============================ Zorkmachine 1.15 ============================= =========================================================================== `Zorkmachine' is a replacement for Infocom's virtual machine code (ZCode-3) interpreter. The implementation differs from the original implementation both in the design of the user interface and the number of additional features supported. This `Zorkmachine' port requires Kickstart 2.04 or higher to run. Up to this day, the interpreter will only run the old-style Infocom games, such as `The witness', `Hollywood Hijinx' and the like. Interactive Fiction Plus games such as `Trinity' or `A mind forever voyaging' will not work at all. ================================== Usage ================================== =========================================================================== `Zorkmachine' can be started both from Workbench and from Shell. The following options, which are both available as calling parameters and as icon tooltypes, are supported: Protocol....... If using the `script' and `unscript' commands, a transcript of the story will be sent to a protocol device or protocol file. By default, this device will be `PRT:', sending the transcript to the printer. This output device can be overridden by using the `Protocol ' option or from within the program. Width.......... In order to correctly layout the transcript text, the program has to know how many characters will fit into each single printer line. By default the program assumes a value of 80 characters per line. Story.......... The name of the story file to be used for playing. Infocom usually assigns the name `Story.Data' to it which is also the default name `Zorkmachine' will use. Restore........ If you wish to start the game using a previously saved game, use this option to give the name of the file. Note that the saved game file has to match the story it was saved with. Workbench users: in order to restore a game, either double-click on a saved game icon or drop the saved game icon to restore into the `Zorkmachine' window. Customscreen... By default, `Zorkmachine' will open a window on the Workbench screen. If the `customscreen' option is in effect, a custom screen will be used. The screen will use the same display modes the same colours and the same font as the Workbench screen. Colour0........ If using a custom screen, these two options will set the Colour1........ text (colour 1) and the background (colour 0) colours. The colour values to be used have to be provided in hexadecimal notation (e.g. `colour0 000 colour1 ddd' would make `Zorkmachine' use a black background colour with grey text). ============================= User interface ============================== =========================================================================== Unlike the original Infocom interpreter, `Zorkmachine' supports line editing and command history just like the AmigaShell does. If you are familiar with the Shell, you will be able to use `Zorkmachine' right away. Even the cut & paste feature is supported. Not supported are the ^S and ^Q key codes to stop and restart terminal output. Cursor up ................... Go back in history Cursor down ................. Go forward in history Cursor left ................. Move cursor one character left Cursor right ................ Move cursor one character right CTRL-A, Shift cursor left ... Start of line CTRL-Z, Shift cursor right .. End of line CTRL-L ...................... Restore line CTRL-X ...................... Delete whole line CTRL-I ...................... Toggle insert/overwrite mode CTRL-H, Backspace ........... Delete character left of cursor CTRL-D, Del ................. Delete character under cursor CTRL-P, Help ................ Program function key F1-F10, shift F1-F10 F1-F10, Shift F1-F10 ........ Recall function key Pull-down menus are supported as well, most will simply invoke an interpreter function (such as `time', `score', `brief', etc.). Only five menu entries are special: Protocol....... A requester will be opened which allows to select the `script' output device/file. If scripting is already active it will be turned off. Enter the output file/device and page width (see options) or click on the `select file' button which will open a file requester to select the output file. Palette........ Just as the name says, a requester will be opened to edit the current screen palette. Note that this menu entry will be available only if `Zorkmachine' is running on a custom screen. About.......... Guess and try ;-) Narrate story.. If this switch is active, the text displayed on screen will be spoken by the Amiga speech synthesizer. Debug mode..... This switch has been provided for diagnostic purposes only. Use it with caution since the whole `Zorkmachine' interpreter run will be displayed on screen. `Zorkmachine' will create icons with file it saves only if it was run form Workbench. If started from Shell, no icons will be created. ============================= The source code ============================= =========================================================================== I have tried to remain faithful both to the original code and Infocom's interpreter program. It may still prove difficult to recompile the program code for other platforms (Minix, Atari ST, etc.) since the changes I made may be irreversible. A Makefile (for Aztec `C') and an LMkFile (for Lattice `C' or SAS/C) have been provided. Note that Aztec `C' 5.0a or higher and Lattice/SAS `C' 5.04 or higher are required to recompile the program. ============================ Credits & Authors ============================ =========================================================================== `Zorkmachine' was created by Matthias Pfaller (EMail: leo@marco.de) from the original Z-machine interpreter as running on the Atari ST. I received the fragments of an Amiga port created by martin@deepth.ulm.sub.org (I have failed to identify the full name of the author) and built this port on it. Paul David Doherty beta-tested this port and suggested a couple of useful features which can now be found in `Zorkmachine'. The present keeper of the sources to this Amiga port is: Olaf `Olsen' Barthel Brabeckstrasse 35 D-3000 Hannover 71 Federal Republic of Germany Email: o.barthel@a-link-h.comlink.de ============================ Revision history ============================= =========================================================================== 1.15 Script/unscript works again and so does `restore' by dropping icons on the `Zorkmachine' window. 1.14 AppWindow support works once again, custom screen and palette support added, speech support reworked, debug mode added, sound support added (`The lurking horror' finally works!), the input routine converts all characters entered to lower case in order to avoid trouble with the parser (which would choke on upper case characters). 1.11 First public release.