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| Administration | ||||||||||||||||
| Hoplite
Encounter. Administration and Operation Contents A. Overview B. Basic Setup B1 Summary B2 Detailed Instructions C. Run Game on Player's PC D. Player webpage E. Ongoing Operation via Website (Download and Upload) A. Overview. The game structure is in three parts : 1. A central computer at HQ (Mount Olympus) where the orders are received, turns processed, and results sent out. 2. A personal computer available to the player. This is loaded with software which displays the player’s position and permits the entry of orders. The software is written in Java and runs under Windows. 3. A connection between 1 & 2. This link is through the 'Player' webpage on the www.hopliteencounter.com Website. At Mount Olympus processing is manual and cab be subject to delays of up to 24 and occasionally 48 hours. B. Basic Setup B1. Summary 1. Download Java package 2. Download basic Hoplite Encounter package 3. Download practise game 4. Run basic system B2. Detailed Instructions NB. The Hoplite Encounter game runs in a Windows folder called "Hoplite". This folder may be located anywhere in your directory structure. These instructions describe how to establish the "Hoplite" folder (directory) within a folder called "C:\Games" to give a full pathname of "C:\Games\Hoplite". If you want to place the "Hoplite" folder elsewhere, replace "C:\Games" with your chosen alternative pathname in the following instructions. Typically, a single "Hoplite" folder contains a single player controlling a single Empire in a single game. However, it may contain multiple players each playing one or more games and possibly controlling more than one Empire in each. On the other hand, one PC may have several different "Hoplite" folders with different pathnames at a higher level. If a PC is used by more than one player, it is probably better to have a separate "Hoplite" folder for each player from the beginning - it would be tricky to disentangle them later. A simple way to backup the game (eg before any download) is to copy the entire "Hoplite" folder. 1. To download the Java package. The minimum requirement is for the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to be installed on your PC. This enables you to run Java software. If the PC already has Java installed there is nothing more to do. If not, on the internet log on to http://java.sun.com and follow instructions (follow links "Popular Downloads" > "Java SE" > "Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE)" Download > "Platform" (Windows?) > "Continue" > "Windows Offline Installation") to download Java JRE. You may install more than the JRE. Larger packages (eg JDK) include the JRE. Note that Java software for Hoplite Encounter is written using JDK6 (Java Development Kit level 6) and may not run on earlier versions 2. To download basic package. 1. On the internet visit www.Hopliteencounter.com. 2. Click "Downloads" on the Hopite Encounter menu. 3. Click "Download Initial Set-up". This gives a "File Download" window. 4. Click "Open". This gives a Windows Explorer window on the player's PC showing a folder called "Hoplite". 5. Use Windows explorer to copy the folder "Hoplite" to your chosen folder (eg C:\Games to establish the basic Hoplite folder as C:\Games\Hoplite). (To copy, right click on the "Hoplite" folder, click "Copy", click up and down the folder structure to open the folder where "Hoplite" is to be placed (eg C:\Games), click "Edit" on the toolbar, click "Paste"). 3. To download practise game. This section is optional. The practise game give the player a chance to try out the game; it permits all game actions, including input of orders, except the transmission of order back to Mount Olympus. No turns are played for this game. 1. On the internet visit www.Hopliteencounter.com. 2. Click "Downloads" on the Hopite Encounter menu. 3. Click "Download Practise Game". This gives a "File Download" window. 4. Click "Open". This gives a Windows Explorer window on the player's PC showing a folder called "PlayDown11". 5. Use Windows explorer to copy the folder "PlayDown11" to your "Hopite" folder as established in section 2 above (eg C:\Games\Hoplite\PlayDown11). 4. Run basic game. See section C for instructions on how to operate the game. If the basic system only has been downloaded (no practise game) the run will show a largely blank screen. If the practise gaem has been downloadwd the run will show the starting position for one of the Empires in the game and will allow allow the player to try out all actions except "Transmit". C. To run game on the player's PC C1. To exceute the game: 1. On the main Windows screen, click Start (bottom lh corner) 2. Point to All Programs. This gives a list of all programs 3. Point to Accessories. This gives a further list of functions 4. Click "Command Prompt" This gives a prompt such as C:\Documents and Settings\loginname> 5. Enter cd \ <Enter> This gives a prompt C:\> 6. Enter cd Games<Enter> (or the chosen pathname on the PC in use). 7. Enter cd Hoplite<Enter> 8. Enter cd Software<Enter> This gives a prompt C:\Games\Hoplite\Software> 9. Enter java HopRun<Enter> (NB input is case sensitive - enter capital and lower case letters exactly as shown) Any new downloaded data is picked up automatically. If new software is downloaded you will be required to run the game again as per this step 9. Note results. This will either run the game or its back to the drawing board. C2. To operate the game: 1. The game runs in a window which may initially appear minimised. Click in top rh box to maximise. 2. The player uses the mouse and keyboard to control the game and enter orders. See the documentation under "Screen" on the game menu for detailed instructions. 3. In operation, the key screen action is the menu option "Transmit". When selected, this formats data to be uploaded to Olympus into a folder called "PlayUp999" (where 999 is the player number) within the "Hoplite" folder, ready for transmission. D. Player Webpage The game is run largely through the 'Player' webpage. 1. New Player 1.1 To register as a new player, click 'Register'. This takes you to the 'New Player' page. 1.2 Enter Name (which can be fictitious). 1.3 Enter Password. The password must be at least 4 characters long and not more than 20. It must be made up from: capitals (A-Z), lower case letters (a-z) and numbers (0-9). It is case sensitive (be aware of whether or not the 'Caps Lock' key is set on or off). 1.4 Enter Confirm Password 1.5 Click 'Register' The input is validated. If there is any error it is reported - correct and click 'Register' again. If the registration data is valid you are assigned a provisional player number which is reported to you. You must now confirm your registration to make it permanent as follows : 1.6 In the 'Confirm' section of the webpage enter Player number. 1.7 Enter Name. 1.8 Click 'Confirm'. The confirmation is validated. If there is any error it is reported - correct and click 'Confirm' again. if confirmation is correct, registration is confirmed. You must remember your player number an chosen password. 1.9 Click 'Exit' to complete. Control returns to the Player screen; you may login as the newly registred player. If you enter the screen but do not wish to register click 'Exit'. 2. Existing Player Includes a player who has just registered. 2.1 Log in 2.1.1 Enter player number 2.1.2 Enter password 2.1.3 Click 'Log In' Number and password are validated. If there is any error, it is reported - correct and try again. If OK the player is logged in. 2.2 Maintenance For exisitng players either name, password or both may be changed as follows: 2.2.1 Click 'Maintenance' This gives the Player Maintenance screen. 2.2.2 To change name, enter the new name 2.2.3 Enter current password 2.2.4 To change password, enter 'New password' and 'Confirm password' 2.2.5 Click 'Update' Any error is reported. Correct and click 'Update' again. If input is correct the player record is updated. 2.2.6 Click 'Exit' to return to the 'Player' screen. 2.3 Downloads Data from Mount Olympus to the player is transferred through a PlayDown file. The screen shows any such file available for download. See section E. 2.4 Uploads Data from the player to Mount Olympus is through a PlayUp file. The screen shows whether or not there is a file currently in transit for the player. If there is, no further upload is possible until it has been processed. If a further PlayUp file may be uploaded. See section E. 2.5 Trial Game Request A player may request inclusion in a trial game. If there is a request outstanding no further request may be made until it has been processed. If not, click 'Request Game' to put in a request. Trial games have a turnround of about twice a week. A player may play in a maximum of 4 trial games at any time. E. Ongoing Operation via Website In routine operation data is passed between each player and Mount Olympus via the website as a zipped file PlayDown999.zip (to the player) and PlayUp999.zip (from the player). At present, transfer at Mount olympus is handled manually, so there will be a delay (sometimes 24 or 48 hours) in handling transfers. Instructions 1. Visit the website www.hopliteencounter.com 2. Click on menu option "Exisitng Player". 3. Enter player number 4. Enter password. 5. Click "login". If correct this will login the player and show the relevant parts of the screen. 6. Data transfer. 6.1 Downloads If there is no PlayDown999.zip file waiting download, a message on the screen says so. If there is a PlayDown999.zip waiting, download as follows: 1. Click "Download PlayDown.zip file". This gives a "File Download" window. 2. Click "Open". This gives a Windows Explorer window on the player's PC showing a folder called "PlayDown999". 3. Use Windows explorer to copy the folder "PlayDown999" to your "Hoplite" folder (eg C:\Games\Hoplite). (To copy, right click on the "PlayDown999" folder, click "Copy", click up and down the folder structure to open the folder "Hoplite" (eg C:\Games\Hoplite), click "Edit" on the toolbar, click "Paste"). This stores the PlayDown999 folder within the Hoplite folder on the player's PC. It will be read the next time the game is run. 4. Check that the download is satisfactory and return to the webpage. 5. Click "Download OK". This archives the PlayDown999.zip file on the website and deletes it so it cannot be downloaded again. The three most recent downloads are held, the one just downloaded becoming the "previous" download. 6. If there is a problem with any of the last three PlayDown999.zip downloads, the download may be repeated by clicking on "Download PlayDown file (previous)" etc., as appropriate. 6.2 Uploads. In routine play, a folder PlayUp999 is created within the Hoplite folder on the player's PC and this must be transferred as PlayUp999.zip to the website for eventual processing at Mount olympus. If there is currently a PlayUp999.zip on the website the webpage says so and no futher upload is possible until it has been processed. Otherwise, to upload proceed as follows : 1. On the player's PC use Windows explorer to open the "Hoplite" folder. if there is data to be sent to Mount Olympus it is in a folder called "PlayUp999". 2. Right click on PlayUp999. 3. Click "Send to". 4. Click "Compressed (zipped) folder". This creates a file called PlayUp999.zip in the Hoplite folder. 5. On the webpage click "Browse". 6. Search through the folder structure to find the Hoplite folder and click on "PlayUp999.zip" to select it. 7. Click "Open". 8. Click "Upload". This uploads the PlayUp999 folder to the website as a zipped file. 9. In the Hoplite folder on the player's PC : 9.1 (Optional). Copy PlayUp999 to UpArchive and rename it as, say, PlayUp999_date_time, where date is the current date and time the current time. This is not strictly necessary, but saves it as a backup in case of future problems. 9.2 Delete PlayUp999. 9.3 Delete PlayUp999.zip. Admin09. Copyright (C) Hoplite Encounter 1 Jan 2007. 7 Jan 2010. |
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