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MSGCOL1A.ARJ
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MSGCOLOR.DOC
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1994-02-07
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7KB
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198 lines
For WWIV Version 4.23
(Works with Version 4.22 of WWIV)
"MsgColor" is Copyright Matt Lampiasi, 1994.
MsgColor adds even MORE colors to your already colorful WWIV
BBS System, allowing a sysop-definable standard message text
color to prevail on his/her bbs. Your default color can be
changed anytime, staying within the limits of WWIV "Heart" codes
(1-9).
Installation:
Simply delete the command lines for your full screen editor
in INIT and replace them with the path and filename of the
supplied batch files. IE: WWIVEDL.BAT for the local WWIVEdit
Command line, and WWIVEDR.Bat for the WWIVEdit Remote command
line. Change the number in MsgColor.Inf to reflect the WWIV color
code of your choice to be used. This is the only thing needed in
this file: A number from 0-9, corresponding with the 10
(including plain white) colors available with WWIV Version 4.23 BBS
Software. Other WWIV Versions should work but just stay within
your color range of course (ie: 4.22 and below only has colors
0-7). Simple as that, you're done..
Note: MsgColor MAY work (and certainly should...) with other
full-screen editors for WWIV, but has only been tested with
Adam Caldwell's WWIVEdit version 2.5 and 2.5b as of this writing.
Note: See the msgcolor.Inf File for small details you should
know about :)
What happens once it's installed:
You get your messages in color, still retaining any user
changed word. Meaning: any and all unmodified text (the user did
not use any CTRL-P colors on) will be colored respective of the
color code you've placed in your MsgColor.Inf file.
OK, great.. But what else? :
** P I P E C O D E S **
Well here's the neat part. Your users (and yourself) can now
use "PIPE CODES" in their messages, with NO Needed knowledge of
programming whatsoever!
Meaning what you ask?
Pipe codes are a user configurable form of SAFE ansi color
code insertion Right into the message. What I mean by safe is
that anything BUT the supported codes will do NOTHING. So you
don't really have to worry about "ansi bombs" that may remap your
keyboard (Unless you've modified your WWIVEdit..).
So, for example:
The following would print "Copyright Matt Lampiasi 1994" in dark
blue on a white background (colors that are NOT Normally
available in WWIV- as you know!):
|01|23Copyright Matt Lampiasi 1994
You and your users get virtually (but not QUITE) instant ansi at
the stroke of a few keys.. Any and ALL ansi colors can be used in
ANY combination of foreground background colors.
The following table describes all the colors available and their
corresponding "pipe" code (ie: what you have to type to get the
color):
Foreground Pipe Codes are as follows:
|00 Black |08 Grey (Normal text)
|01 Dark Blue |09 Bright blue
|02 Dark Green |10 Bright Green
|03 Dark Cyan |11 Bright Cyan
|04 Dark Red |12 Bright Red
|05 Dark Magenta |13 Bright Magenta
|06 Brown |14 Yellow
|07 Bright White
Background colors
|16 Black
|17 Blue
|18 Green
|19 Cyan
|20 Red
|21 Magenta
|22 Brown
|23 Grey
So |17|15 would be Bright White on Blue.
To make it perfectly clear (if I've been vague, -I hate docs!):
If you type any of the above codes (ie: |01 through |14, and |16
through |23, preceding any text will remain that code's
corresponding ansi color until another color change takes place
(through another pipe code or a standard WWIV CTRL-P code).
MsgColor fully supports it's "pipe Codes" in taglines too!
For you as a sysop it's still practical, because it automatically
knows if you are editing an external file with your WWIVEdit and
not a message, and appropriately DOESN'T color external files
(thankfully). You'll value the importance of this if you've ever
done any remote configuration/system file editing from your bbs.
Is that ALL?
No! MsgColor ALSO adds a random tagline from a SYSOP-
CONFIGURABLE database of UNLIMITED TAGLINES to every message
entered.Included you'll find a file called "Taglines.Txt" with
approximately 3500(!) Taglines. You're free to add/delete as many
as you want, though functionality and speed (obviously) will be
maintained if you keep the size of the file reasonable.
MsgColor Also thanks your user by their real name for posting or
e-mailing (even if you allow alias's on your bbs).
MsgColor works great with my other program "Coolquotes", a
quoting enhancer/colorizer for WWIV.
MsgColor works great with User taglines (The pipe codes)!
(Note: Look for version 1b as this addresses some bugs found
in Version 1 and adds compatibility with THIS program. The
archive should be named CoolQ1b.* , where * is the file
extension..)
Pipe codes are NOT Quotable using WWIVEdit at this time, due to a
security feature of WWIVEdit that strips ansi codes from any
message text. It may work with versions other than WWIVEdit 2.5
or 2.5b but I have not tested or seen the source. The same goes
for any other Full screen editor.. It may, or it may NOT.
*****************************************************************
This program is NOT free, and took a LOT of time/energy/thought/
and caring to create. You are free to use the program for a 30
day evaluation period, at which point you must either
register, or stop using the program (according to federal law!).
*******************
Registration is categorized as follows:
$10.00 U.S. Funds or drawn on a check from a U.S. Bank. Make
checks payable to:
Matt Lampiasi
7 Chapman Ave. (Apt. 3C)
Easthampton, MA 01027
$8.00 if you call and Download it from my bbs (if you opt this
method I will call you when I receive your registration and make
the arrangements (on my dime) for you to call the bbs).
$5.00 for any 1/2 to Full Time college student with proof (Copy
of grades, etc.. whatever is sufficient). If you are a student
and opt for calling my board and downloading, the rate is still
$5.00 per copy.
******************
Use above address for all correspondence, or for questions (NOT
Technical support for an unregistered product- It's actually been
DONE, believe it!) NETMAIL me:
Matt Lampiasi 1:321/314 on Fidonet.
Or: Call my bbs at (413) 527-3818 and use the "Product Support"
Message sub.
Registration of Shareware is the most appreciated by authors
who's work goes into these products, but also keeps YOU
continually getting new and better stuff! If this reason is not
enough to compell you to register, at least consider this:
I am a first year (first semester even!) computer Science
convert:
Help me get through school(I'm working for it!)..
And help avoid some REALLY annoying nagware in the future.
Thanks to Kainen and Led. for suggesting the pipe code support.
(And reluctantly answering my nagging questions for details.)
WWIV BBS Software is Copyright Wayne Bell.
WWIVEdit is Copyright Adam Caldwell.
And thanks to both of them for writing great stuff!