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Program     : 02EM Launcher
Version     : v0.55
Release     : 01/02/2005 (MM/DD/YYYY)
Description : Frontend to the O2EM Odyssey2 emulator versions 1.xx
Author      : Heitor Barcellos
Contact     : hbarcellos@yahoo.com
Version 0.51 update by Andre de la Rocha <adlroc@users.sourceforge.net>
Version 0.52 and higher updates by Jean-Francois Fabre <jotd@users.sourceforge.net>
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I would like to thank             * Ka, my beloved wife
                                  * Victor, my lovely son

                                  * Andre, my old friend


1) Introduction
   ************

        O2EM Launcher is a FrontEnd to the new 1.xx versions of the O2EM Odyssey2
        emulator. It only works with O2EM v1.00 or newer.
        
        I decided to make this FrontEnd for three reasons:

                * Oxygen (other FrontEnd) does not support the new features of 
                  the O2EM emulator introduced since version 0.80
                * Personally I don't like FrontEnds made using Visual Basic, 
                  because they are Slow, Big and requires extra files.
                * I'm lazy! and I don't want to type a new command line every time
                  I want to play Acrobats, even using "DosKey".

2) History
   *******

** v0.55: (Updated by Jean-Francois Fabre)

        * Trouble with the relative path feature fixed (Marcelo Ribero)

        * Filters other BIOS Roms (jopac...) (Marcelo Ribero)

        * gamelist.ini file updated again by Marcelo Ribero


** v0.54: (Updated by Jean-Francois Fabre)
  
        * The "ROMs not recognized in gamelist.ini" red icon is back (Marcelo Ribero)

        * fixed favorites management, now reloads as it was on last run (Marcelo Ribero)

        * current directory factorization on dir/file selection (avoids absolute paths)

        * fixed "Favorites" bitmap button look (Marcelo Ribero)

        * updated gamelist.ini file (sent by Marcelo Ribero)


** v0.53: (Updated by Jean-Francois Fabre)
  
        * added "Favorites" tab

        * added contextual menus on game list items

        * more source/project cleanup & sorting

        * updated gamelist.ini file


** v0.52: (Updated by Jean-Francois Fabre)

        * changed directory & various volume/speed textfields from "disabled" to
          "readonly" for better view effect

        * some source/project cleanup & sorting

        * when full screen is selected, window size combo is disabled

        * the browse buttons now use a nice browse icon instead of "..."

        * updated gamelist.ini (Space Rendez-Vous added & other misc changes)

        * fixed incorrect error message if text viewer could not be run

        * check file existence before running the external tools (manual, cover)

** v0.51: 10/23/2002 (Updated by Andre de la Rocha)

        * Fixed a bug that used to make the O2EM debugger fail.
        
        * It now handles the errors generated by the emulator better.
        
        * When the first games in the game list had a cover or manual,
        the Cover and Manual buttons were incorrectly displayed in an
        inactive state. Fixed.


** v0.50: 09/12/2002 (Updated by Andre de la Rocha)

        * Now O2EM Launcher closes its window before launching O2EM, and re-open it after
        the user exits from the emulator. Now it also detects error codes generated by O2EM and
        shows the message sent by the emulator.
        
        * Modified to set the options correctly even if the new O2EM default config file is present.
        
        * Added support to the new customizable keys added to O2EM v1.00, now you can not only
        select the default keyboard / joystick modes, but also type a custom key sequence in the
        stick edit box. You must use a sequence of 5 key codes, separated by comas, in the order:
        up,down,left,right,fire. Example: 8_pad,5_pad,4_pad,6_pad,lshift
        For a complete list of key codes, read the O2EM.txt document that comes with O2EM.
        
        * New game database updated by Marcelo Ribeiro and also new screenshots
        
  
        

** v0.4: 08/07/2002 (Updated by Andre de la Rocha  -  Thanks to Heitor for sending me the sources!)

        * Implemented support to the new options added to O2EM v0.90 
          (filter, euro mode, screenshots)
        * Disabled the useless console window
        * Changed the screenshot size to the new size used by O2EM v0.90 (320x240)
        * Now if the game is not present in gamelist.ini, O2EM Launcher will search for an screen
          shot file based on its crc. If you press F8 in the emulator, the front end will use the
          new screen shot created by O2EM.
        * Now it lets you use any bios file (warning if unknown)
        * Improved the CRC tool
        * Created new graphics for the interface
        * Other minor fixes


** v0.3: 07/04/2002

        * We're finally free from the ESC bug
        ** Pressing ESC on the ROMS list used to cause the list to disappear...
                ... not anymore!


** v0.2c: 07/03/2002

        * Cosmetic release! Much more color on interface... 


** v0.2b: 06/27/2002

        * Version 0.2a was released with some DEBUG information. :)

** v0.2a: 06/27/2002
        
        * Major Release
        * An INI file is now used to set up ROM information, as Name, Screenshot, Cover scan and Manual.
        Here's an example of it's structure:

        [B07748E7]
        NAME=Baseball!
        SHOT=B07748E7.bmp
        COVER=basebol.jpg
        MANUAL=baseball.txt

        ** The section (between brackets []) is the CRC of the ROM file.
        ** NAME is the name of the ROM that will appear at the selection screen.
        ** SHOT points to the screenshot of the ROM. Needs to be 320x240p and in BMP format.
        ** COVER points to the cover scan of the ROM. Can point to any kind of file. O2EM Launcher will 
           not display this screen, you'll need to set at the settings TAB an image viewer capable of 
           displaying image files. I use "Irfan view". (www.irfanview.com)
        ** MANUAL should point to the Manual of the ROM. Usually a TXT file. You also need to set a 
           text viewer program. The default is NOTEPAD.

        If you have a ROM file that is not at the list, it will appear at the selection screen
        with a different icon and the name will be the original filename.
        -- How can i add a new section to "Gamelist.ini" ?
        use the "Calculate CRC" option from the "tools" menu at O2EM Launcher. Choose the desired ROM,
        write the CRC and create a new section at "gamelist.ini".

        ***OBS*** None of the items (SHOT, COVER and MANUAL) are mandatory, you can leave them blank, or
        even deleting them from the section.

        ***OBS2*** To use the COVER button, the Cover Directory from the settings TAB MUST indicate the FULL
        path of the COVERS directory.

        ***OBS3*** The BIOS file can be placed at the ROMS directory, It will not appear at the games list.

        ***OBS4*** Only valid BIOS files are accepted at the settings tab. The checksum is checked.

        ... 
        Someone interested in making a HELP file !?
        ...
        


** v0.1b: 06/20/2002

        * O2EM Launcher no longer needs to be at the O2EM emulator directory. It can
          be placed on any directory, but, you need to specify the emulator location 
          at the "Directories" option from the Settings menu.

        * Fixed the bug of not showing a ROM file.

        * the list of ROMS is now sorted.

        * New "O2EM Launcher.txt" file


** v0.1a: 06/20/2002

        * Now directory with spaces (like D:\Program Files\Emulators\Odyssey\ROMs) 
          can be used without problems.


** V0.1 :  06/19/2002 

        * First release


3) Bugs & Comments
   ***************

        Send an e-mail to: hbarcellos@yahoo.com
                           ********************

