AntiGame PlusTM
The Search and Clean Utility
Version 4.3
Copyright (c) 1994-99 DVD Software, Ltd. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Installation
Running AntiGame Plus
AntiGame Plus Options
The AntiGame Command Line
Unattended Mode
Unrecognized Games
Adding New Games To AntiGame Plus Database
Using AntiGame Plus as a General Utility
Technical Support



Introduction

With AntiGame Plus, you can remove games or any unwanted, outdated or unauthorized application from network servers and individual workstations. Its robust solution set makes it easy to maintain the appropriate use of your computing resources.

AntiGame Plus offers a comprehensive solution that:

  • Ensures the implementation of a no-games policy
  • Speeds and simplifies the application search & removal process
  • Increases network administration efficiency
  • Regains control of the computing environment
  • Restores employee productivity

  •  
    Operational Highlights: AntiGame Plus runs as a stealth application in batch mode on all Win32 operating systems. It does not appear on the screen, in the system tray or in the “close program” dialog box -- making it completely transparent to the end user.

    Unlike traditional search tools, AntiGame’s SmartSearch works independently of file names. The program looks for unique signatures -- much like matching a fingerprint -- then reports on and optionally cleans games or other user-defined applications. The search spans the entire network, including servers and individual workstations.

    The program is designed to:

  • Reside on a file server and execute from the log-in script or in batch mode
  • Search all local drives for 9,200+ games (the shareware version detects about 100 games)
  • Extend its capabilities to any application

  •  
    System Requirements: AntiGame Plus operates with Windows NT, Windows 95/98, Windows 3.x and DOS. All major PC networks are supported, including Novell, and Windows NT.
     

    Installation
     

    Step 1

    If you received AntiGame Plus in a ZIP file (i.e., via download), then unzip the compressed files into a directory. Enter the directory, run Setup.exe and follow the installation instructions.

    If you received AntiGame Plus on diskettes, then insert diskette #1 and run A:\Setup.exe and follow the installation instructions.
     

    Step 2

    For the "Check Compressed Files" option to function properly:

    If you are using a DOS version below 3.1, you must set the AntiGame environment variable to point to your AntiGame directory by inserting the following line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

    Running AntiGame Plus

    Before running AntiGame Plus, it is strongly recommended that you take a backup of your data. Although the game "signature" recognition process is accurate, there always is a very low chance, although remote, that a non-game file will be deleted.

    To activate AntiGame Plus double-click the AntiGame Plus  icon.

    For run time options under Windows and for activating AntiGame Plus in the background (Unattended Mode), please see The AntiGame Command Line. Please read the section Unattended Mode in this manual and in the Windows help for information on when to use the AntiGamW command and when to use the AntiGame command.

    To activate the AntiGame DB Editor, double-click the AntiGame Plus DB Editor icon or run the Agdbedit.exe command (available to registered users only.) Shareware users evaluating AntiGame Plus, can view the Agdbedit.hlp help file for information on the AntiGame DB Editor

    Note: Unlike the AntiGame Plus utility that can run on most PC operating systems, the AntiGame DB Editor requires Windows NT, 95 or above.

    To run AntiGame Plus (for DOS), type AntiGame from the antigame directory (or from any other directory if path exists) and press <ENTER>.

    Upon entering AntiGame Plus, you are presented with the main menu. The menu has six options. Select different options by:

    The following options are available:
     

    Search

    This option scans the selected drive for games. If a game is found, you have the option to clean the game (delete it from the disk) or continue without cleaning.
     

    Search and Clean

    This option scans the selected drive for games. If a game is found, the game files are cleaned (deleted) and the scan continues. USE THIS OPTION WITH CAUTION! It will delete all known games in the selected drive/path.
     

    Search and Log

    This option scans the selected drive for games. If a game is found, the log file is updated and the scan continues. We recommend that you use this option before you use the Search and Clean options. Then, you can review the log file for a list of the games to be deleted.
     

    Set Log File (DOS version only)

    This option allows you to change the log file name from the default (ANTIGAME.LOG.)

    When using any of the above options, AntiGame Plus creates a log file (but subject to the O switch). The file contains the following information:

    Select Search Path

    The default search path is the root directory of the current disk. Use this option to select a different search path. The search path can be any combination of disk/path or a network drive name. AntiGame Plus will search through the selected directory and its sub-directories. Note: you can also set the search path from the command line. See details below.
     

    Exit

    Use this option to EXIT from AntiGame Plus. You can also exit the program at any time (even during a search) by pressing the ESC key.
     
     



    AntiGame Plus Options

    The AntiGame Plus options below are activated from the command line.
     

    Check All Files

    When "Check All Files" is on, AntiGame Plus checks ALL the files in the search path for the special signature. By default, only .EXE and .COM files are checked. Select “Check All Files” only if you suspect that users rename the suffix of the game executable files. Using this option will slow the search process.
     

    Check Compressed Files

    When "Check Compressed Files" is on, AntiGame Plus scans inside the following compressed files: ZIP, ARJ, LHA and RAR. AntiGame Plus decompresses each file and scans for games. If "Check All Files" is on, every file in the compressed file is scanned. Using this option will SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW the search process if many compressed files exist.

    Note: For the "Check Compressed Files" option to function properly:

    Set the Log File Name

    Set the name of the log file when running in batch file mode. In the 32-bit version (AntiGamW), the name can be set to the user name if you indicate "username" as the file name without the extension. Example: username.log
    The name can also be set to the computer name if you indicate "computername" as the file name without the extension.
     

    Generate MIF File

    AntiGame Plus supports the Management Information Format standard. When "Generate MIF File" is on, AntiGame Plus writes the MIF signature group table entry of the game's main executable to a designated file. This file can later be used by management software that supports the MIF format (e.g., Microsoft's Systems Management Server).
    The output format is:
    {Name, Size, Date & Time, Checksum, CRC1, CRC2, Loc};
     

    Add Database

    Adds a "game" database to the current database list. AntiGame Plus will search for games (or other elements that are in the database) using all the selected databases -- the default one + the added one(s). You may use the switch multiple times and add multiple databases to the database list.
    The most common use of this function is adding a "user defined" game database to the supplied game database. Please see "Adding New Games to AntiGame Plus Database" for more information and examples.
     

    Replace Database

    Replaces the default game database with another. AntiGame Plus will search for games (or other elements which are in the database) using the newly selected database. You may use the switch in conjunction with the Add Database switch. Note: the database is replaced only for the current activation.
    This function is useful when AntiGame Plus is activated as a special search engine (general utility) for items other than games. Please see “Using AntiGame Plus as a General Utility” for more information and examples.
     
     



    Information Window

    An information window is located on the right side of the menu (DOS version). It displays operating instructions or other information according to the program phase. The different phases and their associated screens are detailed below.
     

    Help

    A help screen is available while selecting options from the main menu. This screen includes context sensitive information on the highlighted option.
     

    During the search

    The information window displays the number of games found, the number of games deleted, the disk space that is saved and the selected search path.
     

    When a game is found

    The information window displays the name of the game that was found, a short description of the game, the size of the main EXE file, the total number of the files that the game includes and the total game size.
     

    When the search terminates

    The information window displays the total number of files searched, the number of games found, the total disk space that the games occupy, the number of files deleted and the total size of the files that were deleted.
     
     



    The AntiGame Plus Command Line

    It is highly recommended to schedule AntiGame Plus to run periodically on server drives. The best time is after a scheduled backup. Important: the PC on which it is running must have security authorization to update all drives.

    You can use the following command line options to bypass the main menu and select an operation directly from the DOS command line.

    Under Windows 95/98/NT

    ANTIGAMW [search path] [-Flogfile] [-Xexclude] [-Mfilename][-Ndatabase.gdb] [-N+database.gdb] [other switches]
    Under Windows 3.1 Under DOS Note: All command line options can be specified in either upper case or lower case.
     

    Examples:

    AntiGame Plus will search all files in drive (F) for games. Compressed files will be decompressed and all their contents checked as well. The file EXCLUDE.TXT (in the directory "F:\antigame") contains a list of all the file names that should be excluded from the search (one line for each file name).
      AntiGame Plus will search the local drive (C) for games, log all games found in the file C:\SMS\antigame.LOG (only if games are found), for each game found will write an entry in the file C:\SMS\ANTIGAME.MIF and then will exit without any prompt.
     
     



    Unattended Mode

    AntiGame Plus can be activated in an Unattended Mode. In fact, it is the most common implementation method of AntiGame Plus. When activated in unattended mode, the user interface is not displayed and the program operation is completely hidden from the user. Following are common implementation techniques that make use of the Unattended Mode:

    To activate the Unattended Mode, use the /B switch of the AntiGame (or AntiGamW) command line. Use it together with the /L (Search and Log) or the /C (Search and Clean) switch. A log file is automatically created with the default file name: Antigame.log. This name can be changed using the /F or /F+ switch.
     
     

    The AntiGamW command and the AntiGame command -- when to use each one in Unattended Mode

    Use the AntiGamW command under Windows 95/98/NT or under any environment where the network login process is activated under Windows (32 bit only).
    Use the AntiGame command only in cases where the Windows environment is not active. It will activate a DOS program. For example, during Novell network login under Windows 3.1.
    Note: You can use the AGame31 command under Windows 3.1 in unattended mode.You can also use the AntiGame command under Windows 95 or above, however, its execution will not be transparent to the user (an icon will be displayed).
     

    Examples

    The following examples are from a Novell login script, however, similar mechanisms can be used with other network operating systems, including NT.

    Example 1

    Insert the following command in the user login script:

    AntiGame Plus will search the local drive (C) for games, will wipe them, log all activities in the file F:\Gamelogs\%login_name.LOG (only if games are fou) and then exit without any prompt. Note that "%login_name" variable (which is a Novell script variable) will be replaced upon execution (by the script) with the Novell login name of the user. As a result, a separate log file is created for each PC user. In the 32 bit version, there is an option for setting the log file name to the user name or the computer name by the AntiGamW application regardless the network OS (See Example 3).
     

    Example 2

    Insert the following command in the user login script:

    AntiGamW Plus will search all the local drives for games, log all activities in the file F:\Gamelogs\%login_name.LOG (only if games are found) and then exit without any prompt.
    Note: the command line switch /I works in the 32 bit version (AntiGamW) only.
     

    Example 3

    Insert the following command in the user login script:

    The log file name will be set to the workstation's user name with the extension .log.
    AntiGamW Plus will search all the local drives for games, log all activities in the log file (only if games are found) and then exit without any prompt.
    Note: the command line switch /I and the username replacement work in the 32 bit version (AntiGamW) only.
     

    Example 4

    If you do not wish to activate AntiGame Plus every day (on local drives), you can use the following sample code (Novell login script):

    IF DAY='xx' THEN BEGIN
    #ANTIGAME ......
    END
    (xx is 01 to 31)
    or
    IF DAY_OF_WEEK='MONDAY' THEN BEGIN
    #ANTIGAME ....
    END
    Stand Alone PCs

    If the PC is stand alone, simply insert the AntiGame command (with the /B option) as part of the PC start-up procedure (e.g., in AUTOEXEC.BAT). In such cases, AntiGame Plus must be installed on the PC’s local drive. If a PC is connected to the network, AntiGame can reside on the network server and no software needs to be installed on the PC.
     
     



    Unrecognized Games

    The AntiGame Plus 4.3 database contains 9,200 games and new games are added continuously. If you find a game that is not recognized by AntiGame Plus, please send e-mail to  support@antigame.com Include the following details:

    We appreciate your input and will do our best to include the game in the next update. However, you do not have to wait for the next release of AntiGame Plus. You can use the AntiGame DB Editor to add the new game to the database. Please see "Adding New Games to AntiGame Plus Database” below.
     
     



    Adding New Games To AntiGame Plus Database

    The AntiGame Plus game database is updated 2 to 4 times a year by DVD Software and can be downloaded by licensed users from our Web site at www.antigame.com. However, if you discover games that are not detected by AntiGame Plus, you can add them to your game database using the AntiGame DB Editor. Please read the help file Agdbedit.hlp for information on the DB Editor.

    The AntiGame DB Editor allows you to create multiple game databases. The recommended way to add new games is to add them to a "user-db" (different than the main game database). Doing so makes it easier to maintain changes when a new release of the main AntiGame Plus game database is installed. Activate the "user-db" by using the /N+ switch of the AntiGame Command Line.
     

    Example

    New games are added to the UsrGames.gdb file using the AntiGame DB Editor. The following command is added to the user login script (as described in Example 1 above):

    AntiGame Plus will search the local drive (C) for games. The search will include all the games in the default supplied games database + all the games that are defined in the UsrGames.gdb local database file. When a new release of AntiGame is installed, you will not need to change the command. Any duplicates between the AntiGame Plus default database and UsrGames.gdb will be resolved by AntiGame Plus.
     
     



    Using AntiGame Plus as a General Utility

    AntiGame was originally designed to search for and clean games from disks. However, the new AntiGame DB Editor is an effective network administration tool. Examples of additional uses include:

    You can create multiple AntiGame Plus databases for different purposes using the AntiGame DB Editor. To better understand how an AntiGame Plus database is created and maintained, please read the help file Agdbedit.hlp.
    To activate the newly created AntiGame Plus databases, use the /N and/or /N+ switches of the AntiGame Command Line.
     

    Example 1

    New games are added to the UsrGames.gdb file. Special search items, like old releases of Word, are added to the items.gdb file. The following two commands are added to the user login:

    AntiGame C:\ /B /C /Y /O /D /Q /W /FF:\gamelogs\%login_name.LOG /N+UsrGames.gdb
    AntiGame C:\ /B /L /Y /O /D /Q /FF:\utillogs\%login_name.LOG /Nspecial.gdb
    AntiGame Plus will search the local drive (C) for games. The search will include all the games in the default supplied games database + all the games that are defined in the UsrGames.gdb local database file. The games will be deleted. Next, AntiGame Plus will scan the disk for all the items defined in the special.gdb file. Any item found will not be deleted -- it will be logged in the utillogs directory, under a file name identical to the user login.
     

    Example 2

    Special search items due for deletion are added to the todelete.gdb file. Special search items that only need to be detected (but not to be deleted), are added to the track.gdb file. The following two commands are added to the user login script:

    AntiGame C:\ /B /C /Y /O /D /Q /W /FF:\dellogs\%login_name.LOG /Ntodelete.gdb
    AntiGame C:\ /B /L /Y /O /D /Q /FF:\utillogs\%login_name.LOG /Ntrack.gdb
    AntiGame Plus will search the local drive (C). The search will include all the items in the todelete.gdb file. The items will be deleted. Next, AntiGame Plus will scan the disk for all the items defined in the track.gdb file. Any item found will not be deleted -- it will be logged in the utillogs directory, under a file name identical to the user login.
     
     



    Technical Support

    As a registered or shareware user, you are entitled to Online Technical Support. Please visit our tech support page at  www.antigame.com/tech_support.html. A QuickForm is provided for your convenience. Responses are sent via e-mail.

    For ordering information, please press  Order  or visit our Web site at www.antigame.com/order.html