Cream of the Crop 1/Cream of the Crop 1.iso/GAMES/RRSWITCH.ARJ/RRSWITCH.DOC

Text File | 1992-05-26 | 17KB | 336 lines

                   RRSWITCH:  RAILROAD SWITCHING CHALLENGE
                    Version 6.S,(c) 1982-92, Fred Miller


          │   NOTE: This is a SHAREWARE evaluation VERSION.
          │   See instructions later in this document for
          │   ordering the REGISTERED version with additional
          │   layouts, printed manual, and a utility program.

          ┌──────────────┐
          │ INTRODUCTION │
          └──────────────┘

          RAILROAD SWITCH CHALLENGE is a PC program designed to
          challenge the best of the armchair way freight train crews.
          The game objective of RRSWITCH is to move railroad freight
          cars along simulated tracks to industry locations, and
          subsequently assemble a departing freight train on the
          mainline track.  Several different "layouts" are available
          including one patterned after John Allen's TIMESAVER.

          RRSWITCH was originally written in 1982.  Since that time
          the program has undergone a number of changes and
          improvements including better graphics, color, optional
          mouse controls, etc.  This version runs on MS-DOS based PCs
          (IBM Compatible), CGA or better color graphics, and
          optionally makes full use of a Microsoft Compatible two or
          three button Mouse.  Although RRSWITCH will operate on the
          original IBM PC (or TANDY 1000), the higher speeds of later
          PCs provide for faster graphics movement.  The program will
          operate on DOS 2.11 or better on a machine with at least
          256K.

          The program requires the following files: RRSWITCH.EXE,
          RRSWITCH.OV0, RRSWITCH.OV1, RRSWITCH.DAT and at least one
          layout file (RRSWITCH.L01 included with Shareware verson).
          The game save file RRSWITCH.TAB will be created if not
          already resent.  This file, RRSWITCH.DOC, is not necessary
          for program operation.

          ┌────────────────────────┐
          │ OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS │
          └────────────────────────┘

          An abbreviated version of these instructions is available in
          the "on-screen" tutorial, accessible from the MAIN MENU.
          RRSWITCH - Railroad Switching Challenge is activated from
          the DOS command line by typing 'RRSWITCH', for example if
          running from the diskette your DOS command line would be
          A>RRSWITCH.

          The RRSWITCH logo and MAIN MENU will be displayed with five
          choices presented in a bar formatted Menu.  The selected
          choice will be highlighted and can be changed with the
          left/right arrow keys, space bar, the first letter of the
          desired option, or clicking a Mouse button over the choice.

          The MAIN MENU selections are:

          OPERATE    - To begin the actual train switching operations
                       on the configured layout,
          CONFIGURE  - Set various RRSWITCH operating parameters such
                       as screen colors, timer functions and values,
                       layout selections, etc.  (More specific
                       descriptions are provided later in this
                       document.)
          TUTORIAL   - Learn from an on-screen abbreviated version of
                       these instructions,
          DEMO       - To begin a fully automated demonstration of a
                       switching challenge.
          QUIT       - End RRSWITCH and return to DOS command line.

          ┌──────────────────┐
          │ TRAIN OPERATIONS │
          └──────────────────┘

          After selecting "OPERATION" from the MAIN MENU, the program
          will ask for the engineer's initials.  (DEM will be used for
          DEMO mode.) Three non-blank keystrokes are required.  The
          engineer's identification will be displayed on the screen
          and also posted in RRSWITCH.TAB with the game description,
          date and scores, if the SAVE option is toggled ON.  The
          engineer's ID can be changed at any time with the
          appropriate menu selection.

          The configured layout will be loaded and initialized, and
          then the Challenge Begins!

          Switching assignments must be accomplished in a minimum of
          moves and with a minimum of demerits within a prescribed
          time limit.  These assignments are generated in a random
          fashion, usually not repeating for many runs. Moves are
          counted for each change in direction of the engine.
          Demerits are accumulated by running off the end of a track,
          by hitting (or trying to push) a car not coupled to the
          current train/engine, or by running a track switch not
          appropriately set to the train route.

          New (or repeated) switching assignments are generated and
          displayed in the upper left of the track layout screen.  A
          running total of moves and demerits is displayed in the
          upper right portion of the screen, along with the time
          expended.

                                                         ┌───┬───┬───┐
          The numeric keypad (keys as shown at right) is │ 7 │ 8 │ 9 │
          used to control all train action.  One hand    ├───┼───┼───┤
          control becomes second nature after a few      │ 4 │ 5 │ 6 │
          trial runs. (Note that the NUMERIC LOCK and    ├───┼───┼───┤
          CAPS LOCK modes are automatically set and re-  │ 1 │ 2 │ 3 │
          eased by the program.)                         └───┴───┴───┘

          Routes are set by first selecting a switch with KEY-7, then
          setting the upper route with KEY-8, or the lower route with
          KEY-2.

          Couplers are set by first selecting a coupling position with
          KEY-9, then uncoupling with KEY-1, or coupling with KEY-3.

          The engine is moved Westbound by KEY-4, and Eastbound by
          KEY-6.

          All activity can also be controlled with a Microsoft
          compatible two or three button Mouse.  The middle button (or
          simultaneous left and right buttons) when pressed with the
          mouse cursor (RR Crossing Symbol) appropriately placed, will
          toggle switch settings and couplers.

          Left or right mouse buttons pressed while the cursor is over
          the engine will cause the train to move Westbound or
          Eastbound, respectively.  By holding the buttons down, and
          "dragging" the cursor along the tracks, the train can be
          kept in motion.

          Pressing any button over the WEST and EAST notations on the
          bottom of the screen will also move the train.

          ┌─────────────────┐
          │ THE POP-UP MENU │
          └─────────────────┘

          KEY-5 is used to access a pop-up menu displayed in the
          center of the screen.  Any mouse button pressed with the
          cursor at the bottom message line will also access the
          pop-up menu. Current game action may be continued after
          executing the various menu options.

          The pop-up menu functions and mode options are selected by
          pressing the designated key, or by moving the highlighted
          bar to  the selection with the up/down arrow keys, and then
          pressing [ENTER].

          The mouse buttons can also select options and
          "double-clicking" will activate the selection without the
          need for [ENTER].

          The Pop-up Menu selections available are:

          [S] = START a new switching assignment,
          [R] = RESTART the same assignment from the beginning,
          [C] = CONTINUE the current assignment,
          [P] = Manually POSITION the cars on the layout to set
                up a specific assignment,
          [L] = LIST previously saved scores, and optionally select a
                previously recorded assignment to rerun,
          [I] = Change Engineer's IDENTIFICATION,
          [D] = DISPLAY the scoring goals set for current assignment,
          [S] = SELECT (another) layout, (only #1 included in this
                Shareware version.
          [Q] = QUIT the challenge and return to the MAIN MENU.

          ┌─────────────────────────┐
          │ PROGRAM STARTUP OPTIONS │
          └─────────────────────────┘

          RAILROAD SWITCH CHALLENGE is started from DOS by typing
          'RRSWITCH'.  Various command line options may also be set at
          start-up.  These selections will override any start-up
          selections previously set in the CONFIGURE function.
          The following run options can be included on the command
          line by typing the parameters after RRSWITCH:

          O = Start RRSWITCH and go directly to train OPERATE,
              bypassing the MAIN MENU.
          T = Start RRSWITCH and go directly to the on-screen
              TUTORIAL, by passing the MAIN MENU.
          D = Start RRSWITCH with an automated DEMONSTRATION
              assignment, by passing the MAIN MENU.
          C = Start RRSWITCH with CONFIGURATION function, by-
              passing MAIN MENU.

          Note that upper or lower case can be used and that no
          punctuation, (comma) is necessary.  For example, a DOS
          command of 'RRSWITCH D' would start the program in automatic
          demonstration mode.  A command line entry of 'rrswitch d'
          would give the same results.

          ┌───────────────────────┐
          │ ASSIGNMENT GENERATION │
          └───────────────────────┘

          A number of alternative approaches to generation of each new
          switching assignment are possible.  The default at startup
          (or selection from the pop-up menu) is NEW, a completely
          random generation of car placements.  In addition, a
          previous assignment may be selected for replay from the
          RRSWITCH.TAB file through use of the LIST/SELECT option on
          the menu.  And still another alternative is that of manual
          specific car placement by use of the <P> POSITION option on
          the menu.

          Whichever assignment generation approach is used, the car
          placement can be immediately regenerated either during or
          immediately after completion by using the <R> RESTART option
          on the menu.

          ┌───────────────────┐
          │ RRSWITCH.TAB FILE │
          └───────────────────┘

          When the Save Score option is toggled on, the final results
          of each switching assignment will be written to a file named
          RRSWITCH.TAB.  The contents of this file can also be
          displayed at any time from the OPERATIONs pop-up menu.  The
          file can also be edited with any ASCII text editor to delete
          entries, etc. If the file does not exist, a new one will be
          created if scores are saved.

          The format of each record (line) of the RRSWITCH.TAB file
          is:
          Positions  1-2  = Layout Number (not displayed on screen)
          Position   4-6  = Engineer's Identification
          Positions  8-15 = Date stamp
          Position  17-19 = Total score
          Position  21-25 = Score evaluation
          Position  27-35 = Starting car locations, e.g., 240000005
                            means car 1 at location 2, car 2 at 4, and
                            car 9 at 5. A '0' location means the car
                            is not placed.

          Note that the Starting car locations are described in the
          same format as would be called for in using the manual car
          positioning mode ("P" on the pop-up menu)

          ┌───────────────────────┐
          │ SETTING CONFIGURATION │
          └───────────────────────┘

          Many of the operating characteristics can be set in the
          Configuration Function accessed from the MAIN MENU.  Each of
          the options or parameters are selected using the up/down
          arrow keys, the first letter of the option, or clicking over
          the selection with any Mouse button.

          The selected or active option or parameter is hi-lighted.
          For multiple value parameters, the values are cycled
          (forward and backward) by the left and right arrow keys or
          (forward) by Mouse button or [ENTER] key.

          Some of the available options are:

            -  For appropriately equipped CGA screens (TANDY 1000) or
               EGA and VGA screens, each of the four colors of the CGA
               palette can be set to any of sixteen colors.

            -  The Musical Emphasis (sound on errors) can be cycled ON
               or OFF

            -  The Timer function which counts down to zero on any one
               switching assignment can be cycled ON or OFF.

            -  If the Timer function is ON, the time allowed per car
               can be set at 10 second intervals (Eg 10, 20, 30....
               through 90)

            -  The Mouse can be ENABLED or DISABLED.  Note that an
               appropriate Microsoft compatible driver must be loaded
               for the Mouse function to be ENABLED.

            -  The automatic GAME SCORE SAVING feature can be cycled
               ON or OFF. When this feature is ON, the game score will
               be saved at completion of the challenge as shown above
               in the description of RRSWITCH.TAB.  The saved score
               facilitates reconstruction of previous games, useful
               for Switching Contests, etc.

            -  The CONFIGURATION settings can be reset to the STANDARD
               values or the previously saved DEFAULT values.

            -  The CONFIGURATION settings can be saved (to file) as
               the DEFAULT values loaded each time RRSWITCH is run.

            -  Exiting the CONFIGURATION function without saving the
               values will leave the selections in effect only as long
               as RRSWITCH is operating (until exiting to DOS).

          ┌──────────────┐
          │ REGISTRATION │
          └──────────────┘

          The Shareware version (6.S) is made available for evaluation
          purposes.  If you enjoy the program and continue using it after
          30 days, you should register your copy.  The Shareware program
          including this file may be freely copied for distribution, how-
          ever all of the included 9 files must be kept intact.

          The complete registered version of RRSWITCH (VERSION 6.1) is
          available from CHALLENGE PRODUCTS for $25.00, shipping and
          handling included, (NJ Residents add sales tax).  Checks and
          Money Orders draw on US funds are accepted.

          Version 6.1 includes five layouts:  One similar to the John
          Allen TIMESAVER (and used in the DEMO mode and included with
          this Shareware version); another one similar to that published
          in Model Railroader Magazine, January 1991, by Gordon Odegard,
          called Portage Potpourri; a contest switching practice layout
          developed with Bob Fink for NMRA switching contest support; a
          simple one-directional yard layout (a good starter for
          beginners); and a complex yard switching layout to really
          challenge the yard crews.

          A utility program to maintain the RRSWITCH.TAB file will be
          included with the REGISTERED version along with a printed
          OPERATIONS MANUAL.

          Comments and suggestions for enhancements are always welcome
          and may be forwarded to the author at CompuServe address
          72207,3273, or:

                            CHALLENGE PRODUCTS
                            FRED MILLER
                            7 TEMPLAR WAY
                            PARSIPPANY, NJ 07054

          Enjoy!