You can download the Battlezone Control Panel v1.40 (229K)
or the Install Shield version of Battlezone Control Panel v1.40 Install Shield verison (available soon) (800k)
Email, Comments and suggestions may be sent to bzcp@TheVirtualBar.com
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Battlezone Control Panel History Information
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5/29/1998: (Version 1.40 at this time)
o Though his suggestion meant a good amount of work for me, thanks and many
kudos to Zen, WebMaster of Bz:Armory http://www.zenworld.com/bzarmory/index.htm
for his suggestion of MiniMaps/Preview maps and all his other assistance.
Thanks Zen! (signed Willie....)
o Some Preview Map Registry entries worth sharing.
+ "Build Preview Maps Remove Base BMP": Erase basebzdir\mapname.bmp after coping
to the addon directory. Default is 1 = Yes remove, 0=No leave them there.
+ "Build Preview Maps Always": If you would like to build maps for all the
missions then you would want to set this to 1, default is 0=off, it
will create misn*.bmp files in your addon and basebz dir. Even the training
maps. (grin)
+ "Preview Overwrite": 1=Over write mapname.bmp in the addon dir, 0=don't do that.
+ "Preview Sleep Time": milliseconds to sleep between looking for mapname.bmp.
Default is 3000.
+ "Preview Max Tries": Maximum number of times to sleep and look for the mapname.bmp
file to exist. 30 is the default.
o Another suggestion from Dave M. was to add ability to execute a batch for
setting your voodoo options. It is being left out right now. I have yet to
think of a good way to pull this off. Though I have some ideas. If you can
think of a nice way to do this, then by all means please feel free to share your idea.
5/29/1998: (Version 1.40 at this time)
o Fixed all memory leaks in the bitmap code. (thanks Zen (grin)).
o Added additional command line arguments (thanks to Dave M.) for
sending in the suggestion. Should have had this in on the first release.
o Oh man I must give major credit Zen at the battlezone armory for the
suggestion of adding minimaps/preview maps. All his idea, Thanks a lot
for a very excellent idea Zen!
5/28/1998: (Version 1.40 at this time)
o Well not too much done on the BZCP lately. Lost my D: drive so
lost a good amount of data. Sucks. Oh well, mainly stuff I d/l all
the maps, patches, utils etc. backed up projects. So went out
and got a SCSI Ultra-Wide and man does it fly.. Yummy.
new scsi drive is my main C: drive now, so been doing the
reload thing the last day and a half. Might get some stuff done
on BZCP tonight. though I still find things I have to dl.
5/27/1998: (Version 1.40 at this time)
o Working on preview bitmaps, aspect ratio for display images.
and testing code. (suggested by Zen of Bz:Armory)
o Lots of work in the bitmap display code.
o Planned logic for building preview maps:
+ When Launched.
+ If a mapname.bmp exists in addon dir for selected map then
do not pass the /shellmap option, and do not look for the mapname.bmp
in the base bz dir after launch.
+ Else pass the /shellmap option and look politely for the mapname.bmp
to appear and copy it to the addon directory.
o image processing seems to be working pretty good at this time, will move
onto the other new features.
o Additional Command line arguments (should of thought of this myself)
Suggested by Dave M.
o Optional Batch file to launch. Suggested by Dave M.
5/25/1998:
o Started adding support for minimaps/preview maps. (suggested by Zen of Bz:Armory)
o Very Minor changes to FileExists Code.
5/22/1998
o Features coming soon:
+ Indication that mapname.bzn is already in your netmis.txt file.
+ I've thought about doing a keyboard/mouse/joystick mapping program,
but those darn configuration files will require a good amount
of coding.. Maybe as a separate application someday, maybe.
+ Waiting for patch to come out, might be some new things that
can be done then.
o The latest install shield version of bzcp was shrunken in
size from 850K to 800. I knew it would be a smaller if I turned off
compression in install shield and zipped it up. Just didn't want
to install Install Shield 5.0, easier for me to use install shield
express not to mention smaller (grin). So had a friend wrap it up for me.
5/22/1998
o Map MAD dialog built, tested.
o Remove mapname.bzn entry from netmis.txt when map is deleted.
5/21/1998
o Implemented first pass at adding death match custom maps to the
netmis.txt file. First pass mainly because it attempts to inform
you or the user of what is going on if things don't match, like someone
renames a map yet fails to change the associated mapname.mad file.
o I plan to add a additional dialog box prompting w/ the current
mad information before updating/adding that information to the
netmis.txt file. I might put a place holder in for now, not sure,
may confuse ppl, so may not..
o It would be very simple to assume a add to the netmis.txt file,
but I would also think that could be iffy. Assume someone renames a map,
then since the mapname.bzn is now a new name the netmis would not be correct,
so what do you do just append, well the mad would not be correct unless
the person knew what they were doing, so I think the correct thing to do
would be to rename the mad file bzn file etc also. But I don't know if I will
add that to the rename function. I should but that also means I have to
build the mad prompt dialog mentioned above. Well some of my random
babbling/thoughts on it. whatever.
o A little while later.... ok fine I'll add the MAD editing/editor dialog
and just keep going. Just means a little more work and delay in releasing.
I sure could use some beta testers, if your interested in using the
latest version and like to backup maps (you got them in a zip any way)
then let me know, sure could use some feedback.
5/19/1998
o Added /gamesetup option, I don't use heat.net or even have it installed
so I am not too sure if this is a waste of an option or not. But added
it any way.
o Looking to add dm, strat maint capability. assuming a .des file exists and
use the base mapname.mad to populate the fields.
Next day or two should be able to get it in. still working on extracting
files from *.zfs. good results so far but still some serious problems getting
files to extract to a usable/playable format.
o Will be adding map renaming ability.
o This program is intended to simply make your lives easier, and quicker.
Mapadder and mapnamer are both great and useful programs. BZCP is simply
making their functions point and click. Nothing new here, they did it
first.
The BattleZone Cartographers Guild Map Renamer v1.0a and Map Adder
written by Snark (Marc Bellingrath)
And to quote Marc: "As always make a backup of your finished map."
5/18/1998 (Suggestion from Glider version 1.21 at this time)
o Adding ability to remove maps from addon directory. As per a suggestion
received from Glider. I too think it will be a useful function.
5/16/1998 (version 1.21 at this time I guess)
o Played Red Plains map tonight, noticed a minor
thing so added code to handle. The map name was
redplain.bzn yet the txt file for it was redplains.txt
so I add 4 lines to check for plural spellings as well.
5/14/1998 (Version 1.20):
o Adding some logic to check for the existence of bzone.exe
and if not found in default installation directory, then
check Activision's reg entry, if still not found then
perform a directory search for the bzone.exe
5/12/1998 (Version 1.20):
o Adding pick a random map feature.
o Adding last played/launched information and number
of times you have launched that map.
o Resized and organized the dialog and controls for new
information, and more description information.
o Reg Entry "AM PM Mode", if 1 then AM/PM else 24hr Clock.
o Reg Entry "Date Mode", if 1 then MM/DD/CCYY else DD/MM/CCYY
o Just for grins, times played is a signed long, hope it doesn't
hit the limit of 2,147,483,647. I think it is safe.
5/12/1998: (Releasing v1.10)
o Sending out announcement.
5/11/1998: (Version 1.10)
o Added About Dialog, webpage links, mailto link.
o Added /edit /win options.
o Added check for standard map description file. mapname.txt as long as
the map: line is the first line.
5/11/1998: (Version 1.00 first release)
o Well I sent out the first release of the control
panel this morning to a few selected sites, mainly
the ones I frequent. I am preparing to send out a more
generic announcement so that many more people may spend
more time playing and less time figuring out command
lines and filenames. I Hope to get some people's input on
features to make this even better and easier. (I am
waiting patiently for the new enhanced version of BZ to
come out soon)
o I'm going to place some version information in the
application for the next release. I think I will add
the /win /edit options in a minute.
o Will throw up a quick web page or two. Not that I want
to maintain another web site (may try and seek a friend or
two's help on the web page ), or that I have the disk
space to support another web site. Just think that it would
be a little more useful to have a place to post some information
about ideas, and seek your input and recommendations.
o I keep thinking to myself that there must be some other things
that the application can do to make our Battlezoning easier
and funnier. If you have a idea or something to share please
feel free to drop me a note and let me know what you think would
be useful.
o After all this I think I will download a few new maps and
play a little and add the name and description stuff to the
mapdesc, mapname files. Time to play see you.
o Oh before I forget, if someone would like to host a site
for the web pages, and the program, then please drop me a email
I would love to be able to note have to host this program.
Willie....