home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
ftp.wwiv.com
/
ftp.wwiv.com.zip
/
ftp.wwiv.com
/
pub
/
BBS
/
ADLG200.ZIP
/
ADLOGO.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-03-22
|
51KB
|
1,043 lines
▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▄
▒▒█▀▀▀▀▀▒▒▄ ▒▒█
▒▒█ ▒▒█ ▒▄ ▒▒█
▒▒█ ▒▒█ ▒█ ▒▒█
▒▒█ ▒▒█ ▒█ ▒▒█
▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█ ▒▒█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▄ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▄ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▄
▒▒██████▒▒█ ▒█▀▀▀▀▒█ ▒▒█ ▒█▀▀▀▀▒█ ▒█▀▀▀▀▒█ ▒█▀▀▀▀▒█
▒▒█ ▒▒█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▄ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█
▀▀ ▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▒█ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
▒█
▒▒▒▒▒▒█
▀▀▀▀▀▀
AdLogo
Version 2.00
Copyright (c) 1992 by Michael Cambra
Licensed to TMC Software/OTS Development Corp.
All Rights Reserved
Page i.
INDEX
What is AdLogo ...................... 1.
Support ............................. 2.
System Requirments .................. 3.
Installation ........................ 4.
How AdLogo Works .................... 11.
Multi-Node Systems .................. 12.
Hints & Tips ........................ 14.
Future Enhancments .................. 16.
.CFG file format .................... 17.
Acknowledgements .................... 18.
Disclaimer .......................... 19.
Registration ........................ 20.
This manual is a Standard text file with page breaks set
to 60 lines or less so that it may be printed on ANY standard,
dot matrix, InkJet, or Laser printer. In the simpliest form it
may be printed by typing the following where this file is
located on drive C: in the current directory and a printer is
connected to your parallel port #1 and is on-line:
at the C:> prompt type "Type ADLOGO.DOC > PRN" (without the quotes)
or
at the C:> prompt type "Type ADLOGO.DOC > LPT1" (without the quotes)
The left margin is sufficent that after printing the pages may
be punched and inserted into a 3-Ring binder for your convience.
If you use a program to print this manual set the left margin
to "0" as the left margin is already built into this .DOC file.
Page 1.
WHAT IS ADLOGO?
ADLOGO is a small, yet powerful, utilitiy that is added to
PCBoard that will allow archive comments (herein refered to
as LOGO) to .ARJ, .ZIP and .GIF files located on CD-ROM Drives.
However, this is NOT all that ADLOGO is capable of doing.
ADLOGO has the ablility to increase a file transfer time,
reduce network traffic during a file transfer (On systems
running networking software), gain back some lost hard drive
space, plus more!
Features are as follows:
» Add your board's BBS LOGO to files located on
a CD-ROM drive.
» Automaticly replace outdated BBS LOGOs on
files located on a hard drive.
» Increase the speed of file transfer for files
on CD-ROM drives.
» Add a Comment Extention (BBS LOGO in GIF terms)
to a GIF format file, either located on CD-ROM
or Hard Drive.
» Remove an Comment Extension from a GIF that has
been inserted by a prior utility/Sysop/etc..
» Remove 'Padding' that has been added to the end
of a GIF file from an X/YModem file transfer, thus
reducing the total size of the GIF to the original
size.
» Insert an BBS Advertisement file to .ARJ and
.ZIP file formats.
» PCBoard CallerLog Logging including total time
elapsed for the processing of files.
» Reduce network traffic during file transfers on
systems running networking hardward/software.
» BIOS or DIRECT screen writes for 100%
compatablility and/or speed.
» NS16550 UART aware.
» ANSI COM port output.
» Fully SHARE, Multi-tasking & Networtk
compatable!
Page 2.
SUPPORT
Support can be obtained thru our 24 hour BBS system at the
following:
The "Port of Call" BBS
P.O Box 5722
Portage, Indiana 46368-5722
SYSOP: Brian Cload
Data: (219) 763-2091 CompuCom (FREE NODE)
Voice: (219) 763-1940
Join Conference 34 (OTS/TMC Support)
By joining Conference 34, first time callers will have access to
the latest ADLOGO release files, updates, and E-MAIL support.
Address messages to MIKE CAMBRA.
Voice support can be obtained by calling the following numbers:
(219)-763-1940 (8am-5pm CST Mon-Fri)
or
(401)-624-2236 (Any normal EST Hour, ask
for Mike).
Because ADLOGO is a very complex program, don't feel bad if you
can't seem to get the 'Da** thing working'! Feel free to give
us a call and we will be more than happy to help you get the
job done!
Page 3.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
100% IBM compatable machine
200K FREE RAM when PCBoard shell's out to an external protocol
PKZIP.EXE for .ZIP support
ARJ.EXE for .ARJ support
PCBoard v14.0 or higher
System running on COM1 or COM2. (Note: Only these two COM PORTS
are available in this version
of ADLOGO. ADLOGO will STILL
fully process any files, however,
no output to the user will be
sent. The next release of ADLOGO
will allow for Non-Standard COM
PORT Support)
Any brand of DOS v3.x or higher
NOTE: A CD-ROM is NOT required for ADLOGO!!
Page 4.
INSTALLATION
Before installing, please take the time now to COMPLETELY read
thru this entire manual. ADLOGO is a very complicated piece of
software to install IF you do not understand how ADLOGO works
and understanding the TERMs that are presented thru-out
this manual. Doing so now, will save you many headaches during
the installation process!
First, lets explain some of the terms that you will see
thru-out this manual:
MATCHED DRIVE - This is a drive partition that contains
downloadable files that you want ADLOGO to
have access to. Normally, this will be a
CD-ROM. However, a MATHCED DRIVE is not
limited to a CD-ROM drive as you will see
and understand as you read thru this
manual.
LOGO - This is your board's BBS ZipComment that
you normally insert into .ZIP files
We call this a LOGO since ADLOGO is NOT
limited to just the .ZIP file format.
This LOGO may also be inserted into an
.ARJ file format as well.
AD FILE - This can be any file that you insert directly
into an archived file.
Just for an example, this would be the
famous Rusty's -n- Edie's MA&PA.TXT file.
NOTE: As I do NOT encourage this type
of feature to be enabled, I have added to
ADLOGO by request. A lot of users, along
with Shareware authors, are not pleased
when this type of file is inserted into
a archive that he/she is downloading.
However, this is also a good form of
advertising your board.
GIF COMMENT - This is the GIF EXTENTION that can be
inserted to a .GIf file that is GIF87a or
GIF89a compliant.
NOTE: For .GIF file support, you MUST
be a registered Sysop of ADLOGO.
Information on how to enable this feature
will be provided upon receiving your
registration.
Page 5.
TEMP DIRECTORY - This is a directory on your hard drive
that ADLOGO uses as a working directory.
This directory is where ADLOGO will copy
the files from a MATHCED DRIVE when
inserting a LOGO, an AD FILE, or GIF
COMMENT.
WARNING: ALL FILES IN THIS DIRECTORY WILL
BE DELETED AFTER THE FILE TRANSFER IN
COMPLETED! Make this a new, unique
directory!
Copy ALL MD-HD - This option term refers to the ablilty
to copy ANY file format (ie .EXE, .COM,
.DOC, etc..) from a MATCHED DRIVE to the
TEMP directory. This can be useful for
systems running on a network.
BIOS OR DIRECT
SCREEN WRITES - This refers to how ADLOGO displays it's
output on the local (sysop side) of the
display. DIRECT screen writes are by far
the fastest, however, under some
multi-tasking software, you may encounter
'Bleed- Thru'. If this is the case, use
BIOS.
Now that we have the major terms out of the way, you need to
decide how you want ADLOGO to perform. Below are the Sysop
defineable toggles that may be turned ON or OFF:
Copy ALL MD-HD
.ARJ File Support
.GIF File Support
.ZIP File Support
AD FILE Insertion
CALLERS LOG LOGGING
BIOS or DIRECT
NOTE: UNREGISTERED copies will copy ANY file from a MATCHED
DRIVE to the TEMP directory. If the file is in the .ZIP format,
then your board's LOGO will be placed into the ZIP file.
GIF COMMENT insertion, .ARJ File Support, AD FILE insertion
and the COPY ALL MD-HD can be toggled for registered users
only.
Now with all that in mind, let's being the installation!
First, make sure that PKZIP.EXE (and ARJ.EXE if supportting
those formats) are in your DOS PATHs. Copy ADLOGO.EXE,
ADLSETUP.EXE, and DELF.COM to your PCB directory. (For
Multi-Node Systems, follow along, then read the section
on MULTI-NODE SYSTEMS).
Change to your PCB directory and type ADLSETUP <enter>.
You screen will clear, and some windows will pop up. This is
the Configuartion File Setup utiltiy for ADLOGO. The bottom
window is a Help Window. At each question, this window will
display what is required for the question you are at. We will
go thru this process step-by-step:
Page 6.
Line #
1. Name of BBS: Self explainatory, but just in case,
enter in the name of your BBS.
2. MATCHED DRIVE LETTERS: Decide which drives contains files
that you want ADLOGO to process. Files
located on these drives will be copied
to the TEMP directory. These letters
can refer to either a CD-ROM(s) and/or
Hard Drive(s).
ie: LOP
Using these letters, ADLOGO will process
files that are located on drives
L:, O:, and P:
3. Path\Name of LOGO: This is the DRIVE:\PATH\FILENAME.EXT
of your board's LOGO file.
(ie: D:\UTILS\COMMENT.TXT)
4. Path\Name of AD File: This is the DRIVE:\PATH\FILENAME.EXT
of your board's "MA&PA.TXT" <grin>
file. If you do NOT insert an AD FILE,
simply type NONE.
5. Path\Name of CallersLog: This is the DRIVE:\PATH\FILENAME of
your PCBoard's Caller Log file. If
you are running a Multi-Node System,
do NOT add a node number to this!!
(ie: C:\PCB\MAIN\CALLER)
WARNING: UNREGISTERED versions MUST
supply a callers log path!
For REGISTERED Sysops, you may
disable this feature by entering in
a '@' (without the quotes).
6. TEMP Directory: This is the DRIVE:\PATH of the TEMP
directory that ADLOGO will process
files in. If you are running a
Mutli-Node system, the directory you
state here will be created for EACH
node that you are running.
(ie: D:\TEMP) Do not add a Node
number!
WARNING: All files that are in this
directory will be deleted after the
complete ADLOGO process. Make sure
this is a UNIQUE directory!!
Perferably one that does NOT exist!
7. Path\Name of GIF COMMENT: This is the DRIVE:\PATH\FILENAME.EXT
of your GIF EXTENTION comment file.
If you don't wish to support .GIF
format, simply type NONE.
(ie: D:\UTILS\GIFCOM.EXT)
Page 7.
8. Number of Nodes: Simply enter the number of nodes
that you are currently running on
you system. NOTE: For SINGLE Node
systems, you MUST enter a '1'!
(ie: 3)
9. .ARJ Format Support: Toggles if ADLOGO will process .ARJ
files (Inserting your bbs LOGO
and/or inserting an AD FILE).
(ie: Y)
10. .GIF Format Support: Toggles if ADLOGO will process .GIF
files for inserting a GIF COMMENT.
(ie: Y)
11. .ZIP Format Support: Toggles if ADLOGO will process .ZIP
files (Inserting your bbs LOGO
and/or inserting an AD FILE).
(ie: Y)
12. AD File Insertion: Toggles if you are inserting a AD
FILE to .ZIP and/or .ARJ file.
(ie: Y)
NOTE: You MUST have the support
toggled on for .ZIP (#11) and/or
.ARJ (#9) if you want this feature
toggled on!
(ie: If you want an AD FILE placed
into a .ZIP file, but not an .ARJ,
then you MUST have .ZIP (#11) Format
Support toggled on!)
13. Copy ANY format MD-HD: When this is toggled ON, ANY file
that is on a MATCHED DRIVE will be
copied to the TEMP directory. This
feature will reduce Network traffic
during file transfers and increase
the file transfer rate (in most
cases). See HINTS & TIPS
(ie: Y)
14. BIOS or DIRECT: This will set the video mode on the
local (sysop) side's screen. DIRECT
is the fastest possible. However, if
you are running under a multi-tasking
environment, and you are encountering
'Bleed-Thru' to other screens, then
set this to BIOS. Otherwise, we
highly recommend using DIRECT.
(ie: DIRECT)
15. Serial No: This is the Serial no. that is
supplied to registered users.
Enter a 0 if UNREGISTERED.
(ie: 0)
Page 8.
16. PassCode: This is the PassCode that will toggle
on the major features of ADLOGO for
registered users. Enter a 0 if
UNREGISTERED.
(ie: 0)
After entering in all the above information, ADLSetUp will
save the info to a file called ADLOGO.CFG in the cureent
directory. After that, ADLSetUp will create all the TEMP
directories for you. (ie: If you are running a 4 node system,
and you entered D:\TEMP for the TEMP directory, ADLSetUp will
create D:\TEMP1, D:\TEMP2, D:\TEMP3, and D:\TEMP4 automaticly.
If, one of these directories already exist, which should ONLY
exist if you have added more nodes, or are re-configuring
ADLOGO.CFG, ADLSetUp will detect this and continue.
Now that the ADLOGO.CFG file is completed, you need to create
two new DOS EVIRONMENT variables is EACH of your BOARD.BAT
files for each node. The variables are as follows:
DRIVE= - This is the drive letter, followed
by a colon, that the current PCBoard
Node is executed from.
(ie: SET DRIVE=C:)
NODE= - This is the Node Number for the
node's BOARD.BAT file. (You may
already have this variable set if
you are running certain DOORs that
require this setting)
(ie: SET NODE=2)
NOTE: If you are running on a SINGLE
Node system, you still have to create
this NODE= variable in your BOARD.BAT
file. This MUST be set to NODE=1 for a
Single Node System.
Now edit each of your BOARD.BAT files and add these two lines
BEFORE the PCB145.EXE command line.
(ie: Node 1 is on drive C:, you would place SET DRIVE=C: and
SET NODE=1 in Node 1's BOARD.BAT file. Node 2 is on drive E:,
so you would place in Node 2's BOARD.BAT file SET DRIVE=E: and
SET NODE=2. Follow this format for all nodes).
For Sysops that are running PCBoard v14.5a, you are now
probably asking why am I not using the PCBDRIVE and PCBNODE
variables that PCBoard automatically creates? Well, the answer
to this is simple. PCBoard will ONLY create these variables
when a user exits to a DOOR. Other wise, these PCB variables
are NOT created.
Page 9.
Now that that's done, we now install ADLOGO into the ZModem
PCBSZ.BAT file. PCBSZ.BAT is the batch file that PCBoard
shells out to when sending files via ZModem.
Your current PCBSZ.BAT file should look similar to this:
@echo off
if exist pcberr.fil del pcberr.fil
if exist pcbdsz.log del pcbdsz.log
dsz port %1 handshake both pB4096 estimate 0 %5 sz -r %3
(You may or may NOT have the -r after sz. The -r will allow
ZModem Recovery from an aborted transfer.)
The command line for ADLOGO.EXE is as follows:
ADLOGO <.CFG> %NODE% %3 %1
.CFG is the DRIVE:\PATH\FILENAME.EXT of the ADLOGO.CFG
file. (Unless you have renamed the ADLOGO.CFG file,
the FILENAME.EXT will be ADLOGO.CFG)
(ie: C:\PCB\ADLOGO.CFG)
%NODE% This is the evironmental setting that we created in
each of the BOARD.BAT files.
%3 This is a parameter that PCBoard passes to the
PCBSZ.BAT file when PCBoard shells out to it. This
parameter will either contain a full pathname to the
file that the user is about to download (for single
file transfers) or is will contain PCBDSZ.LST which
is a text file that lists all the full pathnames of
the files that the user is about to download (batch
mode transfers)
%1 This is the com port number that PCBoard passes to
PCBSZ.BAT file.
Now, add the ADLOGO command line right before the DSZ command
line. Example:
@echo off
if exist pcberr.fil del pcberr.fil
if exist pcbdsz.log del pcbdsz.log
ADLOGO C:\PCB\ADLOGO.CFG %NODE% %3 %1
dsz port %1 handshake both pB4096 estimate 0 %5 sz -r %3
Now we have to edit the DSZ command line. Change the %3 in the
DSZ command line to read this : @%DRIVE%ADLOGO.LST
The DSZ command line should now look like this:
DSZ port %1 handshake both pB4096 estimate 0 %5 sz -r @%DRIVE%ADLOGO.LST
Page 10.
Now we must add three more lines to the PCBSZ.BAT file AFTER
the DSZ command line:
if exist pcbdsz.lst del pcbdsz.lst
if exist adlogo.lst del adlogo.lst
DELF <TEMPDIRPATH>%NODE%\. <- NOTE THE PERIOD AT THE END!
where <TEMPDIRPATH> is the DRIVE:\PATH of the TEMP directory
that you stated in ADLSetUp.
The complete PCBSZ.BAT file should look like this:
@echo off
if exist pcberr.fil del pcberr.fil
if exist pcbdsz.log del pcbdsz.log
ADLOGO C:\PCB\ADLOGO.CFG %NODE% %3 %1
dsz port %1 handshake both pB4096 esitmate 0 %5 sz -r @%DRIVE%ADLOGO.LST
if exist pcbdsz.lst del pcbdsz.lst
if exist adlogo.lst del adlogo.lst
DELF F:\TEMP%NODE%\.
DELF is used to remove any files that ADLOGO copied to the
TEMP directory for processing.
You may now save your changes and exit.
Now, there is one last thing before the installation is
complete. Execute your PCBSETUP program, choose File Locations
#2, Protocol Data. For the ZModem entry, you must have the LOCK
LINES and PORT OPEN set to 'N'. The PORT OPEN is probably
already set to 'N'. However, you mave have changed the LOCK
LINES settings to 'Y'. Failure to change LOCK LINES to 'N'
will result in garbled screen writes.
That's it! Installation is now complete for ZModem. If you are
running other external protocols on your system, such as
HS/Link or BiModem, simply make the same changes to those
external .BAT files as you did to the ZModem .BAT file and the
same changes to the PCBSETUP for those protocols.
You may now log into your board locally, as this is suggested
for the first time running...
Make sure you are using a protocol that ADLOGO has been added
to and choose a few files for downloading. When you log in
locally, you will see the full ADLOGO display screen. Now, if
you have the ability to DIAL into your board, you can see what
is sent to the user during the ADLOGO processing phase. What
the user sees and what you as a Sysop will see are two
different displays. You, as the Sysop, will see a much more
detailed display of what ADLOGO is doing, step by step.
Whereas the user will simply see a title line, the filename,
and either 'Working' (while ADLOGO is processing that perticular
file) or 'Processed' after ADLOGO has completed processing that
file. After ADLOGO is completed, ADLOGO will display to the user
'Start your Transfer NOW!'.
Page 11.
HOW ADLOGO WORKS
A user has FLaged a number of files for downloading.. Then
he/she starts the transfer. ADLOGO is then executed. The FIRST
thing that ADLOGO will do is send the ADLOGO title line, the
filename and processing to the user. ADLOGO does this first so
that the user does not start the download process on their
side until its ready. ADLOGO will then read in from the %3
parameter that PCBoard passes to the PCBS?.BAT file and detemines
if this is a SINGLE file transfer or a BATCH file transfer.
If this is a SINGLE file transfer, ADLOGO will then determine
if the file is on a MATCHED DRIVE. If so, it will check the
configuration for the settings. If, for this example, the
file is a .ZIP file, then ADLOGO will copy the file from the
MATCHED DRIVE to the TEMP directory. It will then call on
PKZIP and add your board's LOGO to the file. Then, ADLOGO will
create a text file called ADLOGO.LST and write to this file
the NEW path of where the processed file is located. ADLOGO
will then write any information to the CallersLog, display
to the user to START YOUR TRANSFER NOW, and then exit.
The protocol driver is then executed by the batch file and
the procotol driver will read in from ADLOGO.LST where the
file is to transfer from and begin sending the file.
After the protocol driver exits, the batch file will determine
if PCBDSZ.LST and ADLOGO.LST is found. If so, they are
deleted. Then DELF will remove any files are in the TEMP
directory for the current node.
For a BATCH transfer, all the above is the same except that
ADLOGO will read in the filenames from PCBDSZ.LST (this is a
file that PCBoard creates as it shells out to the batch file
for a batch mode transfer and contains all the path and
filenames of the files to be sent to the user). ADLOGO will
read in each filename, and will process each file accordingly
via the setttings in the ADLOGO.CFG.
If a file is NOT located on a MATCHED drive, and/or you have
COPY ANY MD-HD toggled off (Registered verison only), and the
file is NOT supportted by ADLOGO, either by toggling it off or
just not supported at all, the file is simply bypassed by
ADLOGO (meaning it is left where it is and no copying to the
TEMP directory is performed) and the orginal path of that file
is passed over to ADLOGO.LST.
Page 12.
MULTI-NODE SYSTEMS
Seeing that there are a number of ways to have PCBoard set up
for a multi-node system, ADLOGO is intended to be installed as
if you installed nodes 2 on up according to the PCBoard
manual.(Meaning that ONLY the required 7 files are copied to
each nodes directory and that rest are left in nodes' 1
directory.) However, over the course of programming the
updates and bug fixes for ADLOGO, and the testing of ADLOGO,
we have encounter systems that are not installed, or setup, in
this manner. This can be for any number of reasons. We are not
saying this is wrong, but we can understand that if you have
one of these 'Strange' <grin> setups, installing ADLOGO into
your system may not be the same as described here in the
manual.
So, I will try to shed some light on how you can install
ADLOGO into a modified Multi-Node PCBoard system.
First of all, make sure that Node 1's drive and directory is
in each of your other nodes DOS PATH statements. If not, then
you will need to place ADLOGO & DELF in either a directory that is
shared by ALL Nodes of your system, or simply copy the
ADLOGO.EXE and DELF.COM into each node's PCB directory. You
MAY also have to copy the ADLOGO.CFG file to each node's PCB
directory, too. But, you may not. This depends on if you have
your external protocol batch files in each node's PCB directory.
If this IS the case, make sure that the path for the ADLOGO.CFG
is pointing to the correct directory.
Now, a little hint on how to reduce netowrk traffic during a
download. This can only be done if on each node (or work-station),
you have has a disk drive installed. (Some of you may be running
a diskless workstation and this will not work for those).
Copy all the external protocols batch files that you have
ADLOGO installed in to each node's PCB diretory.
In the PCBSZ.BAT file (and any other that you have ADLOGO
installed in), do NOT place a DRIVE:\PATH for the ADLOGO.CFG
file. Simply have your line as:
ADLOGO ADLOGO.CFG %NODE% %3 %1
Copy the ADLOGO.CFG that you created in the Node 1 PCB
directory over to each node's PCB directory.
Create a TEMP directory on a drive that is running on each
node (machine) with the node number added to the directory
name! (E:\TEMP2 would be for Node 2).
Edit the ADLOGO.CFG files (which is a normal text
file) and change line #5 to the point to the directory
that you just created above in each of the ADLOGO.CFG
files for each node.
Page 13.
Edit the DELF line in each of the batch files for each
node and change the path to point to that node's TEMP
directory.
Now, when a user selects a file that ADLOGO is to process,
the file is copied to THAT NODE'S hard drive, and the
protocol driver will read from THAT NODE'S hard drive
while sending the file to the user, thus reducing the
network traffic since the protocol driver does not have to
go thru the network to read from the file. This will also
greatly increase the transfer rate on the file being sent
However, the time that it takes to copy the file TO the
TEMP directory MAY be greater than the added transfer speed.
This will depend on the speed of your network and your
systems hardware. However, this will certinaly speed up
the process that users on other nodes are performing!!
(If there's one thing that really pisses me off is when
I'm conneted to a multi-node system at 14.4K during a
transfer (or anything), and the systems slows down since
there is a network delay or heavy network traffic!! <grin>)
Using this above idea will remeady this problem.
Another hint for Multi-Node systems (network or not). You can
have a different .CFG file for each node, thus having a
different setup for each node. Just install ADLOGO as stated
so above (meaning the Non-Modified way), and making two
changes:
Copy the ADLOGO.CFG file to each node's PCB directory and
making any Node specific changes to it.
Edit the ADLOGO command in all of the batch files that
ADLOGO is installed in to read:
ADLOGO ADLOGO.CFG %NODE% %3 %1
Now, ADLOGO.EXE is only in one directory (PCB for Node 1),
however, ADLOGO.EXE will read in the ADLOGO.CFG file from
the current node's directory.
Page 14.
HINTS & TIPS
Place ADLOGO.EXE, DELF.COM, PKZIP.EXE, & ARJ.EXE in one of the
FIRST directories pointed to by your DOS PATH statement. (The
FIRST place that DOS will look for an executable file is in the
current directory. If the file is not found, it will start to
look thru each directory that is in your DOS PATH statement,
beginning with the first directory on the line and will continue
to look in each directory until found. However, if you are
running a multi-node system, and do not feel like having a copy
of ADLOGO.EXE and DELF.COM taking up room in each node's directory,
place these two files in one of the FIRST directories pointed to
by the path statement.
Place ADLOGO.EXE and DELF.COM in a RAM disk! This will really
speed things up! However, just like the above hint, have the RAM
Disk directory that ADLOGO.EXE and DELF.COM is in as the first
directory in your DOS PATH statement.
Have the TEMP directory(ies) on your FASTEST hard drive!!
If, on your system, you do not carry a lot of .ARJ files then we
would suggest NOT to have ADLOGO support the .ARJ file format.
Reason behind this? ARJ.EXE is SLOW!! Adding a LOGO to an ARJ
format file isn't TOO bad, as long as there not not too many
files inside the archive itself. However, if there are many files,
adding a LOGO to the archive is slow! Then, if you are adding in
an AD FILE, this is even slower!! The reason for this is that
it seems when ARJ.EXE is asked to add a file or LOGO, it must first
read thru EACH byte (at least this is what it SEEMS to be doing)
in the archive BEFORE it inserts the file or LOGO. Then, when
it is time to insert the file or LOGO, it SEEMS to read from
the AD FILE or LOGO one byte at a time. Just to give you an idea
on times, it took PKZIP about 2 seconds to insert the LOGO AND
AD FILE in a .ZIP file and 10-15 seconds for ARJ to do the same
on an .ARJ file! Get the picture? <grin>
Wondering how you can gain back some lost hard drive space?
For every archive file that you have on a hard drive with a LOGO
in it, you are wasting hard drive space! When a LOGO file is added
to an archive, the LOGO is NOT compressed! So, if your LOGO file
is a 2K byte size file, (which this is about an average), 2K is
added to the size of the archive file. With ADLOGO, you have the
ablilty to gain back some hard drive space! Take this for example:
You have on your system 2000 archive files, each of them has your
board's LOGO in it which is 2K in size. Multiple 2000 by 2K, and
the sum is 4megs!! This may not seem like a lot, but for those
systems that have more than 2000 archive files on hard drive, this
figure can really add up to some space. ADLOGO will allow you to
gain back all that space AND still have you board's LOGO in every
archive file that a user downloads! First, for MATCHED DRIVES,
include EVERY DRIVE LETTER that contains downloadable files that
your users have access to. Then, simply remove the LOGOs from the
archive files on the hard drive. (There are many SHAREWARE utils
that make this task painless.) Now, ADLOGO will process ANY file
that a user download, you gain some hard drive space AND still have
you board's LOGO in every archive file that a user may download!
Page 15.
Making ADLOGO work with YMODEM and YMODEM/G protocols:
This is actually a simple task. First, make two copies of your
PCBSZ.BAT file, but giving the copies different names: one will
be PCBSY.BAT and the other PCBSG.BAT. Edit the DSZ command line
in each of these files. The changes that need to be made are:
To the DSZ command line in PCBSY.BAT, change the
'sz' to 'sb -k'.
To the DSZ command line in PCBSG.BAT, change the
'sz' to 'sb -k -g'
Now, make copies of your PCBRZ.BAT files, giving the two new files
the name of PCBRY.BAT and PCBRG.BAT. The changes to these are:
To the DSZ command line in PCBRY.BAT, change the
'rz' to 'rb -k'.
To the DSZ command line in PCBRG.BAT, change the
'rs' to 'rb -g -p'.
Last, going in the PCBSETUP, File Locations #2, Protocol Data, and
change the TYPE setting for both YModem protocols from 'I' to 'D'.
Now, PCBoard will shell out to the batch files for YMODEM and
YMODEM/G instead of using the built-in protocol driver and ADLOGO
will be able to process files when a user has selected these protocols
as a transfer driver. Sorry, but at this time, there is NO support
for ANY of the XMODEM protocols. We are working on trying to
implement a way to do so. When we do, ADLOGO will be posted with this
new feature. For now, depending on how you feel about this, you may
want to completely remove all the XMODEM protocols features from your
system. Doing so will force the user to use a protocol that ADLOGO
has been added to. However, as many users are using the advanced
protocols such as YModem/G, ZModem, HS/Link, etc.., users that are
new to the telecommunications world may only have a software package
that was included with their modem that is only capable of transfering
files using XMODEM. This is just food for thought, and you may choose
which method, if any, is best for your system and users.
Page 16.
FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS TO ADLOGO
I really can't tell you what all the future holds fo ADLOGO. It
seems that by the day, we are coming up with ways to improve the
performance of ADLOGO, and ideas that can be added to ADLOGO that
would further enhance what ADLOGO does before a file is transfered
to your users.
As you can tell, ADLOGO is geared toward the ADVERTISEMENT areas of
telecommunications. The is one way for you, as a Sysop, to increase
the use of your BBS. And, at ALMOST, at a no-expense level. We say
ALMOST since there is a SMALL, one time fee for the full use of
ADLOGO. With this concept, this is probably the CHEEPEST way of
advertising your BBS to the population.
Now, seeing that graphics are now playing a big part in the computer
scene we, at TMC Software Development/OTS Development Corp., are
coming up new ideas on how to place your board's LOGO, or some kind
of info, into the GIF File Format. AS ADLOGO stands now, it is
capable of inserting a Comment (or LOGO) into a GIF. However, this
Comment can only be viewed by selected GIF Viewers (CShow and VPic
happen to be two of them). But, there are some viewers that do not
allow for this option to be viewed. So, as you are reading this, we
are working on the code for ADLOGO that will allow ADLOGO to insert
a picture overlay into the GIF file itself. This overlay, will then
be displayed to the user using ANY GIF viewer. This overlay, will NOT
disrupt the image of the GIF itself, it is mearly an overlay that
will remove itself within a pre-determind amount of time. Usually,
15 seconds. Using this method eliminates the need to Plaster BBS Ads
over over the image itself but rather display the ad and then
disappear leaving the Image intact and uncluttered!
This is only one of the ideas that will be added to ADLOGO in the
very near future. Some others include a seperate util that is
executed on a GIF file AFTER a GIF is uploaded by a user. This util
will remove any Comments or overlays that have been added before the
GIF is posted on your system. It will also remove any padding that
was added by a X/YModem trasnfer. The outcome of this will be a
smaller GIF file, thus saving Hard Drive space on your system. Also,
when a user downloads a file that has been passed thru this util,
ADLOGO will execute much faster since it doesn't have to scan thru
as much code.
Other enhancements include enhancing the speed of ADLOGO and a
ProDoor version of ADLOGO as well.
Page 17.
.CFG FILE FORMAT
The ADLOGO.CFG file is a normal, non-formated text file. This
meaning that you may use any normal text editor, such as QEDIT,
to edit this file.
The format for the ADLOGO.CFG file is as follows:
LINE # DESCRPTION
------ -------------------------------------------
1 Your Board's Name (32 Chars MAX)
2 Serial No. (0 if UNREGISTERED)
3 MATCHED DRIVE letters
4 Full Path & Filename of your LOGO file
5 Full Path of the TEMP directory
6 Full Path & Filename of the PCBoard's Callers Log
7 Multi-Node (Y=Yes, N=No)
8 .ARJ Format Support (Y=Yes, N=No)
9 .GIF File Support (Y=Yes, N=No)
10 .ZIP Format Support (Y=Yes, N=No)
11 AD FILE insertion (Y=Yes, N=No)
12 COPY ANY MD-HD (Y=Yes, N=No)
13 Screen Writes (BIOS or DIRECT)
14 Full Path and Filename of the AD FILE
15 Full Path and Filename of the GIF COMMENT Extention file
16 PassCode (0 if UNREGISTERED)
Page 18.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First, I would like to send out a BIG thanks to Brian Cload,
Owner/Operator of OTS Development Corporation and Sysop of
The "Port of Call" BBS, and a very close friend, for the idea of
developing ADLOGO, help with the manual (which I REALLY
needed!), being a great ßeta test site, allowing TMC Software
Development the use of his BBS as the support site and the
Home of ADLOGO, and just happening to find that one GIF file
that would send the ßeta version of ADLOGO into La-La land!
Let me tell you people, this one GIF that Brian tested one of
the final ßeta versions of ADLOGO on, really had me in a tissy
for a day or two!! Must have spent 6 hours on the phone LD trying
to find the bug! (However, I did!).
Thanks to Sam H. Smith, for the advise on com port routines, for
giving us an AWESOME protocol (HS/Link), and the in-direct ideas
screen displays for ADLOGO's Local screen displays.
(In-Direct meaning I like the screen display that Mr. Smith has
given HS/Link and decided to give ADLOGO a similar look.)
To all you Sysop's that registered an eariler version of ADLOGO.
It's people like yourself, that make programming for the
SHAREWARE market worth it!
And to those Sysop's that had found minor bugs in the ßeta
versions of ADLOGO v1.xx. As I know some of you really must
have pulled some hair out trying to get ADLOGO to work
correctly!
Page 19.
DISCLAIMER
As much as we all hate this, I too, must add this in just to
to keep things on the 'Up-and-Up'!
ADLOGO, ALL ASSOCIATED FILES AND DOCUMENTATIONS, ARE RELEASED
TO THE PULBIC AS SHAREWARE. TMC SOFTWARE, AND ITS AFFILIATES,
RETAIN ALL RIGHTS TO THESE UTILITIES AND DOCUMENTATION.
ADLOGO MAY BE DISTRIBUTED THRU THE PUBLIC AS LONG AS THE
ARCHIVE FILE THAT ADLOGO.EXE IS CONTAINED IN IS NOT ALTERED IN
ANY WAY OR FORM. THIS MEANS THAT NO FILE MAY BE ADDED TO THE
ADLOGO ARCHIVE FILE WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING WRITTEN CONSENT FROM
TMC SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT. THE EXCEPTION TO THIS IS 'ONLY' TO
THE ZIPCOMMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE LOGO, THAT THIS ARCHIVE
CONTAINS. NO BULLETIN BOARD ADVERTISEMENT FILES IN THE FORM OF
TEXT FILES, EXECUTABLE .EXE or .COM FILES, OR ANY OTHER FORM
ARE PERMITTED TO BE ADDED TO THE ADLOGO ARCHIVE FILE.
I, MICHAEL J. CAMBRA, TMC SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, & OTS DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION, ARE IN NO WAY LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, IN THE FORM OF DATA LOSS, HARDWARE FAILURE, TIME
LOST, AND/OR MONEY(IES) LOST, DUE TO THE OPERATION OF ADLOGO AND
ITS' ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE UTILITIES.
ADLOGO has been put thru a number of tests. Much effort has
gone into the programing of ADLOGO to prevent any kind of
accidental damage occuring. However, as stated above, I, nor
the affilitated Corporations, cannot be held liable for any kind
of damage due to the functions of ADLOGO. If you decide to
install ADLOGO on your system, YOU DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK!.
Before installing this software package, please make a backup
of your most important system files, as this is a good practice
before installing ANY new software of ANY kind.
Page 20.
REGISTRATION
ADLOGO is not free. ADLOGO, and its accompanying utilities
(except DELF.COM), is released to the public as SHAREWARE.
Registration fee for ADLOGO is US $25. You are allowed to run
ADLOGO for a peroid of no more than 30 days, this being the
TRIAL PERIOD. After which, you must either register ADLOGO with
TMC Software Development, or discontinue the use of ADLOGO and
remove it from your system.
This is a ONE TIME registration fee. Upon registering ADLOGO,
you will receive a Serial No. and PassCode that you place into
the ADLOGO.CFG file. This Serial No./PassCode combination will
remove all FORCED options, remove the UNREGISTERED display which
is sent to the user online, and allow you to fully configure
ADLOGO to fit your system by allowing all ON/OFF Toggles to be
enforced. This Serial No./PassCode combination will be valid for
all future releases of ADLOGO.
To register your copy of ADLOGO, complete the REGISTER.FRM file,
send a CHECK or MONEY ORDER payable to MIKE CAMBRA, and mail
them both to the address located on the top of the REGISTER.FRM.
After we receive your registration fee, you will be sent a
Registration Package. This Package will include your personal
Serial Number, PassCode, and information on what is required for
the GIF File Format to be enabled (NO EXTRA FEE IS REQUIRED!)
However, since the processing of a GIF File is very complex,
there are a few steps that you must do before GIF Support can be
fully enabled!) All the required steps that pertain to enabling
the GIF Support will be included in this Package.