PCMania 47/PCMania CD47_1.iso/schiratt/readme.txt

Text File | 1996-05-29 | 15KB | 338 lines

+---------------------------------------------+
! SCHIRATTI COMMANDER DEMO VERSION - 30/05/96 !
+---------------------------------------------+

Welcome to the SCHIRATTI COMMANDER DEMO version!

With this version you will be able to try the majority most of the features
of the commercial version.
Here is a list of restrictions as compared the commercial version.

Some features will work in the DEMO AREA only (the area in the yellow
rectangle):

   * Any kind of data display (scenery, navaids, runways, etc.)
   * Scenery design
   * Routing

Other features are missing:

   * Scenery Delhi
   * Scenery Budapest
   * AirLAGO DC-9 (does not require any additional software!)
   * Scenery MAKER documentation (essential if you want to learn the SM's
     sceneries programming language)
   * IPX drivers to connect up to FIVE PCs in a ethernet network (you can
     try the RS-232 connection anyway)
   * TEXTURE utility to convert .PCX to .R8 (it to enhances the sceneries
     quality)
   * VID2PLT utility to convert standard Flight Simulator videos to .PLT
     files (needed to display on the screen a track - both horizontal and
     vertical - of your flights)
   * SC is sold all over the world in different localized versions: full
     english, german, italian, french, portuguese and spanish versions are
     available; in Japan you can buy SC with Japanese manual (and technical
     support), if you live on the moon please let us know: we are probably
     about to appoint a distributor there (and a localized version) for
     you as well!
   * This manual only contains a few basic instructions on how to setup
     and start using SC; the commercial version contains a complete manual
     as well as approach charts for Delhi and Budapest sceneries
   * Shareware version of UNIVBE VESA driver

WE DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXPERIMENT WITH SC's MANY CAPABILITIES: YOU WILL
FIND VERY EASY TO USE!

To order Schiratti Commander please contact:

In Canada and the U.S.A. (full english version):

The WizardWorks Group
3850 Annapolis Lane, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55447
USA
Phone:    [phone]
Fax:      [phone]
E-Mail:   [e-mail]
Web page: http://www.wizworks.com

In Japan (Japanese manual):

Twilight Express
3-1-1-301 Takiyama Higashikurume City
Tokyo, Japan 203
Phone:      [phone]
Fax:        [phone]
Compuserve: 100512,1641
E-Mail:     [e-mail]

Rest of the world (full english, german, italian, french and spanish
versions available):

LAGO SNC
P.O. BOX 293
22100 COMO, CO
ITALY
Phone:      [phone]
Fax:        [phone]
Compuserve: 100411,3660
E-Mail:     [e-mail]

WE HAVE DISTRIBUTORS ALL AROUND THE WORLD. JUST SEND US YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS
AND WE SHALL DIRECT YOU TO THE NEAREST DISTRIBUTOR.

Copyright (c) 1996 ENRICO SCHIRATTI, LAGO SNC
Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows(r) and Windows(r) 95 are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries.
Flight Simulator is a trademark of Bruce A. Artwick.
All trademarks and brands are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.

+--------------+
! INSTALLATION !
+--------------+

To install SCHIRATTI COMMANDER DEMO just type INSTALL from the directory
where you have found this document and follow on-screen instructions.

After the installation process will be completed, the SETUP program will
be automatically launched. Here you will set several options: here is a
rundown on their function.

Use the cursor keys to select the desired function, then activate it
using <ENTER>

DIRECTORIES:
Sets working directory names.
Main scenery directory:      This is where SC will search scenery files to
                             build its internal database.
Alternate scenery directory: Could be used if you keep also some
                             sceneries on the CD-ROM, network, etc.
Flight simulator directory:  This is where SC needs to find a valid version
                             of Flight Simulator.

RESOLUTION:
SC can display graphics with various resolutions from 640x480 up to 1280x1024
pixels. You do not have to select a special video board driver as SC tries to
find the correct one for you. If you experience any troubles in setting up
the resolution try to change the options "Use/Do not use VESA mode" and
"Use/Do Not use Alternate mode" and test the changes each time with the
appropriate option. If you still have troubles try to load a generic VESA
driver (the commercial version of SC includes the shareware version of
UNIVBE) before loading SC.

LPT PORT:
The port your printer is connected: this will be LPT1 for most users.

PRINTER:
The brand/model of your printer; note that SC knows a lot of printers,
including many colour models. If you cannot locate your printer in this
list, search in your printer manual for a list of emulated printers and
use one of those names here.

COM PORT:
The serial port you will use to connect to a second PC.

BAUD RATE:
The speed at which Flight Simulator and SC will communicate. If you have
fast hardware choose 4800 or 9600 but the communication will run better
at lower speeds. If you use very long cables you might have problems at
9600 baud.

IPX NETWORK:
Not enabled in the DEMO version.

COLORS:
This will let you change the colors SC uses to display some items: we have
included this option for the notebook/laptop users who may experience some
troubles with the default colors.

EXIT:
Returns to MS-DOS.

You can use SETUP at any time to change the settings; to load it, change to
SC directory where SC resides (usually c:\sc), type: SETUP and press <ENTER>

Now that the configuration has been done you can finally start SC for the
first time.

+------------------------------+
! STARTING SCHIRATTI COMMANDER !
+------------------------------+

SC needs to find all your scenery files and build its internal database. So
let's start SC and see how it looks like.
Please follow the instructions.

Windows(r) 3.x users:

   * Exit to MS-DOS now and follow instructions for MS-DOS users.

Windows(r) 95 users:

   * Open a full screen MS-DOS session and:

MS-DOS users:

   * Make sure you are in the directory where SC resides (usually c:\sc),
     type: SC and press <ENTER> to start the program.
   * The startup screen shows some information on your PC configuration,
     it is useful to double check your settings before contacting our
     technical support (sorry, there is not technical support for the
     DEMO version).

ALL users:

   * The first time you load SC you will see a box asking if you want to
     update the database: click on 'Yes' or press <Y> to continue.
     If you have already pressed <N> click on the [GENERAL/OPTIONS] menu and
     on the [IMPORT SCENERY DATABASE] in the [DATABASE] section before
     continue.

   * As this is the first time you entered the SC world it may take some
     minutes to build the internal database. This database contains a
     reference for each scenery found within the "Main" and "Alternate"
     scenery directories. The main purpose of the internal database is to
     speed up the redrawing process.

   * You will see a yellow box: this is the DEMO AREA where you will be able
     to use all the SC features.
     On the right there is a grey box - this is the main menu - and finally
     there is a grey box on the bottom of the screen.

   * The box on the bottom of the screen holds some information about the
     actual position which is displayed:
      > IN the first line you find the current latitude and longitude of
        the centre of the screen;
      > DIRECTLY next to it the magnetic variation of that spot;
      > NEXT to that, the current zoom factor, expressed either in nautical
        miles (NM) or kilometres (Km).
        (The zoom factor is the radius from the centre to the top of the
        screen).

Note: if you ADD or DELETE sceneries or if you MOVE them from the ORIGINAL
DIRECTORIES you will have to tell SC about the changes.
Use the [IMPORT SCENERY DATABASE] option in the [GENERAL/OPTIONS] menu to
instruct SC to recreate its internal database.

+---------------------------+
! USING SCHIRATTI COMMANDER !
+---------------------------+

POSITIONING
-----------
The basic function of SC is displaying the scenery files you have (BGL). All
the other functions use this part of the program as background.
First of all the DEMO version will present you the DEMO AREA by default, to
see the complete map of the world type <9> (remember that the DEMO version
will not show anything outside the DEMO AREA!!).
Positioning is just moving the centre of the screen to a different part of
the map. This is your focus point. If you zoom in, you will enlarge the area
surrounding the focus point. There are different ways to position the focus
point in the map.

WITH MOUSE:
Just point the mouse and left click: the map will shift so that the center
of your screen is on the mouse pointer.

WITH KEYBOARD:
You can use the <cursor> keys to move on the map. For faster positioning you
can also search any string in the database. Select [KEYWORD SEARCH] on
the menu or press <K> to activate it. SC will ask for a keyword (you must
type at least three letters), type "SAN" in this example because we want to
move to San Francisco airport. SC will now show a list with all the database
entries that contains "SAN". You will probably see some lines about San
Francisco airport but also about San Diego, Santa Monica, Santa Catalina, etc.
Now click on the line you want to move to and the item you have chosen will
be at the center of the screen. You can search for airports and navaids in
the database. You name it, SC will find it, as long as it is in the database.
Note: the results from [KEYWORD SEARCH] will show only the first THIRTY
objects found in the database: if you cannot locate the object you are
looking for, just do a new search with a longer string (try "SAN FRAN"
instead of "SAN").
If you press <ENTER> while in the selection menu, you will be automatically
taken the first list's entry.

There is also another way to position within SC. Press <L> and you will be
requested to type Latitude/Longitude coordinates where you want to place
the focus point (please note this version works only in the following
LAT/LON coordinates: N40 W125, N30 W114).

ZOOMING
-------
Now that we have the region of interest in the centre of the screen you might
want to zoom in. As for the position menu there are several ways to do this.

WITH MOUSE:
If you left click on a spot on the screen you will zoom in with a level of
about 10% greater. Using the right mouse button will zoom the scenery out.
Using <shift> key while clicking with the mouse will increment the zoom
factor by 20% (in or out) the actual zoom level.

WITH KEYBOARD:
The keys <1> to <0> on your keyboard are predefined zoom levels: press <9>
and you will see the whole world, press <1> and you will zoom in, the screen
width is now about 3 NM (5.556 Km). Pressing <0> you will see the whole world
and all settings are set to off.
You can also zoom in with the <+> key and out with the <-> key: for your best
convenience, try to use the <+> and <-> keys on your numeric keyboard.

WITH MENU:
Select [WINDOW] from the menu (or press <W>), the cursor will change into a
rectangle: left click on one of the corners of the 'region of interest', now
WITHOUT keeping the mouse button pressed move your cursor to the opposite
corner of the 'region of interest'. Left click again and SC will display the
selected area over the entire screen.
If you select [ZOOM] on the menu (or press <Z>) SC will ask for a value:
enter a valid number and it will become the radius expressed in nautical
miles (NM) or kilometers (Km) from the centre to the top of the screen.

GETTING HELP
------------
Select [HELP] on the menu or press <H> and you will get a simple help screen.
It will show you all the one-key commands that can be used in SC.

CREATING YOUR FIRST SCENERY
---------------------------
One of the most interesting features of SC is its ability to generate
standard Flight Simulator 5 sceneries. For your reference we have already
included a sample city - called Sampleville - created from scratch in
the south-east DEMO AREA.

To convert Sampleville from SC internal format (.SCO) to a standard Flight
Simulator scenery file (.BGL):

* Click on [DESIGN]
* Click on the [OPTIONS] item under the [DESIGN] menu
* Click on [LOAD] and select from the list SMPL_51 (or SMPL_50a depending
  on the Flight Simulator version you are using)
* A box stating "SMPL_5xx.SCO loaded" appears: press <ENTER>
* Now the screen will be redrawn to show you all the contents of Sampleville;
  just play around with the zooming options to see more in detail how the
  drawing looks like
* When you are ready to create the Flight Simulator scenery, click on
  [COMPILER] item under the [DESIGN] menu
* A box asking "Start FS5?" appears: click on 'Yes' or press <Y> to continue
* The Scenery MAKER compiler is then automatically invoked and, after the
  compilation process is completed, SC will automatically load Flight
  Simulator for you
* To place your airplane on the Sampleville 10 runway press <ALT><W> to open
  the [WORLD] menu, select [AIRPORTS] and press <ALT><C> to select a
  different scenery area. Select "SC SAMPLEVILLE" and you will see just
  one entry "SAMPLEVILLE RWY 10": double click on that item and you will be
  placed at Sampleville!

Slew around the area just to see how many details we have included. Exiting
Flight Simulator will take you back to SC in design mode: exactly where you
have left it! Try experimenting by adding any kind of objects and recompiling
to see how easy could be creating sceneries with Schiratti Commander/Scenery
Maker!

EXIT SCHIRATTI COMMANDER
------------------------
Clicking on this option is like pressing <ALT><X>. You will be prompted for a
confirmation and then SC will return to the MS-DOS prompt.

***END OF DOCUMENT***