 documentation (v0.9a) for darked v1.0 (donationware):
 

 contents:
 

 i.   ) what is darked?
 ii.  ) (re)installing and using darked
     a) working with ship-profiles
     b) resuscitating killed wingmen
     c) command-line
     d) configuration file
     e) notes to users, upgrading from v0.99b and v0.99g
     f) new features since last release (v1.0p1)
 iii. ) built in cheats in privater 2
 iv.  ) release notes
 v.   ) further information and technical specifications
 vi.  ) getting support and giving feedback

 i.) what is darked?
 

 darked is a savegame-editor for privater 2 / the darkening.

 darked is capeable of changing:

 - credits (if you find darked convenient, feel free, to send some
	    "real" credits to: christian gossmann
	     antonistr. 17
			       7000 eisenstadt
			       austria                            )
 - guns
 - savegame name
 - ship
 - 7 (optional 8) missile hardpoints with up to 255 missiles on every ship
 - 7 (optional 8) module hardpoints with up to 255 mines on every ship
 - 5 (optional 6) gun hardpoints on every ship

 darked offers these special features:

 - batch assign for profiles and wingmen resuscitation
 - create your favorite loadouts (profiles)
 - resuscitate killed wingmen

 darked consists only of the exe-file: darked.exe (and this file)

 during runtime darked will create these two files:

 darked.cfg ---> configuration-file (created the first time you change default
		 settings) (size: ~1k)
 darked.prf ---> stores your favorite loadouts (size: 74b to 18.4k)

 ii.) (re)installing and using darked:
 

 just copy "darked.exe" into your privater 2 directory (where the savegames are
 located in)and launch it by typing: "darked". if you prefer an own directory
 for darked, you'll need to copy "darked.exe" there and start it with: "darked
 newconf". this will create a configuration and ask for the correct paths to
 your privater 2 and a data-directory for darked (not necessaryly the same one,
 darked is located in), where darked stores backups of the savegames as well as
 the profiles. be adviced, that darked disables all attributes on it's working
 files, including the game0x.iff's and the game0x.deb's (x represents a number
 reaching from 0 to 9). if you intend to reinstall darked, you just've to copy
 the new files over the old one, because darked consists only of the exe- and
 documentation file. any existing configuration or profiles will be used
 automatically.

 keyboard-control:
 

 - to move through the menus, press the cursor keys
 - to select an option press return or the highlighted hotkey.
 - to exit to the previous menu / option, press esc

 - if you're prompted to mark options (assigning profiles, configuring darked,
   selecting wingmen, deinstallation,...):

   ctrl+end  clears all options
   ctrl+pos1 marks all options
   space     selects / unselects the option at cursor position

 - if you're prompted to enter a profile- or savegamename:

   back         deletes the character left from cursor
   ctrl+pos1    clears the input-field
   ctrl+end     clears the rest of the input-field
   cursor left  moves one position left
   cursor right moves one position right
   del          deletes the character right from cursor
   end          places the cursor behind the last character
   ins          toggles between insert / overstrike mode
   pos1         places the cursor at the first character
   shift+tab    moves the cursor 5 characters left
   tab          moves the cursor 5 characters right

 mouse-control (if mouse option is checked and deviece driver active):
 

 - just place the mouse cursor over the desired menu-option and press button 1
   (acts as return)
 - to exit to the previos selection, press button 2 (acts as esc)
 - if you're prompted to mark options (assigning profiles, configuring darked
   or selecting wingmen), button 1 will act as space (see keyboard-control)
 - you can access the loadout (module / guns / missiles) from anywhere by
   clicking on them; even you can access the new file, filename, credits and
   ship menu by clicking on the statusline

 ii. a) working with ship-profiles:
 

 a ship-profile contains information about the credits, ship-type, module-,
 gun- and weapon-loadout, as well as the wingmen, who're alive. you can handle
 max. 254 ship-profiles. to make use of this feature, switch to the
 special-menu. afterwards you can save the current loadout of the opened
 savegame to the profile-file (darked.prf). after you've edited your favorite
 loadout(s), you quickly can access a ship-profile by loading the desired
 savegame, going to the special menu and loading the desired profile.

 ii. b) resuscitating killed wingmen:
 

 the menu for resuscitating killed wingmen is located in the special-menu.
 after you've selected it, switch to wingmen and mark the pal(s), you wish to
 become alive again.

 ii. c) command-line:
 

 the command-line offers some special features like batch assign or
 wingmen-resuscitation, without entering the darked-shell. if your
 configuration changes (f.e. you change the directory names) a new
 configuration-file can be created, too. for a complete reference check the
 help screen of darked, which can be accessed by typing "darked ?".

 ii. d) configuration file:
 

 darked offers the possibility, to control many of it's functions via a
 configuration-file named: "darked.cfg". by default darked runs without this
 file and uses the parameters shown below. however, the first time you modify
 the default options in the control menu, or if you launch darked with the
 "newconf" parameter, this file will be generated automatically. although you
 can edit the configuration-file via the control-menu, you can use a standard
 ascii-editor as well. warning: if you do so and darked can't recognize a
 specific option, it'll use the default value for it. the available options are
 described below:

 option                default   description
 

 runtime-section:
 

 autobackupsavegames   1         if activated, darked automatically generates
				 backups of your privater 2 savegames. the
				 names of the backups are "game0x.deb". they
				 will be stored in the darked data-directory
 autocropspanprofiles  0         specifies, if darked automatically crops or
				 expands the profile-file
 autogive255           0         specifies, if you'll be prompted for amount
				 of mines and missiles, or if you
				 automatically get the maximum of 255.
 autonameprofiles      0         specifies, if darked names your profiles
				 automatical
 autosavechanges       0         if activated, darked doesn't ask for a
				 confirmation, before saving the changes in a
				 gamefile.
 errorhalt             1         specifies, if darked halts on errors or
				 tries to continue (warning: continuing might
				 result in system crashes and / or data loss)
 fileoverwriteconfirm  1         specifies, if you've to select the files you
				 wish to overwrite during backup / restore
 lastpossignal         0         specifies where to get a signal sound, when
				 entering a name (if checked at the first /
				 last position, otherwise after the first /
				 last position)
 loadoutspan           1         specifies the amount of modules, guns and
				 missiles (if checked you can use 8 / 6 / 8,
				 otherwise 7 / 5 / 7)
 mouse                 1         specifies, if you can use a mouse or keyboard
				 only.
 optionmark            0         specifies, if all or no options are marked by
				 default, when being prompted to enter options
 profileemptyconfirm   1         specifies, if you'll be prompted to confirm
				 deleting your ship-profiles in the darked.prf
				 file.
 profilemodifyconfirm  1         if you wish to save a profile over an
				 existing one, you'll be prompted to confirm
				 it.
 profileuse            1         specifies, if you'll have access to the
				 ship-profile feature of darked (if you don't
				 want to use it, disable this option and
				 darked doesn't create the darked.prf file;
				 however, once you've created a darked.prf
				 file, it'll be used, regardless of this
				 setting, until you delete it).
 sound                 1         specifies, if darked generates sound, when
				 pressing keys or for confirmation-requests.
 windowstatusbar       1         specifies, if the statusbar is displayed at
				 the bottom of a window.

 preferences-section:
 

*darkdir               -         enter your privater 2 path here
*darkdat               -         enter a directory for data-files of darked
				 and your ship-profiles
 defaultstartfile      -         specifies the file, which will be loaded into
				 darked at startup.
 defaultprofile        1         gives you direct accesses to the profile
				 number, specified here.
 maxprofiles           30        specifies the max. amount of profiles you can
				 handle at once (max. 254 - 74 bytes / profile)

*if you work without a configuration file, you've to run darked from your
 privater 2 directory

 ii. e) notes to users, upgrading from v0.99b:
 

 - if you've an old "darked.prf-file", which contains your saved ship-profiles,
   it needs to be converted to the new format, before you can use them with
   darked v1.0. this can be achieved with "profcon.exe". this file isn't
   included in this package, to limit donwload time for other users, who don't
   need profcon. you can download it from the w3 (see end of this file).
   further information on how to convert the profiles can be found in the
   documentation for profcon.
 - the default options of darked have changed (see section above).

 ii. e) notes to users, upgrading from v0.99b and v0.99g:
 

 - if you've got an old "darked.prf-file", which contains your saved
   ship-profiles, it needs to be converted to the new format, before you can
   use them with darked v1.0. this can be achieved with "profcon.exe". this
   file isn't included in this package, to limit donwload time for other users,
   who don't need profcon. you can download it from the w3 (see end of this
   file). further information on how to convert the profiles can be found in
   the documentation for profcon.
 - the default options of darked have changed (see section above).

 ii. f) new features since last release (v1.0p1):
 

 - wingmen displayed at 90% with full names
 - a few bugs fixed (mostly minor problems)
 - fixed selecting an absent savegame, which caused a start anyway

 iii.) built in cheats in privater 2:
 

 even with the aid of darked it's not possible, to modify your ship, while
 beeing out in space. therefore press alt-n, to show the navigation-map. press
 f and enter the following "destinations":

 chill out - cools down your gun temperature
 napalm    - gives you ten nukes
 no talent - makes you invincible (not necessary anymore, due to a patch)
 pety pety - fuels your afterburners
 rep me up - repairs your ship

 all cheats last until you land.

 iv.) release notes:
 

 !!!this is just a preview version ---> that means it hardly testet!!!
 !!!              issog-op grants no warranty at all               !!!

 - caching software like smartdrive or vcache (=windows) can cause delays,
   when loading or saving ---> so if you think, darked has crashed, wait at
   least 5-10 seconds or deactivate the caching at all (not recommended
   tough).
 - darked has been tested along with windows 95, windows 3.11 and ms-dos 6.22
   and 7.0. windows 95 seems to affect only the scroll module a little bit,
   while windows 3.x(x) did a slow motion here and slowed down the sound
   output, too); however ---> you've to run darked in full screen mode in both
   versions. native dos works without any trouble.
 - darked has not been tested under os2, ibm- and open dos.
 - darked runs slowly in a network environment (i think the network software
   acts like caching software ---> see there).
 - if you make use of gea1+2, ogan, ilia1+2 or monolith ships you must not
   access the module-screen within the game or it will crash.
 - the program file of darked (darked.exe) mustn't be renamed, in order to get
   the correct paths for proper operation.
 - entering the naked path without a drive letter can give you the access to
   a 72 character path within darked (!!!warning!!! this is not recommended
   tough)
 - viewing the configuration with a full path (70 characters) doesn't show
   the last 8 one (due to screen size limitation)

 v.) further information and technical specifications:
 

 be adviced, that choosing the max. amount of credits, darked offers by
 default, increases the difficulty level of the game. however if you pick the
 right ship and weapons as well as the modules, this fact won't be noticed. if
 you wish to decrease the difficulty setting, just decrease your amount of
 credits...
   darked is also distributed in german language. however the source code
 is available for the english version only (i don't have that much web space
 to hold both versions ---> tough, if you like to get it anyway, just send me
 an e-mail and i'll send it to you).

 technical specifications
 

 min. system-requirements: - ~160 k free conventional memory
                           - 4 free file handles (= config, profile, savegame,
			     tempfile)
                           - 74 bytes / profilerecord (optional)
                           - 90 k free disc space / savegamebackup (optional)
                           - at compatible pc (80286 or higher cpu)
                           - dos 3.0 or higher (share or compatible device
                             driver needed, if darked operates in a network
                             environment; if you fail to do so, darked might
                             run instable, if other programs use it's working
                             files simultaneously)
                           - exclusive mode & fullscreen, if operated under
			     windows 3.x(x), 95
                           - numeric co-processor (8087 or higher fpu)
			   - one or more savegames from privater 2 / the
			     darkening
                           - vga display

 max. configuration file size         :         ~1 kbyte *1
 max. credits                         : 2000000000
 max. decoys, mines / module hardpoint:        255
 max. gun hardpoints                  :          6
 max. missile hardpoints              :          8
 max. missiles / hardpoint            :        255
 max. module hardpoints               :          8
 max. path length within darked       :    70 / 72       *2
 max. profile file size               :      18796 bytes
 max. storage capacity for profiles   :        254
 max. stuff by count / ship           :       4086

 *1: depends on settings and paths
 *2: check the release notes

 advice: due to source code distribution, other versions may exist within the
  internet and might have a little bit more or less system-requirements
         (if compiled with other compiler options). even there might be some
         other features in them, than in this version. be aware of the fact,
         that the only valid source for darked and material is one of the
         download locations below!

 vi.) getting support and giving feedback:
 

 if you like to offer darked for download, please do so, but send me an e-mail
 first, in order to list your site as an official mirror for darked. as more
 feedback i get from you, as better darked will become. therefore send bugs
 and comments to one of the following adresses:

 e-mail                   : a4521gbn@vm.univie.ac.at
                            a4521nal@pcserv.univie.ac.at
                            a9425740@unet.univie.ac.at
                            c.gossmann@bnet.co.at
 phone                    : [+43|0]-2682-63692 (answering machine capability)
                            [+43|0]-2682-64152
                            [+43|0]-1-5979347-320
 handy                    : [+43|0]-676-3702530 (answering machine capability)
 handy-mail               : 436763702530@max.mail.at (160 characters max.)
 snail mail               : christian gossmann
                            antonistr. 17
			    7000 eisenstadt
			    austria
 infos, source and updates: http://unet.univie.ac.at/~a9425740/darkpage.htm
 mirror-site at           : http://www.bkv.net/home/gossmann/darkpage.htm
 patches for privater 2   : http://www.origin.ea.com

 (c)1997,98 by issog-op. end of document. end of file.
