home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
ftp.wwiv.com
/
ftp.wwiv.com.zip
/
ftp.wwiv.com
/
pub
/
EVENTS
/
ELCHAT30.ZIP
/
ELCHAT.DOC
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-05-29
|
13KB
|
311 lines
Elite Chat Request
Copyright (C) 1991, RedCloud Software
Written By:
The Quark
&
Dark Elf
Part .5: An Explanation
I can hear the cries, now! "Hey! You just released 2.0 less
than a MONTH ago! Are you gonna be updating this damn thing EVERY
month???" Never fear. This is the LAST version of Elchat.
Period. I'm sick of working on it. The only way we could come out
with another version is if there's a bug in this one. Or enough
people ask us to. Or WWIV 4.13+ comes out with different chain
standards. Or...
Ok, so, we MIGHT write 4.0. But I see no need for it, and I'd
have to have a REAL good reason.
-The Quark, 1@7417
Part .75: What IS RedCloud Software, Anyway?
RedCloud software is a freeware organization made up
(presently) of myself, The Quark, and Dark Elf (1@7410). We have
several new products coming out soon (knock on wood), and hope to
also collaborate with another freeware concern, Flayderware, on
online games. If you have a project you think would be useful for
WWIV, or an idea for an online game, or ANYTHING, send mail to
RedCloud software at WWIV address 1@7417.
Part 1: Installation
Place ELCHAT.EXE it in your WWIV directory, and add it to your
external programs list with the //CHAINEDIT command. The command
line should be:
ELCHAT %1
All other functions of Elchat are now self-installing.
Part 2: Use
Elchat is fairly easy to use. It allows users who you
consider "Elite" to page you when you aren't available. There are
still some controls (see section 3) available - just anyone can't
page you.
We recommend that you set up Elchat either at a high security
level (larger than 99, for instance) or on an access restriction,
so that you can hand-pick who can use it.
When a user runs Elchat, the first thing the program does is
ask for the reason the user wishes to chat. If ESCape is hit, or
no reason is given, Elchat will return to WWIV. If a reason is
given, it is written to your sysop log, so that, if you aren't
there, you will know who tried to page, and why.
Next, Elchat checks several internal variables (see Part 3).
If it is determined that the current time is outside the sysop
available time for Elite Chat, the user is prompted for a password.
If the correct password is entered, Elchat will page the sysop.
If not, control is returned to WWIV.
When the sysop is paged, Elchat will display on the screen who
is paging, why they are paging, and a series of <==>'s. These hash
marks indicate how many "whoops" Elchat has made so far; when one
line is full, paging is aborted. These marks are also sent to the
user, so that the he can know how the page is progressing.
If, upon hearing the page, you determine that the user is not
someone you wish to talk to, simply press ESCape. The has marks
will continue to print, but no sound will be made! Thus, you can
ignore users you don't wish to talk to at a certain time without
offending them, and without YOU having to sit there listening to
WHOOP! WHOOP!
If you DO wish to talk to the user, simply press the spacebar
or any other key. This will cut off the page, and return to WWIV,
thus allowing you to hit F10, and chat.
If you (or the user) does not hit a key before the has marks
reach the end of the line, the sysop definable message (see Part
3) will be printed, and the user returned to WWIV.
Part 3: Sysop Functions
Unlike previous versions, Elchat 3.0 allows for online editing
of all options (and some new ones). To access this feature, you
must have 255 access. To enter the editing mode, type "MAINT" when
asked for the reason for chat.
At this point, the screen will clear, and you will be
presented with the following display: (These are the default
settings)
A. Available Start Time : 0000
B. Available End Time : 0000
C. Minimum SL to Page After Hours: 000
D. Always Require Password? : No
E. After-Hours Password (Real) : TEST
F. After-Hours Password (Fake) : FAKE
G. No-Answer Message :
If the sysop doesn't answer now, he's not going to...
Option (A-G,Q):
At this point, you would select the option you wish to modify
(options explained below). If everything is fine, hit either 'Q'
or ESCape.
Part 3.1 Available Start Time and Part 3.2 Available End Time
This is the start time and end time of when you are available
for Elite Chat pages from all users who can run Elite Chat. If a
user attempts to page you outside that time, who's security level
is high enough (see Part 3.2), he or she will be asked for a
password. Unlike version 2.0, 3.0 can figure out what you mean.
For instance, if you enter a start time of 1600, and an end time
of 0300, Elchat will allow users to page you at 1700, 2200, 0200,
or any other time in the indicated window. (On the old version,
such a setup would have resulted in Elchat ALWAYS requiring a
password).
If you never wish to require a password, make the start and
begin times equal to each other.
Part 3.2 Minimum SL to Page After Hours:
If a user attempts to page after hours, he or she will
normally be asked for a password. However, with this option, you
can limit the Security Level of who will be asked for the password.
For example, if you only want to hear from Co-Sysops after your
available hours, you could make the Minimum SL 100. If someone of
an SL of 90 attempted to page you, he or she would be told that you
are unavailable, and the times you are available. If someone of
an SL of 100 or more paged, he or she would be asked for a
password. The correct password would result in Elchat paging you.
Part 3.3 Always Require Password:
This one is real simple. If you always want users to have to
enter a password, make this Yes, otherwise make this no.
Please note that there are a few overrides on this. If the
password is set to equal nothing, no password will be asked for.
Also, if the user's security level is less than the minimum to page
after hours, it will not ask him or her for a password - instead,
it will tell him or her when you are "available".
In essence, this option makes you unavailable all the time,
and is equivalent to making the start time greater than the end
time in version 2.0.
Part 3.4 After-Hours Password (Real)
The real password has been extensively mentioned under Parts
3.1-3.3. This is the password that has been mentioned several
times above. Please note that, if you don't EVER want to be paged
between the hours specified, either don't give anyone the password,
or give them...
Part 3.5 After-Hours Password (Fake)
I realize that occasionally, higher access must be given to
people for political - rather than personal - reasons. These
people are folks you don't mind having on the board, but probably
don't want to talk to, and certainly don't want to talk to at 3am.
For these people, there is the fake password. If the user enters
the fake pass, everything will APPEAR to go as normal - except that
no noise will be heard on the sysop end. I know, this is really
devious, and nasty, and horrible, and I can almost guarantee that
all of you will use it on at least one person.
Part 3.6 No-Answer Message
In versions 2.0 and earlier, if the page was allowed to go all
the way through, the system would print the message, "If the sysop
hasn't answered now, he's not going to..." After complaints from
my girlfriend (and writing custom versions for her every time), I
added a sysop-definable message. Now, the sysop-definable message
will be printed.
Part 4 Comparability with previous versions
Elchat 3.0 is compatible with earlier versions, simply because
it doesn't use the same file. The old Elchat used the file
ELCHAT.DAT in the Gfiles directory. However, due to fears over the
"gfiles bug" in WWIV 4.12, I have decided to move it to the Data
directory. Thus, anyone who ran 2.0 will still have to run MAINT
on 3.0, since your old file will not be used. Also, you may remove
the old file, if you wish. Please do NOT move your old Elchat 2.0
data file to your Data directory; they are incompatible, and the
results may be unpredictable. (The may predicatble...but, then,
who do I look like? Nostradamus?)
Appendix 1 - Distribution
We don't care who you give this to. As long as you charge
them less than $6, for distribution cost, we don't care about that,
either. If you wish to include this in a commercial software
package (yeah, right), drop us a line, and we'll think about it.
All that we ask is that you retain this file and the copyright
notices in it and the program. Thanks.
Appendix 2 - Version History
Version 1.0 - Date Unknown - The original version merely
paged.
Version 1.1 - Date Unknown - This version allowed the use of
the high/low times, and the password.
Version 1.2 - Date Unknown - Sysop log info was added, and the
minimum security levels.
Version 2.0 - May 8, 1991 - Major internal rewrite; fixed bug
in input routine to allow it to work with non-ANSI terminals.
Also added fake password, and allowed ELCHAT to run without
the presence of the ELCHAT.DAT file. Added Confirmation prior
to page, and handling of ESC at all points; ESC now returns
the user to WWIV.
Version 3.0 - May 29, 1991 - Added internal editing on sysop
features. Also added ESCape feature, to shut off noise from
page. In addition, upon return to WWIV, the color is set back
to white, so that the time on system remaining is not printed
in purple (whee.)
Appendix 3 - Future Projects
Well, this wasn't a very major one, and I'm pretty pleased
with it. The byline says, "The Quark & Elf", but, in reality, I
(The Quark) wrote version .99, which just paged. Dark Elf
completely rewrote THAT into versions 1.0 - 1.2, which added most
features.
I finally got motivated enough to do 2.0, and rewrote most
of the internal routines, and added the fake password. Finally,
Elf and I discussed the features for 3.0, and I added them and
wrote this file.
If you like ELCHAT, I plan to do many more projects for WWIV.
First of all will be WWIVHACK. Hack was originally a UNIX
program; it is a highly addictive dungeon adventure. I am
presently in the process of adapting an MS-DOS version to WWIV.
It is in v.99 beta test now, so hopefully will be available by
early Summer, 1991.
Next will be an online game, written from scratch by myself,
Elf (1@7410), and Shaken (1@7449), called "Apocalypse Apartments".
It is only just barely in the coding stages, now, but should be
available (God willing) in Fall, 1991. This will be produced by
Flayderware, and hopefully up-and-coming WWIV programming concern.
Sometime in here also will be BACKCHAT. This will be a TSR
chat program which will allow the sysop to press a key (or
combination) at any time, and enter chat. This will work in WWIV,
in most online games, or even during Elchat. Upon completion of
the chat, the user will be returned to whatever he or she was
doing.
Appendix 3 - "Registration"
If you wish to "register" ELCHAT, or any other product written
or co-written by The Quark, drop mail to 1@7417, detailing the
program, who you are, and what BBS/Node number you run (if
applicable).
This doesn't cost you any money, and doesn't really do much
for you. However, if a new version of the program you are
presently using comes out, I will make you aware of it, either by
uploading it if you are near to me, or leaving you mail if you
aren't. Also, if I come out with anything new, I will either
upload it or leave you mail. Whether this is worth the effort or
not is really up to you and what you think of my programming
"skills".
Of course, I'm always interested in finding out who's using
my programs, too.
As always, we thank you for your support.
The Quark
1@7417
Call....
The Electron Cloud The Red Room
(704)/854-3531 (704)/548-1648
WWIV Node @7417 WWIV Node @7410
2400 BPS, 24 Hrs. 2400 BPS, 24 Hrs.
Sysop: The Quark Sysop: Dark Elf