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- =============================================================================
- DOOM Front End v2.00
- =============================================================================
-
- ______
- NOTICE
- ------
-
- To those of you with a previous version of this program, or any other programs
- that I have released, you will find that my EMAIL address has changed.
-
- My previous address was: joshjackson@delphi.com
-
- My new address is: jsoftware@delphi.com
-
- ----------------
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- ----------------
-
- Thanks Id for such a KICK ASS game!! DOOM is a registered trademark of Id
- Software.
- Hank Leukart for the "OFFICIAL" DOOM FAQ.
- Matt Fell for the Unofficial DOOM Specs v1.3
-
- --------
- CONTENTS
- --------
-
- =SECTION ONE= Introduction
- [1-1] What is DFE?
- [1-2] Distribution of DFE
- [1-3] Obtaining the Source
- [1-4] Disclaimer
-
- =SECTION TWO= Using DFE
- [2-1] Single Player Games
- [2-2] Serial Link Games
- [2-3] IPX Network Games
- [2-4] Modem Link Games
- [2-5] Sprite Viewer
- [2-6] Map Viewer
- *[2-7]*Configuring DFE (New to v2.00)
- *[2-8]*Using IPXFER (New to v2.00)
-
- =SECTION THREE= Misc Info
- [3-1] Known Bugs
- [3-2] Trouble Shooting
- [3-3] Version History
- [3-4] Setting up an IPX Network for DOOM
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- SECTION *1*: Introduction
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- [1-1]: What is DFE?
-
- DFE is a Front End for that wondrous program DOOM! For those of you that
- are not familiar with the term "front end", well, it is simply a way of
- configuring DOOM without all of the hassles of trying to remember the which
- of the bazillion command line parameters you can pass to DOOM and the
- SERSETUP/IPXSETUP programs you need to use. DFE gives you an easy to use,
- text based user interface for selecting things like: Starting Episode,
- Starting Map, Skill Level, Number of players, etc.
-
- [1-2]: Distribution of DFE
-
- PLEASE distribute this utility to anyone and everyone that can make use of
- it. There is no registration fee or any other such BS. The only thing
- that I do request is that you include this document, in its entirety along
- with the program. The following files are needed for DFE:
-
- DFE.EXE (The Front End executable file)
- DFE.OVL (The Front End overlay file)
- DFEVIDEO.DRV (The 256 color Video Driver for DFE)
- THING.DEF (Things Definition file for the Map Viewer)
- DFE.TXT (This document)
- UNIVBE.EXE (Universal VESA driver in case your card isn't
- VESA compatible)
-
- [1-3]: Obtaining the source for DFE
-
- If you would like a copy of the source to this program, I will gladly mail
- you a copy. It was written in Turbo Vision for Borland Pascal v7.
-
- Mail your request to the following:
-
- Jackson Software
- 10506 Bayard Rd.
- Minerva, OH 44657
-
- Please include $5.95 for shipping of just the source diskette, or $15.95
- for the diskette and a printed copy (at this point it is a good 100 pages
- or so).
-
- [1-4]: Disclaimer
-
- This program come with with no warranty, expressed or implied. Anyone
- who uses this program, uses it at their own risk (what risks these are,
- one can only guess).
-
- The Author excepts NO responsibility for anyone who should become
- clinically insane, or otherwise incapacitatied for any reason during
- the use of this program. Nor shall the Author be held responsible for
- anyone out there that obtains the source, and thinking they are a brain,
- should modify it and cause damage to themself or their computer.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- SECTION *2*: Using DFE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- [2-1] Single Player Games
-
- After Loading DFE (this should not be too difficult!) you will receive a
- menu giving you selections for Single Player, Serial Link, IPX Network, and
- Modem Link. To play a single player game, select modem link (just kidding)
-
- After selecting your game type, you will be prompted for the episode name
- or an External Wad file. If you choose a predefined Episode (1-3), you
- will then be given a list of your game options. This area will differ
- depending on the game type and episode selected. For a single player game,
- you will be given the option to select your level, skill, no monsters, and
- respawn.
-
- The option of No Monsters is exactly what it sounds like, NO MONSTERS. In
- a single player game, the only use I can think of for this is when you
- just feel like poking around, trying to find secrets and the like.
-
- Respawn is a rather nasty option. If selected, anything you kill will
- return to life 8 seconds later.
-
- After you have made your selection, press the OK button or Enter if you
- haven't already selected the cancel button.
-
- The option of loading and External WAD file is not a whole lot more
- difficult than the above. From you Episode selection box, simply select
- External WAD File. You will then be given a file list dialog box. Select
- the appropriate WAD file. DFE will then open the selected WAD file to
- ensure that is both valid and contains a level to play. If both of
- these criteria are met, it will then load the level names out of the WAD
- file. At this point in time, you can only have up to 9 levels in a patch
- wad file and access it from DFE.
-
- [2-2] Serial Link Games
-
- If you have not read 2-1 yet, please do so, as I only explain the
- difference between a the two here.
-
- In a Serial Link game the only real differences from a single player
- game is the selection of your COM port and whether or not you want to play
- a DEATHMATCH.
-
- Before DFE will spawn DOOM, it will attempt to locate the DOS external
- command MODE.COM. It uses this utility to set the Baud rate and parity
- of your selected COM port. If it can not locate MODE, it will simply
- display a message box, pause briefly, and then continue with execution
- of SERSETUP.EXE.
-
- [2-3] IPX Network Games
-
- If you have not read 2-1 yet, please do so, as I only explain the
- difference between a the two here.
-
- In an IPX Network game the only real differences from a single player
- game is the selection of the number of players and whether or not you
- want to play a DEATHMATCH.
-
- Please do note that an IPX driver must be loaded before DFE will even
- enable the IPX Network menu selection. It is NOT necessary to be connected
- to a Local Area Network (LAN), nor does there need to be any form of
- server present for IPX Network DOOM to work. Simply installing LAN cards
- in more than one machine, linking them with cable and loading the IPXODI
- packet drivers is all that is necessary. (See section 3-4 for information
- on setting up your own DOOM network!)
-
- [2-4] Modem Link Games
-
- If you have not read 2-1 yet, please do so, as I only explain the
- difference between a the two here.
-
- In a Modem Link game the only real differences from a single player
- game is the selection of your COM port,whether or not you want to play a
- DEATHMATCH, and the type of modem connection you will be making.
-
- The possible modem connections are: Dial and connect, Wait for call, and
- Already connected. If you specify Dial and connect, you must fill in the
- Number to Dial field.
-
- Before DFE will spawn DOOM, it will attempt to locate the DOS external
- command MODE.COM. It uses this utility to set the Baud rate and parity
- of your selected COM port. If it can not locate MODE, it will simply
- display a message box, pause briefly, and then continue with execution
- of SERSETUP.EXE.
-
- [2-5] Sprite Viewer
-
- This function has been dropped from the main menu and has been incorporated
- into the Map View.
-
- [2-6] Map Viewer
-
- This Function allows you to view the DOOM maps before you play the game.
- It will display monsters, weapons, and "goodies". The goodies include
- keys, ammo, health kits/bonuses, armor, soul spheres (supercharge),
- invisibility sphere, light goggles, radiations suits, berserk, and computer
- area maps.
-
- If you select this option from the main menu, you will then be prompted
- for the desired episode. You can also specify an external WAD file, this
- is real handy when downloading DEATHMATCH WAD files from various BBSs, etc.
-
- After selecting the episode or WAD file of your choice, you will be
- given a list of viewer options. First of these options is the level that
- you wish to view. Next, whether or not you want it to display the
- monsters, weapons, or goodies, the skill level you want to view (Viewing a
- skill level will show you just what you are going up against.), and finally
- whether or not you want to view it as a MultiPlayer game (some items will
- only appear in a multiplayer game).
-
- Once you are viewing the map, the following keys will have effect on the
- map:
-
- M (Toggle monsters on/off)
- G (Toggle goodies on/off)
- W (Toggle weapons on/off)
- P (Toggle Multiplayer on/off)
- 1-5 (Select skill level 1-5)
- S (Toggle secrets on/off)
- + (Zoom in on map)
- - (Zoom out)
- Home (Return view to original)
- Arrows (Move map around on the screen, handy for zooming)
-
- You will also notice the status display in the upper left hand corner.
- This display shows the current status of the display toggles, as well
- as the color of each. Using the mouse to select any one of these options
- is allowed and works the same as pressing the keys to do so.
-
- The color scheme used by ViewMap is as follows:
-
- Blue Walls
- Lt. Blue Doors
- White Secrets
- Red Monsters
- Yellow Weapons
- Green Goodies
-
- Note for DOOM TechHeads: The Secrets the will show up in white are
- LineDef based and will not show a Sector that is marked a secret. I
- have noticed that some secrets do not have a LineDef defined as a secret,
- but only the Sector that they border. (However the majority of DOOM's
- secrets have at least one LineDef defined as a secret.)
-
- New to DFE 1.3 is the ability to view sprites from the Map Viewer. To
- view any sprite that is drawn on the map, simply select to wil the mouse
- and press the LEFT mouse button. You will be given a Sprite Viewer window
- in the lower right corner of the screen. To clear the sprite viewer,
- simply select any option that redraws the Map. (Changing Skill Level, Scale
- factor, X and Y Offsets, Mosters, Goodies, Etc.)
-
- *[2-7]* Configuring DFE (New to DFE 2.00)
-
- If version 2.00 I have included the ability to save a default configuration
- for each of the game types. To setup your game configurations, select
- "Configurations" from the games menu.
-
- The first configuration option you will want to setup is your PWADS list.
- This list contains upto 5 PWADs that can be automatically loaded with
- your game. This will allow you to specify PWADs that contain sounds/
- graphics replacement and do not include any playable levels. (Previous
- versions of DFE only allowed for the loading of one PWAD and only if
- it contained a playable level.) Do note that the PWADS list must contain
- names of PWADS that are in your DOOM directory (No path names can be
- specified).
-
- Once you have selected your favorite PWADS, you are ready to setup the
- rest of DFE. To begin with, I will explain setting up a one player game
- and then explain the differences between a one player and the other
- multi-player options.
-
- First select One Player from the configurations sub menu. You will be
- given a list of the 5 PWADs, your default skill level, and whether or not
- you wish to have NOMONSTERS or RESPAWN active by default. By selecting
- any of the PWADs, they will automaticall be loaded when you start your
- game. Do note that the PWADs that your have selected from the list will
- one be active in the game type specified. To specify any of these PWADs
- for other game type, you must configure them individually. Once you
- have selected your desired game options, click the OK button. Your default
- game options have now been saved.
-
- For serial link games, the additional options in your configurations will
- be the selection of your default COM port and whether or not you wish
- to play in DEATHMATCH mode.
-
- For IPX network, additional options are the number of player, DEATHMATCH,
- and the default IPX socket to use. NOTE- the IPX socket number is in
- DECIMAL format. You should be careful when specifying a socket when
- you are attached to a Novell Network or other server based LAN. Socket
- numbers below 16386 should not be used.
-
- For modem games, you will be given the option of selecting you default
- COM port, DEATHMATCH, and the default phone number to dial.
-
- *[2-8] Using IPXFER (New to v2.00)
-
- In v2.00 I have also built in my IPXFER utilities. This is a powerful
- set of IPX file transfer programs that allow you to send and receive
- files over an IPX network VERY rapidly.
-
- >>WARNING<< These utilities are VERY sensitive!! If you are having
- trouble getting your IPX network to function properly in the first place,
- IPXFER more than likely will not work. Unlike the stand alone versions,
- the send and receive functions in DFE can not be terminated by a CTRL-BREAK.
- During most of the IPXFER processing, you can press ESC to abort the file
- transfer, but during some the processor time is devoted almost completely
- to your IPX driver. If you experience a "LOCKUP" while attempting to
- establish a connection between the two computer, it may be necessary to
- reboot. If this happens, you can switch over to my stand alone versions.
- (IPXFER11.ZIP contains sendnet.exe, recnet.exe, and closes.exe)
- If you are still having difficulties getting your IPX network to run, get
- yourself a copy of my IPXNET12.FAQ or contact me.
-
- IPXFER is designed to send files to one computer at a time. When using
- this function, DO NOT begin multiple receives. This will cause a packet
- sequence crash.
-
- Sending files: Select Send Files from the IPXFER menu. You will then
- be given a change directory dialog box. Change to the directory that
- contains the files that you wish to transfer. After clicking the OK
- button, you will be prompted for the file specification. The default
- file spec is *.WAD. (Even though this program gives you a VERY high
- CPS, it is a good idea to avoid sending the 10Mb DOOM.WAD file.)
- Once you have entered the file specifications to send, your computer
- will begin an attempt to establish a connection with the receiver.
-
- Receiving files: Select Receive Files from the IPXFER menu. You will
- then be given a change directory dialog box. Change to the directory that
- you wish for IPXFER to place the received files into. After changing
- directories, your computer will begin an attempt to establish a connection
- with the sender.
-
- =SECTION THREE= Misc Info
-
- [3-1] Known Bugs
-
- At this point I have not found any major bugs in the program. (AMAZING!!)
- If you do run into any errors or glitches, please let me know by EMail
- or snail mail (to the address seen later on in this document). I have
- spent many hours developing this program and don't want anyone considering
- it a pain to use because of some nasty little bug.
-
-
- [3-2] Trouble Shooting
-
- The following is a list of problems that you may encounter while running
- DFE.
-
- Q) Why am I running out of memory when running DOOM? I used to have
- plenty.
- A) There are a couple of things that could be going wrong. If your
- system uses and Expanded Memory, DFE will take advantage of this for
- Program Swapping. If you have less than 8Mb in your computer, I would
- recommend that you either disable your Expanded Memory while playing
- DOOM, or specify the parameter /NOEMS when running DFE.
-
- Note: DFE only requires about 1k of base memory after it has swapped
- out; I can't foresee this causing any problems! But it will use
- up to about 250k of EMS if it is available, this will reduce the
- amount of DPMI memory available to DOOM by about 256k.
-
- Personally, I have a 386dx/40 with 8Mb of RAM, I have never had a
- problem with memory, even when I am running a series of IPX network
- drivers and a 2Mb disk cache.
-
- Q) Why is the IPX Network selection disabled?
- A) You don't have an IPX driver installed!
-
- Q) Why won't the Serial Link work?
- A) Welp, there is slew of problems that you could be having. Mainly,
- you should make sure that you have the DOS command MODE.COM in either
- the current directory or the Path. (DFE uses this to ensure that your
- COM port is set correctly)
-
- Secondly, I have not had much luck with Serial Link, especially when
- linking two computers of different speeds together. After about 2-3
- minutes of play they will begin to bog down until the game becomes
- unbearably slow.
-
- Q) Why is Modem Link DOOM so slow?
- A) Make sure that you are connected at 9600 baud, N81. Also, make sure
- that any error correction or data compression is turned OFF! This
- makes a big difference in the way the game performs.
-
- Q) Why won't the Map Viewer allow me to view sprites?
- A) DFE was unable to set 640x480x256 color mode. This can be caused by
- any of the following:
- 1) An incompatible SVGA video card
- 2) Lack of an SVGA video card (DUH!)
- 3) Not enough video RAM (265k SVGA cards don't support this mode!)
- #1 can be corrected on most machines by installing the supplied UNIVBE
- driver or a vendor provided VESA driver.
-
- [3-3] Version History
-
- v1.0 Allowed you to only select the level you wanted to play from existing
- levels.
-
- v1.1 Added Map Viewer and .OVL file to save on memory. Map Viewer was in
- a separate executable file. Allowed the selection of external WAD
- files.
-
- v1.2 Removed .OVL and added memory swapping. Saves an extra 150k of memory
- Integrated the Map Viewer into DFE.
-
- v1.21 Fixed a small bug in v1.2 that would not allow you to view a map if
- the filename was 8 characters long. (Sounds weird, but thats what I
- get for using so many stinking pointers and linked lists in this
- program!)
-
- v1.3 MapView has been COMPLETELY rewritten into fully object oriented
- code, allowing for better control over the map (Internally).
- MapView also now allows you to "Click" on any sprite on the map
- and view it.
-
- v1.31 Fixes a Memory allocation problem when disposing of a Map Viewer.
-
- v1.32 Fixes a bug when loading an external WAD file, it would not present
- you with the correct list of contained level names.
-
- v1.33 Ok, Ok, I know, another bug. Hopefully, this will be the last
- release before v2.0. The problem of loading multi-player games
- when loading an external wad file (on some computers) has been fixed.
- (SHEEZE, why don't you guys ever tell me these things?!?)
-
- v2.00 Well, its here. Its not quite what I had anticipated though. It
- does not incorporate a new GUI for the map viewer (This has been
- put on hold for a while), nor does it include the mentioned MAP
- SEARCH. HOWEVER, I have rewritten a boatload of the DFE main code
- to include a configuration option and I have built my IPXFER program
- into the DFE code. The IPXFER code used is 100% compatible with
- either v1.00 or v1.10 of my seperate IPXFER (sendnet and recnet)
- utilities. The overlay file is back, this is due to the mass amount
- of memory needed by the MAP/SPRITE viewer. DFE still swaps itself
- out of memory before playing DOOM, however.
-
- Future programs:
-
- DOOM_DOS v.99 is currently being developed for those of you who are "balls
- to the walls" DOOM players. This program, which is a COMMAND.COM
- replacement, will allow you to view any part of the WAD file
- directory as a DOS style directory structure. It will also
- allow you to import new levels, sprites, sounds, and textures.
-
- It will enable you to load SERSETUP and IPXSETUP style drivers
- as DOOM_DOS device drivers. These driver, which are also under
- development, will be written in 100% 80386 assembly language to
- provide optimal efficeincy and speed.
-
- Since this program will be a COMMAND.COM replacement, it will also
- have its own AUTOEXEC.BAT style start up file. This will enable you
- to load any other programs as well (Mouse Drivers, Disk Caches, etc)
-
-
- [3-4] Setting up an IPX Network for DOOM
-
- If you have never played IPX Network DOOM, you are missing out BIG TIME!
- Imagine playing up to 4 player DOOM with very little or NO slowdown in
- game performance. Unlike Serial Link or Modem Link DOOM which can very
- seriously slow down the game if one of the two players (and ONLY two
- players) is running on a 386 based or a slower 486 based machine, IPX
- networks give you high speed, fluid game play. The reason is simple,
- DOOM is designed to communicate with a serial device (this includes modems)
- at only 9600 baud. At this rate, you are only transferring around
- 800-1000 bytes per second. A SLOW network transfers about 1,250,000
- bytes per second!! Some of the faster networks can transfer up to
- 16,000,000 bytes per second! (Talk about a speed increase!)
-
- Welp, Jackson Software can help. I am currently selling everything that
- you need to setup a full blown EtherNet IPX driven network. This may
- sound a bit expensive, but its not too bad. (I have one myself)
-
- Do note that it is not necessary to set up a Novell LAN or any other such
- outrageously priced network just to play Network DOOM. All that is needed
- is a set of EtherNet (or similar) cards, the cables, your computers, and
- DOOM!
-
- My current setup for IPX DOOM is 1 386dx/40Mhz, 2 486sx/33Mhz, and 1
- 486dx/50Mhz With these machines I can not tell the difference between a
- single player game and a multiplayer game as far as speed is concerned.
-
- If this sounds appealing to you, here is how to obtain your network
- hardware:
-
- Send check or Money Order to:
-
- Jackson Software
- 10506 Bayard Rd.
- Minerva, OH 44657
-
- Phone:
- (216) 868-1169
-
- EMAIL:
- jsoftware@delphi.com
-
- Network Pricing:
-
- One EtherNet Node.........................................$75
- LanPro NE2000 EtherNet Card
- Software Drivers
- Instructions for NetDOOM Setup
- The latest copy of DFE
- 10ft EtherNet Coax Cable
- 2 50ohm EtherNet Terminators
-
- Two EtherNet Nodes........................................$145
- 2 LanPro NE2000 EtherNet Cards
- Software Drivers
- Instructions for NetDOOM Setup
- The latest copy of DFE
- 10ft EtherNet Coax Cable
- 2 50ohm EtherNet Terminators
-
- Three EtherNet Nodes......................................$215
- 3 LanPro NE2000 EtherNet Cards
- Software Drivers
- Instructions for NetDOOM Setup
- The latest copy of DFE
- 2 10ft EtherNet Coax Cables
- 2 50ohm EtherNet Terminators
-
- Four EtherNet Nodes.......................................$285
- 4 LanPro NE2000 EtherNet Cards
- Software Drivers
- Instructions for NetDOOM Setup
- The latest copy of DFE
- 3 10ft EtherNet Coax Cables
- 2 50ohm EtherNet Terminators
-
- The following is included on disks FREE of charge for each purchase
- of any of the above Network packages:
-
- The DOOM Hacker's tool kit (Disk 1)
- The Latest version of the Unofficial DOOM Specs
- The Latest version of the "Official" DOOM FAQ
- The Latest version of the DEU level editor
- Includes a demo and all C source
- The Pascal Source for DFE
- Includes MANY routines for accessing a variety of info
- in the WAD file.
-
- The Jackson Software's "Outstanding DeathMatch WAD collection"
- (Disk 2)
- This collections includes many of my favorite WAD files
- created by varying authors especially for DEATHMATCHES!
-
-
-
- !ATTENTION! Tired of the old dog of a computer that you have? Need
- something with a touch more zip for DOOM and anything else
- that requires some decent speed?
-
- Call Jackson Software today and ask about setting up a real
- screamer of a computer. I am currently selling everything
- from a super cheap 386/33 to a full blown Pentium/90!
-
- Prices on Pentium systems start at just under $2000
-
- Happy Hunting!
-
- \ /
- (O) (O)
- |
- \_____/
-
- JJ
-