Cream of the Crop 12

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Cream of the Crop 12 / Cream of the Crop 12 (Part II) / Cream of the Crop 12 (Part II).iso / BBS / CLASFY41.ZIP / CLASSIFY.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1996-04-04 | 44.7 KB | 993 lines

CLASSIFIED ADS v4.1 by Al Lawrence Sunrise-80 BBS (404) 256-9525 (33.6 USR v.everything) (404) 705-9104 (33.6 USR v.everything) (404) 256-9518 (VOICE: 9am-9:30pm EST) any day FIDO 1:133/6003 (EMAIL) al_lawre@ix.netcom.com Copyright 1992 - 1996, Al Lawrence All Rights Reserved Table of Contents ----------------- Overview.......................................................... 1 Installation...................................................... 2 Configuration File Description.................................... 3 Restrictions...................................................... 4 Modify an Ad...................................................... 4 Download Ads...................................................... 4 Reading Ads Offline............................................... 5 NEWS Option (CLNEWS.TXT).......................................... 5 Topics File (CLTOPICS)............................................ 6 Usage Log......................................................... 6 Category File..................................................... 7 Welcome and Goodbye Files......................................... 8 'Pay to Advertise'................................................ 9 Purging Ads, Messages............................................. 10 Database Exchange................................................. 11 Setting up a Hub to Exchange files................................ 13 Non-Standard COM Support.......................................... 15 Multi-Node Setup.................................................. 16 File Transfer Protocols (PROTOCOL.DAT)............................ 17 File Compression (COMPRESS.DAT)................................... 18 Limiting Exports by Category (CLEXPORT.DAT)....................... 19 Maintenance Program (CLMAINT)..................................... 20 PrePaid Ads....................................................... 21 Credit Card Data Collection (CLCREDIT.TXT/CLCREDIT.DAT)........... 22 PICTURE File Compression (CLEXCMPR.DAT)........................... 22 Legalities........................................................ 23 Distribution...................................................... 23 Registration...................................................... 23 Misc.............................................................. 24 Page 1 OVERVIEW ________ The CLASSIFIED Ads Door is designed to allow callers to post Classified Ads in any of the unlimited categories you have set up. You can designate each category to be "FREE" or "PAY". "PAY" categories give you the option of charging businesses/individuals for posting their ads; similar to your local newspapers. Optionally, electronic pictures of the products being posted, can be attached to an Ad for the caller to access. Please note that this option requires an additional registration. NOTE: Most errors will be logged to a file called DFRAME.ERR which is created in the Classified Door directory. Page 2 INSTALLATION ____________ Installation is fairly easy and straight forward. The following steps and examples should have you up and running in a very short period of time. It is assumed that you are familiar with setting up DOORS on your system. To this end, only examples of the configuration file and Door batch file (if required by your BBS software) are described. **** SHARE.EXE is REQUIRED! Place the word SHARE on a line by itself **** **** in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, anywhere after your PATH statement. **** 1) Create a directory to hold all CLASSIFY files 2) Unzip CLASFYxx.ZIP into the the above directory 3) Create a configuration file, with a name of your choice, or modify the supplied CLASSIFY.CFG file. You can do this manually with an editor of your choice OR you can use the configuration option in the Classified Ads Maintnenance program (CLMAINT). The configuration file layout/description can be found further on in this document 4) Create a batch file or modify the CLASSIFY file supplied (if your BBS software requires the use of a batch file to execute the door). A description of this file follows: ECHO off cd\BBS\DOORS\CLASSIFY Location of CLASSIFY files CLASSIFY CLASSIFY.CFG EXE filename and CFG filename (Name used in creating file in #3 above) CD\BBS BOARD 5) When running more than one node, read MULTI-NODE SETUP further on in this document. 6) Unzip CLBATCH.ZIP, which contains working batch files examples for some popular protocols. Page 3 CLASSIFIED ADS CONFIGURATION FILE ** Location of system file (See Below) SUNRISE-80 BBS Your BBS Name Al Sysop's First name Lawrence Sysop's Last Name |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | READ! 1 CommPort \ These 2 lines are required | | READ! 1 Node # / ONLY for GTUSER.BBS | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| 00000000 Registration Number # 2 Keyboard timeout value in Minutes # NONE Drive:\Path\Filename to contain the ASCII Bulletin summarizing all Ads in the database # NONE Drive:\Path\Filename to contain the COLOR Bulletin summarizing all Ads in the database Y Y=Display the Originating BBS Name, N = Do NOT N Y = Use European Date Format (DDMMYY) N = Use Regular Date Format (MMDDYY) 0 Minimum Logon Security Level required to use the new AD option. Zero(0) will allow access to everyone. 0 Minimum Logon Security Level required to use the DELETE option. Zero(0) will allow access to everyone 0 Minimum Logon Security Level required to use the MODIFY option. Zero(0) will allow access to everyone 0 Minimum Logon Security Level required to use the MESSAGES option. Zero(0) allows access to everyone. 00000000 Ads Exchange Program Registration Number SUN80 Name of the EXPORT file that is generated by the CLEXCH program. We suggest that it be a unique name. DO NOT include an extension! Maximum of 6 characters WELCOME Name of the WELCOME file. CAN contain an extension. GOODBYE Name of the GOODBYE file. CAN contain an extension. (Any Info You Wish) Additional information about your BBS, that will be displayed with each Ad posted on your BBS. We suggest the use of the BBS telephone # as it is displayed adjacent to the Originating BBS Name. MAXIMUM of 25 characters. SYSOP BBS name the SYSOP uses when he/she logs on. When a caller enters an Ad in a PAY category, a message is sent to THIS name to notify the Sysop about the Ad. Y Y = Allow Downloading, N = NO Downloading CLASSIFIED ADS CONFIGURATION FILE (Cont'd) N Y = Allow use of HiASCII characters N = Do NOT allow the use of HiASCII characters 0 Min Security level allowed to view pictures N Y = YES Import/Export Picture Files N = Do NOT import/Export Picture Files c:\classify FULL Drive:\Pathname to the Directory where Picture files are located. Entry MUST end with a \ NONE Line of text you wish displayed at the top of the screen when adding or displaying an ad. Maximum of 76 characters and if no text is to be displayed you must use the word NONE Y Y = When using Option 1 on Main menu, show ALL Categories N = Show only Categories that contain Ads N Y = Use ALIAS in lieu of the BBS Logon Name. (Requires DOOR.SYS) N = Use normal BBS LogonName ** = Replace with a PATH to ONE of the following: PCBOARD.SYS CALLINFO.BBS DOOR.SYS GTUSER.BBS DORINFOx.DEF SFDOORS.DAT # = Requires registration to change to a different value. Page 4 RESTRICTIONS! ------------- UnRegistered versions of CLASSIFIED Ads have the following restrictions: . Maximum of 10 Messages may be entered . Maximum of 15 Ads may be entered . Purge option is disabled . WELCOME file is not recognized . GOODBYE file is not recognized . Keyboard timeout value remains at 2 minutes . Bulletin will not be generated . Unable to Export Ads, Messages and Pictures . PAY advertising not functional . Picture Attachment (see REGISTRATION section of this document) MODIFYING an AD --------------- All Ads may be modified by the caller that entered the Ad or the Sysop of BBS on which the Ad was entered. If you, as the Sysop, try to modify an Ad that was not entered on your BBS, the program will revert back to the Main Menu. DOWNLOADING ADS ---------------- Callers may download Ads by choosing the appropriate option from the main menu. Downloading is OPTIONAL and is controled via an option in the configuration file. Therefore, if you decide not to allow your callers to download, you may set the appropriate option to "N" in the configuration file. If you do permit downloading, you MUST define the protocols and compression formats you will be supporting on your board. (See Compression Formats and File Transfer Protocols in this document). Page 5 READING DOWNLOADED ADS OFFLINE ------------------------------ Your callers have the ability to download the Ads database and read them offline. They must use the reader supplied with the Classified Ads Door, called CLREADER. Optionally, the caller can send a message to the Ad poster and upload the message(s) to the Classified Ads door, on a subsequent call. There is an option on the Main Menu that will allow your callers to Download the CLREADER.EXE and CLREADER.DOC files. You must ensure that both files exist in the Classified Ads Directory. The files MUST NOT be compressed (ZIPed, etc) as the caller will be given the option to choose one of the compression routines you have defined for use with Classified Ads. NEWS OPTION ------------ This Main Menu option, called NEWS, allows the Sysop to have a file displayed to the user, that will convey some type of message relative to the Classified Ads or a Network the Sysop belongs to or hints/tips, etc to make the use of the Classified Ads a little easier for the user. The filename MUST be called CLNEWS.TXT and if the file does not exist in the CLASSIFY directory the program will disregard that Menu option, if chosen. Page 6 TOPICS File (CLTOPICS) ---------------------- Classified Ads allows you to define an unlimited number of Categories into which callers enter their Ads. Although this provides your callers with a wide variety from which to choose, it takes a long time to display these Categories on the screen (especially at lower modem speeds). To this end we have taken the approach that we will consolidate categories into TOPICS and allow the caller to choose from a maximum of 40 TOPICS. As each TOPIC is chosen we display ONLY those Categories that YOU have associated with that TOPIC. If you DO NOT want to present TOPICS to your callers (yes it is optional...) don't create the CLTOPICS file and they will be presented with the Categories directly. OR create an ASCII file called CLTOPICS and define each topic on a separate line, EXACTLY as you want it displayed to the caller. Each line can have a maximum of 35 characters and a maximum of 40 TOPICS. Categories are defined in the CLASSIFY.CAT file. One of the entries for each Category is the TOPICS number. This number corresponds to the line number within the TOPICS file you wish to link to this Category. See CATEGORY FILE discussion elsewhere in the documentation. USAGE LOG --------- As an option, we provide you with the ability to log every player to a text file. IF you enter Y in the CFG file to log callers, the Door will place the caller's name as well as the ON and OFF times each time a caller selects the Door. A separate file will be created for each Node and the name of the file will be USAGEx, where x is the Node number. You may delete these files at any time and the Door will recreate them the next time a caller enters the Door. If you do NOT want to continue logging callers, change the CFG file entry to N. Page 7 CATEGORY FILE (Classify.CAT) ---------------------------- **** PLEASE NOTE: You MUST run option 12 from the CLMAINT menu EACH and EVERY time you make a change to the CLASSIFY.CAT (Classified Category) file. Be sure to give a lot of thought to your choice of categories, since the category position in this file is carried in each Ad record. This means, if you set up the categories so that #2 was 'Want Ads - General' and the caller entered an Ad under that category, the Ad would carry category #2 as the category number. If you then decide that you want to change the 'Want Ad - General' category to say, 'Announcements', then the Ads carrying #2 in their record would be classified incorrectly. The format of the Classify.Cat file follows: SS,TTTTTTTT,UU,V,WW,XX,Y,Z Where s = Topic number from TOPICS file or 0 if you have chosen not to use TOPICS t = Category name. Max length: 25 characters(NO COMMAS) u = Maximum number of days a "FREE" ad can remain active. Min:1 Max 365 (This value is not used with "PAY" categories). Each "FREE" ad carries a purge date calculated by adding this value to the date the Ad was entered. v = Should the program ask for COST ($$$) info. You would answer Y for a For Sale type category and an N for a WANT AD or Announcment type category. w = Category security level to ENTER an AD. If caller's logon security level is less than this security level, they will not be able to enter an ad in this category. A category security level of 0 allows anyone to enter an Ad. x = Category security level to VIEW an Ad. If caller's security level is less than this security level, they will not be able to VIEW an Ad in this category. A category security level of 0 allows anyone to VIEW an AD. y = Allow Ads to be downloaded from this conference. Y=yes, N=no z = 'Pay' Category: P = Pay F = Free The Classified Ads Door will check each category entry and will report any errors it detects. Error numbers are defined as follows: 1 = Category Name greater than 25 2 = Days to remain active is less than 0 or greater than 365 3 = COST field contains other than a Y or N 4 = Allow downloads field contains other than a Y or N 5 = PAY field contains other than a P or F 6 = The topic number is greater than the actual number of topics in the CLTOPICS file OR the CLTOPICS file was not found in the Classify directory. Page 8 WELCOME and GOODBYE Files ------------------------- The following applies to registered versions of CLASSIFY ONLY! You can define the name of the WELCOME file in the configuration file. If the program finds that filename, it will display that file after the opening screen and before the main menu screens. The file must reside in the same directory as CLASSIFY.EXE You can define the name of the GOODBYE file in the configuration file. If the program finds that filename, it will display that file when the caller exits the program. It will display prior to displaying the file called ADOPT.SYS (if you have created it). The file must reside in the same directory as CLASSIFY.EXE Page 9 "PAY-TO-ADVERTISE" Option ________________________ Classified Ads can be used to charge for the placement of an advertisement and/or allow for the ads to be placed free of charge. You decide which on a category-by-category basis. You make a category a 'PAY' category by changing the appropriate entry in the Classify.Cat file from an "F" to a "P". You have the option to create an ASCII file that will be displayed to the caller, everytime they choose a particular 'PAY' category in which to enter an ad. This file can contain any pertinant information such as the method of payment, information required, etc. If you want the same file to be used for ALL 'PAY' categories, then you must name the file "PAY" (no quotes). If you want to display a unique file for some 'PAY' categories, then you must name the file "PAYx", where x is the line number of the corresponding entry in the ClASSIFY.CAT filer. If the program does not find a 'PAYx" for a particular 'PAY' category, it will then search for a "PAY" file. If neither is found it will not display anything. We strongly suggest that you create a file for display for all 'PAY' categories so as to ensure that the callers understand the guidelines you have established for 'PAY' categories. Any ads entered into a 'PAY' category, will remain INVISIBLE to everyone until payment is received and the Sysop makes that ad VISIBLE. You must use the appropriate option in the Classified Ads Maintenance program (CLMAINT) to make an ad VISIBILE. Please note that INVISIBLE ads are NOT exported! The maintenance program (CLMAINT.EXE) will display EVERY ad in the database that is flagged as INVISIBLE. You will have the choice of BYPASSING it, DELETING it or making it VISIBLE. Once an ad is deleted or made VISIBLE, it can not be reversed... so BE CAREFUL! Registered option only. Page 10 AUTOMATED PURGING ----------------- When you set up the categories to be used in your version of CLASSIFIEDS, you are asked to define the number of days the ad should remain active. By running the CLMAINT (PURGE option) program in your nightly event process you will ensure that the ads are deleted, automatically. In addition to purging expired ads, the CLMAINT Purge option will pack the message database The following is all that is required to execute the purge: CLMAINT CLASSIFY.CFG /EVENT ^^^^^^^^^^^^ | |------ or your congfiguration file name Note: This is only available in registered versions! Page 11 DATABASE EXCHANGE _________________ ** A GREAT WAY TO SHARE THE CLASSIFIED ADS DATABASE BETWEEN 2 OR MORE BBS' ** ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The optional Classified Ads Database Exchange feature will allow you to participate in the exchange of Classified Ads databases (Ads and Messages) BBS' (Any number of BBS' can participate). The exchange program is named CLEXCH and comes included in the CLASFYxx.ZIP file. CLEXCH performs three (3) major functions: (1) EXPORT: Extracts all active ads and messages from the Classified databases. It creates files named XXXXXXrr.AXP and XXXXXXrr.MXP (XXXXXX is defined in the CFG file, rr is a random letter/number combination) and will bypass any ad already flagged for deletion as well as those Ads that were previously exported. (2) IMPORT: Imports files named XXXXXXrr.AXP and XXXXXXrr.MXP and XXXXXXrr.MXP (XXXXXX is defined in the CFG file, rr is a random letter/number combination) created by the EXPORT option and merges all ads and messages into the Classified databases. It will not import any ads or messages that duplicates ads or messages found in the existing databases. Note that this option will IMPORT ALL files with an extension of AXP and MXP, during a single execution of the program. (3) IMPEXP: This option will first IMPORT (as in (2) above) then turn around and EXPORT (as in (1) above) during one execcution of the program. All BBS' involved in the exchange MUST run registered versions of BOTH Classified Ads and Classified Exchange (CLEXCH). It is critical that ALL participants in the exchange use the SAME Category file. Failure to do so will result in ads meant for a certain category on one system, showing up in a category totally unrelated on another system. N O T E: To EXCLUDE certain categories from being exported see "Limiting Export by Category" elsewhere in this document (Continued on Next Page) Page 12 DATABASE EXCHANGE (Continued) To run the Exchange you do the following: ************************************************************************ * >>>>> If you are acting as a HUB you MUST signal CLEXCH.EXE by using * * HUBEXPORT, HUBIMPORT or HUBIMPEXP in lieu of EXPORT, IMPORT or * * IMPEXP. If you fail to do this you will not be able to export * * newly imported Ads/Messages. * ************************************************************************ EXPORT: a) Change to the directory containing your CLASSIFY.DAT file b) Issue this command: CLEXCH EXPORT CLASSIFY.CFG If you use a different name for your Config file, then substitute that name for CLASSIFY.CFG c) Send (transmit) ALL *.AXP and *.MXP files to those involved in the exchange or to the HUB. d) Delete ALL .AXP and .MXP files IMPORT: a) Change to the directory containing your CLASSIFY.DAT file b) Copy the *.AXP and *.MXP files that were sent to you by the BBS you are exchanging with, to the directory used in item (a) above. c) Issue the command: CLEXCH IMPORT CLASSIFY.CFG If you use a different name for your Config file, then substitute that name for CLASSIFY.CFG d) Delete ALL *.AXP and *.MXP files IMPEXP: a) Change to the directory containing your CLASSIFY.DAT file b) Copy the *.AXP and *.MXP files that were sent to you by the BBS you are exchanging with, to the directory used in item (a) above. c) Issue the command: CLEXCH IMPEXP CLASSIFY.CFG If you use a different name for your Config file, then substitute that name for CLASSIFY.CFG d) Send (transmit) ALL *.AXP and *.MXP files to those involved in the exchange or to the HUB. NOTE: If you wish to EXPORT ALL Ads in the database regardless of whether they have been previously exported, you can use the /ALL switch on the CLEXCH command line. It can only be used with HUBIMPORT, HUBEXPORT or HUBIMPEXP and MUST be the last entry on the command line. NOTE: When registering CLEXCH, you MUST use the EXACT SAME Sysop Name AND BBS NAME as used for CLASSIFIED ADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOTE: All IMPORT and EXPORT transactions are now recorded in a file called CLEXCH.LOG. If the file exists it will append the information, if not it will create the file and add the information. Thus you are free to delete it at any time. Page 13 HOW TO SETUP AS A HUB AND DO CLASSIFIED ADS EXCHANGES ----------------------------------------------------- Below, is a fully working batch file complete with comments, for the group hub. There are a few very important things to remember in running the Classified Ads as a hub. FIRST, make sure all your nodes have the same categories or mass confusion will result. SECOND, it is highly advisable that you and your nodes use a unique name (representative of your board) instead of the generic "Classify.exp", for example Sun.exp would be the name for Sunrise BBS. THIRD, this batch file (Exchange.bat) is best run during your event each night, rather than each time the door is executed, especially if you are connected to boards that are long distance. The commands for your nightly event batch file would be: CD\CLASSIFY CLPURGE CLASSIFY.CFG CALL EXCHANGE.BAT DEL CLASSIFY.EXP CD\ Exchange.bat would be located in your classified directory and would be the batch file listed below. You may feel free to remove the comments and use the batch file below after modification for your system drive/path/name specifications. (Continued on Next Page) Page 14 HUB SETUP (Continued) _______________________________________________________________________________ BATCH FILE EXAMPLE FOR THE HUB USING THE CLASSIFIED ADS EXCHANGE PROGRAM @echo off del I:\db\files\classify.exp ^ ^^ ^^^^^ Comment: Above would be the drive/path to your inbound/outbound files directory. This command will delete your previous night's export. NOTE: DO NOT use this command the first night you start the import/export with other boards. cd\db\files copy *.exp I:\ra\doors\classify ^^^^^ del *.exp ^^^^^ Comment: Copy all exported files sent to you into your classified directory, then delete all the exported files. FAILURE to use a unique .exp name will result in files over writing and only the last .exp file copied will be imported into your database. cd\ra\doors\classify clexch IMPEXP classify.cfg ^^^^^^^^^^^^ copy classify.exp i:\db\files ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ Comment: Perform the import/export (IMPEXP) then copy the resulting export file from your classify directory to your outbound files directory. cd\db dbutil i send 1:114/203 i:\db\files\classify.exp ^^^^^^ Comment: Send the export file to the other boards. Note above that the command used is for D'Bridge...you may substitute the proper command and outbound files directory for your front end mailer. You will need to do an export for every BBS connected to you. __________________________________________________________ | This example provided to you courtesy of: Window In Time | | 1:114/203 | | 602-253-1946 | | | | Feel free to contact the Sysop of Window In Time!!!! | |__________________________________________________________| Page 15 NON-STANDARD COM SUPPORT ________________________ Support for COM 1-4 on the standard IRQ's - COM1/COM3 = IRQ4 and COM2/COM4 = IRQ3. If you wish to use a non-standard IRQ, add the IRQ number after the configuration filename. Let's assume your Door is called FOOBAR and you want to use COM1 and IRQ5. The command line passed to your Door would be: FOOBAR FOOBAR.CFG /5 The /5 tells FOOBAR to use IRQ5 rather than the standard IRQ4 that is normally used with COM1. No /x parameter is needed for the standard IRQ's. As an alternative, you may use an environmental variable on the command line. To use the variable (following the example above), place a SET IRQ=5 in the batch file used to bring up your BBS (you would need a different IRQ number for each node). The command line would now look like this: FOOBAR FOOBAR.CFG /%IRQ% This, in combination with the use of the environmental variables described in the MULTI-NODE SETUP section will allow you to use one batch file and one config file to run this door on all nodes. Page 16 MULTI-NODE SETUP ________________ All Sunrise Doors are Multi-Node capable. Each node must have the ability to access a configuration file which will have its own system file (DORINFOx.DEF, PCBOARD.SYS, DOOR.SYS, etc) defined on the first line. There are 2 ways to accomplish this: (1) Create a separate configuration file for each node. The only difference between each file would be the location of the system file for that particular node. For example, on my system there are 2 nodes and the first line of the config files would look like this: NODE1: H:\PCB1\DOOR.SYS NODE2: H:\PCB2\DOOR.SYS Thus, if you have a 4 node BBS, you will need 4 configuration files. (2) Use ONE configuration file for ALL nodes. This Door will recognize the following PCBoard/Wildcat environmental variables: PCBDIR (Directory containing the System file) PCBDRIVE (Drive containing the System file) WCNODEID (Active Node Number) Thus, the first line of the SINGLE configuration file, for this Door would look like this: %PCBDRIVE%%PCBDIR%\DOOR.SYS c:\wc30\wcwork\node%wcnodeid%\door.sys NOTE: This option, as described, assumes that you are running PCB or Wildcat software. The environmental variables are automatically created by the software for each node. HOWEVER, if you are running other BBS software you should be able to set the variables EXACTLY as described below, for EACH node (more than likely in each batch file you use to bring up EACH node): PCBDRIVE=C: ^^^^^^^^^ PCBDIR=\NODE2 ^^^^^^^^ Info with a carat (^) under it, MUST be typed as is. The rest depends on your naming conventions. This, in combination with the use of the optional environmental variable described in the NON-STANDARD COM SUPPORT section, will allow you to use one batch file and one config file to run this door on all nodes. Page 17 UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOLS --------------------------------------- Classified Ads externalizes all file transfer protocols used for Uploading and Downloading of the Classified Ads. This allows the Sysop to define the file transfer protocols they wish to support. A file called PROTOCOL.DAT is supplied with protocols already defined, which you may alter at any time. Each entry in the PROTOCOL.DAT file consists of the description that will be displayed to the caller on the Protocol Menu and the 'high level' name of the protocol's batch files. Example: ZModem Upload or Download, ZPROT The information to the left of the comma is the description. Classified requires that you have 2 batch files in the Classified directory to handle the uploading and downloading. In the above example ZPROT is the 'high level' portion of the 2 batch file names required for ZMODEM. Your Classified directory should contain ZPROTR.BAT (the R is for uploading) and ZPROTS.BAT (the S is for downloading). The R and S suffixes MUST be present as that is what Classified Ads will be looking for in the Classified Ad directory! Each protocol batch file MUST contain 2 batch file variables as follows: %1 = Classified will use this variable to substitute the current ComPort %2 = Classified will use this variable to substitute the file name IMPORTANT! Place the variable (%1 and %2) ONLY in the EXACT location that your protocol requires them, in the protocol command line. Do NOT supply the ComPort or FileName, JUST the %1 and %2 variables themselves (%1 and %2)! See example batch files supplied with the Classified. They are the ones being used on the Sunrise-80 BBS. *** PLEASE NOTE *** There may come a time when you will need to supply information to the protocol you are using, based on the node it will be used on. You can accomplish this by supplying a node-specific PROTOCOL file. Everything described above stays the same except that you will name the file PROTOCOL.x (where x is the node number). For example, to use a special set of protocols (or batch files) on node number 5, modify a copy of PROTOCOL.DAT and name it PROTOCOL.5. CLASSIFY will use PROTOCOL.5 when someone logs on node 5 and will use PROTOCOL.DAT for ALL OTHERS. You do not have to create node-specific PROTOCOL files for all nodes.. just the node(s) that are different. Page 18 FILE COMPRESSION (COMPRESS.DAT) ------------------------------- When a caller chooses to download a file of any kind, from Classified Ads, they are presented with a list of compression types from which to choose. A file called COMPRESS.DAT is supplied with several types already defined. You are free to alter the file to reflect the ones you support. Each entry in the COMPRESS.DAT file consists of the description that will be displayed to the caller on the Compression Menu, the name of the compression file name and the command used to add files to the archive. EXAMPLE: PKZip v1.10,PKZIP -a ARJ v2.3,ARJ a Please note that everything to the left of the comma is part of the description for that compression type and may be modified to your liking. Page 19 LIMITING EXPORTS BY CATEGORY ---------------------------- By default the CLEXCH (Classified Exchange) program will export ads in ALL categories. If you wish to limit the categories that will be exported, create an ASCII file and call it CLEXPORT.CAT and enter the category number(s) you DO NOT want to export, ONE to a line. The category number is the line position of the category as it exists in the CLASSIFY.CAT file. For example, if the CLASSIFY.CAT file contained: Local For Sale National For Sale Local Announcements National Announcements and you did NOT want to export local categories, you would create CLEXPORT.CAT and input the following in the file: 1 3 Those 2 entries in the CLEXPORT.CAT would tell CLEXCH to NOT export the "Local For Sale" and "Local Announcements" categories. Page 20 MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (CLMAINT) ----------------------------- The Classified Ads Maintenance program, CLMAINT.EXE, is a menu driven program used to perform the following functions: (1) Maintain the PREPAID Ads file . Add/view/delete prepaid ads entries in the PREPAID file (2) Database PURGE .Will purge Ads, Messages and Prepaid Ads entries from their respective files if they are marked for deletion. (3) View/maintain the Invisible Paid ads .When an ad is entered into a PAID category, it is made invisible (not displayable) until you manually make it visible. This option allows you to do this or you can view and/or delete it (4) Setup the Classified Ads configuraiton file .Use this option to setup or modify a configuration file. (5) Reset the EXPORT flag of ALL Ads in the database .Use this option to force ALL ads in the Ads database to be marked for Export the next time you run CLEXCH. (6) Reset the EXPORT flag of ALL Messages in the database .Use this option to force ALL messages in the Message database to be marked for Export the next time you run CLEXCH. (7) Create/Update the CLassify.CNT file. This fiel keeps track of the number of Ads in each category. (8) Transfer Ads from one Category to another (must run option 12 as well) Execution examples: CLMAINT CLASSIFY.CFG <===== Manual or CLMAINT CLASSIFY.CFG /EVENT <===== Auto purge from an Event Page 21 PRE-PAID ADS ------------ This option will allow you to accept payment for ads in advance. Using the PREPAID ads option in the maintenance program (CLMAINT.EXE), you can add, view or delete entries in the PREPAID file. The PREPAID file will contain the name of the caller, the Ad display time (Week/Month/Quarter/Year) and the number of ads they have prepaid for that type of Ad. You must have a separate entry for each display time type for each caller. For example, a caller named Joe Door can prepay for 2 Monthly Ads and 3 Weekly Ads. In this case you would need 2 Joe Door entries in the PREPAID file, one for the WEEKLY Ads and 1 for the Monthly Ads. When the caller enters an Ad in a PAY category, Classify asks what length of time the Ad should run. If the program finds a match in the PREPAID file, (on caller name and display time) it will make the Ad VISIBLE, IMMEDIATELY and decrement the number of Pre-Paid Ads by 1. When the Purge option in CLMAINT is run (Manually or as an Event) entries in the PREPAID file with a zero in the number of ads filed, will be deleted. Page 22 CREDIT CARD DATA COLLECTION --------------------------- Classified Ads can optionally accept credit card information from those callers placing "PAID" Ads. This option will be in effect IF the program finds a file named CLCREDIT.TXT in the Classified directory. This file can contain a maximum of 20 questions that you wish the caller to answer relative to their credit card. The maximum length of any line in the file is 38 characters and the number of characters the caller may respond with is 40. You may format each line any way you wish as long as the above criteria is adhered to. A file named CLCREDIT.DAT will be created and will contain all information entered by the caller, along with other pertinent information about the Ad posted. The information from each caller will be APPENDED to the file and it is the Sysop's responsibility to delete that file when they have captured the information. A sample CLCREDIT.TXT file is included in the archive. Should you NOT want to accept credit cards then YOU must either delete the CLCREDIT.TXT file or rename to some other name for future use. PICTURE FILE COMPRESSION (CLEXCMPR.DAT) --------------------------------------- To facilitate the Exchange of PICTURE files we must compress them all into ONE file. To this end we use a file called CLEXCMPR.DAT to define the names of the BATCH files that will be used. The CLEXCMPRS.DAT file supplied contains the names of 2 batch files called ZIPIT.BAT and UNZIPIT.BAT. As the names imply, one is used to ZIP up the PICTURE files and the other is used to UNZIP the PICTURE files. The 2 batch files can be changed to reflect another type of compression