Planet Pilot          kleenex@cix.compulink.co.uk        25th June 1994

PLANET PILOT, A utility to allow all VGAP processing and most VGAP addons to
              run from one screen. upto 10 game records are stored, and all
              command line parameters are passed automatically to the command
              line.

PPilot.exe     v1.2

ppilot.exe
pp.bat        (batch file to run ppilot.exe)
ppbat.dat     (text file containing user definable batch files
ppilot.txt    this file
pp.pif        Allows the various VGAP addons to be run from 1 pif file.

SECTION 1    Installation and setting up
SECTION 2    Operation
SECTION 3    PPBAT.DAT
SECTION 4    CIX game parameters

PPilot will best run if you have ppilot.exe in a directory called planets together
with all the files that came on the planets disc. It will automatically keep
all of the games in separate sub directories.

I accept no responsibilty whatsoever for anything that happens directly
or indirectly to you, your machine, or anything else as a result of using
this program.

If PLANET PILOT is of any use to you, then you may use it and distribute
it freely. I would however appreciate/expect a postcard sent to my kids:

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


SECTION 1

==============================================================================
QUICK INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

I would recommend that all the files from PP12.ZIP are put in your
planets directory.

Run the program via the batch file pp.bat
(this is just a text file containing only 'PPILOT.EXE')

Look at the screen, try  C for configure
                         E to edit record 1
         &               I to test. (I runs the SHEET.EXE prog that comes
 with your registered version of planets)

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

     then                    Q to Quit

and then carry on reading from here.
==============================================================================


NB  PLEASE, It is upto the end user when each function of PLANETS is run


Setting up

C            for configure

Planets directory     e.g.  =   C:\PLANET      (NO TRAILING '\')
upload directory      any directory where you would like to send outgoing trn's
download directory    where you d/l to .
PKUNZIP.EXE directory only required for CIX format games
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

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

Type           C =  CIX  style games (see section 3)
(four types)   M =  Master (If you host a game)
               R =  Regular, files names remain as output by planets
               P =  local m/c only (no files are prepared for u/l or d/l)


NAME           21 characters for your own use

GameNO         2 numeric characters that give the game directory
               ie    34    will give C:\planets\game34
               ONLY ENTER A NUMBER THAT YOU KNOW TO BE CORRECT !!

Race           as entered at the start of planets 1-9 A or B

ZIP Password   only for CIX games (see section 3)
Planets passW  to enable some utilities to run  (eg VPUTIL)

HostXref       this field is only for Host games and allows a HOST
               to play in a hosted game from a different directory.

               (A separate record with a 'R' type will be required to
               run this 'SUB' game.  Also two bat files
               UPZIP.BAT will need to be edited. Mail me for copy

trn (CIX only) the number for the next trn file to be collected
rst (CIX only) the next rst file to be created

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

SECTION 2

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.  (nothing will work until this is completed)

U              Unpack  (user configurable)
M              Maketurn
P              Creates a new practice universe
H              Either hosts a practice game or a external game, depending on
               the currently selected record

I              Game information

>              Allows 1 of 2 predefined DOS commands to run


Q              Quit

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

SECTION 3

Edit the file PPBAT.DAT to suit any programs that you currently run.
more instructions are in the file PPBAT.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] this will be the first batch header
dir
pause

as the above line is blank the first batch is completed
and has created a bat file 2 lines long
[2]
any command
another command

[3]
a
b
c
d
e


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

SECTION 4

I got into VGAP on a BRITISH system called CIX  (pronounced KICKS),

to avoid confusion and cheating the TRN and RST files are renamed and
PKZIPPED.

For example, the SECOND game would be played by all players on their
respective machines in the PLANETS\GAME2 directory.

The turn number produced by the host would then be used to label
each file.  i.e.  G3T98    = game 3 , turn 98
next each player would append his race.

The birds after running Maketurn would rename their file
G3T98-3.TRN, this would be uploaded to the host who would process it
and produce a file containing all the RST files, but each with a password
known only to that race.

G3T98-RS.ZIP

The benefits are
1) less confusion and stale turns.
2) all files are kept for later record.
3) players playing 3 or more games can indentify turn files etc. more easily.

Planet Pilot, handles all of the above automatically,
but will only be used when 'C' is entered in the 'Type' column of the game record.

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

COMMENTS

This program does not check the logic in running any application, so for
example it will quite happily run SWEEP.BAT over a directory with current
live data files if instructed to do so.

It only runs other packages and does no processing of its own.

If you are not sure then DO NOT USE THE HOST FEATURE.

running MASTER can overwrite an existing universe
(MASTER can only be run from PP when a creating a 'P' (practice) game.)

So if you have GAME2 and GAME4 running already, do not give 2 or 4 as the
address for a new game.  Even then the program offers you a quit route.

It is possible to let 'H'ost handle all copying of d/l cix trn files,
the HOST, and MAKETURN and renaming of player files to fit around the CIX
playing convention of ZIP files,

MAIL ME if you require instructions and the help on modifying the BAT files.

SO TO PLAY SAFE, AVOID CREATING a 'H'OST or 'P'RACTICE record until you have
sorted normal game records , 'C'ix  and 'R'egular.

ONCE YOU GET A 'FEEL' for how PP runs, there (should) will be no problem.

-------------------------------------------
I will prepare some instructions but for now try it out and mail for help
instead of pressing F1 !


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

alt.games/vga-planets

Ohh and one last thing, thanks TIM for creating such a challenging game.
    

kleeny
