MakeTP4.EXE, v. 1.0
Copyright (c) 1999, Patrick J. Campbell. All Rights Reserved.


INTRO
=====
RollerCoaster Tycoon (RCT) provides the ability to save ride layouts, but provides no facility for creating previews for custom rides. This Windows 9x program loads PCX screenshots taken from RollerCoaster Tycoon, crops them, and saves them in TP4 format, allowing you to preview custom rides within RollerCoaster Tycoon.


INSTRUCTIONS
============
1) Open the PCX file containing your ride's picture. These PCX files are stored in the directory in which you installed RCT, and are called something like SCR1.PCX. MakeTP4 attempts to start you off in the correct directory.

2) Once the file has been loaded and displayed, a white rectangle appears in the upper-left corner of the window. Use the mouse to move the white rectangle around your ride.

3) When you've positioned the rectangle around your ride, click the Save button (with the floppy disk on it) and type in the name for the resulting TP4 file. In order for RCT to associate the preview file with your ride:
   a) both files must be in the Tracks directory under your RCT directory; and
   b) the preview file (*.TP4) and ride file (*.TD4) must have the same name, but different extensions.

You can save more than one TP4 file from a single screenshot. You can open additional screenshots by clicking the Open button (with the folder on it).


TIPS FOR MAKING GOOD TP4 IMAGES
===============================
   * The middle zoom level tends to work best for previews.
   * Hide people and scenery before taking your screenshot.
   * Rotate the screen to determine the best angle for your picture.
   * Consider temporarily removing paths that may obsure the ride.
   * Rain will show up in the preview, so wait for a sunny day in your park before taking the screenshot.
   * The ride preview window is only 254x200 pixels, which frequently means a ride won't fit entirely within the cropping rectangle. If you can't show the entire ride, consider showing important features, such as the station/entrance/exit positions or any landscape modifications that allow the track to be built higher than would be allowed on flat land.


KNOWN ISSUES, SUPPORT
=====================
   * This program is not intended to be a PCX file viewer, and the PCX decoder has been written to handle only images created by RCT (PCX version 5 with palette info at end of file, single plane, 8 BPP, size >= 254x200 pixels). It is possible to load some other PCX files into MakeTP4, but the colors will probably not be correct within RCT.
   * MakeTP4 does not attempt to mess with Windows palettes, which means that the colors displayed on the screen may not exactly match those in RCT. This is especially true if your screen is set for a 256 color mode. This discoloration will not affect the TP4 file, and the preview will have the correct colors when viewed within RCT.


DISTRIBUTION, ETC.
==================
This program is freeware and may be freely distributed, so long as that distribution includes this README.TXT file. The latest version is available at http://members.aol.com/pjc0407/maketp4/index.html

This software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. The author will assume no liability for damages caused by this software.

RollerCoaster Tycoon is a registered trademark of Hasbro Interactive, Inc.