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1994-06-26
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****************************************
ATLANTIS SOFTWARE PRESENTS
****************************************
THE WALL OF WISDOM
Version 0.93
Copyright (c) 1994 By Jimmy Rose
****************************************
SHAREWARE NOTICE
________________
The Wall Of Wisdom is being distributed as shareware. If you
enjoy this program please register it. Whenever you find any
shareware Program that you like and find useful, please consider
registering. This will help encourage future developement of
other useful programs and also ensure that your favorites will
be supported and enhanced.
INTRODUCTION
____________
The Wall Of Wisdom is a BBS door where users can write their
thoughts and have them displayed to the next several callers.
It is a very popular feature on many BBS's.
Features include:
* User can write in his/her choice of colors!
* Can be run at logon, Main Menu, Door Menu, or all three.
* Written in C++ for speed and efficency.
* Supports Com0-Com15.
* Support BBS for questions, comments, or help setting up.
* Sysop utility for editing any user comment!
* Low registration fee! ($8 + $2 P/H)
REGISTRATION & SUPPORT
______________________
The Wall of Wisdom will be supported indefinately. The latest
shareware version will always be available for download from
The Prophecy BBS (513) 423-2336 (14400).
It is a free download on your first call.
For registration information see the file "order.txt".
If you have any comments, suggestions, or features you'd like
to see added to The Wall of Wisdom, please write or send E-mail.
I want to hear your ideas. All questions as will be answered as
quickly as possible. This shareware version has less colors
to choose from than the registered version and does not include
the sysop utility for editing the wall. The Registered version
displays the BBS name at the top of the screen, offers a choice
of Thirteen colors, and includes the sysop utility.
REQUIREMENTS
____________
You need an IBM compatible computer and a BBS. The Wall of
Wisdom will work with TriBBS, Wildcat, PC Board, Spitfire,
RBBS, WWIV, Gap, Renegade, Remote Access, and other BBS's
that can run one of these door types.
It is assumed that you are familiar with your BBS software
and have installed other doors. If not, step by step instructions
are provided for some boards. This program may also be run in
local mode without a BBS (see below).
INSTALLATION
____________
Create a directory for The Wall of Wisdom. Preferably in your
BBS directory. You can name it whatever you want. For example,
if you want to create a directory called "wall" in your BBS
directory, from the Dos prompt type "cd c:\bbs", then type
"md wall". Don't type the quotation marks.
This assumes your BBS is on your c: drive. If it's on another
drive, substitute the appropriate letter.
After you create the directory, unzip the archive contents
into it. Next you'll need to create a configuration file or modify
the "wall.cfg" file included with the archive. This is an ascii
text file that can be created or edited with any text editor.
The configuration file MUST be in the same directory as The
Wall of Wisdom. It has the following format:
Line 1: Door data type (see below)
Line 2: Path to Door data file (dropfile)
Line 3: BBS name
Line 4: Sysop's name
Line 5: Locked baud rate
Line 1 is the Door data file type and can be any of the following
TRIBBS for TriBBS ; TRIBBS.SYS
PCB for PC Board ; PCBOARD.DAT, PCBOARD.SYS
GAP for Gap ; DOOR.SYS
SF for Spitfire ; SFDOORS.DAT
RBBS for RBBS ; DORINF0#.DEF
WC for Wildcat ; CALLINFO.BBS
WWIV for WWIV ; ????????.???
* Note that TriBBS can run doors with any of the configuration
dropfiles above. Remote Access may use either GAP or RBBS.
Other BBS packages may work with multiple dropfiles, but
make sure you choose only one.
The other lines should be self-explainatory. Here's a sample
config file:
TRIBBS
c:\tribbs\
The Prophecy
Jimmy Rose
38400
This would configure The Wall of Wisdom to run on a TriBBS
system. It assumes the BBS is in the "tribbs" directory and
the serial port has been locked at 38400. If you lock the serial
port at some other speed, change the setting to the appropriate
baud rate. If you do not lock the serial port, this line MUST
contain a 0. Other Sample configuration files can be found at the
end of this file.
The next step is to create a batch file to call the door. Each
BBS is different, so it's assumed you know how to create one
for your system. Here's a sample batch file for TriBBS:
cd c:\tribbs\wall
wall wall.cfg
cd c:\tribbs
board
The first line changes to the directory where The Wall of Wisdom
is located.
The second line calls the door followed by the configuration file.
You MUST include the name of the configuration file, although you
can name it anything you like.
The third and fourth lines return you to the board.
Each system will be a little different, the one line that will
be same for every batch file is the second one.
Finally, edit your bbs files to display the door name and call
the batch file when selected. You're on your own here!
The Wall of Wisdom supports nonstandard IRQ's for the serial
port. Simply place the com port number on the command line after
the name of the configuration file. The range of values is 0-15.
The Wall of Wisdom can easily be run from your Main Menu on
systems with extendable menus and/or from your logon.bat. It can
also be ran from the Door Menu just like any other door.
It is recommended you do run the program from both your logon.bat
file if your system supports this and also from either the Main
Menu or the door Menu.
To set up The Wall of Wisdom as a Main Menu item on a Tribbs
system, name the above batch file "mainh", then edit your
main.mnu file to call the batch file by adding the following
line:
H,H,Wall of Wisdom,20
This will call up The Wall of Wisdom whenever the letter H is
selected from the Main Menu. You may use any availabe letter
that you like, just substitute the letter you want to use for
the letter H in all instances above, including the batch file
name. The number at the end of the line is the minumum security
level a user must have to be able use The Guest Registry. Adjust
this to your liking.
To execute The Wall of Wisdom at logon, name the above batch file
"logon.bat".
OPERATION
_________
The Wall of Wisdom may be run locally if you wish. If you want
to run the door without going through the BBS, make the directory
where the program is stored the current directory. From the Dos
prompt type "wall wall.cfg local". You will prompted to enter a
user name. Whatever name you type in will be used for your Alias.
When The Wall of Wisdom loads it will automatically display the
wall. The very first time it is run, you will see an error message
because there is no data yet. Just hit ENTER and the program will
continue execution.
You will be asked if you want to write on the wall. Pressing "Y"
brings up a screen where you choose the color to write in and enter
your phrase. There are Thirteen colors to choose from in the
Registered version. The Shareware version limits you to the first
four.
Just choose a color and write!
That's all their is to it.
Common Problems:
"It looks fine on the sysop end, but users only see garbage on the
screen when they enter the door".
This is always a configuration error. If your serial port is locked,
change the last line in The Guest Registry configuratiion file the
rate at which you lock your serial port. If the serial port is not
locked, the setting MUST be 0.
Also, make sure your RTS/CTS flow control is on in your node config.
"It runs fine, but it's not in color".
Try using a different drop file.
SAMPLE CONFIGURATION FILES
--------------------------
________________________________________
Spitfire.cfg:
SF
c:\spitfire\
The Haven
Eric Carr
0
________________________________________
pcboard.cfg:
PCB
c:\pcbbs\
Consultant's BBS
Joe Comm
14400
________________________________________
wildcat.cfg:
WC
c:\bbs\
The Academy
Madmaggie
38400
________________________________________
gap.cfg
GAP
c:\bbs\
Salt Lake BBS
Martha Mormon
9600
________________________________________
NOTES
_____
I wrote this program because this is the type of wall writer I
wanted on my BBS, The Prophecy. I like being able to choose
which color to write in and being able to edit anything written
on the wall, should I need to do so. I don't like the large
multiple line walls because they only display the last 3 or 4
comments posted and I didn't like the other color walls that I
checked out because of the color schemes.
Thanks to Martin Wheeler and Photo Finish BBS (513) 539-4439
for serving as distributation and test site for The Guest
Registry and other Atlantis Software products.
This program was written in C++ using Borland Turbo C++ and the
Tridoor library (c) by Mark Goodwin.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggetions please write
to:
Jimmy Rose
2000 Linden ave.
Middletown, OH 45044-4435
USA
Or call the Home of Atlantis Software:
The Prophecy BBS (513) 423-2336. 24 hours a day. 14400.
Voice support is available to REGISTERED users.
If you do have a problem and call or write, please be prepared to
provide the following information:
> Wall of Wisdom version number.
> BBS Software & version number.
> Serial port used? (locked?, rate?).
> Any thing else "specific" to your problem.
*****************************************************************************
THANKS FOR TRYING THE WALL OF WISDOM!
*****************************************************************************