Trade Wars Helper Release 6.0 Copyright 1992,1993 Just FUN Software All Rights Reserved Trade Wars Helper is a terminal program used ONLINE with the BBS door game "Trade Wars 2002" v1.03 published by Mertech Software. This program continuously maintains a database of the explored sectors with their port, adjacent sectors, and other information. Several commands are available to utilize this data while moving around the Trade Wars universe including the ability to graphically map a sector and its warps to any level! In addition there are many commands that automate the repetitive processes such as negotiating trades on your behalf and automatically cross trade between two sectors. Using this program will significantly enhance both your effectiveness and your enjoyment of Trade Wars. Don't leave FedSpace without it! INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS Make a directory, \twhelp, on your hard disk using the DOS mkdir command. Unzip the ZIP file to the \twhelp directory. Erase the TWHELP.CFG file if it is present. The program will create a new configuration file for use with data related to your installation. Create a batch file (TWH.BAT) in the directory of your communications program like below. It changes to the \twhelp directory, executes the twhelp program, then changes back to your communication program's directory. cd \twhelp twhelp cd \(comm-prog-dir) RUNNING INSTRUCTIONS Run your communications program, login to a BBS and start the Trade Wars door. When Trade Wars begins building its title screen, shell to DOS from your communications program and enter TWH to start the batch program. Resolving an insufficient memory condition is discussed below. The program will begin with some configuration questions and then ask for the file name(s) to use. There is one database file for each BBS game you play. Once the configuration portion is completed, you begin with the main program. The configuration portion is not repeated on subsequent runs although you are given a means to change the options. Command and instructions are displayed online by the program from this point on and will not be repeated here except to say you can display them by entering /?, print them by entering /> or output them to the text file TWHELP.DOC by entering /<. All TWH command begin with the / character. COMMANDS ARE CASE SENSITIVE, that is, /b is different from /B. Also be sure to read the text highlighted in white. You can use Trade Wars Helper with an existing game or a new game. For an existing game use the /k command to initialize the database for sectors you have previously explored. You generally only use this command once per BBS game. The /K command can be used later to ensure the database is up to date in the event of a hardware failure. It will not reissue TW commands to acquire warp to and port information for those sectors already in the database. You can run the program directly without being connected to a BBS and the Trade Wars door. This might be useful the first time to enter the configuration options and read or print the online commands and instructions. In addition, the file EXAMPLE.TWH contains a database that can be used to experiment with the program without being online. You will need to include the sector number after the / for most commands since the current sector remains at 1 when not online. Also do not use the /e, /k, /t and most of the advanced commands when not online since they issue commands to Trade Wars itself. For commands like /e, /k, /t and most of the advanced commands Trade Wars Helper wait for specific text sequences from Trade Wars before proceeding. It is inevitable that from time to time something will get Trade Wars and Trade Wars Helper out of synchronization. This will become apparent when TW Helper goes into an indefinite wait (i.e nothing is happening and you can not enter a command). Simply press the ESC and Enter keys until something, such as Trade Wars main command prompt, is displayed to get the two programs back in synch. You can start the program and specify the database number (1-30) on the command line. For example a batch file line might be TWHELP 21 which would start Trade Wars Helper using BBS data file 21. The title screen is not displayed in this case. INSUFFICIENT MEMORY Trade Wars Helper requires a minimum of 300K to operate and some communication programs require around 300K which put you up against the DOS 640K barrier. The following discuses some of the thing you can do to resolve this situation. First make as much conventional memory available as possible. This means moving drivers, etc. to high memory. DOS 6.0 MEMMAKER program does a good job of this. Check you comm program for an option to maximize the DOS shell memory. Telemate has this useful capability. Lower one or both of the configurations options that affect memory - the scroll back buffer size and the communications buffer size. If the communications buffer is too small it will generally show up when using a command that accesses the CIM. A message will be displayed informing you to increase the size of the communications buffer. Another alternative is to not shell to DOS but, instead, after opening the TW door, quit your comm program and then start TWHELP (assumes you can quit your comm program without dropping carrier). Of course after quitting TW you will need to restart your comm program. Some comm programs seem to reset the ports baud rate when you quit them. You will recognize this when, after starting TWH, it is unable to communicate with the BBS. In this case you will first have to change the configuration option to enter the baud rate for each BBS. After changing the option, reenter the bbs data filenames and then enter their baud rates. Still another alternative is to use another comm program. Telemate has an option that allows a maximum DOS shell and you can also quit it without dropping carrier or having to enter a baud rate. And lastly you can contact me and I will consider creating a smaller version, without the graphical mapping feature that may solve the problem. UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS If you are upgrading from an older release you can just unzip (or copy) all the files from the new release directly into the /twhelp directory. You may wish to eliminate the EXAMPLE.TWH file afterward. You will not need to do anything else. It is not necessary to do the /k command again since any changes to the data files will be automatically handled by the program. You may wish to review the Configuration Options as new options may have been added. Once you have run the new version you can not go back to an older version. This is because the configuration and bbs data files will frequently contain additional information that the older version will not be aware of. SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTED PRODUCT Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. A product distributed via shareware is not "free software". If you try a shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register it with the author for a modest fee within 30 days of your initial usage. You may register this product by mailing cash, check or a money order for $12.00 US to: Just FUN Software 4790 Naniloa Dr. Salt Lake City, UT 84117-5547 Upon receipt of the registration fee, you will be mailed instructions to include your name in the program as the registered user. You must use the REGISTER.TXT file when registering to avoid delays due to lack of appropriate information. This file may be printed using the DOS print command. For example: print \twhelp\register.txt DISCLAIMER Trade Wars Helper is supplied on an "as is" basis. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result for the use of Trade Wars Helper. COPYRIGHT Copyright laws apply to both shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with the following exception. The program, complete with the files discussed below, may be freely copied and distributed. It is in fact encouraged. If you like this program, please tell your fellow players, even those evil traders, about it and upload it to several BBSes. FILES This product is made up of the following files: README.TXT - This file contains the text information you are now reading. README2.TXT - This file contains additional information. Please read. REGISTER.TXT - This file contains a printable registration form. Please use this form when registering. ANNOUNCE.TXT - An announcement of this release suitable for posting to a BBS or network. Feel free to do so. FILE_ID.DIZ - A description of this product for PCBoard systems. TWHELP.EXE - The main program file. TWHSETUP.EXE - The setup program file. EXAMPLE.TWH - This file contains an example database that can be used to experiment with the program. This product may be distributed only when all the above files are included in the distribution. RELEASE ACTIVITY Release 1.0: September 7, 1992 - Initial release. Release 1.1: September 11, 1992 - Made the COM port and baud rate user options. Changed some of the edit keys for the /b and /c commands. Release 1.2: September 30, 1992 - Eliminated the need to specify the baud rate. Added configuration option to optionally reissue the universal announcement. Release 2.0: October 12, 1992 - Added the /t, Negotiate Trade, command along with the automatic cross trading capability. Also added the /s, Search for notation characters, command. Release 2.1: October 20, 1992 - Added the option to specify the baud rate for those instances where automatic determination does not work. Release 3.0: January 5, 1993 - Added the /X, /I, and /U commands to expand the search for the next six sectors. Fixed the problem that occurred when entering more than seven data file names at one time. Fixed problem associated with using the /k command at high transfer rates. Allowed for ESC to exit program at title screen. Release 3.1: February 8, 1993 - Changed the /k command to use the Crai computer's interrogation mode to collect the warp to sector information. Changed the search for matching notation characters command to /m (was /s). Added the configuration option to enter the IRQ line number. Fixed bug that may have caused the auto trading feature to randomly fail. Release 3.2: February 12, 1993 - Fixed communications software to work with modems and I/O cards using the 16550A UART. Release 4.0: March 1, 1993 - Added /r command which interrogates the Crai computer to record the product percentage for display with the /x command information. Added the /s command which initiates an automatic sell/steal cycle. Added the /> command which prints the command and information screens on the standard print device. Added the /e command which explores the closest unexplored sector. Added the /Z (formerly /E) command which clears the explored status for each sector without clearing it's port and warp to information. Added the /o command which allows entry of the run time options (RTO). Added the bugle calls used to alert the completion of lengthy processes. Release 5.0: April 5, 1993 - Added the capture file feature and the scroll back buffer feature. Added the /D command which shells to DOS. Added the /F command which creates data files for the offline analysis program TWVIEW and TWASSIST. Upgraded the communications software to the newest version. Incorporated the results of the psychic probe during trading to optimize the experience points realized for the auto /t and /s commands. Added the /l command which is used (after the /r command) to locate enemy forces. Fixed the problem with printing to a laser printer. Added the /d command to display the destination path from the current sector. Added the ability to cross trade between nonadjacent sectors using ships equipped with a TransWarp Drive. Expanded the Deployed Fighter Scan produced by Trade Wars to include the port type, notation characters, product percentages and optionally, the number of hops from the current sector. Added the /f command to deploy a single fighter in the toll mode. Added the /C command which initiates automatic colonization of a planet with ability to utilize a TransWarp drive when available. Added the /B command which initiates the automatic buying and conveying of product to a planet. Allowed for cross trading between class 4 (SSB) and class 6 (BSS) ports. Added a Run Time Option to specify whether a ship equipped with a Holographic Scanner stops at the sector preceding the unexplored sector when using the /e command. Added the /P command which displays the next six sectors with a specified port capability. Added the /E command which launches an E-probe to a randomly chosen unexplored sector. Allowed for specifying the database number on the command line. Changed the /k command to use the CIM for both sector and port information. Release 5.5: May 17, 1993 - Added the /& command to display the next five sectors for the /x, /u, /p, etc. commands. Changed the command to create the offline analysis files for TWVIEW and/or TWASSIST to /V and added the option to create only the individual .FRT, .SCT or .PRT files. Made the TWVIEW .SCT file compatible with TWMAP. Added deployed fighters, identified by the TW G and TWH /F (formerly /f) commands, to the /d display. Added the /f command to display the paths to a destination sector from the nearest five sectors containing fighters preceded by the numbers of hops to the fighters from the current sector. Added a check to the /F command to insure fighters are not deployed in FedSpace. Added the /0E command to mark a sector as inaccessible for the /E routines. Added the /1E command to launch an E-probe to a randomly chosen isolated sector. Added the /2E command to launch an E-probe so as to pass thru the most sectors not visited during the current session. Added a configuration option so advanced commands are only displayed or printed if desired for new users. Added the /m command to display a menu of all the commands on a single screen. Added the /< command to output the online documentation to the text file TWHELP.DOC. Moved the option to sound the bugle calls to the configuration options screen. Added the /M command to merge another traders database. Made the automated process restore the default ANSI color which is useful when the TW ANSI mode is off. Added the analysis of the TW Computer X command display to keep track of avoided sectors which now are not shown on the various displays or moved to via the /e command. Allowed for cross trading between a class 8 (BBB) port and any other class of port. Allowed for cross trading between a class 7 (SSS) port and any other port buying equipment. Allowed for cross trading between two nonadjacent sectors without using the Transwarp Drive. Allowed for triple trading which involves all three products at each port to maximize experience points. Added the /X command which displays the five closest sectors for nonadjacent cross trading pairs, transwarp trading pairs, triple trading pairs, and other specialized combinations. Added the product quantities from the /r command to the /x, /p and other command displays. Added a Run Time Option to turn off the haggling over price when trading. Added the /P command which automates the process of buying planetary shields with or without using a TransWarp Drive. Added the /Q command which automates the quashing of mines using mine disruptors. Added the /g command which goes to a specified sector while optionally deploying fighters (RTO), trading (RTO) and density scanning (RTO) along the way. Added an RTO to optionally deploy/trade/scan when using the /e command and added the /2e command which initiates automatic exploration of the TW universe. Added the automatic determination of which sectors are Major Space Lanes which are noted as MSL on some displays. Significantly modified the /w display. Added the /I command to display deeply isolated sectors. Added a configuration option to optionally save the fighter, product percentage, and product quantity data in the disk file. Added prompts to the /k command to ask for the class 0 and 9 sectors. Changed the way the destination sector is specified for the /d command. Based on hearsay regarding the new release of Trade Wars made the commands that use the CIM allow for missing sectors and added a prompt to allow for upto 3000 sectors. Release 5.6: May 19, 1993 - Fixed problem of locking up when entering number of sectors in universe. Release 6.0: June 5, 1993 - Added the /G command to graphically display a sector and its warps to any level. Separated the configuration options portion of TWHELP.EXE to a separate file TWHSETUP.EXE. Added a configuration option to specify the size of the communications buffer. Changed the /b and /c edit routine so the enter key can insert a line and the del key can remove a line. Added the /R command to initiate the robing credits cycle which included a new RTO to set the rob percentage. Fixed a bug in the /I routine. Fixed a bug in displaying the scroll back buffer that did damage to the database and configuration files. Added communicating at 38,400 and 57,600 bps capability. Please continue by reading the README2.TXT file.