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README
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1993-11-10
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Welcome to BBSkit! First, let me thank you for taking an interest in
this package. I feel that BBSkit is easily the best package of its kind for
BBS and door applications. (Yes, BBSkit can just as easily be used to write
door programs!)
WHAT IS BBSKIT?
BBSkit is just exactly what the name implies: it is a toolkit designed
to help you, as a Pascal programmer, author a BBS. Usually, a BBS author
needs to be concerned with all kinds of dirty things like serial routines,
time limits, ANSI terminal emulation, and the like. BBSkit relieves you of
this tedious burden by providing a very complete BBS template. This template
includes the various procedures and functions needed especially by a BBS
author, such as:
* Both an object and procedural calling method. The object version
gives ideal support for a BBS, while the procedural calling method
is where most of the gritty low-level stuff is contained. You
pick the method that works best for you!
* Support for up to 8 simultaneously operating serial ports.
* Low-level serial routines, written in 8088 assembler, to provide up
to 115,200 bits per second through any kind of National-based UART,
from the 8250B up to the FIFO buffered 16550A. And since these
routines are in assembler, they're FAST! No need for a FOSSIL or
other type of device driver, either!
* BBSkit allows you complete control over where I/O goes: the console,
the serial port, the printer, a disk file, or any combination of
the four.
* Pascal-like procedures to read and write strings of text, from
either the console or the serial port, or both at the same time!
* A complete emulation system, allowing you to simply load a template
and have the complete control over any terminal you desire, from
simple VT-52 to full-color ANSI. Now your BBS need only ask for
a code (for example, to change colors) and BBSkit will return the
proper string to perform this action, based on the template you have
loaded.
* Support for the three most popular file transfer protocols,
including Xmodem (and derivatives), Ymodem and Ymodem-G. Full
batching support is included for Ymodem.
* DOS-like "TYPE" procedure, to send entire text files out the serial
port.
* Optional paging: when a screen of text fills up without any user
input, BBSkit can be instructed to wait for the user to press a
key to continue. This works with ALL of BBSkit's output procedures.
* Mouse support over a serial connection! Your programs can now
allow the remote user to use a mouse to make selections on your
system, with very little additional coding on your part.
Don't let the toolkit intimidate you. It may seem hulking and
complicated, but once you get the hang of it, serial communications will never
be easier. The included BBSKIT.DOC file is a fairly complete excerpt of the
registered version's printed documentation. This .DOC file will explain all
of the procedures and functions included in BBSkit, and you can use it as a
base for experimenting on your own.
INSTALLING THE TOOLKIT
Probably the easiest way of installing the kit is to place it in your
units directory, or a directory in your units path. Optionally, you can place
the files in your source directory.
If you plan the use the toolkit in real-mode programming (TP6 or BP7
in real mode target), you will need to rename some files. TP6 users need to
rename the *.TP6 files to *.TPU, and BP7 users will need to rename the *.TP7
files to *.TPU. Example: REN *.TP7 *.TPU
Additionally, you will need to unzip the MTASK archive contained here.
MTASK is a public domain unit that provides multithreading in Turbo Pascal
programs and is used by BBSkit 3.0. You can use any type of unzipper,
including the one provided for TP6+ installations, to unarchive this file.
PLEASE NOTE THAT MTASK WAS NOT WRITTEN BY BBSKIT'S AUTHOR! I don't claim any
credit for writing it; I just think it's a great unit and really useful.
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
If you have any comments or questions regarding BBSkit, I would love
to hear from you! You can reach me in several ways:
Home address: 1888 Edith Marie Drive
Beavercreek, OH 45431-3377
USA
CompuServe: >INTERNET:sjmadsen@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu
Internet: sjmadsen@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu
BITNET: SJMADSEN@MIAVX1
The latest version of BBSkit is always available on the Internet and
is available for anonymous ftp at any time. ftp to ftp.cas.muohio.edu and
look in the directory /pub/dos/bbskit. There are also some examples here as
well as information which may be of interest to BBSkit users. See the manual
for more information on the ftp site and the mailing list which has been
started for BBSkit users.
Thanks again, and enjoy BBSkit!