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FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒═════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ FLIBBS v1.2 │ │ │ │ Shareware version │ │ │ │ │ ╞═════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ │ │ USER'S GUIDE │ │ │ │ │ ╞═════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ Software by SOGY sc │ │ │ │ Copyrights (c) 1995-96 │ │ │ ╞═════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ May 1, 96 │ ╘═════════════════════════════════════╛ ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Page 1 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ CHAPTER I │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ Introduction │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ This document is the USER'S GUIDE of the Shareware program FLIBBS v1.2, as released on May 1, 96. FLIBBS is SHAREWARE, user supported software. FLIBBS is made available for a free 45 day trial period. If you find the program of use and wish to continue using it, you are obliged to purchase a personal license. See the distributed file REGISTER.DOC for information on how to register this program. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── I.1 About warranties ... ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The author of this software is a professional software engineer. He has put all his efforts on this work to deliver a software that is stable, secure and easy to use and understand. Because software is software, this is about the only thing he is in a position to guarantee to you. For all other related questions, the following paragraphs are assumed to have been read and understood by you, the knowledgeable user: ■ The author makes no warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, implied warranties or merchantability, and fitness for any particular purpose with respect to both the software and the documentation included in this package. ■ In no event shall the author be liable for any direct, indirect, consequencial, or incidental damages arising out of the use or inability to use this product even if the author has been advised of the possibility of such damages or claim. So do not tell you didn't know, and, well, make backup copies of your data, as you always do ... ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Introduction Page 2 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── I.2 What FLIBBS can make for you ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The File LIst for BBS or FLIBBS (pronouce FLIB'S) program is intended for those who are interested by the huge amount of files available on any decent BBS, but are fed up of having either to spend a lot of money in on-line researchs and queries, or to manipulate mega bytes of badly standardized and difficult to handle ASCII BBS "All files" lists. If you are one of these unfortunates guys, as I used to be, you have already understood what FLIBBS is all about: ╒══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ FLIBBS imports the data contained in more or less standard │ │ ASCII BBS file list, put it into a well structured data base │ │ called a FLIBBS Data Set, and allows you to manipulate and │ │ analyse this information in ways you had never dreamed │ │ before. │ ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ With FLIBBS, you can: ■ Import the data contained in an BBS ASCII file list into the FLIBBS program in a particular format called a FLIBBS Data Set ■ open, create, delete, consult and annotate the existing FLIBBS Data Set ■ Filter the files of the current FLIBBS Data Set by - defining a file mask - searching a keyword - finding the files not included in an other FLIBBS Data Set - Removing items from the FLIBBS Data Set for which the DIZ contains a keyword that you do not want to see ■ Copy your current FLIBBS Data Set onto an other FLIBBS Data Set ■ Add to the files of your current FLIBBS Data Set the files contained in an other FLIBBS Data Set ■ edit, create and delete the Template used to import data from an ASCII file list ■ view, rename and delete the Log Files you create when consulting a FLIBBS Data Set ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Introduction Page 3 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ■ add the names of the files contained in some directory and sub-directories of one of your disks, and find in the existing FLIBBS Data Sets the corresponding DIZ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── I.3 Organisation of this document ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The content of this document is organized as follows: ■ Section I (this section) describes what FLIBBS can make for you, explains how to install FLIBBS, and reminds you of the shareware nature of FLIBBS and what it means for you. ■ Section II "Getting started" guides you step by step in a demonstration session of FLIBBS. If you do this exercice, you should have understood the concepts of FLIBBS and be able to use it without further problem. ■ Section III describes the menu and sub-menus of FLIBBS ■ Section IV describes the action you can carry on the FLIBBS Data Set ■ Section V describes the ways you can search and modify the data contained in a FLIBBS Data Set ■ Section VI explains what templates are, and how to handle them. ■ Section VII is about the Log File: what it is, and what you can do with it. ■ Section VIII is dedicated to the importation of a BBS ASCII file list into a FLIBBS Data Set The appendices contain additional technical information that you may find of interest (although you don't need to understand these details to use FLIBBS): ■ Appendix A contains the list of the files included in the shareware package of FLIBBS ■ Appendix B provides some basic technical information on FLIBBS and the way it has been created, as well as the description of the files used and/or created by FLIBBS ■ Appendix C provides additional information on some specific topics related to the use of FLIBBS ■ Appendix D provides some reference data on FLIBBS disk space requirements ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Introduction Page 4 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── I.4 FLIBBS is SHAREWARE ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── I.4.A What is Shareware ? ═════ ═══════════════════ "Shareware" is copyrighted software which is distributed by authors through bulletin boards, on-line services, disk vendors, and copies passed among friends. It is commercial software which you are allowed to use and evaluate before paying for it. This makes shareware the ultimate in money back guarantees. FLIBBS is copyrighted software, and all rights are reserved. FLIBBS may not be changed or modified in any way except by the author. FLIBBS is SHAREWARE, and may be freely distributed without permission, as long as it remains in its complete form with all support and documentation files. No files may be added or taken away from the original Archived form in which FLIBBS is distributed. Regardless of how the copy is obtained, it is requested that all users comply with the licensing and registration provisions if they continue to use FLIBBS after an initial 45 days evaluation period. I.4.B Registration ═════ ════════════ Registration of FLIBBS provides you with the License to continue using FLIBBS after the 45 day Evaluation period. See accompanying file REGISTER.DOC for the license agreement, a registration form and the payment details. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── I.5 Installing FLIBBS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── I.5.A Requirements ═════ ════════════ FLIBBS requires an IBM PC or compatible with ■ 640 Kb base memory. You could try with less RAM. FLIBBS displays the amount of free memory in the status line, if this amount is below 100 Kbytes. We do not guarantee what will happend in case not enought memory is available. ■ DOS 3.1 or later. This is a must. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Introduction Page 5 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ I.5.B Printing the documentation ═════ ══════════════════════════ You may print the FLIBBS documentation by switching your printer on, and typing the following command at the dos prompt: COPY FLIBBS.DOC PRN I.5.C Installation procedure ═════ ══════════════════════ To install FLIBBS, follow the following [conditional] steps: ■ If you already own a registered version of FLIBBS: - make a backup copy of your FLIBBS.EXE file in some other directory - after successful installation of the new version in accordance with the instructions that follow, consult the file REGISTER.DOC to see how you can immediately register your new version of FLIBBS ■ If you have a previous version of FLIBBS installed in some directory: - copy the FLIBBS distribution file into that directory - uncompress the distribution file OVERWRITING all existing files - run the utility program FLCV1011.EXE before doing anything else. ■ If you do not have a previous version of FLIBBS installed: - create any directory - copy and uncompress the FLIBBS distribution file into it. ■ You may then run FLIBBS from anywhere you like (put the FLIBBS directory in your path if you wish), FLIBBS will put all its own informations, files and data into the directory where the FLIBBS.EXE file is located (the directory where you have uncompressed the distribution file). IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR SYSOP: If you are using the MKFLIBBS program and are upgrading from FLIBBS version v1.0, you must change some details in the batch file that produces your FLIBBS Data Set (see MKFLIBBS.DOC for more on this). ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Introduction Page 6 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ I.5.D Installing Data sets provided by your SYSOP ═════ ═══════════════════════════════════════════ When you dowload a FLIBBS Data Set from a BBS, simply put the compressed file in the same directory as the one where you have installed FLIBBS, and uncompress the file there. !! BE CAREFULL !! : Normally, your SYSOP will always use the same name for its FLIBBS Data Set. In this case, you should overwrite all existing files when uncompressing the file provided, and you should not modify or create a FLIBBS Data Set with this name, because all this information will be overwritten each time you update the FLIBBS Data Set of the BBS. Force you compression utility to overwrite all existing files if you already have a FLIBBS Data Set with the same name. If you want to keep a copy of any pre-existing FLIBBS Data Set, use the menu command "Copy" to copy your FLIBBS Data Set to another one with a different name. Do not copy FLIBBS Data Set files one by one, you could forget some important files. If, however, you want to proceed this way, refer to the technical appendix B.2 for a list of files used or created by FLIBBS. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Introduction Page 7 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ CHAPTER II │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ Getting started - FLIBBS Overview │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ This section will guide you through a complete exercice in which you will: ■ Create a new FLIBBS Data Set ■ Create the template required to import the content of a demonstration BBS ASCII File List called 'DEMO.TXT' ■ Import into this FLIBBS Data Set the content of 'DEMO.TXT' file ■ Consult the imported data ■ Extract the files whose description contains the string 'game', and browse through these selected files We have tried to stick to the basic concepts of FLIBBS, so you can easily understand what you are doing, and what is going on. We recommend you to make this exercice. It will help you to be rapidly able to use FLIBBS. The whole exercice is based on the hypothesis that you have uncompressed the FLIBBS distribution file in one directory called 'C:\FLIBBS', and that you have not erased any of the distributed files. If you have used an another directory, please adapt accordingly the following text. Remember also that when you can always use the <Esc> key to cancel your current request, and return to the main menu. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── II.1 Analysis of the BBS ASCII file list to be imported ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Before you start FLIBBS and begin the exercice, you should have a ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Getting started - FLIBBS Overview Page 8 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ look at the 'DEMO.TXT' file, located in C:\FLIBBS. As you will see, this is a typical BBS ASCII file list. For each file present on the BBS, you will find some lines as shown below in the text included between the two horizontal lines (we have added the column numbering for convenience): 1 2 3 4 5 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FLIBBS10.ARJ 360264 15-05-95 Upl: Marc Deroover Version 1.0 of the excellent shareware FLIBBS that will help you solving the daily problem of brownsing through the list of files of your favorite BBS. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── For the momment, just note and remember the following points: ■ The name of the file is "FLIBBS10.ARJ"; it begins at column 1 ■ The date is composed of the day "15" that begins in column 25, followed by the month "05" that begins at column 28, followed by the year "95" that begins at column 31 ■ The size of the file "360264" is included in columns 14 to 22. The actual size begins at column 17, but if the size of the file was higher, it could take up to 3 columns more. ■ The remaining part of the line is not part of the file description. It contains some informations like the Uploader that we do not want to see in our FLIBBS Data Set (although you could include it). That's all we need to know on this file. Let now start the program. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── II.2 Starting FLIBBS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You launch the execution by typing FLIBBS + <Enter> at the DOS prompt. If you have not put C:\FLIBBS in your path, you must be in this directory for your command to execute. Note that as long as your version of FLIBBS is not registered you must wait a few seconds at the start of the program, and that the very first time the program is run it needs to configure itself, and you must way a little bit longer. Let have a quick look at what you see: ■ At the top of the window, you have the main menu. The topics ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Getting started - FLIBBS Overview Page 9 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ "Data" and "Log File" are drawn in a different color, because they are disabled for the momment (they could not be activated because there is no opened FLIBBS Data Set on which they could act). See page 16 for more information on how to use the menu. ■ At the bottom of the window, you see the status line. See page 44 for more information on the status line. ■ In the center of the screen, you see the logo window. At this point, the logo window displays information on FLIBBS. Before we go any further, take two minutes to understand the help system that FLIBBS provides to you. It is there to help, it is easy to use, you just need to know what key you may press to do what ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── II.3 The help system ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Press the <F1> key to get help on the current topic, the main menu. You are know in the help topic "Main menu". Press the <page down> and <page up> keys to scroll through this help topic. Press the <tab> key to jump from one cross referenced topic to an other. Press <shift-tab> to do the same thing in the reverse order. Press <Enter> to jump to the help topic of the highlighted cross reference topic. Then, press <Alt-F1> to go back to the previous topic. Now press <Esc> to quit the help system. That's all on the help system for the moment. See page 43 for more information on the help system, and how to use the mouse inside the help system. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── II.4 Importing the data of a BBS ASCII files list ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Now, let us go for the only difficulty of FLIBBS: we want to import in a FLIBBS Data Set the file information contained in the distributed file "DEMO.TXT". To do such a thing, you have to go through the following steps: II.4.A Analysis the "DEMO.TXT" file ══════ ════════════════════════════ We have already had a look at this file, and we know what are the characteristics of a line defining a file. So let us proceed to the next step. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Getting started - FLIBBS Overview Page 10 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ II.4.B Creation of the Template "DEMO" ══════ ═══════════════════════════════ To create the template DEMO, select the item "Template" of the main menu (use the <arrows> key to move to the topic, then the <Enter> key to select it; or click twice on the item with the left button of the mouse, or press the "T" key. In the submenu that appears, select in the same way the item "New". FLIBBS displays now an entry screen. Type the word "DEMO" (without quotes). Then move to the "OK" button with the <tab> key, or click twice on the "OK" button with the left button of the mouse. The template has been created with default (empty) setting. II.4.C Edition of the Template "DEMO" ══════ ══════════════════════════════ To Edit (modify) the template, select the item "Template" of the main menu, then the item "Edit" of the submenu. FLIBBS displays the list of existing templates. So far, there is only one template defined, the "DEMO" template. In the right column, FLIBBS displays the comment of your template. So far, this one has not been defined, so FLIBBS displays a question mark. Press the <Enter> key to select this template. You are know in an entry screen that we will fill in accordance with the results of our analysis of the file "DEMO.TXT" (see section II.1): ■ Enter whatever comment you like in the "Comment" field, and press the <tab> key to position the cursor on the next field. This text is the one that is displayed in the list of templates when you need to select one of them. So fill it to help you remembering what it is all about. For example type "DEMO for FLIBBS" ■ The file name begins at column 1. Type "1" and the <tab> key. ■ The file date is composed of: - the day; begins at column 25 - the month; begins at column 28 - the year; begins at column 31 Enter these values one by one ■ The file size is included in column 14 to 22. Type these values; the cursor automatically jumps to the next field. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Getting started - FLIBBS Overview Page 11 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ■ Leave the next field to 0, press the <Tab> key. We would have put a different value if the remaining part of the DEMO.TXT line would contain the beginning of the file description text. ■ You do not need to change the next item. This one is to be used to handle special problems arising with the format of the date. Just press the <Tab> key. You are now on the "OK" button. Press the <Enter> key to save your changes. If you want to correct the content of one of the fields (if you have made a mistake) before exiting the entry screen, use the <tab> and <shift-tab> keys to move from field to field, modify the error, and press the <Enter> key. Note that the <Enter> will work whatever the current field you are on: the <Enter> key always activates the default button (that you can recognize because it is drawn in a different color). The template "DEMO" has now been properly defined. II.4.D Creation of a new FLIBBS Data Set ══════ ═════════════════════════════════ Before we can import the data of the ASCII file into a FLIBBS Data Set, we must create this FLIBBS Data Set. To create a new FLIBBS Data Set, select the "FLIBBS Data Set" item of the main menu, then the "New" item of the submenu. FLIBBS will display an entry screen that we will fill as follows: ■ we will call the new FLIBBS Data Set "DEMO". So type this word (without the quotes), and press the <tab> key to jump to the next field. ■ enter here whatever comment you want to appear in the FLIBBS Data Set selection list. This field is here to help you to remember what the FLIBBS Data Set is all about. As an example type "FLIBBS Demo Data Set". Press the <Enter> key to save your changes and create the "DEMO" FLIBBS Data Set. You may try to consult it now (with the item "Consult" of the main menu item "FLIBBS Data Set"), but all FLIBBS will show you is an error message telling you that "The Table is Empty". Note that the word "DEMO" is written at the bottom right of your screen, in the status line: "DEMO" is now the current FLIBBS Data Set. Note also that the menu items "Data" and "Log File" are now activated. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Getting started - FLIBBS Overview Page 12 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ II.4.E Importation fo the BBS ASCII File list "DEMO.TXT" ══════ ═════════════════════════════════════════════════ We are now ready to import the data of the "DEMO.TXT" file. Select the main menu item "Data". Then select the item "Import" from the submenu. FLIBBS shows you the list of templates that exist. Select the template "DEMO" (normally it is so far the only one defined) and press the <Enter> key. You enter into a new entry screen that you will use to select the file you want to import. Either type directly "C:\FLIBBS\DEMO.TXT" (without the quotes) in the first field, and press the <Enter> key to select this file, or use the files and directory lists to find this file and select it (this is easier to do if you have a mouse; else use the <tab>, <shift-tab>, <arrows> and <Enter> keys to find and select the file). FLIBBS now asks you for the name of the BBS where the files are located. You can enter anything you want here. But this information should be carefully chosen, because it will stay with the files information whatever you do with them. For example, if you mix into one FLIBBS Data Set the files contained in two FLIBBS Data Sets, you will still be able to know for a given file of the new FLIBBS Data Set where it comes from by reading this field - provided you have filled it and you remember what your comment means. Press <Enter> to exit this screen. Then FLIBBS displays the full description of your request, and asks you to confirm it. If you press enter, FLIBBS reads the file and import the data. See the bottom left of your screen for an indication of the progress of the operation. If you import large files (for example with 20000 files description in it), the operation could take several minutes. But don't worry: once the information has been stored in a FLIBBS Data Set, it takes close to no time to access it ! FLIBBS has now imported the data contained in the "DEMO.TXT" BBS ASCII file list, and put you in the Consultation mode. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── II.5 Consultation of the FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You are now into the consultation mode of the new FLIBBS Data Set in which you have imported the content of the BBS ASCII file list "DEMO.TXT". Let us see what is on your screen and what you can do: ■ The right window shows you the list of the files included in ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Getting started - FLIBBS Overview Page 13 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ FLIBBS Data Set. ■ You can move through the list of files with the usual keys (<up> and <down> arrows, <page up>, <page down>, <end> & <home>), or you can locate a file directly by typing the first characters of its name. ■ The left window displays the description of the file highlighted in the right window. In the title of the window, you will also find more information on the highlighted file, namely the size and date of the file, as well as the origin of the file. ■ If you press the left or right arrow key, the content of the left window is changed to the content of the note attached to the current FLIBBS Data Set (You may edit this file with the submenu item "Note" of the main menu "FLIBBS Data Set"). You can switch back to the file description with the same left or right arrow key. The content of the note is as follows: - The first line is the text displayed in the list of FLIBBS Data Set when you have to select one (for example when you open a FLIBBS Data Set). - The other lines are either lines that you have added to the file when editing it, or comments added to the file by FLIBBS. - FLIBBS always add two lines to the note, describing what has been done with the data. On the first line, you will generally find the date and time at which the operation did occur, followed by the number of records found in the FLIBBS Data Set after the operation. On the second line, you find a brief description of the operation. All this information is provided to help remembering where your data comes from, and what you have done with it. ■ You can log the name of the highlighted file, together with the file description, on a log file by pressing the <Enter> key. When you do so, FLIBBS displays a message to inform you that the information has been logged. Note that FLIBBS will not let you log the information on a same file twice. ■ You can press the <F5> key to show/hide the origin of each file next to the name of the files. When the origin is shown, less space is available in the left window. ■ You can press the <F7> key to toggle the display of the dates between the US format (mm/dd/yy) and the european format (dd/mm/yy). ■ Press the <Esc> key to quit the consultation mode and return ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Getting started - FLIBBS Overview Page 14 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ to the main menu If you have logged any file information, you may see what has been logged through the menu item "Log File"/"View". ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── II.6 Selecting files in the FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── We will now show how to use the filter facilities of FLIBBS. Let's assume that we are looking for some information on games. What we want is thus to extract from our current FLIBBS Data Set all the files that contain the string "game" in their description. To extract these files and put them into a new FLIBBS Data Set that we will call "GAME", proceed as described hereby: ■ Select the main menu item "Data", then the submenu item "Filter", and finally the subsubmenu item "Select Keyword". Or from anywhere in the menu, use the short key Alt-K. ■ FLIBBS prompts you for the string to be found. Type the string "game", and press the <Enter> key. Note that the search is always case insensitive. ■ Enter the name of the new FLIBBS Data Set in which the selected files will be stored. Type "GAMES", and press the <tab> key to jump to the description field. Type any text you like, for example "Files with GAME from DEMO.TXT", and press the <Enter> key to accept your data. ■ FLIBBS asks you to confirm your request. Answer positively, and the search will begin. Once the search is terminated (have you noticed the progress bar in the bottom left of your screen ?), FLIBBS put you in the consultation mode of the newly created "GAMES" FLIBBS Data Set. Note that, as one would expect, all the files contained in this FLIBBS Data Set contain the string "game" in their description text ! ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Getting started - FLIBBS Overview Page 15 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ CHAPTER III │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ The FLIBBS menu │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── III.1 How To Use the menu ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The menu of FLIBBS works just as any other menu you know. If a mouse is installed on your system, you may click: ■ the left button on a item to select it ■ the left button on a selected item to activate it ■ the two buttons at the same time to get help ■ the right button to close an open submenu Hot keys are available to access immediately the most commonly used commands. When available, they are indicated near the corresponding command. Press at the same time the 'Alt' key and the key indicated to call the command from anywhere in the menu. Certain menu item are active only under given conditions. When they may not be activated, they are drawn in a different color. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── III.2 The main menu ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The main menu gives access to the following submenus, or groups of related program functions: ■ FLIBBS Data Set: - Management of the FLIBBS Data Sets: opening, creating, deleting, consulting, annotating. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The FLIBBS menu Page 16 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ - access to the Exit command. ■ Data: - Select files either by a file mask, by a keyword, or files not included in an other FLIBBS Data Set. Remove items from the list, based on a keyword that you do not want to see - Copy your current FLIBBS Data Set onto an other FLIBBS Data Set - Add to the files of your current FLIBBS Data Set the files contained in an other FLIBBS Data Set - Import in your FLIBBS Data Set the data contained in a BBS ASCII file list - add the names of the files contained in some directory and sub-directories of one of your disks, and find the corresponding DIZ in the existing FLIBBS Data Sets ■ Template: Management of the Templates used to import data from an ASCII file list: editing, creating and deleting ■ Log File: Management of the Log Files you create when consulting a FLIBBS Data Set : viewing, renaming and deleting ■ Help: - Access to the help function, either through an overview or the index of the help topics. - Information on what Shareware is, and why you should register this copy of FLIBBS - Access to the program "About screen" that provides you with information on the program current version ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── III.3 FLIBBS Data Set submenu ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The FLIBBS Data Set submenu gives access to the management functions of the FLIBBS Data Sets: ■ Open: Open an existing FLIBBS Data Set ■ New: Create a new empty FLIBBS Data Set ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The FLIBBS menu Page 17 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ■ Delete: Delete an existing FLIBBS Data Set ■ Consult: Consult the currently open FLIBBS Data Set ■ Note: Edit the note attached to the currently open FLIBBS Data Set ■ Exit: Terminate the program execution. All your opened files will be closed and your data will be automatically saved ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── III.4 Data Submenu ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The Data submenu gives access to the data handling facilities provided by FLIBBS. You may: ■ Filter: select files by a file mask, a keyword, or files not included in an other FLIBBS Data Set, Remove the files whose description contains a string you specify ■ Copy: copy the current FLIBBS Data Set to an other FLIBBS Data Set under a name you specify ■ Add: add to the current FLIBBS Data Set the files contained in an other FLIBBS Data Set ■ Import: import file names and related information from an BBS ASCII file list ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── III.5 Template Submenu ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The Template submenu gives access to the management functions of the FLIBBS templates. You may: ■ Edit: view and/or modify the data of a template ■ Create: create a new template ■ Delete: delete an existing template ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── III.6 Log File Submenu ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The Log File submenu gives access to the management functions of the Log Files you create when Consulting a FLIBBS Data Set. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The FLIBBS menu Page 18 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ You may: ■ View : view the current Log File ■ Rename: Rename the current Log File ■ Delete: delete the current Log File ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── III.7 Help Submenu ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The Help submenu gives access to the help functions of FLIBBS. You may: ■ Overview: Access the help content through an introductory overview of FLIBBS ■ Index: Access the help system through the index ■ Shareware: You should read This ■ About: Display the FLIBBS "About Screen" .. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The FLIBBS menu Page 19 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ CHAPTER IV │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ Handling the FLIBBS Data Set │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IV.1 What is a FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── A FLIBBS Data Set is a set of file informations organized into a specific format. This format is the one used by the program FLIBBS to allow you to visualize and handle the file lists. From a logical point of view - that is from your point of view - a FLIBBS Data Set contains a list of records, each record containing the following information: ■ The name of the file ■ The date of the file ■ The size of the file ■ The origin of the file (or the location, as you prefer) ■ The description of the file, or the DIZ (see below) From a technical point of view, the things are of course a little more complicated, but you do not need to know them, except for one thing: if you want to manipulate a FLIBBS Data Set (to copy or delete it, for example), use the FLIBBS menu function. Else, you may forget some files, with unpredictable results for the integrity of your data. If you are willing to enter into the technical things, see appendix B. The files are ordered in alphabetical order. Two files with the same name are not allowed in the same FLIBBS Data Set. To each FLIBBS Data Set is attached a note. You may edit the note with the menu function "FLIBBS Data Set"/"Note". The note is displayed in the left window of the consultation screen. The note ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Handling the FLIBBS Data Set Page 20 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ contains information provided by FLIBBS that helps you to track where your data comes from, and how it has been filtered. IV.1.A A note on the "DIZ" ══════ ═══════════════════ Typically, a file stored on a BBS will be a compressed file that will contain several other files. In order to describe the content of the main compressed file, one of the included files will bear a special name and will contain the description of the main compressed file. There is no real standard on the name or the format of the description name. Although other names are used, the name "FILE_ID.DIZ" seems to be the most popular one. Hence the DIZ shortcut used by FLIBBS to designate the description file. The format of the DIZ file itself is not very well standardized, or many people do not know or follow the existing standards like the ASP recommendations. FLIBBS will accept up to 21 lines, each of them containing up to 55 chars. More lines or chars per lines will be accepted but the display of the DIZ will not be very good. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IV.2 Creating a FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You create a FLIBBS Data Set either with the program FLIBBS (directly with the command NEW, or indirectly while analysing your data), or by dowloading and uncompressing properly the FLIBBS Data Set prepared by your SYSOP. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IV.3 Opening a FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may open an existing FLIBBS Data Set by selecting the menu item FLIBBS Data Set / Open When you select this option, FLIBBS presents you a pick list showing the list of existing FLIBBS Data Sets. On each line of the pick list, you also see a comment. This comment is the first line of the note attached to the FLIBBS Data Set. You may change it by Annotating the FLIBBS Data Set. Select a FLIBBS Data Set from the list, and it will be opened. If an other FLIBBS Data Set was opened, FLIBBS will close it properly. Once a FLIBBS Data Set is open, you may see its name at the bottom ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Handling the FLIBBS Data Set Page 21 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ right of the status bar. Only one FLIBBS Data Set may be opened at a time. It is called the current FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IV.4 Creation of a FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may create a new FLIBBS Data Set by selecting the menu item FLIBBS Data Set / New When you select this option, FLIBBS presents you a data entry window, prompting you for the following information: ■ Name : The name of the new BBS Data Set. It must be a partial file name of 7 or less contiguous characters (no spaces, no dots, no extension, ...) There must not exist any FLIBBS Data Set with the same name. ■ Description : A 50 characters long string with any information you want to put in. This description is useful because it is the string that is displayed in the pick list when you select a FLIBBS Data Set The following buttons are available: ■ OK : Exit and create the FLIBBS Data Set ■ CANCEL : Exit and cancel the request to create a new FLIBBS Data Set ■ HELP : Access to the help system ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IV.5 Deleting a FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may delete the current FLIBBS Data Set by selecting the menu item FLIBBS Data Set / Delete When you select this option, FLIBBS asks you to confirm your request. If you do, the FLIBBS Data Set is erased from the disk. ╒══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ BE CAREFULL : ! There is no way to restore the erased FLIBBS │ │ Data Set ! │ ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Handling the FLIBBS Data Set Page 22 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IV.6 Consulting a FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may consult the current FLIBBS Data Set by selecting the menu item FLIBBS Data Set / Consult When you select this option, FLIBBS splits the screen vertically in two parts: ■ The right window displays the list of the files in the current FLIBBS Data Set (whose name is shown at the bottom right of the status bar. You browse in the list with the keyboard (<up> and <down> arrows, <page up> and <page down>, <End>, <Home>). You may also locate a file simply by typing its name. ■ The left window displays one of two things: - the note of the current FLIBBS Data Set - the description of the file highlighted in the right window You switch between the two with the left and right arrows keys The following keys have a special meaning: ■ Esc: return to the main menu ■ Enter: log the information on the file currently highligthed into the log file ■ F5: show/hide the origin of the file in the right window. Both windows are resized accordingly ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IV.7 Note of a FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may edit the note attached to the current FLIBBS Data Set by selecting the menu item FLIBBS Data Set / Note. When you select this option, FLIBBS displays the note into an editor windows. You may freely modify the content of the file, using standard WordStar-Type commands. To exit, either press F10 to save your modifications, or Esc to quit and forget about your changes. The first line of the note is the string displayed in the pick list when you select a FLIBBS Data Set. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Handling the FLIBBS Data Set Page 23 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ For many action you carry on a FLIBBS Data Set, FLIBBS will log in the note file some information on what has been done, with the date and time at which the action did occur. The note file is thus also an history file that helps you managing your data ! ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IV.8 Select a FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Each time you have to select a FLIBBS Data Set, FLIBBS displays the same list of existing FLIBBS Data Set. Use the <up> and <down> arrows, as well as the <Page Up> and <Page Down> keys, to highlight the desired FLIBBS Data Set. Then press the Enter key. If you do no longer want to make a selection, press the Esc key. You may also use the mouse if there is one installed on your system. Click: ■ the left button on a item to highligth it ■ the left button on a highligthed item to select it ■ the two buttons at the same time to get help ■ the right button to cancel your request ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Handling the FLIBBS Data Set Page 24 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ CHAPTER V │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ Operations on the data │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── V.1 Filter Data ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may filter the data of the current FLIBBS Data Set by selecting one of the sub-menu items: ■ Select files name: select files whose names are specified by a file mask you define ■ Select Keyword: select files whose description contains a string you specify ■ not Included in: select the files of this FLIBBS Data Set that are not contained in an other FLIBBS Data Set you specify. ■ Remove: remove the files whose description contains a string you specify V.1.A Select files by file name ═════ ═════════════════════════ You may select files in the current FLIBBS Data Set, based on file names, by selecting the menu item Data / Filter / Select on file name When you select this option, FLIBBS first prompts you for the mask of the files to select. Use any file mask as you would do in dos commands, using: "*" : to replace any number of characters (including no characters) "?" : to replace one and only one character ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Operations on the data Page 25 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Note: FLIBBS also accepts file masks like '*A.ZIP' By pressing the F10 button to accept your entry, FLIBBS will ask you for the information required to create a new FLIBBS Data Set. If you fill the fields with valid data, FLIBBS will then create this new FLIBBS Data Set, and fill it with the selected files of the current FLIBBS Data Set. V.1.B Select files by keyword ═════ ═══════════════════════ You may select files in the current FLIBBS Data Set, based on a keyword, by selecting the menu item Data / Filter / Select on keyword When you select this option, FLIBBS first prompts you for the keyword that has to be found in the description of the files you want to select. Enter any string you want, and press F10 to accept your entry. Note: The search is always case insensitive, and wild carts are not allowed (this could be for next release if FLIBBS is a success). By pressing the F10 button to accept your entry, FLIBBS will ask you for the information required to create a new FLIBBS Data Set. If you fill the fields with valid data, FLIBBS will then create this new FLIBBS Data Set, and fill it with the selected files of the current FLIBBS Data Set. V.1.C Select files not Included in .. ═════ ═══════════════════════════════ You may select in the current FLIBBS Data Set the files that are not contained in an other existing FLIBBS Data Set by selecting the menu item Data / Filter / not Included in .. When you select this option, FLIBBS first asks you to select the FLIBBS Data Set that should not contain the files you want to select. When you have selected a FLIBBS Data Set, FLIBBS will ask you for the information required to create a new FLIBBS Data Set. If you fill the fields with valid data, FLIBBS will then create this new FLIBBS Data Set, and fill it with the selected files of the current FLIBBS Data Set. V.1.D Remove files containing a keyword ═════ ═════════════════════════════════ You may remove in the current FLIBBS Data Set the files that contain a given keyword in their description by selecting the menu item Data / Filter / Remove ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Operations on the data Page 26 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ When you select this option, FLIBBS first asks you for the keyword that must be present in the description of the files you want to remove from the current FLIBBS Data Set Note: The search is always case insensitive. If you confirm you request by selecting the Ok button, FLIBBS will remove the files selected. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── V.2 Copy a FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may copy the current FLIBBS Data Set to a new one by selecting the menu item Data / Copy When you select this option, FLIBBS prompts you for the information required to create a new FLIBBS Data Set. If you confirm your request by pressing the OK button, FLIBBS will copy the current FLIBBS Data Set to the new one. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── V.3 Add files from an other FLIBBS Data Set ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may add to the current FLIBBS Data Set the files contained in an other existing FLIBBS Data Set by selecting the menu item Data / Add When you select this option, FLIBBS prompts you to select an existing FLIBBS Data Set If you confirm your request by pressing the F10 key, FLIBBS will add in the current FLIBBS Data Set all the files contained in the selected FLIBBS Data Set (including their description) Files already existing are not overwritten by new information. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── V.4 Import files from a BBS ASCII file list ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may import into the current FLIBBS Data Set the files contained in an ASCII BBS File List by selecting the menu item Data / Import The importation of data is explained in detail in a dedicated section of this document (see chapter VIII, page 37). ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Operations on the data Page 27 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── V.5 Managing your own downloaded files ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── V.5.A What does it mean and How does it work ? ═════ ════════════════════════════════════════ If you are a BBS user, you proceed probably like most of us do: you dowload files, you see what is inside, you test them, etc ... And then, for whatever reason you store them somewhere on your disk or on floppy, with the optimistic idea of using them later ... Then you have the following typical problems: ■ I know I have dowloaded such version of that freeware, but where is it ? ■ Oh No ! I have dowloaded twice the same file ! ■ I know I need one of these files, but which one ? ■ This SYSOP wants me to upload some files to get download credit, but which files do I have that he has not ? One of the objectives of FLIBBS is to assist you in managing that kind of problems. For that goal, FLIBBS provides two functions: ■ Disk Files: this function imports into the current FLIBBS Data Set the names, size and dates of the files residing in a directory you specify and, if you ask for it, in the subdirectories. The files may reside on an other disk, for example on a floppy disk. FLIBBS will ask you for a string identifying the location of the files. This value will be stored with the name of the files. ■ Fill DIZ: this function will fill the empty DIZ of the current FLIBBS Data Set with the DIZ of the first file with the same name found in any of the others FLIBBS Data Set accessible to FLIBBS (the ones FLIBBS lists when you ask for opening a FLIBBS Data Set). So, with FLIBBS, you can for example store your downloaded files on floppy disks. Then you would use the function "Disk Files" for each floppy, asking FLIBBS to read the files in the directory "A:\" and in all subdirectories, and defining the location of the file as "DISK nn" where "nn" is the number of your floppy disk. After this, you would ask for the "Fill DIZ" function. FLIBBS will ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Operations on the data Page 28 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ look in your existing FLIBBS Data Set for the description of the files stored on your floppy disks. Because you have dowloaded the files from the BBS, the information should be available in at least one of these FLIBBS Data Set. If it is not the case, FLIBBS will not find the description of the files, and there is no way to extract the DIZ from the compressed file, or to edit the DIZ in your FLIBBS Data Set (this could be for next release if FLIBBS is a success). Let us go for the details ... V.5.B Disk files ═════ ══════════ You may add to the current FLIBBS Data Set the names, size and date of the files contained in a directory or sub-directories of one of your disks by selecting the menu item Data / Disk Files When you select this option, FLIBBS prompts you for the name of the directory, the name of the origin that will be stored with the file name, and asks you if you want to include the files in the sub-directories of the directory you specify. If you confirm your request by pressing the OK button, FLIBBS will then read the specified directory and sub-directories and store the names of the files in the current FLIBBS Data Set. FLIBBS will not add the DIZ of your files in the FLIBBS Data Set. You may use the Fill DIZ program function to fill the DIZ. V.5.C Fill DIZ ═════ ════════ You may ask FLIBBS to fill the DIZ of the files of your current FLIBBS Data Set by selecting the menu item Data/Fill DIZ When you select this option, FLIBBS will scan all the others FLIBBS Data Sets present on your disk, and look into these Data Sets for the DIZ of the files of your current FLIBBS Data Set that have no DIZ attached. This option is useful to automatically fill the DIZ of the files whose names have been imported with the menu option Disk Files ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Operations on the data Page 29 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ CHAPTER VI │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ Templates │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VI.1 Template ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When decoding a BBS ASCII File List to import its data into a FLIBBS Data Set, FLIBBS needs to be able to recognize a line of the file as defining a file of the BBS. To do that, you define a template. A template indicates to FLIBBS in which column to find: ■ The name of the file : The length of the file name is assumed to be 12 characters long. Any blank inside the name will be removed ■ The day DD, the month MM, the year YY of the file : The date is supposed to be formatted using numbers like DD for the day (1..31), MM for the month (1..12) and YY for the year (1..99). You tell FLIBBS where to find these values. ■ The size of the file : You provide the first and last columns where the size of the file will be found. Any "." or "," found inside this string will be removed. So, take care! If yours SYSOP uses file size with decimales, the size shown by FLIBBS will not be correct! ■ Description : On some BBS file lists, the description of the file begins on the same line as the file identification. If this is the case, set this value to the column number where the identification begins. Else, set it to zero (0) ■ Comment : For your own information, you may fill a comment line for your template. This line will be displayed in the pick list when you select a template ■ Accept MM-DD and DD-MM date formats: See below for more on ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Templates Page 30 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ this option. See the template examples to understand how they are to be used. VI.1.A Accept MM-DD and DD-MM date formats ══════ ═══════════════════════════════════ It appears that many SYSOP actually build their BBS ASCII File List from several different sources. Sometimes, it may happend that the different sources use different date format, namely the US date format (mm/dd/yy) and the European date format (dd/mm/yy). In this case, FLIBBS has a problem. The first option was implemented in v1.0, and consisted in rejecting any date not matching the one defined in the template. But some files were lost, and it has been requested to allow both date format in one file. Most SYSOPS have considered that it was better to have all the files in the FLIBBS Data Set, even if some dates are wrong. This has been implemented in FLIBBS, starting at version v1.1. If the flag 'Accept MM-DD and DD-MM date formats' is set, FLIBBS will accept the dates as defined in the template, but also the dates that would be read by exchanging the columns defined for the DAY and the MONTH. In this case, all the files will be included in the FLIBBS Data Set, although some dates will be wrong. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VI.2 Select a Template ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── To select a Template, use the up and down arrows, as well as the Page Up and Page Down keys, to highlight the desired Template. Then press the Enter key. If you do no longer want to make a selection, press the Esc key. You may also use the mouse if there is one installed on your system. Click: ■ the left button on a item to highlight it ■ the left button on a highlighted item to select it ■ the two buttons at the same time to get help ■ the right button to cancel your request ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Templates Page 31 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VI.3 Editing a template ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may Edit an existing Template by selecting the menu item Template / Edit When you select this option, FLIBBS ask you to select a template. If you confirm your request, FLIBBS displays a window with the various fields you may fill. The name of the template you are editing is shown at the top of the window. The following buttons are available: ■ OK : Exit and save your modifications ■ CANCEL : Exit and forget about your modifications ■ HELP : Access to the help system The content of the fields is described page 30. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VI.4 Creating a template ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may create a new Template by selecting the menu item Template / New When you select this option, FLIBBS prompts you for the name of the new Template. Simply enter a valid file name, with no extension. The file must not already exist. If you confirm your request by pressing the OK Button, FLIBBS will then create the empty template. Edit the template to define it. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VI.5 Deleting a template ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may delete an existing Template by selecting the menu item Template / Delete When you select this option, FLIBBS asks you to select a template. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Templates Page 32 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ If you confirm your request, FLIBBS delete the template from the disk. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VI.6 Examples showing how to define a template ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VI.6.A Example 1 ══════ ═════════ Suppose the BBS ASCII file list looks like what is between the horizontal lines: 1 2 3 4 5 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── BW212-2.ARJ [ 131 Kb][12-22-94][032] Blue Wave 2.12 Part 2/2 1RAPID.ZIP [ 105 Kb][09-09-94][009] Rapid Response tactical war simulation game by MVP Software <ASP>. You are the commanding general in ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 1 2 3 4 5 Your template should be like this: ■ The file name begins at column 1 ■ The file size is included in column 14 to 18 ■ The file date is: - day begins at column 23 - month begins at column 26 - year begins at column 29 ■ The DIZ of the file does not begin on the same line as the file identification, so put description's column to 0 VI.6.B Example 2 ══════ ═════════ Suppose the BBS ASCII file list looks like what is between the horizontal lines: 1 2 3 4 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Templates Page 33 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1RULES.ZIP HP48&28 10K 10/91 Info about this SIG and LIB. 1SIGOCT.ZIP HP48&28 15K 10/91 HP SIG in one contiguous file. All users should read this file 25$NET.EXE TELECOM 44K 08/91 CHEAP LAN FOR 2 PC'S Local area network for two pc's ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890 1 2 3 4 Your template should be like this: ■ The file name begins at column 1 ■ The file size is included in column 21 to 26 ■ The file date is: - day=0 because the day is not given - month begins at column 29 - year begins at column 32 ■ The DIZ of the file begins on the same line as the file identification, at columns 35 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Templates Page 34 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ CHAPTER VII │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ The Log File │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VII.1 Log File ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When you are consulting a FLIBBS Data Set, you are brownsing a long list of files. Each time you find a file that interests you, you need to write somwhere it's name and description. To help you in this task, FLIBBS provides you with the possibility to log the file identification and its description onto a file that is thus, logically, called a log file. To log a file's information onto the log file, simply press enter when the corresponding file is the current one in the pick list. There is one and only one log file for each FLIBBS Data Set. You have no direct access to a log file, but you may view the content of a log file, delete the log file of the current FLIBBS Data Set, or Rename the log file to any other file name If it does not exist, the log file is automatically created when you log something in it. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VII.2 Viewing a Log File ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may View an existing Log File by selecting the menu item Log File / View When you select this option, FLIBBS displays in a window the content of the Log File. If there is no current Log File, FLIBBS displays an error message. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The Log File Page 35 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Press the ESC key to exit the view mode ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VII.3 Renaming a Log File ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may Rename an existing Log File by selecting the menu item Log File / Rename When you select this option, FLIBBS asks you for the full name of the new file. Select the new file name, and press the OK button. The file will be renamed. Any existing file with the same name will be overwritten ! ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VII.4 Deleting a Log File ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── You may delete the existing Log File by selecting the menu item Log File / Delete When you select this option, FLIBBS asks you to confirm your request. If you do, the log file is delete from the disk. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The Log File Page 36 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒═════════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ CHAPTER VIII │ │ │ ╞═════════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ Import files from a BBS ASCII file list │ │ │ ╘═════════════════════════════════════════════╛ You may import into the current FLIBBS Data Set the files contained in an ASCII BBS File List by selecting the menu item Data / Import When you select this option, FLIBBS prompts you to select an existing Template that will be used to decode the ASCII file. When you have selected a template, FLIBBS will ask you to select the file to read from. If you select a file and press the OK button, FLIBBS will then prompt you for the name of the BBS where the file is located. This name can be 7 characters long, and will be displayed when you consult the FLIBBS Data Set, in the "origin" field. This name is very useful because it will be kept with the file name when you select derived data, so you will always know where a given file comes from. If you confirm your request by pressing the Ok Button, FLIBBS will read the ASCII file, decode it, and import into the current FLIBBS Data Set the file found in the ASCII file. If you select a bad file, like a binary file, it is possible to crash FLIBBS !! In this case, simply restart the program. You shouldn't have lost any data. See the template examples to see how to define a template. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VIII.1 BBS ASCII file list ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── On any serious BBS, there will be several thousand of files that are available to you. For practical reasons, it is difficult to handle this huge amount of information, let only to find the file you are really looking for ... ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Import files from a BBS ASCII file list Page 37 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ To help you, the SYSOP generally provides an ASCII file that contains the list of all the files available on his BBS, including for each of them a short description of their content. This file is called a BBS ASCII file list. The information contained in a BBS ASCII file list can be imported into a FLIBBS Data Set, provided the ASCII file meets the minimum requirements needed to define a template ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── VIII.2 Decode a ASCII BBS File List ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When you import an ASCII BBS File List, FLIBBS uses a well defined logic to find the file names, and to store the related DIZ information. This logic is show hereby: [1] read a line [2] if this line initiates the description of a file: - [a] store the file related information (name, size, date) - [b] read a line - [c] if this line is not blank and does not initiate the description of a file: - store the line as part of the DIZ of the file - goto [b] - [d] if this line is blank: - goto [1] - [e] if this line initiates the description of a file: - goto [a] [3] if no more lines: - stop [4] goto [1] Note : a line initiates the description of a file if it is possible to find file related information (name, date, size) on this line. Where to find these pieces of information is described by the template used to import the BBS ASCII File List. See the template section (page 30) more information on what a template is, and how to define it. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Import files from a BBS ASCII file list Page 38 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒═══════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ APPENDIX A │ │ │ ╞═══════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ Files in the FLIBBS distribution file │ │ │ ╘═══════════════════════════════════════════╛ The FLIBBS distribution file includes the following files: ■ General information files: - READ.ME: overview and quickstart of FLIBBS - FILE_ID.DIZ: program description file which can be read by certain BBS programs - PACKING.LST: list of files distributed - REGISTER.DOC: describes how to register the program and the benefits of doing so. Contains a registration form and the license information regarding the use of FLIBBS. - HISTORY.TXT: summarizes the history of FLIBBS versions. ■ Executable file - FLIBBS.EXE: the program FLIBBS - FLIBBS.HLP: help file for FLIBBS.EXE - FLCV1011.EXE: conversion utility to convert the FLIBBS Data Set from FLIBBS v1.0 to FLIBBS v1.1 & v1.2 ■ Technical documentation files - FLIBBS.DOC: the user manual for FLIBBS ■ Demonstration files - DEMO.TXT: typical BBS ASCII File List for demo - EXAMPLE*.*: an example of a FLIBBS Data Set ■ For Sysops ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Files in the FLIBBS distribution file Page 39 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ - MKFLIBBS.EXE: the batch utility MKFLIBBS - MKFLIBBS.DOC: the user manual for MKFLIBBS ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Files in the FLIBBS distribution file Page 40 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ APPENDIX B │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ FLIBBS Technical Information │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ This information is intended only for those who are interested by the technical details of the FLIBBS program. If you are not a programmer, you will probably not understand the following text, but remember you do NOT need to understand this to use the FLIBBS program ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── B.1 How the program was written ... ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FLIBBS has been written with Turbo Pascal 7.0, from Borland Inc. FLIBBS makes extensive use of the Object Professionnal 1.10 toolbox, from Turbo Power Software, Inc. The data base stuff is handled by the Btree Filer 5.21 of the same Turbo Power Software, Inc. The documentation has been written and formatted with the ASCII Text File formatter TXFORM v1.0. TXFORM is a shareware utility available from the author of FLIBBS. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── B.2 Files used and / or created by FLIBBS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── For each FLIBBS Data Set, FLIBBS create and / or use the following files, assuming that the name of your FLIBBS Data Set is "FLIDATA": ■ FLIDATA.DFL: the basic file of a FLIBBS Data Set, the one that always exist. Contains the note. ■ FLIDATA.DAT, FLIDATA.IX: the main data and the corresponding index file. Contains the list of files with all their related ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ FLIBBS Technical Information Page 41 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ attributes except the description. ■ FLIDATA_.DZF: the descriptions of the files contained in FLIDATA.DAT. ■ FLIDATA.SPL: the logo window. This is for SYSOPS. It contains the window displayed in the middle of the screen when FLIDATA is the current FLIBBS Data Set. ■ FLIDATA.LOG: the log file If you create a template called MYTEMP, then file MYTEMP.TPL is created. FLIBBS creates also backup files that have the extension "BAK". Note that version 1.0 did include the files called FLIDATA_.DAT, FLIDATA_.IX and FLIDATA.TST that no longer exist. They have been replaced by the new file FLIDATA_.DZF. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ FLIBBS Technical Information Page 42 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ APPENDIX C │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ Various Informations │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── C.1 Accessing and using the help system ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── From about anywhere in the program, you can get help by pressing the <F1> key. If your system is equipped with a mouse, you may also press the left and right buttons at the same time to access the help system. When you are in the help system, you may do one of the following things: ■ Press the <ESC> key (or the mouse right button) to exit the help system ■ Press <Enter> (or left click on the topic) to view more on the highlighted topic ■ Press the arrow keys and the <tab> and the <shift-tab> keys to move the highlighted topic ■ Press <Alt-F1> to go back to previous topics ■ Press the <Page Down> and <Page Up> keys to scroll throught the pages of the current topic. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── C.2 The Logo Window ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The Logo Window is the permanent window displayed in the center of your screen. It contains either some information provided by the Sysop of the BBS where the FLIBBS Data Set originates, or the logo of the FLIBBS program. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Various Informations Page 43 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The information displayed is contained in a file calle MYBBS.SPL, where "MYBBS" is the name of the current FLIBBS Data Set. It is an ASCII file, of up to 48 columns and 9 lines. If there is no such file for the current FLIBBS Data Set, the FLIBBS logo is displayed. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── C.3 The Status Bar ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── The status bar is permanently displayed at the bottom of your screen. It may have one or two lines according to the amount of information to display. The status bar displays useful information on what is happening. The bottom right of the status bar look like this: 69 YOURFLI where ■ "69" would be the current amount of free memory (in KBytes; displayed only if free memory is below 100 KBytes) ■ "YOURFLI" would be the name of the currently open FLIBBS Data Set (if any). ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Various Informations Page 44 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ │ │ APPENDIX D │ │ │ ╞════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ About disk space requirements │ │ │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── D.1 How much disk space do FLIBBS requires ? ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FLIBBS itselfs does not require a lot of disk space. But the FLIBBS Data Set do require some space. However, the real question is "how much disk space does a FLIBBS Data Set require in comparison with the original ASCII BBS file list ?" For information, here are some values I have compiled for randomly selected BBS ASCII File List: D.1.A Compressed format (kBytes) ═════ ══════════════════════════ ASCII FLIBBS BBS 1 716 862 +20% BBS 2 352 406 +15% BBS 3 289 330 +14% BBS 4 172 297 +72% On a average, the compressed FLIBBS Data Set will require some 15% more space than the compressed ASCII BBS File List. The last example, BBS 4, shows a case corresponding to a BBS that provides only one line of comment for each file. In this case, the use of FLIBBS is costly in terms of disk space, but FLIBBS is also not very useful, because there is no information to store or search for. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About disk space requirements Page 45 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ D.1.B Uncompressed format (kBytes) ═════ ════════════════════════════ ASCII FLIBBS BBS 1 2481 2125 -15% BBS 2 1246 983 -21% BBS 3 1208 858 -29% BBS 4 677 924 +36% Once uncompressed, a FLIBBS Data Set requires around 20-25% less disk space than the corresponding ASCII BBS File List. As for the previous example, this is not true for a BBS that provides only one line of description for each file, in which case the required space is much higher. ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About disk space requirements Page 46 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ TABLE OF CONTENTS I Introduction ............................................... 2 I.1 About warranties ... ................................... 2 I.2 What FLIBBS can make for you ........................... 3 I.3 Organisation of this document .......................... 4 I.4 FLIBBS is SHAREWARE .................................... 5 I.4.A What is Shareware ? ................................ 5 I.4.B Registration ....................................... 5 I.5 Installing FLIBBS ...................................... 5 I.5.A Requirements ....................................... 5 I.5.B Printing the documentation ......................... 6 I.5.C Installation procedure ............................. 6 I.5.D Installing Data sets provided by your SYSOP ........ 7 II Getting started - FLIBBS Overview ......................... 8 II.1 Analysis of the BBS ASCII file list to be imported .... 8 II.2 Starting FLIBBS ....................................... 9 II.3 The help system ....................................... 10 II.4 Importing the data of a BBS ASCII files list .......... 10 II.4.A Analysis the "DEMO.TXT" file ...................... 10 II.4.B Creation of the Template "DEMO" ................... 11 II.4.C Edition of the Template "DEMO" .................... 11 II.4.D Creation of a new FLIBBS Data Set ................. 12 II.4.E Importation fo the BBS ASCII File list "DEMO.TXT" . 13 II.5 Consultation of the FLIBBS Data Set .................. 13 II.6 Selecting files in the FLIBBS Data Set ................ 15 III The FLIBBS menu .......................................... 16 III.1 How To Use the menu .................................. 16 III.2 The main menu ........................................ 16 III.3 FLIBBS Data Set submenu .............................. 17 III.4 Data Submenu ......................................... 18 III.5 Template Submenu ..................................... 18 III.6 Log File Submenu ..................................... 18 III.7 Help Submenu ......................................... 19 IV Handling the FLIBBS Data Set .............................. 20 IV.1 What is a FLIBBS Data Set ............................. 20 IV.1.A A note on the "DIZ" ............................... 21 IV.2 Creating a FLIBBS Data Set ............................ 21 IV.3 Opening a FLIBBS Data Set ............................. 21 IV.4 Creation of a FLIBBS Data Set ......................... 22 IV.5 Deleting a FLIBBS Data Set ............................ 22 IV.6 Consulting a FLIBBS Data Set .......................... 23 IV.7 Note of a FLIBBS Data Set ............................. 23 IV.8 Select a FLIBBS Data Set .............................. 24 V Operations on the data ..................................... 25 V.1 Filter Data ............................................ 25 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 47 FLIBBS USER'S GUIDE v1.2 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ V.1.A Select files by file name .......................... 25 V.1.B Select files by keyword ............................ 26 V.1.C Select files not Included in .. .................... 26 V.1.D Remove files containing a keyword .................. 26 V.2 Copy a FLIBBS Data Set ................................. 27 V.3 Add files from an other FLIBBS Data Set ................ 27 V.4 Import files from a BBS ASCII file list ................ 27 V.5 Managing your own downloaded files ..................... 28 V.5.A What does it mean and How does it work ? ........... 28 V.5.B Disk files ......................................... 29 V.5.C Fill DIZ ........................................... 29 VI Templates ................................................. 30 VI.1 Template .............................................. 30 VI.1.A Accept MM-DD and DD-MM date formats ............... 31 VI.2 Select a Template ..................................... 31 VI.3 Editing a template .................................... 32 VI.4 Creating a template ................................... 32 VI.5 Deleting a template ................................... 32 VI.6 Examples showing how to define a template ............. 33 VI.6.A Example 1 ......................................... 33 VI.6.B Example 2 ......................................... 33 VII The Log File ............................................. 35 VII.1 Log File ............................................. 35 VII.2 Viewing a Log File ................................... 35 VII.3 Renaming a Log File .................................. 36 VII.4 Deleting a Log File .................................. 36 VIII Import files from a BBS ASCII file list ................. 37 VIII.1 BBS ASCII file list ................................. 37 VIII.2 Decode a ASCII BBS File List ........................ 38 APPENDICES A Files in the FLIBBS distribution file ...................... 39 B FLIBBS Technical Information ............................... 41 B.1 How the program was written ... ........................ 41 B.2 Files used and / or created by FLIBBS .................. 41 C Various Informations ....................................... 43 C.1 Accessing and using the help system .................... 43 C.2 The Logo Window ........................................ 43 C.3 The Status Bar ......................................... 44 D About disk space requirements .............................. 45 D.1 How much disk space do FLIBBS requires ? ............... 45 D.1.A Compressed format (kBytes) ......................... 45 D.1.B Uncompressed format (kBytes) ....................... 46 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 48