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┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Q_UTIL A RA/QBBS-messagebase utility │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
Version 1.00 Public release 3 June 1991
Written and (C) 1991 by Fons Cornelissens, @FidoNet 2:295/43.4302
INTRO
Q_UTIL is a utility designed to show you an overview of your RA/QBBS
(MSG*.BBS) message base.
Multiple command-line options make it possible to specify the exact
info you want to be displayed on the screen.
REQUIREMENTS
- An IBM PC compatible computer
- MS-DOS or PC-DOS 3.2 or above
- A Hercules/CGA/EGA/VGA compatible color/mono display
- A RemoteAccess/QuickBBS compatible messagebase
FILES
The QUTIL??? archive contains the following files:
- Q_UTIL.EXE : The executable program file
- Q_UTIL.CFG : The example configuration file
- Q_UTIL.DOC : This document
- Q_UTIL.REL : Release-notes
Q_UTIL reads information from from following files:
- AREAS.BBS : Echo-names and RA/QBBS-board numbers
or
FOLDER.SYS : FrontDoor folder definition file
or
AREAFILE.FD: TosScan Area definition file
(you have to define only 1 in Q_UTIL.CFG, is doesn't harm to define
them all three in Q_UTIL.CFG, but the one that is defined last, is
the one that will be used.)
and
- MSGINFO.BBS: RA/QBBS message info file
These files can be placed in different directories or have other names,
it's up to you to define them in the Q_UTIL.CFG configuration file.
INSTALLATION
1. Choose or create a directory for Q_UTIL
2. Copy Q_UTIL*.* to this directory
3. Edit the Q_UTIL.CFG file for your specific setup
4. Run Q_UTIL
COMMANDLINE OPTIONS
Syntax Q_UTIL [options][switches]
options : b : sort areas on RA/QBBS board number
n : sort areas on RA/QBBS board name
m : sort areas on number of messages
f : show free, defined and active boards
wn : wait for n-seconds before next screen
switches: c : disable color display
a : show only active areas (areas containing messages)
d : show only defined areas (to be used with b-option)
h : displays the help screen
Multiple options can and may be combined on the command-line.
Running Q_UTIL with options H or ? will show you the following help-screen:
╔══╡ Q_UTIL ╞══════════════════════════════════════════════╡ VER. 1.00 ╞══╗
║ RA/QBBS-messagebase utility ║
╟─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Usage : Q_UTIL [option(s)][switch(es)] ║
║ ║
║ Options: Switches: ║
║ ║
║ B sort on RA/QBBS-board number A show only active areas ║
║ F display free board numbers C disable color display ║
║ M sort on number of messages D show only defined areas ║
║ Wn wait n seconds before next H,? show this help screen ║
║ screen (default = 5 seconds) ║
║ ║
╟ ╢
║ You may copy or distribute this software free of charge. ║
║ Commercial use is strictly prohibited. ║
║ ║
║ For all your comments, bugreports, remarks as well as your moral ║
║ support you can contact me by netmail at: Fidonet 2:295/43.4302 ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════╡ Copyright (c) Fons Cornelissens, 1991 ╞═════════════════╝
FUNCTION KEYS
Running Q_UTIL without any option will bring up the following menu :
╔══╡ Q_UTIL ╞══════════════════════════════════════════════╡ VER. 1.00 ╞══╗
║ RA/QBBS-messagebase utility ║
╟─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║ ║
║ Key Function Key Function ║
║ ─── ─────────────────────── ─── ──────────────────────── ║
║ ║
║ F1 Free board numbers F6 Active areas by number ║
║ ║
║ F2 Areas by name F7 By number of messages ║
║ ║
║ F3 Actif areas by name F8 Active areas by messages ║
║ ║
║ F4 Areas by number F9 Disable/enable color ║
║ ║
║ F5 Defined areas by number F10 or <ESC> Exit program ║
║ ║
║ ──────────────────────────── ───────────────────────────── ║
║ ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════╡ Copyright (c) Fons Cornelissens, 1991 ╞═════════════════╝
Just choose the Function-key you need, and there you go ...
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLE
By using the DOS command "SET Q_UTIL=<path>", you can tell Q_UTIL to use
that path to find it's files.
If you intend to use Q_UTIL by hotkeying to it from another program,
it is very important to set this variable.
Example: Suppose you have all the Q_UTIL files in the directory:
C:\FD\Q_UTIL\
Then, at the DOS-prompt, or within your batch-file, use the
following command:
SET Q_UTIL=C:\FD\Q_UTIL
CONFIGURATION
Q_UTIL is fully configurable from a single text configuration file
(Q_UTIL.CFG).
In the CFG-file, a semicolon (;) first on the line makes it a comment,
resulting in the line being ignored by the CFG-reader.
All other lines in the CFG-file read as "keywords", usually with one or
more parameters. See the example Q_UTIL.CFG file for specific info on
the various keywords.
SAMPLE COMMANDLINES
Next are a few of the possible commandlines :
- Q_UTIL BNMFAW5 : - show the active RA/QBBS boards sorted on board number
- show the active RA/QBBS boards sorted on areaname
- show the active RA/QBBS boards sorted on nmb of msg
- show the free, defined and active board numbers
- wait 5 seconds between each screen
- Q_UTIL MAW3 : - show the active RA/QBBS boards sorted on number of msg
- wait 3 seconds between each screen
- Q_UTIL NC : - show the RA/QBBS boards sorted on areaname
- disable color display
- wait for <ENTER> between each screen
- Q_UTIL BD : - show the defined boards sorted on board number
- wait for <ENTER> between each screen
While the program waits for a keypress, the cursor keys can be used to
scroll through the areas :
- cursor up : back 1 area
- cursor down : advance 1 area
- cursor right : advance 20 areas
- cursor left : back 20 areas
- PageUp : advance 20 areas (same as cursor left)
- PageDn : back 20 areas (same as cursor right)
- Home : start all over with first area
- End : show the last areas
- <ENTER> : shows next 40 areas
- <ESC> : leave this part and return to menu
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank in special Tony Van den Bogaert of Aquarius
(2:295/43) for his inspiring suggestions and bugreports during the
pre 0.20-testing of this program.
Also thanks to :
- Flor Wauters (2:295/43.4301) for the idea of including the help-screen
and function-key file, and the screens he designed for this purpose.
- Michel Everaert (2:295/43.4306) for his very usefull suggestions and
constructive bugreports.
BUGREPORTS & REMARKS
I would most welcome your suggestions and bugreports. Please write me
at FidoNet 2:295/43.4302.
-FC-------------------------------Q_UTIL---------------------------03/06/91-