The World of Computer Software

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ The World of Computer Software / The World of Computer Software.iso / laston55.zip / LASTON.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1993-01-21 | 20KB | 363 lines

LASTON Version 5.5 Copyright 1991-1993 Douglas DeLonay SYSOP of The Home of ZIGGY (414)264-3220 Graphics screen design-there are now 3 user definable screens for LASTON. They consist of 3 lines each.. in following format.... *****name/handle**************From*******baud*****time-on***Date** * * * * * * ****************************************************************** ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^Column 68 line 1 column 21 column 41 column 50 column60 the 3 files are named LASTON.ANI, LASTON.ASC, and LASTON.SCR.. The above would be an example of a screen design for no graphics. The screen must be 68 colomns and 3 rows to show what you want to surround the information about last callers..No more than 3 lines! For the ASC and ANSI screens you should first design your ASC screen as above.. when you got it the why you want it you can start adding the color codes for the ANI screen.. Use a ANSI draw program such as THEDRAW to add color to the ASC file to make it a ANSI file. Only Normal ANSI is allowed. No animation. make sure you have NO SPACES in the first and last lines of the screen as that will throw your screen out of wack.. also remember 68 colomns and the spaces between info dividers... look at the included sample screens to help guide you.. only 3 lines each! If you change the files make sure you remove the old files from the PATH!! For easy setup use the SETUP command line parameter. This will make your .CFG files(s) for you. Easy to follow menu's and selections. Can also edit your .CFG files, and make/edit your .BAT files for you. the SETUP procedure will make your LASTON commandline from the options you pick in SETUP menu's. Though the SETUP utility should be easy to follow that doesn't mean you shoulnd't read the DOCS for a better understanding of commands. Type from directory LASTON will be run (can be run from other directory, but that isn't the safest way) LASTON SETUP the PAUSE command. This command will pause the output at the end of display for remote callers. Since the main.mnu of RyBBS does not put a PRESS ENTER prompt at the return from a program call this command will solve that problem. If you run from the bulletin menu (first.bbs) you won't need this. dorinfo1.def users may find this useful also. LASTON PAUSE Also new in 5.4 is the FOSSIL and FOSSILU commands. LASTON will now use a fossil driver if you wish. when using the fossil commands LASTON will try and use a fossil driver if resident. If LASTON can't find and init the driver it will attempt to use it's own internal port interrupt routines. The difference between the 2 commands are the following. LASTON FOSSIL -Will leave fossil active on port when it exits LASTON FOSSILU -Will unload fossil on exit(deactivate port), and leave fossil resident Work on com routines for better responce on high speed modems. also changed the multi-node commands a bit, see appropriate section, and/or new.doc Now will display node number if use multi-node BBS. Fix bug were MNP connections would list as local connection. Add another commandline option LOCKEDRATE. If you have a high speed modem and want to use the lockedrate add this to the commandline line. LASTON LOCKEDRATE Otherwise it will use the actual connectrate. It always used the lockedrate before if you had a high speed modem and locked the port. Another big benifit is the ability for you to pause, stop output even if a remote user is on. Hitting <ENTER> will now continue output also to be more like RYBBS screen output. LASTON can now use the DORINFO1.DEF file!.. DORINFO1.DEf users can disregard the LASTON.SCR (comment file, look ahead) as DORINFO1.DEF only detects for 2 choices-ANSI or not ANSI. Only the *.ANI and *.ASC screen files apply to DORINFO1.DEF users. Still need both LASTONCM.* files. Some of the commands listed do not apply to dorinfo1.def users. Commands that DO NOT apply to DORINFO1.DEF users will have a "**" next to them. It will build a LASTON.DAT file from the dorinfo1.def file, adding to it untill it reaches the default 10 users for unregistered version. You'll have to run it a few times as above before you notice the laston screen starts to build. You will have to run it as above as a log-on program to keep an updated callers list. You can also run it at a menu for users to view without updating the callers log- refer to the MENU command below. If you don't use the DAT file and get an MOT ENOUGH USERS IN CALLERS.LOG message you can use the LOGP/n command to increase the amount of the callers.log the program reads. By default LASTON has n=5, which means it reads 500 bytes for every user you list in LASTON. In the unregistered version it starts reading 5,000 bytes from the end of the file. The default setting should be good for most setup's. If you get the above mentioned error try testing it at slightly higher setings till the error disappears. you might try something like ** LASTON LOGP/7 If you have very small amount of events and startup's and shutdowns you could try decreasing the the number to increase speed, though I wouldn't recommend lowering it. Decreasing it wouldn't increase speed that much. A setting of LOGP/0 would read the entire file. Setting it too high will also read the whole file, say you set n=400 and your callers.log has only 300,000 bytes in it. If you use the DAT command you don't need to worry about this. It will read the entire CALLERS.LOG the first time to set up the LASTON.DAT file, and after that it doesn't need the callers.log anymore. More versatility for LASTON!!.. The LASTON.DAT file is back, but only if you want it!! To use the LASTON.DAT file just enter DAT on the LASTON command line, as follows ** LASTON DAT This will cause LASTON to make a LASTON.DAT file on the first run then read and update it thereafter. The major benifit to using the DAT file option is speed. On my XT for the default 10 user list it cut the display time by 2-3 seconds, which is a pretty decent percentage. Of coarse the disadvantage (to some) is that you have to run it in FIRST.BAT (log-on batch file) to update the LASTON.DAT file. Of coarse since the .DAT file is back the MENU command is back also. When using the .DAT file and you want to run LASTON from a menu you must put the command on the LASTON command line. as follows, The MENU command assumes use of the LASTON.DAT file LASTON MENU You can add a 3 line comment to LASTON.. this is optional. To add a comment simple write a 1 to 3 line file in exactly the form you want it to appear. LASTON will not center, and spaces are accepted. To make an ANSI comment simple use THEDRAW or similar program to add colors and attributes you want. The file names are LASTONCM.SCR for the pure text or ascii file, and LASTONCM.ANI for the ANSI comment file. To have LASTON add the comments, just add COMMENT to the command line.. NO ANIMATION lowed in ANSI files!! i.e. C:\RYBBS\LASTON COMMENT The Time display has the option to display in 24 hour military format, or in the 12 hour AM/PM format. AM/PM format is on by default.to change to 24 HR format just add "24HR" to the command line. i.e. C:\RYBBS\LASTON 24hr LASTON has a screen pause option. Just add Pn to the command line to to pause screen at end of display n seconds. i.e. LASTON P5 will pause screen approximately 5 seconds after screen is displayed. default is o seconds. LASTON screen is now user abortable. NEW (P)ause, (C)ontinue, or (S)top option to accomadate those speed demon users!... SYSOP can also pause, stop the display for a remote user if local echo is on. Laston will show as many callers as memory and size of callers.log will allow to your system in the form..(DORINFO1.DEF users doesn't use callers.log). Name * City state * baud rate * time logged on*Date(month and day) for multi-node version node number will be displayed before name in first column like so 1 Name *City State..etc. etc. ** LASTON will now adjust the number of users shown if callers.log doesn't have enough users, or memory isn't sufficient to list amount of callers you specify. Must register to change amount of callers listed. unRegistered form will show the last 10 callers The DOS command line option allows for easy run from DOS without playing with curruser.bbs(x). Will make your LASTON.CFG file for you registered users. unregistered users can still make one and be ready when they register. Will give you the option to use default CURRUSER.BBS(x) or DORINFO1.DEF file.. Curruser.bbs file is whatever file from last user is. curruser.x is hard coded in the program. It will no longer show the caller that has just logged on as the last user on. A command line option in the registered and unregistered version is the local screen off mode... put OFF in the command line to stop echo to local screen.. will still show on local screen when you are on locally. to turn off local echo just put in FIRST.BAT (or menu .bat file) file like so.. LASTON OFF Local echo is on by default..I would recomend having it off if you run a XT since this will speed up the display to your users.. In the registered version you will need to make a .CFG file. If you want the options that is. call it LASTON.CFG < use DOS command line option to make this file.> C:\RYBBS\CURRUSER 0 The Home of ZIGGY yellow, cyan, magenta, cyan, white, red, green, 101 4 mNEW/d,5 e The first line is to tell RyBBS the path and filename of door file you're using. RyBBS SYSOP's enter just filename without extension. DORINFO1.DEF file users enter enter filename and extension. the second line is for your registration number which activates the rest of the registered options. the third line is for your BBS name. whatever you put here will replace the <UNREGISTERED> string in the header when registered. The fourth line is the color your BBS name will be displayed in. the fifth line is the Name color. the sixth line is the City,State color. the seventh line is the baud rate color. the eighth line is the time called color. the ninth line is for the DATE color. the tenth line is for the node color. the eleventh line is maximum amount of users to list in LASTON.dat. it shoule be one more than the maximum you want to display. Enter a number even if you don't plan on using the LASTON.DAT file option. the twelfth line is for choosing display options by security.. you can chose to not have certain security level entered in the list-'e' command. to not have the screen display to certain users-'d' command. to have users marked as '-NEW'-'m' command. NEW.. you can now mark as anything you want.. to mark as new just type in NEW right after the 'm' command ending the string with a '/'.. to mark a certain security as a subscriber you might enter 'mSUB/' as part of the display option for the security level...make it short as the name will get truncated to make room for the string you enter to mark the user security with. Maximum length accepted is 10 characters. there is a 255 character limit to the amount of security selections you can make. it must be in the format above.. security level followed by a space followed by display options followed by a comma if there is more security selections. if you make no selection just enter a 0 with no preceding characters or characters following it. the colors accepted are- foreground colors -Blackf, redf, greenf, yellowf, bluef, magentaf , cyanf, and whitef background colors -Blackb, redb, greenb, yellowb, blueb, magentab , cyanb, and whiteb action commands -off, bold, reverse, blink. off turns off all ansi attributes, bold makes colors bright, reverse is reverse video, and blink makes text blink. Any attributes added are in effect for selected field only. All ansi color and action commands must be followed by a comma(,), including the last one. i.e. to make a field blink blue you would put blink,bluef, the colors must be spelled correctly as above with no extra spaces or punctuation allowed! also the option to change the # of users the program shows. as many users as your memory capacity will allow with the registered version! LASTON /15 OFF MUST have the '/' before number of callers to display with no spaces. this will list 15 callers and turn off local echo... 10 callers is on by default. Unregistered users don't get this command line option-get default 10 user listing. The screen will clear on the local screen when RyBBS regains control, but remains on the remote screen. When on locally the screen will pause till you hit <ENTER> to give you a little time to look it over. LASTON DOS Use the DOS parameter to run from dos when setting up screen etc.. Also will ask you if you want to create a .CFG file.. This is only needed for Registered version. When you get your registration number use the DOS parameter and answer yes to set up .cfg file. Fill it out EXACTLY as asked and it will create your LASTON.CFG file for you. The program will search for these files(CURRUSER.BBS, CALLERS.LOG, LASTON.CFG) in the currrent dir and in the path. LASTON /35 OFF -unregistered version leave out '/35'.. This would list the last 35 callers to the remote user and turn off local echo... LASTON now has direct node support. All you need is the LASTON command line and when run from firt.bat and menu batch file use %1NODE on the command line! You must have %node in the menu command line to pass node number, dorinfo1.def users refer to your docs for the correct syntax for you to pass node number. srun,5,5, [P]revious callers,*LASTON %node -menu for RyMULT LASTON %1NODE -batch file LASTON NODE -DORINFO1.DEF users SHARE.EXE must be loaded for the Multi-node version to work. Supports file-locking. In the batch file for RyMULT users only use %1NODE batch file. Must have something listed in first line of LASTON.CFG file for LASTON to find the correct node correctly, without it it will assume single user and abort when a CURRUSER.BBS(x) isn't found.. i.e. You must use a post V6.8 RyBBS RyMult for it to work from FIRST.BAT as 6.8 and earlier does not pass the NODE number to FIRST.BAT . For it to work correctly from menu RyMULT users need to use V 7.51 or later. This is more reliable than previous version of finding NODE number. make sure you DELETE your CURRUSER.BBS if you have it laying around from a previous version file before converting the .bat file! or it will use the same CURRUSER.BBS file over and over again! Node version can now be run from DOS. NOW run's on COM's 1 - 4!!!! it uses the 'Standard' addresses for COM3 & COM4-$3E8 & $2E8 respectively. If you use other address for COM3 & COM4 let me know what they are and I can make a special copy with them for you-if you register, I've put to much into this little project with very little return.. I need money for tuition badly!! easy command line referance section LASTON Pn <pause screen n seconds> LASTON COMMENT <will display appropriate comment file.> LASTON OFF <Turns off local display for faster remote display> LASTON /n <registered version only. Display n users> LASTON DOS <Use to create .CFG file when register or to run from dos> LASTON 24HR <displays time in 24 Hour military time> LASTON DOR <Uses the DORINFO1.DEF user file instead of CURRUSER.(x)> LASTON %1NODE <A must for Multi node users- Takes the correct node # in FIRST.BAT, and all batch files. MUST be first parameter> LASTON PAUSE <will pause output at end of display> ** LASTON LOCKEDRATE<Will use the locked rate instead of actual rate for high speed connections> ** LASTON LOGP/n <only set if you don't use DAT command and you get a NOT ENOUGH USERS IN CALLERS.LOG error. n=5 by default. Increase from n=5 till error disappears> ** LASTON DAT <Tells laston to make(if not present) and use the LASTON.DAT file> LASTON MENU <For use with DAT command when run from a menu> All parameters are optional EXCEPT for the %1 parameter for multi-node users. Parameters can be used together in any order. REGISTRATION BENIFITS are- Add your BBS name to header, get rid of the 3 lines of advertisement before list(will still display copywrite notice after display), ability to change amount of users listed, ability to mark users as new, paid, or whatever you want, change field colors- i.e. change color of name, baud, etc... This program was written for RyBBS only on a 386 AT and tested on a XT clone... it was tested using COM ports COM1 & COM2 & COM3.. Can also use Dorinfo1.def file!! It was also run successfully on a 486... if you test this on anything else successfully not listed here- other machines Please let me know!.. why not try some other programs such as ANSED, DOORECHO, NECKTI!...... available on RYBBS homebase!(RyBBS specific) (414)962-1097 9600 baud and on EXEC-PC (414)789-4210 over 200 lines! To register for the added options send $15 to Douglas DeLonay P.O. BOX 72112 Milwaukee, WI 53212 along with any suggestions or comments you may have. also indicate if you want you registration number sent by US mail, E-MAIL on Homebase or on The Home of ZIGGY (414)264-3220 Thanks for your support!