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-
- EMERGE
- ------
- The purpose of the EMERGE program is to combine two files, in the echolist
- format, into 1 echolist. The output echolist is composed of all entries
- found in either input file. Duplicate entries are reconciled (found in
- both input files), so that only 1 entry is placed into the output file.
-
- Here is the command line format:
-
- EMERGE new_echolist old_echolist output
-
- Where:
-
- new_echolist ..... The name of the new echolist file you have received
- that you wish to combine with the old echolist. This
- could be the output of a prior run of EMERGE, if more
- than 1 merge operation needs to be done.
-
- This file could also come from the IEC or other
- other echolist source, or it can be obtained from
- the ESCRUB program, described in ESCRUB.DOC.
-
- However, it should be noted that the echolist
- provided by the IEC is NOT directly importable
- by EMERGE, as it most likely does not conform to
- the new format. Therefore, manual alteration of
- that echolist may be required. The echolist format
- used by EMERGE and ESCRUB is compatible with the log
- format produced by the ECOxxx.COM program, in use
- by local echo coordinators.
-
- old_echolist ..... The name of your old echolist file.
-
- output ........... The result of the reconciliation of the 'new_echolist'
- and the 'old_echolist'. After a manual examination this
- file can be further processed or used as your working
- echolist.
-
- Please note that all input files must be sorted prior to input to this
- program. Otherwise, the merge will not match them up correctly. Here is
- a sample batch file to run MERGE:
-
- sort <echolist.bbs >eco1
- sort <c:\gt\echolist.bbs >eco2
- emerge eco1 eco2 out
- del eco1
- del eco2
-
- Where:
-
- sort ............. The DOS filter. The program is supplied with DOS
- version 3.0+. It is used here to insure that the
- input files are in conference number order.
-
- echolist.bbs ..... The output of a prior run of EMERGE or ESCRUB. Or,
- with modification, an echolist provided by the IEC.
-
- eco1 ............. Temporary work files. They are deleted when no longer
- eco2 required.
-
- out .............. The final output file. May be installed as your
- working echolist or chained into further runs of
- EMERGE, when more than 1 source of echolist is to be
- processed.
-
- Echolist Format
- ---------------
- The following is a sample echolist:
-
- E00/001 GT POWER Support 009/000 01:00-06:00
- E01/007 The ECHOLIST 009/000 01:00-06:00
- E01/008 The NODELIST 009/000 01:00-06:00
-
- Column Contents
- ------ --------
- 1-3 Echo Series. Ranges from E00-E99.
- Please note that with the advent of G bags and this
- new way of maintaining echolists, only E99 conferences
- will be considered 'local'. This should be quite
- adequate for any net, 1,000 local conferences.
-
- 4 '/'. Constant.
-
- 5-7 Conference number. Ranges from 000-999.
-
- 8 Restriction code:
-
- 'p' .... Private conference. Usually by
- invitation only.
- 'a' .... Adult material. Do not expose to minors.
- 'g' .... GT Sysops only. Others not welcome.
- ' ' .... Blank - no restriction.
-
- 9 Normally blank. Will be set by EMERGE to 'ยท' as a
- change marker.
-
- 10-55 Conference description.
-
- 56 Blank. Constant.
-
- 57-59 Net number of sponsor. Must be in range 000-999.
-
- 60 '/'. Constant.
-
- 61-63 Node number of sponsor. Must be in range 000-999.
-
- 64 Blank. Constant.
-
- 65-75 The time when the conference is available on the
- sponsors system. The format is unrestricted, but is
- usually a range of hours in the Central Standard Time
- Zone of the U.S.A.
-
- 76-? Data following the time is not significant. So comments
- might be added.
-
- All files processed by ESCRUB and EMERGE must adhere to this format. Otherwise
- the echolist will be malformed.
-