please put in /frontends This archive includes a fixed version of photo.bat. Ansi Sys is no longer required. Extract this archive to c:\doombat (use the -d option if using pkzip) and type lphoto to start. Edit markmenu.bat to reflect the location of Doom in your system Doom.bat README Doom Batch file creator/Doom launcher v1.3 by Mark David Bowman Please note: this archive has been updated to include a version of Doombat that features a sort of console, password protection, and the ability to jump to sections of the program from the command line. Unfortunately, it's not very polished, and some of the commands will send you back to the start of the program (don't worry, you can still jump back to the section you were at, and the values you entered will be untouched). Though you can go anywhere in the program at just about any time, you still have to select whether you want to make a doom batch file or launch doom when you are ready to do those things, or the program won't work (you'll only see the neat previewing feature before the program exits :) Please keep in mind that there may be some other minor bugs in this program. This modified Doombat is for Doom and Doom2 only, but the regular Doombat and Doomhere programs are still included and unchanged. Here's a list of what to type at the Dos prompt to use the various versions of Doombat. Makebat- Doombat 1.3 Makebat2- Doombat 1.4a (experemental version of Doom 1.3) Makeall- Doom/Heretic/Hexen batch file creator/launcher 1.5 Doom1ex- example batch file for Doom1 made by program. E1M8 skill 4 Doom2ex- example batch file for Doom2 made by program. Map08 skill 4 And here is the answers to questions some of you may have been asking: Q. Why a batch file? A. Because I happen to like batch files, and I'd like to see how far I can push the language. Other than part of the input routines, this whole program is written in pure batch language. This program is really more of an experiment, and is not ment to replace any of the major Doom launchers out there. Also, batch language is often the road for people to writing "real" programs in C, Java, Pascal, etc. Hopefuly this will inspire some other batch writers/beginner programmers. Q. Does this program have any malicous code in it? A. It shouldn't, and I do not sabotage my programs. Unfortunately, there are some cretins out there who like to stick destructive commands into batch files to try to ruin someone else's data. Frankly, I don't see the pleasure in it scince 1) they don't know who they've harmed or get to see their dirty work 2) they risk getting caught (IP addresses are often logged and tracable) 3) I don't know how they sleep at night knowing they might have cost someone hundreds of $$$$$ worth of of money and time. When in doubt, only download programs (of any kind) from FTP sites who check programs/documents/data files for viruses and other malicous code. Q. Errr... Why does this simple program have a 'console'? Infact, this is the first batch file I've ever seen with one! A. I like text command interfaces, and often a console is much easier to use than a menu system for some tasks in very complicated programs. This batch file reflects some ideas that I feel should be put in most programs today, so that's why it has a console. Besides, these days it seems just about every recent utility and program that is Doom related has some sort of console built in :) . Just about all major FPSes for the PC made in the past couple years have console interfaces. Q. Where can I find a list of console commands? A. Type help at just about any prompt. These commands will work at any prompt, except the parameters and batch name prompts. I've also listed them here (all commands must be typed in lowercase): Just answer the prompts and Doom bat will either create a batch file, echo or launch Doom or Doom2 Type to return to Doombat Commands that can be typed at any prompt, or the Dos command line: quit- Quit Doombat nomonsters- goto nomonsters prompt respawn- goto respawn prompt skill- goto skill prompt restart- goto doombat prompt make_batch_file- make the batchfile launch_doom- launch Doom goto_label- goes to a subroutine in this batch file Note: Subroutine labels start with a :, but don't type in the collon when typing in the label name. This command allows you to do strange things, and it is possible to lock up your computer with it. about- shows version number and name of author, then exits reset_values- Clears everything you've entered doom1- Select doom1 wad- Goto wad prompt warp- goto warp prompt help- This screen doom_version- Goto doom version prompt doom2- select doom2 nomonsters- Goto nomonsters prompt parameters- Goto parameters prompt Note: Most these commands can also be typed from the Dos prompt. When typing goto_label from the 'console', you'll be prompted to enter one. However, when you type it from the Dos prompt you have to include it on the comamnd line. For example: makebat2 goto_label warp <=====name of subroutine label This is really only useful for debugging purposes, or when you you just want to mess around with the program to see what kind of neat things you can do. :) Just keep in mind that the effects could lock your computer (puts the batch file in a loop you can't break out of, unless you are running Windows, or some other shell program that lets you break out of a batch file/dos session). Q. I hate consoles! I want an interface with those colorful faceless stick figures and prompts that asks me 'if I am sure' 1000 times and that decides what I can and cannot do with my computer! A. This program is probaly not for you. This program can still be used the same way as the previous versions, and you don't even have to type in a single command if you don't want to. If you *really* want to avoid the console, I have included the regular versions of this program that dosen't have it. But if you are using an interface that is doing the things you've described, it might not want you to use a *DOS* batch file ;) Q. I love consoles! This was really neat! A. I'm glad you liked it. :) Q. My disk keeps churning when I run your batch file, and the program is very slow A. Unfortunately, this is one of the downsides of using large batch files. If your disk is fragmented, this probaly means the batch file is also fragmented, which will make the execution slower. Also, scince a batch file is 'interpreted' rather than compiled (Dos is reading the file line by line, and converting the text into commands the computer can understand while executing the file), it runs slower than a .com or .exe file . Also, Dos reads the file from the disk rather than loading the whole file in memory and reading it from there, and that also slows it down (Hard disks are much slower than ram). My advice is to try running the disk defrag program that came with your computer, use a disk cache, or load the batch file into a ramdisk. Q. I have a little brother/sister/son/daughter/cousin, and I don't want him/her playing Doom. A. This program now has a password feature that allows you to lock him/her out of the program. Just follow the instructions in the makebat2.bat file, or add these lines to your autoexec.bat file: set doom_access=locked (this locks the program) set lockdume10=your_password (this sets the password. Replace your_password with the one you want) Unfortunately, scince this is just a batch file, this would only protect against people who don't know anything about your system or Windows/Dos. You still have to set up your system so people could only access Doom through this batch file, and can't break out of it to the Dos prompt. Again, this is just an experemental batch file. Q. Aren't you worried that someone might see this program as 'lame'? A. This program is mainly an experiment on how far the batch language can be pushed, and what can be done with such a limited language (other people have pushed it much further than this. Check out alt.msdos.batch for some examples). I've decided to release it to the public incase anyone else might be interested in the mechanics of a batch file like this. Don't take it too seriously (after all, the zip is under 15k :) . Q. I don't like this program. I want my money back! A. Err... You shouldn't have paid a dime for it. Q. How come you use :: in place of rem in comments of doombat2.bat? A. :: Actualy works the same as rem. Infact, lines beginning with :: aren't interpreted, unlike rem, so it helps to speed up the execution. It shouldn't cause any problem with M$-DOS, IBM Dos, Window$ 95/98 or DR-DOS/Open-DOS. However, if you are using a shell/COMMAND.COM replacement that chokes up on the colon, just open the file with an editor that has a search and replace feature (make sure it saves in plain text!) and replace the :: with rem Q. This batch file chokes up under Windows NT. A. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about Windows NT's Dos emulation (which has a much larger and somewhat different set of commands/switches than Dos/Win 95/98) to adjust the batch file to work right under NT. I think it might have problems with the command.com statement in the set/loader batch files. I hope this answers some questions about this batch file. ***********Text for regular version files************* (this is the readme for the files incuded in the previous archive. It's mostly unchanged.) NEW: This version launches Doom and Doom2 and makes batch files. I've also included another version of this program that will launch Hexen and Heretic (named DoomHere) but I haven't tested this program out on those games. Use Makebat.bat to launch Doombat and Makeall.bat to launch Doomhere Doom.bat is the easy way to create batch files to run doom wads with. Once it's setup, all you have to do is type Makebat and answer the prompts. After your batch file is created, just type in the name you gave the batch file to run the wad you want. This program now allows you to launch Doom directly. Features: Easy to use interface- Just answer the prompts and hit enter after each choice Logging- Doom.bat will record what choices you made when creating the batch file. The log filename is doombat.log Writes some of the most commonly used command line parameters into the file- Such as to load wads, warp to different levels, turn monsters on or off and change skill levels Setup: There are a couple of lines you should change in MAKEBAT.BAT if you decide to keep Doombat in a different directory. If not, just unzip or copy the files to your Doom or Doom 2 directory, switch to it, and start using the program. The lines to change are: set doombatloc=\directory\ -Location of DOOMBAT1.BAT (or DOOMHERE.BAT) set doombat=\directory\ -This tells Doombat where to record the file DOOMBAT.LOG set doombatc=\directory\ -This shows Doombat the location of DOOMBATC.COM set tempbat\directory\ -This is where the file TEMP.BAT is written set nolog=:: -this line disables the logging feature in Doombat (optional). Known bugs: If you type in more than 90 characters during any option, it's possible that your computer will lock up. If this happens, just reboot your computer. There is a limit of a little over 80 characters total that can be put on the line that loads Doom in the batch file. This won't cause the computer to lock up but it either won't record the file (you might see the paramaters displayed twice near the end of the program) or it might shorten the the file name. If the latter happens, simply rename the file and make sure it has the extension .BAT at the end. Disclaimer: This program is Public Domain. Though I doubt there is even a remote chance of this program corrupting your data, causing serious errors with your system files, or causing your computer to blow up, I cannot guarantee that this program is completely bug free (other than the bugs I've mentioned). I'm not liable for any damage this program may cause. If you decide to use this software, you do so at your own risk. There are no warranties for this program either expressed or implied.