10.00:  CONVHITS v1.20 Player Database Converter Docs:
        Stored separately in the CONVHITS.TXT file.
-----------------------------------------------------

CONVHITS v1.20 Information             {10/03/07 edit}

Compile Date:  v1.20:  October 03rd, 2007.

Status:  ** v1.20 was officially released on Oct. 03rd, 2007.

This utility program was created by Donald Tidmore.
------------------------------------------------------------


This utility was created by me on October 21th, 2005. It is
based on the CONVBANK.EXE utility for Kiteria's LORD Bank IGM
created for me by my friend Stephen Gibbs in October 2005.

Version 1.00 was never released and is no longer supported.

Version 1.10 is ONLY usable to update from H.I.T.S. v2.50 to
v2.70.

Version 1.20 is ONLY for use in updating from HITS v2.70 to
Hiding In The Shadows v3.00.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Usage:  It converts a SHADPLAY.DAT, which has to be named
"HS27PLAY.DAT", from H.I.T.S. v2.70 into a new SHADPLAY.DAT
file that is fully usable with H.I.T.S. version 3.00.

Both H.I.T.S. v2.70 and v3.00 use SHADPLAY.DAT.  But the two
version's database formats are incompatible with each other. So
you have to use this Conversion process to update from the
DDIGM tool-kit based v2.70 IGM to the ANGEL tool-kit based
version 3.00 of Hiding In The Shadows.

If you are already using H.I.T.S.'s v3.00 or its v2.75+ betas,
then you do NOT need to use CONVHITS.EXE, unless you just want
to see how it works.
-----------------------------------------------------------


Usage Instructions:  * READ THEM!!! **
---------------------------------------------
(1) Be warned:  This program is NOT compatible with H.I.T.S.
v2.50, or any other prior version.   Use this program ONLY
if you are using the official v2.70 version of H.I.T.S, and
you are updating to version 3.00, AND you wish to retain
player database info on Sleeping Players from your old game.

(2) When used, CONVHITS.EXE replaces any current SHADPLAY.DAT
with its output file.  Always make a backup of the current
SHADPLAY.DAT before using CONVHITS.EXE.

(3) You MAY ONLY use this program under this specific situation.

CONVHITS.EXE is *ONLY* for use by people upgrading from HITS
v2.70 to v3.00.  It is NOT for usage with HITS v2.50 or
any earlier versions under ANY circumstance whatsoever.

It is for use only in a version upgrade where you intend to
keep old players records from your last v2.70 HITS LORD IGM
session, for the purpose of protecting data on which players
are asleep in the IGM currently.

(4) Regarding OUT files, the v2.70 to v3.00 conversion process
does NOT deal with them.  An OUT file made by HITS v2.70 will
NOT work with HITS v3.00.  They use different program names and
different syntax.  You will need to check each of your existing
OUT files, and write down which players are listed as being
asleep in the Hiding In the Shadows v2.70 IGM.  They are
identified by their LORD player number which is part of the
OUT file's filename.  E.g. Player 15 would have an OUT.15 file.
=============================================================


OK, do the following steps:
=============================
1) Acquire HITS300.ZIP and CONVHS12.ZIP from my web-site, or
   from one of the other recommended distribution sites listed
   in SHADOWS3.TXT, or in CONVHITS.TXT.

Note: It is best for you to get them from me directly via email
request or Fidonet Mail request, since the online archives are
not always up-to-date.  The notation applies ONLY to beta
versions of the IGM, and its two utility programs.

HITS300.ZIP contains *ALL* of the IGM program files.
CONVHS12.ZIP only contains the CONVHITS.* files.
SHADED11.ZIP only contains the SHADEDIT.* files.

2) Using CONVHS12.ZIP, unzip its contents into your HIDING IN
THE SHADOWS game directory.  If you use HITS300.ZIP, be *SURE*
that you ONLY extract the CONV*.* files at this time. !!!

3) Run the Hiding In The Shadows v2.70 IGM in LORD one last time.
Do anything you wish to do inside, and then exit the program.
Then exit LORD as well.

4-A) Using XCOPY, copy all of your current OUT.* files from
   the LORD directory into a temporary directory.  Using XCOPY
   then also backup all of the files in your HITS IGM directory.

4-B) Unless you already did so, look at each OUT file and
   determine which ones are in use by players asleep in the HITS
   v2.70 IGM.  I recommend that you write the info down on paper
   or use a program like Wordpad to record the info.

4-C) Change into the HITS directory and make backup copies of
   the HS-USAGE.TXT and SHADPLAY.DAT data files.  Specifically,
   copy SHADPLAY.DAT to HS27PLAY.DAT, creating that file.
   Print the HS-USAGE.TXT file for later reference usage.

4-D) Using SHADCFG.EXE, un-install HITS v2.70 completely from
   your LORD game. You can then delete SHADCFG.EXE, SHADOWS.EXE,
   and CONVHS11.EXE.  Delete all SHADOWS.* files.  None are in
   use now.  Keep the HS27PLAY.DAT and HS-USAGE.TXT files!!

4-E) *MANDATORY*.  Exit the LORD game.  It MUST NOT be use while
   you are doing the IGM Conversion process, IGM Update process,
   and new database file verification.  Make SURE no one on your
   BBS can run LORD until after you are finished.  This prevents
   glitches and headaches.

4-F) Using Wordpad, Qedit or some other text editor program, look
   at 3RDPARTY.DAT and make sure it now contains NO references
   to SHADOWS.EXE.  Do the same with START.BAT and MAINT.BAT.
   The batch files, if they contain HITS references, need to use
   SHADOW3.EXE instead of SHADOWS.EXE.  Save any changes you
   make to the LORD file(s) and exit the editor program.

5) Unzip everything from CONVHS12.ZIP into your HITS IGM
   directory, using overwrite with new files mode.
   E.g.:  Pkunzip -n CONVHS12  or  WZUNZIP -n CONVHS12

   Unzip everything from HITS300.ZIP in the same manner, using
   overwrite with new files mode.

6) Run this command from the DOS prompt:  CONVHITS

   It will read the HS27PLAY.DAT binary database file.  It
   reports the number of database records it converts, along with
   showing the LORD Names of each igm user.  Then it terminates.
   Entire process takes a couple of minutes or less.

   I've added a pause after each batch of 20 records is
   processed, to allow the user to keep track of what the program
   has done.

7) Regarding SHADEDIT, you are to use the files in either
   HITS300.ZIP or SHADED11.ZIP.

   Run SHADEDIT.EXE v1.10.  You will need the printout of
   HS-USAGE.TXT now, and the listing of OUT files at this time.

   For each player listed in an OUT file as being asleep in the
   IGM's v2.70 version, make sure the "Asleep in LAIR Inn?" entry
   is marked YES.  Otherwise the IGM will not know that they are
   asleep in the Lair Inn.  Make sure that there are no screwed
   up data values in each record.  The HS-USAGE.TXT printout
   will help you with matching player's LORD names with their
   LORD Player Number info, and with data verification.

   When you are sure every player's database record is valid,
   you can exit SHADEDIT.

8) Delete your existing SHADOWS3.DAT igm config file.  It has
   to be recreated using the SHADOWS3 INSTALL process.

   Following instructions listed below, convert your OUT files
   used by HITS v2.70 to v3.00's MANDATORY format.  Or simply
   delete those now unusable OUT files.

   End of Player Database Conversion instructions.
=============================================================


OUT Files Conversion:   {Added 04/24/2007}
------------------------------------------
Using WORDPAD or QEDIT, edit your existing HITS v2.70 OUT
files using these instructions.

Terminology:  IGMPath: Where the IGM was installed.
              LORDPath: Where your LORD game is installed.
              *:  Indicates the Node Number.

Line #2 of an HITS v2.70 OUT file looks this way:

   IGMPath+SHADOWS.EXE * /WAKEUP

   Ex:  C:\LORD\SHADOWS\SHADOWS.EXE * /WAKEUP

For usage by HITS v3.00, it must be changed to this
new format:

   IGMPATH+SHADOWS3.EXE /N* /GLORDPATH \WAKEUP

   Ex:  C:\LORD\SHADOWS3\SHADOWS3.EXE /N* /GC:\LORD\ \WAKEUP

   Notes: Both IGMPath and LORDPATH must end with a backslash.
   \WAKEUP must be specified exactly as shown.  You MUST use
   the .EXE in the OUT file's statement, since the IGM searches
   for statements containing SHADOWS3.EXE in them.

Exit Wordpad/Qedit when you are finished updating the OUT files.
===============================================================

9) Follow directions in SHADOWS3.TXT and install v3.00 into
   your LORD Game.  If you use LordMenu, update its data files.

   Make sure you are using v1.40, which was officially released
   on July 29th, 2007;  Distribution done on July 31th, 2007.
     URL:  http://www.filegate.net/camelot/lordfile/lrdmnu14.zip

   You can re-activate access to LORD once you are finished
   re-installing the IGM.

**** End of Notes for CONVHITS.EXE usage. ****
--------------------------------------------------------------

CONVHITS Files:  Copyright 2005-2007 by Donald Tidmore.

Primary Official distribution links:  H.I.T.S. v2.70 files:

    http://www.filegate.net/camelot/lordfile/convhs11.zip
    http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/LordApps/convhs11.zip

    http://www.filegate.net/camelot/lordfile/hits270.zip
    http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/LordApps/hits270.zip
--------------------------------------------------------------

Primary Official distribution links:  H.I.T.S. v3.00 files:

    http://www.filegate.net/camelot/lordfile/convhs12.zip
    http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/LordApps/convhs12.zip

    http://www.filegate.net/camelot/lordfile/hits300.zip
    http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/LordApps/hits300.zip
==============================================================


Primary distribution links:  H.I.T.S. v3.00 programs:
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Beta/shadwork.zip
    -- For Hiding In The Shadows v3.00. Contains all of
    the CONVHITS and SHADEDIT program files.

    http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Beta/shadedit.zip
    -- Player Database Editor files only.

    http://camelot.legendarydragons.com/IGM-Beta/convhits.zip
    -- Player Database Converter files only.

(2) The files are periodically backed up on Mike Ehlert's server,
    on the NightfallGames server, and on the Castle Camelot
    web-sites.

(3) Contact me at ktidmore@bellsouth.net or gtidmore@hiwaay.net
    and request the archives.  That way you will know for sure
    you are using the most current versions, unless you've been
    told the ones on the Castle Camelot web-site are up-to-date.
==============================================================


CONVHITS.TXT file created on Oct. 21, 2005.

Copyright 2005-2007 by Donald Tidmore.

Spell-checked CONVHITS.TXT file, Oct. 04, 2007 at 01:43 pm.

Revised on:   October 04, 2007 at 01:51 pm.

