Ultima 6 Book editors
=====================

Here are two utilities to help you edit the books in Ultima 6.
The books and signs are kept in the BOOK.DAT file, in the Ultima 6 directory.

If you use U6MGR, my savegame manager, there is no problem, as it will
automatically swap the BOOK.DAT files around.
Otherwise, you must back up your book.dat files and swap them around when
you swap savegames.

These utilities have only been lightly tested, use at your own risk.


UNBIND
======

Unbind breaks down an existing book.dat file into a simple script language.
Each entry will consist of two lines:

	[book number]
	This line is the text entry.
	[next book number]
	Text entry for the next book...
	
..and so on.


The following rules are most important:

- YOU MUST NOT HAVE EMPTY LINES
- EACH ENTRY MUST BE ONE LINE LONG
- EACH LINE CAN BE UP TO 4096 CHARACTERS LONG

If you break any of the above rules, REBIND may not work correctly.


Anyway, first you will want to decompile the existing dook.dat file.

At the DOS prompt, enter this....

	UNBIND book.dat my_books.txt

Now, you can load my_books.txt into your favourite editor.
You can now edit the books and signs.

Special codes in the files:


	Symbol		Meaning

	~		Carriage Return (new line)
	*		Pause
	<		Start special script
	>		End special script
	&		Unknown (Translation?)

Additionally, here are some of the extra runic characters:

	_		ST
	[		TH
	%^		EA
	%\		EE
	

Special scripts
---------------

Use UPPER CASE for the Saxon runes.
Use lower case for the Gargoyle language.



REBIND
======

Once you've made some changes to your text file, you will want to put it back
into Ultima 6.

You must use ReBind to make a new book.dat file.


Type this at the DOS prompt:


	REBIND my_books.txt book.dat

..and you have a nice, new book.dat file with your books in!


Using the books in Ultima 6
---------------------------

Remember that number above each of the entries in the text file?
That's the QUALITY number for your book.

Now, to make a new book with your own text in, find the number for your entry.
In the game, use IOLO to summon a book.

Here are some types of book:

		59   - The Codex
		61   - The book of Circles
		151  - Book
		152  - Scroll
		
		332  - Sign up
		1356 - Sign down
		2380 - Sign left
		3404 - Sign right

		7500 - Plaque
		8524 - Gargoyle sign (horiz)
		9548 - Gargoyle sign (vert)

So, get to the cheat menu and create one of the above.
For the QUALITY, enter the entry number for your passage of text.

The avatar should now be carrying a book with the words you wrote in it.



Bugs (well, untested things really)
====

I have -no idea- what happens if you make the book.dat file too big!

Play safe, try to cut text away from other items when you are adding new stuff.
Do this to keep the size more-or-less equal to what it was before.



Contact:
===============================================================================

web:			http://ithe.cjb.net

Preferred email: 	doug-15@bigfoot.com

===============================================================================
