Night Owl 6/Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso/001a/hostbbs2.zip/HOSTBBS.DOC

Text File | 1991-11-24 | 21KB | 513 lines

  ■ On Sunday ■ November 24, 1991 ■ at 8:20 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Boyan 5.0 Hostbbs(2) script.
by Lee Breeden.

This is a modified script of Justin's Host script.

The above line is what I use to say about this script, but now I
have revolutionized the entire script. I didn't do it by myself
either. Justin provided all the tools and they have been used to
make this script what it is. Many of the ideas that are used have
come from many different users that have expressed a need different
than my own. I have tried to make a script so that is suitable for
everyone, and professional enough to qualify for a small bbs.

Differences from the original host.bsc:

   1) Batch file transfers.
   2) Number message system.
   3) Private messages for users
   4) Five different user levels
   5) Modifications to commands (view files, list files, etc...)
   6) Nice menus w/user levels
   7) Now with file descriptions:
   8) Sysop level can view both upload and download directories
      - level 4.
   9) Added a timer limit based upon user level. Logs user off
      after time period (20 min. intervals) 20-100.
  10) Main menu has a 2 minute in activity timer that runs logoff
      after 2 minutes.
  11) Personalized setup screens and quick config.
  12) Has user questionnaire.
  13) Has message quoting in the message area.
  14) File display now shows file bytes and dates
  15) Will provide scan of all uploaded files.
  16) Has support for HS-Link protocol.

Legal stuff:

This script is offered AS IS with all its flaws, as an example of the
many different options available with BOYAN script language. There are no
warranties, express or implied. This is the efforts of my time, as well
as others who have tried, tested, modified and corrected spelling <G> to
make this what it is.

This should contain the following files:

hostbbs.bsc     - Host script
hostbbs.doc     - The file and documentation
hostset.bsc     - Set host to start and user specified time
hostset1.bsc    - Start host at 9:50 PM an example of different
                  uses of the program
pcbtest.bat     - Batch file used with ZipLab
ptest.cfg       - Sample file for ZipLab config
readme          - Instructions for using ZipLab with hostbbs.

All of these files should come -AV and have the same date.

QUICK Start: Host MUST be in local mode to run the first time.

PLEASE NOTE: In the host.bam which is in operation while the host script
is running, after a disconnect macro#7 will run. However, we don't want
this to happen. We need the hostbbs.bsc file to continue to run, so the
following modification of macro #7 is required.

\AT+[ your existing macro #7 here ]

This tells boyan to ignore macro #7 if a script is running. Macro #7
will operate as normal while the script is not running, and it will
operate the way that we need it to while the script is running.

Hit Alt-R highlight HostBBS.bsc and hit return. If you like what
you see, then you will need to change your Alt-I macro setting to
\sc[hostbbs] and then it will become active with the Alt-I key
stroke.

PLEASE NOTE! Several commands within the script assumes that you are
user number 41. User #41 can read & kill ALL messages, public or
private. Offline running of the script assumes that your #41. This means
that the sysop is the first user in the database, specifically user #41.

Using the script:

Copy the script into the script directory, and then run it (ALT-I).
This assumes that you have changed the Alt-I macro to \sc[hostbbs]
(if you tried version D, please delete the hostcnf.bsc). It will
then check to see if a script file called hostcnf.bsc exists. If not
it will run you thru a few set-up questions. It will create a
welcome screen that has YOUR name and bbs name, and it will make one
bulletin that I provided as a sample, and set the parameters for
having file descriptions for you. This is a one time only setup.

Please note that this REQUIRES that you have the dos FIND.exe command.
Please note that this REQUIRES that you have the dos SORT.exe command.

Once the setup is complete, the script will load. It starts by
checking for messages available in the host message directory. They
will be loaded into a file called msg.fil This does take a few
seconds, but I have modified the curser to make it interesting
<g>.....


Offline:

Using the script off line (test mode) will allow the sysop to log
onto the system without all the hassle. But you can enter the
normal way by hitting <cr> or entering your password wrong.

Bulletins & Welcome:

I have provide two commands for bulletins. The two commands have
different access levels for required reading. The default bulletin
file is called bulletin.fil and the forced all to read bulletin.fi1
if exists, will be read by ALL.

Message Area:

This version is a total re-write of the message area. All of the
commands have been improved upon. It offers private messages, where
both the sender and the receiver can receive messages. Sysop (user 41)
can read and delete all messages. If you have message numbers existing,
you might want to change the names of the files, so that they are three
digits long having the "#" after the number and ending in ".msg". ie:
123#.msg The message setup should pickup the numbers and add them to
the list. Sysop Menu:

I have added several commands to the menu. All of the commands that
involve "edit" require the use of an editor. These commands use the
defined editor in the Boyan config area. Qedit works great for
this. Most of the commands now return you to the Menu display with
the script running. Below is a brief description of the commands
that have been added.

    Add:

       Added an add time command to the sysop menu, so that the
       sysop can add additional time for a user. Adds 20 minutes
       EVERY time the "A" is hit.

    Edit host: Sysop menu - "E"dit

       Editing the host script from within the host script is a very
       useful thing if you like to make changes to it. This can be
       done from within the script while the script is running and
       returns you to the script.

       However, editing the script does have some limitations. You
       cannot change the script to the point that you are removing
       lines from blocks. This will result in the script locking up
       when it reloads.

    File Areas: Sysop menu - "D"escriptions

       If you have selected to have file descriptions for the files,
       then you will find out that this requires maintenance. By
       this I mean that it becomes necessary to delete files, and
       file descriptions from the display. The "D" option will
       bring up the file description directory and any file name
       that begins with fil*.*

    File Manager: Sysop menu - "F"ile

       The only change that I have made to this command is to change the
       name to "F"ile I did want to point out some of the useful things
       that you can do with the file manager. If someone logs on and you
       would like them to get a batch of files from you, you could pull up
       the sysop menu, then "F" for file manager. Go to the host
       directory, and then tag the files to send in batch mode. Hit U and
       Z, and when the transfer is finished, the user will be returned to
       the menu with the script running.

    Manual Macro: Sysop menu - "M"anual Macros

       This is the exact same command that you have from the terminal
       mode, the unique difference is that the changes that you make with
       the macros are directly related to the commands in the script.
       ie: there is a user, that you would like to have access to another
       directory. The variable that holds the path for the host dir is
       %V5. So you would like to have access to the upload directory.
       Use the Manual Macro command, and then change the path
       \SV5[e:\uploads\]
       Now all related commands for using the host directory will be in
       the uploads directory. Please note that doing something like this
       will keep the variable changed to the value that you have selected
       until you exit the host script.

     Screen Displays & Messages: Sysop menu - "M"essages

       The "Welcome", "Bulletin", and "Messages" are all located in
       the host message directory. This option will display all of
       the files that are located in the host directory *.*.

User Levels:

    Access level is currently set to one. If you have some reason
    to have this at zero, then you would need to change line 160 of
    the script. The "0" command is still there, just change the
    double slashes around.

           |GetName&PW
           \SV0[] \SVP[] \SVL[1] \SVE[] { \\ user level set to 1
           \\SV0[] \SVP[] \SVL[0] \SVE[] { \\ user level set at 0

    Levels Access:

        Level "0" - currently not used, but it is menu supported.
        Bulletins and Welcome displayed. Access is restricted to
        Uploads only and allows user to view files.

        Level "1" - Currently entry level. User can upload and
        download files. Restricted file display to host directory
        ZIPs only.

        Level "2" - Allows all of the above but allows display of
        all of Uploads and the host file directories in zip format.

        Level "3" - Displays all file directories upload,
        download, and host, in *.* format. Allows wild card file
        transfers. User can shut down host mode but is restricted
        from jump to DOS.

        Level "4" - Sysop level: all commands are active. Same as
        number 3 but this is the only level that you can shell to
        dos.

        When you reach user level 2 or above, the screen display
        will have many options that the user might not be able to
        perform. This is due to access restrictions. If they try
        to access one of these commands, then it will display
        "command not available".


Time Limits:

        Several time limits are in this version. The main menu will
        time out and hang up on caller if no activity is happening
        after 2 minutes. This is the only area that this will
        happen in.

            |MenuDispatch
            \iw-[ \gb[warning]]

        To disable this, double slash this line in the script.

        Add a time limit feature that increases as the user access
        level increases. 20 min. increments.

            \IVL+0[\SVK[20]]
            \IVL+1[\SVK[40]]
            \IVL+2[\SVK[60]]
            \IVL+3[\SVK[80]]
            \IVL+4[\SVK[100]]

        These are located in the StartTime block. You can change
        them if you would like, but the time clock might not operate
        properly if the time limit totally exceeds 120 minutes.


Un-documented commands: (Inactive commands)

    There are commands in the host script that have been tested, but
    not active. The commands are listed below.

        1. Shut down host script at specified time. In the host
        |WaitForCall block, the first command can be changed to
        activate the command to shut down the host script at after a
        specified time. The \TO[255] command needs to be changed to
        \TO[254]. This will keep the block cycling.

            |WaitForCall
            \II+%HR,06[\GB[*wrapup]]
            \DM1[ ╔═══════════════════════════════════════╗ ]
            \DM2[ ║ Host Mode Waiting for RING...         ║ ]
            \DM3[ ╠═══════════════════════════════════════╣ ]
            \DM4[ ║ Press <Tab> for Sysop Menu.           ║ ]
            \DM5[ ║ Press <Esc> to quit Host Mode.        ║ ]
            \DM6[ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════╝ ]
            \TO[254] \WF[RING] \iw-[\gb[cycle]] \\ Wait for "RING"

        2. The first command in the above block is set for 6:00AM and if
         you have the 255 changed to 254, the script will stop at about
         6:00AM. If you want it to stop at another time, you could
         change the 06 and any hour appropriate.

Closing:

I am open to suggestions and criticism as always, but if you don't
have something nice to say, please do so in a private message.
Negative comments, give a bad reflection on the program, and I don't
feel that the program deserves that. I welcome any suggestion and
criticism, thanks. If the message is posted in the beta conference,
go for it, public or private, its open to all.

If you have any problems, or difficulties, please let me know. I
can be found on almost any Boyan conference that you can find. I
currently host four different Boyan conferences:

    ILink, Rime, SmartNet, and U`NInet.

Thanks,

Lee Breeden
Boyan Support

Program history:

  ■ On Sunday ■ August 4, 1991 ■ at 4:41 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Latest script only changes the connection block and corrected the
spelling error in the main menu.

  ■ On Sunday ■ August 18, 1991 ■ at 8:59 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Latest version corrects some addition with the message numbers and
private messages are correctly displayed (Irving Kind).

Fixed usage log where messages were recorded as uploads (John Kopp).

Allows user and sysop to delete private messages on line.

Added file descriptions (inspired by Paul Buerkle).

  ■ On Sunday ■ September 1, 1991 ■ at 2:36 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Re-wrote the message area. The changes to this area have been
inspired largely by Dennis Tuchler, (it seems that he wasn't
satisfied with the private message system that I wrote <grin>...).
I wish to thank Dennis, because if it weren't for this challenge I
would not have racked my brain for hours on end to improve this
area. In the process, I came up with several routines that have
tremendously improved the entire process of handling many areas of
the script.

Removed all ascii uploads for display.

Added in-activity timeout logoff.

Added user level time restrictions.

Added user set-up for screen displays to customize the program
(Keith Rogers).

  ■ On Saturday ■ September 7, 1991 ■ at 2:59 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Modified some of the file prompts, corrected some spelling errors, and
fixed the local sysop logon block to handle a single name logon (Dave
Muscato).

Added .zip commands for keyboard entry, where the user didn't enter ".zip"
as part of the file name.

  ■ On Sunday ■ September 8, 1991 ■ at 10:15 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Added Key stack commands for file transfers!

D;B;Boyan5a;Boyan5B{ Go for it!

Corrected problem with path in temp.msg file in saving messages.

Key stack commands for loging on:
I never knew this before today, but you can also use Lee
Breeden;password to logon with, this was something that Justin had
in the script, that I never knew was available to me, until I
went to modify the script to do so.

  ■ On Friday ■ September 13, 1991 ■ at 8:36 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Modified password prompt so that it doesn't make the user start from
scratch unless the password fails on the second attempt.

Modified the bulletin area so that it is easier control who reads
the bulletins.

I think that I have fixed the bugs in the messages (Dave Muscato,
& Dennis Tuchler).

Changed the |find command so that it is compatible with dos 3.1 and
up. Please note the bytes in the command line might need to be
changed in your version. I will try to make this part of the setup
to ask the user what dos version they are running, and if they are
running 4dos. (Paul Buerkle).

Working on changing the sysop menu to send out busy signal while doing
certain functions. (Keith Rogers)

Corrected some problems that exist with dos, and the 127 characters
per line limit. (Dave Muscato).

Please read the Quick start area about problems with macro #7 that
Justin has written into the host.bam.

Added option to allow for file descriptions to be flagged as sysop
only. A user with level 3 or better can read the files in the dir
option.

Modified the message sort to support dos 3.?? (Paul Buerkle)

  ■ On Wednesday ■ September 18, 1991 ■ at 8:37 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Made some changes to the menu to correct spelling errors.
Modified script so that the file closes after the \GV variable runs.
Modified script to add longer file descriptions (Keith Rogers)

Changed file view block to allow one to view contents from within a zip
file. This command seems to be very riskie, and I might not leave it.
Anyone have some feedback, I'm listening. The reason that I say that it
is riskie, is that the command has to allow for pkunzip to unzip files,
and then delete them. The problems exist of, where to place the files
that are being unzipped and where can one delete them. Then the other
problem is that if the file already exist the thing will hang unless I use
the overwrite command...... Maybe restricted access to the command. 2 or
above? 3-4 maybe..... (Keith Rogers inspired).

  ■ On Thursday ■ September 19, 1991 ■ at 7:06 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Changed the user access to the zip command to be level 2 and above to see
the files in the directory. Similar to the file view commands. Level 2
and below can not see the listing of files in the directory, they would
have to remember the file name similar to any bbs.

Changed comment to sysop function to be part of the messages that are
entered.

Corrected some hangups that existed in the message display, corrected the
share volition, and fix the endless loop in the setting up messages.
Fixed the problem with messages left to sysop, where sysop got a blank
menu display.

Does anyone have any comments on having the modem go off hook when in
local mode, or having modem go off hook when sysop menu is called when no
carrier is detected.

  ■ On Tuesday ■ September 24, 1991 ■ at 9:39 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

You probably won't notice many changes in this version, I tried to improve
what was here and to make the corrections to the problems as they are
reported. PLEASE note that you will need to rename any messages that you
have to this format. message_number#.ms(ext- msg msp) 101#.msg. I had
to make this change to get rid of the problem with dos versions.

  ■ On Friday ■ September 27, 1991 ■ at 9:48 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

This version has message Quoting! I changed some things around to make the
messages a little faster. I hope that this doesn't foul anything up. Let
me know if you have any problems.

Corrected some things that Dave Muscato pointed out. -thanks -Lb

  ■ On Sunday ■ September 29, 1991 ■ at 10:13 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Mostly trying to get things cleaned up. Made corrections to any problem
list that I have. (Dave, Paul, Mike)

  ■ On Thursday ■ October 3, 1991 ■ at 9:37 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Changed some things that Pete Cleland had mentioned to me.
Fixed the problem in the sysop menu.

Got rid of the NO Message display in the messages.
Change usage message log for comment to sysop.
Changed some of the commands in the message number blocks to make them
faster.
Changed the starting message numbers.
Edited parts of the wrapup block and the init block.

  ■ On Friday ■ October 4, 1991 ■ at 9:46 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Change a few minor things in the script. I added the sort command to all
of the file listings. This should fix the messages and the file display
to be in numeric order. (Paul Buerkle)
Change a few things in the host setup and wrapup block (more things).

And for Dave Muscato, if you look in the wrapup block there is a command
that sets the \AL[7] that you might want to get rid of.

  ■ On Thursday ■ October 10, 1991 ■ at 11:38 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Corrected some problems in the message area, where some of the variable
commands were causing conflicts.

Added a manual macro command to the sysop menu. This is very handy for
changing user directory. \SV5[%D:] \SV5[%U:]

You can do some testing in this area.

  ■ On Tuesday ■ October 15, 1991 ■ at 11:38 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

Changed the download block so that it checks for a file before attempting
to download it......

  ■ On Sunday ■ October 20, 1991 ■ at 7:51 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■

 Corrected problems with the different user level in the file areas. (Dave
Muscato).
Changed the WaitForCall block so that it changes the port speed after
disconnecting. Also modified the connection display to provide user with
the port speed settings while on line.

---

There have been many others who have used the script that have
provide suggestions and criticism. Sometimes I don't respond
positive to these but I do listen. Thanks for all the help and keep
the suggestions coming.

~~~
Added file listing to display bytes and dates in them.  (Keith Rogers)
Added hslink protocol.
Added ZipLab support.

  ■ On Sunday ■ November 24, 1991 ■ at 8:38 pm ■ from Bowie Md ■