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1997-09-07
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────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Fake Bulletin v2.0
by SaltySoft
Copyright (C) 1997 David Kiesling
All rights reserved.
Support BBS:
Shoe Salt BBS 707-465-3087 33.6 kbps
World Wide Web:
http://www.vpdev.com/saltysoft
SaltySoft Software
Internet Email: c/o David Kiesling
dnskiesling@telis.org 550 Sandhill Rd.
Crescent City, CA 95531 USA
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Setup
III. Samples & Examples
IV. Support
V. Attention Programmers!
VI. Author's Notes
------------------------------ Disclaimer ------------------------------
The author of this program and his affiliates cannot be held legally
responsible for any damage caused as a result of the use or misuse of
this program, nor for the precious bytes it takes up on your HD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------- License Agreement ---------------------------
This program is distributed under the freeware concept. You are granted
a license to use and distribute this .ZIP archive as you wish. However,
the contents of the compressed .ZIP archive or the uncompressed EXE file
may NOT be modified in any respect by anyone other than the author.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I. Introduction
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Requirements: * BBS that can call a batch file to run a door
* 8086 or higher processor (I know, I'm pushing it!)
Some BBS software doesn't give the option of simply displaying an ANSI
or ASCII file as a menu selection on any BBS menu, save for the
bulletin menu. That's where Fake Bulletin comes in. This is a simple
door that simply displays an ANSI or ASCII file (a bulletin). Simple,
eh? It's useful as:
-* a Help option at various BBS menus for novice BBS users
-* a notice you want users to read before or after using a
particular door (simple instructions further below)
-* a notice put in place of a door saying that the door is
temporarily offline
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
II. Setup
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Fake Bulletin is run with the following syntax:
fbull.exe <config file>
ex: fbull.exe fbull.cfg
The files don't need to be named fbull.cfg and fbull.lst. The
filenames can be anything you like; just remember to pass them
on the command line as shown above.
You will need to have one Config File for each node and a Bulletin
List File for each separate spot on your BBS you run Fake
Bulletin. Below are the file layouts.
Layout of Config File:
----------------------
LINE 1: C:\TRIBBS\DOOR.SYS <- Full path to DOOR.SYS file
LINE 2: 0 <- Non-standard IRQ for the comport.
0 = use the standard IRQ for the port
LINE 3: 30 <- Maximum minutes allowed in door.
0 = read minutes left from dropfile
LINE 4: 5 <- Keyboard input timeout in minutes. If
user hasn't press a key in this amount
of time, Fake Bulletin will terminate.
0 = disable this feature
LINE 5: notice <- ANSI or ASCII file you want displayed
when the user selects to view that
bulletin. Do not include the file's
extension here. Fake Bulletin will
automatically add a ".ans" or ".bbs"
extension on the end of the filename,
depending on if the caller has ANSI
enabled or not. So putting "notice"
here would display notice.ans if ANSI
is on or notice.bbs if not.
LINE 6: 1 <- Would you like the screen to prompt
every 23 lines of the bulletin for
the user to press a key? If not, the
top part of the bulletin will fly by
without giving the user a chance to
read it. If the bulletin is less than
23 lines, this setting is ignored.
1 = enable prompt every 23 lines
0 = disable prompt every 23 lines
Fbull.cfg contained in this archive is a sample config file
and contains short notes reminding you what each line is for.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
III. Samples & Examples
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
* Sample ANSI & ASCII files are included. You by no means have to use
them; feel free to make your own. These are only examples to give
you an idea of what to use this program for. The following files
are contained in SAMPLES.ZIP:
MESSHELP.ANS & MESSHELP.BBS - Help on Message Menu functions (TriBBS)
FILEHELP.ANS & FILEHELP.BBS - Help on File Menu functions (TriBBS)
ZIPHELP.ANS & ZIPHELP.BBS - Explanation of ZIP files
BETA.ANS & BETA.BBS - Notice that the door "Planets" is
in beta and how to report bugs
OFFLINE.ANS & OFFLINE.BBS - Notice that a door is temporarily
offline
LORD2REG.ANS & LORD2REG.BBS - Announcement pleading users to
help the SysOp register LORD II
* To display a bulletin to a user right before/after a particular
door is run -
Pretend this is a door's batch file:
cd\tribbs\doors\tws (change to door directory)
tw2002.exe (run door)
cd\tribbs (change back to BBS directory)
board (reload BBS)
To display the bulletin right BEFORE the door is run, insert
the two lines with arrows below: (of course omit the comments
when making your batch file)
-> cd\tribbs\fbull (change to Fake Bulletin directory)
-> fbull.exe fbull.cfg fbull.lst (run Fake Bulletin)
cd\tribbs\doors\tws
tw2002.exe
cd\tribbs
board
To display the bulletin right AFTER the door is run, insert
the two lines commented below: (of course omit those comments
when making your batch file)
cd\tribbs\doors\tws
tw2002.exe
-> cd\tribbs\fbull (change to Fake Bulletin directory)
-> fbull.exe fbull.cfg fbull.lst (run Fake Bulletin)
cd\tribbs
board
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
IV. Support
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Please contact me in any of the ways mentioned at the beginning of
this file for support. I'd love to hear any and all comments,
questions, or suggestions. There is always room for improvement. :)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
V. Attention Programmers!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Are you a programmer?
The new owner (as of 01/01/97) of TriBBS, Gary Price, has made a
new API for PowerBASIC for easier creation of programs that access
TriBBS's data files. I've used it for recent TriBBS utilities I've
made. It's completely FREE for anyone that wants it and I highly
recommend it. It is strictly for PowerBASIC 3.2. You may contact
Gary Price:
by email - gwprice@worldnet.att.net
by BBS - Freejack's Place (Home of TriBBS) 207-739-7121
by web - http://www.tribbs.com
PowerBASIC is a programming language which is quickly rising in
popularity, containing elements of both C and Pascal and even some
built-in Assembly. Although 99% compatible with QuickBasic 4.5, it's
far more advanced. It sells for $150 but a free demo may be picked
up from their web site at http://www.powerbasic.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
VI. Author's Notes
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Being a sysop, I've been looking for a door that will display ANY
ANSI/ASCII file, with no big tacky copyright notices. Failing to find
one that suited my tastes, I've finally made my own, and here it is.
I hope it does the job for you too.
Special thanks to the Fake Bulletin beta testers:
Luke Gabello - many suggestions
Chris Richardson - a few suggestions