Contents
Contents of AntiGame Plus [image] Help

Before Running AntiGame Plus

Starting AntiGame Plus

Menu Commands

Select Search Path

Search

Search and Clean

Search and Log

Stop Search

Log

Clear Screen

Exit AntiGame Plus

Add Database

Replace Database

AntiGamW Command Line

Unattended Mode

How Does AntiGame Plus Work

Adding New Games To AntiGame Plus Database

Using AntiGame Plus as a General Utility

Technical Support


Starting AntiGame
Starting AntiGame Plus

To start AntiGame Plus for Windows 95/98/NT (32 bit version), double-click the AntiGame Plus Win 95_98_NT icon (or run the ANTIGAMW.EXE command.)  To activate AntiGame Plus for Windows 3.1 (16 bit version), double-click the AntiGame Plus Win 3.1 icon (or run the AGAME31.EXE command.) The AntiGame Plus Main Window appears. As it loads, AntiGame Plus performs a self-check of its program files to verify their integrity.

For run time options and for activating AntiGame Plus in the background (Unattended Mode), please see the AntiGamW Command Line. Please see Unattended Mode for information on when to use the AntiGamW command and when to use the AntiGame command (under DOS.)

To activate the AntiGame DB Editor double-click the AntiGame Plus DB Editor icon or run the AGDBEDIT.EXE command (available for registered users only.) Shareware users evaluating AntiGame Plus, can view the AGDBEDIT.HLP help file for information on the AntiGame DB Editor.

Note: Unlike the AntiGame Plus utility which can run on most PC operating systems, the AntiGame DB Editor requires Windows 95 or above.

To run AntiGame Plus (for DOS), type AntiGame from the antigame directory (or From any other directory if path exists) and press <ENTER>. For DOS operating instructions, please read the document MANUAL.RTF.


AntiGame main window
AntiGame Plus Main Window

The main AntiGame Plus window appears when you start AntiGame.

See Menu Commands for all available Menu options.

The most common commands can be activated using the Tool Bar.

The games search path appears at the bottom of the screen.  To change the search path, press the Search Path button.

When AntiGame Plus searches for games, the search results appear in two areas:

The Report Area.

The Log information area.


Before Running AntiGame
Before Running AntiGame Plus

Before you run AntiGame Plus, it is strongly recommended that you take a backup of your data. Although the game "signature" recognition process is accurate, there is always a remote chance, that a non-game file will be deleted.

Before searching, a search path should be selected by the Search Path command.  The current search path is displayed at the bottom of the screen.  The default drive/path is the current drive.


Menu Commands

File

Save Log File

Print Log

Exit

Search

Search

Search and Clean

Search and Log

Stop

Tools

Set Search Path

Clear Screen

Add Database

Replace Database

Options

Check All Files

Check Compressed Files


File

Save Log File

Print Log

Exit


Search

Search

Search and Clean

Search and Log

Stop


Tools

Set Search Path

Clear Screen

Add Database

Replace Database


Options

Check All Files

Check Compressed Files


Help

Contents

About


   Search

The Search option scans the selected drive\path for games. If a game is found, the Game Information is displayed and you are presented with the option to clean the game (delete it from the disk) or continue without cleaning.

All the search activities are recorded in the Log area.

During the search all the control options are disabled except the Stop Button.

See also

Search and Clean

Search and Log

Tool Bar


  Search and Clean

The Search and Clean option scans the selected drive\path for games. If a game is found, the game files are cleaned (deleted) and the scan continues. USE THIS OPTION WITH CAUTION! It will delete all known games in the selected drive\path without any warning.

All the search activities are recorded in the Log area.

During the search all the control options are disabled except the Stop Button.

See also

Search

Search and Log

Tool Bar


  Search and Log

The Search and Log option scans the selected drive\path for games. If a game is found, the log is updated and the scan continues. We recommend that you use this option before using the Search and Clean option, so you can review the Log for a list of games to be deleted.

During the search all the control options are disabled except the Stop Button.

See also

Search

Search and Clean

Tool Bar


  Stop Button

It is always possible to stop the search by pressing the stop button. The log will display the games found till the search was aborted. This button is disabled when a search is not in progress.

See also

Tool Bar


Exit AntiGame
  Exit AntiGame Plus

Choose File|Exit or click the Exit icon on the tool bar to exit AntiGame Plus.

If the Log was not saved, you will be prompted with the option to either save it, or not to. If you choose Yes, you will be prompted with a Save screen and the Log will be saved to the selected file name.


Log File
 Log

The Log area contains the Game Information of each game that was found during the search and summary of the entire search.  The game data is scrollable.  It is possible to save the Log to a file using the File|Save Log File menu command.  If the Log is not saved, you will be prompted when you exit AntiGame Plus.

You can also print the Log using the File|Print Log menu command.

When AntiGame Plus is activated in Unattended Mode (using the /B switch of the AntiGamW Command), the log file is automatically saved to the path/name specified in the /F (or /F+) switch.


Tool Bar

The most common commands can be activated by clicking the icons in the tool bar.

See also

Search

Search and Clean

Search and Log

Stop Button

Exit AntiGame Plus


Select Search Path

The default search path is the root directory of the current disk. Use this option to select a different search path. AntiGame Plus will search for games in the selected directory and in its sub-directories.  The option can be activated by clicking on the Search Path Button or using the Tools|Set Search Path menu command.

The search path can be any combination of disk/path or a network drive name. The selected search path is displayed on the bottom of the screen.


Clear Screen

The Clear Screen option clears the report area and the Log area on the screen.  If you wish to keep the results of the last search, you should save the Log using the File|Save log file menu command before clearing the screen.


Add Database

Add a game database to the current database list.  AntiGame Plus will search for games (or other elements which are in the database) using all the selected databases (the default one + the added one(s)).  You may use the command multiple times and add multiple databases to the database list.  You must select the database from the open window.  Note that the database is added only for the current session.  If you exit AntiGame Plus and enter again, it will initialize with the default database list. If you wish to add a database each time you enter AntiGame Plus, you must use the AntiGamW Command.

The most common use of this function is to add a user-db game database to the default supplied game database.  Please see Adding New Games To AntiGame Plus Database for more information.


Replace Database

Replace the default game database with another.  AntiGame Plus will search for games (or other elements which are in the database) using the newly selected database.  You may use the command in conjunction with the Add Database command.  You must select the database from the open window.  Note that the database is replaced only for the current session.  If you exit AntiGame Plus and enter again, it will initialize with the default database list. If you wish to replace a database each time you enter AntiGame Plus, you must use the AntiGamW Command.

The most common use of this function is to use AntiGame Plus as a special search engine (general utility) for items other than games.  Please see Using AntiGame Plus as a General Utility for more information.


Check All Files

When Check All Files is on, AntiGame Plus checks ALL the files in the search path for the special signature.  By default only .EXE and .COM files are checked.

Use this option if you suspect that users rename the suffix of the game executable files.  Use of this option will significantly slow the search process.


MIF File

AntiGame Plus supports the Management Information Format standard. When Generate MIF File is on, AntiGame Plus writes the MIF signature group table entry of the main executable file of the game to the designated file. This can be later used by management software that supports the MIF format (e.g., Microsofts Systems Management Server).  Note that the Generate MIF File can only be set using a switch in the AntiGamW Command.

The output format is:

{Name, Size, Date & Time, Checksum, CRC1, CRC2, Loc};


Check Compressed Files

When "Check Compressed Files" is on, AntiGame Plus scans inside compressed files of the following types: ZIP, ARJ, LHA and RAR.

AntiGame Plus will decompress each file and scan for games. If Check All Files is on, every file in the compressed file will be scanned. Use of this option will SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW the search process if many compressed files exist.

Note:

In order for the "Check Compressed Files" option to function properly, the EXE files of those archive products  (pkunzip.exe, arj.exe, lha.exe and rar.exe) must be in a directory that is pointed by the PATH environment variable.  Also, the PIF files  (pkunzip.pif, arj.pif, lha.pif and rar.pif)  must reside in the "start in" directory (Windows 95) or the "working directory" (Windows 3.1).


Contacting DVD Software

You can contact DVD Software, Inc. at:

Tel:	949-376-6678

Fax:	949-376-6978

America Online:	AntiGame

Internet:	support@antigame.com

www.antigame.com

Mail:	DVD Software, inc.	2957 Terry Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

For technical problems, please read Before you contact DVD Software


Before You Contact DVD Software

If you are calling with a technical problem, please have the following information ready:

Program name and version number. What AntiGame version is used (DOS or Windows).

Type and brand of computer, hard disk, and any peripherals.

Versions of DOS and Windows.

Printouts of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files.

Printout of the network login script if activated from there.

The parameters of the AntiGame (or AntiGamW) command.

A description of the exact problem you are having. Please be as specific as possible.

See also

Contacting DVD Software.


Report Area

The Report Area on the main AntiGame Plus screen contains a summary of the search results.

During the search, the report area displays the Search Status.

When a game is found, the report area displays the Game Information.

When the search ends, the report area displays the Final Results.

The report area can be cleared using the Clear Screen command.


Adding New Games to AntiGame Database
Adding New Games To AntiGame Plus Database

The AntiGame Plus game database is updated 2-4 times a year by DVD Software and can be downloaded by licensed users from the web site.  However, if you discover games that are not detected by AntiGame Plus and you wish to add them to your game database, you can use the AntiGame DB Editor [image].  Please read the help file AGDBEDIT.HLP for information on the utility.

The AntiGame DB Editor allows you to create multiple game databases.  The most common way to add new games is to add them to a user-db (different than the main game database).  In this way it is easier to maintain the changes when a new release of the main AntiGame Plus game database is installed.

To activate the user-db you can use the Add Database command or the /N+ switch of the AntiGamW Command

Example

New games are added to the UsrGames.gdb file (using the AntiGame DB Editor). The following command is added to the user login script (as described in Unattended Mode):

AntiGamW C:\ /B /C /Y /O /W /FF:\gamelogs\%login_name.LOG

/N+UsrGames.gdb

AntiGame Plus will search the local drive (C) for games.  The search will include all the games in the default supplied games database + all the games that are defined in the UsrGames.gdb local database file. Note that when a new release of AntiGame is installed, you do not have to change the command. Any duplicates between the AntiGame Plus default database and UsrGames.gdb will be resolved by AntiGame Plus.


Using AntiGame as a General Utility
Using AntiGame Plus as a General Utility

AntiGame was originally designed to scan and delete games from disks.  However, the new AntiGame DB Editor expands AntiGame`s use to an important network administration tool.   Examples of use: Detecting old software versions on users` local disks (e.g., Word, user applications); or detecting copies of software which reside on users` disks and deleting them (as a preparation for an upgrade); or detecting unlicensed software copies.

You can create multiple AntiGame Plus databases for different purposes using the AntiGame DB Editor. To better understand how an AntiGame Plus database is created and maintained, please read the help file AGDBEDIT.HLP

To activate the newly created AntiGame Plus databases, you can use the Add Database and/or the Replace Database commands or the /N and/or /N+ switches of the AntiGamW Command

Example 1

New games are added to the UsrGames.gdb file. Special search items, like old releases of Word, are added to the items.gdb file. The following two commands are added to the user login:

AntiGamW C:\ /B /C /Y /O /W /FF:\gamelogs\%login_name.LOG

/N+UsrGames.gdb

AntiGamW C:\ /B /L /Y /O /FF:\utillogs\%login_name.LOG

/Nspecial.gdb

AntiGame Plus will search the local drive (C) for games. The search will include all the games in the default supplied games database + all the games that are defined in the UsrGames.gdb local database file. The games will be deleted. Next, AntiGame Plus will scan the disk for all the items defined in the special.gdb file. Any item found will not be deleted - it will be logged in the utillogs directory, under a file name identical to the user login.

Example 2

Special search items due for deletion are added to the todelete.gdb file. Special search items which only need to be detected  (but not to be deleted), are added to the track.gdb file.  The following two commands are added to the user login script:

AntiGamW C:\ /B /C /Y /O /FF:\dellogs\%login_name.LOG

/Ntodelete.gdb

AntiGamW C:\ /B /L /Y /O /FF:\utillogs\%login_name.LOG

/Ntrack.gdb

AntiGame Plus will search the local drive (C). The search will include all the items in the todelete.gdb file. The items will be deleted. Next, AntiGame Plus will scan the disk for all the items defined in the track.gdb file. Any item found will not be deleted - it will be logged in the utillogs directory, under a file name identical to the user login.


Game Information

When a game is found, the following information is displayed:

Game found	- The name of the main .EXE file of the game.

Description	- A short description. Usually, the name of the game.

Exe size	- The size in bytes of the main .EXE file of the game.

Files found	- Number of files found that belong to the game.

Total game size	- Total size of all the game files in bytes.


Search Status

During the search, the following information is displayed in the Report Area

Games found	- The number of games found.

Games deleted	- The number of games deleted.

Files deleted	- The number of files deleted.

Bytes deleted	- Total size of the files deleted in bytes.

Search path 	- The search path.


Final Results

When the search is finished, the following information is displayed in the Report Area

Files checked	- Total number of files that were checked.

Games found	- Total number of games that were found.

Total size 	- Total size of games in bytes.

Files deleted	- Total number of files that were deleted.

Bytes deleted	- Total size of files that were deleted in bytes.


AntiGamW Command Line

The AntiGamW command line options are:

ANTIGAMW [Search path] [/S] [/C] [/L] [/B] [/Y] [/O] [/W] [/Z] [/A] [/Xexclude] [/Mfilename] [/Flogfile][/F+logfile][/Ndatabase.gdb] [/N+database.gdb]

Search path 	Disk/path or network drive name to begin the search.

/S	Search mode.

/C	Search and Clean mode.

/L	Search and Log mode.

/B	Unattended Mode - Does not display the GUI. Exits AntiGame Plus upon completion. This mode should be executed with /C or /L only.

/F	Set the log file name.

/F+	Set the log file name - the log data will be appended to the current content of the file.

/O	Create Log Only if games are found.

/Y	Automatic "yes" answers to all safety prompts issued by AntiGame Plus. Should be used with caution!

/W	Wipes the games .exe files so they cannot be recovered by an undelete utility.

/A	Check All Files. (By default only .exe and .com files are checked).

/M	Create a MIF File and set the MIF file name (specify a complete path.)

/Z	Check Compressed Files.

/X	The filename of a file that contains the names of games and files to be excluded from the search (so they will not be deleted.)  The game file name should be specified without the path. For example: tetris.exe

/N	Replace the current (default) game database with a new game database (specify a complete path.)

/N+	Add Database to the current game database list (specify a complete path.)

All command line options can be specified in either upper case or lower case.

Examples:

AntiGamW F:\ /XF:\antigame\exclude.txt /a /z

AntiGame Plus will search all files in drive (F) for games. Compressed files will be decompressed and all their contents checked as well. The file EXCLUDE.TXT (in the directory "F:\antigame") contains a list of all the file names that should be excluded from the search (one line for each file name).

AntiGamW C:\ /B /L /Y /O /FC:\SMS\antigame.LOG /MC:\SMS\ANTIGAME.MIF

AntiGame Plus will run in the background (in Unattended Mode), search the local drive (C) for games, log all games found in the file C:\SMS\antigame.LOG (only if games are found), for each game found will write an entry in the file C:\SMS\ANTIGAME.MIF and then will exit without any prompt.


Unattended Operation
Unattended Mode

AntiGame Plus can be activated in an Unattended Mode.  In fact, it is the most common implementation method of AntiGame Plus. When activated in unattended mode, the graphic user interface is not displayed and the program operation is completely hidden from the user.

Following are common implementation techniques, which make use of the Unattended Mode:

1.    Scheduling AntiGame Plus to run every night from an authorized PC and scan the contents of all server drives.

2.    From an NT server (or any other network operating system that supports remote access to local disks) schedule AntiGame Plus to run every night and scan all users' local disks.

3.    Insert the AntiGamW  (or AntiGame) command as part of the login procedure of the user and scan the local disk(s) for games (or other items).

To activate the unattended mode, use the /B switch of the AntiGamW (or AntiGame) Command Line.  Use it together with the /L (Search and Log) or the /C  (Search and Clean) switch.  A log file is automatically created with the default file name: Antigame.log. This name can be changed using the /F or /F+ switch.

The AntiGamW command and the AntiGame command - When to use each one.

This paragraph discusses the issue of which of the AntiGame commands one should use when running in Unattended Mode.  The AntiGamW Command should be used under Windows 95/98/NT or under any environment where the network login process is activated under Windows (32 bit only).  The AntiGame command activates a DOS program and therefore should be used only in cases where the Windows environment is not active.  For example: during Novel network login under Windows 3.1. For more information about the AntiGame (DOS) command, please read the document MANUAL.RTF.  Pay special attention to the sections titled: The AntiGame Command Line and Unattended mode.

Note: You can use the Agame31 command under Windows 3.1, but not in unattended mode.

The following Examples are from a Novell login script, but similar mechanisms should be used in other network operating systems (like NT and Banyan).

Example 1

Insert the following command in the user login script:

AntiGamW C:\ /B /C /Y /O /W /FF:\gamelogs\%login_name.LOG

AntiGame Plus will search the local drive (C) for games, will wipe them, log all its activities in the file F:\Gamelogs\%login_name.LOG (only if games are found) and then will exit without any prompt. Note that "%login_name" variable (which is a Novell script variable) will be replaced upon execution (by the script) with the Novell login name of the user.  As a result, a separate log file is created for each PC user.

Example 2

If you do not wish to activate AntiGame Plus every day (on local drives), you can use the following sample code (Novell login script):

IF DAY='xx' THEN BEGIN

#ANTIGAMW ......

END

(xx is 01 to 31)

 or

IF DAY_OF_WEEK='MONDAY' THEN BEGIN

#ANTIGAMW ....

END

Stand Alone PC's

If the PC is stand alone, then simply insert the AntiGame command (with the /B option) as part of the PC start-up procedure (e.g., in AUTOEXEC.BAT). In such case, AntiGame Plus must be installed on the PC local drive (if a PC is connected to the network, AntiGame can reside on the network server and no software needs to be installed on the PC.


How Does AntiGame Work
How Does AntiGame Plus Work?

AntiGame Plus searches through the files in the specified search path for a special unique "signature".  These signatures are held in the AntiGame Plus database, which already includes thousands of the most popular games.  The file signatures are not based on file name, so, simply renaming a game will not prevent its detection. AntiGame Plus can report the games in a log or, if desired, it can erase the games from the disk.

AntiGame Plus can delete games under Windows 3.X, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, OS/2 and DOS. AntiGame Plus supports all major PC networks (Novell, Banyan, LAN Manager and Windows NT).


Save Log

The contents of the Log window can be saved to disk.  Note that the Log File is saved automatically only when AntiGame Plus is activated in Unattended Mode


Print Log

Print the Log to the default printer.