==========================================================
Title                   : Zdoom as Markmenu Shell                                
Filename                : zdmmskin.bat,
Requires                : Photo.bat (Doombat4.zip), Zdoom (1.* for Dos strongly recommended)

Doombat4:           http://www.gamers.org/pub/idgames/utils/frontends/doombat4.zip

Dos Zdoom: http://zdoom.org/files/zdos117c.zip and
http://zdoom.org/files/old/zdoom117c.zip <====contains zdoom.wad v 1.17c


Game                    : Doom/Doom2
Author                  : Mark Bowman
Email Address           : balanco010101@hotmail.com include cab_email_in in the
subject line, or your e-mail won't go through
Misc. Author Info       : Programmer

Bugs: this is still a "beta", but I am not sure if I'm going to continue
this project, so I'm releasing it now as public domain software. Enjoy!
As for bugs-

Wad: Some slime trails*, mostly parts of the floor
lettering, and a couple minor texture misalignments

Program: Most of the major bugs should have been ironed out, but it's
possible that there are still some I have't caught.


Description             : A program which uses Zdoom as a shell for
Markmenu, instead of using normal text input at the keyboard.
=====================================================================

* Play Information *

Episode and Level #     : Map 06 - 07 (if you end up at a rather crappy
rendition of Map07, with the word idclev06 on the ground, it means
the program didn't execute right, scince it should take you to Map06 on
start up.

Single Player           : Yup
Cooperative 2-4 Player  : Nope (it would get rather ugly :)
Deathmatch 2-4 Player   :        "
Difficulty Settings     : Hopefuly not too difficult :)

New Sounds              : none
New Graphics            : Doom's 3d engine instead of plain text graphics.
New Music               : no
Demos Replaced          : no


 Note: I strongly recommend using Zdoom for Dos instead of the Windows
versions, scince it's more appropriate for this type of program and it
loads much faster.
                        
  Before using, change the load_skin and m_skin lines in p_ini.bat
to this:

set load_skin=yes
set m_skin=zdmm

 Then unzip this archive in your markmenu directory. Don't move the
wad file to the Doom2 directory unless that's the location Markmenu is
installed as well. You also need to specify where your Markmenu directory
is by editing zdmmskin.bat and setting the "photlocd" value to
whatever directory Markmenu is intalled in.

 Dehacked patch note: This batch file creates the required dehacked patch on
the fly, in your Markmenu directory, which is named zdmm.deh by default. If
you happen to have a Dehacked patch by the same name that you don't want overwritten by this, open up the
zdmmskin.bat file, and check the configuration options regarding alt
DEH files.

After you do this, edit zdmmskin.bat's set zdoomdir/set zdoomexe lines
(right in the beginning of the file) to reflect whatever Doom directories and
Zdoom executable you are using, as well as other configuration options.

Other temp files created by this program are:

zdmskxx.log - temporary log file created by Zdoom for this program
in your Doom 2 directory
                                        
~~skdtmp.bat - batch file used to execute Markmenu command
created in your Markmenu directory

 What this program is:

 This is basicly a concept program which uses Doom as a shell for
a menu program, instead of the normal text input. To use this program,
you pick up an item which represents a selection in Markmenu
and then exit Doom. After you do that, the program looks in the log file
for a string beginning with "photo mm", and writes it to a batch file, which
then executes the Markmenu command. for example, when you pick up the
red keycard, "photo mm d" is written to the log file, and upon exit of
doom, Markmenu will execite menu item d. The first item that you pick up
will be the chosen selection, even if you pick up any other item before
you exit Doom. Also, some items do special things:

****************************************

 Box of rockets: Shuts down Windows :)

 Invunerability: Quit Markmenu

 Computer area map: Reboots your computer if you are in Dos mode

 Plasma gun: Unloads this shell, returns to regular Markmenu (buggy)
                                                        
****************************************

 After you select an item, exit Doom, and the item you chose should
execute.

 Author's notes: Yes, the map is rather, um, not too good *cough*newbie*cough*,
but I hope it's still pleasing enough as a 3d shell GUI. Also, you might
notice that there is what appears to be bandaids on the floor, with arrows
pointing to what appears to be a major bug in the level. the areas are marked
with this symbol:

 ||
 []
 ||

 Look at the symbol carefuly, and then look at the suppodedly "buggy"* area
 :)

 Oh, there is also the "Cacodemon room" where a there is a bunch of items
 placed just for the hell of it. Becareful in there, scince you may end up
 chosing an item you might not want.

 Some special items are placed in their own rooms:
                                
 Invunerability (quit markmenu) North end of "E F" room

 Box of Rockets:  In the small room just off to the east of the
 "E F" room. You'll also get to see what I was talking about reharding
 the "bandaid" symbols on the floor. :)

 Plasma Gun: located near the front door, southwest on the map

 Computer area map: This is the room right next to the "Cacodemon" room,
 with the wooden checkered floor.

 Stimpack: Quit Markmenu




  If you really hate this level, you can make your own very easily, by
using the zdmm.deh patch as a reference for which items does what.
it's real easy, just create the level like you normaly would.  The only
special requirements is that you have a "dummy level" for Map 06, which the
player can exit immediately (so he/she can see the menu text), and have your
GUI level as Map 07. Make sure you include the items needed to execute
the Markmenu items/functions you want.  View the zdmmskin.bat file's
configuration section (in the begining of that file) for details.
                                                
:::::::::::::::
Authors MAY use this shell and included wadfile as a base to build
additional shells if you give me credit for whatever you use from it.                                
                                                              
You may distribute this file in any electronic format (BBS, 
Diskette, CD, etc) as long as you include this file, with no
modifications.

 Disclaimer: This level isn't supported or endorsed by Randy Heit in any way.

 Disclaimer 2: I am not responsible for any damages that result in using
this program. Though it appears to be free of any very serious bugs,
I can't guarantee that this program will not cause your computer to explode
and launch you to Mars. Use at your own risk.
