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IKUOTE.ZIP
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SYSOP.DOC
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1994-09-01
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I K U O T E 2 . 1
This is a simple "logon event" for WWIV boards. It will
randomly select one from a file of quotes, and display it on the
remote and local screens. A large file of quotes, Q1.TXT, is
included, and is freely editable, provided that a few simple
precautions are kept in mind. But first, some legalisms:
Neither the author, or anyone else, makes any representation
that this software will be suited to any purpose whatsoever. There
is no assurance or claim that it will not instantly wipe your hard
disk, implode your monitor, and dial the IRS and tell them all your
shameful secrets. In short, no guarantees of anything. Use it very
definitely at your own risk.
IKUOTE is freeware. There is no registration fee. This does
not mean, of course, that you shouldn't send me money, but it does
mean that all you'll get for it is my gratitude and amazement.
Unless it shows some unexpected bugs, there will be no future
releases of IKUOTE.
INSTALLATION...
...is very simple. This program is being distributed in a PKZIP
Authenticity Verification envelope, so if you don't see "Authentic
Files Verified!" when you unZIP it, you know that someone has been
tampering with it. If that's alright, then just unpack everything
into the directory where WWIV lives, and use IKUOTE.EXE as the logon
event in INIT. If you've already got something else there, just
include it as part of a batch file. If you wish to run it from some
directory other than the one where WWIV resides, be sure that you copy
CHAIN.TXT to that directory before calling IKUOTE. That's all!
I have not, and cannot, test this program under every
conceivable set of hardware and software arrangements. I know that
the setups of some WWIV sysops are rather baroque, if not perverse,
and they'll have to take their chances. I can say that this program
makes no extraordinary demands on system resources. I welcome
feedback from anyone who can expand my knowledge in this area. My
net addresses are at the end of this document.
EDITING
The quotes in the quote file are, as usual in these sorts of
things, mostly mildly interesting. Several may seem really stupid,
and a few may seem illuminated by a supernal wisdom strange to
Earth; but you won't necessarily be able to tell the difference
between the last two categories.
There is only one entry of my own there, and the terrible cost
to me of that small nugget of dubious wisdom, there distilled into
a few dry words, has given me a special insight on this project.
Some of these quotes were formulated from the most agonizing life
situations, and are worthy of respect; and that impelled me to a
certain decision in writing this program. Each of the quotes is
displayed for about 6 seconds, and cannot be aborted by the user on
the far end. That means that your "power users," (heh) zooming through
the logon formalites to find the latest version of "Gerbil Wars" or
some damn thing, will be paused for a period. Of course, nobody can
force them to read, let alone think.
However . . . if you feel that your users just cannot endure
another six seconds on your board, you can run IKUOTE like this:
IKUOTE.EXE ##
That will disable the delay. IKUOTE expects to find Q1.TXT,
QUOTES.NDX, and CHAIN.TXT in the same directory it is running from.
If it doesn't find CHAIN.TXT, it will run in a special mode without
the personalized greeting or the WWIV color codes. This can be useful
for a boot-up event in AUTOEXEC.BAT, for instance. If it doesn't find
Q1.TXT or QUOTES.NDX, it will just give you a "file not found"
message and abort, which is not too interesting.
To edit the file, you must keep three things in mind:
(1) Stick to the format. You can look at the file and see what
that format is. Do not delete the tilde standing alone at the end
of the file.
(2) Be sure that everything that you put into the file is pure,
printable ASCII. Higher-level word processors (Word, WordStar,
WordPerfect, etc.) will, unless they are expressly prevented from
doing so, embed all sorts of control and formatting characters in
the text that they handle. I suggest that you either use a more
modest, "programmer's" type of editor, such as Boxer, Bingo, or
Qedit, or figure out the proper control incantation to make your
word processor forget the fancy stuff. The first choice is probably
safer.
(3) After editing the quote file, even the tiniest little bit,
you must regenerate the index file. To do this, just run IKUOTE
with the I parameter. Like this:
IKUOTE.EXE I
It takes about 5 seconds on my 486, and I suppose that it could
take a minute or two on the original PC. It'll tell you when it's done.
I guess that's about it.
I can be reached on WWIVNet as 1@11655, or on WWIVLink as 1@17350.
Or, you can call my board directly. Ikonoclast BBS, (713) 721-1538.
- Palinurus 9/1/94