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1996-02-29
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════════════════════════════════════════
Spitfire Caller Validation System v1.1
By: Ross Cassell Of Cornerware Utilities
Copyright 1996, All Rights Reserved
════════════════════════════════════════
■ What it is and is not..
You ever wanted a way to automatically validate new callers calling into
your BBS without putting them through the ringer with a callback verifier
or having to manually voice verify them? I will tell you this, I have run
several callback verifiers, for the most part they worked but I have seen
my share of what appeared to to be 'newbies' try them and boy do they trip
and fall! So you have someone whose first experience with the info super
highway ruined by their own inexperience. Lets face it, a callback verifier
no matter how simple it is, relies on some experience on the callers part.
Then I use to try the manual validation system, except I sometimes found it
hard to call up a 14 year old user and have his or her parents answer the
phone and ask whose calling? (The parents thinking, why is some stranger
who is obviously an adult, calling up their child?).
SFCVS is not a callback verifier but it is also not foolproof! SFCVS is in
its own way a happy medium between running a way too open system but not a
way too tight system, taking some load off of yourself in granting new
callers access to your system.
If you run a tight system or are a access-a-maniac, then this program is
not for you, this program may also not be suitable for pay/subscription
type systems..
■ How it Works?
This program is designed to be run in the SFSECx.BAT file that would
correspond to unvalidated new user security (Where x is would represent the
new caller security level assigned via your new user questionnaire or what
you tell Spitfire to default to?) SFCVS would then execute and read in
SFDOORS.DAT to obtain the callers info. SFCVS maintains a data file
containing phone numbers of previously validated callers (number only, not
name and totally independant of Spitfires data files) if the callers phone
number is not listed then SFCVS will upgrade the caller, if the callers
phone number is already listed it will not upgrade the caller. SFCVS
accomplishes its task by rewriting the SFDOORS.DAT to reflect the callers
new security and additional time. When Spitfire reads in the new
SFDOORS.DAT, it increases time and security accordingly.
When run, if a new caller calls in SFCVS will present them with a basic
menu option, they can either begin the validation process (takes less than
30 seconds) or they can quit. But there is an exception, if the callers
phone number is already in SFCVS's database, they will not be shown the
menu, rather they will get presented with a prompt saying that they cant be
validated and then a screen is shown telling them why?
Thats right, SFCVS simply keys in on the callers phone number as listed in
SFDOORS.DAT compared to SFCVS's database. The line of thinking here is to
be kinda sort of strict but not too strict.. Callers who are not validated
by SFCVS simply are asked to leave you a comment asking for manual
validation..
SFCVS maintains a log file called SFCVS.LOG to tell you who went through it
and whether or not it validated them or not, it wont log a caller who was
eligible for validation but chose to quit instead..
Since writing this utility and running it on my system for the past 2
weeks, I have had 21 new callers, everyone got validated, time date
reference is 2/15/96 to 2/26/96.
See TIPS section for more.
■ Usage
[1] Place all files in this archive in your Spitfire Home Directory.
[2] Run EDITCFG.EXE to create your config file, it will default to
SFCVS.CFG, or you can refer to the enclosed SFCVS.CFG for an example,
but will require editting. The enclosed SFCVS.CFG also reflects what
each config file line command is for..
[3] You have to run EDITCFG.EXE at least once, even if you do not do
anything, this will create the PHONE.DAT file SFCVS needs. If PHONE.DAT
does not exist, SFCVS will refuse to run.
[4] Edit or create the appropriate SFSECx.BAT file, where x is would
represent the security level of new unvalidated callers.. If you use
security 5, then edit or create SFSEC5.BAT.
Example:
@ECHO OFF
CD\SF
SFCVS SFCVS.CFG
*NOTE*
If you run non-standard comm port interupts (IRQ's), then this would be
your appropriate command line parameters:
SFCVS SFCVS.CFG IRQx
Where x is would represent the IRQ number.
[4] Thats it, see TIPS section for more.
■ Display Screens
Enclosed in this package are 3 display screens.. INTRO.DAT, RULES.DAT and
VALID.DAT.
They are ANSI display screens and may be editted to your tastes. Keep then
no longer than 22 lines tho..
INTRO.DAT - Display screen that welcomes the caller to the door, gives
them a brief rundown on whats happening. If this screen does
not exist, the caller will go straight to the validation menu
if they qualified or be prompted as to why they werent
qualified?
RULES.DAT - When a caller is qualified for validation and chooses to begin
validation, this screen will be shown to the caller along with
a 20 second delay before they can proceed. This file should be
used to describe the basic rules of the system.
(The 20 second delay is so that they really read it..)
VALID.DAT - This screen if it exists will be shown to a caller right after
the validation process completes. It can be used to give them
tips and such about your system.
Remember, these screens are optional, to use them, simply place them in the
same directory as this door. If you edit them, keep them 22 lines or less.
The door will function just fine without them.
■ TIPS
[A] You can choose to run this as a regular door, but do not run this off
of Spitfire's regular menus.. Its preferable to run it as described
above.
[B] The Enclosed EDITCFG.EXE can be used to create or edit you main
configuration file, and add or drop phone numbers from the database
file.
[C] If you wish to add phone numbers into SFCVS's database you will have to
do so manually.
-=Credits=-
SFCVS Is Copyright Ross Cassell Of Cornerware Utilities
Turbo Pascal Is Copyright Of Borland International
-=Support=-
Ross Cassell
The Dark Corner BBS
1-864-573-7069
FIDONET @1:3652/1
SFNET @A0864000