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Text File | 1993-11-28 | 27KB | 608 lines

▀▀█▀▀ ▄▀▀▄ ▀▀█▀▀ ▄▀▀▄ █ █ █ █ █ █ █▄ █ █ █ █▄ ▄█ █ ▀▀█▀▀ █▀▀ █▀▀▄ █ █ █ █ █▀▀█ █ █ █ █ █ █ ▀▄█ █ █ █ ▀ █ █ █ █▀ █ █ ▀ ▀▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀▀▀ ▀▀▀ ▀ ▀▀ ▀ ▀ ▀▀▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀▀▀ ▀▀▀ ███▄ ▄███ ▄██████▄ ████████▄ ███ ███ ████████▀ ███ ███ ▄███████ ███▀█▀███ ▐██ ███ ███ ███ ███ ███ ▀ ███ ███ ███ ███ ▐██ ▐ ▐██ ▐██ ▐██ ▐██ ▐██ ▐██ ▐██ ▐██ ▐██ ▐██ ▐██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ▀█████▄ ▐█ ▐█ ▐█ ▐█ ▐█ ▐█ ▐█ ▐█ ▐█ ▐█ ▐█ ▐▌ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ ▐ ▐ ▀▀▀▄▄▀ ▐▄▄▄▄▄▀ ▐▄▄▄▄▄▀ ▐ ▐ ▐▄▄▄▄▄▄ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▀ ░░▒▒▓▓████████ T O T A L L Y U N L I M I T E D ░░▒▒▓▓████████ ▓▓████ ██████ * M O D U T I L S v 3 . 6 * ▓▓████ ██████ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ (c) 1993.11.28 ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██ ██████ ▓▓ by Tom Rathborne of Totally Unlimited ██ ██████ ▓▓ ██ ▒▒ ██ ▒▒ ████████▓▓▒▒░░ The MODUTILS are FREEWARE! ████████▓▓▒▒░░ ^ ^ │ (but if you like it, you can still send money!) │ │ │ └────── My neat logo encompassing the T and the U ──────┘ ┌──────────╖ ──┤ CONTENTS ╟───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘══════════╝ ABOUT MODUTILS GENERAL NOTES MODDIR MODNAMES MODDIZ FORMATS SUPPORTED ABOUT THE AUTHOR OTHER STUFF THANKS FUTURE FEATURES HISTORY ┌────────────────╖ ──┤ ABOUT MODUTILS ╟─────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘════════════════╝ With the advent of Creative Labs' SoundBlaster audio card, the Amiga .MOD (Module) format of music is now very popular on the PC-compatible scene. There are LOTS of different types out there, too. I add every format that I can find, even those that can only be played on the Amiga! The three MODUTILS will list directories describing modules with titles and formats: MODDIR outputs to the screen like a very simple DIR command. MODNAMES creates a 4DOS/NDOS DESCRIPT.ION file. MODDIZ creates a FILE_ID.DIZ for SysOps. Best of all, it's all freeware! That means you can copy these programs all you want, as long as you don't modify them, and you include this document. Support freeware! Use it! Distribute it! Of course, if you have any questions or comments, or if you think the MODUTILS are worth a few $, feel free to contact me. ┌───────────────╖ ──┤ GENERAL NOTES ╟──────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘═══════════════╝ The MODUTILS should work properly with all module file formats listed in the FORMATS SUPPORTED section. They originally just read the first 20 characters of the file, but some formats don't conform to that, so the autorecognition routine was born, opening up a whole new bunch of formats. If you find a module that the MODUTILS can't identify, please let me know, and I'll add support for it as soon as possible! If the location of the title for the particular format is unknown to me, as in FutureComposer and some MED files, the title will be simply "Unknown: [filename]". If the title part of the file is empty the title will be "File: [filename]". If the file has the correct signature, but the title includes control characters (less than ASCII 27), the title will appear as "[ Might be corrupt ]" You may get an error message if you try to look at another directory. For example, if you are in the root directory, and type "MODDIR C:\MODS" or "MODDIR C:\MODS\*.*", I haven't added support for that kind of thing yet. Sorry. ┌────────╖ ──┤ MODDIR ╟─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘════════╝ MODDIR defaults to listing ALL identifiable files in the current directory. If it finds a file that it cannot identify as a MOD, it will not list it. If you specify a filespec, i.e. *.MOD, then all those files will be listed regardless of whether or not they can be identified. If you don't specify a filespec and no valid modules are found, you'll simply see a blank list. If you DO specify a filespec, invalid files will be displayed with "[ Unknown Type ]" as the title, and you'll get a different set of totals (try it!) at the bottom. To display a directory, simply change to the directory where you store your modules and run MODDIR. Remember, you can't specify another directory - only a file specification. Here's some sample output: ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╤═══════════════════════════╗ ║ MODDIR v3.6 ■ (c)1993.11.28 by Tom Rathborne ■ │ MODDIR is FREEWARE from ║ ║ Directory of *.* │ Totally Unlimited ║ ╠══════════════╤══════════╤══════════════════════╪═══════════════════════════╣ ║ Filename │ Size │ Song Title │ File Type ║ ╟──────────────┼──────────┼──────────────────────┼───────────────────────────╢ ║ HARDWIRE.669 │ 62040 │ Hardwired... │ Composer 669 Module ║ ║ NITEFLYT.AMF │ 71566 │ NiteFlite │ Advanced Module Format ║ ║ CYTAX .FC3 │ 11914 │ Unknown:CYTAX.FC3 │ Future Composer [FC14] ║ ║ REBELS .FC3 │ 4790 │ Unknown:REBELS.FC3 │ Future Composer [SMOD] ║ ║ MENOLLY .FTM │ 141786 │ Menolly's Song │ Face the Music ║ ║ AD_NSTLL.INI │ 4022 │ [ Might be corrupt ] │ Tracker - 15 instruments ║ ║ BLUEBABY.MED │ 257426 │ Blue Baby Filters - │ MED file ║ ║ HUH! .MED │ 54003 │ Unknown:HUH!.MED │ Some sort of MED file ║ ║ ALISON .MOD │ 7934 │ Alisons song │ FastTracker - 6 channels ║ ║ ALISON-S.MOD │ 7934 │ Alisons song │ StarTrekker - 6 channels ║ ║ CLEMENTI.MOD │ 23608 │ Clementine │ FastTracker - 8 channels ║ ║ DEEELITE.MOD │ 255294 │ Deee-lited │ StarTrekker - 4 channels ║ ║ GONAD-64.MOD │ 8591 │ Gonads Cracks │ ProTracker > 64 patterns ║ ║ GONADSCR.MOD │ 8591 │ Gonads Cracks │ Tracker - ModEdit ║ ║ POPCORN .MOD │ 61846 │ Popcorn │ Tracker - 15 instruments ║ ║ RAP-STAR.MOD │ 53542 │ Rap Beat │ StarTrekker - 8 channels ║ ║ RAPBEAT .MOD │ 53542 │ Rap Beat │ OctaCompositor 8 channels ║ ║ REACHTEC.MOD │ 139286 │ Reach Tech-No Limit │ ProTracker ║ ║ SOWHAT-K.MOD │ 10605 │ So What? │ Tracker - KingMOD ║ ║ HARMNICS.MTM │ 77100 │ Digital Harmonics │ MultiTrackerModule ║ ║ ALIENMEN.MUS │ 41830 │ ALIENMENU │ SMUS v.2 Module ║ ║ THUNDER .OCT │ 247028 │ Thunder │ OctaMED file ║ ║ JAM .OKT │ 289280 │ JAMES BROWN IS DEAD! │ Oktalyzer ║ ║ ROMPLAY2.ROM │ 151096 │ Unknown:ROMPLAY2.ROM │ RoM MuZiK FiLe ║ ║ PLASTIC .S3M │ 64784 │ World of Plastic │ ScreamTracker 3 Module ║ ║ GC-REMIX.STM │ 10112 │ Gonads Cracks Remix │ ScreamTracker Module ║ ║ DRUMROLL.STS │ 1595 │ A Drum Roll, Please. │ ScreamTracker Song ║ ║ ROCKET .ULT │ 195626 │ ROCKET │ UltraTracker Module ║ ╟──────────────┼──────────┴───────────┬──────────┴───────────────────────────╢ ║ 28 modules │ 2316771 total bytes │ ■ Thank you for using MODDIR! ■ TU ■ ║ ╚══════════════╧══════════════════════╧══════════════════════════════════════╝ The most error checking done here is this; if no files matching the filespec are found, or you're trying to look at a different directory, you will get a message like this: ■ MODDIR v3.6 ■ (c)1993.11.28 by Tom Rathborne of Totally Unlimited ∙ No files matching *.POO found ∙ MODDIR only works in the current directory! ■ MODDIR is done! Thanks for using this Totally Unlimited freeware product! ┌──────────╖ ──┤ MODNAMES ╟───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘══════════╝ MODNAMES is a utility only for users of 4DOS or NDOS. It creates a DESCRIPT.ION file with the modules' information. When the 4DOS/NDOS user does a single-column directory listing or uses the 4DOS/NDOS SELECT feature, the titles and formats of the songs are displayed to the right of the filenames. The DESCRIPT.ION file itself will also be described telling how many modules were described. When MODNAMES is run, any old DESCRIPT.ION file in the current directory will be erased and a new one will be created. Be careful! The DESCRIPT.ION file will not be a hidden file - you can hide it afterwards using "ATTRIB +H DESCRIPT.ION" if you wish. MODNAMES defaults to listing ALL files in the current directory. If it finds a file that it cannot identify, it will not add it to the description file. If you give MODNAMES a filespec, you'll get a list of every one of those files, but those that cannot be identified will just have "[ Unknown Type ]" for both the title and the file type. If no files are added to the description file, it will be deleted. If you specify a filespec, i.e. *.MOD, then all those files will be described regardless of whether or not they can be identified. To process a directory, simply change to the directory where you store your modules and run MODNAMES. Remember, you can't specify another directory - only a file specification. The only error checking done here is this; if no files are found, you will get a message that looks something like this: ■ MODNAMES v3.6 ■ (c)1993.11.28 by Tom Rathborne of Totally Unlimited ∙ No files matching *.POO found ∙ MODNAMES only works in the current directory! ■ MODNAMES is done! Thanks for using this Totally Unlimited freeware product! ┌────────╖ ──┤ MODDIZ ╟─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘════════╝ Many BBSes out there are full of MODs, and the file listings can get a little messy. MODDIZ can help the SysOp add a consistent look to the module file directories. MODDIZ, and the accompanying batch file, creates a FILE_ID.DIZ for a .ZIP file, listing titles and file types of all identifiable modules in the archive. The batch file adds the FILE_ID.DIZ to the archive. SysOps can easily integrate the program into their upload-scanning batch files so that the new FILE_ID.DIZ information can be used in the BBS file listings. MODDIZ lists ALL files in the current directory. If it finds a file that it cannot identify as a MOD, it will not list it. The FILE_ID.DIZ created will be exactly 40 columns wide on every line. If your BBS software messes this up by word wrapping or something, then, sorry. To create a FILE_ID.DIZ, simply change to the directory where you store your modules and run MODDIZ. You can't specify another directory, nor a file specification. Here's a sample FILE_ID.DIZ created be MODDIZ: ┌────────────────────┬─────────────────┐ │ ■ TITLE │ TYPE ■ │ └────────────────────┼─────────────────┘ Hardwired... │ Composer 669 NiteFlite │ Adv.Module Format Unknown:CYTAX.FC3 │ Future Comp. FC14 Unknown:REBELS.FC3 │ Future Comp. SMOD Menolly's Song │ Face the Music [ Might be corrupt ] │ Tracker - 15-ins. Blue Baby Filters - │ MED file Unknown:HUH!.MED │ Some sort of MED Alisons song │ FastTracker 6chan Alisons song │ StarTrekker 6chan Clementine │ FastTracker 8chan Deee-lited │ StarTrekker 4chan Gonads Cracks │ ProTracker 64+pat Gonads Cracks │ Tracker - ModEdit Popcorn │ Tracker - 15-ins. Rap Beat │ StarTrekker 8chan Rap Beat │ OctaCompositor Reach Tech-No Limit │ ProTracker module So What? │ Tracker - KingMOD Digital Harmonics │ MultiTrackrModule ALIENMENU │ SMUS v.2 Module Thunder │ OctaMED file JAMES BROWN IS DEAD! │ Oktalyzer Unknown:ROMPLAY2.ROM │ RoM MuZiK FiLe World of Plastic │ Scream Tracker 3 Gonads Cracks Remix │ ScreamTracker MOD A Drum Roll, Please. │ ScreamTrackerSong ROCKET │ UltraTracker MOD ┌────────────────────┴─────────────────┐ │ 28 modules described by MODDIZ v3.6 │ │ ■ (c) 1993.11.28 Totally Unlimited ■ │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ If only one module is identified, the FILE_ID.DIZ won't have any of the decorative headers. If no valid modules are found, the FILE_ID.DIZ will be deleted. The MOD--DIZ.BAT I have included creates a temporary directory, unzips the filename you pass it on the commandline into the directory, changes to the directory, runs MODDIZ (make sure MODDIZ is in your path!), goes back to the parent directory, adds the FILE_ID.DIZ file to the ZIP if it exists, erases all of the files in the temporary directory (safely!), and removes the temporary directory. WHEW! You might want to look at the batch file before running it for the first time, just to see how it works! (you can easily adapt it for ARJ/LHA, etc.) You should be able to insert the lines from MOD--DIZ into any BBS archive/virus/etc. checking batch file. I wouldn't suggest using it on every file, though, because any game/demo/etc. with modules in the archive will have its original FILE_ID.DIZ replaced! ┌───────────────────╖ ──┤ FORMATS SUPPORTED ╟──────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘═══════════════════╝ Typical Author Origin PC? Type / Program Extension ┌────────────────────────┐ ┌─┐ ┌──────────────────────┐ ┌─────────┐ Standard Amiga Trackers * 15-channel SoundTracker MOD, NST Mahoney & Kaktus * ProTracker MOD, NST * ProTracker 64+ pattern MOD, NST Maxon Computer GmbH Face the Music (Amiga) FTM Various other Trackers * StarTrekker 4 channel MOD, NST StarTrekker 6 channel MOD, NST * StarTrekker 8 channel MOD, NST * Oktalyzer OKT MED [two flavours] MED OctaMED OCT FutureComposer [FC14] FC3 FutureComposer [SMOD] FC3 SMUS module MUS Fredrik Huss * FastTracker 6 channel MOD, 6CM (Mr. H/Triton) * FastTracker 8 channel MOD, 8CM AJGG Graveland * OctaCompositor OCT Sami Tammilehto * ScreamTracker Module STM (Psi/Future Crew) * ScreamTracker Song STS * ScreamTracker 3 Module S3M Tomasz Pytel * Composer 669 669 (Tran/Renaissance) Daniel Goldstein * MultiTracker Module MTM (Starscream/Renaissance) Otto Chrons * Advanced Module Format AMF Marc André Schallehn * UltraTracker (for GUS) ULT Christopher E. Kingsbury * Edited by KingMod MOD Norman Lin * Edited by ModEdit MOD Brian Czapiga (PiXeLiTe) * AudioVision/ROM ROM └────────────────────────┘ └─┘ └──────────────────────┘ └─────────┘ The types marked with a "*" in the list can be played by at least one PC player. Note that the KingMod and ModEdit files are standard ProTracker modules. They should be supported by any standard ProTracker player. You only get the first 20 characters of the title in Composer 669 and MED/OctaMED songs. I can't seem to find any FutureComposer modules with titles so I'm not sure where to find the titles. I have the same problem with many MED types. "Unknown:[filename]" appears as the title in these cases. In the case of ROM files, there actually is no title in the file. If the file has the correct signature, but the title includes control characters (less than ASCII 27), the title will appear as "[ Might be corrupt ]" ┌──────────────────╖ ──┤ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ╟───────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘══════════════════╝ Totally Unlimited is my (and a friend's - Chris Wright - but he can't program his way out of a wet paper bag [Sorry Chris! :-) ]) little company name. You can't have it. Stamped it! Whenever I write something I think someone else would like, I release it under this name. I'm a first year co-op Math student at the University of Waterloo. If you want to offer me a co-op job, I'd be glad to have the job-search process simplified for me. :-) I don't have a PC yet in my room at University, so you shouldn't expect too many versions in the next five years! I will only buy a computer when I can get the very best machine on the market... perhaps a PowerPC running Linux! You can contact me via Internet mail, Paper mail, or Telephone! I appreciate: Bug reports Information on more file formats Suggestions Comments *** Internet address: twrathbo@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca Use finger/mail/talk! I will be uploading MODMAN/MODUTILS to various FTP sites. I may also put info on my programs on the University of Waterloo Gopher server. Finger or email me for information on the latest versions, FTP sites, Gopher info, etc. I normally reply to my mail immediately, so if I'm online when the mail comes in, you just might receive a reply within the hour! If you finger me and I'm online, feel free to request a "talk" session! The latest MODMAN/MODUTILS will be available via anonymous FTP from ftp.uwp.edu in pub/msdos/modplayers or pub/incoming/modplayers. *** Geographical address: Tom Rathborne 132 Leland Rd. London, Ontario N6K 1T3 CANADA This is my home address. Any mail sent to me here will find its way to me wherever I am! *** Phone: (519) 725-9783 This is my telephone number at the University of Waterloo. Try calling between 10pm and midnight EST. I have voicemail and a roommate so leave a message if I am not around and I'll call you back (but maybe only for a short time if it's a very long distance call!) *** Other: You can probably track me down somewhere else electronically. Address any messages to "Tommy Rathborne" - my name macro hasn't changed in years! As for big boards, try The Sound Barrier in New York. The 14.4k DS number there is (718) 979-6629. I don't call there often anymore, though. ┌─────────────╖ ──┤ OTHER STUFF ╟────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘═════════════╝ *** Technical details The MODUTILS were created and compiled with Borland C++ 3.1, using the Tiny memory model. Source code is not currently available. Sorry. *** MODMAN MODMAN, the menu for selecting MODs, was first released at the same time as MODUTILS v3.0. It works in VGA 80x50 text mode. A configuration file holds a list of players and the formats they support. Look for The latest version - MODMAN15.ZIP will be released at the same time as MODUTILS 3.5! MODMAN is a great program. I'm really proud of it. Believe me, you have to try it! I use it all the time to make cassette tapes of my module collection! Since it's freeware, it doesn't benefit me one bit if you use it. *** The Mysteries: Answer these questions for me, and get your name in the thanks section! 1. Where can I find the title in FutureComposer and MED modules? 2. How can I identify 15-instrument files better? (right now I look for one single character in a certain position, which means that any file that happens to have that character there will be identified as a 15-instrument format file!) 3. What makes a WOW file unique? I can't figure out how to tell them apart from normal MODs! In fact, the MODUTILS recognize WOW files as normal MODs. ┌────────╖ ──┤ THANKS ╟─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘════════╝ Format thanks: ... to Fredrik Huss (Mr. H/Triton) for the information in the help text of FastTracker 1.1 which helped me to identify the SoundTracker, NoiseTracker, ProTracker, FastTracker, StarTrekker, and OctaCompositor formats. ... to Edward Schlunder in the FidoNet QB conference for the info on ProTracker & StarTrekker and ProTracker modules with more than 64 patterns. ... to Mark Phipps (Rittmeister RedOctober/Starry Knights) for sending the info from Edward Schlunder to me. ... to Sami Tammilehto (Psi/Future Crew) who documented the ScreamTracker 2 format so well. Please release ScreamTracker ]I[! Nobody cares if it's finished or not! ... to Tomasz Pytel (Tran/Renaissance) who documented the Composer 669 format so well. ... to Daniel Goldstein (Starscream/Renaissance) who documented the MultiTracker Module format so well. ... to Draeden/VLA for MODINFO.DOC and the accompanying ASM files that let me know that I had been doing everything right all along! Idea thanks: ... to Eric Coolman for - letting me know about his MODs that weren't being identified - reminding me to add AMF recognition - MODDIZ - it was his idea. - dictating that the FILE_ID.DIZ created by MODDIZ is 40 columns wide. - suggesting a shorter description for archives containing only one module. ... to Draeden/VLA for MODINFO.DOC and the accompanying ASM files that let me know that I had been doing everything right all along! ... to Edward Schlunder in the FidoNet QB conference for the info on ProTracker and StarTrekker and ProTracker modules with more than 64 patterns ... to Mark Phipps (Rittmeister RedOctober/Starry Knights) for sending the info from Edward Schlunder to me. ┌─────────────────╖ ──┤ FUTURE FEATURES ╟────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘═════════════════╝ Features that are constantly being updated: - More MOD formats recognized - Better descriptions for each module format The one essential thing that is missing: - List modules in a directory other than the current one ┌─────────╖ ──┤ HISTORY ╟────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ╘═════════╝ 1993.05.23 - MODNAMES v1.0 1993.05.26 - MODDIR v1.0 1993.06.16 - MODDIR v1.2 - Totals at bottom added. 1993.06.25 - MODDIR/MODNAMES v2.0 - Added module type recognition/display. - Eliminated Null Pointer Assignment error! 1993.07.11 - Added recognition for 15-channel and "FLT4" types. - Refined MED file recognition, now reads title too. - MODNAMES v2.1 - Moved titles to right of types to allow longer type descriptions and still make for a readable directory. - MODDIR v2.1 - Redesigned output format. 1993.07.20 - MODDIZ first official release - MODDIR/MODNAMES/MODDIZ v2.2 - Added Scream Tracker 3 (S3M) recognition - Added Advanced Module Format (AMF) recognition v2.5 - 1993.07.26 - First release together as "MODUTILS" - Leading spaces on titles now removed - Unknown titles now use "Unknown :[filename]" - Blank titles now use "Filename:[filename]" - Output appearance slightly altered - New format recognitions: - "FLT4"-specific - More MED types - Future Composer - KingMOD - UltraTracker - MODNAMES - Removed silly "Executing" line - Description for DESCRIPT.ION added to DESCRIPT.ION - MODDIZ - Fixed batch file yet again v3.0 - 1993.08.05 - Length problem with error with mods with blank titles and long filenames fixed. - More nice boxes added to documentation. - New format recognitions: - SMUS Module (some old Amiga format) - Face the Music v3.1 - 1993.08.20 - Short description for Tracker formats changed - Files got SMALLER because I removed redundant info - New format recognitions: - ProTracker with > 64 channels - StarTrekker 4 channels - StarTrekker 8 channels - ModEdit v3.2 - 1993.08.26 - MODDIR now fully justifies filenames - Modules with invalid characters (first 26 ASCII chars) get appropriate title - New format recognition: - StarTrekker 6 channels v3.3 - 1993.09.01 - MODDIZ now uses correct ID when writing simpler FILE_ID.DIZ for KingMOD files. - New format recognition: - AudioVision ROM file v3.5 - 1993.09.25 - No new features, I just put my Internet address in this MODUTILS.DOC file and FILE_ID.DIZ. See ABOUT THE AUTHOR for more info. v3.6 - 1993.11.28 - New format recognition: - MultiTracker Module Editor ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────