BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/programs/dlc_247.zip/DLC.DOC

Text File | 1993-02-18 | 13KB | 292 lines

DLC * A Maximus-CBCS v2.01wb Download Counter, Version 2.47
Copyright (C) 1991-1993 Robert Presland, all rights reserved.

[ Release Info * 18 Feb 93 ]---------------------------------------------------

Release 2.21 and greater are major upgrades from previous releases, therefore
you should read this file before using.  Previous releases were under the
name DLCOUNT but since a utility already existed by that name, mine was
changed to DLC.

This version uses a control file for it's parameters (you can only fit
so much on a command line).  Please consult the distribution control
file DLC.CTL for more details.

[ Bug Reports ]----------------------------------------------------------------

Send bug reports to Robert Presland at 1:243/27, include the following:

   DLC.CTL
   DLC.LOG
   DLC.TMP (if found in the current directory)
   AREA.DAT (or equivalent)
   MAX.LOG (or equivalent)
   FD.LOG (if applicable)
   BINK.LOG (if applicable)
   FILES.BBS (if applicable)

Zip 'em up and send 'em off.  Many thanks to all that send me reports on
my programs, it's a great help.  I welcome all comments and suggestions
to the above node address.

[ So Why Use This Utility? ]---------------------------------------------------

DLC currently supports FILELIST for CD-ROM users, mailer logs, extension
exclusions, configurable counter delimiters, optional download log file,
optional log file, multiple configuration files, configurable length
counters, optional 'space for zero' counter, selective initialization,
and will not process the same downloaded file more than once, as well as
much much more.  Read the history section for a complete detailing of
what has been added since the first release.

[ Archive ]--------------------------------------------------------------------

You should have received DLC in an ARJ archive, with only the following
six (6) files contained within:

     DLC.DOC      This text file
     DLC.EXE      The exectuable
     DLCTT.DOC    Documentation for DLCTT
     DLCTT.EXE    The DLCTT executable
     DLC.CTL      The control file for both DLC and DLCTT
     WHATSNEW.246 New things you must know about

If one of these files is missing, or there are extra files, or the archive
fails a CRC check, please file-request it from 1:243/27.

[ Description ]----------------------------------------------------------------

DLC will process your Max log file and add a counter to the beginning
of the description for each file downloaded.  A four digit counter is used
(by default) to enable up to 9999 downloads per file, however, since the
counter length is configurable, you could get counters in the 65000 range
if you wanted.

[ Installation ]---------------------------------------------------------------

Simply run DLC as part of your daily maintenace (usually at midnight) and
make sure you configure the control file to suit your system.  After that,
it's all automatic.  Do whatever you want with the logs after DLC is done.

[ Usage ]----------------------------------------------------------------------

   DLC [ /?] [/F] [/U] [/S] [/C<ConfigFile>] [/I [Areas]] [/A [Areas]]

[ Switches ]-------------------------------------------------------------------

   /?

      Display a help screen.

   /F

      Process all downloads in the BBS and mailer logs even if they have
      been processed already.

   /U

      Initalizes all areas which allow uploads, however no log parsing is
      performed.  You could use this switch after each upload to your
      system.

   /S

      Create a stat file for use with the accompanying program DLCTT.

   /I [Areas]

      DLC will add a zero count to every file without a count located in
      either the file FILES.BBS in the DOWNLOAD directory, or the file
      specified in the FILELIST option.  If a counter does not exist, one
      will be added.  This is NOT a reset for counters.  If just /I is
      used, then all areas will be initalized.  If a list of area
      names is also specified, then only those areas will be initialized.
      When this switch is used, only the initialization will be done
      and the log files (both BBS and Mailer) will NOT be parsed.
      THIS SWITCH IF SPECIFIED MUST BE THE LAST SWITCH ON THE COMMAND LINE!

      For example:

         DLC /I                Initialize all areas
         DLC /I 47             Initialize the area 47
         DLC /I DOS GRAPHICS   Initialize the areas DOS and GRAPHICS

   /A [Areas]

      Same as /I except DLC will also parse the mailer logs.
      THIS SWITCH IF SPECIFIED MUST BE THE LAST SWITCH ON THE COMMAND LINE!

   /C<ConfigFile>

      The default control file is DLC.CTL, but you can specify an alternate
      control file with this switch.

[ History ]--------------------------------------------------------------------

2.47  Rewrote logic for looking for existing counters and where to put new
      ones.  Should eliminate problems like (1 [  0] of 6) descriptions.

2.46  Added IgnoreMatch.  Changed copyright notice.

2.45  Added text file buffers for increased speed. Removed the logging --
      will not log to the screen, use > to create a log file.  Removed /Q.
      Fixed a bug that would sometimes not add a counter if too many spaces
      were on there line and a counter was added to the previous line (or
      something like that -- point is it's fixed).

2.44  Fixed a bug when using /I alone, will now init all areas (same with /A).
      Fixed a bug that would not recognize the last area specified with /A.

2.43  Added multiple area intialization through /I and /A.

2.42  A little optimization (I tried).  Fixed a bug when assuming data in
      the AREA.DAT file was in parsed format.

2.41  Added 'ProcessGif' and 'GifTemplate' to control file.  See the
      distribution control file for more details.

2.40  Added support for Max's AREA.DAT file.  Reviewed log levels and
      log entries.  Added ": Read x file area(s)" to log.  Added file sharing,
      files are opened in ReadOnly and DenyNone for reading.  DLC will
      now read all areas into memory from AREA.DAT file, maximum 1024
      areas memory permitting.  If DLC can't fit all the areas into memory
      then the remaining areas will just be treated as if they didn't exist.
      Updated DLCTT, see its documentation for more details.

2.33  Fixed a small bug that would occasionaly miss initializing a file
      if it had no description.  Fixed a runtime error when not using /S.

2.32  Added /S and DLCTT.  Deleted beta release notice in docs.  Added
      accompanying utility DLCTT.  See DLCTT.DOC for more details.

2.31  Fixed a bug which would process the same file more than once in
      the mailer log.

2.30  Full wide release in SDSMAX.

2.29r Maximum file areas is now 435 instead of 400.

2.29q DLC will now ignore any QW? extensions automagically.

2.29p Ok, listen up!  You can now use the - any where you want and what
      is suppose to happen is most likely what may happen.  That is,
      You can use the - in a filename within the FILES.BBS and you can
      use a - in the path of a download area.  And you can use the - as
      a colour indicator as the first character in the FILES.BBS.
      Happy now?

2.29o Another one that looks funny.

2.29n Added - back as a "no-no" character for file names and full
      paths.  - is necessary as a colour control character in the
      FILES.BBS.  Sorry Ken.  Fixed 'IgnoreFilesWithTic' which never
      did work.

2.29m Improved update performance with a little optimization.  Removed
      the - character from the list of "no-no" characters (I was saving
      it for future switches in the files' description but too many
      want it in the filename and area paths, so now you can).

2.29l There is none, 2.29l looks funny.

2.29k Fixed *MAJOR* bug introduced with 2.29j that would truncate the
      FILES.BBS (or equivalent) after a match is found.  Fixed a small
      bug with the display of the +End log line when /? is used.

2.29j Will exit the current FILES.BBS (or equivalent) as soon as a match
      is found and will *not* search and update dups in the list.

2.29i Fixed a bug that would update a file more than once if more than
      one file area pointed to the same directory.  Sorted areas in memory
      for faster searching.

2.29h Screen writes are now BIOS and not direct, fixed a spelling error
      in the help screen.  Fixed a couple of misplaced file close calls.
      Echo log entries to screen, added /Q for quiet mode.

2.29g Added 'IgnoreFilesWithTic' to allow files that were transferred as
      part of a TIC process to not be counted.

2.29f Allowed all characters except /-[<{( as the first character of
      a file's description without a counter.  Added /F, forced log
      parsing.

2.29e Added full DOS wildcard matching within FILES.BBS (or equivalent).

2.29d Fixed a bug when the DLC log file directory didn't exist, will now
      catch the error and exit gracefully.  Modified /I to not parse
      log files.  Added /A to initialize AND parse.  Added /U to initialize
      only the upload areas (without log parsing).  Altered the way that DLC
      determines if there is a counter already present.  Now, DLC will check
      to see if a counter is present where it would put one, and not anywhere
      in the line.  This will permit the use of [] (etc) as part of the
      files' description (but not as the first character in the description).

2.29c Fixed a bug when inserting new counters, it would add 3 extra spaces
      when not wanted.

2.29b Added selective area initialization, zero-padded as an option to
      space-padding.  Fixed a bug while reading tab characters.
      Limited beta release.

2.29a Added optional [    ] instead of [   0] for a zero counter.  The
      length of the counter is now configurable.  DLC will read the current
      counter for a file, update it, and not change the length.  When
      adding a new counter however, DLC will add one in accordance to the
      control file specification for counter length.  Limited beta release.

2.23  Fixed a minor bug which still diplayed an error to the screen when
      the specified FILES.BBS file is not found.  Fixed a bug with lower-
      case specified IgnoreExt.  Added 'AddOrphan' keyword to the control
      file.  Added support for wildcard matching in the FILES.BBS.  Added
      support for same file BBS/Mailer logs (ie. the BBS and Mailer use
      the same log file).

2.22  Fixed a bug that hung on mailer lines with SENT in BBS names,
      took the same problem and fixed it in places that may cause problems
      in similar situations on other log files.  Added support for all
      valid DOS characters in filenames, ie. ~!@#$%&()_

2.21  Fixed a bug that hung on lines with nothing but spaces.

2.2   Added a check to ensure that the DLC will not process entries
      in either the Maximus log file or the mailer log file more than
      once.  This means that you can run DLC on the same log file more
      than once and the downloads will only be counted once.  Added a
      log file, including a log entry level.  Most of output is through
      the log file and not the screen.  Released for testing only.

2.1   Added mailer support, as well as the ability to ignore files
      based on extension.  Changed from a command line configuration
      to a control file configuration.  Name changed from DLCOUNT to
      DLC to avoid copyright infringement.  Released for testing only.

2.0   Rewrite of previous version with better algorithms.  File
      area data is kept in memory and not in a temp file.  Support
      for the FILELIST command in the FILEAREA.CTL was added.
      Colour was an option but then abondoned (too annoying).
      Released for testing only.

1.3   First public release.

1.0   Stone age thing not worth mentioning.

[ Warning! ]-------------------------------------------------------------------

This utility is not guaranteed to do anything.  Use at your own risk.
Don't come crying to me!

[ Legal Stuff ]----------------------------------------------------------------

This utility may be distributed in it's original archive only.  No fee shall
be charged for its distribution beyond the cost of transmition over phone
lines.

[ Thanks ]---------------------------------------------------------------------

Much thanks to Chris Grainger (1:163/518) for his help in testing and
support.  Thanks to Ken Wilson (1:243/12) for picking up DLC and
proposing many excellent suggestions and endless hours of testing.
Many thanks to all those who use this utility and respond with complaints,
comments and suggestions.