DUKEROCH 3.5 - Pascal Rouaud 1998 - 2004

 

I. HISTORY
II. INSTALLATION
III. SOME INSTRUCTIONS
IV. COPYRIGHT & CREDITS

 

I. HISTORY:

v3.5 (08/21/2004):

w Main addition: DukeRoch now supports 9 different languages (choose one in the option dialog). Please, read this (LNG files) about the first run of the program.

If your language doesn't appear and if you want to create it by yourself, use "NewLng.txt" that includes lots of instructions. Then send me your work, I'll be happy to add a new language to the program!

w The main interface has been reorganized in a more logical way.

w You can now drag & drop a map or a dmo file on an opened DukeRoch window to launch it.

w You can define an alternate program name to be launched for both the game and the map editor (more details). 

w Now the Options dialog will no longer display the last saved settings, but the current ones you're using (if you changed some options on the main window or used the "Apply only" button before).

v3.0 (10/07/2002):

w Main addition: DukeRoch now supports Ken Silverman's TSR (NOLFB) that allows Windows NT, 2000 and XP users to play the DOS version of Duke3D in Vesa mode (high resolution).

This addition is about the Dos version of Duke3D. If you're now using one of the Windows ports of the game only, simply ignore it.

If you still want to run the Dos version under Windows NT, 2000 or XP, you'll also have to extract "NT-2000-XP.zip" in your Duke directory. You'll find all instructions in the text file included in this archive.

Note: use 1024x768 and 1280x1024 under Dos at your own risk! Some PC will support those high resolutions, some others won't and will crash the game or your system.

w You can use the new "Screen mode" button to change your screen resolution in Duke3D. Leave the "Yes, I'm running Windows NT, 2000 or XP" radio button unchecked if you're using one of the Windows ports of the game. It's there for the Dos version only.

w You will now be asked if you want to uncheck "Record a demo" when you're back in Windows. This will prevent you from overwriting the demo you've just created by launching the game again with this option on! (happened to me sometimes ;) )

I didn't bother adding that in the options dialog box, but if you don't want to be asked and "Record a demo" to remain checked when back in Windows (like in the previous version), add this line in the [Options] section of "DukeRoch.ini":

RetourDemo=0

If you want not to be asked, but "Record a demo" to be automatically unchecked after playing, add this line instead:

RetourDemo=1

Remove this key value to be asked again...

w Ability to define 'demo2' or 'demo3' as the first demo to be played (1.4 / 1.5 only)

w Fixed bug : music and animated title bar now work under Windows 2000 and XP.

w New program icon

v2.2 (05/27/2001):

w Main addition: a GRP file management (more details).

w Now you can search for a string in some or in all the fields of the Sounds list box

w The "Edit" button now displays "Build" if "Normal launch" check box (now called "No level option") is checked. This allows you to launch Build in a blank new map. When the box is unchecked, it opens the selected (user or 3DR) level in Build.

w With some sound cards, a sound you clicked wasn't always played. You had to retry several times. This bug is fixed.

w Added funny animations when you open or close any dialog box (more details).

w New program icon (256 colors)

v2.0 (12/17/2000) (first release):

w English option added.

v1.0 (early 1998):

w Not distributed. I did it just for me...


II. INSTALLATION

Note: DukeRoch won't affect your system nor any of your Duke3d files.

If you want to uninstall it later, you'll just have to remove all files described below from your Duke3d directory, plus a generated "DukeRoch.ini" if you defined some default options. If you used the .map association to this program and want to remove it, run "Regedit.exe" and remove both ".map" and "MAP_auto_file" keys in "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT".

FILES: (important: copy them in your Duke3D directory)

- DukeRochEnglish.HTM:

You're reading it...

- DukeRochFrench.HTM:

French version of this file.

- DukeRoch.exe:

Main program. You can associate the .map extension to it, then double click any map file from any directory, or even from Winzip, and you're ready to play!. Don't forget: it's the BEST WAY to use it!

You probably know how to create an association in Windows. If you don't, you can use "DukeRoch.reg" (see below).

- DukeRoch.reg:

If you installed Duke3D in the default directory (c:\duke3d), just double click this file to create the association. Otherwise, open it first in Notepad, enter your own path in both lines containing "C:\\DUKE3D\\" (respect the DOUBLE backslash in the syntax), then save it and double click it.

You can delete it from your disk after this.

- PIF files:

Important: you may omit them. Although, if you have some problem with Dos windows that don't close after execution, copy all of them in your Duke3d directory. You may change their properties. "Duke3d.pif" and "_build.pif" lock all Windows shortcut keys except Alt-Esc, and prevent from the screensaver to be started while you're in the game or in Build (Dos versions)

If you're using a Windows port of Duke3D, extract "Voc2wav.pif" only.

- Rochmid.exe:

Executable to play midi files (to be used with DukeRoch only). Can be omitted if you don't want music.

- LNG files:

All language files. "English.lng" MUST be extracted the first time you use DukeRoch, since English is the default language when the INI file has not been created yet (or was created by an oldest version). Once you’ve selected your own language (in the option dialog), you can keep only the one you chose in your Duke folder..

- NewLng.txt:

This file will help you create a new language for DukeRoch. Please read all instructions in this file before you start.

- _build.exe (note the "_"):

Useless file if you don't use the Dos version of Build anymore, indispensable if you still do (or you won't launch Build from DukeRoch)

Build.exe doesn't load a map if the Dos line parameter is too long! (for example if you pass the whole path in it). So, if the map you want to edit is in another directory, "_build" copies it in your Duke3D directory under the name "~~bbuild.map", and opens this file in Build instead of the real one. When you quit Build, it checks if you have updated it, and replaces the real file if necessary.

Note: it also deletes the "backup.map" file Build generates, which is totally useless, since it's exactly the same file than your last save (a good backup file should be the map before your modifications and not a copy of your last save)

You can use it in Dos to edit a map in a "far" directory.

REMEMBER: If you edit a map from another folder than your Duke3d directory, the file you'll be editing is "~~bbuild.map" (otherwise: its real name).

Example:

You're editing c:\windows\temp\MAP1.MAP and want to temporarily load another map (within Build), then want to come back to MAP1.MAP: remember to reload then "~~bbuild.map" in your Duke directory. "_build" will update MAP1.MAP from this file if you modified it.

- TabSons.dat:

List of all Duke3d sounds used to update the list box.

Please don't edit, or respect the line format if you change anything! If you make an error, the list box couldn't work anymore, or be unable to play a sound!

- Voc2wav.exe:

Voc to Wav converter (Creative Labs). Sorry, I still can't read voc files in Windows... When you click on a sound in the list, the .voc file is extracted from Duke3d.grp, then it's converted to a .wav file ...that I can play (whew). If you ever made a Windows routine to read a .voc file on the fly (or to convert it to a .wav file) and want to help, PLEASE contact me.

- NT-2000-XP.zip:

Allows Windows NT, 2000 and XP users to play the Dos version of Duke3d in Vesa mode (high resolution). Please read the text file included in this Zip.

No need to extract this file if you're running Windows 9x or Me or are using a Windows port of Duke3D.

 


III. SOME INSTRUCTIONS:

DukeRoch is so easy to use that I didn't feel like doing a complete manual.

(if you're sage enough, maybe I'll make a .hlp file for a future release)

Although, some functions may not be obvious to find:

 

Nuke icon (About box):

Click it to read the last time you ran Duke3d and how many times you played it. It reads the duke3d.cfg file ("Misc" section, "Executions" key). If you have updated from 1.3d to 1.4 / 1.5, the value will correspond to the number of times you played Duke3d since this update.

 

Sounds button:

Lists all Duke3d sounds with their definitions in Defs.con, values to use in Build, Voc names in Duke3d.cfg and a short description.

Click a line in the list to test the sound.

I still don't manage to play those #@%!@ .voc files, so you'll see a furtive "Voc2wav" button in your task bar each time you play a sound (if this "furtive button" doesn't automatically close, unzip "Voc2wav.pif" in your Duke3d directory).

 

GRP management button:

. Lists all objects included in any GRP file (default is duke3d.grp) in different sorted list boxes.

. Plays all sound and music files included (mid, voc and wav).

. Extracts any file: multi extraction, or one file only by a double click (using a "Save as" dialog box).

. Definition of viewers for any possible file type in a .GRP file, this allows you to use "View" buttons when an appropriate file is selected (you can find a lot of Duke3d file viewers (anm, art, map) on some Duke websites).

. Supports some other "Build-based" games (tested with Shadow Warrior and Redneck Rampage): open their GRP file in DukeRoch and test/extract their content!

 

" Ö " button:

Use it to save your default options when you start DukeRoch.

 

">>" button:

Click it to browse your disks and search for a map file.

 

Built-in "bots" (v1.4 or 1.5 only):

Check "Launch level", unckeck "Single play", then check "Simulation (AI)". Choose the number of bots (including you), which multiplayer mode, and of course the map you want to play (make sure the map has multiplayer starts!).

 

Edit button

You can directly edit any 3DRealms map (listening to the music of the level!). No file extracted, except if you save it in Build of course. If you do, you'll obtain a "ExLx.map" in your Duke3D directory (or use "save as" for another name).

 

Drag & drop:

You can drag & drop a map file or a dmo file from Explorer or from a Zip shell to an opened DukeRoch window. Remember though: when using a dmo file made in a user map, the map file has to be present in your Duke directory! Ex.: if you drag & drop a user map and its demo file from Winzip to DukeRoch, you'll most likely won't see the demo running! Unzip first the map in your Duke directory, then you can drag & drop the dmo file on DukeRoch and launch the game.

No problem if the dmo file has been done in an original level of the game of course.

 

Defining EXE files to be launched:

You can define an alternate program to launch either the game or the map editor. Very useful if you still use Windows 9x/Me and want to be able to alternatively launch the Dos version of Duke3D and Build or one of the ports for Windows. You'll just have to check / uncheck a box in the Options dialog to swap from one version to the other. I've tested DukeRoch with Jonof's port, and everything seemed to work fine.

 

Duke3d versions:

DukeRoch checks your Duke3D version, and will gray some functions/buttons if you have the 1.3d or the shareware version only.

 

Crazy windows (option):

Animates dialog boxes when they open or close.

I already did this in one of my very old programs, when I tested all I could do with the WM_TIMER message (when you ask Windows to send this event every n/1000 second to your dialog box). It's cool to make what you want when your program is idle...

Ok, ok, it's totally useless, but I couldn't resist to cut & paste my old code in DukeRoch's source!

It's default disabled, so, to apply those animations, you have to open the options dialog box (" Ö " button) and check "Crazy Windows". There are 7 different moves, randomly activated. In fact: 7 for closing, 4 for opening (sliding only).

If you set this option enabled, but want to abort an animation at any time, push a Shift key to stop it. Or press one when you click a button that opens or closes a dialog box, thus you won't have any animation started.

Note: it may not work great on slow computers!

 

Temporary files:

You may find some "~~dnroch.<ext>" files in your Duke3d directory while DukeRoch is opened. Don't delete them, they will be removed when you quit the program.

 

Dukematch:

Sorry, DukeRoch doesn't support dukematch. I never played this mode on the internet so I couldn't test this option! (I can play dukematch on my local network though, but I haven't bothered supporting that option in DukeRoch either).

 


IV. COPYRIGHT & CREDITS:

This program is freeware. You can distribute it as long as the zip includes all files listed above (unchanged in any way).

If you use it regularly, please send me an e-mail so I know I can put new efforts to improve it in the future... (No feedback, no motivation to improve anything or make something else!)

Please don't post it at your website without mailing me you want to before.

Mail me any suggestions, improvement ideas, and bug reports.

 


Special thanks to creators of language files:

Jonas Andrews German
Krzysztof Frukacz Polish
Jaap Greijdanus Dutch
Juha Laaksonen Finnish
Stephano Lessa Portuguese
Bob Masters English (improved my own English version)
Antonio Rodríguez  Spanish
Fabiano Vignali Italian

And to my beta-testers (old versions included):

Chris Allcock Chris's page
Rémi Boulnois Le site de Fadeuk
Kevin Cools Borg Nukem
Jeremy Endres former "Duke Map Busters"
Tracy Fox (no website, thanks for your great support!)
Juha Laaksonen Dukesivut
Bob Masters Bob's Duke Nukem Single Player Maps
Maarten Pinxten 2maarten.com
Antonio Rodríguez La web de Grijan
Mikko Sandt MSDN
Bill Schaedler (no website, thanks for your great support!)
Matt Wareham former "DNF Inc"

 

To all of you for your remarks about the previous releases and my "Roch" maps!

(Please send me more!)

 

"Voc2wav.exe" by Creative Labs

"Nolfb.com" and "Nolfb.asm" by Ken Silverman