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FILEVIEW.DOC
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1989-05-24
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Documentation on F)ile V)erbose List Function for RBBS 17.2A
by Ken Goosens
24 May 1989
The V)erbose List, sometimes called View function, allows the
caller to get a list of files that are "libraried" inside a
single file.
Versions of RBBS prior to 17.2A supported only a proprietary,
non-public-domain format of System Enhancement Associates called
"arc". 17.2A internally now supports ZIP, PAK, LZH, and ARC as
well. In addition, the sysop can install support for ANY library
format using external procedures.
How to Install an External Verbose List
RBBS assumes that the file extension will identify the type of
library. Hence, all files with "ARC", "PAK", or "ZOO" have a
different but common library function.
The sysop can install a Verbose List function for files with extension
"xyz" as follows:
o In the same place that config specified to look for command.com
on, put in a bat file with the name "Vxyz.BAT". The existence
of this file tells RBBS to shell using this file to handle a
verbose list.
Warning: shelling requires EXTRA free memory beyond what RBBS uses.
If you are little or no free memory, you may be limited to only the
internal verbose list in RBBS.
Distributed Verbose List Support
RBBS includes the following files for external verbose list:
ARCVIEW.COM - Compiled C program for verbose list of DWC, PAK, ZOO,
and ARC files. Used in VDWC.BAT and VZOO.BAT
VDWC.BAT - Processor for DWC files
VZOO.BAT - Processor for ZOO files
VZIP.BAT - Processor for ZIP files (uses ZIPTV.EXE)
Each BAT file contains in it:
ARCVIEW [1] > [2]
RBBS will shell to the above program (not to the BAT file) after first
substituting the name of the file to be listed for "[1]" and the
name of the file containing the results of the listing for "[2]".
The ">" simply redirects the listing that would normally go to
the screen to "[2]".
RBBS always expects the results of the verbose list to be written to
a file named "NODExWRK" when x is the node id (1,2,3,...).
How to Implement Your Own Verbose List
Your verbose list program must have a way to receive from RBBS
o the name of the file to list
o the name of the file to write the listing to.
RBBS will interface with your program in two different ways:
depending on how many lines your BAT file contains.
If the BAT file contains exactly 1 line, RBBS will shell to the
line in the BAT file and not the BAT file. RBBS will dynamically
scan for "[1]" and "[2]" in the line and substitute the names of
the file to be listed and the file to write the results to,
respectively. Everything else will be left intact.
If the BAT file contains more than one line, RBBS will shell to
the BAT file, passing on the command line first the name of the file
to list, and second the name of the results file.
For example, the following BAT file could be used:
ECHO OFF
ARCVIEW %1 > %2
ECHO ON
Remember, inside a BAT file you can do any processing you want. For
example, if you want to keep a log called VIEW.LOG of the names of
all files viewed, you could have
ECHO %1 >> VIEW.LOG
ARCVIEW %1 > %2
The ">>" means to redirect the standard output to file VIEW.LOG but
appends rather than replaces.
Using Ziptv
Ziptv is a program distributed by Samuel H. Smith which supports not
only verbose list, but the ability to list any file inside of
a ZIP file, thus allowing users to view documentation before downloading
a file. Many sysops will want to install ZIPTV to replace the
internal RBBS verbose list. Simply make sure ZIPTV.EXE is either in
the current directory or the path, and put VZIP.BAT where config
says that COMMAND.COM is.