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Silicon Creations, Inc. Frequently Asked Questions
or
ASCii a Stupid Question, Get a Stupid ANSi
"Silicon Creations, Inc - Powers To Be Reckoned With"
Copyright (c) 1996 by Branislav L. Slantchev
Last updated on Jun 11, 1996
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─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ LIST OF CURRENTLY SUPPORTED PROGRAMS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
════════════════════════╤══════════════╤═════════════════════════════════════
Program Name & Version │ File Name │ Short Description
────────────────────────┼──────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────
SCiUTIL v2.15 │ SCUT215X.ZIP │ *.MSG/FILES.BBS, etc. Maintenance
Enterz v2.15 │ ENTR215X.ZIP │ Animated Enter prompts (95+ inc.)
Bulletin Manager v1.16 │ BUL116AX.ZIP │ Autoread, news, download, menus
FileCFG/Pro v4.0r1 │ FCFG401X.ZIP │ Menuing file/msg area/group manager
File Navigator v2.0 │ FNV200AX.ZIP │ Cursor controlled file area changer
Fortune Cookie v2.01 │ FORT21AX.ZIP │ Display quote with optional logoff
Kafka v3.0r4 │ KAF30R4X.ZIP │ Create KAF files (Enterz, etc.)
KeyNav v2.15 │ KEYN215X.ZIP │ Change file/msg group/areas (hidden)
Listerz v1.0r1 │ LISTZ10X.ZIP │ Create/download file lists online
Mail-X v1.0r2 │ MAILX12X.ZIP │ Full-screen mail area scan select
Minesweeper v1.0 │ MINE10AX.ZIP │ Full color, 3 levels + custom level
PB2IM WFC v1.2r1 │ P2IC121X.ZIP │ Update InterMail's WFC and History
Protocol Examples │ SCIPROTO.ZIP │ Example transfer protocol setups
TopTagz v1.0r1 │ TTAGZ10X.ZIP │ Full-screen top files downloader
Who Called v1.23 │ WHO123AX.ZIP │ Last Callers, up to 3 lines of info
════════════════════════╧══════════════╧═════════════════════════════════════
NOTE: There are some programs ostensibly missing from this list. The reason
for this is simple: they have been superceded by other utilities and
are no longer supported. (ChkPRO, BinFix, and Std2Ext are now part of
SCiUTIL, for example). All of the above programs come with the full
C/C++ source code. Refer to the availability section for more info.
Also, refer to the separate section on PB-Lib for related information.
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ GENERAL QUESTIONS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Q: Who is the author and what is he doing?
A: I have no idea why people ask me about this personal stuff so much, but
here we go (to satisfy the curious). I am 22, Bulgarian (that's in Europe)
and I am currently a Computer Science student in the USA (Texas). I have
been programming in C/C++ for 3 years (Pascal before that) and writing
pexen/utils since spring 1995. Enuff said! Duh...
Q: Can I get on your beta team (stolen from JMJ's FAQ)?
A: Well, it depends. I have all the beta testers I can handle right now.
However, if you are proficient with C++ and are willing to test PB-Lib
and related stuff, I will be more than glad to consider your application.
Q: Can I be an official distribution site?
A: Yes. Send me netmail/email for benefits. You will also be entitled to
display the cool ANSi official logo on your BBS. ;-)
Q: Where can I get the files or technical support?
A: Because of the length, the answer is in the separate file, 'Support.Doc'
Q: Can I use the name Silicon Creations, Inc. to release my programs?
A: No. You can release your programs as part of PB-GNU, if you wish to, but
you cannot use Silicon Creations, Inc. as an official name. I am the
only one who does (and I am in the process of registering the name too).
Q: What are you currently working on?
A: A lot of things. Custom language file support in particular. If you have
a request/suggestion, send email or netmail. I can also forward a request
to Fe-Line Software if they feel like taking over the programming for the
utility in question.
Q: Can I get a copy of your language file and ANSi menus?
A: Yes. Call the BBS and page me. I will let you download them immediately.
Q: How did you make the scrolling/fading messages on your menus?
A: With custom pexen. There is no official release yet, as I am finalizing
the programs. You can get the current versions if you call and page me.
Q: How did you make the special command bar used during the file listings?
A: It is a pex that uses PB-Lib for the cursor control and CrossView for
the online achive viewing. The reason it works is because ProBoard sets
the current area number while listing the files. It is still very limited
and as such is not available for release.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ PROGRAMMING QUESTIONS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Q: I hear a lot about PB-Lib. What is it?
A: This is a very comprehensive library for PEX programmers. Unlike the SDK,
you can now code dual programs (EXE/PEX) without any changes in the source
code. The library supports language files, UserDoes/Doing, userbase usage,
file index searches, wildcard/pattern matching, event manager with mouse
and extended keyboard handler, ANSI/Avatar interpreter, file manipulation,
string utilities, ProBoard-related special functions to access basically
everything you might want. Also, full message base support for Hudson,
Squish, JAM and Fido *.MSG style areas (OOP, for use in any program). Too
many features to list here. Distributed with full C++ sources and supports
the Borland, Microsoft, Zortech, Symantec and DJGPP compilers.
Q: PB-Lib is overwhelming, where do I get coding help?
A: Apart from the manuals that came with the library, there is a FAQ on the
official web site at http://www.webstar.net/sci which has a lot of sample
programs and documentation. I can also answer your questions personally.
Q: Can you help me with source code/programming problem?
A: Yes. I am known to review source code and/or publish answers to questions
that pex programmers frequently have. Send netmail with the source as a
file attach or post it in the TGPBN/Fido support echoes. Allow a couple
of days for replying (may be a lot sooner than that :-)
Q: How do you know about the undocumented stuff?
A: Apart from hacking all the undocumented file formats with LIST and trying
a lot of different tricks with pexen, I have also information from the
author, Philippe, which has not been made public (that is, until now).
Q: What library did you use for the full-screen utilities?
A: TurboVision v1.03 for C++. This is probably the best one in the industry.
Recently, Borland has released the source code to the public domain and
you can now use it too (PB-Lib supports it). You can obtain the source
code, related utilities, examples and documentation from the official
TVPlus Archive at http://brooks.wvn.wvnet.edu/pub/tvhome.
Q: Yeah, but how about the utilities that look like ProCFG?
A: I used Philippe's library for that. He says that he will make it public
as soon as he writes some documentation. There is currently none available
and (trust me), it's hard to use it that way.
Q: Can I use PB-Lib to write shareware (not only freeware, etc.)
A: Yes. While PB-Lib itself comes with the GNU General Library License, the
programs that you create with it are not covered by it. Use your own
discretion here. You are required to acknowledge your use of the library
in your documentation as per the PB-Lib docs.
Q: Can I release source code from PB-Lib (or your programs) with mine?
A: Yes. You are not allowed to change the copyright notices in the source
files. If you modify the code, make sure you indicate the changes and
the date/author too in the header.
Q: When ProBoard/2 (the OS/2 version) comes out, will you code PEX/2 too?
A: No. I will only code 16-bit or Win95 32-bit pexen. The reason for this
is that I cannot test the OS/2 versions as I can do with the others.
There may be an arrangement with Fe-Line Software to compile the sources
for native OS/2 support, but the status is currently incertain. There
are also indications that pexen will be portable between Win92 and OS/2.
Q: Are you going to write a full-screen editor or chatter?
A: No. TheMin is the best chatter for ProBoard you can get, and IceEdit
is my editor of choice. Besides, ProBoard now has a built-in editor.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ HACKING AND VERIFICATION ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Q: What's with all those notices in the Manifest.Doc files?
A: Some lame 'hackers' modified a couple of my programs to build back-doors
in them and then released them as mine. The notices are an effort to
deal with the problem.
Q: Which programs were hacked?
A: Physical Graffiti and Who Called. I have not updated them in a while
because the first one has a strong conteder (JMJLine from Ruben) and
I think it's not needed anymore. The second one will be updated soon.
Q: What are the MD5 and CRC numbers (in hex)?
A: These are the checksums for the programs. The first is generated by a
program MDX which implements the RSA Data Security Inc. Message Digest
Algorithm and is generally considered secure. The second one is the
32-bit CRC which you can verify with PKUNZIP (list the archive, it will
be shown in the rightmost column).
Q: I have received the program in non-ZIP format (no verification).
A: All my programs are archived with PKZIP 2.04g with a security envelope.
Even though the presence of the AV should deter most file processing
utilities from repacking it, some sysops force that. As a result, the
verification is lost. There is nothing I can do short of protecting the
archive with a password and then putting it inside another archive. I
may resort to this eventually. For now, you can verify the check codes
in the Manifest.Doc file with the ones published on my web site.
Q: How do I get a list of the valid verification codes?
A: You can file request 'CHECK' from me or get it from the web site.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ THE GLOBAL PROBOARD NETWORK QUESTIONS ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Q: What is The Global ProBoard Network?
A: This is support network created by Sarah and Faye Pearson and myself. It
sprang from SCiNET which was my own network, but now has a presence in
almost every region around the world. A lot of pexen go thru on a regular
basis and the message bases are as active (if not more) than the FidoNet
ProBoard echo. Most PEX authors answer questions there and full ProBoard
support is provided by friendly sysops around the world.
Q: How can I join TGPBN?
A: Contact Chuck King (1:3805/3) or Sarah Pearson (2:254/278).
Q: I don't have a local hub carrying TGPBN. What can I do?
A: You can become one :-) If you have InterNet access, contact Chuck King
for information on how to get your feed from the net. If not, you can
at least get all the files because they are hatched into the FidoNet
filebone which you can probably get from the same place you are getting
your echomail feed.
Q: Why was there a flame war between PB-Net/PSNet/TGPBN?
A: When ProBoard v2.15 came out, the manual listed TGPBN as the only network
officially endorsed by the author, Philippe Leybaert. A lot of people in
the older networks (PB-Net, in particular) felt betrayed and excessively
annoyed at this sentence. I have made my best to reply to every flame I
got in a semi-civilized manner and the matter was finally settled by the
author with a public announcement that he does not prefer any network over
the others. The whole issue almost wrecked the FidoNet support echo (and
my inbound netmail directory), and is now considered severely off-topic.
Q: What is the current status of TGPBN with Philippe Leybaert?
A: Philippe indicated that he does not have any preference or special
endorsement for any of the nets. This does not change our intent to
provide the best support for the pexen and utltimately replace the other
nets. Some of the best-known pex authors are actively supporting TGPBN.
Q: Are you going to change the 'global' part in the name?
A: No.
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The idea for this FAQ was borrowed from Ruben Provoost and his JMJ.FAQ file
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