                             Trade Wars Helper 
                                Release 4.0 

                            Copyright 1992,1993 
                             Just FUN Software 
                            All Rights Reserved 


  Trade Wars Helper is a terminal program used ONLINE with the BBS door
  game "Trade Wars 2002" v1.03 published by Mertech Software.  This
  program continuously maintains a database of the explored sectors with
  their port and adjacent sector information.  Several commands are
  available to utilize this information while moving around in the Trade
  Wars universe.  In addition, TWH can negotiate trades on your behalf and
  automatically cross trade between two sectors.  Using this program will
  significantly enhance both your effectiveness and your enjoyment of
  Trade Wars.  Don't leave FedSpace without it! 



  INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 

  Make a directory, \twhelp, on your hard disk using the DOS mkdir
  command.  Unzip the ZIP file to the \twhelp directory. 

  Erase the TWHELP.CFG file if it is present.  The program will create a
  new configuration file for use with data related to your installation. 

  Create a batch file (TWH.BAT) in the directory of your communications
  program like below.  It changes to the \twhelp directory, executes the
  twhelp program, then changes back to your communication program's
  directory. 

  cd \twhelp 
  twhelp 
  cd \(comm-prog-dir) 



  RUNNING INSTRUCTIONS 

  Run your communications program, login to a BBS and start the Trade
  Wars door.  When Trade Wars begins building its title screen, shell to
  DOS from your communications program and enter TWH to start the batch
  program. 

  Online instructions are given by the program from this point on and will
  not be repeated here except to say you can display the commands by
  entering /? or print them by entering />.  All TWH command begin with
  the / character.  You can run the program directly without being in
  your communication program and the Trade Wars door.  This might be
  useful the first time to read or print the online instructions. 

  In addition, the file EXAMPLE.TWH contains a database that can be used
  to experiment with the program without being online.  You will need to
  include the sector number after the / for most commands since the
  current sector remains at 0 when not online.  Also do not use the /k,
  /t, /r, and /s commands when not online since they issue commands to
  Trade Wars itself.



  UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS 

  If you are upgrading from an older release you can just unzip (or
  copy) all the files from the new release directly into the /twhelp
  directory.  You may wish to eliminate the EXAMPLE.TWH file afterward.
  You will not need to do anything else.  It is not necessary to do the /k
  command again since any changes to the data files will be automatically
  handled by the program. 



  SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTED PRODUCT 

  Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before
  buying it.  A product distributed via shareware is not "free software".
  If you try a shareware program and continue using it, you are expected
  to register it with the author for a modest fee within 30 days of your
  initial usage.  You may register this product by mailing cash, check or
  a money order for $10.00 to: 

                 Just FUN Software 
                 4790 Naniloa Dr. 
                 Salt Lake City, UT 84117-5547 

  Upon receipt of the registration fee, you will be mailed instructions to
  include your name in the program as the registered user.

  Please use the REGISTER.TXT file when registering.  This file may be
  printed using the DOS print command.  For example: 

                 print \twhelp\register.txt 



  DISCLAIMER 

  Trade Wars Helper is supplied on an "as is" basis.  The author disclaims
  all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the
  warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.  The
  author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which
  may result for the use of Trade Wars Helper. 



  COPYRIGHT 

  Copyright laws apply to both shareware and commercial software, and the
  copyright holder retains all rights, with the following exception.  The
  program, complete with the files discussed below, may be freely copied
  and distributed.  It is in fact encouraged.  If you like this program,
  please tell your fellow players, even those evil traders, about it and
  upload it to several BBSes. 



  FILES 

  This product is made up of the following files: 

  README.TXT - This file contains the text information you are now
  reading. 

  README2.TXT - This file contains additional information.  Please read. 

  REGISTER.TXT - This file contains a printable registration form.  Please
  use this form when registering. 

  FILE_ID.DIZ - A description of this product. 

  TWHELP.EXE - The program file. 

  EXAMPLE.TWH - This file contains an example database that can be used
  to experiment with the program.

  This product may be distributed only when all the above files are
  included in the distribution.   



  RELEASE ACTIVITY 

  Release 1.0: September 7, 1992 - Initial release. 

  Release 1.1: September 11, 1992 - Made the COM port and baud rate user
  options.  Changed some of the edit keys for the /b and /c commands. 

  Release 1.2: September 30, 1992 - Eliminated the need to specify the
  baud rate.  Added configuration option to optionally reissue the
  universal announcement. 

  Release 2.0: October 12, 1992 - Added the /t, Negotiate Trade, command
  along with the automatic cross trading capability.  Also added the /s,
  Search for notation characters, command. 

  Release 2.1: October 20, 1992 - Added the option to specify the baud
  rate for those instances where automatic determination does not work. 

  Release 3.0: January 5, 1993 - Added the /X, /I, and /U commands to
  expand the search for the next six sectors.  Fixed the problem that
  occurred when entering more than seven data file names at one time.
  Fixed problem associated with using the /k command at high transfer
  rates.  Allowed for ESC to exit program at title screen. 

  Release 3.1: February 8, 1993 - Changed the /k command to use the Crai
  computer's interrogation mode to collect the warp to sector information.
  Changed the search for matching notation characters command to /m (was
  /s).  Added the configuation option to enter the IRQ line number.  Fixed
  bug that may have caused the auto trading feature to randomly fail. 

  Release 3.2: February 12, 1993 - Fixed communications software to work
  with modems and I/O cards using the 16550A UART. 

  Release 4.0: March 1, 1993 - Added /r command which interrogates the
  Crai computer to record the product percentage for display with the /x
  command information.  Added the /s command which initiates an automatic
  sell/steal cycle.  Added the /> command which prints the command and
  information screens on the standard print device.  Added the /e command
  which explores the closest unexplored sector.  Added the /E command
  which clears the explored status for each sector, without clearing
  it's port and warp to information, thus allowing a subsiquent
  exploration of the universe.  Added the /o command which allows entry of
  the run time options. 



  Please continue by reading the README2.TXT file. 
