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1987-03-27
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626 lines
GTCTL Release 3.5
GT PowerComm Sysop Control Program
27 March 1987
by
James R. Davis
This program and its documentation are a companion to the software and
documentation created by P&M Software Co. known as GT PowerComm.
Collectively these programs (along with GTLOG) provide the user an
extremely powerful yet relatively easy to use communication system for
use on an IBM or compatible micro-computer system. All of these
products by P&M Software and James R. Davis are provided in the form of
Shareware and made available through electronic Bulletin Boards located
all over the country. As such, you have the right to use these products
and to freely copy and distribute them, provided only that the copies
include both code and documentation, unmodified, and that only the
authoring company may sell the programs and documentation for a profit.
It is not necessary to register for GTCTL or GTLOG separately from GT
PowerComm. Further, there is not a separate registration fee for them.
It is strongly suggested, however, if you find the set of programs to be
useful, that you register your copy of GT with P&M Software Co. and that
you accompany your registration with the $40 registration fee requested.
This is the only way to insure the continued availability and support of
such quality software.
A registration form is included as the last page of this documentation.
The authors of GT PowerComm and the companion series of support programs
sincerely hope you will find these programs to be the finest examples of
communications capabilities available anywhere and that you will benefit
from their use.
Please note, the authors advise you that they have no responsiblity for
consequential damages, whatever.
James R. Davis
2010 Woodland Springs
Houston, Texas 77077
(713) 497-2306 Data
(713) 558-5015 Voice
1
GTCTL - brief summary
This program provides the user of GT PowerComm with support functions
that facilitate the maintenance of the Host mode of that fine program.
In the Host mode of GT PowerComm you are able to provide unattended
access to your system to a controlled set of remote users. You are able
to specify what functions those users are able to perform, the amount of
time each is allowed to access the system, which users are NOT allowed
access, and to maintain a complete log of system activity as well as a
complete general and private message data base for the user community.
Obviously, with the flexibility the Host mode provides, you, as the
System Operator (Sysop), must assume some new responsibilities. For
example, the message data base could grow without end if you did not
have a way to control its size. Certain callers of your system may call
only once and never call back. In that case you may want to purge that
user's name from those who are currently active and authorized. Certain
callers into your system will be undesirable for various reasons and you
may want to preemptively prevent them from logging on to the system.
After a period of time you may want to renumber the messages in the data
base. And, you may simply wish to determine which of your callers are
currently using that message data base or which currently have
unreceived mail waiting for them in that data base.
These are the kinds of functions that GTCTL was written to support. The
other companion program to GT PowerComm is called GTLOG which is used to
determine who has sent you files, who has received certain files from
your system, the performance of your system's file transfer functions,
telephone expense estimates, the reading of Sysop private messages or
file Upload descriptions, and several other file activity analyses
functions.
GTCTL is a stand alone program that assumes only that you have installed
the ANSI.SYS driver (or equivalent) in your system. It finds all files
automatically by searching your environment for the GTPATH name and, if
it finds that name, allows you to run the program from any directory on
your disk. If you have not specified the GTPATH name in your
environment then GTCTL must be run from within the directory which
contains the GT PowerComm files (Typically C:\COMM). Naturally, GTCTL
must be located within your systems' PATH or in the directory which
contains the other GT files.
Release 3.3+ is a major enhancement to GTCTL in that it has been changed
to support as many as 30 different message or conference areas and the
implimentation of personal passwords, and telephone numbers in the
User's file. Another major enhancement is the ability of the program to
transfer files from one directory to others and to update the receiving
directory's FILES.BBS file (maintaining sort sequence).
2
Change History
Release 3.5 03/27/87 Added sample reports to DOC, fixed two bugs
were 'transparent' during test, but real to
users of FILES.BBS and WHATS.NEW creators.
Release 3.4 03/26/87 Major functional enhancements: WHATS.NEW
file creation, better error reporting, new
Calls by hour Month-to-date chart, aligns
FILES.BBS entries properly, excludes BAK
files from FILES.BBS, will not allow you
to specify directories not in GTDIR.BBS,
better RAM utilization.
Release 3.3 03/17/87 Complete rewrite to support multiple message
data bases, retention of telephone numbers and
personal passwords in the user's file, much
more complete BACKUP/ARC/PKARC functions,
abilty to update user records by user name,
report layout changes and the creation or
updating of FILES.BBS file contents, and a new
scan and scroll mode of updating CTL files.
Release 3.0,1,2 3/16/87 Beta versions of 3.3 released prematurely.
Release 2.9 03/04/87 Better error messages, ability to show as
many as 50 messages/user in summary report,
minor bug fix.
Release 2.8 03/01/87 Added capability to select month of
interest in Chart function.
Release 2.7 02/27/87 Added BACKUP/ARCHIVE capability as an
option on the main menu and as a feature
of the Renumber Messages function.
Release 2.6 02/25/87 Added Host Mode Status Charts function.
Release 2.5 02/24/87 Creates and maintains *Deleted Users* entry in
GTMAIL.CTL file to keep track of calls made by
users before they were deleted. Fixed the two
reported minor bugs found in GTCTL24.
Release 2.4 02/22/87 Added Scan mode to Option 9.
Fixed GTDIR.BBS test one more time.
Release 2.3 02/21/87 Enhanced functions:
Ability to Scan User/Mail Control File to
decide on which entries to Ban, Delete or to
correct the usernames.
Recognition that some users will modify their
GTDIR.BBS file with a wordprocessor or other
editor that adds extraneous end of file marks.
The program will not abort in such cases.
Release 2.2 02/20/87 Final revision prior to formal release of GT
PowerComm 12! This also corrects a major bug
that could have left your message header control
file truncated (without loss of messages, but no
way to get to them)!!!!
Release 2.1 02/18/87 Added major functions: selectively output text
along with message header information, range of
messages to be output, complete add/update of
GTMESSAG control file records, and new formats.
Release 2.0 02/14/87 Fixed two bugs in the area of deleting messages.
Release 1.9 02/13/87 Implemented an automatic fix of GTMESSAG.ctl
record 0 header (offset) if found to be wrong.
Also corrected a bug in Message Summary report.
Release 1.8 02/12/87 Added ability to delete Private rcvd messages,
to delete Public rcvd messages, and to delete
all messages older than a specified number of
days. Modest change to User Control File list.
Release 1.7 02/08/87 Corrected sort of GTMAIL.ctl by last called date
(This bug corrupted the GTMESSAG.ctl file!)
Release 1.6 02/07/87 Added delete inactive user function that was not
properly added in 1.5 and cleaned up the display
of the GTMESSAG.ctl file.
Release 1.5 02/06/87 Corrected sort of GTMESSAG.ctl to prevent file
compression unless in message number sequence.
Release 1.4 02/06/87 Eliminated the ability to leave GTMESSAG.ctl
file in other than message number sequence. Now
has the ability to output to a file.
Release 1.3 02/06/87 Improved master menu. Included sort of GTMAIL
file by date of last call. Improved the format
of the GTMAIL file listing. Included ability to
delete inactive users from GTMAIL.ctl file.
Release 1.2 02/05/87 If the last record in the GTMAIL.ctl file is
corrupted in any way (or deleted) it will now
be deleted automatically. Total calls received
is now printed on GTMAIL.ctl listing.
Release 1.1 02/04/87 This release includes the ability to sort the
GTMAIL.ctl file by either First or Last name,
the addition of City and State to the GTMAIL
file lister, and the automatic deletetion of
garbage user names from that file.
Release 1.0 Beta This was the original Beta test version.
-3- GTCTL - Operations
When you start GTCTL (by simply typing: GTCTL) it will present you with
four or five options. Four provide the ability to exit the program or to
direct program output to your printer, display device or a file. You
will be presented with this same screen after each function you select
has completed. The default, shown in brackets, is to direct output to
the display device. You should know that the display will always pause
after each screen has filled in order to allow you to read what is
displayed. In the case of printed output, if a report extends beyond a
page there will be a form feed issued after a message is printed at the
bottom of the page indicating that the report is continued on the next
page. The report does not pause if printed.
The fifth option, if present, allows you to select a different message
data base as the default for all subsequent operations.
Once an output device is selected you are presented with a menu that
allows you the following choices:
0 - Exit to Output selection Menu
1 - Message Summary Report
2 - Message Control File Report
3 - User/Mail Control File Report
4 - Scan,Delete,Ban and Update User(s)
5 - Renumber messages
6 - Sort User/Mail Control file
7 - Delete inactive users
8 - Delete specified messages
9 - Scan/Update/Add nessage header(s)
B - Backup/Archive critical files
F - Create/Update FILES.BBS or WHATS.NEW file
S - Host mode Status Charts
The default is 0; to return to the Main Menu.
Option 1 provides a Summary of the contents of your Message Data Base.
For every user of the system that has either a currently active message
that he has sent or which is addressed to him, there will be a listing
which includes his name and a list of the messages numbers that relate
to him that are in the file. The numbers that are enclosed in brackets
are addressed to him while the others are messages he has sent.
Option 2 prepares a complete report of the message control file and the
message data base. Each entry on the report consists of the message
number, the sender and receiver names, the time and date it was sent,
the topic of the message, and flags that show whether the message was
private and/or received, up to the first three reply numbers for that
message, and the message number that this message is a reply to, if any.
Finally, the actual message is displayed, if found, or a warning that
that particular message could not be found in the data base.
4
Option 3 prepares a report that includes the contents of the User/Mail
control file. This file contains the names of all users who have logged
onto the system while it has been in Host mode. Besides the user's
name, the file contains information such as the message number he has
last read, the date and time of his last call, the number of calls he
has made to your system, whether he has elected 'Expert' mode, whether
he has been Banned from accessing your system, and whether he wants the
More? display control function. Additional information may be expected
to reside in this control file in the future.
Option 4 is used to specify a list of users that are to be deleted or
banned from the system. Banning a user retains the user name in the
User/Mail control file and disallows the use of that user name to gain
access to your system. NOTE: this obviously does not prevent him from
adopting another name and using the same password to log on with! It is
used primarily to prevent the use of a set of names or handles on your
system that you might find offensive and to discourage a casual but
undesirable user from getting into the system. Similarly, deleting a
user name merely forces the system to recognize that user's next call to
be his FIRST one. It results in the NEWUSER bulletin being presented
the next time that user name is employed. Sub function 3 allows you to
reverse the prior deletion or banning of a user thus you will no longer
have to delete it if you want to un-ban that name. You are asked
if you want to delete or ban the list you next enter. The format of
input is simply to type the user names with a blank between (it is not
case sensitive) and, if there are more than one such name, to put a
comma between names.
Option 5 will do two things at once. First, it will eliminate all
deleted records from the file and second, it will renumber all active
messages starting with the number one. Obviously, all control file
references to message numbers are also renumbered so that, for example,
the last message read for each user will remain consistent with the
resulting message numbers in the file.
Option 6 will sort the User/Mail file in order to get it into user name
order. As each new user calls into the system his name is appended to
the file. The sort function allows you to sequence the file
alphabetically by either the user's first or last name or numerically in
descending order of date last called.
Option 7 allows you to delete inactive users of your system. 'Inactive'
means that the caller has not called your board within a specified time
period (for example, within two months). You specify the time period at
the time you select this option.
Option 8 provides you the ability to eliminate messages from the message
data base and GTMESSAG.CTL header file. You may do so by selecting
either: All Private received mail, All Public received mail, All mail
that has been in the file longer than a certain specified number of
days, or via a specified of message numbers.
5
Option 9 provides you the tools necessary to edit your Message Control
file. With this option you may edit existing entries, delete such an
entry and create new entries.
Option S provides the user the ability to print or display charts showing
the Host Mode Status of GT PowerComm during the current month. There are
currently three charts available:
Telephone Usage Hours by Day - Shows the time your telephone has been
'Off-hook' in either Answer or Originate mode.
Calls-per-hour by Time and Day - Shows the number of calls received
or placed for every hour of every day of the month.
Calls per hour month-to-date - Shows relative activity of your board
by hour of the day and average calls received during that
hour M-T-D.
Option B provides the user with a convenient way to backup or archive all
critical Host mode files (GTMAIL.CTL, GTMESSAG.CTL, GTMDIR.BBS,
GTDIR.BBS, GT.LOG and all messages).
It assumes the existence in your system of either a standard BACKUP
program or ARC or PKARC and that these are available via the PATH by DOS.
You may send the output to floppy disk or to your GT directory whether
you choose the BACKUP or ARC methods. The author strongly suggests that
you employ this function at least once a day!
A word about naming conventions used should you elect to use the ARC
method provided. GTCTL will send all critical files found in the GT
directory to an ARC file with the name of mm-dd-yy.ARC. If that file
already exists it will be updated. Then, using the GTMDIR.BBS file (if
it exists), the program will create seperate ARC files for each message
directory found listed in that file and will use the folling name:
mmddyynn.ARC where nn is the relative sequence number of the directory
as listed in GTMDIR.BBS.
In other words, if you have a message directory listed in your GTNDIR.BBS
file called C:\GAMES and it is the third directory listed in that file,
then GTCTL will create an ARC file called mmddyy03.ARC and will put that
directories control files and all messages from its GTMSGS sub-directory
into that ARC file.
Option F (Create/Update FILES.BBS or WHATS.NEW file) allows you to
specify a source directory from which files are to be moved (not just
copied), and to add file descriptors and a formatted entry into a
designated directory's FILES.BBS (in sort sequence). The only
directories that may be specified as targets for these moves are those
listed in the GTDIR.BBS file. There is also the facility to simply
update the contents of an existing FILES.BBS (without moving files). If
using one of the two 'move' options, you may specify that only ARC files
are considered.
5.1 The WHATS.NEW option allows you to specify a date of interest as well as
the source (target) directory. It will create a new WHATS.NEW file
containing just those files added or changed since the specified date.
The option has one sub-option: you may elect to move only those files
with an extension of ARC or all files.
5.2
GTCTL - Additional notes
GTCTL will (without announcing it) begin by looking for your GTDIR.BBS
file. It then will look into each of the directories specified in that
file and insure that there is a FILES.BBS file. If not, it will create
that file for you and the contents of the created file will be a single
text line that says: "No descriptions currently available."
Finally, and without notification to the user, Option 3 will shrink
the GTMAIL.CTL file if it is possible to do so (because of deleted users
at the beginning of the file). The GTMESSAGE.CTL file is shrunk
automatically only at the time of renumbering of messages because of
deletions found therein.
The program is non-interruptable because of the many control file
updates that take place with it. Care has been taken to minimize the
risk of corrupting these files by keeping them 'closed' until the last
possible moment before they are updated, and then they are immediately
closed again.
* N O T I C E *
Given the care and design of this program towards protecting the
integrity of your messages and control files, it would be reasonable to
presume that these files are important to the operation of your Host
system. They are. Therefore, it cannot be overemphasized that a daily
backup (or complete ARCing) is essential to minimize the effect of any
corruption of those files resulting from any cause or reason. That is
why the function has been created for you, but the author cannot force
you to use it. Be advised that there is always the possibility of file
corruption; from power outages, to errors in the logic of programs such
as this one. Your use of this program is evidence of your agreement to
assume the entirety of that risk and that you will not hold the author
or his associates or distributors liable in any way should there be a
loss of data from its use.
* N O T I C E *
6
Telephone Usage Hours by Day
For the month of March as of 3/27/87 @ 9:21
24|
23|
22|
21|
20|--------------------------------------------------------------
19|
18| A
17| A
16| A A A
H 15|-----------------------------A-----A---A-A---A----------------
O 14| A A A A A A
U 13| A A A A A A A A A A A
R 12| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
S 11| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
10|-----A---A---A-A-A-A-A-A---A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A----------
9| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
8| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
7| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
6| A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
5|-A-A-A-A-O-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A--------
4| A A A A O A A A A A A A O A A A A A A A O A A A O A A
3| A O A O O A O A A A O A O A O A A A O A O O A O O O A
2| O O O O O A O A O A O A O A O O O A O A O O A O O O A
1| O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
==============================================================
-|-|-|-|05-|-|-|-|10-|-|-|-|15-|-|-|-|20-|-|-|-|25-|-|-|-|30-|
O = Originate A = Answer
For the month of March as of 3/27/87 @ 9:22
00:00|---- 3 2 2 1---- 1---------- 2---- 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 2-- 3-------- 27
01:00| 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 1 2 30
02:00| 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 1 5 2 1 1 1 26
03:00| 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 22
04:00| 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 13
05:00| 5 1 2 1 3---- 1 1-- 2 1 1------ 1 1 1 1 1 1-- 1---- 1-------- 26
06:00| 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 1 27
07:00| 1 3 2 1 1 2 2 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 2 39
08:00| 1 1 1 3 3 1 5 1 1 2 2 3 1 1 3 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 45
09:00| 1 1 3 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 4 1 1 3 3 1 38
10:00| 1 2 1 1 1-- 1---- 2-- 2 1 1 2 2 2 3 1 3 3 5 3 3-- 1---------- 41
T 11:00| 4 5 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 4 4 2 2 2 4 45 C
I 12:00| 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 4 1 3 3 3 2 3 3 4 3 3 2 1 46 A
M 13:00| 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 2 2 3 1 4 3 1 3 2 1 39 L
E 14:00| 2 2 1 1 2 4 1 1 1 1 2 4 2 1 2 3 3 1 1 3 3 41 L
15:00| 3 2-- 1 1 1-- 1 3-- 1 2 1 1-- 2 2 2 1 4 2 1 4 1 1 1---------- 38 S
16:00| 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 34
17:00| 4 1 5 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 2 2 4 2 43
18:00| 1 4 4 1 2 3 4 3 5 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 44
19:00| 5 3 2 2 4 2 1 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 2 3 1 3 2 2 49
20:00| 1 1 1 2 3 1---- 3-- 2-- 2 2 1 5 1 3 3 2 1-- 1 3 3 1---------- 42
21:00| 2 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 3 5 8 3 3 1 3 4 2 3 1 2 58
22:00| 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 2 1 3 3 4 3 2 1 3 1 39
23:00| 1 3 3 2 1 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 2 2 35
====================================================================
-|-|-|-|05-|-|-|-|10-|-|-|-|15-|-|-|-|20-|-|-|-|25-|-|-|-|30-| 887
3 3 2 2 4 2 1 3 3 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 4 4 2 1
2 5 8 6 1 5 9 5 9 1 0 6 6 5 2 9 1 1 9 4 7 7 7 1 1 9 1 0 0 0 0
CALLS
For the month of March as of 3/27/87 @ 9:23
00:00|************* | 27
01:00|*************** | 30
02:00|************* | 26
03:00|*********** | 22
04:00|****** | 13
05:00|************* | 26
06:00|************* | 27
07:00|******************* 39
08:00|********************** 45
09:00|******************* 38
10:00|******************** 41
T 11:00|********************** 45 C
I 12:00|*********************** 46 A
M 13:00|******************* 39 L
E 14:00|******************** 41 L
15:00|******************* 38 S
16:00|***************** | 34
17:00|********************* 43
18:00|********************** 44
19:00|************************ 49
20:00|********************* 42
21:00|***************************** 58
22:00|******************* 39
23:00|***************** | 35
====================================================================
-|-|-|-|20-|-|-|-|40-|-|-|-|60-|-|-|-|80-|-|-|-|00-|-|-|-|20 Avg= 38
[ ]
[ REGISTRATION FORM ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ DATE:__________ TO: P & M Software Co. ]
[ 9350 Country Creek #30 ]
[ Houston, Tx 77036 ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ FROM: NAME:________________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ ADDRESS:________________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ ________________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ ________________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ CHECK 1 ITEM: ]
[ ]
[ 1. ___ INITIAL REGISTRATION OF "GT PowerComm" (SUGGEST $40). ]
[ NOTE: INITIAL REGISTRATION INCLUDES AN AUTOMATIC UPGRADE. ]
[ ]
[ 2. ___ UPGRADE TO NEW VERSION OF "GT PowerComm" (SUGGEST $10). ]
[ IF YOU ARE ALREADY A REGISTERED USER, YOU CAN USE THIS ]
[ OPTION TO OBTAIN AN OFFICIALLY REGISTERED COPY. ]
[ ]
[ PLEASE SUPPLY THE SERIAL NUMBER AND VERSION FROM THE ]
[ COPY OF THE PROGRAM YOU ARE CURRENTLY USING. USE THE ]
[ ALT-J COMMAND TO OBTAIN THIS INFORMATION. ]
[ ]
[ SERIAL # _________ VERSION # ___________ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ PLEASE INDICATE AMOUNT ENCLOSED ]
[ -------------------------------------- ]
[ ]
[ Contribution Amount: __________ ]
[ ]
[ TX residents add sales tax: __________ ]
[ ]
[ TOTAL ENCLOSED: __________ ]
[ ]
[ Sales Tax Note ]
[ -------------- ]
[ To compute the proper sales tax you should include 5.25% for the ]
[ TX state tax, Houston residents should add 1% for the city sales ]
[ tax, and MTA residents should add an amount equal to their local ]
[ MTA rate. In Houston and Dallas, the MTA rate is 1%. ]
[ ]
[ PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH, SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. YOUR REQUEST ]
[ WILL BE FILLED PROMPTLY UPON RECEIPT. ]
------------------------------------------------------------------------