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1991-04-19
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OFFLINE TAPE DOOR
(C)1991
Written by Mark Chickering
Supported by Terrapin Flyer BBS
RIME Member Node ID ->TERRAPIN
BBS Phone 703-886-7825
-------------
REGISTRATION FORM
-------------
Name:___________________________________________________________
Company and or BBS:________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
VOICE Phone:____________________ DATA Phone:_______________________
Register OFFLINE FILE DOOR To:
Name:_______________________________________(40 Characters or LESS)
Password Desired on Terrapin Flyer BBS _____________________________
Once Registration is Recieved you will be given access to Conference 16
on Terrapin Flyer BBS where you can Download the latest Verion of this and
other TEREWARE DOORS
Please find enclosed a check or money order for $20.- payable in
United States Currency to: MARK CHICKERING
I understand that OFFLINE FILE DOOR is provided AS IS and without warranties
of any kind, expressed or otherwise. I am using OFFLINE FILE DOOR it at my
own risk.
Signed: _________________________________________ Date: _________
Return to: MARK CHICKERING
P.O. BOX 1834
Staunton, VA 24401
OFFLINE TAPE DOOR allows you to use your 40 or 80 Megabyte MOUNTAIN tape drive
as a TAPE ROM. Adding upto 80 megabytes of file space instantly! OFFLINE
TAPE DOOR turns your tape drive into some well needed convenient storage
space and better than that...IT WORKS...most restore times take less than 1
minute! (depending on tape size and number of volumes)
The door also has more than adequate security features. With proper usage
of the .VOL files you can control whether or not a file, multiple files or
complete Tape Volumes are out of reach of users...so the whole tape does not
have to be comitted to the BBS!
SUPPORT: I can be reached via RIME (RELAY-NET) or through my BBS.
REGISTERED users will be provided with my HOME voice #
through which I will be more than happy to provide VOICE
support.
Any Comments/suggestions are more than welcome....
THIS DOCUMENTATION: Its 2:00am and I hate writting documentation almost
as much as I enjoy writing programs but I am going to give
it my best shot! I have tried to explain EVERYTHING as simply
as possible....setup is really not as bad as it looks and the
time spent will be well worth the 40 to 80 megs you gain!
SETUP:
Setup is not complicated! The most time consuming part is backing-up your
files if you have not done so already. Below is a list of steps that you
should follow EXPLICITLY to ensure that OFFLINE TAPE DOOR works properly
the FIRST time! (Believe me I hate DOC's as much as you do so I will make
this as short as possible!
1 Copy Files:
-------------
Copy the ALL files included in this .ZIP into your MTN_TAPE directory.
FILES that are needed by OFFLINE TAPE DOOR are:
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED
OFFLNA1.EXE #= PCBOARD VERSION of .EXE file
OFFLNB1.EXE #= DOOR.SYS/GENERIC.SYS/DORINFO.DEF VERSION of .EXE file
OFFLNC1.EXE #= WILDCAT! VERSION of .EXE file
ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ARE REQUIRED:
OFFLINE.INS ONLINE instructions for Door Users (Edit as you wish)
OFFLINE.VOL **Sample VOLUME CONTROL FILE *See Below!!!
SYSOPS.VOL **Sample SYSOPS Volume list file. *See Below!!!
COMPRESS.VOL **Sample COMPRESSION Volume list file. *See Below!!!
OFFLINE.CFG Door Configuration file *See Below!!!
OFFLINE.DOC You are reading it now!
OFFLINE. **Sample offline Batch file for PCBOARD (Copy to \PCB)
** Sample .VOL files provided as EXAMPLES ONLY and should be altered or
Deleted after reading Documentation!
2 Create the DOOR Batch file
----------------------------
If you do not know how to install a DOOR in your BBS you should
consult your Bulletin Board System's documentation. Other than that ALL
commands to start OFFLINE#.EXE and tell it which BBS and comm port it
is running on are passed on the command line. The Door SHOULD be started
from its default directory!
EXAMPLE BATCH FILE
cd\mtn_tape
offline.exe (w/ commandline parameters *See Below!!)
cd\pcb
board
*COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS:
PCBOARD
OFFLINE#.EXE C:\PCB\PCBOARD.SYS C:\PCB\USERS 1
│ ┌────────────┘ ┌──────┘ ┌───────┘
│ │ │ └ COMM PORT 1 2 or 0
│ │ PATH and NAME of PCBoard USERS file
│ └─PATH and NAME of PCBOARD.SYS file
└ OFFLINE TAPE DOOR .EXE FILE
DOOR.SYS Users!
OFFLNB1.EXE C:\BBS\DOOR.SYS
│ ┌────────────┘
│ │
│ └─PATH and NAME of DOOR.SYS file
└ OFFLINE TAPE DOOR .EXE FILE
WILDCAT! Users!
OFFLNC1.EXE C:\WC\CALLINFO.BBS 1
│ ┌────────────┘ ┌──────┘
│ │ └ COMM PORT 1 2 or 0
│ │
│ └─PATH and NAME of CALLINFO.BBS file
└ OFFLINE TAPE DOOR .EXE FILE
QBBS/RBBS users
OFFLNB1.EXE C:\RBBS\DORINFO1.DEF
│ ┌────────────┘
│ │
│ └─PATH and NAME of DORINFO.DEF file
└ OFFLINE TAPE DOOR .EXE FILE
ALL OTHER BBS TYPES!
The Door has the ability to read a 3 line GENERIC.SYS file
which can be created by the sysop of the BBS allowing the
Door to run on ANY BBS!
GENERIC.SYS is as follows:
line 1 - BBS Operators Name
line 2 - Comm port (COM1: COM2: or COM0:)
line 3 - Time Allowed in Door ( in minutes for example 20 )
OFFLNB1.EXE C:\BBS\GENERIC.SYS
│ ┌────────────┘
│ │
│ └─PATH and NAME of GENERIC.SYS file
└ OFFLINE TAPE DOOR .EXE FILE
3 Create Restore Directory
--------------------------
Create a DIRECTORY for your files to be restored to. THIS IS ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT STEPS! CREATE A NEW DIRECTORY, IT CANNOT BE A NESTED DIRECTORY!
On My BBS it is called C:\OFFLINE and my TAPE.EXE files are in C:\MTN_TAPE\
Both of these directories MUST be on the SAME drive! Now add the directory
to THE TOP (LINE ONE) of your DOWNLOAD PATH file (in pcboard this is your
DLPATH.LST file) If you do not add this directory to the TOP of the
DOWNLOAD PATH LIST then it will result in the message "0 Length file found
aborting file transfer" being diplayed when the user attempts to download a
restored file.
4 Create OFFLINE.CFG file
-------------------------
the offline config file consists of 4 lines as follows:
line 1 - PATH which Door is run from AND contains TAPE.EXE
on my BBS this is C:\MTN_TAPE\
line 2 - NAME of directory (NOT PATH!!) that you created in step 3
on my BBS this is simply the word OFFLINE
-- Commercial Break....go get a beer and light another cigarette! <grin>
WHAT??..We are down to line 147 and you haven't thrown the docs out yet!
"Captain, I don't think she can take any more..."
5 Prepare a Volume For Offline Tape Door
----------------------------------------
KEEP This in mind while backing up files: Tape volume names MUST be ONE word
ANY LENGTH but one word! For Example:
GAMES
COMPRESSION
DESK_TOP
DIR1
CONF1
Are all acceptable Volume names. UNACCEPTABLE NAMES are names with a
SPACE in the first 8 characters. For Example:
SYSOPS FILES
DIR ONE
DIR 1
Theretically Two word volumes with no spaces in the first 8 characters
should be alright although I have never tried them. For Example:
COMPRESSION FILES
COMMUNICATIONS FILES
If you are curious as to the reason for this I will tell you BUT it will
take either a call to my bbs or a message sent over RIME...for the sake of
keeping these docs short I will refrain...
STEP 5-A
--------
NOW...crank up TAPE.EXE and make a Backup...just a small one to check
things out! Lets give it a volume name of TESTING and put whatever
you want in the "label field" and back up say 10 files from a directory.
STEP 5-B
--------
I have included a utility....written by somebody else...in the ZIP file.
It is now time to use that utility....its called VPRINT5.ZIP.
The Utility redirects your printer output to disk....Unzip the file into your
MTN_TAPE directory and start it with the command line:
VPRINT TESTING.VOL /i
1. Restart TAPE.EXE and enter the date and time.
2. Select DIRECTORY from the TAPE MENU
3. Cursor up to Position Volume by: TABLE and press <Enter>
4. Move your cursor to the volume you created that we called TESTING and press
<enter> you should be returned to the TAPE DIRECTORY MENU
and get the message "Volume found"
5. In the Bottom left it says "Printer format" cursor to this and press "Y"
so that Printer format says YES
6. Cursor up to Current Volume Display and pres <Enter>
7. Press Space Bar to return to menu
8. Quit Tape.EXE and return to DOS
Type the following commands at your Dos Prompt
VPRINT /f <- this FLUSHES Buffers to disk
and
VPRINT /d <- this DISABLES VPRINT
This flushed a DIRECTORY of your TAPE VOLUME-> TESTING to a file called
TESTING.VOL
NOTE: typing "VPRINT ?" at your dos prompt will provide you with a complete
list of VPRINT commands!
STEP 5-C
--------
You now want to edit this file using a programmers editor and REMOVE ALL
but the directory entries for example:
Contents of TESTING.VOL file BEFORE EDITING:
---------------------------Beginning Of File---------------------------
Tape Directory Page 1
Selective Backup on Saturday, April 13, 1991 at 18:06
Tape #: 1
Label: COMPRESSION
Desc: PCBOARD COMPRESSION FILES
Source: F
Size (bytes): 492,321
Available on tape (bytes): 30,970,880
File redirection permitted
Directory: \
COMPRES <DIR> 6-07-90 5:54p
Directory: \COMPRES
&LHARCX3 EXE 70912 8-11-90 11:38p
A2Z13 ZIP 0 10-07-90 9:46p
AZP5010 ZIP 30518 7-16-90 4:47p
COMP 2125 1-13-91 7:53a
COMP BAK 2194 9-26-90 12:11a
CVT-21 ZIP 0 10-07-90 9:46p
LHARC EXE 31256 5-31-89 11:38a
PCP ZIP 14828 2-09-90 12:46p
PKX35A35 EXE 71808 9-09-87 7:07p
PKZ110 EXE 149536 6-21-90 5:52p
SHEZ57 ZIP 117765 7-25-90 3:54p
11 files in this volume
1 directories in this volume
------------------------------End Of File------------------------------
Contents of TESTING.VOL AFTER EDITING
---------------------------Beginning Of File---------------------------
&LHARCX3 EXE 70912 8-11-90 11:38p
A2Z13 ZIP 0 10-07-90 9:46p
AZP5010 ZIP 30518 7-16-90 4:47p
COMP 2125 1-13-91 7:53a
COMP BAK 2194 9-26-90 12:11a
CVT-21 ZIP 0 10-07-90 9:46p
LHARC EXE 31256 5-31-89 11:38a
PCP ZIP 14828 2-09-90 12:46p
PKX35A35 EXE 71808 9-09-87 7:07p
PKZ110 EXE 149536 6-21-90 5:52p
SHEZ57 ZIP 117765 7-25-90 3:54p
------------------------------End Of File-----------------------------
Step 5-D
--------
All that remains is to add the Volume TESTING to the master volume file
called OFFLINE.VOL. At this point you only want OFFLINE.VOL to contain ONE
line and that is the name of your new volume
TESTING
NOTE: OFFLINE TAPE DOOR checks the file OFFLINE.VOL Before restoring a file
from tape IF the volume is not listed in OFFLINE.VOL nothing will be restored
from that volume. The same goes for the volume file lists. If a filename is
not found in the corresponding .VOL file (for example TESTING.VOL) the file
would not be restored even though it is on the tape in volume TESTING
To ADD more volumes to the OFFLINE TAPE DOOR repeat all parts of STEP 5.
Note that Corresponding Volume List files for volumes LESS than 8 letters
will be called the volume name with an extension of .VOL for example:
The file list for SYSOPS volume is SYSOPS.VOL
The file List for GAMES volume is GAMES.VOL
The Corresponding Volume List Files for Volumes with MORE than 8 letters
will be the volume names first 8 letters with an extension of .VOL
for example:
The file list for COMMUNICATIONS volume is COMMUNIC.VOL
The file list for COMPRESSION volume is COMPRESS.VOL
REGISTRATION:
-------------
Quite a bit of work went into this DOOR! The UNREGISTERED screen and related
garbage (personally I hate wasting time programming it almost as much as
much as you hate looking at it!) will be disabled upon registration and addition
of the serial code and your bbs name to the OFFLINE.CFG file. Registration
requires that the form (below) and $20.00 (Check or M/O) be sent to my address.
The Required Serial Code will then be made available to you that will register
this and all future releases of OFFLINE TAPE DOOR. Please allow 2 weeks from
date you mail the registatration!
Thank-You For You Support!
.\\ark Chickering
My Address:
Mark Chickering
P.O. BOX 1834
STAUNTON VA. 24401
LICENSE/WARRANTY:
-----------------
You have NO LICENSE expressed or implied to use this product for a period
of more than 10 days from the date received. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE!
I make no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including without
limitation, any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular
purpose. I shall not be held liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect,
special or consequential arising from a failure of this program to operate in
the manner desired by the user. I shall not be held liable for any damage to
data or property which may be caused directly or indirectly by the use of
this program. In no event will I be held liable for any damages, including
(but not limited to) any lost profits, lost savings or other incidental or
consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use this program,
or for any claim by any other party.
DISTRIBUTION:
-------------
This program can be freely distributed as SHAREWARE! in its ORIGINAL .ZIP
file only. ANY alterations to the ZIP file or to the program itself is a
willful TERMINATION OF LICENSURE.
MULTINODE SYSTEMS:
------------------
OFFLINE FILE DOOR may be used on a multi node system provided a separate
batch file is maintained for each node. Desqview users may experience
problems with MOUNTAIN DRIVES TAPE.EXE FILE. Any DV user who succeeds in
getting TAPE.EXE to run under DV is invide to tell me his DV settings!
WATCHDOG/CTTY:
--------------
CTTY and WATCHDOG are not required. If carrier is lost, it will return
to the system where the user will then be logged off.