***************************************************************************** Dan's Quake-C Launcher Version .05 á 3 (c) 1996 by Dan Finkelstein http://www.nac.net/~users/splat/dql.html splat@nac.net ***************************************************************************** NOTE: This is a Beta version of Dan's Quake-C Launcher. There _will_ be bugs. If you spot a bug or have a suggestion for the final release, please contact me! See the section "Bug Reporting" for instructions on how to submit bug reports. NEW IN BETA 3 ------------- Well, it's been awhile since the last beta release, and DQL is getting closer to being finished. There are a few more features I want to include, and some other small stuff to fix, so now, more than ever, I need your help to catch bugs. See the section "Bug Reporting" for instructions on how to submit bug reports. Thanks to all those who have given suggestions and caught bugs. - The cool new logo is by Sean O' Grady. Thanks Sean! - Fixed a crap-load of bugs: + select bar now does not go to the top after restartprog. + fixed a bug with select map + fixed the bug if there is only one patch + fixed another bug with delete--can't delete last patch + fixed various bugs with Auto-bind + fixed more bugs with auto-bind and notes files + fixed another bug with the map + changed back to quake directory after shelling to dos *** New Features *** - Brand, spankin' new "Auto-Bind" feature ("B")...very useful for every Quake C user. What happens is this: DQL scans the specified patch for documentation. When it finds some, it is scanned for IMPULSES. When DQL locates an impulse, that part of the documentation is displayed on the top of the screen, with the impulse highlighted. You are then asked if you want to bind the impulse to a key. If you choose to do so, DQL will ask for the key, and what the key does (i.e. Throw bomb, switch to flamethrower, etc..). After you go through this process, the patch is set up. You also have the option to use your default Quake options (AUTOEXEC.CFG and CONFIG.CFG) with the patch. When you go to run the patch, a summary of the keys that are used are displayed for easy reference. - "R" - Read documentation. Brings up the MS DOS editor with the selected patches' documentation. - "M" - Select Map *UPDATE* - Now you can specify a default map to use with a specific patch, which is saved. This is similar to "C" (special configuration), where you can set special command-line options to use with a patch. When a patch has a map assigned to it, a "M" will appear at the end of the patch description. To specify a map to use with a patch, press "M" to bring up the maps on your computer. Select a map, and answer "Y" when DQL asks if you want it to be the default map. If you select "N", the chosen map will become the "current" map, meaning that the next selected patch will start with that map (if it does not have a default map associated with it). - "G" - Global configuration *UPDATE* - This replaces the question when installing the old version of DQL where you could put in extra command-line options to use when starting all patches (ex: -nojoy or +gamma .6). Now you can change that at any time from within DQL using the "G" key. - "F1" - Quick Help - A list of the major commands in DQL, and what they do. (Dos Shell is now F10) INTRODUCTION ------------ "Dan's Quake-C Launcher" (herein referred to as DQL) was written over a period of about 3 1/2 hours after I realized that the current Quake-C utilities were inadequate for most Quake users. Basically, DQL manages all of your QuakeC patches, letting you install them, delete them, and load them. REQUIREMENTS ------------ - MS-DOS 6.22 or Windows 95 - Quake Registered. Quake C patches do not work with the shareware version of Quake. - Any Quake C patch. At the moment, these Quake C patches must be compiled. (most are) INSTALLING DQL -------------- 1) Unzip DQL into your default Quake directory. 2) Run DQL by typing "DQL" at the command prompt. 3) DQL will scan your Quake directory for installed QuakeC patches. QuakeC patches MUST be in sub-directories of your Quake directory. (ex: C:\QUAKE\PATCH). 4) DQL will create your configuration file (DQL.CFG) and ask you to start the program again. USING DQL --------- DQL is so simple, even a Macintosh lamer can use it. Haha. If you are looking for big shiny buttons and an AOL-type interface, you'll have to go somewhere else. DQL has a very sparse interface, with the installed patches listed down the left hand side of the screen. Use the arrow keys to scroll up and down, and press enter to run a patch. DQL will exit and start Quake with the patch, and come back when it is done. Basic DQL Commands: The basic commands are listen along the bottom of the screen. ESC - Exits Dan's Quake Launcher. N - Lets you give a patch a detailed description. You are limited to about 45 characters. Type what you want, then press enter. M - Select MAP. DQL will scan your Quake directory for all available maps and allow you to select one. "START" is the default. NOTE: All maps (except for the internal Quake maps [e1m1, start, etc.] must be in the \ID1\MAPS directory). D - Deletes the high-lighted patch. Fist DQL will delete the patch from the list, but will not remove the patch itself. DQL will then ask if you want to delete the directory and files inside it. Answer 'Y' to do so. **WARNING**: be careful doing this, because the files will be gone forever. Also, never delete the ID1 directory! A - Adds a patch to the list that you installed yourself (i.e. you created a directory and copied the files yourself). You will be prompted for the directory you installed it in. Do not type the entire path name, just the directory (i.e. PATCH1 instead of C:\QUAKE\PATCH1) Z - UnZip and install a patch. This option will prompt you for the the location of a .ZIP file containing a patch, then ask for the target directory. DQL will unzip and add the patch to the menu. If you are unsure about the name of the .ZIP, type a directory when DQL asks for ".ZIP to unzip:" (i.e. C:\DOWNLOAD\ZIPS). DQL will list all the .ZIP files in the directory, then ask for the file. Do not include the full path. C - Special Configuration. Some Quake C patches (like some of the Bots) require you to start Quake with special command-line options (the Eliminator bot patch needs "-listen"). High-light the patch to add a special configuration to, then type 'C'. Type the option (do not add "QUAKE" at the beginning), then press enter. A patch that has a special configuration has a star (*) at the end of the description. S - showCfg (or Show Configuration). This displays the special configuration that has been set for the high-lighted patch (if there is one). ENTER - Starts Quake with the selected patch. After it is done, DQL will reload. F1 - Shells to DOS. Type 'EXIT' to return to DQL. * If you accidentally push a key by mistake, simply press enter without typing anything to cancel the selection. * DQL supports 22 patches at the moment. I've never heard of anyone who has more, but if I get enough comments, I'll support more in the final release. * If something ever gets screwed up, just delete the "DQL.CFG" file in the default directory (usually C:\QUAKE). * DQL was tested mostly under Windows 95 DOS. It does work, however, with DOS 6.22, although there may be some bugs at the moment. BUG REPORTING ------------- Please report all bugs, no matter how minor to: splat@nac.net. When writing, include what you were doing when the bug appeared and what happened. If you report a bug, you will be credited in the final release. Any suggestions are appreciated! FREEWARE -------- This limited beta release is being distributed as Freeware. The final release will be Shareware. As usual, I can not be responsible for anything that this program may do to your computer. It probably won't, but, hey you never know. Aliens may have possessed my brain while coding and I might have entered "FORMAT C:" into the program. Oh well, I guess it's a risk you'll have to take :) Thanks ------ Thanks to, of course, id software for making the best computer game in the universe. Also, all those hard working people who are coding QuakeC patches! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit my awesome Quake page: http://www.nac.net/~users/splat/quake.html Or my home page, where you can download other cool programs I've written: http://www.naples.net/~nfn02927 Other programs by Dan Finkelstein: - Dan's Shell 1.2 - D-DOS 1.2 - Dan's "AI" Tic-Tac-Toe - DSTOCK 1.1 - Dan's Quake Launcher (Duh) DQL - (C) 1996 by Dan Finkelstein. All rights reserved! Windows 95 and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Inc. Quake is a registered trademark of id Software, Inc.