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Text File | 1990-06-11 | 17KB | 396 lines

SFROCTRV Version 2.0 by Michael D. Peters INTRODUCTION ------------ SFROCTRV is a fast paced Rock & Roll Trivia game designed to run as a door feature within the SPITFIRE Bulletin Board System. It can also be installed as a sysop configurable command from the Main, File or Message menus of SPITFIRE. A data file containing 355 Rock & Roll 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. SFROCTRV allows the player ten seconds to read the question and respond with the number corresponding to the answer they wish to select. SFROCTRV SETUP AS A SPITFIRE DOOR --------------------------------- To set up SFROCTRV 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 DOORA is created for use with SFROCTRV. The following files must then be placed in the directory: SFROCTRV.EXE The actual game program. SFROCTRV.DAT The data file containing the trivia questions. SFROCTRV.TOP This is a listing of the top ten players. SFROCTRV.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\DOORA SFROCTRV ERASE SFDOORS.DAT GOTO LOOP :DOOR_B You will notice that the commands needed to execute SFROCTRV 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 SFROCTRV 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. SFROCTRV requires access to the information within SFDOORS.DAT. Therefore, before executing the program it must be copied to the directory in which SFROCTRV is running. SFROCTRV is the program name and executes the game program from within the door program. Once the user has terminated the game play of SFROCTRV the SF.BAT file erases the SFDOORS.DAT file. SFROCTRV 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 SFROCTRV can be set up in the batch file which corresponds to the menu you wish to have SFROCTRV run from. The first thing you will need to establish is which of these menus you wish to use to run SFROCTRV. 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 SFROCTRV 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 SFROCTRV 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 SFROCTRV 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 SFROCTRV.EXE file in the directory you wish to run the program from. SFROCTRV will create its own player score file, SFROCTRV.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 SFROCTRV from the main SPITFIRE directory your SFMAIN.BAT file might look like this: ECHO OFF BRK OFF SFROCTRV 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 SFROCTRV, 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 SFROCTRV up in a separate subdirectory from SPITFIRE, for instance, a subdirectory named SFROCTRV, your batch file might look like this. ECHO OFF BRK OFF COPY SFMAIN.DAT \SF\SFROCTRV CD \SF\SFROCTRV SFROCTRV ERASE SFMAIN.DAT CD \SF BRK ON When SFROCTRV 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, SFROCTRV will halt its execution. LOCAL PLAY OF SFROCTRV --------------------- It should also be noted that a Sysop can play SFROCTRV locally by entering the following command at the DOS prompt: C:> SFROCTRV /L DTE LOCK FEATURE ---------------- SFROCTRV automatically detects if the DTE is locked at 19200 baud. If SFROCTRV detects that the DTE is locked, then SFROCTRV opens the serial port to the maximum baud rate of your system. If SFROCTRV does not detect that the DTE is locked, then the serial port is opened to the baud rate of the caller. SFROCTRV ON A MULTI-NODE SYSTEM ------------------------------ SFROCTRV is fully compatible for operation on a multi-node BBS. It automatically handles any file locking and file sharing required during the doors execution. SYSOP FEATURES -------------- This door program contains several features which give the sysop control over the door game play on their BBS system. First, a status line is displayed on the BBS monitor that provides information in regard to the caller's name, baud rate of the caller and the security level of the caller. A SFROCTRV.LMT file allows the sysop to establish a time limit for door play according to the security level the caller has on the system. To modify the accompanying SFROCTRV.LMT file, use your favorite text editor to represent the various security levels you have available on your system, a comma then the corresponding time you wish to allow for that particular security level in minutes. For instance, it might look like this: 10,15 25,20 50,25 999,30 Each security level should begin a new line and you should have a setting for each security level you have available on your system. If you do not have a time limit set for a particular security SFROCTRV will default to the level 10 security level setting. Pressing the Shift Key and the F1 key simultaneously will terminate game play of SFROCTRV and return the caller back to the BBS. Pressing the Shift Key and the F9 key simultaneously will terminate game play of SFROCTRV and log the caller off of the BBS. If the Shift Key and the F9 key are pressed together, logging the caller off the BBS, SPITFIRE will recycle and return to the SPITFIRE Ready For Caller Prompt. SFROCTRV EXECUTION ----------------- When first executed, SFROCTRV will display a list of the Top Ten high score players and the percentage of correct responses they acheived while playing SFROCTRV. 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 SFROCTRV 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 SFROCTRV.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. PLAYING SFROCTRV ----------------- Immediately after pressing any key (other than <Q> for Quit) from the Top Ten listing the game screen is displayed. The screen will look like the following: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ >>>>>>>>> ROCK & ROLL TRIVIA! <<<<<<<<< ║ ║ Version 2.0 ║ ║ Rock & Roll Trivia Door For SPITFIRE! ║ ║ "The Wild Side" BBS! * (504) 785-6948 ║ ║ In Cooperation with Buffalo Creek Softtware ║ ║ Copyright (C) by Michael Peters, 1989,90 ║ ║ UNREGISTERED SHAREWARE VERSION! ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════╝ RIGHT: 0 WRONG: 0 QUESTION: The Rock & Roll trivia question will be displayed here. <1> Choice 1 <2> Choice 2 <3> Choice 3 <4> Choice 4 Enter Answer: [ 1 2 3 4 <Q>uit]? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The first randomly choosen trivia question is selected from the data file and is displayed to the screen. The player makes his selection by entering the corresponding number. As the game progresses, SFROCTRV will provide a running total of the correct answers and also of the wrong answers the user has selected during the game play. If the ten second timer should elapse before you respond, SFROCTRV will count this as a wrong response and add an incorrect answer to the total WRONG answers obtained so far. EXITING PLAY ------------ When you are ready to exit the game, simply select press "Q" for <Q>uit. If you qualify as one of the top ten players to date, SFROCTRV will congratulate you for becoming one of the top ten scorers and add your name to the Top Ten listing. You will once again see the Top Ten list displayed with your name added to the list. If you exit the game before you have completed the twenty questions required for eligibility to the Top Ten list or if you do not qualify as a Top Ten player, the Top Ten listing will be displayed and you will be prompted to press any key to return to SPITFIRE. DISTRIBUTION ------------ Please feel free to share SFROCTRV.ZIP with others. However, it must be distributed with SFROCTRV.EXE, SFROCTRV.DAT, SFROCTRV.TOP and the SFROCTRV.DOC in the SFROCTRV.ZIP distribution package. These files must not be altered in any way or by any means. SFROCTRV.ZIP is distributed as Shareware software. You are free to try SFROCTRV, and if you find it to be a program you use please send the required $10.00 fee to: Michael Peters P. O. Box 822 Luling, LA. 70070 DISCLAIMER ---------- Michael Peters shall not be held responsible for any damage incurred by the user to hardware, software, or peripheral devices while running SFROCTRV. All responsibility lies in 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. SFROCTRV 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 The Wild Side BBS Sysop - Mike Peters (504) 785-6948 2400/1200/300 Credits: -------- I would like to thank a number of people who have helped with the release of this version of Rock & Roll Trivia. First and foremost is Dan Payne, who is responsible for the majority of the questions in this version. Due to other responsibilities requiring his attention, Dan was unable to continue his support of Rock & Roll Trivia, and he has agreed to allow the use of the questions from the previous version to be used here. Call Dan's BBS - The User Surly Board - (515) 989-4486 to check out other software available from him. I would also like to thank a couple of friends who spent quite a few hours with me while we tried to come up with new questions for this version of Rock & Roll Trivia. Andy Odell, the Co-sysop of The Wild Side, deserves a gold medal and a case of Corona for putting up with me while I ran his tail all over the house researching questions. Mike Ritter, a music lover from way back, came up with some pretty hard questions when I needed them most. Well, we didn't want to make it that easy, anyway! Thanks, guys! The next round is on me! Again, I would like to thank Mike Woltz for his support with this project. "THE SPITFIRE REVOLUTION" is sweeping the nation! I'm proud to be a part of this dynamic group of people! By the way, Mike is the one that wrote the driver for this trivia door. And last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my wife, Karen, and my girls, Kellie and Leslie, for their understanding and patience with me while I was glued to the computer. Michael Peters