GameID 1.02 (18 Apr 1997) © Musus Umbra, 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GameID was created using DeskLib ”The Freeware C Library for Risc OS Machines• Quick intro: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Basically, !GameID provides a much nicer way of adding new games to the database of game IDs kept by !Frotz (so it can put the game's full name in the titlebar, amongst other reasons). Before !GameID, you would have had to change a 'messages' file by hand, involving far too much 'copy the figures out of the info-box' editing by far. Now, all you have to do is load !GameID and away you go: no 'messages' file, just friendly windows and icons! You could also use !GameID to find out what game a story-file is (assuming that !Frotz knows), although I can't (offhand) think of any situations that it wouldn't be better to use !Frotz. How to Use !GameID ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Load GameID in the usual Risc OS manner (ie. double click on its icon in a filer display). All being well, the GameID icon will appear on the iconbar. (You can get at the usual 'Info and Quit' menu from the iconbar icon). To edit the game database of your !Frotz, simply drag the !Frotz icon from a filer display onto GameID's iconbar icon. There will be a quick flash or two of the drive light, and then the Edit window will open. Using the Edit window ````````````````````` The Edit window contains a number of 'information only' icons (the ones at the top), and some useful icons. Initially, all the useful icons are shaded and unresponsive: GameID is waiting for you to drag a story-file (filetype &11a, or 'Z-Code') to the Edit window. When you drag a story-file to the Edit window, GameID examines the story-file and updates the 'information' icons at the top of the window. It also has a stab at identifying the game. If the game is recognised, the icons will be unshaded, and the game's names filled in the long- & short- name icons. If the game wasn't recognised, then GameID will beep, unshade the icons (but colour them red). Notice that when a game is recognised, the action button says 'Rename Game' (allowing you to change the names used for a game), but when a game is unrecognised, it says 'Add Game' (allowing you to add it to the list of recognised games). If a story-file is incorrectly identified, or a new story-file is released for an old game, you'll probably want to use the List... button: The List... Button `````````````````` When this button is clicked, GameID creates a menu of all the 'short' names of the games it knows about. Each entry in this menu has a submenu arrow that leads to a box that tells you what the 'long' name associated with that 'short' name is. Look down the menu (it's in alphabetical order) for the game that the story-file is, and click on it if it's there - this copies the long & short names into the Edit window's icons. If the game isn't there, you'll just have to make up the names for it. The Add/Rename Game Button `````````````````````````` Clicking this button will either add the story-file's ID to those known by !Frotz, or change the names that !Frotz associates with that story- file, depending on what the button says. Saving the Changes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When you've added all the games you want to, save the changes by choosing 'Save' from the Edit window menu. That's it: your !Frotz now knows about all the games you've added/changed! History ~~~~~~~ v1.00 (8 Apr 1997) First fully working version [unreleased] v1.01 (8 Apr 1997) Games now alphabetically sorted on their 'short' names. v1.02 (18 Apr 1997) Now refuses to start if is undefined, and gives a more useful error message if writing fails. Thanks & Things ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks, greetings and apologies to the following whose complaints have led to improvements and fixes: Neil Brown (get _your_ name in here - find something that's wrong with it :-) License & Copyright ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This software (the !GameID application and all the files it contains) is (C) A.J.Holdsworth (Musus Umbra) 1997. Use of the software inplies acceptance of *all* the licence conditions set out here: * You may freely distribute the software proving that: 1) The software is whole and unaltered 2) You do not make any profit in so doing (you may howver make a small charge for handling/media, at your disgression) * You may modify and use the software in anyway you choose, however you may not distribute modified copies of the software. Disclaimer `````````` The software is supplied with absolutely no warranty of any kind. Under no circumstances can the author be held responsible for any loss or damage arising from the use, or inablility to use, this software. It the responsibility of the user to convince themselves that this software is suitable for any use they put it to. © Musus Umbra, 1997.