SKELEDIT.EXE Information:  (11/29/2007 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:  v1.00.  Officially released on Oct. 08th, 2008.

Required:  Any compilation of SKELETON.EXE made after
           Sept. 13th, 2008, which uses SKELPLAY.DAT file.

Compile Date:  October 08, 2008.

Docs Update:   October 08, 2008.

Mandatory: Must use LORD Skeleton compilations dated on/after
     Sept. 13th, 2008, due to revised player database format.

     SKELEDIT v1.00 can only be used with compilations of
     SKELETON.EXE that are dated between 09/13/08 and 10/08/08.
------------------------------------------------------------

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 Sept. 13th, 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).
  ==========================================================

  ** Obtain copy of the SKELED10.ZIP distribution archive,
     and/or the SKELEDIT.ZIP work archive.  SKELED10.ZIP was
     officially released on 10/08/2008;  online distribution
     will be done sometime on/around 10/09/2008.

     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: 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.

  ========================================================
  4) Deleting Database Records.

  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.  At that time, any record that
  is marked as *DELETED* is kept OUT of the new Player
  Database File (SKELPLAY.DAT) that the IGM is creating.

  Once a record has been deleted in SKELEDIT, the user can
  always restore the old values by typing them back in.  There
  is no "UNDO" system.  Once the IGM itself removes a player
  database record, that record no longer exists.

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

           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 Sept. 13th, 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.
=================================================================


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.
------------------------------------------------------------

LORD Skeleton v1.00 has not been officially released yet,
as of early October 2008.  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 Files:  Copyright 2007-2008 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.
-------------------------------------------------------------

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 2006-2008 by Donald Tidmore.

SKELEDIT.EXE:  Copyright 2007-2008 by Donald Tidmore.

CONVSKEL.EXE:  Copyright 2008 by Donald Tidmore.

RLMEDIT.EXE:   Copyright 2004-2008 by Donald Tidmore.

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

Section 8: Upcoming Changes:  {10/08/2008}
----------------------------------------------------
I am officially releasing CONVSKEL v1.00 and SKELEDIT v1.00
now prior to updating the Player Database structure used
by LORD Skeleton.  In order for the IGM to work more efficiently,
its necessary to change the Pascal data types of two variables,
Pellets and IGM_Fights, from BYTE to INTEGER.

Since this IGM is one that involves Gold and Gems Banking
transactions and players Sleeping in its Campground, its
necessary to create new versions of CONVSKEL, SKELEDIT, and
SKELETON that use a newer Player Database Structure.  This
allows the igm's users to protect their current Sleeping
status, Treasury Gold status, and Treasury Gems status.

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 2006-2008 by Donald Tidmore.

All SKELEDIT.* files are Copyright 2007-2008 by Donald Tidmore.
=============================================================

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

Revised on:   October 08, 2008 at 09:00 pm.

