Monster Media 1996 #14

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Text File | 1996-01-01 | 29KB | 539 lines

╔═════════════════════╦══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐ ┌┐┌┐┌┐ ║ ■ CLASSIFIED ADS DOOR ║ ║ └┐├┘├┤│ ├ ││ ├┤││││ ║ ■ (c) 1995 SPACED O·U·T SOFTWARE ║ ║ └┘┘ ┘┘└┘└┘└┘ ┘┘└┘└┘ ║ ■ Version 1.0 ║ ╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - INDEX ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION 1.1 - Welcome To SpacedAD 1.2 - Disclaimer 1.3 - About ShareWare 1.4 - General Overview of SpacedAD 1.5 - Features 1.6 - Compatability 1.7 - Support / Author Contact CHAPTER 2 : OPERATION 2.1 - Setup of SpacedAD 2.2 - Setting Up With BBS 2.3 - Functions of the Main Menu : 2.3.1 - Main Menu 2.3.2 - Change Ads Area 2.3.3 - Create An Ad 2.3.4 - Download Options 2.3.5 - Modify An Ad 2.3.6 - View Current Ads 2.3.7 - View Information 2.3.8 - Delete Ads 2.3.9 - Quit To BBS 2.4 - Expiring Ads CHAPTER 3 : REGISTRATION 3.1 - What You Get When You Register 3.2 - How To Register ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : Chapter 1 (Introduction) ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 1.1 - Welcome To SpacedAD ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Hello, and welcome to SpacedAD ! In case you are wondering why I wrote this program, here goes : I run a BBS myself, Spaced Out, and many of my users had been asking me if I could put a classified ads door online. So I decided that I would search the shareware CD's I have and also the other BBSs I am on. However there was not exactly much to look at. All I could find were a few programs which could not have taken more than 10 mins to write. Most of them were very user un-friendly and were not very colourful. Therefore I thought I would write one myself ! After I had written most of it, some of the other people who had seen the program said that I should release it for everyone to use, so here it is ! Anyway thats the history lesson over with, I just hope you and your users enjoy using this program, and you find it useful. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 1.2 - Disclaimer ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ When you (the user) use this program you take full responisbility. I (Stuart Kerr) assume no resposibility what so ever. Should this program bring about all manor of hell then this is not my fault. This UnRegistered version of SpacedAD may be freely distributed and placed on ShareWare CD's etc., so long as no profit is made in its distribution (this excludes media charges/BBS online charges etc.). If you do not register this program you must only use it for a 30 day trial period. After that you must either pay for it or remove it from your computer. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 1.3 - About ShareWare ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ShareWare is a Software policy where you (the user) get to try out a piece of software before you buy it. So with SpacedAD you may run it for 30 days and then either register or delete it. The principle of ShareWare is used all over the world, and allows authors a great way of distributing their software, and users a great try-before-you-buy system. By registering ShareWare you are ensuring that authors will continue development of their software, and that you the user will benefit in the long run. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 1.4 - General Overview of SpacedAD ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ SpacedAD was designed with the sysop and the user in mind. SpacedAD has a user friendly interface, with easy to use menus. There is QuickHelp on the Main Menu to help novice users find their way around. SpacedAD has a feature which is lacking in most other Classified Ads. Doors, an AREA feature. SpacedAD can have unlimited number of areas in the fully registered version, and a maximum of three in the evaluation copy. With these areas you can divide up the topics, so users can view only adverts which interest them. For example you can have seperate areas for FOR SALE and WANTED, and have other areas such as COMMERCIAL FOR SALE, PERSONAL ADS., SERVICES etc. SpacedAD will also allow users to download advert databases to read offline, saving them money and freeing up your phone line. Users can also modify and delete their own adverts, and you the sysop can set the time limit before adverts will expire. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 1.5 - Features ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The {+} sign next to a feature means it is avalible in the REGISTERED version only. ■ Unlimited Advert Areas {+} ■ Compatibility with MANY BBS Packages ■ Download Advert Database facility ■ Ability To Add BBS Advert To Downloaded List {+} ■ Lightbar controlled Main Manu ■ QuickHelp ■ Modify / Delete Functions ■ Simple Setup / Configuration ■ Supports Ansi Colour Graphics ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 1.6 - Compatibility ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ QuickBBS, Remote Access, RBBS, SuperBBS, Telegard, WildCat 3, Force!, PcBoard (latest), GAP, WildCat, Genesis, Spitfire, WWIV, Osiris and others BBS software that uses a compatible format with one mentioned above, (DORINFORx.DEF, DOOR.SYS, INFO.BBS, CHAIN.TXT, PCBOARD.SYS). If you have any compatibility problems, please let me know. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 1.7 - Support / Author Contact ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If you are having technical difficulties, or wish to contact the author, please use the following addresses. STUART KERR (LEAD PROGRAMMER, DESIGN) : InterNet EMail : stuart@stu-kerr.demon.co.uk FIDOnet EMail : 2:254/151.26 BBS : Spaced O·U·T BBS, 0181 763 8292, v.34, 24hrs Page or E-Mail the SysOp Snail Mail : Stuart Kerr (Spaced Out Software) 4 Woodhatch Spinney Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 2SU England To recieve the latest version of Spaced Ad please contact : BBS : Spaced O·U·T BBS, 0181 763 8292, v.34, 24hrs Login as SPACED AD or create your own account. InterNet EMail : binsoslist@stu-kerr.demon.co.uk Send a message with title "SUBSCRIBE SPACEDADD" to be placed on the SpacedAD binary mailing list. CompuServe : Type GO IBMBBS Search Keyword "SPACED" ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : Chapter 2 (Operation) ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 2.1 - Setup Of SpacedAD ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Spaced Ad setup program is menu driven and very simple to use. To load it, type ADCFG from the command prompt. When it has loaded, you will be presented with a window containing configuration information for Spaced Ad. Use the cursor keys to highlight the item which you want to select and enter to select the item. As you highlight different items, the help bar at the bottom of the screen will give you more information about each item. If you select "Name of SysOp", "Name of BBS" or "Registration code", you will be prompted to enter or change information in the appropriate field. You can use the cursor keys to edit the fields. Pressing enter will accept the changes to the field and pressing escape will revert the information in the field to what it was before. If you choose "Areas", another window will appear which will allow you to setup the advert areas for Spaced Ad. As with the main menu, use the cursor keys to highlight the menu items and enter to select and the fields can be edited as before. To jump to the previous or next area, use the left and right cursor keys respectively. You will only be allowed to add a new entry if the last one contains information in at least one of the fields. Please remember that the unregistered version of Spaced Ad only supports three areas. Press escape to return from this window to the main one. If you choose "About", a message box will appear containing product and version information for Spaced Ad. Pressing escape from the main menu or choosing "Exit" from the main menu will return you to the operating system and save any changes you have made to the file "SPACEDAD.CFG". ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 2.2 - Setting up with BBS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ As Spaced Ad is compatible with such a wide variety of BBS's and drop files it is impossible to test all possible configurations. However when tested with Remote Access v2.02 Bulletin Board System software, the following observations were made : ■ The command *M had to be placed at the end of the command line in order to load Spaced Ad into higer memory. The program itself worked fine without this however when downloading with DSZ it ran out of memory. So it is suggested that you load Spaced Ad into higher memory if you BBS software supports it. So that Spaced Ad can locate the config file, a batch file is used to load SpacedAd. The batch file looks like this : (an example is included in the zip) @ECHO OFF C: <---- This is the Drive you SpaceAd directory is on CD \SPACEDAD <---- This is the path to the SpacedAd direvtory SPACEDAD.EXE %1 <---- This will load SpacedAd and configure the drop file To run Spaced Ad you need to run the batch file as an external program (Option no. 7 in 0Remote Access). Then in the input field type : <path to SPACEAD.BAT>\spacedad.bat <path to BBS dropfile> So for example I would use : *C /C D:\EXT\SPACEDAD\SPACEDAD.BAT D:\RA\DORINFO1.DEF *M ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 2.3 - Functions of the Main Menu ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 2.3.1 - Main Menu ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Following is a diagram of the main menu : ┌─────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐ ┌┐┌┐┌┐ │ This Version of Spaced Add is Licenced to : │ │ └┐├┘├┤│ ├ ││ ├┤││││ │ ■ TEST USER │ │ └┘┘ ┘┘└┘└┘└┘ ┘┘└┘└┘ │ ■ SPACED-AD DOCS │ ├─────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Main Menu : │ │ Current Area : │ │ │ │ Change Adds Area Create An Add Download Options Modify Adds │ │ │ │ View Current Adds View Information Delete Adds Quit To BBS │ │ │ ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ PLEASE CHOOSE AN OPTION BY MOVING (4 AND 6) AND PRESSING [ENTER] │ ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │ QUICKHELP : │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The Spaced-Ad Main Menu uses LIGHTBARS and HOTKEYS for navigation. To move the lightbars around you must use "4" to go left and "6" to go right (these are left and right on the numeric keypad). When you move the lightbar it will select and option from the main menu, by giving it a blue background. Pressing ENTER when you have selected that option will take you to that option. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : 2.3.2 - Change Ads Area░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Following is an example of how the CHANGE ADS AREA menu might look : ┌─────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐ ┌┐┌┐┌┐ │ This Version of Spaced Add is Licenced to : │ │ └┐├┘├┤│ ├ ││ ├┤││││ │ ■ TEST USER │ │ └┘┘ ┘┘└┘└┘└┘ ┘┘└┘└┘ │ ■ SPACED-AD DOCS │ ├─────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Change Ads. Area : │ ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ONCE YOU SEE THE AREA YOU WISH TO CHANGE TO, ENTER ITS NUMBER │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Area Number Area Decription For Sale! 1 Wanted 2 Services Offered 3 Help Wanted 4 Computers & Things 5 Miscellaneous 6 Personal 7 Automotive 8 Upcoming Events! 9 Commercial Listings 10 MORE [Y/N] Enter Area No. [.....] This will display all the areas that you have specified in the config program {unregistered version is limited to a maximim of 2 areas}. To select a certain area you just type in the number displayed next to it. When you setup your areas, it is recomended that you try and keep each area to one topic, for example instead of FOR SALE/WANTED you have two areas, FOR SALE and WANTED. This means that your users will be able to goto exactly what they want, and not have to read through adverts which are of no interest to them. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 2.3.3 - Create An Ad ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Following is an example of how the CREATE AN AD screen could look : ┌─────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐ ┌┐┌┐┌┐ │ This Version of Spaced Add is Licenced to : │ │ └┐├┘├┤│ ├ ││ ├┤││││ │ ■ TEST USER │ │ └┘┘ ┘┘└┘└┘└┘ ┘┘└┘└┘ │ ■ SPACED-AD DOCS │ ├─────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ENTERING ADVERT IN AREA : │ ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ENTER ADVERT UP TO 10 LINES, ONE EMPTY LINE [/S] TO SAVE [/Q] TO QUIT │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The first line of each advert will be brighter than the other ones, to allow users to ad a title to their advert which can attract people to read on. There is a maximum of 10 lines of text which can be entered, although they don't all have to be full, for example, a user could type 4 lines of text and then use "/S" to save after that. If a user decides to quit "/Q" can be used to abort. Once a user has enterd their advert they are asked if they wish to modify it, and then if they wish to save it or not. In the registered version, you can have an unlimited number of adverts in each area. However in unregisterd you are limited to a maximum of 15 adverts in each area. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 2.3.4 - Download Options ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ When your users go into the Download Option screen, this is what they will see : ┌─────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐ ┌┐┌┐┌┐ │ This Version of Spaced Add is Licenced to : │ │ └┐├┘├┤│ ├ ││ ├┤││││ │ ■ │ │ └┘┘ ┘┘└┘└┘└┘ ┘┘└┘└┘ │ ■ │ ├─────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Download Options : │ │ │ │ This Option will allow you to download the database for the area you are │ │ currently in. You must have your terminal ready to accept an ascii text │ │ file by Z-Modem. │ │ │ │ [CONTINUE WITH DOWNLOAD] [RETURN TO MAIN MENU] │ │ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ A light bar will allow them to choose between the two options. Once they have selected to download, SpacedAD will create a file such as the following, and send it to them using the DSZ Z-Modem protocol. DSZ should be avalible at your favorite BBS, but if not it is avalible on SPACED O·U·T BBS [0181 763 8292 - 24hrs, v.34]. This must be in the path. If you have a file in your SpacedAD directory called BBSAD.TXT then this will be placed in the position shown below. Your users will recieve the following called SPACEDAD.TXT : ┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐┌┐ ┌┐┌┐┌┐ └┐├┘├┤│ ├ ││ ├┤││││ └┘┘ ┘┘└┘└┘└┘ ┘┘└┘└┘ (c) 1995 Spaced OUT Software THIS LIST WAS CREATED USING SPACED-AD CLASSIFIED ADS DOOR ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS COPY OF SPACED-AD IS LICENSED TO : ■ TEST USER ■ SPACED-AD DOCS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBSAD.TXT will be placed in this part. {+} ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LISTING FOR AREA : FORSALE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADVERT No. 1 of 2 CONTRIBUTED BY : Test User CONTRIBUTION DATE : 01/10/95 much cheaper can you get. Get the feel good factor of registering something for only £5. Full support and future upgrades. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADVERT No. 2 of 2 CONTRIBUTED BY : Test User CONTRIBUTION DATE : 01/10/95 Look out for more exciting products from Spaced O·U·T Software, coming soon !! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- END OF ADVERTS FOR THIS AREA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 2.3.5 - Modify an Ad ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ This feature is similar in operation to all of the other features of Spaced Ad - the user will be able to select the ad to modify using the left and right keys (on the numeric keypad) and press M to modify. When they have pressed M, they will be prompted to select a line to change and they will be able to re-enter that line. Pressing enter when asked which line to modify will return to the main menu. You can only modify ads which you created. Pressing Q will cancel the function. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 2.3.6 - View Current Ads ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Probably the most important feature of the door, this option will display the adverts in the current area to the user. The user can use the left and right buttons to go backwards and forward an ad, Q will quit. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 2.3.7 - View Information ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ This function will display product and version information on SpacedAd and also how to contact Spaced Out Software. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 2.3.8 - Delete Ads ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ This feature works in the same way as modify except the user presses D to delete the advert they are currently viewing. (The advert will only be deleted if they were the creator of it) ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 2.3.9 - Quit to BBS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ This will return the user to the main BBS system - there is a small delay if the program has not yet been registered - this is removed when you have registered SpacedAd and installed your key number. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 2.4 - Expiring Ads ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ One handy feature of SpacedAd is its ability to automatically delete adverts after a specified period of time. To achieve this, you must first set the expiry days field in the setup program to an appropriate amount (e.g. 60 days). Once you have done this, you must make sure that the program EXPIRE.EXE is run every day - an ideal time to do this would be when the BBS is generating 'top user' statistics or processing mail. However you can also run this program in your BBS's batch file, to be run every time a user logs off because the program will only run once a day - if you run it again it will simply abort with a message. If (for some reason) you need to run it twice in one day, simply delete the file EXPIRE.CFG and it will run again. If you do NOT want adverts to expire, do not ever run the expire program and this will be achieved. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS : Chapter 3 (Registration) ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 3.1 - What you get when you register ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ If you register Spaced Ad, you will get: 1) No more annoying unregistered messages or delays. 2) Your name will be displayed as 'Registered to...' when Spaced Ad is run. 3) All the advanced, registered only features will become enabled. 4) A credit in the documentation of the next version, saying your name, location and the name of your BBS. (Optional) 5) Support from Spaced Out Software if you encounter any problems with Spaced Ad after you have registered, including the possibility of a maintenance release of Spaced Ad for you, if you are having significant problems with it. 6) The satisfaction of having helped in the continuing development of Spaced Ad. 7) Notification of future Spaced Out Software products. NOTE: If you are experiencing significant problems with Spaced Ad BEFORE registering, please do NOT register in the hope that they will be fixed. All registering Spaced Ad does is to add the registered only features and to remove the unregistered messages and delays, it does NOT correct, for example, dropfile compatibility problems (although beta testing has not given any evidence that this will ever be a problem). ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ SPACEDAD DOCS - 3.2 - How to register ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Please refer to the file REGISTER.SPA for information on how to register Spaced Ad. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │░ END OF SPACEDAD DOCS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘