Monster Media 1996 #15

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Text File | 1996-06-13 | 28KB | 596 lines

WHEEL of FORTUNE v6.2 by Al Lawrence Sunrise-80 BBS (404) 256-9525 (33.6 USR) (404) 705-9104 (33.6 USR) (404) 256-9518 (VOICE, 9am-9:30pm EST) (Email) al_lawre@ix.netcom.com OVERVIEW ________ Wheel of Fortune is an adaptation of the very popular TV game show. The game is played almost exactly the same, however, you will have to use your imagination when it comes to who is turning the letters on the board. I can assure you that Vanna is not doing the turning. The game has a SAVE feature which allows the caller to quit the game and pick up where they left off, when the caller next chooses the door. NOTE: Most errors will be logged to a file called DFRAME.ERR, which is created in the directory you run the door from. INSTALLATION ____________ Installation is fairly easy and straight-forward. The following steps and examples should have you up and running in a very short period of time. It is assumed that you are familiar with setting up DOORS on your system. To this end, only examples of the configuration file and Door batch file are described. 1) Create a directory to hold all WHEEL of FORTUNE files. 2) Unzip WOFxx.ZIP into the the above directory. 3) Create a configuration file, with a name of your choice, or modify the supplied WHEEL.CFG file. A description follows: ** Location of System FIle (See Below) SUNRISE-80 BBS Your BBS Name Al Sysop's First Name Lawrence Sysop's Last name |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | READ! 1 CommPort \ These 2 lines are required | | READ! 1 Node # / ONLY for GTUSER.BBS | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| 00000000 Registration Number 50 Number of entries in the Top Score file Minimum=10, Maximum=50, Default=50 20 Number of puzzles each player has to solve. Minimum=10, Maximum=50, Default=20 # 7 NUMBER of chances given to solve each puzzle. A wrong letter choice, landing on "LOSE TURN" or "BANKRUPT" reduces this variable by 1. When it reaches 0 the caller receives 100 pts, whether caller has accumulateed more or not, and they move on to the next puzzle. This is the default! - or - LEVELS - allows caller to select a level of difficulty. There are 4 levels and each level carries a different number of chances & a sliding percentage of the wheel points caller will accumulate. 2 The number of players that must complete all puzzles, before the puzzles are changed automatically by WOFMAINT, usually in your nightly event processing. # 3 Number of puzzles the caller is allowed to play per day. (Sysop is unlimited in registered version!) # NONE Full drive:\path\filename for Top Score Bulletin, or NONE (ASCII) # NONE Full drive:\path\filename for Top Score Bulletin, or NONE (ANSI) # NONE Full drive:\path\filename for Hall of Fame Bulletin, or NONE (ASCII) # NONE Full drive:\path\filename for Hall of Fame Bulletin, or NONE (ANSI) 2 1 = Do Not Display ADOPT-A-DOOR Message 2 = Display ADOPT-A-DOOR Message # 2 Keyboard Timeout Value in Minutes. If key not depressed for "value" minutes then game is saved. Minimum = 2 minutes # N Y = Allow callers to add Puzzles N = Do not allow callers to add Puzzles. (See 'Caller Supplied Puzzles' below) 12000 Value used to dictate the speed the wheel will spin. Since I run on a 286/12 I have determined that a value of 12000 performs well. For an 8088 CPU you would lower the value and for a faster CPU you would raise the value (range: 1000-15000) If you find the optimum value for a specific machine type, please share it on the support board or thru any Sysop or BBS_Door echo you have access to! # Y Y = Allow Sysop to play as many games as there are questions N = Sysop just like a regular player @ # XXXX/YYYY Blackout Range From/To @ # XXXX/YYYY Blackout Range From/To @ # XXXX/YYYY Blackout Range From/To @ # XXXX/YYYY Blackout Range From/To @ # XXXX/YYYY Blackout Range From/To N Y = Force Caller to respond to Instructions <y/n). May need this with Digiboards. N = Allow caller to press ENTER in response to Instructions <y/N> N Y = Use Alias for Caller's name (Requires Door.Sys) N = Use Logon Name for Caller's name Y Y = Log all callers to USAGEx N = Do not log callers ** = Replace with ONE of the following: C:\bbs\PCBOARD.SYS <- For PCBoard systems using PCBOARD.SYS only C:\BBS\CALLINFO.BBS <- For Wildcat! systems (prior to v3.0) C:\BBS\DOOR.SYS <- For ANY systems that support DOOR.SYS C:\BBS\DORINFOx.DEF <- For ANY systems that support DORINFOx.DEF C:\BBS\SFDOORS.DAT <- For Spitfire systems. c:\bbs\TRIBBS.SYS <- For TriBBS systems. C:\BBS\GTUSER.BBS <- For GT Power * if using this option you must put the ComPort # on line 5 and the Node # on line 6 of the configuration file # = Requires registration to change to a different value @ = See "Blackout Periods" Below NOTE:THERE ARE TO BE NO BLANK LINES IN THIS FILE ! 4) Run WOFMAINT WHEEL.CFG (or name you gave to config file) ********************* To Setup Program **************************** * * * Note filename is the filename you chose in #3 above. * * ASSUMING that filename from #3 above is WHEEL.CFG, * * type the following: * * * * WOFMAINT WHEEL.CFG * * * ******************************************************************* Choose menu option #7. (NOTE: READ PROMPTS CAREFULLY !!!) This will create and initialize all the required files in the directory you created in # 1) above. The program will display the names of the files being created. Uses config file from #3 above! You will be returned to the main menu after initialization. Choose option "8" to exit WOFMAINT. 5) Create a batch file or modify the WHEEL file supplied. A description of this file follows: ECHO off CD\bbs\DOORS\WHEEL Location of Wheel of Fortune Files WHEEL WHEEL.CFG EXE filename and CFG filename (Name used in creating file in #3 above) CD\bbs BOARD NOTE: THERE ARE NO BLANK LINES IN THIS FILE 6) When running more than one node, be sure to supply a different configuration name for each node (your choice of name) and change the first entry in the .CFG (if necessary). 7) If running with Fossil-based multi-port boards add /FD to the line containing the CFG name as follows: WHEEL WHEEL.CFG /FD TROUBLESHOOTING --------------- (1) If you are running this Door on a 486 system and encounter errors such as ERROR 6.... OVERFLOW Error ERROR 5.... ILLEGAL Function Call (may be associated with other problems) KEYBOARD Timeout after 5 minutes You may have to put the following line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: SET NO87=ON (2) If you encounter an Error 62 (Input Past End of File), BEFORE you see the opening screen of the Door, your problem will more than likely be associated with the CFG file. The error 62 means that you do not have enough entries in the CFG. Compare your CFG file with the CFG definition in the DOC file. (3) If you encounter an ERROR 70... Permission Denied, this will more than likely mean that you DO NOT have SHARE loaded. SHARE is a DOS file that comes with your version of DOS. To load it type the word SHARE at the DOS prompt. To load it permanently type the word SHARE on a line by itself in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, any place prior to the loading of your BBS software. There have been numerous reports that loading SHARE high causes some problems, so to be on the safe side, do not load it high. Should you have any questions or problem, please do not hesitate to call voice for immediate help... 404-256-9518 (9am-9:30pm EST) any day! USAGE LOG --------- As an option, we provide you with the ability to log every player to a text file. IF you enter Y in the CFG file to log callers, the Door will place the caller's name as well as the ON and OFF times each time a caller selects the Door. A separate file will be created for each Node and the name of the file will be USAGEx, where x is the Node number. You may delete these files at any time and the Door will recreate them the next time a caller enters the Door. If you do NOT want to continue logging callers, change the CFG file entry to N. CALLER SUPPLIED PUZZLES _______________________ If enough time remains, the caller will be given the option to enter puzzles for you to use in the databases. This is optional and is controlled by an entry in the CONFIG file (see Config description above). These entries will reside in a separate file, WOFUSER.PUZ. It will be your responsibility to check the entries out and import them into the WHEEL and/or BONUS databases. Be sure to delete the file when you are finished with it, as WOF will add on to the file if it is found in the WHEEL directory. If not found it creates a new one. NOTE: This option is only available if Door is registered! BLACKOUT PERIODS ________________ Use the Blackout ranges option to define up to 5 time periods during which you DO NOT want the Door to be played. If a caller tries to access the Door during the Blackout period, they will be shown a message that contains ALL the Blackout periods you have defined, and to try the Door at a later time. Each of the 5 Blackout ranges takes the form of XXXX/YYYY, where XXXX=beginning time and YYYY=the ending time. For example, 0930/1230 means to NOT allow the Door to be played between 9:30am and 12:30pm. IMPORTANT: - All times must be 4 digits & must follow the XXXX/YYYY format - DO NOT change the XXXX/YYYY entry UNLESS you want to assign a Blackout range. - You MUST use the MILITARY time format. Example: 2030=8:30pm 0900=9am, 0030=12:30am, 1700=5pm, etc. NON-STANDARD COM SUPPORT ________________________ Support for COM 1-4 on the standard IRQ's - COM1/COM3 = IRQ4 and COM2/COM4 = IRQ3. If you wish to use a non-standard IRQ, add the IRQ number after the configuration filename. Let's assume your Door is called FOOBAR and you want to use COM1 and IRQ5. The command line passed to your Door would be: FOOBAR FOOBAR.CFG /5 The /5 tells FOOBAR to use IRQ5 rather than the standard IRQ4 that is normally used with COM1. No /x parameter is needed for the standard IRQ's. As an alternative, you may use an environmental variable on the command line. To use the variable (following the example above), place a SET IRQ=5 in the batch file used to bring up your BBS (you would need a different IRQ number for each node). The command line would now look like this: FOOBAR FOOBAR.CFG /%IRQ% This, in combination with the use of the environmental variables described in the MULTI-NODE SETUP section will allow you to use one batch file and one config file to run this door on all nodes. MULTI-NODE SETUP ________________ All Sunrise Doors are Multi-Node capable. Each node must have the ability to access a configuration file which will have its own system file (DORINFOx.DEF, PCBOARD.SYS, DOOR.SYS, etc) defined on the first line. There are 2 ways to accomplish this: (1) Create a separate configuration file for each node. The only difference between each file would be the location of the system file for that particular node. For example, on my system there are 2 nodes and the first line of the config files would look like this: NODE1: H:\PCB1\DOOR.SYS NODE2: H:\PCB2\DOOR.SYS Thus, if you have a 4 node BBS, you will need 4 configuration files. (2) Use ONE configuration file for ALL nodes. This Door will recognize the following PCBoard/Wildcat environmental variables: PCBDIR (Directory containing the System file) PCBDRIVE (Drive containing the System file) WCNODEID (Active Node Number) Thus, the first line of the SINGLE configuration file, for this Door would look like this: %PCBDRIVE%%PCBDIR%\DOOR.SYS c:\wc30\wcwork\node%wcnodeid%\door.sys NOTE: This option, as described, assumes that you are running PCB or Wildcat software. The environmental variables are automatically created by the software for each node. HOWEVER, if you are running other BBS software you should be able to set the variables EXACTLY as described below, for EACH node (more than likely in each batch file you use to bring up EACH node): PCBDRIVE=C: ^^^^^^^^^ PCBDIR=\NODE2 ^^^^^^^^ Info with a carat (^) under it, MUST be typed as is. The rest depends on your naming conventions. This, in combination with the use of the optional environmental variable described in the NON-STANDARD COM SUPPORT section, will allow you to use one batch file and one config file to run this door on all nodes. WOFMAINT ________ This is the Wheel of Fortune utility maintenance progam. See below for a list of WOFMAINT functions. To start WOFMAINT enter the following: WOFMAINT WHEEL.CFG (Substitute your config filename) WOFMAINT FUNCTIONS __________________ (1) Add WHEEL Puzzles to Database Add puzzles/categories to WHEEL puzzle database. WHEEL dataase will only hold 2000 puzzles. (2) Add BONUS Puzzles to Database Add puzzles/categories to BONUS puzzle database. BONUS database will only hold 2000 puzzles. (3) Import a Puzzle File Import puzzle files you have created offline with your favorite editor or word processor. See detailed explanation below under "OFFLINE PUZZLE CREATION". (4) Check For REGULAR and BONUS Puzzle Duplicates You should use this option ANY time you either ADD or IMPORT puzzles and at periodic intervals. WOFMAINT will only use the first 2000 puzzles to check the ENTIRE database against. (5) Re-Cycle Used REGULAR and BONUS Puzzles When puzzles are changed,the old ones are placed in a file called WHEELQUE.OLD or BONUSQUE.OLD. At some point in time you may want to add them back into the current database. This option will place them at the end of the database file. (6) Manually Change Puzzles and Reset/Update Files Creates new puzzles, Updates Hall of Fame, Resets HiScore, Index and Save files. (7) Initialize ALL Files (Initial Setup ONLY!) Use only the first time you are setting up this door. It will reset all files, so USE IT with CAUTION !! (8) EXIT Exit WOFMAINT to DOS. EVENT PROCESSING ________________ ************ DOOR MUST BE REGISTERED TO USE THIS OPTION ************** After your caller completes all the puzzles you have defined, it becomes necessary to change them and start a new game. This task can be done manually, using WOFMAINT (option #6) or automatically, as part of your nightly EVENT process. As a nightly EVENT, WOFMAINT checks to see if the number of players, as defined in the configuration file, have completed all puzzles, in which case it will automatically supply a new set of puzzles and reset/update the appropriate files. The following is an EXAMPLE of what needs to be placed in your nightly EVENT file: CD\PCB\DOORS\WHEEL Location of WOF files WOFMAINT WHEEL.CFG /EVENT EXE filename and config filename CD\BBS BOARD OFFLINE PUZZLE CREATION _______________________ This Wheel of Fortune Door program has the ability to import files you create offline, with your favorite editor or word processor. The file format is simple: PUZZLE,CATEGORY. The maximum length of each puzzle is 35 charcters and the maximum length of each category is 20 characters. When this file is imported it is first checked to ensure that it conforms to the length restrictions and then the program checks to ensure that there is enough room in the database. If there is no room, you will receive a message to that effect and you will have to wait until enough puzzles are used and space is made available. If the length of any puzzle or category is invalid, the offending puzzle will be displayed along with which parts are in error. You will have to correct the problem and rerun the import option. As a reminder, there are two (2) databases; REGULAR puzzles and BONUS puzzles. You must create separate files for each and answer the prompt with the appropriate file type. Once you have registered Wheel of Fortune you you will be able to call Sunrise-80 BBS and pick up extra puzzles. When you log on the BBS go to the Doors menu and choose the Door number that corresponds to "WOF puzzles". We would appreciate it if you would contribute the puzzles you have made up, by uploading them into the same door on out BBS. ADOPT-A-DOOR ____________ Having been a Sysop for a number of years, I have had my share of problems and frustrations getting financial support for my board's upkeep. A fellow Sysop left a message on my board, not long ago, about a concept that was being used by several boards around the country. The concept, ADOPT-A-DOOR, allows a caller to register (ADOPT) a door. It would be the same as sending in a donation, only this way it is earmarked for registering a particular door. In a way, the user feels he/she is "getting something in return". As a Door author I have decided to build this concept into each of my Door programs. The concept replaces the usual message "tell the Sysop to register this Door" we find in most doors. If the Door is unregisterd then a message appears on the opening screen to that effect. After finishing or suspending a game, a message screen is displayed about the ADOPT-A-DOOR concept. The message also tells the caller to contact the Sysop to find out if there is any further details to the ADOPT-A-DOOR concept. Some Sysops give extra D/L time, online time, etc to callers that ADOPT-A-DOOR. If the Door has been registered, either by the Sysop or other callers, the names of those contributors will be displayed in the closing screen. NOTE: If you want to display the names of the callers that contributed to registering the Door, you must create an ASCII file called ADOPT.SYS. You create it with an Editor or Word Processor. Enter the name(s) of the contributors (one on each line, maximum of 5 entries, each a maximum of 30 characters long). This file must be saved, in ASCII format, and placed in the Door directory. LEGALITIES __________ THIS SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING MATERIALS ARE DISTRIBUTED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ANYONE INVOLVED WITH THE CREATION AND PRODUCTION OF THIS PRODUCT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF ANY USE THEREOF OR BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY. DISTRIBUTION ____________ You may make this file available for downloading from your BBS or you may upload it to any BBS of your choice, provided that you do not make any changes to the contents of the archive (ZIP file). The archive and its individual contents may not be used by any service that charges any money whatsoever, without the written permission of the author. REGISTRATION ____________ Registration and the subsequent insertion of the registration number into your configuation file, allows for the display of your BBS name on the opening and closing screen as well as the reduction of a delay built into the opening screen display along with the ability to change certain values in the configuration file. To register your copy of WHEEL of FORTUNE, please fill out the registration form (REGISTER.FRM) and mail it along with the registration fee to the name and address on the form or supply a self-addressed stamped envelope for registration number by return mail. Once a door is registered, any changes to registration information (Sysop name or BBS Name) will require the doors to be re-registered. Download or File Request a file named CHANGE.FRM from our BBS, complete the form and follow ALL instructions in the document! Registration fees are subject to change at any time. The most current registration form is always available on our BBS. You may download or File Request REGISTER.FRM at any time. Be sure to use the proper upper/lower case when filling in your name and BBS name, as they MUST match the way you entered them in the configuration file. ^^^^ Based upon information supplied on the registration form, I will pre- register you on my BBS. You will then be able to call SUNRISE-80 and pick up your registration number. MISC ____ The latest version of WHEEL of FORTUNE and other fine SUNRISE DOOR programs are always available for download from SUNRISE-80 BBS and/or SALTAIR BBS. Remember, should you have any problems, questions or suggestions, be sure to drop me a message on either of the aforementioned BBS'. I am now a PCRelay node (SUNRISE) and can be reached thru the SYSOP, BBSDOORS, PCBhints RIME conferences.