QuakeCheck 1.1 Readme.txt  Released 4-15-96

QuakeCheck is Windows 95 program.  I have no idea if it runs under NT and I am
fairly certain in won't run under 3.1X, even with Win32s installed.

-------------------------------- Introduction --------------------------------

QuakeCheck is a program to check the state of Quake servers on the internet.
It will return the name of the server, the name of the current map, the
current number of players, and the maximum number of players.

----------------------- The instructions for QuakeCheck ----------------------

--- The Main Window ---

Enter the IP number of a Quake Server in the edit box or choose a server from
the server menu (read 'The Server Menu' section for instructions on setting
it up).  Press the Check button to query the Quake server for it's current
state or press the Ping button to ping the server using whatever ping program
you want (read the 'Pinging Servers' section for more information on setting
up and using your ping program).   

An IP number can also be passed to QuakeCheck as a command line parameter.
The format looks like this "QCheck xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" without the quotes.  Only
one IP number can be passed in this manner.  When the program loads, it is
placed in the edit box and the Check button is pressed.

If no Quake server is found a message box is displayed with an appropriate
message.

--- The Server Menu ---

To setup the server menu, select Setup from the File menu.  You can store up
to maximum of five Quake servers.  The name field is how the server will
appear under the Servers menu and the IP number field is the IP number of the
server (duh).  If the name of the server is left blank it will not appear on
the menu, even if you have entered an IP number.

When you select a server from the servers menu, it's IP number is placed in
the edit box and the Check button is pressed.

--- Pinging Servers ---

QuakeCheck has the abibilty the call the ping program of you choice with the
current IP number as a command line parameter.

If you specify no ping program, QuakeCheck looks for a ping program in the
current PATH named ping.exe, ping.com, or ping.bat.

You can tell QuakeCheck to use a specific ping program by selecting Setup from
the File menu.  Enter the name or complete path of the program you want to
use.  You can press the Browse button to use a standard Windows file open
dialog box to find the file.

If you need to give your ping program any command line parameters, create a
batch file for it.  Use %1 where the IP number should go.  Here's an example
of the batch file I use to call the Win95 ping.exe:

        c:\windows\ping.exe -t %1

I use -t so the ping program keeps pinging until I press <ctrl> c.

------------------------------- Closing Thoughts -----------------------------

If QuakeCheck can't find a server at the address you specified, try it a few
times before you give up on it.

The ping button can actually be used to run any program you want.  You could
launch Quake with the button by setting up a batch file and selecting the file
in QuakeCheck's setup screen.  Such a file could look like this:

        quake +exec rick.cfg +connect %1

%1 is the IP number of the Quake server currently in QuakeChecks edit box.

QuakeCheck is based on QStat by Steve Jankowski and QuakePing by Len Norton.
I really have to thank these two guys for posting the source to their
programs.  QuakeCheck is the very first WINSOCK application I've written, and
as a matter of fact, my very first internet application also.  So please keep
that in mind if the thing blows up on you.  :)

Anyway, the reason I wrote QuakeCheck is so that I could see what servers were
up and if anyone was on them before rebooting Win95 into DOS mode.  I really
hate rebooting and discovering that no one is on any Quake servers.  Playing
with yourself is no fun...unless you have a copy of Biggins. ;)

QuakeCheck is only known to work with QTEST1.  Who knows what the final Quake
will be like, especially since they are re-writing the network code.

--- Who am I? ---

Rick DiBlasi
aka The Source
and Montoya on #quake -- That's IRC for the non-enlightened. :)
rdiblasi@umabnet.ab.umd.edu
http://cosyfish.ab.umd.edu/~rdiblasi/

------------------------------ Version History -------------------------------

--- QuakeCheck 1.1 ---
--- April 15, 1996 ---

Added support for pinging.
Added the servers menu and the setup screen.
Added the option the send an IP number as a command line parameter.

--- QuakeCheck 1.0 ---
--- April 5, 1996  ---

Support for Getting Quake server status by IP number.
(Didn't do much, did it?)

--------------------------------- Legal Crap ---------------------------------

This program can be freely distributed as long as it is free of charge and
this file is included in the archive unmodified.

This program is provided as is.  It is not guarenteed to work properly or work
at all.  Neither I, nor Inner Turmoil Inc. will be held responsible for any
damages caused by the use of this program.  Basically, this program could
erase your hard drive, melt your monitor, and kill people for fun, and we will
STILL not be responsible.

QuakeCheck Copyright 1996 Inner Turmoil Inc.
Quake Copyright 1996 ID Software Inc.
