MOTD-Edit Help File [version 0.6]
	About MOTD-Edit
	The Main Screen
	The Menu System
	The Favorite Character Button Bar
	The Favorite Character Selection Screen
	The Format Specifier Button Bar
	The MOTD Viewer
	The Character Selection Grid
	The Common Command Button Bar
	Text Formatting Options
	MOTD-Edit Settings
	About Format Specifiers
	Other Noteworthy MOTD-Edit Functions
	Contacting Me, Seeking Additional Help
	Links, And Other Related Information
	Glossary
	Version Revision Information

About MOTD-Edit
==========================================================================
MOTD-Edit was originally designed to work exclusively the Viking mod for
Quake2. I have since coded it to be as generic as possible, allowing it to
be customized for any other mod that uses the high ascii characters of the
Quake 2 character set. It works on the same principal as Notepad, but 
displays all of the characters and high-ascii as it would be graphically 
displayed in Quake2 when using the mods that are equipped to center print
the text on startup. It was made to edit Message Of The Day files, which
are displayed at startup-connection to a server, and is customizable by
the server operators. 

The Main Screen
==========================================================================
It works just like an editor with the Keyboard fully utilized, and the
Mouse may select any of the characters from the character grid at the
bottom of the main screen. A full description of Keyboard functions are
defined in the character selection below. 
The Menu System is similar to Notepad, with the addition of Format 
Options, Settings, and the Export Bitmap option. 
On the left is the Common Command Bar which provides quick access to the
common menu options. 
At the top is the Favorite Character Bar, which is customizable, and
provides quick access to 20 of the most used characters.
Just below that bar is the Format Specifier Bar which is customizable.
This is an advanced feature that may or may not be available in the mod
you are making the MOTD for.
The MOTD Viewer is center printed, and updated as changes are made.
Basically it handles 9 lines of text, 32 characters in length, which is
customizable. 
The Character Selection Grid displays the characters that are used by
Quake 2, and the mouse is used to select them.
At the bottom is the Status Bar, which displays some vital information
about the MOTD, and a few hints as well.

The Menu System
==========================================================================
File
	New
		This clears the MOTD Viewer area and you are ready to 
		create a new MOTD.
	Save As
		This calls the Save As dialog boxes. See your mods 
		documentation on where to save the MOTD.
	Load
		This calls the Open dialog boxes. Simply go to the 
		directory of the mod and select the MOTD to load.
	Exit
		Exits the program.
Format
	Color 
		Color1 to Color2
		Color2 to Color1
		Switch Color
			See the Text Formatting Options section of this 
			help file for the various options of color 
			changing.
	Case
		Lower to Upper
		Upper to Lower
		Switch Case
			See the Text Formatting Options section of this 
			help file for the various options of case 
			changing.
Export
	Bitmap of MOTD
		This allows you to make a snapshot of the MOTD Viewer, and
		you select where to save the bitmap.
View
	Toolbar
	Favorite Button Bar
	Format Specifier Bar
		These are either checked or unchecked. Checked means the
		bar is visible, and unchecked hides the bar.
Tools
	Change Settings
		Brings up the MOTD Edit Settings window.
Help
	About MOTD Edit
		Just a small window for info About MOTD Edit.
	Help File
		This help file.
	Register
		If the program is registered this is not selectable, 
		otherwise this is an easy way to enter the registration 
		codes that I provide after the registration fee is paid.

The Favorite Character Button Bar
==========================================================================
The Favorite Character Button Bar allows you quick access to user defined
characters. Left Clicking places the character at the current character
position, and Right Clicking will bring up the Favorite Character
Selection Screen which allows you to choose what the character is.
This button bar may be hidden via the Menu, or by clicking the right end
of the bar and selecting the Favorite Character menu option to hide it.


The Favorite Character Selection Screen
==========================================================================
The Favorite Character Selection Screen shows the old Favorite Character
in the solid red box, and left clicking will choose a new one. You may
click the Reset button to retrieve the old Favorite Character. Click OK to
choose the character in the Red box, or Cancel to quit the process and
undo the changes made. The Characters that are Red-Crossed Out Circle are
not valid characters, and may not be selected.

The Format Specifier Button Bar
==========================================================================
The Format Specifiers that are disabled will be grayed out, but the ones
that are enabled will be selectable. Right Clicking on the specific Format
Specifier will bring up the Format Specifier Settings window where you
can change the actuall purpose and char the Format Specifier will use.
Left Clicking will insert the Graphic of the button, and will be replaced
in the MOTD when viewed by Quake 2 as the Format Specifier that the Quake
2 mod uses.
Please consult the mods documentation for what the characters are, and how
the correspond the the letters that you select as the character
replacement in the MOTD.
This button bar may be hidden via the Menu, or by clicking the right end
of the bar and selecting the Format Specifiers menu option to hide it.

The MOTD Viewer
==========================================================================
The position of the cursor is displayed by a green box at the top half of
the screen, and the numerical value is displayed in the status bar at the
bottom right.

The Character Selection Grid
==========================================================================
As the mouse moves over the bottom half of the screen, the character grid,
the green box will follow the position of the mouse pointer and surround
the character the will be selected if the mouse is clicked. Characters
that are Red-Crossed Out Circle are not selectable, because of the nature
of the printing functions internal to Quake2.

Summary of Keyboard Functions
	CTRL
		Depressing and holding the CTRL key will force all keys
		pressed to be displayed as the secondary color of the
		character that is pressed. CTRL and F1 through F8 places
		a few of the common symbols as well.
	CapsLock
		Enables or disables the keys pressed to be capitalized.
		Status displayed in the status bar.
	Shift
		Depressing and holding the Shift key will capitalize all
		keys pressed.
	Insert
		Enables or disables inserting or overwriting of characters
		from the current cursors position. Status displayed in the
		status bar.
	Home
		Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line of
		text.
	End
		Moves the cursor to the end of the current line of text.
	Arrow Keys
		Moves the cursor through the text, left-right, and up and
		down through the lines in the MOTD Viewer.
	Enter
		Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next line of 
		text.
	Backspace
		Deletes the preceding character in the text.
	Delete
		Deletes the character at the cursors position.

The Common Command Button Bar
==========================================================================
This bar may be hidden via a Right Click or by selecting View-Toobar. 

The Common Command Button Bar provides quick access to the most common
menu functions in the following order:

	File-New
	File-Save As
	File Load
	Format-Color-To Color1
	Format-Color-To Color2
	Format-Color-Switch
	Format-Case-To Upper
	Format-Case-To Lower
	Format-Case-Switch
	Export-Bitmap of MOTD
	Tools-Change Settings
	Help-About MOTD Edit
	Help-Help File

Text Formatting Options
==========================================================================
Formatting options exist by way of the Format menu, and can be used to
change the case or color of any or all of the lines of text in the MOTD.
The following dialog box appears when selecting the formatting options
which asks if you wish to perform the format change to all, or just the
current line you are working on.

	Color-To Color1
		This converts the character that are the secondary color
		(green) to the primary color (white).
	Color-To Color2
		This converts the character that are the primary color
		(white) to the secondary color (green).
	Color-Switch
		This converts the character that are the secondary color
		(green) to the primary color (white), and the characters
		that are the primary color (white) to the secondary color
		(green).
	Case-To Upper
		This converts the characters to their UPPER case
		equivalent.
	Case-To Lower
		This converts the characters to their lower case
		equivalent.
	Case-Switch
		This switches UPPER case to lower case, and vise versa to
		the characters equivalent.

MOTD-Edit Settings
==========================================================================
Use the settings to configure MOTD Edit on the fly. The changes to the
settings are applied when the OK button is depressed. Clicking Reset will
rest the options to their original values, and Cancel will cancel any
changes made.

	Maximum Lines
		The number of lines in the MOTD Viewer is configurable
		between 9 and 20. This is useful for MOTD's that 
		completely fill the screen. The default is 9 lines.
	Maximum Length
		The number of characters per line in the MOTD Viewer is
		configurable between 8 and 32. This is useful for very
		small displays.
	Use Format Specifiers
		This enables or disables the Format Specifiers Bar. Some
		Quake 2 mods utilize these, but not all. Refer to the
		documentation of the mod for what is does allow. Default
		is true.
	Total Format Specifiers
		This sets the total number of Format Specifiers on the
		Format Specifier Bar that are utilized. This is 
		configurable between 1 and 20. 2 is the default value if
		the Format Specifiers are enable.

About Format Specifiers
==========================================================================
If the mod allows for Format Specifiers you should enabled in the Settings
window and a description and graphic will be displayed on the Format
Specifiers window.

	Char
		This is the char that will be replaced in the "%" format
		specifier text. Common usage of this may the persons name,
		in which the Format Specifier may be the letter "n". 
	Description
		This is a general description of the Format Specifiers
		purpose. Using the same example as the letter "n" for the
		char, the description could be entered as "Players Name".
	Special note on the graphic associated with each Format 
	Specifiers. The graphic is numerated between 1 and 10, with 
	alternating colors between white and green. The mod may utilize
	this by printing the Format Specifier in the game as either white
	or green text, depending on the the graphic that I supply in this
	format. Thus the example of char "n" could be display as white if
	lower case "n", and the upper case "N" could be substituted as the
	green text in the MOTD. This way it is easier to determine if the
	text for the Format Specifier is white or green, by viewing the	
	MOTD Viewer.

Other Noteworthy MOTD-Edit Functions
==========================================================================

The first box is the Dirty Flag indicator (*), meaning the MOTD has
changed, and MOTD Edit will prompt you to save when exiting.
The next box displays some mouse over hints when passing over some of the
areas in the Main Screen.
The INS and CAPS indicators displays whether they are engaged or
disengaged.
And finally is the cursors position, displayed as Line Number, Line
position.

Contacting Me, Seeking Additional Help
==========================================================================
Q2NM and QNM website:
http://qnm.telefragged.com
Email Me:
bspbuild@telefragged.com
Also check out the other websites listed in the Links ANd Other Related
Information section of this file.

Links, And Other Related Information
==========================================================================
My home page, the Quake Name Maker - Quake2 Name Maker - MOTD Editor
http://qnm.telefragged.com
QDevels Quake 2 mod coding help and tutorials.
http://www.planetquake/qdevels
Inside3D website for other help with coding the Quake 2 source
http://www.inside3D.com
The Viking Quake 2 mod home page, which started this program
http://www.planetquake.com/viking

Glossary
==========================================================================
	MOTD
		Refers to the Message of the Day file that is read in on
		startup of a Quake 2 mod 
	High Ascii
		Ascii refers to the characters that are stored as text in
		a text file. Numerical values are between 0 and 255, and
		are displayed as characters, or Ascii letters. High Ascii
		refers to the characters numbered between 128 and above,
		which are not displayed as text, but as symbols when
		viewed as text, but are graphically displayed in Quake 2
		as the graphic equivelent in the secondary color of the
		primary color.
	Format Specifier
		A Format Specifier is commonly used in the 'C' 
		programming language, and refer to displaying text or 
		numbers in a format that is converted prior to the actual
		viewing. The most common Format Specifiers is the "%s" 
		specifier which takes a argument to the print function, 
		and dsiplays a string of characters in place of the "%s"
		in the text of the printing string.
	Quake 2 Mod
		A Quake 2 Mod is written by a programmer, or anyone who
		as downloaded the Quake 2 source for the Dynamic Link
		Library file that they can customize anyway they wish.
		Mod is short for Modification, or altered to suit the
		needs of the altered game of Quake 2, such as CTF.

Version Revision Information
==========================================================================
 
Version 0.6
	August 25th, 1998
		Added Favorite Button Bar cutomizing window.
		Added Format Specifier window for each FSpec.
		Added Common Button Bar for quick access to the most 
		common menu options.
		Added Customization option to hide or viewer the 
		additional button bars.
		Added mouse over hints for main features on the main 
		window.
		Rewrote and condensed a majority of the code for the 
		MOTD Viewer. Much more compact and faster overall.
		Added code to blink the cursors position for the MOTD 
		Viewer, and the Character Selction grid.
		Added code to automatically create the file "motd.ini" 
		with default values if one is not present.
		Rewrote the entire help file for a much more indepth view
		of the internal functions of MOTD Edit and moved the 
		viewing link to the Help menu.
		Overall cleanup of the entire main screen. Twas a bit 
		messy, and added code to resize and display all portions
		of the screen in the appropriate manner.
		Stored the character set graphic internally in the 
		program, for the sake of convience.
		Performed Gamma correction to the character graphic, so it
		will be easier to see the darker symbols, and brighter 
		characters in the program.
		Lots more stuff I don't remember since this was a major 
		upgrade from the previous release of MOTD Edit.
Version 0.5
	May 31st, 1998
		Added error checking to protect against run time errors.
Version 0.4
	May 22nd, 1998
		Public release of MOTD Edit for distribution as standalone
		program.
Version 0.3
	May 20th, 1998
		Added menu to export bitmap of motd file.
		Added command line option to create bitmap without
		loading motdedit.
		 I.E. motdedit.exe /createbmp e:/quake2/ctf/motd_o.txt.
		Added prompts for saving changes.
		Added settings window.
		Added Favorite button bar.
		Key coding internal to program now.
		Added automatic save for Pathsent not being changed
Version 0.2
	May 17th, 1998
		Added CreateBmp to the ini file.
		Added ability to create a bitmap of the motd file (if
		CreateBmp=True) when exiting.
		Added File Overwrite prompts.
		Added Command Line to load a motd file.
Version 0.1
	May 16th, 1998
		First release to be bundled with the Powerful Viking mod!