Text File
WadManager v1.11a
-----------------
Disclaimer
----------
I hold no responsiblity for any loss or damage caused by the use of WadManager
I have tested this version thoroughly and it shouldn't cause any problems. Of
course I know the program and know what it's supposed to do, and what it isn't,
but I have tried to make it crashproof and hopefully foolproof. Use and enjoy!
Introduction
------------
Hello DOOMers, here is a small utility I have created that allows you to
easily choose and load all those extra levels that have been uploaded to the
DOOM sites. WadManager works with DOOM 1.2 only.
The WadManager distribution is composed of 3 (three) files :
WM.EXE - The executable
WM.INI - Configuration file
WM.DOC - This file
Requirements
------------
DOOM 1.2 - If you don't have this...
a mouse - Sorry, no keyboard support yet ( if ever )
a VGA - Well, if you have DOOM...
How to setup WadManager
-----------------------
Edit the WM.INI file to reflect your configuration.
The available settings are :
DOOMDIR - Where DOOM is, obviously
WADDIR - Where your WADs are stored
NETDRIVER - The name (no path) of the IPX driver (default IPXSETUP.EXE)
SERDRIVER - The name (no path) of the serial driver (default SERSETUP.EXE)
IPXSOCKET - The network socket you usually use (default 0)
MODEMNUMBER - The number of your favourite DOOM modem user
AUTORET - YES/NO if you want WadManager to put a return keypress in the
keyboard buffer automatically in network/modem/serial modes. If your
serial/network driver expects input before running DOOM then put NO
here, otherwise put YES (default YES)
AUTOLOAD - A semicolon separated list of the WADs you want WM to
automatically select on startup. Useful for WADs with graphics and
music. (default none).
Only WADDIR and DOOMDIR are compulsory, all the others have the standard
default values.
Now you're ready to run WadManager.
Using WadManager
----------------
Just type WM at your DOS prompt and WadManager's main screen will appear
showing all the available WADs in three columns. If the WADs don't fit on the
screen two arrows will appear at the bottom of the screen so you can scroll
up and down. The first WAD on the screen will always be the original DOOM.WAD.
If you have put any WAD names in the AUTOLOAD setting they will already be
selected. You can select a WAD by left-clicking on it. Doing this will remove
all previous selections. If, instead, you want to select a WAD without
deselecting all the others, right-click on it. Selected WADs have a number
on the left indicating the order in which they will be loaded. You can
deselect a previously selected WAD by right-clicking on it again.
The maximum number of WADs you can select is 9, and if this seems to you
like an annoying limitation, bear in mind that the DOS command line can't be
longer than 255 characters, and if you select lots of WADs and extra options,
you can understand that it can grow to enormous sizes. Blame Microsoft ( as
usual ). If only iD allowed the use of a parameter file... maybe 1.4 will.
Anyway WM will tell you if the command line is too long. I have chosen to
allow a maximum of nine WADs to be loaded because that is the number of
missions in an episode.
After you have selected the WAD or WADs you want to load just click on OK
and a dialog box will appear letting you choose from Standard, Network, Modem
and Serial games, what level to start from and what difficulty skill. You
can also choose No Monsters and Respawn. If you have selected multiple WADs,
WM will check that these WADs don't change the same levels. If this happens
you will be presented with the option of returning to the WAD selection screen
or continue. Be aware of the fact that DOOM will use the resources in the last
loaded file first, working its way backwards.
Click on the DOOM button to start DOOM or the CANCEL button to return to the
list of WADs.
If you have chosen Serial, Modem or Network game, instead of starting DOOM, a
second window will appear allowing you to change the settings for that
particular mode. You can choose Cooperative or Deathmatch modes, starting from
a particular saved game, what IPX socket to use or what phone number to call.
After you have finished playing, quit DOOM and you'll return to WadManager
where you can choose other WADs or exit by clicking on the QUIT button.
Other Functions
---------------
The DELETE button will delete all selected WADs from your hard disk. If your
selection contains DOOM.WAD, then you won't be able to delete the other WADs.
Just deselect DOOM.WAD and press the DELETE button again. WM asks you to
confirm your choice, but it DOESN'T ask for confirmation for every file.
If you delete a WAD by mistake, quit immediately and undelete it, before any
other program overwrites the disk space.
The ABOUT button is self explanatory.
The INFO button gives more information about the tagged WADs : what levels
they contain, if they have new sounds, music, graphics or demos. If you click
on a WAD, another window will pop up allowing you to change the missions in
it. To do so just drag and drop the ticks from their original position to the
new one. By clicking on the SAVE button, WadManager will change the PWAD to
reflect your edits. This feature is useful if you want to play with multiple
WADs, but some of them have clashing levels, or have missions in different
episodes, or you prefer another mission's music. Beware that SAVE doesn't ask
for confirmation.
About WadManager
----------------
WadManager was written in Borland Pascal 7.0 using my XLibPas v2.0 library.
If you like using this program please send me a postcard at the following
address :
Tristan Tarrant
Via Lucinasco 15
22070 Montano Lucino (CO)
ITALY
If you have any problems email me at the following :
tristant@cogs.susx.ac.uk
Some things I might add in the future :
Renaming the WADs.
Ability to have different WAD directories
Ability to select soundcard settings
Ability to edit the multiplayer macros
Keeping the whole thing still smaller than SETUP.EXE :-)
Thanks to the guys at iD Software for creating such a great product as
DOOM...
Versions
--------
v1.0 - Initial release.
v1.01 - WAD sorting added.
v1.05 - WAD scanning added : now WadManager knows what missions are available
in the selected WAD and displays them in a different colour.
Added WAD deletion.
v1.06 - Maximum number of WADs now 512 (was 128). Added possibility to choose
No Monsters and Respawn.
v1.07 - Added Autoload feature.
v1.08 - Added multiple WAD selection and deletion. Fixed a little bug in the
selection mechanism.
v1.09 - Fixed nasty bug when deleting files that were in the AUTOLOAD. Also
fixed fact that in certain occasions it wasn't possible to view
all WADs.
v1.10 - Added Info button
v1.11 - Added ability to change mission numbers