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1991-06-05
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WAFDL
by Andrew Rossmann
Version 1.00
June 4, 1991
andyross@infopls.mcs.com
Infoplus BBS, +1 708 537 0247, running Waffle BBS software
WAFDL version 1.00
requirements:
DOS 2.0 or later
Omen Technologies' DSZ.COM or DSZ.EXE
21K free RAM, plus enough memory for DSZ.COM or DSZ.EXE to run
options:
Waffle BBS software
WAFDL is Copyright 1991 Andrew Rossmann, All Rights Reserved
WAFDL is free for use. It must be distributed with all
documentation and programs intact and unmodified. The .ZIP
version must contain my Authenticity Verification number.
Authentic files Verified! # XNW068 Andrew Rossmann
WAFDL is a utility for Waffle BBS's (and possibly others) that
is a very simple way for people to download files without using
Waffle's very confusing FILES section.
Some of the uses for WAFDL are:
- Provide files for NEWUSERS to download, like USER.DOC,
TIPS, etc..
- Create a command for downloading related types of files,
like Waffle utilities.
- By marking the command as a 'shell' for a login, no access
to the BBS takes place. This clears up clutter and
unneeded users. Your guests don't get lost trying to find
things!!
WAFDL lets Waffle do all of the serial port redirection. With
all the possible combinations available today, putting it into
the program would make configuration much more difficult. In
fact, when DSZ is running, WAFDL actually redirects standard
output back to the screen! (Since Waffle is most likely taking
over DOS calls to do it's redirection, maybe a future version
could add some sort of extended function call that would let you
turn redirection on and off, amongst other nice things.)
You need to do three (or four) things to get WAFDL up and
running:
1. Install WAFDL.EXE on your disk
2. Create information files for each command
3. Create command files in /WAFFLE/EXTERN
4. (optional) Create a special account with the new command
as the shell.
- 2 -
INSTALLING WAFDL
The best place to put WAFDL.EXE is /WAFFLE/BIN. That's where
every other program goes. You could put it elsewhere, buy why
make things confusing? There is nothing fancy to do, just copy it
there.
CREATE AN INFORMATION FILE
An information file is simply an ASCII text file full of
commands. There aren't very many commands to learn.
$ADMIN=path File to hold information on when WAFDL is invoked,
answers to any questions asked, and what files were
downloaded. This should be a complete pathname. If
you place it in the /WAFFLE/ADMIN directory, you
can use the SHOW command to view it.
ex: $ADMIN=C:\WAFFLE\ADMIN\NEWUSER.
$ASKn=text (optional) WAFDL will display the text, and then
wait for a response. 'n' is the minimum length you
want to allow. The default is 0. The maximum is
255. Anything longer than 255 will default to 3.
Unknown text (ASKZZ=) will default to 0.
Questions will be asked in the order they are found
in the file.
Questions must be on one line, up to 255 characters
total (including the $ASKn=).
If you use a Y instead, WAFDL will append on a '<Y>
or <N>.=>', and only accept a 'Y' or 'N'.
ex: ASK3=What is your name?
The user must enter at least 3 characters
ex: ASK=Who are you?
The user can simply hit <ENTER>.
ex: ASKY=Are you here?
Will display 'Are you here? <Y> or <N>.=>'
ex: ASK255=Give me an essay.=>
Requires a really LONG answer!!
$CLOSETEXT Text shown when WAFDL is exiting normally.
Mark the end of text with the word $END on a line
by itself.
The text will be paginated, based on 24 lines/page,
if necessary.
At the 'more' prompt, the user can skip the rest of
the text, or even exit WAFDL immediately.
ex: $CLOSETEXT
Good bye!!
$END
- 3 -
$DSZ (optional) The path and program name to call up
DSZ.
WAFDL always uses 'CON port ? s? filename' as
parameters (where '?' can vary.) The standard
protocols used are:
Zmodem - sz
Ymodem Batch - sb
1K-Xmodem - sx -k
Xmodem - sx
If you need to supply extra parameters for the
proper functioning of DSZ, place them after the
path. You can have two different sets, separated by
the '|' character. Text before the '|' will be
before the s? command. Text after the '|' will come
after it (and will be used for ALL protocols!)
ex: DSZ=C:\WAFFLE\BIN\DSZ.COM
Will call DSZ with no special changes.
DSZ=C:\WAFFLE\BIN\DSZ.COM pB8192
'CON port ? pB8192 s? filename'
DSZ=C:\WAFFLE\BIN\DSZ.COM pB8192|-m
'CON port ? pB8192 s? -m filename'
DSZ=C:\WAFFLE\BIN\DSZ.COM |-m
'CON port ? s? -m filename'
$END Must be on a line by itself to mark the end of an
$OPENTEXT or $CLOSETEXT line.
$FILE (optional) Contains a two-line entry giving a
prompt line, and the filepath. You can have up to 9
files. They will be numbered in the order they are
found in the file. Each file you want available
should have it's own $FILE block.
If no $FILE's are found, WAFDL will exit and
display $CLOSETEXT.
ex: $FILE
THISFILE - A big file! 1,234,252,837 bytes.
C:\PUBLIC\BIGSTUF\THISFILE
$FILE
SMALLFIL - A small file! 1 byte.
C:\PUBLIL\SMALLSTF\SMALLFIL
The above would make 2 files available
for downloading.
$OPENTEXT Text shown when WAFDL starts up.
Mark the end of text with the word $END on a line
by itself.
The text will be paginated, based on 24 lines/page,
if necessary.
At the 'more' prompt, the user can skip the rest of
the text, or even exit WAFDL immediately.
ex: $OPENTEXT
Hello there!
$END
- 4 -
CREATING COMMAND FILE
WAFDL requires 4 parameters, in order:
1. Port in use (a number)
2. Baud rate (not currently used)
3. Path to information file
4. Userid calling WAFDL
For each 'command' you want to create, you need to create a
file in /WAFFLE/EXTERN. The file name is the name of the command
you want. Each one should contain something along these lines:
/command="C:\WAFFLE\BIN\WAFDL %d %b c:\public\infofile %A"
If you are using Waffle 1.64 or newer, and WAFDL is in
\WAFFLE\BIN (or the directory defined as bin in the STATIC file),
then you do not need to specify the path.
Since WAFDL uses Waffle to handle redirection (except when DSZ
is running), there is no need to use /screen or other parameters.
You can create any number of commands. Just place them in
/WAFFLE/EXTERN
- 5 -
CREATING A LOGON LINKED COMMAND
There are two ways to have WAFDL called when a user logs in.
What method you use depends on whether you want the user to have
access to the BBS or not.
If you want the user to have access to the BBS after WAFDL
finishes, then create a WAFFLE file in that login accounts' user
directory. Place the command (or commands) you want executed on
separate lines in that file. If the account is a general access
account like GUEST, it's a good idea to mark the file read-only
to prevent someone from changing it. (ATTRIB +R WAFFLE)
If you want the account to only run WAFDL, you will need to use
the 'ADMIN X accountname' command. One of the entries is for
shell. If you make this the WAFDL external command, Waffle will
log the user off when WAFDL finishes (or aborts, or carrier is
lost.) If you want to create an account with no password, use the
regular 'ADMIN EDIT accountname' command, and change the password
to a single space.
- 6 -
THE ADMIN FILE
Whenever WAFDL is called (with a valid infofile), it writes
selected information to the file defined by $ADMIN. This includes
invocation date/time/user, answers to questions, errors found,
and files transferred.
A sample:
-----
WAFDL activated 6/4/1991 at 19:20:52 by andyross
Andrew Rossmann
Wheeling, IL
Y
Downloaded C:\tp\infoplus\IFP1P145.ZIP using Z result was 0
Downloaded I:\IFP1S145.ZIP using X result was 0
-----
WAFDL activated 6/4/1991 at 19:23:6 by andyross
Exited WAFDL in reader!
-----
WAFDL activated 6/4/1991 at 19:31:5 by andyross
Andrew Rossmann
Wheeling, IL
Y
ERROR: DosErr 2
DSZpath: C:\tp\programs\dsz
cmdline: CON port 2 sz C:\tp\infoplus\IFP1P145.ZIP
In the first entry, things went fine. The first question asked
for the name, and the second where they are. The third was a
Yes/No question. Two file were then successfully downloaded. The
first using Zmodem, and the second using Xmodem.
In the second entry, the user decided to exit WAFDL at a more
prompt during $OPENTEXT.
In the third entry, things went fine until the user tried to
download. It seems as if the DSZ path is invalid (it should be
dsz.com)
It's very recommended that you test out any changes to your
information files. An error can really confuse and disappoint
your callers.
When DSZ is called, screen text will output using inverse video
(black on white.) This lets you know that standard output is
being redirected (or should that be un-directed!)
- 7 -
If you have any problems using WAFDL, or suggestions, I can be
reached at the Infoplus BBS, +1 708 537 0247.
Internet: andyross@infopls.mcs.com
UUCP : uunet!infopls!andyross
If you call the Infoplus BBS, you can see WAFDL in action. If
you logon as INFOPLUS, you can see the linked usage. If you logon
as GUEST, you can try the INFOPLUS, NEWUSER, and WAFLSTUF
commands. WAFLSTUF will also let you download the latest version
of WAFDL, in addition to other Waffle utilities. Since WAFDL is
limited to 9 file, you can also look in /public/waflstuf to see
if there are more.
- 8 -