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| Info Box: These boxes
hold small bits of extra information, clicking on a linked name will take
you to an example picture. |
Welcome to the second level 1 agent training class. Today's
class will cover how to set up a work area in windows '95 and above (with notes for XP). We will also
start to explore the creatures folders, which I have always found to be
very fun. Please note that if you are using Windows XP most information
related to the Desktop applies to the Windows Explorer program found on
the Start menu and that I can not give extra support as I am new to the system myself. |
| Before you do anything else, you'll want to close any
folders or programs your not using for this tutorial. We want the task
bar as clear as possible. Keep in mind that you don't have to read every
step if you already know how to do something. |
Task
bar: The row of buttons at the bottom or edge of your screen, it
holds the start button and clock among other things. |
Part 1: Making a work area
In order to keep organized and speed up the work, it is important to
have access to everything you need. The first thing you will want to do
is make a project folder on your desktop. (easyPRAY users can skip this
step)
Right click the mouse button on your desktop, a menu will pop
up, now move your mouse over the choice labeled new and and choose the
top choice, Folder, by clicking on it. You should now have a folder waiting
to be named. Chose whatever name you like, I'll be calling mine "Darcie
Agents". |
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| Now that you have a work folder, it is time to set up
some shortcuts to the areas of your computer you'll need to visit most.
You can place the shortcuts in your project folder, or if you prefer, on
the desktop. |
Shortcut: This is just like a
link, except insted of opening a web page it opens up folders or files
on your hard drive. |
To make a shortcut you must follow a path. The first path
we will follow together. We will start with making the Docking Station
Shortcut. It's path is:
C:\Program Files\Docking Station Each "\" separates the names of folders
inside inside of one another. |
" and > When you see these symbols
around text, it means only the text inside of them is what is needed, you
do not include the symbols themselves. The only exception is when we work
with CAOS files later on. |
Begin by looking on your desktop for an icon labeled
"My Computer" Normally it can be found in the upper left corner (XP can
skip this and open Windows Explorer insted). Once open you will see several
icons labeled with letters.
Our path name says we want [C:] so double click on that to open it.
The next folder we look for is named "Program Files", find it and open
it.
Now that the "Program Files" folder is open, look inside it for another
folder named "Docking Station". When you find it, right click on it's icon
and choose the menu choice of "Create Shortcut".
A new folder should appear as the last item in your "Program Files"
folder. Click and drag it to a bare spot of your desktop.
Tada! You have a shortcut on your desktop. While you are in the "Program
Files" folder, you may also want to make and move the shortcuts listed
below, but only if you have the corresponding program:
C:\Program Files\Creatures 3
C:\Program Files\easyPRAY
Now, close all of the folders so your back to a clean desktop. Try
opening a shortcut, see how it gets us to our destination without going
though all those layers of folders? If you plan to use easyPray, you already
have a projects folder inside of it's shortcut. This will make finishing
your agents easier. If you want to drag and drop your other shortcuts into
your project folder, now would be a good time to do that.
And rest, you just learned how to navigate your computer hard drive.
Great job! Your ability to follow a path is going to become more and more
important as we move on. |
| Part 2: Dealing with downloads Remember all that
stuff you downloaded last class? Well, we need to have easy access to it.
If you haven't already installed the programs, do so now. If you don't
know what you did with your downloads try looking for an icon labeled "My
Documents" on your desktop (or the Start Menu for XP). Their is a good
chance you put them in their. If you just installed easyPRAY, go back to
the path notes above and get it's shortcut all set up.
Now that you have your programs in mind, I'll go over what to do with
them.
CAOS Editor (.cos) You may not have the official CAOS tool, but
you probably have notepad. Begin by opening the "Docking Station Shortcut".
From their follow this path
Bootstrap/010 Docking Station/anyfile.cos
any file refers to any of the files that are in that folder. Your computer
will then ask you how to open this file. If you have the CAOS editor, click the "Other" button and start looking in the "Program Files" Folder (remember, to get
to "Program Files" follow the path C:/Program Files) and follow this path
Creature Labs/CAOS Tool/Caos.exe
Now select it as your choice program.
If you have notepad, scroll through your computers suggested choices.
You should eventually run across notepad. This step is important because
from now on, your computer will open icons labeled .cos with this program.
Before you close the "010 Docking Station" Folder, click one time on
a .cos file and press the "Ctrl" key and the "C" key at the same time.
Now open up your projects folder and press "Ctrl" and "V". You should
see a copy of the original file appear. If you want you can rename the
.cos to "example.cos" or something similar, but you don't need to.
Catalogue Now, go back to the main "Docking Station" folder.
You want to open the folder called "Catalogue" this time. Inside you'll
find a bunch of .catalogue files; set notepad up to read these files now
too. After that's done, copy an example .catalogue file to your project
folder in exactly the same way you did the .cos.
Sprite (.C16) First you'll want to move the sprite editor .exe
program to a folder whose path you can find. I recommend placing it directly
in the "Docking Station" folder.
Once you have done this, open the the folder called "Images" located
inside your "Docking Station" folder.
We are doing the exact same thing we did earlier, but this time you
want to open one of the files with the Sprite Editor. You should find it's
path to be where ever you placed the .exe.
If you are using GIMP, skip this, but make a .c16 copy for your project
folder ether way.
PRAY (.ps)
You don't need to worry about this, we will get to
it later.
Good job, you have gotten your work space all set up, and you have told
your computer what program goes to what file type. In fact, we are done
for the day. Your probably wondering when that fun starts, well it starts
now with a bit of homework. Go through the Docking Station folders and
open up files. See what's inside, you may find some things you didn't expect!
But do NOT change ANYTHING in the folders, just look. We don't want to
break the program. Have fun with your new exploring skills and I'll see
you next class when we go over making support files (Sound, Catalogue,
Sprite)!
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