VGAP MENU   V1.01      kleenex@cix.compulink.co.uk     2nd August 1994

VGAP MENU    A utility to allow VGAP processing and most VGAP addons
             to run from one screen. upto 10 game records are stored
             and all required command line parameters can be passed
             automatically to the DOS command line via a batch file
             constructed from stored variables/parameters by VGAPMENU.

VGAPM.EXE    main program
VGAPBAT.DAT  text file containing user configurable batch files
VGAPMENU.TXT this file

SECTION 1    Installation
SECTION 2    Setting up
SECTION 2    Operation
SECTION 3    VGAPMBAT.DAT

VGAP MENU was originally distributed as Planet Pilot

VGAPMENU will best run if you have vgapm.exe in a directory called
planets together with the V3:00 VGA planets files.

(This works OK if you play just one starmap in all your games.
If you have more than 1 universe (i.e. more than one Planets
directory) then you will need one version of VGAPMENU in each.
The next release of VGAPMENU will have a record of the PLANETS
directory for each game and therfore will only require 1 VGAPMENU.
Mail me if you would find this a benefit and tell me your
Directory structure and which utilities you use. This will
assist me in developing the modification.)

If VGAP MENU is of any use to you, then you may use it and distribute
it freely. I would however appreciate your sending a postcard to my
children, this would enlighten them and encourage me to
enhance VGAPMENU

EDS, ROBS and CHARLOTTE
95 POTTERGATE
NORWICH
NORFOLK
NR2 1DZ
ENGLAND
======================================================================
HISTORY

PLANET PILOT
V1:00    original launch on CIX in England

V1.20    created user configurable file for routines

V1.22    Error with substitution of {updi} sorted
         Addition of {raAB} as place holder for 11 or 12
         directory format changed from 'game??' foramt to free form

VGAP MENU
V1:00    tested locally

V1:01    internal coding improvements

======================================================================
SECTION 1     QUICK INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

I would recommend that all the files from VGAPM101.ZIP are put in your
planets directory.

Run the program VGAPM.EXE and it will create the initial batch file
VGAPMENU.BAT and return you to DOS. If you then run VGAPMENU.BAT
all should become obvious :-)

Look at the screen, try  C for configure
                         E to edit record 1
                         P to test. (P runs the PLANETS.EXE)

During Configure, or Edit ESCAPE will return you to Normal mode.

     then                    Q to Quit

and then carry on reading from here.
======================================================================
NOTE !! It is upto the end user when each function of PLANETS is run.
======================================================================
SECTION 2 SETTING UP

C            for configure

Planets directory     e.g.  =   C:\PLANETS      (NO TRAILING '\')
download directory    where you d/l to
upload directory      any directory where you would like to send
                      outgoing trn's
compress directory    if you use uuencode or pkzip etc
2 user programs,      for your own spreadsheet or WP record keeping
                      will accept parameters
                      e.g  C:\WP5\WP plan_dat.WP5

DURING ANY INPUT Esc WILL ABORT

you will need to input the details of 1 or more of your current games

Type           H =  Master (If you host a game)
               R =  Regular, files names remain as output by planets
               P =  Practice, local m/c games only

NAME           21 characters for your own use

Directory      34           will substitute C:\planets\34
               test\birdman will substitute C:\planets\test\birdman

Race           as entered at the start of planets 1-9 A or B
               (some utilities require 10 or 11 instead of A or B on
               the command line, this is now possible by using {raAB)
               as a placeholder in VGAPMBAT.DAT

ZIP Password   if compression files (pkzip) are to use passwords
Planets passW  to enable some utilities to run  (eg VPUTIL)

trn #          the number for the next trn file to be collected
rst #          the next rst file to be created

              These two are included to allow referenced backups
              eg COPY {vgap}\{game}\player5.rst p5t{rst#}.rst
              in your UNPACK section of VGAPMBAT.DAT

              = copy c:\planets\game4\player5.rst p5t32.rst
              and automatically increments the next backup to
              p5t33.rst next UNPACK

======================================================================
SECTION 3     OPERATION

KEY INPUT

1-9 + 0        Selects record
F1 - F5        Runs user definable batch file (see section 3)

A              Add record
D              Delete record
E              Edit record
C              Configure directories.
U              Unpack
M              Maketurn
P              Play the current game
S              Creates a new practice universe (simulate)
H              Either hosts a practice game or a external game, depending on
               the currently selected record
I              Game information (SHEET.EXE)
>              Allows 1 of 2 predefined DOS commands to run
Q              Quit

======================================================================
SECTION 4    VGAPMBAT.DAT

Edit the file VGAPMBAT.DAT to suit any programs that you currently run.
more instructions are in the file VGAPMBAT.DAT

NB!.   NO COMMAS ANYWHERE !!!!

Any text will be ignored unless it falls between

[#] and the next following blank line.

example

----------------------------------------------
comment  1234
comment  1234
comment  1234
comment  1234
comment  1234

blank line
[1] BATCH BAT        this will be the first batch header
dir
pause

as the above line is blank the first batch is completed
and will create a BAT file 2 lines long
[2]
any command
another command

=========== example of my current VGAPMBAT.DAT ===============================
VGA PLANETS MENU  VGAPMBAT.DAT  V1.01    Kleenex@cix.compulink.co.uk   31/7/94
MODIFIED FOR PLAY BY EMAIL

[1] VPUTIL (menu)
cd {vgap}
{vgap}\VPUTIL mm  -w{game}  -p{race} -pw{rpas}

----------------------------------------------------------
[2] VPUTIL unpack
cd {vgap}
{vgap}\VPUTIL un -w{game}  -p{race} -pw{rpas}

--------------------------------------------------------
[3] VPUTIL maketurn
cd {vgap}
{vgap}\VPUTIL cp -w{game}  -p{race} -pw{rpas}

------------------
[4] Battle Simulator
cd {VGAP}
BSIM

------------------
[5] RandMax
Randmax {game} {race}

--------------------
[6] UNPACK
cd {vgap}\{game}
{zdir}\uudecode {vgap}\{game}\g{game}-{race}.rst
ren g{game}-{race}.rst rst{rst#}uu.bak
pause
cd {vgap}
unpack {game}
planets {game}

-------------------------------------------------------
[7] MAKETURN
cd {vgap}
maketurn {game}
ren {vgap}\{game}\1player5.trn ply5T{trn#}.trn
ren {vgap}\{game}\player5.trn 1player5.trn

------------------------------------------------------


=====================================================================
ONE LAST POINT, such are the complexities of multiple games being
run over the internet, with different hosts and means of compression,
that not taking into consideration the multitude of addons available,
I should think it unlikely that the VGAPMBAT.DAT will run without
modification. In fact I know that if users modify it to suit their
own needs it will save an immense amount of time and trouble and that
the real benefits of VGAP MENU will become obvious.

I would like others to find this application as beneifical as I do so
please mail me with any queries, or post them to

I feel a FAQ file would be a good idea and will create it from the
mail that I receive.

alt.games/vga-planets

Oh and one last thing, my encouragement to TIM with his version 4 of
VGAPLANETS, I find it a good balanced challenging game.


kleeny
