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1992-06-05
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April, 1992
1.
REQUEST BRAIN
(C) Copyright 1992 by Stanley Sheff
Support BBS: The Brainex System
(310) 275-2344
(310) 273-5234
CDROM Request File Door for ROMBRAIN
---------------
Welcome to the REQUEST BRAIN. If you have more CDROMs than players, then
REQUEST BRAIN is for you! This program works with the file request
feature of ROMBRAIN, the CDROM door. REQUEST BRAIN will see who's
requested offline cdrom files, then allow the sysop to automatically
copy the files from the CDROM to the hard drive. Users may then download
their files using REQUEST BRAIN. The sysop sets the number of days
requested files will be stored on the hard drive. Users may access the
files as many times as they like (in case of bad downloads) until the
files are automatically deleted by REQUEST BRAIN's maintenance function.
GAP BBS: A notice will be written to the GAP\MAIN\USERINFO directory
to inform the user that their request is ready to download!
REQUEST BRAIN requires the program DSZ.COM or DSZ.EXE in the path.
If you have an unregistered DSZ, Y-Modem G protocol will NOT function.
Here's what the REQUEST BRAIN can do:
Supports IBM ANSI Color and plain text mode (ASCII)
for your callers who don't use IBM characters or don't use ANSI.
REQUEST BRAIN supports com ports opened up to 115200 baud and as
many of them as you can fit in the machine. This makes REQUEST BRAIN easy
to set up on a multi-node system with GAP. REQUEST BRAIN will also
support several other BBSes by the use of conversion programs available
nearly everywhere.
REQUEST BRAIN Files
----------------
REQUEST.EXE <------------------ REQUEST BRAIN Program
REQUEST.DOC <------------------ Sysop's Information
SAMPLE.CNF <------------------ Sample Configuration File
CDHELP <------------------ Online Download Editor Help Text
REGISTER.DOC <------------------ Registration information
EXTSX.BAT <------------------ Batch File to call DSZ Xmodem
EXTS1.BAT <------------------ Batch File to call DSZ Xmodem/1K
EXTSY.BAT <------------------ Batch File to call DSZ Ymodem
EXTSZ.BAT <------------------ Batch File to call DSZ Zmodem
EXTSF.BAT <------------------ Batch File to call DSZ Xmodem/1K-G
EXTSG.BAT <------------------ Batch File to call DSZ Ymodem-G
FILE_ID.DIZ <------------------ Short Description of Program
All of these files should be in this ZIP, if they are not, don't
take a chance! Call The Brainex System and get a good copy or view the
file on a few local boards to see if you can find a complete copy.
REQUEST BRAIN handles all of its file transfers from within the door.
A set of predefined protocol batch files are included for use with
the DSZ protocol engine. Parameters are passed to the protocol batch
files in the following order:
%1 - Communications port
%2 - Baud rate
%3 - File name to send
SETUP
=====
The setup of REQUEST BRAIN is simple, all you need to do is create a
directory called REQUEST for REQUEST BRAIN and its files, then
copy the files into that directory. After that you will need to edit
the sample SAMPLE.CNF file to match your BBS setup.
You should rename this configuration file to REQUEST.CNF
Sample REQUEST.CNF file:
C:\GAP
The Brainex System
GAP
0
C:\GAP\CDROM
7
E
110
================================================
Line 1 - Path to data file (DOOR.SYS, DORINFO1.DEF, etc.)
Line 2 - BBS Name
Line 3 - BBS Type
GAP, PCB, WC3, RBBS, SF, or GEN for generic DOOR.SYS
Line 4 - Registration Number
Line 5 - Path to REQUEST.DAT file (Rombrain directory)
Line 6 - Days to store user requested files
Line 7 - CDROM Drive letter (CDROM drive used for copying files to hard drive)
Line 8 - Sysop Level (for copying files from CD)
Once you have created your config file and filebase, you must then create
a batch file to run the door. A batch file for a GAP BBS looks like this:
@ECHO OFF
SET DSZLOG=LOGx <-------(Required for DSZ x=Node Number)
CD \DOORS\REQUEST
REQUEST REQUEST.CNF
It is recommended but not required that you call REQUEST BRAIN with the
config file's name on the command line. If you don't, REQUEST BRAIN will
simply default to REQUEST.CNF.
COM PORT OPTIONS
================
To use a com port other than 1 or 2, use the following options:
For COM3 using IRQ 4 and a base address of 3E8 (in hex):
REQUEST REQUEST.CNF IRQ=4 BASE=3E8
For COM4 using IRQ 3 and a base address of 2E8 (in hex):
REQUEST REQUEST.CNF IRQ=3 BASE=2E8
Com ports may be opened to 115,200 baud.
Now create a directory on your hard drive that will hold the requested
files. As an example, we'll call it D:\ROMFILES.
Next, create an ASCII text file named REQUEST.DAT. The first line
should be the path name of the directory of the file requests.
Using the above example, line 1 would read:
D:\ROMFILES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TECHNICAL NOTE:
When a user requests an offline file from Rombrain, the names of the files
requested will be added to the lines following D:\ROMFILES. It should
look something like this:
D:\ROMFILES
"SYSOP","04-20-1992","Night Owl 5","E:\001A\315MOUSE.ZIP","R"
"SYSOP","04-20-1992","Night Owl 4","E:\012B\9600TEXT.ZIP","R"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place REQUEST.DAT in your ROMBRAIN directory. This will instruct Rombrain
to prompt users for offline file requests.
Modify your DRIVE.DAT file to indicate which CDROMs are OFFLINE and ONLINE
by adding (ONLINE) or (OFFLINE) to the CDROM name. Here is an example
DRIVE.DAT file:
CARRS Night Owl Volume 6 ( ACTIVE),A,E:,C:\GAP\CDROM\PDSI006,50
CARRS Night Owl Volume 5 (OFFLINE),A,E:,C:\GAP\CDROM\PDSI005,50
Shareware Grab Bag (OFFLINE),B,E:,C:\GAP\CDROM\GRABBAG,50
Consult the ROMBRAIN instructions for more details on DRIVE.DAT.
You will also need to modify your doors menu files and the data
file that tells the BBS what your doors are and the security
level needed to access them. For GAP, these are respectively:
DOORM
DOORMG
DOORS.DAT
Please refer to your BBS documentation for details on
setting up these files.
If you are running multi-nodes, simply create a separate door
configuration file for each node, and number them. For instance,
for a 3 node system, you might have the following configuration
files:
REQUEST1.CNF
REQUEST2.CNF
REQUEST3.CNF
The only difference between the three would be the 1st line which
points to the default directory for the particular node.
Another easy way to add the REQUEST BRAIN to GAP is to use Gap's
configuration option to create a SYSOP DEFINED COMMAND (consult Gap's
docs for info on sysop defined commands). On The Brainex System I use
REQUEST. The batch file to run the door is named REQUEST.BAT and placed
in the BBS default directory (C:\GAP). When a caller types REQUEST at the
main prompt, they are instantly taken to the REQUEST BRAIN.
The following files are read during door initialization. They
must be present or the door will not operate.
DOOR.SYS (or DORINFO1.DEF, CHAIN.TXT, SFDOORS.DAT)
REQUEST.DAT (Located in your RomBrain directory)
MAINTENANCE
===========
To use the maintenance feature, change to the directory that contains
REQUEST.EXE, then run the program with a /M added to the command line.
Example: REQUEST /M or REQUEST REQUEST1.CNF /M
Sample command for a daily event batch file:
D:
CD \REQUEST
REQUEST REQUEST1.CNF /M
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following sysop functions are available while awaiting
keyboard input :
F5 - Shell to DOS.
F8 - Twit user and return to BBS.
F10 - Initiate chat with user. ESC to exit chat.
CF10 - Answer user page bell.
Home - Main user stats.
End - Displays sysop keys available.
PgDn - Secondary user stats.
Up Arrow - Increase user's time remaining by 5 minutes.
Dn Arrow - Decrease user's time remaining by 5 minutes.
One of the nicer features about using the TWIT key, is the user
is not told that "the sysop wants them to return to the BBS".
Instead, a very plain and simple message of "returning you to the
BBS" is displayed. This way, the user is given no indication
that the sysop is hovering about.
When using the F5 shell to DOS key, to return to the door
program, simply type EXIT at the DOS command prompt. It is not
necessary to change directories back to the door directory.
REQUEST BRAIN is smart enough to know which drive and directory the
door program is in and will reset the defaults upon return from
DOS.
The Up and Down Arrow keys increase and decrease the user's time
respectively by 5 minutes for each press of the key. There is no
indication of what is occurring (except by the fact the user's
time remaining will change), so the sysop should try not to have
a lead finger. The increase or decrease is effective only while
the user is in REQUEST BRAIN.
This version of REQUEST BRAIN is a DEMO. File Transfers are disabled.
It will become full featured upon registration. This door is released
"As Is" and there is *NO* warranty or guarantee that it will work for
you and not cause any problems. You have chosen to use this door, YOU are
responsible for any unfortunate problems that may develop from its
use or misuse. I will gladly listen to any suggestions or
problems you may have, and I will do my best to fix whatever
needs to be fixed. I can not be held responsible for any problems
you may have, whether directly or indirectly due to the use of the
door or its utilities or associated files.
Please read REGISTER.DOC for information on how you can register
your copy of REQUEST BRAIN. The download option will only work on
a registered version.
For complete support, contact Stanley Sheff on The Brainex System.
Your questions will be quickly and cheerfully answered!
Have Fun!
Stanley Sheff
The Brainex System
310-275-2344 HST
310-273-5234 MNP