Monster Media 1994 #1/monster.zip/monster/MODEM/DLRK24.ZIP/DLRK24.DOC

Text File | 1994-02-13 | 22KB | 454 lines

DOWNLOAD RECORDKEEPER version 2.4
Written by Allen Brown.
Compatible with Telix v3.22, v3.21, v3.15, and other Telix versions which
   use the same Usage Log format.


CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT:
--------------------------
WELCOME
ZIP FILE CONTENTS
DATA FILE AND SETUP FILE CONTENTS
PROGRAM OPERATION
* OPTION ONE:   UPDATE DATA WITH TELIX USAGE LOG
* OPTION TWO:   DISPLAYING THE DATA
* OPTION THREE: CONFIGURATION SETUP
* OPTION FOUR:  MANUAL DATA ENTRY
* OPTION FIVE:  FILENAME SEARCH
* OPTION SIX:   PRINTING THE DATA
IF DOWNLOAD RECORDKEEPER WON'T WORK
THE ORIGIN OF DOWNLOAD RECORDKEEPER
HOW TO REGISTER YOUR COPY OR CONTACT THE AUTHOR
DLRK FOR MODEM PROGRAMS OTHER THAN TELIX
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
THE END


WELCOME to Download Recordkeeper version 2.4.  If you use Telix
as your modem/communication program, DLRK is about to make keeping
track of your downloads a very simple and convenient matter.  If
you don't use Telix, you can still use DLRK (via option 4 from the
main menu), but you won't be able to make use of DLRK's automatic
update feature.  Or, if your modem program keeps a usage log in the
same format as Telix, then Download Recordkeeper can use that usage
log just as well.

DLRK 2.4 reads the Telix Usage Log, pulls out the names of files
you've downloaded, and stores them in alphabetical order and/or
extension order to your hard drive.  The list(s) can easily be
displayed or printed, making for easy reference while you're on-
line and ready to download.

A glitch found in DLRK version 2.3, involving the Telix default
download directory, has been corrected in DLRK version 2.4.

This program is shareware.  See the end of this file for informa-
tion on how to register.  And, this copy of DLRK is not crippled
or diminished in any way to coerce you into registering.  I prefer
to use the honor system.


ZIP FILE CONTENTS
The archive DLRK24.ZIP should contain the following seven files:

DLRK24.EXE     <-- the program
ALPHA.DNL      <-- alphabetical-sort data file
EXTEN.DNL      <-- extension-sort data file
ALPHAPRN.DNL   <-- a sample file produced by the print feature
EXTENPRN.DNL   <-- another sample file for the print feature
SETUP.DNL      <-- program's default configuration
DLRK24.DOC     <-- the file you're now reading


DATA FILE AND SETUP FILE CONTENTS
The data files ALPHA.DNL and EXTEN.DNL should both contain only
the following five records when you first receive them (not
including the arrows and what follows the arrows):

Download Recordkeeper v2.4    <-- program and version identifier
0                             <-- date of last record
0                             <-- time of last record
1                             <-- number of downloads on record
DLRK24.ZIP                    <-- download(s) on record


And, SETUP.DNL should initially contain the following eight records:

TELIX.USE   <-- name of Telix Usage Log
C:\TELIX    <-- directory containing Telix Usage Log
700         <-- current maximum records per data file
500         <-- don't ask
ENABLED     <-- status of sort-by-extension feature
YES         <-- back-up data files before update?
no          <-- ask for new back-up name everytime?
3           <-- number of characters to match during file search


All of DLRK's files are in standard ASCII text format, so you can
easily edit them yourself in you need to.  If you ever want to remove
downloads from ALPHA.DNL or EXTEN.DNL using a text editor, just remember
to subtract 1 from the fourth record for each record you remove.


---------------------------------------------------------------------


PROGRAM OPERATION
Running the program is very easy.  You might decide to create a sub-
directory for DLRK and all its data files.  The program does not *have*
to have its own directory, but DLRK'S DATA FILES MUST BE IN THE CURRENT
DIRECTORY WHEN YOU RUN THE PROGRAM.  When you first run DLRK, choose
Option 3 to configure the setup for your system, or the program will
use the default configuration in SETUP.DNL, which might or might not
be right for you.  (See OPTION THREE below.)

The main menu presents seven options.

* OPTION ONE: UPDATE DATA WITH TELIX USAGE LOG
When you choose this option, DLRK extracts the filenames of your
downloads from the Telix usage log and adds them to ALPHA.DNL, which
contains an alphabetical list of the files recorded previously.  After
updating ALPHA.DNL, the program updates the sorted-by-extension list
contained in EXTEN.DNL, provided this feature is enabled from the
Configuration Setup menu.  The alphabetical list will be updated in
either case.  The preexisting data file(s) will be backed-up if you
choose the back-up feature at the Configuration Setup menu.

Telix Usage Logs can become large in a short amount of time.  To
keep from having to re-sort through every download in the log everytime
the program is run, Download Recordkeeper 2.4 keeps track of the date
and time of the most recent addition to its data file(s), and will
only analyze log entries made after that point.  So, an internal clock
or accurate date and time entries at start-up are necessary for the
program to operate properly.

It's a good idea to either delete or rename your Telix Usage Log when
it becomes sizable.  I start a new usage log at the beginning of each
month.  If you want to keep your old usage logs for posterity or whatever,
just rename the active log periodically and let Telix start a new usage
log.  The smaller the usage log, the less searching the program must do
before it begins the actual work.  By the way, Download Recordkeeper will
not alter the Telix Usage Log in any way.

NOTE: DLRK was originally written for use with Telix v3.15, but it's
compatible with Telix v3.22 and v3.21 as well since they all use the same
usage log format.  If you use another version of Telix (or any other modem
program, for that matter), its usage log will work only if it uses the same
format as Telix v3.22.  See IF DOWNLOAD RECORDKEEPER WON'T WORK below for
the proper format.


* OPTION TWO: DISPLAYING THE DATA
This option reads ALPHA.DNL from disk and displays it to your screen,
80 filenames at a time.  It will also display EXTEN.DNL if you have it
enabled.  It's also a simple matter to print out small sections of your
data files by displaying them to the screen and using the <Print Screen>
key.  To print the entire file(s), see OPTION SIX below.


* OPTION THREE: CONFIGURATION SETUP
This option presents a menu of five choices.

   (1) This choice asks for the name and location of the Telix Usage
Log.  TELIX.USE is the default for both Download Recordkeeper and for
Telix itself.

   IMPORTANT: Telix does not necessarily maintain a usage log unless
it is set up that way.  If you're not sure if your copy of Telix is
keeping a log, start up Telix, hit ALT-O, choose General Options, and
turn option G on.  Then go back one screen and choose Write Setup to
Disk.  Now Telix will automatically keep a usage log everytime you
run Telix.

   (2) This choice will ask you to input the maximum number of
records to be stored in the data file(s).  You should set this
value based on how large your data files currently are and how
much memory your computer has at its disposal.  The smaller you
make your data file capacity, the less memory is used for the
string variable dimension, so don't make it bigger than you need
it to be.  (If you make it about 100 more than your current total,
then it'll be a while before you need to change it again.)  DLRK
will alert you if it's too small.  When you need more room in the
future, just reconfigure when the time comes.

   (3) With this choice you either enable or disable the sort-by-
extension feature.

   (4) This choice will toggle between backing-up or not backing-up
your old data file(s) as you update the data.

   (5) Save configuration.  This choice will write a new SETUP.DNL
file and return you to the main menu.

   NOTE: SETUP.DNL also contains a value used by the Filename Search
feature which can be changed when you use that feature.


* OPTION FOUR: MANUAL DATA ENTRY
This option will allow you to enter filenames into the data file(s)
that may not be in the Telix Usage Log.  You'll have to use this
option at some point if you've downloaded files in the past that are
not contained in any usage log you still have.  When you choose this
option, enter filenames one at a time.  When you're satisfied that
all the data are correct, the program will then sort and save the
data just as it does after pulling filenames from the usage log.


* OPTION FIVE: FILENAME SEARCH
As you record more downloads, this feature becomes more and more valuable.
This option allows the user to search ALPHA.DNL for specified filenames.
When you input a filename, the program will look for that specific name,
plus any other filenames that begin with the same characters, up to a
range which you dictate.  Or, you can use an asterisk for a wildcard
character.  You can print out the display using the <Print Screen> key.


* OPTION SIX: PRINT DATA
Choose this option and you'll be asked which of your data files to
print, and whether to send the output to both the printer and a data
file, or to a data file only.  Output to the disk in ASCII text is
automatic regardless.  This is done in case you wish to print the
file later from DOS after you finish with the program.

The output file will be named either ALPHAPRN.DNL or EXTENPRN.DNL.
Any preexisting file of the same name will be backed-up with the
BAK extension.

In case you're operating from a LAN and cannot print directly to LPT1,
then you have two options for printing your data files.  (1) Your first
option is to use the print function and output to disk only.  Then read
the output file into your LAN's word processor.  If you try this, be
sure to use Courier or some other monospaced font at a maximum of 10
characters per inch, or else your printout will look screwy.  Also, set
your margins at 0 or near 0.  You'll have to experiment with the number
of blank lines between each page to find what's right for your word
processor and printer.  (2) Your other option is to read one of the
DLRK data files (ALPHA.DNL or EXTEN.DNL) into your word processor and
use the word processor's column function to arrange the filenames on
the page as you wish them to appear.  Each of these options has its
advantages and disadvantages which you'll discover if you try them.


* OPTION SEVEN: QUIT THE PROGRAM
Don't worry -- I'll keep the verbiage on this option to a minimum.
It's over already.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


You might want to keep a hard copy of one of the data files at
your computer so you can refer to it when you decide to download
files.  The sorted list(s) should make it easy to find a filename.
Or, you can always drop to the DOS shell with the ALT-J command in
Telix, and run DLRK's Filename Search feature while you're on-line.

REMEMBER: No matter how you use it, DLRK will not do you much
good unless you keep your data file(s) updated.


IF DOWNLOAD RECORDKEEPER WON'T WORK:
> First, make sure that the data files (ALPHA.DNL, EXTEN.DNL, SETUP.DNL,
  ALPHAPRN.DNL, and EXTENPRN.DNL) are all in the current directory when
  you run DLRK24.EXE.

> Next, make sure that your copy of Telix is actually maintaining a
  usage log.  Telix does not necessarily maintain a usage log unless
  it is set up that way.  If you're not sure that your copy of Telix is
  keeping a log, start up Telix, hit ALT-O, choose General Options, and
  turn option G on.  Then go back one screen and choose Write Setup to
  Disk.  Now Telix will automatically keep a usage log everytime you
  run Telix.

> Next, make sure you have configured the program setup to match
  your system setup (Option 3 from the Main Menu), especially with
  regard to the name and path for the Telix Usage Log.  See OPTION
  THREE (1) above for more information.

> Make sure that the version of Telix you're using is 3.22 or 3.21,
  or that the version you're using keeps a usage log in the format of
  the following example:

92-10-03  17:36:20  Connected with : Bob's BBS
92-10-03  17:36:20  ++ At phone #  : [phone]
92-10-03  17:36:20  ++ Settings    : 2400,N,8,1
92-10-03  17:41:46  Download using Zmodem protocol.
92-10-03  17:41:46  ++ File : c:\telix\download\file1.zip
92-10-03  17:44:02  ++ Chars per second : 232
92-10-03  17:44:10  ++ File : c:\telix\download\file2.zip
92-10-03  17:47:24  ++ Chars per second : 230
92-10-03  17:49:55  Upload using Zmodem protocol.
92-10-03  17:49:55  ++ File : C:\ARCHIVES\DLRK24.ZIP
92-10-03  17:55:16  ++ Chars per second : 231
92-10-03  17:55:33  Elapsed time online 00:10:13
92-10-03  17:55:39  Exiting Telix.

  According to the Telix documentation, the usage log should be in
  the above format.  Note the YY-MM-DD arrangement of the date, and
  the HH:MM:SS (24-hour) arrangement of the time.  Also note two
  spaces between the date and the time, and between the time and the
  log notation.  The usage log MUST be in this format for Download
  Recordkeeper to extract data from it properly.

> If the program keeps giving you "Out of string space" or "Out of
  memory" errors, then use the Configuration Setup (option 3 from the
  main menu) to lower the limit on the size of your data file capacity.
  Or, try to free up as much of your conventional memory as possible.

> If the program won't pull new download filenames from your usage log,
  even though you know new filenames are there, check the 2nd and 3rd
  records of your data file(s) against the most recent download dates
  in the usage log.  These 2nd and 3rd records contain the date and
  time, respectively, of the most recent download the program has
  recorded.  They should contain something like 921011 and 131026,
  which translate to 92-10-11 (the date) and 13:10:26 (the time).
  Now, the program will only extract downloads from the usage log
  which were entered into the log AFTER the date and time of your
  most recent update.  If the filenames to be added have a date and
  time that's BEFORE those of your most recent update, then DLRK will
  ignore them.  If so, use an ASCII text editor to change the 2nd and
  3rd records to a date/time that's before the date/time of the new
  downloads contained in the usage log.  Be sure to keep the 2nd and
  3rd records of the data files in the YYMMDD and HHMMSS form (no hyphens
  or colons).  To avoid this trouble, keep your internal clock accurate,
  or be sure to input the accurate date and time at start-up; or if
  you're trying to pull filenames from several different usage logs,
  always update from the oldest logs first.

> If you're reading this on or after January 1, 2000, and you were using
  DLRK before the turn of the century, then use an ASCII text editor
  to change both the 2nd and 3rd records of your data files to 0 for
  your first update *after* 2000 starts.  Otherwise, DLRK won't pull
  any filenames from your Telix Usage Log which were acquired after the
  year 2000 started.  If you read the previous paragraph, you can figure
  out the reason.  (However, I kind of doubt that anyone will still be
  using the same hardware, operating system, and software in the year
  2000 that we're now using in 1993.  I'm just trying to cover all the
  bases.)

> If you've used an ASCII text editor to remove unwanted records from
  one or both of your data files (ALPHA.DNL and EXTEN.DNL), and now you
  keep getting a fatal error when the program tries to read your data,
  make sure you subtracted 1 from the fourth record of the data files
  for each record you deleted.  That fourth record tells DLRK how many
  downloads are contained in each file.  So, say ALPHA.DNL contained 570
  downloads, and you deleted three of them, but you failed to change the
  fourth record from 570 to 567.  DLRK is trying to read 570 filenames
  even though the file now contains only 567, and that's why the program
  is crashing.  No, DLRK doesn't stop reading at EOF -- this is a built-in
  control element.

> If you've taken care of all the above conditions, and the program
  still won't work, you might have found a bug that escaped my scrutiny.
  Make note of the circumstances surrounding the failure, and the error
  code displayed at the failure, and contact me using my CIS account, my
  Internet account, my Prodigy account, or my mailing address, all denoted
  near the end of this document.  Please include as many details about the
  problem as possible.


THE ORIGIN OF DOWNLOAD RECORDKEEPER
I decided to write the program after I began to download files from
CompuServe and various bulletin board systems.  After I had downloaded
a certain number of files (some of which I kept, and some of which I
discarded), it became more and more difficult to remember right off
the top of my head which files I had already downloaded.  Specifically,
I would be looking through a BBS's list of downloadable files, while
on-line, thinking something like, "Hmmm, that file sounds pretty good.
I think I'll download it," only to discover later that I had already
downloaded the file previously.  Naturally this was pretty frustrating,
especially if I wasted long-distance time or added a debit to my
upload/download ratio by needlessly downloading the same file twice.
Surely I'm not the only one to suffer from such an experience.

I asked my friend and computer-communications guru, Bob O'Lary,
if there was any way that Telix would alert me if I told it to down-
load a file I had already downloaded.  Cheerfully but incredulously,
he replied with something like, "You mean you want Telix to somehow
sort through a list of the all the hundreds of files you've ever
downloaded, everytime you download?"  I gave up on that idea.

Of course, many communication programs will allow users to display
a directory of their own files while on-line, and many times I used
this option to try to keep from performing repeat downloads.  However,
this course of action can quickly become tiresome if you have to search
through multiple directories.  Furthermore, it is of no use at all if
you have already deleted the first download from your hard drive.

So, after a number of wasteful repeat downloads, I decided to write
Download Recordkeeper.  I think it's comprehensive, effective, and
easy to use.

I've gone through the program many, many times and removed all the
bugs I could imagine, and even some I didn't imagine, but there
could still be some bugs lurking around.  If you find an error you
can't fix, drop me some e-mail or send me a letter as denoted below.
I've built in some error-trapping routines to handle the most likely
errors you might encounter, but I realize that some could fall through
the cracks.  If an error pops up that Download Recordkeeper isn't
programmed to handle, it'll be announced as a "fatal error," and the
program will end.  Make note of the circumstances in as much detail as
you can, let me know about the problem, and I'll fix it.


HOW TO REGISTER YOUR COPY OR CONTACT THE AUTHOR
Download Recordkeeper was written by Allen Brown.
CIS 72760,667
Internet [e-mail]
Prodigy MMMJ81A
All rights reserved.

This modest program is SHAREWARE.  If you keep it and use it, you
are obligated to send $5.00 (quite a reasonable price, I believe),
or whatever you think the program is worth, to:

Allen Brown
P.O. Box 681
Gulf Shores, Alabama  36547

On the other hand, if you have not registered the program, you can
still contact me about it.  I'm willing to discuss DLRK with you,
whether you've paid for the program or not.

This program is presented "as is."  The author will not assume
responsibility for any data mishaps (not that any disasters could
happen anyway).  Feel free to send comments, suggestions, or bug
reports.  Registered users who donate at least $5.00 will receive
notice of program updates by providing me with their CompuServe,
Internet, and/or Prodigy user ID's.

Feel free to upload DLRK24.ZIP to any BBS you like, as long as you
include all the original files.


DOWNLOAD RECORDKEEPER FOR MODEM PROGRAMS OTHER THAN TELIX
I have been asked to modify DLRK so that it will read the usage logs
of modem programs other than Telix.  Naturally, I understand there are
many folks out there using modem programs other than Telix.  If you
would like a version of DLRK for some other modem program, drop me a
line and I'll see what I can do.  Include a sample usage log (computer
file, not hard copy) of the modem program in question containing various
examples of download notation.  As of this writing, I have another
version of DLRK for Telemate.  Theoretically, DLRK could be modified
for any modem program which records downloads in a usage log.


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many thanks to Bob O'Lary for his specific advice and for his general
words of wisdom.  (Call Bob's BBS at 904-656-6178, 8-N-1.)

Telix Copyright (C) 1986-94 deltaComm Development, PO Box 1185, Cary,
NC 27512.

Download Recordkeeper was written with MS QuickBasic 4.50 on a 386
machine operating under DR DOS 6.0.  I hope the program proves useful
to you.  It works great for me.

Thanks for supporting the shareware concept!  Only you can make
shareware work.  If you use DLRK and Telix, please give serious
consideration to registering them.  Upgrades and advances are made
possible only by users who honor their shareware obligations.


THE END