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Doc Release 25th February 1996
GreenLights Software Bulletin Generator
For
RemoteAccess 2.00, 2.01, 2.02, 2.50
GLSBULL.EXE v1.01
Copyright(c) 1996, Jeffrey R Dougall - GreenLights Software Development
FidoNET 3:640/280
BBS +61 7 3201 6576 (9600-28800)
1
1.1 License and disclaimer
"GLSBULL" refers to the executable and documentation in the
original distribution archive. GLSBULL is copyrighted material by
Jeffrey R. Dougall. It may only be used in agreement with the
conditions set out in this license agreement.
GLSBULL may be freely distributed as long as no files are removed
from the package and the files are not modified in any way, and
as long as no money or any other compensation is asked or
accepted for this package without prior written permission from
the author.
Although care has been taken to write and test a program that
does what this document states, the program is provided as is,
without warranty or guarantee of any kind, either expressed or
implied, as to the quality or performance of this program, except
that it will occupy disk space.
The author, Jeffrey R. Dougall, will not be held liable to you
or anyone for (but not limited to) any direct, indirect,
incidental or consequential damages, including any lost profits,
2
lost savings which may result from the use or inability to use
this program.
Jeffrey R. Dougall is in no way obligated to provide future
versions of, or support for this software.
Your use of the program constitutes your agreement to this
license and disclaimer and your release of the author from any
form of liability or litigation.
1.2 Registration
This release of GLSBULL may be used free of charge for individual
hobby use in REGISTERED mode for a total period of 40 days after
which GLSBULL will de-activate REGISTERED mode and some features
will become in operate. GLSBULL may operate unpredictably if the
file(s) used to calculate the length of operation in FREE registered
mode are tampered with ...
To register your copy of GLSBULL read the doc file GLSBULL.REG
3
FILES used and created by GLSBULL.EXE
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GLSBULL.EXE The main executable file
GLSBULL.DAT Display information
GLSBULL.CFG Configuration file created by GLSBULL.EXE
GLSBULL.REC Created after running GLSBULL.EXE for the first time.
Used by GLSBULL so that dupe messages are not sent.
GLSPOST.EXE Used by GLSBULL to send messages.
GLSPOST.DAT Data file used by GLSPOST.EXE
GLS??????.MSG files are explained below.
GLS??????.ASC bulletin you display to callers
GLSBULL creates a file GLSBULL.REC when first run. this file
contains the names of the people a message was last sent to.
This is used by GLSBULL to ensure the same message is not sent
twice to a caller. The format is as follows
GLSBULL.REC
-----------
Joan Doe LINE 1 Top Uploader
Tom Doe LINE 2 Top Caller
John Doe LINE 3 Top Message writer
END
The program uses the following TEXT files as the base template for
posting messages to your callers ...
4
GLSTHKF.MSG When a caller is NUMBER 1 in the top ten uploaders
GLSBULL will post this message to him/her
The message is sent once only.
GLSTHKM.MSG When a caller is NUMBER 1 in the top ten Message writters
GLSBULL will post this message to him/her
The message is sent once only.
GLSTHKC.MSG When a caller is NUMBER 1 in the top ten CALLERS
the GLSBULL will post this message to him/her
The message is sent once only.
GLSOOPSF.MSG When a caller looses number 1 position this message
will be sent. (Top uploader)
GLSOOPSC.MSG When a caller looses number 1 position this message
will be sent. (Best caller)
GLSOOPSM.MSG When a caller looses number 1 position this message
will be sent. (Best message writer)
GLSBIRTH.MSG This message is sent to a caller on his/her birthday
GLSSUB.MSG Created when a person subscription is due
GLS1ST.MSG Sent to NEW callers
5
WHAT DOES GLSBULL.EXE DO?
-------------------------
1 Writes bulletins for the top 14 callers, uploaders, message writers
and downloaders.
2 Sends a welcome message to new callers
3 Sends a birthday wish to your callers on their birthday
4 Sends a subscription reminder notice to your VIPS's 21 days prior
to subscription expires.
5 When a caller makes number one position on the Best callers/Uploaders
and message writers bulletins GLSBULL will send them a congratulations
message to encourage further uploading etc.
6 When a person who held number one position looses it a Boo! Hisss
message is sent to him/her to encourage, again, more uploads/message
writing etc. Not really needed, just thrown in for fun.
7 GLSBULL is year 2000 aware but is limited until RemoteAccess fully
supports 4 digit year entry and as soon as RA does the transition
an immediate update release of GLSBULL will be made available.
For those not aware, any program which does not support 4 digit
year entry will fail to function correctly after the turn of the
century! meaning a person born in the year 1964 for example will
suddenly be 64 years old in the year 2000.
6
INSTALLATION
------------
The GLSBULL archive comes with 5 files and after running the first time
several more files are created so it is strongly advised give GLSBULL
a directory of its own.
Once creating the directory and unpacking the files start GLSBULL.EXE
so that the required configuration file and other relevant files can be
created.
GLSBULL will look for your RemoteAccess configuration files to obtain
information about you and your BBS so that you do not have to go through
a lengthy setup operation.
Once obtaining your details GLSBULL will ask you if you want messages to
be sent to your callers. If you answer NO, GLSBULL will ask no more
questions and return to dos after writing your CFG file to HDD.
If you answer YES, GLSBULL will ask you for a HUDSON message board number
which is required if you wish to have GLSBULL send messages to your callers.
You are then given the option to have GLSBULL post your VIP's a reminder
to renew their subscription to your BBS 21 days before the due date.
GLSBULL will ask you to enter a security number between 0-65535.
Enter 65535 if you don't wish reminders sent by GLSBULL.
If you have a registered copy of GLSBULL and enter a security number of
1000, GLSBULL will treat all users with a security of 1000 and above as
VIPS and send them a subscription reminder. In other words, GLBULL will
send a reminder to all those equal to or greater than the security number
you enter.
Unregistered users will be restricted in that GLSBULL will only send a
reminder to those users EQUAL to the security number you enter.
GLSBULL will now create several files with the file extension MSG which
are the templates used when posting messages to your callers. GLSBULL
will place your name and the name of your BBS in these messages. You
may edit these templates with a TXT editor if you wish.
7
CONFIGURING RemoteAccess
------------------------
GLSBULL generates 6 bulletin files these are:-
GLSCALL.ASC Top 14 callers
GLSMESS.ASC " " message writers
GLSKUP.ASC " " uploaders by K/bytes
GLSKDOWN.ASC " " downloaders by K/bytes
GLSUP.ASC " " uploders by files
GLSDOWN.ASC " " downloaders by files
GLSBULL makes good use of RA's inbuilt colour codes so GLSBULL does not
produce ANSI screens. Instead, ASC txt files are created and the colour
codes are embedded into the bulletins. This way RA will send the ASC
bulletins to all callers wether they be, ANSI, AVITAR, ASC or RIP in
full colour or B/W if the caller is using a TTY terminal.
This not only saves on HDD space but also speeds the process of producing
the bulletins PLUS you only have 6 bulletins in your text file directory
instead of 12! In other words GLSBULL does not waste time/space duplicating
the bulletins !
When you start GLSBULL she will look for your CONFIG.RA file which contains
information about you and the location of your MSGBASE files and TXTFILES
directory.
8
In the sample RACONFIG below you will see Textfiles \ra\txtfiles so
what-ever you have entered there, will be the location GLSBULL will create
your bulletins. IMPORTANT if your running GLSBULL from a different DRIVE
to you TXTFILES directory you MUST include the drive Letter in RACONFIG!
File System Options Modem Manager
════════════════════╒═══════════╕═══════════════════════════════════════════════
▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│
▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ Site info │▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ Addresses │▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒│ Security │▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
▒▒╒═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Paths ╕▒▒
▒▒│ │▒▒
▒▒│ System \RA\ │▒▒
▒▒│ Menus \RA\MENUS\ │▒▒
▒▒│ Textfiles \RA\TXTFILES\ <<<<<< GLSBULL uses this directory to store │▒▒
▒▒│ Msg base \RA\MSGBASE\ your bulletins │▒▒
▒▒│ File base \RA\FILES\ │▒▒
▒▒│ File attach \RA\ATTACH\ │▒▒
▒▒│ Nodelist \FD\NODELIST\ │▒▒
▒▒│ CD-ROM temp \RA\CDROM\ │▒▒
▒▒│ Semaphore \RA\SEM\ │▒▒
▒▒│ Rearchive │▒▒
▒▒│ System log \RA\RA.LOG │▒▒
▒▒│ │▒▒
▒▒╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛▒▒
▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
9
After the bulletins are created you have to setup a menu in your BBS to
display the bulletins to your callers. You may create a special menu for this
purpose or use any of your current menu's.
Below you will see a sample menu which allows your callers to show the
bulletins when they press the corresponding hot key. If they press A
RA will display the bulletin "GLSCALL.ASC" etc etc.
╒══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ C:\RA\MENUS\BULL.MNU ╕
│ │***│ Display-H │ bulletin │
│ │'A'│ Disp CR │ GLSCALL │
│ │'B'│ Disp CR │ GLSDOWN │
│ │'C'│ Disp CR │ GLSUP │
│ │'D'│ Disp CR │ GLSMESS │
│ │'E'│ Disp CR │ GLSKDOWN │
│ │'F'│ Disp CR │ GLSKUP │
│ │'M'│ Return │ │
│ │
│ │
╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
Enter-Edit Ins-Insert Del-Delete Esc-Exit
ALT: L-Load S-Save P-Prompt D-Display N-Language
Bellow is a more detailed layout on how to set RA up to display your
bulletins. Make sure you use a TYPE 45 menu command so that RA will
prompt the caller to press enter to continue at the end of the
bulletin.
╒══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Edit Menu Item ╕
│ │
│ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 │
│ 123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345 │
│ ; │
│ │
│ GLSCALL │
│ │
│ Action Display .ANS/.ASC with CR pause at end (Type 45) │
│ Display │
│ OptData │
│ HotKey A │
│ AutoExec No │
│ Colour Colour example │
│ │
│ MinSec 0 TimeUsed 0 FlatCost 0 │
│ MaxSec 0 TimeLeft 0 TimeCost 0 │
│ A flags -------- Age 0 Terminal Any │
│ B flags -------- MinSpeed 0 Nodes │
│ C flags -------- MaxSpeed 0 Groups │
│ D flags -------- Credit 0 DayTimes │
│ │
│ │
╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
What will happen when item is selected
10
DAILY MAINTENANCE
-----------------
GLSBULL should be included in your daily maintenance so that bulletins
can be updated daily. DO NOT RUN GLSBULL more than once a day if you have
the message posting active otherwise GLSBULL may post duplicate
messages to your callers. You have been warned!
From this point on it is assumed you have read the docs that came with
your copy of RemoteAccess and you understand the terms used.
A typical batch file that runs GLSBULL might look something like this
When useing RA without a mailer you will have to setup an EVENT ERRORLEVEL
EXIT in RACONFIG. In this sample we will have RA exit with an errorlevel
of 100 to activate GLSBULL daily.
:STARTBBS
CD\RA\NODE1
RA -N1 -B%1%5 -D
IF ERRORLEVEL 100 GOTO DAILYMAINT:
GOTO STARTBBS
:DAILYMAINT
CD\RA\DOOR\GLSBULL
GLSBULL.EXE
GOTO STARTBBS:
11
When using RA with a front end mailer such as Frontdoor you will have
to set your mailer up to do a forced event X exit which will ensure
that GLSBULL is run daily which must be done if you have activated
the message posting feature.
A typical batch file used in conjunction with RA and Frontdoor might
look something like this.
@ECHO OFF
:START
CD\FD
FD
IF ERRORLEVEL 220 GOTO MAILRECIEVED
IF ERRORLEVEL 210 GOTO DAILYMAINT
IF ERRORLEVEL 100 GOTO BBS
GOTO START
:BBS
DOBBS.BAT
GOTO START
:MAILRECIEVED
CD\MAIL
FMAIL3 TOSS
FMAIL3 IMPORT
GOTO START
===========================================================================
REM -------- DAILY Maintenance
:DAILYMAINT
CD \RA\DOOR\GLSBULL
GLSBULL.EXE (((GLSBULL requires no COMMAND LINES)))
===========================================================================
CD \MAIL
FMAIL3 PACK
FTOOLS3 MAINT /D /N /P
GOTO START
12
EXCLUDING USERS FROM BULLETINS
------------------------------
GLSBULL allows you to exclude up-to 10 users from the bulletins. This
is done by editing the control file called GLSBULL.SKP"
It is not necessary to place your name in the list as GLSBULL excludes
the sysop by default.
The names of the users MUST appear exactly how they do in RA's users base.
in other words the names are CASE-SENSATIVE!!!!!
PROBLEMS
--------
Q. GLSBULL cannot find CONFIG.RA?
A. Make sure RA is setup in your dos environment before running GLSBULL.
Q. GLBSULL still can't find CONFIG.RA?
A. Make sure CONFIG.RA is in your RA's System directory. Some silly billy's
have been known to place CONFIG.RA in the directory that they start
other nodes from. ie \ra\node1 etc.
Q. GLSBULL Still can't locate CONFIG.RA.
A. You are probably running GLSBULL from a differnt HDD to RA and have
RA environment varable setup so as NOT to include the drive. ie
if your have in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file RA=\RA than thats fine but
eventually you'll have problems. Make a habbit of including a drive
letter. so you would have something like this in you AUTOEXEC.BAT file
SET RA=C:\RA etc
Q. GLSBULL is screwing up bad?
A. GLSBULL must be executed from the directory that contains all of the
GLSBULL data and cfg files otherwise she cannot locate here files.
or you have recieved a hacked copy and if so contacte the author
stating were you got your copy from.
Q. GLSBULL posted messages for a while than stoped all together.
A. It's time you registered ... Don't you think!
Q. GLSBULL will not let me define new user post a message delay or
allow me to define the subscription reminder period.
A. My Beta testers have be naughty! You must have a Beta version which
should not have left the hands of the Beta testers.
Q. GLSBULL has bugs.
A. What program doesn't?, Next question! seriously, if you find what
looks to be a bug contact the author.
Q. I registered GLSBULL and my key does not work correctly!
A. Contact the author immediatly as your version is either a hack
or your details were recorded incorrectly in your key.
Q. My whole message base has screwed up.
A. Tampering with DATA files can cause undesirable results. Especially
when it comes to GLSPOST. If you have been good and left the data
files alone than obtain a new copy as it would appear you have a
hacked or incomplete version of GLSBULL.
Q. GLSPOST is configured to post messages, and post's the messages but
they cannot be found on the BBS.
A. Check your GLSBULL.CFG file and make sure you defined a HUDSON
message board that exists in your MESSAGES.RA file. If in doubt,
delete GLSBULL.CFG and re-install. If still not working, call
the ghost busters.
Q. What happens when my evaluation period expires?
A. GLSBULL will dissable the message posting features and run
in regular shareware mode, but will not tell your users you
havn.t enough funds to register.