SKELEDIT.EXE Information:  (11/02/2009 edit)
===================================================

IGM Utility:  LORD Skeleton Player Database Editor (SKELEDIT)

This utility program was created by Donald Tidmore.
SKELEDIT is based upon the Chasware LPEdit utility.

Status:  v1.10 Non-Beta.       ** January 2011 Beta

Required:  SKELETON.EXE compilation dated on/after 10/12/2008.

Compile Date:  December 27, 2010.

Docs Update:   December 27, 2010.

Mandatory: Must use LORD Skeleton compilations dated on/after
     Oct. 12th, 2008, due to revised player database format.

     SKELEDIT v1.02+ Betas are only usable with the Oct. 12, 2008
     compilations of the LORD Skeleton IGM.
------------------------------------------------------------

Dedications:  SKELEDIT.EXE is dedicated to my beta tester
friends Wayne Brown and Paul Romine, as of Dec. 28, 2007.
===========================================================


Section 1-A:  SKELEDIT.EXE USAGE NOTES:
------------------------------------------------------------
  Note 1:  SKELEDIT.EXE is designed to work with all
  compilations of the LORD Skeleton IGM which are dated
  on Oct. 12th, 2008 or later.  That is when the last
  variables were added from the Realm of LORE IGM.

  Note 2:  For access to revise the LORD Player Number field,
  and/or the Next LORD Game Day field, use the command SKELEDIT
  /DEBUG to run the Player Database Editor utility. ** READ the
  warning about these two event's usage before using it!!  **

  Note 3: The Next_Time VAR is from the Realm of Lore IGM.
  Like the PlayNum field, it should NOT be changed by the
  end-user without VERY good reason.

  Note 4: SKELEDIT is not usable with the IGM's SKELWOM.DAT
  or RLMEDIT.DAT data files.  If you need to edit the Monster
  Database, then you have to use the RLMEDIT.EXE utility to
  do that in relation to its usage by LORD Skeleton.  Its
  written so that it works with both ROL.EXE (Realm of Lore)
  and with SKELETON.EXE (LORD Skeleton).

  Note 5: 01/18/10. Redesigned the Delete Player Record option
  so it will only work when SKELEDIT is run in Debug Mode.
  ==========================================================

  ** Obtain copy of the SKELEDIT.ZIP distribution archive.

     Primary distribution sources are my Castle Camelot and
     Camelot LordNews FDN web-sites.  Along with the BBS Archives
     web-site's FTP server, the Nightfallgames.com server,
     and the LegendaryDragons.com FTP server.  Periodically,
     I will also update the Fidotel BBS's FTP Server with the
     newest official release and beta archives of my programs.

     The most up-to-date files will always be on the Castle
     Camelot site at http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/.

     See SKELEDIT.ZIP for documentation files updates that I
     periodically post to the Castle Camelot web-site.

     While program is in beta development, contact me for
     the latest IGM archives via email.
     ======================================================


Section 1-B:  SKELEDIT Config:  Rewrote 10/08/2008

     During the SKELETON INSTALL process, if the user Installs the
     IGM or does a re-install, SKELETON.EXE will automatically
     create a SKELEDIT.CFG file for the user, using the location
     that SKELETON.EXE is being executed from.

     The first time SKELEDIT is executed, if SKELEDIT.CFG does
     not exist -- in the directory you are running it from --,
     the utility will ask you for the path to the R.O.L. IGM
     directory.  Type it in, and press ENTER to exit the dialog
     box prompt.  The SKELEDIT.CFG file will be created in the
     directory that you specified.
     { ----------------------------------------------------- }

     If you're updating from one version of SKELEDIT to a newer
     one, they all use the same SKELEDIT.CFG file.  Its format
     will never change.  SKELEDIT does not use BONESUSE.TXT, or
     SKELETON.CFG.  It also does not directly use SKELBACK.DAT.

     Notice: SKELBACK.DAT is INTENDED only for use by the
     IGM itself for one purpose only:  Restoring the Player
     Database file during IGM operations if it gets deleted
     by accident or on purpose while the IGM is in use.

  2) SKELEDIT has only one screen of data.  It shows database
     fields in the order they are listed in the player database
     record structure (usually).  Each value, with TWO exceptions,
     may be set to any value that is valid for it.

     (1) The Lord Player Number field is display-only.  That is
     because I don't see any valid reason to allow users to
     fiddle around with it.

     (2) The Next LORD Game Day field is display-only.  It is
     used by the IGM's entry sequence in various ways.

     NOTES:   SKELETON.EXE is the ONLY program that is normally
     allowed to alter a player record's Player Number and Next
     LORD Game Day fields, in regards to the LORD Skeleton IGM.

     --------------------------------------------------------
     Exception:  If the utility is run using the /DEBUG parameter,
     then the user is allowed to modify the value of the LORD
     Player Number, and/or the value of Next LORD Game Time.

     The user *MUST* use extreme caution in doing *ANY* changes
     to either field while using the SKELEDIT.EXE utility.

     Do *NOT* mess with *EITHER* variable's value UNLESS YOU KNOW
     ABSOLUTELY that the value is invalid.  Use either DOS LORD's
     LORDCFG.EXE Player Database Editor or my Chasware LPEdit
     v1.40 utility to obtain the correct values *BEFORE* you try
     to change either the LORD Player Number or the Next LORD
     Game Day variable's value(s).

     The IGM uses very specific program code in its IGM
     Maintenance process for correcting an invalid LORD Player
     Number and/or an invalid Next LORD Game Time stat's value.
     Use SKELEDIT to do so *ONLY* if you are ABSOLUTELY sure
     that you know what you are doing!!!
     ---------------------------------------------------------

  3) When you exit SKELEDIT, it will resave the SKELPLAY.DAT
     file so that any changes you made will be accessible to
     the IGM.  Note that SKELEDIT will never access, or make
     changes to the Player Database Backup file SKELBACK.DAT.

  ------------------------------------------------------------
  4) Deleting Database Records.       {Rewrote 01/18/2010}

  Chris Gosse has reported that he has a player who is using
  The Werewolf v3.0 to become immune from attack in LORD or
  other IGMs, possibly by disconnecting from the BBS while
  the player is inside an IGM.  (He has confirmed that the
  cheating player is using Jay Hodges' Werewolf IGM, not mine.)

  SKELEDIT's existing Delete Player Record option has been
  rewritten so that it is only usable when SKELEDIT is run
  in Debug Mode.  This feature should NEVER be used unless
  the user has a VALID reason to delete a player's record.
                   
  This IGM only writes records to the SKELPLAY.DAT file for
  players who actually have used the IGM during the current
  game day - or on the day that the IGM was used last. It
  also writes records that belong to players who have Gold
  and/or Gems stored in the IGM's Treasury, or who are
  currently Asleep in the Campgrounds.
  --------------------------------------------------------

  SKELEDIT uses the X menu key code for its Delete Player
  Record process.  Once a record has been deleted, it is
  not physically deleted from the player database file until
  the next day when the IGM runs its Save_Player_Data IGM
  Maintenance process.  Which is only run ONCE per day.

  Since this IGM features Sleeping in IGM and Banking features,
  the records from the previous day are processed to determine
  if they should be rewritten to the new Player Database File
  that Save_Player_Data creates.  Players who have Gold and/or
  Gems invested in the Treasury or who are Asleep in the IGM
  are always included in the new database file.

  Once a record has been marked as "DELETED" in SKELEDIT, the
  user can always restore the old values by typing them back
  in.  There is no "UNDO" system.  Only three fields NEED to
  be changed if you wish to reverse the Deletion:  Real Name,
  LORD Name, and LORD Player Number.  To do a complete reversal,
  you will also have to re-enter values for Treasury Gold,
  Treasury Gems, Asleep in IGM, and a few other important
  variables.

  SKELEDIT does *NOT* do anything whatsoever to OUT files that
  a player may have in use in the LORD directory.

  Records marked as "* DELETED *" are skipped by SAVE_PLAYER_DATA
  when it recreates a new player database file.

  You should jot down info on a record on paper before you
  try to delete any record, in case you need to restore it
  later to its original settings.

  The user/sysop *MUST* VERIFY that they wish to Delete the
  current player's record before SKELEDIT will finish the
  Delete Record process.  Users MUST use either the NO option or
  CANCEL option if they wish to cancel the deletion process.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

5) Important reminders:         {Added 01/18/2010}

If SKELEDIT is used to change a player's SLEEPING status to YES,
this setting will be IGNORED by the IGM when it is next used
by that player if there is no corresponding OUT file in the LORD
directory that says "is Camping overnight in the LORD Skeleton's
Realm."  So if you want a player to be Asleep in the IGM,
remember that you also have to make sure there is a corresponding
OUT file for the player.

Note: If a Camper is killed in a Camp Fight, their OUT file is
deleted by the IGM.  Since the player is dead, they no longer
can be classified as Asleep in an IGM.

The Sleeping stat in a Player Record is always set to FALSE
by the IGM if the player entering SKELETON.EXE doesn't have an
OUT file which indicates that they have been Sleeping in an
LORD Skeleton camp.
---------------------------------------------------------------

6) Special Note.  If SKELEDIT is run in Debug Mode, the editor
   now shows [Debug Mode] on the screen's "Input key to change,
   or Q to Quit and Save." command line.   {Added 01/18/2010}
---------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Even if you just view records in SKELEDIT, without changing
    a single value, the editor utility will still resave the
    SKELPLAY.DAT file when you exit.  The program has no way
    to know if the user changed values in the records or not.

           End of Notes for SKELEDIT usage.
=================================================================


Section 2:  SKELEDIT DEVELOPMENT NOTES:
------------------------------------------------------------

    -- Initial development started on Nov. 29th, 2007.  (v1.00)
    -- First stage development ended on Oct. 08th, 2008.

    -- Uses Oct. 12th, 2008 Player Database structure.
    -- SKELEDIT v1.00 requires LORD Skeleton v0.78+ Betas..

    -- For usage only with the DOS LORD IGM.
    -- Requires you to have a current SKELPLAY.DAT file.

  Distributed inside the BONEWORK.ZIP beta archive.  Whenever
  SKELEDIT.EXE is in development, it is also distributed using
  the SKELEDIT.ZIP beta archive.
------------------------------------------------------------


Section 3:  SKELEDIT VERSIONS HISTORY:
------------------------------------------------------------
    SKELEDIT v1.00: Officially released on Oct. 08th, 2008.

    Usage: v1.00 can ONLY be used with LORD Skeleton v0.78 to
    v0.80 betas, dated between Sept. 13, 2008 and Oct. 08, 2008.
------------------------------------------------------------

    SKELEDIT v1.02+ Betas:  Development started Oct. 12th, 2008.

    Required: Compilations of SKELETON.EXE dated Oct. 12, 2008
    or later, which are v0.81+ beta.  For use only with CONVSKEL
    v1.02+ betas.
=================================================================


Section 4:  LORD Skeleton IGM Files Distribution:
------------------------------------------------------------

  Official distribution was done October 09th, 2008 using
  SKELED10.ZIP archive, for SKELEDIT v1.00.

  http://www.filegate.net/camelot/lordfile/skeled10.zip
  http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/LordApps/skeled10.zip

  ** NOT Usable with betas of LORD Skeleton prior to v0.81 Beta.
------------------------------------------------------------

  v1.02: Started second development cycle of LORD Skeleton on
         Oct. 12th, 2008.

         http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Beta/skeledit.zip
         Usable ONLY with LORD Skeleton v0.81+ betas.
------------------------------------------------------------

LORD Skeleton v1.00 has not been officially released yet,
as of January 2011.  I currently have no idea when it will be
completed.  But, at that time, it will be changed to Realm of
Lore v2.01 Beta.  This program's entire purpose is to fully
test Realm of Lore's DDIGM-based program code under the ANGEL
Tool-kit.  Once ROL v2.00 has been released, LORD Skeleton
will become the *NEW* Realm of Lore IGM.

Official release program archives are posted here:

    http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/lordapps.htm
-----------------------------------------------------

  Beta download links:
  ---------------------
  http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Beta/skeledit.zip
  -- Only contains the SKELEDIT.* files.

  http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Beta/bonework.zip
  -- Primary IGM distribution archive.
============================================================

The betas, not always up-to-date online, are located here:

1) The Castle Camelot web-site:  Hosted by Gary Hartzell.
   http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Beta/lgc-edit.zip
      Primary distribution point.

2) The Nightfallgames.com web-site:  Hosted by Michael Everett.
   http://www.nightfallgames.com/files/Igms/lgc-edit.zip

3) The BBS Archives web-site.
   http://archives.thebbs.org/ra98a.htm
   -- Door Games: LORD IGMs  (web-page uses frames)

   http://archives.thebbs.org/ra99a.htm
   -- Door Games: LORD Utils</A> --  (web-page uses frames)

4) The LegendaryDragons.com FTP server.  Not always up-to-date
   ftp://legendarydragons.com/lord/

5) Shannon Talley's Fidotel BBS server.  Kept up-to-date every
   few months by me.
===================================================================


Section 5:  LORD Skeleton Files Hyperlinks:
------------------------------------------------------------

  SKELEDIT v1.00 download links:
  ** Officially released on Oct. 08th, 2008.
  -----------------------------------------------------
  (1)  http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/LordApps/skeled10.zip
       - Castle Camelot Lordapps sub-directory.

  (2)  http://www.filegate.net/camelot/lordfile/skeled10.zip
       - Camelot LordNews FDN's LordFile sub-directory.

  (3)  BBS Archives server, hosted by Mike Ehlert.
  ==========================================================

  SKELEDIT v1.02+ Betas:

  http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Beta/skeledit.zip

  http://www.nightfallgames.com/files/IGMs/skeledit.zip

  These are the two distribution links that are kept up-to-date
  the most often.  The BBS Archives server is not updated as
  often, and neither is the LegendaryDragons.com FTP server.

SKELEDIT Files:  Copyright 2007-2011 by Donald Tidmore.
=============================================================


Section 6:  Source Code Distribution Notes:  {12/19/07}
------------------------------------------------------------

If you wish to see all of the Pascal source code files used
by the LORD Skeleton programs, you may download the igm's
source code archive from the Castle Camelot web-site.

http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Code/bonecode.zip

You are granted viewing rights only to these Pascal source
code files.  No one is allowed to use the source code files
on their own without my explicit permission, with the exception
of their usage to make similar LORD programs of your very own.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Usage of Charlie Wardick's Chasware Library is freely granted
to anyone who wishes to use it.  However, remember it is his
copyrighted property, and you do NOT have rights without his
permission to alter its CHASWARE.PAS, CHASWIGM.PAS, and
CHASATTR.PAS files.

------------------------- Added 10/12/08:
Those who want the CHAS*.PAS files can get them from the
BONESRC2.ZIP archive inside BONECODE.ZIP, or from the Source
code archive for Chasware LPEdit:

http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Code/lpe-code.zip

Note that it does not contain the CHASWIGM.PAS file, since it
is not used by LPEDIT.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Note: The TechnoJock's Gold Toolkit, which is no longer
supported or available for purchase online, is used to make
SKELEDIT.  If you wish to use my set of TPU files for it, let
me know.  Just be aware that its authors are not available for
technical support or product purchase/registration.
===============================================================


Section 7: LORD Skeleton Files Copyright Information:
----------------------------------------------------
SKELETON.EXE:  Copyright 2006-2011 by Donald Tidmore.

SKELEDIT.EXE:  Copyright 2007-2011 by Donald Tidmore.

CONVSKEL.EXE:  Copyright 2008-2011 by Donald Tidmore.

RLMEDIT.EXE:   Copyright 2004-2011 by Donald Tidmore.

End of SKELEDIT.EXE documentation.
----------------------------------------
           

Section 8: Upcoming Changes:  {10/08/2008. Edited 10/12/08}
-----------------------------------------------------------

I have no timetable for the release of LORD Skeleton v1.00.
Other than that it will be done sometime after Realm of Lore
v2.00's development is finished, and the R.O.L. igm has been
officially released.  I will do an official release of
LORD Skeleton v1.00 after ROL v2.00's release, and then
change its name to Realm of Lore v2.01 beta.

I may possibly recreate LORD Skeleton again at a later time
for usage in testing new code that is meant for inclusion in
other igms.  That's been its reason for existence since it
was created in 2006.   End of notes.
============================================================


This file, along with the rest of LORD Skeleton IGM files,
is Copyright 2006-2011 by Donald Tidmore.
=============================================================

                                  
Created SKELEDIT.TXT on Nov. 29th, 2007.
Redesigned format of file for v1.00's release. 10/08/2008.

Revised on:   December 27, 2010 at 06:15 pm.

