home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
-
- DorLock v1.0
-
- Copyright 1991 Ernie Johnson
- All Rights Reserved
-
-
- About DorLock
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- DorLock is for bulletin board (BBS) sysops looking for a way to keep
- single node doors from causing unpredictable results when used on
- multi node systems - what DorLock does is locks a door when its in
- use on one node, and if a second node tries to access it, a message
- is given stating that the door is in use on another node, or has
- been locked for maintenance purposes.
-
-
- Shareware?
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- I'm sure most sysops know what Shareware software is all about, and
- DorLock is a Shareware program. You are encouraged to register
- DorLock with the author if you plan on using it for your BBS system.
-
- Here's how to register:
-
- Send a letter/postcard stating your BBS name and BBS phone number
- and a brief message stating you use DorLock to:
-
- Ernie Johnson
- EPIC Information Systems
- P.O. Box 607
- Wingham, ON
- N0G 2W0 - Canada
-
- OR,
-
- Phone our support BBS:
-
- EPIC Information Systems: (519) 357-1943 1200-2400 baud
- (519) 357-2952 1200-38400 baud USR HST
- Dual Standard
-
- Simply leave a message to the sysop stating you use DorLock, and
- give us your BBS name and phone number so we can upload other things
- to your system.
-
- Of course, any comments or suggestions you may have are also welcome!
-
- Please note that there is no $$ charged for DorLock! Its what is
- commonly referred to as $0.00 Shareware - all I want to know is if
- people are using my program, and if its worth while spending the
- time writing these freebie doors and documentation! Of course, I
- wouldn't reject any financial donations, but if most sysops are like
- myself, they need the money for phone bills, registering other doors
- and hardware maintenance.
-
-
- Setting Up DorLock
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- DorLock will technically work on any BBS system, although the
- procedure for using doors vary from system to system, I'm sure most
- people will find a way to make it work on any system.
-
- I run PCBoard 14.5a, so I will describe how it is used on PCBoard.
-
-
- First, its easier to do than to say how to do it, so here is a
- sample batch file for a door called "MAILDOR":
-
- Line # Command
-
- 1 @echo off
- 2 j:
- 3 cd\maildor
- 4 J:\pcb\dorlock c:\pcb\pcboard.sys
- 5 if errorlevel == 1 goto inuse
- 6 maildor c:\pcb\pcboard.sys
- 7 del dorlock.dat
- 8 :inuse
- 9 c:
- 10 cd\pcb
- 11 board
-
-
- Description:
-
- Line 1: just turn off echo to make things look nice
- Line 2: go to my file server (drive J)
- Line 3: change to the Maildor directory
- Line 4: run the DorLock program - its on my J: drive in the
- \PCB\ directory - DorLock requires the drive, path and
- filename of PCBOARD.SYS, DOOR.SYS, or others (see below)
- Line 5: if the door is already locked, DorLock returns an
- errorlevel of 1, so we find out if the errorlevel is 1
- and if it is, go to line 8 (the :inuse line)
- Line 6: the door mustn't have been locked so run the MAILDOR door
- Line 7: Delete the DORLOCK.DAT file which tells DorLock the door
- is locked - this line is important - or your door will
- be locked until you manually delete DORLOCK.DAT
- Line 8: the "label" that the if errorlevel line needs
- Line 9: go back to the local drive that has the main BBS files
- Line 10: go back to the PCB directory
- Line 11: reload PCBoard
-
-
- For most experience sysops, that should be all that is required to
- get you going.
-
- A few things to be aware of:
-
- 1) DorLock creates the DORLOCK.DAT file in the CURRENT directory -
- meaning that you need to be in the door directory that you wish to
- lock, or check the lock status of! You can run DorLock from
- anywhere (as in example), just make sure the current directory is
- your door directory.
-
- 2) Be VERY sure you delete DORLOCK.DAT after the door is run BUT
- before the :INUSE label/line!
-
-
- Maintenance?
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- If your system is prone to crashes, you may want to add some lines to
- your events that go through your door directories that are being
- locked by DorLock to delete the DORLOCK.DAT file if it exists.
-
- This will prevent your doors from being locked "for good" (or until you
- manually go through and delete DORLOCK.DAT files).
-
- Of course, if your system is very reliable, and you don't see any
- problems, don't worry about it - most people won't have a need for
- this part anyway.
-
-
- Non-Standard Ports and Interrupts
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- If you are running on different port addresses and interrupts, you
- can pass a second command line option:
-
- DORLOCK <path&name of PCBoard.sys> <PORT:AAAA:B>
- where AAAA is the base address, and B is the interrupt (IRQ).
-
- example:
-
- DORLOCK C:\PCB\PCBOARD.SYS PORT:03F8:4
-
-
- Other BBS types:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- If you are trying to use DorLock with a BBS other than PCBoard,
- you will need to tell DorLock what user file you are using. You are
- also on your own when setting up the door as I only have experience
- with PCBoard version 14.5 and 14.5a.
-
- Here are some samples (untested) as to starting DorLock:
-
- DORLOCK C:\PCB\PCBOARD.SYS ;PCBoard & compatible PCBOARD.SYS files
- ;this one has been tested on my BBS
-
- DORLOCK C:\PCB\DOOR.SYS ;Systems that generate a DOOR.SYS
-
- DORLOCK C:\PCB\DORINFOx.DEF ;Systems that generate a DORINFOx.DEF
-
-
- Warranty & Guarantee's:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- DorLock is in no way warranted to be free of defects, bugs, etc. It
- has, however, gone through extensive testing on my BBS, and I have
- not seen any adverse effects. I am not responsible for any adverse
- effects it has on your system (just in case). You should take any
- steps to avoid virus infection and scan the file for viruses before
- using it on your system.
-
- DorLock is copyrighted software. Please do not make any modifications
- to it! I am letting you use this software for almost nothing, and
- would expect some common courtesy in return. If you have suggestions
- for modifications/improvements, please forward them to me through
- one of the methods below:
-
- -- Postal Mail --
-
- Ernie Johnson
- EPIC Information Systems
- P.O. Box 607
- Wingham, ON
- N0G 2W0 - Canada
-
- -- Support BBS --
-
- EPIC Information Systems: (519) 357-1943 1200-2400 baud
- (519) 357-2952 1200-38400 baud USR HST
- Dual Standard
-
- -- Voice --
-
- (519) 357-1941 Eastern Time - call between 7pm and 10pm to normally
- talk to the author himself (or you'll get an answering machine).
-
-
- Lastly:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Please register! Its only the cost of a postcard/stamp, or phone
- call, but it would tell me if I should continue to write these
- little freebee doors for fellow PCBoard SysOps and spend time writing
- documentation like this. Your registration does mean a lot ot me,
- and my continuation of quality software at affordable prices!
-
-