INT-FICTION(6)

NAME
int-fiction - Interactive Fiction Selector

SYNOPSIS
int-fiction

DESCRIPTION
int-fiction is a simple way to choose an interactive fiction title by name and description. Since interactive fiction titles often have filenames as obscure as plundere.dat and dbl.z5, int-fiction allows you to specify names and descriptions for game files. It also lets you place the games anywhere in your filesystem, finding the games and running the proper interpreter for you.

int-fiction is entirely configured through a configuration file and environment variables, and can suit any configuration.

THE GAME LIST
int-fiction uses a game list to describe the name, description, filename, and system for games. The file is simple: the fields are in order separated with the `|' character, on a single line. For example,
Zork I|The original|zork1.dat|ZIP
describes the original Zork, and specifies it as running with a ZIP interpreter. The filename should be specified without a path, as int-fiction can find it using its path (see below). Any value can be used for the system: int-fiction will look for a matching environment variable to run.

The game list is either compiled into the program (usually "/usr/local/lib/int-fiction.lst") or it can be specified with the IF_GAME_LIST environment variable.

A game in the game list can be in any of the directories listed in the path and it will be found as a valid game. This lets you move games as you see fit, say to load some from a CD or off an NFS-mount from another machine. If a game is not found, it will not be listed, allowing you to share your game listings with others (and the author) and only choosing from those you have on your system.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
IF_PATH
This variable controls where int-fiction looks for files. It resembles a normal path, being a number of directories separated by colons, but it has one notable difference. Look at this path:
/usr/games//:/home/ats/infocom:/cdrom/pc
In this path, you'll notice two trailing slashes after "/usr/games". This means that int-fiction is to check that directory, and all directories below it. The other elements of the path ("/home/ats/infocom" and "/cdrom/pc") do not end in double slashes, so int-fiction will only check that directory for games, no lower directories.

IF_GAME_LIST
This variable controls the location of the game list. It should be the absolute pathname of the game list.

System _INTERPRETER
This is a family of variables, each naming an interpreter for a system. For example, if your game list has some entries which describe the system as ZIP, you would have a ZIP_INTERPRETER variable with the command you wish to use to execute a ZIP interpreter (such as jzip or xzip). The variable may name any command in your path, or it may be an absolute pathname. It is run as command datafile

Common variables include ZIP_INTERPRETER, SCOTT_INTERPRETER, and TADS_INTERPRETER.

MORE RESOURCES
More resources, such as games, solutions, etc., can be found at the IF-Archive at ftp.gmd.de:/if-archive and mirrored at wuarchive.wustl.edu:/doc/misc/if-archive

AUTHOR
int-fiction was written by Alan Shutko <ats@rescomp.wustl.edu>. Please direct any bug reports or requests there. I would also be interested in any additions or changes you make to the game list, since I have not yet played all the games and couldn't write good descriptions. 8^)

The curses code was modified from that in the Dialog package by Savio Lam <lam836@cs.cuhk.hk>.

BUGS
int-fiction can take a long time to search the path if it references slow devices such as CD-ROMs or NFS-mounts. I found it was quite convenient to access the games in the if-archive at wuarchive over NFS, but my Masterpieces of Infocom CD was too slow with my drive. I suggest making a directory of symlinks on a local disk to speed up the search. int-fiction is smart enough to know if a symlink points to a file which isn't there, and won't offer it as a choice.