From TradeWars Museum
Calling syntax: STARDOCK controlfile (commands)
COMMANDS:
/STRIP : Will strip out all the spaces from the BBS name and TWname when
looking for a match.
/DEBUG : Will turn on debugging. Writting main startup activitie and
modem settings to DEBUG.LOG.
/NOCD : Will turn off carrier detect.
/RESETPLAYER : Will erase and recreate the SDB Player file.
/RESETSTOCKS : Will erase and recreate the SDB stock market data files.
The config file is now a control file. Look at the file STARDOCK.CTL for
data elements. All are commented so theres no need for redundent explination
here.
*** SDB Utilitie Programs ***
CONVPLAY - Will convert the player file from v1.24 format to v1.25 format.
*** The Public Library ***
Version 1.19 brings a new features. The Public Library. I did it on a whim
after talking to one of my users last night (Stealth Nightshade) after he
said that on his game he puts his own files in the library. So I added a
library in SDB.
New data file with feature!
STARDOCK.LIB:
File Descriptions
Drive:path to ASCII screen
Drive:path to ANSI screen
File Descriptions
Drive:path to ASCII screen
Drive:path to ANSI screen
Etc.
Pretty simple. You are currently limited to 10 files. This will increase in
a future version, but it should be enough for now. Each line is limited to
80 charators, but I don't think that should be a problem.
Currently, STARDOCK.LIB should be put in the current directory. I might move
it to the tradewars directoy in the future, but for now it looks for it in the
current directory.
*** Disabling features ***
If you want to disable one or more of the features, set it's price to a
negative number and it wont show up on the menus and you wont be able to
select it.
*** Debug Mode ***
OK. I'm getting REALLY sick of this [darn] program only working on my
system. So to try and give me an idea of where the problems are accuring,
I inserted a little debug mode. Debug mode will report on close to all
activity from the point of program start till it hits the main menu.
This will hopfully help determine where the bugs are in case this version
does not fix them.
NOTE: When debug mode is on, it will send the debug text to the screen AND
to the current directory to the file DEBUG.LOG. Sample:
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:35 37/16/1993 Program Start
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:35 37/16/1993 Command parameters:
D:\TP\TW\STARDOCK\STARDOCK.EXESTARDOCK.CFG/WWIV/DEBUG
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:35 37/16/1993 Loading in config file
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:35 37/16/1993 Loading CHAIN.TXT drop file
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:35 37/16/1993 Defining ANSI codes.
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:35 37/16/1993 Checking existance of data files
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:36 37/16/1993 Opening Data Files
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:36 37/16/1993 Reading Corperation Data
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:36 37/16/1993 Searching for player in current game.
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:37 37/16/1993 Copyright notice and program name/author.
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:37 37/16/1993 Checking for registration status
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:37 37/16/1993 Reading Stock files
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:37:37 37/16/1993 Starting main menu loop
DEBUG: (187120k) 17:38:11 38/16/1993 Program end.
^ ^ ^ ^
! ! ! !
! ! ! \--- Debug text
! ! \--- Date
! \--- Time
\--- Memory free
So if you have a problem, upload your DEBUG.LOG file to me and any screen
shots that might help.. lets hope this version works tho.. % (fingers crossed)
*** Modem-System support ***
OK. Here is a good one. My program is bordering on out of memory for TP6..
So, I had to use some small FOSSIL drivers. I added suppord for DORINFO1.DEF
(RBBS), CHAIN.TXT (WWIV) and DOOR.SYS. I am hopping enough people use door
file converters that it wont be much of a hinderence. If you have file
formats for any other board format, I would LOVE to get them. First one to
send me the format will have there name included in the doc files with thanks
to them for it.
The doorfile must be in the same dir as STARDOCK. Well, accualy the current
directory.
And of course, you NEED to be running a FOSSIL driver. Anyone should work. I
am using BNU v1.88 Beta with my BBS. Works fine.
And in case you havn't figured it out yet, setup SDB as a seperate door.
*** Possible Problems ***
Problem: File errors.
Possible solusion: Increase FILES= command. SDB has at LEAST 11 file open at
all times while running to pull different information.
Mine is set at FILES=40 and BUFFERS=40
Problem: It wont work with RBBS!
Possible solusion: [Pain] at the author, he obviously didn't get that fixed.
Problem: It goes into it and comes back out without doing anything.
Possible solusion: You may be out of memory. It's a large program that does
define alot of large data elements. Although you should not
run out of memory.
Problem: Don't work at all!
Possible solusion: Hope I fix it before I loose my mind and blow it out.
Problem: Will not work with my WWIV v4.22
Solusion: One of my users (Silicon Beast) said to get it to work with newer
versions of WWIV, use DoorMaster to convert it to RBBS with aliases:
DM /F=wwiv-alias /T=rbbs
Then use the /RBBS option for dorinfo1.def
Any other problems please report to the author either via surface mail or
call his board. Unlike a certain other family of programmers, I release bug
fixes when I hear about them.
For the record, my computer stats are: 386DX40. 120 and 130 meg HDs,
2 megs total memory. About 630k free. SeVGAtc... InfoTel 144i 14.4 internal
modem, COM1, IRQ3 (or maybe 4)....
*** Searching for information and code ***
I am also looking for some other procedures, perferabe in Turbo Pacal 6, to
search for warp paths, calculate a new universe, etc. Some will be used in
this program, and others will be used in my own TW2002-type program if I
decide to write it (many people have already told me they'd like to see me
do one). I'd like to add some things that would be used in this
program. Again, anyone suplying code will get credit for it. I always give
credit where credit is due. (Unless I forget, which I do a lot).
And yes, for all you hard core ShareWare supporters I DO plan on registering
PWFOSSIL. It's so cheap I have to. ($7.50 or so). So when I get 5
registerations for StarDock beta, I'm going to send him some cash.
*** Hints? I don't think so. ]:) ***
Normally I would go threw and explain what all there is in the program. But,
since a great deal of players download the orginal programs, even if they
don't or can't use them, to get the doc files to look for any hints. So, I'm
not going to say anything. You will just have to find the stuff out on your
own. Keep in mind, each command, weather it's on the menu or not, will have
some effect on the game. (The ONLY hints I'm giving).
*** ShareWare, yeck! ***
In the past I've released some very excelent programs for Trade Wars v1.03d.
They were released as BegWare, in other words I beged people to send me money.
This obviously has not worked. I've only gotten a few people sending me any
money for my time and testing. So, altho I personaly HATE ShareWare, this
program has been released under the ShareWare concept. What does this mean?
I'll tell you:
You are free to try this program for up to and not exceeding 30 days. On
the 31st day of running this program, you MUST register it. If you decided
not to register it, then you must discontinue using it.
>>>>>>>>>>> Registration is $10.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
With the registration:
1) The 30 second pause at the begining is removed.
2) You get your name on the opening screen for all your users to see.
3) You win major brownie points with me.
4) Anything else I decide on.
Registration is good for all future versions of StarDock Beta. Unless some
low life [wanker] "cracks" my reg code. Then it will change and all old
registration codes will be null and void. I might give free updates to
previously registered users, or charge $1.00 to cover mailing costs.
*** Credits where credit is due ***
A special thanks goes out to Rick Blackwell aka Stinger for the forulas for
calculating the price of stocks. And for giving me the idea of the stock
market.
*** Comments? ideas? ***
Do you have an idea? A comment? Just want to talk? Send me mail or call my
board. A good deal of my programs contain ideas sent in by other people and
some are entiry based on ideas from other people. If I can do it, I will. So
send in any suggestions or ideas you may have! Even if it don't apply to Trade
Wars 2002.....
*** Hellos and greetings ***
A big hello goes out to Thomas Henshell in Onterio Canada. Hows the weather up
there? :) He asked me to send a hello to him so I did. (I'm a very nice
person, eh? :) )
Hmm. Ya know, it has been a REALLY long time since I did a real demo greetings
list. Last time I did a greetings list was in a demo I did on the
Commodore 64. I think I'll put my old greetings list in here for the [heck]
of it.
64 Freak (Denmark) - Amiga Master - Axegrinder - Captain Keyboard
Captain Warped - Commander Epsilon - Coroner - Dr Catt - Edifier
Griffin - Lone Wuf - Mr. Bill - Rubicon - Silicon Bandit - Space - Swayze
Cool. Alot of them I havn't heard from or seen in ages. Anyone know where they
are? Like Captain Warped, Mr. Bill, Silicon bandit, all from out in
California. Been awhile since I've talked to them on a local BBS that went
down in this area in 1988. Wow. The flood of memories of my illegal/demo days.
Gesh. What I wouldn't do to go back to them... :) Oh well. So much for a trip
down memory lane....
*** Anyone got info on FidoNet? ***
Anyone know a good hub for FidoNet? I got my number (1:157/632) some time ago
but the guy who was going to be my hub hasn't gotten back to me. So I'm
looking for another one.
*** Are we done yet? ***
I do belive that is all that needs to be put in this file. Don't think
there is anything else to say. Hmm. Normaly I like to talk (type?) so if
I can't think of anything to say, there must not be anything to say. Or
something like that.. :)
If you own/run a company, donate hardware to my BBS (like a 19.2 kbp modem!)
and get your company/store name and address posted on my board AND in my doc
files!!! Hows that for some good advertising? I think it's worth it. And if
you do donate hardware, you'll get the next 5 releases free that require a
registration to unlock features. So I think you get something good in return.
Send any donations or hardware to the address given shortly. And for hardware,
don't forget to include any information you want added to my board/DOCs about
your store, like phone number, address, what you sell/do, etc. A full ANSI
advertisement would be great to.
That should be enough. Now the stuff no one reads.. If you like this or
any of the other programs I've done that you have or have seen, please send
me something for my time and testing. I currently don't have a "real" job and
my only income is from my BBS and my programming. Do you know how hard it is
for a 22 year old computer nerd to get a job in a small hick town?
Send any donations, Registration fees, or your own programs that you've
written to be placed on my BBS to:
David Proper
927 Maple Avenue, NW
New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663-1522
Or if you just want to check out my BBS, which has all my publicly released
programs online, give my BBS a call:
The Ace of Spades
1-216-339-4592
300 tp 14.4 kbps - 24hrs - 7dys
21,000+ files - 130+ doors - 7+megs Gfiles
930megs online - 70+ message bases - Truly Private Email
Adult Section - CMF/MOD/GIF/MID/ROL/VOC/Etc files
Supports the 1st Admendment - Lots more goodies like a SysOp
who accualys answers mail and the pager.
Yea, I also have a Sound Blaster Pro so I can do any audio samples for the
users that they may want.
FidoNet 1:157/632 Net13 1134:666/1
Starting to support the Underground also. (/p/h/a/v/c)
A quick little thank you goes out to Dan Roseen, SysOp of Nite Owl BBS
206-631-4949. He gave the TW file formats to one of my users that called his
system looking for them. Thanks Dan, we need more SysOps like that who are
willing to help out there users and other SysOps. (You wouldn't believe the
[cowpoo] in this area between the local systems. It's unbelievable)
And of course thanks to Jason Boyd for writting the text file that had the
file formats.
Wine is fine but wiskeys quicker.
Guess that's the end of this file. End racism. Increase the peace. Later.
