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╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
║ Area Manager Version 1.0 ║
║ Copyright (c) 1992 by Clayton & Associates ║
║ All Rights Reserved ║
╟─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Released: Thursday, July 16th, 1992. ║
║ **Please scan files for viruses before use! Just a safety precaution** ║
╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜
╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
║ AREAMAN Disclaimer and Registration Information ║
╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜
AREAMAN is provided on an "as is" basis, without any warranty of any kind.
We, at Clayton & Associates, do not warrant, guarantee or make any
representations regarding the use of, or the results of AREAMAN. We are
also, in no way possible, responsible for any damages sustained either
directly, or indirectly from the use of AREAMAN.
A registration form is included in this package. You are required to
register this after 31 days of use. This is a shareware product, but
please support the shareware aspect. Registration is only $5.00 so we are
not asking alot. There have been many late nights spent writing AREAMAN
and this way we know our program is being appreciated.
When you run AREAMAN, there will be a number displayed in the bottom right
of the screen. It is labeled as a PreRegistration number. When, and if you
decide to register your copy of AREAMAN with us, please remember to include
this number with your registration fee as this number is required by us to
create your keyfile.
╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
║ What is AREAMAN you say? ║
╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜
AREAMAN will perform two operations. It will create an ALLFILES.LST and a
NEWFILES.LST for you. While creating these two files, many other things
happen.
1. AREAMAN will check to see if a download counter and/or download
description is present and if not, one of the following
will added:
a) <0> Description not available
b) [0] Description not available
c) (0) Description not available
d) {0} Description not available
One of the four choices above is available for selection through the
configuration file. The choice you make is of GREAT importance and
must match the selection you chose in your SuperBBS configuration
file. If you select the wrong one, your two file listings could be
written with improper file descriptions.
2. AREAMAN will create a SUB-Header before each file area is listed.
You have the option of using the default one created by the program
or creating one of your own which AREAMAN will incorporate into the
final lists. If you decide to create your own, there are options
available to you and also certain rules that you must follow.
All of these will be explained later.
3. AREAMAN will also include at the top of each file, a MAIN-Header
file which is up to you to design. If there is not one available,
or you specify a filename that does not exist, nothing will be done.
╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
║ Configuration File for AREAMAN ║
╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜
A sample configuration file is shown below for your viewings. AREAMAN
requires a configuration file by the name of "AREAMAN.CFG" and will not run
without this file. This file MUST also be located in the same directory
that the "AREAMAN.EXE" file is located in. You can create this with MS-DOS's
Edlin or any other ASCII Editor. All lines will be described as to what they
do in the example below:
Line 1: This is the filename.ext of the MAIN Header file for your
ALLFILES listing. DO NOT include a drive letter or path!
Line 2: This is the filename.ext of the MAIN Header file for your
NEWFILES listing. DO NOT include a drive letter or path!
Line 3: This is the filename.ext of the SUB Header file which is
inserted above each file area encountered while creating
both the ALLFILES and NEWFILES lists. DO NOT include a
drive letter or path!
Line 4: What style brackets you have chosen for SuperBBS
Your choices are as follows:
1 - <> 2 - [] 3 - () 4 - {}
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE!!
Line 5: This is the number of days used to determine whether a file
gets included in you NEWFILES listing. If the file is more
than this number of days old, it will not be included.
Line 6: This is the drive and path to your FLSEARCH.CTL file. DO NOT
include a filename.ext as AREAMAN will add in the filename
"FLSEARCH.CTL".
EXAMPLE CONFIGURATION FILE This column is for info only.
ALLFILES.HDR ; Name of header file for ALLFILES list
NEWFILES.HDR ; Name of header file for NEWFILES list
SUB.HDR ; Sub Header placed before each area
1 ; Bracket type used in "FILES.BBS"
30 ; # of days for inclusion in NEWFILES.LST
C:\SUPERBBS\ ; Path to "FLSEARCH.CTL"
╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
║ Running AREAMAN on your SuperBBS System ║
╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜
This is as easy as 1-2-3. First, copy AREAMAN.EXE into a directory. Second,
create your configuration file (AREAMAN.CFG). Third, either execute AREAMAN
from the DOS command line or place it into one of your event batch files.
Remember that the configuration file, and all header files MUST reside in the
same directory as the AREAMAN.EXE program. Please note that you will need to
have an "FLSEARCH.CTL" file to run this program. There are many utilities
out there can create this file for you. We used a program called "SBBSUTIL"
to create this file while we were developing AREAMAN and ran into no problems.
AREAMAN has ONLY been tested on a SuperBBS system. It will work with other
systems that store their file listings in the same format as SuperBBS does
and the file listing the downloadable files is called "FILES.BBS".
AREAMAN has been tested but may still contain some problems that we do not
know about as of just yet. If you find find a bug, have an idea of some
feature you would like added, or an idea of something you think should
be changed, feel free to let us know and we will look into it. If we
receive an idea that we incorporate into AREAMAN, we will be sure to give
you an honourable mention in this documentation and will send you a copy
of the latest version when released.
╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
║ File format for your SUB HEADER file ║
╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜
Please note!!
The unregistered version will not allow the use of a user definable
SUB-Header file. If you specify one in the configuration file, and
you are running an unregistered version, the program will ignore
this file and will use the built in sub-header. To gain use of this
feature, PLEASE REGISTER.
The SUB Header file that you can create for use in your file listings has
certain limitations and options available to you.
Limitations:
There aren't many except that the file is limited to TEN (10) lines and
must not exceed 79 characters in length. The reason for the limit of 79 was
chosen to avoid screen wrap-around when viewing this file from the DOS
prompt. Please adhere to this figure. If you do not, then usually only
the first line of your file will be included in the lists.
Options:
We have incorporated something that we feel would be of great flexibility
to most sysops out there and we hope that these options will be appreciated
and used extensively. We have incorporated the ability to use replaceable
parameters.
They are as follows:
%1 - This parameter will be replaced with the name of your
file area. The % tells the program to start at the
column where the % is found and replace it in a left
justified format.
@1 - Is essentially the same as above but the area name will
be centered using the column that the @ symbol is found
in as the center point.
%2 - This parameter is replaced with the total number of files
that are in the area in a left justified format.
%3 - This parameter is replaced with the total number of
downloads for the area in a left justified format.
%4 - This parameter will be replaced with the total file size
for the area. The number that is replaced is the total
file size in integer style numbers in a left justified
format. In other words, NO decimals.
eg. 245680
NOT 245.680K
Please note that the replacement text will vary in length and therefore
you must be careful when placing text to the right of these parameters.
If your text is placed too close, it will be overwritten!
╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
║ Other Information and the History of AREAMAN ║
╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜
Version 1.0 - Written in Quick Basic 4.5 and released on July 16, 1992
to the general public. Initial testing was performed
on Air Waves SuperBBS with the help of the Sysop 'Cal
Gardner' who, YES, as most of us know is the author of
"The Quote Of The Day" (TQOTD). (Great program). He was
a great help and inspiration to get me to write this
program. Thanks Cal!
If you have any questions pertaining to AREAMAN or any other inquiries, you
may contact me via the following:
Company: BBS:
Clayton & Associates Air Waves SuperBBS HST
Clayton Mattatall 1200-9600 Bps/HST/MNP
92 Green Maple Drive (416) 984-4076
St. Catharines, Ontario FidoNet: 1:247/117
CANADA L2P 3P5 SIGnet: 34:4416/0
╓─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╖
║ AREAMAN Support Systems ║
╙─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╜
Canada:
Air Waves SuperBBS HST St. Catharines, ON, Canada +1-416-984-4076
USR 9600 Bps FidoNet 1:247/117
Clayton & Associates has made every effort to supply trademark information
about company names, products and services mentioned in this documentation.
Clayton & Associates cannot attest to the accuracy of this information.
EDLIN and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
SuperBBS is copyright by Aki Antman
"The Quote Of The Day" is copyright by Cal Gardner