Hi Daniel, nice to meet you! 😄

No, you didn't do anything wrong.
Your writing was fine, honest and polite.

Also, you asked for help/assistance instead of demanding it. 👍
That's not a matter of course anymore these days, I think.
Sometimes new users in DOSBox forums do treat the devs as if they're paid support personnel.

I'm sure there are quite a few people that could help you with the project.
All in all Vogons has a great community, with a few trolls also (which are occasionally kind though).

I could have a look into it, too. Maybe I can put something basic together.
- But please don't count on me, I generally want to help, but sometimes I don't have the power to get things done (in time). 😞

Sounds like fun. Haven't done anything like this in 30 years!

Maybe the existing setup software can be ported over to Visual Basic for DOS?

Message me (or reply in this thread) and I'll look at what I could do later. I still have the same time constraints as many others though, so won't promise anything either.

Hi guys.
Thanks for the reply. And I apologize for my slow response.

The installer that I need (not the one I would like, just what I need) is not that difficult.
I have posted the same question on other forums and got some response and questions there.
Time seems to be a big thing (and the 30-year-old skills required don't help either)

For the installer, I wrote a pseudo script that may help to illustrate.
I also include pictures of the original installer (that doesn't function with the new version)
The setup program itself is already written, included here, this also has the look en feel of the original.

1on run install
2- ask source of the game #(can be the same as the current game dir or different, does not matter | does not need to be checked)
3  # Enter location to install form:
4  # EXAMPLE: A:\stunts\
5 
6####   Picture 1  ####
7
8- check if the source contains SKID*.exe files (there should be four of them, but check for any)
9Then the game is in the source location, can be a different copy than the one runing the installer, doesn't matter.
10 
11ask for destination,
12  # Enter GAME directory
13  # EXAMPLE c:\stunts\
14
15####   Picture 2  ####
16 
17Check if the destination exists.  Create or Ask to overwrite or change destination.
18Don't check for enough space.
19
20####   Picture 3  ####
21 
22then copy files [source directory + subdirectories + all files]
23(ESC to terminate, don't revert, just stop)
24
25####   Picture 4  ####
26
27show, install complete box Return to menu on enter.

canthearu wrote on 2021-10-04, 04:30:

Message me (or reply in this thread) and I'll look at what I could do later. I still have the same time constraints as many others though, so won't promise anything either.

I can't message you directly because I'm not yet authorized.

We are sorry, but you are not authorised to use this feature. You may have just registered here and may need to participate more in discussions to be able to use this feature.

hmm if all you need is an installer, my installer does all that except check for certain files before installing.
(I could probably work on a garage manager easy enough)

https://bloodycactus.com/files/si103.zip

i have not played stunts in many many years.. the one I have is an INC release.

from the archive I have I generated an install script for my installer;

inside the stunts directory, unzip the si103 into "inst", then I copy the ini below as stunts.ini and run the commands

inst\mkdir dest
inst\icomp -i stunts.ini -s . -d dest
copy inst\install.exe dest
inst\brand dest\install.exe stunts

1[install]
2title=Stunts Installer!
3patch=0
4notes=Install Stunts! Best racer ever
5name=stunts
6dest_output=\stunts
7close_note=\n\nThanks for installing $(TITLE).\n\n
8
9[files]
10groups=stunts,tracks
11
12[group_stunts]
13name=Stunts Install Files
14optional=false
15dest=$DEST
16notes=This is it, stunts!
17file1=ad15.drv
18file2=adeng1.vce
19file3=adskidms.vce
20file4=alpine.pvs
21file7=brian1.rpl
22file8=caransx.res
23file9=caraudi.res
24file10=carcoun.res
25file11=carfgto.res
26file12=carjagu.res
27file13=carlanc.res
28file14=carlm02.res
29file15=carp962.res
30file16=carpc04.res
31file17=carpmin.res
32file18=carvett.res
33file19=cga.cod
34file20=cga.dif
35file21=cga.hdr
36file24=city.pvs
37file25=country.pvs
38file26=cred.res
39file29=default.hig
40file30=default.rpl
41file31=default.trk
42file32=desert.pvs
43file33=desktopd.cfg
44file34=ega.cmn
45file35=ega.cod
46file36=ega.hdr
47file37=fontdef.fnt
48file38=fontled.fnt
49file39=fontn.fnt
50file40=game.pre
51file41=game1.p3s
52file42=game2.p3s
53file43=geeng.sfx
54file45=install.pdm
55file50=lharc.exe
56file51=load.exe
57file53=main.res
58file54=mcga.cod
59file55=mcga.dif
60file56=mcga.hdr

61file57=mike's_b.rpl
62file58=misc.pre
63file59=mt15.drv
64file60=mt32.plb
65file61=mteng1.vce
66file62=mtskidms.vce
67file63=opp1.res
68file64=opp1lose.pvs
69file65=opp1win.pvs
70file66=opp2.res
71file67=opp2lose.pvs
72file68=opp2win.pvs
73file69=opp3.res
74file70=opp3lose.pvs
75file71=opp3win.pvs
76file72=opp4.res
77file73=opp4lose.pvs
78file74=opp4win.pvs
79file75=opp5.res
80file76=opp5lose.pvs
81file77=opp5win.pvs
82file78=opp6.res
83file79=opp6lose.pvs
84file80=opp6win.pvs
85file81=pc15.drv
86file82=pceng1.vce
87file83=pcskidms.vce
88file84=sdcred.pes
89file85=sdcsel.pvs
90file86=sdgame.pvs
91file87=sdgame2.pvs
92file88=sdmain.pvs
93file89=sdmsel.pvs
94file90=sdosel.pvs
95file91=sdtedit.pes
96file92=sdtitl.pvs
97file93=setup.dat
98file94=setup.exe
99file95=skidover.kms
100file98=skidslct.kms
101file99=skidtitl.kms
102file100=skidvict.kms
103file101=st.com
104file102=stansx.p3s
105file103=staudi.p3s
106file104=stcoun.p3s
107file105=stdaansx.pvs
108file106=stdaaudi.pvs
109file107=stdacoun.pvs
110file108=stdafgto.pvs
111file109=stdajagu.pvs
112file110=stdalanc.pvs
113file111=stdalm02.pvs
114file112=stdap962.pvs
115file113=stdapc04.pvs
116file114=stdapmin.pvs
117file115=stdavett.pvs
118file116=stdbansx.pvs
119file117=stdbaudi.pvs
120file118=stdbcoun.pvs
121file119=stdbfgto.pvs
122file120=stdbjagu.pvs
123file121=stdblanc.pvs
124file122=stdblm02.pvs
125file123=stdbp962.pvs
126file124=stdbpc04.pvs
127file125=stdbpmin.pvs
128file126=stdbvett.pvs
129file127=stfgto.p3s
130file128=stjagu.p3s
131file129=stlanc.p3s
132file130=stlm02.p3s
133file131=stp962.p3s
134file132=stpc04.p3s
135file133=stpmin.p3s
136file136=stunts.com
137file137=stunts.ini
138file138=stvett.p3s
139file139=td15.drv
140file140=tdeng1.vce
141file141=tdskidms.vce
142file142=tdy.cod
143file143=tdy.dif
144file144=tdy.hdr
145file145=tedit.pre
146file146=title.p3s
147file149=tropical.pvs
148
149[group_tracks]
150name=Track Files
151optional=true
152dest=$DEST
153notes=The different stunts tracks (bernies, cherry, death, desert, joe, killer, skits, stu, tony)
154file5=bernies.hig
155file6=bernies.trk
156file22=cherry.hig
157file23=cherry.trk
158file27=death.hig
159file28=death.trk
160file32=desert.pvs
161file46=joes.hig
162file47=joes.trk
163file48=killer.hig
164file49=killer.trk
165file96=skids.hig
166file97=skids.trk
167file134=stu.hig
168file135=stu.trk
169file147=tony.hig
170file148=tony.trk

BloodyCactus wrote on 2021-10-14, 20:46:

hmm if all you need is an installer, my installer does all that except check for certain files before installing.
(I could probably work on a garage manager easy enough)

Thats really cool.
It is not completely compatible with the new version, i'm afraid.
The files are different and there is a lot of optional custom content for the game now.
So the installer/copier should be able to handle variable content and sub directorys.

As for the garage manager.
After I posted my question here (and a few other forums) one of the guys within the community stated on a garage manager.
It is a command line program but fully functional.
I would like it to have a text mode interface to match the setup though.
That program is written in FreeBasic and i have the source code.
I can explain the functions as well.

If you want to work on the garage manager, that would be awesome because the command line version is not suitable for a bigger audience.

Daniel

the installer can handle subdirs and stuff without issue. Im glad to hear someone has stepped up for you. stunts was pretty awesome.

I knocked out a test garage manager proggy, worked on my stunts broderbund 1.0 install

https://bloodycactus.com/files/garage.zip

unzip into the directory stunts is in. read the garage.txt file!
works for me, I've only done minimal testing.

(edit: I just updated it to fix a bug. if you download before you saw this edit text, download again... 🤣)

BloodyCactus wrote on 2021-10-14, 23:08:

the installer can handle subdirs and stuff without issue. Im glad to hear someone has stepped up for you. stunts was pretty awesome.

Can you adapt the installer to be part of setup as illustrated in my previous post?
- copy the contents of a game folder to a location (not packed)
- unpack a selected zip into the game folder (installing custom cars- just added because your program can unpack and cars are downloaded as zip)
- make backup of selected cars or tracks or gamefiles.

a list of the base gamefiles is attached.
---------------------
As for the garage.

that's a very cool system you thought of.
it can read the car name from the res file, I presume.

A couple of things. (partly to make it dummy proof)
First. Can you make it keep the file name when copying to the game dir? The name influences the order of them in the game to.
- The deletion part is fine. But if a car is not in the garage, it should make a backup there. (i now deleted a car because i installed it in stunts 1.1 and the 1.0 cars are not compatible)
- Actually, I have a database with about 70 cars that are catalogued the same way as your garage, so that is very convenient.
Second. The countach is the default car in the original game. This can not be removed from the game or it will break the game.
- can you add a config file in which you can state the 4 letters of the default car (in the special ferrari edition it is the FGTO)?
Third. With 100 cars it would be nice to move them in groups. Can you add a group function and log groups in the same config file?
Fourth. Can you add more space between the showroom and the garage and show the car description in the middle? #The ']' is used in the game to go to the next line (like enter).

The max is 32 cars, with 1 locked it leaves 31 cars to be moved about.

BloodyCactus wrote on 2021-10-15, 02:40:

I knocked out a test garage manager proggy, worked on my stunts broderbund 1.0 install […]
Show full quote

I knocked out a test garage manager proggy, worked on my stunts broderbund 1.0 install

https://bloodycactus.com/files/garage.zip

unzip into the directory stunts is in. read the garage.txt file!
works for me, I've only done minimal testing.

(edit: I just updated it to fix a bug. if you download before you saw this edit text, download again... 🤣)

I updated the garage with all the 1.1 original cars and all custom cars.
It works with just the original cars, and a few more as well.
But with all 108 cars, it doesn't load. At least not within my patience span (over 2 minutes, timed it)

I could probably make some changes to it.

I saw last night the 1.1 cars were different, so I made an installer for the garage app to choose 1.0 or 1.1 cars when you install it.

my test had 40 cars.. took 0 seconds to load. strange. ill check into it.

I looked in your garage.zip, there is a lot of directories with file extensions I dont recognise. I was expecting them to be "standard", a car*.res, a stda*.pv3, stdb*.pvs, st*.p3s..

BloodyCactus wrote on 2021-10-15, 22:00:

I could probably make some changes to it.

I saw last night the 1.1 cars were different, so I made an installer for the garage app to choose 1.0 or 1.1 cars when you install it.

my test had 40 cars.. took 0 seconds to load. strange. ill check into it.

really cool.,
Thanks..

I think it gets stuck on double mentioned cars. Some are in different versions edit, not relevant any more

Drop by our form sometime, it's a slow-paced forum, but that way I can keep up.

BloodyCactus wrote on 2021-10-15, 22:10:

I looked in your garage.zip, there is a lot of directories with file extensions I dont recognise. I was expecting them to be "standard", a car*.res, a stda*.pv3, stdb*.pvs, st*.p3s..

Yeah, of cource.//

Prefixes and Extensions of new cars:
CAR .RES
STDA .VSH
STDB .VSH
ST .3SH

But in the original cars the extensions are different because those files are packed.
So there are 2 types for each extension.
Unpacked and packed, So:
3sh or p3s - 3d shape resource files.
Vsh or PVS - graphic resource files images
Res or pre - resources. Text and settings

Cars luckily don't have packed res files I believe. That would make reading the car name quite difficult. So the .pre files should not be there, just added for completeness.

hmm tonight i kept getting "packed file corrupt" off load.exe so I had hacked the st.com to load a modified load.exe that I unpacked and re-pack it. setup did the same so I unpacked and repacked that, now its all good 😀

ok I got it working garage on 1.0 + 1.1 with vsh/3sh etc. keeps the car code names from a config. you cant delete the default car (you can command line switch which one is default countach or fgto).

so in your garage.zip, as example, the MCLAREN directory, I have a car.ini as

1[car]
2cars=2
3
4[car0]
5code=mcf1
6
7[car1]
8code=zmp4

this lets you have more than one car in a directory, and it sets the code. it sees two sets of car files in that one directory.

I updated the zip at https://bloodycactus.com/files/garage.zip

probably wont have any time to work on it for a couple of weeks, Ive got to cram for a Kendo grading.

@bloodycactus
you played stunts 1.0.
Do you have the original game disks? We are looking for those. We have all the 1.1 versions but not the 1.0

BloodyCactus wrote on 2021-10-16, 02:48:

hmm tonight i kept getting "packed file corrupt" off load.exe so I had hacked the st.com to load a modified load.exe that I unpa […]
Show full quote

hmm tonight i kept getting "packed file corrupt" off load.exe so I had hacked the st.com to load a modified load.exe that I unpacked and re-pack it. setup did the same so I unpacked and repacked that, now its all good 😀

ok I got it working garage on 1.0 + 1.1 with vsh/3sh etc. keeps the car code names from a config. you cant delete the default car (you can command line switch which one is default countach or fgto).

so in your garage.zip, as example, the MCLAREN directory, I have a car.ini as

Copy code to clipboard

1[car]
2cars=2
3
4[car0]
5code=mcf1
6
7[car1]
8code=zmp4

this lets you have more than one car in a directory, and it sets the code. it sees two sets of car files in that one directory.

I updated the zip at https://bloodycactus.com/files/garage.zip

probably wont have any time to work on it for a couple of weeks, Ive got to cram for a Kendo grading.

I can not run the garage in the new version of the game.
Stunts.com is required. But that file does not exist.
Stunts.com was a launcher program to start load.exe with the requested graphics (and sound) setting to build the executable in memory.
The new version has the executables with graphics mode prebuild. Those exe files all start with SKID.

ok i did quick change, removed any checking for stunts.com and reuploaded it

https://bloodycactus.com/files/garage.zip

i dont have 1.0 disks, but I have the old INC crack from back in the day.

Daniel3D wrote on 2021-10-16, 20:22:

@bloodycactus
you played stunts 1.0.
Do you have the original game disks? We are looking for those. We have all the 1.1 versions but not the 1.0

I got Stunts on the original disk. Need to check the version though. Will let you know if it's 1.0. Why do you need that version?