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1993-05-23
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F R E E W A R E
f r o m
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─════ \ SFv3.3 ┌┬──────. ╧ ╞╞─ ╟─┴┐ ╟─┴┐ ╙─┐
─══ '─═════════╧╧╧╧═════╧════╧══'│ ╨──┘ ╨──┘ ╙──┘
Brants FIRST registered SPITFIRE BBS │ RelayNet(tm) Node: ELECTRIK
═════════ SF330279 ═════════ #1001
SPITFIRE + BBS-CHESS + ChessCOM + RelayNet(tm) = The BEST in Chess!
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓█████████████
2400 * 8/N/1 * (519) 442-6449
in cooperation with
Buffalo Creek Software
SFNATTRV
SPITFIRE NATURAL SCIENCE TRIVIA DOOR
Version 1.0
by
Derek Mann
of
Electric Knights Chess BBS
INTRODUCTION
------------
SFNATTRV is a fast paced natural science trivia game designed to run
as a door feature within the SPITFIRE Bulletin Board System. It can
also be installed as a sysop configurable command from the Main, File
or Message menus of SPITFIRE. A data file containing over 300
natural science trivia questions is randomly accessed and displayed
to the screen. With each question that is displayed, four multiple
choice options are provided from which the player may select.
SFNATTRV allows the SYSOP to configure the delay time (defaults to
ten seconds) that the player is allowed to read the question and
respond with the number corresponding to the answer they wish to
select.
SFNATTRV COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS
--------------------------------
/P - Designates the drive, path, filename and extension of the
high score bulletin to be used with SFNATTRV
/D - Designates the delay time (in seconds) that the user is
allowed to answer the question before it "times out".
/L - Allows local usage of SFNATTRV
The /P command line parameter is available which will automatically
create Ansi and Non-Ansi high score bulletins for your BBS system.
If you would like to use this option, a "/P" should follow the
SFNATTRV in the command line to indicate a valid DOS path where the
bulletin file will be created. (NOTE: This should be the same as the
display file path you have set up within SPITFIRE.) The path is then
followed by the file name of the bulletin to be created. It is not
necessary to include the file extension. SFNATTRV will automatically
add a .BBS extension for the Non-Ansi display file and a .CLR
extension for the Ansi display file created. The correct syntax
should look like this:
SFNATTRV /P C:\SF\DISPLAY\DORBUL1
The "/P" command line is optional and SFNATTRV will operate perfectly
fine without it. However, it is a convenient means of providing and
posting high score bulletins for the natural science trivia door.
The /D command line parameter is also available which will allow the
Sysop to designate the delay time (in seconds) that is allowed
between the time the question prompt is displayed to the screen and
when the user must enter the desired answer. This is done using the
/Dnn (where nn represents the number of seconds) command line
parameter. As an example, if the Sysop wishes to allow a 15 second
delay, a /D15 would be entered on the command line as illustrated
below:
SFNATTRV /D15
If no /Dnn is designated at the command line, SFNATTRV will default
to a ten second delay.
The /L command line parameter will allow SFNATTRV to be played
locally without requiring a SFDOORS.DAT, SFMAIN.DAT, SFMESS.DAT or
SFFILE.DAT file. Using the /L command line parameter disables the
program's carrier detect monitoring and redirection of the game
through the comm port. For local operation of SFNATTRV enter the
following command at the DOS prompt:
C:> SFNATTRV /L
** SPECIAL NOTE ** The /L, /P and /D command parameters can be used
together in one command line to specify the drive, path and filename
of the bulletin to be created and the delay time in seconds when
playing in local mode.
It should also be noted that the /P, /D and /L command line
parameters may appear in any order on the command line. SFNATTRV
does NOT require these to be used in a specific order.
SFNATTRV SETUP AS A SPITFIRE DOOR
---------------------------------
To set up SFNATTRV to be executed as a door, it is recommended that a
separate directory be set up for it. For explanation purposes, let's
assume the directory DOORA is created for use with SFNATTRV. The
following files must then be placed in the directory:
SFNATTRV.EXE The actual game program.
SFNATTRV.DAT The data file containing the trivia questions.
SFNATTRV.TOP This is a listing of the top ten players. SFNATTRV.EXE
will create this file if it is not found.
SFNATTRV.LMT This allows you to set time limits according to the
callers security level.
The Sysop will then need to use a text editor to edit the SF.BAT file
as illustrated below:
:DOOR_A
COPY SFDOORS.DAT C:\SF\DOORA
SFNATTRV
ERASE SFDOORS.DAT
GOTO LOOP
:DOOR_B
You will notice that the commands needed to execute SFNATTRV are
placed between the :DOOR_A and GOTO LOOP command lines. These are
entered in place of the existing REM Place Program Name Here. The
following will briefly explain each of the commands which were set up
within SF.BAT to run SFNATTRV as a SPITFIRE Door program:
SFDOORS.DAT is created automatically by SPITFIRE when a user enters a
door. It contains information about the user such as name and
password. SFNATTRV requires access to the information within
SFDOORS.DAT. Therefore, before executing the program it must be
copied to the directory in which SFNATTRV is running.
SFNATTRV is the program name and executes the game program from
within the door program.
Once the user has terminated the game play of SFNATTRV, SPITFIRE
erases the SFDOORS.DAT file.
SFNATTRV SETUP AS A SYSOP CONFIGURABLE COMMAND
----------------------------------------------
SPITFIRE has a sysop configurable command for the Main, Message and
File menus. The sysop configurable command is executed through a
batch file which corresponds to the menu it is being run from. In
other words, SFMAIN.BAT runs the sysop configurable command from the
Main Menu, SFMESS.BAT runs the one from the Message Menu and
SFFILE.BAT the one from the File Menu. The commands necessary to
execute SFNATTRV can be set up in the batch file which corresponds to
the menu you wish to have SFNATTRV run from.
The first thing you will need to establish is which of these menus
you wish to use to run SFNATTRV. For this purpose, let's assume that
it is going to be set up so it can be run from the Main Menu. (It
should be noted the set up procedure is the same regardless of which
Menu you are running SFNATTRV from.)
Next, you will need to decide what you wish to name the command
option and establish what security level will be required for users
of your system to be able to access this option. Once this is
determined you will need to modify the SFMAIN.MNU file using your
favorite text editor, as long as it saves in ASCII format. (Refer to
the SPITFIRE manual for further documentation on this if needed. It
should also be noted that if SFNATTRV were being set up to run from
the File Menu, you would need to modify the SFFILE.MNU file and if it
was being set up to be run from the Message Menu you would need to
modify the SFMSG.MNU file.)
Examining the default SFMAIN.MNU file, you will notice the sysop
configurable command appears as:
<K>............. Add Your Own,,1000,@
This will need to be replaced with a Command Character that will be
used to select the option from the menu. It is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE
that the Command Character must not duplicate an existing Command
Character for another menu option. You will then need to include a
brief description of the Wildcat door program you are running, two
commas, the security level required to access this feature, and
another comma followed by the a @. The @ must not be changed! (For
more detailed information on modifying your SFMAIN.MNU, SFMSG.MNU or
SFFILE.MNU refer to your SPITFIRE manual.)
<K>.... Brief Program Description,,10,@
Now you will need to modify the corresponding batch file, SFMAIN.BAT,
so that it can be executed from the Main Menu. Do this using your
favorite text editor, as long as it saves in ASCII format. (Again,
it should be noted that if SFNATTRV were being set up to run from the
File Menu, you would need to modify the SFFILE.BAT file and if it was
being set up to be run from the Message Menu you would need to modify
the SFMESS.BAT file.)
Place the SFNATTRV.EXE file in the directory you wish to run the
program from. SFNATTRV will create its own player score file,
SFNATTRV.TOP, if does not already exist.
The commands set up in the SFMAIN.BAT file are very similar to those
used for executing the game through a door in the SF.BAT file. For
instance, if you were running SFNATTRV from the main SPITFIRE
directory your SFMAIN.BAT file might look like this:
ECHO OFF
BRK OFF
SFNATTRV
BRK ON
(BRK is not included in the SFNATTRV package because it is written
and copyrighted by Solid Systems, 1985, but can be downloaded from
The Mother Board BBS and Buffalo Creek's BBS as well as a number of
other BBS systems. BRK is not required to run SFNATTRV, however, it
is recommended since it will prevent a user using the CTRL BRK
command to terminate the batch file, gaining access to your system at
the DOS level.)
If you wish to set SFNATTRV up in a separate subdirectory from
SPITFIRE, for instance, a subdirectory named SFNATTRV, your batch
file might look like this.
ECHO OFF
BRK OFF
COPY SFMAIN.DAT \SF\SFNATTRV
CD \SF\SFNATTRV
SFNATTRV
ERASE SFMAIN.DAT
CD \SF
BRK ON
When SFNATTRV is executed, from either the door with the SF.BAT file
or from the sysop configurable command through a menu with the
corresponding batch file, it will first look for the SFMAIN.DAT file,
then the SFMESS.DAT file, then the SFFILE.DAT file and lastly the
SFDOORS.DAT file. It will look for each of these files until it
finds it and the commands required for its execution. If none of
these files are found, SFNATTRV will halt its execution.
DTE LOCK FEATURE
----------------
SFNATTRV automatically detects if the DTE is locked at 19200 baud.
If SFNATTRV detects that the DTE is locked, then SFNATTRV opens the
serial port to the maximum baud rate of your system. If SFNATTRV
does not detect that the DTE is locked, then the serial port is
opened to the baud rate of the caller.
SFNATTRV ON A MULTI-NODE SYSTEM
-------------------------------
SFNATTRV is fully compatible for operation on a multi-node BBS. It
automatically handles any file locking and file sharing required
during the doors execution.
SYSOP FEATURES
--------------
First, a status line is now displayed on the BBS monitor that
provides information concerning the caller's name, baud rate of the
caller and the security level of the caller.
A SFNATTRV.LMT file allows the sysop to establish a time limit for
door play according to the security level the caller has on the
system. To modify the accompanying SFNATTRV.LMT file, use your
favorite text editor to represent the various security levels you
have available on your system, a comma then the corresponding time
you wish to allow for that particular security level in minutes. For
instance, it might look like this:
10,15
25,20
50,25
999,30
Each security level should begin a new line and you should have a
setting for each security level you have available on your system.
If you do not have a time limit set for a particular security SFNATTRV
will default to the level 10 security level setting.
Pressing the Shift Key and the F1 key simultaneously will terminate
game play of SFNATTRV and return the caller back to the BBS.
Pressing the Shift Key and the F9 key simultaneously will terminate
game play of SFNATTRV and log the caller off of the BBS. If the
Shift Key and the F9 key are pressed together, logging the caller off
the BBS, SPITFIRE will recycle and return to the SPITFIRE Ready For
Caller Prompt.
SFNATTRV EXECUTION
------------------
When first executed, SFNATTRV will display a list of the Top Ten high
score players and the percentage of correct responses they achieved
while playing SFNATTRV. Initially, this will be a dummy listing with
ten lines that display:
0%...............YOUR NAME COULD BE HERE
However, as the game is played, this will fill with the name of the
players, their percentage ratings and the date that the player was
added to the top ten listing.
NOTE: At least twenty questions must be attempted before SFNATTRV
will will figure the percentage rating for the player.
To keep things interesting...the Sysop can erase the file which
contains the top ten listings SFNATTRV.TOP on a routine basis to give
additional players a chance to have their name added to the list.
As the top ten list is displayed, at the bottom of the screen is a
question which prompts the user whether they want to have ANSI
Graphics (y/n)? available to them during game play. If the user
responds with a y (for yes) the game will display in color and if the
user responds with a n (for no) the game will display in monochrome.
PLAYING SFNATTRV
----------------
Immediately after pressing any key (other than <Q> for Quit) from the
Top Ten listing the game screen is displayed. The screen will look
like the following:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ >>>>>> NATURAL SCIENCE TRIVIA <<<<<<<<< ║
║ Version 1.0 ║
║ Natural Science Trivia Door For SPITFIRE! ║
║ Electric Knights BBS * (519) 442-6449 ║
║ In Cooperation with Buffalo Creek Software ║
║ Copyright (C) by Derek Mann, 1993 ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════╝
RIGHT: 0 WRONG: 0
QUESTION:
The Natural science trivia question will be displayed
here.
<1> Choice 1 <2> Choice 2
<3> Choice 3 <4> Choice 4
Enter Answer: [ 1 2 3 4 <Q>uit]?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The first randomly chosen trivia question is selected from the data
file and is displayed to the screen.
The player makes his selection by entering the corresponding number.
As the game progresses, SFNATTRV will provide a running total of the
correct answers and also of the wrong answers the user has selected
during the game play.
If the ten second timer should elapse before you respond, SFNATTRV
will count this as a wrong response and add an incorrect answer to
the total WRONG answers obtained so far.
EXITING PLAY
------------
When you are ready to exit the game, simply select press "Q" for
<Q>uit. If you qualify as one of the top ten players to date,
SFNATTRV will congratulate you for becoming one of the top ten
scorers and add your name to the Top Ten listing. You will once
again see the Top Ten list displayed with your name added to the
list.
If you exit the game before you have completed the twenty questions
required for eligibility to the Top Ten list or if you do not qualify
as a Top Ten player, the Top Ten listing will be displayed and you
will be prompted to press any key to return to SPITFIRE.
DISTRIBUTION
------------
Please feel free to share SFNATTRV.ZIP with others. However, it must
be distributed with SFNATTRV.EXE, SFNATTRV.DAT, SFNATTRV.TOP,
SFNATTRV.LMT and the SFNATTRV.DOC in the SFNATTRV.ZIP distribution
package. The files must not be altered in any way or by any means.
PUBLIC DOMAIN - DISCLAIMER
--------------------------
SFNATTRV is distributed under the public domain concept. The
software and its accompanying documentation are provided "as is"
without warranties expressed or implied as to the performance or
merchantability. No registration fee is required and the program can
be distributed freely. However, by the use of SFNATTRV, the user
assumes all responsibilities and agrees that Derek Mann or
Electric Knights BBS or Bill Brown shall not be held liable for any
damage incurred to hardware, software or peripheral devices while
running same.
Many thanks are indeed owed to Mike Woltz of Buffalo Creek BBS (515)-
225-8496 for his assistance. Without his help this program would not
have been possible.
DEDICATION:
This game is given freely to the SPITFIRE community to encourge and
foster the spirit of the SPITFIRE project.
History
-------
Release 1 SFNATTRV released.
SFNATTRV and other SPITFIRE programs are available for download from:
Buffalo Creek BBS Electric Knights Chess BBS
Sysop - Mike Woltz Sysop - Bill Brown
(515) 225-8496 (519) 442-6449
19200/9600/2400/1200 2400/8/N/1