txPLAYER2.O by texxy (undernet's #mirc_rainbow) 10-26-97

If you are serious about helping others use txPLAYER20
or want to get full advantage of it...get a soda and
start reading.  It is simple enough that you can just
learn by using it...but here are some details.

What is txPLAYER2.0??
This player replaces txPLAYER1.1
It is a player designed to be simple...part of this was
limiting myself to one file. It will play .txt files and
do other fun things on irc and is very easy to share.

The differences with 2.0?
1) Can set any number of nicknames regardless of number
   in the room.  (if only 2 in room...you can play a file
   designed for 10 diff nicks...it will use each nick five
   times)

2) You control how many nicks it sets every time. The 
   setting of the various nicknames (variables) is what
   causes the delay before a file will start playing.
   486 types notice this the most. If you have a 486, try
   setting the nicks set each time to one.  The default is
   ten...you can try a higher number if you play lots of
   files with higher numbers of nicks.  If you highlight
   the ten nicks you want...it will pick those ten nicks 
   first...but...if you only highlight one nick...it will
   pick that one and then start adding from the top till
   it has ten nicks (and will start back at top if it runs
   out of nicks) /txnicks will change minimum sets

3) The player has file protection features.  It will not
   show your paths, it only allows text files to be taken
   out of your mirc\ dir. and mirc\subdirectories\...
   If you keep your txt outside of mirc...you can change 
   the common directory for .txt sends by typing /txdirsend
   It will not allow certain types of files to be grabbed.

4) Help for newbies, It will not allow sound files to be
   played as .txt...it also will not allow .ini or .mrc to
   be played as .txt (also...checks 1st and 3rd line for
   the ctrl-k color boxes...if they are not found...it will
   ask you if the file is colored? Continue?)

5) I added easy midi play.  I had mp3 in at one point...
   but I needed the room for other stuff I think others
   prefer.  It is also illegal to trade mp3, i do not want
   to contribute.

6) I added a wav grabber...in "nicklist popups" and in
   "channel popups"...This will only work if you have mirc5.1
   or better.  You also need to check the 3rd box in
   General Options/Sounds (warn if sound doesn't exist) or
   you will not see the sounds in the list. I recommend
   checking the top 4 boxes only.

7) Lots of new help for helpers.../txstart will send one
   line to screen letting helper know default variables 
   are set.  /txshow will show helper the set defaults

8) Added many more query options and channel popups

9) Added quick send to share player...and a quick popup
   explaining how person is to load it. Version check
   also...look on your status screen to see version result.

10) Many little things to numerous to mention.

*******************************************************
How to load txPLAYER2.0

first off...no need to unload any other txplayer...
the /txstart will unload it for you.
Also...this takes ZERO cutting and pasting anything!
just do steps one two three...everything is in the .mrc

1)Move txplay20.mrc to your mirc dir.
2)type---> /load -rs txplay20.mrc
it should say loaded...if it does...then continue
3)Type---> /txstart
that will set the defaults...look at them carefully
4)If you need to change a directory...type /txmenu
the txmenu will show you shortcuts to changing things
for example.../txwav allows you to change wav dir.

*******************************************************
How to play a file...

First off...if on channel...highlight a nickname. Do this
by first using mouse to A)left click a nickname in list on
the right of channel...B)then right click. C)a menu of
popups will drop down. D)Find txPLAYER2.0 in list...
E)move pointer to txplayer, a menu will unfold, you will
see 5 basic play options

1)Play TeXT (auto-speed) 
2)Play TeXT (pick-speed) use if "auto" floods on a
  certain pic.(300 is a very fast speed, 3000 is very slow)
3)Play TeXT/Add Sound (auto-speed)
4)Play TeXT/Add Sound (pick speed)
5)Play TeXT using more than 10 names
  This is the confusing one...first off...if you do not
  have mirc 5.1 or better...you will not see the 10.
  I recommend getting a file that uses more than ten
  nicknames to test this play option.  I have
  a 54balloon.txt that uses 54 different nicks.
  The higher number you have it set, the longer it will
  take to start the picture...54 seems like your puter
  is locking up...but it is just setting all the variables

f)once you click on a play option, your .txt directory
should popup.  Just pick a .txt file and hit OK.

If you are new...ask someone for some files starting
with the letters az or nn...those are always picture
files.  Only play nn and az till you understand better.

*******************************************************
txPLAYER Sounds

Wav files...you can play a wav from nicklist, channel,
or type /wav .  The same goes for midi files (/mid)

The wav grabber is pretty handy for many. But, you must
have mirc 5.1 or better to see the wav names.  If you
have the newer mirc but do not see wav names in grabber,
then check the top four boxes in General Options/Sounds.

You can also type /gg to grab the last sound you did
not have.  I put the grab last sound in query popups...
but be warned...it will grab the last wav played in either
channel or query. If you are only in query...no problem.

If you do not like the funny colorful lines following
the wav grab...you can go to the wav grabber and turn
off the lines...only the !nickname filename.wav will show.

Try the send private sounds...you can enter any nickname
of anyone as long as they are on irc.  They do not have
to be on the channel.  If they have the sound also...they
will see and hear it.

For those who are mp3 fans, sorry...30000 byte limit
for files bit me.  There are plenty of mp3 players out
already anyway.

*******************************************************
Needs some explaining

The Wav Grab will hold 15 different sounds only.
The first sound you do not have will take the #1 slot.
Each sound following will take the next slot available.
When it gets to 15...it will overwrite #1 and continue
from 1 to 15 again.
Here is one problem...While you are looking at the
filenames in the Grabber...the wavs will continue to
overwrite, But the filenames will not change while you
are looking at them.
This is why i added (LATEST) in front of the last sound
on the list...once the list fills up...(may change) will
be added in front of the four filenames following (LATEST).
You might click on a (may change) but it will grab a
sound played after you opened up the wav grabber.
If you are on a slow channel with few wavs played...this
will be less of a problem. If you are on a wav channel,
It is more than a safe bet that the first few (may change)
will change before you have a chance to grab them.
Just use it for a while...you will see what i mean.

The speed percentage is also confusing.
Different Nets and servers will flood you differently.
The undernet is very easy to flood on.  I am on the 
undernet...the default of 100% is set for the undernet's
sensitivity.  The auto-speed will select a speed depending
on the number of lines and avg. bytes per line.
Lets say the typical file is selected to play at 1000.
if i leave speed percentage at 100% it will play at 1000.
If I go to Dalnet (hard to flood there). I change the 
speed percentage to 70%.  At 70...player will set auto-
speed at 1000 but then it is multiplied by the speed
percentage (1000 * .70 = 700). It will play at speed of
700.  It works the opposite way also.  If you are at
100% and still flooding...change to 120 (auto of 1000
will then play at 1200).  The goal is...how quick can
you play files without flooding. Everyone is different.
This gives you some control over the auto-speed.
type /txspd to change setting

You can use txPLAY20.mrc to make one-click "%az" "%nn" "ascii" POPUPS, example:
..aznntxt: set %txfile c:\mirc\art\aznntxt.txt | set %nicks 10 | set %txspeed 800 | set %txsnd c:\mirc\waves\kiss.wav | /txplaypop
just change the FILENAME, set SPEED, and change DIRECTORIES
if needed. Set number of nicks if over minimum set
(or exact for faster play). THE SOUND IS OPTIONAL.
examples I have in my popups/nicknames:

Favorite Texts
.nn_fair: set %txfile c:\mirc\nn_fair.txt | set %nicks 1 | set %txspeed 500 | set %txsnd c:\mirc\waves\kiss.wav | /txplaypop
.54balloon: set %txfile c:\mirc\54balloon.txt | set %nicks 54 | set %txspeed 2000 | /txplaypop

*******************************************************
How to share txPLAYER2.0

1)Send the file to nickname (look in Settings/Tips/Sharing
  for a quick way to send to highlighted nick)
  If in query...there is a send there also.
2)Look in Settings/Tips/Sharing for "Show how to load"
  Click on that...it will display instructions on loading
  for the nickname to follow.
3)Once they type /txstart you will see...
  "txPLAYER2.0 defaults now set"
  That lets you know they are on track.
4)You can have them type /txshow if you want to see
  their settings.  Have them type /txmenu also
5)You can check what version of mirc they have...
  See version check in Settings/Sharing or...
  type---> /ctcp nickname version

*******************************************************
Shortcuts....(type /txmenu to see these)

/txstart sets defaults
/txon turns offers on
/txoff turns offers off
/tt stops text playing
/txsettings shows you your settings
/txshow shows everyone your settings
/txfile sets file dir.
/txwav sets wav dir.
/txmid sets midi dir.
/txspd sets auto-speed%
/txsent sets starting number for files sent
/txnicks sets number of nicknames auto-set
/txdirsend sets the common directory all text-sends come from
/txt quick play
/txtw quick play with wav attached
/wav play wav
/mid play midi
/gg grab last sound

Misc. Stuff
I put a /play option in Settings/Tips/Sharing
This will use the auto-speed to /play files
The only use for this is if you want to see the "guts"
of a file.  It will show all the /say's and %variables.
It will not set any nicks...and will look rather ugly
if it is a %az or %nn file...but I love it and use it
often to show others how to make files.

*******************************************************
PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

if player will not work...could be a few things
1)it is not in mirc\ directory
  It has to be there...file uses $read which must find
  the file in mirc\ (will not work in a subdirectory)

two tips, have them type...
//say $mircdir (will show mirc\ dir.)
//say $findfile($mircdir,txplay20.mrc,1)
(will show where txplay20 really is)

2) They do not see txPLAYER in popup list...
   Their menu is too long...they need to combine popups
   in popups/nicknames.  Have them go to query...see if
   it shows in query popups.

3) Files not sending...
   The player will only send files from mirc\ or a sub-
   directory of mirc\  YOU CAN CHANGE THIS...for example...
   if you keep .txt files in c:\art\multi and c:\art\faves
   and c:\art\inprogress  then the common directory would
   be c:\art\  ...Have the person or you type /txdirsend
   a box will pop up...enter c:\art\ for your send directory.

   Also make sure you have everything turned on
   /remotes on, /raw on, /events on, /ctcps on

4) Bad Aliases! This covers almost every problem.
   If it will not load or the //say will not work...
   could be a bad alias stopping the /load or //say
   If //say does not work...have them try //me
   if //say does not work...they have a bad /say in aliases.

I could go on for a week about bad aliases

Every problem (99.5%) I have run across is caused by 
a bad alias somewhere.  If a person is locking up trying
to play a file, flooding instantly, getting garbage on
status screen, variables are not changing, only grab-line
is showing...you name it...it is a bad alias somewhere.

If they have 5.1 or better...and /say works...typing...
//say $alias(0) will show how many alias files are loaded
then...
//say $alias(1)
//say $alias(2) etc. will show file names
I usually ask for their aliases.ini, fix it, send it back
and have them write down and unload every other alias file.
It usually works then, they can reload files one at a time
and test till the problem comes back...then they know the
problem alias file.  Often, they have a .txt file in there
that does not belong.

Last hint on aliases,
Only three things should touch left side
/ } and ;
use ; to disable lines.  If you disable a multiple-line
alias...use ; on every line of alias
;/doz {
;  /say 0,0mmmmmm--------15,0 __ ..,
;  /say 0,0 mmmmmm--14,8|[]|14,0__|_
;  /say 0,0mmmmmm--14,8|______|14,0:_/5 $me pushes *1
;  /say 14````''..1,15(o_o_o_o)14,0-\0,0---5into the corner! 
;}

Also...good idea to start every alias with /
multi-line aliases will start with...
/command {
and final line will be just...
}
(some fancy aliases will need extra } on bottom till
final } touches the side)

btw...disabling multiple lines works the same way in
remotes and popups...disable every line.

If you do this properly...only ; / and } will touch side

********************************************************
What are variables?

mirc recognizes a variable as anything starting with "%".
Artists have added these variables to picture files.
For example...the player will set %az equal to whatever
nickname is highlighted and then make the nickname
twelve spaces long using spaces to center it.
The letters az have become standard for nicks using a 
length of 12...it could have been called %anything.
But the players look for %az and will replace it with
a nickname when it finds it.
other variables
%az, %az2, %az3, %az4, etc. will continue using highlighted
nicknames...txplayer will set as many as you tell it.

%nn, %nn2, %nn3, etc. will set nicks to nine characters.
(undernet is limited to nickname lengths of nine...thus
the %nn was made)

%mz will set $me to length of 12
%cz will set $chan to length of 20
%tz will set $rtime to length of 8 (you must have rtime alias)
%dz will set $day to length of 10
%me will set $name to length of 9
%kz and %bz are for adding a kick or ban to bottom of file.
add to bottom of /say files...(both for the ban)
/kick # %kz you were kicked with txPlayer!!!
/ban # %bz you were banned with txPlayer!!!


%c1, %c2, %c3...%c9 will break up %nn into individual letters.

%z1, %z2, %z3...%z12 will break up %az into individual letters.
%z1b, %z2b, %z3b, %z4b,...,%z12b will break up %az2
%z1c, %z2c, %z3c, %z4c,...,%z12c will break up %az3
etc. up to 
%z1z, %z2z, %z3z, %z4z,...,%z12z will break up %az26

NOTE: %nn will not break up 26 nicknames...it is very easy
to make it do it...but it takes long enough to set
all the %az as it is (the delay would be twice as long)
Since %az will are popular on all nets...I strongly
recommend that you stick to %az if you want to break
up lots of nicknames. I strongly discourage anyone from
making up new variables...we have plenty enough right
now.  

******************************************************
To make a picture...

1)This is not a help file to do that...but here are basics.
Most get ascii art off on internet (search for ascii)
2)you can cut and paste from ascii web site to notepad.
Notepad is found on status screen (edit notes)
another way...
type--->/alias /edit /run notepad.exe notes.txt
then type /edit and answer "yes" if asked anything.
(this will add a /edit alias...quick way to open notepad)
3)You cannot do the ctrl-k color boxes "" in notepad!
You have to make one elsewhere...and paste it to your
notepad file (make one in aliases or in typing line on
channel). Once you have one there...you can copy and
paste that one over and over adding the color numbers 
behind the ctrl-k box. Look at a .txt file to see how.
4)If you want to add variables...add /say to every line.
However...if lines are command lines...the playing of
the file will only recognize one space...if you have a
part of the picture using, for example, 10 spaces in a
row...you can add -------- to fill gaps...and then color
them out 1,1-------
an advanced technique is to use what I call magic beans
to fill in the spaces
;magic----> f r e e               <----beans
The above line is full of magic spaces...you can borrow
from it. Paste the line in aliases somewhere...they look
like spaces between the arrows...but they do not act
like them.  They are $chr(160) instead...they will stay
as spaces when you add to aliases or /say lines.
Confusing huh...hehehe...just start with 1,1-------
You can also make a magic bean by holding down Alt and
typing 0160 then releasing Alt (magic!)
5)Just keep playing the file over and over till you
get it the way you want it...for a background...you can
add spaces on right side till you get an even edge.
Many add a  to far right of each line just so they can
keep track of the edge.
6)There are some programs to make popups... You can try
popedit, but I strongly recommend learning the notepad
way first.

*******************************************************
You wanna change something?

First off...you cannot change filename...many lines have
$read txplay20.mrc (if you change name, it will not find file)

If you do change...please keep a clean copy of file to share.
You cannot add or take out lines...lines must be counted
for the player to work...line 166 must stay 166 for example

If you hate the random lines...you can change them...but do
not add any...and keep that clean copy for sharing.

If you hate the remotes that /notice back and forth
they are easy to disable (found at top of file)
;on 1:FILESENT:*:inc %xtsent | /notice $nick  $+ %vc1 $+ , $+ %vc2 $+ txPLAYER2.0  $+ %vc2 $+ , $+ %vc1 You just received $nopath($filename) $+ , file number %xtsent that I have shared :)
;on 1:FILERCVD:*: /notice $nick  $+ %vc1 $+ , $+ %vc2 $+ txPLAYER2.0  $+ %vc2 $+ , $+ %vc1 $nopath($filename) is great $nick, thanks for sharing it :)
********************************************************

In Conclusion

I hope it works as well for you as it works for me.
The file is entirely separate from anything you have
loaded. It reads itself, it writes to itself, it has
the remotes built in, the aliases are built in.  If
you feel it is causing a problem...type...
/unload -rs txplay20.mrc (and it is totally gone)

I made it cause I like a challenge...making files do
neat or new things is a game to me...the only game
I ever play.  My home channel is #mirc_rainbow on the undernet.
If you visit...get your rubber boots on...you will flood.
#Mirc_rainbow is full of talented folks...we have put
together many fun share files for IRC.  The Rainbow ini
files are unbelievable aliases.  Bowpops are a collection
of .txt files that will play as easy load popups.  There
are almost too many neat things to mention.  We also have
#mirc_rainbow2 now...it is a gathering place for folks
working on files or needing help.  Hope to see you visit.

thanks again...texxy (terry from texas)
terry30s@airmail.net  pssst...send job offers...sick of retail :)

#mirc_rainbow homepage
http://home.rica.net/rainbow/index.htm









