Trade Wars Helper 8.8 Commands The following are the introductory commands. Commands are case sensitive. That is, /k is different from /K. /? Displays a menu of all commands on a single screen. /a Displays the Adjacent sectors to three levels with port or other status info. A later page contains more details about the display generated by this command. * /b Displays the BBS file notes for review or editing. There is one set of notes for each BBS data file. Each is 1 to 10 pages of 20 lines each. Run Time Option 26 specifies the number of pages. /c Displays the Configuration file notes for review or editing. There is one configuration file for notes common to all games. /d Displays a single path with complete detail to a Destination sector from the current sector. The destination sector is entered following the /, for example /23d. Enter /330,23d to view the path from 330 to 23 when 330 is not current sector. /e Issues the command to Explore the closest unexplored sector. After you have explored most or all of the sectors, enter /0e to clear the explored status for each sector and thus begin a subsequent exploration of the universe. The port and warp to information is not cleared. /i Displays the five closest Isolated sectors. This is based on the known universe and unexplored sectors may warp to those listed. An isolated sector has only one sector warping to it and warps only to that sector and is often referred to as a dead end sector. Like many of the displays, this one show the path of sectors in columns. Read down, not across! Enter /& for the next five closest isolated sectors. * /k Gets the sector warp to information for all Known sectors using the Computer Interrogation Mode (CIM) of the Crai computer. Use this command first to initialize the database (just once per BBS data file). Since the CIM does not identify class 0 and 9 ports you will be prompted for those sector numbers. Use /K to gather the same information including the class 0 and 9 ports without using the CIM for those sectors not already in the database. Also do the /r command to collect port report information. /n Allows entry of up to three Notation characters for the current sector. For example an 'M' might indicate mines or 'P' a planet in the sector. The notation characters are displayed with the other sector information. Enter /N to search for sectors that match specific notation characters. * /p Displays the five closest sectors with a specified Port capability. Enter /& for the next five sectors with the same capability. * /q Quits the TW Helper program without quitting Trade Wars itself. Normally you just enter 'q' to quit both TW and TW Helper. In either case the database is saved to the disk file. Page 1 /r This command is used to Record the product percent and quantity available according to the interrogation mode of the Crai computer. Only the most significant digit of the percentage is displayed with the /x and /p command information. 100% is shown as a colon. This information is optionally saved on the disk and because it is so volatile, this command is generally once a day. /t This exceedingly useful command will negotiate a Trade on your behalf with the port in the current sector. It assumes the holds are either empty or the most expensive product in them will be sold. The command will then buy the most expensive product when a port is selling multiple products or by entering /T (capitalized) the least expensive product will be purchased. Entering a sector number after the /, for example /23t, initiates automatic cross trading between the sector specified and the current sector. You must have product in your holds to sell at the specified sector before entering this command. At the end of each trade, you will be given one second to halt the trading by pressing the SPACE BAR key. Entering ,0 after the sector number , for example /23,0t, initiates single product cross trading where only the product in the holds is sold at the specified sector and is then bought at the current sector. In TW2002 version 2 automatic cross trading is available to registered users only. If you have a ship equipped with a TransWarp Drive, and you specify a nonadjacent sector containing your fighters, the TransWarp Drive will be engaged. Only Equipment and Organics can be traded and single product trading is not allowed. Fuel Ore will be purchased to replenish the amount used. If Fuel Ore is available to be bought at only one port, be sure to start with enough for a complete round trip. Be sure TWH is aware you have fighters in the sectors by using the TWH /F command or the TW G command. TransWarp trading is available to registered users only. /u Displays the five closest Unexplored sectors in columns with their paths. Enter /& for the next five closest unexplored sectors. * /w Displays information on the current sectors outgoing and incoming Warps. Also shows total sectors explored and other data. * /x Displays the five closest sectors with cross trading ports in adjacent sectors. This means you can trade back and forth between the ports. Enter /& for the next five closest sectors with cross trading ports. Multiple paths cause pairs to appear multiple times. * /z is used mainly in the multi-player Major BBS version to quickly Zip out of the current sector. TWHelper will first density scan and then move to one of the sectors whose density is less than the threshold set via an RTO. The sector is chosen randomly with emphasis given to sectors with the most warps. TWHelper will continue to zip out of sectors until the SPACE BAR is pressed. For registered users a destination can be specified following the /, for example /23z, to zip to sector 23 while density scanning along the way. (Like /g but without trading, depolying fighters and etc.) Page 2 * For those commands marked with an asterisk, entering a sector number after the /, for example /23a, displays the data for the specified sector instead of the current sector. If you run the program without being online, you must enter the sector number since there is no current sector. The following are the lower case advanced commands: /2e Begin autoexploring. See Run Time Option (RTO) 10 and the AUTO EXPLORING section for details. /f Displays the paths to a destination sector from its nearest five sectors containing Fighters (or FedSpace sectors if alignment above 999). The paths are proceeded by the number of hops from the current sector to the fighters. The destination sector is entered following the /, for example /23f. This command is available to registered users only. /g Goes to the sector specified following the /, for example /23g. A ship equipped with a scanner will density scan along the way and stop when the next sectors density or navhaz is at or above a threshold value set via a Run Time Option (RTO). You can manually enter that sector and then enter /g without the sector number to continue onward to the original destination. Other RTOs specifies whether a fighter is deployed, if trading, stealing and/or robbing is to be done along the way and if unexplored sectors are to be holographic scanned. This command is available to registered users. /j First buys a limited quantity of each product and then jettisons all of the products. The cycle repeats untill you press the SPACE BAR key when prompted. You must be at a port that sells at least one product (an SSS port is best) with empty holds. This command is used to gain experience points. A psychic probe is recommended. In the Major BBS game a minimum of 20 holds are required to gain experience making this transaction somewhat expensive to use. /h Used to Haul colonists, product, fighters or shields from one planet to another. You must be on the receiving planet with empty holds or room for the fighters or shields. Enter the planet number following the /, for example, /3h to haul from planet 3 to the planet you are on. Enter /3,23h to haul from planet 3 in sector 23 to the planet you are on when the planets are not in the same sector. You will be prompted for what to haul and the production area. The planet's TransPort and/or ship's TransWarp will be engaged if available and there are fighters at both sectors. Start with enough Fuel Ore for a round trip which will be replenished at the originating planet. Fuel Ore can not be hauled when using the TransWarp Drive. This command is available to registered users only. /l This command is used, after the /r command, to Locate enemy forces. Enemy fighters in a sector block the CIM from providing the product percentages. Thus sectors with blank product percentage values are the ones displayed. Thus there may be other enemy fighters in sectors without a port. Enter /& to locate the next five sectors containing enemy forces. Page 3 /o This command is used to change the Run Time Options. All RTOs are saved in the BBS data file and can thus be set different for each game. They are discussed later in this document after all the other commands. Be sure to study the RTOs as they provide Trade Wars Helper with significant flexibility. /s This command is used to initiate the automatic Sell/Steal cycle. You must have product in your holds as this determines the number of holds and the product that is first sold and then swiped back. This cycle repeats until you are busted or you press the SPACE BAR key when prompted. This command is available to registered users. When using the /s or /R commands TW Helper keeps track of the ports where you have been busted. These ports are displayed in red. Entering a sector number after the /, for example /23s, initiates automatic sell/stealing cycle between the sector specified and the current sector. This mode of the /s command is for TW2002 version 2 and works much like automatic cross trading except product is swiped instead of being bought. One difference is the /t command will buy as many holds of products as possible while the /s commands will only steal as many holds as have been sold. In addition, if the product in the holds is being bought at both ports (best for both credits and experience), then only it will be sold and swiped back. For the /s, /S and /R commands transporting between ships and then stealing or robbing is done by entering the commands like /2,9s or /2,9R where the 2 and the 9 can be any ship numbers from the Transport list of ships. Transporting to the leading ship number is done first followed by the sell/steal or robbing sequence. The ships can have no or different passwords which will only need to be entered for the first cycle. When stealing both ships must have the same product in their holds, thus the ports must both be buying that product. The following are the upper case advanced command. /0B This can be entered to change the Busted status of a sector or to set all sectors to a not busted status. The busted status is cleared when the games running time reaches multiples of 14 days and you play that day. /0S Used to mark or unmark a sector as Safe for the /e, /g and /z commands to move into regardless of the density, navhaz or annomaly. /A Used to attack ships or fighters. Full fighter strength will be used on the first ship found. Pressing Function Key 10 is the same as entering /A. When capturing a ship, entering a number greater than 0 after the /, for example, /10A or /20A, the offensive odds of your ship and the opposing ship plus its shields (when known) will be taken in account to determine an exact strength of the ship being attacked. That strength, reduced by the percentage value you enter, is the number of fighters that will be used. Pressing Function Key 11 is the same as entering /20A (attacking with 20% less than equal strength for example - the actual reduction percentage is set by RTO 29). Page 4 Function key 12 (or the Pursue button in the GUI screen) is used to pursue a ship that has not been destroyed or captured. It density scans and move into a sector with a density of 40, 41, 45, 46, 140, 141, 145 or 146. Otherwise, or if two or more sectors indicate a ship is present, the pursuit is halted and you take over (most likely holoscanning, moving into the appropiate sector, reissuing the attack or capture command and reissuing the pursue if appropiate). A sector will also not be entered if its density, navhaz or annomily would have prevented the /g command from entering or it's a Fed Space sector. Press SPACE BAR to halt the pursuit. Thus after an attack or capture attempt, press/click the pursue key/button if you want to go after the opponent. TWH will then continue the attack or capture and pursue sequence until successfull or the pursuit is halted as discussed. RTO 32 can also be set so TWH will deploy fighter(s) before pursuing the ship. /B This command is used to initiate the automatic Buying of product for a planet and/or selling of product from a planet. Enter a sector number after the /, for example /23B, to specify the sector containing the port to use. You must be on the planet with sufficient credits (if buying) and/or product in your holds (if selling) before entering the command. The cycle repeats itself until you press the SPACE BAR key when prompted or the number of cycles set by an RTO has been reached. See /P command for using the planet's TransPorter and/or the ship's TransWarp Drive. Fuel Ore can not be sold when using the TransWarp Drive. /C This command is used to initiate the automatic Colonizing cycle. You must be on the planet you wish to populate. The colonists are retrieved from Terra and distributed in the production area prompted for. This sequence repeats itself until you press the SPACE BAR key when prompted or the number of cycles specified by a Run Time Option has been reached. Another RTO is used to specify the location of Terra. This command is available to registered users only. Entering a sector number after the /, for example /23C or /1C, initiates TransPort and/or TransWarp colonizing. Again you must start on the planet to be populated and with sufficient Fuel Ore. The TransPort or TransWarp drive will be engaged for the sector specified and any Fuel Ore used will be replenished if available at a port in the sector. The Autopilot then will be used to move to Terra while the TransWarp drive will be engaged to return to the originating planet. A fighter (or Fed beacon if commissioned) must be in the sector specified and in the originating sector. Fuel Ore will be replenished on the planet if it is not available at the sector. /D Saves the database to the disk file and then shells to DOS. A mimimum of 60,000 bytes of memory must be available. Page 5 /E Launches an Ether Probe to a sector chosen randomly from those unexplored sectors that have no known warp path to them. /1E launches an E-probe to a sector chosen randomly from those explored sectors considered to be isolated and not already visited during the current session. /2E chooses a sector so the E-probe passes thru the most sectors not already visited during the current session. Note that unexplored sectors may cause TW to select a significantly different path. /3E launches E-probes to isolated sectors sequentially keeping track of the last sector probed so it will pick up at the same point later. /3,1000E causes the /3E routine to start at sector 1000. /4E sends to E=probes to the nearest unexplored sector. /6E and /7E are both used following the /U command (Universe Mapping Feature). They chooses a sector so the E-probe passes thru the most unexplored sectors. The /k command must be used following /7E although it operates much faster overall. All E-probe commands will continue to launch probes until there are none remaining, a probe is destroyed, or you press SPACE BAR when prompted. Enter /0E to mark a sector as inaccessible for the /E commands. Some orphan sectors have no other sectors warping to them and thus can never be accessed. /F Deploys Fighters based on RTO #17. /G Displays a Graphical view of the current sector and the adjacent sectors to any level. The mouse or keyboard can be used to select several options shown in the boxes on the screen. The capitalized letter is the hot key for keyboard entry. The items with + and - signs can be increased/decreased by clicking on the left or right portion of the box or entering the letter in upper case or lower case. You can also click on a sector in the map to display its adjacent sectors. A sector other than the current sector is specified following the /, for example /23G. Enter /330,23G to view the graphical path from 330 to 23. After using commands that list the five closest sectors (/x, /p, /f, etc.) you can enter /G and then click on the +Sector- box to graphically view the sectors. Isolated sectors are shown as double circles. Major Space Lanes are shown as a thick blue line. The number of days since last robbed are in green above the port type. Also see page 10. This command is for registered users only. /H This command is used to initiate the automatic Heisting of product for a planet. Enter a sector number after the /, for example /23H, to specify the sector containing the port to use. Be on the planet to receive the product. The cycle repeats itself until you press the SPACE BAR key when prompted or the number of cycles set by an RTO has been reached. See /P command for using TransPort or TransWarp drive. This command is for registered users only. /I Shows a report of deeply Isolated sectors (tunnels to dead ends). Enter the depth factor following the /, for example /1I, /2I, /3I etc. An * indicates the sector is part of a longer tunnel. By entering /G afterward and clicking on the +Sector- box (+side) you can graphically view each tunnel. This command is available to registered users only. Page 6 /L Used to Lower population Levels to 999, 988, and 994 respectively or until the holds are filled. These are the minimum values to produce the maximum number of fighters on a planet in a version 1.03 game. /1L lowers the population level to zero by jettisoning the colonists and repeating the cycle. You must be on the planet before entering this command. /M Used to merge another traders database into your own. The data merged is the port type, warp to sectors, and if being saved, the product percentage and quantities. Merged sectors are shown in brown. Enter /0M to remove the merged data. This command is available to registered users only and is not in the Real Mode version to saved memory. /N Used to search for sectors that match specific notation characters entered with the /n command. /O Shows a report of one way sectors. By entering /G afterward and clicking on the +Sector- box (+side) you can graphically view each sector. This command is available to registered users only. /P This command is used to initiate the automatic Purchase of fighters or shields from the nearest class 0 or 9 port. You must be on the planet to receive the fighters or shields with ample credits on the ship. The process repeats itself until you press the SPACE BAR key when prompted or the number of cycles specified by a Run Time Option has been reached. Entering a number after the /, for example /23P, initiates TransPort and/or TransWarp purchasing. Again you must start on the planet with sufficient Fuel Ore. The TransPort or TransWarp drive will be engaged for the sector specified, and if not already there, the Autopilot then will be used to move to the nearest class 0 or 9 port. The sector specified must have one of your fighter (or Fed beacon if commissioned) in it and in the originating sector. Fuel Ore will be replenished on the planet. Available to registered users only. /Q Used to Quash mines by launching a mine disruptor into a specified sector. The sector number is specified following the /, for example /23Q. The process repeats until you press SPACE BAR when prompted, all the mines are destroyed, or all disruptors are exhausted. /R Used to initiate the automatic Rob credits cycle. The rob factor RTO is multiplied by the experience points to determine the credits to rob. Entering the TW I command first will insure TWH is using the most recent experience points. In version 1.03 the cycle repeats until busted or you press the SPACE BAR key when prompted. When using this command, TWH keeps track of the last time you robbed the port, were busted at the port and when the port is drained of credits. Entering a sector number following the / initiates automatic robbing between the sector specified and the current sector using the TransWarp Drive if appropriate. Refer to the /s command for discussion on using the Transporter. This command is available to registered users only. Tip: use RTO 1 to set a low maximum percentage and then the /X or /p commands to locate sectors with ports that have sold most of their product. Page 7 /S Used to initiate the automatic sell/steal and rob cycle. This very useful command for evil players will first move to the sector number specified following the / where it will sell/steal if the port is buying equipment or rob if the port is selling equipment. It then moves back to the current sector and sell/steals or robs. Normally one port is buying equipment and the other is selling equipment but they could both be buying or selling. GUI tip: Click on the Pairs button, then E, then +Sectors- (+ side) to see if you've robbed from those pairs recently. If so, click on /& and +Sectors- to check on the next three, etc. /U Used to initiate the Universe Mapping feature. This feature is fully discussed in the DOCMAPER.TXT file. /V Creates the TWVIEW and/or TWASSIST data file(s). The directory path(s) must be specified with the configuration options. /1V creates only the TWVIEW .FTR file and/or the non CIM portion of the TWASSIST file. /2V creates only the TWVIEW .SCT file and/or the CIM sector portion of the TWASSIST file. /3V creates only the TWVIEW .PRT file and/or the CIM port portion for TWASSIST. This command is not in the Real Mode version to save memory nor does it appear in the menu. /W Used to fire a photon missile into an adjacent sector, optionally transport to another ship and then follow the missile into the sector. Specify the sector number after the slash, for example, /23W fires a Photon Missile into sector 23 then moves to sector 23. To transport to another ship after firing enter ,shipnumber after the sector. For example /23,6W fires a missile into sector 23, transports to ship number 6 and then move to sector 23 with the new ship. Be sure to NOT have a password set for the beam to ship! Also if using the GUI, click on the Info button to have the readouts updated for the new ship at your first opportunity! /X Used to display the five closest specialized trading pairs which includes nonadjacent cross trading pairs, transwarp trading pairs, triple trading pairs and other combinations. Enter /& to display the next five closest specialized trading pairs. Be sure to enter a number (usually 1) in front of subcommand for Transwarp trading pairs (i.e. 1w or 1f) to specifyed the number of intervening sectors. This command is available to registered users only. Page 8 RUN TIME OPTIONS (RTOs) (/o command) 1. The minimum and maximum product percentages at ports displayed with the /X, /x and optionally the /p command. Use the /r command first to bring the product percentages up to date. For example, setting the minimum to 80% will cause the /x command to finds only ports with 80% or better product availability. 2. The turn at which the /B, /C, /H, /P, /R, /S, /T, /h, /s and /t commands will halt their process. 3. The cycle at which the /B, /C, /H, /P, /R, /S, /T, /h, /s and /t commands will halt their process. 4. Used to turn on/off the inclusion of the Hops in the Deployed Fighter Scan. 5. Used to turn off/on the haggling over the price during trading. 6. Specifies when a fighter is deployed for the /g amd /e commands. Also see RTO 17. 7. Used to turn on/off trading or stealing along the way when using the /g or /e commands. 8. The value at which the /g and /z commands will stop when the next sectors density is at or above this threshold. 9. The value at which the /g and /z commands will stop when the next sectors NavHaz is at or above this threshold. 10. Used to turn on/off the deploying/trading/scanning when using the /e command. The previous four RTOs also apply to the /e command when on. The AUTO EXPLORING capability is discussed later in this document. Also refer to the /g command. TURN THIS ON WHEN YOU REGISTER! 11. Used to turn on/off the stopping of a ship equipped with a Holographic Scanner at the sector immediately preceding the unexplored sector when the /e command is used and the unexplored sector is not adjacent. Ususally left on. 12. Used to turn on/off the holographic scanning of unexplored sectors not in the destination path when using the /g command. 13. Used to turn on/off the porting and trading at all ports even when the port is not buying the product currently in the holds in order to gain the additional experience points from neglected ports. 14. The rob factor which is multiplied by the experience points to determine the credits to rob when using the /R command. Also used to set the percentage of the onhand amount to rob (normally set to 110% for version 1.03 games and around 90% for version 2 games). Also used to set the minimum rob amount. Page 9 15. The threshold at which the /g and /e commands will auto rob a port selling equipment when the percentage is at or below this value. Also used to set the number of days the drained status is retained and to indicate if a port is to be robbed after buying equipment. Based on these values, ports that are candidates for robbing will be announced. 16. The number of attack fighters to be automatically used when enemy fighters are encountered while using the /g or /e commands. The attack is made only if there are fewer enemy fighters. 17. The number of fighters to deploy or redeploy, their type and their mode when using the /F, /g or /e commands. 18. TWHELP issues some TW commands to keep itself oriented. The TW G, V and I commands are issued at startup while the TW I command also is issued after leaving the Stardock or Transporting. If you set this options so TWH does not issue some or all of these commands then you MUST do so yourself at an opportune time so TWH operates correctly! The TW I command is always issued at startup. Generally this option is only used in the Major BBS game and should be set to 0 in all others. 19. The sector number where Terra is located for the /C command. Also used to specify the sector number for which Enter need not be sent. For example, in some versions of the MBBS game of 2000 sectors Enter is not sent for sector numbers of 200 and above while in other version its 300 and above. This number is usually the number of sectors divide by 10 or that number plus 100. Leave this at zero so it defaults to the proper value unless it appears TWH is not handling the condition correctly. 20. Used to turn off/on the determination of Major Space Lanes when approriate. This determination is normally done, but in some non standard games where there are more than three class 0 ports or one class 9 port, determining the MSLs may cause problems. 21. Used to set the percentage of the SPACE BAR delay time to actually wait for the user to press the Space Bar. 22. For users that have been given the key to deactivate the universal announcemnt (see USINGTWH.TXT file), this option can be used to send the announcement to the BBS anyway. 23. Used to set the number and frequency of Armid Mines to deploy when using the /g or /e commands. Mines are not deployed in FedSpace or Major Space Lanes. 24. Used to set the number and frequency of Limpet Mines to deploy when using the /g or /e commands. Mines are not deployed in FedSpace or Major Space Lanes. 25. Used to have TWHELP issue the TW commands to locate Armid and Limpet mines at startup time. If mines are deployed and this option is not set on, the information displayed in the graphics map may be incorrect! You can issue the TW commands yourself and TWH will collect the information. Page 10 26. Used to specify the number of pages for the /b command text. Each page is 20 lines and requires 1600 bytes of memory. 27. Used to turn off the automatic quiting of TWHELP when the 'returning to' text is seen. Normally set to 'DO". 28. Used mainly in the MBBS version to specify the action TWHELP is to take when anyone (Trader, Ferrengi or Alien) moves or transwarps into the current sector. One of these action is to sound the alarm and end the current script upon which you can then press function key 9 to quickly move out of the sector to an adjacent sector (no scanning is done). Another is to sound the alarm, end script and have TWHELP move you out of the sector. Also refer to the /A command for other related function key actions. 29. Used to specify the reduction percentage for the Capture function key (F12) and the Capture button in the GUI (see /A command). 30. Used to specify an encryption seed value so as to scramble messages sent on the subspace radio channel or Fed CommLink when using using the GUI Chat capability to send a message. Also used to specify the character you must enter at the beginning of each message to cause it to be encrypted. And finally, an option to encrypt all subspace radio channel messages without having to enter the leading encryption character. 31. Used to specify whether or not TWHELP is to abort Transwarping attempts when no fighter is present in the destination sector. When using the GUI Move and Transwarp buttons, transwarping is aborted if no fighter is present reguardless of this RTO's setting. 32. Used to specify whether or not TWHELP is to deploy fighters based on RTO 17 when pursuing a ship (see /A command). 33. Used to specify whether or not TWHELP is to respond No to the 'Mined sector:' message issued by TW. 34. Used to specify the seconds per channel of each subspace radio channel to automatically scan. Also used to specify and the first and last channels to scan so different members of a corporation can scan a different range of channels (changing the first channel resets the current channel being scanned). Function key F8 is used to toggle the actual scanning of the subspace channels and will remember and return to the previous channel. It can be toggled at the SPACE BAR message or at the "Warping to sector ..." message issued by TW. Channel changing only occurs if there is some activity that causes the TW command prompt line to be displayed. Page 11 Toggles means to change from off to on or on to off. FUNCTION KEYS F1 Display the function key menu. F2 Switch to GUI mode or toggle Map/Chat mode if alread in GUI. F3 Enter message for Subspace Radio Channel (GUI mode only). F4 Enter message for Fed CommLink (GUI mode only). F5 Enter message for paging. (GUI mode only) F6 Toggle TW Ansi color. F7 Toggle helper active mode. F8 Toggle channel scanning (see RTO 34). F9 Move out of sector fast (see RTO 28). F10 Attack ship or fighters (see /A command). F11 Capture ship (see /A command and RTO 29). F12 Pursue ship (see /A command). ALT-FUNCTION KEYS Alt-F1 Display the Alt-Fcn key menu. Alt-F2 Slow down GUI CRT display. Alt-F3 Speed up GUI CRT display. Alt-F4 Toggle GUI CRT display speed. Alt-F5 Save scrollback buffer to SCROLL.TXT file on disk. Alt-F6 Restore scrollback buffer from SCROLL.TXT file on disk. Alt-F7 Close then reopen comm port (clears some hangups). Alt-F8 Save data file to disk. AUTO EXPLORING When RTO 10 is set on, you can use the /e command to explore the universe safe in the knowledge that unexplored sectors will not be entered when their density is at or above the threshold level set in RTO 8. Also when RTO 10 is on, entering /2e initiates the automatic exploration of the TW universe! Exploration continues from one unexplored sector to another until you press the SPACE BAR when prompted or a situation requiring your attention arises. Reenter /2e to restart the process. Bugle calls are NOT sounded when attention is required. RTO 2 can be set to stop the exploration at a turn number. A ship equiped with a Holographic Scanner will holoscan when two or more unexplored sectors are adjacent. Entering /1e, /3e, /4e etc. is like entering /2e except holoscanning is done when one, three, four, etc. or more unexplored sectors are adjacent. Thus entering /7e will autoexplore without any holoscanning. Page 12 /a COMMAND The /a command shows adjacent sectors to three levels. It is generally used by unregistered users while the /G command or GUI mode is used by registered users. The /a command is not in the Real Mode version to save memory. The first level is the sectors adjacent to the current sector. These are displayed across the top row. The second level is the sectors adjacent to the top row of sectors. These are displayed in the columns below the top row of sectors. The third level is the sectors adjacent to the column sectors. These are displayed in the rows to the right of the column sectors. COLOR CODING The color coding for the /a command and the graphic map, and the status abbreviations are as follows: Red - An unexplored sector (une) or a port where you've been busted. Brown - A sector with info merged from another trader. Magenta - An explored empty sector (emt). Yellow - A sector with ports (BBS, SBS, etc). Green - A sector with a class 0 port (000). Blue - A sector with a class 9 port (999). Gray - A sector marked as avoided. Cyan - The notation characters. A sector with a status of 'pre' was previously displayed. Enter the /a command a second time to display the data for those sectors not shown because of the limited screen width. Green number is days since last robbed. ftr indicates fighters in the sector. (Also f with green number). am indicates your Armid Mine(s) in the sector. lm indicates your Limpet Mine(s) in the sector. a l indicates both Armid and Limpet mines in the sector. Page 13 GENERAL POINTS Trade Wars Helper waits for selected text sequences before proceeding. Line noise or unforeseen circumstances may get TW Helper out of sequence with Trade Wars itself and thus cause indefinite waits. If it appears the program is not responding, press the ESC key several times or the ESC and ENTER keys until some request is displayed. An attempt is made to keep track of the last product purchased. This info is displayed with the current sector information in the lower right corner. Under certain conditions this information will not be accurate (i.e. when you start but don't consummate a trade.) The TW I command can be issued to correct this information. This anomaly doesn't occur when using the /t command. Repetitive process are generally terminated by pressing the SPACE BAR key when prompted. You can also press the SPACE BAR key prior to the message which will halt the process at the next "Command" prompt from Trade Wars. After using an E-probe or Holographic Scanner TW Helper will issue commands to gather warp to and port information. If you interrupt this process by pressing the SPACE BAR key the next probe or scan will process the missed sectors. Otherwise you should do the /k or /K command soon afterward so TWHelper is up-to-date. Interrupting is generally only done in the interactive Major BBS game. There is no message displayed to remind you of this interrupt capability. When you issue the TW X command to transport, TWH will automatically issue the TW I command afterward so it is up-to-date on the current sector and ship you are using. TW Helper learns of avoided sectors from the opening 'Hazardous Sector' display and when you issue the TW Computers X command. If you add to or clear the avoided sectors, do the TW Computers X command afterward to bring TW Helper up-to-date. TW Helper learns which sectors contain fighters from the TW G command or when you use the /F command or when it automatically deploys fighters. If you use the TW F command to deploy fighters then do the TW G command afterward to bring TW Helper up-to-date. TW Helper learns which sectors contain mines from the TW K command or when it automatically deploys mines. If you use the TW H command to deploy mines then do the TW K command afterward to bring TW Helper up-to-date. To abort the TW K you will need to hit the ESC key first. This will however leave TWH with incomplete information on your mines! If you spend the night in a citadel, leave the citadel and planet so TW Helper can issue the commands to gather its initializing information before entering planet oriented commands like /h, /B, /C, /H, and /P. When using the TransWarp Drive for auto trading or colonizing, you normally start with enough Fuel Ore to complete a round trip. If you interrupt the process by pressing the SPACE BAR key (when prompted), you can restart the command without replenishing the Fuel Ore. Page 14 To initiate Triple Trading have two products in your holds to start with and be at the right combination of ports. For example be at a SSB port with Fuel Ore and Organics and /t to a BBS port to involve all three product at each port to gain more experience points. A Psychic Probe is recommended. If you have purchased a Psychic Probe, the program will optimize the experience points realized during the auto trading and auto sell/steal cycles. After the first full cycle you will generally get 2 points trading and 2 or 5 points stealing. Use the Page Up key to view Trade Wars text that has been scrolled off the top of the screen. The Page Down, Up Arrow, Down Arrow, Home and End keys can also be used to view text in the scroll back buffer. Keys {Alt-F5} and {Alt-F6} can be used to Save and Restore the current contents of the scroll back buffer. Function key 7 toggles the helper active mode. This allows the program to be used as a communications program only. Thus when the helper mode is inactive, the / is sent to the BBS, entering q will quit TW but not TWH and text sent by the BBS is not examined by TWH. The other function keys and scroll back buffer keys still functions the same but everything else in TWH is disabled until the F7 key is pressed again. Function key {Alt-F8} saves the data file to disk. If you have an occasional need to create a script to handle a special situation not coverered by Trade Wars Helper, simply enter /q to quit TWHELP and use you communications programs script capability to build/run a script. Telemate has a very good script capability. When done, simply again shell to DOS and restart TWH. You will not need to quit and restart the TW game. For the Standard and Real Mode version, the Graphic Map will only show a single oneway incoming warp due to limited memory. The Protected Mode will show as many as three. The /w command can be used to determine any additional oneway incoming warps for a sector in the Standard and Real Mode versions. Page 15 ÿ