Running PWADs

[rrwoods again]

So to run a PWAD from the command line you have to type something like (for example)

gzdoom -file eviternity.wad

and if you're like me and you have a typical command-line option and you organize your WADs into folders for your own sanity, it's more like

gzdoom +cl_capfps 1 -file eviternity\eviternity.wad

... no one actually types this out, right?  (Right?)

 

 

 

So here's what I've got for my setup, on Windows 10.  GZDoom is located at C:\Doom\GZDoom\gzdoom.exe, and I put my pwads in C:\Doom\<pwad folder>.  I put a shortcut to C:\Doom on my desktop.  Also in C:\Doom is this script, named launch-pwad.cmd:

@echo off

if "%~1"=="" exit
for %%f in (%1\*.wad) do set WAD=%%f
GZDoom\gzdoom.exe +cl_capfps 1 -file %WAD%

To actually run a PWAD, I double-click my Doom shortcut, then drag the PWAD folder onto the launch script.

 

If you're still typing out your command lines to run PWADs, you can use this instead!  Replace GZDoom\gzdoom.exe with your port of choice (if you use multiple make multiple scripts), and replace +cl_capfps 1 with whatever command line options you typically use.

 

If you've got a setup that's better than this I want to hear about it!

[Edward850]

2 hours ago, rrwoods again said:

If you've got a setup that's better than this I want to hear about it!

Press tab to autocomplete file paths. Easy.

[rrwoods again]

@Edward850 I mean that helps, but it's still WAY slower than one double-click followed by one drag, even assuming you start with a command prompt at the appropriate location.  The key sequence would be

gz<tab> -file evi<tab>evi<tab>

and that's before you type any command line options.

[Gez]

7 hours ago, rrwoods again said:

If you've got a setup that's better than this I want to hear about it!

Put your batch file in %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo and then you can run files from the context menu.

https://zdoom.org/wiki/Installation_and_execution_of_ZDoom#Send_to

[Havoc Crow]

I use the Total Commander file manager, which incidentally has a convenient command line. I can simply type in "zdoom -file " and then drag the .wad file onto the command line to append its filename to the end.

 

(Or I simply use hobomaster22's "Doom Launcher" to download and run PWADs. Very convenient.)

[xvertigox]

1 hour ago, JudgeDeadd said:

(Or I simply use hobomaster22's "Doom Launcher" to download and run PWADs. Very convenient.)

 

This is my goto. I'm not sure why you'd ever use a batch file or cli over it but there's probably a few fringe use cases.

[Egg Boy]

I use zdl, it allows me to use any of the iwads, with any source port, it even has a command line, so I can run a wad with -nomonsters for example. Really easy to use and understand.

[Doomenator]

I use Doomseeker.

[MFG38]

Similarly to Egg Boy above, my approach for running PWADs involves ZDL. Way more efficient than writing and running a batch file, in all honesty.

[rrwoods again]

20 hours ago, Gez said:

Put your batch file in %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo and then you can run files from the context menu.

https://zdoom.org/wiki/Installation_and_execution_of_ZDoom#Send_to

Oooohh that's a good one.  Doom Launcher looks great too.

[maxmanium]

Usually typing out the file and iwad parameters isn't too bad because of the DOOMWADDIR and DOOMWADPATH environment variables. It is rather obnoxious when it's not supported, like in Eternity or in the last stable build of PRBoom+, because then I have to type the whole directory for a PWAD (C:\Doom\files\pwads for me).

 

On 12/31/2019 at 11:03 AM, rrwoods again said:

... no one actually types this out, right?  (Right?)

 

I do, but see above. Usually all it takes is a CD to the appropriate source port and then launch the program. (I play Doom often enough that I pinned the Command Prompt to my taskbar.)

[Summer Deep]

No-one's mentioned Rocket Launcher, which in my view is exceptionally good.

[Ed_Deth]

i just open them with gzdoom or drag and drop on gzdoom

[SP_FACE1]

I use a Bash script which opens the latest downloaded PWAD or PK3 (or zip which contains a PWAD or a PK3) and optionally deletes it afterwards.

[Demion]

Please, try Doom Launcher. And I mean, OH PLEASE TRY IT. It's a one-way street. Thank me later.