CD32 Toolkit FAQ
This page provides answers to problems I encountered whilst making the CD32 compilation disk.
What is the CD32 Toolkit
The CD32 Toolkit is an application by Lenon Lives which enables you to produce a self booting CD32 Compilation CD with minimum fuss. It contains a faster menu system and allows you to add images of the files. The toolkit also enables you to add music to the menu screen.
Can't Download the Toolkit File
This is probably due to the browser you are using. I could not download the file using windows explorer but had no problem with Mozilla Firefox.
Will the Tookit make disks for the CDTV
My understanding is that the CD32 Toolkit was designed for the CD32 and uses its additional power to create a faster menu system and therefore I do not believe it will load on a CDTV. If anyone can work out a way to manipulate it to work on the CDTV please contact me so I can amend this answer.
Can I copy ADF / DMS disk images to the Compilation
Yes but it will involve more effort than just copy the disk image. The following process should work for most games.
1. Create a new folder for the game under games folder on the CD32 Compilation e.g. create a folder called Game X and copy all the files and folders for Game X into this location.
2. Look for the start up sequence for the game - this maybe under the S folder. Copy these instructions into a new start file for the game. E.g. GameX.start which is saved as usual under the data folder of the CD32 Compiliation.
3. Edit the locations stated in the sequence to reflect your CD.
1. Create a new folder for the game under games folder on the CD32 Compilation e.g. create a folder called Game X and copy all the files and folders for Game X into this location.
2. Look for the start up sequence for the game - this maybe under the S folder. Copy these instructions into a new start file for the game. E.g. GameX.start which is saved as usual under the data folder of the CD32 Compiliation.
3. Edit the locations stated in the sequence to reflect your CD.
Can older Amiga 500 games be included on the compilation
Some of the games can be made to work by including a degrade program in the start instructions for the game. The following process should work for most older Amiga 500 games but there will be some which unfortunately remain incompatible.
1. Copy Tude from Aminet to the specific game folder on your CD32 Compiliation
2. Edit your start script for the game to include
tude degrade
Thanks to Anikarob from EAB forum for this solution.
If you want an example of this have a look at the AirAce2 game folder and AirAce2.start file under the data folder on the CD32 Public Domain Compilation disk.
1. Copy Tude from Aminet to the specific game folder on your CD32 Compiliation
2. Edit your start script for the game to include
tude degrade
Thanks to Anikarob from EAB forum for this solution.
If you want an example of this have a look at the AirAce2 game folder and AirAce2.start file under the data folder on the CD32 Public Domain Compilation disk.
Solving Error Message "Please insert volume ENV in any drive"
This is a temporary file the Amiga creates to save data to. To solve this problem you need to amend the start script for your your game to include:
C:MakeDir RAM:ENV
Assign >NIL: ENV: RAM:ENV
Thanks to Cammy from the EAB forum for this solution.
C:MakeDir RAM:ENV
Assign >NIL: ENV: RAM:ENV
Thanks to Cammy from the EAB forum for this solution.
Solving Error Message "Please insert volume .... in any drive"
If you are adding games by copying over ADF or DMS disk contents then you may find when you try to load the game from the menu you get the message:
"Please insert volume game in any drive.
All you need to do is use the assign command in your start script. The following is the additional commands added to the start script for Starwoids where the error message was asking for Starwoids1 (disk 1) and Starwoids2 (disk 2)
Assign StarWoids1: CD0:Games/Starwoids
Assign StarWoids2: CD0:Games/starwoids
Thanks to Boo Boo from the EAB forum for this solution.
"Please insert volume game in any drive.
All you need to do is use the assign command in your start script. The following is the additional commands added to the start script for Starwoids where the error message was asking for Starwoids1 (disk 1) and Starwoids2 (disk 2)
Assign StarWoids1: CD0:Games/Starwoids
Assign StarWoids2: CD0:Games/starwoids
Thanks to Boo Boo from the EAB forum for this solution.
Game Loads but Mouse pointer icon is missing
For Bull Run and Tankkk the games loaded fine but the mouse pointer icon was missing. If you experience a similar problem then you need to change your _system-configuration file in the Devs folder of the CD32 Toolkit. Boo Boo from the EAB forum has kindly produced a modified _system-configuration which you can download from the link below.
| _system-configuration |
Finalising Compilation is taking a long time
If you are finalising your compilation for the second time then the toolkit has to delete the previous version before copying over the new files. If you have a large compilation then this will take a long time to delete all these files.
You can speed this process up by deleting the previous compilation files yourself before finalising your latest version. Go to Amiga CD32 Game Compilation Tookit - then select the comilation folder.
Everything is this folder can be deleted but keep the folder itself
When you go to finalise your latest version the process will be quicker as the toolkit will not have to delete these files under Winuae environment.
You can speed this process up by deleting the previous compilation files yourself before finalising your latest version. Go to Amiga CD32 Game Compilation Tookit - then select the comilation folder.
Everything is this folder can be deleted but keep the folder itself
When you go to finalise your latest version the process will be quicker as the toolkit will not have to delete these files under Winuae environment.
Adding Pictures to the CD32 Compilation
The easiest way I found to add pictures to the compilation was to take a screen shot of the game in a screen capture software either the one on Winuae or a free programme like Jing. This gave me a PNG file.
To convert the PNG to iff format I used Paint Shop on the PC - you can download a free trial version for 30 days. If you are only going to create one compilation then do this at the end when you have all the games working and just want to tart up the menu.
Paint Shop allows you to save files as amiga iff format. If you do this whilst running the CD32 toolkit you can check that the images are appearing as you go. Remember to save them to the correct size:
320 by 128
To convert the PNG to iff format I used Paint Shop on the PC - you can download a free trial version for 30 days. If you are only going to create one compilation then do this at the end when you have all the games working and just want to tart up the menu.
Paint Shop allows you to save files as amiga iff format. If you do this whilst running the CD32 toolkit you can check that the images are appearing as you go. Remember to save them to the correct size:
320 by 128
Images Appear Corrupt on Menu Screen
If the image appears corrupt on your toolkit in Winuae then it is probably that you did not save the file with the correct pallete. Load the AMS menu iff file from the toolkit. Then in Paint Shop select save pallete - chose a sensible file name such as cd32 toolkit. Then for each image you are creating make sure you load this pallete before saving as amiga iff format.
Image not Appearing in Menu Screen
If the image doesn't appear in the menu screen it is probably because you've either not saved it in the correct format or you have saved it with the wrong file name. Remember the file name has to be the same as the start file name e.g. AirAce2.iff for AirAce2.start - if you have AirAceII.iff and AirAce2.start then the picture will not match up with the start file
