TADS, the Text Adventure Development System version 2.2 Copyright (c) 1990, 1998 by Michael J. Roberts. All rights reserved. This software is being distributed as freeware. You may use and redistribute it subject to the usual freeeware rules; see LICENSE.TAD for full details. Windows 95/NT Users ------------------- The compiler, runtime, debugger, and resource manager are available as 32-bit Windows Console Application commands. We recommend that you use these 32-bit versions if you're using Windows 95 or NT, since they'll take full advantage of the capabilities of your system and offer better performance than any of the 16-bit versions. You can't use the 32-bit versions with any earlier versions of Windows or DOS. The 32-bit Windows Console Application commands have the same names as the normal DOS versions, plus a "32" suffix: Component Normal DOS Protected-mode Command Command --------------- ---------- -------------- compiler tc tc32 runtime tr tr32 debugger tdb tdb32 resource manager tadsrsc tadsrsc32 These 32-bit versions work the same as their real-mode counterparts, and all command line options and arguments are the same for both versions. Unlike earlier protected-mode versions, the 32-bit Windows versions do NOT require any additional "DOS extender" software -- these applications run as native Windows Console applications in your Windows 95 or NT command prompt window. To reduce the size of the standard TADS distribution file, only the normal DOS versions of the TADS commands are included. To obtain the 32-bit Windows versions, download TADS2_32.ZIP from the same place you found this archive. Note that you will already have the 32-bit Windows executables if you installed the HTML TADS Author's Kit, so you will not need to download any additional files in that case. Attention Version 1 Users! -------------------------- TADS Version 2 is intended to be compatible with games written for v1. However, there are a few differences. If you experience any difficulty compiling a game that was working with v1, try using the "V1 Compatibility Mode" options. You can enable full v1 compatibility mode by placing -1 before your game name: tc -1 mygame Most v1 games that have problems with v2 need only rename the new "do" keyword to run with v2; this can be done with these options: tc -1d _do_ mygame Documentation ------------- You should download the TADS Documentation archive, TADS2DOC.ZIP on PC's, or TADS2DOC.SIT on Macintosh. This file contains overview documentation for TADS, as well as the source for "Ditch Day Drifter", a complete sample game. Getting Started --------------- To get started on the system, install the executables in a directory on your path, and install the source files (*.T) wherever you please. Compile "Ditch Day Drifter" by typing: tc ditch Be sure that ADV.T is in your current directory. Note that DITCH.T is part of the separate TADS Documentation archive; you should be able to get this archive from the same place you got the archive containing the TADS executables. After you have compiled Ditch, run the game by typing: tr ditch Please read DITCH.DOC for information on playing the game. This file also describes many features of the run-time system, including the parser. Notes for DOS users ------------------- On PC's, you may edit command lines with the arrow keys and other standard editing keys. Review Mode (described in DEEP.DOC) is activated with function key F1. Saved games are stored in standard DOS files, by default in the current directory (the directory from which you start the game), so make sure you have free disk space before you begin playing. If you have limited memory in your PC, you may need to adjust the compiler's memory usage so it fits. If the compiler runs out of memory, it will tell you the amount of memory it is consuming and suggest that you run again with a lower -m option. For example, if the compiler displays a message like this: *** Note for -m option: *** Current cache size is 256000 ditch.t, line 3501: TADS-1: out of memory you can run again by specifying a smaller size with the -m option: tc -m 200000 ditch This tells the compiler to restrict its memory usage to 200,000 bytes, which it does by swapping excess space out to a disk file. If the compiler is forced to swap, you can speed it up considerably by moving the swap file to a RAM disk in extended or expanded memory. If your RAM disk is drive D, you can tell TADS to place the swap file on your RAM disk using the -tf option: tc -m 200000 -tf d:swap.dat ditch DOS Protected-Mode TADS ----------------------- The compiler, runtime, and debugger are available as DOS protected-mode commands. The protected-mode versions are only capable of running on 80286 or newer processors -- they will not work on XT-type machines (which use 8086 processors). The protected-mode versions can access up to 16 megabytes of memory, so they will allow much larger games; because they will not do as much swapping as the normal DOS versions, the protected- mode commands are usually much faster than the normal DOS versions with large games. The protected-mode versions of the executables have the same names as the normal DOS versions plus an "X": Component Normal DOS Protected-mode Command Command --------- ---------- -------------- compiler tc tcx runtime tr trx debugger tdb tdbx The protected-mode commands work the same as their real-mode counterparts, and all command line options and arguments are the same for both versions. The protected-mode commands use the Borland DOS extender software. This software is copyrighted by Borland and cannot be distributed except with Borland's permission. The Borland license allows redistribution of the DOS extender with software created with a properly licensed copy of the Borland tools, which allows us to include the DOS extender software with TADS. The files making up the Borland DOS extender are: dpmi16bi.ovl rtm.exe Before running any of the protected-mode commands, you must have these files in a directory on your DOS PATH. The Borland DOS extender is compatible with most computers based on 286, 386, 486, or Pentium processors, and works properly with most memory managers (such as QEMM and EMM386), and with Microsoft Windows DOS windows when running in 386 Enhanced mode. By its nature, though, the DOS extender software is sensitive to the specific hardware and software configuration of your computer, and may not work with certain computers, peripherals, or resident software. If you experience any problems with the protected-mode versions, try removing any drivers, TSR's, and other resident software from your configuration. Since the DOS extender is developed and maintained by Borland, not High Energy Software, we will not be able to correct any incompatibilities or other problems that are caused by the DOS extender itself. To reduce the size of this archive file, only the normal DOS versions of the TADS commands are included in the distribution. You do not need any additional software to run the normal DOS versions of the commands, and these versions will run on any IBM or 100% compatible DOS PC. To obtain the 16-bit DOS protected-mode versions, download the file TADS2EXX.ZIP from the same place you found this archive. ABOUT HIGH ENERGY SOFTWARE -------------------------- High Energy Software formerly distributed TADS as a shareware system, but is no longer in business. Mike Roberts, the developer of TADS, is now maintaining and distributing the system as freeware. We have made an effort to remove references from these files to High Energy Software and its former telephone and other contact information, since all of those numbers and addresses are no longer in service. If we inadvertantly left any such references intact, please disregard them, since they're oversights.