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1992-06-18
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GIF Previewer Ver 1.0
The GIF Previewer Door is a door written that allows a user to select up to
29 GIFs and create one GIF and download that GIF so he/she can examine the
GIFs to see if they really want to download these GIFs.
Preview Features:
1. Entry of a logo into the array created
2. File search and listing capabilities
3. External transfer protocol support
4. Custom menus
History
Ver 0.1B - Never released, based on GDS
Ver 0.2B - I decided to use GIFDesk instead of GDS as the use of GDS
required a registered version plus GDS precluded the door
operating in a multitasking environment such as DesqView.
Ver 0.3B - Corrected error if user supplied an extension when entering a GIF
extension. Doesn't matter now, door strips any extension and adds
a GIF extension.
Corrected error for multi-node systems. Door was using default
dir for work dir instead of WORK dir.
Due to idiosynchrosy of GIFDESK, added a line in config file to
enable renaming of file created by GIFDESK.
Added proper error handling so user isn't so confused when door
dumps him back to PCB.
Ver 0.4B - Never released, minor bug fixes
Ver 0.5B - Never released, minor bug fixes
Ver 0.6B - Major update, added several new features
Added custom menu, dir and welcome screen support.
Added download capability within the door itself. This made the
door no longer PCB specific.
Door now supports standard comm ports 1 - 4 on standard
interrupts. See operations section for more details.
Ver 0.7B - minor bug fixes
Ver 0.8B - minor bug fixes
Added external protocol support and removed internal protocols
Added file tagging within dir listings and searches
Ver 0.9B - Removed hot keys from menu.
Increased total number of GIFs per array to 29, as the file size
of the GIF created is only between 80 and 90 kilbytes
Added wild card support when selecting GIFs.
Minor comsmetic fixes.
Set Up
1. Create a config file that contains the following information
1 - Complete path to door.sys file
(See operations section for file types supported.)
2 - The name of your BBS
3 - Sysop's first name
4 - Sysop's last name
5 - Complete path to the work directory that Preview will place the
arrays for download. This directory must be dedicated to Preview as
it erased every time the door is run. This directory is also used as
a scratch dir for Preview.
6 - Complete path and file name to Preview main menu
7 - Complete path and file name to Preview DIR menu
8 - Complete path and file name to Preview welcome screen
9 - Name of GIF created by GIFDESK. Limited to six characters or less.
As each collage is created, it is named COLLAG1, COLLAG2, ECT...
10 - The total number of GIF directories that the door will process
11 - Complete path and file name of first PCB GIF DIR file
12 - Complete path to GIF directory that is linked to entry 7
13,14 - Same as 11 and 12
If you have an entry of 4 in line 6 then you must have 8 entries
following. Each two lines after line 6 is the board DIR file and it's
linked directory. A sample config file is included.
3. Create the file PROT.DAT in the PREVIEW directory. This file is the list
of transfer protocols, their corresponding letter in the protocol menu
displayed to users, the batch file calling the protocol and whether the
protocol is batch transfer capable. See the Operations section for the
exact lay out of this file.
4. Create a file to execute the Preview Door
@ECHO OFF
CD D:\PCB1\DOORS\PREVIEW
PREVIEW PREVIEW.CFG
5. Add the Preview Door entry to your doors list file
6. Set the environment variable GIFDESK=FILE. This is required so GIFDesk
can opearte under any graphics card/monitor configuration to include a
monochrome system. I recommend setting this variable in you AUTOEXEC.BAT
file.
Operation
If a user selects 3 or fewer GIFs then Preview will create a four GIF array
and if he/she selects between 4 and 8, Preview will create a nine GIF array.
If the user selects nine or more GIFs, Previewer will create a 30 array GIF.
When 29 GIFs at 640x480 resolution are selected, the GIF created will be
about 90K.
If you wish to include a logo in each array generated then create a GIF and
place it in the Preview work directory. This GIF must be named A.GIF. This
is currently hard coded into Preview so it will be the first GIF in the
array. This was done because GIFDESK sorts the GIFs in the array and there
is currently no way to prevent this. I recommend a simple logo with two or
three colors so it will always look relatively the same for each array
generated.
All custom screens support an ansi version by appending a g to the file name
specified in the config file. For example, if you had a menu screen called
MENU then to send an ansi version of that screen create that screen and name
it MENUG.
Set up on a multitasking or network environemnt is painless. Simply create
a config file with a different work directory. The work dir must be
different for each node of operation.
THE PROT.DAT file consists of four entries per line. The first entry is the
letter selecting the protocol, the second entry is the actual batch file
calling the external protocol, the third entry is the description of the
protocol displayed in the protocol menu and the fourth entry is whether or
not the protocol is batch capable. The PROT.DAT file can contain up to 15
separate protocols. A sample file is included along with the calling batch
files. Four variables are passed to the batch file: %1 is the active comm
port, %2 is the callers connect speed, %3 is the file name and %4 is the
computer to modem connect speed. Sample batch files utilizing DSZ are
provided for XModem, XModem-1K, YModem(g) and ZModem
The door currently supports six different door file types:
PCBOARD.SYS - PCBoard 14.5a
CALLINFO.BBS - Wildcat system prior to ver 3
USERINFO.BBS - Wildcat systems ver 3.x
DOOR.SYS - For systems that support DOOR.SYS
DORINFOx.DEF - QBBS/RBBS/RA (change x to reflect node number)
SFDOORS.DAT - Spitfire systems
The door supports standard comm ports 1 - 4
Port 3 on 3E8/IRQ4 and Port 4 on 2E8/IRQ3
Non-standard comm port interrupts are also supported. To utilize IRQ 5
your command line to call the door should look like this:
PREVIEW PREVIEW.CFG /5
If your using DSZ/GSZ to support the file transfers then your batch file
to call DSZ using COM 3 on address 3E8 using interrupt 5 should look
something like this:
DSZ ha bo portx 3E8,5 est 0 %2 sz %3.
Batch files for standard com ports are provided. If you use non-standard
IRQs then I suggest reading the docs that came with your protocol.
The following files must be in your DOS path, GIFDESK.EXE and the batch files
that call each seperate transfer protocol.
Standard DOS wild cards are supported when selecting GIFs for an array.
If you have registered and obtained your key then place the key in the
PREVIEW directory.
Warranty
This product is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. The entire
risk as to the results and performance of the program is assumed by you.
Futhermore, the author does not warrant, guarantee, or make any other
representations regarding the use of, or the results of the use of the
program, and you rely on the program and results solely at your own
risk. The author cannot and will not accept responsibility for system
damage, loss of profit, or any other special, consequential or incidental
damages resulting from the use or inability to use this product.
Copyright
GIF Previewer Copyright (c) 1992 by Chris Gifford is being distributed as
Shareware. Under this concept you may use the SHAREWARE (unregistered)
version for a reasonable period of time for evaluation after which you
must either register your copy or discontinue usage. This time period is
set for 60 days.
Registration:
Registration gets you support via tha Antares Sector BBS (813) 931-7537.
A registration fee of $20 is required. Please send all registrations to:
Chris Gifford
282 Mindella Way
Layton, UT 84041
Please include exactly how you want your name to appear when the door first
opens. You are limited to 35 characters or less. Please include your BBS
number so I can upload the latest version of PREVIEW and the key to remove
to opening delay.
Distribution
You are encouraged to distribute PREVIEW provided that all files
contained in the archive are distributed in their original and
unmodified state.
If you wish to be a beta tester then leave me a comment on the Antares
Sector BBS. Being a Beta Tester gets you a free version of the non-beta
release of Preview. To be a beta tester, I'll need the name and number of
the BBS that Preview will be operating on and feed back atleast once a week,
even if it's to say that no errors have been encountered.
Credits
Preview Ver 0.9B was developed under a shareware version of DFRAME. A doors
development kit for MS Basic 7.X PDS and is copyrighted by Ted Freeman of
MicroNet BBS (615) 626-1620.
All tradmarks are copyrighted by their respective owners.
Credit where credit is due:
Many thanks go to Robert Perreault of PC-Link BBS. With out his help and
input PREVIEW would not have come along as fast as it has.