MZF has been tested under Windows 3.1, WfWG 3.11, Windows NT 3.5x, and Windows '95. Please don't ask for a DOS version. MZF 0.90 was tested on the Macintosh under an emulator, and seemed to work. The latest version of MZF that is publicly available for 16 bit is 0.94.
MZF calls area files 'documents'. There can be an unlimited number of open documents. In fact, MZF is tested by opening all of the zones for standard Merc 2.2 at the same time. When a document is opened, a 'view' is opened to allow the document to be edited. This 'view' is a list of all the rooms in the zone. To look at something else, such as objects or mobiles, select 'add view' or click the glasses icon on the speed bar.
To edit something, double click on the item to edit in the list view. Keyboard users can use "Edit|Edit Item" to edit the item. Editing a line in a list view brings up a dialog box for the item. To add a new something, click the '+' icon or select "Edit|Add Item".
MZF does not currently fully support MOBprograms. MOBprograms may be in the area files, but MZF will only allow you to view them, not edit them.
Current Limitations: MZF does not allow #RESETS to be deleted. (Deleting 'M' mob resets is supported, but only on the room dialog and mob resets window.) There is no real reason forbid this, although it plays heck with the level of items reset to the ground. I hope to fix this soon.
Enhancements over earlier betas:
Minor improvements on the mapper
You can now add spec-funs and spells unique to your MUD into MZF.
Fixed dangerous but obscure bugs in Exit editor, corrupted MOBprograms, and exiting with unsaved changes, and removed some memory leaks.
'Random Object' button only enabled in TFC mode.
Much improved error messages reading invalid zone files.
You can now place items in containers.
32-bit version MZF32i for Windows NT/Intel users. (Should work on Windows '95 as well).
Support to convert ROM 2.x zones to Merc/Envy.
You can now set the exit randomization on a room.
Several Envy 1.0 zones didn't work because I had misspelled the name of some of the spells, like I had "invisibility" for "invis." I now test MZF by loading every Envy 1.0 and every Merc 2.2 zone.
Some of the drop-down-list boxes, like the "spec-fun" list and the "recall room" list, didn't drop down correctly.
On-line font size changing
Help text revised (added entries on vnum, MOBprograms, removed some TFC entries)
Some limited support for customized Mercs (See Custom FAQ)
Limited support for MOBprograms.
The portion of zone text that can be seen by players can be pasted to the clipboard for
spell checking.
Support for Troll MUD's #AREADATA section (weather, timezones, etc.)
There is a fixed-width font in the places that were causing people trouble. Note: If the
fixed font is too big/too small on your machine, See the FAQ below
Peaceful rooms are now supported.
Zone renumbering bug is fixed.
Request for help:
I'm not happy with the mapper. I would really like to be able to "zoom" out for the
editing and viewing and printing of the entire zone. To do this, I need a way to calculate the
'latitude and logitude' of each room. If you know how to do this, let me know.
Future:
There will be some more customization: Adding spells and affects for your own mud.
Reset editing will be fixed completely.
Full support for ROM 2.x, including automatic conversion from #MOBOLD
and #OBJOLD to the custom ROM format.
Bugs:
If you put tildes (~) in your text, you probably will get a zone that doesn't load.
(Windows NT 3.50 only) The Windows NT help system scrambles the lines on some of the tables,
such as the room tables.