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██████████████████████████████████████████ ██ █░░░░░░░██ ██ MaxTools █░░░░░░░██ ██ █░░░░░░░██ ██ 16 Separate Utilities █░░░░░░░██ ██ For █░░░░░░░██ ██ Maximus System Operators █░░░░░░░██ ██ █░░░░░░░██ ██ Version 1.02 █░░░Θ░░░██ ██ █░░░Θ░░░██ ██ (Copyright 1992-93) █░░░░░░░██ ██████████████████████████████████████████ < ALL RIGHTS RESERVED > MaxTools is a Copyright of Michael Jones Maximus is a Copyright of Scott Dudley Catdisk is a Copyright of Rick Hillier Netware Lite is a Trademark of Novell, Inc. Lantastic is a Trademark of Artisoft, Inc. Desqview is a Trademark of Quarterdeck Office Systems OS/2 is a Trademark of IBM Corporation TABLE OF CONTENTS Title ----------------- Page ------ ---- Introduction to MaxTools .................................... 1 Brief overview of MaxTools executables ...................... 2 Getting started.............................................. 3 FA (File area displayer) ............................... 4 MA (Message area displayer) ............................ 4 MakFM (Make a file area menu) ............................. 5 MakMM (Make a message area menu) .......................... 6 FBSD (Files.BBS size/date add & remover) ................. 7 MaxMenu (Displays log on/off Ansi menus) .................... 8 MaxBul (Bulletin Door) ..................................... 9-10 MaxLog (Max.Log trimmer ) .................................. 10 MaxCat (Makes Files.BBS from Catdisk DTA) .................. 10 MaxCD (All file list generator) ........................... 11 MaxMuv (Command line hurl utility) ......................... 11 MTDoor (Bridges the gap for non Maximus doors) ............. 12 MTExist (Rewrites files.bbs with only files that exist)...... 13 MyMail (Forwards a copy of all echo mail addressed to you).. 13 MBBS (Creates a psuedo Areas.BBS ) ....................... 13 MaxLev (Sends messages to new users & level changes ....... 14 Beginning of a great adventure .............................. 14 - 1 - INTRODUCTION TO MAXTOOLS BEFORE RUNNING ANY OF THE UTILITIES MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND LEGAL.DOC ENCLOSED. ALSO README.1ST MaxTools started out as a few odds and ends that I put together for a few friends and myself. Well, one thing led to another and I decided to go full force. I was going to write every utility one could think of for Maximus. Well around the 10th utility I realized that ideas spawned more ideas and that I was getting a little restless. I finally decided that I would stop at 10. There is no way I would write any more then 10 utilities for Maximus. So anyway, there I was writing my 16th utility.... Welcome to MaxTools! Before I continue I would like to mention that this is shareware and not public domain. I will not kick and scream that if you do not register, the devil will get you and that I belong to the SPA and that they have listening devices on your phone. I will not make my programs beep, sing, and give screens that tell you to type in a number or it will not work. Instead I decided to give you 16 programs for the price of one that are fully functional. If and when you decide to use these programs on a regular basis I do ask that you register so that I will be inspired to write more. Registered users get the benefit of designing my next release. I fully encourage registered users to write me letters telling me how they want the program to run. Not how I want it to run. When you are ready the file REGISTER.FRM is there for your review. Now back to business. MaxTools is a cluster of 16 utilities for Maximus. Most do one thing well. Many do a lot more but I purposely designed them in a way where, if you wish to not use certain features, you need not have them stare you in the face. All of the MaxTools, are command line driven utilities that have help built in for those of you, like myself, don't care to sit down to breakfast over a manual. This manual is provided for those of you to prefer to have one. - 2 - BRIEF OVERVIEW OF MAXTOOLS EXECUTABLES FA.EXE - Display your File/Msg areas listed in your MA.EXE FileArea.Ctl/MsgArea.Ctl just as it appears on-line prior to compiling. MAKFM.EXE - Makes a file menu for CDROM users displaying what areas are on or off line. Output formats include TXT, ANS, & MEC. MAKMM.EXE - Same as MakFM only it is for the message areas and serves a different purpose. Spares the need of users to scan all areas for mail. *See documentation for info. FBSD.EXE - Removes/Adds file sizes and dates from Files.BBS files. MAXMENU.EXE - Allows you to display ansi welcome screens. MAXBUL.EXE - Remember what bulletins used to be on older BBS's? That is what this is and more. MaxBul can have submenus locked off by security level and run doors as well, either by shelling or "exiting with an error level". MAXLOG.EXE - This shortens your Max.log by the number of days that you specify on the command line. MAXCAT.EXE - If you catalog your disks with CatDisk 4.40 and have descriptions specified, you need this. Dump a disk in a file directory and run MaxCat. MaxCat will create your files.bbs with descriptions for files that exist. MAXCD.EXE - Generates an all files list by security level and optional templates for each security level. MAXMUV.EXE - A command line version of Hurl that supports wildcards and has the same syntax as DOS copy command. MTDOOR.EXE - This will update your LastCall.BBS with a dorinfo1.def or Door.Sys file. Great for lotto doors that do not support Maximus. MTEXIST.EXE - Rewrites your files.bbs file with only the files that exist. MYMAIL.EXE - Scans all echo areas for messages that are addressed to you and rewrites them into the message area of your choosing. MBBS.EXE - Creates a pseudo areas.bbs file for MyMail. MAXLEV.EXE - Generates messages to users whose access levels change and to new users. You create the messages. You decide which levels get which messages. An example text file that you might create is Disgrace.Dwn which would get sent to somebody lowered to disgrace. Supports callback verifiers. - 3 - GETTING STARTED System requirements are simple. - 8086/88 processor or above - DOS Version 3.3 or above - Maximus BBS software In order to reduce clutter forming in your already busy Maximus subdirectory, MaxTools keeps all of its data files in it's own subdirectory. You need to create a subdirectory off of your Maximus directory called "MaxTools". Example: C:\MAX>MD MAXTOOLS In order for MaxTools to find its own data files and Maximus data files, Maxtools needs for you to create a DOS environment variable called "MAXIMUS" and have it pointing towards your Maximus subdirectory. Example: C:\MAX>SET MAXIMUS=C:\MAX\ Note: Your best bet is to enter this command in your autoexec.bat file and reboot your system. Netware Lite and Lantastic users should see the file NETWORK.DOC for tips on how to make MaxTools work better for you in a networking environment. You are now set up for most of the maximus utilities! Please see the setup procedures for each separate utility that you wish to use. - 4 - MA.EXE & FA.EXE (Message Area & File Area Displayers) - Purpose MA & FA do nothing more when executed then display your file or message areas as they would appear on line. These were created so that you do not have to recompile Maximus to see the changes that you have made. Many times a simple typo will force you to recompile. - Setup These two utilities are the only exceptions to MaxTools setup. They do not require an environment variable or the MaxTools sub directory. - Execution To run either utility make sure that they are either in your Maximus subdirectory or in your path. You need to be in your Maximus subdirectory when they are executed. There are no command line switches for either utility. - Notes Areas displayed are all areas not commented out in your CTL files. - 5 - MAKFM.EXE (Make File Area Menu Utility) - Purpose MAKFM was created for CDROM users that rotate out CD's on a regular basis. MakFM creates an external file area menu just like the one displayed when you select 'A' from within a file area for an area change. The only difference is MAKFM places the word "offline" in place of the area but leaves the area name there. - Setup Output format choices are specified on the command line. - Execution Command line syntax is: MakFm <switch> <filename> Valid switches are t-text, a-ansi, and m-mecca. Maximus default colors will be used if ansi or mecca is specified. - Notes Please see maximus documentation for enabling external file area menus. Output will overwrite any existing file of the name specified. A sample output file will look like the following: File Areas ────────────── 1 ... General Downloads 2 ... FidoNet Related Files 3 ... G-Rated GIF's offline ... Graphics Misc offline ... Shelter Shareware 6 ... Unchecked Uploads - 6 - MAKMM.EXE (Make Message Area Menu Utility) - Purpose MakMM works almost identical to MakFM but serves a completely different purpose. When a user logs on to your BBS and chooses [yes] for scanning mail there is a good chance that he/she may have to wait awhile if you have a large amount of echos. Let us say that you decided to limit the scan to the first area. When you lower the highest message scan in Max.Ctl you are also lowering the highest message area to be displayed with the [A]rea command. They can still access the hidden message areas, they just won't know that they exist. That is unless you have an external message area menu. That is where MakMM comes in. - Setup Same as MakFM - Execution Same as MakFM - Notes MakMM works identical to MakFM except that it does not check to see if an area exists or not. FBSD.EXE (Files.BBS file size and date stamp add & delete utility) - Purpose CDROMS, File Doors and other goodies are all coming to a home near you. In order to enjoy these we need a way to add and delete file dates & times from Files.BBS files. FBSD does this on the fly. - Setup FBSD does require that the Maximus environment variable is set. - Execution To add file size and date time stamps the syntax is: FBSD a <path + files.bbs> <path + where the files are> To remove: FBSD d <Path + filespec> (Wild cards acceptable) - Notes Caution: When Fbsd removes size and date, it only removes the 2nd and 3rd entries. So if you happen to have /t /b after the file name, that is what will be removed. Please review your files.bbs files before using this option. - 7 - MAXMENU.EXE (Displays any file locally and through the comport) - Purpose This utility was designed for those who wish to have a nice big ansi screen or display text files without dealing with Mecca. - Setup Requires Maximus variable Type: MaxMenu setup MaxMenu will ask you for various modem switches and give you helpful hints as to what would work well with your system. - Execution Syntax: MaxMenu <port> <Baud> <Lines per page> <Abortable> - Port If port is 0 (local) MaxMenu will try to emulate whatever baud rate is specified. I don't claim accuracy in the speed but it is semi close. - Baud The only exception here is if you are locking your port to 38400 then this should always be 38400. - Lines per page give the user More [y,n,=] at that length. 0 = none - Abortable is whether or not you wish to enable the user to abort menus with either CTRL-C, CTRL-K, or space bar. CTRL-C does not work locally. Lines per page must be specified if this option is to be enabled. - Notes Loss of carrier is detected and MaxMenu will return control to the BBS if the user hangs up. If the user sits at a prompt longer then 3 minutes MaxMenu will display a message "Call back when you are there" and hang up on the user and, return control to the BBS - 8 - MAXBUL.EXE (Maximus Bulletin Menu and Door Manager) - Purpose MaxBul gives you those old style bulletins that used to be popular as well as has the ability to run doors or events. All of which are controllable by security levels. When using it to run doors, you may use it in conjunction with MTDoor and have a fully featured door manager. - Setup * MaxBul does require a Dorinfo1.def or door.sys file. To start off with setup we will concentrate on the bulletin feature. This is needed for running doors anyway. The first thing that you need to do is set your Maximus variable. Then you need to type: <MaxBul Setup> (Setting are the same as MaxMenu) MaxBul will have created a subdirectory called <Environment-Variable>+ MaxTools\MaxBul - MAXBUL (CREATING YOUR FIRST BULLETINS) Now you need to create your first bulletins. The bulletins go into the newly created MaxBul directory. Create the following: BULLET1.MNU - Your main menu for MaxBul BULLET1.001 - Bulletin #1 BULLET1.002 - Bulletin #2 - MAXBUL (CREATING SUB MENUS) But what if you had a bunch of bulletins on dog racing and you did not want them on your main menu? Bulletin 3 can be a submenu. BULLET3.MNU - Sub menu when they choose 3 MaxBul is configured by what files exist rather then having a configuration program. So you are free to do what you want and all that you have to do is create the files! - MAXBUL (SECURITY LEVELS AND RESTRICTING ACCESS) Individual submenus or main menu bulletins are all that can be restricted. If you wanted BULLET2.MNU or BULLET1.002 to be restricted you would create a file called BULLET2.LEV and in the first line place the highest security level that may access it. - 9 - - MAXBUL continued (RUNNING DOORS) (SHELL) After MaxBul executes a bulletin, MaxBull looks for a batch file that matches that bulletin. The batch file looked for is BULLETxy.BAT Where x = the bulletin menu # and y = the bulletin. EXAMPLE: BULLET2.002 - BULLET22.BAT BULLET1.003 - BULLET13.BAT MaxBul would then execute it with the following syntax: BULLET13.BAT <port> <baud> Your batch file then could be something on the order of: @echo off Mydoor.exe -p%1 -b%2 - MAXBUL (RUNNING DOORS) (EXIT WITH ERRORLEVEL) Exiting with an error level works the same way as SHELL except instead of the file ending with .BAT you give it with the extension of .ERR This can be a 0 byte file. It just has to exist. You will need to execute MaxBul with a batch file and trap error levels as you would a front door loop. - 10 - MAXLOG.EXE (Shortens your Maximus Log file to x number of days) - Purpose MaxLog shortens your Maximus log file and MaxTools log files to x number of days specified on the command line. - Setup Requires maximus environment variable. - Execution MaxLog <Num of days> <File name> - Notes MaxLog uses the number of days which exist in the log and not the actual number of days. MAXCAT.EXE (Maximus Catdisk 4.40 Integrator) - Purpose For those of you who have been keeping your files on disk and decided to post them on Maximus, here is and easy solution. MaxCat takes files that exist in a directory, and checks for them in catdisk DTA files. If they exist, MaxCat will then append the file name and descriptions to the files.bbs file for you. - Setup Requires the Maximus environment variable. - Execution MaxCat <path + Catdisk.dta file> <Files bbs file> You must be in the directory where the files are. The catdisk.dta and files.bbs may be elsewhere - Notes I know that Rick changed the file formats in the earlier versions. I am not sure what they are now. For all purposes use it with Version 4.40. - 11 - MAXCD.EXE (An ALL FILES LIST generator) - Purpose MaxCD works with or without CD's. This one was alpha and beta tested primarily with them. MaxCD has plenty of options to choose from. It has been kept in mind users that rotate their CD's. An option for showing whether files exist or not has been added for that purpose. - Setup Requires MAXIMUS variable to be set. Optional templates may be created in the MaxTools\MaxCD subdirectory. The template names are the access level plus a TPL extension. An optional header file MASTER.TPL may also be created which is placed at the top of the file list generated. - Execution Syntax : MaxCD <Sw1> <Sw2> < Security Level > <OutFile Name> Example: MaxCD 1 0 Disgrace J:\AllFiles.Lst Switch 1: Exist Switch 1 - See if each file exists. Place a '*' in front if they do. 0 - Do not check to see if the file exists Switch 2: Format Switch 1 - Attempt to format into even columns 0 - Straight copy of files.bbs files. (No format) - Notes None MAXMUV.EXE (Command line version of Hurl) - Purpose Works like the common DOS move utility that moves files from one location to another except this one moves file descriptions as well. - Setup Maximus environment variable is required. - Execution MaxMuv <Source> <Destination> - Notes Maxmuv does require that full paths are specified on the command line. MaxMuv also requires that these are specified in your FileArea.Ctl. Also MaxMuv checks for duplicate paths in your FileArea.Ctl and if they exist, MaxMuv will tell you so and terminate. All of these precautions are necessary to protect your files. MaxMuv will tell you when something is up. - 12 - MTDOOR.EXE (Writes information from updated DOOR.SYS & Dorinfo1.def to Maximus) - Purpose You have a lottery door or a call back verifier that you like but it does not support Maximus. It does update the DORINFO1.DEF and the DOOR.SYS though. If that is the case MTDoor is your link. - Setup MTDoor requires the Maximus environment variable. Run: MTDoor Setup Toggle options that you wish to be updated and security level translations. - Execution MTDoor requires a special mecca syntax. Syntax: [xtern_run]@MTDoor.exe <switch> <Path + Door file> - Notes Name Toggle in setup should always be set to OFF unless you really know what you are doing. Only enable what you are required to use. MTEXIST.EXE (Rewrites Files.BBS files with only the ones that exist) - Purpose You have deleted files and now you need to update your Files.BBS files. MTExist will do that for you. - Setup Requires the Maximus environment variable. - Execution Syntax: MTexist <switch> <File Path> <Path + Files.BBS> Vaild flags are: Raw - Rewrites stripping all info from files.BBS (Good for one line descriptions and no headers) Lite - MTExist takes caution examining what needs to be removed - Notes The raw option is only for those who have many lists to process such as CDRoms that come with prefab file lists with 1 line for each description. - 13 - MYMAIL.EXE (Scans all echo areas for mail that belongs to you) - Purpose If you enter messages on busy echos but do not have time to read them daily, MyMail will do it for you and, forward to a private mail box messages addressed to you. - Setup Requires Maximus environment variable. Requires an AREAS.BBS file. If you do not have one the next utility (MBBS.EXE) will create one for you. - Execution Syntax: MyMail <Areas.bbs file> <Mailbox dir> <Name to scan for> - Notes MyMail only supports *.MSG at this time. MBBS.EXE (Creates a Pseudo Areas.BBS file for MYMAIL.EXE) - Purpose You want to use MyMail.Exe but your system does not use an areas.bbs file. - Setup Requires Maximus environment variable. - Execution Syntax: MBBS <Areas.BBS file> - Notes It is a pseudo areas.bbs file and should not be used with other programs. - 14 - MAXLEV.EXE (Sends canned messages to new users and access level changes) - Purpose Sends canned messages to new users, people whose access level is lowered, access that is raised, new users that are validated via call back verifiers. - Setup Requires Maximus environment variable. Requires BBS to be inactive. MaxLev will politely abort if the BBS is active. To Setup MaxLev type: MaxLev Go MaxLev will create its directories and create a backup compare copy of your user file. Now type: MaxLev Write All MaxLev will write sample canned messages for you. For more information on messages, filenames, variables consult MaxLev's on-line help system. It is a mini tutorial that will take you through understanding the magic of MaxLev. - Notes [none] THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT ADVENTURE The response from MaxTools just being mentioned on MUFFIN was incredible. I apologize if I missed anyones messages. I welcome all feedback however, if it requires a response please put somewhere in the message to "Respond Hold" if it is via NetMail and then poll me in a day or two to pick up your answer. I wish that I could send CRASH email to everyone but, the cost is too prohibitive. I am also opening up a message area called MaxTools. This is available as a non backbone echo for those who want it. Messages will be on hold status for pickup. It will be for users who wish to swap ideas, have questions answered or, drop suggestions for enhancements. Drop me a private netmail if you wish to be provided a feed. I hope that all of this will help get your questions answered and give you a better chance to be heard. Thank you for your support! Michael Jones FidoNet: 1:133/115 Shelter From The Storm Data : (404)518-1356 Post Office Box 769192 Roswell, GA 30076 Please see THANKS.DOC for Officially Registered Distribution Points.