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1992-09-11
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The ULTIMATE Display File Generator!
-== Blake Software ==-
(c) 1992
[ What is ANSIBull? ]
ANSIBull is simply the hottest display file generator that exists for
a BBS Operator! Your display files can now take on the appearance and
style that a professional SysOp can appreciate!
With all the display file creation programs that exist, why was ANSIBull
written? After trying lots of the programs that exist on the market,
NONE of them gave me what I really wanted: a sharp display file that
could be changed on the fly. I'm not knocking the ones out there;
some are very good, but just not up to what I was after. I developed
ANSIBull to fill the gap left by the other programs and wound up
really liking to use it myself! I hope you will, too!
[ How To Install ANSIBull ]
*PLEASE!*
If there is a README.1ST included in your archive, READ IT FIRST! It will
contain any last minute important instructions for installing this version!
Step 1.
After you download this from your favorite BBS or get it from a
friend, unzip/arj/pak (whatever) it into your bbs utilities directory
or make a new directory for it and put it there (you can run this
from a floppy, but why would anyone want to?).
Step 2.
Type ANSIBull and press the Enter key. The opening screen will pop up
and, if you haven't registered the program, a 20 second delay will
occur with my "beg" screen asking you to please register (This goes
away after registration). Press a key to remove this window and
enter the Main Menu. The screen will also display that the program
is unregistered and licensed to me. Each display file you create
will also display an unregistered notice (this goes away after
you register ANSIBull. With registration comes a new key - good for
all future upgrades).
Step 3.
At the Main Menu, press the left or right arrow keys to move the
window slider to the Config option. Press Enter to activate the
pull-down CONFIG menu. Use the arrow keys to move to the
"Configure ANSIBull" option on the CONFIG menu and press Enter to
activate it. At this point you will be prompted to enter your BBS
name. My BBS name pops up as the default option on a new copy of
ANSIBull. Press Ctrl-END to erase the line and enter your
information (enter it EXACTLY as you want it to appear in your
display file!
-== ANSIBull! ==- [2]
HINT: You can change this line to display ANY text in the Framed Box
generated by ANSIBull. For example, you need to display more additional
information than is possible in just the headline alone. Go to CONFIG
and change the BBS Name to the text you want displayed and you are
good to go!).
Step 4.
The next option asks for the name of the SysOp (your name). Enter it
exactly as you want it to appear in your display file.
Step 5.
Next, you are asked to enter the Path\Filename for your ANSI display
file. The default is \WC30\BULL\BULL#.BBS. If your BBS is on a different
drive or in a different directory from the above, press Ctrl-END (or use
the cursor keys to move to the area requiring change - press INS or
Insert to start INSERT mode) and enter the correct path\filename for
your color ANSI display file. Repeat the above for the MONO and TEXT
display files as prompted.
*NOTE* Even if your BBS package does not require/use a MONO/TEXT file,
ANSIBull must create them anyway! You MUST enter a path\filename for
these files or ANSIBull will not operate! I had to build it this way
for it to operate on ALL BBS's!
You are then asked if you are happy with the choices you have made.
If you are not, press N (if it beeps at you, turn Insert off) to
correct or Y to accept your choices. These will be written to disk
as your new defaults.
Step 6.
After you have you have finished this task, you need to configure
ANSIBull for the TEXT EDITOR you will use to create your display file.
*RECOMMENDATION* If you do not have or use WildEdit, I STRONGLY
recommend you try it! It has features found only in expensive
editors; commands like text centering, block commands and you can
have up to 8 text windows open at any time (text can be moved from
window to window!). If you register ANSIBull, WildEdit comes with
it FREE - a $20.00 value alone!
Select CONFIG and then select Configure ANSIBull. The pulldown
window will have the option Select Editor. Select this feature and
enter the path\filename.ext of your editor. For example:
C:\WILDSTUF\WILDEDIT.EXE
The default that pops up is simply WILDEDIT.EXE /E
^(43 line mode).
*NOTE* Your editor MUST be able to accept a filename from the command
line prompt! ANSIBull calls your editor and the file BULLWORK.LTR to
allow you to enter your display file. If your editor can't support a call
like WILDEDIT BULLWORK.LTR, then you will have to change editors or do
not use the display file feature of the Main Menu. Use your TEXT editor and
create/edit the file BULLWORK.LTR from DOS. ANSIBull does everything in
RAM to make it move FAST! Because of this, if you don't have enough free
memory to allow the Bull to shell out and run your editor, you won't get
to edit your text file. If this happens, call my board and download
WildEdit (or buy & use Shroom and have the Bull swapped out to a disk file,
freeing up more memory for your editor). Remove any TSR's you have
running to give you more workspace as well.
The BULLETIN feature of the Main Menu shells and loads your editor
and the file BULLWORK.LTR.
After you have finished all of this, you are now ready to create your
first display file. Select BULLETIN from the Main Menu and your editor
will call up the BULLWORK.LTR file. Type in your text and when finished,
save it the way you normally would using the SAVE command built into your
editor (Ctrl-K X for WildEdit). After you exit your editor, you will be
returned to ANSIBull.
-== ANSIBull! ==- [3]
ANSIBull will ask you if you wish to generate your display file at this
point. Press Y and hit Enter to go ahead and generate, or press N
(Enter) to change colors or make other changes. If INSERT mode is
active, you will not be able to type over to change from N to Y.
You will have to press the DELETE key to delete the N letter and then
enter Y, or press INS to toggle overwrite mode and you can then type
over the current character.
Next, move the slider (use the left/right cursor keys) to the Colors
feature of the Main Menu. Use the color selection menu to configure
ANSIBull for the colors you desire.
*NOTE* You can change these colors for each addition to your display file
as well. The ANSI color codes are used.
When you are all set to generate your display file, select Generate from
the Main Menu. Select either INTERNAL or EXTERNAL styles (remember!
externals only create a color ANSI file at this time!).
Next you will be asked if you wish to change banner/footer.
Make any desired changes and hit Enter. You are then presented with a pulldown
menu of style selections. Select the style you want and hit enter. ANSIBull
will then ask you if you want to overwrite the old display file or add to it.
Select Overwrite to create a new display file or move the highlight bar down
once to add this text to the existing display file your system is currently
displaying.
[ A Note About Styles ]
Each of the frame styles available has it's own text line length
limitations!
Style Name Max Chars Per Line Style Name Max Chars
=======================================================================
BLOCK - 79 CATSTYLE - 79
COMPUTER PAPER - 69 TRIPLE - 73
SHADOW - 76 JAGGED - 77
DOUBLE - 75 HERALD - 73
SINGLE - 75 ARROW - 79
THICK - 75
THICK/THIN - 75
DUAL FRAME - 73
CINEMA - 71
ROMAN - 67
=======================================================================
If your display file text exceeds the max line length accepted by the
style you select, any text over the maximum will be truncated!
*NOTE*
If you use WildEdit (or other editor if this feature is available),
set the right margin for the maximum width allowed for the style
you are generating as defined above (Ctrl-O R in WildEdit). Toggle
word wrap on and it makes a quick and easy job of typing your text.
That's all there is to it! It's easy to use and does a heck of a
job! I hope you like it and will look for the next release. All
registered users will get the next AND ALL FUTURE releases FREE!
I'm already planning and building in a new group of styles for the
next release!
-== ANSIBull! ==- [4]
One last thing...This version is *NOT* crippleware! EVERY feature works
but two on the unregistered version (you can only have 2 external style
names active and the final version of ANSIStyle will create MONO/TEXT
files as well as a color ANSI display file). Plus, you get that old
20 second pause when you first run it up which goes away when you
register. I've got to generate a little annoyance or no one
would register!.
You can generate display files to your hearts content in any of the offered
styles. Every future release will have ALL internal styles available (I
don't believe in crippling a product you want people to register. You
can't test if it don't work in the first place!). I leave it up to your
honor to register ANSIBull and I hope that if you like it and use it you
will. I'm an Air Force NCO with 4 kids and can use the bucks <grin>!
-== ANSIBull! ==- [5]
[ Home Board ]
Green Acres! BBS - (505) 763-5129 12-9600 Baud WildCat 3.51
[ Support BBS's ]
Ken Squyres, Rex Osborn, Richard Anderson, and Dan Drinnon have graciously
made space available on their boards for my software. THANKS to these
SUPER individuals! All are avid supporters of the SHAREWARE concept & you
can always get the latest releases from these fantastic BBS's. If you want
to drop me a suggestion or a comment and can't get on my board, you can
leave me mail on any of these boards, as well.
The Data Shop BBS - SysOp - Ken Squyres - (501) 234-5064
Computer Touch BBS - SysOp - Rex Osborn - (505) 762-0116
The Computer Lynx BBS - SysOp - Richard Anderson - (505) 326-2906
The Cellar Door RBBS - SysOp - Dan Drinnon - (505) 763-1795 *
* Freqable as the magic ANSIBull from 1:313/6 8:903/2 23 hours daily!
[ Program Registration Form ]
=============================================================================
Your Name:
BBS Name/Number:
Program(s) You Are Registering:
Your Address:
Comments:
For registers users only! You can download your registered copy directly
from my BBS! Give me a password you would like to use and I'll pre-log
you on the system.
PASSWORD:
=============================================================================
You will be sent a "key" to register your copy(s) within 1 to 6 weeks after
your payment is received ("key" is sent immediately, but the Post Office
is slower than an 8088!). Please send your check or money order (U.S.
Currency ONLY, please) for the required amount to:
Blake Software
512 W.17th Street
Clovis, NM 88101
Other programs available:
======================================================================
The Myths & Legends Door $15.00
======================================================================
BBS Lister (BBS Data entry Door) for ANY BBS $FREE$
*Allows callers to view/download the BBS's that have been
entered into the door!
The WIT Door - Graffitti door for ANY BBS $FREE$
2 Cents - Quote door for ANY BBS $FREE$
======================================================================
ANSIBull - ANY BBS display file generator Both For Only
ANSIStyl - Style generator for ANSIBull $20.00
*WildEdit, a $20.00 value FREE when you register!
======================================================================
WildBull - Bulletin Generator for WildCat! 3.x All
WildNews - Newsletter Generator for WildCat! 3.x For
WildStyle- Style generator for WildNews/Bull Only
*WildEdit, FREE when you register! $20.00
======================================================================
WildEdit - Text Editor designed with WildBull/News in mind, but
will work for all of your text editing needs!
Works GREAT with ANSIBull! $20.00