 |
The John Tiller Games SiteRing This site owned by Harri Pesonen |
| |
Version 1.3.362 (11.9.2004)
by Harri Pesonen © 2000-2004View the latest version of this document (alternative). Download the latest PBEM Helper version (alternative), 2.5 MB. When updating, it is usually enough just to download the executable (alternative), without system files, 460 kB.
General
Supported Games: Matrix, Battlefront, TalonSoft, Shrapnel, HPS
Adding support for other programs
Links
Release Notes
This program is used to automatically send turn-based game files between opponents.
Requirements: Win98 or later. Microsoft Windows Script 5.6 or later.
THE SETUP
You run this program. It registers a .PBM file type.
You must enter your own e-mail address.
You must select if you want to use Simple MAPI (mapi32.dll) or SMTP (blat.dll) to send e-mail. In case of SMTP, you have to enter the SMTP server name (e.g. smtp.isp.com) and your SMTP e-mail address (usually the same as your own e-mail address).
PBEM Helper finds the supported game programs in your computer. It may ask you the installation directories.
If your program is not detected automatically, check Options / Modify installed programs and Enable it manually.
This program scans all the saved PBEM files in your game programs.
You should enter the e-mail address for each of your game files by double clicking the game (or F2).
SENDING AND RECEIVING GAME FILES
Select the games that you want to send, and send them. Later the program will automatically select the correct games.
The game files are zipped into one archive named PBEM.PBM. If anything goes wrong, you can still open it in WinZip.
PBEM.PBM is sent by e-mail to your opponent.
When the opponent receives the e-mail, he opens (does not save) the attachment in PBEM. Because this program registers the .PBM file type, the e-mail attachment opens automatically in this program.
The attached zip file is automatically extracted into correct game directories.
Your opponent can then run the game program directly from this program.
The game files got automatically your e-mail address, so that your opponent can now send them back to you.
AUTOMATIC PLAY AND SEND
Automatic Play is enabled by clicking Options / Automatically Play received games. Received games are played automatically if all the following conditions are met:
Game status is Play (it is if you just received it)
Game has a password
Program status is not "No CD"
Ctrl or Shift keys are not pressed
Automatic send is enabled by clicking Options / Automatically Send played games. Games are sent whenever the status is Send. It is recommended that Taunt your opponent is not selected, and also SMTP sending may work better if your MAPI e-mail client requires additional confirmation (virus check in Outlook and Outlook Express).
ADDITIONAL WORKING FOLDER
Select "Options / Set additional working folder" to enable this. A default additional working folder will be created under
C:\My Documents\PBEM. This is recommended if your email opponent does not have PBEM helper installed and he is sending game turn files in either .txt/.zip formats instead of the program's native .PBM format. If you receive game turn files which are in .TXT or either .ZIP formats, then save (don't open/extract) these game files into theC:\My Documents\PBEMfolder.Note: All ZIP files saved - not opened - into the
C:\My Documents\PBEMsubfolder are automatically extracted and deleted without you doing the extraction manually via an unzip utility.Also SIT, LHA, RAR, ARC, ARJ, BZIP and GZIP files are processed if the StuffIt Expander has been installed. ACE files are processed if WinAce is installed.
PBEM Helper will create the correct subfolders under this folder, one for each program. WARNING: The files in these subfolders will be moved (deleted) when PBEM Helper starts!
If you do not use this additional working folder, and instead save the game files directly into some game application folder, then PBEM Helper doesn't know if you should "Play" or "Send" these files. The game status is then displayed as Play/Send (or Unknown).
MAPI OR SMTP
Most Windows e-mail clients support Simple MAPI by MAPI32.DLL in Windows/System directory. If you don't have a compatible e-mail client, then use SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol). The SMTP support is provided by BLAT.DLL, which is installed into Windows/System directory.
If you use SMTP, then your sent PBEM file is not saved anywhere (except into the temporary "0" subdirectory under PBEM installation directory). This is good because your e-mail program does not get filled with PBEM files, but on the other hand, you don't have a good backup for sent files.
Remember to send a test file to yourself (in Options menu) after you have selected the mail mode!
ZIP TECHNOLOGY
The used Zip technology is by Info-Zip. It is possible to send the attachment as a plain .ZIP file (or not compressed at all) if your opponent does not have PBEM Helper.
TAUNT YOUR OPPONENT
If you check this option, then you can enter comments to your opponent before sending each attachment. These comments will be sent as the e-mail body text.
In the bottom of the window are two text boxes. When you add text to the first one and press enter, the text is added to the list of phrases in the bottom, and also to big text box above. Later you can click on the list to add that text.
HOT KEYS: ENTERING PASSWORDS AND FILE NAMES, GAMMA SETTINGS
PBEM Helper puts the password into clipboard when you click Play F9. Most programs do not support the clipboard when entering the password, though. That's why PBEM Helper has a hot key, Ctrl+Shift+P, that sends the clipboard contents to the active window as keystrokes. This works with SPWAW at least. The status bar shows Ctrl+Shift+P if the hot key is active.
Also Ctrl+Shift+F sends the file name (after Play F9).
Gamma hot keys work as follows: Ctrl+Shift+
0: Restore default (how it was before PBEM Helper was loaded).
1 - 8: Gamma = from 1.0 to 2.75 in steps of 0.25. 1.0 is usually the same as default, 2.75 is the brightest.
9: Blank screen to grey, use this to test if it works in CMBB fast&trust mode.TIME ZONES
PBEM Helper will convert the file modification times automatically, if the files are sent from a different time zone. For example, the Finnish time zone is GMT+2 and Swedish is GMT+1, so the clock in Sweden is one hour less than in Finland. So when a file is sent from Sweden to Finland, one hour must be added to the modification time.
The time zone conversion is done by the Info-Zip routines.
You can also manually adjust the day light saving time in Options / Fix dayling saving time. You can fix the Received/Sent timestamps when the daylight saving time changes. PBEM Helper also detects this change automatically.
USER INTERFACE
There are popup menus on Programs and Games lists, use right mouse click to open them. Double clicking a program will run it, double clicking a game will either Edit, Play or Send it, depending on the game state.
PROBLEMS?
- Error message about RegExp object.
- Download Microsoft Windows Script 5.6 or later.
MATRIX GAMES
Steel Panthers: World at War
SPWAW is free! Published and developed by Matrix Games. Visit the support forum.
Pacific War: The Matrix Project
PACWAR is free! Published and developed by Matrix Games. Visit the support forum.
War in Russia: The Matrix Project
WIR is free! Published and developed by Matrix Games. Visit the support forum.
Uncommon Valor
UV a was added by David Heath, fixed by me, and is published and developed by Matrix Games and 2by3Games. Visit the support forum. Instructions from Spooky's site:
How UV PBEM works !
1st Japanese turn: Japanese player enters password, gives orders, ends turn, saves game (to whatever number that was decided upon for the PBEM game). The save game will look like this : uvXXX_YYY_date.uvs with :
XXX is the slot number (ie : 16)
YYY is the name of the game (ie : Spooky vs Mario)
date : the date of the savegame (ie : 07_07-42)
1st Allied turn: Allied player loads the saved game received from the Japanese player. Allied player enters password, gives orders, ends turn, saves game. Then Allied player sends the save file to the Japanese player.
Subsequent Japanese turn: Japanese player enters password, gives orders, ends turn, saves game. Then Japanese player sends both the save-game file and the Combat Replay ("uv001_CombatSave.uvs_date") to the Allied player.
Subsequent Allied turn: Allied player loads the "Combat Replay" file received from the Japanese player, watches the replay, then loads the save-game file. Allied player enters password, gives orders, ends turn, saves game. Then Allied player sends the save-game file to the Japanese player.Original text by Rowlf
Updated for the v2.3 patch by SpookyBATTLEFRONT
Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord
CMBO is a commercial game, only available from Internet. Published by Battlefront.com and developed by Big Time Software. Visit the support forum.
Automatic password entering is not enabled in PBEM if the intro movie in CMBO is active. To disable this is to press and hold the Shift key when executing the CMBO program executable file.
Also numbered files are supported (filename001.txt, filename002.txt, etc). Numbered files are treated as one logical file (filename###.txt). There must be exactly three digits in the end. Also the latest file (by modification date) is shown in the Description field if it is different from the biggest file (by numbering).
If the file name is numbered, then a matching subfolder will be created automatically under CMBO/PBEM, and all previous turn files are moved into that folder. For example, if there are files Berli_Fuerte_001.txt and Berli_Fuerte_002.txt and there is a subfolder Berli_Fuerte, then the file Berli_Fuerte_001.txt is moved into this subfolder. Besides _ character also space and - are ignored from the end of the file name when creating the subfolder.
The latest file is never moved. But if you click Delete (in Edit F2), then also this file is moved into subfolder.
Fast&Trust mode is supported, see CMBB below.
Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin (+demo)
CMBB is a commercial game, available from Internet for U.S. and from CDV for European people. Published by Battlefront.com and developed by Big Time Software. Visit the support forum. See CMBO for more information.
Hot key F5 sends the next numbered file name in file save dialog (it first sends a mouse click so that you get to the file name dialog, and after the new file name it sends an enter so that the dialog is closed).
Two turns per e-mail (or Fast&Trust mode) is enabled if the file name starts with "2-" characters, e.g. 2-PBEM001.txt. Both players must have PBEM Helper. It is also possible to change an existing game to fast&trust mode in Edit F2, by using Trust/Secure button.
Warning: Operations (switching to next battle) and end-game sequence may not work in all cases, or they require at least some help from the player. Test if screen blanking works when CMBB 3D display is loaded with Ctrl+Shift+9 before using this mode (Ctrl+Shift+0 restores the colors).
That said, if you have an opponent that you TRUST, then this makes PBEM game much more enjoyable, and faster. You get two full turns (view, plot, view+plot) after the setup phase is over. The trick is that the opponent's password is sent with the game file, encrypted, and that password is used to skip the other player's view turn, so that you can view and plot moves for your next turn in advance. When the other player's view turn is skipped, the display colors are set to gray, so that you don't see anything, and the movie is quickly fast forwarded to the end.
This is how it works. On the left is the ordinary PBEM sequence, on the right is the two turns per e-mail sequence. We have two players, A and B. The first two turns is the setup phase. A turn is generated when there is a separating horizontal line. On the right, only the turns in bold are sent to the opponent (in one file), turns marked with d are just dropped. When a player views other player's turn, hidden, it is in brackets.
A B A setup -> 001 | -> 001 B 001 setup -> 002 | 001 -> 002 ------------------- A 002 plot -> 003 | 002 -> 003 B 003 plot -> 004 | 003 -> 004 ------------------- | A 004 view -> 005 | 004 -> 005d | (004 -> 005) B 005 view+plot -> 006 | | 005 -> 006 A 006 plot -> 007 | 006 -> 007 ------------------- | B 007 view -> 008 | (007 -> 008) | 007 -> 008d A 008 view+plot -> 009 | 008 -> 009 | B 009 plot -> 010 | 009 -> 010 ------------------- | A 010 view -> 011 | 010 -> 011d | (010 -> 011) B 011 view+plot -> 012 | | 011 -> 012 A 012 plot -> 013 | 012 -> 013 ------------------- | ... etc.In Quick Battles there can be two extra unit selection turns in the beginning, if both players buy their units, so the fast mode starts in turn 5 instead of 3.
Thanks to Scott Karch for explaining this system in this thread, and to
Caesar for the black bmp and encrypted password ideas.How to start a fast+trust mode game (thanks Andrew!)
- Start a PBEM game, save the game with 2- prefix (e.g. 2-PBEM or 2-PBEM001 if you use numbered system (the temporary 2+ files are always numbered and backed up, so you don't usually need this)). You can use PBEM Helper File / Generate Password F11 to create a random password, and then Ctrl+Shift+P to send the password (in clipboard) to CMBB when it asks it. Send the game to your opponent (in .PBM format).
- Open (don't save) the PBM file from this email. This automatically opens
PBEM Helper.- Make sure your password is in the game file by Game / Edit / Generate (if you have put it there once, it will always be there). Fast+trust mode does not work without the password.
- Have the CM disk in the CD drive.
- Select the game file and press the play button (or use F9 key, or double-click it if the status is Play).
- In turn 3 or 5 (depending if this is a Quick Battle where both purchased units) you have to switch to fast mode by clicking Yes in the message box.
- CM will automatically start, the game will automatically be selected and
your password automatically entered.- Do your turn(s).....
- If it ever goes out to the Save Game screen, don't enter the name yourself, just press the F5 key and it does it automatically.
- Once it is the end of things, it will automatically close CM and send you
back to PBEM helper.- If you have Options / Automatically Send Played Games enabled, PBEM Helper will then automatically zip and send the turn to your opponent. It is good to have Taunt Your Opponent checked if you use automatic sending, so that you can cancel it if needed.
When to change a normal game to fast+trust mode
You should do it right after view+plot, before sending the file, when the status is still Send.
Program / View Movie allows you to see the full battle movie replay. The password must be in clipboard (use Ctrl+C to copy it from some game). Use hot keys:
- F5: First turn
- F6: Previous turn
- F7: Next turn
- F8: Last turn
- F9: Quit
Normally turns 004 and 005 are the first movie turns for both players. If this game is a quick battle where both players have bought units, then add 2 extra setup turns.
Tip: Change vertical sync Always On in Direct3D settings to get a much better hot key response with ATI Radeon cards.
Combat Mission: Afrika Korps (+demo)
CMAK is a commercial game, available from Internet for U.S. and from CDV for European people. Published by Battlefront.com and developed by Big Time Software. Visit the support forum. See CMBB for more information.
Strategic Command - European Theater (demo)
SC is a commercial game, published by Battlefront.com and developed by Fury Software. Visit the support forum.
TALONSOFT
TalonSoft’s East Front II
EF2 is a commercial game, published and developed by TalonSoft. Visit the support forum.
TalonSoft’s West Front (Battle Pack)
WF is a commercial game, published and developed by TalonSoft. I have not personally tested this at all.
TalonSoft’s The Operational Art of War, Vol I
TOAW is a commercial game, published and developed by TalonSoft. Visit the support forum.
Battleground 3: Waterloo
WATERLOO was added by Rick Martin, and is published by TalonSoft. Visit the forums.
TalonSoft's Battle of Britain
BOB a was added by Strategist, and is published and developed by TalonSoft. Visit the support forum.
TalonSoft's Twelve O'clock High
TOH a was added by Strategist, and is published and developed by TalonSoft. Visit the support forum.
Age of Rifles
RIFLES a was added by Strategist, and was published and developed by SSI. Page at Wargamer. Forum at Historical-Gaming.com. Yahoo group.
SHRAPNEL GAMES
Space Empires IV
SE4 is a commercial game, published by Shrapnel Games and developed by Malfador Machinations. Visit the support forum.
Both Turn Based and Simultaneous modes are supported, and in Simultaneous both Host and Player modes.
If you are running Host, set the e-mail address empty, and set the host (and player) password in Edit F2. When all the player files have been received, the game status will change to Host. If you then execute Play F9, the turn will be generated automatically, and the status will change to Send (after pressing F3 or F5). Ctrl+Play will host the game even if the status is Wait.
If you are running Player in a Simultaneous mode, then you must have the host e-mail address in the game settings. You should get it automatically when you receive the first .gam file from the host.
PBEM Helper supports mods, it knows about the path.txt file. And if you have several SE4 installations, you can change the folder in PBEM.INI:
[SE4]
Directory=D:\Games\SPACEE~1Dominions 2 (+demo)
DOM2 is a commercial game, published by Shrapnel Games and developed by Illwinter. Visit the support forum.
If you are running Host, make sure that e-mail address field contains the e-mail addresses of all players, separated by ; character. E-mail addresses must be in the same order as the nations, sorted alphabetically:
abysia
arcosep
atlantis
caelum
ctis
ermor
jotun
machaka
man
marignon
mictlan
pangaea
pythium
rlyeh
tienchi
ulm
vanheimThere must be as many e-mail addresses as there are .trn files. If host is playing as well, leave the e-mail address empty for that nation (but still add that ; separator). When all players have sent their .2h file to you, then the game status changes to Host. Double click the game to generate the turn. Host will send all *.trn files (except your own nation) to all players. If you have Automatic Play enabled, all this happens automatically.
If you are just a player, make sure that the e-mail address contains the host's e-mail address. Player will send just one .2h file.
If you want to use the password sending with Ctrl+Shift+P, make sure that the password contains only numbers, not letters (sending letters does not work for some unknown reason).
If you want to hide a game from PBEM Helper, set - to e-mail address. You have to manually edit PBEM.INI to make it visible again.
HPS SIMULATIONS
Campaign Eckmuhl
ECKMUHL was added by Rick Martin, and is published by HPS Simulations.
The War of 1812: The Conquest of Canada
CANADA was added by Rick Martin, and is published by HPS Simulations.
Squad Battles: Vietnam
VIETNAM was added by Randy Casebier, and is published by HPS Simulations. Forum at Blitzkrieg.
Squad Battles: The Proud and the Few
PF a was added by Randy Casebier, and is published by HPS Simulations. Forum at Blitzkrieg.
Squad Battles: Tour of Duty
TOD a was added by Randy Casebier, and is published by HPS Simulations. Forum at Blitzkrieg.
Panzer Campaigns: RZHEV '42
RZHEV42 a was added by Strategist, and is published by HPS Simulations. Forum at Wargames Board.
OTHER
Empire Deluxe for Windows
EMPIRE is an old classic, this version is for Win3.x.
Adding support to other games is relatively easy. Just select Options / Modify installed programs. You need the following information:
The short game name (e.g. SPWAW).
The full game name (e.g. Steel Panthers: World At War)
Executable name (e.g. MECH.EXE).
Possible e-mail subfolder name (e.g. EMAIL or PBEM).
Possible registry settings ([HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Steel_Panthers_World_At_War]). It may be possible to find out the installation directory from these registry settings.If the program requires that a CD is in drive, the CD label.
Names of PBEM save files (e.g. email2.cmt, email2.dat, email2.aux, email2.rec).
If you add a new program, then please send me (see Help / About / Mail me) the resulting .INI file (in PBEM Helper installation folder), and I will add it to the public release, along with your name (and e-mail address) if you want.
PBEM Helper is programmed in MS Visual Basic 6.0. Unfortunately there is no Macintosh version; perhaps somebody will do that.
Blitzkrieg Wargaming Club, ladders, message boards, tournaments, chat rooms, scenarios, downloads...
The Grognards, PBEM ladder for many games (Combat Mission, Campaign Series, Panzer Campaigns, Operational art of War, Steel Panthers, World At War), merging with Blitzkrieg.
The Wargamer, news, reviews.
Rugged Defence, A PBEM wargame club. Ladders, tournaments (Panzer General 1 + 2, Pacific, Allied General; Combat Missions, The Operational Art of War, Steel Panthers).
Special thanks to Winecape for six bottles of great South African wine!
1.3.362 (11.9.2004)
Fixed: Problem with spaces in numbered file names (name ###.txt).
1.3.361 (6.9.2004)
Fixed: Error "received e-mail address is different than AutoQuit" or somefink when receiving .PBM files. Thanks to Jari K for reporting and helping with this.
1.3.360 (21.4.2004)
New: Uses the latest MS Visual Studio 6 Service Pack 6 files and NSIS 2.0 installer.
1.3.358 (7.3.2004)
New: CMAK/CMBB autoclose can be disabled by adding AutoQuit=0 into PBEM.ini after [CMAK], [CMBB] or [CMBO] line.
1.3.357 (28.2.2004)
New: CMAK/CMBB closes the program when the turn is done (like in fast&trust mode), as requested by Martin Gregory.
Fixed: DOM2 saved the settings (e-mail, password) incorrectly into PBEM.INI.
1.3.356 (17.2.2004)
New: E-mail subject contains information of the game: PBEM file DOM2/Test ( Ready1:man)
1.3.355 (16.2.2004)
Fixed: Improved DOM2 again.
New: Game / Open directory.
New: Added DOM2DEMO.
1.3.354 (15.2.2004)
Fixed: Improved DOM2 again.
1.3.352 (13.2.2004)
Fixed: DOM2 host does not send ftherlnd file anymore.
1.3.350 (12.2.2004)
Fixed: DOM2 works now.
New: PBEM Helper does not work on Windows 95 anymore, because DOM2 password entering needs SendInput Win32 call. Still it only works with numbers, not letters, for some odd reason. That's why the password generator has new options now.
1.3.346 (11.2.2004)
New: Added preliminary support for Dominions 2.
1.3.345 (8.2.2004)
New: Added HPS Panzer Campaigns"Rzhev42", Talonsoft's Age Of Rifles, modified Battleground's Strategic Command, all thanks to Strategist.
Fixed: SE4 might work again, not fully tested.
1.3.344 (20.1.2004)
New: Options / "Check CDs" can be disabled, so that PBEM Helper loads faster.
1.3.337 (9.12.2003)
New: Added CMAK (English version by Strategist, CDV by me).
New: Added CMAKdemo.
New: EMPIRE has automatic file name and password entering (EMPIRE.VBS).
1.3.334 (29.11.2003)
New: Game / View Your Movie for CM games.
Fixed: Better support for multiple e-mail addresses (separated by ; character).
1.3.333 (3.11.2003)
Fixed: Better support for operations in CMBB fast+trust mode. Also does not create black bmps anymore.
1.3.332 (26.8.2003)
Fixed: Problem with CMBB.VBS.MD5 security check (unicode conversion) and fast+trust mode on a taiwanese system (thanks to Andrew).
Fixed: CMBB fast+trust mode temporary files with 2+ prefix backup again.
Fixed: Skipping other player's turn in CMBB didn't always work.
1.3.329 (22.8.2003)
New: More error checking with some system functions.
Fixed: CMBB fast+trust mode temporary files with 2+ prefix backed up differently..
1.3.328 (19.8.2003)
Fixed: CMBB fast+trust mode temporary files with 2+ prefix weren't backed up correctly.
New: Deleting a CMBB fast+trust mode game now also backs up temporary 2+ files (into 2+filename sub folder).
1.3.327 (16.8.2003)
Fixed: SMTP sending put the same body text for all recipients (bug in Blat).
Fixed: Skipping other player's turn in CMBB didn't always work.
Fixed: Hopefully CMBB fast+trust mode error "Variable uses an Automation type not supported in VBScript: 'NextFileName' Line: 656" fixed.
1.3.326 (5.8.2003)
New: SMTP sending has new optional Login Name and Password settings. Use them if you SMTP server needs authentication.
New: Uses a modified Blat 2.1.0 for SMTP sending.
New: Does not delete passwords from PBEM.INI any more when deleting a game, so that you can later review backed up games, especially if you use random passwords.
1.3.323 (24.7.2003)
New: Clicking Games list column header sorts the list according to that column. Clicking the same column again sorts it in descending order. Sort order is saved between sessions.
Fixed: Starting PBEM Helper many times leaved multiple hidden processes. Thanks to Allan Wotherspoon for noticing this (and requesting what's below).
New: Clicking Play while the game status is Wait shows a confirmation dialog.
1.3.321 (29.5.2003)
New: View Movie complains if it can't initialize hot keys.
1.3.320 (27.5.2003)
New: File / Save Log.
New: View Movie writes log, and warns if the user has selected an invalid turn number or invalid number of extra turns.
Fixed: View Movie works with numbered files having - just before the three digits (old format).
1.3.319 (26.5.2003)
New: CMBB/CMBO supports Program / View Movie. Use this tool to view the full movie replay. See CMBB for more information.
1.3.316 (13.5.2003)
Fixed: CMBB fast&trust mode temporary 2+ files weren't backed up correctly if the main file name contained trailing numbers.
New: File / Show Log Ctrl+L shows App.Path and CmdLine settings.
1.3.314 (11.5.2003)
Fixed: Correctly detects and supports Uncommon Valor 2.3 (hope so, not much tested).
1.3.312 (5.5.2003)
Fixed: Problem with ZIP operation.
New: File / "Encrypt password that is in clipboard" function.
New: Help / About / Mail me.
1.3.310 (22.4.2003)
Fixed: Hopefully fixed a random CMBB fast&trust mode problem (Helper opened a file too quickly).
New: Added File / Show Log Ctrl+L. It does not show anything useful now, it is just used for debugging.
1.3.309 (8.4.2003)
New: Encrypted password in CMBB fast&trust mode is more secure.
New: Checks that VBS code has not been modified (CMBB.VBS.MD5).
New: Does not allow CMBB fast&trust mode unless the screen blanking works. Test this with new hot keys.
New: Gamma hot keys work now as follows: Ctrl+Shift+
0: Restore default (how it was before PBEM Helper was loaded).
1 - 8: Gamma = from 1.0 to 2.75 in steps of 0.25. 1.0 is usually the same as default, 2.75 is the brightest.
9: Blank screen to grey, use this to test if it works in CMBB fast&trust mode.New: File / "Oppnent PBEM Helper version" shows your opponent's version, if you have received a .PBM file.
1.3.305 (21.3.2003)
Fixed: CMBBDEMO fast&trust mode works.
1.3.304 (19.3.2003)
New: Added CMBO and CMBBDEMO fast&trust mode.
1.3.303 (18.3.2003)
Fixed: Hot keys stopped working after a game was run once.
New: CMBB fast&trust mode enhancements: Automatically quits CMBB after 30 seconds if the skipping of other player's movie replay does not work, and restores the display colors.
1.3.301 (17.3.2003)
Fixed: Changed the gamma hot keys to Ctrl+Shift+0-9.
1.3.300 (17.3.2003)
Fixed: Hot key F5 for sending the next numbered file name in CMBB didn't work.
1.3.298 (17.3.2003)
New: CMBB fast&trust mode changes the display grey when skipping the other player's movie replay, so that you don't see anything.
New: Hot keys Win+0, Win+1, ... Win+9 to set display gamma, so that CMBB night scenarios are more playable. Win+0 is the default gamma, Win+9 is the brightest. You can disable this in Options / "Enable gamma hot keys".
1.3.295 (16.3.2003)
New: CMBB fast&trust mode changes the display violet when skipping the other player's movie replay, so that the red and blue unit bases are not visible anymore.
Fixed: CMBB fast&trust mode supports Quick Battles, and other improvements.
New: In Options / "Test screen blanking" you can test if changing the display colors to violet works on your machine. It will change the colors for one second.
1.3.293 (7.3.2003)
Fixed: In release 293 CMBB fast&trust mode didn't work.
1.3.292 (6.3.2003)
Fixed: The CMBB fast&trust mode asked to send empty turn in the end.
Fixed: Hopefully fixed a random case of corrupted fast&trust mode file.
1.3.291 (3.3.2003)
Fixed: Starting CMBB directly without PBEM Helper, then Alt+Tab to PBEM Helper, and automatic sending of file name and password didn't work.
1.3.290 (2.3.2003)
New: Pressing F5 while saving a file in CMBB will send a mouse click before sending the next numbered file name.
New: CMBB has Trust/Secure button in game Edit F2 window. This tool changes the game mode from standard secure mode to fast&trust mode, and back.
New: CMBB fast&trust mode should work with Operations as well, with a little help from the player.
1.3.287 (24.2.2003)
New: Brand new installer program for both full and executable download. I finally noticed that the full install didn't always have the latest files.... sorry!
Added Program / Modify.
1.3.286 (22.2.2003)
New: Changed the user interface, added Program and Game menus. These menus are available also with right mouse click on program and game lists.
New: New commands in Program menu: Open directory, Home page, Forum.
1.3.285 (21.2.2003)
Fixed: Still problems with hot keys and loading a .PBM file directly from e-mail program.
1.3.277 (20.2.2003)
Fixed: Loading a .PBM file directly from e-mail program didn't work right in release 271.
1.3.271 (19.2.2003)
New: Two turns per e-mail in CMBB. See CMBB documentation above for more information.
New: Hot key sending (Ctrl+Shift+F for file name, Ctrl+Shift+P for password, F5 for the next file during the game) is done in separate thread, so that it works while a VBScript file is executed.
New: Only one instance of PBEM Helper window is opened. Opening a new .PBM file opens the file in the already existing window.
1.2.218 (10.2.2003)
Fixed: CMBB mouse clicking works more reliably, at least in CDV version.
Fixed: CMBO and CMBB password entering should work regardless of the SendExtra setting.
1.2.216 (8.2.2003)
Fixed: CMBB mouse clicking again works more reliably.
1.2.215 (18.1.2003)
Fixed: CMBB automatic "Join Multiplayer" and "Load e-mail" clicking works the same way as CMBO. It does not try to calculate the button positions any more. Thanks to Steve Shumaker for helping me here.
Fixed: CMBB and CMBO automatic file name entering *should* work reliably now.
Fixed: The file name sent with Ctrl+Shift+F is now the real file name, not the numbered name with ###.
1.2.214 (1.12.2002)
New: Supports both Combat Mission 2 and Barbarossa to Berlin executables.
New: Holding Shift disables automatic play as well.
Fixed: Some SMTP problems. If SMTP sending does not work, then delete BLAT.DLL from Windows System or System32 folder (it should be in PBEM Helper installation folder).
1.2.212 (28.10.2002)
Fixed: In addition to PBEM.PBM file, also 1_PBEM.PBM and other *PBEM.PBM files are decompressed and processed correctly (requested by jK.MkIII).
1.2.211 (10.10.2002)
Fixed: CMBB should work reliably now.
Fixed: Pressing Ctrl to disable automatic play works better.
1.2.210 (8.10.2002)
Fixed: Numbered files in CMBB/CMBO didn't work if the file name contained a space just before the three digits.
Fixed: CMBB support is more robust (waits longer for the copy protection window to disappear, and waits longer for the file dialog to appear).
1.2.208 (8.10.2002)
New: Pressing Ctrl disables automatic play.
Fixed: CMBB actually works.
1.2.207 (22.9.2002)
New: SPWAW and CMBO implemented as user-defined programs.
New: Added CMBB (not tested).
1.1.200 (9.9.2002)
New: Added CMBBdemo.
New: Support for Visual Basic Script files for entering the file name and password.
New: Support for numbered files with user-defined programs.
1.1.198 (25.6.2002)
New: Added SC demo.
Fixed: Possible PBEM subfolders are created automatically.
1.1.197 (18.6.2002)
Fixed: CMBO SendExtra option works better (?).
1.1.195 (17.6.2002)
New: "Games in progress" list view column sizes are saved and restored (thanks to Winecape for the suggestion).
1.1.193 (15.6.2002)
New: Added BOB and TOH, thanks to Strategist.
New: Added an option into CMBO to send extra "x" character before the password. Enable this by adding line
SendExtra=1
into PBEM.INI after [CMBO] section. Also see release 188.1.1.192 (31.5.2002)
New: Added UV, thanks to David Heath.
New: Better handling of installed programs.
New: Options / Fix dayling saving time. You can fix the Received/Sent timestamps when the daylight saving time changes. PBEM Helper also has automatic detection of this change now.
Fixed: Custom games work when the PBEM subfolder has been defined. Thanks to The Meyertholens for reporting this bug!
1.1.190 (13.3.2002)
New: Added TOD, thanks to Randy Casebier.
1.1.189 (2.3.2002)
New: Added PF, thanks to Randy Casebier.
1.1.188 (26.2.2002)
New: Some documentation improvements (Working folder, CMBO, thanks to Vinecape!)
New: Hotkey Ctrl+Shift+F for entering the file name.
Fixed: Automatic sending of file name and password in CMBO works with the latest nVidia drivers (27.42). The previous version 1.1.182 is still available.
New: Added EMPIRE.
1.1.182 (28.1.2002)
New: Added VIETNAM, thanks to Randy Casebier.
1.1.181 (23.1.2002)
Fixed: Release 180 contained MSVCRT.DLL that required NTDLL.DLL, that does not exist in older operating systems (Win95/98/ME?)... because I generated the package in Windows XP! This release does not have MSVCRT.DLL at all, because I couldn't get the installer to add an older file.
1.1.180 (20.1.2002)
New: Ctrl+Shift+P hot key for sending the password (that is in clipboard) to the active window as keystrokes. This works with SPWAW at least.
1.1.178 (17.11.2001)
New: The Taunt window can remember often used phrases and can add an ad for PBEM Helper as well (suggested by Rick Martin).
1.1.175 (28.10.2001)
New: Added ECKMUHL, CANADA and WATERLOO (thanks to Rick Martin).
New: Added file dialogs etc. into "Modify installed programs".
1.1.173 (22.10.2001)
Fixed: TOAW finally works (thanks to Neil Stevens).
New: In "Modify installed programs", the Description field is now a combo box having some valid examples.
1.1.172 (20.10.2001)
New: In "Modify installed programs", the "Uninstall string" field is now a combo box that has all the uninstall strings in the registry (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall).
1.1.171 (16.10.2001)
Fixed: New custom games are detected automatically after the .INI files have been copied to the PBEM Helper installation folder.
1.1.170 (14.10.2001)
New: Changed the program name from "PBEM" to "PBEM Helper".
New: Added support for user-defined game programs. It is now possible to add new programs and edit the existing ones in Options / Modify installed programs. See Adding support for other programs above for more details. Some programs that were previously hard coded into executable are now implemented as these custom programs: PACWAR, WIR, EF2, WF, TOAW. Because the change is quite radical, the old version is still available for download here.
New: Also PBEM.PBM files in My Documents\PBEM subfolders are automatically extracted and deleted.
1.0.165 (3.10.2001)
New: In addition to ZIP files, also SIT, LHA, RAR, ARC, ARJ, BZIP and GZIP files in My Documents\PBEM subfolders are automatically extracted and deleted if the StuffIt Expander has been installed. Also ACE files are processed if WinAce is installed.
New: The games are refreshed when Send F4 is pressed.
1.0.163 (29.9.2001)
New: All ZIP files in My Documents\PBEM subfolders are automatically extracted and deleted.
New: The Done! window is not displayed any more after a successful e-mail send.
1.0.160 (9.9.2001)
New: If CMBO numbered files are used, then the matching sub folder is created automatically and all previous turn files are moved into it.
1.0.159 (5.9.2001)
New: If PBEM helper receives files where the modification date is in the future (because of a different time zone or incorrect clock settings), it will fix them to the current time. Because of this the Unknown status should not happen so often.
Fixed: Pressing F9 Play will do the automatic game launching (in CMBO and SE4) even if the status is not Play or Play/Send.
1.0.158 (18.8.2001)
Fixed: Release 157 didn't work with SE4.
1.0.157 (18.8.2001)
New: The display is automatically refreshed with F3 Select when the game program that was launched from PBEM helper quits.
1.0.156 (13.8.2001)
Fixed: CMBO numbered files displayed incorrect (last ###) sometimes.
New: Added support for CMBO numbered file sub-folders. See CMBO documentation above for details.
New: Added support for Talonsoft's The Operational Art of War, Vol I by the request of Neil Stevens. I have not tested this at all.
1.0.148 (21.6.2001)
New: SE4 hosting finally works (SE4 1.41 required).
1.0.147 (20.6.2001)
New: Pressing Ctrl+C copies the selected game password to clipboard.
Fixed: Deleting CMBO unnumbered game didn't work.
Fixed: Hosting a game refreshes the games properly.
1.0.144 (6.6.2001)
New: The additional working folder (My Documents\PBEM) is checked also when Refresh F5 is clicked.
New: When sending a message (F12) and MAPI is used, then the e-mail client message composing window is used instead of the internal "taunt" window. Unfortunately the MAPI composing window can't be used for sending taunted turn files, because MAPI does not return an error status if the user cancels sending.
New: Added support for SE4 Play By Web (PBW) by Doug Fields (Admiral). An extra .sub file is transferred with the .plr file.
1.0.141 (2.6.2001)
New: SE4 hosting and client improvements. There is a More button in Edit F2. This opens a separate window where all SE4 players are listed. You can set players under computer control (AI) there. This means that the PBEM helper does not wait for these players anymore, and it does not send e-mails to these players. You must also set the player under computer control in SE4 hosting options. It is also possible to define the host password separately in this window.
New: Added a MAPI option: Show a message dialog before sending the e-mail.
Fixed: Netscape MAPI works now as well. Warning: If you are not connected, then Netscape does not save the e-mail into Outbox folder, and the e-mail may not actually be sent.
1.0.135 (14.5.2001)
New: CMBO numbered files show now also the latest file (by modification date) in the Description field if it is different from the biggest file (by numbering).
Fixed: CMBO numbered files caused program crashes.
1.0.133 (13.5.2001)
Fixed: Pressing Play button started hosting sometimes without pressing Ctrl at the same time.
New: Menu item for hosting a game and Ctrl+F9 shortcut. Hosting is currently only for SE4.
1.0.130 (12.5.2001)
New: Support for multiple e-mail addresses. You can send the game files for several recipients if you separate the e-mail addresses with semicolon (;).
New: The main window is a bit wider, and File Name and Modified columns as well.
1.0.128 (10.5.2001)
New: CMBO supports now numbered files (filename001.txt, filename002.txt, etc).
New: PBEM.ini is cleaned on startup (removed unnecessary lines).
New: SE4 hosting improvements. Ctrl+Play will host the game even if it is in Wait state. It will confirm the hosting.
1.0.120 (18.4.2001)
Fixed: SE4 v 1.35 doesn't have the correct version information in the executable, so starting the game automatically in the correct player didn't work. The version is now checked from the executable modification date.
1.0.118 (11.4.2001)
Fixed: When receiving SE4 files, PBEM does not complain about .txt files with same modification times.
1.0.117 (10.4.2001)
New: Added support for SE4 mods. The mod folder is defined in Path.txt file. The SAVEGAME folder must be under this directory.
New: The new button Message F12 sends an e-mail (without any game file attachments) to game opponent(s).
1.0.112 (1.4.2001)
New: The program version is now displayed correctly if there is a version information in the executable.
Fixed: SE4 host sends only one e-mail instead of several (stupid me).
Fixed: When SE4 client receives a .gam file from host, then the game mode is changed to client automatically and the host e-mail address is saved.
Fixed: SE4 host accepts e-mails from any of the client e-mail addresses.
Fixed: SE4 host does not send the files to itself anymore.
1.0.101 (25.3.2001)
New: Added preliminary support for Space Empires IV.
New: File / Generate password F11.
New: The lists of installed programs and game files are automatically resized according to the number of installed programs.
Fixed: Receiving a new game files caused an unnecessary error message.
1.0.97 (23.2.2001)
Fixed: Of course the new backup routines in release 1.0.95 caused a lot of problems. Now the backup is made into a bak subfolder under each game, and the .bak files are deleted instead.
1.0.95 (21.2.2001)
New: Modified the file copy routines. They should be more robust now. PBEM will now make backup copies of game files (adds .bak to the file name).
New: Updated CMBO support up to the latest One Click source. Thanks Kyle!
1.0.94 (16.2.2001)
New: Added support for TalonSoft's West Front (Battle Pack). This is the first "blind" game, i.e. I don't have it, so I can't test if it works.
1.0.93 (15.2.2001)
New: Added support for additional working folder.
Fixed: MAPI sending finally works with Outlook.
1.0.90 (13.2.2001)
New: Added support for TalonSoft's East Front II.
Fixed: Release 1.0.87 checked if the CMBO CD was in drive. If it wasn’t, then PBEM crashed.
1.0.87 (12.2.2001)
New: Play F9 button will run the selected game (even if the status is other than Play).
New: Game files can have passwords. Edit the password by clicking Edit F2. There is also a Generate function. The password will be copied to clipboard when Play F9 is executed. Most programs do not support entering the password from clipboard, though.
New: PBEM has now support for automatic entering of file names and passwords for some programs (CMBO). Clear the password field if you don’t want to use this feature. This feature should be considered beta for now. Huge thanks to Kyle Neet for the source code! His PBEM utility called CM One Click is specially made for Combat Mission. Check it out.
New: Double clicking on the game will now run the game if the status is Play. Otherwise it executes Edit F2.
1.0.81 (8.2.2001)
New: Added support for War in Russia: The Matrix Project.
1.0.80 (31.1.2001)
New: SPWAW e-mails have now the game description in the bottom of the e-mail text as well:
--
Open the attachment in WinZip and extract the files into EMAIL directory.
SPWAW/email3.cmt (Test game)Fixed: Automatic PACWAR installation check had a problem.
1.0.78 (15.1.2001)
New: Added support for Pacific War: The Matrix Project.
New: The Hide button hides the selected program. Use Options / Rescan Installed Programs to get it back.
1.0.71 (16.12.2000)
Fixed: CMBO e-mail address checking didn’t work.
Fixed: PBEM crashed if the user entered an invalid folder when it asked for a program location.
1.0.69 (27.11.2000)
Fixed: Release 1.0.68 couldn’t send via SMTP, if the From and Sender e-mail addresses were the same. Thanks to Alan Kinner for reporting this! Sorry for the inconvenience…
1.0.68 (25.11.2000)
Fixed: When sending via SMTP, and if the From address is different than the Sender address (as I have), then the Reply-to address was the same as the Sender address (not the From address). This is now fixed.
Fixed: Changed the Blat web address to http://www.blat.net/.
1.0.66 (24.11.2000)
Fixed: Help / About / “Check the latest version” had an incorrect web address.
Fixed: SMTP sending (blat.dll) displayed unnecessary warnings about missing registry settings.
1.0.65 (22.11.2000)
Fixed: The time zone conversion was managed already by Info-Zip routines, so my routines just doubled the time difference. I removed the unnecessary code. :-) Funny that WinZip 8 and PKZip25 don’t understand different time zones.
New: SPWAW has now support for SAVE directory as well, in addition to the normal EMAIL directory.
1.0.62 (20.11.2000)
Fixed: Help / About / System Info… crashed. It was Microsoft’s code anyway.
Fixed: When your opponent has a newer version of PBEM, then you are informed about it, if you have not been told about it earlier.
Fixed: It was not possible to call the Info-Zip’s zip32.dll safely from Visual Basic, so I made a slightly modified version of it: zip32hp.dll. Using zip32.dll caused semi-random errors in zip operations.
1.0.55 (19.11.2000) FIRST PUBLIC RELEASE
Everything should work, but probably not. Please report any problems in the above-mentioned forums. It is possible that other people can help you too.
The time zone functionality has not been tested properly. I need an opponent from different country. :-)