synchro.net/synchro.net.tar/synchro.net/modem.madness/SMMNETML/LR35.ZIP/LSTRELAY.DOC

Text File | 1993-05-27 | 12.1 KB | 297 lines

                  ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
                  │             LSTRELAY                 │
                  │      Exhibit A Communications        │
                  │ 110 East Avenida Palizada, Suite 201 │
                  │       San Clemente, CA 92672         │
                  │      InfoMat BBS [phone]       │
                  └──────────────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────┐
│ Description │
└─────────────┘

LSTRELAY is a utility that enables sysops to automate the generation
of news files announcing time and date of last network mail transfer.
LSTRELAY currently supports PCRelay, PostLink, GAPNet, Rnet, and TNET
network software as well as READROOM door's IMPORT utility.  The LSTRELAY
utility allows the sysop to select either one screen design, or let
the program select a different one each day.

LSTRELAY will also import a private message to the sysop in the main
forum message base of the BBS.  This message will provide information
regarding the status of the last mail run.  Sysop will be informed of
the number of messages imported, number of messages exported, name of
files requested/sent and other information collected from the network
software's log file.

┌──────────────────┐
│ Copyright Notice │
└──────────────────┘

LSTRELAY is being distributed as shareware.  While it may be freely
distributed, no charge may be extracted for such distribution with the
following exceptions: User groups, Pay BBSes, or software distributors.
In any case, no more than $6.00 may be charged for
duplication/distribution of this file.

LSTRELAY was created by Michael J. Gibbs for Exhibit A Communications.
Individual screens were designed by individuals listed at the end of
this document.  This program is the copyrighted work of Exhibit A
Communications, 1992.


┌────────────┐
│ Disclaimer │
└────────────┘

While every effort has been made to ensure the safety of this program,
neither Exhibit A Communications nor Michael J. Gibbs may be held liable
for any damage caused to hardware, software, reputation, goodwill or karma
through the use of this program.  Use of LSTRELAY is an indication that you
understand this disclaimer.


┌──────────────┐
│ Registration │
└──────────────┘

Running a BBS, I am on a tight budget much as you are.  As such, I have
tried to structure the registration fee to cover this.  The payment
options are as follows:
        1) Send money ($10.00 US would be good)
        2) Send registered programs you have written, preferably ones
           that will work with a GAP BBS

Registration will grant you support for this program, as well as remove
the beg screen from the relay report imported to the BBS's message base.

To register, please print out ORDER.FRM, fill it out and mail it.  It's
that simple.


┌───────┐
│ Usage │
└───────┘

Requirements
───────────

LSTRELAY requires the following:
        IBM compatible personal computer (PC, XT, AT, 386, etc.)
        DOS 3.0 or higher
        BBS software with supporting UTIs (available from BBS developer)
        Running PCRelay PostLink, Rnet or TNET networking software.


Installation
────────────

The only files necessary to running LSTRELAY are LSTRELAY.EXE and
it's configuration file.  They can be copied to any directory that you
wish.  Registered versions require the file REG.FIL be placed in same
directory as LSTRELAY.EXE.

NOTE: If you are running a version of network software that doesn't require
the use of UTIs, (like some PCBOARD users), you will need to get the
correct UTIIMPRT.EXE AND UTIHIGH.EXE for your BBS software if you wish
the program to import reports to the sysop into the BBS message base.  This
feature can be turned off if you wish.

If you are relaying with more than one network, you may have a
copy of the configuration file for each network.  This will give you a
last relay screen for each one.  In order to prevent any confusion, you
might want to rename each configuration file to reflect the network that
it is for.

SPECIAL NOTE:  If you are running only one network relay, it is probably
best to leave the configuration file name LSTRELAY.CFG.  Beta tester
Krause reported that PCRelay will erase the configuration file if you
name it the same as your net id (ie: id = BUILDERS, file named
BUILDERS.CFG) and if it is placed in the same directory as your PCRelay
files.


Configuration
─────────────

The configuration file should only be edited with a text editor like
EDLIN, EDIT, QEDIT or any word processor that can save ASCII or DOS files
(Wordstar or WordPerfect).  Before using LSTRELAY, you must change
configuration file to reflect your particular set up.

The configuration file allows you to make comments in the file by
placing a semicolon (;) in the first position on each line.

There are nine lines that you must complete before you can use LSTRELAY.
The order of the information is most important.  If you wish, you may
remove the comment lines, but I would keep them as it makes it easier to
track down problems.
        1) Registration number, given to you when you register
        2) Your name, as shown on registion
        3) Network software used
        4) screen number to use
        5) color screen type
        6) bbs name
        7) network name
        8) name of file created by PCRelay (relay.log) or TNET (tnet.log)
        9) name of the ASCII news file for your BBS to use
       10) name of the ANSI News file for your BBS to use

1) Registration Number
        This is where you will place the registration number you receive from
        Exhibit A Communications when you register the program.  If you
        haven't registered your copy of LSTRELAY yet, leave it as 00000.00000000.

2) Your Name
        This is where you will place your name, as shown on your registration.
        Case is important.

3) Networking software
        You need to place one of the following in this line:
        (capitalization is important!)
                PCRELAY
                POSTLINK
                GAPNET
                TNET
                RNET
                IMPORT

        GAPNET users note: You will want to follow GAPNET by a space and then
        the name of the HUB are relaying through.  If you d/l CALYPSO.QWK, then
        you would put CALYPSO following GAPNET.

        IMPORT users note: Regardless of the screen number you choose,
        LSTRELAY will only show the equivalent of screen style number 6.
        This is necessary to accomodate the titles of imported
        documents.

4) Screen Number
        This line should contain the number of the screen that you wish
        to have generated.  If you use the digit zero (0), the program
        will rotate through the available displays.

5) Color Screen type
        This line will determine what type of color screen is generated.
                A       will create an ANSI screen
                X       will create an Xcode screen
                G       will create a GAP-specific Xcode screen
        Regardless of what is entered on this line, when in local mode
        (see Operation below) the ANSI screen will be sent to screen.

6) BBS Name
        This line should contain the name of your BBS as you wish it to
        be shown on the news screens.  This line must be less than 24
        characters in length.

7) Network Name
        This line should contain the name of the network that you are
        relaying as you want it to be shown on the news screens.  This
        line must be less than 24 characters in length. Note to IMPORT
        users:  This line is NOT used in the generation of the IMPORT
        screen.

8) Name of signal file created by networking software.
        This line should contain the full path/filename of the file
        created by the network software where transfer information
        is logged.

9) name of ASCII news file for your BBS to use
        This line should contain the full path/filename of the ASCII
        news file announcing time of last transfer.  This feature should
        allow LSTRELAY to work with any BBS that uses news files.

10)Name of ANSI news file
        This line should contain the full path/filename of the ANSI news
        file announcing the time of last transfer.  If your BBS doesn't
        use ANSI codes to color screens, contact me at the BBS listed at
        the top of these documents and we can come up with a solution.

Operation
─────────

LSTRELAY is run by simply placing the line:
        LSTRELAY [switches] (config.file)
in your batch file (event file) after running your network software's program.
(config.file) is the full path/filename of LSTRELAY's configuration
file.  If LSTRELAY is not located in the current directory or a
directory listed in your path statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT, the you will
have to precede LSTRELAY with the full drive\path.  LSTRELAY will do the
rest.

Switches are allowed on command line for modification of program operation.
A switch must start with a forward slash '/' and will be followed by
one or two letter/numbers.  The are:
        Switch          Effect
        /NI             Will prevent LSTRELAY from importing message to
                        BBS's message base.
        /NS             Will prevent LSTRELAY from creating news screens.
        /X#             Will cause LSTRELAY to not use screen # if you
                        have configured program to use a rotating selection
                        of screens.  Only one program may currently be
                        excluded at a time.
        /#              On-screen preview. See below.
        /F#             Allows sysop to specify forum number (#) where report
                        is to be imported.

While LSTRELAY is designed to be operated from within a batch file, you
may also run it from the command line.  A switch on the command line
allows you to preview what any given screen will look like using your
configuration.  The command line looks like this:
        LSTRELAY /# (config.file)
where config.file is the path\filename of your configuration file and #
is a number from 0 to the maximum number of screens available.  If you
choose a number higher than the maximum screen number available in the
current release it will tell you.  If you use 0, it will cycle through
all available screens.


Problems
────────

LSTRELAY will create an error log (LSTRELAY.ERR) in the directory where
the .EXE file is located.  Any errors that occur while not in local mode
will be logged to this file.  The file may be deleted at any time, since
program will create a new one if needed.


┌─────────┐
│ Support │
└─────────┘

I will provide support to registered users of this program through
InfoMat BBS, CompuServe Information Service or over the Intelec network.

        InfoMat BBS [phone]              checked daily
        CIS #72246,1653                         checked whenever
        Intelec          -> BBS Doors forum
        RaceNet node ID  -> EXHIBITA or the Exhibit A Support forum
        MediaNET node ID -> EXHIBITA
        OCIN             -> Exhibit A Support forum
        InterNet         -> [e-mail]

┌────────────────┐
│ Special Thanks │
└────────────────┘

Of course no program would be complete without a thanks to those who
provided assistance in creating the final product.  A big special thanks
goes out to:

Lori & Bobby Gibbs, wife and son
        Nothing would ever get done around here without their constant
        love and support!

Timothy Krause, Sysop of Builders Board [phone]
        Tim provided invaluable Beta testing and advice along the way.
        Give his board a call, and express your undying gratitude to him
        <g>.

And also to Beta Testers:
        Dave Safely, Sysop of System III BBS [phone]
        Brett Martin, Sysop of Calypso BBS   [phone]


                        SCREENS DESIGNED BY:
        6       Calypso BBS, Brett Martin.  [phone]

        7 & 8   Builders Board, Timothy Krause [phone]