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1991-08-13
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SFPCBDR
PC Board Door To SPITFIRE Conversion Program
Version 1.2
Written By Mike Woltz
Buffalo Creek Software
INTRODUCTION
------------
SFPCBDR is a utility written by Mike Woltz, author of SPITFIRE, to
enable PC Board door programs (Version 12.x and Version 14.x) to be
used with SPITFIRE. Using SFPCBDR you may setup the PC Board door
program to be used either as a SPITFIRE door or as a Sysop configurable
command from the SPITFIRE Main, Message or File menus.
HOW IT WORKS
------------
SFPCBDR.EXE must exist in the main SPITFIRE system files directory.
This is absolutely necessary for SFPCBDR to access other files which
are required for the proper execution of SFPCBDR.
The files required to run PC Board Version 12.x door programs and
those required to run PC Board Version 14.x are very different, even
though the file names are the same. To distinguish whether the door
being converted to SPITFIRE is PC Board Version 12.x or Version 14.x
SFPCBDR.EXE uses command line parameters. If you are running a PC
Board Version 12.x door, you need to use a /12 command line
parameter. If you are running a PC Board Version 14.x door, you
need to use a /14 command line parameter.
If a /12 or /14 is not included in the command line, SFPCBDR
will not run, but rather display the correct command usage and
return you to the DOS prompt.
SFPCBDR also uses a /P command line parameter to determine the
drive and directory where the PC Board door program files exist
and the placement of PCBOARD.DAT, PCBOARD.SYS and USERS file. In
other words, let's assume SPITFIRE is being run from the SF directory
of drive C and a DOORA directory was created from the SF directory
for the PC Board door program files. Your command line would look
like one of these listed below (depending on whether you are
running a PC Board Version 12.x or a PC Board Version 14.x door):
SFPCBDR /P C:\SF\DOOR1 /12
SFPCBDR /P C:\SF\DOOR1 /14
If no /P command line parameter is set, SFPCBDR will not run, but
rather display the correct command usage and return you to the
DOS prompt.
When SFPCBDR is executed it first will check for the SFDOORS.DAT
file. If this is found, this signifies that the PC Board door
program has been set up to run as a SPITFIRE door. If this is not
found, it continues to look for SFMAIN.DAT, SFMESS.DAT or SFFILE.DAT,
in the order listed. If one of these files are found it signifies
the PC Board door program is being run as a Sysop configurable
command from the corresponding menu. This allows SFPCBDR to determine
which batch file will be used to run the PC Board door program. If
none of the above mentioned DAT files are found SFPCBDR will not run.
SFPCBDR will then read and obtain information from the SFSYSDAT.SYS,
SFDOORS.DAT, SFUSERS.DAT and DAILYLMT.DAT. The information obtained
from these files is used to create the PCBOARD.DAT, PCBOARD.SYS and
USERS files. PCBOARD.DAT, PCBOARD.SYS and USERS are files used with
PC Board door programs. PCBOARD.DAT, PCBOARD.SYS and USERS are then
written to the directory you specified earlier with the /P command
line parameter.
It should also be mentioned that if SFPCBDR fails to run because
the /P command line parameter has not been specified or due to the
inability to locate the necessary DAT file, SFPCBDR will send an
ERRORLEVEL 1 to DOS. If DAILYLMT.DAT is not found, SFPCBDR will
default to 20 downloads per day and 1000K downloadable bytes per day.
USING SFPCBDR TO RUN A SPITFIRE DOOR
------------------------------------
The first thing you will need to be concerned with when using
SFPCBDR to run a SPITFIRE door will be to create or modify an existing
SFDOOR.MNU. Using your favorite text editor you will need to
include a line that contains a brief description of the door program
you intend to run, a comma, and the security level required by the
user to access this SPITFIRE door. (The line number should correspond
to the door number you are running your door program in. For this
example we will be using Door_A. For more detailed information
refer to the SPITFIRE manual.) A typical line of your SFDOOR.MNU might
look like this:
The Door Description,10
If you are using SFDR[x].BBS/CLR Sysop created non-Ansi and Ansi
menus these will need to be modified also.
Next you will also need to modify your SF.BAT file with your
favorite text editor. Locate the line which contains :DOOR_A.
You will need to place your Door_A commands (valid DOS commands,
program execution, etc.) between :DOOR_A and GOTO LOOP. A typical
example of this portion of your SF.BAT might be changed to read as
listed below:
PC Board Version 12.x PC Board Version 14.x
--------------------- ---------------------
:DOOR_A :DOOR_A
SFPCBDR /P C:\SF\DOOR1 /12 SFPCBDR /P C:\SF\DOOR1 /14
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO LOOP IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO LOOP
CD\SF\DOOR1 CD\SF\DOOR1
PROGRAM NAME PROGRAM NAME
DEL PCBOARD.SYS DEL PCBOARD.SYS
DEL PCBOARD.DAT DEL PCBOARD.DAT
DEL USERS DEL USERS
CD\SF CD\SF
GOTO LOOP GOTO LOOP
If the PC Board door program you are using requires the use of a
configuration file, the name of the configuration file would be added
on the same line as, and after the PROGRAM NAME. For instance, instead
of PROGRAM NAME you would need PROGRAM NAME and a blank space followed
by the name of the configuration file.
You will also notice, after the program completes execution the
batch file is directed to erase the files created using SFPCBDR. You
may eliminate this and simply have SFPCBDR overwrite the existing
files or erase them in the batch file (as the above example) to
conserve disk space.
USING SFPCBDR FROM A SPITFIRE MENU
----------------------------------
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 SFPCBDR
and run the PC Board door program are set up in the batch file which
corresponds to the menu you wish to have program run from.
The first thing you will need to establish is which of these menus
you wish to use to run the PC Board door program. 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 will
be the same regardless of which Menu you are running SFPCBDR and the
PC Board door program 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 SFPCBDR 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 PC Board 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 SFPCBDR and the PC Board door program 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.)
The commands you will need to include in your SFMAIN.BAT to run
SFPCBDR and the PC Board (Version 12) door program might look
similar to this:
PC Board Version 12.x PC Board Version 14.x
--------------------- ---------------------
ECHO OFF ECHO OFF
BRK OFF BRK OFF
SFPCBDR /P C:\SF\DIRNAME /12 SFPCBDR /P C:\SF\DIRNAME /14
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO END IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO END
CD\SF\DIRNAME CD\SF\DIRNAME
PROGRAM NAME PROGRAM NAME
:END :END
CD\SF CD\SF
BRK ON BRK ON
(BRK is written and copyrighted by Solid Systems, 1985, but can
be downloaded from Buffalo Creek's BBS as well as a number of other
BBS systems. BRK is not required, however, it is recommended since
it will prevent a caller using the CTRL BRK command to terminate the
batch file, gaining access to your system at the DOS level.)
In the above example, C:\SF\DIRNAME refers to the drive and the
directory in which the PC Board door program files reside. The actual
PC Board door program name would be entered where PROGRAM NAME is
currently. If the PC Board door program you are using requires the
use of a configuration file, the name of the configuration file would
be added on the same line as and after the program name. For instance,
instead of PROGRAM NAME you would need PROGRAM NAME and a blank space
followed by the name of the configuration file.
SPECIAL NOTE
------------
Some PC Board door programs require the use of BRUN[x].EXE and
DORPCH[x].EXE files to run. The individual door program documentation
should provide specific information on this. It has been discovered,
however, DORPCH[x].EXE will not run on some systems. If you experience
such difficulty, limit door conversion using SFPCBDR to PC Board door
programs which do not require DORPCH[x].EXE and you should have no
problems.
DISTRIBUTION
------------
SFPCBDR is distributed under the shareware concept. You are free
to distribute the SFPCBDR program as long as it remains unmodified and
no fee is charged. If you use this program and find it beneficial a
fee is required. A $1.00 fee is required of registered SPITFIRE Sysops
and a $5.00 fee is required of all others.
DISCLAIMER
----------
Mike Woltz and Buffalo Creek Software shall not be held responsible
for any damage incurred by the user to hardware, software or peripheral
devices while running SFPCBDR. All responsibility lies with the user
of the software.
The documentation for SFPCBDR is contributed by Jacque Shipley and
The Mother Board BBS. The shareware version of SPITFIRE and other
SPITFIRE utilities are available for download from:
Buffalo Creek's BBS The Mother Board BBS
Mike Woltz, Sysop Jacque Shipley, Sysop
(515) 225-8496 (515) 986-3464
19200/9600/2400/1200 Baud 9600/2400/1200 Baud