What is "Play Deathball.cmd" All About

[overon]

Just curiosu but why does deathball use a *.cmd file to startup and then does some kind of online check. What is it checking for exactly and why the need for a *.cmd?

Thanks.

[StRaFe]

/shrugs
/me looks at dave!!!11

[The_One]

Surely it's obvious. It's checking for a new version of DB. Don't know if it actually works though, guess we'll see when 2.1 is released.

[Maegrim]

i thought it checked for the \deathball map o_O

[The_One]

Well it does a number of things. First it checks that the main DB files are present and then checks to see if there is a newer version of DB available (by running AutoUpdate.exe). Obviously the last thing it does is start UT2k4 with the -Mod=Deathball command.

[R3L!K]

I never noticed that before..... what a handy feature....if it actually works.... (I just make my own shortcut)

[DavidM]

as the one said....
We only keep telling people to use it forever.

[xiller8r]

they even supply a sexy icon to use for it o/

[overon]

I use the shortcut too, I'm just a curious dirty filthy smelly n00b.

[UsAaR33]

Well, for those of us with windows 98, the CMD file won't work.

Following is the PlayDeathball.bat file, which does everything the CMD does.

The BAT will be in all future deathball versions.
Note how useful it is (verifies install, sets up UCL file, updates, launches deathball correctly):

Code: Select all

@echo off

@echo ===----------------------------------------------
@echo === Deathball Launcher
@echo ===----------------------------------------------


@echo === Environment Check ===

if exist  ..\Deathball\PlayDeathball.bat goto Defcheck
echo 'PlayDeathball.bat' is missing from your UT2004\Deathball Deathball folder. Please reinstall Deathball.
pause
goto end

:Defcheck
IF EXIST ..\System\Default.ini goto DBUCheck
echo 'UT2004\System\Default.ini' is missing! Please reinstall UT2004!
pause
goto end

:DBUCheck
IF EXIST System\Deathball.u goto DBAICheck
echo 'Deathball.u' Package missing! Please reinstall Deathball.
pause
goto end

:DBAICheck
IF EXIST System\DeathballAI.u goto DBRCCheck
echo 'DeathballAI.u' Package missing! Please reinstall Deathball.
pause
goto end

:DBRCCheck
IF EXIST System\Deathball_rc.u goto EntryCheck 
echo 'Deathball_rc.u' Package missing! Please reinstall Deathball.
pause
goto end

:EntryCheck
IF EXIST Maps\Entry.ut2 goto UCLProcess
echo 'Deathball\Maps\Entry.ut2' missing. Using UT2k4 default Entry map.
copy ..\Maps\Entry.ut2 Maps\Entry.ut2 > NUL

:UCLProcess
IF EXIST System\Deathball.ucl goto AutoUpdate
echo === Exporting Deathball.ucl ===
..\System\ucc exportcache -Mod=Deathball -v Deathball.u Deathball_rc.u DeathballAI.u Deathball.ucl

IF NOT errorlevel 1 goto UCLPostCheck
echo ERROR! Unable to run UCC.
pause			
goto end
	
:UCLPostCheck
IF EXIST System\Deathball.ucl goto AutoUpdate
echo ERROR! Unable to export Deathball.ucl! 
pause			
goto end


:AutoUpdate
AutoUpdate.exe /S /D=%CD%

@echo === Starting Deathball ===

@REM Use START always when possible!
IF NOT "%OS%" == "Windows_NT" goto LNormal
REM START /B ..\System\ut2004.exe -Mod=Deathball
START /B c:\windows\notepad.exe
IF errorlevel 1 goto LNormal
exit
goto end

:LNormal
..\System\ut2004.exe -Mod=Deathball

:end

[DiStUrbeD]

what about those of us on Windows 3.1?

:p

[UsAaR33]

what about those of us on Windows 3.1?

:p

I pity your lack of a start button.

I should note though that the .bat files will even work for those of you on DOS 5.0 still. Since win 3.1 requires dos 6.0 at least, I suppose you are AOK :p

[Maegrim]

<3 win 3.11








<3 spam

[R3L!K]

think i'll just stick to my System\ut2004.exe -Mod=Deathball shortcut, since I'm impatient and everything works fine anyway.

if something goes wrong, then sure, I'll try it out...

[Catalyst88]

What about people who use DOS 4.0?