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- RAPTOR BBS - Undocumented Commands
- (c) 1995 by The Raptor Development Team
- All Rights Reserved
-
-
-
- (6-28-95)
- The following additions and changes to RAPTOR have been made and are not
- at this time included in the document files.
-
- Multinode
- ---------
- RAPTOR BBS will now support up to 256 nodes under DesqView, OS/2
- or other multitaskers. To configure the information for each
- node.
- (1) Start RAPTOR with the standard BBS.EXE.
- (2) From the WFC screen select <P> for system configuration,
- <A> for modem/node configuration then <A> for node number.
- (3) Enter the node number for the node you wish to configure,
- then proceed to enter the other information requested on the
- screen.
- (4) Return to the WFC screen after completeing all node
- information.
- (5) Repeat steps (2) through (4) for any other nodes. This will
- create the MODEM###.DAT file for each node.
- (6) Start each node with the command line BBS -n### where ### is
- the node number. If you use BBS without the -n### parameter
- RAPTOR will default to node 1.
-
- A new MCI code has been added to the doors MCI codes. %M will
- now pass the current Node number as a parameter to the command
- line in ONLINE.MNU.
- An MString of DOOR.BAT %M called from node 2 will then pass
- DOOR.BAT 2.
-
- A new MCI has also been added that can be used in files,
- prompts, and the string editor. An MCI of %E will display the
- current node number in the form 'NODE ###' where ### is the
- current node number.
-
- SysOp logs also now show the node number which the user is
- logged in on.
-
-
- Conferences
- -----------
- RAPTOR now supports up to 26 conferences for message and file
- areas designated A to Z. All conferences are configurable with
- an ACS string to limit access to certain areas of the BBS. To
- assign a file or message are to a conference use the Cx ACS
- command in the area's ACS string, where x is the conference
- identifier. In other words an ACS string with the commands
- S100CD means Security level 100 and joined to conference D. The
- new menu Command Key to 'Join Conference' is OJ. If the MString
- for this command is left blank it will prompt the user for the
- conference they wish to join with an option to list the
- conferences. If the MString contains a valid conference
- Identifier then the OJ command will change the user to that
- conference. If the user is restricted from a conference by the
- conference ACS string they will not see that conference listed
- and will not be able to join that conference.
-
- The conference Editor is accessible from the WFC screen using
- the "$". The options in the editor are fairly straight forward
- to Insert a new conference, Modify an existing conference, or
- Delete an existing conference.
-
- (* Raptor will start using conference 'A' for each login, even
- though this conference has not been defined.
- The conference system allows you to make groups of message areas
- or file areas available to only users with certain security
- settings. *)
- This was changed in the .8 beta series to record the last
- conference the user was in. 'A' will be used for new users.
-
-
- Network Addresses
- -----------------
- The addresses set up in the Network configuration are now used
- to configure the addresses in echomail message areas as well as
- in processing netmail by the RAPMAIL program. When you select
- the option to configure the network address of a message base
- you will see the list of addresses displayed and be prompted for
- which you wish to use.
-
- ============
- <07-04-95>
- ============
-
- Nonstandard Comports
- ---------------------
- Support for nonstandard IRQ's and Com Base addresses are
- supplied to RAPTOR through the fossil driver. However DSZ/GSZ
- and some other transfer protocols are interrupt driven and the
- fossil is unloaded by RAPTOR as it shells to the external
- protocol. In order for the protocol to handle the nonstandard
- port cofiguration it is necessary to pass the IRQ and base
- address of the comport to the protocol program. RAPTOR now
- allows you to configure the IRQ and Address of the port in the
- MODEM configuration menu from the WFC screen. These are passed
- to the protocol in the variable %I ( IRQ from modem config) and
- %A ( base address from modem config). Refer to the documentation
- for the protocol driver you are using for the correct syntax to
- pass these variables to the protocol. You must then edit the
- protocol commandline in the PROTOCOL EDITOR from the WFC.
-
- ========
- 07-08-95
- ========
-
- Mail processing
- ----------------
- RAPTOR will exit with an errorlevel of 2 to DOS if there is new
- echomail or netmail. This will allow you to process mail only if
- there is new mail ( Yeah I know.... RAPMAIL is to ^$#&$* slow
- when the message bases get big... working on it <G>) instead of
- after every caller.
- The command line would look something like
- If errorlevel = 2 then goto newmail
- Goto Nomail
- :Newmail
- RAPMAIL -s
- REM Enter command sfor the processor here GEcho FMail etc.
- RAPMAIL -P
- GOTO END
- :NOMAIL
- GOTO END
-
- ==========
- 07-11-95
- ==========
-
- RAPMAIL Scanning
- ------------------
- RAPMAIL will now only scan the netmail directory and any echo
- areas with NEW messages. The purge will check all directories,
- if a .MSG or HIWATER.MRK file exists in that directory then it
- will be purged and the PURGING COMPLETE message displayed, or
- else the NO MESSAGES message will be displayed. This makes
- RAPMAIL much faster in normal operation. There is no change in
- the Toss operation.
-
- ==========
- 07/16/95
- ==========
-
- Logoff Quotes
- -------------
- Logoff quotes are now available to the users. To enable Logoff
- Quotes a new menu command "OQ" has been added. "OQ" will prompt
- the user if they wish to leave a logoff quote and allow them to
- enter a one line 78 character quote. There is NO MString for the
- "OQ" command, and the acs string may be set to restrict the
- users who have access to leave a quote. If you have 'AutoMessage
- in Logon' enabled inthe BBS setup the last logoff quote will be
- shown to the user in the form
- "(USERNAME) was logged in recently and said.."
- " <QUOTE>"
- Colors may be used in the quote line using the standard CTRL-P
- selections. If no color codes are used the quote will be in
- Yellow. The first line will be in Blue.
- The "OR" Command keys has also been added to allow users to read
- back through the logof quote file one screen at a time. "OR" has
- no MString for the command.
-
- Readmail commands
- -----------------
- The read e-mail submenu commands have been changed to make them
- a bit more standard. To reread the last message use "A" for
- Again, and to reply use the "R" command. (*Public and Echomail
- currently still uses the "A" autoreply command... working on
- that one watch this space for future changes<G>*)
-
- **** All public and private messages now use 'A' to read again and
- 'R' to reply.*****
-
- =============
- 08-15-95
- =============
-
- Expanded RIP features
- ---------------------
- The RIP support for your users is still being updated.Mouseable
- pop-up picklists for File Areas, Message Ares, and Conferences
- is in place. The RIP background wallpaper behind the lists is
- configurable. RAPTOR will look for a .RIP file for each area
- WPMSG.RIP for messages
- WPFILE.RIP for files
- WPCONF.RIP for conferences
- and display this file as the background for the pop-up lists.
- If the file does not exist RAPTOR will display it's own internal
- wallpaper. These files must be stored in the AFILES directory. It
- is recommended that theses screens contain no mouse areas, and
- that after creating these files you use a text editor to remove
- the |#|#|# (RIP_no_more) command from the end of the file. The
- editor RIP control panel and the file browse control panel and
- RIP login prompts are all internal to RAPTOR and will be
- configurable in future releases through the RIP cfg options to be
- added, but will not be editable.
-
- External Full Screen Editor
- ----------------------------
- Although RAPTOR includes a very powerful internal editor, it
- still has the drawback of being a line based editor. Since many
- users prefer the ease of using a full screen ANSI editor we have
- included support for RemoteAccess (RA (c) Wantree Development
- and Andrew Milner) style full screen external editor. We have so
- far tested this feature with the shareware editor IceEdit ((c)
- Jeremy ). A new option (X) has been added to the system
- configuration menu to configure the external editor. Options
- here are
- A. Use external editor
- B. Editor dropfile type
- C. Editor command line
- A). This is a yes/no toggleable field which enables use of an
- external editor. If this is set to NO then RAPTOR will not
- attempt to use an external editor.
- B) This is the drop file tpye needed by your external editor.
- When you select B you will be presented with a list of possible
- drop file types and their corresponding key letter. For IceEdit
- we selected type 'D' - Dorinfox.def. Selecting '-' will not
- create a drop file allowing you to pass the values required by
- your editor to it on the command line using the standard RAPTOR
- Door information MCI codes.
- C) This is the command line required to start your editor. In
- configuring IceEdit we entered a command line of:
- EDIT.BAT %M
- ^ ^
- | |_____Passes current node number for this node
- | (i.e. Node 1 would pass 1)
- |
- |________Batch file to launch your editor
- Our EDIT.BAT was really pretty simple
- CD\ICEEDIT
- ICEEDIT /D:C:\RAPTOR\TEMP\N%1
- CD\RAPTOR
- The /D: switch in the ICEEDIT parameter passes the directory to
- look for the drop files to the door (DORINFOx.DEF and MSGTMP).
- The %1 batch variable passes the current node number from the %M
- MCI code making the N%1 come out as N1 ( default directory for
- node 1 from the Modem config setup)
- In order to properly configure an external editor you must
- understand a bit about how RAPTOR handles messages. If you are
- replying to a message RAPTOR creates a file called MSGTMP and
- stores it in the node drop file directory for the current node.
- This directory is configured in the modem setup option from the
- system configuration menu of the WFC. MSGTEMP is a file which
- contains the text of the message you are replying to. This file
- is used by RAPTOR's internal editor as the quotable part of the
- text, and is also used by RA compatible editors as their quote
- files. It is necessary to point the editor to the proper
- directory where it can find MSGTMP. In this case both the
- Dorinfox.def file and MSGTMP are located in the same directory,
- and ICEEDIT assumes they will be found together, so the /D:
- switch points ICEEDIT to the proper directory for both it's drop
- file and the MSGTMP quote file. ICEEDIT will rewrite the MSGTMP
- file to include the selected quoted text as well as the text of
- the new part of your message. If you abort the message in
- ICEEDIT the MSGTMP file will be erased. If RAPTOR returns from
- the external editor and MSGTMP does not exist it will assume the
- message has been aborted. If MSGTMP exists RAPTOR will then
- import the text into the mesage base. It is not necessary to
- enter the To and subject information in the editor, only the
- message body text.
- That, in a nutshell, is how to install your external editor. As
- with all shareware products, please register any shareware
- editor you may select.
- If a user is in either the external OR internal editor it is not
- possible to do an on-line adjustment of their account status
- using the F1 key.
-
- Other stuff
- -----------
- Although the recent dates of the additions to this file make it
- look as if we have been sitting on our backsides for a couple
- weeks that isn't exactly true. Many changes have begun
- internally for added features and options. In the near future we
- will see the ability to attach files to E-Mail, configure the
- look of on-the-fly RIP screens, have your default RIP menus
- updated automatically whenever you change your .MNU files, and
- hopefully the addition of on-the-fly light bar menus for your
- ANSI users.
-
- ============
- 8-17-95
- ============
-
- Automatic updating of default RIPs
- ----------------------------------
- Ok as mentioned above some of the near future has arrived. The
- default RIP menus are now generated whenever a RIP caller logs
- on. The screens will show only the commands the user has access
- to. To control the function of the updater a new switch has been
- added to the system config <H> Miscellaneous menu. That option is
- 'Use default RIP menus'. If this is set to ON then RAPTOR will
- regenerate a new RIP menu anytime you change the .MNU file. If the
- menu is all first commands there will be no RIP screen generated.
-
- >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<<
- IMPORTANT!!!
- If you use custom RIP screens be certain to set the option to use
- default RIP menus to OFF! If this option is enabled your custom
- screens will be overwritten by the default menus!
- >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<< >>*<<
-
- Configuration for colors and text styles in a future release
- will be added shortly... RIP menus will also accept only 48
- commands, in other words command #49 and #50 will NOT be shown
- on the default RIPS. Of course if you have that many commands on
- one menu it is probably long past time to create a submenu <G>
-
-
- ===========
- 8-28-95
- ===========
- Split screen chat
- -----------------
- With the Version 06a2 release RAPTOR introduces the concept of
- external software modules. Modules allow 3rd party developers to
- write RAPTOR specific utilities which can run as an external
- program, and have RAPTOR pass the necessary information to the
- Module in a standard format. Some of the parameters are still
- under development, however we introduce our first Module with
- this the release, the Split Screen Chat Module. The module is
- contained in the file CHATMOD.EXE, and unlike door style chat
- programs require absolutely NO SysOp configuration. In addition
- thrid party authors can develop a split screen chat module which
- SHOULD require no configuration on the sysop's part. Provided the
- executable is called CHATMOD.EXE this file can be copied into the
- Main RAPTOR BBS directory and run exactly as the Development team
- supplied module. Split screen chat may be accessed with the ALT-C
- key combination and the standard line by line chat is still
- accessed by the F-10 keys.
-
- The Module Concept
- ------------------
- The module concept allows third party developers to write addin
- programs or modules which can be run seamlessly from RAPTOR and
- require little or no SysOp installation.
- In order to qualify as a module a program must meet these
- requirements.
- 1) Modules will NOT make use of any form of drop file other
- than those created by RAPTOR when the 'Launch Module' command is
- called.
- 2) Modules must read the RAPTOR files necessary to locate
- directories as described in the RAPTOR Development Kit. In other
- words, if the Module requires access to one or more of RAPTOR'S
- Message or File Bases the module must read the RAPTOR STATUS.DAT
- file and the other appropriate files to locate the path to the
- files, and may use external configuration files ONLY for
- information not supplied by RAPTOR.
- 3) The Module must detect the fossil used by RAPTOR
- automatically, and handle initializing the fossil if using
- Fossil IO or make certain that it can use it's own internal comm
- routines. It must NOT be up to the sysop to configure comm
- information.
- 4) The module must contain file locking routines or be clearly
- marked for SINGLE NODE USE ONLY.
- 5) The module should only modify files created by RAPTOR for
- module purposes only. It should modify RAPTOR'S data files
- directly ONLY if the information needed is not available through
- the rereadable module data file.
- ***NOTE***
- The final format of the Module Data File has not been completely
- finalized. The final spec for this will be available shortly.
- For up to the minute information about what is included in the
- information available to modules contact the Development Team.
-
- In addition, in order for a module to be considered "approved"
- it should meet the following criteria:
- 1) If the module is shareware then the registration fee should
- be reasonable when compared to the priceof RAPTOR. In other
- words a $40.00 file handler for a $60.00 BBS is not considered
- reasonable <G>. The development team will make every effort to
- supply basic utilities and modules that are not internal to
- RAPTOR available to sysops at a free or EXTREMELY inexpensive
- rate.
- 2) When unregistered the module may have features disabled but
- must present a true representation of the modules MAIN function.
- Nags are permitted either at the beginning of the module or the
- end, but NOT both, and the nag should NOT exceed 15 seconds in
- length. This area should also include any author/copyright info,
- again at the beginning or end, not both.
- 3) By accepting a module for 'approved ' status, the development
- team does not guarantee that any one module will get exclusive
- rights to 'approved'status for that type of module, nor that we
- will not at some future date include similar features either
- internally or in the form of a free module. IOW if you write a
- killer QWK module, we may still release a basic QWK module.
- 4) The author of approved modules must subscribe or have access
- to a BBS that does subscribe to one of the current RAPTOR
- support echos( as of now NVR_NET and SAC_NET). We will not
- support your product! Also the development team must have a
- current voice phone number to contact the author of any approved
- modules. Failure to provide support on a reasonable basis will
- be reason to drop a products 'approved' status.
- 5) Continued acceptance of a product as approved is entirely up
- to the discretion of the development team. Any product may be
- dropped from the approved list at any time for any reason.
-
- Although some of these requirements may sound a bit restrictive,
- their basic purpose is in keeping with The Development Teams
- basic mission statement. To provide the BEST possible online
- Host system to system operator, for the best price possible,
- requiring the least amount of configuration possible, while
- maintaining maximum flexibility. While we are not attempting to
- tell anyone how to write his/her program, or how to price or
- market his/her program, these requirements are presented only as
- guidelines for the things we will evaluate before adding a
- module to the approved list. Certain approved products may be
- included with releases of RAPTOR, in their shareware form.
- Shareware products submitted for evaluation to be included as
- approved should include both a shareware and a registered
- version.
-
- 11-15-95
- ========
- Ver 0.7a1
- OK well it's been a while since we worked on this doc, but here is
- the latest. A few minor cosmetic fixes, and a few bug fixes in
- RAPMAIL (now v0.5)
- The bugfixes include eliminating tossing those silly arcmail packets
- created by your front end mailer back into your BBS mail<G>. Also
- fixed some problems RAPMAIL had finding users with netmail. Now
- tosses netmail to the right user account instead of the first one
- with a partial match to the name (oooops!)
- In RAPTOR itself changed the YES/NO prompts to a toggleable type
- prompt. Hit a key to toggle the highlight from yes to no then hit
- enter...
-
- ANSIBOXES
- ---------
- Ansiboxes will draw a 3-D box around one line of text. This
- option is selectable from the miscellaneous configuration menu.
- At present there are three types (0= No box, 1= Blue Box, 2=
- Gray Box) More colors to follow. Use of the boxes is accessible
- to sysops using a new MCI code %I@string to print@
- This MCI is available in both files and messages(example title
- lines for your bulletins) as well as in the string editor for
- prompts etc.. You are restricted however to using only 76
- characters in the 'string to print' The two '@' signs are
- required in the MCI code...
-
- Split screen Chat
- -----------------
- Split screen chat now behaves exactly like the line style chat
- as far as use of time goes. This is internal to RAPTOR so will
- behave like this with ANY chat module written to use with
- RAPTOR.
-
- File Browsing
- -------------
- The 'B' Browse Files command now displays one screen then the
- prompt rather than a pause. This allows users to tag after each
- screen is displayed. This method is preferable to the 'L' List
- files command. We suggest eliminating the default List Files and
- renaming the Browse command to List. This seems to make it
- easier for the users...
-
-
- 1-4-96
- ------
- INTERNODE PAGING and TELECONFERENCE
- ====================================
-
- 1) New Menu Commands-
- 'OD'- Page a user on another node from the menu prompt. Do not need
- to be in teleconference area to use this. No Mstring.
- 'OT'- Enter teleconference area to access conference rooms, group
- chat etc.
- 'OW' -Who's on line listing. Shows activity for ANY nodes which have
- been active.
-
- 2) New configuration options-
- (Key sequences are from WFC)
- 'PB5'- Sets the path where the internode chat files will be located.
- At installation this path defaults to 'LOGS'(old 'trap'). For
- optimum speed this could be set to a RAMDrive
- 'PEM'- If on enables checking for internode messages. If off no
- internode commands are available and no internode files are created.
- Single node systems should NOT enable the teleconference system.
-
- 3) Commands from teleconference submenu
- '/J [Conference #]' - Join conference room #
- '/A [Username] {actionword]'- Transmits action word string inserting
- your name and Username in appropriate places.(Not yet implemented)
- '/P [Username] [Message]'- Sends page message to Username wherever
- they are in the BBS, provided they are available for page.
- '/ [Username] [Message]'-Whispers a message to Username. In other
- words noone else in the conference room will see this message.
- '/$' - Displays users information.
- '/#' - Who's on line.
- '/X' or 'X' - Exits Teleconference area.
- '/?' or '?' - Displays Teleconference help screen.
-
-
- It is important to realize that teleconferenceing is a very disk intensive
- operation and that signifigant speed improvements can be realized by
- using a ramdrive for the teleconference file path. The Teleconference
- files are relatively small, so the Ramdrive would not have to be very
- big. 1-2 K per node would be more than sufficient.( The files are
- actually 414 bytes each, but the 1 to 2 k would allow for small files to
- be attached.) Right now there is no way for a user to toggle chat
- availability, that will be coming shortly.
-
-
- OS/2 NOTES!!!!!
- -----------------
- When running under OS/2 it is necessary to DELETE the VOLUME ID from
- your hard drive. The reason is a quirk in OS/2 which returns the volume
- label as a filename. During the logon procedure RAPTOR checks to confirm
- that all files in the temp dirs have been deleted from the previous
- caller. If OS/2 Returns the Volume Label RAPTOR will try to delete a
- file with that same name, since the file doesn't exist a very sudden and
- unpleasant crash will result. We are looking into ways to eliminate this
- problem completely, however we offer this idea as a temporary solution.
- Besides.... what good does the bloody Disk Label do anyway!?!?!?!?!?!?!
-
- Passing actual speeds
- ---------------------
- Two new MCI codes to pass the actual connect speed to either a door on
- the command line or to a protocol ( example CEXYZ allows passing both
- the locked port rate and the actual connect speed, also some CD rom
- doors need the actual speed to calculate correct download limits.) The
- actual speed is passed to either a door or an external protocol by using
- the %S MCI code. Example: 14,400 bps modem with a locked port at 19,200.
- For a 2400 baud caller %B will pass the value 19200 while %S will pass
- the value 2400).
-
- 2-7-96
- -------
- OK if you've made it to this point, be certain that you now(if not
- before) read the README!!.1ST file. This contains some additions not
- discussed in this document. ( Now aren't you glad YOU aren't the doc
- coordinator<G>)
-
- ================
- File Listings
- ================
- A lot of the recent activity has gone into cleaning up the file listing
- appearance, both for new scans and using the List/Browse option. First
- of all if you have any comments or suggestions on the looks of the
- display forward them to one of the development team.
- Version 8b4 introduces sysop selectable file list types. The three
- options are:
- Option #1
- ---------
- Num Filename Size File Pts Short Desc
- Long desc
- Long desc
- .... for the length of the long
- desc
-
- Option #2
- ---------
- Num Filename Size File Pts Short Desc
-
- You will notice option 2 has no long description and will display 15
- files per screen.
-
- Option #3
- ---------
- Num Filename # of DL's U/L Date Uploader
- Size File pts Short Desc
- Long desc
- Long desc
- ..... till the end of long desc
-
- If no option has been selected in the system config ( From the WFC
- screen P,F,L for the file list style option) then option #3 will become
- the default. This can be changed at any time.
-
- Again any suggestions for improvements in this area are more than
- welcome, and all will be considered.
-
- =================
- 2-11-96
- =================
- Configurable netmail path
- -------------------------
- Begining with the .8b4 release the path for your netmail *.MSG directory
- is now configurable. You MUST fill in this path and run RAPMAIL.EXE
- Dated after 2-10-96(v.7b) for this to be used. The path is set from the
- network configuration (from the WFC P,I ) as option J. This should be
- the full path to your netmail directory.
-
- ==================
- 2-20-96
- ==================
- Messsage base display files
- ---------------------------
- Raptor can display a custom RIP/ANSI/MSG file when the user READS
- messages in a message base. Simply create a file named MDF#####.* where
- the ##### is the number of the message where this file should be
- displayed (NOTE:Message base #1 would be MDF1.ANS for an ansi file. Do
- NOT pad out the number with 0's) and place it in the MISC (AFILES)
- directory. This file will be displayed when the user selects the READ
- option, it will not display during scans of the message areas.
-
- ================
- 3-7-96
- ===============
- OK several things finalized today, simple things first...
-
- Total system callers
- --------------------
- You can now edit the total number of system callers from the
- configuration editor in the Miscellaneous Configuration Area
- (from the WFC select 'P' then 'H'). Use this however you want <BEG>.
- This was primarily designed in the event that the STATUS.DAT got
- corrupted and had to be replaced.
-
- Personal Message Scan
- ---------------------
- RAPTOR will now scan the public message areas for messages addressed to
- the user. This is similar to the Newscan in that it can be global or
- single base, can scan across all conferences, and uses the same MString
- as the newscan. The difference is the user is prompted as to whether
- RAPTOR should update their Hi-Read message pointers after the scan.
- Selecting NO at this prompt will NOT update the pointers allowing the
- user to come back and read all new messages at a later time.
- Implementation can be done two ways. A new Menu Command has been added
- 'MY' which will take the user to the personal newscan. Also a toggle is
- provided to prompt the user during logon to scan for new personal
- messages. The menu command will use an MString if provided, however the
- logon sequence will behave as if no MString was found, prompting the
- user if it should be global.
-
- Menutitle MCI codes
- -------------------
- Two new MCI codes are provided which contain the menu title lines 1 and
- 2.
- %] - returns title line 1 of the current menu
- %[ - returns title line 2 of the current menu
- These are primarily designed to allow creting ansi prompts for menus
- which can be displayed using the %J@filename@ MCI code.
-
- Multi - menu configuration
- ---------------------------
- ***********************************************
- BEFORE PROCEEDING, BE CERTAIN TO BACKUP YOUR STATUS.DAT AND STRING.DAT
- FILES!!!!!!! IT IS ENTIRLEY POSSIBLE TO DESTROY THE DEFAULT PATHS
- STORED IN STATUS.DAT. IF YOU GET AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT PATHS ARE MISSING
- SIMPLY REINSTALL YOUR BACKUP OF STATUS.DAT AND TRY AGAIN
- ************************************************
-
- OK well since we haven't documented the language file and string editor
- yet we'll start from the very beginning. RAPTOR's string editor will
- also create a language.dat file in your DATA(GFILES) directory. If this
- file is present, it will create an on the fly menu prompting the user to
- select a language. Also contained in this file is a number corresponding
- to the paths to be used by RAPTOR for the *.MNU menu command files as
- well as the path for the RIP/ANSI/MSG display files for this language.
- OK now what does this all mean? It means simply you can create a
- language with the look and feel of any other BBS software, right down to
- duplicating the command keys a user would enter if using that software.
- Let's say there is a BBS package called PussyCat, and you want to
- duplicate it's looks (WHY?? I dunno!). But you would create a language
- which duplicated the prompt strings for that software, then you could
- create a set of RIP/ANSI screens to duplicate the looks of that
- software, and then even create a set of *.MNU files to change the normal
- RAPTOR command keys for anyone who chooses that Language!
-
- OK now to rough out the ideas here. These are the basic rules...
- 1) If there is a language.dat file you MUST create a MEUNCFG.DAT file
- by using the Alternate Path Editor (from the WFC select P then J). This
- will prompt you for the set to configure, and prompt you for the paths
- for the *.MNU files and the RIP/ANSI files.
- 2) Several languages can share the SAME Paths for MNU and display
- files, even if the langauge files themselves are different.
- The menu set is selected in the string editor.
- 3) You should ALWAYS make menu set 1 the default MENUS path and default
- MISC path (or what you specified during RAPINIT). Use these files
- with your 'default' language file.
- 4) The MENUS dir and the MISC dir for each language must BOTH exist and
- have the appropriate files in them if you want to use either one. In
- other words if you want to use the MNU files for all languages, but
- different RIP/ANSI/MSG screens you must copy the MNU files to the
- appropriate MENU directory for that set. Note though, that the MENUS path
- can be set to the default menu path. Just be certain that the MENUS
- path you setup does in fact exist.
- 5) The max number of Languages is 20 as well as the max number of
- menuset directories. Make sure the directories shown in the config
- (from the WFC P then B ) are used also as the directories for the #1
- menuset.
-
- Hopefully by now you have the BASIC idea, but to really appreciate the
- power of this sytem you will need to play with it. A couple things to
- think about..
- 1) You don't have to start from 'scratch'. Copy your original MENUS and
- MISC files to the new ones and modify them.
- 2) Create custom menu prompts using the same filename and the %J MCI code
- with the two new Menu title MCI's. This allows you to make the prompts
- all different.
- 3) I would suggest creating directory names MENU1, MENU2 , MISC1, MISC2
- etc. just to make it simpler on you to maintain these directories.
-
- As you can see this allows almost complete configuration of not only the
- look but the feel of your RAPTOR BBS! These changes require some getting
- used to. We suggest creating one language, and pointing it to the #1
- menuset. This will allow you to configure all the strings for this
- language. After the strings are done and your menus and display files
- are finished, use the string editor to change the menu set used by that
- language to the correct one.
-
- Editing menus-
- If you are using multiple menu sets, RAPTOR will prompt you for the
- menuset to edit when you enter the menu editor. If the paths specified
- for the MENU and MISC directories for this menu set do not exist,
- RAPTOR will attempt to create them. If the menus already exist then
- RAPTOR will load the MNU files from the MENU dir for that language. Be
- aware that menu sets are referred to by NUMBER not the language name
- since several languages can all share the same menu set directories.
- It is possible to have 20 languages, and only one MISC and MENUS dir,
- with all languages using the same menu set.
-
- Whew! Hopefully this is enough to get you started. As a precuation
-
-
- *******
- BACKUP YOUR STATUS.DAT!!!!! BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO EDIT THE MENU
- SETS!!!!!!
- *******
-
- ########################
-
- HOT TIP!!!
-
- ########################
- In the message and file newscan routines you can now play a couple games
- with RAPTOR!. To achieve the 'classic' TG/RG scrolling scan messages use
- these lines as the newscan began and newscan done strings in the string
- editor.
-
- NEWSCAN BEGAN - [Newscan - %Y ] %W messages began%M
- NEWSCAN DONE - [Newscan - %Y ] DONE! %M %M
-
- notice the %M MCI Codes ( carriage return) and particularly the double
- %M on the done string.
-
- To have RAPTOR NOT scroll the display, but simply overwrite the previous
- message on the same line use these lines.
- NEWSCAN BEGAN - Scanning - %Y - %W messages
- NEWSCAN DONE -
-
- Notice the DONE string is left BLANK! ( no space, just hit enter when
- the cursor is in the first position of the empty input window) and that
- the BEGAN string does NOT have the %M MCI code.
- ###########################
-
- Quote Headers
- --------------
- RAPTOR now adds quote header lines in the string editor. Information
- from the message being quoted can be passed in the following MCI's.
- These are valid ONLY in the 2 quote header lines. The quote headers
- are used in public posts, and if the string is left blank for either
- line it is not used...
- ~A = From who
- ~B = To who
- ~C = Message date and time
- ~D = Message title
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- =============
- 3-23-96 Version 9b2
- =============
- Internal Call back verifier
- ---------------------------
-
- RAPTOR now includes an internal call back verifier. When RAPTOR
- validates a user by Call back it will set their account to the levels
- you specify in the call back validation level(from the WFC P,G).
- ---------------
- Configuring CBV
- ---------------
- RAPTOR CBV system allows the SYSOP to configure the way the CBV
- functions under several conditions. In the CBV configuration section
- (from the WFC P,S) the following options are available.
-
- Call back new users- Will force all new users who meet other
- restrictions to be sent through the call back verifier. The other way
- to validate users is to set the verifier up through the menu system
- using the 'OE' command keys.
-
- Call back local only- This will call back local phone numbers in the
- three digit exchange areas you specify in CALLBACK.DAT, located in
- your RAPTOR/DATA(GFILES) Directory. This is an ascii text file which
- can be created with DOS edit or any other text editor. Each three
- digit exchange number is entered on it's own line in this file.
-
- Call back my area code- this will call back users in all exchanges
- provided the area code field of the users number matches the are code
- of the BBS phone number field (from WFC screen P,B). This will ignore
- any entries in the CALLBACK.DAT file.
-
- Call back all (LD)- This will call all users back in ANY area code,
- appending a '1' in front of any numbers not in your AREA CODE.
-
- Hang up after callback- This will disconect the user after they have
- been validated, showing them a message that they have in fact been
- validated and asking them to call the BBS back.
-
-
- Controlling the CBV from the local keyboard
- --------------------------------------------
- The ESCAPE Key will abort ALL attempts to validate the current user.
- The SPACEBAR will abort the current dial attempt to validate the user.
- Normally the CBV will make 3 attempts to contact the user. Once the user
- answers the phone by typing ATA when they see ring on their screen and
- the modems negotiate a connect, the user will have three attempts to
- enter the correct password. If the password is correct they will have
- three attempts to enter their correct phone number. If either of these
- fails the call is terminated.
- All CBV activity is appended to the sysop log showing both successes and
- failures. Also the users name, handle, password, phone and city are
- appended to the log as a new user enters their information. This will
- allow you to check for any attempts to enter bogus info or use things
- like the %PW lockup routines that work in other software<G>
-
- The CBV includes default text that is displayed to the user before he is
- called back and upon successful connection to his terminal This text may
- be replaced by RIP/ANSI/MSG files called CBV1.??? and CBV2.???. CBV1 is
- diplayed to the user just before disconnect when RAPTOR is preparing to
- call them back, and CBV2 is diplayed immediately after successful
- connect. RAPTOR uses the ANSI password and phone prompts from the string
- editor to prompt the user for their info.
-
- The CBV also stamps the date the user was validted in the user record
- date validated field.
-
-
- -----------------------
- User Expiration
- -----------------------
- RAPTOR also includes a user validation expiration function. Anytime you
- validate a user (ALT-V on-line or '*' from the user editor or via CBV)
- the current date is entered in the Date validated field of the user
- record. There is also a field in the record for the number of days until
- the users validation expires. This is normally set to zero, and is set
- by the sysop for the number of days until this user's validation level expires.
- The third field used in the expiration routine is the level to expire
- to.
- Level 1 = New user level
- Level 2 = Call back validated level
- Level 3 = Validated user ( ALT-V or '*') this option is for any users
- you manually validate above one of three defined levels. Selecting the
- date validated field within the user editor will stamp the users account
- with the current date.
-
- When the user logs on if their days to expiration is set to anything
- other than zero, RAPTOR will compare their validation date with the
- current date and if the difference is greater than days to expire then
- their account will be reset to the Level to Expire to.
-
- ----------------
- Newuser Letter
- ----------------
-
- A text file (NEWLETR.MSG) located in the MISC(AFILES) directory will be
- shown to all first time callers as an Email message. Use the %H MCI code
- to pass the user's name to the message. This mail will be automatically
- deleted when the user hits RETURN, Q, or D at the prompt. (These are the
- only valid inputs accepted at the prompt); This file can contain Pipe
- color codes, and MCIs
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
- File Lists
- ----------------
- Improved the logic of the 'List' Files (Browse) command so that RAPTOR
- checks the length of the long description of the following file. If the
- complete description cannot be displayed on the current screen the
- prompt will be shown and the file shown on the next screen. This should
- eliminate the occasional scrolling problem and the truncated file
- descriptions in the .8beta series. Also added a Yes/No question for the
- user to select whether they want to see the long description.... that
- and a few cosmetic improvements improve the looks and flexibilty of the
- file displays...
-
-
-
-
-