New TADS Versions (and some confusion)

                Information from John Ferris

Several new versions of TADS have been released and I have been a
little confused as to which ZIP archives a TADS programmer and
player needs to download.

First, it appears that the current Amiga version is 2.2.4. The ST
version is still 2.2.1 and I doubt that it is being developed
anymore.

The most up to date PC version is 2.2.6, which includes HTML
support. The following need to be downloaded from ftp.gmd.de (or
mirror):

tads2exe-226.zip

This contains the latest DOS compilers and run-times, updated
adv.t and std.t files.

tads2_32-226.zip

This contains the 32-bit Windows Console Application versions of
the TADS executables.

You should install both these archives into the same directory.

However, for those who wish to use HTMLTADS, you need only to
download:

htads_authkit-226.exe

This contains the HTML TADS runtime and the contents of the two
archives above, downside it's about 1.4 MB in size so a fast
connection is needed.  This will auto-install wherever you want
it.

There is a smaller player's kit for those who wish only to play
HTMLTADS games.

Additionally, there is the new version of WinTADS which will play
2.2.6 games, but won't display HTML (this is called "character
mode") It currently lives under the name:

WinTADS-120-GOOD.zip

What you need to realise is this: All 2.2.6 runtime modules,
including WinTADS will play 2.2.6 games with no problem. HTMLTADS
will play and display HTML markup, i.e. graphics, sounds or
whatever.

WinTADS and the DOS runtimes run in character mode. They will play
HTMLTADS games but won't display HTML markup, ie no graphics or
sound. However, unlike the earlier versions, they won't display
gibberish in the text, they will ignore the HTML altogether. This
also means that you don't have to download the large graphic and
sound files which accompany HTMLTADS games in order to play them.


There are a number of verb additions to adv.t as well as compiler
bug fixes. From 2.2.4 onwards, the bugs.t file compiled by Stephen
Granade is no longer required as all the bugfixes have been
included.

My initial concern was with the modified adv.t and std.t files not
being compatible with some other files by Mr Granade. However, it
seems that there are no problems in those that I use.











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