WinPCE v 1.8 by Les Crockford - les@networx.net.au Windows Front end for MagicEngine v0.8 ((c) 1997 David Michel) ------------------------------------------------------ IMHO one of the best emulators of one of the best systems around ... :-) Note: This program will work in Win3.xx and Win95. DISCLAIMER ---------- This program is provided as is. I take no responsibility for any damage or consequences directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, which may arise from using this program - YOU USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK! I would also like point out that this program is 'vanilla' by design. It has no flashy graphical gimmicks, no animated controls, no spin buttons, just the bare essentials to get the job done. In this way I have managed kept it's size and demand for system resources to a minimum. The object of the exercise is to support all the functions of MagicEngine(c) and get into playing a game with the minimum of fuss :-) LICENSE ------- * The program, parts of the program or the documentation may be passed freely but not sold to third persons. * The program and its documentation may not be altered in any way. * By using this program, the user accepts these conditions of license and use. This program is cardware, I would be very happy to receive a card from your Country. My snail mail address is L. Crockford 16 Baloo Place Koongamia WA 6056 Australia Files in this package --------------------- WINPCE.EXE The executable wPCELite.EXE the 'Lite' version WINHUPAK.EXE the Hupack archive creating utility THREED.VBX File needed by the executables WINPCE18.TXT This file WINPCE.INI Configuration file for winPCE. PKZIP.PIF Windows config file for PKZIP PKUNZIP.PIF Windows config file for PKUNZIP HUPACK.PIF Windows config file for HUPACK SETUPKIT.DLL Needed for getting free disk space New in version 1.8 ------------------ - some problems with unzipping files in win95 fixed - Hupacker application included in archive - wPCELite included in archive for those who don't want/need the zipping and preview pic features. New in version 1.71 (an update to v1.7) ------------------- - the potential for loss of rom files when using the zipfile feature has prompted me to provide appropriate warnings when disk space is low. New in version 1.7 ------------------ - making of screen shots automated (see notes). - rom files can be zipped and run from the zip file. - filesize info is gone, a casualty of the zipfile feature - sorry shin if you've got an archive you haven't got individual files so no filesize... :-( - annoying Shareware reminder and limitations removed. New in version 1.6 ------------------ Now supports the new Joypad and Video Mode settings Automatic conversion of the pce.ini file for Windows editing Alphabetical listing of real game names in game list The Delete button is back .... Thanks to Jeff Cockayne Stats menu for number of game roms in directory and file size of currently selected game - for you, shin Automatic detection of shareware version, only 128K and 256K rom files listed. Configuration file format altered to prevent size blowout :-) Saving of rom file directory and game options separated. Filename now and forever winpce.exe to avoid confusion with different versions. New in version 1.5 and 1.51 ------------------ Now supports alternate rom directories, which can be saved as a default. NOTE: 'Preview' bitmap files must still be in the same dir as PCE.EXE and WINPCE.EXE Bug in the Joypad selection section of 1.5 fixed in 1.51. New in version 1.4 ------------------ Ability to have 'real names of games' in display with ability to add new name games. Some cosmetic changes ie black background for preview display making it more attractive (IMHO) Some file operations shifted to a File Menu New in version 1.3 ------------------ Wider preview window for TG-16 wide shots like R-Type2 Some cosmetic changes New in version 1.2 ------------------- Support for file types .grf and .0?0 What is MagicEngine ? --------------------- Only the greatest emulator of the best PC system ever devised. Thanks to NEC for PCEngine and to David Michel for MagicEngine v.08. For information on the MagicEngine(c) emulator see the file PCE.TXT which came with it. How do I use this front end? --------------------------- Unzip the archive into your PCE directory. Move the .pif files and SETUPKIT.DLL to your Windows directory and run Windows (if not already in it). Create a new program item for WINPCE.EXE and double click it's icon. Any available rom image files in the currently active directory will show in the 'Games' window. If present, the contents of any PKZIP archive will be displayed instead in the 'Games' window. Any bitmap image in the emulator directory with the same name as the currently selected game will show in the 'Preview' window. CREATING ZIPPED ROM FILES ------------------------- NB: If you're not experienced in Dos, or don't have any real disk space problems this could be a good one to leave alone. It could be safer to use Winzip and the File Explorer to do this as well. Angels fear to tread here, this is dangerous stuff and I include it reluctantly at the request of some people who have more courage than me. It also requires the you have PKZIP.EXE and PKUNZIP.EXE somewhere in your PATH as well as the two .pif files in your Windows directory. Select the directory containing the rom images you want to zip, in the Rom Directory frame and select Create New Rom Archive from the File menu. A new frame will open where the Rom Directory frame was. Select the compression setting you desire (the default is normal) and click on create. You can also click on 'Delete Rom files' if you want winPCE to delete the old rom images but be careful. If you don't have enough disk space to complete the operation successfully, the rom files could be lost. You will be warned if the operation is within hazardous parameters but if the worst comes to the worst (and here's where a really good knowledge of Dos comes in), quit winPCE at once, quit Windows or get into straight DOS mode (not a DOS box) and change to your rom directory. Then type 'undelete *.pce' and follow the prompts. If your karma is in good shape it might even work :-) If so do the same for all other file types you had. CREATING PREVIEW IMAGES ----------------------- Press Shift-Print Screen (NB: not Print Screen as stated in PCE.TXT) while in the game. This will save the current screen in .pcx format. NB. The next part requires that you have PBRUSH.EXE in your Windows directory. When you've exited from the emulator back to winPCE, just press Shift-Insert and the screen shot will be automatically converted and loaded. If you get a message 'Sorry - No Screenshot File Found' it means that you didn't manage to get the screenshot made. Try again.... NOTE: Be sure that the game name selected in the Game List is the same as the game you want to save the screen shot for. SAVING OPTIONS SETTINGS ----------------------- Joypad and Sound settings can be saved in the main screen. The 'special' switches ie '-1' & '-us' can be saved for individual games eg Blazing Lazers requires both switches and these are already pre-set in winPCE. Any others you find can be saved as well so as to be selected automatically for you. SAVING ALTERNATE ROM DIRECTORIES ------------------------------- To use a different directory for the rom files (eg. if you have them stored on a CD) select the directory from the 'Rom Directory' window. You can save the currently selected directory by selecting 'Save Rom Directory' under 'File Menu'. That directory will then be the default on startup. SAVING EMULATOR SETTINGS (To PCE.INI) ------------------------------------- The emulator's configuration file can also be customised from within WinPCE. When you first Select Emulator Settings from the File menu you will be asked if want to convert the .ini file to Windows format. (If you don't accept then you won't be able to alter any settings from within winPCE.) If you click "Yes", all parameters in the pce.ini file can be customised from the Emulator Settings screen. NOTE: This WILL affect the way that the emuator runs so it is recommended that you make a note of the original settings before altering them so as to be able to restore them later if necessary. ADDING 'REAL NAMES' TO THE GAME LIST ------------------------------------ To add a new game 'Real Name', just select the Game in the Game List and select File Menu/Add New Game, type in the new game name and Save. STARTING A GAME ------------- The game list responds to actions such as Page Up/Down, up and down arrows, pressing a key takes you to the first game starting with that letter, pressing the key again takes you to the next and so on. Double clicking on a game name starts it. Double clicking on a preview picture also starts the game associated with that picture. THANKS TO --------- Sincere thanks to Jon ('The Dump') for some suggestions and testing and of course to John den Hartog without whom a lot of us 'emulatorheads' would be totally lost. Also to David Michel for the hottest emulator out there, winPCE is really for people who've paid their $35. It's well worth it, so little never bought so much. Also many thanks to my very good friend Jeff Cockayne for help and suggestions along the way. Also many thanks to Lee (lee@jlp1.demon.co.uk) for his kind permission to use his icon. Other people have contributed ideas along the way, at times these may have seemed impractical, if you see an idea of yours now implemented, give yourself a pat on the back. The highest praise and thanks must go to David Michel, not only for his brilliant emulator but also for permission to use my wobbly version of his logo as an icon :-)