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1991-06-08
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Wonderland Online Database System
Version 2.0
Copyright (C) 1991 By Joseph Teller
INTRODUCTION:
These documents are meant as a basic manual for ALL applications of the
Wonderland Database Systems Software, wether for those bases specifically
designed and written by the software author, Joseph Teller, or for any
created and distributed by other parties using the general software.
This software has the following restrictions :
1) You may distribute it in its original format WITHOUT modification
of the physical code or of the Documentation file you are now
reading on disk or BBS so long as NO fee is being charged for the
files.
2) If this package you are reading this in contains a data base by the
author then it can only be distributed with this database and its
related text files in their original form. The basic Database
software is being distributed as WOD200.ARJ which allows you to
create your own database on other subjects.
3) There is no charge to any sysop running this software on a FREE or
Donation-based BBS. If you charge fees for usage of this software
Then you must send in a check for $10.00 to the author as compensation.
4) Donations are requested from sysops who are otherwise running this
software in whatever amount they feel they can afford so that I can
continue to write new doors and software for their usage.
Source Code is NOT being made available of this product or any
previously released software I've released as donationware due to
problems with such.
5) Anyone who designs a database using the main database software in
the WOD200.ARJ package MUST upload or surface mail me a copy of such
for my own use, and cannot charge for others to use or distribute
such databases on BBS's (as per my own distribution rules above).
Thats rights folks, this is not CRIPPLEWARE, a concept I detest, nor a
forced shareware, but one that works from the concept of sharing amoung our
selves in the BBSing community. I want to encourage complete, working
packages for sysops, not like the majority of the packages curently available.
Mailing Address : Joseph Teller, 37 A Faxon St., Newton MA 02158
If for any reason the above information becomes obsolete and forwarding is
no longer in progress etc I can always be mailed at :
Joseph Teller, 23 Myrtle St., Waltham, MA 01821.
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SOFTWARE INFORMATION
This program was written and designed and uses Todd Miller's DOOR SOURCE
Version 3.2 (PC-Technologies BBS, Greensboro, NC aka COMPUTER CITY, USA;
(919) 299-7935 1200/2400/9600 USR) the best currently available Door Module
Library for QuickBasic 4.5. They retain full copyright etc to their code
and executables used within my software and such is used by standard license
agreement with them.
Support is included in the code for its useage with PCBoard 14.x,
PCBoard 11.x, PCBoard 12.x, RBBS, Wildcat and DOOR.SYS.
ALL my testing of this software is being done on a FORCE 3.88 BBS and
its numberous optonal system switches for the useage of various bbs software
packages under one bbs operating system.
I take no responsibility for any damage done by the usage or misusage of
this software by any individual, group, organization or corporation legally.
If any bugs or problems occur please notify me and I will attempt to solve
them in a new release.
Both ANSI and ASCII usage of the software online is supported to provide
the most help to folks in general.
FILE CONTENTS:
This file initially will contain the following which are the backbone of
this database system.
BRUN45.EXE - Needed to run, must be within PATH
WDB200.DOC - This Text File you are reading
DOORCONF.CFG - Sample Configuration file for PCB 14.x
WDATAB2.EXE - Main Program for the Database
Now additionally, if a Database is included the following files may be
present in the package:
INTRO.TXT - Introduction to the Database
DATABASE.DAT - Path file & File name for the compressed
Database.
Not included, but needed, is a copy of Robert Jung's ARJ Compression, at
least version 2.10 or later.
All Datafiles are now stored inside ARJ compressed file, so that space
can be saved online. The program extracts from this for displays as needed.
Datafiles can now be named anything, so long as they end in an extension
of TXT and are in PURE ASCII format.
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SETUP & RUNNING THE DATABASE
All the included files, except the BRUN45.EXE must be in the same directory,
I suggest having them all in a seperate directory by themselves. In force
we operate doors thru a batchfile so the program would be called up as:
WDATAB2 DOORCONF.CFG
The DOORCONF should basically give the path & File name to the user data
file, the name of the BBS and the sysops name. Everything else it will draw
from the info in the data online. When in doubt, look at the example given.
BRUN45 and ARJ should be within the pathline of the main BBS system for
proper operation.
If you are not running PCB14 (The Default system type) then before the
above you will need to SET the type you ARE using:
SET DORSRC=PCB121 - For PcBoard 11.8+ with COM1
SET DORSRC=PCB122 - For PcBoard 11.8+ with COM2
SET DORSRC=WILDCAT - For running under Wildcat
SET DORSRC=RBBS - For running under RBBS
SET DORSRC=DOORSYS - For running under a DOOR.SYS system
OPERATION NOTES:
The status Line at the bottom of the screen when a user is in the door will
show to the sysop:
1. The callers baud rate
2. The caller's name
3. Time left in the door in minutes
4. The name of your door and release version
5. Door Source 3.2
6. The time the door was entered, current time and flags if any
7. Graphics Mode (GR) or none (NGR)
8. Bell.Caller alarm toggle status
The function keys, from local, allow the Sysop to:
(F8) Return the User to the BBS
(F10) Start CHAT with the User
(ESC) End Chat with User
Concepts of Database of Design:
The database system actually is fairly simple, and is based on menu-driven
programs and Hypertext concepts. Each display file is Named and has a TXT
extension. From Any display you can call up any other display by entering
its file number in the database.
This allows nested menus off of the main one so that each menu would list
the number and a line of information about each text file that they can call
up, giving the illusion of a far more complex database then is actually in
use.
In Example:
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>>> MAIN MENU<<<
[2] Bibliography & Credits [9] Specific Recipes A-M
[3] Glossary of Terms [10] Specific Recipes N-Z
[4] Preparation Methods [11] History of Herbalism
[5] Specific Ailments A-M [12] another
[6] Specific Ailments N-Z [13] another
[7] Specific Herbs A-M [14] another
[8] Specific Herbs N-Z [15] another
Please Enter Selection Number [0=Quit, 1=Main Menu]?5
HERBLOGY DATABASE FILE 5
>>> Specific Ailments A-M <<<
[20] Abcess
[21] Anaphrodisiacs
[22] Anaestetic
[23] Anodyne
[24] Anticoagulant
[25] etc
Please Enter Selection Number [0=Quit, 1=Main Menu]?20
HERBOLOGY DATABASE FILE 20
>>> Herbs for an Abcess <<<
[100] lobelia
[122] marshmallow root
[125] melilot
[190] Slippery Elm
[211] etc
Please Enter Selection Number [0=Quit, 1=Main Menu]?190
HERBOLOGY DATABASE FILE 190
...(Actual text file on Slippery Elm, can be anywhere from a paragraph to
20 pages, whatever is necessary for the subject to be covered)...
Please Enter Selection or Q to Quit the Database:
***
As you can see, a fairly deep nesting of menus can be achieved without
destroying the integrity of the system. YET a user can backtrack at any time
by simply recalling the name of the previous screen display at the prompt,
or randomly search by a file name or quit the database entirely.
File names in this version DO NOT HAVE TO BE NUMBERS! They can be ANY
standard file name of upto 8 characters, but MUST have the TXT extension
to be recognized, and be stored in the compression file. These files MUST
be in pure ASCII format and MUST not exceed 80 charcters of width.
USES, IDEAS ETC.
Ok, So now you know HOW the program basically is set up and how to
Basically construct your own database, what can it be used FOR?
Well, this is totally up to your imagination, but some ideas I've come
up with include:
A) A teaching tool, on subjects such as the Hebrology
information I used as an example (and which I will
be producing and distributing shortly).
B) An online-Magazine. There are several of these type
of applications being done by others under other
software Commercially that costs much more than our
simple requests.
C) A Resume database, for people looking for jobs and
employers wanting to look at them while online. Each
user would upload a database and the sysop would give
it a value based on user number. You could then catalog
them under a menu system based on the category of work
that they are looking for.
D) A Dating service - each individual would put together
a letter about themselves, and you could set up the
menu references according to sex, age, preference etc.
E) An ANSI screen display theatre, to show off the a
Collection of ANSI's online. ANSI files must be a
maximum of 25 lines in length and CANNOT include Animation.
F) An Online Game : If you've ever seen the Pick-a-path
type books this system could easily simulate these
for personal enjoyment (but without the usual muliplayer
competitions found on BBS's).
Thats just a few, but certainly a starter for those enterprising enough
to want to work with the software.
_________________________________________________________________________
Wonderland BBS resides at 617-965-3036 in Newton Massachusetts and operates
utilizing ARJ Compression for all its compression needs. We have been the
primary support board for ARJ Compression since its initial test versions,
and are a beta test site for it.
Wonderland specializes, when it comes to software, to the distribution of
specific applications and programs instead of being a warehouse of files
we keep only a few quality programs available for anyone to download on
their first call. Supporting Authors who have their software distributed
by us can be assured of fast and efficient distribution of their programs
both locally and on boards across the country thru a wide range of outlets.
Authors who would like Wonderland to handle their software distribution
for Shareware, Donationware or Freeware can arrange such fairly easily.
We do ask that we receive a fully functional program and that we may use
such without registration fees and/or that the author become a user on
our board calling regularly so that they can provide message support for
their product. If necessary we will set up a SEPERATE message area just
to handle their product questions, answers and release information.
Authors who are making a reasonable financial profit from their software
from Wonderland's efforts are asked to please become a finacial supporter
of the board as we have invested a lot of time, effort and often money
into distributing their product Internationally.
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