Released: 08/16/2004
File Sizes:  
Add Ad Screens 82 KB (83,110 bytes)
Remove Ad Screens 15.9KB (16,300 bytes)

Print Document

Adding Advertising Screens to any Ion, Merit Boardwalk, FORCE 2003 or later, and MAXX Ruby, Sapphire, Jade & Crown Games

In addition to the 24 screens that can be created directly on the game using the Operator Ad Screens function, all Ion, Merit Boardwalk, FORCE 2003 and later, and Megatouch MAXX Sapphire, Jade & Crown software allow you to add up to 120 advertising screens (a maximum of 60 JPEGs and 60 PCX files) created on a personal computer.

To create and/or delete these new screens, you will need:

1. a graphics program that will allow you to create graphics and save them in 24-bit JPG or PCX format
2. MAXX games with PCMCIA card slots only:
   
   1. a personal computer with a PCMCIA card reader
   2. a PCMCIA card
   All other MAXX games:
   
   1. a personal computer with a CD-ROM burner
   2. a blank CD-R or CD-RW
   3. a CD-ROM drive
   4. a centronics cable to connect the CD-ROM drive to the game
   FORCE games only:
   
   1. a personal computer with a CD-ROM burner
   2. a blank CD-R or CD-RW
   3. a CD-ROM drive
   4. a centronics cable to connect the CD-ROM drive to the game
       OR...
   
   1. a personal computer with a USB port
   2. a USB pen (supported by Merit software)
      NOTE:  A USB pen kit (part number KAV-100-008-02) is available through Merit Industries.  To order, contact Customer Service at 1-800-445-9353.

TO CREATE AD SCREENS

DOWNLOAD THE REQUIRED PROGRAM TO YOUR PC
(Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP Download Instructions)

1. Open Windows Explorer and select the "C:\" directory.
2. Select "File", then "New", then "Folder" from the pull-down menu.  Name this new folder "Merit".
3. Select the "Merit" folder.
4. Select "File", then "New", then "Folder" from the pull-down menu and name this new subfolder "Add Custom".
5. Select the "Add Custom" folder.
6. Select "File", then "New", then "Folder" from the pull-down menu and name this new subfolder "User".
7. Click this link Dlad.exe to download the program used to add advertising screens to your game.
8. Select "SAVE".  The "SAVE AS" dialog box is displayed.
9. Select the "C:\Merit\Add Custom" folder and click SAVE.

UNZIP THE FILES YOU DOWNLOADED
(Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP Instructions)

1. In Windows Explorer, locate the "Dlad.exe" file in the "C:\Merit\Add Custom" folder.
2. Double-click "Dlad.exe".  The files needed to create ad screens will be placed in the same "Add Custom" folder.  NOTE: You may have to refresh to see the files.  Click "View" from the pull-down menu and select "refresh."
3. If the "update" file appears in all capital letters, rename the file "update" using all lowercase letters.
4. Move the sample ad screens (1.pcx and 1.jpg) into the "User" subfolder.

CREATE THE ADVERTISING SCREENS
(Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP Instructions)

NOTE: The advertising screens must be in 24-bit JPG or PCX format and 640 x 480 pixels in size.  You can use any graphics program that will allow you to create this type of file, such as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro.  The sample screens can be used as examples and/or to test your graphics program.  When you create your own screens, you must use these file names and overwrite the sample screens.

1. Using the graphics program of your choice, create your advertising screens in a 24-bit JPG or PCX format and 640 x 480 pixels in size.
2. To save the new screens, select SAVE AS from the FILE pull-down menu of your graphics program.
3. From the SAVE IN drop-down list, select the "C:\Merit\Add Custom\User" subfolder.
4. Choose the "JPG" or "PCX" option in the file type drop down menu to save your files with a ".JPG" or ".PCX" extension (you must use this extension for the screens to be displayed) and click SAVE. When Windows asks if you want to overwrite any of the sample files, click YES.  Repeat this process for the other screens. 
5. Delete any sample screens that have not been overwritten (otherwise, they will be displayed).  If you want to use one of these screens in the future, resave the file with the same name as the file you deleted.

COPY THE UNZIPPED FILES AND YOUR CREATED SCREENS TO A CD, USB PEN, OR PCMCIA CARD

If you are using a CD: NOTE: Using a rewriteable CD for the ad screens will eliminate the need for a new disc each time screens are changed.

1. Using the CD burning program on your computer, copy the following files under the "C:\Merit\Add Custom" directory to a CD:

   1. The "User" subfolder
   2. "update"
   3. "UPDATE.DAT"
   4. "UPDATEME.BAT"

   NOTE: Do not copy "Dlad.Eexe".

2. Label this disc "Add Custom Ad Screens".

If you are using a USB pen or PCMCIA card:

1. Copy the following files under the "C:\Merit\Add Custom" directory to the USB pen or PCMCIA card:

   1. The "User" subfolder
   2. "update"
   3. "UPDATE.DAT"
   4. "UPDATEME.BAT"

   NOTE: Do not copy "Dlad.exe".

2. Label this USB pen or PCMCIA card "Add Custom Ad Screens".

INSTALL YOUR NEW ADVERTISING SCREENS ON YOUR GAME

If you are using a CD:

1. Turn off the game on which you want to install the advertising screens.
2. Unlock and open the game and access the PC tray.
3. Connect the 2 x 20-pin IDE connector to the interface connector on the CD-ROM drive.
   NOTE: Make sure the red stripe on the ribbon cable matches up with pin 1 on the IDE interface connector.
4. Connect the 4-pin power connector on the ribbon cable to the DC power input on the CD-ROM drive.
5. Make sure that your CD-ROM drive is set to MASTER.
6. Connect the centronics connector on the ribbon cable to the centronics connector on the game.
7. Turn on the game.
8. Insert the "Add Custom Ad Screens" CD with your new advertising screens into the CD-ROM drive.
9. Turn off the game and turn it back on.   The program will run automatically.
10. When the program has finished loading the advertising screens and displays the message "UPDATE COMPLETE", remove the CD from the drive and turn off the game.
11. Carefully disconnect the ribbon cable from the centronics connector on the game.
12. Close and lock the game.
13. Turn on the game.

If you are using a USB pen or PCMCIA card:

1. Turn off the game on which you want to install the advertising screens.
2. Unlock and open the game and access the motherboard.
3. Insert the "Add Custom Ad Screens" USB pen with your new advertising screens into the free USB port on the motherboard.  NOTE: For Radion games, you will need a USB extension cable in order to connect the pen to the game.  This cable is included in the USB pen kit.
   OR...
   Insert the "Add Custom Ad Screens" PCMCIA card with your new advertising screens into one of the PCMCIA card slots on the I/O board.
4. Turn on the game.  The program will run automatically.
5. When the program has finished loading the advertising screens and displays the message "UPDATE COMPLETE", turn off the game.
6. Remove the USB pen or PCMCIA card.
7. Close and lock the game.
8. Turn on the game.

TO DELETE AD SCREENS

DOWNLOAD THE REQUIRED PROGRAM TO YOUR PC
(Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP Download Instructions)

1. Open Windows Explorer and select the "C:\" directory.
2. Select "File", then "New", then "Folder" from the pull-down menu.  Name this new folder "Merit".
3. Select the "Merit" folder.
4. Select "File", then "New", then "Folder" from the pull-down menu and name this new subfolder "Remove Custom".
5. Click this link DLREMOV.EXE to download the program used to delete advertising screens from your game.
6. Select "SAVE".  The "SAVE AS" dialog box is displayed.
7. Select the "C:\Merit\Remove Custom" folder and click SAVE.

UNZIP THE FILES YOU DOWNLOADED
(Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP Instructions)

1. In Windows Explorer, locate the "DLREMOV.EXE" file in the "C:\Merit\Remove Custom" directory.
2. Double-click "DLREMOV.EXE".  The files needed to delete ad screens will be placed in the same "Remove Custom" directory.

COPY THE UNZIPPED FILES TO A CD, USB PEN, OR PCMCIA CARD

If you are using a CD: NOTE: Using a rewriteable CD for the ad screens will eliminate the need for a new disc each time screens are changed.:

1. Using the CD burning program on your computer, copy the following files under the "C:\Merit\Remove Custom" directory onto a CD:

   1. "UPDATE"
   2. "UPDATE.DAT"
   3. "UPDATEME.BAT"
   4. "Y.DAT"

   NOTE: Do not copy "DLREMOV.EXE".

2. Label this disc "Remove Custom Ad Screens".

If you are using a USB pen or PCMCIA card:

1. Copy the following files under the "C:\Merit\Remove Custom" directory to the USB pen or PCMCIA card:

   1. "UPDATE"
   2. "UPDATE.DAT"
   3. "UPDATEME.BAT"
   4. "Y.DAT"

   NOTE: Do not copy "DLREMOV.EXE".

2. Label this USB pen or PCMCIA card "Remove Custom Ad Screens".

DELETING YOUR ADVERTISING SCREENS FROM THE GAME

If you are using a CD:

1. Turn off the game.
2. Unlock and open the game and access the PC tray.
3. Connect the 2 x 20-pin IDE connector to the interface connector on the CD-ROM drive.
   NOTE: Make sure the red stripe on the ribbon cable matches up with pin 1 on the IDE interface connector.
4. Connect the 4-pin power connector on the ribbon cable to the DC power input on the CD-ROM drive.
5. Make sure that your CD-ROM drive is set to MASTER.
6. Connect the centronics connector on the ribbon cable to the centronics connector on the game.
7. Turn on the game.
8. Insert the "Remove Custom Ad Screens" CD into the CD-ROM drive.
9. Turn off the game and turn it back on.  The program will run automatically.
10. When the program has finished deleting the advertising screens and the game finishes its normal boot-up procedure, remove the CD from the drive and turn off the game.
11. Carefully disconnect the ribbon cable from the centronics connector on the game.
12. Close and lock the game.
13. Turn on the game.

If you are using a USB pen or PCMCIA card:

1. Turn off the game.
2. Unlock and open the game and access the motherboard.
3. Insert the "Remove Custom Ad Screens" USB pen into the free USB port on the motherboard.  NOTE: For Radion games you will need a USB extension cable in order to connect the pen to the game.  This cable is included in the USB pen kit.
   OR...
   Insert the "Remove Custom Ad Screens" PCMCIA card into one of the PCMCIA card slots on the I/O board.
4. Turn on the game.  The program will run automatically.
5. When the program has finished deleting the advertising screens and displays the message "UPDATE COMPLETE", turn off the game.
6. Remove the USB pen or PCMCIA card.
7. Close and lock the game.
8. Turn on the game.