Runner - Doomworld /idgames database frontend

Title:	Runner
Filename:	utils/frontends/dmrunner.zip
Size:	108.34 KB
Date:	09/18/95
Author:	Paul Pollack
Description:	Runner is a customizable program that allows users to execute your PWAD without having to type in arcane commands from the command line. It was developed by Paul Pollack of DragonHawk Productions, and may be freely distributed with your PWAD provided that some acknowledgement is given, and that it is NOT distributed with PWAD's that work with the shareware version of DOOM. This is according to id's wishes, since otherwise I might somehow be discouraging others from registering. This version of Runner has been created specifically to work with Doom or Doom II, both by id software. A version that supports Heretic and its PWADs is also available; both are included in Doom Level Design for Laymen version 1.5 or above.
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View dmrunner.txt

RUNNER -- FIRST RELEASE
                         -----------------------
        (created for Doom/Doom II -- Heretic version also available)

DISCLAIMER: I, PAUL POLLACK, CANNOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY HARM
            CAUSED BY THIS PROGRAM. THIS IS DISTRIBUTED "AS IS" WITH
            NO WARRANTY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.

Preface: What is Runner?

Runner is a customizable program that allows users to execute your
PWAD without having to type in arcane commands from the command line. It
was developed by Paul Pollack of DragonHawk Productions, and may be freely
distributed with your PWAD provided that some acknowledgement is given, and
that it is NOT distributed with PWAD's that work with the shareware version
of DOOM. This is according to id's wishes, since otherwise I might somehow
be discouraging others from registering.

This version of Runner has been created specifically to work with
Doom or Doom II, both by id software. A version that supports Heretic
and its PWADs is also available; both are included in Doom Level Design
for Laymen version 1.5 or above.

PART I: REQUIREMENTS

- An ANSI driver loaded before running the program
- EDIT, included with DOS 5.0 and higher
- A PWAD you wish to have a runner for
- Doom/Doom II

PART II: SETTING IT UP

One of the features that sets RUNNER apart from other similar
programs is its ease of use. Included in this release are 8 files you
should edit in order to get RUNNER to work correctly. First of all,
use the DOS EDIT command to EDIT RUNDATA.DAT (DO NOT EDIT RUNNER.DAT!!!).

Each line of RUNDATA.DAT contains differnet information about
your PWAD that RUNNER needs to know in order for it to execute properly.
The first line is the name of the WAD, e.g., Imps Unleashed... Thus,
the first line would look like this:

IMPS UNLEASHED

The second line contains the WAD title name again, this one to 
be displayed prominently on your main menu screen. An example would be:

IMPS UNLEASHED -- PART 1 BY SLIMY SOFTWARE

The third line of the file contains information to be displayed
right under the previous line's contents (remember, DMRUNNER automatically
centers these for you, so you don't have to worry about spacing). It
might look something like this:

WITHOUT IMPS UNLEASHED, DOOM IS JUST ANOTHER 3D GAME...

The fourth line is a miscellaneous message, to be displayed
right above the choices. You might want it to look something like this,
if we're continuing along the IMPS UNLEASHED theme:

SELECT AN OPTION FOR IMPS UNLEASHED NOW!

The next line is the one which contains the name of the EXE file 
you want your PWAD to run -- (e.g. DOOM2). Replace it and move on...

The sixth line contains the actual filename of your level. For
example, you might have:

IMPUNLSD.WAD

The exit message is stored on the last line. This will be displayed
after your PWAD has been run, and you exit Doom. You might want it to
say:

Thanks for running Imps Unleashed. It's been a pleasure.

The last line is simple, and usually short. It contains the 
level number you'd like Doom to warp to. For example, you might want 
this line to read

if you're running a Doom II PWAD which starts off on the first level.

Then again, you might want it to say:

2 3

if you're running a Doom I PWAD that starts off on the third level
of episode 2. After replacing the contents, save the file. Viewing it
with a text editor, or such, it should look something like this (with
one line provided above and below the actual file contents):

IMPS UNLEASHED 
IMPS UNLEASHED -- PART 1 BY SLIMY SOFTWARE
WITHOUT IMPS UNLEASHED, DOOM IS JUST ANOTHER 3D GAME...
SELECT AN OPTION FOR IMPS UNLEASHED NOW!
DOOM2
IMPUNLSD.WAD
Thanks for running Imps Unleashed. It's been a pleasure.
1

We're done, right? Not quite... Now that you've finished with those
files, run DMRUNNER.EXE and see how you like it. Not bad, eh? Now rename the
file DMRUNNER.EXE to whatever you want the runner's EXE name to be, for
example, IMPUNLSD.EXE. Copy all the files, except RUNNER.BAS, wherever
you'd like them, whether in your PWAD directory so you can ZIP and U/L
your PWAD ASAP, or to your Doom/Doom II directory, so you check out how
it'll work for the average user.

PART III: DISTRIBUTION

You may distribute DMRUNNER.EXE (or whatever you've renamed it) with
your PWAD; in fact, I encourage to do just that. Remember, however, that
you may NOT use this as a runner for PWAD's that intentionally work with
the shareware version of Doom, nor may you use this without acknowledging
me at least somewhere in your PWAD's documentation.

PART IV: SOURCE CODE

I've included RUNNER.BAS (created by QuickBASIC 4.5 and stored
in text format), the only file (aside from this one) not needed by 
DMRUNNER.EXE, to give you an idea of how RUNNER was made. You may use this to 
modify RUNNER, and/or improve on it, provided that you state that the 
original program was created by Paul Pollack.

PART V: GOOD LUCK!

Good luck creating the PWAD runner of your dreams! If you have        
any questions I can be reached on the Board of Trade BBS as Paul Pollack,        
or on the Internet as paul.pollack@intol.com. Also be sure to check out my
home page at http://www.intol.com/paul\paul.htm. Thanks for downloading and 
happy DOOMING!

-- Paul Pollack

Future Version Wish List
                        ------------------------

These features may or may not be in the next version of RUNNER:

1. Removal of the one-line limit
        3. Any user suggestions

THANKS FOR DOWNLOADING!!!

mong