home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Libris Britannia 4
/
science library(b).zip
/
science library(b)
/
PROGRAMM
/
DB_CLIPP
/
0264.ZIP
/
OUTER.ARC
/
OUTER.DOC
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1986-08-05
|
5KB
|
124 lines
OUTER
Copyright 1986
by
Jim Fullton
OUTER is a program written in the C programming language to support the
O)utside command in Fido. OUTER allows a remote user to run external programs
that the sysop selects. The sysop has complete control over what programs
are usable by users at each privilege level, and a log of all activity is
maintained.
CALLING SYNTAX:
OUTER { /1 | /2 | /t } [ time/l ] [ pin/v ]
The parameters have exactly the same meaning as those used with Fido.
FILES USED BY OUTER
OUTER.WEL - a text file containing a welcome message to be displayed when
the user first enters OUTER.
OUTER.HLP - a text file containing information to be displayed when the user
enters the "?" command.
OUTER.LOG - maintained by OUTER. This file will contain the user's name, the
time he/she started OUTER; the command and starting time of each service
executed; the time of return from each service, and the time OUTER was exited.
OUTER.CMD - a text file containing the list of commands OUTER can execute.
Each line has the form:
P;C;Command_to_execute;Description_given_to_user
P is the privilege level required for access. This is just the first letter
of one of the privilege levels, i.e. T)wit, D)isgrace, N)ormal, P)rivel,
E)xtra, or S)ysop. Users below the required level will neither see nor be
able to execute the command.
C is a single character by which the program will be selected. It must be a
single upper case letter. Using letters instead of numbers insures that users
at lower access levels will not notice "gaps" in available services.
Command_to_execute is the command that will be executed by selecting the
command "C". This can be a DOS internal or external command, complete with
parameters and/or switches exactly as if it were typed at the command line.
This command will not be visible to the user.
Description_given_to_user is self-explanatory.
EXECUTION
The user of Outer will see a menu like this:
You have 13 minutes left outside Fido
A) Play the Adventure Game
M) Search for messages
N) Check for any new files
Enter your selection (0 to Quit, ? for Help)
The user's time limit in OUTER is determined by the sysop in the RUNBBS.BAT
file. The OUTER time limit switches (/l) has the same meaning as that used
on the FIDO command line.
As in Fido, the /l value is doubled for PRIVEL and EXTRA levels, and halved
for TWIT levels. Users at the SYSOP level are allowed a per-session time of
4 times the /l value.
When OUTER starts, LASTUSER.BBS is checked against USER.BBS to check name and
password integrity, and to determine the privilege level. If the user has the
SYSOP privilege level, the USER.BBS file remains unchanged through the course
of OUTER. Checks are made to ensure that OUTER will not overrun a scheduled
event, and a time limit is established. This time is added to the per-day
time in USER.BBS. If the user returns to Fido normally, any remaining time
is then credited back to his/her record in USER.BBS.
OUTER has its own carrier detect "watchdog" function built in. The use of the
WATCHDOG program is not necessary when using OUTER. This built-in watchdog
uses the parameters given (/1 or /2 and the /V) to monitor the presence of
carrier detect. The use of the /t parameter disables this feature - allowing
testing from the console.
If a user hangs up while in OUTER, or the time limit expires, the system will
boot and the user will be "charged" the full amount of time allotted.
A user is prevented from "breaking out" of OUTER - control-C and control-Break
are disabled. However, in an external program, control-C and control-Break
will work as expected, returning control back to OUTER.
DEFAULT SWITCH VALUES
Session Time - 20 minutes (20/l)
CD Mask - 16 (16/v) - generally not the one needed!
ERRORLEVELS RETURNED
0 = normal termination, user typed "0"
1 = parameter error or OUTER.CMD not found
2 = LASTUSER.BBS not found in USER.BBS
3 = scheduled event within 2 minutes
OUTER may be invoked from a batch file by setting it to run when Fido exits
with the O) ERRORLEVEL. This ERRORLEVEL is set with Fido's /a switch.
OUTER is a user supported program. If you like it, and use it on your board,
please send a donation of $10.00 to:
Jim Fullton
2121 N. Lakeshore Dr.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Other sysop utilities such as NEWFILES (shows files added to the board within
user-specified number of days), SYSMENU (a remote sysop utility that does not
use special graphics), and SPLTNEWS (the Fido News Splitter) are available
from Fido node 151/104, along with their C source code.
Enjoy.
Jim Fullton