# Chronotools - variable width 8pix font

## 0. Contents

This is the documentation of chronotools-1.15.9.

## 1. Introduction

If you find the standard item name length limit (10 characters plus symbol) or the standard tech name length limit (10 characters plus symbol) too restricting, forcing you to make ridiculous abbreviations, you can install a support for variable width 8pix font.

In Chronotools, this consists of the following components:

- VWF8 font
- VWF8 program module
- Binding the program module to the ROM
- Conversion of the item / tech / monster tables

## 2. VWF8 font

You need a font. Take one from `DOCS/ct8fnV.tga` and edit it to match your character set.

Edit the `font8vfn` setting in the `[font]` section of your configuration file so that the insertor knows the font.

Please read the fonts and character sets guide regarding the character mapping of this (and other) fonts.

## 3. VWF8 code

Add the following lines to your `ct.cfg` in the `[linker]` section:

    # VWF8
    load_code "ct-vwf8.o65"
    # VWF for items: If your item list begins with *i11 (not *l11):
    add_call_of "EquipLeftItemFunc"  $C2A5AA 4  false
    add_call_of "EquipRightItemFunc" $C2F2DC 1  true
    add_call_of "ItemListFunc"       $C2B053 13 false
    add_call_of "EquipLeftHelper"    $C2A57D 14 false
    add_call_of "EquipLeftHelper2"   $C2A5B6 2  false
    add_call_of "BattleItemFunc"     $C109C1 32 false
    add_call_of "DialogItemCall"     $C25BA1 36 false

    # VWF for techs: If your tech list begins with *t11 (not *l11):
    add_call_of "BattleTechFunc"     $C10B5B 32 false
    add_call_of "BattleTechHelper"   $C10A99 0 false
    add_call_of "DialogTechCall"     $C25A90 55 false
    add_call_of ""                   $C10ABE 16 false
    add_call_of "TechListFunc"       $C2BDB2 52 true

    # For monsters: If your monster list begins with *m11 (not *l11):
    add_call_of "BattleMonsterFunc"  $CCED13 60 false
    add_call_of "DialogMonsterCall"  $C25AD2 35 false

This tells the insertor that it must include code from `ct-vwf8.o65` and insert calls of several routines to your ROM.
By selecting the right `add_call_of` lines you select which features of the ROM you want to patch.

You can create a new `ct-vwf8.o65` file by compiling the included `ct-vwf8.a65` file with snescom.

## 4. Conversion of the tables in script

Normally the items, techs and monsters are inserted as fixed-width tables in the ROM, denoted by the label `*l11` in your script.

When you are ready to get rid of the item length limit, replace the `*l11` in the script with `i11`.
Same goes for techs: `*l11` is changed to `t11`,
and for monsters `*l11` is changed to `m11`.

Note: Monster names are not displayed in VWF8, but their lon.

## 5. Downloading

The official home page of chronotools is at https://iki.fi/bisqwit/source/chronotools.html.
Check there for new versions.

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