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┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
╒═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│▒▒ ▒▒│
│▒▒ ───────────────────────── N W S F L A S H ───────────────────────── ▒▒│
│▒▒ The NewsFlash Generator for QuickBBS ▒▒│
│▒▒ ▒▒│
╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Written by M.Jay Benton
Benton Software Enterprises
Dedicated to someone special, A.L.Schack
Version 2.31
Original Release: Version 1.00, November 1989
Introduction ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
NewsFlash was created to tend to the need of having the news
bulletins automatically timed according to events taking place on a
QuickBBS System. NewsFlash allows the sysop to specify a time frame
that individual story is to be included in the ASCII or ANSI
screens displayed by QuickBBS.
Disclaimer ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
The author of this product only guarntees that the product will
take up space on your drives. There is no warrantee associated with
this product. In simple terms, you use it, you take the risk.
Files in Distribution File (ZIP) ────────────────────────────────────────────
NWSFLASH.DOC --- This documentation file.
NWSFLASH.EXE --- NWSFLASH executable.
NWSFLASH.CTL --- Example Control File.
NWSTODAY.EXE --- 'In History' interface to NWSFLASH.
FLASHES.F01 --- Example FORCED News Story.
FLASHES.S01 --- Example STOPPABLE News Story.
FLASHES.S00 --- Example of NWSTODAY output, NewsFlash Interface.
TODAY.ASC ------ Example of NWSTODAY output, QuickBBS displayable.
NEWS.ANS ------- Sample of NEWS files generated by Mayhem Unlimited.
NEWS.ASC ------/
VIEW.EXE ------- View ANSI/ASCII files like QuickBBS/RA.
*** The example files always contain the latest file limits and ***
*** formats. It is always suggested to read them just to make ***
*** sure that the formats and limits have not changed. I might ***
*** change the limits or the formats and forget to make the ***
*** changes in the documentation. ***
Installation ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
NewsFlash is best suited for usage by placing it into a directory of
it's own. In it's own directory, you would not have to worry about
reading files from other software that might use the same name
files and all of the files are in one place, making maintenance
simplier.
Place all of the files found in the distribution file into the
directory you wish to have NewsFlash running from.
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│░▒ You will have to switch to that directory before running ▒░│
│░▒ NWSFLASH because it does not go looking for files outside ▒░│
│░▒ of the current directory. ▒░│
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Load NWSFLASH.CTL, FLASHES.F01, and FLASHES.S01 into your
favorite ASCII-Text editor (like Q-Edit).
The format for the NWSFLASH.CTL is as follows:
Line-1 : BBS Name
Line-2 : Sysop Name
Line-3 : Registeration Code (1 if not registered)
Line-4 : News Flash Screen Name
Line-5 : News Flash Screen Name, Line #2. Blank if not used.
Line-6 : Line#1 of No News Message
Line-7 : Line#2 of No News Message. Blank if not used.
Line-8 : ASCII File & Path Name (NEWS.ASC)
Line-9 : ANSI File & Path Name (NEWS.ANS)
Line-10: Color Codes for -- Tractor Feeds
Line-11: Color Codes for -- NWSFLASH Title
Line-12: Color Codes for -- News Story Titles
Line-13: Color Codes for -- Story Authors
Line-14: Color Codes for -- News Story Body
Line-15: Color Codes for -- Press <ENTER> Message
Line-16: Color Codes for -- Boldfacing Attribute
Line-17: Color Codes for -- Reverse Video Attribute
Limits for Control File:
Line-1 : 70-Characters, Any ASCII Characters.
Line-2 : 70-Characters, Any ASCII Characters.
Line-3 : Valid registration number or 1.
Line-4 : 70-Characters, Any ASCII Characters.
Line-5 : 70-Characters, Any ASCII Characters.
Line-6 : 70-Characters, Any ASCII Characters.
Line-7 : 70-Characters, Any ASCII Characters.
Line-8 : 76-Characters containing valid DOS File Names & Paths.
Line-9 : 76-Characters containing valid DOS File Names & Paths.
Line-10 thru 17: Color Codes, codes selected from ANSI Code Chart
at the end of this document.
FORMAT: #;##;##m
| | |
| | \---- BackGround Color Code
| \------- ForeGround Color Code
\---------- Attribute Code
░▒ Notes on Color Codes: NWSFLASH uses standard ANSI.SYS color ▒░
░▒ codes and cursor control codes. You can find a copy of the ▒░
░▒ color combination codes at the end of this document. ▒░
The format for FLASHES.F##:
Line-1 : News Story Title
Line-2 : Story Author Name
Line-3 : Start Date for Including into display
Line-4 : End Date for Including into display
Line-5 : Delete Story File after Expiration (Y/N)
Line-6 : Date to be converted to FLASHES.S## file.
Line-7 : Body of Story
Line-??: Body of Story
The format for FLASHES.S##:
Line-1 : News Story Title
Line-2 : Story Author Name
Line-3 : Start Date for Including into display
Line-4 : End Date for Including into display
Line-5 : Delete Story File after Expiration (Y/N)
Line-6 : Date to be converted to FLASHES.F## file.
Line-7 : Body of Story
Line-??: Body of Story
Limits for FLASHES.F## & FLASHES.S##:
Story Titles: 70-Characters, Any ASCII Characters.
Author Name: 70-Characters, Any ASCII Characters.
Start Date: YYYYMMDD (Example: 19900101 for January 1, 1990)
End Date: YYYYMMDD (Example: 19900130 for January 30, 1990)
Convert Date: YYYYMMDD (Example: 19900115 for January 15, 1990)
Story Lines: 70-Characters, remembering that NWSFLASH automatically
centers the text.
Notes on conversion dates:
When the original story is FORCED or STOPPABLE, the conversion date
is set by the author of the story.
When STOPPABLE story is converted to a forced, the new conversion
date is system date plus 10-days. The new StartDate is the system
date.
FORCED -- > Stoppable w/ 00000000 convert date.
STOPPABLE --> FORCED w/ systemdate + 10days convert date
-- > STOPPABLE w/ 00000000 convert date.
The formats of the FLASHES.x## allow you to create a stoppable story
that can be converted to a forced. After 10-days, the forced story
will be converted back to a stoppable. The new stoppable will contain
a conversion date of 00000000 to never be reconverted.
All you have to do now is to execute NWSFLASH. It uses some windowing
functions to display what is doing as it processes the FLASHES.
When NWSFLASH terminates, it will tell you how many stories it
included in the generation of the NEWS.A?? files.
Dynamic Dates ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
In the FLASHES.X## files, you can specify a year and a certain day
without specifying a month. Replace the month with 00 and every
month, the story will be included in the NEWS.A?? generation. This
is great to automatically remind people of monthly meetings, os
monthly system events. For example, the start date of a story
could be 19900001 and the ending date could be 19900010. This
range would be from the 1st of each month to the 10th of each
month. When NWSFLASH runs, it would replace the month (00) with the
current system month.... Nifty idea, huh ??
Miscellaneous Notes ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1). You are limited to 99 stories for the F## files and 99
for the S## files.
2). The Start-Date and End-Date ranges allow you to specify the
time range that the particular story is to be displayed to
users in the Display-Files (NEWS.ASC / NEWS.ANS).
3). The major difference between F## & S## files, aside from the
extension, is the F## files are forced -- the user HAS TO
read them. The S## files are breakable using the <S>-key like
many of QuickBBS' screens.
4). NWSFLASH reads the directory and retrieves the files in the
same order that you would see them when you issue the DIR
command at the DOS prompt. So, sort them into the particular
order you want them displayed before running NWSFLASH.
5). The Advanced-Graphics Feature allows some fancy paging in the
NEWS.ANS file. Run with this option and signon to your
QuickBBS System locally and see what I mean. It would be a
lot easier for you to see it than for me to try to describe
it.
NwsToday ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This program will create two files when executed. The first is a plain
ASCII file (TODAY.ASC) that can be readily displayed by QuickBBS. The
second file is a Flashes story, FLASHES.X00. By specifying <S> on the
command line (NWSTODAY S), NWSTODAY will create FLASHES.S00 and set the
Delete-After-Expire to <Y> and no conversion date. On the other hand,
if you specify <F> on the command line (NWSTODAY F), NWSTODAY will
create FLASHES.F00 and set the Delete-After-Expire to <Y> with no
conversion date. NwsToday will only work with Version 2.30a or better
of NWSFLASH. It is highly recommended that NWSTODAY be run right before
NWSFLASH is executed.
This program uses data files that are used by the program called
TODAY.EXE as written by Patrick Kincaid. TODAY.EXE & related files can
be requested from Mayhem Unlimited as TODAY.ZIP. At this point in time,
I am not sure what version he has available for distribution.
Closing ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Well.... That's all I can think of to tell you. NWSFLASH was
written to provide flexibility and some power in controlling the
contents of the NEWS.A?? files. I have several FLASHES.S## files
already created to wish people Merry Christmas, Happy Thanksgiving
and a couple of other holidays. It's great for month reminders by
using the dynamic-date features.
If you have any ideas or comments, please feel free to contact me
by using one of the means listed below in "Registeration".
Bye for now....
M.Jay Benton
Registeration ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Although I do not require any formal registration,you are required to
register NWSFLASH. You may contact me via one of the methods listed below
to obtain a valid registration code number that is entered into the
control file.
$$ DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AND WILL NOT BE REFUSED $$
After all, that's what pays for the computer, electricity,
phone line, repairs, and the compilers.
After the initial release of NWSFLASH, there has been several
registrations, no donations. My expenses are adding up to maintain
this software and my system to support and develop it.
Registered Sysops notify me of the their usage of NWSFLASH will be
notified, if feasibly possible, when there is an update of NWSFLASH.
Donations will not be refused and are welcomed... probably more than
you would realize.
By not registering NWSFLASH, you will not be able to take advantage of
the conversion from forced to stoppable flashes. This feature will not
work without a valid registration number.
You can notify me at the following locations:
FidoNet:
Mayhem Unlimited 1:150/290 (302)678-0141 (Fastest)
Terry's Board 1:150/215 (302)739-3670
Andromeda BBS 1:150/211 (302)284-3178
USPostal: Jay Benton
C/O CU-BBS
P.O.Box 1626
Dover, De 19903-1626
(Enclose a self address/self-stamped envelope
for registeration code. This is the slowest method
because of my current time schedules.)
Please include the EXACT SPELLING of your BBS's name, your name,
and which version of NWSFLASH you are using.
I have to have the name of your BBS, exactly as it will appear in the
control file...
If you chose to register via FidoNet, poll 1:150/290 after about a
week if you wish to send the information through the net. I will
not allow my system to call other systems that operate below
9600-baud... Sorry...
Upgrades ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Since NWSFLASH relies upon QuickBBS, when there is a change in QuickBBS,
chances are very high that there would be a new version of NWSFLASH. The
only thing that NWSFLASH relies upon is the screen control codes.
Suggestions/Comments ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Like with any of my software, suggestions and your comments are
welcome. If you discover a possible error, please contact me as
soon as possible.
Copyrights ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
NWSFLASH is copyrighted by M.Jay Benton.
TODAY was written by Patrick Kincaid,
618 Douglas Drive,
Mill Valley, CA 94941.
QuickBBS was developed by Alan Hudson, owned and modified by
the QuickBBS Group, Inc, and who knows who now...
*********************************************************************
ANSI COLOR CODES
Attribute Code ------Action-------
0............ All Off
2............ High-Intensity
4............ Underline (MONOCHROME
5............ Blink On
7............ Reverse Video
8............ Invisible
--Color Name-- --ForeGround Code-- --BackGround Code--
Black....... ........30...................40.........
Red......... ........31...................41.........
Green....... ........32...................42.........
Yellow...... ........33...................43.........
Blue........ ........34...................44.........
Magenta..... ........35...................45.........
Cyan........ ........36...................46.........
White....... ........37...................47.........
*********************************************************************