GNU 'diff'/'patch' archive for QC editor-types.
(execs run on DOS)

This archive contains everything you'll need to handle applying
.PAT files to, and makeing .PAT files from modified QC source file
directories.

The size of the archive is large because I've included the original
ZIP GNU archives I D/Ld, I didn't want to re-release their stuff
with anything other than what was in the manifests.

The GNU archives contain more than you'd *ever* want to know about
'diff' and 'patch'.  But, that's not a problem.

I've included my own file 'dif_pat.txt', it's a cut-and-paste
of the more usefull information from the DOCS - at the beginning
is a cut-and-paste of Jeff Epler's discussion on how to use it for
QC patches.


INSALLATION:
1. Take out the files 'diff.exe' and 'patch.exe' from the GNU
   archives.
2. Take out the files 'qc_*.bat' from this archive.
3. Put all of these files in a directory in your path.
4. Make the following directory inside of your QUAKE directory:
   QUAKE\QUAKE-C\SRC106
5. copy the 37 v106 QC files (36 .QC and 1 .SRC) into it.
   One place to D/L them -
     ftp://cdrom.com/pub/quake/quakec/utils/qc106pac.zip


The three batch files all should be run from inside of a
new or modified game's directory (ex: QUAKE\{new_game} ).
QUAKE\QUAKE-C\SRC106\*.* should exist

All have a help screen, type the name with no parameters and it'll
display.  (If everythings located where it expects, qc_new.bat will
just make a new 'src' in the game dir instead - unless 'src' already
exists.)

qc_new.bat:
  SYNTAX: qc_new
  Makes a new directory 'src' in the current game's dir and copies
  the QC files from QUAKE\QUAKE-C\SRC106 into it.

qc_patch.bat:
  SYNTAX: qc_patch {patch_name}
  Runs 'patch.exe' on the game's 'src' dir. using
  '{patch_name}.PAT' which should be located in the game's dir.

qc_diff.bat:
  SYNTAX: qc_diff {patch_name}
  Runs 'diff.exe' on the game's 'src' dir. against the original
  QC files located in 'QUAKE\QUAKE-C\SRC106'
  Makes '{patch_name}.PAT' in the game's dir.

Of course, the advantage to all this is after you set up the
directory structure, the batch files run like clockwork.  You'll
be a QC patch using/making guru ;-)

You can change the directory structure from what's listed
here by editing the three batch files.  They use
   ..\quake-c\src106
   .\src
   .\%1.PAT
as written now.


patch and diff are great utilities, and extremely well suited for
QC mods - NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

So why are 95% of the QC editors out there not using them?  Damn good
question - there's about 5 or 6 good reasons for, and no good reasons
against...

Well, maybe one good reason against, I had to 'research' a little to
get up and running with these utilities, but hey - here's everything
you need to use them for QC.  

First time around, (after archiving it) try this on a modified
game that has the source:
-qc_diff TEST
-edit TEST.PAT    (view the .PAT file in an ASCII editor)
-deltree src
-qc_new
-qc_patch TEST

You've now got a small under 20 to 50k (uncompressed) text file.
It's a human-readable list of all changes made to the files, and
can be used to instantly rebuild the source.

(Call me silly, but that's pretty fuckin' usefull if you're a coder.)

One point I've heard raised several times against using 'patch' and
'diff' is that they only work 100% reliably when ran against the
unmodified QC files.  Still don't see it - what does having two
sets of modified QC files do for you in that situation?  Makeing a
.PAT file from both would probably go a long way to helping you
merge the two together.

So like, D/L this archive and start using the stuff :)



Rob Albin
albinatr@apci.net
http://www.apci.net/~albinatr