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M A I L O R D E R M A L L
Freeware Version 1.0B
Copyright 1992 by Brian Veditz
Sysop of The Informer BBS - (818) 999-5488
PO Box 4747, West Hills, CA 91308
Welcome to Mail Order Mall. The purpose of this Door is
for setting up and maintaining an online Store. Instead of
the traditional method of ordering via credit cards, this
system uses an Order Form. The User views the products you
have available, decides which ones interest him, and the
system does the rest. As the User chooses products the system
ads them to an order form which the user can capture and mail
in with his/her check. The system also takes care of adding
up the totals, adding tax (optional) and a shipping charge
(optional). Since the System and the User do the work, all
the Sysop/Owner need do is process the orders as they come to
him. The best part of this software is that its FREE. There
is no cost to use this software in any manner you see fit,
however there are also no guarantees on the software. Much
care has been taken in error checking but you are at your own
risk in using this software or not using it. An Advanced
version is available for $19.95 which includes the ability to
set up stores for other businessman/companies with their name
and address on the order form (Useful for renting out stores
to others). There are many other features, read the ADVANCED
Section for more information. However, if this version is all
you need, you are under no obligation to purchase the advanced
version. This version does what it has to do, and more, and
unlike others of this nature it costs nothing!
SETUP
To set up the system first make a batch file called
MO-MALL.BAT. This file has been included. The lines are:
CD\PCB\GEN\MO-MALL 'Your M.O. Mall Directory
MO-MALL MO-MALL.CFG 'Name of Mall Program
CD\PCB 'Return to your main dir.
The Above information should be self explanatory, but I
decided to explain it anyhow. The MO-MALL.CFG is the Config
file you use. If you have it named something else (when
running multiple nodes or something) type:
MO-MALL NODE1.CFG
NODE1.CFG being the filename of your Config File. I have not
tested this software with multiple nodes, so its up to you to
work it out. The file does not write to any of the Store IDX
or DAT files, it only reads them, if this helps you any.
Now for the CFG File Setup. I decided not to include a
Config program since the programs were written in Qbasic and
a setup program just for one small file would have been
ridiculous. Here is the format:
1: C:\PCB\PCBOARD.SYS
2: The Informer BBS
3: Brian
4: Veditz
5: The Store Manager...
6: Brian Veditz
7: PO Box 4747
8:
9: West Hills, CA 91367
10: Phone (818) 999-5488
11: CA, 8.5
12: 2.00
Here is an explanation to help explain the above:
1: Location of Door file (DOOR.SYS/PCBOARD.SYS/etc.)
2: Name of Your BBS
3: Sysops First Name 'Both of these are not used but
4: Sysops Last Name 'the Doorsource asks for them.
5: Name used when entering Chat
6: Owner or Companies name
7: Street Address
8: Additional Street Address
9: City/ST/Zip
10: Optional Phone Number
11: Charge Tax? Y/N/State, Optional Tax to force for Y/State
12: Shipping Charge
Here is some further detail on the CFG File. The first is
the name and location of your door file. It supports Wildcat,
PCBoard, DOOR.SYS and RBBS formats. More information is
mentioned in the BBS SETUP section. One note though, the
Door.sys may not be supported for your system. I know it does
not like Gap's DOOR.SYS file. The Sysops name (5) is the name
used when the sysop enters chat or is Paged. The reason I
added this is in case the sysop wanted to use a different name
then the one he normally uses, Such as "Store Manager" or
whatever... Generally useless, but what the heck! Lines 6
through 10 are not hard coded, meaning you can put them in any
order you like. Any of the lines can be blank. These lines
are the lines displayed on the order form so the User knows
WHO to send their form to. You can place the lines however
you like, but each line can only be up to 25 characters long.
Sorry, but this is so it would fit nicely on the order form.
If your city is too long, and you don't use address #2 or
don't use the phone line, just separate the city from the
state and zip, or whatever. The state tax is an also
optional. The choices are "N" to Never charge tax, "Y" to
always charge tax, or your two letter state initials (for
Example "CA") of which state to charge tax in. Meaning, if
you only want to charge tax in California, put CA here, and it
will only add tax if they live in California. Added in 1.0B
is the ability to Force a Tax rate without them entering it
themselves. If you have "Y" or a state entered, you can add a
',' and then enter the Tax you want to use ("8.5" would be
"8.5%"). If there is nothing after the Y/N/State, then it
will ask the user for the Tax. If set to "Y" it is best to
have the user enter the Tax for his area. The Shipping charge
is an optional entry to add to the total. It is not taxed.
This number can be '0', or '2.50' or any other Price. Do NOT
include the '$'. On a final note, there is not much in the
way of error checking on this part. If you follow the above,
nothing will go wrong. But, after its set up, be sure to do a
test run on your store(s) and double check that all the names,
charges, etc. are correct.
Now, on to more interesting things. After you have put
all the files in the correct directory and made your batch
files, there are a couple other options. Included with your
archive is a Main menu (MAINM & MAINMG), these can be changed
of course to look the way you want. Only some small changes
need to be done. There is also a file called "MO-MALL.HLP".
This is what is displayed when the user types HELP at the main
prompt. Its a pretty lousy help, I admit, but it can be
edited to fit your board and made the way you like (Heck, send
me a copy). Another file that you can have, but that is not
included, is a welcome file. If you don't have one the store
will go directly to the main store menu, but if one exists it
will be displayed, pause afterwards until a key is hit, then
go to the main menu. The reason you might want this file is
to show Store Specials, News, or just to introduce the person
to your store(s). The reason you might not want it is when
you set up the store as an internal command and want it to
look like part of the BBS (Or just don't need any welcome
file). The files are WELCOME & WELCOMEG. All the files
mentioned work the same way as the Ansi & Non Ansi screens in
PCB, GAP, and other programs (except the MO-MALL.HLP)
M.O. MALL EDITOR
Adding your products will be the slowest and probably the
dullest project in setting up your store(s). However, it
won't be difficult. When you start up the editor you are
given three options, 1) Open a Store, 2) Edit a Store and
3) Quit the Editor. #3 is self explanatory, #2 can't be done
until #1, so... when you choose to Open a Store you can type
in an 8 letter name for the store, this is also the file name.
If a store by that name doesn't exist it will tell you so and
ask you if you wish to Create it. Choose Yes... The store
will be 'Opened' and you now have the Option of Editing it.
Editing the store Gives you 8 Options:
ADD A PRODUCT
When you add a Product, the system will ask you for the
Reference #. This can be any Letter and/or number combination
up to 6 characters. This is used for identifying your
products and for later searches and for sorting. This is your
product Code (known as Reference # in the programs). The Next
option is a Short Description. In this area you will put what
the product name and any other important information. The
next choice is the Price. This is obvious and can be up to
$32,000 (I really don't see why anything would be more then a
couple hundred... but, heck, have a ball). You can include
Cents, of course. On the above note, your order form cannot
be more then $32,000 when someone orders, the system will not
let them order if this gets more then that amount. Error
handling is not very elaborate on this portion, but the worst
thing that can happen is the user will be dumped back to the
bbs. (Of course, not a nice way to treat someone spending
that much for your products... <Grin>) Anyhow, back to us
average business people. The next 7 lines are a long
description. This is for telling users about your product,
why they should purchase your product, and any other
information. You don't have to use all 7 lines, and they can
be changed at any time. If you only use 3 or 4 lines, that's
all the drive space your system will use. You can add lines
or get rid of lines at any time later. If you do a lot of
changing later, using the sort command is a good idea (which
also does a pack). The system is set up to use the least
amount of space while allowing the greatest amount of
latitude. When your finished entering the long description,
and you haven't used all 7 lines, then just hit return on the
next blank line.. Now you will be prompted to save the
record. Yes will add the record, No will not.
EDIT A PRODUCT
Editing is just like adding a record. However, it will
show your old input and allow you to change it. Once you add
a record, using the edit is simple and self explanatory.
DELETE A PRODUCT
When you stop selling a product, or just totally screw up
on adding one, this option is invaluable. Selecting delete
will display a 'Are you sure' prompt, to be on the safe side.
Deleting a product will only put '***'s in the Reference area
and "<Deleted>" in the short Description area. They are in
effect deleted and will not be shown in the store. However,
if your sure you want to delete them, use the sort to
permanently delete the product. If you don't sort you can
always come back later and edit and replace the record. Once
you fix the Reference # it will be a valid product again.
NEXT PRODUCT
Use this to move on to the next product.
PREVIOUS PRODUCT
This is to show the previous product, of course.
FIND A PRODUCT
When you have a lot of products and want to find one
specific record, use this feature. Select F)ind and enter the
reference number of the product. It is fast and will move
directly to that product for you to edit or delete or whatever
you wish to do. The command will only search for reference
numbers and not descriptions, etc... (Thats why its fast, I
suppose)
SORT PRODUCTS
Probably the most valuable feature in the Editor. This
will first go through your stores Index (.IDX) file and purge
deleted records. As its going through the records it will
sort it into alphabetical/numerical order of references. As
soon as sorting is complete it will read each product and read
the location of each line of the long description and write it
to a new file, thereby unfragmenting the data file and purging
no longer used descriptions. Depending on how many changes
you did to your Store file the sorting may make your system
faster and your files smaller.
QUIT EDITING
Another obvious command. It will not ask you to save your
store files or anything else since all that is AUTOMATICALLY
done whenever you Add, Edit or delete a record, or sorting.
If there is any type of power failure, your work will not be
lost.
Thats about it. When your finished editing just Quit Editing
and either open another store or Quit. Now you can start your
long dull process of entering products. Have Fun!
M.O. MALL DOOR
When your finished with your Product entering, Its time to
get your Store(s) finished up. Be sure to add the Store(s) to
your Mainm & Mainmg Menus. When you run the store you may or
may not be shown a welcome (depending on if you have one, read
the SETUP part) and then you are directed on to the Store
Menu. This menu should have the choice of stores, a QUIT
option, and a HELP option. If the user types anything other
then HELP or QUIT then the system will check to see if a .DAT
and a .IDX of that name exist, if they do it will open that
store and start displaying the products. If there are more
then 20 products the system will stop and allow the user to Go
on to the next products, Choose a Product # to View (and
optionally order), Go to the previous page (if your on a page
after the first 20), or Go to the Order System. Choosing a
product will display the product, its reference #, the Price,
and the Long description. The user can O)rder the product or
return to the product listings. No more then 50 products can
be ordered per order form. (An order form with 50 products
will be a printer page long, even on a laser). The Order
System is a separate menu that can be show by typing O at the
product listings. Options from that menu are:
CLEAR ORDERS
Delete all the orders you have already chosen. This is
for those spendthrifts that just like to pretend they are
ordering. I dunno, but its there anyhow.
DELETE ORDER
Typing D)elete will ask the User for a Reference # to
delete. If there is such a product on the users form it will
be deleted, otherwise the user will be informed that product
is not on his form.
FILL OUT ORDER FORM
Typing F)ill order form, will allow the user to put in
their name, address, city, etc. on the form. This is a
required option, so that tax can be effectively added. When
the user finishes, s/he is asked if everything is correct.
No, will allow them to try again.
VIEW ORDER FORM
When the user wants to see how much s/he is going to spend
or just check out what they got, an order form is shown. It
is paused at every page break (same as the user set for the
bbs)
CAPTURE ORDER FORM
This is like the "V" except that the user is given a
prompt to Turn his capture on and hit a key. When the user
does so, the form is sent non-stop and when it is completed it
will tell the user to turn off the capture and hit a key. The
form is sent in Non-color mode also. If a file named
"ORDER.INF" exists it will be displayed after the order form.
This can contain any additional ordering information you have.
QUIT ORDER SYSTEM
Lets the user go back to choosing/viewing products.
Thats about all there is to say about the M.O. Mall. The
system is fairly self explanatory and the since this is a
Mail-in type of mall, there is no way the user will get stuck
somewhere or permanently order a product they don't want.
This system gives the Users more control and the Sysop/Owner
less work. It is not the greatest, but it gets the job done.
OTHER USES
So, What else can the system be used for? Here are some
ideas...
COMPANIES
Set up a separate conference for a certain company. In
the conference the users can talk to company reps and discuss
products... d/l news files from the company... and of course
open the Company's ON-LINE Store. Just set the program up as
a door and add the command to that conference menu as "[OPEN]
Store" or whatever (depending on bbs type). These Conferences
with Stores can be rented out. The disadvantage here is that
you must have the Store programs set up separate for each
store you have. With the advanced version you can set up more
then one company on the menu, each with separate mailing
addresses.
SOFTWARE AUTHORS
Wouldn't it be nice to let those authors who are hosting
one of your conferences to put up a store with their products
on it? Well here is your chance. Or maybe you can just rent
out the same way as the company. The author can rent a
conference that has a place for him to put up his shareware
programs and have a store where the users can order the full
registered version... and use the message bases in the
conference to discuss the products. Adding the Store to your
conference gives it the full business environment.
GARAGE SALE
Heck, try mail order for getting rid of those old things.
If the garage sale you held didn't work to well, maybe this is
worth a shot. Couldn't hurt.
INFORMATION HOUSE
Maybe someone on your board has stuff they would like to
give away at a small cost, or for free. Set this up with the
names, 0 for the price (or whatever the small cost is), and
put in that handling fee, and the user takes care of the rest.
Another valuable service added to your bbs for next to
nothing. Give the user the editor and he can do the work!
SELF PUBLISHERS
In the same way as programmers, companies, and Information
Houses, you can let self publishers sell their works on-line.
This is also best to do with the advanced version, but it can
work with this version as well. Let him enter his books,
guides, etc. and as soon as you set it up, nothing is left for
you to do.
There are more things you can do, just put on that thinking
cap and make your BBS into a real SERVICE!!!
BBS SETUP / OPTION COMMANDS
The Mall has numerous command line options in order to
provide flexibility with most computer systems. Here is a
list:
LOCAL - Forces MO-MALL to run in local mode. This
is really meant for testing purposes, but it
still reads the configuration file, but doesn't
read the bbs interface file.
IRQ=n - Lets you change the IRQ used for the com port
specified in the bbs interface file.
(See below for more information)
ADDR=&Hnnnn - Lets you change the address used for the com
port specified in the bbs interface file.
(See below for more information)
PS2 - Forces the PS/2 IRQs and addresses if a PS/2
isn't detected (Normally it is, but you can't
always tell!)
RBBS - Forces MO-MALL into RBBS/QBBS mode
WILDCAT - Forces MO-MALL into Wildcat 2.0 mode
DOORSYS - Forces MO-MALL into 31-Line DOOR.SYS mode
PCB121 - Forces MO-MALL into PCBoard 11.8/12.x mode
with COM 1 active
PCB122 - Forces MO-MALL into PCBoard 11.8/12.x mode with
COM 2 active
PCB14 - (DEFAULT) Forces MO-MALL into PCBoard 14.x mode
When you use the IRQ or the ADDR option, you must
include the other. You can't use just the IRQ and not the
ADDR, and you can't use just the ADDR and not the IRQ. Here's
a chart with the STANDARD IRQs and addresses for the PS/2s and
IBM PCs:
Non PS/2
Com port IRQ Address
1 4 &H3F8
2 3 &H2F8
3 4 &H3E8
4 3 &H2E8
5-8 4 &H3F8
PS/2
Com port IRQ Address
1 4 &H3F8
2 3 &H2F8
3 3 &H3220
4 3 &H3228
5 3 &H4220
6 3 &H4228
7 3 &H5220
8 3 &H5228
FUNCTION KEYS/MEMORY/MISC.
Here are the list of function keys available in the
system. Depending on your BBS type some of these may or may
not be useful (and may/may not do anything)
F3 - Printer Toggle
F4 - Page Bell Toggle
F5 - Shell to Dos
F7 - Caller Alarm Toggle
F8 - Return caller to board (with notice)
F10 - Enter Sysop Chat
ESC - Exit Sysop Chat
ALT X - Drop to DOS after caller logs off
ALT N - Sysop next on after caller logs off
MEMORY
The Memory requirements are a minimum of 160k, Depending
on if you are in a store or not, the memory required could go
up. It should not exceed 200k however, so you should make
sure you have around 160-200k free when you execute MO-Mall.
PROGRAMMERS RESOURCE
Included is the source for the IDX & DAT files. This has
been included if anyone wants to make any type of program
utilizing those files. The file is called "Stores.Bas".
LOCAL COLOR
You may be confused when you run the program locally or
see that a user is on in non-color mode but it is displaying
color anyway. This is not the case, it will always show color
(nothing I could do about that, its in doorsource) for the
local side, the remote side will only not get color if it is
turned off.
PROGRAMMING
Mail Order Mall was written in Quick Basic 4.5 along with
the Door Source communications library. QuickBasic is a
registered trade mark of Microsoft Corporation. Door Source
is copyrighted Computer City, USA 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and
written by Todd Miller of PC-Technologies (BBS: (919)294-1770)
Mail Order Mall is Copyrighted 1992 by Brian Veditz.
ADVANCED EDITION
The Advanced Mail Order Mall is available for those sysops
who would like to run a mall of stores with multiple store
owners. It also has some advanced store options to set up
stores with more options and more control given to the owners.
Here is are some of the major changes:
MULTIPLE OWNERS - Give your stores multiple owners so that
when users fill out an order form for a
particular store they will have the
correct owners listed.
MULTIPLE TAXES - With the new setup you can include more
then one state to Tax, without taxing
them all. If a business has branches in
California, New York, and lets say
Arizona they can all be taxed, but other
states will not be.
STORE INTROS - Each store can have its own welcome
screen which will be displayed when a
store is opened.
CREDIT CARD OPTION - Well, Even though it isn't the intent of
this program to support credit cards, It
was added so you can support all types of
ordering. There are owner definable
options to pick 'Mail form only' or 'Mail
in check or mail in Credit card'. The
owner decided which credit cards he
supports. Local Credit Card ordering is
not supported however.
AUTO STORE CLOSING - You can rent out stores and set up
expiration dates on the stores. If the
owners do not renew their 'lease' the
store will close on the specified date.
SETUP PROGRAM - With all the new options a Setup program
was highly needed. It will set up your
CFG file, and all the store files you
need to. No manual entering of anything.
REMOTE CAPABILITIES- Owners can upload their new IDX and DAT
files any time they like. The sysop need
not do anything. Once the owner enters
the store he is given the option to
upload new product listings. Any info
such as tax support, shipping fees and
addresses will need to be changed by the
Sysop however.
The Cost is just $19.95 and gets you a disk with most
current version and access to my system for any future
updates. The form is below and the address is listed at the
beginning of this documentation.
ADVANCED MAIL ORDER MALL FORM
FULL NAME ____________________________________________________
ADDRESS ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
CITY ____________________________________________________
ST/ZIP ______________________________ __________________
PASSWORD ____________________________________________________
(this is used if you decide to call my board to pick up your
software before it reaches you, check for new updates, leave
bug reports, etc)
BBS NAME ____________________________________________________
BBS
NUMBERS ____________________________________________________
LOCATION ____________________________________________________
BBS
COMMENT? ____________________________________________________
By filling out this form you agree to not give out any
copies of the Mail-Order Mall main program. The Editor may
be given to store owners so they can edit their stores, but
the actual door program must remain in your care. You retain
the right to sell/give the Mall door to another person IF you
remove all of your copies from your system, and send along a
letter to me listing the new owners name and password. After
your copy is officially transferred all support to you will
cease and will be transferred to the new owner. Multiple
copies of the software may be run but only on the SAME BBS
located in the SAME residence/place of business.
______________________________________
Signature
NOTES ________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
MAIL TO:
Brian Veditz
PO Box 4747
West Hills, CA 91308