Trade Wars Helper 
                           Documentation for the 
                         Universe Mapping Feature  
                              of Release 7.0 

                              Copyright 1993 
                             Just FUN Software 
                            All Rights Reserved 


  An additional program module has been included in the ZIP file named
  TWHMAPER.EXE.  This module utilized the course plotter on the Crai
  computer and a method know as Level Diagramming to assist in creating a
  map of the TW universe without having to explore each sector. 

  This is an extra charge feature requiring a special registration key to
  activate.  It can not be activated by itself without the standard
  program being registered.  Registered users need only send in the
  REGMAPER.TXT form while unregistered users need to send in both the
  REGISTER.TXT and the REGMAPER.TXT forms to activate it.  As there are no
  provisions for trying this module before registering, read the following
  carefully to be sure you want to register it.  There can be no refunds
  once the key has been given out. 

  The universe mapping feature serves two purposes.  First is to locate
  the Stardock in those games where it is not announced on the game status
  display.  Second is to find as many "edges" as possible so Ether probes
  can be sent to pass thru the maximum number of unexplored sectors.  An
  edge is simply the link between a sector and one of sector it warps to. 

  To use the universe mapping feature in a new game, you would generally
  enter the /U command while still in sector one.  The program would then
  run thru it's phases and, when done, produce a list of sectors with the
  highest number of potential one-way warps.  The Stardock and the other
  two class 0 ports are generally in sectors with several outgoing one-way
  warps.  You would then move to these sectors to see if any of them are
  the Stardock. 

  If the Stardock was not located in the first pass, or you want to find
  more edges before sending off E-probes (two to three passes are
  recommended), enter the /U command again but with a "root" sector
  following the /, for example, /23U.  If known, use the Stardock's sector
  as the root sector.  Otherwise use a sector with several warps (one or
  two-way) that is also some distance from sector one.  Those listed after
  the first pass would be good candidates. 

  Once you've located the Stardock and have found sufficient edges, use
  your turns to generate credits to buy E-probes.  Then go to the
  stardock, buy the probes, and enter the /6E command to launch E-probes.
  The destination sector will be chosen so the probe will move through as
  many unexplored sectors as possible.  The more edges found, the more
  effective the /6E command will be.  If the number of new sectors TWH
  expects to explore frequently differs from the number actually found,
  then another pass using a different root sector would be advisable.  The
  Stardock should always be used as a root sector before sending off
  probes. 

  Also available is the /7E command which works much like the /6E command
  only faster and the TW Computer's I and R commands are not issued after
  each probe.  If you use the /7E commands, you MUST issue the /k command
  when done probing to update the database with the warp to and port
  information for the newly probed sectors.  You can launch hundreds of
  probes and then issue the /k afterward. 

  After using the universe mapping module, the many unexplored sectors
  will appear on the graphics map in the color red.  Depending on the
  number of edges found, many will also appears to be isolated sectors.
  This can be deceiving since they have not yet been explored and it is
  quite possible they warp to more than just one sector.  Note also the
  mapping feature will automatically mark orphan sector as inaccessible
  to the E-probe routines. 

  The universe mapping module will take roughly 15-25 minutes per pass
  depending on the speed of the BBS computer.  You can interrupt the
  process at anytime by pressing the SPACE BAR key or if it hangs up for
  some reason, the ESC key.  Just enter /U (without the root sector) to
  resume at the point where interrupted.  If you know where the Stardock
  is located, doing a single pass using the Stardock as the root sectors
  is fairly effective. 

  The probing phase will take at least as many probes as there are
  isolated sectors to map the entire universe.  A rough estimate is 350 to
  400 probes to fully map a 1000 sector universe although over 50% of the
  universe will be mapped with the first 100 probes.