Short:        ARexx script for merging two PACMAN.HISCORE files
Author:       krueger@krypt.cs.uni-sb.de (Michael Krüger)
Uploader:     krueger krypt cs uni-sb de (Michael Krüger)
Type:         util/rexx
Architecture: m68k-amigaos

DESCRIPTION
===========

MergePacScores  is  a  simple ARexx script for merging two PACMAN.HISCORE files
produced  by  Edgar  Vigdal's  DeluxePacman  game.   You  simply choose the two
highscore  files  to  be merged, and the script will write a new highscore file
filled with the highest entries of the original files.

So  now  you can play DeluxePacman on different machines without worrying about
different or inconsistent highscore tables!


REQUIREMENTS
============

* Amiga
* DeluxePacman  for  creating  the  highscores  (yeah, I know the files are not
  encrypted  in  any way, so everyone COULD produce gigantic highscores without
  even  playing  once;  but,  hey, that's not fair anyway, and a real Amiga fan
  wouldn't  even  think  of  that,  would he/she?  ;-) I don't know whether the
  coding  format  of  the  highscore  files  ever  changed  since Edgar's first
  release; the version I used for testing is 1.6 including free keyfile.
* running ARexx task (RexxMast is usually started in original startup-sequence)
* ENV: assign
* the  following  AmigaDOS  commands  accessible  via standard PATH:  "Delete",
  "RequestChoice", "RequestFile".


INSTALLATION
============

... is trivial:  Copy the file "MergePacScores.rexx" to any directory you want.
The  .asc  files  are  signatures  made by PGP5; if you do not want to test for
authenticity of the archive, you can delete them.


USAGE
=====

To  merge  two  DeluxePacman highscore files, simply type the following command
using  a  shell  or  workbench's  "Execute  Command"  menu entry («dir» must be
replaced by the directory that was used during installation):

Rx «dir»/MergePacScores.rexx

During script execution, three file requesters will appear:  The first one will
ask  you  for the name of your highscore file, the second one for the "foreign"
file  (e.g. the highscores your friend has reached).  In the last requester you
can define the name of the merged destination highscore file.

The  merging  process  itself  is  displayed  in the console window:  Highscore
entries  which  were  taken  from your own file are typed in normal text style,
whereas  foreign  highscores  are  marked  as bold to indicate that your friend
isn't as bad in eating pills as you probably have thought :-)

For using the merged highscores, you must rename the file to PACMAN.HISCORE and
copy it into the game's directory; otherwise it won't be recognized.


BUGS
====

Uh? I neva mäk enny fallts ;-}
No  format  check  is done for the input files; if they are not of DeluxePacman
highscore file type, then it's pretty likely for the script to crash instantly.
MergePacScores is tested by hard; if you don't trust me, look at the code!


HISTORY
=======

1.4: first official version. (Look into source code for details.)


DISCLAIMER
==========

Well,  I know you would be glad to see me being responsible for everything that
may  happen  to  your  Amiga;  sorry  for disappointing you, but I will give no
guarantee  nor  warranty regarding any rising problems you might associate with
my  script.   If your electronic friend explodes when running this script, it's
definitely not my fault!

This  script  is  freeware;  you may change it for private use.  If you want to
re-publish  it,  you  are encouraged to send me a copy of your work (you see, I
want to benefit from your optimizations!).


THANKS
======

... to Edgar Vigdal for the fantastic game conversion (the best playable PacMan
clone I've ever seen!), to Kurt Ziegenbein for his testing (hope I never killed
one  of  your  scores  in  early  versions?) and for his never-ending effort in
beating  my  scores  (ha,  765.590 Punkte im Normalmodus warten darauf, von Dir
geschlagen  oder wimmernd hingenommen zu werden 8-) and to former Commodore for
the versatile ARexx script language.


CONTACT
=======

Author: Michael Krüger (MiK), Kohlweg 2, D-66123 Saarbrücken/Germany.
Pseudonym: MiK, Central Intelligent Software Agency (CISA Corp.)
E-Mail: krueger@krypt.cs.uni-sb.de, mik@studcs.uni-sb.de
PGP-PublicKeys: http://www.mpi-sb.mpg.de/~krueger/MiK_pgpkeys.asc
                or use "finger -l krueger@krypt.cs.uni-sb.de"