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1993-03-09
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Interfacing TAG to AcFiles
Kudos
~~~~
TAG Copyright The TAG Team (Hey that's new!)
AcFiles Copyright Ray Cole
Thanks go out to The TAG team for providing the structures
necessary for creating this and other TAG utilities.
Special thanks to Victor Capton and Paul Williams for
providing special insight into some of TAG's innards,
thus making it much easier to provide this interface.
Thanks go to Ray Cole as well for this truly remarkable
file door. AcFiles is probably the most intuitive, powerful
and flexible file systems in existence. It defiantly the
file system for both users and sysops.
Whadda I need?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You will find all the programs needed to operate Acfiles with TAG in the
files CVT2QB??.ZIP and ACF?????.??? (Meaning the most current versions of
both ACFILES and CVTQBBS).
The conversion programs needed to setup and maintain the necessary QBBS
V2.7? files are:
CVT2QBBS.EXE : Generates the main QBBS System Files
EXITINFO.EXE : Generates the ExitInfo.BBS and DorInfo?.Def Files
SETDLK .EXE : Allows Sysop Configurable Daily Download K
restrictions By Security Level
ADDFILE .EXE : Adds Files Uploaded to ACFILES from the QBBS List
Files created by CVT2TAG (Nightly event)
See each of these utilities' documentation for operational details.
I am not going to go into a whole lot of detail on the actual setup.. If you
can't read and understand the AcFiles docs then you really should not attempt
to set the program up. I will, however, describe a few of the things that are
pertinent to setting up with TAG and some of the things I have discovered
that one should or should not do.
First:
Setup your AcFiles directory and unzip all the related files into this
directory. AcFiles is multi-node aware and if you plan to run in a multi-node
configuration make sure you have setup a separate AcFiles data directory for
each node. And you will need to follow the multi-node instructions for the
CVT2QBBS utilities as well. Failure to do so will produce unpredictable
result at best. (If you want to use DLK restrictions Execute SETDLK before
You Run CVT2QBBS)
Once you have created the needed directories and placed the various
conversion files and data files where described with in the docs, Run The
program CVT2QBBS in each of the AcFiles node directories (the CVT2QBBS
program MUST be in the respective directories), This will create the QBBS
system files and the List files (normally Files.Bbs but, if you are running a
CD-ROM, the list file name and path could well be different).
Now that we have created our QBBS system run the AcFiles conversion program
for QBBS systems called QBBS2ACF.EXE.. provide it with the path to your QBBS
system node directory.
Now run the AcFConf.EXE program. The details for Configuring AcFiles can be
found in the Sysop Documentation. here are some highlights:
-[RUN ACFIDX After ACFCFG and only run it ONCE! all extended descriptions
will be *Lost* if you run ACFIDX after initial setup!]-
▐▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▌
▐ (N)ame: Area 1 Area #: 1 ▌
▐────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────▌
▐ (P)ath : C:\NEWFILES\ ▌
▐ (F)ILES.BBS : C:\NEWFILES\FILES.BBS ▌
▐ Data(B)ase : AF-1 ▌
▐ (D)escription: ]-=(New File Uploads)=-[ ▌
▐─────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────▌
▐ (1) Area Sec: 10 │ (2) Download Sec: 100 │ (3) Upload Sec: 100 ▌
▐ │ │ ▌
▐ AX------- │ AX------- │ AX------- ▌
▐ B-------- │ B-------- │ B-------- ▌
▐ C-------- │ C-------- │ C-------- ▌
▐ D-------- │ D-------- │ D-------- ▌
▐ │ │ ▌
▐ PW: │ PW: │ PW: ▌
▐─────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────▌
▐ (4) Free Area : No (6) Dupe Check: Yes (8) Allow NewScan: Yes ▌
▐ (5) Upload Area: 1 (7) Area Type : Public (9) Days to Keep : 0 ▌
▐────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────▌
▐ [+/-] - Next/Previous [G] - Global Changes [R] - Remove Area ▌
▐ [</>] - Next Defined Area [J] - Jump to Area ▌
▐ [M,C] - Move/Copy Area ▌
▐▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▌
It's important to note options 5 and 9.. Option 5 allows you to specify a
file area other than the download file area for uploads. This is important
for those of you running CD-ROMS and single area uploading. If you use a
single new file upload area I would suggest you use the [G]lobal Changes
option for setting all your file areas at once. As you can see there is
even a provision for file area passwords just like TAG. Also Note that the
days to Keep will cause AcFiles to remove old files from the file system
when they are older than the days entered in option (9).. so READ the docs
carefully! (This will not remove the files from TAG at this time so I
wouldn't recommend removing them from Acfiles with this automatic option at
this time.)
Most of this information will already be filled in for you via the CVT2QBBS
and QBBS2ACF program.. but you may need to come here for fine tuning.
Next Look at the general configuration....
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ General Editor ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
▌1) BBS Name: The Best BBS In The World Running ACF ▐
▌2) SysOp Name: Great SysOp ▐
▌3) BBS Path: C:\BBS\ ▐
▌4) Extended Desc. Path: C:\ACFILES\DESC\ ▐
▌5) External Msg Editor: ▐
▌6) "UL By" Sec. Level: 0 ▐
▌7) SysOp Sec. Level: 64000 ▐
▌8) Inactivity Timeout: 360 ▐
▌9) Upload Time Ratio: 1 ▐
▌A) UL Drive Space Check: 3000 ▐
▌B) Free Download K: 200 ▐
▌C) Display Mode: DIRECT ▐
▌D) Hide U/Ls by Default: NO ▐
▌E) Menu Twirl Prompt: ON ▐
▌F) On-Line Count Update: ON ▐
▌G) Area Change Style: Matrix ▐
▌H) Forced Pre-U/L Info.: None ▐
▌I) User/Local Length: Vary ▐
▌J) Starting Screen: Area Change ▐
▌K) Auto-D/L File 1: ▐
▌L) File 1 Desc: ▐
▌M) Auto-D/L File 2: ▐
▌N) File 2 Desc: ▐
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
Some important notes here are Options G, H,J, C, B, 7, 6, 9, and F. Do
NOT activate Option F.. This will generate a bastard version of the
files.bbs and will not allow ADDFILE to import properly.
Make sure you set Option 7 to 255 or you will not have access to any of the
Acfiles sysop functions online.
If you allow extended descriptions you MUST define an external editor and
create the description path. Another side affect is that if you don't use
acfiles to delete the file then the description files will remain until you
manually find and erase them. If there appears to be a need, I will write a
utility that removes files from TAG based upon their existence within the
list file (files.bbs) but I personally think this would be better left to
manual.. at least for now.
I recommend using option (G) in it's template mode. This means that a user
could have a security level high enough to see a section but not high
enough to access it. Kinda like TAG's read/write message base security, Or
privileged S/L for files areas.
I recommend Option (J) be set to files menu.. this means AcFiles will place
the use in the firs file area they have access to and present them with the
main operations menu.
Option (H) should be set to ask For Description and Name... This requires
the user to enter the file name and description before uploading.. and it
will also allow for a new scan prior to uploading. AcFiles will notice
unlisted uploads and will also prompt the user for the description to these
files. (Side note.. Acfiles can also be easily set up to work with TAGSCAN
as well although there isn't really a need for it as you will find once you
see all the internal post-upload functions possible with AcFiles)
Option (D) Hide Uploads Means that until you "UnHide" them they will not be
added to the Files.BBS. this is the same as Utilizing TAG's Validation.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ Node Editor ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
▌ A) ACFiles Data Path: .\ ▐
▌ B) Log File Name: acfiles.log ▐
▌ C) Node Number: 4 ▐
▌ D) Paging Hours: 00:00-23:59 ▐
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
Selection:
The Node Editor is self explanatory and should be utilized as per the
AcFiles Sysop Documentation. (sorry but anything this good takes a bit of
setup and learning.)
Maintenance
~~~~~~~~~~~
yor nightly maintenance should include running ADDFILE.EXE, CVT2QBBS for
each TAG node,and running and ACF_UTIL.EXE... and they should be
executed in that order! this insures that all files uploaded by either TAG
or AcFiles will end up in both file systems. Don't forget to run ACF_UTIL
with the /MAINT option or all of your files will appear to be offline
to users entering the door (after new list files are created by
CVT2QBBS.EXE). ]-=(DON'T RUN ACFIDX as a nightly Event!)=-[
Read the AcFiles documentation section on creating an input file for the
ACF_UTIL /MAINT function.. it makes it much simpler.
Acfiles also comes with a provision for coverting archive types.. This can
also be done while moving files from area to area so please pay attention
to the docs in this regard.
If you elect to have AcFiles create your file listings (for download) for
you via the ACF_UTIL /MASTER option you may need to understand how the
flags are converted from TAG to QBBS:
TAG - QBBS Flags diagram
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Flags = @ A B C D E F G
B Flags = H I J K L M N O
C Flags = P Q R S T U V W
D Flags = X Y Z _ _ _ _ _
E Flags = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
So a User with the G and B AR flags would have a QBBS a flag setup
that looks like: X_X____X. If you had an area with an access flag
restriction of Z and you didn't want this included in your file
listing and you only wanted areas with a DSL allowance of 100 then
your command line would be:
ACF_UTIL /MASTER SEC_100 FLAGD?_??????
Using the S/L and Flags (as well as ranges) you can easily create
file lists consisting of any specific areas you desire.. Normal and
adult areas for example (I told you this thing does it all)
BIG NOTE!
~~~~~~~~~
Since QBBS offers *much* higher security levels, and the sysop security
default is 64000, you will need to completely reconfigure the Sysop menu
keys! Write down each key and it's function (see the Keys menu, sysop
functions), then delete and re-add them ONE AT A TIME making sure you set
the S/L to the appropriate level (you can offer some of the keys to your
file area Co-Ops is you wish).
This should be all I need to tell you at this point.. If there are any
questions or comments (especially with the Beta CVT2QBBS files) contact me
via Netmail at 1:236/16... This is the preferable way but if you cannot for
some reason or another then I can be reached via the TAGBETA, TAG, TAGDOORS
echos or call my BBS at (219) 747- 5871.
Rick Cooper