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1994-01-02
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RIPIT!
Copyright 1993/1994
Blake Software
Disclaimer:
You use this software solely at your own risk! Blake Software nor the
author (Howard Blake) are responsible for any loss you may incur from
the use of this software. Your use of this software constitutes that
you agree to hold harmless Blake Software, Howard Blake, and all other
parties connected with this software. If you do not agree to the terms
of this agreement, then do not use the software.
License Information:
RIPIT and all scenes created by it are the property of Blake
Software, the copyright owner. You may try, test, or evaluate
RIPIT for 30 days. After that time, either register the software
with the author or discontinue using it and all scenes that were
generated by it. The scenes generated by RIPIT may not be used inside
a program developed by you or another author without written permission
from Blake Software. Generated scenes may be used on your BBS for the
30 day evaluation time frame, but may not be transferred to another
person or used on another BBS not running RIPIT. RIPIT may not be reverse
engineered, modified, or tampered with in any way. Doing so is a
violation of U.S. and international law.
RIPIT, Quik-RIPIT, Qwik-RIPIT
Copyright 1993, 1994 Blake Software.
ALL rights reserved
[ RIPIT! What it is! ]
RIPIT will create a RIPScrip screen from an existing ASCII, ANSI,
@Color, or any other TEXT based file. And, it does it quickly and easily!
Only three scene styles require ICONS in all of the scenes in RIPIT,
but those are icons that are included with every copy of RIPTERM. In
other words, your callers will NOT have to download more icons from your
system when you start using RIPIT.
[ This release Info ]
This version of RIPIT was released to allow BBS systems other than
WildCat! to take advantage of quick RIP screen generation. The original
version of RIPIT was developed for WildCat 3.9x BBS. I've had TONS of
calls for a version for almost every BBS system that exists, so here
is the new RIPIT! This version, besides the name change from Quik-RIPIT
to RIPIT, has more styles added. Rather than support 2 software packages
that do the same thing (Quik-RIPIT and RIPIT), I've modified RIPIT to
cover WildCat and almost all bbs systems. When you run the RIPITCFG.EXE
program to configure RIPIT, it defaults to WILDCAT variables, but can be
changed to meet most bbs software's needs.
[ Installing RIPIT ]
Create a directory for RIPIT or place it in an existing directory on
your hard drive. Unarchive (UNZip, UNArj, UNPak, or whatever) the file
into this directory. Run the RIPITCFG.EXE program to create/edit the
file RIPIT.CFG which MUST be in the directory that RIPIT is ran from.
*NOTE* If the file RIPIT.CFG already exists when you run RIPITCFG.EXE,
you will enter the configuration program in EDIT mode, editing the
existing RIPIT.CFG file.
The configuration file, RIPIT.CFG, contains 17 variables that you must
define for proper operation of RIPIT. These variables may either
be your BBS system variables (such as the variable used by WildCat! of
@FIRST@ for the caller's first name, @USER@ for the caller's full name,
etc.) or "hard" static constants if your BBS does not support a
particular variable that is asked for. For example:
EXAMPLE RIPIT.CFG File:
WildCat Variables If Not Supported
Description Used as Default by your BBS Then:
============================================================================
[ 1] Your BBS Name @BBS@ Green Acres! BBS
[ 2] Your Full Name @SYSOP@ Howard Blake
[ 3] Caller's Full Name @USER@ Friend
[ 4] Caller's First Name @FIRST@ Friend
[ 5] Caller's Location @FROM@ A Brave New World
[ 6] Caller's Security Level @SEC@ MEMBER
[ 7] Caller's Expiration Date @EXDATE@ 01/01/2001
[ 8] Caller's Total Downloads @DOWNS@ Lots!
[ 9] Caller's Total Uploads @UPS@ Lots!
[10] Caller's Total Messages Posted @MSGLEFT@ Lots!
[11] Caller's Total Minutes On-line @TIMEON@ ???
[12] Caller's Total Minutes Left @LEFT@ ???
[13] Caller's Current Conference @CONF@ Electronic Mail
[14] Last Caller to BBS @PREVON@ A Friend
[15] Current System Date @DATE@ ??/??/??
[16] Current System Time @TIME@ ??:??
[17] RIPIT Registration Code 0000000000000000 All zeros till
registered!
In place of the WildCat variables above, enter the variables YOUR BBS
uses (such as {FN that RBBS uses for callers first name, etc). Or,
if your bbs does not support a particular variable, such as sysop
name, enter YOUR name and it will be displayed as entered to your
callers.
I'm sorry if your BBS does not support some of the variables asked for.
I've tried to make RIPIT useable by as many BBS systems as possible,
but due to the variety of variables used by the different BBS systems,
yours may not have the capability of displaying all of the 16 types of
information required. Please ask the author(s) of your BBS software
to build in the variables that you find here that are not supported.
It really helps with making your board that much sharper!
*NOTE* If your BBS does not support the DATE and TIME variables for
the current system date/time, try not to enter a large text entry
here! You have, on certain scenes generated, only room for the date
in MM/DD/YY format (8 characters) and HH:MM AM format for the time
(max of 8 characters).
I have not tested it yet, but in the RIPSCRIP documentation, RIPSCRIP
will support passing a variable for you that might help in this
situation. Supposedly (again not tested), the date could be passed
as $DATE$ and the time as $HOUR$:$MIN$ $AMPM$. This should query the
BBS system for the current date in MM/DD/YY format and the current
system time in HH:MM am (or pm) format. If this works for you,
please let me know so I can inform other users (thanks!).
After you have entered the required information, press F1 to save your
configuration file. RIPIT is now ready to run!
[ How it works ]
To make RIPIT do it's thing, pass the proper parameters on the command
line and you'll be done in a flash! RIPIT's command line parameters
are:
RIPIT <path\filename.ext> #
RIPIT (currently - I will be adding more) has 160 RIP styles it will
produce for you. If you screw up and enter a number larger than 160,
RIPIT will default to style number 3 and produce your file anyway.
Here's an example command line and explanation:
RIPIT C:\WC30\DISP\HELLO1.BBS 1
-OR-
RIPIT C:\WC30\DISP\HELLO1 1
This will result in RIPIT producing HELLO1.RIP using style number 1.
The RIP file will be placed in the directory containing the file
passed on the command line (in this case, C:\WC30\DISP).
*NOTE* The .RIP extension is AUTOMATICALLY added to any file created!
If your BBS does not support the .RIP extension, you will have to
modify the generated file name accordingly.
[ Styles with Buttons ]
The styles with buttons allow the user to press a button on the screen
with mouse or keyboard to perform it's function. However, since
WildCat has "mouseable" prompts, WC's prompts take over after the
first use of the on-screen buttons (that's why there are only a
few styles with buttons!).
The items with a "+" sign after the style number is a style that is
NOT randomized! I don't think you would want to send a rip to someone
wishing them a happy birthday (or Happy Holidays) when that wasn't the
correct occasion! I left it up to you to manually send these style
numbers to RIPIT!
[ Example of how to use RIPIT ]
If you produce a new newsletter file, run RIPIT to create a RIP version
for you. Since we all know the best way to create a newsletter (or any
other display file) is by using WildBull or ANSIBull <grin>, create your
newsletter and exit Wild/ANSIBull. From the DOS prompt enter:
RIPIT C:\WC30\DISP\NEWSLTR.BBS 6
This will create a file called C:\WC30\DISP\NEWSLTR.RIP using style
number 6.
You can also run RIPIT in your batch files to automatically produce
RIPScrip screens using files created by other programs you might run.
RIPIT C:\WC30\DISP\NEWSLTR.BBS RANDOM
Execute RIPIT with RANDOM added in place of the style number and you can
let RIPIT pick the style for you! This is handy in batch files for
letting RIPIT run and generate a different style for you each time it is
executed! Use this feature in your POSTCALL.BAT file, events, or
whenever you want RIPIT to generate a RIP for you. RIPIT will RANDOMLY
select from the styles available to create your RIP output file.
*NOTE* The RANDOM option will NOT randomly select the BIRTHDAY or
HOLIDAY styles! If those style numbers are selected by the random
generator, it will be recycled until another number is selected. It
also will not select The Office, Floppies, Christmas, or any of the
styles with buttons. There are a few other styles that are NOT
randomly generated. They are for special holidays or might not
be tasteful for everyone, so I caused them to have to be selected
manually. The button styles MAY NOT work properly on your BBS!
Those were for WildCat, but some systems will support the same
variables so I left them in here. Test them to see if they are
compatible with your system.
One last note. You can use just about any of the RIP draw/paint/view
programs to view the RIPs created by RIPIT, however, some of them DO
NOT always display RIPs properly! If you view a RIP and it looks
kinda funky, best run it up in RIPAINT or better yet, call your BBS
and look at it. That's the ultimate test!
[ Hints ]
Every night, run RIPIT as an event in RANDOM mode to regenerate ALL
of your RIP display files! Your callers will almost always see
something new this way!
[ Registration ]
This software is shareware. As with ALL of my utility programs, I've
priced it so that it is affordable by all (it's only $10.00!). With
registration comes a key that will remove all delays and 'beg' screens.
To register, see the enclosed REGFORM.TXT file. A limited time,
"special offer" is included in this file! You can always find the
latest release of RIPIT and other Blake Software products on
Green Acres! BBS, (505)763-5129. You can netmail me with questions
or comments at FIDO 1:318/4 (FReq's not currently available), or drop
mail on my board (Green Acres!), or on MSI in the Software Developers
conference.
Other Blake Software Products:
======================================================================
If you are a WildCat sysop, look on the MSI BBS for WildCat specific
Blake Software (WildStuff!) products, or call Green Acres! BBS at
(505)763-5129 for the latest releases.
======================================================================
The WIT Door - Graffitti door for ANY BBS $FREE$
2 Cents - Quote door for ANY BBS $FREE$
======================================================================
ANSIBull - ANY BBS display file generator Both For Only
ANSIStyl - Style generator for ANSIBull $20.00
ANSIBull and ANSIStyle allow you to generate SUPERB display files:
(i.e., bulletins, newsletters, menus, anything you want!). You can
use the large number of internal styles or create your own with the
ANSIStyle creator program (included). ANSIBull creates ANSI color,
Mono, and text-based display files using any text or ANSI based file.
Your original text/ANSI file remains intact, if desired, for easy
additions/modifications for future regenerations. Works with ANY BBS
system that supports ANSI display capability.
======================================================================
WildBull - WildCat 3.x display file generator Both For Only
WildStyle - Style generator for WildBull $20.00
WildBull/WildStyle do the same thing as ANSIBull/Style, but for WC3.x
BBS systems using the @Color macros. It creates one output file with
the @Color macros. Works GREAT!
======================================================================
RIPIT! The hottest RIP scene generator EVER! $10.00
Contains 160 RIP scenes with more on the way! Configurable
to work with ANY BBS system capable of utilizing the RIPScrip
graphics protocol.
======================================================================
WildEdit - Text Editor designed with WildBull/News in mind, but
will work for all of your text editing needs!
Works GREAT with ANSIBull! $20.00
*Free with ANSIBull registration!
======================================================================
There are a lot more! Call Green Acres! BBS at (505)763-5129 and
check out the "WildStuff - Blake Software" file area!