$Id: readme.txt,v 1.14 1998/07/08 20:12:18 Zastai Exp $

                         +---------------------+
                         | GenEdit ReadMe File |
                         +---------------------+

This is version 2.03c of GenEdit, a generic data editor.
It was originally conceived as an editor for savegames created by GenEm, KGen
and GeneCyst, three Genesis emulators, and for S-RAM dumped by the Super Magic
Drive. As of version 2.03 support for non-Genesis savegames was started.
As of version 2.03a, some non-savegame file types are also supported.

There's a feedback form (feedback.frm) included; please fill it out and mail
it to me -- I'd like to know what my customers want, so I don't waste time on
some feature nobody uses.

** NOTE **
This is yet another release-inbetween-releases.
OK, so 2.03b still had the SIGILL crash. My apologies. However, after
 recompiling my compiler and most of my libraries yet another time, I can now
 report that the current version does work on my neighbour's 486 (where it
 previously crashed). So everything _should_ be fine now.
Note: It seems that MIDAS can cause a tremendous slowdown when used in a DOS
 box under Windows 9x on some systems (my neighbour had this problem). To work
 around this, either use SEAL, disable sound altogether, or run the program in
 plain DOS.
** END NOTE **

Installation:
  **Note** PKZIP Users: Use pkunzip -d to restore the tree structure.
  The DLLs should be located either in the same directory as the program or
  below a PlugIns subdirectory. Only files with a .dll extension are loaded;
  the rest of the filename has no significance to the program.

What's New?
  2.03b -> 2.03c:
    * The SIGILL crashes have very likely been fixed (at last!).
    * Found some more fields in the WarHammer: Dark Omen files.
    * Web Page: Andrew Wolan may be hosting a home page for GenEdit soon as
      part of his Emulation Zone project. An URL will be added here and posted
      on the Web as soon as this is ready.
      The current page will remain available though.
    * The HTML user list is now auto-generated.
  2.03a -> 2.03b:
    * The SIGILL crashes may finally have been fixed.
    * Upgraded MIDAS to 1.1.2. IT files should be played much better now.
    * Added support for WarHammer: Dark Omen savegames (army file support will
      follow)
    * Implemented Inventory and Equipment editing for PSII savegames. I had
      completely forgotten to finish this.
    * Some improvement to handling of files specified on command-line.
    * I'm experimenting with graphical stuff and proper mouse handlers;
      after 2.04 is released I will see if I can give GenEdit a consistent
      graphical GUI. Since this will mean major rewrites, expect a serious
      time gap between 2.04 and 2.05. Watch this space for updates.
  2.03 -> 2.03a:
    * Added Final Fantasy VII (PC Version) support
      -> GenEdit goes graphical! You can preview the images (*.tex) in the
         .lgp files in glorious VESA TrueColor (or not-so-glorious 256-color
         ModeX if your have no VESA support)
         Note: PgUp/PgDn switch palettes for multi-palette TEX files
      -> Includes a utility to convert .tex files to other formats
    * gen-edit <dir> will browse that directory instead of complaining;
      the directory browsed on startup is now the _current_ directory, not
      the directory where the program resides
    * The default audio file is now 'ProgramDir/ProgramName.dat' instead of
      'gen-edit.dat', so it will be found even if GenEdit is invoked through
      "drive:\path\gen-edit.exe"
  2.02 -> 2.03:
    * Multiple modules in a single plug-in.
    * Might & Magic VI support.
    * Intention of providing AD&D: WOES support (dummy engine included).
    * Unused plug-ins (ie outdated or redundant ones) are now freed upon
      startup to save memory.
  2.01 -> 2.02:
    * Support for multiple files on the command line.
      See below for more info.
    * New plugin type: File Selectors.
    * New switch (-k). If this is given, you are always returned to the file
      selector after processing files (provided, of course, that the file
      selector was used in the first place). This way, pressing Escape in the
      selector is the ONLY way to exit the program.
    * Switches -q, -r, -S and -k now act as toggles, instead of enabling their
      respective features. This allows you to override values given in
      the .ini file.
    * If you're using the SEAL Audio library, pressing Ctrl-P in the program
       will pause/resume audio playback. MIDAS has no pause/resume support.
  2.00 -> 2.01:
    * SF2 Engine now actually runs its editor
    * Custom Colors implemented (see below)
    * Color Scheme Editor (in Configuration or through -C option)
    * The program should now properly save and restore pretty much every
      video mode.
    * Preliminary editor for Light Crusader games.
    * Experimental mouse support in the configuration modes (-i and -C)
      (No mouse support in the [Detail] configuration screens)

Multiple Files:
  GenEdit now supports multiple files on the command line. If no files are
   given and a file selector plugin is available, it is used to allow you to
   choose what files to edit.
  This affects the -d and -s switches, as they take a filename argument. I've
   resolved this in the following manner. If files are given on the command
   line, the file names supplied to the option is used for each of these files.
   Note that is usually not what is wanted. If the file selector is used to
   select files to work on, it will also be used to select the file to dump
   data to or run a script from.

File Selector DLLs:
  lfn-sel.dll has a LFN-based (Win9x) selector; sfn-sel.dll has a plain
  DOS/Win3 selector; select.dll combines the two. Feel free to delete the 2
  DLLs you don't need.

Color Schemes:
  This feature is reserved for registered users (I had to put SOME restriction
   in). Use the configuration screen to create color schemes, or put them
   in the .ini file manually.
  To create a color scheme, type its name in the text box. Then press the
   Customize button and select the different colors. Pressing Accept will then
   create the color scheme.
  To delete a color scheme, use the Delete button in the Customize screen.

An Example Color Scheme:

  [Zastai's Blues]
  ; Bright Cyan   On Bright Blue
  Borders=0x9B
  ; Normal Red    On Bright Blue
  Error Text=0x94
  ; Normal Blue   On Bright Cyan
  Form Fields=0xB1
  ; Bright Yellow On Bright Blue
  Form Text=0x9E
  ; Bright Cyan   On Bright Blue
  HotKeys=0x9B
  ; Bright White  On Bright Blue
  Normal Text=0x9F
  ; Bright Cyan   On Normal Blue
  Title Bar=0x1B

Configuration Entries:
  The following configuration file entries have no equivalent in the
  configuration screen (yet):
   In the [GenEdit] section:
   - Keep Selecting
     Set to a boolean value (yes/no, on/off, true/false, 1/0). This is
     the equivalent of the -k command-line option.
   - Plug-In Directory
     Set to where you plugins are; this allows you to have several copies of
     the executable using a single set of plugins. Subdirectories are searched.
     If this is set, no default search paths are used.
   The [Plug-In Directories] section:
     This is used only if `Plug-In Directory' is not specified.
     This has entries of the form Dir X, where X is a number from 1 to 16.
     Any and all directories specified here are searched when looking for
     plugins. Subdirectories are NOT searched.

Example .ini file fragment:
  [GenEdit]
  Keep Selecting=Off  ; I only edit one file per session
  Plug-In Directory=D:\PlugIns\GenEdit

  ; This will be used if the Plug-In Directory entry is removed from [GenEdit]
  [Plug-In Directories]
  Dir 1=D:\Engines
  Dir 2=E:\OtherPlugIns\GenEdit

Music Files:
  A single music file is included with GenEdit (see below for credits).
  More music files can be found at http://www.kosmic.org/ (home of the Kosmic
  Free Music Foundation -- they release new songs every couple of days, mostly
  dance music) and ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/demos/music/ (THE archive for
  electronic (PC) music -- you'll find songs as well as software to play and/or
  create them here). Note that the SEAL library supports only the MOD, MTM,
  S3M and XM formats; MIDAS also supports the IT format.

AWE32/64 Users:
  SEAL will use native mode if it finds an AWE card. If SEAL can't load music
   files due to too little DRAM, you should either switch to using MIDAS or
   edit your ini file (set "Device" to "1" in the [SEAL...] section). In the
   latter case, you'll only hear sound at 8bit 22KHz due to limitations in the
   SEAL library (it will treat your card as a basic SoundBlaster Pro).

Music Credits:

   gen-edit.dat [S3M] - "After Sunset" (1995) 
                        Author: Chuck Biscuits of Kosmic
                        Style:  Ambient/Acid

   NOTE: It is recommended you rename this file; future distributions will
   likely also contain a 'gen-edit.dat' file which would otherwise overwrite
   this one.

Feedback:
  IMPORTANT: No matter what you're writing about, ALWAYS mention the version
   of GenEdit you're using. I might not be able to help you otherwise.
  Comments, bugreports, etc are greatly appreciated.
  Please do take the time to fill out the feedback form (feedback.frm).
  Don't send me binaries (ROMs, savegames, ...) unless I ask for them.

Registration:
  This is absolutely free. Simply send me an e-mail containing
   1. the text to be used as registration string (usually your (nick)name)
   2. your e-mail address
   3. a completed feedback form (preferred, but optional)
   and you'll get your very own registration code.
   You will also be added to the user list. If your name and e-mail address
    do not appear on the web site and in the next release's user list, or if
    they are spelled incorrectly, be sure to mail me about it.

NOTE: I no longer mail a copy of the program to everyone who registers, nor
       am I able to notify everyone when a new version is released.
      You can always get the latest version at
       http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Alley/5795/index.html


Enjoy!

  Zastai   <genedit@geocities.com> (preferred for GenEdit-related stuff)
           <zastai@hotmail.com>


************************** Begin Disclaimers **********************************

		      -- SOFTWARE DISCLAIMER --

No warranties, no guarantees. Anything that happens as a result of using this
 program is your own bloody fault and nobody else's. So there.
All sales are final. No user-serviceable parts inside.

		      -- EMULATION DISCLAIMER --

		     !! DO NOT ASK ME FOR ROMS !!

			-- COPYRIGHT NOTICE --

Pinky & The Brain are registered trademarks of Warner Bros. (probably).

**************************** End Disclaimers **********************************
