DOOM: DIY Launcher file

From ReadMe.txt:

[DOOM LAUNCHER]

Note: I have made alot of changes to my doom setup and organisation since using this launcher, so even i will have to modify references etc to make everythign boot.

Also note that chocolate doom has a nice idea/ launcher, but i have not check to see if the src is available.

TITLE: DOOM-LAUNCHER
AUTHOR: TKBS [tkbs.uk] | [unrealbyfusilade - @wordpress.com]
APP: Made with Compact Auto Runner ["CAR"]
INFO: Menu with buttons to launch files, folders, scripts etc refernced in a ".xml" file.
Note: Spoke to CAR Author about allowing use of ResourceHacker to overcome the icon bug

[DOOM FINDER: Doom-FileExApp.exe]
* can be discarded

[Doom Draw/ Secret-DrawApp.exe]
* can be discarded
^^ this was a test creation app to see if code can be added to gzdoom source to allow drawing, saving, modify editing, whatever the automap. - maybe with an opacity overlay or somoemthing that can be pplaced over the engine - whateverer.
dunno - was going to be for doom secrets app.
- since the recent release of the so calle dmac source, i check the am cod ein that and it does indeed draw call texture or whatever, so it would be possible to make this work for custom automap images or even better, the never implmented PONG mini-Game.

TITLE: DOOM-Finder
AUTHOR: TKBS [tkbs.uk] | [unrealbyfusilade - @wordpress.com]
APP: Made with Delphi
INFO: File Browser with default search extensions set for .wad | .pk3
... & optional 'type what you want' search bar.
Note: File browser only, not designed for executing or file management.
Solely to search folders fast for .wad and .pk3 files
TODO: Would be useful to a file path generator for users to copy/ paste file path for use in a bat file.

[Other Contents]
* the _hookups folder is just copies/ backups of files used to e.g. run dosbox conf, or launch gzdoom from .bat script
// refernced in the launcher .xml are the real locations used.
* the _other folder has other user created content, in this case sobads launcher.

--------------------
Instructions:
--------------------
* Store here: "C:\Games\DOOM\Launcher" and run it
* Edit the ".xml" to point to DOOM related; shortcuts, .bat, cmds, CONFs or CFGs references
...or import .xml into CAR & Edit/make your own launcher.
* Choose your own DOSBOX, EMULATORs, DOOM ENGINEs etc
...users can Store all files in one location and add references to the launcher.xml

In the .xml:
e.g. change: C:\Games\DOOM\Doom-DOSBox\Help\Config\DOOM.conf
to C:\Games\DOOM\Launcher\_hookups\DOOM.conf

* everythings else is done with file associations in windows (booting roms and non .exe files)
...or using the exe + launch parameters, which can be typed in a bat and hooked up to the launcher.

Easy stuff!

------------------
TODO:
TODO:
-----------------
*** Code a new APP.
// - yeh right, that shti aint happening for me . DELPHI | java | UE | PYTHON | c++, would be my recommendations to make a launcher.

+ So far i have the wad and pk3 finder which needs one or 2 features.
+ the doom launcher, which is fine as-is
- nothing to drag n drop files read the names, output to string append a bat file with string and save it/ make a shortcut then add it to the launcher, but i dont need those personally.
- I also have a delphi project called "Doom-Secrets", which lists all Dom maps by full name and by map id, shows the par times, num mons etc, the map names can be selected and it shows a .gif of the secrets / level map and a description of how to btain them.
+ It was really cool and i wanted it for a long time, there was a LUMP attempt online, but i never finished it nopr did the original author, nor is there a sign of anyone touching it since it was released incomplete.

???Why is the doom secrets app not here:????
* It was built using database files, which store the images, descriptions, names, ids etc - turns out this a dependency thing and requires a whole app to be installled to use the exe with the database file, bummer.

Still it was a nice app and i guess if your using a virtual PC or win3.1, 95, or XP OS users would be more incloined to install the dependancy app to use it.

It was built with
* a window box 800x800 ot 1024x768 (resizeable.)
* with gifs at 640x320 for the level/ map images.
* a left right and up down scroll bart for the map name/ info, incase the user wants to make the screen so small they have to scroll down 1 line at a time.
* cell count was just 12 maps entires. ((for E1M1-E1M9 + E1M4b (romero) and 2nd secret exit to SEWERS))

It looked like this below, to which i have added the other 3 apps to show how they would look all compiled as 1 app.

All 4 apps together as 1 app would look like this:...........
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Doom launcher here {TKBS STYLE} | |** Doom finder app here** |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| TITLE: DOOM SECRETS VIEWER APP [Exit button] | |** Doom wad launching ...**|
| MAP ID MAP NAME [Exit button] | | {SOBAD's STYLE} launcher |
| [ ---- IMAGE ----] [--- Description ----] | | .....parameters here** |
| [ Level.gif ] [secret 1- do this...] |^/ | ...SAVE/LOAD AS .BAT** |
| [ Secrets shown.gif ] [ 2. is located at...] |^/ | {SOBAD's STYLE} launcher|
| [ Secrets not shown.gif] [ 3. press switch here..., then go here....] |^/ | ........................|
| [ 1 image shown ] [ ..............] |
| [ click to on/off secrets ] [ Scroll left - right] [Scroll up /down]|
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |
| Map id | Map Name | par time | num mons | |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |
| E1M1 | Command Control | 630 | 999 |^/
| E1M2 ... |.................... | ... | ... |^/|
| etc etc..... | | | |^/|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| [ Scroll left - right] | [Scroll up /down] = ^^^ ON SIDE BAR UP^^^
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So you can search a wad on the right e.g. doom.wad
it lists the secrets on the bottom right, image + info and map selection.
on the bottom left there would be win95 sdtyle launcher like sobads launcher which allows the actual creating of a .bat script which would be saved
the top right would then be my style launcher which takes the generated startup .bat script from sobads launcher appends it to the .mxl so that the buttons la unch that new command line.

------------------------------------------
An app that could do all would be nice, probablly already exists, but is guaranteed to have gone many steps beyond simplicity and probably just do too much..
individually i think all 4 apps can be made, in a vairety of programming suites, in 30mins at least definaetely less than an hour if your a programmer
. making 1 app that did all 4 together would take considerable time and effort though.

anyways rant over, source is avilable if anyone wants it, sobads compiles nicely and the launcher works, so thats great, my launcher works, the wad finder needs to have a box that actually shows the full file path that can be copy/ pasted BUT IT WORKS TO FIND FILES FAST AMOUNGST DIRECTORIES, and sadly the secrets viewer app needs to be re-coded from fresh but was a nice result when u have 1 exe file with the descirtions level names info and images as gifs all baked in. it was 750kb for 10 maps lol - all offline, no need for the website or brain memoryism-ish-ness