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Silicon Creations, Inc. Frequently Asked Questions
or
ASCii a Stupid Question, Get a Stupid ANSi
"Silicon Creations, Inc - Powers To Be Reckoned With"
Copyright (c) 1996 by Branislav L. Slantchev
Last updated on Jun 11, 1996
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ LIST OF CURRENTLY SUPPORTED PROGRAMS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
════════════════════════╤══════════════╤═════════════════════════════════════
Program Name & Version │ File Name │ Short Description
────────────────────────┼──────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────
SCiUTIL v2.15 │ SCUT215X.ZIP │ *.MSG/FILES.BBS, etc. Maintenance
Enterz v2.15 │ ENTR215X.ZIP │ Animated Enter prompts (95+ inc.)
Bulletin Manager v1.16 │ BUL116AX.ZIP │ Autoread, news, download, menus
FileCFG/Pro v4.0r1 │ FCFG401X.ZIP │ Menuing file/msg area/group manager
File Navigator v2.0 │ FNV200AX.ZIP │ Cursor controlled file area changer
Fortune Cookie v2.01 │ FORT21AX.ZIP │ Display quote with optional logoff
Kafka v3.0r4 │ KAF30R4X.ZIP │ Create KAF files (Enterz, etc.)
KeyNav v2.15 │ KEYN215X.ZIP │ Change file/msg group/areas (hidden)
Listerz v1.0r1 │ LISTZ10X.ZIP │ Create/download file lists online
Mail-X v1.0r2 │ MAILX12X.ZIP │ Full-screen mail area scan select
Minesweeper v1.0 │ MINE10AX.ZIP │ Full color, 3 levels + custom level
PB2IM WFC v1.2r1 │ P2IC121X.ZIP │ Update InterMail's WFC and History
Protocol Examples │ SCIPROTO.ZIP │ Example transfer protocol setups
TopTagz v1.0r1 │ TTAGZ10X.ZIP │ Full-screen top files downloader
Who Called v1.23 │ WHO123AX.ZIP │ Last Callers, up to 3 lines of info
════════════════════════╧══════════════╧═════════════════════════════════════
NOTE: There are some programs ostensibly missing from this list. The reason
for this is simple: they have been superceded by other utilities and
are no longer supported. (ChkPRO, BinFix, and Std2Ext are now part of
SCiUTIL, for example). All of the above programs come with the full
C/C++ source code. Refer to the availability section for more info.
Also, refer to the separate section on PB-Lib for related information.
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ GENERAL QUESTIONS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Q: Who is the author and what is he doing?
A: I have no idea why people ask me about this personal stuff so much, but
here we go (to satisfy the curious). I am 22, Bulgarian (that's in Europe)
and I am currently a Computer Science student in the USA (Texas). I have
been programming in C/C++ for 3 years (Pascal before that) and writing
pexen/utils since spring 1995. Enuff said! Duh...
Q: Can I get on your beta team (stolen from JMJ's FAQ)?
A: Well, it depends. I have all the beta testers I can handle right now.
However, if you are proficient with C++ and are willing to test PB-Lib
and related stuff, I will be more than glad to consider your application.
Q: Can I be an official distribution site?
A: Yes. Send me netmail/email for benefits. You will also be entitled to
display the cool ANSi official logo on your BBS. ;-)
Q: Where can I get the files or technical support?
A: Because of the length, the answer is in the separate file, 'Support.Doc'
Q: Can I use the name Silicon Creations, Inc. to release my programs?
A: No. You can release your programs as part of PB-GNU, if you wish to, but
you cannot use Silicon Creations, Inc. as an official name. I am the
only one who does (and I am in the process of registering the name too).
Q: What are you currently working on?
A: A lot of things. Custom language file support in particular. If you have
a request/suggestion, send email or netmail. I can also forward a request
to Fe-Line Software if they feel like taking over the programming for the
utility in question.
Q: Can I get a copy of your language file and ANSi menus?
A: Yes. Call the BBS and page me. I will let you download them immediately.
Q: How did you make the scrolling/fading messages on your menus?
A: With custom pexen. There is no official release yet, as I am finalizing
the programs. You can get the current versions if you call and page me.
Q: How did you make the special command bar used during the file listings?
A: It is a pex that uses PB-Lib for the cursor control and CrossView for
the online achive viewing. The reason it works is because ProBoard sets
the current area number while listing the files. It is still very limited
and as such is not available for release.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ PROGRAMMING QUESTIONS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Q: I hear a lot about PB-Lib. What is it?
A: This is a very comprehensive library for PEX programmers. Unlike the SDK,
you can now code dual programs (EXE/PEX) without any changes in the source
code. The library supports language files, UserDoes/Doing, userbase usage,
file index searches, wildcard/pattern matching, event manager with mouse
and extended keyboard handler, ANSI/Avatar interpreter, file manipulation,
string utilities, ProBoard-related special functions to access basically
everything you might want. Also, full message base support for Hudson,
Squish, JAM and Fido *.MSG style areas (OOP, for use in any program). Too
many features to list here. Distributed with full C++ sources and supports
the Borland, Microsoft, Zortech, Symantec and DJGPP compilers.
Q: PB-Lib is overwhelming, where do I get coding help?
A: Apart from the manuals that came with the library, there is a FAQ on the
official web site at http://www.webstar.net/sci which has a lot of sample
programs and documentation. I can also answer your questions personally.
Q: Can you help me with source code/programming problem?
A: Yes. I am known to review source code and/or publish answers to questions
that pex programmers frequently have. Send netmail with the source as a
file attach or post it in the TGPBN/Fido support echoes. Allow a couple
of days for replying (may be a lot sooner than that :-)
Q: How do you know about the undocumented stuff?
A: Apart from hacking all the undocumented file formats with LIST and trying
a lot of different tricks with pexen, I have also information from the
author, Philippe, which has not been made public (that is, until now).
Q: What library did you use for the full-screen utilities?
A: TurboVision v1.03 for C++. This is probably the best one in the industry.
Recently, Borland has released the source code to the public domain and
you can now use it too (PB-Lib supports it). You can obtain the source
code, related utilities, examples and documentation from the official
TVPlus Archive at http://brooks.wvn.wvnet.edu/pub/tvhome.
Q: Yeah, but how about the utilities that look like ProCFG?
A: I used Philippe's library for that. He says that he will make it public
as soon as he writes some documentation. There is currently none available
and (trust me), it's hard to use it that way.
Q: Can I use PB-Lib to write shareware (not only freeware, etc.)
A: Yes. While PB-Lib itself comes with the GNU General Library License, the
programs that you create with it are not covered by it. Use your own
discretion here. You are required to acknowledge your use of the library
in your documentation as p