BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/pc_board/pcb2actb.zip/PCB2ACT.TXT

Text File | 1991-09-09 | 9KB | 189 lines

                    PCBoard Second Account (PCB2ACT)
                    copyright 1991 by Dalaye Gabriel
                    Polymath One BBS, of Trenton, NJ


 Seamless interface to allow leaving PCBoard, loading a second copy of
 PCBoard, with the proper User info being loaded without User input.

 Method:
 Read PCBoard.Sys file, creating a new PCBoard.Sys in new sub-dir with
 all changes needed to properly access a second (and different) USERS
 file than the first PCBoard.Sys refers to.  This requires accessing the
 following files from area leaving: PCBoard.Sys, Users
 And accessing the following files for the new PCBoard area: PCBoard.Sys,
 Users, Pwrd
 It will write a new BAT file, PCB2ACT$.BAT called from the first
 account (from the PCB written DOOR.BAT)

    My BBS has considerable adult and non-adult traffic of Users, and
 I found it best to entirely segregate the two areas.  I'm aware that
 many merely open a second BBS.  Meanwhile, any users visiting the
 adult conferences wish to use aliases to leave messages.  I tried the
 Incognito Door - a good idea, but, I wasn't happy with anything writing
 to my Users file.  Meanwhile, I found it nice to segregate credits of
 Uploads/Downloads to a users record from the 2 areas, and seriously
 considered doing what so many people do: open a second, adults-only
 BBS, leaving the first alone.  I considered this unacceptable, as it
 would mean more work for the user to visit both, and tie up all my
 equipment separately, stop node chats, and other such.
    So, I found it best to create a new sub-directory, one for each
 node on the system, and setup a separate BBS entirely, but, to be
 accessed as a door from the first BBS.  This wastes very little disk
 space, as quite a few files can be shared with the first.
    The problem with initially calling the second board from the first?
 Users hated the idea of having to logon a second time, and I hated the
 maintenance headache of seeing who opened a second account in the
 second board loaded, as, when it prompts for a name, more than 1 user
 chose to open new additional accounts for himself.  Major headache as
 the number of users grew.

    Solution:
    PCBoard Second Account!  It lets you set up a second BBS as a door
 from the first BBS, loading all user information needed with the
 information you configure within the PCB2ACT.CFG file.
 PCB2ACT.CFG must be in the sub-directory that PCB2ACT is called from.
 I'll assume you will load an Adults sub-board as I do, so a logical
 place would be C:\PCB\ADULT for the node 1 sub-board, and the call in
 the ADULTS file created to start the Door will be C:\UTIL\PCB2ACT

    This text is not complete on setting up doors, or a copy of PCBoard.
 It is assumed you have purchased PCBoard and have all needed docs on
 proper BAT files, and the use of PCBSetup.exe.

    This is only a "quickie" I initially did not plan to release outside
 of my BBS, but as someone asked for a copy, I felt perhaps it may help
 quite a few other PCBoard Sysops.
    This is a beta test version, and bugs are expected, though I am
 confident it cannot corrupt your system in any manner, though no
 warranty is expressed or implied against it not performing as you
 expect in your particular installation.
    I included the idea of registration in this utility only so I can
 see how much it appeals to others.  The first few Sysops choosing to
 use this Beta version will receive registration numbers on request,
 no fee expected.  All I ask is your comments and suggestions prior to
 release as a full release version.

    The non-registered version is not entirely seamless, as it sends
 out a short introduction that this program is running, and states it
 is unregistered.  The only advantage of registration is removal of
 that notice to then only state that a second account is being loaded
 on your BBS (1 very short sentence, with no mention of this program,
 or my BBS, etc).  For this minor convenience, I would like to ask for
 $10 to register this program.  Just let me know what you wish the
 1 line in the PCB2ACT.CFG to read as your BBS (up to 55 characters),
 and you will receive the proper registration number.  You can get that
 number on Polymath One BBS if you wish to save time, or it will be
 mailed to you.

    This program requires access to BRUN45.EXE, the "patched" version,
 so your users are not disconnected.

 Security:
 It does not allow access by any user not entered by the Sysop.  The
 Sysop must enter any alias, or name used in Second Account (even if
 the same name) as the first 25 bytes of the Sysop maintained Comment 2
 of the Users record.

September 10, 1991 - ver.1.1 beta
 Major change in error handling, to insure all errors are trapped properly
 to be located in source code, and any errors occurring will properly exit
 and reload the first account.
 A locking parameter is also now expected in the PCB2ACT.CFG file, to
 prevent anyone barred from the second PCB account from entering.


 Files:

 ADULTS   - File to be opened as a Door by PCBoard, it must be defined
          in Doors.Lst
  NOTE: file opened NOGOOD is not in use in this new version, as a new
        method of locking is to be incorporated, and appears to be
        easier to manage from the Sysop's standpoint - this should not
        pose any problem at this time, only the inability to "lock out"
        users at this time temporarily

Contents of ADULTS
  ; everything to right of the ";" and it MUST not be used, here just to
  ; simplify commenting the file

n:                            ; go to drive of second PCBoard area
cd\pcb\adult                  ; and to proper sub-directory
if exist pcb2act$.bat del pcb2act$.bat; security reasons!
if exist endpcb del endpcb            ; standard for a PCB calling BAT file
if exist newguy del newguy            ; necessary to verify new User going in
if exist nogood del nogood            ; to clear an old error
n:\util\pcb2act                       ; to call the program from wherever
if exist newguy goto end ; use ONLY if you do not want new guys entering
if exist nogood goto end ; use to go to 1st account if any error found
call pcb2act$.bat             ; call up PCBoard for Second Account
:end                          ; the start of reloading the first account
copy pcbsys.hld pcboard.sys ; load a BLANK PCBoard.sys for security reasons
v:
cd\pcb
board

    Notice that if PCB2ACT fails to properly build the BAT file to load the
 second PCB account, it will definitely return to the first account.  Also,
 you may want to include the line to copy a "dummy" PCBoard.sys (included)
 prior to reloading the first account in case there is an error of any sort,
 and the PCBoard.sys in place has Sysop access!  This insures no one gets
 accidental Sysop access, which could occur if the system had a boot in the
 middle of the session.  This same situation is true of any door, though
 other doors don't read the PCBoard.sys.  If you have a first STARTUP.BAT
 that runs after the AUTOEXEC.BAT upon boot, you may like to use such a line
 to clear the 2nd account PCBoard.sys and any PCBoard.sys accessible even in
 a first account where loss of carrier detect will not clear it, as, if you
 allow Local logons this is possible also.

    That is basically what is required in the Door calling the second
 PCBoard to load.  You will have to include all the other checks used
 as necessary, if you plan to open doors, run an event, etc. from the
 second PCBoard loaded.

    All other necessary files are included in the package.  The PCB2ACT$.BAT
 is built by PCB2ACT.EXE upon successful completion of an allowed User
 check, and is included only for your information for clarity.  Use of this
 insures an error at runtime means no Call can occur, insuring a return to
 the first PCB account.

 Errors:

    The 2 potential errors are either that the BRUN45.EXE cannot be
 located in the path, or the PCB2ACT.CFG file has not enough lines.
 Be sure the filenames in the PCB2ACT.CFG are the same filenames
 defined in your PCBSetup for the PCBoard.sys, Users, and Pwrd files.
    No comments are allowed in the PCB2ACT.CFG file, and they are
 shown here only to help you get started, be sure to remove comments.

             Register Pcboard Second Account ver.1.0 (beta)

Name:

Address:

Address:

City:                     State:          Zip:

BBS name:                            BBS Phone:


Is the Purpose of this for Adult Access, or for Other Private Board?

BBS Name to be dsiplayed on entry to registered version (max 55 char):


An account will be opened for you on Polymath One BBS, please enter
the password you wish used at this time.  Please use a unique password
for access to our BBS, a strict rule all Sysops should follow.
Password:

   Please make any check or money order out to me, Dalaye Gabriel, for
 the small $10 registration.
                     Dalaye Gabriel
                     Polymath One BBS
                     520 Liberty St
                     Trenton, NJ 08611
 Node 1: [phone] (CSP)      Node 2: [phone] (HST)