The Gem Trader LORD IGM - Current Development notes.
August 2003 -- current date:  GT-Notes.txt
=================================================

Moved all 2003 notes into GTN-2003.txt archive file. 12/24/2004.
Moved 2004 notes into GTN-2004.txt archive file. 11/21/07.
Moved 2005 notes into GTN-2005.txt archive file. 11/21/07.

Moved January-October 2006 notes into GTN-2006.txt archive
file. Skipped archival of incomplete November-December 2006
notations until they have been briefly made.  11/21/07.
-------------------------------------------------------------

November - December 2006 work notes: Gem Trader v2.50:
===========================================================

Nov. 01: * Edited trader2.pas    * compiled trader2.tpu

Nov. 03: * Edited gemtrade.pas, trader1.pas, trader3.pas
         * Compiled gemtrade.exe
         * compiled trader1.tpu, trader3.tpu

Nov. 09: * Edited gemtrade.pas, trader1.pas, trader3.pas
         * Compiled gemtrade.exe
         * compiled trader1.tpu, trader3.tpu
         * Changed BPW font settings to Hyperfont dark 12.

Nov. 10: * Finished writing brief notations for July-August.
         * Wrote up brief notations for September-October.
         * Wrote up brief notations for Nov 01-09 work period.

** do notes for NOv. 11-24, 2006 period  (Never done)

Nov. 25: * worked on igm. verified it can handle deletion of
           player database file at View Usage Reports prompt.

         * compiled gemtrade.exe. no version change.

Nov. 26:  * Rewrote Update_Database_File process.
              All of the igms are now designed so that if the
              igm's player database file is missing, they will
              recreate it.  With exception of K.L.Bank IGM,
              which now restores a backup of the player database,
              if possible, to protect player's Gold/Gems balances.

          * revised trader1.pas, trader3.pas code processes that
            used Update_Database_File.
          * recompiled trader1.tpu, trader3.tpu.
          * recompiled GEMTRADE.EXE.

Nov. 30:  * Removed Daily Horse Trade limit and Daily Fairy
            Trade Limit config values from config file structure.
          * Edited Config_Info structure in Tradevar.inc.
          * Removed Horse/Fairy Limit code from Trader1.pas,
            Trader2.pas, and Trader3.pas.
          * Recompiled GEMTRADE.EXE.  No version change.

Dec. 01-26 notes: Finish later.  (never done)

Dec. 26:  * Did final compilations of JACKCONV v1.00 and
            JACKEDIT v1.10 for official release. Distribution
            to be done Wednesday night on the 27th.
          * Did compilation of GEMTRADE.EXE as v2.50.
            Will need testing to make sure the Max_SkillUses
            constant works to limit players to 10 Skill Use
            points per day from Fairy purchases.

          * Updated jackedit.txt and gemtrade.txt files.
          * updated gemtrade.diz and jackedit.diz files.
          * updated ccl-apps.txt and ccl-proj.txt files.
          * updated JACKED11.ZIP and GEMTR250.ZIP archives.
=============================================================

11/20-21/2007: Wrote all notations for January-November 2007
     programming changes made to Gem Trader IGM's code files.

Feb. 01, 2007: Created new IGM Configuration File structure
               for the IGM to use in next development phase.
               Continued using GEMTRADE.CFG data file.
               * MaxVisits VAR was renamed to Max_Visits.
               * PotionsLimit VAR was renamed to Max_Potions.

Feb. 07:  * removed Sysop_User VAR entry from Tradevar.inc.

Feb. 10:  * ALORD.PAS work: Added CREATE_LORDNEWS_FILE(igm name)
            procedure.  Rewrote all of the ALORD-based IGMs's
            unit code files to use the process.
            - Trader?.pas unit files edited to use new process.

Apr. 08:  * Rewrote IGM's Install/Remove unit file.  Complete
            rewrite done of WRITE_IGMCFG_FILE to use Lord_Path
            and IGMDir_Path statements.

Sept. 07: * Did minor code tweaking in Restore_Database_File
            process.  Edits done to Trader3.pas unit.

Sept. 15: * Added Sysop_User VAR back to Trader3.pas.
          * Added code to Read_Config establishing whether
            current player is the Sysop User or not.

Oct. 11:  * Added RESTORE_DATABASE_FILE proc to Trader3.pas.
          * Complete rewrite done of CREATE_DATABASE_FILE
            and RESTORE_DATABASE_FILE processes.

          * Edited User_Stuff process to include new statements
            that create the JACKBACK.DAT database backup backup
            file.  ## Note: The IGM started using JACKBACK.DAT
            during final work on v2.50 on Dec. 19th, 2006.

Oct. 13:  * Changed all GEMDRINK.DAT references to JACKPLAY.DAT
            in all IGM code files:  Tradevar.inc, Gemtrade.pas,
            Trader1.pas, Trader2.pas, Trader3.pas, and
            Jackedit.pas.  Recompiled the three unit files.
          * Changed all GemDrink_FN references to JackPlay_FN
            in JACKEDIT.PAS program file.
          * Removed all VAR entries for HasHorse, HasFairy,
            Partner, LordPath, ProgPath, Stats_Time, Stats_Date,
            and Reports_FN;  all relocated into ALORD.PAS unit.
          * Removed Lord_Log constant. Relocated into ALORD unit.

          * Trader3.pas edit: Renamed INIT_TRADER_VALUES proc
            to INIT_WARRIOR_VALUES.

Oct. 23:  * Trader3.pas edit. Changed Sex_ID from STRING to
            STRING[3] since its value never exceeds 3 characters.

Oct. 27:  * Replaced all references to Lord_News_File VAR in
            Gem Trader's units with Trader_News.
          * ALORD.PAS work: Added LogLine constant.  Edited all
            of the ALORD-based igms to use LogLine from ALORD
            library unit.  Recompiled all edited unit files.
          * Trader3.pas edit: Added Trader_News VAR entry.

Nov. 13:  * Changed all WUR_FILE VAR references to Reports_File
            in Trader1.pas, Trader3.pas, tradevar.inc files.

Nov. 16:  * Edited all code related to Restore_Database_File
            process and its usage by the igm.

Nov. 17:  * Trader3.pas: Added CASE Tdrinks.Visits structure
            at ending of Title_Screen process to show players
            how many Visits they have made.
{ ########################################################## }
            
Nov. 20: Reopened IGM development for short-term development.

         * Changes: (1) GEMTRADE.EXE v2.50 if used without
           parameters simply froze up. Only solution was to
           forcibly close the DOS window in use.  Problem's
           cause was determined in early 2007.  (2) IGM was
           changed to use JACKPLAY.DAT as its player database
           file, but the Player Database file's structure was
           NOT altered.  It is the same one that v2.50 used.

           (3) IGM's config file GEMTRADE.CFG had two values
           changed to use new variable names.  Which has NO
           effect on the end-user's usage of the IGM.  (4)
           The igm now uses the Player Database Backup process
           that I created in 2006 to protect each of my igms'
           player database files from deletion while the igm
           was running.

           In some instances, the IGMs simply created a brand
           new database file when it tried to access its player
           database file, and it could not be located.  However,
           in a few igms, deleting the database file caused
           the programs to become unstable.
           
         * Trader3.pas edit: Added Restore_FN var entry.
           - Removed 4 lines from the igm's Title Screen.

         * Implemented usage by IGM of Player Database Backup file
           JACKPLAY.DAT and related igm code processes.

         * Eliminated support for JACKCONV.EXE utility.

         * Eliminated usage by JACKEDIT and GEMTRADE EXE files of
           the GEMDRINK.DAT player database file.

         * Tested recompiled GEMTRADE.EXE program in DOS LORD v4.08
           beta igm test sessions without observing any problems.

         * Tested recompiled JACKDIT.EXE program with JACKPLAY.DAT
           without observing any problems.

         * did 100% rewrite of GEMTRADE.PAS based on CHANGLING.PAS
         * Edited all three Trader?.pas unit files.
         * Edited JACKEDIT.PAS file.

         * Recompiled GEMTRADE.EXE.  Works fine in LORD session.
           -- Retested GEMTRADE CONFIG.  Worked fine.
           -- Retested GEMTRADE REPORT.  Worked fine.

         * Recompiled JACKEDIT.EXE.  Works fine with JACKPLAY.DAT.
         * Did brief update of GEMTRADE.TXT docs file.

         * Distributed to beta testers on Nov. 21th.
         * Now uses JACKPLAY.DAT instead of GEMDRINK.DAT,
           and use of JACKBACK.DAT database backup file
           is now implemented in this igm.

         * All of the old notes from v2.50's development with
           exception of those from November-December 2006 have
           been relocated into archival data files.

Nov. 21: * Released IGM to beta testers for BBS testing.

December 2007:  Do notes section updates soon.

Dec. 18: * Did last compilation of GemTrade.exe as v2.60.

Dec. 19: * Did official release of IGM and JackEdit v1.2
           archives.  Took IGM out of active development status.

         * Distributed gemtr260.zip and jacked12.zip archives
           to NightfallGames server, and to Castle Camelot's
           LordApps directory on LegendaryDragons.com server.

Dec. 20: * Added December 18-20 notations.  Not able yet to
           distribute files to BBS Archives server.  it simply
           will not work with CUTEFTP v2.61 for some reason.

         * Made official release notations in Lordapps.htm,
           igm-beta.htm, igm-code.htm, igmpage.htm, camelot5.htm,
           and camelot6.htm web-pages on Dec. 19-20.

Nov 30, 2010:  I've done pretty much no work at all on my IGMs
           during Spring, Summer, and Fall 2010.   I will try
           to get back to work on a more normal basis on them
           sometime in early 2011.

End of file. November 30, 2010 10:26 pm.

