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1992-03-27
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/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
TOPBLT v0.9b
PCBoard Top Users Bulletin Generator
For use with PCBoard Versions 14.5x
Copyright 1992 by Kendall Anderson
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
This program is supported by:
Kendall Anderson
486 Aspen Forest Drive
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 6H7
CANADA
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Documentation of TOPBLT version 0.9b, dated Mar. 27, 1992 (c) K. Anderson
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
///////////////////// NOTE: THIS IS A BETA TEST VERSION /////////////////////
Lazy Sysop's rule:
"Long manuals are never printed and read completely"
First off.. YES.. It's another bulletin generator for PCBoard
(aren't there about 10,000 already out there?). Well here's WHY I
made this one.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
THE "OTHER" ONES
At one point I had about 7 different programs to make individual
bulletins. It was getting a bit crazy - 7 different EXE's, 7
different CFG files, 7 different command line parameter sets..ugh.
The other thing I didn't like about the "other" ones is that
they were very 'un'configurable.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
TOPBLT - Complete User Statistics
TOPBLT was designed to generate ALL the other bulletin types from
within ONE program. As well, it is VERY configurable as to what
the final output will look like, and I've only just begun.. :)
TOPBLT will create best/worst user statistics for the following
areas: # of files uploaded
# of files downloaded
# of messages posted
# of message read
# of calls to the system
Post:Call ratio
As well, the bulletin colours, headers and style format are all
configurable through command line arguments.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
SETUP, CONFIGURATION
There are no REQUIRED configuration files (although a colour
configuration file can be supplied). Everything is done through
command line arguments.
**** NOTE ****
YOU MUST HAVE SORT.EXE (the DOS program) SOMEWHERE IN THE PATH!!
TOPBLT MAKES A SYSTEM CALL TO USE THIS PROGRAM AND WILL NOT FUNCTION
PROPERLY WITHOUT IT! (yes this is shoddy programming but it's also
a heck of a lot easier, so I don't want to hear any complaints..)
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
USAGE, COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS
TOPBLT <blt file> <users file> [options]
<blt file> - The path/name destination file for the bulletin.
<users file> - The path/name of the PCBoard USERS file.
These two parameters are REQUIRED.
[options]
/MAX:[#] - Specify how many users to include in the
bulletin. Default is 10.
/HDR:[filename.ext] - Path/name of a header file to insert at the
[GENERATE] top of the bulletin. Default is no header
file.
- If you use the keyword GENERATE instead of
a filename, TOPBLT will generate it's own
header which will simply consist of the type
of bulletin being generated.
ie: "Best 30 Message Posters Bulletin"
/COL:[filename.ext] - Path/name of a config file for custom colour
settings. Default is no colour config file.
/TMP:[filename.ext] - Supply your own name for the temporary file.
Default name for the temporary file is
TEMPFILE.$$$ in the current directory. This
option is supplied so that you can be sure
none of your files will ever be overwritten
with a temporary file.
/EXC:[filename.ext] - Path/name of an ascii file containing names
of users who you wish to be EXCLUDED from
the bulletin. One name per line.
/CLR:[NONE/ANSI/PCB] - Type of colour codes to use in file. Default
is PCBoard @X colour codes. A choice of NONE
will insert NO colour codes and produce a
straight ASCII file.
/STY:[1-7] - Style/Format for the bulletin. Default style
is #1. See sample files in this archive for
examples of each style.
/TYP:[blt type][:LOW] - PCR - Create Post:Call Ratios blt.
- ULS - Create Uploaders - # Files blt.
- DLS - Create Downloaders - # Files blt.
- CALLS - Create # of Calls blt.
- POSTS - Create # of Messages Posted blt.
- MSGREAD - Create # of Messages Read blt.
- :LOW added to any type makes a 'Worst Users'
list. (ie: lowest # of posts)
Default setting is /TYP:POSTS - Top Message
Posters bulletin.
/DAT - This switch will simply cause TOPBLT to
add a little note to the end of the bulletin
saying what time and date the bulletin was
created on.
EXAMPLES
--------
TOPBLT d:\bbs\blt7 d:\bbs\main\users
This is the minimum command line. Create a TOP 10 MESSAGE POSTERS
bulletin. Use PCBoard @X codes (default). Read the information
from D:\BBS\MAIN\USERS and output it to D:\BBS\BLT7.
TOPBLT c:\pcb\gen\blt10g c:\pcb\main\users /typ:posts:low /clr:ansi /max:20
Create a WORST 20 MESSAGE POSTERS bulletin. Use ANSI codes. Read
the information from the USERS file in C:\PCB\MAIN. Output the
bulletin to the file C:\PCB\GEN\BLT10G.
TOPBLT blt5 e:\main\users /typ:calls /hdr:topcalls.hdr /sty:4 /col:calls.col
Create a TOP 10 CALLERS bulletin (10 is the default number). Place
the file TOPCALLS.HDR in the beginning of the bulletin as a header.
Use style #4 to format the bulletin. Use the colours specified in
the colour configuration file CALLS.COL. Output the bulletin to
the file BLT5 in the current directory. The output will be using
PCBoard @X colour codes (default).
TOPBLT d:\gen\blt1 e:\main\users /clr:none /typ:msgread:low /max:5 /dat
Create a WORST 5 MESSAGE READERS bulletin. Output the bulletin as
an ASCII file with no colour codes. Write the bulletin to the
file D:\GEN\BLT1. Add the time and date stamp to the end.
---
The options can be in any order AFTER the first 2 required
parameters and are not case sensitive.
If the same parameter is used more than once on the command line,
the LAST use of it will be the one used.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
COLOUR CONFIGURATION FILE
See the sample colour configuration file TOPBLT.COL for the
proper format.
Note: The colour configuration file for TOPBLT v0.9 has one extra
entry on the end which is the Generated Header text colour,
so if you were using TOPBLT v0.8, make sure you add this
line to the colour configuration file.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
PROBLEMS AND SUPPORT
Testing this program out isn't easy, as I don't run a BBS and
there are limited places where I may test it.
So far it has been tested on only two systems - one with a user
base of approx. 50 users, the other with about 150 users. So far,
there have been no noticeable bugs (famous last words). It has
also now been tested in a multinode environment with file sharing
activities. It's run without problems on an IBM PS/2 30, a
Compaq DeskPro 386/33, and a no-name 486-33.
If you have any problems or notice any bugs, PLEASE let me know.
I can be reached through the PCBHINTS or IBM conference on the
NorthAmeriNet (NANET) Network or, directly on Canada Remote
Systems (CRS).
Even if you don't have problems, but you'd like to see ANY kind
of a change, don't hesitate to tell me!
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
REGISTRATION
Huh? Registration? I thought this was free?
This program IS free and may be used by anyone who feels like doing
so. However, you are not allowed to remove the Copyright Statement,
or to sell this program, or bundle it with other (commercial)
goods. You may give it to anyone and distribute anywhere it, but
only in its original form with the complete documentation and all
support files.
If you feel like sending a small donation ($5) or just a postcard
towards continuation of this and other PCBoard utilities (or perhaps
my university tuition), or just to say hi, feel free to do so!
Please send all donations, postcards, comments/suggestions
(positive or negative) to:
Kendall Anderson
486 Aspen Forest Drive
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 6H7
CANADA
The source code (Turbo C) IS available, but for a price of $30.
I'm requesting $30 because I don't really want to give it out, and
I don't know many people who will want to shell out that much for
this program. Send me a mailing address or phone number and I'll
either upload it to you or send you a printed copy of the most
recent version.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
OPERATIONAL DETAILS
TOPBLT directly reads the USERS and USERS.INF files from PCBoard.
This will NOT work if they are encrypted in any way! TOPBLT will
(starting with TOPBLT v0.9b) open the files in a shared, deny-write
mode - meaning, TOPBLT will not allow other programs to modify the
USERS and USERS.INF files while reading from them. This allows you
to create the bulletins while nodes are online.
It then takes the information it needs from the files and generates
a temporary file (TEMPFILE.$$$) based on the supplied information.
From here, the temporary file is sorted via the DOS program
SORT.EXE and is formatted into the final bulletin file. The SORT
program MUST be in the DOS path in order for TOPBLT to work
properly!
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
DISCLAIMER AND OTHER STUFF
I will not be held liable for any misfortune that may or may not
happen to you, which may or may not be the result of using or not
using this program. In other words, the usual disclaimer applies
here.
This Top Bulletins Generator program is provides "AS IS" with no
claims regarding its usefullness or functionality. You, the user,
accept full responsibilty and libility for any problems or damages
associated with its operation.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
PLANS FOR TOPBLT v1.0 AND BEYOND.. (if we ever get that far..)
- Top Uploaders in KBytes and Top Downloaders in KBytes.
This SHOULD have been included in this version but for some
reason it's not reading in properly.. again to be fixed
(hopefully) at a later date.
- More configurability in output. Multi columnar displays. Multiple
reports side by side - ie: One bulletin with the Top Uploaders
AND Top Downloaders side by side.
- And anything else that users request.. :)
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
EXITING ERRORLEVELS
Error Description
1 Successful exit.
8 Bulletin type specified with /TYP: parameter doesn't exist.
(Check you command line arguments)
9 Style type specified with /STY: parameter doesn't exist.
(Check command line)
10 Couldn't open file/file not found or doesn't exist.
(Check your command line arguments)
17 Error trying to read current temporary file. (Possible disk error)
18 Error reading in data. (File structure possibly corrupt)
19 Error trying to create file.
20 Error trying to delete temporary file.
30 Insufficient number of command line arguments.
40 SORT.EXE was not found in the DOS path.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
All programs mentioned are copyrighted and/or trademarked by their
respective holders. Please refer to each respective program to determine
the actual copyright/trademark holder as appropriate or needed.
PCBoard - Copyrighted: Clarke Development Company
Turbo C - Copyrighted: Borland International
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
CREDITS
Thanks to:
- Shaun - as a matter of fact I AM compiling right now!
- Giggy - SIM boy, how's the XT doing? :)
- Kerry - for letting me test this out on your system (whether
you wanted it or not :) )
- HJQ - just because..
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
FINALLY..
Look in the file WHATS.NEW to see new changes and additions since
the last major version.
Look in the file HISTORY.DOC to see a complete listing of the changes,
fixes and updates since the creation of TOPBLT.
<EOF>