Hi there,

Welcome to the README.TXT file for GP Race Analyser v4.1.  If you are
using Windows Notepad to read this, then you will get better results if you
select 'Word Wrap' from the 'Edit' menu.


***** IMPORTANT NOTE *****
--------------------------
Since version 4.0, Grand Prix Analyser has changed it's name from GPANALYS.EXE to GPA.EXE.  If you are upgrading from a version of GPA, prior to version 4.0, then you can delete the GPANALYS.EXE file, and ensure that you change your file properties in Program Manager (or your preferred program launcher) to point to GPA.EXE instead.



What is GP Analyser?
--------------------
GP analyser is a program to analyse the log files produced by two programs; GPLAPTIM, and GPPERF written by Trevor Kellaway.  These programs are used in conjunction with the Micropose game "Formula 1 Grand Prix" (or "World Circuit" as it is known outside Europe).

GPLAPTIM writes entries to a .LOG file when a car crosses the start/finish line, and so enables you to compare your races with the Computer Cars (CCs), or other drivers.

GPPERF writes telemetry data for your car as you drive around the track, this enables you to compare your 'Hot Laps' with either your own attempts or those of other drivers to establish where you are losing/gaining time.



Thanks must go to:
------------------
Trevor Kellaway (or 'Clever Trevor' <g>) for delving into F1GP, and writing such excellent add-ons (and letting me get previews of them too), and also for putting up with my EM's pestering him with silly questions.

Georg Naujoks who kindly tested the first Beta version of GPA for me.

Greg Foster who helped name the corners on some of the tracks for me, and was involved Beta testing of some versions.

Tilman Hecker who kindly spent the time to describe, in thorough detail, the smoothing algorithm used in some of the graphs in GPA since v3.20 Beta.

Anybody else who has provided feedback - sorry if I haven't included your specific idea, but hopefully, you will still enjoy using GPA.



What do you need to run GP Analyser?
------------------------------------
GP Analyser was written using Windows for Workgroups 3.11, but it should work with Windows 3.1, Windows 95 (at least M8), and Windows NT.  There are a couple of files that you will need that are not been included in the GPA package, but you will either already have these files, or be able to get them easily from another source.  These files are:

VBRUN300.DLL	- Visual Basic Runtime DLL, you will probably have this already.

COMMDLG.DLL	- The common dialog DLL, again you should have this, but if not, it should be available from one of the Microsoft Forums - if there are problems, then let me know, and we can arrange for you to get it.

The program itself is not particularly large, or processor intensive, and so I would expect it to run fine on any 386 PC or better with 4Mb or more of memory - but this hasn't been tested.  If you have an accelerated graphics card, then this should help with the displaying of the track maps - if you experience problems of slow performance when you are scrolling around a track, then try setting the 'Quick Scroll' option, which is under the 'Options' menu - this just draws an outline of the track while scrolling, and may offer a slight speed improvement.



How do you run GP Analyser?
---------------------------
There are two EXE files in the GPA package, GPA.EXE and GSW.EXE - you only need to run GPA.EXE using whichever method you feel most confortable with, e.g. Program Manager, File Manager, etc. or you can use on of the other utilities available, such as PERF-F1.

Hopefully, all the menu options and everything will be pretty obvious, and the toolbar has tooltips, so I won't go into a lot of detail here.  If you have any problems, then e-mail me, or post a message on the SportSims forum on CompuServe - I generally log in pretty regularly.

NB.  Most of the options when using the Lap Performance window are accessed by clicking on the data area of the graph, or clicking on the track map (you can click and drag on the map to zoom in).  You can tell where you will be able to click on the graph, since the mouse pointer will turn into a pointing finger.



File List
---------
I don't know about you, but I get really fed up of Windows Software dumping a load of stuff all over my Hard Disk without me knowing what it is.  Therefore, so not to be hypocritical, my software always works from a single directory, apart from the system files mentioned above <g>.  The files contained within the this ZIP file should all be placed in a single directory and run from there.  If you wish to remove GP Analyser, simply remove the directory, and the Icon, should you have created one in Program Manager, and the GPA.INI file which you will find in your Windows directory.

Here is a list of the files, and what they do:

CMDIALOG.VBX	- A Visual Basic file that provides access to the commonly used Dialog Boxes (file Load/save etc).
GPA.EXE		- This is the actual GP Analyser Program and is the file you should run.
GPA.DAT		- This is a support file containing the track maps.
GRID.VBX	- This file provides the Grid the the race details are displayed in.
GRAPH.VBX	- A Visual Basic file to provide access to the Graphics Server Program.
GSW.EXE		- The VB Graphics Server Program.
GSWDLL.DLL	-  "   "     "       "      "
README.TXT	- This file.
THREED.VBX	- A Visual Basic file that provides all the pretty 3D effects.

These files are included in the complete GPA package (GPA.ZIP), however, there is another file (GPA_UPGD.ZIP) which just includes the EXE, DAT, and this file - this can be used if you are already running GPA v3.x or later and wish to upgrade.



Stuff that might not be obvious:
--------------------------------
This Program was written to use the Log Files of GPLAPTIM v2.1+, and GPperf v2.0 (GPA does support v1.0 files as far as possible - you will notice that v1.0 files take slightly longer to load than in previous versions, this is because GPA is optimised for v2.0 files).

This program will no longer remove any duplicate entries when filtering a race file.

If your log file contains details for more than one race, then it is the latter race that is picked up - if the two races are at different circuits, then I don't know what will happen <g> ;-)  The best bet is to use the extract feature to create a log file with only one race in it.

When analysing GPperf files, laps will be rejected if they; a) have too many segments missing (>25), e.g. you jumped a chicane, b) have repeated segments, e.g. you re-ran a section of a lap by saving and re-loading, c) you spent any time in the pit lane.  So in short, it must be a valid flying lap.  On some slower machines, or if you are using a lower frame rate, it is possible that not all the telemetry data will get written, and consequently you will end up with .PRF files that have segments missing - GPA will reject these files since they cannot be compared properly.

If you run GPperf with the manual logging option turned on, then if you use GPA's filter facility to filter all laps from that file, the filtered file will contain only valid laps, and no warmup/slowdown laps.

Holding the scroll button down when viewing the track map removes the need to keep clicking it.

********************************************************************************
NB.  IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STRANGE LINES ON YOUR GRAPHS, then read on.  Since version 3.10 Beta, the number of labels on the Y-Axis of Lap Performance Graph has increased, and it appears that this can cause difficulties with some video drivers.  In GPA.INI (in your Windows Directory) there is an entry that looks like this:

PerfGraphLabelsLikeV3_04Beta=no

If you are having problems of strange lines, and gaps appearing in your graphs, then try changing this line to read:

PerfGraphLabelsLikeV3_04Beta=yes

Hopefully, this will cure the problem.
********************************************************************************



Problems with Monaco
--------------------
There is a known problem with the layout of the Monaco track.  This is due to the way that the F1GP/WC game stores the track co-ordinates, and consequently, the way that GPperf reads them.  This does not have any effect on the operation of GPA in any way, and is no cause for concern - so please don't send me or Trevor mail about it <g>.



How much does GP Analyser cost?
-------------------------------
Nothing, zilch, nada, nowt, zero, i.e. there is no cost.  This software is freeware.  All I ask is that you report any problems you have with the software to me, although I don't guarantee I will fix them.  The only other condition is that you have fun with it.



Can you distribute GPA to other sources?
----------------------------------------
Yes, feel free to distribute GPA to your friends, your WWW page, or favourite FTP site - all I ask is that you include this text file, unaltered, with the complete up-to date program files.

This means that if there is a subsequent update, and you only download the update, and you decide to make that update available, you should also update the complete package yourself - this is only fair to people who pick up GPA later, and the concept of downloading the original files, and then the update may not be that obvious to them.



Things that are new in this release:
------------------------------------

- Bug in Sort Laps in PickLap fixed (Sort Lap listbox was not being cleared properly)
- GPA will now allow up to 25 missing segments in a PRF lap, hopefully this is enough for people with machines that can't quite keep up with the high output rate.
- Bug when reading .LOG files fixed when sometimes getting erroneous lap details.
- Ability to display Lap Times in Race Comparison
- Bug fixed in Race Comparison when taking an average lap times when cars are in the pits
- Slow-Motion function added to car plot on track
- Focus Rectangle bug in Win95 fixed.
- Cursor Changes to a magnifying glass for the Track map
- Average Throttle position and % Full Throttle added to the Lap Info
- Steering Graph is now smoothed to avoid such jaggy graphs
- Code to stop multiple instances of GPA included


Please let me know if you have any difficulties.

Happy Racing.

Steve Pritchard.
CompuServe : 100341,2464.
Internet   : 100341.2464@compuserve.com


DISCLAIMER
----------
This program may be freely copied and distributed, as long as it is not
modified in any way, no fee is charged, and this file is always included.
This program is provided "as is" with no warranties expressed or implied.
The author will not be held responsible for any losses incurred, either
directly or indirectly by the use of this program.
