                     Graphical User Interface Versions 
                           of Trade Wars Helper 
                                Release 8.8 

                              Copyright 1994 
                             Just FUN Software 
                            All Rights Reserved 


  This zip file contain two specialized versions of Trade Wars Helper that
  incorporate the Graphical User Interface.  The data files are totally
  compatible between these two version and the standard version. 

  The two version are called the "Real Mode" version and the "Protected
  Mode" version.  The real mode version requires at least a 286 machine.
  The protected mode version requires a 286 or better machine with
  extended memory (but you should really have a 486 or it will be too
  slow).  Both require a VGA monitor and pointing device (mouse) to
  utilize the Graphical User Interface (GUI). 

  Using the GUI is optional and requires a special registration code.
  Users who initially registered a release prior to 8.3 must pay a $5.00
  upgrade charge to receive the GUI key (see ORDERGUI.TXT file).  Users
  who initially registered release 8.3 or later already have the GUI key
  since they paid a higher registration fee. 

  Read this document and make every effort to use the Real Mode version.
  When in text mode it runs as fast as the Standard version and when in
  graphics mode it has all the advantages of a GUI. 

  Even if you are not registered you can look at the GUI.  To do so enter
  TWHGUIRM to start the program, enter a 1 to select the EXAMPLE data
  file, and click a mouse button to activate the GUI.  When done enter /q
  to quit the program.  You could also start the TWHGUIPM program to be
  sure the protected mode version operates on your machine.  The /w
  command will display the amount of memory still available. 



  INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 

  Unzip this ZIP file to the \twhelp directory.  Respond with an A to the
  "Overide..." message. 

  Create two batch files (TWHRM.BAT and TWHPM.BAT) in the directory of
  your communications program like below.  They changes to the twhelp
  directory, executes the appropriate twhelp w/GUI version, changes back
  to your communication program's directory, makes sure the monitor is in
  text mode and then exits the DOS shell. 

  TWHRM.BAT                          TWHPM.BAT

  cd \twhelp                         cd \twhelp 
  twhguirm                           twhguipm 
  cd \(comm-prog-dir)                cd \(comm-prog-dir) 
  mode co80                          mode co80 
  exit                               exit 


  (comm-prog-dir) means the name of your communications program directory. 

  Although not required to view the example data file, program modules
  from the standard versions archive (TWHELP88.ZIP) are normally required
  for these versions to operate. 

  You may wish to print out the IMPORTANT GUI POINTS of this file and
  read them over from time to time. 
   
  If you would like assistance installing Trade Wars Helper w/GUI call
  (801) 272-6238 10:00am to 8:00pm Mountain time (not always available). 

  Using the protected mode version essentially puts another layer of
  software to work which increases the overhead (i.e slower performance)
  and the likelyhood of failure.  Obviously if it runs too slow for your
  tastes or does not work on your machine then use the standard version
  or, with enough conventional memory, the real mode version.  If it does
  fail to run on your machine, I would appreciate a call so I can learn of
  the situations in which it is failing and hopefully take corrective
  action at some time. 



  RUNNING INSTRUCTIONS 

  Run your communications program, login to a BBS and start the Trade Wars
  door.  When Trade Wars begins building its title screen, shell to DOS
  from your communications program and enter the batch file name
  appropriate to the game you are playing. 

  Once TWH has sent and processed it orientation commands (the TW G, V
  and I commands) press a mouse button to activate the GUI.  Press the End
  key to return to text mode. 


  VERSION COMPARISONS 

  The following is a summary of the three versions. 

  Version Name:            Standard       Real Mode      Protected Mode 
  Batch file name:         TWH            TWHRM          TWHPM 
  Minimum machine:         086            286            486 
  GUI available:           No             Yes            Yes 
  Maximum sectors:         5000           4000-5000      5000 
  16550 UART required:     No             See below      Yes   
  Commands available:      All            Most           All 
  Performance:             100%           85%            70% 
  Extended memory:         No             No             Yes 


  Notes related to above summary: 

  The maximum sectors for the standard and real mode version is dependent
  on the conventional memory available.  Read the "Insufficient Memory"
  section the README file if you are unable to use a large data file.
  Since the protected mode version uses extended memory, there will
  almost always be sufficient memory available for a 5000 sector universe.
  If you get the "Loader Error 0001 - Out of Memory" it means you don't
  have enough extended memory available for the protected mode version
  which requires about 700-800K.  Try allocating less to smartdrive, etc. 

  Because protected mode programs run slower than real mode programs you
  should try to use the real mode version for a game first.  Users with a
  maximum of conventional memory will be able to play in a game with 5000
  sectors using the real mode version while those with a minimum of
  conventional memory may not be able to use the real mode version in even
  a 4000 sector game.  

  The protected mode version requires a modem or I/O card with a 16550
  UART to insure data from the BBS is not lost.  The real mode version
  requires a 16550 UART only if you want to use the Channel, Commlink or
  Page buttons to send a message while running a script.  Otherwise the
  likely loss of data will cause the script to abnormally halt requiring
  that you press ESC to get out of it.  There is no problem receiving
  messages while running a script without a 16550 UART.  And you can
  continue to use the TW ' or ` commands to send your messages if you do
  not have a 16550 UART but want to use the real mode version, however
  your messages will not be display in the upper window. 

  The /a, /M and /V commands have been remove from the Real Mode version
  to save conventional memory.  Thus to merge another traders database for
  example, use the Standard version then restart TWHELP using the Real
  Mode version.  

  Performance is degraded when in graphics mode because characters written
  to the screen are software generated as opposed to hardware generated
  characters when in text mode.  Thus the performance of the real mode
  version will be the same as the standard version when in text mode.  One
  way of improving performance is to run with the TW Ansi color off.
  Function key 6 can be used to toggle TW Ansi color off and on. 

  Programs running under Windows suffer a further performance degradation.
  Thus running the protected mode version under Windows using the GUI is a
  bit slow to say the least.  WARNING!  I personally experienced several
  system crashes when running the protected mode version with Windows.  At
  this time I don't know if this is hardware or setup problem unique to my
  system, a conflict between Windows and the Borland DPMI programs or a
  problem with TWHGUIPM. 



  IMPORTANT GUI POINTS

  The following are points related to the Graphical User Interface (GUI). 

  The GUI is activated by pressing a mouse button usually at the "Command"
  prompt or pressing function key 2.  To return to text mode press the
  End key or any of the keys that display the scrollback buffer (Home,
  End, PgUp, PgDn, Up Arrow, Down Arrow).  Clicking on the Port and Land
  buttons also returns to text mode. 

  It is recommended the TW animation be turn off in version 2.00 games as
  the pictures appear garbled in the smaller GUI CRT area besides taking
  extra time to display.  Remember to press the ESC key or the ESC and
  Enter keys a few time when things hang up due to TWH getting out of
  synch with TW. Also if the GUI screen gets clobbered or you loose the
  arrow cursor, press the End key then click a mouse button to refresh the
  screen. 

  While in GUI mode you can enter TW or TWH commands using the keyboard as
  in text mode or you can click on a graphics button or line showing the
  TWH commands with the mouse.  Most of the TW main commands and all of
  the TW computer commands can only be enter using the keyboard. 

  The Port Button is the TW P command and the Land button is the TW L
  command.  The Pairs button is the /X command, the Trade button is the /t
  command, the Goto button is the /g command, the Explore button is the
  /2e command, the Attack button is the /A command, the Capture button
  is the /20A command (see RTO 29) and the pursue button is the F12 key.
  The Move button displays the TW move options, the Zip button is the TWH
  /z command and the Scan button is the TW S command.  They, like some of
  the other buttons, are not active when offline. 

  Many of the buttons (Pairs, Trade, Go to, Explore, Move, Zip and Map)
  and TWH commands perform their function for the sector number display
  below the column of numbers in the upper right corner (mostly zero to
  start with).  The value in this digits display can be set by clicking on
  one of the numbers above it using the left mouse button, clicking on the
  current sector (left side of screen), clicking on a sector number in the
  graphics map, clicking on a sector number in the columns displayed by
  the various TWH database commands or by typing / then the number and
  pressing the Enter key.  The value in the digits display can be sent to
  TW by clicking on the digits display itself.  The values in the column
  of numbers above the display can be set to the digits display value by
  clicking on one of the slots with the right mouse button.  The bottom
  three slots in the column of numbers are set by TWH to the previous
  values of the digits display when it is changed.  The top two slots
  should contain sectors 1 (set by TWH) and the Starport sector (set by
  user by typing /number Enter, then click on slot 2 with right mouse
  button). 

  The value in the digits display is equivalent to the value enter after
  the / when using the keyboard.  When this value is cleared (all zeros)
  the current sector number is used.  For example, to trade in the current
  sector clear the digits display then click on the Trade button.  To
  initiate cross trading between the current sector and another sector,
  make the digits display show the other sector number and click on the
  Trade button.  To show the fighters nearest a sector, make the digits
  display show the sector number, click on the TW Database button and then
  click on the /f command line.  Commands that require two numeric
  parameters such as /3,235h or /1245,123G must be entered using the
  keyboard. 

  IMPORTANT: Because the digits display is used by many buttons and
  commands, be sure to check if for a correct value before clicking on a
  button or command line. 

  The Map and Chat buttons allow the center window to be used for either
  the graphics map or for chating on the MBBS Comm-Link, subspace radio
  channel or paging.  In Chat mode incoming and outgoing transmissions are
  displayed in the window even while a script, such as trading or
  exploring, is in progress.  Also function key F2 toggles between Map and
  Chat modes even while a script is running although you may need to press
  it a couple of times.  In an MBBS game, an outgoing message is initiated
  by clicking on the Channel, CommLink or Page buttons (or pressing the
  F3, F4 or F5 key respectively) and is sent when the Enter key is
  pressed.  The message can also be aborted or edited after pressing the
  Esc key.  To end a script when in Chat mode, click anywhere except on
  the Channel, CommLink or Page buttons when the "Press SPACE BAR..."
  message is displayed or press the Space Bar.  *** Notice: A 16550 UART
  is required to use the Channel, CommLink or Page buttons to enter a
  message while having a script running at the same time.  *** 

  The CRT screen area allows 8 lines of TW data to be displayed in a
  scrolling mode.  It runs slower than the full CRT screen that is used in
  when in text mode.  It is initially set at the fastest speed as
  indicated by the gauge to the left of the Info button.  On some fast
  machine this may scroll by too quickly and can be slowed down by
  pressing the {Alt-F2} keys, speed up by pressing the {Alt-F3} key or
  toggled between fastest and most recent slow speed by pressing the
  {Alt-F4} key.  These function key can be pressed when TWH is idle or
  waiting for the SPACE BAR to be pressed.  The {Alt-F1} key display a
  list of the various function keys.  Use the End key and PgDn key to
  display the scrollback buffer if some text scrolled out of the CRT area
  you want to review. 

  The time and turn gauges are reasonably correct but the other readouts
  on the left side of the screen may not be 100% accurate at all times.
  For instance, the readouts are not updated while on the planet.  Also
  attacking without using the Attack button will leave the fighter and
  shield information out-of-date.  This is because TWH can only update
  these values when they are sent by TW across the modem and it knows to
  do so.  When deemed appropriate, such as when leaving a planet, TWH will
  send the TW I command to update the readouts but not show the
  information coming across the CRT screen to increase performance.  This
  will cause a slight delay before you can enter a command after leaving a
  planet.  The program will light up the "Info" button when this is
  happening - which you can also click on to bring these values
  up-to-date.  Do so when exact information is required!  Also the
  readouts in List 2 are only updated by the Info button. 

  When the "Press SPACE BAR..." message is displayed you can optionally
  click a mouse button.  Also while in text mode some of the processes,
  such as pressing Enter at the RTO screen, can be exited with the mouse
  button.



  COPYRIGHT 

  Copyright laws apply to both shareware and commercial software, and the
  copyright holder retains all rights, with the following exception.  The
  unmodified program files, complete with the files discussed below, may
  be freely copied and distributed.  It is in fact encouraged.  If you
  like this program, please tell your fellow players, even those evil
  traders, about it and upload it to several BBSes.  Of course,
  registrations key may not be distributed. 



  DISCLAIMER 

  Trade Wars Helper is supplied on an "as is" basis.  The author disclaims
  all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the
  warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.  The
  author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which
  may result for the use of Trade Wars Helper. 



  FILES 

  This product is made up of the following files. 

  README.1ST - Text file to be read each new release. 
  DOCGUI.TXT - The file you are now reading. 
  FILE_ID.DIZ - A description of this product for PCBoard systems. 

  TWHGUIRM.EXE - The real mode version of TWHELP w/GUI. 
  TWHGUIPM.EXE - The protected mode version of TWHELP w/GUI. 

  EXAMPLE.CFG - A configuration file for using the EXAMPLE database. 
  EXAMPLE.TWH - This file contains an example database. 

  RTM.EXE -      These three programs are redistributed with permission 
  DPMI16BI.OVL - of Borland International and are required to be in the 
  BGI16.DLL -    current directory for the protected version to operate.

  This product may be distributed only when all the above files are
  included in the distribution in unmodified form. 

  Program modules from the standard version archive are required for this
  version to operate. 



  QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS

  All questions, comments or suggestions of any nature are welcomed.  You
  need not be a registered user to ask questions, or make comments or
  suggestions.  Include the release number of the program you are using in
  any problem description.  Address correspondences to:

                        Attn: Mike Ingham 
                        Just FUN Software 
                        4790 Naniloa Drive 
                        Salt Lake City, UT 84117-5547

  or telephone: (801) 272-6238 (preferred method) 
  or via Prodigy: NKJM79A 
  or via CompuServe: 71231,3727 
  or Internet: mingham@intele.net 

  If you wish to download the latest version of this program or any other
  products from Just FUN Software on the first call, dial the Just FUN
  Software BBS at 801-278-8839 and logon as "Just Fun" with a password of
  "software" or set up your own account. 
