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1993-05-01
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--- QBBS SplitZ v2.2---
>>> The ULTIMATE Chat program <<<
--- Copyright (c) 1992 M.J.Matts ---
Source released into the Public Domain 1993
Portions of Code (c) 1993 P.Baker
--- SplitZ is now FREEWARE ---
These DOC files were originally released my Mark Matts into the Public
Domain after he ceased to Support SplitZ , they have been altered in some
respects to mirror the changes I have made to the program since receiving
it.
If you use a Pre 2.0 version of SplitZ please forget about it. This
NEW version has undergone MANY changes, rewrites and has had many additions.
Due to this I recommend that you read ALL of this DOC file before using or
trying it as there are many differences between this and previous versions. If
you tried previous versions and decided not to use it due to the bugs,
especially in split screen mode, I recommend you try this.. Many online hours
have been spent testing for any possible bugs and it now seems to be ok, my
fingers are crossed as I type this. Most of the 'live' testing was done
between myself on the ST and my wife on her PC running ANSI.SYS.. because of
this SplitZ will work exactly the same as VT52 graphics mode when running in
ANSI giving you the FULL split screen capability between different machines..
SplitZ is, as the name suggests, a split screen chat program for using with
any BBS capable of running external programs . It comes with the usual
features of many good chat programs but with a few other features never found in any other chat program before.
Many of the features available are SysOp configurable so it can be set up to
suit your own tastes, and possibly that of your users!
such as Allowing the SysOp to jump to a CLI program from within SplitZ,
logging the chat to a text file, switching off uppercase characters,
dropping the line on the user plus many others. The 'EXTRA' features found
in SplitZ include the ability to show a text file to a users from within
the chat, a 'fun' mode that can be easily switched on and off and the best
feature is the ability for an 'INSTANT DOWNLOAD', read on for a further
explanation of this..
****************************** DISCLAIMER *****************************
* *
* SplitZ has been tested as much as possible and as yet has never *
* trashed a harddisk, however, I cannot gaurantee that it is 100% *
* safe so you use it at your own risk. *
* *
***********************************************************************
>>>> How to install SplitZ..
Place SPLITZ.PRG , SPLITZ.RSC & SPGRAPH.PRG in the folder you are going
to run them from.
Run The SPGRAPH.PRG program in a batch file when a user logs on to your
BBS and pass the users FULL name to it as a parameter.
SPGRAPH will search the file SPLITZ.DAT , if the user isn't found it will
then ask the user for his choice of emulation , save it in SPLITZ.DAT and
create a file called SPLITZ.USR, this will be read by SPLITZ when it is run.
To stop the SPLITZ.DAT file getting too large , if you run SPGRAPH once a
day with the paramaters SCAN <no of days> then SPGRAPH will scan SPLITZ.DAT
and remove any users from it who haven't logged on within the set number of
days.
E.G. SPGRAPH.PRG SCAN 90
Once installed you must make your BBS run the SplitZ program passing the
parameter YELL to it to make the program page you , if your BBS can run
a default pager at your request then SPLITZ will go straight into chat mode
if no parameter is used when you go into chat with a user on-line.
That is it, you now have a standard SplitZ setup.
TURBO Board sysops , rename SPLITZ.PRG to CHAT.PRG and the BBS will run it
automatically when you press escape with a user on-line.
If you want to take advantage of SplitZ's extra features you must create two
external text files telling SplitZ how you want it to operate.
The first is called FUNMODE.BBS and controls the 'fun' mode where words type
are replaced with others, sometimes this can be quite amusing and on other
occasions quite embarrassing depending on how you have it set up.
FUNMODE.BBS is simply a listing of any words that you want changing when the
'fun' mode is operational. For the 'fun' mode to work the FUNMODE.BBS file
_MUST_ be in the folder that you run SplitZ from. It must also use the
following format:-
hello<>Wotcha
bye<>Goodbye
qbbs<>QuickBBS
sysop<>Spotty Twerp (!)
The first word can only be a single word but be in any case, ie, upper or
lower. This is the word that is changed if it is written. The second string
of text can be anything you like and not just a single word. How you write
it here is EXACTLY as it is re-written when replacing the first word.
Between the word to change and the word(s) to change it to you must place the
two characters <> in this exact format, basically what it means is change
this < to that >.. The 'fun' mode can be very useful aswell as amusing.. If
you find that you are regularly typing the same phrase each time you chat why
not include shortcut words that will be extended into your most used phrases,
for example., I am always typing 'BTW' instead of 'by the way' which confuses
a few users as they do not know what 'BTW' means, therefore one line in my
FUNMODE.BBS reads.. btw<>by the way .. Makes life much quicker!
The second external file that you can use to enhance SplitZ is called
SPLITZ.CTL, which again _MUST_ be placed in the same folder as you run
SplitZ from , and is used to switch on certain functions or to replace
certain standard text lines. The format of each command must be exactly as
shown below but they can be in any order within the CTL file. If you do not
want to have, or change a feature you simply leave the command out of the
CTL file.
The available commands are as follows:-
Command : SYSTEMPATH <Full path to your main BBS folder>
Example : systempath e:\turbo\
Purpose : This _MUST_ be in the CTL file.. I do not trust environment
variables 100% so this is to make sure the system files can be
found.. Without this command SplitZ WILL NOT work..
Command : DOS <Full path and filename>
Example : dos e:\pcommand.prg -i -c
Purpose : When you press ALT/J this program will be called. Any parameters
needed can be added to the end of the program name. (See example)
Command : TODOSTEXT <Text string>
Example : todostext Hang on a sec.. Just gone to DOS!!
Purpose : This text is displayed to the user when you press ALT/J to run the
program defined by DOS=
Command : FROMDOSTEXT <Text string>
Example : fromdostext Hi, I'm back with a vengance...
Purpose : This text is displayed to the user when you return to Splitz after
running the program defined by DOS=
Command : PAGELEN <number>
Example : pagelen 15
Purpose : This number defines the amount of seconds Splitz will try to page
you. If not used SplitZ will page you for 20 seconds.
Command : SCROLL
Purpose : This Changes the method SPLITZ uses to handle screen text when you
reach the bottom of your text box , normally the cursor moves to
the top line and blanks it , this command forces the top line to
be deleted and a blank line to be inserted at the bottom instead.
Command : GETTEXT <Text string>
Example : gettext Just gone for that DOC file you want to read..
Purpose : Displayed to the user when you are searching for a text file to
send to them for viewing.
Command : INSTANTDL
Example : instantdl
Purpose : If used this will enable the 'INSTANT DOWNLOAD' feature which can
then be accessed by pressing ALT/I from within any chat mode. No
parameters are needed for this command. If it is not used all other
CTL commands needed for the 'INSTANT DOWNLOAD' feature will be
ignored and pressing ALT/I will have no effect.
Command : INSTDLTEXT <Text string>
Example : instdltext Just gone to get the file you want, back in a mo..
Purpose : This will be the text displayed to the user when you press ALT/I to
use the 'INSTANT DOWNLOAD' feature. This will let them know that
the BBS hasn't crashed while you go looking for the file that they
want to download, or the one that you want to send to them.
Command : DLX <Full path, file name and parameters>
Example : dlx d:\transfer\xyz.ttp -u -c -x *file
Purpose : Specifies the external transfer program to use for X-Modem transfer
and the parameters to be passed to it. *file will be replaced with
the name of the file you are going to send to the user, it can be
anywhere in the parameters line so that different transfer programs
can be used.
Command : DLY <Full path, file name and parameters>
Example : dly d:\transfer\xyz.ttp -u -c -y *file
Purpose : Specifies the external transfer program to use for Y-Modem transfer
and the parameters to be passed to it. *file will be replaced with
the name of the file you are going to send to the user, it can be
anywhere in the parameters line so that different transfer programs
can be used.
Command : DLZ <Full path, file name and parameters>
Example : dlz d:\transfer\xyz.ttp -u -c -z *file
Purpose : Specifies the external transfer program to use for Z-Modem transfer
and the parameters to be passed to it. *file will be replaced with
the name of the file you are going to send to the user, it can be
anywhere in the parameters line so that different transfer programs
can be used.
Command : DLJ <Full path, file name and parameters>
Example : dlj jekyll.ttp -t1m0k1or1oh3op1oq1z2048 -ph:\qbbs\upload\ *file
Purpose : Specifies the external transfer program to use for Jekyll transfer
and the parameters to be passed to it. *file will be replaced with
the name of the file you are going to send to the user.
Command : LOCKOUT <Text string>
Example : lockout Sorry, its my turn to say something..
Purpose : Sends the text string to the user when you press ALT/M to lock
their keyboard.
Command : F1,F2, upto F10 <Text String>
Example : F2 Welcome to my humble BBS
Purpose : Allows you to assign a text string to the 10 function keys which
will be sent to the users screen as if you had typed it..
Command : F11,F12, upto F20 <Full path and filename + any parameters>
Example : F12 h:\turbo\batch\fcshell.prg /icp pcommand.prg
Purpose : Allows you to run any external progam at the touch of a function
key. F11 to F20 must be a function key pressed with shift, for
example to run program F15 you must press SHIFT + F5.. You can pass
parameters by adding them to the end of the filename. (See example,
the / is part of the fcshell parameter language, not a part of
SplitZ.). Usually the users screen is not cleared when you run an
external program, instead they get the relevant message displayed to
them. In the case of 'I/O re-direction' programs such as FCSHELL it
may be useful to clear the screen so that the user, or yourself if
operating remotely, will not have a messed up display. To make the
users screen clear you simply place an asterisk (*) after the equals
character, for example 'f11 h:\dos.prg' will NOT clear the users
screen but using 'f11 *h:\dos.prg' will. There must be no spaces
between the asterisk and other characters.
Command : EXTPRGTEXT <Text string>
Example : extprgtext Hang on a second, just running external program..
Purpose : Lets the user know what you are doing rather than letting them
think the BBS has crashed!!
Command : ASKCHAT
Example : askchat
Purpose : If used SplitZ will ask the user to type a reason for requesting
the chat.
Command : AUTOCLEAR
Example : autoclear
Purpose : Puts the 'autoclear' option in split screen mode ON as default.
Command : USELOG
Example : uselog
Purpose : SplitZ will log certain activities such as the reason for chat,
file viewed or downloaded plus other small bits of information in a
file called SPLITZ.LOG which will be kept in the same folder as the
main SplitZ program.
Command : USERESCAPE
Example : userescape
Purpose : If used the user online will also be able to quit the chat by
pressing their escape key.
Command : WELCOME <Text string>
Example : welcome Hi there me old mate..
Purpose : The text string is displayed the user as soon as the chat starts.
Command : COMPRESSED
Example : compressed
Purpose : Forces SPLIT screen chatting to operate in 9 line mode instead of
the usual 10 lines. Pressing ALT/C will still allow you to switch
between compressed and decompressed modes.
Command : DEFAULTTUNE <path and filename to *.MUS file>
Example : defaulttune h:\qbbs\tunes\beguine.mus
Purpose : Defines the tune to be played if no TUNE command matches the
online user. This will override the internal default tune.
Command : TUNE <name> <path and filename to *.MUS file>
Example : tune Mark Matts h:\qbbs\tunes\monty_p.mus
Purpose : Allows you to define a tune for a named person.
>>> Available KEY presses <<<
***** QUICK REFERANCE *****
[S] - Available to the SysOp only [B] - Available to SysOp AND user
[S] <HELP>- Display a help screen to the SysOp only.
[S] ALT/A - Toggles the AUTOCLEAR function in SPLIT mode.
[S] ALT/B - Clears BOTH windows in SPLIT chat mode.
[S] ALT/C - Decompress/Compress SPLIT screen chat.
[S] ALT/D - Displays a text file to the user.
[S] ALT/F - Toggles the 'fun' mode (ASCII chat only).
[S] ALT/G - Stops CTL/G ringing your bell!
[S] ALT/H - Hangs up the phone and disconnects the user.
[S] ALT/I - Allows an INSTANT DOWNLOAD to the user.
[S] ALT/J - Executes program specified by CTL command DOS=.
[S] ALT/L - Toggles the chat LOG file (BOTH chat modes).
[S] ALT/M - Disables the users keyboard.
[S] ALT/R - Redraws the screen in both SPLIT & ASCII modes.
[S] ALT/S - Switches between SPLIT and ASCII chat mode.
[S] ALT/U - Toggles the use of Uppercase characters.
[S] ALT/Z - Toggles Scroll or Clear chat window wrapping
[B] <TAB> - Clears your own SPLIT chat window.
[B] CTL/E - Highlights the typed text (Not in ASCII graphics).
[B] CTL/G - Rings each others bell!!!
*[S] <ESC> - Quit from SplitZ and return to the BBS.
* A configurable option.
***** DETAILED KEYPRESS DESCRIPTIONS *****
<HELP>- Displays a help screen to the SysOp only which has ALL the available
key presses for both users.
ALT/A - Toggles the AUTOCLEAR function either on or off. What AUTOCLEAR does
is makes the split windows clear themselves each time the cursor
returns to the top line. The user and SysOps windows operate
independantly of each other. The bell will ring once for disabled and
twice for enabled. The bottom line of text in each window will not be
cleared just in case you didn't read it..
ALT/B - Allows the SysOp to clear both split chat windows at one time.
ALT/C - Switches between 9 and 10 line SPLIT screen chat modes.
ALT/D - Allows you to send a text file via the modem so that the user can
view it. The user can control the viewing of the text simply by
pressing Y or N to continue viewing or to finish. Viewing of the file
is done page by page. When the SysOp presses ALT/D the text string
defined by the CTL command GETTEXT= or the default text is sent to
the user, the Sysop simply clicks on the file to view using the
standard fileselector.
ALT/F - Toggles the 'fun' mode which is only available in the ASCII chat
mode. This feature is only used if the FUNMODE.BBS file exists and has
valid entries. The bell will ring once for disabled or twice for
enabled.
ALT/G - Stops the user ringing your bell when they press CTL/G. Their bell
will still ring but yours will be nice and quiet!
ALT/H - If the online user is annoying you or it is time to go to bed you can
cut them off and drop the carrier by pressing ALT/H. The user will be
sent a random string of garbage which should make them think the phone
line had a bad connection and the carrier was lost naturally.
ALT/I - By using a mixture of CTL commands you can send a file to the user
directly from within SplitZ using either X,Y or Z-Modem protocols.
This is especially useful if whilst having a chat the user mentions
that he was looking for a specific file which he couldn't find, with
this 'INSTANT DOWNLOAD' feature you can sort it out for him and send
it to him within seconds. When you press ALT/I you will be shown the
fileselector which you use to click on the file to send to the user.
Once the file has been choosen the user will be offered a protocol
menu, depending on what you have enabled in the CTL file, offering
them the choice of downloading it. Once the download has finished you
will both go straight back to the chat screens.
ALT/J - Executes the program specified by the CTL command DOS=. This is best
used with a CLI type program. If you only use this feature to move
files whilst a user is online I would recommend installing a good
replacement fileselector such as UIS3 and then use a small program
that calls the Fileselector when run.
ALT/L - Switches the chat LOG feature either on or off. When you switch
logging on a folder called CHATLOGS will be created in the folder
where SplitZ is (assuming that it doesn't exist).. When a chat log is
started a file called CHAT.xxx will be created in the CHATLOGS folder.
This file will be unreadable unless you use the file viewer included
with this release.. It actually replays the chat session as if you
were still on line.. This applies to both chat modes.. When you next
open a chat log the next available number CHAT file will be created..
ie, CHAT.000 then CHAT.001 etc etc.. if you delete any then the lowest
available number will be replaced with the new file..
ALT/M - My turn!! Locks the users keyboard so that they can type nothing.
Gives you a chance to say what you want without any interuptions.
ALT/R - Clears the screen and then redraws it depending on which chat mode
you were in. The users screen will also be cleared and then redrawn.
ALT/S - If the online user is operating in either VT52 or ANSI graphics mode
you will be able to use either the SPLIT or ASCII chat modes. By
pressing ALT/S in either mode you will instantly switch between them.
ALT/U - Prevents the use of UPPERCASE characters all the time. If you or the
user are in CAPS LOCK and this function is enabled all words will be
written in lowercase apart from the first letter, this allows you to
keep names and places capitalised. The bell will ring one for disabled
and twice for enabled.
ALT/Z - Depending on wether you have the Keyword SCROLL in SPLITZ.CTL the
text will either be cleared from the next line as you type and the
cursor will jump back to the top line OR the top line will be
erased and a new blank bottom line inserted , this will toggle
between the two modes.
<TAB> - Both users can press this key to clear their own split windows. Both
windows will NOT be cleared, only the window of the person who pressed
their <TAB> key.
CTL/E - Any text typed after pressing CTL/E will be highlighted. This does
not work when the user has selected ASCII graphics mode.
CTL/G - Simply rings the bell on both computers.
<ESC> - Both SysOp and user can quit the chat program by pressing their escape
key.
The bottom of the screen in both chat modes displays the SplitZ title text ,
along with the status of various toggles, ie, telling you whether they are
on or off. In both modes you will also have a constant time display which
is updated every minute, there is also a counter for how long you have been
chatting, this should give you an idea of how long the user still has left
online..
*** KNOWN BUGS ***
After about 2 months of testing on 5 different BBS's we have hopefully
eradicated most bugs, however, 2 of the testers experianced a problem with
the middle bar dissappearing when in Split chat mode.. I have been unable to
recreate or fix this so would deeply appreciate any users telling me if they
also suffered the same problem. Apart from this all the obvious bugs have been
fixed although there are likely to be some that will appear once this program
hits all the different setups available.
--*--
-*- UPDATES -*-
I found that if a user was in MONO mode then I tended to get MONO split
screen mode at my end as well , I've fixed this bug and the sysops split
screen mode is now totally independant of the Users graphics choice
--*--
If you experience any problems or have ANY ideas for new features then please
put them forward, after all, I can only make the program better with your
help. It was only due to Mark Butler <and Kevin Osborne> approaching me with
ideas that you now have this version.
I can be contacted at the following addresses:-
Please feel free to mail me at anytime with any problems you may be having
and also any ideas for new features.
Paul Baker Fidonet 2:440/108.0
The Tavern BBS Atarinet 51:502/100.0
300-14400 MNP4-5 V42bis Nest 90:102/140.0
24 Hours TurboNET 100:1011/0.0
+44 (0)81 445-6514
Happy chatting...