches are used that conflict with '-D', the other switches will override parts of '-D'. -f Disable Fading When Pyro detects a VGA adapter, it uses advanced palette changing techniques to simulate smooth fading. This command line switch tells Pyro not to change the palette at all, even if it detects a VGA adapter. -g Disable Graphics When Pyro detects a VGA adapter, it directly programs the adapter to enter an undocumented 320x400 pixel video mode. It then dynamically changes your character set to simulate high-resolution graphics and new fonts. This command line switch tells Pyro not to enter the undocumented mode or reprogram the character set, even if it detects a VGA adapter. -H No Hardware Access Using the '-H' combination switch, Pyro should be able to run on a computer that is MS-DOS compatible but not 100% IBM-compatible. This command line switch is a combination of the following: -a3 Assume EGA Adapter -d Use DOS/BIOS I/O -s Disable Sound -j Disable Joystick -f Disable Fading -g Disable Graphics -n Normal Background -z1 No Speed Test -- Assume Slow Computer In addition, '-H' disables some of Pyro's program integrity checking. If other command line switches are used that conflict with '-H', the other switches will override parts of '-H'. For example, '-z0 -H' tells Pyro not to directly access any hardware, but to assume that you are using a fast computer instead of a slow one. -i Instructions When this switch is used, Pyro will display its interactive instructions, just as if you were playing Pyro for the first time. -I Instructions Mode This switch sets Pyro into the instructions mode. The next time that Pyro is run after this switch has been used, Pyro will display its interactive instructions, just as if you were playing Pyro for the first time. -j Disable Joystick This switch tells Pyro to act as if no joystick is connected, even if one is. Some computers return random joystick information even when no joystick is connected. This can cause Pyro to hang or interfere with play. The '-j' switch can fix this problem. -k Pyro 2.1 Keys This switch tells Pyro to use Pyro 2.1 keys instead of Pyro 2.2 keys when applicable, thus making the transition to Pyro 2.2 easier for Pyro 2.1 players. -M Monochrome Using the '-M' combination switch, Pyro can now run on a computer with an active MDPA or HGC video adapter. This was not possible in versions of Pyro prior to 2.2. This switch is a combination of the following: -a1 MDPA/HGC Adapter -b3 Monochrome Monitor -f Disable Fading -g Disable Graphics If other command line switches are used that conflict with '-M', the other switches will override parts of '-M'. -n Normal Background By detecting the type of video adapter you are using and then directly programming it, Pyro is able to use sixteen background colors (or attributes) instead of the standard eight. However, it is possible that Pyro will incorrectly identify your adapter, or that you will set your adapter incorrectly with the '-a#' switch. In this case, parts of your screen will blink and use the wrong colors. To fix the problem, use the '-n' switch. This switch tells Pyro not to program your adapter to use sixteen background colors and to limit itself to the eight background colors that were used in versions of Pyro prior to 2.2. -o Olympic Scoring This command line switch tells Pyro to rate the aesthetic value of your pyrotechnics, on a scale of 0 through 10, at the end of each floor. This "Olympic-style" score does not affect your overall game score in any way. Even so, it can be fun and challenging to try for a perfect 10. -s Disable Sound Pyro uses extremely advanced techniques to provide realistic fire and explosion sounds through an IBM-compatible's limited sound system. Unfortunately, a very small minority of computers are unable to handle these techniques without producing a buzzing or squealing sound. On these computers, it is necessary to completely disable sound with the '-s' directive. Note: on computers that are compatible with Pyro's sound techniques, sound effects can be toggled on and off during gameplay by using the [ALT]-[S] command if you don't use the '-s' switch. -T Troubleshooting Mode The '-T' combination switch disables everything Pyro does that is unusual, advanced, or undocumented. If Pyro does not work on your computer, use the '-T' switch (possibly in combination with other switches -- see below). If it still does not work, then there is no hope of getting Pyro to work with your computer. If it does work, then experiment with combinations of the other switches described below until you isolate the feature or features of Pyro that are incompatible with your computer. The '-T' switch is a combination of the following: -j Disable Joystick -f Disable Fading -g Disable Graphics -n Normal Background In addition, '-T' disables some of Pyro's program integrity checking. Here are some examples of using the '-T' switch: Pyro22 -T Troubleshoot on a 100% IBM compatible Pyro22 -T -H Troubleshoot on an MS-DOS compatible Pyro22 -T -H -a1 Troubleshoot on a monochrome MS-DOS compatible -v# Set Video Mode Pyro normally selects video mode 1 on a color adapter and 7 on a monochrome adapter. Using this switch, you can force Pyro to use a different video mode. For example, '-v3' tells Pyro to use mode 3, the 80 column color mode. '-v' with no number following it tells Pyro to use the mode you are currently in. You can even tell Pyro to use proprietary modes that only your video card supports, and Pyro will adapt itself to them. For example, if you have an ATI VGA Wonder, '-v51' tells Pyro to use the 132x43 color mode. If you choose to use a graphics mode, you must also use '-n' and '-d'. -w Show Speed Test Whenever you run Pyro, it checks the speed of your computer and video adapter to determine how fast it will be able to write to the screen. Based on this information, it may choose not to run some of its fancy introductions. This command line switch shows you what speed rating Pyro is assigning your computer. (A 4.77 MHz AT-compatible with a good video adapter would earn a rating of about 12.) To override the speed test, use the '-z#' switch. -W# Microsoft Windows mode Using this switch, Pyro can run in a window under Microsoft Windows 2.x or, with a 386, Microsoft Windows 3.x. Tell Windows to use either the '-W2' switch (for Windows 2.x) or the '-W3' switch (for Windows 3.x) on the command line. Also tell it that Pyro does not directly access the keyboard, and that it requires 140k of conventional memory. If you are using Windows 2.x (with the '-W2' switch), tell it that Pyro does not directly access the screen either. The '-W#' switch is a combination switch. Using '-W3' is equivalent to all of the following: -f Disable Fading -g Disable Graphics -n Normal Background -s Disable Sound Using '-W2' is equivalent to all of the above plus the following: -d Use DOS/BIOS I/O -b4 Microsoft Windows 2.x black & white attribute set If other command line switches are used that conflict with '-W#', the other switches will override parts of '-W#'. Note that the '-W#' switch is not necessary to run Pyro full-screen under Windows. An icon is provided for Windows 3.x users: PYRO22.ICO. -z# No Speed Testing Whenever you run Pyro, it checks the speed of your computer and video adapter to determine how fast it will be able to write to the screen. Based on this information, it may choose not to run some of its fancy introductions. This command line switch lets you override the speed test with one of the following values: 0 Assume extremely fast computer 1 Assume extremely slow computer When '-z0' is used, fancy introductions will always be shown. When '-z1' is used, they will never be shown. Note that '-z' is the same as '-z0'. ############################# ## ## ## SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS ## ## ## ############################# A full range of support is available for both programmers and non-programmers interested in creating new scenarios, expanding Pyro, or porting it to another platform. If you would like more information, or if you have concerns about the development of future versions of Pyro, please write to: Michael O'Brien P.O. Box 14109 Santa Barbara, CA 93107 ----------------end-of-author's-documentation--------------- Software Library Information: This disk copy provided as a service of Public (software) Library We are not the authors of this program, nor are we associated with the author in any way other than as a distributor of the program in accordance with the author's terms of distribution. 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