home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
BBS Toolkit
/
BBS Toolkit.iso
/
doors_2
/
s2a150.zip
/
S2A.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-01-23
|
10KB
|
216 lines
┌──────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┬────────┐
│ Send·2·ALL v1.50 │ A Sysop and user bulletin generator │ M ▀▀▄ │
│ Copyright (C) 1992 ├───────────────────────────────────────┤ ▄▄ █ │
│ by │ Maelstrom Online Services 1:117/351 │ ████ │
│ Kit Cragin │ Node 1 ■ (409)696-8722 USR HST Dual │ █ ▀▀ │
│ Maelstrom Software │ Node 2 ■ (409)764-6516 12/24MNP5 │ ▀▄▄ S │
└──────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────┴────────┘
DESCRIPTION (Read HELLO.!!! first!)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Send-2-All is an editor that allows SYSOPS AND USERS to create bulletins
which are added to an ANSI or ASCII file of bulletins. The bulletins
will be automatically removed when they expire. A daily maintenance
program will monitor the bulletins and update accordingly. It will run
on any system that supports the door drop files: DORINFO?.DEF and/or
DOOR.SYS. The editor generates ASCII & ANSI bulletins but runs in ANSI
mode only!
FEATURES
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
A variety of Sysop configurable features has been created to make use of
this program easy and flexible.
■ All ANSI output is totally configurable.
■ Generation of both ANSI or ASCII bulletins to any filename/directory.
■ Allows the use of BBS control codes such as "allow abort" etc.
■ Limit the number of total bulletins and number allowed per user.
■ Choose the maximum number of days before a user's bulletin expires.
■ Allows the sysop to force delete bulletins.
■ Prevents 'TWIT' users from using the bulletin generator.
■ Displays the most current bulletins first.
■ Supports multi-node systems.
■ Exits with errorlevel 200 when any change occurs in the bulletins.
■ Text can be included from a file from within the editor.
For those who register there will be these added features:
■ All `please register' notices/screens will be removed.
■ The `preview bulletin' option in S2Asetup will be enabled.
■ Stops 'BAD' words from being entered by the user via the BADWORDS.S2A
■ Stops invalid BBS or ANSI control sequences from being entered.
■ Sysops and users can revise one of their previous bulletins (S2A.EXE).
■ Free REGISTERED updates as they become available.
LIABILITY
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
The author of this software (Kit Cragin) assumes no liability whatsoever
for any damage or loss of data done to any person or computer system
which results from the use of Send·2·All software (S2A, S2AMAINT and
S2ASETUP). [Not that anything is likely to happen!]
RESTRICTIONS/REGISTRATION
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Feel free to pass this software on to others (via upload or whatever),
but be sure there are no modifications of any kind, and that all the
files listed in the file HELLO.!!! are included.
This software is NOT public domain. It is shareware. This means that you
can use it for a limited amount of time before you either decide to
register it, or discontinue use. In this case you can evaluate this pro-
duct for 30 days. At that time you should support the shareware concept
by filling out the form in REGISTER.S2A and sending in a paltry $15.
Registration entitles you to ALL the benefits listed above.
Registration also gives me an incentive to create new interesting and
useful programs for YOU! On behalf of all shareware authors, please sup-
port shareware!
Lots of registrations will keep S2A going, and you may see these
additions:
■ Better ANSI/color support ■ Suppression of certain fields
■ Direct Telegard support ■ Increased editor flexibility/Help Screen
■ True multi-node support ■ SysOps' suggestions
CONFIGURATION
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
I have designed this program to be as simple and easy to set up as poss-
ible, because I know that many sysops hate to waste time writing batch
files and testing new programs. If you follow the steps below, the pro-
grams should run without a hitch.
┌─┐ Make sure that all of the files in this archive are in a directory
│1│ together, usually in some subdirectory off of your BBS or doors
└─┘ directory.
┌─┐ In that directory, run S2ASETUP. If you are running a 1 node BBS
│2│ type S2ASETUP <enter>. If you are running 2 or more lines, then
└─┘ type S2ASETUP CONFIG.n (where n is the node number) You will have
to do this for each line. As a short cut, copy CONFIG.1 to
CONFIG.2 and change a few of the parameters as necessary. Read
S2ASETUP.DOC for more info, then proceed to step 3.
Step 3 applies to RA and QBBS sysops. Consult your BBS documentation
for door installation if you run a different BBS type then do the
equivalent of Step 3 for your software.
┌─┐ Modify one of your .MNU files to include an option for Send-2-All.
│3│ ■ Create a type 7 or 15 exit and read BBS-SPEC.DOC.
└─┘ ■ For OPTIONAL DATA (type 7) or in your BATch file (type 15), type
in the full path and filename of the program, then put the path
and filename of the config file to use. Both should have the
same path. For example:
■ Single Node BBS:
C:\BBS\DOORS\S2A\S2A.EXE C:\DOORS\S2A\CONFIG.S2A
■ Multinode BBS:
C:\BBS\DOORS\S2A\S2A.EXE C:\DOORS\S2A\CONFIG.*P
■ Mulitnode & calling a batch file:
*C /C C:\BBS\BAT\S2A.BAT *P
where the contents of S2A.BAT can be something like:
C:\BBS\DOORS\S2A\S2A C:\DOORS\S2A\CONFIG.%1
if ERRORLEVEL 200 echo User Saved a bulletin!
┌─┐ In your BBS batch file, or wherever you do daily maintenance, add
│4│ a line to run the maintenance program, S2AMAINT.EXE.
└─┘ For example:
C:\BBS\DOORS\S2A\S2AMAINT C:\DOORS\S2A\CONFIG.S2A
┌─┐ Create the file TWITUSER.S2A (if needed) and put one name per line
│5│ of those people that you do not want to use the program. This is a
└─┘ plain text file and is optional.
Step 6 applies to registered owners of Send·2·ALL only.
┌─┐ Edit the BADWORDS.S2A file as needed. This is a file of words or
│6│ characters/control sequences that you don't want to appear in the
└─┘ users' bulletins. You may want to include all the cuss words you
can think of and the ASCII #6, #11, and ESCape characters. Just
make sure that each word or sequence is entered on a line by
itself, up to 15 characters each, 50 words total. The program
scans for any occurrence of the pattern in the line, so if you
have 'BUTT' in BADWORDS.S2A the word 'Butter' will be flagged as
BAD in the text. To prevent this put ' BUTT ' in BADWORDS.S2A
instead; note the spaces before & after─^────^.
** This file is OPTIONAL! **
RUNNING THE PROGRAM
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
■ To run the editor (S2A) program locally, type:
S2A <config filename> /L <first name> <Last name>
<config filename> is the config you want to use. Use /F as a shortcut
for CONFIG.S2A
/L means local mode
<first> <last> are optional and are the `alias' name to post under.
■ If you are a registered user, you will have the option to revise an
old bulletin [P] or add a new bulletin [N].
■ Edit the header first then the text. Note that in the text you can
use most of the `standard' editor keys. Ctrl-Z will save, Ctrl-A will
abort. Ctrl-Y Deletes a line, Ctrl-I Inserts a line.
■ To start the bulletin generator 'from scratch', delete BULLETIN.S2A
■ While a user is on-line, the sysop can hit:
■ Alt-D to reduce the user's time.
■ Alt-H to force an immediate exit.
■ Alt-I to include text from a file.
■ Alt-L to add user to TWIT file and force an immediate exit.
INSERTING TEXT FROM A FILE
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Hitting Alt-I will allow you to import text from a file. Any text can
be imported with 2 restrictions:
1. The text will be forced to fit within the bulletin's text area. (If
you are importing a file that is 50 chars across by 10 lines and you
have defined a 20x15 area, you will get only 20 columns of text from
the file but all the lines of text.)
2. Text from the file CAN contain ansi, but color sequences ONLY. No
cursor movements, clearscreen, etc are allowed (since the ASCII output
file would look real messy. The color sequences ARE stripped out of
it though.) The length of each line INCLUDING ansi sequences needs to
fit within the text area.
MULTI-NODE OPERATION
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
If your system has multiple nodes, S2A will automatically check for
the existence of the file INUSE.S2A, which is a temporary file saying
that the program is in use. If it exists, a message will be displayed
that tells that user to try again later. INUSE.S2A is removed at program
termination. No setup is necessary.
SUPPORT
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
I hope you find Send-2-ALL useful and enjoyable. If you have any com-
ments, suggestions, problems, or questions contact me by:
■ FIDO NETmail at 1:117/351
■ Calling Maelstrom at 409-696-8722 or 409-764-6516
■ Leaving a message in FIDO's DOORWARE or RA_UTIL echos
■ using USmail at PO Box 9078, College Station, TX 77842
── Kit