| Welcome | Exploring | Fun | Reference |
 

Welcome

Welcome to Daggerfall Explorer Beta2! This manual is divided into four parts. This is the Welcome page, where you learn how to get started with Daggerfall Explorer. The Exploring page teaches you how the various views work, so you can move around. The Fun page covers some of the interesting things you can do in Daggerfall Explorer. Finally, the Reference page documents all available commands.

System Requirements

System requirements for Daggerfall Explorer are as follows:

  • DirectX 8.1
  • Pentium II 400 or better
  • 3D accelerator capable of rendering to a window (hardware T&L recommended)
  • DirectX 8 compatible video drivers (WHQL-certified drivers recommended)
  • Windows 98 / ME / 2000 / XP
  • A complete installation of Daggerfall from the original CD

NOTE: All of my testing has been done with a complete install of Daggerfall, patched to version 213. If you have modified your Arena2 directory or its contents, you might experience problems outside of my control. If possible, try to use a cleanly installed and patched version of Daggerfall.

Getting Started

When you open Daggerfall Explorer for the first time, you will be presented with an empty grey window. Three views are docked around the outside of the frame. Any of these views can be hidden or moved. Changes to these views will be preserved for the next time you start Daggerfall Explorer.

The four main views are shown below in their default locations:

  • Arena View - This window abstracts your Arena2 directory. Here is where you choose the media you wish to display.
  • Properties View - Displays useful information on the currently selected media.
  • Log View - Outputs information about Daggerfall Explorer and Alchemy. You can copy text from here with Ctrl+C.
  • Media View - An all-purpose view that displays bitmaps and 3D content.

Before you can view the contents of your Daggerfall installation, you must direct Daggerfall Explorer to your local Arena2 directory. It is here that all bitmaps and 3D objects are stored. Select File then Open Arena2. Alternatively use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+O, or the toolbar icon. You will see the following dialog.

Using the Open Arena2 dialog box, enter your Arena2 path or search for it by clicking Browse, then click Open. Some quick tests will be performed to verify this is an intact installation before you are returned to the main window. Daggerfall Explorer will remember the last Arena2 path opened.

You will now see the Arena View has the following contents:

To display a bitmap, simply expand one of the folders by clicking on the icon then click on anything that looks interesting. The contents of the bitmap or archive will be displayed in the Media View. If animation is present then it will played with the current settings.

The 3D Objects and 3D Blocks nodes are a little different. Because there are thousands of objects in each of these archives, it is more convenient to view them all from a single location. To change which object you are currently viewing use the Previous Object and Next Object buttons. To immediately locate a favourite object, click the Goto Object button. The keyboard shortcuts for these actions are as follows.

  • Ctrl+Right - Next Object.
  • Ctrl+Left - Previous Object.
  • Ctrl+G - Goto Object.

Feel free to play and get comfortable with the layout. When you're ready visit the Exploring page for more information on how to navigate.

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