Outpost Trader Helper Release 1.2 Copyright 1994 Just FUN Software All Rights Reserved Outpost Trader Helper is a terminal program with an optional GRAPHICAL interface used ONLINE with the BBS door game "Outpost Trader" v1.00 published by MegaWatts Computing. This program continuously maintains a DATABASE of the explored sectors with their outpost, adjacent sectors, and other information. Several commands are available, using either the keyboard or using the mouse, to utilize this data while moving around the Outpost Trader 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 automatically cross trade between two sectors. Using this program, when registered, will significantly enhance both your effectiveness and your enjoyment of Outpost Trader. Try it and "See the Graphics! Feel the Power!" *** Many of the features and capabilities of this program are available to registered users only. VGA monitor and mouse required for Graphical User Interface. *** INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS Make a directory, \othelp, on your hard disk using the DOS mkdir command. Unzip the ZIP file to the \othelp directory. Change to the /othelp directory. If you just want to take a look at the Graphical User Interface (GUI) then simply enter OTHELP to start the program, enter a 1 to select the EXAMPLE data file, and click a mouse button to activate the GUI. When done enter /q to quit the program. If you want to install the program for use in an actual game, first erase any existing OTHELP.CFG file (erase othelp.cfg). The program will create a new configuration file for use with data related to your installation. Then enter OTHSETUP to supply the initial configuration options. Also create a batch file (OTH.BAT) in the directory of your communications program like below. It changes to the \othelp directory, executes the othelp program, changes back to your communication program's directory, makes sure the monitor is in text mode and then exits the DOS shell. cd \othelp othelp cd \(comm-prog-dir) mode co80 exit (comm-prog-dir) means the name of your communications program directory. Print the COMMANDS.TXT file. It contains a listing of all the commands and important points including those about the Graphical User Interface. Use it as reference guide. If you would like assistance installing Outpost Trader Helper and/or entering the configuration options call (801) 272-6238 up to 8:00 pm Mountain time. Note: Outpost Trader Helper is very similiar to Trade Wars Helper. To simplify matters for persons using both program, the numbers assigned to the Configuration and Run Time Options have been kept the same. The missing numbers in the lists of options are for those that do not apply to Outpost Trader. They have nothing to do with being registered. RUNNING INSTRUCTIONS Run your communications program and logon to a BBS. At the BBS command prompt shell to DOS and enter OTH to start the above batch program. Then enter the BBS command to open the Outpost Trader door. This sequence is necessary mainly for registered users so Outpost Trader Helper (OTH) can find the "Hello" name displayed by Outpost Trader (OT). Resolving an insufficient memory condition is discussed below. The program will display the OTH title screen which allows you to select the number of the BBS data file for the game you want to play. Also you can just presss Enter to change the configuration options or add/delete a BBS data file. There is one database file for each BBS game you play. Once you select the number of the BBS data file to use, you can activate the Graphical User Interface by clicking a mouse button. If you are online, this is usually done at the first OT "Command" prompt. Pressing the END key returns to text mode. Some comm programs, such as Telix and Procomm Plus for Windows, seem to reset the outposts baud rate when you quit them. You will recognize this when, after starting OTH, it is unable to communicate with the BBS. If this is the case, specify in the configuration options to enter the baud rate for each BBS. The commands and important points are discussed in the COMMANDS.TXT file. That file is generally printed for use as a reference guide. You can display a menu of commands while online by entering /?. All OTH command begin with the / character. Commands are case sensitive. That is, /b is different from /B. You can use Outpost Trader Helper with an existing game or a new game. For an existing game use the /k and /r commands to initialize the database for sectors you have previously explored. You generally only use the /k command once per existing BBS game. You can run the program directly without being connected to a BBS and the Outpost Trader door. The file EXAMPLE.OTH 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 last entered sector when not online. Also do not use the /k and /t and most of the advanced commands when not online since they issue commands to Outpost Trader itself. For commands like /k and /t and most of the advanced commands Outpost Trader Helper wait for specific text sequences from Outpost Trader before proceeding. It's inevitable that from time to time something will get Outpost Trader and Outpost Trader Helper out of synchron- ization. This will become apparent when OT 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 Outpost Trader 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 OTHELP 21 which would start Outpost Trader Helper using BBS data file 21. The title screen is not displayed in this case. TRADE WARS HELPER and the GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE I put a GUI in Outpost Trader Helper before Trade Wars Helper simply because OT is both simpler and limited to 2000 sectors - hence there was no 640K conventional memory limitation problem to contend with. The producer of my compiler (Borland C++) has announced added capability for the compiler that should eliminate the 640K memory limitation problem and thus allow me to develop a GUI for TW Helper. This is not 100% certain, but for the first time it does look like it might be practical. I'll know more when the new compiler and additional software arrives - which was ordered the same day I was notified of the added capability. Assuming it can be done, there will be a $5.00 upgrade fee to use the new GUI in Trade Wars Helper for user who registered TWHELP prior to release 8.3. INSUFFICIENT MEMORY Outpost Trader Helper requires around of 450K to operate and some communication programs require around 300K which puts you up against the DOS 640K barrier. The following discuses some of the thing you can do to resolve an insufficient memory condition 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 your 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 OT door, quit your comm program and then start OTHELP (assumes you can quit your comm program without dropping carrier). Of course after quitting ot you will need to restart your comm program. 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. 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 /othelp directory. 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 should review the Configuration Options as new options may have been added. Once you have run the new release you can not go back to an older release. This is because the configuration and bbs data files will frequently contain additional information that the older release will not be aware of. LOCAL MODE TECHNIQUE Outpost Trader Helper communicates with Outpost Trader via the modem. This makes it difficult for them to communicate when both programs are being run on the same machine. If you have multitasking capability and can connect two comm ports via a null modem cable, then you could run OT and OTH on the same machine assigning each of them one of the comm ports. SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTED PRODUCT A product distributed via shareware is not "free sofware". 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 $15.00 US (S&H extra) 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 and activate the registered features. The return letter is generally mailed the same day the registration fee is received. You must use the REGISTER.TXT file when registering to avoid delays due to lack of appropriate information. This file may be printed using DOS commands. For example: print \othelp\register.txt or copy \othelp\register.txt lpt1 Please do not use, or allow others to use, the registered features of this program without paying this modest fee. COPYRIGHT Copyright laws apply to both shareware and commercial sofotare, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with the following exception. The unmodified program files, 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. Of course, registrations keys may not be distributed. It one thing to use an unregistered shareware product over the 30 day trial period. Nothing will happen if you do. It's quite another thing to provide others with a registration key or modify a program file in an attempt to circumvent the registration key. Those activities are illegal. As such, a reward, commensurate with the scope of the illegal activity involved, will be given to any individual providing information on any person or persons unlawfully providing registration keys for this product and/or modified version of this product to any other individual or BBS. In addition, this product has been specially coded to detect such illegal activity and will retaliate accordingly. DISCLAIMER Outpost Trader 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 Outpost Trader Helper. FILES This product is made up of the following files. README.TXT - The file you are now reading. README2.TXT - A continuation of the README file. REGISTER.TXT - This file contains a printable registration form. COMMANDS.TXT - A printable reference guide of the commands. USINGOTH.TXT - A discussion of the universal announcement. ANNOUN10.TXT - An announcement of release 1.0 FILE_ID.DIZ - A description of this product for PCBoard systems. OTHELP.EXE - The program file. OTHSETUP.EXE - The setup program file. EXAMPLE.CFG - A configuration file for using the EXAMPLE database. EXAMPLE.OTH - This file contains an example database. This product may be distributed only when all the above files are included in the distribution in unmodified form. RELEASE ACTIVITY Release 1.0: June 21, 1994 - Initial release. Release 1.1: July 10, 1994 - Made compatible with version 1.01 of Outpost Trader. Release 1.2: July 15, 1994 - Fixed another compatability problem with OT version 1.01. Hope this is all of them . Please continue by reading the README2.TXT file. If the last release date is more than a few months old you may want to download a more current version from a BBS listed in the README2 file.