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Text File
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1992-11-07
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4KB
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91 lines
AuToPoSt Companion v 1.0
Written By Cathy Nicoloff
(c) 1992 Datagen Software Designs
We all know about WWIV. We all know it lets users abort even the
most IMPORTANT of sysop messages without looking back. Well, to solve
that problem, back a year or so ago, John Dailey, then programmer, now
President, created a sysop AuToPoSt program that allowed the sysop to
type up an important message, and place it in his/her logon batch file,
where it couldn't be aborted. His AuToPoSt program allowed the standard
^P colors for WWIV, and was really a nice editor. Well, with the pending
release of a newer version of AuToPoSt, I decided to do something really
nice for all those people who had seen the AuToPoSt once, and didn't want
to see it again. That's what this program is for.
The AuToPoSt Companion v 1.0 is an add-on program that can be
run from your WWIV logon batch file. It will first check it's APC.DAT
file, to see if the AuToPoSt has changed (It checks the date/time stored
in the DAT file against the date/time of the current AuToPoSt), then
checks to see if the user online has already read it. If not, it
displays the full AuToPoSt, and adds that person's name to the DAT file.
If the AuToPoSt changes at any time, the DAT file will re-create itself,
and everyone will have to read the new AuToPoSt. If a person has
already SEEN the AuToPoSt, it asks that person if they'd like to see it
again. If not, it skips it. If yes, it prints it. Easy! Also, the
addition of a small file called MUSTREAD will make it MANDATORY that
certain users inserted into that file by the sysop must read the
AuToPoSt every time they log on. This was created for those WWIV's that
had GUEST accounts and so forth. What MUSTREAD does is it checks all the
names in there (Up to 25), and if the current user online matches one,
it won't ever save their name to the DAT file which tells the program
who's read it or not. I thought that addition was rather handy. Now, on
to the command lines...
There is but ONE simple command line for this program. Here it is:
APC <Path and name of your AuToPoSt> <Path and name of CHAIN.TXT>
For example, my setup is:
APC C:\WWIV\SIBYL.PST C:\WWIV\CHAIN.TXT
If your AuToPoSt or CHAIN.TXT are in the directory with the program, a
path is not necessary. The program will auto-detect the presence of
MUSTREAD in the current directory, as well as APC.DAT.
For the MUSTREAD file, all that is necessary is that the sysop
places the names of the users who are REQUIRED to read the AuToPoSt into
it, one to each line, and not even case sensitive. For example:
C:\>COPY CON MUSTREAD
SIBYL
JOE THE FLYING BANANA
GUEST
DATAGEN
FREAKAZOID
^Z <-CTRL-Z
1 File(s) Copied.
Or you can use a text editor. Whatever floats your boat.
PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THE APC.DAT FILE! If you even TOUCH that number at
the top, even if it's only one digit off, every user will be erased from
the DAT file and you will have to start over <mumble, grumble>. That
file is not case sensitive, but if you're adding a user, put it in ALL
CAPS like it is in the second line of CHAIN.TXT. I think that's about it
for this program.
Note: All output from this program is done in standard WWIV colors, so
that your monochrome and non-ANSI peoples can read it as well...
NOTICE!
This program is FREEWARE, so that every Joe can afford it. It's not
crippled in any way, although if you register the AuToPoSt program, we
might get nice and do a personalized version of this for you. I, the
author, am NOT responsible nor liable for any damage that occurs when
you use this program. I'm not responsible for any DIRECT or INDIRECT
loss stemming from use of this program. This program is distributed
AS-IS with no warranties, express or implied, as to how it will
function. Use it at your own risk. I merely programmed it. It works fine
on my machine. I do encourage bug-fixes, and these can be mailed to:
John Dailey, President
1732 Wind Drift Rd.
Orlando, Fl 32809.
ATTN: Bug Fixes For APC
Thanks for choosing Datagen Software!!!