PROBLEMS (Q) AND ANSWERS (A) FOR SRE!          [last updated  10/2/92]

Q.  I can't figure out why ...
A.  Check SYSOP.LOG.  It records any errors that SRE detects.  If you
    report bugs to us, it may help if you include the contents of that
    file.


Q.  I am registered but I can't get nuclear & chemical weapons to show
    up on the menu.
A.  Each player will need to find nuclear or chemical weapons.  Since
    they are outlawed by the Galactic Coordinator, they are not easily
    available; I suggest keeping more covert agents than planets so that
    the agents will search the planets looking for people who can sell
    you a nuclear / chemical weapon.  If one is found, a question will
    be asked ("Do you wish to buy a nuclear weapon?") in the profits/
    news screen.


Q.  I can't get SRE to run with WWIV.
A.  SRDOOR has a little bit of trouble with WWIV.  One thing you might
    try is seeing if it works remotely but not locally.  (You can force
    it to run locally with the /LOCAL parameter.)  Also, if you call
    our BBS, we have a program called WW4SR20.ARJ that claims to get
    SRE to work with WWIV.


Q.  I can't get SRE to run with Genesis Deluxe
A.  The best thing to do is to get the door converter called GENPC.
    It supports directly converting to SRE's DOORFILE.SR format.  Once
    you run GENPC, you can take SRDOOR out of your batch file.


Q.  Why don't you have PC-Board support working?
A.  I don't know!  It's partly because the designers of PC-Board wrote
    PCBOARD.SYS so that it's incompatible with languages other than
    BASIC.  Since SRE & SRDOOR are not written in BASIC, it's harder
    to read it.  There _is_ a converter called P2SR available on our
    board that lets you run SRE with PC-Board 14.x.  I'll eventually
    write PC-Board support into SRDOOR.


Q.  SRDOOR doesn't read the door file correctly.
A.  We have tested SRDOOR for DOOR.SYS and DORINFO1.DEF.  If you are
    unable to use these, you may be able to experiment with the formats
    for other BBSes.  Unfortunately, we have not fully tested the other
    BBS formats.  If you have any information about the door file
    produced by your BBS, please send us a letter!


Q.  I get an error message about running SRDOOR!
A.  Run INSTALL SRE to install the correct BBS type for your system.


Q.  SRE doesn't read the ANSI status of the user.
A.  SRE currently ignores the ANSI status, even though it's in the door
    file, so that users can play black and white if they'd like.  (It's
    faster without color!)


Q.  I can't figure out what to put in my batch file to run SRE.
A.  Run INSTALL SRE to set up a batch file automatically.


Q.  I don't know how to set up my BBS software to run SRE.
A.  Consult your BBS manual for more information.  Look for information
    on running DOORS.  You also need to produce a DOOR FILE when running
    SRE.  Select a door file format that is compatible with the options
    listed in INSTALL.


Q.  I have a high speed modem running at locked baud rates.
A.  Read RESOURCE.HLP for the "LockBaudRate" parameter, which lets you
    tell SRE that you're using locked baud rates.


Q.  I want a bulletin with the instructions for the game.
A.  Run:
       SRE INSTRUCTIONS /ANSI=0 /LOG
       REN SRE.LOG SRETEXT.TXT
       SRE INSTRUCTIONS /ANSI=1 /LOG
       REN SRE.LOG SRETEXT.ANS
    Then SRETEXT.TXT & SRETEXT.ANS will have the (long) instruction
    file for SRE.  For the short instruction file,
       SRE DISPLAY SREHINT.TXT /ANSI=0 /LOG
       REN SRE.LOG SREINTRO.TXT
       SRE DISPLAY SREHINT.TXT /ANSI=1 /LOG
       REN SRE.LOG SREINTRO.ANS
    The reason these files aren't included is that the SREHELP.TXT file,
    when ZIPped, is 14k, and including it three times (the normal one,
    the ANSI version, and the non-ANSI version) isn't good for long
    distance callers trying to download SRE!


Q.  I get snow on my CGA monitor.
A.  Use the /BIOS switch when running SRE to remove snow.


Q.  SRE runs too slowly.
A.  SRE's file routines have been re-written to get high speed, but
    to maintain security (read "p r e v e n t   c h e a t s"), SRE
    has to save often.  If you still need more speed, try running a
    small disk cache.  SRE's data files are *.SR (rarely over 100k)
    and are accessed often.  (Try to use a read-only disk cache; some
    caches don't write to the disk when SRE wants them too; if SRE
    crashes, you may lose important game data!)  Also, to save memory,
    SRE swaps to disk.  If you have EMS or XMS, SRE will swap to those,
    which is much faster (you have to enable some options in RESOURCE.DAT,
    so read RESOURCE.HLP for more info).  You could also disable the
    safe saving (see RESOURCE.HLP for info), but this is a SECURITY
    HOLE!  (There are many cheats possible then...)


Q.  I am using DESQview and running SRE produces trash on my screen.
A.  Use the /BIOS switch to ensure compatibility with DESQview.  Try
    virtualizing your screen in DESQview to prevent screen bleeding.
    Turn off VGA effects, because SRE will change the color palette
    when VGA is on (see RESOURCE.HLP).


Q.  I have a monochrome monitor.  How can I play locally without color?
A.  Use the /ANSI=0 switch to turn off ANSI color.  Also use /BIOS
    to make sure SRE is compatible with your monochrome display card.


Q.  My modem buffer causes the pauses and Yes/No prompts to be
    extremely slow on the remote side.
A.  Use the /NOSPECIALEFFECTS switch to turn off the special effects
    at the pauses and Yes/No prompts.  Alternatively, (preferably)
    you can edit RESOURCE.DAT to set up your system configuration.


Q.  I want to know what the users have done in SRE.
A.  Use the /LOG option to write all output to the file SRE.LOG.  Note:
    this file is overwritten every time SRE runs, so you should save
    it somewhere if you want the log of more than one user.


Q.  I want a separate file to contain the scores.
A.  SRE automatically creates SRESCORE.ANS (ANSI file) and
    SRESCORE.MSG (non-ANSI file) when it runs.  You can modify
    the batch file to copy these files to your BBS's bulletins
    or any other place you may need the files.


Q.  I want to register but I don't want my name to appear.
A.  Your name will appear at the end of the game in the registered
    version.  We do not register to your handle for legal reasons.
    (A handle is not a legal recipient of registration benefits.)
    Sorry!


Q.  I want to register but I don't want my name to be added to
    junk-mail mailing lists.
A.  Don't worry!  All registerers of SRE will NOT be added to any
    junk-mail list.  Our list is used ONLY for notifying registered
    users of updates and/or bulletins.


Q.  I'm running OPUS.
A.  Switch to Telegard.  Actually, in our experience, very few people
    have been able to run SRE on OPUS.	Remote Access, Telegard,
    Spitfire, TAG, Searchlight, and Wildcat are able to run our games.
    You will need to make OPUS create a door file such as DORINFO1.DEF
    or DOOR.SYS (short format) to run SRE.


Q.  My computer is an oldie 4.77 mhz 8088 with CGA...
A.  Don't worry!  It'll be an antique worth millions of dollars in
    70 years!  And besides... SRE was written on a 4.77 mhz CGA computer!


Q.  SRE locks up occasionally.
A.  We're working on this, but it is hard to track down.  You may want
    to try running the game with more memory (remove some device drivers),
    or outside of DESQview to see what's causing the problem.  You may
    also want to look at SYSOP.LOG to see if there are any errors listed.


Q.  SRE is terrible.
A.  Then why are you reading this?


Q.  I need to delete a user.
A.  Use SRE EDIT to delete a user, change his/her/its handle, or
    change the name of the empire.


Q.  I've received my registration numbers and I want to know how
    to get the registration benefits.
A.  Type SRE REGISTER and enter your registration numbers.


Q.  Why is there no full editor in SRE?
A.  Many sysops want a full editor; many more users don't.  They are
    afraid that the temptation may be too great for sysops to give themselves
    extra money.  The main reason is that I have been trying to work
    on other enhancements & bug fixes and I don't have the time to
    write a full editor.


Q.  This game is registered to somebody else!
A.  Delete STATUS.SRE.  It won't display "Registered to Joe Bloggs" anymore.


Q.  I'm registered and I want a bank.
A.  Type SRE BANK to set up a bank.


Q.  I'm registered and I want the new attacks.
A.  Type SRE ATTACKS to enable or disable Guerilla/Nuclear/Chemical/
    Pirate Raid attacks.



Any more questions?  Write to

    Amit Patel
    4851 Cairnsean
    Houston, TX 77084-2541
    Re: SRE Question

or if you have Internet access, send email to amitp@rice.edu

