
/--- QRun32 - the ultimate launcher for Quake ---\
|                  Version 1.30                  |
\------------------------------------------------/

\-------------------------\
 > What's this all about ? >
/-------------------------/

You probably know Quake ? Well I bet you do. You know that there exist many 
commandline-options and a hell lot of commands for the quake-console ? Then you 
are probably in need of a launcher that allows you to "click" options on and 
off. But that's not all:

Several patches exist, that require to set some Quake-variables to certain 
values or provide new commands. For this reason you need a flexible launcher. 
Look at the web-browsers. They have several plug-ins for documents which cannot 
be shown by the browser itself. The principle of plug-ins is to use external 
programs for this purpose. QRun32 uses DLLs developed with the plug-in SDK 
(Software Development Kit) that comes with this archive.

Beside this, QRun32 allows you to set the general options like map-selecting, 
demo-recording/playing, server configuration/rules and so on.. Just experiment !


\----------\
 > Features >
/ ---------/

QRun32 offers you:

 - easy selecting of Quake-maps both built-in and user-created
 - easy browsing through installed patches
 - skill-selecting
 - demo-recording/playback
 - server support (listen/dedicated)
 - server configuration
 - server rules
 - "launch QSpy"-button
 - Quick-Sets acting like Windows color-schemes
 - additional parameters
 - global parameters
 - plug-ins ! (just test it!)
 - It's THE ORIGINAL ! QWizard is just a poor remake....


\----------\
 > Contents >
/----------/

This archive should contain the following files:

QRUN32.EXE               - the main executable
README.TXT               - this file
VERSIONS.TXT             - version history
FILE_ID.DIZ              - BBS-information-file

PLUGINS\                 - directory for compiled plug-ins
PLUGINS\CTF.DLL          - a sample plug-in for Threewave Capture the Flag 4.x

SDK\                     - directory for the Software Development Kit
                           (see SDK\PLUGINS.TXT for detailed information)


\------------------------\
 > How do I install ... ? >
/------------------------/

Installation is easy. Just put the files into a directory of your choice, let's 
say "F:\QUAKE\QRun32". For plug-in support you need a subdirectory called 
"PLUGINS". This directory contains all your plug-ins, so put the corresponding 
files there in the future. Other directories are not needed for executing 
QRun32.

After starting QRun32 the first time, you will be prompted to specify your 
Quake-directory. This is the directory, where your QUAKE.EXE is located. If you 
have your patch-collection in a special subdir other than the Quake base-dir, 
you may specify this directory on the "global Options"-tab. For example I have 
all my patch-subdirectories installed in "F:\QUAKE\PATCHES". This means I have 
subdirectories called "F:\QUAKE\PATCHES\CTF" and "F:\QUAKE\PATCHES\REAPER". If 
you installed all your patch-subdirectories in the quake base-dir ("F:\QUAKE"), 
you don't have to change anything.

If you installed over a very early version of QRun32, you will be prompted to
remove the complete QRun32-configuration from the Windows-registry, because
Version 1.2 is completely incompatible with previous versions.


\--------------------\
 > How do I use ... ? >
/--------------------/

You control QRun32 via the mouse, but keyboard-control is possible, too. (As in 
EVERY windows-program) Note, that I used some new Memphis-style flat buttons
that are NOT accessible via keyboard.


\----------------------------\
 > What do these options do ? >
/----------------------------/

The main help is provided by tool-tips. Just let the mouse-cursor rest a few 
moments on an edit- or a checkbox and read the text that appears. You should 
also have some basic knowledge of starting a game of Quake.
If you are unsure, what an option does to the commandline, just press the 
"evaluate"-button at the lower right. Be sure to enable "write parameters to 
commandline", cause otherwise a lot of parameters are written to a config-file 
called "qrun32.cfg" in the QUAKE\ID1 directory.

This launcher does not provide as many features as other launchers. It's main 
purpose is the use as a server-administrator who wants to be flexible and often 
use different patches with different settings. It doesn't ZIP any patches and it 
doesn't create your personal configuration such as keyboard-layout and others. 
You have to care for this by yourself.

This might become FALSE, if a corresponding plug-in is written. :-) So you see, 
QRun32 is nearly as flexible as Quake itself.

For plug-in information please refer to PLUGINS.TXT in the SDK-directory.


\-------------------------------\
 > What about those Quick-Sets ? >
/-------------------------------/

This is easy. You probably know the color-schemes in the Win95 display-
properties under "Appearance" ? Quick-Sets work exactly like them. If you need a
special configuration often, you can create a Quick-Set that saves all your
settings under a special name for quick access. For example I have created a
Quick-Set for the ongoing reaper-bot contests and for a Capture the Flag
Server-configuration, cause I need them quite often.
In a Quick-Set all current options are saved EXCEPT the ones on the "Global
options" tab.


\----------------\
 > Where to get ? >
/----------------/

I'm sorry, there is not yet a QRun32-homepage, but #1 download place is the
file-section on the OCRANA-hompage (http://www.ocrana.de/files.htm)
You should also find QRun32 on the Quake FTP-servers (mainly ftp.cdrom.com) in
the directory "quake/utils/frontends" all around the world.
You can also get QRun32 via FIDO file-request at the elite!dev BBS
(Node 2:2444/1234, Tel.: +49-231-7270411)


\----------------\
 > Tips 'n Tricks >
/----------------/

- to avoid config-file chaos (why doesnt my key act as "jump" anymore ?) do the
  following: Create a file in the ID1-directory (e.g. "MYKEYS.CFG") containing
  your complete keyboard-bindings and other player-specific commands such as
  preferred video-mode, viewsize, player-name, gamma-correction etc. Then add
  the command "+exec mykeys.cfg" to the "Global parameters" and check the
  "delete CONFIG.CFGs"-checkboxes. Now you can be sure, that you have ALWAYS
  your correct keyboard-layout and other settings you want. This is also a good
  solution when more than one person frequently plays on your computer. Just
  create one config-file for each player and exchange the global param that
  says "+exec mykeys.cfg".

...more tips will follow.

\----------\
 > About... >
/----------/

This product is freeware. (or maybe donation-ware)
If you like it or even love it, feel free to send me some money, so I can 
develop faster and more efficient. At least tell me, what should be better.

Name   : Oliver Heering
Address: Notweg 37
         44229 Dortmund
         Germany
EMail  : Oli@slop.prima.ruhr.de, sLoP@ocrana.de
FIDO   : Oliver Heering@2:2444/1234.909
WWW    : http://www.prima.ruhr.de/home/slop/sloppy.html, http://www.ocrana.de
meet me on IRC (IRCNet) as [OCR]sLoP at #quake.ger

coming soon: an own QRun32-homepage

\----------------\
 > Legal stuff.., >
/----------------/

This program, its documentation and the SDK are copyrighted (c)1997 by 
elite!developments. All rights reserved.  QRun32 is offered with no warranty or 
guarantee so use it at your own risk.  By using this software you, the user, 
agree to take full responsibility for anything that happens.  I am in no way 
responsible for anything that may happen. You may redistribute QRun32 freely as 
long as all the files listed above are included and have not been modified and 
no charge or fee is collected (normal BBS/online service fees excluded) for the 
service. You may not charge money for plug-ins you develop. (remember: this is 
FREEWARE!) Anyone wishing to include this program in any type of anthology or 
CD-ROM must get permission from me first.

Quake is a trademark of id Software, inc.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
All other trademarks are copyrighted by their respective owners

Have fun !
