DM ADD Something - Doomworld /idgames database frontend

Title:	DM ADD Something
Filename:	utils/graphics_edit/dmadds11.zip
Size:	94.26 KB
Date:	11/21/94
Author:	Bernd Kreimeier
Description:	DMADDS is a tool to allow for sprite and flats graphic replacement and replacement distribution by means of PWAD files, without changing the IWAD file. The README.EXE of DOOM 1.666 states that "Sprite graphics can now be used in PWADs". This statement is incorrect (which is confirmend by "id"). Sprite replacement as well as replacement of flats (i.e. floors and ceilings) is only possible if all sprites and/or flats are included in one WAD file, wether IWAD or PWAD. DMADDS 1.1 should work with any version of the registered IWAD file, but there is no way to be sure, as it is impossible to keep track of all those "official" patches. This includes DOOM ][ as well.
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View dmadds11.txt

================================================================
DMADDS v1.1 dos  -    DM ADD Something      -         11/20/1994
================================================================

Overview

[1] Description
   [2] Contents

[3] How does a player use DMADDS

[4] How does a PWAD designer use DMADDS

[5] Remarks

---------------
[1] Description
---------------

DMADDS is a tool to allow for sprite and flats graphic
replacement and replacement distribution by means of PWAD files,
without changing the IWAD file.

The README.EXE of DOOM 1.666 states that "Sprite
graphics can now be used in PWADs". This statement is
incorrect (which is confirmend by "id"). Sprite
replacement as well as replacement of flats (i.e.
floors and ceilings) is only possible if *all* sprites and/or 
flats  are included in one WAD file, wether IWAD or PWAD.

DMADDS 1.1 should work with any version of the registered IWAD
file, but there is no way to be sure, as it is impossible to
keep track of all those "official" patches. This includes
DOOM ][ as well.

----------------
[2] Distribution
----------------

You should find at least the following files within the archive 
DMADDS11.ZIP:

dmadds.exe  ::  created with DJGPP 2.5.7, COFF2EXE,
                GO32 already merged in

empty_s.12  ::  an empty sprite replacement DWAD for 1.2
empty_f.12  ::  floor replacements
empty.12    ::  floors and sprites

empty_s.166 ::  same for DOOM 1.666 registered
empty_f.166 ::  an empty flats replacement DWAD for 1.666

empty.166   ::  sprites and flats for 1.666

ghosts.166  ::  a simple demo file

shrink.166  ::  generates a copy of DOM.WAD 1.666,
                removing approx. 800 KB
                of duplicate sound and music entries

empty_s.ii  ::  same for DOOM 2
empty_f.ii  ::  same
empty.ii    ::  same

dmadds11.txt::this short readme file

invis.gif   ::  the zero heigh/zero width picture
                used with DMADDS 1.0

You'll probably only need empty.ii. Using this with earlier
releases will give lots of warnings, but as long as the missing
sprites aren't used, the PWAD will work.

--------------------------------
[3] How does a player use DMADDS
--------------------------------

Quite simple. You download a PWAD package that claims you have 
to run DMADDS  (RTFM, folks). Part of the package are one or 
more PWADs that are not "complete", i.e. some lumps are missing,
but the directory entries in the PWAD are already there. If 
you try to use those "Distribution WADs" (aka DWADs)
with DOOM.EXE, sooner or later you'll get an error, or it
will simply lock during startup (unfortunately, "id" has 
omitted nearly all WAD I/O error handling).

If there is no "INSTALL.BAT" or something in the PWAD
package, you have to do the following, presuming a DWAD file
named "INCOMPLETE.WAD":

Step A:"DMADDS.EXE", the registered IWAD of the
        version required by the PWAD package, and the
        "INCOMPLETE.WAD" are available in some directories.

You have at least 4.5MB disk space left (presuming
        sprite replacement).

Step B: Simply type

"DMADDS <return>"

and read the on-line help.

Stpe C: Now use "DMADDS" to combine "INCOMPLETE.WAD" with
        the sprites from "DOOM.WAD" into "COMPLETE.WAD",
        e.g.

">DMADDS INCOMPLETE.WAD COMPLETE.WAD D:\DOOM\DOOM.WAD"

if your DOOM directory is "D:\DOOM"

This will take merely a minute or two on a 486DX/66, but it
        may be a lot slower on other machines.

Step D: After DMADDS has finished, the should be a "COMPLETE.WAD"
        PWAD file with approx 4.5 MB or less, depending on the 
        replacements. Use it with

"DOOM -FILE COMPLETE.WAD"

The obvious disadvantage of this approach is the file size of the 
completed PWAD. If the speed of "dmadds" is sufficient, delete the
complete PWAD files, if you don't need them, and re-create them from 
the distribution DWAD again as soon as you want to use this PWAD
again.

--------------------------------------------
[4] How does a PWAD designer use DMADDS
--------------------------------------------

In order to distribute your own sprites or flats, you have to 
generate a "Distribution PWAD", which I call DWAD. Note that, 
different to the DMADDS 1.0, DWADs will not work with DOOM.EXE 
anymore, as I'm using no zero length/zero offset entries in the 
directory, instead of the "INVIS.GIF" sprite. A lot of PWAD
users have simply skipped RTFM and DMADDS, and complained
about "missing weapons and stuff".

Step 1: select the appropriate empty DWAD file, e.g. "EMPTY.166"
        for having your own sprites and flats with DOOM 1.666.

Make a copy of it. Do not change the original file, 
        you'll need it again if you want to create other sprite 
        PWAD files.

"copy EMPTY.166 my.wad"

Step 2: add all the sprites and flats you want to distribute
        using the excellent dmgraph1.1.

"dmgraph (graphic) -s (file) -f my.wad"

Now all your sprites and flats are included in "my.wad".
        Of course, all the sprites you haven't replaced are
        still missing, and it won't work with DOOM, until
        the missing sprites are added with DMADDS.

Step 3: run DMADDS (see [3]).

Step 4: if everything works fine, distribute your "my.wad".
        You only have to include DMADDS11.EXE with your package,
        no other files from this package.

Step 5: send me a mail, please. It would be nice to know what you
        have designed using this tool. Has been kind of silent
        on DMADDS 1.0beta :-(.

If you want to use the incomplete DWAD to look at your sprites
during PWAD debug/development, you may once again use DMGRAPH,
to insert "INVIS.GIF" or another replacement for *every* missing
sprite within a sequence (I have used a wall texture).

The file "ghosts.166" is a very simple DWAD file. If you want to 
be sure this works out, use it as described above (Step A,B,C,D) 
as the "MY.WAD" file.

I strongly recommend to separate map data, sound replacements
and other lumps into another PWAD. I have done no testing on
complete PWADs, and as the directory entry retrieval mechanism
is simple, map data may be corrupted by DMADDS, as it does
not know the difference between E1M1 and E2M8 (as we all do ;-).

In addition, if your IWAD has been altered already,
using IWAD patches, DMADDS' results as well as speed may depend 
on the details of directory organization vs. the directory of
the DWAD file.

---------------
[5] Remarks
---------------

Note the following things:

DMADDS does NOT CHANGE the IWAD!
           It will NOT overwrite any file.

If there's something wrong, I'd appreciate a bug report including 
the error messages.

DMADDS 1.1 will be the last DOS release (presuming no major bugs).

-------------------
[6] No Warranty
-------------------

Imagine the usual disclaimer. Do detailed bug reports. Have fun.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Bernd Kreimeier                        THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY
bernd@nero.uni-bonn.de                       LEFT BLANK ...
---------------------------------------------------------------

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