VROC: Virtual Racers' Online Connection

WinVROC Release Notes

WinVROC was formerly known as GPL Spy Boy

See also the WinVROC Help page

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WinVROC - Version 2.1.0.0 - 12-17-99
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Contents
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1. Release Notes
2. Installation Instructions
3. Known Problems
4. Commonly Asked Questions
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RELEASE NOTES
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This release is mainly a service release with few new features.
What was Fixed
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- Fixed the problem where the racelist refresh would just plain die, until you
  exited and restarted WV.
- Fixed the problem where sometimes remote hosting would get confused on the
  source (remote/local) of the drivers and tracks.
- Fixed the problem where duplicate driver names (detected in WV) confused GPL.
- Fixed the problem with the installable grids getting screwed up when hosting
  via dedicated or remote mode (i.e. starting in the fields).
- Fixed the problem of WV not starting up correctly (where it displayed GPL
  versions GPL.0.0.0.1 and GPL.0.0.0.3).
- Join dialog, if a race is password protected, the Join button will not
  enable until you enter a password.
- Fixed the problem with Brands (or any other third party track for that
  matter) being saved in the GRS files, and the racelist (affected dedicated
  and remote hosting).
- Fixed problem where Remote hosting did not allow GPL to run in a window.
- Fixed problem where Remote hosts could be launched without a BOSS password.
- Changed default GPL path to C:\Sierra\GPL

New Features
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- SOCKS support added for the racelist, joining, and hosting (was just IRC).
- Added server info and drivers tabs to the Join dialog (for reference).
- Password Protected races now appear with a BLUE square and with the default
  sort (Ping) appear just ahead of those with a RED square.
- Server Names ... if the "GPL" Driver Name of the server contains only a first
  name or a last name, then that info is used as the server name without the
  '.' character (i.e the name that appears in the racelist).  You should now
  be able to name your servers "F2 Club" or "German GPLC" or "Sweden" etc,
  etc, by just setting the drivers first name (or last) to the desired phrase.
- Added option under Misc to display race refresh time in Local, UTC, none or
  both.
- Added option in Chat Options to pop up a dialog to select the room before
  connecting.
Happy Holidays!
Larry Holbert
WARNING:  ALL previous versions of GPL Spy Boy will be disabled on Wednesday,
          22 December 1999 at 10 PM EST.
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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
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Previously Installed GPL Spy Boy
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1.  Uninstall GPL Spy Boy using the uninstaller.  You can find the uninstaller
in two places:
- In the start menu, in the GSB program group.
- In the control panel applet, Add/Remove programs.
2.  If you would like, copy off your rooms.txt located in your GSB
installation directory.
3.  Delete the GSB installation directory and all remaining contents.
4.  Procede to fresh installaion of WinVROC.

Fresh Installation
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1. Run the installation program, WinVROCSetup.exe, follow the onscreen
prompts.
2. If you saved your rooms.txt file in step 2 above, copy that into your new
installed WinVROC directory.
3. Run WinVROC and follow the onscreen instructions.

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KNOWN PROBLEMS
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See the WinVROC Help page for more known problems, fixes and 
workarounds.
- With Voodoo 3 cards, GPL locks up at apparently random times.
- With Voodoo 3 cards, GPL freezes the mouse in the upper left hand corner
  randomly.
- WinVROC will not find GPL if it has been renamed.
- WinVROC will not run correctly if started from a shortcut with a different
  starting directory other than its own.
- If you are hosting a team restricted race, WinVROC will automatically enable
  the team of the host.  For instance, a host wants to run a Lotus only race,
  and drives a Ferrari by default.  If the user, clicks host without setting
  his own team to Lotus, the Ferrari and the Lotus will be enabled.
- The above applies to classes (G3, G2, GP) as well.

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COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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See also the WinVROC Help page.
Q. I HAVE PROBLEMS CONNECTING TO SERVERS AND/OR STAYING CONNECTED, SHOULD I
   CONTACT VROC FOR HELP?
A. There are many many possible causes for such occurances.  First I'd
   swing by www.vroc.net and check out all the great information that Alison
   has put together on tweaking your online configuration.  If that doesn't
   work, your best bet is joining the VROC-Racing mailing list, send a
   description of your problem to the list along with a description of your
   connection to the internet and your hardware.  Someone on the list may have
   a similar setup and/or problems as yours and will be able to help.
Q. WHY IS SUPPORT FOR THE GPL ADDRESS BOOK GONE?
A. My time is becoming more and more limited, support for the GPL Address book
   was removed but it required alot of testing when new features were added.
   If VROC is doing its job properly, the address book should no longer be
   needed.
Q. WHY IS THE BROADCAST SERVER INFO GONE?
A. Because support for address book is gone.  If you still feel a need to
   broadcast your server's IP address, the following macros will do the trick
   for you:
   1.  To the entire room, set off as an "action" (text color magenta):
       $C/ME GPL server IP address is $I$S
   2.  To broadcast to the entire room as a normal message:
       $C$N's GPL server IP address is $I$S
   3.  To "whisper" to the selected user:
       $C/W $U $N's GPL server IP address is $I$S
Q. WHAT DO THE LETTERS IN THE FLAGS COLUMN INDICATE?
   Given the flags like so, 1234567, then:
   1   Minimum Car Class allowed (3=G3, 2=G2, G=GP)
   2   Maximum Car Class allowed (3=G3, 2=G2, G=GP)
   3   T for TEAM RESTRICTION in effect (see server tab for details) or
       blank (-) if all teams allowed.
   4   CORE.INI bandwidth settings in effect:
       - - no bandwidth settings in effect
       - B normal (3/84 3/84)
       - F fast (3/84 3/132)
       - V very fast (2/84 2/84)
   5   L if the host has a latency requirement in effect
   6   P if the host requires a password to enter the race
   7   Server Type
       V - normal VROC server
       D - dedicated VROC server
       X - external server
       R - registered external server
Q. I CONNECT WITH A SERVER JUST FINE, BUT THE GREEN FLAG NEVER APPEARS AT THE
   TRACK SCREEN IN GPL.  IS WinVROC CAUSING THIS?
   No, this is an acknowledged bug in the GPL 1.2 release.
Q. WHERE IS THE REFRESH BUTTON?
A. With the new database in place, it has proven to be very reliable, and the
   refresh button is no longer needed.  WinVROC will be providing FRESH
   information on the average of once per minute.
Q. SOMETIMES WHEN CONNECTING TO A SERVER, IT TAKES ME SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO
   CONNECT WITH THE HOST, SOMETIMES I CAN'T CONNECT AT ALL.  IS THIS CAUSED BY
   WinVROC?
A. No, this seems to be a pecularity of GPL when joining up with a server.
   This happens to me whether I'm using WinVROC or connecting directly.
Q. MY PING TO A HOST AS REPORTED BY WinVROC IS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE
   LATENCY REQUIREMENTS AS SET BY THE SERVER.  YET WHEN I JOIN THE HOST MY
   CONNECTION IS REFUSED BECAUSE MY LATENCY IS TOO HIGH.  WHATS UP WITH THIS?
A. WinVROC uses the standard PING to calculate your latency, GPL uses a
   somewhat different method to calculate in game latency.  WinVROC's PING is
   useful only for a general indicator of your latency to the host ... GPL has
   the final say.
Q. WHY THE NAME CHANGE TO WINVROC FROM GPL SPY BOY?
A. It was done to show a unified product ... GPL Spy Boy was nothing more than
   a front end for VROC.  VROC/WinVROC, we're all on the same team.
Q. SOMETIMES I START WINVROC, AND EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE STALLED.  IS
   WinVROC LOCKED UP?
A. More than likely not.  I've found that certain DNS's can "go out to lunch"
   for upto several minutes ... stalling WinVROC in its tracks.  Sometimes a
   little patience is required <G>, or simply clicking the Exit button and
   restarting WinVROC will get things going smoothly again.
Q. I'VE LAUNCHED A DEDICATED/REMOTE SERVER, AND IT APPEARS TO BE STALLED.  DID
   WINVROC CAUSE THIS?
A. The only problems we've seen with WinVROC and GPL 1.2 regarding server
   stalls, is in relation to some third party tracks.  We have not seen this
   problem when using track lists consisting of exclusively original GPL
   tracks.