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1992-07-03
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ANSINews!
The ULTIMATE BBS Newletter Generator!
-== Blake Software ==-
(c) 1992
-== ANSINews! 1.01 ==- [1]
[ What is ANSINews? ]
ANSINews is simply the hottest newsletter generator that exists for a BBS
SysOp! Your newsletter can now take on the appearance and style that a
true SysOp can appreciate! After all, your BBS is the "Ferrari" of the
BBS programs available. Why settle for a "VW" for a newsletter generator?
With all the newsletter creation programs that exist, why was ANSINews
written? After trying lots of the programs that exist on the market, NONE
of them gave me what I really wanted: a sharp newsletter 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 ANSINews to fill the
gap left by the other programs and wound up really liking to use it myself!
[ How To Install ANSINews ]
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 ANSINews 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, as well as the <UNREGISTERED> in your newsletters!). Press
a key to remove this window and enter the Main Menu. ANSINews will create
default configuration files when first ran.
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 ANSINews" 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 ANSINews. Press Ctrl-END to erase the line and enter your
information (enter it EXACTLY as you want it to appear in your
newsletters!).
Step 4.
The next option asks for the name of the SysOp (your name). Enter it or
leave it blank. This feature is not currently used, but will be in the next
release.
Step 5.
Next, you are asked to enter the Path\Filenames of your newsletters.
If your BBS is on a different drive or in a different directory from the
defaults, 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\filenames for your newsletters. ANSINews creates MONO,
COLOR ANSI, and TEXT newsletters so that all BBS software packages can
use ANSINews.
**NOTE** A SPECIAL version is available for WildCat 3.x called WILDNEWS.
It uses the WildCat color codes to produce NEWSLTR.BBS (color, mono, and
text - all available from the one file produced).
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 for the
TEXT EDITOR you will use to create your newsletter.
*RECOMMENDATION* If you do not have or use QEDIT, I STRONGLY recommend you
try it! It's simply the best that exists!
-== ANSINews! 1.01 ==- [2]
Select CONFIG and then select Configure ANSINews. The pulldown window will
have the option Select Editor. Select this feature and enter the
path\filename of your editor. For example: C:\SYS\UTIL\QEDIT.EXE.
*NOTE* Your editor MUST be able to accept a filename from the command line
prompt! ANSINews calls your editor and the file WORK.LTR to allow you to
enter your news. If your editor can't support a call like QEDIT WORK.LTR
then you will have to change editors or do not use the News feature of the
Main Menu. Use your TEXT editor and create/edit the file WORK.LTR
After you have finished all of this, you are now ready to create your first
newsletter. Select News from the Main Menu and your editor will call up the
WORK.LTR file. Type in your news and, when finished, save it the way you
normally would using the SAVE command built in to your editor. After you
exit your editor, you will be returned to ANSINews.
ANSINews will ask you if you wish to generate your newsletter at this
point. Press Y and hit Enter to go ahead and generate, or press N (Enter)
to change colors or make other changes.
Next, move the slider (use the left/right cursor keys) to the Colors feature
of the Main Menu. Press Enter to select the colors you prefer for your
newsletter.
*NOTE* You can change these colors for each addition to your newsletter as
well. ANSI color codes are used.
When you are all set to generate your newsletter, select Generate from the
Main Menu. You will be asked if you wish to change headlines. 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. ANSINews
will then ask you if you want to overwrite the old newsletter or add to it.
Select Overwrite to create a new newsletter or move the highlight bar down
once to add this text to the existing newsletter your system is currently
displaying.
[ A Note About Styles ]
Each of the styles available has it's own text line length limitations!
BANNER - 79 characters MAX per line.
COMPUTER PAPER - 69 characters MAX per line.
SHADOW - 76 characters MAX per line.
DOUBLE - 75 characters MAX per line.
SINGLE - 75 characters MAX per line.
THICK - 75 characters MAX per line.
If your news text exceeds the max line length accepted by the style you
select your text will be truncated!
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! Should be out by
Fall of '92.
REGISTRATION: Only $10.00! Registration will remove the delay and
UNREGISTERED from the display and newsletter file. Please fill out and
return the registration form provided. If the file ORDER.FRM is not
included with your copy, send your money and the following information:
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│Name....: │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│BBS Name: │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Program you are registering: │
│ │
│Your Address: │
│ │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
You will be sent a "key" to register your copy within 1 to 6 weeks after
your payment is received (the U.S. Postal system is slower than an 8088!).
Please send your check or money order (U.S. Currency ONLY, please) for
$10.00 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) $ 5.00
The WIT Door $ 5.00
WILDNews! Newsletter generator for WildCat 3.x BBS's! $10.00
WILDBull! Bulletin generator for WildCat 3.x BBS's! $10.00
ANSINews! Newsletter generator for ANSI BBS's! $10.00
Coming Soon:
ANSIBull - Bulletin Generator for BBS's!
[ Support BBS ]
Green Acres! BBS - (505)-763-5129 12-9600 Baud WildCat 3.50