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1992-11-09
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-== WildBull! ==- [1]
The ULTIMATE Display File Generator!
-== Blake Software ==-
(c) 1992
[ What is WildBull? ]
WildBull is simply the hottest display file generator that exists for
a BBS Operator! Your display files can now take on the appearance and
style that a professional SysOp can appreciate! Since WildCat is the
"Ferrari" of BBS systems, don't settle for a "VW" for a display file
generator! Use WildBull! THE #1 choice for WildCat sysops!
With all the display file creation programs that exist, why was
WildBull written? After trying lots of the programs that exist on the
market, NONE of them gave me what I really wanted: a sharp display
file that could be changed on the fly. I'm not knocking the ones out
there; some are very good, but just not up to what I was after. I
developed WildBull to fill the gap left by the other programs and
wound up really liking to use it myself! I hope you will, too!
[ How To Install WildBull ]
*PLEASE!*
If there is a README.1ST included in your archive, READ IT FIRST! It
will contain any last minute *IMPORTANT* instructions for installing
this version!
Step 1.
After you download this from your favorite BBS or get it from a
friend, unzip/arj/pak (whatever) it into your bbs utilities directory
or make a new directory for it and put it there (you can run this
from a floppy, but why would anyone want to?). It MUST be executed
from it's own directory!
Step 2.
Type WBull22 and press the Enter key. The opening screen will pop up
and, if you haven't registered the program, a 20 second delay will
occur with my "beg" screen asking you to please register (This goes
away after registration). Press a key to remove this window and
enter the Main Menu. The screen will also display that the program
is unregistered and licensed to me. Each display file you create
will also display an unregistered notice (this goes away after
you register WildBull. With registration comes a new key - good for
all future upgrades).
Step 3.
At the Main Menu, press the left or right arrow keys to move the
window slider to the Config option. Press Enter to activate the
pull-down CONFIG menu. Use the arrow keys to move to the
"Configure WildBull" option on the CONFIG menu and press Enter to
activate it. At this point you will be prompted to enter your BBS
name. My BBS name pops up as the default option on a new copy of
WildBull. Press Ctrl-END to erase the line and enter your
information (enter it EXACTLY as you want it to appear in your
display file!
HINT: You can change this line to display ANY text in the Framed Box
generated by WildBull. For example, you need to display more
additional information than is possible in just the headline alone.
Go to CONFIG and change the BBS Name to the text you want displayed
and you are good to go!).
-== WildBull! ==- [2]
Step 4.
The next option asks for the name of the SysOp (your name). Enter it
exactly as you want it to appear in your display file.
Step 5.
Next, you are asked to enter the Path\Filename for your display
file. The default is \WC30\BULL\BULL#.BBS. If your BBS is on a
different drive or in a different directory from the above, press
Ctrl-END (or use the cursor keys to move to the area requiring change
- press INS or Insert to start INSERT mode) and enter the correct
path\filename for your display file.
You are then asked if you are happy with the choices you have made.
If you are not, press N (if it beeps at you, turn Insert off) to
correct or Y to accept your choices. These will be written to disk
as your new defaults.
Step 6.
After you have you have finished this task, you need to configure
WildBull for the TEXT EDITOR you will use to create your display file.
*RECOMMENDATION* If you do not have or use WildEdit, I STRONGLY
recommend you try it! It has features found only in expensive
editors; commands like text centering, block commands and you can
have up to 8 text windows open at any time (text can be moved from
window to window!). If you register WildBull, WildEdit comes with
it FREE - a $20.00 value alone!
Select CONFIG and then select Configure WildBull. The pulldown
window will have the option Select Editor. Select this feature and
enter the path\filename.ext of your editor. For example:
C:\WILDSTUF\WILDEDIT.EXE
The default that pops up is simply WILDEDIT.EXE /E
^(43/50 line mode).
*NOTE* Your editor MUST be able to accept a filename from the command
line prompt! WildBull calls your editor and the text file you enter
as requested to allow you to enter your display file. If your
editor can't support a call like WILDEDIT BULLWORK.LTR, then you will
have to change editors or do not use the BULLETIN feature of the Main
Menu. Use your TEXT editor and create/edit your text file from DOS.
WildBull does everything in RAM to make it move FAST! Because of
this, if you don't have enough free memory to allow the Bull to shell
out and run your editor, you won't get to edit your text file. If
this happens, call my board and download WildEdit (or buy & use Shroom
and have the Bull swapped out to a disk file, freeing up more memory
for your editor). Remove any TSR's you have running to give you more
workspace as well.
The BULLETIN feature of the Main Menu shells and loads your editor
and the text file you enter at the prompt. If your editor supports it
and the file doesn't exist, it will be created at this time.
-== WildBull! ==- [3]
After you have finished all of this, you are now ready to create your
first display file. Select BULLETIN from the Main Menu and you will
be prompted for the file name you wish to create/edit. Next, your
editor will call up the text file you entered, if it has this
capability. Type in your text and when finished, save it the way you
normally would using the SAVE command built into your editor (Ctrl-K X
for WildEdit). After you exit your editor, you will be returned to
WildBull.
WildBull will ask you if you wish to generate your display file at
this point. Press Y and hit Enter to go ahead and generate, or press
N (Enter) to change colors or make other changes. If INSERT mode is
active, you will not be able to type over to change from N to Y.
You will have to press the DELETE key to delete the N letter and then
enter Y, or press INS to toggle overwrite mode and you can then type
over the current character.
Next, move the slider (use the left/right cursor keys) to the Colors
feature of the Main Menu. Use the color selection menu to configure
WildBull for the colors you desire.
*NOTE* You can change these colors for each addition to your display
file as well. The WC3.x color codes are used.
When you are all set to generate your display file, select Generate
from the Main Menu. Select either INTERNAL or EXTERNAL styles.
Next you will be asked if you wish to change banner/footer. Make any
desired changes and hit Enter. You are then presented with a pulldown
menu of style selections. Select the style you want and hit enter.
You will be asked for the PATH to your text file that is to be used in
the creation of your display file. THE PATH MUST BE ENTERED! The
next line asks you for the filename. Here you can just press Enter
and you will be given a directory of all of the available files in the
path you entered to choose from. The DOS wildcards are supported by
the FILENAME option (i.e., *.DOC would display in the directory pick-
list only those files that end in the extension DOC).
WildBull will then ask you if you want to overwrite the old display
file or add to it. Select Overwrite to create a new display file or
move the highlight bar down once to add this text to the existing
display file your system is currently displaying.
[ A Note About Styles ]
Each of the frame styles available has it's own text line length
limitations!
Style Name Max Chars Per Line Style Name Max Chars
======================================================================
BLOCK - 79 CATSTYLE - 79
COMPUTER PAPER - 69 TRIPLE - 73
SHADOW - 76 JAGGED - 77
DOUBLE - 75 ARROW - 79
SINGLE - 75
THICK - 75
THICK/THIN - 75
DUAL FRAME - 73
CINEMA - 71
ROMAN - 67
======================================================================
-== WildBull! ==- [4]
If your display file text exceeds the max line length accepted by the
style you select, any text over the maximum will be truncated!
*NOTE*
If you use WildEdit (or other editor if this feature is available),
set the right margin for the maximum width allowed for the style
you are generating as defined above (Ctrl-O R in WildEdit). Toggle
word wrap on and it makes a quick and easy job of typing your text.
That's all there is to it! It's easy to use and does a heck of a
job! I hope you like it and will look for the next release. All
registered users will get the next AND ALL FUTURE releases FREE!
One last thing...This version is *NOT* crippleware! EVERY feature
works but two on the unregistered version (you can only have 2
external style names active plus, you get that old 20 second pause
when you first run it up which goes away when you register. I've got
to generate a little annoyance or no one would register!).
You can generate display files to your hearts content in any of the
offered styles. Every future release will have ALL internal styles
available (I don't believe in crippling a product you want people to
register. You can't test if it don't work in the first place!). I
leave it up to your honor to register WildBull and I hope that if you
like it and use it you will. I'm an Air Force NCO with 4 kids and can
use the bucks <grin>!
[ Home Board ]
Green Acres! BBS - (505) 763-5129 12-9600 Baud WildCat 3.51
[ Support BBS's ]
Ken Squyres, Rex Osborn, and Richard Anderson have graciously made
space available on their boards for my software. THANKS to these
SUPER individuals! All are avid supporters of the SHAREWARE concept &
you can always get the latest releases from these fantastic BBS's. If
you want to drop me a suggestion or a comment and can't get on my
board, you can leave me mail on any of these boards, as well.
The Data Shop BBS - SysOp - Ken Squyres - (501) 234-5064
Computer Touch BBS - SysOp - Rex Osborn - (505) 762-0116
The Computer Lynx BBS - SysOp - Richard Anderson - (505) 326-2906
Other programs available:
======================================================================
The Myths & Legends Door $15.00
M&L is the ULTIMATE trivia game door! You can have up to
10 games active at any time in one copy of the door! (10 topics
available to your caller inside the door from the Main Menu).
The unique thing about it is, it comes with a question and answer
generator that your callers can download and create games themselves
for inclusion in your door! They can create a game file and color
ANSI screen to accompany it and upload it to you for addition to
the game! The ANSI screen is displayed at that game topic's run time.
======================================================================
BBS Lister (BBS Data entry Door) for ANY BBS $FREE$
*Allows callers to view the BBS's that have been entered into
the door, plus allows them to download a text file of the same info!
The WIT Door - Graffitti door for ANY BBS $FREE$
2 Cents - Quote door for ANY BBS $FREE$
======================================================================
ANSIBull - ANY BBS display file generator Both For Only
ANSIStyl - Style generator for WildBull $20.00
*WildEdit, a $20.00 value FREE when you register!
======================================================================
The WILDSTUFF Utilities for WildCat 3.x BBS's!
WildPrompt - WildCat 3.x WYSIWYG Prompt Editor $5.00
Change your prompts on the fly and see them exactly as they
will appear while you edit them!
WildStats/Call Log - Creates a listing of who has called your
BBS today, PLUS up to the minute stats of what has occurred
today (like WCPRO). It also creates a "mini" stats screen
that is displayed to your callers at the end of the call log. $5.00
*FREE if you register WildBull/News!
WildBull - Bulletin Generator for WildCat! 3.x All
WildNews - Newsletter Generator for WildCat! 3.x For
WildStyle- Style generator for WildNews/Bull Only
*WildEdit, FREE when you register! $20.00
======================================================================
WildEdit - Text Editor designed with WildBull/News in mind, but
will work for all of your text editing needs!
Works GREAT with WildBull! $20.00
[ Program Registration Form ]
======================================================================
Your Name:
BBS Name/Number:
Program(s) You Are Registering:
Your Address:
Comments:
For registered users only! You can download your registered "key"
directly from my BBS! Give me a password you would like to use and
I'll pre-log you on the system. Otherwise, your key will come by
mail.
PASSWORD:
======================================================================
You will be sent a "key" to register your copy(s) within 1 to 6 weeks
after your payment is received ("key" is sent immediately, but the
Post Office is slower than an 8088!). Please send your check or money
order (U.S. Currency ONLY, please) for the required amount to:
Blake Software
512 W.17th Street
Clovis, NM 88101