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  Red Alert Mapview version 0.2 beta (30/08/97)
  Copyright (c) 1997 by Erik Deppe
  email: erikd@glo.be
  website: http://user.glo.be/~erikd/redalert.htm
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  0. What's new      
  1. Disclaimer and Legal Notes
  2. Introduction
  3. System Requirements
  4. Installation
  5. Using Red Alert Mapview
  5. To Do List
  6. Known Bugs
  7. Support
  8. Credits

  0. What's new
  -------------
  * version 0.2 beta: - support for SNOW maps
                      - bug fixed wich caused the program to crash
                        in some occasions
  * version 0.1 beta: first release

  1. Disclaimer and Legal Notes
  -----------------------------
  You may freely redistribute this archive as long as it contains all
  files listed below, intact and unmodified.

  	raview.exe
        temperat.dat
        snow.dat
        build.dat
        palet.dat
	install.exe
        raview.txt (this file)

  The author of this program accepts no responsibility for damages that
  may be caused by this program and makes NO WARRANTY or representation,
  either express or implied, with respect to this software.  This software
  is provided "AS IS," and you, its user, assume the entire risk when you
  use it.

  All registered trademarks in this document belong to their respective
  owners.

  2. Introduction
  ---------------
  With this program you can view both single and multiplayer maps. Some
  of the features are:

  * fast loading and viewing 
  * zoom function (= changing screen resolution)
  * high display resolutions
	 320 x 200 (RA DOS)
	 640 x 400 (RA Win95)
	 640 x 480
	 800 x 600
	1024 x 768
  * save an entire map to a BMP file
  * no support for INTERIOR maps yet

  use of this program:

  + to cheat :)
    When you know how the entire map looks like, it's much easier to build
    a strategy.
    You can see hidden object wich you normally only see when it's too late,
    like mines and submarines.
  + as a utilty for creating maps
    When you make a map with a text editor you can check if the output is
    like you expected.

  In both cases saving the map as a BMP file and printing it out might be
  a good help.

  3. System Requirements
  ----------------------
  Required:
  
  * 486 DX with 8 MB RAM
  * VGA video card
  * 6 MB disk space
  * XMS driver (like himem.sys)
  * original C&C: Red Alert CD's (US version)

  Recommended:

  * Pentium 100 with 16 MB RAM
  * fast VESA 1.2 or higher compatible SVGA video card

  4. Installation
  ---------------
  Unzip the archive into a new directory and run install.

  During the installation one of the RA CD's must be in your CD ROM drive.
  The files temperat.mix, snow.mix and conquer.mix will be extracted from
  the main.mix file from the CD.
  Then the program searches for the redalert.mix file in x:\westwood\redalert 
  where x represents all available drives.
  If you have this file in a different directory you will need to set the
  location manually in the raview.ini file wich will be created after
  installation.

  You must then edit this file to specify wich screen resolutions you want
  to use.
  Although the program detects wich video modes your videocard is capable
  of, it cannot detect wether your monitor will support these modes.
  Therefore it is important to check your monitor manual to see what the
  highest resolution is your monitor can display.
  WARNING: Using a higher resolution may damage your monitor.

  5. Using Red Alert Mapview
  --------------------------
  Mapview is a DOS based program, but it also works fine under Windows 95.

  To start Mapview type at the DOS prompt:

	raview <mapfile.ini>[.mpr]

  All available display modes will be displayed.
  After the needed memory is allocated, the program will start loading the
  graphics and building the map. This will take a few seconds, depending on 
  the size of the maps. If you run this program under DOS prompt only, it is
  highly recommended to use a caching prgram like smartdrive (this is not
  needed under Windows 95). Even a small value like 256k can make a
  significant improvement (see NOTE 1).

  The program will start in the lowest resolution (320 x 200) wich is 
  supported by all compatible VGA cards.

  commands:
   cursor keys: move around
   F2: 		save map to BMP file named redalert.bmp (see NOTE 2)
   F5,F6: 	change scrolling speed from 1 to 10 (default)
   F9,F10: 	zoom in/out by changing the screen resolution
   ESC: 	quit to DOS
   *:           refresh screen

  NOTES
  1) The extended memory needed by Mapview depends on the size of the map.
     The largest map I've came across is 96x96 wich uses about 6 MB.
     You will have to put this in consideration when you run this program
     in DOS prompt only and only have 8 MB RAM. When you're in Windows 95
     this should not be a problem since it uses the HD when it runs out of 
     memory.
  2) The BMP files produced by Mapview are very large, so you must make sure
     you have enough diskspace.
     The diskspace needed can be calculated as followed:
    
		MapX * MapY * 576 + 1078 bytes

  5. To Do List
  -------------

  * support for interior maps
  * use of higher resolutions
  * support for all Red Alert versions
  * filename selection of BMP file
  * make a Windows 95 version

  6. Known bugs
  -------------
  none found so far

  7. Support
  ----------
  The latest info will be published on my website.
  You can send comments and bug reports to my email address.

  8. Credits
  ----------

  * Gavin Pugh (rascenedit@geocities.com) for making 
	the RED ALERT scenario creation guide
    &	the RED ALERT file formats guide

  * Moritz Mertinkat (Moehrchen@t-online.de) for making RA-MIXer	

  and ofcourse Westwood for making one of the greatest games ever!


  Have fun :)
