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1990-06-11
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SFAKTRV
Version 2.0
by A.R.Forester
High Mountain BBs
INTRODUCTION
------------
SFAKTRV is a fast paced trivia game designed to run as a door feature
within the SPITFIRE Bulletin Board System. A data file containing 150
trivia questions is randomly accessed and displayed to the screen.
With each question that is displayed, four multiple choice options are
provided from which the player may select their answer. SFAKTRV allows
the player ten seconds to read the question and respond with the number
corresponding to the answer they believe is correct.
SETUP
------
To set up SFAKTRV to be executed as a door, it is recommended that
a separate directory be set up for it. For explanation purposes, let's
assume the directory DOOR_A is created for use with SFAKTRV. The following
files must then be placed in the directory:
SFAKTRV.EXE The actual game program.
SFAKTRV.DAT The data file containing the trivia questions.
SFAKTRV.TOP This is a listing of the top ten players. SFAKTRV.EXE
will create this file if it is not found.
The Sysop will then need to use a text editor to edit the SF.BAT file
as illustrated below:
:DOOR_A
COPY SFDOORS.DAT C:\SF\DOOR_A
SFAKTRV
ERASE SFDOORS.DAT
GOTO LOOP
You will notice that the commands needed to execute SFAKTRV are placed
between the :DOOR_A and GOTO LOOP command lines. These are entered in
place of the existing REM Place Program Name Here. The following will
briefly explain each of the commands which were set up within SF.BAT to
run SFAKTRV as a SPITFIRE Door program:
SFDOORS.DAT is created automatically by SPITFIRE when a user enters a
door. It contains information about the user such as name and password.
SFAKTRV requires access to the information within SFDOORS.DAT. Therefore,
before executing the program it must be copied to the directory in which
SFAKTRV is running.
SFAKTRV is the program name and executes the game program from within
the door program.
Once the user has terminated the game play of SFAKTRV the SF.BAT file
erases the SFDOORS.DAT file.
SFAKTRV SETUP AS A SYSOP CONFIGURABLE COMMAND
---------------------------------------------
SPITFIRE has a sysop configurable command for the Main, Message and
File menus. The sysop configurable command is executed through a
batch file which corresponds to the menu it is being run from. In
other words, SFMAIN.BAT runs the sysop configurable command from
the Main Menu, SFMESS.BAT runs the one from the Message Menu and
SFFILE.BAT the one from the File Menu. The commands necessary
to execute SFAKTRV can be set up in the batch file which corresponds
to the menu you wish to have SFAKTRV run from.
The first thing you will need to establish is which of these menus
you wish to use to run SFAKTRV. For this purpose, let's assume that
it is going to be set up so it can be run from the Main Menu. (It
should be noted the set up procedure is the same regardless of which
Menu you are running SFAKTRV from.)
Next, you will need to decide what you wish to name the command
option and establish what security level will be required for
users of your system to be able to access this option. Once this
is determined you will need to modify the SFMAIN.MNU file using
your favorite text editor, as long as it saves in ASCII format.
(Refer to the SPITFIRE manual for further documentation on this
if needed. It should also be noted that if SFAKTRV were being
set up to run from the File Menu, you would need to modify the
SFFILE.MNU file and if it was being set up to be run from the
Message Menu you would need to modify the SFMSG.MNU file.)
Examining the default SFMAIN.MNU file, you will notice the sysop
configurable command appears as:
<K>............. Add Your Own,,1000,@
This will need to be replaced with a Command Character that will
be used to select the option from the menu. It is ASOLUTELY IMPERATIVE
that the Command Character must not duplicate an existing Command
Character for another menu option. You will then need to include
a brief description of the Wildcat door program you are running, two
commas, the security level required to access this feature, and another
comma followed by the a @. The @ must not be changed! (For more detailed
information on modifying your SFMAIN.MNU, SFMSG.MNU or SFFILE.MNU refer
to your SPITFIRE manual.)
<K>.... Brief Program Description,,10,@
Now you will need to modify the corresponding batch file, SFMAIN.BAT,
so that it can be executed from the Main Menu. Do this using your
favorite text editor, as long as it saves in ASCII format. (Again, it
should be noted that if SFAKTRV were being set up to run from the File
Menu, you would need to modify the SFFILE.BAT file and if it was being
set up to be run from the Message Menu you would need to modify the
SFMESS.BAT file.)
Place the SFAKTRV.EXE file in the directory you wish to run the
program from. SFAKTRV will create its own player score file,
SFAKTRV.TOP, if does not already exist.
The commands set up in the SFMAIN.BAT file are very similar to
those used for executing the game through a door in the SF.BAT file.
For instance, if you were running SFAKTRV from the main SPITFIRE
directory your SFMAIN.BAT file might look like this:
ECHO OFF
BRK OFF
SFAKTRV
BRK ON
(BRK is not included in the SPITFIRE package because it is written
and copyrighted by Solid Systems, 1985, but can be downloaded from
The Mother Board BBS and Buffalo Creek's BBS as well as a number of
other BBS systems. BRK is not required to run SFAKTRV, however, it
is recommended since it will prevent a user using the CTRL BRK command
to terminate the batch file, gaining access to your system at the
DOS level.)
If you wish to set SFAKTRV up in a separate subdirectory from
SPITFIRE, for instance, a subdirectory named SFAKTRV, your batch
file might look like this.
ECHO OFF
BRK OFF
COPY SFMAIN.DAT \SF\SFAKTRV
CD \SF\SFAKTRV
SFAKTRV
ERASE SFMAIN.DAT
CD \SF
BRK ON
When SFAKTRV is executed, from either the door with the SF.BAT file
or from the sysop configurable command through a menu with the
corresponding batch file, it will first look for the SFMAIN.DAT file,
then the SFMESS.DAT file, then the SFFILE.DAT file and lastly the
SFDOORS.DAT file. It will look for each of these files until it finds
it and the commands required for its execution. If none of these
files are found, SFAKTRV will halt its execution.
LOCAL PLAY OF SFAKTRV
---------------------
It should also be noted that a Sysop can play SFHAKTRV locally by
entering the following command at the DOS prompt:
C:> SFAKTRV /L
DTE LOCK FEATURE
----------------
SFAKTRV automatically detects if the DTE is locked at 19200 baud. If
SFAKTRV detects that the DTE is locked, then SFHOBTRV opens the serial
port to the maximum baud rate of your system. If SFAKTRV does not
detect that the DTE is locked, then the serial port is opened to the
baud rate of the caller.
SFAKTRV ON A MULTI-NODE SYSTEM
------------------------------
SFAKTRV is fully compatible for operation on a multi-node BBS.
It automatically handles any file locking and file sharing
required during the doors execution.
SFAKTRV EXECUTION
------------------
When first executed, SFAKBTRV will display a list of the Top Ten high
score players and the percentage of correct responses they acheived
while playing SFAKTRV. Initially, this will be a dummy listing with
ten lines that display:
0%...............YOUR NAME COULD BE HERE
However, as the game is played, this will fill with the name of the
players and their percentage ratings.
NOTE: At least twenty questions must be attempted before SFAKTRV will
will figure the percentage rating for the player.
To keep things interesting...the Sysop can erase the file which contains
the top ten listings SFAKTRV.TOP on a routine basis to give additional
players a chance to have their name added to the list.
As the top ten list is displayed, at the bottom of the screen is a
question which prompts the user whether they want to have ANSI Graphics
(y/n)? available to them during game play. If the user responds with a
y (for yes) the game will display in color and if the user responds with
a n (for no) the game will display in monochrome.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SFAKTRV.ZIP is distributed as Shareware software. You are free to
try SFAKTRV, and if you find it to be a program you use please send the
required $5.00 fee to:
A.R.Forester
Quizzy & Co
General Delivery
Cooper Landing AK 99572
DISCLAIMER
----------
A.R. Forester shall not be held responsible for any damage incurred
by the user to hardware, software, or peripheral devices while running
SFAKTRV. All responsibility belongs to the user of the software.
Many thanks are indeed owed to Mike Woltz of Buffalo Creek BBS (515)-
225-8496 for his assistance. Without his help this program would not
have been possible.
SFAKTRV and other SPITFIRE programs are available for download from:
Buffalo Creek BBS The Mother Board BBS
Sysop - Mike Woltz Sysop - Jacque Shipley
(515) 225-8496 (515) 986-3445
19200/9600/2400/1200 9800/2400/1200
High Mountain BBS
Sysop - Quizzy
(907) 595-1439
1200/2400