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1992-07-20
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MSGCOMP <c> 1992 Karl Schneider
8505 Woodwick Ct.
Tampa, FL 33615
Voice: 813-884-9661 days/eves
BBS: " " " MIDNIGHT-0800 E.S.T.
(14.4 HST)
MSGCOMP is a Wildcat 3.x+ utility that will allow you to encourage
messaging by users, by giving them 'upload' credits for every x number
of messages posted. This was requested by several Wildcat sysops
who want to limit downloads via the Wildcat 'ratio' settings, but
don't want to encourage uploading of junk or duplicate files.
The program is designed to be used in a daily event. I considered
making it a 'door' type program but in discussing this with other
sysops, decided that wasn't the best approach for a couple of rea-
sons: Many users aren't comfortable with doors, and some of those
who are might seize the opportunity to post a bunch of 'garbage'
messages in order to regain download ability. By running MSGCOMP
daily (or more or less often as desired), the garbage messaging
can pretty much be eliminated...it's a lot faster to review messages
than unzip and check out what might well be garbage UPloads. Also, it
will encourage 'regular' posting rather than only when someone wants
immediate access to additional downloads.
MSGCOMP is very simple to use. Make sure MSGCOMP.EXE is either in
your Wildcat Home Directory (or anywhere in the PATH), then just
add these lines to the batch file executed by the EVENT you wish
to run it in:
cd\wc30
msgcomp 5
In this example, users will get 1 'upload' credit for every 5 messages
posted. You can use any compensation number you wish here (well, up
to 32000 anyway...!) If your Wildcat Home directory is not \wc30
change the first line accordingly, or leave it out if the batch file
hasn't already changed the current directory.
Suppose you have specified (in MAKEWILD) your download/upload
ratio at 10:1. User Joe Smith has 2 uploads and 24 downloads.
Since he's over the 10:1 ratio, Wildcat won't let him d/l any more
files. If he posts 8 messages, when MSGCOMP runs in your event,
it will give him 1 additional 'upload' and deduct 5 from 'messages
written'. Now he must post 2 more before he can get another upload
credit (the 3 he had left plus the 2 new ones).
When credits are issued, the information is written to a file called
MSGCOMP.LOG. A sample is included in this package so you can see
what it looks like. Like ACTIVITY.00x, this file will grow as infor-
mation is added to it...you may erase it any time you wish, a new
one will be started.
You may wish to start out everyone from 'ground zero' with 0 messages.
ZEROMSG.EXE, included here will globally reset all user records to
zero messages sent. Just run it (in your WC home directory) if you
want to do this.
>>> If you do run ZEROMSG, do it with all nodes down,
>>> It has to update all user records and since
>>> it will probably be run only once, I did not bother
>>> with record locking.
MSGCOMP, however, does support file sharing, but it's normally better
to have nodes down during external events.
I've tested these programs as carefully as possible and have found
no problems. Any suggestions, bug reports or comments are welcome.
Please note that I make no warranties of any kind on these programs.
Regular backup of data (ALLFILES.DAT, etc.) is, as always, your
best insurance against potential problems!
If this program is useful to you, please register it with a nominal
contribution ($10 or so). Any contribution of $40 or more will give
you full registration on ALL my Wildcat utilities (plus future ones).
That's about $1 each, or if you use only 8 of them, it's just $5
apiece. Thanks.
KS