GEMini Atari/GEMini_Atari_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1993.iso/files/bbs/key20/key.doc

Text File | 1992-03-06 | 5.3 KB | 117 lines

                             SKELETON KEY 1.0
                        (C)1990 Excalibur Software
                           Program by Bill Jones
                          Release date : 11/15/90

    This program is SHAREWARE!  Read on to find out what shareware is
about, how to make it better and what it does for YOU!

This archive should contain:
    KEY.TOS  <-- The program
    KEY.SET  <-- Sample SETUP file
    KEY.DOC  <-- Well, you better see this - you're reading it!

    SKELETON KEY is a powerful little utility program that goes in between
Express and any other program you want to use with it.  It will completely
relieve you of the need for GATEWAY.TOS, CHAINER.TTP and DORINFO1.SCR.  It
is faster and MUCH easier to use.  The largest complaint I hear from other
Express SysOps is that many great doors and games are written for FoReM and
don't work from Express.  Included in this list are Space Empire Elite and
many others.  GATEWAY is nice, but it writes the wrong info file (for those
that need DORINFO1.DEF).  CHAINER and DORINFO1.SCR can fix that problem,
but unfortunately can't tell if you're a local user or calling in (which
makes a BIG difference to quite a few games).  Not only can you now
painlessly use programs with these requirements, but you can also use
programs NOT designed for use from the BBS, like ARC.TTP and others.  So,
enough of the promos.  Let's dive in and make it work for YOUR BBS!

    The first thing you need to do is create a file called KEY.SET.  In
this file is information some programs need.  It only has three lines.  The
first line is the name of your BBS.  The second contains the SysOp's first
name, and the third is the SysOp's last name.  If you're using a one-word
name, leave the last line blank (but it must have a return at the end).  So
KEY.SET looks like this (in my case):

The Zoo    <--- BBS on first line
The        <--- Your first name
MadMan     <--- Your last name

    It is VERY important that you have all three lines.  If you don't, very
strange and wonderful things are sure to occur.  Now, take this file and
stick it in your ROOT folder.  That usually means the one that BBS.PRG is
in.  If you've got BBS.PRG inside a folder (say, named "BBS") and KEY
complains that it can't find KEY.SET, then move the file to outside the
folder.

    Now for the fun part - using it from your scripts!  KEY.TOS is called
using the TOS command.  All the rest of the information it needs is passed
along with the command.  I'll show you an example with ARC.TTP.  We'll use
it to extract an ARC file called STUFF.

TOS 'KEY.TOS','ARC.TTP x STUFF.ARC *.*'
(This assumes all files are in the same folder)

    The first thing in the list is the program you want to run.  Anything












following it are parameters, just like ones the TOS (or GEM) command would
normally send along to the program.  But that's only a SMALL part of the
features of the program.  Now the REALLY good stuff.  SKELETON KEY has
commands of its own, which DON'T get sent.  All commands start with an
asterisk.

    *F - Create FOREM.DAT in the default folder
    *D - Create DORINFO1.DEF in the default folder
    *I - Create DOORINFO.DEF (for older Forem programs)
    *L - Pass LOCAL if needed for a local user
    *X - Send the normal parameters Express uses at the end of the list
    ** - Put an asterisk in the line

    It doesn't matter where F,D,I and X are in the line.  They work the
same as long as they're after the program name.  The only one that matters
is L.  The word LOCAL will be inserted into the line at that point if the
user is local (in other words, sitting at your computer).  If not, nothing
will be added.  So, let's set up a better scenario.  I've got a folder
named DOORS, where KEY.TOS is (to keep it near the games).  Inside this
folder is another one named SEE, where Space Empire Elite resides.  Space
Empire Elite requires that I send the word LOCAL if the user is local, and
it needs the file FOREM.DAT in its folder.  So, SKELETON KEY is called like
this (assuming you have a variable named DUMMY defined in your script):

DUMMY = FILE_CHGDIR 'D:\DOORS\SEE' (to set the default to SEE's folder)
TOS 'D:\DOORS\KEY.TOS','D:\DOORS\SEE\SEE.TTP *L *F'  (GO SEE)
DUMMY = FILE_CHDIR 'D:\'  (fix the folder back)

     See what it can do?  Well, try it out.  If you've used CHAINER and
GATEWAY before, this should be a piece of cake.  If not, just be patient.
It's been tested on my BBS, so just move things around till it works.

    THIS PROGRAM IS SHAREWARE!  It's not a demo, it's complete.  Nor has
anything been crippled until you send me money.  Something like this is
useful enough to not go through that.  But, I am asking that if you like it
and want me to keep to the ST market and make more things for your BBS, how
about sending me the five bucks?  I get a lot of satisfaction doing this,
but the money sure don't hurt!  Questions and comments should be directed
through my BBS.

                        Bill Jones (aka The MadMan)
                         5016 E. Washington St. #5
                          Indianapolis, IN 46201
                  The Zoo [phone] - 1200/2400 baud
          (14.4k V32bis/V42bis coming April 1st - thanks Supra!)

                         or voice if you need it:
                  [phone] (EST evenings, please!)