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1992-07-17
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Synchronet Interface File (SIF) Format Copyright 1992 Digital Dynamics
format:
<STX>text<ETX>mode[mod][l][r][x][.n]["str"]
element descriptions:
STX is the ASCII code for start of text (ASCII 2 / Ctrl-B)
ETX is the ASCII code for end of text (ASCII 3 / Ctrl-C)
text is any number of ASCII characters - Synchronet Ctrl-A codes supported
mode text input mode desired for this field. Possible mode values are:
c single character
s string of characters
mod optional mode modifier. Possible mode modifiers are:
n numeric characters only
u input converted to uppercase
f forced word capitalization ('s' mode only)
l input line will be displayed (inverse bar of maximum input length)
r a carriage return / line feed pair will be appended to this field
in the data buffer. Only use this field if you want the data buffer
or file to be more readable. All data is on one line otherwise.
x maximum string length allowed (required for non-template 's' mode)
n minimum string length allowed (only applicable with 's' input mode)
str 1: in 's' modes, a template string that defines what will be displayed
at the prompt and what type of characters the user can input. All
characters other than 'N', 'A' or '!' are printed at the prompt.
Occurances of 'N', 'A' or '!' define which type of character the user
can input for each character position. 'N' allows the user only to
enter a numeric character, 'A' allows only alphabetic, and '!' allows
any character. Popular templates are "NNN-NNN-NNNN" for phone number
input or "NN/NN/NN" for date input.
2: in 'c' modes, a string that defines which characters the user will
be allowed to input (not case sensitive), usually used for multiple
choice answers. Most common allowed characters are "ABCD..." or
"1234...". If this string is specified in 'c' input mode, 'u' and 'n'
have no effect and input will be converted to uppercase automatically.
Example 1:
<BOT>
Enter string: <EOT>sulr8.3
Prints the prompt, "Enter string: ", then a line of 8 blue spaces
(an input bar, if you like), would convert all of user's input to uppercase,
allow the user to input a maximum of eight characters, a minimum of three and
append a CRLF onto the end of the data field.
Example 2:
<BOT>
A> First Answer
B> Second Answer
C> Third Answer
Which: <EOT>c"ABC"
Prints "A> First Answer" "B> Second Answer" etc... then allows the
user to input one character, either A,B, or C. No other characters will be
accepted as input.
Example 3:
<BOT>
Enter phone number: <EOT>s"NNN-NNN-NNNN"
Prints "Enter phone number: ", then allows the user to input only
numbers in the 'N' character positions, and automatically skips over the
'-' characters.
SIF was developed as a questionnaire type file interface for Synchronet BBS.
Its purpose was to minimize the amount of static data in the Synchronet
executable and allow modifications to the syntax and color attributes of
parts of the BBS without requiring recompilation.
An automatic new user SIF questionnaire can be specified in the MAIN.CFG file.
If a newuser SIF is specified, all users who logon and don't have a copy of
the answered questionnaire data in their user file will be given the
questionnaire upon logon. The sysop can view the answered questionnaire from
User Edit with the '#' command. For convience, the sysop can create a second
(abbreviated) SIF file for his own use in viewing user's answers. The two SIF
files (input and output) should be identical with the exception of what is
in the 'text' portion.
See EXAMPLE.SIF in the SBBS\TEXT directory for more information.
/* End of SIF.DOC */