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1992-08-19
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[The DeAdZoNe Utilities for RemoteAccess]
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ D-SoRt │
│ │
│ FILES.BBS sorter for RemoteAccess │
│ │
│ Version 2.75 August 21, 1992 │
│ │
│ (C) Copyright Victor Magdic 1991,1992 │
│ │
│ All Rights Reserved │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Description
═══════════
D-SoRt is a program for RemoteAccess which is designed to easily and
quickly sort your FILES.BBS files in alphabetical order. If you have
certain file areas which do not want sorted, D-SoRt can be configured
to skip them.
If you have header lines at the top of your FILES.BBS, which provide
the user with information about the files etc., D-SoRt will not attempt
to sort them, but will leave them intact. (Please read the section
labelled "Header Lines" below.)
Note: Please read the "Considerations" section below, before attempting
to use D-SoRt.
How much does it cost?
══════════════════════
This utility is FREE! If you like it you can continue to use it
for as long as you like free of charge!
If you do decide to use it, I would be excited to hear from you !!
I encourage you to send me a postcard at the address listed below (see
the end of this text file). It will cost you practically nothing, and
will let me know you're enjoying the program. It will also give me
incentive to keep improving the program and make it even better!
How To Use D-SoRt
═════════════════
To sort your file areas simply run DSORT.EXE. One command line switch
is supported:
DSORT /N Suppresses the creation of a backup file of your
FILES.BBS (called FILES.BAK) before sorting begins.
Normally D-SoRt will make a backup of FILES.BBS,
this switch will turn that feature off.
If you want to configure D-SoRt to exclude certain file areas from
being sorted, run it with the /C switch. This will bring up the built
in configuration "editor", which you can use to choose the file areas
you want sorted. The editor is self-explanatory.
DSORT /C
Note: When you run D-SoRt with the /C option, it creates a file called
DSORT.CTL in the main RA directory, which it uses to keep track of
the file areas which will be sorted. DO NOT ATTEMPT to edit this
file yourself. If you want to modify DSORT.CTL do so by invoking
the configuration editor with the /C switch.
Location of Files
═════════════════
If your RA environment variable is set then D-SoRt can be run from
anywhere on your hard drive. If the RA environment variable is not set
then you must run D-SoRt from the main RA directory (i.e. the directory
where CONFIG.RA is located). For more information on setting the RA
environment variable, consult the RA docs.
Header Lines
════════════
Many sysops like to put header lines at the top of their FILES.BBS,
which provide some kind of information to the user about the files in
that particular file area (e.g. download restrictions or warnings etc).
Most sort utilities will not recognize these header lines and will be
unable to distinguish them from actual file descriptions. If you try to
run them you will get header lines mixed up with file descriptions - one
ugly jumbled mess!
D-SoRt does away with these problems by *recognizing* such header lines,
and not disturbing them. D-SoRt will handle up to 50 header lines per
FILES.BBS -which is roughly equal to two screenfuls of "header" information.
This should be adequate for most purposes. If you require more, let me know
and I will gladly modify D-SoRt to accomodate your needs.
D-SoRt determines whether a line is "header" information, or whether it
is a valid filename/description by using the following criteria:
The line is assumed to be a header line if it starts with:
a space; or
a dash; or
is a blank line
This is the same way that RemoteAccess determines if a line is a
"header" so there should not be any problems.
NOTE: It is not recommended that you use D-SoRt on file areas which
have "header" lines somewhere in the middle or end of the FILES.BBS
(that is, somewhere in between your file descriptions), because
they will be moved to the top. The best thing to do if you have
file areas like this is to simply configure D-SoRt to skip them
when sorting (use the /C switch to invoke the configuration menu).
Considerations
══════════════
The following considerations apply when using D-SoRt v2.75,
* D-SoRt will handle a maximum line length of 255 characters. If your
file descriptions exceed this length they will be truncated to 255
characters. This should not be a problem under normal circumstances
since RA itself only recognizes up to 255 characters per file description.
* D-SoRt will handle a maximum of 1000 file entries in each FILES.BBS.
If you have more than 1000, that particular FILES.BBS will not be
sorted and D-SoRt will abort with an error message. (Note: even
though an error message is generated, no modifications will be made
to the FILES.BBS, so nothing will be "damaged".)
* D-SoRt will accomodate up to 50 lines of header information per
FILES.BBS. Anything past this point will be ignored. (See the
section on "Header Lines" above.)
Legal Stuff and Disclaimer
══════════════════════════
"D-SoRt" refers to the executables and documentation in the original
distribution archive. D-SoRt is copyrighted material by the author,
Victor Magdic. All rights are reserved.
The program is provided "as is", without warranty or guarantee of any kind,
either expressed or implied, as to its quality or performance. The author,
will not be held liable to you or anyone for any direct, indirect, incidental
or consequential damages, including but not limited to any lost profits, or
lost savings which may result from the use or inability to use this program.
The author is in no way obligated to provide future versions of this
software.
Your use of the program constitutes your agreement to these terms and to
this disclaimer and your release of the author from any form of liability
or litigation.
All mentioned products are copyrighted by and trademarks of their respective
holders.
Credits
═══════
Thanks to James FitzGibbon for helping me beta test D-SoRt.
Suggestions always welcome!
═══════════════════════════
If you have any suggestions for improvement or wish to report any bugs,
you can reach me through my BBS:
The DeAdZoNe ...Experience the Difference!
SysOp: Victor Magdic
(416) 507-2159
FidoNet: 1:259/427
TeleNet Canada: 20:22/4
F-Net: 110:112/1
or by writing to:
Victor Magdic
424 Camden Circle
Mississauga, Ontario
L4Z 2P4
CANADA
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ end