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Monster Media 1996 #14
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Monster Media No. 14 (April 1996) (Monster Media, Inc.).ISO
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STAGDEM.DOC
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1996-02-29
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Documentation for STAGDEM
Contents
1. Disclaimer
2. What is STAGDEM?
3. System requirements
4. How it works
5. Getting started
6. Licensing information
7. How to contact the author
Documentation for STAGDEM
Disclaimer
You use the program entirely at your own risk. If you don't like this, then
don't use the program. The author accepts no liability under any circumstances.
What is STAGDEM?
STAGDEM is a program to handle CD-ROM file staging. File staging is the process
of copying the files off slow media, usually CD-ROM, onto your hard disk.
STAGDEM has been written to interact specifically with TBBS version 2.3.
The normal reasons for doing this are to improve the access time for
downloading. Additionally you may have one or more CD changers, which have
problems when there are requests for files off different discs at the same time.
Previously if you wanted to do file staging with TBBS you would have had to have
the TDBS option module and another 3rd party product such as MFM or Copyit. The
cost of these products combined can cost more than a CD changer.
System Requirements
STAGDEM is a DOS program. I wrote it to run under Windows NT to handle file
staging off my 8 CD-ROM drives. Enclosed in the archive is a Windows NT PIF
file, which may require some customisation.
The program is written in Microsoft QuickBasic, so it should function under
Windows 95 or on a Novell file server. Typically the File staging process is
carried out on a seperate machine which is networked with the BBS machine. It
is quite possible that
You'll need the following:
* A machine running a multi-tasking operating system, or if you prefer a
dedicated DOS machine
* Some slow media such as a CD-ROM drive or changer
* Approx 256k of free memory
* TBBS 2.3
Documentation for STAGDEM
How it works
1. The program takes the command line parameter as being the name of your
staging directory. If none is given the program will abort.
2. The program does a directory lookup for files in the staging directory with
a name of LAN?????.REQ. If none are found it pauses for one second and then
repeats the process.
3. Once a REQ file is found it will open and lock the file. It will also open
and lock a batch file with the same name.
4. It then proceeds to copy the commands in the request file to the batch file.
It will change the target drive letter to the drive letter used on the
command line.
5. It shells out to execute the batch file.
6. Once its returned it will delete the request and batch files.
7. If its found more than 5 REQ files, then a reminder is displayed prompting
you to get the registered version, called STAGING. It exits after a 20
second delay.
Getting Started
1. Go into CEDIT. Choose the Other and File Handling options.
2. Enter the drive letters of your CD-ROM drives next to the the "Remote/Slow
drives" prompt.
3. Enter the name of your request directory (I use Y:\CD_REQ for mine).
4. Enter the name of your staging directory (I use Y:\CD_STAGE for mine).
5. Enter 3 for the "Staging method" prompt (ie TBBS method).
6. Exit from CEDIT and save the config file.
7. Create your request directory (eg MD Y:\CD_REQ)
8. Create your staging directory (eg MD Y:\CD_STAGE).
9. Under the staging directory there needs to be one directory for each line
number. These are called "00", "01", "02" and so on. If you have a 64 line
TBBS then you'll need to create 65 of them (eg MD Y:\CD_STAGE\00).
10. Edit the PIF file or batch file you are using to run STAGDEM, to place the
name of the staging directory on the command line.
Documentation for STAGDEM
11. Run your PIF or batch file. The result should look like this:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STAGDEM v1.01 TBBS CD-ROM File Staging Demo
Copyright (C) 1996 by Mark James
Started on Wednesday, 14-Feb-1996 at 6:55am
Press <Esc> to shutdown
02/20/1996 10:25pm D:\CD_REQ\LAN01000.REQ
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. The above display shows the date started, and the date, time and file name
of the last REQ file processed.
Licensing Information
This product is a demonstation of a commercial program called STAGING. Please
distribute freely. See the order form file (ORDER.FRM) for specific pricing
details of the commercial program.
How to contact the author
The author is Mark G James. I can be contacted at the following places:
Fidonet: 3:712/302
Internet: markj@augur.mpx.com.au
Snail mail: Mark James
PO Box 1830
North Sydney
N.S.W. 2059
Australia
The Augur TBBS Australia (02) 311-3052
International +612 311-3052