JIPS 3.0 (formerly known as IPSWin)
Copyright (1998-2002) Z.e.r.o
http://zerosoft.zophar.net

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Help and FAQs
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0 - Introduction
   
  The program was before known as IPSWin. Due to the 
  lots of request for a multiplatform version of IPSWin, 
  I decided to code it in Java to ensure the best 
  portability and the less hassle of maintaining several
  version of the same program (portability is just a
  mirage, no matter how good you write your code,
  there are always something platform-specific to deal
  with). Since in these days I have much less time than in
  the past years I decided to keep it java to speed things
  up (and avoiding compications).
  
  
1 - About 3.0 version

  This version is 100% functional, the only features it lacks 
  are ZIP support and an informative progress window.
  These additions will come up eventually with further 
  versions.

2 - Help on patching
  
  To patch a file add it to the "file to patch" section (via 
  the "..." button), add the ips file to the "patch file"
  section in the same way. Click the "Patch!" button and
  wait some seconds, till the program gives out an error or
  says that the patching is complete.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: if you're patching a really big file and you 
  choose to do a backup copy of the file the patching time 
  can be long a minute or more, instead a few seconds, depending
  on the tranfer rate of your HD while creating the backup file.

3 - I'm new to IPS Patches, where I can found them?

  If you're new to IPS patches and so on I will strongly 
  suggest to read the IPS FAQ ath zophar domain:
  http://www.zophar.net/trans/ipsfaq.html
  
  if you want to get some patches for your favorite games, try at:
  http://rpg.emulationworld.com
  http://www.zophar.net (section Translations/Patches)
  
4 - How to patch my latest software?

  IPS file format is useful for fixed-lenght files,
  like ROMs. This program was thought to help
  people patching their roms without so much troubles
  (IPS Patchers for non-windows/dos systems are rare,
  and most of them are command-line based). Even if can be
  possible to patch software with an IPS file, I don't know
  if anyone is going to release patches in this format or
  anything else. Please stop bothering me on that.
  
5 - Where's the executable?

  OK, smartass, Java doesn't have a real executable, but
  just some files called "bytecode" that will be recompiled
  with instructions tailored on your PC. So you must have
  a set of libraries called "Java Runtime Enviorment" to run
  this software. You can download the JRE at this URL:
  http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/download.html
  This url will provide JRE for Linux, Solaris 
  (Sparc and Intel based) and Windows.
  Please note that MacOS comes with it's own JRE.
  NOTE THAT IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PROGRAM IN JAVA YOU WILL
  NEED ONLY THE "JRE", NOT THE "JDK" (That is also a lot
  bigger!)
  Surfing on the java.sun.com site or searching the web you can 
  find also unoffical ports for other systems and lots of 
  tutorials and FAQs on how using it.
  
  Once you've installed the JRE you can start IPSStation making
  a script or a shortcut to the following command line:
  
  java -jar JIPS.jar
  
  or
  
  javaw -jar JIPS.jar
  
  to get rid of the console window (this works on windows, I
  can't remember if Linux or other platforms have it, too).
  
  providing that the working directory (or the folder where the
  script will reside) be the same where the file IPSStation.jar 
  is located.
  
  If there are some problems like the OS is not finding the Java
  Just In Time compiler, maybe you have to setup the PATH 
  enviorment variable for correctly locating the JIT (this
  is a common problem of some non-standard linux distributions).
  If Windows refuse to locate correctly java or javaw YOU are
  screwing something, is not SUN, Microsoft or my fault, the
  installer is a standard Installshield program, so aside all the
  technobabble I made above, you shuold be able to successfully 
  install it, just like you've installe Quake 3 or Civ III some
  days ago. Rerun the setup paying attention on what you'be to do 
  and all will be fine.
  
  Please note that if you have problem installing or running the
  JRE, refer to java.sun.com.
  
6 - I found a bug!

  Woah, thanks, the only porblem is the 90% of the bug the
  people are sure to discover derives from their stupidity, so
  follow these guidelines, instead bothering me:
  
  1 - First of all this program is written in Java, Java programs
      does not crash doing blue screens or something: they simply
      exit doing a dump of the output chain of classes generating
      an exception, if you've got a screen full of meaningless
      strings full of name and points, you've discovered a bug
      in the program. If the program crashes the other executables
      do in windows you've to refer to java.sun.com since you've
      found a bug on their JIT (really unlikely but who knows?).
  
  2 - Be sure you're doing the right thing. Lots of people 
      complains about their facourite game will not be patched
      correctly. Sometimes you have to use a SPECIFIC version of
      a ROM. Usually the traslators uses the rom that GoodTools
      tell are perfect. In some cases not, but in this opportunity
      they are so kind to let you know it, give you read the readme
      file that came with the IPS patch. Please note that
      alternate dumps from GoodTools even if 100% working are not
      the same as the one considered the dump of reference.
      
  3 - Language is not an issue. If you're using a patch that
      translates Final Fantasy V from japanese to english you must
      use a japanese ROM. If you're using an italian translation
      of FF5 that will require the japanese-english patched version
      you have to patch FF5j in english and then patch it in italian.
      If you think that is a lame thing (and it is a lame thing) 
      bother the translation groups that are so lame to do this
      (a direct japanese to your language of choice patch will be
      better, isn't it?).
   
  4 - Please think about the possibility that the IPS patch may be
      corrupted. This can be real in some (really rare) cases.
      It is maybe cause by something that goes wrong during the
      download of the IPS or the release of the IPS was wrong
      from the source. It has happened to me with Seiken Densetsu
      3, the IPS patch was corrupted. A good idea is to dl the
      IPS for the releasing group website (to avoid bad surprises).
   
  5 - Don't send roms. I will ask you to send the ROM and patch
      if I don't have it and I need to do further experiments.
      This is a very UNLIKELY thing to happen, since I've almost
      any known dump of almost any system known (yes, i'm getting 
      bully for this).
       
  If you're not in one of these cases you've found a bug! Really
  thanks, what are you waiting to send it to me?
 
7 - Contact informations
  
  You can find ZeroSoft website here:
  http://zerosoft.zophar.net
  and you can also write directly to me here:
  z.e.r.o@softhome.net
  if what you've written isn't bullshit you will receive an answer
  soon!
  
  Well, you've made it. Thanks to reading the FAQs.