1              Compiling CircleMUD using Microsoft Visual C++ v4.x
  2                    by Jeremy Elson (jelson@circlemud.org)
  3                    For help, write to help@circlemud.org
  4  
  5  CircleMUD compiles relatively easily under Windows 95 and NT using
  6  the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler version 4.x.  These instructions won't
  7  work for any compiler except for MSVC++ 4.0; if you have a different
  8  compiler, take a look at the main README.WIN file for instructions.
  9  
 10  Note MSVC++ 4.x is a commercial product and must be bought from your local
 11  software store.  It can't be downloaded from any (legal) FTP sites, and I
 12  will not send you a copy, so please don't ask.  Use the FREE GNU-Win32
 13  package mentioned in the README.WIN file if you don't want to buy MSVC.
 14  
 15  
 16  1) Download the latest version of CircleMUD.  You can always find the latest
 17     version at the following anonymous FTP sites:
 18  
 19         ftp.circlemud.org:/pub/CircleMUD
 20         ftp2.circlemud.org:/pub/CircleMUD
 21  
 22     You can also find information at the WWW site:
 23  
 24         http://www.circlemud.org/
 25  
 26     The latest version will be called something ending in .zip, like
 27     "circle30bplXX.zip".  (where 'XX' is the patchlevel)
 28  
 29  2) When you unzip the .zip archive, MAKE SURE to use an unzip program that
 30     can handle long filenames.  Old versions of pkunzip (e.g. 2.x) do NOT
 31     handle long filenames.  WinZip (http://www.winzip.com) can.
 32  
 33  3) Open a window with an MS-DOS prompt.  Note, this does not mean you are
 34     "compiling under DOS" -- the MS-DOS prompt is just a command-line
 35     interface to Windows 95.  This step can be done by going to the Start
 36     menu, going to the Programs submenu, and selecting "MS-DOS prompt".  All
 37     the following commands are performed at the MS-DOS prompt. 
 38  
 39  4) Use the CD command to switch to the main CircleMUD directory.  For
 40     example, type "CD \circle30bplXX", where 'XX' is the patchlevel of the
 41     version of Circle you downloaded.  Also note that the full path will
 42     depend on where you decided to uncompress it.
 43  
 44  5) Go to the src directory and rename conf.h.win to conf.h, and replace
 45     the Makefile with Makefile.msvc.  This can be accomplished with the
 46     following commands:
 47  
 48  	cd src
 49  	copy conf.h.win conf.h
 50  	del Makefile
 51  	copy Makefile.msvc Makefile
 52  	
 53  6) If you have MSVC++ 4.x installed in C:\MSDEV, skip to the next step.
 54     Otherwise, bring up the Makefile in your favorite text editor (for
 55     example, to use the DOS EDIT command, type "EDIT MAKEFILE".)  Find the
 56     two lines that start with "CLFAGS =" and "LIB=", respectively.  On BOTH
 57     lines, change the part that says "C:\MSDEV\" to reflect where your copy
 58     of MSVC++ 4.x is installed.  Then, save the Makefile and exit the
 59     editor.  You should still be in the "src" directory.
 60  
 61  7) Make sure that MSVC++ binary directory (i.e., the directory where
 62     the actual programs are kept, such as NMAKE.EXE) is in your PATH.  You
 63     can see what your path is by typing PATH.  Your MSVC++ binary directory
 64     should be listed (for example, C:\MSDEV\BIN).  Add MSVC's binary
 65     directory to your path if it's not already there.  If you do not know
 66     how to change your path, contact someone who knows how to use the DOS
 67     command prompt for help, or check the manual to learn how to use the
 68     PATH command.
 69  
 70  8) To compile Circle, stay in the src directory and type: 
 71  
 72          NMAKE
 73  
 74     This will invoke Microsoft's make program and should build the entire
 75     CircleMUD server and create a file called 'circle.exe'.  If you see the
 76     error message "Bad command or filename", then MSVC++'s binary directory
 77     is not in your path, so your computer can't find MS's NMAKE program.
 78     Go back to step 7.
 79  
 80  9) Make sure your TCP/IP stack is installed, correctly configured, and
 81     running.  If you are already using TCP/IP applications from your
 82     Windows machine such as Netscape or telnet, then no changes should be
 83     necessary; otherwise go to the Control Panel's "Network" settings,
 84     select "Add Protocol", and add Microsoft's TCP/IP.  Consult the
 85     documentation for Windows 95 (do not write me mail) if you have any
 86     additional questions about how to set up TCP/IP under Windows 95. 
 87  
 88     YOU MUST INSTALL AND CONFIGURE YOUR TCP/IP STACK, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT 
 89     CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.
 90  
 91  10) Go back to Circle's main directory (like in Step 4), and run the server
 92     by typing "src\circle".  You should see boot messages appearing on the
 93     screen.  Wait until the line "No connections.  Going to sleep." appears
 94     at the bottom of the screen -- this means Circle is ready to accept
 95     connections.  Go on to step 11 if you see this.
 96  
 97     If you see "Winsock Error #10047", your TCP/IP stack is not correctly
 98     configured; go back to Step 9.
 99  
100     If you see "Fatal error changing to data directory: No such file
101     or directory", that means you are trying to run Circle from the
102     "src" directory.  Your current directory must be Circle's top-level
103     directory -- the same directory that you were in during Step 4.
104  
105  11) Start a telnet program (SEE NOTE BELOW).  Open a connection to your
106     own machine ("localhost", or whatever the name of your machine happens
107     to be) on port 4000.  You should see the MUD's login screen welcoming
108     you and asking for your name.
109  
110     VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:  The standard telnet program that comes free with
111     Windows 95 and NT does *not* work correctly for connecting to any MUD
112     because it does not support telnet's line-mode interface (so you can't
113     see what you are typing).  Note that simply turning on the "local echo"
114     option does not fix the problem; this prevents echo from being turned
115     off while you're typing your password, and screws up the display if you
116     try to hit the backspace key too many times.
117  
118     Do not use Microsoft's telnet applet -- instead, use EWAN, CRT, zMUD, or
119     any other Winsock telnet application.  EWAN and CRT can be downloaded
120     from any number of sites (for example, www.windows95.com).  zMUD is an
121     excellent MUD client; for more information, see the official home page
122     at http://www.zuggsoft.com/zmud/zmudinfo.htm .
123  
124  
125  If you have problems, read this document again.  Most of the questions
126  I receive in email are answered in this README file.  If you're still
127  having problems and you're *sure* that this document doesn't answer
128  your question, try reading the CircleMUD FAQ at
129  ftp://ftp.circlemud.org/pub/CircleMUD/FAQ.  If all else fails, you can
130  get help by sending mail to help@circlemud.org.  Note, however, that
131  if you ask a question that is answered in this document, all I'll do
132  is mail it to you.
133  
134  Have fun!
135  
136  Jeremy Elson
137  jelson@circlemud.org
138  (To get help, write to help@circlemud.org)