CyberBox Revisions pu24

Revisions to... 603ih

Changes in Version 7.61

Kyle Wightman requested I increase the max number of moves allowed in each room. He was deg some rooms and noticed a limitation of 2,997 moves. I'm not sure why my limit wasn't already at 4,000 moves. (See the 7.54 revision.) So, let's try again... this time I believe I increased the max number of moves to just a few short of 6,000.

Changes in Version 7.54

I redesigned the closing screens on the non-deluxe version. (I'm now including my Yahoo internet address, and my CyberBox homepage URL. Also, since I have yet another room-volume to distribute and since I want the total cost of the deluxe game to always be $10.00, I'm reducing the price of the deluxe version to $3.00 which now includes seven additional room-volumes, all at $1.00 each.)
When prompted to "hit any key" to view a solution to a puzzle or to view the moves you just made via instant reply, hitting the number keys 1 through 5 will instantly change the speed you view view these moves. (1 = slow, 5 = very fast.)
At a cost of now requiring more conventional memory to run the program, I decided to increase the number of keystrokes (moves) allowed to solve a room in the deluxe version from 3,000 to 4,000. (Some rooms have been designed have been quite elaborate and one of these days someone will design one which requires more than 3,000 moves to exit.) At the same time I'm DECREASING the number of keystrokes allowed in the non-deluxe version to 1,500 since the only room-volume the non-deluxe version will load is v-edc-01.dat and none of those rooms require anywhere near 1,500 moves to get out, let alone 3,000.
A new command-line switch has been added for s of the deluxe version. By adding "no-final" to the command-line, the final "thank you for playing screen" will not be displayed.

Changes in Version 7.41

Peter Bass discovered a very slight bug. If the East-West Selector (the Selector that is ed through by walking in an east or west direction) was placed directly in front of the exit, then a cursor that was inside this box could walk right through the top wall and exit the room! This is now fixed.


In this scenario, an up keystroke...	...resulted in this! Whoops!

Changes in Version 7.31

Daniel F. Schwallie created an excellent alternative box-image data file. However, I noticed while using this file of his, the MOVERS, with the optional animation effect turned on, were not being displayed properly. (This was because MY movers had a black background and thus I was erasing part of the image with the color BLACK. Daniel's movers have a BLUE background and erasing the image with the color black looked bad.) This is fixed.

Changes in Version 7.22

Fixed a small glitch which was pointed out to me by Orest Akulow. (Under very rare circumstances, the properties of certain boxes were not behaving properly.) Also, while I was working on this fix, I discovered the fix in version 7.11 was still not quite the way I wanted it. This was corrected and hopefully all is okay now.

Changes in Version 7.12

While in the OPTIONS screen, hitting the ENTER key will now exit this screen (along with the ESCAPE key) rather than simply moving your cursor down to the next option choice.

Changes in Version 7.11

Fixed what is probably a two-year-old glitch. I discovered the relationship between your cursor and the open Selectors, when a Mover pushes them, wasn't working properly. This is what was happening before this fix:

The eastbound Mover can't move as it's being held in place by the north-south Pusher. If you pushed that Pusher out of the way, this would result:

The Mover wasn't pushing that white Selector "through" you, as it really should have been. However, this is now the result:

I took a look at a very old version and it was working this way once before, so somewhere along the line, one of my other changes or bug fixes caused this glitch. Fortunately, this change only affects the solution of but one room out of all them so far created. (Puzzle # 30, "But Ma, this looks so easy!") The shortest known solution for this room is back to 168 not 105.

Changes in Version 7.07

Very minor change. If a player loaded a cursor-image file, and then exited the program, the configuration file was, of course, noting the fact that you used this file last and therefore would attempt to automatically load it next time the program was run. So far so good. However, if for some reason this cursor-image file was missing or had been deleted, the program was reporting this with a polite error message, stating it could not find the file and the program then did not load. Now, in such a scenario, if it can't find your most recent file, the program will first attempt to load the default cursr-01.dat image file. Only THEN, if it doesn't find THIS file, will the program report an error and then not load.

Changes in Version 7.06

My brother Bill and his son Kyle, after all this time, found a tiny glitch. If a ZAPPER that zaps you north is placed on the top row, zapping through it, which should do nothing, inadvertently zaps you out of the room!! This is now fixed. Fortunately, no rooms have yet been created which have a north-bound zapper in the top row. (Such a Zapper in that row is the same as a Blocker.) It was only while Bill and Kyle were creating some new rooms did they discover this.

Changes in Version 7.05

The time stamp for all of the files associated with the program will now be the same as the version number.

Changes in Version 7.04

Changed all references of "Ed's shortest solution" to simply the "shortest known solution."

Changes in Version 7.03

Reduced the amount of conventional memory needed to run the program down to 390 Kb (385 for the deluxe version) from 405 Kb.

Changes in Version 7.02

Added the "no-auto" command-line switch which disables the "auto repeat" feature in regards to the cursor movement. (Many people with cerebral palsy and similar conditions will "freeze" on a key after pressing it.) Thanks to Michael Donn of LakeBay, Washington for this suggestion.

Added some additional comments in the final screens of the non-deluxe version.

Changes in Version 7.00

The naming convention for the room volumes has been changed. The room volumes are now known as V-XXX-NN.DAT, where XXX indicates the initials of the author and NN indicates the volume number.

The deluxe version now defaults to opening the v-edc-02.dat room-volume file if no configuration file is present.

The documentation files for both CA-Cyber and the CA-Edit program (the editor) have been given a TXT rather than a DOC extension.

Fixed a minor glitch involving the Take Back feature after one recalled a room position which had been saved.

Fixed a very minor glitch involving the help menu in the documentation file.

While in the demo mode, the cursor no longer "backs up" one move after exiting the room.

Changes in Version 6.95

Fixed a minor glitch involving the east-west selectors.

The room was not being set back properly if one executed the "take back" feature immediately after viewing a previous solved solution. Now fixed. Thanks to Michael Donn of Lakebay, Washington for discovering this.

The deluxe version now defaults to opening the 001 room-volume data file, if no configuration file is present.

The CA-EDIT program, when it first runs, creates a "vol-new.dat" file. You can now load this file with the ALT-V shortcut key simply by hitting your "n" key after executing ALT-V.

The program will no longer abort if the last room-volume data file you were playing is not found in the current directory.

If this data file is not found, it will now try to load the default 002 data file. Only if this 002 data file is not found, will the program abort with an appropriate error message.

Changes in Version 6.81

One reported problems while inside both the Jump and the Option Screen. I happen to be using CALL INTERRUPT logic while inside these screens which displays certain text characters in a slightly smaller font. I've added a new command-line switch (no-interrupt) to turn this logic OFF in case others have the same problem.

Changes in Version 6.73

The format of the room-volume data files has been changed. Now, the number of moves it takes me to exit each room is also hard-coded here, in addition to existing in each solution file.This way if the player wishes to NOT keep the solution files in the same directory as the program, they will still be able to glance at the number of moves it takes "me" to exit each room.

Made another minor change in the 'special treat' logic.

The program now loads the vol-002.dat file by default.

Changes in Version 6.61

I wanted the player to experience a 'special treat' if they could solve all 15 rooms during the same session. However, I was keeping track of the number of times ANY room was solved and was simply executing my 'special treat' logic when this counter reached 15. That means a player could have solved, say, Room 001 over and over again (15 times) for the treat. This is now fixed so ALL 15 rooms need to be solved. Thanks to Martin Kirlow of Yorkshire, England for informing me of this.

Changes in Version 6.51

Changed a minor glitch in the Jump Screen in the Deluxe Version. If a player solved a few of the rooms in one volume and then loaded another volume, the Jump Screen was still highlighting the room numbers (indicating they had been solved) from the first volume.

Changes in Version 6.41

Changed the MOVER logic BACK to the way it was in version 6.16.

Changes in Version 6.31

It turns out the MOVER logic that was changed in the 6.16 update was still not 100% identical with Petr Simon's CYBERBOX FOREVER program. This is now fixed.

Changes in Version 6.25

Corrected a very minor glitch in the logic which displays the documentation file.

Jazzed up the documentation file ever further.

The program was adding an extra UP keystroke tacked on to the end of the each solution of each solved room. The result was while later VIEWING this solution, the program was reporting it took you an extra move to get out than what it really did. This is now fixed.

Removed the REVISIONS section from the documentation file. This section is now being kept in its own revision.txt file. This frees up more conventional memory for the program.

The color choices the player selects for the both the menu foreground color and menu background, while viewing the documentation file, are now being saved in the configuration file. (They weren't before and probably always should have been. I'm saving all the OTHER player preferences. Why not these as well?)

Changes in Version 6.16

Added the new "north-south" and "east-west" SELECTORS.

Re-coded the logic in regards to how the MOVERS operate in relationship to each other. The logic is now consistent with Petr Simon's CYBERBOX FOREVER game and we both feel it looks much more professional. (Different MOVERS now move simultaneously!)

Renamed the cursor-image data files to "cursr-xx.dat." The previous naming convention ("images-xx.dat") might be mistaken for the new box-image data files.

Jazzed up the way I display my headers in the documentation file while viewing the above mentioned file from within this program.

While returning to a room from the Jump Screen or Options Screen etc., the entire room arrangement is displayed all at once.

Corrected a minor bug in the Options Screen. Thanks, Petr.

Changes in Version 6.01

Added the "no-doc" command-line switch, which forces the program to NOT load the documentation file. This allows the program to run in almost 75K less of conventional memory.

Changes in Version 6.00

Changed the format of the cursor-image data files. The current format takes up less hard disk space, loads slightly faster and is easier to modify.

Completely changed the format of the solution files. Each solution file is now approximately 1,300 bytes in size, (when all 15 rooms have been solved) compared to 75,030 before.

Reduced the number of valid keystrokes allowed from 5,000 to 3,000. This reduction allows the program to run in less conventional memory than before. (I can't see a room EVER requiring anywhere NEAR 3,000 moves to exit, much less 5,000.)

Eliminated the hard-coding of the boxes. Instead, this information is being read in from the new box-image data files. (This further reduces the amount of conventional memory required by the program as well as allowing the player to change the way any of the boxes look to suit them if they so desire!)

Since I've introduced a new box (the PULLERS) since Doug's original game, and since the opposite of "pull" is "push", I decided to rename the SLIDERS to PUSHERS and the PUSHERS to MOVERS throughout both the program and documentation. (Sorry, Doug.)

I'm no longer writing the configuration file and solution files with the hidden attribute byte.

I'm now including a solution file with the non-deluxe package which includes the solution to the first three rooms.

The entire high-score logic has been eliminated. Your "high-score" is simply your "best solution" which is now saved in the solution file SEPARATELY from mine.

The player can now immediately jump to a room they've just completed if they wish to immediately attempt to better their solution.

Re-wrote the code I use to display my documentation file. Also, I added a 'bookmark' feature which allows the to place a bookmark in a page and then return to that page at any time with just a keystroke.

Added the SAVE feature (ALT-S) which allows the player to SAVE a position in memory which they can then recall (ALT-R) at any time before leaving the room.

If the name of the author of the room being loaded is different than the previous author's name, this new name will now blink a few times, to help call attention to the fact.

Added the new MOVER animation code!

The opening and title screen-writes are now slightly faster.

Upon returning to a room, the player's cursor now blinks for a slightly shorter period of time.

Added the code to immediately jump to the next room (ALT-N) or the previous room (ALT-P).

Added the Summary of Available Keys screen.

Changed the way the closing screens look in both the Deluxe and Non-deluxe versions.

Improved the format of the Jump Screen. Now, the lowest solution to all 15 rooms can be seen at a glance.

The screen-writes to both the Jump Screen and the Options Screen are noticeably faster.

Eliminated the checkdigit figure from the room-volume data files. The program now keeps the checkdigit figure in the solution file and if the room has been changed in any way, the program simply deletes the current solution.

Changed the length of the room number from four digits to three.

Changes in Version 5.00

No such version. I made so many changes after 4.61I felt a another full digit increase in the version number was warranted.

Changes in Version 4.61

Corrected a bug indirectly caused by the bug fix in the last update.

Changes in Version 4.60

Corrected a bug. The program, under certain conditions, was not saving the high-score file correctly. I can't believe this wasn't noticed by someone earlier. Many thanks to Petr Simon of the Czech Republic for informing me of this.

Changes in Version 4.54

Added the TAKE BACK feature.

Corrected another minor programming bug in the Deluxe version. If a player attempted to load a non-existent cursor-image file via the ALT-I key combination and then exited the program, the same problem I mentioned in the 4.43 update occurred; the program was saving that invalid filename in the configuration file before checking to see if it was valid. The program would then not load properly the next time it was started. Now fixed.

Changed the program logic for paging up and down in the documentation file. The program will now display a entirely new set of 23 lines of text per screen rather than 22.

Changed the requirements in one of the "annoying delay screens" seen at the end of the non-deluxe version. I now recommend SIX files, rather than four, be included when distributing the non-deluxe version. The new additions are the icon file (ca-cyber.icn) and the file description file (file_id.diz).

Changes in Version 4.43

Corrected a minor programming bug in the Deluxe version. If a player attempted to load a non-existent room-volume via the ALT-R key combination and then exited the program, the programming logic would update the configuration file with this invalid room-volume name. The next time the program was loaded, an error message would appear stating it was attempting to load this file and could not find it. (The configuration file saves the last room-volume that has been played. It was saving a filename BEFORE checking to make sure it was valid.) This bug has now been fixed. Thanks to Lyle Engle of Mesa, Arizona for discovering this.

After exiting the program and returning to DOS, the screen is restored to the way it looked before the program was executed.

Added some undocumented features for my own benefit.

Changes in Version 4.35

Corrected a minor flaw in the way I was drawing a few of my letters for one of my fonts.

Added program logic to the rooms in the vol-xxx.dat data files are in the correct order. (Previously, one could go in and edit these data files and, for example, swap rooms 1 and 2.) I didn't have a problem with anyone doing this (although I'm not sure why anyone would ever WANT to) but the vol-xxx.sol files contain the SOLUTION to these rooms and if one swapped any of the rooms in the data files then one would HAVE to swap these two solutions in the solution file as well (to keep the program from doing strange things). And my solution files, being non-text files, would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) for the average player to manipulate anyway.

Since the documentation file is now REQUIRED to run the program, I added a "read-only" attribute byte on this documentation file, to lessen the chance it will be deleted accidentally.

Allowed the player to select any of the menu key options via the TAB and/or the CTRL-arrow keys.

Made a minor change to the program logic when the cursor exits a room and actually enters the hallway. (If the cursor-movement sound was active for any pitch, a slight pause occurred before the sound was heard.)

Changes in Version 4.23

Changed the order of the options of the <M>enu Toggle so the ALT-key options appears second rather than third.

Changed the logic so if the player is reading the documentation file and then returns to the game, the same page the player was reading is automatically brought up again if and when the player decides to read the doc file a second time.

Allowed the player to change the foreground and background colors while reading my documentation file.

Changes in Version 4.15

Deluxe version - changed the configuration file so it would save the last cursor-image data file you were using as well as the last room-volume data file you were working on.

Changed the program logic so this configuration file is now read first. The program will now no longer default to loading the vol-001.dat file and cursr-01.dat file. The default now becomes whatever files you previously had loaded.

Deluxe version - added code so the player can load additional room-volumes and cursor-image files from right inside the program.

If the player's efforts are good enough for the CyberBox Hall of Fame, for convenience, the program will now automatically display the last name that was previously entered in this screen. If the player wishes to use this same name, now all he or she has to do is hit ENTER.

Allowed the player to read my documentation file from right inside the program.

Changes in Version 4.0

Added the DOS shell.

Added the entire solution-file logic. The program now saves your shortest solution to disk.

Swapped a couple of rooms in the vol-001.dat file that were a little too difficult to solve for first-time players, with some rooms in my vol-002.dat file.

Added logic so the player can break out of the 'special treat' logic if so desired, by hitting the ESCAPE key.

Increased the number of <I>nstant Replay keystrokes saved in memory from 2000 to 5000.

Changes in Version 3.0

Renamed my cursor-image data files to IMAGESxx.DAT (where "x" indicates the file number) instead of CACYBERx.IMG.

Added the entire <I>nstant Replay logic.

Added the "About CyberBox" screen.

The program now puts a read-only attribute byte on both the room-volume and cursor-image files.

Changed the appearance of one of the BLOCKER options from a sorry looking solid-red block to a neat little criss-cross type pattern.

When entering a room for the first time, the NAME of each room is animated from right to left until it is centered in the right hand portion of the screen.

Removed my LINE INPUT statement for accepting the player's name in my Hall of Fame screen and replaced it with my own editor. (Which allows for the player to utilize the HOME key, the END key, etc.)

Changes in Version 2.0

The program now puts a hidden attribute byte on the high-score and configuration files.

Re-wrote the logic for drawing all boxes. (The screen-writes on slower PC's was a little too slow for my taste. It is now noticeably faster only at the cost of the program now requiring slightly more RAM to load and run.)

The ESCAPE key will now bring up the "Do you really want to quit?" message, in addition to the "X" (e<x>it program) key.

If the replay animation speed is set on "very fast," the program will now replay the solution WITHOUT the "cursor sound." (Assuming the cursor movement sound was active for any pitch in the first place. The sound could not keep up with the cursor movement and the result was the cursor running around with one big beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.)

Changed all references of "non-ed game" to "non-deluxe game."

When entering a room for the first time, your cursor now blinks a few times to make it easier to find.

Added the <B>ox Review screen to help out first-time players.

Changes in Version 1.14

Changed the default text color from white to brown and the default highlight color from bright white to yellow.

The program will now re-write the configuration file only if anything has changed since initially loading it.

Changed the opening screen to display the message "Hit any key to continue..." at the bottom.

Slightly altered the way the PULLERS are represented.